Beauty Emergency! Oh and Michael Kors

DivaDebbi and Michael Kors at Richards
(lashes intact)

I've been a Personal Shopper for over 20 years.  Within that time I have experienced dozens of fashion emergencies;  broken zippers, sensors left on dresses, imploded seams, peek-a-boo linings... I've seen it all. A few weeks back, my husband literally sewed me into a gown that would have benefited greatly from two more hooks and eyes. My mistake? Not heeding my own sage advice to my clients--always try on an altered garment, well in advance of when you will be wearing it, not 15 minutes before you have to be out the door.

Late Thursday afternoon, I had my first beauty 911.  Michael Kors was coming to Richards to present his Fall 2016 Runway Collection to a small group of devoted clients. I considered this a special enough occasion to glam up with a half fringe of false lashes in the morning.  30 minutes before arriving, my eyelash strip was hanging by a lash...

Review: Maybelline Skinny Precise Gel Waterproof Eyeliner

Maybelline Skinny Precise Gel Waterproof Eyeliner
$7.99 ish

Not surprisingly, I have about a million VIB Rouge Beauty Points with Sephora.  It's a nice program and if you shop at Sephora, it certainly makes sense to sign of for their generous rewards program.

Often, I just take a pass on whatever is being offered when I checkout; who knows why?  The last time I made a purchase, something finally did appeal. Marc Jacobs Ulta Skinny Blacquer Gel Eye Crayon had the teeniest, tiniest tip I'd ever seen. Yes please do give me one of those.

What I loved about using it was the level of control I had. It is nearly impossible for me to line my inner upper and lower lid with a liquid liner, without somehow getting it in my eye. Not. Pretty.

With the use of this tiny pointed pencil, I was able to achieve the "doe eyed" look I covet, handily. The trick is to line both the lid,  especially the inner most corner and the upper waterline and then connect it after flaring out beyond the eye, with a full sweep underneath to the inner most corner.  Hard to describe, but this should give you the idea:

The problem unfortunately with the Marc Jacobs Eye Crayon, is that it both ran and faded, leaving me with a gloppy mess in the corner of my eye and no liner on my lid.

Oh well.  I had never saw a pencil that skinny and didn't think I would again but dreams do come true! There it  was front and center with the newest offerings at CVS in the Maybelline section.

The Row; Head to Toe

Head to Toe the Row by divadebbi 

The Row is available at Richards. Call me! 203-622-0551

Nivea Extended Moisture Body Lotion

Y

Nivea Extended Moisture Body Lotion 48/Hrs.
$6.99

Certain beauty brands and products are emblazoned in my childhood brain because they were favored by my Mom; Nivea Lotion, Dove Soap, Finesse Shampoo and Conditioner, Arpege,  and Maybelline Eyebrow Pencils.

In my family, vanity skipped a generation.  My obsessions are more closely aligned with my grandmother Connie.  My mom is naturally pretty, shied away from the sun and had great skin.  She literally could be coiffed and out the door in 10 minutes. Sister Loren is not that far behind in a pinch. Me??? Uh...no.

I always loved the smell of Nivea products.  I truly have seen a difference using their Skin Firming Moisturizer, and no, I don't give a whit about whatever chemical combination they brewed up that make it effective on my knees and upper arms.  It works. Period.

We didn't have a cold Northeast winter, though this spring was unseasonably chilly.  I was surprised during a recent pedicure when it was pointed out how incredibly dry my legs were.  No matter how much she slathered,  they still looked distressingly reptilian.

Fortunately, CVS and Sephora are just a few steps from Cozy Nails in Greenwich. I knew immediately where I was headed next.


After perusing the skin lotion aisle, I settled on Nivea Extended Moisture Body Lotion for extremely dry skin, that promises 48 Hours of hydrated skin. I would have been content with 24 hours, but sometimes more is more.

Can I tell you how much I love this lotion?  First of all, the first pump and whiff always brings me back to my childhood.  Isn't it wonderful how aligned smell is with memory?  It has just the texture I prefer; rich, gel like and instantly absorbed.  And it gets better; it plumps, totally alleviated my dry skin and  made every inch of my body feel like a silk sheet.  I can't believe how soft my own skin is to my touch.

This is drugstore beauty at its best; affordable and totally effective.  Mom loves it too.  So will you...

xox,
DD

Joie

Joie by divadebbi featuring a faux flower arrangement

STELLA McCARTNEY white cotton dress, $1,655 / Gianvito Rossi cut out sandals, $1,220 / Giancarlo Petriglia leather man bag, $1,920 / Aurélie Bidermann leaves jewelry / Byredo eau de perfume / Pier 1 Imports canvas home decor / OKA faux flower arrangement, $5.76 / Umbra white flower wall art

Review: IT Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara

IT Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara
$24

I have a somewhat iffy relationship with IT Cosmetics.  Overall, I would say I have returned more items then I have kept.  

My Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara was on its last clumpy legs, and I decided to return my replacement Born This Way Foundation because I think it will be way too heavy for the summer months and because I noted a distinct difference in their Golden shade, now that they have amped up the number of offerings.  Huge SIGH!

On a whim, I picked up  IT Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara.  Maybe the life sized displays at the cash register had something to do with it as well...

I got a lovely surprise Friday morning...this stuff is good! Full disclosure, I tried one eye with a primer (as I always do,) and the other without. The first coat without a primer was a bit anemic, but with? Oohh la la!

What resulted was a lush, long, full fan of very black lashes. reasonably clump free for a first attempt, no flakes throughout the day and it washed off without any tug or toil.

Nice!

For those of you who want more details, here you go:

Clinically shown results!

• 96% said their lashes looked stretched!
• 96% saw dramatic volume & length!
• 96% saw plumper-looking lashes!
• 100% saw a fuller lash line!

Anti-aging & lash-loving! 

• Elastic Stretch Technology
• Lash-Lifting Polymers
• Volumizing Collagen
• Hydrolyzed Keratin
• Proteins and Peptide-Infused
• Biotin

Key Benefits:

• Game-changing, exclusive Elastic Stretch Technology for volume & length!
• Lash-Changing Power Brush for maximum reach, lift, separation & curl
• Super Black pigment plus collagen to condition as you coat

Happiness! Certainly one to try...Diva divined!

xox,

DD

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Color
$4.99

I love a fresh pedicure, don't you?  Once you finally wrap your head around surrendering the time to have one, it's always a lovely, relaxing experience. Drying? Not so much.  On the one hand it's an indulgence, on the other, a bit of a chore.

As such, I will usually chip a toe and ignore it, simply because I don't want to invest the time to get a fresh pedicure. By the time it's two I'm teetering, but why not try to extend my toes shelf life with a home touch up instead?

I spotted Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri, a polish that promises one coat coverage that dries in 60 seconds at Ulta.  Sounded good to me...

Safety First: How to allow access to the ICE info. on your iphone

Life works in funny ways; on the heels of the FBI/Apple showdown about cracking into the iphone of suspected terrorists, it occurred to me, that in an emergency, how could anyone access my locked iphone?

More specifically, as I mused about the subject with my friend Janice, I was really more concerned about my son.  Knowing my streak of over protectiveness, she howled at my fantasy of sneaking a neatly written piece of pertinent information in his wallet...

Still it gnawed at me.

Fast forward two weeks, when the server attached to my work email crashed.  I couldn't access my email on a computer or via my iphone.  While it was being reset, our tech team at Richards was able to provide me with a web address that could get me in. Noting that I might need it again at some point in the future, I went to add it to my own contact information, which identified me on my iphone as "me".

As I was scrolling to add it, I noticed a red icon that said, *Medical ID". Fascinated, I clicked. There I could add Medical Notes, Allergies and Reactions, Medications, my chosen Emergency Contacts, Drs. Blood Type, Height and Weight. 

Some of you may have already filled out this information on the Health app on your iphone, but here's the thing! No one will be able to access it, unless you change it to the "show when locked" option in your settings.


Whether you fill out your information the way I did, or with in your health app, once you change your setting, to show when locked, your medical emergency information is now accessible.  On the bottom left side of your lock screen it will say," Emergency", that will allow you to make an outgoing call, Additionally, *Medical ID will appear in the bottom left side of the phone screen.  If you push on that, all of your information will pop up. Voila!

I have enclosed instructions below for iphone users.

Heartfelt apologies to Android users, but I imagine, in the spirit of competition, that this technology must exist for you as well.

I'm the least techie person in the world, but I felt this was to important not to share with my Lovelies.  Please check this out and though they will kick and scream, make sure your precious children do it as well. Mine did. 

To your safety and good health, always...

xox,

DD

Saturday...Somewhere

Saturday...Somewhere by divadebbi featuring Pier 1 Imports

Etro white top, $1,160 / Stuart Weitzman lace up gladiator sandals, $465 / Salvatore Ferragamo handbags tote, $1,955 / Aurélie Bidermann leaf earrings, $360 / Pier 1 Imports floral decor

Review: Dark & Lovely Edge Sleeker

Dark & Lovely Edge Sleeker
$5.99

John Frieda's Full Repair Flyaway Tamer
 DISCONTINUED
$35.90 on Amazon

Is there anything more maddening than when a beloved, well reviewed item is discontinued and sent to the product early graveyard?  

I was a huge fan of John Frieda Full Repair Flyway Tamer.  It did a magnificent job of taming  the rogue hairs that have broken near my hairline, without any stickiness. Loved that I could easily slip it in my handbag for quick touch up's as well. 

Maybe I had a prescient vision that one day it would disappear; my hoarder gene often kicked in and I would purchase 2 or 3 at a time.  One day it disappeared from the shelves, the next it became rarer and harder to find online.  Big Sigh...

Femme

Femme by divadebbi featuring Pier 1 Imports

Boutique Moschino sleeveless top, $390 / The Row high waisted jeans, $675 / Gianvito Rossi black shoes, $740 / Edie Parker lucite purse, $1,370 / Renee Lewis drop earrings / Pier 1 Imports floral decor

Review: Sally Hansen Complete 7-1 Care Nail Treatment

Sally Hansen 7-1 Complete Care Nail Treatment

                                          $12.99

About a year ago, I had an epiphany; colored nail polish is not my friend. The only time it looked great was when I left the salon. And often by the time I got home, despite a few drying cycles, I would already notice a nick or a dent. Careful to wear gloves, even though my stints at the kitchen sink are short, chips would often appear the next day and that drove me batty. 

Now I only wear nude/ blush tones, that I can touch up or not. The only thing I will do is refresh with a top coat of Nailtiques #2, once or twice between manicures. Plus? My nails are like granite. Minus? The stuff is laced with formaldehyde or some other heavy duty preservative chemical.  Believe me, once you have dissected a cat for Anatomy, you never forget that particular smell. Word.

When my friends at Tractenberg PR asked if I wanted to try there newest launch, Sally Hansen Complete 7-1 Nail Treatment, I happily agreed.

Review: Travalo Refillable Perfume Atomizer

Travelo Refillable Perfume Atomizer
Price Varies from $9.99 to $19.99. Google!

I adore perfume and would no more consider leaving the house without it on then I would my panties.  The trouble is, no matter how fine the fragrance, and my current love Diana Vreeland's Devastatingly Chic is way up there, nothing lasts on me.

This brought me to the conundrum of finding an atomizer that actually worked, without my precious perfume dissipating into thin air...who needs a devastatingly chic smelling handbag?  Not me...  I have purchased several purse refill atomizers from Sephora, one from CVS and a lovely looking finely cut crystal one on from Amazon. Same gig, everytime.

My blogging juju aligned nicely with a reach out from the team at 3D Sales & Marketing who wanted to know if I was interested in trying Travalo's, all aluminum, TSA approved, leak proof refillable atomizer, with a patented Genie-S pump system that guarantees no air exposure.

Review: Physician's Formula #InstaReady BB Cream SPF 30

Physician's Formula #InstaReady Super BB Cream
$14.95

Oh my, my.  This BB Cream was worth 3 CVS trips, even if the darker shade I was seeking was a phantom... Physician's Formula #InstaReady BB Cream SPF 30 only comes in two shades; Light  and Light/Medium.

I suggest the peeps at Physician's Formula start whipping up other shade offerings, because this stuff is amazing!  The premise behind this launch is that #InstaReady is that it will make you, "instantly selfie-ready".

Here is how they describe it:

#InstantPerfection: Ultra-lightweight formula glides on effortlessly, instantly smoothing & rebalancing skin with dual-sphere particles that absorb oil but not moisture for perfectly balanced skin and a smooth semi-matte finish. 

Multi-tasking BB cream neutralizes skin tone imbalances, minimizes shine and visibly reduces pores, instantly hiding imperfections and smoothing the appearance of fine lines while protecting with SPF 30.

Review: Physician's Formula Super BB InstaReady Filter Trio Powder SPF 30

$14.99

Sometimes, I just try buy new products on a whim.  Physician's Formula has launched a new product line for the Selfie generation called #InstaReady.  Good get...if not them, CoverGirl or Maybelline would have gotten their first.

The product features, "InstaFilter Technology, " a proprietary blend of mattifying and pore balancing spherical beads, color filter pigments and high-tech polymers that work together to instantly optimize light reflection, blur imperfections and visibly retexturize skin, while protecting against UVA/UVB damage with SPF 30."

This multi-tasking Filter Trio BB Powder can also be used  as a contouring palette, to sculpt, define and highlight.

Review: Garnier Ultra LIft Anti-Wrinkle Firming Night Cream

Back at the end of January, I wrote a post about Allure Magazines Top 9 Choices for Drugstore Anti-Aging Products.  Remarkably, my stashes were tapped out and I am always intrigued to try well touted drugstore skincare items, particularly when endorsed by some of the countries finest Dermatologist's.

Pretty much, I threw a dart and decided to try Garnier's Ultra-Lift Anti Wrinkle Night Cream, recommended by well regarded NYC Derm Dr. Francesco Fusco. Her take was that, "the combination of retinol and rice protein peptides in the gylcerin base, work together to stimulate collagen production while hydrating your skin".

Good 'nuff for me...