DivaDebbi: What to Wear July 4th Weekend

DivaDebbi: What to Wear July 4th Weekend by divadebbi featuring pottery barn area rugs

BCBGMAXAZRIA white mini dress / MICHAEL Michael Kors maxi dress, $110 / Madewell eyelet top, $140 / Splendid cotton jersey, $93 / Acne Studios linen skirt, $220 / Alice + Olivia red short shorts / Gianvito Rossi ankle strap shoes, $680 / Joie wedge heel sandals, $315 / K. Jacques leather sole shoes, $240 / Converse white flat shoes, $60 / Dolce Gabbana red leather handbag, $2,050 / ECCO handbags crossbody / Christian Dior transparent sunglasses, $480 / Steve Madden straw fedora hat, $22 / Agent 18 tech accessory / Pottery barn area rug /

DivaDebbi: What to Wear July 4th Weekend by divadebbi featuring Pier 1 Imports

The fabulous Stacy Geisinger, asked me if I would create a Polyvore set featuring suggestions of what to wear this weekend, to your 4th of July Celebrations for her of the widely read blog Stacyknows.

Honored to be asked and happy to oblige...

I like the tradition of doing a bit of red white and blue, particularly if you are going to a party, picnic or barbeque.  Loving white lace, stripes, chiffon, off the shoulder tops, luggage color flats, sneakers, and lace up sandals and espadrilles.

If you are going to a party, don't even consider showing up empty handed. I never abide by the, "just bring yourselves" directive. In a pinch, a beautiful bottle of wine or a good tequilla or vodka are usually welcome.

And if you are absolutely stuck about what to wear, your white jeans are always an option, though I would love them best right now if they were cropped and flared.

Happy 4th Lovelies and a safe one too.  Stacy, big kisses and my thanks for thinking of DivaDebbi to enhance Stacyknows...and truly, she does.

xox,
DD

News Flash: Finally Found! The Drugstore Mascara of My Dreams and Maybe Yours!

I've really gotten to spend more time with my equally beauty obsessed cousin Karyn.  We had a bite out recently and the waitress thought we were fraternal twins.

Essentially, we have been snapping pictures and texting each other scads of "must have", "Cant. Live. Without."  products from our home arsenals.  Karyn is a Latisse user, but her eyelashes are spectacular and I immediately had to know what mascara she was using...

As someone who cottons to the really good stuff , I was ecstatic to learn her Holy Grail mascara was CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume.  Music to my ears.  I ran out to CVS the next day to buy it.  I also found the newly launched Maybelline Colossal Spider Effects Mascara, that I had searched for a few days before. 

As you may recall, it was on the most loved list of a TotalBeauty editor who swore off her prestige cosmetics for a month, replacing it with drugstore products only. I made a list of what I was interested in trying and this was at the top of it.

Flashback Friday: L'Oreal Superstar Mascara

L'Oreal Superstar Mascara
$11.99. Cheaper when purchased anywhere else than Greenwich Ct.

If any of you are wondering how I fared with the original Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara, you would have to ask the lovely man at CVS who accepted it's return.  I found it to be no more inspiring than the new "Luscious" Lash Sensational Mascara, that they recently added to the already brimming portfolio and I had already boomeranged back.
While there, I did purchase a new 2 step, L'Oreal Superstar Mascara...not that I will actually be using it...to clarify, I purchase it because the step one primer is the real superstar here.  I LOVE primers.  I adore being able to slap on that first "coat" with abandon.  A good primer will thicken and lengthen anything that goes on after it. Pinky swear.

I used to always buy Lancome's Cils Booster XL Lash Primer for just this purpose.  When I ran out one day, I decided to try the primer that comes with L'Oreal Superstar Mascara and hope for the best with the mascara.  The mascara disappointed, but not the primer!  It far exceeds big sister Lancome's primer (they are owned by the same parent company, as most of you know), and at a fraction of the price!

Once you use a primer, you will be a lifetime convert.  Rather than thinking of it as yet another product, think of it more as your first, best coat of mascara.

As always, you are so very welcome.  Happy Weekend All!

xox,
DD

DERMWORX; two products that do the job of three

Dermworx  Day Serum
$75/60 Day Supply

Dermworx Pure Balance Sunscreen
$32 4.0 oz.

I was unfamiliar with DERMWORX, a professional skincare line often sold exclusively through skin health professionals, but was intrigued to their best selling two step daytime treatment. So, I happily agreed to sample it.

DERMWORX Day Serum blends peptides, antioxidants and phytonutrients and Vitamin C, in biodegradable, single use capsules that ensure maximum potency.  A little goes a long way and with a little practice, one capsule handily will cover your full face when dabbed and spread outwards as directed.  I like the velvety consistency.

For me, the real star is DERMWORX Pure Balance Sunscreen.  Why? Because I know I really, really should be using sunscreen daily, rain or shine, but often don't.  Seriously, how many things can we slather on before even getting to makeup?  The other deterrent is that sunscreens often are zinc based, which are notoriously chalky.  Pure Balance Sunscreen is created instead with a Broad Spectrum SPF 25 that is mineral based, thus once applied, I don't have to worry about looking like a Geisha.

The Drugstore Discoveries a Beauty Editor Made When She Ditched The Good Stuff

When I do my daily rounds, scouring different beauty sites for interesting tips and tidbits to share with you, I always zero in on the ones about drugstore beauty bargains. If there is a hack for an expensive eye cream, mascara or foundation, I want in.

Today TotalBeauty.com ran a feature slideshow by one of their beauty editors. Allie Flinn made the ultimate sacrifice and gave up using luxury beauty products for a whole month.

Poor Darling...

Maybelline Lash Sensational- The Original

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara
$8.99

Like a dog with a bone, I have not given up on my fantasy, that this editor and reader reviewed revered mascara will love up to the hype.  I just bought it today and will update you with my findings tomorrow.

As recently reported, Maybelline's lastest entry, Lash Sensational Luscious Mascara was a whoofer.  Let's see how the original compares.

In the interim, I went back to a former Holy Grail, Benefit's They're Real Mascara.  1) It's not nearly as great a I remembered.  2) It's still nearly impossible to remove.  Benefit did add a pricey remover to their line, specifically for the purpose of getting this stuff off, but I did not acquiesce.  Turpentine, did cross my mind as an option.  The only thing I really love is that my lashes are inky black. The depth of the color is striking enough to do with one less coat.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Luscious Mascara; Is newer better?

Maybelline Luscious Lash Sensational

Right off the bat, I would have to say NO, though I have yet to try the original. The original Maybelline Lash Sensation is a highly rated, award winning drugstore mascara.  Long time DivaDebbi reader's know, one of my life's mission is to find the truly perfect, cheap & cheerful drugstore mascara.  I have read about Lash Sensational so many times, I finally caved and decided to try it for myself.

Alas, as drugstore mascaras notoriously do, they sporn and multiply faster than dandelions.  What to do??? Purchase the new and improved, "luscious" or go for the the tried and true???


My bad, I think.  I went for the new and improved... The brush reminds me of Benefit's They're Real, a tapered quasi comb like brush that expertly allows you to coax out the lashes hidden in the inner corners.

Their bad, the product is lousy. Clumpy, no length, no curl, no volume.  It is boomeranging right back to CVS. Now of course, my curiosity is even more piqued about the highly lauded original.

Maybelline Lash Sensational- The Original

So stay tuned, Lovelies.  The hunt continues...

xox,
DD

DivaDebbi's Summer Must-Haves for Stacy Knows

DivaDebbi's Summer Must-Haves by divadebbi

One of the great joys of writing a blog is that it expands your world. Readers, bloggers and media contacts become friends.  New businesses owners reach out to meet you and there are often launches and events to attend in NYC.  (One of the reasons I started DivaDebbi, 2 years before my son left for college, was in anticipation of my empty nest. My behind had been welded to sports spectator benches for 13 years...what was I going to do with the extra time?)  Good call.

Stacy Geisinger , a "Girl's Girl" and ultimate people connector, started her fabulous "blogazine Stacy Knows , 8 years ago, at the same time I started writing DivaDebbi.  Just as I was the always sharing my beauty and fashion tips with my friends, Stacy is every one's go-to Girl for connecting them to whatever was new and happening in Westchester County and now the Hampton's. She heard, the refrain, "Stacy Knows", often enough among her social circle, to make it Blog title. Love that!

We have been on each other's radar for years and not surprisingly, have mutual friends.  Our worlds finally collided at Richards, where I am the Personal Shopper. Stacy was shopping with her best friend Camille, who turns out is an old friend of mine.  Hugs and kisses all around!

Stacy is a fan of my Polyvore fashion sets and asked if I would like to collaborate from time to time on our blogs. Whoop, whoop and yes! So by way of introduction, now you too know Stacy Knows, and if you live in our neck of the world, it's truly a daily must read.

Above is a fashion set I curated exclusively for Stacy Knows, which includes the biggest summer fashion trends.  You can find these looks at every price point, so being on trend, has never been easier. Summer fashion is always a bit disposable anyway...

Maybelline Brow Define & Fill Duo

Maybelline Brow Define & Fill Duo
$7.99 Available in 4 Shades

I always wait faaaaarrr too long between professional brow grooming appointments.  Somehow, I miss the fact that it's not just a stray hair or two that has shown regrowth. The whole shape and arch somehow changes, and who can deny their brows look better after being freshly shaped and dyed if necessary?

All of a sudden my eyes appear bigger and I look more refreshed and polished...yet I know, brow tending will always slide to the bottom of the "maintenance" queue.  Perhaps if I was growing a unibrow between visits it would be a different story. Anyway, just a gentle reminder to tend to your brows STAT and not by the person who just did your pedicure, but someone who is passionate and experienced at tending to brows.

You need it and won't know it until you walk out with them done. Trust moi.

Newly improved, I went browsing for brow products at CVS.  I've bought several new ones over the last few months, but had not yet found my Holy Grail brow product...until now!