1st Day of Christmas

Today is Christmas Eve, my favorite day of the year! All of the kids will be super excited with anticipation of Santa, and I get to see family I only see once a year. Today's article will be short, I have way too much to do today!

I've saved the most simple, but important, tasks you need to do to look absolutely perfect for Christmas. Pick your shades! Pick your shadows, blush and lip color, and have them all ready to apply easily for Christmas. Chances are you will be extra busy tomorrow and won't have that much time to coordinate all your colors, so doing it a day ahead will give you a little relief tomorrow.

Pick shades that work best for your coloring. Something warm and festive, but try to stay neutral in one area. You know how they say neutral eye, dark lip and dark eyes, neutral lip? Stick with it, don't wind up looking like a Christmas nightmare.

I will be working a snow princess-esque look with icy, pearly white and grey smokey eyes and a light pink lip. I'm keeping the bronzer off and working extra highlighted and light pink blush.

What are your shades for Christmas? Have a wonderful holiday everyone!

2nd Day of Christmas - Nail the Perfect Manicure!

One of the most looked over aspects of your beauty regime might be right at your fingertips. You can look your best, with the best hair and makeup you can make, ith naked nails and overgrown cuticles, you may feel a little self conscious.  That's why giving yourself a great manicure, complete with a great holiday-esque nail color is a great way to make your look complete.

The most important thing to remember when giving yourself a manicure is to buy a cheap buffer. This buffing block (along with your file) is all you should need to give yourself a quick, 10 minute manicure. After you file your nails into the shape you favor, go over your entire nails with the buffer. It will get rid of any uneven areas of your nails and cut down on the sharp edges a file can make. I also find that by buffing my nails, I can make my manicure last longer.

Find a great base coat that will help your nails by conditioning them while you show them off. My favorite nail polish company is Zoya, who boast about having the longest lasting toxic free nail polish in the industry. They also have the fasted drying top coat around. Their base coat, Anchor base coat, retails for $8 and keeps my polish from chipping way longer than anything else I've ever tried. Coat your nails with a thin base coat and you will be ready to add the color of your choice!

Unlike most blog entries I've read pushing the new China Glaze holiday set, I will be sticking with Zoya and telling you about my favorite holiday set by them! Their Mini Glam Nail Polish Trio offers three sparkly colors perfect for this time of year. Although they're mini bottles, it'd be a great way for you to test out the brand. Colors included are Nova, Astra and Luna. Nova and Astra are perfect for the holidays, and Luna is great for giving you disco ball nails for New Years Eve parties! For $15, you can't beat this set!

After you choose the color you like best, add two thin coats to each of your nails. Clean up around the skin if you've missed your nail at all or gotten a little too wild with your brush by using a q-tip and some nail polish remover. Add a clear top coat to seal in all your hard work and your nails are ready to go!

Tomorrow is my last article in this series, and it will be a short one since it's Christmas Eve!

3rd Day of Beauty - Exfoliate Your Lips!

The key to perfectly pouty, soft lips is not only moisturizing, but to also slough off those dead skin cells. Think about it: no matter how much lip gloss you put on, if your lips aren’t smooth the gloss will just coat your flakes. Soft, plumpy lips are one of the most alluring features a woman can flaunt, but exfoliating your lips is something most women never think to do. It will change how your lips look in more ways than one.


There are three great reasons to exfoliate lips:

1. Ridding your lips of dead skin cells

2. Making your lips more susceptible to moisturizers

3. Giving your lips a great, natural color

There are some products out there that are great for helping you to exfoliate your lips. The key to finding a great product is to feel it on your own skin and make sure it’s not too granulated. I’ve tried one lip product in the past (I can’t remember the name, unfortunately), that had pieces of pumice in it. It had rhyolite in it, which is pulverized volcanic rock that doesn’t disintegrate or lose any harshness as you rub. I rubbed very gently, but still came away with little cuts on the outside of my lips and a bright red mouth for days.

The best lip exfoliants are products that have gentle emollients, usually natural ingredients. I’ve had excellent experiences with Be Fine Lip Exfoliator, and since it’s available at Ulta and some Rite Aids for only $20, it’s a great product to try. Pineapple, almond meal and sesame oil are some of the active ingredients in this product, and important ones at that. Pineapple has enzymes in it that help with exfoliation, almond meal soothes irritated skin (by exfoliating you’re actually irritating, on a small scale) and sesame oil acts as a deep moisturizer.

Another great lip exfoliator can be made by you! With some simple ingredients you can whip up a great treatment whenever you deem necessary. Take some olive oil and brown sugar, mix quickly until you see it become slightly pastey. Add in a tiny amount of cayenne pepper to the mixture, stir in and rub on your lips with your finger. It will taste a little weird, so don’t try to eat it, but it’ll be a great way for you to save some money.

I've also heard another method of exfoliating by using a toothbrush and a little lotion. Never tried this, but I think using a toothbrush would be a bit harsh on your lips. You never want to push too hard when exfoliating, and a toothbrush could definitely cause there to be more pressure on your lips than your finger would. Also, lotion might not be the best thing to ingest...

After exfoliating, always make sure to apply a lip moisturizer just to keep all of your skin hydrated. Try exfoliating your lips today and see how much better your lips look!

4th Day of Beauty - Moisturize to the Nines!

On a cold, blistery day like today, I'm reminded of how important it is to keep EVERYTHING moisturized: your body, lips, hands, hair, and even inside your body. My fourth day of beauty is for you to concentrate on moisturizing and hydrating yourself.

I've already discussed moisturizing your scalp and hair with a hot oil treatment, so that should all be in check. I've also told about my love for Carmex to keep your lips moisturized. Keeping your skin hydrated can be one of the most challenging objectives for anyone's beauty routine, mostly because there are so many products out there, it takes so much time out of your day, and it's a daily process that you need to keep up with to see long term results.

I'm sure you've all heard the talk about your skin being the biggest organ in (or on) the human body. Seriously, it's time to take care of your skin. I've made a pact to lather on the lotion every time I shower, and you should too. There are tons of body products out there, and tons of stores that claim they sell the best ones...but how do you pick something that's right for you?

Don't be fooled by price. Sometimes the most expensive products aren't the best, and there are cheaper alternatives that work just as well, if not better. My favorite budget body product has always been Vaseline. Vaseline petrolium jelly, Vaseline lotion...I haven't found something that treats your skin better.

I've been a fan of Johnson & Johnson baby lotions as well, but be wary: sometimes these baby lotions and oils don't benefit your skin as much as others can. They have no anti-aging ingredients, no ingredients to help tighten and tone skin, which is something you can definitely get from a Vaseline product. Try out Vaseline Firming for a great way to tighten and moisturize.

My hands are the driest part of my body, and since I'm constantly washing them throughout the day, it's hard to keep something on them at all times. I've bought tons of advanced and expensive This is where Gold Bond Ultimate Healing Lotion comes in handy.

It comes in a huge bottle at an inexpensive price ($9.99 for a 14 oz bottle, and perfect for your desk or over your kitchen sink) and stays on through a gentle handwashing. It comes in smaller bottles that you can carry around in your purse as well. Gold Bond has a wide array of products that are medicated, or not, and really improve the texture of your skin.

Lastly, make sure you moisturize yourself from the inside. Drinking water is the most improtant thing you can do for yourself. It helps your organs function better, eliminates toxins better from your system, and helps your skin glow. I know that they say you should drink 8 8 fluid ounce glasses a day, but for some people that is too much. Take your weight and divide it by two. This is how many ounces you should drink a day. Try to get as close to this number as you can! Drink! Lots of water! Cut down on the alcohol (I know it will be hard during the holiday season).

Make sure every day you think about hydrating yourself, and you will see the difference it makes in all aspects of your appearance and health!

5th Day of Beauty - Get Great Brows!

My favorite thing in the world, and the part of everyone’s face that I’m most critical about is eyebrows. It’s become a growing obsession…a joke between my friends and I that I can’t seem to break away from. I’ve found myself thinking critically about children’s eyebrows. After meeting someone new, the first thing I say to whoever I’m with is either ‘I like their eyebrows’ or ‘their eyebrows need work’. You thought I was kidding when I said obsession, huh?


Eyebrows truly frame a person’s face, and for me, are a sign of how well-kempt someone is. It takes only minutes a day to trim, shape, or manage your eyebrows once you have a shape that works for your face, and I can’t see how someone wouldn’t want to take that time to do something so simple that can change their whole face.

There are tons of products out there to help you get a great shape for your brows. From stencils to home wax kits, the consumer market knows people are looking for a way to shape up their brows themselves. Be wary of these products: failure to use them properly isn’t uncommon, and a slip-up with home wax kits or going a little too wild with your tweezers and a stencil can be catastrophic to your face.

My suggestion? Go get your brows done professionally. Getting your brows done isn’t expensive, and it will completely change the shape, thickness and appearance of your brows. They know how to shape them for your face, so ignore all the stuff you hear about high arches, round arches, etc. If you’re afraid of waxing, (remember, wherever wax goes, it must be ripped off) please be aware that waxing is an entire class in beauty school, and as long as you have an esthetician that is certified, you should be safe. Some people feel waxing gives you a harsher look and lines that are more severe, but I think if you go to a good wax expert you won’t have a problem.

For those that are wary of the hot wax that tears your hair out of your face, there’s threading. Threading seems to be a growing phenomenon – there are two threading booths in my mall alone. I’ve heard things such as ‘it gives you a softer look’ or ‘it doesn’t hurt at all’…I think it’s a bunch of bull. Anything that rips hair from the follicle is going to hurt, and unless the person is trying to give you a softer look, you won’t get one.

For those of you who don’t know about threading, it’s an ancient practice that involves thread (like, the stuff you sew with) which is twisted and pressed up against the hairs you are trying to remove. Often the people shaping your brows make you hold your own skin, or hold different parts of your face while you’re getting it done, which is kind of annoying to me. Tons of my friends are obsessed with threading, sometimes going once every week or two weeks. I think this is a total waste of money as long as you can invest in a good pair of tweezers.

To get great brows for Christmas, go to a professional to get them shaped. This will only put you out $10 to $15, and it’s definitely worth it. Right after your appointment, go buy a great pair of tweezers! Get a pair that’s slanted, not super pointy like a needle (they’re too difficult to maneuver). The key to keeping a great shape to your brow is to keep up with them. I’ve only gotten my eyebrows waxed twice in about ten years, and never had to go back again because I tweeze daily. Before you put on your eye makeup, tweeze whatever stray hairs you see. It will only take minutes a day, and saves you money and time in the long run.

Next, buy an eyebrow comb: totally inexpensive and totally necessary to me. These little brushes cost as little as $2, and that’s all you’ll need to spend to get something that works. Comb your brows into the shape your brow artist formed, and straighten them out so they don’t look all straggly. I’ve heard methods of keeping your brows in this position by spraying the brush with hairspray and combing through, but I don’t think there’s anything good about putting hairspray onto your skin. This can clog your pores, and often leaves white dust on your eyebrows. Not pretty. Instead, use a great clear mascara or eyebrow ‘glue’ type of product (my favorite is Modelco’s Brow Control) that can keep your brows from curling and getting all crazy throughout the day.

Before applying this, however, check your eyebrows and see if there are any areas that are a little too light. Being a natural blonde, I have eyebrows that are a little light in some spots. I know some women with platinum eyebrows (my mother for one!) that you can’t see unless you line them. Be wary of eyebrow powders, they don’t stay on well and can smear into your eye makeup.

I’ve invested in ybf Beauty’s transforming eyebrow pencil and can’t live without it. It comes in one brown color and changes to suit your color depending on the pressure you apply when drawing. It also has a great mascara wand on the other end that you can use as an eyebrow comb (who doesn’t like two products in one!?). Comb your brows in place and shade your brows with short, dashing motions. Apply lightly at first and darken if you deem necessary. Concentrate on giving yourself a nice, strong arch – it will define your eyes and give you an ultra-sexy look. After penciling in any spots that need some help, use your brow ‘glue’. This will keep your brows looking exactly how you want them throughout the day.

You will see a huge difference in how your face and makeup look when your brows are done. Use today to get your brows fixed up, and keep them in shape for the next couple of days so they’re perfect for Christmas. You will thank me when you see how much more amazing you look when your makeup is finished on the big day!

6th Day of Beauty - Concentrate on Your Eyes!

Sunday- the perfect day to relax after a stressful week of pre-Christmas shopping and festivities. Yesterday I spent my day baking holiday cookies I could give away as gifts…definitely exhausted after six hours of baking! Today would be the perfect day to treat yourself and relax for a bit while your man watches football (you can join in if that’s your thing, I’ve always been a hockey girl myself).


One of the biggest complaints women have as skincare consumers is that they want their eye area to look better. Whether it be shedding themselves of wrinkles, making dark circles disappear, or draining puffiness around the eye contour area. The biggest giveaways of your age, no matter how old or young you are, is your eyes. Your eye area is the most sensitive and delicate skin on your entire body and face, reason being it’s so thin and you have little to no fat underneath that skin.

You can be as young as your teens when you first start showing signs of aging around your eyes, especially if you’re not careful when cleansing and don’t moisturize the area well. I’ll give you a couple of reasons you may start to see signs of aging around the eye area, and show you some ways you can stop or delay that process.

One of the biggest mistakes I’ve ever seen people make with their eye area comes with cleansing or rubbing. Cleansing is something we do every day, sometimes twice a day, but women don’t necessarily pay very good attention to how they remove their eye makeup. Buy a great eye makeup remover, I suggest Talika’s Gentle Eye Cleanser, which cleanses and conditions your eye area at the same time. NEVER use a washcloth and scrub that area of your face! It’s a recipe for disaster in more ways than one.

The hardest rule I ever gave myself is to never rub my eyes. Rubbing your eyes can do anything from breaking small blood vessels around the eye contour area (which leads to dark circles or broken veins) to breaking capillaries within your eye. The more you rub, the more you break down the skin around your eyes, which will make it harder for you to fix after the damage is already done.

Dry skin around the eyes is also a dangerous beauty predicament. Dehydrated skin around your eyes can advance the aging process and show wrinkles very early. Remember when I wrote about the dry patch on my eyelid, and told about how I had a double flap of skin over my eyelid? It’s not an uncommon problem for those who have dry skin in this area. Make it a habit of keeping your eye contour area moisturized and this won’t be a problem for you!

I think ladies as young as fifteen to sixteen should start using an eye cream. I’ve used anti-aging eye serums since I was seventeen years old, developing a deathly fear for crow’s feet and saggy eyelids at an early age. My eye cream when I was younger was Clinique’s All About Eyes, an inexpensive great eye treatment that kept my skin in great condition for years. I’ve always been prone to dark circles under my eyes, and this cream took care of that while adding brightness to my skin.

I started using an anti-aging product not too long ago, Payot’s Rides Relax Regard, a great serum that takes care of first signs of aging. I love how great my eye contour area has been looking since I’ve started using it, and I don’t want to change it until I find something better! It takes care of my usual dark circles, as well as keeping my lids in tip top shape. My skin around my eyes is tight and soft, well moisturized and handles all cosmetics well because of it.

One of the newest innovations in the eye care area is the roller ball technique of applying your eye treatment. Brands from all price brackets are taking part in this roller ball, from Garnier to Clinique and Sampar. How does it work? The steel ball at the tip of the eye product allows for drainage around the contour area while applying. The product comes out from around the ball, and you apply by gently circling your lower eye and lid area. If you put your product in the fridge, this can be a refreshing way to apply a routine skincare item.

I’ve heard great things about rollerball products, mostly because you don’t do damage when applying the product with your fingers. Most women add all skincare products to their faces using either their index or middle fingers. These fingers are too strong to apply and eye cream, and if using these two, it can actually damage the area as you apply (kind of redundant). The only finger that is weak enough to apply your eye cream without damaging that area is your ring finger. I apply my eye cream with my ring fingers every night.

Today you should concentrate on finding a great eye contour care product. If you don’t have an eye makeup remover, go to your local drugstore and purchase one- you will see a difference in the area right away. The best drugstore brands I know of are Pond’s and L’Oreal. Be consistent with removal, and use a soft cotton pad with your product.

Curious about the rollerball eye treatments? Pick up a Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller (only around $13). If you already have a trusty eye care product, start applying with your ring fingers to ensure yourself you won’t cause any additional damage!

Start treating your eyes well this week and you will see a huge difference by Christmas! Enjoy your Sunday and check back tomorrow for a very important step in Fatal Attraction Beauty’s 12 Days of Beauty!

7th Day of Beauty - Treat Your Tresses

Christmas is a week from now! We're only seven days away, friends!

Around a week ago I wrote about how important deep conditioning is for your hair. Today, a week prior to Christmas, is a great day to treat both your hair and your scalp to a moisture bath. There are many methods of locking moisture into your hair, whether it be hair masks or deep conditioners, but not many of these treatments are good for your scalp. The most important thing to remember when it comes to hair is that a healthy scalp brings healthy hair, so you should really take good care of it.


What can you do to moisturize your scalp and hair at the same time? My favorite hair treatment of all: hot oil. There are tons of different hot oil treatments out there, and it can be difficult to pick the right one. If you go to Walgreens or CVS, chances are you won’t have as many options as you would at a beauty supply store. While VO5 treatments are the most popular and affordable, they aren’t the best you can find.

My favorite hot oil treatment is Proclaim Olive Hot Oil. At $0.99 a bottle (one treatment per bottle) it’s extremely affordable and available from Sally Beauty Supply. Coming from an Italian family, we are taught all the benefits of olive oil in the old country. My ancestors apparently used olive oil for everything…hand and face moisturizer, lip conditioner, even to help keep a regular digestive system…why wouldn’t we put it on our hair too?

To use the hot oil treatment most effectively, place the tube you choose into hot tap water to warm up. Shower and shampoo as you regularly do, and towel dry your hair once you’re finished. Open the hot oil treatment and apply liberally to your scalp. Work through with your fingers, again, concentrating first on your scalp, and then working through the rest of your hair. This treatment is even better if you have someone that can rub it into your scalp for you…it’s extremely relaxing, and who doesn’t like a great scalp massage?

Once you’ve worked the oil through your hair (use up the entire bottle) place a shower cap over your head and wait ten to fifteen minutes. If you have long hair, feel free to clip it up so you don’t have to worry about it falling out of the cap. I stay in the steamy bathroom while I wait for my hot oil treatment to finish. The heat in the bathroom helps the oil stay active for a longer period of time than it would if you were in a room temperature atmosphere.

Once your ten to fifteen is up, jump back in the shower and rinse out your hair. IMPORTANT TIP: make sure you soap up your back, shoulders, chest and face so the oil doesn’t sit on your skin and clog your pores. Once you’re finished in the shower, I suggest you give your hair some time to rest. Comb out gently with a wide tooth comb, and if you must blow dry, don’t dry your hair completely.

You will see a difference in your hair’s shine, softness and manageability. Your scalp will feel refreshed and comfortable. I try to do a hot oil treatment at least once a month, but in the summer I treat my hair more frequently to keep my hair and scalp protected from the heat and chlorinated pool water. The results last quite a while, and you will realize how helpful this is once you see the results you get!

Your scalp and hair will be in great shape for Christmas!

8th Day of Beauty - Detox Your Skin

With the winter in full blast pretty much all across the country, chances are your skin is starting to get flakey, dry and dull. Even if your skin isn’t looking that bad, now is a great time to detox your skin, clear out those pores and really get glowing for Christmas. By detoxing a week before the holiday, you give your skin enough time to completely cleanse itself and clear up any zits that may arise from the cleansing. My favorite way to detox is to use a great masque.


The first step to any skin detox plan is to cleanse thoroughly with your usual cleanser. I wouldn’t suggest you try a new cleanser right now, your skin may have a negative reaction…no one wants to risk that. A great way to get deep into those pores and exfoliate well is to use some kind of scrubbie.

I know tons of people who are in love with the Clairsonic- I have this tool but never really got into it. I hate charging things, especially when I need to use them every day. My personal favorite (and a LOT cheaper at about $2) is a basic Buf Puf style exfoliating sponge. You can get these from any drug store and only need a small amount of your cleanser to make a great lather on it. Scrub your face really well with this and your skin will be in great condition for the next detox steps.

The most effective way to open your pores is with heat or steam. Open pores means the treatments you will be doing can work to their full potential. Take a nice, hot shower and use a scrub on your body. My favorite is Perlier’s Pomegranate Scrub; it’s great smelling and really works into your skin. Take some extra time on your elbows and anywhere else you may have some dry patches. Rinse off well.

My favorite masks to purify and cleanse are clay based. I’ve tried tons of different masks that claim they will clear your pores and smooth your skin, but nothing really happens. The mask I’ve had flawless results with time and time again is Payot’s Masque Purifiant. This masque is perfect for oily to combination skin, helping to tighten pores and eliminate imperfections. This is great as a spot treatment to use overnight as well! If you don’t have a clay masque you can use, visit your local Ulta or Sephora and speak to one of the skincare experts- they can set you up with a product that will work great with your skin type.

Don’t be stingy when applying! Put a nice, thick coat of whichever mask you choose to your entire face, avoiding the eye area. I apply all the way under my chin onto my neck, making sure to cover my jaw line completely. Take some time and let the masque do it’s magic. It may be hard, but try not to talk for the fifteen to twenty minutes it’s on (this way it doesn’t crack). I would take this time to put a great moisturizer on your body.

Try a body butter or something extra thick that can really seep into that freshly scrubbed skin. I switch up body lotions all the time, but one of my favorites to use is also by Perlier, Mediterraneum Super Nurturing Body Butter with Sea-extracts. Don’t feel like waiting that long for the body product to seep in? Try a light, non-greasy fluide that allows you to get dressed right away.

After your masque is completely dry, remove with a soft terry washcloth and warm water. Your skin will feel completely retexturized, smoothed and tight. I always use an astringent or toner to make sure I’ve gotten the entire product off before moisturizing. When you wash off your masque, you will need to apply a cream to rehydrate and restore some oils to your skin. Use your regular moisturizer on your face, neck and décolleté.

There are tons of other products you can use to detox your skin, including peels, foaming masques and serums. When I don’t feel like waiting for my masque to dry, I use Sampar’s Equalizing Foam Peel to detox my skin. It’s a two minute treatment that uses essential oils and probiotics to rid your face of dead skin cells.

Try out some different products and see what works best for you. While some products can cause a negative reaction at first, (afterall, you are trying to rid your pores of all that dirt and oil) clay masques are usually gentle but effective enough for all skin types. By giving your face and body great treatments, your skin will be radiant for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!

9th Day of Beauty - Find the Perfect Accessories

We all know the best way to make any great outfit even better is to accessorize. Where can you get great accessories that won’t break your bank during the season when most of us have absolutely no money? And how do you accessorize without looking like you got lost in your grandmother’s costume jewelry drawer?

First off, remember that accessories aren’t limited just to jewelry. Think of all the other places you can wear a little sparkle: your hair, belts, shoes, even your glasses (if you need them, no poked out lenses please) can add a ton to your style! If you have longer hair, you can pretty much add anything to it to bedazzle yourself a little more. Headbands, clips and great gem-encrusted hair ties can really bring your hairstyle over the top.

My favorite place to get hair accessories? A great website named Dressy Tresses. They may be a little more on the pricey side, but the quality is great, and it definitely wins over all the cheaper places that sell accessories. They use great crystals that don't fall out if the items are dropped or messed with. Also, unlike some accessories that seem to have great crystals, they don't get dull or lose any of their sheen over time.

I probably have the biggest hips in the world for someone my weight, so I usually buy all my belts from New York & Co. I actually just bought a great black sparkle belt from there for $12! Not all of their belts are so blinged out, but they definitely are tough enough to make you look a little hardcore.

The only other place I've been able to find belts is Burlington Coat Factory, but it's totally a hit or miss type of store. Since Burlington is kind of like TJ Maxx and Marshalls (they get all the overstocks from great brands that have nowhere else to sell) the types of products they have change every time you go. Burlington is definitely my favorite place for shoes, though!

So where's the best place to buy some high quality costume jewelry? Ugh, there's so many I can't pinpoint one! If you're going for something with higher quality, New York & Co can help you out there. Their prices are slightly higher to go along with the great quality. Charlotte Russe, Claire's and Target all have great accessories that hold up pretty well for a cheap price.

Don't forget you can always wear your REAL jewelry too, but keep it to a minimum. I know someone, who shall remain nameless, that has somewhat of an obsession with jewelry and wears multiples to the max. Rings on every finger for both hands, multiple necklaces and crazy amounts of bracelets...the walking jackpot for criminals. Don't draw this much attention to yourself, you will definitely look ridiculous.

 

If you're wearing your hair back, try wearing a great pair of chandelier earrings with some great colored crystals. Remember, you don't have to match your outfit, wear whatever color you think works well with your ensemble. Wearing something a little lower cut? Go with a sexy drop necklace that will draw just enough attention to that area (please, don't wear an over the top necklace that makes your chest look like a huge reflective sign). My favorite necklaces have a little shine, but are mostly earthy looking stones that accentuate the colors I'm wearing.

It's Christmas...all about peace, love and joy. Try to make amends with family members you may not get along with that well. The accessories you choose can be great conversation starters to work with family members you don't necessarily mesh with.

 

What is your favorite way to accessorize? Do you have a go-to place for your accessory needs?

10th Day of Beauty - Pick & Play with Your Hair Tools

My new obsession as my hair is continuing to grow is all the different hair tools out there that I haven’t been able to use in about four years. Before I chopped my hair off, I could have done anything to it, and it would hold. It was super long, super manageable and in great condition- all key factors in giving yourself a great heat style.


I’ve written recently about my love for Bed Head’s triple barrel waver, so I won’t gloat about it again (I do think, however, this is what I will use to style my hair for Christmas Eve). There are so many tools out there that can give your hair extra body, extra curl, make it extra flat and straight…anything you’re looking to achieve can be done!

So how do you pick the right tool to use to get you the ultimate look? More importantly, how do you pick the right style for the day? I’ll be telling you my favorite tools to get you the most popular hairstyles, and hopefully help you pick out what will work best for you on Christmas day.

Pin Straight Hair

I’ve love straightening my curly hair, mostly because it’s such a different look from what I’m used to seeing. I’ve gone through a couple of straighteners, but finally found two great tools that give me the best straight hair I can get. If you have super thick and super texturized hair (like me) it can be hard to find something that gets hot enough to work with your hair properly.

My favorite flat iron is a half-inch iron by Helen of Troy, which heats up to a crazy hot 450 degrees and never steers me wrong. It’s lined with the oh-so-popular ceramic plates, so it won’t damage your hair as much as some other tools do, and doesn’t snag individual strands. If you don’t need that much heat to work with your hair, there’s a great, easy to adjust heat toggle on the front that can range anywhere from 0 – 450 degrees.

Helen of Troy products are available at Sally’s Beauty Supply. If you’re not a fan of straighteners because of the horrible crease mishaps that can happen, you can always try my other favorite straightening tool, the InStyler!

InStyler…where do I start discussing my love for this tool? Well, let me start with the one negative I have about it: It freakin’ hurts when you burn yourself with it! I’ve never really burned myself with a heating tool before, but I seem to have horrible luck with this guy. Because of the bulky size, I’ve burned my ears, my neck, my scalp, my back and my fingers. A colleague at my last job used to burn her cheeks constantly from her InStyler. Maybe I just need to be more careful…

So what’s great about this tool? The rotating barrel and comb combination leave you with silky, beautifully straight hair with no frizz. It creates great flips, but can straighten your hair under as well. It also can create great body by pulling your hair out with the comb part underneath. It has three heat levels (I always leave mine the hottest) and if you’re an airhead like me, it has an automatic off if it’s left on and idle for too long. It’s a pricey item, but it’s been worth every penny since I got it!

Curly Hair

As mentioned in the 12th day of beauty article, big, soft curls are totally in this year, and I don’t see them going away anytime soon. I haven’t been able to do this style myself, but I’ve heard some great things about the Hot Tools 2111 Ceramic Tourmaline two inch curling iron. I’ve been told it heats up in a flash and the curls it creates come out perfectly big and bouncy. It heats up to 430 degrees and even comes with replacement springs, so if your curling iron pops you can fix it yourself. I’ve had the Hot Tools gigantic dinosaur straightener for more than eight years and it still works awesome.

Looking for tight, Shirley Temple curls? I’d go to Hot Tools for this also. They have a huge variety of different one inch curling irons that can definitely give you those adorable ringlets.

A few tips to remember when playing with heat tools:

• Don’t forget your heat protecting products. Use this before you dry your hair to make sure you don’t blow dry your hair to death or fry your ends. My favorite heat protecting tool is Sleek Look by Matrix. It’s a great crème that has always helped my hair by keeping it protected while I torture it.

• Make sure your hair is completely dry before you start styling with tools. Wet hair leads to crazy hot steam and burns, and also totally jacks up your hair.

• Day old dirty hair is the best for heat styles. The natural oils in your hair help to hold curls better than freshly cleaned hair.

• Hairspray should set every style you do. Don’t over-do it and give yourself crunchy hair though.

Playing around with the style before the day you will be wearing it is a great way to get adjusted and learn how to use your tools well. Practicing can give you ideas on how to style it once you get the texture you want, teach you what to do and what not to do while working with the tools, and show you how well your hair products will hold the style.

11th Day of Beauty - Find a Great Fragrance!

Now, I know this list of twelve things you should do to make yourself LOOK better, but come on people, if you look like a supermodel and smell like a litter box chances are you won’t leave a good impression on people you meet with. While looks are obviously super important, it’s actually smell that stays in people’s memory better. With all the great sales going on in department stores, why not take the opportunity to find a great fragrance for yourself?

The key to finding a perfume that you will wear daily is finding something that accentuates who you are. The problem I’ve had in the past with fragrances is they don’t really smell like something I’d like to get whiffs of all day long, or I get tired of them so quickly that they sit on my dresser and gather dust. If you find a scent that plays with the perception you want others to remember you by, you’ve hit the jackpot.

If you want people to remember you as someone fun or cute, go for a light, fruity scent. Want to be remembered as a sex kitten? Try something sultry and warm. Can’t decide what full sized fragrance you want to buy? There are tons of places you can go to help you achieve scent success.

Try going to Sephora and talking to one of the consultants about fragrances. You can tell them the scents you’ve liked in the past, things you have tried and hated, and they can try to name a fragrance for you. If you’re not sure if you like it, ask for a sample and test it out for a couple of days. The sales associates there are always willing to help you out with sampling.

If you’re a fan of Victoria’s Secret’s fragrances, they’ve come out with a great gift set of twelve of their best-selling scents. This is perfect to figure out if you like any of the new perfumes they’ve released in the last couple of years and is a great value at $25.

Victoria’s Secret also has tons of other gift sets containing their body sprays and bigger fragrance sizes available at great prices, often with a cute little bag or some kind of gift with purchase.

As I mentioned earlier about the department stores in the area, everything is on sale. If you're looking to give the gift of fragrance, check out the excellent box sets they are selling with an eau de parfum, body lotion and body spray, all scented the same. These are perfect for that person you know who has a signature fragrance they can't live without.

One fragrance I’ve been dying to try recently has been Shakira’s S…mostly because I am totally in love with her. Shakira just released her fragrance this year, around the same time that Beyonce released her scent, Heat.

Every time I’ve gone into the major department stores in my area, they have Shakira's S perfume there all boxed up, but no tester out. Hopefully I will be able to catch it out before Christmas, so this can be my new fragrance for the holidays!

What is your favorite fragrance and why? Do you think scents are important to someone’s overall appearance?

12th Day of Beauty - Get Inspired!

Find a great style on either a celebrity or something you’ve seen in a magazine that you’ve always wanted to try, and go for it! There are only a certain number of days in the year that you can go all out and try new things, why not make Christmas one of them?

Is there one look you’ve seen over and over again but never had the opportunity to try? Is there one celebrity whose style is so amazing that you’d want to give it a whirl? GO FOR IT! Whether it be their clothing, hair or makeup that you’re super impressed with, try your best to embody the style and make it your own.

Clothing, as mentioned in a previous article, has been sequined up, and I don’t see the trend ending anytime soon. Wear something that a celebrity who inspires you is known for, and bring their confidence with you wherever you go.

Soft curls have been all the rage this year (I can’t wait for my hair to get long enough so I can rock them myself!) and the one tool I can’t wait to try when my hair does get long enough is Infinit by Conair’s You Style Multi-Functional Styling Iron ($41.99).

This tool straightens (or de-frizzes) and creates perfect soft curls at the same time. I was absolutely amazed by the ads I've seen on television, and I feel it'd be perfect for people like me who have to straighten before curling, Like every Conair product I’ve tried, it’s inexpensive and gives you great value.

The makeup looks I’m hearing that are favorites this season? Plain and simple: Victoria’s Secret. The dreamy, sexy bedroom eye look has always been in, but the Victoria’s Secret fashion show this year blew everyone away.

To get this look, use soft and luminescent colors (pearly, not shimmery) in neutral tones close to your skin color. You will only need three shades besides your regular eyeliner and mascara: a highlighter, lid color and contour color. I’ve created my take on the Victoria's Secret eye below:

Highlighting Color: Wet N’ Wild’s Idol Eyes Crème Shadow in Pixie

Shadow Color: Being True’s Eye Shadow Pan in Sandstone

Contour Color: Being True’s Eye Shadow Pan in Myrrh

A few tricks to get this exact look (*NOTE: the flash has made the colors appear lighter):

• Apply a pencil that can smudge right into your lash line on the top as well as the bottom. Line your water line on top, but stay away from your water line on the bottom.

• Take a densely packed eyeshadow brush and add some color along the bottom lash line of your eye. I used the lighter color to add a little highlight.

• Pick a great mascara to volumize and lengthen your lashes. Try some false lashes for an over the top look.

Follow these steps pictured to get this great look! Want to make it a little extra sexy? Use some darker shades and stay with a nude lip.

Whatever it is that you’ve been dying to try, pick it out and try it out for Christmas! I know you will get tons of compliments, ensuring yourself of how beautiful you truly are!

12 Days of Beauty – The Most Essential Beauty Steps to Look Your Best for Christmas

As you all know, there aren't many days left until Christmas! If you’re anything like me, you’re beyond excited to see how happy everyone is when they unwrap the presents you purchased for them. It's crazy how quickly December comes and goes, and it's easy to forget some of your major beauty steps when you're lost in the hustle and bustle of the holidays.

I'm sure you're all completely sick of the common internet article theme of "12 Days of Christmas"...twelve items you can't live without, twelve holiday cookies that will be a hit, twelve foods that will make you fat during the holidays, etc, all filled with nauseating rhymes that are so tacky they makes your skin crawl. While I love getting into the holiday spirit, I don't want to do something that's been played out.

I've decided to go with the season but do something a little different. I will be writing a series of articles counting down something you can actually use: the twelve beauty steps you should take to be the best you by Christmas day. I love looking my best for family events, especially so you don't have any embarrassing pictures that may pop up in your future. I will be updating daily on steps I find essential when I get ready for a big day. I will be finishing them up on Christmas Eve so you are all set for Christmas day!

So prepare yourself for my 12 Days of Beauty and check back on FAB tomorrow for my Twelfth Day's essential step!

Sexy Purple Eye Makeup - A Different Smokey Eye

I've received a request on Facebook to show how to do a sexy smokey eye in either purple or black/grey...so I'm making this post to help a sista out! You will be surprised at how easy it is to apply these shades and to make this look work for you.

This look is one I use all the time when applying my makeup, and you can tweak it slightly to make it a really sexy look for any party. You can use any colors that are similar, but in this tutorial I've used two MAC shadows, Shale and Beauty Marked. Purples often enhance all eye colors, but specifically green and blue eyes. I will also be using my Emani Minerals White Gold as a highlighting shade.

STEP 1: After applying primer, foundation and powder to your eyes, apply your lighter color (in my case, Shale) to the entire lid with a regular shadow brush. Make sure to get the inner most corner of your eyes, while dragging it slightly over the crease of your eyes. Apply your highlighting color to your brow bone all the way to where the contour color ends. Don't do any blending yet, and don't overlap your contour color, or you will have to darken it again.

STEP 2: Now it's time to apply the contour shade (Beauty Marked) to the crease of your eye. Since my eyes are so deep, I turn my shadow brush sideways with the contour color on it, and apply a thicker line to the crease. Drag this slightly up onto your lower brow bone, being careful not too cut too far into the color on your lid. Also, try not to drag it too deep into the corner of your eye.

STEP 3: Time to add in the extra sexy: Take the same shade you contoured with and drag it straight up to your brow (not INTO your brow!) on the inner corner of your eye. While a lot of looks call for the colors to be flared out on the outer corner of your eyes, I find that by bringing it up in the inner corners, your eyes look much deeper and sexier. It also keeps the darker color closer to your iris, which, if the color you choose compliments the color of your eye, will enhance much better than on the outside corner. It may look a little crazy when you first put this on, but we'll fix it with some great blending.

STEP 5: Now it's time for that blending. Use a soft eye contour brush with long bristles to make your colors mesh perfectly. First, start by going onto your lid and softening the color variation between your lid and the bottom of your crease. This blending doesnt have to be perfect, just enough to not leave a harsh look.

Take your soft contour brush and dip it lightly into your contouring shade. Work your brush into the inner corner of your eye in small circular or dabbing motions, softening the color and taking out some of the harshness. Move your way down the crease of your eye in dabbing motions with the same brush. If you find that the color is starting to lighten or come off too much, feel free to continue dipping in your contour shade while dabbing. The blending you do here will effect the finished look. Try to really 'smoke it up' with your contouring brush, being careful not to drag it much further than what you originally applied.

STEP 7: If you've cut into your highlighter too much, you will need to reapply or touch up.  Clean off your soft contour brush and reapply your highlighter lightly.

STEP 8: Apply your liner. You can either use a great liquid liner or smudge on a pencil liner. I use black and go for the liquid liner look, but you can use purple as well. As mentioned earlier, if you're looking for a really smokey look you will get better results with a pencil. Apply a great mascara and you're finished! If you want extra sexy lashes, apply some false eyelashes using my last tutorial!

Here's a video on how I've followed the steps listed. Don't mind my gaping mouth, I have a cold!

False Eyelash Tricks & Tips

Wednesday, the work week is almost over, everyone!

I've received a request on Facebook from a reader who was asking me to tell some secrets about false eyelashes. False eyelashes are the one thing friends ask me most about, or ask me to do for them, since they can be trickly little suckers if you don't know how to apply them correctly. Here are a couple of tips I follow to apply strip falsies:

1. Pick the Right Style. There are tons of false eyelashes out there...expensive, inexpensive, crazy, natural, brown, black, separate and half-eye lashes...it can get confusing if you don't know which ones to pick for the look you're going for. When you get to your store of choice to purchase lashes, look at all available and imagine yourself wearing them.

If you pick ones that look full and voluptuous, beware: you may end up looking like a babydoll. If you pick ones that are too sparse, you may look like you're wearing nothing. My favorite ones for an every day look are from Walmart or Target and have a pattern of short and long lashes that will blend perfectly with your natural lashes. My favorite brands are Salon Perfect or Ardell Fashion.

If you're going all out with some crazy falsies, I say you go all out. Go for extra long and thick, rhinestone banded, anything you think is extra awesome.

2. Throw Away the Applicator! The applicator that comes with some falshe lashes makes no sense to me. I've actually attempted to put lashes on with this applicator, and got so aggrivated I gave it up. Some people use tweezers, I use my good ol' fingers- it gives you the best control.
3. Apply ALL of Your Makeup First. Put your eyeshadow on exactly how you want it to look when your makeup is completely finished. When putting on your eye liner, I tend to put a little bit of a thicker line than usual, so you can make sure the strip of your lashes is completely covered. If you read the directions on the packaging of your lashes, it will usually say that you should apply your mascara after your lashes are on...I don't follow that rule. Put on your mascara first, so you can see exactly how your lashes will look when you're finished.

4. Check the size of the lashes. When you first take the lashes off the tray, wiggle the band around with both hands to get the strip ready to bend naturally onto your lash line. There will be a little adhesive on the lashes that kept it on the tray, use this now to push the strip onto your lash line to get the perfect size. It won't stay on your eye, but will give you a good idea as to whether or not you have to trim them.
If the lash strip is too long for your eye, you're going to have to cut them. Size them up on your eye and place your fingers at the exact point where your lash line ends. I usually don't have to cut my lashes, but if I did I would most likely cut from the inside, or the shortest lashes.

5. Give the Glue Time to Tack Up. One of the biggest mistakes you can make when applying false lashes is putting on the glue and sticking it right to your eye. It's not going to stick! You should wait up to a minute before attempting to put the lashes onto your lash line. Also, you only need a THIN strip of glue. Don't overdo it! This will lead to more excess on your eyelid and more drying time.

These are a few essential steps when applying your false lashes. Onto Application:

I start from the outside in. After your glue as gotten sticky (you can test this with your finger) push the end of the lash strip to the outside corner of your eye, as close to your lash line as possible but not ON your lash line. Since your glue has gotten tacky, you're not going to have to hold this section on as you move onto the rest of your eye.

Continue pushing the lashes onto your lash line using both hands. Keep your eye half closed; if you angle your face down slightly it can give you a better view of your lash line. Push the strip onto your lash line in little sections until you get into the inside corner of your eye. Once you're there, make sure you don't shove it into the corner of your eye.

Stop where your lashes end naturally (this should be simple since this is where you cut the lashes before to fit perfectly) and hold the corners on your eye for a couple of seconds. Keep your eye closed so you're not blinking and moving the strip around. Move onto your other eye and follow the same process.

Once you're finished, give your eyes a good look. Make sure there is no gap between your lash line and the lashes you applied. If you feel like you want your lashes to blend better, give them a couple of minutes to completely dry up and apply an extra coat of mascara.

Here is a video of how I apply my own lashes:



** The lashes I used were by Salon Perfect, #53.

Super Shimmery Eyeshadow - Perfect Holiday Item?

Good Monday everyone! Happy Chanukah to all of you who celebrate, and I hope your festivities are going wonderfully. Luckily I got the rest of my holiday shopping done, so I don't have to step foot into a mall unless I decide to lose my sanity for a bit.

My family, boyfriend and I visited New York City and Rockefeller Center this Saturday to see the tree, and boy was it FRIGID! I did notice a couple of beauty trends as I was walking around and going into all the best cosmetic stores...two of which were neon pink blush (no bueno) and ridiculously shimmery eyeshadows.

First off, the blush I saw on some women as I was strolling the streets was slightly horrifying. Nothing is more frightening to me than hot pink or bright peach blush layered onto lovely faces. Please, NEVER, EVER apply more than just a slight hint of color to your cheeks. I'd love to give these women the benefit of the doubt and assume it was a combination of blush and bitter cold that gave them this baby doll look, but I don't think that's true...

Now, onto a trend I'm kind of falling in love with: super shimmery eye shadows. The Sephora home page for the month of December greets you with an adorable model who's eyes are bedazzled. Even when watching the NYC tree lighting on TV last week, the shimmery eye shadows were blowing my mind! So what are the pros and cons of this glittery shadow?

PROS:

• Feeling like a glam princess! Nothing screams glamorous more than bright, glittery shadows that make you look and feel like you're a diva.
• Catching everyone's attention. With eyes that capture the light and shine on, you will surely get everyone to check you out. And as long as you apply to your lid and slightly over your crease ONLY, it'll be for all the right reasons.
• Allowing your gorgeous face to get as much attention as your super sequined outfits. The big fashion trend right now is sequins on everything. Sequined dresses, sequined leggings, sequined sequins...how do you get people to look at your face when you're wearing clothes that make you look like a disco ball? Give your eyes a little sparkle and see how quick the attention goes to your pretty peepers.

CONS:

• Shimmer everywhere! If you're not careful with your application, you can get glitter everywhere...your cheeks, your forehead, and if you're like me, even in your eyes. You have to be extra careful when applying these shimmery shadows, since they have bigger particles that can get into your eyes and actually scratch your corneas if you rub (this has happened to me, and take my word for it, it's horrible). Getting the shimmer on your cheeks and rest of your face is an easy fix, but getting it in your eyes, not so great. If you don't have a brush that holds your shadows tight during application, go for a cream or gel shadow that won't budge. One of my favorites? Sephora's Glitter Cream Eyeshadow. They have a set of four on sale now for $20!
• Not-so-great pictures. When your eyeshadow shines, great pictures could be a tricky thing to achieve. Think of that flash that blinds you after you take a picture, and imagine it reflecting right off your eyelids. It doesn't wind up so pretty. Holidays are a big time to get pictures with your loved ones, and you don't want to be the one asking for another picture every time that shutter goes off. How do you avoid this? Try to angle your face slightly down and look up into the picture to avoid getting too much of your glittery eyelid in the picture. You can also try to shut the flash off if it seems plausible.
• Over-Doing it. Nothing is worse than seeing someone with the same color eyeshadow up to their eyebrows. Same goes for these shadows. When you have extra glitter on your eyes, remember that you can stop slightly above the lid and get a great look. You don't necessarily need to blend different colors together or even use a contour color in your crease. Take it easy with these shadows and remember that fewer colors lead to better results.

Try out a couple of different application techniques and see what works best for your eye shape and size. Not sure what color to try out? Silver works great with almost everyone, while blues and greens work great on those with darker eyes. So would you want to try out wearing these crazy shimmery eyeshadows? Go for it!

Product Review: DuWop Lip Venom

Have you been trying to get those sexy, full, juicy looking lips, but haven't found any products to get you that look? Do you love super shiny lips but hate feeling like everything you pass will wind up stuck to your smoocher?

I've tested out what seems like millions of lip plumpers and always find something wrong with them. Either the color is totally not what I expected, they don't actually do any 'plumping', or the opposite, they plump so much I feel my lips are going to burn off. It's hard to find a lip plumping product that's absolutely perfect, but I feel DuWop's Lip Venom ($16) is as close to perfect as possible!

This lip plumper (also available at Sephora) gives your lips a great shine. Unlike most products that are extra shiny, this gloss is smooth and tack free, so you don't feel like you'll get stuck indefinitely to the next person you kiss.

Since Lip Venom clear, it can work with any other lip product. If you're looking to get the ultimate plumping effect, use a light coat of Lip Venom first, and follow up with the color of your choice. If you put on the color first, the plumping isn't as effective.

The active ingredients that do the plumping are actually essential oils, so you don't have to worry about any drying agents like menthol. The tingle you feel is gentle- just enough to let you know its working. All the fine lines and any dry spots you'd have on your lips are filled out completely, and there is a visible change in your lips' fullness.

The only con I find about the product is that the little applicator brush is easy to drop...especially if you're applying somewhere where you can be bumped (i.e. a nightclub or bar). I wish it came with a great roller ball or a bigger wand.

I've been using Lip Venom on my lips for years. My lips are DEFINITELY not the biggest or the fullest, and on the days when I want to look a little extra sexy, this is always my go-to product! DuWop also has lots of other great products that I'd love to try soon!

What is your favorite lip plumping product?

Product Review: Leonor Greyl Masque Fleurs de Jasmin

Attempting to grow my hair out has been a traumatic process. In July, after growing it for about five months, my hair stylist (I should say, EX HAIR STLYIST) chopped my hair to what I thought was the point of no return. After another five months, I'm finally getting somewhere. Recently a good friend who is an amazing hair stylist work on my head to give me a beautiful updo. I was shocked when she said my hair was in such great condition, considering I haven't gotten it cut in such a long time.

I think one of the reasons my hair is so healthy and smooth is due to Leonor Greyl's Fleurs de Jasmin hair mask. I got this product last year from a blogger convention and have been in love with it since I started using it. I've used it as a weekly treatment for about eight months now (I think since I have such short hair, the life of this product has been rediculous) and it's been working wonders on the texture of my hair.

Having curly hair, I've always had issues with frizz. When I straighten my hair, it gets extremely puffy. I've been looking for a great conditioning treatment for quite some time, and finally got it. This hair mask has given moisture back to my hair, and locks it in so it lasts all week. Frizz is no more, my curls hold great shape and aren't weighed down, since this deep treatment is SO light. When I straighten my hair, there is no more puffiness.

I've tried a ton of different deep conditioners and hair masks but have never experienced the results I've gotten from Leonor Greyl's. This tub of hair goodness is $57, and worth every penny!

Have you had any experiences with deep conditioners or hair masks?

Winter Skin Problems...Starting Already!?

Hope everyone had a GREAT Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday! I spent all of my money on Black Friday, so I wasn't able to take advantage of the great online deals I was sent from E.L.F. Cosmetics and Tarte Cosmetics (boo no money!). Somehow, even though Thanksgiving was last Thursday, I'm finding it impossible to believe that it's already the end of November. Unfortunately, my skin has been reminding me for quite some time...

There are always the usual winter problems I have, which occur because I'm often too lazy or too cold when I get out of the shower to lather on the lotion: itchy skin all over, rough patches on my arms, and alligator skin on my legs. These don't usually start until January for me, and considering it's been an unseasonably warm November in New Jersey, I'm surprised at how itchy I am already!

I am making a conscious effort to use Vaseline's Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning Lotion every day. This is a great cheap lotion that smells great and really leaves skin luminous! It doesn't leave your skin greasy or take long to seep into your skin, so you don't have to wait forever to get dressed after applying. This is my favorite all over body lotion to use, and is available at all drug stores so you can give it a try yourself!

One of my other big problems I have in the winter is probably 99% my fault. I'm all for flawless makeup- I love great looking skin, great eye makeup...and then the lips. Somehow I always forget the lips. If I apply lipstick or gloss at the beginning of the day (or night) it's usually the only time it makes it out of my purse. My worst habit in the WORLD is biting my lips when I'm nervous or bored.

The combination of these two flaws, along with freezing cold temperatures and wind lead me to the most horribly chapped lips for the majority of the winter. Lately I've been using a lip product before bed every night, Carmex's original stick balm. It's a great balm that doesn't have that 'medical balm' burn of menthol like most do. Best thing about it? When I wake up in the morning my lips still have the product on it. And if I have a slip up and chomp down on my lips during the day, this application of Carmex at night usually heals the damage that has been done.

Through all of the itching and flaking of winter, the thing that kills me about winter is the weird dry patches I get. Most recently, I've gotten a pretty bad dry patch on my left eyelid. What the hell...my eyelid? Worst part about it is I can't get it to go away! It's incredibly itchy and I've stopped using my eye gel because it burns when it hits that broken skin. I think I must have been scratching it while I sleep, because my eyelid was also slightly swollen.

What to do with this insatiable dry eyelid? The past three days I've been putting original Vaseline on the spot, thinking that's the only thing I've ever used for extremely dry patches everywhere else on my body. It's gotten so much better, and the swelling has gone down tremendously. I've also tried to leave all other irritants away from my eyes.
 
I feel the key to winterizing your skin is prevention before you start to get a problem. So slather on that lotion, moisturize your lips, and don't forget that the sun is still super strong in the winter, so SPF it up!

Happy Thanksgiving!

GeoTagged, [N40.24316, E74.27843]

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving! Use today to rest up and get ready for the best day of the year...Black Friday!

I'm so ready to buy my Pink Friday lipstick from Mac Cosmetics and Nicki Minaj tonight at midnight on www.maccosmetics.com!

Product Review: Maybelline Falsies Mascara

If you have five minutes, and only five minutes, to do your makeup in the morning, what would you put on? What are the products you can't live without?

Chances are mascara is one of your necessities in your beauty routine. Mascara brings out your eyes, draws attention to your face, and is sometimes all a woman needs to feel a little dolled up.

I've experimented with a ton of different mascaras from all different price ranges and brands. I've actually found a ton of the more expensive brands clump up on the brush, giving me gigantic tarantula lashes and flaking on my cheeks and eyeballs. Definitely not attractive.

My favorite Maybelline Define-A-Lash may have to move over for the fabulous Maybelline Volum' Express Falsies...this stuff is rediculous. If you're looking for a mascara to give you length, volume and big, fat lashes, this is the one for you!

It comes in three colors (blackest black, very black and brown), and has a great curved brush that's bristles seem to catch and coat eyelashes you dont even know you have. It holds the perfect amount of product that doesn't coat lashes too much on the first coat, and doesnt allow for lashes to stick together.

I find that I got best results doing two to three thin coats on each eye...but be careful not to wait too long between applications. If you wait too long before applying your second coat, you will most likely get some flakes or clumps. After you put on your first thin coat, do your bottom lashes on the same eye and move right back up to the top. This will ensure you a well defined clump free look.

As for giving a false eyelash look? In my opinion, no amount of mascara is going to beat putting extra lashes onto your eyes. I think this mascara comes closer than any other I've tried in acheiving this. Want to amp it up? Try it on your own lashes along with false lashes to blow people away.

For $7.99 you can't beat the look you acheive with Maybelline's Volum' Express Falsies Mascara! And since it's a drugstore product, you may be able to get it on sale. What can be better than that!?