Fun Hair Finds

Last month I reported on some cool hair accessories that my obsessive internet-ing had turned up. It would appear that trendy, fun hair things are not going anywhere anytime soon.

Currently, I am obsessed with these Bumble & Bumble Buttonbands ($15). I saw them at the salon and (feigning admirable amounts of restraint) passed on the impulse buy. Subsequently, I've been regretting that choice ever since. Honestly, how cute is the indigo-trimmed ocean blue color? Or the violet-trimmed black with their little coordinating button details? The answer: freaking adorable. Plus, they are designed to be used alone or as a base for wildly creative embellishment. Watch the video to see an impressive amount of creativity inspired by these little guys.

Anthropologie often has very beautiful hair accessories. Unfortunately, they often run in the really ridiculous $30-50 range. However, the very pretty Teavaro Headband comes in at less than $20. Delicate clusters of black pearls nestling on distressed chiffon petals strike that perfect balance of polished but unfussy. The subdued blue palette would be very pretty on all hair colors.


I've been completely obsessed with the etsy shop, Jessie Beans, since randomly meeting the owner/creator at a local fabric store. She was wearing one of her creations and, when I complimented it, she gave me the address for the website. Unlike most of Anthropologie's offerings, Jessie Beans' amazing hair accessories are sold at ridiculously affordable prices. This one, with white ostrich feathers ($20) was exactly the kind of thing I searched for (unsuccessfully) for my wedding. But, even if formal nuptials are not on the agenda, she has plenty other offerings with intricate beading, beautiful pendant cameos and even more feathers. All are individually made by hand and perfectly executed without being overly done or cheesy. They are as beautiful, or even more so, than many Anthropologie hair accessories at 1/3-1/2 the price. Whether ornate or quietly simple, Jessie Beans' headbands have the added bonus of being completely one of a kind and unique. And how can you put a price on originality?

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Product Lust: Holiday Fragrance Rings

Sorry for being M.I.A. for a few days, I was out of town at a (non-beauty-related) conference. It was great and the plane trip provided lots of time for magazine reading. That, in turn, inevitably lead to stimulation of massive amounts of product lust.

Everywhere I look I'm seeing gorgeous fragrance rings all ready for gift-giving. These cool little deals are over-sized, campy and sure to draw attention on their own. But, the secret is that inside they contain some very nice solid perfume already on-hand for a mid-party touch up. If you are looking for a fairly inexpensive, very cool gift for a girl pal this holiday season, then definitely consider checking some of these out. I am in love with the Michael Kors Very Hollywood ($40) version shown at the top left.

For a walk on the wilder side, there is the Kat Von D Solid Perfume Ring ($30) featuring a Gothic gunmetal flower. It comes with both of her signature scents, Saint and Sinner, in interchangeable pans. That way, you can decide which persona to adopt prior to a night on the town. Whichever one is ultimately chosen, the ring itself is sure to compliment any number of sparkly holiday ensembles.








For a similar, but cheaper, effect there is the mark Holidays Rock Solid Fragrance Ring ($18). It has a platinum metallic shade and contains the favorite floral-vanilla Rebel Rose fragrance. While we're on the subject, these rings are also a perfect way to try a new fragrance without committing to purchasing a whole bottle.

There are many more out there -- including the Marc Jacobs Lola Solid Perfume Ring ($42) that is just a bit too gaudy for my taste. But whether your taste falls more toward Marc Jacobs or Michael Kors, a perfume ring is sure to be a solid hit.

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Worst Product Ever: Andrea Naturals Body Wax

It is not often that I run into a product that is truly egregiously disappointing, but my experience with Andrea Naturals Body Wax was a new low. My favorite products for home waxing are made by Parissa, but these can unfortunately be hard to find. Because I was 1) pressed for time and 2) desperately needing to take care of business before a romantic date last Saturday, I reached for Andrea Naturals Body Wax with Pomegranate and Cranberry ($11) at the local drugstore.

The experience was pretty much horrible from start to finish. First off, the wax didn't smell very good when it was warmed up -- a plastic-y odor that did not suggest pomegranate or cranberry. But the real problem came with execution. The wax is designed to be used without cloth strips. Ideally, the wax is spread on in a small area, let to cool briefly and then pulled off while still pliant.

Following the directions to the letter, what ensued was a complete catastrophe. The wax certainly did not pull up nicely in a neat little strip; in fact, it hardly came off at all! I pulled and pulled and really could not get it off my skin! It was crazy! The directions suggest using some baby oil or petroleum jelly to remove stray pits of sticky wax, but even this was ineffective and a complete mess. Ultimately, I was able to get all the wax off, but I essentially had to pick every little piece off individually (and scrape some of it off with a razor blade! Fact!).

To add insult to injury, hardly any hair was removed and my leg ended up tender and bruised. It has been sore for the past several days, reminding me of how mad I am about the whole thing every time I try to cross my leg. I'm going to try to return Andrea Naturals Body Wax to the drugstore from whence it came, but I was so irritated that I felt it was only fair to warn others about it. It makes me angry that a really miserable product like this kicks around probably only because it bills itself as a "natural" alternative to other waxes. Natural or not, I will not be trying any more Andrea Naturals products.

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Trend Report: Defined Brows with Tarte EmphasEYES for Brows

Darkly defined brows are a clearly established trend for Fall/Winter 2009/10. Even though it is way too early to be planning your Spring makeup look, scenes from NYFW seem to indicate that strong brows will continue to be big in the Spring/Summer 2010 as well.

Nowhere was the strong brow trend more prominent than at Hayden-Harnett's Spring 2010 Fashion presentation. For this show, the tarte artistry team created a look "inspired by a nomadic journey through lava fields and desert landscapes" that featured "warm complexions with a strong, geometric brow and soft lip...The eyes remain muted with a major focus on the brows."

To achieve this dramatic look, they used a new tarte product: EmphasEYES for Brows High Definition Brow Pencil ($20). One of the problems with traditional brow pencils that that they are thick, unwieldy and produce obvious-appearing pencil marks that do not blend with the brow hairs. The effect is to proclaim "Look at me! I'm wearing brow pencil!" For this reason, I have been using brow powder as it creates a more subtle appearing. However, tarte emphasEYES for brows has made me re-think brow pencil and I am truly a convert!

First off, the product ingeniously combines a brow pencil and a spooley-style brush. I love when companies consider how people really use products and then try to make things more streamlined and efficient, which emphasEYES for brows clearly does. Not only that, but according to tarte, emphasEYES for brows is four times narrower than the average brow pencil available. I can't verify the four times thing, but it is definitely a very tiny little pencil. This eliminates the thick, obvious pencil marks that plague other brow pencil performance. Instead, the little pencil mimics brow hairs for the most natural effect. A few quick swipes with the emphasEYES for brows pencil followed by a quick brush out with the spooley and you have perfectly groomed brows in under a minute using just one product.

Tarte's emphasEYES for brows pencil is a real winner and I just can't say enough good things about it. My excitement in using it was completely unexpected because I was anticipating just another typical brow pencil, which this one definitely is not. It is thoughtful and ingenious and a good investment for the ongoing strong brow trend. It is available in two colors: Taupe (for blonde, auburn, lighter brown or grey hair) and Medium Brown (for medium to dark brown or black hair) with a price around $20.

Check out the graphic below for more details on how to create the dramatic Hayden-Harnett Spring 2010 look and the photo below for the finished product!

EmphasEYES for Brows is available at Sephora, Sephora.com and tartecosmetics.com.

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Review: La Mer The Radiant Concealer SPF 25

La Mer, famous for its Miracle-Broth infused Crème, offers many other products for perfecting and correcting the complexion. Recently, they have added The Radiant Concealer with SPF 25 ($65) to the family.

This lightweight cream-to-powder concealer was formulated to instantly camouflage and ease imperfections. Tourmaline and malachite gemstones capture light energy to instantly conceal dark circles and blemishes. The Radiant Concealer SPF 25 optically erases imperfections to create a smooth even finish. A unique polymer mesh technology delivers buildable, diaphanous layers to create a crease-resistant flexible/breathable application. Skin stays naturally flawless all day. Helps protect skin with SPF 25. Available in three scientifically engineered translucent full coverage, skin-perfecting, radiance-enhancing hues: Ivory, Beige and Natural Warm."

I've had the chance to try a sample of The Radiant Concealer and it has several impressive features. First, the consistency is creamy thick, which in my opinion, all good concealers should be. It is the perfect consistency to both cover dark areas and to stay put where it is placed. Concealers that are too runny or liquid smear all over the face in a highly annoying manner. The Radiant Concealer nicely stays in place, making it better than 80% of other concealers out there.

Additionally, although the initial consistency is creamy, it dries to a powder finish on the skin. I appreciate this property because I think it enhances the staying-power. In fact, The Radiant Concealer has some of the very best staying power that I've experienced in my many, many concealer trials. The powder finish might not be the best for ladies with very dry under-eye areas, but those with oily or normal skin should find that it works quite well.

In terms of shades, there are only three colors available all on the pale end of the spectrum and women of color are sadly left out of the offerings altogether. I was sent "Shade 3 Dark" to sample, which was too dark for my complexion, but I used it anyway. Shade 3 definitely has a yellow-based tint which worked very well for hiding blue under-eye circles. I recommend trying the Radiant Concealer at a counter before purchase to ensure the proper match. Blending a little foundation on top of Shade 3 worked to more closely match my skin color. This revealed yet another great feature of the Radiant Concealer: it is very buildable and makes an excellent base for other products. The online reviews mention using it as an eyeshadow primer and I can definitely see this working. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention one of my favorite features -- SPF 25! All under eye concealers should contain some SPF since this area is so fragile and sensitive to sun damage and aging. La Mer apparently agrees with me and managed to stuff some in without any detriment on its ability to conceal. Excellent!

On the whole, I am very much impressed with The Radiant Concealer by La Mer and I recommend trying if it you have been perpetually disappointed by concealers. It is expensive, and so not a product to be bought without consideration. Nevertheless, it manages to solve the many frustrating problems of lesser concealers (runny consistencies, poor staying power, poor blending and no SPF) and emerges a true winner.

La Mer Radiant Concealer and other La Mer products are available at select Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and lamer.com.

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Review: Lisa Hoffman Hand & Foot Butter

Continuing the tour of Lisa Hoffman products, I also have been using the Hand & Foot Butter ($36) from the Spa Bath Collection. The entire collection is numbered just in case you might get confused about which order to use them in:

1. Bath Soak
2. Body Wash
3. Body Polish
4. Body Cream
5. Hand & Foot Butter

Already impressed by the Madagascar Orchid fragrance, the Spa Bath Hand & Foot Butter is just as beautiful as one would expect. All of the Spa Bath products are scented with Madagascar Orchid. Hand & Foot Butter definitely has a strong fragrance component, so if you prefer your creams a little more neutral, this probably isn't the product for you. I happen to enjoy the Hand & Foot Butter fragrance as it is a welcome alternative to the peppermint that is typically found in foot products. The peppermint is just too strong for my nose at nighttime, but the Hand & Foot Butter is perfectly pleasing and doesn't conflict if you happen to be wearing the Madagascar Orchid bedtime variant.

It has a dense cream consistency and applies beautifully. Although it is called a "butter," it isn't stiff or difficult to spread like some others. Overall, it is very luxurious and soaks in almost immediately without leaving a greasy feel on the skin. As far as moisturizing properties go, it is quite good. Typically I use it before going to bed and sometimes do the whole lotion + white socks trick for extra measure. In the morning, my hands and feet are notably softer. Containing shea butter, acai and grape seed oils for moisturizing and antioxidant protection, the Hand & Foot Butter protects as it perfects. I think it will be perfect for combating inevitably dry winter skin.

The packaging, again, is an exquisite, teal-colored jar with a polished top. It looks very elegant sitting on the night stand. Lisa Hoffman Spa Bath Hand & Foot Butter is definitely not on the cheap side of body products, clocking in over $30 on the Lisa Hoffman website. However, it is available from some other online retailers for less than $20. But, on balance, it is beautifully packaged and fragranced and performs amazingly well. For the expense, it definitely doesn't disappoint.

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Review: Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Liquid Lipstick

If you haven't seen the ubiquitous Jennifer Connelly ads for Revlon Colorstay Ultimate Liquid Lipstick ($11) by now, then I guess you don't read magazines at all. In which case, good for you, you probably save a lot of money and trees that way.

Unfortunately for me and the trees, I love magazines and all of their inane glossiness. As a result, I've seen about a million and a half of the Jennifer Connelly Revlon ads and was swayed by their promise of a long-lasting, non-drying lipstick. Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? Here's what Revlon says about Ultimate Liquid:

Food-proof lipcolor with a built-in, ultra-conditioning topcoat
One-step application -- No topcoat required for comfortable wear
Stays comfortable and wears beautifully for up to 12 hours
Does not feather or fade; no touch-ups required, even after meals"

I tried two of the 20 available colors (Perfect Peony and Top Tomato) during my exacting testing process. The biggest test for the Top Tomato was wearing it to a wedding where I ate several courses, drank way too much champagne and got rained on. Top Tomato managed to hold on admirably during these many challenges. Not perfectly, but pretty well. It definitely held up through the first round and some hors d'oeuvres but required a quick touch up after that. I think that 12 hours is definitely a stretch, but even if it lasts 2-3, it is doing better than most other lipsticks.

The consistency is pretty close to liquid, which can make application with the doe-foot applicator a bit tricky. I highly recommend lip liner as the liquid can take off in odd directions otherwise. The thin consistency requires a patient touch with application. This definitely isn't a swipe-and-go product. Another positive feature is that it actually is less drying than other long-wearing lip colors. Revlon promises a "built-in" topcoat to protect again drying. In my experience, the topcoat was pretty good, but not perfect. My lips weren't turned into sandpaper, but the product is less moisturizing than a creamy lipstick or gloss. It dries to a pretty satin finish -- not too shiny or glossy, but not exactly matte either.

I think that, although Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Liquid Lipstick isn't a perfect product, it is pretty solid and would be an excellent choice for someone looking to find a long-wear option for not much money. The color selection is great and contains many traditional and a few more daring shades. The satin finish is flattering on essentially everyone, making it a good choice for women of many different ages. It's not perfect, but so far, I haven't found anything better.

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