5ave 5 of '09: Jamie of Rural Glamour

Our first beauty poller for the 5ave 5 of 09 mini-series is Jamie Jeter, editrix of Rural Glamour, Real Life Beauty Blog.

Her loves? "beauty products of course, reading stacks of magazine, pop culture, history trivia, and playing my makeup!".

Her 5ave 5 of '09 are the following:

Hair: Organix Shea Butter Shampoo. "Great for dry and chemical treated hair and its sulfate-free!"

Nails: Creative Nail Design Sticky-"My favorite base coat...adheres the polish for long lasting wear."

Skin: Cetephil Facial Wash- "I went 'back to basics" and was the best decision in skin care all year! "

Fragrance: "Kiehls Musk+Kielhs Vanilla mix- the signature scent I've been waiting on."

Cosmetics: NK HD Eye Shadows "[I] find them at my local BSS for a $1.49. the pigment and quality are just amazing."

Check out Jamie's blog at http://city-itis.blogspot.com/ and her fabulous youtube video's here or look for ruralglamour.

5ave 5 of 09: Shani Bella!

I’m a smart, sexy, chick with an afro! I’m currently living in San Diego but always in a NY state of mind. No matter where I go I don’t think that will ever change. There is something about being a native New Yorker, just a chick from The Bronx, which I take great pride in. Like anyone in any town anywhere it aided in shaping me into who I am. And who am I…

Well, I am without a doubt a people person. I love to talk, watch, and analyze people. I find it incredibly hard not to talk. I will talk to almost anyone. I even talk in my sleep sometimes! I can talk day and night about people, culture, and politics. I have a dark and dirty sense of humor with a bit of sarcasm at times. Overall, I’m an outgoing chick that likes good conversation with good people and love to laugh. I enjoy being out and about with friends and love ones. My favorite pastime things to do are watching movies, dancing, hiking, cooking, going to concerts and plays, watching live music and art performances, trying foreign cuisines, playing trivia games, discovering new restaurants and hang out spots, bargain shopping, taking long walks with no destination in mind, and most of all traveling abroad.

Here’s my beauty picks…

Cosmetics:

Numero uno for me in 2009 is NARS Cream Blush, Cactus Flower. It’s been a while since I found a make-up product that I use almost every single day. It is so pretty and natural. When I want a little oomph, a va-va voom look I just add a second to third layer.

Fragrance:

Still loving and using daily since 2003 my signature fragrance Sicily by D&G. However, a new Italian (by name not origin) contender stepped on the scene (well my scene) in 2009,Tocca’s Eau de Purfum. All of the fragrances are marvelous. My favorites are Brigitte, Cleopatra, and Florence.

Hair:

I love the new richer and thicker formula of Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla and Tui Herbal Shampoo I found this year at Sephora! A quarter size squirt is enough to get a nice thick lather. Okay a half-dollar dollop for me, I have thick hair and I’m a little OCD when it comes to cleaning-up. My hair was nice and soft, not crunchy and dry like other shampoos tend to do. I would somewhat describe it as having a 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner affect on my hair. Plus it smells delicious! I wear my hair natural and it’s hard to find high-quality, all natural, non smelly products. For some reason, I guess manufacturers assume us natural chicks want to smell like sandalwood and eucalyptus – ah negative. Walking around smelling like a spicy market or a hippie smoke shop is a not cute. At any rate, CD products have always been good but in my opinion even better now. Keep up the good work Price. I plan on revisiting the other CD products too.

Skin:

Canus Goat's Milk Soap, it took me forever to find this soap this year but it’s worth it. Of all places I found it at Bed, Bath, and Beyond here in San Diego, whatever. It’s great for sensitive, dry, and troubled skin. Goat milk soap and products are very moisturizing withnatural emollients and vitamins. So if you’re like me, dry skin with the occasional eczema flare ups or just need to gear-up your skin for the winter months, this is the soap!

Nails:

I’m a Mani & Pedi chick all the way, come hell or high water. HOWEVER, I don’t allow manicurist to cut my finger nail cuticles. I use a cuticle softener/remover at home. Recently in support of a co-worker I ordered some Avon which is usually a no-no for me. Nothing against Avon or Avon fans but I was totally over their products by 15. Anyway, I got the Avon Nail Experts Instant Gel Cuticle Remover and Nail Polish Remover Wipes and they are wonderful. The cuticle remover works very well without drying out my cuticles but not instantly as the name proclaims. The nail polish remover wipes are a fabulous must have in my cosmetic and travel bag. Great inexpensive buy!

November's 5ave 5 of '09!

Happy November!

To round out the most coveted products of the year, I turned to some of my favorite fellow beauty bloggers, some NYC beauties, a gorgeous Rocker and a couple of Wild Things!

This month they will share their 5 favorite products that helped them feel and stay beautiful all year!

xoxo, L

The Best of :Lippie, Lippie,Lippies

This category has been indeed tough. Between color, textures, scents (yeah!), longevity, consistency… I’m mind bottled! But I have narrowed down the slim pickings and here are the results oh some extensive research and feedback- behold.






Neutral Lipstick: MAC Crème Cerise

Neutral Lip Gloss: Bobbi Brown Honey

The “Everyday”* Lipstick: NARS Dolce Vita

The “Everyday” Lipgloss: Clinique Black Honey

The “Play”** Lipstick: YSL Purple Violet Rouge Pur

The “Play” Lipgloss: YSL Golden Gloss #9

Pink Lipstick: Shu Uemura #358

Pink Lipgloss: MAC Pink Poodle
Red Lipstick: MAC Charred Red

Red Lipgloss: NARS Diablo


* “Everyday” denotes the use of product during daylight hours between 9am-6pm and applicable after lunch.

** “Play” denotes the use of the product(s) during the evening hours during half price drinks, tapas and/or clubbing when sporadic attention is called to the lips.

Lacroix's Best of Beauty- All about the Eyes

Marilyn Monroe from All About Eve




Mascara- Givenchy Phenomen'eyes- it looks like Gogo Yubari's weapon from Kill Bill Volume 1 but with a steady hand, this will single handedly change your lashes ( that is if you want long lenghthing). For full and lush lashes- Fresh Supernova is a dream.

Eyeshadow- What makes a great Eyeshadow? Pigment, texture and longevity. MAC holds the title for this one. My faves- Fake- foggy grey, Purple Haze- violet and Black Tied- Deep purple with red flecks.




Eyeliner-Urban Decay's Smoke Out Eye Pencil wins- application is light with a sponge tip to smudge...smudge on!

Brows- Maybelline Clear Mascara is cheap and does the job as far as setting brows.

Lacroix's Best of Beauty- Powder

In this new world of HD flawlessness, powder is often forgotten. Whether it's used as a highlighter or to "powder your nose"..in my case, since I'm a natural oil slick, I chose the latter. My Faves:




1. MAC Select Sheer loose powder- Sheer and buildable in a variety of colors.perfecto! What's even cooler has been the different mixes and matches MAC has Incorporated, such as the loose beauty powder last year with shimmer. If you prefer the classic, stick to the original.

2. NARS Loose Powder- this is a fave for all obvious reasons but the selection is quite dismal. Though Mountain can work for chocolate brown skins...that's pretty much it! As Heat and Soleil are not available in loose powder format...bummer.

3. Clinique Stay Matte Pressed Powder- my first, Stay Amber ( which I believe is now discontinued?). Perfect for setting in the cute green compact and great for your skin too!

Photo:maccosmetics.com

Lacroix's Best of Beauty- Foundation

Allure has theirs, so does Instyle, Shape and Seventeen.. but none of these has anything to do with...me!
What do I have for you? after some time gathering data, pestering MUA's, deciphering differences between chocolate and cocoa, , picking up color palettes, swatching lippies and leaving remnants on my hands.

Let's start with the Base-ics..Foundation!



1. Nars Balanced Foundation
It takes the cake for base, since it has relaunched this summer with 5 beauty of color friendly tones for 16 shades to choose from. The coverage has been everything I had hoped for in a foundation, buildable, moisturizing sans the greasies and has vitamin's A&E. I personally take into account that whether I am in natural light or in photos, the titanium dioxide doesn't sneak up and make you an ash clown.
Who else loves NARS? Leighton Meister and America Ferrera...nice.

2. Maybelline Mineral Power Foundation
Does the job without breaking the bank also available in 16 shades and is available everywhere! A great grab and go for late night.

3. Makeup Forever HD Invisible Cover Foundation
An extensive selection of shades (25) makes this one #3 on my list.

Au Revoir 2007!

In the final hours of 2007, I'm reflecting on what a year it has been!
In the first half we lost two Style Icons- Anna Nicole and Isabella Blow.
Fashion brought us Affordability ( Target and Proenza Schouler, SJP's Bitten), Brights and bold hues that were wearable from the beach to the office. Yes, we loved the bright yellow, pinks and aquamarines. Fall brought us the new black- grey!

Beauty brought us beautiful fuchsia hued bold lips as seen on Sascha in the Dior S/S '07 bag campaign. Smokey Eyes that were transformed from day to night- and everyone taught us how to do them! From Stila's fool-proof smoky eye palette to MAC's Smoke Signal's collection. Gone is the black liner and on to comfort in Navy's, Plum's and Forest Green's.
We also learned how to conceal sans the "look at me" makeup with Touche Eclat and later this year with MAC's Studio Lights.
Mineral Makeup was a battlefield, everyone is jumping on the band wagon and wants some of the Bare Minerals pie. From High-end to Drugstore, we've seen it all. Cover girl, Physicians to Sheer Cover and MAC.

Over all I am greatful for all of the people I have met this year, places I have been and events that have happened. It was great seeing my Icon- Christian Lacroix in the Jardin de Tulleries for Fashion week in October,of course, I aspire to meet him one day ( a girl can dream). Meeting Nadege, Sara and Jeremy Scott. Being able to spend time in the South of France and Paris, seeing that designers care to make a difference by putting models of color on the runways ( Heatherette).

So what is there to expect next year?

I hope to see:
* Bold lips, Fuchsia, Pink's and Magentas
* Super natural skin
* More colors that work with various skin tones.

Style wise:
* Bold accessories
* More dresses ( sweater, trapeze)

I 2008 I can't wait for:

1. MAC for Heatherette ( March '08)
2. MAC for Fafi ( Feb '08)
3. M&M's New Albums ( Madonna and Mariah's)
4. NERD's New Album ( Spring 2008)
5. Michel Gondry's New Movie ( Be Kind Rewind)
6. The Calvin Klein Heals that I am coveting ( in Electric Blue)
7. Peace and Happiness

Have a Great New Year everyone!

Happy 2008!

Best Pink Lips for "Beauties of Color"

Usually when Allure magazine totes "matches all skintones" or " universally flattering" or something along these lines, I pay them no mind. I love the mag but they hardly ever feature a beauty of color in its editorials much less the cover so that we can test and try the products seen on them- that's a whole 'nother issue.
They did get this one right. In the October Best of Beauty issue. Shu Uemura's Rouge Unlimited PK 358 is listed as " Best Sheer" in the mag is actually ( according to moi) the Best Pink lipstick for Beauties of Color.
It is sheer so it doesnt cake on and it has buildable coverage ( which is great for work and play) most importantly- it doesn't make you look like you are straight out of Saved by the Bell with the boldness and it lasts for 8 hours.
You can find it at Neiman Marcus , Saks Fifth Avenue and www.shuuemura-usa.com

Best of Sephora 2007

Check out Sephora.com for their best of's, among the winners
Best Foundation: Bare Essentials
Best Blush: NARS Orgasm
Best Lipstick: NARS Dolce Vita
Best Hairstyling Producr: Fedrick Fekkai Olive Oil Glossing Cream.

I can't wait for Allure's best of in their October issue. Supposedly Kiera Knightly will be on the cover.

image: sephora.com