Best of 2010!

Yes, its that time again! The best of 2010 as presented by some of the best of the best of BK and LA!
It's been busy and cold here but soon I will be free to get back into blogging as much as I would like to. Lots of treats, reviews swatches and looks.
Anyone else going to see Tron on Friday. I can't wait and am going to wear Nouvelle Vague for it.

Lets start this party off.. right!

Lanvin x H&M : The Madness, The Lipstick!

I'm a little upside down from my camera phone!

At 5:30 am this morning, I got in line at the 59th and Lex H&M for the Lanvin Collection and was part of the 8:25am crew to get my 15 minutes of shopping in.

Despite the furvor and sheer madness of past collections, I have to say that this one was a job well done by H&M, security, etc!

at 7:00am we got hot coffee and croissants along with a Lanvin x H&M tote bag and scarf. We were allowed to go in the store at 8am but there was a barracade to get to the Lanvin section, where security checked your wristband time and let you know when to come back ( if your time was not next). Given that me and the girls time was 8:25, we were next and had 15 minutes to get the stuff we wanted, and thank goodness there was replenishment every 5 minutes!

Too bad I had no video camera on me so that you could see the 8amers in action. I wanted to ask this women who had 25 dresses in her hand " What's your ebay store?" because there was no way she was a size 2 and 10..

Anyway, overall I ended up with everything I wanted! The faux fur vest, the chain belt, tights, the most coveted item- the sunglassses and... Lanvin Lipsticks!!

There are 4 in the collection but I bought 2, Hot Pink and Bordeaux. Both has a slight rosey scent and I haven't swatched them as of yet, so I don't know what their texture is like.

Anyway, If you can withstand the craziness check out an H&M that is carrying the line but if not, there is ebay.

17 Again-Skin repair with La Mer

This winter has been really harsh on my skin, not only the daily weather elements but also stress ( work, studying, etc) has really reared its head on my otherwise relatively clear face.

I do have daily oil resurgance and have to blot the shinies away throughout the day but now I have to look at blemishes too!

It also doesn't help that I have been in-between cleansers because of the weather adjustment- bouncing between Mary Kay and Shiseido and still nothing, bumps still on cheek.

After consulting with my mom, she suggested that I go back to what I used back in the day- La Mer. Say What? Yes, when I was 17 my mother's friend worked at the La Mer counter at Neiman Marcus. She gave me a skin consultation and loaded me with enough Clensing Gel samples for a year. This stuff was amazing on my skin as it was about 5x as oily as it is now plus I also had the nick-name of "Shiny" in school- oh highschool.

Clearly, this stuff was out of my Highschool gas money budget but my Mother bought me a bottle and it put my face back on track to no shine, no blemishes, low hyperpigmentation.

Remenicing about this prompted a Saturday run to Bloomies in Soho where I picked up another bottle at the same price it was 10 years ago ($65) and am anxious to see how my skin will look/ feel at the end of using it for one month. Another item I need to take into account is a moisturizer, for which I am still researching.. any ideas for oily/sensative skin?

Winter Skin 101: Moisture

With all the scrubbing and exfoliation comes dryness and if this is prolonged, cracks! Especially now. No moisture. no mercy!
These are tried, tested and true- even the smelly one ( you'll find out soon)

Body:

Vaseline- Need I say more, its been around for yeahs and is so cheap, its comparative value is about a penny per use!

Bag Balm- This stuff smells really bad, like fresh leather smell. Fortunately, that's the only downside to this product. It works miracles and hydrates like no other. Word of caution- just mix it with your favorite fragrant go-to lotion and you should be fine.

Hands:

C.O.Bigelow Rose Salve and or Smith's Rosebud Salve- You can use these pretty much everywhere, but I love what they do to my hands and the soft scent of rose. I go through these like a can of Fresca. Also a great lip gloss too!

Face:

There's a great variety for sure, but since I'm on the oily in 2 seconds side- here are some of my faves to break the ice and refreshen the face.

Caudalie's Grape Water- Spritz this on before makeup and its refreshing. The water just sits and leaves a little halo but the application of your concealor, blush, eye cream will feel so great.

Feet:

Pink by Victoria's Secret Foot Lotion- yes, I could have gone with the minty smelling stuff here but decided to give something "clean" a try. VS has introduced its Pink line with "100% vegan ingredients" and is "Made in the U.S.A." Get out of town!

Drink!: Moisturize from the inside out as well, this helps in maintaining skin balance and naturally hydrate you.

First off- I'm not a fan of bottled water, so to help me with my "boring ol' water" problem I broil water with mint leaves and refridge it then when its cool I add those Crystal light Lemondae packs. Tickles the tongue I tell you!

Photo: by me

disclaimer: all products mentioned and photographed were purchased by me

disclosure: Caress body wash and beauty bars were received as products for possible review. All other products in the post were purchased by me.

Winter Skin 2010: Exfoliation!

It was a frigid 28 degrees yesterday, today- I couldn't feel my digits ( thanks to hand warmers, I could grasp my keys!) and by face was so numb from the wind, I couldn't feel my face!

Aww winter, it came a week early with about 18 inches of snow and today we had flurries with the wind howling before you even feel it.

The best part about winter, having dryskin accumulate in your socks, tights, stalking... eww.

Have no fear! here is a list of tried- and true- exfoliators for your body, face and feet that work with minimal effort and time so that you can be on to the next step- moisturizing, in no time!

Body:

Caress Evenly Gorgeous Body Wash and Beauty Bars- I've been testing these for the past 3 weeks and its been a miracle. The miracle? polished skin plus a great scent, brown sugar. Extra added bonus- wallet friendly!

Giovanni D:tox System Purfiying Body Wash Step 1- A much cheaper alternative to MAC's Volcanic Ash exfoliator series mirrors the same ingredients: activated charcoal, volcanic ash but this adds antioxidents like acai and goji berries. Extra Gentle too.

Face:

Garnier Nutritioniste Nutri-Pure Daily Exfoliating Gel Cleanser- excellent for frequent use because its gentle.

Neutrogena Healty Skin Visibly Even Foaming Cleanser- I've been using this for years! a combination foaming cleanser and mini exfoliator, great for everyday.

Feet:

Bath and Body Works' True Blue Spa Toe the Line- apply dry and rub in circles, for help- use spa exfoliation gloves- work it! then soak.

Sally Hansen's JUST FEET Spa Sugar Scrub- wonderful and in-expensive too!

your scrubbed down, whats next? Moisture!

disclosure: Caress body wash and beauty bars were received as products for possible review. All other products in the post were purchased by me.

Winter with Whateverishly's Coco Buchanan

L: Define Brooklyn Beauty
CB: Brooklyn Beauty? Being hungover, not having showered & still looking fabulous at brunch. Sort of a messy-pulled-togetherishness that isn't contrived-- because you're too hungover to invest that much time in your appearance, yet you don't want to wander into bag lady territory.

L: What are your makeup staples this winter?
CB: my makeup staples this winter are face moisturizer, Neutrogena eye cream that my mom passive-aggressvely gave me, body lotion, and as many non-powdery based substances as possible. My skin is a shitshow like EVERY winter and unfortunately, I haven't found any way to stop it. But I guess the things I've mentioned semi- help.

L: It's a Snow day, I'm probably listening to?
CB: Ha, it IS a snow day today actually. I'm definitely listening to Fleet Foxes, Nina Simone, Sondre Lerche, Iron & Wine, Bon Iver, Billie Holliday, and because I'm thinking of someone today on his flight to Asia, Coconut Records "West Coast." Cheese!

L: How do you keep your hair so fresh at 30 degrees?
CB: More like how do I avoid drying my hair in 5-30 degree weather? I've been going to the gym a lot & letting my hair dry naturally & laying off the flat iron for half of each week. I also alternately use 2 Frederick Fekkai shampoos-- the olive oil one & the shea butter one. I guess the olive oil one for all the other seasons & then the shea butter one for most of winter. Also, I use some Fekkai olive oil gloss stuff post-shower and to touch up that helps too.

L: What's the best piece of recession beauty advice you can give?
CB: Buy stuff that lasts a long time-- even though I've been foolishly buying Stila concealer lately, MAC concealer lasts way, way longer. Mixing lipglosses & lipstick colors can make it feel like you've bought new colors...though this can backfire into wanting to actually buy the color you've created. Oh, and don't ever buy expensive mascara-- they're seriously all the fucking same, so just buy the Maybelline green & pink kind. ANNNND, don't buy any skin product that reeks of pseudoscience-- half that shit doesn't do SHIT.

L: My current makeup hero is?
CB: This is lame, but Zooey Deschanel is my makeup hero, only because we have similar coloring--pale skin, very dark hair-- and she always manages to look fresh, not overly-made up, but you can totally tell she has makeup on at the same time.
I have a complex about being pale during the winter and sometimes have a tendency to OD on bronzer, and I feel like I shouldn't be so ashamed of paleness. So, Zooey is my go-to person on pale pride for dark haired girls.
( come to think about it .. you two do look similar!)

Winter with Whateverishly's Stella Glass

The winter will not stale style, and I'll be damned if we end up looking tore up because its 10 degrees out. I asked my friends over at Whateverishly.com to give us some tips on looking fly this winter.

A little about the gems Stella and Coco, they are Brooklynites that keep us on our toes with music, movies and culture- sans b.s. 

Since becoming a North Eastern newbie, I've been chillin' with these lovelies and experiencing the good life that is BK and NYC  ( dining is to die for!).

 Now introducing Stella Glass!

L: Define Brooklyn Beauty 

SG:Brooklyn Beauty- means no flat ironed hair, not going out with a face full of makeup.

If Brooklyn is Manhattan's funkier, artier (and broker) sister, the makeup has to match the vibe. that means no flat ironed hair and foundation-heavy skin. light makeup, dewy clean skin and a couple of products that highlight your best features.

L:What are your makeup staples this winter?
SG: Moisturizer, moisturizer, moisturizer! Kiehls with SPF for day and Origins Never Say Dry at night. More than anything else, I hate the feeling of dry skin and I don't even leave my house without serious lotion. Other than that Diorskin pressed powder in Shade 02, tarte cheek stain in flush and Diorshow mascara in dark brown. And michael kors perfume. ive been wearing it since freshman year of college and it smells different in the summer and the winter. I love it.

L:It's a Snow day, I'm probably listening to...
SG:Broadcast "The Noise Made By People"
Beach House "Devotion"
La femme D'argent by Air
Brad Mehldau
The Epochs "10 Billion Light Years of Solitude" and the self-titled album
KRS-One "I Got Next"

L:How do you keep your hair so fresh at 30 degrees?
SG:Basically I havent been. i just got my hair cut last week and the stylist told me I had to "concentrate" on 'rehydrating" my hair so I've been deep conditioning with bumble and bumble superrich and then using a terax leave in conditioner called Hydrate Botanica that smells like chamomile. otherwise its just a matter of blowing it out and putting the some Bumble and Bumble grooming creme in to give some texture.

L:What's the best piece of recession beauty advice you can give?
SG:Recession beauty advice is dont splurge on anything other than foundation powder and mascara--virtually everything else you can buy cheap and its not such a big deal.

L:My current makeup hero is?
SG:My makeup hero is consistently the good people at Dior and francois nars as well. His whole philosophy wasnt about covering shit up, it was about enhancing what was already there, and drawing attention to what you love. thats what I love about beauty products. Also I have to take this opportunity to say declare my love for Fresh's Pomegranate Conditioner. Leaves your hair silky and it smells like heaven.

Thanks for helping us look abfab this season!

Skin 101: Winter shine

No not highlighting or metalics. I mean your skin getting oily even though its winter. Even though winter is SD is 70 degrees- sometimes oily skin still doesn't let up. I like Kiehl's Blue Astringent to take care of "oilies". It last loner than any other toner or astringent I have used in the past. Plus a little goes a long way...

Photo: Kiehls