Glow . . . Kinerase Face Serum

This week I've been sampling Kinerase's Brightening Face Serum: 

When I was in Arizona last month I got a Vitamin C facial and let me tell you - it stung like you wouldn't believe. This product felt like a milder version of that facial. 

I'm always torn when a product stings because while it's not the most comfortable and makes me think that there must be lots of chemicals involved, it does tell me that it's working. It maybe a close cousin of an acid wash but at least I didn't pay $140 to have nothing happen to my face. Or worse - have it happen gradually. I grew up in the age of microwave popcorn and the internet, people. I wait for nothing, not even face serums. To make the insta-results even better, there's something in this product that is subtly glittery, so my face not only felt like something serious was happening to it, it looked nice and shimmery for the rest of the day. 

All that being said, however, I'm just not accustomed to paying so much money for any type of face product, so the $140 price tag would be a little tough for me to swallow. I just keep thinking, "This is worth 3 months of yoga- or an outfit at Banana- or a WHOLE MONTH of In'N'Out dinners . . !"

Not that I would eat a whole month's worth of In'N'Out burgers . . . Ahem. 

So in summary - if you're looking for a brightening serum that you know will work and will be pleasantly shimmery in the meantime - this is your product. If you're in the middle of a recession like the rest of us, I recommend a good mud mask and a bottle of two buck chuck. It'll get you through the week a lot faster and a whole lot cheaper. 

Kiss . . . Black Honey Lip Gloss

This is undeniably my new obsession: Clinique's Black Honey Almost Lipstick ($14). The color is not quite a berry, it's more caramel in it's base, but it's a very light color, making it look rosy at the same time. Raspberry Honey is maybe a better way to describe it. Very few dark shades look good on my lighter complexion, but this works for me. I love it. 

And just to keep you all on your toes, I thought I'd share this little tid-bit so you know what song gets stuck in my head whenever I think/blog/talk/wear lip gloss: 

Lip Gloss Video

My Clinique Black Honey is prolly the reason all these boyz got crusheeeeeesss. . . . 

And yes, I know I'm cheating by posting Kiss on a Wednesday but you know how I feel about structure. I promise to return to less random, on-theme posts soon, but I'll have to make it through the Budget Revision at work first. Sigh.

Soul . . . Commitment

Okay, don't judge me for this, but I'm about to share a quote with you from the back of a Starbuck's cup. If you're like my husband, then this quote will have little impact on you. Hubby has been an athlete his whole life, focused, disciplined, committed. Me? Not so much. In fact, the quickest way to get me to not do something is to tell me I have to do it. 

When I was thinking about started this blog, I was incredibly hesitant. What if it fails? What if I don't feel like writing every day? What if I tell people about it, they read it, and hate it? Or worse, what if I tell people about it and then don't follow through on writing it? They'll think I'm a flake. (Which I am, but I don't want everyone knowing it).  And one day, while I was thinking all this, I read the quote on the back of my Grande Non-Fat Misto:

"The irony of commitment is that it's deeply liberating - in work, in play, in love. 

The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, 

from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as 

rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life." 

~ Anne Morris

I realized that while I didn't have a commitment problem in love (married at 22 - who does that?), I did have one in almost every other area of my life. So I decided to do it - just start the blog, commit to it and see how it played out. I can't say I've posted every day - is that even realistic? - but I can say I've enjoyed it and I'm glad I'm giving it a shot. 

So the warm-fuzzy challenge of the day - try committing to something for a while that you've been wanting to do, but maybe were afraid of. Even if your commitment is short-lived (oxymoron?), sometimes you have to throw your whole self and intention into it in order to see if it'll really work. 

P.S. Thank you, Starbuck's, for enriching my life in oh-so-many ways. I know my contribution to your daily profit margin is gesture enough for you, but thought I'd say it anyway. 

Glow . . . Fun with Blush

Only time for a quick one tonight, but I thought I'd share one of my favorite blush tricks. Most people (including me until a few years ago) only put blush on the apples of their cheeks and call it a day. There nothing wrong with this, it's how you should wear blush . . . but one thing my wedding makeup consultant taught me was to add a little dash of blush on the brow bone, right below the brow: 

Make sure to use just a little bit - seriously, just a dash - but it makes your whole face look lighter and more healthy. I do it every morning and it makes me look that mush more awake and bright-eyed. I found it works especially well with a really light, bright pink shade - like NARS' Orgasm ($25):

Disclaimer: Because I live in San Fran, I see very little sunshine on a regular basis, so this maybe one of those remedial tricks that works only for us sunshine-depraved folk to make us look like we don't live in a fog-enclosed tundra of a city. I think there's a good chance though that this might work for everyone, so give it shot and let me know. 

Care . . . Sunless Tanners

First off, everyone please do NOT forget that today is April Fool's Day. My boss just pulled us all into his office, told us the CFO was in a panic and needed a massive report by Monday. Three of us had a heart attack and one of us was nearly in tears by the time we put two and two together. 

Last year, I wasn't working on April Fools, and I had been asking Hubby for a dog for a couple of years. So I gave him a call and told him a pretty convincing story of the mutt I had found while walking down by the wharf who didn't have a tag so I brought him home and he seems pretty clean except for the first few mud prints he left on the carpet . . . He was mid-way through yelling "Do NOT let it PEE!" when he realized there's no way this was possible - he would kill me and I knew it. Those three seconds of panic were so worth it though. And now, one short year later, we have Little Dog - who did pee in our house last night. And Hubby didn't like it any more in the reality than he did in the hypothetical April Fools joke. Hmm. Good thing Little Dog has a face like this: 

Because he's a little shit. 

ANYWAY - back to beauty. Since it's about that time of year when you start pulling out your tank tops and skirts, only to realize your skin hasn't seen the light of day in 6 months and is in no shape to be bared . . . let's talk sunless tanners! I was the Matron of Honor (ew, I hate the word matron- really? Matron?) in an April wedding last year so I went through a phase of testing every sunless tanner known to womankind in an effort to look presentable (meaning not sickly or streaky) at the wedding.  Here's a quick review of what I liked best: 

- For face, I love Jergen's Natural Glow Face with SPF 20 ($8). I recently got a reader email about this so I hope this helps answer your question RP! I love this one because the smell is barable, and the fact that it has SPF is a bonus. When you have combination skin like mine, the fewer poducts you put on your face, the better, so I skip the moisturizer and the SPF when I use this instead. I also feel the color I get from this is really natural looking. For those of you who want more dramatic results, you might want to try buying a shade up in this product - so try medium/dark, even if you have light skin. That worked well when I need more color from it. 

- I also love the Jergen's Natural Glow for body ($8). It just goes one easily and the color is the most natural and streak-free I've found. The one downside is that especially at first, you really need to use this every day and you really need to put it everywhere. Depending on whether or not you full-body moisturize already, this can add a full 5 minutes to your morning routine and gets old fast. 

- For those of us with little time or patience, I recommend Clarin's Get Glowing Self-Tanning products.  Nordie's has a nice little set for $32 right now. This stuff is great for a quick result - by using it every other day for a week I was able to get the color I wanted and then I used the Jergen's every week or so after that to maintain it and get the most bang for my buck. The one annoying thing about this one is that because it works faster and has more color to it, it's much more important that you fully exfoliate beforehand to get even color and avoid orange knees/elbows. So it takes longer upfront, but you get more immediate results. 

In other news - Lindsay Lohan's sunless tanner just launched at Sephora. I have yet to try it - mainly because of the ridiculous photo being used to promote it: 

See what I mean? Ridiculous. Put some clothes on and LAY OFF THE SELF TANNER (ironically) . . . But if you're a LiLo fan, by all means, try her Sevin Nyne line and let me know what you think. 

Wink . . . Kind of gross, kind of pretty

Monday mornings are usually pretty rough for me - no matter how many March Madness basketball games I napped through on Sunday, I still am not quite ready for the 6 am alarm.  And neither is my face. Even after my walk with Little Dog, my skin is blotchy and my eyes are puffy. A warm shower and some moisturizer works wonders for my skin, but my eyes are tougher. On your average workday, I don't worry about it, but there is a trick you can use when it really matters - wedding days, presentations, Twilight DVD release parties . . . the usual. 

The trick? Preparation H. 

I know, the idea is a little gross, but the science makes sense. It's a vasoconstrictor, meaning it narrows blood vessels, reducing swelling. I've heard the cream works better than the gel, since it rubs in slightly better. It doesn't work on everyone (depends how puffy and sensitive your skin is) and you should test it on your skin BEFORE a big day, just in case. But sometimes knowing I look more prepared for a Monday/Twilight Party than I may feel makes it a little easier to get through. 

Soul . . . Dove's "Onslaught" Video

My friend who just had a baby girl sent me this video that made her think about how she can raise a daughter that feels beautiful , even when the beauty industry or mainstream media can make us feel so ugly at times: 

Since I don't have any kids, this video made me think of me and my friends. For many of us, no matter how much our parents/schools/clubs talked to us about body image and self esteem, there were times in our lives when we felt ugly compared to all the images of "perfection" that we see in television and magazines. We grew up with an onslaught, certainly, though I felt it more at some times (i.e. MIDDLE SCHOOL) than others. 

So as a mother one day or a friend now, I want to be a voice against the onslaught, reminding the people in my life of what makes them beautiful - not in a generic "love yourself!" kind of a way, but by pointing out the unique, beautiful things about them that I love. 

Glow . . . Cream foundation

I'm a die-hard powder mineral makeup junkie. Ever since I discovered Bare Escentuals in college I have refused to try any liquid foundation - I find it heavy, oily and shiny.

For the sake of the blog- I am SO dedicated to you, readers- I tried two cream foundation samples this week that are targeted for people with oily skin who don't like the heavy feel of liquid foundation. . . and I was surprised to find I liked both of them.

First one I tried was Perfekt's Skin Perfection Gel ($57):

It is oil-free, paraben-free and water-resistant. It's amazingly matte-tifying (I know, not a technically a word, but you get what I mean, so it probably should be) and I almost am not sure whether "foundation" is the right term for this product because it is so light in its coverage. I put it on half of my face and took a look in the mirror and was amazing by how much it didn't look like I was wearing foundation but how much better I did look. I'm not sure if it's coverage or highlighting or how exactly this gel makes my skin look both even and luminous without looking covered. In fact, the shade I tried was called Luminous, but I think I could have gotten away with Radiant too.

One word of warning - there were some mixed reviews of this on Sephora.com, so it might not be for everyone, but if you have oily skin and love Bare Escentuals, I think this is worth a try.

The second one I tried was Lancome's Magic Matte ($37).

I have been using this for the last few days straight - I love it! It's almost the inverse of Bare Escentuals: instead of being a powder that goes on like a liquid, it's a liquid that goes on like a powder. It's perfect for my skin, which tends to get shiny along the T-zone (nose, chin and forehead) in the mid-afternoon. It's very light, and feels just as breathable as my Bare Escentuals powder - which is pretty impressive for a cream foundation. The coverage is unbeatable and it lasts throughout the day without heavy application in the morning or a touch up at lunch.

Care . . . Love your moisturizer

I didn't really learn how much difference a moisturizer could make until a few months before my wedding when I signed up for a skin consultation at my local spa. I always thought I had oily skin, since I tended to breakout and struggle with shine, so I was surprised and even a little dubious when the esthetician told me I had combination skin that -at the moment- was seriously dried out. She explained that by using such strong astringent cleansers, I was stripping my skin of the moisture it needed and so it was over-producing oil to try to rehydrate itself. She gave (well- sold) me some cream based cleaner and heavy moisturizer and my skin really did transform over the next few months. 

At the Skincare 101 class I attended, I learned even more about how important having moisturized skin is. The specialist giving the presentation explained that skin has a very precise pH balance and we need to maintain that balance, not fight it, to have our best skin possible. If we use products that are either overly acidic or overly alkaline, we might unbalance our skin's pH. When you wash your face and it ends up feeling tight or squeaky-clean, that means you've taken off your acid mantle, which is a protective layer over our skin, protecting it from bacteria that cause acne. 

So how do you best take care your skin? 

- Use a cleanser with a neutral pH (try Clarins One-Step Facial Cleanser, $32)

- If your skin feels tight after cleansing, use a toner to restore the acid mantle (I like the Dermalogica Multi-Action Toner, $24)

- Find a good moisturizer for your skin type: If you have dry skin , try an oil-based moisturizer(I love Hope in Jar by Philosophy!); Combination/Oily, make sure it's oil-free (try Peter Thomas Roth's)

A little boost

I don't know if you've noticed, readers, but I've been in a bit of a rut lately. Maybe it's post-vacation malaise, maybe it's that two of my favorite samples ran out this week, maybe it's just a mid-blog-life crisis . . . but the blog needs a boost. 

And so I introduce to you, hot-off-the-press!, Pretty Analyst daily themes. I know, I know - so many blogs have cutesy themes, but I promise these are cutesy and relevant and will result in more posts, so you win! Here is what you have to look forward to - 

Wink - 

Mondays will be all about eyes

Kiss - 

Tuesdays are lip-licious

Care - 

Skincare Wednesdays

Glow - 

Thursdays are about fabulous foundations and all-over face color

Soul - 

Since it's not all about lip shine, some food-for-thought and 

inner-beauty tid-bits on Fridays

Love - 

Some of my favorite products, finds or random thoughts 

to titillate you on the Weekends

I'll be kicking off tomorrow with some skincare tips that I learned at Canyon Ranch, so get ready! As I kick this off, let me know what you think - love it? hate it? Too cheesey? Just right? Let me know!

APB . . . PerriconMD Sale

PerriconMD Skincare is up to 75% off at Sephora right now - they decided to redo their packaging, I guess. Same product, old package, slashed price? Sold!

Stock up here. 

Blush that lasts all day

Got an email this week from one of the readers (love getting mail!), asking about a blush that will last all day. I've got two picks for you: 

1. Du Wop Cheek Venom ($24)

The great thing about this product is that it's a cream that uses cinnamon to bring out your natural blush color in addition to it's own rosy hue. It truly lasts all day, because it's a cream and because it draws on your skins natural coloring. I know some people are wary of cream blushes because they get all over their hands when they're applying, but I found this one to rub on easily with my fingers but washes off with soap quite nicely as well. 

2. MAC Bronzing Powder ($21)

So I realize this isn't technically a blush but I had to put it on here because I was taking a cardio interval class last week and the instructor had the most amazing flush to her skin - and it stayed on through the WHOLE cardio class. It was amazing. Sweat did nothing to this cheek color. When I asked what she was wearing, she said it was actually a bronzer, she just applied it as if it were a blush and it was a darker shade than her skin, so it worked like a blush. Let's just say this held up much better than my skin did through 40 min of treadmills. Goodness. 

Things I never knew about nails . . .

As a disclaimer, I have terrible nails. I chew them, I forget to cut them, I shape each one differently and I never wear polish. So you should NEVER take Nail Care advice from me.

You should, however, take it from the Salon Specialist at Canyon Ranch. I went to a presentation by her on "Healthy Nail Care" and learned SO much. My nail-life has been changed forever. Here are the cliff's notes from the talk:

- It all starts with the cuticle. A healthy cuticle means a healthy nail because it is the layer of skin that protects where the nail is grown.
- The first step in a healthy cuticle is a well-moisturized cuticle. If at all possible, use cuticle oil and hand cream on your nails every night before bed. It'll take two minutes a day but does wonders to prevents such painful nail no-no's as nail ridges, hangnails, infection and split nails.
- The correct shape to cut/file your nail is the natural shape created by where the pink of your finger beneath the nail meets the white of your nail edge. If the majority of your nails have a rounded line there, do rounded - if square do square, etc.
- Most polishes have a LOT of formaldehyde in them to promote drying. To avoid too much exposure to this chemical, use a quality base coat and top coat, OR use a vegan nail color like SPA Ritual.
- Your nail 'knows' how thick to grow based on how heavy the nail bed is. So a light nail bed promotes stronger nail growth. This is why fake nails often result in weak natural nails when the fakes are removed. To keep your nails growing strong, try to not always wear polish on them. Alternate weeks or even seasons to keep your beds lights.

More to come but I'm off to more AMAZING classes.

PS I went to a Skincare 101 Lecture today and they were ALL ABOUT the Clarisonic. Love it!

Reality Check . . .Bright Lipstick

So one of my comments asked if I would REALLY wear blood orange lipstick (thanks, JAY) - which ties in nicely to an email I got recently from another reader:

"Dear Pretty, I recently read an article from the ever so famous, bobbi brown , who stated NO woman should ever wear a bright red lipstick. I am a brunette older woman and when I do wear bright lipstick…I just feel happy…I know it sounds a bit silly, but if I am going to ordinary places, such as the grocery or the post office, I often do not spend time looking at myself before I leave the house and often times… I look a fright. However, when I quickly swipe the bright paint on my lips…I look more finished, feel healthy and look presentable to the general public… According to ms brown… the brightness detracts from the prettiness of the rest of the face and doesn’t brighten the look … but really detracts from the beauty and make s the woman look worse. I feel softer, quieter,calmer…..when I wear a lighter color… but just not as happy… help???"

So the question - To Wear or Not to Wear Bright Lipstick

Here are my simple thoughts: Wear what makes you feel beautiful, no matter what anyone says, even if it is Bobbi. If you like it bright, ROCK IT.

Here are my more complex thoughts: I get what Bobbi is going for with this idea. When someone wears bright lipstick, it does draw attention to the lipstick and not the lips or the rest of the face. But I believe makeup can serve two functions in a woman's life - as a subtle enhancer that is there to highlight anything but itself OR as an accessory that is a statement in a woman's overall look, pulling it all together.

I tend to be more of a natural girl myself, but I'm starting to really appreciate the value of makeup as an accessory. Lipstick or eyeliner CAN be the focus of a look if you you have the balls (so to speak), so if bright's your thing, go for it. If you prefer a trendy bag, I get that too. So to answer the first question - Yes, I would actually wear the Blood Orange Lips, but probably to a club and with a simple outfit, I haven't quite worked up the Glam Girl Guts to rock it on your average Saturday.

What do you think? Go bright or go natural - discuss amongst yourselves.

Something New . . . Seriously Fruity Lips

I might be reading too much into this, but it seems to me that the Spring trends are reflecting the mood of the economy these days. Normally we're so giddy that Spring is just around the corner that we go gaga for fun, light-hearted fruits like Peach and Strawberry. But this year it's like we picked the most serious fruits possible -  still fruit-inspired but with a more somber undertone - like Raspberry and Blood Orange. Either way - they're gorgeous and timely so I recommend you try one or both: 

Trend: Raspberry Lips

Case in point: Alicia Keys at the Oscars

It's fresh but dramatic. This particular look is Mary Kay - Raspberry Lip Liner was used to color her full lips ($10), but I also love Jane Iredale's Rasperry PureGloss for Lips ($19). 

Trend: Blood Orange Lips

I just love this color - it's still a very deep hue, but the orange undertones give it something fun and bright for the change of season. For those of us not bold enough to commit to Coral, Blood Orange lets us flirt with going big while still staying on this side of a Resort Collection. Here's Chloe Sevigny rocking the look: 

One of my favorite brands, Korres, has a really beautiful shade in their Mango Butter Lipstick called "Orange Red 52" ($18).  This color always reminds me of Italy and romance. Sold!

Raves and Reviews . . . Eye Cream

I got an email from Glory's Mama the other day asking for an eye cream that would actually make a difference before her daughter's wedding . . . so tonight it's all about eye cream!

My top pick? Bliss' The Youth As We Know It Eye Cream ($75). I've been hearing from almost everyone I ask about this how wonderful it is, so I finally tried it myself and it's pretty legit. To be honest, I'm not super-focused on anti-aging products right now, so I haven't used this over a long period of time, but enough to know it works in the short term. I also spent some time talking to the Sephora peeps at the Burlingame store about it and it's chock-full of antioxidants, moisturizers and firming active ingredients. 

The only downside is if you'd like something that acts as more than just a base lotion - any illuminating or priming you'd like, you'd need to add something on top of this. 

If you want the all-in-one, I recommend Cosmedicine's Optimologist ($45). 

It does wonders for under-eye circles, while firming and preventing wrinkles. And I *just* saw that if you enter "COSMED1" at checkout on sephora.com you can get a free deluxe sample of this one. TIMELY!

ABP . . . Free-with-Purchase

Many thanks to Cuffy for pointing this one out to me!

Enter "HOTHOUSE" at Saks Fifth Ave checkout when you purchase $75 or more of beauty and get this adorable (it's spring!!) bag with a whole lot of samples. 

And to help you reach your $75 threshold - They sell the Clarisonic!

I Love My . . . 3 min makeup

Last night I was working on the blog and lost track of time - I looked up and realized my friends were meeting me at my apartment in 5 minutes and I wasn't wearing any makeup - or real clothes. So I calculated that I have 2 minutes to change my pj's for jeans and 3 minutes to do my makeup. Here's what I do when I really don't have time for anything else: 

1. Bare Escentuals SPF 15 mineral foundation ($25) - Swirl, Tap, Buff like you've never done before

2. NARS The Multiple - Orgasm ($37) - Not only is the name amazing, but the product is too. This cream stick is very large (that's what she said), so I just run it along my cheeks and blend with my fingertips. The color is enough to make me look like I've been, well - I guess that's where the name comes from, but it's not so dramatic that I can't be a little sloppy when throwing it on quickly. Bonus - this stick can be used as lip or eye color too. 

3. Dior Show Mascara ($24) - This brush is so full and the formula so smooth, all it takes is one or two swipes of the wand and you're looking fabulous. 

4. LORAC's Moonstone and Bronze Eyeshadow ($18) - Moonstone all over, Bronze on my inner corner and I look much more put together than I actually am. 

Boom. Done. And so is this post. 

What does every woman need on a Saturday morning . . . .

. . . other than a mimosa and some Advil? A solid eye makeup remover. When I wake up at 7am on a Saturday because Little Dog is yelping from his crate that he will DIE IF HE DOESN'T GO OUT RIGHT NOW, the first thing I reach for in the bathroom is my eye-makeup remover. As you already know from how much I love Bare Escentuals, I've been known to fall asleep in my makeup once or twice (blame the wine!) - so a solid eye makeup remover is my Saturday-morning-savior. 

The one I use right now is  Bliss's Lid+Lash Wash ($14) :

It's a thick gel, so it doesn't run all over your face, and it's easy to keep out of your eyes. Sometimes I'll even keep it in the fridge to help de-puff my eyes after a particularly festive weekend (or a particularly long week at the office). 

Another way to do it is to use Vaseline ($2). The texture is a little gross, but it works the exact same way for 1/7th the cost.  

I use both the same way - spread a bit over my eyelids with a cotton ball and then wipe it off with a fresh cotton ball or a cloth. It works so much better than soap and water - so there's really no excuse to not go all-out on your smokey eyes. 

Raves and Reviews . . . Hollywood Lips

A Pretty Analyst first! - A guest blog from our good friend neighbour:

Angelina? Scarlett? . . . middle-aged housewife?

Since, obviously, everyone is always asking me how my lips always look so fabulous, I thought I'd let you in on the secret: Hollywood Lips. I am not normally a lip-focused person. The only time I have ever worn lipstick other than for Halloween was at my wedding (and even then it made me nervous.), and I rarely wear anything other than Burt's Bee's lip balm (which is also fantastic). Pretty much I am the equivalent of a vanilla-only ice cream person when it comes to lips. That is mostly because I need it to meet my requirements, which are:

a.) look natural. I want them to look kissable, not laughable.

b.) be non-sticky. Please, TELL ME the worst feeling ever is not having your hair get stuck on your lips (or your lips stuck to your lips if it is that bad).

c.) easy to apply and long-lasting. 'nuff said.

d.) smell/taste good. I have one lipbalm I only wear when my hubby is gone. He says the smell makes him feel like barfing.

e.) cheap. duh.

Not to prostitute myself for this stuff or anything, but not only does it meet all of the above, but it also:

1.) plumps my lips and erases lines(not kidding-there is a difference!)

2.) tingles nicely (probably from the plumping)

3.) is SUPER shiny (makes lips look kissable and smooth)

I stumbled across the Hollywood lips line by accident when I needed to spend a few more bucks on amazon.com ($15) to get the free shipping, and I thought: what the hell, I'll try a coconut lip plumper and citrus sugar lip scrub. I tried it when it arrived, and was instantly HOOKED. So, my friends, since I care about (most of) you, I'm passing on this recommendation to the mother lode of fabulous lips. Enjoy!

Inner Beauty . . . Food for thought

I thought that every now and then I'd post a little "Inner Beauty" tid-bit, just to remind us that it's not ALL about eyeliner and smelling pretty. It's alot about eyeliner and smelling pretty, but not entirely. ; ) 

Every morning when I get off the subway (yes, there IS a subway in San Francisco) I run into the same woman handing out free newspapers. And every morning she's saying, "Newspaper? Happy Today!". Except she pronounced it like "Tuesday" without the S, so it's more like "Newspaper? Happy Too - day!". 

It makes me smile every morning. Happy Too - day! Sometimes the smile sticks with me all day. And it reminds me how the simplest bit of wishing well to others can have an impact long beyond the moment itself. 

So readers, Happy Too-day to you! More frivolous, fabulous beauty tips to come soon. 

ABP . . . . EEEEEE Bare Escentuals Deal

I'm bummed because I was waiting to craft my "How Bare Escentuals Changed My Life" post until I had time to do it justice, but I just saw this great sample offer on Facebook and knew I had to do it NOW. 

Click here to take advantage of it!

There's a handy Shade Finder for you there too. 

BE (as we "users" call it) really did change my life. Before BE, I hated foundation. Before BE, I thought there was nothing to be done to control my shine. Before BE, well . . . life was a sad, dark, blotchy place. *Shiver*. 

A good friend gave me a BE started kit for Christmas one year and I have to admit, it took me about a year to really figure out what to do with it. Then I did some research on the company and product for a firm I was working for, and I ended up doing a store visit to learn the product basics. There, they taught me the magical formula - Swirl, Tap, Buff! And voila! I learned how much coverage you could really get out of a powder made from minerals, and how soft your bronzer could look when layer with the mineral veil. 

The bottom line is this foundation is so gentle and natural looking, while providing significant coverage. The one complaint I've heard it that it doesn't always last through the day, so if long-wearing is a priority, you might want to keep looking. Otherwise, I highly recommend taking advantage of this sample and see what you think!

My picks: 

- BE Fairly Light Foundation with SPF 15 ($25)

- BE Warmth Multi-tasking Mineral ($18)

- BE Mineral Veil ($19)

And yes, you CAN sleep in it. Which is why it's perfect to wear out dancing.  

A better way . . . to make lip color last

Since MsGullible brought it up in a comment and it's something I'm always trying to figure out - here are some ideas for how to make lip color last longer:

1. Use liquid foundation or concealer as a base coat before applying. 

Since I use a powder foundation, I don't do this on a daily basis, but I'll bust it out for a special occasion and it really does work. 

2. Try a lip primer. 

I suggest Guerlain's Kiss Kiss Lip Lift (Sephora, $30). It's ready to go, easy to use and never fails to do the trick. It's a great conditioner, too. Beware if you like your color glossy or creamy, this makes most of my lipsticks more matte than they were without it. 

3. Use a nude lip liner to line your lips and shade from the outside in. 

This is a neat way to keep gloss from bleeding out and to give it a little more staying powder. Try NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Belle De Jour (Sephora, $24). 

Alright, it's a quickie tonight because I have an Excel training to run to - no joke, this is my life. 

Raves and Reviews: Caudalie's skincare

If there's one thing I love just as much as beauty products - perhaps even MORE than beauty products - it's wine. There's nothing like a glass of red wine after a long day filled with pivot tables and excel keyboard short-cutting. Mmmm. I know you know *exactly* what I mean. 

So really, how could I NOT get excited about a skincare line started by a vineyard using all-natural ingredients from their wine production. Enter - Caudalie. Yes, it's as sexy and French as it sounds. The story goes that two college sweethearts took a summer job at a winery and while he worked on the wine, she worked on the skincare. And then, viola! A very romantic premise to sell fancy cleaners and lotions was born. 

I'll admit it, I'm in love with the idea of this line - but I have actually tried it and I do like the stuff too. I just picked up the full anti-aging skincare line for my mom (not that you need it, mom) and so we'll get her full report on that soon. But I've tried a few things myself and really love them: 

Beauty Elixir (Sephora, $15 for 1 ounce)

This one is my favorite - It's a little hard to explain what it is because it really does everything. It's a toner, a fragrance, a primer, and a good way to set your makeup right before you walk out the door. My husband and I use it on our pillows at night (he's going to LOVE that I made that public) and I use it before my moisturizer in the mornings. I have friends at work who keep it at their desk and spritz a little whenever the number crunching starts to feel monotonous. It's a fun little treat that you can use so many ways - I've had the small bottle for a few months now and it's still going strong. 

Contour Cream for Eyes and Lips (Sephora, $53)

I know I'm young and shouldn't need wrinkle cream, but I swear to you -  I see the wrinkles. They're coming, I can just tell they are, and it makes me want to stop drinking through straws even though that means I'll be compromising the whiteness of my teeth. The world is full of cruel trade-offs . . . 

The reason I love this cream is that it's highly moisturizing - which is better for preventing wrinkles than hiding them. I got a sample of this with my last Sephora.com order and have been using the last week - in the short term, it works a lot like a makeup primer, making my foundation not crease so much in the little lines developing around my eyes and lips. But all the heavy duty moisturizers in it should be preventing more serious wrinkles from developing in the first place. For someone a little older who is more worried about hiding the wrinkles they already have, this may not be worth the price. But if you're 25 and hoping to put off that $100 eye cream you'll eventually feel compelled to buy - this will do the trick. 

A Better Way . . . to apply eyeliner

I was listening to an interview recently with the makeup artist from American Idol. When asked what all women should wear on a daily basis she said, "eyeliner" - which was a shock to me since I have a love/hate relationship with eyeliner and still have a hard time putting it on correctly. She suggested that for an easy, soft every-day look, use an angled brush and apply a dark powder to the eyelash-line. 

I've been trying it the last few days and I love it! It is much more subtle than a liquid or even a pencil, but it still provides shape and definition for the eye. I use Stila's angled brush and Dior's Twilight compact's navy blue. 

APB - Sephora's BI program

Anyone who loves beauty, loves free samples. And anyone who loves free samples, loves Sephora.  So if you're not already, you should DEFINITELY sign up for Sephora's rewards program and become a Beauty Insider. It's free and the only emails you get are product features or deal alerts - the emails are actually one of my favorite perks since I get to find out about promotions before everyone else. On top of that though, for every $100 you spend at Sephora you get a deluxe sample from a featured brand for FREE. I lived off of my "Hope in a Jar" deluxe sample for my entire 2 week holiday trip - so it's some serious sample action. 

You also get a birthday gift (!) - Sign up here. 

Of course I made my poor husband sign up and he just got the Anthony Logistics men's body wash as a Deluxe sample. Here's what he had to say, more or less: "Boys shouldn't smell like fruit, even citrus. It didn't lather enough either. Boys should smell like sweat and ocean." 

Since he wasn't that into it, I thought I'd give it a try and I love it! It's not too sweet for me, much more fresh and citrus-y than most women's bath gels. I also think it lathers just fine. So, chalk this one up to his vs hers. 

I Love My . . . Clarisonic Skincare Brush

If you've ever made the transition from a regular toothbrush to an electric one, which I did not until I got married and started secretly using my husband's until he caught me and bought me my own, then you know what a difference some batteries can make. Clarisonic was GENIUS and took the same idea they had for teeth and applied it to the face. 

The concept is pretty straightforward - instead of using your soft, slow moving hands to wash your face, why not use gentle, vibrating bristles? After the first use my skin was softer to the touch and ever since I started using it my breakouts are much shorter lived - now I'll have a zit for a day or two at most, instead of a week. I use my regular gel cleanser - you can use it with any cleanser that doesn't have exfoliating particles in it, which you won't need anyway, since the bristles do it more gently and effectively anyway!

I KNOW I sound like an infomercial, but this brush is pretty amazing and my skin no longer feels clean without using it. I've already converted my mom, sisters, cousin-in-law, several friends and coworkers so it seems only right that it should be one of my first posts. 

: ) 

Only downside - it looks/sounds kind of like a vibrator, as my friend learned when her boyfriend found it charging on her bedroom floor and awkwardly asked what it was because it looked "like a sex toy".  My sister in college is still figuring out a way to use it in the co-ed dorm bathrooms without getting funny looks as she leaves the shower . . . 

(Clarisonic Skincare Brush, Sephora $195)

Raves & Reviews: Eyeliners

Eyeliner is the most intimidating makeup item in my bag. I started using it regularly in college and ever since I've been struggling to find the perfect fit for my style. I'm still not very good at applying it (getting better) so the way it goes on and how thick the tip is are the first things I look for. I've come across some samples lately so let me tell you about what I've been trying lately: 

Tarte EmphasEYES High Def Eye Pencil (Sephora, $18): 

My favorite these days - goes on very precisely, probably because of the fine tip and relatively hard consistency. If an eyeliner is too creamy or thick I end up getting it all over the place, so this makes it easy for me to apply with broad strokes right above my lash line, moving outward. The green is great daytime alternative that is subtle while still providing definition. 

Rock & Republic Bound Gel Eyeliner (Neiman Marcus, $24): 

I think I'm going to love cream eyeliners. Having to use a brush actually makes it much easier for me to apply, while still getting the rich and defined look of a less chalky liner. R&R has some fun colors, but it seemed a little dried out when I put it on. 

Despite the dryness, I threw some of this on with my regular makeup this morning and was pleasantly surprised by how much of an impact it had without being too . . . "va va voom". It made my eyes really stand out without standing out itself. 

Sephora Brand Slim Eyeliner Pencil (Sephora, $5): 

I have this in navy and am surprised by how great this eyeliner is for how little it costs. Perfect option if you want to check out different color liners for fun before committing to a more expensive brand. As long as you keep it sharp, it's easy to apply too. 

My Beauty Philosophy

Long before I even thought about starting a beauty blog, I was looking around the web, just trying to find one to read. There are some good ones out there (links to come!) but they seemed to fall into one of two categories: 

The Beauty-ista: These blogs are written by the beauty-obsessed for the the beauty-obsessed. Every new product is reviewed, every celebrity makeup artist referenced or interviewed. Features include: trend alerts, links to shopping sites, name dropping. 

Moms-on-a-beauty-budget: These blogs are all about beauty steals, deals and gifts-with-purchase. Usually written by mother-daughter teams or mother-mother pairs, these blogs are all about how to get runway results on shoestring budgets. 

What's wrong with what's out there? Nothing . . . but what about the rest of us? I'm willing to pay for value - if I can only find it. I'd love to try the newest trend - but I need step-by-step instructions (preferably with pictures). So with no further ado, I'd like to introduce you to The Pretty Analyst's Beauty Philosophy. This is what the blog is all about! The Pretty Analyst believes that beauty should  . . . 

1. Bring out the best in you

I believe makeup should be natural - almost to a fault. I was 20 before I worked up the courage to wear my first truly RED lipstick. We've all seen women and girls who let their makeup wear them - and it's such a shame because so much of beauty is owning what we've already got, highlighting our favorite parts and downplaying the parts we like a little bit less. I love products that make my green eyes greener, my pale skin brighter and my thin hair smoother. In my book, it's better to enhance than to hide.  

2. Never be one-size-fits-all

I guarantee you that if you ask a handful of your closest girlfriends, half of them will love their gloss sticky and the other half matte. Half will complain about foundation that doesn't cover enough, the other half will complain about foundation that doesn't breathe enough. Some parts of beauty are universal - I will always swear by moisturizer, no matter who you are. But most parts are surprisingly personal - even beyond skin tone or eye color. Beauty has a style of it's own, and when I review products it will always be something like, "If you like your blush subtle, you'll love Stila but if you like it to last, you've got to try DuWop". 

3. Be worth it

I hate spending $50 on a product that I'm not satisfied with. I also hate spending $5 on a product that I'm not satisfied with. There's plenty of marketing out there, but my favorite products have always been discovered through recommendations of friends. I've made countless friends and family try my Clarisonic Skincare Wand - every single one has bought it, despite the $195 price tag. In beauty, I believe it's all about value. You can buy 10 shades of drugstore shadow that will last you a month for $40 or you can buy a LORAC palette that will last you a year - either way you'd better love it! My hope is that this blog will help you learn what's a good value for you - so you can enjoy more beauty for your buck!

4. Be fun

Beauty can be intimidating. We're inundated with information about new products and new looks - but it took me two years and a tutorial with my wedding makeup consultant to figure out how to do a smokey eye. But she taught me that beauty - above all- should be fun! She handed me a makeup sponge with a bit of liquid foundation dabbed on it and showed me how it could remove the smokiest of eyeshadow from places you didn't want it. And with that little eraser I learned how to play with my makeup. Now I try to play around with looks and get creative with my colors - if I don't like it, I just take it off - or just blend in some more color! Playing with makeup doesn't have to be exclusive to makeup artists or bold young-and-singles . . . it should be for all of us, be it a weekday morning or a big night out. 

If this resonates with you - keep coming back! If not, send me your thoughts - I want to hear them too. Either way, thanks for coming by and hope to see you back soon!

Welcome to the Pretty Analyst!

When I tell people that I work for a beauty retailer - this is what they think of: 
Which means when I have to explain to them I'm actually a Finance Analyst, it's kind of a downer. My job looks much more like this: 

Except my computer is usually on, my cube is grey, and in general my building is darker than this one appears to be. But I am blond, so there's that. Don't get me wrong - I love my job. I think Excel is AMAZING, and I love playing with numbers. It's just not as glamorous as being a makeup artist. 

Despite the fact that I'm (clearly) an Excel geek, ever since I started working in the beauty industry, I've noticed that everyone from my friends to random people on BART have started asking me for advice on products. What eye cream is good for preventing wrinkles? What brush should I use for mineral foundation? If I have oily skin, which moisturizer would you suggest? 

After a few months of trying to explain the difference illustrated above, I gave up and just started trying to answer their questions. I'd go online and read product reviews. I'd ask coworkers on the product side for their thoughts. And most of all, I'd check out any and all samples I could get my hands on through my job, and then tell my friends all about them. I've been doing this off-line for my friends for a while now and recently I started thinking - why not do it online for more people? 

There are plenty of beauty blogs out there for people who *love* make up - about new trends and flashy products - but what about for us Finance Analysts who like make up but find it perplexing sometimes? I want to stay on top of the trends, but my boss wouldn't be thrilled to have me show up to work with neon eyeshadow, even if it is a beauty retailer's corporate office. And it's great to hear that there's a brand new $95 anti-aging cream, but with my limited clothing-shoe-makeup-combined budget each month, is it REALLY worth it? 

So at the very least I'll be blogging for the same friends I've been talking to about all this stuff - TJ: I'm glad you love the Sephora eye palette, Ash: let me know how the eye cream works out - and hopefully a few other people will find my advice helpful as well! 

Welcome to The Pretty Analyst!