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)