Getting My Shop On

Woo Hoo! This weekend Partner in Crime & I will be headed up to NYC. While we will be running like mad women since we are going up for a buying trip at the Gift Show, we will squeeze some fun time! One of our plans? To hit Alto for some Italian deliciousness.

This trip, that I make at least twice a year lets me scour vendors from across the country for unique gift items for the boutique. These flasks that I discovered last year were a huge hit for a sure to be remembered gift!

It's also where I replenish our classic best selling items, like these Seda France candles (Japanese Quince is hard to keep in stock!). I seriously could have a store devoted entirely to home fragrance. And one entirely for lipgloss as you know! So be sure to follow me on Twitter as I twitpic my way through the show & NYC for that matter!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M
PS- I'd love to hear for lines to look out for that make some of your favorite gifts- it's great to get different perspectives!

Bon Voyage to Betty

Insert muffled sobs here...Movie Girl broke the news last night that Ugly Betty has been cancelled. I adore this colorful show & no one one was more surprised than moi!

On days where I know I'm being a particularly evil boss, I take comfort knowing that there are true Wilhemina Slater characters out there & I'm just having a bad day. I then buy my girls' forgiveness with free beauty loot. I guess I'll have to tune in to Kell on Earth(so excited for its debut on Bravo!) featuring the especially difficult Kelly from The Hills fame to make me feel better now.

Who hasn't daydreamed about having an assistant who would do literally anything for you?!(picking up dry cleaning, burying dead bodies...) Yes, Mark set the bar high in terms of standards...Tell me, when I start getting Botox, will training be available for my assistant Lucky Penny to administer it? I doubt it!

And how clueless, yet fabulous is Amanda? Ah to be that oblivious- there is a reason why they say ignorance is bliss. So I bid a fond farewell to a show that has been so good to me for 4 seasons. I will cherish the little time we have left together. Adios Amigo.

Peace. Love. Betty. M

A Look Inside

My desperate attempts to find a substitute for my beloved discontinued CoverGirl Multiplying Mascara continue. There it is at the bottom- I am scraping every last drop out of the tube... This is not even all of the mascaras I've tried recently in my quest. *Sigh* I am pulling a serious Goldilocks tantrum here girls! Nothing is making me 100% happy. I am not a fan of waterproof mascaras, but everything is still smudging on my oily skin(yes even with all my make-up artist tricks). Help a gal out & tell me what your favorite is, before I end up in the poor house!

Peace. Love. Mascara. M

Recycling

I heart interior design. Of course, if my bank account had no limit, I could rock it out. The real trick, one that my favorite cousin T has mastered from moving multiple times, is reinventing ways to use what you already have. In her new home, she spruced up her existing sofas with new red pillows, some classic black & white photos and vibrant red shades on top of the owl lamps I gave her for Christmas!

Repurposing some white washed pieces from her old dining room, they fit perfectly in the new living room. Her sideboard now is her entertainment center.

Her bedroom is so calming, with a very subtle shabby chic vibe. Layering a mish mosh of different linens gives the bed a bohemian sense of style. Nothing overly girly, but so welcoming you want to crawl under the covers! Tell me beauties, what is your favorite home decor trick?

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Make-up Must Have Monday

Is it just me, or does MAC seem to be launching a new limited edition line almost weekly? I'm not complaining, but whew that company is working overtime!

Their latest collection, Lovely Lace, has some great shadows that would be perfect for a cooler toned grey smokey eye.

Every smokey eye needs a nude mouth to complete the look & MAC provided the perfect compliment with subtle lip shades in similar undertones. What do you think beauties? Will you be lovely in lace?

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Fabulous Find Friday

Sephora is unveiling yet another exclusive collaboration, this time with accessories designer Tarina Tarantino. Any girl who can rock hot pink hair like this gal does & look good while doing so is all right by me!

The line's packaging is cloaked in her signature pink & bedecked with rhinestones galore! Tarina is a former make-up artist, so I'm dying to try out the product's quality & intensity of the pigments.

Seriously, how girly glam is this? I think I must have this gorgeous bottle on my vanity...
It is available for preorder now, so go charge away and treat yourself! Happy Friday!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Bridal Photo Shoot

This week I had a bridal shoot at the newly unveiled Hotel Monaco in downtown Baltimore. Here I am working my magic on one of the models- her actual name is Barbie!

I wanted a radiant look that made her skin glow and focused on making her blue eyes pop. That was achieved with black cake liner & tons of individual lashes. She looked fabulous, if I do say so myself!

So many people are involved in bringing an inspiration to life- photgrapher, make-up artists, hairdressers, stylists! There were six of us on hand, not including the models. To the left, the talented Margeux awaits to touch up hair, while in the center is Jennifer Grove of Sky Blue Events- the mastermind behind this shoot.

That's a wrap! Stay tuned for some more behind the scenes shots from moi, as well as for the official shots from the ever talented Kristen Nichols of Jubilee Photography- I'll post them when they arrive in my hot little hands! Stay gorgeous girls!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

What Are You Trying to Hide?

From the looks of my concealer collection girleens- quite a lot! Today in particular, it's my red nose from allergies! When clients come in to the spa -they ask all the time, what do you use? What have you tried? I'm going to go over what resides in my make-up drawer at the moment, what's good for what & where! Touche Eclat has earned a cult following, but this is strictly a luminizer- not to hide or conceal. It brightens & gives a candle lit effect where you place it.

The newest launch from Benefit offers a lot of coverage & is dense in texture- it's great for larger areas . However, it's thicker consistency makes it a little more difficult to control and manipulate if you're trying to hide a pimple.

Ditto in terms of consistency with the master, Kevyn Aucoin's, the sensuous touch concealer. This little pot will last you forever! A tiny drop is all you need to pat over a blemish. Overuse and you'll struggle a bit with maneuvering it around. I would always recommend using this product with a brush. (stay tuned for a review on his Airbrush foundation)

Another winner from Urban Decay's 24/7 line, this pencil lets you literally draw over the imperfections on your face! A great all in one product in terms of versatility, this one is great to have in your purse for touch-ups wherever they may pop up.

A client turned me on to yet another impressive Lancome concealer. Though, I wouldn't say it's waterproof, this product offers nice coverage without having a pancakey feel. For my acne prone skin, it's also worth mentioning that it's never broken me out!

The new buzz word is HD everything-yes? So why not make-up? Cargo launched this Blu-Ray concealer with promises of skin being ready for high def close-ups. Is it any different from any other concealer? Not that I've noticed...it's swivel up sponge tip applicator also makes it a smidge difficult to control where you're placing it if it's a tiny area...

Being True's concealer offers a trifecta of options. Though I'm usually a little lazy when it comes to concealers in compacts or pots, being able to custom blend is a huge plus as our skin tone usually varies throughout the year. Infused with my beloved antioxidant idebenone, this concealer also helps fade blemish marks and discoloration over time. Two thumbs up! To help any concealer's staying power, lightly dust over it with translucent powder. Hope this helps you gals with going under cover!

Peace. Love. Conceal. M

Concealers available here

All Around the Globes

My top picks from the Golden Globes? Kate Hudson looked divine & that she was literally poured into her dress( in a good way, it fit so well like it was melded to her body) Is it just me or don't you think she be such a great girlfriend to have around? I love how she lives her life- her devil may care attitude. I think she gets it from her mom & Goldie still looks so young at heart.

I heart Kristen Bell. Full on girl crush from the days of Veronica Mars( please, please bring it to the big screen!) She is fresh & fun & fabulous. She's genuine, witty & hysterical- I think she's going to be huge & I can say I knew her back when... She was joking how she went with a short dress cause she needs to pounce like a tiger- you had to be watching...she owned it.

There's just something about Olivia Wilde that screams sensuality to me. She's so exotic, intelligent, passionate about giving back & a real actual princess- enough said! Funniest commentary of the evening? When someone said Mariah Carey brought her own golden globes to the awards show! Seriously girlfriend, reign it in! Leave something to the imagination for once! People are not going to pay for the milk, when they can get the cow for free- sheesh! Who were your hits or misses my beauties?

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Strike a Pose

Well my kit's all packed and I am off bright & early this morning! By the time you dolls are getting your first cup of coffee, I will already be on location for a bridal shoot at the Hotel Monaco in downtown Baltimore. I am so not a morning person, so I will probably be on my 3rd cup! The look I'll be creating will be glam of course- think black cake liner & plenty of individual lashes! Be sure to follow me on twitter( PeaceLoveGloss ) as I give peeks behind the scenes at the actual shoot & check back tomorrow for some personal pics. Have a gorgeous day!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Under Eye Circles Gone for Good?

Countless times I'm asked for an eye cream to help with dark circles. I'm always hesitant to promise anything since up until now, they have been a bugger to treat. Well, angels are singing on this one girleens! A serum containing a mixture of herbs including Brazilian ginseng, white lily and marapuama applied twice daily are showing very promising results for this pesky problem. Even better? The treatment, known as Bioskinup Contour also reduces fine wrinkles and puffiness. Though few scientists have been able to pinpoint the cause of under eye circles, the flavonoids and saponins contained in these herbs are thought to improve circulation and fight inflammation & swelling! The only downside? The product from company Chemyunion Quimica is currently only available in Europe & Russia. Any of my beauties have travel plans?!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Nine

If you're a twitter follower of mine, you might have picked up that I'm a movie-aholic! I try to go once a week, & though it's expensive- I figure it's cheaper than therapy to get out of my head for a bit! Movie Girl & I recently saw Nine. To be honest it felt more like nine hours...

What was heaven? The costumes, make-up & hair! Kate Hudson proves she really is a triple threat adding dancing & singing to her resume, and the mod glam look she rocked was fabulous!

Though this picture doesn't do it justice, Marion Cotillard's subtle cat eye is close to what I wear everyday day. She looked stunning throughout the film-if only I could master a chignon! Seriously she's such a talented actress & played pure 1950's perfection to a T.

The volume, oh the volume. As a gal with very fine hair, I was so envious of Penelope's perfectly teased coif! Again the costume designer nailed her character's sultry siren look. They must have worn some amazing hair pieces to create that height, unfortunately I'm always challenged with those gadgets!

Nicole Kidman, played a true Hollywood icon in the all star cast . Mounds of hair, diamonds & fur completed her luxurious look. So while I wouldn't rush out to rent it when it comes out, the film really inspired me to step it up in the glamour department. Tell me my beauties, what movies have inspired you style wise?

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

I Gave it a Week Wednesday

As mentioned yesterday, I rediscovered this full size product while digging through my linen, ahem, beauty closet. I had seen this innovative product on QVC before & obviously had wanted to try it since I bought it! A fellow beauty blogger, Gouldylox had given me some pointers prior to use since she actually watched the DVD included(I'm not a big instruction follower...) The sheer amount of product recommended is unusual. Whereas 2 pumps of product is the norm, Wen suggests 12-15 pumps per quadrant of hair! In my mission to be less wasteful & using what I have, I'm giving products a full week of trying them out. How did Wen fare?

First off, for an oily haired girl such as myself, it was hard to skip the shampoo/gel first step. As a skin care professional, I often have to remind clients when it comes to products, suds does not = clean. However, it was hard to wrap my head around(pun intended). But I was consistent in using it every night for a week. Am I a changed woman? Um, not really. The search for the shampoo & conditioner that lets me forgo styling my hair continues. My hair still needs to be straightened since it refuses to be full on Veronica Lake waves. Above is my hair after air drying & running a brush thru it.

What I will say about this product, is that your hair will obey your tools much better. When blown dry or using a straight iron, my hair cooperates much more willingly. For you gals that style every morning, this is a product for you- especially is you dye your hair since it's sulfate free & doesn't strip your color. I wash my hair at night though, since I am so not a morning person. Worth mentioning however, is that I plowed thru a bottle in almost a week due to the suggested use...I might reserve this more for special occasions when I'm really wanting a great hair day. Have you tried Wen? This is my hair which a quick blow dry after mainly air drying.

Peace. Love. Product. M

Bear with the split shots gals, I still feel weird sometimes taking pics of myself by myself!

Zen for 2010

In my quest to conquer some of my beauty clutter, I cleaned out my linen closet last weekend. Wow, I had no idea how much stuff I had! Fellow beauty blogger, Gouldylox had popped into the spa the other day sporting some great looking hair. She said it was her Wen cleansing conditioner. Guess what? I had a bottle of it in the abyss known as my linen closet! How much had I paid for it? $32. Stay tuned for my review of it tomorrow.

I also had been needing a new toothbrush...voila! A brand new cute pink Supersmile toothbrush was awaiting me to the tune of $9. In addition, I found a replacement Oral B brush head for my electric toothbrush that retails for $18. Add to that a cute shirt I found with tags still on & my closet discoveries produced a bounty of over $100!

Disappointing? The tucked away tube of retinol Philosophy product Help Me that had expired before I tried it! Expired Vitamin A can do more harm than good. Yep, $40 down the drain. Goals for this year are going to be focusing on awareness of what I already have. What have you unearthed recently that you forgot you had?

Peace. Love. Abundance. M

Make-Up Must Have Monday

I can already hear the squeals of delight from my preppy beauties...Yes Lilly Pulitzer just collaborated with MAC and is launching a limited edition line officially available now!

The line consists of eyeliners, lip gelees, nail lacquers as well as my personal pick- the all over face color. Isn't this gorgeous? Swirl a fluffy brush over all the colors for a luminous glow all over.

Shadows patterned like Lilly's beloved pink & green prints follow up my must have list. Scoop these up while you can as I'm sure they will sell out quickly!

Peace. Love. Preppy. M

Eye of the Beholder

Though we have an amazing medical director, Plastic Surgeon Dr. Michael Cohen- who yes is a genius with a scalpel, my initial approach has always been a little bit more conservative. By no means does that mean I am not aggressive & results oriented, but I always stress prevention is easier than correction. This my beauties brings us to eye creams & yes you must! I've been using eye creams since I was 18 & it's made a huge difference. The eye area is the first place we show aging. Why? The tissue around the eye is very thin, think single ply toilet paper. There are also no oil glands in that area, so the skin needs supplemental moisture. Twice a day you need to be applying your eye product gently with your ring or pinky finger(they're the weakest). Yes eye creams are pricey, but no you cannot use your face cream on your eye area (as the eye is easily irritated). The good news? You need very little product, so your potion can last easily six months.

Second step? Yes, I am here to fully justify your expensive sunglasses. You will rarely find me outside without a honkin' set on (seriously, next step up would be full on ski goggles!) Besides protecting the eye area from sun damage, they also prevent you from squinting & frowning in the light, thus less muscle memory wrinkles. Woo hoo! Trust me, start early on your peepers & you'll be happy you did! Wink. Wink.

Peace. Love Lipgloss. M
Purchase Eye Cream here. Purchase sunglasses here.

Peel & Reveal

If you've ever been to my spa for a skin analysis, it's very likely you've heard my analogy of the onion as pertaining to the skin. The Good Lord knows that my spa manager has heard it so many times she wants to punch me! I can get technical though in my zeal for the skin, and when I notice client's eyes glazing over & getting overwhelmed I use this visual aid. This breaks it down. Think of your skin like an onion, we have several layers including the epidermis & the dermis. Over time and as we get older dead skin cells accumulate. Think of an onion in the grocery store- uneven, battered rough...that's how our skin gets.

Exfoliation I feel is the key to good skin. Period. Yes we must hydrate & protect, but if you want great looking skin, exfoliation is a must. It helps with acneic skin & unblocking clogged pores, while it's pivotal in the anti-aging process as it gently peels or sloughs dead skin cells resulting in smoother skin that is brighter with fewer lines & wrinkles. After the age of 25, you should move past a scrub(never use one with almonds or apricots- promise me beauties!). Scrubs just work on the very outer layer of the onion. Using something like Kate Somerville's Exfolikate, which has both papaya enzymes & lactic acid, once or twice a week to start can make a huge difference in your skin with only a 2 minute time commitment!

But let's face it(pun intended) some of us aren't diligent when it comes to masks or scrubs, and the only way you will see results is if you're consistent in your home care. That's why I suggest a cream or serum with Alpha Hydroxy Acids that do the work for you while you sleep- yes please! If only there was a cream to make my thighs smaller while I slept...but I digress. This Bioclear serum by Jan Marini with azaleic, glycolic, and salicylic acids helps with my anti-aging goals all while helping me be breakout free! No one understands more than moi what an investment skin care is. Incorporate this step into your system & all of your other products will work better, too. Promise!

Peace. Love. Exfoliation. M
Products available here