Daily Beauty

Topshop’s $14 Cheek Jelly in Reign looks like a budget-friendlier ($14 vs. $30) Benefit Benetint doppelgänger on my cheeks — same sheer, rosy red color, but I think it’s way easier to use.

The gel formula, which feels wet and slick like a MAC Casual Colour, isn’t as runny as Benetint’s liquid formula, making it easier to blend on cheeks.

I usually use my fingers or a skunk brush to stipple it on my cheeks, where it looks quite natural, especially on bare skin, but you can also build it up for a bolder flush of color.

I have combination dry/oily cheeks (read: generally fussy and unpredictable), and it lasts from 4-6 hours for me.

Cheek Jelly in Reign, one of five $14 Cheek Jelly shades (there’s also a coral called Phenomenon a plum called Sibling, a burgundy called Museum and another red called Beep), is available now online and at Topshop stores.

Have you hit up the Sephora VIB sale? (It’s ongoing through Nov. 10 for VIB members) When I tried jumping online yesterday morning, I couldn’t get through. I guess the site was overwhelmed, so I ended up driving to the Sephora store down the street here in Novato.

What transpired was probably the least exciting Sephora VIB trip ever recorded in the history of womankind, because all I mostly did was stock up on my staples and the products I use all the time…

• YSL Touche Eclat in 4.5
• NARS Pro Prime Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base
• Hourglass No. 28 Lip Oil
• Kate Somerville Anti Bac Acne Clearing Lotion
• Smashbox Photofinish Pore Minimizing Primer

I also wanted to pick up another bottle of Laura Mercier Flawless Fluide Foundation in Chai, but they were totally and completely out.

HEARTBREAK!

The splurge for the trip was the T3 BodyWaver 1.75″ Professional Curling Iron, which is designed for loose waves and volume, which I like, but I haven’t tried it yet (it gets mixed reviews, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed). I’ll let you know…

My hair has hit that point where it refuses to cooperate unless I actually, ya know, do stuff to it.

[Continue reading…]

And the award for Lip Balm Most Likely to Double as a Cat Toy goes to…the eos + Rachel Roy limited edition Smooth Sphere holiday 2014 collection lip balms, yay! 🙂

Tabs loves playing with these things. They look like Easter eggs or bouncy balls, but they’re actually little lip balms. If I leave one sitting out, Tabs will bop it around the condo like it’s a crinkly ball.

Of course, now that I’m telling you this, and I want to take a picture of him playing with them, he has absolutely no interest in doing that whatsoever.

Cats.

[Continue reading…]

Come meet Christian this Saturday, October 25

Bay Area babes and dudes and out-of-towners visiting the area, you’re in for a treat. Dolce & Gabbana’s National Makeup Artist, the fabulous Christian McCulloch, will be visiting Saks Fifth Avenue in San Francisco’s Union Square on Saturday, October 25, and he’ll be doing makeovers!

Christian has worked his magic on some of Hollywood’s hottest ladies, including Scarlett Johannsson, Christina Hendricks and Olivia Wilde. More importantly, he complimented me once on my brows. 🙂

Christian will be at the Dolce & Gabbana counter inside Saks from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. He’ll be there to introduce and answer questions about the new fall collection and fall’s latest looks. Based on the one time I met him, I think you’ll have a blast and could learn a lot (he’s kind of a ham!).

Call (415) 438-5225 to book an appointment for a makeover with Christian while he’s in town. No minimum purchase necessary, and it’s free to attend.

Speaking of Christian and fall and Dolce & Gabbana, I asked him a few questions by email recently, and here’s what he had to say about trends for fall…

QUESTION: So which beauty trends are you most excited about this fall?

ANSWER: Fall 2014 is all about warm, natural looks softly illuminated by iridescent tones. I love this ethereal, yet bold look because it transitions wonderfully from day to night. This modern take on a natural look is created with a clean lid and a strong, bold brow.

Illuminate the eyes with soft, nude shades — I’m loving Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Mono Intense Cream Eye Colors in Nude and Gold Dust ($36 each).
[Continue reading…]