The Best of 2013!!!

McKennaRishmawyAishwarya Rai, Aishwarya Rai Cannes Film Festival, BareMinerals, best BB cream, best eyeshadow palettes, best natural moisturizer, best Orange County nail salons, best pedicurists in Orange County, best skincare products, Boscia BB cream, Dior 5 Couleurs, Elisa Sednaoui, Hi-Tek Nails Orange, Jennifer Lawrence haircut, Jessica Biel teal eyeliner, Lucky magazine, Lupita Nyong'O, Lupita Nyong'O makeup, Marion Cotillard teal eyeliner, Nikki Reed teal eyeliner, ombre hair, teal eyeliner Leave a comment

How does one introduce a post like this? I have a theory that you really shouldn’t even try, so I’ll just go with this- the following consists of my favorite and most significant beauty moments of 2013. Some involve me, some don’t. But this is what made the year fun, exciting, and especially peaceful when it came to beauty and all that it involves. Enioy!

#1 Hitting my hair stride.

Last year, as regular readers know, I cut my hair into a blunt long-ish bob and colored it a deep, ashier shade of brown. I did it as an inaugural celebration of autumn, but the problem is … autumn ends. And having dark, ashy hair during winter just did not suit my mood. In fact, I’m not entirely sure when it will suit me. I came to the conclusion in 2013 that I am a brunette with spackles of light, and my hair, at this point in my life, is meant to be long.

Growing it out has been a fun, exciting exercise in patience. There has been many a “good hair selfie” (at least according to my taste), but it’s just been too fun documenting the growth of it. I’ve used my favorite hydrating and restorative conditioners by Davines and Sachajuan along with my trusty Rahua shampoo just twice a week for extra health insurance. Little scalp massages, just enough protein, and plenty of moisture have allowed me to avoid the dreaded in-between phase of uncertainty, accompanied by a desperation to just cut it. It’s been a long journey, and I’m gunning for one to two more inches, but whew … I think we’re just about there. And you have to understand, I know the hair fixation has probably been a bit much for you readers, but this has been a long process of really choosing to like my own hair. I’ve always been okay with my skin, and I’m decently handy when it comes to makeup, but when it has come to hair, I had always wanted anyone’s but my own. I feel that within the past year or so, I can finally say that’s no longer the case (even if I’m crazy about everyone else’s hair, still).

#2 This person existing

I don’t know where this person came from, what she was doing before 2013, or how she managed to fly under the radar for this long, but Lupita Nyong’O is Thee. New. Thing. Her role in Steve McQueen’s Twelve Years A Slave managed to catapult her into the spotlight literally overnight, and once I laid eyes on her, all I could say was OHHHH MYYY GAWWWDDDD THE MAKEUPZZZZZZ!!! Whatever makeup artist that took hold of this girl before her first appearance (or who knows … maybe she did it all on her own?) seriously put their foot down and must’ve said, “GO BRIGHT OR GO HOME.” Lupita’s makeup has been nothing short of showstopping in nearly every picture I’ve seen of her (and I seriously pee my pants just thinking about awards season). You know those ridiculously obnoxious, acidic shades of NARS eyeshadow or MakeUpForEver lipsticks or Illamasqua blush that have made you wonder who could wear this and why is this here? Lupita Nyong’O, ladies and gentlemen. That’s who, and that’s why.

#3 Finally making peace with this haircut

You may recall that last year, I was somewhat traumatized by the amount of hair-choppage that had been occurring among celebrities. I felt frustration over seeing girls with long locks deciding to go the way of the pixie. Of course, this had much to do with the fact that I felt I could no longer identify with them, as I so strongly identify with longer hair. However, this year presented me with a few challenges involving liking and enjoying people that aren’t like me. What a bloody novel idea, right? So anyhow, the lessons and growth within these challenges trickled down to even the most seemingly meaningless things, like the acceptance of short haircuts on celebrities. So when Jennifer Lawrence chopped her locks this past November, I made the conscious decision to like it. Get over the fact that you’ll probably never do it yourself; a damned haircut on someone else doesn’t have anything to do with you. Lessening one’s focus on oneself enables you to actually enjoy others, to actually be happy for them. And so this is why I like Jennifer’s haircut. Because honestly, it looks good and I just need to shut up.

#4 Going luxe with these babies

This year was a year in which I chose to invest. It probably wasn’t always necessary, but Sephora gift cards and some celebrity makeup inspiration will do that to you. And honestly … I just love makeup. It’s fun. I’ll save on clothes, use the same laptop that I’ve had since 2007, but when it comes to beauty, I’m a sucker. So what’ll happen is this- I’m an introvert in the sense that I tend to recharge with alone time. On an afternoon where I’ll be feeling especially antsy, I’ll head off to Bloomingdale’s or some place like that and I’ll just wander through the beauty department (NK Space is particularly dangerous for me). I’ll mess around with the Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray, play around with the Kevyn Aucoin, put some Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Foundation at the YSL counter, and try on the most expensive moisturizer I can find. The SK-II “Try me” jars are especially exciting (at $250 per jar of “everyday” moisturizer). Of course, I buy very, very little of it, but sometimes I’ll splurge. These Dior 5-Couleurs Palettes are a couple of those splurges. For the record, “Earth Reflection” is my favorite. And they’re all seriously more fun than a box of kittens. And if you know me, you know how I feel about boxes of kittens.

#5 Discovering this picture

With all things being said about the acceptance of others’ hair, it’s still an admittedly good thing to find some true inspiration for your own. For the longest time, all I could think about in terms of hair was Olivia Palermo, Olivia Palermo, and more Olivia Palermo. Something about her hair seemed so wholly unattainable though, almost surreal. I imagine that she gets blowouts every week, as many New York socialites do, and that kind of thing is just discouraging to us layfolk. Comparing oneself with the privileged (or anyone, for that matter) can truly wreak havoc on your appreciation for what you have. And so, I tried for a good while to give up my Palermo obsession. I had to really fight to love my own hair, you know? And while on the road to recovery, I discovered this shot of Italian-French-Egyptian actress and model Elisa Sednaoui. What struck me was the fact that I didn’t want her hair, but instead I felt that I sort of already had it. Hers was just a little longer, but the texture, color, and thickness of it just seemed right on the spot. Suddenly, I didn’t want someone else’s hair, but instead I was even more excited for my own. Instead of comparison, this felt more like encouragement.

#6 Finally finding a home for my Hobbit feet

Fact: Mani-pedis give me anxiety. I’m not kidding. I can’t say I understand fully why, but there’s this- I have a fear of language barriers. Real talk. I get anxious when I fear that I won’t be able to understand someone, that the aesthetician won’t understand me, and that we’ll ultimately just have a shared, awkward experience full of silence and clinched teeth. This has happened before during a nail service experience (or at least, it’s what I perceived to be happening, but it may just have been in my head which is so frequently the case). When it comes to beauty services, be it massages, pedicures, or blowouts, I want the professional and I to feel comfortable. Coming from the service industry, I get that the most fun, worthwhile interactions with customers are ones where you feel like you’re both human. So consequently, I’ve avoided mani-pedis for fear of the awkward and for fear of looking like an idiot.

The problem, however, is that my feet get kind of, um, janky. See those remnants of polish? This photo was taken in December, and that polish is from … the beginning of August. Yeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh. And I know I could take care of it myself, but honestly, I let it get to the point where my feet literally need to be left to the hands of trained professionals. It’s bad. And that right big toenail is really as jagged as it looks. Like, Matterhorn kinds of jagged. I mean, it’s easy to let your feet go in the autumn seasons because you’re wearing close-toed shoes and all, but sometimes, around late November, I worry that I’ll take my boots off and my feet will have sprouted bushes or something. But the only place I’ve ever gone to have my nails taken care of is the place out by my parents’ home, just out of sheer fear of trying a new place. However, on the day I took this photo, I decided something needed to happen now.

So where did I take my little Hobbit feet? Oh, just the place right outside my apartment complex that’s literally steps away from my front door and that has awesome Yelp reviews. Hi-Tek Nails, folks. If I could slap a sticker on that place’s window that says “THE BRIGHT BLUSH SEAL OF APPROVAL!”, I would! But that sticker would probably look more like a piece of masking tape with my writing on it. Anyhow, the pro that helped me out that day is Christy (not sure how she spells it, so we’ll go with this). She was amazing. She was a human. And I acted like a human. We talked. We laughed. Like humans do. I saw so many regulars coming in and out of the place with Christmas gifts for all the ladies working there; you can tell Hi-Tek has a loyal clientele. And they were playing The Andy Griffith Show and Flipper on their TV! I mean, can you imagine watching an episode of The Twilight Zone and getting a pedicure at the same time?! That’s like, my heaven.

Thanks, Hi-Tek! I’ll be back, now that my Hobbit feet are out of their hole and on off on an extremely unexpected journey in some Birkenstocks. And properly painted a glittery black.

#7 Teal eyeliner EVERYWHERE

Talk about a fast and easy way to change up your look. I don’t know about you, but I saw teal eyeliner in every magazine, of seemingly every month, on almost every celebrity this past year. We were adding it to our upper lids, our lower lids, or all around our eyes. We were wearing it on more formal occasions, and on casual Saturdays. We wore it as an edgy statement, or as a haphazard, last-minute add-on to spice up an everyday look. And I loved it.

I especially love that this shade seems to work well on everyone. It’s so flattering, and it’s so unexpected. There’s a girl that I work with who wears teal eyeliner almost every day, and I love that it’s the first thing I notice about her. It’s like this extra little punch of personality in your look that feels so free-spirited.

Even just the slightest touch of a darker shade of blue can work magic. I love that the teal eyeliner is almost unnoticeable on Marion here, until you get a closeup look. It’s like a hidden secret that just adds that extra half-inch to the whole package. I can’t encourage you enough to give it a try, especially the next time you’re about to step out the door but still feeling blah.

#8 Reaching the end of my face makeup journey

This is it. This is the stuff. I don’t really care about finding anything else. I don’t wear all of this at once (obvi), and sometimes I only wear that little guy over there to the left (sunscreen/moisturizer), but mostly, I’m just happy with what you see here. When I want to go the extra mile and give myself a little brightening mask, I reach for Clarins Beauty Flash Balm for a tightening and cooling effect. I then immediately apply my loose BareMinerals if I’m going out and need a bit of coverage. Sometimes, if I’m feeling a bit dry or want an extra glow-y look, I’ll mix Weleda’s Skin Food with Boscia’s B.B. Cream and forget the Aubrey moisturizer altogether (as the B.B. has SPF in it). And typically I’ll apply my NARS Creamy Radiant concealer because my dark circles are pretty much Mordor kinds of dark (inherited from my dad’s side), but if I want something lighter in coverage and consistency I’ll go for the Yves Saint Laurent Touche’ Eclat, which I’ve also used as a highlighter.

And that’s it. I don’t want any more searching. I’m good. My only skincare goal for 2014 is to add a serum into my regimen so I can start taking those first baby steps into the world of aging prevention and damage recovery (which for me comes in the form of dark spots and scars from years of picking zits). But other than this, I’m done! Achievement unlocked.

#9 Remember this person? Yup. She showed up to the Cannes Film Festival this year. And you wanted to be her.

This, ladies and gents, is Aishwarya Rai. She’s an Indian Bollywood queen with a huge fan-base, a former Miss World, and once cited by 60 Minutes as the “world’s most beautiful woman”. Unless you’re a weirdo that’s only attracted to goldfish, it isn’t hard to see why. The buzz about Miss Rai seemed to reach a peak in the mid-2000’s (from what I remember in the States). But she then decided to go off and do the stupid, dum-dum thing called getting married and having a kid. Ugh. So not modern. And then she stated that she wanted to take some time off from work so she could “simply enjoy motherhood”. Um, excuse me? What tomfoolery is THIS?! You can’t take time off and ENJOY motherhood!! That is giving away your independence! You are MISS WORLD!!! You get yo’ butt back to WEEERRRRK, Miss WORLD!! No dumb baby should stop Miss WORLD from being Miss WORLD!!!!!

If you don’t sense the sarcasm here, I can’t help you with life. And I mean it.

So anyhow, post-baby Aishwayra chose to take some time off from Bollywood, and in the process of pregnancy and enjoying motherhood, proceeded to gain some weight. Like most child-bearing humans. But what happened then wasn’t so human- she received widespread criticism from her fans and the media for not losing her baby weight immediately and getting back to WERK. A commenter on the Daily Mail claimed, “She is a Bollywood actress, and it is her duty to look good and fit.” Another said, “She needs to learn from people like Victoria Beckham who are back to a size zero weeks after their delivery.”

Yup. That happened.

So fast forward to the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, a couple years later. Aishwayra had been invited to appear at the glitzed-out affair of international cinema royalty, and the pressure to show up in her former supermodel form was ON. So how would she look?! Like the skinny actress she was just BORN to be?! Would that baby weight be totally gone?!

Nope. Oh sure, the baby weight wasn’t gone, but instead, she showed up looking like a FREAKING GODDESS WITH A TOTALLY NORMAL PERSON’S BODY. BOOM.

See, this is what I’m talkin’ about. She isn’t nearly as thin as in her earlier days, but can you seriously even argue that it matters? I’ve never been so stunned by Ash as when I saw some of these photos of her at Cannes. She’s glowing; she’s regal. Her face, body, and hair are full, and it just looks divine. And I’m sorry, but that face is just unbelievable. I’m not comfortable with the word ‘exotic’ to describe a particular look, mostly because we can’t truly seem to define what exactly it means other than ‘you are a desirable, tan object hailing from the tropics’, and so to describe Ash’s beauty, I tend to favor the word ‘global’. She’s full Indian, but her features appear as if to be a mix of all kinds of ethnicity. She’s got that all-over-the-world look that’s so interesting and different. Pretty fitting for Miss World, no?

Yeah, that right there is seriously your quintessential HATERS GONNA HATE face. Eat your heart out, critics. And you enjoy that baby, Miss Ash. Treat yo’self 2013!

#10 Making peace with no makeup on weekdays.

I have no image for this because the last thing any of us needs is another selfie #nomakeup. So I’ll just use my words for this one. I used to whine and complain about not being able to get my fanny in gear to the point where I could put on a full face of makeup for work every morning. But I’ve finally arrived at the point where I’m okay with saying that that’s just me. Makeup is for weekends or when I have the time. Makeup is for when I can enjoy it. Makeup is not a necessity (though the concealer, eyebrows, and lip balm can’t really be compromised). Makeup doesn’t have to happen everyday, and that’s what makes it special. Nice, freshly-washed hair isn’t a necessity either. Sometimes a topknot and sunscreen is all you can ask of a Monday. Or Tuesday. Or Wednesday. Or Thursday. Or Friday before 5:00PM. And that’s okay. Just enjoy it for what it is, and don’t be a slave to it.

And these, my friends, are my favorite moments in beauty for 2013. It’s been a good, challenging year of acceptance and learning to enjoy the routines I have rather than ache and yearn for ones I don’t. I’m not even compiling a “worst of” list this year because there’s wasn’t anything that got me too irked anyhow! It’s been a great year, and let’s keep in up in the one to come. xo, MR

P.S. Oh, and a total bonus #11- Thanks to new editor in chief Eva Chen, Lucky Magazine is totally on the comeback trail. Remember how last year I wrote an entire post about how terrible it had become? A year-and-a-half later and I’m thinking just the opposite. Can’t wait to resubscribe and see Zoe Saldana on the February cover! Woohoo!

December 4, 2013the Makeup stuff., the Skin stuff.

The Three Products I Don’t Leave Home Without.

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As 2013 begins to wrap up, I’m starting to mull over a “Best of” and “Worst of” post for this year concerning all things beauty. For whatever reason, those posts were really easy last year. So much seemed to happen in 2012 concerning things like celebrity pixie cuts, heavy makeup seen on camera, and my own discovery of some amazing beauty blogs. I suppose it’s easy when you haven’t written a “Best of” post before, but this year I’m finding it a bit tough. So, perhaps I’ll manage to turn something out more along the lines of “Best Products of 2013”, but we’ll see.

But for now, I’m concerned mostly with one thing- getting through the next couple weeks at work leading up to Christmas break. I’m literally hours away from going back to work after a week off for Thanksgiving, and let me tell you, this week was the worst kind of teaser. There was so much shopping, so much sleeping, and so much eating. I stayed up and watched Psycho one night and a David Lynch film the next night. My husband and I spent one night at a gorgeous resort in Palm Springs. And all this revelry went by in a blink. Combine this sort of holiday hangover with the fact that I’m notoriously bad at waking up at a reasonable time and I can already tell you that tomorrow morning is going to suuuuuuck.

So you see, I’m just concerned about getting through the next twelve hours. You’d think with a full-time job I would’ve learned to wake up with my alarm and allow myself the time to enjoy a getting-ready routine (you know, with coffee and eyeshadow and morning prayers and Disney cartoon birds singing to you), but noooooooo. I’m still a zombie. My husband still has to drag me out of bed about fifteen minutes before I need to literally be in my car on the road. I have strong feelings about this needing to change and my frustrations with myself are never-ending, and I know I’ve posted on this subject matter before, but for now, here’s my question …

What do I do, as far as beauty is concerned, to not look like a trainwreck when I’m going from bed to desk in a matter of a half-hour?

Well, as far as the hair is concerned, it depends on how it looks when I get up. Sometimes it’s in well enough shape to just stay down, but it frequently goes up into some kind of knot with a black headband for a little polish. But beyond that, it’s really the makeup that I’m concerned with here. And for these mornings of terror that are more reminiscent of 28 Days Later than The Devil Wears Prada, I rely on the following three products:

Alright, what have we got here? That would be lip balm, eyebrows, and undereye concealer. When I wake up, one of the first things I notice is how dry my lips are. And it only gets worse once I’ve brushed my teeth. That has to go, and Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm (the original, in case you’re wondering) is the only product I will use. The menthol brings a tingly sensation of immediate relief, and I only find myself reapplying it once or twice more during the day (which is a good thing, by the way). The Burt’s Bees is more of a necessity than anything, and if absolutely nothing else makes it on my face that morning, this does.

I’ve started filling in and brushing my eyebrows just within the past year or so because I’ve found that it makes such a difference in how polished one can look. Brows frame your face and give it expression; I’ve grown much more fascinated with them over the past two years. The best product I’ve used in the past year is the CK One Color Brow Pencil + Gel Duo in Crafty Raven. The convenience of the product obviously sold me, because it’s more than just a pencil (and the pencil is also self-sharpening). I used to think I absolutely had to walk out the door with mascara on, but when I’ve seen pictures of myself with full mascara and yet ungroomed brows, things just look … I don’t know … like I’ve made the wrong choice? I guess I’ve grown to prefer a more European standard of good skin and good brows over the years as opposed to color on the face and well-done hair, and so I’ve adjusted my emergency routine to that preference. When I pull into the parking lot, before I step out of the car I tend to do a quick one-minute brow check. I tend to feel much more confident with just that one minute’s work.

And finally, we’re at concealer. I don’t waste my time trying to conceal zits or spots or anything like that. I just let my zits deal with nature when I have them. It’s only the dark circles underneath my eyes that I’m concerned with. I can’t tell you how often I’ve been told how tired I look at work (yeah, I know). It’s not that I’m shocked, because I know I’m tired. It’s more just the fact that one will actually say this to another person that I find so frustrating. If one looks tired, how about saying something that might perk their spirits up? Or ask them a question about how their day has been? Just avoid the “You look tired” comment entirely; it conveys neither empathy nor genuine concern. And it also makes you appear spoiled.

And so, if I must fool the folks I see on a regular basis, I choose to fool with undereye concealer. For a drugstore choice, I recommend L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Concealer. The shade range is highly impressive, it’s thin consistency is fantastic, and it does a great job at reflecting light. For two high-end options, I like NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer and Yves Saint Laurent Touche’ Eclat. I’m actually still giving my YSL product its first real go-round because I just exchanged my original purchase for my correct shade, and so we’ll see if it tops the NARS. However, I do like that the YSL can also be used as a highlighter on the cheek bones, brow bones, and other areas where light hits the face. It’s specifically meant to reflect light and give a bit of glow.

So in conclusion, a little polish of the brows, a bit of cover-up for the dark circles, and some moisture for the lips carries me through my work days. If I, by some miracle, manage to get up any earlier, I still tend to just push for basics like face makeup and blush. And moisturizer with sunscreen. Good Lord, the fact that I can’t even make that happen every day is devastating. I guess I really can’t expect too much from myself, and yet, you wonder why this continues to be the case as I continue writing this at 11:45PM on a Sunday evening. xo, MR

September 4, 2013the Makeup stuff., the Skin stuff.

Face paint. But so much better.

McKennaRishmawyBare Minerals Original, best foundation shade range, best foundations, drugstore foundation, fall 2013 makeup trends, foundation, Giorgio Armani Maestro foundation, Lancome Teint Idole, Lancome Teint Miracle, matte foundation, most expensive makeup, most flattering foundation, Urban Decay Surreal Skin mineral makeup, Weleda Skin Food, worst foundation Leave a comment

I’ve never been a big fan of liquid foundation. Perhaps that’s because it’s always come with this stigma of being “face paint”, as in, if you wear it on a somewhat-regular-to-regular basis, that means you wear a lot of makeup and you “paint” your face. You know, a painted lady? And I’ve always been scared of wearing too much makeup. Maybe I’ve felt that “a light dusting of powder” seemed more modest as compared to a “light smear of foundation”. I don’t know. Thought vomit.

But I suppose this idea of foundation used to be pretty justifiable. I mean, I remember looking at the drugstore formulas back in the early 2000’s and thinking Wow … Can I ever wear this stuff without looking like I dipped my face in wet terracotta? And then just let it dry and have myself buried with thousands of ancient Chinese soldiers with the rest of the terracotta folk?! No ma’am, I’m not trying to look like Lucy Ricardo when she tries to make a literal bust of herself (see season 2, episode 15 “Lucy Becomes a Sculptress”). And then of course, there’s always been the issue of shade range when it comes to foundation. OHHHHH the shade range. Not only have makeup companies needed to seriously step-up their git-along when it comes to shade range for darker skin tones (because no, not every so-called “Eastern” woman can be covered by one shade, usually called something awkward like “clay” … I mean for real?), but I feel like just within the past five years have manufacturers begun considering things like “neutral”, “cool”, and “warm” tones in foundation shades. Yes, because “eggshell”, “orange”, and “orange 2.0” just doesn’t quite cover it.

Now, I shouldn’t talk too much smack because it does take work and some Jaeger-level technology to develop a truly excellent color range for something like foundation, and so this post is more meant to praise than criticize. I think the work has finally paid off! Hail Science.

So, as you regular readers know, I’m a big believer in BareMinerals. And I continue to use it (in it’s original powder formula), but there’s something about a powder formula that, with as mineral-y and sheer as they can make ’em now, I believe detracts from a skin’s glow. Now, I am all about glowing skin. I like the dewy, fresh, translucent, just-washed look, and I feel today about matte skin the way I felt about foundation at all a decade ago – It’s just too much. It doesn’t sit well with my psyche, which is a problem, because many women prefer a matte finish and I need to be able to willingly accommodate that desire. And what’s more, matte skin, lips, and nails are huge for this coming fall season, and so of course, being the sucker that I am, you know I’ll be wanting to play along. Heck, I’m already armed with Urban Decay’s Surreal Skin Mineral Makeup in a shine-free, perfectly matched shade.

So autumn trends aside, I decided to start looking out for a regular-use foundation line that provided light-to-medium coverage with a natural, non-mattifying finish. And I wanted a high-quality one with plenty of shades to choose from. I’d heard wonders about the new Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Foundation. I literally squealed when I swiped a bit of it on my wrist because it felt like silk. Oh, they easily could rename the stuff “Silky Baby’s Butt Makeup by Giorgio Armani”. But priced at sixty-five bucks, I just couldn’t stomach it. How about their Luminous Silk Foundation? It gets rave reviews, but it still costs sixty. Chanel’s well-reputed Perfection Lumiere? Still over fifty. So what other lines are there? Hmmm …

I then thought of Lancome’s Teint Idole line that debuted perhaps a couple years ago, with Julia Roberts as the spokesmodel. I also thought of the eight-dollar reward I had for Ulta, and my curiosity was piqued. I headed over to Ulta and plopped myself down in the makeup artists’s chair in the Lancome section. Not only was the Teint Idole priced at forty-five, but the shade range was overwhelming. It’s divided into four “intensities”: Ivoire, Buff, Bisque, and Suede. These intensity levels are then broken down into different shades and tones, so every complex variation of skin color is covered. However, I realized that the Teint Idole was a full-coverage, mattifying foundation that gave off no shine. Not what I was looking for.

Lancome’s Teint Miracle, however, worked some sheer magic on my skin. My skin felt soft and hydrated with just enough coverage to give a dewy, evening-out effect. As so many good foundation reviews will say, I didn’t feel like I was wearing “makeup”. It took a very small amount of the product to reach a satisfactory level of coverage, too. And as for the price, well, the price wasn’t wrong, in that it still felt like an investment but not something shameful and unnecessary. I can’t hang with the Maestro when he’s asking for all my mo-nay!

I will note though that my Lancome shade is the tiniest bit lighter than my current skin tone (thanks to the summer sun), and so I’m putting off using it for the next month or so. I’m currently mixing my Boscia B.B. cream with Weleda’s ultra-moisturizing Skin Food for an incredibly rich, sheer bit of coverage that my skin just drinks up. I mix a dab of each product on my hand (even parts) and rub it evenly on my face for a delicious glow that makes me look awake and refreshed.

So this is what I have for now, and while foundation may not be a primary concern of yours in this God-awful September humidity that we’re experiencing in Orange County, it’s something to keep on your radar nonetheless. Fall is coming (and, did I mention Fashion Month has commenced?!), and we’re well on our way to an abundance of dark, cozy nights with plenty of opportunities for mysterious, not-too-perfect smokey eyes, oxblood lips, and evened-out, flawless skin. Let’s get this heat over with. xo, MR

May 23, 2013the Fragrance stuff., the Friends stuff., the Hair stuff., the Makeup stuff., the Me stuff., the Review stuff., the Skin stuff.

Some things and some stuff.

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This post is going to be about exactly what the title says: some things and some stuff.

I couldn’t think of some fancy, well-scripted intro where I blather on about the latest this and that without it simply sounding too contrived. And so, to quote some nonexistent animated persons that I respect and admire deeply, I’m going to write about some things … and some stuff.

1. I had Justin put some highlights back into my hair. They’re subtle, ombre’d bits of caramel that provide just enough color to make me feel like summer is just around the corner. I plan on going progressively lighter, but this was enough for now. With my single-process hair color, I felt very one-dimensional (duh.) and I just didn’t have as much fun with my hair as I did when it had some lightness to it. And so, it is with a heavy heart that I admit the possibility that a leeeeeeeeeeetle bit of blonde may help you have a leeeeeeeeetle bit more fun. But hold your hosses thar! I didn’t straight-up say that blondes unilaterally have more fun than brunettes. Why, that would be plumb silly! But I do believe that I am more satisfied with my hair when it’s provided with some colorful dimension, if only to use my hair as a metaphor for my life and provide the illustration that sometimes we need a little warmth and sunshine to shake us up out of the drab monotony of everyday existence. This all sounds much better when you say it in the voice of Kenneth Parcell from 30 Rock.

Here is my hair as it was this spring, as colored and cut by Justin Kamm and as styled and photographed by Laura Licata:

I have to say, it was raining that afternoon. How Laura managed to keep my hair from turning into this, I’ll never know.

And this is the best picture I have of my new highlights, as well as, ahem, my awesome nephew:

2. I graduated with my Master’s degree last Saturday, and received some gifts for doing so (and some may have been for my birthday as well, which was celebrated here). Some of those gifts included Sephora giftcards, which burn bigger holes in my pockets than lit matches. Seriously, I don’t know what it is but I will save gifts of cash and any other such cards for weeks or even months, but you designate a mere twenty bucks for me to spend at that magical house of facepaint and I just go cuhhhh-raaayyy-ZAY! There may not be a thing I need, but I will haul my butt down to the nearest Sephora and just stand in front of the NARS counter for a solid fifteen minutes, looking like a freak, without a single expression on my face, doing absolutely nothing. I just stare. And touch EVERYTHING. I’ll bring my own brushes and by the time I leave that place, it looks like Jackson Pollock came back from the dead and decided he just wanted to do a quick masterpiece on someone’s wrist. I’m convinced that dead artists would have a thing for me.

3. If I could look like this as a redhead, that would be an okay thing.

4. This is what I came back with from my most recent Sephora trip.

Well, the one on the left I’ve actually had for a couple months, but the one on the right is brand spankin’ new. I haven’t so much as smudged it with a finger. It’s called Stylish Move, and I look forward to using the bottom right and top left shades for bridal makeup. But really, this one was kind of more for me. Dior 5-Couleur palettes are the holy grail of eyeshadows, and while they are quite expensive (I’ll never purchase one without some kind of gift card), they blend so well, coordinate so perfectly, are almost always universally flattering, and I make long-lasting use of them. I’m breaking this sucker in tonight, so I’ll have to let you know how it goes (though hopefully not via an obnoxious Instagram selfie, but I have a bad feeling …). Honestly, if you’re not too sure about what eyeshadows are right for you but hate wasting time on a bunch of individual shades (that add up in cost anyhow and can be difficult to store and keep track of), I’d recommend looking into just one of these palettes and letting it be your one-step solution to your whole problem problem. Might I suggest Rosy Tan or Earth Reflection?

5. I smell bad and get sweaty. Sometimes. Maybe. If so, it’s because I don’t wear antiperspirant. And I haven’t done so in years. Why? Because what makes antiperspirant do its thing is something called aluminum zirconium trichlorohydrex, a substance linked to early-onset Alzheimer’s as well as breast cancer. Weird. And we shave our armpits and layer on the stuff every day. Weirder. And our armpits are suspiciously situated quite near our breasts. Weirdest. So here’s the thing: I use deodorant, but I don’t use antiperspirant (and no, there are no “natural” or “safe” kinds of antipersp; the aluminum ingredient is always the active one in antipersp).

For a couple years I used Tom’s of Maine’s Natural Unscented Deodorant Stick and my body adjusted well. However, a couple months ago, my armpits started experiencing a burning and itching sensation that left my armpits peeling in a big ring and looking as if they’d been out in the sun with no protection. At first I thought it was razor burn or something, but then I realized that the sensation was returning just minutes after applying the Tom’s. And to my surprise, I found that many users had experienced the exact same symptoms after years of using Tom’s (Bless you, Internet ~~only sometimes because mostly I hate you~~!). Why all this burning and itching only started occurring after years of use, I’ll never know.

Anyhow, I discovered that Tom’s, while being free of aluminum and not an antiperspirant, still contains a chemical called propylene glycol. PG, as we’ll call it, is meant to keep many body products from either melting or freezing, but it unfortunately also “alters the structure of the skin by allowing chemicals to penetrate deep beneath it while increasing their ability to reach the blood stream”. Additionally, PG has also been linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, reproductive issues, allergy developments, and other bodily issues (as is the case with many substances in our body products).

So what do I use?

Desert Essence strikes again! This brand is seriously so awesome. My face and now my pits owe so much to it. You can find Desert Essence’s deodorant at Sprout’s, Whole Foods, or any of your local hippie-dippie hotbeds, and it has no aluminum (and just realize if the product does not say it is an antiperspirant, it doesn’t have aluminum anyhow) nor any propylene glycol. Excellent.

And now the inevitable question: But don’t you have B.O.?

Yes. Not all the time, and not every day, but sometimes, yes. And do I care? No. Let me throw this out there: Your body, as it naturally functions, is supposed to sweat. It’s one of the processes that your body uses to eliminate toxins from your body. Your skin operates like a third kidney, sweating out urea, metals, and minerals. You get rid of about 30% of bodily wastes through sweating, with the other methods being pooping, peeing, and other glamorous things we talk about on beauty blogs where Kate Beckinsale and perfume are also talked about regularly. I just said “poop” and “Kate Beckinsale” in the same sentence.

So anyhow, I’m honestly okay with sweating a bit through the day. It’s literally meant to be. And I’ll be straight with you- If I’m planning on wearing a delicate fabric or know that I’m going to have an anxious morning (interviews, standing up to rebelling freshmen in their math class, etc.), I do wear the clinical strength antiperspirant. And I mean, like, the 25% aluminum kind (because if I’m going to wear the stuff, I’m going whole-sweaty-hog). But I try to severely limit these occurrences. And I’m trying to bulk up around the freshmen.

Anyhow, that’s my blabbering about some things and some stuff for now. Until next time, stay sweaty, shop Dior, get your highlights on, and stay poopy Kate Beckinsale!

xo, MR

And thanks to thegoodhuman.com for the smarts on PG.

May 4, 2013the Hair stuff., the Review stuff., the Skin stuff.

Wut.

McKennaRishmawyadvertising gimmicks, B.B. creams, best hair products 2013, best hair products ever, best hair ties, dumb hair products, hair care tips, hair product gimmicks, how to prevent hair breakage, Pantene Pro-V bad for your hair, Pantene Pro-V Ultimate 10 B.B. Creme, scrunchie hair style, scrunchies, scrunchies 2013, scrunchies 90s, worst hair products 2013 Leave a comment

Can I just say that I called the debut of this product? I called it. I knew it would happen. This, ladies and gentlemen, is what we call a perfect example of a gimmick, or a trick or device used to attract attention, publicity, or business. I literally laughed out loud when I first saw an ad for Pantene’s new Ultimate 10 BB Creme for hair (and I can’t remember exactly where I first read about it, but it was before it hit shelves, so I’ve been looking forward to this for a while).

So, if you know anything about current trends in the beauty world, you know that B.B. creams are huge right now in skincare (along with CC creams, and soon to come, DD creams … I’m not lying). They’re do-it-all “beauty balms”, meant for hydrating, firming, soothing, providing sun protection, reducing the appearance of pores, fine lines, uneven skintone, and repairing damage. The first B.B.’s we saw typically came in just one self-adjusting shade, and were meant to cover a bunch of skincare and makeup steps in one. B.B.’s were unique in the fact that they were one of the first mass-marketed products that blended makeup and skincare into one item. They made sense.

About one year ago, every big name brand came out with a B.B. of their own. And so I remember thinking to myself, not too long ago, “Self, I don’t think it will be long before we see some other re-working of this B.B. phenomenon. Maybe in the hair department? Why not? Someone, anyone really, could easily reinterpret this kind of product as one for hair, even though we have literally every product necessary to perfect our tresses by now.” I mean it when I say that I just don’t know what they’ll think of next when it comes to hair. We have everything to address every need for hair these days. I mean come on, Blake Lively’s hair exists– we’ve achieved hair perfection as the human race! Sure, everyone’s individual capability in maintaining their own hair may vary, but beyond that, hair perfection today is a potential reality, no matter what type of hair you have to begin with.

And this is just one of the reasons why, though I knew it would happen, the advent of the hair B.B. cream baffles me. There is no need for it, like, at all. We have products that de-frizz, give shine, repair damage, strengthen, and all the like. We even have products that already claim, like a B.B., to do all those things at once (think items like It’s a 10, MoroccanOil, etc.). And honestly, let’s go as bare-bones as, say, sunflower oil: it strengthens, reduces frizz (like most any oil), imparts shine, and can ultimately prevent damage. And what’s even better is that it’s sunflower oil, not some strange, indecipherable compilation of synthetic lab constituents that plays off the current of-the-moment B.B. trend. Furthermore, a recent magazine review of Pantene’s B.B. that I read claimed that it was just too heavy for most hair types (and heavy products make hair very difficult to style or even air-dry nicely, despite Pantene claiming that their B.B. is a styling product, too).

So my verdict before even trying it? Useless. Forget about it. Move on with your life.

HOWEVER, here’s something that you can trust as helpful to your hair, but it’s not exactly something new.

Didn’t think you’d ever give these a shot again, did you? Now look, at least these scrunchies aren’t some awkward color or print that remind you of Jazzercise or your Osh-Kosh overalls ~~that I seriously wore for way too long~~. Oh, so it’s the shape that still scares you? Or the fact that you can wrap one of these suckers around a ponytail on top of your head and swing your hair around like a helicopter and look like you’re straight out of a Paula Abdul music video? Or straight out of an episode of Full House? Did you know I’ve never even watched Full House? And that I’ve never seen more than maybe three episodes of Friends? Yep. That’s how relevant I am.

Anyhow, I digress.

So basically, these puppies are well on their way to becoming my new best friend in obsessing over my hair. A lot of hair ties snag my hair (and everyone’s, I suppose), and I’ve never seemed to find one kind that I’m comfortable leaving in my hair overnight. I put my hair up before bed frequently, but I just hate knowing that I’m rolling around in bed with a tight piece of elastic pulling and tugging at my strands. So what’s an anxiety-riddled girl to do? Well, the ideal hair tie is one that’s covered in soft fabric, like scrunchies! They’re so much gentler on strands, and you can wrap your hair in one overnight and not have to worry about any tugging. If your hair is thicker, use two! I especially liked this set because they were still decently tight, as I recall some scrunchies just being too soft and loose (hence the falling-off-the-head side ponytail of the 80s … although that style was no accident on all too many an occasion). Wear them to bed, wear them to the gym, wear them while running errands. Honestly, no one’s looking at you like you’re some gymnast from the nineties. They just look like extra-thick hair ties. So do it.

Alright, that’s all I’ve got for now. But come next week, I’ll be blogging about something super awesome- my birthday party! It’s going to be fabulous. I mean, I can’t quite tell you just how fabulous it’s going to be, but get ready to have your mind blown. It’s pretty exclusive though, so, sorry, I can’t just make it some kind of free-for-all. But don’t worry, I’ll give you the run-down. You’ll see. xo, MR

April 29, 2013the Me stuff., the Skin stuff.

What I’m Obsessing Over: This French woman telling you how to wash your face

McKennaRishmawybest way to wash your face, Emily Weiss, French beauty routine, French skincare, how to wash your face, Into The Gloss, La Roche Posay Thermal Spring water, skin care routine, www.intothegloss.com Leave a comment

So, this kind of post is basically just me drooling over someone else’s post. Namely, Into The Gloss’s post. This website, as I may have mentioned before, literally changed my approach to beauty over two years ago. It carries an extreme insider perspective (with founder Emily Weiss being either a current or former Vogue fashion assistant, I’m not sure … Into The Gloss may be her full-time gig now), and it provides a thorough and luxurious look into beauty complete with inspiration boards, product reviews (both drugstore and high-end), interviews of fashion and beauty insiders peeking into their routines, and so much more.

I think ITG was the first source responsible for getting me to both calm down and obsess even more over beauty. I’ve realized that wearing absolutely nothing but some NARS Dragon Girl on my lips is perfectly okay, and yet I am more particular now over what I use on my skin than ever before. I’ve never felt more affirmed in my love for a throw-it-up-and-go topknot than I have since becoming a regular ITG reader, and yet I now use Rahua shampoo (but only once a week, since I wash twice a week and I switch off between two shampoos, with the other typically being Aveda’s Color Conserve). My hair doesn’t always look great, but it’s undeniably healthy. I credit the fact that I’m satisfied with healthy-but-not-always-pretty hair to ITG, along with my beauty philosophy in general over the past couple years.

Anyhow, ITG also manages to produce some amazeballs how-to videos, including Emily’s smokey eye makeup, a lovely tutorial on contouring and brightening, and this little number on how to wash your face. And you thought you knew how to wash your face! Nope, not until a super-chic skin care expert with a glorious French accent tells you how! Now, behold and be amazed. You’ll want to listen to her say “thermal water” over and over and over. xo, MR

April 21, 2013the Hair stuff., the Magazine stuff., the Makeup stuff., the Review stuff., the Skin stuff.

InStyle’s Best Beauty Buys of 2013 … and what I think of ’em.

McKennaRishmawybest beauty products, best beauty products 2013, best black eyeliner, best cheap lipstick, best drugstore lipstick, best eyeliner, best lipstick, best smudgy black eyeliner, best undereye concealer, Cle de Peau concealer, CoverGirl Lip Perfection lipstick, dangers of petrolatum, Dior Diorshow, Diorshow mascara, drugstore shampoo, InStyle beauty, InStyle Best Beauty buys 2013, InStyle magazine, L'Oreal mascara, MAC eye kohl, most overrated beauty products, NARS powder blush, Pantene Pro-V, Pantene Pro-V bad for your hair, petrolatum dangerous, problems with cheap shampoo, Smith's Rosebud Lip salve, Tom Ford lipstick, worst drugstore mascara, worst mascara 2 Comments

So, May is one of my absolute favorite months for fashion magazines (I think I say that every month, right?) because this month tends to see the widest amount of beauty features in such publications. People StyleWatch, Lucky, Marie Claire, and InStyle all proclaim their May issues as dedicated to beauty, and I’ll be honest- I’ll eye a magazine on the stand at a grocery store and I’ll quickly flip to the beauty section, and if it piques my interest in any way, I’ll buy it. The beauty sections are always my favorite, teeming with hair how-to’s, reviews of new products and the like. One close-up shot of Kerry Washington’s makeup at last month’s premiere complete with a break-down of what products were used, and I’m literally buying the magazine just for that one page.

My May issue of InStyle magazine came yesterday in the mail and sure enough- 2013’s Best Beauty Buys can be found on page 297! I like lists like these because I like comparing the magazines choices to what I already have and agree with, what I’m still curious about, and what products I hate. Additionally, I’ve begun to take these “best of” lists more and more seriously because I’ve become increasingly interested in curating the best kit possible, even if it means a little extra investment here and there. I trust InStyle for this and can tell that their choices are honest because a lot of the “winners” don’t change from year to year (whereas I feel some publication’s praises are simply based on what’s newest to hit the market). Now, I won’t be mentioning my thoughts on every product that InStyle lauds, but there are a few I found to be worth commenting on.

1. Best Inexpensive Lipstick- Cover Girl Lip Perfection Yes. The texture of these suckers does not feel cheap, despite the drugstore price (and the pigment lasts forever). What’s great about this line is that the color range feels expensive and a little more edgy as well, whereas drugstore lipstick in the past seemed to just offer cute variations on frosty pink for the most part. I still proudly proclaim their shade called Spellbound as the best shade of holy-crap-that-is-no-joke-magenta for under ten bucks.

2. Best Inexpensive Mascara- L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Original Is it just me or has this stuff sucked every time I’ve tried to give it another chance? I’ve probably purchased this formula a total of three or four times over the years, just on the basis of knowing it’s reputation and thinking that it’ll perhaps work out differently this time. But like Maybelline’s Great Lash (which I’ve consistently detested), this stuff is just goopy and can’t handle the pressure of a second coat (which is a bloody shame since I tend to cap things off at five coats).

3. Best Overall Mascara- Dior Diorshow I’ve purchased this stuff twice in my lifetime, which, in conjunction with my comments on the previous product, proves that I am certifiably insane in that I think if I do the same thing over and over I’ll somehow, at some point, land on different results. In my little library of thoughts, Diorshow is categorized as the most overrated beauty product in existence. The brush is too big to the point where you can’t control the product easily or put as many coats on without things getting into Shelob territory very quickly. And what’s more, there’s fragrance in it. For why?!

4. Best Powder Blush- NARS Always and forever, yes and yes. I have three shades of NARS powder blush, and they are just the happiest, most exciting colors to wear. Your mood just changes when you dot on one of the shades on to your cheeks. While I love wearing their cream version in Lokoum on a regular basis, I took a dare last year in purchasing their powder formula in Exhibit A, an absolutely terrifying shade of vermilion at first glance (and I’m pretty sure the bride I most recently used it on hyperventilated when I first showed it to her). But just a couple dots on the cheekbones and BAM! You look like you’re glowing from the inside-out.

5. Best Inexpensive Shampoo and Conditioner- Pantene Pro-V Classic Just deal with my rant for a moment: When you’re paying four bucks for a ginormous bottle of shampoo, this should tell you something- that apparently there’s nothing in that bottle worth any money to raise the price over four bucks. Seriously, read the label on the back of your Pantene shampoo or conditioner bottle and tell me if you can identify any of the ingredients other than water. The first ingredient of Pantene’s shampoo is water, the next two are detergents that strip your hair, the next is sodium chloride (table salt), and the next is dimethicone (which, while being toted as great for reducing frizz, also saps your hair of moisture). The list goes on, but nothing in these products can be considered nutritious for your hair. It’ll clean, but it’ll strip. If you’re going for a cheaper shampoo and conditioner, at least go for a sulfate-free brand. I also find shower products like these more worrisome too because we rinse a lot of this stuff down our drains and it gets swept up into our oceans and water systems, and I can’t see dumping gallons and gallons of synthetically-derived Pantene as ultimately good for our water supply and ecosystems.

6. Best Lipstick- Tom Ford I honestly wouldn’t know if I agree with this choice or not, because I’ve never tried Tom Ford’s lipsticks. My life just isn’t at the point yet where I can justify fifty dollars for one tube of lipstick. You read that right- fifty dollars. I feel like I could possibly justify such a price for face makeup (if you were to wear it everyday) or something that would last you a very long time, but I don’t wear lipstick everyday (rarely, actually) and lipstick isn’t even meant to last for an extremely long time. So I’d either feel compelled to use it every single day (which I wouldn’t) or make the tube last at least two years (at which point it would’ve expired anyhow). No win. And what’s more, I’m just convinced that there are too many quality lip colors out there for twenty and under.

7. Best Concealer- Cle’ de Peau Beaute’ See above. Seventy bucks for concealer? There’s no way. Well, then again, I at least know I probably would use this everyday, and just a little bit each time. I’d get my money’s worth! And it is supposed to be an absolute miracle worker on all flaws and blemishes, and … you know what … no … I can’t keep talking like this. Just slap me.

8. Best Curling Iron- Hot Tools Spring Iron Yep, this is the one. I have the 1.25″ and I love it. I just wrap sections of my hair around it (and I skip the clamp; I just wrap and hold) and nothing works better at creating easy waves. Don’t pay more than fifty bucks for a curling iron or curling rod. Save your biggest hunk of change for a high-tech flat iron.

9. Best Lip Balm- Smith’s Rosebud Salve Sure, the tin is chic in a French-apothecary-kind of way, but there’s a little too much petrolatum in this stuff for my taste. Petrolatum, derived from petrochemicals, is known for ultimately disabling your lips from being able to remain moist on their own (hence the legend of “ChapStick addiction”). Petrolatum merely acts as a barrier on your skin’s surface (not an actual moisturizer), and it simply traps whatever moisture is already on your lips in place. Your lips, over time, basically un-learn how to replenish their own moisture. Rub a petrolatum-based product all over your body and over time, this kind of barrier will prohibit toxins in the form of sweat and sebum from escaping the skin’s surface like they’re supposed to. This is why I try to stay away from most drugstore lotions and “moisturizers”, because they’re laden with petrochemicals that can, in a worst-case scenario, really mess up your endocrine system. I am forever loyal to Burt’s Bees Beeswax lip balm because I only find myself needing to apply it perhaps twice a day, and it is free of petrochemicals.

10. Best Eyeliner Pencil- MAC Eye Kohl Could the name “Smolder” be more appropriate? This stuff is black magic. Devilish, delicious, I-am-Jack-Sparrow’s-wickedly-awesome-pirate-girlfriend magic.

So seriously, let me know what you think. Pick up the magazine (with Emily Blunt on the cover), flip through their lists, and give me your thoughts. But I’m convinced there is no eyeliner better than my Jack Sparrow pirate eyeliner. xo, MR

March 25, 2013the Makeup stuff., the Me stuff., the Review stuff., the Skin stuff.

Weekday update! And how I have no sales resistance.

McKennaRishmawyawkward makeup experience, bad makeup experience, best colognes, best fragrances for men, best pink lipstick, Caudalie, Caudalie Vinexpert Radiance Day Fluid, CoverGirl Lip Perfection lipstick, CoverGirl Lip Perfection Spellbound, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, funny makeup stories, Givenchy Play, L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable concealer, Lancome Bi-Facil, most flattering lipstick, most flattering shade of color, sales resistance, spring 2013 makeup, spring 2013 makeup trends, top shelf Leave a comment

So, an update.

I’ve been using the same very cheap under-eye concealer for a couple years. I’m pretty sure the shade is wrong (a cool tone, which is not even a characteristic of my own skin), but for some reason I continue to use it. I thought I’d perhaps purchase the same concealer but in a neutral shade instead. So I stopped by Ulta (so that I also might purchase some new cologne for the husband … Givenchy Play smells like swag, but the nice, helpful, courteous, I-may-not-be-loaded-but-I-still-have-good-taste kind of swag) and found myself experiencing an acute lack of confidence as I checked for a better shade of my beloved L’Oreal True Match Super Blendable concealer. It’s not often that I feel the confidence drain out of me as I shop for makeup. I’m usually the one bossing someone else around in that situation. You need THIS blush! You’ll make your eyes pop more with this eyeshadow, dummy! Stop it- that shade makes you look like Snooki on an even worse day! So what did I do? I did the last thing … literally, THEE LAST THING … that I ever like to do in the beauty department: I asked for help from a sales associate.

It’s a strange combination of anxiety and exhilaration that I experience when I ask a beauty sales associate for help. On the one hand, I almost have this sort of avoidant disorder that makes me want to throw up when a sales associate approaches me and asks if I want to try anything or if I need any help. It’s the same feeling I get when I’m asked for money by a solicitor outside of Target. I’ll put my phone to my ear and pretend I’m talking to someone just to avoid contact with the person, or I’ll run past them as fast I can. I just hate having to say no. However, if I decide that I do want to try something on my own terms, I throw all caution to the wind and I want them to go absolutely crazy on me. The only problem is that, well, it’s really awkward if a sales associate tests a couple things on you and you don’t purchase something. In fact, if an associate ever does apply a full face of makeup on you at your own request, it is expected that you purchase at least two items. I’ve taken this policy to the extreme in that I feel obligated to purchase something shown to me by any associate if I’m helped at all.

So anyhow, I sort of on-purpose ran into a woman working at Ulta and explained my dilemma. She perked up, went and grabbed her favorite undereye concealer, and proceeded to perch me on a chair and blend the product neatly under my eyes. And it looked alright. I don’t know what it is, but sometimes I experience this feeling of not liking something so much because I didn’t find it myself, even if it does exactly what I need it to do. But like a moron, I thanked the woman and walked away with the concealer- which was priced at thirty bucks. Ugh. Seriously? Not even $24.99? I don’t know, sometimes I can be pretty spineless when it comes to sales resistance. This stuff wasn’t worth it. It wasn’t even Yves Saint Laurent’s Touche’ Eclat (the legendary luxury undereye brightener and concealer that I own but am continuously underwhelmed by). The drugstore kind I’d been using never tops ten dollars, and I just felt like a sucker. And yet I did not want to say no and hurt the nice lady’s feelings! Her whole career in makeup might hinge on that thoughtful, enthusiastic sales pitch of hers!

So what did I do? I picked up one of the L’Oreal concealers in a better-matched shade, held on to the thirty dollar one too, stood in line, flashed the thirty dollar one unmistakably and reassuringly when my friendly helper walked by as she assisted another customer, made it to the register … and proceeded to sigh and whisper, “You know, I’m not going to take this today”, and handed in the thirty dollar concealer to be put back on the shelf, discreetly out of view from my helper. And then I bolted.

There’s something extra difficult about resisting a sale in the beauty department. Beauty sales feel more personal to me because usually the associate has taken the time to assess your personal features and desires, and has then used their technical skills by applying the makeup to your face. You feel as if they’ve pampered you a little bit, and you also may feel that they’ve played “artist” a little bit, and turning down a sale would be insulting to their artistic abilities. It’s something I really need to get over, though.

I don’t exactly have any pictures of my escape from Ulta, but here’s a picture of the current state of my medicine cabinet!

There isn’t a whole lot that’s new here. I found that Caudalie Vinexpert Radiance Fluid for about a third of it’s original price (which always makes me worry that it’s old) and so I snagged it just to try. It leaves you looking very glowy, which I love, but it’ll never be worth the full price. I ran out of eye makeup remover (and I’d been using Caudalie’s) and so I picked up some of the famed Lancome Bi-Facil. It works really well, but I’m not used to the feeling of oil left on my eyes (as I’m pretty sure it’s not oil-free). I love having a pretty, sparkly, blue fluid in my cabinet though! Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream is a cult favorite for dry lips and skin, but it feels and smells as if it’s almost one hundred-percent petroleum or mineral oil, which freaks me out and makes me want to use the smallest amount possible. I got it for Christmas and luckily I know it wasn’t very expensive, but it definitely isn’t what I thought it would be. I’m about two-thirds through my Boscia B.B. cream, and half-way through my Acure night cream. And nowhere through that Bio-Oil. Anyone want that stuff?

And for a last little bit of excitement, I busted out my most saturated shade of pink yesterday in celebration of the spring-worthy weather we were experiencing.

I’m wearing CoverGirl’s Lip Perfection lipstick in Spellbound, the most kick-butt shade of fuschia EVER. It’s very much pink, but it’s got enough purply-plum in it to give it some edge and keep it from being too baby. The purple makes it more flattering for darker skin tones too. I first applied a couple coats of it around ten in the morning and I think I reapplied a total of three times (one coat each time) during the whole day (and I think I finally scrubbed it off around nine at night). I probably didn’t need to reapply any at all because the stain it leaves is very even, but over time the purple fades out of it and you’re left with the hot pink base. I just like keeping it looking fresh. Oh, and this photo is unfiltered! No joke!

Let me know how your medicine cabinet’s looking these days, what spring makeup you’re trying, or your awkward stories from the makeup counter! Believe me- I didn’t even get into my worst tale. That’s yet to come. xo, MR

February 24, 2013the Hair stuff., the Me stuff., the Skin stuff.

In praise of Whole Foods … or, I blame the hippies.

McKennaRishmawybest green beauty products brands, Burt's Bees, Desert Essence Organics, Dr. Bronner's, Egyptian Magic, green beauty products, green washing, John Masters Organics, Weleda, Whole Foods, Whole Foods beauty department 2 Comments

Long have I praised the good name of Whole Foods to my friends and on this blog for its wealth of natural resources when it comes to beauty, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I’ve felt somewhat judged for my devotion to the establishment. But I get it- Whole Foods can be a real hotbed of pretentious bobos. I find myself throwing massive shade at the folks wandering around the place every time I visit. Wealthy forty-somethings driving their nice cars, fresh from their CrossFit workouts, making a quick stop at Whole Foods to pick up their certified organic produce that costs ten dollars per pound, or their preservative-free kale chips, or their Vegenaise, and other things that make life not much fun. Buuuut my allegiance to Whole Foods, or at least the health and beauty department, cannot be denied. Like the need for a tax increase on Bod Man body spray for men, it cannot be denied.

I didn’t exactly stumble into a Whole Foods one day and then just fall in love with what I found there. In fact, I’m sure it was quite the opposite. I recall health food stores in the nineties being more associated with the blue-haired folk, trying to preserve the last signs of life and vitality (along with their colon). But then something happened with the turn of the century, and I think it was Al Gore (which kind of spoils the fun), but suddenly “green” became the hip thing to do. Green was everywhere. Green cars, green food sourcing, and green beauty. I can’t remember exactly what started me down my journey of green beauty, but it’s come to my attention in recent years (I’ve been trying to go green for about five) that Whole Foods is thee mecca for effective green beauty brands. Here, a look at my local (and HUGE) Whole Foods:

My particular store that I go to is pretty big, but that’s good news for all of us because the selection is overwhelming in the most awesome way. There’s every kind of “green” brand that you may find in Target or a drugstore, but keep in mind that a lot of these brands suffer from what folks call “green washing”, or the appearance that the product is safe and natural but doesn’t contain a list of truly trustworthy ingredients. The packaging or container might be biodegradable, but perhaps the actual product isn’t. Or there maybe are a select amounts of organic oils within the product, but the rest of it is made of synthetic crap like everything else. Your best strategy- learn to read a list of ingredients and educate yourself on some of the most risky ingredients found in body and beauty products. This kind of information is available easily with just a Google search. I also highly recommend reading The Green Beauty Guide by Julie Gabriel. I love brands like Weleda, Dr. Bronner’s, Desert Essence Organics (at least for their face products, but not for hair), and John Masters Organics for their very clean ingredients.

Some of the skincare brands found at Whole Foods (and Sprout’s or Mother’s Market, too) can be pricier compared to, say, an eight-dollar bottle of Neutrogena moisturizer, but I’m convinced it’s worth it. Some will argue that their skin does just as well with a drugstore brand and that there isn’t a need to switch to greener products, but I say if you can cut out any shady chemical ingredients (with links to early-onset Alzheimer’s and various cancers) while maintaining great skin for a few dollars more, why not?!

If you do enough reading on blogs or in magazines associated with beauty, you’ll begin to memorize the names of a few cult products that celebrities and artists swear by (but I’ve still yet to understand why Maybelline’s Great Lash mascara has such a stellar reputation … I hate that stuff!). One such product is this stuff called Egyptian Magic, a pomade kind of thing loaded with honey and different kinds of oils that treats the skin beautifully when slathered on regularly. However, a jar of it will set you back somewhere close to forty bucks! But check out the product that’s always sitting right next to it- Medicine Mama’s Sweet Bee Magic. The ingredient list is exactly the same and it costs half the price of Egyptian Magic. So while you’re foregoing the idea of owning the Egyptian Magic cult-favorite elixir, you’re getting a way better deal with Sweet Bee!

And here, the one product that I swear by for every use under the sun- Dr. Bronner’s Magic Castile Soap. This stuff might be one of the most trusted brands among all green health and beauty names, and what’s awesome about it is that it’s truly all-purpose. We use it for body wash, but just yesterday I scrubbed my tub with it, used a bit to wash some dishes, and have even used a bit for washing my clothes when I was low on detergent! You can use it on your baby, your car, anything. And it comes in multiple scents, every one of which you can find at Whole Foods.

Like I’ve said, you can find some of these brands elsewhere (and possibly for a higher price), but you hit all the bases at a Whole Foods. I think they have Burt’s Bees there, too (which has a great reputation) and a whole slew of other lines that I haven’t even tried. If I can convince you to even just change one thing in your routine (and my vote is to start with Dr. Bronner’s), I’ve won! xo, MR

thebrightblush

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Category Archives: the Skin stuff.