homage to gommage

i haven't posted in over a year... only YSL's gommage is reason enough to bring me out of hibernation.
after the miserably cold winter we had here in NYC my skin had become a flake infested cardboard box. i tried tons of exfoliators, microdermabrasion, facials... you name it... nothing seemed to do the trick. in comes YSL Gommage Natural Action Exfoliator - game changer! you apply it to dry cleansed skin. it goes on like a gel and after massaging into skin it liquefies. after you rinse it off with luke warm water and towel pat...your skin feels like a smoooooth operator. there are no granules which i know are sometimes so satisfying BUT they are what typically destroy the skin. i promise you this product will change your skin life. whether you have sensitive skin or the toughest around.

buy it here (no pressure): http://www.barneys.com/Yves-Saint-Laurent-Gommage-Natural-Action-Exfoliator/00447109000478,default,pd.html

trois couleurs: red redder REDonk

i’ve been cursed with red face.  a constant blushing that only goes away after my skin settles into a consistent temperature.  this disfiguring condition is best known as rosacea face.  the winter months are a trigger, as well as wine (how sucky), and also people who embarrass me, or really attractive men.  i see a dermatologist on the regular to keep my rosacea face under control.  her recommendation is to stick with products made for sensitive skin (CeraVe, of course) http://www.makemeprettymel.blogspot.com/2010/09/moisturizer-for-every-ageevery-skin.html; however, all on my own i discovered Eucerin Redness Relief Cleanser.  here’s what it does:

gently yet effectively cleanses as it soothes visibly red skin. soap-free gel removes make-up and impurities. gentle formula minimizes the risk of irritation. formulated with natural licochalcone (a licorice root extract with skin soothing properties). maintains skin's moisture balance-won't leave a dry, tight feeling.

·                         fragrance and soap-free

·                         non-comedogenic

·                         dermatologist recommended

·                         safe for sensitive skin, redness-prone skin, and rosacea

i use this every evening and rotate in the morning with my NIA 24 physical cleansing scrub http://www.makemeprettymel.blogspot.com/2010/09/lets-get-physical-cleansing-scrub.html - what a magical combination!  even if you don’t have chronic red face (luckeeeee) you should try this cleanser! 

buy it here: http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/eucerin-redness-relief-redness-relief-soothing-skin-cleanser-gel/ID=prod1336699-product

only one Phlo Retin (CF)

catch my rapper reference there?  okee so i've decided to step up my morning skin care routine by adding an active serum that does the following:

-prevents premature signs of aging and corrects existing photodamage (yes please)
-divides and conquers the range of reactive oxygen species (ROS) throughout the skin (whatever that means)
-prevents cell mutation by shielding skin’s DNA (sounds scary - i don't want to mutate)
-accelerates cell turnover (so you don't mutate)
-boosts skin’s support structure (boooooost)
-inhibits UV-induced discolorations (aka sunspots)
it's working...it really is!  have you ever used the de-noise tool on photoshop?  yeah, this does that!

how i use it:
-cleanse with NIA 24 physical cleansing scrub http://www.makemeprettymel.blogspot.com/2010/09/lets-get-physical-cleansing-scrub.html
-apply 3-4 drops of Skinceuticals Phloretin CF http://www.skinceuticals.com/_us/_en/catalog/prevent/Phloretin-CF.htm?cm_mmc=LabeliumSearch-_-GoogleBrand-_-Skinceuticals+Products-_-skinceuticals%20phloretin%20cf&gclid=CNPP_M_g87ACFcXe4AodvXFkFA
-wait 2 minutes
-moisturize with CeraVe http://www.makemeprettymel.blogspot.com/2010/09/moisturizer-for-every-ageevery-skin.html OR NIA 24 http://www.makemeprettymel.blogspot.com/2010/09/moisturizer-for-every-ageevery-skin.html

it's spensive...no doubt...BUT a little goes a long way.  yer worth it girrrrrl or dooooood...

SACHAJUAN(A) make your hair beachy...

and he do!  now that my chin length crop is growing out i'm back to wearing my hair wavy.  in order to make it look tousled but not frizzee i've been relying on sachajuan's ocean mist spray. try to ignore reviews by beach hair novices.  tho the smell is a bit unejoyable at first it fades quickly.
here is how i use it:
wash hair
comb hair
scrunch hair (like in the 80's)
add a dollop of arrojo frizz control
http://store.arrojoproduct.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=frizz-control
air dry hair
suchajuan hair (whilst scrunching)
http://www.amazon.com/SachaJuan-Sachajuan-Ocean-Mist-150ml/dp/B000S94HTI/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1333111870&sr=1-1

a toast to the 90's...and NY

sticking with the coral trend i'm still not ready to retire... i was reminded of an old fave dating back to 1993 (when i was just a wee tot) - Revlon's Toast of New York Creme lipstick.  devotees of the time knew it only as 325 - a universal color that suited gals of all tones.  while at times i think it's best to leave some trends from the 90's behind it's worth the $7 to add 325 to your lip colour rotation.

a look from rodarte fall 11 that helped inspire...apply it lightly to the lips (no more three rounds for this decade) and smudge a lil round yer eyes (why not?)!

buy it here (if you want)...
http://www.drugstore.com/revlon-super-lustrous--creme-lipstick-toast-of-new-york/qxp36049
also available at most if not all drugstores - so easy!

OK Cor(r)al (sans gunfighting)

it is OK to use coral in the cooler months.  i'm feelin coral orange nails with my fall tights and booties...and why not be matchy with coral orange lips?!!!

this is my fave nail color (hands and toes - yes):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002QDB5LW/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=

fave coral orange lips:

http://www.amazon.com/Stila-Long-Color-Outrageous-Ounce/dp/B0030YX0P0

fatal attraction (i'm glenn close and my brows are michael douglas)...

to say i'm sessed with my brows is an understatement.  brows are everything for your face... and unfortunately i had my way with the tweezer in my teens.  thankfully thru the years they have grown back to a respectable size (tho i still envy those with beautiful big brows).

for me threading is the way to keep them clean yet full (thanks to a bud who has brows to die for i now have a genius threader), and since i have lighter hair my brows always tend to look a bit sparse; therefore the right filler is key.  i've tried brow powders, waxes, pens, and various pencils (ranging from anastasia to laura geller) and i have found that one of the best tools to make my brows look their best is AVON Glimmersticks in blonde.  the consistency of the pencil is creamy and the shades they carry are very natural.

my beautiful auntie jojo sells AVON - you can purchase thru her at: www.youravon.com/jgiancane

remember to brush eyebrows up and seal with a brow gel...i like benefit speed brow:
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P107406&om_mmc=GoogleBase&_requestid=42976&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=P107406&sbanner=us_search