BB's Beauty Rules

In lieu of my absence, it got me thinking of a few beauty rules I had to bend in order to get a few more minutes of sleep! Honestly, I was sleeping in my makeup, and I'm thanking the beauty gods for the miracle that is smudge-proof mascara, my ridiculously expensive sheets thank you!
BB's Beauty Rules(in no particular order)
1) Never Sleep in Your Makeup
The biggest no-no of all! Although, even I have fallen victim to this on those nights where you've been out late, working, or, um, drinking. Rejoice! I have a new find to keep us makeup free...I keep a pack of Olay's Daily Facials Lathering Cleansing Cloths handy, which exfoliate gently and condition my skin. I don't really like them for everyday use, but it's great for when you can't use your normal cleanser.
2) Wear Sunscreen
I am pale and without sunscreen I get freckles and my nose and cheeks burn...very, very badly. Sunscreen is important because no one wants premature wrinkles and brown spots (!). Even in the looming grey months, you can still get sun damage! (I know, we can't reap the benefits of sunshine...yet it damages our skin anyways). Choose one that doesn't clog your pores and doesn't feel oily. Broad spectrum UVA/UVB are also a must.
3) Don't tan! The sun's rays are hazardous, and the tanning bed's rays are even more scary, so slather on a high SPF sunscreen and stay away from those tanning beds! Use self-tanner instead, because orange streaks are way hotter than skin cancer! I haven't had good experiences with spray/aerosol tanners, but lotions and gels work fine. My favourite pick is a gradual tanner, Clinique's Touch of Bronze Moisturizing Body Lotion, because I don't like a strong tan in the winter.
4) Drink your water! I attempt (not that I always succeed) to drink 8 cups of water a day. It's hard at first, but once you get into a normal routine, it becomes a habit. Water nourishes skin from the inside out, and keeps us healthy. If plain water is too, well, plain, for you, either put a few lemon slices in there or grab a bottle of Vitamin Water! (I like XXX ) Note: While I love Vitamin Water, it's not good to use it as a total water replacement, as there are (a lot) of calories, not to mention you're not supposed to drink too many anyways.
5) Your smile is the most powerful weapon in your beauty arsenal. Use it wisely:)

6) Beauty is from the inside out.

BBreview: Bumble and Bumble Grooming Creme

Bumble & Bumble is an amazing brand founded in NYC, 'the city of hairdressing legends' and their goal is to develop products that are able to withstand the demands of a photo shoot and/or fashion shows.
Now, I love Bb, but some of their products really turn me off, others, I fall in love with, some, I really just don't know what to think of!
Take Bumble and Bumble Grooming Creme, this stuff is fabulous, I repeat, fabulous. I used it when I was rushing in the morning and had absolutely no time for my flat iron.
Now, a bit of background on my hair, I have really weird hair. Like really weird hair. First off, it's dry and chemically damaged from my years of highlighting my (once) blonde hair. After chemically damaged, comes the fact that it likes to frizz at the worst time possible, and is wavy, but curls a bit at the bottom.
Normally, I would use Fekkai's Straight Away, which eliminates frizz and straightens my hair, but I was out. So the Grooming Creme it was.
It was a nice, creamy consistency, not too thick or thin, and I smoothed a drop onto my hair, hoping for the best. It got rid of my frizzies, and my hair wasn't as straight as it would be with, say my flat iron, but it was good. Super easy to spread through hair, not greasy in the least yet with good shine (a plus!), didn't weigh down my hair, and made my hair feel really conditioned. Yay! A good alternative to my Fekkai. But wait, what's that smell? I guess I wasn't really paying attention to the stuff when I put it on my hair, or maybe it took a while for the smell to come out. I can't really put my finger on it, it just smells bad. Sort of plasticky alcohol (if that makes sense), with a touch of something that reminds me of bug spray! The smell did not dissipate until later that day, but it leaves me pondering the question; Is it good, or bad?
It's a good product in every aspect, except the smell! Oh, and one note, it is entirely possible to go overboard with this stuff, so use a tiny, tiny smidge and work it into your hair, adding more if neccesary. Going overboard with this stuff would definitely make your hair smell really, really, bad, not to mention the overall greasiness and stringy-ness of your hair!
So, what do you think? Good, or bad?

Coming Back...

As a (relatively) new blogger, I should be blogging with vigor, yet I just left everyone with a month-long break. Oops. My apologies, because I should have more posts than this for you!
However, I'm sure you've all heard the news about the economy here in the US, and I want to keep my job secure, and September is always our busiest month. So, in between working 14 hour days and taking care of my best friend's (now 2 years old) baby (they went on an anniversary vacation) (don't worry, I left the baby home with sitter:)), I didn't have time to blog!
But things are slowing down, and it feels like a breath of air, btw, oct-nov are slower months for us, so...you're going to be getting (hopefully!) more posts!
I have a few posts lined up, so keep checking back for more.!
Love,
BB

Fall Beauty 2008: Part Two, 'Cult of Cherry'

MAC's newest collection, Cult of Cherry, is their fab fall collection, with fall colors like mauves, berry reds, chocolates, and purples. Cult of Cherry is 'Deep, Dark, and Dramatic', and lives up to its claim well with a gorgeous, vibrant, range of colors.

I love the colors, especially the 'Cherry Reds', and the purpley-mauves. Not-as bright eye shadows complement the brighter limited edition lipglasses and lipsticks. The blush? Not so much, but more on that later.

The two lipsticks I purchased from Cult of Cherry were So Scarlet which is a 'Clean grape burgundy', and Lighty Ripe which is a 'Sheer mid-tone Pink'. So Scarlet was GORGEOUS, and it was perfect for nights out and about, never smudged (as with most MAC lipsticks) and satisfied my craving for a red hued burgundy. I bought another one today, because it's a limited edition product. Lightly Ripe was a perfect 'nude lip' with a hint of pink. Pretty.

And the Lipglass! I love, love, love MAC's lipglass, and Cult of Cherry's fab colors include Jampacked (sheer grape with multi-dimensional pearl), Cherry Blossom (sheer light pink with multi-dimensional pearl), and Cult of Cherry (clean red with red pearl). Jampacked was absolutely the most amazing berry lip color ever! And in close second, Cherry Blossom, although I think I'd save this one for spring. Cult of Cherry put a lot of oomph! into the red, and a little went a really long way.

As for the mattene lipstick, the colors were gorgeous, especially Kirsch (blackened cranberry), and they were matte, a little sheer, and pretty for work.

The eyeshadows were pretty, nothing special, but nice enough. The olive yellow green 'Sharp' in Tempting scared me off, but it seems nice enough in this picture. I liked Deep Truth in the 'Shadowy Lady' Eyeshadow. Shadowy Lady itself was a nice color, maybe a little too macabre for me, but nice enough. Light Fall and Smudged Violet were okay, just plain colors that didn't do much for me. Although I did have higher hopes for Smudged Violet.
Spiced Chocolate had pretty colors too, Spiced Chocolate, Brash, Sweet Chestnut, and Nanogold. Spiced chocolate was a nice, rich cranberry on me, perfect with a berry lip. Brash and Sweet Chestnut were right up my alley on my normal colors,and Nanogold was a bit too plain for me.

The blush....eek. I tried one on each cheek at MAC, and was expecting something greater than what I saw in the pan. 'Twas not to be, both Plum du Bois and Blooming looked really, really, bad on my cheeks. Perhaps someone with a different skintone would fare better. But for this gal, Both looked the same shade of deep pink,with a more-than-a-hint of purple, and a little too much bronze. Maybe it was just me, but they looked exactly the same on my cheeks.

I have already sang my praises on Cult of Cherry's Illegal purple, but hadn't yet touched on the beauty of Silverstruck (Frosty grayed taupe with multi-dimensional pearl). It is a gorgeous grey-purple on my nails, and the 'multi dimensional pearl' adds a pretty frost to it. Loves it!

MAC's Cult of Cherry line is gorgeous, and I'd definitely stock up on the limited edition lipsticks (So Scarlet), lipglasses (Jampacked), and maybe another bottle (or two) of the glamorous nail lacquers. A perfect complement to any fall look :)

Up next, Fall Beauty 2008: Very Berry Lips

Fall Beauty 2008: Part One, 'A Oui Bit of Red'

Fall is just around the corner, and already I feel like breaking out a new trench coat, rich red lips, and this new Marimekko umbrella, bought by suggestion from The Glam Guide. While I haven't been able to do those things yet, my nails are already sporting glam fall colors.This year, fall is all about rich chocolates, smoky violets, and lustrous burgundies, which is punctuated by brilliant reds.
Yum!

The transitions from the summer shades to the deeper, richer colors of fall comes in the form of mauves, purples, browns, and, of course, scarlet reds.
Am I the only one who is a fan of dark red nails in the summer? I refrain from decorating my fingernails with scarlet in spring and summer, the color is far too demeaning for the light summer months. I opt for lighter, sheerer colors in the summer. However, this year, fall comes back with a host of rich, dark colors perfect for a connoisseur of berry nail colors.

And the nail collections! Already, I'm a fan of MAC's Limited Edition Illegal Purple, from the Cult of Cherry Line which is described as a 'Creamy Blackened Eggplant'. It is more of a deep mauve color on my toes, which suits me just fine.

Perplexing, which is also a limited edition color is a beatiful deep purple-blue, accented by the captivating sparkles, but only in the bottle. The color, I'm sorry to say, is a bit garish and innapropriate on my nails, but it does add a sort of beauty to my otherwise cluttered vanity.

As well, OPI's new La Collection de France is a beautiful collection of OPI's new fall polishes.
I am personally rocking Bastille My Heart on my fingertips, which is a beautiful, deep red burgandy.
A Oui Bit of Red (hence the title) and Louvre Me Louvre me Not also made big impacts on my nails. (Does anyone love OPI's names as much as I do?). I was tempted to buy the whole collection, the colors are gorgeous, but alas, I restrained myself from reaching for Baguette me Not, and bought Bastille My Heart (rich burgundy), A Oui Bit of Red (brilliant red), Louvre Me Louvre me Not (royal purple), Parlez-VousOPI? (smoky violet), and I'm Fondue of You (milk chocolate). The only one I didn't like was I'm Foudue of You, which made my nails look a bit like I had dipped them in a very washed-out version of chocolate. It did look quite pretty in the bottle, however.

One of my old personal favourites, is Chanel's Le Vernis in Tulipe Noire, which I'm guessing means 'Black Tulip?'. My basic French does not leave much to be desired. It is a beautiful hue of burgundy, and is my all-time favourite fall nail color. I use this every fall, and it complements perfectly with my skintone.






I also bought Candy Darling and Chinatown from NARS, and one was dissapointing, and the other was amazing. Although I was inclined to love the Chinatown, the deep 'blood red' actually looked like more of a purpley-red, and wasn't very appealing when it dried. However, the Candy Darling was beautiful, a sheer pink that looked good on my nails, which I will save for next spring, when flowers bloom again;)

Laura Mercier's Daring and Avant Garde were both pretty in their own ways. Daring was a rich burgundy reminiscent of the aforementioned Tulipe Noire, and Avant Garde reminded me of Illegal Purple, also aforementioned in this post. However, Avant Garde looked a little too deep on my nails, as did Illegal Purple, but looked fab on my toenails. Maybe it's just because I'm seeing it form farther away? Who knows.
Laura Mercier's colors can only be ordered online from Sephora, and I highly recommend you get the 'Temporarily Out of Stock' 24 Karat, which looks great paired with black peep toes.

I'm loving the new French-inspired colors, and the classic reds, chocolates, and caramels! This fall, my nails are sure to be changing colors like the leaves change colors (hmm, that sounded better in my head).
Up next, Fall Beauty 2008: Part Two, 'Cult of Cherry'!

How Long do you Keep Your Makeup?

Even cosmetics have a shelf life! And yes, it does hurt to throw away a mascara that you've only used once or twice, especially if that mascara was $32! But for the good of your skin (is there even such a thing?) throw out old makeup and buy new products! Yes! By the time you need to buy new products to replace old ones, you may have gotten tired of the color.

When I was a teenager, I took dance lessons, ballet, tap, hip hop, you name it ;) One of my best friends was in all of my classes. No kidding, we were in every class together because we would register together. Let's call her Samurai (her nickname, becuase she took karate, and her name started with an 'S').
Now, all of our stage makeup was heavy, like cake-face heavy, because of the glaring lights onstage. We looked garish in normal light, but pretty under the frighteningly bright stage lights (when I was very little, at my first recital, I got scared of the bright lights and had to be removed from the program). Samurai had awesome makeup, Lancome, Yves Saint Laurent, Bobbi Brown, etc, etc. I was just beginning to use high-end makeup that my mother had kept from me ever since I broke off the tips of most of her lipsticks. (Hey, I was 6, and I was trying to put lipstick on the giant barbie doll head). I just used drugstore brands (Maybelline, Revlon, etc.) for my stage makeup, because I had to replace them often.
We were taught to NEVER share makeup at our dance school, and the rule was enforced heavily, (I guess they didn't want girls breaking out right before their debut). Then comes the day I forget my mascara, and without it I knew I would look like some alien without my trusty mascara. Samurai offered me her Lancome mascara. Yes! I was saved! And using her mascara once wouldn't kill me, right? Right? Wrong.
Upon opening the mascara, I was greeted with a giant clump on the brush. Not only that, the mascara itself was thick and goopy, and had a faint lingering odor that I didn't like. I asked when she got her mascara (my mom being a makeup artiste, I was educated on how long I should keep my makeup) and she replied, I kid you not, 'I'm not sure, I found it under my mom's sink'. I'm sure my mouth was hanging open, because she looked at my face and said, 'What? It's not like it's poisoned.' I then proceeded to explain to her everything I knew about keeping mascara for too long, and she said, 'OH! That's why my eyes always get itchy and red after I use this stuff, thanks Callie!'

I ended up going onstage without any mascara, and I guess I looked okay. But the lesson I learned? Don't forget your stuff at home.

Anyways, what was the point of this post? Oh, right, The Shelf Life of Makeup.
Cosmetics aren't required by law to provide expiration dates, but some products may have expiration dates. Check if you're not sure, and always follow the manufacturer's guidelines.

Tips on extending the shelf life of your makeup;
-Always wash your hands and face before applying makeup
-Avoid touching your makeup directly, always use an applicator
-Don't share your makeup ;)
-Keep cosmetics containers tightly closed when not in use
-Toss makeup if the color changes, or if an odor develops
-Don't use water on your makeup to return it to its original texture/consistency
When to toss?

Liquid Foundation: 3-6 months (Cream foundation: 4-6 months) or when ingredients settle/separate, texture thickens/thins, or the smell changes/
Concealer: 6-8 months
Powders (pressed powder, eye shadow, blush, etc.): 1 year
Mascara: 3 months (the most bacteria prone product, always toss after three months, or sooner if it develops an odor, or thickens/thins)
Lip Gloss, Lipstick: 1 year
Eye/Lip Pencils: 1 year (eye and lip pencils can last up to a year, but that requires weekly sharpening to avoid bacteria being transferred to your eye)

Facial Cleansers and Moisturizers: 6 months
Facial Toners: 1 year

Brushes: infinity? Brushes will last quite a while, until it starts to wear out, which is when you should get a new one. However, bacteria will grow on the brushes, unless you use a brush cleanser diligently every week, or so.

Natural Cosmetics: 6 months

Limited Edition Cosmetics: Ummm...read on.
Yes, I know, you shouldn't keep any type of product past their expiration date, even limited edition products. But, they're just so damn PRETTY! And you're never going to find anything as nice as that ever again...so yes, I bend the rules and only throw out limited edition products when they smell, or something. Well, it makes sense, right? Besides, I buy a ton of limited edition products, so I can rest easy that I may never run out. And products that have never been opened are can last a long, long time. So I'm not crazy right? I can throw away any product, but limited edition products are revered in my boudoir.

BBreview: Maybelline Great Lash

Another one of my unopened mascaras, I remember buying Maybelline Great Lash because I'd heard so many great things about it. G told me that it was a great alternative to expensive mascaras, and was the best drugstore mascara around.
Hmmm, maybe I shouldn't learn to trust G's claims, she's got amazingly full, long, dark lashes, which are the complete opposite of mine.
This mascara did nothing for me, except coat my lashes in a clumpy, black mess that flaked off. It did not build volume, nor did it lengthen my lashes. Then again, I'd only heard that it does so, but the packaging doesn't stress too much on that point. The mascara does claim to be buildable, but it got heavy and unworkable after two coats, which was not pleasant. I had to wash it off and start again. For the sake of beauty, I wore this mascara for the day, testing it out like I would with any other. After about two hours, it started flaking off, bothering my contacts, and creating a layer of black snow on my bottom eyelid. Maybe I just used too many coats? Nevertheless, I hastily wiped it off, and proceeded to use my trusty never-fail Diorshow Blackout Mascara.
This is definitely not one of the better drugstore mascaras.
The Verdict: Not a good mascara for volume and length seekers, but an okay mascara for those with naturally beautiful lashes, who don't mind clumps.
Discover Maybelline Great Lash here.

BBreview: Lancome Fatale Mascara

I am a longtime user of Diorshow Blackout, but I can't resist trying buying new things. On a recent trip to Sephora with V, she suggested I try Lancome Fatale, a longtime favourite of hers. This stayed in my drawer unopened, until I decieded to clean out my beauty products, and was met with the challenge of 7 unopened mascaras. Yep, 7. Needless to say, I opened each one and tried them out over the course of two weeks. My new favourite? Lancome Fatale.
My eyelashes are light, which requires me to use mascara every day. This means that the mascara has to be light, non-clumpy, and waterproof. I'm not going to lie to you, I don't use the same mascara every day, but I do like to keep a general idea of what my favourites are (and what has been banished to the bottom of the drawer). My lashes stay curly on their own, which is a great plus, but often lack volume and length.
Fatale did not dissapoint, although the brush does get some getting used to. What I thought was a defective product, is actually quite genius. The Fatale brush is a three sided comb, with flat surfaces in between, basically a thinned out mascara brush.
Brush oddity aside, Fatale did a great job of plumping my lashes, and they looked lush and full after only two coats. Two! I think I'm in love.
Fatale also kept up with my daily life easily, needing only one reapplication throughout the day, and staying on really well. It didn't flake, nor did it smudge.
The only drawback is the comb, and in this case, practice makes perfect.
Some tips on using Fatale
-Do not Double Dip! Not only does this increase the chances of bacteria in your mascara, but the flat sides of the brush act like reservoirs, so one dip is all you need.
-To use, place one of the combs at the base of your lash. Wiggle a bit to give extra volume, then comb through. For second coats, use another comb. Two or three coats should do the trick!
-For more seperation, comb lashes repeatedly (2 or 3 times) with only one of the combs.
Diorshow and Fatale seem to be equal in my book, although I do prefer the brush on the Fatale (after getting used to it!).
The Verdict: A luxurious, amazing mascara that builds up your lashes, adds volume, stays on, and doesn't flake off.
Discover Fatale here.

Seven Must-Have Bath Products

1. Body Wash
What: A liquefied form of bar soap.
Why: Body wash is said to be cheaper than buying bar soap. I have yet to test this theory. I use body wash because I find it to be less drying than bar soap. I also like the rich lather, and the fact that it doesn't leave a sticky film. Some body washes come with added in moisturizers, which I consider a bonus.

Tips: Always use body wash with a loofah (see number 2 ). This will exfoliate your skin gently, leaving it soft & smooth.

Always buy a moisturizing body wash. Most body washes come with added moisturizer, but keep in mind that not all of them work.

My favourite: L'Occitane Rose Bath & Shower Gel ($22)

2. Loofah
What: The real loofahs are made the dried loofah plant, but the ones you usually see at bath stores are made of layers of mesh, folded into a cloud-like shape. I find both to work fine, but the real loofahs are always more expensive than the mesh ones.
Why: When used together with body wash (see number 1), or any type of soap, the loofah will exfoliate and leave your skin soft & smooth.
Tips: Keep loofahs out in the open to dry, and always wash thoroughly before using.

My favourite: L'Occitane Body Buffer ($14)

3.Bath Bombs
What: Bath Bombs are fun, fizzy concoctions which dissolve quickly under running water, leaving a light fragrance. Some Bath Bombs come with confetti, petals, leaves, and butters.
Why: Because they're fun. No further explanation required.
Tips: Package bath bombs in gossamer bags for a great gift.

My favourite: LUSH Butterfly Ball ($5.15)

4. Bubble Bath
What: Bubble Bath nowadays are more than the traditional soap scented bubbles. There are bubble bars, milk baths, and various scented bubble baths.

Why: Because there's nothing more luxurious than a tub full of soft, scented bubbles.

Tips: Make sure you like the smell before purchasing, because a tub of scented bubbles tends to scent your skin the same way.My favourite: L'Occitane Honey & Lemon Delicious Bath

5. After Bath Moisturizer
What: Any thick moisturizer that you like will do for an After Bath Moisturizer.
Why: Baths can be quite drying, especially in the winter. Using a thick moisturizer post-bath, while your skin is still damp, helps keep moisture in.

Tips: If you like to keep scents unified, use a moisturizer from the same line of your body wash, bubble bath, etc.

My favourite: Frederic Fekkai La Creme Luxueuse ($65)

6. Bath Salts
What: Bath Salts are, quite literally, scented salt. Although it is not the common kitchen salt, it usually works the same. Bath salts are great in a bath, of for use in an exfoliating pedicure.
Why: Bath Salts are yummy, scented salts used to scent your bath, and also doubles as a great exfoliator.

Tips: If you don't like scented, or synthetic bath salts, try using Dead Sea Bath Salts. The Dead Sea is said to aid in calming skin problems, and the salt has similar claims.

My favourite: Bliss Hot Salt Scrub ($36)

7.Sugar Scrub

What: A Sugar Scrub is made up of sugar, and moisturizing oils. The sugar exfoliates, while the oils hydrate skin.
Why: In addition to exfoliating, sugar scrubs moisturize the skin well, and also add a touch of fragrance.

Tips: Use on damp skin for optimum results.

My favourite: Fresh Brown Sugar Polish ($65)

Beauty

beau·ty (byū'tē)

1. The quality that gives pleasure to the mind or senses and is associated with such properties as harmony of form or color, excellence of artisty, truthfulness, and originality.

2. One that is beautiful, especially a beautiful woman.

3. A quality or feature that is most effective, gratifying, or telling

Beauty is said to be in the eye of the beholder. A beautiful woman is said to be beautiful on the outside and the inside.

Beauty is said to be undefinable, indescribable, and is something everyone aspires to be. Being beautiful is part self-confidence, part love, and, most of all, hard work. Beauty is helped along by beauty products, but is ultimately what one woman presents herself as.

The Beauty Bar is about 'all things pretty and beautiful, from the latest in stay-put lipsticks to the creamiest eyeliners', but is also about embracing your inner (and outer) beauty, living life, and loving it. Essentially, being beYOUtiful.

Welcome to The Beauty Bar

We're sure to have fun ;)

Love,

BB