Real Beauty At The Emmy's

Last night the Emmy's were on and as Award shows go, they were entertaining. Every year I tune in to catch the red carpet, and see what the stars are wearing. From the jewels to the gowns everyone is perfectly coiffed...well almost everyone, but that's not important. I am always interested in who's hair and makeup is flawless, but this year I was particularly interested in one person.

I got word about two weeks ago that the super talented and naturally gorgeous Ali Larter from Heroes had teamed up with Dove and their Campaign for Real Beauty and was going to do her own hair for the 59th Annual Primetime Emmy® Awards this year using Dove Hair Care products. I have to tell you that when I heard about it I was a little nervous for her, but seeing as how I know first hand that Dove has great hair products, I figured she couldn't go wrong. Not only did she want to take a stand for "real beauty" but she chose Dove to help her convey that message to the public.

In an interview with Dove about her upcoming appearance on the Emmy's, Ali said "There is a lot of work that goes into Hollywood hair and I want women to know that it is unrealistic for every day." "I am going to go out on a limb by doing my own hair for the Emmys without any stylists. I am going to use Dove Hair Care products for five days, get my hair in great shape and I am going to rock the red carpet. I am doing all of this to help women realize the potential of their own hair and feel more confident every day."

What a great positive message for women and girls everywhere, and what a glowing endorsement for Dove Hair Care. So, last night I tuned in to the red carpet to see just what would come of Ali's promise. Of course she looked amazing. Her hair was beautiful, healthy and shiny and wow that dress! She didn't try to make it difficult, or super intricate. She just went with a beautiful sleek look that accentuated her beauty. I looked this morning and she was listed on many of the Emmy's "Best Dressed" lists and I wasn't surprised, see for yourself.

This is a list of the Dove products that helped Ali produce her show stopping tresses for the red carpet.

Advanced Color Care Shampoo for Lightened or Highlighted Hair
Advanced Color Care Conditioner for Lightened or Highlighted Hair
Advanced Color Care Luminizing Mist for Lightened or Highlighted Hair
Body & Lift Volumizing Mousse
Smooth & Soft Anti-Frizz Finishing Cream
Flexible Hold Hairspray (Aerosol)

All of these Dove products are available to every woman whether you are creating a red carpet look of your own, or you just want beautiful shiny hair. I love that Dove is so affordable too so that I don't spend my entire paycheck trying to get cute. Of course I've said it before but I am a huge fan of Dove products because they are simple and effective, and of course you know I love anything that makes my life easier.

Also, check out http://www.doveloveyourhair.com.Dove is running an online ad contest. Just upload a photo of yourself and answer a few questions about hair. You'll create your own print ad that might be selected to run in Hearst magazines this fall. Just think, you could be the face of "real beauty" too. Enjoy!

Fresh And Flirty

I am all about convenience these days since I always seem to be on the go. I am one of those strange folks that has difficulty leaving the house without my "face" on, so you just might see me digging through my purse for any number of cosmetics. The ones I seem to have the most trouble locating are my shadows. I hate digging around trying to find my brush and god forbid I want to use more than one color on the go. It seems I can never locate what I need when I need it.

That is exactly why I am telling you about Flirt! and their new limited edition Vanessa Manillo Dreamy Eyes Eyeshadow Palette. Now, you've heard me sing the praises of Flirt! Cosmetics before. I use their Squeeze Me Super Shiny Lip Gloss all the time. I love that they are just so compact and on the go. That's part of the reason I love the Dreamy Eyes Eyeshadow Palettes too. It is so convenient, compact and beautiful I just couldn't resist. The shadows come in a four color palette that is tucked neatly into a sleek black slide out case. Inside is a fold out mirror and a wand for easy application. The wand has a brush on one side and a eyeshadow sponge on the other so that no matter how you want to apply, you've got it covered.

There are two soft color palettes, Party Purple and Chic Bronze. I tried out Party Purple last week for a night out with the girls and I loved how smokey and beautiful my eyes were. Of course I marched right up to Kohl's last weekend and purchased the other palette, which I have been wearing for a subtle work look all this week. I love that I can use them for a great dramatic look or a soft day time glow. I also love the price at $15 (by the way its on sale at kohls.com for $13.50) because I don't hurt my wallet looking cute.

You can find both of these Dreamy Eyes Eyeshadow Palettes at your local Kohl's department store or online at Kohls.com. Remember they are Limited Edition so they wont be around for long, and they are a great way to get noticed.

Light Bright

I had the opportunity to test Rimmel London's new Light Beam Lip Gloss. If you dont know already, Rimmel has figured out how to incorporate a tiny beam of light into the cap of their beautiful lip glosses which takes all the guess work out of dim or dark environment application. The light beam is perfectly situated, so it illuminates your lips in even the darkest place.

I of course am guilty of trying to apply my lipgloss in the car at night. My boyfriend hates this of course, because I have to turn on the overhead light. Driving with the overhead light is never fun, so on our last evening out, I decided to test out the Light Beam Lip Gloss. I pressed the button on the cap, and started applying. The boyfriend, who is typically not interested in anything beauty related, commented that it was a very smart idea. I would bet it was because he didnt have to endure the blinding overhead light. He wasnt blinded and my lips were flawless which means everyone wins.

So you are thinking, well that's just great but how will I know where I am putting the gloss? Not to worry, there is a tiny lip mirror on the side of the lipgloss (which I personally think is a must have for all lip products) so that you can see how to apply it perfectly.

You know how much I love beauty products that make life just a little easier. Also, because Rimmel Light Beam Lip Gloss comes in six fabulously sheer shades, you'll have no problem picking one (or more) that you love. In the Mix is a pale pink, After Hours a beautiful cherry red, Spotlight a shimmery pale purple, In the Limelight a soft gold, Disco Ball which is clear with silver shimmer and Strobe Light a metallic silver.

Each shade goes on smooth and silky without the sticky texture some glosses leave behind. I also didnt have to apply it very often, (even though I wanted to play with the light and the mirror) and it smelled and tasted great.

Its a steal at $10.99 and you can pick it up at your local ULTA on line or in the store.

Foot Therapy 101

Maybe you ladies have time to go to the nail shop and get a cute little Mani and Pedi every week. If so, I envy you terribly and if not then have I got a product line for you.

Lamisilk has a new line of products just for those ladies who can’t always have a weekly pedicure. You want cute feet, especially during the summer months so you can wear all of the sexy sandals and strappy footwear your little heart desires without worrying about dry rough heels and toes. Lets not sugar coat it ladies, if you neglect those toes you will pay later.

I am sad to admit that last week I was about a week off from my pedicure visit, but instead of panicking I reached for my Lamisilk 3 Step Intensive Foot therapy. The trio consists of cleanser, moisturizer and a protectant. Also, thanks to Glam I also have a great Essie nail polish and the perfect pocket sized file to complete the look.

I started with the Lamisilk Cleanse Exfoliating Scrub, which smelled strangely like my old Rice Bran Body Scrub that I used to love so dearly. It gently scrubs to remove dead skin while softening. Some of the exfoliants I have used for feet have left them dryer than when I started. Not the Lamisilk Cleanse, this stuff is wonderful.

I followed up with Lamisilk Hydrate, which has such a smooth creamy consistency without being greasy. I love for my feet to be soft and smooth, but I don’t need to slide around on them like I am wearing my own personal ice rink. The formula absorbs quickly and kept my heels and toes happy all day.

So I finished off my happy toes with a few coats of Essie nail polish in a bright red. I love bold colors for summer and this was just the perfect shade. Let me tell you I got so many complements on the color. I am sure I would have gotten a few on my soft beautiful feet but I am not the type that enjoys random people touching my tootsies.

That night I smoothed on Lamisilk Protect which is their overnight moisturizing seal. That stuff is amazing. You know the old trick with the socks and the moisturizer that we all learned back in our sleep over days? Well this takes the goopy mess and the hot socks out of the equation. Just put it on before bed and wake up with beautifully smooth feet.

So, now you know what to do about those neglected feet. Don’t wait around counting your pennies, go over to Lamisilk’s website and download some great coupons so that you can have your very own home pedicure with Lamisilk’s Intensive Foot Therapy.

You can buy Lamisilk Intensive Foot Therapy at drugstore.com and local retailers.

Are You Sleeveless Ready?

So I have returned to talk about one of my favorite products again. Dove, who never lets me down and always gives me the best skincare is rolling out their new "Sleeveless Ready" campaign, and I recently had the opportunity to try out their Dove Ultimate Clear deodorant. Now, I have to be honest when I say that I already am a user of Dove Deodorant, so getting me to switch was all too easy. I already love Dove for its great fresh scent and its protection, but I was eager to try out Dove Ultimate Clear and leave those white marks behind.

Dove Ultimate Clear Deodorant has Translucent Moisturizers that keep your underarms both soft and dry all day. They don't leave behind that flaky white stuff like other deodorants. I know that when I put on a sleeveless shirt that I don't have to worry about embarrassing white stuff on my arms or on my clothes and I never need to worry about wetness or odor, I can just put it on and go.

Dove Ultimate Clear deodorant is all you need to be “sleeveless-ready”. Dove Ultimate Clear lets you be comfortable with the look and feel of your underarms and confident wearing any and all underarm-revealing fashions. You get all the protection, and smoother, softer, sleeveless-ready underarms in just 5 days.

Now, like I have said before, I am a believer in giving you the real scoop on products. I wont sugar coat or provide you with a review of anything I haven't tried myself and this time ladies I put Dove Ultimate Clear to the test. The test of a good deodorant isn't just wearing it around the house or the office. No ma'am, you have to know that if you are in a pinch you wont be embarrassed by a sub-par deodorant.

I tried out Dove Ultimate Clear for 3 full weeks. That gave me a chance to see how it stood up to regular wear, that weird 88 degree day we had last week, and the mother of all tests...the gym.

Dove Ultimate Clear exceeded all my expectations, never left me wondering about its strength or protection and breezed through a solid hour and a half or intense cardio and weight training.

In addition Dove has paired up with Chloe Dao Season 2 Project Runway winner for their "Sleeveless Ready" Ultimate Clear campaign. I absolutely loved Chloe Dao on Project Runway and I was glad to see that her boutique"Lot 8" was thriving in Houston.

Chloe Dao has created a do it yourself Sleeveless Shirt pattern for a sleeveless ready summer. My grandmother was a seamstress so I have an inordinate amount of love for all things sewing related so I couldn't wait to get started on my shirt!

In addition, the fabulous Ms. Dao agreed to an interview with yours truly about Dove Ultimate Clear, Project Runway and what she has been up to since her win. Check it out!

Avin: Did you feel like “Project Runway” was a good experience?

Chloe Dao: "Project Runway" was an amazing experience. Being a part of the show helped me realize who I am as a designer and as a person. A televised competition forces you to examine yourself because it puts you under such extreme circumstances. I never knew that I could be so stubborn and strong about my point of view as a designer and as an individual. I got to see my flaws and my strengths at the same time, which was really strange.

Avin: Was it as much fun being on the show as it looked?

Chloe Dao: It was fun to just be creative and not worry about anything but the challenge. We didn’t have any outside interactions or distractions. We lived and breathed the challenge. It was like fashion school but we didn't have to worry about when to eat or having to pay tuition.

Avin: What do you like to do when you aren’t creating designs for Lot 8?

Chloe Dao: I have three things that I have always loved to do when I am not designing or working: reading a great book, playing tennis and taking any kind of dance class, from hip hop to tango.

Avin: Are you a music person? What’s on your iPod/CD player right now?

Chloe Dao: I do love music. I am listening to Gwen Stefani, "L.A.M.B.", Malcolm McClaren, "Paris", old remixes of 90's pop, international music and classical.

Avin: Outside of “Project Runway,” do you watch reality TV?

Chloe Dao: I am such a reality TV addict. I love “Flavor of Love" and “Shear Genius."

Avin: Do you create seasonal lines for your boutique Lot 8, or do you lean towards creating what you think will work for any season?

Chloe Dao: I do both. My point of view as a designer is to always create pieces that are relevant to the current trends but not so relevant that it becomes trendy. My designs rarely have an expiration date. Good designs are always stylish and fashionable and that is my goal for every season.

Avin: Where do you see this summer’s fashion trends leaning?

Chloe Dao: Some of my favorite fashions this season are sleeveless. For example, I love a high-volume dress. This style of dress begins under the bust line, creating room for movement, comfort and softness. I recommend picking a sleeveless volume dress, which is flattering on every body type.

Another hot summer trend is metallics. The one thing to keep in mind is that when it comes to metallic details and shiny material, less is more. Choosing a sleeveless top in a metallic finish is a perfect, yet subdued way to wear this trend because the shine is balanced out by bare arms.

Avin: Do you feel like your personality is reflected in your designs?

Chloe Dao: Definitely. I feel strongly about helping all my clients feel beautiful and confident. I work with women of all shapes and sizes and my designs are reflective of that.

Avin: I’ve been told that you are working with Dove on their new “Sleeveless-Ready” campaign. Can you tell me a little bit about your role in that?

Chloe Dao: Sure! This is a partnership that I am really excited about. The Dove Deodorant Sleeveless-Ready campaign is designed to help women feel confident in sleeveless fashions, and I am happy to have a role in that. I hope to lend my expertise on the best sleeveless fashions and provide tips on how every woman can achieve the confidence to go sleeveless.

Avin: Dove has always been on of my favorite product lines. In fact, I blog about it incessantly. Have you had the opportunity to test Dove Ultimate Clear Deodorant?

Chloe Dao: I have tried Dove Ultimate Clear Deodorant and I love it! When I first received the product, I decided to take the 5-Day Challenge. Dove claims that in just 5 days, you can experience softer, smoother underarms after shaving. I was surprised and happy to see how well the product stuck to its claim. My underarms have never been this smooth. With summer just around the corner, I’m ready to go sleeveless with confidence!

Avin: I am eager to try out your DIY shirt! What gave you the idea to create a DIY pattern?

Chloe Dao: I have always been into individualizing a style and there’s no better way to personalize a garment than to do-it-yourself. The DIY process can be as basic or as elaborate as desired. A great material to work with is the cotton T-shirt: a staple in the fashion industry. Vintage or oversized T-shirts can easily be refashioned into trendy sleeveless tops that are perfect for a variety of occasions. To create a personalized DIY sleeveless-ready shirt, all you need is: a soft, cotton t-shirt, scissors, embellishments (such as patches, ribbon, rhinestones or pins) and fabric glue. Once you have those, get creative as you explore the possibilities!

After my interview I decided to really get into the creation of my DIY shirt. Its amazing what you can do with a few yards of ribbon and scissors. Interviewing Chloe was an absolute dream come true. Also, the Dove Deodorant Sleeveless-Ready Celebrity Auction is launching on May 2! All of the celebrity shirts, including Chloe's, will be open for bidding! Until then rush out and get Dove Ultimate Clear deodorant, be ahead of the curve for summer, you'll be beautiful and sleeveless ready!

Smooth Summer

Ladies you know its going to be summer soon (though not evident by the weird weather we are having) and that means its going to be skirt, shorts and capri weather. This also means its time for that all important hair removal ritual. If you are anything like me you love the look and feel of smooth beautiful legs, but you hate the smell of depilatory creams and the pain of waxing and shaving.

I am always looking for something to make my life a little easier, so I am please to report on a product that does just that. Carefree, a name that we have trusted for decades has launched its new line of hair removal products. They are changing the way that women look at home hair removal.

Carefree's Face & Bikini Total Wax Strip Kit is new and innovative. Gone are the days of old fashioned wax strips that gripped too tightly or didn't stick at all. Carefree's strips include a bottle of soothing pre-wax lotion with Lidocane. The lotion prepares the area for waxing by removing oils that prevent proper adhesion. It also soothes the area with a gentle pain reliever. The result is smooth, irritation free skin. They also went a step further by including after wax soothing towelettes.

For smooth beautiful legs try out Carefree's Totally Smooth Leg Creme with bladefree razor. It doesn't smell strong and glides on quick with its built in sponge tip applicator. The bladefree razor removes even the shortest hairs in just three minutes. You just rinse pat dry and you have soft smooth beautiful legs.

They also have the greatest daily moisturizer for keeping those beautiful gams hair free. Their Totally Smooth Daily Moisturizer keeps your legs soft with soy, aloe and vitamin E while it minimizes the appearance of unwanted hair. Used daily, hair grows back finer and that's what we all want really. I love any product that keeps me from doing more work and be honest this hair removal thing is work ladies.

Look for Carefree's new hair removal products in your local drug and, grocery retailers and hurry up before the weather breaks and you find yourself without it!

Bundle Up Beauties

The weather outside is frightful, and frankly just downright scary. The wind is blowing and I have been as dry as an after Christmas Douglas Fir! So you can imagine how happy I was when I received a package from a lovely gentleman at 21st Century Formulations. He emailed me last month to see if I would be interested in reviewing their product Skin MD Natural.

Skin MD Natural is a shielding lotion that moisturizes while providing an invisible barrier against the things that strip your skin and rob it of its soft and supple texture. We the dry and flaky call this absence of moisture ash, but that’s neither here nor there. This "invisible barrier" keeps irritants out while helping to retain your skin's own natural moisture, and results in better overall hydration.

I used it this morning, and I have to say none of that offensive ash is present, but the real test is happening now. I left the sample with my mother and instructed her to go about her daily routine. My mother is retired and spends most of her time chasing our dog around and washing her hands to exhaustion. On average she washes 3 to 4 times an hour! I knew she was perfect to put this new product to the test.

I instructed her to follow the directions which state that you should use the lotion initially every 2 to 4 hours. By my estimation she should be working on her 8th hand wash by the second application.

So I will keep you posted on her progress and I plan to check for smoothness and lack of ash when I get home tonight.

Sparkle & Shine

I love things that sparkle. In fact I have never gotten over that feeling I got as a little girl when I got pretty things with rhinestones and glitter. So the opportunity to get all gussied up and layer on the sparkle is right up my alley.

This holiday please do not skimp on the shine, when it comes to your makeup. A few weeks back I wrote about two of Lorac's Holiday Eye Palettes and if you picked them up, a holiday party is the perfect time to show them off.

My best buddy themakeupgirl loves Bobbi Brown's Diamond Dust shadow which comes in three luxurious shades, Pink Metal, Platinum and Snowflake. They are great as an accent to Bobbi Brown's Shadows in Cocoa or Cement which is sure to get you noticed.

For liners, Ms. Julia of All About the Pretty suggested Urban Decay's Glide-On Eye Pencil in Honey, a rich 24 carat gold or Bobbi Brown's Long Wear Gel Eyeliner in Chocolate Shimmer Ink. Both are waterproof and will leave you looking flawlessly put together for your event.

Until recently, I have been purchasing gold shadow's at an alarming rate. Something about the way they sparkle with the right bronzer or the way that they highlight the perfect outfit is just perfect. I was recently in my safe haven Sephora and spotted Vincent Longo's Wet Diamond Eyeshadow in Concerto, a fabulous sparkling charcoal. I haven’t had a beautiful silvery shade in years and this one is a must add to my shadow collection.

As the name suggests, Wet Diamond Shadow's can be worn wet for a cream shadow look or dry as a beautiful sheer accent. There are 12 gorgeous shades all perfect for whatever pretty party ensemble you wear. I have always loved shadows with versatility and of course anything that sparkles.

Those pretty sparkles are just waiting for their debut so go show them off!

This Next

I just got an email from Kristopher Dukes of This Next "The Blog" fame alerting me to the inclusion of 99 Products review of Lorac's holiday eye palettes! This week just keeps getting better I tell ya.


For those that don’t know, This Next is a shopcasting network where you can discover, recommend and share things you love. These are real product recommendations from the real people who have tried, tested and loved them. This Next is all about the consumer and don’t we all just love that? I know I feel so much better about a product when I can get a first hand, unbiased account from a real consumer. Sometimes that makes all the difference when it comes to parting with my cash.

So check out This Next, and happy holiday shopping!

Two For The Road

Okay I am extra tired of lying around, so I think I will finally do that review I was promising on Lorac's new holiday palettes. Remember when I went over to Sephora on lunch? Seems like a lifetime ago now, but it was only Monday go figure. Oh by the way I also got my Sephora Holiday Catalog and WHOOO HOOO!

Lorac did it again ladies. Carol Shaw designed some of the best wearable no fuss makeup that’s always hidden in sleek and trendy packaging. Lorac never fails to please, especially this season. I am a huge fan of their eye shadows. They offer great colors and the finishes are divine. They also wear light as air and do not crease, which for an on the go girl like me is ideal. I don’t want to spend my time re-applying eye shadow in the middle of the day. I want to grab it and go and feel confident it won’t let me down.

So I spent about 10 minutes going back and forth over two of their holiday face palettes, Snake Charmer and Croc. Both are equally beautiful and wearable which is what had me so completely confused and indecisive. I wanted both! They are also both perfectly purse sized and portable, which I love because I cram my purse with anything that will fit. However, like I told yall before, I almost lost my mind in there and with each palette costing $35 I was NOT able to part with the cash for both.

Snake Charmer has eye shadows in Enchanted Ivory, Mystical Gold, Charming Copper, and Royal Brown and includes a blush in Hypnotically Peach. Lorac describes the palette colors as exotic, warm, shimmery leather tones. I was very excited about the Mystical Gold and Royal Brown in the palette, but I couldn’t get past its faux snakeskin jeweled exterior. Totally unexpected and for the right lady a super stylish find.

The Croc palette was filled with eye colors in Moonstone, Serenity, Garnet and Suede with blush in Soul. I literally spent 10 full minutes wrestling with the idea of buying both and then trying to decide which of the two would wind up in my purse. Decisions decisions. In the end I chose the Croc palette, but only because I felt I could get more everyday wear out of the colors. Not that I couldn’t wear that Mystical Gold in Snake Charmer, but soft is really my bag.

So I wore those colors every day this week (except today) and I love them in every combination I could muster. So, for a gift either is wonderful and they are only $35 a piece which isn’t break the bank territory. Just put it on your Christmas list for you or for someone special.

Tricks & Treats

Okay ladies, I know its All Hallows Eve but lets not overdo it with the makeup. I know some of you are going to want to test out your skills this evening and that’s great, (go ahead be bold with it) but your everyday makeup should not send chills up the spines of your coworkers. I haven’t seen anything particularly frightful today, but the day isn’t over and there is bound to be someone wearing a shade of blue eye shadow scarier than any slasher film.

My product pick for today is Mary Kay Satin Lips set which consists of the Lip Mask and Lip Balm. I hear you all squirming out there, YES Mary Kay. Now I am not a huge fan of their hard sell tactics but I do LOVE these two products. I simply could not go through a harsh Maryland winter without them. The Lip mask contains gentle buffing beads that help slough off the dead skin that make uniform application of lipstick so difficult.

The Lip Balm is my saving grace. clear and smooth its a non-greasy colorless formula that instantly smoothes the roughest lips, protects against the elements, and works fabulously under any lipstick, gloss or stain without wearing off or changing the consistency of what you've applied. I usually carry at least one tube with me all year long because its not just a winter product, its great for summer too.













I put some on under my lip color this morning at 7:45 (MAC lip pencil in Swirl, MAC Lipstick in Double Shot, Lusterglass in Beaux) and two meetings and two cups of Green Tea later, my lips are still silky smooth and soft. You don’t have to use much either, a little goes a long way trust me!

So save your lips ladies, stop using that drugstore lip moisturizer at the bottom of your purse and invest in this set and at $18 how could you go wrong?! Your lovely lips will thank you! Oh and the link to Mary Kay comes up under a wonderful lady who wont give you the hard sell either. How do I know? She's "the boyfriend's" mom of course! I couldn’t have wished for a better potential mother-in-law than a fellow beauty addict!! We beauty product gals have to stick together!