Unlikely Umbrella

There is something mesmerizing about this photo by Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist. It is not only a beautiful image, but I am also captivated by this woman's use of her fur coat as a shield against the rain. I could never look that chic in a storm.

Image credit The Sartorialist

Steal some of her elegance with over-sized crystal earrings (in blue of course!) and the perfect red lip.

Top Row: Forever 21 Colored Teardrop Earrings & Colored Bead Teardrop Earrings
Bottom Row: Kate Spade Statement Earrings, Revlon Matte Lipstick in Really Red

Feeling Blue

In the process of magazine recycling, I ripped this page out of Elle to add to my inspiration notebook (I am too old school for Pinterest). Blue is my favorite color, only further evidenced by my matching manicure.

Huge fan of that Lanvin statement necklace

To achieve my blue topaz manicure, I used one coat of Matésse Elite in Neon Lightening Blue and two coats of Sally Hansen Diamond Strength in Tender Teal. For a similar look, swap out the now discontinued (I think, mine is at least 5 years old) Matésse for any teal base like Sally Hansen Xtreme wear in Blue Me Away. Top it off with Sally Hansen Spectrum.

Now all I need is the ring to match the manicure. This Eddie Borgo piece would definitely be on my dream birthday wish list.

            

Eddie Borgo ring   (see more eddie borgoes) Image credit: Polyvore

 All that glitters is certainly not gold.

My Kind of Beauty Secret

I have been a beauty junkie since the 8th grade. This is no secret. Back then I owned (and wore) Urban Decay blue lipstick. I was avant garde: Lady Gaga before Gaga even existed. To this day I still love experimenting with crazy makeup -- maybe not blue lipstick -- but lots of colored eyeliner and of course, nail art. And while I do own my fair share of department store cosmetics such as Chanel nail polish, Armani mascara, and YSL lipsticks,* that does not mean I don't know where to score some bargain beauty booty. I have an arsenal of drugstore products that I use daily and while I have previously shared some of them, it never hurts to do a little recap:

- Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash
- Neutrogena Healthy Skin with SPF
- Palmer's Cocoa Butter Stick
- Maybelline brow pencil
- Revlon Lipstick
- NYX Liquid Liner
- NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss
- Pssssst dry shampoo
- Sally Hansen nail polish (Xtreme Wear is my favorite)

Horrible picture of some of my faves: Revlon lipstick in Siren (creme) and Pink Pout (matte). NYX Studio Liquid Liner in Crystal Gold, Extreme Silver and Extreme Sapphire, NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Nude Peach, Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear polish in the amazing Pacific Blue. And lying out front is Maybelline Expert Wear brow pencil in Blonde.

But what is better than drugstore products? Knowing where to find them at a truly great price. Amirite?

This is where I let my fellow Manhattanites in on a little secret. Okay, it isn't really a secret, I talk about it all the time, but I don't think many of my NYC friends truly comprehend the greatness of...here it goes....Bed Bath & Beyond. It is not just for vacuums and pajama jeans my friends!

First of all, Manhattan doesn't have an Ulta. Or many beauty supply shops in general (there are a few, but I may keep those to myself, even though they are fully google-able), and Target isn't super convenient to everyone in the city. But there are three locations of Bed Bath & Beyond (Lincoln Center, Chelsea, Upper East Side) and at least two of them (Chelsea and UES) have large internal drugstores known as Harmon. The pictures below speak for themselves:

Bed Bath Price

Duane Reade Price

Bed Bath Price

Duane Reade Price

Bed Bath Price - blurry but reads $4.99

Duane Reade Price

Now you know where to go. Go now. Just make sure you don't buy the same things I do, I need them to not sell out. Thankssomuch.

*Ed Note: I work for a department store that offers me 20-36% off on cosmetics, so I am able to procure designer products at a lower price. However I would never recommend a product that I wouldn't pay full price for, budget permitting.

**Ed Note Note: My last blog post raved about Kérastase products. I do believe 100% they are worth the price but my recent spending concerns would normally prohibit me from making such an expensive purchase. I happen to be lucky enough to have a Hair Fairy Godmother (otherwise know as Mom) who feels the same way towards Kérastase and was happy to help with the cost. 

Bottom line: I believe in the products I promote, but no cosmetic item is ever worth breaking the bank for.

Saturday PSA

This is my hair on drugs

This is my hair on Kérastase

 Any questions?

(Okay, the top caption is a total lie, but you knew that already.)

The top photo, rather, is what my hair looks like when I wash it, put it up in a bun, don't wash it, then let it down. As that picture was taken, I was about to spray in some dry shampoo because there was no way in hell I was getting in that shower. Major #ThailandVacationProblems. My life is so tragic, clearly.

The second caption though is a major truth. I took a quick little photo booth pic of myself to show you what happens when my perfectly straight, flat-ironed hair is left out in the rain after using Kérastase Oléo-Relax products. I do not have any pictorial evidence of what my hair would look like post-rain under normal, non Kérastase circumstances, because you would have to pay me a significant amount of money to wear my hair down, let alone allow for it to be photographed. My Facebook photos can attest to that. You will just have to believe me when I tell you that instead of what is pictured above, you would see a hot mess of frizzy curls that feel less like actual hair and more like a barrel of hay on the top of my head.

While Kérastase doesn't come cheap, you definitely get what you pay for. And since you don't need to use it every day, it is pretty easy to make it last. (I'm guessing here, but I think my shampoo and conditioner last about 8 months. I am just now trying the serum, so I will have to report back on its shelf life at a later date.) Plus, it is produced by L'Oreal so...you know...you're worth it.

Heaven is a Place on Earth

Belinda Carlisle had it right, even if she didn't know that for me, Heaven on Earth is otherwise known as Ricky's.

I think the reason here is obvious.

Wall of nail polish via Ricky's tumblr

And Then There Were...

So for the first time in who knows how long, because my recent manicure post made me curious, I decided to count the number of nail polishes I own. I had previously been avoiding this task for fear of what I might learn.

And the results are in: It seems as if my newly gifted Chanel varnish has brought my collection total to exactly 365 (I do have 9 nail art pens but I don't think they count).

So this my friends, is what 365 bottles of nail polish looks like. Two full small makeup cases aren't pictured because they are too messy.

Neons and Reds

Chanels, Blues, Greens & Purples

Chanels, Blues, Greens, Neutrals

Holos, Magnetic, Dark Blues & Purples

Glitters, Shimmers, Holos, Duochromes (and a festive Menorah!)

Mish Mosh of some Dupes, Glitters, older polishes.

Welcome to crazy town, we don't judge here. 

Snapshot - Accessories of the Day

Temperatures in NYC reached a high near 50 degrees today, which compared to last week means it basically feels like summer. So naturally I felt the need to sport some neon accessories to brighten up my mood and my outfit.


Shoes: Miu Miu (old in season, forever new in my heart)
Bracelets: Purchases from Thailand, J. Crew Timex Watch Band (also seen here)