Gotta Love Deborah Lippman's Chic New Lip + Nail Combos!

We like simple, especially when it comes to getting complicated beauty products right.
 
And that's exactly what Deborah Lippman has achieved with her brand new lip + nail combos!

We have been trying to get into the neutral lips thing, again. We try for a few days,and then jump ship, and go back to our signature, cool pink lip. It is so hard to find the perfect nude for our light olive skin. But, now there's a quick, effortless solution:

Deborah Lippman My KIss Gift Set ($38, at BarneysNewYork). This is so-oooo lovely! You will NOT appear washed-out, ladies. These nudes, for both lips + nails, give off a healthy, pinky-beige-y flush.

We like the match-y-match idea of a lip + nail combo---very feminine, very classic!

This is how the Deborah Lippman company describes the new lip + nail combos:

"The perfect every day duet is My Touch My Kiss, which contains a sheer, nude-mauve lip color called I'm Every Woman and Naked, a sheer, bare-beige lacquer. This set is perfect for everyone, everyday.

"You can't go wrong with these modern nude tones that flatter all skin types and complement any outfit. Naked is the go-to nail shade, and I'm Every Woman is a must-have color for your everyday wardrobe. Once you try it, you'll always have to have it with you."

Can You Guess Who This Famous Beauty Is Sans Makeup?

Okay, we LOVE photos of famous beauties like this one, snapped of actress Brooke Shields as she walked about New York City on Sunday afternoon.

What's wrong with this picture?

Absolutely nothing! Brooke Shields at age 47, has NO makeup on that we can see. Not even a little BB cream, which is a fancier, more expensive tinted moisturizer. Not even a little tinted lip balm. Nada. Nothing.

So, what's the point in all of this---to pick on a famous mother-of-two?

No, we actually think it's refreshing to see what most women, even the  rich, famous, and very attractive, look like WITHOUT the magic of makeup and the skilled hands of a red carpet pro makeup artist.

We think the talented Brooke Shields has a nice, clear complexion with just a few lines and dark undereye circles that many of us have. At 47, she has those trademark great, full brows and clear, blue eyes.

Could she look better?

Yes. By putting on even minimal makeup, Brooke could look even lovelier walking around NYC.

Should she wear cosmetics in public, because she is super famous and admired for her classic beauty?

YES. But who are we to tell a celebrity how to appear in public.

We thought she would look younger, because she was a famous model, and because MOST female celebrities resort to plastic surgery and/or minimally invasive dermatological procedures to wind back the beauty clock.

Having said all that, it is inspiring to see a strong, talented celebrity not afraid to age naturally in public---not easy to do with a youth-obsessed culture.

Elegant Lacquer Trays To Store Jewelry + Baubles

If you are like us, we tend to buy and buy a lot of costume jewelry. In other words, we have chandeliers, bracelets, pendants and more, that aren't too expensive, so they don't have to be carefully wrapped and tucked away into a specialized jewelry box.

That's why we adore these elegant, wooden lacquer trays. We found this one at WestElm.com. The price is $32, and comes in several vivid shades. We love the orange!

Engineered wood with lacquered finish.
Two cutout handles on sides for easy transport.
18"w x 14"d x 2.25"h.
Not for use in microwave or dishwasher.
Wipe clean.
Imported.

Sure, you could serve a bunch of cocktails +yummy apps on these sophisticated lacquer trays, but why bother? Too pretty for food + drink.

Keep these trays filled with sparkling baubles in the bedroom or bath for a lovely pop of color + style!

A Jaw Clip For Thick Hair That Really Holds It All In Place

Oh, yeah, even glam and gorg celebrities are sometimes caught with their jaw clip/claw clip in public. Here's model Heidi Klum wearing  one to get her locks out of the way.

So, do you ever put your hair up in a jaw clip?

When we can hunt down a jaw clip that holds in thick hair, then we buy a couple.

These plastic jaw clips DON'T last forever. After about 3 months,  ours tend to snap. So, it's good to stock up on them. If you have a lot of hair like us, or really thick hair, try this one:

Scunci NO-Slip Grip Jaw Clip for Thick Hair ($3.19, at Walgreens). This little number REALLY holds your hair in place.....ALL of it! We busted our Scunci clip about a month ago, and have been going loco without it for days.

We finally found a new Scunci clip at our neighborhhood Walgreens today for $3.79. Walgreens online has it on sale, as you can see above.

We always wear the clip at home to get our long hair up and away. We've gone out the door in public with it on as a ponytail securer,  if that's a word, ha!

Heidi Klum can do no wrong in the world of fashion and beauty, so if she's got a big jaw clip in her hair, well......we suppose we can ALL get away with the clip once in a while!

Dr. Jart: Authentic Asian BB Cream At Sephora

It's BB-mania!

Everyone's talking about this little miracle complexion cream. Think of BB cream as a couple of steps ABOVE a tinted moisturizer. Korean beauties have relied on BB for years, to give back a healthy, radiant glow, to even skin tone, and brighten it.

Today, we are looking at Korean brand, Dr. Jart+. And you can find this protective formula at Sephora beauty stores.

A lot of women are raving about Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45 PA+++ ($39, Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45 PA+++). This skin magic in a tube has received 623 customer reviews and a 4.5* out of 5*. Not bad at all!

If you hate the thought of wearing foundation, and the 'heaviness' it feels upon your skin, then try BB cream. It gives a nice, smooth glow and a bit of coverage. Plus, Dr. Jart+'s has a strong SPF45.

And if you like wearing foundation, but would prefer a primer-type formula to put on BEFORE your makeup, again, BB cream could be your answer. It balances out your uneven skin and helps achieve a flawless finish.

Sephora describes what Dr. Jart+'s is formulated to do:

A moisturizer, sunscreen, and treatment serum, this all-in-one product also includes advanced brightening properties. Ideal under makeup, its natural looking coverage minimizes the appearance of imperfections and evens the skintone. Antioxidant bio-peptides and adenosine protect skin from harsh environmental factors while restoring firmness and elasticity.

Hot Fall 2012 Trend: 70's Cher Hair!

Long, pin-straight hair. Think beautiful Cher in her 1970s hair (how HOT was Cher--top photo). That's what we thought when we saw the above photo from Harper's Bazaar mag.

Silky and super-straight locks are IN. So, if you've got it, then flaunt it!

Celebrity stylist Ted Gibson of NYC told the magazine why wavy hair is out:

"Sleek, long hair is making a comeback because women are not feeling romantic at the moment," says stylist Ted, whose clients include Angelina Jolie. "Designers aren't making frilly clothes, and the hair follows the fashion. There's something about long, straight hair that feels very modern and present."

Long, pin-straight hair means high-wattage shine. That also translates to taking great care of your crowning glory.

Condition. Condition. Condition.

The next step is blow-drying and a good volumizer. And for super sleekness, the flat-iron is your new BFF.

We adore the Pantene Pro-V line for a little TLC:

Pantene Pro-V Fine Hair Solutions Anti-Breakage Hair Detangler 8.5 Fl Oz ($3.97 at Walmart).

This is a decent de-tangler, something you need when trying to comb through long, wet hair.

 New Jersey Housewives star Melissa Gorga was showing off some long, pin-straight hair this past season on the Bravo reality TV show.

It's a very 70s Cher look.

What do you think?

Long, pin-straight hair a HOT trend, or not so much?

Fall Fashion Means A Celebrity Leopard Scarf For Wrap-Around Style

We've already mentioned how leopard pumps are a HOT trend for Fall 2012.

Now, get ready for a long, leopard scarf for wrap-around style.

Fashion-forward celebrities like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Eva Mendes are already embracing this classic look. They both look amazing. And leopard print is so timeless and always a welcome accessory.

Both beauties are wearing Salvatore Ferragamo cashmere scarves! Ok, not the most inexpensive choice for most of us. It's about a $350 scarf.  But, you, too, can have smart fashion sense by copying wealthy celebs.

We found 2 pretty long, leopard scarves that are very affordable:

1. Leopard Print Wrinkle Scarf ($19.95, at Rakutenbuy.com). 100% viscose and measuring 32" width x 70" length.

2. Leopard Skull Print Scarf ($10.50, at Wetseal.com). A leopard printmultiple skulls and a raw edge. In 100% viscose.