It's An Oz Thing: Emerald Green Goes Glam For Fall 2012!

Emerald green.

It's so rich and regal. And it happens to be another HOT color-- fashion-beauty- trend for Fall 2012!

Our skin has an olive tone to it, so we get a bit leery around this green shade near our complexion. It's hard for us to pull off, unless we get the right color proportion around us. But there are so many other ways to show off the emerald green trend. From fashion to beauty, it's all good!

We have latched on to this stunning emerald green Legacy Leather Duffle Bag by Coach ($348, at coach). Simply elegant. Need we say more?!
•Inside zip, cell phone and multifunction pockets
•Outside zip pocket
•Zip-top closure, fabric lining
•Strap with 18 3/4" drop for crossbody wear converts to double strap for shoulder wear
•9 3/4" (L) x 13" (H) x 5 1/2" (W)

And nothing beats the refined look of an emerald green manicure. We fell for Vapour. It's such a smooth, sophisticated green shade and it's FREE of harsh nail chemicals. NO formaldehyde. NO toluene.

Looker 527 Vernissage 3-Free Nail Lacquer ($14, at VapourBeauty). This brand delivers a super glossy shine that lasts for days.

Will you be visiting the emerald land of Oz this Fall?

The Chic Flushed Cheek For Fall Says Michael Kors

 

 

Okay, Michael Kors. We get it. The pretty, elegant look at your Fall 2012 shows featured the spotlight on the cheeks. Then, the lips and the bolder brow.

It's a true blush + flush! Gorgeous! Healthy! And as you want to imply:

A "classic, sportif" look with flushed cheeks and bright lips created by Dick Page, Shiseido Artistic Director, for Michael Kors A/W 2012 collection.

"The connotation of sportif in Europe is energetic and the look is all about the woman who’s living this life, who’s very chic and made of money," he says.

Over the years, we have come to understand how essential blush is to the building blocks of makeup.

The only challenge for us and a lot of women is this----Exactly where do you apply blush?

On the apples of the cheeks, as the beauty professional would tell you.

Hmmm. No that easy to always do, and looking at the photos here from the Michael Kors' models---there's a lot of blush going on.

According to Dick Page, he actually used lipstick to achieve this naturally rosy glow:

Dick blended Lacquer Rouge in Drama (RD501), a lipstick with concentrated color, onto the apple of the cheek, along with a dab of foundation using a damp Foundation Sponge Puff.

Absolutely stunning. Not sure we could create quite the same effect, but we can  learn a lot through pictures and practice. By the way, we often use lipstick as blush, because it's creamy, looks natural and can be very buildable. With our oily complexion, however, the lipstick blush melts away faster than a powder blush. But, still, a softer flush.

We love this look for Fall. How about you?
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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.