Sleek Straight Hair In: That Means Good Blow Dryer

If you're looking for the big blow-out, then you're on the right beauty track, because sleek, straight hair is in, as we talked about back in our Oct. 4th posting.

We're all looking to save a few bucks these days, so let's look at a very good blow dryer for the money.

You don't have to spend hundreds on a super expensive dryer, but if you can, then sure, go with some of the more expensive brands like CHI and Solano. But if you're cash-strapped, then try this inexpensive blower:

Infiniti Pro by Conair 1875 Watt Salon Performance AC Motor Styling Tool ($39.99, but we found it for ONLY $29.99 at Target.com.

And it's a nice one:

Well-balanced and 20% lighter, this Conair Infiniti Pro Hair Dryer delivers comfortably effortless styling and sensational results

Ergonomically designed for ultimate comfort, it also provides high performance for salon-quality results

A quiet but powerful AC motor ensures fast drying time, which means less heat exposure for hair

Celebrity stylist Ted Gibson of NYC told Harper's Bazaar why sleek hair is IN:

"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 a good blow-out for your crowning glory.

Do You Bother To Water Line Your Eyes With Makeup?!

The water line.

We'll be honest. We didn't know exactly where that was along the eye until a few years ago, and yet, we were unknowingly water-lining back in our early college years, until a nasty pair of red eyes forced us to discontinue this practice.

Look at the top photo. The way we understand it, the water line is UNDER the -eye, right where the bottom rim of the eye is---where the tears flow from the tear duct.

There is also a water line located at the TOP of the eye, right below the lashes, that top inner rim. Some people call this the tight line or something else I can't remember at the moment.

As you can see by the photo, both water lines have been lined in black.

So, how does that benefit me, you ask?

1.Water-lining beautifully shapes the eye.
2. Adds depth to the eye.
3. Allows lashes to look lush and fuller .

The only 'bad thing' it does, however, is make the eye look smaller.

This morning we water-lined just our top inner rims, and left the bottom water line alone. We water-lined with a Cover Girl black eyeliner pencil. Then we lined our top lashes, and our eyes looked dreamy! It works!

Actress Olivia Wilde is one celebrity who LOVES to waterline her gorgeous eyes. Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian also water-line. And Duchess Kate always water-lines her bottom inner rim.

Be careful what you water-line with. Back in college we were using liquid liner, and we looked high and red-eyed. We finally quit water-lining. All we had to do though, was switch to a eyeliner pencil, but we didn't know too much about makeup back then.

If you haven't tried water-lining, you ought to. Just water-line the bottom or top, and watch your eyes transform! Such a cool makeup trick.

Red Nails And Nude Toes: Winning Beauty Combo For Fall

Red + Nude, ladies!

These are the classic, sophisticated go-to shades for your mani/pedi this Fall.

Manicurist Yuna Park tells Harper's Bazaar this little beauty/style nugget:

Do NOT play matchy-match. In other words, do NOT have BOTH your hands and feet wearing the SAME shade.
The BEST combo for Fall 2012. "Red nails and nude toes."

Here are a couple of lovely shades for your red mani and your nude pedi:

Priti NYC Polish in Red Head Cactus ($12.50, at PritiNYC). A gorgeous true red and a wonderful non-toxic, 100% vegan polish.

Essie Nail Color in Fed Up ($8, at bebeautiful). A pretty, blush-y beige for your deserving toes. An easy way to look chic for Fall.

Ever Try The Cheap But Effective Monistat Trick For Perfect Primer?!

Okay, this is weird, BUT....we like discovering new ideas through the sensibilty of experimentation. Sometimes, these beauty theories work out, and other times, these beauty theories go bust!

If you're game, then head to your neighborhood drugstore and pick up a little box of this, and pretend it's specifically made to be a facial primer. That's right:

Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief Powder Gel (about $7. We found it at CVS for $7.99).

No, this ain't your Mama's vaginal relief cream....giggle-giggle.

No, not the one for yeast infections.

This particular Monistat product has usually been used for relief  of chafing in delicate areas. The Monistat folks explain it like this:

"Chafing relief powder-gel skin protectant provides on-the-go daily prevention and relief from chafing and irritation of skin in intimate, delicate areas like the inner thigh, bikini area, under arms and breasts. Made especially for women, the exclusive powder-gel formula combines the protective benefits of lotion and powder by forming a silky, breathable moisture control barrier to fight friction."

But some smarty-pants chicks decided to try this wonderful, silky formula on the face as a makeup primer. And yeah it works well, really as good as those high-end primers like Smashbox, Nars ,and MAC. And it's a lot CHEAPER.

How did we go from outer private parts up to the face?

Well, we don't know, exactly, but the Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief Powder Gel contains  Dimethicone, which appears to be in every primer
Active Ingredient: Dimethicone (1.2%). Inactive Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trisiloxane.

Primer is applied BEFORE the foundation for a flawless finish. It's a bit like spackle, in that it smooths over rough, imperfect edges, imparting a sleek surface that holds ups for hours.

Monistat is a quiet beauty cult fave.

Have you ever tried this stuff-down-there for your pretty face up there?

Best Blow-Out Brush You Can Find At The Drugstore

Rachel Zoe stylist Joey Maalouf claims that this 2-inch round barrel brush is THE one, when you are seeking luscious locks.

And it's available at your neighborhood drugstore for only $10!

The Revlon Perfect Style Ion + Ceramic Brush (we found it for just $6.39, at Amazon.com)! It's all in the materials that make up the accuracy in this blow-out brush---ceramic and iconic technology heats hair evenly to give a healthy shine.

Joey Maalouf  reveals the magic in this powerful hair tool:

"I love this brush," he tells Glamour mag(Oct. 2012 issue).  "The vented barrel lifts the roots so your hair dries faster."

And Joey uses this one on the lovely manes of many-a-celebrity, so we know it makes for a big, long-lasting blow-out.

This brush also helps in retaining moisture and reducing frizz.

Comfortable grip handle.

Rounded bristle tips glide easily through hair

Let us add a tiny post-script here.......We lost a little chunk of hair last Spring with a round brush mishap. It was not the Revlon Perfect Style Ion + Ceramic Brush, but it was a round brush on damp hair.

For what it's worth, please be careful---otherwise, big, round brushes can make for great blow-outs, and this one sounds like a beauty winner.

Make Yours Moto, Ladies! No Motorcycle Necessary

No. You don't actually need to ride a Harley to slip into one of these rarin'-to-go moto jackets this Fall, ladies!

We don't think cool chick Gwen Stefani has a bike.

It's called style, and the classic MOTO jacket is a HOT trend for autumn. Gwen is showing off a bubble gum pink leather Kelly Wearstler Moto Jacket. She's always on-point, as are her adorable spotted jeans.

Anyone can hunt down a chic moto jacket, and you DON'T have to buy real leather. It can be faux and still look glam. And you can get the moto in lots of color and/or fabrics.

Have you bought your moto jacket, yet, ladies? We have!

The MinkPink Melody Cropped Moto Jacket ($119, at Urban Outfitters). This is a gorgeous wool moto:

Australian label MINKPINK.
* Asymmetrical rose gold-toned zip up the front; zippered pockets.
* Notched lapel; snap epaulets at the shoulders.
* Shrunken fit; cropped.
* Fully lined.

The Women's Lace Up Biker Leather Jacket ($574, at TrueReligion). This is HOT! In Brown, and of course REAL, soft, smooth leather!

A crinkled texture lends itself to a well worn look but is expertly treated to carry out the softest touch imaginable.
Peak lapel collar.
Slim fit Zipper side pockets.
Shoulder epaulets.
Self: 100% leather Imported

It Isn't Easy Keeping Up With The Platinum: Just Ask Gwen

Platinum hair and scarlet lips.

That certainly reminds us of the late and great movie star Marilyn Monroe. It also brings to mind another great beauty---Gwen Stefani. And at age 42, and a mom to 2 active little boys, Gwen looks gorg.

But it isn't easy,  'Keeping up with the platinum!'.

The September 2012 Harper's Bazaar cover girl doesn't let her roots show through that mass of blondeness, ever!

We LOVE that look on Gwen Stefani, but the platnium blonde upkeep is crazy-loco.  That's why celebrities invest in super stylists to maintain the image, right down to those dark roots that pop up like tell-tale signs.

If you're blonde and have to work at it,  then it becomes a key part of your beauty routine.

Gwen is blonde-inspired by the original 50's bombshell Marilyn, and tells Harper's Bazaar that she keeps those pesky roots away, by using a beauty trick the movie goddess lived by:

 "Do you think Marilyn Monroe had to talk about this?" she asks, smiling. "Well, I heard she did hers with a Q-tip every 10 days, so I try to follow Marilyn's rule." I mention that she's never been photographed with dark roots, and she points to the houndstooth fedora she is wearing. "And you'll never see me with roots either."

We love what this girly-girl says about discovering the beauty of bleach and those sexy red lips:

Gwen recalls how she felt when, at the age of 25, she spent eight hours in a hair salon in Long Beach getting her coveted white-blonde locks. "It was like I'd unlocked the key. I remember feeling like, 'I have arrived. This is me. Finally.'" The red lip came when her grandmother gave her a crimson lipstick when she was in high school. "I remember sitting in my ghetto, beat-up Honda Prelude and putting on that lipstick in the rearview mirror and being like, 'Uh-huh, I like that. That's the shit right there.' I never stopped after that."

Gotta love Gwen Stefani! Her fave L'Oreal lipstick is Infallible  Le Rouge, Ravishing Red ($9.99, at drugstores).