Real Girl Beauty

For every girl who's imagined herself as Lucky Magazine's "Lucky Girl." Or who's conquered her addiction to the bitchier-than-thou style.com forums. Or who reacts every day to her Daily Candy email with the same: "Who can afford that?" Here are some heartfelt health and beauty tips from one Real Girl to another.

Monday, December 27, 2004

Real Girl's New Year Resolutions...



Ohhhhhhhh God it's here. That time of year when you make all sorts of promises. You know, the kind where you swear to improve yourself. I'll read a BOOK A DAY! I'll go to the gym TWELVE times a week! I'll make ALL MY CLOTHES and then people will think I am the MOST CREATIVE, TALENTED, ACCOMPLISHED PERSON EVER! And I will also then be RICHER.

Right. So if I were doing the real New Year's resolution thing, I would promise myself to lift weights. Why? It's great for bone density! I'll prepare for my future and fight off osteoporosis! Plus, hey, ripped arms! So, right. Weightligting three times a week. Or two. Two minimum.

Except I know right now it's not going to happen. So not. Real Girl is not going to lift weights. Why?

They're heavy.

So, fine. Use less weight, you say? Sure! That could work!...Except it won't. Real Girl is not going to lift weights. why?

It's boring.

So why linger on what's not gonna happen? Let's move on! To a "Real" resolution I'll actually strive like an Olympic athelete to keep! What...you haven't yet guessed what Real Girl's New Year's resolution is? It's to try a whole new list of products, of course. A whole new list of yummy, shiny, glimmering products that promise to make everything better. See? Self-improvement galore.

The Grand List, culled from SIXTY-FIVE notebook pages of beauty products, has been separated in categories of skin care, hair care, and make-up—including both reasonably priced items and special splurges. Of course, anyone who has experience with any of the listed products will get a gold star if they share their thoughts. And anyone else who wants to recommend their favorite product for Real Girl to try in 2005 (and why) will be much loved and revered.

By the way, please keep in mind that Real Girl's daily facial moisturizer has started to make her (gasp in horror!) break out a little. So, I'm looking for a new one...but more to come on that another time. (#1 New Years Resolution being: Find new perfect facial moisturizer).

SKIN CARE
Yon-ka Phyto-Contour Eye Cream
Earth Therapeutics Hydrogel Under-Eye Recovery Patch
Sephora Coffee & Cream Morning Body Scrub
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle, Anti-Blemish Cream
Olay Daily Facials
Olay Deep-Cleansing Face Wash
Ohm by Olay beauty Bar
Guinot Longue Vie Levres Vital Lip Care
Guinot Instant Eye Mask
Aveeno Clear Complexion Moisturizer
Fresh Sugar Lip Balm
Olay Total Effects Eye Cream
Philosophy Gingerbread Man Scrub
MD Lift and Lighten Eye Cream
Duwop I Gels
Nivea Visage Multiple Results Anti-Aging Treatment
Benefit Eyecon
Archipelago Botanicals Sugar Cane & Coconut Scrub
Dr. Mary Lupo AHA Renewal Gel
Clinique Superdefense Triple Action Moisturizer
Clinique Moisture Surge Extra Thirsty Skin Relief (Thanks, La Femme Nikita, for the recommendation!)
Biore Self-Heating Mask
Calgon Moisture-Rich Body Wash
Calgon Warm Marine Salt Scrub
Collective Wellbeing products (supposedly found at Whole Foods. And who doesn’t love Whole Foods?)
Mode De Vie Vanilla Lip Balm
Peter Thomas Roth Complexion Correction Pads (in Max or Gentle)
Dove Aromatherapy Massage Body Wash

HAIR CARE
Neutrogena Triple Moisture Pure Strength Oil Therapy
Paul Brown Hawaii Shine Amplifier
John Frieda Ocean Waves Sea Spray Texturizing Styler
L’oreal Vive Smooth Intense Masque
Sebastian Potion #9
Redken Outshine Anti-Frizz Polishing Milk
John Sahag Revitalizing Drops
LA Looks Curl Defining Spray
Rusk Thickr Hair System
Redken Fresh Curls Curl Boost
Tigi Catwalk Fashionista Color Safe Shampoo
Kerastase Bain Satin 2
Kerastase Serum Nutrisculpt
Artec Textureline shine & frizz repair
Garnier Fructis 3 Minute Deep Conditioner
Physique Volumizing Conditioner
Charles Worthington Big Hair conditioner
Clinique Healthy Shine Serum
Leonor Greyl Condition Naturelle Spray
Bain de terre recovery complex

MAKE-UP
E.L.F. Cosmetics
MAC Iridescent Loose Powder
MAC Bronzing Powder in Golden
Almay Whipped Gloss
Rimmel All-Over Pencil in Strength, for which I cannot find a link but is only $3.97!
Shiseido Fluid Foundation
Clinique Almost Lipstick
Jane Lucky Star Pure Sparkling Lip Color in Starlet Rose
Lancome Juicy Tubes Lip Gloss
Nars Blush in Orgasm
Nars the Multiple in South Beach
Urban Decay Good Karma Wonder Brush
Revlon Colorstay Always on Nail Enamel
Revlon Colorstay Natural Concealer
Revlon Moisturous Lip Color SPF 17
Stila Eyeshadow in “Dahlia” (for the perfect smoky eye)
OPI Nail Envy
L’Oreal Volume Perfect Lip Color
L’Oreal Colour Juice Lip Gloss
Sonia Kashuk Products at Target (especially the brushes!)
Neutrogena Shimmer Sheers
Avon Beyond Color Plumping Lip Color
or Avon Beyond Color Plumping Lip Conditioner
Avon My Lip Miracle Lip Color
Too Faced Lip Injection
YSL Touche Eclat
Wink Double Trouble Gloss & Liner
Chanel Glossimer Lip Gloss
Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer (I’m really excited about this one, which I want in “Nutmeg!!”)
Almay Kinetin Concealer
Philosophy The Present Clear Powder
and Philosophy The Present Clear Skin Perfector
Sally Hansen Nail Growth Miracle
Maybelline Expert Eyes 100% Oil Free Eye Make-Up Remover
Cutex Essential Care Strengthening Nail Treatment

There it is! Has anyone had experiences with any of these gazillions of products? Or is there something I missed?

And is Real Girl actually going to try each and every one of these yummy goodies in 2005? Erm…no. Not unless Real Girl gets some God-like, benevolent, money-bags sponsor. But I’ll try as many as possible! And certainly a whole lot more than the number of weights these weak-ass arms will be lifting…

xxxx
Oh, and Happy New Year, blah blah. Peace, health, happiness, glossy lips, and bouncy hair be with you.