Real Girl Beauty

Bake Sale

2007-03-29T19:18:00.000-07:00

Mmmm. Baked goooooods. I can't help it--Real Girl loves, loves, loves beauty products that smell and taste like sugary treats. And I've found a line of treaty goodness that I just adore! You know I had to share.

Welcome to Temptations. It sounds like a soap opera name, and to that I say: Yes, Fernando, I slept with your brother before I knew he was your father while I still thought--hey, maybe he's just a cousin--and the baby is his!

Bath & Body Works continues to get the Real Girl Beauty stamp of approval, and this line is scrumptious enough to keep me testing there for hours. My current favorite scent--Crazy Caramel Corn--is no longer on the website, which is sad, but there are so many others I want to try! Can you say Frosting Forever?

For years, the paradigm of scented three-in-one shower gel/bubble bath/shampoo has been the Philosophy line. But I confess it's not my very favorite. Certain of the scents have a chemically end note, and in my experience, they don't linger on the skin after you shower. The Temptations line? Lingers. Rich. Smooth. Velvety. And non-drying! The detergent is completely gentle, and works better than the Philosophy to keep your hair from drying out. Although I personally prefer it as body wash than as shampoo.

I also adore my Temptations Spicy Gingerbread lip gloss, a caramel-bronze that I shoved under Beauty Chick's nose--madly ordering her to "smell!!!"--the last time we had girlie drinks together. To my dismay, Bath & Body Works no longer features any Temptations lip glosses on its website, and so I don't know if the product has been...gasp...oh, I don't want to say it. You know the word. Starts with a "D" and ends with an "iscontinued."

The Liplicious line, however, does have some gorgeous sounding glosses as an alternative. Caramel Latte. Hot Cakes. Maple Syrup. Cotton Candy.

Oh for beauty's sake. You know I'm making a trip to Bath & Body Works tomorrow to try this new Liplicious line.

What about you guys? What are your favorite scented treats? Favorite foody scents? Favorite Bath & Body Works products? Sharey share share!

And I remain your,
Real Girl
xx

We're Your Dream Curls

2007-03-19T19:03:00.000-07:00

Yay, Real Girl loves a good drugstore find! Especially if it makes my hair look all scrumptious-like. I can't tell you how many times people ask if my curly hair is natural. I always answer the same way: Yes it is. But it gets some help.

By which I mean, I scrunch. Boy, do I scrunch. But the whole process is so much easier now--and the result so much bouncier--with Frizz Ease Dream Curls.

If you are like me, with fine wavy hair, then Dream Curls will certainly help you scrunch your way to spiral curls. I wish I knew how it works. The ingredient list contains no alcohol, which is crucial for any hair product. And, indeed, there's no sticky, stiff after-feel at all. Your hair's texture will seem productless! And yet...it will somehow do more of what you want it to do.

Will this product work on straight hair? I don't know, but I suspect maybe. For years, the beloved scrunch-product of the straight-haired has been Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray, which I confess never worked all that great for me. But I suspect, if you use the Dream Curls as I do, you might get some tousling action going on. Here's what I do:

1. Spray hair when damp, then scrunch.

2. Scrunch with one hand while using hair dryer with the other for about 5 minutes.

3. Let dry fully on its own.

4. Spray once more when dry.

5. Repeat steps 1 and 2.

See? The curly hair is natural. But it gets some help indeed.

I'll be really interested to hear your results!

But what about you gals? Any great drugstore hair finds we need to know about? Have you loved the Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray? Or any other Frizz Ease products? Anything to dish at all?

Of course I'd love to hear it!

Real Girl

Wowder!

2007-03-08T20:02:00.000-08:00

Oh, ladies, the search lasted long time. La Real Girl? She is shiny. But I don't trust most powders--or at least, I hadn't found the right one. Wrong color! Too cakey! Makes me break out!

My perfect powder would have to be loose, for sure, not of the compact variety. Because the ingredients that gel the powder into the compact can make you break out (yuck!). And that sponge you use to apply is just a trip to Bacterialand. So beautiful, loose, translucent powder. To be applied lovingly with a fluffy brush. (I have my favorite powder brush, but feel free to share yours in the comments!) This powder would have to become invisible once applied. It would be light. Airy. And, lo and behold, it would manage my shine.

I introduce to you Lorac Face Powder. I love it so much I want to marry it.

Will this eliminate shinies all day? No, not without reapplication. But boy does it make my skin look nice in the morning. A light dusting of translucent powder sets your makeup beautifully. So, for instance, feel free to dust your eyelids after eyeshadow but before mascara to help that shadow last longer. Set your blush, bronzer, foundation, concealer, whatever you may use. If you're not a fan of foundation, this powder acts as a nice substitute. It balances skin tone without looking makeupy. How did I live without it!?

My perfect color is P2, the second lightest. It's best for fair skin with yellow undertones. For truly fair skin, with blue undertones, you'll want to try P1. As for darker skin? Experiment in a department store or Sephora to see if there's a tone for you.

We've never chatted about powder before! Wow me ladies! Can't wait to hear about yours.

With love from,
xx,
Real Girl

Now You C It!

2007-03-01T19:17:00.000-08:00

Wow, February sure went by fast. You'd think it was a shorter month or something.

Real Girl's back! And lovelies, I've got some great products to bring you in the coming weeks! But right now? We're going to revisit an old ingredient favorite. Cosmetics marketing is such that the hot new thing, the latest technology, whatever's never been seen before gets most of the attention. But one of the first beloved antioxidants should not be overlooked.

I'm talking Vitamin C here, and not in tiny concentrations.

Why C? Primarily for two reasons. 1) It helps fight UV damage, one of the prime causes of skin aging. Vitamin C won't replace sunscreen, but it will sure help it work. 2) It promotes collagen production. Collagen is the fountain of youth for skin, keeping it smooth and lifted. When the gorgeous structure of collagen begins to break down, there starts the sagging, and here come the wrinkles. So if Vitamin C's gonna help boost that collagen production? I'm all for it.

Studies show that up to a 10% concentration of Vitamin C is safe for all skin, but keep in mind that it is an acid, so you might want to go lower if you're particularly sensitive. My recommended form is a serum--to be worn close to the skin, under moisturizer/sunscreen. I've been using Obagi Professional-C Serum, 10%, which I enjoy for its easily spreadable liquid texture. I've gotten no breakouts to report, but I would recommend avoiding the lips--the serum tastes rather bitter (to you or whomever might be smoochin' you!). I would certainly, as well, consider upping my concentration to the 15%. But perhaps the 20% is just too costly.

Or if you'd like something less costly than the Obagi? All you really need is a proper concentration. My recommendation (unless you cope with sensitive skin) would be 10-15%. If you've got oily/breakout-prone skin, avoid serums with oils. Anthony Logistics has a nice 10% alternative--it may be marketed towards men, but it's still got lovely ingredients. And using my account with amazon.com, I've set up this nice SEARCH for you so you can explore other options! Feel free to ask my advice on any particular Vitamin C product in the comments section.

But what vitamin serums might you use? Or have you tried Vitamin-C creams? Feel like shouting out whatever you've been holding in while I've been gone? It's nice to be back!!!

With lots of stored up love from your,
Real Girl
xx

Hiatus

2007-01-22T13:36:00.001-08:00

My lovelies, I've become scared of my own blog. Scared to check comments, lest all the nice people are expressing their disappointment over no new posts. Scared to check blog emails lest there be events and products I just don't have time for right now, even though I so wish I did.

I'm disappointed that my schedule has changed enough to keep me away from these pretty pink pages. BUT I have a plan.

I'm going to take a month to store up some product review entries, so that I can get back on my once-a-week schedule. If I write and save a few posts during that month, then I'll have some emergency reviews to fall back on in case I can't post during any given week.

So check back at the end of February, folks. By then, I'll have a safety net.
AND you'll find out then, too, about the superb beauty ingredient that's an oldie but goodie you should definitely pay attention to!

xx
Real Girl

Short Break!

2006-12-28T03:52:00.000-08:00

Real Girl's off on vacation now, due back on January 3rd. My first order of business upon returning? BRUSHES. Powder, blush, and concealer. Any last minute brushy suggestions for La Real Girl?

Also when I get back, we'll see if the two latest additions to my beauty regimen are well worth the time and $$!

Have the happiest of New Years, my lovelies!
xx
RG

Sophisticated Palettes

2006-12-20T14:13:00.000-08:00

Are there any last-minute gift shoppers out there? Or have you already bought your gifts for others...but of course you deserve a little treat too?

Enter the palette.

Real Girl hearts a good all-in-one makeup kit, and I think the best cosmetics gift you can give is one that has options. Choose wisely, keeping in mind the color groups your giftee already wears and feels comfortable in. But the beauty of a palette is that you'll also be giving her colors she may not have chosen for herself--but will find that she adores. That's one reason I love getting palettes: all the makeup experimenting with none of the cost. Yum!

Specifically, I'd like to turn your attention to the glamorous and adorable options from Too Faced Cosmetics. I quite love the small and compact Candy Box, Caramel Truffles, which features a layer of 6 flattering pinky-browny glosses, underneath which lies a gorgeous tray of 4 goldy-bronzy-silvery eye shadows, both tiny lip brush and shadow wand included.

But perhaps a more gifty presentation can be found in the gorgeous pink and black Lace Case, with its mixture of both light and dark glosses and eye shadows. Or, for someone who enjoys more of a laugh--of the slightly naughty kind--there are the cheeky Quickie Chronicles, each with a title of its ideal girl, and a palette of appropriate shadows, glosses, and 1 blush. If you'd like to spend less, a smaller option would be the equally adorable Mini Quickie Chronicles. For convenient ordering (with Real Girl royalties) browse the Quickie Chronicles on Amazon.com, or just click on some examples below!

For more Too Faced palette goodies, check out the Kits section of the official website. Warning: It may make you want to max out your credit card.

But what about you? Favorite palettes and kits? Or favorite cosmetics gifts?

Have the happiest of holidays, my lovelies.

Real Girl

Body And Gift Goodness

2006-12-11T18:56:00.000-08:00

If you're like Real Girl, you pride yourself on giving original, thoughtful, and luxurious gifts without cracking the bank wide open.

Well, here you go. Maryam's Soap Nook has some of the loveliest handmade products Real Girl has ever used! More than anything, these are products for a fragrance-lover. The soaps, lotions, and scrubs all radiate warm and inviting scents that can't help but bring a smile to one's face. Maryam's product website is extensive and browse-worthy, so you may want to set aside some time to check out all the product categories. But here are some of Real Girl's favorites:

Luxury Body Mist: I tested the Sugar and Spice fragrance, which is just lovely, and I do believe quite universal. Think vanilla with an exotic twinge (although I suspect the vanilla I smell may actually be almond). The 2-ounce sized version ($5) doesn't feel too small, and along with another item, say maybe a couple bars of soap, would make a thoughtful, inexpensive, and unique gift for the girl who has everything. (And how do we all know so many of those!?)

Which brings me to the soaps. There are so many to browse through! My favorite so far has been the Jasmine Green Tea, found under the Spa Handmade Soap category. (And it's green! So holiday-ish!). This soap looks like a glycerine, but feels so much silkier to the touch. I usually don't respond well to florals, but the heady Jasmine scent makes my shower feel that much more tropical and luxurious.

Though I haven't tried them, I imagine the Cream Handmade Soaps must feel even more nourishing in these drying winter months, and I've got my eye on the Almond Hazelnut Honey Cream (yes, please!). If you look through each soap category, I'm sure you'll find beautifully presented products with lush scents and that truly pleasant feeling of just enough aromatic oils but not too much to clog pores.

My next favorite product was the Whipped Shea Monoi Body Butter, which does feel nice and rich, as some girls prefer in a winter moisturizer, and carries its scent for ages. The only snag for Real Girl was the glitter in this body butter, which she kept picking off her hands and arms after application. Maryam assures me, however, that the body butter comes without glitter, so I recommend you specially request yours be glitter-free. The scents sound so gorgeous! Pomegranate and Wild Berries! Coconut and Cream! Tahitian Petals! Butter Cream Frosting!! And that lovely Sugar and Spice! (To name just a few.)

Finally, I'd also recommend the exfoliants. The Shea Butter and Dead Sea Salt Glow Scrub has, again, impressive scent choices and softening oils. And the Exfoliating Bath and Shower Gel offers the same silky application as the bar soaps in liquid form. The jojoba beads add a touch of gentle exfoliation, but I'd think of this more as a regular shower gel than a truly exfoliating one.

Maryam has available a truly extraordinary VIP Gift Bag for $65, which could be given to someone you LOVE SO MUCH AND OH MY GOD THEY ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE YOU. But ordering several soaps, body mists, and other sundries and making your own sweet little gift packages for people would fit well with the homemade, personal aspect of these products' presentation. Maryam also has available a gift package that holds 2 eight ounce bottles (shea butter and/or salt glow scrub), 1 2 oz body mist and 1 soap.

I've found Maryam Diaab to be very cooperative with all sorts of questions, so don't hesitate to contact her for more information. Tell her Real Girl sent you!

(And honeys, feel free to treat yourself to a bit of a gift here too--especially if you know which fragrances you enjoy. Find your favorite fragrances, and you'll be enjoying them for hours. Are you as much of a scent junkie as I am? If you are, this is a great product line for you!)

(And thanks so much for your patience, friends. I hate to disappoint, but it's been a rough month.)

So what's your favorite type of scent? Please share!

With love from your,

Real Girl xx

P.S. Stay tuned, Makeup Junkies. Real Girl's next gift idea is all about cosmetics!

Lovely Lashes, Lovely Price

2006-11-09T18:50:00.000-08:00

Girls, when I find a great new mascara, it's like a holiday. Pack your bags! Bring sunscreen!

Ok, so technically, Cover Girl LashExact (and its PR guru) found me, but big yay for that! Because I probably wouldn't have been immediately drawn to it on my own. The hot pinkness of the brush scared the bejeezus out of me. After all, they make mascara in that color, and lordy above I hope I never have to see it. But have no fear! This brush turns out to be one fantastic little mascara companion.

Cover Girl's very excited about this new brush, and Real Girl says she'll jump on board. Its bristles are firm enough to comb your lashes as you apply the mascara--and my trick of holding the wand to the tip of the lashes to enhance curl works just fine.

HERE'S THE THING: Real Girl doesn't quite recommend LashExact as a one coat mascara. But the brush allows you to apply 2 coats without clumping. My technique is to apply one eye, then the other, and then repeat. With two coats, LashExact provides enough length and thickness--the exalted combo!--to send me off on the town happily.

If you're looking for a drugstore mascara, Real Girl thinks this one's super--and an excellent value at $6.99!

But do share your own favorites! It's time to dish mascara, ladies!!

Real Girl

Beyond A Shadow Of A Doubt

2006-11-01T19:47:00.000-08:00

Oh, Ladies.

Once in a (rare!) while, Real Girl finds a product that revolutionizes the way she applies makeup. And you know how I get when I find a new favorite. So let's not waste precious beauty time and start with Real Girl's latest must-have:

Liquif-Eye by Too Faced.

I experimented with liquid eyeliner in high school, but it just wasn't for me. Too much product would get on the brush and goop on my eye, the product felt too thick, and the line looked too severe for my taste. I quickly moved to shadow, oh beloved shadow. Instead of a true liner, I'd use a liner brush to apply at the base of the lashes and call myself pleased.

Hello, I did not know what I was missing. Because since I tried Liquif-Eye? I may never use shadow without it again. Here in this blessed little tube is a brush that's not quite a brush: though it has lovely bend to it, there are no bristles to misplace precious product. Let's call it a solid tip. Simply take this solid tip out of its delightful bottle and coat it in your favorite eye shadow. Then apply (either in one fine line if you've got a steady hand, or in very close together dots) the loveliest, sharpest, most flattering line of eye shadow you can imagine. It's the precision of a liquid liner with the texture of a shadow. Can you tell how in love I am? Can you?

Don't be afraid to experiment! You can use one tone of shadow on the whole lid and then use the Liquif-Eye with a deeper shade at the lashes. Or you can continue with shadow on a liner brush, and then apply the Liquif-Eye over it to keep the smokey effect but also create definition. For the first time, I'm wearing eye shadow on my lower lids--the line is thin enough to give beautiful color without looking too made up. And when you're done? Simply wipe the solid tip thoroughly on paper towel before reinserting into its pretty bottle.

Are we done yet? Not hardly! Because now I need to tell you about Too Faced's shadows. More Real Girl love. These are some of the richest colors I've used. They retain their pigment beautifully and come in fun colors that I'd usually be scared of...and yet they work. The Liquif-Eye Shadow Collection includes 12 fun colors that, judging by how little product you use each time, will last a good while. Beware! These colors are not for the faint of heart. Or the faint of eye, for that matter. Take my word that the colors are richer and heartier than the picture at the top of this page. But I've been surprised by some of them. Layering my usual dark bronze shadow (Liquif-Eyed, of course) under the chartreuse Too Faced "Steel Magnolias" (also Liquif-Eyed) had a superb effect of brightening the eye area without looking too outlandish. Mix and match!

Or if you don't want 12 small patches of color? If you're a true eye shadow afficianado, you've got to check out Too Faced's Eye Shadow Duos. The luscious pigments of these shadows and their silky textures are nearly irresistible. While probably not appropriate for anyone who doesn't like shimmer (and for a few of the colors, sparkle), these shadows are definitely in my top 5 favorites. Everything--from the girly, vintage style packaging, to the adorable names (my favorite duo is called "George & Weezie!"), to the colors themselves just makes them fun to use.

Even better? I've got a whole bag of other Too Faced products yet to test. Let's hope we get more winners!

But what about you guys? What are your favorite shadows? Favorite liners? Secret application tips? Anything at all?

I remain your,

Real Girl

Giving Us Some Polish!

2006-10-23T15:43:00.000-07:00

Firstly, Real Girl's back! The outside commitments that have kept me away lately are mostly over. And ladies? If you saw the heap of products waiting for reviews and testing, you would be drooling along with me! So expect great things from Real Girl Beauty in the next weeks.

But right now? We're talking nails. And if you've paid any attention to fall colors, you've heard the words "Chanel Black Satin" paired with "Impossible to get." It's the celeb color of the season--so much so, that Buffy the Vampire herself, Sarah Michelle Gellar fessed up to stealing a bottle. Girls, if I had it? I'd test it. Although I'm not a fan of trends for their own sake, I like the idea of a dark nail for fall. I've been looking for a color that's so burgundy it's almost black, and the closest I've come so far is Essie's Wicked.

Essie has long been a favorite brand of manicurists, and Wicked was their first color I tested away from the manicure chair. Think more burgundy than black--like Chanel's "Very Vamp" of the '90s--a deep, sultry dark burgundy. The look? Autumn drama. (If you want more black? Essie's Licorice looks like the option for you.) Real Girl recommends you cut your nails on the short side for such a dark color, paired with a comfy sweater and dark wash jeans. That'd be hot. Beware, though--the darker the nail polish, the more obvious the manicure flaws. If you get a chip, it'll show up. So make sure to reapply a top coat every day to maximize the manicure.

Which top coat? We'll get to that!

If you're not a fan of the dark nail? I feel you. And I have no problems with rocking a pink or nude nail for fall. In fact, I've been searching for months to find my perfect pink. I had thought that one of Essie's most popular colors, Mademoiselle, would be the one. It's not my perfect pink, but it's a great option nonetheless. The color is ultra-subtle, almost nude--but it's got a lovely sheer effect and an impressive lasting shine. Without reapplying top coat, my manicure lasted 6 days with no chips. But the beauty of a nude or sheer pink nail? You can get away with a chip here and there.

So what will be my perfect pink? I'm looking for something sheer in the powder-pink family. Essie has a gagillion pinks--almost too many to choose from! Will it be Adore-A-Ball, which is next on my list? Will it be Baby's Breath? How about Delicacy? Or Precious Pink? Honeys, I haven't even scratched the Essie pink surface.

As to the top coat, I have a wee confession to make here. I chose my top coat like some women chose a one-night-stand. I was at the drugstore (although I prefer to call it Le Store De Drug, thank you), and there he was. My top coat. Looking sleek, and promising diamonds. I didn't do one iota of research into this product. It was an impulse buy. But I gotta say--I like it! One of the most important things to look for in a top coat is thinness. The thinner the top coat layer, the less likely you are to get peeling or smudging. And Diamond Shield top coat dries fast and stays lean. I don't yet know if it's the best option out there, but it's certainly serviceable, and I'm sticking to it for now.

But what about you? Have you tried the coveted Chanel black? Do you have a favorite Essie color? A different brand you love? A pink recommendation? Anything at all? Lovvvvies!

From your returned and devoted,
Real Girl

Is That A Lip Gloss On Your Phone?

2006-10-10T19:40:00.000-07:00

Or are you just happy to see me?

This one's just for fun. Just for being a girl with a bag that maybe becomes too deep sometimes to find your lip gloss easily. I might speak from experience. Depending on which of the 10 lip glosses in my purse we're talking about.

Get this. Eight tiny lip glosses. That snap (one at a time) onto your cell phone. To be carried around cutely wherever you go. For FIVE DOLLARS. It's the e.l.f. Hypershine Mini Cell Phone Lip Gloss Charms.

I'll say this right up front: The Five Dollars part is what drew me here most. But I've gone through 3 tiny lip glosses now (5 to go!) in the past month, and I don't see these puppies vanishing from my Motorola Razr anytime soon.

First, how it works. Does your phone have something that looks like this? That's where the charm's string attaches. That cap is where the gloss will snap cozily in. Cute as a button, no?

Now on to the gloss itself. Let's reiterate: 8 little glosses for $5. Next, we'll approach color. If you're looking for a saturated gloss, with lots of tint, then this product isn't for you. The gloss colors are subtle--closer to sheer--but because of that, I can wear all 8. The pinks aren't offensive at all--just nice flushy blushy on the lip. The bronze and the red have probably the deepest tint, but both work well with my yellow-based skin tone. So for Real Girl at least, the colors get a Yay.

Shine: Well, I dunno about hypershine. But with a few coats of gloss from the wand applicator, yes, you get a nice shine. The product doesn't go on thickly enough to give you what I'd call a hypershine, but that's okay with me.

However, this adorable product has one significant drawback: texture. I wish I could tell you the gloss feels light and kissable on the lips, but alas...it's pretty sticky. On the plus side, that means it lasts fairly well. But if you're a gloss purist, and only like them free of that sticky feel, then do beware. I tend to stay away from sticky glosses myself. But I'm keeping this one around for a couple of key reasons:

1. Oh My God, gloss is now so much easier to find in a pinch. I have a special purse pocket for my cell phone. But most bag manufacturers haven't yet realized how very many little pockets we need for lip gloss.

2. Fun with colors: I wouldn't normally buy most of this color palette, but the colors are so barely there, touching the lip so nicely, that I do rather like the look of the glosses.

3. Oh, you know this one. Do I really need to say Five Dollars again? (Five Dollars.)

I remain your,
(ever in search of a bargain)
Real Girl
xx

P.S. I promised you something extra, now didn't I? Well, here's the early stages of the Beta version of the Real Girl Beauty boutique! Some of the links have turned into little Amazon logos, which I'll check out tomorrow. I'm also planning on rearranging the order of product categories. And on having a whole separate quick-stop Real Girl Favorites section. Not every single product I've written about is available for the Amazon.com commission program, but I'm getting close to having included every product that is available. Of course I'll keep you updated as she develops! What, I refer to my boutique as a "she?" Why, yes. Yes I do.

Real Girl's Tiny Piece of Fashion Week: Spring 2007 RTW

2006-09-26T16:51:00.000-07:00

In the next week or two, you'll see a Real Girl review for a product that was sent to me by Think PR. (Hint: It's a lippie! With a twist!) The people at Think PR? Are super nice. And they've been great to Real Girl! They invited her to a slew of Project Runwaytastic events, most of which she couldn't attend. Wah. But she did manage to sneak in one show and after party, and of course I've got to report all!

Real Girl and her friend Brendon got to the Anand Jon fashion show barely on time, at 4 PM. Except...it had been rescheduled for 5 PM, and so we were early enough to watch the final walkthrough, including last minute fittings and a glimpse of someone I totally recognized. Nnenna, from America's Next Top Model, Cycle 6! Real Girl very much wanted to say to Nnenna: "Standing in front of me now, you look like a model." Sometimes I wish I can be as ridiculous as I want to be in public.

I created a whole Flickr album with handy dandy labels and comments so you can enjoy the whole show with me. (Make sure to flip through the after party pics too! But more on that later...) The garments at Anand Jon seemed luxurious, sparkly, and statement-making. Although the clothes were not particuarly my own personal taste, the whole scene was a blast! The photograhers were all snap snap snapping on one end of the room. Digital cameras were popping up at every moment, and lo and behold, who should Real Girl see right before the show?

ONLY the nicest man on reality television: Project Runway and Parson's own Tim Gunn! He could not have been more willing to smile and meet new people or pose for pics, so after the show, when I cheerfully asked, "Tim Gunn! Would you mind posing for a picture for my beauty blog?" He happily responded, "Sure!" We had a brief chat about the Project Runway alumni who were showing all over Fashion Week, and he seemed genuinely interested in their success and good well being. Truly, Tim Gunn could not have been a nicer gent.

Plus? Taking a picture with me clearly put him in so much raptures, he had to close his eyes to enjoy it. Right?

Or maybe Tim was thinking (with Real Girl) of the gratuitous Hot Guy models who paraded down the runway earlier, much to the ladies' glee. I'll just let you look through the Flickr album for that one ;)

The after party for the show at PM was later on, with plenty of time for me to mosey home and change. I was in the mood for a "that girl in the white tank top" look, which--when you see the whole outfit--was cute enough. (Do the boots look familiar?) But when you just see the white tank top in the photographs? Eh, I could have done better. Thanks to my good friend Emily for being my Real Date!

The looks I enjoyed most during fashion week were short, mod or babydoll dresses in soft colors or delicious prints. Also, long gowns with beribboned empire waists. I've compiled a luscious little slide show of the items I saw that I'd most likely actually wear. (Note: When you see the hot pants? Yeah, I'd wear the top.) Some of these looks showed up better on the TV coverage, where you could see the flow of the materials. And some of my favorite looks didn't make the cut--because I couldn't wear them. Of course I've got a Flickr album of all the dresses I want to wear. Or you can just press play below!

My three favorite sites for viewing the Spring 2007 fashions all over the world are: Style.com, Elle.com, and for New York's only, New York Magazine online.

But share your favorites! What are you dying for from Fashion Week? Or what styles are you just dying for at this moment? Anything you want at all to shout out, please do!
xx
I remain your,
Real Girl

P.S. For the offical-like photos of the Anand Jon show, click here! xx

ANTM Premieres...and JOY oh JOY!

2006-09-19T10:57:00.000-07:00

The Joy oh Joy part comes because the RGB Boutique is taking a lot longer to stock with products than I thought it would. But this is because I'm finding SO MANY great products to include with the ones I've written about in these pages. Like lip balms in every desireable flavor imagineable. Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Hazelnut, Pumpkin Cheesecake, Brown Sugar & Cinnamon, Cream Filled Cake. And that's just the beginning of all the amazing flavors and other extraordinary products that will be available.

Um...I think Real Girl will be frequenting the Real Girl Beauty Boutique. Why did I think this was a good way to make money again?

The other thing happening this week? The premiere of America's Next Top Model on Wednesday 9/20!! Remember when I saw Tyra Banks? (I have gotten *so* better at Photoshop since then!)

I'll be going to an ANTM premiere party, for which my friend Liz and I have perfected the best ever America's Next Top Model drinking game. So that you, too, can enjoy the Tyrabration to its fullest, I'll share here! Make sure to print it out and enjoy with friends. Or, you know, by yourself. Lordy knows I will every Wednesday night!

Tyra says "Miss Jay": Drink.
Tyra mentions her mother: Drink.
Nigel ogles a teenager: Drink.
Contestant declares "I'm not here to make friends": 1 Drink. This is followed by "I'm here to win": 2 Drinks.
Tyra tells model wannabe that she has to "believe in herself": 1 Drink
Contestant cries about missing her boyfriend: Drink.
Guest spot by crazy Janice Dickenson: Chug.
A contestant stumbles on the runway: Drink.
Tyra displays how she can express SO MUCH with just her EYES: Chug.
Tyra talks with a British accent: Try not to hurl.
Models do a runway show or other posing while bored at home: drink
Someone says "fierce": drink
Someone says "step it up": drink
Tyra pulls up bangs and uses phrase "five-head": drink
Trya tells models about how hard she had it in her day: drink until she's done
Contestant overcomes non-ugly physical handicap: Drink
Tyra talks about the "hard work" it takes to be a model: Drink
Judges tell contestant to "remember her neck": Drink
Contestant is told she is "so pretty in person" but "I don't see that in this photo": Drink
Someone is accused of an eating disorder: Drink
Someone's told she's eating too much: Eat
Judges say: "...but standing in front of me now, you don't look like a model.": drink
Model stumbles in high heels because she's not used to them: drink
Models mispronounce obvious words/designers: drink for each one
Contestant is told she is the “shortest” and so must work “extra hard”: Drink.
Tyra French accents away for “Giles Bensimon”: Drink
Model makes up a word she thinks is actual English: Drink
Models scream like maniacs when they see Tyra: Drink
Tyra exclaims over anyone’s booty, including her own: Drink
Miss Jay rolls his eyes: Drink
Tyra instructs models that they have to “do it like this, see? Like this.” Drink.

Enjoy my lovelies! And add more in comments if you've got 'em!! My fashion show report--along with my favorites from Fashion Week--are coming this weekend! xx RG

These Boots Were Made For Buying

2006-09-14T18:55:00.000-07:00

Love. Exciting and new. Come aboard. We're expecting you. The Love Booooot. Soon she'll be making another run. The Love Boooooot. Priced well enough for everyone...

Here's where Real Girl makes one of her confessions. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE a gorgeous, expensive boot. I was salivating over a pair on the subway today, worn by a chic, rail thin glamour gal, and made of the most gorgeous slouchy butter black leather I've seen in ages. Yummm.

But the thing with my more expensive shoes is that when I wear them, I'm always aware that I've got on a fashion investment that could have been a big chunk of my monthly mortgage payment. And then I'm compelled to be super duper careful. I might take a taxi instead of the subway. I can't wear them to a bar lest someone's cocktail or (ack!) beer gets spilled on my precious tootsies. It's just so much...work. And so when I find a cute as hell, moderately priced shoe or boot that 's ALSO comfortable? I jump at the chance to buy it, no matter how unfancy the label is. And those turn out to be some of my favorite shoes. The ones I can dance in, wear to the club, wear to work, wear without terror of a freak rain storm. They're stress free.

This boot? Goes beyond "moderately priced." It's $36.99. May I repeat that? THIRTY SEVEN DOLLARS for a cute boot. I have never been so thrilled to buy budget footwear in my life.

Say hello to Target's Isaac Mizrahi Chiara boot in brown, black, stone, or (not my personal fave) olive. (By the way! These links will be part of the upcoming boutique--and so totally count for RGB royalties for all you supportive beauties!) (You can also click on the images below, and that takes you to a new page! Cool, no!?)

I sent pictures of the boots to my best friend and asked her how much she thought I paid for them. Here, I shall quote her email back to me: "$150? $300?" How good does it feel to email back: "THIRTY SEVEN DOLLARS!" I know. I'm beating a dead horse. But still. You know Real Girl likes a good value.

So what are you getting for your money? Faux suede. Great for Peta lovers, not so much for boot purists. I personally have no problem with the fabric, especially because it is so comfortable. None of that breaking in that you've got to do with leather. I wore my boots with nary a blister the first time around, and the toe is not so pointy as to be uncomfortable. If you're good in any boot with a normal-to-decent sized heel, you will most likely find these confortable--so key for a gal's feet these days.

As for the quality? I give it a rating of LMETIIBYKIN: Looks More Expensive Than It Is, But You'll Know It's Not. In other words, from afar, no one should know it's a cheapie.

As for matters of fit? My foot runs between 6 and 6.5, and I'm great in the 6.5, with room for socks. Here's a crucial note, too: If you only enjoy a fully erect (hee), structured, stiff tall boot, this is not the boot for you. I personally love a little slouch to my boot, so I'm thrilled that the material has give. If you've got slender legs, your boot will slouch. But that also means there's room for larger legs. I took pictures of me in the boot to demonstrate what I'll call the Slouch Effect (first pic). And while I'm at it, I'll throw in some other views of the Chiara on my Real Leg:

Remember, too, that because of use of flash, the brown looks a bit lighter here than its actual chocolate. But all in all? These bootsies have made Real Girl a happy camper. And by "camper," I mean of course "Someone who never camps but has cute cheap boots, so there."

OKAY girls, sharing time!! What are your favorite boots? Shoes? Brands? Stores? Cheap or pricey, it's time to talk footwear! Mmmm. Fooootwear.

xx
With love from,
Real Girl

The bad news: Real Cat's sick. The good news: RGB Boutique arrives!

2006-09-04T18:11:00.000-07:00

I have many babies. Real Girl Beauty is one of my babies. My novel is certainly one of my babies. But my babiest baby? The one who tugs my heartstrings every day and makes me love him like he's my child? That would be Real Cat. Here I am teaching him about lip gloss. And he's loving every moment of his tutorial. I've had Real Cat for 9 years, ever since he was a tiny 5-week old bundle of skittering joyful kitten energy.

First, the bad news. For the past couple weeks, Real Cat and I have been going through veterinary hell. Not veterinarian hell, mind you. We have arguably the best vet in NYC--she's caring, brilliant, warm, and I thank her for every minute of special treatment. But for about a week now, Real Cat's life has become a mess of vet bills, blood and urine tests, diet changes, and twice daily insulin shots. We learned Real Cat is diabetic.

There's a lot of extra work to do on my part, and some scary times right now as we try and work out the right dose of insulin. I'm convinced every minute that he'll go into hypoglycemic shock from too much insulin (his urine test results are off right now), but that's a different story.

Basically, I have hundreds of dollars of pet medical related costs behind me--and hundreds more in my future, with regular vet visits, blood tests, insulin costs, needle costs, special food costs, and God knows what else ahead.

But this is my baby. I love him more than most people can imagine. It's got to be done. This means Real Girl needs to find extra dough fast!

Is advertising on Real Girl Beauty out of the question? Well, no. But I'd rather avoid it if I can. I know it's all in my head, but somehow I feel it would disrupt the purity of this blog, which I've worked very hard on. Would I ever gear a review toward an advertiser or change a review because of advertising? No way. But I'm going to try a different route first.

Which brings me to the good news! Have you ever wished for a one-stop-shopping place where you can go to find only products recommended by Real Girl? Guess what? It's coming! With an online Real Girl Beauty boutique! Through Amazon.com, I'll be featuring easy-to-click links to only the best products out there. I'll also make sure you know where the corresponding review can be found on Real Girl Beauty so you can read up and make sure the available product is right for you.

When you purchase a product from the Real Girl Beauty boutique, I'll get a small commission. Since RGB began, I've had readers commenting that I send them to the stores. Now I hope you'll help support me and Real Cat by stopping first to the Real Girl Beauty boutique to see if you can find your desired product there. I promise my reviews will not change to suit the boutique. What's more? If it looks like the boutique is successful, that will be incentive for me to review more products. Will the quality and care that you expect from Real Girl's reviews change? Not if this girl can help it!

I wanted to wait until the boutique was ready to post this--but alas caring for the kitty has taken a lot of time and energy. Not to mention extra work taken on to pay the bills. I hope to have at least something available within a week! Times are tight in every way, but of course I still remain your,

Real Girl
xx

P.S. Of course, purchasing the novel helps tons too! If you haven't already, I hope you'll trust that it's such a fun, laugh-out-loud, page-turning read that I truly believe you'll enjoy. And if you have bought the novel? Real Girl gives you her endless gratitude--for Real.

Real Girl Does Emmy Beauty

2006-08-28T11:41:00.000-07:00

Ah, the Emmys. Did you see them last night? And more importantly, did you see meeee with my date Wentworth Miller? Look! Actual photographic proof! What, you say? But Real Girl has never heard of this "photoshop" you speak of. I'm not one to "Emmy and tell," but let's just say Wentworth wasn't making any kind of "prison break" when the festivities were over. Ba-DUM-dum. Thanks, I'm here all night.

I don't usually do celebrity critiques, but I felt the need to comment on some of last night's beauty dos and don'ts. Let's start with an easy one. Some people loved her purple velvet Dior by Galliano gown last night, and some people hated it. But no one can argue that her hair and makeup? Straight up Legolas. Let's compare, shall we?

I actually just saw this movie poster at the huge theater down the block from me:

Primarily, though, when it comes to red carpet beauty, I wish all celebutantes would avoid one of Real Girl's biggest pet peeves: Matching the eyeshadow with the dress. Forgive me if you're all for it, but this trend just screams '80s to me.

And one of the biggest repeat offenders is Evangeline Lily. Don't get me wrong. Last night, her dress (Versace) was beautiful, the makeup was flawless. It might have been my favorite makeup of the night if she hadn't matched the color to her gown. Was she swallowed whole by the Purple People Eater?

Also, Sandra Oh? Ohhh, way to ruin a Vera Wang. Again, some loved the over-accessorizing, some hated it. But Real Girl? Really couldn't stand the lilac eyeshadow. Which is a shame, because I usually love the way this gal looks on the carpet.

As to Jean Smart? Well...I won't go into words. You get it.

But going matchy matchy isn't Real Girl's only red carpet pet peeve. Famous Women of the World, please give up the fake tan-slash-nude lip combo. I think a smokey eye with a lightly colored lip can be just gorgeous--but not when paired with an obvious fake-o tan.

The biggest offenders last night? Another beauty--Katherine Heigl--whose dress flattered her curves, but whose beigey-beige makeup ruined the look for me.
And also Jaime Pressly, whose jaw and lips need some softening--and the fake tanner/nude lip combo just ain't getting the job done. In both cases, the blondness of the hair clashing with the orangeness of the tan makes the look that much worse.

Now, on to the hosts of my two favorite reality programs: America's Next Top Model and Project Runway. Tyra Banks? Real Girl loves you. Really!
But last night, you were America's Next Top Drag Queen Wax Statue.

Heidi Klum, however? Perfection. The hair, the dress (not Michael Kors's usual style, so kudos to him for reaching outside his comfort zone to produce this beauty), and the makeup all worked flawlessly.

To you, Heidi, we do not have to say: auf wiedersehen.

Which brings me to my last Emmys pic, one I had to comment on only because...good lord, woman. Those are...so...globey! So...round and perky! So...unlike anything Real Girl will ever have hanging from her Real torso.
Her makeup I could live without, but kudos to Virginia Madsen's tatas.

But what about you guys!? What stood out for you on the red carpet? Anything goes, dresses, makeup, hair, shoes, bags, and of course, tatas!

Conditioning Our Hearts Out

2006-08-14T20:23:00.000-07:00

First of all--Tuesday! August 15th! 7:00 PM! Time Warner Center Borders! 59th Street and Columbus Cricle! Come onnnnn down. You're the next contestant on: Have a blast with Real Girl! Be sure to introduce yourself my lovelies.

And now...Hair. It's is just so...hard. Especially to blog about. Because unlike skin, hair isn't just dry, combination, oily. It's fine or coarse. Thick or thin. Curly or straight. Dry or greasy. Frizzy or flat. And the available products come in so many combinations!

So let's see what we can do here. My hair: wavy, dry, on the fine side. Needs detangling, can't be too weighed down. Must be well conditioned.

If you've got extra fine hair, you're probably best off skipping conditioner. I know. Did those words really flow from Real Girl's finger tips? But truly, fine hair should never be too soft because then whatever body it has just pfffffs away to nothing. Fine hair needs some texture, and conditioner tends to soften that texture away.

But if your fine hair needs conditioning without too much softness, a great option would be Tigi Bed Head Moisture Maniac. Honestly, the name's a bit misleading. I use this conditioner almost daily, and truth be told...I'm not sure exactly what it does--except offer moderate conditioning suitable for fine hair. But ultimately what I love from this conditioner is that it offers manageability. Somehow when I use this product, I get good body and decent style. And for fine hair, that's quite a significant result. Am I moisturific after each use? Actually, not so much!

But there are days when I need more softness. About once a week, I bathe my tresses in Frederic Fekkai Technician Conditioner For Dry, Damaged, Color-Treated Hair. Oh, I love this stuff! The softness of my generally dry hair is just delightful after use, and my curls are nicely formed and low-frizz. The only draw back is that this formula leaves my hair with less body than the Moisture Maniac. So this would likely be a better daily option for hair that's on the thicker side. This conditioner detangles beautifully and has a pleasant scent that's almost like flowery apples.

For both the above products, I apply liberally, starting at the ends and working upwards, and make sure to leave the conditioner on my hair for at least five minutes. For me, this means shampooing, rinsing, and immediately dousing in conditioner before all the exfoliating, washing, etc. until the end of my shower, when I finally rinse. Make your entire shower time work for your hair! (TMI?)

So now, what about truly thick, coarse hair? Here I'm at a bit of a loss, as I can't speak from personal experience. But I did test a product that just might be able to help. One of the thickest conditioners I've ever seen is Jonathan Product's Condition Theory Moisturizing Conditioner. Apparently, this product no longer exists, but I'm guessing it's been renamed (and perhaps reformulated) as Condition Add Moisture Moisturizing Conditoner, Beware ye with fine hair--as well as ye with tangled hair--because this almost paste-like conditioner is just too thick for silky fine locks. Also, in its incarnation as Condition Theory, there was no detangling to speak of, which is just deplorable! But I did love the beachy, coconut scent. AND after using Jonathan's conditioner, my hair had perhaps never been softer. For me, that meant no body. But for someone with thicker, coarser hair? It could be just the perfect ticket.

Real Girl's next task will be to trot myself over to Sephora and test this newer "Condition Add Moisture" version and see if Jonathan's team was smart enough to add detangler. If so? I think you thicker haired girls may be in luck! I'll be sure to report back. Also, Frederic Fekkai has more recent conditioner formulations that look potentially thrilling. Mmmmm. I smell samples coming on...

But girls! We need you! Please share your conditioner secrets and let us know what your favorite conditioner does for you! Or have you got any Tigi, Fekkai, or Jonathan products to report on?

And I'll hope to meet you tomorrow (Tuesday the 15th) at the Time Warner Center Borders!!

Fa la la la la!
xx
RG

Let's Get Toned!

2006-07-31T18:15:00.000-07:00

There's a good reason we've never discussed toner before. It's the "clean feeling." I love the clean feeling too. That oil-free, squeeky, total wiped away feeling that comes only with...irritating ingredients. In toner especially, alcohol above all else is responsible for that illusion of the perfect finish--every drop of dirt gone from your pores. But unfortunately, alcohol irritates. Pretty badly. And your skin never, ever wants to be irritated. Even if you don't feel it, your skin does.

Check your favorite toner for alcohol, and if it's there--(and alas, this is why I can't recommend Burt's Bees tomato toner, Christina, I'm sorry!)--in any form but cetyl or stearyl alcohol, which are gentle, then you may be doing your skin more harm than good.

Enter Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Toner. This is my favorite in her toner line, although you may find one better suited to your needs if you search around. The ingredients in this toner are just splendid. Instead of irritating (and potentially aging!) your skin, you'll be calming it with anti-irritants, and taming both the oils and the flakes of combination skin. In addition to anti-irritants, this product also contains antioxidants, niacinamide--one of the active ingredients in the Olay Regenerist line--and completely non-oily water binding agents that can provide minimal moisturization for the summer months.

But in addition to being stock-piled with impressive ingredients, this toner just feels cool and lovely, like water on the skin. I'm always looking for a light, non-goopy or sticky product that can provide the biggest boost while leaving the least residue. This toner provides exactly that.

Apply liberally on a cotton ball or pad and wipe or pat gently on the skin, being sure not to rub. You'll feel cool and clean, but not stripped like you would with alcohol. You should have no break outs to worry about, and the toner goes wonderfully under sunscreen!

A great way to give your skin what it needs.

And you know how I like to make your skin happy!
xx
Real Girl

You Had Me At "Lip"

2006-07-20T19:19:00.000-07:00

Oh, it's a happy, happy day. I'm finding new lip glosses to fall in love with faster than Madonna can buy red Kabbalah bracelets. At last count, the number of lip balms and glosses in my purse has reached a total of 6. And they are all must-haves.

Like the latest! The very nice ModelCo lip gloss. If this is, indeed, the lip gloss that models wear? I need to gain 6 inches and lose 10 years and call Elite up quick!

Before we dish gloss, though, Real Girl must give "big ups" to her Australian crew. Almost from the beginning, Real Girl Beauty has developed an inexplicable following in Australia. And Real Girl *hearts* her Australians. So how sad she gets when they comment that they can't find a product she recommends, or that shipping is nonexistent or too expensive.

Ozzies? ModelCo is an AUSTRALIAN company! Here's the down under website.

Mmm, I've got "Guava" on now, and it tastes grapey. The "Passionfruit" color has a hint of watermelon in the flavor. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

We all know what makes a superb lip gloss, so I'll check off the lovelies as we go:

1. Color. Passionfruit is a hot pink color that comes out of the tube looking fresh and fun, with just the slightest hint of pink that looks quite pretty on this non-pink gloss wearer. Guava is a darker, deep berry hue that wears like your natural lip color--as you wish it could be. I've been using Guava almost every day now; it's the perfect hint of color (lighter than you'd think) and the most beautiful, glassy shine.

2. What's that you say, Real Girl? SHINE? Oh, the glassiness of these little tubes! It's the total coveted MAC effect--a pretty, summery lip shine without sparkle needed to make your lips look and feel completely juicy.

3. But if the gloss gives the MAC effect, does it have the goopiness? That sticky, don't-want-to-smack-my-lips texture? Oh, girls. This lip gloss feels soooooo good. What a beautiful moisturizing effect ModelCo has achieved with their glosses. They are a joy to wear with no stickiness to speak of--only a soft, supple, kissable pucker. If you use just a little, you can even treat the gloss as a shiny balm. Apply more, and there's that coveted glassery. (And yes, in Real Girl language, glassery is a word. Just check the glossery. Mmmm. Glosssssery.)

4. As to being literally kissable? ModelCo is probably not your best gloss for kissing. It'll come off on his (or her, we don't discriminate!) sexy pout rather than staying put on yours. The best you can do is to apply only a little if you'll be sucking face. The colors are subtle enough so that your partner will inherit some of your shine, but not likely much tint--and little sparkle.

5. I've been trying to figure out what ModelCo lip gloss's tastes remind me of, and it just came to me! It's totally Skittles. Considering that both my colors have slightly different flavors, I can't wait to try more! The clear gloss is called "lychee," and I so need to get that on my next Sephora jaunt. So think fruity--not overpowering, but not for fruity candy haters.

So girls, have you tried ModelCo products? Got great lip stuff to dish about? Anything at all?

With love from your,
Real Girl
xx

It Conceals. No, Wait! It Highlights. No Wait!

2006-07-13T19:13:00.000-07:00

It does...both! Stay with me here. We'll start with the conceal (then the reveal!) (Do my rhymes make you squeal?)

Little did you know that Real Girl and Oprah have something in common. Unfortunately, it's not the billions of dollars (why not Oprah? Whyyyy?). No. What we share? Under-eye craters. Like Oprah (though thankfully less drastic), my cheekbones are situated in a way that causes constant undereye shadows. The bane of my facial existence. To fight my ever-present undereye circles, I use a two step process: I cover the entire undereye area with a concealer that matches my skin tone, and then I gently brush in a tad of slightly lighter concealer at the deepest depth of shadow. A good brush will help the blending process, and voila, darkness minimized.

But when I found Sephora's Light Touch Highlighter pen? I realized I should be using not only a concealer, but also a light refractor. Light refracting (or light reflecting) cosmetics have become hot, hot, hot in anti-aging products over the past couple years. These fancy pants pigments supposedly BLIND viewers to whatever your flaws are because hot damn, who can see anything with all that LIGHT being reflected back?

Um, yeah. I call it "sparkle." I've got quite a few light refracting eye products, and most often the effect is a slight shimmer. Some dewiness, some shine, some "sparkle." These products are fine for winter, but in the summer, please don't give me any more shine. Me and shine? We're best buddies in summer. Joined at the hip. And cheek. And forehead.

So the joy of Sephora's highlighting pen? There's no sparkle. This is a perfect summer highlighter for the deepest areas of your undereye circles. If you're lucky enough to have only slight darkness, you may be able to get away with using only the highlighter without concealer underneath. But most people who are looking to diminish undereye circles will want to continue using their concealer but then brush on a small amount of a slightly lighter highlighter at the darkest points. But a shade too much lighter? And the makeup is too noticeable.

BUT WAIT! Where else can you highlight? Where else can this product give your face an energetic look and lift without excess shine and sparkle? Here are the key places where I've been using my concealer pen as a highlighter only:

1. Inner corners of the eye. Man, it works wonders there. If you're feeling tired? A light brush of this product at the inner eye corner will perk your look right up. Unlike similar products, too, the lack of sparkle makes this item perfect for day.

2. The upper cheekbone. This one is a bit trickier to explain without a picture. Feel where your cheekbone begins right under your eye. Now start with your concealer brush below the outer corner of your eye (wherever the top of the bone is) and follow the angle of the cheekbone down toward the nose, until about the center of your eye. Hmmm. Maybe Oprah can help me demonstrate.

Great highlighter placement, Oprah, but you chose a color way too light for you! And someone didn't blend with her concealer brush. Silly Oprah.

3. The cupid's bow on the upper lip. A dab in your divot will brighten up that pucker. (See Oprah.)

Okay, so we've covered the conceal and the reveal, and now it's time for the drawbacks and application tips.

First of all, I have yet to try YSL's acclaimed Touche Eclat. Truthfully, I've been worried that it'll fall in the shine and shimmer category of cosmetics. Also? It's $36 as opposed to Sephora's lovely $10 item. But in a past Real Girl post, our own commenter Ashley noted that she prefers the YSL product greatly to this cheaper version. So Touche Eclat users be forewarned.

Secondly, here is my least favorite thing about the Sephora Light Touch Highlighter: the pen part. Ohhhh, how I hate clicking products. You know the ones--twist the bottom, hear the click, wait for the product. Argh, there's too little! Crap, now too much! With a concealer/highlighter, the amount of product you use is crucial to the effect. You should be starting with very little and using great control to blend, blend, blend. For this, the Sephora pen mechanism is worthless. Please, Real Girlettes--if you invest in this lovely product, always use a concealer brush or your third finger (the most gentle) for greater control.

Lastly, it's unfortunate that this product will be immensely difficult to buy online. You just need to test it in person, as I did. I'm fair-to-medium, and I use "No. 3." Which color is that, you may ask? No friggin' idea. At the Sephora store, the colors are numbered only, not given stunningly original names like "light beige." However, should you not be 100% satisfied with this--like any--product from Sephora, they'll take it back and give you a refund no questions asked.

So, my lovelies! Concealers!! Hightlighters!! Sephora products! Lay them on me!

And thrill your,
Real Girl
xx

Come Meet Real Girl!

2006-07-11T09:25:00.000-07:00

The highlighting concealer post is just around the corner, but in the meantime I wanted to tell all you lovely people that my next reading for Pick Me Up has been scheduled!

And...no joke? I'm reading in the SAME BUILDING AS A SEPHORA.

Please come join me for what's sure to be a fun time: Tuesday, August 15th at 7:00PM at the Borders in the Time Warner Center at 10 Columbus Circle. By the way? "Time Warner Center" is just another name for "Fancy Mall." Swoon.

Did you read the hilarious report of my last (and first) reading? If you haven't, it's worth a look-see. And make sure you read to the very end for the best part.

Finally, I'll take this opportunity to thank every single reader who's taken the time to let me know--either in comments here or in a personal email--how much they love the novel. I truly appreciate every single person who buys the book, let alone the ones who take the trouble to say nice things about it! So thank you, thank you, thank you!

So far there are no plans for readings in other cities, but I'll certainly let you know if something comes up. And I hope I get to meet you in person! I'll be able to sign books and chat after the reading.

Of course I remain your,
Real Girl
xx

SUNSCREEN wins! And this sunscreen is a winner!

2006-07-04T19:10:00.000-07:00

Wow, results don't get any closer than this!

As you well know, in the spirit of the Real Girl Beauty community, I asked y'all to vote whether you wanted to hear next about a highlighting concealer or a supertastic sunscreen. At first, I was so sure that Concealer would win that I started upping my testing and mind-writing my post. BUT in the final stretch, Sunscreen started gaining, like the tortoise tailing the hare. Or like Real Girl tailing a Lindt chocolate truffle.

The final tally? Concealer: 10 votes. Sunscreen: 11 votes. (Also? "........" and ".,.,.,.,.," each got 1 vote. Erm...are those the independents?)

I promise next up will be the concealer. But for now, we'll focus on the wrinkles. I've told you before which sunscreen ingredients I prefer most. Always keep in mind that you need to fight both UVA (wrinkles! aging!) and UVB (burning! vicious, vicious burning!) rays, and the three top sunscreen ingredients to do this job are titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and avobenzone. Some studies show that avobenzone, a chemical sunscreen, may not be as good as the other two options, which are mineral sunscreens. My thoughts on said studies? Better safe than sorry.

So my quest for the Perfect Sunscreen had to have as its active ingredient either titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Problem being? These sunscreens are white and chalky. Which tends to make the user look like a summer mime. I don't know about you, but my July schedule does not include street performing in white-face.

But finally, after literally months of searching both department store and drugstore brands, I've found a sunscreen that contains both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, but. BUT! Leaves almost no chalky residue. I cannot tell you how happy this makes me.

The worthy winner? Eucerin Extra Protective Moisture Lotion, SPF 30.

Now, inexplicably, some Drugstore.com reviewers on this product have noted a chalky residue. Perhaps it's in their application? I squeeze out my dollop, rub my hands together, and then coat my face. Compared to other mineral sunscreen lotions, the Eucerin has been the best by far. I have tested at least 10 others, all more expensive, and all with worse results. I'd go so far as to say I saw no white residue with my sweet Eucerin, because it's pretty darn close. I'm in love with the lack of chalky, I tell you. In love.

But there's more!! After years of searching (years!), I can honestly say this is a good sunscreen for oily and breakout-prone skin. Also? Sensitive skin. The lotion moisturizes slightly, but not heavily. So for you dry skinners? Perhaps not the best option. (Although I do have another option for you drier folks. Alas, that's for another day.) But for women who spend their summers shinier than grandma's gold lame jumpsuit? The Eucerin doesn't leave a matte finish, but it's not slick either. A very good combination-skin, not too greasy or too shiny option for the sticky summer weather. I've tried more matte sunscreens, but I felt those others left my ever-shiny mug feeling--gasp!--dry and unsatisfied.

But not my Eurcerin. Dear, sweet Eucy.

So far, this is the most perfect sunscreen I've ever found. I heart it. I carry a sample size around for reapplications.

Wrinkles? Find another face to torment. Oh, and you too skin cancer. Eucy's got my back. Except it's my face. Eucy's got my face.

And I've got my real girls.

So dish, girls! Sunscreen! Tell all!
xx
RG

Voting time!

2006-06-30T09:15:00.000-07:00

Update: THE POLLS HAVE CLOSED! THE RESULTS ARE IN at 23 votes! STAY TUNED!

(And since there are some worthy sunscreen recommendations in the comments here, I'll give this post a reprieve and let it live on...)

xx

Real Girl's here to serve, lovelies!

Would you rather next hear about a fabulous drugstore facial sunscreen that needs to be with you at the beach and can be used everyday as well?

Or do you want to hear the pros and cons of a highlighting concealer?

Let the voting begin!
xx
RG

P.S. This post will self-destruct after the voting's over, so if you want to give Real Girl a shout out or gush about your fave product, stop on by the previous entry!

Super Scents and Sale--Swell!!

2006-06-25T20:35:00.000-07:00

Good lord, folks, there's been lots going on. Including a story about how Major League Baseball invited me to blog with them (!!??!!). Maybe we'll save that for an update, though, because right now, we've got PRODUCT to talk about.

Don't worry, I've got tons of bodytastic posts coming soon. But this one? This one's for your nose. And for your peace of mind. I want to share with you something that just makes me happy. I've been wanting to tell you about this great purchase for a long time!

Now, you'd be hard pressed to find someone less "New Agey" than La Real Girl, but I admit to believing in the power of scent. Not "aromatherapy" so to speak, in that different scents make you feel different things, but rather the idea that a beautiful smelling place can really cheer a person up. Or at least, cheer me up.

For years, Real Girl has been looking for the perfect room spray. Yes, I love a good scented candle, but sometimes you need something faster. Anyone with a pet or a guy around the house will understand what I mean. But my qualifications for a good room spray are steep, indeed. The Perfect Spray must be:
1) Not too expensive. Because, hello? It's room spray. I love you, Votivo, but I'm not quite willing to part with $15 for fancy Glade.
2) Lovely smelling. None of this alcohol-slash-flowers-slash-lemon-pine thing.
3) Potent, but not ovrepowering. Don't sting my nose, mother fluffer.

Ladies (and gentlemen?), I introduce you to Bath and Body Works' White Barn Candle Co. Fragrance Sprays for Home. Which, by the way? Are so on sale it's like they're giving them away. As in, Two for $5 sale!

Buying two? Is a good idea. I've got four, and I won't part with any of them. "Spiced Cider" smells exactly like what it says. "French Vanilla"? A calming, peaceful vanilla. "Cucumer Melon" is sweet and juicy. And I can't go to sleep without spraying "Coconut Lime Verbena" high over my bed. Somehow coconut and lime combine in the most delicious not-too-sweet-or-sour misty goodness.

What I'm still dying to try? "Bartlett Pear." (But will it be too sweet?) "Brown Sugar and Fig." (Oh GOD yes!) "Creamy Caramel." (Can I eat you?) "Creamy nutmeg."(Too spicy?) "Fresh Vanilla." (Oh dip I bet it's fresh, yo.) "Red Delicious" (As in apple? Yes please!) and "Warm Vanilla Sugar." (Moans with pleasure.)

Am I too cool to spray each and every one right there in the store? Please! I will so be spraying and sniffing at the Bath and Body Works store very darn soon to see which two of the above desired fragrances will be joining their scenty sisters chez moi.

A word of caution: The sprays are potent at first spritz. Do not spray at someone's face!! It's best to spray away from any people. (This sounds like common sense, but I thought I'd throw it in just in case!) But once diffused, the scent will be pervasive and lovely. It lasts just long enough in the air, and that little bottle packs surprising duration. My most often spritzed one still seems about half full and I've been using it for ages.

I hope you'll treat yourself to this great summer scentathon. A pretty-smelling room is a cheap way to relax at the end of a long day, and I'm thrilled to pass the tip along--from one Real Girl to another.

But what about you guys? Room scent tips? Bath and Body Works items we should look for in their grand sale? Anything at all??

Much love!!
xx
RG

P.S. Do I keep one of my precious room sprays right near the powder room at all times? Why yes. Yes, I do. My bathroom is infinitely better because of Bath and Body Works!

Fixer Upper

2006-06-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

Update: Here's the link to the story of my reading last week. And the foibles and hilarity that ensued...

Wow, talk about busy weeks! I'm going through product-talk withdrawal, folks. But of course I've still been testing, and I've got a whole slew of goodies to bring you in the future! Also, stay tuned for a link to a full retelling, with pictures, of my first reading of Pick Me Up, which seemed doomed from the start--and yet pulled through in the end. Much like a chick lit plot!

Let's start our return to product gabbing with a practical tool. A fixer-upper for those of us (and here I have to holla at myself) who are perpetually ruining our self-manicure or pedicure with a stray dab of polish. Am I the only one with constant shaky-hand?

My old method of manicure clean up was to take a Q-tip, twist the end tight, and douse in nail polish remover. Then I'd rub off all my mistakes around my fingers, toes, and cuticles. The major drawback with this method, however, is that occasionally a stray string of Q-tip cotton would cement itself on my manicure. Not cute.

But with Sephora's Nail Polish Corrector Pen, I'm happy to say that my nail polish blunders are much easier to clean up! And for only $6, you won't have to feel like you're splurging.

The pen has an angled tip with nail polish remover, so you can just edge it over your boo-boos. Make sure you grip the pen pretty far down, near your nail, so you can get the most control. I did find that sometimes the pen took off a wee bit more than I wanted it to at the sides, but with practice and a lower grip, I got the hang of it.

One drawback is that the pen's tip is not so easy to clean. I swiped a tissue wet with nail polish remover over it, but since I used dark polish, some of the stain remained. You probably want to keep that tip as clean as possible, but don't rub it with a cotton ball (cotton strings! argh!). If you tissue wipe it with nail polish remover, as I did, you should be good for the future. So far no color from past manicures has tainted the ones after it.

So there you go! A practical and economical post! I've got a couple sunscreens I'm eager to talk about: one drugstore, one department store. Which one do you guys want to hear about first? There are other goodies, too, coming down the line for your producty pleasure.

Ok, girls! Let me hear you talk about nails, make up tools, practical tips, anything at all!

And I remain your,
Real Girl
xx

P.S. How much do you guys rock with your literary support? HARD CORE, baby. Super hard core rocking going on.

A Truly Great, Page-Turning Read!!

2006-06-06T09:32:00.000-07:00

Wow. I've been wanting to tell you guys about "the novel" for so long, and now that it's in stores (as of today!), I hope you'll run out and grab a copy of PICK ME UP, also available at Amazon.com. I was extremely lucky to get a quote from Sophie Kinsella, who says on the front cover, "Clever, witty, and fun!" and on the back, "So funny! Izzy is a great character." Sophie Kinsella, by the way? Nicest woman EVER.

Guys, where do I start? A synopsis? A review? Just me babbling about how much I love the novel? Asking you always generous people to mention the thing on your own fab blogs? Let me just say this first: Real Girl hasn't been working on finding products to save you from laugh lines for nothing. Prepare for laughs. And awwws. And for charatcters you'll wish you could meet in person (if you're anything like me, that is!). You know I don't recommend things half-heartedly. I wrote the book I wanted to read, and I couldn't be happier with it. (Ok, so that was babbling first, wasn't it?)

Here's a SYNOPSIS!

For years, Izzy Duncan has dreamed of becoming New York's hottest art dealer. Now finally, her goal lies just within reach. As the director of the Emerson Bond Gallery, Izzy's expecting a whopping promotion--one she wants so badly, she's almost afraid to hope for it.

Then Emerson Bond drops dead.

Suddenly, Izzy's fabulously huggable boss Freddie, the adorable punk receptionist Kimmy, and devoted, well-meaning Izzy herself might all be out of a job.

The timing couldn't be worse. Izzy's childhood nemesis has a wedding coming up--and there's no getting out of it. And Jamie, Izzy's best guy friend, finds his greatest success as a newspaper columnist by advising all of New York to revive the age-old ritual of the pick-up line--which seems to work for everyone in the city except Izzy.

Izzy's happiness and professional future now lie in the hands of two men: one, the new insufferable star artist, who can't wait for any chance he gets to taunt Izzy mercilessly, but whose show will be her most crucial yet. And the other? The other is the new blood at the Bond Gallery, Avery Devon-the man so gorgeous, she can't even speak to him. The man who, if she's really, really lucky, will teach her all about the art of love...and not just in her dreams.

I know I've told you this before, but I feel so blessed to have the readers here at RGB that I do. I have received one nasty email in over a year and a half of blogging. And you're always so fabulous at reviews and recommendations. Plus, you guys are just supportive. And I love that so much.

Publicizing a novel these days--especially for a first time author--is one of the toughest tasks you can imagine. How do you get the word out when there's so much competition? If you all could help spread the word--either to friends or on blogs or message boards or anything!--I can't tell you how grateful I would be. It would be like you-just-gave-me-a-gift-bag-full-of-free-lip-glosses kind of grateful.

You can find out more information about the novel (and about me, although how interesting could that be?) at zoerice.com (Real Boy did the design--isn't it adorable!? Thanks, Real Boy!). I've also started a blog just for the novel where I'll post updates. And I'm also on Myspace now, where I'm hosting a contest for a free copy of PICK ME UP. It's free to join, please be my friend!

AND, here's the best thing! If you're in the New York Metropolitan area, you can come see me read at the Park Slope, Brooklyn (my home town) Barnes & Noble on Wednesday, June 14th at 7:30 PM. The address is: 267 Seventh Ave. (corner of 6th St.) The F Train stop at 7th Avenue is only three short blocks away. Please make sure to introduce yourself, because I'd love to meet you.

Finally, you lovely people, here's my first review, from Booklist!

Pick Me Up. Rice, Zoe (author). June 2006. 288p. NAL, paperback, $12.95 REVIEW.

Chick-lit takes on the New York art scene in Rice’s enjoyable debut. Gallery director Izzy Duncan is beginning to make her mark at the Emerson Bond Gallery. When the gallery’s eccentric benefactor suddenly dies, Izzy’s life is thrown into a tailspin. She thinks her new boss may just be her Prince Charming, and her ardor overrides her concern over the direction he’s taking the gallery. Meanwhile, she’s working overtime to get back in the good graces of a new artist she inadvertently offended. There’s a Sex in the City vibe to this novel that will attract some readers, and a sentimental side that will appeal to the true romantics. Izzy is entrenched in the glamorous world of artists and celebrities, but her own hopes and problems seem realistic. This book is bound to please young women seeking the same sort of fulfillment in their work and love lives that Izzy is.

But what about you guys? Have you got questions? Shout outs? Anything to tell me at all? Because of all the things you know about me, you certainly know I love to hear ya!

Much love,
Real Girl
(aka Zoe)

The Mascara Chronicles: Part V

2006-05-30T19:44:00.000-07:00

The verdict is in!

Lancome Hypnose Mascara gets...(girly drum roll, please)...

A big old A, ladies!

Hearts and flowers indeed. We won't talk about the things my local Sephora didn't have but totally should have (which means I've got to go to the one five blocks further away!). Instead, we're talking Hypnose! Or is that HypYESse?

Mascara. That elusive beast. First, she must lengthen. The Hypnose is perhaps not as lengthening as its popular cousin, Lancome Definicils, but I would say it's certainly close! To get the optimum length from your Hypnose, a wee bit of effort is involved.

SKB noted in last post's comment section that her lashes uncurled when she used Hypnose after her lash primer. I can see how this might happen--especially with a primer. Without primer, the Hypnose slightly uncurled the upper tips of my lashes. HOWEVER, ladies, this can be easily corrected. Just hold the wand at the tip for a few sections and gently press the curve. After holding the wand at the tips for very little time, I was fully satisfied with curl and length. Quite lovely!

Now, about that wand. It's not my usual favorite, which is a fat tip with closely packed, soft bristles. (That's not dirty sounding, right? I mean, unless you're an Ewok.) This wand (as pictured above) is a stiff, separating dealie, but I must say it's one of the best separating wands I've ever used. I'm thinking this is why Hypnose is low on clumps. Yay for that! Low clumpies!

And volume!? Check plus! What a nice volumizer--especially since I'm so impressed how the wand manages to make lashes look both plumped and separated. I've seen mascaras that offer more volume, but not without the clumpy consequences.

But do we get the dreaded Racoon Eye Phenomenon? Nope! The non-waterproof worked just fine in this God-awful NYC humidity. So unless you're thinking of crying up a storm (and by the way, why did the movie The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants make me bawl like a baby??), don't worry about getting waterproof.

A side note, my friends, on that volume. It's adjustable! Adjustable mascara volume! That should be written on the bottle! See, the beauty of the Hypnose separater wand is that you can layer your coats with only minor risk of clumpage. One layer would be fine for day--a nice dose of oomf without a theatrical result. But if you go for two or three coats? There are those knock-out, take 'em out at night, lovely lashes.

Finally, in comparison with the Maybelline combo of the World Renowned Mascara Chronicles Part IV, I'd say the Hypnose offers more volume, while the Maybelline combo gives a bit more length. Both rock, though, and will remain Real Girl Beauty staples.

Which means they have been blessed by the goddesses of the Cosmeticos. (You know, the little fairies who live under my bed. What, you don't have any?)

Come on girls, we're talking mascara! Or anything else you want to share!

With love,
From one Real Girl to another
xx

Help! My List Must Shrink!

2006-05-19T12:10:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: Holy Crap! I'm in Page Six today (Saturday). Ok, gals. I'm telling you all about the novel as soon as I get the time to do it justice! xx

Surprise! My Things To Buy At Sephora list is way too long. And also segmented into which products I'm interested in buying and which I'll need to test first. (Should I be worried about myself?)

But before we listify, guess what? Guess what! My publicist tells me my novel will be mentioned on Page Six in the next few days. Will I be mentioned in the same breath as Paris Hilton? I would say I hope not, except I'd rather say, Oh God, please no. She be sooo skanks! Don't worry, I'll let you know if the mention actually happens, and I'll tell you ALL ABOUT my charming and funny book when it's in stores.

Know what else? In a meeting of the beauty minds that may have left a rift in the space/time/lip gloss continuum, I had the loveliest drinks date with "Beauty Chick" of Beauty Hatchery. She recommended some super new products, and I must say her mascara was gorgeous. (And it's now on my Sephora list!) BC's about to go on a trip around the world, and she promises to report on exciting and exotic beauty treatments that could blow our minds.

Ok, so now you can tell me which Sephora products I need, and which I shouldn't bother busting my budget for.

DY.ING. FOR.
Sephora Nailpolish Corrector Pen (Wow!)
Lancome Hypnose Mascara (Will it look as nice on me as it did on Beauty Chick?)
Laura Mercier Undercover Concealer Dark Circles. Bane of my existence.
Sephora Light Touch Highlighter (Poor woman's YSL Touche Eclat? We'll see.)
Clinique City Block SPF 25 (Perfect Sunscreen, we will find you yet.)
Clarins UV Plus SPF 40 (Could it be you, Clarins?)
Lorac Gloss Stick in Brownie (A color not shown online. Will they have it?!)
Lancome Photogenic Skin Illuminating Concealer SPF 15 (Are you my perfect concealer??)

What I Might Be Dy.Ing. For. (But I have to test first)
Clarins Sun Wrinkle Control Eye Contour Care SPF
Clinique Repairwear Deep Wrinkle Concentrate for Face and Eye
Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Shine Mattifying Gel
DDF C3 Plus Serum
Sephora Whipped Body Delights in Marshmallow Fluff
Jonathan Create Volume Thickening Foam
Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream
Ojon Conditioning Shine Serum

Okay, ladies. Help a girl out! Have you tried any of these? Any advice to give before my upcoming Sephora trip (for which I have gift cards! That are long overdue to be SPENT!)? Any products I should totally take a look at?

Let me hear you say HEY-EY!

xx
Real Girl

GLOWY!

2006-05-11T18:12:00.000-07:00

I am searching now, my friends, for the perfect bronzer. But in the meantime, to keep my well-sunscreened faccia from looking winter pale, I've been using a great new product--one I was totally wishing for last year. Remember? I had been so scared of self-tanner--what if I messed up and looked like Ernie with no Burt?--but then the perfect, flawless Jergens Natural Glow hit the market.

Well now? They've made one for your FACE!! It's like Jergens came to Real Girl's apartment last year and watched her slathering on her self-tanning lotion, while moaning ecstatically, "If only they made it for my face!" (Mmmkay. Mayyyybe not so much.)

So here, now, are my glowy tips for glowifying your face with the glow of Jergens Natural Glow Face!

1) Don't be afraid to opt for "Medium" unless you're really, really pale. I've heard reports that the lightest shade doesn't do much.

2) Use at night. Because you're using your other daily moisturizer and/or sunscreen during the day. If this product had sunscreen in it? It would have been too perfect to bear. I might have burst a blood vessel.

3) Start slow. I started using the product every other day and then less frequently when I reached the color I wanted. But if you want to go darker, then use every day.

Alrighty! Sunscreen? Check. Antioxidants? Check. Perfect glowy tan? Check.

Now let's go to Sephora and pick out something shiny and delicious!!
And in the meantime, do you have a favorite facial tanner? Or anything else to report??
xx
With love from,
Real Girl

Tuesday Musings

2006-05-09T09:43:00.000-07:00

Herro!!

I've got pressing matters to share with you before this week's beauty post.

1) WOW. I just held the final, soon to be published version of my novel for the first time. It's gorgeous, all pink and pretty and scrumptious! Of course I'll share more with you once it's out in the world! But--yay!!

2) I need new makeup brushes. In particular--and in this order--blush, concealer, powder. MAC brushes get great reviews--any specifics to recommend? Any other brands you love? I'm going for high quality here.

3) Retinol. I'm not loving the way the skin looks around my eyes, and I need to add a retinol product to my nightly regimen. Any recommendations, my dearies?

There you go. Some food for thought before the products fly by. Like beautiful ships in the night. Except on land. And not ships.

Love you guys! Holla at me!
xx
RG

Who Doesn't Love Vintage?

2006-05-03T10:17:00.000-07:00

Vintage Real Girl Beauty:

I have loved this product for five years, and I've gone through at least 20 tubes. Doesn't it say something when a product junky professes that a certain product is her very, very favorite?! What's more? In the whole healthy vs. sparkly debate, this product covers both. It's so pretty. So very pretty. And with the best sunscreen ingredients out there. So, my lovelies, enjoy this trip down memory lane. I've got to go tend to my lips now. (But share your favorite balms! Balms away!!!!!)
xx
RG

Brace yourself. No, really. Grab the back of a chair, or better yet--sit down. There. Ready?

This next product combines the qualities of a lip balm, a lipstick, and a lip gloss. In one tube. In one little, joyous tube. Cue Heavens to part and Angels to sing. Ahhhhh! Hey wait. I see you, Cherub. Get your hands off my lip tint.

This is Real Girl's most staple make-up product. The must-have. The bare minimum. You know how some people have nightmares about being suddenly naked in public? Well, in mine, I'm fully clothed. Except for my lips. They are not moisturized. They have no bronzy shine. The sparkle has vanished.

In short, I'm not wearing my Aveda Lip Tint SPF 15.

Aveda lip tint gives you moisturizer, color, shine, and sparkle all in one. I love lipstick, but sometimes it makes my lips feel so dry. And I love gloss, but how long does it last? Smack, smack the lips a few times and it's time to reapply. With the Aveda, swipe it over your lips once, and you get a sheer, lovely color--with an almost glittery (though not glassy) shine. Swipe it two or three times (as I do) and the color's as bold as some lipsticks. And it lasts! Real Girl wears her lip tint on its own all day long. For night, sometimes I spice it up with an added coat of similarly colored gloss. But it's always in my purse. Twenty-four hours a day. I even have an extra for emergencies.

As to color, remember they go on lighter than they look in the tube. My very favorite is the bronzy "Spice." Soooo hot. "Peony" is a delight as well, for those with light skin and hair--a dusty, pinky rose. Other colors include "Apricot," "Berry," Verbena," Currant," and "Copper."

The price is $11. Certainly more than I've paid for any other lip balm. But that's the thing. It's not just a balm! It's not just a tint! AND it's SPF 15!

No joke. I have been stopped on the street by someone just to be complimented on my Aveda lip tint. It's that good. I have tredged through the snow for miles (ok, seven blocks, but two of them are avenues and very long!) to get to the Aveda store for nothing else but my lip tint. Lip tint, you are so special. I don't say it enough, but it's true: I love you.

But if anyone else has their own favorite lip product that colors while moisturizing...well...What are you waiting for? Do tell!!

With love (and a clear dose of madness),
Real Girl

P.S. Oh, crap. I just found a website called NaturalSkin, and they say it so much better:

Give your lips the shade they've been looking for-sheer, shimmering, conditioning color that protects with naturally-derived sunscreens protecting from UVA and UVB rays, with titanium dioxide (mineral-derived) and oil of wintergreen conditioning-with avocado and mango-and smoothing, with certified organic babassu, jojoba and olive oils with astaxanthin-an anti-oxidant 25 times more powerful than vitamin E a refreshing flavor that blends certified organic orange and spearmint with pomegranate in a 100% recycled carton. Key Ingredients: Alfalfa, Algae, Avocado oil, Babassu oil**, Bilberry*, Blueberry*, Cranberry*, Jojoba oil**, Mango butter, Wintergreen oil.

Now that I know it's organic, I love it eeeeeeeven more.

Do You Believe In Magiff?

2006-04-26T19:18:00.000-07:00

Becuff I do!!!

Ladies, I am so excited about this new product I'm here to recommend. (Wait for applause and wondrous audience expressions.) And let me tell you, I recommend it whole-heartedly. I have so far, in the 3 weeks of use, found nothing to take my love away from this beauty.

But first, let's see if you're with me. Do you like to do your own nails? And do you find, say, that there's always some bump or irregularity in there that you don't see when you go to the salon? This be the product for you. Do you love the feel of your nails after they've been manicured, and they're all slick and smooth? This be the product for you. Do you like the look of clear polish, but you just don't have the time and energy to do more than file them suckers once in a while? Then this product DEFINITELY be all about you.

Let me introduce you to (picture my best infomercially voice): The Magiff Professional Nail Care Kit. Girlfriend, if I were Oprah, this would be on the very top of my basket of favorite things. Also, I'd be a billionaire.

I would have never found this product had it not been for the outlet mall in Florida. (Did you hear that? OUTLET MALL. Real Girl would like her ashes spread there, please, when she dies.) There was this little kiosk, with this eager woman, and she was just suddenly grabbing my nail and...buffing it. And...buffing it. And...then...Oh my God! It was literally like I had on clear nail polish. After a total of about 30 seconds of buffing per nail. That's right, just five minutes a day.

Alright. Now I'm scaring my own damn self. This is what happens when you watch America's Next Top Model and fall deeper in love with Joanie and especially Danielle, who just might be the best reality star to ever hit television. Ever. And maybe even just the planet period. And then, of course, you have a glass of wine to celebrate. To celebrate your evening of fun TV. Because that's what wine is for. And anyway...

So, there's this kit. And it has this great curved nail file, a sweet, peachy-smelling bottle of cuticle oil (yay!), and also? The Best. Buffer. Ever. In fact, it is not one buffer, but three. In one. Start with the purple side, rubbing horizontally side to side for about ten seconds. Move, then, to the white side, rubbing over the nail in a circular motion for, again, about ten seconds. And then? Introduce yourself to the gray side. The Mall Lady said it was made of "silk fibers" or some such nonsense. But homey could be made of seagull poop and I'd still buff my nails with it daily. Side to side, for 15 secondsish. And then, you'll see the glimmer. The shine. The glow. The first two steps you only need to do every two weeks, and the gray-side step can be done as often as desired. Shine need never leave your nails.

What's more? (And again, here I'll naturally lapse into Scary Infomercial Voice.) If, say, you left the buffer at home, but OH NO, your nail just lost its shine? They give you a travel size buffer with all three sides hanging out there in your purse.

I have been rubbing my fingers over my slick smooth shiny nails ever since I got this product. I can't get over how it feels like I'm wearing nail polish. And when you actually do put on nail polish? There aren't those bumps and ridges and whatever else ruins that home manicure and makes you curse and stomp your foot.

Mall Lady swears this buffer isn't wearing down your nails when you use it. But still, you know me. I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. I'm waiting for the negative. Because there's ALWAYS a negative side, right? I mean, when in Real Girl Beauty has there not been any negatives?

Anyone?

Anyone?

Well, then, take a look at the before (left) and after (right):
(Remembering, of course, that I got so engrossed in laughing at Top Model that I neglected to tend to my cuticles or hangnails in any way...)

Ain't that cool?
(It's a picture of me "in the buff." Get it? Ha!)

But if anyone's heard anything bad about this product, please share! Or if you feel like dishing about anything naily, go right on ahead! Or if you just want to say howdy, anything at all, you know I'm always your...

Real Girl
xx

Rake Me Over The Kohl's

2006-04-09T19:49:00.000-07:00

Happy Spring!! Ah, the lovely breezes. The longer days. The hot, warming sun! As y’all know really, really friggin’ well, I have a passion for skin care. And it’s not just—"protect your skin against the sun, take good care of yourself, blah blah blah." Ok, sure it’s that. But it’s also just the sheer onslaught of companies trying to sell you gagillions of products. I mean, with gorgeous, sparkly, yummy makeups, we’re usually not spending that much loot—and it’s usually a lot more straightforward whether the product works or doesn’t. With skincare, you both a) are often paying a lot more, and b) possibly won’t know whether the product “works” for decades! Tough, indeed.

But Real Girl likes a challenge.

So for all you sparkly yummy makeup goodie lovers out there (holla! I’m with ya!), hang tight. Because this here is a field in which I do feel I’m needed—as someone who’s not motivated or impeded by ad revenue, I enjoy being able to tell you guys like it is.

And here’s what it is.

It’s time for me to whine.

WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED KOHL’S AND WHY DO WE NOT HAVE IT IN NEW YORK CITY!!??

Wah.

Wah!!

I would have never, ever found this brand if it weren’t for Real Mom’s dermatologist. She’s a consultant for Kohl’s beauty line and is therefore partly responsible for creating this line I’m dying to try more of. And CAN’T. Because WHERE ARE YOU KOHL’S? I smell a sample-begging call coming soon, my friends.

In the meantime, I’ll tell you about the one Kohl’s beauty product I’ve tried: Kohl’s All Calm Gentle Sunscreen SPF 25. First of all, this product has loads of my favorite sunscreen ingredients, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Also? Antioxidants Vitamins E and B. But what’s more? The line is created for people with sensitive skin. Let me tell you—we can all benefit from that. Whenever you find a product for sensitive skin that has decent anti-irritants in it, your face will be happier. Do I have sensitive skin? Nah, not really. But your skin can be irritated by the littlest things, and often without you even knowing it—and that can cause damage. So any ingredients to combat wear and tear are always a good, good thing.

Finally, the fact that we’re working with SPF 25 here instead of SPF 15 is excellent. There’s nothing wrong with SPF 15—if that’s what you prefer, you can get away with it. Maybe. Because if you’re not using a tablespoon’s worth on your whole face? You ain’t getting the full SPF 15. I have tried using a tablespoon of sunscreen. What happened? I was in white-face. No, really. The white-face minstrel show tried to recruit me. So…um…I’m not convinced that a tablespoon of sunscreen is realistic. My solution? Up the SPF. I’m pretty sure I’m not getting my full SPF 25 with this product, but I’m probably getting SPF 15 with the generous amount I use.

But enough about ingredients, right? Let’s talk experience. Love!! The product is lightly tinted, which diminishes the white tinge of zinc oxide/titanium dioxide slightly. Also, there’s quite a pleasant scent here—a tinge of coconut, a whiff of something not too beachy yet still rather tropical. The finish isn’t matte, but it’s not as shiny as more moisturizing sunscreens can be. Although this isn’t a moisturizer, my combination skin is completely satisfied by this product in the moisture department. If yours is on the dry side? You may need something moist-ier.

Has this sunscreen made me break out? No! Am I surprised about that, given the high amount of sunscreen, which can possibly clog pores? Yes! Am I thrilled nonetheless? What do you think!?

If your skin is truly, unbelievably sensitive, this product may not be the best for you. Unfortunately, it didn’t work well with Real Mom’s rosacea. Perhaps the slight scent irritated her, or more likely the higher concentration of sunscreen ingredients.

But overall, I give this Kohl’s product a huge thumbs-up!

Now…get your ass on over to NYC, okay Kohl’s??

(Real Girl’s next sunscreen challenge? Find a tinted moisturizer that contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Because the darker skinned gals might not be able to take that slight white tinge...Any suggestions, Real Girlettes??!!)

So, which ones of you out there have this magnificent thing called Kohl’s? Any other obscure lines I should be trying? Anything to share at all?

Love ya!
xx
Real Girl

America's Next Top Celebrity Sighting

2006-04-06T09:14:00.000-07:00

GUYS!

I totally just shared an elevator with Tyra Banks!

Why she was in my office building, I don't know. But I went downstairs for a late morning snack, only to arrive back at the elevator bank in back of a very tall, chatty black woman. My train of thought: Wow, that girl's tall. And she's still wearing heels! Those aren't the cutest heels, though. The slingback strap's hanging down and her toes are way over the edge there. And what's with the cheap looking rhinestones? Hey, her hair looks kinda Tyraish from the back, except with maybe less volume up on top there. Oh wait. Hang on. THAT'S TYRA! Ooh, look at her with her tallness and her shiny nose. Still, she seems nice. She's talking with that guy she's with and all excited. She's saying 'Oh, I know him! He's always talking to my Mom.' (Does Tyra ever utter a sentence without mentioning her Mom? I think she was probably talking about a celebrity the way she was so animated. Kind of like the way I am now!)

Tyra was wearing a long leather coat, so I couldn't see much of her, but I gotta say. I like me some Tyra.

xx
RG

What You Need For Summer, Part 1: Antioxidants

2006-04-03T18:33:00.000-07:00

Oh, precious antioxidants. Sweet, sweet antioxidants. You take care of my free radicals, halting their ugly progression toward skin damage and wrinkles. For this, you get Real Girl’s Medal Of Anti-Wrinkleosity. It’s like cosmetics knighthood. From now on, we dub thee Sir Antioxidants.

It’s time to get the most out of our skin protection. The sun is coming, and it’s UVAing and UVBing the heck out of us. Don’t be scared. Be prepared. (Eat your heart out, Boy Scouts.)

When it comes to antioxidants, you need high concentrations. One thing you can do is look to see where the active ingredients fall in the ingredients list. If it’s too far down the line? Be skeptical. Another plus when it comes to purchasing an antioxidant-rich product is to trust the brand.

Quite a while ago, I reviewed Paula’s Choice Super Antioxidant Concentrate. At the time, I was impressed by the ingredients and the price, but not so much by the texture. My friends? I have revised my opinion. For almost a year now, this product has been a staple in my routine, and I continue to use it nightly. The texture isn’t far from Smashbox Foundation Primer. I just had to get used to the silicones.

I continue to be impressed by Paula’s Choice’s antioxidant products, and her two new ones are now nestled happily in my medicine cabinet, where I use them every morning. Do you need to use both? No! But we’re getting there…

For those with oily or combination skin (like La Real Girl!), here’s a fab, antioxidant-packed product for you: Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Mattifying Concentrate. (Could you guess that this is a brand that goes for informational rather than flowery product names? Couldja?). Vitamin E, Vitamin C, green tea, white tea, grape seed extract, and more. It’s like a veritable list of the greatest antioxidants. I’m quite in love with this greaseless product and use it every single day! Because of its ingredients and its price (even with shipping, it’s cheaper than any other brand I’ve found with comparable ingredients), this product just gets an A+ in my book for taking care of your skin—and your piece of mind.

But Real Girl, you say. I’ve got dry skin! Even in summer! Dry, moistureless skin aching for quenching, delicious Sir Antioxidants. What to do!? Ahhh, feel not left out, my parched petunias. Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate is here to save your skin. With similar nourishing antioxidants, this greasier serum moistens the skin it touches, soaking into the skin and leaving it spongy to the touch. I use this product around my eyes before my concealer, and when it soaks in, I’m left with a slightly dewy, but not oily, healthy eye-area.

Are these glamorous products? Nah. No girly packaging, no scents or pretty coloring to speak of (which actually makes the product less irritating to your skin), no bells or whistles. But if you love quality ingredients at optimal concentrations for a great dollar value (and if you do, then we are on the same page, my dearies), then these serums are great choices to fight sun damage.

Use morning only or morning and night, before sunscreen, but after any exfoliating or acne products.

Any questions? Any other products to recommend? Any concerns about the sun? I’m definitely taking all your sunscreen questions and requests into account for the future!

I’m here to serve—and to keep us all looking and feeling our best.

(By the way, to all who helped me during Ultimate Blogger? You are SUPER GREAT! Although I didn’t win, I totally should have. Because my answers—and here’s a wee sample if you scroll down--were just the bestity best, hands down!)

xx
Love and love and love,
Real Girl

P.S. If you don't love your Paula's Choice products for some reason, she's great about returns. Don't hesitate to send them back for a refund! (Though not of shipping costs.)

Preparing for...SUN!

2006-03-27T18:23:00.000-08:00

As you know by now, last week's scheduled Real Girl writing night fell victim to the America's Next Top Model drinking game. (A contestant does not "believe in herself." Drink! Guest spot by crazy Janice Dickenson. Drink! Model stumbles in high heels. Drink! Model must work that much harder because she is the shortest of the group. Drink!)

But have you noticed? The sunny months are approaching. Yay!! However, spring and summer are also when your skin will need its greatest protection. Along with sunscreen, you should be thinking about antioxidants. Studies have proven that antioxidants increase the efficacy of sunscreen and provide your cells with the chemical reactions needed to fight free radical damage.

The annoying part? Cosmetics aren't tightly regulated. So a skin care company can claim it's got all the antioxidants in the world, but very often? The concentrations are too low to do any good. HATE THAT. Also, for the finer antioxidants like white and green tea, often companies will jack up the price to exorbitant levels. HATE THAT.

Monday night I'll be sharing my favorite antioxidant product--the one that offers the greatest concentration of ingredients for the best value. Will we be hitting both oily skin and dry skin? Of course!

And does my search for the ultimate sunscreen continue? Well, duh!

If you want, you can use the comments here to suggest sunscreens for me to test and examine.

And we'll finish this post up Monday night! xx

Real Girl Needs Your Help!!

2006-03-19T12:29:00.000-08:00

UDATE: If you mention the below on your blogs and link to http://www.urbanhonking.com/zoe/ by 3 PM Tuesday 3/21, I'll mention you in the Ultimate Blogger challenge, and you could get tons of hits!! Let me know in the comments.

Real Girl Beauty readers are some of the most supportive people in cyberland, so I'm hoping you'll all help me with my next Ultimate Blogger challenge. I've got to recruit creative people! That's you guys!! (AND For all of you FED UP with Ultimate Blogger, there's only one week left of the competition. Promise!)

Plus? It's a really fun challenge. I'm asking people to describe--or even post pictures of!--the outfit(s) they've worn that should have never left the closet.

AWESOMELY BAD OUTFITS! Click here to read all about it and add yours!! The deadline? Is This Tuesday, March 21, at 3PM EST.

I've also created an excellent Flickr group for sharing pictures in case you want to dig out some of those bad boys! Come join the fun.

The one above? Is my Bat Mitzvah dress, 1989. Turquoise taffeta. Stop being so jealous.

Thanks in advance for this, guys. You're doing an old broad a GREAT favor!
And soon, we'll be talking all about luscious beauty products again and forever more.
xx
RG

Man Care: The Ultimate Blogger Linkaroo

2006-03-17T09:37:00.000-08:00

Update: Immunity!!! My man-care Real Girl entry won me a guaranteed pass to participate in the next Ultimate Blogger Bloggerific challenge. Wheeeee!!! Real Girl's happyyyyy! (As will be many, many women with newly groomtastic boyfriends.)
xx

Finally, my dearests. A challenge on Ultimate Blogger where Zoe can write as Real Girl. For my latest entry, I wrote all about Grooming for Men. It? Was exhausting.

I'm a wee bit sad, my lovelies. We were asked to showcase our expertises. Clearly you know what mine is. But the Ultimate Blogger judges tend to go gaga over computers, technology, videos...and that's everyone's specialty but mine. So I think I'm a bit of an underdog this time around, and I'm just hoping to stay in the competition and last one more week.

I've worked so, so hard. And if nothing else, I hope you guys enjoy the Man version of RGB!!

Much love,
xx
Real Girl

Last Minute Lip Gloss Switcheroo

2006-03-09T18:37:00.000-08:00

Oh, crap it all to hell. Real Girl is not in a good mood. Today seems to have conspired against her in many, many ways, and she is overworked and underpaid.

The End.

By the way? The room spray I am longing to tell you about? Is no longer listed on the company website. This means I need to go to the actual store. In person. Using my feet. To see if it is still available. If not? It has been DISCONTINUED, and I will cry. Because it’s that kind of day. And DISCONTINUED is that kind of word.

But you know what will make me feel better? Telling you about yet ANOTHER lip gloss you should take a look at. I know. We’ve been very lippy lately, but it’s a last minute substitution, and it tastes yummy.

I have a new favorite nighttime lip gloss. It’s the perfect mix of deep bronze and gold. It’s shiny, similar in texture to my MAC lip glosses I would say. And it tastes like cake. Want to meet it? I introduce you to Tutti Dolci lip gloss in Tiramisu Veneziano. Available at your local Bath and Body Works. (Which, by the way? Has some fascinating new skin care and makeup lines!)

There is much I enjoy about this lip gloss. 1) Yummy. We’ve been over that. Tastes like dessert! With no Jessica Simpson involved! 2) Moisturizing! A great lip gloss for winter. I’m so glad makeup companies have realized that gloss? Should make our lips feel good. But here’s what I love most about this lip gloss line. It’s so easy these days to find glosses in pinks, reds, purples. Makeup companies seem to love those colors as if they’re being paid to. But Tutti Dolci’s colors? Why don’t I just show you a few, hmmm? Even the pink has a dusty, softened tone that I just want to eat up.

Amaretti

Creme Brulee

Sugar Water

Mango Sorbetto

What’s more? I’m kind of in love with the whole idea of the Tutti Dolci line. I’m a dessert scent gal all the way, and I wouldn’t mind trying a few more of these goodies down the road. Because my new lip gloss? It is so Dolce! And I love it so Tutti!

Next time you’re at Bath and Body Works, take a peek. Let me know what you think. Because I’ve got my Dolci on now, and all I want to do is enjoy the sweet, sweet moisture. What would life be like without lip gloss? I don’t even want to imagine it. I might get wrinkles.

Tell me about your favorite makeup/skin care scents. Your new lip crazes. Your favorite Bath and Body Works products. Your...anything! Anything at all.

Love you guys!
xx
Real Girl

Benelip! It's Beneriffic! Benelieve Me!

2006-03-02T18:07:00.000-08:00

Hello you patient people!

Thanks so much for understanding as I brave the wilds of Ultimate Blogger 2. It’s been less than a week, and let me tell you it’s already a long, strange trip! But one I’m having fun on. I’ll send you a postcard saying “Wish you were here!” with cute kiss marks on the front.

And speaking…of…kiss marks…

Can I just tell you about my new lip obsession? Or, wait. Let me show you. Enlarge the picture over there at the right. The one where I’m holding this very product, along with last week’s precious gem. See my lips? How they look all rosy? Like they’ve been bitten gently over and over, so the flush of rushing blood seems to linger near the surface?

We can thank Benefit’s Benetint Pocket Pal for that perfect rosy color.

Now, part of this product is an old favorite to many. Benetint, the classic tint for cheeks and lips. I’ve never had much luck using the color on my cheeks—maybe you can share your application processes. I’ve always been a powder blush gal. But for lips? It’s nice, but not very purse-friendly. And also? Just the tint isn’t enough. There’s something too pink or too red when it’s on its own. The lip looks dry, flat, not as sexy as it should.

But with the clear gloss on the other side of the Pocket Pal? Magic. Sheer (punny!) lip magic. You are not looking at a pink or red gloss girl. I just don’t look good in them. But somehow, the tint-gloss combo just…shines! Love! I feel like if it's flattering on me, with my yellow-undertone skin, then it should suit many a complexion. Also, you might want to experiment with how dark you'd like the tint to be. Too much and it looks hot pink against my skin. I just brush once on upper lip and once on bottom, without re-dipping.

But girls, you know we’ve got to break it down Real Girl style. Application: Careful of that tint brush because it can tickle. Your lips are sensitive! (Like my dear, competing heart right now.) As for the gloss applicator tip? I wish it deposited more product on the lip. But if you pump and gloss a couple times you should be fine. The gloss itself is really nice! Moisturizing, light, and not too goopy or too shiny. A great winter/early spring look all around. Another great plus!? As a tint, the color won't kiss off! Sure your man (or woman--no judging here!) will wind up wearing a bit of clear gloss, but the gloss isn't that slippery, so the transfer quotient should be minimal. I say kiss away!

Now lovelies, pleeease share your Benetint experiences! Any tint experiences at all. Shout out whatever you want!

(I’ve already been answering questions from my fellow Ultimate Bloggers about ratty cuticles and flossing…from the guys! I can’t tell you how much I love that.)

(It almost feels like home!)

(Sniffle.)

Thanks for your awesome support, guys. I’ll tell you one thing I know for sure: If the contest were about who has the Ultimate Readers? I’d be leaving them all in the dust!

With love,
From one Real Girl to another
xx

P.S. Hold that tint part of the combo upright--it has spill potential when open! And spilling product is baaaaad.

Hi, I'm Zoe. Also? Trying to be the Ultimate Blogger

2006-02-27T07:24:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: Check out my entry for Challenge 1: Queer Eye for the Lost Guy. Whatever I write next, I promise it will be here, and it will be liptastic.

Ultimate Blogger 2.

Duh Duh DUHHH.

Do you see my photo there? Yeah, I'm a competitor. Under my "real" name, Zoe. If I'm not voted off early, this will be a four week competition, wherein I'll be responding to various blog challenges.

I will make every best effort to also stay devoted to the informed--yet oh so fun!--beauty and health (um, who are we kidding with that one) posts here at home. Expect a delightful lip product post soon, my dearies!

If you want to leave me nice Ultimate Blogger 2 comments? It might make me more popular. The captain of the Ultimate Blogger football team might even ask me to the pep rally! Oh, to be Blogcoming Queen. You can start by searching out "Zoe's" post here, at the "Den."

But on this page, I will remain as always,
your
Real Girl
xx

Take Me Out Tonight!

2006-02-21T19:25:00.000-08:00

What was I thinking! Ladies short program! American Idol! On this night of Guilty Addiction Television, what the heck am I doing scribbling on my computer?

Talking about my new beauty products, people. Duh!

To Ahe’s dismay (why, Ahe!!?? please share!), tonight we’re talking about take out. But this is not your mother’s Lo Mein, no matter how cute the Chinese food packaging may be. (It looks like rice! But it’s really mayyy-kup!). No, this is much more fun than any brown noodle dish could ever be. Hear me, ladies? FUN. Hard Candy Take Out Makeup Kit is just pure FUN!

See, this is why it’s great to have friends (hi Madgirl!) who buy you things you didn’t even know you wanted. If I had seen this product at the store, I would have marveled over its pink-hearted packaging (pink! hearts!), maybe snuggled it for a moment (purr, purr), and then passed it by as a gimmick (over it!). But then I would have been at such a loss! To avoid the Take Out would be to avoid one of the best parts about makeup—the notion of dressing up as something you’re normally not. Of experimenting with looks that might nudge you just slightly past your comfort zone. How many times have you eyed an eyeshadow or lip gloss that you’re not quite entirely sure you can ROCK? It’s happened to me lots. But then I look at the price of this one gloss or eye shadow ($15!) and it’s just too much to pay for a single little plaything. So I go for my usual colors—my bronzes, my browns, my safe old favorites.

But the beauty of the Hard Candy Take Out is that you’re getting a whole palette of fun, daring, super sparkly party colors that—I fully admit—have just had me smiling since I got it. Somehow Hard Candy has got the perfect sparkle down—glittery but still subtle, a youthful effervescence, a glow.

But let’s be thorough here, my friends. Because we’re talking tiers of makeup. Tiers. To start, I think you might have heard me mention pink! and hearts! to which I only say: mmm-hmmm.

Pop open the top to…lip gloss!! Surprisingly flattering lip gloss. The bubble-gummy pink in the middle bottom row made my lips look gently bitten. The clear shimmer just makes my lips sparkle with cuteness. And the nudes come with shimmer or without. These are not powerful lip glosses—they’re subtle hints of color, not goopy or thick at all. They’re best worn over a basic lip balm (my personal preference) or under a shiny clear gloss for full effect and moisture. (Overall RGB disclaimer: Digital camera, why do you make everything so orange? Colors here are not exactly as they appear in *lower case* real life. Especially those two on the far left—so much cuter in person!)

Flip up another layer, and we get…wheee!...eye shadows! And fun ones, too, with party sparkle that brightens the eye. I like the black a lot, which is soft and pretty (I’m wearing it in my new Real Girl picture at the right.) Even the purple and green are light enough to be flattering. And the white serves as a perfect highlighter at the inner corner of the eye and top of the brow bone. But what I love most about these colors is that I would have never bought them singly or in their own palette, but I’ve been having so much fun experimenting with the new colors. It makes me feel young again. Like, oh I don’t know, a mere 28 or something.

Let’s sneak up to my favorite tier now. The bronzer! Love it! This is a great, tawny color for my pasty winter cheeks. I love the subtle shimmer that just lights up my face, negating a seasons’ worth of sharp, biting winds. Also? I’m kind of digging the small concealers here. Neither are quite right for my skin tone, but I can combine the two on one brush to get a closer match, OR I can use the lighter one as a sort of primer, which I’ve been doing. I brush the light concealer on my darkest areas before my normal concealer, and by golly, I see a difference there.

The only part of the Hard Candy Take Out Kit that really disappointed me, alas, was the mascara—which is gloppy and heavy. But I’ve been playing every day with the lip glosses over chapstick (okay, actually my superhydrating Body Shop Hemp Lip Balm—but that’s a whole other post!) and the fun, sparkly eye shadows. I’m taken! You got me hearts and pinkness. You gottttttttt me.

Which makes me your,
Real Girl
xx

P.S. (American Idol kind of sucked, didn’t it? But the ladies short program isn’t over yet…)

(And let's hear what you think of palettes! Hard Candy products! Great products for experimentation! (Not that kind, you dirty Nellie!) Anything at allll! Shout 'em out.)

The Mascara Chronicles: Part IV

2006-02-13T06:11:00.000-08:00

Hey girls!! And nongirls!! I’ve misssssed you.

Exactly one week ago, I reached a milestone. But we will get to that later. Oh, we’ll get there. Because first? Business people. We’ve got La Business to attend to. It is called: Mascara. Or, as I like to say when I’m home by myself vamping in front of the mirror: Mascahhhra. Experience tells me that y’all love to dish the dirt on the lovely lash luxurizer as well.

Ready for a trip down memory lane? Take a peek at my own Lord of the Rings-like trilogy. Let us call it Lady of the Lashes. As in, the Mascara Chronicles I, II, and III. Caught up now? Mmmmkay, good.

Because memory lane ain’t over yet! See, Real Girl owes much of this post to some of her gorgeous Real Girlettes, Jules from Oz (aka otterkat), Lori, and Magpie, and to their comments back yonder. These gals alerted me to a must-have I was as yet unaware of. That’s right: it’s drugstore mascara time. And more specifically, we start with Maybelline Full ‘N Soft.

Can I just say? LOVE! Now, many of you have emailed me or commented on your love of Benefit’s BADgal, and I totally get it! In many ways, I absolutely concur! I used to love me some BADgal, most of all because of the stunning brush. What a great, great mascara wand. Separates! Elongates! Love! EXCEPT for the running. BADgal just didn’t make it through the night for my runny, teary, moist little eyes. So if you’re scared of raccoon eyes? Maybe not your #1 best option. But the Maybelline Full ‘N Soft has the 2nd best wand I’ve ever seen. It’s like a smaller version of the BADgal wand, a full brush that coats evenly and makes the lashes pop. My only slight complaint with the Full ‘N Soft is that it isn’t as absolutely dramatic as my old YSL favorite (see Chronicles II). The length falls just short of the YSL, as does the thickness. It’s a case of close—very close!—but not quite the cigar.

However! I found a way to bring the “close” even closer. We go now to another Maybelline product—one beloved by magazines all over the world and also by Real Girl commenter, Paige. My curiosity has long been piqued by Maybelline Lash Discovery. The result for Real Girl, though? Hmmm, not quite right for me. The wand is good for separating—most appropriate for the ladies with thick lashes who need length over volume. However, if you curl your lashes? I’d stay away from Lash Discovery. I have long, but very straight, eyelashes. They need curling or they just hang down droopily, and that? Ain’t the look I’m going for. So one of my main criteria for mascara is that it isn’t so heavy that it uncurls the lash. But alas, the Lash Discovery made my lashes droop all sad-like. Still...looking at that sleek silvery tube, how could I just let her go, unloved, into the Makeup Drawer of Forgetland?

You know what I found out? These two Maybelline mascaras become AMAZING when combined together. Like, almost as damn fine as my beloved (yet short-lasting) YSL. First, I apply my Full ‘N Soft. But then? I take the separating wand of the Lash Discovery and sweep it through my thickened lashes. I then hold my lashes up with the wand, trying to give them a moment to dry all curled and lengthened. IT TOTALLY WORKS. Up and hold at the tips. Up and hold at the tips. Am I describing this well enough? Yell at me if I’m not. (You know, gently.)

Ready for the segue? I wore this divine mascara combination for my big birthday party, which was this past Friday night at a small but swank bar on the Lower East Side. And by the way? It SO ROCKED! Real Boy bumped up the DJ booth to the delight of the revelers and so many people showed up that we overshot the fire code! Yay to all the superb people who helped Real Girl rein in another year.

And by the way? It’s a BIG YEAR. So, to end, we’ll take a final trip down memory lane, back to when Real Girl was 1 and a half years old:

This picture from my birthday party? Is 28 and a half years later. I’ll let you do the math, my sweets. (The beauty with me is my best friend—since we were 12!—Madgirl.)

UPDATE: So...Madgirl doesn't think she looks good in the photo I posted--which is, appropriately, MADNESS! But in deference to her wishes, I've posted a slightly different version of the photo. This one with my "man on the side," Wentworth Miller. We're very close in Photoshopland. Enjoy.

Thanks for all your lovely birthday wishes! And let’s dish the dirt on mascara!!

I remain your,
Not quite nursing home ready,
Real Girl
xx

Always Use Protection!

2006-02-07T04:29:00.000-08:00

By far the most asked question that Real Girl gets is: What’s the one product I need to take care of my skin? Now, for La Real Girl, this is kind of like asking: What’s the one pair of shoes I need in my closet? Or what’s the one food group I need to eat? I could survive on one skin care product like Pamela Anderson could survive without silicone.

But you have already gotten the picture and are bored of me. So let’s think back, all the way to early January, when we all chipped into one glorious list that was the profound opposite of just-one-product. See the DDF Daily Organic Sunblock SPF 30? Yeah, well Sephora’s not stocking the SPF 30 in winter, so I nabbed myself a neat little sample of the SPF 15. Actually, two samples. Because there are two Sephoras near my house. And since when are two samples not better than one?

But there I went and jumped the gun. Sunscreen. The “one product I need” answer? Totally sunscreen. In this day and age, you are now scrunching up your nose at me and thinking, Um, duh. But trust me, you don’t realize how often you need la ‘screen, or—and this is stunning—how much you should be using. Spending your day near a sunny window? Stepping out on a cloudy day? Breathing? Yeah, then you need the screen. Every season, every day. It’s the only thing that will literally save your skin. Yes antioxidants fight damage, and yes antioxidants improve sunscreen’s performance, but they can’t act as a substitute.

Ummmkay. Ready for my confession now? Or are you so over Real Girl’s confessions? I cover my entire face with sunscreen every day. But never, not once have I used the amount I’m supposed to (except around the eyes). The truth is, I’m probably not getting my full SPF protection because I apply a thin-ish layer. You’re supposed to be liberal. Very liberal. So if you want to use foundation or powder (or both!) with SPF in addition to your base sunscreen lotion, you’re probably getting closer.

But enough with this all, because I’m sure it’ll come back another day. Why? Because Real Girl is searching for the PERFECT SUNSCREEN! Wheeee! Ok. So according to Very Important Skin Care Experts, the three most effective sunscreen ingredients are avobenzone, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide. The lore goes that avobenzone, a chemical sunscreen, can be absorbed by the skin and so works better for oily skin, doesn’t clog pores, blah blah wonder of the world. The other two, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, are physical sunscreens that work as a shield, deflecting the sun’s rays so they can’t even hit your skin. Aveobenzone doesn’t fight UVB radiation, however, and so is often paired with another chemical sunscreen that does. So you need 2 chemical sunscreens, then, to block all the nasty UV rays. HOWEVER (always! however! bah!). There has been some research that shows that avobenzone may not only be a less effective sunscreen than the other two, but that it ALSO might cause free radicals. I’m not sure if I believe that avobenzone does, indeed, cause the FREENESS and the RADICALNESS that we HATE, but you can read more info on all the hooplah here. Do I endorse or believe it? You know, I’m just not sure. But my motto has always been better safe than wrinkly.

Short story long, it’s been my mission to find a perfect titanium dioxide based or zinc oxide based sunscreen that can replace my beloved Clinique avobenzone ones and make my face all safe and snug in its healthiness. By the way? This is FRIGGIN’ HARD. Because physical sunscreens? Are tricky little devils. For one, since they cover your skin, they have the potential to clog pores. This can be fought with a good salicylic acid treatment at night, which I do. The other annoying factorama? These sunscreen ingredients may leave a chalky or white tinge to the skin. So the perfect product here will not cause blemishes and will not appear too white. Let the search begin.

Until I find La Perfect, I’ve been using basic old Olay Complete, which has a low whiteness factor, but alas causes a shine that I wouldn’t call my favorite look.

Which brings us to…(FINALLY because shut up already you Real Windbag, right?) the DDF Organic SPF 15. I have to say, this is one of the least greasy sunscreens I’ve ever come across. There’s not much moisturizing going on with this product—all it wants to do is protect your skin. So if you’re on the shiny side, like me? That’s a huge plus, especially in summer. If you’re dry, however? Move along to another option. And…the whiteness. Well, the DDF Organic suffers from the whiteness. I combat this by applying evenly and then covering with bronzer (I should be using SPF bronzer, but, well...). As a winter sunscreen? This probably isn’t the best one, unless your skin is very oily and not too olive-toned. As a summer sunscreen? I will be revisiting the DDF Organic if I don’t find something else more absolutely extraordinary.

So let the search continue! Wanna help La Real Girl find the perfect sunscreen? Please share your wondrous product recommendations! Got any questions about the ‘screen? Or just come along to chat, because I remain, as always…

Your Real Girl
xx

My Bag Shake Brings All the Boys To The Yard

2006-01-29T20:27:00.000-08:00

Hello deserving and lovely people!

Here is the post! About the bag! That I am in love with! Finally!

(Real Girl Beauty disclaimer: Sooooo, guess what? My weekend to-do list was way more ambitious than it should have been, so now it’s 11:30 PM on Sunday, and I’m concurrently baking cookies for my saintly editor and writing what I’m sure will be a sub-standard entry, so I will ask now for your forgiveness. Just look at the pretty bag. Also? I have the nastiest cut on my left pinky fingertip, so typing “a” or “A” (um, ouch) hurts like a motherfrigger. And…scene.)

You know what I look for in a bag? Three things. Three perfect bag criteria that I will be breaking down for you (as usual) right now. 1) Originality. Because when you’re on the subway? And the girl next to you and the girl across from you and the girl next to her are all carrying the same Louis Vuitton bag? I say: Eh. 2) Cuteness. Because: duh. 3) What I call the “c-factor,” namely, carry-ability. How easy is this bag to tote around? Is it big enough, small enough, light enough, etc.? Full disclosure here. For La Real Girl? This third criteria usually steers me away from leather bags, which I find kind of heavy. So when I see a bag that’s not leather that strikes that eternal cuteness chord deep inside, nestled next to my heart? Yeah, that bag’s gonna get bought.

Exhibit A (ouch):

See my cute bag? Want to know where I got it? From the lovely Nicole at MargaretNicole.com. I call her lovely Nicole because we emailed about my bag for, like, a week, and she is the sweetest designer I’ve spoken to in ages! I ultimately decided that I, personally, adored the brown wool with pink satin ribbon option, but here’s one of the MOST EXCELLENT things about this bag: You can customize it. Want a different color wool? A different ribbon? (Velvet’s available too, but Nicole thinks the satin falls more prettily.) Want two ribbons so you can swap them depending on your outfit colors? Everything is possible. Just email Nicole (contact info available on her website) and I’m sure she’ll answer all your questions, offer advice, and send you your bag with a smile. She be cool people.

And this be cool bag. You can get it in big bangle, regular sized bangle, or clutch. There’s lovely cotton lining. And want to see the shoes I bought way back when from Delia’s? (Remember the Delia’s post? It’s in the archives somewhere here, and I’ll look for it when I’m not busy being lame?) Let’s just take a look at how my bag’s pink ribbon compliments the shoe’s pink ribbon. I can’t tell you how happy that makes me.

Exhibit B:

I think you’re getting the picture here. I love bow trim. I love lace trim. I love most things girly and trimly. But I understand that many do not share my love of the bow. I’m hoping we’ll all share our favorite bags here, and I expect to be learning about a whole bag universe that has likely escaped my attention!

Ready for the However? Would it be RGB without the However? I’m thinking that’s a hell to the No.

My biggest pet peeve with my delicious Margaret Nicole bag is the closure. What you’re getting here is an unstructured bag with a magnetic snap closure and no zip pocket. Is that snap going to open? Probably not. But the bag can gap, and if it falls or if you’re not careful, your smaller items might find their way out. My solution to this problem has been to keep what’s usually the loose bills, change, keys, lip balm etc. that I stuff in a zipper pocket in a separate pouch or small zipper bag that I then put in my Margaret Nicole bag. Cumbersome, I know. But I think it’s worth it. And finding your keys easily because they’re already in a compact bag that’s in your bag? That’s pretty awesome.

The other thing about the Margaret Nicole bag is that it’s knit with lovely wool. However, if you’ve had wool sweaters before (and who hasn’t?) then you know wool can get a bit “furry,” for lack of a better word. So your bag may pill a bit, get a bit woolly, etc. But that’s the nature of the fabrication. (I feel so Project Runway using that word, and that makes me feel Project Fabulous.)

Surf margaretnicole.com. See if there are colors you’re dying for. See if wool and ribbons are your thing. And if they’re not? PLEASE, PLEASE tell us what is! I can’t wait to hear all about your favorite bags.

And I apologize for being your less than 100%
La Real Girl
xx

P.S. Guess who saw Carson from Queer Eye on the street the other day? And guess who went up to him and told him how much she loves his show? And then pointed to her boyfriend and said: He dresses good! (To which Carson adorably responded: "Oh, good!") Can you guess? Can you? Love me some Carson.

Boone Place Holder

2006-01-26T20:06:00.000-08:00

OK, I SUCK. There will be no bagerific post tonight, Thursday, because I had to get the production deadline for my novel extended to Monday. Know why? Because there was a GIANT LEAK near my bathtub that went down to the floor below and resulted in much grouting and caulking and Real Boy being a star at the home maintenance.

My headache, it is large. So I will give you a hint about the bag I'll be telling you about THIS WEEKEND I PROMISE I SWEAR I REALLY DO.

It comes in clutch or bangle.

It's not leather.

It is the cutest thing ever.

Unlike my bathroom right now.

And because I love you, I will give you something pretty to look at while you wait patiently. Not me. Oh, no. I'm the one with the enormous, wide, goofy smile that has bunched my cheeks up into my eye sockets. No, the pretty is the Boone. From Lost! I love ABC's Lost! Ok, so technically he's also known as Ian Somerhalder. He's in a play down the block from my apartment, which my friend E and I saw and LOVED (so so funny!), and he graciously chatted with me afterwards while I secretly bugged the frig out.

Annnnddd now off to clean my bath tub. Joy.

Kisses!
RG

The Best. Bra. Evah!

2006-01-15T16:10:00.000-08:00

This entry begins back in September, on a crisp fall evening amongst the winding paths and whistling trees of Prospect Park, Brooklyn. My (very talented writer) friend Liz has just finished traipsing down the aisle to join in wedded bliss with her husband, J. I am giving Liz a heartfelt hug of congratulations. The scene is classy, tasteful, and joyous. So, of course, one of the first things out of my mouth is suitable to the atmosphere indeed.

Real Girl: Liz, your boobs look AMAZING!

Liz: I know, right!? It’s all the bra. Go to Victoria’s Secret. It’s the one with the gel.

Real Girl: (Face falls.) I can’t wear Victoria’s Secret bras, dagnabit. They’re just not made for little gals like me.

Liz: No, trust me. The gel one. Get the gel one.

Real Girl: (Feeling a tiny well of hope inside) Okay. I’ll try. You can go, um, finish your wedding now if you want.

And with that, I said ta-ta to Liz and her ta-tas. But I never forgot the gel. I will never forget the gel. Because for the first time in my life, I now have cleavage. Sexy, shapely, come hither cleavage that shocks me every time I see it. Real Girlettes, I owe my new fabulous rack not to any scalpel-crazy surgeon, but rather to the miraculous and worship-worthy Victoria’s Secret Very Sexy Convertible Push-Up Bra. And talking about my new very sexy boobies? Is a thrill indeed.

But first let’s return to the old days. When my young pups were humble, as Shakira might say, rather than mountainous. I don’t mean to go all Oprah on you, but indeed I was an A in a B cup. At some point in my life, I was a B, especially in Calvin Klein. Did mainstream lingerie lines start making their bras bigger, as the clothing lines did? I just don’t know. But Victoria’s Secret bras used to hang off of me like the cloth was scared of my bosom. Them bras wouldn’t hug my chest if it were the last mammary provider in town.

So, when I entered the Victoria’s Secret store near my apartment (across the street from one of my TWO local Sephoras), it was with some trepidation. And when I saw the sleek-haired, black-clad saleswoman, my face might have maybe scrunched up, and my voice gone high. “Um…can I see the bra with the gel in it? And…um…could you maybe measure me?”

It was then that I was offered my delicious little A-cup option. The above-linked Very Sexy Convertible Push-Up. I will confess that the bells and whistles piqued my interest. 1) You can remove the gel inserts (though I’ve only done that for washing). 2) You can switch the colored straps with clear straps. 3) You can remove the straps altogether. 4) You can wear it with halter-tops. 5) No, really. Even low-back halter tops. 6) Just look at the booklet! It’s all in the handy, pictureific booklet.

I was told by the saleswoman that the regular old Very Sexy Push Up Bra doesn’t have the same gel base, although perhaps some readers have tried it? But for real? The gel one is a miracle worker. I love the gel. It comes in two little packets that nestle in the bottom of your bra, lifting your pups up like they’ve got helium in them. This is, indeed, my first successful push-up bra ever. Before, push-up bras always made my boobs look too high, as if they hadn’t developed in the right place. And yet still, the cleavage was lacking. But the Convertible Very Sexy is the master push-up. It enhances your natural shape and size rather than fiddling to heave your chest up to high heaven.

There are, however, some draw-backs, as—alas—there always are. When converting the bra to its strapless version, the bra kind of leans forward. I’ve successfully worn it strapless, but only when the top or dress is tight enough to pull the bra in toward my chest. Also, very rarely the straps come undone under my shirt. This has only happened once, but it kind of sucks that the booklet doesn’t go into detail about how to hook the straps on most securely. You’ve got to slip the wide slit on the strap-hook under the fabric loop and then nestle the loop itself between the two halves of the lower part of the hook. Oh hell, let me just show you.

I debated whether I should shove a pic of my new, luxuriant cleavage in your faces, but in the end (especially after bearing my teeth for all to see in the Great Whitening Experiment of 2005) I decided against it. The bra’s been perfectly comfortable, in my opinion, fitting nicely without pinching. The best part? I have to remember now that when I bend over I might want to tug my shirt up a bit. Shhh, don’t tell, but the other day at work? I totally caught some guy checking me out as I was bending over a file cabinet. His eyes were NOT focused on my face, let me tell you. Ah, this new power. Real Girl promises to use it wisely.

But what about you all? Have you got a miracle bra you’d like to share with us? Any words from the bigger boobied gals that I’ve envied all my life? Trust Liz. Trust me. The gel bra just friggin’ rocks.

With love from your,

Chesty LaRue
aka
Real Girl
xx

Real Girl Resolves To...

2006-01-04T20:00:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!
Pretty New Year!
Healthy New Year!

Now let me break it down for you.

I am not a girl of will-power. Have I confessed this to you before? During this last year of drawing attention to all my flaws? Because, yeah, I’m not one for New Year’s Resolutions. If you’ve been with me a while, you might remember how I kept it real last year by talking about all the brilliant self-improving tasks I was going to COMPLETELY FORGO.

And all the scrumptious, shiny, glossy, sparkly, satiny, luscious products I was going to COMPLETELY GO FOR.

I am such a star at making resolutions….

A year later, I am smarter about this whole beauty shebang. I’ve been edumacating myself these past many months. And let’s hope we all benefit from it!

This is my favorite Real Girl Beauty post. My absolute fave one to do. I’m all tingly about it in my tummy, as if it’s a new boy I’m going on a first date with. Oh, and he’s really cute and knows about manscaping. Here’s the time when I tell you EVERYTHING I WANT TO TRY THIS YEAR. And when you BRILLIANTLY tell me what you’ve already tried on the list (and how it produces) AND also what products YOU are currently DYING to try. OR what products you think I need to try. Clearly this post requires MANY MANY CAPITAL LETTERS.

(I’m adding an additional feature here based on timeliness. Real Girl has a very BIG, TRAUMATIC birthday coming up VERY SOON. To make her feel better about it, she’s adding special stars to products that her friends and family should feel perfectly free to—and yet perfectly unobligated to—buy her for her BIG BIRTHDAY coming next month dear God help me please.)

Wheeee!

Skin Care
General and Night Creams
*Clinique Repairwear Deep Wrinkle Concentrate for Face and Eye
*Patricia Wexler MD MMPi Skin Regenerating Serum
*DDF C3 Plus Serum (Vitamin C and Peptides! Oh My!)
*Skinceuticals C E Ferulic (I star this only for the millionaire long lost relative I don’t yet know I have.)
*Eau Thermale Avene Retrinal Cream
*Green Cream High-Potency Retinol Level 6
Elizabeth Arden Prevage (Idebenone is supposed to be the new most powerful antioxidant, but ain’t nothing powerful enough for me to shell out $150. Still, I’d love to sample!)
Dermalogica Daily Resurfacer
*H2O Plus Sea Results Overnight Perfecting Peel
*Peter Thomas Roth Max Anti-Shine Mattifying Gel
L'Oreal Dermo-Expertise Transformance Skin Perfecting Solution
*Kinara Lactic Acid Hydrating Serum
Replenix Serum

SPF Sunscreens/Moisturizers
*Patricia Wexler MD Oil-Free Hydrator SPF 30
DDF Matte Finish Photo-Age Protection SPF 15 or SPF 30 (Non-oily, with antioxidants!)
Propoline Suncare SPF 30
June Jacobs SPF 20 Sun Stick (It’s purse-sized for touch-ups, and that’s just cute)
Dr.Hauschka Sunscreen Cream SPF 20
*Clarins UV Plus SPF 40 (With white tea! Whee!)
*DDF Organic Sunblock, SPF 30
*Neostrata Exuviance Essential Multi-Defense Day Fluid SPF 15

Eye Creams/Treatments
Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Eye Cream, Light Tint
*Lancome Renergie Microlift Eye Cream
Nivea Visage Multiple Results Eye Cream
Shiseido Future Solution Eye and Lip Contour Cream
Apivita Express Eye Zone Mask with Ginkgo Biloba
Olay Total Effects Eye Transforming Cream
L'Oreal Dermo-Expertise Wrinkle De-Crease Eye
Earth Therapeutics Rejuvenal-C Orange Eye Pads

Body/Nail Stuff
*Stila Petal Infusions Retexturizing Scrub
*Lush Volcano Foot Mask
Sephora Whipped Body Delights (in Marshmallow Fluff)
Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Nail & Cuticle Therapy
Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover
Bliss Foot Patrol
*Laura Mercier Luxury Soap in Crème Brulee (I have smelled this soap, and it is soap heaven.)

Makeup
Mascara!
*Lancome L'Extreme Instant Extensions Lengthening Mascara
Maybelline New York Lash Discovery Mascara
L’Oreal Voluminous Volume Building Mascara
Prescriptives Beyond Long Maximum Length Mascara
Fresh Supernova Mascara
Estee Lauder Lash XL Mascara
Max Factor Lash Perfection Mascara
Givenchy Eye Fly Lash Extender Mascara
Maybelline Illegal Lengths Mascara
L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara

Lippy Lip Lips
Avon Shine Supreme Lip Color
Dior Addict Lip Fluid
MAC Pro Longwear Lustre Lipcolour (Supposedly one of the best long-wear lip colors)
Smashbox Tinted Treatment Lipstick
Goldie Lip Gloss in Brownie
Lorac Gloss Stick in Sheer Berry

Concealer
MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer
Benefit Lyin’ Eyes Concealer
Neutrogena Skin Soothing Undereye Corrector
Giorgio Armani High Precision Retouch Concealer
Dermablend Smooth Indulgence Concealer
Laura Mercier Undercover Concealer
Lancome Photogenic Skin Illuminating Concealer SPF 15

Eyes
Sally Hansen Professional Kohl Liner
MAC Eye Kohl in Teddy or Costa Riche
Stila Smudge Pots
Christian Breton Eye Shadow in Night Club (For bright colors.)
Estee Lauder Artist’s Eye Pencil in Opalescence
Clinique Kohl Shaper For Eyes (With a sharpener built into the cap!)
Elizabeth Arden Color Intrigue in Bronze
MAC Eye Shadow

Foundation/Tinted Moisturizer
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer SPF 20
Clarins True Comfort Foundation SPF 15
Estee Lauder Individualist Natural Finish Makeup (Foundation)
Prescriptives Flawless Skin Foundation
Nars Oil-Free Foundation

Bronzer, Highlighter, and Powder
Dr. Hauschka Translucent Bronze Concentrate
Stila Sun Highlighter in Shade 2
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Highlighter
Clarins Sunshine Powder Compact
Lancome Star Bronzer
Cover Girl Cheekers Bronzer in Golden Tan
T. LeClerc Loose Facial Powder
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Blends Natural Radiance Bronzer, Sunkissed 3

Nails
Essie 3-Way Glaze
Nars Nail Polish in Boccacio
Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle
Essie Nail Polish in Mademoiselle
*Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat
Orly Top 2 Bottom

Tools
*Stila #13 One Step Eye Liner Brush
Talika Heated Eyelash Curler
Sephora Makeup Eraser Pen (For those localized boo-boos.)

Hair Care
Which I don’t feel like sorting into categories
L’Oreal Technique Heat Control Moisture Protect Serum
*Jonathan Product Creat Volume Thickening Foam
*Bumble & Bumble Grooming Creme
*Bumble & Bumble Creme de Coco Conditioner
*Bumble & Bumble Thickening Spray
*Bumble and bumble Curl Conscious Curl Crème
Bumble & Bumble Curl Conscious Fine To Medium Hair Conditioner
Matrix Biolage Fortifying Conditioner
*Samy Curls Define & Extend Cream
*Kiehl’s Climate-Proof Shine-Enhancing Non-Aerosol Spray
Aveda Control Paste
*Kerastase Radiance Enhancing Milk
Kerastase Expanseur Extra-Corps Thickening Spray
Redken Straight 05 Balm
Ojon Conditioning Shine Serum
Revlon RV440C 1200W Ionic Hot Air Brush Kit
Graham Webb Stick Straight (To tame frizz)
Dove Smooth & Soft Anti Frizz Cream
John Frieda Sheer Blonde Spun Gold
*Aveda Be Curly Curl Enhancing Lotion
Aveda Brilliant Emollient Finishing Gloss
Aveda Phomollient (For volume)
*Philip B Detangling Finishing Rinse
L’oreal Vive Smooth-Intense Masque
Joico Silk Result Sheer Gloss
Sunscience Renew Shine Serum
Tigi Bedhead Cocky Thickening Paste
Lush Rehab for Hair
Physique Frizz Control Curl Cream
Phytospecific Intense Nutrition Mask
Infusium 23 Leave-In Conditioner, Complete Healthy Body Treatment
Redken Body Full Plump Treat
Finesse BeautiFULL Volume Conditioner
ISO Bouncy Crème
Tigi Catwalk Camera Ready Shiner & Defrizzer
Tresemme Anti-Frizz Secret
Prive Shine Serum
Charles Worthington Amazing Volume Finishing Cream
Frederic Fekkai Wave Creating Spray
Halo Illuminating Color Protection Shine Therapy
*Aveda Volumizing Tonic
Rene Furterer Fioravanti Clarify & Shine Rinse
Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum

I resolve, here and now, to try as many of these products as my body, pocketbook, and moxie will let me. In the words of a certain lovestruck cowboy, Beauty Products, “I wish I knew how to quit yew.”

Except I So. Totally. Do not.

Make me proud! What have you tried? What are you dying for that I haven’t listed? What are you dying for me to try? Share all your favorite products and let us know which ones are crap on a stick!

This is the closest thing RGB has to a de-lurking day, so raise your voices and let me know I’m your,

Real Girl
xx

P.S. Today, The Muse sent me a lovely email with yummy product recommendations that I was going to include in my list, but honestly? If I have to look up one more link this week I might pass out. So hopefully she’ll comment and share her fabu recommendations with us! As hopefully you dolls out there will too.

What You Want: Part 3

2005-12-22T19:44:00.000-08:00

I love a good transit strike ending, don’t get me wrong. But what a train tease to tell us: Look! Trains will run again! We promise! Only to have the news follow up an hour later with: “But not tonight, PSYCH!”

For the past few days, I’ve been amusing myself during my 2.5 mile walks to and from work by making up new and catchy songs. Great little ditties like, “Watch Where You’re Going, Roller Blader,” and my personal favorite, “Get Your Friggin’ Bike Off The Sidewalk, Dickwad.” Fun times.

I thought after hours in the cold, my hair would feel coarse and unruly, a regular mop to be beholden. But…ya know what? It’s actually not so bad. That wouldn’t be because of my new HEAT PROTECTANT now would it…?

Let’s talk about heat, bay-be. Let’s talk about you and me. Let’s talk about all the shine things and the gloss things that may be. Let’s talk about heat. Let’s talk about heat. (Ladies? ALL THE LADIES!)

Okay. So before I talk about why my new favorite heat protectant might not be the best one on the market (even though I love it so much that I nuzzle it daily), let me first introduce you to my new cuddle partner: Kiehl’s Heat-Protective Silk-Straightening Cream.

There I was at Kiehl’s, moaning over the loss of my beloved, discontinued Hair Thickening Lotion (damn you, Kiehl’s. Damnnnnnnn you), and asking the Nice Kiehl’s Lady what I might use in its stead. She looked me up and down and recommended the “Silk-Straightening Cream.” I made a face that loosely translates to “Are you blind, woman? Straight? Me? NOT. I mean, yes, I am straight. Not that there’s anything wrong with…But my hair! Totally not straight. It LOVES to kiss women. Erm, I mean curl up. It loves to curl up. With other hair. Not with…”

Thankfully, Nice Kiehl’s Lady (whom my hair, by the way, was strangely attracted to) interrupted my look with a quick, “Oh, it’s not really a straightener. Only when you blow dry. It just tames frizz and protects your hair from heat!”

Well I think I might just have to throw a party about that one.

After a couple weeks of sampling (Kiehl's is all about samples, so don't be shy), I am happy to say that my hair loves Kiehl’s new heat protectant straightener. I have, of course, not gone the blowing-straight route but rather the drying-while-scrunching-to-get-pretty-spirals route. I take a modest amount of the cream (go easy!) and scrunch it into my waves to tame their frizz. When I then scrunch and blow dry, I don’t feel the same coarseness afterwards that I used to, and I’m happy to say that I will be adding this new product to my regimen.

HOWEVER. This heat protectant may not be the one for you. If you have fine hair to medium/normal hair and you don’t blow dry all the time, then this may be your perfect de-frizzer. (For truly fine hair, use just a drop of product.) It’s less greasy than a serum or gloss drops, and yet it tames nicely.

But for girls who really go for blow-outs, with the brush and the drying or the ceramic hair irons—you need something more. What my new fave lacks, alas, is the best heat protectant ingredient out there: silicones.

Silicones come with pluses and minuses, so let’s take a moment to break it down. No other ingredient will give you as much shine, de-frizzing, and heat protection. Silicones (which come in any number of variations on ingredients lists) are must-haves for women with normal-to-thick/coarse hair who blow dry, iron, or straighten often. However (why is there always a however?), many products with silicones don’t have enough to truly protect your hair, and the products that do have enough? Can make it look greasy if you use too much. So there you are. The silicon scale. Reach the perfect middle and you get the best ingredient out there. Go too low and you get false confidence. Too high and you get ickiness. Ah, what a tricky path we tread.

The most silicone-packed hair products will be serums. These are the ones for the straighteners out there, but remember not to tip the scale and apply too much. Clearly, I wouldn’t be La Real Girl if I didn’t shove some options in your face. So, here. (Has transit strike made Real Girl grumpy? Nahhhh.)

• philosophy curly head silicone hair serum
• BioSilk Silk Therapy
• Phyto Phytolisse Ultra Shine Smoothing Serum

But worry not if you don’t wish to go down the serum path. There be other options.

• Sebastian Potion 9 (famous and world-beloved!)
• Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream
• Joico Straight Edge Heat-Activated Curl Straightener (which can also keep wavy hair wavy, by the way!)
• Matrix Biolage Smoothing Shine Milk (An appropriately light option for fine hair.)
• Neutrogena Triple Moisture Sheer Hydration Leave-in Foam (This one people either love or hate, go figure.)
• Sebastian Laminates Crema Styler, Anti-Frizz Control (Best for thick, dry hair)
• Tigi Bed Head, Superstar Thermal Blow-Dry Hair Lotion

A word here, my lovelies, about application. One thing that bugs me about hair reporting (besides the fact that CNN doesn't have a hair correspondent yet) is the over-used phrase “root to tip.” NOT EVERY HAIR PRODUCT should be applied root to tip. Silicone products? Like leave-in conditioners and most gels: Tip to root. Start low and work your way up because too much product at the top will weigh your roots down and make ‘em greasy, which is (as we beauty correspondents say) yucky.

For now, I’m going to stick with my Kiehl’s Silk-Straightening Cream, but when I discover which of these silicone products most rocks the hair house, I will be sure to report my findings.

In the mean-time, let’s hear from you all! What do you use (serums, creams, gels, sprays) to tame your frizz and protect your hair from heat? Report away and let’s show CNN a thing or two, shall we?

(Q Train tomorrow morning? Pleeeeeeeeease? I’ll wear my best lip gloss!)

Lovies!!
xx
RG

P.S. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!! Have a super one, and if you get (or give!) delicious beauty goodies, please share and let us live vicariously.

Coming Soon!!

2005-12-21T13:47:00.000-08:00

Update:
The transit strike stole my post again. Sort of.

Tonight, instead of going home, Real Boy walked an extra 20 blocks to my place to surprise me and take me out to dinner. You know, because of all the travel stress. Awwww. So instead of very important beauty reporting, I ate yummy taro wasabi dumplings and key lime pie.

I know, I know. If my post about heat protectant isn't spectacular, you're all going to throw concealer brushes at me. Or worse, foundation bottles. Them things are heavy. Please be nice.

So, Thursday night! After the walking. And the walking. And the falling. And the getting up and walking some more.

Tonight we dish about heat protectant.

Also? I'm hoping we get some subway service. Can we have some trains please? PLEASE?

What You Want: Part 2

2005-12-12T19:12:00.000-08:00

Girls (and boys?), I am a tired one tonight. You know the time of year—so crisp and frigid outside but so toasty warm inside, bundled in sweatpants and a high-necked sweater, cuddling a mug of cocoa and a furry feline. No, December does not scream glamour, with its chapping winds and endless Christmas specials. (I was waiting for A Very Merry Prison Break, with Michael devising a plan for Baby Jesus to escape the manger, but alas twas not to be.)

So in honor of the season of giving (which is, hello, every season here at Real Girl Beauty), I’m going to try and tip my amateur hat at some hair questions—with a heap of help from expert Julie.

First up comes this excellent question from Melissa:

Hey there,

I am curious as to your thoughts about at-home hair dyes. As someone who just got married AND moved out of state AND has to do holiday shopping now, going to a good salon for my coloring just isn’t in the budget until at least after the holidays. But with the whole 28 and grey thing happening, I need to do something. Do you have any suggestions / recommendations? I don’t expect to get pretty pretty highlights out of a box, I don’t need miracles. However, I would like halfway decent color without killing my hair. Any ideas you have would be appreciated.

Your blog is great, thanks for it.

Hi Melissa!

Well, congrats on your recent changes—and what better way to celebrate than with a sexy new hair color. I confess I haven’t home hair-dyed since I was about 16. My first salon henna was at 17. (There’s a story about that—it involves getting sassy red highlights the day before the SATs. During the test I made sure to sit near a window so the sun could dapple my darling new ‘do, and I could ooh and ahhh over my dazzling color. No single SAT-taker has ever been in a better mood than I was that day. Honestly? I credit my highlights with getting me the highest scores in my class. So trust me, I feel you on the importance of a good color. Ohhhh, I feel you.)

But first! These incredibly sage words of warning from Chere Julie, who TOTALLY knows her stuff when it comes to La Color:

[This is] a tough one. Since I have never used any of the over-the-counter hair coloring kits, I have no idea what to tell someone to buy to use on their own hair. My only advice is to be careful, because if they use some random over the counter color they can really mess their color up if they make the wrong choice. Which means it will cost them 3 times as much to get it fixed by a professional. So in the long run, they will not be saving money at all.

The most cautious thing to do is for her to talk to her stylist/colorist and see what she thinks she should do, since her stylist/colorist knows her hair color history. Because we don't know what is on her hair right now or what is underneath the color she has now. People tend to leave out the fact that they once had their hair black at one time, and then bleached it up to blonde, and then colored it red, and then black again, and so on and so on. It is a very hard call, especially over the internet.

So Melissa! If you don’t have “virgin” hair, beware my dear, beware. Also? With the fancy and the highlights and the lowlights? Best leave that to the pros.

But let’s say your current hair hasn’t popped its cherry yet. I’ve been doing some internet research as well as some consumer research (involving very scientifically peering at women buying hair color in drugstores, getting as close as I could without them alerting security) and here are my empirical results:

It’s a case of oldie but goodie: Clairol Hydrience. Let’s go easy on the tone, however. Like, say, the in-your-face brassy red you might see on this very link? Not so cute. Beware of reds in general, I would say.

Perhaps you’d like a less ultra-permanent color to start, however, as I would recommend. Clairol Hydrience is a “level 3,” but a good “level 2” option would be the easier to take Clairol Natural Instincts. Desert Sunrise doesn’t look so bad, does it? Even if the name screams "Lifetime Television"?

Another popular option would be L'Oreal Preference, which--according to the box in the link--aims to be the home hair color for the Carol Bradys of the world. But it's not like they're home-cutting your hair, right?

I wish I had a meatier, better-informed answer for you, but I’m hoping the brilliant Real Girlettes (not to be confused with “Gillette,” although—yes—both are “the best a man can get”) commenters will help a beauty sister out here.

Which brings us swiftly to…Question 2! From long-time reader Erin:

Dearest Real Girl,

I know you haven't done an "ask real girl" in awhile, but I have a
question about flat irons. I just got a cut that requires a bit more
maintenance than I am used to and necessitates the purchase of a flat
iron. I know ceramic is best, but how do I choose from there? target
has prices ranging from 16 to 60 dollars, but my friend's flat iron
cost like a hundred.

also, heat protectant? what?

feel free to ignore this one - you have beautiful curly hair that you
probably don't have to torture in this manner :)

Poor Erin. She asked me this question, like, a month ago and probably has already bought her flat iron and heat protectant, and I suck. But you know who totally doesn’t? JULIE! So let’s hear first from the expert.

Hmmmm, flatirons!!!

I am still using the same flatiron that I purchased 10 years ago for $150. However I have heard lots of good things about the ceramic irons, but have never used one. But I would reccomend spending the extra cash on a good one, since it will last a hella lot longer than the cheaper ones. The cheper ones might not get hot enough or worse....they can get too hot and damage the hair.

I have heard lots of good things about the GHD (Good Hair Day) flat irons from other stylists. They can cost about $200, I think.

I prefer an iron that has a beveled edge. A beveled edge gives you the choice of kicking the ends out, turning them under, or just zipping it straight down the hair shaft to make it pin straight.

Your girls sure hit you with some tough questions. I could just imagine what they ask about skincare, jeesh.

I know! But who doesn’t love a challenge?

Umm….yeah. So it turns out? Ceramic flat irons are totally expensive. But here are some possibilities I found by researching on the all-encompassing Internet:

1. I would be remiss if I didn’t include the GHD Flat Iron mentioned by Awesome Julie.
2. One of the best-rated cheapies was: Ceramic Tools Professional Flat Iron.
3. This puppy was popular hair e-retailer folica.com’s best rated option, at $125.
4. And here’s a nicely priced $85 Solia that’s also one of folica.com’s 10 best.

SOME KEY TIPS: It's healthiest for your hair if you flat iron when it's completely dry--heated water can rupture your hair shaft. Also, keep the iron moving. If you let it rest on one section of hair, that section will fry like Victoria Gotti on a tanning bed.

Not so cute.

Oh, Real Girlettes. I’ve been writing for so long now, and the eyelids, they are so very heavy.

SO I may have to save heat protectant for next week. But please! Help our intrepid gal pals with home color and ceramic (or other!) flat irons.

And next week we’ll gab about heat protectant, which can help us ALL, and which I actually have something to say about. I’ve just found a new one that I heart! I’m such a friggin’ tease.

But I’m also your,
warm and sleepy,
Real Girl
xx

What You Want: Part I

2005-12-04T19:10:00.000-08:00

(Recent and frustrating problems with my home internet connection are now hopefully resolved. I'd tell you about it except for its boringness and the extreme amounts of potty-mouth language I would have to use...)

The next two RGB entries will be about you and your questions. Because I love you and your questions. You are nice people. And if you look your best, then I get to see prettier people. See how selfish I am?

The bulk of questions Real Girl receives fall into three categories.
1. OH MY GOD wrinkles! What can I do to diminish/prevent/abolish them with the fiery power of Satan?
2. My hair needs your help. Pleeeeeeeeeease.
3. You look so trim—what are your diet secrets?

The first two questions I’ve devoted much time and energy to—as you’ve seen and as you will see more of very soon. The last question, however? I’ve been avoiding for months. Why? Because…well…shouldn’t diet tips be left to experts? Who the heck am I to advise people how to lose weight. But the questions…they keep coming. And long-time readers will remember that I used to post a health-related entry now and again (before being taken over heart and mind by ohhhhhh the beauty products and only the beauty products)…So let’s see what I can do.

First of all, I don’t know how you can tell what my figure looks like from a head shot. I did post a slightly more revealing photo a while back, but I promise you I am not skeletal skinny. And ew, that’s not attractive. So let’s not go overboard on our weight loss here, okay? Keep it real, folks.

Secondly, my biggest and best secret isn’t some crazy fad or diet-of-the-moment. It’s this book: Superfoods: Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life. Although not a diet book in the traditional weight-loss sense, I can’t tell you how good this book is for promoting health and energy. But more? It’s geared toward giving your body the best nutrients to age as gracefully as possible. By including these foods in your diet, you can fight wrinkles—and the other annoyances of getting’ older—from the inside out.

I’m going to cheat a little and tell you the fourteen superfoods, but I urge you to get the book to find out what the alternative foods are (for instance, I hate beans, but green beans count, and mmmm love those), how much you should be eating of each food, and what nutrients they offer. I will fully confess that I am totally not stringent on making my diet all about only healthy food. But when I choose to eat a pint of ice cream for dinner every once in a while? Superfoods make me feel way less guilty.

1. Beans
2. Blueberries
3. Broccoli
4. Oats
5. Oranges
6. Pumpkin
7. Salmon
8. Soy
9. Spinach
10. Tea—green or black
11. Tomatoes
12. Turkey
13. Walnuts
14. Yogurt

How you incorporate superfoods into your diet must be up to you, but I’ll let you know what I do. For breakfast, I have my energy-licious Spiru-tein soy protein shake (I'm into banana right now), always with frozen blueberries added in. I can only say it is friggin’ yummy.

I guess my other biggest weight-loss strategy is to have a large lunch and a small dinner. For lunch, I like to have a big salad, preferably from Café Metro. I love Café Metro because of their awesome all you can eat salad for less than $7. And let me tell you, I so take advantage of it. “Big salad” does little to evoke the bigness—and the fillingness—of this lunch. In this salad I include: baby spinach, grilled chicken, avocado, artichoke hearts, mozzarella cheese, carrots, cucumbers, broccoli, grape tomatoes (so good), almonds, sunflower seeds, croutons, sweet corn, and scallions. Sometimes? (And lately more than sometimes?) I also have a giant Rice Krispie treat too. This is one reason why I currently have about 6 lbs to lose. Sigh. The Whole Foods salad bar rocks, too. Oh, and I so don‘t go easy on the dressing, so I try to keep it low-fat.

I then usually have a small dinner of fruit, soup, or—and this is a fave!—blueberry yogurt that I make by combining yummy Stonyfield Farm Nonfat French Vanilla Yogurt with dozens of frozen blueberries and leaving the mixture in the fridge over night. When you’re ready to eat, just stir and enjoy fresher and sweeter blueberry taste than you’d find in any pre-packaged yogurt. (If you use plain yogurt rather than French Vanilla, you might want to keep some Splenda nearby.)

To sum up: lots of vegetables, big lunch, small dinner. But also key? The whole thing goes down the drain on the weekends. From Friday night to Sunday night, I eat anything I damn well please, including raspberry cheese croissants from Au Bon Pain each morning. MMMM. Because who can stick to a diet without cheating? I love cheating.

All this seems easy to write and read, but I’m lucky that I truly love and crave my healthy salads, shakes, fruit, yogurt, etc. I refuse to sacrifice taste. But if nothing else, I fall back on my small dinner strategy to lose those extra pounds. Once I’m into the routine, it sails by swimmingly. I don’t crave more food after dinner and I’m not dying of hunger the next morning. The hard part—and it is, indeed, hard—is getting my body used to the small dinner routine. For instance, with Thanksgiving and the holidays here, I’ve been having rather large dinners for the past few weeks. Hence my need to lose the 6 lbs. But getting myself back to my small dinner routine has been excruciating. Because at night, I’ve been used to more food—and so I’ve been getting hungrier. The only thing to do is to force myself to have a small dinner and ignore the hunger, and then by the next night and the night after that, etc., my body’s used to it, and all is hunky dory. But if I start up with big dinners again? The pants become snug. Also? I’m going to have to start ignoring those huge, fluffy-looking Rice Krispie treats right by the salad bar at Café Metro. Damn you, tasty treats.

I hope you’ll get the Superfoods book. Everyone I’ve recommended it to has raved about their increased health and energy. And in a couple of decades, your younger-than-their-years heart, skin, and health will thank you.

But come on, please share your diet—both health and weight loss—secrets! I’m dying to hear them!

With love from your,
Real Girl
xx

P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY REAL MOM!! On December 5, Real Mom has a birthday that’s very close to a major milestone. (Celebrating? Included a night of karaoke until 2AM involving two random 23-year-old guys dedicating their every song to my inebriated mother. Also? They gave her roses.) To show you all how younger-than-her-years she’s looking these days, I present a Thanksgiving pic of three generations of real girls.

Don’t Cry For Me Antintina

2005-11-22T08:08:00.000-08:00

Jonathan Antin, if you’re reading this right now? You’d better grab a hanky.

Anyone who became as inexplicably hooked as I did to Bravo’s Blow Out will know what I mean. In the first season (which I did not watch), celebrity hairstylist Jonathan Antin expanded his Jonathan Salon empire. In this last season? The one that had me both perched on the edge of my seat and laughing like a mad woman? He created a product line. That’s right. It’s called Jonathan Product.

Here are some things you learn from watching Blow Out:
1. Jonathan Antin isn’t gay.
2. No, seriously, he isn’t. I’m as shocked as anyone.
3. If Jonathan doesn’t like the Jonathan Product sample you show him, he will throw it against a wall. Hard.
4. But if you praise his product? Like, if you call him on the phone and say, “Oh my God, Jonathan, this is the best product I’ve ever used. No, really, it’s amazing. I won’t use anything else ever”? Then he’ll cry.
5. When the product sells at QVC? Tears. Sephora? Rivers. The man goes through tissues like Rosie O’Donnell goes through cupcakes. (And I’m going to hell for that one.)

I’m getting somewhere with this—I promise. And that somewhere? Is bliss. HAIR FRIGGIN’ BLISS. Mine has never looked better. I owe it all to Jonathan’s Dirt.

Jonathan created Dirt to mimic the look of day-old hair, when it’s all manageable and sexy (at least, for some people other than me). As he tells us on the box, “There’s something amazing about the way hair looks and behaves the day after – washing, that is.” (Because clearly we were all thinking sex!) “I created Dirt to help you get that look easily.”

Yeah, I don’t know about all that. I’d call Dirt a light, non-waxy pomade. Jonathan calls it a “texturizing paste,” and I’ve got to admit that about gets it right. Jonathan instructs us to, “Rub a small amount in your hands until it liquefies.” Um, Jonathan? This shznit ain’t ever liquefying. The word you’re looking for is emulsify. Basically, folks, choose your amount of product. For my long hair, I’ve been using about a dime-sized dollop. (You want to err on the side of too little rather than too much, so start small.) Then rub the product between your palms. What you’re going to get is sticky palms. (Insert puerile joke here.) What you do with those palms will depend on your hair.

For my curls, I’ve been using my Dirty hands to scrunch my curls, making them more springy and less fly-away-y. The time I used to invest in mitigating flyaways has been cut in half. And the body I get from the curl-scrunching kind of stymies me, given that this product isn’t the most light-weight I’ve ever seen.

What’s most miraculous about this product, though? I can use it when my hair’s not curly. Which used to be never. But on a whim, I brushed out my curls one day, eyeing the frizzy, light-socket hair I was left with. I smoothed on Jonathan’s Dirt, manipulated a little wave at the ends, and was good to go. Do you hear that? Good to go! The frizz was tamed.

For y’all with straight hair, I’m thinking this will help with flyaways and with adding a bit of sexy texture to the mix. I would recommend that people with extraordinarily fine hair stay away, however, because the product may be too hearvy. For my moderately fine hair, I make sure not to use too much.

Honestly? This is the most exciting hair product I’ve found in years. Sure, it’s $26, but considering how much you need to use, that could very well be a two-year supply.

And if you’ll excuse me now, I’m off to play in the Dirt.

But what about y’all? Did you watch Blow Out? Have you tried Jonathan Product? Have you got other texturizing products to recommend? Just feel like chatting?

I remain your,
Real Girl
xx

I’m Doing The Happy Lip Dance.

2005-11-15T19:55:00.000-08:00

(By the way? The below has an actual melody that’s now stuck in my head.)
(Harrumph.)

I’m gonna sing my happy lip song.
Because my darling, I’ve sought you for so long.
I wasn’t even sure that you existed.
But now I am so glad that I persisted!

Because glossy glossy glossy I love you.
Glossy glossy glossy, it’s so true.
When I feel your touch, my lips start to quiver,
But then your silky oils, they calm down my shiver!

(Time for the bridge)

How do you do it? How do you stay so moisturizing?
And at the same time, you’ve found the perfect texturizing.

Glossy glossy glossy I love you!

Can’t you totally picture some 80's balladeer getting down to that? No? Just me? Anyhoo.

Enough skirting around this issue. I’ve already shouted it out my window to the cars on Fifteenth Street. I love this gloss!!! The Body Shop Tropical Lip Duo has simply not left my lips since I nestled it in my handbag. Let’s talk about why.

What do I want in a gloss? I want it to be shiny, but not Paris Hilton shiny. I want it to be sticky enough to stay on, but not so goopy that my lips actually feel glued together. I want my lips to be moisturized, but not so much that the gloss just slides right off after two seconds. But also? I need a good bronzy—not coppery, not brassy, not too brown—color. I think it's a color that works well with almost any skin tone. You’re just gonna have to trust me that the "Bronzed" Lip Duo looks nothing like what’s pictured here. It’s much lighter, much more subtle, much more flattering. And what’s even cooler? The sparkly gloss on the other end? Is the most perfect clear shimmery gloss I’ve ever seen. Let’s say you love the look of clear gloss, but you think yours is too thick, or it’s too much shine for fall, or you think it’s too sparkly. The clear gloss here just gives your lips an extra boost—a natural, non-goopy, non-excessive, sexy shine. And the sparkle merely kicks in a hint of cute. You may just barely notice it.

Not convinced yet? The Tropical Lip Duo is the only—I repeat only—gloss I’ve found that I can wear without lip balm underneath. That’s how good it feels, even as chapping weather approaches. I’m guessing the “Marula Oil” that the Body Shop lists as the active ingredient must be lapping my lips with luscious moisture. As for why the Lip Duos are being called “Tropical,” I confess I’m a bit stymied. In French, this product is called “Duo Levres Exotique,” which I find much sexier, don’t you?

If I’ve piqued your interest, here are a few key points to consider:

1. The Body Shop looooooves to discontinue their products. I’m already planning to buy an emergency Lip Duo this weekend. Also? I'm considering mailing death threats. You know, just in case.
2. Go easy with the applicator wand. This is a fall/winter gloss—high on moisture, but with a more subtle shine than those megawatt summer glosses. Don't try to heap it on too thickly.
3. I haven’t yet tried the “Golden Pink” color, but judging how much darker the “Bronzed” color looks in this picture, I’m guessing it’s much lighter than what you’re looking at.
4. This product costs $12.50. For two glosses. Granted, they’re on the small side, but still—I’m loving the value.
5. I consistently find that the Body Shop’s makeup line is under-rated and under-publicized. Over and over, it’s one of my favorite places to browse.

In conclusion:

Ohhhh, wo-oh-oh. Glossy glossy glossy I lo-ove you!

Start your engines, girls. Because I’m asking you to share your favorite lip gloss. Starting…now!

(Or your fave Body Shop products, questions, anything at all, yada yada.)

With love,
From one Real Girl to another.
xx

Happy Birthday To Us!!!

2005-11-14T17:18:00.000-08:00

Exactly one year ago, on November 15, 2004, something revelatory happened.

I found Real Girl.

I knew she had always been there, hiding behind a studious, hard working little New York editor turned novelist. She’d pop out once in a while, accompanied by a single, vehement phrase: OH MY GOD, YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS! But once in a while? So not enough.

Thank you, my gorgeous Real Girlettes, for a luscious year of great product reviews and recommendations. May we all continue to grow poorer and more excited as the coming seasons fill our bulging makeup bags with ripe colors, saturated powders, healthful creams, and—of course—more antioxidants than you can shake a wrinkle at.

And as a birthday present to us all? Real Girl’s got a stunner coming Tuesday night.

I’ve found a new favorite lip gloss. Did you hear that? A new favorite lip gloss. The top of the product pyramid, my friends. And the odds are? You’ve never tried it before…

So stay tuned for Tuesday night!

Because of course I remain your,
One year older,
Real Girl
xx

I Am So Fresh

2005-11-08T20:10:00.000-08:00

I’ve purposely only used Sephora links in today’s precious post. Why? It’s all because of Demery, so go and blame her. Or, rather, embrace her. Love her. Take your lip liner and paint flowers on her cheeks. Who’s Demery? She’s the Real Girl Beauty reader who sent me the fantabulous information that Sephora.com (online only, folks!) is having a 20% off sale. Need to read that again? TWENTY PERCENT OFF. The sale starts Monday, Nov. 14th and ends Monday, Nov. 21st. Just use the code FF2005 at checkout.

And now back to our regular programming. Oh, crap. You’ve all fainted with joy and NO ONE is left to read my entry. Poo.

But you know what? I think we all share something, and I think that’s why when I read your comments and emails, I feel like I’m amongst my people. That something is the rush of adrenaline, that giddy squeally feeling you get when you find a new favorite product. When I make a new discovery, all I want to do is run and tell every one of my girlfriends. But, well, you could probably guess that—what with the whole, telling the internet too and all. The thing is? I think that’s how you are, also, when you find a new beloved product. Like I said—we’re each other’s peeps. Beauty peeps.

So guess what? I’ve found a new fragrance so luxurious, sweet, sultry, musky, sexy, and darling all at once that I want to scream it from the rooftops! The bloggy, pink-paged, entry-filled rooftops!

But first, you must know Real Girl’s scent history. After all, who’s to say one girl’s favorite will be another’s? What kind of Scent Gal am I? Would you believe—at my origin, I was no scent gal at all? It’s true. For the first eighteen years of my life, I was allowed no scent. No vanilla candles, no fragrant flowers, and certainly, certainly NO PERFUME.

Heh. You’re imagining Cinderella locked in her aerie dungeon, aren’t you? Poor Real Mom. I’ve probably gone and made her feel bad. See, she’s allergic. To any scented anything at all in the history of scented things that have ever existed. As you might imagine, I’ve spent the past few years of my adult life surrounding myself with every luscious scent I could find. So let’s trot down that memory lane….

My first must-have fragrance, Gucci Rush, was purchased at (today’s special!) Sephora. It was love at first sniff. I consider it a low-note perfume, a deep, sexy, musky perfume. I imagine a humid day in Hawaii, when the scents of saturated flowers mingle with the dewy air. I fell deeper in love when I gave my Rush its first test drive—I was on vacation in London, and let’s just say I heard more English men use the word “gorgeous” than I ever have before or since. Men like the Gucci Rush. They just do.

But after a while, I wanted to feel lighter. I was in a springy, breezy mood. That’s when I fell in love with the still sexy—but in a cuter way--Stila Crème Bouquet. (By the way, for some reason the roll-on smells different to me, and I’m not a huge fan despite the alluring price reduction.) My dear Crème Bouquet, your pink, flowery bottle is almost empty, and that makes Real Girl very sad. For your powdery, vanilla-tinged aroma, mingling with the subtlest, least cloying flowers, can only cause happiness to my nose. I still love you, never fear. And I will buy another bottle soon because you'll always be special to me.

Yet that said…

I have a new pet. I love her. Fresh Sake. She's still in her pretty red box because it’s too precious to throw away. The simplicity of the bottle, with its minimally drawn flowers. Just heaven. And the scent! Oh, my God, the scent! I sense a similarity to Gucci Rush in that it’s got some musky undertones, but there’s sweetness too, a dash of succulent fruit. That’s what hits you first—the peachy sweetness. But then the fragrance settles to its true form, letting the softer, deeper, muskier scents through. The result, quite frankly—and no surprise—reminds me of a mixture of Gucci Rush and Stila Crème Bouquet. The sultry and the sweet have finally married and formed the perfect union. Or, as Real Boy said, “Ooh, I like that.”

Spray it on your wrist and wait five minutes. Then see what you think. This entry has taken me twice as long to write because—duh—I keep pausing to sniff myself. I wish I could better describe Sake’s complexity. But hey—stop by your local Sephora and see what you think.

But, wait!! I totally forgot—there’s more!! Fresh has another line of fragrances, called their Index, which seems to offer something for everyone. I haven’t tried every single one yet, but right now I’m partial to Redcurrant Basil. I mean…man, Fresh. Your scents can knock me over with a feather.

(Erm…except for Sugar, which smells nothing like sugar and should in fact be called Lemon Pledge.)

So, now you know all my scenty secrets. I’ve avoided discussing them before because fragrance is such a matter of personal taste. But that’s why I’d love for you gals to tell us all about your favorite scent. Questions? Comments? Fragrance descriptions? Hit us with ‘em!!

I’ll always be your,
Real Girl
xx

Just Call Me Whitey!

2005-11-02T08:57:00.000-08:00

Are you excited for the pictures?! I am!! So let’s not waste any time getting to the results of The Great Whitening Experiment of 2005.

But Real Girl, you ask. What the heck are those darned Crest Whitestrips Premium doodads like? Will they burn my gums off? Will they eat up my stomach lining? Will they whiten my lips, too, until I look like a partial albino?

Okay. First, what to do. I followed directions, putting on the upper strip first and the bottom strip second. I then drooled for the half hour you’re supposed to keep the doodads on. Which was nothing compared to the removal process, involving more gelled drooling and some heavy spitting. I don’t know if you’re supposed to rinse afterwards, but I sure did, and I can’t imagine not doing so. The best way to remove the strips is quickly, like a band-aid. And all those commercials where women are wearing their Whitestrips out with their girlfriends, laughing it up? Ummm…nice fantasy there, Mr. Crestipants. Do this at home. Trust moi.

But don’t get too scared! Here’s a picture of me with my Strips on. Aren’t I sexy?

According to the Whitestrips box, one should be able to “Start seeing results after just 3 days,” so let’s see what my teethies were looking like after that crucial almost-halfway-zone, compared with their initial whiteness.

Before

After 3 Days.

Hey! That’s not so bad for just 3 days!

According to the Whitestrips box, Crest says these puppies are “Clinically proven to remove up to 14 years of stain build-up in just 7 days.” I confess I’ve been wondering how they came up with that number. Did one of the test subjects have, like, some stubborn tooth stain that just wouldn’t brighten? And then when the Lab Coat Guys said, “Hark! What is this spot of darkness on your dental surface?” Did the test subject respond, “Oh, I’ve had that for over fourteen years!” The mystery may never be solved, but I welcome theories from you lovely readers….

But now back to the program! I was such a good little bleacher, going through the strips like a trooper and only missing one application (which meant that on my last day, I applied 3 times). Wanna see? Wanna??? Because my teeth are REALLY WHITE now! In fact, I’m a bit peeved by the pics because I just don’t think they capture the transformation. I feel so shiny and clean! Like I could be in one of those Orbit Gum commercials, covered in mud except for my gleaming smile (remember, I don’t usually smile this toothily.) (Oh! And notice that stunning lipstick mark on my tooth in the “After” picture. See how slick I am? Stop being jealous.):

Before

After 7 Days

And don’t get scared, but as long as we’re sharing here, I want to show you the new version of what used to be the yellowest area of my teeth—the lower part of my bottom teeth, near the root. (Ah, Real Girl just keeps getting sexier….)

So there you go! Whiteness! Whiteness that isn’t even captured entirely by the photos! Ta da! And all you need to do is suffer through a week of drooly messiness, right?

Um…not quite. Thank you to the folks who warned me about tooth sensitivity. I don’t normally suffer too badly from heightened sensation in my teeth, but oh boy the Whitestrips will make you feel your teeth something awful! Beware anything too cold, including wind. But right now, I'm only a day after the whole process, and already my teeth are feeling less sensitive. So if you can tough it out, I’d recommend just bearing with it for a week because the heightened sensitivity will go away swiftly. But if you’ve already got sensitive teeth? BEWARE. They will get more so.

By the way? You can’t see me right now, but I’m smiling wide. A glistening, shiny, bleachified smile. You can just call me Whitey from now on.

But what about your experiences? Have you tried other brands? Have you got questions? Anything to recommend?

With love,
From one Real Girl to another
xx

P.S. Guess what I did to celebrate my new whiter teeth? I drank a big glass of red wine! Duh!

The Great Whitening Experiment 2005

2005-10-26T20:36:00.000-07:00

Ok, so this? Is my natural smile. It's not very toothy, which is super great. Because while taking these pictures, I noticed that my two front teeth are oddly jagged and ugly. Why did I notice this now more acutely than I ever have before? Because I took fancy high-res pictures of them with my beloved Canon Elph. (I spared you the pics where the tooth thing is most obvious. Actually, I spared me.)

I will try not to obsess over my teeth and pledge to fix them when I have spare dough for cosmetic dentistry. In the meantime...

These are my before pictures! Considering how much coffee I drink, and blueberries (every day!), and red wine (not quite every day, but hey--it's good for the heart), I don't think my pearlies are too unpearly. But still, they better get a lot damn whiter. Why? Because I'm testing out what's supposed to be the miraculous Crest Whitestrips Premium.

I'm 1 day into the 7 day trial, so hang tight. Although if anyone has tips on how to remove these puppies from your teeth in an elegant manner, I would appreciate the heads up. Right now, when I remove them, it's a drooly, gloppy mess. But why am I ruining all the suspense? You'll hear about it very soon.

And I remain your,

Jagged Toothed Real Girl

(wah!)

Prime Time

2005-10-06T19:36:00.000-07:00

An aside that relates in no way to today’s special product:

Britney Spears made me open my window and light a scented candle. No, I don’t mean that her hubby Kevin visited my apartment. What I mean is that I received in the mail an unsolicted sample of her new scent, Curious.

While I wouldn’t say that Curious killed the cat (who is thankfully curled up peacefully as I type), I will describe to you what Curious smells like. You know when you’re in a crowded elevator and one annoying woman has put on so much of her favorite scent that the whole place smells suffocatingly of perfume? And not of a specific scent, like rose or sandalwood or musk…but just that generic, unmistakable plain old perfume smell that you find in no way appealing?

There. You no longer have to be Curious. And you definitely don’t have to buy it. (To which you respond: Duh.)

Now on to more fantabulous matters. You know what makes Real Girl mad? When high-priced cosmetics companies make you think you need products that you really, really just don’t need. Neck cream, for instance. In theory, yes, your neck should receive special attention so it doesn’t look wrinkly in old age. But your face cream will do just fine. Don’t sell me some $28 moisturizer that I don’t need, Makeup Counter Lady! Because I am so on to you….

The above pretty much sums up the way I’ve always felt about foundation primer. Foundation is supposed to hide your facial flaws. Now I’ve got to use something to hide those flaws before I use the product to hide the flaws? Humminawha?

Real Readers? Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer has changed my mind.

But Real Girl, you may ask. What does foundation primer do? What you’re getting here is a filler—generally silicone based—that will soak into fine lines, crevices, really anything that will collect foundation. As a result, your foundation will be applied over a flawless (well, relatively) surface, making your skin look damn near perfect. I know. I tried it.

Real Girl Confession Number…God, I’ve lost count. Full disclosure here: I’m not a huge foundation user. And when I do use foundation, I use the beginner’s kind—the almost sheer, incredibly light Prescriptives Traceless Skin Responsive Tint (the foundation for gals who don’t use foundation). This Prescriptives option is so subtle that many of my flaws shine through even with it on. However—and this is what has sold me on the Smashbox primer—with a thin coat of Smashbox Photo Finish covering my skin before application, my foundation makes my skin tone look more even and my skin itself more flawless than I ever expected. If you're a regular foundation user, and you want to get more out of your favorite foundation, this might be your perfect product.

But wait! There’s more! The Smashbox Photo Finish also has a nice cocktail of antioxidants, including Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) and grape seed extract, two of the very best. So even if you don’t wear foundation every day, you can still benefit from this product! (However, if you’re only looking for an antioxidant serum, Paula’s Choice Super Antioxidant Concentrate will give you similar antioxidants in the same serum format at half the price. I’ve been using it now for months and I’m quite lost without it.)

So! If you’re not quite thrilled with the way foundation sits on the surface of your skin, Smashbox Photo Finish Primer will definitely improve that. I, for one, know that I will wear foundation more often now just so I can see my face look so delightfully smooth and even-colored.

And fine, Makeup Counter Lady. You can sell me this product without me snapping at you that I DON’T NEED IT. But really. Show me some neck cream and I'm telling you to sit on it.

But what about your experiences with foundation primers? Or maybe your foundation’s so good you don’t need a primer? Have you got questions for La Real Girl?

You know she loves ya,
xx
RG

The Quest For Perfect Hair...

2005-10-05T21:08:00.000-07:00

Firstly, I’m sure I’m not the only one to congratulate Amalah on her adorable new bundle of Awwwww. May he experience nothing but love, happiness, and great skin care.

Today, Real Girl ventures into territory previously unknown to her. Territory marked by such road signs as Coarse. Thick. And…bear with me…Perm.

(All this while I grieve over the demise of my favorite TV hottie, Agent Vaughn of Alias, played by Michael Vartan.)

(Doesn’t Real Girl Vartan have a certain ring to it?)

And…moving on.

To Eliza. Hi Eliza! Eliza writes:

Hey Real Girl...

I've got a beauty product question, sort of. I'm just hoping you can help me.

My guy has the strangest hair I've ever seen. It's coarse, curly, kinda dry, very unruly. And it gets even worse in the winter. Can you recommend a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner he ought to be using? I've tried convincing him to shampoo the roots and condition the roots, but when you're only working with a couple inches of hair, it's hard to differentiate the roots and ends...

I really feel like I should be able to help him on my own, but my hair is the utter opposite of his and this is really beyond my realm of known products.

If it's beyond your realm as well, or the scope of your site, I totally understand.

Thanks for any help you can give, though!
Eliza

After receiving this email, I stroked my Real chin and quickly sent Eliza a convenient link to Real Girl’s famous olive oil conditioning post (and by “famous,” I mean “something you may have read six months ago and then promptly forgotten.”) Such a great treatment for guys! It’s neither pink nor scented, and I dare you to find one flower on the packaging.

Eliza responded (making Real Girl giggle out loud): I'll see what I can do about convincing him to put olive oil and a plastic bag on his head... but I'd love more suggestions. Maybe something that won't make him laugh in my face?

So….after much research on the all-encompassing Internet, I am now able to provide a convenient list of products that are well-suited for hair that is both coarse and thick. Important note! These products tend toward build-up, so once in a while (every two weeks? When you notice build-up? I leave it up to you), mix a nickel-sized scoop of baking soda in with your shampoo. That should clean hair all nice and squeaky-like. (Yet another tip from Real Girl’s beloved hair stylist, who’ll be making her own guest-star RGB appearance momentarily.)

Here you go! Softness. Moisture. Silkening. Word making-upping.

Shampoos
Frizz Ease Smooth Start, Defrizzing Shampoo: This should promote shinier, smoother hair.
Joico Triage Moisture-Balancing Shampoo: An excellent moisturizer, especially for coarse and thick hair. (One of your best bets, I think.)
Matrix Curl.life Shampoo: A good conditioning shampoo for curly hair, and even for straight hair.
Zero Frizz Smoothing Shampoo: Again, a good conditioning shampoo for either straight or curly hair.

Conditioners
Beauty Without Cruelty Revitalize Leave-In Conditioner: For dry, coarse, unmanageable hair, it’s hard to beat a leave-in conditioner, and this is a great one for thick hair. (It’s got essential oils.)
Thermasilk Moisturizing Infusing Conditioner, Dry Hair: A pretty basic conditioner, but best for somewhat thick and coarse hair.
Zero Frizz Daily Conditioner: Softens? Check. Defrizzes? Check. Makes more manageable? Check.
Burt's Bees Avocado Butter Hair Treatment with Nettles and Rosemary : A moisturizing hair masque, again with essential oils, best for truly thick hair.
Kiehl’s Lecithin & Coconut Enriched Hair Masque with Panthenol: I actually sampled this recently, and Oh. My. God. The scent is to die for. Coconuty, like a day at the beach. It worked well on my finer hair, giving me lovely softness, and I imagine its essential oils (notice a theme here?) would work nicely on thicker hair too (its own description specifies dry, coarse hair). It's best to leave it on for an hour before washing, so set aside some time there.

Let us know how it works out, Eliza! And let’s hope our gifted readers have other fab suggestions for you too!

Question #2 comes from Angela. Hi Angela!

Real Girl,

Okay, I've got a question for you that you may or may not have any answer to! I know that you have absolutely gorgeous curly locks, but there are some of us out here with fine limp strands in an eternal search for volume and waves! A few weeks ago I saw a little segment on E! about a new perming process--it's supposed to give you that lovely Jennifer Aniston loose wave look rather than the scary poodle look of the 80's. I did some research and found out that it's called a texturizing perm.

Honestly, I'm not even sure if it's available all over the country yet or just in the salon they featured on the show, but have you heard anything about this? Is it too good to be true or is it possible that the search could be at an end! Thanks, and love your site!

~Angela

Well, I’m happy to say that even in sixth grade, when all the “cool” girls were getting perms (of course, we called them “body waves” then), I managed to avoid getting eaten by chemically-treated curlers. But what’s this about a non-pubey perm? A perm that promises the kind of hair we all aspire to? I fully admit it: I covet Jennifer Aniston’s hair. Or at least her talented team of hair experts.

Stumped by all things permy, I immediately contacted my Angel in the Darkness, Julie, also known as my cooler-than-everyone-else hair stylist. (Take that, Jennifer Aniston.) Julie told me she’s never used the texturizing perm, and so I shouldn’t quote her. So I will paraphrase.

Julie’s got the texturizing perm by a company called ISO at her salon and went through a training session a while ago, so she’s got a few details for us. It’s a semi-permanent perm, so it’ll only last about 6 weeks (an estimate). As for the curl, the interesting thing is that it depends on what you use to wrap the hair rather than the product itself. Smaller curlers, tighter curls (do we advise this? Um, no). Big-ass curlers, bigger waves. In fact, you don’t even need to use curlers at all. You can use anything. As evidenced by this gem from Julie that, I’m sorry, I’ve just got to quote: “Actually I remember the strange man teaching us the class saying that you can perm with TAMPONS!! Not that I would, 'cause that just seems really odd, especially coming from a man.” So, basically, you’re looking at a temporary treatment that allows you to customize your wave. Hopefully without any help from feminine hygiene products.

Bedeee bedeee bedeee…that’s all folks!! From me, at least. Now it’s time to hear from you!

And I remain your,
Real Girl
xx

Cheap And Cute! Nuff Said!

2005-09-27T06:19:00.000-07:00

Hold on for the ride my friends. Do you see those shoes? Do you know how much I love them? Do you know the kind of tears I will cry if I don't get them? Well guess what? They cost 42 dollars.

Welcome to Delias.com

Before you protest! Yup, I know it's geared toward teens. But I am so not in my teens. I'm in my late twenties, fighting 30 like a lip-glossed Sisyphus on the hopeless quest to push a rock up a hill only to get nipped in the ass when it rolls back on down. Um...where was I going with this? Oh yeah. Sift through the teen stuff. Push it aside. Find the gems.

The last time we spoke about clothes, I showed you my fave splurge website, with all its gorgeous luxury. But my guilty pleasure? Yeah, it's Delia's. When I get endless compliments on my perfect cotton slouchy bag with the yellow bow? Do I just say thank you and smile coyly, knowing in my heart how much I spent on it? No! I shout out: Thanks! I got it for seventeen dollars and sixty-five cents!! Bwah hah hah hah!!!

But my best find so far (one that's no longer available, alas) is my beloved black eyelet ballet flats. Like Audrey Hepburn wishes she had. They are perfect with jeans, and I swoon a little each time I slip 'em on. And ooh, I just swooned again thinking of them.

So, am I telling you to slog through the junk all on your own without any help from La Real Girl? Please. Have you been reading this site long enough to be familiar with my obscene love of lists? If not, then today is your lucky day.

Here are Real Girl's faves of the fall season at Delias.com! (And yes, I know some of you with malls have actual Delia's stores. I am jealous of you right now. A Delia's store may be the one thing NYC doesn't have. That, and Dairy Queen. Which is particularly heartbreaking because they still show Dairy Queen ads for New Jersey and Connecticut, and so I am left drooling over a cheesecake sundae thingie that's on my TV but that I CAN'T HAVE....Moving on.)

Here's Listy McListypants!

The Sweater Boot: I don't quite know why I want this boot so much. They probably can't get wet, they must be impossible to clean...and yet I can so picture them all slouchy with a cute mini skirt or over jeans...
The Perfect Tank: Ignore the skull and crossbones and check out the solid version. Long enough to avoid the dreaded lift-up-my-hands-and-oops!-there's-my-tummy syndrome. So key, that.
The Grandma Bag: This just looks like a perfect flea market find to me. Comfy.
The Peasanty Skirt: Pair it with your own Non-AC/DC shirt and how cute would it be?
The Tweedy Cap: For the 60s British Mod Girl in us all.
The Charm Bracelet: Have you seen one more charming?
The Mini Vest: It's a vest! It's wee! Awwww.
The Peephole Top: So basic and wearable, yet a little sexy too.
The Girlie Coat: This? Might be the cutest coat ever. I want. Waaaaaaaaant. (Is it warm? Probably not!)
The Belted Pea: If you want a more sophisticated coat, this would be an adorable option.

So there you go. Real Girl's Delia's picks of the season. Things to consider: Shipping is free with orders over $75, but be sure to look for the code for that and type it in at checkout. Returns? Not free. That is annoying and the biggest drawback of catalog shopping, but in my mind still worth it given these prices. Also? Beware any pants that mention flare. For some reason, Delia's does not want the bottoms of these trousers to ever get near your ankles. Flare means bell bottoms.

But what about you? What are your favorite online shopping sites? Have you found any other Delia's options we need to know about? Do you want to crow about your favorite bargain places? Anything at all?

You know I love ya!
Real Girl
xx

Can Eye Have A Drum Roll Please

2005-09-21T19:53:00.000-07:00

Holy Oh My God, Batman! Why did I chose to write tonight’s post directly after the season premiere of Lost!? Shake. Shiver. Shrug it off.

Moving on.

Real Girl Confession number gajagillion: I like pretty things. Like ribbons and eyelet and lace. Like color. Soft, rich, deep, charming, gorgeous, just exactly right color. Like my beloved, ever changing Body Shop Shimmer Cubes.

Why beloved? Come with me on the journey. You’re at the makeup counter, or you’re at the drugstore. You’re looking for the perfect eye shadow. That mixture of glamour and wearability that so few eye shadows hit exactly right. Ooh! There it is!! That one color your lids just have to have. Eureka! Except…hey. What’s this? What’s that other, much less cool color, some taupe or sickly beige or weird blue-green. You mean I’ve got to get those other pewy colors in order to get my favorite one? Man. That sucks.

But not with shimmer cubes. Love me some shimmer cubes. Love. Adore. Hug. First of all, every color is a winner. They’re divinely rich shades with just the right amount of shimmer. It’s that shimmer that makes you look dewy without the greasy shine. It’s that shimmer that sparks up your whole eye and says yes, I am gorgeous. You may trail after me, but clean up your own drool please.

Why ever-changing? Here’s the thing about the Body Shop. They’re big into seasonal items. The first four colors of shimmer cubes I bought two years ago no longer exist. But you know what? There are new colors now and I totally want them. And what’s more? Them cubey suckers are deep. There’s enough product there to potentially last a lifetime. My shimmer cubes from two years ago show no sign of running out any time soon.

(A total aside. Remember how obscenely bereft I was over the discontinuation of my favorite blushy bronzer—a cousin of the shimmer cube—the Shimmer Wave? Good news folks. Fabulous heaps of good news. My Precious is back! Backy back back! Swoony yay. Yaaaay.)

But we’re on the cubes here. Must focus on shimmery eye goodness. Wanna see more colors? Because they are all so fab that I want to just let my credit card out of its little cozy and let it do what it’s best at. Buying me pretty things!

You’ve already seen the new autumn colors above, a scrumptious mix that’ll make any eye smoke like hell. Make sure you dab that lightest color in the inner corner of your eyes and just under the brow bone for luscious highlights. Great, now who’s drooling?

Next comes a warmer palette, probably better used separately than together. That silver could look great swiped on the bottom lid—just a tad for an icy effect. And the warm rose will make any cold day feel sunny.

Finally, we reach out to the earth tones, in all their browny tawny goodness, to send our eyes on safari. To smoke them up more softly than black can. To give us earthly nirvana.

Looking at these colors just sends chills through me. And many thanks to Ahe for putting eye shadow on the brain.

What about you guys? Will you share your eye shadowy goodness with us all?

Or do you just want to find out who won the first splendiferous Real Girl Beauty Contest. Let’s recap. Real Girl said: Ooh! Write me a poem about your favorite product. You said: Ooh! We not only look pretty but we write real good too. Kudos to each and every one of you who entered. You are special. And man, it was hard to choose a winner! It came down to a final three, all of whom were delightfully fab and it’s so hard to publish only two! But those were the rules, and who wants to break the rules? There will be more contests in the future. It’s just too fun.

But first, our runner up! She’s getting married on Saturday! And I’ll be there! What really got me, besides the slamming rhymes, were the mentions of ingredients. Mmmm, ingredients…So here’s our bride-to-be…Liz!

We all know from Real Girl's rants
the awesome powers of antioxidants.
Whether we get them from blueberry shakes
or carrot juice and sweet potato cakes,
they help our systems, our skin, our hair,
and they're in my fav product, about which I'll share.

My Optimum Antioxidant Facial Mask!
It nourishes well and takes dryness to task.
It has SilyMarin, from artichoke hearts,
As well as liposome, to absorb in all parts.
I have to admit, that what I like when I preen,
is its silky texture and silvery sheen.

It's not too expensive, but I'm not good at splurging
(especially when my wallet's been purging)
I think when the wedding is, at last, fin
I might buy my mask as a treat for my skin.
But meanwhile, if you want something new
I think the artichoke hearts will work well for you.

Are you feeling like slathering artichoke hearts all over your face too? And you thought they were just good for salads…

And now…drum roll please!! Our sample package winner! And look—she spells things all British-like and so must be extra charming! Here’s the beauty from Léonie, one of our Londoners!

A contest. Fabulous. Great,
I thought
I'll give that one a whirl.
See if I can think of something
To impress the wise Real Girl.

So I sat and chewed my virtual pen
And had a little think
What had a special place both in my heart
And by my bathroom sink?

I supposed I could write a sonnet
About my lipgloss. Or a song
About shampoo.
I could effuse about my hand cream
In a short but sweet hailku.

But then, in an epiphany
That flashed before my eyes,
I knew the most important thing to me
Of course! To moisturise.

I think sometimes that without it
(Although at this you may well scoff)
My facial skin would crumble, peel
And crack
Then fall right off.

If there's one that works the very best
To maintain my glowing dimple,
It has no colour, perfume, it's pure as snow
And is called, quite aptly, 'Simple'.

It's small and unassuming
A cheap-ish moisturiser,
But I could tell you it's all fancy and costs the earth
And you'd all be none the wiser.

So this, in the end, is a simple rhyme
And it might not win the prizes.
But I wanted to show the importance to me
Of being a girl who moisturises.

Congratulations, Léonie! Email Real Girl your address and your samples will be on their way!

So! Poetry and eye shadow. And you thought you just came here to look at something pink.

What gorgeous shade of eye adornment have I missed, my sweets?

With love,
From one Real Girl to another.
xx

Coming Soon!!

2005-09-19T06:16:00.000-07:00

Update, Tues 9/20: Oooh! We have a winner and a runner up!! Wow, that was a hard contest to judge...So Wednesday night we'll chat about eye shadow and give away the prize! Weee!

Stay tuned for Real Girl's favorite eye shadow!!

Needless to say, I'm busy reading a plethora of delightful, fun, and beautilicious poems (take that, Emily Dickinson with your reclusive pastiness).

Until the winner and runner up are published, here's Real Mom's entry to tide you over. Also?? Dear Real Mom's in desperate need of a new volumizing shampoo that doesn't dry out her baby fine tresses--so any and all suggestions are welcome, my friends.

Here's the first poem, with all its lippy goodness.

My lips used to be horribly flaky,
Extremely dry and very caky.
I tried the obvious, Chap Stick,
But it didn't do the trick.
Got a bonus sample from Clinique;
"All About Lips" my interest did pique.
I smoothed it on, so white and milky,
And soon my lips felt soft and silky.
Moisturizes AND exfoliates,
If I were single, it'd get me dates.

And I remain your,
Real Girl
xx

(And she remains my,
Real Mom xx)

Favorite Beauty Tips!

2005-09-14T18:46:00.000-07:00

First of all, I beseach you, my dearies, don't be intimidated by the contest. It's fun! Just slap together a couple of lines, any length at all. You've got 'til Friday! You'll make Real Girl smile and you might get some yummy samples!

Ok. So. The most common email I get, besides--what's [insert product here] like?--is this: "Real Girl," y'all ask. "Besides the products you use, what tips can you tell us so that we're getting the most out of our beauty routine?"

Erm...well. Ok. So. Tips. See, I think all the little tips and secrets I have are all common knowledge. I've gotten them from magazines mostly, and though I swear by them all, I never thought they'd be that interesting. SO. Here's where it gets good. If I show you mine, will you show me yours? It's a tipathon! Tippity Tiptip Land! Let's all share our little must-do's of our beauty regimens. Me first!

1. This is my fave! It totally works! After applying lip balm or lipstick, dab a dot of clear or gold gloss (or if you're white-pale, clear or peach/beige) on the inner center of your bottom lip. It will totally add the illusion of volume and it will be sexy as hell.

2. After you apply your anti-aging and sunscreen products on your face, wipe the extra on your neck. Because who wants to be Waddle Duck Wrinkle Neck? Also, don't forget your lips, including the outer outline. Who wants those feathery lines that leech out your lipstick?

3. Another Real Girl Must: The inner eye corner brightening trick. For day, dab concealer on the inner corners of your eyes to instantly illuminate your whole face. For night, use white eye shadow or a light-refracting product.

4. This seems so common sense...but I always put clear nail polish over my mani or pedi the day after and then every other day after that to make it last.

5. You're all exfoliating before shaving your legs, right? (Thee who don't wax, that is.) It will get rid of all the dead skin cells to give you a much closer shave.

6. After applying lip balm from a tin, I love to rub the extra balm into my cuticles. Why wipe it off on a tissue? Tissues don't have lips or cuticles.

7. We went over this one recently: After applying self-tanner, both wash your hands and exfoliate too. Mmmm. Word of the day? Exfoliate. Love it.

8. Ooh! How to wear eye shadow without looking like you're wearing eye shadow. My fave look for day: Using your finger, smudge some brown or bronze eye shadow into your outer eye crease until it looks like a shadow (hee no pun intended). You've just opened up your whole eye! You know, as opposed to just half of it.

9. You don't need a special cleanser for your makeup brushes. In fact, the best product to use is your facial cleanser; that way you're making sure there are no irritating ingredients on your brushes.

10. This tip I got from my beloved hair stylist, Julie: Mixing a teaspoon of baking soda in your shampoo once in a while will completely rid your hair of product build-up! Not that I usually rave about product-free hair, but...Yay!

11. This one's for all you out of towners, the many Real Girl readers in different countries (love you!). Often I get wails of pain from folks without Sephoras or access to some products we take for granted here in the states. Especially in New York! Forget about Sally Struthers's children for a minute. There are people without entire skin care brands out there. And 40 cents a day, the price of a cup of coffee in 1984, ain't gonna get it to them. So. Here's something that will! Beauty.com, which is owned by drugstore.com, will ship to 30 countries worldwide! Yee!

Ok, girls (and guys? Didn't think so.)
What are your fabulous tips! I can't wait to hear!! And try!! Whee!!
xx
Lovies!
Real Girl

The Real In Real Girl

2005-09-13T18:54:00.000-07:00

Saaaadly I do not have the time tonight for my Real Girl tip post (coming Wednesday night! Promise!) So instead, I will indulge another of your email requests (most recently asked by Bethany. Hi Bethany!) to post another pic.

In honor of this weekend, when Real Boy and I attend our final Mets game of the season, I submit here Exhibit A: How to be a Real Girl at a ball game.

Pink hat? Check.
Flirty yet age-appropriate pigtails? Check.
Flawless, makeup free complexion? HAHAHAHAHAHA.

As.
If.

I've got it all on, babes. The Clinique Quick Corrector concealer, the Brow Zings, the Body Shop Shimmer Waves, and the Aveda Lip Tint--all my Must Haves I've talked about at length in the past ten months.

I love looking fresh faced. As long as "fresh" means "really made up, even though you can't see it. Psych!"

More beauty talk soon. Enough of me, me, me, me. Bo-ring.
But I remain your,
Real Girl xx

P.S. Am I the only one who thinks my boobies look ferociously lopsided here? It's the shirt.

Contest! Conditioner! Can You Take It? Course!

2005-09-06T07:15:00.000-07:00

First things first. Oh God, oh God, my heart and everything else goes out to New Orleans and all the victims of Katrina. And their friends and relatives too. Truly, it’s unthinkable how much so many people have gone through. But as I've said before, it's when there's nothing but despair and trauma all over TV and the news that I think entertainment is most necessesary to ease our minds for just a moment. Doesn't mean we're forgetting the thousands of people with flat nothing who need our help and prayers. Really, really doesn’t.

But now on to the show.

And by “show,” I mean the First Ever “Real Girl Beauty” Contest, in which you, the beauties, will be emailing me, the Real Girl (not that y’all aren’t real girls. But if you aren’t, that’s fine too) your ultra creative entries on this subject:

A poem—of any kind. Haiku? Sonnet? Limerick? Free verse? ABBA? ABAB? Etc?—all about your favorite beauty product. Bonus points, of course, for ingeniously including why you love said product.

(Note: This type of contest is what Real Mom lives for. She has, in fact, won honorable mention or some such thingie in some haiku contest about some product that I’ll probably be scolded for forgetting. So, one rule here. If you’re my friend in “real” life? Go ahead and enter. If we’re related? Maybe not so much. But Real Mom, if I love your entry, I’ll publish it anyway. Because I’m a fabulous daughter who makes you think of hearts and rainbows.)

I’ll publish the winner and an honorable mention here on the pinkness of RGB.

But the winner? Also gets a prize. A prize so special, I got it for free! (I’m a gal on a budget, folks.) Yeah, Winner, you’re getting samples. Stop gasping in surprise, okay? Oh and even more special? The samples are quite small! (Well, except for the mascara, which is cute but probably has some nice use in it…The lip gloss ain’t bad either…but now I’m just giving it all away.)

Here goes:
1. Clinique Colour Surge Impossibly Glossy lip gloss in Azalea (Lovely texture. Pink color.)
2. Clinique High Impact Mascara (Best if you're looking for length over thickness.)
3. Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (By the way? This product has some lovely antioxidants including safflower and grape seed extract, so it can be used as a serum even if you’re not big on foundation!)
4. Kiehl’s Creme With Silk Groom (Many consider this one of the best hair products ever. It’s most appropriate for someone with normal-to-thick hair, but if you’ve got fine hair you can try using just a wee bit.)

So there you go. Free samples that you could probably get yourself. But that will be sent to you by me if you write me a poem about your favorite beauty product. Send me the sucker at realgirlbeauty@yahoo.com by Friday, September 16. As you’ll see in the comments, if you’re out of the US, you may still apply, but you should know that if the shipping costs become ridiculous, I may have to use the cheap slow shipping. God, why am I even doing this contest? To herald the fact that I can only afford a free gift right now? And ghetto shipping?

Yay!!!

Which brings me so nicely to….Budget Conditioner!

Now, let me say right here and now that today’s conditioner is actually comparable or better than some more expensive, even Sephora-carried brands I’ve used. I’m pretty sure folks agree with me--because of all the internet searches that bring y'all to Real Girl Beauty? “Garnier Frucis” is the second most popular. (By the way? You wouldn’t believe me if I told you the #1 most popular search. I barely believe me. But for real? It’s people searching for images of Jenn C. from last season’s Apprentice. I have no explanation for you there. None. Nada.)

Ok. So you may remember (but probably don’t) my very first Real Girl Beauty entry, inspired by Garnier Fructis Fortifying Cream Conditioner for Fine Hair. (I didn’t even know how to link then. Isn’t that cute?) In the months since, I’ve been experimenting with more members of the Fortifying Cream Conditioner family, and I’m now able to tell you which Garnier conditioner is right for you! Whee!

Garnier Fructis Fortifying Cream Conditioner, Fine Hair (aka the Real Girl Original): What’s great about this conditioner, is that it doesn’t have a lot of the ingredients that weigh down fine hair. What’s not so great? Those ingredients are the detanglers. So, if you’ve got short, very fine hair, this would be your best option.

Fortifying Cream Conditioner, Dry or Damaged Hair: This one puts softness above all else. A comparable product would be Frederic Fekkai (which is $18!). This would be a better option for folks with thicker hair who need some of the baby softness that we fine-haired gals try to fight like a mother.

Fortifying Cream Conditioner, Sleek & Shine: This is Real Girl’s current fave! Somehow it manages to detangle and handle my flyaways without making my hair so soft that it loses all body. Mmmmm. Boddddy.

Fortifying Deep Conditioner, 3 Minute Masque: This product has a lot of the same qualities as the Sleek & Shine above. I use it once in a while so as to avoid the dreaded Product-Stopped-Working Syndrome that’s bound to happen if you use your favorite conditioner every single day. Spiteful syndrome, that.

Join the fun! Got questions? Have you tried a Garnier product you must praise or pan? Have another cheapie conditioner you love? Know of a pricier conditioner we’ve just got to invest in? (Ooh! I’m dying for a Kerastase recommendation…) Tell us! Tell us quickly!!

And! Send me your poems by Sept. 16!

Because clearly, babe, you realize
Life is better when you moisturize.
And your skin retains its youthful sheen
When you’re liberal with that damn sunscreen.
Just remember dearies, there’s no “Can’t”
In the blessed word, “Antioxidant.”

You can do much better.
And I remain your,
Real Girl
xx

I? Am Glowy. NATURALLY GLOWY!!

2005-08-28T16:38:00.000-07:00

If you’ve seen the commercials for Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer, you’ve seen a smiling model appearing decidedly unnatural. She looks more like Princess Or Ange of Planet Faketania. This? Is a shame. Though I’m not sure Jergens is hurting much, because I looked for this product for ages, and all the local drug stores were sold out. Why? Quite frankly, because this is one of the most exciting, results-providing products I’ve come across in a very long time. Real Girl is in lurve.

Generally, I sample a product for at least two weeks before I rant or rave about it to you lovely people. But after only a week of Jergening my heart out, I can’t hold it in any longer. Witness, in fact, this real life conversation with Real Boy, which took place after just three applications:

Real Boy to Real Girl: “Hey, you’re tan.”
Real Girl to Real Boy (to paraphrase): “Whatchu talkin’ ‘bout, Willis?”

No one knows better than Real Boy how little I’ve been outdoors this summer. New York’s just been so awfully humid, and I haven’t even had one beach day. And yet the other day at the gym? For the first time in months, I was not the palest girl in step class. My friends, I look tan. Not Long-Island, Stay-in-the-Sun-All-Day tan, but with—and here I praise heartily a product that lives up to its promise—a definite natural glow. There’s no orange tint in sight and definitely no frightening self-tanner streaks. My precious little tan grew over about 3-5 applications, and I love it! I just stare at my arms all day! My legs no longer reflect light off passing puddles! I am glowy and fabulous! I am natural looking! I am tan woman, hear me squeeeee!

OK. Now to the parsing of the product. Pay attention! This is crucial! I’ve learned through experience!

1) Exfoliate your knees and elbows before using. I definitely noticed a build up of color around my rough elbow skin. Both exfoliating and lightly pre-moisturizing that area helped.
2) If you’ve achieved the color you want, don’t worry about skipping a day. I’m applying about every other day now, and I still love my color.
3) Don’t forget tops of feet (but avoid rough heels!) and backs of hands.
4) IMPORTANT: Don’t just wash your palms after use. Also exfoliate them with a rough product, like my ever-lovin’ St. Ives apricot scrub. One of my biggest self-tanner fears was walking around with red hands. I’m happy to say my palms look completely normal.
5) Try to wait at least fifteen minutes before putting on clothes or sitting on a sofa.

If I think of any more do’s and don’ts, I’ll add to the list. But for now, just know that this is a must-have product for the pale. (As for the not-so-pale? If you’ve used this product, I’d love to know your results. Does it work for you too?) Let’s spend a minute, here, on which option you should choose: Fair or Medium.

I chose Medium, and I’m endlessly happy I did. If you’re not the palest of the pale, I’d recommend this option. I’m usually the second palest in foundation, and I have yellow undertones. The only people who I’d recommend use the fair skin option are those with very pale skin and blue undertones. Think Claire from the recently departed Six Feet Under. Not that she’s told me she’s looking for a new self-tanner, but—you know—if she did, I’d say choose Jergen’s for Fair Skin.

I love it! I recommend it highly! I can overlook the annoying extra lotiony smell! I don’t tan easily, folks. Jergen’s Natural Glow? I’m sleeping with you under my pillow. You’re my precious. My preccccciousssssss.

Have you tried this product too? And if you did, at what degree of paleness did you start and what results did you see? Do you have another self-tanner to recommend? Anything at all, my dearies? Can’t wait to hear you!

With love,
From one Real Girl to another.
xxx

Eye, Eye Captain!

2005-08-22T17:54:00.000-07:00

My lovelies, do it with me. The Free Stuff dance. Performed to the Free Stuff Song. “Free Stuff! Baby Free Stuff! Gimme your stuff, gimme gimme your stuff, gimme gimme. Free Stuff! Baby Free Stuff! Gimme your stuff, gimme gimme your stuff, gimme gimme all your stufffff, all your stuff-uff-uff.”

Bloomingdales! Around the country! Starting August 31! Free gift at Clinique! But what’s in the free gift, Real Girl, you may ask. Well, guess what? My posse at the Bloomie’s Clinique counter gave me a wee little peek. And, okay, not all of it is thrilling. There’s the requisite, though nice sized, sample of toner. The four neutral tones of eye shadow. The bubble gum pink lip gloss (shiny!), and the baggie of cotton balls and Q-tips. But what’s really exciting? So exciting that Real Girl may have to follow up this entry with one on Clinique Eye Product #2? A divine little sample of Clinique’s latest eye treatment, Repairwear Intensive Eye Cream. This beaut purports to fight fine lines with a nice peptide base. But does it work? If you get the free gift, be sure to share!!

But now on to Clinique Eye Product #1, All About Eyes: And here—as has become habit lately—Real Girl confesses. I’m stymied. I’ve perused the ingredients of this lovely little eye cream, and I’m not sure what makes it so splendiferous. Antioxidants? It’s got a bit of green tea and grape extract, but nothing that’s got me jumping off the walls. De-puffing? It’s got caffeine, the eternal ingredient of the depuff, which aids in reducing swelling. Dark circles? Ahem. Here Clinique cheats a little, using ingredients that inhibit melanin production—great if your darkness is due to melanin, not so much if (as with mine) it’s due to bone structure, shadows, etc. So…what is it, Clinique? WHAT AM I MISSING? It’s driving me crazy. There’s no reason I can see that this product should be as damn awesome as it is.

Should we chalk it up to miracle?

Let’s break it down. First of all: texture. This eye cream, in my book, has achieved the Holy Grail of eye cream texture. It’s light and cool, a silicone based moisturizer, which means it’s slippery and thin. You know how I’m always nagging you not to rub your eyes (and cause hateful, damning wrinkles)? Well, with this texture, it’s impossible to rub the eye area because your finger slides gently over your delicate skin as you tap, tap, tap away. I went through two samples of this baby, and with every use I continued to marvel at the lovely feel of this gentle, love-to-slather-it-on, gel/lotion hybrid.

But you know what? Here’s where I’m stumped. Those tiny fine lines around my eyes? The ones I’m always complaining about, even though I’m the only one who sees them? I don’t know how, but somehow when I use this eye cream, they seem less…less liney. My skin looks glowier, softer, plumper (in a good way). It’s like my eye skin has written me a love letter saying Real Girl? We likey. We really, really likey. I mean, don’t expect your lines to disappear…but if you’re early in the line-forming stage, as I am in my (very) late twenties, then this sweet gem may just make you smile. (And since you’re already using your antioxidant serum under All About Eyes and your sunscreen over it, you can smile all you want because you’re protecting against those laugh lines. I, for one? Refuse to stop laughing. Especially at myself.)

Basically? My sample ran out two weeks ago. I am DYING. I’m seeing those thready lines again, I swear. I wish I could tell you what Clinique's secret ingredient is here…but I’m thinking it might just be magic.

Abra Cadabra Presto Clinique-o!

xx
Real Girl

(But what about you? Have you tried All About Eyes? Or the new Repairwear for Eyes? Want to gush over your favorite eye products? Depuffers? Anything at all? Chat away, my dears!)

This Body Flaw? Totally Fixable!

2005-08-15T19:26:00.000-07:00

Ok, so today’s entry may not be the most scrumptious, glossy product-related post ever, but for some, it’s totally, totally necessary. This problem? It’s a bad one. Not quite hair-falling-out, beet-red-sunburn, gained-100-pounds bad, but darn ewwy enough to provoke a grimace. And at least one desperate, heartfelt cry for help.

Dear Real Girl,

Hi! First off, thanks so much for your awesome advice. I hope you forgive me for writing you anonymously. You’ll understand why when you hear my problem. Real Girl, please help me. Please!! I’ve got…Backne. I’ve got red bumps all on my back from the summer heat, and it’s so, so gross. What can I do to make it go away? It needs to go away!

Love,
Girl Who Wants Her Back Back

And…here we go into the confessional. Once again, I confess my secrets to you, completely shattering the myth that I wake up all coifed, clear-skinned, and undereye-concealed. As if.

So what happens when you have a sheet of hair that’s basically your security blanket? And it’s so humid outside that you can drink the air? Yeah, there’s gonna be some pore blockage there. My back pores, in fact, sent me a letter early this summer. “Dear Real Girl,” they said—much like you did, Girl Who Wants Her Back Back—“CLEAN US THE FUCK OUT.” And instead of signing it “Your divinely clear back pores,” they signed it “Red zits on your back. Hello, we said on Your Back!”

But my back now? Silky smooth. Clear as a daisy. A clean-pored, exfoliated, benzoyl-peroxided daisy. I pet her and call her Fluffy.

Ok, GWWHBB. Listen here. If you’ve got a light-to-moderate case of the backne, you want to start by exfoliating every day. I usually try to promote gentle products that don’t irritate sensitive facial skin. But we’re talking about your back here. Rough it up. St. Ives Medicated Scrub for Oily or Acne Prone Skin absolutely saved my back. I do not recommend this product for sensitive facial skin, but start using it on your back (and chest, if needed) in every shower as your step 1.

Step 2: Benzoyl peroxide. Start with 5% and see how that works. If you’re not happy after a week or so, try 10% (but expect that to be more drying.) My faves? Oxy Balance Vanishing for Sensitive Skin (5%) and Oxy Balance Vanishing Maximum Acne Treatment (10%). Use this every night before bed. It can cause sun sensitivity so beware of daytime use!

Step 3: Wait. God, I wish this were an instant cure. But give it two weeks. If your back ain’t clear by then? You might want to consult a dermatologist for a prescription acne medication.

Real Girl Notes:

If your backne is large and sore, start with the benzoyl peroxide to clear it up a bit before moving to the exfoliation.
If you’ve just got tiny, clustered red bumps (these most often on the upper arms), just do the heavy exfoliating and forgo the acne treatment. Acne’s caused by bacteria; tiny red bumps are only pore blockage.
Try to avoid moisturizing the affected areas.

If you’re smart, unlike La Real Girl, once your back's crystal clear, you won’t go blabbing about your sordid backne past all over the internet, and no one will ever be the wiser!

Feel like confessing your deepest beauty flaw secrets? Got backne advice of your own? Questions, love, despair, joy? Share, my dearies, share!

And I remain your,
Real Girl

Real Girl Confession (Oh Crap. Gonna Get The Dirty Googlers Now.)

2005-08-07T11:04:00.000-07:00

Ohhhh, honeys. So much to talk about! And—disclaimer alert!—it’s not all about today’s exciting product. We’ll get there, though. Don’t worry. But First…

Well, okay. Before “But First…” comes “Ooh! Beauty Opportunity!” (Um, clearly.) While supplies last at Sephora.com (what is that? Two days? Two weeks? Dunno) you can get a free mascara sample with every purchase. Simply type in “LUSHLASHES” in the promotion box during checkout, and you’ll get your free .14 oz. sample of Lorac Mascara (online only). And if you get it? Do share your thoughts!!

Now, secondly, “But First…”

You know your secret husband? The celebrity you’re secretly married to but no one knows it, including said celebrity? Even though he clearly loves you and only you forever and ever amen? Yeah, well my secret husband is Michael Vartan, of Alias. At least of Alias FOR NOW. Rumor has it that my secret husband is LEAVING ALIAS! (it’s all over E! online Gossip and various message boards that I found by googling “Michael Vartan leaving Alias.”) They’re killing off my secret husband! Someone’s going to need some comforting… (And I’m talking about me here, people. Not poor dying off Michael Vartan. Me).

Ok. Sephora offer, check. Secret husband leaving me on his unsecret show, check. Oh, right! Time for B-list celebrity I saw at dinner last weekend.

So, Amy Sacco, of Lot 61 and Bungalow 8 fame (aka “Nightlife Queen,” as gossipy newspapers call her. Tres original, gossipy folks) has this new restaurant called Bette. It so happens that my beloved friend and former manager of… (oh, lordy. Boring. Let’s just call him Nightlife King) is the manager of this new restaurant. He’s so fab that he tells me, “Oh just stop by without a reservation. Any time you want!” And so…I did. I was wearing Adidas and a miniskirt made from vintage sweatshirts (by someone more talented than I!). Cute, yes, but not quite NYC glam. Nightlife King seats Real Boy and me in this raised area in the back, overlooking the entire restaurant. And there, just a few feet below me, is Tori Spelling. And I have got to say, Tori is just all around better in person. First of all, she’s cute! Even pretty! Her face somehow looks less long and horsey in person, her makeup’s great, and if she’s got a Fake Bake, it looks positively natural! She’s thin, but not Skeletor Skinny (a la Mary Kate). And even more, she seems really sweet and unassuming. How do I know this just by watching her eat dinner? I don’t. But that was my impression. Genuine smiles, good to her friends, not needing to be the center of attention. You get a Check Plus, Tori!

Ah! Right. This site is about beauty products. Y’all will hate me for straying to trivial matters (except for Michael Vartan leaving Alias. That is just too crushing), and I will get lots of emails slamming me for talking about whatever the heck I want on my own blog.

So let’s get to the good stuff.

Real Girl has a confession to make. This may shock you. It shocks me if I think about it. Here goes. Gathering up my strength. Don’t judge! Don’t judge! Don’t…

Real Girl uses hairspray. And not just a little. Huge, swirling spritzes of the spray of the hair. Do you have the same mental picture I do? Because mine’s of that girl in eighth grade who had to duck when walking through doors lest her Enormously High Hair scrape the paint off the doorframe.

But do you really think Real Girl would allow herself to have Jersey Hair? No no no no no. Lordy, no! Because I use the BEST HAIRSPRAY EVAH. The same one I’ve been using for so long, I’ve passed through at least four repackagings. If they ever discontinue this product, people? My grief will be so powerful, you’ll hear my mourning wails no matter where the heck you are. Y’all shaking your heads in Australia? Believe me. Ohhh, believe me. Because without L’Oreal Studioline Fast Forward Strong Hold, I am nothing. I am just a head with a limp, flyaway, sagging mess of unspiraling curls. But with this awe-inspiring product? I’ve got body, hold, and power. WITHOUT that crispy firmness that scrapes the paint off doorframes. That’s right. This hairspray holds without being too crispy. It’s my secret weapon.

Have I tried pricier hairsprays? Hell, yeah! Do I love them? No!! Crispiness! Crazy strong smells! Jersey Hair!!! But not with my L’Oreal Studioline aerosol beauty. Do I flip my hair over and spray the heck out of it, waiting for it to dry so when I flip it back over, it’s all movie star full? Yes!! Does it then sag back to normal proportions throughout the day? Yes!! But have I also sprayed the top layers so they don’t sag too, too badly? Yes!! Have I held the can far enough away so the spray diffuses all over and isn’t too concentrated? Yes!! Does that mean my hair looks totally fabu and yours can too? Well, hell. What do you think???

But I’ve talked my ass off by now. So, darlings, let’s hear all your secrets!! Hairspray? Celebrity sighting? Secret husband? It's alllll up for grabs.

With love from your,
Real Girl

The Mascara Chronicles Part III: Craaaaaaaaap

2005-07-27T17:10:00.000-07:00

CRISIS! CRI! SIS! Months after I found the perfect mascara, there is trouble in paradise.

No other mascara makes my lashes look as fab as YSL Luxurious Mascara. So thick! So long! The evening look to end all other evening looks! This shizznit just screams glamour. (But thankfully not while I’m sleeping. Gotta love considerate mascara.)

HOWEVER. My beloved YSL Luxurious Mascara has one fatal flaw: it doesn’t last so well. After about four months, it gets kind of sticky and harder to apply. The lush blackness loses a bit of its luster. It becomes slightly…less than perfect.

I don’t know about you, but Real Girl expects her mascara to last six months. Especially if it’s expensive!

So. For my latest mascara purchase, I revisited the Ever Favorite Real Girl Beauty Mascara Chronicles of December, 2004 and decided to buy Clinique High Impact Mascara. Perhaps not surprisingly (hello, it’s not perfect), I have decided that this is not the mascara for me. My lashes look less thick than they do with the YSL. In fact, they look anemic by comparison. But what’s worse? By the end of the night, I had raccoon eyes! Bright black raccoon eyes. There exists a perfect zen state of mascara that’s not too waterproof to make removing it difficult, but that also does not make you look like a foraging forest critter. It’s that almost-waterproof-but-not-quite state that I call Nirvana. Yes, my YSL had it. For the allotted four months of perfection.

I may revisit another of my runners up--Prescriptives False Eyelashes. But the mascara I’m dying to try? The one I’ve heard raves about for ages? Blinc Kiss Me Mascara. Will it give me the thickness and the length? I want both! Because I think we know?

I will not settle for less.

But what about y'all? Got the perfect thickening, lengthening, non-clumpy, non-raccoon-eye, lasts-more-than-four-months mascara? Have you tried the Kiss Me? Or do I just have to suck it up and buy new mascara every four months?

With Love,
xx
Real Girl

Oh!! P.S.!! Here’s one thing I love about Clinique (and there's another Clinique review to come soon, dearies): They have an awesome return policy. I will return my High Impact Mascara to Bloomingdales, where I bought it, and they will refund my money without a peep!

Peptides: The Next Expensive SKIN CARE CRAZE

2005-07-21T21:06:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, Real Girl is not a big sucker.
I mean, yes, I am the cosmetic industry’s WET DREAM—a loyal customer who eagerly shares her favorite products far and wide (duh). But what’s more, I will pile product after product onto my skin in the belief that at least one of them has got to work, right? RIGHT???

So indeed, I am prone to buy skin care products. And by “prone,” I mean "Oh My God, what is that? Does it have antioxidants? Is it SPF 15? Does it smell pretty? IS IT ON SALE?"

But trust me--there’s method to the madness. When a New Skin Care Craze arises, Real Girl is always skeptical. How dare a product make such wild claims! How dare they promise so much and then produce such miniscule results. How dare they! I then proceed to shake my head at all the suckers spending hundreds of dollars on said New Skin Care Craze. Flash forward a year.

Holy Crap I’ve Got to Have it. Nowwwwwwwwwww!

Today’s Skin Care Craze: Peptides.

Peptides are short chains of amino acids (long chains are proteins) that were initially used to treat stretch marks. The most famous (and yet not the best) peptide product is StriVectin, which contains palmitoyl pentapeptide-3 (aka Matrixyl). In addition to stretch mark relief, this ingredient has been shown to reduce skin roughness, reduce wrinkle volume, and decrease wrinkle depth by up to 27% after four months of twice-daily applications. Copper peptides have been shown to have benefits in increasing collagen production, tissue regeneration, and easing the daily wear and tear on skin (all important for preventing wrinkles!). Still others say that Acetyl Hexapeptide-3 (aka Argireline) might be the most effective peptide.

Point being: key words to look for in addition to peptide: Copper. Matrixyl. Argireline. You’re treating existing wrinklies (within reason) while preventing new ones.

Great. Now you know what to look for. “But Real Girl,” you ask. “Which ones are the best? Have you compiled a list for us?” Ah, impatient ones. We’ll get there. Have faith.

So. Remember all those fabulicious Sephora samples I got a couple weeks ago? One of them happened to be a really expensive product I was dying to try. The kind of dying and the kind of really expensive that made me invent an imaginary friend so I could ask for an extra sample. To give Friend, of course. Not to hoard for my own crucial personal care. (As if.)

The product? Dr. Brandt R3P Cream . The cost? A hundred and twenty-five dollars. Holy Crap. The review? If it were less expensive, I’d probably invest. The ingredients have merit and include Acetyl Hexapeptide-3 (Argireline). It’s a three-types-of-peptide cocktail and what’s not to love about that? Well, here’s what. The cream’s a bit too thick. I used it sparingly around eyes, smile lines, and forehead creases (the problem areas), but I think it’s just to thick to slather on. Unless you have normal to dry skin, I’d say maybe this ain’t the cream for you.

So what is? Well, as long as we’re talking $125 and Argireline, I think the better (and perhaps the best) investment would be AlphaDerma CE. The key to this product is that it offers a 10% concentration of Argireline, the highest you’ll find anywhere. You are most likely to see the benefits of peptides with the highest concentrations, hands down, no question. Also? It has high concentrations of collagen-building Vitamin C and Alpha Lipoic Acid, another powerful antioxidant. Take a look at this more professional review here. Right now, this product is #1 on my Sample Desire List. I can’t recommend it wholeheartedly until I’ve tried it, but I think it’s worth adding to any list.

But still. ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY NINE DOLLARS IS A LOT OF MONEY.

Here’s another very good option with Vitamin C, this one on the Matrixyl bandwagon: DDF C3 Plus Serum at $60.

Philosophy’s Save Me offers a wondrous combination of peptides, retinols, and Vitamin C for $60, but after checking out the ingredients, I’m a bit worried that the concentrations may be too small.

Another swell option in this price range would be Estee Lauder Perfectionist [CP+] with Poly-Collagen Peptides Correcting Serum for Lines/Wrinkles/Age Spots for $55. But only if you can say it three times fast.

For $80, you can get a perfectly decent source of Argireline and Vitamin C in DDF Wrinkle Relax, but it also includes shea butter, and so may be best on normal to dry skin.

At $65, here’s a copper peptide option for day with SPF 20: Neova Day Therapy SPF 20 with GHK Copper Peptide Complex.

And finally, here are two of the best ACTUALLY AFFORDABLE peptide options:
Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum, Concentrated Amino-Peptide Complex with great antioxidants and so-so peptides.

Zia Natural Skincare Ultimate Day Renewal which has a really decent amount of Acetyl Hexapeptide-3 (Argireline). Only worry: It has some oils in it, so beware if you tend to break out. Also, it doesn’t come with the antioxidant bells and whistles (except for a tad of Vitamin E).

Whew! After getting this all down in beautyblogland, I have to this to say.
Dream Product: AlphaDerma CE
Product I Will Probably Get: Zia Natural Skincare Ultimate Day Renewal.

But PLEASE my lovelies. If you know of other drugstore products with peptides—I will kiss you if you share them! Any other department store brands I’ve missed? Do you think it’s all a load of hooey? Do share!!

And I remain your,
Real Girl
xx

Taking It All Off...

2005-07-14T11:31:00.000-07:00

Real Girl has found a new staple. This one’s staying in my makeup bag, living there like a happy pup nestled in a blanketed box. And like a puppy, I will pet it and love it and not get too angry when it pees in the kitchen. Wait…eh, you get the drift.

We’re used to glamour products here. Products that give you tawny color, shiny lips, flowy hair, perfect brows. I mean, when you read about real estate, you’re looking for the number of bedrooms, the asking price, the luxury amenities. You’re not aching to know what cleaning product the realtor uses. When you see a girl on the subway in the best fitted blazer ever, you’ve got to know who makes it and where she got it. Not where she goes for dry cleaning.

So forgive me if this entry doesn’t reek of glamour. What it does have—in spades—is necessity. I will never again wear mascara without using my new can’t-live-without Clinique Naturally Gentle Eye Makeup Remover. Ohhhh, I need it. I love it. I have to have it. Hey, Clinique Makeup Remover! Stop peeing in my kitchen.

Ok. Teeny confession here. One I do not recommend you follow in the future. I sort of used this product before I read the directions. Here’s how Clinique says you should use the remover: “Use day or night, cleansing one eye area at a time. Apply a drop to 100% cotton ball. With eye closed, massage gently over lid and lashes. Wipe up then down, then open the eye and wipe underneath. Tissue off, or rinse off any residue with water.”

Here’s how Real Girl used the remover: "Use day or night, squeezing out a healthy glob into your hands and using like a cleanser over eyes. Massage until your eye area resembles a racoon’s. Rinse off the ton of residue with water. Follow with actual cleanser."

Right. If you have really sensitive skin, I don’t recommend using my method. Otherwise, I think that’s the only way to go. Because here’s one of the reasons I love the product: Normally, I hate makeup remover precisely because you’ve got to use a cotton ball, or because you’re using an already prepared makeup pad. That means rubbing the eye area. And as we all know, RUBBING THE EYE AREA IS BAD. However, this lightweight-lotion-like product has enough slipperiness that when you rub it over eyes directly (lightly, people!!), you’re rubbing only the product and not your delicate eye area. Honestly, it feels like cleanser. (Another perk? None of that oily makeup remover feel.) And I get an extra kick out of the way my eyes look surrounded by dissolving mascara. I made Real Boy look at my raccoon face too. We laughed. What’s more, followed by cleanser, I had not a speck of mascara to be found.

But maybe you’ve got a makeup remover you love more? Or you know of a cleanser that’s both gentle enough not to irritate but effective enough to remove mascara? Or you just want to talk about your puppy? You know we love to hear you.

With love,
From one Real Girl to another.
xx

Lipstick, I Love You Once More

2005-07-06T18:45:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies!

Can you believe we've never talked about lipstick before?
I've found one that feels just like silk....So stay tuned!!!!

Update: Here it is! If you want to go straight to the lipstick, scroll down some. (I may be asking for hate mail of the not-the-right-venue-for-this variety, but...)

WARNING: The following paragraphs are not about beauty. Please feel free to skip them, as they are dark, and that’s not usually what we’re about here. But I feel compelled to write them, so if you choose to skip this part, just pick up where you see the words “So now back to our regular programming.”

To all of Real Girl Beauty’s London readers, or to all who know people in London, as I do, I very much wish that all your loved ones are unharmed. I’m entirely relieved that my two dear, wonderful friends in London are okay, albeit stunned. Much like the rest of their city. My empathy, sympathy, and gut-wrenching thoughts of “Oh God, not again” are all with you.

It’s impossible while watching the chaos in London now on CNN not to remember—and I don’t just mean mentally. I’m feeling it again in my stomach—what New York was like in the days after September 11. I lived downtown, east of the World Trade Center, and I can almost smell the smoke again. You had to keep your windows closed for days afterwards because it was so pungent. I remember right after the attack trying frantically to call my best friend on her cell phone. My best friend who worked across the street from the Twin Towers. Phone service was overloaded, and so I wouldn’t be able to contact her for hours. I remember crying with relief when I found out she wasn’t harmed. She had been looking up at the towers when the second plane hit, and I will always be in awe of the fact that she knew the exact right thing to do—to run, out of the city, across the Brooklyn Bridge, dragging a woman with her who had been literally too shocked to move. But that’s her story, not mine. I can only say for sure that I remember how it felt to be in the midst of a tragedy. The only thing I wanted was to see on TV was something else. Anything but the images of fire and grief every time I looked online or at the television or at a newspaper. It got so bad, I finally rented the silliest, most inane movie I could find at Blockbuster. That’s right--September 11th made me waste four bucks on Josie and the Pussycats. Damn terrorists.

Point being: it feels frivolous when the news is plastered with more terrorist attacks to talk about lipstick. To talk about it the way I like to—which is, with fun involved. But then I remember how I felt four years ago—how all I wanted was something to take my mind off what was happening. So let’s not stop our fun. Our lips need prettifying. And if I can help just one suffering person avoid the horrors of Josie and the Pussycats, well, then I’ve done my job.

SO NOW BACK TO OUR REGULAR PROGRAMMING.

Yay! I’ve found a lovely winner from my stash of Sephora loot that has actually changed the way I think about lipstick forever. From the age of 17 to 24, the only make up I had to have was my lipstick. Literally, I was never without it. My favorites were Lancome and Chanel, dark creamy mattes in rich brick shades to complement my (then—before the beauties of highlights) almost black hair. However, for the past few years, I’ve been a gloss and tinted balm girl. Lipstick just left my lips so dry and unsexy feeling. When I’ve worn lipstick lately, it’s been of the almost-a-gloss variety, or has been worn under gloss, or over balm, etc. etc. But now, to lipsticks everywhere, Real Girl apologizes. I didn’t realize you could feel so damn good.

My free tube of Pout Lipstick has shocked and amazed me. It feels like a balm, and yet it provides the long-lasting, color-rich appearance of a lipstick. No joke, I want to wear it just around the house because my lips feel so poutily moisturized when it’s on. I haven’t tried more than one color, so I don’t know if Pout’s entire line manages to remain long-lasting and yet still moisturizing (the gold standard of all lipsticks), but my color, “Head Rush,” is definitely a textural winner.

Let’s talk about this color for a minute. Because it’s one I would have never chosen for myself in a million years. It’s pink. With metallic sparkle. Metallic sparkle pink? Who am I, Jessica Simpson? You've got to be kidding me. And yet somehow, it looks great. The pink is an inoffensive blush, and the sparkle just serves to add sexiness, the way a gloss does. I never thought I’d wear pink lipstick in public, but Pout, you’ve convinced me it can look hot as hell. I want to try “Bare All,” which looks closer to my usual shade, but now I’m also feeling emboldened to experiment with new colors. For the first time, I feel like I’ve found a lipstick I can wear without balm underneath. God, with my lip venom on top, it just might be too hot to handle.

So now you know my new favorite lipstick. Please tell me yours! Please let me know what other lipsticks are out there that can change my life for the better! Anything you want to chat about at all…you know where to comment, babes.

And I remain your,
Real Girl
xxx

Sensory Product Overload? So Not Possible.

2005-06-29T12:13:00.000-07:00

OK! So last week, I get this divine email from Liz (thank you, Liz!!!) basically saying: Sephora grand opening! Union Square! Party and samples! Run, you fool sitting on your loveseat. RUN, I tell you. (By the way, Real Girl lives a block away from Union Square. There is now a Sephora in her BACK YARD. I used to have to walk seven whole blocks to reach one.)

(Warning: This post will require LOTS OF CAPITALS. We’re talking about FREE BEAUTY PRODUCTS and SERVICES here. If that doesn't warrant caps, than what the hell does???)

So…I ran. I expected to find the new Sephora store packed with gals eagerly pawing up free goods like they were Tom Cruise and that free Pout lipstick was Katie Holmes. Only, you know, with actual true love involved.

BUT NO. There was no store opening in sight. Instead, there was an OUTSIDE EXTRAVAGANZA in the park that included cotton candy, slushies, live music, and a gagillion pristine white tents filled with people offering FREE BEAUTY SERVICES. Sound like Shangri-la? It was! Except for….the lines….Oh. My. God. The lines. You’d think we were starving Soviets awaiting the last scraps of bread in sight. But no. We were beauty-starved New Yorkers awaiting the latest paraffin hand treatment from Bliss spa. Facials. Makeovers. Brow shaping. Hair styling. I nearly passed the fuck out.

I picked up a bagful of goodies, perfumes, makeup, skin care. All of which you will see reviewed on the pinkness that is Real Girl Beauty in the coming weeks. But why wait? Let’s start now and get that beauty ball rolling.

First, the disappointment. I had such high hopes for the gorgeous silver tube I found in my sample gift bag. The one from my beloved Stila, whose packaging never disappoints and whose products usually don’t either (except for the overpricing compared to comparable brands). I mean, you know how excited I get about mascara. So—Stila! Mascara! What’s to lose? (I also enjoy the bit of trivia that the makeup artist who created Stila is married to Anthony Edwards, aka Adorable Dr. Green from ER.)

Sigh. I can find no redeeming quality about Stila’s Major Lash Mascara, which should be renamed CrappyAss Lash Mascara. 1) It uncurled my lashes after I expertly curled them with the best ever Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler so my lashes looked flat and unsexy. 2) It does not thicken. At all. Sparse looking lashes there, Stila. 3) As for lengthening? Eh. I personally didn’t notice anything to write home—or here—about. For realsies, this is one of the few products I’ve ever found that I deem unusable. Actually unusable. Stila, you used to be one of my favorites. You have disappointed Real Girl.

But I would hate to leave off on such a sour note, my lovelies. And so I introduce one of the best smelling products I HAVE EVER FOUND. Y’all know I like those dessert scents like vanilla, cake, cookies, butterscotch….and chocolate. I’m telling you. For Really Real. Philosophy’s Double Rich Hot Cocoa body wash smells EXACTLY like the best cup of hot chocolate you’ve ever drank. Oh, I SO SWOONED when I smelled it. It’s an instant pick me up when you’re craving chocolate in the shower. Or for when you don’t even realize that you’re craving chocolate in the shower, but you so totally are.

Of course rarely is a product free from constructive criticism. I do wish the scent lingered on my skin more strongly after washing, and I don’t recommend using the product as a shampoo even though the bottle says you should. The lather and texture of it on my hair didn’t feel quite right, and again—there was little scent memory (you know, that dreamy after effect of smelling like your favorite product at least until you get to work).

Still, to smell that whiff of pure chocolate every morning…without a single shred of calorie guilt…well, that’s just priceless…

So, what about y’all? Got any Stila products to redeem my severe disappointment? Feel like crowing about your favorite Philosophy products? Your favorite scented products? Anything at all?

Love ya!
xx
Real Girl

Wait! P.S.!!! You think I’m fanatically pushy about sunscreen? Take a look at this excerpt from July’s W Magazine describing the routine of “Manhattan dermatologist Amy B. Lewis”:

“She coats her face with a green-tea antioxidant cream every morning, followed by a thick layer of SPF 60 sunscreen. She’s had her Toyota armored with UV-Shield, a window treatment that blocks the sun’s ultraviolet light. She wears wraparound sunglasses and wide-brim hats, attempts to stay indoors between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun’s rays are strongest, and admonishes patients at her Upper East Side practice to do the same.”

Holy Crap. Now I know why I don’t live on the Upper East Side.

Plumpy Pouty? Or Petered Pucker?

2005-06-21T18:27:00.000-07:00

Don’t you love it when a product purports to solve your every problem? Got a wrinkle you don’t like? Our cream will make it vanish! Dark circles under your eyes? Our serum will lighten them in a heartbeat! But the most trendy promise of the moment is this: You say your lips are too small? Screw collagen injections--our gloss will plump those suckers out until it looks like you’ve suffered the sting of a thousand insanely pissed-off little bees.

Yes, my friends, we all strive to have those bee-stung, pouty, voluptuous lips. I mean, it’s not like Angelina Jolie got Brad Pitt by having a puny pucker! Am I right?

So, while strolling through Sephora a couple weeks ago (soooo dangerous), I remembered a sample that my best friend Madgirl had given me. It was a pale peachy gloss, a color called Buttercup, and I lurrrrved it. I had worn it as I usually wear lip gloss, either over lipstick or over my can’t-live-without Aveda Lip Tint. But this was no ordinary lip gloss. When you put it on, it...tingled. It kind of...well....stung. Not quite like a thousand bees. But maybe like one really tenacious wee bee. The shine was good, the consistency not too sticky, and--most importantly--it looked cute.

Fast forward back to Sephora. The strolling. The complete and utter un-Angelina Jolie-ness of my own tiny lips. I came across a display of three lip glosses. A plumping station, if you will. A kiosk of pout-enlargement. Let’s take a look at what I saw.
1) LipFusion: Thirty-six to thirty-eight dollars for lip gloss? For lip gloss? That shit better cut off Angelina Jolie’s lips and sew them onto my face for that kind of loot. I think I’ll pass.
2) City Lips: Twenty-nine dollars. Still a bit high for lip gloss, but this one has been called the best plumper by more than one magazine.
3) Lip Venom by DuWop: Hey! This is that brand I liked. The one I tried in “Buttercup.” Fifteen dollars isn’t too shabby compared to collagen lip injections! Ooh, let’s try it in clear this time.

Ok. So did I really expect the Lip Venom to plump my pucker? Well...not really. What these products do, basically, is irritate your lips. They feel spicy, slightly burny, and tingly (some more than others), and in effect, they make your mouth swell a tad. If you don’t like the way your lips feel after eating really spicy food, then just forget the plumping gloss. I didn’t particularly mind the feeling of the Lip Venom, although I’ve tried others that were just too strong. Maybe they plump you up more, but I don’t know if it’s worth the sensation of HAVING YOUR LIPS BURNED OFF. Hmmm. Think not.

And now the big reveal! Was I a modern day, female Jack planting my magic beans and instead of a beanstalk getting really fat lips? Erm...not really. I mean, I think I saw some plumping. If I looked really close. Yes, definitely. There’s some more fullness in my lower lip. Hey, see that? It’s bigger! No, really. It is! Come on, look closer! Don’t you see it!?

Basically, babes, don’t expect too much. You’ll see some slight plumping. Maybe. But on the plus side, the gloss is gorgeous. It gives the effect of my absolute favorite clear gloss, MAC Clear Lip Glass without the tacky, goopy feel. (Alas, that means it doesn’t last as long as the MAC. It’s either smooth, luscious-feeling, short-lived gloss or long-lasting, goopy-feeling gloss. Your choice.)

I love my Lip Venom on top of lipstick, and gladly, the lipstick doesn’t dull the tingle. But more? I adore the colors that Lip Venom comes in (although I’m not sure if Sephora stocks the colors). For an extra buck, you can have a good-textured, nicely colored gloss that makes your lips tingle and kinda maybe makes ‘em look a bit bigger. Do I recommend these glosses over a non-tingly one? Not really. But then again, I don’t regret buying one either.

What about you guys? Have you tried the lip plumping glosses? Got one to recommend? Feel like chatting?

With love,
From one Real Girl to another.
xxxx

Thanks Blonde Neighbor, I Know I'm Pale...

2005-06-09T19:47:00.000-07:00

So guess what? Gaining back three pounds? Really easy. Easy peasy. Gaining four pounds? Even easier. Piece of cake. Er...several pieces of cake...Not to mention that this weekend at the Mets game (with big fan, Real Boy) I discovered a new weakness: The corn dog. Corn bread and hot dog. Who knew you were such a treat?

Also? You guys rock. And not in a Lite FM kind of way. I mean like heavy metal, head-banging, skin-tight jeans kind of rock. Without the over-processed hair.

So in honor of your rockaliciousness, I'm resurrecting an old beloved Real Girl Beauty tradition: The List. Here goes!

(Did I mention how much y'all rock?)

Summer approaches swiftly. With the sun, the beach, the frolicking in the park…and, for Real Girl at least, the heaps of facial sunscreen. Of course it’s the only way to fight wrinkles hard core! But it’s also the only way to stay as pale as friggin’ paper (and my dears, adjust that paper color to all shades as appropriate). Now, without make-up, Real Girl looks sickly pale. In fact, when my neighbor once saw me make-up free on my way to the gym, she even asked if I was feeling alright. Yes, I’m feeling alright, Perky Blonde Neighbor. I just don’t put on my favorite blushy bronzer to get all sweaty and out of breath at step class. Scandalous, I know.

But, my friends, I digress. The other day, while preparing for an evening out, I felt like looking tan. Why? Because everyone else recently spent Memorial Day weekend off at the Hamptons or Shelter Island or Nantucket or wherever Eastern city folk go when blessed with an extra day of weekend. Meanwhile, Real Girl was just trying to stay sane. And pale. Did I mention the pale? So, fine. Self-tanner, you say. Go wild. And I will admit—I have looked into the self-tanner option. I’ve got multiple self-tanners in my beauty notebook waiting to be tested. Except, I’m kind of scared of self-tanner. Know what I mean? It’s just permanent enough for all your self-tanner boo-boos to be exposed to the world. That orange tone? The streaks? The red hands? (And yes, I know—exfoliate first, wash your hands like mad, etc., etc. Still, I will look like a freak. I am sure.)

Which brings me to the other day. Feeling like a tan. Without the wrinkles—because hello, obvious reasons. But I remembered my favorite product from last summer—the moisturizer that both protected me with SPF and gave me some color, all with the option of washing or blotting off whatever I didn’t like. That product is….tinted moisturizer!! And, more specifically, Benfit’s You Rebel

Here’s the thing: Benefit only has one color of tinted moisturizer. It works with my yellow-based skin tone (but beware you blue-toned lasses), however it’s at least a full shade darker than my skin. Great for looking tan. But perhaps not for you. Only one color! Hate that about Benefit. But it has SPF so you can wear it during the day without having to use a separate moisturizer/sunscreen! Love that!

But wait, there's more! Tinted moisturizer is a great alternative to self-tanner, yes, but it’s also a great alternative to foundation! There will have to be a Real Girl Beauty foundation entry sometime in the near future (with, bien sur, a fabu List!), but for now, let’s talk about the TM. The tinted moisturizer. My new summer best buddy. This stuff works great to even out skin tone. If you’re using foundation to hide serious skin flaws, the TM option may not be for you. But if you’re just interested in improving the all-around tone of your skin without having to delve into something really make-upy, then an SPF tinted moisturizer might just be your key to euphoria.

So let’s say Benefit’s You Rebel, in its one yellowish, darkish color, isn’t for you. Here’s a list of other tinted moisturizers with SPF protection that just might float your boat to fabulous skin. I present the latest Real Girl Beauty Listarama!

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20: This is the gold standard of tinted moisturizer, beloved by every single beauty magazine. However, beware! The sunscreen ingredients in this product are not the very best…
Biotherm Aquasource: A very reliable brand and product.
Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15: Lordy, I love me some Stila.
Hard Candy Hint Tint: Not just for teeny boppers!
MD SkinCare Tinted Moisturizer: Another of those dermatologist lines, this one including antioxidants vitamin E and C, but also a bit pricey.
Cover Girl SPF 15 Tinted Moisturizer: Gotta have the drugstore option! This looks good for oily skin, too.
Bobbi Brown SPF 15 Tinted Moisturizer: Oddly masculine packaging, but offers some nice shades.
MAC Select Tint SPF 15: I know people who swear by MAC.

So that’s my list of the top tinted moisturizers—to be used either as a substitute for foundation or alternative to self-tanner. And it makes a brief appearance in my novel! Which, by the way, now has a publication month exactly one year from now, June 2006. Oh, the waiting…

But what about y’all? Have you tried La Tinted Moisturizer? Any secrets for looking sun-kissed without baking your skin? Just feel like chatting? You know I love to hear you!

Much love,
Real Girl
xx