Milano Moda Donna la primavera-estate 2008-makeup

Two years ago, I was fortunate enough to go to the first day of Milan's Fashion Week. I was in fashion heaven living in Italy for 4 months, but fashion week in Milan was ridiculous! So many beautiful people and talented designers all in one fabulous city. Most of my favorite designers are Italian and the makeup looks from their Spring 2008 collections did not disappoint! Here are a few I pulled off Style.com for your viewing pleasure:

Pucci
While I'm not crazy about the hair... the extreme side part is far too eighties for me, the makeup is lovely. I like the used of a maroon liner and shadow to make the eyes stand out yet still soft. The pale and shiny lip seems to be the big look for next spring. I'm all for it!

Versace Although this model looks bored to tears, her makeup looks fabulous! Once again, I love the use of gold on the inner corners of the eyes, it gives them serious POP! And the smokey color on the outside is nice, complimented by a nude, matte lip. I don't like the thick, bushy eyebrows though, at least they aren't too dark and filled in a la Sienna Miller!

Dolce and Gabbana Dolce and Gabbana know how to do sex, and what is sexier than red lipstick?! Although, I myself am afraid of the stuff, it looks so good on other people when done correctly. I love this matte raisin-red on this model, but not sure it would work for me.

DSquared The DSquared boys never fail to entertain and inspire me. This cat eye is everywhere, forcing us to breakout the liquid eyeliner to attempt a very difficult look. My advice, use a pot gel eyeliner, like MAC's Fluidliner, followed by a powder black eyeshadow. It makes the dramatic black line a little easier, but no walk in the park. Her cheek color is very sweet too and i love the touch of gold in the corner, again!

Gucci This look to me me is so classic Gucci, it deserves no explanation. Pure Italian Genious.

Marni While I am not sure I'm a fan of Marni's clothes, this eye is awesome. I love the use of color, especially bright pastels like these. It stands out and demands attention, and sometimes (not always, but sometimes) that is what you want makeup to do!

Ciao Bellas!

love your body shop

I could post a new post everyday about The Body Shop, that is how much I love them, evident in the fact that I am up for my second "gift" for the second time this year. The Love Your Body Rewards Club was the best thing that ever happened to me. I didn't even pay for it initially since it was my birthday month. I am addicted to their body butter, as I have mentioned before. I can't shave my legs if I don't have any to smooth on afterwards. Their shower gels are awesome, my roommates always comment on how good my showers smell! I have just started to discover their makeup line, which was recently revamped. Their skin care lines are extensive, with something for every skin type, and they are having a sale right now. That is my favorite thing about The Body Shop, all their great sales and promos. The semi-annual sales are AMAZING, held around July and right after Christmas every year. I get body butters and showers gels for a fraction of the price (i.e. $4 instead of $20). Its rediculous!

Anyways. I'll stop gushing and just give you the stats on the Love Your Body card because I think it is the best deal around, and even if you have to pay the $10 fee, it pays for its self a dozen times over!

• 10% off all qualifying purchases from


• A birthday gift when you come in during your birthday month (retail value up to $10)


• Earn 1 point for spending $20 or more, 2 points for $50 or more


• Earn your fourth point, and choose a free product valued at up to $15


• Earn your eighth point, and choose a free product valued at up to $25 and a free membership renewal


• Exclusive email updates on what's happening in our shops


• Special offers by e-mail and direct mail


• Special Savings during "Customer Appreciation days"

Love your Body Lovely!

style your style

I've been a avid reader of Style.com since I discovered I could spend hours perusing pictures of fashion shows and luxury accessories I will probably never afford. It is a great source for the latest trends in fashion and beauty.

Some fun articles right now:

Candy Pratt Price's accessories trend pick is PLAID... think she's mad? I kinda like it, course I have to have some Scottish pride!

Queen Cate: Cate Blanchet has been one of my favorite actresses since she blew me away in Elizabeth. I can't wait for the new one! Here is a reprint of the W interview from the October issue.

And finally for BEAUTY: I always love the "5 Great..." picks section. This month its 5 Great Solid Scents. Who doesn't like to smell good on the go and these handy solids are perfect for your handbag.

Read Lovely!

the works

I strolled into the new Westfield San Francisco Centre this afternoon to buy my friend a little birthday gift and was shocked by my findings. First of all, it is a beautiful mall, full of amazing and expensive shops including Blomingdale's and Nordstrom (my personal favorite being a Seattle native and a former employee... you can't beat their customer service). I figured I'd get her a fancy candle or some body lotion from one of the high end specialty stores. Then I saw Bath and Body Works, so I strolled in, not expecting much. Boy that store changed since the last time I was in there over a year ago. It could just be this location, but they have all these other brands, including some well know high end skin care lines, like Murad, Peter Thomas Roth, and StriVectin. Pretty cool? I don't know if these brands are a part of the Limited Brands Co. or if they just distribute them. Check out the B&BW website for more!

I got my friends a few little treaties (lotions and home fragrance spray in her favorite, Warm Vanilla Sugar) and put them in this cute red and animal print pouch. Hope she liked them.

Shop Lovely!

lip gloss addict

I finally went to Sephora today and treated myself to something I absolutely didn't need and it felt great. I wanted to try YSL's Golden Gloss because my friend Megan swears by it, but I'll have to go to Nordstrom for that because Sephora doesn't carry their makeup line, only the YSL fragrances. So I checked out my other favorite French fashion house, Dior.

I picked up Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect, a new formulation of their previous lip glosses with extra shine and a bit more sparkle. I picked color number 157, called Jersey Pink, an iridescent golden pink, and it looks divine. The gloss isn't too sticky and there isn't much taste, which I like. It will be good for a night out, but maybe not as an everyday gloss since its on the pricier side at $24.50. I love the bottle design with the door knob-like top and the box its comes in is a cool metallic pink-silver. Yeah for creative, thoughtful package design!

Gloss Lovely!

island dreamin'

Its Friday and all I want to do is go buy myself something that smells pretty. I've been wanting Island by Michael Kors for over two years. It's really rather pathetic. Everytime I go into Sephora I spray it on my wrists and smell it the rest of the day. It reminds me of vacation, one that I want to be one everyday. I just haven't been willing to shell out the $40 for 1oz but i know its worth it.

It has notes of Kauai Waterfalls, Oxygenated Water, Chinese Kiwi, Hydroponic Honeysuckle, Parrot Tulip, Champaca Flowers, Ginger Lilies, Bulgarian Rose, Stephanotis, White Bark Accord, Galapagos Driftwood. Yummy!

Spritz Lovely!

wow them with your brows

I never did anything to my brows, except pluck the heck out of them, until a few years back. A was at a Benefit counter, and the salesperson insisted I use something to enhance my brows. She said that a bit of color and wax could lengthen my overly plucked brows and make my eyes stand out more. Since my intensely blue eyes are my favorite feature, I was all for it! So I purchased Benefit's Brow Zings. I used this occasionally, but never got used to the look, possibly because the color I bought was slightly too dark (It is possible that at the time, they only had two color choices, and the lightest one wasn't light enough for me...now the Light looks online to be fairly light).

Time pasted and my Brow Zings had long gone bad... you know what smell I'm talking about. But I had started using a bit for some shape and color enhancement. A little touch up on your brows really does make all the difference. I read on some blog about DuWop's BrowWow set and I knew I had to try it. So I ran over to Sephora, my home away from home, and picked it up. The Light color works perfect for my hair/skin tone (blonde, blue eyed and fair), and I love the highlighter that comes with it! You just touch a little under your brows with your finger, and voila! Perfection!

Brow Lovely!

natural goodness

I never felt the need to use hand lotion until I started working full time in an office. Washing your hands continually with industry soap in the restroom makes my hands all dry and unhappy, especially in the winter months. Normally, if I use hand lotion I just want to wipe it off right away because it makes my hands all slimy and useless.

Then I went to my local Aveda store a few months back... oh god, has it been a year?! Time flies... and got roped into their membership points plan because the $10 fee came with this cute bag with samples of their Shampure Shampoo & Conditioner, Foot Relief, and my new best friend, Hand Relief. Haven't really used the other items much, but I took the little Hand Relief to work one day, and my life hasn't been the same since. It smell is subtle so it won't bother yours neighbors, and it absorbs really quickly, leaving your hands moisturized without that sticky, slimy feeling. I can start typing right after I put it on. I think it smells like herbal tea, the website says it has licorice extract, meadowfoam seed oil, and vitamins A and E in it. I went back and bought the full size for $18 and it has lasted me over 3 months! A little goes a long way. Continual use is supposed to increase moisture levels and elasticity...anti-aging for your hands! Its fabulous!

Moisturize Lovely!

va va voom!

I'm not one of those girls who can't leave the house without mascara on. No makeup days do exist in my life (the beach, the gym, etc). And while I am blonde, my lashes aren't so light as to always need a layer of paint. But I can't stand to wear any kind of eye makeup and not put on mascara to go with it! My current favorites are:

Bourjois Paris Volume Glamour Black was first introduced to me by my sister, which is funny because she has worn makeup maybe 5 times in her life, and prom night was one of them! She brought back a few things of makeup from Paris for me when I was in high school and then a year or so later, Sephora started carrying Bourjois in the US, for only $13.50. Bourjois single eyeshadows are nice as well, the french just know their beauty!

My new favorite mascara is M.A.C.'s Zoom Lash in Zoomblack. Its is super intense and dark. It thickens and curls my lashes instantly. They only downside is you have to use a lash brush to clean up the clumps a bit. But its lasts forever, and doesn't fall later in the day. And the price is quite good, I got it for $11 at Nordstrom.

For everyday, really neutral looks, I go for L'Oreal's Voluminous Mascara in Black/Brown. Its a little less intense, yet still quite effective for a drugstore mascara. Sometimes you want something a little more subtle ya know. And at drugstore.com, its only $4.89! Very niiice.

Lash Lovely!

Gap So Pink

There is one fragrance that I go back to time and time again, partly because of the astounding positive feedback I get from men and women alike. I am not sure when I bought Gap's So Pink for the first time, but its seems to constantly be in my rotation of scents. It is definitely a good everyday smell, perfect for low maintenance occasions where you just want something fresh and light. Grapefruit is my scent of choice these days, so it fits the bill!

Smell Lovely!

Lips are meant for...

I am a lip gloss addict, I'll admit it. If I realize I don't have any lip stuff in my purse, I start to get all panicky. I think because when I am stressed, I chew on my lips and then they dry out. I have tried so many different lip balms and glosses over the years but once I found Philosophy's Kiss Me, I knew I had hit the jackpot. It provides the shine and moisture I love, while tasting good without being sickly sweet. Some lip glosses just taste awful! I'll occasionally wear something with a bit more sparkle or color, but my everyday lip gloss of choice is Kiss Me. I've tried all three colors, and they are all awesome. The clear (looks yellow in the tube) and the red have an orangey flavor and the pink tastes minty fresh.

Smile lovely and have a fabulous weekend!

Fashion Week - Makeup Looks

The trends showcased during fashion week not only have a huge impact on the clothing industry, they also influence what products and colors you will find at the makeup counters the following season. A few of my favorite looks so far from NY Fashion Week, courtesy of Style.com:

Narcisco Rodriguez

I love the smudgy, messy eyeliner and the lips that look like they have been stained with berries.

Michael Kors
These eyes are fabulous! The orange sets off her blue eyes perfectly yet its not too much color. I can't wait to try it out!

Carolina Herrera

This look is very Lolita, but not over the top. Most of the spring lips are pale, but a little cherry gloss never hurt anyone.

L.A.M.B

I love the smokey eye, no matter what the season! Course it helps that this model's eyes are HUGE! But the silver-grey color towards the edges is beautiful. Maybe I should invest in some false lashes...

Oscar de la Renta

Another smokey eye but in browns and golds, also gorgeous. Always pair a dramatic eye with a pale or neutral lip. And thank good the trend toward thick, dark eyebrows will be gone by spring, I couldn't wrap my head around that one!

Zac Posen

Gold in the inner corners of the eyes always looks great, and the dark all the way out across the browbone is showstopping. I think I'll create toned down version of this for going out. The slight sparkle on the lips is cute too.

Anna Sui
If there is one thing Anna Sui is not afraid of, its color! I really like the glitter eyeshadow, reminds me of middle school... but in a good way. Maybe I'll dust off my loose blue glitter... Love the matte pink lip, its a perfect match.

And for my NOT so favorite look:

Vera Wang

All the models in this show look DEAD. Yuck. The eyeshadow out to the temples is just hideous. To me, makeup should enhance your inner beauty, not hinder it! Not sure what they were thinking...

Enjoy the rest of the shows!

Fashion Week

Although I missed SF Fashion week this year because tickets were rather expensive and I don't have many wealthy friends with the same obsession I do, I always follow the major fashion weeks in New York, Milan, Paris, and London. I'll even LA and Miami if the collections spark my interest. I go to Style.com throughout the season and check out my fav designers' new digs and fill my macbook with pictures of the makeup styles as well as the clothes and accessories.

A few of my fav collections so far:


Betsey Johnson - Both the designer and the dresses are so much fun and full of energy. This collection has party dresses for each of the past 6 decades.

Zac Posen - He never fails to amaze me with his dresses, especially those at the end of this collections in the water colored satin fabric.
Abaeté - I recently discovered Laura Poretzky through her Payless Shoes line; I really liking the solid bright jewel tones and her fresh cuts.
Carolina Herrera - A woman who knows how to design for women. Her collections are always striking and beautiful.

Check out the shows for yourself!

pressed perfection

I was in the market for a new powder foundation so my logical move was to head to Sephora. I have been a loyal fan of MAC's Studio Fix in C2, but after getting a lecture from my aesthetician regarding the evils of their ingredients (not sure exactly what, but she was serious enough to scare me into trying something new), I was willing to venture into unknown brands to get the coverage and comfort I desired.

I like this trend toward mineral makeup but I used Bare Escentuals bareMinerals in Fairly Light a few years ago and it ruined all my birthday pictures as a result. I looked like a ghost, it was awful! Their colors just don't seem to match my skin tone; they are either two dark, too yellow or too white. Also, I wanted my powder in pressed form, since it is the only thing I carry with me, well, that and lip gloss of course! I needed something that would compliment my fair yet reddish skin and be able to cover up just enough of my imperfections without looking like heavy foundation.

I found my answer in Tarte Cosmetics Provocateur Pressed Mineral Powder SPF 8 pressed mineral powder and compact in Light - $28. It matches my skin tone pretty damn well, and has the buildable quality I loved about Studio Fix. I apply it with a brush in the a.m. and do touch-ups during the day with the included sponge. If I have a nasty zit, I dab it over my concealer and it blends right in. It feels great, no chalky feel at all, and doesn't look like heavy powder makeup. My only complaint is the packaging, which right now is a "layered leatherette compact," pictured on the Tarte website. It gets messy really easy and the shiny purple leather is already scratched after a few weeks. Hopefully, they will return to the plastic-like compact pictured on the Sephora website after the fall collection is sold out. Its pretty, I'll give them that, but impractical especially if you are toting in around in your purse! If they change the packaging, I'll definitely buy this again, even if it is on the pricey side.

Shop Lovely!

A Tribute

Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, passed away today at 64. Very sad. She revolutionized the beauty industry as we know it. Her passion for cruelty-free beauty products and natural ingredients will be not be forgotten. Here is a great article about her life and work.

Oh how I love my Coconut Body Butter! Especially after shaving my legs or being out in the sun, its more soothing than aloe vera and it smells and feels so much better on your skin.

I finally did it...

Recently my will power has been extremely weak. I have been unable to resist an urge to run down to Sephora on my lunch, and drop wads of cash on products that catch my eye during my morning perusing of beauty blogs.

A few friends of mine have raved about NARS blush in Orgasm, but I was sceptical because they all have such different skin tones. How could one blush look good on both dark and light skinned ladies?! But the instance I saw it on display (they actually had three different testers out at Sephora...yeah!), I knew I had to have it! The subtle yet charming shimmer looked amazing, and it gives me that natural flush without looking like I'm wearing blush.

I ended up getting the Bronzer-Blush Duo in Laguna-Orgasm because I didn't have a pressed bronzer so I figured it was a good investment. I almost love the bronzer even more. I got a nice tan on my Labor day vacay, but not on my face (I always wear 30), so the bronzer adds a nice healthy glow without the cancer risk. Its a bit pricey but I have a feeling its going to last me a long time... and the packaging is amazing! Love the matte black compact, huge mirror, and giant NARS lettering. Fabulous!

Shop Lovely!