Tag Archives: beauty

MAKE UP MONDAY: Lavender Perfume

Posted in Make Up Mondays by

I have a perfume that I love, that is very inexpensive & very light.

DSC_0172

It’s a Thymes Cologne. I stack this spray with a body wash and body cream in the same scent.

This is great for travel since I don’t want to ruin nice expensive perfumes- in fact, last year a bottle of Creed broke inside my suitcase. I’ve barely recovered! So carrying cheaper perfume is definitely the way to fly.

This lavender perfume is clean & fresh, and I use it for a room spray, too.

DSC_0165

What are your favorite perfumes to travel with?

Do you love unique scents like lavender, too?

Share, please!

-Rose

Advertisement

MAKE UP MONDAY: Red Lipstick!

Posted in Make Up Mondays by

As a general rule, I do not wear red lipstick.DSC_0139

I would never have picked this color out myself, and this is why I am always preaching for women to go visit their local make up counters! I was at the Armani counter in Neiman Marcus at the Domain in Austin, and my fab friend and neighbor Lindy was helping me out.

She put this red lipstick on me, and right away we could tell it was perfect!
DSC_0137 DSC_0135

The reason this red works so well is that it is a sheer formula. I know a lot of younger ladies want super vibrant matte shades, but for me and others not 21 anymore, a sheer lipstick is a beautiful thing. I wore this on New Year’s with a little frosty off-white gloss, and it came out very festive.

This red Armani lipstick goes really well with my pink clothing, or anything brick colored (my favorite shade for these cold months). This is the sort of lip product that you can bring anywhere, wear anytime- and it was the ONLY lipstick I packed with me on my last trip! It’s that versatile and wearable.

I love the sheerness, and the lightness. It was a surprising find.

So! My two words of advice-

Get yourself to a make up counter and try, try try!

And invest in the good stuff. Even totally lipstick adverse women should check out how a sheer pop of color like this can transform your whole face.

Have a great week!

-Rose

MAKE UP MONDAY: My Best Beauty Tips!

Posted in Make Up Mondays by

Hello! First Make Up Monday of the New Year, so it only makes sense that I give out my best beauty tips. They are a little untraditional, since my way of feeling beautiful is not just about products. Let’s dive in!

DSC_0087

TIP 1: GET A FACIAL EACH MONTH AS SOON AS YOU CAN AFFORD IT.

This includes waxing and extractions to keep your face really clean. Facials have a cumulative result that work like a mini face lift over time.

TIP 2: WORK OUT

This makes a huge difference in the clarity of your eyes, and your skin. Working out helps you with looking more traditionally beautiful, as well as just body toning. I know you might be expecting a traditional tip like curl your eyelashes, but I don’t think any of those tips matter if you aren’t also doing this one.

TIP 3: EAT WELL

Your eyelashes grow, your hair is healthy, your nails are long. What better beauty trick is there than effortless beauty?

TIP 4: BUY PRODUCTS AT THE TOP OF YOUR PRICE RANGE EACH TIME.

Buy the best cleansers, moisturizers, eyeshadows, make up brushes, and all the rest whenever it’s time for a new one. Instead of three mid-prized lipsticks that cost the same as one amazing one, buy the better one that you’ll have for longer. With higher end products, there’s less worry. Lipsticks don’t flake or cling to any dryness in your lips, foundations protect better; there’s better camouflaging, hydration, and use value.

TIP 5: FRESHEN YOUR LOOK OFTEN.

Don’t get stale! I would recommend getting a haircut by someone new who has a good reputation (like I just did! And man, what a brand new haircut by someone with a fresh eye can do!). Really try new make up, since the same stuff doesn’t work as skin changes. Wear different things on different days, and get new highlights. Go to beauty counters and ask them to put new products on you! Feeling new in your own skin can help you feel extra beautiful.

What are your best beauty tips? Have you ever had a facial?

Do share!

-Rose

SPIRITUAL FRIDAY: Change… & The Kitchen Stool

Posted in Spiritual Fridays by

I’ve been thinking about change, of course– most of us are– as this New Year begins.

Who can resist the fresh start, the clean slate? 

So appealing….

Yet, I’ve also been thinking about the changes  that I don’t welcome.  For me those changes come mostly with age. And yes, I can complain about the wrinkles and having to color my hair more often but those aren’t the changes that I’m really talking about.

I’m talking about the things that always were, that are now starting to fade away.

Like the kitchen stool in Trish’s kitchen.

I have spent countless hours on that stool, watching my best friend’s mom Trish cook, talking things over– sometimes alone, sometimes with the other women collected in that kitchen for the same comfort I sought.

And Trish delivered that comfort, my whole life.  She was always a source of wisdom and perspective. She’s 81 now and lives on her own.  She lost both her husband and daughter to cancer. And I visit her in her rambling house in Vermont whenever I can. I say it’s to help her. Really, though, it’s to help me. 

During my last visit, Trish wound up in the emergency room.  She found herself suddenly unable to walk.  Now she faces a slow recovery and uses a walker.  It is harder for her to stand in the kitchen.

So our kitchen stool days have changed.  I wonder, are they gone?

It has occurred to me that perhaps it’s my turn to set up a kitchen stool.

securedownload

I think it may be my time to be what Trish was to me, to others…. After all, I was taught by the best.

What rituals have comforted you?  What people taught you well?  Share Please.

Have a great weekend,

-Rose

Make Up Monday: Bobbi Brown Favorites!

Posted in Make Up Mondays by

DSC_0112

Ah, Bobbi Brown.

I am a huge Bobbi Brown fan, as you have probably figured out if you’ve spent any time on This Day Right Now!

I wanted to share my top five favorite Bobbi Brown items with you.

1. Concealer with Powder

This is still the best product out there for dark circles. This famous correcting concealer can cover anything, and what else can you ask for from a concealer?! It doesn’t crease, and it is gentle on my skin.

2. Long Wear Cream Shadow

Oh, a cream shadow! Love this stuff. It is a great base for other shadows, or to wear by itself.

3. Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks

I love the texture of this product. It’s creamy and stays on for hours. It’s my perfect PURSE PRODUCT, since it perks me up and is amazing for the on-the-run life. It’s a little splash of color and a definite recommendation if you’re new to Bobbi Brown.

4. Shimmer Brick

Great summer or spring colors, really. This blush is very forgiving when applied with a brush, and is a nice pick me up. It’s easy to use and it always makes me happy to open this up, since it’s so beautiful.

DSC_0103

5. Face & Body Bronzing Duo

I use this every  day. The bronzer is light for a bronzer, and the blush is warm, so it’s great for all over your face.

DSC_0115

I am a devotee to Bobbi Brown brushes, and lipsticks, but these five are my make up bag essentials.

What products are you most loyal to?

Please share!

-Rose

Weekly Favorite: Moroccan Oil Hairspray

Posted in Weekly Favorite by

Moroccan Argan Oil… Coconut Oil… Macadamia Nut Oil… Everywhere you look, there’s another new oil to put on your skin or hair, and another article about why this oil is the best.

Well, sucker that I usually am for marketing, I have not been totally taken by the oil trend.

However, I LOVE the smell of my new Moroccan Oil Hairspray.

DSC_0155

This is a new staple in my routine.

Here’s why:

-It’s not drying, which is so important for my aging hair.

-It has a medium hold, which is good for me. Despite the fact that I was born in New Jersey, I don’t like the aqua net shellac look!

-It smells amazing, like I said, and the bottle is pretty.

-There is a travel size available, which is great for plane trips.

-It holds my hair’s body when I take the time to curl the ends with a flat iron

Do you use hairspray? What hairspray have you heard good things about? Let me know!

-Rose

Make Up Monday: LIP PRODUCTS!

Posted in Make Up Mondays by

Over the years, I have curated a very specific lip routine. I am no longer experimenting with crazy colors, and I have figured out what works for me. Here are my favorite lip products!

Lipsticks and lip glosses I love:

DSC_0201

The three lipsticks are all similar in shade, all a variation on pink tea rose. I love my Dior Lip Glow (which you can get at Sephora), my Rouge Ecstasy by Giorgio Armani (check it out here), and one by Bobbi Brown (which you can find here). I can apply them without looking at this point! And as you can see, these are all higher end products. I stopped wearing Revlon in my thirties. The color payoff and long lasting quality of luxury lip goods is so worth every penny.

DSC_0228

I generally pair each lipstick with a Dior lip gloss in a matching tone. I have one peachy one and one pinky magenta one. The pink one goes amazingly with my Bobbi Brown lipstick. The Dior Addict lip glosses come in tons of colors. I want them all!

DSC_0244

You’ll always find one of these babies in my purse! What are your favorite lip products? Share with me!

-Rose

Make Up Monday: My Blowdryer!

Posted in Make Up Mondays by

It’s time for my Make Up Monday post.  I’m cheating a bit since today I’ve chosen to write about blow dryers, which are more hair than make up.

I am a big believer in spending some money for a  really good blow dryer.  I use the T3 featherweight.  It lives up to its promises to dry fast and reduce frizz… plus it has the cool blast button, strategically placed, that sets in the style.

DSC_0339

It uses something called ‘tourmaline ionic’ as part of its magic.  I have no idea what that is – but I do know that it reduces my drying time significantly.  Styling my hair is the biggest getting ready time suck for me so I love any help I can get in cutting that prep time down.

I purchased this blow dryer because it had a lot of the features that my stylist’s blow dryer had at a pretty good price point (at or just under $130).

DSC_0344

Though…I am looking into the new Harry Josh that is all the buzz.  It’s expensive at $300 but all the reviews say worth it because of the power and the look it gives your hair.

Stay tuned… if I break down and invest I’ll be sure to share.

What are your blow dryer recommendations?  Share Please!

-Rose

Daily Life: Where I Shop Online!

Posted in Daily Life by

I don’t know about you but I really do love shopping — I love walking and strolling and looking and buying.  So I don’t spend a lot of my shopping dollars online.  But when I do, I have a few go to favorites.

For clothes and shoes I am a huge Rue La La Fan (ruelala.com) — great designers and selection.  Prices are really terrific – often between 50 to 75 percent below retail.  Also unless you have to have everything right away, the offerings are pretty timely.  I have purchased dresses, shoes, tops, sweaters and jewelry.

Here’s a recent Tahari wrap dress that I got for under $70.

DSC_0105

PERKS of RUE LA LA:

The site is easy to use; they never fail to deliver timely; returns are a breeze.  So far I’ve only returned 1 item – a shirt that I just didn’t think looked good on me.  Plus they send you emails alerting you to what’s available.  If you’re interested get busy!  Stuff goes fast.

DSC_0120

Occasionally when I’m really shopping bargains, I use eBay.  For high-end perfume or good second hand items you really can’t beat it. I got lucky this summer on this pair of Jimmy Choo shoes.

I had been eying the India sandals, retailing at $575.  They were the perfect shoes for my Italy trip where I was attending a dear friend’s wedding.  But I was about at the end of my available cash!  So…I found a second hand pair in my size for $100.  It was worth the risk.  I didn’t take them off all night!

DSC_0251

Of course like all of us I shop Amazon and often use it to buy beauty products (shampoo, hairspray, dry shampoo, etc.).   Amazon is great to try new products because of the choices in sizes and good price points.

Where do you shop on line?  Share Please!!

-Rose

Dior Airflash: My Latest Favorite Foundation

Posted in Make Up Mondays by

I am a recent Dior Airflash convert.

I had been hearing rumblings …. Then while on a trip this summer, I met a lovely woman, Sue from Dallas whose soft look belied her 60 years.  She had just gotten off the phone with her beautiful 26 year old daughter who had run out of Airflash and was desperately seeking her mother’s help to get some more!  I was sold.

DSC_0168

So…I headed to the Dior counter at my neighborhood Nordstrom’s and asked if I could give Airflash a try.  By the way, never be shy about sidling up to the make-up counter.  The staffs there are more than happy to help and show off all their good product.  Generally, I find this to be a low pressure sales situation and a great way to test out what is new and might be helpful and fun to start using.

Irene at the Nordstrom’s counter in Austin suggested applying Airflash lightly using a kabuki brush, and showed me how best to do this.

First spray on the side of your hand.

DSC_0179

Then dab the kabuki brush and begin spreading evenly over your face.

DSC_0186

For a bit of a heavier application, you can spray Airflash directly onto your face… in a “Z” motion.  Then spread with your hands or a brush if you prefer.

Airflash gives a really smooth look.  I find that it brightens my skin.  And it passes my critical ‘not heavy looking’ test.  NOTE! Be sure to use a face cream with a good SPF before applying Airflash since it doesn’t have its own SPF.  For me, it’s been a small price to pay for the look it gives!

What are your favorite foundations?  Application techniques?  Share Please!!