Cosmo Covergirl Hayley Williams

As a rock chick through and through I was beyond excited when I saw Hayley Williams of Paramore on the cover of Cosmopolitan at the newsstands. It was almost too much to take as I waited for it to arrive in my mailbox. Her always bright red hair looks even more amazing with a Cosmo makeover, a little more refined and less rough and tumble. I adore her makeup and think it looks great without sacrificing some of her edge. Even if I wasn't a Cosmo subscriber (or reader for that matter) I would've had to have this magazine. The graphic blue and red cover is gorgeous and just screams summer beach read, even though here in the northeast it's far too early for that.

Originally signed to be a pop singer at age 13, 22 year old Hayley held out to bring her bandmates along for the ride and eventually went Plantinum with the band's second album Riot! and played on the Warped Tour. After much controversy and band changes as late as December of last year Paramore is still very much a work in progress. Even with success as a solo artist, recording Airplanes with B.o.B. and Teenagers for the Jennifer's Body soundtrack, Hayley says she's not interested in being a solo artist. As recently as March 21 the band has started work on their new album due later this year or early next. I can't wait to hear it.

What do you think? Check out this video and tell me you don't love Hayley, I dare ya.

High vs. Low Liquid Liners

One of the most intimidating products for makeup lovers is liquid liner. I'm not going to lie, it's not the easiest to work with and can take a little practice. For the most part I don't even bother with it but that doesn't mean I can't admire it. Usually I wouldn't buy it unless I couldn't find a similar color pencil to purchase instead.

That's exactly the conundrum I faced when I saw Stila's Sparkle collection. These waterproof liquid liners come in the most gorgeous shades you could imagine and they'd be pretty hard to duplicate. Not only that, they contain sparkles (my fave) that stay in place all day without migrating into and irritating your eyeballs. Available in six beautiful shades: intense black Sequins, brightened dark blue Curacao, foxy brown Rock Candy, pretty purple Royal, sexy turquoise Electric, tropical blue Bora Bora, golden green Flash, slightly lighter than black charcoal Starry. While they're all amazing Electric and Bora Bora really jump out to me for summer. Now, if you can't afford to spend $22 on a product you're not sure if you're skilled enough to apply I have a few suggestions.

If you're really into the idea of a liquid liner you cannot beat the ones from Wet 'n' Wild and at under $3 you can try every single shade. My friend bought me one of these for my 18th birthday (hey, I'm not that old) and I loved it! They have waterproof versions, H20 Proof in black, brown, gray and black-brown. If you're more into the intense and bright colors I suggest Mega Liner which comes in black and brown as well as copper, light turquoise, baby blue, and plum. Katie bought me the turquoise and I'm seriously considering going out to pick up blue and plum as well as a new turquoise.

If the sparkle is what spoke to you my recent Victoria's Secret purchase will really float your boat. I may not be able to stuff my body into their clothes and lingerie for the most part but I just love the bath and beauty products from the store. I'm already planning some more posts about other items but the Beauty Rush liners they sell are fabulous and perfect for sparkle-aholics like me. I just bought the Sparkle liner in beautiful Emerald City, an almost exactly my eyecolor shade of green. It's so pretty I couldn't help but put it on as soon as I left the store. The incredibly affordable (regular price $7 but always on sale for 2/$12 or 4/$20) eyeliners come in intense bright blue Bluminescent, black Nightlight, Starstruck silver, royal purple Plumstruck, and coppered brown Cosmic Cocoa. All shades are infused with silver glitter. These are seriously one of the better lines I've purchased in my life, so fun and pretty without breaking the bank and best yet, they wear wonderfully without smudging or disappearing by noon.

Friday Face off: Brooklyn Decker

Who out there's seen Just Go With It starring those two little known actors Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston and of course, supermodel Brooklyn Decker, Mrs. Andy Roddick? I haven't but fear not I will see it when it hits Netflix for sure. If you saw my post on the Academy of Country Music Awards then you surely know where I'm going with this edition of Face-off Friday, hair, long vs. short.

Brooklyn recently cut her hair into a bob which I find incredibly adorable, albeit kinda odd considering her supermodel status. If you think about it most supermodels, no matter their ethnicity or racial background, have long hair. Why is that? Brooklyn totally rocks the short hair. Check it out...

I quite like it and it definitely does not take away from her enviable figure. I think many people's problems with the look stems from the terribly unflattering, no makeup picture that is hovering around the blogosphere of this cut. Of course she looks less attractive, homegirl's not wearing a full face of makeup.

Of course, she looks amazing with long locks as well, the perfect buttery blonde hair that we all wish we were born with. I have to admit she does look a lot younger here but the more mature hairstyle does not make her look matronly in any way.


For the sake of it I'm going to have to say I prefer Brooklyn's hair short. I think it's fun and kicky and really shows off her personality. Probably the best thing about the whole look is how happy it appears to make her. I'm sure in no time she'll be sporting extensions but she looks perfect right now to me. You know how I love when stars switch it up.

Maria Menounos: The Everygirl's Guide to Life

Finally, a self-help book I actually want to get my hands on; Maria Menounos’ The Everygirl’s Guide to Life. It’s not that I have a problem with self-help books I just find them to be a one size fits all answer to very complex and personal issues. Maria doesn’t claim to be an expert, she’s just everygirl, the girl at the coffee shop, the crazy chick running down the street in the middle of the night to squeeze in a few minutes of cardio, the woman who works at your local Wal-mart. How can you not respect her for thinking she's the everygirl? The girl is gorgeous, successful, richer than I'll ever be and apparently super organized and neat to boot. Sigh!

Maria's been on my radar for years. Before she took over Hollywood and ended up on the red carpet all the time she was the sweet girl from Boston on Channel 1. Does anyone else have fond memories of sitting in homeroom in high school watching this "show" aimed at high school students? I do. Every single day we'd watch her talk about current events, hot topics, all the stuff you needed to know presented in a way young people are actually going to listen to. I wonder if they still have it. Needless to say, Maria's come a long way since then, including a stint on my favorite TV show, One Tree Hill. Remember that?

I have to see what she shares with me in this book about fashion and beauty, finance and travel, health and fitness and just ways to live an organized, saner, easier-to-manage life. Can I tell you how bummed I am that my local Border's doesn't carry it? I'm so confident in the reviews and celebrity testimonials that I'm ready to place my order online, sight unseen, just crazy for me. But, come on, if Kim Kardashian, Tori Spelling and Heidi Klum love it how could I not?

Have you read this book? Tell me all about it in the comments.

Olay Total Effects Dark Circle Minimizing Eye Brush

In my old age one of the first things I noticed was how much easier it is to get dark circles. If I sleep any less that I normally do, even a few minutes, I'm plagued with bright blue rings around my eyes. Lucky for me they aren't too noticeable but they bug me all the same. I've been looking at YSL Touche Eclat for years but I can't shell out that kind of money, period. It's really non-negotiable for me. Not only am I not able to afford it, I'm too stubborn to do it anyway, no matter how great of a product it is. For that reason alone I totally have a beauty crush on Olay's Total Effects Dark Circle Minimizing Eye Brush.

I'm a sucker for packaging but the second I have troubles with it buh-bye! I've had very little success with clicky pen style makeup dispensers *looking at you Stila Lip Glaze* so I'm dying to know how this version works. Then again, I'd be much more patient when it came to a product for my undereyes. I have plenty of lipgloss, I don't need to have a Stila Lip Glaze, I have to have this pen!

Any type of concealer is too heavy under my eyes, it really shows the dryness and those pesky little lines no matter what I do. My skin is dry all over so it's not a matter of a better eye cream, that doesn't seem to help my concealer look any better. This product is lighter than concealer with only a touch of color. I can't imagine it's a one size fits all shade but if it's luminizing I think most complexions could get away with it. This handy little pen claims to reduce the look of dark circles, fine lines and puffiness, even out texture and tone, hydrate and firm with plumping hydration. At half the price of Touche Eclat I'd say we have a winner. Let me know if you've tried it and what you think.

Organix Penetrating Argan Oil Treatment

Have you heard of Organix? If you haven't, you're seriously missing out. They're a drugstore haircare brand with easily the best smelling products out there. I can't vouch for the scent of the new Argan Oil line but every other product I've smelled is so delicious I want to pour it in a cup and drink it.

It seems like the whole world is obsessed with Argan oil and for good reason. After trying Josie Maran's incarnation on my face I fell in love, it's perfect for my super dry skin in the winter and would make a good twice-weekly nighttime regimen during the rest of the year. However, I can't fathom spending those kind of bucks on a haircare product even though the few times I used it on my hair it immediately felt soft and looked less frizzy. Organix has come to the rescue with their Argan oil line. Not only do you have a shampoo and a conditioner but there's a treatment and an oil to bring your hair to a whole new moisturized level.

For those of you with medium to thick hair you can apply the oil to wet hair and comb through and even add a little to extra dry spots (hello! breakage areas) when hair dries. If you have fine hair or hair that tends to the oilier side of the spectrum but you still want a dose of hydration I suggest using this as a pre-shampoo treatment. Simply add it to wet or dry hair (your preference although hair will soak up more if it's dry to begin with, the shaft can only hold so much moisture) and leave it in while you continue with the rest of your in-shower activities. When it's time shampoo and condition like normal.

The whole line is paraben and sulfate free which is great news for everyone, especially those with dry or color treated hair. Even the bottle is good for the environment, made from recycled material with environmentally friendly dyes. Sounds perfect to me!

Beauty Girl's Secrets: Week 6: Home Facial

One of my all time favorite ways to relax and help myself look great is a home facial. It takes a lot of set up and preparation but I swear my face has never felt better than it does after I'm done.

What you'll need: Washcloth and towel, large bowl, glass of cold water, plenty of steaming hot water, a facial cleanser, scrub, toner and for after, a serum, moisturizer and eye cream.

Bring plenty of water to a boil and dump it into your bowl. Carefully bring it to a table and, while draping a towel over your head, rest your face over the bowl and allow the steam to hit your face. Do not get too close to the water and risk getting a steam burn on your face. Also, if you start to feel dizzy stop immediately. I've never had either of these complications but I wanted to forewarn you.

As soon as you start to sweat, dip a corner of the washcloth in the hot water, allow it to cool off to a respectably hot but not scalding temperature and wet your face and cleanse, alternating between the hot water and cold water on your washcloth. Immediately after cleansing use a gentle scrub on your face. You may also reverse the order of scrub and cleansing depending on your preferences but to me they're interchangeable.

Now, continue where you left off with the steaming hot water and steam your face for 5-10 minutes, newbies start with 5 this time around and work your way up to longer. You may also want to add essential oils to your water to help relax, invigorate or stimulate your senses.

Lastly, towel off and apply a toner if needed, an antioxidant serum followed by a rich moisturizer and eye cream. I promise you that your face will feel so smooth it will be hard to keep your hands off it all night. Do try your best but I can't make any guarantees that it's possible.

Guerlain Terracotta Bronzer

By now you all know just how pale I am, so pale in fact that most foundations don't come in shades light enough for my complexion. It's a pretty big bummer but I've learned to embrace it. I haven't really gotten into bronzer but I'm pretty ready to go in that direction this summer after hearing so many wonderful things about Guerlain's Terracotta Bronzer. I'm in no way advocating the nearly $50 price tag but for someone who needs a very light application, not to mention a flawless, perfectly non-orange shade it might just be worth a try.

Available in seven shades there is one that is guaranteeded to work with your skintone and undertones. Infused with moisturizing ingredients it practicaly screams out to to my super dry face. Best of all, this bronzer is not going to leave you looking like a carrot or an Ooompa Loompa, not a pretty look, no matter your age or celebrity status. It's scared me off bronzers in the past, that and overly shimmery or too matte shades. This is the perfect slightly shimmery look that just glows in the sun, exactly what I'm going for.

My face is practically drooling right now. Anyway, I've got a few months to think it over, play around with testers and make a final decision before summer rolls around. We are not skipping spring here and going straight to summer, no way. It's unacceptable considering that means we have to skip my birthday and all the fun activities that spring brings.

MAC Supreme Sheen and Chanel Rouge Coco Shine

My collection of lipglosses has gotten out of control, I have over 200, I literally counted them out one day and came up with 180-something. That was before a huge Victoria's Secret haul (my favorite) and not counting the glosses in my purses around the house. It's pretty safe to say that I'll never have to buy another one as long as I live and if they'd stay fresh for the rest of my life I probably wouldn't.

That brings me to MAC's Supreme Sheen Lipsticks and Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Lipsticks. What? I never said I wouldn't cheat on my collection with a lipstick. Truth be told I'm not much of a lipstick girl, short of my wedding day (and that was under gloss) I haven't really worn it too much. That's what makes these lippies so great, the slippery texture and glossy finish. Seriously, with more color than my normally sheer gloss I can have a grown up lipstick in my bag and a great feeling product on my lips. It always looks more chic to pull out a lipstick than a gloss, right? Just remember not to keep these skinny lipsticks in your car this summer. I made that mistake once and it wasn't pretty. What lipstick I didn't wear on my clothes I ended up burning my lips with when I tried to slick on a fresh coat.

Let's start with MAC shall we? I've seen swatches and they're gorgeous, just sheer enough to be wearable in spring and summer and still look substantial enough to carry you through into fall and (UGH!) winter. Peachy Gotta Dash! and warm pink Full Speed call to me in particular. Which ones are you going to pick up?

Then there's Chanel, the only Chanel I'll ever be able to afford unfortunately. Glossimers are great glosses and if it weren't for their price tag I'd probably own more. If you're looking for something extra sheer and sweet look no further just don't expect long wear out of these, the glossy texture disappears at the same speed as a regular gloss but you'll be left with a stain like effect on your lips.

If you try either of these let me know how you like them. I'm jealous just looking at all of the swatches out there, I need one of both of these but alas, the funds are not going to work in my favor for that one.

L'Oreal Sublime Bronze

It's that time of year again. No, not beach season, shorts weather or even picnics in the park, but time to start thinking about that tan. By now all of you know that laying out in the sun unprotected, and God forbid subjecting yourself to a tanning bed, is a no-no. More than a no-no, it's an absolute catastrophe. Why do that to yourself, set your body up for skin cancer or even just sunspots and wrinkles? It's not worth it. Step away from the baby oil and no one has to get hurt. But what to do if you're not blessed with naturally golden skin? Fake bake it I tell ya! L'Oreal Sublime Bronze comes to your rescue with a multitude of formulas for every need.

For those tan-aphobic, worried-about-streaks girls like myself, or those of us who are just so ghostly pale that any color is visible color, there's L'Oreal Sublime Bronze One Day Tinted Gel. I tried this out last summer and fell in love, here's my tricks of the trade. Right after a shower works best but it's not necessary, apply body lotion even if you're not a lotion girl. I rarely use lotion but I swear it's a crucial part of this process. Then, while the lotion is still tacky apply a thin coat of the bronzer on top and wash those paws immediately. I'd even go so far as to recommend wearing gloves to apply or you will be left with bright orange mitts. It's that easy. At the end of the day wash it off with soap and water, you can even reapply at the beach when you put on a fresh coat of SPF 100. You're doing that, right? The color is believable and coverage is easily buildable for reach-your-peak-color.

Not a tan-aphobic, L'Oreal's got you covered too. Sublime Bronze comes in an aerosol mist, gel and lotion. My personal preference is the gel just because it feels better on the skin but the mist is undeniably convenient for covering those hard to reach areas. I'm about as pale as they come and L'Oreal Sublime Bronze gives me the closest to natural tan I'm going to get on my skintone although it's not absolutely flawless. If you're a newbie I highly recommend starting early and practicing some patience. Take it for a spin now while you can still cover up your legs in pants if things go horribly wrong and you end up dreaming about zebra-like stripes like my BFF.

Laura Mercier Full Blown Volume Mascara

Laura Mercier is the queen of refined beauty. Me? I'm not so refined. I like it wild and somewhat crazy, at least where my makeup is concerned. Sure there are some pigmented shadows and lippies in the line but virtually all of the collections and promotional pictures have a focus on flawless skin and the no-makeup makeup look. For that reason alone I haven't delved too deep into her collection. The cult classic tinted moisturizer was enough for me to realize that although subtlety might be right for some, it's not right for me. Um, could I be more wrong?

If you've been a reader since the beginning, or checked out my archives, you surely noticed a little theme here. Every Monday I review a mascara and the game continues 'til I run out. Thanks to a little box of mini mascaras at Sephora there's plenty left to go. Without that box of fun I never would have discovered an amazing mascara, Laura Mercier Full Blown Volume Mascara. It's super like Superman. Let me tell you all about it.

The first thing I noticed about this tube was the shortest set of twists to remove a cap ever. It's like a very thickly threaded screw, one twist and the cap is off. I have no idea what is up with that but I love it. The chamber is exceptionally long on this one and the extended wand comes out with just the right amount of product, Goldilocks would love it. For that reason there's never any clumping or smudging. The black is pigmented and rich and looks great on the lashes. Best of all, this mascara, much like the rest of the line, is subtle. It's not heavy or screaming to be noticed but, you know what, that's A-OK. This is the perfect every day mascara and great for those of you who don't go for over the top, obvious makeup. This is a meet the parents kind of mascara, not first date, definitely not wedding day, the simple, sweet, innocent mascara. It gives lasting volume and curl with a patent leather black look that is just right for any situation.

Playboy Fragrances

I'm skeptical? I highly suspect Playboy fragrances smell like high class hooker, sweat and last nights vodka emanating from pores. I could be wrong. I'm not a prude, I just think Playboy really sucks. Except for the obvious fact that there are naked chicks in there (every dude's fantasy) there isn't anything else even remotely redeeming about the mag. The articles are awful and don't even get me started on those cartoons! I'd much rather read Maxim, an actually funny and sarcastic magazine full of scantily clad women, it's more appealing than HELLO! naked pics.

But... in the name of beauty blogging I thought it deserved a mention that Playboy fragrances are now available at retailers everywhere, Amazon, Walgreens, even K-Mart. They are very reasonably priced and what fun loving girl wouldn't love to pull that bunny eared bottle from her purse on a night out. The guys will be flocking to you, that's for sure.

While you're at it pick up a bottle of the men's scent for your guy, he's sure to love you even more if you wrap it in an actual Playboy magazine for his enjoyment.

Bvlgari Mon Jasmin Noir

If you haven't seen it already head over here to see the gorgeous "movie" advertisement for this fragrance. It's so beautiful I almost can't resist buying a bottle. Starring Kirsten Dunst and a lion (yes, really!) it's absolutely a feast for the eyes.

Speaking of Bvlgari (or Bulgari depending on your location) and feast for the eyes, I have to have these sunglasses. While we're at it let's add this necklace. A girl can never have too many emeralds, besides, it is my birthstone.

On the fragrance note (haha, see what I did there?) Jasmin Noir reminds me exactly of an old Avon perfume my grandmother wore. It's a very sophisticated scent, heady and powerful, you're not going to be missed if you're wearing this. That said, I can't see anyone under the age of 40 wearing it. Julianne Moore, the brands other spokesmodel would be wonderful in that ad.

This incarnation, Mon Jasmin Noir, is slightly less powerful and fruitier so watch out if you're looking for something new, they aren't that different. The only slightly different name I'm sure will make for plenty of goofs at the perfume counter, so watch out for that too. I've seen comparisons to Estee Lauder's Sensous Noir (which I loved) and Armani Idole d'Armani (which I also liked, tentatively). Neither of those scents, and therefore Mon Jasmin Noir, really seem like they would work in the summer, maybe for night but definitely too heavy for day. The notes are "lily of the valley, Sambac jasmine, musky nougatine and vibrant woods," but I'm not one to really pay attention to that. Even if a fragrance has nearly identical notes it can smell completely different from another with the same notes. Here's a more in depth breakdown. "Top notes: citruses, lily of the valley. Heart: various kinds of jasmine. Base: nougat, Virginia cedar, patchouli and musk." I'm directly quoting the folks at Bvlgari here as to not have any information lost in translation.

What do you think, worth checking out? Isn't the video lovely?

NARS Summer '11

What a beautiful way to kick off the weekend! I'm really trying to enjoy the spring and not rush into summer but it's hard. Even harder now that I've seen sneak peeks of NARS' upcoming collection. I'm not usually such a NARS-head but I can't stop thinking about Cap Ferrat eyeshadow trio, I swear, it's going to make appearances in my dreams. I can't get over the gorgeousness, take a look.

The rest of the collection looks pretty amazing as well. See...

Clockwise from top left...
Dogon Duo Eyeshadow- Shimmery taupe and charcoal/black. The classic smoky eye look come to life in one place or a highlight and liner combo for the faint of heart.
Wonder Lip Gloss- Sheer orange gloss with a hit of gold shimmer, the perfect combo for a fun in the sun look.
Kismet and Écume Nail Polishes- Kismet is a shimmering golden yellow perfect for those with warm, golden undertones and Écume is a opaque white, white-out style only chicer.
Queen Soft Touch Shadow Pencil- Golden green shadow pencil for single swipe color and lining capabilities in one.
Bolero Velvet Matte Lip Pencil- Melon-y peach matte lip pencil perfect for wearing alone or layering under gloss.
The aforementioned eye shadow trio I'm currently lusting over.
Carthage Pure Matte Lipstick- The perfect slick of matte hot pink for the sweltering nights out. I might be too timid for this one.
Exotic Dance Duo Eyeshadow- Metallic silvery white paired with metallic gold, both universally flattering shades, perfect to wear to the beach on those hot summer days.
Not to wild for me is Mayflower Lipstick, a sheer raspberry-esque shade that evokes images of pilgrims based on the name but probably couldn't be further from the truth.
Last but not least, New Order Highlighting Blush, is described as a soft pink blush with gold and silver shimmer although it certainly appears lavender in the picture.

Do you think I can survive the wait? What about you? What are you going to pick up from this gorgeous collection?

Face-Off Friday: Abbie Cornish

The facts of life, the less loved magazines make their way to the bottom of the pile while I polish off the new ones the day they come. Is that wrong? I don't think so. It's not like I favor one child over another but I tell you that Marie Claire, she's the ugly step-child. Don't get me wrong, I like the magazine, it's just hard to compete with my love of InStyle, Glamour, Self and Cosmo. I'm so backed up that I was still reading February's issue, that is until the April issue came with the gorgeous Bradley Cooper on the cover. Once I could tear my eyes off him I had to wonder, who's that girl?

It's none other than Abbie Cornish, the Abbie Cornish of girlfriend of Ryan Phillipe fame, one of the stars of the new flick Sucker Punch. Now she's posing with Bradley Cooper? No fair! I loved her in Stop-Loss but I didn't even recognize her with her new brunette hairstyle. It's time for us to decide, which do we like better, it's time for a Face-Off.

Abbie as a beautiful, if somewhat blurry, blonde. Or...

A striking brunette with Bradley Cooper.

Let's try not to let Bradley get in the way of our judging here. I think she looks amazing both ways but you can hardly tell she's the same girl. What a difference a dye job makes. I could only dream of this kind of transformation from haircolor alone. If I had to pick one I'd go with brunette, she looks more exotic with the haircolor and cut, it just seems playful and low-maintenance, girl next door. What do you think? I'm dying to know, as always.

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin

We're going head to head, can you handle it?

I kept singing this lesser known song over and over again as I started my experiment pitting Urban Decay Primer Potion against UD Primer Potion in Sin. It's not much of a competition, I love them both, but it was fun for me none the less. All night I kept bopping my head to the inaudible song in my head and I was reminded to check on my progress. Here's what I found out...

I adore Urban Decay, the whole friggin' line is exactly what I'd wear if I had disposable income, the sexy rockstar meets real world look I crave. After posting about them yesterday I was compelled to share my little experiment with my (few) readers. There are days when you just can't rock a smoky eye but you can wear the brights, pastels or shimmers in Urban Decay's line. There are times you can't wear yesterday's liner (not that I advocate that anyway) but why would you want to when you can look like you are without irritating your eyeballs?

I knew as soon as I tried Sin that I would love it. It's a pretty pigmented champagne and on lazy days it's absolutely gorgeous as a sheer wash of color on it's own. It wears just like a cream shadow except for the absolutely awesome fact that it doesn't budge, fade or crease even as the day wears on. On those days where I actually feel like taking the time to do my makeup (most days, thankfully) it looks gorgeous under any shade or texture of eyeshadow, even shades that I don't love on their own. There's a gorgeous dark denim shade of Urban Decay shadow that I was just not fond of until I tried it over Sin, then I fell in love. Over regular UDPP or by itself I found the color to be drab and flat. Since I never look good in blue shadows I decided to pass it along to someone who could give it more love than I. Now I'm reconsidering. The gorgeous shimmer added to the mix made it a whole new shade and I'm holding onto it for now.

Both products create a great base for shadows, help them last 10-12 hours, and do not crease. Sin is great for shimmery shades or making your favorite matte shade a tad more sparkly for those days when matte just won't do. Overall, if you're a shimmer-aholic like me, I'd recommend picking up Sin over regular UDPP. If you love the color and finish of the shadows you already own you can't go wrong with good ol' Primer Potion. It's the most loved for a reason ladies! It really does live up to the hype. I'm even passing a mini UDPP onto my mom when I see her this weekend.

And... since Sin seems to be a reoccurring theme in rock music, I leave you with one of my favorite songs, Let the Sin Begin by Drowning Pool. Enjoy!

Estee Lauder Island Oasis Palette and Sea Star Bronzing Blush

Ready for summer yet? I know, we've barely made it into spring but that doesn't mean a girl can't dream. I'm sure I'll be dreading my decision come the first 100 degree day. Maybe not if I have a few of these friends by my side.

How about this wonder? This can be my right hand (wo)man all year round. Who doesn't love a good brown/gold shadow, add in a copper, a gorgeous shimmery blue and light gray and you're all set for the entire season. Estee Lauder shadows are fabulous with just the right combination of softness and pigmentation. I'm loving this.

Every pale girl's friends, bronzing blush. I've heard great things about Estee Lauder bronzers, tremendously good things about pigmentation and color choice. As a fair girl I'm not going to look right in any but the lightest shades of bronzer, period. Without turning into a muddy (or worse, orange) mess. Until now. I've seen swatches on light skin like mine and it's pure gorgeousness! This peachy-bronze blush is gorgeous and I'd absolutely wear it all year round. Then, there's the totally girl crush-worthy look of this bronzer. The starfish, although not really a fish I've been told, goes all the way through to the pan. How pretty would this look every time you whipped out your compact?

Don't miss out on this collection. At the very least pick up the completely amazing Bronze Goddess fragrance that's only around this time of year. It was one of the first "big girl" perfumes I tried a couple years ago. The smell is completely summer to me, light without being invisible.

Hurry before it's too late and you miss out, like I've done with limited edition offerings from Estee lauder that I now realize I cannot live without. Metamorphosis, anyone?

Urban Decay 4:20

It's 4:20 and here at DOC that means getting our drug of choice on. Mine? Makeup, of course. It wouldn't be 4:20 without a little joking around and Urban Decay has exactly the right kind of celebration for those of us who are choosing to spend our 4:20 clean and sober. Naughty names on fabulous products. Check out the selection.


A standout product from Urban Decay, their fabulous shadows in....
Blaze-peachy champagne
Blunt-metallic beige
Half Baked-gold
Woodstock-shimmery hot pink
Baked-shimmery bronze
Roach-reddened brown shimmer
Twice Baked-brown shimmer
Toasted-light copper shimmer
Mary Jane-light blue shimmer
Chronic-matte light green
Purple Haze-matte bright purple

24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils in Baked (golden peach), Dime (pretty silver) and Stash (greenish gold). I can't tell you how many of these I own and I just love them to pieces, 4:20 related names or not.

24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencils in Lit, a beautiful golden bronze shade and Rehab, every girl's go-to taupe. Right now I'm so desperate to try these that I'd try any color, they're all so fun anyway. Why not?

Perhaps the most obvious of them all Baked bronzer and of course, who can forget Big Fatty mascara.

Then, to take it all off, you've got Clean and Sober Oil Free Makeup Remover. Phew! Happy 4:20, don't do anything I wouldn't do.

Beauty Girl's Secrets: Week 5: Frizz Free Hair

Here's one you may not have thought of although it makes perfect sense if you think about it. Well-conditioned hair is frizz free hair. *Cut to me shaking my head disapprovingly at the mirror* My hair isn't, and probably never could be considering it's current condition, well hydrated. Load up on conditioner and I end up a greasy mess before my next shampoo, skip it and my hair is so dry that horses might just start feeding on it. Through trial and error I've come to the realization that leave in conditioner is my friend. Let me rephrase that lightweight, spray on, leave in conditioner or hair oils, not necessarily leave in creams, at least not the ones I've tried, are my best friends.

Here's how it works. Towel dry your hair and comb through the tangles as quickly as possible so there is no previous drying time. Spray on or scrunch in leave in conditioner and leave the hair alone. Do not touch it. Do not rest your head on the car seat. Do not put on a pullover. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. The conditioners will sit on top of the hair and in my experience leave you significantly more frizz free, not to mention completely conditioned.

Of course, this always works best when you apply another product such as the original John Freida Frizz-Ease and it's big sister counterpart Living Proof No Frizz. Both work wonders for my hair and keep it on it's best behavior. If you're going to go this route you will have to wash your hair more often so invest in a good hydrating shampoo and conditioner and I suggest you add a leave-in to your nightly routine, just make sure to change your pillowcase often as to avoid breakouts.

Hard Candy Visibly Wet Shockingly Glossy Lip Pencil

We’ve finally reached spring and it’s time for a makeup shakeup. Sure, you can wear the same looks you’ve been wearing and I admit, I don’t change too much, but you don't gotta! So what if bright eyeshadows look sorta off, don’t they always? Isn’t that the point? I keep the same sparkly blush, same subtly dewy skin, same light pink glossy lips, just in a different way. Instead of carrying around a lipgloss that, let’s face it, sits in a sweltering car or purse while you go about your daily business, try something different. Have you ever burned yourself on a lipgloss? I have, not pretty. It hurts! How the hell are you going to explain that to your man when you weasel out of his kisses because of a burned and sore lip? The solution is simple, and really cute.

Enter lipgloss pencils. The same look of a lipgloss housed in a chubby lip liner outfit. Not only are they cute and addictingly fun but best part, it’s virtually impossible to melt. Plus, their consistency makes them perfect to put in your fridge for those times you’re too sweltering to even think straight. We know it’s coming, it always does. Next to my fruity body mists and facial spray lives my Hard Candy Visibly Wet Shockingly Glossy Lip Pencil, long name, but awesome product. These babies are super cheap, come in tons of amazing colors and really do wear like a gloss, feel like a balm, and even come in pretty pigmented, glossy, lipstick-like shades.

Whether you’re toting them around in your makeup bag or sticking them in the fridge like me, they’re the perfect companion to beachside BBQs or days when beachside BBQs are just a dream and a memory and your real life has you stuck staring out the window in frigid air conditioning.

Dudesday Tuesday

Among men there is a sort of rating system for women that has to do with how attractive a girl is. Is she cute, pretty, sexy or beautiful? Which one is most desirable? Can you fall into more than one category? Are any of them negative?

Unfortunately the answers vary slightly depending on the guy but we all look at it in basically the same way. Yes, one is more desirable than others. Yes, you can fall into more than one category, sometimes more than one at any given time. And yes, any one of these can be looked at negatively. Yeah, I know, men suck. So here’s the list. You may notice that I didn’t include hot but that's because it’s pretty much the same thing as sexy. Now keep in mind, this is going strictly by appearance, once you know the girl these categories no longer apply because something very tricky and dangerous comes into play, personality. I've included examples of individual girls who fit into each category exclusively and pictures of Sophia Bush (catch the return of One Tree Hill on the CW tonight!) that fit into each category.

Cute is the least desirable of the adjectives. It’s generally reserved for girls with short hair, tomboys, overweight yet attractive girls (who can also fall under the other categories as well), girls with no sense of fashion who may look like their conservative mother’s dressed them and insecure girls that the guys don’t notice until they’re placed directly in front of them. Cute can also be used to describe a friend’s little sister or possibly a young actress or singer who isn’t of age yet but is extremely desirable so the appropriate thing to say is “she’s cute” because “man, I so want to tap that” isn’t politically correct. Let me just say that I don’t condone this way of thinking but I’ve seen it done by my fellow man enough times. Some guys like cute, it’s not intimidating and there’s a preconceived notion that not many guys hit on the cute ones so any action they get is viewed as special in their eyes. Cute typically means she’s friend material.

Pretty is good, it means guys are taking notice, which isn’t to say they don’t notice cute but if a pretty girl walks by, guys are poking their friends so they can look as well. If the girl were sexy or beautiful, the other guys wouldn’t need poking, they’d have noticed her already. Pretty is a kind of subdued beauty, it’s not in your face, it’s something you want to look at because you know it’s not out of your league. Men will be quicker to approach a pretty girl because she’s something to brag about and show off but it isn’t as unattainable as say a sexy or beautiful girl who probably wouldn’t give a guy the time of day. Pretty girls are really the only ones who can fit into the other three categories without much difficulty; dress her down and she’s cute, dress her down in a slutty way and throw on some dark makeup and she’s sexy, dress her up and throw on some shimmery makeup and she’s beautiful. Pretty is the kind of girl a guy wants to bring home to meet his parents just as quickly as he wants to show her off to his friends.

Sexy is a tricky one because it’s circumstantial and it isn’t going to be the same every time you see it. It’s not always about the way a girl dresses that makes her sexy, she can be in flannel pajamas and every guy who sees who will say sexy, even though flannel pajamas do not scream sexy. I find it usually has to do with the eyes and lips. Little eyebrows tend to say sexy,the eyes can be small or big and generally speaking the lips are big. Sexy is also about the way a girl carries herself, she’s out there, she knows she looks good and is very in your face about it, the type other women usually hate. The thing is, sexy girls weren’t always sexy, they most likely once fell into one of the other categories but were pushed into ‘sexy’, sometimes by a guy, sometimes by other women, and now they use it as a form or revenge which is probably where the negative stereotypes come from. With revenge comes flirting with unavailable men, sometimes sleeping with them, getting under other women’s skin by stealing attention and using their attractiveness to get what they want. Sexy is not what you bring home to meet the family, it’s what guys show their friends but only from a distance because they’re worried one of their buddies will take her and he wouldn’t put it past her to do so. On a personal note, I’ve found that most sexy women, whether real or fictional, are actually lonely at heart and desperate for something more but sexy becomes a lifestyle that isn’t easy to ditch.

Beautiful. Beautiful is when every guy in the room looks up before they even know what they’re looking at. It’s a presence, a glow, an aura, whatever you want to call it. It makes everyone take notice, man or woman, yet somehow it isn’t in your face. Guys don’t approach sexy, the sexy girl has to approach them, but beautiful girls give off a vibe that says “you can talk to me, I’m actually very friendly” but intimidation kills his hopes. The downside is young guys would rather have someone sexy and go after the beautiful girls when it’s time to settle down, get married and start a family. I remember a conversation in high school about this girl who was absolutely beautiful and the guys all agreed that none of them wanted her, they wanted the sexy friend, even though not one of them would have dated her seriously or ever wanted to raise a family with her.

There’s very fine line between all the categories which only gets more blurred when the girl in question opens her mouth to speak, it can change everything, even alter categories. We’ll get into personality another time but for now, those are the levels of attractiveness. To all of you, whether cute, pretty, sexy, beautiful or some strange hybrid of the four, remember that your personality can change all of that and men, no matter how simple, can be blinded just as easily by what’s inside as what’s out. You know what, screw sometimes all it takes is a smile. Nothing is for certain and nothing is forever. You’re women, you can cross boundaries, switch categories, change classes, it’s all about how you want to be seen. Beauty is a state of being and honestly, you can be whatever you want.


Jaime here. It may not be easy to agree on this but Matt and I, together, have come to a conclusion based on the above picture. From left to right some of the stars of One Tree Hill in this adorable picture I couldn't wait to post. Jana Kramer is the sexy one, brazenly wearing little clothing and owning it. Sophia Bush, while clearly able to cross all boundries is beautiful. Shantel VanSanten is pretty, although Matt might disagree on her actual pretty-ness, she's not really his type and I think she crosses into the sexy category personally. Allison Munn, who plays Jamie's teacher Miss Lauren, is cute.

Any questions, comments or concerns? Blame in on men! Agree? Disagree? Let us know.

CW Beauties: Monday

Today's afternoon post is proudly brought you by my obsession with teen dramas. Not only is the CW often the only channel I watch all week, but it's also my favorite. If we're not watching WWE or TNA wrestling, we're watching Supernatural, Vampire Diaries or One Tree Hill, both Matt and I. Today's post coincides with the return of 90210 and Gossip Girl from their spring hiatus. It's probably about time to hook my TV back up for some viewing. I'll admit I haven't watched either of these shows in quite some time but they were both one time favorites. I hope you can get some spring fashion and beauty inspiration from these lovely ladies.

First up, 90210 and AnnaLynne McCord.

How gorgeous does she look? I always like her best with her hair straight and this springy ponytail makes me want to rock this look all summer long.

Jessica Lowdes is so gorgeous, a total inspiration to me, a dark haired, light eyed, pale girl. Every makeup look this girl wears is gorgeous, it was so hard to pick one. So I didn't!

This picture from Imnotobsessed.com was just too gorgeous to ignore. I love the way the cobalt blue sets off her skin and eyes. But what about this? This next picture really inspires me for spring..

The bright lips, peach shimmery cheeks and silver eyes just look romantic and I'm so glad I chose this look as my inspiration for my makeup look at my Uncle Scott's wedding last weekend. Too gorgeous!

In a two-fer, Jessica Stroup and Shanae Grimes. Both are gorgeous girls and I love how they let their gorgeous skin shine through in this photo. One of the best looks for warmer months is that nearly naked face and these two pull it off flawlessly.

And, of course, who can forget the Grandaddy of them all, Gossip Girl. Even girls who are no longer girls (oops) still can't get enough of this hit show, the fashion, the beauty, the DRAMA. Four of the ladies always have our attention and there's more than enough inspiration to go around.

Even if you can't have Blake Lively's enviably long legs, or perky boobs (oh, come on, you've noticed!) you can have her cute messy updo. They're so fun in the summer. Spray a little texturizer on your hair and loosely pile it to one side as Blake did here. Whether you sport a side braid, bun or ponytail, leave the look loose and relaxed. Perfect for a day at the beach or those Memorial Day BBQs.

For my fellow rocker chicks out there, Jessica Szohr is a constant source of inspiration. Look at those smoky eyes, tousled waves and bold accessories. Picture proof that you don't need to follow the latest trends to look gorgeous. I like that she sticks by what she loves even if she does make a few fashion mistakes along the way.

Another rocker girl we can't forget about, Taylor Momsen. Taylor's band, The Pretty Reckless, are actually pretty damn good. Her music isn't pop but it doesn't fit into traditional rock 'n' roll either, much like Miss Jenny herself. I love her transitional spring attire, the requisite black liner and her cute hat. This is something us folks in the Northeast can wear during the day to keep us warm and stylish.

How can I mention Gossip Girl without the Queen B herself, Leighton Meester. Leighton is gorgeous and after seeing her in The Roommate, I'd say she has being bad down to a science. How is it that she looks so good and pure here? Maybe she's just playing Blair, the girl you want to love but for some reason just can't. Either way, I'm loving the waves, the lighter locks and her moodier makeup, again perfect for the seasonal shift.

There you have it, the best of beauty from the CW's Monday night ladies. So, I say, embrace your love for teen dramas, I won't judge ya!