Golden Globes Beauty: The Bad

Now, the snarky part, the bad. We're all guilty of falling into the snarky trap whether with our friends or aimed at celebrities. Here at Drug of Choice I really want to be straightforward without the harshness (at least today, I can't be so sure I'll be as virtuous in the future)!

Again, Tilda Swinton failed to impress. I can't get over how green her eyes are, I just want to see what they'd look like made up. I might see a trace of pink blush on her cheek but I'd like a little more. Hopefully one day I will.

If today's post was about accessories or hairstyles Scarlett Johanson might have made my good list, as far as makeup goes, not so much. I think a good helping of mascara on those top lashes would have gone a long way into improving this look. I like the colors but perhaps not together.

I'm in love with Jayma Mays strawberry blonde locks, love them, covet them even! I love the orangy tones on her hair but honestly, I could do without them on her lips. I think only a select few women could get away with wearing such a bright color on the lips just like very few women would look good with her haircolor.

Speaking of coveting, I must have Jane Krakowski's earrings, now! They're gorgeous. While I liked her silvery eyes I didn't like the frosty silver lips. Again, it's one of those terribly hard colors to pull off but it's especially hard for someone with thin lips. I would love to see Jane in a sheer peach gloss. I think that would have worked perfectly to pull this whole look together.

Seems like Christina knows what she likes and never fails to remind us, red lips, retro black liquid liner, I know. It's a pretty look but I really want to see something different out of her. I'd love a colorful eye and a pink glossed lip or a dramatic colored liner with a nude lip. Just change it up for us Xtina.

What about you? Do agree with my assessment? Think I'm delusional? Let me know.

Full Disclosure: These were written in April 2011 for reference for myself and my readers.

Golden Globes Beauty: The Good

In the interest of switching things up I've decided to separate the Golden Globe Looks into three different categories, makeup (beauty), hair and fashion. Today we'll be focusing on the beauty aspect, good and bad. First off, the good.

Amber Riley always looks spot-on on the red carpet. I love the silver shadow on her lids, a look any complexion can pull off flawlessly. Dollops of peach blush and gloss and a smidge of black liner pulls the look together flawlessly.

Wow. I adore Christina Hendrick's makeup at the Golden Globes. The bright pink lipstain looks amazing on her porcelain complexion and a silver and black lined eye looks defined without competing with her dress or hair.

Piper Perabo will always be the girl from Coyote Ugly to me, always. I remember watching that movie with my best friend and loving it. Even though I haven't watched it any time recently whenever I see Piper I have a sudden urge to find it on Netflix. She looked beautiful with tomato red lips, warm blush and warm gold-ish eyes. I love the combo on her fair skin and brown eyes.
Elisabeth Moss and Emma Stone went for similar, no makeup looks. Both beauties are pale and blonde, a combination that is often deadly if not made up properly. Fortunately, both of these ladies look great with minimal makeup, just a soft pinkish, champagne color all over with enough mascara to make the eyes stand out. So pretty!

Halle Berry looked gorgeous as usual, sporting her dark eyes and pale lips. I have to say that between her and Jennifer Lopez, I see where Kim Kardashian gets her makeup and fashion sense.

Jane Lynch looks amazing for her age, I love the soft crinkles around her eyes, they conjure up images of a lifetime of smiling. I think her makeup perfectly accentuates her face, making her look her age without adding any unnecessary age-defying tactics.

The same could be said about Jennifer Lawrence, although in the reverse. Her look is completely right for her age and you get the sense that she's really enjoying being there. Peep those gorgeous emerald (my birthstone) and diamond earrings.

Kelly Osbourne is a woman I love. She's so blunt it's a huge breath of fresh air in Hollywood. I've always thought her look matched her personality but now that she's not defined by that brash attitude I like her style even more. Look at those gorgeous lashes and simple makeup, that actually might just be more refreshing than her personality.

There you go, my choices for the best beauty at the Golden Globes. Agree? Disagree? Let me know in the comments.

Full Disclosure: This post was written in April 2011 for reference for myself and my readers.

Critics Choice Awards Fashion

Let's get right down to it, 90% of the reason I watch most awards shows? The dresses! Before I even thought about looking at hair and makeup I was always fascinated by the outfits the celebrities wore that I, in a million years, could never afford or pull off. Here are the stand-outs at this years Critic's Choice Awards.

One of the only beauties that shows up on both my beauty and fashion lists, Michelle Williams. I know many may not enjoy the hemline of her Balenciaga dress but I just adore it. As I said yesterday I can't get over how well the rhinestones light up her face.

The other repeat? Emma Stone, of course. If you thought her makeup was awesome, you should see the dress, so beautiful I had to post four pictures to give you the full effect. Also by Balenciaga this dress is something I not only would wear but want to. Her film Easy A won for Best Comedy and I couldn't be happier. A tale of alleged promiscuity it really shows how out of control the rumor mill is and the disparage-y when it comes down to girls having sex in high school. It's an oft-ignored topic in pop culture that needs more attention. If you haven't seen it definitely check it out.

I'll admit I hadn't heard of Hailee Steinfeld until the award season started. The actress scored the Best Young Actor award for True Grit and looked great doing it. Her pretty blush dress with girly ruffles looked right for her age and figure I can see her future as a fashionista now.

Now I'm sure to get a lot of flack for this one but I enjoyed Sarah Silverman's cute suit. I thought it was adorable and really brought out her fun personality, with it's pleated skirt and skimpy cami underneath. I'm not sure it's entirely appropriate for an awards show but I loved it just the same.

Eva Mendes stepped out in Valentino for the Critic's Choice Awards and I, for one, didn't dig it. The length and sheer black fabric are beautiful and conjure up images of that semi-naked Calvin Klein ad that's been banned from TV, which I'm sure is what her stylist was going for. I just can't get past that giant bow. It's not for me, that's for sure.

Mandy Moore rocked it on the red carpet! I'm so happy to see her showing off her body, her posture looks great and she manages to look both shy and completely comfortable at the same time. Her plum Monique Lhuillier stood out to me for it's effortless elegance. This is exactly what I like to see on Ms. Moore.

An underwhelming look was Natalie Portman in her floor length black and white column dress. I think the point was to make her baby bump less of a big deal but it just seems to me that she's trying to ignore the fact that she has an extra 10lbs of belly. Show it off. Having never been pregnant I can't imagine what it's like to dress with a bump but I definitely prefer the "show it off" look to the "cover it up, pretend it's not there" look Natalie is sporting.

Mila Kunis has really come out of her shell this awards season fashion-wise and I'm so excited to see what she's going to wear next. This Nina Ricci dress is black but the pretty ruffles and interesting hemline really help her stand out. I love the way the necklaces and ankle wrap heels lend a casual feel to the whole look. Perfection!

Last but not least, Khloe and Kim Kardashian. Could they have looked any more different? Right down to Khloe's newly red hair these girls showed they are more than just one dimensional clones of each other.
Khloe is a tall girl and her leopard print Blumarine dress with asymmetrical hemline showed it off. I love how she looks amazonian next to her her shorter sister.
Kim chose to go an entirely different route with her rust orange Vera Wang. The ruffled hemline was an attempt to make her taller (I think) but it backfired in a big way. I like that she was daring with the color but I think it was a mistep. Just because she has olive skin doesn't mean she can't wear pastels or jewel tones instead of warm hues. I'd love to see her in something lilac or baby blue, just for giggles.

What did you think? Out of these dresses which are you most likely to want to wear in your real life? Wouldn't it be nice if life were fancy enough to call for a dress like this? I wish!

Full Disclosure: This post was written in April 2011 with intent to use photos I'd already collected for award show looks, as a reference for myself and my readers.

Critics Choice Awards Beauty

The Critic's Choice Awards were last weekend and a smaller scale kick-off to the awards season. Honestly, I've never heard of them before and I've definitely never seen them, but I wouldn't miss an opportunity to talk about the beauty and fashion so here goes....

Amber Rose- I only remember her as the ex-girlfriend of Kanye West (I think) who always shows up to award shows half dressed. Oh well. There's no denying she has a gorgeous face and I love the way her makeup is done here. The pink lips are gorgeous and so pretty without being too in your face on her gorgeous skin. Matching pink cheeks and heavily lined eyes add to the fresh yet edgy effect. What I'm most impressed with are her brows. I wish mine could get anywhere near that perfect.

Sofia Vergara- I think she's a gorgeous woman but her makeup really underwhelmed me. In my humble opinion it aged her (or in this case made her look her age when she usually looks 5-10 years younger). I think she could have used more hydration on her face, either less powder to counteract her dry skin or a more hydrating moisturizer/primer/foundation. I also found her lipcolor and her eyeshadow to be too plain-Jane, not enough bombshell. There's always next time Sofia.

Michelle Williams- One of the few woman who I actually enjoy more with short hair. Her buttery blonde paired with tons of shine and impeccable hydration makes her really stand out. Her soft makeup really put the focus on her natural beauty and her super cool dress. I adore the way the rhinestones light up her already shimmery face. Love!

Jennifer Lawrence- A gorgeous young actress with perfectly age appropriate makeup. Her features are essentuated without making her look overly made up. I am in love with her lip and cheek shade and I could see myself wearing this look all the time myself.

Keri Hilson- I feel like I say this every time but I really love her hair and makeup here. Keri is a beautiful woman and I'm so happy to see her so bright and smiley on the red carpet. The silver liner makes her look cool without trying too hard. Again, this is a look I could see myself wearing and don't we all love to get inspiration from the red carpet?

Emma Stone- Many people may not know that Emma Stone is a natural blonde who colored her hair red before she hit Hollywood to help her stand out, a daring by very worthwhile move. While I love her as a redhead I think she looks great as a blonde, especially since her hair looks so well taken care of. As a pale beauty I think she was smart to warm up her complexion with a slightly darker and warmer foundation and it's blended so seamlessly that, if it weren't for being so close, you'd have no idea. The soft updo and lightly lined eyes are pretty and subtle, a girl next door look I thoroughly enjoy seeing on the red carpet.

Tilda Swinton- As usual she didn't impress me. She has such striking features, those peircing green eyes of hers, yet she fails to accentuate them with very little makeup. Now, I'm not one to judge, God knows most of my friends don't wear makeup, but I think she could stand a little bit of color somewhere. But, you have to respect her bravery for going au natural in a sea of fake boobed, blonde, leggy actresses.

Kim Kardashian- Are you like me? Are you tired of seeing the same look from her every.single.time. I get that she went daring with the dress but would it kill her to add a little color to her lips instead of her normal nude? I think just a slightly peachier shade would have made all the difference with her bright orange dress.

Full Disclosure: This post was written in April 2011 with interest in sharing the write-up I'd already done for the award show.

Bobbi Brown Brights Mini Palette

Oooh, I think I'm in love. Bobbi Brown is not really known for her bright shadows but when she does them, girl goes all out. All of these colors are gorgeous and have me lusting over the palette.

Equally gorgeous is the outside of the packaging. I'm a sucker for a cute package but it doesn't work for me if the items themselves are not gorgeous. I think you'll find you won't have a problem with any of Bobbi's items. The woman is a genius and knows what women want.

If you haven't already you really need to pick up one of her books, I guarantee you will not put it down, they are that good. Whether you know your makeup or you don't, Bobbi can give you some advice to elevate your game.

Now, I want to mention that upon reading reviews for this item many people were disappointed by the size. These shadows are small but that's what makes them perfect if you're experimenting with colors you wouldn't normally wear, you don't have to feel guilty if you choose not to use a color as anything other than a liner once in a while. There are 20 colors to choose from and this gorgeous palette retails for $70 on Bobbibrown.com and at Bobbi counters nationwide.

Estee Lauder Spring 2011

Woohoo. I wish I could say that it was spring already but it's not, it's barely even winter in my neck of the woods. I fear we have a long, long way to go. Fear not, something to tide you over.

I never know what to think of collections until I check out swatches and easily the best place to find those is Karlasugar.net. Since we have similar skintones I can really tell how the products will look on me. I'm really sorry I missed out on Blue Dahlia and Surreal Violet but it's not too late to check out Wild Violet.

Wild Violet is a little deceiving for the name. Personally, I pictured more purple shades instead of just the one but it is gorgeous. The rest of the colors in the palette are neutrals so the next question is how many ways can you wear this? Put a little purple in the crease or along the lashline, a neutral eye look that can easily transition from day to night, a sexy cats eye liner.

In this collection there's also a single called Untamed Violet as well as a DoubleWear eye pencil with the same name. The DoubleWear pencil formula is great with an almost gel like finish and the blue based purple Untamed Violet would look amazing with eyes of all colors, I especially love purple with brown or green eyes.

While, at $42, it's a little out of my price range I really do feel like you're getting your moneys worth with this one especially if you wear a lot of neutrals. If you buy it, or see it in person, let me know what you think.

Happy New Year

Happy 2011! Let's hope the year brings everything we were wishing for in 2010. Out with the negativity, it's time to be positive and start with a fresh slate. That's where Philosophy comes in.

A favorite Christmas present of mine (if I really had to narrow it down) was Philosophy's Begin Again shower and bath gelee. It's tangerine scented and, wow, I didn't know they could make things smell that delicious. Love! But the scent isn't even the best part, nor is the lather or really anything beauty related at all, it's the poem on the front of the bottle. I'm a sucker for the written word, I'm a writer, my man's a writer (the best one I've ever heard) and it seems appropriate that words can move me and inspire me. I know it sounds corny but hear me out. Listen to this and tell me you don't think it's exactly what you needed to hear at the beginning of a new year.

You took the right road and ended up in the wrong place. Begin again. You reached the top of a mountain only to find yourself at the bottom of a new one. Begin again. You dotted every 'I' and forgot to cross your 'Ts.' Begin again. You loved with all of your heart and it got broken anyway. Begin again. You won the race but they gave first place to someone else. Begin again. You followed your North Star and ended up at the South Pole. Begin again. You achieved a big dream. Dream again.

See, inspirational stuff. I think everyone can find something in there that speaks to them. Whether you lost your job in the financial crisis, ended a long relationship or just lost your way in life, you can begin again. Pick up the pieces in 2011 and make this the best year yet. You deserve it. And, oh yeah, live beautifully.

I found Philosophy Begin Again at Marshall's and frequently (read: most of the time) buy my supply at Marshall's or her sister store, TJ Maxx. It's definitely worth checking out if you love the line as much as I do.