Makeup And Perfume

Unofficial Summer has arrived! School is out, it's 85 degrees in NYC, we've stocked up on summer whites, and as of Memorial Day, Citi Bike will be open for a 'preview week.' Today, would-be members received texts announcing that the bike-sharing app is finally available, so get out your iPhones and download away (it's also available through Google Play). Currently, the app displays hundreds of soon-to-be-activated cycle stations (all situated below 23rd Street in Manhattan and across Brooklyn), and a quick survey of the Citi Bike NYC website reveals stations planned for Manhattan south of 60th Street. We couldn't be more excited for the program, which is already popular in cities like London and Washington, DC. No more worrying about having your bike stolen! No more taking a wheel with you whenever you lock up! With Citi Bike, you subscribe and ride, like Zipcar, only you don't have to return it to the same station. The company offers daily, weekly, and annual memberships, so pick up a helmet and get ready to become a 'bike person'—we certainly will be.

Take time for yourself During the holiday season it is so easy to put yourself last, while you run in all directions getting everything organized for everyone else's holiday! Take time for yourself What have you done for yourself today? Anything? Are you doing anything at all to create a space for relaxation and enjoyment? Just. For. You. Take time for yourself Are you running in all directions? Simplify! It might be more important to enjoy the company of those around you, than to overdo the decorations or the food prep. Send less cards or send them in the New Year. Simplify wherever you can Enlist the help of others whenever possible. If you don't do it this year, you can always do it next year. I haven't yet decided if my beautiful creches will come out this year or not. I have to find a space for them. Literally and figuratively. But they are in my heart, regardless. Tradition exists for you, not you for tradition Will anyone really care if you change tradition a bit? And if they do, they should be willing to help. Otherwise, make the choice that makes you happy and that is doable for you this year, considering other areas of your life. Do something with verve and enthusiasm not just your have-to list. Be happy! Here's a quote I like: Plunge boldly into the thick of life. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Enter into the thick of things. Some ideas Take time to: Read a book. Have a cup of tea or some hot chocolate (don't forget the whipped cream!) Focus on things that count. Remember the reason for the season. Read the holiday story. Really think about what it means. Enjoy your decorations and those of your friends and neighbors. Enjoy the music. Sing along -- or even dance with your child/ren or grand/child/ren. Sit a spell. Think of all those you love. Remember those who are no longer here. Take time for a friend Email someone you love. Tell them what they mean to you. Pick up the phone and call someone you haven't talked to in a while. Create space Window shop -- or take a walk -- or just do a bit of wandering wherever you are led. Here's a little gift for you: Wendy Francisco singing We have seen a star Remember Jesus was Jewish. Have a wonderful holiday! Karin www.savvythinker.com Originally posted 2009-12-19 07:52:56.

Lisa Eldridge has won us over yet again with another flawlessly executed makeup tutorial. This time, though, she's using a fresh-faced model rather than her own pretty mug to demonstrate her new spring look, inspired by a young Brigitte Bardot (and a recent Kate Winslet Bazaar cover she worked on). And while it is easy to get lost in Eldridge’s video collection—trust us, we have—this one stands out as a great idea for the season upon us—no, not spring (though, yes, that, too), but prom and wedding season! Anyone who's gone through the over-hyped experience of prom can appreciate Lisa's pared-down look: no glitter eyeshadow, no lip gloss, no corkscrew sideburn curls. And for those of you with nuptials to attend this spring/summer, Eldridge has got the answer, and no Kardashian-level technical skills are required. Sure, the video is not aimed specifically at these events, but we here at ITG have decided that the “Baby Bardot” is the perfect un-statement statement. Just a simple, healthy face, perfect cat eye, lush lashes, and a rosy-nude lip. Plus, in the end, even if there is nothing super special coming up on your calendar, it never hurts to look like one of the original blonde bombshells (though we advise leaving the French accent at the door).

While surveying the latest Chloë Sevigny campaign last week, we spotted Tati Cotliar in a perplexing ensemble starring a Balenciaga-esque bomber jacket, crop top, and fanny pack. We’ve been fans of the bomber for some time, but the 22 year-old Argentinian model’s mix of High Street, club kid, hip hop, and ‘90s-sitcom-kitsch made it feel, well, fresh. We can't all be doe-eyed South American babes, but we can take something away from her so-wrong-it's-right culture-clashing style. Tati swung by the Gloffice last week with two suitcases overflowing with her prized bombers and offered up some guidelines, plus the accoutrements necessary—chunky-soled sneakers, a dark lip, etc.—to dress yourself up like The Nanny, Kanye, or Michelle Pheiffer in Grease. (And we picked our favorite pieces below!) 1. There's nothing like the real thing: "I’m all about sportswear. It’s something that’s happening in America now, especially since that 1950s-style summer collection that Prada did [for spring '12]. To me, it feels very Grease, like Michelle Pfeiffer. I like a proper baseball jacket, made for baseball. I buy mine at vintage stores like Allan & Suzi or little shops like Pixie Market. The shape of real team jackets gives you this attitude, this slouch. And it’s very street smart, like the kids on the Lower East Side playing basketball." 2. When in doubt, look to Clueless: "I remember in the '90s when crop tops were the item. Showing your bellybutton was the hottest thing—like in Clueless when Alicia Silverstone cuts Brittany Murphy’s shirt with scissors. And now I think they work again, especially paired with a bomber, to make it less beach-y. They’re better with a high-waisted item, too, because showing a shorter space of skin in your belly makes you look longer." 3. Be a tourist in your own town: "Fanny packs are my thing for the summer. How you wear one depends on the outfit. If you have pants on, it goes on the hips, otherwise you can wear it across the body or even over the shoulder like a purse. Mine's a chic twist on a fanny pack, which is quite silly from the start. It reminds me of Grandma Yetta from The Nanny. She wears all of these bright colors and it’s very vulgar and kitsch; fanny packs are something your dad and tourists would wear. I found mine, by Feral Pleasures, at a little shop in London. You can even add your own crystals to a plain one" 4. Find big shoes to fill: "I’m a very masculine person, and I like the style of hip-hop because it feels very masculine, moving sportswear into the everyday wardrobe. It’s about being comfortable. If you wore sneakers during the day in France they would go crazy! I’m just thinking of something I read about Julia Restoin Roitfeld. She was asked, “What are your favorite sneakers?” and she said, “Nikes, but only in the gym.” But, in America, there are so many really pretty Nikes! My shoes are Dr. Martens. They’re more 'schoolgirl' with the buckle. For creepers, I love the brand Underground." 5. Purple is better: "I never wear makeup, because I work with makeup every day. I love skincare. My favorite moisturizer is La Roche-Posay because it’s clean and fragrance-free. If I’m going to wear anything else, at night in the summer, I’ll put on a purple lipstick. It’s kind of gothic and fun. Chanel has a great matte dark, dark purple, but if I’m wearing a fuchsia, I like a little bit of shine, so I’ll use one from Lancôme. I don’t wear anything else. No mascara, nothing." Tati Cotliar photographed by Emily Weiss in New York on May 15, 2013.

It isn't often that I'm at a loss for words, but truly no words can describe the superlatives I feel from the first try of this line. I was surprised at how easy it was to apply the shadow. The technique is different for Fyrinnae -- pat on vs. stroke on -- so I wasn't sure if it would tend to go on blotchy, but it goes on like silk. And it feels like silk. It feels soothing on my eyes, if that makes sense. I thought it would only go on vibrantly, but it is possible to apply it very sheer. So there are a lot of looks you can achieve. I wasn't sure what brush to use. I didn't know if it would need to be somewhat stiff or not. I decided to use the FO brush from Aromaleigh. That worked perfectly. These are the colors I used today: Base: Trish McEvoy, no sparkle powder on top Lips: Visual Kei Lip Lustre Lids: Digital Faerie Lined upper and lower: Biker Chic Mascara: Guerlain Maxi Lash Brows: Merle Norman brow powder duo After going around yesterday feeling totally crappy, because that's how I felt I looked, I hit the jackpot today. Primer: Smashbox Foundation: Shiseido cream Blush: Lancome Petticoat Pink cream Powder: my sparkly mix Highlight: Mary Kay center of my face What do you think? Karin Originally posted 2009-04-02 09:26:36.

I’m always chewing on my lips because of how chapped they get. It’s a bad habit and it’s stopping now. The easiest way would be to reapply lip balm throughout the day, but that’s never been my thing – once in the morning and maybe a touch-up in the afternoon (only if it’s bad). With Avène cold cream I can stick to my minimal reapplying and still have a perfectly hydrated pout! The thick consistency falls somewhere between a heavy cream and petroleum jelly. It goes on smoothly with just a hint of gloss, so your lips will look naturally supple and dewy. I like to layer it under lipstick to keep it from bleeding, especially when I’m sporting a darker color. The emollient treatment hydrates with the help of Avène’s famous thermal spring water (taken from a French aquifer) and protects from free radical damage with antioxidants. It will be a lifesaver in the harsh winter months! Available on Amazon for $8.95.

Alright, admit it. Doesn't the name Dragon Magic just seem, well, magical! I would have had to buy this, even if I didn't like the color, which I do. Wow! green!! In RL unlike this photo, the green is an exact hue to my shirt, only deeper. Here's what Fyrinnae says. Be sure to follow the link to see swatches of how differently Dragon Magic looks in various lights, wet and dry. Deep charcoal with a shimmer that changes from a violety ice blue to pale green to almost gold, depending on the light. I will definitely have to foil it later. Ha! this is later -- and it is still going strong, no drifting. I took these pictures about 7 hours ago, and if my eyes look any different, it's not by much. Eyes Base: Nude Frost the color adheres better with this Lids: F. Dragon Magic Lined Lower: F. Embrace this is a beautiful teal Lined upper: NYX Extreme Black pen -- this is as close to the Mary Kay pen that I loved as I think I will ever come. I like it a lot. Very easy to apply, just wet enough. Brows: Merle Norman duo powder Mascara: Guerlain Maxi-lash on top, the little mini from Le2 on the lower lashes Now, seriously -- seriously! -- do you see any reason why I would ever have to use a carbon color for the base to deepen a color?? I am so pale that colors look dark enough on me as it is. More than dark enough. My take: I am going to reverse the colors the next time. I think Embrace would be gorgeous and dark enough on my lids; then use Dragon Magic for lining. I asked Book Girl if I should take it off and do just that, and she said no, it was a perfect match to my shirt. I really did fade it out, though it is hard to see here. Once it looked like nothing was left on the brush (I used Aromaleigh's FO again), there was still product on the brush. I just tapped it around to fade it up and out. This is a very dramatic, almost shocking, look for me for day. I would reserve it for evening. I don't know how it works to apply Fyrinnae's shadows on top of each other, to vamp up for evening. Will have to try that with a lighter color. Again, I am extremely surprised how easy these are to apply. They pat on evenly. There is no blotching. They feel soothing and calming to me on my lids. In order of application: Primer: Smashbox, the apricot one (not color correcting) Foundation: Revlon Vital Radiance Cheeks, under powder: Nars stick Powder: my sparkly mix Lips: Fyrinnae Lollipop-pop Lip Lustre -- beautiful orchid color, smashing! See more colors here. Over powder, up center of face: Smashbox duo primer, using only the shimmery Blush: MAC Dollymix Wow Green!! but still fun! Karin Originally posted 2009-04-03 16:37:18.

Maybe it’s the recent solar eclipse (according to Astrology Zone, I was meant to see “the big message” on Friday…), or maybe it’s just that tax season is finally over, but I’ve been working on getting a little more zen lately. And, sure, it’s nice to sit back and accept “the things I cannot change” but that’s easier said than done when your skin has been vacillating from dry to oily and back again since the autumnal equinox (for this, I can thank the radiator in my “quaint” pre-war apartment that JUST WON’T QUIT.  Landlords of New York, do you hear me? It’s nearly Memorial Day! What gives?) Over the past few months, I’ve amassed quite a collection of washes, lotions, and serums in hopes of taking back the reins on my epidermis. So when I came across a perfectly pink little tub of Aurelia’s Miracle Cleanser, I thought, you know what? Prove it. Go ahead: make my day. The über-creamy concoction’s aromatic mix of chamomile, eucalyptus, and rosemary essential oils wafted northward—nasil-ward?—upon unscrewing the lid, and I felt my breathing sloowwww down. There’s something very Vicks-VapoRub-via-an-organic-farm-in-Nice about the smell that’s soothing in that ‘holistic’ way. (Upon closer inspection of the label, Aurelia is, in fact, a “bio-organic” line.) I gently rubbed the cream right on to my dry skin, on top of make up and all, with upward, circular motions. It already felt incredible—so gentle and not at all greasy (my skin is very reactive to oil). Then came the best part: the antibacterial muslin cloth. It’s really no wonder they wrap babies in muslin because this finely-woven swatch of organic bamboo felt like it was knit from the hairs of cherubs. (Shosh may want to know where Jessa is, what she’s wearing, and if it’s linen, but our money’s on muslin). I pressed the hot and damp cloth over my face for a mini steam before removing the cleanser. That wonder washcloth wiped away a day’s worth of buildup—makeup, grime, and dead skin cells—while apparently “stimulating circulation.” I felt smooth, hydrated, balanced, and overall unwound: a rebirth, if you will. "Eclipse season" promises it's fair share of seismic shifts, and I'm still waiting on that big message, but at least Aurelia and I have got the cleansing thing under control. —Mackenzie Wagoner Photos by Elizabeth Brockway.

Summer is right around the corner so here’s five things you need to know about sunscreen to ensure you’re getting the best protection for your skin. 1. Sunscreen must be applied generously. In order for SPF to truly protect the skin and prevent the harmful UV rays from damaging the skin, the formula has to be applied generously or it will not provide adequate protection. If you have a sunscreen that feels too heavy on your skin (which so many can), you’ll probably only apply a small amount and you’re not doing your skin any good. The goal is to find a sunscreen that doesn’t use heavy emollients so as not to leave a greasy residue. That way, you can be heavy-handed when using it (as you should be) but you’re not left feeling oily. 2. Don’t get overly confident with a high SPF number. With so many companies launching high SPF number sunscreens, it creates a lot of confusion as to which number is the best in protecting the skin. Did you know that an SPF 30 offers only 4% more protection than an SPF 15 and an SPF 45 offers just 2% more? High SPF number sunscreens like an SPF 50 or 100 can give people a false sense of protection and therefore may not be applied generously enough to do its job. While I do suggest using a minimum of SPF 30, it has far more to do with how generously you apply it than the number. (By the way, the FDA is proposing to limit the maximum SPF on labels to 50.) 3. Sunscreen built into your foundation makeup is not enough. If you apply a regular non-SPF moisturizer to the face and then apply a foundation with an SPF over it, the sunscreen in the makeup has a difficult time penetrating through the moisturizer to effectively coat and protect the skin cells. I highly suggest using a sunscreen moisturizer directly on the skin first to adequately deliver the specified SPF (as long as you apply it generously) and then apply foundation makeup with sunscreen, then finished off with SPF-infused mineral powder. 4. Sunscreens degrade from sunlight and your skin’s natural oil. Many sunscreen formulas degrade with exposure to UV light. The daily oil produced on the skin (especially on the nose which is the oiliest area of the face) can also cause sunscreen to breakdown. This is why reapplying sunscreen every few hours is so necessary. However, reapplying often is not always practical. Are you supposed to wash your face, reapply sunscreen, reapply makeup and repeat this every two hours during the day? Not so easy. The fastest, easiest, and most effective way to ensure that your skin is protected all day is to dust the skin every few hours with a good mineral powder formulated with sunscreen. They are considered “dry” sunscreens and make reapplying very simple. My personal favorite (and the one I use faithfully) is ColoreScience, because it’s endorsed by The Skin Cancer Foundation and contains SPF 50. I don’t use it as my makeup, even though it has a light tint, but rather as a light powder over my regular makeup to give a good physical block of protection to my skin. 5. If you’re prone to sensitivity or breakouts, choose a sunscreen formula with Zinc Oxide. Of all the categories of skin care products, sunscreens are the most likely to cause negative skin reactions on the skin. And mostly, it’s rashes or acne breakouts from the use of sunscreen. The good news is there have been a lot of advancements in sun protecting ingredients, so if you still shy away from sunscreens because of past bad experiences, you just haven’t found the right one yet—but they are out there. My skin is oily in the t-zone, and even at 43, my oil production hasn’t slowed down too much yet. I have my own built-in moisturizer (the oil) which is considered to be a good thing, but I also have to be very careful because I’m definitely very sensitive, prone to acne breakouts and clogged pores. So using a lightweight, gentle sunscreen is an absolute must for me and the best ingredient to offer that is Zinc Oxide. It’s chemical-free, won’t clog the por

Because it's Monday, and we don't want to work yet.