New Uses for Beauty Tools!

Life happens. And so do fashion and beauty blunders. We leave the house with too much blush on, deodorant stains on our black t-shirts, fake eyelashes dangling from our perfectly made-up faces – the list goes on and on. Forgo common disasters and refine your inner recessionista by thinking outside the box with your beauty products. The good folks over at Ms. Manicure have some lessons in how to fix fashion fiascos with these multi-functional nail products:

Don’t worry about hand washing your favorite sweaters anymore. Solve your pilling problems with Ms. Pedicure’s Rock ‘n Sole ($1.99). By rubbing this dry pumice stone over sweaters, the little fuzzies that cause so much distress will be gone. Make sure to lay the clothing on a flat surface before gently stroking the fabric with the stone. Keep the stone clean and dry for future use!

Scared your eyelashes might fall off into your dinner plate a la the last date you went on? Give them extra security by applying them with the tweezers from Ms. Manicure‘s Handy Dandy Mani kit ($9.99). First, let lash glue sit for 30 to 60 seconds prior to using. Then, pick up individual lashes with tweezers, dip the ends in glue and securely apply them to the base of the eyelid. Make sure to coat them with mascara afterwards for extra protection!

Spill something on your new suede boots? You might not have to head for the shoe store for another pair just yet. Grab an emery board, like Ms. Manicure’s Call Your Buff ($2.99), and lightly rub the stain. Use the soft, buffer side of this four-sided board to ensure that your boots don’t get damaged in the process. Then, hold the shoe over steam from a boiling pot (or teakettle) on the stove to completely remove it. This works for suede clothing as well!

For a list of retailers and to check out other recession-friendly products, visit www.msmanicure.com and www.mspedicure.com.

Don't Forget to Enter!

Don't forget: I'm giving away two sets of fake lashes from Revlon (plus a little extra something-something to my winners). Click here to enter!

New Bare Escentuals Today on QVC

I just got this message, so I'm a little late for the first showing. However, I thought you might be interested in hearing about this. Bare Escentuals is launching a brand new line today on QVC. It's called Beautiful in Pearls. The line blends the depth and texture reminiscent of fine pearls into cosmetics and each shade in the collection matches a hue of pearls on the “Beautiful in Pearls” necklace created by Honora.

Again, it airs November 7th at noon, 4pm and 10pm ET or you can shop online at Bare Escentuals on QVC.

I'll try to track down more info on this line and will get it to you soon. Until then, head over to QVC and check it out if you're a Bare Escentuals fan!

Decisions, Decisions!

I've had a wild thought race through my mind lately: What if I chop off my hair?

I'm not entirely sure what my problem is, but I am growing increasingly tired of my long, boring hair. I know I need to cut it. After all, it's just hanging there, looking overly blonde and lacking any real style. But here's the thing I'm trying to figure out: How short do I want to go?

Part of me says GO FOR IT! Cut it off and go crazy. If I did, here are two looks I'm digging.

Then part of me says sure, cut it, but don't do anything rash. Get a nice, easy to care for mid-length 'do. Kind of like this.

I'm so confused!

I had short hair--really short, like boy short--when I was younger. I was in my last year of high school and wanted a new look. I kept my super short locks for awhile, but then my hair grew out and I've been at various lengths of medium to long hair ever since.

My hubby's hair is insanely long. It's almost always longer than mine no matter how long I let my locks grow out. He doesn't care what I do with my hair, and in my opinion he shouldn't really have a say anyway.

I was in the salon last month getting my hair colored and this woman came in saying she wanted something easy to take care of, that her kids wouldn't pull at, but something that made her look pretty. Then she said, "But my husband doesn't like short hair, so it has to be at my shoulders." I felt like telling her that it's her hair, not her husband's and that she should cut it anyway she wanted.

Anyway, I pose this to you: how do you feel about drastic makeovers? And how much weight should a spouse or partner's opinion have in deciding your style?

Beat the Winter Blahs

I've lived on the West Coast for 10 years now. When I first moved out here, I used to laugh at the locals who complained about the "cold" when it was 50 degrees out and felt it necessary to bundle up under layer after layer of heavy winter clothes as soon as September became a memory.

My how things have changed. In my 10 years here, I have found that I, too, am a weather wimp. And now that Daylight Saving Time has come to an end--and Halloween is just a haunting memory--I find myself dreading the winter and all that comes with it: cold weather, possible snow, dry skin, chapped lips, static-filled hair.

Well, the good folks over at Women's Health (and in their book Age Erasers for Women) have some tips for all of us as we get ready for upcoming (or already here!) winter weather. Here you go--be sure to add your thoughts by leaving a comment!

Skin

• Not only does dry skin cause a lackluster complexion, it also keeps hydrating lotion from keeping your skin moist. Get rid of excess dry skin with a body wash with exfoliant and also a gentle exfoliating face wash.
  
• Because dry skin causes fine lines to be more visible, make sure you’re using a thicker face lotion with firming benefits.
  

Makeup

• Winter is the time to forget the foundation which tends to settle into dry areas on skin giving your complexion a patchy look. Instead, camouflage dark circles with a light-diffusing concealer.
• The skin around your eyes is delicate and prone to dryness and windburn. Try using a sheer indigo blue or emerald eye shadow to downplay redness, and apply with a damp brush to help it stay put longer.
  

Hair

• Because the minerals in tap water and detergents in shampoo can cause your scalp to itch and flake, now is the time to skip the shampoo. Try a dry shampoo on your roots which will absorb the extra oil and you can comb out in the morning.
• Inflate your drab winter hair by adding volumizing mousse to your styling routine.
  

Body

• If you’ve been considering laser hair removal, now is the time to do it. Because your hair and skin will have more contrast as your summer glow is gone, the treatment will be more effective.
  
• During the holiday season, cosmetics counters are crammed full of gift sets that go on sale afterwards. This gives you the perfect excuse to find those fragrances you’ve been meaning to test.
  

Check out all the blah-beating beauty tips here

Fake It With Revlon!

Just a few weeks ago I was researching fake eyelashes in response to a question from a reader. As luck would have it, I found out that Revlon has recently put out several new false eyelashes, available in drugstores. And even better, they sent over a few sets for me to try.

I'm having a friend of my sister test a set and I'll be getting a report back from her soon. But in the meantime, let me tell you a little bit about what Revlon has to offer. There are several styles of glue-on eyelashes available for those who prefer to use glue. For those who want something a little easier to apply, Revlon’s self-adhesive eyelashes are perfect! They require no messy glue, are very easy to apply, and are latex-free, which means they’re gentle on the eyes. Styles range from natural to glamorous, so you can choose the eyelash that completes the look you’re going for. What's even better is that they'll only set you back about $5.50.

But wait! Do YOU want to try out Revlon's Fantasy Lengths lashes? Well, now's your chance to do so for free! Leave me a comment (be sure to include a way for me to get a hold of you!) and two lucky readers will get a set of lashes to try out. Good luck! Please be sure to enter by next Wednesday, November 11th. Winners will be announced on November 12th.

A Note About November

It's Monday: A new week. It's also a new month...November. November has become a funny month for me. It's a miserably dark month, but it's also my writing month.

Like thousands of otherwise sane people, I take part in NaNoWriMo--National Novel Writing Month. In the 30 days of November, I have to start and finish a novel of at least 50,000 words. I did this challenge last year and blew past my 50K goal with no problem. This year, I fear things may be different. I'm in a funny head-space lately, and I'm not particularly organized for my 50K word journey.

So...if there is a longer lag between posts here at Kiss and Makeup this month, I apologize in advance. I'm going to be glued to my laptop (if things are going well!) or I'll be pulling my hair out, agonizing over my budding novel. But I'm going to do my damnedest not to neglect the wonderful world of beauty blogging. Bare with me...things will be back to normal (whatever THAT is!) by December 1st. And who knows? Maybe you won't even notice my stress here. Ha!

Anyway, keep stopping by because I do have plenty to write about. I've been trying out tons of new products and (I hate to say this) Christmas is coming, so there's a lot of great beauty stuff headed our way!

Wish me luck--I'm off to slay word count dragons!

Skin Care 101: Acne-Prone Skin

Note: All week this week I'll be featuring tips on how to deal with different skin types. Info from Allure and many other sources. If you have anything to add--a favorite product or great hint--please be sure to leave a comment!

Acne prone skin isn't just for teenagers. No matter how old you are, acne flare ups can be painful and can make you feel less than beautiful. There are thousands of anti-acne products on the market. Here are some tips in treating your skin.

1. Wash your face morning and night. Look for products that are specific for fighting acne. Cleansers containing 2% salicylic acid will keep your pores clear.
2. Treat your skin. After washing, let your skin dry completely. Then apply a salicylic acid treatment to your entire face once a day.
3. Moisturize...even though you think you shouldn't. Be sure to use a moisturizer that is labeled as "non-comedogenic"--this means it won't clog your pores. And since anti-acne treatments cause sun sensitivity, be sure to use products containing at least SPF 30. Every day.
4. Treat zits at night. Products with 2.5% benzoyl peroxide will reduce acne causing bacterias. Don't do crazy things like dotting toothpaste on your pimples--that won't help. Instead use products designed to zap your zits.
5. Avoid abrasive products. Grainy exfoliators can rupture your pimples which may make them last longer. This can also lead to some scarring. Instead, use a mask with sulfur once a week to soften skin and shrink your pimples or use a more gentle exfoliant.
   
6. Use the right kinds of makeup. Look for foundations and other cosmetics that are non-comedogenic. Mineral makeups are especially good.
7. Don't pick your zits! Again, doing so could lead to scarring and further infection.
8. See a doctor if your acne is very bad or not easily treated. There are plenty of prescription products (like Retin-A) that can help you.
9. Be sun safe. See #3 for why.

Products to try:

• Benefit Boo Boo Zap!, $20 (targeted zip-zapper that is gentle enough to use during the day)
• Clinique Acne Solutions Clear Skin System, $32.50 (starter kit with cleanser, gentle exfoliator, and moisturizer, all designed to fight acne)
• Dermadoctor Ain't Misbehavin Intensive Skin Correcting Sulfur Mask with Phytosphingosine, $45
• Bare Escentuals Rare Minerals Blemish Therapy, $28 (contains sulfur and helps heal, seal, and prevent blemishes)

Skin Care 101: Sensitive Skin

Note: All week this week I'll be featuring tips on how to deal with different skin types. Info from Allure and many other sources. If you have anything to add--a favorite product or great hint--please be sure to leave a comment!

Thankfully, I do not have sensitive skin. If I did, it would cut down the number of products I could try out for you all! But if you have sensitive skin, trying new products--or just finding products that don't irritate your skin--can be frustrating. Here are some tips:

1. Read labels carefully. You'll want to avoid products containing an over abundance of chemicals. Look for products that are "fragrance free" whenever possible.
   
2. Test before you buy (if possible. If not, save your receipts!). If you have sensitive skin, you'll need to learn how to do a skin patch test. Apply a small amount of product on your arm or neck--some place not too noticeable. If a reaction occurs, don't use that product.
   
3. Wash and moisturize with care. Like dry skin sufferers, don't use a bar soap on your face. Instead, try a gentle creamy cleanser. Follow up with a moisturizer designed for sensitive skin.
4. You can still prevent aging. There are anti-aging products on the market for sensitive skin. You'll probably want to avoid retinols and opt for kinetin or Matrixyl (a peptide) which is must more gentle.
5. Combat redness and inflamed skin. If redness and inflammation are a problem. use 1% hydrocortisone cream twice a day. If any product causes redness, stop using it immediately. And if redness and irritation are especially troublesome, see a dermatologist.
6. Use sunscreen and be sun safe--but be sure that your sun blocking products contain zinc oxide or titanium oxide--they're less irritating than other sunscreen ingredients.

Here are some products to consider:

• Philosophy Purity Made Simple, $10-$40. (My favorite creamy cleanser--gentle, soothing, and effective)
• Cetaphil Daily Fragrance-Free Moisturizer, $11.50 (dermatologist recommended)
• Philosophy Makeup Optional Kit for Dry/Sensitive Skin, $78 (everything you need in one box--cleanser, serum, eye cream, moisturizer, and peel)

Tomorrow: Acne-Prone Skin

Skin Care 101: Oily Skin

Note: All week this week I'll be featuring tips on how to deal with different skin types. Info from Allure and many other sources. If you have anything to add--a favorite product or great hint--please be sure to leave a comment!

Oily skin means shiny slick spots. And to combat it, products are often even more irritating since they strip away all the good oils you need in your skin. When it comes to taking care of oily skin, you need to find a balanced regime and be gentle!

1. Use the right face wash. Try to find something that contains 2% salicylic acid. When the weather changes and winter comes, focus the salicylic acid cleanser on your oilier spots only (like your forehead, nose, and chin), and use something milder on your cheeks.
2. Keep your T-Zone shine free. Avoid any toners or products containing alcohol, but feel free to use an alcohol-free salicylic acid containing toner on your t-zone only. Apply it with a cotton ball only where you have oil issues.
3. Don't skin the moisturizer. It may seem weird to apply moisturizer to already greasy skin, but just because your skin is oily doesn't mean you can forgo hydration. You'll want to use a very lightweight moisturizer or a matte or oil-control face primer to keep your shininess at bay.
4. Go easy. You may be tempted to exfoliate a lot or use harsh products, but doing so won't make your oily skin any better. If you want to give yourself a face treatment, try for a mask with salicylic acid and use it once a week. For a special treat, try an at-home peel with glycolic acid once a week (not the same day as the salicylic acid mask, of course!).
5. Wear your sun screen! Every day. No matter what.
   

Some products to consider:

• DDF Salicylic Wash, $35 (therapeutic but mild facial cleanser)
• Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel with Pump, $24 (oil-free, light-weight moisturizer)
• Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Triple-Action Toner, $7.50

Up tomorrow: Sensitive Skin

Skin Care 101: Dry Skin

Note: All week this week I'll be featuring tips on how to deal with different skin types. Info from Allure and many other sources. If you have anything to add--a favorite product or great hint--please be sure to leave a comment!

Dry skin sucks. Even though I would say that I mostly have combination skin, I do get patches of dry skin on my face and body and I hate it. It feels tight, it's all flaky, and it's makes makeup application interesting. Here are some ways to combat dreaded flaky dry skin:

1. Wash your face twice daily, but with care. Avoid bar soaps (they only seem to suck the moisture out of your skin along with the dirt and makeup) and opt instead for a creamy cleanser that contains moisturizing agents like Vitamin E.
   
2. Exfoliate at least once a week. There are plenty of products on the market designed to gently exfoliate your skin while cleansing. Just don't be too aggressive with your exfoliation. You want to slough off some of the dead flaky skin, not rub til you're raw!
3. Try a weekly peel. Using a peel with lactic acid once a week will help keep your dry skin from looking dull. Be careful to avoid glycolic acid and salicylic acid--both of which may only aggravate your dry skin.
   
4. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! If your skin feels really tight, try a thicker cream. To better lock in moisture, apply your moisturizer when your skin is slightly damp. And be sure to look for products like dimethicone, shea butter, glycerine, or hyaluronic acid. If you want to keep wrinkles at bay while moisturizing, try a product with retinol, but only use it a few times a week (retinol can make drying worse if you use it ever day). If retinols give you a hard time, go for a cream with kinetin or Matrixyl.
5. For all skin types (and yes, I am going to say this each and every day this week): be sure to wear sunscreen and be sun safe.

Here are some products to consider:

• Yes to Carrots Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser, $10.50 (contains lactic acid)
• Kinerase Photofacials Sun Damage Reversal System Introductory Kit, $100 (contains a cleanser, day cream with SPF 50, and night cream with Matrixyl)
• Regenerist Night Recovery Cream by Olay, $20 (contains peptides and other good for you products!)

Tomorrow: Oily Skin

Beauty Product of the Week: Skin Brightening Cleanser

What is it? Boots Botanics Skin Brightening Cleanser is a "cleanser for more radiant skin. Cleansing your face daily is the perfect opportunity to encourage cell renewal for a brighter complexion. This gentle cream not only melts away daily grime and makeup, it also helps reveal soft, radiant and healthy looking skin." Available at Target for about $7 (or less!).

What did you think? I bought this product because I was out of Purity Made Simple (from Philosophy) and needed a face wash. Since I normally really like Boots products and because I was already at Target, I picked up this cleanser.

Big mistake.

First off, I didn't use it correctly. I used it like I would a normal face wash. That is, I wet my face, pumped some product into my hand and rubbed it into my skin. I washed it off and was done. Then I read the back and learned I was supposed to "sweep (the product) over face and neck...using cotton wool. Wipe off gently." What? What the hell does that mean?

I like my skin cleanser to feel good on my skin...to gently remove dirt and makeup in a way that feels good. This did not feel good, not even when I used it correctly. And I don't think the cleanser did that good of a job cleaning. Or brightening. It was just blah all the way around.

The final verdict? Sometimes, being cheap ends up costing you more. And that's exactly what's happened here. I didn't feel like forking over the big bucks for my favorite face wash, and I went with this clunker instead. Now I have a product I'm not happy with and I still need to go out and get my Purity Made Simple. Grrr!

Trick and Treat!

Halloween is creeping up on us and if you're planning on getting dressed up for the occasion, it's probably time to start planning out your costume. This Halloween is my sixth wedding anniversary (yes, I was a bride on Halloween back in '03...and yes, I did, in fact, wear black!) and I haven't dressed up to celebrate the day in a while.

This year, I am going to help my nephew transform into a zombie hockey player. Zombies seem to be all the rage here in the PacNW. The zombie apocalypse is a-coming!

If you need a little inspiration for your Halloween costume or hints on how to do your Halloween makeup, here are a few sites to check out:

• Any Time Costumes
  
• Halloween Online Magazine
• All Hallow's Eve
  
• Makeup Mania
• Ghoul Skool
• Zombie Makeup, 1
• Zombie Makeup, 2
• Zombie Makeup, 3
  

And for all of you who come to my site in search of how to apply makeup like the members of the rock band, KISS, click over to this site to see the evolution of their Kabuki-style makeup. KISS could be a fun, easy Halloween costume for you and a few friends this year!

Since I'm a Halloween freak, be sure to leave me a comment letting me know what you're going to be this year, or what your favorite costume has been!

elf-ish Beauty

Yes, the economy remains crappy. We're all painfully aware of that fact. Even though "they" are saying the recession is over, consumers are still feeling anxious and have yet to return to the carefree spending days of not-so-long ago. Even if you're like me and you're gainfully employed, I have little doubt that you're always looking for ways to save money. But you still want to be beautiful, and that's where e.l.f products come in hand.

While I'm still a MAC virgin (can you even believe that?!), I've finally tried a few e.l.f. (eyes lip face) products. And I must say, for $1 for their basic products to $3 for the studio and mineral lines, they're not too shabby!

Their blush is nicely packaged (somewhat reminiscent of NARS packaging) and the color is rich and flattering. Their lipgloss made my lips feel refreshed and moisturized while providing just enough color and shine.

Now, I know that super cheap cosmetics sound somewhat scary--almost too good to be true. For me, it brings up memories of Wet & Wild products from the drugstore. Others think that $1 beauty products are probably full of toxic chemicals and test on animals.

So I did a little research.

First off, e.l.f. does not test its products on animals, nor do they use products derived from animals. They're PETA approved!

I went a step further and checked out e.l.f. at the Environmental Working Group's handy-dandy cosmetic safety database, and it looks like the ingredients used by e.l.f. are no better or worse than some of the spendier brands. Here's an overall comparison from the Environmental Working Group (1 = good; 10= bad):

• MAC Cosmetics: products range between 2 and 9
  
• Bare Escentuals: products range between 1 and 6
• Philosophy: products range between 1 and 9
• NARS: products range between 2 and 10
  
• Cover Girl: products range between 2 and 10
  
• Revlon: products range between 1 and 10
  
• e.l.f.: products range between 1 and 7

After doing my homework, I can recommend e.l.f. without too many reservations. They're cheap in price but not in quality, and right now we can all use a little savings here and there. Check it out!

Know How to Fake It!

One of my Twitter friends recently asked me the best way to wear false eyelashes, and I was stumped. See, I wear glasses....all the time. I hate contacts and really do prefer being a 4-eyed kind of girl. I'll admit it: I love my glasses!

I love the look of fake lashes done well. They look dramatic and fun. But to me, it seems silly to spend time and money on fake lashes since I am just going to hide them under my specs. Fake lashes have been all the rage for a few years now, and if you're looking to embrace your flirty inner diva (or if you're just getting your Halloween costume in order), here are some hints that will help you fake it to perfection:

1. Pick your weapon! Do you want a very full eyelash? Or do you just want to add a few falsies in with your natural lashes for a more subtle sense of glam? Do you want your lashes to be black? Neon green? Pink, with feathers? All sorts of options are out there, and all the variations will greatly affect your final look.
2. Prepare your beauties! Before you apply your fake lashes, take a moment to make sure they're not clumped together (you may want to gently separate your store-bought beauties with a lash comb). Now's also a good time to trim your fake lashes with a nice sharp pair of scissors if necessary.
3. Prepare yourself! Curl your real lashes and give them a good go-through with the lash comb. If you want, you can now apply some waterproof mascara to your real lashes to thicken them up a bit. Also: if you haven't done so already, get yourself in front of a really good mirror (magnifying mirrors are best for this) and into some excellent lighting. You're going to need to see all the details around your eyes really well to get your falsies on right.
4. Attach your lashes! Follow the directions that come with your fake lashes, especially since you're going to be working with glue and the such. Apply the glue to the base of the fake lashes and wait a minute or two for it to set. Then carefully apply your fake lash as close to the base of your natural lash line as is humanly possible. TAKE YOUR TIME! And try not to get yourself all worked up if you don't get it right the first time. You may want to have a pair of tweezers or a toothpick on hand to help make final adjustments. And using the blunt end of your tweezers may help you get the fake lashes to conform to your lash line. Just be careful not to apply to much pressure. If you're just adding clumps of fake lashes, apply them to the outer corners of your eyes for a really fun, old-school sexy look. You'll really need a toothpick/tweezers/steady hand to get the clumps in the right spot.
   
5. Assess your work! Now's the time to apply the rest of your eye makeup. You may want/need to apply some more mascara to your real lashes and the fake ones. Just be very careful when you do this. You don't want to snag your falsies with your mascara wand and rip 'em off after all your hard work. While your mascara-coated lashes are wet, you can also sort of squeeze your real and fake lashes together to better unify the two. Make sure your lash glue is not visible. If you can still see a bead or two of glue, you can use eyeliner to hide it.

Applying fake lashes can be tricky, so it's best to practice, practice, practice. If you're a fake lash wearer and have any tips to share, please leave a comment!