The Beauty Bag is in!!!!

At long last, the Marie Claire beauty bag has arrived and I have every single product on my face and nails right now. Here's what I scored and my initial thoughts:

Cover Girl Exact Eyelights Mascara in Black Sapphire: I have already tried this product in the Black Ruby meant for green eyes. It's fine as mascara, but neither shade I have now makes a big difference in 'enhancing' my eye color. It's also not a curling formula, which is now a must for me. Still, totally passable and this color will work nicely for a soft smoky eye - daytime version.

Essie Nail Polish in Cute as a Button: I can't believe this is the first Essie color I have ever owned, but you all know what a fan I am of the China Glaze lines. I can promise you that I would never have selected this melon-pink on my own, but I must say that I got full color coverage in only two coats and it dried quickly. Let's see how well it wears. (N.B. Hours later, the color peeled off two of my nails after washing TWO glasses. A friend also reports that the same thing happened with her Essie pedicure - not that she was washing glassware with her feet.)

Max Factor LipFinity 3D MaxWear in Split Personality: I don't believe I have mentioned this before, but I cannot abide long-wearing lip colors or artificial vanilla scented ANYTHING. Well, this product has got the double-whammy. Icky tasting long wearing color that you top with a sickly sweet vanilla gloss. Yes, it lasts. Yes, it doesn't transfer color to your glass or straw or kissing partner. The gloss is not sticky, either. Still, there is absolutely nothing I enjoy about applying this product and lip color is one of the things I really love to have fun with. I guess I would wear this if I had the kind of job where I HAD to wear lipstick as part of my 'professional' attire. (Thank goodness for jobs in the creative non-profits!)

Too Faced Lock Down cream eyeshadow in I'm Guilty (metallic aqua blue): I love Too Faced products as a rule, so I really, really want to give this stuff the benefit of the doubt. So far, I am wary. This is the wettest tube cream shadow I have ever used. Shake VERY well before attempting to apply it. (You know that watery stuff that comes out when you're squeezing mustard out? Picture it in teal.) I applied it to my lid with my ring finger. It didn't apply evenly at all, even with copious blending. I do love the color and will let you know how it works out when I use a brush for application.

Mally 24/7 Blush in Light Blush: I was really excited to see this product in the mix. I've been seeing Mally stuff pop up in the magazines, but they are mainly advertised on QVC. I don't know why QVC just doesn't do it for me. Technically, it's everything I love. Even my beloved Leslie of bare Minerals irritates me when she's on QVC. It's a mystery.

But I digress.

This product comes in a metallic pink compact filled with a cream blush and a powder blush. The powder is meant to be applied over the cream to extend the life of the color. After wearing Nars' Penny Lane blush exclusively for the past month or so, the depth of color of the cream blush was a little jarring. There's quite a lot of pigment in this blush, which I like, but it didn't apply easily with my fingers (my preferred tools for cream blush). After conducting a little research, I see that it's meant to be applied with a special brush that didn't come with the beauty bag. Even without the powder over it, the cream blush lasts and lasts. I was a little afraid that it wouldn't come off my face without makeup remover, but it washed right off.

The powder is really silky and applies easily with fingers or brushes. It's also really pretty on its own. I like that you don't keep having to buy new compacts - each color pops out when you're finished with it and you can refill it with new packs. It's a sturdy case with a great mirror. I think I could become a fan of this blush - especially over the summer.

You must eat only one (or you will be very sorry!)

With apologies to one of my favorite Disney movies, The Three Caballeros:

Have you been to Beard Papa, Donald? No? Well, let's go!

A few years ago, a friend called me. "Linda - YOU live on the Upper West Side! Please please PLEASE go to Beard Papa on Broadway and get me some cream puffs!"

(Point of fact, I lived in Morningside Heights. While it is both 'upper' and 'west', don't have visions of me living in ridiculously expensive neighborhoods.)

Beard Papa is a Korean cream puff chain. Their logo looks like a smiling Santa with a yellow hat. They have also got their cream puff DOWN. As you order them, they fill the giant puffs with a creamy custard that lacks the stickiness of a pastry cream but isn't as fluffy as a whipped cream filling. I describe it to friends as a really soft soft-serve ice cream texture. If you're lucky, they won't be out of the special flavors of the day, like Green Tea or Red Bean. These cream puffs are fresher than fresh and even come with a cautionary label that advises you to eat them within hours of purchasing for peak deliciousness.

As for the warning in the post title, well - lived and learned. You will want to eat more than one, they are that delicious and oh-so-easy going down. The light and airy texture of both the puff and the cream belie the richness of the treat. More than one at a sitting will result in unpleasant tummy feelings. If you MUST have more sweet Beard Papa treats after a puff, try one of their Mango Cheesecake Fingers (thin slices of cheesecake on puff pastry with a thin layer of mango puree). My husband LOVES the cheesecake fingers even more than the puffs!

Up until recently, I either had to visit Beard Papa in NYC or Boston (they also exist in California and Hawaii) or wait for friends to bring boxes of cheesecake fingers back from visits East (Bless you, S & M!). I just found out that there are TWO BPs in Seattle now - only a hop, skip and a jump away!

Now, if only I can tease my friends into stopping by Safeco on our way to Marysville this weekend....

MMMM.... Boston...

The husband and I were recently in Massachusetts to celebrate our marriage with many of our East Coast family and friends. We had a wonderful time and everyone outdid themselves with the potluck goodies - thanks to all! My niece calls my husband 'Uncle Kool-Aid' now (because of his unabashed love of Kool-Aid and his tendency to shout "Oh Yeeeaaaahhh!!!" when he's feeling celebratory).

It tickles me that Derrick is now obsessed with all of my favorite haunts in and around Boston. After our shin-dig, he refused to leave my mother's house until we ordered cheesesteaks from T.C. Landos. After a huge BBQ dinner (courtesy of my cousin Jason, his lovely wife Etain and their extraordinarily cute Ryla), D insisted on grabbing fresh-made fusilli in red clam sauce from Pagliucca's on Parmenter Street in the North End. He also understands the wonder that is Mike's Pastry and how real eclairs are filled with pastry cream, not whipped cream.

I was able to get my lobster on at the Barking Crab - let me just say that $47 for a 2lb lobster is ludicrous when you're steps from the docks and market price is under $10/lb and the convention of using a rock to open lobster is hardly handy - but the lobster was everything I wanted. D had his first fried whole-bellied clams and was suitably impressed. Next time, I'm going to just buy lobster and eat it at my mother's house like a normal person.

There is one good thing about having a stranger visit familiar places with you - they really open your eyes to things you may have pooh-poohed as a local. When D first came to visit me in NYC, he opened my eyes to the Monday 20 cent wings and $1 PBRs at the Lion's Head Tavern on 109th and Amsterdam. I walked by this place every day on my way to work and never once went in before he asked if we could go. We still miss those tiny, crunchy wings.

This time, D was captivated by the Beantown Pub sign as our shuttle was looking for our hotel. In my former life, I would write it off as touristy sports bar and never go in. To my delight, they had watermelon infused vodka (unbelievably refreshing on that nasty, humid day) AND apple-cinnamon infused bourbon. I had to stop myself after three infused-bourbon and gingers.

(Side note on gingerale at bars: The further west you head in the US, the less likely it is that bars will have gingerale on the gun. I LOVE gingerale as a mixer and never had to question the availability in all my East Coast life. D, a long-time bourbon drinker, saw me drinking Jack-and-gingers at the festival where we met and was blown away by how he'd never thought of that combo before. Now when we go out here, we have to ask if they have real gingerale. Invariably the answer is "No, but I can fake it!" Once it ended in three bartenders making samples of their 'fake' gingerale for our judgement. Let me assure you - any 'fake' gingerale that involves using bitters does NOT taste like gingerale. Please let me just have cola instead. Thank you.)

I win!!

I love free stuff. I suppose everyone does, but it's extra exciting when I get free cosmetics in the mail.

I was picked at Marie Claire's February 2009 Reader of the Month and I was supposed to get a free 'beauty bag' from them. I have yet to receive it, but will dutifully report once I receive the goods.

Just last week, I returned home from a successful night of gambling (Cha-CHING!) and found a box from Benefit Cosmetics. Since I haven't ordered anything from Benefit in years, I thought it could have been a belated birthday gift. I was delighted to find that it was a free gift from Allure Magazine and Benefit! They sent me a full size Benetint Balm with SPF15 (rose-scented and just a hint of tint. My husband hates it but I think it's so pretty) and a bottle of Miss Popularity highlighter. This one is a liquid to powder with a small wand. It's very easy to control and is good for the tops of your cheeks or right on your brow bone. Benefit has really got it down with their highlighters and blushes. I don't care for their mascaras, eyeshadows or lipsticks, but I think every woman should have Benetint or one of their cheek powders in their arsenal.

It's Infomercial Time again!

Let's talk about Smooth Away. Yes, the body hair sander. I've tried other methods of hair removal with varying degrees of success. (Epilady, anyone?) I've found that waxing is not for me - even when done by professionals. Shaving really does the job with no complaints and I haven't nicked myself since I started using Schick Intuition. So, why did I grab Smooth Away while I was registering at Bed Bath and Beyond? Do I really need to ask that question?

Smooth Away is NOT the be-all, end-all of hair removal. It DOES NOT work on underarms or facial hair, as indicated on the commercial. (Quite frankly, I wouldn't even test it on my bikini line.) I have read tons of reviews from people having terrible experiences with it, not to mention all the magazines who say it's too time-consuming for daily use and that it's too expensive for how many uses you get from each pad.

Personally, I love it. Here's what I've learned:

1. Read the instructions. The commercials show women gliding the remover pad up and down their arms. The instructions clearly state that you move the pad in 3 clockwise and 3 counter-clockwise motions over each area. An up-down stroke will result in irritation and possibly ingrowns. Yeouch. You don't have to make small circles, but your legs will thank you. Also, make sure your body is 100% dry before attempting to use this (another reason this product is terrible for underarms).

2. Don't be afraid of the dust. The exfoliation part of this product is no joke. You are literally sanding your skin. A layer of white dust will appear everywhere you use Smooth Away. Just moisturize after you use it and the dust disappears.

3. Each pad lasts longer than you think it does. I've owned Smooth Away since late January. I still have one new pad left. I don't have to use the product every day and each one works well for 6-8 uses.

4. Don't press too hard. Overzealous sanding will result in horrible stinging pain when you go to apply lotion. Yeouch X2.

I have pretty fine and blond body hair, so this may be more effective for me than for some. A good friend with coarse hair said Smooth Away didn't work a darn for her.

Nars, nars everywhere...

Let me confess that I am addicted to Nars Cosmetics in a way that I have never experienced before. The last time I dabbled with using only one line of cosmetics, it was mostly driven by cute packaging. Right now, Nars has got me in a vise grip. Great packaging (even though blushes and duo eyeshadows all look the same, they feel great in your hand and have fantastic little mirrors), unbelievable pigments, and fun color names equal everything I want in a product line right now-oh, and for the last 3 seasons.

The new summer collection is fantastic. My sister-in-law wanted to show me the new creme eyeshadow she bought, so she dragged me over to the counter on a recent shopping trip for my husband's birthday. My eye was drawn to a gorgeous deep teal/silver sparkle shadow single. I bought it on the spot. They had literally just started selling the new collection that day! (I know- junkie, much?)

This color, Tropic, would give many women terrible flashbacks to pearly blue eyeshadow in the 80s. Please, do yourself a favor and try it on. It looks bright and frightening in the package but goes on smoky, deep and downright sophisticated. Layer it over a pale blue cream shadow and it pops (and lasts all day). The silver sparkle is muted-suitable for women of any age.

Also for eyes is the Scorching Sun shadow duo. Nars describes it as 'glazed apricot and radiant orange'. They are indeed very bright. Before I discovered the Isolde duo (copper shimmer and ginger shimmer), I would have been very intimidated by such warm colors. Now all I want to do is play with them!

For lips, there's a new lip pencil in Tonga (an amber pink) and a complementary lip gloss in Belize (pinkish mauve and slight gold glitter). The combo makes for a very pretty pale mouth - perfect when going with a very dramatic bright eye.

I skipped trying the new lipsticks in Falbala (bronze rose) and Outsider (a true copper - like the bottom of a sauce pan). Metallic lips at my age are just not cute.

Since I'm still so new to the bronzer scene, I was pleased to see that their new Irresistiblement bronze is a pale terracotta that doesn't look like dirt on my pale skin. I still don't like powder bronzers as much as my Guerlain Terracotta spray - but this one is lovely.

Speaking of faces, I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new Penny Lane (nude pink) cream blush. I have always looked at blush as something that only adds color - this one tones down my rosy cheeks and makes me look more evened out without having to wear foundation or tinted moisturizer. I keep this little number in my purse at all times.

I like that Nars also features existing colors with their new collections. Rated R, a bright lime green and electric blue duo always looked like a color that was out of my palette. Not so! I had a blast with it last night - who knew you could make electric blue eyeshadow subtle and pretty? I've been entertained for days with my new paints - this doesn't even scratch the surface! Stay tuned...

Current addiction: Chanel fragrances

At the Nordy's spring trend show, I learned that Chanel was coming out with a more day-friendly version of their famous No. 5- the Eau Premiere. After doing my usual research, I was thrilled to find that this scent comes in an enormous 5 oz bottle for a mere $125- a steal as far as Chanel is concerned. I held out on purchasing it until the Nordy's fragrance show, since I'd get a discount and someone was lovely enough to give me a Nordy's gift card.

I also had been lusting after the Coco Mademoiselle Touche Scintillante - a gel formula with a suble gold shimmer. It's been featured in all my magazines, so I was dying to try it. Little did I know that my beloved No. 5 was also worked into a gel fragrance - the Elixir Sensuelle. These formulas are a great way for someone to get their feet wet with Chanel. The fragrances are warmer and more subtle AND they're only $65/bottle. My husband has always liked all my Chanel fragrances, but he has requested that I never wear the No. 5 Elixir Sensuelle unless I am with him. (I am unable to keep the grin off my face as I type that.)

I have been remiss again...

.. But I have a good excuse. I did get married a few months ago and, while it didn't interfere with my product gathering, I have been slammed at my day job and at home.. So, I hope you'll bear with me while I get back in the habit of writing daily.