What’s Old is New Again

Where have I been? Here I thought I was so smart…so product-savvy…so “in the know”. Turns out I’ve been living under a rock. Who knew?

Who’s used Body Oil by Neutrogena? Why didn’t you TELL ME ABOUT THIS STUFF? I blame you. That’s right.

This past week as I was on one of my all-too-frequent shopping binges at Target (love you, red bullseye!) I was looking for some new bath wash, and took a closer look at Neutrogena’s offerings. While I had definitely seen their Body Oil before, it sort of gave me pause…as a oil-producing machine myself, I am always hesitant to intentionally add any more to my body. However, the smell was fantastic, so I decided to buy it and give it a shot.

Well, let me tell you what. This stuff is spectacular. You just rub some into your damp, freshly-showered skin and voila(!), you’re a super-soft, sexy beast. And even better, you do not at all resemble some oiled up meat-head ready for your spotlight in the Ms. Universe pageant. That’s key.

The bottle is quite large and runs about $13. In this day and age of overpriced beauty products, it’s a steal.

Next time, be sure to tell me these things, and we can avoid this type of awkward confrontation, okay? ‘Nuff said.

I Feel Pretty

Have you ever been around someone and get the distinct impression that their perfume is wearing them, instead of the other way around? Be it a heavy handed application approach, or a heavy handed production approach, sometimes it just doesn’t work. All we can do is pray that “sometimes” doesn’t happen in an elevator or other enclosed space. Say, for instance, a mine shaft…

…anyway…

What I always strive for is a scent that enhances who I am, rather than define who I am. Over the years I’ve had several missteps. I mean, what 17-year-old wears “White Diamonds” by Elizabeth Taylor?! Man, I loved that crap. Now, I just gag a little when I smell it. I’d like to formally apologize to my friends for that dark period (what up, Williamston High School Class of ’94?!! Woot!)

From Curve to Electric Youth (I wish I were kidding) I’ve had my moments of weakness. I am happy to say that I’ve seen the light and now wear a couple great scents, one of which is Guess by Marciano.

Let me be clear…I’m attracted to sweet scents. I’ve never been a rose person, or a musk person, or, thankfully, a patchouli person (well, not since I cut the dreads off and put down my hackeysack)…

Guess by Marciano is a really cool combination of fruity notes along with vanilla and what I can only think must be some sort of honeysuckle (plus, I like that word, so we’re going with it). The bottle has a fishnet design (sexy!) and is sort of vintage looking.
It’s not super expensive (I’m looking at you, Ed Hardy, you temptress). You can get 1.7 oz and 3.4 oz eau de parfum for $49 and $65 respectively.

The best part? I’ve been told it makes me smell pretty. I can’t imagine a more perfect compliment…

A Quick Brow Beating...

There's this part of your face that is quite important yet often ends up sad and neglected. In fact, I fully admit to being a bit on the neurotic side of things when it comes to them. Eyebrows. There, I said it.

It goes without saying that eyebrows should be well-groomed. I don't care if you pluck, wax, thread, or use voodoo as your preferred method. Bottom line, with eyebrows, there should be two of them. Work it out.

Once that little task is done, you need what I consider to be the one beauty item in my makeup bag that I cannot do without. It's called High Brow and it's made by the rockin' team over at Benefit. Based out of San Francisco, Benefit is a fantastic company that creates really awesome products that entertain as much as they make you pretty. In the case of High Brow, it can change the way your eyes look altogether.

A highlighter stick, High Brow is the finishing touch I use every day, with or without other eye makeup. Because it's matte, rather than shiny, you get a much more natural look too. You just draw a fine line right under your eyebrow at the peak and out to the end, then simply blend it in. You'll have an instant eye life without looking permanently surprised (see: Rivers, Joan or Rivers, Melissa). The other great thing you can do is smudge a little in the inner corners of your eye next to your nose. Brightens, lightens and makes you look a bit foxy.

And it lasts forever - well, ok, not forever, but in my case, almost three years between purchases, and as I said, I use it virtually every day. It runs $20, so if you do the math, it's practically free. FREE!

So simple, yet so important. Brows are the thing. To refresh:

A) You should have two distinct eyebrows (you too, boys)
B) High Brow is groovy
C) High Brow is sorta free
D) The end

The Man in the Mirror

When I was a little girl, when I wasn’t asking my mom how to spell this or that so I could write some new story, I could be found dancing. Though my first forays into the spotlight involved Debbie Boone (just picture a skinny little thing with long pigtails singing and dancing her heart out to “You Light Up My Life”), I soon made my way to pop music. And, logically and awesomely, the King of Pop. For me, Michael Jackson represented something magical. How did he move like that? It defied all logic, and mystified me – even this past weekend, as I spent about four hours glued to VH1 Classic watching his videos flash before me – I will always stand in awe of his talent.

Say what you want about MJ – I don’t claim to know what really went on in his personal life, nor do I feel like rehashing it today. What I do know is that the man was talented beyond reason and was a spectacle to behold. And I loved him. I love him.

“The Way You Make Me Feel”, “Smooth Criminal”, “Man in the Mirror”…”Thriller”, for God’s sake. Just think about all the hits he produced in his career – how many can you sing all the words to? How many make you tap your foot, shake your hips, or snap your fingers? For me, every last one of them.

Tell me you don’t get a chill up your spine and immediately start moving your body when the downbeat of “Billie Jean” starts to play at the bar, or in your car, or anywhere, for that matter.

Last week we lost a legend. My world is a little bit sadder because of it. But his legacy is his music and the impact it had on the world. His legacy is the impact he had on me, who remains that pigtailed little girl, dancing around her living room, trying like hell to moonwalk and forever searching for that single white glove. Rest in peace, Michael.

Rub A-Dub-Dub: Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk Scrub

As those of us in the Midwest emerge from our 14th month of winter, our bods are a little on the dry side. For me, newly single and eager to not accidentally injure potential dates with my rough elbows, I was looking for a body scrub that could help do away with the alligator skin and also make me yummy (again...looking for a date here, people).

Well, let me tell you, I have found my saving grace. The lovely and pretty Laura Mercier (ok, I've never seen her, but only a goddess could be at the helm of a company that creates this kind of goodness), and her team of genius beauty-types have created Almond Coconut Milk Scrub.

I love it because unlike other body scrubs, when I use it, I don't feel like I'm power sanding the skin off my body. No, no, dear reader, instead, it's a luxurious marriage of creamy mousse and sugar granules that gently yet effectively rid your body of all the dry junk, leaving you as soft and silky as a newborn baby.

Best part? You end up smelling lightly of powdered sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. I don't know about you, but I dig that.

It's on the pricey side, to be sure. At $46 for a 12 oz. jar, it may seem exorbitant. But here's the thing...you only need a little bit of the stuff to do your whole body - maybe a couple tablespoons worth. At that rate, it'll take you months to go through it. Do the math, and I'm sure, like me, you'll be able to rationalize the hell out of this purchase. Get some today, you won't be sorry. (Oh, and while you're at it, big spender, try their Almond Coconut Milk Hand Creme - at only 15 bones, it's a steal!)

Pros:

• Creamy texture yet gets rid of dead skin cells from the skin's surface
• Promotes a radiant, polished glow (translation: you will be hot)
  
• Vitamins A & E protect & soothe while Grape & Olive Oils soothe, soften & moisturize skin
  
• Can be used as little or as often as you like - the mild formulation is safe for all skin types

Cons:

• Honestly, the only one I have is the cost. It's a higher price point, but as I said, it's so worth it.
  

Get some. Do it. You know you want to.