Recently in BEAUTY Category

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm about to find out. After over 10 years of maintaining my prized, shiny blonde locks, I've decided to go back to my roots. My brunette roots, that is.

Why the crazy-drastic-can't believe-I'm-giving-up-my-blonde-hair-change? Well... Ten years of root touch-up every 3-4 weeks not only takes a toll on your wallet, but obviously, on your hair. Beyond the fact that I didn't want to have to pull a Britney, I was ready for a change. And maybe it also has something to do with the fact that I just turned 25 and am currently undergoing a quarter-life crisis.

So after a shot (or two...) of vodka, enlisting my roommate K to come along as a support buddy (you know, to stop me in case I tried to flee the scene) and one last over-the-shoulder toss of my soon-to-be-gone blonde mane, I arrived at Red Market Salon on Gansevoort to go au natural.

Inhabiting a sleek 4th floor loft overlooking the Meatpacking District, Red Market is a self-described "late night" salon open from 2pm - 11pm. Great for people who work late...or for alkies and nightlife whores who don't even get up until 2. Whatever the reason, once there guests are treated to complimentary wine & champagne, DJ's (depending on the night), entertainment at the shampoo bowls via the Sundance Channel (finally, something interesting to stare at while the color's getting rinsed out of your hair), and laid back, no attitude, professional staff.

If this is what you typically look like after a night of partying, fear not - beauty guru Elizabeth Grant's new Socializer pens are here to make that transition from the bar to the boardroom a little less tragic.

That's right - the global beauty powerhouse designed this prod for all you alkies (present company included) who stumble into the office, you know, 2-3 mornings a week, looking like a tawdry piece of trash.

While they won't cure the pounding headache or nagging need to go throw up in the toilet, Grant's Socializerä pens WILL save you from looking like a raccoon on crack. After all, they have packed "all the hydrating, cooling, soothing, de-puffing, dark-circle-erasing, illuminating action" they could fit into two tiny tubes. Now that's some action a girl can get used to twice a day.

Slather on Late Nights before you crash (read: pass out still fully clothed), and Bright Lights when you wake up (read: drag yourself out of bed), and save yourself the concealer you used to cake on Marie Antionette-style.

Idk what it is about a lipstick that I love. I think it's the stick factor. Or maybe, it's how the way the lipstick shapes itself after roughly 20 wears. Or maybe, I just have fond memories of rummaging through my mother's makeup case and finding oodles upon doodles of old lipstick tubes.

Yet, when I was about 17-ish the gloss era came to trend. MAC Lipglass and then Lancome's juicy tubes were on the market & the gloss era dominated the market. During this time, I sucumbed to conformity & scooped up as many glossies as my part-time waitress salary afforded, and big secret: I was never really a fan.

I think it was my frizzy fly-aways sticking to my lips and to this day I still scout the aisles for ultra-sheer, very gloss-like lipsticks. (and I'm not talking about a tube of, cherry chapstick - which is always in my bag.)

Now, this summer, uber-girly brand, DuWop has finally solved my decade-long dilemma with their new: Icedteas.

Icedteas: a translucent lipstick that provides a touch of gloss, yet is packaged in a traditional lipstick tube.

To me, this is the selling point.

To you?

Maybe it'll be the fact that Icedteas come in 4 scrummy (scrummy as in scrumptious) mouthwatering flavors.

I'm not going to lie, the product *doesn't* last very long on your lips, so be prepared to go to town on that tube - reapplying every 1/2 hr. But, again, if you're like me & want a light sheeny gloss in a tube - than this is for you.

All 4 shades have built-in sunscreen.

Which crimson colored Brooklyn-native beauty blogger has been MIA lately? We'll give you a hint her blog = Beauty Addict.

Glamourcow.com has learned that this very popular lady was dating her very married older boss for some time...

As predicted once he was divorced, he gave her the ol' boot. Sayonara Momma!

Now she is supposedly dating some Hawaiian engineer who lives across the world in f*ckin Hawaii.

Tragedy boo!

(In all seriousness, it's a damn shame b/c we absolutely ADORED her product reviews & her site had a huge following. If you're reading this, "Beauty Addict", get your shit together and come back.)

Watch sex and city, listen to beyonce, upgrade bitch fo real!

UPDATE: She has even abandoned her twitter account. WTF?

Spring cleaning season is upon us, and since we all know we're not really going to pick up a bottle of Windex anytime soon, how about giving the 'ole mug a once-over instead?

If you read my recent Laser Diaries post, you already know I'm a fan of Satori Laser. So when asked if I'd like to try a session of their skin-resurfacing DiamondTome System, I jumped at the chance. I mean, did they know I had just turned 25 and already started plotting my botox-themed 30th birthday?

Anything to help turn back the wheels of time (especially when diamonds are involved) is fine by me!

Having wanted to try microdermabrasion for years, I was pretty psyched. While your average microderm blasts your face with crystal particles to aid in exfoliation - it's doing just that. Blasting your face with rough edged particles to literally force your skin off.

Hot Italian guy + genuis branding + makeup = Tokidoki makeup at Sephora.

Simone Legno creator of Tokidoki has a new brand of makeup out at Sephora that has me totally flipped. I'm seriously loving the whole line because the packaging is playfully genius. Stemming from Legno's love of anime, the packaging has cutie lil' japanese peeps on each product. Not sure about you. but I don't mind stacking up extra chips at the counter considering you are getting a little piece of art.

I swear the Prisma Lip Gloss makes me look like I just did a round of Jessica Simpson lip injections. My favorite shade Donutella (which is a cute character that has a sprinkled donut tutu...Ahh love!) The best part of the gloss is the plexiglass-like (silicone maybe?) applicator it comes with; no brush making your lips hairy.

Run bitches and get your own!!

Ed Note]: BTW, Toni, I went to the Tokidoki launch party last week at Arena (move back to NYC already!); the theme, "Dangerously Fun". The event was ridiculous: crystal chandeliers, hot blue cocktails, magenta skate ramp on the middle of the floor with boarders doing tricks, fashion show, 2 banquet tables littered with the new line & Sephora makeup artists scampering about answering questions, SPRINKLE KRISPY KREMES ON LIGHT SABERS.

Need I say more?

Why not try a new trend for your next night out? Something shimmery? How about metallic?

Now, if you're like me, you might feel metallic is a very LOOK-AT-ME trend, but there are more subtle ways to this technique. The key to perfecting this look----and not end up looking like a bad 80's tranny--- is to play up only *one* feature.

The most common way to go metallic is with an eye shadow or liner.

Follow Rachel McAdams Oscar 2010 look which is au natural metallic-ey or Paris Hilton for a cotton candy explosion of metallics. Alternatively, you can even coat your lips with a metallic shimmer like Bobbi Brown's metallic rose or peach lip colors.

Me personally, I like to follow trends but I prefer simplicity, so I usually always turn to doing up my lashes.

I have a love/loathe relationship with nail salons.

LOVE getting my weekly mani-pedi's, but, I am so impatient that I LOATHE sitting in a chair with nothing to do but daydream.

Unfortunately for us women (and the Adam Lamberts of the world), these trips are completely imperative if we want to avoid looking like the crypt keeper.

In New York there are so many salons to choose from and being the little nomad that I am, I've wandered into quite a few places that when I left I vowed to never go again.

To avoid feeling like you're about to contract a disease, it's time we partake in a little awkward conversation upon arrival just to make sure we're getting what we pay for. So, without further adieu, here's a list of Do's and Don'ts, courtesy of Dr. Zong, NYC based podiatrist and cosmetic foot surgeon.

This Thursday, one of my favorite brands, Burt's Bees, is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.

(Tangent: Earth Day is younger than my mom? Who knew?)

And they want you to join in on the festivities around the city:

Part 1. In the Times Square area?

Burt's Bees will be offering people-powered natural smoothies at a "Bike Blender" station in Times Square, where visitors can stop by and enjoy a smoothie featuring natural ingredients like milk, honey, pomegranate, and cranberry (some of the same natural ingredients in Burt's Bees® products). The pedaling action powers the blender, creating a wholesome natural treat with clean energy.

Ever wondered who's that scary bearded man on your lip balm tin?

Why, it's Burt Shavitz and he wants you to look like him. (Go get your free beard, Girlfren'.)

2. Work near Central Park or Rock Center?

Burt look-alikes (scury!) will take to the streets and hand out samples and urging folks to be as eco-friendly as Burt. Passing out free "Burt" beards and hats, the Burt look-alikes will help transform the crowds into "Burts" themselves.

I wonder if the beards will be like the one's from BeardHead!?

Hair removal's a bitch. Plain and simple. Shaving = razor cuts (ouch), ingrown hairs (ew) and razor burn (double ew + ouch). Depilatories = stank + as if you all didn't know - they don't work. Waxing = pain + waiting for it all to grow back in before ripping the suckers right back out, not to mention the occasional rash. As if this all doesn't sound bad enough already, we have to do it over. and over. and over. again.

Whether you're like me and shaving your underarms in the morning means stubble by night, or you're one of those lucky few who can stave off days at a time, the truth is conventional hair removal = no end in sight.

Enter: laser hair removal. Having wanting to try this for awhile, I was as happy as a an alcoholic at an open bar when offered the opportunity from Satori Laser. No more painful waxing? No more embarrassing ingrowns I'm forced to cover up on beach days (not to mention sexytime - don't lie, you know you've done it too) with concealer? Um, YES please!