Temple of Glam

I was ca-rushed when I realized I couldn't attend the Sephora at Shop Bop party a couple of weeks ago. Luckily one of my favorite blogger friends, The Fab Chick, wrote all about it so I kinda felt like I was there. Kinda. It wasn't until I received a Color Play 5-in 1 Kit: Fashion Edition ($30) and played with the eye, lip, and cheek colors, that I truly understood the concept.

Shop Bop created five fashion looks (Faces of Fashion). Sephora came up with complementary palettes: Boho Bombshell, Nod to Mod, Classics Never Die, Angelic Boudoir, and Black is the New Black.

Here's Boho Bombshell (I'm living for the Tibi dress!!):

You can shop the fashion look at Shop Bop, get the beauty look at Sephora, AND enter the Faces of Fashion sweepstakes to win a $2,500 Shop Bop shopping spree and a year's worth of Sephora-brand makeup! Contest ends on February 2nd.

OK this has nothing to do with another year starting. Who am I fooling? It probably has a lot to do with it.

From tsk-tsking boisterous teens to bending down and getting up more slowly than I used to, I am reminded that I'm getting older (and need to do more yoga).

The beauty of tacking on another year is witnessing my patience improving greatly. Gone are the days of passive aggressively kicking the back of a stranger's foot who stopped abruptly on a congested sidewalk.  I'm no longer intentionally hitting folks in the head with my umbrella when they get too close. Guess I'm "all grows up"!

So when my friend whipped out her 18 Piece Mini Nail Colour Set ($48) and proceed to prep her nails for a DIY manicure, I realized that was my chance to achieve the impossible; polish my nails with more than a top coat. What made it simple, I think, was the brush was tinier than normal ones so it was really easy to control.  I used the turquoise-alicious "Mermaid to Order". I'd show you, but err, they are chipped like crazy now.

Work in progress, folks. Work in progress.

1. What a Croc!

All aboard...the Lorac Box Office Sensation ($56) is a croc train case that features 49 colors (36 eye shadows, 3 blushes, 1 bronzer, and 9 lip colors). I gotta' tell ya. I found an orange-y brown eye shadow that I have a major crush on.

2. All This And A  Necklace, Too?

When I saw Tarte The Jewelry Box ($52) I shrieked with utter happiness. I muttered, "I should give this to one of my friends" and then yelled, "NOPE! Keeping it for myself.". It includes 32 full-size eye shadows (shimmering and matte), 8 lip glosses, 1 bronzer, 1 highlighter, and 5 eyeliners. It even includes a necklace...sooo cute!

3. She's Gotta Have It

You can never be too rich or too thin. I believe in half of that adage specifically when I'm talking about moisturizers. Korres Never Enough, a $90 value ($35) has 5 best-selling body butters and coordinating shower gels, including Japanese Rose. Did you know the rose scent is supposed to help balance hormones? One can never have enough of that.

4. Hook Him Up

Make him feel like a million bucks this year. Did I just type that? *re-reading sentence* Yup. Paco Rabanne 1 Million Gift Set, a $83 value ($53) has notes including frosted grapefruit (yum), musk, blond leather, and patchouli. And in the tradition of the "Wild West", the cologne bottle resembles a bar of gold.

5. What about a Pink Christmas?

As I found myself trolling ulta.com, I saw this Pink Sugar Holiday Gift Set, a $68 value ($48). This sweet-smelling set is equipped with Eau de Toilette, Hair Perfume, and a body lotion. Summon your inner Nicki Minaj and go for it!

The sale is on...and ends 11/3!

Yup, all the lip sugar your soup coolers can wear...SHOP NOW!

So...what are you doing at 6PM today and tomorrow? If you live in New York City or Cali, you could be getting a FREE Minx manicure at Sephora featuring Sephora by OPI Chic Prints for Nails by Minx! Yup, the appliqué manicure everyone seems to be rapping about is free with your purchase of "Chic Prints". You get 8 design options and no need to make a reservation. Whether you're strolling in Century City, Soho, or any of the other participating locations below, why not stop in? Ya little minx, you!

Participating NYC Locations:

Sephora 150 Broadway, New York, NY / (212)566-8600

Sephora 711 Lexington, New York, NY / (646)521-2200

Sephora 42nd & Madison, New York, NY / (212)503-0800

Sephora 34th Street, New York, NY / (212)629-9135

Sephora Soho, New York, NY / (212)625-1309

Sephora 76th &Broadway, New York, NY / (917)441-4760

Participating California Locations:

Sephora Santa Monica, Santa Monica, CA / (310) 395-3460

Sephora Century City, Los Angeles, CA / (310) 843-0123

Sephora Glendale Galleria, Glendale, CA / (818) 550-1749

Sephora Fashion Square, Sherman Oaks, CA / (818) 817-0900

I've been especially drawn to natural products lately; mostly because I feel like I'm doing something phenomenal for the earth and myself, but I also feel like I'm giving the middle finger to The Man. And who can turn down that rare opportunity?

Now Josie Maran isn't a cooking-up-products-in-the-kitchen sorta' company (this week we'll explore a few beauty and fashion girls doing just that), but it is a relatable brand.

In recycled, biodegradable packaging, Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil ($14) is all-natural and I happen to use it every day on my face. Now that the weather's getting warmer it might be a bit much on even my moisture-seeking skin. Don't fret my pet, it's also great for hair, body, cuticles, and lips!e

I want to elope with The Container Store. There, I said it. As I mentioned before, my beauty stash is so not beauty-closet-ready, but it did expand a bit. So last night I headed to my beloved's for a bin (or ten) to house my growing beauty supply.

As I organized the goods, I came across the cutest lip gloss trio I got from Sephora last month. Did you know if you become a Sephora Beauty Insider, you'll get this Super Shimmer Lip Gloss Trio FREE for your birthday? Too cute, right? Just enter your email and you'll get the 411 on Sephora's sales and new product launches.

Now back to my whirlwind love affair. If we do decide to have a formal wedding, you're totally invited. I hope TCS's parents will like me. *Anxiously applying lip gloss*

Let me preface my next statement with this, I am so beyond happy for Bobby Brown's and Whitney's sobriety. Ok with that said, I have a secret stash of "Being Bobby Brown" on my dvr. Remember the episode when triple B performed on the Jimmy Kimmel show? I teared up when he performed "Tenderoni" because he was so in his element: a true entertainer. And Whitney beautifully belted out a little "I'm Every Woman" in the Von Dutch store. This was also before she started dancing with a seemingly random bearded dude shopping shirtless in a floor-length skirt. That "random dude" looked a lot like Andre J.

I'm pretty sure Andre J was the first black man on the cover of French Vogue. He is so fantastic I'm just about ready to be his baby boo if he's down. Where am I going with this? Hmm...fantabulous, yes: that's it.

I was standing in line at Sephora and talking myself out of making another impulse purchase at the cash wrap. And then. I saw it. Jasmine Oil Serum ($16). I earnestly got off line and headed to the Oscar Blandi area to read the la-di-da marketing crap on the back. The proof is in the pudding, right? I pumped a couple of drops from the tester, walked over to the mirror, and applied it to the right side of my head. I'm so serious. My hair looked like the hair fairy sprinkled pixie dust, inhaled it, and sneezed a gorgeous sheen on to my hair. No lie.

I quickly skipped back to the line. Yup skipped; I was feeling kinda "Disney". I was afraid somehow the word got out about this incredible serum and would be gone if I didn't hurry. You gotta let me know if you try it. Seriously it's awesome.

At 5 o'clock this morning I found myself up (I know, right?!) and walking around Harlem. I gotta say. I saw some really crazy crap at that hour including a guy carrying a huge cactus and a gypsy cab crawling next to me as I walked down the street. Thanks for the escort, homie.

Um, as I nervously quickened my pace, I began to think of pretty thoughts...pink thoughts...pretty in pink thoughts if you will. I thought of Duckie's white shoes boppin' around Iona's record store, jammin to Otis Redding. I thought of Blaine ("that's a major appliance. That's not a name!"). And of course Andie. Was I the only one who felt Iona's prom dress was gorge as it was? I mean lace collar...really Andie?!

Another reason I was thinking pinking (sorry) was because it's Breast Cancer Awareness month. That means, among many other important things we can do to show our support, we can buy beauty products where a portion of the proceeds will go to the cause. A couple of my faves:

Jeepers Creepers How'd You Curl Them Peepers: Sephora Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Eyelash Curler $16. So girly-chic I could use it all day (temperamental lashes permitting). I so-so love to use this curler because it grips my lashes and honestly makes me feel like I'm actually doing something good. And btw, it makes my lashes look phenom! One dollar from every sale goes to Breast Cancer Awareness.

I Just Want Your Extra Time and Your Lips (Glossed): Purple Lab Sealed With A Cure $18.50
This universally flattering color is infused with immune system-boosting echinacea, antioxidants, and vanilla (a natural anti-depressant) and it is super moisturizing. It was created with breast cancer survivors in mind. For instance, chemotherapy can dry out the lips. A portion of the proceeds will go to The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation.

I drink about 85 gallons of water a day. No lie. I got myself a little work station (er, my iPhone) set up in the bathroom. Why would I shelf a potential social life? Well, I've read that drinking a lot of H2O can prevent dry, cracked, lips. And my lips peel in the summer so you can imagine what dem things are doing right now!

So last night I found myself watching "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and exfoliating my lips (read: rubbing the dry skin off till I drew blood). And then I remembered I just got Laura Geller Lip Strip ($19). I put Larry and Leon (my new favorite comedic couple - sorry Jeff) on pause and (literally) ran to get the all-natural sugar scrub.

Well I wasn't expecting much, but after 30 seconds (ok fine, I kept it on for 45), the sweetly minted scrub made my lips super duper soft and flake free. I spun around to test them out on someone and yeah...just me and the TV. So I took it old school and aimed for the ol' forearm. It was hot.

In much prettier news...Our (First Ever) Glam-Away Winner is: Cindy Aiton!!!
Cindy, please email me your mailing address and let me know if you want the John Frieda or Aveeno products. Congratulations!!!