Vodka Is A Girl's Best Friend!

Actually, I don't drink Vodka, but this one is filtered through diamond dust. Yum

Double Cross Vodka was launched today, and it's right up your alley if you've been on the market for a vodka that's been distilled seven times and filtered through diamond dust.

Apparently this filtration leaves an exceedingly tasty vodka that hints at white pepper and lemon zest - and something seems to be working because they got good reviews from Paul Pacult and a gold medal at the San Francisco Spirits competition.

- Courtesy of Liqour Snob
Learn more at Doublecrossvodka.com

The Beauty of Blending.

It is the one beauty rule that never goes out of style: blend! And word on the street is that the new and fabulous way to do so is by using this:
It was a hit at Fashion Week and it is called Beauty Blender. It's an egg shaped makeup applicator brought to you by celebrity makeup artists Rea Ann Silva and Veronica Lorenz. They developed this sponge because they noticed that the traditional triangular makeup sponges were creating harsh lines because of their straight edges. The Beauty Blender feels like suede on your skin and the curved edges mold perfectly into hard to reach corners and creases and you won't see harsh lines where your makeup ends with this. It is the perfect tool for blending for those who prefer to use sponges. It's even nice for those of us that like to use our fingers to apply our foundation because you can use it afterwords as a buffer to blend the edges by your jaw and hairline for a smoother, professional looking finish. You can also dab extra concealer on a blemish or scar using the smaller end.

Beautyblender’s patent-pending elliptical shape makes application foolproof by allowing you to access hard-to-reach areas with stunning ease. Its suede texture is sensual to the touch and its unique curves fit the contours of your face, leaving your make up dazzling and undetectable. Beautyblender is latex free, non-allergenic and odor free.

If you have problem skin Beautyblender works to cover blemishes. Use the pointed end and the stipple and twist technique to work make up into depressed areas of the face. The stippling and twisting action feathers out the make up's edges, leaving a perfect finish.


The cleanser pictured below is kinda funky too. I usually wash my brushes/sponges with soap and water, but this just looks cool lol.

Directions for using Blendercleanser: Wet Beautyblender. Apply a dime-sized amount of Blendercleanser to soiled areas of Beautyblender. Work into a lather, rinse, repeat if necessary. Squeeze to remove excess water. Set Beautyblender on insert pedestal to dry.

All in all, its really just important to make sure you blend. It should never look like you are wearing a mask, so by blending your foundation until there are no hard lines at the jaw line, hair line, or in creases by your nose and eyes you achieve a natural look and people will just think you have perfect skin.
:)

Clean & Clear Blackhead Eraser.

Of all possible skin issues, blackheads may be the most gross and unmanageable. A friend of mine who who suffers terribly from them, told me she tried the Clean and Clear Black head Eraser and it worked miracles for her. I took to the Internet to do a bit of research and I don't believe I saw a single negative review, so I'm bringing word of this possible life saver to you!
It seems to make a difference almost immediately, and skin feels softer and smoother as well.
The Clean and Clear website has a $5.00 off coupon, so there's even more incentive to try it now.
Clean & Clear

PS. While doing all of this blackhead research, I came across many reviewers saying that applying hydrogen peroxide to your affected areas is also helpful. It supposedly works even better after you use the blackhead eraser to deep clean your pores.

A League Of Thier Own.

Cafe.com

Bored? Check out Cafe.com a gaming site geared specifically to women, although men appear to be welcome as well. You can even make a virtual character in your likeness. Make sure she's hot though.

Have You Crossed Over?

I did; and it was difficult. Moving from a glossy lip to matte was scary at first ... it's a weird thing to not have my lips all glossed up and shiny. Ya know we women get comfortable in our makeup routines - but we must stay current! Have you ever seen a woman on the train or in the street and you just know that she has been wearing that same horrid lipstick color for 20 years ... you have to adapt ladies!!! lol.... Anyway, sorry back to the subject at hand: the matte lip provides a sophisticated and chic look that I am actually feelin'. Now I am not sure I will do the matte lip all the time, but for now its a nice alternative. You can do the matte lip in any shade; from deep purples and reds to nudes and pale pinks; figure out which color works for you. I have been doing a nude lip but I also have a berry color that worked out nicely. The key is to get a matte lipstick that is creamy and won't dry your lips out. The matte look does not camouflage cracked lips the way that lip gloss sometimes can, so be sure to keep your lips conditioned. Try shu uemura's new Rouge Unlimited Creme Matte for a wonderful matte finish that feels velvety smooth. Here is some info from the site:

shu uemura continues to break boundaries in color creation with the launch of Rouge Unlimited Creme Matte, a unique formula that combines a matte effect with a creamy finish. The two contradicting textures come together in one lipstick, gliding smoothly onto lips for a comfortable fit without drying or creasing.
- Exclusive hybrid pigments - vivid and pure shades un-replicated by others
- High color fidelity pure color payoff
- Available in 10 shades

Make the switch!

Stila Kajal Eye Liner

I love this eyeliner! Prior to this I had been extremely partial to generic, super cheap eyeliners because the softness of the pencil made a line that was thick, slightly smudgy/blurred, and easy to blend. I didn't even fully grasp the look I was trying to achieve until Stila told me with their description.

Kajal eye liners are formulated to mimic the ultra-soft texture of the Indian eye darkener of the same name. The luscious formula is silky smooth and glides on perfectly, without dragging across the most fragile skin around the eye area. Delivers bold, clear, true color that blends easily and beautifies.
Use kajal eye liner for a precise, crisp line or smudge with fingers or with stila #4 lining brush to create a smoky "dreamlike" appearance. Works perfectly with any eye shadow formula.

Eu-fucking-reka! I kid you not, it even sounds stupid to me, cause a black line is a black line right? WRONG! Exactly what I want my eyeliner to be reminiscent of, is the bold line that is synonymous with the "kajal" or "kohl/khol" liner that the lovely ladies over in India use. Check out the look on Aishwarya Rai, if you like that, you'll love the effect of this eyeliner.



By the way, did you know that Aishwarya Rai is considered by many people to be the most beautiful woman on the planet? Seriously, Google most beautiful woman in the world and see what comes up...I'll wait.

Eyes By Design

EYES BY DESIGN™ introduces the targeted skin care, customized shadows, easy-to-follow instructions and professional advice you need to create beautiful eyes every time. Estee Lauder is the company behind Eyes by design. All of the products in the line are made specifically for eye beautification. They suggest which shadows are suitable for a range of eye colors, with a paint by numbers approach on how to go from this:

To this:


Try it out from HSN

Deciphering The Dress Code.

Lately the line between casual and formal wear has become increasingly blurred. There is much effort required in following traditional guidelines of dressing for an event, and so it is that blue jeans have become a red carpet norm, when they used to only be fit for ditch digging.
Whether this is for better or for worse is personal opinion. Shouldn't you be allowed to dress in whatever way you choose? On the other hand, we can all appreciate the old adage that dressing well is akin to good manners. Think of a woman you consider elegant...would she attend a special event in jeans? No? So why should any of us aspire to less?
My personal style is somewhat conservative, so please feel free to disagree. In my opinion, when you are friendly with those putting on the event, you may know what is acceptable based on more than the guidelines of an invitation. If however, you are at all unsure, it may be best to familiarize oneself with traditional standards of dress so as not to make a faux pas.

White Tie:
Men should wear tuxedos with tails, without exception.
Women should wear full length evening gowns, with long (opera) gloves.
Remember this?

This is a perfect example not only of white tie dress, but also, just how outdated it is. But if an occasion ever calls for it, you'll know.

Black Tie:

Men should wear tuxedos, sans tails.

Women should wear full length evening gowns, but you can definitely skip the gloves now, unless you like them. Be extremely careful should you choose to get creative here, and only do so if you are very familiar with with the host/hostess. The invite said black tie for a reason. If a gown really rubs you the wrong way, you may want to try a tux in a feminine cut. Here are a few examples of what I think is appropriate for a black tie event.

Beautiful open back on this gown, a nice back can be incredibly sexy.
Mary L Couture Open Back Jeweled Gown. $306.00 at Saks.com

Aidan Mattox Niteline Women's Sleeveless O-Ring Long Silk Chiffon Dress. $360.00 at Bloomingdales.com

Amsale Party One-Shoulder Chiffon Gown. $770.00 at saks.com

ABS One Shoulder Gown $435.00 at saks.com

ABS is known for recreating fashion do's. I absolutely adored this look on Katherine Hiegl at the 2008 Oscars. The skirt of the ABS version is a bit of a letdown though, but I'm seriously considering buying this dress and seeing what some good tailoring can do to it. So, come awards season, if a celeb is wearing a dress you love, remember to look out for a version from ABS coming soon.


Cocktail:
Cocktail allows for a slightly more sexy and provocative style of dress. These dresses are generally not far below knee length, and depending on how much leg you like to show, they could be much higher than knee length.

Mandalay Beaded Dress. $1250.00 neimanmarcus.com

Mandalay Jewel Collar Dress. $965.00 neimanmarcus.com

Phoebe Couture Tier Petal Dress. $330.00

BCBGMAXAZRIA Strapless Faux Two Piece Dress. $298.00 Nordstrom.com

Notte by Marchesa One-Shoulder Chiffon Dress. $660.00 neimanmarcus.com

Diane von Furstenberg Devette Sequined Dress. $525.00 saks.com

Shout out to SGHI reader, Samantha, who inspired this post.

Kiehls Makes A Helluva Lipgloss!

I'll have to thank my moms for putting me on to this one. Kiehls is a company I would think to go to for a cult lotion or hair product, I never even knew they made gloss.

Unfortunately, like most glosses it doesn't offer much in the way of color pigmentation, resulting in all the colors  looking the same when you put them on. The thing is, they FEEL much better. Creamy, lightweight, and not at all sticky, they're even moisturizing.  Plus amazing lipglass like shine. I'd def recommend trying this one when you're in the market for a new gloss.

Continuing Education.

Nasty baby...
Anyway, build your knowledge by taking online language classes for FREE Courtesy of The BBC!
So get prepared for your next vacay, or just make the people around you envious when you can chat up the cute Italian waiter in his native tongue.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/

DuWop.

DuWop is best known for its lip plumper - Lip Venom. This is the plumper of all plumpers and the brand that brought lip plumping to the cosmetics industry. Lip Venom will give you "bee stung" lips - and that's no lie, the venom burns the ish out of your lips - no wonder they look and feel plump! DuWop boasts that Lip Venom will give you plump lips while increasing circulation and will bring some color back to your lips.

"The secret behind Lip Venom is a blend of essential oils, which include cinnamon, wintergreen, and ginger, that cause the blood to rush to the surface of the lips, flushing and swelling them slightly. The gloss also includes jojoba and avocado oil that moisturize and give the lips intense shine. You end up with a shiny, naturally rosy pout that cannot be achieved by wearing ordinary lip gloss."

If burning the the crap out your of lips doesn't sound appealing here are some other cool products from DuWop:

Payoff is right up my alley! What is it? I am glad you asked! ;) It is a clear liquid that transforms your regular eyeshadow into liquid shadow with one drop - I love that! I know I know - I have become obsessed with liquid eyeshadow - but I really love the look of vibrant color on the eyes and this is one of the best ways to get that look. You might wonder why you should spend $17 on a product that just wets your shadow; but trust me, I have tried the "just add water" approach with my regular powder eyeshadows, and it just doesn't work - it makes the shadow cakey and crumbly - and so I had simply decided that not all shadows are meant to get wet- until now! Payoff is water based and will make any shadow super creamy, intensify the color and it will make your shadow last longer!
Now you can enjoy the benefits of liquid shadow with your regular powder shadows!




Hands 2 Hair is a hand cream and hairstyling cream from DuWop. It will add shine and separation to your hair and moisturize your hands. Just this morning I was putting some hair cream on my ends and because I was in a rush I couldn't wash my hands before running to catch my train (which I almost missed by the way lol) but the point is, because I didn't have time to wash my hands after - they were kinda sticky and slimy feeling .... ugh - very annoying. With this stuff you don't have to worry about that - just apply what you need to your hair and the residue left over on your hands you can just rub in as your hand cream for the day! Its great because getting ready for work in the morning already has enough steps, and running to wash your hands after applying this and that just slows you down. Get this 2 in 1, and it will cut at least 45 sec out of your morning routine - hey every bit counts right!
:)

Shop for DuWop products here.

Protect Ya Neck

The Unbreakable Umbrella- An undetectable self defense weapon.

The Unbreakable Umbrella works just as well as a walking stick or cane but does not make you look funny or feel awkward. Whacks just as strong as a steel pipe but it weighs only 1 lb. and 11 oz. (775 g).
Legal to carry everywhere
Never raises suspicions
Does not make you look silly (no strange looks if carried by an able-bodied person)
Our Unbreakable Umbrella has no unusual parts, no more metal than an average umbrella, it does not arouse suspicion, can be carried legally everywhere where any weapons are prohibited, unlike a walking stick it does not cause strange looks if carried by an able-bodied person, and it does protect from rain. Anyone who can use a stick for defense can use this umbrella.
Do you know how to swing a baseball bat? Do you know how to strike with a sturdy stick? If you do, you know all you need to know...

I'm getting one of these, so dont look at me funny or I'll umbrella that ass. Bong!

Fekkai.

Fredrick Fekkai is one of the leaders in hair care products. Fekkai has a long list of award winning products. Now Fekkai brings us at home Salon Color. This at home kit gives you pre and post hair care treatment along with a mixing bowl and brush that will give you truly professional looking results. Salon Color will give you silky, soft results; plus -there are 20 shades to choose from. Fekkai has a reputation for high quality products and results and I am particularly interested in the pre/post color treatments which are probably worth the price of admission; and will definitely beat the conditioners you get in your at home color kits that you get at the drugstore. Fekkai also has Salon Glaze which will give you salon shine at home.



Salon Glaze is an at home glossing and conditioning treatment that will leave your hair silky and shiny without making it heavy or oily. This is equivalent to the professional glaze that you would get at your salon. After washing and conditioning your hair in the shower - wring out the excess water in your hair and then apply the glaze root to tip. Leave in your hair for 5 minutes; then rinse.

Shop for Fekkai at Bloomingdales.