Bright Eyed and Beauty Tailed

Ms. New Beauty has been cooped up in the house for the past few days fighting a ridiculous stomach bug. In that time, she's learned a few things. First, she now knows that the Chinese takeout place around the corner from her is completely off limits, lets there be a repeat of this stomach bug disaster. MNB also knows that a trash can by the bed is an absolute necessity when sick. And, since she spent the greater part of her sick time in bed and watching Bravo, Ms. New Beauty's picked up a host of tips and tidbits courtesy of the fabulous Tim Gunn via countless episodes of both Project Runway and his namesake Guide to Style. The basic tenets of style are pretty much ingrained in MNB's DNA, but one rule of Tim's kept MNB firmly planted under her covers - when you dress like you don't feel like getting out of bed, don't get out of bed. So, Ms. New Beauty heeded his words and resisted venturing out into the world of the living and healthy. But tomorrow, she must get up and go to work, and though her clothes won't show any signs of sickness, her tired eyes might. So, Ms. New Beauty is digging into her bag of tricks to make sure she looks better than she feels.

Sephora Brand Eyeliner in White

White eyeliner is one of those makeup offerings that most people just pass by. If you have pale skin, it completely disappears on your upper lids and if you are darker, you risk looking like Babs from Diddy's first, ill-fated musically, yet completely riveting on television Band. (That pic might not show it, but trust me - she wore a thick band of white eyeliner all through the first and second seasons of that show that completely vexed my college sophomore/junior soul.) In seasons past, magazines told us to line the inner corners of our eyes with white. This looks great in photos, but way too editorial and "I'm ready for any paparazzi cameras" in real life. So most of the time, the poor white eyeliner just sits on the makeup shelves waiting to be snatched up and completely misused and abused by Babs wannabes.

But, I keep white eyeliner in my makeup bag for times just like these, when I need to look more fresh faced than I really am. White eyeliner is perfect on your lower lids. Just carefully line your inner lower lids. That subtle line of white blends in and makes the white of your eyes look bigger and brighter. Just be careful not to get any on your lashes. If you do, you'll have to cover it with dark mascara and dark mascara on your lower lashes just closes in your eyes and completely undoes the work of the white eyeliner. Though I normally prefer kohl liners because they smudge more easily, I always get a traditional pencil for white because smudging is the opposite of what I want it to do.

$4, only at Sephora

Benefit BADGal Blue

Benefit BADGal is one of those classic cult mascaras. The formula is thick without being clumpy and the brush has those big fat bristles that really pack on the volume for skinny lashes. (Ms. New Beauty mascara hint - big fat brush equals big fat lashes).

What's so special about this mascara is that it's Benefit's classic BADGal, but in a deep indigo blue. This is a product I've been using and loving for months and months and been meaning to blog about. Now, I know that blue mascara may immediately make you think of some reincarnation of horrible frosty blue eyeshadow, but this is nowhere close. The color is ridiculously subtle. When you put it on, the effect under normal light is quite the same as traditional black mascara. But, that subtle hint of color will make the whites of your eyes look whiter and brighter. And, no one will notice that your mascara isn't black. Using this in tandem with the white eyeliner trick will erase any signs of fatigue or flu from your eyes.

$19, available at Sephora


Cover up that cold, show up looking better and brighter than you did before, and this time, tell a friend that Ms. New Beauty told you!

Red Hot

As a general rule, Ms. New Beauty doesn't make a habit out of posting on the weekends. For one, MNB's weekends are normally pretty full. She can either be busy with organizational meetings and community service or a packed with social events and late nights out. Some days, like today, Ms. New Beauty likes to stay under her covers and hunker down for good TV and good food, like the Project Runway marathon that she's currently three episodes into and the leftover smoked gouda and bacon mac 'n cheese from Cafeteria. And, Ms. New Beauty also realizes one inherent truth about most of her readers - that the New Beauties of the world typical get their doses of MNB while at work (when they should be working). But today is a special day, a day Ms. New Beauty holds close to her heart, so she must recognize it - Saturday or not. Today, December 1, is World AIDS Day. A day when we remember those affected by the disease and when we recommit ourselves to fighting and funding a cure. And so, we honor this day here at Ms. New Beauty by showing our support for this cause by wearing red.

M.A.C. Viva Glam

Last year for World AIDS Day, I encouraged you all to support M.A.C. Viva Glam lipstick and today I will do the same again. Unlike breast cancer awareness, AIDS doesn't get an outpouring of support from the beauty and cosmetics community. But M.A.C. was one of the first lines to pledge their support to finding a cure and one of the few to remain steadfast in that commitment. In 1994, M.A.C. introduced the first Viva Glam lipstick and pledged every cent that it raised to the M.A.C. AIDS Fund. Since then, the company has introduced five new Viva Glam shades and the M.A.C. AIDS Fund has raised over $100 million to support this cause.

Originally, the first Viva Glam was not my style, but now there are so many shades and there's a color that will look good on everyone. So, please go out and pick up a tube. You're gonna buy lipstick anyway, so at least buy one that can help change the world.

$14, available at M.A.C. cosmetics stores and counters


NARS Lip Lacquer in Diablo

Unfortunately, M.A.C. is the only cosmetics firm that I've found pledging its support to the AIDS cause. But after you've supported Viva Glam, made your own donation to an AIDS charity and most importantly, GOT TESTED!, you can still wear red to draw attention to the AIDS crisis.

NARS Lip Lacquer is impossibly shiny and glossy without being messy or goopy. Diablo is a deep apple red shade that I believe will work on a multitude of skin tones. This shade is classic and can take any outfit or makeup look from everyday to Old Hollywood Glam with just one quick slick. The second I tried it on in Sephora, I knew I'd be taking it home with me. It instantly upgraded by Sunday afternoon jeans and sweater ensemble. I only wish that it came in a tube to make application easier. The small pot makes application something that must be done with a lip brush and a mirror, so there'll be no touch-ups in the backseat of a speeding taxi as you jet from one party to another.

$23, available at Sephora


Essie A-List

The best way to really make a statement today is to match your classic red lip with classic red nails. In keeping with the Old Hollywood glam feel, give your nails a swipe of Essie nail polish in A-List. It's a similar shade of red, like a deep red apple. This is a little bluer in its undertones than the NARS Lip Lacquer but it's still just as flattering. I normally go for really trendy darks (like Russian Navy or Noir Ceramic) or almost completely bare with clear polishes or very, very pale pinks. But, this is a nice change of pace for me. I actually got a lot of compliments on it at the salon yesterday where the nail tech offered me a free manicure, looked down and saw my nails, and instantly retracted the offer because I didn't need it.

With such bold color on your lips and nails, someone is sure to comment. Make sure you accept the compliments graciously and remind your admirer what today is and why you chose a double dose of red. Use this chance to educate yourself and others about the global AIDS crisis. Why not offer a little tidbit like "despite the heavy coverage of AIDS in Africa, the disease is also having devastating effects in India, China and Latin America."

$7, available at drugstores.


Wear red today and show your support for the fight against AIDS, but just don't forget to get tested and that Ms. New Beauty told you!

Ho Ho Ho

Beauty Claus is coming to town for Miss Tiya in Lexington, Kentucky!!!!

Tiya won the M.A.C. Holiday Collections and will be looking ridiculously fabulous from now until the new year (at least!) with cosmetics from the Finery, Royal Assets, Viva Glamourous, and Curiositease collections. Even though it's free, it pays to be a Ms. New Beauty subscriber.

Milia-naire

Ms. New Beauty knows that her lack of posts lately is just horrible. She tries to add something fresh and new to the beauty blog world at least twice a week, but sometimes life just gets in the way. And since her last post, a big project at work, scrambling to find a fried turkey for Thanksgiving, moving into a new apartment, and a reinvigoration of her workout routine have surely gotten in the way. And, it's quite shameful since MNB has quite a few posts bouncing around her mind and a backlog of reader questions to answer but she hasn't been able to get her fingers to the keyboard to get it to all make sense. But today, she's finally going to post on a pesky skin problem that she's been intending to write about forever, and the timing couldn't be more perfect since she just got this email in her mailbox.

Hey Ms. New Beauty!

I have a question about this darned acne. I get these pimples that look like they are under the skin and they almost never come to a head. It is beyond fusterating. I heard that this happens because my "root" (?) is too small for the amount of sebum that I have in it, therefore it causes the sebum to erupt the root, causing a scar on my otherwise, decent face. What say you msnewbeauty?

Small Roots, Big Acne

Milia

As, we all know (or at least we should by now), Ms. New Beauty is nobody's dermatologist. But this is one skin issue that I feel pretty confident in diagnosing, simply because I've dealt with this problem myself. Your roots aren't too small, your sebum isn't too big. These bumps sound to me like milia. Milia are those little white bumps that never seem to pop and never seem to go away. What causes them is a lack of natual exfoliation by your skin. The bump forms when your skin cells get trapped rather than slough off naturally.

Instead of trying to pop them, the best way to address milia is to simply over-compensate for you skin by stepping up your exfoliation. I was having a full out battle with this annoyances earlier in the fall, but incorporating a daily scrub to my routine solved the problem. These two scrubs combine both chemical and physical exfoliants and help ward off these tiny little problems.

Proactiv Solution Deep Cleansing Wash

This cleanser is a great exfoliator that also prevents acne and breakouts. Though it's very thick and smooth, it is absolutely packed with tiny little scrubbers that are effective enough to really get your skin clean deep down but are gently enough to use everyday. You can really go to town with the scrubbing and your skin won't be the slightest bit irritated or dried out. Its also a salicylic acid based exfoliant. Salicylic acid is one of the most common ingredients in acne cleansers and gels because it is a powerful exfoliant. You'll get the benefits of clear skin and you'll be able to prevent those bumps from forming. I always pay special attention to the area around my chin and mouth which I find are particularly prone to milia.

This retails for about $30 at various online stores, but you should know how I feel about buying Proactiv on eBay (if you don't know or haven't been reading Ms. New Beauty faithfully - how could you not? - I love it and I only buy Proactiv from eBay!). Currently, this cleanser's going for about $15 (including shipping!) on eBay.

Peter Thomas Roth Blemish Buffing Beads

Peter Thomas Roth is one of the few men in my life who can do absolutely no wrong. I really love him. (And by him, I mean all the products that bear his name, and by his, I mean the name of the company because who really knows if a "Peter Thomas Roth" really exists). This scrub is by far one of PTR's standout products. Combining both salicylic glycolic acids, it really does exfoliate, unclog your pores, and prevent acne. Again, it's very gentle and you can use it everyday. The added benefit of this scrub is that you can use it on your face to prevent breakouts and milia and you can also use it on your shoulders if back-ne is a problem for you too.

$36, available only at Sephora


DERMAdoctor has a great in-depth article on milia that you can check out for more information. You should also know, DERMAdoctor is one of the best skincare sites on the web. You can buy Dd products and other great skincare brands, plus you get the benefit of a whole library of articles written by the real dermatologist behind the brand, not just some random MD who lent out their name for the money.


Scrub your skin clear, and learn a little bit more about it in the process, just don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!

And, if you have signed up for a FeedBlitz subscription in the right sidebar to enter to win the M.A.C. holiday collections, what the Hell are you waiting for? The contest ends tomorrow!

Winterize Your Shower

Ms. New Beauty is from that part of the Northeast where around this time of year (or about a month earlier in pre-global warming times), most people talk about "winterizing." Family and neighbors are all abuzz with discussions of what it's going to take to get ready for winter. The cars need to be winterized. Meaning, snow chains need to get put on the tires, fresh anti-freeze goes into the engine or battery or whatever receptacle under the hood that holds the anti-freeze. Fresh ice scrapers go in the back seat and heavy duty windshield wipers get put on the windshield. Those particularly well adapted to cold weather crises even stock a five pound bag of sand or no frills kitty litter in the trunk for icy days. The house needs to be winterized too. Drafty windows get repaired or lined. Space heaters get pulled out of the basement. And, those heavy duty blankets get toseed on the bed. All this talk of winterizing and Ms. New Beauty is always amazed at how people neglect to winterize their skin. A true ash-phobe like MNB just cannot sit idly by and let the harsh winds and cold air suck the moisture out of the knuckles, knees, and lips that walk past her everyday. This post is now dedicated to preparing your skin to weather a weary winter without drying out.

In The Shower

The first step to keeping your skin soft, smooth and sexy this winter is in your shower. Moisturizing your situation is more than just slapping on some lotion before you get dressed. You've got to think about the end from the beginning and adjust accordingly. So, the products in this post will help keep you moisturized before you even towel off.

Now, most dermatolgists and women's magazines will advise you to take a lukewarm, not hot, shower this winter since high temperatures can dry your skin out even more. I, on the other hand, love a piping hot shower when the temperatures are dropping, so I've figured out others ways to compensate for it.

Carees Exotic Oil Infusion Body Wash

The first step to keeping your skin soft and smooth is to use a moisturizing body wash. As a rule of thumb, you only want to use opaque body washes in winter because they contain more moisturizers and are less drying. If you can see through it, don't use it.

The most moisturizing body washes I've used are the latest cream oil formulas and this one is my favorite. The texture is rich and creamy. It almost looks like a thick lotion or body cream. When I first squeezed this onto my loofah, I almost didn't expect it to lather up. But it did. It produces a really rich lather with a great scent. The best part is that it is such a gentle cleanser that doesn't leave your skin stripped. This body wash features a blend of cassis cream and starflower oil. I'd be lying if I told you I knew what those are. I do know that whatever they are and where ever they're from, they work. After using this, you'll feel clean and moisturized, but not the slightest bit greasy.

About $5.99, available at drugstores

Neutrogena Body Oil

A lot of people like to mix a little bit of body oil in with their lotion in winter for extra hydration. But, by the time you've dried off and wrapped up in a towel, you've already lost the benefit of all the water you just doused yourself with in the shower. Before you step one foot out onto your bathmat, reach for this oil.

This nourishing sesame oil is the lightest oil I've ever used and has a decidedly pleasant scent. Just smooth it all over your skin before you get out of the shower. The oil locks in the moisture from the shower without leaving your skin coated in a heavy layer of grease. I find that by the time I'm done, I barely even need to towel off. Just be careful in applying it. Oil plus a wet shower floor can equal you busting your ass.

You can also skip your normal body cream or lotion after you're done smoothing on this oil, but that just feels so unnatural to me. I still use a lotion afterward, but I'm delighted by the fact that I don't really need to. In my mind, my lotion is just an added layer of protection and who couldn't use a little extra help in the War on Ash?

About $10.99, available at drugstores

Now, I know a lot of people swear by baby oil and this new body oil gel that are out on the market. I've tried them myself and I'll let you know why I chose to recommend this liquid formula instead. Baby oil and the Cocoa Butter Gel are mineral oil based formulas. And, though it coats your skin and leaves it feeling soft (if not, greasy), mineral oil cannot penetrate your skin. What it does is leave a soft layer on top of it. In doing so, it clogs up your pores and actually inhibits your skin's own system of moisturizing itself. Eventually, you'll find that the more you use these oils, the dryer your skin feels, and then the more you need to use them. So, I prefer to use only natural oils that are thinner and penetrate better.

Winterize your skin right in the shower, and standout as a soft, smooth beacon of light in this wintertime world of ashiness and dry skin, but just don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!

And please don't forget to sign up for the M.A.C. Holiday Collection Giveaway! There's only a little over a week left to sign up and win.

Liking It Rough

Ms. New Beauty is really not one for the roughness of modern life. She prefers things soft and gentle. She simple adores her uber-soft high thread count sheets. She consistently wears an almost neon pink sweatshirt because the inside is as soft as egyptian cotton. And, MNB does not go for those harsh physical assaults that some spas call a massage. She'd much rather have a gentle rub down with hot stones placed strategically on her back and limbs. But, there is one place where Ms. New Beauty likes it rough. (No, not the bedroom, all you Filthy McNasties). MNB likes a little roughness from her scrubs. She fell in love with a rough body scrub when she had an authentic Tunisian gommage that made her skin feel as if it was being sandpapered off during the procedure and then instantly clean and softened after it was over. Since then, she's always taken pleasure in a rough body scrub in the shower. With the temperatures changing and wintertime dry skin just around the corner, Ms. New Beauty is in the market for an expanded repertoire of rough but just gentle enough body scrubs. Sadly, the last one she tried just isn't going to cut it.

Boots Mediterranean Olive, Bergamot & Walnut Body Scrub

I picked this up at Target about a month ago when I was there scoping out the Alice Temperly Collection. The price was so low and the jar was so big that I just knew it was going to become my new favorite shower staple. Whenever the weather turns cold, I always like to have a good body scrub in the shower to help exfoliate that dead, dry skin that often turns itchy. I typically go for a sugar or salt scrub with an oil based, like my lovely Brown Sugar Body Polish, but this one had me intrigued. With a base of creamy moisturizing olive, bergamot and walnut oils, I thought it could get the same job done for a lot less money. I was wrong.

The first thing that turned me off once I got this home was the texture. Initially the creamy texture made me think this would be like an in-shower lotion and body scrub all in one. Wrong. This scrub is really, really runny. It's way too runny to be in a big tub like this and would be better suited for a squeeze bottle. When I first used it, it ends up splattered all over my tub. Given it's pale yellowish-green color and brown scrubbing particles, it really looks like I've come down with a mid-shower case of the flu and vomited all over my tub. But, the worst part is that the scrubby particles meant to exfoliate are far too fine and far too few. I generally like big exfoliators that I can see, but I'll use a finer formula if it gets the job done. This does not because there really aren't enough particles here to exfoliate your body well. This really wouldn't even do much for your face either. This scrub isn't even as good as trusty old St. Ives Apricot Scrub. Boots needs to at least double or triple the amount of scrubbers in the formula for it to really have any impact. You can get a better exfoliation by rubbing yourself down with a loofah than you can get from this.

I'm not heartbroken that this was disappointing, but next time I'll surely spend my ten bucks on something that will make me happy, like the new L'Oreal H.I.P. Color Truth Cream Eyeliner in Purple or Navy.

$9.99, available at Target and CVS.


Save your money for something's that rough just the way you like it, and get your mind out of the gutter, but just don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!

P.S. There's still time to sign up to win a ridiculous amount of M.A.C. goodies from the Holiday Collections, so don't forget to enter for your chance to win.

Hand It Over

One of Ms. New Beauty's favorite people on earth, her Partner in Crime, is about to turn 25. It's going to be a glorious celebration in Las Vegas replete with late nights, ignorant amounts of champagne, lots of short skirts and long legs, and one pair of fabulous Chanel shoes. MNB is quite excited to take part in the festivities especially since her Partner in Crime's birthday is the day before New Year's Eve. But in thinking about her friend turning 25, MNB came to the realization that this event means she'll soon be turning 25 too, since their birthdays are only about a month apart. For a beauty junkie like MNB, turning 25 means only that now she will officially fall within the target market for anti-aging skin care products and treatments. Now, Ms. New Beauty knows that she doesn't quite need wrinkle cream yet. Mama New Beauty still looks 10-15 years younger than she is, so MNB knows that her face won't be cracking any time soon. What she was surprised to learn is that her hands may not be so lucky. Since her hands have been wrinkled since birth, Ms. New Beauty can only imagine what they will look like once the signs of aging add to what genetics has already done. Not one to lay down and give up without a fight, MNB is taking matters into her own, for lack of a better word, hands.

Freeze 24-7 IceCrystals Anti-Aging Prep and Polish

Most anti-aging skin care products are far too rich and emollient for my face. My skin tends to be dry on my body and annoyingly oily on my face. So wrinkle creams and cleansers often make me break out. But, I recently learned that those creams that my face can't handle my body will readily drink up. So, I've been using traditional face creams on my hands and I'm quite happy with the results.

IceCrystals Prep and Polish is one of the scrubbiest exfoliants I have ever tried. The particles are small and fine but ridiculously powerful at their task. They scrub, scrub, scrub to get rid of layers or dead, dry skin without being too harsh or abrasive. What I really love about this scrub and what sets it apart from others I've tried is that it's creamy and moisturizing without being greasy. Many body scrubs are just way too oily to be effective for the hands. Unlike the skin on our bodies that really doesn't have much to do once we get dressed, your hands are constantly at work. And, anyone who's ever tried to open a door after applying a greasy lotion learned this lesson the hard way. IceCrystals is special in that it gives you the level of moisture you want and need in the most ingenious way. Within the scrub are encapsulated beads of jojoba oil. The beads help to exfoliate and during the course of the wash, they burst and leave behind soothing moisture. If you use it on your face, the jojoba beads actually let you skip your moisturizer afterwards. And, because this is an anti-aging product, it actually helps to reduce age and liver spots so your hands look younger.

$65, available at Freeze247.com

Freeze 24-7 IceCream Double Scoop Smoothing Anti-Aging Moisturizer

After I'm done giving my hands their nightly scrub down before bed, I like to follow with this thick, rich moisturizer. This also is traditionally meant to be used on your face but I love the way it makes my hands feel. It's thick but sinks right in. It's rich but not the slightest bit greasy. I had been using Creme de La Mer on my hands right before bed, but I found that a little too greasy for me. (So, I'm using it on my feet instead. How ridiculously indulgent of me!) When I wake up in the morning, my persistently dry hands are softer and smoother and feel glorious.

Since the weather is changing, I've noticed that certain parts of my face are drier than normal, particularly right around my nose and mouth. So, I've also been putting on just a touch after my normal moisturizer has had a chance to sink in and absorb. All that dry tightness is gone but this doesn't make me any oilier. I really love that because any girl with oily skin will tell you that eradicating any bit of excess oil or shine in products or on your face quickly becomes your life's mission. I also have to admit that I get a bit of an Erica Kane rush of glamour by displaying a luxury face cream on my night stand and say "oh that, it's just for my hands" when friends ask what it is.

$105, available at Freeze247.com

Neutrogena Illuminating Whip Moisturizer with SPF 20

The last part of my Young Fingers Forever trifecta was going to be a face cream with SPF that I can carry with me and use on my hands throughout the day. I am constantly washing my hands (germaphobe + small bladder = hands washed at least 15 times a day) and all that soap and water is really drying. Plus, I know that sun ages skin more than anything else and my hands are the one part of my body that is always unprotected and exposed to sun damage. The commercials for this product really got me excited, enough so that I scoured three drugstores looking for it. When I finally found it, I was in love with the texture. It's so light and whipped that it feels like applying some kind of moisturizing frosting to your hands. The jar is a little big for toting around, but I figured that I carry enough other crap in my purse all day that one more thing won't hurt. Well, I really have no need to carry it with me anymore because it only took one day to leave me unimpressed.

Now, the first word of the product's name is Illuminating, so that should have been a tip off for me. But, after reading it, I didn't think that illuminating meant tons of shimmery gold sparkles more fit for a disco than daytime wear. After I put this on, I looked down to find the palms of my hands almost completely shining with gold. I know that it's supposed to add radiance, but this much shimmer is a little too much. I thought maybe the effect was harsh just because it was on my hands, but I was similarly unimpressed after trying it on my face. The shimmer is more obvious than it ought to be and just not right to be used all over as a sunscreen. This would be better suited as highlighting cream for certain spots only. I also hate the smell. When you open the jar, it's overly perfumey and enough to send anyone with allergies into a fit of sneezing and headaches. Plus, I found that something in the formula reacted with the silver of my ring to produce a really horrible aroma. It's a nice idea in theory, but definitely needs more work to be a product worth investing in.

About $14.99, availabe at drugstores


Keep time off your hands, and be a little indulgent in the process, but remember that Ms. New Beauty told you!

P.S. If you haven't already, sign up for the M.A.C. Holiday Collection giveaway. Don't let all that goodness go to somebody else.