the beauty closet september sale!

time to stock up on your favorite beauty items

The beauty closet is having it’s annual september sale.
Take 25% off all items at thebeautycloset.com
Go ahead, try something new or stock up on your faves.

Offer expires 9/18

You can get your discount at the time of checkout.
Just enter the code in the box provided, and click on the redeem button.
The coupon code is: SEPT2010

www.thebeautycloset.com

Valid for US customers only.
Offer cannot be used on international orders. Not valid on Jewelry.

One of my favorite picks is Scott Barnes Body Bling. Make sure to grab a tube…or two!

emmy fashion review leads back high school days

Last night’s 2010 Emmy show opened with Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Jon Hamm, Jorge Garcia, and the Glee brigade,  dancing and singing “Born to Run.” The nostalgic music is not what lead me back to my very own high school experience. My journey back in time started when I sat down this morning to write about the fashions at  last night’s Emmy Show.  As The Red Lipstick Reporter, it’s part of my journalistic responsibility, commenting and covering current events and fashion. “Of course, you need to review the fashions from last night’s show,” the little voice in my head nags.  I feel completely compelled to write a blog post about “Red Carpet Beauty.” But, I just can’t bring myself to do it. Something inside of me was questioning the paradox of beauty. It’s every where I look, in the media and in Hollywood.

I can feel  a huge shift occurring, not only in myself, but in the world. Last night’s award show was about honoring the creative people, who have worked tirelessly, passionately, and soulfully in the arts and entertainment field. George Clooney received the Bob Hope  Humanitarian Award for helping organize celebrities in the face of disaster, catastrophe, and hardship.  He reminded us that five years later, we forget the heartache and we go on to the next thing in the media — who is messing up and who’s wearing which designer.

I just  can’t imagine writing about fashion and beauty today.

I’m questioning my career of more than 25 years. I sit in front of my computer and I ponder, “What was I thinking when I was younger? What did I want to do?”  I head to my little stash of 30 + years of  journal writings. I put my hand into the broken cardboard box, the worn, but loved box that my  journals call home. I pulled out a small fabric covered  book. It’s navy with tiny white flowers dotted with red and yellow accents. I slipped on my reading glasses, gently open my private little memories to the first lined page and noticed the date.

August 30, 1980.

It was exactly 30 years ago today, that I made the first entry in this particular journal!

I made a mental note about the coincidence. And continue to look back through old journals, reading thoughts from days long ago. To my surprise,  I find a gem and a new perspective on my current situation.

The first thing I notice my handwriting. The bubbly font of young girl sharing her most intimate thoughts. I laughed to myself. Wasn’t it just yesterday that a friend said to me, “Can you read that?” My handwriting today is barely legible. I had been so  exhilarated when it came time to putting pen to paper. Oh, the feeling of the perfect pen gliding across the page! I had a passion for the art of writing.

When you sit down to read an old  journal, you have to read between the lines; between the entry dates. I was excited about the first entry, looking forward to my Senior year of high school, because it meant I’d be out of High School soon enough. A family wedding was the next day and I was looking forward to seeing all my cousins. I talked about the kind of wedding I wanted when I grew up and that there had to be a chocolate wedding cake, a special request of one of my favorite cousins. Family trips, events, getting ready for college. But, the theme of the entire journal was written by a teenager plagued with insecurity and doubt.

As I flipped through the pages, I thought, “Is this Bridget Jones’s Diary?” Unfortunately, my journal didn’t have the same jocular vibe the movie possessed. And, Hugh Grant was not playing the object of my many desires. Yet,  journal entries always began with a number; my current weight.  I was always on, or off a diet. Mostly off…and beating myself up over it. I was totally and completely boy crazy! ( Please insert Hugh Grant here.) I was uncertain of myself and my future.  Nothing new.  I wrote poetry. Who knew. I contemplated life and rode my bike everywhere. Really? No one who knows me today would believe this. I mention in one entry that I was receiving a gold award for my art, but didn’t want to go to the event, because I thought my work was “lousy” and I was too “fat.” How sad.

There was even a quote from Abraham Lincoln, “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”  Well, my mind was completely focused on my so- called relationships with boy friends and my outward appearance, that I didn’t have time to focus on what made me happy. At the end of this particular journal, one entry read, “I feel like I’ve become so self-centered. I’m bored with me! I love myself and I’m glad I’m me, but…there’s more to life than beauty. How do others survive? I know I’m not gorgeous. Beautiful – I don’t even know the true meaning of the word.”

I spent much of my time  focused on what, I perceived were my flaws. I continually thought about what others thought of me, how I looked. I believed that if I were thin enough, I would be noticed and recognized.

Last night when I was watching the Emmy’s the creator, Steve Levitan, one of the executive producers of Modern Family, said, “ I’d like to thank the Academy for recognizing us.” That’s it!  People just want a little recognition. It makes us feel validated. It makes us feel like we have a purpose, that what we are “doing” is important and it makes a difference.

They’ll go to great lengths to get ready for the Emmy’s. Day’s and weeks spent preparing their outfits, getting in shape, facials, nails, accessories. The pressure must be daunting! Here they are at an award show,  honoring them for their talents, the contribution they are making to the arts, and the media is focusing on… which designer they are wearing.

This morning, on the Today Show, they did a recap of who looked great and who missed the mark completely. I felt a tiny shot to my heart. How would it feel to have the whole world commenting on the outfit You (or your stylist) chose to wear to an important event?  Instead, of talking about your talent, or your contribution, but instead, focusing on  the style and the height of your shoes?

No wonder I was having a problem writing a blog post about the “hot color” of the moment!

Looking back at my journal made me realize that there is so much more to life. Sure, it’s fun to dress up for a big event. Yet there is a fine line between what is important and what is truly beautiful.  On that note, my pick for best dressed last night was Temple Grandin .

Now that’s one woman who embodies the true meaning of beautiful.

beauty on-the-go

sephora goes mobile

Shopping keeps getting easier. Why even bother wasting your time running to the store to pick up your must have items. Now, you can do it all from the palm of your hand. I’m always recommending Sephora to clients. They have so many cosmetic lines in one place. Beauty on-the-go is a great way to re-order items you know you need. Don’t let it stop you from dropping by the real brick and mortar store. There’s something to be said about touching and feeling new products. It makes for a complete sensory experience. Get the details on how you can set up your own mobile beauty bag.

maximize the maxi dress

do you know what these celebrities have in

common?

Yes. They’re all sporting long maxi dresses, but they are also on the more petite side of the vertical scale. You may have heard that you can’t wear a long dress if your under 5′4″. Not so. It’s all about proportion, scale of pattern and fit. Read more about maxi dresses on one of my favorite sites. WhoWhatWear.

MAC Makeup Artist Creates Luscious Lashes

watch the video now

MAC Makeup Master Gordon Espinet

I’ve been playing with make up since I was 12 years old. I’ve done it professionally for more than three decades, but I still love to watch other amazingly talented Makeup Masters at work. They make it seem so effortless, they share their favorite techniques and products and inspire us to experiment. It’s only makeup and it does wash off.

It seems that everyone I work with seems to be totally fascinated with eyelashes! Lash Junkies are plentiful. What is our fascination with eyelashes, real or faux? It makes us feel sexy, youthful, glamorous. But, we don’t always have the time or the desire to apply false eyelashes.  I still swear by three coats of  a real great mascara.  One coat just won’t do it.

I haven’t tried MAC’s new Haute & Naughty Mascara, but I love what Makeup Artist, Gordon Espinet does so effortlessly. Not only is this a great video to show you how quickly you can change from one look to another, you see just how easy it is to create that sought after cat’s eye liner effect.

The Magenta Madness and Sushi Flower Pink may be a little too edgy for some, but you can model this look with colors that you are already using, and update your look by just shifting the way you line your eyes. www.maccosmetics.com

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