Dear Summer, we're breaking up

Dear Summer. It's not you. It's me. I just can't handle the extreme heat, humidity, and daily rainstorms anymore. I appreciate you showing up after that super cold winter and all, but we've reached the end of our road together. I know August isn't over for 3 more days, but I'm done. Plus, I'm interested in someone new. His name is Fall.

Fall took me out, showed me all these adorable new clothes. He bought me skinny jeans yesterday at the mall. And a scarf. He showed me lovely purple/violet eyeshadows on the horizon. He showed me BOOTS. Boots I tell you. I can't resist that. (Side note--Fall is a little metrosexual. He may even be gay with his love of makeup and fashion. I don't care. I love him anyway).

But oh Summer...he really got me with this. NAIL POLISH. I kinda obsess over nail polish in general, but this fall's colors are basically bowling me over. I adore them. More than I adored coral and turquoise blue polish. This fall it's all about greige, eggplant, browns, and mauves! See for example, the Essie collection ($6.50 each, $17 for a four pack at Nordstrom):

Courtesy of Just Beauty Supplies

And this runway look from CND in 2010. This, my friend, is the color GREIGE. It's my new fav color.

Courtesy of Allure Daily Beauty Reporter

Now, I'm no big spender on nail polish. OPI and Essie are the top of my price point at $9 a pop. If I was, however, I'd buy Chanel's Paradoxal ($50)

Photo courtesy Amazon

So here's what I have for fall in my current collection (I told you I was already interested in Fall)

Left to Right: Revlon Plum Night (good copy of Chanel Paradoxal, $6.99 drugstores), OPI Matte Lincoln Park After Dark (on sale $6 at Trade Secret), Sephora by OPI Meet You for Drinks ($9 Sephora), Sephora by OPI Metro Chic ($9 Sephora), Sephora by OPI Under my Trench Coat (My absolute FAV. It is impossible to find an outfit this color doesn't go with. $9 Sephora).

Here they are on. Same order L to R. The OPI matte collection might not be for everyone, since you are not supposed to use a topcoat. However, if the matte just throws you off, add that topcoat and it looks like normal!

I will probably get something from the Essie collection (maybe the brown), but for now I will work with what I have in transition. My toes went plum last night. I credit the drop from 97 F to 80 F as the final break point for me. YAY FALL!!

p.s. Summer, check back with me around, oh, April and May 2011. You know how flighty I can be. I'll want to get back together by then.

Marc Jacobs Lola now in rollerball!

BIG news. BIG. Sephora finally finally has Marc Jacobs Lola in rollerball form. I'm so excited. I have been coveting this scent since it came out, but it's a tad pricey ($40 and up) so I've been waiting...for the rollerball!! I would describe the scent as floral...but kinda sexy and musky at the same time. It's definitely less sweet than Daisy (another Marc scent). I love it. While the bottle is absolutely gorgeous,

Photo courtesy of Sephora.com

the rollerball has many benefits. (I apologize for the poor pic quality below...it was the best I could get from Sephora.)

1. It's easy to travel with, even flying, because it is only 0.24 oz.
2. It's half the price at $22 compared to $48 for 1 oz.
3. The rollerball makes for easy application--just roll it across your wrist or other pulse points. Perfect delivery of the right amount of perfume.
4. Don't be worried about not having enough...I have Marc Jacobs and Marc Jacobs Daisy in rollerball form and haven't used them up yet. You'd be surprised how long 0.24 oz can last.

Rollerballs, as far as I know, can ONLY be purchased at Sephora. Thanks to the Grizas, who just sent me a Sephora gift card...good timing, cause this baby is SO mine now.


Side note: I am sorry for the lack of posts. Working on a proposal for work...haven't had much time. I know it's almost fall and the beauty mags and blogs are going nuts...I promise to update. I have a list of blog topics. If there is anything you guys want me to check into for fall, let me know! I will be glad to research. :)

Review: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid

I have a new favorite face sunscreen! I got this in my Allure summer beauty bag that I bought a few months ago. I just now got around to trying this out (here near the end of summer, but it stays hot for months down here...so I can still use it). I present to you:

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid in SPF 70

I was already a fan of Neutrogena, using their regular face sunscreen all the time. However, this newer liquid has some definite benefits over the sunscreen. 
1. It's sheer, just as advertised. I didn't try to wear it under makeup, but I can totally see this being a viable option. It's like a serum. It comes out white, but once you rub it in it's clear. 
2. It soaks more into the skin, so I got improved, longer lasting coverage.
3. Comes in a nice, small package that easily fits in a small cosmetics bag or purse. A little goes a loooong way too. 
4. THIS IS THE KICKER. No burning once I started to sweat. NONE. I don't know about all of you, but even if it says "PABA free" it still burns a little bit right at the beginning of wearing it, especially around the eyes. Not this stuff. Based on that ALONE I have switched to this product as my primary face sunscreen.


Price is $12, but it's on sale at neutrogena.com for $9.99, so it may be on sale in drugstores as well. 

Photo courtesy of www.neutrogena.com

Smartphone App for Allure Giveaways!

During the month of August, Allure is giving away free stuff every week day. There are MANY awesome items, but registering each day online is kinda a pain, no?

Well. Allure is now utilizing the Microsoft Tab app for smartphones. It's simple to use. You download the app (works on any smartphone...I have a Droid), and then once you register once with your info you can register for all remaining giveaways simply by scanning the tag with your phone. The instructions for use are HERE at Allure's website.

The catch is you need to keep your August edition of Allure for the whole month. Allure will send you a text reminder if you'd like so you will remember to scan that day. You can go through the mag and scan the tags on each page of items you're interested in, and then they will remind you when it's the day for that item! If you don't want a reminder, just hold on to the magazine and scan the tag on the calendar in the back of the mag on the appropriate day. It's MUCH simpler than going online every day!

Good luck! And if you think this stuff never works...well, my friend LG's sister wins stuff ALL.THE.TIME. So try it out!!

Hop up out the bag, turn my swag on...took a look in the mirror said "What's up what's up?"

If you have any shopping to do at Sephora, hold off til Aug 6-8, and then use this coupon code: VIBLOVE

You will get a "Swag bag" (hence the post title) with seven 100 beauty point samples (i.e., bigger and better) including items from Clarins, Laura Mercier, Smashbox, Urban Decay, and Sephora. It's a good deal. Supplies will likely be limited, so order earlier than later.

Enjoy!