It's Getting Hot in Here...

Every spring and summer, the fashion and beauty mags present a multitude of articles promising tips and tricks on how to stay cool and beautiful when the weather is hot and humid. Guess what? It's all lies! Because any gal who is a sweaty mess come the months of May through September can tell you that no amount of lightweight foundation or waterproof mascara is going to cut it when the heat index soars past 80 degrees. Or for some of us, anything higher than 65. And don't get me started on what happens when you throw humidity in the mix.

Luckily, I have air conditioning (and I'm not afraid to use it), so when I get ready to go out, I'm usually able to beautify myself without the heat being too much of a problem. That all changes once I step outside; instantly, the sweat glands on my face and head start to work overtime and all that time and effort I put into looking perty is for naught. I usually have a napkin or a paper towel in my purse in an effort to dab away the sweat and let me tell you, it's not a super classy move.

Being a sweaty mess is my cross to bear in this world so there are a few tricks I utilize when it's hot as balls outside (beside running - or rather, walking - from one air conditioned place to another). This summer, I'm a big fan of the neutral eye/bright pop of color on the lips trend. Here are a few of my go-to products right now:

• I mix Korres Quercetin & Oak Age-Reversing Primer with a dab of Benefit 'That Gal' Brightening Face Primer and apply all over my face as a base; I get the benefits of the primer and a nice understated glow. A good primer (Korres is my favorite) really does smooth out the skin and allow for better make-up application.
• I prefer an all-in-one powder foundation to a liquid foundation/translucent powder combination. I really love Sephora's Mattifying Foundation; it's lightweight sponge applicator helps with coverage and the powder foundation itself helps control oil throughout the day.  
• I love liquid gel eyeliner with the passion of a 1,000 fiery suns but find that sometimes black or brown looks a little heavy in the summer. This is the perfect time of year to try something bright, like blue (M.A.C. Fluidline in Waveline) or turquoise, or if you prefer to stick to a neutral, copper is great. I swear by an angled eyeliner brush for the easiest application.
• Just like eyeliner, summer is a great time to play with bright colors on the lips. After all, tangerine is the official Pantone color of the year! I love lipgloss but lately, I've been trying to switch things up a little and really like moisturizing lip balms. Because they go on sheer, it's a safe way to wear a super bright color without looking like you just ran away from the circus. I like Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Balm in Super Strawberry, Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 in Coral, or Cover Girl Natureluxe Gloss Balm.
• Last but not least, I swear by face blotting tissues, no matter what time of year it is. They help keep shine to a minimum and some of them contain ingredients that help prevent acne or fight against free radicals. I like The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Facial Blotting Tissues and Boscia Green Tea Blotting Linens.

So, those are a few of my favorite products and although they don't prevent me from looking like a drowned rat by the end of the day, they help in their own small way. And if all else fails, I recommend wearing a pair of ridiculously oversized sunglasses. They truly hide everything...

Lipgloss Addiction Redeux (Part II)

Let me mention, yet again, that I really AM the world's worst blogger. I mean, seriously... I think I may post, on average, one blog article a year, if that. Trust me, it's not for lack of having an opinion on just about everything but rather that laziness thing I've mentioned time and time again. As a fanatic lover and frequent purchaser of cosmetics and various and sundry beauty products, I often wonder why I don't hop on here and spread the word about what I love or dislike more often. Maybe it's knowing that some people could give a rat's ass about what my favorite gel eyeliners are (Bobbi Brown and M.A.C. - in case you're wondering) or the fact that Burt's Bees chapstick (the original one - not the ridiculous pomegranite or mango nonsense) truly deserves to have songs and poetry written about it.

I think a big part of my problem is struggling with the notion that in a world where terrible, ugly things happen every day, expounding upon the joys of eyeshadow and moisturizer seems a shallow endeavour. Then again, I think it's for that very reason that it's important to look for beauty in the world, in whatever form it may come. And in re-reading my very first blog post, I realize that those things I pondered are still true today (which is a not-so-subtle way of saying you should read my very first post again, too...).

I often feel like I need to have more hobbies when in fact, I have a perfectly good hobby staring me right in the face and it combines two things I love to do - write and give unsolicited advice.

So, enough philosophizing... let's get to the good stuff. Stay tuned for my rant about how staying cool as a beautiful cucumber in 90-100 degree weather is just not possible...Seriously beauty magazines... I'm not buying what you're trying to sell.

Laundry Freak!

While doing laundry today, I realized how my control issues extend to even the most mundane of chores. (I say mundane but I actually enjoy doing laundry...) Anyone who knows me really well will certainly not be surprised by this confession but even I realize how ridiculous it sounds when I say it out loud. Even more so when I give my boyfriend the side eye when he announces he might do laundry; it's enough to send me into a lecture about not wanting him to mess up my "system".

Really? Does anyone else have a "system" for washing clothes? And friends of mine who've borrowed clothes will verify that I am clear that they don't need to wash anything before it's returned to me. I would much prefer to do it myself. Hello, control freak!

It probably takes me much longer to wash clothes than it should because I sort them into more than just your average one or two light and dark piles. I have a dark pile of clothes/towels for the dryer, a light pile for the dryer, a pile of whites for bleaching and drying, a pile of black clothes that get washed on the delicate cycle and dried on the line, a pile of colors that get washed on delicate and dried on the line... I think you get the picture. There are times when I might have 10 loads of laundry simply because I am insane about not only what color pile they should be in but also what type of actual washing or drying they need.

The majority of our clothes don't even make it in the dryer since, in my my mind, hanging them up to dry or using the drying rack helps to keep their shape and color longer. And don't even get me started about how I feel when friends tell me they just throw their bras in the dryer. Such blasphemy of clothing care!

It should also come as no surprise that I have very specific thoughts about detergent and fabric softener. When it comes to laundry scents, I am mostly a fragrance free kind of a gal, especially for fabric softener. I don't know about you but I hate the weird, chemical smell that companies try and pass of as Mountain Fresh, Garden Dreams, or other such nonsense. I also hate when clothes, especially towels, are overly soft and almost rubbery because of the overuse of fabric softener. I usually stick to the liquid kind so I can control how much I use.

When it comes to other types of detergents, I never go without adding OxyClean to clothes that seem especially grungy. Even if it doesn't do anything, it makes feel like it does. And when it comes to washing clothes designated as "delicates", I have been known to use all three kinds of Woolite as needed: regular, for dark clothes, and for colors.

I could go on but won't since I've already confessed too much as it is... Does all of this slight madness actually make our clothes cleaner and help them stay nice longer? Maybe not, but in my mind it does, which makes my own little piece of the world seem better. Order out of chaos and all of that kind of philosophical pondering.

And now, it's time head back down to the basement to begin load #4... It's going to be a long day.

A Stroll Down the Avenue

I realized after reading through my Target rant that I had left out a few other plus-size stores or stores that include a women's/plus-size section among their other offerings. I went into Avenue a few weeks ago and had the same feeling of being underwhelmed I usually have when shopping there. I like the selection of cotton-y shirts that come in a variety of sizes and the prices are fairly reasonable but again, I feel the quality is somewhat lacking and I always seem to have problems with fit, especially the pants. I was able to at least snag a nice pair of shorts, which I am always on a mission to find in the summer.

I also just recently rediscovered JCPenney's, which used to be an old stand-by favorite of mine in my thinnner days. I wandered into the JCPenney's at the Parmatown Mall (don't laugh, Clevelanders; I was there killing some time before some evening plans) and was pleasantly surprised by the variety of clothing I found in the Women's section, so much so that I had to put a few things back that I couldn't justify buying on my meager budget. There were the usual matronly choices that no one, fat or thin, should ever buy but there were also really cute blouses, perfect for work or going out and about for a night on the town. I'm looking forward to checking out Penney's again when I have more time and money.

As for a few other places I've wandered into here and there, I walked into a Catherine's one time and was instantly depressed with the selection of boxy, unflattering choices staring back at me. Fashion Bug Plus is oddly overpriced with their weird, cheap quality fabric. And forgive me for never wanting to shop at a store called Dress Barn... Yes, I know they offer both Misses and Women's sizes (Dress Barn Woman) but whoever thought it would be a good idea to include the word Barn in the name of clothing store for women was clearly out of their mind.

My quest for summer clothing continues... For as much as I hate having to order plus-size clothes from Old Navy, I was very successful in my last purchase, which included shorts, cotton and denim bermudas, and even a pair of jeans. I find that reading the customer reviews is extremely helpful. Everything I bought fit and is very flattering.

Now, I have my eye on www.onestopplus.com, an on-line plus-size clothing "mall". I have to find a bathing suit (eek!) and they seem to have a great selection. I'll be sure to post about any results!

Feeling Sassy for SATC 2

Ok, so the second installment of the Sex and City movies was a mess but I felt sassy in my new dress from Torrid (Z Cavaricci Coutoure Black Zip and Stud Denim Dress) and my hot shoes, a bargain find at Marshall's...

Target's Plus-Size Clothing Section Is a Big, Fat Joke

I was in Target earlier tonight and was once again pissed by the fact that the plus-size clothing is hidden way back in the corner, barely visible through what seems like a ginormous section of maternity clothing. The fact that Target feels the need to co-mingle maternity and plus-size clothing in the first place offends my chubster soul (and I have too much pride to ever wear maternity clothing, no matter how fat I am). To add insult to injury, it seems that every time I do make my way back to browse through the few racks of mostly bland blouses, skirts, and unflattering dress pants and jeans, there's always shopping carts full of dressing room cast-offs in the way. Way to make fat women feel like valued customers, Target.

Shopping as a plus-size woman is always a frustrating adventure. Shopping as a short, plus-size woman who takes being fashionable very seriously is even more so. Lane Bryant is great but expensive. I love Torrid but the clothes are way overpriced for the quality and have a tendency to skew a little too young for me. Macy's and Kohl's have great plus-size sections but skew a little too matronly at times. TJMaxx and Marshall's are touch and go as far as what can be available at any given time.

Old Navy has a wonderful plus-size clothing section (I LOVE their khakis!) but it's only available on-line. Although I've had decent luck with the clothes I've ordered, if I do need to return anything, I have to return it by mail, as opposed to being able to return it directly to an Old Navy store (Watch out! We don't want fatty wear mingling with the Size 2's!). So not only do I have to pay for the initial shipping when I order something because I can't buy it in the store in the first place, I also have to pay the shipping again to return it through the mail. Discrimination much?

What's a fashion-forward chubster to do? Sometimes I get lucky because I'm at a weight where I can buy clothes from the Misses section but then again, the fact that I'm 5' 2" and have big bazoombas always complicates the situation, no matter what size I am. I'm also hesitant to order clothes from on-line plus-size clothing stores because the sizing can be so wonky and I hate the hassle of returning things through the mail (Old Navy is enough of a hassle already).

In closing, I find it quite ironic that in a city where heavy women abound, Cleveland has such a dearth of stand-alone plus-size clothing boutiques. It's a dream of mine to open one someday, after I find the time and money to open a specialty foods store and a cosmetics boutique. Maybe I could combine all three and open a wonderland boutique where fat women can shop for fabulous clothing, get their make-up done, and pick up fancy food for dinner.

A Few of My Favorite Things - Winter 2010

As winter in Cleveland continues to rear its cold and snowy head, there are few products in my beauty arsenal I like to use to keep from turning into a scaly lizard. Without further ado, here is my list of favorite winter beauty products:

Caudalie Instant Foaming Cleanser - This lightweight foaming cleanser smells great, is free of sulfates and parabens and deep cleans without drying or stripping the skin. One pump is all I need to clean my entire face. Available at sephora.com 5 oz. - $26

Olay Regenerist Deep Hydration Regenerating Cream - Super moisturizing and one of the only facial creams I have found that keeps away the dry patches I get on my cheeks in the wintertime. The texture of my skin seems better, too. There's no SPF but I wear a powder foundation with an SPF so I feel like I have ample coverage for the winter sun. Available at most retail and drug stores. 1.7 oz $15-20

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner - Hands down my favorite make-up find of the year! I first saw Bobbi Brown selling this eyeliner last winter on QVC and decided to give it a try. It was love at first brush stroke*. My eyes water non-stop during the winter and once this gel eyeliner sets, it doesn't smudge, smear, or run. It looks great by itself, paired with a neutral lid or used to help build a smoky eye. Available in 16 different colors at bobbibrowncosmetics.com .1 oz $21

*Speaking of brushes, I use an angled eyeliner brush with my gel eyeliner. I've found the angled brush allows a greater amount of precision; I can make a thick or thin line with just a slight change in the angle of the brush itself. I use the Sonia Kashuk Bent Eyeliner Brush, $5.99 at Target.

Nars "I Want You" Lipgloss Set - I absolutely love Nars lipgloss! It's lightweight, long-lasting, has no taste or smell (I hate lipgloss that has artificial flavor added to it...) and comes in a variety of flattering colors. Most make-up/lipgloss junkies probably have a tube of Orgasm lipgloss or blush in their beauty box (I know I do!).

This collection of 5 mini-glosses, exclusive to Sephora, includes great colors (including Orgasm) and is also a bargain, considering a full-size lipgloss is $24. My new favorite color is Greek Holiday, a shimmery, shear peachy color. Available exclusively at sephora.com $45

Palladio Mosaics Bronzer in Sunkissed - I'm not someone who goes tanning in the winter, so it's nice to have a bronzer to create a nice, natural sun-kissed glow, that's not shimmery. There are a variety of mosaics and each one has 5 hues combined into one kit. I sweep a bronzer brush over the Sunkissed mosaic and lightly build up the color where the sun would - forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin. Available at Ulta $10

Body Shop Aloe Body Butter - I started using the Body Shop's Body Butters when I worked there as a sales associate. Before that, I had desperately searched for a lotion that would truly moisturize my dry, chapped skin in the winter and never had any luck. Using Body Butter for the first time was a like a gift from the beauty product gods. All Body Butters contain shea butter and cocoa seed butter. Best of all, these body butters contain NO mineral oil or petrolatum, two petrochemical ingredients I refuse to put anywhere near my skin.

I particularly like the Aloe Body Butter as it has no smell, so it doesn't clash with perfume. Other body butters include coconut, mango, cocoa butter, and brazil nut, to name a few. Unfortunately, we no longer have any Body Shop stores in Northeast Ohio but all Body Shop products are available from thebodyshop-usa.com 6.8 oz $20

LUSH Dream Cream - Another favorite body lotion that also is super moisturizing and smells good, too. The base of this body cream is oat milk, which is very soothing to sensitive skin. It also contains tea tree, chamomile, olive oil and lots more. And again, NO mineal oil or petrolatum. Available at LUSH stores or lushusa.com 8.4 oz $22.55

OPI by Sephora - "Dark Room" Nailcolour

I adore Sephora so much that I am a "Fan" on Facebook, which, along with the usual e-mails they send me, gives me instant access to updates and information about new products. I got an update last week about a new shade of nailpolish (excuse me, nailcolour) being introduced from the OPI by Sephora line. I love OPI nailpolish - its longlasting, applies evenly, and is fairly chip proof, which I would guess are a few reasons why OPI is used in most nail salons. There's also the fact that most colors have a very cheeky name - a few in my private stash include Ladies & Magenta-men, And This Little Piggy, Midnight in Moscow, and Cozu-Melted in the Sun...

I hadn't tried OPI by Sephora and the new shade, called Dark Room ($9.00), looks like a stunning shade of green on the webpage (see pic above) and according to Sephora's website is a smoky deep evergreen and "a dangerously deep, gorgeous, green nail color that will make you a scene stealer this autumn". Green is my very favorite color and the product description intrigued me, so needless to say, I was at Sephora this weekend to snap up my own bottle to try...

At first glance, I couldn't really tell if the color was green - it looked more like a greenish-blue. However, there was only one bottle left so I bought it, hoping that the color itself on my nails would be the green I was longing for. I painted my nails last night and needless to say, I am fairly disappointed. Even after two coats, it basically looks like I'm wearing black nailpolish with the teeniest, tiniest hint of a green visible to the eye. I'm not opposed to black nailpolish but I already have a bottle and also a blue/black color (the afformentioned Midnight in Moscow). I also didn't care for the application of the polish itself; it was kind of thin and uneven...

I'm not the only one unhappy with this purchase. Most of the user review comments on Sephora's website describe similar experiences. In the end, I will most likely keep the polish as I can always use it on my toes, but I would not recommend to others. I guess there will be no scene-stealing for me this autumn...

VIVA GLAM!

It should come as no surprise that I would post again about lipstick as I think I speak for many women when I say that we're always on the elusive hunt for "The One". It's that one shade of lipstick that will make all of life's problems disappear by its mere application; putting it on brings about a feeling of instant beauty and confidence. I think I may have found my perfect shade or at least, something very close to it...

I was doing some modest shopping over the weekend at the M.A.C. cosmetics store in Crocker Park. I went there for two reasons - one is the simple fact that M.A.C. is one of my very favorite make-up brands. It's pricier than your discount and drugstore lines but in this case, you really do get what you pay for. And much like Sephora, you can test each and every shade of every type of cosmetic they sell and trained make-up artists/staff are quick to help with questions and make-up applications. The second reason I went in was because I had 6 empty containers to turn in for either a free lipstick, lip gloss, or eyeshadow. (I chose an eyeshadow called Knight Divine - a nice smoky dark blue-grey with the slightest hint of shimmer; it's quite lovely...)

I was also looking at lipsticks and fell in love with the VIVA GLAM VI Lustre lipstick. I took a risk by only testing it on my hand and not on my lips but when I got home and tried it on, I was not disappointed. It's one of those shades that's not necessarily a neutral, but really enhances the lips' natural color. According to M.A.C.'s website (http://www.maccosmetics.com/), it's a "warm terra-cotta plum with pearl finish". It's understated enough to wear with a dark eye but overstated enough to wear alone or with a very neutral eye. And it passed my previously blogged about lipstick test...

The best part is the fact that 100% of the selling price ($14.00) is donated to the M.A.C AIDS Fund to support men, women, and children living with HIV and AIDS. This also includes other VIVA GLAM lipstick and lipglass shades.

And so, I most likely found the perfect shade for me, at least for now. However, my make-up bin holds many past contenders that at one time held the title of "The One"... Although I'm sure at some point, I will feel the need to continue my search, for now I have a color that makes me feel very pretty and I contributed to a very worthwhile cause at the same time, which is certainly never a bad thing.

Skin Care and Make-Up from Aldi - Who Knew?

I'm sitting here wearing a new lipstick I bought at Aldi. Yes, that's right. I said Aldi. The grocery store where you can buy a weeks worth of groceries for about $5. Don't take my sarcasm the wrong way. I absolutely love Aldi and when I was growing up, it helped my close-to-poverty family make ends meet. My boyfriend and I are frequent shoppers and the prices just can't be beat, especially since it seems like the quality of the food they sell has dramatically improved over the years.

I was both intrigued and skeptical a few months ago when I saw Aldi was carrying a line of European skin care products called LACURA. I try and be very careful these days about what I put on my skin but considering the low prices, I just couldn't pass up a chance to try something new and decided on the $3.99 Moisturizing Eye Cream. So far, I haven't been disappointed. And based on the recommendations from other beauty bloggers, I'll definitely be purchasing other products in the line.

A Google search and a peak at Aldi's website (http://www.aldi.com/) reveals that LACURA was created by German skincare specialists and the Q10 Anti-wrinkle Night Cream consistently beat out more expensive lines of similar products. Ingredients in the line include bioflavonoids, coenzyme Q10, which is a special retinol complex as well as hydrating sea minerals, provitamin B5, aloe vera, and vitamins E and C. The LACURA skin care line include creams, cleansers, toners, masks, peeling gels, and lip care and the most expensive product is $4.99. Yes, you read that right. $4.99, which allows women and men in any socioeconomic bracket to enjoy better skin care.

My boyfriend was the one who told me that ALDI was now carrying make-up. Make-up? At Aldi? Sign me up! As I was shopping today for taco night, I decided to investigate. The first thing I was happy to see were the testers. I was able to see which of the five or so lipsticks would look best against my skin tone, with colors including Coral, Deep Sand, and Truffle. The same with the eyeshadow, which comes in Duos. The cosmetic line is modest and offers the afformentioned lipsticks and eyeshadow as well as mascara, foundation, compact powder, and blush.

For $3.99, there was no way I could pass up buying some lipstick and the winner was Deep Red. So far, it's passed all of my lipstick tests. It went on smoothly (thanks to the avocado oil), stayed true to color, didn't bleed, and didn't dry out my lips.

I would highly recommend checking out the LACURA line of skin care and cosmetics. I bought mine at the ALDI on West 117th, between Franklin Blvd. and Madison Ave. in Cleveland.

Happy bargain shopping!