Happy New Year's: Why Not Muffins?

Yesterday, I was tempted to spend New Year's Eve inside, eating tiramisu and drinking red wine. I woke up early though and realized that getting dressed up in satin or sequins was just an easy way of communicating, 'By the way, Now We're Having Fun.' Men are especially slow in understanding this concept, so I figured what the heck...

I got happy about New Year's Eve!

Next, I girded myself for festivities. I applied a hot compress and washed my face with Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Milk. I even exfoliated my lips with BeFine Lip Exfoliator. It's vegan with sesame oil, so I figured it wouldn't hurt. I brushed my teeth and flossed (Uh OMG, TMI Charlotte!) for the new year.



My Wizard of Oz couch made me fall into a long slumber for two hours, until I awoke to the dulcet tones of Lifetime TV. Beautiful Girls, an early Natalie Portman movie, was on. Natalie plays a 13-year old tomboy named Marty, but she didn't make the spots on my face go away--too much caffeine lately--so I headed to Sephora, which was being ransacked by anxious New York girlies eager to pucker up tonight. Yikes!

Sephora being Sephora on NYE, I elbowed my way to one of the makeup helpers, who led me to Cargo's OneBase #2. Cargo OneBase is a concealer and a foundation, i.e. just what the New Year's Nurse ordered. Whew! They even gave me a free sample of my foundation since it was sold out. Double whew!




On my trip, I discovered Free People had opened up a store on 5th Avenue, and it felt exactly like I was in Venice Beach, California. It was decorated with strings of fake flowers and loads of funky stockings, like these pointelle pixie tights. I wanted everything, but resisted.




When I got home, life was easy. I just washed my hair, threw on all the foundation and concealer, and took advantage of all the lovely brushes in Sephora's splendid gun metal Smokey Eye Kit. You can use some of the smaller brushes for applying concealer too, and sweep a light, shimmery shadow underneath the brow. It really opens up the eyes in a second.

Well, gotta run to my party down the hill and drink champagne. Wishing all of you a Happy New Year's and I really wish for (don't laugh!) Peace on Earth. Be good or bad, but make sure to have fun.

Lots of Love,
Charlotte

Holiday Shop-a-Thon: Seven Hotter Than Thou Picks

Aaack! Or hooray! I bet your credit cards are perky from extra holiday activity, but soon your feet will be sore and abused from shop-walking, hands calloused from carrying too many bags, and hair covered in pine tree needles from lugging around all those Hannukah bushes and Christmas trees.

Nonetheless, it's all worth it because it's the holidays, and darn it, I love holiday parties, mistletoe, and pretend-snow. Here are a few super-sized, fabulous gifts to give or get or get made up in:



1. To let the races begin, we recommend Sephora's new Supermodel Kit (haha, see above). We're especially fond of this kit because it comes with the wondrous Smashbox's O-GLOW blusher, Make Up For Ever Diamond Shadow in Diamond Black for smoky eyes, apricot blush and Stila lip-gloss. Since it's all packed into one cosmetics case, the Supermodel Kit does all the thinking. Supermodels should never think anyway.


2. Add a little sparkle to the holidays with this sexy but sweet, embroidered beaded dress from Topshop.com.



3. Stocking stuffers we want: Perfumeria Gal Lip Balm sets ($18 per set, or $5.50 each) from Spain. My favorite is the Red Currant with just the right amount of shine.





4. An eyeshadow to match every outfit is our version of paradise on earth. Sephora's triple-decker Blockbuster Beauty Palette has 64 eyeshadows, 32 lipsticks, blushes galore, and enough makeup to last you from here until next year. Make mom proud and wear all of them at once.



5. Don a folk-art inspired dress, and maybe someone will give you a fruit cake too. Free People's Bird of Paradise frock is funky for warmer, West Coast holiday parties, and any party where you know there are going to be too many people in the room to bother with mittens.



6. Yes, you're young and fabulous now....me too. So glad we have so many things in common already.

It's just that when the wind whips across your face or egg nog leaves you wondering what happened, you might give this anti-aging moisturizer, Clarins' Generation 6 Serum, a roll. Normally, I'm like "me, old, what?" but as a spring chicken, still me like...Clarins Generation 6, loaded with botanical ingredients, could also be a luxurious, holiday present.



7. This minimalist, dual-tone scoop-neck dress by DKNY makes me want to be Donna Karan. She was a bit tough on the contestants on America's Top Runway. Even so, I'm sure they coached her, so I would still wear her dresses any day of the week. (Hint! Hint!)



Buy it: Sephora Supermodel Kit ($59), Sephora; Embroidered Bead Dress (75 pounds), Topshop; Perfumeria Gal ($18 set, $5.50 single), Beautyhabit.com; Free People Bird of Paradise Dress ($138), Free People; Clarins Generation 6 ($90), Sephora; Donna Karan Sleeveless Scoop Dress ($119), www.dkny.com;

Levin Weighs In: Harper's Bazaar Great Style

Harper’s Bazaar senior editor Jenny Levin offers some great advice, like this tip, in the new book Harper's Bazaar Great Style:

Embrace tradition. Sticking with things that have stood the test of time is often the key to looking clean and elegant.

Taking our cues from Ms. Levin, Eyeshadow Goverment is momentarily ga-ga over this chic knit boating dress from J. Crew. We love the simplicity of the details, like the two buttons at the waist, the vintage structure, and the painless color. Navy is endlessly flattering.



Buy it: Knit Boating dress ($128), J. Crew.

Cruisin' Sephora Alley: Clinique, Korres and also Bliss

I'm newly attached to the Clinique line of lipsticks that are very glossy.
They make you feel wrapped up like a shiny package (but not at all objectified as a woman). Colour Surge Butter Shine Lipstick in "First Love," is a perfect pink, or choose "Shhh" for a pale, neutral tone.



Korres Thyme and Honey Cream. I consume a lot of thyme, the herb,
though time as well sipping honey, in tea, so this is the logical next step.
(Don't mind me.)



What else, my fellow snowcones? Yes, Snow Wonder High Intensity Hand Cream by Bliss to avoid snowflake-ish skin!



Expect Big Holiday Gift Recommendations on my next post! Same bat time, same bat channel.

Buy it: Clinique Colour Surge Butter Shine Lipstick ($14),
Korres Thyme and Honey Cream ($32.50), Snow Wonder High Intensity Hand Cream ($8), all at Sephora.

It's Getting Hot In Here

Well, all I can think about lately is different ways to be toasty...drinking
warm fluids, cider and latte; cinnamon English muffins; and trying to
pretend I don't have an intermittent fever....I'm not sick. I'm just toasty.

If you aren't lucky enough to have a fever, these are things
that will keep you warm:

Crazy Stripe Booties from Gap. I think these goofy, Pippie Longstockings
will makes toes cozy by the hearth.



Flush fabulous cheeks with Pink Quartz Shimmer Pink Compact ($38), Bobbi Brown




Glug! We're down with Mulling Spices for brewing hot cider.



Let's catch up soon, kittens.

XO,
Charlotte

Buy it: Crazy Stripe Booties ($34), Gap; Pink Quartz Shimmer Pink Compact ($38), Bobbi Brown; Mulling Spices ($16), William-Sonoma.

You Want Me To Wear What?

Must talk now. I just read this article, "Fresh-Faced Eco-Consumers" in the NYT. The ladies here are from where I grew up, Marin County, so I was happy to see them totally represent:

For many customers in the Whole Foods Market on the Lower East Side last Friday night, just spotting the word “organic” on recycled packaging would have been reason enough to grab a bottle of moisturizer. But not Erin Schrode, 16, a founder of Teens for Safe Cosmetics, a nonprofit in Marin County, Calif. She was there to play host to a rally-cum-marketing-event she had organized with her mother, Judi Shils, the group’s executive director.

“Organic sells, natural sells, but what do those terms even mean?” Ms. Schrode asked. “You have to be much more discerning.”

The main cover story is "Natural, Organic Beauty," which discusses the FDA guidelines for labeling any beauty product "organic" and the potential dangers caused by both synthetic and natural ingredients.

For more information, you can also check out the website for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. Peace.

Mariah Carey's New Perfume and Macy's Herald Square Appearance: Veni, Vedi, Vici

Nary the minimalist, Mariah Carey descended upon midtown Manhattan Tuesday in a cloud of perfume. She calls it 'M.'

Thousands watched inside Macy's at Herald Square, as Carey in a black minidress and sunglasses briskly walked down a purple carpet runway, waggled her fingers hello, and entered a VIP tent. Her new perfume, a flowery scent, is supposed to evoke gardenias, Moroccan incense, and burnt marshmallows. Inside, after a brief photo session, she sat on a white Louis IV-style chair to sign autographs.

Rosette LeMaire, 41, traveled from London on a two-day trip to see Mariah Carey. "She's a fighter!," she said. "She's a fighter! She falls down and she picks herself right up again." LeMaire, who works as a nurse, has been a Mariah Carey fan since 1985. Others stood in line to meet Mariah just for the ride.

Wendy Makepeace, a government official in Hertfordshire, England, likes the perfume. As for Carey, she said, “She’s okay.” Reflecting on Carey's public appearance, Makepeace said, "She wants to come live in the real world."

Most were large admirers of Mariah Carey.

“She's a hero," said Stephanie Smit, 28, of Springfield, New Jersey. Smit, a fan since Mariah’s self-titled debut album was released in 1990, has met Carey on several occasions, attended 12 Mariah Carey concerts, and plans on wearing the perfume. As a real estate agent, Smit often drives clients around while listening to Mariah Carey albums.

In the new ad for ‘M,’ the head of Mariah Carey cradled along a lake's surface below a tourmaline sunset is classic Mariah, known for her cascading high, and then highest notes. In the full-length version of the ad, Mariah’s curving, damp hair, in allusion to Rousseau's masterpiece The Sleeping Gypsy, also reveals her nude posterior. Vibe's online blog suggested the entire ad is photoshopped.

The perfume business, particularly celebrity perfumes, is booming. Perfume sales this year totaled $1.13 billion, up 18% this year. For Elizabeth Arden, the brand behind Carey’s ‘M,’ celebrity perfume accounts for 20% of all company sales. Celine Dion, Britney Spears, Shania Twain, Paris Hilton and others also have profited from the trend in celebrity-sponsored perfume.

On Tuesday, the rules for visiting Mariah were no photographs; she would not sign any outside photos other than the publicity photo of her perfume ad; she would not personalize publicity photos with, for example, a fan’s name.

For Holli Wimberly, 22, who came from Atlanta to see Carey, Carey is a lifelong role model. “I’m mixed,” she explains. Wimberly, grew up in Georgia with a mother who lived in a white section of Cobb County, and a father who lived in a black neighborhood in Decatur. Her best friend Cortney Athena, 23, beside her in line to see Mariah, is also mixed race. So growing up, for Wimberly, there was herself, her best friend Athena, and then, Mariah Carey.

“It’s not about the perfume,” said Wimberly. “It’s all about Mariah.”

Karl Lagerfeld: Towering and Exposed

We haven't seen the new Karl Lagerfeld documentary Lagerfeld Confidential just yet, but...The Fug Girls on New York mag were already griping about the special effects and cinematography.

They did give good dish too:

"He’s even messier than we are. Karl’s incomprehensibly cluttered work and living spaces would make Martha Stewart cry: They’re clogged with bowls of rings and accessories, towering stacks of magazines, clothing racks, and at least ten iPods. “I hate hard workers. Things must appear to be casual,” he says. Sweet! We’re never cleaning again."

Also, I thought you might love this Karl Lagerfeld dress, which is 40% off, if you bother to click here. You can wear it next to that bowl of expensive rings Karl has that just got "clogged." Boo hoo.

A Great Pumpkin if I Ever Did See One: Zia Exfoliating Pumpkin Mask

Weird, crazy, and right-on, why not go for the golden-orange?

Eyeshadow Government gives Zia Exfoliating Pumpkin Mask two thumbs up, because 1) I think it really makes your skin look better, 2) it clears pores without being abrasive, and 3) darling, it's orange.

Be you trick or treat, exfoliating before never hurts.

Buy it: Zia Exfoliating Pumpkin Mask ($25), Whole Foods.

Pom Pom Post of the Day

To many of my friends, the cheerleading flick Bring It On is a constant muse.

So in honor of all those blondes with pom poms and perfect hair, here it goes....

In this month's issue of Elle, Nicole Kidman's stylist apparently keeps flyaways put by spraying a toothbrush with hairspray, and combing them into place just so. This sounds like a good idea for prom, or people who are really ob-sess-ive. Try Oral-B Indicator toothbrush with Sebastian Shaper Hairspray.



This toothbrush looks kind of like a seahorse.


If you want bigger hair, get a round brush under the roots of your hair, and lift up two inches. Still gripping the roots with the brush, bust out hairspray on this area and blowdry accordingly. Continue technique on other areas.



After all that cheering, it's luxurious to clean up with Acqua di Parma's Capri Orange Shower Gel. And protect that hair with Phytodefrisant Balm (e.g., de-frizzying) Relaxing Cream like it's made of gold.




Did any of you have trouble coming to terms with Kirsten Dunst because of her insipid performance in the film version of Little Women (Louisa May Alcott represent, yo)? Me too!
It's got to be less dreary in person. This is a photo of Alcott's (less perky) home. No cheerleaders here...





Buy it: Sebastian Shaper Hairspray ($5.99, 1.5 oz) and Oral-B toothbrush ($4), Walgreens; Frederic Fekkai Round Brush ($65), Sephora; Acqua di Parma Orange Shower Gel ($36), C.O. Bigelow Apothecary; Phytodefrisant Balm ($26), www.drugstore.com.

Star of the Screen

"Beauty is the promise of happiness."-- Stendhal

Katherine Hepburn's eyebrows are picture perfect in this photo, but it's not easy being gorgeous.


For a modified dramatic swoop, you can take one of Anastasia's eyebrow templates and pluck carefully. Feeling bold? Pump it up with the darker shade, all included in the Brow Ex-press palette by Anastasia.



Also, if your foundation looks too cakey, blend the makeup in your hand with some shimmery lip gloss to get a Hepburn-esque sheen. (P.S. Pinky's swear, this is probably not an everyday solution, but a-okay if you're rushing out to a vintage movie or cup of tea with friends.)


Delectable Trivia: Katherine Hepburn would order pecan turtles and other chocolate treats from Mondel's Chocolates, located at 2913 Broadway and 116th St., New York.

Buy it: Anastasia Brow Ex-press Palette ($38), Sephora; Mondel's Chocolates, 2913 Broadway, NY NY.

Lush Life

Check out my latest article on environmentally friendy beauty products on the cover of Chickspeak.com.

Open and Closed Case: Yves Saint Laurent Beaute Palette Esprit Couture

Leave it to YSL to produce of the most elegant compacts imaginable....

Buy it: Yves Saint Laurent Beaute Palette Esprit Couture, Bergdorf Goodman.

When Life Gets Serious, Think Punk Tigress and Bad Taste

Since I've been reporting a lot in journalism school, sometimes I get tired of using my nose to get into other people's business....which brings me to the topic of cartilage. If I was made of more cartilage, and not just the cartilage in my nose, I could swim happily in the sea all day long. Then I would never know anyone else's business again.

Here's my pick of beauty products you should never wear for business purposes or asking direly serious questions in.

So put on your playthings and.....

Get Wild
Shu Uemura Dazzling Diamante False Eyelashes would look hot with a clear gloss, and a modest black dress. Now don't cause a stir in the library!

Don't Pout

Manic Panic Pink with Silver Glitter lipstick. You never know when it will come in handy. You might want to outshine that track star with your mezzo-soprano voice.



Let Your Hair Down


The women who founded Manic Panic were also backup singers in Debbie Harry's early band, the Stilettos. Meow! Clip on a brightly colored Manic Panic fake hair Glam Strip in Bombshell.

And Crush 'Em


....which brings us to sensible shoes. Why bunch up your toes all day long for "the man"? Save stilettos for knockout pool parties, and leave them at home when you're doing business or algebra.



Don't get all shiny unless you're ready to be the party star. Jane Iredale 24K gold dust powder contains real gold, crushed 24K flakes. Try telling that to your computer--Now get out of here!

The internet is b-o-r-i-n-g, yawn, yawn, yawn, yawn, yawn.

Stay sexy, air kisses,
C

Buy it: Shu Uemura Dazzling Diamante False Eyelashes ($25), Shu Uemura online; Pink with Glitter lipstick and hair clip-ons ($6-15), many drugstores; red Candela high heels ($215), Ylli, Brooklyn; Jane Iredale 24K gold dust powder, 0.06 ounce size ($12), SpaSkin.

DIY Lesson: How to Make Your Own Perfect Cheek Stain in 30 seconds

When someone says "DIY" or "Do-It-Yourself," I often imagine poor young girls with mismatched socks laboring to make homemade crackers. This is good DIY though, because it's my homemade recipe for cheek stain. The final shade is identical to Tarte Cheek Stain, popular among us makeup addict-ettes. Also, it glides on a little smoother.

4 Steps to Cheeky:

1. Rub just a little Revlon's new Super Lustrous lip sheer in Ruby Radiance onto the palm of your hand. (Use this exact color, not the other ones!)


(it's larger in person.)

2. Pick up a small bottle of HobaCare Jojoba Oil ($3, at Whole Foods) and add the tiniest dab of oil. Use sparingly.



3. Rub together and then put it on your cheeks with your fingertips.

4. If you like, lightly dust with i.d. bareMinerals powder to help it set.

You'll look sexier, I promise.

So, what else is new?

Owls. Persephone's Bees is making dizzy, delightful music in my room, especially City of Love. And I have to go.
Gather some flowers with your rosy cheeks and we'll catch up soon.








Buy it: Super Lustrous Shiny Sheer in Ruby Radiance ($7), Walgreen's; HobaCare Jojoba Oil ($3, Whole Foods); i.d. bareMinerals SPF 15 foundation powder ($25), Sephora.

Did You Know Canadians Have Project Runway Too?

I know you watched America's Top Model.

But did you know Iman is hosting Canada's Project Runway?

To look like her (minus tons of diamonds), she recommends filling in lips with a lip pencil one shade darker than the natural color of her lips, using Iman Espresso Lip Pencil, or applying Iman Sheer Gold lipstick as a base. After that, you can dab on a thin layer of her new lip shine in Hypnotic, a brownish purple (see below).



Iman cosmetics available at Walgreens.com or in stores, through this Iman-tastic store locator.

Sephora's Lipstick of the Year: Dolce Vita by Nars

Sephora's Best Lipstick Winner

Out of more than 100,000 votes in Sephora's poll, the winner for best lipstick is Nars' Dolce Vita. Since you like lipstick, and so does Fellini, it all makes perfect sense.
This versatile, semi-matte shade has wowed thousands of women. Just beware of flatterers.



Sephora's Best Blush Winner

Nars also took home the category for best blush in Orgasm. It's a beautiful shade that compliments most skintones.

As a backup, I also highly recommend Lune d'Or blush by Bourjois, or #35 if you like to play with numbers. Just don't give out your digits too soon, unless it's for a manicure.

XO,
Charlotte





Buy it: Nars La Dolce Vita lipstick ($23), Nars Blush in Orgasm ($25), available at Sephora.

The Hills: Lauren Conrad Invades Your Closet...

Okay. Reality TV show The Hills can now be worn by you and you and you.

ShopLaurenConrad.com has been getting so much traffic right now, the official date of her clothing launch, that it's almost impossible to even click open a new screen on her site. As you know, Lauren Conrad signed up to be on a reality TV show about some sun-kissed Orange County teenagers, and ended up having her life rolled on film for years on end. (Poor thing.)

Best of all, LC's line of breezy, jersey dresses are just the type of thing she herself would wear. Now we can all have a scrap of Lauren, and revenge on her frenemy-party girl Heidi Montag, by buying her collection online--if it hasn't already sold out. Charge!





Hermit-friendly Product of the Day

To get a matching Conrad-esque tan, fake it with Terracotta Spray SPF 10 by Guerlain:



Buy it: Jersey dresses ($135-$150ish), ShopLaurenConrad, Guerlain Terracotta Spray SFP 10 ($54), Sephora.