Los Angeles Hello

I've been downright dizzy from a frenzied trip to Los Angeles, land of beauty do's and definite dont's.

Eyeshadow Government's beauty wrecking ball has decided: Collagen + lips tends to be a bad idea. Goldfish are not making a comeback. But marshmallows so are!

It's spring, and anything squishy or white is the greatest. That doesn't exclude Marshmallow Body Powder by Urban Decay ($26) or, in better taste, Phillip Lim's trendy silk number ($430).

Since I'm dizzy from activity, some woozy, swirly pink sugar perfume would be just fitting for my back pocket (Aquolina Pink Sugar Perfume Solid). Until then, ciao and adios muffins x.

It's Golden: Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic

There is something ultimately feminine about all the Guerlain fragrances, so we weren't surprised to find this honeycombed treasure was just right. Sticky weather and all, Guerlain's Aqua Allegoria in Mandarine-Basilic has pleasant and mentally clarifying orange notes. Remember, girls it's hard to remember all our important weekend errands in hot weather--see I"m already repeating myself--and the basilic is fancy talk for "basil." Another top note singing along in this Aqua Allegoria is the delicate white peony.

The Mediterranean may be a long plane trip away; yet a splash of this can transport your to the Italian coastline and wherever you need to go at the same time.

Buy it: Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Mandarine-Basilic ($50), Sephora.

--Charlotte
ps. Je ne sais pas why it says "advertising and publicity", etc, underneath here, but I'm on top of it, for now just literally.

Suggestive Summer: Bronze Looks

Carmindy of "What Not To Wear" has a new book of beauty tips, "The Five-Minute Face," and although it's hard to tell who's dumber--Carmindy, the makeup artist and "yang" of WNTW, or Stacy London, the cantankerous "yin"--we're always rooting for the breezy Carmindy. She looks like a pretty mannequin, but she's also way pro.

No matter how dowdy or deliciously dull their outfits are, Carmindy kinda fixes everything.

Her book recommends blending highlighter along the cheekbone, the area below the eyebrows, and in that little undereye area, right beside your nose. Now, Us Weekly also posted her bronzer tips.

But if you want to go whole Kahuna with self-tanner, remember the golden rule: think ahead (do white feet really match tan knees?) and Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate.

For a quick pop of sunkissed skin, we recommend Tarte Cheekstain in Bronze Goddess and also, Mineral Fusion's bronzers in Sparkle and Luster.



Buy it: Tarte Bronze Goddess ($28), Sephora; Mineral Fusion Bronzer ($25), Whole Foods.

Weekend Getaway

Fashion Look of the Day: Under the Sea

Hello, Rita Hayworth: Just for Redheads Mascara

Just when we thought we were stuck for Just for Redheads Mascara guinea pigs, a lovely redhead boy pranced into the living room. With his lashes coated with the rust-brown mascara, the result was very flattering and "natural."

Beauty Extra: Makeup artist Bobbi Brown has advised redheads to embrace, you guessed it, red. Rather than playing down features, play them up with redhead-friendly mascaras, like this one, and a bold red lipstick.

Buy it: Just for Redheads mascara ($16), JFRH store.

Latest Thrill: Black Poppies

The new CocoRosie album is blowing away this weekend, particularly a tune called "Black Poppies." This is our interpretation of the feeling we get from the song...

Face:
Apply a fine wash of transparent pink across the cheeks. [Product watch favorite: Laura Geller Powder Blush in Transparent Pink ($19)]


Eyes:
Try a buttery yellow on the lids, and delicately line the top lid and the bottom outer corner of the eyelid with black shadow. [Both from Nars' Artist Palette ($60)]


Swipe on mascara and when it's set, Revlon Lash Jewels ($10) is designed to "deposit" tiny crystal dewdrops on the tips of eyelashes for an out-of-this world effect.



Lips:
Add just a dab of color, with The Balm's lip stain in Beauty Queen ($14).

Yves Saint Laurent Baby Doll Perfume Collection

I almost licked my wrist when this perfume landed on me. The grapefruit note in the pink one is yum yum yum. Also, if you can't tell, the bottles are shaped like crystal spinning tops!

Speaking of which, my head's been spinning because of birthday celebrations--people throwing parties for me, me throwing parties for myself, and again and again forever. Being born is where it's at, and I believe all us fruity & delicious baby dolls have a lot in common.

Buy it: YSL Baby Doll Collection ($32), Sephora.

xo, Charlotte

Kinda Frenchy: Laundry by Shelli Segal Tote

We're suckers for vintage hand-painted looking things, like this, for shlepping our pile o' makeup across town. Very Parisian, non?

Buy it at Nordstrom.