Eyeshadow Government's Test Results: Clinique's New Cleansing Foam

This should have been a no-brainer, but I've been pretty married to my hippie face wash. Either way, it turned out my face was ready for a change when I test-drove Clinique's new Clear Skin cleansing foam.

The Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam's main "spot-zapper" ingredient is salicylic acid, which I like better than benzoyl peroxide. If you have problem skin, you have to see what works best: benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, clay masks, essential oil-based face washes, or prescription medication from a dermatologist. Also, Clinique brings back memories of middle school, which was a very pleasant, un-traumatic period for me, contrary to most people's experiences.

Since I can't give up chocolate or gobs of makeup anytime soon, I will without a doubt be using Clinique's new cleansing foam lots and lots. This pastel bottle means business.

Buy it: Clinique Acne Cleansing Foam ($17.50), or the Clinique Acne Solutions Clear Skin System Starter Kit ($32.50) Macy's.

Well-Plumed for Saturdays: Boring Sidney & Zoe Cassavetes

I promised a follow-up on peacocks. A vintage hat from Boring Sidney caught our fancy.

And did I mention I just read that the Zoe Cassavetes (director of "Broken English") also wears Lipstick Queen in Saint Rose? And she's the daughter of the legendary film auteur John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands. Let's just say, I told you this lipstick was good news.

Buy it: Evelyn Jones hat ($90), Boring Sidney on Etsy; Zoe Cassavetes's shade Saint Pink ($19), Lipstick Queen.

Cookies

Got caught up at Whole Foods on Wednesday and ate some City Girl Country Girl or Country Girl City Girl Vegan Cookies. They're so special and new and yum, they don't even show up on Google yet. This empty space represents the Zen state of bliss they produce:

Erth to Charlotte

Spelling may not be their forte, but there's a little pot of Erth eyeshadow in my jeans pocket. Erth's dozens and dozens of mineral eyeshadow colors really makes my day--one type of antitode to the Terminator's colorful expressions.

Favorite shade: Fern.

Buy it: Erth eyeshadow ($5.25), www.lushbrush.com.

Dicey Décolletages: Some Advice

All over the subways are women in barely there slip dresses, busty tube tops, plunging backs, and other looks that would make George Washington look askance. As chicks, this is totally our right!

What I want to say is--and I'm not a complainer--that when wearing a skimpy low-backed dress (pictured below) or a pink vintage slip, do not wear boring, cheap high heels. "Cheap" is not a monetary amount; it's about not wearing horrible black fake leather pumps when all one's precious features are visible to the natural world.

Avoid a subway fashion don't, and stick to modest leather sandals and espadrilles. If you've got the attitude, pair that risky number with wild boots or boyish oxfords, and a feather in your cap.

(Next post will revisit the peacock issue.)








Buy it: Jeffrey Cambpell Wingtip ($79), Luxe Scoop Back Tee Dress ($48), both Urban Outfitters.

Lipstick is next to godliness

The eponymous lipstick guru Poppy King knows her lipstick. King's latest line Lipstick Queen is worthy of its name, a sumptuous palette of 60s and 70s-inspired shades.

Having discovered this line at Space NK in Soho (a schmancy dancy get-gorgeous beauty emporium), I tried Lipstick Queen's Saint Pink for myself. About a half hour later on the sidewalk downtown, a young gentleman desperately tried to strike up conversation with me, grasping at words....Like I care.

I just blew him off and took my hot lips home.

Anyhoo, life is good. How are you kittens?

XO,
Charlotte

Buy it: Lipstick Queen Saint Pink (see below, $19), just in at Space NK, Barneys, and the Darling Room in South Kansas City to name a few.

Sorry for the Hush: Can I Bat My Eyelashes and You'll Forgive Me

In all honesty, last month my backyard was the enemy of all blogging. But now that there's a heatwave in Brooklyn, just expect this to appear as a melted scrawl, written in rapidly disintegrating purple eyeliner.



This week's must-have accessory is air conditioning. Lacking that, there's Tarte's nautical-themed waterproof mascara, some mint tic tacs, and a cabana boy.




Buy it: Tarte Lights, Camera, Splashes mascara ($18), Sephora; Kenmore Air Conditioner ($90), Sears.

Roman Holiday: Fourth of July Essentials List

1. Sunblock: BBQing is for the grill, not your flesh

Many women harp on sunblock for reasons of vanity--heaven forbid a single crease should blemish your face. The only people with no wrinkles ever are, uh, Cher, and she's not even multiple people. So although one shouldn't aspire to the face of a dry-erase board, there's no excuse for not wearing sunblock. SPF 15 and higher sunblock is your best defense against skin cancer.

Try Neutrogena's SPF 45 Healthy Defense Untinted Sunblock or do the time warp with Neutrogena Anti-Oxidant Age Reverse Day Lotion SPF 20.


2. H20: Drink up

Salt water doesn't count, Pammy. I like Evian, Perrier, (80s throwback hooray), Fiji, babbling brooks, babbling...

3. A modest dress
for puritans and floozies alike.



4. BBQ hamburgers/veggie burgers and watermelon

5. Fireworks = you



Buy it: Neutrogena SPF 45 Healthy Defense Untinted Sunblock, Neutrogena Anti-Oxidant Age Reverse Day Lotion SPF 20, Drugstore.com or one near you; Meredith dress ($98), JCrew.

More On Eve...

And Eve's favorite lip gelee is Mac She-Boom. Sha-la-la....

The Faces of Eve

Click here for an IM transcript of Eve talking about MAC cosmetics!

Celebrities Have Feet....with Shoes

Head. Hurt. Logic.

Click the pic to see it big:




****Reprinted from LifeandStylemag.com.