Monthly Archives: November 2009

I don’t know if it’s NYC or if it has something to do with the economy, but through living the life of a single socialista I find myself asking the question… What happened to dinner?

I feel like it was a sudden change, like OMG dare I say, the elimination of parabens from beauty products? Whether educated on the subject or not, we all know by now that parabens are harmful to our health and to make sure the packaging clearly reads “paraben free.”

All of a sudden dating has turned from dinner after dinner and getting to know each other over great meals and endless conversation to a casual glass of chardonnay, then a few vodka sodas, maybe some blurry nights with… what’s his name again?    

Just as the beauty industry jumped on the “green” bandwagon, it seems single men or as someone once called them, “man-boys,” are jumping on this one.  Is the economy to blame?  Some men say so, but others claim it’s too easy to get what they want without dinner.  Ladies, you may want to think before downing that next glass of chardonnay.  

Allow me to introduce you to up and coming music sensation, Josh Cocktail, well, Josh, 24, from Boca Raton, Fl. He may not appear to be well groomed, but he swears he shampoos and conditions regularly even though it sometimes ends up in a big mat in the back of his head.  Hmm… Dig the rock star style? Read on and check out some of his songs on his YouTube channel.

What’s in your medicine cabinet?

colgate whitening toothpaste, one of those pocket beared trimmers that i rarely use, qtips, that molding wax for my friends that need to product there hair, big tub of cetaphil lotion, baby powder? dont ask

What product can’t you live without and why?

Ipods a must i need my music – im not gonna lie i listen to my own music all throughout the day but amos lee helps me decide on what im going to do at some points. im addicted to my blackberry but id like to think i dont need it as much as i do. cigarettes are a must and i cant function without my starbucks. grooming products i could take them or leave them- theres nothing specific that i cant live without, ill just use what i have.

How would you describe your grooming habits?

well, i brush my hair sometimes but usually only after it gets tangled into a big mat in the back of my head. i shampoo and condition regularly, i like to keep my hair healthy and like coming out of the shower smelling sweet. theres nothing like the smell of clean wet hair in your face. im not specific on what kind of cologne i wear, i mostly will just grab whats available (girls or guys). when my beard gets out of control i like to use that Schick bikini trimmer for chicks to cut it down a bit 

Have you ever gotten a manicure or pedicure? Why or why not?

never, ive had people try to get me to go but its just not in my agenda. wouldnt be opposed to it tho. i keep my nails clean tho and definitely appreciate a nice mani pedi combo on a girl

If you could have one night with any celebrity who would it be and why?  More importantly, what would you do?

Real talk, blaire from gossip girl just does it for me, ill watch that show just for her. Id sit her down at starbucks, order two lattes, have long conversations about life and music and sing her songs till she fell in love with me

What’s the first thing you notice about a woman?

teeth, always. something about a smile that can just draw me in to a girl….you can tell so much from a smile

Do you prefer a woman au naturel or all made up?  

natural, no make up, sweatpants, american apparel v necks, headbands..i dig it

How about down there?

Do your thing, whatever makes you comfortable, just keep it groomed

When it comes to a woman’s beauty what’s your sweet spot?

“when you smile it makes me smile” i think i fall for a  smile sometimes before i fall for the rest of a girl.

I don’t normally shop for my beauty products online because I feel I need the in store experience of smudging colors on my hand, smelling hairsprays and feeling a product before I purchase it to make sure I’m going to like it. To me, experiencing the color, texture, scent, and application can make or break a purchase.  However, I recently discovered a website strictly devoted to selling luxury hair care that I have to share, Lock and Mane. 

I appreciate it because it carries brands that you can never find in one place such as Lenor Greyl, Oscar Blandi, Klorane, Mason Pearson, Jennifer Behr, Hot Tools, T3 and Philip B.  From styling products, to stylish hair accessories, hot tools and treatments, Lock and Mane has it all.  These types of luxe products carry the credibility of normally being suggested by top stylists, which is why I like it.  Sometimes, you can also find significant discounts on top-noch brands.

To celebrate Lock and Mane’s new partnership with Korres, three lucky BeautySweetSpot readers will win a Korres Travel Kit valued at $40.  The kit contains mini versions of the brands Aloe and Soapwort Shampoo, Achiellea Conditioner, Basil Lemon Showergel, Vanilla Cinnamon Showergel and Vanilla Cinnamon Body Milk.   

All you have to do is comment below by telling me what your all-time favorite hair product is and why you love it.

Wearing a red lip is far from easy, but Leighton Meester nailed it at the 2009 Emmys this past September.  Thinking about trying it for the holiday season?   Go for it.  It can bring a level of elegance and sophistication to any pout, as long as it’s done right.  Joanna Schlip, Physicians Formula Celebrity  Makeup Artist, gave me some pointers on how to perfect the look.

First, you have to make sure you choose the proper shade for your skin tone.  If you have a pale, pinkish complexion, choose a cool, blue-red lipstick, whereas if you have a more olive complexion, go with a red that has an orange base.

Once you have the right color, pat foundation all over your lips and apply powder on top just like you would to your face.  Then, take a nude pencil and outline your lips.  

“When you decide to wear red lipstick, you’re making a commitment for the night and there’s no turning back,” commented Schlip.  

Before applying the lipstick, use a lip stain.  You can create your own with jell-o.  Just stick a wet q-tip into red jell-o mix and apply it onto your lips. Allow it to stain your lips as you finish getting ready.  

And now for the grand finale, just before you walk out the door, use a lip brush to apply your red lipstick.  The brush gives you better control over the placement of the pigment.

On Monday night Glamour hosted the 2009 Women of the Year Awards at Carnegie Hall in NYC honoring Rihanna, Maria Shriver, Stella McCartney, Amy Poehler, Serena Williams, and Maya Angelou… just to name a few.  I 
must say, less was more, because the au naturale look really stood out. 

Funny lady and honoree, Amy Poehler, was simply radiant with soft 
rosy cheeks and subtle eye shadow enhancing her blue eyes, but her bright pink lipstick was a clincher.  To get the look, I would recommend Stila’s Long 
Wear Lip Color in Coquette, a pinky- mauve and a great 
mascara with a brush that separates lashes like Max Factors Lash 
Perfection Stretch & Separate Mascara in 701 Rich Black. 

Currently starring 
David Mamet’s Race on Broadway, Kerry Washington, decided to keep her makeup at a minimum too. Simple black eyeliner lined the inner rims of her eyes and bright pink blush enhanced her bone structure.  I’ve found that Almay’s Blendable Eye Pencil in Black is 
really easy to apply and lasts all day. To get the bright pink hue on 
your cheeks try Too Faced OOH LA ROUGE.  It incorporates two complimentary 
shades, one for contour and the other for shimmer.  Pink Provocateur is perfect shade of 
pink that’ll give you a natural blush… kind of like the one I get 
when I look at Johnny Depp.