Kendall Jenner's Chic $4 Tattoos

Model of the moment, Kendall Jenner, or I believe she goes by just Kendall now, was spotted on several runways during NYFW, but unfortunately for me, I didn't have a backstage run in with her.  I guess you can say I just couldn't keep up.  Since Tommy Hilfiger's show was music festival themed, lead makeup artist Pat McGrath was responsible for creating a vintage feel to the tattoo stencil and I have all of the info. Yes, she made $4 tattoo stencil from Walmart look chic enough for a runway show.

Believe it or not, you can buy the exact stencil, Twin Stars, from Tattoo Junkie at Walmart for only $4.  But in order to make it look chic like Kendall's, take a note from famed makeup artist, Pat McGrath.

Instead of just purchasing the stencil, make sure you purchase the ink from Tattoo Junkie as well and use a brush, like McGrath did to paint on the tattoo. Taking to the stencil with a marker of any sort won't give you the same look.  To get the same effect as Kendall, paint on the henna matte ink and go over it with a finishing powder like this one from Tattoo Junkie for extra staying power.

Identity Regret: When Tattoo Removal is Worth It

This may seem a little off, but have you ever thought about what you'd want written on your gravestone?  At 30 years old, and living each day that I possibly can with all of the positive energy I have, I surely haven't.  Which is why, at 30 years old, I'm looking at my tattoos including my tramp stamp and realizing I'm supposed to live and die with them; the symbols I chose to place on myself, permanently, to represent what I stand for.  There's one in particular, that certainly doesn't represent who I am.  And I question, did it ever?  And it goes...

At 18, my first tattoo was a gateway to freedom – college.  It was and still is a symbol that carries passion and determination.  The memories and experiences that it stands for make me feel alive.  Those who know me understand it and I love telling the story behind it to those who don't.  The same passion and determination I had then I still have now, and use it in different ways, which is unique.

I was 19 when I decided a princess crown was a good idea. The ugly master piece, which resembles more of a King's crown thanks to it's size, isn't much more than a tramp stamp.  I'll admit it was spontaneous and carries nothing but an emptiness with it.  Of course, I still laugh every time I think of that night.  Nineteen and naive.

With all of the ways we can express ourselves, why would I do that?  Truth is, I was bored. While some may be able to laugh off a mistake like this, I can't any longer.  As my fiancé says, "It's like putting a bumper sticker on a Ferrari."  Thanks, Joe.  About a month ago I tried my first laser removal treatment - PicoSure with Dr. Jeremy Brauer of the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of NY.

The new laser rids unwanted tattoos faster than any other laser out there and works like others.  As Dr. Brauer explained, "Individual ink particles absorb the wavelength of light emitted by the laser... the particles heat up and shatter into tiny particles that are then eliminated through the body's lymphatic system."  Only unlike other lasers, it takes less treatments.

I went for my first, which I was numb for and only took about a minute.  It's been a month, but after two months (that's how long it takes your system to rid the particles) I can go back for my second treatment.  The crown is significantly lighter.  I'm not against tattoos, as I have three.  I'm just saying maybe we should think a little more before we ink.  After all, I'm proud of who I am and am thankful I can clean up my mistakes.

3 Hot Luxury Items for Less: Diamonds, Gold & The Most Expensive Perfume in the World

When it comes to shopping for clothes and home goods, I'm a Maxxinista, but there's nothing like scoring a gorgeous pair of Louboutins or an ornate Alexis Bittar cocktail ring at sample sales.  There's something to be said about luxury.  We all want it, but have to be strategic in the ways we obtain it.  Retailers are now finding ways to bring their luxe items to the masses and I, for one, couldn't be happier.  Here are some covetable beauty buys that you may rethink purchasing. Perfume

Deemed the most expensive perfume in the world, Clive Christian No. 1 will have you smelling close to a million dollars.  The original retails for $865, but it's made with the rarest ingredients, of course.  This fall, V Perfumes was launched for half the price at $405.  Not bad considering.  The scent contains notes of honey and sandalwood on top of jasmine, orange blossom, rose and chamomile.

Manicure

How much would you actually spend on your nails?  When it comes to nail art some go to extremes.  Take Kelly Osbourne for example.  At this year's Emmy's she flaunted a $250K black diamond manicure by the jeweler, Azature.  The most expensive nail polish in the world has 267 carats of diamonds in it.  What happened to the diamonds when she took the polish off?  Crazy!  The company created a bottle of the sparkle for only $25 so you can DIY.

Gold Accents

This fall, ornate gold accents are in.  Whether it be in head pieces, makeup or jewelry.  A Dior cuff would run you about $500, but the brand just came out with these Golden Tattoos made out of 24K gold leafing.  From charms and rings to cuffs, the delicate tattoo jewelry is a true form of luxe for less, but less meaning $120.  Would you spend that much on a tattoo just to have something Dior?

The Scoop on Tattoo Removal

Do you have any tattoos?  How many do you actually still like?  I'll confess... I have more than one... and I hate one of them.  It needs to be removed as soon as possible, but at the moment, I didn't think before I inked.  Truth is – about 45 million Americans have at least one tattoo and nearly half of them regret it. According to an AskJeeves.com survey, about 50% of men find tattoos on women to be a huge turn off.  A very attractive man once told me, "Seeing a tattoo on a hot woman is like seeing a bumper sticker on a Ferrari."  Enough said.

However, getting tattoos removed isn't a walk in the park.  "Tattoo removal can take anywhere from three to twelve sessions depending on the depth and intensity of the coloring," commented Cameron K. Rokhsar, Medical Director of the New York Cosmetic, Skin and Laser Surgery Center... Sessions only take a few minutes each, but with each being a few hundred dollars, they can add up.

Prior to the lasering, patients are numbed so no pain is felt and Rokhsar explained that lasers with high concentration of colored light energy hit the color pigments that make up the tattoo in short bursts, which causes a shock wave in the skin temporarily dislodging the ink from its place. Once the color is removed from its place, the skin doesn't recognize it any longer and body removes it.

Thinking about getting a tattoo removed?  It's completely safe and worth the investment.

Chanel Gives New Meaning to Ink

Backstage at the Spring/Summer 2010 Chanel fashion show in Paris, makeup artists hand painted jewelry on models, but they weren't the only ones. Rodarte also painted their runway models with tribal patterns and Jean Paul Gaultier followed by using airbrushing.  

Chanel's Creative Director, Peter Philips, took the trend from runway to real-way by creating Chanel transfer tattoos called Les Trompe L'Oeil de Chanel.

Soon, they will be available online in fifty five different designs for about $75 each.  Leave it to Chanel to create a whole to meaning for temporary tattoos.