Preparing for the Cold

Yesterday I nearly froze to death as my house was about 50 degrees. Fall is here...and winter is coming. Every year between my early onset arthritis, constant typing (like now), writing, and the ability to go through pairs of gloves like toilet paper (I have long fingers and they always just stick straight through, o.k.?) my normally olive colored hands become achy, my nails brittle, and my cuticles a dry, cracked mess. So during winter break, the paraffin wax bath is always on. This year however, I am prepared. Each year I tend to find a lovely product by the middle of the winter that helps solve another problem (freshman year-cuticles, junior year- callouses, and so on). After some additional shopping this summer, I have successfully stocked my usual carry-all's with some lovely products to keep my hands in tip top shape all winter. Check them out, some are pretty nifty.

Best Manicure Substitute: I keep this hand cream in my school bag always. Senior year is killer and I have no time to wait for my paraffin bath to melt all that wax. So, I slather a dollop of this on my hands and get the same result. True Blue Spa Look Ma, New Hands! Softening Hand Lotion with Paraffin-$12 at Bath & Body Works.

Best Quick Fix: This is a cure all and a party clutch staple. Put it on your cuticles for a quick fix when you loose your mittens. Aside from that, this product also serves as a lip balm, a highlighter for your eyelids, cheek and collar bones, and works great to keep down flyaways. Oh yeah and it works wonders for ashy elbows and knees. Smith's Rosebud Salve- $6 at Sephora.

Best Long-term Fix: I was introduced to this gem freshman year just as my hands were starting to crack (no pun intended!) from all the typing and writing I did in my drafty bedroom at 4 in the morning. (I am too wired for homework at night.) My cuticles were a white and flaky mess until then. dab it on for a great long term fix as wax works to seal in moisture unlike petroleum products that simply add it. Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme- $5.99 at drugstore.com

Best Eco Friendly Delight: This product can be used on just about anything. In fact, I am trying it out on a different body part each day and the results are soft, soft, and softer. This product not only moisturizes but it also keeps moisture in to keep your hands from drying out again by the end of the day. Plus it smells amazing and is very eco friendly! Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter- $13.25 at Lush.
Best All Around Product: When you first put this product on it feels like you are rubbing essential oils on your hands. After a second, it feels like you have perfectly soft, youthful and not at all greasy hands! It moisturizes and leaves your hands feeling soft for the longest time. Plus it protects your hands from the winter sun which, when reflected off snow, can be pretty intense. This product delivers, period. Kiehl's Unusually Rich but Not Greasy At All-Hand Cream with SPF 10- $15.50 at Kiehl's.

Back from the Dead

Hello All!

I am incredibly sorry for the unannounced hiatus. I am back and here to stay! There will be a new post soon. Please comment and I will return the favor!

Peace, Love, and the best exfoliation of your life,

Bonnie Klyde

Look of the Moment: 1920's & 30's

This autumn, as you tearfully part with your French Connection Bikini and China Glaze in Turned Up Turquoise, eagerly fall into the gorgeous asthetics of the seasons Ready-to-Wear beauty looks. This time around, vintage is back full force with looks inspired by 1920's decadence and androgyny and 1930's classic beauty. It was seen full force on Dior's catwalk (left) with decadent makeup, Clara Bow eyebrows, and an old 30's treasure: the moon manicure. At 3.1 Phillip Lim it was all about androgyny with sleek, Louise Brooks bobs. Alexander Wang and Alessandro Dell'Aqua both went the route of classic 30's beauty with flowing, combed-out Veronica Lake-inspired curls.



Both decades were distinct and notable in that they were clearly shaped by their events of the time. However, each asthetic searches for one thing: glamour. When you try to channel these looks, think about what the meaning of glamour was for the women of that time. Was it fantasy? Romance? Stability? Strength? Look into primary sources like books and films of those decades. Take into account the major events of the time like the ex-patriot movement, women's sufferage, prohibition, or the great depression.

The Look: Modern Flapper Goddess

The Influences: Louise Brooks, Clara Bow, Colleen, Josephine Baker, Dior, Phillip Lim, The Great Gatsby, Prohibiton, Ex-patriot movement

The Products: Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Goddess-$16 & Bobbi Brown Longwear Gel Eyeliner-$21, Diorshow Blackout Waterproof Mascara-$24, & Chanel Hydrabase Lipstick No.3-$28 (To give you a silent screen mug all your own)

Chanel No. 5 Essential Bath Oil-$75 , (a modern take on the original classic scent of the 20's)

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Powder Pink-$25 ( flappers once put rouge on their knees to show them off when flashed while dancing)

Givenchy Eyebrow Show Powdery Eyebrow Pencil-$22 (no self-respecting modern flapper sans perfectly straight-line eyebrows would be caught dead without this product; cover your own brow in concealer and trace the curve of the brow above it with the pencil)

The Look: Old Hollywood Glamour with a Shimmery Update

The Influences: Veronica Lake, The Great Depression, Salvator Dali, Man Ray, King Kong (1933), Matisse, Art Deco Movement, Ginger Rogers, Myrna Loy, Mae West

The Products: (Counterclockwise from bottom right) Frederic Fekkai Glossing Shampoo & Conditioner-$23 each for 80z bottle (for weightless, shiny hair that stays moisturized even after the wrath of styling and brushing)

Frederic Fekkai Classic Brush-$95, Infiniti by Conair Professional Tourmaline Ceramic 1 1/2" Curling Iron- $25, CHI Rocket Professional Hair Dryer-$135 (to get the gorgeous soft hair of yesterday's starlettes, blowdry hair straight and then curl 1 inch sections with curling iron, then brush out to create a soft, doll-like look)

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Color in Vendetta-$30, NARS Nail Polish Limited Edition in Tallulah-$16, Chanel Le Vernis Nail Color in Golden Sand- $30, (you know those little circular reinforcements for hole-punched paper that you never actually use? put them to use by sticking them over the lunula while you paint your nails, after the polish dries, remove the reinforcements and add the top coat and viola, the moon manicure!)

Favorite Product of the Moment

When I think summer elegance I also tend to think french twists. I do adore the way soft focus curls frame one's face when worn up. Of course, humidity can inhibit this so one must have a back up. You'll find it in a light-hold gel. My current favorite is Lush's King of Mods Styling Gel. It's made with Almond and Camellia Essential Oils to moisturize hair and keep it shiny and strong. Plus it leaves your hair smelling like lime and grapefruit until you wash it out! (Belive me, that does not get tiring)

King of Mods Styling Gel - $16.45 for 3.5 oz

Bounce Back

Before I learned to accept my curly hair I constantly straightened it. For about 3 years I got my hair straightened every week and never let anyone but close family see my curls (or rather frizz). During that period of time, my hair got longer and longer, pretty soon I looked like the girl from The Ring. I also noticed something else: After getting my hair done each saturday, by about wednesday it would be a grease mop at the roots and a frizzfest at the tips. Another thing I noticed: if I went two weeks without shampooing, it resembled a wet mop. My bangs would form four separated strips and no matter how often I combed through them they always ended up looking like wax. Any of this sound familliar? Eventually I ended up embracing my curls (its easier to add moisture than to get rid of it.) However, I understand, sympathize, and even empathize with those of you who don't have such an easy solution to the problem. While curly hair has its problems too, I know the grass is not greener on the other side. So here are some solutions.

Lush Karma Komba Solid Shampoo actually uses citrus oils to have a reverse effect and balence sebum production. Wash daily and enjoy balenced hair with perfect shine and Patchouli scent. Lush Karma Komba Solid Shampoo-$$9.25 for 1.90z

Lush's Forever in Bloom Conditioner will give you crazy body. It conditions your hair to ward off breakage yet it's light enough to no weigh your hair down (aka you can rock a bouffant) Lush Forever in Bloom Conditioner-$16.95-$25.95

Get Inspired by: Matisse

"I feel through color." -Matisse

Counterclockwise from bottom center: Chanel Nail Enamel Organdy-$23, YSL La Laque Long Lasting Nail Laquer in Sublime Red-$20, Dior Bronze Original Tan-$42, Makeup for Ever Pure Pigments No. 26-$19, POP Beauty Nail Glam Nail Polish in Yellow-$14, China Glaze Nail Laquer with Hardeners in Turned Up Turquoise-$7, Rescue Beauty Nails in Recycle-$18, Urban Decay Deluxe Eyeshadow in Adore-$18, Manic Panic Cream Hair Dye in After Midnight Blue-$9.50, Vera Wang Princess Eau de Parfum-$74 for 3.4 0z, Chanel Hydrasoleil Lipstick in Soleil Astral Violet-$27

Find the Courage to Belt Out Touch my Body

I do not know anyone who does not want soft, touchable skin. It really is the key to a beautiful body. Lush's Buffy Body Butter was originally intended for the nether regions but is now recommended for all the goods. It contains fair trade Cocoa Butter (yay fair trade!) and Shea Butter for intensely decadent moisture as well as lavender and lemon oils to penetrate skin cells quickly. This butter also employs ground almonds, rice, and aduki beans to exfoliate shedding skin cells to keep pores from clogging. This product is super eco-friendly too. It's vegan. (Non-Dairy Brownie Points!!!) And its solid bar formula allows it to be free of preservatives! After testing it out in store I must say my right arm has never felt softer. Simply rub it on yourself in the bath or shower in a circular motion, rinse with warm water, pat yourself damp, and air dry (if possible.) You will be singing "Touch My Body" into your hairbrush in no time.

Lush Buffy Body Butter-$10.75-$21.35