Right now there is little question - the eyes - that is the EYEBROWS - have it

Beauty Wonkette couldn't help but notice that EVERY SINGLE BEAUTY AND FASHION rag known to humankind has been running non-stop pieces on EYEBROWS.  Well, as such, because BW is always looking for ways to ease your way to purrrfection, we bring you:

HOW TO FIX SOME OF THE MOST COMMON BROW PROBLEMS

Thin, unruly, patchy, stick straight. Chances are, you’ve faced at least one of these classic brow problems—probably multiple times. Consider this your go-to guide for the arch of triumph, courtesy of expert Sania Vucetaj, founder of Sania’s Brow Bar in New York.

PROBLEM: You have no arch.
No arch
SOLUTION: Honor what your mama gave you.
Instead of immediately plucking like a madwoman, use the natural space between your brow and eyelid to determine the shape your brow should take. “If there isn’t much space, remove hair to open up the eyes,” says Vucetaj. “If you have a lot of space, keep the hair fuller to avoid the ‘surprised’ look.” Remember to pull hairs individually in the direction of growth for best results.

PRO TIP: To prevent ingrown hairs and maintain precision, Vucetaj says to avoid threading (which yanks bunches of hair out in all directions) and stick to tweezing and trimming.

PROBLEM: Your brows have a mind of their own.
Mind of their own
SOLUTION: Draw and snip them into submission.
Using a brow pencil that contrasts with your hair color (a dark pencil for light hair, for example, and a light one for dark hair), draw your desired brow shape onto your existing brows. Next, carefully tweeze around the shape you’ve created and brush the brows upward. Trim a few hairs at a time along the upper brow edge until you reach the desired shape.

PRO TIP: To draw even more attention to your now-perfect arches, finish with a multitasking pencil

PROBLEM: Your brows are too short, patchy, or overplucked.
Short, patchy, overplucked
SOLUTION: Pencil them in.
You were going for Megan Fox, but you ended up with a big ol’ faux pas. Don’t panic: Use the stenciling trick above to outline the shape you wanted, then use a pencil that matches your hair color  to fill it in. Be careful not to press too hard, or you might pull some hairs out. Brows looking sparse? A brow powder can tackle gaps.

Ohhhhhhh honey :D

Honey, that celebrated natural sweetener, has long been one of Beauty Wonkette's favorite condiments (errr is honey a "condiment?"). While the amber nectar does wonders drizzled into a steaming cup of tea or added to a stir fry sauce (seriously—yummm), we love it even more for its sweet effects on our skin. Cleopatra is said to have taken milk and honey baths to keep her complexion supple, and now science has given us a wealth of reasons to follow suit. Behold, the many skincare uses of this precious nectar.

Moisturizer

Honey is a natural humectant, meaning the sugar-rich substance attracts and traps moisture in the skin. Loaded with nourishing vitamins and amino acids, it cranks up skin’s elasticity and soothes irritation (and can do the same for parched hair—keeping strands both hydrated and lustrous). Manuka honey in particular can be found in treatments for eczema and other dry skin woes. Did you know that you can apply honey directly to your skin as a hydrating mask?

Healer

Honey’s antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties are well documented, making honey a legitimate treatment for burns and other persistent skin wounds. Not to get all Grey’s Anatomy on you, but when an open wound comes into contact with honey, the nectar releases an enzyme that can effectively fend off infections and allow the sore to fully heal. Not only does it function as an antiseptic, but the golden goo creates a breathable, skin-like veil over cuts, acting as a kind of natural BAND-AID. (Only problem is, you can’t wear it under pantyhose.)

Skin Savior

With its high concentration of antioxidants (think: vitamins E and C), honey works as a natural after sun gel, soothing sunburn à la aloe vera while helping skin regenerate healthy new cells. And while we’re not saying to go ahead and reach for that bear-shaped bottle instead of your daily SPF, it never hurts to have this health-giving food working overtime to repair UV damage and help your skin recover. So the next time you experience sunbather’s remorse, ease your woes (and conscience) by slathering on some of Pooh’s favorite semi-solid.

Escape to beautiful Buenos Aires (in a bottle.....hehe)

It was a long time ago that Beauty Wonkette  fell in love with Buenos Aires. Indeed, it was BW's first grown up visit to South America and she couldn’t have been happier: the food, the late nights, the endless Malbec— Beauty Wonkette quickly realized that BA is a very special place. She goes back whenever possible, BUT since BW can’t go back as often as she would like (you wouldn’t believe the price of a plane ticket!), she is always looking for ways to bring a little Argentine flair to her life. That’s why AYRES, a brand inspired by BA, immediately caught her attention. Created by native Argentinian Alejandro Rasic, the entire line is an ode to the city—from the packaging, to the fragrances, to the name (in traditional Spanish, the name of the city was spelled “Buenos Ayres”).

Even though Beauty Wonkette was probably predetermined to like the products, we have to say that the quality really won us over. For one, Rasic infuses all of his products with 100% pure oils, which means that the scents are both lovely and long-lasting. BW is particularly hooked on the Midnight Tango Body Butter, which smells like the most amazing combination of sweet vanilla and orange blossom. The hydration, too, can’t be beat. We’ve been using this body butter after getting out of the shower in the mornings, and noticed that  skin stays moisturized for hours thanks to the formula's natural plant emollients and shea nut butter. So until you can find that cheap flight, look to AYRES’ sweet-smelling products as your passport to that South American paradise.

for $28 you can GIFT YOURSELF!

http://ayresbeauty.com/midnight-tango-body-butter-6-75oz/

Does winter make you ITCHY !!!

     For the most part, Beauty Wonkette's skin is on the oily side.  Not disgustingly so - except in the summer when BW is a walking oil slick - but most definitely on the oily side.  But THAT is BW's kisser; her body?  Not so much.  And, even though we are not big on turning on the heat unless it's truly frigid outside, preferring to depend on some very efficient fireplaces (with blowers), it still is the case that itchiness rises as the temperature drops.  If BW was to do nothing, we're guessing she'd be downright ashy by mid January.

     Slathering on butters, creams, lotions, etc. can be time-consuming, especially in the morning when time is short.  Beauty Wonkette tried that Vaseline Spray & Go moisturizer.  It's good for the summer, but the bottom line is that it really doesn't provide much in the way of real moisture.  Beauty Wonkette has a cabinet full of stuff that she's tried.  Alot of it is stuff that is pretty good.  But no holy grail.....  YET.  Maybe, maybe, maybe THIS:

SANS ACTIVATOR 7 BODY OIL

This is one of the best, chemical-free skin products out there for beautifying the body. Precise levels of Vitamin A, omegas and baobab oil normalize whatever your epidermis is experiencing, from dry patches to sun damage and, most incredibly, scars and stretch marks -- all with a smell that’s divine.  Slather it on when you step out of the shower and it lasts alllll day and into the night.  But, alas, it doesn't come cheap.

Sans Body Oil, $50 at woodleyandbunny.com

DIY Anti Aging Beauty Mask for Thanksgiving..... and NO it ISN'T a pumpkin mask!!!!

In honor of Thanksgiving, Beauty Wonkette brings you a DIY mask that she promises will transform an ordinary holiday grocery list item into a luxurious, anti-aging facial mask.

Sooooo, you ask - what's the mystery ingredient?

And no, smarty pants....it isn't PUMPKIN (although BW loves her DIY pumpkin masks....mmm) The "secret" ingredient is (drumroll pleez) CRANBERRIES!  Whether you’re making a sauce, side dish or dessert, there’s a good chance that this holiday staple will be making an appearance on your dinner table.

But something you might not know about this little red fruit is that it can be used for something even better than cooking or decorating…your beauty regimen!

When applied to the skin, this antioxidant-rich super fruit wards off wrinkles, reduces redness, and prevents any signs of skin damage.

Not only do cranberries help fight off the free radical damage that causes pre-mature aging and wrinkles, but the fruit's acid also acts as an exfoliant to restore moisture and clarity.

In addition, vitamins A and C help promote collagen production to give you a balanced, radiant complexion.

So this Thanksgiving, set aside some of the cranberries from your holiday recipes to make this easy, anti-aging face mask I created for you!

Here's what you need:
1 cup fresh cranberries
1 cup seedless red grapes
2 teaspoons grapefruit juice
1 envelope unflavored gelatin

Directions:

1. Rinse the cranberries and grapes and then add all the ingredients in a blender and puree until they form a paste-like mixture

2. Cover the mixture and place in the refrigerator for 30-45 minutes to thicken

3. Remove and allow the mixture to sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes

4. Apply the mixture to a clean face and neck and let it sit for 15 minutes

5. Gently wash off the mask with warm water and a soft cloth

Use this easy, at-home treatment twice a month to get glowing skin BW knows you’ll be thankful for. Now you can head into the holiday season looking and feeling your very best!

Stay beautiful my sister beauty wonkettes!

Nurturing Force Blot Out Offensive Primer

At one time or another, every blogger and just about every beauty / fashion rag I've ever read runs a "products that make up artists love" piece. Nars Orgasm blush, one Maybelline or L'Oreal mascara or another, Shu Uemura eyelash curler, yada yada yada.  Beauty Wonkette doesn't mean to imply that these aren't great items, because they are!  But, by now, we KNOW about them.  Well, Beauty Wonkette bets you can chalk this one up as a product we've never seen before. Makeup Artist Merrell Hollis swears by this all-natural primer for ensuring that his celebrity clients never, ever look shiny — even under bright, hot lights on set. 

Blot Out Offensive Shine + Oil Control cream absorbs quickly providing an instant matte canvas, HD Primer / Barrier, with anti-shine results without blocking pores. It controls oil secretions throughout the day, while supplying skin with needed moisture. Provides excellent adhesion for Airbrushed, Liquids, Powders, Creams Makeup + Body Art. Unlike many gel or silicone anti-shine products, you apply our cream with fingers, sponge or foundation brush, and can apply makeup instantly without waiting.  No tackiness, irritated dryness or sealed sensation to the skin.  Good stuff.

$24 at Le Cosmetique (a site you should definitely check out.....lots of good stuff)

There isn't much your $3 can buy at Starbucks, BUT........

It's sad but true.  There isn't much your $3 can buy at Starbucks, BUT do not despair my lovelies.  Even in these days of hyperinflation (like that word eh?), Beauty Wonkette has found something really good that your $3 CAN buy.... e.l.f. Cosmetics Lip Exfoliator ! Makeup artist (and creative director of e.l.f. Cosmetics) Achelle Dunaway lives and dies by this super-convenient, lipstick-shaped scrub. "Especially during the crisp winter months, lips always tend to dry out, and nobody wants to see flaky lips on a shoot or on the runway," she says. "A few routine swipes of this lip exfoliator, and lips are perfectly smoothed and conditioned."  Dunaway does not lie.  The stuff is awesome.  Beauty Wonkette has been making her own lip scrub for the past couple of years, but really, you just cannot go wrong with this stuff - especially not when it carries a $3 price tag.  It also travels alot better than Beauty Wonkette's usual little pot of lip scrub.

Ingredients:  Sugar, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Ceresin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Tocopherol, Aspartame, Fragrance.

$3, available at e.l.f. Cosmetics

What's this? Facial Moisturizer or LUBE?

Beauty Wonkette knows that in the past, she has posted about coochie cream to use on your face (as primer) and nipple cream for your pout.  So, she forgives you if you see a post about lube and think that Beauty Wonkette is going to propose that you use it as eye shadow or hair texturizer or something.  Ah ye of little faith......   This post is about LUBE to use as, well, lube!

The story behind Emily & Tony, the newest personal-care (a.k.a. sexy times) line to hit shelves, is one of sweet, simple beginnings. "We first met as kids," explains Anthony Sosnick (Tony), the founder of men's grooming line Anthony Logistics. "Emily's parents bought my family's house and then later on we ended up going to the same [summer] camp." The "Emily" in this equation is Emily Morse, a sex and relationship expert with a successful podcast. The two minds recently reconnected, many years after their summer-camp days, to create a collection of bedroom products that look so good you won't want to hide them in your nightstand.

Subtly sexual products like massage candles (that are as nice as they look) and their DownUnder Comfort (a sweat-wicking cream for private parts) are available now on the Emily & Tony website, but their all-star is the Personally Naturally Hydrating Lubricant, which comes out in September. "I have every single type of lube available in my house right now," Morse says of her hands-on approach to testing competitors' products. "Everyone should own a bottle of lube." She then rattles off a rather pragmatic list of reasons why lube is good for you (sex lasts longer, it's more pleasurable for the woman, it protects the condom from breaking, and so on) before concluding that most people still won't buy the stuff because it looks so obviously lubelike, to say nothing of the goo factor.

Emily & Tony's solution is a naturally derived lubricant that includes ingredients like aloe leaf, citric acid, and a marine-based moisturizer called carrageenan extract. It's also vegan, non-sticky, long-lasting, fragrance-free, and "compatible with latex condoms and silicone toys." The bonus? If you leave it out, it just looks like face lotion.  Nice.

Beauty Wonkette Nails the Path to the Perfectly Undone Look

Have you ever wondered how those J.Crew models get perfectly undone hair? Beauty Wonkette most certainly HAS wondered.  So, she searched for an answer and now she has it - and so do you :D.  The 'do is courtesy of this sea-salt spray created by Brent Lavett, the stylist responsible for the tousled manes on the website. Containing pure Maris salt, which is harvested from the only active sea-salt bed in North America, the product also includes Bulgarian rose and spirulina algae for softness, volume, and a subtle scent. Spray into damp or dry hair before twisting up into a bun if you prefer a more wavy look. And if you want that second-day piece-y effect, simply let it air dry.  Beauty Wonkette wishes she figured this out during the Summer, but hey - better late than never!

Lavett & Chin Original Sea/Salt texturizing mist, $30 at J.Crew.

Amazon's Quest for World Domination.....

Beauty Wonkette has learned that, in its continuous quest for world domination, Amazon launched its prestige beauty site this morning. Women's Wear Daily reported that the site will include 24 brands, including NARS, Deborah Lippmann, Stila, Burberry Body, and more niche brands like Japonesque and Cane + Austin. “We have heard very clearly from our customers that they are looking for luxury brands,” Chance Wales, Amazon's director of beauty and health and personal care told WWD.

Just the thing for the person who has ever thought, "Hmm, you know what's really missing from my shopping cart of sexy nostalgic teen romances (I mean Alice Munro)? A jar of $95 eye cream!!" No word on whether Amazon will engage in competitive price gouging techniques with other beauty retailers to drive the price of, say, La Mer Concentrate down. But here's hoping.

Free Vibrators During the Government Shutdown

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HOLY GUACAMOLE! Helping your hair recover from the sins and stresses of Summer

Do you find yourself in need of hair recovery from a summer-long binge of sun,wind, chlorine filled pools and salt water beaches? Beauty Wonkette surely does.  Before you head weeping to your stylist (and if you weren't weeping when you got there, you will be after you see the bill....hehe), try his totally natural, organic, CHEAP treatment.  Bottom line:  it can transform the driest, most damaged hair into glossy, “is that a mirror or your hair?” type shine.  Beauty Wonkette would not lie to you.  So what’s in it, you ask.  A laundry-list of never before heard of lotions and potions?  Nope. There are only two ingredients: avocado oil and aloe vera juice.  That’s it.  Aloe Vera juice, available at many organic and heath food stores, contains hair-loving amino acids and proteins, making it the prefect antidote to dry, frizzy, or damaged hair.   Avocado oil is high in anti-oxidants and hair-streghtening proteins, and is also a natural humectant, which keeps hair moisturized.  Buying tip: make sure to purchase the purest form of both, avoiding any added flavors, sugars or starches.   To apply, create a mixture using a ratio of one part avocado oil to two parts aloe vera juice, and saturate dry hair from root to tip.  The longer and thicker your hair, the more of the mixture you’ll need.  Comb through to ensure even distribution, and cover with a plastic cap. Let it sit on you hair for at least 30 minutes before shampooing as normal.   Warning: use of this mask may lead to girls standing behind you and applying lipstick.

Go ahead, bat those NATURALLY lush lashes....

These days, there seems to be a multitude of products and serums promising fuller, thicker eyelashes – many with harsh and unwanted side effects.  Many have turned to them, feeling they had no other choice in the quest for luscious lashes. Well, Beauty Wonkette is all about offering choices :D.  So, before you opt for the prescription pad, try something from your kitchen pantry (drum roll please) CASTOR OIL.  A common ingredient in 100s of beauty and skin care products, castor oil has been touted to aid in hair growth for centuries (it’s actually one of the top ingredients in lash growth treatments!). As with any new treatment, be sure to always test it on a small area to ensure there are no adverse reactions.  Once you’re sure there aren’t, following your nightly skin care routine ,take a clean mascara brush and give your eyelashes and eyebrows a light coating of castor oil – be sure to ONLY use organic cold-pressed castor oil – any other kind may have skin-irritating chemicals and additives.  Don’t worry about it causing blemishes – castor oil is well-known for being non-comedogenic.  Simply wash your face as normal in the morning, and be prepared to be amazed – some have reported a noticeable difference after only several days!

Recession Concession: DIY Olio Lusso

Unless you live under a rock, you have heard of this luxury facial oil.  It's enjoyed cult status for several years now.  Beauty Wonkette read about this stuff for a couple of years before trying it herself.  You've already heard the story.  Beauty Wonkette is an oily girl and until she learned to stop being an idiot, she was uber reluctant to use anything "oil" on her kisser.  It didn't take long to love this stuff.  It smells delicious and feels even better.  And, if it wasn't $150 an ounce, Beauty Wonkette would slather it all over her body.  But, it IS $150 an ounce.  True, the ounce goes a long way (if you use it on your face, that is).  And, it's a small price to pay for a totally natural face oil so loaded with goodies it acts like a wheat grass shot for the skin. After 40 years as a top stylist and beauty editor, Linda Rodin blended her favorite oils known for their nourishing, refreshing and soothing properties. The result was this luxurious, aromatic oil that feeds & balances skin whether it's dry, greasy or sensitive. It builds radiant, balanced skin, much less prone to breakouts and it makes you smell gorgeously of jasmine. Beauty Wonkette has been known to add a few drops to foundation for a deliciously dewy effect.  Most days, BW goes sans foundation and likes to rub a tiny drop or two (any more leaves behind a greasy residue) on cheekbones and under eyes for a beautiful, fresh glow.

Soooooo WHAT is inside this precious, pricey bottle?  Well, here are the ingredients:

Jasminum officinale (jasmine) oil, prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil, simmondsia chinesis (jojoba) seed oil, oenothera biennis (evening primrose) oil, rosa canina fruit oil, arnica montana flower extract, calendula officinalis flower oil, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) flower oil, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, argania spinosa kernel oil


AND here’s what those natural ingredients provide your skin:

Jasmine Oil: Known for its calming effect on the skin and ability to help increase elasticity
Sweet Almond Oil: An excellent emollient infused with vitamins A, B and E as well as minerals and fatty acids
Apricot Seed Oil: Keeps skin supple with oleic and linoleic acids as well as vitamins A and E
Jojoba Oil: The best carrier oil (at least in BW's humble opinion) for all skin types, replete with vitamin E and magic.
Evening Primrose Oil: Can ease swelling/puffiness and increase blood flow
Rose Hip Oil: High in vitamin C and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) which helps smooth fine lines around the eyes and mouth
Arnica Oil: Another great oil for keeping swelling and puffiness at bay; it’s also a natural healing oil for cuts and scrapes
Calendula Oil: Super-moisturizing oil rich in antioxidants that fight free radicals
Neroli Oil: Loaded with vitamin C and minerals to help improve elasticity and circulation, stimulate cell growth and soften the appearance of wrinkles
Sunflower Oil: Rich in fatty acids that moisturize and protect the skin
Argan Oil: Loaded with essential fatty acids and antioxidants that improve skin’s overall vitality

Obviously, some of these are carrier oils and some are essential oils.  The only one that is fabulously expensive is Jasmine.  Beauty Wonkette went to work to try to recreate a comparable mix - one that she CAN slather all over her body :D  She combed the internet, looked at what others had done, and played around.

Here's a recipe you can try at home:

Sunflower 2 tablespoons
Rice bran 1 tablespoon
Sweet almond 2 Tablespoons
Apricot 2 Tablespoons
Jojoba 2 tsp
Argan 1/2 tsp
Camellia 1 tsp
Jasmine e.o 1 /2 tsp
Sweet orange e.o 1/2 tsp

Neroli absolute 3 drops

BW subbed out the Calendula, Evening Primrose, Rose Hip and Arnica because they're a little too rich for her skin, but don't hesitate to play around with variations.  This version is very smooth, and when applied on barely damp skin, it seals in the moisture and makes it soft as silk. It isn't oily when you use just a couple drops warmed in the hands for the entire face and neck. Smells nice too!

Forgive me Father (or facialist, or dermatologist, WHATEVAH) for I have sinned........hehe

If you are anything like Beauty Wonkette, no matter how hard you try to be good,  you KNOW you are guilty of a few beauty sins. (BW isn't religious but is guessing the confessional booth is one of the busiest spots in your local Catholic church).  Or, at least that's the thinking behind this new Australian beauty line. Aptly named Sin Care, it focuses on your skin-wrecking sins — too much sugar, overindulging on the alcohol, smoking — rather than promoting benefits like brightening, clarifying, etc. that conventional products tout.

The brand is focusing on the so-called "extrinsic" agers, a.k.a. those lifestyle choices we make that cause our skin to age faster. These vary from "intrinsic" aging (chronological) in that they aren't the same in everyone — they will differ based on your location, hobbies, and diet. This lifestyle-based approach to anti-aging makes it easy to know which super-concentrated serum is right for you — no more staring at a bottle of skin cream and wondering if your complexion needs to be brightened or evened out. 

With Sin Care, you pick a "sin" — Party Girl, for the drinkers; Urban Renewal, for city dwellers; Sun Goddess, for the UV worshippers; Line Rewind, for those that have neglected their skin over the years; Relaxation Sensation, for the stressed; Sleep Doctor, for the insomniacs; Sugar Hit, for those with a serious sweet tooth; Smoker's Secret, for the nicotine (ewwww) addicts; and Skin Coach, for fitness freaks (because working out too much causes you to lose vital minerals, apparently). Guilty of multiple sins? Hehe......weg. The good news is these serums are designed to be layered and combined, so you can customize for your specific issues.

While Beauty Wonkette highly doubts any topical product is going to erase the damage done by something as harmful (and, sorry ladies, DISGUSTING) as smoking, we do like the fact that the brand has made it easy to pick the right product. I mean, Beauty Wonkette is your resident expertsover here and even we have our fair share of head-scratching in the beauty aisles when faced with some of these crafty marketing claims and wording. By pinpointing lifestyle aging factors, it makes it easier for us to zero in on what we actually need, rather than what we think we maybe might need.

If you need enticement, Lovelyskin.com has a special offer going on RIGHT NOW.....  You know you love free stuff - follow this link :D

An End-Of-Summer Skin Savior

Certain beauty products — think NARS blush in Orgasm, Clinique's Black Honey lipstick — are so good, they're practically famous. And, while Beauty Wonkette does love so many of those well-known, well-loved products with a loyal following, we've been wondering why others have been quietly flying under the radar. With that in mind, you know you can count on Beauty Wonkette to introduce you to the products you really, truly should know about (and try, like, right now). They're not brand-new, but trust Beauty Wonkette: they've got some MAJOR staying power going on....

Perhaps you've never heard of Hungarian beauty brand Éminence Organics. If so, tis a shame, because this under-the-radar organic skin-care line has got it!  Oh yeah - talk about going on... Beloved by spa professionals, the expansive collection of pure masks, cleansers, treatments, and serums are some of the most efficacious and downright pleasurable products to use. 

It doesn't hurt that many of the treatments smell and sound good enough to eat: Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant, Pumpkin Latte Hydration Masque, Mimosa Champagne Sugar Scrub, Coconut Milk Cleanser, and Quince & Ice Wine Masque. You can actually see pieces of the plants that the products are named after, which is why this ultra-green line is a favorite of eco-beauty enthusiasts.

When it came to narrowing down which product Beauty Wonkette wanted to highlight, we had a really hard time.  In all honesty, after being an avid user of Eminence treatments for years, Beauty Wonkette thinks the brand itself deserves Cult Classic status. There's just too much great, amazing, healthy stuff to choose from for us to call out just one. After some research, we found celebrity aesthetician Joanna Vargas' (an organic-beauty advocate and the woman responsible for giving Michelle Williams her enviable glow) take. Vargas has been using Éminence products at her NYC salon for ages and is a true superfan. Her pick for the best of the brand? The Seven Herb Treatment.

"It's not one of their sexy, new products — in fact, it's been around as long as the company has," says Vargas. "I love it, because it’s both hydrating and healing, so I can use it on dull, dry skin at the end of summer, and it’s great for acne as well. It's loaded with antioxidants, plus red clover and peppermint, and it contains ground ivy to tighten pores, honey for hydration, and balances the skin with zinc. I can't imagine life without it!!" 

Are you sold yet Wonkettes?  Seriously, though, if you haven't checked out this line yet, Beauty Wonkette HIGHLY encourages you to do so. It's got products for every skin type and concern imaginable, and it really is just an all-around outstanding organic line. 

Éminence Organic Skin Care Seven Herb Treatment, $34.97, available at Amazon. 

This facial is some kinda good, clean, fun!!!

If you had  told Beauty Wonkette last week that she should be taking a spray can to her face, chances are pretty good that she would have slapped yours!  But, that was before Beauty Wonkette read about Clayspray on Daily Candy.

Now we can’t get enough. The aptly named Clayspray packs mineral-rich masks into airtight, aluminum bottles so they stay fresh with every pump. Each package is color coded and labeled with active ingredients that fight specific skin problems.

Mattifying helps balance oil; Glow boosts cell turnover with cocoa seeds. Pore Refining sucks out toxins while retaining moisture. Toning uses aloe vera to calm redness and treat hyperpigmentation.

Brightening, one of Beauty Wonkette's favorites, infuses ginseng into its exfoliating formula. After fifteen minutes, our skin radiated with the afterglow of an hour-long oxygen facial.

Two types of water mists — mineral and green tea — quench the dermis before and after treatment.

Ready, aim, fire.

Available at beautyhabit.com, $24-$60.

Time to undo the damaging effects of summer....

Beauty Wonkette had an awesome summer (and hopes you did too).  The weather was the best it's been in years; perfect for playing in the sun, swimming, boating, beach stuff in general.  But now, Fall is almost upon us.  Beauty Wonkette has always loved Fall; loved going back to school, loved the colors, the crispness in the air.  You too?  No doubt, it helped if you were one of those kids wh got straight A's during your years schooling :D.   BUT nothing could have prepared you for the distressing post-summer strands we all see every Fall.  Loaded with chlorine, over-exposed to the sun and washed one too many times in hard water, your hair screams for so much more than a clarifying shampoo—it cries for a major makeover.  The summer months also sabotage the hair by blocking haircolor penetration.  Well my fellow wonkettes, NOW is the perfect time to start undoing the damage we did over the summer (Beauty Wonkette will address other "summer damage" issues in future posts, too, so DO stay tuned).

Do not despair!  Beauty Wonkette is here to help you make magic on even the most hard-hit of hair.  Malibu MakeOver is a 100% vegan wellness treatment from health-based beauty brand, Malibu C.  In just two simple steps, Malibu MakeOver’s all-age appropriate formula works on damaged, discolored locks, turning them into swingy, shiny strands.  With this safe, gentle hair helper in your arsenal, back-to-school season can be one when you look GORGEOUS.
 
The professional but uber-easy to do at home treatment starts with a Crystal Gel Normalizer, a mix of freshly activated, antioxidant vitamin crystals which gently pull cloying pool chemicals, malicious H20 mineral deposits and perturbing product buildup to the scalp’s surface where they can be rinsed clean away.  The second step in your MakeOver kit is Miracle Repair Power Protein Builder, a gentle gel which uses plant proteins to restore the inner hair structure only in the places it has been damaged, strengthening strands against further harm.  The healthy hair that’s left behind is “totally transformed in terms of tone, texture, vibrancy and health,” attests Malibu founder and CEO, Tom Porter.  “It’s truly an amazing difference in hair!”
 
Malibu C’s two-part Malibu MakeOver treatment is free of chelators, parabens, propylene glycol and is full of food-grade, 100% vegan, natural ingredients.  So what are you waiting for?  Malibu Makeover is readily available with a quick Google search.  Even if you haven't seen a classroom in decades, you'll be ready to move to the head of the class!

Beauty Wonkette is Loving Shu Uemura Art of Hair Touch of Gloss

Sometimes your hair bestows upon you one of those magical days when every strand falls into perfect place. But while it's winning in the style department, it might be missing some shine (especially if it's day-two hair). Shu Uemura's latest product, Touch of Gloss, is a lightweight gel-cream packed with mica minerals that will give your follicles that salon-fresh brilliance back. A small dollop is best applied to both wet or damp hair for a quick-absorbing finish that won't leave behind that stickiness sometimes associated with similar products. And, best of all, the cherry-blossom scent seems to last even after you've washed the stuff out.

Shu Uemura Art of Hair Touch of Gloss Brilliant Melt-in Balm, $38

Blow me baby ! or :D The Brushless Blowout Tutorial

For all my fellow Beauty Wonkettes who DO NOT reside in NYC, let me tell you.....  blowout psychosis has seized the town.  There are "blow bars" everywhere you look.  Hi end blow bars, bargain blow bars.... No wonder Bill Clinton has chosen NYC as his hometown....

Anyway, Beauty Wonkette is more of a do it yourself kind of gal, so when New York magazine's The Cut ran this tutorial, BW studied it like she hasn't studied since she took her bar exam.  And, it changed her life!  (Well, okay, maybe not her LIFE, but her hair looks AWESOME).  Here it is, my lovelies:

Step 1: Create sections in the "mohawk" area of your head. Lift up a section, starting from the front of the head, and liberally spritz volumizer directly into the roots. "Product application is key," Josh mandates. "This is the foundation to getting the product in the root which will help you keep the style all day long." Tip: "Do this section by section through the Mohawk area until your arms physically can't go backwards anymore, then you've done enough."

Step 2: In the same way you sprayed product in sections, blow dry your hair systematically from the top. Aim the nozzle of the dryer right at the roots, while using your free hand to lift and tug the hair up as your move along. Tip: "Get the blow dryer in there while your hair is still wet with product. Once the hair is dry you've lost your chance."

Step 3: Starting at the top of your head, grab a section of hair and aim the blow dryer from behind. You'll notice a beveled shape in the hair, almost like a pompadour. Blast it with hot air. Once hair is dry, finish that section with a cold shot of air to set. Do this repeatedly through the Mohawk section of your head until your arms can't reach back anymore.

Step 4: For the very back of your head, blast hot air to dry follicles while running your fingers throughout your head. No sectioning or lifting necessary.

Step 5: Use your fingers to style and shape your finished look.

BTW, that's hairstylist and colorist to the stars Harry Josh doing the errrr blowing.  He's using the The Harry Josh Pro Tools Pro Dryer 2000.  Apparently, Harry decided to teach us his brushless blow out technique to show off his new dryer's styling abilities.  "It's to avoid that uptown look," he explains. All it takes is lots of volumizing spray (he chose Serge Normant Meta Lush Volumizer) and his new toy.  His dryer looks awesome, has all kinds of whistles, and lights, and stuff, but it also runs about $300.  Beauty Wonkette would love one, but she's managed to master the technique with her current blow dryer.  You can too!

Make your own Color Depositing Conditioner with FANTASTIC results !

If you color your hair, no matter how well you care for it, the color eventually fades. I've tried the various color depositing conditioners out there. Aside from the fact that they're expensive, I also hated all of 'em.

My hair stylist provided me with the solution. Since I'm in a generous mood (and not in the hair coloring business :D ), I thought I'd share.....

Mix equal amounts of your color of choice and 10 or 20 % developer - I use between 1/2 to 1 oz. of each, but I have ALOT of hair

plus

Approx. an equal amount of your favorite lightweight conditioner - I use 2 oz.

You can use shampoo instead of conditioner but it doesn't deposit near the same amount of color as using conditioner does.

If you only want a temporary color boost you can skip the developer, but Beauty Wonkette thinks this is a waste.

Apply to towel dried hair and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse.

In addition to using this to refresh my hair color, I have also used it to adjust my color when I felt it necessary i.e. to add more red tones, to tone done red, to create depth, etc

In a pinch? Beauty Wonkette's Anti Ouch Guide :D

Okay, my lovelies.  Repeat after Beauty Wonkette: This will be the summer I do not destroy my feet.

We really want you to keep your promise so here a few ways to protect yourself from blisters, cuts and other icky injuries--without forgoing style, of course.

Prevent rubbing
Before strapping yourself into a new pair of gladiators (same goes for flip-flops), coat your feet with a blister-preventing balm such as Sole Goddess. We’ve used Body Glide for years on the back of our heels and anywhere a strap might hit.

Keep your feet in place
It’s basic gravity: Sweaty feet slide forward. Keep your tootsies where they should be by inserting nonslip pads into your shoes. Beauty Wonkette also suggests (stop making that face and TRY IT) using medical tape to secure your pinkie toe to its little-piggy neighbor. This combats the painful smushing commonly associated with peep-toes.

Have spare flats on hand
Beauty Wonkette's purse approximates the size of Texas.  However, we don’t care how small your purse is; you can fit a pair of roll-up ballet flats in there. If you can't, you deserve a new, adult size purse. Pop ’em on when your stilettos give out.

Learn how to wear heels
If you’re going to insist on Louboutins, Jimmy Choos, and Manolos (we know we do), at least know how to walk in them. Shoe-loving podiatrist Emily Splichal’s book, Everyday Is Your Runway, teaches the basics of foot safety.

Hint: After a night out, roll each foot on a tennis ball to avoid arch pain.  Even better:  Get your honey to give you a foot massage.  Mr. Beauty Wonkette has become an expert (because practice really does make perfect).

Does your foundation kind of roll off your face even when you use a primer? Beauty Wonkette SCREAMS : "get a Beauty Blender"

It is only very recently that Beauty Wonkette even thought about wearing foundation (fancy shmancy job requires a more "polished" look), but alas, she found that she HATED everything she tried.  Fast forward to tinted moisturizer.....meh....no joy.  BB cream.....  CC cream......  DD cream..... (ok, now that we've proved we know the alphabet, let's move on.

Bottom line: nothing seemed to work.  Either the look was unnatural or greasy or chalky or just not very good.  To add insult to injury, most products seemed to ball up or pill (I KNOW you know what I'm talking about).  Finally, a good friend who really is into makeup (which BW generally is not) recommended a Beauty Blender sponge.  Beauty Wonkette rolled her eyes.  She'd already invested a small fortune in a variety of brushes.  Was she really going to go out and spend $20 on a damn sponge?!?!?!  C'mon now.  OF COURSE!  And Beauty Wonkette is just so glad that she did!

According to the corporate website, the BeautyBlender sponge claims to be the ultimate makeup sponge applicator. Invented by Rea Ann Silva, a Hollywood makeup artist, the sponge purportedly leaves users with a “professional finish and a flawless complexion” thanks to its suede-like material. Speaking of the material, it is latex-free, non-allergenic, and free of any odors.  Definitely a plus.  BW is going to skip all the verbiage about how to use it, etc.  Read the damn directions my lovelies :D.  The only truly important issue is whether it works.

The quick answer? YES!  Yes, it works wonderfully. BW has been using it for a month now and has had results that are nothing less than FLAWLESS.  No streaking, totally smooth, no pilling or beading anymore.  BW retried every highly recommended product she rushed out and purchased, then rejected.  Every single one of them suddenly looked natural.  Even the thicker stuff looked non-cakey or chalky.  In fact, except for the fact that her skin suddenly looked flawless, it would be very hard to tell that she had anything on at all!

The ONLY drawback is the cost.  But when you consider what you would otherwise spend on a good foundation brush, it's a bargain.  And, the Beauty Blender is readily available both in stores and online.

She's a rainbow..... at least temporarily :D

Beauty Wonkette has a job that demands respectability and normally, she complies.  But during the crazy, hazy, lazy days of summer, between weekends at the beach, music festivals, casual poolside parties, well, summer SCREAMS for Beauty Wonkette to experiment.  But, since those experiments really do have to be temporary, BW decided to enlist some help to achieve a temporary rainbow makeover for her tresses.  Wanna play?

Colored Hair Gel
This gel is opaque, so it works well on dark hair. Start by creating some neon streaks with the gel using your hands, raking them through your hair.

Pull your hair back into a ponytail — the messier, the better.

Continue streaking your hair by coating small sections throughout the ponytail with gel. To finish the look, wrap a heavily-colored strand of hair around the elastic.

If you prefer a messy bun to a ponytail, twist the hair around into a voluminous bun and secure with bobby pins.

Isn't that cool fun?  It was SUPER EASY.  There are other products you can use:  hair chalk (which Beauty Wonkette found super difficult to work with) is one, spray on color another (easier than chalk, but harder to control than gel).  But, especially if you have dark hair, BW thinks hair gel is most definitely the way to go.

It's easy peasy and fun, so go ahead and play.  You really have nothing to loose.  BW used:

Manic Panic Dye Hard Dry-Hard Temporary Hair Color Styling Gel, $8.40, at Walgreens.

Strolling off, humming softly SOMEWHEREEEEE OVER THE RAINBOWWWWWW.......

Can a Serum REALLY Mimic the Effects of Botox?

Tata Harper has plump, youthful-looking, stare-inducing skin. Her skin is so luminous, it's difficult to concentrate on the words that are coming out of her mouth. Recently, Beauty Wonkette had a front row seat as Harper was explaining the active, all-natural ingredients (completely devoid of synthetics) in her latest set of skin-care products.  Despite the fact that Beauty Wonkette's mama told her not to stare, all Beauty Wonkette could do was stare at her seriously glowing, wrinkle-free, even-toned complexion. BW seriously had to sit on her hands because she had this weird impulse to reach out and touch it.  Beauty Wonkette DOES have some self control, however.  So, instead, we took a sample of her Boosted Contouring Serum, the first to launch in a new trio of serums (the others will debut next month) and slathered it all over our face for three days.

Harper has been perfecting the skin-tightening formula (there are 35 active ingredients) for the last three years. It's packed with the 29 actives from her Rejuvenating serum, plus extras like pomegranate hydrospheres (for increased hydration), brown-algae extract (a collagen booster) and L-orinithine ionosome (an amino acid extracted from vegetable starch that helps tighten and firm). But the one that provides the feeling of instantaneous improvement is hydrolysed rhizobium, a natural polymer found in plant roots. Its job is to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and give your skin a more "lifted" look. All told, the serum is meant to create a natural Botox-like effect.

The texture itself is a bit creamier than your average serum. This one still rolls onto the skin nicely and will immediately absorb and hydrate your complexion (you can probably skip your regular face cream, if you use one, on a humid day). As soon as it's on, you'll feel an immediate tightening sensation; it isn't too far from dried Elmer's glue. Harper suggests you apply the stuff morning and night. Beauty Wonkette preferred to smear it on in the mornings because she loved the instant wide-eyed effect that took place around her ocular region (especially after a long night out). It layers nicely under tinted moisturizer, too. BW didn't slather the stuff on at night because the scent itself was a bit too overwhelmingly floral for Mr Beauty Wonkette.

The stuff ain't cheap, but it's cheaper than botox AND there are no needles involved.  Also, a little goes a long way.  It's available on Harper's website, at Bergdorf Goodman, ABC Carpet & Home, and probably, by now, other places.  It definitely has Beauty Wonkette's seal of approval.

Too Busy To Get Your Roots Touched Up? Perusing the Products that MIGHT Change Your Life!

Try as Beauty Wonkette might, she has never been one of  those girls who have their hair color appointments booked an even six weeks apart. Translation: Even though she has mastered coloring her hair at home, Beauty Wonkette has most definitely  seen her fair share of unruly roots, sprouting grays, and lackluster tone — but who has time? Not Beauty Wonkette.  Especially since it seems to be the case that her roots look fine until they suddenly DON'T.  Aaaargh.

The obvious solution is temporary root cover-up, which claims to make a fast, easy difference in the short-term without a trip to the salon (or an at-home dye job). True, there are good ones out there — one Beauty Wonkette winner  is the Color Wow kit — but also many that are messy, or just plain ineffective. To shed some light on this ever-expanding category of products, a writer over at The Cut took seven for a spin, and chronicled any and all side effects — from spots on her scalp to "fingernails full of soot." Yikes.

Lo and behold, there were three fail-safe winners that got the job done with minimal mess — click to read the full reviews! (The Cut)

Color Wow is always available at Ulta for about $35

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod5310185

The Return of Beauty Wonkette :D

Beauty Wonkette honestly believed that despite a new hubby and an international posting, that she could still blog.  Ahem.  Listen up 'cause this is something you won't hear all that often:  (she clears her throat...) BEAUTY WONKETTE WAS WRONG!  She tried.  It was impossible.  But, we're home, settled into our new abode (at least as settled as Beauty Wonkette gets), and BW's schedule is under control.  In short, Beauty Wonkette has returned!