Bobbi Brown - Makeup Manual

Like any self respecting makeup junkie I not only spend my fun money on makeup, makeup and more makeup, I also keep abreast of the latest makeup related publications.

If there is anything that competes with shopping for, playing with, and taking home my brand new makeup goodies it has to be reading about makeup in glossy magazines (Allure being the winner) or books.

As I have mentioned I am a HUGE Kevyn Aucoin fan and was heartbroken when he passed away. His books are regular perusal material and I love studying his technique and picking up tips and tricks.

Bobbi Brown has to be a close second for me and I have been waiting for this kind of book from her for a long time. According to Amazon.com this is the book her fans have been waiting for and lord knows I am a fan! It is supposed to be chalk full of tips and techniques from her 25 years of experience.

I am here to report that this book is a good read for both makeup novices and junkies like myself. I really enjoyed her advice on putting together a working makeup kit a lot and her advice on breaking into the business was specific and right on the money.

My only gripe was I wanted more instruction and application tips and tricks. Unfortunately that part of the book was a little lean.

Overall I still think think this is a worth while purchase and read.

Sex and the City - The Movie

I may as well come right out and admit that I loved this series. My best pal and I payed for HBO just so we could watch and canceled the extra cable charges as soon as Season 6 was over and Carrie was back home in NYC.

I loved the shows and bought the DVD sets for a few reasons. First, I was a single parent when I first started watching the show and I loved that it celebrated and validated 4 very different women's choices about what a perfect life looked like.

Second, I had black hair (dyed) when I first started watching and will admit freely that Carrie's blond wavy short cut in Season 5 & 6 made me rethink that decision. It was the first blond I truly adored.

Third, the shoes, the bags, the makeup, I couldn't get enough and I am not a girl obsessed by fashion, just makeup!

Fourth, was the relationships....pick any of them. I think everyone who watches the show has seen bits of their own life and loves in the show, whether that was with a girlfriend or a man. In a way it was comforting to know that all the dating triumphs and disappointments were universal.

The movie....like everyone else I was beyond crazy to see it. My hopes were somewhere in the stratosphere and therefore primed for let down. The honest response is I landed somewhere in the middle. Visually the movie is a stunning confection and there are so many makeup colors I am desperate to find out about I would be willing to track down the artists and beg for details.

On the other hand the meat of the show seemed hit and miss in the movie. There were moments when you glimpsed the women as you knew them and then POOF! it was gone and in their place were these superficial reflections.

Update: I went to see this movie again and I really liked it the second time around. I suppose that it is very hard to pack 4 women and their updated lives into a 2 hour movie without glossing over certain parts. Let's put it this way....I will purchase the DVD, so go and see it!

Also the movie book companion that I picked up for $20 at Target is a must have if you loved the show/movie. It is a pictorial that follows the movie and gives great little tidbits from the cast and Michael Patrick King that I was tickled reading about.

Lessons of a Lipstick Queen - Book Review

As promised I am reporting back on this book I picked up about 2 weeks ago when I met Poppy King the creator of Lipstick Queen.

Lessons of a Lipstick Queen is part personal story and part business book. It makes for a fast read and Poppy King's writing voice is witty and fun.

I would be lying if I didn't admit that the "My Story" sections were my favorite. Poppy King wove paragraphs of her own journey and the creation of her brand into bigger lessons/observations about what did and didn't work and what she learned along the way. But it was the "My Story" paragraphs that had me feeling like one of those people who only eats the tops of muffins or the chocolate coating on ice cream...in other words a little glutinous.

I couldn't help it! It was fascinating to me how at 18 she went out and started a lipstick brand that was a multi-million dollar company within 2 years. I got such a kick out of the fact that when she wanted to find a company to manufacture her lipsticks she just picked up the phone book and started calling. It seems so obvious, one of those, why didn't I think of that moments!

Overall this is a fun read that anyone who loves makeup or ever nursed a dream to start a business will enjoy. Happy Reading!

Rescue Your Nails - Ji Baek

This is a great book and I loved every minute. I picked this little book up over Memorial Day weekend right after getting my own fingers and toes done and read it cover to cover.

Ji Baek, the owner of Rescue Beauty Lounge, has written a practical and easy to use reference for everything from how to mani/pedi yourself into perfection, salon etiquette and cleanliness, to picking a nail color that you will love.

While she does not give any product endorsements, other than her own brand, she gives great tips on what to look for when shopping for the best tools and even what may be hiding in your kitchen or bathroom arsenal that is just right for the job.

Rescue Your Nails answered nearly ever question I had about how to get it right when I want to do my own nails at home and reinforced my standards for what to look for at a nail salon. Ji Baek makes the point that nail salons are everywhere but they are not equal. I personally would rather pay a bit more for my nail services and get the attention to cleanliness that is important to me. One of my favorite local nail salons uses the greenest products available from polish removers to the polish itself and I really notice a difference in the look and health of my nails.

At $12.95 this is a wonderful addition to your beauty library and a fun read as well.

As a side note, some of the best products that my salon has introduced me to are Butter London, Zoya, Orly, and Spa Ritual. Zoya's Remove + is my go to polish remover because it is a mild acetone and doesn't leave my nails looking like the Sahara....it also has a pleasant lavender scent. There are many good non-acetone options out there that use fruit acids instead and are worth checking out if you are interested. No-Miss is a good place to start.

Sephora - The Ultimate Guide

I was able to give this book the once over at the Bare Escentuals event at Sephora U last week and have been very excited to get my hands on it and read it cover to cover.

Therefore it pains me greatly to say....the ultimate guide is underwhelming.

I am a loyal Sephora shopper and purchase an absurd amount of products from them and spend an even more ludicrous amount of time just playing around in the stores. I was really looking forward to this book because I figured it had to be a sure thing. The idea of hearing from the creators of some of my favorite brands was thrilling and I couldn't wait to read their tips and tricks.

I hate to say that I really feel that the book reads like a very informative Sephora catalog. Ouch! I know...don't think dear reader that I want to say this. I heart Sephora and so this is super disappointing.

Now in all fairness there are good parts, such as:

1. an ingredient guide

2. a brush guide that explains brush shape and use in detail

3. a quick fix section

Here is my issue....for any self respecting makeup junkie who subscribes to say, Allure, this info is old hat. I own a number of makeup books that offer great instruction and technique but sadly this one pales in comparison.

Perhaps that is the crux of the matter....this is a great book for beginning makeup junkies but not those of us with an advanced addiction.

I realize I may be reviewing this with a very critical eye. But in my humble opinion if you have someone like Vincent Longo available to pick his brain for his tried and true makeup techniques, ask him.....don't describe his trials and tribulations on getting to a runway show on time and the cab strike!