Like father like daughter

Mermaids, 1990

Remember watching your father shave his face? The gentle gravely sound of the blade as it glided over each hair, swishing of the water deluting each stroke. I remember feeling very envious of such a grand task to perform in the morning. After all, at the time, it didn’t take much for a little girl to get ready. And by the time sixth grade came along, I couldn't wait to shave my legs. Of course I’m much older now and times have changed. Most days, shaving is more of a chore than coveted ritual. But this summer I decided to change that! Usually I go for the convenience of your basic soap and water lather to get rid of wolf girl. But by adding a little more time and indulging in the addition of a shave cream to my routine, I’ve found that my skin is softer and my legs look fantastic.

Did you know?

Since most of us shave in shower, we ladies have a leg up on a lost art in men’s grooming, the traditional wetshave.  Wetshaving is just what the term implies---keeping the surface to be shaved (in this case our legs) wet with plenty of hot water before, and during the entire shave. With a layer of hot water (not scalding) between your skin and the lather, the blade skims the surface instead of dragging on it. Which is the main cause of irritation, redness, shave bumps and razor burn. In fact, it’s best to always shave after a hot shower. Washing your body will cleanse the surface of any dirt/oil, exfoliate the skin and raise the hairs up to be shaved. Heat from the water before a shave will also soften the hairs for more effective cutting.

Add a quality shave gel to boot and you’re ready for smooth sailing. Some of the best, most expensive brands come from across the pond, like England’s Taylor of Old Bond Street. Or if you prefer the natural route, Trader Joe’s makes a vegan alternative, Honey Mango Moisturizing Shave Cream. It retails for about $5.00 bucks and smells absolutely divine! 

Call me nostalgic but I like to go for an over-the-counter, time-honored tradition from my father’s routine, Edge Shave Gel for Men. I have yet to experience anything other than a perfect shave using this product. No nicks, cuts, razor burn or bumps! And I just love the clean, fresh, dude scent----Im just nutty that way.  For just a couple bucks you can pick it up at Target, CVS or any other drug store.

* an extra tip : After a hot shower your pores are open, take advantage of this opportunity to moisturize! Immediately out of the shower, apply a generous coat of body oil to sooth dry knees and seal in the moisture! Remember, moisture keeps skin supple now for a (not-as-many) wrinkle free future!   

It pays to clean

This week I decided, "Enough is enough!" Generally I'm a very neat, very clean person---all of the time. However, on occasion I will let certain areas get a little out of control. My beauty pantry is one such messy cavern of shame. "What kinda of a guru am I?" I thought. Hair products mixed in with lotions, oils in the medicine bin, empty band-aid boxes, tampons in the cotton ball bag!!! stop the insanity! ....so I finally did :o)


BEFORE

AFTER

I realize because of the sheer volume of stuffage, it may not look better but trust me it is! I actually brought all the products I use everyday, up to eye level on the middle shelf. And the bottom shelf is the hair floor. I also threw away a LOT of old products, expired products, empty bottles and boxes. Not only did it give me more space but I actually found something that I had lost and eventually thought to believe didn't exist!......

That's right! A $50 dollar gift card for Sephora that I'd received two years ago for my birthday! Talk about magic money! You know when you find an extra couple bucks in an old jacket pocket, jeans or in the center console of your car? It felt just like that---even better! I was actually feeling pretty bad about missing a Sephora grand opening in Pasadena that morning. I would've been able to win a free gift card....but it turns out I didn't need to! There was one waiting for me at home! Do you know whats in your closet?

not so sure

So I finally got a hold of some O.P.I shattered, crackle polish. Thanks to my mom of course. But I'm not so sure how I feel about it. First I tried the Cobalt Blue Shatter over a hot pink. It seemed to throw a purple cast and absorb some of the pink hue. I don't know, I wasn't thrilled with it. I feel it would be really hard to make this color look good over anything but a stark bright white lacquer. Plus it's a shimmery crackle polish, which means it won't pair well with another shimmery polish. In my opinion the two would cancel each other out. So you'd have to go for an opaque, flat color underneath. 

That same evening I decided I couldn't handle the blue shatter so I swapped it for this look : Black (opaque) crackle polish over Essie's smooth Lapis of Luxury, a dreamy ocean blue. On site, I did enjoy this combination better. Once finished with a juicy topcoat, it had a very vinyl appeal. And I can't wait to wear Lapis on its own. 

All in all, O.P.I's Shattered line is a fantastic, quality product. It go's on very smooth, the crackle effect is neat to watch and it dries very fast. I found the more you layer it, the less of a crackle effect you'll end up with. So the challenge is to get one even brush stroke over the entire nail or two ---without layering the product. In my humble opinion, I don't think this product should be available in shimmery colors. Shimmery colors reflect light and generally require at least two coats to build the color, otherwise you end up with a thin veil of color which can be drowned out or absorbed by other hues. So far the navy and black shatter polishes are my favs. 

* O.P.I Shattered Polish can be found at any beauty supply store and costs between $7 and $8 bucks

*Essie Polish can be found at CVS and any beauty supply store and retails for about $8 bucks

"with fingernails that shine like justice!" ---cake

Usually I avoid wearing red nail polish. It's always seemed very common place, trite and overused to me---boring. Until now! Maybe it was my mom, or the opening credits to Showtime's, The Big C, but I've been very inspired to wear a lot of red this summer. So during a late night run to CVS, I picked up a bottle of Essie's Forever Yummy. And indeed it is so very yummy, scrumptious and looks like trouble!

Until recently, Essie Nail Polish was only available at select beauty supply stores. Now you can find a decent selection of their basic collection and new summer launch at CVS! Each bottle retails for $8.00 bucks! Its not as good O.P.I but its a great over-the-counter nail lacquer. Quick Tip : One thing to avoid is applying a base coat to your nails before applying the color. I've found the Essie formula is just not thick enough to handle a 3 coat application : base, color, top coat. I had chipping the very next day---which is unacceptable. But if you just apply the color and a top coat, the product will be able to grab on to the surface of your nails and hold. I redid my manicure following this formula and one week later the product is going strong and chip free!

One last lament on red fingernails <3 My grandmother recently gave me a faux Eisenberg bracelet that she picked up at an estate sale. You know that borderline tacky rhinestone jewelry that was made very popular in the 50's and 60's? A time when broaches and clip on earrings were considered chic <3 I've taken to wearing the bracelet everyday----no matter the outfit. And I've found that the extra sparkle is not only fun but makes me very happy. Not to mention anything that sparkles looks fabulous next to a bright creamy shade of red. So sparkle and wear red ladies.....daaahling you won't regret it!

Nuts About Summer Skin

Summer's here in LA!......sort of? Well despite the errant weather and peek-a-boo sun patterns, I can't help but think about my favorite summer products. So I finally got off my arse and decided to post! With poolside cabanas and waves ashore---come bare shoulders, sexy legs, pretty toes and other once covered unmentionables! Since your skin will be center stage during these warm months, its a smart idea to keep it in great shape! One key way to do that : MOISTURIZE!!! Keep your body hydrated from the inside out. Drink plenty of water and moisturize your skin on a regular basis.

One of my favorite products is Alba Botanica's Kukui Nut Organic Body Oil. Derived from the celebrated Hawaiian nut, Kukui oil is packed with fast-penetrating nutrients! It moisturizes, repairs and protects! It contains vitamin A, E and is very high in oleic acid (omega 9), linoleic acid (omega 6) and alpha-linolenic (omega 3). Blended to perfection, it also contains pure coconut, sunflower and flax seed oils. All rich in essential fatty acids for smooth, soft summer skin. This oil gives your skin a protective shield without blocking pores or leaving you feeling greasy. And it smells fantastic---nutty with a whisper of coconut. Perfect for all skin types, apply a few drops after a shower or add 1/2 ounce to warm tub water.

At 8.5 fl oz per bottle and retailed at around $9.95, you can find it at some CVS stores, Whole Foods and Target.


Alba's Kukui Oil also happens to be a Diva Select product! Thats right, I haven't always been a beauty guru. One is always open to the ways of the universe and its Divas. I happened upon this jem while house sitting and showering in the Diva's temple. So rest assured, this product is guru tested----Diva Approved!

Kukui Nut is actually more popular than most realize. You've probably seen them strung up as lei's around your favorite Trader Joe's cashier, on a graduate or even at weddings. In Hawaiian, Kukui means, "enlightenment." It also go's by the name, Candlenut. Because of its high oil content, Kukui nuts are sometimes shelled and used at lanterns or lights. Only recently have its benefits for skin care become more and more well known. If you happen to visit Hawaii, pick up a bottle straight from the source...and one for me too!!!

Uhhh I've got a Thunda Downunda!!

What's up ladies? Well as you may have noticed, I've been MIA. Mostly due to a road trip and some gnarly PMS. But we're back in black and slowly trying to catch up. The beauty report for this week : You know who's beautiful? I'll tell you! Chris Hemsworth of Marvel's THOR. Four words girls : Good lawd have mercy! I literally gasped when he emerged shirtless and gliding across the silver screen. And those sparkling baby blues! What's a girl to do? but see this movie again and again and again! Luckily my man is a comic aficionado, so I can partake with next to no guilt. 

But I implore you ladies : take your man or fellow gal pals to see THOR this summer.  You won't regret it!

*All titillation aside, its a great, fun, action packed summer movie. Another jewel in Marvel's Crown of Hits!

"....it's just the nearness of youuuuu."

one of many goddesses, The Getty Villa, Malibu, Ca. 

One of the most important things I've learned from the Diva is the art of proximity. I can recall little details about the space around her : a small red Buddha tucked gently into a soap dish in her shower, a statue of St. Francis---guardian saint of animals---nestled in her garden, Tibetan prayer flags and framed artwork drawn by her daughter. "No wonder she feels good and vibe-y all the time," I thought. She keeps the love around her everywhere : at work, in her home, traveling along in her car...even in the shower! Kinda makes me wonder, what do my surroundings say about me? What kind of daily peace

 am I cultivating? 

It's important to have beauty, what it is for you, around you always. Closeness, nearness to what you love and hold dear, can resurge your faith and strengthen moral. Visual cues and sign posts live amongst our beloved objects : framed photos of loved ones, a post card from a favorite show or exhibit, prayer beads and a stack of books. All packed with the power to enliven and remind us of what our purpose is, what means most to our soul. 

water lilies from The Getty Villa

This morning I caught a glimpse of one of my favorite magnets as I shut the freezer door. A small square replica of a fresco that hangs in The Getty Villa, Malibu. I clenched the cold rock material in my hand and thought about that trip. Kevin took my mom and I to the villa on my 30th birthday. It was a beautiful day, one I'll always cherish. And with that I began to mull about how important art is to my life.  And how silly it is that I have all this time and we live so close to the other Getty Museum! And why have I not gone and spent the day? ...so that is my new plan for next week. To go in search of beauty and bathe in it for a time. 

I implore you to do the same. Even if you're beat and don't feel like leaving the house or it wasn't planned----who cares. Go anyway : to a museum, a park, a play, a cafe, to a friends house...anywhere that fills you up.