Retrodivas Beauty: make up, tips, cosmetic tutorials, hairstyles, and everything you need to be beautiful

Curly kittens: try using a spray conditioner to refresh hair

meredith — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:36:21 +0000

Those of us with coarse, curly hair know that washing every day usually just invites dryness and frizz. And while our sisters with thinner hair may ache for the volume that we can usually achieve with very little effort, there aren’t many products out there that address our unique problems. Dry shampoo is often a form of powder, and it’s not always oil absorbing properties that we need, rather a curl refresher and a bit of moisture.

So, instead of fighting with your dry curly hair on day two, try a spray conditioner as a hair touch up. Not only will it add moisture to your hair, it will refresh your curls with just a quick spritz.

Umberto Controlling Conditioner Spray ($8.99, Target) is what I’ve been using lately. It is a great detangler and heat protector for wet hair, but also a fantastic conditioner refresh for curly hair. A few spays will control frizz without putting another layer of heavy product on.

© 2012, Retrodivas Beauty: make up, tips, cosmetic tutorials, hairstyles, and everything you need to be beautiful. Some rights reserved. Retrodiva’s Beauty Blog by Meredith Edwards-Cornwall is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at www.retrodivasbeauty.com.

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Two tools to help you shape, fill, and beautify your brows

meredith — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:44:26 +0000

There really isn’t much point in having a gorgeous look without well groomed brows to finish it off. Brows can truly make or break the entire look, and like everything else in the beauty world, changes according to trends. In the 80′s, big Brooke Shields brows were the ideal, while the 90′s saw much thinner brows. Now, in 2012, we’re seeing a combination of the two. Brows have more of a natural look, but don’t make the mistake of thinking natural equals unkempt.

But it can be hard to truly figure out where to pluck and where to leave it be. Anastasia of Beverly Hills, one of the foremost experts in the field of brows, has released a handy kit to help you get exactly the brows you want with a minimum of hassle. The Anastasia Beauty Express combines stencils, brow powder, and eye shadow to help you get exactly the look you want all in one box.

It’s a great kit to take with you when you travel. It’s small enough to fit into most makeup bags, yet has everything you need.

The case is a fun faux dark pint croc style. But the good stuff is inside:

The kit includes a mirror, instructions, a brush that is actually useful, brow wax (top left), brow powder to fill in brows (top middle), and eyeshadow intended to compliment your brows (top left).

Did I mention I love the brush? That pink-handled beauty is just stiff enough to apply your brow color, but soft enough to not feel scratchy. It might be the best brow brush I’ve ever tried. But what makes this kit truly unique are the included stencils:

Five different brow styles, from full to thin, glamourous to natural. Simply hold the stencil over your brows, fill it in with the brow powder, and pluck anything that is outside of your brow color. Simple, right? Never fear, detailed instructions are on the box next to the mirror, and each stencil has markings on it to make sure you put it in exactly the right place.

And when you go to tweeze, try Tweezerman brand tweezers. My gorgeous kit contains two of the best tweezers on the market, I think. Included are the precision slant tweezers in stainless steel (with a pink enamel overlay in my case – they come in many different colors) that are perfect for overall shaping, and the Point Tweezer which is designed to deal with baby fine hairs, ingrown hairs, and stubble.

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Another drugstore gem: Revlon PhotoReady 3D Volume mascara

meredith — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:03:19 +0000

Honestly, drugstore products these days are just bringing it. I grabbed Revlon PhotoReady 3D Volume Mascara recently while I was buying out my local CVS of all the new product releases, and couldn’t wait to see how it stacks up to my other drugstore mascaras.

And I love it. And I don’t love many mascaras especially ones with plastic wands. But this formula brought the volume with only one or two coats, and the wear was fantastic – no smudging, no flaking, and it was easy to remove.

If you are particular about your packaging, you will probably like this. No cutsey colors, just a sleek, modern black and chrome look on a square tube. While you can see the wand is white, it obviously doesn’t stay that way once you dip it into the product. No matter – you will be way more focused on your lashes than on what color your wand is.

You can find Revlon PhotoReady 3D Volume Mascara at most drugstores for about $8.99. Worth every penny, and I will be purchasing this again.

Roberto Cavalli fragrance for women to launch on February 2, 2012

meredith — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:36:21 +0000

It was only a matter of time before daring designer Roberto Cavalli created his own fragrance. Known for his daring and sometimes over-the-top designs, this Italian designer has long been a favorite on the red carpet. I can’t wait to give it a sniff and see if it is as daring as his designs.

Here is what Cavalli has to say about his fragrance philosophy:

“When I smell this perfume it comes to my mind a magnetic woman, who attracts the people that surround her… This is the perfect drop of perfume every woman who loves my fashion will want to wear to feel part of my world.”

A magnetic woman, indeed! Take a behind the scenes look of the ad featuring Elisa Sednaoui:

Ricky’s NYC announces their first ever Rockin’ Beauty Awards: vote to win!

meredith — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:06:20 +0000

It’s no secret that I harbor an intense love for Ricky’s NYC. It’s an amazing beauty supply store full of high end beauty products located mainly in New York City. Some Ricky’s locations have a Revolver Salon inside, and if you haven’t read my review of it, what are you waiting for?

At any rate, Ricky’s is asking their customers to vote for the best product in several categories, such as makeup, hair care product, nail product and more. And for every item you vote for, you are entered to win a $100 gift card to Ricky’s!

Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo 24 Hour Cream Gel Eyeshadow

meredith — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 02:19:14 +0000

I love a long lasting eye shadow. I know there are plenty of primers out there that work well, and I love those too. But when you combine an awesome primer AND an awesome eye shadow, you’ve got wear that will last through anything: naps, dancing, late night out, even an overnighter (not that I know about any of that). So when a long lasting eye shadow passes through my little hands, I grab on with all I have. I had been hearing rumblings about the ah-may-zing new Color Tattoo eyeshadows from Maybelline, and I knew I needed to try them out and see what was up.

Metallics are all the rage right now, and I don’t have a good selection of them, so I decided to pick up three metallic shades: Bad to the Bronze, Audacious Asphalt, and Bold Gold.

The rumors are true – this stuff lasts FOREVER. The pigmentation is really great, and I’m surprised to see such a quality product available at drugstores. The drugstore brands are really bringing their game lately, and that is awesome for those of us on a budget.

On the top of this picture is Bold Gold – a true gold with plenty of metallic shimmer. It’s not glittery or overly obnoxious, just an excellent metallic sheen that is buildable. I apply with a medium shadow brush, like my Medium Shader Brush from Sephora, if I’m trying to cover my whole lid. Two coats usually gives me plenty of color, and they can also be used with an angle brush like Sephora’s Slated Eye Liner Brush, for lining both the upper and lower lids.

Underneath Bold Gold on the left is Audacious Asphalt, a dark metallic gray, and Bad to the Bronze is on the right. Did I mention these were pretty much waterproof? Okay, maybe they are not TECHNICALLY waterproof, as I couldn’t find anything in the documentation to make me think so, but in my personal experience they pretty much are, so you will need an excellent makeup remover to remove it. I prefer Dermablend’s Long Lasting Makeup Remover - it does the job quick and easy without feeling overly greasy.

Maybelline’s Eye Studio Color Tattoo 24 Hour Cream Gel Eyeshadow can be found at most mass merchants, and retails at 6.99. I’ll be picking up more shades to add to my collection for certain.

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The Julep Maven program and a fantastic giveaway

meredith — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:02:18 +0000

It’s giveaway time around these parts, and this one is a great introduction to a brand that I’ve been enjoying for quite some time. Julep is a nail brand based out of Seattle, with actual physical locations where you can get a manicure and connect with your girlfriend, but no false nails. As part of their philosophy, they are committed to healthy, safe, and toxin-free work spaces as well as products.

Besides purchasing single colors online, Julep offers a Maven program, where you receive a monthly beauty editor Sneak Peek box including:

Over $40 worth of products each month customized in a gift-able beauty editor Sneak Peek Box
Featuring new, never before released colors and treatments FIRST to you, before anyone else
Also includes hits and cult favorites – the products they like to keep on the top of beauty editor’s minds
Invitations to exclusive Julep Maven online events
20% off all Julep.com purchases (not valid on gift certificates or Maven subscriptions)
Free shipping

Each month, they will send you an email to let you know what has been curated for you. If you don’t like it, you can request another “shelf pull” via your online account between the 20th and 25th of each month. You may also choose to send your monthly pull as a gift to someone else by logging in and selecting “Send My Box to a Girlfriend” by the 25th of the month. And of course, you can always skip a month if need be, simply log in and select “Skip the Month” between the 20th and the 25th.

Sound good? All of these things each month for $19.99, charged on the 27th of the month. And here is a peek at what my Classic with a Twist Maven Box looked like:

Julep Glycolic Hand Scrub

The colors included Michelle Julep Nail Vernis in a sophisticated midnight blue, and Whitney Julep Nail Vernis, a mushroom greige, an excellent neutral.

The manicure I did with these two colors is ’50s inspired, and I posted it on Instagram:

If the Maven program sounds good to you, I have a special code that will allow you to get your first Maven Box for only $5! Simply enter the code RETRODIVAS at checkout, and you’ll be all set.

Now, let’s give some things away, shall we? Up for grabs is one Julep Maven Introductory Box, valued at $60. To enter, simply wait for the Rafflecopter form to load, and follow the directions. Tweeting and posting will earn you more entries, of course, but they aren’t necessary.

Winners must be 18 and reside in the United States. Giveaway will end at 12:01 AM on 1/29/12. Best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Sally Hansen teams up with cashmere designer White and Warren for pampered and protected hands this winter

meredith — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:21:18 +0000

Cashmere designer White + Warren makes some beautiful fingerless gloves, and before you think that you couldn’t afford such a luxury, think again. Not only are they on sale for $40, but with every purchase from the website, you will receive a complimentary Sally Hansen manicure set.

Sally Hansen is my go-to for most of my polish needs, and this set offers the basics for an excellent at-home manicure including:

Expert Nail File: for achieving the right nail shape
Nailgrowth Miracle Serum: for soft, damage-free cuticles
Complete Salon Manicure in Right Said Red: this all in one formula that combines base coat, color, and top coat
Dry, Chapped Hand Cream: an ultra-moisturizing formula that leaves skin soft

Visit White + Warren to browse the beautiful products, and be sure to check out the fingerless gloves!

SkinMedica giveaway courtesy of La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre

meredith — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:51:13 +0000

Okay, kittens, I have a super fab giveaway for you today. San Diego based La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre has given us two skin care products by Skin Medica: Tri-Retinol Complex, a serum that delivers three types of vitamin A to the skin and Ultra Sheer Moisturizer, an oil free formula that delivers vitamins C and E to the skin.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, located in beautiful San Diego, California, offers all kinds of plastic surgery, as well as Botox, Juvederm, Restalayne, and more. Visit their website to schedule a free consultation.

To enter the contest, wait for the Rafflecopter form to load. Leave a comment here on the blog, and you can also Tweet and Like us on Facebook for additional entries. Giveaway ends 1/28/12. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kiss launches new ImPRESS Press On Manicure

meredith — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:53:58 +0000

I remember Press On Nails back in the 80s. I think they made their big debut around 1985, and they seemed like such a good idea, but the first time I tried them, I put them on, then hopped on the back of my brother’s motorcycle to go to the beach, and they all ended up on his shirt where I had held on. He was pretty disgusted with the whole thing, and I gave up on having long nails, since I clearly couldn’t grow them myself. So it’s been a long time since I’ve tried any of these, and was excited to sit down and try.

Unfortunately, when I opened up the (super cute) packaging, I realized that either I have abnormally large fingernails (I don’t think I do?) or there weren’t any in there that were going to fit me. All of the nails that were obviously cut for thumbs were just too small. As I was getting ready to pack them all up, my tween daughter appeared (as if by magic) and volunteered her own hands for my ImPRESS experiment. I’m sure it was all in the name of product testing. So, she had a nice quick manicure.

You can see I have several different styles. The pink ones on the top have a cute black print with rhinestones, and the bottom manicure is a solid blue.

They were very easy to apply – the adhesive is on the back of the nail, and you pull it off after you match it to your nail. I would suggest doing your thumbs last, as it can be tricky to get those adhesive tabs off. Pull off the adhesive tab, and press on your nail. After you finish all 10 fingers, you’re done and can get on with your day.

Now, on my daughter, they unfortunately lasted only a day. BUT, she can be hard on equipment, if you know what I mean. Within 24 hours, all of them were off, and she wasn’t too interested in putting them back on. The good news is that the pack includes plenty of extra nails to replace any that might come off. We replaced the first two, and the rest she didn’t even tell me about until they were all gone.

So, overall impressions? They didn’t work for me, because I have freakishly large thumbnails, I guess. They are easy to use, and the designs are super cute. My eight year old daughter loved them. They didn’t last long. I’m thinking these would be perfect when you have a night out or a special event planned and ran out of time to do a good manicure on yourself. They don’t look artificial, and the length is just right.

You can find the ImPRESS Press On Manicure at Walgreens, KMart, Wal-Mart, and other big box merchandisers. The suggested retail price is $7.99.

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