Shake Your Beauty

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2010-04-28T12:18:00.001-04:00

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Sunday Night Weepies

2009-11-29T19:22:00.001-05:00

I love you guys. Really a lot.
xoxo,
Tia

I Love You, SYB Babes

2009-11-24T21:09:00.015-05:00

Hi ladies,
I don't know how to say it. I guess I should just jump into it, since my keyboard is soaked with tears and my laptop will probably die in seconds. Next Tuesday, I will begin a full-time position as Beauty Director at Essence.com. Which means I'm also shutting down "Shake Your Beauty."

I know. I know. Believe me, it hurts me more than it hurts you. I feel like we're best friends. Sisters, even. Play cousins. You and I have been through five and a half years of love, laughter, marriages, babies, bad perms, migraines, Revlon Raisin Glaze Lipgloss, Q&A Wednesdays, a zillion posts about Tarte Cheek Stain and, and...well, LIFE. You don't know this, but you've gotten me through some really hard times. For three of our fives years together, I was going through a series of emotionally and physically traumatic IVF procedures. They kept failing and failing, and there were some really bleak times. YOU kept me smiling. Your comments, your emails...even all the drama over the Saks dress during AMBI-gate. Thank you. Girls, when I started SYB, I had no idea it would become so successful. I barely even knew what a blog was; all I knew was that I'd just left my post as Teen People's beauty director and wasn't ready to stop talking beauty. You helped me turn it into something that really mattered. We did it together! We rock!

How quickly my mood turned from despondent to rah-rah! I'm PMSing.

Recently, my life has taken some rather major turns...which I decided meant that the universe was telling me to switch some things up. This Essence.com position couldn't have come into my life at a more perfect time! I've always adored the magazine, the site, and Emil Wilbekin, Essence.com's irresistibly debonair managing editor (you also know him as the former Editor-in-Chief of Vibe and Giant). His vision for the site was so positively delicious and sexy that I was dying to be involved. Girls, as bittersweet as it is, I'm over-the-moon, hell-and-gone excited to begin this new chapter in my career. I really am. And I'm not moving to Siberia! Please, please follow me over to Essence.com! I have some really exciting stuff planned for the beauty and hair channels. Essence's digital staff is incredible, so I can do fun things I'd never have been able to pull off here (mainly because I thought the "ht" in "html" meant hot tamale).

Thank you so much for supporting SYB over the years, dear readers. You made it so fun for me. I'll always love you (especially the regulars...you know who you are). And even though the blog as we know it will be no longer, I'll send you updates here and there just so you know what's going on with me. And La Lina!

Here's what I know: You will ALWAYS be my SYB Babes. I don't care what other blogs you're into, or even if you never catch on to my orange blush thing. You'll always be my girls! Got that? Good. Now have a glorious Thanksgiving. I know what I'm thankful for!

Kisses, kisses, and mo' kisses,

Your Tia

AMAzing Alicia

2009-11-23T18:58:00.008-05:00

Hi ladies,
So, what were your thoughts on the AMA? Here are mine:

* J Lo's performance was hilariously ill-advised (the champ is back? really?), and the fall before her Big Dance Break proved it. If you didn't see it, you never will...shortly after telling Ryan Seacrest on his radio show that "she meant to do that," the clip disappeared from the internet.

* I've had it up to here with Jermaine Jackson's painted-on sideburns. I'm tired of sitting idly by, doing nothing, while this man makes appearances with shoe polish smeared on the sides of his head. I need some answers. Oprah or somebody needs to confront him about this.

* Lady Gaga rules EVERYTHING. When she broke through the glass to bang the #$*t out of that piano, I died. LOVE. HER.

* Will I Am is a wiggly little thing, isn't he? As much as they annoy me, the Black Eyed Peas really did rock the crowd with that Nirvana/Rob Bass moment.

* Jay Z and Alicia Keys almost made me weep with love for New York. The lights will inspire you, indeed!

Speaking of Alicia and inspiration, didn't you think she looked particularly soft and feminine last night? Here's what her makeup artist, Ashunta Sheriff, had to say about the look:

“Alicia's look was inspired by her hand-beaded Armani Prive Gown. I focused on golden glowing skin, beautiful blue and burgundy eyes, soft pink shimmery cheeks, full lashes and light pink lips. On Alicia's skin, I used Cover Girl Queen Collection Natural Hue Minerals Bronzer in Light Bronze ($8.18)--its golden sparkly flecks gave her complexion a fabulous glow. Mary Kay Lipgloss in Pink Diamonds ($13) perfectly set off the look in a soft and subtle way. Finally, I topped off her eyes with Shu Uemura False Lashes ($29). I love their lashes because there's sooo many to choose from."

And thanks to Pantene celeb stylist Tippi Shorter (there she is, working her magic), Alicia's braided updo was twelve kinds of elegant. Here's how Tippi made it happen:

"Alicia recently got her hair colored a few shades lighter with Clairol, so I washed it with
Pantene Pro-V Color Revival Shampoo & Conditioner ($8.99). Then, I spritzed on
Pantene Pro-V Detangling Light Conditioning Spray ($4.99) to protect her hair before heat styling. To recreate the backwards Mohawk braid we did for Alicia's most recent music video, I sectioned the hair into three pieces. Then, I gathered the two outermost sections and secured them in ponytail using Ojon Animated Styling Cream ($26). Using the center section, I braided the center section from the nape of the neck to the front, making it a little off-center. I tucked the end of the braid underneath the main braid and secured with bobby pins. To finish the look, I used Ojon Tunu Elastik Hairspray ($25)."

Thanks for the insider info, Ashunta and Tippi!
xoxo,
Tia

Rita to the rescue

2009-11-20T09:29:00.003-05:00

Hi ladies,
Yesterday, I had the distinct pleasure of getting my hair colored by one of the industry's most legendary colorists and favored Oprah guests, the lovely and talented Ms. Rita Hazan. She's responsible for highlighting luminaries like Jessica Simpson (she took her from blonde, to lovesick-over-John-Mayer brunette, and back to blonde), Britney Spears, Debra Messing, Michelle Williams, Ellen Pompeo, Rachel Weiz, Keyshia Cole and Renee Zellweger. Probably her most important celeb moment is La Lopez--circa '99, Rita gave J. Lo the honey-caramel streaks that became her signature look! Major! Anyway, hair was in such a state that I had no choice but to call on the best of the best. I showed up at Rita's eponymous 5th Avenue salon looking crazy...the bottom half of my hair was a mass of dead, brassy highlights, and the top half was scattered with errant greys. SO GROSS. I was hoping Rita could tell me there was a way to get a head full of cinnamon-y highlights that wouldn't damage my over-relaxed hair. I was sadly mistaken. Instead, she decided I needed to go for a deeper, richer color...a chestnutty/auburn vegetable die (ie, no harsh chemicals or bleach that would further damage my hair). So, I went for it, and let me tell you...my hair hasn't looked so glossy and healthy in YEARS. It's so shiny, so mink-like! Penelope Cruz is somewhere wailing with envy! Stay tuned for a picture...
Kisses,
Tia

Happy First Birthday, La Lina!

2009-11-17T02:13:00.000-05:00

Aint Nothin' but a Party

2009-11-16T22:44:00.003-05:00

Hey ladies,
Hello! New mascara obsesh! Bobbi Brown's brand new Extreme Party Mascara ($22) means business. It makes my lashes crazy-big, super-lush, blacker-than-blackety-black...but wait, that's not all. The groundbreaking (no seriously, it's groundbreaking) formula actually stays flexible after it dries. What does this mean for you? Basically, it's the very first mascara in the history of lash-batting that allows you to layer on coat after coat (whether immediately, or hourse later) without dragging or clumping. Or getting all dry and flaking on your cheeks. So, you can apply your mascara in the AM, and then add a couple coats before you go out after work, and your lashes will look ridiculously fresh. Buildable mascara! Genius!
xoxo,
Tia

This is see-wee-ous!

2009-11-11T10:09:00.002-05:00

Hey ladies,
Last week, my Fairy Godmodel, Iman, invited editors and bloggers to her showroom to present the latest and greatest from Iman Global Chic, her bestselling accessories, jewelry and clothing collection for HSN. As usual, I was knocked out. The jewelry! Oh, so luxe...dripping with sparkly things and artful, deco-esque flourishes...and most of it, under $100! I could go on and on about the cuffs and earrings, but that would leave me little time to gush about what I consider to be THE Global Chic standout of the season: the "Jet Set Go!" Luxury Duffel Roller Luggage ($109). Buttery-soft and chock full of travel-friendly compartments and pockets, this carry-on bag takes the "lug" out of luggage. It's just so fancy, right? And it's deceptively spacious on the inside...plus, it comes with cosmetic bag and shoe bag. Cannot wait to storm LaGuardia Airport during the holiday season with my fancy, uber-expensive looking duffel!

After Iman wrapped up the presentation, we obviously started talking beauty. Being that she is my Fairy Godmodel, I pointed out my hormonal chin breakout and asked her if she had any suggestions. Girls, she summoned her associate, Byron, and had him bring me Iman Second to None Cover Cream in Clay Medium ($12.99). Which is the best concealer I've ever used in my life. I'm not kidding. This is very, very serious (do any of my SYB Babe mommies watch "Wonder Pets?" I was like Ming-Ming when she goes, "This is see-wee-ous!"). I don't understand why I've never used it before? The great thing about it--aside from the pitch-perfect shade--is that it dries to a powder finish. So you don't need to set the concealer with powder...and it doesn't settle into fine lines. Iman doesn't even use foundation with it; she just covers up her problem areas with the concealer, and calls it a day. Cannot sing it's praises enough!!
xoxo,
Tia

Precious Monique!

2009-11-09T16:55:00.004-05:00

Hey muchachas,
Okay, so I don't have the balls to see Precious just yet (**ducking tomatoes**). I don't know, something about the profound sexual and emotional abuse in the story just really brings me to my knees. It might be because I'm a mom now (my excuse for everything). When I had La Lina a year ago tomorrow, I turned into a big, throbbing heart...it was like I took on all the suffering of the world. I had to stop watching America's Best Dance Crew because JC's critiques were like daggers in my heart. But I digress. Anyway, I'm giving myself until next Monday to see "Precious." I'm a writer; I work best with deadlines.

Since I haven't seen it, I can't comment on the movie, but I can talk to you about Monique's GORGE makeup look at the November 1st premiere! Of course, she owed her stunning face to my lovely and fierce friend, legendary makeup artist Sam Fine (if you haven't gotten his genius new how-to DVD, "The Basics of Beauty," what are you waiting for, woman?). Here, he breaks down the myriad was he hooked up Monique, with her sure-to-be-nominated-for-an-Oscar self.

FACE: “The key is to subtly layer your bronzer and blush until you create a softly sculpted look. After finishing her base, I used a dark-hued bronzer from CoverGirl Queen, and then layered it with the Iman Sheer Finishing Bronzer in Afterglow, which contains a bronzer, blush and highlighter trio.”

EYES: “I lined her eyes, and then used a beige liner on the inner rim of her lower lash line. Beige liner is much more subtle than white but still opens up the eye area. Then, I applied golden hues on her lids, like Stila Eyeshadow in Twig ($18), and Nars Eyeshadow in NightStar ($22). Lashes are a must on the red carpet, so of course I used false lashes! After applying the falsies, I fused them to her natural lashes with a couple swipes of L’Oréal Voluminous Mascara ($7.50) I finished the look by adding a touch of gold glitter on the inner corners of her eyes to offset her dress!”

LIPS: “I applied golden shades on Monique's lips, taking the same layering approach I used on the rest of her face. To complete the look, I used lip liner, lipstick and a golden gloss (try Dior Addict Ultra Gloss)."

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

2009-11-05T21:45:00.002-05:00

Hi girls,
So yesterday, the legendary makeup artist--and Cover Girl/Max Factor spokesperson--Pat McGrath held her bi-annual recap of beauty trends from the collections. Her overview was genius, of course, the second she mentioned using Cover Girl Smokey Shadow Blast Shadow Stick in Onyx Smoke ($8.49) at zillions of the shows, I sort of tuned out. When she held this darling little double-sided crayon stick up in the air, and I had a beautygasm. It's all you need to create the perfect smokey eye! One one side is a dazzling pearl crayon for the browbone; and on the other is a deep, metallic black crayon you can use to smudge along the lashline. I immediately tried both sides on, and the texture is perfectly creamy and smudgelicious. I'm so in love I'm making up words. In any event, I predict that the Smokey Shadow Blast Stick will be the Next Big Thing. You heard it here first.
xoxo,
Tia

GAGA FOR GAGA!!

2009-11-03T11:09:00.002-05:00

Girls,
So, um, last night MAC threw a super-exclusive little fete celebrating their two new spokespeople, Cyndi Lauper and Lady Gaga (check out WWD's piece on the event). I was there. I WAS THEERRRRE! Hyperventilating. Okay, here's the huge admission. Aside from La Lina, Lady Gaga is my favorite person on Earth right now. I mean, I grew up in the '80s, right? I was raised on Prince, Madonna, and MJ...artists that were true-blue, absolutely-not-pre-packaged, balls-to-the-wall ORIGINALS that created truly unique music, fashion, videos, etc. I mean, it was clear who their influences were (Little Richard, James Brown, Debbie Harry, etc.), but they took it to a whole new level. I think Lady Gaga is one of only a few stars that actually goes there, too. Her voice is ridiculous, she plays a zillion instruments, and her stage shows are no less than performance art. Yay to MAC for choosing Cyndi and Gaga to be their next Viva Glam spokesladies!!
xoxo,
Tia

Post-H'ween Hydration

2009-11-01T12:05:00.005-05:00

Hey girls,
How was your Halloween! What was your costume? I was particularly proud of mine! One of my Halloween parties was my girlfriend Abby's "Come as Your Most Hated Celebrity" soiree, and of course I was Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

And La Lina was Brooklyn's sweetest fuzzy pink bunny! Could you just die? She was a little hot in her costume, though, so five minutes after we took pictures, she was hopping around in a pink onesie. Ah well.

Cannot believe it's November. Last year at this time I was enormously pregnant, about to eat the Jamaican beef pattie that would give me food poisoning and an emergency C-section. Time flies! Some things don't change, though...one of them being that the cold weather makes my skin SOOO DRRRYYYY. Parched. My lips, my hands, my legs. Everything. The mistake we make in the fall, I believe, is not moisturizing our bod is well as we should because no one sees it. In the summer, we're in miniskirts and sandals, so we HAVE to lube up...or risk being handcuffed by the Ash Police. Girls, we cannot ignore the ash in the fall! And in fact, I've taken to attacking the problem from several different angles. I have a lotion for my body, a special balm for my lips, and a portable moisturizing stick for my bag (well, it's for touch-ups during the day, but I KEEP it in my bag). Here are the details:

BODY
Vaseline Cocoa Butter Smoothing Body Butter ($8.49): Simply put, this stuff is a cold-weather-miracle-worker. This super-rich, decadent body butter melts into my skin on contact and manages to keep it supple and smooth ALL DAY (thanks to a winning combination of cocoa butter and shea butter). Particularly yummy after a good shave...I slather it on my legs the second I step out of the shower, and I swear my gams are Victoria's Secret Angel-worthy. Vaseline, man. The gift that keeps on giving.

LIPS
Kiehls Lip Gloss in East Village Vibe ($14.50): Any beauty buff worth her weight in blush is more than familiar with Kiehls' famous Lip Balm. This stuff is a cult-fave bestseller for good reason. Blended with apricot kernel oil and grapeseed oil, the non-sticky balm keeps lips super-moisturized and shiny for hours. Well, recently Kiehls updated things a bit by adding a hint of tint to the formula! So smart. I love that you get the moisturizing properties of the balm, but also a sexy little shot of color, too. My favorite shade is East Village Vibe, a coffee-hued bronzey-nude.

BAG
Josie Maran Argan Oil Moisturizing Stick ($22): Remember the model Josie Maran? She was, like, on the cover of Glamour every other month for a good two years in the late '90s. Anyway, she's now the creator of an amazing organic beauty line (all her stuff is authentically all-natural, too...we're talking no parabens, no preservatives, the whole 9). Anyway, she has this best-selling Argan Oil that makeup artists love to use on models for instant sheen and hydration. And now, it comes in a stick form! So clever. I keep it this portable little stick in my bag for touch-ups on my hands, elbows, cuticles, lips, split ends...anywhere that calls for a moisture boost. So luscious--and it smells HEAVENLY.
xoxo,
TIa

Cocktails and Perfume...Happy Halloween to me!

2009-10-30T08:51:00.003-04:00

Hola chicas,
Last night, me, my darling Karen from PurpleLab, and her incredibly game hubby, Todd, stormed a masquerade ball/launch party for YSL's new Parisienne fragrance...and it was very toot-toot-beep-beep! The invitation clearly stated "stylish attire and mask required," and we were thrilled to see that people really took it there (of course my Karen, who's truly NYC's original Carrie Bradshaw, shoes and all, ordered her mask from some chic fetish site). I mean, if you're thinking "Eyes Wide Shut," you're not far off. It was in this old synagogue on the lower east side, so it had that old-school, naughty-church, Limelight feel...the Misshapes deejayed, Alexandra Richards (spawn of Keith & Patti, don't get me started on the glamour) hosted, and I cocktailed. Too much. Not sure how I got home--and that apple pie ate itself, I swear--but I AM sure that YSL knows how to throw a delicious party. Oh, and fragrance lovers...Parisienne is truly a gorgeous scent. Have you seen the print ads? Kate Moss, darling. And apparently, the uncut commercial is only being shown in Europe; it's too hot for the US. Pout. Why does Europe get to have all the sexiness?

Happy Halloween, my pretties!!
xoxo,
Tia

I'm SO In Style!

2009-10-28T10:55:00.002-04:00

Well, well, well. Guess who's in the November issue of In Style? And guess who's so late to this particular party? I hadn't been on Twitter in awhile because of my eye sitch (I also hadn't read the November mags yet), and I just checked it and saw some super-sweet "congrats Tia on the In Style mention" tweets. I am so ashamed...please don't think I'm rude for not responding, my eye was the size of a pancreas!! In any event, I'm so excited I made their list of favorite blogs/inspirations. Thanks, Amy and Kahlana!!
xoxo,
Tia

MAC Glimmerglass Gets a Second Chance

2009-10-28T09:59:00.004-04:00

Hey girls,
So, the other day my baby sister Lauren (of AOL Black Voices fame) came over to watch the premiere of So You Think You Can Dance. This show is very important in my family. Anyway, she pretended to come over to watch adorable Russell do NappyTabs' hiphop routine, but really, she wanted to plunder my makeup drawers (sounds dirty) for sparkly eyeliner befitting her Halloween costume. Williams Sister Fun!! So, as we were looking, we got distracted by the entire line of MAC's new Glimmerglass Glosses ($18, each). Have you SEEN this? Now, admittedly, I'd ignored them when they first launched because, I mean, it's a collection of three BLACK lipglosses--Blackfire, Blackware, and Blingblack--each spiked with different color shimmer. I thought, "Gross." But me and Lauren started trying them on, and we realized that they're gorgeously sheer, and meant to be layered over lipstick to give it a deeper, sexier color. Or, you can wear them alone for just a sheer hint of vampy-dusky color. So genius. And the shot of shimmer is just right for an after-work moment. Blackfire is shot through with pinky-purple glitter; Blackware is a shimmer-free, true black; and Blingblack has pale gold flecks. Stunning...and perf for Halloween!
xoxo,
Tia

Princess Tiana and Lina Bean

2009-10-26T10:46:00.003-04:00

Hi ladies,
I feel SO much better! Thanks for your well-wishes and advice. Turns out, my swollen eye wasn't a reaction to cheap "papier m hygiénique" at all, it was some crazy infection (no doubt picked it up from those slobbery, germy kids at the park...my child is obviously the exception). Oh, and speaking of my child, I'm up to my ears planning Lina Bean's first birthday party. Can you believe it? She's not a BABY anymore. I mean, that purple shirt-dress just screams "toddler." Sigh. Anyway, it's my understanding that the goody bags at these things are of the utmost importance. Now, I've gotten the requisite tiny, cheap party favors like yo-yo's and bubbles, but I wanted to include something that really spoke to who me and La Lina are. Something that reflected the essence of our humanity more than multi-colored plastic whistles. Then it hit me.

I'm sure by now, you guys have heard of Carol's Daughter brilliant Magical Beauty Collection, inspired by Princess Tiana of "The Princess and the Frog" (ie, Disney's first black princess). I thought it would be perfect to buy a couple sets of the Magical Beauty Collection--which includes Shampoo ($10), Conditioner ($10), Hair Detangler ($8) and Bubble Bath ($8)--and stick each bottle in a goody bag! So special, right? It's about beauty products and a black princess--if that combo doesn't scream Tia and her Bean, I don't know what does.
xoxo,
Tia

First Family Fierceness

2009-10-23T12:17:00.003-04:00

Hi SYB Babes,
Okay, I'm weeping uncontrollably. My goopy eye medicine is all over my face (FYI, the doc prescribed this topical antiobotic, Ciloxan, that's kind of working but is totally gross). I'm not supposed to be doing "laptop work" until my eye heals, but I had to show you guys this. Just this morning, the White House released the official portrait of the First Family, taken by fancy photographer Annie Leibowitz. Is it not the most gorgeous thing you've ever seen? My Lina Bean will never know a world where the Obamas couldn't happen!! Wheee!
xoxo,
Tia

Eye-yai-yai Part Deux

2009-10-21T10:03:00.002-04:00

Um, I can barely get my eye open, so anything I write will be a foggy, unfocused mess. I went to my primary care physician yesterday, and she demanded that I see (haha, yeah right, "see") a proper eye doctor today. Hopefully he will not prescribe me an eye patch. But if he does, I'll bedazzle it with purple sequins. When life gives you lemons, and all that. I'll be back in a couple days, girls!!
xoxo,
Tia

Eye-yai-yai

2009-10-19T09:13:00.002-04:00

This is what happens when you're cheap, and opt to wipe off your mascara with eye makeup remover-soaked TOILET PAPER, and not a fluffy cotton pad or cotton ball. My right eye is totally swollen and I can barely open it. Here's what I'm thinking. I discovered that, once I started wiping, the wet toilet paper started tearing off in these tiny rolls. I think I got a piece in my eye and slept the whole night with it in there. I know, I know. But I ran out of my favorite cotton pads, and even thought they're cheap, the $$ adds up, so I just thought...

That's what I get for thinking, right?
xoxo,
Tia

Zahara, French Vogue, & the Controversial World of Black Beauty

2009-10-14T11:47:00.003-04:00

Hey ladies,
So, there's a bunch of interesting stuff happening in the world of black beauty. Did you guys read Newsweek's editorial on Zahara's 'do, "Zahara Jolie-Pitt and the Politics of Uncombed Hair?" The writer is furious with Angelina for letting Zahara leave the house with "unstyled" hair. Very interesting. Even more interesting is genius beauty blogger Afrobella's retort on AOL Black Voices, "I'm on Team Zahara!" Okay, so I'm dying to hear what my SYB Babes think of the ZaharaGate. Do you approve of her let-it-all-hang-out locks, or do you think she could benefit from a couple barrettes and a deep conditioner? And is it appropriate for us to even be analyzing an innocent first grader's hair?

And hot on the heels of that supremely weird Australian blackface moment with Harry Connick Jr., we've got French Vogue's "Supermodel" issue, featuring a spread with Dutch model Lara Stone in blackface. Yep, full-on blackface. Um, instead of painting Lara brown, why couldn't French Vogue editrix Carine Roitfeld have hired Jourdan or Chanel or Arlenis? Oh, and FYI, not a single black, Asian or Latina model was included in the issue. I know it's France, and they have a totally different history than Americans, but this is so not okay. See, this is when I start to chafe at the notion that because Obama is president, we somehow live in a "post-racial" world. Nope, we don't. Ladies, I'd love your thoughts on this spread. Hit me.
xoxo,
Tia

Anjel Salon, PS

2009-10-12T10:24:00.002-04:00

Girls! Remember when I went to the fabulous new Anjels Salon last week, after the screening of Good Hair? I just got a pic of my blowout...here it is! Shiny, bouncy, glossy-good times! Cannot gush enough about the service, too. Here's the info, if you're ever in NYC:
Anjels Salon
37 W. 46th St.
New York, NY 10036
(888) 804-6947

Rihanna & the Best Eyeliner Evah

2009-10-12T09:55:00.003-04:00

Hey girls,
As you all know, Rihanna killed at Paris fashion week. Completely. And when she wasn't darting in and out of shows in a pair of the darkest, shadiest sunglasses you've ever seen, she was all about an EYE. Whether it was a skinny line along the inner rims or a major cat-eye situation, she was definitely loving some eyeliner. Inspired by Princess RiRi, I recently challenged myself to find the hands-down best eye pencil out there for under $10. My criteria included depth of blackness (this is a pigment issue, not a "how DOWN is the eyeliner?" issue), smoothness of application, and the non-smudge factor. Girls, I stumbled upon a winner. Without a doubt, Max Factor MAXeye Eyeliner Pencil in 100 Night Club ($6.89) is the hottest liner to ever line!! I wore it to my girlfriend Trenesa's super-fancy birthday fete over the weekend, and four girls demanded to know what liquid liner I was wearing (disclaimer: this was a party full of beauty editors, so this is what we talk about). I was so excited that my drugstore eye pencil looked like liquid liner! And can I just tell you, it stayed on until 3am. Oh, it's just the inkiest, sootiest black ever, and the application is smoother than smooth. You barely need to touch your lid and it gives such full-pigmented color! Go get it, before the stores run out of Max Factor. Sadly, the brand is no longer being produced in the States. All good things they say, never last.
Kisses,
Tia

Talkin' 'Bout Good & Bad Hair

2009-10-07T17:35:00.004-04:00

Hey muchachas,
News flash: Tito and Miko Branch, owners of Miss Jessie's curly girl hair products, are teaming up with NaturallyCurly.com to sponsor the first ever 2009 Grow Out Challenge! How much do I LOVE this? From October 5th to March 31st, Miss Jessie’s will award over $3,600 worth of products to the participants who show the most spunk and determination as they embark on the life-changing journey of "transitioning," ie, growing out their perm and embracing their natural hair (lest you thought I was referring to gender reassignment surgery). As many of you know, transitioning starts when you A.) snip off your relaxed ends little by little, or B.) chop off the relaxed hair in one fell swoop (the gangsta option). This is a HUGE deal for most women, so having the support of your curly community is totally empowering! To start the process, register on NaturallyCurly.com, create your first blog post and begin uploading pics of your transition. Each month, four winners will be selected to receive a personal hair prescription and products from Miss Jessie’s valued at approximately $150.00!

Cute, right? And somebody involved is a marketing genius, because the contest coincides with the premiere of Chris Rock's buzzy new documentary, "Good Hair." Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of seeing a screening of the film with my dear friend and Ambermag.com creator, Marcia Cole, as well as a brilliant bunch of girls from the site's blogger network (and after the movie, we had a blowout party at the hottest new black salon in Manhattan, Anjels' Salon, on 37 W. 46th Street. Just so you know, my hair is still looking glossy and sexy and bouncy, SIX DAYS LATER. Ask for Brenda, she's the truth). I wish I could say that I loved the film. I mean, in terms of the business of weaves of relaxers, it was definitely eye-opening. I certainly didn't realize that most black haircare companies are white or Asian-owned. The global implications of the weave trade never really hit me, either (not to give it all away, but most of the hair used for weaves comes from Indian men and women who've chopped off their hair during sacred religious ceremonies--and who have no idea that it's being sold for gazillions). And the commentary for actresses like Lauren London, Megan Good, and Nia Long (WHY doesn't Hollywood come up with great roles for the sexy, smart lady?) was hilarious and truthful and refreshing. But I really wanted Rock to touch on the reasons WHY black women feel the way we do about our hair. You know, the social history of the whole thing. The centuries-old notions about "good" and "bad" hair that are ingrained in us, passed down from our great-great grandmas. That's what's truly interesting to me about the whole debate. But baby steps, I guess.

Definitely see it, though! If for nothing else, to come full circle from the barbed hilarity of the "Good and Bad Hair" scene from School Daze. In any event, I love us...and all of our hair, in every incarnation!
kisses,
Tia

Sonia K, All Day!

2009-10-05T09:44:00.002-04:00

Hey mujeres,
I went to such a fun event last week for Sonia Kashuk's fall line! For the uninitiated, Sonia Kashuk is a legendary celebrity makeup artist who, for the last ten years, has designed her BRILLIANT, eponymous makeup and skincare line for Target (and her makeup book, Real Beauty, is a true classic). Ms. Kashuk was also the very first famous makeup artist I ever met...when I was a wee beauty editor at Glamour, she did the faces for my first big photo shoot! We've been friends, ever since.

Anyway, she invited the beauty press down to her offices right across from Ground Zero (the sadness never ebbs, no matter how many times I've been down there). Her office was a beauty girl's dream...shelves and shelves of the most exquisitely packaged little gems, each one fancier and smarter than the last (honestly, Target really has cornered the market on high-quality, budget-friendly products. I just bought an Anna Sui for Target dress that deserves a spot on Barney's 8th floor). As Sonia walked us through her fall offerings, I spotted a cluster of the most gorge blush tints on a shelf across the room. I demanded an explanation, so Sonia pulled one down--now, it's important to remember that it was a random shade--and blended the lightweight, subtle shimmery, hint-of-a-tint liquid on the back of my hand. Girls, it was sooo pretty. Obviously, we all know that brown girls have to be very strategic about makeup shades; it's almost impossible to just throw on any blush and have it look great. But this tint was so sheer, so soft and natural-looking, that it truly just looked like me, blushing. FYI, the shade was Rose, but I tried on the rest of them, and they're all super-gorge. Sonia Kashuk Super Sheer Liquid Tints are available in Peony, Poppy, and Rose ($9.99 each, at Target stores).

Oh, and just so you know, Sonia Kashuk's range of makeup brushes ($9.99-$21.99) are insane. Cannot believe they're sold at Target...the woman could sell the at Bendel's for a zillion dollars and no one would bat an eyelash (I spot them backstage at fashion shows all the time). Anyway, they're ridiculously soft, and last forever. Sonia was sort of grossed-out to find out that I've been using the same blush brush for five years.

Don't judge me!!
xoxo,
Tia

PS...thanks to Daphne Youree for the shot of me and Sonia!

Vaseline is the New Black

2009-10-01T23:48:00.001-04:00

Hey ladies,
Lately, I feel like
Vaseline is everywhere. Do you feel this, too? Walk with me, friends, walk with me...

1.) It all started about a month ago, during the episode of Real Housewives of Atlanta called "Home is Where the Heartbreak Is." You know the one, right? Where Lisa's 62-year-old-looking, 90-year-old Korean grandma said she owed her youthful visage to Vaseline? Apparently, she'd been slathering the classic petroleum jelly all over her face for years! I mean, her complexion really was amazing. Suddenly, everyone was talking about Grandma Wu and her hotness. Including my friend Selene, who mentioned that the trick was absolutely NOT news to her, since she'd been using Vaseline to take off her eye makeup since before Lisa Lisa met Full Force. I loved this tip, and immediately tried it out. SO GENTLE. SO GETS-IT-ALL-OFF-IN-ONE-SWIPE. Why have I been spending good manicure money on fancy eye makeup removers all these years? Bad beauty junkie, bad beauty junkie!

2.) Secondly, I've been having some dry skin issues. Have I mentioned this? Every year, at the dawn of Fall, I get these weird, flaky spots on my arms and legs. The only thing that works is...wait for it (Glee!)...Vaseline Cocoa Butter Vitalizing Gel Body Oil ($7.49). It's a gel-based body oil that I slather all over when I first get out of the shower and my skin's still wet. Then, after I towel off, my skin is totally moisturized and supple and flake-free...AND all sheen-y and glowy (it's the combo of Brazilian Nut Oil and Almond Oil). I don't even need to put on lotion. I swear. All this gloriousness, for under ten bucks.

3.) Okay, so the third and final reason Vaseline is on fire? This month marks the launch of one of the biggest breakthroughs in body lotions in a decade, Vaseline Sheer Infusion Body Lotion (which comes in Botanical Blend, Mineral Renewal and Vitamin Burst, from $7.99 to $9.99). Why are they so fancy? The lotions are spiked with a completely groundbreaking new moisturizing complex, Stratys 3, that actually suspends (this is the key word, "suspends") moisture across the skin's top, middle, and deep down layers. Basically, ash is no match for Vaseline Sheer Infusion. And the texture! Honey, it feels like heaven. Okay, but that's not even the best part. Remember the key word? Well, to celebrate the launch of Sheer Infusion, Vaseline invited beauty bloggers to TRAPEZE LESSONS, so that we could do a little "suspending" of our own! Those of you who know me well know that I don't like to move or break a sweat. I don't work out, I don't run...I even avoid breaking into a swift walk if I can help it. But on the trapeze, I was MADE of awesomeness! If I'm lyin,' I'm flyin.' But it was terrifying at first (that's me, up on that ridiculously high platform, about to do my first swing). Of course, I wouldn't have done something so momentous without taping it for my SYB Babes. Check out the video, HERE.

Are you proud of me? Have a great week, miladies!
xoxo,
Tia