{ don't } leave home without it

lots of girls have that one makeup item they simply won't leave home without applying. for many, it's mascara; for others, it's a swipe of red lipstick. personally, i won't even go to the gym without employing a little brow filler. when my eyebrows are on point, i feel like my whole face is in focus ~ even without anything else on. i've tried dozens over the years (powders, pencils, etc.), but on this video shoot, a makeup artist introduced me to stila's stay all day brow pen (i use the medium tint), and i haven't looked at another ever since!

i like that its soft brush tip allows me to make delicate-enough strokes to mimic actual brow hairs, and that it goes on dark enough to give definition, but sheer enough that my eyebrows never look painted-on. my only complaint is that each pen only lasts me a couple weeks ~ but that's why i've been ordering them in bulk, so i never have to go a day without it!!

what's the one product you won't leave home without?

{ makeup faves }

i get a lot of questions about my beauty routine, but the truth is i don't really have one. i am pretty promiscuous where products are concerned ~ i like to try em all!! that's why i thought it would be fun to begin integrating regular beauty posts into this site's spectrum of stories, to let you in on what i'm loving of late.

since my favorite area to experiment on is my eyes, that seemed like the best place to start this series. my sister recently turned me on to chanel's illusion d'ombre eyeshadow, and i must say i'm amazed. it is hands down, by far, the most long-lasting eyeshadow i've ever encountered! put it on in the morning and find yourself still crease-free in the evening. below, the three colors i've been using most: mirifique, ébloui, and épatant:

i also recently decided it was high time i tried urban decay's famous naked2 palette, which sephora's website describes as 'the most anticipated sequel of the decade'. marketing hyperbole notwithstanding, it didn't disappoint. it contains every neutral you'll ever need, making it great for gals on the go. i love to use the chanel colors above as a base, then blend with one of the shimmery shadows below:

do you have any new favorites or time-tested standbys that i simply must try? or any beauty questions you'd like me to address? let me know in the comments!

{ beauty muse }

{ photos by victor demarchelier for vogue korea // via fashion gone rogue }

{ hair plug }

longtime readers already know how much i enjoy experimenting with my hair; i've rocked more than my fair share of styles since the inception of this site. to wit, in yesterdays post, you may have noticed that i've just had a few new highlights added. my head-suit is forever evolving ~ and yet, i've never before worn it long enough to properly play around with curls and braids and such:




and this is why i've been letting my hair grow out ~ so many techniques to try!!
{ images via refinery29 }

{ high/low }

recently on twitter, someone asked what my preferred nail polish is. truth be told, i'm an equal-opportunity experimenter in this arena. due in large part to all the jewelry-making i do, my nails require frequent repainting. so i like to mix it up!

lately my favorites fall into two categories: cheap-o and chanel:

{ chanel colors (bottom row) from left to right: inattendu, jade, particulière, black pearl, paradoxal, peridot, nouvelle vague, khaki rose // all the others are in portuguese! }

i've long looked to chanel for trend-setting colors, but cutting-edge comes with quite a cost. that's why i was so excited last month in sao paulo to discover that a bottle of nail polish there sells for about $1.50, and their standard drugstores stock every color under the sun!! i picked up roughly twenty new tones ~ my sister stole half of them upon my return to new york (and yet she also gave me many of the designer varietals pictured here, so we're cool); the few i managed to hold on to are interspersed with my high-end favorites in these photos:

shooting this, i noticed that i tend to choose mauve-y neutrals, smokey metallics, dusky plums, and the occasional glint of green. one that i'm especially excited about is peridot (center, below). it's my birthstone and the finish reminds me of the holographic sheen of beetle wings:

i also really love my brand-new brazilian 3D topcoat (bottom left, below; you saw me wear it HERE) ~ it's great on its own and layers fantastically with every other color:

what's your favorite nail color or polish line? is there any one that we all simply must try?!

{ DIY } curly locks

ever since my hair's gotten long enough for me to wear curly, i've been getting a ton of questions about how exactly i achieve those spiraled tresses. to follow is my not-so-secret strategy.

it's worth first noting that, if left alone to its own natural devices, my hair looks like this:

before curling it, i begin by pinning the top half up. i divide the pinned parts into three chunks: left, right and back (each of which will be attended to individually). i use CLIPS SIMILAR TO THESE:

using THIS CURLING IRON, i begin curling the left side. i always leave the tips of my hair outside the curling iron's clamp (in other words, i start the curl about 1" in on each length of hair). always curl towards the back of the head:

i do the right side the same way, always curling toward center back:

next, i let down the clip holding the top layer of hair on my left side. i curl it in small sections, still rolling each toward the back:

then, i let down the back clip and curl that section. things can get a little awkward here, but practice makes perfect:

at this point, i use my fingers to brush out / muss up what's already curled, then apply a generous mist of hairspray (just about any brand will do):

finally, i do the right / front section. here especially, make sure to remove the curling iron in the direction of each curl. it helps set the shape as the heat is slowly released:

another rigorous finger-combing, another coat of hairspray...

...and i'm done!!

stylin n' profilin { + 7 days of giveaways! }

a few months ago, i had an exciting opportunity to collaborate with shu uemura art of hair on a short film, which provides a behind-the-scenes peek into my life (specifically, my addiction to ever-evolving hair!), and introducing their new extreme urushi styling lacquer (which i've been faithfully using ever since). finally, the piece has been released!! i'm so blown away by how the project turned out ~ director dominic lahiff was a real inspiration to work with; i learned so much from him (and the entire blonde + co production team) about the magic of film-making. i hope you all enjoy the result:



to celebrate the video's premiere, my friends at shu uemura have generously offered to give away one deluxe hair care package per day, for the next 7 days. the prize pack includes a shampoo, hair mask, essence absolue and extreme urushi (the same product used on my hair in the video). to be entered to win:

1. follow @theglamourai and @shu_artofhair on twitter
2) copy, paste, and tweet the message below:
enter for a chance to win @shu_artofhair products! 7 winners / 7 days. see directions on @theglamourai: http://bit.ly/lj7rkE #SUAOH
3) stay tuned for @shu_artofhair to announce the winners on twitter daily (from now through sunday, june 12th) at 6pm EST. good luck everybody!! { official rules here }

{ the demibob }

although i've complained about it more often than not, part of me is enjoying the process of growing out my hair, and experimenting with fresh styling techniques as it evolves. as such, i was unexpectedly inspired while attending the recent michael kors show, as a bevy of choppy-cropped models (as seen above) took to the runway ~ in particular miss arizona muse (above center & below), whose uber-cool above-the-shoulder bob has kept me from giving up and shearing my locks on many occasions since.

now, suddenly, vogue is calling the look a trend (actually, their exact phrase was 'beauty phenomenon') ~ even anointing it with an official name (the 'demi-bob' ~ which, by their definition, "hits anywhere between mid-neck and shoulder-dusting"). i'm still waiting for my mane to grow to that ideal length, but at least i'm looking at the entire endeavor much more optimistically.

in the meantime, i've dusted off my long-neglected straight iron and am experimenting with new products, in an attempt to achieve that optimally tousled but flat, matte texture. i'm especially enjoying kloran's gentle dry shampoo, paul mitchell's super clean spray and shu uemura's yokan craft, but am more than open to additional suggestions. should you have any to offer, please share!!
{ top & bottom pics via style.com // center via vanessa jackman }

{ mad for lashes }

to prepare for the frenzy of fashion week, pierre michel salon gifted me with an extra-special beauty treatment which i've been curious to try for years: mink eyelash extensions!!

the process was so easy and relaxing. i showed up, kicked off my shoes and got cozy on a massage bed, while makeup artist monika crouch set to work on my eyes. using a surgical-grade glue, she attached 40-60 extensions (made from cruelty-free mink) on each eye, adhering them to my existing lashes. a little over an hour later, i woke up to substantially longer, fuller, glossier eyelashes ~ and a genuine confidence injection!

the extensions last about three months (with occasional touch-ups in between). they eliminate the need to wear mascara, and i wake up in the morning feeling fresher (and more decadently doe-eyed) than ever before. i couldn't be happier with the result, and suspect i'll be making a habit of this indulgence!

have you ever tried eyelash extensions before? have any questions about the experience? let me know in the comments and i'll do my best to answer them all!!

{ on short hair }

as i'm slowly experimenting with letting my hair grow out a bit (and all the awkwardness that entails), i've been thinking more and more about my long-term relationship with cropped coifs. wearing one's hair like this certainly forces you to rethink your style, your posture, and your confidence ~ every day. one glamourai reader turned me on to this piece by joan juliet buck on the topic, which succinctly summarizes so much of the experience of living without long locks (excerpt below).

{ above: iphone photo from this trip to las vegas }
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"with short hair you begin to crave pearl necklaces, long earrings, and a variety of sunglasses. and you brush your teeth more often. short hair removes obvious femininity and replaces it with style. when it starts growing out a little and losing its style, you have to wear sunglasses until you can get it to the hairdresser. that's why you need a variety. short hair makes you aware of subtraction as style. you can no longer wear puffed sleeves or ruffles; the neat is suddenly preferable to the fussy. you eye the tweezers instead of the blusher. what else can you take away? you can't hide behind short hair... you may look a little androgynous, a little unfinished, a little bare... but your face is no longer a flat screen surrounded by a curtain: the world sees you in three dimensions."

- joan juliet buck for american vogue, c.1988 (via the political quotidian)

{ beauty beast }

i receive a lot of inquiries about my skin/hair/beauty routines. i've posted about this before, but since my habits evolve every six months or so (and it's been nearly a year since my last post!), i figured it was time for an all-inclusive update.

let me start by saying that these are the products that work best for me, which i've come to depend on after a lot of trial and error ~ but they may not necessarily be perfect for you! nevertheless, i hope there's something in here that helps you out (or simply makes you happy!):

ABOVE: i've been using patricia wexler's skincare systems for years and couldn't be happier with them. i've tried every product in every line, and over time have narrowed my regimen down to the three that work best for me: the spf30 anti-aging moisturizer (applied every morning before my makeup), the exfoliating cleanser with acnostat (used morning and night, it controls breakouts brilliantly), and the mysterious, miraculous 'pink goop' ~ otherwise known as the skin reginerating serum (also used morning and night).
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at night, i remove my eye makeup with good old fashioned pond's cold cream before washing, while neutrogena's moisturizing body oil and dr. bronner's eucalyptus soap take care of everything from the neck down!

besides the upkeep above, there's quite a long list of makeup products that i love. please keep in mind that i don't wear every one of the items below every day. in fact, most days i just stick with a dab of concealer, a sweep of brow filler, a smudge of blush, and a wink of mascara. but on those days (well, mostly just nights) when i want to go all-out, here's what i reach for:

ABOVE, TOP ROW: after my moisturizer, mac's fluid foundation is the first thing i put on my face. {NOTE: i've been trying to apply the prep+prime before that step, but it hasn't really become a habit, because i'm not fully convinced it works. if anyone has some tips in regard to this or other primers, i'd love to hear them in the comments!} in general, i'm a fan of mac products because they're only slightly more expensive than drugstore brands ~ but much, much better quality. however, one exception that i swear by is vichy's dermablend concealer, which i pick up at CVS (a US drugstore). i sung its praises in my last beauty post, and my stance hasn't changed a bit.
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next, it's back to mac for my studio fix powder and mineralize skin finish bronzer.
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ABOVE, BOTTOM ROW: the thing i dislike about chanel cosmetics (that they don't go on concentrated enough), is actually the same reason why their tweed pink blush is my favorite cheek color! it's really sheer ~ and therefore great for everyday, when you don't want to look like you're wearing a bunch of makeup. although, if i could only wear one cosmetic for the rest of my life, it would definitely be brow filler ~ and right now prestige makes my top pick.
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i've only recently realized why beauty companies sell eyeshadows in sets, as i've begun to experiment more with shading and contrasting crease colors. what fun it can be! i'm convinced that mac's limited edition leopard luxe eyeshadow quad was tailor-made with me in mind {i know ~ leopard, me ~ shocking, right?!}. for a really dramatic look, i'll occasionally use it in conjunction with dior's smokey mania set.
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finally, i don't know why i wasted so many years struggling with eyeliner pens, pencils, etc... gel liner is where it's at!! mac's fluidline (that little black pot above) is a million times easier to control than anything else i've tried. i finish it all off with loreal's telescopic mascara. again, it's the best i've ever used (seriously, it beats every fancy brand around). its magic is in the thinnest brush you've ever seen ~ because it's so small, it manages to coat each and every lash, and neither you nor the brush ever end up with that scraggly, spidery effect.

speaking of brushes!

despite having cups full of makeup brushes at my disposal, i've noticed i primarily use the six ABOVE: bobbi brown's powder and blush brushes (i've owned both of these for nearly five years, and with proper care they're still as good as new!), plus mac's lash brush (i use it on my brows), 217 brush (for eyeshadow application and blending), 219 brush (for eyeshadow crease-work and contouring), and 210 brush (to apply the fluidline gel liner).

now, as you've probably gleaned from the various lists above, i'm much more focused on playing up my eyes than my lips (you've gotta work with what you've got!). since my lips are naturally pretty pinkish, most days i simply scrub them clean with a wet washcloth and dab on a pat of purple lab's huge lips skinny hips clear gloss...

...although, if i want a hint of color i'll swap that out for chanel's lèvres scintillantes glossimers (again, their products are pretty sheer). like everyone else in the world, i'm also addicted to smith's rosebud salve lip balm.

BELOW: i had a pixie cut in college, and the last time i cut it all off again, the thing that excited me most was that it meant i could start using aveda's custom control wax again! it's pretty dense, and thus works best on short, choppy do's. and it smells sooooooo good! i run that through my hair every morning, then mist it with a bit of control force hair spray (it also offers an impressively pleasant aroma).
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with that, i must confess that i'm a total floozy when it comes to perfume. there are just so many to love!! while i've truly been enjoying my new big pony collection colognes, i was also recently excited to discover a local, brooklyn-based brand call ds&durga that makes smokey, sultry, wonderfully wintry scents that i just can't buy enough of!

and so, top-to-toe, this is literally what the inside of my bathroom cabinet looks like!! now you know ;)

{ red run }

it seems that every show this season has been topped off with coral-colored lips. i'm loving the look!

i wrote a bit about it over on erin's blog, and was excited to spot this trend again at alice + olivia last night. actually, i was pretty excited by everything at that show ~ all my favorite things were there: printed palazzo pants, polka-dot spots, sequined separates, feather vests and leopard wedges. yes, please, to each of these!!

{ glitteratti }

on a photo shoot last week, i was introduced to deborah lippmann and her dazzling nail polish collection. color me obsessed! i haven't been this excited about a new lacquer since chanel jade first made the scene. thank goodness they're available online (i've already put in an order for 'ruby red slippers' and 'happy birthday)!!

{ pixie }

those who know me in real life ~ and to a certain extent, those who have read this blog for a while ~ know that my hairstyle is forever evolving. my dad always says: "every time i see you your hair is different!" to which i invariably reply: "yes, and so are my shoes, thank you for (not) noticing."

i see this switchery as a way to adapt my look to the seasons. how i want (and by natural necessity, need) to appear in the winter (icy, impenetrable) is different than in the spring (carefree, with a crop like fresh-cut grass). furthermore, when it's cold out, i need hair long enough to peak out from below massive woolly hats. when it's warm i want to be able to jump in and out of the ocean without fretting over the impact on my coif. luckily, i've found a talented and imaginative cohort in hairstylist lennie vega*, who understands that all it takes are a few deft scissor strokes to make me feel like a brand new lady!

{wearing: emanuelle khanh sunnies (pictured below), erica weiner earrings, the glamourai rosette regalia necklace, vintage louis féraud jacket, american apparel tank }

as i've been on a little breton kick since the start of this season, lately i've thought a lot about american actress and iconic stripe-sporter jean seberg:

seberg had a tumultuous life and a tragic death, but ultimately is best remembered for having had a terrific haircut! also made famous by stars like mia farrow, audrey tatou, and most recently by ginnifer goodwin and carey mulligan, the pixie, like the bob, is one of those classic looks that is perpetually 'back in style.'

it's also a look that i haven't worn in a while, and right now seems like the right time to give it a go! i've just got to figure out how it works with my wardrobe...

* for those of you in new york: my stylist, lennie, is at senses salon in manhattan, where he gives 20% discounts to theglamourai.com readers!