fffabulous

ooh la la!

And since great things always come in pairs (don't they?), my friend Kim mentioned to me that the erase paste is best used with the Benefit ooh la lift. This pink balm contains raspberry extract and light-reflecting pigments that will instantly perk up tired eyes. Ooooh la la, we like!

the best concealer ever

Don't you hate it when you've tried everything to hide dark circles, blemishes and all other imperfections, and it's either too light, too dark, too thick, or just not thick enough? Well, you don't have to settle anymore, ladies! Benefit has come up with this 'magic' creamy concealer that will erase it all. I've tried it out, and I was instantly sold. The Benefit erase paste has a perfectly creamy texture, comes in three different shades, and will brighten and camouflage any imperfections in one easy step.

Isn't it a great feeling to only be $26 away from having the perfect complexion?

viva the brushes!

This week is fffabulous beauty week and we're gonna share some cool beauty products that you're gonna love love love! My absolute fffavorite beauty product these days is the Mac Cosmetics 187 Duo Fiber Brush. Surprising, isn't it? I personally would never think of investing in brushes, and spending $42 on something that won't show on my face (per se) isn't quite exciting. However, this brush really makes a difference, whether you use powder or a compact or liquid foundation. It is, in fact, the accessory to use if you are using liquid foundation and want to achieve a natural look. Just put a drop of your foundation on the brush, apply it with a circular movement, and you're done—no mess involved! Isn't it fffabulous??

dior diorshow black out mascara

I always thought that there were two distinct families of mascara: the ones that make your eyelashes fuller, and the ones that lengthen your eyelashes dramatically but leave them ridiculously 'skinny'. I used to go back and forth between the two depending on my mood, and then wished I had chosen the other 'type' later. This was always the case until I tried the Dior DiorShow Black Out Mascara that a friend recommended. That day, I discovered that there is such thing as the perfect mascara. This mascara makes your eyelashes longer AND fuller. The brush is designed to make your eyelashes perfectly curled, separating each lash from the next, while eliminating the mess that often occurs the first week when the brush is oversaturated with product. But the best part of it all? Now I always get compliments on how great my eyelashes look—as if I gave them some sort of "special" treatment each day—when it's actually just my magical Dior Mascara!

mac cosmetics paints

I am a HUGE Mac Cosmetics fffan. So much that you'll only find Mac make-up products in my make-up pochette, with the exception of my Stila Lip Glaze, of course! Just the other day, Miss Zoe reminded me of the Mac Paints product. I have a bunch of Mac Paints tubes in my make-up box; I used to swear by those to get a more dramatic look when going out, and sometimes I wonder why I ever stopped using them. What was I thinking? Well, here is why Miss Zoe likes these tubes of paint so much, and I couldn’t agree more...

"Mac bills Paints as 'A high performance eye shadow product which goes on creamy; dries to a powdery finish' which it most certainly does, but they are overlooking a key factor: the Paints product doubles as an incredible base for any other of your favourite eye shadows. There is a limited range of shades which are mostly on the light side of the spectrum, but I have used this as a base for all my eye shadows–including some of my darkest and it keeps everything in place until I remove it. You can swipe it on thinly and with a couple of strokes of mascara you're ready to go on the weekend. For more formal occasions, a light layer can be used and if you add another shadow before it's fully dry, it will dry perfectly smooth and provide a satiny finish. These tiny tubes pack quite a punch and last for months. Next time you're in the market for a little make up based pick me up, take a look at these. Who doesn't like a cosmetic bag multi-tasker?"

do you wear dark nail polish in the summer?

I am a bit obsessed with dark nail polish. When I am not wearing Chanel Vamp (a classic!), I opt for Oh To Be 25 Again! by OPI or I'm with Brad from the Sephora by OPI collection. So yummy! What about you? Do you wear dark nail polish in the summer? Take our poll now!

i'm with brad(ley cooper)

I have yet again discovered another dark nail polish that I simply can't get enough of: I'm with Brad from the Sephora by OPI collection. The shade is hard to describe, but I'll give it a try: it's a dark red shade that, depending on the light, will look more brownish or sometimes more purple-ish. I love it! Even though it's quite a dark shade, it looks so feminine and sophisticated. It's definitely the perfect shade if you need a break from the fffabulous Chanel Vamp, or if you don't want to fully go brown with OPI Oh To Be 25 Again!. Oh, and you'll be able to proudly say: 'I'm with Brad!' or Bradley Cooper. You choose.

it's brilliant!

I am a big fan of Aveda hair care products. They make your hair feel so nice and soft, and all of their products smell so yummy. I have been using the Aveda Brilliant Shampoo for six months now, and I love it. First of all, the smell is absolutely amazing; the shampoo just smells like the most delicious candy, and ever since I started using it, my hair has been more shiny and smooth and just looks much healthier in general. I love the big bottle (1L) with the pump that comes with it, since it allows me to use just the right amount of product (2 "psssts" and I'm good), and the bottle lasts me a solid six months. But I recommend you first try the 250ml bottle just to make sure you like how your hair feels when using this shampoo (we all have different hair and preferences, after all). I also love the Aveda Rosemary Mint Shampoo; it smells absolutely yummy and fresh, and your hair will look amazing, too.

aveda blue malva conditioner

My colorist is fffabulous. And she became even more fffabulous (if that's even possible!) the day she recommended the Aveda Blue Malva Conditioner. This blue concoction will not only make your blond hair shinier and softer, but it will also neutralize any orange tones that may appear after you over-wash your blond highlights. I've recommended this Aveda Blue Malva Conditioner to all my blond girlfriends and even discovered that my brunette girlfriends love the Aveda Black Malva Conditioner just as much to intensify their deeper, dark hues. You can also use the Aveda Blue Malva Shampoo (or Black Malva Shampoo for brunettes), but I found it to be less effective. Plus, I *love* my Aveda Brilliant Shampoo...

thermaclear acne clearing device

Miss Zoe has one more beauty reco for us with this acne clearing device. It seems like a big deal to clear out occasional breakouts, but it seems like it's working wonders and definitely worth using!

"I would never have bought this device, but we received it as a gift from one of my husband's clients. I had read about it however, and was very excited to try it. The ThermaClear Acne Clearing Device is essentially a 'zit zapper'—it uses pulses of heat to treat spots. Saying I was skeptical is an understatement, but it works! It makes a significant difference to the duration and seriousness of breakouts. You hold it up to your face and press the button for it to zap the area, hold it there until it beeps, and that's it. It does hurt a small amount, there's no question about it, but it's a quick little zap vs. drawn out agony.

I have used it for about 18 months for occasional breakouts and it definitely makes a difference. I now pack it when I travel because I dread the thought of a breakout the day before a big meeting in one of our remote offices! It's sold at on amazon.com or at Sephora and is still a pricey $149, which is a bit much, but so worth it when a zit comes around!"

covergirl outlast lipstain

Miss Zoe is back with some fffabulous beauty recommendations—didn't you like her recos on the Transformation Face Cream by Jan Marini and DERMAdoctor Physical Chemistry? This time, she tells us all about her crush on the CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain, and we can't wait to try it out!

"I sometimes wear lipstick at work or out to dinner, but ten minutes later it's worn off and I forget to reapply. I'd heard some good buzz about this new CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain and its variety of colours, and to be honest I'm a sucker for Drew Barrymore endorsed products, so the last time I was at Target with my sis I picked one up.

Boy is the term 'stain' accurate! Having minimal patience, I applied the stain in the parking lot using my sister's sunglasses as a mirror. Her feedback was 'you might want a little chapstick on first before you do that next time'. She was definitely right. The Outlast Lipstain penetrated immediately and I wasn't as precise as I should have been. Oops! Living up to the claims though, it lasted all through lunch and well into the afternoon. It was true to the colour on the tip of the pen, though not that of the tube. The good news being that most drugstores will let you return makeup these days even if it's opened, so if you can't decide, buy two shades and you should be able to get your money back on the one that doesn't work for you.

The next day I did put on lip balm first and then (using a real mirror) applied the stain again. This time it was perfect! All the women at work told me I looked 'polished' and 'fresh', and when I told them this $6 lipstain was the only difference, they were sold. I've worn it almost every day since, and it's bright enough to be fun and trendy, but is still work appropriate."

stila lip glaze

I've tried a lot of lip glosses over the years, but the Stila Lip Glaze lip gloss remains my all-time favorite. It is sticky enough that it won't rub off in 5 minutes, and it also comes in a lot of classic neutral shades (and the scent is delicious too!). My favorite shades are passion fruit for rosy days and vanilla for a more nude look. And I recently discovered the equally fffabulous Stila Plumping Lip Glaze. It makes your lips fuller, and your lips will feel minty fresh. Me likey! And, it can be worn as is, or with your favorite lip color.

You're just one 'click' away from getting glossier, more luscious lips with this lip glaze click pen...

you're gonna be blown away!

The last fffabulous beauty week was a huge success, so we thought it'd be fffun to have another fffabulous beauty week starting today. Yay! So why not start this week with something that will make your life SO much easier while making you look truly fffabulous at the same time? And may I add that it won't cost you a fffortune either??

One of my girlfriends always has the best blow dry ever, and her secret is to use the Spornette Prego Ceramic Styling Brush. Who would have thought a hair brush would make all the difference in the world (aside from having the best hair dryer, the T3 Bespoke Labs Hair Dryer, of course)? Kathy uses the Jumbo brush size (4") and then finishes up with the Large brush size (2½") to do the front and top of her hair. And for the record, another one of my girlfriends purchased these brushes, and during her girls' trip to Paris, all the ladies loved this brush and couldn't believe how great it was. And for less than $25 for both brushes, you won't break the bank, and you sure will look fffabulous!

natura bisse glyco peeling

Okay, I haven't invested in this fancy Glyco Peeling 25% by Natura Bissé (yet), but I've tried it out and I love it! My girlfriend swears by the Natura Bissé beauty product line (Diamond Cream, Vitamin C Cream, etc.) and introduced me to the lady that works at the Natura Bissé counter during one of our many Neiman Marcus dates—these happen quite often, I have to admit. I asked to try a few of their bestsellers and she gave me a few samples of the Glyco Peeling 25%. The Glyco Peel 25% renews damaged, dull-looking skin, and it stimulates cell renewal and is recommended for all skin types. I tried it and I was sold right away. You put the gelly lotion all over your face and neck and will experience a tingly sensation at first (I love it; it proves that it works!). Then you wait for ten minutes for the product to do its job before rinsing it off thoroughly with water. After using it a couple of times, my skin started to get clearer and smoother, and my carnation got brighter. The dark spots I was getting from swimming so much outdoors—also known as "freckles"—were so much lighter. I'd recommend anyone to get a few samples of this magic potion the next time you are shopping at Neiman Marcus!

fffaqs: is crème de la mer really worth it?

Bonjour fffabulous,

I trust your advice on skin care, and I keep seeing La Mer advertised in all of my favorite skin care shops. Since you are French, and you are fffabulous, do you happen to know first hand if the product actually works? I am trying to make my skin feel and look a little more fffabulous, but hate to spend the hundreds of dollars. Any advice?

Yours,

Hil

Hi Hil! Thanks for your email. I've always been skeptical of super expensive moisturizers; perhaps it's because every time one of those sounds-too-good-to-be-true commercials used to come on, I would always hear by dad say: "I'd want them to try this on Auntie Tataite, and if it works on her, then it's worth buying." But Auntie Tataite happened to be 95 year old at the time, so it probably wouldn't have worked. However, I have to admit that I was tempted to try the La Mer Crème de la Mer after a couple of my girlfriends started using it and couldn't stop raving about it. I went to Neiman Marcus and asked for a sample (always ask for a sample before spending the big bucks on just any moisturizer!); I got a very nice tiny jar of the La Mer Crème de la Mer (and of the Eye Concentrate, too) as well as instructions on how to apply it: take a tiny amount of moisturizer with the tip of your finger, warm it up between your fingers and press the moisturizer all over on your skin. Once this is done, you can massage the Crème all you want, but not before having gone through the 'pressing' exercise, which is the key to making the most out of your Crème de la Mer.

After using Crème de la Mer for a couple of weeks and loving it, I decided to buy my big jar of youth. Since I started using it, my skin is smoother and my expression wrinkles are less obvious because my skin is now more hydrated than ever. And I rarely have breakouts now! All in all, Crème de la Mer is worth every penny, and I recommend it to all of my girlfriends now – I have even sent some samples to my sister for her to try it out. So go get some La Mer samples, try it out, and let us know what you think!