Top 10 Beauty Products of 2011!!

It’s been swell, 2011, but as you fade from my memory I would like to take some time to remember how you kept me feeling beautiful and looking my best…

As many of you may know, this was a year of many changes for me. I uprooted myself from everything I knew and held dear and came west to find it’s a whole different world out here! No seriously …it is…it’s sunny ALL THE TIME and so dry, I actually smile when it rains. The air out here - well all jokes aside, its horrific for anyone whose job it is to look your best 24/7. All this took a LOT of getting used to. I have tried more beauty products this year than I think my entire college years combined (which any of my old college roommates can attest is a CRAZY amount.) I have cried and fought with my skin, begged and pleaded with my hair and all but gave up on my nails – bartending had them pleading for “enhancements” – DON’T GIVE IN!!! It’s been a challenge but what I really got out of this year is an incredible wealth of beauty knowledge that I’d like to share with you here.

The following is a list of my top ten beauty products!! These are game changers. They, in some cases, saved my life. All of these products I discovered in 2011 so while some might have existed before then, I only became interested in them this year. I’m getting really excited so here we go!

10. EOS Everyday Hand Lotion in “Nourish” and Organic Lip Balm Smooth Sphere

Ok, so grouping these together technically makes 11 but that works even better, right? I was introduced to the lip balm last year – who can resist that cute little bauble? At first I didn’t find it to be that extraordinary but I appreciated the fact that it was organic. Now this might seem strange but this little blissful balm is one of those products you have to break in. In other words, it get’s better over time. It glides and conditions well at first but within a few weeks of daily use, it became a must in my routine. There’s a word for that…addiction, maybe? Anywho, I’m in my third and my lips are pleased to pout. 

So please was I that when I spotted a familiar shaped hand lotion I didn’t hesitate even though I was already happy with my L’occtaine Shea Butter Hand Cream. Little did that latter, poor hand cream know it was about to get it’s little French butt kicked by something less expensive and less experienced. As a new addition to the EOS line, the  Everyday Hand Lotion is 97% natural, dye free, hypoallergenic, and doesn’t have any of those chemicals I can’t pronounce. I was surprised by how light yet moisturizing it was. No greasy fingerprint here AND it lasts just as long as the L’occtaine one. Like the lip balm, I think the real sell here is the unique, ingenious packaging – talk about reinventing the wheel.

9. O.P.I Nail Lacquer in Rainbow Connection or ANY Glitter Nail Polish

Suddenly it was ok to go back to 5^th grade this year and rock shiny, sparkly, dazzling nail polishes that we treasured, begged our mothers for, and then tossed once we got to high school. Well, like everything else, the Glitter Fairy is back with a vengeance and she’s oh so grown up. No longer considered childish, glitter is actually quite chic. Never have I seen so many different color combos  - it’s like Lisa Frank and Jackson Pollock had a secret love child and she had to make a name for herself.  Everyone rocked her this year and while I dread the day she leaves, I’m glad the bitch is back.

 8. Colgate Optic White Daily Toothpaste

With all the other things going on with my skin and hair, I was able to breathe easy with this new toothpaste. I’m usually strictly a Crest girl but I noticed that this has a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide, which I know whitens, brightens, and is the main ingredient in most over the counter whitening strips. The proof is in my pearly whites – no strips necessary making that one less thing I have to worry about. Phew!

7. Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Conditioner

You can’t go anywhere beauty related without catching a glimpse or hearing a whisper about Argan Oil – it’s the latest, greatest, and apparently its been around forever. That being said, it comes with a hefty price tag. Earlier this year, I couldn’t really bring myself to cough up the bucks for Morrocanoil products and I didn’t feel comfortable buying something like that without a guarantee. Then, the Organix gods answered my prayers by coming out with their own aptly titled line of argan oil infused hair care and while I have tried almost the entire line, I really love the conditioner. Nothing has ever made my hair this soft and shiny. It’s not that often that I can say my hair is healthy but even after one use, I finally experienced what that’s like. AND you can practically try their entire line for the price of one bottle of Morrocanoil…I don’t know why you are still sitting at you computer…RUN, don’t walk to your nearest drugstore!!

6. Nexxus Pro-Mend Leave-in Treatment Crème

The best part about this product it that you don’t have to use is all the time. I love that. It’s not converting you – no need to drink the Kool-Aid. I am trying to grow my hair long and in order to do that I can’t be chopping off an inch of split ends every 3 months. At the rate I was going, I’d have been 30 before my hair reached the mid-back point. This does what it says and I love when products tell me the truth…it there something like this to fix Washington? I’ll look into it and get back to you.

5. Butter London Horse Power Nail Fertilizer

As I eluded to in the intro, I made the gastly mistake of trying one of those Soak-off Gel Manicures because my particular line of work had reduced my nails to nubs. I don’t know why I did it as I had the UV Gels in High School for 6 months and it took another 6 months after I took them off for me to get my nails back to a pretty place. (You’d think I learn…) Anyway I was petrified that I had done a repeat performance when I saw how thin and sad my nails looked after the Soak-offs so I did a little research and bought this. I wasn’t thrilled by the price but I figured it was the cost of a manicure and gave in. It’s amazing. I put it on every other day for several days and then take it off. I’ll then let my nails breathe and voilà, their tough as…well, nails.

4. Coconut Oil – preferably organic and virgin

In a more serious moment this year, I discovered that I had eczema on my scalp. At first,  I thought it was just your run of the mill dry scalp but when my usual remedy of olive oil treatments didn’t work,  I had my cousin check it out and describe what she saw, there was no doubt. I had patches where I was beginning to lose hair and I had no idea what to do. I kept hearing about coconut oil and I thought it couldn’t be any different than olive – right? Wrong! For me, coconut oil was so much more nourishing, softening my hair whilst not leaving a thick residue. I put it on my scalp the night before I know I’m going to wash my hair and come it though, separating my hair into four braided sections. A plastic cap ensures no stains on my pillow and keeps the heat close to my head. In the morning it’s a tangle free rinse and wash like normal. The results were beyond relieving; this saved my hair and I will forever give thanks to those furry little nuts for their extraordinary properties…still can’t bring myself to like the taste of that water, though.

3. Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque

My roommate is from Georgia and when I came back from Rite-Aid with two of these because there was a BOGO, she squealed in delight. Apparently, there’s a whole other world of beauty products in the South that I have never been privy to until now and with this one, I struck oil. Or rather, it struck oil and removed it from my face in a cool, calming way that I could not believe. It’s delightful on my (newly) acne-prone skin, extracting oil and whipping those clogged pores into shape – politely, of course.

2. Lush Mint Julips Lip Scrub

I never really saw the need for lip scrubs - always just gave my kissers a quick rubdown with a washcloth after washing my face and kept on truckin’. However, this lovely dry climate had caused a lovely dark ring to form around my lips – natural 90s lip liner, perhaps? During a Lush haul I saw this at the checkout  -that’s how they get ya - and thought it can’t hurt. Glad I was feeling spontaneous at that particular moment cause this simple & sweet mix dissolved the throwback liner plus you can literally rub it in then lick it off...yummmmm.

1.       Clarisonic Mia Sonic Skin Cleansing System

I already know that I will not be able to express my admiration for this tool in an articulate fashion but I’ll just get this out of the way: I F*ING LOVE IT!!!!!! Let’s move on, shall we?

First things first, this is an investment. I thought long and hard about this one and finally decided that it was worth it. My skin had gone through HELL this year and L.A. air quality is only partially to blame. For the first time I had flaky  dry patches on my cheeks, an oil slicked T-zone using  5 blotting sheets a day, 2 allergic reactions – 1 of which left me with scars,  and consistent hormonal acne that I didn’t even experience when I was a teenager. My face was a mess and in my line of work, your face is your main draw. Having had good skin my whole life, it was a blow to my confidence to be trapped by my skin. I knew I had to do something and I have to say that it was this supersonic tool that made the most difference. It cleanses deeply, giving me a clean slate every day.  My products do absorb better and my skin is actually glowy. I’m amazed by the texture difference and though I’m sooooo tempted to touch my silky soft cheeks, I refrain – doctor’s orders! Is my skin still recovering? Yes, but the difference is truly astounding. This is my number one pick for 2011 – the tool that changed the game.

I hope you found this countdown of sorts to be helpful and that you all have a beautiful new year!!

My Brief "LUSH" Affair

I had heard London calling from across the pond for quite some time and just had to try LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics. I mean, how could I resist? Mixing those dashing Brits with all natural ingredients, packed with love by people with names and guaranteed fresh, fresh, FRESH? Amazing!! So I spent the last few months testing out a variety of skin, hair, and cosmetics including those pictured below. In general, I like these products however I find that the prices are high for how little product you get. I understand that they are selling "freshness" but honestly, most of these have comparable products that are organic or mostly natural if you need your nature fix. Take a look at the video for my product breakdowns - Enjoy!

Movie of the Week: The Descendants

This heart string-tugging family drama had George Clooney immersed in a role we don't usually associate him with - a dad. Always an intensely-handsome-yet-complex character, Clooney took on a lot in this one and even added layers that I'm not sure were there originally. This silver fox found a humbling rhythm in what will definitely be considered one of the best performances of the year. In addition, Shailene Woodley who plays Clooney's troubled, eldest daughter gave a solid, honest performance in a role that could have easily been a cliché. Instead, she finds herself nominated for a Golden Globe along with Clooney - not bad for her breakout role.

The story begins mid stride, following Clooney's character Matt King as he tries to stay afloat despite the present unfortunate circumstances. In addition to his wife being in a coma, his nonexistent relationship with his daughters and his legal responsibilities as the primary beneficiary of his ancestors estate, he's just a hard working yet not entirely content guy. Something is off and it isn't until he discovers, courtesy of his eldest daughter, that his wife had been having an affair and planned to leave him that his world actually shatters. Fragile and beyond devastated, he is convinced that finding the stranger that would have destroyed his family had it not been for the accident will bring him some sort of closure. Relying on the counsel and assistance of his daughter, her absent-minded yet at times profound best friend, he walks the thin line between being that strong father figure and the broken down victim, stumbling more than a few times on either side. Together they pull each other through a bumpy grieving period and come out a family more resilient and beautiful than we found them.

More than anything, this was the story of a father learning how to parent and it touched me in a way I didn't expect. Perhaps it was that I was seeing things from the father's perspective instead of the daughter's. Maybe it was just that Clooney was that invested that his performance spoke in a language I could truly understand. Either way I will definitely make a point to watch this again, this time with my dad. Yes, it's that kind of movie and together with the spectacular scenery -which is a character in itself - "The Descendants" is definitely one not to be missed. 

SAG Nominations: And They're Off!

The Nominations for the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were announced today and for me, this is the real beginning of the 2012 awards season (sorry, People's Choice Awards but there are far too many Twihards with access to a computer to make you legit.) In a way the nominations and subsequent awards given by SAG is one of the highest honors an actor or ensemble can achieve since it is voted on by one's peers. There's no Academy, no Hollywood Foreign Press, no party politics - just you and a few hundred thousand friends. It's a great occasion and as one would imagine, a very humbling night. Plus, the SAG Awards have a pretty good track record for predicting the Academy Award Winners in the Acting categories. Complete upsets are rare, not to mention shocking since it usually means that someone (::coughTheAcademycough::) is out of touch with reality.

There were some surprises in today's announcement but first let start with the not so shocking yet well deserved nods. For Best Male Actor in a Leading Role, the field is filled with quite a few Hollywood Heavyweights including  George Clooney as Matt King in "The Descendants”, Leonardo DiCaprio as J. Edgar Hoover in "J. Edgar", and Brad Pitt as Billy Beane in "Moneyball". This category might seem pretty stiff but that's nothing compared to the female giants nominated for Best Female Actor in a Leading Role: Glenn Close  as Albert Nobbs in "Albert Nobbs”, Viola Davis as Aibileen Clark in “The Help”, Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher in “The Iron Lady”, Tilda Swinton as Eva in “We Need to Talk About Kevin" and of course, Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe in “My Week With Marilyn”. Usually, Streep is a SAG fav but did you see The Help? (If you haven't, I give you permission to stop reading this and RUN, don't walk to your nearest Blockbuster, Redbox, whatever! Go! Now!) Viola Davis was incredible as were Jessica Chastain as Celia Foote and Octavia Spencer as Minny Jackson who are up against each other for Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role. That's a shame because most of their scenes were together and just fantastic. I expected Octavia to get a nod but Jessica was a pleasant surprise. Also a surprise to me was Armie Hammer as Clyde Tolson in "J. Edgar", Jonah Hill as Peter Brand in "Moneyball" and Melissa McCarthy as Megan in "Bridesmaids". Melissa McCarthy and Jonah Hill I can definitely see as contenders but Armi Hammer? I have nothing against him as an actor - he was badass² in "The Social Network" but I wasn't all that impressed with his portrayal of Clyde. 

Now for this season's snubs! The most glaring has to be Ryan Gosling in either "The Ides of March" or "Drive" I personally was more impressed with the latter but come on!! The rest I cannot comment on because I haven't seen their performances but I know the internet is atwitter with outrage over Sandra Bullock, Rooney Mara, and Charlize Theron. As for the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture category, I'm surprised by the lack of love for "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" - again, haven't seen it but I was under the impression it would be a shoe in. The category is pretty well stacked though with "The Artist", "Bridesmaids", "The Descendents", "The Help", and "Midnight in Paris". I've seen 4 out of 5 of those films and while I'm not going to post my predictions yet, I do believe that those ensembles are all really well deserving.

On to the small screen, they're weren't many surprises here except for Patrick J Adams as Mike Ross in “Suits”. I 'm not surprised he was nominated  - I was just under the impression I was the only one watching it. Also missing was my annual favorite, "Mad Men" but because someone who shall not be mentioned couldn't get it together, it was not eligible this year (I'm not bitter...promise...) This however open the field to what I believe will be an HBO vs. HBO showdown with "Boardwalk Empire" and "Game of Thrones." Both shows have the longest casts I've ever seen with 25 and 32 actors nominated respectively. It will be interesting to see if the numbers game works against them or if the SAG voters will be able to discern the quality from the sheer quantity. It's there, but we'll have to tune in at 8PM EST on Sunday, January 29th to find out. In the meantime, I'll be living at the movie theater.

Cinematically yours,
the mixx chic

MAC Spring/Summer 2012 Preview: Beauty is Back!

Last week I attended my first MAC Pro Event that gave me a sneak peek into what we will be privy to starting next year. I'm really liking all of the different collections - there is truly something for everyone with incredible range and depth. My main takeaway was that Skin is in!!

1. Ath-Elite

That minamalistic yet athletic - "No Makeup Makeup" that is clean, healthy and strong.

Taking time with primers, highlighting and contouring 

Statements are graphic, yet soft - this does not include eyebrows which are strong and bold.

2. Nouv-Eau

An homage to the 1920s, that is romantic, softly defined, "trash-ic"

Washes of color with the skin coming through - not "perfect"

There's a "morning after" look to it with a focus on matte stains and colored smokey eyes.

Main colors: Coral, Lavender, Khaki green

3. Neo-n

That 80s bold statement of color 

Neon has evolved with lots of depth and texture in small or large statements -Cindi Lauper would be proud!

Main Colors: Self explanatory but I especially loved the Fuchsia or Orange red lip

4. Ore-Inspired

 Metallic, glitter, shine - oh my!!

"Wolf inspired beauty"

Main Colors: Yellow,Orange or Peachy gold, Brown, Plum

  

Are you excited? I'm excited!! Especially since I got two lip colors that will be in the new collections. They are GORGEOUS!! I swatched them below and I wore the Lady Danger in my video (above). Love it?

l to r: Lady Danger (Matte) and Peach-Stock (Satin)

l to r: Lady Danger (Matte) and Peach-Stock (Satin)

Let me know what you think!

Daringly Dangerous,

the mixx chic

Road Trip: AZ

For Thanksgiving I took my first solo road trip from Los Angeles, CA to right outside Phoenix, Arizona. What an AMAZING drive!! I was in awe by the scenic desert landscape - something I had only ever flew over in the past. Below are some of my favorite pictures from my journey - enjoy!

 Windmills!!!

Most of the trip I spent crooning to Sinatra's "Best of the Best" Album - had to keep it real. The timing is appropriate, however, since next week I'm off to New York, New York so start spreading the news!

Homeward Bound,

the mixx chic

Movie of the Week: J. Edgar

Clint Eastwood's latest project "J. Edgar" is another delve into the world of a rather unlikeable protagonist who's accomplishment as the first Director of the FBI  is overshadowed by his dark inner life. As the title implies, this movie primarily focused on the title character John Edgar Hoover and those around him who influenced him most. Spanning decades, the film asked its audience to keep up as it jumped back and fourth, from president to president whilst trying to grasp an understanding the of this scared, hardened man. It was clear that he was brilliant yet also constantly at war with himself; paranoid and soft, confident and hard. As a result, the audience too was conflicted, not quite sure what to make of him. Captivating to watch, that uncertainty the audience experiences is a testament to how brilliantly Leonardo DiCaprio portrayed him. 

Throughout most of the film, J. Edgar is trying to dictate his memoir in order to protect his legacy. However,  he struggles with his own fears and insecurities so much that he lies to himself and, in doings so, to his audience. Behind every monster is a even more monstrous mother. In this case that role was filled devilishly by the incredible Dame Judi Dench. Her demeanor actually caused chills up my spine. In what I will venture to say might be her Oscar Nomination scene, where she all but tells DiCaprio's character that she would rather he be dead than gay, I felt as though I myself had been stung. Ruthless doesn't even begin to describe her. Dench really didn't have that much screen time but she left a lasting impression on me through the rest of the movie and well after I left the theater.

For the remaining actors, the time element was not as kind. While DiCaprio and Dench took this challenge on effortlessly, others struggled - namely Naomi Watts and Armie Hammer. Watts, who played J. Edgar's faithful secretary and confidant Helen Gandy, was rather forgettable other that a brief moment she shared with DiCaprio in which you could see in her eyes that they truly understood each other. Her wordless assurance of loyalty was a sweet, touching moment that was well earned. On the other hand Hammer, who played Clyde Tolson - J. Edgar's partner in both his public and private life, tried almost too hard to seem "aged" and his horrific make-up job only made matters worse. The fact that his face did not move was distracting  in itself. The only scene that landed in the right spot for me was one of his last, an emotional dinner scene between him and DiCaprio where they finally found common ground. Other than that, the there was no difference between Hammer's portrayal of his heathy, older self and that of post-stroke his besides his labored speech. In his "early" scenes however, he was charming, smart, and endearing - everything DiCaprio's character was not.

The juxtaposition between J. Edgar and Clyde was really fascinating to watch, with the actors doing a superb job of carving out and settling into their socially unaccepted relationship. Even as an outsider looking in, you could see and feel that their mutual attraction was so doomed yet completely honest. It was as if the characters danced around each other in different rhythms. It was sad and sweet, especially in my favorite scene where Clyde acknowledgement of his feelings comes as a result of J. Edgar's dismissiveness. This escalates into an impassioned brawl with both characters doing more emotional damage than physical. It is powerful with it's aftermath lingering over the remainder of the movie.

Overall, I appreciated the performances in "J. Edgar" over the movie as a whole. I thought the film was well written by Dustin Lance Black ("Milk") and very well directed. I will not be surprised if both Eastwood and Black get Oscar nods, and I can see a Best Picture nod as well. Looking at this performance in comparison to all those in DiCaprio's career thus far, I personally feel that "The Aviator" was his best. He was Howard Hughes. "J. Edgar" will be a highlight, not the highlight. That being said, I still think the Academy Award for Best Actor remains his to lose.