Your Weekend Look: Sexy Eyes

Here's a smoky eye how-to from Ford Models and MAC. What I love is the shimmer down the center of the eyelid. Have fun!

Thumbs Up: California Baby SPF 30+ Sunblock Stick

Lately I've been wondering if the backs of my hands are someday going to look drawn and age-spotty. I don't want them to. I've been trying to keep sunscreen on them but it's difficult because I tend to wash it off and haven't really found a good hand cream with sun protection. This California Baby Sunblock Stick is awesome because I can just swipe it on the backs of my hands before I drive or get on my bike. It's non-greasy. It is subtly white. It won't spill or leak so I throw it in my bag and am always prepared for that pesky, wonderful sun.

Thumbs Up: Vanicream Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin SPF 30

Vanicream is the best facial physical sunscreen I've found. I like physical sunscreens - titanium dioxide and zinc oxide - rather than chemical ones because (a) I like to limit the chemicals I slap on my face, and (b) I just read in Lucky that most chemical sunscreens break down within a few hours and provide little protection later in the day.

Unlike other physical sunscreens I've tried, this is basically invisible when rubbed in. It goes on looking a little oily but after application of Tease Zone and makeup I looked fine all day. Good stuff.

Thumbs Down: Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral Sunscreen

I was excited about this mineral powder sunscreen that can theoretically be applied over makeup when you need a sunscreen boost. Unfortunately, this product sucks. The powder comes out a ton at a time. It clumps up on my skin. It leaves a chalky beige coating the color of nude pantyhose. I'm returning it. Too bad, because I like Peter Thomas Roth's Ultra Lite Oil-Free Sunblock.

Wednesday Web Deals

Welcome to a new Kiss Kiss feature, Wednesday Web Deals! I'll share with you all the deals I know about for online beauty shopping. Do you have some great deals too? Post and share.

Kielhl's: Free shipping on orders of $45 or more at kiehls.com. Thru 6/3/08. Coupon code: REFUEL

L'Occitane: Verbena travel gift set free with purchase of $55 or more at loccitane.com. Includes adorable mini soap, shower gel, and body cream. Thru 6/15/08. Coupon code: CITRUS

Mac Cosmetics: Free shipping on any order at maccosmetics.com. Thru 5/31/08. No coupon code needed.

Benefit: Free Some Kind-A-Gorgeous mini cream-to-powder foundation with $50 purchase at benefitcosmetics.com. Thru 6/4/08. Coupon code: PACKLITE

Clinique at Nordstrom: Free gift with Clinique purchase of $25 or more at nordstrom.com or in stores. Includes skincare samples, lipstick, cheek color, mascara, and more plus a makeup bag. In pink or bronze palettes. While supplies last. Coupon code PINK or BRONZE

Happy beauty shopping! Enjoy!

Cooling Organic Shower Gels

Showers are awesome for washing away the heat and grime after a thick summer day. I love cooling herb- or mint-spiked body washes for an extra punch of cool. Here are some of my favorites, all organic, because we're all green now, right? To be even greener and save water this summer: turn off the tap while you're lathering up, turn it back on to rinse.



Luxe and Pretty: Pangea Organics Egyptian Basil and Mint Shower Gel.










Amazing Scent: Avalon Organics Rosemary Bath and Shower Gel. This has the truest, freshest rosemary scent I've encountered outside an actual rosemary bush.







Great Deal: Jason Tea Tree Satin Shower Body Wash.
Great lather, crisp scent.

Skin Miracle

I've always heard that you can buy great skin, but this is the closest I've come to actually doing it. I am a huge fan of DermaDoctor products because they WORK as promised and are free of fragrances and extraneous ingredients. They are quietly amazing, without a big ad campaign, but truly better than most other product lines I've tried. My latest miracle product from this line is Calm, Cool, and Corrected (the first one is Tease Zone). Calm, Cool, and Corrected is billed as a rosacea treatment (which I don't have), but is recommended for oily skin and acne if you use the DermaWizard interactive skincare advisor on the site. All the customer reviews are excellent, and I've also read about this product on Ms. Distressed Derma's blog. I'm constantly looking for something that will get rid of the stubborn breakouts that remain even after regular retinoid and AHA treatment. This is the latest product in that struggle, and the best so far.

This cream is rich and contains shea butter but is not at all greasy, and absorbs instantly with no oily or sticky feel. There's no fragrance. I found it very soothing and moisturizing on my retinoid-treated skin. After two weeks of twice-a-day use my skin looks calmer, with fewer blotchy spots and fewer small pimples. I got one major zit, about one week after I started using the product, but I'm guessing that pimple was in development under my skin before I actually started using the cream. Another month will tell whether it prevents my monthly breakout. I wanted to share it with you sooner, though, because of positive results thus far.

The catch, and why I say I'm definitely buying great skin right now - the price is $85. The tub is a good size and will likely last several months, so it doesn't seem terribly overpriced. But it's definitely, definitely the most I've ever spent on face cream. Oh well, you know what they say, buy cheap, buy twice...hopefully this will work and I won't have to buy anything else!

Dry Hair Relief: Bumble & Bumble Super Rich

Everyone has her favorite conditioner. Here's mine - Bumble and Bumble Super Rich conditioner. I got addicted to this stuff when I was growing my hair out for a year in hopes of a big afro. It's really kinky/curly and REALLY dry, especially as it gets longer. This was the only thing I found that could keep it moisturized.

Even since I abandoned my pursuit of the afro and cut my hair short again I still use this stuff. It gives my hair a soft feeling, helps define curls and reduce frizz, and smells really good. If you have naturally dry hair or dry hair because of processing and heat styling, this conditioner can probably do something for you. Highly recommended.

Crest Whitestrips Premium: Product Review

Okay, after literally years of scoffing at the tooth whitening craze that has swept the nation, lately I've looked at my own teeth and thought, hmm, not so white anymore. Charla Krupp's How Not to Look Old recommends Crest Whitestrips Premium as a dentist-approved and effective solution to my off-white problem. The kit contains a 7-day course of treatment with strips to wear twice a day for 30 minutes at a time. Alas, I can't seem to find two occasions in the day to do this, so I've been doing it once a day. I think I'll get the same results, only slower.

So what's the process like? Well, the Whitestrips are these ingenious little plastic strips like textured Saran Wrap. There's one strip for top teeth and one for bottom. You peel them off of their backing and they already have the bleaching gel on them. You place strips on the top and bottom front rows of teeth (each covers ~6 front teeth) and hang out for 30 minutes.

What does it feel like? It's a little like having gel on your teeth covered with plastic wrap. Not the most pleasant, but the strips really do stay put so you're not having to fish plastic out of the back of your mouth, which I feared. There is minimal taste. The gel is made slightly sweet with saccharin, but I really don't taste much of anything at all. You can feel the bleach working, especially when you first put them on; it feels very mildly irritating on your teeth and gums. I didn't experience anything I'd call discomfort, though. Just maybe mild unpleasantness. Very manageable.

At the end of 30 minutes you take them off and throw them away. This is actually the hardest part for me because then your teeth are left coated with gel and the feeling is slightly icky. Give your mouth a good rinse and it goes away.

I've done two treatments now, and I do notice a difference already! Subtle, but I'm optimistic that results will continue to build. I've experienced only the faintest bit of tooth sensitivity, but only once or twice. Otherwise I don't notice any difference.

Hope this helps in your tooth whitening adventures! If you have any other insight please post and share.

Ford Models Beauty Tips

I am obsessed with the Ford Models channel on YouTube. Each 3- or 4-minute video features a model, sometimes a hairstylist or makeup artist, and a fabulous quick beauty tip like how to do a smoky eye or style curly hair. All the models are so breezy and perky that it's easy to like them and you could easily spend hours browsing through all the videos. Here's my favorite today, from the beautiful and funny Tomiko.

Warm Weather Comfort

It was really, truly warm here this weekend! I am extremely grateful not to be chilly and am looking forward to more of the sun. Warm weather requires its own set of tools for comfort and beauty.

Two of my favorite summer purse essentials are Boscia Fresh Blotting Linens and Caudalie Eau de Raisin spray. Whip out the blotting papers to minimize mid-afternoon shine, and follow with a mist of grape-extract-infused water to cool down your lovely face. Position yourself in front of a fan for a minute and zing! instant refreshment.