Beauty Bites

Nerd Alert: I’m kind of addicted to watching QVC, specifically “Friday Night Beauty.” I religiously record it on my dvr each week because I love hearing the product discussed in detail and seeing the models use it. It basically takes out a lot of the guesswork about how a product works. As a show regular, Chaz Dean is always sharing the virtues of washing hair with a cleanser free of  sodium laurel sulfate or other damaging detergents. You’ve seen the WEN infomercials, so you know what I’m talking about. I’m not easily wooed by the hype, but I kept help but be totally mesmerized when Chaz fluffs the models’ shiny, bouncy hair. You just can’t ignore hair like that – a girl just has to have it. The only problem? I already tried the product – TWICE. And I wasn’t exactly wow’d either time.

Still, I longed for the same healthy hair. So I kept watching every time Chaz was on the show, both skeptical and hopeful. Then one night he said something that made me decide to give the product a third try. He mentioned the disappointment of some with the product’s performance and politely in a nutshell said: it’s not WEN – it’s you. The problem? Either you weren’t washing it the way he instructed or you simply weren’t using enough product. And when I thought about it, I realized that it was probably my fault.

So I purchased it again and followed the washing technique and the recommended amount of pumps. The result? Heavenly hair. Seriously, my hair was the softest it had ever been. I couldn’t stop touching it. If you’ve never tried the product let me give you a few tips on what I’ve learned:

1. The cleanser is a one-step process. It works to replace your shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, detangler and leave-in conditioner. Nice. So try to remember that if you think it’s a little expensive side. I have a lot of hair so I need to use more product.
2. Chaz means it when he says it doesn’t lather. So don’t expect it to. It should get somewhat frothy though.
3. Follow the recommended amount of pumps of the product for your hair. Don’t decide to be a cheapo and try to get away using less. If you do, your hair will look the opposite of clean – oily and dirty.
4. Wash as directed. Clean your hair in sections. Distribute the product thoroughly through hair with the WEN comb. The first two times I used this product, I didn’t use the comb – big mistake, huge. If you don’t want to use a WEN comb, try to find a heavy duty one that is similar to it. If you don’t distribute the product well your hair will look dirty. It’s really cool to be able to actually comb your hair in the shower and have it just glide on through.
5. Rinse. Rinse well. Oh, and rinse. If any of the product is left in your hair, it will look like you have hair like a crazy cat lady. Dirty. Are you seeing a pattern?
6. Mix it up. Don’t be afraid to make your own hair cocktail and mix the different cleansers to make your perfect shampoo. Each cleanser is a little different and offers something special. Some help add body while others condition more. Don’t be afraid to experiment. Right now, I like to use both almond mint and lavender.
7. Try it again. Remember, if WEN you don’t first succeed – try, try again. If you’re not thrilled with the results, it means you didn’t use the cleanser right. There are times when I’ve tried to take shortcuts when washing my hair, and the result is never as good.

I’ve been happily using this product for almost a year now, and I can’t recommend it enough. Try it, you’ll love it. If you don’t believe me, well then maybe you’ll trust Alyssa Milano. Although I think that’s pretty rude, since I thought we were close and she’s just a paid spokesperson.

Availble at: QVC, Sephora

You know when everyone’s buzzing about a product but you’re kind of like “ehhh, I’ll check it out later” ? Yeah, that was me with Urban Decay’s Naked Palette. Don’t get me wrong. I definitely wanted to get the skinny on the pretty palette when it first came out, but it just sort of just became dormant on my wishlist.

The wishlist item quickly moved to the top when I spent an afternoon playing in a Sephora during a recent trip to Georgetown with my mother-in-law. She liked it so much, she got one too. The palette conveniently features five versatile shades, ranging from delicate champagne to gritty gunmetal. The pretty palette also includes glitter, shimmer, and matte shadows, letting you easily create day-to-night looks. The best part? The shades of shadows work well for all seasons, fall through summer. They’re also the kind of colors that surprisingly look good on everyone, regardless if you have a fair or olive skin.

And although you’ve probably already read rave reviews about Naked, I thought I would just finally add my two cents to say it’s definitely worth every pretty penny.

Now that summer’s over, the pressure to look like a beachy tan goddesses is on hold. However, sometimes a girl’s skin – particularly her face – needs a little color to avoid feeling drab. Hourglass’ Solar Tan Self-Tanning Primer has become my official go-to for that flattering glow. It’s a primer that creates a warm, natural glow that’s perfect year-round. It glides smoothly onto your skin to create a soft focus finish, provides moisture (especially important during the fall and winter months), and slowly develops during the day to give your skin a little radiance and that much needed boost of color.

If someone would have told me a few years ago that adding oil to my hair would make it look healthier, I would have uttered a “coo-coo” while rolling my eyes and motioning my finger in a circular motion. Crazy as it may have seemed, using argan oil on my hair has today become one of my favorite beauty must-haves for achieving and maintaining healthy locks. A couple of years ago I started using Moroccanoil Oil Treatment and have in recent months added Agadir Argan Oil Spray Treatment to my arsenal. Both help restore my hair’s moisture so that it looks shiny, feels soft, and smells heavenly. The Agadir Argan Oil Spray Treatment is super convenient to use with it’s spray nozzle, and I love using it after washing my hair to help detangle and quickly dry it. I tend to use the Moroccanoil after blow drying or straightening my hair, and also find it ideal for freshen up my tresses. Both will keep your hair looking and feeling beautiful.

There once was a time when I would only wear my favorite perfume on days deemed “special” or those few and fleeting “fancy” occasions. I was like Gollum and only wore my coveted scent sparingly; afraid to use it for fear that it’s pricey beauty would be spoiled on something unworthy. However, I’ve long since abandoned that silly notion and now favor the idea that every day is special and I’m worth the scent splurge. Now I spritz on a favorite fragrance even if my day simply includes a comfy pair of sweatpants. Oh yeah, super fancy . . .

I actually tend to rotate fragrances depending on my mood, and one of my current faves is Chance by Chanel. I received the Chanel Chance Eau Tendre Eau de Toilette Spray (thanks to a loving husband) for my birthday last year and then the Chanel Chance Eau Tendre Sheer Moisture Mist for Christmas (thanks to my thoughtful mom). The mist bottle is a wonderful way to freshen up your scent during the day since it’s super convenient to just throw in your handbag (or even your gym bag).

It’s a dreamy and delicate scent that is both sweet and seductive. I get compliments and “what are you wearing?” every time I wear it. If you’re looking for a new scent, I recommend taking a chance on Chanel Chance. You won’t regret it, and you’re worth the splurge.

(available at Sephora, Saks, Nordstrom, Macy’s)