Weblogic

Remember:  I am not the enemy.  But I’m going to have to be brutal with you.  You don’t need 24 eyeshadows. 

This is a bit like the conversation I had with my sister-in-law last night, while sifting through her pregnant makeup bag.  She travels often for work and was inquiring about which items should be kept around at all times.  I’ll admit, I’m no minimalist, but I do know what will get me through the week.  So, we cleaned, we cried, and we parted with all 12 lipsticks that she owns…and has not touched in years.  Seriously.  She owns 12 lipsticks and wears none of them.  It’s hard to throw away precious products you used to love.  Key word: Used to.  Or maybe, just maybe, you’re waiting for the perfect occasion to wear that bright turquoise eyeliner and shadow set…but you haven’t touched it in 2 years.  Well, guess what.  You’re not about to start now.  Trust me, I’ve been there.  And this is why I’m here to help you.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ll try almost any beauty product.  That doesn’t mean, however, that I don’t love when it’s organic. In the past, organic cosmetics and skincare often equated to sacrificing style and luxuriousness.  No offense, Tom’s of Maine, I wouldn’t exactly give you as a gift.  But I might put you in a fruit basket for my grandmother.  Organic is catching on all over the beauty industry and thankfully for websites like Upurea.com, organic doesn’t have to be boring.  

There is ample reason why New York City is a fun place to live.  Besides the obvious—museums, musicals, and shopping galore, there are always plenty of social events for the locals.  Whether you are participating in an after-work event, heading to the Hamptons for a lavish weekend, or attending a gala for charity, there are many opportunities to get dolled up and put your best foot forward.  This past Thursday night I attended the Safe Space Annual Spring Gala at Kiss and Fly in the city’s Meatpacking District.  Safe Space is a century-old organization dedicated to helping “protect kids, keep them safe and help them grow” by preventing foster care placement, promoting self-sufficiency, and offering support to families in need in the Queens and Manhattan areas.  Safe Space’s Junior Council, made up of 20+ young professionals, raises money for the organization through donations, corporate sponsorships, and proceeds from their Annual Gala.  Raffle tickets sold in abundance at Thursday’s event won donated items such as a John Varvatos gift set, a Clinique gift bag, and/or a Diane Von Furstenberg bikini, dress, or handbag.  Including the opportunity to purchase $1,000 tables good for 5 guests plus bottle service, all proceeds of the evening went directly to Safe Space.  

To say that I’m living on a budget these days would be an understatement.  I thought I was broke in college…and then I thought I was broke when I first moved to Manhattan, learning to adjust my finances accordingly….but now, I’m really broke.  With no money to afford a haircut, I’m living off of the products I’ve been gathering for several months.  Needless to say, improvisation and creativity are key in sticking with your beauty regimen.  For those of you who didn’t see Tuesday’s blog on Beauty Cents, I wrote about sunless tanners and tips on how to properly apply them.  Naturally, I wanted to use mine after covering the topic; but was disappointed when I realized I’d used the last of my salt scrub and knew it would be a mistake to try and further my sunless tan without first exfoliating.  I’m sure most of you, at some point, have all read articles on how to make your own salt scrub, and so had I, apparently, because I darted to the kitchen in desperation, scouring the cabinets for coarse sea salt.