Manolo for the Beauty

From here on the hot and dry West Coast, it was difficult to get a true understanding of the effects of Hurricane Sandy on millions of East Coast and Midwest residents. But in looking at pictures of the cleanup and hearing about those that lost their lives, I am sending all the positive vibes possible in an easterly direction.

Now, to keep your mind off of things…

Mariah Carey and OPI got together for a new collection of nail polishes, four of them being a new “sand” formulation that looks like, ah, sand on your nails. Sand with a little bit of glitter.

Some of us can pull off wearing specs effortlessly; others need a bit more help. But whether you naturally rock your glasses or not, applying the right makeup can really enhance your eyes – and the wrong kind can be a fashion disaster.

When choosing the right makeup for you, a lot depends on your prescription. If you’re far-sighted, your glasses magnify your eyes, while if you’re near-sighted they make them look smaller. To start with, here are some of the best tips we’ve found for each:

Far-sighted
Muted, matte tones or bold colours work best with far-sighted lenses – the things to avoid are shimmery, light or pale makeups which can make you look bug-eyed. Adding definition with smoky tones and using colours close to the lashline helps reduce the eye-magnifying effect of your lenses.

Near-sighted
With near-sighted lenses, you want to enhance your eyes – so get ready to frame them with plenty of eyeliner and mascara. Stay away from dark shades when it comes to eyeshadow, use a bit of shimmer and apply highlighter under your brows, along with lighter shades which really brighten and widen the eyes.
You’ll also find the kind of frames you wear have an impact on how your makeup appears – it may take a bit of experimenting to find the right combination! In general, chunky black frames can carry off more makeup, and look especially good with smoky eyes and winged liner. Thinner, wire-framed glasses lend themselves more to subtlety – try for a natural look with just a few highlights.

It’s also important not to overlook your brows, and don’t fall into the trap of thinking they’ll be hidden behind your frames – eyebrows tend to arch up over the rims of your glasses, making it all the more important that they’re well-kept and groomed. If your brows are closer to your eyes, do enough plucking to open up the area, before adding pencil on top if you think they look too thin.

So, we hope we’ve shown you that eye makeup isn’t a lost cause if you’ve got specs appeal – in fact, with a bit of work and forward planning, you can use your glasses to your advantage to really enhance your beautiful eyes. However, if you really don’t like the way your eyes look with glasses and you can’t find a look that makes it work, it may be time to consider contacts – or even eye surgery with a firm like Ultralase for a more permanent solution .

Apologies, my dears, for the long blog silence. I’m back, and ready to go.

My last poll asked if you would be willing to try Beauty Candy, a supplemented “treat,” and 50% of you said no dice. 46% said they might if someone handed them a box for free, and only 4% jumped on the bandwagon.

Today I’m asking about a hairstyle from the 40’s that is has been making a comeback for a while, and is starting to gain some traction.

It was almost a three-way tie! 33% of you said that a french manicure is a timeless classic, while the exact same amount said it was never all that to begin with.  32% said it was passe.  So, if you add up the two “negative” categories, I’m afraid it isn’t looking too good for the french manicure.

Would you be willing to try the candy supplement beloved of Brazilian supermodels?  Beauty candy, that is? These “candies” contain vitamins and collagen, for starters.

Back when my husband and I were living large and had the Travel Channel, I stumbled across a little show called No Reservations.  I was instantly hooked.  Here was this man, who could write, cook, and look attractive on television.  We’ve got a winner!

He seems to be one of those people you either love or hate.  You think his smirk is adorable or you want to smack it off his face.  I’m in the former camp, of course.  I can see why people would be in the latter.  But whatever camp you are in, it’s hard to deny the man is muy talented.

And while for me, the main attractions are the man’s face and mind, there is a certain je ne sais qoi about the above photo that is nigh irresistible.

Found at some recent fashion shows, all of these were done utilizing extensions, just so you know.

And here we have the real deal…

Despite her reputation as “ugly,” which I think was due to her self-portraiture more than anything, I find her quite regal and lovely.

All right, I’ve got some issues with this guide.

I’m not sure I agree with the “sheer serious wine shades” for an important meeting.  What if your important meeting is in the middle of August?  And sometimes wine shades can come off as dark and almost too serious.   Like, “Look at me in my dark lipstick, I am a very intense person!” instead of one that flatters and you feel comfortable in.  Or maybe I’m just projecting because I personally wouldn’t wear a wine shade for a meeting of any kind.

Well I take that back, I might wear a sheer flippant wine shade.

I also take issue with the nude pink shades for the grocery store.  Why, because I’m not supposed to look like I’m wearing makeup to the grocery store?  A red color will clash with the produce department?

I guess, though, it is a good basic primer for those who are uncomfortable/new with lip color.

86% of you disapprove of a manicure that costs upwards (much upwards) of $100,000.  I would have to agree that it seems a bit much.

Speaking of nails, what say you about the french manicure?

Inspired by the aurora borealis, this collection is full of color and shimmer.  I am especially liking that blue lip gloss, for some reason.  I have been dying to see what the blue/green lip glosses that are out actually look like on your lips.  Anybody?

You know, it isn’t my thing, but I totally support Anastasiya Shpagina in converting herself into an anime character with makeup.

I think she’s got some real skill, and it bothers me that people criticize her for her choice of transformation.

You go, anime girl.