Manolo for the Beauty

Oh BB creams, we hardly knew ye.

You are now being unceremoniously shoved aside for something called a CC cream.  The CC stands for color correct, or color and care, or something similar where you can mix and match appropriate-sounding words that begin with C.

Whatever.

CC creams are supposed to provide better coverage than BB creams yet still retain their sheerness, contain more anti-aging ingredients, and moisturize better.

Well, I guess I can see why BB creams would be a thing of the past.

However, I’m sure there is someone waiting in the wings to invent a DD cream, or even an EE cream.

I think I’ll wait a little while before I spend my money.

Well, most of you think that Queen Latifah looks juuuust fiiiine for a hot August night.  57% of you, in fact.  12% of you thought she could have done something more, and the rest just respected the thought of not having to worry about makeup melt.   Personally I thought she looked fresh and lovely, as always.

Today I want to know how you feel about the dip-dye trend for hair.

Apologies for the lack of polling, but when 50% of your family is down with a fever/flu thing, then not too much gets done.  Don’t worry, I neglected my housework, too.

The subject of bangs split 41% of you into the “love them” group and another 41% of you into the “love/hate” group.  17% didn’t like them at all.  I have to say I am in the love/hate category, because on some people, they just don’t look right.  Other people, however, can wear them beautifully.  My forehead is actually extremely low, and although I have had bangs in my past, I think I look better without them.  I’ve been bangless for over twenty years at this point, which sounded a lot dirtier than I intended.

Today I want to know how you feel about about a current makeup trend….

It’s been a tough week.

This makes me feel better.  And maybe a bit tingly.

Because after a while, I can only look at so many photos of women!  And I say that in a very loving way!

I know, I know.  Based on my penchant for plummy-colored eyeliner, I’m fairly positive that I would look good in some plum mascara.

But, I’m not 100% positive.

And it just hasn’t really been on my radar to go and find a nice plum colored mascara and try it out.

I just might be scarred from the 80’s, when I did brave some blue mascara (SO HOT at the time) and thought I looked great.

Except in retrospect, I’m sure I didn’t.

I am well aware that the pigmentation on mascaras is much different here in the 2000’s, and the only time you are going to get neon blue mascara is if you are purposely looking for neon blue mascara.

As much as I hate to say it, I’m thinking that maybe 41 is a bit old for colored mascara.  A trend best left for the young ‘uns, as I had a go of it on the first round.

What say you?  Is age just a number and flaunt that purple mascara no matter what?

Once upon a time, I wore headbands. All the time.  You see, I was growing out my bangs and the only way to survive that very grueling and traumatic experience was to simply push those puppies up and off my forehead altogether.  There was, of course, an unfortunate month when the bangs were exactly the wrong length and would stick up from behind the headband.  On those days, I would refuse to leave the house and instead quietly weep in a corner.

Supposedly the 50’s inspiration is here in a big way, and that includes the use of headbands as an accessory.  For some reason, though, when I think of headbands I think of Hillary Clinton, not the 1950’s.  That could be good or bad.  Upon reflection of Hillary’s personal style, (as much as I admire her) it is most likely bad.

I like headbands because there is an infinite variety of them.  Wide, thin, leather, fabric, glittery, tortoiseshell, lace… You name it and there is a headband that has it. An Etsy search comes up with over 250,000.

It’s been a long time since I’ve broken out a headband, but I’m wondering if it isn’t time to start experimenting with them again.  However, I do seem to remember that certain kinds can give you quite a headache if you wear them for any length of time.

So what is your verdict on headbands?  Stylish or frumpy?

A big thumbs down was given to the new Marc Jacob nail colors.  65% of you yawned mightily and took a nap, while only 35% of you thought it was nice enough.  The only way those particular shades could be fantastic is if the color depth is phenomenal, and I haven’t seen it in person, so they very well might be.  But, I still think I’ll pass.

Today I’m about the metallics.  They are a hot trend right now, and I’ve got a question.  Be honest, now…

95% of you approved of Anne Hathaway’s formal look. I put the picture up because I liked it, yet somehow found it very boring. It was a fairly flawless look, but it held no fascination for me. I was waiting to see if people thought the same way, although in retrospect, I should have had a choice that said “whatever.”

Tom Ford, he of the fairly misogynistic ads (link not necessarily SFW!) has come out with a nail laquer collection that, to hear other beauty bloggers wax enthusiastically, is akin to the second coming of Jesus.

While I must say not all of these looks are exactly practical, I find myself loving the vinyl-black eyeliner from Shiseido and the Tom Ford lip gloss used as eyeshadow.  I also covet almost all of those nail polishes, even though I don’t really do nail polish.

44% of you feel that if a slightly different set of criteria were applied, men have just as much pressure to “look good” as women do.  38% of you call malarkey on that.  14% of you found yourselves looking at the men around you and not being impressed in the least.  I’m torn on this one.  I think they do have some pressure, not as much as women, but I think they can get away with more.

Today I want to know what you think about magnetic nail polish.