The Bitch is Back

It's 2015?!? WTF. I have been off the blogging grid for almost four years. FOUR YEARS. I mean there have been at least 27 new iPhones released in that span of time, for foot's sake. (And I have shattered the screens of all of them.)

Lots, and I mean LOTS of changes have occurred in the circus that is my personal life. These include but are not limited to:

- Switching careers entirely. Yep, left the world of bridal for something a little more corporate. I work for the Home Depot at their corporate headquarters, and I have to admit that I love it. Who knew? (Fair warning: if you ever happen upon me in a store, don't ask me where anything is. I have no idea. Nor do I know what size PVC pipe you need for your toilet. Though I must admit that I look damn sexy in an orange apron.)

- My husband switching careers entirely.

- Oh and we had a kid. Let's not forget about that psycho/adorable lil' nugget.



But the bottom line is that I miss talking about pretty things every now and then. Don't get me wrong: the world of HVAC repair and cabinet refacing is quite glamorous, but I need to think about something beautiful, mindless, and shallow every once in a while. So here I am!! Lucky you. Consider yourself slapped in the face with the open hand of awesome.

I thought I'd start off by a good old-fashioned list. A lot has changed since I last blogged, so I wanted to make a list of the top things I've learned in the world of makeup and fashion over the past four years. Is the suspense KILLING you??? I thought so. Here goes.

1. J Lo is still the most beautiful human alive.
This post is perfectly timed for the beginning of the new Idol season, so she and I have had two dates this week. I mean come ON. The woman had her hair in an 80's top pony with powder blue eyeshadow and she looked like a flipping ANGEL. I find myself creepily pausing the DVR just to look at her. (Cue the restraining order.)



2. The sock bun was an adorable trend while it lasted, but I think it's time to put the tube sock back in the drawer.
Let me clarify "adorable:" adorable to WOMEN. Men HATE the sock bun. Totally un-sexy. But hey, you've got dirty hair but still want to look like you're relatively stylish, throw that mofo into a sock bun and put on some red lipstick and BAM you have the "oops I am accidentally trendy" look. All of that being said, I think it's time to move on. Perhaps experiment with a new braid. More to come on that eventually.



3. Tattoos are addictive.
In case you didn't know this, I've become very hard and edgy. I have two whole tattoos. Two. Don't look at me funny; I might fight you.

4. Botox is the greatest scientific innovation of our time.
Some people might disagree with this (Polio vaccine? Space travel? Minuscule in comparison), but I'm sticking to my guns. Let me clarify one point: Subtle, wrinkle-reducing Botox = good. OVERDONE Botox = bad. I'm looking at you, Cortney Cox. Good God.
Here's a funny story: I fainted when I got my first Botox. My buddy Jane was with me and witnessed the whole thing. That's right, I passed the eff out. So much for being hard and edgy. But hey, once they brought me back, I finished the drill! A small blackout wasn't going to stand in the way of a smaller frown line. I'm too vain for that.






5. Aside from a formal gown, I've yet to find an article of clothing that doesn't look fetch* with some sort of Frye boot.
***POP CULTURE QUIZ: If you know the movie and origin of the word "fetch," you get bonus points.***
Also, recently, I have discovered my version of an Urban Shoe Myth: a Frye wedge ankle bootie. What WHAT?? I have naughty dreams about those boots. I would do so many things with them..... But I digress.



Obviously this list could continue for ages, but a brain can only take in so much ground-breaking info at a time before it explodes. You're welcome.

Looking forward to talking makeup and other pretty things in 2015! I need some glamour in my life. Who wants to join me?

Peace, Love, and Pretty Faces
Mere

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A-WOO-WOO! I cheated on Sephora.

Well, it has happened.  I've found a place that is like Disney World to makeup lovers.  Warning:  if you're not an Atlantan or in the 'burbs close by, this post won't apply to you as much as others.  However, I would still definitely recommend reading on so you can at least enjoy my usual witty commentary.   Wait --- I just remembered this applies to Nashvillians, too!

A few friends had told me of a lil' place in Buckhead (for non-ATLers, this is a neighborhood in the northern portion of the city) called Woo Skincare and Cosmetics.  You'd think since I am so loyal to good ol' Sephora that I wouldn't give this spot a second thought, but I decided to check it out anyways.  What I found is the Mecca of all cosmetics stores.  Holy monkey balls; this place is amazing.  Here's why:

1.  They aren't diluted with too many products (which --- WARNING! SACRILEGE! --- Sephora has a tendency to be).  They only carry 11 cosmetics lines, including 3 of my Big Five:  Trish McEvoy, Bobbi Brown, and Laura Mercier.  **YSL is in there too, but I don't work with that line often.  Any input would be appreciated**    Post-Script:  the other 2 of my Big Five are Dior and Bare Minerals.

2.  They sell the ENTIRE line of Moroccan Oil products.  Enough said.

3.  The consultants there are super cute and have awesome style and classy makeup.  I'm not ashamed to admit it.  I buy more things from cute, put-together people.  There, I said it.  

4.  They have awesome events!  They'll have makeup artists from the different lines come for parties every now and then.  Also, this whole month (December), they are running "Woo Bucks."  You get 10% of every penny you spend as "Woo Bucks" to spend in the month of January.  Example:  today I spent $180 on stoof, and I got $18 in Bucks.  That means I basically have an $18 gift certificate to use next month.  That's a tube of lipstick or a Trish eye color!

So, my conclusion is as follows:  if you're in Atlanta or Nashville and you want some great makeup, skincare, and/or haircare with some great advice to go with, head to Woo.  And if you're wondering what I might want for Christmas, it's a giftcard to the Buckhead location.  Thank you.

Click here for the Woo website

Peace!

Back from the dead --- and looking fabulous

So I've been off-grid for waaaay too long, and I need to apologize.  It's been a little nuts in the World of Meredith the past month, so my b for leaving everyone starving for cosmetic knowledge.  Also, I have to admit that while I've been on my lil' blogging hiatus, I've gone off-grid in another way as well:  I've been wearing something other than Bare Minerals foundation.  Cue the collective GAAAASP!!!!

I'd noticed some of my friends' skin looking rather smashing lately, and it turns out there was a common thread:  Diorskin Airflash spray foundation.  I'm already on the Dior train when it comes to mascara (see previous post about the Mighty Trio), but their foundation is totally new to me.  I saddled up to the Dior counter at Nordstrom and drilled the lady with some questions.  I also did the unthinkable:  I let her take my makeup off and completely re-apply it.  (I literally NEVER let anyone do my makeup...)  What I ended up with was a bag full of Dior makeup and a $300 hole in my bank account, but that's neither here nor there. 

Obviously, I was smitten with Airflash.  It's sort of amazing.  I don't use it every day, because it has a bit more coverage than I prefer on a daily basis.  I use it for weddings and other events where I want that Hollywood "OMG, have you been airbrushed?" look.  To apply this bit of happiness in a can, you just need a flat, soft foundation brush.  Blending is key:  you only need a spray or two on the brush at a time, and you need to blend it until it's dry.  Here's my little trick for my grease-prone friends:  I dab a tad of Bare Minerals Mineral Veil on my t-zone to keep the shine off.  One more tip for new users:  make sure you make a trip to the makeup counter (not Sephora for this one --- you need a Dior pro) to have your color matched exactly.  It took a few tries to get mine just right.

*Shout-out to Krissy for being my first friend to embrace the Diorskin phenomenon.  You're my muse!

Click here to buy Sephora Foundation Brush

I'm not going to share a link to buy online, because I'm really serious about going to get your color matched.  Happy airbrushing!!!

GASP!!! An alternative to "Well Rested"

I had this question posted as a comment, and I've actually gotten the same query more than once. Instead of just responding to the comment, I decided it was new-post-worthy. Look out!

Here's the conundrum:

I need to change the concealer I'm using to tackle the lovely genetic dark circles that seem determined to hang out under my eyes. I have very thin, translucent skin and the concealers I've tried just aren't hacking it. I still look tired even when I'm not. Got any suggestions?!

Here's my suggestion, which, let's be honest, is usually correct. But we can talk about my ego problems later:

While I've always been a huge fan of Bare Minerals "Well Rested" mineral powder concealer, it seems not to work as well for folks with thinner undereye skin.  So I got all detective at Sephora and went investigatin'.  My super duper find? Laura Mercier "Undercover Pot" concealer. It's great because it's basically a 3-part concealer in one little pot. The top of the container is home to two cream concealers: a thinner cream, and a thicker, more yellow-toned version of the first.

Use the thinner, peachier-toned cream for undereye circles, being careful not to create that 'reverse raccoon-eye' effect where you make a bright circle directly under your eyes. To avoid this, blend the concealer lower, working it into the sides of your nose and even partly onto your upper cheek. After applying the cream (with a concealer brush; see previous post on brushes), unscrew the bottom of the pot for a surprise. I love surprises!! This smart little product hides a thin powder in the bottom that you will want to use to sweep over your cream concealer. This sets the cream and also keeps it from settling into creases.

Now what to do with that thicker, more yellow cream? That stuff is awesome for red spots and blemishes. It's too thick and yellow for dark circles (tends to make them look blue), but it's perfect for a pesky zitty zit zit.

One more thing:  obviously, this product comes in multiple shades.  They are named by numbers (1,2,3,etc. in order of darkness).  Be sure to test on your skin or consult with someone at Sephora or the makeup counter to find your perfect match.  Now go out into the world looking awake and refreshed!





 Check out my new little happy.  Two cream concealers on top, and then.....wait for it....a surprise finishing powder on the bottom!

Click here to buy this super duper concealer at Sephora online

Addendum to the hairspray entry....

To clarify, I'm not pregnant.  After reading my comment about Rachel Zoe and her hairspray habits while 'with child,' I realized it might have been misleading.  No lil' Sammons cooking in this oven yet!

Also, as a side note, my sweet hippie cousin in Portland (that's right, Molly; I called you a hippie.  Love you!) wrote me an email about the dangers of hairspray and other chemicals when used by expectant mothers.  While I have plenty of friends and family who haven't changed their beauty routines and have had healthy kids, Molly is right that I should at least point out that it might not work for everyone.  Here are some links to check out on the topic.  Just to be frank, however, I probably won't be one of those people who chills out on the hairspray and perfume when I'm a mommy-to-be.  I'm just too vain.  But hey, you never know!!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1088255/Pregnant-women-exposed-hairspray-double-chances-genital-defect-boys.html

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Health/story?id=6309940&page=1

Validation via Bravo TV

So I'm watching The Rachel Zoe Project the other day (OBsessed, by the way), and there's a segment of the show where she's having her hair guy perfect her 'do.  What does he pull out and spray all over her locks?  L'Oreal Elnett hairspray!  I also thought it was hilarious (and possibly perfect foreshadowing of my future) when her husband begs her to stop using it while pregnant.  As a woman after my own heart, she refuses to give up her beauty must-have.  I mean, pregnant women have been dousing their hair in chemicals for years; how bad can it be??

Anywho, shout out to my mom for introducing me to this product years ago, and now it's practically famous!  I get requests for hairspray recommendations all the time, and I've yet to find one that is better than this miracle in an aerosol can.  You guys know how I roll by now:  I've tried every spray on the market, from grocery store shelves to salon-only buys, and Elnett is my jam.

This product is only available at Target for around $15-20.  I prefer the 'max hold' -- it's not sticky or too strong.  The beauty of this spray is that it gives you a good hold but allows your hair to maintain its natural movement.  You can actually run a brush through it after you spray!  Amazeballs.  Once again, you're all welcome.

Here's a link to buy at Target online --- looks like it's cheaper than in the store!

Everybody Loves a Quickie

Oh, get your minds out of the gutter.  I've gotten quite a few requests for a post about tips for a fast face --- you know, like a makeup shortcut.  Although I love nothing more than a fully made-up face, sometimes I just don't have time to do the whole sha-bang.  Here are the essentials for Meredith's Signature Quickie (you guys are dirty):

1.  Concealer
First, use your concealer brush to swipe on some Well-Rested under your eyes.  Duh.  Next, if you've got some red spots or blemishes, use the same brush and add a dot of concealer to those spots as well.  I like Bare Minerals Bisque, which comes in a ton of shades that you can match to your skin tone.

2.  All-over powder
I know this may sound like sacrilege to some of you, but I'm just not a fan of liquid foundation.  I like a loose powder that gives good coverage.  Use your big kabuki brush to apply all over.

3.  Blush
It's amazing how awake and polished a simple swipe of the blush brush will make you look.  Don't forget this crucial step on Quickie days.

4.  Eye Primer
Remember the Product Whore post about Urban Decay Potion eye primer?  This is where a tinted version of that comes in handy.  Swipe the gold or bronze shimmer onto your lid and use as your "shadow" for the day.  One easy step, and it lasts all day long.

5.  Mascara
Even though it pains me to say it, sometimes I skip out on the entire Dior Trifecta and just go with one coat of Diorshow Blackout on my upper and lower lashes.

6.  Brows
You know me and my brow particulars.  If you've got thin or light brows, you can't skip this step, even if you're in a ginormous hurry.  Use your angled brow brush to apply color to your brows and define them for the finishing touch.

Voila!  You look bright and polished, but not overdone, and only in a few minutes!  Obvi review my fave products if you don't already have them in your collection :)