the best beauty product packaging

Lovelies, I'm sure you can relate when I say that sometimes, the outside of our beloved beauty products is just as good as what's inside. I mean, why buy high-end if you're not going to get a pretty package? So with that in mind, I'd like to share with you some of my fave, pretty-on-the-outside (as well as inside!) product picks.
One of my all-time greats when it comes to a lovely outer layer (in more ways than one!) is Benefit. I just love the 50s-retro vibe and cheeky names like Touch Me Then Try to Leave and Lyin' Eyes. That, coupled with hints of leopard print and polka dots, pin-up girl pics and lots of pink, makes Benefit a prized possession to display on my vanity. Standouts: Bathina and Kitten Classic Shimmering Powder in a Puff.

Another line I'm coveting right now is Awake Cosmetics' Stardom line. This stuff is packaged in gorgeously glimmery red and silver. The Lip Lacquer, for example, (which I'm loving, by the way - the shimmery color Elf Brown is oh-so flattering), is a slick little number topped with a shiny crimson lid with reflective silver touches that almost double as a mirror. Classic and lovely. Standouts: Aqua Trans Powder and Eye Tint.

On the beauty front, packaging just seems to get better and better every year. One of the prettiest I've seen in a while is Dianne Brill's line. It's all about embossed lace, pearls and bows, packaged in inventive cases like cigar tubes and matchboxes. It's a girly-girl's dream! Standouts: Eye Lingerie Eyebrow Pencil and Eyeshadow.

And then there's Too Faced. Love, love, love! This line captures Old Hollywood glamour with it's back-lacquered cases and vintage-y vibe. Love that they also imprint the makeup with cool designs like the new Too Faced Pink Leopard Bronzing Powder. And the Beauty Brooch is encased in a lovely little cameo locket filled with lipgloss goodness. Simply gorj! Standouts: Kitty Glitter and the Beauty Brooch.

more at twiigs.com...

fixation: Lipstick Queen

Lovelies, you've all heard me give love to the lipgloss, but let's never forsake lipstick, shall we? No self-respecting fashion icon along the lines of a Coco Chanel or an Audrey Hepburn would be without her lipstick, so let's sing its praises for a moment, and for one in particular: Lipstick Queen lipstick. This is for the lipstick connoisseur - one who likes her lippies straight-up and classic, and of course, immaculately encased. And Lipstick Queen is all that and more: beautifully packaged in shimmering matte purple and gold tone cases set against an art deco-inspired backdrop.

And as for the lipstick? Glorious! It comes in two varieties: Saint, for the sheer-lippie lover; and Sinner, for the creamy, bold-color lover. I love both, but I'm partial to the Saint Coral version, because I love the moisturizing lick of translucent yet bold color it imparts. The Sinner version gives awesome color, matte but not too matte and not drying at all. And coral is the perfect shade for summer - not only does it do wonders for brightening up the face, it's totally on-trend with all the candy-colored shades we've been seeing lately.
So go ahead: why not be a Queen for a day?

look of the week: marvelous eva mendes

So lovelies, it was the week of the Evas. If you'll recall, earlier this week, I posted about Eva Green's recent knock-it-outta-the-park appearance at Cannes. Now, it's another Eva, Miss Mendes to be precise, that gets the coveted title of look of the week. Here she is, looking breathtaking at the DeGrisogono party in Cannes this week.


If anyone can pull off this soft mint-green shade, it's Eva: the dress looks spectacular next to her bronzed skin. Love the semi-undone, weekend-ish hair paired with the hauteness of the dress, too. The eye makeup is also to die for: a hint of tealy-green liner around her eyes really highlights the subtle green of the dress. And the golden swirled earrings also bring out the lovely glimmer seen on the gown.
Lovelies, this is really how to look pulled-together without looking matchy-matchy or overdone. Effortless!

gold standard: bronzing powders

The heat is on lovelies, so to keep you safe from melanoma and/or looking like a walking carrot, get your bronze on the no-bake way with my round-up of fave brush-on bronzers.
First up: the mulitple shade bronzing powders. I love these, because you can swipe the colors all over your skin or just on your cheekbones to highlight, or even use them as eyeshadow. I'm loving Too Faced Caribbean in a Compact Bronzing Powder, Snow Bunny, which has colors ranging from creamy white to bronze to light pink, to give a really subtle, shimmery glow. It'll give you that fresh-from-the-slopes in St. Moritz radiance.

A couple of other great finds are Clinique Shimmering Tones Powder, a kaleidoscope of shimmery bronzes that help give that incandescent glow, and Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights, which gives a natural-looking, soft bronzed look without a lot of shimmer. Swipe it across the apples of your cheeks, temples and across your nose for a sun-kissed look.
If it's a more uniform glow you're after, then the one-tone bronzers are for you. tarte mineral powder Bronzer, Park Ave Princess is a great one for that summering-at-the-Hamptons sun-burnished look. I'm lovin the golden, handbag-inspired leather compact case with jewelry-like chain - so cute!

Need a body glow? Try the mother of all bronzers, Hard Candy's SoCal Glow. It comes in an extra-large size compact decorated with a map of Southern California in case you decide to road-trip-it down the Cali coast. You can use this stuff on your legs, shoulders, face or anywhere you need a kick of caramelly color. It also smells like yummy cocoa butter and also moisturizes with vitamin E and aloe.

sensational Scarlett: the sequel

Well lovelies, our beloved Miss Scarlett is back for part two of her campaign for Louis Vuitton. And aren't the results to die for? You'll know that I posted a while back about the stunning first installment of Scarlett Johansson's shill for the Marc Jacobs-helmed brand, where she looked like an angel fallen from heaven, all alabaster skin and blonde ringlets, ready to bestow our deepest handbag wishes.
But here, it's Scarlett the vamp. She looks vaguely Marilyn Monroe-esque here, with dolled-up eyes and pouty mouth. It's almost as though we've had a glimpse of Scarlett in her boudoir, primping for a night out with one of her many suitors, or just lounging languidly between film takes. I love the saturated, yet blown-out colors, making the photos look aged to perfection. Lovelies, I'm buying whatever it is she's selling!

all about eva green

Lovelies, I would have loved for this to be my pick for look of the week, but I just couldn't wait until Sunday to post these unbelievable pics of Casino Royale Bondgirl Eva Green at Cannes this week. This is one spectacular dress (it's Dior, no less). It looks vaguely kimono-esque, but is an immensely figure-flattering little number. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Eva has been the best dressed at Cannes so far.

While Kerry Washington and the other Eva (Eva Mendez) have given her some stiff competition on the red carpet, Miss Green knocked this one right out of the park. Love that she matched her lipstick to the glorious blue-red color in her gown. Try Shiseido The Makeup Perfecting Lipstick in Real Red to get the look. She's kept the rest of her makeup understated, which is a great way to let the bold-red color pop and let the dress reign. And don't you love how the greenery behind her matches the foliage print in her dress?
With the end of Top Model, you'll likely seeing more posts on my celebrity beauty picks. Enjoy!

glow-getter: shimmery powders

Lately, I'm loving anything that gives that lit-from-within glow. Lucky for me, there's a ton of shimmery skin products out there to satisfy my love of illumination. So lovelies, here are some of the glowy little gems I'm loving.
Be a vision in lights with La Bella Donna's gorgeously glimmery Vision of Mineral Lights. It's a shimmery illuminating powder that's part bronzer, part highlighter, part little bit of everything (you can use it on cheeks, eyes, anywhere you want!). You get four different shades, from champagne to golden bronze, in the same lovely silver compact. And wherever you swipe this stuff, it'll give you that unmistakable J.Lo glow.
Another multi-tasker is Dianne Brill's Freshwater Pearl Powder Finish. It's a gorgeous subtle-shimmer powder you can use to highlight cheekbones, decollete or anywhere you want to get your glow on. I love the Golden Pearl shade for a bit of a natural, sun-kissed look. Like many products in Dianne Brill's face line, this powder is literally made with crushed freshwater pearls - how deliciously diva is that?

Do your cheeks need a color boost? Try DuWop Blushbooster For Face, Apple. This stuff is wondrous, I have to say. You can use it under your regular blush or alone (as I do) for a gorgeously illuminating flush. And just so you know, it's not overwhelming - only when the light hits your skin a certain way will you see the luminous shimmer. I also love that it's packed with skincare ingredients such as vitamins A and E and pomegranate extract. Brilliant!

fixation: Principessa Cattiva Diva

Even at this time of year as the temperatures become warmer, my hand cream fetish continues unabated – I keep a monster-size bottle of my ol' faithful hand lotion both on my desk at work and at home. And lovelies, even though my old reliable lotion usually never fails me, I'm continuously on the lookout for the next best hand cream to quench my parched palms. Which is why I'm delighted to share with you my recent salve savior: Principessa Cattiva Diva Silky Hand Cream. Put this on, and your hands feel like they've been enveloped in a cloud of marshmallowy moisture. I love this stuff because it softens and moisturizes without feeling greasy, kind of like how your hands feel after you've just had a manicure. Best of all, though, is the scent: Be prepared for people to ask you where you're hiding the cakes and cookies; this stuff elicits fragrance delight!

for every girl, a lipgloss

I may have mentioned that I have a bit of a lipbalm/gloss addiction. I think it has to do with my penchant for multiple personalities when it comes to this stuff: Some days, I want just a straight-forward gloss – a no bells and whistles slick of color. But other days, I want to feel extra-special, so I'll put out my special-occasions-only gloss that's like my crown jewels. These days, just as with fragrances, there's a gloss for every gal and every occasion. So herewith, I present to you my gloss personality guide - from the bombshell to the bond girl. So tell me lovelies, what's your lipgloss personality?
For the Bombshell: Dianne Brill Cosmetics Lip Gloss Lip Lingerie, Lace Teddy. Celebrity counterpart: Burlesque diva Dita Von Teese. Lip Lingerie is a little pot of gloss, lip brush included, wrapped in a bon bon wrapper and tucked inside a little box. It's ever so pretty, you almost don't want to use it! But please do, as you'll love the shimmery color and non-goopy texture that will set your lips aglow! Try: Can-Can Knickers, a pinky red with flecks of gold, befitting your bold, glamorous persona.
For the Classic Girl: MAC Lipglass. Celebrity counterpart: Drew Barrymore. You can never tire of a classic. And this little number has been gracing the makeup bags of savvy makeup afficionadas for years. MAC Lipglass can be at once subtle or dramatic and can impart a high-gloss, glass-like effect or just a bit of sheen, depending on your mood. Try: Lust, a deliciously soft and civilized browny-pink.

For the Health Nut: tarte inside out Lipgloss, Liquid Sunshine. Celebrity counterpart: Cameron Diaz or Jessica Biel. This little wonder is packed with Borba-powered antioxidant vitamins, lychee and grapeseed extract. Why, you ask? Well the health nut would know that the average woman ingests 2 to 4 pounds of lipgloss in her lifetime. So why not take advantage, and beautify from the inside out? The gloss is grand - it moisturizes your lips, has great lasting power and the colors are beautiful, sheer and shimmery. A plus? The gloss comes with a drink mix from Borba, so you can get an added vitamin boost. Try: Liquid Sunshine, a sheer and shimmery pink.
For the Bond Girl: Lancôme Color Fever. Celebrity counterpart: Eva Green. This stuff has an ingenius little gadgety wand with a heart-shaped tip that no self-respecting secret agent should be without. The groovy applicator helps plump and shape your pout with a glossy, pearlescent shimmer. Try: On Fire, a reddish berry shade with a hint of shimmer that's just as mysterious as you.

look of the week: Goddessy Gong Li

Now, let it be known that Gong Li didn't necessarily blow me away here. (I'm not entirely sure that I'm loving the earrings.) However, she's my pick this week for being so gloriously stunning and effortless without wearing tons of makeup. It's rare that you see someone who's able to pull off a semi-natural look on the red carpet, and Gong Li nails it. Love the shimmery nude lip and smokey eyes next to her her gloriously pale skin. And, lovelies, the hair is to die for: done, but seeming a bit undone in a lovely upswept 'do.


Known for her roles in Farewell my Concubine and Memoirs of a Geisha, she's here at the Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of the new Wong Kar-Wai film, My Blueberry Nights. Here she is with L'Oreal lovelies Kerry Washington and Andie MacDowell on the red carpet. Miss Gong Li is one hot cougar (would you believe she's 42?!?) Leave it to her to be the one to knock the socks off of Colin Farrell in Miami Vice.
On another note, the Cannes red carpet has thus far been a bit disappointing. However, that's about to change, since we're expecting to see Angelina make an appearance this week.

fave tinted moisturizers

Up here in Toronto, we've already had a couple of 30-degree weather days (though today it's milder and more truly springlike), so I've been thinking about lightening up my makeup routine for the hot, humid summer to come. Because who likes the oil slick effect of heavy makeup sliding off your face? Not I, lovelies. So, with that said, I wanted to let you in on some of my fave recent tinted moisturizer finds that'll give you just that litle bit of makeup help for days when it's too hot to whip out the spackle.
First up is DuWop's Revolotion Face. Now I have to say I'm really digging this one. It gives great sheer coverage with an SPF 15 and has light-reflecting pigments so it gives you that soft, lit-from-within glow.
Hard Candy's Hint Tint oil-free Tinted Moisturizer has a pump applicator that I really love, so there's no guesswork with how much to put on. Just one pump, and you're good to go. It's also oil-free (much needed for me!) and offers sun protection while evening out skin tone. Like many Hard Cancy products, it has that soft vanilla sugar cookie smell. Who doesn't love that?

Next up is Skin Alison Raffaele Tinted Moisturizer. This one's packed with all sorts of good stuff like green tea, seaweed extract, aloe and vitamins. I've used both the clear and light versions and I loved the way it gives natural-looking coverage while giving me a skincare boost. It really seemed to improve the look of my skin.
Another one I'm loving is Sue Devitt's Microquatic Pro-Marine Tinted Moisturizer (phew, that's a mouthful!) It's also a multi-tasker and is filled with marine and orchid extracts to help firm and tone skin. I really liked the texture of this one: it's almost like a cream-to-powder formula, which is perfect for my oily skin. It gave my skin a nice, natural almost satiny finish. A plus: the slick, silver compact is super-chic.

ANTM: battle of the accents

So ends another cycle of ANTM, and what an action-packed ending it was! Three girls were whittled down to one in a tearful, shocker-filled episode. So without further ado, here is your photoshoot and runway recap.
First up, our girls had to work it like a CoverGirl in an ad spot and photoshoot for the mega beauty brand. Jaslene threw off her fierce look and chanelled soft and pretty for her shoot. For the ad spot, she also brought a little Latina flair, and spoke a few of her diva lines in Spanish, which won over the judges (this is what being an American is all about, didn't you know?). Renee was one of the strongest contenders, nailing the ad-libbed commercial. She rocked her photo too – she was the only model who really channelled the CoverGirl look – but the judges complained that she looked a bit haggard and wrinkly. Now lovelies, I thought this was actually a ruse to try and make us believe Renee was the next to go, when in fact she was really going to make it to the end. But alas, it was no ruse! Even though I was fairly certain that it would be Renee and Natasha at the end, Renee was sent packing, and then there were two.

Next up, our top two, Jaslene and Natasha, had to portray early Amazon women as they slinked down the runway of designer Sass & Bide. Jaslene looked fierce, but was still humble about the whole experience. Natasha, meanwhile, who had the best save ever on the catwalk (she lost her skirt, but not her cool), proclaimed, perhaps a little too arrogantly, "I did better than anyone else on the runway." Aside from that, I was still rooting for Natasha till the end, but I had to admit, that at this point, it was anyone's game and I could see either of them winning it.
In the end, the night belonged to Jaslene, our Little Miss Janice Dickinson. And lovelies, after seeing her first photoshoot, shown at the end of the episode, I had to agree with the choice - she looked stunning. But what's up with Tyra in this photo? Is it just me, or does she look a little scary-plastic?!?
Until next season, lovelies!
Images copyright CW

trendshock: and then there's mod!

Who does this remind you of, lovelies? A certain fashion icon and Top Model judge, perhaps? This is one of the models from the vibrant Dior cruise collection by uber-genius John Galliano, shown recently in New York. While the clothes were as vivid as Andy Warhol's pop art, the makeup was decidedly modish, channelling sixties model Twiggy as well as Sienna Miller in Factory Girl. Love this living doll makeup look, created by master makeup artist Pat McGrath, featuring heavy black eyeliner on both top and bottom eyelids, and mega lashes for that wide-eyed doe effect. Paired with a whiter shade of pale lips and a thick, exagerrated headband in a soft shade of lilac, it gives a nice girlie effect next to the strong makeup.
And speaking of Twiggy, don't forget to check back here after ANTM tomorrow night for your Top Model finale recap!

look of the week: camilla belle, costume institute gala

Lovelies, how divine does Camilla Belle look? Here she is at one of the most stylish events of the year, the Costume Institute Gala in New York this week. Competition was stiff at this event - Cam Diaz rocked a glorious fuchsia gown, Liv Tyler looked heavenly in a bold turqoise number, and the wonderful Cate Blanchett looked gorgeous as ever in a gold number. But my pick, hands-down, is Miss Camilla. She arrived in a floor-length, gauzy-grey, Gaultier confection and looked absolutely stunning. The grey is wonderful on her and love the simple, pinned-under hair and soft, neutral-toned makeup that really lets the dress shine.

Now, you may be wondering: Camilla who? And admittedly, she's not necessarily what you'd call A-list talent just yet. She's possibly best known for her one-note wonder performance in When a Stranger Calls, spouting the line: "Hello?....who's there?" in a decidedly lacklustre fashion. She's also the face of the new Vera Wang fragrance, Princess, and looks gorgeous yet natural in those ads. But here's hoping she gets some film roles to match her red-carpet talent, because lovelies, we've gotta see more of this girl!
Photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene

fixation: MAC Cream Color Base

I've previously stated a fondness for MAC products, and lovelies, the line never ceases to astound me. Which is why I just had to rave about their Cream Color Base. This is a multi-tasking little gem that you can use on your cheeks, eyes and lips for a hint of color and shimmer. I just love the Shell shade for giving my eyes that dewy, shimmery look. And a swipe on the lips imparts a gorgeous, soft peachy-pink glimmer that's so flattering. You could even use it as a highlighter on the cheekbones for that sought-after glowy effect. A plus? Peach is totally on-trend right now, seen all over the spring-summer runways of Hermes and Vivienne Westwood. Sweet.

most excellent emily blunt

Hi lovelies, I have a couple of days before my next look of the week pick, but I saw this photo of Emily Blunt on the cover of the May issue of Esquire UK (the Brit issue) and just had to post. We all loved her as the snarky, yet oh-so-fashionable Assistant #1 in The Devil Wears Prada. (She had the most wonderful technicolor eye makeup in that movie, didn't she? And of course, clothes styled by the fabulous Patricia Field.) Here, wrapped in the Union Jack, she looks absolutely divine. She's very much the classic beauty: all alabaster skin and piercing blue eyes.
Funny, there's a group on Facebook called "Emily Blunt can sass me any day..." and I think I might have to agree with that sentiment. Don't you agree lovelies?
Also check out these great shots of Emily from the May issue of Interview.

ANTM: dances with models

It's do or die lovelies! We've just witnessed the second to last Top Model episode of the season and what an episode it was. This week, our sylphs were challenged to reenact aboriginal legends through interpretive dance. Not so hard a task, since, as Renee said, "Models are storytellers." (How profound, Renee.) So who rocked the photoshoot? Our favorite spaz, Natasha, was befallen with a nasty flu and had to model her way through the willy wagtail bird dance (I'm not making this up, I swear). But even through the fog of the flu, she still managed to look stunning. And thank goodness our "few-fries-short-of-a-happy-meal" Russian was saved! I have to admit I was a little worried there for a minute. But in the end, we said good bye to scowly-face Dionne instead. (She was one of my favorites in the beginning, but truly, this girl isn't a model.)
And while I still like Jaslene (her bone structure is to die for, isn't it lovelies?), the judges were concerned she may be turning out to be a one-face wonder. My favorite overall this week was Renee. Bless her, she's still devious as ever, and tried to get rid of her main competition Natasha throughout the episode. But she's my pick for best photo this week. She looked beautiful and showed alot of natural model ability (whatever that means...) in her interpretation of the dance of the butterfly.
So next week is season finale, lovelies! Brace yourselves!

Image copyright CW

DIY mani-pedi

Prep School Pt. 3: I don't know about you, but I'm well past due for my inaugural spring-into-summer pedicure visit. How could I neglect my boot and shoe-encased feet like this, lovelies? Well, it's not quite warm enough for sandals yet and let's just say I've been a tad busy of late. So I got to thinking: what if you could do it all – pedi and mani included – in the comfort of your own home? How blissfully spa-like would that be? That said, with the last post in my Prep School series to help you get summer-ready, I present to you my ultimate guide for delivering your hands and feet from winter's ill effects.

Step 1: Smooth Moves. To get rid of all that unspeakably dry skin, now's the time to exfoliate! One scrub I've always adored is the Body Shop's Pumice Foot Scrub. Made with peppermint oil, it's like a wake-up call for tired feet. Speaking of wake-up calls, I'm also loving OPI's Manicure/Pedicure Coffee Espresso Scrub. It smells like a rich cup of coffee, so it's great in the morning if you need a little extra kick. It's also got natural sugar crystals and AHAs to help slough away winter-feet syndrome. You can use both on your hands as well to help banish rough skin. While you're at it, give your feet and hands a good soaking in warm water to soften cuticles and push them back with an orange stick.

Step 2: Get Rich Quick. So now that the polishing is done, you need to replenish the moisture in your tired, callousy hands and feet (scary, I know!). Look for a super-emollient cream like OPI's Cappuccino Massage Cream (part of a set with the Espresso Scrub) which silkens skin and also has a lovely coffee scent. Creams with natural exfoliators like AHAs, such as Foot Patrol by Bliss, or glycolic acid, like Philosophy's Soul Owner, also work wonders to give you an added exfoliating benefit. And with their pepperminty and eucalyptus scents, they'll help wake up winterized feet in no time.

And don't forget your cuticles! One of my fave recent finds is Lush Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter which revitalizes rough, ragged cuticles and has an irresistible, yummy lemon scent. You can also use it on rough heels and elbows, too. Ready your nails for polish by shaping them with a good emery board - I like the Trind Flexi-File for smooth filing.

Step 3: Lacquer up. Now for the really fun part - you're ready to choose your paint colors! One shade range I'm loving right now is OPI's Night Brights collection. These shades appeal to both dark color lovers and soft shade aficionados. My picks: Light My Sapphire, a shimmery, deep dark blue; Give me the Moon, a soft, silvery blue-lavender; and I Only Drink Champagne, a light pearlescent gold.

Love the french manicure look, but don't have a lot of time? Try Trind's Nail Brightener. Lovelies, this is one of my fave nail finds in a long time! Just paint it on, and in thirty seconds, your nails look you've just gone for a quickie mani at the salon. And if your nails are looking a little yellowish from all the dark colors you've been shellacking them with, this is your answer! It instantly brightens and polishes your talons in a flash.

This is the third post in a three-part series called Prep School, which looks at prepping for summer from head to toe.

look of the week: I heart Hilary Rhoda

So there's a cover story about the world's next top models in a little magazine called Vogue out right now - perhaps you've seen it? (Devoured it, is probably more apt, right lovelies!?!) The story is all about the possible return of the supermodel with a new crop of girls all in the running to take up where Linda, Christy and Cindy left off. You see, since 2000, we've been seeing the age of anonymity amongst models, the story goes, with faceless girls stripped of their personalities cropping up in ads and on the catwalks. Now, says Vogue, we're poised for a return to the diva-models of the late 80s, with a new roster of girls that all have distinctive personalities and looks (instead of all looking one and the same).


One of these girls is Hilary Rhoda. Never heard of her? Well you will, since she's been picked to be the next face of Estee Lauder. She's my pick for look of the week because I find her look so refreshing and new. Vogue calls her "all-American" but I beg to differ: there's something vaguely European in her bushy brows and blue eyes complemented by dark brown hair. I would say though that she is definitely a throwback to models of the 80s - she's got something Brooke Shields-like about her (possibly the brows!). For me, she just evokes classy. Apparently, her style icon is Jackie O. How fitting!

Photos copyright Vogue/Steven Meisel

best in beauty

If you're looking for the latest and greatest in the beauty world, look no further than the winners of the CEW (Cosmetic Executive Women) Insider's Choice Beauty Awards. They were announced this week and lovelies, these are the cream of the crop in beauty products. One winner I was particularly excited about was Skyn Iceland – a line that taps the pure resources of Bjork's homeland Iceland to heal stressed skin. (I recently featured their skin lotion in my Prep School series.) They won the Best Indie Beauty Award, and well deservedly! Check out all the other lovely winners here.

ANTM: what planet are you from?

Well lovelies, a long wait it's been! After a week on ANTM-posting hiatus (due to the recap episode last week), I'm thrilled to be back on top model watch. This week, our sylphs were challenged to frolic on the beach with semi-clad men in two separate shoots - one for a saucy lad mag and one for a lovely ladies' magazine, shot by Miss Tyra. (Speaking of Tyra, the TyraMail this week seemed to deeply confuse our girls, as they pondered the great question: "Can you rock each planet?")
So on to the photoshoots: My perennial favorite, Natasha (who had the funniest one-liner of the season when confronted with Brittany's post-disqualification meltdown: "Some people have war in their countries..."), rocked both shoots this week. For the men's mag, she managed to deliver sexy without looking pornstar, and looked soft and stunning – even a bit vulnerable – for the womens' shoot.
Renee has also become one of my picks to win. While I'm still not fond of her personally (regardless of whether she's dropped the diva 'tude), she's definitely got something goin' on: she also looked effortlessly gorgeous in both photos.

My other former frontrunner, the blubbering Brittany, sadly did not deliver this week. While she rocked the lad mag shot, her women's mag shoot was lacklustre, and she shot herself int he foot with her tantrum trip after the go-see challenge. Amazingly though, she didn't cry when given extensions for the beach photoshoot. Oh well, it's buh-bye, Brit!
We're getting down to the wire now and our girls had better step it up a notch if they hope to hang on to the end. Tell me: who's your fave and why?

Image copyright CW

summer prep: skin revivers

Prep School Pt. 2: Lovelies, I'm sure many of you can relate to the need to spring clean at this time of year. As for me, I have the urge to work up a whirlwind of cleaning - to wipe down, sweep up and/or scrub all the nooks and crannies in my house to ready it for all the sweet spring air I'll let in from outside. Likewise, I have this spring cleaning mindset for myself - to undo all the damage that winter has wrought on my skin and reveal the fresh, shiny me underneath. So, herewith, I give you my all-over body remedy to prep your skin for summer, so you can wear all the pretty little shoulder-skimming tops and short shorts your little hearts desire.
#1: Scrubdown. There's nothing like a good scrub to help get your glow on, especially if you're prepping for self-tanner. Slather on some Bliss Sweet Orange & Spearmint Sugar Scrub. The citrusy, minty smell is totally invigorating and the scrub particles are fine but not too fine, to help you banish dry, flaky skin in a flash. Get ready for smooth, red carpet-ready skin.

#2: A close shave.You could use cheap conditioner to shave your legs, but why not make it an enjoyable experience instead? I recently discovered a super-indulgent shave cream called Whish Shave Crave. With this stuff, shaving is no longer scary and is actually a fun bit of pampering. It comes in delicious scents like pomegranate, almond and lemongrass and makes your legs seriously silky. Follow it up with some of their Shave Savour, a soothing, almond-scented ladies' aftershave.
#3: Butter up.Post-shave or not, your cold-weathered outer layer may need further moisturizing, so slather on some rich body cream. One I'm loving right now is Not Soap, Radio's Whipped Body Souffle, enriched with shea and cocoa butters and sweet cocoa (from their Spa Chocolat collection, it also comes with a body scrub and face mask). This stuff smells like a heaping bowl of brownie batter, and you might be tempted to eat it, but don't! You don't want to deprive your skin of this delectable treatment.

This is the second post in a three-part series called Prep School, which looks at prepping for summer from head to toe. Still to come: at-home mani-pedi.