Wear This, Toss That!

I liked that the author was very personable throughout. She’s a busy mom, wife and professional, and it’s hard to juggle all three while still being (at least somewhat) fashionable. This book offers some great tips to help sort through your wardrobe and keep what works, toss what doesn’t. She details the key pieces one should include in her wardrobe, essential beauty products, tips and tricks and more, all in full-color, two-page spreads.

That said, there’s one problem I have with the book. I don’t like when lists are forced upon me that say, “Here are the 1,001 things that you have to have in order to be fashionable,” and at times I felt like that’s what this was. Although she only outlines the 30 clothing and 30 accessories that “every woman must own,” I don’t NEED all of the items that Goodman says I do in my life. You definitely need to take the list with a grain of salt, and make it work for YOU. (Example: I don’t need a business suit in my life. If and when I do, I may take her advice; but for now, there’s no need for me to run out and spend my money on this “essential” wardrobe staple.) If you don’t look or feel good in ruffles, wrap shirts, pencil skirts, whatever the piece she’s telling you that you have to have – don’t buy it.

Anyway, moving on. Goodman also provides lots of shopping resources, which is nice since I love to shop! I do wish that her list could have been more inclusive of different body types and fuller figures, but then again that’s not really the key focus of this book.

Overall, I do think the book is worth checking out. If nothing else, it’s a good way to get you in the mindset of only keeping pieces in your clothing rotation that fit and make you look good. It’s available at Amazon. Happy closet shopping!

I received a copy of Wear This, Toss That! to facilitate my review, but the opinions expressed are solely my own.

Photo by Insolense

Do you have one of those drawers in your bathroom that…well, honestly, you’re a little scared to reach into? You know the one that’s overflowing with beauty blunders of every kind…the mascaras that flake off after an hour; the lipsticks that make you look like a clown; the foundations that advertise your fine lines and wrinkles better than a New York marketing firm. Oh, yeah, then there’s the cleansers, serums, masks, and toners that sadly mope like a teenage girl who didn’t make the cheer team. I don’t know about you, but I’m a little sick of making those cosmetic mistakes! The funny thing is that we actually keep them, as if they were going to magically turn into better products while camping out in that dark beauty hell…somebody call Criss Angel…

Well, Ladies, I have a solution! It’s a book. One very comprehensive tool that will at least give us a clue before we buy the next mascara, foundation, eyeshadow or skin care products. The title is: Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me Now, I know many of you may own this book or at least heard of it considering it’s now in its 8th edition and has sold over 2.5 million copies. But if you don’t know about it, you need to!

Author, Paula Begoun (AKA The Cosmetics Cop), has compiled a 1,200 page reference book that gives unbiased reviews of most of the cosmetics we all have used or want to try. She cuts through the marketing hype (BS) and lays it out it in consumer terms that either say thumbs up or thumbs down to a particular product. She doesn’t just talk about the high end products either; she gives her honest opinion about the drugstore brands too.

I’ve tried quite a few brands of beauty products in my forty-something years and I will say that I definitely have my favorites. I also know that every woman is different. What I love, you may hate. What you love, I may hate. So, when referring to a resource such as Paula’s, you really have to be careful not to take her sole opinions as gospel. The book will serve you better as a companion to your ability to sniff out the good from the bad. And if you’re not a savvy shopper, a chic consumer who always gets it right, you should send Ms. Begoun some flowers or something for making your life SO much easier.

BTW, I don’t agree with everything she says about some products she has reviewed. I do love her honesty though. You can purchase the book at Amazon.com (hard copy or the Kindle version: Link provided) or your local bookstore for around $20. It’s an investment that will bring you up a few notches in the Chic department…we all want that.

Cheers,

Kellie

***FYI- I did not receive any monetary revenue to review this book; however, Paula did send me a free copy. And, because I am an Amazon Associate, if you decide that you can’t live without the book and order through the link, I’ll get some pocket change.

In September, I received samples of Dr. Michelle Copeland’s Skin Care line to review. I gave you my initial thoughts then, and having used up the products, I’ll share with you my full product review now.

They sent me products to help with acne, dark circles under my eyes, and general skin discolorations. And then, in a fit of delirium, I decided that the most honest way to review these products for you would be to take before and after pictures.

As you’ll see in the embarrassingly untouched photos below, the dark circles under my eyes remained dark, but I think the red splotchiness on my cheeks has improved.

I was going to show you the before and after acne shot too, but that’s far too embarrassing. Suffice it to say that my chin situation did not improve. And I don’t have the guts to show it to you untouched.

Sadly, much like jeggings, skin care regimens are not one size fits all. Nor should they be. I loved her microdermabrasion formula (fabulous exfoliant!) as much as I disdained the stench of her acne solution. The other products felt good on my skin but clearly did not make a very dramatic improvement of its condition.

Dr. Michelle Copeland’s Skin Care line has transformed the skin quality of so many – just not mine. Similarly, Drs. Rodan and Fields’ Proactiv line has also worked wonders for many a celebrity’s skin – just not for me. As for me and my household, we will use Clinique.

In addition to the skin care products, I received Dr. Copeland’s book, “The Beautiful Skin Workout”. And it certainly is – her book is a diet and exercise regimen for your skin. In it, she shares several great tips – commandments, as she calls them – to improve and maintain your skin’s condition.

Whether you use her skin care system or not, I think we can all agree that our looks would improve if only we drank more water, regularly washed and exfoliated our skin, and wore sunscreen.

It also doesn’t hurt to put a little concealer on in the morning.

Cita is a Peruvian-born, Floridian-bred, aspiring Michigander. Recently wed to the most handsome man on earth, she blogs anonymously on Cita Online. She was sent travel-size samples of the Dr. Michelle Copeland Skin Care line and “The Beautiful Skin Workout” for review.

 
InStyle, Vogue,  Lucky, Flare or Elle

Or published style guides:

 
In Vogue: The Illustrated History of the World's Most Famous Fashion Magazine, The Little Dictionary of Fashion: A Guide to Dress Sense for Every Woman by Christian Dior, Style A to Zoe: The Art of Fashion, Beauty, & Everything Glamour by Rachel Zoe, Instyle the New Secrets of Style: Your Complete Guide to Dressing Your Best Every Day, In Style: Style 101

 For the fashion diehards, why not pick up a book about their favorite designer?

 
Alexander McQueen: Genius of a Generation, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel: Collections and Creations, Emilio Pucci, House of Versace: The Untold Story of Genius, Murder, and Survival, Manolo's New Shoes 

I can’t comment on the microdermabrasion yet which I’ll test out this weekend, but I can give you my initial thoughts on all the other products, which I’ve been using as directed – twice daily. I also received her book, The Beautiful Skin Workout which I’ve begun reading, and I’ll keep you posted on that too!

I’ve got a lot of products to share initial thoughts on so this is going to be fairly long… here’s the Cliff-notes version for those who can’t keep reading: More intense than my normal routine, doesn’t smell like anything which is wonderful, and I’ll let you know the results after I’ve tested for the full 8 weeks.

Having used the Clinique 3 Step System for a while, I’m familiar with the twice daily cleansing, toning, moisturizing that goes with it. But the Dr. Michelle Copeland Skin Care samples I received also included solutions for hormonal occasional acne, dark circles under my eyes, and general skin discolorations. This system claims to improve your skin condition in 8 weeks. These products are not cheap, so over the next two months I’m going to test that claim out for you!

Thoughts so far? The Daily Cleanser is light, doesn’t feel as though it penetrates my skin, but it seems to do the job – my husband noticed how soft my skin felt this week. The Daily Normalizing Toner does have a slightly stronger effect, and after using it I feel like my skin is clean and tight.

After the toner, I apply the Advanced Acne Solution with a cotton round. This is seriously intense stuff – I’ve learned to keep my mouth sealed tight because if even the tiniest whiff gets in, I feel like I’ve swallowed poison. Okay, I might be exaggerating a bit, but it really does not taste good. The main ingredient is salicylic acid, which amazingly, hasn’t dried out my skin at all. I’ll be honest though – so far this week it hasn’t done much to keep little blemishes away.

Next I apply the Pigment Formula which feels light like the cleanser. After that, I apply the Rewind Eye Formula to my dark circles, and around where I see the beginnings of creases and fine lines forming.

Finally I apply the Daily Moisturizer. I love that this stuff has SPF 30 – it saves me a step which is wonderful given how many extra steps I’ve been taking this week. But it also feels a lot like sunscreen – it’s really thick and I feel like I have to push it into my skin. Still, my skin is soft as can be, and given the amount of salicylic acid I’ve been putting on my face, it’s surprisingly soft and non-flaky.

Overall my skin already feels softer and tighter, but it is a lot of work to put 6 products on my face twice a day. I’ll let you know in 8 weeks if it was all worth it

Note: I received samples of the Dr. Michelle Copeland Skin Care line at no cost to me. My opinions, however, are my own.

One of the perks of writing for my own women’s blog and several others is I get to try a lot of health and beauty products for free. Though I appreciate this job, I’ve noticed one downfall of subjecting my face to various formulas: My skin hates it! The glowing, creamy skin that I once had is breaking out, lackluster, and downright dry.

What gives?

According to Dr. Michelle Copeland, M.D., D.M.D, author of The Beautiful Skin Workout: Eight Weeks to the Smoothest, Healthiest Skin of Your Life and Change Your Looks, Change Your Life, if you frequently hop from one product to the next in search of something better, you won’t be happy with the results. “Daily or weekly alternation of your topical serums and lotions is a form of skin abuse. The tissue reacts by becoming irritated or breaking out. All that back-and-fourth shocks the skin; it gets revved up because it’s not sure what’s going to hit it next,” says Copeland.

I had read the words and even reviewed her book on my site but somehow let them go right over my head. It took about a month or so before I started noticing the bad changes in my skin. So, the new manifesto for trying and reviewing new products is this: All future skin care trials will be done on the back of my hand or on a small patch of facial skin no more than once a month. I feel this new plan will still give me accurate results and allow me to be objective without risking my skin’s integrity. I’ve worked too hard to keep beautiful skin to lose it now in my forties.

A Long-term Relationship

I hate to admit that I have been a skin care junkie. I have used so many different products that I can’t even remember them all. However, I’ve seen the error of my way; I’m making the commitment to my beloved Aveda products. The Tourmaline-charged line is the best thing I’ve ever used for my skin. I’m not saying that it would be for you, only that you should find what does work and stick to it.

Obtaining and keeping a creamy complexion takes work and discipline. And, as I’ve found out the hard way, you aren’t going to get from hopping from Clinique >Olay >Lather> Origins> Loreal. Just pick one already! Your skin will thank you!

Photo by Dark Jessica

There are a multitude of magazines offering advice on such subjects, but I tend to like it better when I can see the transformation in action.

Enter Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine of the new TLC show Making Over America. The show follows Trinny and Susannah across the U.S. as they meet up with women from all walks of life who are stuck in all kinds of fashion ruts.

I have known of Trinny and Susannah since I have seen them on Oprah numerous times and read a couple of their books (namely, What You Wear Can Change Your Life and What Not to Wear).

On the show, Trinny and Susannah literally walk in the chosen woman’s shoes for a day before hitting her local stores to help her find clothes that better suit her body.

They are no-nonsense kind of woman and they are not afraid to tell it like it is. I have seen them strip women in the middle of department stores down to their underwear and grope women in lingerie stores.

Normally I’d be a little freaked about the brutal truth; however, they are not afraid to make their flaws known.

On Friday’s episode, Susannah hiked her dress up in the middle of a store to show off her belly pooch and subsequent control-top garments. Trinny routinely refers to her non-existant chest.

I have picked up so many subtle dressing tips from these two women: for example, did you know that wearing a scarf can be the perfect way to conceal a tummy pooch?

I tried it. It works.

So if you’re looking to kick up your wardrobe a bit and need some ideas on how to do it, be sure to catch Making Over America on TLC Fridays at 10 EST.

I think the 30s and 40s is the hardest age to dress. We’re too old for the hip, trendy styles of the 20-somethings, but we’re too young for the classic, stodgy looks of the 50- and 60- somethings. I don’t want to look like my mother OR my teenage daughter (if I HAD a teenage daughter, which I don’t, but I COULD, and if I DID, I wouldn’t want to share her clothes. KWIM?)

SO. What’s a stylish 35+ mom to wear?

In Steal This Style by Sherrie Mathieson, “moms and daughters swap wardrobes secrets” to find inspiration for a “forward-looking, timeless, and youthful wardrobe.”

This is SUCH a cute book. I think it would make the perfect Mother’s Day Gift. Throughout the book, Sherrie Mathieson takes you through all sorts of different occasions, and with different mother and daughter pairs, she shows you how to take inspiration from the “younger set” while still maintaining a modern, age-appropriate style. It’s full of colorful pictures to showcase her ideas.

She shows what NOT to wear and how to do it better. There are TONS of practical nuggets of fashion and beauty advice throughout that are practical for women of any age. The book really is geared more for the older moms, taking inspiration from their younger grown daughters, but the book is fun for moms of any age.

WIN IT! One lucky reader will win a copy of Steal This Style!

1. Just leave a comment on this post telling me your biggest fashion challenge.

2. Give yourself a second (OPTIONAL) entry for being a subscriber.

3. And you may earn a third (OPTIONAL) entry for sharing this contest on Twitter or Facebook or your blog.

Just make sure you leave separate comments for each entry so they’re sure to count!

Two bloggers recommended that I get Curly Girl by Lorraine Massey with Deborah Chiel. The rest of the advise I received on that post worked well enough that I didn’t bother looking into the book. One of the things that helped to bring sanity back to our mornings and kept her beautiful curls from turning into a rat’s nest every day was to keep it in some kind of up-do. For the past year and a half we have put her hair into braids, ponytails or pig tails almost every single day.

Then my daughter, Princess turned 4 years old and she started wanting to wear her hair down more often. She begged and pleaded and pulled out the big guns saying “pretty please with sugar on top.” Then I remembered the recommendation to get the Curly Girl book. Fortune was on our side and my local library had the book! I checked it out the very next day.

This book really is the handbook for anyone with curly hair. Did you know that there are essentially 4 different types of curls and each type has different care needs? I didn’t.

After reading this book I now know what type of curls my daughter has (Botticelli) and discovered all sorts of tips on how to clean, care for, treat and style her hair. Some of this we had figured out on our own or were recommended by friends but there were a few little tips, not to mention the recipies in the book that were brand new knowledge.

Armed with the book we have been able to come up with the right line of products and techniques which allow her to wear her hair down every day. It still gets pulled into a gentle ponytail every night to prevent snaggles and knots. This book has helped our mornings go faster. The tears have been minimized. Best of all my daughter is beginning to love her hair and all the compliments she gets on those shiny ringlets.

If you have curly or even wavy hair I highly recommend spending a little time curled up with Curly Girl – The Handbook.

Once I discovered that I could try it for free (so important to me!), I decided to have some fun! You can choose models that look similar to you or you can upload your own picture for the virtual makeover. You don’t just play with your hairstyle and color, but also your makeup, which gives you a good idea of how all the colors work together.

The virtual makeover that I tried was at goodhousekeeping.com. Here is my before and after! (Sorry for poor pic quality!)

What do you think? It’s not too bad. It would be much better if I had a pic with my hair up and back. Of course, I like the new hair, but my real hair is so much thinner than the virtual hair!

There are other virtual makeover sites, such as dailymakeover.com and instyle.com . You can try one of those or find another one on your own. Try out some new things today!

What changes are you trying?

Lisa