my new love...

I've been a bit bored lately with my current fragrance turnstile of Coco Mademoiselle and Paris, and when I'm really desperate for something different, Fresh's Sugar Blossom. And I’ve been looking for something different for quite a while but lately everything seems to smell the same.

Enter Prada’s latest fragrance launch: "Infusion d'Iris". A new fragrance for fall, it is such the antithesis of their other fragrance "Tendre" (which I think is muy stinky!). I think d’Iris just may be the fragrance I have been waiting for...

Light, fresh, with a deep floral - it's a scent that will work in all seasons. And the bottle feels so good in the palm of your hand- they've done a great job with packaging.

I've only worn d'Iris very lightly a few times (that means just 2 sprays in contrast to when I usually spray it every where and get jiggy with it) and can't wait to take it out on the road. I've already put away the "others" in a drawer. And if I become truly nutty over it - they've got great ancillaries - body lotion and bath gel of course, but also bar soap and linen water and scented paper and body splash and candles. ooh Lobster's going to be in trouble if I really, really end up falling for the fragrance!

lipsick kisses!

roshbosh

my thing

I realized last night as I was getting ready for bed that I am currently nursing 6 eye creams. I noticed them all huddled in the "co-ed" drawer the Lobster and I share (we do each have our own drawer - this is just the one where the community items go - toothpaste etc. and there's no room in my drawer for the eye cream. A pic of that drawer later!)

Not that I have serious eye issues but I can't get too crazy with face creams and serums and toners because of my so-sensitive skin, so I satisfy my junkie habits by experimenting with eye cream.

The sad news though is that I haven't found my holy grail yet. La Mer the eye balm is great to dab - something that feels great going on out of the fridge but it has no moisturizing properties and I really don't know what else it does other than soothe. But really. What does that mean? Orlane's Anti-fatigue is a great for everything but it doesn't moisturize - it diminishes dark circles, reduces the appearance of wrinkles and the bottle/pump is so cute - fits perfectly in my hand. Pricey though. Neutrogena Eye Defense - it's ok - has sunscreen but the little light deflecting particles smear if you don't give it a good mix in the tube before applying. Juara's eye cream - rich and creamy and smells nice - moisturizes and smooths. Omorovicza - smells of cucumber and absorbs nicely. Natura Diamond Eye - don't think it does anything either and the scent is quite strong. I don't know if I'd replenish any of them though. I think Origins White Tea is still my favorite but I don't lurve it.

And a note - you need a day eye cream and a separate night eye cream. You must always have SPF in your day eye cream and also because often night creams are too rich for day and result in your eye make-up up smearing and your concealer sliding. Not pretty my friend. Not pretty at all.

the dove challenge - results!

Can I just tell you how happy I was to be able to get my hands and fingers around my lovely jars and bottles? The challenge ended Sunday evening and the first thing I did was grab my Natura Bisse GlycoPeel and slather the stuff all over my face. It felt so good to get a fix after 2 weeks. Even the initial sting was bliss. Ah! Spoken like a true junkie!

Here's my challenge recap: It was nice having a 1-step skin-care routine at night. Wash and sleep. Wash and sleep. And I did get a few comments on how my skin was looking better. It took a little getting used to but I would almost look forward to the soft scent the soap would leave on my skin.

But I must confess! I have continued to use my dove bar soap to wash my face. What can I say? It smells good and leaves my skin smooth and soft and I don't have to use a moisturizer every night.

Anyway, I have also started back on Tazorac - my super-duper, rx only, acne buster. I was on it last summer and winter and quit because I wasn't seeing real difference. I'm giving it another shot though. I'll keep you posted.

lipstick kisses,
roshbosh

the Dove Challenge Update!

Lobster and Sheester both think my skin looks better since Sunday when I started using Dove to cleanse my face.

Also, no new friends have moved in. The painful bumps from the previous week are healing and peeling and bleeding. But surprisingly - nothing new.

Skin feels dry after washing, even though the beauty bar is 1/3 moisturizer. So I'm using a sample of Chantecaille's Flower Harmonizing Cream. And of course - eye cream!

I miss my jars and bottles and pumps and tubes! The Dove bar may work but it's not very sexy.

Reality is sinking in - I really am an INCORRIGIBLE sucker for packaging and marketing.

lipstick kisses,

roshbosh

Now this is luv!

29 Cosmetics was started by one Lydia Mondavi and her mother and is named after the highway that runs through Napa Valley. What makes their line different from every other indy cosmetics brand (and trust me - there are A LOT of them out there and I've tried most of them) is that they are a TREATMENT cosmetics brand. All of their products contain grape seed extract and lots of other yummy anti-aging properties for your skin.

I have never used an eyeliner quite like theirs. Called "Line Maker Grape Seed Age Protecting Eye Pencil", it's smooth and doesn't smudge - unless you want it to smudge. Seriously. This is going to the first eye liner I have ever used that will need replacing.

They don't have skin care yet but I'm keeping my eye out. Oh! Another note-worthy note - the products have fun, vineyard related names - such as lipsticks called "Call me a Cab" and "Reserve Red". My Holy Grail eyeliner is called "El Trellis". Which by the way is the perfect shade of brown - not too brown and not too black so it's easy to wear during the day and smudge for night.

And since I'm a sucker for packaging and no post is complete without an overview: The compacts are too pretty to be left on your bathroom counter or stuffed in a drawer. That faux pau about powdering your nose at the table and applying rouge to you lips? Forget it. You'll want to show off the pretty bullets of color and smooth, silver cases.

Available at NeimanMarcus.com.

lipstick kisses!

roshbosh

Stick it to me!

The beauty industry was buzzing with anticipation over Laura Mercier's new Stick Foundation.

I've been using it for about two months now and I am loving it! It's much more sheer than Bobbi Brown's Foundation Stick but has buildable coverage, is waterproof, moisturizes, oil-free, and has SPF! Now some have been disappointed by the amount of product in the casing but it's the same .33 oz as Bobbi's. But because Laura's packaging is a bit more "stout", it just seems like less product.

I've been using the foundation daily and it's one I will be replenishing. (I think it was Leonard Lauder that said he never paid too much attention to initial sales of a new launch. It was the subsequent sales he was interested in - did customers like the product enough to repurchase?)

The color range is a bit limiting - 8 shades to Bobbi's 16 - but I'm sure new colors will be added in the coming seasons. So for those of you looking for something new and fresh - hang in there if they don't have your shade. It's worth the wait!

lipstick kisses!

roshbosh

A NEW FACE

So the skin has gotten a little bad as of late. Actually, it's been a good year of just icky-gross-don't-get-too-close-or-you-may-scream kind of bad. Don't know what's causing it, but looking at pictures from a couple of years ago has made me even more depressed about it because it's been so long since I've had clear, even toned skin. Just look at the picture! Taken in a plane on my way to South Africa 2 years ago.

In the midst of my whining this past weekend, Lobster offered up a solution/challenge: that I go 2 weeks of using ONLY Dove's beauty bar and oil-free moisturizer as needed. He's always saying that in between the toners and serums and moisturizers and scrubs and peels, my skin doesn't have time to breathe and recalibrate and heal itself. Now he's not a doctor but he did have a point. There's always something on my visage.

So last night was night #1. I used the dove bar to wash as instructed and promised. I did use a little eye cream (can't give it all up cold turkey!). Skin felt fine this morning. I missed my potions and went very light on the make up - Kiehl's tinted moisturizer and some powder, very light blush and mascara.

I'll keep you updated.

roshbosh's drawer

We bought a vanity/console/laptop desk for the bedroom and I am loving having all my cosmetics in one place! I'm using the single-drawer the desk came with; I'm such an "out of site - out of mind" person that I think this new set-up is going to be great in that I'll get around to using so many more of the products I already have. Working out of 2 cosmetic/toiletry bags was getting annoying - for me and the lobster. Lobster doesn't come home to a bathroom counter covered with products anymore and I can put on my face in seated in front of natural light. Although, the light in the bathroom is much kinder than the sun so early in the morning...

CB2

Guess what!? Crate&Barrel has a spin-off store! Currently there are only 2 brick-&-mortars in Chicago (one is in the works for NYC) but you can buy their happy and fun and INEXPENSIVE wares at http://www.cb2.com/.

scientology becomes her.

Truth be known, I hide behind my hair. It goes up when I wash my face and when I sleep but that's about it. So I envy anyone who can sport short, I-just-got-of-bed-and-my-hair-looks-fabulous hair - the tousled hair that looks great parted this way or that way and can look sleek or playful. I am loving Katie Holmes new do. And her new sartorial style - trendy but fresh. She's definitely stepping out of her comfort zone - strong prints and a great juxtaposition of hard and soft lines.

2 words. ALAN RICKMAN!

oh my god how badly do I want to be Sharleen Spiteri in this video!?


http://youtube.com/watch?v=G7A_bJFZNXE


sigh! I need a cold, cold shower.

;-)

roshbosh

e.l.f.

Some of you may have heard of e.l.f cosmetics from a forward that's been going around for some time now. e.lf. stands for eyes, lips, face and is a company that sells $1 cosmetic products. It was started by 2 brothers after they realized how much women spend on cosmetics - namely the wife of one of the brothers. The company has gotten a lot of press (www.eyeslipsface.com) and I've received the forward twice and have been so, so tempted to see if the hype is true. I finally gave in two weeks ago on a lazy Friday afternoon and bought a little bit of everything - $23 worth of lip liner, eyeliner, brushes, concealer, tinted moisturizer, lip balm, mascara, lip plumper, blotting sheets, and all-over color.

Here's the rundown on the products, but because my mother raised me well, I will go through the "good things" about the products first.

good thing #1: good scents - products smell like those orange push-pops of yesteryear.
good thing #2: good eye brushes - can't tell much difference between my Sonia Kashuk all-over brush and the e.l.f. but stay away from the "larger brushes" - you get what you pay for and in this case what you get is a brush full of dry bristles that scratch!
good thing #3: the eyeliner seems like a good solid product - made of a gel-powder formula - not kohl. doesn't blend too well though.
good thing #4: lip plumper - has a tingling effect that I liked - the lobster didn't notice a difference but I think there was a bit of "plumping".
good thing #5: $5 shipping no matter how much you buy!

bad thing #1: packaging - I am a sucker for packaging. and I understand that the company saves money by using blister packs etc but I like things to feel nice in my hands. I'm just not that utilitarian.
bad thing #2: formulations - product is very diluted. the concealer wasn't mixed very well. and the coverage isn't there
bad thing #3: all-over product - the texture on this is not nice - too waxy. didn't even try it on my skin - I was so afraid it wouldn't come off!
bad thing #4: tinted moisturizer - no coverage. and it doesn't moisturize.
bad thing #5: lip liner - another "you get what you pay for" - I like my liners a bit creamier.
bad thing #6: brushes - please refer to "good thing #2"
bad thing #7: blotting papers - too thin! "stick to the clean & clear papers".
bad thing #8: there are only 5 good things and 7 bad things.

From the 18 products I bought, I like the lip balm & the eye brush but not enough to repurchase.

lipstick kisses!

roshbosh

yay! it's June 1st!

and that calls for CUPCAKES! (ok so there's no real connection but humor me.)

places to satisfy that oh-my-god-if-I-don't-have-a-cupcake-right-now-I'll-self-combust cravings...

SPRINKLES
our very own New York/California import! minimalist decor made up for by their "hmm-I-never-would-have-put-those-flavors-together" flavors like ginger lemon and lemon coconut. other "hmmmm" flavors : strawberry, carrot, pumpkin, and orange!

SOCIETY BAKERY
owned by Roshi (we have lots in common!). It's all about the frosting that's made without any shorting! My favorite is their strawberry cupcake.

TART PASTRY BOUTIQUE AND STUDIO
haven't been but I want to! they sell french macaroons! and I just love french macaroons!

roshbosh

a roshbosh update

what I'm reading...

2 books. why? because one of them is too big to read in bed or standing in line.

"My Sister's Keeper" - Jodi Picoult
fiction - book jumps right in and each chapter is from a different point of view - even the fonts are different from character to character. I've been told I'll need a box of Kleenex towards the end - not looking forward to that. I have an ugly cry.

"Einstein - His Life and Universe" - Walter Isascson
(the fatty)
turns out there was so much more to him than E=mc^2 and messy hair - and this book covers all that other equally genius stuff.

what I'm listening to...
"4 in the morning" - Gwen Stefani
cannot get enough of it!

what I'm wishing for...
Crocs

jcrew pull-over hoodie

You go my Asian Sisters!

So I know it's been awhile since my last post. But I've been busy. Busy packing and organizing and thinking and moving and thinking some more. Anyway. I'm back now.

And I've got lots to write about it! But first things first. PRODUCT!!!

Juara is a great new skincare line I first read about last year. It was founded by 4 East Asian women who have taken modern skincare breakthroughs and merged them with traditional Indonesian rituals and ingredients.

I've been using the entire line but my favorites are the Rice Facial Scrub and the Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner. The rice scrub is gentle enough to use everyday - it removes make-up and exfoliates in one step! (I have since ditched the St. Ives Apricot Scrub.) And the toner has an extra dose of hyaluronic acid (great stuff if you have dry skin) so that those with oily skin don't have to use moisturizer!

I've used the moisturizer Sweet Black Tea and Rice Facial Moisturizer - great scent and great texture and feel. Not for those with really dry skin though. I don't need to use it because, hello oily skin! but I just love they was it smells so I use it anyway a couple of times a week.

lipstick kisses!

roshbosh

oh no! the secrets out! ;-)

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=internetNews&storyID=2007-02-07T212941Z_01_N05490438_RTRUKOC_0_US-LIFE-CLOTHES.xml



roshbosh

aaaaaaggggghhhhh! My eyes! My EYES!

OK this is so, so wrong on so SO many levels! I just can't even write about it.

I feel as though I've committed a crime by just looking at the pictures!

So wrong.

His poor mother.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20010257,00.html

roshbosh

I've been tagged!

I got tagged by the Kiwi Emui!

http://www.xanga.com/kiwi612



Here are the rules!

(By reading this, you are tagging yourself and you will be required to write a similar entry).
If you're tagged: Here are the rules: Each player of this game starts with the six (6) weird things about themselves. People who get tagged need to write a blog post of their own and list six (6) weird things as well as state this rule clearly.

So, here goes 6 weird things about me:

1. I have broken both big toes and both pinky toes.
2. I have trouble eating pieces of cake but can inhale cupcakes
3. I am the best exterminator in town - ask my Shister and Broder
4. I always use 2 seat covers when using public restrooms
5. I was a stutter-er when I was younger and it comes back when the weather gets cold
6. I remember the exact moment I finished my first chapter book - it was "Ramona the Brave" and it was in the back of Janki Makecha's mom's station wagon on the way to Janki's swim practice and the cover was totally different from the one pictured here.

roshbosh

A Missive on Benched Shoes

So the Lobster made a request last week: that I not buy new shoes until I wear the unworn ones I already have.

Now that would be a reasonable request if I had just one pair...

but I have four and they all have (or had) a specific purpose!

Brown Sandals with BIG blue/brown silk flowers on them - reserved for Aniston's shower or wedding and I even bought a dress to go with the shoes. That's right. I bought a dress to go with the shoes - they're that FABULOUS!

Black & Stainless Steel wedges - bought for Vegas but we ended up not going due to weather - not my fault the effects of Global Warming decided to rear its ugly head the weekend we planned our get-away!

"Fancy" Brown Suede Driving Shoes - they were so cheap! Leaving them at the store would have been a crime! And a criminal I am not! I'll need them some day.

Pink/Brown Slides - They feel so good on my feet! Oh who am I kidding? I really need to stop shopping for a life I don't have!

Besides the Pink/Brown Slides - all my shoes have an ordained purpose. So I don't think the request is reasonable. And as I was discussing with my friend Ru-paul just this past Saturday, all shoes have their time.

And that's when I had my epiphany!

It's like football players. Shoes are like football players!

Take Tony Romo for instance! The Cowboys took him knowing he was going to sit on the bench for a bit but they took him anyway! Why? One, because they probably knew they couldn't pass him up AND two, they saw the potential in him! So the Cowboys took him and he spent all that time sitting on the bench just waiting for his time like a good second string player does and now look at him - he's THE quarterback! Ok so the season didn't end too well for him (or the Cowboys for that matter) but we can liken that to a pair of shoes that isn’t quite broken in yet.

So Lobster, like football players, there are just some shoes that you don't pass up (like the black and stainless steel wedges). And just because I don't know where I'm going to wear them right now doesn't mean I won't need them sometime down the road.

That said - let the search for the perfect pair of velvet, citrine color, peep-toe heels begin!

roshbosh

A little ray of SUNSHINE! on a cold COLD day.

I love commercials! But Lobster and the Cusack don't. In fact, I don't know many guys who do appreciate commercials but I digress.

I was watching TV with the Cusack when a commercial for Target graced the screen. I usually don't ask him to pause on a commercial but this time I couldn't resist. Target was advertising their new designer for the GO International Spring Collection - PROENZA SCHOULER!

I've been following Proenza Schouler since about 2003 when they were awarded the CFDA'a Perry Ellis Award for New Talent. The duo consists of Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough who named their line after their mother's maiden names. I couldn't say I would ever wear their clothes (I don't have the courage!) but I so admire their pieces and people who do wear them! Their color combinations and textures are so unexpected. Their designs have so much attitude! I'm looking forward to what they'll bring to Target and the masses.

Coming to a Target near you February 4!


roshbosh