Headline

As I mentioned yesterday, I’m vigilant about protecting my face from the sun. But what’s holding my face on my body? Is that important too? Well, it's my head, and most of the time I consider it to be important and useful. Let's put it this way: I certainly wouldn’t want to be without it! Here are the things I use to protect my head, and it’s parts, on the beach.

Proof

While I was “down the shore” I tried out some waterproof eye makeup. I’m not a big crier, so I figured the ocean would kind of be like a big salty cry, and would really put this stuff to the test. I had heard great things about Maybelline One By One Volum’ Express Hydrofuge Mascara, so I used that in Blackest Black (none more black!) For eyeliner, I used Make Up For Ever Aqua Liner in Mat Black (which is a matte black, go fig.) I didn’t use eye shadow, because, seriously? But I did try out Tarte Cheek Stain in Flush and indeed felt quite tarted up for the beach.

Sticky Sunscreen

You might have heard me say that the only safe tan is a fake tan. You might have read my posts about self-tanners and bronzers. You might remember that I always sit under an umbrella, wearing a hat.

Well.

L’Oreal Has Got Your Back (Sort of).

Before I left for Ocean City, I laid off the gradual tanner for a while because I had planned to use a more intense tanner for the trip, and I didn’t want the gradual stuff to mess with it. I had bought a bottle-shaped can of L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Pro Perfect Airbrush, which is a self-tanning mist with a 360 spray. I could have sworn I used the exact same thing last summer, with great results. Unfortunately, this time it did a whole lot of nothing. Or a whole lot of next to nothing, really. I bought the Medium shade, and it acted more like a gradual thing. It was fine, just not what I was going for. I should have tried the Xen-Tan from my June Birch Box, but by the time I figured out the L’Oreal didn’t work, it was too late/too risky to try something else.

Hey Jack, What’s Happenin’?

I don’t know. At the moment I’m trying to pack, get the house together, do last minute grooming, and, oh yeah, decide what to wear to the wedding I'm going to on the way to my vacation.

Well, uh, rumor around town says you might be thinkin’ ‘bout goin’ down to the shore.

Uh, yeah, I think I’m gonna go down to the shore.

Whaddaya gonna do down there?

Uh, I don’t know. Play some video games, review some stuff for my blog.

Stealth Gray Convertible

I found my Stila Convertible Eye Color in Slate after spending a long time in Sephora poring over all the options for gray eyeliner with a built in blending tip. It needed to be dark gray, with no sparkles, and the blender had to be SOFT. After “forever,” I decided that Stila had the best one, so I scooped it up and was on my way.

But wait, there’s more!

Don’t Get Salty With Me (Deownt Git Sawdy Witme!)

 Last summer I had a keratin treatment, so it was pretty easy to keep my hair straight, or at least frizz-free, with minimal effort. This year, I wanted to try to wear it wavy again, for a change, and also for not spending $200+. So when I got my hair cut this week, I told my hairdresser I wanted to take a break from the flat-iron and work with my natural texture for the summer.

Bronzer Than What?

Last week, my June Birchbox arrived, and it was pretty awesome. One of the most exciting things in there was a full size Laura Geller Blush-N-Brighten compact, in a shade called “Honey Dipped.” While it’s technically a blush, I’ve been using it as a bronzer, to great effect.

Cinco de Shave-o

A few weeks ago I wrote about trying the Schick Quattro, without being impressed. It was fine, but kind of “whatever.” Since the four-bladed razor failed to wow me, and since I swear my hair grows faster in the summer, I decided to try the Venus Embrace, which is a five-bladed razor with all kinds of other fanciness.

Beauty's Where You Find It

ME AT NINE, PERFORMING TO MADONNA IN SUMMER '91! from Robert Jeffrey on Vimeo.

Happy Friday!!!!

Glow On With Your Tan Self!

I got a promotional sample of Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pads free with a Sephora.com order way back in March(ish). It came with 4 packets, and I wish I had tried them immediately, so I could have told everyone to get a sample. But it just wasn’t seasonally appropriate to have a tan yet. Especially not just a tan face! You should only do that… never.

Birchbox 2 = Woohoo!

I just got my June Birchbox! If you read my review of the May Birchbox, my first ever Birchbox, you know I was pretty disappointed. I considered cancelling, but thought I’d give it another month or two. I am happy to say that Birchbox has redeemed itself with the June box.

Walk A Mile in Your Shoes

It’s Wedding Season! I’ve just been to the first of four weddings I’m attending this summer, and I thought I would share some of my little tricks for making dressing up a bit more comfortable, specifically, your feets!

Clogged Pores: Slightly Better Than Other Types of Clogs

One of my primary skincare concerns is the pores on my nose, so when I heard about the fancy new black nose strips from Boscia, I couldn’t wait to check them out. The reviews on Sephora.com were good, and I was all ready to plunk down my cash when I found an offer for a free sample. Win!

Tracy Anderson, I Give Up

If you’re wondering what ever happened to my diet & fitness quest, the answer is: I failed. I totally burned out. I couldn’t keep up with the 3+ hours of cooking and exercising every day, plus multiple grocery store trips. It was a very serious commitment, and I did the diet for about two weeks. I got halfway through the 30-Days.

Summer vs My Hair: Part 1

Ready or not, summer weather is here. Tagging along with the lovely Heat is her frenemy, Humidity. No one likes having her around, but she always shows up anyway, acting like Heat’s BFF and making everyone uncomfortable. Then people start complaining about the Heat, but it’s totally not her fault! It’s the stinking Humidity!

There’s No Place Like The Internets

I recently learned about a website where you can "design" your own shoes and they will make them for you. YES! I KNOW. It’s called Milk & Honey. You can make pumps, flats, or sandals, and they say wedges and booties are coming soon. They’re not cheap, but they are not entirely unaffordable either. It depends on your budget, but mostly on how desperately you want the shoes in your head to be on your feet. The prices are based on how many bells and whistles (or really, bows and ruffles) you add, and the materials of course. They all seem to be over $200, and very quickly get to $300.