beauty Archives - A Lovely Inconsequence

Things Said in Winter

A Lovely Inconsequence — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 00:25:00 +0000

Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow… The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. ~Robert Frost I laughed outloud at a meme I saw recently. It only said, “I’m sorry for the things I said when it was winter”. This could describe a few people in my life who desperately hate winter’s cold, wind, and especially, snow. I have always loved winter until just a few years ago when I fell during a snowstorm. It took weeks…no, months … for my knee to recover. If it hadn’t been snowing so hard, if I hadn’t been trying to shovel off my car so quickly to get to work, and if I had made a better judgement about the boots I was wearing at the time, I would not have fallen. I wouldn’t have fallen if it had been spring – of that I’m sure. So since my tumble, I have Fall Fear anytime it’s snowing. And this has made me say unkind things in winter. BUT…in order to get through a real true New England winter, it is better to focus on the positive and so I give you some of my winter pleasures. Citrus Winter is the time of oranges, grapefruits, lemons. Take advantage of the wealth of refreshing and fragrant fruit that is best in winter. I especially love clementines which are easy to carry to work and very sweet. It makes winter a bit sweeter too. Movies There is never a better time to watch movies at home than in winter. But going out to a theater for a film is nice too. Sometimes I bring a small blanket with me if I think the theater will be chilly. I pocket some dark chocolate from home too and if the theater sells coffee, a hot steaming cup keeps me from snacking on popcorn. Cafes Speaking of coffee, small cozy cafes are perfect in winter. A warm sweater and scarf and a book plus a mug of your favorite hot drink, is a nice way to spend a few hours on a Saturday afternoon. Museums I love visiting museums in winter, especially art museums. It’s fun to buy a few postcards of favorite spring-like paintings in the gift shops to take home and meditate on. Museums have lovely cafes too. Soups and Stews I really enjoy cooking soulful dishes on the weekend which make great leftovers for the week ahead. It almost feels like self-care to have something nourishing simmering away on the stove and scenting the house. Slippers Slippers have been elevated in status in recent years. Sheepskin-lined, boiled wool, cashmere, faux fur -cozy house slippers make cold afternoons bearable. I have quite a collection for various at-home activities including a traction-soled pair for running out to the recycle bin and to fetch the mail. Perfume The other day a co-worker floated by a few of us and we couldn’t help noticing her refreshing floral scent. We remarked that she smelled like spring and she candidly revealed the name of her innocent little perfume. I become weary of my complex and heavy cold-weather fragrances by the end of January and long to spritz on some sunshine and flowers. A change can give you a new mindset as the snow flits down for days on end. Pastels My good friend Karen, puts all her fall magentas and burnished-colored clothing away on January 1st. She declares that Pastel Winter has begun and peppers her wardrobe with cool baby blues and soft greys. Her clothes mirror the pale icy landscape of the northern Great Lakes region in the dead of winter. Lipstick Like my need for wispy spring scents, I always need a fresh new lipstick in January. I don’t want any persimmon or garnet lip colors – only bright clear ones like raspberry or translucent “jelly and jam” colors. Hand Creams I am a hand cream addict and if I hear of a new one, I always try to find out more about it. I especially like the simple indie brands I find on Amazon. Hats Never have winter hats been so popular. If you have a black coat, infusing it with a colorful hat with a pompom gives it life. I’ve seen so many this year and women are wearing them on not just the most bitterly cold days but nearly everyday. This trend is long overdue as most of our body heat escapes through an uncovered head as told to us by our grandmothers years ago. Hats are worth a little messy hair if they keep you warm. L’Editions Deluxe Winter is perfect for picture books, coffee table books and even children’s books. Revisit old favorites and thumb through pages of lovely illustrations be they of houses, gardens, or fashions. Throw a shawl over you shoulder and sit at the table with a cup of tea and travel to exotic places, plan a night garden for summer, or study vintage fashions and old homes. Toast Is there anything more old-fashioned than toast? In winter, a nice piece of toast with your tea in the afternoon is so homey. A little butter with some jewel-toned marmalade (back to the citrus theme) will make you feel like the Children’s Hour has returned to the house. What other time of year can we pause for toast and tea but winter? Leggings The J. Peterman catalog that I received before Christmas stated that a woman’s legs should always be swathed in something wonderful. I can’t think of anything more wonderful than a pair of fleece leggings and I am living in them. They are warm, stretchy, and great for running to the basement to fetch the Crock Pot. They’re also comfy when you curl up for your afternoon nap under a knit throw. Flowers A local grocery store has wonderful winter blooms. I love white lilies because when they open, they scent the entire house. Ditto, hyacinths. I have to have a selection of flowers in winter somewhere in the house. Of late, I’ve been trimming a few wee blooms from my bouquets and putting them in a small vase for my nightstand. They remind me that spring will come again. White Wearing white in winter makes a great juxtaposition. While everyone is in black, white stands out. It looks unexpected and chic. My favorite sweater right now is a thick cream wool with a sparkly button on the shoulder. I imagine myself a snow princess when I wear it. If you are lucky enough to own a cream coat, pair it with a matching hat or baby pink accessories. Music Atmospheric but gentle music is very meaningful in winter. I enjoy my favorite pieces via my little speaker. Wafting music keeps me company when I cook or fills the silences as I read. If you plug “Winter Music” into a search some nice pieces come up. Youtube features pictures of ice skaters and pets frolicking in the snow with their selections. Classical music that evokes winter scenes is calming to the soul. Dreaming I think it’s important for those who find winter challenging to have an eye to warmer days. I like having goals for spring such as getting in better shape or saving to buy a new spring raincoat. It helps to keep your eyes on the prize in the reverse dog-days of winter. Having a goal in winter is exciting as you plan for warmer weather. Keep a journal about your goal and outline the steps to achieve whatever it is you want whether it’s saving up enough money for a long weekend in Nantucket with a few friends or buying a fancy new bicycle for carefree summer rides. I’m not perfect and I’ve said some astonishing things “when it was winter” but little luxuries offer solace on winter’s darkest days. Perhaps Robert Frost’s poem “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening” is a gentle cast to the long wait for spring’s appearance that we all feel about now. We may have miles of winter left to go but we can at least travel them lightly and with pleasure.

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Beauty Ceremonials for Winter

A Lovely Inconsequence — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 00:45:00 +0000

I never thought I looked good in winter. Without a summer tan, I felt my beauty was blurred and devoid of color and life. Now I no longer tan so I am rather pale year round and use skin-brightening products. But I think true beauty in winter comes from within; from happy pursuits, reading good books, planning for spring, drinking tea, etc. The powder tins above are old-fashioned and charming. Talcum powder has been out of favor for health reasons, but I still like to sprinkle my sheets with a talc-free one in winter, just before I put the coverlet on. Slipping between fragrantly crisp sheets is a winter pleasure. And pillow spray. I use a lavender-scented one which is supposed to induce sleep. What keeps me asleep on winter mornings with my dead-south facing windows, is a dark sleep mask. Sleep is the best beauty aid in winter. And I feel so much better after a long winter’s nap. They say if your feet hurt, it shows on your face. I think it’s the same with being cold. Staying warm in winter is a beauty aid too. These days I am reaching for capes, shawls, and ponchos. I love the drapey warmth they provide which not only keeps me cozy but keeps my face looking good too. Ditto with socks…cold feet does not a beauty make. For ease, I am reaching for simple diamond stud earrings everyday too. They are so easy (imitation diamonds work just as well) and add just the right amount of bling to the face. Dangles get caught in the shoulders of my wraps and sweaters and it’s so freeing not to think of jewelry too much in winter – just some classic pieces to fill in the gaps. Scarves are another wonderful style tool in winter. A warm muffler that is soft and colorful, wrapped just so about the neck sends a nice style statement. My daughter gave me a little scarf tying book for Christmas and it’s been fun creating neck origami to stay cozy. Pedicure weather is long gone and I like using the savings for other things. Instead, I keep my hands and feet smooth and soft with creams and lotions. And I keep my nails short. I slick on a pale nail polish and call it a day. And because I bake and cook more in winter, a pale polish doesn’t show the chips as readily. For Valentine’s Day though, I will opt for cherry red on healthy nails that I’ve been pampering all January. I am spending quite a lot of time at home this winter catching up on some writing, reading some books that have been neglected on the shelves. Also listening to music on my little bluetooth speaker and drinking tea…always tea. Here are some favorite beautifying things for you to try: Best body cream I have found: Basq Advanced Treatment Butter Most beautiful music I have listened to: Prayer Changes Everything by Mark McKenzie My favorite book on tea: French Tea, the Pleasures of the Table by Carole Manchester Best-loved winter film I can watch over and over: Love in a Cold Climate for the clothes. And the love. Favorite tea, bar none: Trader Joe’s Irish Breakfast Tea Most lovely pillow spray: This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray Exceptionally fragrant powder: Crabtree and Evelyn Spring Rain Powder Cherriest and cheeriest red nail polish: Smith and Cult Nail Lacquer in Kundalini Hustle A very beloved winter hand cream: Herbacin Wellness Hand Cream in Wild Rose

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On the Eleventh Day of a Feminine Christmas

A Lovely Inconsequence — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 15:21:00 +0000

These two women are clearly from the Homefront. That is a place that endlessly intrigues me, especially during Christmastime. There were just four Christmases during WWII and the specialness of the holiday was surely enhanced by the abundance of patriotism that flooded the country. I quiz my mother often about what life was like during those years and she tells me that Christmases were very special and poignant, with nearly every family having fathers, sons, uncles, and nephews overseas in battle. Some of my favorite Christmas movies were created during the war. Since You Went Away, an epic film of Anne Hilton’s life on the homefront raising her two daughters alone, is one I especially love. This film corroborates my mother’s stories of how women on the Homefront did not shirk in their creation of lovely Christmases for those left at home, even with the complications of rationing. Without her beloved “Tim”, Anne invites an endearing motley crue into her pretty home on Christmas Eve and hears from “Tim” yet, as the gong strikes. Christmas during the war was gentler despite the war. Courtesy and respect was in abundance even if money wasn’t. Kindness and generosity too. Anne’s grocer Mr. Mahoney, delivers everything on tab. Where can we do that today? A coworker once told me that although she thought my blog was beautiful, she didn’t understand it. I didn’t mind. A Lovely Inconsequence is not for everyone. But for some, I seem to strike a chord. Maybe it’s because like the women left behind on the Homefront, we still care about keeping some things sacred. Not that my former coworker wasn’t a wonderful, kind person who didn’t love Christmas, but admittedly, I have an overactive beauty gene. Some of you might as well. One more post this month…

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Cold Comfort Charms

A Lovely Inconsequence — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 19:20:00 +0000

She made a promise to herself to keep her own well-being sacred. ~ A friend passed along that quote to me recently and I’ve been keeping it under my pillow ever since. It really says so much about how we must protect our fragile souls from the things that want to steal our peace of mind these days. So many times this month I wanted to write about my new autumn tablecloth, or tell you about a new fragrance I discovered or a place I visited. But I held back because of the events that occurred recently, including last week’s terror attack, which made me feel that writing about perfume or small domestic details seemed frivolous and silly. The stuff of ordinary life pales in comparison to the innocent lives lost in horrendous hideous ways for no good reason at all. And yet, I found the world only paused for a moment…and then marched on. I even heard a newscaster sum up the week with “It was a good week”, after having reported on the NYC attack in detail for two days straight. “Breaking News” becomes “Old News” as quickly as a coin toss. I don’t get it. Maybe we are numbed by it to a degree – so many random attacks and yet we are still required to go to work and the Christmas ads still have to roll out on television. I worry about my upcoming visit to NYC to see the Downton Abbey exhibit but if I don’t go then I hear that oft-said refrain over and over, “Then they win”. But carrying on is difficult and I’m more worried than ever about my nephew who lives in Brooklyn and I want to know where everybody is at every single moment. So I decided that instead of writing about my lovely linen tablecloth, I would write about the things I do that soothe me and take the edge off when I feel unnerved. But naturally, most of my cold comfort charms do include domesticity, beauty…and of course, perfume. On the Homefront (it is a war out there) Keeping my house warm at night is always a comfort. Boosting the thermostat slightly above where I have it typically set, helps me feel safe by reminding me that I am warm inside despite the cold world we live in. I will pay the extra expense…it’s worth it. Lighting – being a single mom all my adult life, I learned to be electrically frugal due to necessity. But having my lights on, not just in the corner where I am perched, gives me a feeling of comfort. It may be dark outside, but inside it is bright and warm. I can look down the hall from my bedroom and see the small bathroom light glowing and another one in the hall too. Ditto, the expense. Music I have always enjoyed background music while I am home but now I eschew anything that isn’t lilting and soothing. This often means more Mozart, Vivaldi, and Chopin. I don’t want pounding noise reaching out to grab me or bizarre and strange lyrics calling out my name. Give me the strains of classical sounds or orchestral pieces by Montovani and Norman Luboff. Call me a square…don’t care. My Bed Having a beautiful supportive bed with lovely cozy blankets and pillows can never ever be underestimated. Falling into your bed’s arms every night will help you rest from any worry-overload or sadness that seizes you. And it shouldn’t cost a lot to outfit your bed with fluffy pillows and warm covers. Home Goods, TJ Maxx, and their ilk offer affordable bed linens with an ever-changing stock. Keep looking for the right stuff. Beauty Routines I step up my beauty action when I am stressed. It reminds me that no matter what the world is dishing out, I can still take care of me. This is not the time to stop using that foot smoother in the tub or to skip flossing. Au contraire….it is actually the perfect time to escalate your routine. Pick up a few envelopes of mask when you pick up your toothpaste. Keep your nails polished and pretty with a new upbeat color. Use your moisturizers and take care of your skin even if you don’t feel like it. Looking after ourselves with exquisite attention is one thing we can control in an upside-down world. Books Nothing helps with anxiety like escaping into a good book. I just re-read Jane of Lantern Hill, an old childhood favorite by Lucy Maud Montgomery. The story is full of marvelous advice that has stood the test of time and by allowing myself to surrender to the story, my fears and concerns were eased. Libraries are filled with shelves of fiction that nobody reads anymore. Some of my library’s stacks contain real gems and it is where I first became acquainted with Barbara Pym and Elizabeth Gaskell. Some terrific innocent fiction was written by now-forgotten authors in the 40’s and 50’s. Find a novel you can drown in. At least for a few hours. Scent Good smells are mood changers. Favorite perfumes are comforting, especially if they remind you of someone beloved. Make sure that your home has a scent imprint. I like lavender in my upstairs rooms and lemon or oranges in the kitchen. Bake brownies or make stew. Fill your house with happy scents. We need it more than ever. And finally…my new tablecloth. Always looking for the Holy Grail, I happened upon a linen embossed cloth for a round table. Round cloths are very hard to find and to stumble upon such a fine one in a beautiful fall-like color had me handing over my credit card – I knew I couldn’t walk away from it. Now on my table, with autumnal candles and a bowl of fruit, the vignette I created has become the sentinel of my fall. I didn’t want to spend the money but it was money well-spent – it is an heirloom. But more importantly, it is one of those small things that remind me that despite all the vagaries of our world, we just have to continue making our little corners worth coming home to. We can make ourselves worth coming home to as well. And in the process, we keep our well-being sacred, despite what’s going on out there. What are your Cold Comfort Charms? Note: My tablecloth above (but round).

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Beauty Parlor Night

A Lovely Inconsequence — Mon, 15 May 2017 02:02:00 +0000

In my twenties, when I was young and carefree, I rented a house with four other women. We all worked, dated, and fret about the number of pizza slices we ate in front of the blinking black and white TV on Friday nights. We were obsessed with clothes, the number on the scale, and finding Mr. Right. Maybe not so carefree… Our lone bathroom quickly became overflowing with lotions and potions, hair “painting” kits, pink shaving foams, and bottles of nail polish. Although we each had our own personal needs, we gradually came to see how much fun it could be to unite and conquer our challenges collectively. Thus, Beauty Parlor Night was born. We had lots of giggles and laughs running in and out of each others’ rooms trying on lipsticks and giving each other manicures. We shared dating horror stories as well as gave advice to the poor roommate who happened to be lovelorn that week. We spent a lot of time cross-legged on each others’ beds with Mint Julep Mask on our faces and towels wrapped around our heads. For me, Beauty Parlor Night is still sacrosanct even though my routine has become much simpler. – I’m less concerned with trying new makeup colors and much more passionate about good skincare and smooth and lovely feet. And it’s imperative that my beauty regime eases me into a good nights sleep which is by far the best beauty aid of all for someone my age. Like penguins tossing themselves to the sea, my roommates and I disbanded and plunged one-by-one into marriages. I miss the young women I lived and “played” with long ago and was thrilled to chat with one recently. “What are you doing at home tonight?”, she asked. “I just stepped out of a lavender honey bath. You”? “I stole my daughter’s blue nail polish and it’s drying on my toes”, she replied. Note: Next post up, “What I Did For Love Infatuation”. Soon, I hope.

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Room With A View

A Lovely Inconsequence — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 22:27:00 +0000

I had a co-worker/friend who wanted me to meet her parents and so one lunch hour she took me to their small city apartment. The first thing I noticed was a rather odd still life on top of the hi-fi in the living room. There sat pictures of my co-worker and her sister as schoolgirls with hand painted macaroni necklaces slung between the frames. Also included in this collection were two pairs of bronzed baby shoes, other small childhood artifacts and some long tapered lit candles. “I told you”, my friend whispered as she leaned into my ear. It was right then and there that I decided I would never have an altar for any grown child of mine. This vow was made before I was even married. When my daughter grew up and left home, she left behind a small room with lilac walls and a big empty closet. I was excited that I would at last have simultaneous summer and winter clothes storage but I also began to craft a view of myself in that room. I saw myself reading on an as-yet-undiscovered loveseat looking out of the second story window to a sea of green from the woodlands behind the house. I saw myself sitting in a cozy feminine chair at night in my slippers and shawl sipping a last cup of tea and watching TV. I saw myself napping, exercising, daydreaming, and chatting companionably to friends on the phone, my leg dangling nonchalantly from said loveseat. I knew I wanted to claim that room as soon as possible. And although I have a fair amount of pictures of my daughter, a drawer filled with grammar school art, not to mention Mother’s Day presents created by precious little hands, I knew I would have no shrines in this room. Soon I spackled and painted the walls. I took a chance and bought an alarmingly large antique armoire to hold the television and DVD player. I found a faded rose-colored love seat with dainty flowing lines, a little tapestry vanity chair to hold magazines, and a graceful orchid plant. But the pièce de résistance which thrilled me the most was a cheap white half-wall bookcase that now holds my entire collection of style books which for years, were inconveniently helter-skelter under my bed. Last week as I perched on the new loveseat, I surveyed all that is mine and wistfully looked out the window trying to imagine the bare-branched trees in their soon-to-be green dress. My eyes happily skimmed the titles of the books in my new shelf just before I smugly took stock of my winter sweaters, stacked up in the closet like drums. The view is of a literary life full of reading and writing, and evening quietude to restore the soul. But it only took a quick audit to see that as I look to the future, something was missing from the past. Turns out it was a small round photo of a little girl in a pink tutu.

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Spring Miscellany

A Lovely Inconsequence — Sun, 31 May 2015 03:19:00 +0000

Last month I saw the film The Woman in Gold with my daughter. I was not expecting to be so swept away by the plight of Maria Altmann as she attempts to recover a Gustav Klimt painting of her aunt, Adele Bloch-Bauer. The beautiful portrait was stolen from Altmann’s family by the Nazi’s just prior to WWII in Austria and never returned. A small piece of written legalese kept the portrait in Vienna after the war. The movie is really about love of family and what it means to belong and the talismans that tie us to those we’ve lost, (although having a famous painting is quite a special talisman). Soon after I saw the film, I read the book, The Lady in Gold: The Extraordinary Tale of Gustav Klimt’s Masterpiece, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer, and became even more immersed in Altmann’s story. I decided that I wanted to travel to the Neue Gallery in New York City to see the Klimt myself. The Neue Gallery is a hushed and intimate museum and while Adele Bloch-Bauer’s portrait commanded the room it hung in, the collections are small and personal. In the museum shop, I purchased a keepsake box of the portrait which contained two beautiful lipsticks reminiscent of Bloch-Bauer’s gold dress and the fairy rose tint of her lips. I thought it was a fitting souvenir for a style writer but I also wanted something to remind me of the beautiful story of triumph and the long-reaching ties of familial bonds. I highly recommend the film. Right now, any spare time I have is spent voraciously reading about Edwardian British socialite Heather Firbank. The new book about her lovely wardrobe, London Society Fashion…The Wardrobe of Heather Firbank, is a gorgeous tome of all the Downton-esque clothes your heart can stand. Firbank stayed ahead of each trend and bought clothes lavishly from the best couturiers of her time. Every item in the book represents a happy memory of her life – from flirtatious dances to the thrilling weddings of all her friends. She lovingly saved every opulent dress and accessory by tucking them away in trunks. Until her death, the wardrobe stood for all her dreams, most of which were tragically unrealized. But fortunately for us, she could not relinquish her things and they were eventually donated to the Victoria and Albert Museum. The book catalogues them in all their glory. Recently, I read an article about aging written by Dominicque Browning. Browning was the long-time editor in chief of House and Garden who was fired suddenly a few years ago. In the article she talks about the difficulty of finding a job after being terminated and all the attending insecurities that one would naturally feel. An older and wiser editor advised Browning to “Go where the love is”, after she suffered further rejections in her employment search. The phrase reminded me that sometimes we have to step back and really think about the places we spend our time and effort. Do we feel welcomed in those places? Are they places that appreciate our passions? Sometimes we are lucky enough to work somewhere like that or perhaps we attend an exercise class that always makes us feel more of who we are, or we attend churches where we are accepted and wanted. “Go where the love is” really came home for me after I read the Browning piece. I suddenly decided I will no longer frequent our local library no matter how many fine books are there. Over the years, I have found the staff to be cold and impersonal – they look right through me. The special events I have attended often make me feel less than. There are people who have entrenched relationships with the library and don’t seem to want to make room for others. As well, I was asked to attend a PR event for a business I occasionally highlight in my columns. I brought along a pal for fun but soon discovered I had only been invited to help see that the room was filled to impress other media. The PR director, who often emails me to ask if I will include one of her clients in my work, was dismissive and snobby and after a few minutes, I felt painfully awkward. My friend, an accomplished teacher, said she was uncomfortable too, because the other women wouldn’t make eye contact or greet her. It wasn’t where the love is and I will carefully choose where I show up and spend my precious time in the future. These days I am finding love at a friendly yoga class on Saturday mornings. I even found it in my gynecologists’ office by the always-happy-to-see-me staff. Ditto new work events I’ve been attending. Go where the love is… And finally, I am having a renewed affair with the lowly bar of soap. There is something so soothing about slipping into a tepid bath after a hot day with a fragrant fresh bar of soap. My favorites are made in Italy but I recently found a perfect French apricot bar at TJ Maxx – it will be lovely for cooling soaks on summer’s most sultry nights. Many soaps claim to be “triple-milled”, which research tells me simply means they rinse off easily. Still, I’m amazed at how the delicate scent of soap lingers on the skin. There is also something really nice about taking baths in clear unadulterated water again…for now, I’m eschewing filmy body washes and overly-fruity bubble baths for a delicious change of pace. Amazon sells lots of Italian soaps in the prettiest floral boxes. Soap is truly an unexpected as well as inexpensive simple pleasure.

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On the Fifth Day of a Feminine Christmas

A Lovely Inconsequence — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 04:11:00 +0000

This lovely is quite pleased with her beautiful gift set. I wish I could tell what fragrance is in that box but it certainly looks like she’s about to learn the benefits of layering one’s scent. I love the ice maiden look to this picture. It makes me think she could be inside an igloo with the silvery tree and the frosted windows. Her fur is strewn close by in case she gets cold in her silk charmeuse dressing gown. Everything about this photograph says that Christmas is about luxuriousness and indeed, some of the best Christmas presents are those we can pamper ourselves with. There is a time in every pre-teen’s life when she begins to receive more womanly gifts. Gone are the dolls and toys, replaced by perfumes, lipsticks, and lotions. I distinctly remember receiving soap-on-a-rope, toilet water, and handkerchiefs in the sixth grade. Later, my mother filled my Christmas stockings with Yardley Pot-o-Gloss, false eyelashes and newly-invented pantyhose. Under the tree were electric rollers, a lighted makeup mirror and white go-go boots. The mirror eventually got stuck on “Office” and the boots faded from the scene but I never got tired of sets of lipsticks and fragrant bubble baths. Today’s beauty sets are available at any price and in any combination. I especially like the ones that have Christmas motifs on the packaging such as snowmen or snowflakes. It makes such a cute and festive gift for a girlfriend or niece. A dear friend just sent me a pre-Christmas gift of two pretty spring nail colors with a lavish rose-infused handcream. It came in a tartan tin and is sitting patiently under the tree right now. I highly recommend buying a pampering set for yourself before Christmas. Look for a selection of small shampoos and each morning, test drive a new one. Or try a combination talcum powder with body splash. Spoil yourself during this busy season while you are busy spoiling others.

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The Power of Lipstick

A Lovely Inconsequence — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 04:21:00 +0000

My first foray into lipstick was the night I stole a tube of lipstick from my mother’s dresser and created a work of art on my sister’s face. A Kodak moment to be sure, but there was more to it than that. Lipstick is the quintessential female cosmetic and it’s usually the first makeup we experiment with. We can’t wait to get our little fingers on it because all little girls know that lipstick turns Mommy into an enchantress, with a mere swipe of color. Lately, my makeup bag has been filled with lipgloss, the sales of which have just edged out lipstick for the first time. But the Oscars with celebs in strong lip color, a conversation with my stylish friend Karen, and a brief video of Poppy King, The Lipstick Queen, had me doing an about face. Suddenly, I wanted to try on every single one I own – surely I had the perfect color. And I wanted to lay it on thick too. Most women don’t have the confidence to wear a bold lipstick, yet Poppy King tells us that lipstick actually gives women confidence! So I found myself rifling through my makeup box until I landed on my Chanel “Gabrielle”, a daunting coral red, now one year relegated to the back of the box along with a flaky gold eyeshadow that never saw the light of day. In the tube, “Gabrielle” is scary. Loud. Feisty. So, I outlined my lips first with a nice neutral lip liner and then really applied it straight from the tube – just like I saw my mother do it back in 1959, mouth open, lips stretched, head tilted into the mirror. A quick blot and a pucker. Instantly, my eyes shone, my skin looked fresher – I looked alive. But more importantly, I felt different; prettier, chic. I took the stairs. Karen spent some time at the makeup counter too. She met her match in Laura Mercier’s “Audrey”. She shot several pics to me of the first contenders but it wasn’t until I saw “Audrey” that I realized how lovely she looks in a brighter lipstick too. A “Gabrielle” wouldn’t have done for her – she’s too fair. “Audrey” gives her just the right amount of audaciousness. A woman who wears a daring lipstick color tells the world she is unafraid. Makeup artist Lisa Eldridge says red lipstick even looks great on Saturday errands with a plain grey t-shirt and jeans. Today Karen received a compliment from a male stranger at her local mall. Saturday errands with a bold lipstick is all it took. But what is it about this simple cosmetic that fascinates? Lipstick is readily available and fairly inexpensive and that’s probably why sales of tubes climb when the economy goes south. It may also be why designer lipsticks do so well. Afterall, I may not be able to afford a Chanel suit, but I can buy the essence of Chanel with a lipstick – a wee bit of glamour to tuck into my not-Chanel-bag. Designer lipstick prices are climbing though – Tom Ford’s are almost $50. Eldrigde states that if we do invest in a designer tube, selecting a deep gutsy color will give us more bang and versatility. Applying it with a lip brush creates a lighter even layer and then the color can also be used as a blush when dabbed on cheeks with a ring finger. I’m on board with that. There’s nothing quite as fun and yet old world as lipstick. Afterall our grandmothers used it. Karen and I chatted about the femininity of lipstick, its distinctiveness, its comfort, its assured entrance into a grown-up woman’s world. We talked about our favorite old films and how lipstick was always a part of them. And when we wear it full on, we’re a part of something too: a unique feminine circle. Lipstick has the power to transform, give us confidence. It can provoke and compel. It’s pleasurable and cheery. All that. From a tube.

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Secrets of Loveliness

A Lovely Inconsequence — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 02:32:00 +0000

This charming book was a Scholastic Book Selection when I was in grammar school. Every month our teacher passed out flyers for wonderful paperback books which students could order for only a few cents. I recall four books costing about a dollar. I loved when the mailman delivered my little parcel of books. When Secrets of Loveliness appeared on the Scholastic flyer, and being a “tween” anxious to learn the womanly arts I ascribed to my friends’ sophisticated older sisters, I simply had to have it. Kay Thomas, the author, has a friendly girlfriend to girlfriend way of writing. Her prose is lyrical, funny, and inspiring. What I really love is the message that although beauty is not given to all girls, loveliness can be achieved by anyone. Miss Thomas talks about both the inner and outer self and how achieving balance between the two, can bring about grace and charm. The book gives practical advice, with an unmistakable girly slant. We learn that it is ok to want to be attractive and lovely and what is more, it’s really fun too. Every aspect of grooming is touched upon: from how to keep a neat “billfold” to how to select the proper slip for a party dress. Yes, it’s a bit dated, perhaps not entirely PC, but it’s very sweet. The line drawings are delightfully done by illustrator John Mecray, who also contributed to the Eileen Ford Book of Beauty and a teen novel or two. After an internet search, I discovered Mecray is a famous marine illustrator who lives just over the bridge from me in our small coastal state! He left fashion illustrating far behind and now only devotes his talent to ships and schooners. In Secrets of Loveliness he has a deft touch with a pulse on mid-century femininity and therefore, I find his soft drawings both engaging and reassuring. For fun, I’ve chosen a contemporary cover picture for a modern edition. Should another version come to pass, I would keep Kay Thomas and John Mecray on board. “This book has been written to help you become the girl you want to be – with grace of form and feature, with radiance of soul and mind”. ~ Kay Thomas (Credits: pic from Nordstrom.com, illustration John Mecray.)

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