This fabulous blush stick eluded me for years. I read the reviews on Makeup Alley- get it now before they discontinue it! and then nothing. I scoured every WnW display I passed and saw no version of it. Then, like magic, it reappeared everywhere. I’d heard Coy was the perfect pink blush and was skeptical- blush was never an item I could find in drugstores. But they were right.

Coy is a creamy, highly pigmented, pure pink color that makes you look sweet, alive, and not overly made up. I use it on my lips to provide a neutral base for gloss. It’s been less than a week and this item is elevated to grail status on my vanity table. Don’t try to contour with it (or anything)- just apply a little to the apples of your cheeks and pat it out until it looks natural. Finish with a light dusting of powder if desired. I will never go back to prestige blush again, unless WnW discontinues it. Now, if they’d only resurrect Drac’s Drool- dumb name, perfect berry wash for lips.

While away, I rented the visually stunning and very engaging Mirrormask.  I highly recommend it, but that’s beside the point.  My dreams were haunted by this eerie version of Close To You by the Carpenters.  I woke up and mentioned to my bunk mate it was stuck in my head, to which he replied, Cheers, babe- now it’s stuck in mine!  But the really creepy part?  It reminded my of my daughter!  Anyway, finally as spooky as it deserves to be…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sX1dXyxvro]

I’ve never used cake mascara, but I spotted this adorable wee compact in Lucky and I feel that now I need to.  This totally looks like it would have been in Bettie’s makeup kit.  Very pin-up.  And I’ve had Paula Dorf brushes for years- they still look and feel brand new.

When I came of age sexually, pretty much all you had to do to impress a guy sexually was, uh, shag him.  We didn’t have brazilians or bleaching or now, for fuck’s sake, titty gloss.  It was enough to entice the menfolk that we had tits.  And now this.

Enter Agent Provocateur’s Titillation.  I beseech you, my sisters, to nip this trend in the bud and do not submit to any more grooming, glossing, or hair yanking of anything that can be covered by a bikini.  Unless you really want to, for some strange reason.  Remember when all we had to worry about with getting naked was granny panties?  Bring those days back!

I can just tell this blush gives you that perfect innocent/sexy look.  Blush is so underrated and misappropriated.  A nice, apples of the cheek flush is really the only kind of look you need for every day, and it really makes you look awake and cute.  I’m srsly dying to try this, and it’s from Anthropologie, which generally indicates rockingness.

I don’t want to look horribly affected when I smoke- however, I do tend to rock lip gloss on a near daily basis.  Or a matte red lip that only looks good dark.  So I really actually kind of need a cigarette holder to engage in the uphill daily battle of looking as little less like who-did-it-and-ran in this filthy, hellish, daily grindy island-city.  I lovelovelove these tiny, cute, not-too-obvious rhinestone cigarette holders.*  They’re not too pricey, and think of what you’ll save in overall lippy consumption.

*(scroll down… I favor the red one.)

Makeup kits usually suck.  Buried under all of last seasons worst sellers may be one or two marginally wearable colors.  Not so with this cute kit from Too Faced.  The adorable packaging holds a bunch of completely wearable shades and probably won’t disintegrate in your purse.  (I’m looking at you, Bare Escentuals!)  I also just adore the name.

I’ve talked the internetses ear off about this lipstick, but I’m a professional, and I’ve been addicted to red lipstick since the age of twelve. This is it- I’ve tried MAC, Nars, Stila, Urban Decay, etc, and not one red lipstick besides this has ever gone on so velvety smooth and true and just hot. And it’s under $5. Since picking this up a year ago on a whim, I’ve been able to wear little else, even in pajamas. It’s available at most drugstores, too. Don’t be put off by the dark-skinned market placement, I’m NC20-15 and it really works even on me.

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I’ve never understood all the hullabaloo over NARS Orgasm Blush.  As a makeup artist, I found even with darker skin, a sheer wash of color worked light years better on everyone.  When I worked for MAC, I moved more Pink Swoon blush than anything else.  Scarily pink in the compact, it goes on sheer and light and like you’ve just been skiing.  Or, I suppose, shagging.  Best. Blush. Ever.

I used to be a freelancer for MAC and Urban Decay. UD was far more pleasant to work for, no inherent attitude and still with the cute aprons. Of all the things I miss about doing makeup, the brush apron is what I miss the most. But how can one use this thing practically? Who cares- it’s adorable.