How About a Cool Mist?

Here in the South - we need sunscreen a lot. I can't believe how many sunspots are already appearing on my face, especially near my eyes. And that's just from driving. Between the pollen and the sun, I'm lucky to make it through Spring in one piece. That's why I'm wild about Neutrogena's new sunscreen in a can. Try it. It refreshes the skin and protects it. Not bad for 10 bucks! I like products that do two things at once. Make that three. I used it to shave last weekend. But mostly I like this spray because it makes me think of Summer.

Curing Parched Lips

Erica from Florida wants to know how to soothe her sunburned lips.

Here's a tip I got from Rona Berg's book Fast Beauty: 1,000 Quick Fixes.

To ease dry lips, (very) gently brush them with an old toothbrush and Vaseline or use a face scrub to slough off dry skin. Apply lip balm.

And the next time you plan on spending some QT under the sun, apply a lip balm with sunscreen!

Why I Like Fekkai

There's a shampoo and conditioner by Frederkic Fekkai called glossing cream which I really like. I bought myself some trial sizes for travel but find myself using them even when at home. I love the clean smell and the way my hair feels after using his products, silky and feminine. I'm also a fan of his Texturizing balm and Wave spray. You can shop Fekkai at Sephora.

Chantecaille, Oh My!

I can't stop talking about Chantecaille. That may be because Saturday I had my makeup applied by Chantecaille's famous makeup artist Greg. And though I've tried many of their products, previously I had never had my own sample of the face wash with rice and geranium. I got to use it twice today because I showered before work and used it after my afternoon run/walk. Let's put it this way ... I can't wait to use it again tonight. More later...

Thank goodness Gina is out

I don't want to be obnoxious or even mean, but Gina was not a candidate to be ANTM. She has a pretty face and great cheekbones, but she was so out-of-place on the show. I'm glad she's gone. It was getting painful to watch her drown.
My favorites are Sara, Brooke, Danielle and Nnenna. My money is on Danielle. She takes amazing pictures and she is so witty. When Jade said she wanted to be a kindergarten teacher, Danielle said she would rather home school her kids than have Jade teach them.

Moving on to products ... have you tried anything from MOR? The Australian-based company makes body creams and scrubs that smell a whole lot better than anything from the retched Dessert line. I like the Gelatto body cream and Marshmellow body scrub.

In Charlotte you can buy MOR at Potion. Most of the products are reasonably priced.

The Poncho Squad

Bea Slater's poncho squad. The only granddaughter absent from the photograph is Saralah.

ANTM

What is wrong with this girl Gina?

Kick her off the show!

When you're a model you can't be squirmish. Maybe Iman can squirm, but unknowns do not bitch about their jobs.

You may be wondering why I watch ANTM. I like to learn what the judges are looking for in future models. It's interesting to see what it takes to compete in the industry. For example, one judge complimented a contestant because she had held her pose from her head to her toes. In other words, she was committed to the pose, kind of like acting. You can't do it half-assed.

I'd like the show's judges to spend more time with contestants teaching them about moving their bodies and their faces.

In other words, when a judge says, "you need to tilt your head because you have a strong jaw," what does that mean? Show the audience. I for one, would like to learn how to fix that problem.

Maybe next week Gina will get the boot. She's a beautiful girl who needs some confidence.

Give Me a Spritz!

Yeah. I'm addicted to Chantecaille's Eau de Rose de Mai Pure Rosewater Spray. Just gave myself a little spritz on my face. Now I need another one. So addicted. Go to work: spritz. Come home: spritz. Exercise: spritz. Fly: spritz, spritz, spritz! Nina, my cat: spritz. (Wait! Stop! Cats don't like spritzing)


You get the point: go out and spritz someone today. You can find Chantecaille at www.neimanmarcus.com or in Charlotte at www.Potionbeauty.com.

Beauty Babe Responds to Reader Questions

I received this question from reader Jacki recently:

HI, I JUST STARTED READING YOUR CHARLOTTE OBSERVER ARTICLES.
VERY INTERESTING!
I NEED ADVICE ON SKINCARE. WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE AS THE BEST OVER-THE-COUNTER EXFOLIATION PRODUCT-FOR BOTH FACE AND THE BODY?

Hi Jacki,

Thanks for your questions. I'm glad you found my beauty blog. And thanks for reading my columns in The Charlotte Observer.

To answer your question about exfoliation, I think Kiehl's makes a great face scrub. It's kind of pricey, but will last forever (~6 mos.) because you only need a small amount. Plus, I'd recommend using it no more than thrice weekly. You'll find Kiehl's at SouthPark mall at both Nordstrom and Belk. Bamboo Apothecary (Phillips Place) also sells Kiehl's. Or go online to www.kiehls.com.

Of course, if South Charlotte seems like the end of the earth to you, or if you are on a tight budget, consider Wal-Mart. Many drugstore brands make decent exfoliants for the face and for the body. Aveeno, Biore, Neutrogena, Olay, et al.
But, no matter which product you select, I would not recommend using the same one on your face and on your body. Body scrubs, in general, would be too harsh for the delicate facial skin.

Here's something else to consider. What is your skin type? Are you oily or dry? Maybe you are lucky and have normal skin that never breaks out. We need to pair you with the proper product. These products can be too harsh if you have sensitive skin or allergies. I'm not trying to to scare you, I'm just saying, it's hard to recommend a specific product without knowing more about a person's skin type. Tell me more and I'll see what I can do. We'll find something that's just right for you. Thanks for checking in with me.

The Wisdom of Teeth

The Beautybabe is recuperating at home today. I just had my teeth pulled. All four of my wisdom teeth. Actually, it wasn't that bad. I even asked the nurse, April to put vaseline on my lips. They were so dry.

Right now I am at home watching Martha Stewart and Roseanne Barr cook up some fondue.

Bon Appetit!