Feliz Anniversary!!

Hola sexy mamas,
Yay! I'd love you to join me in a huge round of applause for ourselves...because yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of SHAKE YOUR BEAUTY!! CAN YOU BELEIVE IT? Oh, and its been a glitteringly glam, fiercely fabulous year, hasn't it? And I owe it all to you, my ever-faithful squad of gorgeous product hoes!!! Honestly, its been so much fun watching my humble little blog grow and grow, slowly but surely creating a bonafide community of smart, sassy, like-minded chicas. You are all sooo inspiring to me, you have no idea. Thank you from the bottom of mi corazon for sticking with me...and here's to another yummy year!!

Now, the good stuff. In honor of my anniversary (actually, it's "our" anniversary, wouldn't you say?), I'm dedicated this post to YOU. I'm finally getting around to addressing your most pressing beauty questions. Hope you're tickled by the answers--and keep the questions coming, girls! If I don't answer you right away, I swear I'll get to you before I croak. At which time, I'd like to be buried in my new Tracey Reese shirt-dress (oh, its so good). Oh, by the way. Girls, I have a question for you guys!! Due to the rampaging stress caused by book deadlines, my new Cosmo Radio gig, and the sad realization that I have visible new-growth in my Olay commercial (why oh why didn't I get a touch-up before I shot the damn thing??!)--I've been eating quite a bit. I've gained TEN POUNDS in the last three months. The first person to give me a way to drop the pounds without breaking a sweat gets a limited edition "Billie" lipgloss--my friends at Three Custom Cosmetics whipped them up in honor, you guessed it, Miss Billie Burke of THE ACCIDENTAL DIVA!

Okay, folks, let's do some beauty-shaking in the name of love!!

xoxo,
your tia

Dear Schanina,
This isn't really a question, but...thank you for bringing up the fabulous website, WORLDBRIDEMAGAZINE.COM!! Its a fabulous resource for engaged girls, or for those of you harboring a major bridal fetish. This gorgeous online mag was created to serve brides of all colors, ethnicities, religions, and races...and its positively gorgeous. Good work, Schanina!
xoxo,
tia

Dear Tiffany,
Looking for a flat iron that won't cost a month's rent? Oh sweetie, did I find one for you!! It's all about CONAIR INSTANT HEAT ULTRA-HOT CERAMIC STRAIGHTENER ($24.99), a very kick ass flatiron that gets salon-hot, but comes with heat settings for every hair type (fine, curly, coarse, etc.) to prevent heat-damage. Also, it has a boar bristle attachment (great for adding a final polish) and a detachable comb if you want to get really close to the root. I've had an affair with this baby for years.
xoxo,
tia

Dear Anonymous Ashiness,
You're not alone--I get emails about dry, parched hands at least twice a week. Here's the thing...you can go for those greasy, heavy-duty grandma creams and leave residue on every doorknob you touch, or you can go the glam route and choose the uber-moisturizing-but-not-slippery-gross hand lotion used by manicurists backstage at all the fashion shows!
RESCUE BEAUTY LOUNGE HAND CREAM IN CITRUS VERT ($20), was created by Ji Baek, the it-girl owner of Downtown Manhattan's spa-to-the-stars, Rescue Nail Spa. I don't know what's better, the insanely heavenly citrus-green scent, or the way it keeps your hands un-ashy ALL DAY LONG.
xoxo,
tia

Dear Toni,
My friends are CONSTANTLY asking me if a tinted moisturizer for brown girls exists! Well, it does. For those of you who aren't familiar with tinted moisturizers, its a super-light moisturizer that gives a dewy, radiant hint-of-a-tint. It's a perfect go-to if foundation is too heavy for you, but you still want a "finished" look. Not only has LAURA MERCIER TINTED MOISTURIZER IN WALNUT ($40) won awards for "best tinted moisturizer" from both In Style and Allure, its one of the only ones existing for ladies of color. And the best part? Its sheer enough to work on the fairest cafe au lait to the deepest mahogany skin tones--just so you get the picture, both Rosario Dawson and Nia Long are OBSESSED with it.
xoxo,
tia

Dear Annie,
Why yes, I do know a trick for getting rid of bikini-line ingrown hairs and razor bumps. Anyone who's as obsessed with down-there maintenance as me (what, we're all ladies, right? Oh yeah--Todd, log off immediately!) will know that bumps are a nasty side effect of bikini waxing and shaving. So, do like all the in-the-know salon professionals do, and invest in a bottle of TEND SKIN ($20)! This miracle lotion-gel somehow dislodges ingrown hairs and sooths bump like magic!! Every night between waxings or shavings, douse a cotton ball and apply it to the area. You won't believe the results (by the way, its also great for your man, if he has beard bumps). At some point in my beauty career the whole thing was explained to me--something about aspirin, which is an anti-inflammatory, being the main ingredient--but I don't really remember the exact breakdown. When something works this good, I don't ask questions.
xoxo,
tia

Dear Tisha,
Bless your heart! Lovely Tisha was flipping through Iman's makeup book, THE BEAUTY OF COLOR (which I, ahem, co-wrote), and was enthralled with Naomi Campbell and Padma Lakshmi's looks--but felt that, with her blue eyes, blondish hair and fair skin, she was too pale to pull them off. Well, sweetie, you probably shouldn't go for their makeup looks, but I can prescribe one from the book that'll look smashing on you...and all light-skinded ladies! Turn to page 116 and check out Vanessa Williams' makeover. She's working that shimmery, radiant, etheral fairy princess moment that's so in for spring--and with her blue eyes, blond hair and fair skin she's your doppleganger! Here's what you need to make it happen:

1.) NARS CREAM SHADOW IN EL DORADO ($20): With your index finger, swipe this golden-peachy shade onto lids for the most luminous, dewy sheen, ever. So flattering on, literally, everyone.




2.) IMAN LUXURY BLUSHING POWDER IN SUNLIT COPPER ($9.99): A blush that provides a sun-kissed warmth to your skin is so stunning on fair skin. This sheer wash of caramel-y copper will instantly makes you look like you've just returned from Ibiza.



3.) YVES SAINT LAURENT TOUCHE BRILLIANCE SPARKLING TOUCH FOR LIPS IN GOLD SHIMMER #2, OR STARRY HAVANA #10 ($27.50): Can you hear me squealing through the internet? I love YSL's new see-through, shimmery hint-of-a-tint gloss with such undying passion, that I bought three of each--one to put in each of my favorite purses. Yeah, its like that. Whether you go for Gold Shimmer (a fabulous gold-toned shine) or Starry Havana (a twinkly, sheer red-bronze hue) these glosses instantly sexify your look. Everyone will ask you what you're wearing, too, which is always nice. Oh, and the scent is TO-DIE...somehow, the gloss smells mysteriously like a yummy smoothie.