Trends are stupid!

RANDOM ANTM QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
"When they mess with a child of God, they've got trouble on their hands. You tell them, 'I am a Princess of the Throne.'"
--Wack Monique’s mom

Hey Pretty Girls,
Okay, who’s THRILLED that Monique got kicked off ANTM? I’m sorry, but she’s such a jerk—and in such an astoundingly unimaginative, tacky way. I mean, there are many girls I don’t love, but I’d never rub my dirty panties allover their bed. Or pretend to pee all over someone else’s property because, dammit, I want it. I do kind of love how, after she commits these deeply dumb acts of terror, Princess of the Throne curls up with her Bible for some alone time. Kind of like our president, no?


Hey, guess what? The lovely ladies of Heart & Soul magazine profiled me in their current Oct/Nov. issue (that’s me, left). As usual, I’m running my mouth about trends and things…oh, that reminds me! After my Fashion Week post, I received a very thought-provoking comment from Glib Gurl. She said: “I wear whatever looks good on me without paying attention to "trends." Don’t get me wrong - you won't see me rockin' 80s blue eyeliner, but when it comes to these new trends -- baby pink lips, bronzed skin, etc. – I’m more apprehensive. What about just sticking with "what works" for you?”

Guess what, GiGi? We’re totally on the same page! Trend reporting is all about keeping you in the loop about what’s hot and new and sexy…so you’ll have the tools to help figure out what works for you. You know? You certainly don’t have to follow every trend (or ANY trend, for that matter). If there’s one thing I’m totally against, it’s the Beauty Victim, i.e. the girl who wears every single trend all at once, whether it’s cute on her, or not. For example, Beyonce’s blonde hair is yummy, but it would totally wash me out. And I adore Nicole Ritchie’s swoosh of black liquid liner, but it invariably makes me look very “I vant to suck your blood.” So, GiGi, my advice is to ALWAYS stick with what makes you look your best, pink lipgloss be damned.

Of course, a little bronzer never hurt nobody.

And now, it’s time for mama’s going to solve some of your most baffling beauty conundrums! Listen closely, and take notes. You know I love you and would never steer you wrong. I’ll be back next week, with tales from my beautiful sister Devon/Brownie’s fabulous Washington DC wedding!

Love,
Tia

YOUR TOP FIVE QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK:

QUESTION:
“Congrats on your write-up in Allure! I looked at the Philosophy concealer kit [which was mentioned in the article], and how on earth do you blend the colors to get your shade? It looks so advanced, but it seems like it would be great once you get it down.”
--Toni
ANSWER: You girls were obsessed with concealer this week (Toni, Gina, and J. Lenoir all begged me for coverup answers)! Well, as I’m constantly saying, PHILOSOPHY COLOR CORRECTOR KIT IN DARK ($25) is my favorite, favorite, favorite. It comes with three brilliant, yellow-based shades that somehow manage to compliment the fairest to the deepest brown complexions. And finding the right shade is actually insanely easy: Just dip the tiny brush into the colors and mix on the back of your hand until it disappears (add more of the palest hue if you’re lighter-skinned, and more of the deepest shade if you’re dark-skinned)…then apply on dark spots. Flawless!


QUESTION:
"Does anyone know of any good products for scars?"
--Lisa
ANSWER:
Okay, here’s the thing about acne scars. They’re really not going to disappear without laser surgery or a gross process called punch excision, which involves suturing the edges of the scar together (eww). But there ARE topical products that reduce the appearance of scars, like PERFEKT SKIN PERFECTION GEL ($57.50). It ain’t cheap, but it’s totally worth it—it’s blended with Alpha Lipoic acid, which magically fills-in scars and uneven skin textures, making skin look ridiculously smooth. The super-lightweight, non-pore-clogging gel also has vitamins A and E, which help prevent future skin damage. You can’t go wrong!!


QUESTION:
“Do you know if there are any good, effective products out there to get rid of blemishes on the body?”
--Tiffani
ANSWER:
What sucks harder than pimples on your back, chest, arms, and stuff? Luckily, there are some great body washes out there containing salicylic acid, the zit zapper found in facial acne meds--but sometimes it takes Cirque du Soleil-level flexibility to scrub some of those hard-to-reach places, like between your shoulderblades. Which is why I’m wild about NATURE’S CURE BODY ACNE TREATMENT SPRAY ($5.99)!! It comes with a special pump that sprays from any angle (even upside down), to treat zits practically anywhere on your bod. Use after every shower, and Tiffani, I swear you’ll see a difference in a week.


QUESTION:
“What would you recommend for a mascara for sensitive eyes that isn't Kiss Me? It just doesn't give me that "oomph!"
--Jocelyn
ANSWER:
Oh Jocelyn, that’s SO the problem with sensitive mascara. Too often, while they don’t irritate eyes, they also don’t provide much in the way of lash drama, either. Thank heaven for DU WOP LASH LACQUER ($18)!! Even though it’s totally resin-free and contains no harsh chemicals, it’s a volumizing, lash-lengthening formula. And that’s not all—the dual-ended mascara comes with a water-resistant topcoat that’s fabulous if, as is the case with most sensitive eyes, you tear up easily. And yes, I realize I seem to rave about a DuWop product in every post, but I can’t help it if they’re on the cutting edge of all that is fabulous!


QUESTION:
“My hands and feet are extremely dry and ashy. I would prefer not to use oily lotions that make it impossible to grip anything. Any suggestions?”
--Jo Avis D. Green, aka “FoxyHustle”
ANSWER:
If ashiness is un-foxy, greasiness is even worse. And while most hardcore body butters leave you all Vaseline-y slippery, CLINIQUE DEEP COMFORT BODY BUTTER ($23.50) disappears faster than one-night-stand the morning after. I use this super-rich, utterly luscious body cream all over—on knees, elbows, hands, feet, wherever. And it comes in this enormous tub that lasts forever. I’ve had mine since 2003…is that wrong?