Spring Sassiness

Hey guys,
I'm back from South Beach!! That's me, in my pale pink 60's shift ($80 at Bebe, can you believe it?) and my frizzy, wash-and-go curls, waving at you! I had a lovely time, and my tan is insane. Guess what? Before I left I got eyelash extensions at the lovely Skintology Total Skin and Laser Spa in Chelsea. Surely you've heard of this outrageously vain trend that's sweeping the nation, right? It's when long lashes (either human hair, synthetic, silk, mink, or a combo of all) are glued to your real ones, individual lash by individual lash. It takes THREE HOURS. But oh, the results are so worth it. My lashes are long, long, long...but interestingly enough, they don't look fake. Because they're glued to the actual hair, they look real—and you can totally still wear eye makeup (just not mascara...and you don't need it, anyway).


The only picture I have where you can really see them is this hideous, makeup-less shot of me at breakfast (well, I am wearing gloss, but no mas). Just look at the lashes...they're good, right? And they last up to five weeks!! If you're anywhere near New York City, you MUST make an appointment with the famous Olga at Skintology...she's one of the best in the country.

So, Miss LKJelly left me the following comment last week:
"Hey Tia, I saw you on Fox News' Red Eye the other day and you looked fab! If this is not too personal, did you have in hair extentions? I was wondering how you get them put in."

Well, pumpkin, I don't have extensions. But if I did, I surely would have pulled them out during that segment. I'm LOATHE to give one more second to ImusGate, but I simply MUST fill you in on my Red Eye drama. The show is kind of a round-table forum, so obviously we got to talking about "nappy-headed hos." At which point an Ann Coulter-wanna-be named Rachel Marsden told me to "get over it, because everyone knows "nappy" is a British term for diaper." Turns out, I wasn't the only person shocked by her thundering ignorance...check the replay on Hotair.com. Whatever. I refused to get all deep on a blog called "Shake Your Beauty." At least I looked cute!

Speaking of cute, time for my annual Spring Product Roundup! The weather's finally getting warmer and it's time to restock your makeup drawer. Here are all the new must-haves of the season...you'll just die when you get to the bikini kit :-)

Kisses,
A Very Tan Tia

TIA'S SPRING PRODUCT ROUNDUP

1.) ELIZABETH ARDEN COLOR INTRIGUE EYESHADOW/CHEEKCOLOR IN WARM ($29.50): It's not just about the sexy, swirly-boho packaging, I swear to you. Inside, you'll find all you'll need in the eyeshadow department for spring/summer! There's a wonderful golden-peach shade for the lid, a luminous pearl for the browbone...and if you're feeling saucy, there's a deep, shimmery chocolate brown for the crease. Finish with two or three coats of black mascara on top lashes, and you're officially Hot Business.


2.) GOLDIE MINI NAIL LACQUER IN PANSY ($5): Okay, I think I've found the sweeeetest fingernail color of the season. Goldie's brand-new Pansy shade is a sheer, ballerina-pink infused with twinkles...it's subtle, it's fresh, and it looks lovely next to my tan. I also can't resist the itty-bitty, thumb-sized bottle with the darling bow!!


3.) ORIGINS SHEDONISM SENSUOUS SHAVING MOUSSE ($25): The best part of spring? Skin-baring ensembles like teeny mini's, flirty sundresses and little shorts with sky-high wedges. Of course, all of this skin means it's time to get serious about shaving. Origins' new shaving mousse makes the whole experience infinitely more glamorous! Girls, this stuff is so lush, creamy and moisturizing that you'll barely need lotion afterwards. And the scent!! Oh, the lushly fragrant blend of tiare flower, mandarin and jasmine, like, instantly transports you to Tahiti.


4.) EVA SCRIVO NARROW LEATHER HEADBAND IN BRONZE ($45): A couple weeks ago, I was a guest on salon owner Eva Scrivo's beauty hour on the Martha Stewart Channel (Sirius Satellite Radio). Eva is fabulous...not only is she Martha Stewart's personal hairstylist, she's also an amazing celebrity makeup artist and she owns her own salon and product line. Anyway, this divalicious diva introduced me to her new line of headbands for spring, and I'm officially in love. I rock this delicate bronze band practically every day...it's such a cute look with a low, messy bun or a ponytail, and it totally flatters my highlights. On a budget? Hit CVS for GOODY'S CLASSIC COLOUR COLLECTION HAIRBAND IN BUTTERSCOTCH.


5.) LANCOME JUICY TUBES SWIRL ($17.50, each): Juicy Tubes are SUCH a fan favorite that the lovely ladies of Lancome are debuting a brand-new, super-adorable new extension line for spring/summer! My favorite is Orange Twist (the one in the middle), but no matter which one you pick, these glosses will give your lips the sexiest, summeriest shine. Can you stand it?


6.) KAREN'S BODY BEAUTIFUL OLIVE OIL BODY LOTION IN WHITE TEA ($12): In the past month, I've been stopped at the grocery store, the hair salon, and The Gap, all by women dying to know what perfume I'm wearing. Clearly I'm not trying to reveal my secret, so I just tell them "it's eau d'moi." But since I love you, here's the truth! Tucked away on Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood is a beauty boutique called Karen's Body Beautiful. It's run by the sweetest couple who actually MAKE the products in an in-store kitchen (yep, it's that authentic). Anyway, their body lotion is infused with tons of olive oil and vitamin E, so it's incredibly moisturizing...but everybody's favorite part is the lush, downright heady white tea scent. It's so fresh, so crisp, so springy...and it doesn't fade. YUM. Oh, by the way—when you check out, make sure you click on "white tea," or you'll get an unscented one.


6.) NIPPIES ($15 for a pack of 8): Drop everything!!! If you're anything like me--relatively flat-chested, LOATHE wearing bras, LOVE wearing flimsy tops—these genius little nipple covers will be your spring/summer style savior. They come in a zillion different colors, sizes and fabrics (my favorite are the sequin butterflies!), and unlike other pasties I've tried, they don't sweat off after a night at the club. Finally, I can go boobie-commando without outing my areolas!!


7.) REDKEN UV RESCUE DAILY PROTECTIVE OIL ($14.95): This SPF-oil-for-hair is meant to be used while hanging out all day long at the beach or by the pool. But here's the thing. Our hair is delicate by nature...and if you're complicating things with a relaxer and/or highlights, then the sun can be incredibly damaging even if you're outside for as little as an hour. If I'm spending anytime outside in the spring, I like to lightly spritz this protective oil on my hair...not only does it keep my hair from drying out, the little twinkly flecks give it an outrageously glossy finish. What's not to love?


8.) POP BEAUTY BLUSH CAKE IN WARM SIENNA ($19): For a fresh, springy glow, swirl a fluffy brush over this gorgeous blush cake, and blend on the apples of your cheeks. The orangey, melony-gold combo looks soo amazing on brown skin. You'll see.


9.) HAIRCARE DOWN THERE BIKINI SHAVING KIT ($59): It's bikini season! Time to trim the hedges! Seriously, the brains behind this "hair down there" shaving kit have thought of everything (too expensive? you can buy each product separately, too). Here's what you're getting:
• Shave Gel: A clear moisturing gel contains tea tree oil to prevent nicks, cuts and razor burn.
• Soothe Post-Shave Spray: After shaving, spritz on this salicylic-acid-infused spray to prevent ingrown hairs and soothe tender skin.
• Smooth moisturizer: Keeps your "flower" baby-soft.
• Safety-Tipped Scissors: Great for trimming.
• Tiny, Two-Sided Comb
• Two-Sided Compact Mirror: Has a regular and 3X mirror so you can really see what you're doing.
• Lightweight Razor w/a Small Head