My $150 Perricone MD Tocotrienols Giweaway

Herro???  Anyone out there?  Anyone remember me...much less miss me?

Well I've missed you ...and blogging...and having a life.

Two weeks in NYC for work was too damn much.  And today I was back on a plane to Silicon Valley for more work. Un then tomorrow we head out to Missouri for a wedding. Yes, Missouri.





So I wanted to do a quick post to get back in the blogging swing of things. And I wanted to do a Perricone MD giveaway, specifically, to remind you why you love me. Kiss and you're welcome.




To be entered to win, just leave a comment and include which Perricone product you need and why. The product must be valued at $150 or less. This giveaway ends Wednesday, June 22 at 5 p.m. PT. U.S. and Canada residents only. One entry per person.

With all the traveling I've been doing, I personally am in dire need of some of the tocotrienols in the Lush Lips product and astaxanthin benefits of the Night Recharge treatment. But for now, I'll rely on a hat, big  sunnies and the good genes my mama gave me.

Beauty Tip: Le Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge

Like most women, I have a complicated relationship with my skin.

From ages 13 to 16 I had severe cystic acne. I was in the throes of adolescence but those were also  the three years my stepdad was suffering from depression. It was whole lot of emotional drama hitting my very adolescent skin.

During those years, I never went anywhere without tons of  foundation. It became a kind of security blanket for me. On a daily basis, I wished I could disappear.

At 16, I did a round of Accutane and my skin completely cleared up. That's also when my dad passed away. In many ways I became a different person. Partly because he was gone, partly because I wasn't so self-conscious.

In my twenties, I wore little makeup mostly because I had worn enough in high school to last me a few life times and partly because oily skin doesn't want much on it. I enjoyed the youthful luxury of staying out late, drinking and eating too much, and still looking purty in the morning.

Since entering my thirties, I've been more focused on lotions and potions and wearing more makeup. It really started the minute my smile eye crinkles didn't go away when I stopped smiling. Plus, I started looking like death warmed over when I woke up so eye makeup became invaluable.

Sigh. I'm a vain lady so I find the signs of aging pretty damn devastating. Whoever decided we graduate from pimples to wrinkles is a sadistic jerky. Enter my favorite skin guru, my Jean Bean.

When we were in NYC last month, she gave me a bottle of Le Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge, like a crack dealer giving me THE most delicious taste.Well, I'm addicted now _ now it's official.

 Peau Vierge is  a retinol treatment fluid that's got patents galore for the unique way it restores elasticity and glow. It also smooths wrinkles and provides this perfect sheer coverage that makes skin look like it has a gossamer finish. Bye bye foundation.  It has kinda changed my life.

Seriously: LOOK AT THIS 33 YEAR OLD SKIN, guuurl!!! All of these pictures are sans foundation or concealer. Only Peau Vierge.

Check out  details of this miracle in a bottle in my latest post on the Neiman Marcus blog.

Run, don't walk.

Review: HANA Professional Pink Flat Iron

It's like Misikko.com knew my natural curls are back with a vengance and driving me bonkers. 

They reached out a few weeks ago and offered to gift me with their top rated flatiron: the HANA Professional Pink Flat Iron. A $205 value, now on sale for $119. Such a lucky ducky I am.

Gave the pretty in pink flatiron a whirl before my NYC trip. Needed to know my hair would withstand the "wintery mix" forecast. Was amazed at how easy the iron was to grip and glide through my hair. Love how you can vary the heat settings to minimize damage. Something about the placement of the plates also makes it easy to curl your ends and avoid the tell-tale flatironed-fright-wig-straight-ends look.  And did I mention how much I love that the flatiron, cord and case are all pink like a vagina!

Best of all: the results were flawless. Straight, shiny, swingy perfection.

 

For extra amazing results, my pretties, I recommend using John Frida's 3 Day Straight spray before you flat iron. The combination of the two made my hair stick straight even in the NYC sleet (YES, SLEET!)

Make sure to check out Misikko.com if you need a hair iron, Tourmaline hair dryer, or any curling irons. And stay tuned, I'm trying to get them to give me a second flatiron...to give away to one lucky reader.

kiss and good hair to you all!

Beauty Trend: Long, Ombre Hair

Growing up I never had long pretty, popular girl hair.
Partly because my hair was so unmanageably curly.

But,um, mostly because I was not the pretty, popular girl.
I was the shy n-e-r-d.

The first and only time my hair got really long was the beginning of college. Not surprisingly that's when I nabbed Mr. Diabolina and Jean Bean's affections. Those two nerds are sluts for popular, pretty hair.  

For the last decade, I've kept my hair sensibly chin or shoulder length.

But recently I've let it go longer between hair cuts, resisting the urge to lop it off, brushing it at night like an old, brown Marsha Brady.

 I also haven't dyed it in over 6 months. May be the first time I can say that since I was 10.

The reason? I'm hopelessly obsessed with looooong, ombre hair. It's just so Rapunzel and romantic and well the only fashion accessory I've never had. 

It's unapologetically feminine and man-pleasing sexy---two things I've never aspired to yet I'm seeing don't always have to be negatives for women.

 I also appreciate the commitment and patience growing one's hair takes---two other things I have been known to struggle with in all aspects of my life

Probably won't acheive my goal of boob covering lenth hair though. See, the only reason I've even been able to even handle my hair at this length is a Brazilian Blowout every 5 months for the last year and a half.

But given the recent controversy about Brazilians in Oregon and her brain tumor, my mom isn't planning on getting one done again and would rather I didn't either. It's probably the right call but it makes this vain nerd saaaaad.  

Sooooo...I showed you mine, now you show me yours: tell me your hair story. I love how a woman's tangled relationship with her hair is a window into her soul :)

Perricone MD $150 Giveaway: Best Anti Wrinkle Creams

There are so many wonderful things about getting older.
More and more wisdom, fearlessness and fabulousity ;)

I genuinely think I am happier at 33 than I've ever been.
With who I am, where I am and the people that surround me.

There's only one downside I can see: the age and the years are marching right across my fucking face.  Ugh.  I have recently become OBSESSED with the fine lines under my eyes.  I swear they appeared overnight.  I've been researching the best anti wrinkle creams, specifically anti wrinkle eye cream, like a mad eye-crinkly woman. 

Up until now, I haven't been particularly good about an anti-aging regime. I've always figured I have pretty good genes.  This is a picture of my mom at my age.  Don't think she looks much different now. Though she did drink and tan less than I do...

Regardless, I'd been planning to start young with a little Botox to avoid having to do major Real Housewife damage to my face and wallet in my 40s. (DID YOU SEE THAT FILLER SCENE ON RHOBH last night?????)

But watching Kim's HORRIFIC reaction to Botox scared me straight. Or more accurately, it scared Mr. Diabolina so much he has strictly forbidden me from doing it. For that, I am eternally grateful.

I'm trying to make my peace with wrinkles along with all the other parts of being older. Starting to resign myself to going the Anna route when I'm really falling apart: sunglasses, day and night, and no smiling...EVER.  

But just for good measure I will also be slathering myself with the cream Perricone MD has graciously agreed to send me: Cold Plasma.  Just the name makes me feel refreshed and babe-like.  

 

And I'd never forget all of you.  So I am hosting a giveaway for US and Canada readers. 

Leave a comment below and let me know which Perricone MD product valued at under $150 that you want/need and why.  Click on the links above to get names and pricing.

The winner will receive the Perricone MD product of their choice valued at under $150.

And for anyone who tweets this message, you'll get an extra entry.

"Enter to win @Diabolina 's Perricone MD $150 giveaway: http://bit.ly/cC47UJ

RT for an extra entry."

Contest ends midnight, October 22. 

Happy aging!

Brazilian Blowout Before and After

I got my third super sweet Brazilian Blowout done this weekend.

Saturday I let my hair dry naturally cuz I figured: f it, the curls would be dead soon enough.  To my COMPLETE AND UTTER shock, even after 5 months, my curls emerged much looser, smoother and prettier than my natural frizzy geri kinks.  Almost cancelled my appoitment. ALMOST being the operative word, my friends.

Sunday the Brazlian Blowout left me with Poccahontas dream hair - the hair I dreamed of for 32 years, the hair I could never quite get even after decades of honing my curl murdering strategery.  I've been swishing it around like Marsha Brady ever since.  Startling myself in the mirror even - "who's that lady" style. Best beauty treatment EVER.

Read more about my adventures with Brazilian Blowouts in previous posts here. 

And contact my magician, my hairdresser, my homegirl Nelly Mollison for a $100 discount off your first treatment when you use my nombre.

Nelly Mollison
Argyle Salon and Spa

(w) 310 623-9000
(c) 323 371-3407

http://www.nellymollison.com/

Da Fashionista Giveaway: MagnaPods

Proud to report my New Year's Resolution to have more fun with makeup is still going strong. I am constantly experimenting with new colors, products and techniques.  Thanks partly to my latest You Tube glam guru, Michelle Phan, who just inked a deal with Lancome.

 

 

The discovery of matte bronze powder + highlighting shimmer for slimming my life-long chipmunk cheeks has pretty much changed my life.

So has the discovery of organizing products like MagnaPods.  These genius small sized storage units magnetically adhere to the inside of steel  framed medicine cabinets creating new storage space that is perfect for organizing makeup, brushes, lip products, q-tips, eye liners and much more. Just what every messy makeup maven needs.  Check out the "Insiders Picks" section of the February 2010 issue of Lucky Magazine for more.

And since I heart my readers and want you to get your organized, Lauren Luke on,  I'm giving away a set of MagnaPods to a random winner.  Simply leave a comment with your favorite makeup products/tips/recommendations before 5 pm PT  this Friday the 5th. Winner will be announced on Twitter over the weekend and contacted via email.

Good luck and happy glamming!