Hello, Beautiful!

We’ve all heard about having a beauty regimen, but what about a beauty mantra? You know, your own personal ideals about what beauty is? As we travel together through the world of Compacts & Vignettes, it will be important to remember what I call my 7 Beauty Mantras:

 

1. Beauty is [indeed, absolutely, unequivocally] in the eye of the beholder.
2. Rouge (color and application) is NOT universal. One woman’s blush can be another woman’s clown face.
3. Don’t feel obligated to purchase everything (or anything) when the makeup artist (A. K. A., ahem, "salesperson”) at your local makeup counter or beauty bazaar says, “Oh, you must-have…” It’s all about your comfort level.
4. If you feel confident about your look, trust me, you look even better. (This is what I call the Beauty Theorem.)
5. Beauty is way deeper than your skin! Unhealthy skin is a reflection of what‘s going on inside. Healthy skin is an extension of what’s going on inside. Eat well. Stay fit. Look beauty-full.
6. Beauty can and should be found in everything! The laugh of a child, the stroke of a mascara wand, the star-bright glisten of your significant other’s smile, the spritz of a spring fragrance and the list goes on.

 

Drum roll, please. My ultimate beauty-full motto:

7. Beauty is as beauty does! This means, when you buy yourself a new lip gloss, buy one for a friend. When you pick up a new scent, grab a sample for a colleague, and when you book a spa appointment, or better yet, spa getaway, EMAIL ME to see if I can join you. (Ha!)  Okay, I’m just kidding…but not really.

But truly, even beauty companies are keeping and making us look good while doing good. So today I’m giving some shine to a few of the most deserving brands that are beauty-fully standing for something. Check out a few “look good, feel good, do good” glam products I’m feeling. And don’t forget to let me know what you think, feel, or want to learn more about. In order to be truly beauty-full, this blogging thing has to be a two-way street. So let me hear from you!

Tai

 

 

 

MAC  Fergie Viva Glam VI lip glass, $14. www.maccosmetics.com

Every cent of the selling price goes to The MAC Aids fund to support men, women, and children living with HIV and AIDS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dove Go Fresh Collection, Drugstores nationwide.

While no proceeds of the sale of this collection are going to a charity, the cause is still evident. The genius of Dove, the brand that encourages all women to love the skin we’re in, is targeting younger women to do the same with this yummy scented line.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MTV and The Body Shop’s Guarana Butter “Move Your Lips” Lip Balm, $8 http://www.thebodyshop.com/bodyshop/. (I looove the trés-hip packaging!) Proceeds will also go to help fight the spread of HIV and AIDS

 

Welcome, ladies! It’s a pleasure to have you here, and I hope all of the great finds in Compacts and Vignettes will keep you coming back again and again! But before we get started, I have a confession: I am a beauty girl! No, really. I mean, I love fashion, I love style, I love interior design; but I liiive for all things beauty. And quite frankly, isn’t beauty found in all of the above?

I’d happily (well, maybe not “happily”) forgo purchasing the season’s It-bag or shoe for a fabulous perfume or face cream that makes me feel ten years younger. I have held my standing hair appointment at Styles New York Salon for almost a decade, and I indulge in weekly manicures and bi-weekly pedicures whether it’s gladiator sandal or platform knee boot season. And while I’m a little embarrassed to admit it, I rarely (except to walk my insanely cute and equally hyper Jack Russell Terrier, Abdul, at 6:30 AM) leave my Jersey loft without concealer, blush, tinted lip balm, and mascara. A little high-maintenance by some standards? Perhaps.

But here’s the thing, whether you’re a beauty buff who can’t get enough or a woman who just appreciates the new Olay moisturizer or L’Oreal lip color, you deserve to feel beautiful at all times. That’s what Compacts & Vignettes is all about—delivering the best beauty options for you, and showing you that you don’t necessarily have to spend a fortune to look and feel like a million bucks. It’s all in the selection, and I’m here to help sort through the choices. Beauty products, treatments, trends, tips, news, discounts, exclusives—you can expect to find it all here in Compacts & Vignettes!

So, what’s your beauty must-have? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment here and we'll talk soon!

Tai