Short Break!

Real Girl's off on vacation now, due back on January 3rd. My first order of business upon returning? BRUSHES. Powder, blush, and concealer. Any last minute brushy suggestions for La Real Girl?

Also when I get back, we'll see if the two latest additions to my beauty regimen are well worth the time and $$!

Have the happiest of New Years, my lovelies!
xx
RG

Sophisticated Palettes

Are there any last-minute gift shoppers out there? Or have you already bought your gifts for others...but of course you deserve a little treat too?

Enter the palette.

Real Girl hearts a good all-in-one makeup kit, and I think the best cosmetics gift you can give is one that has options. Choose wisely, keeping in mind the color groups your giftee already wears and feels comfortable in. But the beauty of a palette is that you'll also be giving her colors she may not have chosen for herself--but will find that she adores. That's one reason I love getting palettes: all the makeup experimenting with none of the cost. Yum!

Specifically, I'd like to turn your attention to the glamorous and adorable options from Too Faced Cosmetics. I quite love the small and compact Candy Box, Caramel Truffles, which features a layer of 6 flattering pinky-browny glosses, underneath which lies a gorgeous tray of 4 goldy-bronzy-silvery eye shadows, both tiny lip brush and shadow wand included.

But perhaps a more gifty presentation can be found in the gorgeous pink and black Lace Case, with its mixture of both light and dark glosses and eye shadows. Or, for someone who enjoys more of a laugh--of the slightly naughty kind--there are the cheeky Quickie Chronicles, each with a title of its ideal girl, and a palette of appropriate shadows, glosses, and 1 blush. If you'd like to spend less, a smaller option would be the equally adorable Mini Quickie Chronicles. For convenient ordering (with Real Girl royalties) browse the Quickie Chronicles on Amazon.com, or just click on some examples below!

For more Too Faced palette goodies, check out the Kits section of the official website. Warning: It may make you want to max out your credit card.

But what about you? Favorite palettes and kits? Or favorite cosmetics gifts?

Have the happiest of holidays, my lovelies.

xx

Real Girl

Body And Gift Goodness

If you're like Real Girl, you pride yourself on giving original, thoughtful, and luxurious gifts without cracking the bank wide open.

Well, here you go. Maryam's Soap Nook has some of the loveliest handmade products Real Girl has ever used! More than anything, these are products for a fragrance-lover. The soaps, lotions, and scrubs all radiate warm and inviting scents that can't help but bring a smile to one's face. Maryam's product website is extensive and browse-worthy, so you may want to set aside some time to check out all the product categories. But here are some of Real Girl's favorites:

Luxury Body Mist: I tested the Sugar and Spice fragrance, which is just lovely, and I do believe quite universal. Think vanilla with an exotic twinge (although I suspect the vanilla I smell may actually be almond). The 2-ounce sized version ($5) doesn't feel too small, and along with another item, say maybe a couple bars of soap, would make a thoughtful, inexpensive, and unique gift for the girl who has everything. (And how do we all know so many of those!?)

Which brings me to the soaps. There are so many to browse through! My favorite so far has been the Jasmine Green Tea, found under the Spa Handmade Soap category. (And it's green! So holiday-ish!). This soap looks like a glycerine, but feels so much silkier to the touch. I usually don't respond well to florals, but the heady Jasmine scent makes my shower feel that much more tropical and luxurious.

Though I haven't tried them, I imagine the Cream Handmade Soaps must feel even more nourishing in these drying winter months, and I've got my eye on the Almond Hazelnut Honey Cream (yes, please!). If you look through each soap category, I'm sure you'll find beautifully presented products with lush scents and that truly pleasant feeling of just enough aromatic oils but not too much to clog pores.

My next favorite product was the Whipped Shea Monoi Body Butter, which does feel nice and rich, as some girls prefer in a winter moisturizer, and carries its scent for ages. The only snag for Real Girl was the glitter in this body butter, which she kept picking off her hands and arms after application. Maryam assures me, however, that the body butter comes without glitter, so I recommend you specially request yours be glitter-free. The scents sound so gorgeous! Pomegranate and Wild Berries! Coconut and Cream! Tahitian Petals! Butter Cream Frosting!! And that lovely Sugar and Spice! (To name just a few.)

Finally, I'd also recommend the exfoliants. The Shea Butter and Dead Sea Salt Glow Scrub has, again, impressive scent choices and softening oils. And the Exfoliating Bath and Shower Gel offers the same silky application as the bar soaps in liquid form. The jojoba beads add a touch of gentle exfoliation, but I'd think of this more as a regular shower gel than a truly exfoliating one.

Maryam has available a truly extraordinary VIP Gift Bag for $65, which could be given to someone you LOVE SO MUCH AND OH MY GOD THEY ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE YOU. But ordering several soaps, body mists, and other sundries and making your own sweet little gift packages for people would fit well with the homemade, personal aspect of these products' presentation. Maryam also has available a gift package that holds 2 eight ounce bottles (shea butter and/or salt glow scrub), 1 2 oz body mist and 1 soap.

I've found Maryam Diaab to be very cooperative with all sorts of questions, so don't hesitate to contact her for more information. Tell her Real Girl sent you!

(And honeys, feel free to treat yourself to a bit of a gift here too--especially if you know which fragrances you enjoy. Find your favorite fragrances, and you'll be enjoying them for hours. Are you as much of a scent junkie as I am? If you are, this is a great product line for you!)

(And thanks so much for your patience, friends. I hate to disappoint, but it's been a rough month.)

So what's your favorite type of scent? Please share!

With love from your,

Real Girl xx

P.S. Stay tuned, Makeup Junkies. Real Girl's next gift idea is all about cosmetics!

Lovely Lashes, Lovely Price

Girls, when I find a great new mascara, it's like a holiday. Pack your bags! Bring sunscreen!

Ok, so technically, Cover Girl LashExact (and its PR guru) found me, but big yay for that! Because I probably wouldn't have been immediately drawn to it on my own. The hot pinkness of the brush scared the bejeezus out of me. After all, they make mascara in that color, and lordy above I hope I never have to see it. But have no fear! This brush turns out to be one fantastic little mascara companion.

Cover Girl's very excited about this new brush, and Real Girl says she'll jump on board. Its bristles are firm enough to comb your lashes as you apply the mascara--and my trick of holding the wand to the tip of the lashes to enhance curl works just fine.

HERE'S THE THING: Real Girl doesn't quite recommend LashExact as a one coat mascara. But the brush allows you to apply 2 coats without clumping. My technique is to apply one eye, then the other, and then repeat. With two coats, LashExact provides enough length and thickness--the exalted combo!--to send me off on the town happily.

If you're looking for a drugstore mascara, Real Girl thinks this one's super--and an excellent value at $6.99!

But do share your own favorites! It's time to dish mascara, ladies!!

xx

Real Girl

Beyond A Shadow Of A Doubt

Oh, Ladies.

Once in a (rare!) while, Real Girl finds a product that revolutionizes the way she applies makeup. And you know how I get when I find a new favorite. So let's not waste precious beauty time and start with Real Girl's latest must-have:

Liquif-Eye by Too Faced.

I experimented with liquid eyeliner in high school, but it just wasn't for me. Too much product would get on the brush and goop on my eye, the product felt too thick, and the line looked too severe for my taste. I quickly moved to shadow, oh beloved shadow. Instead of a true liner, I'd use a liner brush to apply at the base of the lashes and call myself pleased.

Hello, I did not know what I was missing. Because since I tried Liquif-Eye? I may never use shadow without it again. Here in this blessed little tube is a brush that's not quite a brush: though it has lovely bend to it, there are no bristles to misplace precious product. Let's call it a solid tip. Simply take this solid tip out of its delightful bottle and coat it in your favorite eye shadow. Then apply (either in one fine line if you've got a steady hand, or in very close together dots) the loveliest, sharpest, most flattering line of eye shadow you can imagine. It's the precision of a liquid liner with the texture of a shadow. Can you tell how in love I am? Can you?

Don't be afraid to experiment! You can use one tone of shadow on the whole lid and then use the Liquif-Eye with a deeper shade at the lashes. Or you can continue with shadow on a liner brush, and then apply the Liquif-Eye over it to keep the smokey effect but also create definition. For the first time, I'm wearing eye shadow on my lower lids--the line is thin enough to give beautiful color without looking too made up. And when you're done? Simply wipe the solid tip thoroughly on paper towel before reinserting into its pretty bottle.

Are we done yet? Not hardly! Because now I need to tell you about Too Faced's shadows. More Real Girl love. These are some of the richest colors I've used. They retain their pigment beautifully and come in fun colors that I'd usually be scared of...and yet they work. The Liquif-Eye Shadow Collection includes 12 fun colors that, judging by how little product you use each time, will last a good while. Beware! These colors are not for the faint of heart. Or the faint of eye, for that matter. Take my word that the colors are richer and heartier than the picture at the top of this page. But I've been surprised by some of them. Layering my usual dark bronze shadow (Liquif-Eyed, of course) under the chartreuse Too Faced "Steel Magnolias" (also Liquif-Eyed) had a superb effect of brightening the eye area without looking too outlandish. Mix and match!

Or if you don't want 12 small patches of color? If you're a true eye shadow afficianado, you've got to check out Too Faced's Eye Shadow Duos. The luscious pigments of these shadows and their silky textures are nearly irresistible. While probably not appropriate for anyone who doesn't like shimmer (and for a few of the colors, sparkle), these shadows are definitely in my top 5 favorites. Everything--from the girly, vintage style packaging, to the adorable names (my favorite duo is called "George & Weezie!"), to the colors themselves just makes them fun to use.

Even better? I've got a whole bag of other Too Faced products yet to test. Let's hope we get more winners!

But what about you guys? What are your favorite shadows? Favorite liners? Secret application tips? Anything at all?

I remain your,

Real Girl

xx

Giving Us Some Polish!

Firstly, Real Girl's back! The outside commitments that have kept me away lately are mostly over. And ladies? If you saw the heap of products waiting for reviews and testing, you would be drooling along with me! So expect great things from Real Girl Beauty in the next weeks.

But right now? We're talking nails. And if you've paid any attention to fall colors, you've heard the words "Chanel Black Satin" paired with "Impossible to get." It's the celeb color of the season--so much so, that Buffy the Vampire herself, Sarah Michelle Gellar fessed up to stealing a bottle. Girls, if I had it? I'd test it. Although I'm not a fan of trends for their own sake, I like the idea of a dark nail for fall. I've been looking for a color that's so burgundy it's almost black, and the closest I've come so far is Essie's Wicked.

Essie has long been a favorite brand of manicurists, and Wicked was their first color I tested away from the manicure chair. Think more burgundy than black--like Chanel's "Very Vamp" of the '90s--a deep, sultry dark burgundy. The look? Autumn drama. (If you want more black? Essie's Licorice looks like the option for you.) Real Girl recommends you cut your nails on the short side for such a dark color, paired with a comfy sweater and dark wash jeans. That'd be hot. Beware, though--the darker the nail polish, the more obvious the manicure flaws. If you get a chip, it'll show up. So make sure to reapply a top coat every day to maximize the manicure.

Which top coat? We'll get to that!

If you're not a fan of the dark nail? I feel you. And I have no problems with rocking a pink or nude nail for fall. In fact, I've been searching for months to find my perfect pink. I had thought that one of Essie's most popular colors, Mademoiselle, would be the one. It's not my perfect pink, but it's a great option nonetheless. The color is ultra-subtle, almost nude--but it's got a lovely sheer effect and an impressive lasting shine. Without reapplying top coat, my manicure lasted 6 days with no chips. But the beauty of a nude or sheer pink nail? You can get away with a chip here and there.


So what will be my perfect pink? I'm looking for something sheer in the powder-pink family. Essie has a gagillion pinks--almost too many to choose from! Will it be Adore-A-Ball, which is next on my list? Will it be Baby's Breath? How about Delicacy? Or Precious Pink? Honeys, I haven't even scratched the Essie pink surface.

As to the top coat, I have a wee confession to make here. I chose my top coat like some women chose a one-night-stand. I was at the drugstore (although I prefer to call it Le Store De Drug, thank you), and there he was. My top coat. Looking sleek, and promising diamonds. I didn't do one iota of research into this product. It was an impulse buy. But I gotta say--I like it! One of the most important things to look for in a top coat is thinness. The thinner the top coat layer, the less likely you are to get peeling or smudging. And Diamond Shield top coat dries fast and stays lean. I don't yet know if it's the best option out there, but it's certainly serviceable, and I'm sticking to it for now.

But what about you? Have you tried the coveted Chanel black? Do you have a favorite Essie color? A different brand you love? A pink recommendation? Anything at all? Lovvvvies!

From your returned and devoted,
Real Girl

Is That A Lip Gloss On Your Phone?

Or are you just happy to see me?

This one's just for fun. Just for being a girl with a bag that maybe becomes too deep sometimes to find your lip gloss easily. I might speak from experience. Depending on which of the 10 lip glosses in my purse we're talking about.

Get this. Eight tiny lip glosses. That snap (one at a time) onto your cell phone. To be carried around cutely wherever you go. For FIVE DOLLARS. It's the e.l.f. Hypershine Mini Cell Phone Lip Gloss Charms.

I'll say this right up front: The Five Dollars part is what drew me here most. But I've gone through 3 tiny lip glosses now (5 to go!) in the past month, and I don't see these puppies vanishing from my Motorola Razr anytime soon.

First, how it works. Does your phone have something that looks like this? That's where the charm's string attaches. That cap is where the gloss will snap cozily in. Cute as a button, no?

Now on to the gloss itself. Let's reiterate: 8 little glosses for $5. Next, we'll approach color. If you're looking for a saturated gloss, with lots of tint, then this product isn't for you. The gloss colors are subtle--closer to sheer--but because of that, I can wear all 8. The pinks aren't offensive at all--just nice flushy blushy on the lip. The bronze and the red have probably the deepest tint, but both work well with my yellow-based skin tone. So for Real Girl at least, the colors get a Yay.

Shine: Well, I dunno about hypershine. But with a few coats of gloss from the wand applicator, yes, you get a nice shine. The product doesn't go on thickly enough to give you what I'd call a hypershine, but that's okay with me.

However, this adorable product has one significant drawback: texture. I wish I could tell you the gloss feels light and kissable on the lips, but alas...it's pretty sticky. On the plus side, that means it lasts fairly well. But if you're a gloss purist, and only like them free of that sticky feel, then do beware. I tend to stay away from sticky glosses myself. But I'm keeping this one around for a couple of key reasons:

1. Oh My God, gloss is now so much easier to find in a pinch. I have a special purse pocket for my cell phone. But most bag manufacturers haven't yet realized how very many little pockets we need for lip gloss.

2. Fun with colors: I wouldn't normally buy most of this color palette, but the colors are so barely there, touching the lip so nicely, that I do rather like the look of the glosses.

3. Oh, you know this one. Do I really need to say Five Dollars again? (Five Dollars.)

I remain your,
(ever in search of a bargain)
Real Girl
xx

P.S. I promised you something extra, now didn't I? Well, here's the early stages of the Beta version of the Real Girl Beauty boutique! Some of the links have turned into little Amazon logos, which I'll check out tomorrow. I'm also planning on rearranging the order of product categories. And on having a whole separate quick-stop Real Girl Favorites section. Not every single product I've written about is available for the Amazon.com commission program, but I'm getting close to having included every product that is available. Of course I'll keep you updated as she develops! What, I refer to my boutique as a "she?" Why, yes. Yes I do.

Real Girl's Tiny Piece of Fashion Week: Spring 2007 RTW

In the next week or two, you'll see a Real Girl review for a product that was sent to me by Think PR. (Hint: It's a lippie! With a twist!) The people at Think PR? Are super nice. And they've been great to Real Girl! They invited her to a slew of Project Runwaytastic events, most of which she couldn't attend. Wah. But she did manage to sneak in one show and after party, and of course I've got to report all!

Real Girl and her friend Brendon got to the Anand Jon fashion show barely on time, at 4 PM. Except...it had been rescheduled for 5 PM, and so we were early enough to watch the final walkthrough, including last minute fittings and a glimpse of someone I totally recognized. Nnenna, from America's Next Top Model, Cycle 6! Real Girl very much wanted to say to Nnenna: "Standing in front of me now, you look like a model." Sometimes I wish I can be as ridiculous as I want to be in public.

I created a whole Flickr album with handy dandy labels and comments so you can enjoy the whole show with me. (Make sure to flip through the after party pics too! But more on that later...) The garments at Anand Jon seemed luxurious, sparkly, and statement-making. Although the clothes were not particuarly my own personal taste, the whole scene was a blast! The photograhers were all snap snap snapping on one end of the room. Digital cameras were popping up at every moment, and lo and behold, who should Real Girl see right before the show?

ONLY the nicest man on reality television: Project Runway and Parson's own Tim Gunn! He could not have been more willing to smile and meet new people or pose for pics, so after the show, when I cheerfully asked, "Tim Gunn! Would you mind posing for a picture for my beauty blog?" He happily responded, "Sure!" We had a brief chat about the Project Runway alumni who were showing all over Fashion Week, and he seemed genuinely interested in their success and good well being. Truly, Tim Gunn could not have been a nicer gent.

Plus? Taking a picture with me clearly put him in so much raptures, he had to close his eyes to enjoy it. Right?

Or maybe Tim was thinking (with Real Girl) of the gratuitous Hot Guy models who paraded down the runway earlier, much to the ladies' glee. I'll just let you look through the Flickr album for that one ;)

The after party for the show at PM was later on, with plenty of time for me to mosey home and change. I was in the mood for a "that girl in the white tank top" look, which--when you see the whole outfit--was cute enough. (Do the boots look familiar?) But when you just see the white tank top in the photographs? Eh, I could have done better. Thanks to my good friend Emily for being my Real Date!

The looks I enjoyed most during fashion week were short, mod or babydoll dresses in soft colors or delicious prints. Also, long gowns with beribboned empire waists. I've compiled a luscious little slide show of the items I saw that I'd most likely actually wear. (Note: When you see the hot pants? Yeah, I'd wear the top.) Some of these looks showed up better on the TV coverage, where you could see the flow of the materials. And some of my favorite looks didn't make the cut--because I couldn't wear them. Of course I've got a Flickr album of all the dresses I want to wear. Or you can just press play below!



My three favorite sites for viewing the Spring 2007 fashions all over the world are: Style.com, Elle.com, and for New York's only, New York Magazine online.

But share your favorites! What are you dying for from Fashion Week? Or what styles are you just dying for at this moment? Anything you want at all to shout out, please do!
xx
I remain your,
Real Girl

P.S. For the offical-like photos of the Anand Jon show, click here! xx

ANTM Premieres...and JOY oh JOY!

The Joy oh Joy part comes because the RGB Boutique is taking a lot longer to stock with products than I thought it would. But this is because I'm finding SO MANY great products to include with the ones I've written about in these pages. Like lip balms in every desireable flavor imagineable. Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Hazelnut, Pumpkin Cheesecake, Brown Sugar & Cinnamon, Cream Filled Cake. And that's just the beginning of all the amazing flavors and other extraordinary products that will be available.

Um...I think Real Girl will be frequenting the Real Girl Beauty Boutique. Why did I think this was a good way to make money again?

The other thing happening this week? The premiere of America's Next Top Model on Wednesday 9/20!! Remember when I saw Tyra Banks? (I have gotten *so* better at Photoshop since then!)

I'll be going to an ANTM premiere party, for which my friend Liz and I have perfected the best ever America's Next Top Model drinking game. So that you, too, can enjoy the Tyrabration to its fullest, I'll share here! Make sure to print it out and enjoy with friends. Or, you know, by yourself. Lordy knows I will every Wednesday night!

Tyra says "Miss Jay": Drink.
Tyra mentions her mother: Drink.
Nigel ogles a teenager: Drink.
Contestant declares "I'm not here to make friends": 1 Drink. This is followed by "I'm here to win": 2 Drinks.
Tyra tells model wannabe that she has to "believe in herself": 1 Drink
Contestant cries about missing her boyfriend: Drink.
Guest spot by crazy Janice Dickenson: Chug.
A contestant stumbles on the runway: Drink.
Tyra displays how she can express SO MUCH with just her EYES: Chug.
Tyra talks with a British accent: Try not to hurl.
Models do a runway show or other posing while bored at home: drink
Someone says "fierce": drink
Someone says "step it up": drink
Tyra pulls up bangs and uses phrase "five-head": drink
Trya tells models about how hard she had it in her day: drink until she's done
Contestant overcomes non-ugly physical handicap: Drink
Tyra talks about the "hard work" it takes to be a model: Drink
Judges tell contestant to "remember her neck": Drink
Contestant is told she is "so pretty in person" but "I don't see that in this photo": Drink
Someone is accused of an eating disorder: Drink
Someone's told she's eating too much: Eat
Judges say: "...but standing in front of me now, you don't look like a model.": drink
Model stumbles in high heels because she's not used to them: drink
Models mispronounce obvious words/designers: drink for each one
Contestant is told she is the “shortest” and so must work “extra hard”: Drink.
Tyra French accents away for “Giles Bensimon”: Drink
Model makes up a word she thinks is actual English: Drink
Models scream like maniacs when they see Tyra: Drink
Tyra exclaims over anyone’s booty, including her own: Drink
Miss Jay rolls his eyes: Drink
Tyra instructs models that they have to “do it like this, see? Like this.” Drink.

Enjoy my lovelies! And add more in comments if you've got 'em!! My fashion show report--along with my favorites from Fashion Week--are coming this weekend! xx RG

These Boots Were Made For Buying

Love. Exciting and new. Come aboard. We're expecting you. The Love Booooot. Soon she'll be making another run. The Love Boooooot. Priced well enough for everyone...

Here's where Real Girl makes one of her confessions. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE a gorgeous, expensive boot. I was salivating over a pair on the subway today, worn by a chic, rail thin glamour gal, and made of the most gorgeous slouchy butter black leather I've seen in ages. Yummm.

But the thing with my more expensive shoes is that when I wear them, I'm always aware that I've got on a fashion investment that could have been a big chunk of my monthly mortgage payment. And then I'm compelled to be super duper careful. I might take a taxi instead of the subway. I can't wear them to a bar lest someone's cocktail or (ack!) beer gets spilled on my precious tootsies. It's just so much...work. And so when I find a cute as hell, moderately priced shoe or boot that 's ALSO comfortable? I jump at the chance to buy it, no matter how unfancy the label is. And those turn out to be some of my favorite shoes. The ones I can dance in, wear to the club, wear to work, wear without terror of a freak rain storm. They're stress free.

This boot? Goes beyond "moderately priced." It's $36.99. May I repeat that? THIRTY SEVEN DOLLARS for a cute boot. I have never been so thrilled to buy budget footwear in my life.

Say hello to Target's Isaac Mizrahi Chiara boot in brown, black, stone, or (not my personal fave) olive. (By the way! These links will be part of the upcoming boutique--and so totally count for RGB royalties for all you supportive beauties!) (You can also click on the images below, and that takes you to a new page! Cool, no!?)



I sent pictures of the boots to my best friend and asked her how much she thought I paid for them. Here, I shall quote her email back to me: "$150? $300?" How good does it feel to email back: "THIRTY SEVEN DOLLARS!" I know. I'm beating a dead horse. But still. You know Real Girl likes a good value.

So what are you getting for your money? Faux suede. Great for Peta lovers, not so much for boot purists. I personally have no problem with the fabric, especially because it is so comfortable. None of that breaking in that you've got to do with leather. I wore my boots with nary a blister the first time around, and the toe is not so pointy as to be uncomfortable. If you're good in any boot with a normal-to-decent sized heel, you will most likely find these confortable--so key for a gal's feet these days.

As for the quality? I give it a rating of LMETIIBYKIN: Looks More Expensive Than It Is, But You'll Know It's Not. In other words, from afar, no one should know it's a cheapie.

As for matters of fit? My foot runs between 6 and 6.5, and I'm great in the 6.5, with room for socks. Here's a crucial note, too: If you only enjoy a fully erect (hee), structured, stiff tall boot, this is not the boot for you. I personally love a little slouch to my boot, so I'm thrilled that the material has give. If you've got slender legs, your boot will slouch. But that also means there's room for larger legs. I took pictures of me in the boot to demonstrate what I'll call the Slouch Effect (first pic). And while I'm at it, I'll throw in some other views of the Chiara on my Real Leg:



Remember, too, that because of use of flash, the brown looks a bit lighter here than its actual chocolate. But all in all? These bootsies have made Real Girl a happy camper. And by "camper," I mean of course "Someone who never camps but has cute cheap boots, so there."

OKAY girls, sharing time!! What are your favorite boots? Shoes? Brands? Stores? Cheap or pricey, it's time to talk footwear! Mmmm. Fooootwear.

xx
With love from,
Real Girl

The bad news: Real Cat's sick. The good news: RGB Boutique arrives!

I have many babies. Real Girl Beauty is one of my babies. My novel is certainly one of my babies. But my babiest baby? The one who tugs my heartstrings every day and makes me love him like he's my child? That would be Real Cat. Here I am teaching him about lip gloss. And he's loving every moment of his tutorial. I've had Real Cat for 9 years, ever since he was a tiny 5-week old bundle of skittering joyful kitten energy.

First, the bad news. For the past couple weeks, Real Cat and I have been going through veterinary hell. Not veterinarian hell, mind you. We have arguably the best vet in NYC--she's caring, brilliant, warm, and I thank her for every minute of special treatment. But for about a week now, Real Cat's life has become a mess of vet bills, blood and urine tests, diet changes, and twice daily insulin shots. We learned Real Cat is diabetic.

There's a lot of extra work to do on my part, and some scary times right now as we try and work out the right dose of insulin. I'm convinced every minute that he'll go into hypoglycemic shock from too much insulin (his urine test results are off right now), but that's a different story.

Basically, I have hundreds of dollars of pet medical related costs behind me--and hundreds more in my future, with regular vet visits, blood tests, insulin costs, needle costs, special food costs, and God knows what else ahead.

But this is my baby. I love him more than most people can imagine. It's got to be done. This means Real Girl needs to find extra dough fast!

Is advertising on Real Girl Beauty out of the question? Well, no. But I'd rather avoid it if I can. I know it's all in my head, but somehow I feel it would disrupt the purity of this blog, which I've worked very hard on. Would I ever gear a review toward an advertiser or change a review because of advertising? No way. But I'm going to try a different route first.

Which brings me to the good news! Have you ever wished for a one-stop-shopping place where you can go to find only products recommended by Real Girl? Guess what? It's coming! With an online Real Girl Beauty boutique! Through Amazon.com, I'll be featuring easy-to-click links to only the best products out there. I'll also make sure you know where the corresponding review can be found on Real Girl Beauty so you can read up and make sure the available product is right for you.

When you purchase a product from the Real Girl Beauty boutique, I'll get a small commission. Since RGB began, I've had readers commenting that I send them to the stores. Now I hope you'll help support me and Real Cat by stopping first to the Real Girl Beauty boutique to see if you can find your desired product there. I promise my reviews will not change to suit the boutique. What's more? If it looks like the boutique is successful, that will be incentive for me to review more products. Will the quality and care that you expect from Real Girl's reviews change? Not if this girl can help it!

I wanted to wait until the boutique was ready to post this--but alas caring for the kitty has taken a lot of time and energy. Not to mention extra work taken on to pay the bills. I hope to have at least something available within a week! Times are tight in every way, but of course I still remain your,

Real Girl
xx

P.S. Of course, purchasing the novel helps tons too! If you haven't already, I hope you'll trust that it's such a fun, laugh-out-loud, page-turning read that I truly believe you'll enjoy. And if you have bought the novel? Real Girl gives you her endless gratitude--for Real.

Real Girl Does Emmy Beauty

Ah, the Emmys. Did you see them last night? And more importantly, did you see meeee with my date Wentworth Miller? Look! Actual photographic proof! What, you say? But Real Girl has never heard of this "photoshop" you speak of. I'm not one to "Emmy and tell," but let's just say Wentworth wasn't making any kind of "prison break" when the festivities were over. Ba-DUM-dum. Thanks, I'm here all night.

I don't usually do celebrity critiques, but I felt the need to comment on some of last night's beauty dos and don'ts. Let's start with an easy one. Some people loved her purple velvet Dior by Galliano gown last night, and some people hated it. But no one can argue that her hair and makeup? Straight up Legolas. Let's compare, shall we?

I actually just saw this movie poster at the huge theater down the block from me:

Primarily, though, when it comes to red carpet beauty, I wish all celebutantes would avoid one of Real Girl's biggest pet peeves: Matching the eyeshadow with the dress. Forgive me if you're all for it, but this trend just screams '80s to me.

And one of the biggest repeat offenders is Evangeline Lily. Don't get me wrong. Last night, her dress (Versace) was beautiful, the makeup was flawless. It might have been my favorite makeup of the night if she hadn't matched the color to her gown. Was she swallowed whole by the Purple People Eater?

Also, Sandra Oh? Ohhh, way to ruin a Vera Wang. Again, some loved the over-accessorizing, some hated it. But Real Girl? Really couldn't stand the lilac eyeshadow. Which is a shame, because I usually love the way this gal looks on the carpet.


As to Jean Smart? Well...I won't go into words. You get it.

But going matchy matchy isn't Real Girl's only red carpet pet peeve. Famous Women of the World, please give up the fake tan-slash-nude lip combo. I think a smokey eye with a lightly colored lip can be just gorgeous--but not when paired with an obvious fake-o tan.

The biggest offenders last night? Another beauty--Katherine Heigl--whose dress flattered her curves, but whose beigey-beige makeup ruined the look for me.
And also Jaime Pressly, whose jaw and lips need some softening--and the fake tanner/nude lip combo just ain't getting the job done. In both cases, the blondness of the hair clashing with the orangeness of the tan makes the look that much worse.

Now, on to the hosts of my two favorite reality programs: America's Next Top Model and Project Runway. Tyra Banks? Real Girl loves you. Really!
But last night, you were America's Next Top Drag Queen Wax Statue.


Heidi Klum, however? Perfection. The hair, the dress (not Michael Kors's usual style, so kudos to him for reaching outside his comfort zone to produce this beauty), and the makeup all worked flawlessly.

To you, Heidi, we do not have to say: auf wiedersehen.

Which brings me to my last Emmys pic, one I had to comment on only because...good lord, woman. Those are...so...globey! So...round and perky! So...unlike anything Real Girl will ever have hanging from her Real torso.
Her makeup I could live without, but kudos to Virginia Madsen's tatas.

But what about you guys!? What stood out for you on the red carpet? Anything goes, dresses, makeup, hair, shoes, bags, and of course, tatas!

xx

RG

Conditioning Our Hearts Out

First of all--Tuesday! August 15th! 7:00 PM! Time Warner Center Borders! 59th Street and Columbus Cricle! Come onnnnn down. You're the next contestant on: Have a blast with Real Girl! Be sure to introduce yourself my lovelies.

And now...Hair. It's is just so...hard. Especially to blog about. Because unlike skin, hair isn't just dry, combination, oily. It's fine or coarse. Thick or thin. Curly or straight. Dry or greasy. Frizzy or flat. And the available products come in so many combinations!

So let's see what we can do here. My hair: wavy, dry, on the fine side. Needs detangling, can't be too weighed down. Must be well conditioned.

If you've got extra fine hair, you're probably best off skipping conditioner. I know. Did those words really flow from Real Girl's finger tips? But truly, fine hair should never be too soft because then whatever body it has just pfffffs away to nothing. Fine hair needs some texture, and conditioner tends to soften that texture away.

But if your fine hair needs conditioning without too much softness, a great option would be Tigi Bed Head Moisture Maniac. Honestly, the name's a bit misleading. I use this conditioner almost daily, and truth be told...I'm not sure exactly what it does--except offer moderate conditioning suitable for fine hair. But ultimately what I love from this conditioner is that it offers manageability. Somehow when I use this product, I get good body and decent style. And for fine hair, that's quite a significant result. Am I moisturific after each use? Actually, not so much!

But there are days when I need more softness. About once a week, I bathe my tresses in Frederic Fekkai Technician Conditioner For Dry, Damaged, Color-Treated Hair. Oh, I love this stuff! The softness of my generally dry hair is just delightful after use, and my curls are nicely formed and low-frizz. The only draw back is that this formula leaves my hair with less body than the Moisture Maniac. So this would likely be a better daily option for hair that's on the thicker side. This conditioner detangles beautifully and has a pleasant scent that's almost like flowery apples.

For both the above products, I apply liberally, starting at the ends and working upwards, and make sure to leave the conditioner on my hair for at least five minutes. For me, this means shampooing, rinsing, and immediately dousing in conditioner before all the exfoliating, washing, etc. until the end of my shower, when I finally rinse. Make your entire shower time work for your hair! (TMI?)

So now, what about truly thick, coarse hair? Here I'm at a bit of a loss, as I can't speak from personal experience. But I did test a product that just might be able to help. One of the thickest conditioners I've ever seen is Jonathan Product's Condition Theory Moisturizing Conditioner. Apparently, this product no longer exists, but I'm guessing it's been renamed (and perhaps reformulated) as Condition Add Moisture Moisturizing Conditoner, Beware ye with fine hair--as well as ye with tangled hair--because this almost paste-like conditioner is just too thick for silky fine locks. Also, in its incarnation as Condition Theory, there was no detangling to speak of, which is just deplorable! But I did love the beachy, coconut scent. AND after using Jonathan's conditioner, my hair had perhaps never been softer. For me, that meant no body. But for someone with thicker, coarser hair? It could be just the perfect ticket.

Real Girl's next task will be to trot myself over to Sephora and test this newer "Condition Add Moisture" version and see if Jonathan's team was smart enough to add detangler. If so? I think you thicker haired girls may be in luck! I'll be sure to report back. Also, Frederic Fekkai has more recent conditioner formulations that look potentially thrilling. Mmmmm. I smell samples coming on...

But girls! We need you! Please share your conditioner secrets and let us know what your favorite conditioner does for you! Or have you got any Tigi, Fekkai, or Jonathan products to report on?

And I'll hope to meet you tomorrow (Tuesday the 15th) at the Time Warner Center Borders!!

Fa la la la la!
xx
RG