Best Foundations For Oily, Flakey Skin

Foundation is probably one of the hardest things to shop for. Your face is the first thing people see, and flawed skin is highlighted by the wrong choice of foundation. I can go the day without eyeshadow, blush, whatever...but don't make me go without foundation! A little mixed with foundation is the perfect blend for days when you want to go without makeup (like weekends) but don't want to look like you've been partying all night.

Here are my favs. I do have to note that I probably have the hardest skin type to match: very oily, but flakey. How does that happen? I can't add too much powder or else it highlights the dry flakey parts. I can't use a moisturizing foundation or else you could fry an egg on my face. These ones are great for the hard-to-match skin types.

Estee Lauder Equalizer
This foundation is brilliant (if a bottle of liquid can get a PhD). Somehow it knows when you're skin is extra-greasy or when it needs some hydration. It won't clog pores either, which is a plus when you've got skin that already won't cooperate enough as it is. It's not very thick or opaque, so the end result is a fresh look without the appearance of caked-on makeup. The only downfall? It's not very long-lasting. Expect to re-apply if you're heading out after work.

Lancome Teint Idole
The only way I can describe this foundation is to say that your skin feels pillowy-soft. Whatever they have inside it works wonders for your skin's texture. It's like having your own personal airbrusher with you at all times. If you're going to be taking photos all night, this is what you want to be wearing. Teint Idole is a little thick, so use my mix-with-moisturizer trick if you need to lighten it up for summer.

Prescriptives Flawless Skin
Ask anyone: this is a tried-and-true favorite. It's the little black dress of foundations. It's not sheer, so don't expect your freckles to be shining through, but it still looks like you have no makeup on at all. Prescriptives is known for their wide range of color options. Still can't find your color? They've got a fancy-shmancy Colorprint system if you still can't find your shade so there's no excuse to walk around with a mismatched face/neck combo.

Prescriptives Virtual Skin
This is my all-time favorite of them all. With sheer-to-medium coverage, your skin still looks natural while giving it a healthy glow. Absolutely perfect for summer. Since it's so lightweight, depending on the oiliness of your skin, you may need to re-apply later in the day.

Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder
Before you start questioning my judgment on "foundation", hear me out. The purpose of foundation is to make your face look flawless while looking as natural as possible, right? Then this powder hits the mark. You don't even need liquid foundation when using this fantastic powder. It applies easily (use a kabuki brush for the best application), provides great coverage, and imparts a healthy glow to your skin. In a nutshell: just trust me. Really.

Honorable Mention: Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer
Not quite foundation, not quite moisturizer, this lightweight liquid can be applied when you just want your skin to look refreshed without putting on foundation. My favorite trick is to apply it after foundation; your skin still gets the coverage it needs with a hint of shimmer to make people wonder how you look so luminous at 8am on a Monday morning.

Love It or Hate It: Vera Bradley Bags

Seeing these bags is a little bittersweet and comes with many stories for me. First I'd like to start off by saying, "bag be ugly." Alright. I am from Kentucky and these bags were so incredibly huge when I was in high school and still now. All of the preppy girls had a Vera Bradley bag and they totally thought they were awesome. I wanted one so bad, not because I thought they were cute, but I wanted to be cool too. But my mom couldn't justify spending $50 on a bag she could quilt herself for less than $10. So she went on a rampage and started sewing me her version of Vera Bradley totes, luggage bags, duffle bags, purses, cosmetic bags, etc. Looking back on it, they aren't even that expensive. But instead of Vera Bradley's, I sported 'Momma Bradleys' and no one knew the difference.

 

Fast forward after high school, I moved to California and attended FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising). A very swanky high fashion Los Angeles Fashion school that's overpriced and filled with extremely trendy, high fashion, and creative girls. Vera Bradley's were no where in sight. "They must be behind the times." I thought. For a class project, I had to bring in a lot of supplies which only my 'Momma Bradley' duffle bag could hold. I threw everything in there and didn't think twice. No one will even knows what kind of bag it is. As I sat in class waiting on my turn on the presentation, a girl looked at my bag and asked, "Is that a Vera Bradley?" and I was surprised! I replied, "You know what a Vera Bradley is?!". And in the nicest way she could have said it, she says, "Yea, my grandma has one." From that day forward, I removed the bag and never used it again. I never thought it was cute and I should have gone with my instincts! The best thing I could take from it was that my mom was very sweet to make all of her bags for me and I'm glad she didn't spend money on this overpriced southern grandma purse. And for that, I truly appreciate her.

But here I am in 2009, faced with the Vera Bradley bag once again. Like any award show, the attendees get gifts galore and Vera Bradley has made it's way into the Lipton Gift Lounge at this years Tony Awards. They even had something for the guys. It's not as grotesque as I remembered it, but still kind of burns my eyes. So here are my thoughts.

There's only 3 exceptions to getting a Vera Bradley:
1. You have grand kids and you are obsessed with quilted things.
2. You live in the Midwest and Louis Vuitton bags are just too expensive for you to indulge in.
3. You're 10 and you love pink. This pink bag is actually kind of cute for a little girl and therefore acceptable.

It's cool to totally disagree with me here, so if you must purchase a Vera Bradley bag, I suggest ebay. So much cheaper that way.

Hot Style Trends For The Summer: Pucci Dresses and Tops

Fergie showed up at David Letterman this past Tuesday in a green and silver, sequined, cut out, mini Pucci dress. Uhm....Hot! The cut out at the waist and at the shoulder shows just enough to be ultra sexy and the pattern is true to Emilio Pucci's designs, but conservative enough for the people. I have a feeling a lot of people are going to find ways to knock off this look. I found a couple of sequin dresses, but nothing nearly as stunning. Until I find the perfect replica, here are a few other cute Pucci dresses and tops. Keep an open mind, they love love love color and lots of crazy patterns. That's what summer is all about this year!

 

Hottest Summer Sandals for 2009: Gladiators Flats & High Heel Shoes

So you're breaking out your bikinis, tank tops and shorts, and you suddenly realize your dilemma: the trendy girl in you has filled up your closet full of boots from the winter season. You have no idea where you're sandals are or even if they're still in style. No need to fear, the gladiators are here! We loved them so much last year that we're going for round 2. Now I must admit, I wasn't exactly used to them last year. I'm short a girl, so wearing gladiators that went up my ankles made my legs look even shorter than it already does. Too much shoe and not enough leg. Well luckily, you can find sandals that are inspired by the gladiators, but doesn't necessarily have to crawl up so high. It's mainly a concern if you're wearing flat sandals. I found that gladiator platform heels, even wrapped around my ankle, still elongated my legs. You still get the height and you're forced to flex your calf muscles, making your legs look very sexy.

Gladiator Flat Sandals
If you've been blessed with longer legs, opt for comfortable gladiator flats if you don't need the added height. They're great for going to the beach, going shopping and even for evening events. Gladiators draw attention to your legs and they can be sexy and strong at the same time. You can go super strappy, wear ones with ankle cuffs, or even flat gladiator boots. For someone who's shorter, go the conservative route. Find gladiators that have thinner, fewer straps. You can still add interest with beaded details, rhinestones, snakeskin patterns, or bright colors. All of these will draw attention to your well pedicured feet without taking away from your legs. Here are my picks for flat gladiator sandals for people of all heights:

Gladiator High Heels
Get used to walking in them, because every girl looks better in heels. I personally love love love platform heels because they are so much more comfortable. I recently bought gladiator heels that are extremely strappy, but the straps are shoe string thin, giving it a more lacey look. Tres hot! If you're comfortable in heels, wear them to work or even to lunch with your girlfriends. And definitely wear them when you're out to the club. Here are my favorite picks for super hot gladiator heels. (BTW, can you say "YUM" to those Cherry Red Vince Camuto's and those hot pink Christian Louboutins?!)