I'm Part of San Diego CityBeat's Fashion Brigade

Want to know what four fashionistas in San Diego think about upcoming trends and fashion in America's Finest City?

Check out "The fashion brigade" over at San Diego CityBeat. I was one of the four interviewed for the article ;)

Laura Shingles interviewed me and wrote the piece - her first for CityBeat. It brings to mind my first fashion feature for San Diego Magazine. I interviewed Laura Gambucci, who I named "The Style Doctor".

FYI: If you're thinking about becoming a fashion writer, I highly recommend starting a fashion blog. A blog gives you the opportunity to practice your writing skills. In case you missed the article the first time I shared it, here are my tips on how to start and promote a fashion blog.

The Cleansing Cloth Challenge: Pond's Vs Olay

I'm putting two of the leading wet cleansing cloths to the test...

It's Pond's vs. Olay...

Which one do I like better?

Pond's Wet Cleansing Towelettes

The first thing I noticed about Pond's towelettes is how good it smells. Mmmm! Then I noticed the pretty square design...Not that it really matters, but if you know me, you know how I'm all into aesthetics.

I like how it left my skin feeling squeaky clean and it did a pretty good job at removing all of my makeup, including my eyeliner and mascara. It's supposed to be safe for contact lens wearers, so that's definitely a plus for me.

Olay Daily Facials Express Wet Cleansing Cloths

Olay's cleansing cloths also did a pretty good job of removing makeup, however, it felt a little rough on my face. Also, it left a little bit of an oily residue - which is probably supposed to be some kind of moisturizer. I prefer the "squeaky clean" feeling ;)

The Man Test

I put the cleansing cloths through "the man" test and asked my fiance which one he preferred. He actually thought Olay felt better and softer on his face, but he loved the smell of Pond's.

FYI: These cleansing cloths are meant to be used without water. Great for travel!

First Thoughts: New York Fashion Week Spring 2010

Summer is just about over and I'm looking forward to shopping for fall clothes. If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you know that I love the fall season! However, I also look forward to checking out all the coverage of New York Fashion Week and all the spring 2010 trends that have hit the runways.

The other night I had some down time to watch some videos from the shows in New York. There used to be a time when I could sit for hours on end and read reviews of the shows, but client projects have left me with a very limited amount of time for fashion gazing lately.

From what I've seen so far, I noticed that some of the 80's inspiration that we've been seeing is still spilling over into spring 2010. Well, I got that from the Michael Kors show. Really, the men's style reminds me of Miami Vice! I like the architectural elements and simplicity of the women's collection. Check out the runway show...

Here's part 1 of Michael Kors Spring 2010...

One word that comes to mind when I think of spring 2010: Flowy. We'll also see alot of shimmery silver and prints are minimal - not like last spring when flower prints took over. Accessories will be big and bold again.

Here's a video from Chic.TV that features collections from Nicole Miller, Twinkle by Wenlan, and Monarchy...



One designer who has been on my fashion radar the past few years is Jason Wu. He's always produced these very edgy, over-the-top collections, but this season he suprised me with a very creative and sophisticated collection. Here's a clip from his spring collection...



Of course, this is just the beginning of the spring 2010 fashion coverage. There's still London and Paris fashion weeks coming up. I'll be sharing more thoughts in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

Photo Credit: Coutorture

The Wonderbar: Beauty Product Review

When it comes to washing my face, I'm a soap and water kind of gal. I don't have much patience when it comes to choosing a facial cleanser from the plethora of facial cleansers on the market. I know that regular soap and water dries out my face...and yet I can't seem to break this habit.

I'm all about keeping a simple beauty regimen. So, thank God for Wonderbar! I'm amazed at what this little bar can do for your skin.

After I first started using the Wonderbar, my skin got extremely dry. What I didn't know until later is that I was going through what is called a "Healing Crisis". This is a detox period where all the toxins from the skin are being flushed out.

After using Wonderbar on my skin for a couple weeks, I've experienced less breakouts. Yes, I still breakout and I'm 35-years-old! Actually, now that I think about it, I haven't had a breakout in quite awhile.

One 25 gm bar (which lasts about 6-8 weeks) sells for $40. Believe me, it's well worth it! It feels very soft and rich on the skin - maybe because it's made from clay with the essence of 700 herbs and plants. After using it I feel like I've just stepped out of the spa ;)

Visit the website for more information: http://wonderbarusa.com

5 Ways to a Healthier, More Beautiful You

We're all looking for ways to become healthier and more beautiful, right? Even if we don't care to admit it, it's true. What woman do you know doesn't want to be beautiful and healthy?

I know women who spend thousands of dollars thinking that the money they spend is in direct proportion to how beautiful they'll look, when in fact, you don't need all that money to be more beautiful. Sure, it takes a little more discipline, focus, and you have to make more conscious decisions, but you don't need thousands of dollars.

In my own experience and in talking with other women, I've come up with the top five ways to become healthier and more beautiful:

1. Stop stressing! - Ok, this is much easier said than done, but think about it - does worrying over whatever it is that you're worrying about ever help the situation? Did you know that stress speeds up aging? One thing that I do to de-stress is to meditate on a regular basis.

2. Use healthy makeup - Do you know what you're putting on your face? Many beauty products these days have toxins that are doing more harm than good. Try using mineral-based makeup such as Bare Minerals or Sheer Cover. Mineral makeup is very light and contains no oils, perfumes, dyes, or talcs - all things that often irritate skin.

3. Excercise on a regular basis - Exercise not only keeps you fit, but it also helps you relax (refer to tip #1), and combats chronic disease. Check out more benefits of exercise. For me, exercise puts me in a better mood...which makes me smile...and smiling makes you look more beautiful!

When it comes to exercise, I usually do my workouts at home. Before I used the Ab Roller Plus and jogged around the neighborhood, but now I prefer exercise routines on DVD. I've been doing yoga, but now I want to mix it up. The FIRM Body Sculpting System looks like something I could do.

4. Work on improving your mind - Well, there is a reason why I've named this blog, "Beauty Is Within"...because beauty and health do start in your mind. It begins with having a good, positive attitude about life, and being happy with who you are and what you're doing - not trying to fit into an ideal that other people may impose on you.

5. Maintain a healthy diet - Eating the right foods helps keep you healthier in the long run. This is common knowledge, but it's something that requires discipline. Personally, I find it a challenge to stay away from McDonald's Big Mac and fries, but I'm learning to keep my fast-food eating to a minimum.

I've never tried diets such as the South Beach Diet or weight loss programs like Nutrisystem. If you've had any experience with these, I'd like to hear your story. I love to eat meat, rice, and potatoes, so going on a diet is out of the question. However, I do eat in moderation which keeps me fairly slim.

What tips do you have for becoming healthier and more beautiful?

Photo Credit: Mike Baird

Celebrate Lippmann Collection's 10th Anniversary!

Nail polish to me is like paint to artists. I LOVE to paint my nails.

You may have read my past posts raving about the Lippmann Collection nail polishes. Well, this month the company is celebrating its 10th anniversary. To kick off the month, they are giving away a $50 gift certificate to every 10th customer who makes a purchase at www.lippmanncollection.com.

This special offer is only good TODAY, September 1st, so make sure to check it out!

Deborah Lippmann created a limited-edition collection of glitz and glamour shades to commemorate this special occasion. They're the perfect colors to start off the fall season...my favorite time of the year, by the way. The colors include:

• Superstar: Show-stopping copper flecked fudge

• Funky Chunky: Sequined sheer black

• Ruby Red Slippers: Dorothy's shimmering ruby (A Lady Gaga favorite)

I'm excited to try out "Superstar"! I'll make sure to post my review of the collection soon...

Related Posts:

• At-Home Manicure Freak

• Beauty on a Budget: Beautiful Nails Without the Salon Price