I'm a Makeup Snob

Just saw Eclipse!

The movie was awesome

and I love Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson and Billy Burke

I am still a little ticked that they didn't cast a native american as Jacob,

but Taylor Lautner's body is BANGIN!

But that is all beside the point.

The point is:

the makeup sucked with a capital UCK.

Bella's face looked prom-ready the whole movie,

complete powdered eyebrows and berry lips.

HELLO what 17 year old do you know that wears lipstick 24/7?

On the subject of lips, Jacob's were purple the whole film.

???????????????

Furthermore, I would love to stage a protest

banning Rob Pattinson's eyebrows.

They are hideous,

for the first movie they shaped them

and he looked great

ignore the copius amounts of eyeliner and lipstick LAWL

- imperfect and flawless like a vampire-

but for the last two they have let them go CRAAAAAAZY

ahhhhhhh! run for your life!

and it is entirely too distracting.

Especially in IMAX (which by the way, is EXCESSIVELY loud)

And the white makeup they use on the vampires is poorly applied.

You can see the pink through which I say is tacky.

And then there is little Jane,

played by Dakota Fanning

who has great style but tries to hard when she is acting.

Her makeup is WRETCHED.

The weird black cat eye... ew ew ew.

It is just distracting.

Speaking of eyeliner,

all the guy vampires look like Pete Wentz or something...

And let me pick another fight, just to be thorough.

JASPER AND ROSALIE HAVE BLACK EYEBROWS. But they are blonde.

THIS IS NOT OK.

why they have an olive skinned italian playing a natural blonde is beyond me

IT MAKES ME WANT TO TIE THEM DOWN

AND BLEACH THEM INTO OBLIVION!

Overall, the makeup was unnatural,

worked oddly with the lighting,

and was distractingly heavy.

However,

the movie was awesome.

I am totally obsessed with all the actors, especially Kristen Stewart.

I loved it.

Still, I want to kick Robin Mathews, head makeup artist.

Her work may have played off well in the Runaways,

but it looked silly in Eclipse.

Thank you, I love you,

and I promise to be back to normal tomorrow with two new posts.

(Only 3 left in the Cheap Alternatives series!)

~Claire de la Luna

Cheaper Alternatives #6

For your body,

instead of splurging for expensive moisturizers-

which come in small packaging and have tons of fillers

use baby oil!

It is basically just mineral oil- and your skin will love it!

It actually is MORE effective than basic glycerin-based body lotions.

This is especially great for sensitive skin,

since baby products are SUPER mild.

I've been a competitive swimmer since I was 5,

and this stuff has kept my skin from dying a traumatic lizardlike death.

Plus, you only need to use a little bit so it lasts FOREVER

After showering, pat dry and rub on legs, torso, arms, and booty.

Soon, your skin will feel like a baby's butt!

<3

Claire!

ohhhhhh and also: I'm filming a tutorial tomorrow night! chika WAH WAH!

and, my sister says hello!

Cheaper Alternatives #5

Conditioner as Shaving Cream!

For extremely sensitive skin,

or when you run out of shaving cream,

or when you are traveling...

use conditioner to shave!

It works great!

and unlike soap, it doesn't clog up your razor or dry out your skin!

<3

Claire

also...

i went to a bunch of fancy pants stores today:

mario's, barney's, diesel, burkes brothers...

those stores suck!

They are overpriced beyond oblivion!

Kelly Bensimon Picks Jewelry Over Jellybeans

Jewelry and the New York Housewives go together like pinot grigio and 'turtle time' - so it comes as no surprise that Hamptons hottie, Kelly Bensimon, is adding more trinkets to her celebrity jewelry line.

While Bensimon described her previous jewelry offering as 'Pocahontas goes to the disco' (huh?), her recent bauble collection has a more bodacious provenance:

"One of the most influential icons for me has always been Raquel Welch," Bensimon, 42, tells UsMagazine.com in a statement. "Wrapped in suede and golden-tanned skin, Welch in One Million B.C. epitomized raw beauty."

The creatively named, "Kelly by Kelly Killoren Bensimon" collection mixes metals, leather, feathers and crystals and ranges from $50 to $150 at Intermix stores across the country.

Bensimon also designed a limited number of baubles for charity, with 100% of the proceeds going to Feeding America.

At least she's not dropping a dance tune.

OH MY GIDDY GODS TROUSERS!

As of today, I, Claire Fusako Neble Matsunami,

have officially been hired as a freelance makeup artist for MAC.

And I just bought my tickets to Eclipse with my sister

I'm so happy!!!

(check out my sweet henna tat from the Gay PrideFest at Seattle Center!)

ALSO

I forgot to add:

Tea Tree Oil is great for healing tattoos and piercings!

I will resume with my Cheaper Solutions series tomorrow!

<3

Claire

Team Jacob!

Cheaper Alternatives #4

Tea Tree Oil

HOOOORAAAAAYYY

Instead of buying pimple creams and stuff,

use pure tea tree oil as an amazing spot treatment

for pimples, boils, and cysts.

It works much much much better than anything from clearasil-

especially because it actively prevents scarring!

enjoy!

lurvey love love

~Claire

Cheaper Alternatives #3

Apple Cider Vinegar!

i apologize, my twilight fever is taking over...

Hair:

*Rinse damaged hair with 1 part Apple Cider Vinegar to 3 parts water

once a week after shampooing to clarify magically-

helps to remove gucky buildup,

prevents split ends,

tones the cuticle,

and makes your hair SUPER shiny.

*Massage into your scalp twice a week for dandruff.

*If your skin gets stained from hair dye, swabbing some of

this wonderful stuff on the stains removes them easily!

Fresh and Clean:

*Use some to dampen a cotton ball and apply to your

... lady area...

it works wonders!

-can be used to freshen up after wearing spandex,

clean up when you are surfing the red tide,

or even treat a yeast infection.

I'm all about keeping your vajayjay happy!

Skin:

*Swipe on your face once a month to purge your pores and

increase circulation in your facial capillaries.

It is so rich in exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids

that using it more than once every two weeks

spells danger for your facial pH.

*Apply some diluted with water and ice cubes to sunburns.

Feel the AHHHHH relief,

which is restoring the pH balance to your skin.

This stuff is seriously awesome, and costs about 6 dollars at any grocery store!

<3

Claire

p.s.

Since I can't stop thinking about how Eclipse is coming out soon...

I might as well mention:

I actually love K.Stew-

just check this out.

her style is awesome

Celebrity Engagement Ring Blitz

Cupid is making the rounds in celebrity-land this month, giving we jewelry hounds a cornucopia of diamond carats to count.

First and foremost - we've got another royal wedding on our hands. Huzzah! HRH Prince Albert of Monaco finally parted ways with his bachelor lifestyle by proposing to Olympic swimmer, Charlene Wittstock, with what appears to be a 3-carat pear-shaped diamond stunner (see Jewelry.com's report for more diamond details).


Next up? Our favorite swashbuckling elf, Orlando Bloom, is breaking hearts with news of his engagement to model, Miranda Kerr. A rep at the Diamond Information Center told Us Kerr's ring is an oval diamond set on a white gold or platinum band weighing in at an estimated 3-4 carats with a price as high as $65,000.

Ugly Betty may have lost the ratings war, but its star won big in the end with her recent engagement to longtime beau, Ryan Piers Williams. Reports put the carat count of the round center stone at 4 with an estimated price tag of around $70 large.


Finally? Vienna Miller's diamond engagement ring is making news because, well, it's still on her ring finger. Reports are swirling that Bachelor, Jake Pavelka, kicked her to the curb after discovering she was cheating on him while he was away on business.

If you didn't see that one coming, I have some beach property in the Gulf I'd like to show you.

And if prior Bachelor break-ups are any indication, she won't be wearing the 2-carat Neil Lane diamond much longer. The show's producers get back the bling once the honeymoon's over.

Are there any other recent celebrity betrothals I'm missing? Weigh in!

Cheap Alternatives #2

In which I list the many uses of Visine!

*A few drops of Visine in any powder eyeshadow turns it into liquid eyeliner

-cheaper and more effective than expensive shadow transformers!

*Dab some on pimples to reduce redness

*After you get your eyebrows waxed, swipe some on-

takes down swelling and redness!

*And I mean, you could always use for red eyes too...

Available at drugstores and grocery stores everywhere!

<3

Claire

p.s. If you were wondering,

Visine when added to food does not actually cause diarrhea.

But it can cause dangerously low blood pressure...

So in the interest of keeping your friends alive,

don't try and copy this old Hollywood prank!

Unless you actually want them dead,

in which case-

wear gloves

and don't forget to moisturize

Cheap Alternatives #1

Hey!

When your skin is inflamed and breaking out like crazy, try a salt mask!

Epsom salt on a wet face brings down inflammation just like on a swollen wound.

Also, very moisturizing!

In between toning and moisturizing,

just wet your face,

mix salt and a teeeensy bit of water,

and slather on for 5 minutes.

GREAT for those monthly breakouts.

glow my lovelies. glow glow glow.

~

Claire

Diamond Soccer Ball Bling

In honor of USA's brilliant World Cup win today, I thought I'd post this little diamond ditty to tickle your football fancy.

South African jeweler, Yair Shimansky, created the world's most brilliant soccer ball to draw attention to his brand during the World Cup festivities, and the result is a black and white dazzler worth a whopping $2.6 million.


The five-pound ball is covered in 6,620 white and 2,640 black round brilliant cut diamonds, all sourced in South Africa, for a grand total of 3,500 carats.

Replicas rendered in crystals will be in Shimansky's seven national stores for the duration of the World Cup and will be auctioned after the festivities, with proceeds going to charity.

In the meantime, that's not the only World Cup winner that's easy on the eyes. I'll be glued to the TV as Team USA enters the next round - the first time we've made it this far since 1930!

USA! USA! USA!

Anne Hathaway's Jewelry Up for Auction

When your boyfriend brings you diamond jewelry like it's your morning latte, you know you've hitched your wagon to one keeper of a pony.

Unless you're Anne Hathaway.

The Cinderella story of Miss Anne and her uber-rich boyfriend Raffaello Follieri hit a snag back in 2008 when he was convicted of 14 felony counts of fraud, so the Feds are trying to recoup his losses Bernie Madoff-style by auctioning off anything and everything he owned - including the jewelry he gave to Anne.

Hathaway, who broke up with then-arrested Follieri in June 2008, turned the items over to the FBI that August, including two watches, two rings, two bracelets, two necklaces, two chains, silver earrings, and a Louis Vuitton box. While the jewelry's total value has not been disclosed, a gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona given to Hathaway retails for about $25,000.

But all's well that ends well. Follieri is serving a 4/12 year sentence, and A-lister Annie's only crime is her performance in Valentine's Day.

What would you do with jewelry given to you by a lying, cheating ex? This excellent site, www.exboyfriendjewelry.com ("You don't want it, he can't have it back!") has the perfect answer - and a brilliant business plan. Check it out!

Obey T-Shirts Fo' Life

Even though I like to wear frilly ridiculous things 80% of the time, everyone can dig a nice, soft t-shirt, right?

(the usual.)

I've had this fantastic Obey tri-blend t-shirt for like four years and it's the best possible comfy-yet-stylish item of clothing to be found in this corner of the galaxy! (for reals)

Their shirts are soft and supple yet substantial; said t-shirt just started showing signs of wear this year when I found I had a habit of leaning on the counters and work and tearing holes in all my shirts...

I digress.

Basically, it was time for a new shirt that was comfortable yet interesting, of which Obey products are both. Their graphics, in a word, ROCK.

(this looks like a Monet painting, no (err, oi?)?)

I just ordered this off karmaloop.com, which I found had the best prices (trust me, I did shameful amounts of research for a single shirt). Here's the page for their Obey products, mine was on sale and cost like $20 including shipping.

Hooray for deliciously comfy clothes!

-Berit

P.S. Sorry for the crappy webcam photos, girlfriend gets lazy sometimes, you know? Also I'll use real photos when the blog is actually useful ;)

Tiaras and True Love at Sweden's Royal Wedding

Jewelry gawking has its favorite occasions like the Oscars and the Golden Globes, but it really doesn't get any better than that rarest of gems - a royal wedding. This weekend, we got a crown jewel of a soiree as Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria wed the lowly commoner, Daniel Westling.

Not since Charles and Di has there been a wedding so anticipated among royal watchers, but unlike that ill-fated pairing this one's a real love story.


In Stockholm Cathedral, 1,200 royal guests and dignitaries watched the nuptials, along with 500,000 people who lined the streets, and an estimated 500 million TV viewers from around the world. Yet the princess only had eyes for her groom, Daniel Westling - her former personal trainer turned prince charming.


Victoria wore the historic Cameo Tiara for her trip down the aisle (see Jewelry.com for more on this storied gem). It's certainly not the blingiest bauble on the block but it suits the occasion and looks lovely on her.


Her mom, Queen Silvia, on the other hand? Well, a picture says a thousand words. Wowza!


Here are more of my favorite tiara triumphs. No one summarizes the provenance of each jewel better than blogger, Mad Hattery, so I'll refer you to their excellent Tiara-pedia for all the specifics.

Victoria's sister Madeleine may be smarting from her recent engagement break-up, but she can dry her tears knowing she can put these on when she's feeling blue.


Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg:


Queen Sonja of Norway:

Queen Sofia of Spain:

Crown Princess Maxima of the Netherlands:


Crown Princess Letizia of Asturias:

Crown Princess Mette-Merit of Norway:


Princess Margaret Louise of Norway:

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark:

Princess Elena of Spain:

Crown Princess Mathilde of Brabant (Belgium)

Gifts From Friends!

My awesome friend Tess from Chicago (who send me the fantastic Jake Gyllenhaal collage in this post) sent me this adorable headband she made. It's made of a really cute floral cotton braided with some elastic at the back to help keep it in place.

I've made a few headbands similar to this before but this one is by far one of my favorites!

Keep your eyes peeled for some easy headband tutorials coming your way!

-Berit

Megan Fox Loses $60,000 Engagement Ring

It's a jewelry nightmare for the record books. When megastar Megan Fox got engaged to 90210's Brian Austin Green (for the second time) during their Hawaiian beach vacation, she was so excited she lost her $60,000 diamond engagement ring in the sand.

Not down the drain, as many jewelry calamities play out. In the sand. Despite the metal detector attempts of the Four Seasons staff, the 2-carat ring is still MIA.

The good news is: she's a multi-millionaire many times over. And 90210 is in syndication.

Blackheads- Prevent and Treat

"How do I prevent blackheads?!?! I exfoliate occasionally. But I've also heard from my sister that you can permanately bruise your face from exfolating (she has blue-ish tiny lines to prove where it's messed up veins because she used to exfoliate every day)."

- MolleeWobbles (the cutest thing since sneezy pandas)

Well Mollee...

A blackhead is basically an open pore

(when the pore is closed, it becomes a whitehead)

that is plugged with sebum (hard, waxy oil) and dead skin.

Because the pore is opened, the plug when exposed

undergoes an oxidation reaction making it appear black.

Blackheads are not fun. Duh.

But while preventing them on prone skin is very difficult,

it is definitely possible.

All skin care relies on creating a healthy, consistent balance.

The most common skin care mistakes people make are:

over-drying

under-cleansing

picking at their skin (BERIT)

assuming that using tons of clearasil will make their acne disappear overnight.

None of these things work.

SURPRISE!

These things DO work:

1. Cleanse-

Morning and night, take a minute out of your day and wash your face.

Keeping your pores clean is the best way to prevent blackheads.

Use a cleansing oil or a face wash with salicylic acid to help dissolve the sebum

(oil cleansers may sound and feel odd at first but they work GREAT).

Don't use Neutrogena or Clean and Clear (they are WAY too harsh).

Instead try:

Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser

a GREAT formula. Available at any drugstore for cheap!

If you are brave enough to try a cleansing oil,

the one I use is

Shu Uemera Cleansing Oil

It moisturizes, but more importantly it cleans better and more gently

than anything I have yet to encounter.

(32$ is a splurge though)

2. Tone

This helps keep pores clear and tight,

so that yucky stuff can't get in there.

It also prepares your skin for moisturizer

Witch Hazel

is the best, cheapest toner out there-

click the link for more info

available at any grocery store.

NEVER use alcohol based astringents!!!!

They strip your skin of essential oils.

3. Exfoliate

Yes Mollee, you can harm your face by exfoliating too much and too vigorously.

The point of exfoliation is to gently sluff off the dead skin cells.

Scrubbing really hard actually does nothing-

the dead cells are still the dead ones and the live ones are still the live ones.

Don't hurt yourself lady!

Take it easy, and you will be glowing in no time...

So use a gentle scrub three times a week,

and moisturize immediately afterward.

Queen Helene Mint Julep Natural Facial Scrub

SO cheap, and works like a charm.

4. Moisturize

The single most important aspect of skin care.

Prevent dead skin and inflammation,

moisturize with a light face lotion after you tone.

Go HERE for further elaboration of the glories of moisturizing

and for product recommendations.

5. Treating

If blackheads do appear, a good mask is always your best bet.

Mario Badescu Silver Powder

Only 12 dollars, and sucks all the yuck right out of your face!

6. Extractions

Well, lovelies, I know you want to squeeze the icky stuff out of there.

But unless you can see the head of the plug, don't touch it.

If you do see the top emerging from the pore,

use an extractor (found at your local drugstore)

to push down on either side of the pore and force the plug up.

This will be sanitary and prevent scarring.

Looks like this:

And remember, stress only helps acne thrive.

Stay calm and carry on.

<3

Claire

p.s.

*waking up next to someone you love

*people who speak spanish

*carl sagan

*steam rooms

*karaoke

*fudge sickles

*fresh peaches

*coffee scented candles

*sunflowers

*the last day of school

*bike rides

*swiffer wet mops

*Pike Place Market

*the idea of a canopy

*freshly waxed eyebrows

*the sheer ability to imagine

*cool sheets

*flossing

*seeing people in love

comment with questions of suggestions!

Product Review: Kevin Murphy

During a trip to get my hair did (but I'm growing it out! for the first time in years!), I mentioned to my stylist my need for some kind of lightweight texturizer for my hair.

You see, my head is basically covered in billions of fine, wispy-ish hairs. Like a baby.



Thus, it's extremely hard for me to get my hair to do anything except lay there like all the air's been let out of it.

I was recommended a product by Australia-based stylist kevin.murphy called hair.resort. It's delicious-smelling gel (not heavy like some creme texturizers) adds weight and texture to hair, giving it a bit of a beachy look (for a cheaper alternative, Claire recommends adding a little salt to some water in a spray bottle). It doesn't crisp up but instead blends into the hair nicely.


Even better, kevin.murphy products are made almost completely with natural ingredients like grapefruit seed extract or organic chamomile extract. On my last trip I picked up a couple sample bottles of some of his shampoos and conditioners, luxury.wash and luxury.rinse. It smells glorious and makes you feel like you're having your hair washed at a salon. I daresay it is the shit. Hooray!

The texturizer was a bit of a spurge for me at around $30.00, but it's lasted forever and was well worth the money in my opinion!

-Berit