Nice Dimples

It’s bikini season and the majority of women out there are a little tentative about slipping into their teeniest of bikinis. As we get older, things don’t seem to look the same way they used to. Sigh. Why did we take those 19 year old bodies for granted?  The days of housing an entire pizza in one sitting are long gone, and alas, we are left with these pesky little divots in our once svelte thighs.

No matter how much exercise and time you spend at the gym (though it does help), those icky dimples just don’t seem to wanna budge. Outside of spending our entire summers wrapped in a sarong, what’s a girl to do? There are no proven cures for that tacky orange peel skin, but here are a few things that may aid in the appearance of cottage cheese:

• Vigorous Massage- It is thought that massaging the skin will increase blood flow, release toxins, and reduce fluids. Endermologie (or lipomassage) is one of the most popular treatments. You can do something like this at home with the Elemis body brush and achieve similar results.
• Creams- Probably one of the most common methods used. These may help to temporarily diminish the appearance of “hail damage” but the effects are not long term. Can’t hurt to slather a bit on before the beach though! Mamma Mio Shrink to Fit is on of Ms. Aguilera’s favorites.
• Diet- A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and fiber and low in fat, carbohydrates, and salt will certainly help reduce the appearance of cellulite. Fresh pineapple and dandelion root tea are said to be very helpful in keeping your silhouette smooth.

While there is no fool proof cure for cellulite, rest assured knowing that eight out of ten women are affected with this dimply disorder. You are not alone in the fight, my pretty princesses. So try these little tips, but in the mean time, own that bikini gurrrl! Nothing is sexier than a little bit of confidence.

xx,

WhyDid

A Day at the Beach

As we cruised down the PCH on our way to spend the afternoon in the sun in Malibu, it occurred to me that packing for a day at the beach is no “day at the beach.”

There is a lot of preparation that needs to be done before you spend the rest of the day lounging and laughing. From shaving and exfoliating all the right places to making sure you didn’t leave something behind, here’s a quick checklist to have you on the road in no time!

• Sunscreen- I would recommend at least SPF 30 for a full day of fun and sun. Don’t forget to reapply after frolicking in the surf. No one wants to spend Monday morning lubing up in aloe.
• The Essentials- No need to cover yourself in product, but be sure to smooth on some nourishing lotion like Kiehl’s. Lipgloss and mascara (waterproof) add a little polish to your face. Don’t forget your sunglasses and hat to guard yourself from crow’s feet and excessive sun exposure to your money maker.
• Extra pair of pantalones- Sitting around in a wet bathing suit is bad for your little girl down below. Be sure to pack some extra underwear to slip into when you’re done with the waves. You’ll thank me later.
• Sweater- When the sun goes down, so do the temperatures and just in case you haven’t secured a cutie to keep you warm, you’re going to want to throw on something cozy.
• Camera- You don’t want to forget those fun memories spent by the sea. Who doesn’t love tagging themselves on Facebook so everyone will be super jeal of your fab weekend?
• Host/hostess gift- It’s always in good taste to bring a little somethin’ somethin’ for your host. I brought wine and bubbles. I don’t see why not.

Packing right is a surefire way to make sure you can ride off into the sunset without a care in the world.

xx,

WhyDid

Double Duty

It’s summertime and for most of us that means we will be shlepping to and fro the beach or other exotic locales. I tend to overpack so coming up with ways to consolidate (as well as save some dough) is pretty crucial. You know I love my Benetint and Nars Orgasm stick but here are a few more products that are doing double (or triple!) duty:

Smith’s Rosebud Salve, $5.59

It can be used for a lipgloss as most people know, but it’s also great for dry cuticles, chapped skin, and blemishes. A dab is all you need to get dry skin under control.

Superbly Restorative Argan Dry Oil, $30

This little miracle worker can be used on the body for sexy smooth skin or hair for shiny lustrous locks. Slathering this dry oil on gives a gorgeous sheen to both skin and hair.

Egyptian Magic Cream, $29.95

This cream does basically everything besides your dishes. Can be used on dry skin, dry hair (or deep conditioner), burns and bites. One tub, tons of uses.

Some other on the go tricks:

• Use toothpaste as a spot treatment for a pesky belmish.
• Lemon juice makes a great astringent after cleansing.
• Olive oil also works great on dry skin and hair.
• Honey is a great facial mask for oily skin. Warm honey and apply to face after washing.
• Mix tomato juice and buttermilk and apply to sunburned skin for after sun relief.

Safe travels, my little lady loves.

xx,

WhyDid

Here Comes the Sun

So, you all know how adamant I am about sunscreen. You’re probably poo-poo’ing me, as I type, but if you saw the photos of what my dear father has to go through due to the sun damage he acquired as a young man, you’d be singing a different tune. That being said, I know how annoying it is to slather yourself up with daily sunscreen. Most facial moisturizers now have an option of at least SPF 15 built in, but what about your body? You probably never even thought about that, but it is your largest area of skin. Duh. Your face is not the only place that can get wrinkles, FYI. I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t have the funds saved up for a knee lift, so I think prevention is the way to go.

You’re probably aware that sunscreen should be applied while lounging poolside, but here are a few times you probably don’t even think about needing sunscreen and you’re getting scorched:

1. Driving. You’ve got your shades on. It’s obviously sunny. A lot of your car is GLASS. The sun is coming in and you’re frying.
2. Outdoor activities/exercise. I’m guilty of this. I love a good run by the river and often forget that I’m getting sun exposure as I move. Just because you aren’t sprawled out on a beach blanket feeling the heat doesn’t mean you aren’t soaking up the UV’s.
3. Overcast days. This is actually one of the times you are more likely to get a sunburn. Just because the sun is not pounding down on you, doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
4. Winter. Ice, snow, and other shiny surfaces reflect the sun. You are also more likely to get a sunburn at higher altitudes so slap on that sunscreen when participating in winter sports.
5. Basically anytime you are in daylight.

It also doesn’t matter what your skin type is. Even if you have a darker complexion and tan easily, the sun’s rays can still penetrate your skin and damage the DNA of your skin cells, ultimately causing cancer. Yikes!

Something I’ve found that will make your life so much easier:

Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Moisturizer with SPF 30, $7.99

You need to moisturize daily anyway, why not just kill two birds with one stone? This is a cheap, easy, and straight forward way to keep your skin looking young, healthy, and smooth. Melanoma is sooo 2001.

xx,

WhyDid

Kirsten Smith, Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Moisturizer SPF 30, melanoma, skin cancer, sunscreen, when do I need sunscreen?, WhyDidYouWearThat

You Glow, Girl

Are you glowing like a young woman in love? Just radiating from the inside out with all the joy in your heart? No? Me neither. Luckily, for us, there’s a quick and easy way to fake that gorgeous glow. As mentioned before, I’m obsessed with Benetint to stain my lips and cheeks. Well, the people over at Benefit have really outdone themselves.

Benefit High Beam, $24

This little miracle in a bottle is perfect for adding some shine to your cheeks and brows to show off that perfect bone structure of yours. You can also go all out and blend over your entire face for that “dewy” look. Just don’t over do it. The point it is to look fresh faced, not freaky. This is a perfect pick me up when that cup of yerba mate is just not doing the trick. (I gave up coffee, remember?).

So, while you may not have a stomach full of love butterflies, at least you’ll look like you do. Don’t forget, like attracts like.

xx,

WhyDid

Give Some Lip

So, as girly as I am, there are two things that I just can’t seem to keep a handle on. Lipstick and nail polish. I’ve mentioned before that my nails are chipped more often than not. To go along with that, I really just CAN’T be bothered with applying and reapplying lipstick. I once tried one of those “long wearing” red lipsticks and was horrified that halfway through the night I looked like I’d sucked the blood from a baby pig (or just a reject from the next Twilight installment). This is why you’ll probably only catch me with some lipgloss, chapstick, or nothing on my lips.

For a while I was happy using Benetint for double duty on both lips and cheeks, but despite the berry stained color, it did nothing to moisturize my lips. So while perusing Sephora (that place is dangerous) waiting to meet up with friends for an afternoon cocktail, I stumbled upon something brilliant from Tarte:

Tarte Natural Lip Stain with LipSurgence, $24

This little gem combines both a stain with a moisturizing technology called Lipsurgence (6000% increase in lip moisture!) and is completely free of parabens and sulfates.  I picked “Charmed” which appeared to be a very light pink. (I tested it on the back of my hand). It has a minty scent/taste (not sure which?), and glides on smooth. I must warn you, the color is much more saturated on the lips, so I was more bubblegum pink than sheer pink. I suggest testing on your lips before purchasing. My lips stayed smooth and moisturized for a lot longer than lipgloss and even chapstick, not to mention that the color certainly does last (so make sure you like the color!). I use it all the time despite the Barbie pink shade. My girlfriend laughed at me while wearing it during our run on the Hudson the other day. Whatevs, you never know who you’ll meet!

xx,

WhyDid

Roll Out

People are always asking me what I did to get so much volume in my hair (even without the weave, folks). When I don’t blow my hair completely straight (more a result of me being lazy and not having enough time), I slap in some old school hot rollers. That’s right, rollers. The kind that your mom used back in the 80’s when you were a mere fetus. The ones I own (and actually swiped from my mom) are an older model of these:

Conair Jumbo Roller Instant Heat Hair Setter, $33.99

Everyone doubts me when I tell them all it takes is a set of jumbo rollers to add oomph to your wimpy ‘do. Yesterday we slapped them into our lovely photographer, Kellie Sliwa’s, luscious locks which she claims just won’t hold curl… and voila! She had a beautiful mane of heavenly curls. So how does one create vamp hair?

• Wash and condition hair as usual.
• Blow dry with flat brush to get the moisture out and smooth the tangles.
• Spritz (lightly) with hairspray.
• Section hair off and start at the back bottom and work your way to the top.
• Leave in hair while you do your makeup or pick out your outfit (although that one could take a while).
• Remove curlers in the order which you put them in (i.e., start from the back bottom).
• Shake out curls and spritz again. Do NOT brush.
• Boom! You’re a bombshell (but not a Bombshell McGee).

Happy curling!

xx,

WhyDid

Batting a Thousand

My mom always likes to remind me that I have her to thank for my dark lashes.  See, my father is as blonde as they come, meaning he has basically clear eyelashes and eyebrows.  While I was blessed with his blonde locks, I was also blessed with visible brows and lashes. Basically, I got the best of both worlds. Thanks, Mom! Thanks, Dad!

With that being said, too much is never enough.  I already have eyelashes long enough to make most swoon and at times have been accused of having falsies in.  I wanted even more though. Why wouldn’t I want my eyelashes to resemble furry caterpillars?  We’ve all seen the commercials for Latisse. It all sounds well and good until they get to the warning section and say this:

“LATISSE^® use may cause darkening of the eyelid skin which may be reversible. LATISSE^® use may also cause increased brown pigmentation of the colored part of the eye which is likely to be permanent.”

No thank you, sir.  I like my baby blues just the way they are.  It was only a matter of time before all the other beauty brands jumped on the bandwagon. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, of course.  Enter L’oreal Lash Boosting Serum.

L’oreal Lash Boosting Serum, $14.99

Applied both AM and PM it is said to give you visibly fuller, thicker natural lashes with less lash fall out when removing eye makeup after four weeks of use.  Centella Asiatica extract and Arginine are the ingredients responsible for said growth.  I’m a sucker for false promises so I purchased the serum a few weeks ago to give it a try.  (It is also available in tandem with a Double Extend mascara but you know how I feel about my Max Factor).  I was pleasantly surprised that after only a few weeks my lashes do, in fact, seem much fuller and fall out less (fewer wishes, I suppose).  Now I’m unstoppable.  I mean who can say “no” to a subtle bat of the lashes, especially when they’re so luscious.?

xx,

WhyDid

Just in the St. Nick of Time

Oh, right, it’s that time of year again. I guess that means I need to be less self absorbed for a few minutes and do some holiday shopping.  Luckily, like many of you, I’ve left this til the last minute, but have come up with some clever ideas that you can snatch up quickly and no one will be the wiser.

• Since I’m clearly obsessed with myself, I think a Flip Video recorder is kind of an awesome gift. Why would I not want to document my puppy’s every move? Or hilarious nights out with my friends? This is a great gift for new parents or newlyweds as well.

Flip Video Camera, $149.99-$199.99

• I got sushi making lessons as a gift once. It was actually a really fun and thoughtful gift. Do it as a couple of do it with a group of friends. The Institute of Culinary Educational has several different recreational classes that range from wine pairings to Italian cuisine.

• Clearly, I like to play games. Why not get a set of games, old classics like backgammon, Monopoly, or Trivial Pursuit? Just because we’re over the age of five doesn’t mean we should stop playing like children.  Besides, who doesn’t like a good challenge?

7 in 1 Game Compendium, $49.95

• A deliciously, wonderfully soft cashmere throw. I really can’t think of someone who would not appreciate this.  And I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a cashmere allergy.

Sofia Cashmere Fringed Throw, $300

• For your jet-setting friends, this little translator makes for an interesting gift. If you are really going for brownie points, couple this translator with a trip somewhere special where you can put this little guy to good use.

Lingo Xplorer Talking Translator, $219.99

• For your healthy friends who may not have time/access to the studios of Physique57, they now have full DVD sets of the workouts. Probably a good idea after stuffing your face all holiday season. No one likes a fatty…

Physique57 Complete 3 Disc Full Body Workout, $49.95

If these aren’t working for you, you could always reference my picks from last year (don’t forget my gift giving rules for you, fellas) since they are still relevant … well, except that painting of me and my ex-boyfriend that I received. But enough about me… Happy shopping.

xx,

WhyDid

Don’t you look Darling?

Basically, if a store could resemble my dream closet it would look like the inside of  Darling.  Owner, Ann French Emonts, a former costume designer for Broadway and theater, has really found a way to mix fashion forward pieces with chic vintage.  She has even created her own private label dress line that compliments Darling’s style.

From date tops and blouses, to dresses and skirts, Darling has got you covered.  Top off your latest fashion find with some carefully chosen accessories.  Not only will you look fantastic, you will not break the bank.  With tops ranging from $50-$225 and dresses from $98-$495, everyone can afford to look stunning. 

Feeling a little weary of your own fashion sense? The shopgirls or Darling are seasoned pro’s. They will put you in something flattering for whatever body type and whatever occassion. 

Check out Darling’s Little Black Dress Party this Thursday, December 3rd or come visit with us during Why Did You Wear That?’s One Year Anniversary party on Thursday, December 10th.

Darling

1 Horatio Street

New York, NY 10014

xx,

WhyDid