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BEAUTY CONFIDENTIAL: Learning to grow up and stop being a swag hag
When I whispered on my blog about the orgy of free designer goods sent to beauty editors, I simply marveling at the fact, not complaining about it or trying to take down the industry. (Trust me.) Who knew a job existed where you’re paid to write about lipstick and get free haircuts and visit chichi spas gratis and have a bathroom rivaling Sephora and receive free Marc Jacobs and Chanel and Louis Vuitton everything as gifts at Christmastime? Uh … who wouldn’t like that?
But then I got outed and stopped working as a magazine editor and starting focusing at the time on other stuff (freelancing, my blog, my books, Laguna Beach). I still received beauty products to test and write about, though of course not with the same frequency I did before—when you’re getting between twenty and thirty bags a day filled to the brim with shampoo, candles and eye shadow, anything less, even while still an embarrassment of riches, pales in comparison. But once I stopped working at home and didn’t have an office—or a beauty closet—to store everything in, I couldn’t have handled many more products, anyway. That’s fine. I’m been stocked with conditioner and foundation and moisturizer for the next four years or so.
It’s the purses I miss.
Ahh, the purses. Every week, a new bag, smartly wrapped from a chipper PR company and more often than not accompanied by a relevant product. Orange essence facial cleanser? Here! Try some, and while you’re at it, here’s an orange Longchamp bag to go with it! Sick of dry skin when you fly? Try our miracle moisturizing balm, perfect for long, arid flights. Oh, hell, while you’re at it, take this DVF travel bag, too! Tired of reviewing beauty products? You have had an awfully long year. Here’s a Rafe purse, with our compliments. Love ya! Write about us!
Several years of working in the industry has provided me with a varied and numerous array of duffle bags, LL Bean totes, wristlets, clutches, hobos, overnighters, and shoulder bags. I really don’t need to buy another purse … well … ever. But how can you go from all to nothing? “How will I survive Christmas without a fresh supply of totes (and scarves and wallets and sunglasses, too)?” I thought. Oh, cruel world that rains Gucci upon you and then suddenly yanks it all away!
Then I realized, um, it’s just stuff. And I started focusing on more important stuff, like, mmm, writing—and the very thing I was meant to be focusing on, which was beauty, of course. Silly me.
CHAPTER ONE PRODUCT GUIDE
Price Guide
$: less than $10
$$: between $10 and $24
$$$: between $25 and $49
$$$$: between $50 and $100
$$$$$: more than $100
NARS blush in Orgasm, $$$, narscosmetics.com
Terax Crema, $$, sephora.com
Essie Mademoiselle, $, essiecosmetics.com
OPI I’m Not Really a Waitress, $, opi.com
Mario Badescu Drying Potion, $$, mariobadescu.com
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, $$, shuuemura-usa.com
Bumble and Bumble Does It All Styling Spray, $$, bumbleandbumble.com for locations
Cetaphil Face Wash, $, drugstores
Kiehl’s Lip Balm # 1, $, kiehls.com
Lancôme Definicils, $$, lancôme-usa.com
Phytodefrisant, $$$, phyto-usa.com
Lancôme Flash Bronzer Instant Colour Self-Tanning Leg Gel, $$$, lancome-usa.com
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Radiant Touch, $$$, nordstrom.com
Giorgio Armani Eyeshadow #12, $$$, giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com for locations
Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Bone, $$, bobbibrowncosmetics.com
NARS Eyeshadow in Nepal, $$, sephora.com
NARS blush in Sin, $$, sephora.com
Benefit Dandelion, $$, benefitcosmetics.com
Mac Pinch O’Peach, $$, maccosmetics.com
Jane Blushing Cheeks Powder Blush in Blushing Petal, $, drugstores
Clinique Black Honey, $$, clinique.com
Giorgio Armani Shine Gloss #4, $$, giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com for locations
Stila Lip Pot in Mure, $$, stila.com
Dior eye shadow, $$$, eluxury.com
Chanel eye shadow, $$$, chanel.com
Lancôme eye shadow, $$$, Lancôme .com
MAC eyeshadow, $$$, maccosmetics.com
Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely, $$$, sarahjessicaparkerbeauty.com
Glow by J.Lo, $$$, shopjlo.com
Clive Christian, $$$$$, neimanmarcus.com, saksfifthavenue.com
Rimmel, $, drugstores
Sally Hansen polish, $, drugstores
Revlon nail polish, $, drugstores
Essie nail polish, $, essie.com for locations
Olay Regenerist, $$, drugstores
L’oreal Elnett hairspray: $$, zitomer.com
Jemma Kidd Makeup School Lasting Tint Semi-Permanent Waterproof Mascara: $$$, neimanmarcus.com
Santa Maria Novella: $$, lafcony.com
Claus Porto: $$, lafcony.com
Dr Hauschka: $$$, drhauschka.com
La Roche Posay Anthelios XL: $$$, zitomer.com
Diptyque candles: $$$, neimanmarcus.com
Excerpted from "Beauty Confidential: The No Preaching, No Lies, Advice-You'll- Actually-Use Guide to Looking Your Best” by Nadine Haobsh. Copyright 2007 Nadine Haobsh. Reprinted with permission of HarperCollins. All rights reserved.
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