I sort of gave up on the fashion experiment. I do have a few outfits but I rarely even put on makeup anymore and most of the time when I go out, it’s to the barn in breeches and paddock boots. I did wear makeup on Monday night and my riding instructor was like, “Do you have makeup on? You look really… nice or something today.” So maybe I’ll start putting forth the effort again.

As I near 33, my skin is starting to look a bit older. I still have breakouts and blackheads and giant dark circles under my eyes and redness, and just ugh. So one of my top priorities is to get that taken care of. I think I’m going to go with Dermalogica. I started using their MediBac line late last year and while I like it, I don’t think it’s the right thing for me. I didn’t have their Skin Mapping analysis done, just a recommendation from an Ulta associate. So I’m going to do the mapping this month when they offer it and see what comes up.

I’ve also decided 2012 is the year of Nice Unders. After lots of recommendations from a friend, I finally bit the bullet and bought a bunch from Aerie, and I love them. Even at about a size 20, the XXL boy briefs fit about perfectly. And they’re cute. I was so sick of not-cute underwear.

Finally, I’ve joined Weight Watchers again. I had success with it about 8 years ago, and I’d like to lose weight to be able to ride better, and scuba dive better, and get my tall boots to zip. This is my first week, day four, and so far I’ve managed to stick to it. That’s more than I can say for any of my more recent attempts. I think I’m just more convinced this time.

So, anyway, hi again, and all that.

Thus far I’ve used each once. I got the Sensitive Skin version of the face wash, partly because it’s got a blue bottle and scrublet but mostly because I have sensitive skin. It felt surprisingly delightful to use, and hours later my face still feels nice and clean without being dry (I did use my toner and lotion as well, of course). I’ll post a real review after I’ve used the stuff for a week or two, though. Cross your fingers for no new milia.

The PhotoReady foundation is awesomesauce. Seriously. I love it. I thought I loved my ColorStay, but it turns out I didn’t. I haven’t yet noticed the sparkle in it — a few reviewers have pointed out that it looks almost glittery, but maybe my lighting just isn’t right to notice that? It doesn’t look as matte as the CS, which I like, especially in the dry-skin winter. I’m going to keep using it to see how it feels throughout the day and do a real review after a few more days.

All I can say is it’s a good thing I saved half of my Christmas money, because I need to buy that the day it comes out. If I miss out, I will be So Sad. I even like the colors. I’ve already got a pretty large Alice-themed BPAL perfume collection; this is a definite must-have.

OMG. SQUEE!!!!

OPI Comet Loves Cupid

It’s kind of perfectly retro red, don’t you think? I really expected it to look like ass on me, because it looks almost red-orange in the bottle, and it’s definitely not a blue red. But as soon as I swiped it on I went “Ooh!” On further thought, I think I do need a bottle of it. This is two coats, and as you can see it’s not quite opaque (and not quite cleaned up yet, either), but the formula goes on really easily and the shade is just too perfect.

This is the first time I’ve done my nails this year. Things have gotten off to a rocky start; 2010, you are officially on notice. Got it? I feel much better now that I have done them, though. The well-chipped Christmas manicure was not doing it for me. Maybe now I’ve got a nice manicure, I can keep making progress towards other small tasks that have been sliding.

Day 3

Earrings: Target

Shirt: Avenue

Grey tank: Old Navy

Grey belt: Merona (Target)

Jeans: Seven7 from TJMaxx

Shoes: Frye Harness 8R boots

Makeup: Revlon CS foundation in Buff; Smashbox SoftLights in Tint; WnW blush in Heather Silk; MUFE Aqua Eyes plum pencil liner; Smashbox Bionic mascara; Smashbox Shutter lipgloss

So, how’s the start of the year going? Well, erm. The past two days have been more focused on (1) becoming un-hungover and (2) my weight loss and fitness resolution. So what we have here, roughly, is um, me in pajamas, with no makeup on and unwashed hair. But hey, starting the bar so low means I can only go up, right?

I present my first OOTD of 2010, which I call “slob in a cold house:”

OOTD: 2 January 2010

Hair: the Needs to be Washed style

Makeup: None, featuring Allergic Undereye Circles

Shirts: blue long-sleeve, Target; grey polo shirt, stolen from husband

First, the shower.

Really, I doubt you need or especially want particular details about my showering habits. I will mention that it’s one of the few things in life I prefer to do top-down. I use my bar soap on my face right now but really need to switch over to something more gentle for the winter; I’m not including what I think I’ll use, yet, since I’m not using it and therefore don’t know what it is. I’m also not really going to include the cost of depilatory stuff, because the scheduling on that is highly irregular, and it seems kind of gross to talk about right now.

• Shampoo: L’Oreal Everpure; $5 (on sale; I bought a couple of bottles). With shorter hair I think I probably get at least 60 uses out of each bottle. I think. Per use: $0.08

• Conditioner: See above — L’Oreal Everpure, $5 on sale, 60 uses (let’s pretend I’m about right on this. Per use: $0.08.
• Soap: Arcana of some sort. I’m pretty entirely devoted to their soaps now; they’re moisturizing and they smell awesome. $6 at the Soap Box Company and I’ll say about 30 uses, since they last me around a month. Per use: $0.20.
• Scrub: I use the moisturizing scrubs from Arcana as well, and sometimes Villainess, or Super Bad. I get these at SBC as well, and they average around $10 for… well, probably 10 uses. I really don’t use them every day, though; sometimes I use lotion instead when I get out of the shower, mostly Palmer’s Cocoa Butter, $4 on sale for 30 uses or so. So the average per use is about $0.35.

Post-Shower Fun and Games

Not that kind, sillies. Basically it goes like this: Deodorant, Q-tips, toner, treatment, moisturizer. I’m not including toothpaste or toothbrushes because I think that’s basic health care right there, right? Although arguably some of the rest of this would fall into that area as well. Anyway. I’m also being really stupid at the moment because you’ll notice a lack of sunscreen here. I ran out of the one I was using (UV naturals) and hated it, so I’m looking for something different. But I really should be wearing it. I also need an AHA eye cream because of milia, but I don’t have one yet.

• Q-tips. Do I need to explain these? I generally end up using four; one for each ear, one for the Benzaclin, and one to touch up eye makeup. At $1 for 375 (on sale! duh!), they’re about $0.003 each, so call it $0.01 per day.
• Toner: I use Grace from Angel Face Botanicals, which I absolutely love. I think it smells good and it makes it a lot easier to apply Benzaclin and lotion. It’s $9/bottle, and a bottle lasts me 6 weeks or so, which works out to $0.21 per day.

• Acne Treatment: Sadly, I still get zits. FTMFL, really. I have a prescription for Benzaclin gel. It works magical magic wonders and is totally worth it, but I always get sticker shock when I have to refill. It’s $90 for a 90 day supply, so $1 a day. It smells like swamp ass, too. But it works.
• Moisturizer: Also from Angel Face Botanicals; I use the Chamomile Exquisite Creme. I’ve been using it for a little over a year now and I can’t say enough good things about it; it makes my skin look more glowy and just generally soothes my poor allergy-torn skin. It smells like tea, to me. A jar is $20 and even with generous use it lasts me 2 months. Per use: $0.33.

• Deodorant: Dove Clinical, $10 a pop, lasts a month. Per use: $0.33.

Hair

Usually, with the new haircut (and in the past when I’ve had shorter hair), I throw some mousse in and blow dry. Sometimes I don’t bother. I’m trying to learn to round brush while I blow dry but it’s sort of beyond my capabilities right now. Once it’s dry I use a flat iron or curling iron to heat up segments of hair, wrap them around a Velcro roller, spray at the bottom with some hair spray, then let them sit that way for a while. Take the rollers out, brush, style, etc. I’ll be adding a heat protectant and probably a shine spray here soon. Also, some days, I just let it air dry and then futz around with it; I need to get some styling putty type stuff for days like that. I love Bed Head’s something-or-other in the orange tube, and the Aveda stuff that looks like deodorant.

• Blow dryer, flat iron, curling iron, rollers, bobby pins, brush, etc. Honestly, how often do you have to replace these items? Hardly ever, I think, and also I don’t feel like looking up prices and trying to break it all down, plus I’d then have to include the electricity used, and that’s bordering on too OCD even for me. So I’m going to call it $0.20 as the amortized cost of all the durable items I use.
• Mousse: So Gorgeous Volumizing Root Mousse, $6 at Sally Beauty Supply. Honestly, this lasts me about three months. I don’t need very much. $0.07 per use.
• Hair spray: I use either Aquanet or So Gorgeous Volumizing Hair Spray, depending on the day. Sometimes both. Aquanet is $3 for a GIANT can at CVS, and the So Gorgeous is $6 at Sally, so let’s call it $0.05. Work for you? It works for me.

Ze Face

Ah, yes, my favorite part. This is my default, don’t feel like being fancy, basic face.

• Brushes, sharpeners, eyelash curlers, etc. Like hair “hardware,” I’m not really counting in the cost of these.

• Foundation: Revlon ColorStay in Buff (I’m MAC NC20 or MUFE HD 118). I love it, honestly, and though I really want to try the MUFE, I probably won’t be doing so anytime soon. CVS does BOGO on Revlon really often, so it costs me about $6.50 for a bottle, and a bottle lasts… eh, let’s call it a month, which is overestimating how much I use, but whatever. Per use: $0.21.
• Concealer: Mostly I just use the Revlon CS; it actually works really well for this. But I have horrible dark undereye circles, and for those I occasionally break out some Benefit Boi-ing. I’m finding I don’t love it as much in the winter — it’s stiffer and harder to apply because my skin is drier overall. I buy this set from Sephora which is a freaking steal at $8. Seriously. I’m really fair, but the Medium concealer works on me since I need peach to hide the circles. So let’s call it $4 for the Boi-ing half, and it lasts… um… a really long time. Shall we say 120 days? Per use: $0.03.
• Highlighter: Mostly I just use the EyeBright half of the Benefit set I linked above. I’ve tried Wet n’ Wild Acapulco Glow but it photographs so very badly (hello, metallic face!) that I’ve decided I don’t really love it. Either way, the cost works out to about the same $0.03 per day. I’ll try to do a tutorial sometime on how I use these products.
• Bronzer: Smashbox SoftLights in Tint. I’ve had this for over a year and it really doesn’t even look dented, and no, I don’t really feel like I need to throw it out and replace it, because I clean my makeup brushes regularly and occasionally sanitize the surface of the makeup with alcohol. But we’ll say it lasts a year, just for the sake of. Per use: $0.08.
• Blush: Wet n’ Wild Heather Silk. It’s pretty much a dead-on dupe for NARS Mata Hari, and it costs $3, or $1.50 if you hit a WnW BOGO at the drugstore. It’s really highly pigmented so you only need the tiniest little bit, and if they discontinue this my heart will break. I’m going to say this lasts one year as well, which means it’s $0.004 per use. Yeah.
• Eye Primer: UDPP, duh! I actually have NOT tried Too Faced Shadow Insurance or the ELF primer. Urban Decay Primer Potion is $17 and a tube lasts about six months for me. Per use: $0.09.
• Eyeshadow: My go-to is the Smashbox Eye Shadow Trio in Headshot. (HA HA HEADSHOT!) It’s a good, natural palette for my coloring, and it wears really well. $28, and I’ve had this for a year as well, so we’ll call it $0.08 too.
• Eyeliner: Smashbox Cream Eyeliner in Midnight Brown. I wish WnW would come out with their cream eyeliner in brown; alas, black and purple aren’t my everyday go-to color. So I use this, which is $22 and lasts a year (again, I wash my brushes every night; I’m probably still going to when to throw away makeup hell); per use: $0.06.
• Mascara: Right now I am sort of in love with this Fresh mascara duo. I really prefer to use sample-sized mascaras, because they dry up and/or I feel like I have to throw them out before I get anywhere near done with a full-sized tube. $10 for three months’ use, more or less. Per use: $0.11.

And then…

There’s the perfume. I honestly couldn’t tell you how long an average 5ml bottle of BPAL or Arcana lasts me, and I do have a few more expensive scents. Right now my everyday go-to is Balmain Ambre Gris. I’ll guess that it’s about $0.20 per day for scent. Probably. Maybe.

And so the grand total for an average, basic kind of day is (roughly rounded) $3.75. I can’t decide if I feel like that’s pretty good or rather too much. I didn’t include nail polish in that, either, but still. I think it’s pretty good. How about you?

So today instead of my usual slobby PJ pants and a shirt (look, it’s not like I leave the house much), I’m wearing this outfit, which you really can’t see because the phone takes kind of craptacular pics. Oops.

Shirt: Avenue?

Skirt: Old Navy

Earrings: Vintage

Yup, so it’s about as comfy as PJs but looks at least a little better, I hope. I love these earrings. I got them from Z’s great-aunt Dolores, who is exactly the kind of old lady I hope to become someday. Anyway, I don’t know what happened, but apparently I can wear earrings now without horrible allergic reactions. This is awesome. I mean, I’ve only had them pierced for 20 years.

Not much makeup today, gentle reader. Mascara and lip gloss, the end. Not that you can tell in these pictures anyway, really. I wonder if the phone takes better pics in really good lighting? Expect to see lots of OOTDs, and if I stop posting them, feel free to kick my ass in reminder.

I’m going to Pittsburgh this weekend for BFF’s holiday/birthday/awesome party, and I get to have lunch with another good friend and breakfast with one of my sisters. Said sister is going shopping for a wedding dress tomorrow, and I wish I’d known, because I’d have tried to go for that. Foo.

Two, I did a little shopping at Old Navy today. I didn’t really have an outfit for Christmas, and I felt like I needed one, so I picked up a tank and skirt as well as several t-shirts for the husband, who desperately needs them. The boy wears holes in his and picks all the wrong colors, so we’re going to play up his soft summer coloring. Just don’t tell him that’s what I’m doing, but I think he’ll look good.

I also got myself this necklace for $8:
I’ve been coveting it for a while, after seeing it on Gigi’s blog. I really hope it’s not choker-short on me but I can add some chain to it if need be.

Really, now all I need is a cardigan (preferably an open one, with an asymmetrical hem), a belt, and some tights, and of course more shoes (because I always need more shoes). I’m trying not to spend too much on clothes, since I’ve so far lost 7 pounds and a few inches in a few places, and hope to continue that trend.

Long way of getting to this: ON’s got a sale code that’s good through December 15. Enter ONSAVE20 to get 20% off your entire order. They’ve got free shipping for orders over $50 right now, too.