Dermalogica

Last week I was invited to a press release of Dermalogica Age Reversal Eye Cream and their relaunch of the Concealing Spot Treatment. To continue my venture into the world of YouTube, I put together a comprehensive introduction to the products featuring Annet King, Director of Global Education of The International Dermal Institute (founded by Jane Wurwand – also founder of Dermalogica skincare). She says it all better than I ever could have, so watch the video, and stay tuned for the photos and review!


Learn anything new?

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Scarf It Down

Nothing welcomes in a cold front like a piece of fabric around your neck. I’m a huge fan of ombre colors and pashminas every shade of the rainbow. My recent interest in knitting and crochet has also added to the scarf maze. My new goal? A pretty cowl, or infinity scarf.

There are different variations available, from the chunkiest knits for warmth, to the thinnest strands to replace a necklace. If you want to wrap it around your neck more than once, make sure that when trying on, it measures around your neck to your waist on both the right and left side at least.

How about if you want to put the scarf under your outfit and utilize it for it’s optimal warmth qualities? If using a scarf that can wrap (as opposed to a cowl), flatten out the ends into your sweater or blazer. This acts as an extra layer on your torso and adds quite a bit of warmth.

If you’re toting a scarf for just in case purposes, there’s always the option of wrapping it around yourself like a diva (I love the look!) over any outfit. From T-shirts to peacoats, a scarf on top never looks bad. Check out the look above for the different styles, and as always, clicking on the image brings you to the retailer.

What’s your scarf style?

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China Glaze Lights Up the Holidays

MyOwnJudgeIt may have taken me a bit to post the color swatches of these polishes, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. Mostly, I spent the time checking out each color and turning into a mad scientist mixing them.

What am I talking about? Remember the China Glaze Limited Edition holiday colors? Yeah – I’ve been having a jolly good time with those.

The holiday collection features some beautiful whites, reds, and greens. I understood the red and green but had to dig deep for the white. Once I made the snow correlation, I felt a little silly. The holiday collection consists of a whopping roster of 16 colors featuring (in addition to the white, reds, and greens) a blue and an Olympic bronze-y copper, silver, and gold.MyOwnJudgeThe colors photographed with flash. These are all pretty true to how the colors look in person. All swatches were done with two coats.
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Then I had a bright idea. Sure, the matte craze has died down a bit. Companies have released plenty of matte topcoats (some better than others), and are back to their creams, satins, and shimmers. But how does it look flat?MyOwnJudgePretty fancy, eh? I am the most happiest with the metal colors when matte. They look like they’re hiding behind frosted glass.

Lest you thought I was done with the experimenting though, I continued to mix colors (only with coats) to see if I was missing out on some kind of secret.
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See my math equations? Ha! I’m loving how all the glitters look mixed together, but Party Hearty also looks beyond awesome as a top coat to nearly everything.

What’s your favorite? Which do you want to see on a mani?

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=myowju-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0043R4V38&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr
http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=myowju-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0043QZWIC&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=myowju-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0045R7OKI&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr

Disclaimer: This product was sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on MOJ remain unbiased and unpaid. For more info, feel free to contact the author.

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Eva’s Outfit Changes – You Be the Judge

MyOwnJudgeEva Longoria-Parker had some serious outfit changing duties as the host of the MTV Europe Awards. She became a thirteen outfit rockstar, and I’m not even sure if the lucky 13 includes her “ham dress.” It didn’t stop at outfits though. Eva sported different hairstyles as easily as she changed dresses and pantless (the trend of the night) outfits. Check out how she went from wavy to straight, and short to long in under three hours. What!

Photo Credit: HollywoodLife and DailyMail UK

There were some outfits that were harder to get images of, so we’ll have to settle for the majority! 🙂

Which look are you the biggest fan of?
I’m loving #s 1, 4, and 7.

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There is No New Black

MyOwnJudgeAlmost every ‘it’ color has experienced a period of time when it was proclaimed to be the new black. Bright hues, duller variations, everything has had it’s day, but black? Black is an everlasting constant. No matter when and where someone may announce a color as the new black, black itself never loses it’s place or recognition.

Photo Credit: The Phun and HotCelebsHome                                 Graphics Courtesy of MyOwnJudge.net

As fall is rapidly threatening to transform into winter any day now, the flimsy bright fabrics that were a summer staple flap in the wind as the temperatures drop. Longer sleeves and sturdier fabrics like wool are warranted. The lucky fashionistas closer to the equator probably don’t ever have to worry about significant drops, but closets feel it universally.

When the weather switches, collections often take a turn to darker tones for fabrics. Black is frowned upon in the summer because of it’s propensity to attract sunlight and thus, heat, but in the colder months, well – that’s optimal! But how do you stand out in a sea of black pantsuits and dresses? It’s all in the details. Whether you want an architectural twist with sharp angles and nips in unexpected places (see Kourtney above, or Eva below), or you’re more of a shine girl with belts and sequins (Khloe, Kim, Olivia), the standout feature is the detail on the outfit. The contrast of one detail to the other is what draws the eye to the outfit (and the pretty face rockin’ it!). If your outfit lacks details, but is warm and/or slimming (as black garments often are), make up for it with some killer accessories.MyOwnJudgeEva Longoria-Parker was showing some serious leg at the European MTV Awards, while the Kardashian sisters battled the chilly weather in New York for the launch of their Northeast Dash addition.

Both divas adhered to the rule of showing skin on one half of the body and covering up the opposite, but with a twist. The dresses have peekaboo backs, with sheer insets. The best about baring so much leg is the elongated effect you have when pairing the short length with sky high heels. You could even take a page from Eva‘s book and add some serious gold shimmer or a bronzer to the front of your legs for even more attention and definition.

With that said, I’d like to know who rocked the black mini dress better. Was it Eva with the satin shine and updo or Kim with the sequin number and casual long locks (even longer than usual, too!)?MyOwnJudgeA closer look at the makeup. The two rocked similar looks, though Eva‘s contains more gold in the powder and the gloss, whereas Kim‘s has more of a peach undertone on the cheeks. The lashes are also different, with Kim rocking her signature all over, extra lash.

Who wins in your book; Eva or Kim?

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Rihanna Style Diary

MyOwnJudgeRihanna has had quite a travel schedule as her album has hit shelves recently. There’s all over the US, London, and most recently Madrid. Sometimes she graces different continents with each coming day.

Photo Credit: The Phun and HotCelebsHome

Recently, her stylings have been both highs and lows for me. Her low was in Madrid, when she paired high waist shorts, knee high knit stockings, and oxford heels with an oversize shearling (check out my best picks for the trend here) coat. The coat is way out of proportion and swallows the usually fashionable gal, making her look of a size that she definitely isn’t.

The win was her interesting pairing of a side cut-out heather grey corset with an architectural mini skirt. Her neutral suede heels had a thinner than thin heel, and just like that, I was in love. The skirt looked like it needed more upkeep than just simple wear – it needed two hands, one in each pocket, to get the overall effect. Once Riri got that down, the look was flawless. Do you agree?

Whose style do you like?

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MOJ at IMATS Toronto!

MyOwnJudge - IMATS
I’ll save all the ranting for later, but suffice it to say, you knew that I was heading to IMATS if you follow me on Twitter. I had a grand master plan of taking a ten hour bus ride across the border to check out the show that never graced the east coast.

There is a New York IMATS for the upcoming year in the works, but I felt like I was really missing out on an experience, so I had nothing else left to do but embark on my journey.
Is there any product you wanted to see? Have you been to the event? Any advice?

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Rosie! … err Pink!

MyOwnJudgeThe release of Pink‘s new video for Raise Your Glass(remember my anticipation?) has been refreshing. Common to the previous videos she did, where she is tackling popular topics, people, and institutions, she does it again. This time, apart from being the working man fighting sumo style against the corporate world, she is also a vengeful bull and Rosie the Riveter. The last character may fit into the scheme of things, but no one really put their finger on the similarities or the singer’s ability to pull of the role so well (at least in looks).

Photo Credit: Cover Awards

Check out the video and tell me how you like it:http://www.vevo.com/VideoPlayer/Embedded?videoId=USLV41000033&playlist=false&autoplay=0&playerId=62FF0A5C-0D9E-4AC1-AF04-1D9E97EE3961&playerType=embedded&env=0

What do you think?

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Babor Cosmetics Makeover

MyOwnJudgeA couple of weeks ago, I had the honor of attending a product preview event and met the people behind Babor Cosmetics. The company has proven to be more than just adept at creating skin care products – they have been keeping busy for over half a century (yes I’m serious – check the company’s milestones here). Although I haven’t tried the skincare products yet, I do have to admit that a company who prospered for so long is on to something, and it’s not just the packaging. Speaking of the packaging, doesn’t it look great?

As I walked past the Babor table, the powers that be must have sensed my lack of knowledge and experience with the brand and I was immediately asked if I wanted to try out the products and get a makeover.

Would I turn that down? Nope

Elsa, the makeup artist hooked me up with a natural look appropriate for any occasion and any time of the day.MyOwnJudgeThroughout the process, I was being the inquisitive me that I’ve grown to be so good at. As a makeup artist, would she use the makeup brushes that come hand in hand with the brushes and other Babor products?

Honestly, I generally would suggest a consumer get separate brushes, but the ones that come with this packaging work very well and hold just enough powder.

After moisturizing my face (with guess which brand product), Elsa got right to the bane of my cosmetic existence: the dark areas which are all around my eye. You wouldn’t necessarily notice them, except I have a face that is slightly oval, but when I smile, turns as round as an apple. The big cheeks press up by my eyes and create creases and spotlights onto everything, everything I do not want noticed. She did only one side of the face before taking to show me the difference.MyOwnJudge
The lid looks like someone took a magic eraser to it, and under the eye and the inner eye has less shadows peeking out to wave hello.
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We decided to do a before and after with me smiling, because I was smart enough not to have a straight face to show you all the gruesome stuff, so I posed like a cheeseball. You live and you learn.MyOwnJudge
Elsa and I.

Since the after photo was probably not much help, I took some adequate pictures afterward.
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Elsa used olive eyeshadow and dark brown liner to line the outer corner of the eyes. She used a light peach/rosy colored on my cheeks and a similar colored lip color. The blush looks like a natural rosiness, no?
MyOwnJudgeCloseup on the olive shadow Elsa chose for me and the Babor mascara.They all do pretty good work!

Have you ever tried the brand?

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Watson Channels Twiggy

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British darling (although she’s supposed to be on the east coast going to Brown, right?) Emma Watson graced the pages of UK Vogue for their December issue, channeling model great Twiggy. From her sleek crop ‘do to the mod white shift she wore, it looked like a back in the day photograph.

Photo Credit: The Phun

The star, who is also in the Burberry campaign and a November Seventeen cover across the pond in Mexico has been making very wise fashion choices, and it’s a pleasure to see a starlet on the right track fashionwise and careerwise as well. Of course there is also the Harry Potter franchise no one could forget. The next flick from the series is hitting theaters this month. Are you excited?

Do you like it?

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