Stacy B here! These last few weeks have been pretty rough, and not just because of the holidays. It's year end for me in my full time job which means I have to do a TON of data gathering, reporting out, metrics projects, putting together presentations for the management team and answering tons of questions about everything that happened in 2011 in my group. It's a lot and it means 2-3 weeks where I am buckled down in my desk, going cross-eyed staring at data, barely moving and just trying to stay awake.
 
My poor husband has been making dinner every night for me and my son (normally I cook about 4 days a week and he takes the other three. And yes, that usually means at least one or two of those nights we order in or go out!) I'd come home and he'd take one look at me and banish me to the couch with strict instructions to rest for a bit and 'not to overwork myself since growing a human should be my number one job right now'. Ha! Yes, I'm growing a human and it's not easy. But a supportive husband who's not bad at cooking makes it a lot better!
 
On top of work stress, there's the usual holiday stuff, events, parties, shopping, late nights wrapping and baking and dealing with a very head strong 3-year-old who just about 'gets it' when it comes to Christmas and is definitely getting some Santa fever along with the normal toddler defiance. This morning he told me Daddy was his best buddy, not me because I told him what to do all the time and he didn't want to listen anymore. Thanks kid. Can't wait to make all your Christmas dreams come true.
 
What's the first thing that usually screams "I'm stressed" to the whole world? Skin. Breakouts, tired skin and my worst enemy, bags and circles under the eyes. And, OMG...I am starting to notice a few LINES around my eyes. Are you kidding me??? What a holiday surprise that was. Hopefully they are stress induced and they will go away next week when I have 9 of the next 12 days off.
 
I have a routine I have been using for years and years to cover the dark circles up and I'm pretty good at it. It hasn't changed in awhile so adding a new step makes me nervous. Just to clarify, my problem is more the dark circles than bags. I don't get very puffy, I just get that awful shadow under my eyes that might as well hold a sign that says "I haven't had a good night sleep in weeks!"
 
These last few weeks I've been using Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer.  I'm not ashamed to admit: I'm a mean girl when it comes to eye cover-up. I'm skeptical of new products, unlikely to welcome them to my group, and search for each flaw to exploit weaknesses.

Meg here! I would like to let you all know that my life is absolutely ridiculous and I'm in on the joke so please no hate emails about how superficial and stupid I am. I mean, I know. You don't have to take the precious time out of your lives to let me know, yes Carol in St. Louis, I'm talking to you. Leave me alone. I don't force you to read my babble you bitter, mean spirited witch.

So, lets get to the dirt. I love Chanel purses. I don't have a 401k or children or anything like normal but I do treat myself to an obscenely expensive handbag once a year. I meet with fashion and beauty editors constantly and if I don't have the right purse and shoes I'm not getting taken seriously so it's a business expense? Plus, I like them. No, I love them. There's no shame in my game and if a quilted bag makes me happy and costs as much as a used luxury car then shoot me. Maybe I need to find God but I've been praying at the altar of the House Of Chanel for as long as I can remember, religion is personal.

Dave and my main gay Denny were at my house and I was due for a little forehead and lip injections. As I say in the video, I date someone 5 years younger then me, which is new for me. The age difference doesn't bother me, as long as no one is the wiser that there's an age difference. Is that vain and wrong? Perhaps, but I never claimed to be a role model.

Anyhow, I asked Dave if he would film it and Denny is staying with me so he had no choice in the matter. We were talking needles and blood and pain and then this happened...

Meg: OMG, no really, OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! (I grab the corner of my kitchen table to keep me from fainting on the ground)
Dave & Denny: they yell from the living room-What happened? We can't talk about blood. She's about to collapse. Meg!! What's wrong?

I have no words. I can't speak. All I can do is raise my treasured, black Chanel Caviar collection handbag off the table. It's at this point they see, it's so much worse then fainting from a medical conversation. My leather handle has become ripped from the bag. It's hanging on by threads. After a DECADE of seasonal use, RIP Black Quilted Chanel.

I did what any good, superficial woman in Hollywood does. I said...
We have to go get my lip shot up and my forehead done and then immediately head into Chanel. The salespeople will see my fresh facial work blood and treat me nicely. If they see all the needle marks on my face then they'll think rich Beverly Hills bitch and we might get some service. The absolute ridiculousness of this statement shows that I was in a state of panic. I have not budgeted for a new, black Chanel bag.

Dr. Simon Ourian is not only the BEST celebrity cosmetic dermatologist in Beverly Hills and his practice The Epione Center is an A-List mecca, he's also my friend. He's my friend and I love him and his wife. I also love that since he has a Beverly Hills wife he understood when I said "Simon, can we please hurry and fix my face? I've had a day. My Chanel bag broke." Like any smart man in the know he replied "Oh no, are you O.K.? I'm on my way."

Yes, again, I know. I never would answer "world peace" for my one wish in a beauty pageant. I don't think you're fake if you just own it. I'm a good person and I love Ross and Loehmann's so don't begrudge me over my Chanel bag meltdown. Why am I even apologizing? Stop being so judgey!!

The only thing that can make me feel better is having poison injected into my face. That and double vodka tonics. If I can't rely on my stupid expensive purse to get me by then I'm going to have to rely on another old bag that's fading...My face.

I decided to go with "don't look at my bag that is in the wrong color for this season, hopefully you will be distracted by my new, plump lips." My Gram reads this site and she is salt of the earth, goes to church everyday and probably never spent more then $30 on a purse on sale so I hope you log off now Gram because, much like Carol from St. Louis, I don't need to hear it. I KNOW.

I went to Simon's and I look as amazing as a well maintained 35 year old can look. Botox? Does it hurt? No and no and no. Please believe me. Lips? Yes, they hurt. It's not Dr. Ourian, they just hurt. I mean you're shooting stuff into your lips that make them expand. I want to yell out OWWWW! When he does it but instead, completely subconsciously, I hum The Star Spangled Banner which is so odd. I'm patriotic and all but it must be a past life thing. How is that my go to and not Born This Way?

It's been a day since my shots and they look fab. The purse? Well, it can be fixed. I told my boyfriend what happened under the guise of "Santa, I've been a good girl." His non-Simon response? "You need a new black bag? OK, does it have to be Chanel?" Who even asks that? It's (next to my dog Prudence) my one happiness in life. Yes. Santa, it HAS TO BE CHANEL!

Meg here! You know I absolutely love Classified Cosmetics! I'm not the only one, did you know the makeup artist for that little indie movie Twilight ordered 1,000 can for the cast! Seriously, that's how she got "Bella's" super smooth and even skin.

You don't have to be a vampire in training to experience the same gorgeous, airbrush finish, but, you do have to live in New Jersey to have Classified Cosmetics founder, Yolanda apply it on you.

OK, lucky Jersey girls. The info is below, while you're out doing your holiday shopping be sure to stop in and experience Lord & Taylor's classified event!
Don't miss the exclusive trunk show...TOMORROW at Lord + Taylor:

Saturday, December 10th (11am-6pm)

The Fashion Center
East Ridgewood Avenue
Paramus, NJ 07652 
201-447-0400

Classified Cosmetics National Makeup Artist Team with special appearances at both locations by celebrity makeup artist and company founder, Yolanda Halston.

Meg here! Baby it's cold outside, it's been dipping in the low 60's here in Los Angeles. I know, cold is relative, OK?
I've been traveling back and forth NYC-LA and it's definitely been logging some miles on my skin. I'm usually pretty oily and only get a bit dry on my cheeks, not so much this past week. I don't know if it's possible but my face has completely decided to change tone. Friday night I was parked on my couch, I had two parties to attend and I was too exhausted to move, plus my face hurt. Yes, my face felt chapped, my lips were dry and I was in no mood to put on my dancing shoes. The only place I could motivate was to my powder room's mirror. I didn't like what I saw there much either. My skin was actually flaking. I had manage to do it. All of my skin drying flying had given me what looked like face dandruff. Sexy.

It was time to pull out the big guns. I have had a jar of 3Labs "M" Cream sitting in my product cabinet for a couple of months. I never touched it. It was in reserve for a special time of emergency.

I read all about this product online, and this line caught my eye "The first cosmetic product that contains stem cells from the rare Uttweiler Spatlauber Swiss apple, SO RARE THAT ONLY THREE TREES REMAIN IN EXISTENCE!?

Jeanasina here! It’s been awhile since I have posted anything here on Meg’s but recently I had a chance encounter with some new products and I just really felt the overwhelming NEED to tell you about them!

One afternoon, I was in a new CVS Pharmacy store to get a flu shot. I was dilly-dallying around near skin care department, on my way out of the store – when I was suddenly sidetracked, by a small display of products I’d had not seen before…The Nuance line by Salma Hayek!

I had no idea Salma Hayek had a skin care line or that she had any products out there under her name! That night, intrigued, I went home, went onto the CVS pharmacy website and began my research.

After reading reviews on the Nuance skin care, Nuance shampoos/conditioners and Nuance make-up products she had come out with…I wanted to try it all!

Here’s a little breakdown on the cornucopia of products Salma Hayek has brought into to the world.  I’m going to quote the website quite a bit because it’s their very words that enticed ME and brought ME to the point of actually buying the products!

Stacy B here! Anyone still stuffed from Thanksgiving? I'm still making leftover sandwiches and crock potting my way through way too much turkey. And don't even get me started on the desserts, these maternity pants have crushed all will-power since they just keep expanding with me! I justify it by saying the baby needs Thanksgiving treats too! I hope everyone had a fun-filled, relaxing holiday spent with all the right people.
 
It's still unseasonably warm in the north east right now, we've been over 60-65 degrees for weeks. Rumor has it this will be one of the warmest Novembers on record for us. I'll take it! It will be cold and snowy soon enough (and for long enough!) It's been great for my skin though, it hasn't been that dry yet so my face looks pretty good. Well, aside from the complete and total lack of color since summer was months ago. Thank you bronzer! I haven't really needed the heavy duty night cream yet but I did just open up a new bottle of Aubrey Organics Rosa Mosqueta Night Crème with Alpha Lipoic Acid
. It's probably a great time for me to try something knew since if it doesn't work, I'm not parched like a desert with skin cracking in the cold wind.
 
This was a pretty good lotion, but didn't blow me away. My first complaint is that it's a pump that required about 50 pumps to get some product out. My complaint isn't the pump, I prefer products that pump, it was the amount of work it took to get some out.  I finally got a dab on my finger and noticed the bottle looked like I had used almost 1/3 of the product! I realize there will be some settling and you can't fill the bottle to the very top, but this seemed excessive. It also said 'shake well' on the bottle but it's a really thick lotion that doesn't mix much when you shake it, and with the pump increased to pumping level there's no room to shake it. Those directions were weird to me.

Meg here! I'm back! for 5 days and then I'm on a plane to NYC for a week BUT I'm back in the country, or rather my country. Hello United States! I had a fabulous time on my Contiki South America Tour. They run trips and tours for 18-35 year youngs and I was super impressed. The food was amazing, the accommodations were great but best of all the people were just fantastic. Oh, the sight seeing and attractions were really once in a lifetime spectacular!

There were so many different aspects of the trip that I could have brought hundreds of products. I did really well though, there wasn't anything I was desperately needed and I had travel room left over. What do you pack for a cleanse with a shaman?

I mean, it's a Shaman, you don't want to look like you're trying too hard. They can be "judgey" if they think you're too into outward appearances (never mind how long it must have taken them to put those poncho's and hats together.) I digress, it wasn't one Shaman, it was 3 Incan Shaman, Three of them. I guess they knew I was going to be there so they decided to call in for back up.

The location was no joke as well. This deep cleanse was going to be taking place in Peru's Sacred Valley. Hmmm, if this was going to be the time all of my demons were going to be exorcised. I was going to need to look fresh with an innocent glow. If only there were some product with-in my reach that not only brings beauty but a supernatural twist! Yes! Eureka, the makeup lady does it again. I could be all innocent looking (ha!) and otherworldly, and space conscious with Tarte's For True Blood Natural Cheek Stain! There really is something for everyone! Only I would thinking reaching for a product called "Tarte" before a religious experience...
I was chanted over, some thing's were sprinkled on me and some plants were waved about. I was open. It was cool. Did I feel any better? Not sure. But I sure as heck didn't feel any worse, that's always a plus. Besides, it was a very cool experience. "That one time with the three Shaman in The Sacred Valley in Peru..."  Maybe that's not your thing. I know enough people that have trouble making it to Church once a year. What would be anyone's thing? I used the "holy heck" out of my Tarte Cheek Stain and I didn't even make a dent in it. I traveled with it to 4 countries and its durability completely held up. I found it completely multi-tasking as I used it on my lips as both a gloss topper over a stain for some added sparkle or just when I wanted to add a natural sheen.

I'm telling you, she is making me crazy!!! Our Meg that is: one day she's in NYC and the next she's in flippin' LIMA, Peru? Seriously,Goddess Granny is having a heck of a time trying to keep my finger on the pulse of this girl's travels! I think it's fabulous and exciting, and that in my opinion, there is NO better way to learn,grow and be "taught" than to travel! MOST preferable outside our own country! I can't wait to hear her stories and you know she'll be getting the juicy on all things beautiful on the other side of the world!

I myself am at home writing and  listening to Etta James: if you don't know who she is, please do yourself a favor and give her a listen because it doesn't get much better than her voice! "I want a Sunday kind of love…a love to last past Saturday night…" I think we all do but some of those "Saturday night "loves" can be fun too What I love about Sunday's is that they're like a "get out of jail" free card way to start the week for many of us! We tend to do more of what we enjoy and less of the stuff we have to do! For me, Sundays always end with my "everyday love", a big bowl of popcorn and a movie or some great cable TV! I also love to take the time to do some maintenance: heavy-duty hair conditioner, body scrubs with dry brushing, baths with so many products propped around the edge of the tub that I must look like an ad for "plastic bottles…" It's not easy being glam but if you DO certain things on a regular daily, weekly or even monthly basis! You find that things tend to last longer and stay sweeter than if you simply go into combat-attack mode in your beauty routines!

I do have a great long-time Derma-Doc locally and without him, I'd be a mess…seriously. There is nothing you can hide from those magnifying mirrors! Even if you have perfect skin, it's always a great idea to visit one every so often to insure that it stays that way! I don't think there's anything that changes faster (besides Meg's zip code) than our skin! I would LOVE to visit our friend Dr. Kenet's office in NYC because as Meg and I both have mentioned before,he's responsible for keeping some of the most gorgeous faces in the world camera-ready at all times! I am literally in LOVE with his "24K  Gold Serum" NOT because of the luxury price tag, but because it's absolutely the best under makeup,skin-perfector and soother I've ever tried! The good Dr. has literally managed to capture the essence of glowing, illuminated skin in a simple bottle and I am forever grateful…

Dr. Kenet's brilliantly edited line of products give you exactly what you "need" for beautiful skin and my second-favorite product in his line is well within anyone's budget! Kenet MD "pH Polisher" is an absolutely gorgeous skin "buffer" that's intended to be used on Sunday as part of his weekly- routine. It's included in the skincare kits recently described by Meg but it's also available as a single product. Presented in a clean plastic bottle with a flip lid (and I truly appreciate that the high- quality really IS inside the packaging with Dr. Kenet's products) this "polisher" is like no other exfoliator I've used! Instead of little bits of "rough stuff" that grind away at the surface of your skin, pH Polisher is formulated with a non-irritating and non-cloggng BEESWAX blend and when you apply to damp skin, it gently "buffs" rather than grinds at your pretty-pores! I adore the light scent of honey and almond and I don't know how it does such an incredible job of smoothing the skin without being invasive in the slightest but it DOES! After rinsing off the light foam, you'll be left with glowing and gorgeous skin you can see the difference in immediately!

Meg here! I am in Lima, Peru. I know, Where did that come from?
Anyhow, I am on a Contiki Tour in South America!My goal was to become less white trash and that included to take more international travel. I've done 2 different countries in the last year and by the time this tour is over I'll be able to add 3 more. I'll be in Peru, Argentina and Brazil and I will be doing my best to hit up the internet cafe's to keep Megsmakeup.com updated! So far so good, I haven't yet caused any international diplomacy problems (the day is still young!) Here is Miss StacyB's drugstore deal!
Stacy B here! For those of you out there with sensitive skin, you know how important the quality of your product is. You also know how important it is to be able to afford the products, especially since most people have to try a lot of products to find the best one for their skin, which can hurt your wallet. The hardest part about sensitive skin is that it's truly your own. No two sensitive skins are alike just like no two product arsenals are alike. I'm sure we could sit down with 20 different Megheads with sensitive skin and get 20 different answers on what works best.
 
Everyone has their trouble spot, for some it's their skin, for some it's hair, for some it's something else or some combination of many things. The best you can do is do a lot of research and testing on your own to figure out what works best for you. I try really hard in these reviews to make sure I'm clear about why something didn't work, or did work FOR ME, not for everyone. I don't want to tell you want to buy and then have you hate it and stop reading my posts but I do want to try to give you the best recount of what I went through, and try to tell you about my skin, hair or nails so you can compare it to yourself. That way, if you are like me (normal skin, nails that peel sometimes, coarse wavy hair, sensitive eyes) and I like a product, maybe you will too. Or, I can save you some dough if you happen to be my opposite (fine, easy-to-manage hair, thick nails, acne-prone skin). That's what's great about this site, you just check profiles of people you are like you and check out what they really think about certain products.
 
I had never heard of the product I'm about to tell you about, so I hope some of you have. I am interested to hear from those who have tried this and do have sensitive skin, because I don't, but I used it anyway. Today's it's all about SebaMed Liquid Face and Body Wash for Sensitive Skin.
 
Check out their website, it's a pretty good one. There are separate tabs for people with eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, etc. It's a very straight forward, simple site, which makes me think there aren't a lot of gimmicks here. They don't need a ton of fancy web designs or marketing tricks because they really feel their product works.

 
Meg here! One of the greatest parts of having Megsmakeup.com is that I am lucky enough to get to meet the top experts in the field. Dr. Barney Kenet is one of the most respected dermatologist's in the country. Let's take a quick recap on his bio, he's no slacker...

University of Pennsylvania, Brown Medical School, completed his internship at Beth Israel/Harvard Medical, residency in dermatology at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. That's where he is the assistant attending physician and also directs surgical training for dermatology residents. Not too shabby. Oh yeah, he's also written books with his genius wife, Patricia Lawler on "How to Wash Your Face" (endorsed by his patient Demi Moore)and the book <a "Saving Your Skin" (endorsed by Dr. Alan Houghton, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.)

He also found the time to publish Fitzpatrick's Journal of Clinical Dermatology. He's also President of the American Melanoma Foundation AND New York Magazine has named Dr. Kenet "Best Doctor's List" for the past fifteen years! All of a sudden I am feeling like the world's greatest underachiever!

Think this guy might know a little something about skin?

He's got the super duper establishment's respect. How about the respect of another American institution? Yes, the institution of celebrity!Big names loves Dr. Kenet (these are only the ones I'm allowed to mention) Edward Norton, Gina Gershon, Jennifer Tilly, our own Goddess Granny  and a hot young yummy that I can't mention but do want to stalk Dr. Kenet's office over! You're going to tell me when he's in, right Dr.?

We've got every institution touting Dr. Kenet so I wanted you to meet him. He's so zen and soft spoken. He relaxes everyone and makes his medical dermatology practice like taking a spa day. I wish I had a better taping device with me then my iphone, the sound is soft but you just need to listen a bit closer. I can't have a camera following me around 24 hours a day (believe me, if you only knew how hard I try to!)

Because the sound isn't the greatest, I'm going to recap a few things that I learned.

Dr. Kenet's Skin care kits, both for Clear Skin and for Anti-Aging are marked With the days of the week that you're supposed to use them right on the bottle! I know sometimes I hop in the shower and what day of the week it is, that's probably the only thing I know some mornings. It's a regimen that some tell me, is like when you work out at the gym (like I go to a gym.) Work the skin on one day with an aggressive cleanse and then baby and pamper it the next day with the companion product.