Blog Posts by Anna De Souza

Don't take a rain check on your looks with these weather-inspired beauty products!

Autumn brings with it sunny and humid days, rain and chilly nights, so how's a girl supposed to get gorgeous in the morning? Lucky for you, fair-weather friends, I found some super awesome products that'll get you through the transition so there's no need to break out in a cold sweat!

Seriously, don't take a rain check on your looks! Check out these weather-inspired beauty products including an app that recommends the best outfit according to that day's forecast, a new line of products inspired by rain and clouds or a hairbrush that harnesses the power of lighting to tame frizz furiously.

Here are my must-haves for this Fall!

SteamCream Natural Moisturizer's ($12.95) formulation is fused together by a shot of steam! This unique method makes it super lightweight and provides long-lasting hydration for your mug.

Belmondo's "The Cloud" Face Cream ($51.95) is crafted with natural olive oil face cream is

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Cenoire Novo Atomizer Mist Spray
You know I love kooky things. Yes, if it's slightly odd (read: this Japanese aluminum mask) , counterintuitive or super beauty gadget-y, I'm in!

That's why when I learned about Cenoire Novo Atomizer Mist Spray ($39), I couldn't wait to give it a whirl. I'm already a huge fan of makeup finishing sprays, and heck, steam facials - so of course this sleek personal facial humidifier would be up my alley.

You're just a few batteries and a power button away from misting your skin to a dewy, fresh glow!

Here's how it works: Water from the reservoir is atomized into nano particles which are steamed right onto the surface of your skin and are said to absorb deeper leaving skin feeling moisturized and more elastic. Sans makeup is key, but I've found that you can moisturize mid-day - just don't steam for the full four minutes with a face full of paint! Just 30 seconds will do the trick.

Stuffy office or cube? Dew up your personal space by using the four minute auto shut-off feature as well!

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Philip Kingsley's Swimcap

I've definitely been there, as a lifeguard and swim instructor for 6+ years, my hair was hopeless. Completely fried from sun exposure and chlorine, it was dull and lifeless. That's why I was excited to hear about this product - a errr... stroke of genius - which made me buoyant with delight. (But also mournful that I had to endure years of parched frizzies punctuated with overnight oil treatments that just served to stain my pillowcases, but never really restored my strands to their luster.)

Launched at the request of the Olympic Synchronized Swim team to protect their hair from the constant exposure to chlorine, the Philip Kingsley Swimcap ($35) provides ultimate protection while paddling you quickly away from discoloration and damage from the sun, salt, water and wind.

Just apply to dampened hair in sections and comb through. This is definitely gonna go over swimmingly!

Read More »from In the Swim of Things with Philip Kingsley's "Swimcap"

NYX Cosmetics' The Curve

We love liquid liner. Especially as the heat-wave takes over New York City, it's refreshing to walk outside with a dash of neon-esque orange lipstick (We've acquired an unhealthy obsession with OCC's Lip Tar in Queen and Smashbox's Be Legendary Lipstick in Electric Coral), mascara-ed lashes with a swipe of black liner to visually plump up their volume.

While some of us gals have the whole thing pretty much down pat, we typically gravitate to felt-tipped liner pens since it's a wee bit easier to control.

Well NYX Cosmetics wants you to get a handle on the whole thing, too, with its new The Curve liner. The ergonomically-shaped eyeliner makes applying the liquid-y ink truly mistake-proof.

Best of all, we have to imagine it makes it super-duper easy to help out a girlfriend in the liner department (somehow we're guessing you're typically the resident toucher-upper!).Read More »from New Genius, Foolproof Way to Line Lids That'll Have You Dumping Out Your Old Liquid Liners

Scuba frocks straight from the runway.

At Hervé Léger (left), contrast paneling meets a bodycon scuba feel. Derek Lam's (center) Spring 2012 collection featured similar detailing, but in neoprene-esque fabrics that won't have you diving off the deep end, while Michael Kors took the ultimate plunge into zip-me-up-tight neon.

But if you're anything like me, you wouldn't mind errr... wading into this trend. So give it a try without looking all washed up with these tips!

Look for poly or nylon/spandex blend that most resembles a scuba suit's neoprene. Shinier, but tighter knit fabrics offer the illusion, while letting you breathe.
Opt for colorblocked sheath dresses. Consider fit - perhaps one half size smaller will help you pay ultimate homage to this trend.
Don't forget the exposed zipper, preferably in matching plastic.
Dip your toes into the trend by opting for neon trimmings.
Strategic cutouts go a long way, also, to recreate this trend, if you so dare! But do stay away from mesh - it always, 100% looks tacky, no

Read More »from Four Scuba-Inspired Dresses Under $50 that Won't Have You Looking All Washed Up

Holidays are a time to run, run, run - to family parties, to the mall, and after a little of both, definitely to the dessert table. So look pretty in a minute with a lighthearted blend of canned cosmetics, lip tattoos and nail adhesives that apply in a flash - and will stay put for hours after your feet and belly have called it quits.

Your beauty Rx: Absolutely no heavy yard work (and forget manhandling, basically, anything...) if you're planning on suiting up your talons with Candice Manacchio's clear "Lucite Lace" nail design.

The nail artist at CND, was tasked with creating this edgy meets feminine look for the Joy Cioci Spring 2012 show.

Featuring clear oval tips and hand-detailed lace and lattice work, the thoughtful meets rugged design makes for a sharp contrast of tough and sweet. The see-through crystal nails indeed added a futuristic edge when paired Cioci's sleek, flirty and modern silhouettes.

While quite impractical for the average gal (hey, wearing rubber gloves to stave off staining is a bigger fashion don't!), will you be giving this look a shot?

Finally, there's a way to refresh your mascara come happy hour (why didn't we think of this before!). Hourglass Cosmetic's hippest new venture is an inky black topcoat meant to reinvigorate your mascara.

After mascara dries, you're out of luck trying to reapply - the wand just wont brush through styled lashes and any attempt is sure to leave the area a big ol' clumpy, goopy mess.

Film Noir Lash Lacquer ($28), available at Sephora on July 15th, comes in a tube, much like mascara, but this latex-like formula is applied with a small soft brush, fanning out lashes with a high-gloss sheen.

Hourglass artistic director, makeup artist Gina Brooke recommends starting with a lengthening mascara (so you'll have more lash "real estate") and depositing the intensely shiny ink over the lashes for a "wet" look that doesn't clump!

Read More »from Lash Trend Alert: Refresh mascara with "inky wet" topcoat