'90s Ladies Week Concludes: I Love me Some Olive

During the '90s, when it came to fashion, earth tones reigned supreme. Maroons, browns, heathered oatmeals... it was a veritable poo poo platter of waffle-knit henley tees (remember those?) in BLAH colors. One color in particular really "came of age" in the '90s, and that color is olive green. Even I, an adamant '90s fashion hater, submitted to the olive green. It was alluring. It had only previously penetrated the culture in the realm of the military. And suddenly, bafflingly... it was sort of chic. And EVERYWHERE.

As phenom plant-based brand Origins was founded in 1990, it seems only natural that they chose olive green to brand themselves. So in the spirit of olive green, the impending holiday season, and the '90s, I hereby recommend the Origins Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins™ Be Weil Collection Gift Set

($79.50).


The set includes:

• Conditioning Lip Balm with Turmeric
  
• Mega-Mushroom Body Cream
  
• Mega-Mushroom Face Cleanser
  
• Mega-Mushroom Face Cream
  
• Mega-Mushroom Face Serum

All are designed to eradicate, as Dr. Weil calls it, “the fire within” – a key cause of dryness, redness, hyperpigmentation, lines and wrinkles. Who needs that? Not you, dolls. Not you.

P to the S, Origins boasts an impressive holiday gift collection, which you can see in its entirety here. Moms will lurve their subtly scented Tree-mendously Ginger Set ($60).

And that concludes '90s Ladies Week here at BBJ HQ!

Rock your overalls, don your new platforms, put on your Spice Girls CD, and check out Daneen's '90s fashion-inspired post at Spoiled Pretty.

'90s Ladies Week: Tekken 3's Anna Williams

1998-1999, I had a wicked addiction to Tekken 3. I have an unlikely penchant for fighter-style video games (my original fave was Mortal Kombat). I know. I played copious amounts of Tekken 3 with my friend Todd in high school EVERY day at his house and when I went to college, I impressed my male dormmates with my "skills."

My "skills," I'll admit now, were nil - you can be extremely successful at this game just by furiously pounding the control pad using both hands. I learned no special moves. I didn't peek into my brother's subscription to Electronic Gaming Monthly. I just haphazardly tapped my thumbs and would win almost every time. It garnered me "cool girl" status with the dudes freshman year for sure.

Anywho, check my fave character, Anna Williams (pictured, above). How slammin' is she? She is a Harajuku girl if I ever saw one, and that is why she inspires me to tell you about a faboo suite of fragrances, Harajuku Lovers.

Anna obv appreciates a sophisticated Japanese aesthetic (though apparently, she hails from Ireland and puzzlingly enough, speaks with an American accent). There is no doubt in my mind she'd be deeply into this fragrance. Perhaps she'd be a "Love" girl. That's my fave scent of the collection ($25-45, pictured, left). I'm surprised how much I enjoy it, as I usually abhor a rose/floral scent, but I am somehow enchanted by this bouquet of pink pomelo, rose, and creamy vanilla orchid. And the packaging? TO DIE. Designed by Gwen Stefani to appeal to anyone with "a fatal attraction to cuteness," these doll decanters hit the mark.

What '90s toy is Daneen discussing over at Spoiled Pretty today? Head on over there and find out!

'90s Ladies Week: Sephora's The Lash Stash

1990 was such a good year.

It was the first year of the '90s, obv, and as such, had more of an '80s feel to it. The hair was still big. Crimpers hadn't yet been laid to rest. It was the year of so many fantastic pop culture masterpieces, such as Pretty Woman. ("Don't you just love Prince?" "More than life itself.")

Anywho, 1990 was sort of the deathrattle of New Kids on the Block fandemonium. Well, for others, not so much for me, as I'm still very much an NKOTB groupie. But the group went out with a bang, with their final hit ditty, "Tonight," referencing several of their best hits like "Hangin' Tough," "Right Stuff," which I believe was Maurice Starr's nod to a similar "best of" round-up by The Beatles, "Glass Onion."

Similarly, Sephora's The Lash Stash kit does "best of sampling" one better with their limited edition set of their best "mascara hits." This set packs 10 of Sephora's best selling lash luxe-ifyers in smart travel sizes.

BT dubs? Usually travel sized makeup is... depressing, as makeup is typically a compact item ANYWAY. But this stuff is pretty genius because lots of mascaras provide ample opportunity for "new mascara days," which are the day you open a NEW mascara for the very first time. Because the tube has never been exposed to air, the mascara is wetter and less clumpy than any other time you use it. You know? So small mascaras are phenom because instead of feeling gypped by the small amount, you're encouraged to go get yourself a new one before yours dries out and becomes icky on your cils. The best part? You get to get in touch with your inner beauty editor and test drive ten of them for only $35. Perhaps this would be a fab gift for your beauty junkie bestie?

The kit includes:
- 0.12 oz Smashbox Bionic Mascara
- 0.10 oz Sephora Atomic Volume Mascara
- 0.11 oz Vincent Longo The Curl Mascara
- 0.10 Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara
- 0.13 oz Too Faced Lash Injection Pin Point Mascara
- 0.10oz Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash Mascara
- 0.32 oz Urban Decay Big Fatty Mascara
- 0.13 oz DuWop Lash Venom Mascara
- 0.13 oz Korres Deep Colour Mascara
- 0.17 oz Cargo Texas Lash Mascara

Try it out. Maybe la la la la la la tonight?

'90s Ladies Week: A Shadow That's Meant to be Paired with The Business Woman's Special

'90s Ladies Week continues, dolls!

Today's theme is a '90s movie. I chose my favorite '90s movie of all time, Romy and Michele's High School Reunion. The film is especially significant for me this month, as in just a little over a week, I will be attending my own ten-year reunion. To say I'm mildly obsessed with my ten-year reunion is a colossal understatement. I've assigned everyone cooresponding roles (in my head, of course). There will be a Sandy Frink. There will be a Romy and a Michele. There will be a Lisa Luder. That's the role I'm gunning for. After all, "what's the point of going if [you're] not going to impress people?"

The inspired product: Make Up For Ever Eyeshadow in Purple 92 ($18 - swatch pictured, left)

Is it not a "fun, frisky use of color," as Lisa Luder said about Romy and Michele's homemade outfits? This swatch doesn't EVEN do it justice. It's a matte, brilliant purple - a Crayola 8-Pack purple, if you will. Use it as a liner, and you'll be at the mercy of NO ONE, let alone of "the A-group." Defy "the genetic betrayal that is your legacy" with this shadow's high pigment density. A tiny smidge of it on an angled liner brush yields phenom color pay-off. It has a satiny feel and lasts all damn day. Rock it and catch the eye of one Mr. Billy Christiansen. Or that of your personal Billy Christiansen from your high school days.

Maybe it'll even inspire you to confront that "bad person with an ugly heart" at YOUR reune.

Or not. Maybe you don't "give a flying f*ck what [they] think".

Love,
Amber

P.S. Don't forget to check in at Spoiled Pretty to find out what '90s movie inspired Daneen's beauty product choice.

'90s Ladies Week: My So-called Skin Care System

Hi dolls, and welcome to '90s Ladies Week!

All week long, Daneen and I will be taking you on a little tour of nostalgia, much like how we did for '80s Ladies Week. We're kicking it off with a beauty product inspired by a '90s TV show. My choice? One of my favorite shows of all time (it's definitely in my top 5 to this day), My So-called Life.

In a time of horrendous fashion and beauty (the '90s was, in my opinion, the FUGGEST decade), Angela Chase (played by then breakout star, Claire Danes) was an oasis of gorgeosity with her shiny, shiny crayola 8-pack red locks and pale, perfect china-doll skin.

To get Angela Chase's perfectly smooth, creamy skin, I recommend Dermalogica's ChromaWhite TRx System. As we are in a recession, I'm not going to recommend the entire set to you (but just an FYI: I've tried each product and they all work well.) The line was created to brighten and even out skin tone, while reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Also, it's important to note that the usage of these products does not cancel out the effects of your facial self-tanner. I was initially worried about that, but I've found that applying both the Chroma White system and self-tanner only yields warmer-hued, brighter, more even skin tone. Not a washed-out pallor. You know? The two most important components of the system are Tri Active Cleanse and Pure Light.

Tri Active Cleanse ($38)
Created without the use of hydroquinone, this creamy, non-foaming cleanser evens and brightens the skin's tone without damaging or irritating the skin. It helps to remove discolored cells while purifying your skin of debris, excess oil and impurities. After using it for six weeks, I've noticed my skin looks brighter and clearer. Best of all, it FEELS much softer.

Pure Light SPF 30 ($60) A dollup of this stuff applied daily to face and neck makes my skin feel smooth to the point that I plum can't stop feeling up my mug. Seriously. I love that it's packed with an SPF of 30, hydrates exactly enough without overdoing it on my combination skin. It emulsifies on your face with utter ease.

Your peau will glow in such a manner that people will throw themselves at you. And as Rayanne Graff said, "people throwing themselves at people? Is, like, the basis of civilization."

Can't get enough of the '90s? Don your flannel, rock your new piercing, put some Techno on your Walkman, and head over to Spoiled Pretty and read about what '90s TV show has inspired Daneen's product choice.