Jordan with CoverGirl makeup artist Molly Stern

Jordan Reid writes:

May 27th’s CoverGirl event in the gorgeous Openhouse gallery on Mulberry Street celebrated the launch of the line’s two newest products: Simply Ageless Serum Primer and Liquiline Blast eyeliner. At the event, makeup pro Molly Stern invited us to find a seat at the stunning, Alice-in-Wonderland-esque makeup counters, encouraged us to remove all of our makeup, and then gave us a full tutorial using the CoverGirl line. Fun!

Simply Ageless Serum Primer, which can be used with or without moisturizer, is intended to prep your skin so that you can better see where you really need coverage (Molly’s credo: “less is more”). I found it a little thick to use along with moisturizer – particularly in the summer – but did notice that my foundation glided on more easily following application. It may not be a product that I’ll use on a daily basis, but I’ll likely break it out on extra-special, do-it-up evenings.

The Liquiliner, which is intended to mimic the effect of liquid eyeliner, is a bit too lightly pigmented to actually replace my regular brand, but it’s definitely easier to apply, and would be ideal for those of you who prefer a slightly more natural look than yours truly. I like the idea of layering a bright shade of Liquiliner (such as Violet Voltage, my favorite) over my regular black liquid liner for a touch of nighttime drama.

Also, can I just say how much I adore their choice of Ellen DeGeneres as the latest Cover Girl? The other night, my husband and I actually rewound our DVR so that we could watch her commercial in its entirety – she’s just that adorable.

Take-home tip from Molly Stern: When purchasing foundation in a drugstore, check the color against the skin on the inside of your arm for a perfect match.

Thank you all so much for your support, kind words, and love last week during the Vera Wang Princess giveaway! I’m biased, but I’m pretty sure I have the sweetest, most loyal readers in the blogosphere.

And the winner is…

Sharon!

Congratulations!  You should have already received an email with instructions – send me your address and I’ll have the perfume sent to you asap.

Don’t forget to enter the other giveaway we’ve got going on now: click here to win a bevy of goodies–including a signed Glee DVD by star Lea Michele–from Dove!

Even an environmental dunce like me knows that right now is a terrible time for our oceans and marine life.  When I heard that La Mer was partners with Oceana, the world’s largest international ocean advocacy group, I was intrigued.

To celebrate the 5th anniversary of their partnership (and in support of World Oceans Day, on June 8th!), La Mer has created a limited-edition 2 oz World Oceans Day jar of Crème de la Mer for $230–which is, of course, the anti-aging cream that started the too expensive for you trend.  In this era of $1000 baby placenta serums, it’s almost quaint to look back and remember the hysteria that surrounded La Mer’s initial press push.  Hey, it was expensive at the time–and still is, for some gals (like me!).

La Mer will also make a $200,000 donation to Oceana.  Well-done!

I know some people–beauty editors and beauty civilians, alike–who are obsessed with La Mer and absolutely swear by it (as much for wrinkles as to heal scars and burns). I’ve never found myself in that category.  Sure, it’s glamorous as hell, but I generally feel that effective skincare is effective skincare is effective skincare–no need to spend $100 if you can spend $25, you know?

Still, if you’re already a La Mer fan–or have been wanting to try it–might as well stock up now and support a good cause!

Nope.  I don’t buy it.

Star magazine screams on its latest cover that it has all the details of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s $40 million dollar “wedding of the century.”  Um, the century is 10 years old, guys.  Just saying.

[Okay, so in the middle of writing this, I decided to head to the store around the corner to see if I could find the actual issue.  Don't want to bash it without reading it!  Alas, it's not available on my newsstand yet.  Before the jaunt turned into a complete bust, however, I did see Kellan Lutz jogging and looking tasty, so you win some, you lose some.]

As much as I am dying for a Wills ‘n Kate spectacular, I don’t think it’s happening for a while.  But the real thing that makes me think this intel is typical Star-magazine puffery is the $40 million figure.

England (and the world, obvs) is having a terrible financial crisis, so the last thing the Queen would do is spend boatloads of taxpayer money on a dog-and-pony show for Kate Middleton.

Can we eventually expect a beautiful, meaningful, long-overdue (but much smaller than Lady Diana Spencer’s) wedding to celebrate the love between the future Queen and his Just-like-Us! bride? Absolutely!  Give the people something to get excited about!  Millions and millions and millions (and millions) of unnecessary spending at a time when the Monarchy is already less than adored (and just you wait until Charles comes to the throne–that’ll be a real crisis!)?

Methinks not.

B. Ingram for WireImage

“Imagine a world where every woman enjoys the simple luxury of feeling confident in her own beauty.”
(DoveMovement.com)

Dove is totally on my “I love you” list right now.  After sending me to the Glee live tour last week, they invited me last night to be their guest at The Gracie awards.

Named after the late comedic-actress (and George Burn’s wife) Gracie Allen, the Gracies are thrown by the Alliance for Women in Media, and are designed to honor programming “for women, by women and about women.”  The star wattage in the room was off the charts: Maria Shriver, Jessica Simpson, Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Peggy Lipton, Tyne Daly, AnnaLynne McCord, Suze Ormond, Jane Krakowski, Cat Deeley, Candy Spelling, Macy Gray, many of the presidents of the TV networks–and Penn Badgley from Gossip Girl, for a little eye candy.

Rashida Jones and Amy Poehler (B. Ingram for WireImage)

First I attended the cocktail hour, where I signed a pledge to help build positive self-esteem for the next generation. Then came the black-tie dinner portion of the evening.  Amazingly, I was seated at table 2, right in front of the stage, which meant I had a better seat than Maria, Amy, Rashida…basically everybody but Jessica Simpson, who was at the table next to me (table 1), and who was honored by the Dove 2010 Real Beauty Award for her VH1 show The Price of Beauty.

Perhaps I shouldn’t say this, but I will anyway: Jessica is no longer a skinny-minnie waif…however, she looked freaking fabulous.  It’s not often that you see an A-list celebrity with a body that’s real.  She’s totally sexy, but doesn’t look like she spends her days eating carrot sticks, doing cleanses, and then going to Bikram yoga.  Seeing her really spoke to me. I try to love and be kind to my body, but I’ll still glare at my tummy when that little jelly roll presses against the waistband of my jeans, or sigh at my arms while doing presses at the gym and think, “If only I could just get rid of this fat…!”

B. Ingram for WireImage

Anyhow, kudos to Jessica for walking the walk, embracing the real beauty message, and being a light in the world in her own way.  Kudos also to Maria Shriver, who presented the final award of the night, and not only had the thickest, healthiest hair I’ve ever seen (plus was rocking a super-cute Blair Waldorf-esque beaded headband!), but has clearly not had Botox or a facelift or any work done, and still looked gorgeous.  It’s been a very, very long time since I’ve seen a woman in Los Angeles aging completely naturally, and it’s nice to remember that path exists.  (And, I mean, she’s a Kennedy!  You don’t get more glamorous-yet-no-nonsense than that.)

Visit DoveMomement.com, where you can learn more about inspiring a young girl, building her self-esteem and helping to change her world.