Marilyn and Ella #MusicMonday

Ella Fitzgerald wanted to play at Mocambo, a very popular club in the 50’s but they wouldn’t book her because she was black. Marilyn Monroe called the owner and said she would sit at the front table every night Ella sang. And she did.

Brava, Marilyn!  Ella, as you know, is part of the Holy Trinity of female jazz vocalists that also includes Billie Holiday and Dinah Washington.

Source: dodsonandross.com via STYLE on Pinterest

Source: todaystruffles.com via STYLE on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Julie on Pinterest

Can you imagine a female jazz vocalist CD compilation that features both Ella and Marilyn?

Divas of Jazz

Divas of Jazz features performances by Ella and Marilyn (although not together :-).  It also features Lena Horne and her signature song "Stormy Weather" and Peggy Lee in a live version of "Fever."  Add Billie and Dinah to the mix, and it's a complete collection!   I found Divas of Jazz at my local Hallmark store - seriously!

Cane + Austin Retexturizing Treatment Pads

I love alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs). They’re instant skin care gratification.

AHAs work by destroying the “glue” that holds dead skin cells to the skin’s surface. Dead skin cells are then sloughed off, and the skin immediately appears brighter. Sunscreen, moisturizer, face primer, and makeup apply more smoothly after an AHA treatment.

 AHAs are typically derived from fruits or sugar cane. Cane + Austin Retexturizing Treatment Pads use AHAs derived from sugar cane. Get it? Cane + Austin? :) Austin refers to dermatologist Dr. Craig Austin, MD.

Source: beauty.com via STYLE on Pinterest

Cane + Austin Retexturizing Treatment Pads are saturated with a 10% glycolic acid solution, a fairly high concentration for an AHA product sold outside a doctor’s office. I like this product. I do object to the recommendation for use: daily, both morning and night. A 10% AHA product should be used only once or twice a week. This seems to be a ploy to get the customer to buy more, more often. It’s the same thing as the shampoo-rinse-repeat myth.

Cane + Austin Retexturizing Treatment Pads may be purchased through its website or Beauty.com. The Cane + Austin website provides for auto-shipment of a 30-day supply of 60 pads: surprise!

NOTE:  The Style Page is an affiliate of beauty.com and receives a small commission for sales through this blog.
  
NOTE: Samples of Cane + Austin Retexturizing Treatment Pads were furnished by the PR rep.  Opinions are my own.

Jazzy #Halloween playlist

hip hip gin gin  @HipHipGinGin put together a great playlist with Halloween themes that I put on Spotify:


Enjoy, and Happy Spookin' Halloween!

I love Dinah Washington playlist #MusicMonday

The Holy Trinity of female jazz vocalists: Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Dinah Washington:

Dinah Washington (1925-1963)

You will need to download and install the Spotify player to enjoy the Dinah Washington playlist. Remember - Spotify inserts commercials, which can be irritating.

Argania 1640 100% pure argan oil

Argan oil is all the rage now. Think Moroccan Oil and Josie Maran’s argan-oil infused cosmetics line. Moroccan Oil, in actuality, is mostly silicones.

Argan oil is an organic oil pressed from the seeds of the Argan tree (Argania Spinosa), which grows only in southwestern Morocco. Argania 1640 works directly with Cooperative Agricole Argan Mogador in Had Draa, Morocco to support female artisans who grind the seeds and press the oil by hand.

The argan nuts are cracked to release the seeds

Argan oil is pressed from the seeds

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I was delighted to receive a 15-ml bottle of Argania 1640 100% pure argan oil from the company. With my package, I received a note that the argan oil was hand-pressed only weeks earlier. The bottle is made of brown glass with a dropper in the cap.

Argania 1640 100% pure argan oil

I use Argania 1640 100% pure argan oil to smoothe and add shine to my hair, treat dry patches, and moisturize my dry, ratty cuticles. In my experience, plant oils are the best for moisturizing cuticles. Argania 1640’s web site describes other ways to use argan oil. I want to try the recipe for strengthening nails.

Nancy Sinatra - These Boots Are Made for Walkin' #MusicMonday

Time to bring out the go-go boots!


You keep lyin' when you oughta be truthin'
You keep losing when you oughta not bet
You keep samin' when you oughta be a'changin'

Lola Naughty/Nice limited edition two tone lipstick

Lola is the retail line founded by infomercial pioneer Victoria Jackson.  It disappeared from the shelves of Victoria's Secret and Ulta.  However, it's still available online at www.lolacosmetics.com.  It's not clear what involvement Victoria Jackson still has with Lola.  Some Lola products are available on the Victoria Jackson Cosmetics website.

The Lola Naughty/Nice limited edition two tone lipstick caught my eye, as it brought back fond memories of Helena Rubinstein's Splitsticks. OK, the Splitsticks were beige and white and had the sixties written all over them, while the Lola Naughty/Nice limited edition two tone lipstick features coral pink and siren red:

Lola Naughty/Nice LE two tone lipstick

Lola Naughty/Nice LE two tone lipstick swatches

The coral pink is for Brigitte Bardot, while the siren red is for Rita Hayworth.  Sex symbols from two different eras.  Naughty or nice?

I can't say that I'm smitten with this product.  The coral pink takes away lip color, while the siren red has shimmer (I can actually see the sparkles).  For me, red should not have shimmer and the finish should be demi-matte.   This feels more like a stick gloss.

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However, I'm a nut for great packaging.  Unclasp the lid from the tube, and a mirror pops up!  How cute is that??!!

Lola Naughty/Nice two tone lipstick tube

Andy Williams #MusicMonday

Lately, it's seemed the death of music.  Composer Marvin Hamlisch died August 6; Burt Bacharach's lyricist Hal David died September 1; and smooth crooner Andy Williams died September 25.

Here's Andy singing his signature song Moon River, on his television show:

You will recognize Moon River as the song that Audrey Hepburn sang in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

And here is Andy singing in a very special duet:

Weekend natural #makeup look

View this SkinnyScoop List

Weekend natural makeup look

My favorite skin care products

A rewind of my January 2012 post Seven fave skin care products, using SkinnyScoop to display the list:

View this SkinnyScoop List

My favorite skin care products