Independent Spirit Awards

Hey Ladies,
This past week, I was positively glued to the TV. So much so, that I'm compelled to communicate in bullets, yet again.

• The Oscars! Boo, Alan Arkin! Yay, Jennifer Hudson! OMG, I’m such a sucker for an It-Girl. Speaking of J-Huds: You have to read my friend Lola’s fabulous New York Times style piece on her fashion evolution this season, and you REALLY must check out the hilarious-but-true story behind her disastrous Buck Rogers bolero (props to my sister Devon/Brownie for forwarding). And who else but me thinks that the most glamorous woman of the ’06-‘07 award season, besides Huds, was Helen Mirren? That silver bob is SNATCHED, okay? I’m now deeply obsessed with the sassy sixty-something, and have devoted significant amounts of writing time to searching for her sexed-up movie clips on YouTube.

* Who loves those two Justin-wannabes on American Idol? Between the spirited beat-boxing, suit-Converse combo, and the buzz cut/sideburns 'do, it's a veritable cornucopia of white boy funkiness. Mama likes.

• Please tell me you all saw the deliciously tear-stained Lauren vs. Heidi smackdown on The Hills last week? “Every day should be Lauren and Heidi day!” Epic television, people, epic television. Who here thinks Spencer looks like Fire Marshall Bill, bro? And oh, I can’t believe the desperate wackness of Jen Bunney (did anyone catch her epileptic lap dancing skills?)—here’s hoping she didn’t read the Details article where B(g)rody Jenner(ic) admits setting out to date every Hills castmember. Come on, LC…he’s a SUCKY person!

• So, America’s Next Top Model is back. I was tickled to death to see the return of Jaslene the Mambo Queen, and totally hysterical at Kathleen (aka Bree Part 2) trying to process the meaning of “anti-fur.” I knew she wasn’t all there under that crimson afro-weave. Super-cute girl, but her eyes were pools of vacuous nothingness.

And now on to things that matter. Beaute, Belleza, Kosmetic…the word beauty transcends language. Right now, I’m hell-and-gone-obsessed with what we beauty editors call “Indie Beauty.” Now, this refers to beauty brands that don’t have immediately recognizable names like Clinique, Lauder, or Lancome. Even though these products tend to fly under the mainstream radar, many of them have a rabid cult following, and for good reason. There’s something so glamorous and special about feeling like you’ve discovered the Next Big Thing, or that you’re hip to some down-low secret fabulousness. Don’t you think? I’m going out on a limb here, and sharing with you the five products I believe should win a beauty version of the Independent Spirit Awards. Feel free to share with friends, but not too many—it’s all about savoring the special-ness!

Until next week-and-a-half (roughly),
Your Tia

PS… I got all your questions and don’t worry, my next post will be a Q&A!

TIA’S TOP FIVE INDIE BEAUTY PRODUCTS:

1.) Global Goddess Shine Coconut Revitalizing Hair Treatment, $45: So good. When I was co-hosting "Wake Up With Cosmo" on CosmoRadio, we interviewed this brilliant celebrity makeup artist, Shalini Vadhera. She'd just developed a line of makeup, skincare and haircare based on age-old beauty secrets she picked up from her extensive travels...and let me tell you, her stuff is SICK. I became immediately obsessed with this coconut, henna and avocado-blended hair treatment (she swiped it from her motherland, India, where women treat themselves to weekly coconut oil scalp massages). Not only does this stuff smell so beachy-decadent, it does wonders on dry split ends. Every night, I rub a teeny drop over the bottom half of my hair--you don't want greasy roots!—and in the morning, my hair is Pantene commercial-glossy. Oh, and it also allegedly does wonders for hair growth. All I can tell you is that I've been using it for a year, and my hair is down to my bra strap (if I wore a bra).


2.) TINte Flavored Lipcolor in Root Beer, $14: Stacy Provines, the amazingly creative creator of TINte Cosmetics, is a rock star. She's developed what I've been searching for for twenty years--the adult version of Bonne Bell Smackers lipgloss in Dr. Pepper. The Flavored Lipcolor in Root Beer not only tastes heeeaaaavenly (Adam's been really into kissing me lately), it also imparts the prettiest, most natural chestnut-brown flush AND comes in an ultra-chic vintage slider tin. Seriously, whenever I whip it out, I get so many compliments (who wants to bet The Hills' Spencer says the same thing to the ladies at Area). Go TINte!


3.) Lickadoodles HoneyBath Polish, $24: Lickadoodles is a brand-new beauty line debuting this Spring, so you get a sneak-peak, here! I'm kind of in love with everything in this intoxicating bath & body collection (and you can't beat their motto, "Luxury is a necessity"), but the standout product is definitely the HoneyBath. Mmmm--blended with sea salts, maple syrup, lemon essential oil and tons o'honey, this body polish has given me the softest skin I think I've ever had. And it makes my entire bathroom smell like a spa. FYI: It also doubles as a truly decadent bath soak, if you run a bit under the faucet.


4.) Product Body Shea Butter in Pink Grapefruit, $16: If you've found me, you know a thing or two about beauty, so you're aware that Shea Butter is probably the best natural moisturizer, ever. But if you buy it pure, it's usually so hard that it takes forever to blend into your skin. Well, the geniuses at Product Body double-whip their shea butter until it's the consistency of frosting, so it melts the second it hits your skin and blends like a dream! On top of that, they've spiked it with a hint of fragrance (my favorite is the fantastic Pink Grapefruit...mmm, almost-edible!). Use it on elbows, knees, lips, cuticles...and since it's 100% shea, with no additives or fillers, it's fantastic for babies, too. Also comes in Sweet Vanilla Mango, Chocolate Dipped Orange, and unscented.


5.) Creative Scentualization Perfect Veil Roll-on, $40: When I first met the gorgeous and talented perfumer, Sarah Horowitz, back when I was beauty editor at Glamour, I immediately fell in love with her whole moment. Not only does she whip up one-of-a-kind custom fragrances for her clients (mostly celebrities and cult beauty fanatics like us), she's developed a house line called Perfect Perfumes. Each scent in the collection is totally exquisite, fresh, layer-able...and ADDICTIVE. For a good two or three years, every beauty editor I knew was wearing Perfect Veil, the oh-so-subtle, slightly musky scent Sarah created to mimic the smell of clean, naked skin. I wear it to this day, and the best part is...no one else has ever heard of it! Well, until now.