Classic: Nude Nails

I go through many phases when it comes to my beauty obsessions - bright cheeks during the cold winter months, smudged black liner when I'm feeling feisty - but the one constant in my life has always been nude nails. As I was brainstorming my Valentine's Day look the other day, I was confident that I already knew what color would adorn my nails - OPI's Malaysian Mist.

This color is oh so very sexy. It does not wash out the skin tone like some other nudes. It has a slight peachy-pink hue to it that really makes it stand out. This is definitely my top choice. But don't feel limited to just this one. OPI has some amazing nude hues that would work for anyone. Sheck 'em out below.

There are some really great ones for Valentine's Day - Sweet Heart, Bubble Bath, Samoan Sand . . . Uh, well you get the point.

I can't do a nail post without also mentioning nail polish powerhouse Essie. She has got some amazing colors definitely worth trying. Don't be afraid to experiment until you find the right shade just for you. Just as with that bulky sweater dress on the hanger, a shade can look totally different when it's on.

Nude nails, y'all! Guaranteed to get you nude. Need I say more?

Fan Favorite: Start the year right with Kat Von D, Falsies and More!

Well, hey there good-lookin'. Hope your holidays were quiet, relaxing and quick as shit.

The end of 2011 found me in my new old hometown of Nashville (more on this later) celebrating with great friends and a greater man. Not. Too. Shabby.

You know what else is not too shabby? Receiving a gift card to Sephora for Christmas. And then spending it all at once in a disgusting flurry of sweaty samples and gross consumerism. No one said looking pretty was pretty. I will take you off your pins and needles now and share with you a few of my favorite discoveries for the beginning of 2012. It's going to be one sexy year, y'all.

Kat Von D's Foiled Love Lipstick. Specifically Adora.

This is not a picture of it but it is the closest I could find. The color is this beautiful deep magenta red with a hint of gold that makes an amazing day time crimson lip. And it stays on like a lovelorn bitch. No joke. I am excited to try some of her nudes next. I don't think they will disappoint. The Kat Von D brand is actually owned by Sephora, so I am not surprised I love this so much. As you all surely know by now, I think the Sephora brand itself is quite awesome.

Next up is Benefit's Confessions of a Concealaholic. Yeah, I totally fell for the packaging on this one.

It's just so damn cute. The other and more logical reason why I decided to go this route instead of the basic cream coverup I tend to gravitate towards is because it offered an all-in-one pack with every one of my concealer needs met. And they all actually work! I love the Lemon Aid (for under eye circles) and the Eye Bright (a pale pink I use as a lazy eye shadow). The two Boi-ing colors mix very well together to match my skin exactly and stay put. With primer and Benefit's famous Erase Paste included, I would say it is totally worth the $36.

OK, this next fav of mine might come as a surprise. Because it totally goes against one of my previous posts outlining my all-time classic mascara, L'Oreal's beloved Voluminous. I have discovered another mascara that I (gasp!) LOVE. And it is still of the drugstore variety. Maybelline's new mascara, The Falsies, is great.

The brush is curved and allows for a good amount of product to stay on the tip. I use two coats of it in the morning and add another one later on if I plan on going out for the night. My eyelashes look thick, dark and defined. While doing some research, I found this lovely lady's review at All Things Makeup. She loves Voluminous too so I trust her. Check out her before/after photo. I would say it makes a pretty good case for at least trying it out. At around $7, what do you have to lose?

Icon: Catherine O'Hara in Beetlejuice

For those of you who know me personally, you are probably very aware of my various fashion muses by now - Ms. Page, vintage boudoir babes, and NYC art teachers from the 80s. I credit this last one for my complete and utter fascination with Catherine O'Hara's genius character Delia Deetz in Beetlejuice.

Hello stark black eyeliner with ferocious red lips. Hello all-black asymmetrical ensembles that would make any 1988 art professor drool into their acrylics. Hello LEATHER GLOVE HEAD WRAP!

P.S. Who wouldn't want to rock those earrings?!

I watch this movie at least once a month and never get tired of seeing Delia in her art-obsessed, self-centered bitch glory. Also, this scene cracks me up every damn time, stoned or stone-cold sober. And anyone who can deliver this line with such direct intensity is a GD hero in my book.

Classic: Make Up Forever's Aqua Black

I was fortunate enough to attend a Make Up Forever event at the W in Austin several weeks ago. Fortunate for two specific reasons - I got to see the very accomplished makeup artist James Vincent work his magic with a live demo and I found my new desert island must-have . . .

Make Up Forever's Aqua Black, now my go to eyeliner.

This stuff is hardcore and not for the faint of heart. But for eyeliner junkies like myself, I say bring it on. I understand that this product is a staple in thousands upon thousands of make up kits already but I am just now discovering it. Don't tease me. Haha, get it? Tease? Shit. Moving on.

Use an angle brush to apply this to the top of the lid, on the bottom and top eye membranes, and bottom line if you're going for an uber dramatic look. Once dried, this stuff does not move so apply slowly and carefully. I always keep a cotton swab dipped in make up remover handy. I use this product for all different kinds of looks. Most of the time, I go all out and put this over most of my top lid. Other times, for my "day time" look, I just lightly line close to the lashes to make them appear more lush.

Confession time. I have washed my face at night, avoiding the eye area and worn the liner to bed, only to layer some more on the next morning. I call it my "Yeah, I went out the night before and looked fabulous and woke up looking just as fabulous this morning with crazier hair" look. Trust me, it works.

Do yourself a favor and go out and get this stuff. Then come hang at my place so we can try out all different kinds of looks and inspirations. I will provide the brushes, you bring the champagne.

Fan Favorite: nails inc. Magnetic Polish

I first read about this crazy cool new nail polish in last month's Vogue and have been obsessed with the idea ever since. Any nail polish that gets its own feature story in a top fashion mag has got to be worth it, so my product-infatuated brain told me.

The British nail emporium, nails, inc., recently released a magnetic polish. Yes. That's right. A magnetic polish. And it looks like this:

How freakin' metallic sexy is that? Here's how it works - clean and file your nails, then apply a base coat and let dry. Next, apply the desired magnetic color and immediately hold the special cap over the nail for a few seconds to create the swirly, whirly goodness. Finish with a shiny top coat.

After I read last month's Vogue feature, I received a serendipitous email from my personal makeup mecca, Sephora, announcing they now carry nails, inc., including this fresh and fabulous polish. Sephora also created an easy to follow video so you can check out the polish at work.

See it, believe it, then run out and get it. This is going to be THE nail polish to wear this fall.

Fan Favorite : Argan Oil

Check out my first guest post about Josie Maran's 100% Argan Oil on the awesome new blog, The Mode Life! And while you are there, feel free to poke around (in a friendly way, teases). Founded by some pretty sweet ladies, including Austin's own Michelle Weber, The Mode Life is the latest lifestyle blog for real peeps like you and me. Good times all around.

Fan Favorite : Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20

A recent text I got this past weekend from a pleased friend prompted me to write this post. My girl had been looking for a new and improved foundation and I recommended this awesome tinted moisturizer, my go-to whenever someone is looking for intense but natural-looking coverage. She fell in love after just one application and used a lot of exclamation points in her corresponding text.

Laura Mercier's Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 covers and conceals like a foundation but feels like a light-weight moisturizer. Really, anything from the Mercier Flawless Face collection is sweeeeeet but this particular product never fails. For some reason, my hormones decided to kick my skin's ass this past week, so mama is a little broken out. But I had no fear because I knew I housed this tint in my arsenal and used it all week to pretend like I had flawless skin. I highly recommend this product year round.