Beautiful Nerds

Although most women wouldn't be caught dead wearing glasses that channel Steve Erkel, I find there to be something very provocative about the juxtaposition between an attractive woman and an object that is traditionally reared to be unattractive, quite simply "nerdy." I wear contact lenses every single day and have one pair of functional glasses that I use around my apartment. However, I came across two images that have made me reconsider my current aesthetic of saving the glasses for home. One is this photo of Marilyn Monroe (perhaps my favorite one of the icon), the ultimate symbol of classic glamor and femininity. She is pictured donning a fitted sweater, showcasing her curves, perfect makeup job and impeccable coiffure with a pair of cat-eye shaped reading glasses. She is a beautiful nerd.

The other is a photo of Dita Von Teese, sporting a Jessica Rabbit-style fire engine red evening gown, paired with the thickest, "nerdiest" pair of glasses one could imagine. Fashion irony at its finest!

Taking a cue from my style idols, I found a pair of thick, awkward black glasses with plastic lenses online and decided to hit the streets of Gotham today. With thick, dramatic frames you've got to be extra careful about every detail in your clothing, makeup and hairstyle choice. I paired the frames with a black fitted turtle neck dress with a thick belt that cinched the waist. A tousled up do, false eyelashes and three-inch strappy sandals completed the "beautiful nerd" look. Many were confused, but many were fascinated and "got it." Security at the Hearst building was extra nice and accommodating, making sure I knew exactly where I was going. "Have a wonderful day, Miss De Ponte!" exclaimed several security guards after our brief encounters. "I think you're the only smart one left in New York City," shouted a random man. What does that mean?! Was he being sarcastic or just trying to be funny? I haven't a clue. How do you all feel about sporting chunky black glasses? Check out these photos and let me know what you think of the "beautiful nerd" look!

Go For the Glow

Want to know the difference between skin that's so-so and a complexion that's out-of-this-world? Exfoliation. Gentle scrubbing removes dead skin cells (largely responsible for dullness, rough patches and uneven skin tone and texture) from the surface, revealing softer, healthy-looking skin.

Replenix Fortified Exfoliation Packettes contain green tea and bamboo extracts, along with moisturizing conditioners to gently remove dead skin cells and soothe delicate skin. Perhaps the best part of this yummy scrub is the way it heats up when activated with water, allowing you to feel it deep clean your pores and remove weekly dirt and debris.

Exfoliate one to three times a week and make sure you're extra gentle. Move the scrub particles in upward circular motions and move just the particles, not your skin (if you're pulling and tugging your skin while exfoliating, you're being a little too rough!). Another benefit of weekly exfoliation is that your other skin care products (cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and masques) penetrate the skin a lot more effectively, giving you better results.

*Tip: Exfoliate the night before a big event to get a smooth, glowing complexion. However, if you have sensitive skin scrub a few nights before the occasion, in order to prevent next-day redness and irritation.

Suburbia Revisited With Grandma Merle Norman

After a six week stint in suburban America, Monkeybaby is back in New York. Our nostalgic experience granted us the chance to indulge in Doritos, aimlessly wander around malls (haven't been in one of those in a while!) eat Frosted Flakes for breakfast and even go to 7 Eleven for a slurpee. Although I didn't miss almost getting run over by belligerent cab drivers and paying six dollars for tuna on whole wheat, I did miss all that the Big Apple has to offer: seeing the Lion King on Broadway every night, standing and dreaming in the middle of Times Square while sporting my "I Love New York" t-shirt, and keeping a camera in tow so I can take pictures of myself with every major celebrity I see (you all should check out my latest with Corey Feldman and that one guy who was the fourth to get kicked off Big Brother 3!). No, seriously folks, it's great to be back in the city. I missed all of you!
Since I was in the suburbs and immersing myself in all that the "rest of the country" has to offer, I went into a, u hum, Merle Norman store. OK, I'm not necessarily proud of this because this is the kind of makeup that your grandmother's mother Beatrice probably used when she met your great-grandfather Theodore while getting a 5 cent malt. For those of you who aren't familiar with the brand, it was established in the 1920s by Ms. Norman herself and a "studio" can be found at pretty much every mall in the States. With its mauve and white signature packaging, "young, fresh, and innovative" are definitely not the adjectives I'd use to describe the brand. Although the products are not cheap, the packaging (particularly the eyeshadow palettes) suggests otherwise.
While at the shop, I decided that instead of being a big beauty snob, I should try a few things because perhaps the products are in fact good. So I picked up the Luxiva Eye Ink in black and the Luxiva Ultra Thick Mascara. The eye ink (a liquid eyeliner) is almost identical to MAC's liquid eye liner and I am pleased with the results: a clean swipe of black liner that adds instant sophistication. The mascara, on the other hand, is rather goopy and clumps easily. I can assure you that I'll be going back to my old standby, Lancome's Hypnose mascara. I would write more but I see Gary Coleman and Scott Baio in the distance. Gotta get my camera ready and take those photos!

It's A Miss With Neutrogena's New Spray Sunblock

I'm a loyal fan of Neutrogena's Ultra-Sheer, Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 30. I slather it on everyday and could barely contain myself when I discovered that the company launched its Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock SPF 45 with helioplex. Helioplex, along with its counterpart mexoryl, is one of the strongest UVA (the nasty ray that's responsible for lines, wrinkles and discoloration) filters on the market. However, I've got to be honest here and say that I'm pretty disappointed with this product. Due to its high alcohol content, the formula tends to dry out my skin and has a rather unpleasant fragrance. Sprays are definitely a lot more convenient and easier to apply on the arms, legs and back, but turn the bottles around on most of these formulas and you'll see that the very first ingredient is alcohol. What does everyone think of these new SPF sprays that are invading the industry?

Your Ticket to Shine-Free Skin

Plagued with oily skin? Factors such as genetics, hormonal changes and sweltering summer heat all contribute to excessive oil production, causing breakouts and unwanted shine. Instead of caking on heavy powders that can clog pores and lead to breakouts, invest in some blotting papers. Boscia's Green Tea Blotting Linens are perfect for instant oil and shine absorption, without smudging makeup. The sheets are made from 100% Abaca Leaf fiber and infused with Green Tea, a potent antioxidant that protects skin from free radical damage. Don't let oily skin get you down; the upside to having an oilier complexion is that fine lines and wrinkles take a lot longer to develop.

Beauty For Our Babies

Beauty products aren't just for people; our beloved pets deserve the best products on the market too. Individuals, myself included, are increasingly spoiling their animals with fancy treats, ridiculously adorable outfits and doggy daycare services. Thank goodness the clever folks at Kiehl's caught on to this trend and created a whole line of products for our best friends. I've been bathing Makena, my Boston Terrier of twelve years, with the new Kiehl's Cuddly-Coat Grooming Shampoo and Conditioning Rinse every week. The lavender-scented formulas are enriched with Chamomile Flower Extract and Palm Kernel to thoroughly cleanse and soften fur. Her coat hasn't been cleaner or shinier. Here's a photo of Makena taking her weekly bath...isn't she the cutest little creature ever?

Drumroll Please...

Exciting news in the beauty world of late! Clairol is now selling their cult-favorite Nice'N Easy Colorseal Conditioning Gloss separately. This conditioner works wonders for hair by sealing in color and adding a ton of shine. You don't have to color your hair with Nice'N Easy, nor do you have to color your hair at all, to be utterly consumed with this product (this comes as great news for those of us who would buy the Nice'N Easy coloring kits just to get our perfectly manicured hands on the conditioner). It's like lip gloss for your locks!