So Sweet

As I was sitting at my desk, eating a salmon Caesar salad, checking e-mail, looking at products, and talking on the phone – I couldn’t take my eyes off the new Tocca Baci Lip Glosses. They are so sweet. And I don’t mean sweet in terms of surfer dude sweet. I mean sweet in terms of the perfect definition of ideal sweetness. Little tiny rollerball lipglosses, 3 perfect pastel colors, 3 italian escapist names – Amalfi, Catania, Salina. I just keep thinking how when I pull one out of my purse, how everyone will ask me what it is. And for $14, they are even more sweet (now I mean surfer dude sweet). I am in trouble if my daughters find them – I will never see them again!

So You're a Soccer Mom Now?

I was at the bliss offices in NYC talking about my pre-soccer-game Saturday morning routine: sunscreen, bronzer, navy blue eyeliner and mascara when one of the staffers who I have known for almost 10 years blurted out, with surprise - "So you're a soccer mom now?!"

Once I got over the shock that I was just categorized as someone I couldn't associate with during the Clinton election (during which soccer moms ruled the country and I was only 22 and had no idea what the reference even meant), I proudly responded - "Yes, I am."

The soccer mom's favorites:

1. For the sunscreen slather ReVive Filtre de Soleil Visage SPF 45, Darphin Vitalprotection Age-Defying Protective Lotion SPF 50 or Dermalogica AGE Smart Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 30, all hydrating for my dry skin.

2. For bronzer - my favorite - NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna. Brushed on cheeks and eyelids.

3. For mascara - Trish McEvoy High Volume.

Swiping Lab Samples

How do I know I love a product? When I try to swipe lab samples from our brands' creative teams.

I just scrambled through two days of meetings in NYC with some of my favorite brands. This is one of the most fun things about bluemercury: my job is to play with new beauty products that are not yet on the market.

So here is a sneak peek at the lab samples I tried to swipe:

1. Laura Mercier's new foundation launching this fall.

2. Darphin's organic and unbelievably heavenly facial treatment oils. I wanted all. These will be my summer sun damage salvation.

3. One of the NARS duo eyeshadow combos. Had the perfect green/blue grey for a fall sultry eye.

4. Remede's new antiaging serum with crazy new cell oxygenating technology.

5. Every single thing from Tocca's holiday collection and a very Jackie O./Michelle Obama dress from Tocca's fall fashion lineup. I am in love with their showroom.

6. Fresh's new fragrance which is the best ever, created by Lev, the founder of fresh who I have known for 11 years.

7. And hurray - Molton Brown actually gave me two of their new shower gels - think pink peppercorn!

I am purposely being a little cryptic. I need to keep my access, right?

Ten Year Makeover

What I've learned.

1. How to take care of my skin.
2. How to do my own eye makeup.
3. How to eat healthy (more salmon, more spinach, more fruit, less processed carbs).
4. How to be a mom and a companion to my husband.
5. How to be at peace.

The first two I learned from bluemercury staffers. The last three from life!

The March to 40

I will be turning 40 in May. When I started bluemercury at age 29, I had none of the skin concerns I have now - hyperpigmentation, fine lines around the eyes. Here are the things I really notice between 35 and 40:

1. Getting small indentation on chin. Dermatologist said that is from tensing facial muscles and loss of tiny fat deposits. Her solution: Restalyne. My solution: live with it.

2. Uneven skin tone. Too many years of California sun on fair skin are starting to show. My solution: glycolic acid peels (either at bluemercury spa or Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Peel Pads), Vitamin C (the miracle collagen building, spot busting vitamin), and a little better coverage on the foundation front. (NARS Sheer Glow in Fiji or Bobbi Brown Skin SPF 15 or Dr. Dennis Gross All-in-One Tinted Moisturizer Sunscreen SPF 15).

3. Eyelids starting to wrinkle at inner corner. No one told me about this one! Just noticed it last year. Eyeliner starts to flutter up wrinkles in the morning after I first apply. Solution: little dose of Bobbi Brown or Laura Mercier concealer on inner corner prior to application of all over eye shadow. And a q-tip for touch up after.

I'll take 40 over 29 any day, I am much wiser and more at peace. And the beauty challenges - I'll tackle those one at a time!