Latina.com Blog

Girls, there’s no denying it: Fall is here. Yes, it’s harder to get dressed in the fall, and you have to wear a stupid coat all the time and you can’t enjoy sidewalk cafés. But on the upshot, you can indulge in some super dark nails and lips. And I’m writing today to beg each of you to try a formerly forbidden color on your mouth. I’m talking about blacks, browns and deep purples. Just try mixing one of those shades–I love the black-burgundy shade of Too Faced Mirror Mirror Lip Gloss in Envy Me ($16, toofaced.com)–with a little bit of red lipstick on the back of your hand. Now apply that blend onto your lips with a brush. Now put on some mascara, and lightly line your upper eyelids; now add a smidge of neutral blush. I dare you to say you don’t look a little hot right now. Yes, it’s a little much, and you’re probably not going to wear it to do the groceries; or, maybe, you might. Remember, your job is hard. Makeup is supposed to be fun.

–Angelique

We are on a roll: I’ve got yet another gem to share with all you fabulous curly haired chicas. As y’all know, it’s best not to wash curls with regular shampoo every day. The detergent chemicals are harsh on your ringlets, which are naturally a bit starved for moisture. Some of you prefer the no’poo approach, and I say, whatever works! But I have to tell you about new Miss Jessie’s Crème de la Curl Best Darn Cleansing Crème Period. It’s a super-thick, sulfate-free, no lather (don’t freak out when you don’t see the suds–cause you don’t need them anyway!) cleansing cream that moisturizes like your most hardcore conditioner. In fact, our Beauty Assistant Sandra Mariscal tried it on her curls and actually combed her hair in the shower while the cleansing crème was still in it; it was that thick and detangling. There’s an accompanying Crème de la Crème Best Darm Conditioner to go with it (both available at Ricky’s stores, and missjessies.com)–it’s thinner in feel but just as effective in nourishing, softening and rejuvenating twisty strands.

–Angelique

Wow, I finally did it tonight. I stalked Mr. Vanilla, my ex-boyfriend, on Facebook! And rather than feeling sad or upset, I just laughed. Am I totally loca or what?!!

A year ago, I was crying over this dude; wondering what went wrong, what I had done to make him want to leave. I can’t believe how stupid I feel right now about letting myself feel like that. I can’t help but think, “WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING?” I look at photos of Mr. Vanilla and I don’t even recognize him anymore.

So, I want to thank Mr. Vanilla for breaking up with me—otherwise, I still might still be with him now. Thinking things were right, when they were so completely wrong. Love is blind, they say.

He’s with another girl now and she’s just like him. They’re perfect for each other.

I also discovered his ex-wife on Facebook which is so weird. Since I’m so freaking nosy I really wanted to know what had gone wrong in their marriage. I’d heard his side of the story but I wanted her side too. As many of you know, he abruptly broke up with me without even giving me a proper explanation. Guess what? He ended up leaving me for his latest girl.

I wonder if his ex-wife knows that he cheated on her with me? He ended their relationship a few weeks after he met me. Does his current lady love know about his piss poor track record?

When I was dating him I felt like I was Batman and he was my Robin, a sidekick by my side. I don’t want to compare apples and oranges but with Sam, I feel like the Superwoman to his Superman. He lifts me up when I’m down, he’s just as strong as I am and I know he’ll be there for me no matter what. It’s weird how you can tell two people who make you feel so different that you love them and mean it both times.

I KNOW you’ve stalked an ex online! How did you feel about it? Did you feel like you were totally over him or her or did you miss your ex? Would you tell a new boyfriend that you looked up an old one? Tell me the truth chicas!

Un Abrazo Fuerte,

Lex

Guess what, girls? We will soon have yet another addition to our glam-gal arsenals in the form of a new mascara from Maybelline. Last night I was privy to the ultra-posh launch of Lash Stiletto ($9, available January 20009 in drugstores), a product that vows to do for your lashes what stilettos do for your legs (I’m hoping they’re not referring to the back pain and blisters). I haven’t tried it yet, but with the promise of patent-leather shine and platform length, rest assured, I will. And let you know immediately, por supuesto.
- Angelique

There were many important books I wanted to read this summer; college-level brain stimulators like STori Telling by Tori Spelling and Are You There Vodka, It’s Me Chelsea by Chelsea Handler. Time slipped away and I have yet to read them, but I’ve started another one: The Mary Kay Way; Timeless Principles From America’s Greatest Woman Entrepreneur by Mary Kay Ash ($13.17, amazon.com). Ladies, I don’t know if you’ve seen Mary Kay cosmetics lately, but let me tell you–this is not your mami’s Mary Kay. Compacts are sleeker in slate black and smartly filled with blushes, eye shadows and lipsticks. And this book is as relevant today as the 45-year-old brand remains. I’d like to share a passage with you (…didn’t that sound very professor-y of me?). Ah-hem: “I would always think, ‘If I were this person, how would I want to be treated?” To this day, when I am searching for a solution to a people problem, I ask myself that question…and even the most difficult problem soon becomes unraveled.’” Beautiful genius.

–Angelique

I’m going to take a break from writing about the pursuit of penises and focus on politics for a minute. It’s been consuming everything and I, just like everyone else, am having a hard time thinking about anything else. Don’t worry, I’m not going to bore you with a political rant, I’ll keep it short and sweet.

I’m voting for Barack. I was raised a Democrat. In the third grade, my class had a faux election and my dad encouraged me to vote for Michael Dukakis.

Here’s my concern, I don’t think Barack is going to win. I honestly don’t think this  country of ours is ready for a black president. Before you start writing nasty things in the comments section, please hear me out.

I’ve been a victim and observed closet racism my whole life. Whether I’m watching a football game in New York City or hanging out in Iowa, I’ve heard way too many off-colored remarks about my race, African-Americans and other ethnicities.

I’ve driven past homes adorned with Confederate flags that are merely hours away from New York City.

My friends attend dinner parties with hoity toity people and hear the most ignorant remarks about the possibility of Barack becoming our president.

Pundits on TV discuss how minorities are going to come out in droves to vote in November. Guess what? I know way too many Latinos who cannot vote because they are illegal residents. I’m trying to educate my other friends on registering to vote since they aren’t aware that you have to register in order to vote. It scares me!

I live in New York City aka blue country. Barack is our God and we worship him on a daily basis. But if you look outside of NYC you’ll see red, red and more red.

The other day, I had to listen one of my best friend’s fathers was singing the praises of the horrific Sarah Palin. “Vote for yo mamma! Not Obama,” he said with a laugh. I nearly died right then and there.

Yesterday, I was chatting with a lawyer who told me, “Bottom line: Americans wants to feel safe at night and they feel safe with McCain not Obama.” Yikes!

I hope I’m wrong. I hope I can regret writing this post. But this is how I feel right now, right here.

Un Abrazo Fuerte,

Lex

Covering backstage beauty during NYC Fashion Week, I had my eagle eye out to spot interesting tools and popular products to share with all of you. And one day, rolling around on a makeup artist’s table backstage at the Juan Carlos Obando show, I spotted the Beauty Blender ($20, beauty.com), created by Rea Ann Silva and Veronica Lorenz. This egg-shaped blending sponge is absolutely amazing. You can apply foundations, concealers, blushes, and blend them beautifully into your skin, as the pointy tip allows you to roll the sponge into every little crevice. It’s a super-affordable must-try. Even the pros agree!

–Angelique

Do I have a major scoop for you: Come October, run, run, run to your closest MAC cosmetics outlet, chicas. Their newest collaboration with Colombian prodigy/designer Esteban Cortazar, who designs for Ungaro, is nothing short of breathtaking. Achingly pretty shades of pink eye shadows and crimson cream blushes are so completely easy to wear, I’ve been wearing nothing else for months. I was able to get a sneak peak at the collection a couple months back when I met Esteban himself. The young twenty-something was so passionate about the creation of these ultra-feminine formulations. And being the ultimate girlie-girl, I was dying over the whisper-blush sheen of lipgloss. I’m telling you girls, if you love a soft pretty look, you will fall hard for these products.

–Angelique

In addition to reporting on fashion and beauty for Latina.com, I also write up a fashion news page for Latina magazine. It’s really cool, because I get to chat with all kinds of groovy Latin designers from all around the world and find out what’s going on.

Today, as I was doing the reporting for the December issue, I called a woman named Marlene Alatriste, who designs a gorgeous jewelry line named Danialli Jewelry (danialli.com). She was born in Venezuela but was raised in Mexico until the age of 10. As a child, she remembers witnessing the fabulous social life of her uncle, Gustavo Alatriste, a celebrated Mexican actor and film producer who threw fabulous star-studded parties at his home. As a jewelry designer working today, she tries to imbue her collections, which include gold, diamonds, pearls and semi-precious beads, with the beauty and glamour of those old Hollywood days.

But the collection isn’t just about glitzy good times; it was actually born out of an unthinkable tragedy. Marlene’s 8-year-old daughter died when she fell off of a balcony in 1989. For a year, Marlene was sick with grief, but one day, she prayed to God to give her something to hold on to—to keep going. Her prayers were answered when she was inspired to begin making necklaces as a healing process.

“I walked into a bead place and bought pearls. And I just started making necklaces, which all of my friends loved,” explains Marlene, 50, from her cellphone in Miami. “Then one day I walked in to Saks and asked to see the manager. The manager loved my jewelry and asked me to set up an appointment with the buyer. They wanted me to start a real company. Soon after Ritz Carlton called, too. And the rest is history.”

Fortunately, Marlene also has two surviving daughters–one is 15 and the other is 20. This story reminds me of how fashion and beauty is not as shallow as so many people think. They can be an expression of joy, of sadness and of recovery.

—Serena

Hola chicas! Since y’all know I don’t have naturally curly hair (I wish!), I depend heavily on my curly hair community (that’s you!) to fill me in on the latest and greatest tips to keeping rizos looking ridiculously gorgeous. Yesterday I was at a photo shoot for Latina’s December/January issue where I met a model with the longest curls I had ever seen; seriously, she could almost sit on them. She and I hit it right off, trading homegrown hair care secrets while our fabulous stylists prepped her for the shot. Well, she told me that she mixes L’Oreal Studio Line Melting Gel ($5, drugstore.com) with a natural oil–like rosemary–to coat her wet curls before she lightly blow-dries them. This softens the gel, so you get less of a crunchy effect, and adds even more moisture to strands. Now girls, if you try this little trick, you must let me know how it works! And please feel free to post your own curl tricks here. It’s the best way to learn–from each other!

–Angelique