I have never been a fan of makeup sponges. They get really dirty and people tend to use them without cleaning them for weeks. Dirty sponges can grow bacteria and result in nasty breakouts. So for most of my career I have avoided makeup sponges and relied primarily on synthetic brushes to apply foundation and concealer. This year I became obsessed with all things Drag Queen and have been watching a ton of drag makeup tutorials. Not because I want to do drag or even want to look like a Drag Queen (although some of their looks are fierce!!) but mostly because there is no denying the artistry and technique it takes to create those transformations. I have learned incredible tricks and then implemented them into my own makeup routine.

One technique I learned was how to "beat my face". Drag Queens use makeup sponges and powder puffs to press makeup into their skin. They do this very vigorously to build up coverage and "set" the layers of makeup. After learning how to "beat my face" I realized

Marc Jacobs Beauty is coming soon

Fans of American fashion designer Marc Jacobs already know he's perfected the handbag and the art of creating a best-selling fragrance; but what else can this award-winning designer do to excite his loyal followers?

Makeup.

The news came last year in April that he was working on a beauty line with Sephora, but we've been biting our nails to find out a launch date. Well, Marc Jacobs Beauty is almost here! Get ready to storm the Sephora stores on 8-09-13. That's 85 days, 13 hours, 15 minutes and 30 seconds. Okay, so there's a countdown clock on his website so we're literally counting the days and minutes til the launch. You can also submit your email address to receive updates about pre-sales and news on the launch.

Are you as excited about this launch as we are? We'll be at Sephora on the day of the launch, so stay tuned for our coverage on this new product line. Be sure to follow @marcbeauty on Twitter.

Sofia Coppola debuts the new @marcbeauty makeup tonight! #metgala #punkfashion

My favorite pair of Marimekko Converse from the Spring 2013 collection

I love sneakers. I love sneakers with jeans, dresses, suits and ball gowns. My personal brand of choice is Converse, the classic Chuck Taylors. I have a large collection of limited edition colors, patterns and artists collaborations.

Racked SF, a style and shopping website, recently interviewed me and wrote and article about my Converse obsession. What is it about sneakers to love so much? Comfort and playfulness. I live in San Francisco and walking around in crazy heels is not practical or safe. I need to be able to cross cable car tracks, run from crazy hobos and hike up Nob Hill to get home. I also love that sneakers can help an outfit seem like you're not trying too hard. Sexy dress, sexy makeup, sexy heels...expected. Sexy dress, sexy makeup and unique playful sneakers....unexpected and comfy!

I have scoured the internet to find some fun and fresh kicks to "Spring-ify" your wardrobe and keep your feet ultra-comfortable. Here are my top picks!

I have to start with Converse, as they

Phillip Lim for TargetCatalogs for Fall fashion are already sitting in department stores, awaiting our eyes to bulge and knees weaken as we make mental lists of what potential frocks will make their way to our closets. If you're a big Target designer collaboration fan, here's some news for you! It has been announced today that New York-based designer Phillip Lim will be creating an exclusive 3.1 Phillip Lim line for Target that includes designs for both women and men, and will be available on September 15th this year. Since this is a limited edition line, I suggest you line up on the day it releases. Mark your calendars!

On the Target.com press release page, Lim says: “Since an early age, I’ve been intrigued by the idea of design evolution. One of the reasons I wanted to collaborate with Target is because I felt that together we could create a collection that would inspire – one that is cool and chic, but still very accessible.”

The line will include more than 100 items with a nice price range between $20 and

Bumble and Bumble's Curl Conscious Reactivating MistMany, many haircuts ago, when I was, say, 6 or 7 years old, I wasted countless days sitting on my bedroom floor brushing my dolls' perfectly pretty tresses. Hour after hour, I'd stare at Barbie's pin-straight blonde locks and look at my own curls with an anger comparable to how I felt about not being best friends with all of the Spice Girls.

I grew out of that some time between burning my ear with a flat iron in junior high and starting a job that required waking up by 6:30 every morning. I still straighten my hair more than I care to admit, but embracing my natural 'do was something I learned to do the hard (re: painful and exhausting) way.

What I look for in a hair product: We have enough going on in our heads — so we don't need to be bogged down by our hair. I look for lightweight products that leave my hair fresh, frizz-free and natural looking. If a serum or spray is going to leave these locks greasy, crunchy or droopy in any way, then I'd rather just put my hair up in a bun and

(Photo: Courtesy of The Motley)The increase of high-quality men’s grooming products is mostly a good thing, but it can be a double-edged artisanal sword. If you’re not comfortable comparing them in boutiques or sifting through Amazon listings, you might end up surrendering and picking up the nearest Axe body spray. And that would be a tragedy.

One site that addresses the problem is The Motley, an online grooming store with a curated collection of products from specialty brands. The items are limited and clearly categorized, while the navigation includes such filters as skin type, with the intention of making stuff easier to find. Adding to the user-friendliness are articles and “editor’s picks.”

The Motley recently sent Yahoo! Fashionate a kit including six facial/skincare products for me to review, and for the most part, I was impressed. All of them were a step up from the typical drugstore finds or even their high-end rivals, and one of them has converted me as a frequent buyer. Here’s a rundown:

Speick Shaving Cream

Me in my Pretty Polly houndstooth tights and matching italian soda

Sitting in the bottom of my closet is a giant plastic bin and it is overflowing with stockings and tights. When I started writing this blog I knew I had a large collection, but until I counted them I didn't realize how crazy my obsession is.

Eighty-Two pairs.

That is not including socks, just hosiery. Now before you start cursing me or calling me a hoarder, please let me explain.

I have been wearing tights for as long as I can remember, and I have always worn dresses and hated pants. As a little girl my Omi (my German grandma) told me I could wear dresses as often as I liked but I had to wear tights and little shorts under my dresses. She said if I did that my dresses would never limit my activities, I could play on the monkey bars, climb trees and do anything I wanted without fear that someone would see up my dress. Those words of advice have followed me through my entire life and I still wear dresses, tights and "under" shorts over my tights almost everyday. I can wear the shortest

MAC RiRi Woo lipstick sold outIn just a matter of hours, the anticipated lipstick, MAC RiRi Woo, a collaboration between MAC Cosmetics and Rihanna, sold all out online. The RiRi Woo lipstick, inspired by the classic MAC Ruby Woo shade, became available to beauty buyers at noon today on the east coast.

Beauty bloggers all over the nation were tweeting and posting to Facebook to head over to the MAC Cosmetics website to snatch up this beautiful buy.

A little earlier, Rihanna tweeted that the first shipment of lipsticks were sold out:

#SOLDOUT!!!!!!!!!! First shipment sell awf!!! Next shipment isn't til June!!! Mac girls gone wild!!!… instagram.com/p/Y0kTj_hM6A/

— Rihanna (@rihanna) May 2, 2013

Wild, indeed! You can get yourself on an alerts list so you can purchase RiRi Woo when the next shipment arrives. Just head over to the Official MAC Cosmetics website and sign up.

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