Perennially hot mama-to-be Gwen Stefani was literally around the corner from my house last night!  She and hubby Gavin Rossdale were eating at Marix, which is a yummy tex mex restaurant (and where I had my birthday last year, by the by.)  You know, call me a dork, but I will never become jaded by celebrity spottings/proximity; I can’t help but think it’s amazing when we cross paths or visit the same haunts.  Are they better or more important than you and me?  No, nein, non.  But are they prettier and more Ooh! to look at?  (Despite…or because of…the airbrushing and gym-ratting and plastic surgerizing and salon sleekifying…?)  Um, yeah. 

Gwen’s trademark cherry-red lips make me happy in a really primal beauty way.  How does she pull it off so well time and again?  (Gwen in red lipstick=amazing.  Jolie in red lipstick=clownish mess.  The only “real” girl I’ve ever met who can pull off red lipstick is my former roommate Adrienne.  Props, A.!)  The trick to wearing red is finding a shade that works with your coloring; Gwen has a very warm, yellowish look because of her Italian-heritage skintone and brown eyes, so she sticks with vivid, creamy blue-reds without pink/fuschia in them.  (My recommendation: MAC Cosmetics lipstick in Russian Red, which is rumored to be her favorite color and is pretty much universally acknowledged to be the best shade of red lipstick, even for those with pink/cool undertones.)

Side note: Whenever I see a pregnant celebrity with zero roots, I can’t help wondering what the deal is.  According to some health professionals, it’s safe to dye your hair after the first trimester; others say that because small amounts of dye are absorbed into your body, which can theoretically have an effect on the baby’s organ development, you should avoid dye in general and only highlight or frost if you must.  (Pregnancy or no, I’m kind of creeped out by the fact that the dye seeps into the bloodstream at all!)

So, Mother’s Day is, like, tomorrow, and of course I have yet to get Mere Jolie anything.  In a parallel universe, I’d be hopping on a plane to Dallas to surprise her this Sunday, but alas I think that’s the same universe where I live rent-free in an SW3 Chelsea flat.  (Not visiting that alternate realm anytime soon!)  Haven’t picked up anything for your mom, either?  Check out the new Jo Malone Kohdo Wood Collection, which features two limited-edition fragrances: calming Lotus Blossom and Water Lily, and energizing Dark Amber and Ginger Lily.  Kohdo, apparently, is an ancient Japanese incense ceremony, and the new collection is made of a candle, bath oil and cologne.  If you can’t afford the lot, I recommend the Lotus Blossom and Water Lily Bath Oil (for 100 clams), which comes in a so-chichi-you-just-want-to-stare-at-it glass bottle. 

I’m assuming you’re familiar with Jo Malone, but if not…ohhh, babies, are you in for a treat.  Jo is an actual woman who started making skincare concoctions for her London friends.  Word-of-mouth spread, the line grew, and now it’s a bonafide Luxury Brand, with some of the yummiest bath oils, candles, shower gels, home fragrances and perfumes this side of Diptyque.  (I would forgo food for the Diptyque Baies candle–it is That Good.  When I moved to England, I actually carted it with me on the plane in my carry-on luggage.  Practical?  Me?  Never!)  Some of my favorite Jo Malone treats:

Jo Malone Bath Oil Collection: Mini-sizes of Jo’s bestselling bath oils, packaged in glass instead of plastic for an extra touch of fab.

Jo Malone Vitamin E Gel: Possible the cultiest product in the line, and a must-have in certain Notting Hell sets for dry or damaged skin

Jo Malone Lime Basil Mandarin Cologne: It’s next to impossible to pick just one scent, but this is considered Jo’s gold standard.  Bonus–it’s good for men and women (and damn near addictive)

There’s something seriously tragic about lip pencils.  With one swipe, a woman suddenly appears dated, harsh, old beyond her years.  A few iconic pencils here and there have managed to escape general beauty wrath (MAC Cosmetics lip pencil in Spice, Wet ‘n Wild #666), but in general…just, no.  So, of course, I’m squirming like a stuck pig admitting to you all that I am loving Bobbi Brown Lip Crayon limited-edition lip pencils.  Can I have a moment to redeem myself, please?  Okay…here we go.  First off, they’re not like regular lip pencils.  Oh, no!  They’re chubby!  And glide-y!  And creamy and smooth and all those wonderful adjectives that make me think of peanut butter, not makeup.  It’s like a lipstick, I swear!  Secondly, the four shades are perfection: Naked Pink, Nude Berry, Red Plum and Warm Rose.  How can you be tacky with gin-and-dubonnet-swilling names like that?  And finally, it’s (respectful pause, please) Bobbi Brown.  Queen of all that is tasteful and elegant and—most importantly—necessary in beauty.  Yes, I confess…I have fallen in love with a lip liner.  Gel tips are surely in my future.

Bobbi Brown Lip Crayon in Nude Berry