The Purse in Black Fled Across the Desert and Heather Followed

If you get that reference, then good for you for being a fan of The Dark Tower. If not, well, lets talk about purses anyway. But you should probably still read The Dark Tower series. Its like a really dark Harry Potter series for adults. 

Shhh. Listen. Do you hear that? The end of July is a whisper away and I can actually hear summer finally coming to an end. No more sweat. No more frizzy hair. Oh, stop it. No one can tell me they REALLY enjoy 98 degrees and 98% humidity. You don't. You yearn for fall. You just do. Comfortable sleeping weather... great hair days... scarves... jackets... 

I've mentioned in the past that I was definitely the girl decked out in boots and a sweater on the first day of school. These days, I'm more realistic. Now, I'm not going to lie to you and pretend that I haven't already made a boot purchase this month ($24.99 at Marshalls, say thank'ya) but I know that it will probably stay pretty darned warm through mid-October, and, yet, I must have some fall. I need fall. I want fall. I hunger for a little bit o'fall. And that brings us to today's topic...

Purses. Pocketbooks. Whatever you call them, God love 'em, they are that little piece of Autumn (I had to vary my syntax a bit, for artistic purposes) that you can wear today. Or tomorrow. OR August 17th. Will people look at you sideways if you show up to work on September 2nd in knee high boots, tights and a scarf? Yes. At least I will. Will you be a social outcast if you don a cute burgundy tote with your cream colored cami, a khaki skirt and a little navy blue short sleeved cardigan whilst the temps still top 90? Of course not. YOU WEAR THAT PURSE. You go and wear the shit out of that little fall purse. 

And so, here are some of my picks for super awesome excellent lovely fall bags. 

A black leather tote is a cold weather staple, in my opinion. I enjoy this one, from Coach, because it reminds me a little bit of something that I might wear in the 80's to a roller rink. Also, I feel like if my car breaks down those little metal bolts might be somehow useful. 

I know that many of you are "soooooo over" the Coach Signature C's. They will, however, always hold a special place in my heart. I look fondly back at the purchase of my first Coach bag (old Bayshore Macys!) probably when I was still in college, and I recall how toting around those little khaki C's made me feel so important and grown up. I had arrived at adulthood!  This little cross body reminds me of that age of innocence. Plus that little red hang tag is pretty adorable. Coach Factory.

This Kate Spade bag in a pinkish maroon color can be your go-to fall bag. Its structured and classic, but the color is interesting and bright enough to pair with both black and brown based outfits.

This is a bag from Lauren Merkin - its called "Florence" in caramel. Great, now I want caramel. And I want to go to Florence. Damn you, Merkin.

Lauren Merkin Mini Cece. Because this salmon pop of color will look adorable with all of your fall colors - Brown tweed skirt? Camel cords? Dark jeans and a olive green chunky sweater? Merkin knows what goes with this. Merkin is like a purse psychic. Damn, Merkin, you crazy.

Michael Kors Camo Cross body. No, I'm not crazy. Yes, I've seen Lofts weird collection of camo items for the fall. I think this little tiny cross over bag is just the right amount of camo. I'd probably throw this over dark skinnies, brown chunky boots and a white super baggy T with a big funky necklace and scarf in the early fall.

Sometimes you're poor, like me, and you can't afford to spend a car payment sized amount of cash on a bag. Or maybe you need a big tote for your work supplies and you just can't see filling an expensive bag with papers and pens and other crap. This Old Navy Tote is a nice black and white graphic print for fall, and it costs like 5 cents. I'd wear this with my knee length red wool coat and do some serious holiday shopping come November. I'd also pack a snack. Probably fritos.

This bag from Mod Cloth is called "Photography on the Promenade." Well, I want to be on a promenade. I want to take photographs. Logic dictates, then, that I must also own this purse.

This big slouchy brown tote is from Sole Society - its called Allessandra. I have nothing exciting to add to this.

This Tory Burch Lily saddle bag is near to my heart because it reminds me of a little saddle bag that I used to have in junior high. If it wasn't $24,899 I'd absolutely purchase it.

This classic shape from Tory Burch in grass green is a great late summer to fall transition piece. It also reminds me a little of Grace Kelly. I bet Jackie O would have loved this purse, and I bet that Kate Middleton owns it. Those three ladies know a little something about class and style.

And finally, if you're hungry, you can eat purses, like this random internet cat. 

Calling all flakey oily peely powdery fine lined ghosts!

Now, I watch my fair share of HGTV, so I fancy myself an expert in all things construction. As we know, you can't build a house without a foundation. I think if you try to do this, the wood that you built the walls with gets wet, becomes soil, and ground hogs come and live in it, like a smurf house. True story. 

The same thing will happen to you if you don't use proper foundation on your face. Well, a similar thing at least. I'm pretty sure that woodland creatures won't live in your ear holes,  but as with a house, a good foundation sets the stage for a good face, I guess. I don't really know where I'm going with this, but you get it. I hope. Its the crucial first layer when applying your makeup. 

Once upon a time I didn't have to even think about foundation.

Lets take a walk down memory lane... East Islip, 1999. Twenty-one year old Heather can go anywhere with nary a trace of makeup on her face. School. Work. Lily's on a Thursday for ladies night. Redness? Fine lines? Dark spots? Wrinkles? Brow furrows? Nope. Nothing. Nada. 

Look at me in my Forever 21 shirt drinking a Captain and Diet, not worry a damn about forehead creases. Oh, those were the days.

Then I turned thirty and all sorts of things started to go wrong. Years of furrowing my brow ala Arnold  of Different Strokes fame (whatchu talkin' bout, Willis?) have left permanent indentations in my face. Little lines around my mouth... ugh. Without makeup, for some reason, they're not as noticeable, but when I put on foundation, after 30 minutes or so I feel like it just sinks into every little crevice on my face and screams out 'HEY I'M CLEARLY OVER 30!! YOU DON'T HAVE TO PROOF ME FOR LIQUOR!!" 

I'd go foundation free, but I also have a bit of redness and a mild case of rosacea. I am a mess! 

Now I  have spent the last 6+ years trying to find a foundation that I am happy with - to no avail. I repeat - every foundation that I have tried has failed me and I cannot find one that works with my skin! Please help! Cream, Powder, Liquid - I've tried them all. 

My personal skin issues are probably the same as many of your issues:

1) the beginning of fine lines around my eyes and frown lines

2) slight redness, especially in my nose area

3) brow furrows and lines on my forehead

4) I look a little tired UNDER my eyes, even after 8 hours of sleep

5) My skin is oily but also tends to dry out around my nose and between my brows.

I found and fell in love with a liquid foundation from Clinique - Superfit Makeup. It went on smooth. It didn't settle into my little lines. I was in love.

And then, they discontinued it. 

 A rep from Clinique told me that they were replacing my beloved Superfit with the foundation below - Even Better Foundation. Despite its name, it was NOT better. It was heavy. It flaked. It settled right into the ridges between my brows and above my lips. It was returned, and I was sad.

As I have sensitive skin, I thought I'd make the foray into the mineral makeup scene. I tried Bare Minerals powder foundation. Although it looked great when I put it on, after about 2 hours it was just GONE. Its like my skin couldn't hold onto it - and I don't even have oily skin! By lunchtime it didn't even look as if I had put on any makeup at all the morning...

Lets move onto my current foundation - its the one that I've settled on that is just "ok." Its actually the third "type" in a line of ever evolving Clinque powder foundation products. I think its called Perfectly Real Compact makeup. The coverage is good, but like the Bare Minerals, it doesn't last all day. Usually around 3pm it starts to fade. It also sometimes makes my nose look a little peely. I'm underwhelmed, but haven't tried anything better yet.

I also tried mineral makeup from Physicians Formula. I found this to look a bit too "powdery" on my face - it was as if you could see a white coating of powder, especially on my nose.

I tried this CoverGirl Simply Ageless cream foundation, as it promised me that it would not sink into my lines, but, alas, it lied.

I actually just picked up this BB cream foundation from Physicians Formula the other day, and I am wearing it today. I'm undecided. I like the amount of coverage - its not too heavy, but it does mask my redness. And I don't have the powdery-peely look that some of the powder foundations seem to give me... but its a little wet? greasy? something. It will probably be great in the cooler weather, but its making me feel a little slimy today.

I bought this CC powder foundation from Physicians Formula and returned it today. It made me look like a ghost.

I also picked up this liquid foundation - can you tell I'm on a Physicians Formula kick? I haven't tried it yet, though.

Suggestions are welcome!! Please help take me from this:

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