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I was recently sent Rimmel’s new Underground Light Beam After Dark Lip Gloss. For a moment, I had de ja vu. Was I seeing double? No. A while ago, Eyeko’s famous creator Nina Leykind designed Liparazzi. Liparazzi features a mirror in the barrel and a light in the cap. It’s very popular amongst celebrities and those in the
Aren't Bronzing Powders the best? They're like the perfect finishing touch for your makeup. They add sun and warmth and light to the palest of pale. Here's what I'm lusting after:
(Lovely photo courtesy of my extremely dedicated and loving boyfriend, Stephen F. T. Scott).
One very lucky gal will win all this loot:
- MAC C-Shock Eye Shadow in Going Bananas
- MAC C-Shock Lipgelee in Mega
- MAC C-Shock Lipstick in Out to Shock
- Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Lipstick in Perfect Fig
- Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick in Plum
- Elizabeth Arden Smoky Eyes Eye Pencil in Smoky Black
- MAC Rushmetal Pigment in Off the Radar
- MAC Flashtronic Lipglass in Electro-Lush
- MAC Flashtronic Mineralize Eye Shadow in Ether
- MAC Flashtronic Mineralize Eye Shadow in Tectonic
- Primal Elements Pink Lemonade Lip Gloss (not shown)
- Soft Lips Vanilla Lip Balm (not shown)
How, you ask? Well, this is a makeup blog, so I'm putting you to the test. I will pick the person who can create the BEST smoky eye. Here's what you do:
1. Put on your makeup and take a picture.
2. Write me a note telling me what products you used, and how you applied them.
3. Send it to me @ specialkalle@aol.com. Title the Subject: CONTEST.
Entries should be around... 5x7 inches.
CONTEST ENDS ON AUGUST 5, 2007- I WILL PICK A WINNER ON MONDAY, AUGUST 6, 2007. Good luck!!!
I recently took a brief trip to Lewes, Delaware with a couple of my girlfriends. Before (and after) we did some damage at the Outlet Stores (Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle, Coach, J.Crew to name a few) we went to the beach. It was humid, but fairly windy. Kaitlin and I proceeded to take a nap, because what's better than napping on the beach, right? Well, this was around... 1 p.m. I didn't wake up until 4 p.m.- in the same EXACT position I'd fallen asleep in.
Now, for whatever hair-brained idea, I went the idiot route (probably because I used to think I was Asian and I couldn't get sunburned-- which is COMPLETELY and UTTERLY untrue) and skipped the Sun Block step. I didn't consider that the 22nd of July was truly my first day out in the sun. My entire back-side was red and becoming blistered. When I returned home, my boyfriend insisted on slathering me in Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Healing Lotion before I went to bed. When I woke up, I was surprisingly less red and more tan. My skin hurt less and didn't itch.
So here are my sun tips:
-WEAR SUNSCREEN! My pick is Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunblock SPF 30 ($8.99). It provides broad-spectrum UV protection against UVA and UVB rays in a lightweight mist. Waterproof, sweatproof, non-comedogenic, oil-free and PABA-free. Alyssa and Kaitlin were not fans of this. They didn't like the spray application. I however, think it's awesome. No more greasy hands, because you don't have to rub it in. It's also cooling to the skin. Just remember to reapply!
-MOISTURIZE! Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Healing Lotion (10 oz. for $3.99) could be the holy grail of lotions. It relieves chapped or cracked skin and is fragrance free. How could you possibly go wrong with a giant bottle for $4??
Brace yourself. Cargo's got a few new beauty bargains at Sephora.
1. Beauty Insider Palette ($25) BEAUTY INSIDER EXCLUSIVE - Two eye shadows in Sheer Champagne and Glazed Chocolate, a multi-hued blush and a multi-hued bronzer.
2. Bronzing Kit ($81 value, for $35) - Medium bronzer, mini powder/bronzing brush, PurseGloss in Baja (only available in this kit) and the brand new EyeBronzer.
3. SmokyEye Kit ($85 value, for $39) - SmokyEye Eye Liner Duo in Budapest (steel grey), the ultimate SmokyEye Brush and SupersEyes Mascara in Black. I love this brush, the handle is the perfect size to hold in your hand.
NYX's Pinky Blush ($6) is a bright hot pink. When I first saw it, my immediate thought was, "no way." My favorite go-to blush is Benefit's Shangri-la Sheers Love & Mirage, which is a pale peach. For whatever reason, I've never really liked pink blush. So reluctantly, I tried it on. I gently swept the bright pink powder across the apples (ok so not the apples, but more to the side of the apples) of my cheeks and viola! An instant pop of color! Usually, the brighter the color in the pan, the more natural it appears on your face. This blush is lightweight and silky; a makeup must for a mere $6!
(Lovely photo courtesy of my extremely dedicated and loving boyfriend, Stephen F. T. Scott).
One very lucky gal will win all this loot:
- MAC C-Shock Eye Shadow in Going Bananas
- MAC C-Shock Lipgelee in Mega
- MAC C-Shock Lipstick in Out to Shock
- Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Lipstick in Perfect Fig
- Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick in Plum
- Elizabeth Arden Smoky Eyes Eye Pencil in Smoky Black
- MAC Rushmetal Pigment in Off the Radar
- MAC Flashtronic Lipglass in Electro-Lush
- MAC Flashtronic Mineralize Eye Shadow in Ether
- MAC Flashtronic Mineralize Eye Shadow in Tectonic
- Primal Elements Pink Lemonade Lip Gloss (not shown)
- Soft Lips Vanilla Lip Balm (not shown)
How, you ask? Well, this is a makeup blog, so I'm putting you to the test. I will pick the person who can create the BEST smoky eye. Here's what you do: Put on your makeup and take a picture. Send it to me @ specialkalle@aol.com. Title the Subject: CONTEST. Entries should be around... 5x7 inches. Write me a note telling me what products you used, and how you applied them. CONTEST ENDS ON AUGUST 5, 2007- I WILL PICK A WINNER ON MONDAY, AUGUST 6, 2007. Good luck!!!
Larenim (mineral spelled backward) was created by Kristen Corcoran, who had suffered from a mix of acne and rosacea.
The Goddess Glo Dark Shimmer Bronzer ($24.95) is a beautiful, shimmery bronzer without orange or sparkle. One of the best bronzers I've tried. A tiny bit goes a long way. Gorgeous.
The Under-Eye Concealer ($8.95) in Allure is a pale apricot perfect for covering red or purple circles. This is the first peachy mineral concealer I've found, and it delivers. As the brilliant Bobbi Brown says, apricot is really what counteracts purple and blue. It's true.
The Eye Colours ($8.95) are available in every color you could ever want. They are very highly pigmented and provide a glow-y, never overdone look. Spellbound, a rich, shimmery taupe, is a universally flattering color and my new HG eyeshadow. Dreamland is glistening eggplant, so dark it's almost black. Great as a liner. Northern Lights is a shimmering purple that I can actually wear. So many of the purples I try are too blue or too lavender and make me look ridiculous. This one is muted and beautiful and perfect for a summer twist. Midnight Magic is a sexy topaz with a shimmer of rainbow- which makes it unique. I like to layer this on top of Spellbound for a smoky look. All of them are great wet too.
I really like the high quality of Larenim Makeup. Don't tell anyone (especially Bare Escentuals!) that this is my #1 favorite brand of Mineral Makeup. It's naturally soothing and not drying, irritating or toxic to skin. Products contain NO talc, dyes, oils or chemicals. What won me over? None of the minerals will harbor bacteria, which means there's no expiration date!
Nordstroms has just started carrying the complete Shu Uemura collection. Excited? BEYOND excited to deplete my checking account in one fell swoop. Just kidding, I don't recommend that to anyone. The High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil (5 oz. - $28, 15.2 oz. - $62) has been a beauty industry favorite since 1960. It thoroughly cleanses skin while maintaining its ideal balance of moisture and oil, leaving skin soft. Vitamin E provides antioxidant protection and tea tree extract for antibacterial benefits. Every 30 seconds, a bottle of this cleansing oil is sold somewhere in the world. The Natural Brush 10DF ($45) is a sharp, angled squirrel hair brush designed for contouring the eye area. I'm drooling over it, because I just can't convince myself to buy a $45 eye shadow brush. The Cover Crayon ($24) is a multi-tasker, use one color as a highlighter or concealer, use the other to contour. Available in 4 shades. There's only about a bazillion new items, but don't take my word for it, check it out for yourself.
I was just putting my Photoshop skills to good use... One of MAC's newest collections is Flashtronic. This collection is a beautiful set of marbled eye shadows and face powders. The glosses are different shades of bronzy pinks. Here's the rundown of what's what...
Left to right-
The Glowbal Glow Mineralize Skin Finish swirls together pink peach, warm brown and cream pearl to create a shimmery veil of color, perfect for high-lighting. It's different, and takes some getting used to, but fool around with it!
Move over Bobbi Brown's Gold Shimmer Brick, Mineralize Skin Finish in Gold Spill is the ultimate pot o' gold. Be careful though, if you put on too much you may end up looking like a trophy.
My favorite eye shadow is the By Jupiter Mineralize Eye Shadow, it provides a beautiful golden shimmer that looks great with a tan.
All of the Lipglasses are gorgeous! The rosy shades complement the luminous glow of all the gold.
Stila has come up with some cute, limited edition, eye and cheek palettes that come with an It Gloss. I love that the palette covers look like mini magazine covers. My favorite is Look No. 1 ($40- top) it contains 3 eye shadows in Heather (pale pink shimmer), Grace (light fawn shimmer), Espresso (dark matte brown), 1 cheek color in Rose (soft natural pink) and an It Gloss in Smashing (bright shimmering pink). These tiny booklets make it simple to get glam on the go, which is always important. With 4 delightful looks to choose from, you're sure to find one that matches your personality and color needs.
Recently, I’ve been introduced to Grape Seed Oil. What exactly is grape seed oil? It’s a light, odorless natural oil derived from Italian grape seeds, suitable for ALL skin types. Plus, it has many different uses. Grape Seed Oil is often used in salad dressings, hand creams, and massage oil- amongst other things. I like to rub some all over my body for a rich, silky luster that’s completely non-greasy, and is said to reduce stretch marks (Woooo hooo! It’s soooo much better than baby oil, you won’t believe it!)
The oil is perfect for damaged or stressed tissues, possessing regenerative and restructuring qualities which allow better control of skin moisturization. Because of it’s high amount of Linoleic Acid, it is frequently used in beauty products for its anti-inflammatory, acne reduction, and moisture retention properties. Need an eye cream? Look no more, dab a bit of Grape Seed Oil around and under the eyes for especially effective repair of the skin. Run out of shaving cream? The oil will leave your legs softer than you ever imagined.
Finally, we’re all adults here, (so I think, and if not, whatever) there’s one more use for this multi-purpose oil. There’s absolutely no reason to be hiding that bottle of KY or Astroglide in the bedroom. Throw it out! Grape Seed Oil is an awesome, non-sticky sexual lubricant also. Odorless, tasteless, and it never dries to a greasy film on your skin. I recommend it to EVERYONE, for whatever purpose you see fit. When was the last time you saw a salad dressing-eye cream-shaving cream-moisturizer and lubricant in one? For $3.99??? Deal of a lifetime…I’ll never be without it.
*****OIL BASED LUBRICANTS ARE NEVER SAFE TO USE WITH CONDOMS! JUST LIKE PETROLEUM-BASED LUBRICANTS (LIKE VASELINE) CAN DAMAGE THE CONDOM, MAKING IT USELESS FOR SAFE SEX. ONLY WATER OR SILICONE-BASED LUBRICANTS WITH CONDOMS.*********
Which is a fantastic point to make!
Kate Hudson is collaborating with hairstylist, David Babaii and Wildaid to create a brand of hair products that will benefit global wildlife conservation. The products are said to celebrate "The nature in beauty and the beauty in nature," while providing exotic, natural ingredients. Everything is free of sulfates and parabens, and never tested on animals. Kate Hudson's bohemian style and natural beauty makes her the ideal spokeswoman.
Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever bought a brand new lipstick only to have it break off at the base or worse, get stuck inside the tube? It's really quite a messy pain in my butt (it's happened to me thrice in the last 2 days!). Unfortunately, it's summer, and the soaring temperatures tend to melt the waxes and emollients, causing the lipstick to lose strength.
How do we fix this? One option is to mash the rest of the lipstick into the tube and use a lip brush to apply. If the lipstick is still intact for the most part, and only broken at the base, simply hold the lipstick with a tissue and wave a lit match at the bottom to melt it a little bit. Then reattach the stick to the base, making sure it's in at the correct angle. Stick it in the freezer and it will be good as new. Finally, consider using a lipstick palette like this one from Japonesque. If you want to be extra eco-friendly, clean out an old lip gloss pot or eye shadow case, scoop some lipstick into it, (petroleum jelly optional) and use a hair dryer to melt it.
The verdict: A broken lipstick won't stop us from looking glam!
I love lip stains. They're light-weight and they subtlely and gently stain the lips (think "I-just-ate-a-cherry-popsicle" lips). Unfortunately, they are usually quite drying to the delicate, thin skin on our lips. Laura Mercier's new Lip Stain ($20) claims to combat that very problem. The long wearing stain has the comfort and sheen of a gloss, with a satin, balm-like finish. Available in Shy Pink, Peach Glaze, Mocha, Mulberry, Sugar Violet and Scarlet.
This isn't new, really, but geesh what an amazing bargain. Yes, I'm a sucker for a sales and deals, but I try to keep it reasonable- buying only things I LOVE. Lorac's Stunning Starlet Collection ($35) is Carol Shaw's special 5-piece collection of products she uses on, well, everyone. Inside the makeup bag, is a set of adorable minis, perfect for taking on vacation, or toting around with you. The Mini AquaPRIME Oil-Free Makeup Primer moisturizes and prepares skin for makeup, WITHOUT oil, fragrance or silicone. Mocktail in Guava (peachy pink) is a pretty pink gloss that won't leak in your bag. I love the Eye Shadow Trio in Burning Love (cream with gold sparkle, terracotta with gold sparkle and burgundy with gold shimmer), it's great for a natural look and easy to build something more dramatic. Top lashes with the Mini Publicity Stunt Lashes 3 Day Long-Wearing Mascara (in black) for long, light-weight, smudge-proof wear.
My favorite is the Mini Hot Flash Blush/Bronzer Cheek Duo (pink shimmer, bronze shimmer) and brush, use the bronze to contour cheeks and then use the pink for a pop of color on the apples of cheeks. This online only, limited edition set (worth $125) is available at Sephora. Pick one up now, before they're all gone.
My new favorite bronzer is Elizabeth Arden's Bronzing Shimmer Powder ($29.50). Dip the kabuki brush into the deepest shade and apply to the hollows of your cheekbones, and you automatically have a perfect glow. The brush is perfect for blending and diffusing the color on your face and body.
The Ceramide Plump Perfect Lipstick ($21.50) is a moisturizing full coverage, lip plumping lipstick. Maxi-Lip is a lip plumper that reduces the appearance of vertical lines. Ceramide triple complex retexturizes fine lip skin and vitamins and Tahitian Gardenia extract soothes and hydrates. I got this in Perfect Cinnamon, Perfect Bronze, Perfect Fig and Perfect Bare- which are all beautiful natural looking pinks and nudes. This lipstick stays put without drying lips out.
A classic Elizabeth Arden staple is the 8-Hour Cream ($16). This cream is more like a liquidy balm that protects and heals chapped or dry skin, soothes and comforts minor weather burns, scrapes or abrasions and protects against environmental damage and fights free radicals. I apply it anywhere I feel a dry patch coming on (hands, feet, legs, elbows), before I go to bed and when I wake up- it's gone. My only complaint is that this smells kind of like citronella.
Check out the newest Christian Dior palette, it's the prettiest one I've ever seen. Buy from Nordstroms.com and receive a free deluxe mini DiorShow Mascara in black.
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The Diorissime Palette ($55) is a palette of 4 neutral colored eye shadows and two lip glosses- one pale pink and one pale blue, housed inside a delicious pink case embellished with Dior's emblematic canework and the classic Dior 'D' charm. This is by far the chicest, prettiest Dior palette I've ever seen. Order it from Nordstroms.com and receive a deluxe mini DiorShow Mascara in Black.
Napoleon Perdis' products are now available at Sephora. I recommend checking out the selection, and his How-To Videos, and Get The Look's.
Here's my version of his take on London Asian Eyes.
Step 1: Prime the under eye area with eye cream, I use Neutrogena Healthy Skin Eye Cream. Then dot the same area with concealer a little bit lighter than your skin. I like MAC Select Coverage Concealer. Finally, apply a coppery eye shadow (MAC Romp) along the upper eyelid.
Step 2: Layer the upper lids with a shimmery black eye shadow (Urban Decay Deluxe Eye Shadow in Zero), blending it into the copper. Highlight the brow bones with a pale shimmering champagne color (Bare Escentuals i.d. bareMinerals Glimmer in Queen Phyllis.)
Step 3: Apply a black cream eyeliner (Smashbox Caviar Cream Eye Liner) along the top and bottom lash lines, and use a black pencil (Urban Decay 24/7 Eye LinerZero) to line the inside rims. With a medium small eyeshadow brush, blend Romp along the bottom lash line for a pretty glow that pulls the look together.
Step 4: Curl your eyelashes and apply mascara.
I was delighted when I received a sleek, plasticy black bag full of MAC C-Shock products. These bright, 80-ish colors go on surprisingly sheer- so don't be afraid. Give it a try, and jump right in.
Overrich Lipstick- Soft metallic coral with silver pearl. This is a creamy lipstick in a pretty peach shade and looks good under Lil Sizzler Lipgelee (pictured, left, metallic peach with pink and white pearl.)
Out to Shock Lipstick- A silvery pale pink with white pearl, perfect for a mod looking lip. Top it with the Mega Lipgelee (soft lavender with silver sparkle) for shine.
Pomposity Lipstick- Bright raspberry purple with silver and pink pearl. Looks bright in the tube, but mixed with your natural lip color, it looks plummy. It's also pretty with Sugar Shock Lip Gelee (deep red berry.)
I used the Big T (intense aqua with green pearl) and Bang on Blue (bright royal blue) Eye Shadows as wet eyeliner on my friend Elaine- who has chocolate milk like skin coloring. She looked great with that electric pop of color on her eyes.
Going Bananas Eye Shadow (soft lemon yellow) and Fab and Flashy (orange with gold pearl) Eye Shadow complimented my mid-tan skin, the sheer wash of the two mixed together brightened up the eye area.
Nikki, pale with blonde hair, took Eyepopping (soft lime green with gold and yellow pearl) and Wondergrass (intense kiwi green.)
Erth Mineral Makeup specializes in 100% pure, crushed minerals, leaving the unnecessary fillers (like bismuth oxychloride), preservatives and chemicals out. It's non-comedogenic and bacteria resistant. In addition to being extremely reasonably priced, they offer a 100% money-back guarantee and free shipping on orders over $55.
The Foundation ($13) provides SPF 15, matte medium coverage for all skin types. Available in 7 colors. 2.3 was my match. The Flawlesss Foundation Brush ($12.50) is made of sable and capra and was very similar to Bare Escentuals'.
Concealer ($7.50) comes in 4 shades. Wheat is great for under eye and fix is great for counteracting redness wherever you need it.
The Eye Shadow ($5.25) is very sheer and sparkly. Good as a wash.
The Blush ($12.50) and Bronzer ($12.50) are made of mica and iron oxides. Primrose is a rich pink with lavender undertones. It's a sheer subtle dusty pink with a tiny bit of shimmer. Glow Bronzer is light tan with cool undertones and shimmer. Looks good as a contour, and a little bit goes a long way.
