Review: Sephora - Signature Clear Bag

I've had this Sephora Signature Clear Stripe Bag ($7) in pink for quite some time now. It's the travel makeup bag that I stuff all my every day makeup in to fit in my purse. I love that it's clear so you can see whats inside and the pink stripes brighten it up. It's pretty roomy, I can shove about 15 things in it. Easy to clean, even easier to see where your stuff is.

Face Candy Grade: A+

MAC - A Rose Romance

Suggesting sonnets celebrated for centuries: "Come into my garden, I would like my roses to see you!" poet Sir Richard Brinsley Sheridan once said, and what lady could resist such flattery?

A tradition in haute-couture, and enduring Icon of love and certainly the only flower acceptable to throw on stage at the Met or clench between teeth in a Buenos Aires tango salon, the rose remains beyond reproach. MAC creates a very modern Rose Romance, our lovely new color collection for the summer season. Spring buds blush in fragrant new hues when Just A Pinch Gel Blush debuts; Fix+Rose refreshes; and our bring-back favorite fragrance, Creations Hue: Dejarose, whispers anew... BUT WITH GREAT BEAUTY THERE IS ALWAYS PASSION AND PERIL... MIND THE THORNS.

Lipstick ($14 US/ 16.50 CDN)

-Way To Love- Creamy light yellow pink
-A Rose Romance- Mid-tone pink with gold pearl
-Odyssey- Spiked-up plum

I want to say that I think ALL the lippies in this collection are to die for. I LOVE the colors! I tried Way to Love, eventhough I think A Rose Romance would have been much better on my complexion. Way to love is a mid-tone pink, on the cool side.

Face Candy Grade: B-

Lipglass ($14 US/ $16.50 CDN)
-Virgin Kiss- Sheer pale pink with multi-dimensional pearl
-Magnetique- Frosted violet fuchsia
-Steal My Heart- Sheer bright pink with multi-dimensional pearl

Virgin Kiss is a perfect pale pink gloss that looks great on top of lipstick or by itself. On my lips the color is less pigmented, because my lips are naturally red. It might look different on you.

Face Candy Grade: B+

See Thru Lip Colour ($14 US/ $16.50 CDN)
-Loving Touch- Sheer pearly light pink
-Tender Tryst- Sheer pearly plum
-Secret Crush- Sheer red berry

Tender Tryst looks deep and dark in the tube, but the color it delivers is much more sheer-berry like. Ever since the Emanuel Ungaro see thru lip color, I've been pretty into them. I want the other two. It's good because you can layer easily and it's not too drying on lips.

Face Candy Grade: A

Eye Shadow ($14.50 US/ 17.50 CDN)
-Of Summer- Frosted light dirty mauve
-Et Tu, Bouquet?- Frosted pale pink gold
-Creme de Violet- Vivid pinkish-violet flecked with gold shimmer
-Silverthorn- Mid-tone gray with silver pearl
-Shadowy Lady- Darkly veiled plum

Et Tu, Bouquet? is a frosty pale pink. It's pretty sheer IMO, maybe I should try it wet. Very subtle. Maybe it's just the texture is kind of hard and chunky. I don't know. It looks nice as a brow bone highlighter. But nothing to call home about.

Face Candy Grade: B-

Pigment ($19.50 US/ $23.50 CDN)

-Mutiny- Clean sky blue with gold pearl
-Circa Plum- Frosty dirty mid-tone lavender

Circa Plum is really pretty. It's got everything that I love in a pigment. It's taupey, shimmery, grayey and plummy at the same time. I personally think pigments are best wet. This one is HOT!

Face Candy Grade: A
Splashproof Lash ($12 US/ $14 CDN)
-Blacksplash- Black

Just A Pinch Gel Blush ($18.50 US / $22.50 CDN)- Sheer gel cheek blush in a pot delivers a rosy glow of coverage for a healthy complexion. Dewy texture blends into a thin film on skin, giving low to medium transparent coverage.
-Just A Pinch- Sheer red pink tint

I was excited, but ultimately let down by this product. Mine is very oily and too sheer, plus the color doesn't stay on that well. I didn't like it for cheeks or lips.

Face Candy Grade: F

Beauty Powder ($22 US/ $26.50 CDN)
-Blush of Youth- Clean pink with gold pearl
-Summer Rose- Soft violet pink with pearl

I tried Summer Rose. It looks more violet in the package than it does on. It's more pink than violet but I also thought it was chalky. I would have preferred to have Blush of Youth. The rose design in the compact is gorgeous, but does that really matter?

Face Candy Grade: C

Fix+ Rose ($17 US/ $20 CDN)- An aqua-spritz of vitamins and minerals, infused with a Calm-the-Skin blend of green tea, Chamomile, Cucumber, topped off with the scent of 100% natural rose water. Adds radiance, finishes makeup.

Nail Lacquer ($11 US/ $13 CDN)
-Love & Friendship- Creamy dirty mid-tone lavender

Creations Hue: Dejarose ($22.50 US/ $28.50 CDN)- A striking bouquet of lush Bulgarian, Turkish, and Tea Red Roses is ruffled with dewy watery and luminous green nuances. Velvety petals of exotic orchid, lily, jasmine and peony are teased with a hint of crimson red raspberry and the gentle texture of pink pepper. The interplay of light and dark woods, weathered teak contrasting with patchouli, adds to the intensity, while hypnotic incense vapours and amber crystals lend a sense of intrigue and allure to this sensuous creation.

Review: New Product- glominerals gloRoyal Lip Crayon

I am new to glominerals. The glominerals gloRoyal lip crayon ($16) was the first product I tried. It's new for Summer 2009. The lip crayon provides pigment, glominerals signature formula of plant derived phytosterol ester and antioxidant blends of vitamins A, C and E and natural UV protection. Available in: (pictured, top to bottom) Countess Coral, Imperial Pink and Empress Rose. Launching May 1st at gloskincare.com.

I used Countess Coral (top), it has a glossy feel and good color, in a scale of 1-5 of opaqueness, 1 being sheer, 5 being opaque, I'd say it's a 4. I prefer to use gloss on top of it for extra staying power. It's also recommended that you fill in your lips with a regular lip liner and then layer this on top for a bit of color and shine. I love it, Countess Coral is a bright, more orangey than pink color. I carry it around in my purse.

Review: FLIRT! Lash-a-delic Fast Defining Mascara

I recently got a sample of FLIRT! Lash-a-delic Fast Defining Mascara (limited edition, $14, on sale for $11.20) and I'm so said it's LE. The brush is on the small/ regular size, but it's the formula that provides length and separation. I used black, but it's available in blue and brown. It's long lasting, doesn't flake or clump. It makes lashes look wet and freshly painted. FLIRT! is only available at Kohl's and is a division of Estee Lauder. Get it while you can!

Face Candy Grade: A+

Total Beauty Weekly Web Tour

Meredith at Daily Dose of Coffee ponders an interesting question: are male and female acne really all that different? Find out more!

Beauty Anonymous brings you Sonia Rykiel Summer 2009 Makeup Collection.

Family portrait in your future? Visit The Beauty Couch for some tips on how to apply makeup for fabulous photos.

Meilily brings you Beauty & Awareness: Check out Meilily's swatches and photos of OPI's Breathe Life lung cancer awareness nail polish!

The Informed Makeup Maven raves about Nude Vs Red lips, Nailene, The Best Bronzers, Softlips; reviews Jenova mascara and invites you to join her facebook group. Most of all IMM really wants your opinion for a chance to score a Covergirl makeup pack !

Jamie and Mother Blogger of Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog discovered a plethora of earth-friendly products for Earth Week: Tees for Change, Kiss My Face (plus a giveaway), and much more.

Boutique Flair reviews Vichy's popular Noraderm Anti-Imperfection Hydrating Care lotion.

Good news for fans of Stila! Beauty Junkies Unite finds out after a month of bankruptcy rumors, the makeup brand has been sold and should be back in business soon!

Makeup Files is celebrating its first blog anniversary! Come celebrate with us by entering the huge birthday bash beauty giveaway worth over $100 dollars!

eye4style wants you to get glowing - from the inside out! Click to enter her Glowelle giveaway.

GIVEAWAY ALERT! The Anti Hair Slave is giving away the entire Soft & Beautiful StyleProtect Collection all you have to do is leave a comment to be entered.

Looking for the latest giveaway.. Addicted to Lipstick is having a Kiss My Face Giveaway where she's giving away organic lip shines and lip shimmers.

Monique at Beauty Girl Musings reviews the new Olay Pro X Protocol Starter Kit.

See what Fabulous Over Forty product she is so happy she found in NYC!

Butterflydiary has fallen in love with Amala Organic Beauty, a line she feels can cryogenically freeze her skin's age.

Best Face Scrubs-a video blog by Talking Makeup!

Melissa of The Makeup Divas reviews the new Prescriptives Motor-Eyes Instant Action mascara .

Alison aka. Advice Sister Alison ofthe Advice Sisters offers a follow up on the Avon Clinical Derma-Full X3 Facial Filling Serum It is really a Miracle?

Lipgloss Break has partnered with Noah's Naturals to Giveaway a Selection of Products from their Skincare Line. Enter to Win!

makeup loves me has some news about this next episode of gossip girl! and no, it's not dorota's secret...

Only one week left to enter the giveaway hosted by More than a Pretty Face for all nine shades of Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics' newly launched Lip Tar collection. Lip Tar sold out at its launch at The Makeup Show in NYC last month.

The girls over at Beauty in Real Life let you in on Bobbi Brown's new Nautical Collection. Check it out here!! And while you are there don't forget to enter their Pureology Giveaway!!

Beauty Beast reviews both limited edition scents from the new Kohdo Wood fragrance collection by Jo Malone.

Face Candy shows you some makeup brushes that are eco-friendly.

Beauty411 loves Kate Somerville's newest product, ExfoliKate Body Intensive Exfoliating Treatment. Check out her review here!

In honor of Earth Week, Spoiled Pretty is hosting a week's worth of green giveaways. Enter to win eco-chic sunglasses...and beauty booty from Cargo PlantLove, John Masters Organics, Samy, Tarte, Zoya, Kaia, and Burt's Bees!

The Shades Of U is GIVING AWAY prizes from Aminogenesis Dermascyne Wrinkle Arrest and Health Dropz Beverage Booster! Enter to win!

Enter Indian Girl's Complete Skin Care Giveaway : Three lucky readers will receive the complete set of products from Biore Skin Preservation Line. Enter Today !

Beauty Blogging Junkie announces Crescent Row, the new adorable perfume collection from Benefit.

Face Candy Fashion: Initium Sunglasses & Frye Boots

I like clean, classic lines in my clothing, accessories, and shoes. I also like to buy things that I will be able to wear over and over. I believe that high quality accessories and shoes sometimes even make your less expensive clothing look better.

Last summer I bought a pair of gigantic Gucci sunglasses, I even took them on my honeymoon in October, and they've vanished. No where to be found and believe me I looked. It was heartbreaking. So I obviously had to replace them.

Through a website called Hautelook.com, I spied a pair of Initium N.I.B. Sunglasses ($150), tortoise with green lens (yellow gold log0) for $40 and 11 days later, they were in my hands. Or on my face, rather. I wore them all day, today, and I love them.
If you want an invite to Hautelook.com, email facecandyblog@gmail.com with hautelook in the subject.

Via Shopittome.com, I got a pair of Frye 'Harness' Boots ($217.95) for $79. Classic! Love them. Note that you should order 1/2 size smaller than your usual size. If you want an invite to Shopittome.com, email facecandyblog@gmail.com with shopittomein the subject.

Dior - Summer 2009

* Dior 5-Colour Iridescent Eyeshadow
-Electric Lights #259 ($56)
-Pearly Lilac #129 (Neiman Marcus Exclusive) ($56)

* Dior Bronze Couture Palette (Specialty Exclusive) ($80)

* Dior Vernis ($20)
-Purple Candy #781 (Department Stores)
-Bubble Gum #741 (Specialty Stores)
-Sweet Orange #334 (Sephora Exclusive)

* Dior Addict Lip Glow ($28.00)- A color-awakening lip balm that responds to the chemistry of your lips to create a unique shade with SPF 10.

* Dior Addict High Shine Lipstick ($26)
-Designer Coral #154 (Speciality Exclusive)
-Artist Pink #374
-Sketch Pink #864

* Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect ($25.50)
-Nylon Pink #377
-Vinyl Coral #647 (Specialty Stores)

* DiorKiss ($20)
-Grenadine Syrup #741 (Specialty Stores)
-Blackcurrant Cream #781 (Department Stores)
-Strawberry Smoothie #851 (Sephora Exclusive)

* Diorskin Shimmer Powder in Pop Diamond #004 ($43)

* Dior Cristal Shine ($60.00)- A lip balm, lip gloss and mini lip brush in a chic reflective case, this funky charm is available in two shade duos:
-Cristal Coral (Sephora Exclusive)
-Cristal Pink (Department Stores Exclusive)

* Diorshow Iconic Extreme Mascara in Extreme Black ($27.00)
* Diorskin Nude Loose Powder in Rosy Bronze #052 (Nordstrom Exclusive) ($45.00)

3 Lavish Layers of Lip Balm - Rosebud Perfume Co.

Three Lavish Layers of Lip Balm ($20 value, for $16) contains 3 full size lip balms in a vintage vanity tin. Includes Strawberry Lip Balm, Rosebud Salve and Minted Rose Lip Balm. Formulated without parabens, sulfates, petro-chemicals, phthalates, GMO's, Triclosan and is not tested on animals. Apply to hands, lips and skin. I am definitely going to pick this up next time I'm at Sephora. I LOVE Rosebud Salve and the Strawberry Lip Balm reminds me of my 3rd Grade Teacher, Ms. Suita, who always had a tin for the kids to use. (Thinking back, I'm like 'ewwww- germs!' but at the time, it was fun.)

Review: Eco Tools

Recycled Aluminum Retractable Kabuki ($8.99)- 100% taklon bristles are cruelty free and the case is made from recycled aluminum. This brush feels like velvet. It sets makeup perfectly, mineral or loose powder. It's also great for applying bronzer because the look will be more diffused and soft. I LOVE this brush. I don't know how I lived without it actually.

Face Candy Grade: A+

Bamboo 6 Mini Brushes ($3.99)- Once again, 100% taklon bristles and bamboo handle. Even the sleek ferrule (I had no idea that's what the silvery thing was called) is made from recycled aluminum. They can be used for eyes, lips and face. I am one of those people that mysteriously looses all the plastic applicators that come with eye shadow. (I also throw out all brushes that come with blush.) I open the compact and they're gone. So these are a great alternative.

Face Candy Grade: A+

12 Cleansing Sponges ($2.99)- Made with Soybean Oil and 100% Cotton. Great for cleansing and removing makeup. They're reusable, all you have to do is rinse the sponge and air dry. You should replace monthly. These are soft on skin and great for travel.

Face Candy Grade: B

Bamboo 5 Piece Brush Set ($11.99)- 4 100% taklon bristled brushes with bamboo handles. Includes a Mineral Powder Brush, Concealer Brush, Eye Shading Brush and a Baby Kabuki in a cotton and hemp linen bag. I especially like the Mineral Powder Brush, which I use for blush. I was watching Laura Mercier on TV and she did blush on this chick and she applied it by holding the brush vertically and tapping it on the apples of cheeks. Gently tap the brush in a bright pink powder and you'll get a soft, natural flush. The Eye Shading Brush is perfect for blending shadow together, using the windshield-wiper motion or for a softer application of a deep or bright color.

Face Candy Grade: A

Overall, eco tools are awesome. Totally affordable and deliver great results. Available at drugstores.

New Collection: MAC - Dazzleglass

All you need is... Lips and Lashes! Summer simplified for the modern makeup minimalist.

Double Dazzle will daze the closest competition with colour-changing, light-reflecting pearl-shine lips; paired with a new formula for the ultimate in voluptuous lashes, et voilà! Lips lead: seven new Dazzleglass shades bring the scintillating selection up to 18! The flotilla-of-lights formula imparts the pearl combination with mega-glisten shine, creamy comfort and the subtle sensation of vanilla. Lashes follow: multiplied, volumized, utterly glorified by our newest eye innovation…This sly new small-and-mighty brush has been developed to capture and emphasize each and every lash.

Dazzleglass ($18 US, $21.50 CDN)

-Sugarrimmed - Milky pale pink with red, teal and white pearl
-Goldyrocks - Sheer soft yellow with pink and gold pearl*
-Moth To Flame - Sheer neutral beige with violet pearl
-Smile - Light coral with pink and gold pearl*
-Steppin' Out - Clean yellow pink with red pearl
-Utterly Posh - Mid-tone orange with pink and gold pearl
-Love Alert - Raspberry red with red pearl
-Date Night - Deep plum with blue and gold pearl
-Funtabulous - Purple with violet pearl
-Extra Amps - Sheer birght blue pink with blue and pink pearl
-Like Venus - Clean light bubble gum pink with red pearl
-Stop! Look! - Sheer violet mauve with blue and pink pearl
-Money Honey - Mid-tone rosy mauve with red pearl
-Rags To Riches - Plummy pink with teal and red pearl
-Baby Sparks - Pale pink with violet pearl
-Bare Necessity - Carmel apricot with red and gold pearl
-Girl's Delight - Sheer mid-tone tan with gold pearl
-Get Rich Quick - Warm Yellow Brown

I got Goldyrocks and Smile. I wasn't sure about yellow lipgloss, but it's beautiful. An unexpected, pinky gold shimmer. It'll warm up anything. I love it. I have a feeling it's going to be a cult favorite. I also think there's a funky smell to it, which turns me off. Smile is a mik-tone, milky coral. This one doesn't smell weird at all, so it's a favorite. I'm obsessed with coral lips, so it's a winner in my book.

Face Candy Grade: B+

Dazzle Lash ($12 US, $14 CDN)
-Star Brunette - Brown
-Black Dazzle - Black

Beauty Blog Network Weekend Beauty Read

Elke finds another Wet & Wild beauty must have.

Teri from Beautiful Makeup Search shares her 5 favorite lip liners. She thinks that everyone should have at least one of them in their makeup bag.

The girls over at Beauty in Real Life are having another giveaway!!! Enter to win a copy of both Bobbi Brown's Living Beauty and Charla Krupp's How Not to Look Old. Click here to enter !!!

Beauty and Fashion Tech explains why you should ignore those acai berry diet ads.

Melissa from The Makeup Divas finds another Holy Grail foundation and thinks you will love it to! While you are there, check out all of her giveaways, and enter them today !

Beauty Anonymous brings you Givenchy Summer 2009 Makeup Collection.

ThisThatBeauty is giving away THREE Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics Lip Glosses. The shade, "Promiscuous" is perfect for Spring.

Beauty Junkie in SF gives you the skinny on Diptyque's new body care line and where you can get free samples.

A Touch of Blusher reviews RMK's latest foundation.

Decorative Diva reviews Spell Cosmetics.

Cybelesays.com is giving people a chance to win ALL the Too Faced products Gwen Stefani is taking on her upcoming tour with her. Click here to enter!

Face Candy reviews 3 awesome Jouer Cosmetics products.

Total Beauty Web Tour

Beauty411 loves the new Guerlain Summer Splash Makeup Collection! Get all the fabulous details here!

I Heart Heels suggests how to get Vivacious lips & lashes - the secret's out!

Nur @ I Love Looking Good found a good alternative for NARS Orgasm's fan particularly for beauty addicts in Singapore. MAC Springsheen for NARS Orgasm.

Check out Upcoming and Current Cosmetic Collections HERE at A Little More Beautiful

Looking for the hottest looks of summer.. Image and Style news gives us the hottest hairstyles to wear for summer 2009.

Addicted to lipstick gives us the hottest 2009 spring and summer makeup trends

Giveaway Alert! Beauty Blvd. is giving away 2 copies of Mrs. Meyer's Brand New Book! The book gives great beauty related cleaning tips like how to remove mascara from clothes and MORE!

The Informed Makeup Maven raves about Ladytron, The Faint, Lip balms, wants your opinion and invites you to join her facebook group here!

The rainbow is yours! Boutique Flair brings you the most popular nail colors of the season!

eye4style travels in style with Lisa Hoffman. Check out her review here!

Advice Sister Alison of advicesisters.net hopes you will follow her on Twitter ("Advicesisters") and check out her post this week about how Beyonce believes in Safe Sex, and what she's doing to promote it with MTV AND The Body Shop!

The girls over at Beauty in Real Life are having another giveaway!!! Enter to win a copy of both Bobbi Brown's Living Beauty and Charla Krupp's How Not to Look Old. Click here to enter !!!

The Shades Of U shares swatches and her review of MAC's A Rose Romance, the new romantic, dreamy collection of the season.

Beauty Junkies Unite is having a Baby Boomer Beauty Book Giveaway! 5 readers will win copies of Bobbi Brown's Living Beauty and How Not To Look Old By Charla Krupp!

Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog is hosting a giveaway from one of their favorite shopping sites - ChickDowntown.com. Enter now to win a Tolani scarf valued at $85.

Meredith at Daily Dose of Coffee has been getting a lot of compliments on her glowing complexion lately! Read more to find out what she's using. PS: it's recession-beauty friendly!

Beauty Blogging Junkie gets a shout-out from Lauren Conrad herself. Check it out here.

Melissa from The Makeup Divas finds another Holy Grail foundation and thinks you will love it to! While you are there, check out all of her giveaways, and enter them today !

Beauty Anonymous brings you Givenchy Summer 2009 Makeup Collection.

Indian Girl brings to you Bollywood's Beauty Secret and the recipe for an at home DIY Face Mask

Makeup Files teaches you how to use colored mascara in many different ways!

Monique at Beauty Girl Musings is having a fabulous giveaway sponsored by Simplicity Bath and Body! Click here and get all the details to enter!

makeup loves me gets you ready for summer travel with sonia kushuk's hidden treasures target line!

Enter to win FLOWERBYKENZO Spring Fragrance Limited Edition at Lipgloss Break!

More Than a Pretty Face is hosting giveaway of the complete collection of Lip Tars from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. This collection of intense colors was introduced at The Makeup Show in LA only last month. OCC sold out of Lip Tar at the event. Enter to win all nine shades from the newly launched Lip Tar collection!

LA Pretty is GIVING away a bottle of Jean Paul Gaultier's new fragrance Ma Dame Eau Fraîche.

Enter to Win a Anastasia Brow Definer at Face Candy.

WIN CARGO blu_ray High Definition Lip Gloss in Halifax-Giveaway By Talking Makeup!

Beautymix is telling you to...

Stop by Origins Do Some Good!

Glossypink tells you how to get the shiniest and best-smelling hair of your life!

Spoiled Pretty is hosting three amazing giveaways this week. Yes, THREE! Enter the Logics Color DNA System giveaway, Proactiv giveaway, and ZannClip giveaway to triple your chance of walking away a winner. Good luck!

Review: Jouer Cosmetics

-Luminizing Moisture Tint ($38)- A light diffusing, multi-mineral moisturizing tint with SPF 20, Ginseng and Gingko Biloba Leaf Extract. Oil-free, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, water resistant. OK, I was VERY excited to try this. I love tinted moisturizer. It instantly makes me look work-ready in the morning with one clean swoop. This one lasts throughout the entire day, which is unusual for TM's. I used Bronzed, a shimmering tint for medium to tan complexions. It matches me very well and I think I'm even going to get the golden, a shimmering tint for light to medium conplexions for the winter and I can even mix the two to find my perfect shade.
Available in:
-Pearl- Shimmering tint for fair complexions
-Golden- Shimmering tint for light to medium complexions
-Bronzed- Shimmering tint for medium to tan complexions
-Deep Bronze- Shimmering tint for tan to dark complexions

Face Candy Grade: A+, will definitely buy again, these days it's hard to justify $38, but I think it's worth it.

-Creme Eye Shadow ($20)- A lightweight, velvety eye shadow that illuminates the eyes. I tried Cashmere, a shimmering golden taupe. First of all, this color is awesome. I smooth a bit of it with my fingertip, all over the eyelid. Then I brush on some shimmery taupe powder shadow to increase the wear. I definitely want the rest of the shades. Here they are:
-Chiffon- Shimmering Ivory Pearl
-Feather- Shimmering Pink Champagne
-Cashmere- Shimmering Golden Taupe
-Organza- Shimmering Smoky Taupe

Face Candy Grade: A+

-Age-Repairing Brightener ($32)- A brightener that moisturizes and fights free radicals with Dermaxyl Complex, Orchid Complex, Camellia Oil and Vitamins A, B & E. This is now the only thing that I use to erase the dark circles under my eyes and on the outer corners (where most people's skin is a little bit darker.) With under-eye concealer, I think it's best to start out with a small amout on a brush. If you don't have a brush, use your finger. Pat it in with your ring finger and then use a fluffy brush to set it with a yellow or translucent powder. My match was Medium, illuminating for medium complexions. It lasts for about half the day. I need to touch up at lunch. Minimal creasing.
Available in:
-Light- Illuminating for fair complexions
-Medium- Illuminating for medium complexions
-Warm- Illuminating for golden to dark complexions

Face Candy Grade: A

Sephora Beauty Insider Extra Points Alert!

So, I was perusing the Sephora website, when I noticed this: If you're a beauty insider, fill out or update your profile by April 30, 2009, you'll receive 50 Beauty Bank points in May. If you aren't familiar with the way the Beauty Insider program works, it's like this: sign up and you'll get access to Beauty Insider Only products, and you'll earn one point for every dollar that you spend. When your Beauty Bank reaches 100 points, you'll receive a free deluxe sample.

Review: Kryolan Glamour Sparks

Glamour Sparks ($12) is a finely milled, metal free, iridescent powder with a fine glitter finish. Available in Silver, Blue, Green, Purple, Aqua, Noble, Copper, Golden and Red. The pot it's in is about the same size as a MAC eye shadow and it comes with a plastic separator that has a hole about the size of a pencil eraser in the middle. I guess it makes it so that the powder doesn't spill out too much into the top. On the Kryolan website, there are no color swatches, which is strange. I tried Copper and Purple. First I swatched them without primer. They swept right off. Then I used Too Faced Shadow Insurance underneath and that was the key to making it last. They are both white based and the glitter is colored. Purple is a medium pinky purple and Copper is a pale orange. They're great for highlighting or by themselves. I personally like the way it looks applied wet to the entire eye, with thick black eye liner on the top lid and a bright lip. I had fun experimenting with them.

Face Candy Grade: B+

Review: Anastasia Lash Lifting Mascara & Brow Definer

I LOVE Anastasia. So i was quite excited to try two new products.
Lash Lifting Mascara ($22)- A silky, non-clumping, double effect mascara that adds volume and curl. The secret to getting this to hold the curl in your lashes is holding the wand at the base of the lashes, allowing the waxes to set. This has quickly become one of my favorites. It's lightweight, doesn't flake, doesn't clump and doesn't weigh lashes down.

Face Candy Grade: A

Brow Definer ($22)- A dual ended brow pencil and brow gel in one. Not my favorite Anastasia product, but one worth mentioning. I throw it in my purse, just in case. Fill your brows in with the pencil, then set with the clear gel. I have major issues with my brow hairs going wonky and pointing every-which way, so the gel is an awesome way to tame the hairs. BUT, guess what? You can find out for yourself.

Face Candy Grade: B+

Win!!! the Brow Definer by commenting on what your favorite brow product is. I'll pick a winner on April 20th, 2009. Open to US Residents only.

Don't forget to enter the MAC Sugarsweet giveaway by subscribing to my blog via email.

Review: Bobbi Brown Light. Bright. Platinum Collection

What kind of person would I be if I didn't collect Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Bricks? A bad one.
Recently the compacts have been extra gorgeous. I wasn't sure if I'd like Bobbi's Platinum Pink Shimmer Brick ($40) because it looks kind of cool-toned, but I was pleasantly surprised. It's my silvery highlighter of choice. The shades blend together for a bright, shimmery but not chunky shimmery, look. Yesterday I ran a fluffy eyeshadow brush vertically through all the colors and then applied all over my lids for a pretty sheen that I thought was quite fitting for Easter. It's not something that I would have originally picked for myself, but I've come to love it.

Face Candy Grade: A

(top left)

I really wanted to like Bobbi's new Long-wear Cream Shadow in Steel ($22) but that was just not in the cards for me. The color of the deep cool brown shadow is quite, but the texture (not creamy enough) and wear (very short) were deal breakers. If you're going to use this, I definitely suggest using a brush, like Bobbi's Cream Shadow Brush. This stuff is not finger friendly (unless you want a softer, sheerer look.) On Asian eyes, like my monolids, eyeliner and eyeshadow tends to disappear due to the oiliness of my lids. It creases and becomes unwearable and messy. To this day, the only eyeliners I use are MAC Fluidline and Bobbi Brown's Long Wear Gel Eyeliner.

Face Candy Grade: C

Total Beauty - Weekly Web Tour

win a beautiful train case with $100 worth of brand name products from BeautyTicket.com!!

Check out A Little More Beautiful's Great Skin for Spring series with tips for skin care based on specific skin types: How to Take Care of Dry Skin

Viva Woman shows you how to get a new nail polish color without having to spend more.

Checkout the Informed Makeup Maven's hot spring buys, where to get advice for your beauty budget and Stila kaput?! and don't forget to enter the 'Yes' to Carrots giveaway, the lovely lips giveaway and soft lips lip balm bunch

GIVEAWAY ALERT! The Anti Hair Slave and KeraCare has teamed up to give one lucky reader the entire new collection especially made for weaves and extensions!

Beauty Anonymous brings you YSL Summer 2009 Makeup Collection.

Glossypink has a super hot new layout with easier to find reviews on the latest products and how to get your favorite celebrity looks!

Beauty411 has been using the new high-tech Lancôme Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate. Check out her review here!

The LA Pretties are raving about Valentino: The Last Emperor! It's a story of love, fashion, pugs, and being tan.

Who is an eyebrow's best friend? Advice Sister Alison of "The Advice Sisters" interviews eyebrow specialist Elke Von Freudenberg and discovers what makes her so special!

Monique at Beauty Girl Musings reviews the new Herbal Essences Hydralicious shampoos and conditioners via Beauty Girl TV, her online video blog!

The Makeup Divas reviews the Clarisonic Skin Care Brush. While you are there, check out all of her giveaways and enter for some fabulous prizes!

The Easter Beagle of Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog is delivering an Easter Basket full of hare hair products worth over $300! Hop to it and enter now!

Face Candy shows you one of her favorite neon nail shades.

The Shades Of U shares swatches and descriptions of all her MAC neutral eye shadows, with more swatches coming up soon!

This week, Spoiled Pretty is keeping up with Kim Kardashian. Click here for the exclusive interview, featuring Kim's beauty and style secrets. It's a MUST READ!

Beauty Is Within shows you how to get salon beautiful nails on a budget!

Is this the end of an era? Is it possible that Stila is bankrupt? Read what happened while Beauty Junkies Unite was sleeping!

Enter to win göt2b Smooth Operator Collection on Lipgloss Break!

Boutique Flair reviews the Invisibelt. This is a wardrobe must-have created by a veteran Beauty Director for leading women’s magazines!

The Jet Set Girls are giving away a Smythson Jewelry Roll worth (no kidding!!) $465!

Indian Girl talks about her favorite foundation brushes for an absolute flawless look.

Get Sexy Glowing Skin with Jergens-by Talking Makeup!

The girls over at Beauty in Real Life share Chanel's new Summer line with you. Check it out here. And while you are there enter to win a copy of Bobbi Brown's Living Beauty and Charla Krupp's How Not to Look Old!!

BBN: Weekend Beauty Read

The Makeup Divas reviews the Clarisonic Skin Care Brush. While you are there, check out all of her giveaways and enter for some fabulous prizes!

Face Candy gives you the opportunity to win some MAC Sugar Sweet goodies.

Beauty Anonymous brings you YSL Summer 2009 Makeup Collection.

A Touch of Blusher reviews Clinique's Youth Surge SPF 15.

Beauty Junkie in SF has found a way to visit the tropics without leaving her bedroom, with the help of Pacifica's yummy products!

Felicia from ThisThatBeauty shows of the NEW Minerals Color Collection from Prescriptives. Check out Felicia's FACE OF THE DAY!

The girls over at Beauty in Real Life share Chanel's new Summer line with you. Check it out here. And while you are there enter to win a copy of Bobbi Brown's Living Beauty and Charla Krupp's How Not to Look Old!!

Elke shares how to spot fix a makeup goof.

MAC - Colour Ready

New Transparent Finishing Powder and Line Filler are our lightest yet, in fact invisible when applied, but their silky colourless polymers set and stabilize makeup instantly. The only way to start when you sit down in front of the mirror. Prep + Prime Skin Refined Zone is your stay-put fit on skin that minimizes the appearance of pores without clogging, and visibly diminishes them over time. Two lipsticks, Eye Shadows, Penultimate Eye Liner and Eye Borws in an essential palette are a habit to happily acquire - COLOUR READY IS AS BASIC AS YOUR 4-INCH HEEL LOUBOUTINS.

Lipstick ($14.00)
-Impassioned- Amped up fuschsia
-Show Orchid- Vivid hot pink

Eye Shadow ($14.50)
-White Frost- Vivid bright white with icy shimmer
-Bitter- Vivid bright golden green flecked with shimmer

Penultimate Eye Liner ($16.50)
-Rapid Black- True Black

Eye Brows ($14.50)
-Stud- Deep rich blackened brown

Prep + Prime Line Filler ($19.50)
Prep + Prime Line Filler is a targeted deep wrinkle filler with long term skincare benefits that uses a unique technological breakthrough. Line Filler plumps and smoothes skin and drastically reduces the appearance of wrinkles and expression lines. A combination of Gatuline Expression™ and Argireline work together to relax the appearance of facial tension and expression lines, as well as boost the skin’s natural collagen production. Line Filler produces immediate results, but will also help eliminate the appearance of expression lines with continued use. The product is designed to be used under or over makeup and can also be used to touch up throughout the day.

Prep + Prime Skin Refined Zone ($19.50)
Prep + Prime Skin Refined Zone is a partial primer designed for use in the T-Zone. This lightweight, oil-free, soy-based emulsion instantly helps minimize visible pores while helping to control excess surface oil and shine. M·A·C employs High Tech Optics, an advanced technology powder and light diffusers to fill in lines. The result: an invisible, natural-looking, long-lasting matte finish that also helps keep pores clean, clear and unclogged. It mattifies and hides imperfections using advanced powders and microspheres while a Mannose-Phosphate blend gently exfoliates away dead cells giving the skin a more youthful look and silica particles absorb oil. In addition to immediately minimizing pore appearance and shine, 24% experience an increased luminosity and clarity of the skin. Additionally, clinical tests show that over time, the Prep + Prime Skin Refined Zone reduces the appearance of clogged pores and shrinks the appearance of pores to nearly two-thirds of its original size.

Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder ($21.00)
Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder is not your usual translucent powder. With a virtually invisible feather-light, silky colorless application, the powder both reduces shine and maintains radiance due to a finely milled formula of corn starch, silica and micronized mica. Though it was designed to set and stabilize makeup, it can also be worn alone over moisturizer for a natural and radiant complexion. It was also a huge hit backstage during fashion week and was used at nearly every major show including Zac Posen, Badgley Mischka, Stella McCartney, Behnaz Sarafpour, Alberta Ferretti and Giles.

I had the pleasure of trying this and I was interested in how it would stand up to MUFE's similar powder, and I think I even like it more than MUFE's. I tend to get a whitish overcast with MUFE's and none of that with MAC's. It's soft and invisible and costs less than MUFE's. I only wish the packaging was easier to deal with. The sifter releases too much powder at once.

Face Candy Grade: A+

129SH Brush ($34)- All-purpose for blush or face powder. This brush is particularly good for blush application. The fibers are soft and form a full, rounded shape.

MAC - Viva Glam VI

(left to right)

Every cent of the selling price of Viva Glam Lipstick and Lipglass is donated to the MAC Aids Fund to support men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS.

Tinted Lipglass ($14)
-Viva Glam VI- Warm plum with pearl (frost)
-Viva Glam VI Special Edition- Soft pink-tinged mauve (frost)

Viva Glam Lipstick ($14)
-Viva Glam VI Special Edition- Soft blue pink
-Viva Glam VI- Terracotta-plum with pearl (lustre)

I got the Viva Glam VI Special Edition Lipstick. I was unsure if it would look good on my medium/warm skin, but it provides a sheer, slightly blue pink wash of color.

Nubar - Hot Red Nail Lacquer

This is Nubar's Hot Red ($6.99.) To me it's definitely bright orange to me. "Tic-tac orange,"
said a friend. Love it for spring. (There's another lighter, neon orange in the "Hot" collection that's called "Hot Orange" so I guess that's why they called this one red.) I can't decide what color to do next... something pastel, maybe. I guess you'll find out. What color/brand nail polish are you wearing right now?

Urban Decay Family & Friends 30% OFF

Use code FNFS9 at checkout. Valid 4/6- 4/17. I definitely took advantage of this offer. I spent $50 and saved $15, which was really awesome. Go for it and tell me what you're going to get!

Peeps for your LIPS!

So, I was browsing my foodie blogs, when I noticed someone had mentioned Peeps LIP BALM. This immediately caught my eye. When it comes to food or candy flavored lip balms, I'm a bit of a whore. A while ago (actually about 2-3 years ago) I was in my local "Save-A-Lot" and I spotted some Jr. Mints Lip Balm, a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Lip Balm and a Tootsie Roll Lip Balm. For like 40 cents/each, I snatched 'em up and gave them to my girl friends. (Because seriously, what's better than a lip gloss or balm - as a present? NOTHING.) They were delightful.

I noticed in my drugstore, that Bonne Bell aka Lip Smackers makes all kinds of different flavors. Jello, M&M, Kool-Aid, Starbursts, you name it. My next post is going to be about candy flavored lip balms too!

Anyway, have you tried these Peeps Lip Balms? Are they any good? They sell on Amazon.com for $3.99 and are available in: Strawberry, Grape, Vanilla and Cotton-Candy.

Face Candy Friday Fix 4/3/09

-Get a FREE BLISS BEST OF SKINTENTIONS SPF 15 Moisturizer with any Beauty.com purchase.
-Sephora.com is offering:
-a FREE SAMPLE of DuWop's PRIME VENOM with any online order by entering code DUWOP at checkout.
-a FREE TARTE EYE PENCIL in Black ($18 value) with any online natural and organic purchase by entering code TARTE at checkout.
-a FREE 7"x4" Natural Sample Envelope by entering code GONATURAL at checkout.
-At Clarins.com enjoy FREE STANDARD SHIPPING on any order by entering code MOTHER at checkout.
-Receive FREE ground shipping and samples on ALL orders in April at Lauramercier.com.
-Senna Cosmetics.com is offering FREE PRIORITY SHIPPING THROUGH APRIL 15 with any online purchase.
-At Macy's online and in store, spend $21.50 on Clinique and receive the above gift FREE. SPend $50 online and get FREE Shipping with code BREAKTHRU.
-Exclusively at Bloomingdales, with any 39.50 Estee Lauder purchase, get this awesome free gift above. Worth +$100.

Review: Shades by Barielle - Sugar Rush

Are you ready for spring yet? I know the perfect thing to get you in the mood. The Spring 2009 collection is called Sugar Rush (which goes perfectly with MAC's Sugar Sweet, right?) and it contains 6 candy colored polishes with Barille's signature healthy "3-Free" formulation. "3-Free" means free of formaldehyde, toulene and dibutyl-phthalate and safe for pregnant women to use.

Barielle Nail Polish ($8)
-Swizzle Stix- Robin Egg Blue
-Sweet Addiction- Minty Green
-Lemondrops- Electric Yellow
-Grape Escape- Plush Purple
-Cotton Candy- Vibrant Pink Sparkle
-Decadance- Metallic Turqouise

I am completely new to the brand but now know it's safe to say the polish is very opaque. On a scale of 1-5, 1 being sheer and 5 being opaque, I'd give them all 4's. Two coats was perfect. I apologize for the crappiness of the following photo.

(Left to right)
Decadance, Sweet Addiction, Swizzle Stix, Grape Escape and Cotton Candy.

I didn't photograph Lemondrops, but it's equally awesome. Overall I'm quite impressed by this brand. The colors are true, not too sheer and last for about a week. I would definitely purchase again. At $8 each, they're around the same price of OPI or Essie. I like them all but my favorites of these were Decadence and Swizzle Stix, which reminded me of my old school Hard Candy polish in Sky.

Face Candy Grade: A+