Meet the Brand: La Bella Donna

Fun fact: while the term Bella Donna is Italian for "Beautiful Lady," it is also a plant...a member of the deadly nightshade.  Years and years ago, drops were made from the belladonna plant that were used by women to dilate their pupils.  Apparently, dilated pupils used to be considered attractive, so women would use the drops to look their best.  The only problem? Belladonna can cause minor visual distortions, inability to focus on near objects, and increased heart rate. Prolonged usage was reputed to cause blindness.

Fear not...belladonna is no longer used for cosmetic purposes and is not in anything from the brand I'm introducing you to today: La Bella Donna.  Just wanted to share my fun facts with you (I was a history major, so give me a break!) and remind you about how far we come with the use of potentially harmful beauty products.

Ok...back to the original point of this post: La Bella Donna Cosmetics!  I received a lovely box filled with products to try out.  La Bella Donna makes "mineral makeup that is truly good for your skin."  Their products include loose mineral foundation, liquid mineral foundation, highlighting creme colors (in moonlight and candlelight), bronzers, concealers, mineral eye shadows, and even mineral makeup for men(!). Their products are all natural, and their mission is to "bridge the gap between wellness and sophisticated beauty."  Their foundations contain non-chemical SPF20 and are free of dyes, oils, talc, alcohol and other chemicals.

My favorite product I've tried is their face compact called Vision of Mineral Lights Compact Colours ($45).  Here's how they describe this product: "Quads of compressed mineral bronzing colours give your skin an après sun-kissed glow. Naturale-created for those with a more fair complexion and may also be used as eyeshadows. Bronze- utilizes both the skin’s naturally occurring tanning undertones of gold and red. Both colours options are a beauty makeup kit must-have."

I love that this quad of color can be used in so many different ways: as a bronzer, an eyeshadow, etc. You could throw this compact in your bag and be set for the day...nice!

The La Bella Donna products I've tried have been of good quality and have been easy to use.  They're a bit spendy, so they're not for everyone.  If you have the budget for it, you may want to check this brand out!

Age-Busting Tips from Women's Health

For many of us, a new year means undergoing a lot of personal assessments.  We think about ways we want to improve our bodies, our finances, our lives, and our looks.  Even if we're not planning huge changes, we often want, at least, to rejuvenate our looks for a fresh, new start.

The first step is to kick signs of aging—many that can be surprisingly unexpected. Women’s Health magazine highlights four under-the-radar areas women should treat early to radiate youth.  Take a glance and enjoy!

Yellow Teeth and Receding Gums: Bacteria and dark drinks cause enamel stains, while plaque results in receding gums. Bring back a younger smile with a timeless trick: floss daily, no excuses! Also, keep your pearly whites glowing by keeping disposable toothbrushes on hand and using whitening strips every six months.

Thin Hair: Hormonal changes, diet, and inadequate levels of iron in the bloodstream thin out hair with age. Save your locks’ thickness and shine by taking multivitamins rich in amino acids and B vitamins. Last resort options like a Rogaine prescription or precision laser hair therapy also boost hair growth.

Sparse, Brittle Eyelashes: Eyelashes grow sparse with age, whether through excessive rubbing or naturally slower growth. Invest in eyelash enhancing serums offered at drugstores to improve resiliency. Old mascara also lends to weak, brittle ends— replace mascara every 90 days and remove eye makeup at night.

Dry, Rough Nails and Damaged Cuticles: Age, frequent hand washing, and overexposure to cold temperatures rob skin and nails of moisture—especially as women age. Hydrate hands with petroleum-based creams and massage cuticle oils into the nail beds to prevent breakage.

Beauty Quote to Start the Year

This is a time when people are thinking of ways to transform themselves.  The start of a new year gives us a blank slate--a chance to hit the reset button and begin anew.  As I wind down the first crazy week of this new  year, I leave you with some words of wisdom from American writer and poet,  Maya Angelou:

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”

New Year: Time to Take Stock

Now that we're into a new year, it's a really good time to take stock of what you have lurking in your cosmetics bag.  If you're like me, you probably got some new things this holiday season...and you most likely have old, crappy products in the depths of your stash.

It's time to shed some light on what you have: to dump the old stuff and to see what you're missing.  It shouldn't take too long.  Give yourself 15 minutes (set a timer, if that helps) and dump out everything from your cosmetics bag.  Take an honest assessment of each item and either throw stuff away or put it in your keep pile.  Be merciless. 

To help you with this task, here are the shelf life guidelines for your favorite products:

• Mascara: 3 to 6 months. Mascara can easily get contaminated with bacteria, so it's best to buy this staple several times a year.
• Moisturizer: 3 months to a year. Manufacturers often include an expiration date on moisturizer, so it's best to heed their recommendations.
• Foundation: one year. If liquid foundation starts to change color or if it takes on an "off" smell (yuck!), throw it!
• Powder: two years. It can last longer, but it tends to dry out.
• Eyeshadow: powered shadow can last up to three years; cream shadows only last about a year.
• Eyeliner and lipliner: up to two years. Sharpening these products helps to discourage bacterial growth.
• Lipstick: two years. If it dries out, it's time for a new shade!
• Lipgloss: 18 months to 2 years.
• Perfume: up to 2 years. To keep them lasting longer, store them in the fridge or away from direct sunlight.

Santa's Favorite elf

For awhile I foolish shied away from elf products.  I don't know why--I thought that beauty products that cheap would be about as good as Wet 'N Wild products that I played with in my youth.  How stupid of me!  I have since tried many elf products and I'm a convert!  Their beauty products are perfect!  And they're the perfect price.

This holiday season, elf is out with all sorts of great gift packages.  You can pick up something for all the glamour girls on your list without dropping a ton of money...and best of all, you can get elf products at one of my favorite places: Target!

Here are a few great gift sets you'll see from elf this year:

Holiday Mini-Palette
I just love this!  For $15, you get a limited-edition glistening makeup collection for eyes, lips and face includes "must have" makeup essentials including 9 powder eyeshadows, 1 cream eyeshadow, 1 blush, 1 bronzer, 10 lip gloss shades, 1 brow powder, 1 eye liner, 1 dual ended eyeshadow applicator and brush, 1 face brush, and 1 lip brush. The small, sleek design fits just about anywhere and offers ultimate portability for putting on your pretty!

Holiday Studio Brush Set
This limited-edition, ultra-luxe makeup brush collection includes 11 professional brushes designed to create and perfect any makeup look. Inspired by sparkling jewels of the season, these little gems are essential to the beauty queen who loves ultimate glitz and glam with a dash of fun. Sold in a reusable, waterproof case the collection includes: Eyeshadow "C" Brush, Complexion Brush, Small Angled Brush, Small Smudge Brush, Fan Brush, Powder Brush, Angled Foundation Brush, Concealer Brush, Small Precision Brush, Blush Brush and Contouring Brush.

Holiday Nail Polish
These five festive colors add instant pizzazz to every party manicure and pedicure or make a super stocking stuffer! The color-lock formula and chip resistant shield delivers long-lasting nail color with high shine. Shades include: Metal Madness, Party Purple, Golden Goddess, Twinkle and Glitter Glam. $1 each.

Holiday Eyeshadow Palettes
These all-you’ll-ever-need professional eyeshadow assortments are available in three sleek sizes for any makeup look. Create a dark and smoky eye, a fresh and bright aura, or a totally fun and funky look with endless color options and textures to select from. Each palette comes with an eyeshadow applicator for easy on the go touch-ups. 100 Piece Eyeshadow Palette, $10; 32 Piece Eyeshadow Palette, $5; 6 Piece Eye Shadow Palette, $3.

Stuff Those Stockings!

Holy cow!  We have less than two weeks to go before Christmas is upon us.  Are you done with your shopping?  If so, I hate you good for you!  If now, welcome to my world. 

My mother-in-law lives half way across the country from us (she's down in Texas) and we don't get to see her on a regular basis.  This makes gift-giving tough.  This year, we decided to do something fun: we sent her a stocking filled with silly little gift.  I don't know about you, but when I was a kid, opening all the stocking gifts rocked.  "Santa" always filled my stockings with the best stuff.

If you need to fill someone's stocking this year, here are a few ideas:

A really kick-ass comb.  I know, it sounds a little strange, but having a high quality tool makes all the difference in the world.  I have a ton of super cheap plastic combs, but I recently received a handmade wide tooth comb by Creative Professionals.  It's made from cellulose acetate and the teeth are rounded.  There are no barbs or jagged pieces of plastic that snag, which is nice. The wide tooth comb is perfect for combing back wet hair--it's not as rough as a brush and using the higher quality tool is amazing!  See below for a coupon!

Breath spray!  When I think of breath spray, I am reminded of my middle school days when I first tried Binaca.  Remember that stuff?  Now I'm more of a gum chewer, but chewing on a wad of gun isn't the most classy thing you can do.  I just received a sample of Sweet Breath and, though I am not sure I could trade in spray for my gum, the stuff isn't half bad.  And it's a heck of a lot better than old school Binaca.  It's a non-aerosol formula that doesn't dry out your mouth like Binaca did...instead it leaves behind a cool, minty feeling.  Not bad, especially for anyone foolish enough who smokes.

Dry shampoo in a can.  I've tried so many different versions of dry shampoo, but I finally have a favorite: Batiste.  It comes in a spray can, so it's as easy to control as hairspray.  It has a nice, light scent, and it seems to add more volume to dirty hair.  I've been using this on my non-wash days with very happy results.  I can't recommend this stuff enough.

So there you go...a few stocking ideas.  What do you hope to find in your stocking?

Win Free Stuff--A Great Way to Round out the Year!

Happy Monday!  Are you ready for another fun-filled week of work and school?  I just need to get through this week, because after this Friday, I am a free woman!  One of the few benefits of my job is that I get two weeks off around the holidays.  What a great way to end the year.

Another great way to end the year is by winning some awesome beauty products.  If you head over to FreeBeautyEvents.com, you could do just that.  The site hosts weekly and monthly beauty giveaways, and all you need to do to enter is visit their site, fill out some info and viola!  You could win a beauty product booty.

For the month of December 2010, they'll be giving away 10 prizes. Each prize will consist of Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream, Garnier Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Firming Moisturizer, and Garnier Ultra-Lift Daily Targeted Wrinkle Treatment! The Contest runs from 12/1/2010 to 12/31/2010, winners will be chosen on 1/5/2011 and notified by 1/15/2011. To enter, go to http://www.freebeautyevents.com/contest. They also do a contest each week with a smaller prize on their blog.

They also feature beauty events going on across the country where you can score more free goodies and get some tips. This month, for example, L’Oreal will be demonstrating their hottest products at select CVS stores as well as handing out coupons and samples. In addition, in December Coty will be promoting their holiday fragrance gift sets at Rite Aid in New York and Pennsylvania. All this information is available for free on the FreeBeautyEvent.com site.

Head over, get informed, and enter to win something good!  It may just make your Monday suck a little less.

When Time is Tight....

Wow!  It's another insanely, busy week.  It seems like every week is busy, but during the holiday season, time is especially scare.  I've been bouncing around from beauty sites and magazines and have come up with some fun, easy time saving tips...below.

What's your favorite way to save time while getting beautiful? Leave me a comment and let me know! Me?  If I am going makeup free, I try to at least swipe on a quick coat of very black mascara--it helps open up my eyes and define the shape without much effort.

Use Pink to Fake Perfect Skin
Surprise! Concealer is only half the battle when it comes to fixing flaws. To really perfect your complexion (no matter what your skin tone), try wearing lipstick in a warm pink. It distracts people's eyes from blemishes and other imperfections.

Tone Down An Overly Powdered Face
If your face looks too powdered and artificial after makeup application, dampen a cosmetic sponge and press gently against your skin. This will not remove your makeup, but will give your face a fresh, dewy appearance, and neutralize the powder.

Multitasking Lipgloss
Make your gloss multitask. Keep a pearly white lip gloss in your desk drawer to slick not only on your lips but also on your brow bones and cheekbones as highlighter.

Go For a Quick Shave
Not enough time for a full in-the-shower shaving session? Just smooth baby oil onto your legs before you take the razor to them. The oil protects your skin and will leave your legs extra satiny.

No Time for a Salon Visit?
To pump up your hair color and add tons of shine to your tresses, use a temporary color-depositing conditioner before a big event. To get the best benefit, let it sit on just-washed hair for about 15 minutes. The results will last through a few shampoos.

When in Doubt, Go Red!
For a sexy lip effect, a scarlet pout is the way to go. After applying the lipstick, layer a matching lip liner over it. This will fix any uneven edges and give your lip color a long-lasting, velvety finish.

Holiday Gifting from NARS

NARS rocks. Their products are always top-notch and whenever I use them, I feel like I am treating myself to something special. If you're looking for something extra special for your friends, family...or for yourself, check out what NARS is offering up this holiday season:

Heading straight into the holiday season, NARS has the perfect sets to please any palette.

Frosted cheeks, glossy lips and high-shine nails in go-anywhere sizes are available as part of the below sets exclusively at narscosmetics.com.

Sweet Disposition Set

A set of three mini Multiples perfect for eyes, cheeks and lips. Essential for a holiday glow, the cult-favorite and iconic Multiple is ideal for creating shimmering accents and dynamic highlights for all skin tones in a creamy formula that blends effortlessly.

Shades:

• Luxor – Iridescent Pink
• Malibu – Pinkish Brown
• Orgasm – Peachy Pink With Shimmer

Price: $40

Crazy Heart Set
A quintet of medium-sized lip glosses to take you through winter from a rosy-glow workday to a sophisticated nighttime celebration. Bold enough to be worn alone but compact enough to be carried together.

Shades:

• Easy Lover – Ultra Sheer Hot Pink
• Babe – Sheer Orange Red
• Orgasm – Sheer Warm Pink With Golden Shimmer
• Turkish Delight – Pink Sorbet
• Misbehave – Sheer Cherry Red With Gold Shimmer

Price: $50

Precious Mini Nail Set
A set of four miniature-sized, high-shine and shimmering polishes in a mix of modern shades for the true beauty maven.

Shades:

• Purple Rain – Gothic Purple
• Versailles – Champagne Gold
• Jungle Red – Bright Red
• Orgasm – Peachy Pink With Shimmer

Price: $30

Big Box Beauty!

To round out the week, I'm going to start posting holiday gift giving ideas.  Know of a great beauty deal or have a favorite beauty gift to give?  Leave me a comment!

I love Sephora.  They have everything a girl could want, and now they've gone and made holiday shopping a snap. 

Celebrate the season with these new Sephora Limited Edition Sephora Beauty In A Box sets, seven limited edition kits in all. This selection of Sephora Beauty In A Box sets include the most coveted products from Sephora Collection, NARS, Urban Decay, Make Up For Ever, Laura Mercier, Josie Maran, Peter Thomas Roth, and step-by-step instructions to achieve unique look.

• Sephora Collection Sparkle Til Dawn ($77 value), $36: shine throughout the holiday season with this all inclusive kit.  One box contains all the shadows, liners, and glitter products you need along with an illustrated tutorial to create a dazzling look for the holidays or everyday.
• Laura Mercier Classic Eye Kit ($103 value), $42: featuring all the products, shades, tools, and techniques you need to achieve Laura's Classic Eye, plus a step-by-step tutorial.  This exclusive offering is complete with Laura's favorite picks so wearing a classic eye with an effortless application process is accessible to everyone.
• NARS Junkie ($121 value), $69: this one features all of Sephora's latest obsessions from NARS.  Signature shades can be layered to create an endless array of combinations and features instructions on how to achieve three distinct looks: "Bronzed Glow, Sparkling Eye," "Romantic and Radiant," and "A Sophisticated Smoldering Eye."
• Josie Maran Orglamic Revolution ($98 value), $52: this comes complete with Josie Maran product fixations that create the perfect smoky eye paired with a timeless nude lip.  This set of must-haves also includes a step-by-step how-to guide to achieve an au-natural glamorous look for any occasion.
• Peter Thomas Roth Eyes to Die for Kit ($202 value), $75: includes the ultimate products to five anyone a complete eye makeover.  This one kit includes the top-selling Lashes To Die For treatment, a mini Lashes To Die For mascara, the Un-Wrinkle Eye and Un-Wrinkle Conceal and Brighten products for bright, open, and beautiful eyes.
• Make Up For Ever Gold Icon ($103 value), $65: includes Metal Powder and Diamond Powder in Gold, a glimmering beige for your lips, a black Kohl eyeliner with gold flecks, and Smoky Lash mascara.  With a tutorial included, achieving a bold, gold look has never been so easy!
• Urban Decay Beauty in a Box ($91 value), $39 this box includes Sin Primer Potion to keep shadows in place and 24/7 Eye Pencils in Graffiti and Oil Slick.  You'll also find smoldering glitters including the elusive Luminous Loose Eyeshadow.  Urban Decay Rocks along with punchy blue and green glitter liners.  You won't want to leave the house without these favorites that will keep you rocking all night long!

Get to Know: Kiss My Face

I've long thought of Kiss My Face as being a crunchy, hippie personal care company.  After all, it was founded by two vegetarians who were on a mission to find healthy body care products.  Kiss My Face is committed to using natural, organic ingredients to create their cruelty-free products.  Because I've dismissed Kiss My Face as a sort of hippie-dippy company, I never really tried their products.

Silly me!  Kiss My Face has some really good products...and their eco-friendly, cruelty free stance is a huge plus.  Be on the lookout for their new line of skin care products in the start of the new year (available in January at Whole Foods).  Their Potent and Pure Organic Face Care line is worth a look.  It includes:

• Clean for a Day, $15: a creamy face cleaner that is soap-free and non-drying.  
• Startup, $15: an exfoliating cleanser that contains natural fruit alpha hydroxy acids for gentle exfoliation.
• Brightening Day Creme, $23: a cream that includes SPF to help protect from the sun's damaging rays.
• Night Creme, $23: a cream that provides extra moisturizing power along with detoxificaiton.
• Underage, $21: a "mega-moist" blend of organic botanicals and vitamins that will smooth lines and nourish skin.

Kiss My Face is a great brand to get to know if you're concerned about organic ingredients, animal testing, etc.  Their new skin care line will leave your face looking good and your conscious clean!  Check it out at Whole Foods in January.

Get to Know: Napoleon Perdis

Note: I'll start getting holiday posts soon enough...this week I'm going to introduce you to some brands!

Like you, I am always on the lookout for new beauty products and companies to try out.  Lately, I've been seeing fun looking products from Napoleon Perdis at my local Ulta and I was lucky enough to get some samples from the company to try out.

A little background first: Napoleon Perdis Cosmetics comes from Australia and the company bears the name of a self-taught makeup from Sydney who's come to LA to work his magic.  Napoleon believes that applying makeup should not be difficult--his goal is to demystify the process and to transform runway and red carpet looks to reality. Nice goal!  Napoleon further believes that makeup should enhance your natural look--not alter the real you.

The Napoleon Perdis line includes everything you need to get a full face of makeup.  Here are three of my faves:

• Palette Patrol, $15: This is a great product to introduce yourself to NP...and I personally love a good palette!  This one includes three eyeshadows, three lipglosses, a bronzer, brush, and mini-applicator inside a mirrored box.  The shades are ideal for daytime and the compact packaging is great for us gals on the go!
• Eyebrow Pencil, $18: A brow pencil is a beauty essential, but it's one that's easy to overlook.  I like the NP brow pencil because it has a great texture.  It's easy to use (a light touch is all you need) and it really fills in thin areas in a snap.  A finished brow makes a look that much better, and a good brow pencil like this can really do the trick!
• Auto-Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer, $39: This is a bit pricey, but most good primers seem to put a dent in your wallet!  A little goes a long way, so a tube should last you a while.  This is a lightweight primer that glides on effortlessly.  It helps to even out both skin tone and surface, making foundation application easier and better.  This is one of NP's top selling products for a reason!

Napoleon Perdis products are available at Ulta, online, and at Target (where they have a nice line of NP body products I have yet to try out).

I Know It's Early, But...

Halloween hasn't even come yet, but already I'm getting info about holiday collections, stocking stuffer ideas, etc.  I know, I know...it's too early for this!  But check out the holiday collection that Nars just released--I'm sure it will have you looking forward to December!

The mood for the NARS Holiday 2010 Collection is audaciously bold. Just as in the Fall 2010 campaign, François Nars once again explores the many facets of his versatile muse Daphne Guinness. Her smoldering, cobalt-rimmed eyes, platinum hair and peach-glazed cheeks are captured not once, but in multiple kaleidoscopic images. According to François, “when you have Daphne Guinness for a campaign model, you just let her be who she is. Daphne fits the brand so well – she has such a modern approach to fashion and beauty.” Available now at www.narscosmetics.com, the highlights, including the very first NARS Trio Eyeshadow, are below:

• OKINAWA TRIO EYESHADOW, $45 - The first trio eyeshadow for the brand is a striking triad of black onyx, silver and cobalt blue
• ETRUSQUE SINGLE EYESHADOW, $23 - An antique gold hue reminiscent of Etruscan cast bronze art
• MELUSINE DUO EYESHADOW, $32 - An ultra-modern union of rich purple orchid and silver-spun lilac
• SEX APPEAL BLUSH, $26 - A soft peach blush, perfect for foolproof contouring
• PETIT MONSTRE LIPSTICK, $24 - A luxurious berry pigment with a satin finish
• LITTLE DARLING LIPSTICK, $24 - A classic, nude beige with a sheer finish
• DOWNTOWN LIP GLOSS, $24 – A metallic-pink lavender lip gloss that vibrates with party-perfect iridescence
• BOUGAINVILLE LIP GLOSS, $24 - A sensual pomegranate lip gloss that appears deep in pigment but sheer on the lips
• POKERFACE NAIL POLISH, $16 – A vibrant, magnetic, purple orchid
• BAD INFLUENCE NAIL POLISH, $16 - A smoky taupe nail polish that is a unique yet universal hue

Attention NARS Fans!

Here's some exciting news: Nars is opening their very first flagship store! Here's the (brief) press release:

16 years after François Nars launched NARS Cosmetics, we are excited to announce the location of the brand’s first flagship boutique!

Located at 413 Bleecker Street, in New York City’s West Village, the store will open Spring 2011 and will feature exclusive items to the location. Stay tuned, more information to come...

Looks cute, no?  One more reason to go shopping in NYC!

A Few More for the Cure

Phew--what a week!  I don't know about you, but I am ready for the weekend to start.

To round up my second week of Breast Cancer Awareness Month info and products, here's a rundown of a few more products that are donating to BCA.

The following brands have pledged a portion of their proceeds with one goal in mind – to support breast cancer research and awareness. Take a moment to add some pink to your beauty routine and send a little love to your friends and family with a gift that gives back.

Go Straight While Giving Back
Keratin Complex “Think Pink” Flat Iron is a digitally controlled, high temperature flat iron is perfect for a gift with meaning. Keratin Complex partnered with Florida-based “Think Pink Rocks” organization to promote education pertaining to breast cancer awareness, treatment and testing. This adorable flat iron also comes with a convenient heat pouch so you can get great hair on-the-go!

• Price: $199
• Availability: www.KeratinComplex.com

Blushing for BCA
Celebrity makeup artist and NYC “Brow King”, Ramy, a cancer survivor himself, is showing his support with charitable contributions from the Shiksa Face Gloss – a vibrant, pink shade that delivers perfect and portable flawless color for eyes, cheeks and lips!

With the purchase of every Shiksa Face Gloss you too can look beautiful for a cause and reflect Ramy’s mantra of “minimum makeup, maximum impact” with 25% of proceeds during the month of October going directly to the “Young Survival Coalition” – the premier international organization dedicated to the critical issues unique to young women and breast cancer.

• Price: $18.50
• Availability: www.Ramy.com

Look Good, Feel Better
Give cancer the kiss off with the pink Clarisonic Mia Sonic Skin Cleansing System! Feel even better about your daily beauty routine by snagging the ultimate in deeply cleansed, brighter skin—with every purchase of this fashionable Mia, Clarisonic will donate $4 (and $5 for every pink Classic Pro or Plus) to Look Good…Feel Better, a national public service program dedicated to helping women offset appearance-related changes from cancer treatment (60% of women who participate in Look Good…Feel Better have breast cancer).

• Price: $149
• Availability: www.Nordstrom.com

Tweeze For The Cure
To commemorate their commitment to the fight against Breast Cancer, Tweezerman introduces the new 2010 limited edition Slant® Tweezer – Precision in Pink. A cotton candy-pink background, adorned with the iconic BCA pink ribbon logo, is spangled with little flashy silver specks design. One dollar from the sale of each limited edition Precision in Pink will go to CancerCare as well as other Breast Cancer Awareness charities throughout the country.

• Price: $20
• Availability: www.Tweezerman.com

Blot For the Cure
Shine doesn’t stand a chance against boscia Rose Blotting Linens! Perfectly formulated to blot away excess oil, unwanted shine and perspiration without disturbing makeup, these conveniently sized linens are also infused with rose essence to soothe skin and uplift the psyche. What’s more— boscia donates 10% of sales of Rose Blotting Linens to the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation (www.dslrf.org) to support breast cancer research.

• Price: $10
• Availability: www.Sephora.com

Get Glowing and HelpNoodle and Boo’s beautiful Love Light Candle is the perfect way to give back. Give Love, Give Light, Give Help to those in need. 50% off proceeds will go to Breast Cancer Research Foundation in the month of October.

• Price: $24
• Availability: www.NoodleandBoo.com

Sip PINK For the CureTalkingRain, brewers of fresh, fruity, all-natural alternatives to plain old water and sugar-saturated sodas, invite you to sip “PINK” for the cure and help the fight against breast cancer. In the spirit of TalkingRain’s never ending mission to develop functional, healthy, innovative beverages, .25 cents per case of PINK™ sales will go to support various national and local breast cancer research, screening, education and awareness programs.

• Price: $.69 or 2 for a $1.00
• Availability: www.TalkingRain.com

Bubbling Over with Love
Glowology’s beautiful and soothing Bubbling Exfoliant is a luxurious way to smooth your skin while sending love to breast cancer research. 50% of the sale of each product will go directly the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

• Price: $12
• Availability: www.GlowologySkincare.com

Sephora Gives Back

Quick show of hands: who reading this blog loves Sephora?  Yup...looks like most of you have your hand raised.  I adore Sephora--it's like a toy store for makeup addicts!  I'm happy to report that our favorite store is giving back to Breast Cancer causes this month.

Here are the deets:

This October, Sephora is honoring women affected by breast cancer by offering pretty pink products that bring hope and add color to their lives. In celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Sephora has created five exclusive items and will donate $1 from the sale of each to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF): an organization dedicated to breast cancer prevention by finding a cure during our lifetime through funding clinical and translational research worldwide.

“Supporting a cause that impacts the lives of so many women is an honor for Sephora,” says Margarita Arriagada, Senior Vice President of Merchandising. “Beauty is much more than what’s on the surface; it’s about inner strength, empowerment and courage, and we are privileged to join the fight against breast cancer.”

Feel empowered with the color pink:


Sephora Collection Pop Up Hair Brush ($8)-The Sephora Pop-Up Travel Brush in an exclusive pink for Breast Cancer is the on-the-go beauty essential. With a slim case and handy mirror, it’s the desired size and shape for your purse, carry-on or travel makeup bag.


Sephora Collection Pink Color-to-Go Palette ($15) - Sephora’s signature limited edition palette is perfectly portable. Complete with eight wearable eyeshadows, four lip glosses and a blush to match any skin tone, it’s an indispensible kit to create any look.


Sephora Collection Pink Eyelash Curler ($16) – This precision engineered, pinch proof eyelash curler in pink goes beyond the basic stainless steel construction and silicone rubber pads with advanced technology and superior design to create the ultimate tool for wide open, professional-looking lashes.


Sephora Collection Compact Mirror ($18) – A pink rhinestone studded mirror for beauty touch ups for a good cause. This beautifully crafted metallic pink mirror offers dual magnification and comes with a protective organza pouch.

Beauty for the Cause

Tons of companies are going to offer Breast Cancer Awareness promotions this month.  Be on the lookout for pink-themed products, but before you buy, make sure you know how much money will be given to finding a cure for breast cancer.  I'll be highlighting several products that are running BCA promos in October.  Here's a few to get us started!

Mission Skincare Pink Lemonade Lip Balmer SPF 15
Formulated to nourish, protect and deliver long-lasting hydration, Mission Skincare will donate $1.00 from the sale of each preservative and paraben-free Pink Lemonade Lip Balmer SPF 15 to the Young Survival Coalition - the premier international organization dedicated to the critical issues unique to young women and breast cancer.

Price: $3.49
Availability: www.MISSIONSkincare.com

Red Flower Moisturizing Body Lotion in Japanese Peony
Rich in certified organic, biodynamic and wild-crafted ingredients, red flower’s moisturizing lotion in japanese peony is 100% biodegradable and free of all dyes, parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals and synthetic preservatives. Throughout the month of October, 100% of the profits from the red flower moisturizing body lotion in japanese peony will be donated to Cancer & Careers.

Price: $24.00
Availability: www.redflower.com
 

Antica Farmacista Home Ambiance Fragrance in Peonia, Gardenia & Rosa
Fill your home with a scent that gives back – Antica Farmacista Home Ambiance Fragrance in Peonia Romantico. Throughout the month of October, 100% of the profits from this floral bouquet of fragrance will go to the Cancer Support Community for breast cancer research - a new non-profit organization which formed in 2009 when the Gilda’s Club joined forces with The Wellness Community. Enjoying the finer elements of life never felt (or smelled) so good.

Price: $62.00
Availability: www.AnticaFarmacista.com

Hit the Town with Nars

In my last post, I told you about Pure Matte Lipstick from Nars.  I just got more info from the good folks over at Nars on how to use their products to get some awesome looks.  Here's a fun celeb/fashion/beauty read for you to start your day:

To celebrate The Town’s debut in theaters with Rebecca Hall, Blake Lively, John Hamm and Ben Affleck, NARS highlights Rebecca’s looks from the film’s recent premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Venice International Film Festival. Created by Stephen Sollitto for NARS Cosmetics, below are details on what she wore!

Venice International Film Festival (September 4, 2010)

To complement her printed Prada dress during the day, Stephen kept the look pretty but simple. For her evening premiere, Stephen turned to Pure Matte Lipstick, taking her effortlessly from day to night and complementing her teal Vionnet dress.

Products used: Sheer Glow Foundation, Douceur Blush, Daphne Eyeshadow (on the outer corners), Coconut Grove Eyeshadow (“a brilliant brown” to line lids) and Red Square Velvet Matte Lip Pencil lightly dabbed onto lips. For her evening look, Stephen added a mix of two shades to her lips: Vesuvio and Terre de Feu Pure Matte Lipstick.

Toronto International Film Festival (September 9, 2010).

Stephen kept her black and red Yves Saint Laurent look “modern and monochromatic for a vibe reminiscent of Studio 54.”

Products used: Sheer Glow Foundation, Douceur Blush, Melusine Duo Eyeshadow (NEW for Holiday 2010! For now, try Daphne Eyeshadow in the outer corners for definition), and Larger Than Life Lengthening Mascara, and Tashkent Pure Matte Lipstick, “ideal for her sleek look.”

Reminder! To win a set of all 6 Pure Matte Lipstick shades, head to the Nars Facebook Page and take the Pure Matte-Inspired Dream Getaway Poll

The Finances of Beauty

Here's something I've been thinking about lately: How much money does the average person spend on beauty products (makeup and skin care products) each month?  I have no clue how much I spend...it seems to vary wildly.  Some months, I spend very little.  Other months, I revamp my entire beauty kit.  There seems to be no rhyme or reason to it.  And I have no idea if I am spending more or less than the average woman.

So...to try to get an idea on makeup spending, I thought I'd put a handy-dandy little poll on my site (I hope this works!).  It only takes a second to provide an answer, so click away!

How much do you spend each month on makeup/skin care products?
	Less than $25
	$25-$50
	$51-$100
	$101-$150
	$151-$250
	More than $250
Free polls from Pollhost.com

On another note: my blog updates may be sporadic this week.  For some reason, I'm feeling stressed out and writing is falling to the "I'll get around to it when I have time" category...and my time seems limited.  So hang in there with me...I'm still around even if I'm silent for a couple of days!

I'm A Sucker For A Palette!

Last month I gave you a list of super cute beauty products that are coming out this fall.  In looking over this list, it seems that I'm a sucker for a palette.  Then as I flipped through a few September issues, I noticed a lovely new palette from Estee Lauder: their Blue Dahlia Pure Color palette.


I am not usually a fan of blue eyeshadows, and I don't know if I'd actually wear any of the five shades included in the palette.  However, I find them to be just lovely.  If you're a fan of blue, check this out.  If you're like me and don't love blues, check out the Surreal Violet version--it includes five purple shades that rock.  Both the Blue Dahlia and the Surreal Violet palettes cost $42.

I always think of skin care products when I think of Estee Lauder.  In fact I don't think I've ever tried anything from Estee Lauder, apart from a tube of lipstick.  Still, this palette is lovely.  I can't wait to check these out in person.