MAC Mineralize Is Here To Stay!

Have you ever seen Lord of the Rings? Do you remember Gollum, the scary guy that walked around obsessing over a ring a calling it his "Precious"? Well, that's exactly how I feel about the MAC mineralize skinfinish/natural--it's not a pretty site. However, good news has just been announced: MAC has finally made their Mineralize collection permanent, so I no longer have to hoard the Skinfinish/Natural that I love so much. The full collection includes eyeshadow, blush, powder, and foundation.

Salma Hayek's Golden Globes Look

Salma Hayek looks phenomenal at the 2009 Golden Globes. Her secret? Nars Cosmetics. The LA Times chatted with her makeup artist, Matthew Vanleeuwen. He said “She chose a very neutral colored dress and I wanted to make sure her makeup look would pop. I made her eyes the focus and added a lot of rich, jewel skin tones and fresh color to her cheeks and lips. Her look was very classic and chic, with some modern textures.”

'Eyes:

• Apply the China Blue single eye shadow to top and bottom lash line [Vanleeuwen’s tip: “I love using navy colors because they make the whites of the eyes pop.”]

• Next, use the Corfu cream eye shadow as a base, all over eyelid.

• Use the golden champagne side of the Alhambra Duo Eye shadow on lid.

• Then, use the Bengali Single Eye shadow all along the lash line, rubbing it into the lash line, deepening the outer corner of the eye, creating shading.

• Curl the eyelashes and apply two coats of Black Orchid mascara on lashes.

• Go back over top lash line with the Night Clubbing eye shadow and use what is left on the brush under the eye to define it [Vanleeuwen’s tip: “This shade is perfect to create a smoky eye –- it gives a rich sparkle at the lash line with undertones of green and gold.”]Complexion:

• Use the Brightening Serum to make skin glow and apply the Makeup Primer

• Apply the Firming Foundation and set with the Loose Powder.

Lips:

• Use the Marnie lipliner pencil and Tutti Fruity lipstick.

• Next, mix the Boogie Nights and Greek Holiday lipglosses and apply them over the lipstick.

Blush:

• Apply the Desire blush to the apple of cheeks [Vanleeuwen’s tip: “I use a powder brush to apply blush. I find that a bigger brush makes a much softer wash of color.”]

• Next, use the Laguna Bronzer with short, back and forth strokes from the back of cheekbone forward, to blend.'

I Don't Feel The BURN...

For Christmas my Aunt gave me a beautiful 3-wick BURN candle. It smelled delicious and I couldn't wait to try it out. You can smell the fragrance even when it's not lit--which turns out to be essential since the darn thing won't stay lit! I've never had this problem before; the flame burns down the wick but doesn't melt the wax. So it's basically become glorified potpourri...

Bobbi Brown Blushed Pink Collection

My first thought: this collection is almost an exact replica of Laura Mercier's First Blush collection. Both have the same feminine ballerina feel to it. Bobbi Brown's Blushed Pink collection is described as "Pure Romance - Sparkling eyes are paired with creamy blushed pink cheeks and lips for a look that's soft, refined and absolutely effortless." I like the mix of textures, but this collection really doesn't excite me in anyway. It's very...Blah.

Note: Enter code BLEND with your $70 order to receive a complimentary Travel Eye Blender Brush.

Stila - Backstage with Lela Rose

Stila products were used exclusively backstage at the Lela Rose fashion show to create the look for her Spring 2009 collection. The result: "dewy glowing skin, understated eyes and a pop of berry color on the lips." You can re-create the same look with their new Lela Rose make-up collection.

I love this classy, simple look, and it's a steal at $34--a $77 value!

Includes: Stila Sun Shade 02, Cranberry Lip Glaze, Starlight Eye Shadow, and Major Lash Mascara in Brown.

Get Bambi-fied! Paul & Joe do it again.

Look how adorable this face powder is! A limited edition from Paul & Joe, the shimmering pink, orange, and yellow beads blend together to create a brightening glow. Use the included puff to add sheer luminosity to your complexion. Finally available in the U.S. (after selling out in Japan last year), Paul & Joe's always-fabulous packaging just got better. I can't wait to have some of my favorite Disney characters with me every day--do I sound like I'm 12 when I say things like that?

Moscow Nails

Love, love, love the new nail shades from Chanel, inspired by their Paris-Moscou Fashion Show. In red, blue, and gold, these shimmering shades make a statement. At $30 a pop, I'll probably try to find a knock-off from a less expensive brand, but I'm definitely jumping on the band wagon for this look.

"The Ball"...Gee, great name

So, Ojon's The Ball went on sale last month and I decided it was the perfect time to try it out. Since I'm such a huge fan of their hair products I was very excited to finally try out their body line. The ball itself is very cool, and was bigger than I thought it would be. Also, I love the bowl that's included--it makes it seem more authentic.



The Ball "contains a high dose of wildcrafted Ojon® oil, rich in essential fatty acids, Omega-3, -6, and -9...[and] contains the same antioxidant amount as 2,834 lbs of blueberries." I unwrapped it, took it into the shower, used as directed, and emerged with very soft skin. I didn't even need to use lotion. I was so happy!



I grabbed it the next morning to use in the shower again...and noticed that my entire shower was coated in brown. At that point I had to decide whether soft skin was worth the mess. My conclusion: it's not. I get the same results with a normal body exfoliant and lotion. Saving one step and having a cool ball in my shower is definitely not worth it.

Dolce & Gabbana Launch Make-Up Line

Scarlett Johansson is the face of Dolce & Gabbana's new make-up collection. Launching next month, the collection will range between $20 and $60, and include a full range of products. If this photo is any indication, the collection is going to be HOT! Known for their sexy yet classy apparel, I predict the Dolce and Gabbana design duo will wow us all with a twist on the classics.

Barbie Loves Stila Paint Cans

Sephora has just released a collection of Barbie Love Stila to celebrate Barbie's 50th birthday. Each paint can is packed with Stila products to reproduce the look of Barbie during four time periods: 1959, 1971, 1980, 2000. Each can includes a "Barbie Look Book" that has a history of each top-selling Barbie doll over the last five decades. These are cute, but I'd just as soon create my own 'look'--I really have no desire to look like the 1971 Malibu Barbie. If you want one, shop now; I'm sure these are going to sell out fast!

Sexy Little Things Noir

I don't like posting about perfumes because everyone's taste is scents is so different, but I'm making an exception for Victoria's Secret's Sexy Little Things Noir. There's something about this scent that I find so sexy--it's a little bit sweet, a little bit naughty. It would be a great scent for evening, and the bottle is just too cute not to display. Victoria's Secret claims that Noir is "elegant and playfully provocative, it's an enchanting blend of sparkling nectarine, sultry amber and exotic cattelaya orchid."



Side Note: If you don't like anything musky, you probably won't like this scent.

Slightly Gross but Necessary

One of my must-have products that I've been hesitant to post about due to my embarrassment is the Glytone Essentials Wipe Away Cleanser. After cleansing your face with your regular cleanser, take a cotton pad and swipe this product over your face. I guarantee that the cotton ball will come away looking grimy. No matter how many times I wash my face before using this product, it always picks up additional oil and dirt--hence my embarrassment. It is truly an amazing toner/exfoliant. I highly recommend it for anyone with oily skin; it's very strong, so only use once or twice a week to start.

A Massage for your Valentine

I get really excited around Valentine's Day because everything comes out in pink, so be prepared for a lot of girly pink items in the next few weeks. First up: Booty Parlor's Don't Stop Massage Candle. What a cute idea for Valentine's Day! A cute pink and black bow tie around the white glass holder with pour spout. The blend of natural soy wax, vitamins A & E, jojoba, olive and coconut oils soften the skin. A 46 hour burn time ensures that you have plenty of time to enjoy the candle and the massage.

To use: let wick burn until the entire surface of the candle has liquefied into a perfect pool of massage oil. Blow out the flame and use the pour spout to drizzle the warm wax onto bare skin. Massage and enjoy!

Are you a CORALista?

The latest addition to Benefit's wildly popular blush line is CORALista, a highly pigmented coral blush--think of Nars' Super Orgasm on steroids. Start with a swirl on the apples of the cheeks and continue out to brighten your entire complexion. Brush included.

Laura Mercier Spring 2009: First Blush

Laura Mercier's First Blush collection is ultra-feminine and romantic, with soft pinks and neutral tones. The collection includes a brush set in a pink cosmetic bag, a face pallet, lip plumpers, and nail polish. It is a very 'sweet' look and the colors are wearable, but I don't think that it fits in with the bold looks coming out for Spring. I would suggest using a raspberry lipgloss to punch up the look, or maybe a darker eye.

Nars Spring 2009 Collection

The Nars Spring collection includes brick red and cotton candy pink eyeshadow, metallic raspberry lipstick, and a lot of glitter. Fracois Nars says about his collection: "My inspiration was a very sexy woman. I wanted a bit of a ‘70s feeling, somewhere between Guy Bourdin and Chris Von Wangenheim’s photographs—aggressive, but very sensual and fragile at the same time."

The blush duo in Hungry Heart includes an iridescent gold ivory and pink sand with golden sheen--it will look great with a tan. Another product in the collection that I love is the concealer duo. I like to mix the colors together to get the perfect shade.

Lancome Spring 2009: Pink Irreverence

Lancome's new spring collection is a nod to the 80s, filled with the bright, punk-colors of that time. With names like Rebellious Berry and Sassiness, this collection is for those women that want to stand out. In my opinion, if you live through a trend the first time (i.e. bright pink eyeshadow), it should not be repeated. The gem in this collection however, is the Color Design Pro, a cooling gel that makes a fantastic eye shadow base.

The 'Vegas' Pallet

I'll be in Vegas next week, and my most important item to pack is my Cargo Holiday Nights pallet. It includes 4 shimmer eyeshadows (White, Light Silver, Dark Silver, Navy), cotton candy pink blush, Boogie Nights eye pencil in Silver, and a face and body sparkle pen (basically a glitter gel). The entire collection is super-dramatic, and is self-contained in a satin box for easy travelling. I wouldn't wear this pallet in 'real' life, but it's perfect for a Vegas night on the town!!!

Chanel Spring 2009 Collection

After my rant on the new Chanel lip pallet, I'm pleased to report that the Spring 2009 collection is gorgeous. They hit a bulls-eye on the Bohemian-chic look. Highlights include the eyeshadow quad in Mystic Eyes, which has wearable colors for everyday that can also transition to a great night look. The Lipgloss in Beige Guitare is a shimmery nude beige that works perfectly with the earthy tones in the shadow quad, and the dark violet nail polish in Vendetta is a fresh alternative to the black and brown polishes from last year.

Lipstick for Tiny Lips

Love Chanel, hate the new satin lip cream pallet. I mean, it's absolutely adorable, but talk about a rip-off. You're paying $60 for lipstick that's so small even a lip brush can barely reach it. There is so little product that it would be gone after a few uses. Plus, who really wants to carry a lip brush around with them? I may be somewhat bias because I don't like lipstick and never use it, but this whole concept seems like more trouble than it's worth.

NOTE: Sorry about the anti-lipstick rant. I'm sure there are plenty of great lipsticks out there, it's just not my 'thing.'

MAC Blot Powder...an oily girl's dream!

I don't know how I'm the last person to hear about this, but apparently I am. After reading about the MAC Blot Powder/Pressed being used on the set of the Sex and The City Movie, Twilight, etc, I decided to try it out for myself....and WOW. Normally, I'll cake on more powder in the early afternoon to try to get rid of the shine, but it ends up streaking and looking like I did my make up in the dark. Not anymore.

Now I pat in on and I'm good to go. I've also been using it as a finishing powder over foundation at night. Basically, I'm having a love affair with this product. A warning: it's so sheer that I use the Medium Dark color; I'm normally as light as it gets! Don't go too light or it looks chalky.

Smashbox Hybrid: Primed and Luminized

Smashbox came out with a great idea: their new Hybrid 2 in 1 Luminizing Primer is a mix of their famous Photo Finish Primer and Artificial Light highlighter. They're packaged in two separate chambers so they won't mix. Apply the primer first, and then finish with the highlighter on cheek bones, brow bones, and chin. Perfect for travelling. The only drawback for me would be that I use more of the primer than the highlighter, so I would run out of that a lot quicker.

A Brighter Outlook for Spring

After a very subdued fall, bright colors are coming back. I recommend you start with Bobbi Brown's Makeup Kit with Brushes from her new collection. The cheery raspberry nylon case holds four eye brushes, including her new Eye Sweep Brush, and the Eye Smudge, Eye Shadow and Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brushes. Bobbi Brown has my favorite eye brushes--the Eye Smudge Brush is an absolute must-have.

Recession Obsession, Part 2

--My Nars Orgasm lip gloss has been replaced with Clinique's Long Last Glosswear in Cabana Crush. Not only am I saving $10 a tube, but Clinique's gloss is longer lasting and contains SPF 15. This is a new staple in my make-up bag.

--Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel has been substituted with Purpose Gentle Cleanser. I love the convenient pump!

--My favorite Caudalie Beauty Elixir spray is now the Burt's Bees Carrot Seed Mist. It's good, but I'm going back to the original as soon as it runs out; lack of money is just not a good enough reason to go without. At least I tried...