Makeup Fashion Style

MAC Dazzleglass Found At The Outlet Mall

2008-12-05T08:16:00.003-06:00

Hey girls! Just a quick post on this 7 degree Chicago morning. I was at the Chicago Premium Outlet Mall in Aurora yesterday and while browsing in The Cosmetic Company Store I could not believe my eyes. What's that shiney tube of lip gloss I see? Could it be? Yes! There were 5 shades of MAC Dazzleglass on the shelf. Even better - They were priced at only $10!!! Obviously I grabbed them like there was no tomorrow. Unfortunately, like an idiot, I left my bag in my Sweetie's car so I do not have all of the shades in front of me. I do know that Spankin' Rich and Steppin' Out were two of the shades I got (I'm pretty sure).

Not only did they have Dazzleglass, but The Cosmetic Company Store was stocked with other great items. They had 5 different Bobbi Brown palettes ranging from $24.50 - $38.50. They also had Bobbi Brown Metallics Eye Shadow palette from last year in Midnight. On the MAC side they had many pieces from the Nordstrom exclusive Colorforms line (that one actually made me mad that I forked over so much money and was dupped by the limitedness of the line) including the palettes and the brush collections. It was like Christmas morning. Everywhere I looked was some kind of great deal on top name cosmetics and fragrances.

So if you're like me and obsessed with Dazzleglass run to your local Cosmetic Company Store to see if they have any in stock. Happy Shopping!

HSN Live From Sephora 5th Avenue

2008-12-03T08:43:00.004-06:00

HSN.com is broadcasting live from Sephora's 5th Avenue store today. Shows air at 1 pm and 6 pm Central time. They are offering FREE SHIPPING on tons of Sephora products (not just Sephora brands, but products offered through Sephora). Along with the FREE SHIPPING, they are also offering sale prices on select products and gifts. Even better, HSN will donate $1 to the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign for every Sephora item purchased today.

Don't forget to check out Sephora's Beauty-Ful Buy for this visit. This time, they're offering Too Faced World Domination Tour All Access Backstage Beauty Kit with Lash Injection Mascara at the bargain price of $34 with FREE SHIPPING. This kit has a retail value of over $150. What's even better is that this kit, unlike the one available on Sephora.com, comes with the Lash Injection Mascara. Too Faced is one of those brands that seems to be well known, but is not talked about very often. It's too bad because their products are exceptional and are of a very high quality, but they seem to be more affordable than some of the other products made of the same quality. I've had many a Too Faced kit and can testify that they have been worth every penny, are long lasting, and are very versatile.

SIDE NOTE - For my girls from the Chicagoland Area, did you by any chance watch the WGN Morning News? They had a make-up artist on to offer make-up tips for the holiday party season and the Too Faced World Domination Tour All Access Backstage Beauty Kit with Lash Injection Mascara was the first product she featured. She did a gorgeous smokey eye on the model and went on about how this kit contains everything you could possibly need to create many looks. How ironic is that?!?!

If you can't tune in today, don't worry. The sale prices and FREE SHIPPING offers are available on HSN.com through December 6th. My only recommendation is that if you see something you want, don't wait too long to get it. Many items are known to sell out quickly when Sephora is on the air. Happy Shopping!

Cyber Monday Deals

2008-12-01T11:04:00.005-06:00

Just a few coupon / promo codes I have run across this Cyber Monday. Happy Shopping!

BathAndBodyWorks.com - Save 25% on your entire order with coupon / promo code 25PERCENT

OldNavy.com - Save 20% on your entire order with coupon / promo code SAVENOW and get Free Shipping with coupon / promo code ONEDAY

Gap.com - Save 15% on your entire order with coupon / promo code GAP15 and get Free Shipping with coupon / promo code ONEDAY

TheBodyShop.com - Save 15% on your entire order and receive a FREE Mini Body Butter with any purchase (no coupon / promo code needed)

Sephora.com - Get Free Shipping on all orders of $25 or more with coupon / promo code SHIP25

HSN.com - Get Free Shipping on over 1000 items including a ton of items from their Beauty Section (no coupon / promo code needed)

CafePress.com - Get Free Shipping on all orders with coupon / promo code FEMHOL14

LORAC Croc Mocktail Collection

2008-11-05T08:32:00.004-06:00

It’s nice to see a new lip gloss kit from Lorac this year. It seemed that for the past few years it was the same old lip gloss kit featuring the Lorac Lip Polishes in the same old colors. This year, the LORAC Croc Mocktail Collection features the Mocktail lip glosses. This collection contains glosses named and flavored especially for the holiday season. They include Mistletoe Mojito (mint, sugar & melon), Champagne (sparkling pear), Sugarplumtini (plum & berry), Spiced Cider (red apple), Candy Cane Cosmo (peppermint), and Irish Coffee (vanilla latte). All of the flavors sound so tempting! The colors range from deep pinks to copper reds. Each lip gloss tube also has a mini mirror attached to it making it easy to do touch ups anywhere.

I've done a review on these in the past (too lazy to find the old post!), but I'll do a mini-review right now. These Mocktails smell amazing!!! I am especially in love with Candy Cane Cosmo...nothing says Christmas like the smell of candy cane. These glosses feel so velvety on your lips. The staying power is decent, but its not like MAC Pro Longwear. The coverage is more opaque than sheer. Perfect if you hate to give up your lipstick for a gloss, but still perfect if you want the coverage of lipstick but only want to use a gloss.

This kit has a retail value of $55 but is priced at $25. It is a limited edition and is currently available at Sephora.com. Happy Shopping!

Free Almay Mascara At Walgreens

2008-11-05T07:40:00.000-06:00

Sorry for the lack of posts as well as the lack of response to comments and emails. I have been dealing with a cold that will just not go away. Top that with a coming and going sinus problem that is aggravated by the crazy weather we're having in Chicago right now (really cold to really warm - sunny to rainy and dreary). Truth be told, I've been spending more time at Walgreens and CVS these days than at Sephora and Macy's. However, had I not been sick, I may not have found out about the FREE Almay mascara deal from Walgreens.

For those of you who are not drugstore shoppers (I have just started couponing and as such have just become a drugstore shopper), Walgreens has a rebate book each month. It is a little catalog looking book that is available at the front of the store with the sales ads. Usually, there are one or two items that are free each month after rebate. This month, Almay mascara is completely free after rebate.

This week, Almay Cosmetics are buy one, get one free. So, if at least one of the products that you purchase is the mascara, you can send in for the rebate and get both of them for free. What's even better...if you have an Almay coupon you can turn it into a money maker. I was fortunate enough to have 2 $2 off any Almay product. So I spent $2.99 upfront for 2 Almay mascaras and will receive a rebate of $6.99. Pretty nice, huh?

I'm sure you're wondering why I would want Almay mascara when I would never be able to let go of my Dior and Tarte mascaras. Well, usually I would keep one of these free Almay mascaras in my car, just to have on hand (sorry, but I can't leave such expensive mascaras to just sit in my car knowing that I won't use it that often), but with Christmas quickly approaching, I plan on making up gift baskets for local women's shelters. Like I said before, in the past month or so I have jumped onto the couponing wave (you know, those stories you see on the news more and more often now that the economy is so bad about people who use coupons to get free stuff...yeah, that's me!), I have gotten sooooooooo many health and beauty products for free or just pennies on the dollar. So I plan to make up gift baskets with body washes, lotions, toothpaste, deoderant, make-up, etc. and pass them out to the women in the shelters. It's not much, but it's practical and I'm sure that many women in these shelters would think twice before purchasing some of these more "luxurious" items.

The buy one, get one free Almay deal is only available this week (through Saturday), but the rebate program continues through the month.

Disney Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Lip Balm Set by on10

2008-11-03T07:51:00.004-06:00

A quick visit to Sephora.com has introduced me to one of the cutest gift sets I’ve come across this holiday season. Disney Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Lip Balm Set by on10 is absolutely adorable. It contains 9 pots of lip balm, each one depicting a picture of either one of the Seven Dwarfs, Snow White, or the Wicked Queen. Each lip balm features a unique flavor: Ruby Red Grapefruit, Evil Apple, Blue Berries, Unscented, White Vanilla, Peach Blush, Coconut Mango, Cheery Cherry, and Grumpy Grape. This is a great gift for any Disney addict (we all know at least one!). This is a limited edition set that is currently available at Sephora.com for $38.

Truth be told, I have not personally tried any on10 products, but I have been itching to do ever since I saw their Hershey’s lip balm. Speaking to others who have been fortunate enough to test them out, I’ve been told that they are like Bonne Bell for adults (who are we kidding…even as adults we still love Bonne Bell!!!)…meaning that they have the fun, childhood tastes that we remember, but with the soothing and moisturizing elements that we now long for. Even better is the fact that the lip balms have SPF 15. There are a ton of great gift ideas from on10 at Sephora.com. I will be highlighting more of them in the days to come. Happy Shopping!

NARS Sephora Exclusive Lip Gloss Collection

2008-11-03T07:28:00.000-06:00

There seems to be an excess of lip gloss sets being released this holiday season. And let me just tell you, that is fine by me! I’m excited to say that even NARS has got in on the lip gloss gift sets this holiday season. NARS Sephora Exclusive Lip Gloss Collection is comprised of some of the best shades of lip gloss NARS has to offer. Triple X (a clear shine), Harlow (a silvery mauve), Striptease (a pearlized beige sheen), Bloodwork (a red vinyl), and Orgasm (a peachy pink shimmer) are all available in this convenient set. Ask any NARS girl for a list of her favorite shades of lip gloss and I guarantee that you will see at least half of these shades will appear on each list.

Unfortunately, these are not full size lip glosses, but that being said, these are not minis either. Personally, I think these are more than big enough (figuring that most gift sets do not contain full size products), especially for the $45 price tag. On top of it, this kit makes owning all five of these lip gloss shades affordable. Many people would most likely not want to shell out $24 for each full size gloss, but $45 for all of them in a slightly smaller size is all good.

This will make a great gift for the seasoned NARS addict or the newbie who has always wanted to try NARS famed lip glosses. This is a limited edition that is sure to sell out quickly. It’s also exclusive to Sephora. It retails for $45, but if you pick it up during the Friends and Family event you’ll only have to pay $36! Happy Shopping!

Sephora Friends And Family Coupon Code

2008-10-31T19:02:00.004-05:00

Hey Girls! I've got some exciting news! I just received an email from Sephora regarding their annual Friends and Family event. Starting November 6th, use coupon / promo code FF2008 to receive 20% your entire order at Sephora.com. This promo is good through November 10th. This is the perfect time to pick up your Christmas gifts for your girlfriends because you're not going to find another sale like this before Christmas. The extra 20% off makes some of the holiday gift sets at Sephora.com an absolute steal. Start making your lists and planning your orders now! This offer is only good at Sephora.com and is not valid in brick and mortar Sephora stores. Happy Shopping!

DuWop Moodswing Palette

2008-10-31T18:16:00.000-05:00

One of the reoccurring questions that seem to pop up in my life is warm or cool? Yes, do I go with the warm palette or the cool palette? Truth be told, often times I empty my bank account and pick up both. I love that I don’t have to ask myself that question with DuWop’s new Moodswing Palette. This is really two palettes in one. On the left side, the warm tones and on the right side, the cool tones. Each side contains a mini version of Lip Venom (the warm side has gold shimmer in it and the cool side has silver shimmer), a lip stick, a lip gloss, three eye shadows, and a gradated shimmer brick. The palette also includes a full-size Reverse Lip Liner and two brushes. All of the shades in this palette are great for the fall and winter. It’s available for $42. It is a limited edition and is currently available at Sephora.com. Happy Shopping!

Sephora.com Coupon / Promo Codes

2008-10-29T13:33:00.003-05:00

The mother load of Sephora coupon / promo codes has found its way to me today. Of course I rushed right over here to pass them along to all of you.

Receive a free Givenchy lip color sample with any purchase. Use coupon / promo code GIVENCHYLIP at checkout.

Purchase Givenchy Phenom’Eyes Mascara in Black and Absolutely Irresistible Roll-on fragrance and receive a pouch filled with 4 deluxe Givenchy samples (No Surgetics Wrinkle Reducer, Subli’mine Fluid Foundation, Continuous Color Radiance Lip Gloss, Very Irresistible Givenchy Sensual). Use coupon / promo code LOVELUXE at checkout.

Purchase Smashbox Bionic Mascara and Photo Op Undereye Brightener and receive 2 free eye shadow duos in Blend and Contour. Use coupon / promo code FALLEYES at checkout.

Purchase 3.4 oz. Marc Jacobs Daisy fragrance and receive a Marc Jacobs tote bag. Use coupon / promo code MJTOTE at checkout.

Purchase Bliss Vanilla Bergamot Bath & Shower Gel and receive a free travel size Vanilla Bergamot Body Butter. Use coupon / promo code SUCHBLISS at checkout.

Purchase Frederic Fekkai Luscious Curls Shampoo and Conditioner and receive a travel size tube of Luscious Curls Cream. Use coupon / promo code CURLCREAM at checkout.

Purchase Jean Paul Gaultier Monsieur de Matin Invigorating Fragrance and Monsieur Moisturizing Face Balm and receive a free Monsieur Face Scrub and Shaving Cream. Use coupon / promo code GAULTIER at checkout.

So there it is. Good luck trying to decide what to buy! Happy Shopping!

Stila Eyes & Shine Smudge Pot Trio Gel Eyeliner

2008-10-27T07:01:00.000-05:00

I am so excited about this post about another holiday gift set. Not only because it is a product that I absolutely love, but because it is a new gift set that we have not seen in the past. Introducing the Stila Eyes & Shine Smudge Pot Trio Gel Eyeliner. This is a definite must buy kit this holiday season. Stila totally surprised me with this set this year. This kit features 3 Stila Smudge Pot Gel Eyeliners in Black, Bronze, and Gray and also comes with a mini eye liner brush. It’s great that this set features 3 basic, must have eye liner colors (although, I would be just as crazy over it if it featured some off the wall colors) so that it will be desirable to everyone.

I own at least 10 Stila Smudge Pots. Of course I have the basics like black and gray, but I am also a sucker for limited edition colors like purple, blue, green, etc. I absolutely LOVE these! These eyeliners glide gracefully across your lids. They are very blendable and buildable. Whether you want to create a thin line or a thick line, every look is very achievable. Being as they are “Smudge” Pots, they are great to smudge into a dramatic smoky eye. The bonus of these babies is their staying power. Even after a long tiring day full of rubbing my eyes out of exhaustion, the eyeliner is still there when I go to take my make-up off at night.

If you have yet to try Stila’s Smudge Pots but have always been curious, I 100% recommend this set for you. Trust me – Once you try just one shade, you are going to immediately want to get your hands on more!

Oh, I almost forgot, another great thing about the Smudge Pots is the fact that a little goes a long way. It will take you a very long time to get through a whole pot.

This is a limited edition set that retails for $32 (it has a value of $70). It is currently available at Sephora.com. Happy Shopping!

Bobbi Brown Holiday Collection 2008

2008-10-24T19:30:00.008-05:00

Bobbi Brown’s holiday palettes are always a must have for me. I was so excited to see what she had in store for us this year. Let me just tell you, she does not fail to deliver! There are so many things available that time does not allow me to comment on each of them. Below are highlights of some of my favorites, but you can go to BobbiBrown.com to see all that Bobbi has for us this holiday season.

Today at Macy’s I picked up my first piece from the Bobbi Brown holiday collection. How could I resist the Lip & Eye Palette? Packed with 4 new and exclusive Metallic Eye Shadows and 4 new and exclusive lip colors, this palette is definitely the star in the whole holiday line, well at least in my eyes! It also included a mini eye shadow brush and a mini lip brush. Everyone knows that I am absolutely in love with Bobbi’s Metallic Eye Shadows! If you loved the Brown Sugar palette from last year, you are going to love this palette! The eye colors include Champagne Quartz, Gold Dust, Golden Bronze, and Galaxy. All very shimmery, but very neutral and wearable. The lip colors include Berry Mauve, Pink Sequin, Dusty Mauve, and Ruby. Don’t let these shades fool you – they look very dark in the palette, but on they are very sheer and, just like the eye colors, wearable. As is expected, the lip colors and eye colors are perfectly paired. This palette is a limited edition and retails for $60.

Bobbi also released 2 eye shadow palettes each with 4 shadows: Velvet Plum and Basics. Both look very pretty, but I also think they have their own draw backs. First, while this may not be a problem for some, Velvet Plum only has one Metallic Eye Shadow, while Basics doesn’t have any. Second, reading the descriptions of the colors online, it states that all of the shades are “new, exclusive,” but I know for a fact that shades like Bone and Navajo were available in other collections. Third, with regards to Velvet Plum, while talking with one of the Bobbi Brown girls at the counter, she informed me that the Velvet Plum Metallic Eye Shadow is supposed to be the same as the solo Velvet Plum shadow that is currently available but isn’t. She stated that the color comes off much darker when applied than the original shade does and also is much more grittier than the Metallic Shadows usually are. Nothing is worse than gritty eye shadow! On the other hand, the plus sides of both of these palettes is the fact that there is a variety of shadow types in both, that is shimmers and mattes. I am personally going to pass on these palettes, but that is mainly because I have many Bobbi products that contain some of these shades already, and based on the fact that I did get the Lip & Eye Palette. Both of the Eye Palettes are limited editions and retail for $45.

The next palette from Bobbi’s holiday collection that I’m going to get is the Moon Rock Long-Wear Eye Palette. Bobbi gives us 2 Long-Wear Eye Palettes, Moon Rock and Night Sky. Both palettes contain 2 Long-Wear Cream Eye Shadows and 2 Long-Wear Gel Eye Liners. I think these palettes are more unique than anything else out there right now. I’m definitely eyeing the Moon Rock palette because I am a sucker for the grays, blacks, and whites (you can see I’m totally trying to avoid saying “smoky eye” yet again!). Bobbi’s Long-Wear products definitely are long wear so if you’re looking for something to wear to a holiday party where you don’t want to have to worry about sneaking away for touch ups, I definitely recommend these palettes. Both are limited editions and retail for $55.

Especially for the holiday season, Bobbi has taken her classic Lip Balms and infused them with glitter to create, Glitter Lip Balms (how clever). The Glitter Balms are just as moisturizing as the originals, but with an added touch of shimmer. The name “Glitter Lip Balms” is accurate in describing the shine and shimmer factor of these glosses, but is inaccurate in the sense that it would leave some to believe that the balm would be chunky and gritty due to the glitter. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Just like the original Lip Balms, the Glitter Balms go on smooth and feel creamy instantly. The Glitter Balms are available in 3 shades: Copper Diamond, Crystal Diamond, and Pink Crystal. The names are pretty self explanatory. These glosses are limited editions are retail for $19 each.

Finally, no Bobbi Brown collection would be complete without a Shimmer Brick! The Copper Diamond Shimmer Brick Compact contains 5 shades Candlelight, Gold, Copper, Beige and Sand and comes housed in a chic gold metallic compact. Brush it on your face, neck, shoulders, and décolletage for a beautiful golden glow. This Shimmer Brick is a limited edition and retails for $40.

So there you have it. Some of my favorite items from Bobbi Brown’s 2008 Holiday Collection. The collection is currently available online at BobbiBrown.com as well as at your local Bobbi Brown counter. You can also see the rest of the holiday collection at BobbiBrown.com. Happy Shopping!

MAC Dazzleglass And Red She Said Collection

2008-10-24T14:24:00.000-05:00

Hey girls! So I just got back from Macy’s. It wasn’t a planned visit…just a quick pop in after running to Bath & Body Works. I’m glad I went in because I was able to score another MAC Dazzleglass lip gloss. As I mentioned in a previous post, MAC released a few new shades of Dazzleglass in their new Red She Said collection. Some of these shades were re-releases, while others were new. I was intrigued by Miss Dynamite, but based on the color swatch online I was worried it may be too gold or too orange (when am I going to learn not to judge a lip gloss by a swatch online???). Word quickly spread that many MAC counters had sold out of the Dazzleglass lippies almost immediately. I thought I had missed my chance to try before I buy. I was ecstatic to see that my counter did in fact have a few of each shade left.

After trying on Miss Dynamite, I cannot believe I have waited to so long to get this color. It is gorgeous. The MAC website describes this color as “sheer orange-y copper with pearl.” That sounds like a whole lot is going on in there. When I applied Miss Dynamite to my lips I was blown away. At first, it did look very orangey and even rather heavy, but as I evened everything out it was a very sheer almost nude look. Very sparkly and shiny; as you would expect Dazzleglass to be. After MAC, I hit up the Bobbi Brown counter and both of the girls there commented on the gloss and asked what I was wearing.

Not being a fan of matte lips, this is the perfect glossy look to compliment smoky eyes. Not very much color at all, but tons of shine. Also, this is the perfect gloss for those who like to layer lip colors. It is especially stunning over red lipstick.

In addition to the Miss Dynamite Dazzleglass, I also picked up the Beauty Powder Blush in Stark Naked (also part of the Red She Said line). Both of the Beauty Powder Blushes in this collection are packed full of shimmer, perfect for the holiday season. Stark Naked is a pinky-mauve shade.

Both of these products are limited editions. I would guess that the Dazzleglass is even more limited. If you want any of the Dazzleglass shades, I wouldn’t wait too long. Like I said, many counters are completely sold out and those that aren’t only have a few. MACcosmetics.com currently only has 4 of the shades available. Happy Shopping!

Friends And Family Sale At Prescriptives.com

2008-10-23T19:28:00.001-05:00

Another thing that I love about the Fall season with regards to the world of beauty besides the arrival of holiday gift sets is the fact that many companies bestow “Friends and Family Sales” upon us! Prescriptives.com is currently having their Friends and Family event right now! Through tomorrow, October 24th, save 25% and FREE SHIPPING on your order with coupon / promo code FRIEND8. Unfortunately, the discount is not available on holiday gift sets or custom color creations for eyes and cheeks. Happy Shopping!

Philosophy Under The Mistletoe Ornaments

2008-10-20T08:13:00.000-05:00

Philosophy always seems to have the cutest packaging for their gift sets. They are so cute that they probably wouldn’t even need to be wrapped. This year is no exception. The Philosophy Under The Mistletoe Ornament is just too cute for words. The packaging has a touch of nostalgia to it if you ask me. The ribbon on top makes it able to be hung from your Christmas tree. And what’s inside the ornament is even better. Philosophy is offering its lip shines in three scrumptious holiday flavors: Gingerbread, Orange Cranberry Spritzer, and Spicy Pear Cobbler.

I love Philosophy’s lip shines. Let me just tell you, boy do they ever shine. Especially the ones that have shimmer in them like this trio does. Not only do they shine, but they are very emollient too. Although it may not feel like it when you apply the gloss being as it is a gloss and not a balm, this product is so moisturizing. You quickly learn this when you see how great your lips feel after wearing this product. The name of this set completely fits the bill because after using these glosses you are going to be ready to meet your sweetie under the mistletoe!

This limited edition trio available now at Sephora.com for $28. Happy Shopping!

DuWop Venom Rocks

2008-10-16T10:39:00.003-05:00

It seems like it has been awhile since DuWop has come out with a new gift set. It seemed like for awhile there they were coming out with a new 3 piece Lip Venom set every season and then it just stopped. While there now seems like there are hundreds of cosmetic companies that have lip plumping glosses, DuWop was one of the first and thus still holds a special place in my heart. I’m happy to report that DuWop has some new sets out.

DuWop Venom Rocks is a new 3 piece collection of DuWop’s famous tingling glosses. The shades include Garnet (sheer deep berry with gold sparkle), Pink Quartz (translucent hot pink with gold sparkle), and Amethyst (clear light lavender with silver sparkle). Garnet definitely has to possibility of being a gothy looking gloss, but with a light hand, you can create just a look with just a kiss of color. This set is unlike DuWop’s past Venom gloss sets in the sense that these glosses do not come in the squeeze tubes. Nope, they are housed in twist off tube with a wand applicator with a sponge tip. Its priced at $21.

I have always, always loved DuWop Venom Glosses. The slight stinging/tingling sensation is something that I, while others might not, love. The first time I had it on, my Mom even commented on how great my lips looked. She has been a DuWop girl since then too! Now, whether or not these glosses actually plump your lips is debatable. All I know is that the tingling sensation makes me pout my lips more, thus giving the illusion at least of fuller lips. So there's my two cents on DuWop glosses.

More posts on DuWop and other gift sets to come! Happy Shopping!

Free 2 oz. Signature Collection Body Lotion

2008-10-12T12:17:00.001-05:00

I've got another printable coupon for Bath & Body Works. Get a FREE 2 oz. Signature Collection Body Lotion with ANY purchase. This actually has the potential to be a very good deal because Bath & Body is still giving out coupons for a FREE Holiday Traditions item. So, if you were to go and buy an inexpensive item and use this new printable coupon, it is as if you are getting both the 2 oz. lotion and a free full size Holiday Traditions item. You can go the very, very inexpensive route and just buy a 2 oz. item since the coupon doesn't require a certain amount to be spent. I, however, would suggest you pick up the Forever Festive Gift Set. This is the trop of Holiday Traditions scents that I posted about last week. As of today, this set is still on sale for $5. It never hurts to have extras of these laying around for gift for surprise visitors. You can also use this coupon online with promo code WELCOME923, but you will not receive the coupon for the free Holiday Traditions item. Happy Shopping!

Bare Escentuals Extreme Glitters

2008-10-10T08:53:00.000-05:00

Everyone who knows me knows that I love shimmery, sparkly things. I love to put ting-ting in my flower arrangements and my Christmas tree. I prefer Swarovski crystal embellishments to pearl beading. Don't even ask about how sparkly my engagement ring is. Given this, of course I love sparkly make-up too! But there has to be a balance. I like sparkly and elegant, not sparkly and cheap.

I picked up Bare Escentuals Extreme Glimmers Kit about a month ago and have quickly deemed this my holiday season make-up. The kit contains three "extreme" eye shadows in silver, plum, and bronze, a starter size Prime Time Eyelid Primer, and an Extreme Glimmer Brush. The shimmer and sparkle are outrageous without being over the top. Does that even make sense? What I mean is that there is definately sparkle there, some of the best I have ever seen; but at the same time it doesn't look cheesy or cheap. Applied properly (try to hold back that heavy hand), your eyes pop with the sparkle of a movie star.

This kit does have the potential to lead to drag queen-esque eye make-up. The key to achieving the movie star look is to properly apply the eye make-up using the Bare Escentuals technique. First of all, USE THE PRIMER!!! It's in the kit for a reason! I've mentioned before that I am not a primer addict...I hardly use it. This is a situation where primer is a must. The pigment and glitter are loose thus allowing them to fly all over the place if not properly contained.

Secondly, you must use the "swirl, tap, buff" Bare Escentuals method. I am surprised by the number of people I talk to who love Bare Escentuals cosmetics but have never seen a demonstration on QVC nor have they watched the starter's DVD or read the instructions for application. I cannot recommend watching Leslie herself showing you how to properly use her products!!! I was also one of those who was like, "What's the deal with this swirl, tap, buff nonsense? Just dip the brush in and swipe it on!" So wrong! Every BE product should be applied with swirl, tap, buff.

For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, here it is. Get just a dab of product in the lid of the container. One way to do it is to just skim the product with the brush and transfer it to the lid. What I like to do is flip the container over, tap the lid to "push" the excess back into the jar, unscrew the lid and, voila, just enough product in the lid. Next, take your brush and swirl it around in the lid to sweep up the product. Then tap the brush on the side of the lid to get rid of the excess. Finally, buff it on. Based on my experience, if you apply the Extreme Glimmers this way, you should have minimal glitter on your face and it should also cut back on the feeling of chunkiness that the glitter particles may create.

Photo Borrowed From BareEscentuals.com (Click picture to be taken there)

In the event that you do get some glitter on your face, don't worry. Simply take a face brush (an extra one that you don't use), spray a little bit of hair spray on it (don't saturate it), and gently sweep it over your face. That should get most of the loose product off.

Bare Escentuals Extreme Glimmers Kit is a limited edition kit that is only available at Sephora. It is priced at $32 with a $44 value. Happy Shopping!

Philosophy's Cookie Exchange

2008-10-10T08:34:00.000-05:00

Want to have a cookie exchange without all of those calories??? No problem, just pick up Philosophy's The Cookie Exchange. This collection of four 3-in-1 shampoo, bubble bath, and shower gels in the yummy scents Snickerdoodle, Oatmeal Raisin, Sugar Cookie, and Chocolate Chip are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth without putting on any extra pounds. Just picture a cold winter night with you in a toasty bubble bath surrounded by the scent of Chocolate Chip cookies. I’m ready to jump in the tub right now!

I’m frequently asked by people who have not yet tried Philosophy’s 3-in-1 products why I would want to smell like food all day long. Let me tell you, this is not the case when you use the 3-in-1s. As much as you might here Cristina Carlino and the Philosophy spokes people blab on and on about how the scents last and last on QVC, that is so not the case. While the scent does last in the bathtub, your skin is not left to smell like a giant chocolate chip cookie all day long. If anything, you simply smell clean.

If you are looking for a scent that does last from the bathtub/shower, I would suggest looking at Philosophy’s fragrance line for the Amazing Grace and Falling In Love products. Those scents must have stronger essential oils as just the 3-in-1s linger on your skin. Couple those with the same scent in the lotion and perfume and you are good to go. The fragrance lasts all day. The same cannot be said for the food scented 3-in-1s. Hope that clears it up for those of you who are wondering!

The Cookie Exchange gift set is a limited edition and is currently available at Sephora.com for $30. Happy Shopping!

"Be Kissed" LipFusion Color Shine Mini Set

2008-10-10T08:09:00.000-05:00

How many lip glosses are too many? I think I may soon find out. I can’t help it! I am totally addicted to lip glosses! My collection is about to get 6 new members. LipFusion is rolling out their holiday collection with "Be Kissed" LipFusion Color Shine 6-piece Mini Set. The set includes the shades Clear, Bare, Sugar, Dream, Sexy, and Blush. They are in the mini size, perfect for tucking into your clutch for the party season this holiday season.

I’ve posted about LipFusion glosses before. I love the shine that you get with this gloss and I love the tingling effect of the lip plumpers. My lips feel so lush and full. If there is one thing about Fusion Beauty products that I don’t like, it is their prices. But that little problem with their kits like this one. You get all six glosses for only $49. This is a limited edition set and is currently available at Sephora.com. Happy Shopping!

Smashbox Rapture Eye Shadow And Brush Set

2008-10-09T09:30:00.000-05:00

If you are a fan of Smashbox eyeshadows, have I got a goodie for you. Continuing on with some of the best picks of holiday collections, let me present Smashbox's Rapture Eye Shadow and Brush Set. This 10 piece collection includes 8 eyeshadow duos (16 shades total) and two full size eyeshadow brushes (a shadow brush and a definer brush) is just one of many from the Smashbox Rapture Holiday 2008 line. The 16 shades included in this kit are stunning. Covering the entire color spectrum, you get shades of brown, cream, gold, purple, green blue, silver, black, white, and pink. You so know where I'm going next, don't you??? Imagine how many different types of smokey eyes you can create with this kit!!! I especially love the inclusion of the silvers and whites. I love creating a frosty kind of smokey eye for the holiday season (think elegant frosted, not 1980s frosted).

This kit consists of so much eyeshadow that it will definately carry you through the holiday season and beyond. With the wide range of colors contained in it, you can go right into the Spring season with these shades.

When I first saw a picture for this product, I assumed that given all that is included the price would be near $100. Considering that single eyeshadow pots are priced at $16 a piece and you are getting two full size brushes I thought that was a fair price. I almost hit the floor when I saw that this kit is amazingly priced at $59!!! It has a $185 value.

As of right now, I only see this kit available at Smashbox.com. If you're thinking about getting this, I recommend waiting until Tuesday or Thursday and getting your Let's Do Lunch Tuesday or Thursday freebie with your purchase. You also get FREE SHIPPING on every order at Smashbox. Sephora has some of the other Rapture Holiday 2008 pieces (which I will definately talk about in future posts), but does not have the Eye Shadow and Brush set. If this changes, I will post it. Happy Shopping!

Ped Egg Breast Cancer Edition

2008-10-09T09:06:00.000-05:00

I guess I forgot to post about the Ped Egg before, but I guess it was a good thing because now my post can be about thePed Egg Breast Cancer Edition. I wrote a post a few months back about my disgust of non flip-flop ready feet in flip-flops and stated that for the most part I only used foot lotion and Olay's Thermal Pedicure Scrub to keep my feet smooth. I assumed that I had no need for the Ped Egg. I was wrong.

I got to try out the Ped Egg after my Mom purchased it and raved about. I assured her that my feet were nice and smooth and in no need of the Ped Egg. After practically ripping my shoe and sock off of my foot, my Mother swiped the Ped Egg over my smooth foot for ten strokes and opened the Ped Egg to show me just what a miracle product this is. Within the Ped Egg was a gathering of dead, dry skin cells that had come off of my super smooth foot. How could this be??? Upon seeing this, I naturally grabbed the Ped Egg from my Mom's hand and proceeded to scrub every nook and cranny of my feet. My feet were smooth before the Ped Egg, but now they are beyond words. If this wonder product could make my already smooth feet even smoother, imagine what it can do for horribly dry feet!

Just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Ped Egg has released a pink version with a portion of proceeds benefiting Breast Cancer research. This is a great time to pick up the Ped Egg if you've been wanting to try it. It's available for only $9.99.

Crest Weekly Clean Intensive Cleaning Paste

2008-10-09T08:50:00.001-05:00

In the never ending quest for whiter teeth I have found yet another product. Introducing Crest Weekly Clean Intensive Cleaning Paste, a weekly intensive cleaner in the form of a toothpaste. When I first saw this product I didn't think twice about trying it out. To me, a toothpaste is the easiest way to whiten/clean teeth. So much easier to use compared to strips and gels with whitening trays. The suggested retail price of only $4.25 was also assuring. Really, how many cleaning/whitening products are that cheap? I have been using it for about a month now and can honestly say that I do see a nice change in my teeth. While this product does not claim to be a whitening product, only a cleaning product, it does polish and clean your teeth to the point where they are whiter. The polish especially makes your teeth like brighter.
The downside of this product is that it does not contain flouride and thus does not prevent cavities. You have to brush your teeth with your regular toothpaste first and then re-brush them with this product. While that doesn't really bother me, people with sensitive teeth/gums may find this troublesome.

You may also have a hard time finding this product at your local grocery/drug stores. I have noticed that some of the stores around me either did not have it or were sold out of it. Drugstore.com currently has it in stock and priced at $4.25.

Fund Free Mammograms

2008-10-08T11:23:00.002-05:00

TheBreastCancerSite.com is a site that is up year round and allows everyone the opportunity to give mammograms to those who can't afford them for free. All you have to do is click! You pay nothing! So click everyday to help those in need!

Dazzleglass From MAC

2008-10-08T09:20:00.004-05:00

I think everyone remembers my love affair with MAC's Dazzleglass collection back in May. In my post I hoped that MAC would reconsider the limited edition status of this collection and make it part of the full time line. I am happy to share that I have heard rumors at my MAC Counter that an upcoming collection will feature 5 Dazzleglass glosses!!! 4 will be re-releases from the original Dazzleglass line (Sugarrimmed, Love Alert, Baby Sparks, and Date Night) with one new shade (Miss Dynamite). I also heard that this is going to be an extremely limited collection. With the fan base that Dazzleglass had, I can only imagine that these babies are going to be flying off of the shelf. This collection is supposed to hit the market in mid-October. That's all the information I have for now!

Free Beauty Rush Lip Gloss Set At VictoriasSecret.com

2008-10-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

Hey Girls...I just got an email from Victoria's Secret with a nice coupon code. Use coupon / promo code RUSH08 at VictoriasSecret.com with any sweater purchase to get a FREE Beauty Rush Lip Gloss Set. Also, because VS is so great in that they let you stack coupon codes, if you purchase a cotton ribbed sweater, use coupon / promo code CRSCARF to get a FREE scarf. I placed my order yesterday so I haven't gotten my scarf yet, but the pictures online it looks like it is a rather long scarf, which I love.

There are a number of cotton ribbed sweaters on sale for $19. I believe shipping is $5.99 or maybe $5.95 and then there is tax. So for under $30 you get a sweater, scarf, and 3 lip glosses. Not bad, especially considering that if you were to purchase the scarf it would cost $28. I'll leave it up to you to decide whether to save the scarf and lip glosses for gifts or snag them up for yourself! Happy Shopping!

DuWop Cosmetics Benefiting Breast Cancer Awareness

2008-10-08T08:50:00.001-05:00

Continuing with Breast Cancer Awareness beauty products, DuWop Cosmetics offers two great items. First,DuWop Ice Shimmer Shadow Palette is a limited edition highlighting shimmer powder. Brush this pink powder over your skin to reflect the light and even out skin tones. I believe that a pink highlighter is a must during the holiday party season. It makes skin look heavenly in those candlelit type settings. It is available for $18 with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Cosmetic Executive Women Cancer and Careers Foundation.

DuWop also offers the Liplingo Multi Effect Lip Palette. What I love about DuWop Liplingo Palettes is the fact that it features a lipstick with four compatible lip glosses. All too often a lip palette contains either lipsticks or lip glosses and not a combination of the two. Here, you get the best of both worlds. This limited edition palette contains a rose lip color with glosses featuring "a subtle gold frost, a pale pink shimmer gloss, a rich pink sherbet tone with sparkle and a pink tinged clear balm with a high shine." It is available for $32 with a portion of proceeds again benefiting the Cosmetic Executive Women Cancer and Careers Foundation.

I am genuinely touched by DuWop Cosmetics products benefiting Breast Cancer Awareness. The packaging for their BCA products contains the names of "women we know and love who have been affected by this disease" as a "physical tribute."

As far as I can tell, these DuWop limited editions are only available at Beauty.com. Happy Shopping!

Happy Birthday Sephora

2008-10-08T08:45:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe that Sephora has only been around for 10 years. What did we do before Sephora??? I can remember being frustrated when certain Marshall Fields (oh how I long for those days before Macy's took over) only carried certain brands forcing me search all over for coveted cosmetics. I remember the first time I ever walked into a Sephora. It was like Charlie walking into the chocolate factory. Everything shined and seemed to call my name. I wanted one of everything, but surprisingly, I managed to walk out with only a single palette. Now, I'm lucky if I can walk out spending less than $100.

To celebrate Sephora's 10th birthday/anniversary, some of the top cosmetics companies have put together limited edition beauty products and gift sets at great prices. Most of these products are even "Best of Sephora" award winners.

Bare Escentuals has created Mineral Veil On The Go Mineral Veil for the occassion. For the first time, the best selling Mineral Veil is available in a portable device. For those of you who have yet to try Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil, it is a sheer translucent powder that you apply as a finishing powder on your face. It gives skin a flawless, airbrushed look while absorbing oil from your face. I absolutely love the packaging. I will say this though, it is a bit big and bulky. This is not a product that would fit easily in your clutch for touchups during a night on the town. This is a limited edition item that is available for $28.

TIP - If you already have a ton of Mineral Veil (I know I do because it is included in a lot of Bare Escentuals kits) and don't want to pick up this product, but want to have the on the go ability I have a suggestion. Simply take a retractable fact brush, brush it in the Mineral Veil, retract it, put the cap on it, and you're ready to go. Also, most retractable brushes I have seen are smaller than the On The Go product currently available so this tip may prove helpful if you're looking for something smaller to fit in a clutch.

No Sephora celebration would be complete without a gift set from Stila. Stila offers its Stila Loves Sephora 10th Anniversary Can. The can is filled with some Stila's fan favorites including Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer, Convertible Color in Peony, Kajal Eyeliner in Onyx, Mini Multi-Effect Mascara, and Brown Sugar Lip Glaze. There was a time when I would never leave Sephora without getting a new shade of Stila Lip Glaze! This kit totally takes me back to that time. Even if you don't get this kit, I highly, highly, highly recommend the Convertible Color in Peony. This is a multitasker that every beauty addict needs. Use it on you lips, eyes, and cheeks. Its dusty rose hue is perfect for the fall. This kit is a limited edition priced at $40 (with a $90 value).

Another Sephora shoppers favorite brand is Philosophy. Who amongst us hasn't spent many an hour at Sephora smelling her way through the entire Philosophy display telling her girlfriend that the products smell good enough to eat?!?! I know I'm guilty!!! And then comes the dilema of trying to select just one scent to take home. For Sephora's 10th Birthday Philosophy has helped us out with that problem. Introducing the Philosophy Classic Cookbook, a collection of ten of Philosophy's favorite scents. The Classic Cookbook includes 2 oz. bottles of Strawberry Milkshake, Red Velvet Cake, Pumpkin Pie, Senorita Margarita, Coconut Frosting, Cinnamon Buns, Double Rich Hot Cocoa, Raspberry Sorbet, Vanilla Birthday Cake, and Melon Daiquiri. This is a great gift for any Philosophy addict as well as for the person who has never tried Philosophy but has always wanted to. How could you go wrong with 10 of Philosophy's best scents??? This limited edition set is available for $40.

There are many more 10th Anniversary gifts from companies like Fresh, Clinique, Urban Decay, Too Faced, and, of course, Sephora. These were just a few of my favorites that I could personally recommend. All of the 10th Anniversary items are limited edition and are obviously only available at Sephora. Happy Shopping!

Bobbi Brown Pink Ribbon Collection

2008-10-08T08:40:00.000-05:00

Bobbi Brown always has a great lipstick/lip gloss duo available during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year is no exception. Bobbi's Pink Ribbon Collection features a gorgeous Pink Quartz Glitter Lip Gloss coupled with their popular Tulle Lip Color. I am in love with the Pink Quartz Lip Gloss. It has so much shimmer and shine. It also is the perfect shade of pink. Its specially priced at $42 and a portion of proceeds will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Even better, you can get FREE SHIPPING at BobbiBrown.com on your entire order when your order includes the Pink Ribbon Collection. Just use coupon / promo code PINK08. The code is valid until October 31st.

Vintage Yearbook Photos

2008-10-08T08:35:00.000-05:00

If you are someone who is into vintage and retro looks have I got a site for you. Ever wonder what you would look like if you went to high school in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s??? head on over to YearbookYourself.com. You can upload a picture of yourself and the site will transform you into a student from the 1950s thru the 2000s. Below is a sample of what Angelina Jolie would look like throughout the years. This is a site you will definately want to forward to all of your friends. YearbookYourself is a free site.

Sephora On HSN

2008-10-08T08:07:00.000-05:00

Just a heads up that Sephora will be on HSN for a number of shows Thursday and Friday, October 9th and 10th. HSN.com already has a number of products available on easy pay and FREE SHIPPING. Happy Shopping!

Limited Edition Estee Lauder Breast Cancer Awareness Products

2008-10-07T10:58:00.004-05:00

Estee Lauder has released two collections to raise funds for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Unfortunately, both are currently SOLD OUT on EsteeLauder.com, but you may be lucky enough to snag these at your local Estee Lauder cosmetics counter.

The Evelyn Lauder Lip Color Collection is a collection of three full size lip sticks in some of Evelyn Lauder's favorite shades. They include Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Bali Rose (limited edition, Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Candy, Estée Lauder Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick in Rich Berry. A pink travel case is included to allow you to tote your collection around town. This collection is a bargain at $22.

The Elizabeth Hurley Lip Color Collection is a collection of three High Gloss lip glosses in some of Elizabeth Hurley's favorite shades. They include Pink (limited edition), Rose, and Pearl. This collection also comes with a pink travel case. If the first kit was a bargain then this kit is a steal at only $16!

From the Estee Lauder website --- "Imagine a world without breast cancer. Your purchase of any product from the Pink Ribbon Collection will help Estée Lauder donate $500,000 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®. BCRF is dedicated to preventing breast cancer and finding a cure in our lifetime by funding clinical and translational research in North America. To learn more, call toll-free 1-866-FIND.A.CURE or visit www.bcrfcure.org."

Benefit Cosmetics Now At Ulta

2008-10-07T10:00:00.002-05:00

Just a quick note to let everyone know that Benefit Cosmetics are now available at Ulta Stores and Ulta.com. It makes me so happy to see that Ulta continues to expand its number of prestige brand cosmetics. While I'm fortunate to have a number of Sephora stores nearby, I know that there are a number of people who are not so lucky but do have an Ulta closeby. Also, the fact that Ulta usually has a number of exclusive items and deals that Sephora and make-up counters don't have just means that there will be even more great things to buy! Happy Shopping!

Printable Coupon For Bath & Body Works

2008-10-07T09:26:00.004-05:00

If there is one thing I love as much as beauty products, its candles! So imagine how happy I was when I got an email from Bath & Body Works to inform me that their 14.5 oz Slatkin & Co. candles are on sale for only $10 (down from $19.50)!!! If you have never tried Slatkin & Co. candles I highly, highly recommend them. They are so fragrant and have three wicks to ensure a nice, even burn. All of their fall scents are heavenly, but I especially recomment the Spiced Cider and the Autumn Apple...so yummy!

Of course, the bargain shopper in me looked online for a printable coupon before heading out the door to B&BW. I came across two that I want to share with you. The first one is for a FREE Wallflower or Scentport Starter Kit or Refill (a $12.50 value) with any $15 purchase. This coupon is also good at BathandBodyWorks.com with coupon/promo code HOME. The second one is for a FREE Item Of Your Choice (up to $13) valid at any new Bath & Body Works store opening in October or November. This one is not valid online.

I used the first coupon to pick up a free Scentport Starter Kit in Autumn Apple. I plugged in right by my front door so the house smells so good as soon as you walk in. Also, the cashier gave me a coupon for a FREE Holiday Traditions product that's good in a few weeks. I can't wait until Vanilla Bean Noel, Winter Candy Apple, and Twisted Peppermint are out! I was so excited to pick up a couple of mini Vanilla Bean Noel hand lotions at the Bath and Body Outlet a few weeks ago.

Happy Shopping!!!

***EDITED TO ADD*** I almost forgot...As I paying, the cashier also showed me a mini trio of the Holiday Traditions hand lotions that was on sale for only $5 (half price). I guess they were some kind of preview sale. Of course I picked one up! Just something to keep in mind!

Tarte Holiday Gift Sets

2008-10-07T09:15:00.006-05:00

While I shouldn’t be surprised at all, Christmas items are popping up all over the place. Some people think that Christmas is rushed upon us, but I am not one of them. If it were up to me, I’d decorate for Christmas all year long. Christmas decorations just seem to make people happier. When I saw that my local Target and Menards had already had aisles with Christmas items in them, I knew it was only a matter of time before Holiday Gift Sets were going to be available from the beauty world. Today I found out that this is true.

Let’s start with Tarte Cosmetics. It’s no secret that I love Tarte Cosmetics. I look forward to Maureen Kelly’s collection of jam packed gift sets and unbelievably affordable prices each and every year. This year’s line continues to impress me.

Tarte Purse Your Lips Li mited Edition Lipgloss Clutch is a lip gloss addicts dream come true. These glosses feature Tarte’s t5 super fruit complex™ making them packed full of antioxidants and vitamins that work to keep your skin looking young and gorgeous. This collection features nine (yes, 9) beautiful glosses in shades ranging from nudes to pinks to coppers to reds allowing you to create many versatile looks. The glosses come packaged in a gold clutch purse, perfect for the holiday season. The best part? The price! This $106 value is priced at only $39! That breaks the glosses down to a measly $4.33 each. Talk about a steal!

Year after year a favorite must have gift set is the Tarte Mini Cheek Stain set. This year they packaging is even jazzed up for the holidays. The Tres Cheek Limited Edition Mini Cheek Stain Set features 3 brand new shades of Tarte’s best known and most beloved product. Posh is a beautiful soft plum shade. Fierce is a light strawberry red. Chic is a golden coral peach. Just like the lip gloss set, I love this collection because the colors cover a wide range of shades. You can create countless looks with just these three shades. They are so sheer and blendable; don’t be afraid to combine shades to create a whole new look. The cheek stains also contain the t5 super fruit complex™ to keep you looking beautiful. The 3 cheek stains come packaged in a cute gold pouch (makes a great change purse or a small make-up case) and the tubes housing the cheek stains are gold for the holiday season too. This $50 value is priced at only $25.

Finally, The Vanity Limited Edition Palette is a must have for every make-up addict. I have the palette from last year and it still hasn’t run out! This year’s palette is chocked full of 16 BRAND NEW eye shadows, 16 BRAND NEW lip glosses, a deluxe Lights, Camera, Lashes! mascara, a deluxe Mineral Powder Bronzer in Park Avenue Princess, a deluxe luminizer, four powder blushes, and deluxe eyeshadow and eyelining brushes. I don’t even need to say anymore because this palette totally speaks for itself. This is the biggest value Tarte has to offer. It has a retail value of $494 and is a steal at the price of $52!

All of these gift sets are limited editions and are currently available at Sephora.com. Happy Shopping!

Philosophy's Kiss Kiss Kiss Lip Gloss Trio

2008-10-07T09:01:00.004-05:00

Before we go jumping into the Christmas/Winter Season, let’s relish the Fall Season shall we? Philosophy’s Kiss Kiss Kiss collection is the perfect set of fall lip glosses. This trio features lip shines in Eggnog Latte, Caramel Apple, and Pumpkin Spice Muffin. Do those scents scream fall scents or what? These lip glosses are a triple threat…they pack the shine, the flavor, and the scent. It’s currently available at Sephora.com for $28. Happy Shopping!

Clinique Great Lips, Great Cause Lipstick Set

2008-10-07T08:56:00.004-05:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Having a Mom who is a Breast Cancer Survivor, I am always on the lookout for products that support the fight against Breast Cancer all year long. October is always great because more companies release special edition products with a larger percentage being donated to Breast Cancer Awareness campaigns. I will do my best to post as many of these products as I can.

Clinique has released its Great Lips, Great Cause Lipstick Set exclusively at Sephora. Featuring Colour Surge Butter Shine Lipstick in limited-edition Ribbon Pink, this set includes a super cute shimmery silver lip stick case. I absolutely love the color name. It’s available for $16.50 with $10 being donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation for each sale.

The reviews are mixed on this product. Some feel that there are chunks of glitter in this lipstick that makes it uncomfortable to wear. I really don’t have a problem with the flecks of glitter in this product. The fact that this is a lip stick and not a lip gloss seems to control the amount of glitter that actually is applied to your lips. What I mean is that with a gloss, the fact that your scooping out a liquid and slathering it on your lips allows for chunks of things to be applied to your lips. Does that make any sense at all? Either way, how can you pass up this limited edition set when $10 dollars will be donated with each sale?

I Heart My Computer!

2008-10-07T08:54:00.000-05:00

Well, I’m finally back. After a wrist injury has kept me away from the computer for over a month I am back and ready to talk! This is the longest I have ever been kept away from a computer in my life. It’s amazing how dependent I have become on this wonderful machine. But being restricted from using it for this long has made me do things that always seemed to be pushed to the side because I am so computer obsessed. Much of my house has been cleaned. I found a pair of earrings that I lost over four months ago. I caught up on some past magazine issues. I have bonded even more with my puppy. But all of that being said, I am still more than ecstatic to be back in front of this beautiful screen and back to my life of online shopping and gossiping. I’m back just in time to talk about some great new things in the beauty world. Stay tuned!!!

Bare Escentuals

2008-08-28T08:37:00.006-05:00

There are a few things I wanted to talk about regarding Bare Escentuals. Instead of giving each one its own post, I figured I would just lump them all together.

First, I wanted to mention this awhile ago, I am so happy about the new Get Started Kits. I have given more of the original Get Started Kits as gifts than any other beauty product. It was always such a great way to introduce a friend to one of my favorite brands because they were super affordable and came with many products. That being said, most of the products were solely face products. Don't get me wrong, the Foundation and Mineral Veil put Bare Escentuals on the map, but what about eye shadows and lip colors??? That is why I love the new Get Started Kits. These new kits include 2 eye shadows, 1 eye liner, 1 blush, a Buxom lip gloss, a Heavenly Brush, a Double-Ended Contour & Define Brush, and a Angeled Blush Brush all for only $49. And just like the original Get Started Kits, these versions come in different sets for different skin tones.

Next, Bare Escentuals has created a new form of the Buxom Lips line. Buxom Lips Full Color is packed full of color for more full coverage than its Buxom Lips counterpart. The brush applicator (as opposed to the sponge tip applicator of the original Buxom Lips) allows you to pile on as much of the color as you desire. Although it is a gloss, it has the coverage ability of a lip stick.

I've tried this product and will say that it absolutely does deliver where full coverage color is concerned. However, I am disappointed because all of the colors available in this product are just too dark. Add Bare Escentuals to the list of cosmetics companies jumping on the dark lip band wagon. Perhaps they will introduce lighter colors in the Spring/Summer lines. Until then, I will pass. But I would recommend this product to anyone who is looking for a darker lip. You will not be disappointed.

Finally, if you are looking for some purplely eye shadows, the Face Fashion - The Look of Now Kit is a must have. This limited edition kit includes The limited-edition collection includes a Metallic Lavender Eyecolor (gray lavender), a Plush Purple Eyecolor (mulberry plum), a Smoky Sequins Liner Shadow (gunmetal gray), a Vintage Peach Blush (peach poppy), and a Mini Jessica Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish (copper pink). The eye colors make a beautiful smoky eye...much more subtler than the traditional black smokey eye, but just as powerful. The Jessica Buxom Lip Polish is a perfect compliment to the shadows as well. Just a hint of color so as not to distract from the eyes. This is a $55 value priced at just $34.

Don't forget to use coupon / promo code 10DAY to get a FREE 10 DAY SAMPLE OF BARE MINERALS SPF15 FOUNDATION AND BABY KABUKI BRUSH WITH ANY ORDER!!! Happy Shopping!

Let's Do Lunch Thursday At Smashbox

2008-08-28T08:25:00.002-05:00

Time for another Let's Do Lunch Thursday at Smashbox.com. Today's free with purchase product is an Blush Soft Lights Duo in Sunbeam/Glimmer. This is a great product to give you a little sunkissed glow on your cheeks, especially as summer starts to wind down. Don't forget, you also get FREE SHIPPING with any order. Happy Shopping!

Let's Do Lunch Tuesday At Smashbox

2008-08-26T08:45:00.002-05:00

It's Tuesday so that means it's time for another Let's Do Lunch Tuesday at Smashbox.com. Today's free with purchase product is an Eye Shadow Duo in Golden/Egg Plant. Great product. I especially love the Egg Plant color. A beautiful plummy shade that will be perfect for the Fall season. Don't forget, you also get FREE SHIPPING with any order.

Smashbox.com also has a new look. I personally think that the new layout is a little easier to maneuver. Check it out!

Free Shipping On Sephora Brands On HSN

2008-08-26T08:22:00.004-05:00

It's a Sephora day today on the Home Shopping Network. A quick look at HSN.com shows that there are a ton of FREE SHIPPING deals as well as many EASY PAY deals. Plus, there is the Beauty-Full Buy and today it is a goodie. The show stopper is the Korres Natural Products Love Your Lips Gift Pouch. It's funny because I almost picked up this product directly from Sephora.com for $29, but for today only (well actually, it may be for tomorrow too because Sephora also has a few shows on HSN tomorrow as well) it's available for $24.95 plus FREE SHIPPING!!!

The Korres gift set contains 3 Cherry Full Color Glosses in Nude, Beige Pink, and Light Pink as well as a Pomegranate Lip Butter in a sheer coral color. All of these lip products from Korres are packed full of vitamins and moisturizing agents. The Lip Butter is especially moisturizing and is so smooth it does feel like butter!

The HSN price, like I said, is for a limited time, but the kit itself is also a limited edition so get it while you can. Happy Shopping!

Philosophy The Haunted House Gift Set

2008-08-25T09:53:00.005-05:00

Can you believe that it's almost September??? Summer has just flown by this year. As I sit at my computer, I see the school bus stopping to pick up kids across the street. I can't believe that it's back to school time already. Halloween is also quickly approaching as I found out yesterday during a quick run to Menards. They already had all of their Halloween decorations out. And I'm sure it's only a matter of time before Target takes down their back to school displays and replaces it with aisles upon aisles of Halloween candy and costumes! Crazyness.

It appears that decorations are not the only Halloween themed items available. Philosophy has gotten on the Halloween bandwagon and has released The Haunted House Gift Set. This set inclues three 6 oz bottles of 3-in-1 shampoo, shower gel, and bubble bath in the spooky scents of Black Licorice, Caramel Apple, and Pumpkin Spice Muffin. The bottles are housed in a cute box made to look like a haunted house.

One of my dear friends has a Halloween party every year. I think this would make a fabulous hostess gift for her.

How To Get Cosmo Cover Hair

2008-08-25T09:27:00.003-05:00

There is a great "how to" article on MSN.com that shows you how to achieve "Cosmo Cover Hair." You know what hair I'm talking about. Soft and flowing but with the toussled "I just got out of bed" look that every guy loves. Hair styling guru Oribe walks us through the step by step process he uses to achieve the longed for look of the Cosmo cover models. Enjoy!

Limited Edition Lancome Juicy Tube In Rose Fishnets

2008-08-20T07:46:00.004-05:00

Speaking of Lancome, have you guys seen the new Juicy Tube shade at Sephora??? Rose Fishnets is a new LIMITED EDITION shade that's "only at Sephora." It is gorgeous. I'm so excited that there is finally a new lip color that I am excited about. Although, I will admit that I was kind of looking forward to saving some money on lippies this Fall since I am not buying into the Goth look. Rose Fishnets is a rosey-nude shade that has a hint of gold sparkle to it and it packs great shine. I love it! It's a very universal shade that should compliment everyone's skintone. I've already picked up my tube, but I think I may need to get another one because I love this shade and don't want to run out anytime soon. It's available for $18.

Lancome At TJ Maxx

2008-08-20T07:38:00.003-05:00

Hey girls. I was at TJ Maxx yesterday and was shocked to find more Lancome products there than at a Lancome counter! Eye shadows, mascaras, nail polishes, bronzers, creams and so much more filled shelves and shelves...Most priced from $3.99 to $7.99.

Lancome wasn't the only big beauty name on the shelves of the discount store. I came across many bottles from Bliss, Ahava, and Joey New York. Most were priced $9.99 and under and all still had expiration dates that didn't expire for at least 6 months. I picked up some Butter Scrubs from Ahava. There is nothing better than using a scrub to exfoliate your skin in a hot bath. I love the Butter Scrubs because they have a creamy feel to them and not just the gritty sand paper feel. It's as if your moisturizing while your stripping the dead skin away.

Just thought I'd give you all a heads up in case you haven't been to your TJ Maxx lately! Happy Shopping!

Free Socks From Bath & Body Works

2008-08-08T19:16:00.003-05:00

Someone just forwarded me a coupon for a free gift with purchase at Bath & Body Works. With any $15 or more purchase get a free pair of the "sweetest, softest socks on Earth." I have never tried a pair of socks from Bath & Body, but I will say that they do look pretty comfy in that picture. Click here to print out a copy of the coupon. It's valid in stores only through September 2nd. If anyone has a pair of these, feel free to post about them in the comments. Let us know how good of a deal this is or isn't. Hey, if it's free then that's already a pretty good deal in my book!

Bath & Body is having a sale on their Anti-bacterial Hand Soaps (5 for $15) right now. They also have some really cute gift sets that they are marketing for college students. I guess that would be a pretty nice gift to give someone who's going away for school. Especially if they are having to share a bathroom in a dorm! Happy Shopping!

Smashbox Wicked Lovely Collection

2008-08-07T09:03:00.009-05:00

The "Goth" look continues to be featured in many new fall collections. The latest collection from Smashbox, Wicked Lovely, looks like it should be featured on the shelves of Hot Topic. While the collection seems to be all about a smokey eye, the lack of lip color options turns me off. You have your choice of a very light lip or a very dark lip.

Wicked Lovely is sort of a unique line. The concept features 2 different looks: a "Wicked" look is more sexy and sultry, while a "Lovely" look is more feminine and soft. I personally think this concept fails. While there are plenty of options for the Wicked look, I think there is a lack of options for the Lovely side. To pull of the Lovely look, you simply down play the eye.

The Wicked Lovely Lip Glosses are my least favorite items in the collection. You have your choice of three shades: Coy (a sheer nude), Sultry (a sheer black cherry), and Sweet (a sheer apricot). When I tried on Coy and Sweet, I really didn't see much of a difference other than the fact that Coy seemed to have a little more shimmer to it. I thought that both shades were kind of boring and weren't anything new and exciting.

Sultry, on the other hand, seems very new, but not very exciting. As I looked in the mirror I was horrified at what I saw. The dark black cherry shade was very overpowering. I looked like I was getting dressed up for Halloween. I've heard other people talk about how much they like this shade and how it will work for everyone, including those with fair skin tones. I have no idea how that is even possible. Really, I don't understand why they are offering a dark lip gloss when everyone knows that when you play up your eyes you should definately understate your lips. Maybe it's supposed to be for the Lovely look since the eyes are down played in that look, but I really don't think anyone who is trying to achieve a soft feminine look would want these Elvira like lips.

I will say that these glosses to pack alot of shine, so that's a plus. I did not, however, like the packaging. The little leather tassles on the top of the tubes reminded me of some type of S&M club.

I really liked the Wicked Lovely Blush Rush in Charm. The soft warm pink shade is a perfect fall shade. It has a dusty look to it. Subtle enough in color to work with the dark eyes of the collection, but noticable enough that you won't wonder, "where is my blush?" I also love the packaging of this product. There is a swivel mirror attached to it so you can bring it with you on the go without having to tote around a mirror compact.

The collection also features 2 Wicked Lovely Eye Shadow Duo: Sexy/Demure (shimmering charcoal/shimmering peach) and Sinful/Pure (shimmering dark brown/shimmering ivory). While both of these are very pretty duos, I personally think that they are very similar. It would be a waste of money to get both duos when they look so much alike. I would think that since they are going for the two distinct looks they would have made at least one duo have a softer dark shade. Like possibly a light gray or even a light brown.

The line also features a Wicked Lovely Cream Liner Trio And Loose Shimmer set. Is it just me or does anyone else think that Smashbox needs to offer some new shades of cream liner. 2 years ago in their Holiday collection they had some very unique cream liners in shades of white and silver. Ever since then it seems that every kit or collection that comes with cream liners features shades of black, brown, and blue. This collection is no exception. The unique aspect of this product is the attached loose shimmer. I really like this idea. However, I will be passing on this item because I have quite a few Smashbox Cream Liners in the shades offered.

So there you are. Some of the highlights of Smashbox's new Wicked Lovely collection. The products are all limited editions.

Borba Free Samples

2008-08-06T22:05:00.003-05:00

While writing my review post on Borba Fiber Knit products below, I discovered that Sephora is no longer carrying Borba products. A Google search led me to discover that a lot of sites are no longer carrying Borba products. Maybe there are others like me who just can't take the smell! Just kidding. This is surprising since Borba was teaming up with Tarte so frequently lately, even teaming up to bring a Today's Special Value for QVC that featured both Tarte and Borba products.

Borba.com is still up and running though. I'm glad that I went to that site because there is a free sample section! I can't believe I have never heard of this free sample offer before. While I just wrote a not so great review for the Fiber Knit products, I'm still up for trying some not so stinky Borba products. Even better, when you click the free sample section it states that you may also receive free samples from companies like Tarte! I definately am not turning down free samples from Tarte Cosmetics. If you're interested in signing up too (I know you are!), just go to Borba.com and give them your address and you're set.

Borba Fiber Knit Reviews

2008-08-06T21:47:00.003-05:00

Ahh...another review. A few months ago I posted about some beauty deals that I had found at TJ Maxx. Two of those products were from Borba: Fiber Knit Night Repair Emulsion and Fiber Knit Emulsion SPF 15. I had never tried either of these products and at only $10 I figured this was the perfect time to try it. I now know why it is I have never tried these products before.

Let me just tell you, both of these products stunk to high heaven. When I first applied the Repair Emulsion I thought I was going to throw up. The next day when I applied the SPF 15 I was shocked to find that it stunk even worse than the other product. Unfortunately, because of the nasty smell factor, I could not continue to use either one of these products. I have, however, been able to use the Night Repair Emulsion as a foot cream. It has made my feet feel really smooth and nice. The SPF 15, however, still has a highly potent odor even when that far away from my nose so I just shucked that one into the trash.

I will disclaim this post by also telling everyone that I have an extremely high powered sense of smell. It's absolute crazyness. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I pick up on the faintest of scents. There are actually things that I will not let people eat around me because the smell is so strong to me that it makes me sick. So, if you're lucky enough to have a normal sense of smell then maybe you will be able to use these products. If anyone has, feel free to post in the comments and share your thoughts. I feel bad that I couldn't use them enough on my face to give a review.

Smashbox On The Waterfront Kit Review

2008-08-06T21:34:00.002-05:00

It's finally time for my review of Smashbox On The Waterfront. I know it's taken me awhile, but I wanted to try this product out enough to give it a full and fair review. As I told you before the kit contains a #4 mini-brush and a lip gloss pot in Melt, a skin tint stick in Heat, a sheer watermelon shade, and a Limitless Lid Shadow in Hermosa, a shimmery rose shade and was available for only $24.38.

Let me just tell you, the best part of this kit was the #4 mini-brush and the eye shadow. I knew that these were outstanding products because I have a #4 brush and a few different shades of the Limitless Lid Shadow. As the kit promised, the shadow is definately waterproof and crease-free. I was, however, extremely disappointed with the skin tint stick and the lip gloss pot.

First off, the lip gloss pot. It had to be one of the nastier ones I have tried as of lately. It tasted so waxy and was not very spreadable. I felt like I took a crayon and wiped it on my lips. Horrible. On top of it, although it was a very nice watermelon shade in the pot, once it was applied to my lips there was no color at all. There wasn't even any shine. I couldn't tell you if it was crease-free because since I couldn't see it on my lips I wouldn't be able to see if there were creases.

Second, the skin tint stick. This one also had a heavy, waxy feeling to it. Now a days, women are looking for light make-up that goes on creamy and makes you feel like you're wearing nothing. So not the case here. I felt like I was wearing clown make-up. It was sooooo heavy. And while there was some color on my cheeks, I don't think it was enough. To say that there was a hint of color would be too generous. Finally, this product was not water proof. I wore it out on a warm day and just a little sweat caused the color to disappear.

Overall, I was very disappointed with this kit. I was very surprised that this was a Smashbox kit as I am usually a fan on their products. At least I only paid $24 dollars for it I guess.

Magazine Deals At Amazon

2008-08-06T21:12:00.006-05:00

I am obsessed with magazines. Really, it doesn't even matter what topic and genre they cover, I will read anything. Obviously, my favorite magazine genre is fashion/make-up magazines. When I lived at home I never signed up for subscriptions because my little sister would steal the magazine from the mailbox and thus I was never able to read it. I quickly learned that I would have to wait to be in my own place before a subscription was ever placed again. It's amazing how cheap you can get magazine subscriptions for compared to the newstand prices.

Back in December/January Amazon had a great deal on magazine subscriptions. I signed up for a few for only $3 each! That's less than one issue at the store. Of course, as usual, I didn't come across this deal until the end of the run and thus there was no time to post about it here. Ever since then I periodically check Amazon to see if there are any magazine deals to post about. Today I received a notice from Amazon trying to entice me to renew early and it made me think to check the site out again.

There are a few really good deals to be had. They have a 1 year subscription to Marie Claire Magazine for only $8 (or 2 years for $15) which comes out to $0.67 an issue! There's also a 1 year subscription to Harper's Bazaar for only $10 (or 2 years for $15) which comes out to $0.83 an issue! If the world of entertainment is more your style then you might want to pick up Entertainment Weekly for only $38.95 (or 2 years for $60) a year which comes out to $0.68 an issue. This is a steal for a magazine that comes out every week as opposed to every month. I may have to get this one for my Sweetie because he's always trying to read a friend's copy at work.

If none of these sound appealing to you, take a gander at the complete selection that Amazon.com has to offer. I don't know if I've mentioned it here before or not, but I personally think that a magazine subscription is a great gift idea. I like to buy the current issue and then wrap it up with a note telling the lucky recipient that they'll be receiving it in their mail box for the next year. Happy Reading!

It's A Boy!

2008-08-06T21:03:00.002-05:00

Just as I announce that I'm trying to get back into the swing of things a huge wrench has been thrown into my life. Yes, my Sweetie and I finally got a dog. An unexpected dog that is. My birthday was just a few weeks ago and a friend finally gave me my gift...a Jack Russell puppy. And while he is extremely cute, he is also extremely time consuming. Let me just tell you, I've only had him for a little over a day and he's already made me rethink having kids. My day today consisted of mostly chasing after him to stop him from chewing anything and everything in the house and then taking him outside to do his business. Oh, and in case you're wondering his name is AJ. I'll post pictures when I get them.

Bobbi Brown Metallic Eye Shadow

2008-08-04T18:22:00.003-05:00

***Blogger is being a pain right now and not letting me upload any pictures. Hopefully, this will be resolved soon and I can add some later!***

I am so excited to post about Bobbi Brown's new Metallic Eye Shadows. Anyone who has read this blog before knows that I became obsessed with Bobbi's Metallic Eye Shadows last Fall when her Metallic Eye Shadow Palettes were released. Since then, I have been hoping and praying that they would make their way into the full time line. Finally, they have arrived! These high-shimmer, high-pigmented shadows are now available in single compacts in a wide range of 18 different shades. Everything from pastels to bold colors are featured in this line. I am in love. It may take me a little while, but getting every color is my ultimate goal.

These shadows go on your eyelids like butter. They feel so smooth and creamy that you won't even believe that they are powder. And their staying power is outstanding. I put it on in the morning and at night when I go to wash my make-up off I am amazed that the color is still there and, even better, no creasing! These shadows are available at BobbiBrown.com and retail for $20 each.

No More Studying!!!

2008-08-04T18:21:00.003-05:00

Things are finally starting to get back to normal. No more round the clock studying, thank God! I just got back from a quick little vacation and am ready to get back into normal life. That means that I finally will be able to start posting more regularly again. Forgive me if it takes me a few days to get back into the swing of things, but I'm sure you all know how that goes!

Another Cover By Elle

2008-07-31T19:58:00.002-05:00

Come on now. I just got a glance at the September cover of Elle. What is going on over there? Who ever is their airbrusher needs to be fired because he/she is doing a horrible job. Airbrushing is supposed to be subtle, not blatant. This doesn't even look like Jessica Simpson. To me, she kind of looks more like Faith Hill in this picture. And I know that Jessica Simpson is tiny skinny, but come on. Her waist isn't that tiny.

Elle August Cover

2008-07-24T08:39:00.003-05:00

I meant to mention this a few weeks ago, but big suprise, I forgot! The last time I was at the grocery store I had quite a chuckle as I waited in line to pay. I couldn't believe the people at Elle Magazine could honestly expect us to think that the cover picture of Mariah Carey is real! I know that Mariah is often air brushed in magazines, but come on, this has to be one of the worse ones I've seen in awhile. I thought her Allure cover a few months ago was bad, but that one just featured airbrushing of her face. What makes me laugh even more is her pose. It's like her hands are placing her head on this fake body.

It's funny because in the recent years there has been more of a push to show real people and real bodies. There has been more of a realization that these things have effects on the self-esteem of young girls and the need to change that. Look at the Dove ad campaigns and Jamie Lee Curtis doing that photo shoot in her "natural" look. Even so, it doesn't seem that this move has fazed beauty magazines...not that I really expected it to.

The Lash Stash

2008-07-24T08:23:00.004-05:00

Hey girls. I've been hitting the books so hard that I've hardly done anything else for the past week and a half. Hopefully, it will pay off. So I decided to take a little break this morning and check my email, which I haven't done in a few days. I was happy to see an email from Sephora. A few new products were highlighted, but I am most excited about one in particular: The Lash Stash. The Lash Stash is an awesome kit that includes 7 travel sized mascaras from some great brands.

0.14 oz Benefit A Little Bit BADgal Lash in Black
0.02 oz Blinc Kiss Me Mascara in Black
0.15 oz LORAC Publicity Stunt Lashes in Black
0.12 oz Smashbox Bionic Mascara in Black
0.24 oz Stila Multi-Effect Mascara in Black
1.0 oz Sephora Brand Lash Plumper in Black
0.17 oz Too Faced Lash Injection in Black

This is a great idea from Sephora. If there is one thing that I hear most people complain about it is the cost of mascara. So many girls want to try out new mascaras, but at $20-something a pop, it's not exactly the most affordable product to test out. On top of it, when you try out mascara in a store, you usually use a generic tester brush and not the brush that would come with the product so how do you really know if you would like the mascara when often the brush is more talked about then the actual make-up? At only $28, this is a great way to try out these products. All of the mascaras listed in this kit have a huge following. I will say that my 2 personal favorites are missing: Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! and Diorshow Mascara. This kit is a limited edition and only available at Sephora. Happy Shopping!

Sephora Safari Train Case

2008-07-16T08:40:00.004-05:00

It seems that a lot of make-up addicts covet one case to hold their beauty goods...a Sephora Train Case. But at prices ranging from $78 to $110, this is out of the price range of many. I have good news. A quick window shopping session at Sephora.com informed me that a version of the highly coveted Sephora Train Case is now on sale for only $39. The Safari Train Case is on clearance for half price. This is an unbelievable deal for this product. If you're at all interested I wouldn't wait long. I wouldn't expect this product to last too long at this price. Happy Shopping!

Pray For Me

2008-07-16T08:32:00.006-05:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that the posts may become sporadic for the next 2 or 3 weeks. I am studying to take a HUGE test that basically determines the rest of my life. While I would much rather play with make-up, search for sales, and what not, I must force myself to study as much as I can over the coming weeks (my review course just wrapped up after a month and a half and now they recommend 12 hour study days...YIKES!). I'm hoping that during periodic study breaks I will find a few times to make a post or two. For those of you that a praying types, please keep me in your prayers.

Philosophy - The Soda Fountain Collection

2008-07-14T08:36:00.004-05:00

Lately I have been obsessed with the scent of Root Beer. It all started with a Yankee Candle that my Sweetie bought from their Summer Collection: Root Beer Float. Not being a fan of Root Beer soda, I didn't really think I would love the scent of this candle, but I do! We lit it in the spare bedroom and one day as I typed away in the computer room, my nose was overtaken by a glorious scent. Was that the Root Beer Float candle I thought to myself? I couldn't believe it. It smelled just like root beer and just made me happy that summer was finally here.

So why am I telling you about my Root Beer Float candle story? Because I am ecstatic to report that Philosophy's latest collection is Soda Fountain Collection featuring a Root Beer scent: Barrels of Root Beer. Since this scent is my current obsession it couldn't have come at a better time. I will admit, had I not been in love with the scent thanks to that candle, I probably would have passed on this collection. This would have been one of those where I would have thought who wants to smell like a can of Root Beer? Let me just tell you, I do!

The scent of Root Beer is amazingly realistic. It has this amazing sweetness to it that just screams Summertime. I will say, it's not the most appealing color to be lathering you skin with (I don't think I need to delve further into the graphic image other than to say the gel is brown...use your imagination). Root Beer has all of the other qualities of past Philosophy 3-in-1 products so nothing new and exciting here other than the scent. It's available for only $16.

The Soda Fountain Collection features 3-in-1's in Not The Pits Cherry Cola and Fruit Punch as well. As of right now, Sephora doesn't even have Fruit Punch listed as a single 16 oz. 3-in-1. I don't know if they even plan on ever offering it as a single 16 oz. product. However, it is available in the gift set for $30.

I'm also happy that the Soda Fountain Collection does not stop with the 3-in-1's. The folks at Philosophy were also kind enough to include matching lip shines. Take your pick of Barrels of Root Beer or Not The Pits Cherry Cola. Each is priced at $12. I suggest picking up the Soda Fountain Lip Set so that you get both of those flavors plus the Fruit Punch flavor for only $28. If you haven't tried a Philosophy Lip Shine you are totally missing out. This collection doesn't feature any shimmer, but it is packed full of shine. On top of it, they are so moisturizing; something you wouldn't think you would get from a gloss that is all about the shine.

The Soda Fountain Collection is a Limited Edition, Sephora only release. Happy Shopping!

Animal Hair Hats

2008-07-09T09:37:00.003-05:00

I had quite a laugh this morning as I watched my beloved WGN Morning News as I got ready.

These Hair Hats are courtesy of Japanese designer Nagi Noda. Could you imagine seeing someone walking down the street with one of these on??? Too Funny!!!

Nordstrom Exclusive - MAC Colour Forms

2008-07-09T09:06:00.005-05:00

With all of the new collections MAC has been releasing recently, they decided to one exclusively for Nordstrom. Introducing MAC Colour Forms! This is by far and away my favorite collection from the Nordstrom Beauty Exclusives. I want one of everything. I can't give a really detailed review on these because I only pre-ordered my items. I can say that my order included both eye palettes, Pigments in Circa Plum and Tea Time, Richmetal Highlighter in Rose Bullion, and lip stick in Pop Circle.

I love the packaging for this line. The nylon material and the bright colors make a perfect combination. The best part is that since the packaging is made out of nylon it should resiste make-up residue quite nicely.

Another piece that I am really eyeing is the Brush Set. I am in love with the cute case. My only concern is that I know that the brushes are not going to be the best ever. Even though they still are MAC brushes, I have found that brushes that come in kits like this generally tend to be much smaller and thus have fewer bristles. Truth be told, it's not like I really need any more brushes...I just really want that case. But is a case worth $49.50??? We'll have to wait and see I guess.

Enjoy the pictures. Like I said in a previous post, the Nordstrom Beauty Exclusives are available for pre-order now. They are available for purchase on July 18th, which is the same day that pre-orders are supposed to ship. Free Shipping is available on orders of $200 or more. Yeah, I think that's pretty high too. Nordstrom now has the option to buy online and pick up in the store to save on shipping. Happy Shopping!

Nordstrom Exclusive??? I Don't Think So!!!

2008-07-09T08:33:00.004-05:00

It's almost mid-July, so you know that Nordstrom's Beauty Exclusives are about to drop. I heard rumors that the products were already available online for pre-order so I made my way over to Nordstrom.com last night to check it out. There are some must have products that I will be posting about next, but there was one product that really stood out.

The second product listed is "philosophy 'purity made simple' one step facial cleanser (Nordstrom Exclusive)". That is exactly what it says on the Nordstrom website. I wondered to myself, "how could it be a Nordstrom exclusive when I have ordered the 32 oz. sized bottle of Purity at least 3 times from QVC?" So I mosey on over to QVC.com and what do I find??? Not only the very same 32 oz. sized bottle of Purity, but at a better price of $36.38 compared to Nordstrom's price of $42.50. So what's the deal???

This isn't the first time I've seen this happen. There's actually been a few times things have been available at Sephora as a "Sephora Exclusive" that I've found on other websites or stores. However, it is really aggrivating when this happens, especially when you can get a better price on the product some place else.

MAC Electro Flash Collection

2008-07-08T12:35:00.007-05:00

MAC Cosmetics has been busy, creating a couple of new lines for all of us beauty addicts. My favorite? Definately Electro Flash! Obviously, the pièce de résistance of the Electro Flash Collection are the Mineralized Eye Shadow Duos. Available in 9 different duos, these shadows are packed full of pigment and shimmer. I know that some of you are turned off by shimmery eye shadows, but I do not fit into that category. One side of the duo is a swirl of complimenting colors that blend together perfectly and just look amazing on any eyelid. The other side has a single shade that is complimenting to the swirl side. The mono-shade is a great liner shadow and can be used to create a gorgeous smokey eye. I really love that MAC is releasing duos again because it is so much easier to only have to tote one shadow along instead of 2 or 3. I've already picked up Polar Opposites (Dirty Purple with silver, indigo and pink veining/True silver mono), Odd Couple (Shade description: Warm gold with lavender and bronze veining/Purple mono), and Hot Contrast (Dirty red with silver and black veining/Black mono). Let me just tell you, Hot Contrast is an absolute must for anyone who likes to do a smokey eye.

In addition to the MES Duos, Electro Flash also contains 4 new Lip Glass shades (Cultureclash Frosty clear baby pink with multi-dimensional pearl (Frost), Major Minor Frosty mid-tone beige with multi-dimensional pearl (Frost), Sonic Vibe Frosty mid-tone pink with multi-dimensional pearl (Frost), and Li’ Hot Pepper Frosty burnt red with multi-dimensional pearl (Frost))and 4 new Lipstick shades (Vanity’s Child Sheer pale beige with pearl (Lustre), Fast Thrill Frosty clean mid-tone pink with pearl (Frost), Mellow Mood Glossy mid-tone dirty pink with pearl (Lustre), Dangerously Hot Creamy deep brown red (Amplified)). Nothing too new and exciting. Some very nice shades, but I think I would rather pick up more MES Duos!

I should also make one more comment. For anyone who hasn't used mineral eye shadows yet, be warned that they can be messy. The more you use them, the better you get at controling their messiness. But believe me, they are so beautiful that it's worth putting up with the messiness!

The new Electro Flash Collection is currently available on MACCosmetics.com as well as Macys.com. Macys is currently offering FREE SHIPPING on any $50 MAC Cosmetics purchase. Use coupon / promo code ELECTRO to take advantage of this offer. It's also available at some MAC Cosmetics counters and should be available everywhere later this week. Happy Shopping!

Save 20% On All Clearance Items At OldNavy.com

2008-07-07T16:59:00.003-05:00

I've got another coupon / promo code to share with everyone. Through Thursday, July 10th, get an additional 20% of all clearance merchandise at oldnavy.com with coupon / promo code EXTRA20! There are lots of cute items available. Shoes and accessories are included in this promotion. Great bathing suits too! Happy Shopping!

Smashbox On The Waterfront Kit

2008-07-07T12:51:00.005-05:00

How lucky was I to be channel surfing when Smashbox Cosmetics was on QVC last night? I was running low on the Jet Set Eyeliner, so when I saw that they had a eyeliner and brush duo for less than the cost of the brush I rushed online to get it (and for those of you wondering why I would need yet another eyeliner brush, it was a #30 brush...I don't have that one yet!). I began looking at the other Smashbox products available, hoping to find something else to get and save on shipping. I found a great kit that I had not heard about and that is only available through QVC.

Smashbox On The Waterfront is a brand new summer time kit. There are 2 versions of this kit: Hermosa and Santa Monica. Both come with a #4 mini-brush and a lip gloss pot in Melt. The Hermosa kit includes a skin tint stick in Heat, a sheer watermelon shade, and a Limitless Lid Shadow in Hermosa, a shimmery rose shade. The Santa Monica kit includes a skin tint stick in Tint, a sheer bronze, and a Limitless Lid Shadow in Santa Monica, a shimmery champagne shade. The products promise to be waterproof and crease-free, perfect for sweltering summer day. Would you believe that these kits are specially priced for the Summer at only $24.38 each?!?!

I ordered the Hermosa kit, but I am already yearning for the Santa Monica kit as well. I cannot wait to get my hands on this kit. I already know it's going to be a winner since it's from Smashbox. There are a few reviews on the products on QVC.com and they are all raving reviews. Once I receive my order I will post a review. I just wanted to give you all a heads up; who knows how long these will last.

Tarte Eye Couture Day-To-Night Eye Palette

2008-07-05T15:52:00.005-05:00

Tarte has released a new eye shadow palette! The new Eye Couture Day-To-Night Eye Palette is a must have. Packed full of 10 eye shadows (5 from the bronze family and 5 from the charcoal family), a double ended eyeliner pencil, a double ended eyeshadow brush, and a mirror, everything is stylishly housed in Tarte's signature metallic purple compact. With a retail value of $182, the $44 price tag is a steal. Plus, these palettes last such a long time. I have purchased every palette released by Tarte and can honestly say that I haven't used any of them up completely because there is so much product in it.

I just placed my order for this palette at Sephora.com so I haven't the pleasure of trying this on yet. No worries though because I know this will impress. The gist of this palette is it allows you to go from daytime to nighttime make-up with one handy dandy palette. Clearly that feat will be easy to attain. Use the bronze family shades to create your daytime look and kick it up to high gear with the charcoal family shades. And you can tell by looking at the swatches in the picture to the right, the "families" do not consist of 5 shades of bronze with only slight subtleties and 5 shades of charcoal with only slight subtleties. Although they are from those families, the shades actually cover a pretty decent spectrum.

As usual, all of the shadows are formulated with Tarte's signature skinvigorating™ ingredients and are paraben-, sulfate-, phthalate-, synthetic dye-, synthetic fragrance-, mineral oil-, and propylene glycol-free. I am not an environmentalist nor am I a greenie by any stretch of the imagination, however, I do like the idea of using more eco-friendly cosmetics. I mean how good could chemicals on the skin be??? It's been nice to watch Tarte establish itself as a greener product, introducing more organic and natural products. Happy Shopping!

7 Free Eye Samples From Sephora.com

2008-07-05T15:31:00.007-05:00

I've got a new Sephora coupon / promo code for you!!! Use code JULYEYES and get a 7 eye product samples with any $25 purchase. Samples are from Dior, Urban Decay, Vincent Longo, Anastasia, Per-fekt, Kinerase, Ole Henricksen, and Murad. These are regular sized samples and not the deluxe sized that we all desperately long for. Beggars can't be choosers I guess! This offer is good while supplies last. Happy Shopping!!!

Bobbi Brown Mauve Collection - Fall 2008

2008-07-05T11:14:00.004-05:00

Sneak peeks of the new Bobbi Brown Mauve Collection for Fall 2008 started popping up over the past few weeks. I decided to wait until it was available online for everyone to purchase (and not just for registered users) before I posted about it. There is nothing that drives me crazier than when I see some new product that I must have only to find out that the line doesn't come out for weeks or even months!

I'm so excited that Bobbi's newest collection revolves around mauve. I think that mauve is a very natural look on anyone. It works well with all skintones. It's very Bobbi Brown...plays up your natural beauty without looking too made-up. As usual, the must have item in the Mauve Collection is the Mauve Face Palette. The Mauve Blush is to die for. It's a dusty pink, which is perfect for the fall since you don't want to look to pinky and summery. That being said, it doesn't make you look drab, it's very warm yet still brightens up your face. The palette also includes 3 lip colors in Mauve, Vintage Mauve, and Dusty Mauve as well as 3 eye shadows in Navajo, Vintage, and Chocolate Mauve. The Chocolate Mauve shade is a perfect liner shadow.

My other favorite piece from this collection is the Black Mauve Shimmer Ink Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner. Shimmer eyeliners are like crack for me, that is, when they're done right. This one is. The black is a "near black" infused with bronze and gold shimmer. When I tried this on at the counter it nearly made my blue eyes pop out of my head. My eyes look so big and bright with this liner on.

Now we get to the products I'm not too sure about...the lip colors. The mauve trend obviously continues through to these products, however, there is much more purple in some of these pieces than in the eye and face colors. First, there are 2 new lip stick colors: Heather Mauve and Pale Mauve. Heather Mauve is probably the most neutral and natural looking color in the bunch. That being said, I think it looks more like a color for an older woman. Pale Mauve should have been called Frosted Mauve in my opinion. When I put it on it was like a flash back to the 80s and the time when frosted lips ruled. It has a blue-purple tinge to it. I passed on this one.

Second, there are 2 new Shimmer Glosses: Black Pearl and Iced Mauve. Both of these shades look like great colors in the tube. On the lips, well that's a different story. The colors are extremely dark on...at least on my medium skin tone. I was jetted out of the 80s and into the 90s when Goth lips started popping up. I don't even know how to describe either of these colors. Both seem like a reddish-lavender combination. Others have been raving about these two shades, so maybe they will work well for you. I would recommend that if you are interested in these shades you might want to check them out in person before snagging them.

Lastly, there is 1 new Lip Gloss: Mauve. This is a typical mauvey shade, but I still think that there is a little more plum in it than usual. Of all of the new lip products I will say that this one is my favorite, which is strange since I am usually all about the shimmer shades. The color swatch online is darker than the actual product. What it lacks in shimmer it more than makes up for in shine.

So there you have it. Highlights of Bobbi Brown's Mauve Collection for Fall 2008. It's available online at BobbiBrown.com as well as at most Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Counters (I say most because everyone that I have been to has had it, but the official launch date wasn't supposed to be until mid-July). Happy Shopping!

Purity Made Simple High Foaming Daily Cleanser

2008-07-04T09:07:00.004-05:00

Have you guys heard about Philosophy's newest product??? I'm so excited to say that they have created a foam version of Purity Made Simple! Purity is my staple facial cleanser. I absolutely love it. It is so gentle that I can rub it on my eyes to take my make-up off and there is no irritation. My skin is clear and soft. I am even more in love now that they've made it in foam form. I absolutely love foam products. The hand soaps in my bathrooms are the foaming ones from Bath and Body Works. They are so light and airy and just feel really clean, which is really what you want in a facial cleanser. Of course Philosophy must have known that I just bought a mother sized 32 oz. bottle of the old fashioned Purity and just wanted to tease me with the new release since I will definately have to use up what I have before I buy anything new. This new product is currently available at Sephora and retails for $21.50 for a 6 oz. bottle and $34.50 for a 12 oz. bottle.

Happy Fourth Of July

2008-07-04T08:59:00.001-05:00

Happy 4th of July!!! Have fun and be safe!!! Eat a lot of hot dogs and watermelon...go swimming...enjoy the fireworks!!!

Neutrogena MoistureShine Lip Soother Cooling Hydragel

2008-07-03T11:40:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago I did a post about the dangers of sun cancer and lip gloss. I also told you about 2 of my favorite SPF infused lip products. Today, I have another one. I was introduced to Neutrogena MoistureShine Lip Soother Cooling Hydragel a few weeks ago when I was lucky enough to get an Allure Beauty Box. I was impressed to see that the gloss had a 20 SPF in it being as most other glosses only have a 15 SPF. The other part that intrigued me was the word "cooling." Sure enough, as I applied the gloss to my lips they were immediately overtaken with a cooling sensation. It felt soooooo good, like my lips were being reinfused with mositure.

I know that there are a lot of anti-stickiness girls out there. Unfortunately for those of you that are, there is a stickiness factor to this gloss. As I said over and over again, I like glosses that are some what sticky because it lets me know that my gloss is still on and there's no need to reapply. That being said, it's not the stickiest gloss that I've ever used, but it's just something to be aware of.

The shine factor is through the roof, but the color factor not so much. There is a subtle hint of color, but if you're looking for something packed full of pigment, this product won't cut it. If, on the other hand you're looking for something full of shine, this product is dead on.

A bonus of this product is the price. Being as it's a Neutrogena product it's available at local stores everywhere and at a killer price. Drugstore.com has this available for only $6.99! A steal compared to the $20 glosses I'm usually purchasing! So if you're looking for a healthy gloss for the summertime I would highly recommend this one. Oh, I almost forget to mention the scent. This gloss has a melony kind of scent to it. It smells good enough to eat. Very summery!

DiorKiss Luscious Lip-Plumping Gloss

2008-07-03T10:25:00.004-05:00

I think I first heard about DiorKiss Luscious Lip-Plumping Gloss through a magazine. It was listed as one of the hot new beauty products for the summer. The author of the piece just kept gushing about how cute the names of the shades were and made reference to the tag line "Cocktails, anyone?" like it was the most unique thing ever. Hello??? Had this supposed beauty guru not heard of Lorac Mocktails??? But let's be honest, even Lorac was not the first cosmetics company to have a line inspired by fruity cocktails. While this has nothing to do with the actual product itself, I just wanted to vent a little bit about authors who gush about how new and unique products are when in fact they really aren't so. Even more so is the fact that the writer in this scenario was going on and on about the names of the shades and not the gloss itself.

Anyhoo, turning to the product at hand. DiorKiss Luscious Lip-Plumping Gloss is fabulous! It is a new and improved update on the original DiorKiss line. The first thing you notice about this is the new and improved tube. Gone is the horrible, harsh flat sloped plastic applicator that was present on the original DiorKiss. Replacing it is a unique curved applicator tip "that fits perfectly in the contours of the lip for ultimate precision." And let me just tell you, it is so very precise. The thing I hate most about the original plastic tip is that the gloss just kind of glops on all over the place. The plastic tip is like ice, allowing the gloss to slip all over the place, inevitably falling outside your lip lines. The curve tip on the new DiorKiss Luscious Lip-Plumping Gloss hugs your lips allowing for a more precise application.

If you loved the original DiorKiss, you'll love the new formula. It is still packed with shine and pigment. The sheer, transparent consistency and the not-so-sticky formula still remain. I personally think that the lip-plumping capability is more prominent with the new formula. It's still as long lasting as ever. There is a slight price difference between the two. The new DiorKiss Luscious Lip-Plumping Gloss is priced 50 cents higher at $19.50. It's available in 8 shades (I'm loving Hawaii Coco at the moment).

One bad thing if you were a huge fan of the original DiorKiss line, it's being discontinued! DiorKiss Luscious Lip-Plumping Gloss will be replacing the original line. So if you are obsessed with a particular shade and think you can't live without it, you better stock up. A lot of places are already sold out of the original line. Sephora.com only has Blueberry Muffin available as of today.

Let's Do Lunch Thursday At Smashbox.com

2008-07-03T10:17:00.004-05:00

It's time for "Let's Do Lunch Thursday" at Smashbox.com. Today's lunchtime freebie is a Highlighter Quad in Allure. You can never have too many highlighters, especially during the summer. Make sure to check out the Curtain Call section for great prices on discontinued shades and products. Happy Shopping!!!

Bourjois On Sale At Sephora

2008-07-02T13:58:00.004-05:00

Wow...There are a lot of things going on today. While "window shopping" at Sephora.com I noticed that all of the Bourjois Cosmetics products are on sale. I don't know if this is a sign that Sephora will no longer be carrying the Bourjois line. I tried doing some internet research on the subject and can't find anything that states whether or not this is true. I did come across a bunch of blogs and message boards where Bourjois faithful fretted that some of their favorite products were being discontinued because their local Sephora didn't have them. However, if you visit Bourjois.com and click on where to buy, Sephora is not listed. As of right now, only Ulta.com and Ulta stores are listed.

Although I don't talk about it often, I will say that I am a fan of most of the Bourjois products I have tried. I absolutely love their Bourjois Effet 3D High Shine Lip Gloss in Rose Symphonic 20. Packed full of shine and sparkle, but it looks so natural when you put it on. It's like a cheaper version of MAC's Dazzleglass (although not as great as Dazzleglass, but at least it's available all of the time!). Their mascaras are also pretty nice too. They give me such full and dark looking lashes. So while it sucks that Sephora most likely will not be carrying the Bourjois any longer, the good news is that we get some great products at great prices. A quick skim of the products shows that the average savings as of today is about $5. Not bad. Happy Shopping!

Sephora On HSN

2008-07-02T13:21:00.004-05:00

I was just channel surfing and found that Sephora is on HSN right now. They just featured a great deal from Lip Fusion. For only $36 you get 2, yes TWO, full size Lip Fusion gloss: 1 in Clear and 1 in your choice of four colors. Plus you get FREE SHIPPING!!! The HSN price for this duo is usually $59 which is a steal considering that the retail value is $74. Clearly the $36 plus FREE SHIPPING is unbelievable. Great deal if you haven't tried Lip Fusion but have always wanted to; great deal if you're already a Lip Fusion fan and just want to stock up. Make sure to browse around the Sephora section on HSN.com because there are a ton of items available at special prices and even more have FREE SHIPPING!!! Don't wait because they are selling out of products fast! Happy Shopping!!!

NARS Miami Sun Set

2008-07-02T11:05:00.004-05:00

I don't know how I missed this, but I did. Sephora has an online only limited edition set from NARS. The Miami Sun Set features three products perfect for summer: an eye shadow duo in Sundance, a lip lacquer in Capucine, and a nail polish in Dovima. All of these shades are perfect for creating that beautiful sun-kissed glow that we all want during the summer. You can never have to many golden and beige shades of shadow! Also, if you've never tried a tangerine shade of lip color, especially in NARS lip lacquer form, you should definately check this out. I have a similar shade from NARS and it is absolutely gorgeous. Very versatile and not nearly as orangey on as in the pot. It really enhances the natural color of your lips...perfect for the summertime when you don't want to look to make-upy.

Truth be told, I am passing on this set because I do not wear nail polish. I know, how could someone who is make-up obsessed not use nail polish. Truth is that I never was into it and still have no desire to use it. So, being as I wouldn't use 1/3 of this set I see no reason to get it. But for those of you who are into the nail polish thing, I think this is a must have set.

Angelina Jolie On Vanity Fair

2008-07-02T10:55:00.005-05:00

Okay, so I'm not a huge Angelina Jolie fan to begin with (I am definately on Team Aniston), but I do think that there are times when she looks absolutely stunning. Her new Vanity Fair cover is not one of those times. Is it me or does she look like a blow up doll? She looks very plasticy and her pout just screams "find me in a sex toy boutique." Honestly, at first glance I didn't even recognize her, I just thought it was a random model. She looks like she just went on a ride in a convertible with her hair tossed all about and I am not loving her shade of lipstick at all. What do you guys think?

Sex and the City Update

2008-07-02T10:17:00.003-05:00

I just finished watching the First Season of Sex and The City and have to say I am totally hooked. I cannot believe I've been missing out on this fabulous show for all of these years. I've already started on the Second Season and just placed my order through Amazon.com for the Third Season. Thank you to everyone who insisted that I must watch this series even if I was years behind! For anyone else out there like me, you HAVE to watch it.

Great Finds At Kohl's

2008-07-02T09:33:00.006-05:00

So this is a post I've been wanting to do for quite some time. In high school, I used to work at Kohl's so I did a lot of shopping there (thank you employee discount). This was the mid to late ninties and they had some cute stuff. After college, I stopped shopping at Kohl's for clothes. They still had great deals on shoes, jewelry, and household items, but their wardrobe departments went completely down hill. Everything looked frumpy and cheap.

After we decided to buy a house this past summer, I began shopping at Kohl's more frequently. Coming from a super tiny apartment into a much larger house required me to get more things like towels, bathroom rugs, table clothes (how exciting to finally have a kitchen table and not have to eat at the coffee table!!!), you get the picture. On one of my many excursions, the apparel department actually caught my eye! This was right around the time that Vera Wang released her Simply Vera line at Kohl's. Gone were the frumpy and plain old lady clothes. The racks were now filled with stylish clothes full of in style colors, designs, and cuts.

Kohl's just keeps rolling out great pieces season after season. Recently, Kohl's added a line by Elle to already great lines by Simply Vera and Daisy Fuentes. The Elle line is fabulous if you ask me. If you are looking for affordable, but still well made versions of high end designer pieces, you need to check this line out. I guarantee that you will be able to find at least one item that you absolutely love.

What's even better is that most of these newer, hipper lines don't stop at apparel. Shoes, handbags, homegoods, and jewelry are also available. I bought almost every piece in Daisy Fuentes' spring jewelry line (in silver). Of course, not every piece is a winner. I recently came across a stockpile of Daisy Fuentes shoes featuring leopard print with lace (yes, they were as ugly as you are imagining) available in the clearance department at 80% off. But trust me, the good outweighs the bad.

So if you haven't checked out the apparel department at Kohl's lately, give it a looksy. You'll be suprised by what you find. What's even better is the fact that it seems like everything at Kohl's is always on sale. How can you argue with that? Also, make sure to check out the clearance racks. I know it's July, but I just picked up some great sweaters for $6 a piece marked down from $55-$68. Happy Shopping!

***EDIT*** I just found out that Kohls.com is currently offering 99 cent per item shipping through today. There is nothing I hate more than when you find one little item that you want and there is a flat shipping charge of like $7 so I love when Kohl's does the per item shipping. Starting tomorrow (July 3rd) they will be offering FREE SHIPPING on orders over $75 or $5 flat shipping on orders under $75.

25% Off Yankee Candle

2008-07-02T09:21:00.003-05:00

Everyone knows that I am obsessed with candles. Some people have a wine cellar, I have a candle cellar (I kid you not). I already spent ungodly amounts of money at the Yankee Candle Clearance Sale this year and now that fine folks at Yankee Candle are trying to tempt me even more. I just received an email with a coupon for an additional 25% OFF ALL CLEARANCE ITEMS!!! So of course I had to pass this great deal on to all of you. Not really a beauty item per se, but candles do beautify your home and their scents can frequently relax you which kind of is a beauty thing. This coupon is only good in stores. The Semi-Annual Clearance Sale is going on through July 6th. Happy Shopping!

Sales at Gap.com and OldNavy.com

2008-07-01T09:27:00.003-05:00

More "end of the season even though it's on July 1st" sales to share with you. Gap.com and oldnavy.com are both having Summer blowout sales. What's even better, thanks to their new "shared cart," you can buy from both stores but only pay for shipping costs once. It's about time they started doing this. I'm hoping that more stores that are owned by the same parent company start doing this.

I picked up a couple of cute bathing suits and cover-ups at half off. There are some nicely priced camis available as well. Their are some great vacation-ware ideas if any of you are planning some fun trips this summer. Happy Shopping!

Tons Of Coupon Codes & Sales

2008-06-24T08:50:00.004-05:00

While going through my inbox I realized that a lot of companies are having some great sales and/or coupon code offers right now. It's amazing, the first day of Summer was only three days ago, but a ton of stores are already having "End of Season Clearance Sales" to make room for the fall inventory. Here are a few of some of the better offers I've been emailed. Happy Shopping!

- Alloy --- Free shipping on Alloy orders over $75. Use code AHGAFF. Valid through 7.02.08.

- Beauty.com --- $10 off $60 at Beauty.com!

- Benefit Cosmetics --- Free US standard shipping with purchase of posietint. Enter promo code POSIETNT at checkout. Offer valid June 24 to July 1, 2008. Not valid with any other offers.

- Clinique --- Free keychain and SPF sample with your $45 order. Plus FREE SHIPPING! Use code KEYS. Offer valid through 6.30.08.

- Delia's --- dELiA*s Clearance! Save up to 75% off + get Free Shipping on orders over $75. Use code DWGAFF. Offer valid through 7.02.08.

- Sephora --- King Sized sampler bag with any $25 order on Sephora.com. Just enter code SAMPLER at checkout.

- The Body Shop --- Semi-Annual Sale - Save up to 50%. Free Shipping on orders over $60. Shop Now

Sephora.com Coupon / Promo Code

2008-06-03T12:10:00.004-05:00

I've just come across a new coupon / promo codes for Sephora.com. Sephora's new Deal of the Week is a FREE Shisiedo SPF 55 Ultimate Sun Protection Cream with any purchase. Enter coupon / promo code SUNCREAM at checkout. I have no idea what size the sample is. Offer good while supplies last! Happy Shopping!

Stila Summer Eye Shadow Palette

2008-06-03T10:31:00.004-05:00

The Stila Summer Eye Shadow Palette has been out for a little while now, but I wasn't sure how I felt about it at first. Nothing new or groundbreaking...same Stila eye shadow formula and no exclusive shades (all of them are available in invidual packaging). I thought I would pass on this palette...until I saw it in the store.

From Sephora.com - "The palette includes shades Ray, a perfect shadow to accent a healthy summer glow (shimmering golden copper), Mystic, a bold shade for summer soirees (shimmering aqua blue), Kitten, a Stila top-seller that works wonders as a base tone or a fresh highlight (shimmering nude pink), Wheat, a perfect base for a bronzed eye (pearlescent beige), Prize, a shade that can be paired with any shade in the palette as it adds a golden sheen (soft gold shimmer), and Sun, a sunny sparkle for day or night (shimmering golden peach)."

What is unique about this palette compared to most summer palettes from other brands is the wide spectrum range. While most palettes seem to offer a variant of one shade, Stila's Summer Palette goes across the spectrum. While a majority of the shades are in the gold and beige area (hey, it's summer...those are the best shades for summer after all!), we're also given a gorgeous shade of aqua (the hot color this summer) along with shades of pink and peach. The fact that there are so many different and versatile colors makes this palette a definate take it along on vacation palette. Really, who wants to take a ton of different pieces with them when they travel? Not me. But I also don't want to have to pick just one shade to use either.

Another benefit is the price. The palette retails for $40 which is a steal considering that individual Stila eye shadows retail for $18 each. You're getting six shades for roughly the cost of two (the pans of shadow are slightly smaller in the palette than the individual pans). This a great deal for any established Stila girl but it's even better for a new Stila girl who can't choose just one shadow to try.

Olay Body Thermal Pedicure Foot Treatment

2008-06-03T09:50:00.005-05:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I hate feet. When the flip-flop trend hit about 10 years ago or so I cringed. All of those exposed feet walking around in public?!?! GROSS!!! I still do not wear flip-flips. It took me forever to be able to wear sandals in public, and when I do, I'm really anal about the type of sandal to wear. Nothing that shows too much feet! I know, I know, I sound like a nut case, but trust me, there are a ton of people out there like me.

Last month as I was walking to my last ever final exam, a girl walking a few feet in front of me on State Street caught my attention. Actually, it was the slapping of her flip-flops that got my attention. As I looked down towards her feet I was met with a ghastly view. She had to have had the dryest, nastiest heels I had ever seen. It was then and there that I realized that one of the reasons that I hate flip-flops and the feet that they expose is the fact that many, many, many people (men and women both) do not wear flip-flops with nicely groomed feet. Because flip-flops have that casual feel to them, people have no quams about throwing a pair on really nasty feet.

I also started to think about how anal I am about taking care of my feet, which seems strange considering that I don't even like to show my feet. Even though I don't like to show them, I want soft and nice looking feet. Whenever I sense a hint of dryness starting to appear, I am quick to jump on it. Being as I am not to show my feet (how many times can I say that in this post???), I can't justify getting pedicures. Why spend so much money for something that will be hidden? As such, I have tried and tested a ton of at home pedicure products. My favorite at home product is definately Olay Body Thermal Pedicure Foot Treatment.

Truth be told, I picked up this product because it was a part of a package deal with Olay Regenerist Thermal Mini Peel (which, come to think of it, I never did a review on...I guess I should do that). Can you believe that the full-sized combo duo was on clearance at Target for only $6.99!!! Any-hoo, a few weeks after I purchased it, I finally tried it. I was sorry that I waited so long. I squeezed the product out of the tube and was memorized by the beautiful purple color. The little scrubbing beads were immediately visible. I started to lather up my feet, scrubbing between my toes and my heels. The thermal action was immediate as a nice warming sensation began to soothe my worn out tootsies. The only thing that would have made this treatment any nicer was if someone else was rubbing my feet!

After I rinsed the product off, my feet had a nice tingly sensation. They felt invigorated! I dried my feet off and was amazed at the results. My feet felt sooooo smooth! And, surprise, my hands also benefited from the treatment. As a result of the massaging, the hands were just as smooth. I was in love right then and there. With the exception of some lotion being slathered on before bed, this is the only thing I use on my feet and the results are amazing. I highly, highly recommend this product. What's great is that this product is super affordable as well. With a retail price of $9.99 (it's actually on sale for $8.99 at Drugstore.com at the moment), it won't break the bank.

Kristin Davis Clothing Line

2008-06-03T08:33:00.003-05:00

Although I've never watched Sex and the City (actually, I did watch a few episodes now that I purchased Seasons 1 and 2), I've always been a fan of Kristin Davis. She has such an elegant and girly, but not too girly style that I love. Kristin is one of those people who has found what works for them and has stuck with it. I'm happy to say that starting this fall, we can all have a little of Kristin's style.

Belk Department Store has issued a press release confirming that they have partnered with Kristin Davis to release a new line starting this fall. The line will feature apparel, intimates, sleepwear, footwear, handbags and jewely with a price range between $38 - $240. Kristin says "that the line evokes femininity and is designed for women who love all the facets of their life and want the clothes to work for them no matter what role they are playing at the time."

I'm excited to see this line. Although the line will be exclusive to the Southern based Belk Department Stores, it will be available to those of us outside of the South via Belk.com.

Free Bag Of Samples From Beauty.com

2008-05-30T08:21:00.006-05:00

I am so excited to post this next post. I cannot tell you how many people email me or leave comments and ask, "When is Sephora going to offer one of those killer bags packed full of free deluxe sized samples?!?!?!" My answer always is, "I have no idea, but I hope soon!" Alas, Sephora has continued to let me down. They've offered a few bags with regular sized samples, but the days of deluxe sized samples seems to be gone. But thankfully, Beauty.com has recognized our pleas and has decided to offer their own sample packed bag.

While supplies last, spend $100 at Beauty.com and get a cute Lela Rose bag filled to the brim with great deluxe sized samples. Products include...

- Vincent Longo La Doce Vita Lashes
- Vincent Longo The Curl Mascara
- Alterna Caviar Moisture Shampoo w/Seasilk
-ARCONA Cranberry Toner
- bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash
- tarte Cheek Stain in Tipsy
- L'Occitane Verbena Harvest Shower Gel
- L'Occitane Verbena Harvest Body Lotion
- Freeze 24/7 IceShield Facial Cleanser SPF15
- Urban Decay eyeshadow Primer Potion

I must say, I can't believe how many great brands and great products are included in this kit. A lot of times kits like these contain one or two great products/brands and then they are fluffed with no-name or mediocre products/brands.

This kit comes at a great time since now Beauty.com is carrying products from both Smashbox and Stila.

You don't need any coupon / promo codes for this. It will show up in your shopping cart once you go to checkout. Don't forget to pick out your three samples when you check out as well. Happy Shopping!

Benefit PosieTint

2008-05-30T07:48:00.004-05:00

I don't know how long this has been out, but Benefit Cosmetics Posietint has flown under my radar. I can't tell you how excited I am that Benefit has finally added another color to their original Benetint. Although some may think why would they need to add another color to this line when part of the appeal of Benetint is that it works with every skintone and that it gives you a perfect flush. Even so, having a choice of shades so that you can change up your color is an absolute bonus.

Right away you can see that PosieTint is much pinker than the original BeneTint. While original BeneTint looks very red in the bottle, the finished product gives off more of a dark mauve color. PosieTint looks like a kind of scarey pink in the bottle (anyone else thinking Pepto Bismo???), but the finished product is simply a beautiful kiss of pink. Apply a few swipes on your cheeks, blend it in, and you're good to go. The building power on this product is also fabulous. If you want a deeper color, just repeat the steps. The nice thing is that the make-up still looks natural after layering...not at all cakey or built up.

Using it as a lip color leaves with you beautiful kiss me pink lips. The only thing is that I am not one to match my lips and cheeks. I think that it kind of washes me out. I would definately use this as lip color when I'm not using it as cheek color, though.

Overall, this is another winner for Benefit. Another product that enhances your natural beauty. It's a product that will make people say, "You look good," as opposed to "Your make-up looks good." If you love the original BeneTint, you're going to love PosieTint. The only decision now is where you're going to purchase yours. Right now, when you spend $50 at BenefitCosmetics.com you can get a FREE Miini Some Kind of Gorgeous with coupon / promo code PACKLITE. This offer is good through June 6th. Of course, you can also get it at Sephora which is still offering FREE SHIPPING on orders of $50 without a coupon code.

Bobbi Brown Bronzed Pink

2008-05-29T15:42:00.005-05:00

Bobbi Brown Cosmetics has released their summer line - Bronzed Pink. This collection screams sunkissed hottie. As per usual Bobbi Brown, the line aims at enhancing the natural beauty of women. The final product is a beautiful warm summer glow.

The best part of the new collection??? New METALLIC EYE SHADOWS!!! I know, how excited are you??? Available in 2 limited edition shades - Penny and Bronzed Pink - the Metallics are the must have in this collection. My love affair with this product started last fall when I purchased the Metallics Palettes. Although the shadows are powders, they feel so creamy and last all day. Packed full of shimmer that is so fine your eyes give off a subtle glow as opposed to looking like they were dipped in glitter. The two new shades are fabulous. Obviously Penny is a copper toned shade. Great for creating the sun kissed look. Bronzed Pink is the perfect blend of pink and brown available in one convenient swatch. Add a little brown eyeliner and your eyes will be smokin'!

The collection also includes three new shades of Bobbi's award winning Tinted Lip Balms. Desert Bronze, Bronzed Pink, and Golden Pink are all beautiful and should work with any skin tone. If you're looking for something very natural looking, go with Desert Bronze...it has more of a beige tone to it. Bronzed Pink and Golden Pink, obviously, both have more pink to them. They both give just a hint of color. I absolutely love these for the summer for those days when you don't want to look too made up. It's amazing how just a little lip color can pull your look together, even if you don't have any other make-up on.

Also featured in the new Bronzed Pink collection are Bronzing Powders in 5 shades, Crystal Lip Gloss, No Smudge Mascara in black and brown, Long-Wear Gel Eye Liner in Mahogany Ink and Sepia Ink, a new Eye Shadow in Ivory, and a new limited edition Mini Brush and Palette Case.

Luxe Link Hook

2008-05-28T10:01:00.003-05:00

I came across the Luxe Link Purse Hook a few months ago and totally forgot to post about it. It's funny, because I found out about it just as I was griping for a product like it. I was at dinner with my Sweetie when the hostess tried to put us at a table that looked like it was made for two toddlers. I refused to sit at it because I didn't want to put my new purse on the ground. The next day, I cam across Luxe Link.

Smaller than a make-up compact, Luxe Link is this awesome little device that unfolds to become a hook that you place on a table that holds your purse. No more worrying about trying to squeeze your purse next to you on your seat or trying to make room for it on the table. And definately no more purse on a dirty floor! I can't believe someone hasn't thought of this before.

I cannot even tell you what a conversation piece this is. Everywhere I go, the waitresses all flock to my table to look at the magical hook, demanding to know where they can get one.

The Classic Collection pieces are available for $35 while the Swarovski Collection piecese start at $59. Just in time for graduation season, LuxeLink.com is offering 10% off with coupon / promo code GRAD2008 through June 30th.

I personally think these would make great bridesmaids' gifts. Very unique and practical. Any girl would love the get one!

Review Of Tarte Enbrightment

2008-05-28T09:39:00.003-05:00

I promised a review of Tarte Enbrightenment and I finally am ready to give one. I picked one up in Pearly Pink and no surprise, I love it! This double ended "pen" contains Tarte's brand new t5 super fruit complex on one end and BriteSmile's teeth whitening formula on the other. Let's start with the lip gloss. Like every other Tarte lip gloss I have tried, the gloss is full of color, shiny, and feels like butter. While the t5 complex is supposedly a new and inventive antioxidant rich, anti-aging formula, I haven't been using this long enough to comment on those claims. The gloss is nice, but it's not anything new and spectacular. You get the same visual effect from any Tarte lip gloss.

What makes Tarte Enbrightenment so great is the BriteSmile pen on the opposite end. As I stated in my original post, I always forgot to put BriteSmile on because I always thought about it after I had brushed my teeth. Now that it comes with a lip gloss on the opposite end, I have it with me in my bag all of the time and have been using the BriteSmile daily. Just pull it out, brush it on, and you're good to go. So much better than messing around with whitening strips that you need to worry about taking off. My teeth look so much whiter that I can hardly believe it. Another benefit of applying BriteSmile during the day is that I'm not mindlessly snacking when I'm not hungry. That's always a plus.

So, overall, the lip gloss is great, but nothing ground breaking. Having the dual ended pen with gloss on one side and BriteSmile on the other is a fabulous idea that I absolutely love. What would be great is if Tarte developed a BriteSmile product that could snap onto their wonderful lip gloss duos. I would highly recommend this product if you're as anal about dental hygiene as I am, and want to be able to do it on the go.

Sex And The City

2008-05-28T09:13:00.002-05:00

It seems that all of my girlfriends are anxiously awaiting the release of the Sex and the City Movie this Friday. I can't believe I am admitting this, but, I have never seen an episode of Sex and the City! I know, can you believe it??? I was a poor freshman in college with Sex and the City first came out and thus did not have cable at school. Although my parents did have HBO, it did not seem like the kind of show I wanted to watch with my parents if you know what I mean (as close as I am with my Mom, watching the sexual exploits of a couple of single girls is not something I want to do with her...call me old fashioned). By the time I moved out of my parents' house and in with my Sweetie, so many seasons had passed that it didn't seem worth it to start watching at that point. So that's the story of why I've never watched Sex and the City.

Now I feel left out. So, this weekend, I finally decided that I must rent the DVDs and join the Sex and the City community. I was all ready to add the DVDs to my Netflix queue when on a whim I headed over to Amazon to see how much the complete seasons were going for. I was happy that I did because right now each season of Sex and The City is on sale for only $15.99 each. That's just a little bit more than my monthly Netflix fee. I ordered the first two seasons and can't wait to start watching them. Better late then never I guess!

P.S. What do you guys think of this widget??? I am so excited to finally use one of these! Yes, I know I'm a dork!

Please Forgive Me

2008-05-28T09:05:00.002-05:00

I have been a horrible blogger as of late. Honestly, I have just not been in the mood to be in front of the computer. After what seemed like a 10 year long semester with a year long finals period, I was just burned out. Not to mention that I was sick and tired of looking at an empty backyard so once the weather got nicer I have been spending a lot of time gardening. It's funny, growing up I was never into flowers and gardeing even though my Mom is a florist and is obsessed with her landscaping. But I must admit, the landscaping bug has bitten me now that I own a home. The only bad part is that since we live in new construction, some of the dirt is absolutely horrible (read rock filled and impossible to dig). The good thing is that it is quite a workout. I'm hoping for killer arms by the end of the summer! I also helped my Dad and my Sweetie build a deck for our pool. Yes, not only am I a beauty guru, but I am a construction builder as well!

It's funny, because it seems like a lot of bloggers are in the same funk that I am. I have a few friends that have family blogs that update everyone on the progress of their new babies that haven't been updated since the end of August. Other beauty blogs that I check out have expressed a lack of anything to be excited about. I think that we're just all really excited about the change of weather and the fact that we can go outside without worries of getting frostbite! But I promise, my postings will become more frequent once again!

MAC Dazzleglass

2008-05-13T08:57:00.006-05:00

I'm happy to report that my final exams are over!!! Hooray!!! So obviously I haven't done much blogging, shopping, etc. over the past few weeks due to the massive amounts of studying I needed to accomplish...But I did do a little! I couldn't help myself once I saw MAC's new Dazzleglass collection. Everyone knows that I love anything sparkly and Dazzleglass definately fits the bill.

Because it was finals time, I couldn't go to a MAC counter to test Dazzleglass out myself so I had to order online. For my first purchase, I chose Money Honey and Pleasure Principle. Money Honey is a mid-tone rosy mauve with red pearl while Pleasure Principle is a clear white violet, teal and white pearl. Although I love shimmery glosses, I was a little worried after seeing some rumblings online about worries that the glitter would be too big and gritty and that the stickiness factor would be off the charts. Let me just tell you, so not the case!

First, I have to say how shocked I was at the pigment that these glosses packed. When I first put Money Honey on I was blown away by the color. A very nice coverage without being too heavy...if that makes any sense at all. The glitter was not big nor gritty. You can definately see the shine and shimmer, but it didn't look like you took a bunch of glitter and threw it on your lips. It actually looks very natural. Finally, this is one of the most moisturizing shimmer lip glosses that I have ever put on my lips. I personally did not really feel any stickiness factor, but I have also been going crazy with Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips lately and the plumping factor in those lippies has probably made any minimal stickiness factor in any other gloss non-existant.

Oh, I should also mention that the staying power on these are fantastic as well. While it doesn't have the staying power of MAC Pro Long Wear (but really, what does???), it sustained a half a day of studying with me drinking tons of Diet Coke straight from the can and eating junk food.

If my review hasn't convinced you of my love affair with Dazzleglass yet, 2 days after my first purchase arrived, I ran back online and ordered 4 more! Yes, Glamour OD, Steppin Out, Rags to Riches, and Love Alert have all found their way to my bathroom counter. I want them all!!!

AS usual, this is a limited edition product. Boo!!! I'm hoping that MAC changes its mind and makes this a full time product. Until then, I guess I'll have to stock up on my favorite shades. I must warn you that MACcosmetics.com is already sold out of three shades. The good news is that, as of right now, Macys.com has them all in stock. Plus, Macys.com is also having Beauty Special. Spend $65 on beauty and/or fragrance and get FREE SHIPPING and a FREE GIFT with coupon / promo code BEAUTYFS.

Sephora.com Coupon / Promo Codes

2008-04-30T11:07:00.005-05:00

Since I've been mentioning some great products from Sephora.com, and I have plenty more to talk about, I figure I better post some coupon codes. I have no idea how long some of these are valid, but I would assume that they are good while supplies last.

Use PUCKERUP to get your choice of 1 of 8 lipstick crayon pencils.

Use PALAZZO to get a free Fendi Palazzo Precious Shower Gel with any purchase.

Use JCPMINERAL to get a deluxe sample of Bare Escentuals breakthrough, mineral-based nighttime treatment comprised of 72 organic macro and micro minerals that exist in nature, with any purchase.

Use TAWAKA to get a free travel-size Shampoo & Conditioner with any Ojon Tawaka Ancient Tribal Rejuvenating Cleanser & Conditioner order purchase.

Use SHIPPING50 to get free shipping with any $50 purchase (but between you and me, right now you get free shipping with any $50 purchase without a coupon/promo code...so take advantage of another great coupon/promo code instead!).

Happy Shopping! And don't forget about you Mom this Mother's Day!

Tarte Enbrigtenment

2008-04-30T10:54:00.006-05:00

I've been coming across a lot of new products at Sephora.com lately. It seems that Tarte is really enjoying the idea of teaming up with other companies to offer great products. First it was Borba, and now it's BriteSmile. Introducing Tarte Enbrightenment. This double ended "pen" contains Tarte's brand new t5 super fruit complex on one end and BriteSmile's teeth whitening formula on the other.

I love the concept of this product. I have actually used BriteSmile before and really liked it; particularly because of the "pen" dispenser. Just brush it on your teeth and you're good to go. I will say though, that often times I would forego using it because I usually only thought about doing it after I brushed my teeth, which was not recommended. With Tarte Enbrightenment, I will have it in my purse and will be reminded to apply the teeth whitener at some point during the day...way before I brush my teeth.

I'm really excited to try Tarte's t5 super fruit complex as well. I know I will not be disappointed because I have loved everyone of the Tarte products I have tried, particularly their lippies. Enbrightenment comes in your choice of 2 colors: Pearly Pink and Radiant Red. I've ordered Pearly Pink and am anxiously awaiting its arrival on my doorstep. Once I've tried it, I will give you a review. If anyone else has already gotten their hands on this product, feel free to leave your comments.

Lip Gloss May Raise Skin Cancer Risk

2008-04-29T07:26:00.004-05:00

As I was getting reading to leave for class yesterday, I had the noon news on in the background. Just as I was about to turn the television off and head out the door, the news began to break for commercial and in their list of stories to come, one caught my eye...New Health Risk Associated With Lip Gloss. What?!?! I wear lip gloss everyday! So of course I sat there and waited for 20 minutes before they finally got to the story. A new research study shows that lip glosses, particularly shiney glosses, attract harmful UV sunrays and thus raise the risk of skin cancer. A quick Google Search returns a bunch of news stories about this.

Now, I don't know what types of lipglosses they used during this study. I say that because as you all know, many lip glosses now come with SPF included in them. So it would be interesting to see if they only focused on lip glosses lacking some sort of protection already built into them. The study suggests that you put some sort of sun protection (they recommend 30 SPF) on your lips first and then put your gloss on top.

So, here are some of my favorite lippies that already contain some SPF in them. First and foremost, Tarte 24/7 Lip Sheers SPF 15. I actually already do use this as a base for some of my lip glosses. The texture is so wonderfully smooth and it makes my lips feel so hydrated. The coverage is great, the colors are great.

Next, (and I actually think this one is tied for first), Bare Escentuals Lip Guards SPF 15. Just as sheer and beautiful as the Tarte Lip Sheers, I absolutely love how these lippies feel on. After using these for just a few days, my lips were noticably softer. And I love the containers these come in. I will say, I have never been a fan of the tubs that have the little hole in the slanted plastic top. That plastic top always seemed to make the gloss messier than it needed to be, slopping it around all over the place. The wonderful people at Bare Escentuals fixed that problem by applying a sponge like material on the top. I love it. If you have not tried this product yet, you absolutely must. One other thing about this product, while I love my Tarte Lip Sheers, they are not a hot summer day in Chicago's best friend. I usually cannot leave the Lip Sheers stashed in my car because they tend to melt. With the BE Lip Guards you don't have this problem because they don't come in the "Push-Pop" like tube. Just something to keep in mind if you're anything like me.

Sephora Sun Safety Kit

2008-04-26T19:13:00.005-05:00

Summer is fast approaching. That means it's time to be even more religious about using sunscreen. Although I try to use sunscreen on my face all of the time, I must admit that it doesn't always happen. Fortunately, most of the facial make-up that I use contains a decent amount of SPF. During the summer, however, there are many days that I go without make-up...particularly those days that I spend in the pool (I am not one of those girls that get all dolled up just to jump in the pool!)...so those are the days I need to make sure I have got some UV fighting products available. I absolutely love the annual Sephora Sun Safety Kit. The kit this year is out of this world. Check out what's included:

0.05 oz Korres Natural Products Watermelon Sunscreen Face Cream SPF 30, a 0.25 oz Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Defense Moisture Lotion SPF 30, a 1 oz DDF Daily Protective Moisturizer SPF 15, a 0.35 oz Cosmedicine Medi-Matte Oil Control Lotion SPF 20, a 0.17 oz Juice Beauty Green Apple Moisturizer SPF 15, a 1 oz Murad Firming Bronzer SPF 15, a 0.08 oz Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion SPF 55 PA + + +, six single-use packs of MD Skincare Powerful Sun Protection Pads SPF 30, a 0.17 oz Clarins Sun Wrinkle Control Cream Ultra Protection SPF 30, a 0.25 oz Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer SPF 15, and a 0.098 oz Tarte 24/7 Lip Sheer SPF 15, plus a UV indicator card, all in a limited-edition Sephora pouch.

Most of the best companies are represented. The Tarte 24/7 Lip Sheer is a nice surprise in this kit. Best of all is the price. $25!!! 100 percent of the net profits (that's $21.55 from every kit sold!) will benefit The Skin Cancer Foundation. If you're still looking for something for your Mom for Mother's Day this is a great idea. I give this to my Mom every year. Really, what Mom wouldn't love some skin products that will help keep her looking good??? Even better, if you pick up one for her and one for you you'll hit the $50 requirement for FREE SHIPPING.