Bare Escentuals Extreme Glitters

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!

Happy Birthday Sephora

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!

Bare Escentuals

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!

Lip Gloss May Raise Skin Cancer Risk

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.

Bare Escentuals Buxom Babes Lip Tints

I'm excited to tell everyone that Bare Escentuals has released a set pf Buxom Babes Lip Tints in great Summery shades. Bare Escentuals Buxom Babes Lip Tints is now available featuring Cherry (sheer poppy shine/cherry scented), Coco (sheer butter shine/coconut-scented), Margarita (sheer raspberry shine/berry-lime scented) and Melonie (sheer fuchsia shine/melon-scented shades. Even the names just scream Summertime!

I absolutely LOVE Buxom Babes Lip Tints in every shade. The texture is so unbelievably smooth. This is a lip gloss that actually feels like it is nourishing your lips, making them softer by the second. The shine is also out of this world. It's so nice to see these lighter, Springy/Summery shades as most of the other shades available in the last Buxom Babes set as well as the full size products are a little darker, but still beautiful. At $28, this is a steal. Sephora.com states that this is only available at Sephora. Obviously, this is also a limited edition. Happy Shopping!

Bare Escentuals Now At Target

I ran to Target this weekend to pick up a birthday card. Imagine my suprise as I ran through the store when out of the corner of my eye I noticed Bare Escentuals Beyond Basics kits on the end cap of one of the beauty aisles. I don't know if this is a sign of things to come. As of right now, that is the only product Target has from Bare Escentuals. It will be interesting to see if this leads to more BE kits and eventually individual products or not.

I'm on the fence with this new marketing approach. While I am a huge fan of BE, I do not expect to find it in Target stores. It's not a drugstore brand and as such does not have a drugstore brand price tag. I would think that some Target make-up shoppers would be turned off by the higer prices of BE. After all, if they wanted to spend more money on make-up, they would be shopping at places like Sephora or Ulta. On the other hand, I'm sure that smaller towns and rural areas don't have the luxury of having Sephoras or Ultas. I guess time will tell whether or not this new campaign works. What do you guys think?

Sephora Coupon Codes

Hey girls...I've got two more Sephora.com coupon / promo codes for you, and let me just tell you they are fantabulous freebies! First up, use coupon / promo code HOPE and receive a FREE PHILOSOPHY HOPE IN A JAR DELUXE SAMPLE with any purchase through October 31st. Not only do I love this product, but it is also a Best of Sephora winner so that means tons of other people love it too. Next, use coupon / promo code AMBER and receive a FREE FULL SIZE BARE ESCENTUALS BUXOM LIP POLISH IN AMBER with any $50 purchase. Amber is a gorgeous soft shimmering peach. My love for Bare Escentuals is pretty well known and my love for the Buxom line is no exception. The color and texture of this gloss is amazing. My lips feel so saturated whenever I put a Buxom gloss on. Love it! I did receive this coupon code in a Beauty Insiders email, so I'm assuming that you have to be a Sephora Beauty Insider to take advantage of it, but I'm not 100% sure. If you're still not a Beauty Insider yet, what are you waiting for?!?!?! It's free to sign up and you get awesome freebies with every $100 you spend as well as a free gift for your birthday, the opportunity to buy exclusive items, and other exclusive deals. Happy shopping!

Bare Escentuals Lip Guards

Add this to the list of things that I tried out a few months ago, meant to post about, and of course forgot. Bare Escentuals Lip Guards have become my staple lip glosses for re-applying throughout the day. Not super shiney, but not too matte, these Lip Guards are filled with antioxidants and nourishing vitamins and also have SPF 15 making them perfect for days on the beach this summer. What I absolutely love about this product is the applicator. The squeeze tube tip is not just a slanted plastic piece with a small hole like most applicators. The tip is covered in a thin, sponge like coating that helps to evenly distribute the color without slathering it all over the place like the slick plastic tips tend to do. Also, this glosses are so moisturizing. I tend to get drier lips during the summer from being outside all of the time and that has yet to happen since I have started using this babies.

Bare Escentuals has released a special limited edition kit of Bare Escentuals Junior Lip Guards featuring 6 junior sized tubes. Shades include Stinson Beach Junior Lip Guard: coral nude, Palm Beach Junior Lip Guard: deep rose, Miami Beach Junior Lip Guard: rose mauve, Pebble Beach Junior Lip Guard: mauve taupe, Coco Beach Junior Lip Guard: caramel brown, Newport Beach Junior Lip Guard: deep blackberry. Like I said, this kit is a limited edition so don't wait too long if you are interested.

Bare Escentuals Faux Tan

The season of swimsuits, short shorts, and sleeveless tops is right around the corner. I've always been a tanner, but as I creep closer and closer to...gasp...30, I am beginning to worry more and more about sun damaged skin. While I'm taking proactive steps, like using Philosophy's Hope In A Jar religiously, I have not been able to say no to laying out in the summer. I'm taking a stand this summer, and am going to try to stay out of the sun or at least lather on some SPF when I'm out. But I'm sorry, I'm not going to settle for pastey white arms and legs. Enter Bare Escentuals Faux Tan.

Although it hasn't been out that long, I've heard nothing but glowing reports about Bare Escentuals Faux Tan. In all honesty, I've wanted to pick this product up for the past few months, but everytime I've been out shopping and thought about it, it was sold out. A product so good that stores can't even keep it in stock? That's got to be a good sign! I finally was able to secure a bottle a few weeks ago and let me just tell you that I absolutely LOVE this product. This is by far the best self tanner that I have ever used. It is very similar to the super popular progressive self tanning moisturizers that have taken us by storm, but it works about a million times faster. I put my first application on before I went to bed, and when I woke up it looked like I had just gotten back from a vacation. I could not believe my eyes. I hopped in the shower thinking that some of the color would wash off...not at all. During the first week I applied the Faux Tan on 3 days to achieve the color I desired and since then I have only had to reapply about once a week. I am so ready for summer!

A word of caution. You do not need to put a ton of this product on. I know that many people have used self tanners where you need to practically empty the whole bottle to see any results, that is not the case for Bare Escentuals Faux Tan. Also, make sure you wash your hands after applications to make sure that you don't have tan palms!