Beauty blog and social network for the hair, skin, and makeup addicts online.

Embellished nails are all the rage and NYX gives you the tool needed to rock it. Spark your inner artist with 24 hour style and shades to create your unique look nail designs.

NYX Ink Nail Art has thin-tipped brush allows for the skinniest line to the most intricate design.

This one is a winner.

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How do you feel about purple eyeshadows? Or pinks? If you’re not a fan either, I totally get it. I used to avoid ‘em, too, because I thought they made me look kinda trashy and tow up…like I just lost the kind of cat fight where girls remove their big hoop earrings and bust out the Vaseline before going toe to toe in the schoolyard (NOTE: violence is not the answer, kids).

But if you’re even a teeny, tiny bit curious about pink and purple eyeshadows, Dior’s $58 Pink Design 5-Colour Eyeshadow Palette might be an elegant (albeit expensive) way to get to know them better.

It’s one of two 5-Colour eye quints from Dior’s fall 2010 collection. With a sheer and creamy iridescent eyeshadow base, a dark purplish black liner and eyeshadows in shimmery purple, shimmery purplish-pink and glittery pink, it covers all the bases for some very chic cool-toned looks.

Working with purples and pinks can be trickier than working with easy-peasy neutrals. Bold lines can be tougher to blend away, but Pink Design’s shades and textures, like those of other Dior shadows I’ve tried, abide by my brushes and feel very beginner-friendly to me.

More to like…

• Dior sprinkled the pink shade with a healthy dose of fine glitter (aka “good glitter”), giving the palette a fun, flirty vibe.
• The creamy purple liner expertly draws opaque, solid lines without any skipping and adheres nicely to the lash line (but it struggles along my waterline)
• I didn’t think I’d like the iridescent base at first (thought it looked straight up white in the pan), but I do; it applies as a sheer, opalescent pinkish white that flatters lids even when used by itself

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Among the most popular products offered by Guerlain is their mascara. All of their mascara is well-formulated and features some of the most sleek and appealing packaging to be found on any mascara anywhere. The most coveted of all the Guerlain mascaras is the new Le 2 de Guerlain.

Le 2 de Guerlain is an innovative mascara that features two wands. There is a rubbery thick wand designed for applying mascara all over your top lashes and a smaller wand that helps you to fine tune the bottom lashes and lashes in the inner and outer corners of your eyes. The smaller wand also works well for applying a second coat on your top lashes. It does take longer to dry than your average mascara but it definitely delivers on its promise of long, thick lashes. It holds a curl well but can be a bit clumpy without proper combing. It is also available in several colors that go beyond the typical black and brown mascara shades such as deep blue and shimmery purple. It stays in place very well which means it can be tricky to remove. An eye makeup remover that is formulated for waterproof makeup is a must if you want to get all of this off of your lashes.

Guerlain Maxi Lash Mascara helps create the illusion of thicker lashes. In fact, it can be so thickening that an eyelash comb is a must-have when using this product. It does a great job of thickening but not enough to make it stand apart from other thickening mascaras on the market. The formula is also a bit on the dry side. After a few weeks of use, the remaining product tends to dry out rather quickly so it’s important to keep the cap tightly closed if you tend to go through mascara slowly.

Divinora is one of Guerlain’s most popular mascaras and although it has been recently discontinued, it is still relatively easy to find and has obtained a cult status. This mascara will not give you dramatic eyelashes that will leave people wondering if they are fake. However, it is perfect for every day, office, or outdoor wear. It makes your lashes look full and separated without looking obvious that you are wearing mascara.

Guerlain has something to offer everyone with their mascara selection. Whether your lashes are too short, too thin, or not defined enough for your liking, you will be able to find a mascara from Guerlain that can improve the appearance of your lashes.

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I have never really gotten the legions of women who are devoted to certain extremely pricey face creams.

La Mer Creme de la Mer, for example, sells for a whopping $1,390 per container!

And while most of us aren’t exactly delving into our life savings for face cream, I know plenty of women with relatively modest means who spend hundreds of dollars on Arbonne or Estee Lauder or Shiseido or Lancome face products.

The question I have for you –

Are expensive face creams and serums really worth the money?

I’ve tried a bunch of them and here’s what I think …

Thanks to my mom, for whom shopping at expensive department stores is a vocation, I have an enormous bag full of samples of pretty much every face cream and serum known to man. I have used all of them at one time or another. And I can’t really say I’ve seen any difference between them and the drugstore brands whatsoever. I’ve wanted to. But I didn’t.

In addition, as a blogger, I’ve been sent countless face creams and lotions and masques to review, most of them well beyond my normal budget. I’ve used them until they were gone — I’m frugal that way. And still?

Nothing. Read the rest of this entry →

Need more proof that Steve Jobs has taken over the world? Kohl’s department store is selling a makeup kit called “eyemobile,” which features eyeshadow shades that closely resemble an iPhone screen. Can an eyeshadow app be far behind?

The Color Institute® Eyemobile Eyeshadow Compact
regular $15.00

All eyes on you. Find the perfect shade for every outfit and occasion with this eyeshadow compact. 0.14 oz.

•Details:
•Set includes: 20 eyeshadow shades, 2 applicators and built-in mirror
•Additional beauty products are available at your local Kohl’s store. A beauty consultant will be happy to assist you.

From Shine..

“As the crow flies” is usually welcome news. Except when those avian feet head straight for your face and leave their telltale tracks around the eyes. But if aging is inevitable, its pace definitely isn’t. As for breakouts, dryness, and general epidermal malaise? Here’s what’s wrecking your skin—and how to turn it around:

1. The Kate Gosselin Effect. We’re talking about overexposure—solar, in this case.(If we’d called this one “Sun,” your eyes might have glazed.) From wrinkles to cancer, photoaging is “the single biggest cause of damage to the skin,” declares Skin Care & Repair, a new report from Harvard Medical School.

Skin Fix: You know the drill—sunscreen that’s least SPF 30 and protects against both UVA and UVB rays. (Men, don’t forget behind the ears and neck). Consumer Reports’ top-rated product this year is Up & Up Sport Continuous SPF 30 from Target. Most dermatologists aren’t concerned about retinyl palmitate, which controversial research suggests may actually cause cancer, but if you are, Alba Botanica Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 doesn’t contain the ingredient (see Environmental Working Group for others.) You can also wash your clothes with SunGuard for an extra SPF kicker.

2. Worrying About It: Stress wages chemical warfare: Pro-inflammatory neuropeptides make the skin more reactive (worsening acne and psoriasis, for example), while hormones like adrenaline constrict your blood vessels, depriving the tissue of nutrients, explains Rick Fried, MD, PhD, a dermatologist, psychologist, and clinical director of Yardley Dermatology Associates in Pennsylvania. “Long-term stress,” he says, “can cause the production of cortisol, which potentially leads to thinning of the skin.”

Skin Fix: Guided imagery, mindfulness meditation, hypnosis, biofeedback, exercise, yoga, and tai chi are all good ways to manage stress and help improve your complexion, says Fried. Read the rest of this entry →

Makeup sets will never go out of style. For any true beauty addict, it’s impossible to resist the temptation to purchase those beautiful neatly packed boxes and bags loaded with new colors and shades of lip gloss, eyeshadows and mascara that almost every beauty major label offers nowadays.

I am a big fan of Sephora, their own collection of makeup is surprisingly quite nice. One of the best things about the Sephora website is how they give you “suggested use” instructions on how to apply the product your purchasing and what colors should go with each other.

product details from the Sephora site

What it is:
A limited-edition kit featuring a handpicked collection of our favorites from Sephora Collection, plus a how-to guide.

What it does:
Summer is a time to experiment with the colors that surround you in everyday life. With this new set from Sephora Collection, you can achieve a radiant, bronzed look, accented with fun, bright pops of color. Soft, glossy lips add a complementary touch to your luminous glow and alluring eyes.

What else you need to know:
Sephora has created an exclusive collection of one-of-a-kind boxed sets stocked with our latest product fixations, plus a step-by-step tutorial.

This set contains:
- 0.5 oz Lip Gloss in Apricot Soufflé
- 3 x 0.07 oz Eye Shadows in Tango Night, Peach Beige, Must Have
- Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner in Silver
- 0.4 oz Lash Plumper Mascara in Ultra Black

Suggested Use:
-Cover entire eye lid with “Sephora Collection Colorful Mono Eyeshadow Peach Beige 13″ and blend into the crease with Sephora Collection All Over Eyeshadow Brush #23.
-Next, take “Sephora Collection Colorful Mono Eyeshadow Tango Night 35″ and blend into the last half of the eyelid and into the outer part of the crease with Sephora Collection Crease Brush #2.
-Take “Sephora Collection Colorful Mono Eyeshadow Must Have 06″ and blend along the lash line going in small circular motions.
-Line the inner rim of the bottom lash line with “Sephora Collection Retractable Waterproof Eye Liner in Silver 02.”
-Then rim the inner corner of the eye and blend.
-Blend “Sephora Collection Colorful Mono Eyeshadow Tango Night 35″ along bottom lash line, blending it into the silver eye liner for a sultry effect with Sephora Collection Smudge Brush #14.
-Then enhance lashes with “Sephora Collection Lash Plumper Mascara in Ultra Black.”
-To finish off the look, coat lips with Lip Gloss in Apricot Soufflé.

Check it out at Sephora.com

I don’t know about you but it drives me absolutely bananas to see women with mask-like PALE faces and tanned arms/neck/chest/legs. How hard is it to look in the mirror?! If you’re tanning or faking it– please adjust your foundation/powder accordingly! I know, none of my business but still, annoys me to no end and I have urges to offer them bronzing powder from my “swag drawer” (that’s where I stash all the cosmetics

I receive from PR companies). Now I can understand your fear of dark bronzing powder but many, like Beauty Addicts’ Hydra SUNRays, are ultra-sheer and perfectly neutral.

Not only will it give you a subtle glow to go with the rest of your body, you can adjust the color by adding layers or dusting lightly! I got this a month ago and am using it daily over my winter foundation so I don’t look crazy with my tanned arms.

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How does your hair color affect your makeup? Think of your hair as a picture frame. Different frames in different colors highlight particular aspects of the picture inside. Here are a few things for a girl with crimson locks to keep in mind.

Know Your Real Shade

It’s important to know what kind of red you are. Most reds fall into one of three shades: copper (orange) red, violet red, and red red, or true red. Natural reds, or natural-looking reds, are in the copper category; very dark reds are classified as violet red; and red reds are recognizable by their vibrant, true color. These last two shades do not occur in nature.

Knowing your true shade will dictate your color-palette options. If you’re a copper top, you want to make sure orangey makeup and clothing won’t clash with your hair hue. The same goes for violet redheads and purple shades, and true reds and red shades — and all three should be wary of pinks.

Your Color Palette

Makeup-wise, start neutral. Staples that look great on everyone are Nars blush in Orgasm or ELF blush from its studio line of blush and contouring powder ($3!) and black mascara — we love the new Lash Blast Fusion from Cover Girl and the Anastasia Lash Lifting Mascar). Green eye shadows are great on redheads, as is purple and any color you might find in an autumnal forest. For a more daring look, metallics work with every shade.

Your Brows

A great way to try out different brow colors without commitment or major catastrophe is with tinted mascara or a colored brow tamer like ELF’s Eyebrow Treat and Tame. Aim for one shade darker than your red hair color. Read the rest of this entry →

Soothes and moisturises dry, chapped lips, offering SPF 30+ broad spectrum protection. Glide-on applicator makes for easy application. Very high UVA and UVB protection. Water resistant for 2 hours. Free of fragrance, PABA and lanolin.

• Protects, soothes, moisturises. 

• Soft and gentle to apply

Actives (w/w): Octyl methoxycinnamate 4%, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane 2.5%, titanium dioxide 0.74%, bemotrizinol 0.8%