Weekend Beauty Reads from the BBN

Enter for a chance to win LashMantra Eyelash Growth Serum, a triple pack of Swerve neck razor and an Anti-aging Beauty Secrets E-book at Beauty and Personal Grooming

The Makeup Blogger shows you how to get, Padma Lakshmi's new look using products from Beautyticket.com!

Beauty Junkie in SF discovers an awesome organic haircare line, right here in the Bay Area (YAY area!). Check out Innersense!

Fresco Phyrra has her very first contest! Go enter her ecoTools Giveaway!

Elke reviews the latest mascara from Covergirl.

Beauty Anonymous reviews Nars Single Eyeshadow in Tropic from Nars summer 2009 collection.

The Makeup Divas reviews Tarte's New Lifted Natural Eye Primer and is giving away three of them! Enter HERE for your chance to win one.

Toya of The Life of A Ladybug introduces you to her lovely dance friend Azhia (AKA Christine Millan) and her makeup DVD Basic Makeup for Performance and Photography.

Face Candy tries on MAC by Jin Soon's new Cool Reserve Nail Lacquer.

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Sonia Kashuk Ultra Shine Sheer Lip Gloss

I have been using these lip glosses for quite awhile, yet I keep forgetting to share them with you all. They are an absolute joy, I must say! Sonia Kashuk Ultra Shine Sheer Lip Gloss are the perfect combination of soft, not sticky moisture and high impact shine. My favorite go-to shade is Whisper, a very sheer nude color that is perfect for everyday use and great when I don't want my lips to overpower my eye makeup. Like today, I felt like doing a dramatic cat eye with thick black eyeliner, so my lips just needed to be pale and a bit shiny. It isn't quite as shiny as some, but the moisture factor wins me over. Sometimes I just need softness, no stick! So these glosses are permanently in the bottom of my purse for easy access.

Gloss Lovely!

Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly Mousse

Herbal Essences' latest line of yummy smelling products is called Tousle Me Softly, meant to give you soft touchable hair that is messy but in a good way. They of course smell awesome, scented with wild violet and pomegranates. I immediately reached for the Tousle Me Softly Mousse, since I use volumizing mousses all tht time, and unlike the spray gell or th hairspray, I know it would at least give me bouncey, fluffy hair after a blow dry. I was right. It is now in my extensive rotation of pre-blow dry products.

Tousle Lovely!

OPI Espana Collection Fall 2009

My nail partner in crime came back into town this last weekend, so I think I may just be back to weekly manicures... eck for my wallet. Oh well, it is such good quality time. Last saturday I found colors for both my hands and toes on the counter of the salon on the latest OPI collection display.

Shades above: Barefoot in Barcelona, Can You Tapas This? Give Me Moor!
Pink Flamenco, No Spain No Gain, Ate Berries in the Canaries

The OPI Espana collection is so fresh and perfect for fall, I am loving it. I wish I was traveling to Spain instead, but I have a feeling this is the closest I'm getting. I picked Barefoot in Barcelona (top set, top left) for my teeny tiny finger nails, since it is a subtle and yet still pretty pink beige. For my toes I grabed Conquistadorable Color (bottom set, second from right), a hot ruby red that makes me happy everytime I look down. And really, isn't that the point of a pedicure?

Shades above: Suzi Skis in the Pyrenees, Here Today… Aragon Tomorrow, Manicurist of Seville.Pamplona Purple, Conquistadorable Color, Bullish on OPI.


Nail Lovely!

Innersense Organic Beauty Pure Essential Hair Bath and Pure Inspiration Daily Conditioner

A great addition to the expanding array of organic beauty products is Innersense Organic Beauty. They are a local Bay Area company, based in Walnut Creek, CA, making great organic products. Innersense products are a combination of carefully selected Certified Organic and Biodynamic oils, extracts and essences. These natural ingredients create the exquisite character and specific benefits of each Innersense product. All formulas are made with Certified Organic ingredients known for their nourishing, hydrating, antioxidant and anti-aging benefits. Innersense formulas are free of harsh irritating chemicals including sulfates, atificial fragrances & colors.

My hair salon in the Mission district of SF just started carrying their products, and couldn't stop raving about them. Both my stylist and the owner of the salon had tried them out and were hooked. Needless to say I walked away from my cut and partial highlight with two bottles from Innersense.

The Pure Essential Hair Bath is an amazing shampoo, made from Apricot Surfactant, Rooibos, Orange Flower Oil, Lotus Flower Essential Oil, and Cranberry Seed Oil. The natural fragrance is grapefruit jasmine, which i love love love.The big difference you'll notice with this shampoo is how it makes your hair feel after it is washed out. You are probably used to your tresses feeling all smooth and soft right after shampoo, but this makes them feel more rough, think squeaky clean. That is because they don't use any waxes or sulfates that leave residue like your are used to. I think it feels more like my hair is actually clean! Free of any dirt and gunky I picked up during the day. And a little goes a long way, since it still does suds up!

The squeaky feeling is quickly gone with an application of their Pure Inspiration Daily Conditioner. The conditioner is made with Rice Bran Oil, Soy Protein, Oat Kernel Extract, Orange Flower Oil, Rooibos, and Shea Butter. This conditioner is formulated from Certified Organic proteins, aromatic oils and flower essences. It is lightweight and build-up free so it moisturizes and strengthens the hair, improving resiliency while imparting reflective shine. I like it well enough, but I tend to use quite a lot, so I'm going to run out before I do the Hair Bath.

I would definitely recommend that you try Innersense for yourself. I love the way my hair looks and feels, and my dry scalp (its not dandruff!!!) has greatly improved.

Organic lovely!

Tarte Lock and Roll Creaseless Cream & Powder Shadow Duo

Although I tend to get stuck in ruts when it comes to my makeup, sometimes I reach in deep into my overflowing case of color and find something I haven't used in ages. That happened yesterday when, after my usual primer and pale pink shadow, I felt the need to go out of the norm.Thats was when I saw Tarte's Lock and Roll Creaseless Cream & Powder Shadow Duo in this pretty shade of pewter called Gunmetal. First I thickly lined my top lid with the liquid-like brush end, then I rolled on top of that the powder side. The result was a pretty grey-purple eye that was dramatic without looking too heavy or over the top for daytime. Beauteous!

Shine Lovely!

MIA

Sorry this week has been a little light on content. I've been re-designing my site and so most of my effort has been going there. In a few weeks, you'll see my new and improved look!

Tarte F&F Sale: Had to share, it's that good!

Caress Evenly Gorgeous Exfoliating Body Wash and Beauty Bar

Caress Evenly Gorgeous Exfoliating Body Wash and Beauty Bar are just not my cup of tea. They smell like sickly sweet sugar syrup. I personally don't want to smell like dessert in the shower. I prefer to eat my desserts, not bath in them.  But I am sure my girlfriends who loves vanilla perfumes would like this body wash and body bar, which is while I will be gifting it to them shortly. I'll stick to my fruity, citrus scented body washes, thank you.

Suds lovely!

Weekend Beauty Reads from the BBN

Beauty Anonymous reviews La Mer The Treatment Powder Foundation SPF15.

A Touch of Blusher reviews RMK Ingenious Powder Cheeks.

Decorative Diva shares her thoughts with you on a new Coconut Bodywash.

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic checks out Elizabeth Arden's Intervene Line in her attempt to postpone getting older!

Beauty Junkie in SF discovers Sonia Kashuk has a blush for everyone, as long as you can get to Target!

Face Candy interviews purse designer Katherine Kwei about her beauty routine. Plus, WIN A $920 Katherine Kwei purse!

Beauty and Fashion Tech reviews and swatches the Bobbi Brown Nude Eye Palette.

Girl Gloss looks at Three SPF 15 or Higher Lip Balms for Sunny Days.

Elke starts her 5 Minute Summer Makeup How To Series, in 6 easy steps.

Toya from The Life of A Ladybug wants to know if you'll do just about anything for the beauty and strength of your hair, like ... put bull semen on it!

Link Lovely!

ME! Bath Shower Sherbet Body Scrub

My favorite thing about summer is that it doesn't rain!But the thought of running through a rain storm on a warm summer evening is kinda appealing. Think I even got to once many summers ago when I was volunteering at a camp in Ohio.

ME! Bath's Shower Sherbet in Summer Rain is supposed to evoke these kind of memories. It mostly made me feel refreshed and awake. It is a thick sugar-based body scrub that you scope up in your hands like a big scope of ice cream (minus the cold factor). As you rub it in to your damp skin in the shower, it slowly melts and leaves a very subtle layer of softening oils. The sugar scrubs away dead skin cells and leaves you feeling clean and refreshed. I love that the container is exactly like a pint of sorbet. Yum... makes me hungry!

Sorbet Lovely!

Sonia Kashuk Blushes For Everyone

I think blush is the most underrated color item in most women's beauty routine. Regardless of how pretty you feel, a little color on your cheeks makes you feel like a glowing beauty. Sonia Kasuk has a blush for everyone, at a great low price (I love Target... only good thing about working outside of the city, I can go to Target on my way home!). depending on what foundation you prefer, here is what I would recommend:

If you wear powder foundation (like me): Sonia Kashuk Beautifying Blush is a traditional powder blush. I have been loving it as an everyday blush, both in a light pink color or a more subtle mauve. I use a big powder brush (one I've had forever from Sonia's line actually) and it goes on light enough... nothing worse that over doing it on blush.

If you wear liquid foundation: Sonia Kashuk Crème Blush in the same little disk container that the powder blush comes in but its in creme form. I find these harder to apply when I'm wearing powder foundation, but if you wear something more liquid-based or none at all, these might work perfect. A little goes a long way, but the colors are subtle and pretty too.

If you wear little or no foundation: Sonia Kashuk Super Sheer Liquid Tint is a liquid form of blush that is surprisingly easy to use. It is fairly sheer, but don't go to too crazy, a half a pump will do. and then blend, blend, blend.

All of these blushes are just color, no shimmer involved. So if you wants a little more sparkle or glow, you'll have to use a highlighter on top.

Blush Lovely!

Bliss The Youth As We Know It Concentrate

Although I haven't tried too many, I've been a big fan of the few Bliss products I've gotten my hands on. My latest obsession is The Youth As We Know It Concentrate. It is a light weight moisture lotion put on after exfoliating with Peeling Groovy facial serum. It has pearl illuminators to give my skin some luminosity. The hydration is supposed to be longer lasting than most since the Hydroplex-3 (used in Bliss's in-spa The Youth As We Know It facial) binds to the skin to continue to moisturize over time. I just like that is is super light weight, smells like yummy grapefruits and absorbs quickly.
You can use alone as a light weight moisturizer or under The Youth As We Know It Moisturizer for a double dose of hydration.

Hydrate lovely!

P.S. Bliss has a special offer August 12th though August 16th:

OPI He's My Coral-Friend Nail Polish

I've always been more of a pink gril than a red girl. In fact, I think I own one piece of red clothing, and it rarely comes out of my closet. Recently though I have started to like more orangey-red colors for my nails, especially in the summer months. OPI's He's My Coral-Friend is super cute. It is from their Sun-Believable collection, which is full of perfectly summery shades. It is an almost clearish orange-red (i.e. coral!) with tons of shine and no shimmer. The picture doesn't do it justice at all!!! I loved it on my toes, but it killed on my fingers. So fresh and fun, perfect for a mid-summer manicure before a weekend by the pool... now if the summer in SF would just come already!

Sun Lovely!

L'Oreal's Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara

I've found yet another mascara that I really like... and best of all, you can get it at the drugstore. I am a big proponent of tossing your mascara every 3-5 months, which is hard to do if you spend $20 bucks on it! But L'Oreal's Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara is cheap, looks great, and is easily replaceable.

First of all the brush is just fabulous. It is big a fluffy, yet doesn't get in the way but allows you to get each and every lash. The result is long, full, feathery lashes that instantly curl upwards and make my eyes look HUGE. Yet its doesn't like thick and cakey like some volumizing mascaras. Its just the right amount of oomph. The packaging is nice too, a well sized tube in shiney black plastic. It makes it look way fancier than your typical drugstore mascara. Well done L'Oreal. Next time I run our of the house and then realize i found to put on mascara, I know what I am picking up at Walgreens.

Lash Lovely!

Yes to Carrots C Through the Dry Spell Deliciously Rich Body Butter

If you read this blog religiously (I'll pretend there are lots of peopole out there that do) you might have picked up on the fact that I love body butter. Honestly, I laugh in the face of regular body lotions. They are runny and wet, and the little moisture they provide doesn't seem worth the hassle. But a good body butter is worth its weight in gold.

Yes to Carrots C Through the Dry Spell Deliciously Rich Body Butter is an excellent option for body butter. Not only can you buy it at the drugstore, it smells nice and is full of delicious shea butter, cocoa butter, carrot oil, sweet almond oil, and vitamins A and E. For under $20 you get a huge tub of delicious cream that will quench your skin and actually last.

Butter Lovely!