Back In Black... Eyeliner

Sorry it has been awhile since I posted. Life got incredibly crazy for awhile there and blogging wasn't an option! But now I have some time to post on some products I've been trying recently and I think you're going to like 'em.

A week or so ago, I was invited to a dinner with Victoria Secret Beauty and I got to meet Linda Hay, their very talented lead makeup artist. Along with being extremely nice and friendly, Linda is the one responsible for all the gorgeous makeup looks in Victoria Secret's ads and runways shows. She has been in the business for years and it shows in her work.

They sent us off with two huge goodie bags full of product! Needless to say, I was a happy girl. They gave us a ton of things from their line of Bare Bronzing products and a few items from their Very Sexy makeup collection. I am IN LOVE with the hot pink and black packaging on the makeup. It's so sleek and sexy.

So far, my favorite item is the black eyeliner. It is incredibly smooth and richly dark. It comes with a smudger on the end, perfect for making a sultry smoky eye just like those Angel girls do! I also like the mosaic eye shadow quad in menage. The colors blend well together and I can do a great neutral look or a darker look all from one compact.



I've only had a chance to try the Daily Glow Moisturizer from the Bare Bronze collection, but I am happy with the results. It actually smells nice (rare with self-tanners!) and gives a nice subtle glow that can be built up on with a few days use. I look forward to trying the rest of the bronzing products.

Beauty Lovely!

Weekend Beauty Reads From the BBN

Christine at 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic shares her tip for fast and easy pefect manicures and pedicures!
Beauty Anonymous shares her first impressions of Chanel Summer 2008 Makeup Collection!
Makeup Moxie reviews Hourglass Superficial Lash mascara.
Cybelesays finds their next addition to the Hall of Fame! A straightening iron that gets strands stick straight.
StyleBell reviews one of the best flat irons on the market the GHD. Move over CHI!
A Touch of Blusher can't decide which new eye palette to get...
Savvy Skin picks her favorite drugstore sunscreen - Blue Lizard sunscreen.
Beauty and Personal Grooming writes about Aspirin face masks.
Beauty Blogging Junkie scores an exclusive interview with Daisy Fuentes about her new perfume, Dianoche Ocean.
Face Candy dishes on the brand new Vincent Longo Collection- Shimmer, Glimmer & Shine.
The Makeup Divas reviews Sue Devitt's Eye Intensifier Pencil in Zaire.
The Muse reviews Majorca Majolica's HOT Summer Collection from Japan and shares a FOTD!
Beauty Banter checks out more Spring Hair Trends... with pics and products!
Hello Dollface features Celebrity fashion and beauty!
Beauty Junkie in SF scopes out hot new makeup from Kat Von D
Want to achieve cream blush perfection? Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog shows you the only brush you need for a flawless, airbrushed look: Sonia Kashuk's Flat Top Blusher Brush.
Nars takes Joy from Makeup Junkie to South Beach thanks to The Multiple in South Beach!
This week, Spoiled Pretty is giving you a chance to win SPINLASH - the mascara with a rotating brush that simultaneously separates, curls, coats, lengthens and volumizes eyelashes. Intrigued? Of course you are. Enter right now!
Toya does her Mother's Day FOTD with products from the Sally Hansen Natural Beauty line (inspired by Carmindy)!

FHI Flat Iron from Misikko

Yes, I know, as you can tell (look left), I have very straight flat hair, so why would i ever need a flat iron? Well, if you have hair like mine you might understand. If I ever put it up in a ponytail, even for a few minutes, it gets bent! So an iron that heats quickly and is thin enough to get all the way to my roots is a great thing to have around when showering and re-drying my hair isn't an option.

The nice people at Misikko, a great site that has both high-end styling tools and fabulous haircare products, sent me a flat iron to try. The FHI Flat Iron Platform Special Addition works beautifully. It heats up fast and glides through my hair like a charm. I don't need to worry about it pulling out my hair or frying it to death. Best part is it is on sale for $119 and it comes with FREE 2 day shipping! Pretty sweet huh? I think so. Check out the whole site, they have some good deals on dryers and other products as well!

Flaten Lovley!

Earth-loving Lipstick

A new line from Cargo called Plant Love is all about being earth friendly. The lipsticks are cased in a tube made entirely of corn. Whats more, the box that they come in sprout wildflowers if you plant them. Talk about natural beauty!

10 of the shades were designed by a female celebrity and 9 of them after places of ecological beauty. My favorite beauty of TV right now, Kim Raver of Lipstick Jungle, did Cherry Bliss, a sheer cherry. Then their is a sheer spiced mauve, names Muir Woods, the beautiful California forest named after John Muir, one the first modern preservationists.

Try one out today, at Sephora (where else?! I know, I have a problem...)

Eco Lovely!

Get Dazzled By MAC

MAC has come out with yet another fabulous lip gloss. This one is called Dazzleglass and it looks to be full of sparkle, shine and full on dazzling powers. It contains large particle pearls to reflect and refract the light like your lips were covered in quartz and opal crystal. Funtabulous, no?! In fact that is even then name of one of the colors, along with other cheeky names like Get Rick Quick and Glamour O.D. I can't wait to run over to Nordies and try one out myself!

Dazzle Lovely!

Kat Von D For Sephora

I can't wait to get my hands on Kat Von D's new collection of cosmetics for Sephora. I've been a fan of her wacky over-the-top look since she guest starred on Miami Ink. I may never want to have even one tattoo, but I can appreciate her look however wild it may be. One thing is for sure, her eye makeup is always fantastic.

I really want the True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Beethoven! The rose design on it is fabulous (designed by the artist herself) and the colors will make for a killer smoky eye.

The Kat Eye Brush Set is also fantastic. The black handles of the brushes have the silver rose design on them. I am sure I'll be able to make some great looks with these tools.

Play Lovely!

Marc Jacob's Daisy Acessories

The people behind the Marc Jacobs runway success, Daisy, partnered with Sephora to add to the perfume with a line of accessories. I love the gold with the white and the fun sixties feel of the big flowers. Even if daisies don't have a smell, the design is cute and lots of fun.

The Cushy Brush Set is really nice. They seem to be high quality and although I love the that they are white, you probably have to clean them all the time!


I really love the Luxe Vanity Case as well. It's not huge so it might be better suited for someone slightly less obsessed with makeup than I am.

Check it out at a Sephora near you!

MJ Lovely!

Great Hair Needs Great Tools

While a great hair dryer is an important aspect of achieving hair greatness, a great brush is also vital. I found a great round brush that allows me to dry my hair into a decent shape and get as much volume as possible from my extremely fine, flat hair. I picked up my round Spornette brush at a Pure Beauty shop downtown, but you can find them online at Folica.com or any other beauty supply store. My Spornette is from their Provo collection, which uses boar and tourmaline enhanced nylon bristle. The contour of the brush allows for easy styling without un-due pulling. I have the 3" diameter size but it comes in four sizes, so you should pick the one that is appropriate for your hair length. It really is lightweight and helps to dry my hair faster and with style. Try one out yourself!

Brush Lovely1

Steal of a Deal: Smoothing Primer from Sephora

I have reviewed Smashbox's Photo Finish Foundation Primer before, but it has a steep price tag at $36. If you like a primer that smooths out your face and mattifies your skin, then head towards the Sephora Brand display and try their Smoothing Primer. It has a light scent and feels oily when you put it on, but then after it sets, your makeup up glides on like a dream. It is more or less identical in form and function to Smashbox's, but at $22, Sephora Brand is a bit more of a steal!

Smooth Lovely!

5 Steps to Great Skin From The Somme Institute

As I have talked about before, I have struggled with acne since I was a teen. It comes and goes, sometimes it's manageable, sometimes it's the bane of my existence. Recently my face has been particularly bad, probably due to stress. Just when I had given up all hope, a package arrived!
The Somme Institute's 5 step skincare system is based on their exclusive patent pending technology breakthrough - Molecular Dispersion Technology 5 (MDT5). This formulation of engineered vitamins A, B (B3 & B5), C, D & E at high concentrations has been shown to produce profound visual changes in skin texture, tone, and clarity to recapture a radiant, youthful complexion. I hope so!

I've been using the 5 step system for about 2 weeks now, in the morning and evening, and so far I like what I see. Each product is in a simple white container with a different color dot on each bottle or jar. I love the Transport pads (step 2: purple dot) because it really feels like the AHA and BHA are getting into my skin and cleaning it deep down! It feels like it is pulling out all the gunk in my pores, exactly what they need! I've still had a quite few breakouts but they seem to be healing faster and it doesn't dry me out like other acne systems. The science behind the products is convincing. You can see for yourself in the before and after shots on their site. The whole system is a bit pricey but if it really cures acne and reverses sun damage it just might be worth it.
They do have a travel-sized mobile kit for $85 with the whole system in smaller sizes. If you are reluctant to invest in the full sizes, this might be a great option!

Cleanse Lovely!

Mineral Bronzer from AfterGlow

The nice people at AfterGlow Mineral Cosmetics, based close by me in San Carlos, sent me one of their organic lose mineral Glow Bronzers to try out. They come in three shades: Light, Medium and Deep. I got Deep, but it isn't too dark for my extremely pale skin if I use it sparingly. I need a little help in the color department these days, living in San Francisco. I dust it all over my face and neck for a touch of "sun" without the damage. Mica is the first ingredient, so it is slightly sparkly to add to the glow. I like that AfterGlow uses certified organic extracts, like grapefruit and rosemary. Natural and organic is all the rage right now, so they are smart to use these in their products. If you are interested in having the products you wear on your face be made from ingredients you've heard of and can pronounce, check out the site and see what else they have to offer.

Bronze Lovely!

Bright Pink Cheeks From NARS for Spring

Bored of my usual rosy blushes and golden bronzers, I headed over to the NARS display at Sephora to find something new. I love my Orgasm blush, but I wanted something fun and different. NARS has a huge selection of powder blushes and they all have great texture and pigment. They may be on the expensive side (25$ each) but they last forever and the compact is so sleek and chic. I ended up getting Crazed, a raspberry red with a shimmer. It is incredibly bright, so I just dust on a little on the apples of my cheeks. It's a fun look but not for everyday, though it is definitely in tune with the spring trend toward vibrant colors. Everyone needs a little brightness in their life, why not start with your blush?!

Pink Lovely!

SLACKER!!!

I've been a complete slacker lately when it comes to posting. So sorry guys! Now that things in my life have settled down, I'll be back in action... starting now! There are some great new products I've been trying out and some fun events coming up, so I promise to keep you... posted! Thanks for not giving up on me.

Slack lovely!