Golden Globes: Elaine Irwin and Almay

Here’s Elaine Irwin at her first event since she and John Mellencamp separated…

Elaine Irwin Celebrates The Golden Globes At The Weinstein After Party

Elaine Irwin celebrates at the Relativity Media and Weinstein Company Golden Globes after party presented by Marie Claire in Los Angeles.

To capture her glamorous look, Almay recommends the following products:

FACE:

Almay Bronzer in Sunkissed: Exceptionally light powder has a velvety texture which applies smoothly and evenly to your face.

Almay Smart Shade Smart Balance Pressed Powder in Medium: Utilizes Almay’s patented technology to transform your ideal shade upon application and keeps your skin balanced with a soft matte finish and light coverage that minimizes the appearance of minor flaws and imperfections.

Almay Smart Shade Anti-Aging Makeup in Medium: Uses shade sensing beads that transform to match skins exact skin tone and works to instantly reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

EYE:

Almay One Coat Get Up & Grow Mascara in Black: Almay’s first anti-breakage, pro-vitamin formula instantly lengthens the look of lashes and defends against breakage so lashes can grow to their healthiest and longest.

Almay Intense i-Color Smoky-i Kits for blue eyes: Lightweight powder formula blend effortlessly with its velvety, suede-like texture and expertly coordinated combinations instantly intensify your unique eye color bringing out its natural brilliance.

LIPS:

Almay Ideal Lipstick in Bronze: Infused with peppermint for a refreshing, minty sensation upon application.

FASHION:

Dress: Marchesa / Shoes: Barneys Co-Op shoes / Jewelry: Lorraine Schwartz

www.almay.com

Golden Globes: Selena Gomez and Anastasia Beverly Hills

In addition to her gorgeous gown, Selena Gomez was Anastasia Beverly Hills all over. Take a look…

Get the Look: Anastasia Beverly Hills for Selena Gomez

Celebrity make-up artist, Karan Mitchell, created selena gomez’s red carpet look for the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards using exclusively Anastasia Beverly Hills products.

Inspiration: For the Golden Globes, Selena chose a beautiful Catherine Deane coral colored gown with golden chain accents. Karan Mitchell wanted the make up to be complimentary to her dress so she focused on the coral and golden shades.

Steps To Achieve Selena’s Show Stopping Eyes & Lashes:

For the base of the lid, Mitchell used the first two shades from the ILLUMIN8 with YOUTHFUL SYNERGY™ COMPLEX EYE SHADOW PALETTE #1, blending on the eyelid as well as from the crease to the brow as a highlight.

Then she blended the soft plum accent shade 4 from ILLUMIN8 with YOUTHFUL SYNERGY™ COMPLEX EYE SHADOW PALETTE #1on the crease as well as blending up and outward all the way to the eyebrow on the outer edges.

Next, Mitchell wet the deep onyx shade from ILLUMIN8 with YOUTHFUL SYNERGY™ COMPLEX EYE SHADOW PALETTE #2 and used it as a liquid liner on the top lashes.

Treat your eyelashes as you do your hair. You want to round-brush Lash Lifting Mascara into the root of your upper and lower lashes for definition.

Steps To Achieve Selena’s Fierce Brows:

To define brows begin with sketching in Brow Wiz (Selena used Medium Ash) over brows using light upward strokes, filling in brows completely, as if you were drawing little hairs.

Then use the wand brush on the other end of Brow Wiz to blend the brow color through. This will soften the product and create a natural effect.

To highlight the brow bone apply Brow Duality (Selena used Camille/ Sand) highlighter pencil on the brow bone starting above the iris to the end of the brow and blend using the fingertip.

To ensure longevity brush Clear Brow Gel in short upward strokes, being sure to apply in the same direction of hair growth. This will lock it in!

Steps To Achieve Selena’s Gorgeous Lips & Cheeks:

Using the amazing wand, swipe HydraFull Gloss across the lips.

Using your ring finger gently tap the crème cheek color from the Highlighting Crème Duo (Selena used St Tropez) to apples of cheeks, blending to hairline.

For a sexy glow and highlighted cheekbones apply a small amount of the liquid highlighter along the cheekbones and blend on to your shoulders too!

Snap Shot

BROW WIZ: Easily mimic brow hairs with this skinny brow pencil. Available in 3 shades in Sephora, Nordstrom, Ulta, HSN.com & Anastasia.net

BROW DUALITY: Bring subtle focus to the brow bone with this dual ended pencil. Features a matte highlighter on one end and a shimmer highlighter on the other. Available in 2 dual ended shades in Sephora, Nordstrom, ULTA & Anastasia.net

CLEAR BROW GEL: Clear gel keeps unruly brows in place all day without flaking. Available in Sephora, Nordstrom, ULTA & Anastasia.net

ILLUMIN8 with YOUTHFUL SYNERGY™ COMPLEX EYE SHADOW PALETTES: Unique clinically and consumer tested eye shadows proven to illuminate, firm and smooth the appearance of skin. Available in 5 shades in Sephora, HSN.com & Anastasia.net

LASH LIFTING MASCARA: Deep black mascara adds full volume thickness and uplifting curl in one stroke. Available in Sephora, Nordstrom, ULTA, HSN.com & Anastasia.net

HIGHLIGHTING CREME DUO: Liquid shimmer and sheer crème blush duo feature light diffusing pigments to reveal a beautiful subtle glow. Available in 2 shades in Sephora & Anastasia.net

HYDRAFULL GLOSS: Clinically tested gloss proven to help maximize and maintain lip hydration and fullness. Unique paddle applicator smoothes product across lips. Available in 8 shades, in Sephora stores and on Anastasia.net in Summer 2011.

Golden Globes: Fab Makeup Trends

In addition to all of the oohing and ahhing about the hair; I need to balance things out. With the makeup…and nails...and stuff...

Makeup Trends from the Golden Globes

Trend #1 - The Perfect Glow

Emma Stone and Michelle Williams were fresh-faced and dewy, in peach tones and subtle shades. Both actresses chose peachy-pink lips and cheeks paired with long, luscious lashes for a naturally stunning look. Try FusionBeauty SculptDiva Contouring & Sculpting Blush in Crave and LipFusion Micro-Injected Collagen Color Shine in Sweet. Available at Sephora.

Trend #2 - Bright Lips

January Jones paired a glossy red lip with a striking red dress to achieve a “Hollywood Glam” feel. To get this look, try jane iredale Lip Fixation in Rapture, a timeless and long-lasting red stain with a gloss on the other side for subtle shine. At shop.janeiredale.com.

Trend #3 - Striking Eyes

Megan Fox complimented a pale pink dress with siren-like smoky eyes. Get the look with jane iredale Mystikols – a dual-ended eyeliner with a powder eyeliner on one end and a shimmering highlighter on the other. Smoky eyes can be achieved without a whole makeup bag of products. Mystikol in Onyx. At shop.janeiredale.com.

Trend #4 – Neutral Nails

January Jones’ chose the classic French manicure to contrast her statement gown and glossy red lips. To achieve the perfect French manicure in 4 easy steps—try Orly’s French Manicure kit. At SallyBeauty.com.

Globe winner Natalie Portman chose to downplay her nails for the evening with a demure gray polish. China Glaze in Avalanche adds a finishing touch to high-fashion looks. At SallyBeauty.com.

Golden Globes: HBO Luxury Lounge and L'Oreal Paris Beauty Suite

I’m surprised anyone ever makes to the actual show. I would end up spending the whole evening in the Luxury Lounge. Check out L’Oreal Paris’ divine suite…

HBO Luxury Lounge featuring the L'Oreal Paris Beauty Suite at the Golden Globes

L’Oreal did it again this year at the Golden Globes – taking over a suite at the HBO Luxury Lounge in the Four Seasons Hotel and transforming it into an intimate refuge for A list celebrities to come and be pampered – a hideaway among the fray going on this busy weekend.

The L’Oreal Paris Beauty suite at the HBO Luxury Lounge offered manicures, pedicures, hair styling, make-up application, men’s mini facials and tutorials on their newest products including:

· Youth Code Serum and Moisturizer both fighting stress, fatigue, and aging;
· Double Extend Eye Illuminating Mascara that complements all eye colors;
· Hydra-Energetic Ice Cold Eye Roller, which fights dark circles and under eye bags;
· EverSleek sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner providing 48-hour frizz control;

Celebrities that stopped by included:
· Ali Fedotowsky
· Taylor Armstrong
· Melissa Joan Hart
· Gilles Marini
· Members from the cast of True Blood
· Members from the cast of Boardwalk Empire
· Jessica Lowndes
· Sarah Rue
· Kate Flannery
· LL Cool J
· Perrey Reeves
· Natalie Morales

Golden Globes: Anne Hathaway, January Jones, Emma Stone and Alterna

Alterna was responsible for one of my favorite looks of the evening. Anne Hathaway’s sophisticated 70’s-inspired look was amazing. January Jones and Emma Stone were rocking their looks too.

Alterna Helps You Get Red-Carpet Ready Hair in a Flash

From sleek and sophisticated updos to gorgeous flowing waves, the stars showed off a number of stunning hair styles during the Golden Globe Awards. Alterna Professional Haircare has helped some of the biggest bombshells turn heads on the red carpet and the catwalk – and they’re here to share some tips on how to “get the look”.

Get a Smooth & Sleek Look like Anne Hathaway:

· Blow dry hair straight and spray Alterna’s Kendi Dry Oil Mist to eliminate frizz, shield hair from heat styling tools, enhance shine and protect color.

· Separate hair into small sections and use a 1-2 inch barrel curling iron to create soft curls throughout the entire head

Get a Voluminous Look like January Jones:

· Shampoo and condition hair as usual. Apply Alterna’s Maximum Volume Styling Cocktail containing the perfect mixture of Hemp Thickening Compound for Volume and Caviar Full-Body Volume Crème for Hold.

· Blow out with a round brush and set the crown of the hair with hot rollers

· Finish with hair spray, and Ta-Da – you’ve got yourself some VOLUME

Get an Up-Do like Emma Stone:

· Finish any updo with Alterna’s Bamboo Smooth Anti-Humidity Hair Spray (available February 2011) an ultra-dry, humidity-resistant, flexible hair spray that locks out frizz while locking in style

· Made with organic Bamboo, the results are amazingly smooth, sustainably stronger and healthier hair

Golden Globes: Tina Fey and Remington

More old Hollywood glamour from the thoroughly modern Tina Fey (using thoroughly modern tools)…

Tina Goes Glam

Best Actress nominee and presenter Tina Fey was stunning at last night’s Golden Globe Awards in a navy L’Wren Scott gown and a chic updo. The velvet column dress and curly chignon channeled elegant, old Hollywood glamour. We got the red carpet secrets to achieve this gorgeous look straight from her stylist, Remington's Richard Marin:

Apply a texturizer or curl enhancing mousse to wet hair and blow dry using the diffuser attachment to create frizz-free curls and waves (Try the Remington T-Studio Pearl Ceramic Dryer with exclusive pearl technology for extra shine!)

Use a small barrel iron - Marin recommends the Remington Style ¾ inch curling iron - to curl random sections of hair

Shake hair several times (do NOT brush!) and mist hairspray throughout

Pull hair into a loose low ponytail and twist into a loose bun at the neckline. Secure with bobby pins, spritz shine spray and you’re ready for your close-up!

Golden Globes: Megan Fox and Phyto

Another stunning trend was the sophisticated old-Hollywood look. Check out how Megan Fox pulled it off…

Megan Fox’s old-Hollywood look - Megan Fox in an Armani Prive gown and soft old-Hollywood waves.

Megan Fox looked stunning with her side-swept classic ‘do, with the help of hairstylist Andy Lecompte and Phyto. Below is Lecompte’s step-by-step to achieve Fox’s winning look.

Hairstylist Andy Lecompte was inspired to create a classic look for Megan Fox with a glamorous vibe to complement her stunning one-strap gown.

To achieve this look, Lecompte started by applying Phyto Professional Intense Volume Mousse before blow drying. He set her hair using a 3/4-inch barrel curling iron and then pin curls. Once he released the pin curls, Lecompte brushed out her hair and gave the hair a deep side part.

Golden Globes: Amy Adams and Moroccanoil

Amy Adams looked fabulous at the Globes, didn’t she? Check out how she got that gorgeous look…

Red Carpet Alert: Amy Adams Hair Look at Golden Globes

Golden Globes nominee for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Feature Film, Amy Adams, looked radiant as she wore a gorgeous strapless Marchesa gown with her fabulous red hair worn in a flowing, back-braided updo created by celebrity stylist Laini Reeves.

Laini Reeves explains how the look was styled:

I wanted to create a soft 20’s mood, but in a different, modern way. We started by changing the texture of her hair before we went on to loosely braid and roll the chignon.

Amy has a beautiful, full and thick head of hair and a nice, natural wave. We started by washing her hairwith Moroccanoil® Moisture Repair Shampoo which infuses the hairwith argan oil, keratins, fatty acids, and proteins. Combined with Moroccanoil® Moisture Repair Conditioner, it immediately controlled the hair and left itsmoother, frizz free and easy to manage and style.

I then applied Moroccanoil® Hydrating Styling Cream while it was drying, from root to end to give soft hold while further smoothing the texture and adding definition and shine. I rough-dried the hair with my hands to get the water out and created a bit of a messed up texture with a slight touch of wave for a more modern, freer look. The hair was air dried except at the roots, where I used a blow dryer.

Next, I used a 1” curling iron to make curls in different parts of the hair that needed to be filled in and then smoothed and blended them in. I made a side part and prepared some pieces from the front of the hair to frame her face, pinning them in an “S”-shape and away from the rest of the hair.

I gathered and pulled back the rest of hair, made a loose braid that I doubled up, rolled upwards and pinned at the nape, with the cross texture side of the braid showing. Only five thick bobby pins were used to secure the style in place.

Finally, I released the “S”-shaped sections in the front and pinned them behind the ear to open her face up and to show off her cheek bones. I then sprayed the look with Moroccanoil® Luminous Hairspray to keep everything in place with movable shine, without looking like it was sprayed.

Products used to achieve Amy Adams' look:

Moroccanoil® Hydrating Styling Cream gives beautifully hydrating and natural-looking hold while eliminating frizz, and adding definition and shine.

Moroccanoil® Luminous Hairspray is argan oil-infused for lasting, healthy and natural-looking hold with shine.

The originator and industry leader of luxury, professional argan oil-infused styling, finishing and conditioning products for the hair, the Moroccanoil® brand is world renowned for its proprietary lightweight, instantly absorbed formulas and unparalleled results.

Moroccanoil’s argan oil is harvested under a free trade program, which provides substantial socio-economic support to thousands of families in the Southwest region of Morocco. Moroccanoil® products are sold exclusively in fine salons. Consumers can find the nearest salon by visiting http://www.moroccanoil.com.

Golden Globes: Heidi Klum and Astor

Here’s Heidi doing the glam thang with more of that 70’s awesomeness. I’m mad curious about Astor too…

Heidi Klum Looks Glam At The 2011 Golden Globes

ASTOR Brand Ambassador and Artistic Advisor, Heidi Klum, attended the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California.

Heidi rocked the red carpet with glamorous 70’s inspired makeup. She emphasized her eyes with a playful combination of plum and chocolate hues, while her extra long lashes added a hint of drama to this sophisticated look. The soft and subtle peach cheek and lip kept Klum looking radiant and fresh faced, providing an all over glow, perfect for the red carpet.

To capture her glamorous look, Heidi wears the following products:

FACE:

ASTOR Mattitude HD Anti Shine High Definition Foundation: Mattitude HD provides an even matt natural looking finish with 16 hours of shine control. The oil free and light gel formula leaves skin feeling soft and supple and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

EYES:

ASTOR Colour Vision Eyeshadow Palette - Tropical Velvet (shade 010): This easy to apply eye shadow with a crease resistant formula provides a long lasting, flawless look.

ASTOR Big and Beautiful False Lash Look Mascara: The unique, extra-soft brush plumps and fans lashes to look 5 times thicker while the customized formula enriched with Natural Cotton, Silk powders and Keratin moisturizes and pampers eyelashes.

LIPS:

Perfect Stay Lip Tint – (shade 400): The new 2-step Perfect Stay Lip Tint & Balm offers weightless colour that won’t rub off or smear. Lips are tinted with transfer proof colour so light you’ll forget you’re wearing it – but your lips won’t.

www.astorcosmetics.com

Golden Globes: Beauty Trends from ELLE.com

The Golden Globes were gorgeous this year (oh yeah, and people won awards and stuff). I’m all about the 70’s groove right now, so I’m starting with two faves (you can check out the rest at Elle.com).

Top 2011 Golden Globe Beauty Trends

Leighton Meester’s half-updo was loose and au naturel, giving it a carefree seventies vibe.

Anne Hathaway paired her sequined seventies-esque gown with a likeminded hairstyle: According to Frédéric Fekkai stylist Adir Abergel, her waves merged 1970s glitz with old-Hollywood glamour.

Check out more cool photos: here

Many Me’s, One Polish: Estée Lauder Limited Edition Nail Lacquer in “Wild Storm” (review)

Hello everyone – and thanks for being so patient! This is probably the longest break I’ve ever taken. The holidays are always dicey; but this time around, there were a lot of other things thrown into the mix as well. Many of the changes I made in 2010 led to questions about who I am and what I need…which led to more changes…then more questions…then…you get the picture. There’s been a lot of balancing and adjusting; and it all required waaaay more time and energy than I thought it would. Go figure.

Tomorrow I’ll be posting all of the cool Golden Globes info I got, and then Friday I’ll be passing along some great launch and product news. And of course…reviews!!

Tonight, let’s start with a nifty product review. Phase 2 of a giant snowstorm is going on outside of my window right now, and it’s pretty awesome. What’s also pretty awesome is that tomorrow will probably be a snow day!! I think a tie-in is order. How about something called “Wild Storm?” From Estée Lauder.

Pure Color Nail Lacquer (In "Wild Storm")

Blurb: Be among the first to try it and turn your fingertips into fashion statements. All-new formula previewing now in Wild Violet, Spring 2011. Experience the entire new collection in a wardrobe of sensational shades.

This is the first time I’ve tried an EL polish and the quality is top notch. It went on evenly, covered in two coats, and dried quickly. I applied it on Monday, and didn’t need to touch up until Saturday.

The color is a definite win. It’s a satiny pewter with a hint of shimmer. It’s very flattering, and it also manages to be chic, modern and incredibly versatile. It easily works with a black suit, a flowery dress, jeans, a cocktail dress, and/or an edgy evening look.

EL’s whole Spring 2011 Collection (Wild Violet) is gorgeous; and I’ll be reviewing more from the collection later. In the meantime, visit the website to have a look. You may even want to take a peek at the Valentine's gifts sets sets too. Estée Lauder is also available in fine department stores.


And while I'm still feeling thoughtful on a snowy evening, how about something from Snow Patrol? This song always stops me in my tracks; and tonight the words seem especially meaningful (so I'm embedding the version with the lyrics). Good night!




(ftc disclosure: sample/product received from manufacturer or representative)

Still here! Almost back!

The second week of 2011 required me to disappear for a bit and take care of some very urgent matters. I'm not back yet...but almost.

In the meantime, why not enjoy some groovy music. If you know someone who has a negative vibe, force them to watch this (wink).



Back soon!

Hair Care Friday: TRESemmé Fresh Start (review…and belated thoughts on the new year)

Things are finally getting back to normal (sort of). The New Year got off to a great start, but it was also a very busy start. Despite the chaos, I’m feeling very grateful for all of the changes that the year has brought; and I’m really excited about the year to come. I know there will probably be more changes, and I think they’ll be good ones.

One of the things I concentrated on during 2010 was getting rid of things that no longer suited me or added to my life. I thought a lot about what wasn’t working in my life and releasing things, people, activities, and expectations that were keeping me from moving forward.

I have to say, I did a pretty darn good job of releasing stuff! And I ended up feeling a lot happier, lighter and freer than I have in a long time. I also feel that there’s now room in my life to find out what really will make me happy. So I guess my “focus” for 2011 is to find new things in my life that do work. It's wonderful to have a relatively clean slate again; and I can’t wait to see what kinds of new things come in the months ahead.

Normally, I would have posted these musings (aka meandering thoughts) in a separate post; but since I’m behind schedule, I’m going to double up and include a fine hair care review today as well. And I couldn’t resist the opportunity for the first obvious tie-in of the new year. How about a Fresh Start for your hair? From TRESemmé?

Fresh Start Waterless Foam Shampoo


Blurb: Give curls moisture and shine in-between washes with this unique foam shampoo. Reduces oil and odor without water, leaving hair feeling soft and clean.

Fresh Start Refreshing Mist

Blurb: Add shine and neutralize odor in between shampoos with this unique spray. A quick spritz transforms dull, lifeless hair into shiny, smooth strands.

Fresh Start No Frizz Crème

Blurb: Eliminate frizz and get a smooth style with this lightweight créme. Refreshes hair without buildup so you’ll look perfectly polished even when you don’t shampoo.

I decided to feature these products partly because their name was a perfect fit for this post – but also because they did a great job. I have the kind of hair that needs attention every day. I can’t just wake up, brush it out and go. Luckily, I got to try these items out during a very hectic time, and I was very happy to have them around!

The Waterless Foam Shampoo is genius! It has a light, pleasant (not perfumey) scent and left my hair feeling clean and soft. The Refreshing Mist is probably my favorite product. Not only did it give my hair shine and a bit of curl definition after using the Shampoo; it was also an excellent mid-day refresher. It calmed flyaways and perked up my curls. The No Frizz Crème was also a nice addition to the other two products. The first time I used all three together in the morning, I was amazed at how great my hair looked in such a short time. My hair was girls’ lunch good.

I didn’t get a chance to try out the Dry Shampoo, but I suspect it's also wonderful. These are fine products, and they’re a great value too!

You can see the entire collection the website, as well as check out the Awards and Offers, and Backstage pages. TRESemmé is sold in grocery stores, drug stores and places like Drugstore.com and Sally Beauty.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend, and wonderful year of new beginnings!



(ftc disclosure: sample/product received from manufacturer or representative)

I Feel...Overwhelmed

Hello everyone and Happy New Year! I had planned to post on New Years' Eve; but events decided otherwise. After a ton of traveling, a snowstorm, a hectic (but fun) New Years' weekend and a crazy month/year end at work; I finally found a moment for this quick hello.



I should be back to "normal" in a day or so, so please forgive me for taking so long to get back to you with my beauty news and reviews. It won't be long!


Hope your holidays were wonderful and your New Year is off to a great start!

Worth A Thousand Words…Holiday Fun From Our Sponsors!

I’m getting ready to head on out west to see my family, so I won’t be posting until just before the New Year. Just in case the holiday stress is getting a little intense, here are a few funny vintage ads that made me smile. Enjoy!

This ad proves that some things are timeless. What could be more homey and festive than twinkling electric holiday lights? And by all means, let the baby play with them!

These ads always crack me up. Of course “Mom” wants Tupperware for Christmas! Don’t let those beauty mongers convince you otherwise!

Again…more proof that women dream of nothing but household tasks all year long. (This advertisement also confirms that Mrs. Santa was a total hottie back in the day.)

And lest you think only American women live for domestic chores, check out this ad from “across the pond.”

Okay…now we’re talking. She just got a Cadillac for Christmas! You know why? Because her food is stored properly, her husband’s shirts are perfectly ironed, and the rugs in her home are immaculate!

Occasionally, it’s one of those Christmases where everyone already has everything they need. What to do? Matching family pajamas! Don’t “Dad” and “Brother” look “neat” wearing pink? If the boss stops by, Dad could be in for some serious ribbing at the water cooler. But Brother had better hope none of the kids from school pay a visit…or he’s toast for the rest of the school year.

The next year, “Mom” wised up and everyone got…FIREARMS! Way to go, Mom!

Boys and girls, ignore all those people who tell you to stay in school and work hard. This is how you get to be president!

Speaking of celebrity endorsements…I wonder if they had the same power as they do nowadays. This may have been the year that a nation full of confused loved ones heard faint cries of “help me,” and hurried down the stairs on Christmas morning to find “Mom” parked under the tree, glamorously arrayed, yet unable to get up (due to being weighed down by several tons of couture fabric).

The following year, “Dad” laid down the law, and “Mom” was only allowed to be extravagant from the neck up. “Dad” still looks concerned though. Don’t worry. He’ll cheer right up as soon as he finds out he got a gun for Christmas!

Hope you all enjoyed my little break from beauty.

And in addition to humor, I also hope that your holiday is full of warmth, love and more blessings than you can count!

Oh…and here's something pretty :) Happy Holidays!

Get This! Estée Lauder NEW Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara (rave review)

Even though I’m getting over my little virus; I’ve still got enough zip in me for a beauty review. Especially when it’s something this exciting! From Estée Lauder.

NEW Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara

Blurb: Lashes seem to multiply, magnify, grow to extremes. Three different high-volume fibers create audacious, false-lash effects. Extreme Bold Volume™ formula is a blend of three high-volume fibers in a mousse-light base. Acts like lash extensions multiplying and growing the look of lashes. Fortified with conditioning Lash-Advancing Vitamin Complex. Unique interlocking fibers build volume + length. Hollow fibers create massive volume, without weight. Ball fibers fill in and fill out even the sparsest lashes. Oversized BrushComber Extreme™ with two types of bristles-flexible fibers carry maximum formula; solid fibers comb and separate for clump-free definition.

The awesome just got awesomer - thank you Estée Lauder!

I’ve been a giant fan of EL’s Sumptuous mascara since I first tried it. Now I’m never without a tube. (I call it my “desert island” mascara.)

Guest what - this new incarnation is even better! It has all the benefits of the original formula, so it lifts, curls and gives me that flirty doe-eyed look. And…it ups the volume! Waaay up. I got loads of sexy, dramatic volume and no clumps. It also feels light weight, and still has the same great lasting power (no flakes or smudges).

Extreme Black was my favorite; and I also loved the limited edition Extreme Indigo (a deep flattering blue). This mascara is also available in Extreme Brown and Extreme Violet (limited edition). Fabulous!!!

As always, I recommend starting with a coat of EL’s Lash Primer Plus. I also recommend you visit the website for special offers, and shop the Holiday Gift Guide. Estée Lauder can also be found in fine department stores.

(ftc disclosure: sample/product received from manufacturer or representative)

Happy Winter! (Part 2): Nuxe Rêve de Miel Hand and Nail Cream (review)

In addition to my fun conversation last night, I also came down with a bug. Which means that today I’m resting as much as possible and drinking fluids like a good girl. I also have the heat turned up. That’s great for my sore throat and congestion, but not so great for my hands.

But...what a perfect excuse to discuss hand cream! From Nuxe Paris.

Rêve de Miel Hand and Nail Cream

Blurb: This repairing and non-greasy cream wraps damaged and sensitive hands with softness. Apply freely on hands and nails. Nourishing and protecting, this astounding cream will help you get heavenly hands. Its ultimate refinery comes from the fact that it also strengthens your nails and softens your cuticles. Active ingredients: Chilean Rose, Avocado and Sweet Almond Precious Oils nourish and fortify damaged tissues. Acacia Honey, with its natural repairing properties, provides elasticity to fragile skins.

I go through hand cream like crazy during the winter, so I get opportunities to try lots of different ones. Not all of them stand out, but this one certainly does. First – I really like the fresh herbal fragrance. It’s especially welcome during the winter.

What’s even more welcome, though, is how well this cream works. It instantly softens, smoothes and soothes. It also absorbs quickly and keeps my hands pretty and soft without any greasiness. I like that my hands look and feel better immediately. And it’s one of the few hand creams that made a noticeable difference on my cuticles.

This is the first time I’ve tried something from this company, and the website seems to have quite a few other lovely items worth checking out. If you visit, read about Nuxe’s philosophy too. Nuxe is also available at Beauty.com and Dermstore.com.

And just so we're fully winterized...

I can’t remember if I’ve posted this video before; but even if I have, it bears re-posting. Amy Winfrey has made some of the strangest, cutest, cleverest, funniest animation I’ve ever seen; and this is probably my favorite. Enjoy and Happy Winter!

(ftc disclosure: received as sample with purchase)

Happy Winter! (Part 1): Dr. Denese HydroShield Ultra Moisturizing Face Serum (review)

I meant to post this review yesterday, but ended up staying out late to have a fabulous conversation. So today there will be two reviews. Both of them for products to soothe dry, winter skin. Here’s our first lovely item. From Dr. Denese.

HydroShield Ultra Moisturizing Face Serum

Blurb: A Customer Choice Award winner supercharged hydrating serum that locks in moisture to drastically reduce the look of dry lines and wrinkles. It intensely moisturizes skin for a soft, supple, luminous, more youthful look. So if your skin feels dry by midday, you need HydroShield®. If you see more dry lines around the eyes, cheeks and mouth area, each and every year, you need HydroShield®. Remember: Dry skin equals wrinkled skin. Hydrated skin equals plump, dewy, youthful looking skin. Suitable for any skin types from dry to normal to dramatically and almost immediately change the look of dry lines on your face. If your skin is oily, place it only around the eyes and neck and on dry patches--not on the oily T-zone. HydroShield® is remarkably effective for skins with dry lines and wrinkles, as it locks in hydration to recreate the youthful look you once had.

This is one of the most hydrating serums I’ve ever used. If winter dryness is an issue for you; I highly suggest giving this a try. Ingredients like ceramides and retinol provide both anti-aging and moisturizing benefits.

When I used this serum, I found that it spread evenly, had a silky feel, and absorbed very quickly. There was no stickiness or slickness, but my skin felt very soothed and hydrated – and there was even a bit of plumping. My skin stayed very soft during the day – even when switching from dry, cold, outdoor air to dry, warm, indoor air. Excellent product!

Take a look at all of the HydroShield products on the website. There are also some great gift ideas to browse. Dr. Denese is also available through QVC.

(ftc disclosure: received as a sample with purchase)

Hair Care Friday: Cutler Specialist Cleanser + Conditioner with Olive Oil for Dry, Damaged Hair (review)

It’s Friday night and I have gotten almost nothing done on my “to do” list. I recently signed up for Netflix, and I spent waaay too much time adding things to my queue and watching old TV episodes on my computer. It’s pretty awesome. But not very productive. Especially when I’m supposed to be getting ready for my Christmas trip next week.

Okay. So I’m not quite ready to do anything yet; but maybe if I talk about one of the products I’m taking with me; it will get me started. Some nifty hair care from Cutler.

Specialist Cleanser + Conditioner with Olive Oil for Dry, Damaged Hair

Blurb: Why simply shampoo your hair when this one product can do so much more? This specially-formulated Cleanser + Conditioner is a revolutionary way to cleanse and achieve healthy-looking, shiny hair that's soft and bouncy - with just one product! Specially formulated for dry, damaged hair can be used in place of shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioner, de-tangler, anti-frizz, shaving cream and body wash. Single-step, detergent-free formula cleans, conditions and defrizzes hair without lather. Detergent-free formula helps minimize color-fading, loss of elasticity and natural oils. Helps add body and shine to hair. Leaves your hair looking and feeling beautiful and healthy.

Now I actually like all the gazillion beauty steps, like shampooing, conditioning, leave-in, etc., etc. However, the TSA has made it their business to stamp out both terrorism and good grooming. Trying to bring lots of bottles in my carry-on seems to cause all kinds of commotion; so I really make an effort to pare down my beauty regimen (I do it for America and to keep my fellow passengers from hating my guts).

This product is coming with me to Christmas! I used a smaller amount than recommended in the directions, and still got clean, shiny, soft hair. It cleaned well, conditioned well; and it’s detergent-free, so my color is safe. I also tried it as a body wash, and got excellent results. And it made a surprisingly good shaving cream!

Check out the rest of the products on their very cool fancy website. You can also find Cutler at HSN.

One of the things I’ve been watching tonight are old episodes from The Office. Here’s one of my favorite scenes ever…



Have a great weekend!

P.S.: Sorry I missed yesterday’s post.

(ftc disclosure: sample/product received from manufacturer or representative)

Fresh-Faced Wednesday: (MALIN+GOETZ) Grapefruit Face Cleanser (review)

I’m still short on time today, but at least I’m getting my review in before sundown. Check out this fabulous cleanser from (MALIN+GOETZ).

Grapefruit Face Cleanser

Blurb: Our foaming cleansing gel synthesizes natural grapefruit extract with amino acid-based cleansing agents. Unlike traditionally harsh detergents that can be drying, stripping and irritating, this formula gently and thoroughly purifies and hydrates to ph balance all skin types, especially sensitive. Rinses residue free, eliminating the need for a toner. Perfect make-up removal. Natural fragrance and color. Easily integrated into daily maintenance and prevention regimen.

They’re eco-friendly, green, rely on natural apothecary style ingredients and work hard to minimize their carbon footprint. There’s a bunch of other conscientious stuff they do which you can read about here.

Of course none of that would be very interesting if this wasn’t an excellent cleanser. Luckily…it is an excellent cleanser. The bottle says it’s PH balanced for all skin types, and that may be the reason it feels so easy on my skin. We had a recent cold snap, and my skin has been really sensitive – but since I’m also prone to breakouts, a cleanser with lots of oils is not my friend.

This cleanser is surprisingly gentle, yet it cleans very effectively. My skin feels smooth and balanced after I rinse. It leaves my skin feeling super clean, but not dry or stripped. And it also has a fresh grapefruit scent!

Check out the website and browse all of the other planet-responsible items. There’s a great gifts section, an excellent travel page and a whole page of videos. And be absolutely sure to check out the Product Hounds.

(ftc disclosure: purchased myself)

Lashtastic Tuesday: Lancôme Cils Booster XL Mascara Base (review)

It’s been a hectic day followed by an evening on the phone. Whew. I need a nice beauty break before bed time. I’m thinking…Lancôme.

Cils Booster XL Mascara Base

Blurb: Give your lashes an XL boost. With just one sweep, this innovative mascara base glides on and evenly coats and smoothes your lashes to maximize the results of your favorite Lancôme mascara. The magic behind this mascara base is the conditioning formula—featuring micro-fibers and Vitamin E - to add extra length and thickness to your lashes for added visible performance to your mascara.

If you’re wondering about whether the extra step of using a mascara base or primer is worth it, it absolutely is - but only if it’s a really good product. I’ve tried a whole bunch of mascara bases and primers over the last couple of years and this is only the second one I’ve loved enough to feature here. It’s mighty awesome!

Cils Booster acts as an excellent primer, and even adds some of length and volume on its own (yay!). It also conditions and protects my lashes from the drying effects of mascara. And…it's a wonderfully smooth base – which makes any mascara I use go on more easily, look better and stay put!

Check out the website. You can take advantage of free shipping right now (no code needed) and take a look at the Limited Edition Beauty Sensation and the Holiday Gift sets. You can also find Lancôme at nice department stores and Sephora.

(ftc disclosure: purchased myself)

A Smoother Monday: Lisa Hoffman Vitamin A&C Serum (review)

Today was not nearly as “Monday-ish” as I thought it would be. I felt really frantic all weekend; but I guess I got more done than I thought. The day actually went pretty smoothly. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the whole week is just as easy.

Speaking of smooth (and didn’t I already do the smooth thing yesterday? Oh well…). Here’s a great skin-smoothing serum from Lisa Hoffman Skincare.

Vitamin A&C Serum

Blurb: This vitamin-rich serum retextures and improves skin clarity while reducing the appearance of fine lines to leave skin luminous. The silky formula also hydrates and adds radiance. After 15 minutes of application, 93.10% of participants agreed they liked the way the product absorbed into the skin. After 30 days, 79.3% of participants reported a lessening of deep lines and wrinkles. After 30 days, 82.76% of participants noticed an improvement in skin texture.

This was in my last Beautyfix kit, and it was a while before I got around to trying it out. I’m really impressed. First at the ingredients. It’s water free, and has lots of Vitamin A and C antioxidant protection. I liked that it absorbed almost immediately, and offered a tiny bit of hydration. I really appreciated how well it worked with my moisturizer(s) and foundation(s).

After about three weeks, my skin was looking and feeling very smooth. I’m not sure if there was a lessening of the deep wrinkles; but some of the tiniest lines were definitely minimized. What I noticed most was the overall smoothness of my skin. And I loved knowing I was getting a giant dose of antioxidants every morning.

The website has a cool Vitamin A & C Try Me Kit. There’s also a nice selection of Holiday Gifts and a very cool spa collection. You may also want to sign up for their special welcome offer.

(ftc disclosure: purchased myself)

Hair Care Friday (Sunday Edition): Kérastase Masque Oléo-Relax Slim (review)

It looks like Hair Care Friday is a couple of days late (oops). This year, the holiday season has been a lot crazier, so I’m not quite as on top of things as I could be. A little more smoothness…and control would be very nice.

But (prepare for corny tie-in), even if there isn’t a product to completely control and smooth out my schedule; there just so happens to be one to provide those things for my hair. From Kérastase Paris.

Masque Oléo-Relax Slim

Blurb: Intense Smoothing Masque for Thick, Dry, Rebellious Hair. Provides discipline to rebellious hair while delivering deep moisture and nourishment. Results are intense volume reduction. Moisturizes and provides hydrophobic protection with 24-hour anti-frizz protection. Smoothes and nourishes hair fiber from within creating optimal shine and softness.

If your schedule is crazy, be assured that this is is going to be a short review. This stuff is so great it doesn’t need a whole lot of words. It works. Big time.

I used it before a blowout and got one of the most amazing accidental compliments ever. Someone at work said she couldn’t remember…was my hair naturally straight or naturally curly?

Whoa.

That’s how well this product tamed my (naturally) curly fuzzy out-of-control hair. Some one had to actually ask me.

It not only made my blowout, soft, smooth, shiny and frizz-free (all day). It also got rid of my (naturally) fluffy volume, and my hair was straight and swingy. Like I was born that way.

Whoa.

Check out the website. Be sure to visit the Exclusive Offers and Salon Locator pages too. Kérastase is also sold at Target, CVS, and folica.

Hope you had a great weekend!

(ftc disclosure: sample/product received from manufacturer or representative)