50 and Fabulous: “If there’s one thing that Madonna is, it’s 50 and fabulous – am I right?? Not that I fool myself into believing that it comes easy to her. One look at her toned arms and I know this mama works for her bod and youthful face!
Luckily, the makeup maven behind Madonna’s new album cover, shuemura Artistic Director, Gina Brooke, gave us the low down on how to get Madonna’s look!
Brooke says that the Hard Candy cover was all about the eyes and that she was inspired by images taken in the sixties by photographer Sam Haskins (Cowboy Kate, Five Girls, and November Girls). All it takes is 4 easy steps and you may just come out looking like a modern version of a 60s superstar yourself!
So here goes….Step 1: Face Prep
Prepare the face with the Moisture Eye Zone Mask to hydrate your eyes and calm puffiness. For some added moisture, apply Phyto Black Lift Firming Cream to your face. Lastly, to highlight your radiant skin, apply Face Architect Smoothing Fluid Foundation beginning in the arch of your brow down to the middle of your eye, directly onto the middle of your cheekbone.
Step 2: Bold Eyes
Use a brush to apply M Beige 800 Pressed Eye Shadow above the eyelid and then use the 9YR Light Cover Crayon in the inner corner and water line to make your eyes appear larger. Finally, using a Black Drawing Pencil begin at the inner corners extending the line all the way to the end of the eyebrow.
Step 3: Lashes Galore
Curl your lashes and use Basic Black Mascara. To enhance the shape of your eyes, use Soft Cross Lashes.
Step 4: Finish off with Lips
Madonna’s look is all about the eye, so the lips are kept simple with PK301S Rouge Unlimited Crystal Shine, topped with BG 930N Gloss Unlimited.
You can get all the products mentioned on the shu uemura-usa website…so all that’s left for me to know now is where in the world can I get that dominatrix outfit Madonna is sporting!!?? (JUUUUST kidding )”
Makeup For All-no wonder Sonia Kashuk’s line is found at Target. She brings gorgeous colors and tools out in her Spring 2008 collection at completely affordable prices.
Shimmery neutral colors can be found in her eye shadow duo ‘Tongue in Cheek.’ A sand color for the brow bone and lid and a milk chocolate color for the crease.
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Her ergonomic Blusher Brush has synthetic hairs that are super soft. While I thought this brush was a little big, I liked how the handle curved to the shape of my hand.
I also used her Beautifying Blush in Melon (34)-and the color truly resembles the fleshy color of a watermelon. Sonia Kashuk’s Sheer Lip Glossing with No-Feather Pencil kicks ass. The top portion of the tube contains a lip pencil that is a pale pink color. When you apply it-it is translucent. Apply the Sheer Lip Glossing with its brush applicator and you have gorgeous shimmery, no-feather lips. ‘Sexy’ is a plum color that I am wearing and it is long lasting.
Voila! The colors on me. I couldn’t find most of the products I received on Target’s website, but I believe they are all available in store. There are so many more goodies here for me to try out and those reviews will be posted in the days to come.
Have you seen her spring collection at Target? What did you think?
A Bounty of Body Lotions!: “I don’t know about you, but now that Winter is winding down and Spring is (slowly) coming, I need to take better care of my skin. I have plenty of rough patches and areas of dry, flaky skin. Not a good look for the coming months! To help get my skin back into shape, I’ve been trying out a bunch of different moisturizers.
Here are my thoughts:
NIVEA BODY NATURAL TONE What it’s supposed to do: ‘Enriched with naturally derived eventone complex and UVA/UVB sun-protection, it gradually evens out skin tone and helps prevent future discolorations while keeping skin soft and moisturized.’ Cost/availability: about $7; available at drugstores Thoughts: It goes on easily and absorbs quickly into my skin. It feels cool and light and has helped even out my skin tone a bit. However, I don’t like the way this product smells. There’s nothing offensive about it’s scent…it just has a generic drugstore scent to it that keeps me from using it as much as I should. Grade: B SEPHORA BODY BUTTER IN RIVERA BLUE What it’s supposed to do: ‘This thick, luxurious moisturizer rejuvenates skin with natural shea butter and beeswax, which softens skin and prevents against moisture loss.’ Cost/availability: $16 at Sephora Thoughts: This product has a very strong, distinctive scent. I personally love the way it smells–it has a clean citrus/lavender/sandalwood scent that I really like. It comes in a big tub that you stick your hand in to get the product out–not the best design, but ok…whatever. It makes my skin feel good and smell good, but if you take away the scent, you have just an average product. Grade: B-
OLAY BODY QUENCH MOUSSE ACTIVE HYDRATION What it’s supposed to do: ‘…gives you three dimensions of hydration: sheer coverage - glides easily and evenly onto skin, instant absorption - penetrates quickly beneath skin’s surface, lasting hydration - continuously moisturizes throughout the day.’ Cost/availability: about $7 at drugstores Thoughts: I’m a klutz when it comes to using mousse. I can never gauge how much is enough and how much is too much. This is true of hair mousse, and it’s true of this mousse-style body lotion. That said, this product feels nice and cool when it goes on. It smells a little like watermelon (which I don’t particularly like). I think it takes too long for this product to dry, resulting in tacky feeling skin. Grade: B-
CLEAN LOGIC REFRESH BODY LOTION IN REFRESH WITH NOPAL What it’s supposed to do:‘Nopal plants are indigenous to Mexico and have been used for centuries to cure an array of ailments. Most notably, Nopal is known for its deep healing and anti-inflammatory properties with antioxidants that can help neutralize the harmful effects daily activities and stress can have on the skin. Nopal can even help to prevent wrinkles, balance skin tone and moisturize to keep skin looking youthful.’ Cost/availability: just under $13; available at cleanlogicbodycare.com Thoughts: This lotion doesn’t have parabens or other nasty ingredients. It’s spearmint scent is strong coming out of the tube, but doesn’t linger–probably a good thing. I like the way this product feels–it goes on easily and feels light. I would like to keep this in the fridge so that it goes on really cool for the summer. Grade: A
KIEHL’S CREME DE CORPS LIGHTWEIGHT BODY LOTION What it’s supposed to do: ‘This light-weight body lotion, a lighter version of our classic Creme de Corps body cream, moisturizes skin and leaves it soft and smooth all day long. Our ‘Creme de Corps Light’ is ideal for normal or dry skin and is formulated with unique, skin-soothing ingredients derived from nature - Jojoba Butter, Olive Fruit Oil, and Sweet Almond Oil. The formula helps protect against damaging free radicals and further helps skin to maintain its natural moisture balance and prevents moisture loss. Absorbs quickly and instantly soothes and conditions skin for a lovely, silky feel with ‘dress-and-go’ convenience.’ Cost/availability: $21.50 at Kiehl’s stores or online Thoughts: I love this one! It’s light but it really leaves my skin hydrated. Because it has almost no scent, I can use this right out of the shower and not worry about how it’s scent is going to interact with my perfume (if I wear perfume!). This is a very simple product, but sometimes simple is good. Grade: A
What’s your favorite body lotion? Leave me a comment and let me know!”
Great Mother’s Day Gifts: Yves Saint Laurent: “Every mom deserves a little luxury in her life … and what better time to shower her with lavish gifts than on Mother’s Day? So this year, why not go the extra mile and pick out a little something for her from Yves Saint Laurent? But if you’re like this beauty chick, you’ll bypass the trademark smoking jackets and luxurious bags in favor of the amazing beauty products available on Yves Saint Laurent’s website. Conveniently for all of us, there’s a special section devoted specifically to gifts for moms. Here are some items it would be pretty hard for a mom to say no to!
elle Yves Saint Laurent Must Have Bag Accessory ($56): A ring-linked gold chain holds a signature YSL charm, fuchsia lipgloss and solid perfume in the luscious peony-berry-and-patchouli-scented Elle fragrance — perfect for dangling from your favorite handbag!
Opium Rich Body Creme ($75): The rich, sensuous, heady scent of Opium is laced through an absolutely luxe cream that sinks right into the skin — such an amazing indulgence.
Palette de Maquillage Multi-Usage ($60): Gorgeous shades of pinks, plums and golds add up to three eyeshadows, three lipsticks, one lipgloss, one highlighter, one blush … and a whole lot of love for Mom with the gigantic heart at one end.
YSL Paris Love Spray ($40): Violet, bergamot and sandalwood, oh my! Paris is joyful, seductive and refined all in one. And when hanging from a delicate satin ribbon, the limited-edition bottle is lovely and oh so elegant.
As an added bonus, Yves Saint Laurent is offering free ground shipping on any order of $80 or more. Kinda makes you want to pick up a little something for yourself while you’re at it, doesn’t it?
I once sunburned my lips so bad on a beach trip that Mick Jaggar and I could’ve been twins. For nearly a week, it hurt to eat, drink and even talk. Now, I don’t dare go swimming, to the beach or even outside for long periods of time without throwing a tube of SPF-infused lip balm into my bag. Here are our picks for sun-proof lip products that smell, feel and look so sweet you wouldn’t ever guess they are packed with sunscreen.
The Mint Balm SPF 15 by Glospa: Cool off with this minty moisturinzing and healing balm infused with hemp, soybean and mango seed oil. Offers full-spectrum SPF 15 and fits perfectly into any sized bag. At www.glospa.com, $12.
24/7 Lip Sheers SPF 15 by Tarte Cosmetics: These moisturizing lip savers blend Vitamin E, mango and cocoa butter for sun proof smooches. Their new Summer Fling shade is the perfect peachy pink perfect for hot summer days and lounging poolside. At www.tartecosmetics.com, $14.
Balm Lip Conditioner SPF 15 by Bliss: Don’t even think about going outside without this clear, flake-fighting balm that safeguard lips from dryness and harmful rays. Use alone or under your favorite lip color or gloss. At www.blissworld.com, $10.
BalmShelter SPF 17 by The Balm: Stay glamorous and protected with these long-wearing glosses available in a rainbow of flavored shades. Keep it light with clear All-American Girl or go glitzy with shimmer-infused Valley Girl. At www.thebalm.com, $18.
Mentha Lip Balm Stick SPF 15 by C.O. Bigelow: Shield lips with this sweet almond oil gloss. Gives lips a slick shine without the mess or stick. At www.bigelowchemists.com, $7.50.
Tinted Lip Moisturizers SPF 15 by Juice Beauty: Mineral-tinted lip moisturizers made with all organic plant oils and botanicals. Packed with peach, guava and honey for super sweet smackers. At www.juicebeauty.com, $15.
Beauty Booster SPF 15 by Trish McEvoy: These complexion-enhancing color glosses hydrate and shield lips from the sun in one easy sweep. Go bold with Brighten Pink or subtle with Sexy Petal. At www.nordstrom.com, $25.
Schweppes Lip Balm Ultra-Moisturizing Trio SPF 15 by On 10: This trio of hydrating lip balms are flavored with Schweppes Pink Grapefruit Seltzer, Tonic Water and Lime Soda. Preciously packaged in novelty tins, these balms smooth and moisturize for luscious lips. Also in Hershey’s flavors. At www.sephora.com, $16 (pack of three).
Go Green - Turn In Your Toxins: “Turn In Your Toxins!! Turn In Your Toxins!! Just saying it makes me feel like a 19th century Newsie. You know, the kind that got to dance and frolic with the hotness that is Christian Bale circa 1992. I gotta give it up to the brains behind butter London for coming up with an eye catching line.
In conjunction with Earth Day and in an effort to detoxify your nail routine the Seattle based nail lacquer brand is asking you to ditch your toluene, formaldehyde and DBP laden polishes. Just relinquish 3 bottles of your old, toxic, nail polish and receive a coupon for a FREE bottle of their 3 Free formula lacquer.
But where do you go to score such a deal? butter London has teamed up with BrandHabit to help you locate a nearby retailer. BrandHabit is an online boutique locator that finds where your favorite designers are carried; from major labels to indie brands, including butter London. Unfortunately, butter London hasn’t made it to every small town in the land but it looks like some of major metros are included. Head on over to BrandHabit to find out!
As you know, one of my favorite skin care products is Philosophy Microdelivery Peel. I’ve only bought the product once, and it’s lasted me over two years, even though I use it about once a week. It’s worked wonders to keep my skin smooth, and it helps to keep it exfoliated, which helps to prevent acne. I’ve used lots of skin exfoliants, but this is my favorite by far.
Olay Microdermabrasion Treatment Shortly after I bought the Philosophy kit for $65, Olay released a very similar product - Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion & Peel System. Its ingredients are nearly identical to the Philosophy kit, but it retails for about $28 at your local drugstore. Well this week my Philosophy kit finally ran out, and I decided to try the Olay Microdermabrasion instead. It was on sale at Target for $23, and I figured if it didn’t work out, I could just return it, and go back to the Philosophy.
I’ve used it twice now, and the results it produces are nearly identical to the Philosophy. It really helps keep my skin smooth and radiant, and I would have a hard time telling the two products apart if I didn’t know which was which. The ph level of the Philosophy is a 2, while the Olay is a 3.6. In theory, I would gather that the Philosophy would work better to exfoliate the skin, due to its higher acidity level, but I think the results from the products are more due to the sodium bicarbonate (the scrub/crystals).
Since sodium bicarbonate is basically baking soda, I wonder what would happen if you used baking soda (mixed with some sort of gel alpha hydroxy acid product) to exfoliate your skin. I haven’t tried this do-it-yourself concoction, but for now I’m okay with paying $23 for the Olay product. I was also okay with paying $65 for the Philosophy version, since the results were so good.
You can’t go wrong with either of these two products, in my opinion. It’s hard to say which is better, but given the price point, I’d probably start with the Olay, unless you have money to burn. And I’m sorry for not mentioning the Olay earlier, but since I hadn’t tried it til now, I was hesitant to recommend it.
Flowery Professional markets disposable manicure and pedicure kits. Even though I’m not a nail professional, nor do I play one on TV (or the internet, for that matter), I thought these kits would be nice ways to get everything you need for a home mani/pedi.
4-way Buffer and Shiner (my favorite product in this kit)
Plastic cuticle pusher
Manicure stick
Nail brush (my runner up, especially since spring has sprung and gardening is in work at my home)
The nail file worked fine, no rips or tears in my soft nails and the 4-way buffer and shiner really did an outstanding job. It was easy to buff my nails up to a high gloss shine and I didn’t have to worry about applying any clear polish! Beautiful. The plastic cuticle stick was also gentle on taming my cuticles into shape. And the nail brush is sturdy enough to get out gardening dirt and grime from nail corners, beneath nails, etc.
With my once weekly use, all the items are still going strong and performing quite well. It’s a great little package and I love not having to buy everything individually.
Flowery’s kits are available in Sally Beauty stores (yeah!), or search the Flowery directory for an online store or a retail store near you.
Trend-Filled Thursdays: Products with Floral Packaging: “Spring is finally here … and that makes this beauty chick excited to sip margaritas at outdoor happy hours, wear skirts with flip-flops and no tights, and — of course — to see pretty flowers! But while I’m waiting for tulips and crocuses to spring up, I can at least content myself with one of the hottest beauty trends for spring — products with floral packaging! From blush crafted in the shape of blooming peonies to perfume bottles emblazoned with tangling vines, there are gorgeous blooms popping up everywhere. The beauties below simply make me blossom with happiness!
Dior Flower Blossom Compact ($52): Yes, $52 is a lot to spend on a single compact. But the multicolored blooms against a backdrop of shimmering pink pressed powder — inspired by Victoire de Castellane’s jewelry collection for Dior — is just so, so pretty.
Kenzo Flower by Kenzo Eau de Parfum ($50): A single poppy wends its way up the curved bottle, packed with a beautiful blend of violet, vanilla and rose for sweet seduction.
Clinique Fresh Bloom Allover Colour ($29.50): The color is gorgeous, the palette is out-of-this-world, it creates a beautiful glow, and I think I’d be happy to just keep this on my vanity forever and ever!
Stella McCartney Sheer Stella Eau de Toilette ($54): Roses open upon a ground of pale pink, making this so perfect for the vanity. And with floral notes like peony and freesia combining with sweet raspberry and spicy pepper, it’s such a mysteriously sexy scent.
Laura Mercier Eye Colour Quad ($38): Create the ultimate smoky eye with these limited-edition palettes, available in your choice of Shy Violet (deep purples and eggplants) or Wild Violet (lavenders and pearlized violets). I love them both so much, I’ll probably buy them both!
CARGO PlantLove Botanical Lipstick ($20 each): The botanical formula is infused with Orchid Complex, meadowfoam oil, shea butter and jojoba to keep lips soft and smooth. And the tube is made out of corn, which makes it environmentally-friendly!
The Body Shop Blushing Daisies ($19.50): Does it get much more springier than daisies poking up into the sunshine? These pearlized powders (available in either Light Pink or Dark Pink) lend just the right amount of shimmer to the cheeks and decollete.
Stila Creme Bouquet Hair Refresher ($28): Does your hair need a pick-me-up after a long flight, intense workout or, well, you slept in after your late night and have five minutes to get ready for work? Spritz on this oil-absorbing spray, scented with the gorgeous aroma of vanilla and amber.
Bath & Body Works Enchanted Orchid Satin Body Veil ($14.50): A blend of calypso orchids, violets and white irises becomes enchanting and intriguing in this spray-on moisturizer, held within a bottle simply brimming over with sprays of flowers.
10 TIPS FOR HEALTHY SKIN: “We’ve all heard about the plethora of products that offer the promise of a flawless face. Some of them work, most of them don’t. A lot of it is trial and error… figuring out what regimine is right for YOUR skin.
But there are some standard practices that really do help to give you a healthy complexion.
Here are my favorite ten to remember, cherish, and use!
1 - Vitamins are vital! Fish Oil has been proven to help in the maintenance of healthy skin and hair. I love the Pharmax Fish Oil with Essential Oil of Orange - it’s a liquid but it doesn’t leave any fishy after taste. It works to give you a glowing complexion from the inside, out.
2 - Don’t overwash… and don’t overdry! Too much washing or drying out of the face only leads to your oil glands actually producing more oil to compensate. Wash twice a day, at the most! And make sure to use a gentle, non-irritating cleanser that is anti-bacterial - to eradicate bacterias that fill your pores. Cetaphil’s antibacterial gentle cleansing bar is a great choice (and an inexpensive one!)
3 - Sunblock, sunblock, sunblock!!! Even if you love a nice tan, you MUST use sunblock EVERY DAY!!! The number one cause of wrinkles is sun exposure!!! And your sunblock should fight against UVA and UVB rays (click HERE for some great sunblock options!)
4 - Change your pillowcases every third night! It seems arduous but the truth is, dirt, bacteria and oils from your hair seep into the pillowcases thus seeping into your skin while you sleep. It’s vital to allow your face a clean, fresh fabric from which to relax and unwind.
5 - Wash your hands before going to bed! Again, clean hands help to keep unwanted dirt and bacterias AWAY from your face. You should really wash your hands consistently throughout the day but also before bed time. You know how they say germs are transferred from your hands to your mouth… thus, spreading virus’ and infection? Well, the same is true with hands to face… spreading dirt and bacteria!
6 - Eye cream must be made a part of your daily regime! Even if you have oily skin, it’s imperative that you hydrate your eyes. The skin around your eyes is a lot more tender and delicate, thus it needs special care. Eye cream should be dabbed - not rubbed - from the outer corner, inwards… twice a day! Click HERE for some fantastic eye cream choices!
7 - Don’t pick!!! This is the hardest rule for me to follow, so I’m gonna add an addendum - If you must pick (like when that white head has taken over your entire chin…), steam your face first. And please, I beg you, wrap your fingers in toilet paper so that you don’t transfer the dirt and bacteria from your fingers to your face/ pimple. Also, make sure to only press lightly… when you try and force the puss out, you’re actually spreading it around and infecting it!
8 - Drink as much water as you can possibly handle!!! This seems like common knowledge, but the truth is, we don’t drink as much water as we should. Water flushes out all the yuckiness inside of our bodies and it promotes health, bottom line! If you find that you’re not a water-lover, try adding a flavor to your water. I suggest Crystal Light on the go packs… they come in 10 flavors, they’re low in calories and they can be added to ANY size water bottle as easily as ripping the packet open and pouring it into the bottle!
9 - Even if you’re oily, you MUST moisturize! A common misperception is that oily skin doesn’t need extra hydration…. NOT TRUE! All skin needs hydration because hydrating your skin actually balances out the oiliness. Obviously, if you have oily or acne-prone skin, you should choose an oil-free, fragrance-free moisturizer. Something that is light and non greasy. There are thousands of moisturizers on the market… try them ALL until you find the one that suits your specific skin. But don’t skip this step!!!
10 - NEVER rub, ALWAYS pat! This is true when applying creams and medicines, and when drying your face after washing. Rubbing your skin stretches it, causing lines and wrinkles. It also ‘rubs’ the bacterias everywhere, infecting not only the problem areas, but the entire face. However, patting your skin - be it with a moisturizer or a wash cloth - is gentle and non abrasive to your face. It also allows the face to truly soak up the moisturizer, medicine, and/or face wash so that you experience the full effects of said products! When you rub, you rub off a majority of the benefits of these products as well!!!
Have a great skin tip? We want to know it! Leave us a comment in the box below!
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As you know, one of my favorite skin care products is 
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