Special Edition - Beauty Picks of the Month: October [Breast Cancer Awareness]

October... October... It is officially the beginning of Fall...

It is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month and also the month for and excuse to eating lots and lots of candy!!

For this months Beauty Picks, we decided to do a special featuring some beauty products that you can buy to contribute to the fight against breast cancer and to raise the awareness.

Essie Nail Polish '31 Days of Pink' - $8

EOS Lip Balm 'Strawberry Sorbet' - $3.29

Bobbi Brown 'Pink Peony Set' - $45

Nails Inc 'Pinkie Pink' - $9.50

Stila 'Positively Pink Set' - $18

You can click on each image to learn more about the product and to also learn what foundations and amount of the proceeds that will be donated to breast cancer awareness.

Useful Resources:

http://www.nbcam.org/

http://ww5.komen.org/

http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/

Beauty Picks of the Month: September

Since Fall is almost here, we decided to choose some of our favorite plum and burgundy beauty favorites!

Here goes..

#1) Essie Nail Color 'Skirting the Issue' $8

A beautiful burgundy wine colored nail polish! Our all time favorite nail color choice for Fall! Essie always has such great colors, and the formula is highly pigmented and long lasting!

#2) MAC Eyeshadow 'Sketch' $12

This is an amazing shadow to use all over the lid for a mysterious look! A great burgundy It has tiny flecks of shimmer throughout the eyeshadow that will twinkle under the moonlight!

#3) Too Face La Creme Lipstick in 'Sweet Maple' $21

This is a plumy brown color thats perfect for those who dont want to do the all out deep dark plum lip color. Great for everyday wear, and that gold case is so luxurious!

#4) Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Liner in 'Twilight Night' $22

These famous long wear gel liners from Bobbi Brown are all so pretty! Especially the ones that have a slight shimmer! This color is the perfect addition to their line of best sellers with a dark plum color with gold flecks in between!

#5) NARS Cream Blush in 'Montenegro' $28

More of a reddish plum color, this blush is a cream so if you like having more control on the amount of color, these cream blushes are great! Rub a little bit of this color on your finger and blend into the apples of your cheeks!

What are some of your favorite plum or burgundy beauty picks?

Beauty Picks of the Month: August

For our August Beauty Picks, we decided to highlight some of the newest beauty sets that have just come out at Sephora, that we thought were noteworthy!

Here they are!!

Smashbox 'Master Class 11 Meet the Masters Palette' $59

This kit that Smashbox came out with is just amazing! You basically have everything you would need to create the perfect look for day or night. The unique thing about this palette is that it comes with 4 brow powders AND 8 cream eyeliners, which a lot of the palettes out there really lack. This is a great bang for your buck type of product!

Too Faced 'The Iconic Collection' $39

Too Faced always has the prettiest packaging! All the products in this kit are great, especially the blush and bronzer duo which is similar to the infamous NARS 'Laguna/Orgasm' duo, a great alternative at a lesser price.

LORAC 'PRO Palette' $42

The thing I love most about this palette is that it comes with an even number of matte and shimmery eye shadows, with 8 each. A lot of palettes come with a majority of shimmery shadows, but LORAC has always been good about including matte shadows along with their eye palettes, which I love! However, their eye primer isn't the best, so I would stick to one that you use on a daily basis.


Stila 'Lovely in London' Palette $16.00

I've always loved these collectible destination palettes by Stila. They are compact so they are definitely travel friendly, and they usually come with shades that you would actually use together. This year they have also added their convertible color on the bottom which can be used for cheeks or lips! A lot better than the powder blush it used to come with. I chose London because it has a great mix of colors to use for the upcoming Fall season!


Any new favorite beauty picks you would like to share?

Beauty Picks of the Month: July

This month, we wanted to share with you our most coveted beauty products that are perfect for traveling!

If you're a jetsetter, or planning a vacation, here are some great beauty products to bring along with you!

Yes to Cucumbers Travel Essentials Kit - $14.99

The towelettes in this kit are awesome! This kit comes with a travel 10 towelette pack, and its designed to soothe and moisturize for people who have sensitive skin. It also comes with a travel sized soothing Eye Gel to combat puffiness and dark circles, and their mint Lip Butter to moisten and soften, both products perfect for taking with you on the plane! They also take off face makeup!  Use the case it comes in to carry all your other travel essentials! Other facial wipes from 'Yes To' are their Yes To Blueberries (brightening and age defying) and Yes To Tomatoes (blemish clearing).

Too Faced 'Glamour to Go' Palette $22.00

We chose this palette because it comes with a variety of colors that you can't go wrong with. Create looks for a day sightseeing, or a fun night out! We especially love that it comes with both a bronzer and a blush that is both buildable and natural, and also a pretty light pink lip gloss! Not to mention it comes in an adorable case =)

Sigma Beauty 'Mrs Bunny' Travel Makeup Brush Set $59.00

Apply your makeup flawlessly with Sigma's Mrs. Bunny Travel Brush Set! It comes with all your essential brushes including a powder brush, blush/contour brush, foundation brush, blending brush, shadow brush, pencil brush and small angled eyeliner/brow brush! They also come in a functional cylinder which can be used to both hold your brushes while traveling and to use as a brush holder on your counter!

Marc Jacobs 'Daisy Eau So Fresh' Rollerball $20.00

Rollerball's are the perfect fragrance essential made for traveling! They are small and compact to fit in your purse or travel bag, and can be rolled on directly to the skin instead of spritzing. Use on your pulse points (wrist, neck and behind the knees) to get the full effect of the fragrance and longevity. They usually come in all different scents, but our favorite is Marc Jacobs 'Daisy Eau So Fresh'!

Herbal Essence 'Hello Hydration' Travel Shampoo and Conditioner $1.25 each

We love the Herbal Essence 'Hello Hydration' line! Its especially great to use while traveling because it keeps the moisture locked into your hair without making it feel greasy or weighed down. The smell is absolutely refreshing!

What are some of your favorite travel essentials?

Beauty Picks of the Month: June

Since summer is finally arriving, we decided to do this months beauty post on our favorite bronzers! For me, bronzer's are a must have for all year round, but especially during the sunny summer months! Bronzer's are such a versatile product when it comes to beauty because they are multi-functional, and can sometimes create wonders!

Nars Bronzing Powder in 'Laguna'

Hands down the best bronzer out there! It has a slight shimmer which is only noticeable when it counts! Its highly pigmented but it can also be brushed on with a larger powder or blush brush to be more subtle for an all over glow. Perfect for contouring the cheeks and temple, and its very long lasting and not splotchy at all!

Urban Decay Baked Bronzer in 'Gilded'

This is a great bronzer when you want a noticeable glow to your skin! Its easy to blend and it's not too pigmented, so you can easily build color to your liking. Its a great bronzer for summer because of the gold shimmer effect, and it pairs nicely with peachy toned blushes!

Chanel Soleil Tan (one color fits all)

This is the most innovative product out of the bunch! Its a creamy bronzer that fits any skintone! It blends miraculously and its also matte so it is great for contouring and creating dimension. Its easily build able also, and best applied with a flat blush or bronzing brush so no splotchiness or streaking occurs.

Tarte Matte Waterproof Bronzer

If your planning on spending a lot of time at the beach, this waterproof bronzer might just be your magic trick! I find that this bronzer works best with warmer tone skin because it can come off a bit ruddy if you apply too much. It says its matte, but I found that it does have a really slight shimmer to it. A great travel product to pack on your summer vacay!

Keep an eye on: MAC Hey Sailor! Pro Longwear Bronzing Powder

This bronzer was just released and there's been great reviews on it! Ive never tried any of MAC's bronzers before but Im really intrigued by this one. Its supposed to go on super duper smooth and last all day long. A good bronzer is actually hard to come by, so if you get a chance to snag this one before its sold out (limited edition) I suggest giving it a go!

What are some of your favorite bronzers? I would love to hear other suggestions!

Beauty Picks of the Month: March 2012

Hey Everyone!!

Its the beginning of the month, which means its time for another Beauty Picks of the Month!

Spring is the perfect time of the year to really play with color! In the psychology of color, it is believed that a lot of the time, the colors you wear or surround yourself with, directly affects the mood your in. One of the greatest artists in our time, Pablo Picasso once said 'Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions.' 

In small doses, certain colors can be used to evoke feelings and emotions such as love, comfort, warmth, cheer, excitement and serenity. That being said, using different shades of bright lipstick colors such as reds, pinks, and corals can improve your mood as well as the moods of people around you, in an instant! For this Spring, don't be afraid to bust out that hot pink lipstick that's been lying around. Take a risk and own it =)

Here are some lipstick beauty picks for March, specifically chosen to start off the Spring season:

Lancome 'Rouge in Love' Lipstick'

$25.00 each

24 different shades

Sub-grouped into 3 different groups each with their own browns, pinks and reds:

Jolis Matins: Daytime

Boudoir Time: Cocktail hour

Tonight Is My Night: Nighttime

picture taken from: www.makeup4all.com

These exciting colors are brand new to Lancome! I recently found out about their launch from none other than the famous beauty YouTube guru Michelle Phan, in her video 'Rouge in Love'. The color is highly pigmented and can last up to 6 hours! Its moisturizing and lightweight, and they have a ton of different shades to try. If your hesitant about trying some of the brighter colors, start with a color like 'Jolis Matins' which is a soft peach or 'Roses in Love' which is a rosy pink. If you get comfortable wearing one of these shades, try kicking it up one notch and go for a color like 'Miss Coquelicot' a bright coral, or 'Midnight Rose' a fuschia pink!

MAC 'Too Supreme' Sheen Supreme Lipstick Collection Spring 2012

$14.50 each

13 shades (10 cream finish, 3 frost finish)

picture taken from: www.nitrolicious.com

MAC came out with their modified Sheen Supreme lipsticks last Spring 2011, which have a  sheer glossy finish. These new Sheen Supreme lipsticks, called 'Too Supreme', are said to have more color, and more shine! A couple of shades such as 'Insanely It' and 'Bare Again' were revamped for the 'Too Supreme' collection, but 11 of the other colors are brand new to the Sheen Supreme lipstick collection, which will be added to the regular line of Sheen Supreme lipsticks, making a grand total of 24 different shades! Colors such as 'Insanely It', 'Zen Rose' (limited edition), and 'Royal Azalea' are all fun and unique colors to try out for Spring!

Dior 'Dior Addict Extreme' Lipstick

$30.00 each

16 different shades (4 are exclusive to Sephora)

pictures taken from: www.britishbeautyblogger.com and www.sephora.com

Sephora Exclusive 'Saint Tropez' 336

Sephora Exclusive 'Pink Icon' 366

Sephora Exclusive 'Holiday' 479

Sephora Exclusive 'Cruise' 486

I've always been a big fan of Dior, and their new line of lipsticks 'Dior Addict Extreme' is made to be long lasting, and plumping as well! They have a great variety of color, from your nudest nude, to your darkest berry! Great colors to try this Spring would be 'Lucky', 'Plaza' and 'Riviera', all bold and bright colors!

Smashbox 'Be Legendary' Lipstick (limited edition)

$19.00 each

22 different shades (cream and matte)

only showing 10 of the 22 shades. picture taken from: www.westyleny.com

There are actually 22 different shades in Smashbox's 'Be Legendary' lipstick collection, and they are all Limited Edition! So grab one, or maybe a few, before they sell out! They are supposedly very creamy and glide on smoothly. Shades I would recommending grabbing would be most of their bright matte colors ('Infrared Matte', 'Fuchsia Flash Matte', and 'Electric Pink Matte') because you don't see bright matte lipsticks too often, although a lot of makeup companies seem to be catching onto the matte lipstick trend that everyone loves to rock these days!

Beauty Picks of the Month: February 2012

Hey!

It is the beginning of February, so it’s time for another Beauty Picks of the Month post! We all need our beauty fix!

Makeup brands have been launching their Spring 2012 Collections, and since Spring is my favorite season for seeking out new beauty finds, I was really excited! Color, color, and more color! I also had to throw in the new Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette =)

I wasn’t going to list ALL the Spring launches, so I chose my top picks that I thought were worth sharing =D MAC has an array of different Spring collections which will be available at different times in February, and the only one I really took an interest in was the MAC Cook collection. Not so sure if I’ll be buying any of these, so I didn’t list it, but it’s worth checking out.

Here goes!

Have a fabulous February!

I was actually really looking forward to what Essie was going to come up with for their Spring collection, but I was just really disappointed.. the colors just didn't WOW me.. But then... I saw the Butter London collection and was like.. 'Hallelujah!' I tend to like more creamy, matte nail colors so Im really loving 'Bossy Boots', 'Slapper' and 'Trout Pout' the most out of this collection.

Ive never owned a single Bobbi Brown product, EVER, throughout my entire makeup career! Pretty sad huh?! lol I hear so many mixed reviews on their products that Im always sitting on the fence when it comes to really purchasing.. but, I thought their new collection of Lip Colors and Shimmer Bricks will be worth a try. Those bright lipsticks are really tempting me =P

Of course I couldn't exclude Chanel from this list! Glossimers are my all time favorite lipgloss so I had to put their Spring collection on here. They will probably put a hole in my pocket, but the glossimers are just one of those products that make a girl feel special =D

Ok, the infamous Naked 2 palette! Dun Dun Dun... Didn't get the first one since they are ALWAYS soldout wherever I go.. so I thought I would work my way backwards and get the Naked 2 palette FIRST! They priced it $2.00 higher than the first Naked palette, don't know what the deal is with that.. I guess because its so popular, but if your getting 12 amazing eyeshadows... its still only $4.17 per eyeshadow..

Im more of a tinted moisturizer kind of gal, and NARS has never seemed to fail me with any of their products so far. Ive been using the popular Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, which works great, but I thought this product would add a little more luminosity to my complexion for the Spring and Summer months. Don't know how much coverage this product has, but I guess I will just have to wait and see! Available February 1st at Nordstrom, but Ill probably wait to buy it on their website available February 15th.

What are your February Beauty Picks? Have you tried any of these products yet, or plan too? I would love to know!

Beauty Picks of the Month: January 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I hope everyone had a fun and safe New Years!!

To start off this year, we will be having a new segment every 1st of the Month called 'Beauty Picks of the Month'. These will be products that we feel are some of the best beauty  products  out there that we would recommend trying, or a beauty launch we are dying to get our hands on.

The reason why I wanted to do this, is mostly because I had a bunch of  people telling me I should really incorporate  more of my experience with makeup into this blog. So, I hope all you beauty addicts out there  find these posts informational as well as inspirational.

To kick everything off with a 'bang' for the new year, here is the first post!!

Enjoy and Cheers to a fabulous 2012!!!

Josie Maran '100% Pure Argan Oil'

Winter is definitely a time where our skin needs more attention since most people tend to get dryer skin. Josie Maran's 100% Pure Argan Oil is the perfect treatment for your skin if you have any dry spots, flaking, or just need a moisture boost. This is a very versatile product that can be used on pretty much any part of your body, including your hair! Even though it is an oil, it does not make you look and feel like a grease ball! Use it at night right before bed and then spot treat in the morning on the dryer areas.

Where to Buy: Sephora

Price: $14-$96 (depends on ounces)

NARS The Multiple 'G-Spot'

Using a cream color for your cheeks are the most appropriate during the winter months. It won't suck up all the oils on your skin like a powder blush sometimes would, they last long, and it looks natural.

The Nars Multiple in 'G-Spot' is part of their Holiday 2011 Collection. It is a pretty rose color with very tiny specks of gold to add a little bit of sparkle. The texture is very creamy so it blends incredibly well. The Multiple comes with a ton of product to last you, and it can even be use not only on your cheeks, but as a color for eyes and lips!

Where to Buy: Narscosmetics.com

Price: $39

Smashbox Bionic Mascara 'Jet Black'

Mascara can sometimes be very damaging to your lashes, especially if it is a waterproof formula. The formula of this mascara is made out of natural moisturizing ingredients such as aloe and olive oil, which helps to keep your lashes healthy and strong.

If you are looking for a mascara that will help lengthen and volumize without smudging or flaking, this product is your savior! This mascara does have a thicker formula, so to avoid any clumps, gently wiggle the mascara wand from the base of your lashes and slowly pull up and out. Beautiful lashes in an instant!

Where to Buy: Smashbox.com

Price: $19

CO Bigelow 'My Favorite Lip Balm'

This lip balm could also pass for a lip gloss because it leaves a bit of shine behind when you put it on. With shea butter, jojoba, and sweet almond oil, as some of the ingredients, it has a whole tube full of moisturizing properties that will help to keep your lips from looking dry and dull.

I personally like to use this product by itself, or if I wear lipstick, I will put it over my lipstick and use it as a gloss because it is not sticky at all.

Where to Buy: Bath and Body Works

Price: $7.50

MoroccanOil Restorative Hair Mask

To protect your hair against all the environmental free radicals and also to keep your hairs elasticity, a hair mask is a great way to treat your hair and yourself to some pampering. MoroccanOil is already known for their great hair products, and this one does not fall short. Use this a couple times a week to help rebuild hair strength, restore healthiness and shine.

After shampooing, apply to your damp hair and let it sit for 7-10 minutes, then rinse.

Where to Buy: Select Salons

Price: Prices vary depending on the vendor

Essie Nail Color 'Chinchilly'

The formula for Essie Nail Colors are one of the best. Super creamy and smooth, and they last long. The color intensity does differ depending on the color, and Chinchilly is more on the sheer side, so you will need at least two coats.

The color in the photo looks more beige/nude, but Chinchilly is actually a very pretty greyish/light pewter color, which is so perfect for January. When you think grey, you also think, 'dull' and 'gloomy', but this particular color, for some reason is very complimenting.

Where to Buy: Target

Price: $7.79