Beauty Product of the Week: Exfoliating Scrub

What is it? Clinique's Exfoliating Scrub is a "skin-clearing, water-based scrub for strong, oily skins. De-flakes, refines, softens tiny lines. Leaves skin refreshed." Available at Sephora and wherever Clinique products are sold for $18.

What did you think? Clinique's description of this product is insanely stark, but also accurate. While I don't have strong, oily skin, I've been using this product off and on for the past 20 years (really? How in the world did I get so old?!?) and have loved the results. Whenever I try a new facial exfoliator, I inevitably compare it to Clinique's old stand-by. And product after product, I like what I get from Clinique better.

My skin feels smooth and soft after using this scrub. It doesn't strip away any of the good oils in my skin, but instead sloughs away the dead cells that can dull my complexion. My skin looks rosier (in a good way!) and the texture feels so much better when I use this product.

The final verdict? In my world, Clinique's Exfoliating Scrub is a consistent, reliable, effective product. Also, for less than $20, this is very reasonably priced. Add this to your skin care routine (use it twice a week), and you'll be happy with the results. I know I am! My skin's tone and texture are much improved. I've loved this product forever, and it remains one of my top 10 beauty products of all time.

ecoTOOLS Giveaway!

It's still April, which means it's still Earth Month! And to wind down the month, I'm hosting a little giveaway, thanks to my friends over at ecoTOOLs.

As a pioneer in environmentally-friendly cosmetic and bath and body care products that are affordable, effective, and eco-fabulous, EcoTools makes it simple to green your beauty routine without sacrifice; all you need are the right tools!

Just in time for Spring 2010, EcoTools unveils the brand-new body butter, body scrub, body mists and EcoPouf – helping consumers start the season with eco-friendly essentials for a spring clean and cleanse.

A little lather goes a long way as the pioneers at ecoTOOLS introduce yet another eco-innovation with the world’s first 100% recycled plastic bath sponge! Launching in March 2010 at Target stores nationwide, ecoTOOLS takes scrubbing to a new level and – pouf! – totally updates daily bathing routines. The first of its kind, the EcoPouf ($1.99) sets the standard for bathing, showing beauty buffs everywhere that getting squeaky clean and supporting sustainability can go hand-in-hand.

Strip skin of grit and grime, and replenish and restore radiance naturally with the “Polished & Protected” Body Scrub ($5.99). The earth-friendly exfoliating scrub contains crushed walnut shells that gently remove dry, flaky skin to reveal soft, smooth and stunning skin, proving you don’t have to sacrifice effectiveness for eco-friendliness! The brand-new “Replenish Your Natural Resources” Body Butter ($5.99) banishes dry skin while saving the environment. Enriched with mango butter that replenishes and hydrates all over, it meticulously massages to keep skin supple and well-protected. The body butter exudes a warm lavender, vanilla fragrance – and an eco-friendly recipe – that will put minds and bodies at ease.

Enrich the body and the earth with two fresh fragrances from ecoTOOLS. Featuring organic botanical extracts, the new “Passion for Change” Body Mist ($5.99) wraps the body in rich, earthly warmth with just one spray. Get back to basics with a natural, yet luxurious, aroma that soothes and settles. The new and improved “Blooming Planet” Body Mist ($5.99) returns with a revised floral fragrance. Notes of organic peony and passion flower shower skin with a sheer layer of soft, pink petals. With sophisticated scents, organic extracts and affordable prices, the ecoTOOLS body mists bare it all to bring green into daily beauty routines. Although you didn’t receive these samples, they are available upon request.

Now, here's the giveaway part: Leave me a comment and I'll pick two of you at random to receive an ecoTOOLS EcoPouf. I'll give you one week and will announce the winner next Wednesday. NOTE: this giveaway is open to US residents only--sorry! Please be sure to leave me a way to contact you. Good luck!

How To Look Good....When You Feel Like Crap!

I'm a relatively healthy person, but I do suffer from seasonal allergies (pollen is my arch enemy). To add to my sneezing and running eyes, I got a nasty cold last week. I spent too many days with a stuffed up nose, a raging headache, and the itchy-est, watery-est eyes ever. To put it short and sweet: I felt like crap.

But a cold/allergies can't keep a good woman down...oh no! So here we go...here are my quick tips for looking presentable when all you want to do is crawl under the covers with a box of aloe tissues shoved up your nose:

1. After you take all your meds, be sure to exfoliate and then moisturize. The skin around my nose and lips tends to get scaly and gross when a cold/allergies strike. Exfoliate your lips by brushing them lightly with your toothbrush, and be sure to coat your irritated nasal area with moisturizer.
2. Lay down a light foundation. When I'm not feeling great and I have to go out into the world, I don't like spend a lot of time on makeup. I've been swearing by Laura Geller's Barely There Tinted Moisturizer. It makes my skin feel good and provides a light amount of color and coverage.
3. Add a little color. To give my skin a little lift, I swipe a bit of Pur Mineral's Mineral Glow over my cheeks and on my eyelids (instead of wearing eyeshadow).
4. Groom the brows. Colds and allergies mean weepy eyes for me (so lovely), so spending a lot of time applying makeup that will run down my face doesn't make a lot of sense. I do, however, take a moment to make sure my brows are in place and fill in what I need to using Anastasia's Universal Brow Definer.
5. Curl lashes and apply mascara--at your own peril! Even if I don't bust out the mascara, I'll at very least curl my lashes. Since mascara is my favorite beauty product, I tend to add a quick coat of whatever waterproof mascara I have in my kit. I just think it helps make my eyes look a little more open and a little less frightening.
6. Keep your lips hydrated! A stuffy nose means mouth-breathing, and mouth-breathing means chapped lips. I've been using (and love!) LypSyl LypMoisturizer.

That's all I do. 6 steps to looking less awful when you're feeling like death warmed over. What do you do when you don't feel good? Do you even bother with makeup?

This Product Surprised Me!

I get a lot of products to try out...it's one of the hazards of being a beauty blogger! And I recently received a bunch of products from mark (a division of Avon). The products they sent over are double-sided multi-taskers called mini mark it sticks: on one end is a lip pencil , on the other side is eye color. The idea is that you can mix and match and make your own combination of colors.

Using a pencil on your eyes is nothing new, so that side of the mini stick didn't surprise me in any way. The lip pencil, however, I instantly dismissed. At first look, I thought--well, I would never use that. I don't use a lip pencil because I am not a big fan of that dark lined lip look. But then I looked at the lip pencil and realized it is meant to be used to color the entire lip. That intrigued me, but also concerned me. Would it make my lips too dry? Would the color go on nicely?

So with a level of trepidation, I swiped the Plummy Pearl pencil over my lips. And to my surprise, the color went on smoothly. My lips weren't cakey, they weren't dry....they felt shockingly slick. And even more surprising was that the pencil color produced a bit of shimmer. The Plummy Pearl reminded me--at least a little bit--of Clinique's Black Honey. And for a fraction of the price.

So there! My initial impression was meh!, but on final inspection, I don't think mark's mini mark it sticks are a bad product whatsoever. This product proved me wrong...and I'm glad for that!

A Quick Note About Comments...

Like every other blogger I know, I love getting comments. I like it when what I write makes readers respond. Receiving comments is a little like getting an unexpected gift.

Well lately, some of the comments I've received have been nothing but spam. I do my best to moderate these comments and to delete them as I catch them, but I don't always win this battle. So, here's the deal: I'm leaving comments pretty much as-is. However, on posts older than 14 days. I have to approve comments. If you leave a comment on an older post, you won't see what you wrote right away. This will help me to keep some of the annoying spam under control.

And on another note: if you happen to see one of the spammy comments, for the love of Pete, please do NOT encourage the bad behavior. Most of the spammers seem to be selling "discount" designer items. Please don't click on their links, please don't buy their products. That will only encourage them.

Ok, and this is my final note: I suspect these spammers are selling rip-off designer products. Before you purchase a fake designer product (on the internet, off the street, etc.), consider what your supporting when you go cheap...read this: The Danger of Knock Offs.

Lectures over...play nice.

Happy Earth Day!

Today is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day! Cosmetics and concern for the environment do not necessarily go hand in hand, but in a nod to being more green today, here a couple Earth Day beauty notes...

Hit the bar to go green Did you know that switching from liquid to bar soap is one of the simplest ways to go green and actually spend less?

Fact: Bar Soaps use less packaging – most are usually packaged in recyclable cardboard boxes – and weigh less than their liquid soap counterparts. Meaning they need less fuel to transport and take up less room in landfills. According to Country Living Magazine, “Substituting one bottle with a bar in each U.S. home would keep 2.5 million pounds of plastic out of landfills.” Also, less of the product goes down the drain during use, so you get more bang for your buck.

I personally use liquid soap, but I am going to try out some bars from Yardley of London Natural Soaps in Honeysuckle Citrus, Almond Milk and Lavender Wisteria to see if I can make the switch. It shouldn't be too hard since these moisturizing beauty bars combine the health and environmental appeal of all natural ingredients with luxurious scents and ingredients found in higher-end boutique soaps. . Available at all Rite Aid Stores and YardleyLondon.com for $3.

Spend some green on "green" products
Revamp your hygiene routine and go green at the same time. Your local drugstore and supermarket have a wealth of products that won’t break the bank. Fill your cart with these Eco-Friendly picks:

• Avalon Organics Vitamin C Sun-Aging Defense Moisture Plus Lotion SPF 15: Provides protection against the sun and made form100% vegetarian ingredients. Available at Walgreens.com for $16.99.
  
• de-luxe MAISON Soy Candles are made with premium soy wax, so they burn clean - no harmful pollutants like ordinary paraffin wax (which is used in almost 90% of all candles made today). They use 100% soy wax from soybeans grown here in America. Available at drugstore.com for $9.99.
• Mrs. Meyer's Liquid Hand Soaps in Geranium, Lemon Verbena, Lavender and Basil. All products are made with natural ingredients and come with biodegradable packaging. (Refill Pouches are also offered) Available at www.mrsmeyers.com for under $5.
  
• Eco Me Natural Home Suzy Dish Soap is chemical free and made from the purest ingredients. Best of all it smells like Sweet Tea. Available at eco-me.com for under $7.

Get creative with Ole Henriksen (contest!)
Ole Henriksen, Hollywood’s skin care guru to the stars and creator of Ole Henriksen Face/Body care products is challenging you to take recycling to the next level and come up with a creative way to reuse your Ole Henriksen product containers. Whether it is finding a new use for your jars and bottles, or turning them into a sculpture, all ideas are welcome. There is no limit to the number of containers you can use to build your creation.

To enter, submit a photo of your “Alter Eco” with a statement of 250 words or less at OleHenriksen.com, explaining how you repurposed your Ole Henriksen containers. Participants and visitors to the Ole Henriksen website will be able to vote for their favorite entry. There will be one grand prize winner who will receive a $150 online gift certificate to OleHenriksen.com plus a $100 online gift certificate to justgive.org to make a donation to a charity of their choice. There will be two runners up winners who will each receive a $75 online gift certificate to OleHenriksen.com. The contest begins on April 22nd and will run through May 22nd, 2010.

Cosmetique Makeup Winner

Congrats to Kat C.! You are my Cosmetique makeup winner. Kat, please send me an email with your mailing address.

The New Gold Standard

After years of dominating the world of eyelash curlers, Shu Uemura recently pulled out of the US market. Their products will still be available online, but you'll no longer be able to pick them up in person. To me, this isn't a big deal. I never bought into the cult of the Shu Uemura curler and in fact found the cheap-o Revlon curler to be just as effective as the pricey "iconic" Shu Uemura offering (click here for an old post about this!).

But now, one of my favorite toolmakers, Tweezerman, is entering into the eyelash curling fray with their Tweezerman Pro-Curl Curler.

According to their product info, the Pro-Curl Curler is designed to exceed the standards and performance of any other curler on the market today. Reworked angles create excellent access to each lash like never before—allowing for effortless use and maximum curl. ProCurl's sleek body shape, with a larger opening, is tailored for exceptional comfort and unparalleled leverage. A narrowed top bar adapts to all types of eye shapes, and a thick, rounded silicone pad ensures intense, crease-free curl. You're sure to flip over this fringe-enhancing tool in its new uber-glam, rose gold color.

I've been using this curler for the past few days, and here are my thoughts thus far:

• unlike other curlers, this one does not pinch at all...which is a good thing!
• this curler seems to do a better job of curling my outer lashes--you know...the ones in the corner that can be tough to get.
• the curler is easy to use and doesn't require a lot of effort to get a decent amount of curl. I don't have to put too much pressure on the curler, and it doesn't tug quite as much as the Revlon or Shu Uemura curler.

So far, I give this product a thumbs up. I still think that if the cheap Revlon brand works for you, stick with it. But if you're in the market for something well made and will give you good results, and if you don't mind forking over a little bit more (this curler will set you back $20), I honestly prefer the Tweezerman to the Shu Uemera.

Don't Forget To Enter!

This is your last day to enter my Cosmetique makeup giveaway! Click here for all the details. Best of luck.

Spring: Love It or Hate It?

We're smack in the middle of spring, and I don't know about you, but for me, spring means sneezing, watery eyes, and the constant battle with allergies. Pollen is not my friend! It's coating my car and making me cranky.

No matter how many doses of Flonase or Claritin, I still have issues with itchy eyes. Add to that hours in front of the computer screen at work, and by the end of the day my eyes are tired. To help get my baby blues feeling better, I've been known to use eye drops for allergy eyes or to lie down with a wet washcloth over my face.

I recently tried something new....something better: Eye Slices. These suckers are made of something called Cryogel, and you store them in the fridge so they're nice and cold when you're ready to use them. You simply pull them out of the fridge, slap a slice over each eye, and sit back and relax for five minutes. The Eye Slices are designed to help de-puff, refresh, and renew your eyes. They sure make my irritated, tired, itchy eyes feel much better after a long day.

Eye Slices are available online, for $15 for a pair (one pair will last for 10 uses). Check 'em out!

More About Rosacea

As I mentioned in today's earlier post, April is rosacea awareness month. And in an effort to help spread the word about this disorder, I thought I'd include some handy-dandy info, courtesy of The National Rosacea Society.

What is rosacea?
It is a common disorder that affects facial skin. Over 16 millions of Americans have rosacea, and though it's hard to ignore, it's easy to dismiss. Rosacea makes facial skin look red, almost acne-prone, and has adverse effects on sufferers' self-esteem.

What causes rosacea and is there a cure?
The cause is unknown and there are no cures, though there are many ways to deal with rosacea.

What does rosacea look like?
Any one of the following warning signs is a signal to see a dermatologist or other knowledgeable physician for diagnosis and appropriate treatment before the signs and symptoms become increasingly severe:

• Redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead.
• Small visible blood vessels on the face.
• Bumps or pimples on the face.
• Watery or irritated eyes.

How is rosacea treated?
If you have rosacea, your doctor can help you determine what's right for you. Some options include oral antibiotics, topical therapies, and even laser treatment. Patients with rosacea are encouraged to use gentle, non-abrasive facial cleansers, and to avoid things like loofahs and sponges. People with rosacea should also use SPF to avoid additional sun damage.

For more information about rosacea, please visit this site.

April is Rosacea Awareness Month

It seems like there is a month for everything, and April has been designated as roseaca awareness month. I've never had to deal with rosacea, shocking since I am fair skinned and prone to pinkness. Here's some info about rosacea:

As of 2010 the National Rosacea Society (NRS) estimates that 16 million Americans experience symptoms of rosacea. A study conducted by Dr. Alexa Boer Kimball, director of the clinical unit for research trials in skin at Harvard Medical School, concluded that 9.6 percent of U.S. women, regardless of ethnic background, showed signs of rosacea and that in Caucasian women alone, the prevalence rate of rosacea was 16 percent.

Since patients with rosacea often have skin that is sensitive and easily irritated, causing redness, inflammation, and stinging, adjunctive care is an imperative component of rosacea management. Patients should look for products that maintain the skin barrier while avoiding irritating ingredients.

And, of course, there are tons of products on the market designed to help with rosacea. If you have this condition, I would strongly urge you to talk to your dermatologist about what you should and shouldn't be using on your skin.

Having said that, here are some products from Eau Thermale Avène, a company renowned for a long history in soothing sensitive skins worldwide. They have a complete at-home regimen in adjunction to any in-office care for soothing and calming rosacea-prone skin.

Avene Thermal Spring Water, AVENE Antirougeurs Anti-Redness Dermo-Cleansing Milky Fluid: With ingredients to decongest and improve microcirculation, Antirougeurs Anti-Redness Dermo-Cleansing Milky Fluid is the ideal addition to a rosacea-managing skin care regimen. Available in this month, this mild no-rinse milk cleanser, specially formulated for redness-prone skin, gently removes make-up while preserving optimum skin comfort. The creamy texture is formulated with optimal Redness Relief Soothing Cr tolerance to soothe and calm flushed skin caused by irritation or highly reactive skin. Partnered with Thermal Spring Water, the only sterile thermal water proven to soothe inflammation, itching and redness, and Redness Relief Soothing Cream SPF 25, the clinically proven lotion developed to neutralize and minimize existing and reoccurring redness while protecting against sun damage, patients now have access to a complete skin care system developed for rosacea.

Thermal Spring Water retails for $11.50 (for 150 ml), Antirougeurs Anti-Redness Dermo-Cleansing Milky Fluid retails for $28 and Redness Relief Soothing Cream retails for $32. Visit www.aveneusa.com for availability.

If you're a rosacea suffer, what do you do to keep your skin looking and feeling good? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Get Shopping!

Tax day was yesterday, and if you're one of the lucky ones, you may have a few extra dollars burning a hole in your pocket thanks to a tax refund (if you had to pay, I feel your pain!). If you have a CVS near you (and I don't since I live in the CVS-deprived area of Seattle!), you're in luck! They're having some great beauty deals from now until May.

Check out these in-store deals:

Week of April 18
* L’Oreal Excellence Hair Color: $5.49
* Crest Premium Toothpaste 6.2oz: $1.88 – lowest price of the year!
* VO5 Shampoo/Conditioner: $0.66
* Sally Hansen Complete Line: Buy 2 Get 1 Free

Week of April 25
* Revlon Complete Line: Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off
* Pantene 12.6oz Shampoo/Conditioner: 2 for $5.00
* Designer Fragrances ($14.99 and over): Buy 1 Get 1 50% off – Mothers day is May 9th!
* Value Robe: $5.99
* Essence of Beauty Complete Line: Buy 2 Get 1 Free

Month of May
Hot looks and even hotter prices continue with exclusive “scan and save” CVS ExtraCare card offers. In-store, shoppers can simply scan their ExtraCare card at coupon centers and get a new beauty savings coupon each week throughout the month.

And if you want to shop online, CVS.com has you covered! Join their email list and check out some of these web deals:

* 25% off all Beauty and Skincare (April 12 – April 13)
* 20% off all Beauty and Skincare (April 13 – May 9)

Not Makeup Related...

but this is my blog and I get to write what I want.

Anyway...today is a sad day for your beauty blogger. See, my favorite band in the whole wide world of music is Type O Negative. And today, news is coming that their lead singer and bassist, the incredibly talented and insanely hot Peter Steele has died at the age of 48 from a heart attack.

This sucks. I never did get to see them live. And there probably won't be anything new from them again. Gothy girls around the world are in despair, myself include.

RIP, Peter. And thanks for all the great music.

Time for a Dose of Pretty!

The Summer collection from NARS is set to hit store shelves today, and--as usual--everything they're offering is lovely. I cannot pull off the blue eyeshadow look, but I totally appreciate where NARS is going. And let me just add: can you imagine lashes like that? Insane!

Here's what they have to say about it:

The NARS Summer 2010 campaign was created and photographed by NARS Founder and Creative Director François Nars. Once again, as with the Spring 2010 collection, Amber Valletta sits at the forefront of the campaign. Her look transformed into François’ vision of Catherine Deneuve’s character Sèverine in the movie Belle de Jour.

“Her character is beautiful and elegant. Her look is effortless—she has an incredible inner sophistication,” says François.

Below are details on the collection, available April 15^th at narscosmetics.com

.

Enchanted Cream Blush

$26

A soft-peach cream blush that delivers a hint of shimmer and smooth, silky color

Burn It Blue Duo Cream Eyeshadow

$32

This iridescent ocean-blue paired with turquoise creates a lively duo cream eyeshadow

Cayenne Cream Eyeshadow

$22

A spicy, deep brown cream eyeshadow that is intensely rich yet carries a weightless texture

Love Devotion Lipstick

$24

A nourishing, long-lasting sheer guava lipstick

Coup de Coeur Lip Gloss

$24

Just like the French phrase it’s named after, this shiny, sheer apple-brandy tinted lip gloss is sure to yield love at first sight

Lamu Multiple

$38

A fresh, glazed-apricot shade with gold sparkles to create shimmering accents

Versailles Nail Polish

$16

Regal and opalescent, this champagne-gold nail hue shimmers, creating a light-catching tint and gilded sophistication

Cosmetique's Not Just for Skin Care (GIVEAWAY!)

Last week I introduced you to Cosmetique. They're a site that sells exclusive skin care and beauty products. And, last week, I highlighted some of those skin care products.

Well, this week it's all about the beauty, baby!

Check out some of these lovely products sold by Cosmetique. Leave me a comment at the end of this post and all of these items could be yours. Yes, I'm giving them all away to one lucky reader (and they'll come to you in a cute makeup bag to boot)!

Ok...on to the goods:
Princess Livia Define and Shine Lipcolor (in pink cloud): a magical pairing of genuine beauty. Define your lips with the Lip Pencil … it applies smoothly and effortlessly. Then add colorful shine with the Lip Gloss. It always feels wonderful and glides on easily … leaving lips shiny and moist.

Madeleine Mono Special Effects Face Powder: add a lit-from-within glow with Special Effects Face Powder. This unique luminizing finishing powder helps to diminish the look of imperfections and add a subtle, wearable sunlit radiance to your skin. Swirl all of the shades together with the included brush, or enhance your skin one shade at a time. They all work with every skin tone, and will have you glowing in no time!

Sistina Cafe Colori Eyeshadows: inspired by the beauty of Italy, five sophisticated neutral eyeshadows are featured in this beautiful, one-of-a-kind compact that is a true work of art.

Be sure to leave a comment to enter and I'll announce who wins next Wednesday.

Cosmetique Skin Care Winner

Congratulations to DolledUpDNA! You are my Cosmetique Skin Care winner. Please send me an email with your shipping info.

If you didn't win, fear not! I am giving away MORE fabulous stuff from Cosmetique starting a little later today. Come back and check it out!

Last Chance To Enter!

Don't forget: I'm giving away some awesome skin care products, courtesy of Cosmetique. Be sure to click here to read the post and enter. I'll be announcing my winner tomorrow. Good luck!

Shear Genius: We Have A Winner!

The final episode of Shear Genius aired last week and all I can say is HA! Suck it, mean girl! As I said before, I have never been the popular girl. Because of this, I really, really, really disliked Janine and the way she treated people, namely Brig. Sure Brig could be annoying, but in the end, the judges did the right thing and awarded innovation and-gasp!-uniqueness rather than letting the status quo dominate. Good for them.

Ok--here's the final recap of the show.

It all comes down to this! The final three stylists, Brig, Janine and Matthew, met up with Orlando and Camila to receive their final challenge: “Create six looks for a Henry Duarte Fashion Show.” Each stylist consulted with Henry, who said he wanted futuristic hairstyles to complement his edgy fashions.
At the Shear Genius Nexxus Salon, the stylists picked their assistants from a grouping of their former competitors. Since Brig won the prior elimination challenge, she was able to choose her own two assistants and determine the order of who would choose after her.

Once the assistants were chosen, Janine immediately began wrapping her models' hair around large hairpins to set in major frizz. Brig decided on her most avant-garde look yet – what she called “laminated hair.” The look consisted of multi-colored hairpieces stuck in between plastic and layered on top of the models' simple buns. Matthew also got to work quickly on his vision, “bondage hair,” with zippers, tightly bound mohawks and even extreme foreheads courtesy of a few skullcaps.

After the runway show, the stylists met with their final four judges, Jonathan, Kim, Camila and Allure Editor-in-Chief Linda Wells. While all of the judges agreed that Brig’s work was unique and edgy, Jonathan criticized the use of props and lack of hairstyling. As for Matthew’s hairstyles, Linda called the zippers on his hair fun, but found his skullcap looks to be ugly and jarring. Kim called it hot, but was also bothered by the unsettling effect of the skullcap. Janine’s looks also underwhelmed the judges. Jonathan praised her for great technical work but complained that it wasn’t quite enough for this stage of the competition. Linda thought Janine’s work was beautiful, but Camila commented that she’d seen the look on the runway before.

In what some may call a shocking upset, it was Brig who ultimately rose to become Shear Genius. Her visionary approach not only won her the title, but $100,000 furnished by Nexxus Salon Hair Care, an apprenticeship with Nexxus and the opportunity to style hair for an Allure magazine photo shoot. Congratulations, Brig!

This week’s “how to get the look” from Kevin at Nexxus:
Take inspiration from the Henry Duarte Fashion Show and keep hair simple and polished when “rocking” an edgy headband.

• Apply a sleek styler, such as Nexxus Sleek Memory, to damp hair, and then blow-dry using a large round brush.
• Once dry, pull hair back into a low ponytail and secure with an elastic.
• Twist loose ends into a bun and secure with a bobbi pin.
• To finish the look, add a bold and unique accessory.

Live in Seattle? Check This Out!

I just got some very cool information about an event going on at the University Village Kiehl's and wanted to share it with all my Washington readers. Quick side note: The folks over at the U Village Kiehl's are great! They're helpful without being pushy and are very customer focused. They make spending a ton of money on high quality products a very pleasurable experience.

If you're a skin care fan and an animal lover in the Puget Sound, be sure to check this out.

Press release from Kiehl's.

Kiehl’s Since 1851 is steeped in traditions of community service and outreach to all of our customers and family members, women and men, big and small, two-legged and four-legged! (We even have a pet wall in our stores to honor our four-legged family members, and a line of products created especially for them.)

It is in this tradition that Kiehl’s Since 1851 in University Village honors our pets and the Seattle community with a Pet Adoption Event and Fund-Raiser to benefit Motley Zoo Animal Rescue, a Seattle organization dedicated to improving the lives of animals locally, nationally and internationally. We’re hosting both an in-store pet adoption, and a week-long fund-raising program to encourage our customers to support Motley Zoo Animal Rescue.

EVENT DETAILS:

WHO: Kiehl’s Since 1851 and Motley Zoo Animal Rescue

WHAT: Pet Adoption and Fund-Raiser Kick-Off

Kiehl’s Since 1851 is a skin, body and hair care apothecary dedicated to serving women and men formulas made with uniquely efficacious, natural ingredients, and committed to giving back to the communities in which we do business. (www.kiehls.com)
Motley Zoo Animal Rescue is dedicated to improving the lives of animals locally, nationally and internationally by alleviating their suffering and elevating their status in society through the rescue and rehabilitation of animals in need and through the education of their community on responsible pet ownership and animal welfare. Motley Zoo Animal Rescue advocates the value of all animal life and works to end the neglect and abuse of animals. Motley Zoo Animal Rescue addresses the devastating pet overpopulation epidemic through spay and neuter advocacy. (www.MotleyZoo.org)

WHEN: Saturday, April 10, 2010 11 AM to 3 PM
(Fund-raiser is April 10 through April 17)

WHERE: Kiehl’s Since 1851
2611 NE University Village St.
Seattle, WA 98105
206-985-4414

WHY:
The Mission of Kiehl’s states that “a worthwhile firm must have a purpose for its existence. Not only the everyday work-a-day purpose to earn a just profit, but beyond that, to improve in some way the quality of the community to which it is committed.”

• Motley Zoo Animal Rescue will bring a number of animals looking for homes to Kiehl’s, in hopes of making a match.
• Each customer who adopts leaves with a Kiehl’s gift box
• Kiehl’s will donate $500 to Motley Zoo Animal Rescue, in support of the organization’s advocacy on behalf of animals.
• Kiehl’s customers are also encouraged to donate to Motley Zoo Animal Rescue. Each customer who donates $10 or more to Motley Zoo Animal Rescue on the day of the event, and through Saturday, April 17, may choose between a complimentary Creme de Corps body moisturizer (4.2 oz. size), or a Spray-N-Play Cleansing Spritz (one product per customer)

Introducing: Cosmetique (Giveaway!)

I am always on the lookout for great places to buy interesting beauty products, and I was recently introduced to Cosmetique.

Cosmetique sells over 20 brands of skin care products ranging from the exclusive skin care line Energie Vitale, to the handmade luxury of organic Faraya Skin Care, to the proven results of Murad. Cosmetique is also filled with makeup, body and fragrance brands to discover, with all the fun of experimenting with the latest beauty trends. They have quality mineral makeup from Pur Minerals, the excitement of Too Faced cosmetics – and so much more.

Over the next two weeks, I am going to introduce you to a few of their products and I'll be giving them away so you can try them yourself. Today I'm starting with skin care products. Next week I'll feature beauty products. Read about the products on my site, then leave a comment to enter.

Here's what I'm featuring this week from Cosmetique:

Cadette Hand and Cuticle Repair Cream: protect and beautify your hands with just a dab of this herbal-scented Hand and Cuticle Repair Cream. Massage gently into your hands and cuticles for quick-penetrating moisture that conditions your cuticles, provides a soothing, protective layer to guard against dryness, and helps make your hands look and feel touchably softPrincess Livia Bee Pollen Nectar Face Cream: formulated with precious Bee Pollen Extract, Princess Livia Bee Pollen Nectar Face Cream is true to the ancient beauty secrets from which it is derived. It can help your skin's natural resiliency, texture and coloring, while it nourishes and moisturizes. Apply this luxurious cream sparingly to face and neck, morning and night. Use gentle upward, curving motions to help keep skin firm and minimize fine lines
Energie Vitale Anti-Aging Eye Serum: a fast-absorbing, hydrating gel that targets fine lines and wrinkles, helps to diminish dark circles, and lessens puffiness around your eyes. Apply a small amount under the lower lashes and across your brow bones morning and night to keep the delicate tissue around the eyes healthy and radiant.
Diandra Emergency Stick: provides your skin a refreshing touch of moisture wherever little telltale stress lines are beginning to form. Lavished with rich emollients - Vitamin E, Aloe Vera and Jojoba Oil - it helps soothe, refine and protect your skin.

Be sure to check out all the products over at Cosmetique. And be sure to leave a comment and enter to win. One winner will get all four of these products (winner announced next Wednesday)! I'll be featuring Cosmetique's makeup next week...and I'll be doing another giveaway, so be sure to check that out!

Shed Your Winter Skin

I live in the Seattle area, and we have some seriously crazy weather. A few weeks ago, it was gorgeous: the sun was shining, the temps were in the high 50s/low 60s and Spring was just around the corner. Then when Spring actually arrived, we were hit with colder temps and even a windstorm. Awesome.

Regardless of these few set backs, warmer, longer days are almost here. And that means showing more skin. I don't know about you, but in the Winter my skin gets scaly and dry. That flaky, scaliness has persisted and is still bugging me now that it's Spring.

If you're like me and need to shed the Winter scaliness, here are some hints:

• Start from the inside out. Incorporating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants can make skin less dry by helping to lock in moisture.
• Be smart in the shower. Using water that is too hot will only make dry skin worse. I am very guilty of taking long, hot showers, and I know my skin pays the price. It really does help to cool off the water temp at bit.
• Lather, rinse, exfoliate. Bar soaps can really be harsh and drying, so switching over to a creamy body wash may help. Rinse in cool water and be sure to exfoliate daily.
• Moisturize! As soon as you get out of the shower, pat yourself dry and then slather on a decent body cream. Reapply as often as needed.

Here are some of my favorite body products:

• Body wash: Olay Body Wash Plus Body Butter Ribbons: wraps your skin in fragrant, luxurious, creamy lather that visibly improves skin in just 5 days.
• Body scrub: St. Ives Collagen Elastin Body Polish : Collagen and Elastin extracts are blended with exfoliating sugar crystals to reveal fresh, younger-looking skin without over-drying
• Body cream: St. Ives Softening Whipped Silk Moisturizer: whipped with an exclusive blend of silk proteins, this unbelievably soft, light textured cream glides on easily and absorbs quickly for long-lasting moisture.

Happy 1000!

Holy cow! I just realized I hit the 1,000 post mark. I've been writing this blog since the summer of 2006 and I've written 1,000 entries. When I started this blog out, I had no idea how long it would go on. And I never thought that I'd reach so many people and have so stinking much to say about makeup!

Anyway, thanks for stopping by, for reading, and for commenting. You all make this so much fun.

Shear Genius Recap!

Ok, let me just admit two things right now: 1) I am ready for Shear Genius to come to an end and 2) I know that I am in the minority, but I am so not a fan of Janine. Her clique-ish behavior and her childish hatred of Brig makes me shudder. See, I was not a cool girl in high school. I was never the popular one. I was more of a Brig than a Janine, and for that reason, I almost never side with the in crowd.

Alrighty then...on to the recap of the latest episode.

The stylists were feeling the pressure this week as they were whisked away to a VIP client's mansion in the hills for their shortcut challenge. Their VIP client? Camila, of course – and she was also the sole judge for the challenge. Orlando Pita was on hand to consult with Camila and the stylists, and he warned them all that Camila is very particular about her hair. Each stylist was given 45 minutes to create a glamorous hairstyle appropriate for the red carpet. They each seemed to struggle with her hair texture. Brig had to edit her vision to suit Camila's taste and neither was at all happy with the finished product. Jon’s nerves got the better of him once again. In fact, he got so wound up that he singed Camila with a curling iron. Camila also took each styling session as an opportunity to dish on the drama between the stylists, taking particular interest in Brig's personality clashes with her competitors. Matthew found the gossip session to be distracting. Janine was happy to complain about Brig but her down hairstyle didn't impress Orlando or Camila. In the end, Matthew's near perfect updo won the challenge and an advantage at elimination. (Let me add: if Janine or Matthew is crowned the winner, I so hope it is Matt who comes out on top.)

Afterward at the salon, the stylists were introduced to an iconic guest judge, Oribe. Then Camila revealed the elimination challenge: “Creating a Portfolio of Your Signature Style.” Their task was to create three looks for a portfolio that make up each stylist's 'signature style.' The stylists had to work with two models and then, for the twist, style themselves. How well they made a statement about their style and tied the three looks together would ultimately determine which three stylists would make it to the season finale.

Janine was inspired by modern Harajuku looks from Japan. While one model’s edgy style fit the bill, the second model’s oddly-shaped afro seemed out of place (the afro was square. Yes, square). Janine’s own photo failed to bring any of it together.

Jon appeared to know exactly who he was – the 'cut and color guy' – and while he delivered a finished look on a model with thinning hair and a clearly defined self-portrait, his second model underwhelmed the judges.

Matthew went for soft and sexy on both of his models and while their photos were striking the judges didn't like Matthew's self-portrait, calling it a real estate agent headshot.

Brig went for it in this challenge, finally deciding to take a chance on her own brand of avant garde hair and hoping the judges would see her vision. It was big and textured and striking on set, and while the judges were taken aback at first, they all came around to her side of thinking when they saw the finished photos.

At judging, Matthew and Brig were congratulated as the top two. Brig's fearlessness and distinct branding won her the challenge and both won their spot in the finale. Janine and Jon landed in the bottom two – but it was Jon's run-of-the-mill styles that sent him home. So, in the end, it will be the Wonder Twins versus Brig – as it's been all season long. Surprise, surprise. Expect a dramatic finale next week!

This week’s “how to get the look” from Kevin at Nexxus
Take inspiration from a daring hairstyle and make it work for your everyday.

Voluminous Waves:

• Apply a volumizing gel styler, such as Nexxus Lavish Body, to damp hair, and then blow-dry using a large round brush.
• While hair is still warm, wrap two inch sections around large Velcro rollers and allow hair to cool.
• Remove rollers and back comb each section at the root to create lift and body.
• Use fingers to shape sections into a unique style and pin curls randomly in the back. Then spray hair with a strong-hold hairspray, like Nexxus Maxximum, to hold the look in place.
  

Voluminous Updo:

• Apply a texture lotion, such as Nexxus VersaStyler, to damp hair, and then blow-dry using a diffuser attachment.
• Once dry, use a flat brush to comb hair into a high, tight ponytail on top of head. Secure with an elastic.
• Gently twist loose ends into a bun and secure with a bobbi pins. You want the texture to come through here, so don’t twist hair too tightly.
• Apply a dime size amount of a smoothing product, such as Nexxus Sleek Finish, onto your fingers and run over the bottom half of hair, avoiding the bun portion.

Be sure to check out the show on Bravo this Wednesday night!

Is It Friday Yet?

Wow. How did this week slip away from me so quickly? I have so many beauty product reviews, tips, etc. to share with you, but time is not on my side. Not this week, any way.

I'll be back Monday with a Shear Genius update and oodles of info for you. Until then, I leave you with a quote:

“Pretty is something you're born with. But beautiful, that's an equal opportunity adjective.”
~Anonymous

Have a great weekend!

Note: the photo above is of my maternal grandmother, a woman we referred to as GaGa well before there was a Lady GaGa. My GaGa died last October, at the age of 91. She was both pretty and beautiful.