Hello, world! I'm supposed to be back to blogging, but I almost hacked off my finger last night & haven't been able to get to my computer. I'll be back ASAP!

Beach Bound!

I'm taking a mini break from blogging this week.  I'm headed down to the beach for some much needed down time.  Right now, I just need to look at the ocean, go biking, and plow though the 959 pages of A Dance With Dragons. 

I'll be back soon, but be sure to enter for your chance to win some kick-ass lip gloss. Click here for deets.

See you soon!

GIVEAWAY: Gloss from the Grapevine!

I live not far from Woodinville, WA, a small town that has a big reputation in the wine world.  Woodinville is home to dozens of wineries (I used to work in one many years ago!), so I have easy access to some very tasty wines.

Wine not only tastes good, it also has some interesting health benefits.  Scientists, leaders in the health field, and (of course) winemakers have spent big bucks researching wine.  Antioxidants and other ingredients in wine, especially red wine, can reduce heart disease, improve the immune system, and reduce stress.

One company, DeVine, is taking all the benefits from red wine and turning them into some very nice, very subtle glosses, called DeVine Lip Shimmers.  The Lip Shimmers contain the same Polyphenols in red wine that are known to help prevent cell damage.  They're also gluten-free, cruelty-free, and contain no harmful chemicals.

DeVine Lip Shimmers come in a variety of shades.  They all seem very light and subtle--giving a hint of shimmer and shine without looking overly reflective or feeling sticky.  The tinted glosses add a kiss of color to freshen up your look.  The 2-pack shimmers are available in Rosé/Merlot, Champagne/Bordeaux, and Vanilla Spritzer. Currently, they are available for $4.99 at Walgreens and www.Devineshimmers.com.

I've been wearing the Vanilla Spritzer and Bordeaux shimmers lately--both give a good amount of moisture, just enough for the summer months.  Plus they smell/taste pretty good.  And for less than $5 for two tubes?  That beats my old go-to (Burt's Bees) on price for sure!

Want to try it out for yourself?  You're in luck! One reader will receive three 2-packs (in the colors mentioned above), thanks to the folks at DeVine.  All you need to do is leave a comment (include your email address or be sure I have some way of getting in touch with you) AND like DeVine Lip Shimmers on facebook by Sunday, July 24th.  I'll announce the winner on the 25th.

Good luck!

Meet the Brand: La Bella Donna

Fun fact: while the term Bella Donna is Italian for "Beautiful Lady," it is also a plant...a member of the deadly nightshade.  Years and years ago, drops were made from the belladonna plant that were used by women to dilate their pupils.  Apparently, dilated pupils used to be considered attractive, so women would use the drops to look their best.  The only problem? Belladonna can cause minor visual distortions, inability to focus on near objects, and increased heart rate. Prolonged usage was reputed to cause blindness.

Fear not...belladonna is no longer used for cosmetic purposes and is not in anything from the brand I'm introducing you to today: La Bella Donna.  Just wanted to share my fun facts with you (I was a history major, so give me a break!) and remind you about how far we come with the use of potentially harmful beauty products.

Ok...back to the original point of this post: La Bella Donna Cosmetics!  I received a lovely box filled with products to try out.  La Bella Donna makes "mineral makeup that is truly good for your skin."  Their products include loose mineral foundation, liquid mineral foundation, highlighting creme colors (in moonlight and candlelight), bronzers, concealers, mineral eye shadows, and even mineral makeup for men(!). Their products are all natural, and their mission is to "bridge the gap between wellness and sophisticated beauty."  Their foundations contain non-chemical SPF20 and are free of dyes, oils, talc, alcohol and other chemicals.

My favorite product I've tried is their face compact called Vision of Mineral Lights Compact Colours ($45).  Here's how they describe this product: "Quads of compressed mineral bronzing colours give your skin an après sun-kissed glow. Naturale-created for those with a more fair complexion and may also be used as eyeshadows. Bronze- utilizes both the skin’s naturally occurring tanning undertones of gold and red. Both colours options are a beauty makeup kit must-have."

I love that this quad of color can be used in so many different ways: as a bronzer, an eyeshadow, etc. You could throw this compact in your bag and be set for the day...nice!

The La Bella Donna products I've tried have been of good quality and have been easy to use.  They're a bit spendy, so they're not for everyone.  If you have the budget for it, you may want to check this brand out!

Fake, Don't Bake!

If you've been reading my blog for any amount of time, you probably know that I am not a fan of the sun.  I have pale skin, turn bright pink in the sun, and am fearful of nasty things like premature aging and skin cancer.  For me, pale is the new tan, but I know I am in the minority on this opinion.  If I feel pressured into getting a little color, I opt for the fake but subtle approach (I have no interest in looking like a platinum blonde Oompa Loompa!)

If you're like me and want to fake your way to a more sun-kissed look, bronzer is a great option.  I recently received a sample of Bare Minimum Pressed Powder Bronzer from Sonia Kashuk (available for about $10 at Target) and got to work. 

The Sonia Kashuk bronzer has a pretty cool design.  The top is the bronzer--two shades designed to work together to create a natural glow, and underneath is a mirror and brush.  I applied the bronzer to all the places that are typically hit by the sun: my forehead, bridge of my nose, and cheekbones.  The result?  A subtle, lovely glow.  This bronzer is formulated to fight shine and zit causing sebum, so it's perfect for the summer. Well worth the $10 price tag.

If you're looking for some great tips on how to apply bronzer, I highly recommend this article from the LA Times.  It's a step-by-step approach to using bronzer to achieve natural, subtle results.  No Oompa Loompas allowed!

July Happenings at FreeBeautyEvents.com

It's July--the middle of the summer and a time when I start abandoning my normal makeup routines.  But July is a great time to start thinking about getting ready for the fall--to start taking stock of what you have in your beauty bags, to clean out old stuff and replace it with new, to start focusing on basics like skin care, and to learn more about makeup technique.  Summer school for beauty junkies is so much more glamorous than real summer school!

If you're looking for free beauty events near you--chances to learn about products and get some new beauty knowledge--head over to www.freebeautyevents.com.  The site will point you in the right direction.

This month, for example, Ulta is having some exciting events. At the Ulta Coty Nail Event, demonstrators will be showing customers Sally Hansen Crackle Nailpolish and Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips. They will also be handing out coupons. The Ulta Mustela Event in July, August, and September will give customers a chance to try out Mustela Hydra Bebe Body Lotion, Ultimate Hydration, and Facial Cleansing Cloths.

On www.freebeautyevents.com you can enter your zip code to find out what makeover, gift with purchase, spa open houses and sampling events are happening near your home. In addition to listing in-store makeovers, Freebeautyevents.com also features a blog on product reviews (http://www.freebeautyevents.com/beauty-blog) and a monthly contest (http://www.freebeautyevents.com/contest). For the month of July 2011, they will be giving away 10 prizes. Each prize will consist of Neutrogena Wet Skin Sunblock Spray SPF 30, Wet Skin Kids Sunblock Spray SPF 70+, and Lip Moisturizer. The contest runs from 7/1/2011 to 7/31/2011, winners will be chosen on 8/5/2011 and notified by 8/15/2011.

Beauty Product of the Week: Nourish Everyday Hand Lotion

What is it?  eos (Evolution of Smooth) Nourish Everyday Hand Lotion is "designed to fit into your purse, your pocket, or on your desk.  eos hand lotion looks as good as it feels on your skin.  Infused with moisturizing shea butter, oat extract, and a generous helping of antioxidants and vitamins C and E, eos will leave your skin feeling soft, supple, and radiantly healthy long after you apply it."  Available for less than $5 at drugstores in the original version and a cucumber scent as well.


What do you think?  I bought this product because I liked the look of the bottle.  It's flat and fits perfectly into the palm of my hand...plus it's easy to locate in my pile of beauty products.  I've tried (and liked) eos lip balm, so I gave their new hand cream a whirl. 

I was not disappointed.  The price is right, the scent is right (it's light and pleasant), and it absorbs quickly into my skin.  Don't you hate when you put lotion on and then feel like you have greasy hands?  Like you're going to leave an oil slick with every touch?  Yeah, that annoys me too.  But eos hand lotion doesn't do that.  It does make my skin feel soft and moisturized, but without that frustrating oily feel.

The final verdict?  This product is not super sexy or exciting.  But at less than $5, the cute little bottle of hand cream does a pretty decent job.  I use this every night before bed, and my hands thank me for it!

Beauty to Go: Nailed!

I never pay for a manicure.  I've very hard on my fingernails and I don't want to waste the time/money on getting a professional manicure that will only last a few hours (trust me on this: the only time I got a manicure, I managed to break a nail AND chip my paint by the end of the day...not cool).  No...instead of throwing away good money on a salon paint job for my fingers, I do my own manis...usually every Sunday.

Now that Summer is here, my nail color choices have brightened up a bit.  In the colder months, I love a nice, dark set of nails, but Summer means color, lightness, and fun.  Regardless of the season, the one task I hate more than breaking a nail is removing nail polish.  I seem to go through a ton of cotton balls, the nail polish remover stinks, and it seems like an entirely messy and tedious process.

I recently received some new acetone free nail polish remover pads from LA Fresh, and I have to say: they make removing polish a little less awful.  One pad was all it took to remove all the layers of color and top coat from all ten of my nails--so much less messy and wasteful than my traditional cotton ball and bottle of remove routine.  Plus they didn't smell as bad as the normal junk I use--instead they have a nicer orange scent.  As a bonus, the remover actually helps provide moisture and conditioning to the nails--something my poor fingertips surely needed.

What I also like is that the nail polish remover pads are super portable.  Each pad is individually wrapped so you can throw one in your purse, your gym bag, or suitcase much more easily than a bottle of nail polish remover and a bag of cotton balls!

LA Fresh Eco-Beauty Acetone Free Nail Polish Remover Pads will set you back $5 for a pack of 8 pads or $10 for 18 and are available online.

Beauty To Go: Sun Safety

Summertime often means two things: travel and time spent in the sun.  If you're lucky enough to be headed out for a vacation this summer, be sure to be sun safe and wear your sunblock every day.  Yes, you've heard this mantra from me before....yes, you'll hear it again.

Packing for vacation--especially a vacation that requires air travel--can be such a huge hassle.  It's hard enough to remember to pack a toothbrush, let alone staying up to date on what you can and cannot take on board.  The TSA does not care about your beauty or skin care needs! 

No worries: whether you need TSA approved sunscreens for your carry-on or just something small enough to keep your bag light, you have to check out the Weekend Essentials Tote from Supergoop! This bright, convenient and travel-friendly terry-cloth tote is packed with everything you’ll need to stay safe during your end-of-summer retreat:

• SPF 30+ Sunscreen Swipes: Ideal sun protection on the go for both face and body, these paraben-free, water-resistant swipes deliver powerful UV protection. Just throw them in your golf- or beach-bag and go!
  
• SPF 30+ Everyday UV Lotion: A perennial favorite, this lightweight, water-resistant sunscreen lotion mist for face and body is great for all skin types, and now comes in a convenient 3 oz. bottle with a high-output turbo sprayer for a broader range of application! Safe for use on everyone ages 4 months and up, you can feel good about using this for the whole family.
  
• SPF 30+ MintFusion Lip Balm: With an atypically high SPF, this lip balm protects, soothes, and hydrates stressed-out lips with its super-antioxidant and regenerative formulation. The glossy formula adds a great shine over lip color, too!
  
• SPF 30+ UVA/UVB Sunstick: A super easy-to-apply sunscreen stick that protects small spots (especially the eye area, lips, nose, earlobes and hands, not to mention scars) from aging and burning UVA and UVB rays. Purse- and pocket-friendly, it’s incredibly easy to keep yourself sun-safe where ever you go!

Supergoop!’s new Weekend Essentials Tote retails for $39.50 at Sephora.com and Supergoop.com. 

Oooh! New Site to Lust After

I love finding new beauty products and new beauty sites. If you're reading my blog, I know you share this love. Well, here's something awesome: Birchbox!

Named as a top beauty site in 2010, Birchbox is a fun and unique way for consumers to sample and buy high-end beauty products. For $10 a month members receive a monthly box containing curated, oversized deluxe samples from brands like NARS, Cargo, Benefit, Deborah Lippman and Stila. Additionally, the Birchbox editorial team creates exclusive and educational content, including videos, articles and how-tos, to help customers get the most out of their products. Birchbox is a unique platform, offering subscribers the opportunity to purchase full-size versions of the products they love.


But wait!!! There's more!

Birchbox and Cynthia Rowley are launching a Limited Edition box called “Tip to Toe Treats,” which will be available for a short time only on Birchbox.com beginning July 11nd for $38 (including shipping). The box is a collection of giant trial sizes and some full-sized products that will refresh summer skin and nails, from Dead Sea bath salts to the perfect on-the-go nail file. It will also include custom-designed Cynthia Rowley nail stickers for high design and easy application. It’s the ideal summertime gift — for friends, family, hostesses, or just yourself.

Contents:

• 
  
• Cynthia Rowley custom designed Nail Strips by Incoco
• AHAVA Placid Bath Salts in Green Apple
• AHAVA Dead Sea Mud
• Lather Bamboo Lemongrass Body Scrub
• Lather AHA Hand Crème with Evening Primrose
• Tweezerman Zip File

Check it out!

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 235th Birthday, America! 

I hope you all have a fun, safe 4th of July.  Go out with your friends and family, eat yummy food, watch fireworks, and enjoy every moment.

I saw this secret on the most recent batch of PostSecrets--I made me smile and it's a good reminder that beauty comes from the inside out.