Lustful Looking...

I'm smack in the middle of an expensive summer. Among other things, I'm having a boat-load of dental work done right now...and dental work is spendy.  Add to that the fact that my computer crapped out and needed to be replaced yesterday.  Thanks to all of this, my beauty budget has been slashed.  That doesn't mean I can't window (or web!) shop.

Here are three items that I've been lusting after lately:

Tokyomilk Cosmetic Bags, $14 each.  These aren't ultra expensive, but I love the way they look!  My fave is the sea-inspired Oceanic Dream bag.  They're so cute and the little butterfly detail rocks.

Balsamo Italian Argan Oil Balm, $13.50.  Again, not an ultra-expensive item.  This is one I really want to try.  I love taking boring, every day products and pumping up the volume a bit.  That's just what these artisan-made balms do...and they come in unique and tempting scents like black currant, honeysuckle, and rose hip.  Plus they look cute.  Love it!

Tarte for True Blood Limited Edition Palettes, $52.  True Blood is one of my summer guilty pleasures.  It's a campy, over-the-top show and it's so addictive.  This palette is inspired by the show and includes 17 eye shadows, an eyeliner (I adore Tarte's eyeliners!), mascara, and an eye primer. Perfect for your inner vamp!

Age-Busting Tips from Women's Health

For many of us, a new year means undergoing a lot of personal assessments.  We think about ways we want to improve our bodies, our finances, our lives, and our looks.  Even if we're not planning huge changes, we often want, at least, to rejuvenate our looks for a fresh, new start.

The first step is to kick signs of aging—many that can be surprisingly unexpected. Women’s Health magazine highlights four under-the-radar areas women should treat early to radiate youth.  Take a glance and enjoy!

Yellow Teeth and Receding Gums: Bacteria and dark drinks cause enamel stains, while plaque results in receding gums. Bring back a younger smile with a timeless trick: floss daily, no excuses! Also, keep your pearly whites glowing by keeping disposable toothbrushes on hand and using whitening strips every six months.

Thin Hair: Hormonal changes, diet, and inadequate levels of iron in the bloodstream thin out hair with age. Save your locks’ thickness and shine by taking multivitamins rich in amino acids and B vitamins. Last resort options like a Rogaine prescription or precision laser hair therapy also boost hair growth.

Sparse, Brittle Eyelashes: Eyelashes grow sparse with age, whether through excessive rubbing or naturally slower growth. Invest in eyelash enhancing serums offered at drugstores to improve resiliency. Old mascara also lends to weak, brittle ends— replace mascara every 90 days and remove eye makeup at night.

Dry, Rough Nails and Damaged Cuticles: Age, frequent hand washing, and overexposure to cold temperatures rob skin and nails of moisture—especially as women age. Hydrate hands with petroleum-based creams and massage cuticle oils into the nail beds to prevent breakage.

Two to Start the Week

It's Monday again.  That means we're inching closer and closer to Christmas.  Yikes.  How many shopping days do we have left?  It's too depressing to think about!

To start off the week, here are two quick, cute gift ideas to consider.  These would make good stocking or secret Santa gifts.

Tweezerman Brow Beauty Bubble, $20
Last week I mentioned that eyebrows are so important to your overall beauty look.  Neat and shaped brows help frame the face and make your look more polished.  My favorite tweezers are from Tweezerman.  They're effective and easy to use...plus they have great designs to help gussy-up your beauty toolbox.  The Brow Beauty Bubble is an awesome holiday gift idea. It includes a magnified compact 10X mirror and an adorable candy cane glittered red and white striped mini Slant Tweezer. Housed in a bubble case and small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, this must-have is ideal for on-the-go grooming.

SteamCream Tins, $18 each
These little tins just rock!  You can pick from a bunch of fun designs and give a friend (or yourself) an eye catching tin filled with an all purpose, slightly lavender scented moisturizer. High quality, natural, traceable and ethically-sourced raw ingredients are bound by a steam-infused manufacturing process to create a hydrating, easily absorbed and luxurious vegan cream for face, body and hands.  This is the perfect little gift for co-workers since the tins are small and ideal for the office.

Both the Brow Beauty Bubble and the SteamCream tins prove that good things come in small packages!

Get to Know: Napoleon Perdis

Note: I'll start getting holiday posts soon enough...this week I'm going to introduce you to some brands!

Like you, I am always on the lookout for new beauty products and companies to try out.  Lately, I've been seeing fun looking products from Napoleon Perdis at my local Ulta and I was lucky enough to get some samples from the company to try out.

A little background first: Napoleon Perdis Cosmetics comes from Australia and the company bears the name of a self-taught makeup from Sydney who's come to LA to work his magic.  Napoleon believes that applying makeup should not be difficult--his goal is to demystify the process and to transform runway and red carpet looks to reality. Nice goal!  Napoleon further believes that makeup should enhance your natural look--not alter the real you.

The Napoleon Perdis line includes everything you need to get a full face of makeup.  Here are three of my faves:

• Palette Patrol, $15: This is a great product to introduce yourself to NP...and I personally love a good palette!  This one includes three eyeshadows, three lipglosses, a bronzer, brush, and mini-applicator inside a mirrored box.  The shades are ideal for daytime and the compact packaging is great for us gals on the go!
• Eyebrow Pencil, $18: A brow pencil is a beauty essential, but it's one that's easy to overlook.  I like the NP brow pencil because it has a great texture.  It's easy to use (a light touch is all you need) and it really fills in thin areas in a snap.  A finished brow makes a look that much better, and a good brow pencil like this can really do the trick!
• Auto-Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer, $39: This is a bit pricey, but most good primers seem to put a dent in your wallet!  A little goes a long way, so a tube should last you a while.  This is a lightweight primer that glides on effortlessly.  It helps to even out both skin tone and surface, making foundation application easier and better.  This is one of NP's top selling products for a reason!

Napoleon Perdis products are available at Ulta, online, and at Target (where they have a nice line of NP body products I have yet to try out).

Things I'm Loving Right Now

As a beauty blogger, I try out a ton of beauty and skin care products.  As a result, my favorite beauty products seem to change constantly.  Here are my three favorite products at the moment:

Revlon Matte Lipstick: this product's been around for awhile, but I've just recently started wearing this in "In The Red."  It provides an intense amount of color and lasts for AGES on my lips.  Since it's a matte lipstick, it does make my lips feel a bit dry, but it's not overly heavy, it's easy to apply, and I love the color.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil: this eyeliner just slides on.  I have it in both black (Zero) and brown (Whiskey) and it's easy to use and blend.  It also provides a great deal of concentrated color, so a little goes a long way.  As a bonus, it makes my eyes look awesome!

Almond Oil Daily Hand and Nail Cream by The Body Shop: this goes on light, leaving my hands feeling soft but not greasy.  And that's really important! I'm not wild about the scent, but it's not too distracting.  I use this at night to keep my hands feeling soft all day long.  It also helps keep nails from splitting--thank god!

So...what products are you loving at the moment?  Leave me a comment and let me know!

Beauty Product of the Week: Grow Luscious Mascara

What is it? Revlon's Grow Luscious Mascara is a "lash enhancing formula that complements the natural growth cycle of your lashes and improves their overall appearance and condition with each use.  Lashes not only look instantly longer and lusher, they will also grow stronger day after day.  Includes an oversized lash-extending brush." Available at drugstores and big box stores for less than $8 a tube (I think I got it for about $5.50 on sale at Ulta!).

What did you think?  I do a LOT of mascara reviews.  And I'm fickle with my opinion.  Sometimes I love a tube only to hate it the next time I use it.  As of late, I have not been overly loyal to any one brand.  I'll bounce from a high-end, ultra expensive brand to a dirt cheap drugstore tube without batting an eye.  Sure, I have my favorites, but I no longer have a go-to mascara.  I guess I'm something of a mascara whore--I'll try anything once!

That doesn't mean that mascara is not important to me.  Far from it.  It's probably my favorite beauty product and I'd gladly forgo other eye products (like liner, etc.) as long as my mascara was perfectly applied.  Ideally, mascara gives you fuller, longer lashes and a better defined overall eye shape.  When it goes bad, though, it can be a clumpy mess.

I had mediocre hopes for Revlon's new lash conditioning Grow Luscious mascara.  I did not get it for it's promise to "grow" my lashes.  I got it because I wanted to try Revlon again (I hated the last mascara I tried from Revlon--their horribly awful Double Twist Mascara). 

So far, I think Grow Luscious is pretty decent.  My lashes look better with the mascara on then off, so it's doing something right.  It's dark and makes my lashes longer and slightly fuller.  I have not noticed any benefit in my lashes growing, but I think it will take some time for that to show.

The negatives?  The brush is big, big, big.  This is both good and bad.  Good because it's quick to apply....bad because it can be a bit messy.  I've noticed that I have to be careful not to get little smudges of mascara on my eyelids (I HATE THAT!).  Apart from that, it's completely, totally adequate.

The final verdict?  This is not a game-changing mascara.  It won't knock your socks off with the amazing length/thickness you get from it.  No.  Instead it will give you a decent look for a decent price.  It won't flake off and it will last a good long time.  It's a perfectly lovely, if unexciting, product.  And a huge step up from that pathetic Double Twist!

Embrace Fall Colors Sephora

I LOVE the fall.  It's my absolute favorite season.  I love the weather, the way the trees change colors, and all the new fashion and makeup trends.  It's the best time of the year.

Now that summer has met its end for 2010, it's time to start easing into fall beauty trends. With the virtually unlimited product selection at Sephora, incorporating fall colors and fragrance is effortless!

Here's a selection of fall beauty must-haves available at Sephora:


Sephora Collection Colorful Palette in Kiss From 10 ($24) - Give the neutral eye a twist using this natural toned palette perfect for all skin complexions. The four shadows and matte liner featured are all formulated with a color-intensifying HIBOOST complex to ensure a look that lasts.

Sephora Advanced Lash Booster ($17) - The first lash booster mascara that doubles as a cosmetic AND treatment product. It works to improve the four most important lash characteristics - Length, Thickness, Fullness and Strength - for healthy, beautiful lashes.


Sephora Ultra Shine Lipgloss in Dazzling Violet ($14) -This lip gloss combines form and function with a new generation of “multi-holigraphic” shimmers, a special “ultra hydrating complex” to help stimulate hyaluronic acid synthesis in the lip, and an elegant, transparent tint that showcases the perfect shade of violet that will give lips an overall boost.

Sephora by OPI Nail colour in Just A Little Dangerous ($9) - Purple is the trend shade for fall. The dramatic eggplant purple will add an edge to any look.

Kat Von D Adora Eau de Parfum ($55) - This new fragrance from Kat Von D exudes a sensual and passionate aura with notes of lychee, boysenberry and thyme, the perfect mix for transitioning your scent to the new season.

I'm A Sucker For A Palette!

Last month I gave you a list of super cute beauty products that are coming out this fall.  In looking over this list, it seems that I'm a sucker for a palette.  Then as I flipped through a few September issues, I noticed a lovely new palette from Estee Lauder: their Blue Dahlia Pure Color palette.


I am not usually a fan of blue eyeshadows, and I don't know if I'd actually wear any of the five shades included in the palette.  However, I find them to be just lovely.  If you're a fan of blue, check this out.  If you're like me and don't love blues, check out the Surreal Violet version--it includes five purple shades that rock.  Both the Blue Dahlia and the Surreal Violet palettes cost $42.

I always think of skin care products when I think of Estee Lauder.  In fact I don't think I've ever tried anything from Estee Lauder, apart from a tube of lipstick.  Still, this palette is lovely.  I can't wait to check these out in person.

Beauty Product of the Week: Naked Palette

What is it? Urban Decay's new Naked Palette, "features 12 eyeshadows that have a distinctly Urban look, yet work for everyone. These neutrals won't leave you naked. THIS is how Urban Decay does neutral: Far from boring, the Naked Palette includes 5 new shades (with names like Buck, Darkhorse, and Virgin) in addition to seven of the brand's most addictive best-selling eyeshadows. This is a shadow palette that everyone will want, everyone can use, and everyone will buy. Experiment with office-appropriate neutrals, summertime bronzy looks, or sultry smokiness (achieve golden, brownie, or grey-hued shade combos). Plus, you get an exclusive double-ended version of the award-winning 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero (black) and Whisky (a warm brown shade without sparkle) and a mini genie bottle of Eyeshadow Primer Potion. With all this at your fingertips you'll hardly need clothes at all."  Available at Ulta and Sephora for $44.

What did you think?  I picked up this palette after hearing way too much buzz about it...surprising since I'm not usually one to give into hype.  Also surprising because I am not the world's #1 fan of Urban Decay--I find their eyeshadows to be a bit too sparkly for me as a rule.  But this palette?  OMFG!  I love  it!

I wear neutral eyeshadows almost every day, so I love having so many options to pick from.  I also like that UD didn't include a winky-dink brush with the palette and instead threw in a double-ended eyeliner that, quite frankly, rocks.  Also nice is the added bottle of primer, a product I rarely use but one that's good to have on hand.

The final verdict?  Love it!  I love that there are so many colors to play with...and that UD included several non-glittery shades that are, as they mentioned, work appropriate.  I'm glad I gave into the hype and picked up this palette.  Give it a try for yourself!

Do or Don't: Fake Lashes

Something weird has happened: suddenly, everyone seems to be wearing fake lashes.  All the time.  You see women on TV and in movies with insanely long, thick, and amazing lashes.  Lashes that are obviously fake.  Whenever a mascara ad comes on, I have to laugh because the models lashes are so overdone.  You'd never get that look with mascara alone.

But it seems like the fake lash trend is not just for ads, tv shows or movies.  Now, when I'm at a special event (like a wedding) or out someplace fancy (the hubs and I go to the opera and theater whenever we can!), women are sporting very fake, very overdone lashes.  Even when I'm out running errands I see women with insane lashes.  Really?  Since when did going to Target require wearing false lashes?  Ugh!

Fake lashes are a trend I have a hard time with because I wear glasses.  Shocking, right?  I can't stand contacts and actually LIKE the way I look in glasses...I don't care if it's fashionable or not.  But for me, wearing fake lashes and glasses doesn't seem to work.

I do like the look of long, thick, healthy lashes.  I can also see why women would want to wear fake lashes at certain times.  But all the time?  It seems like a whole lot of effort to me.  I adore mascara and would be interested in some of the products to thicken (or "grow") natural lashes.

What do you think?  Are fake lashes so awesome that they should be worn all the time?  Just for special occasions?  Or not at all?  Let me know what you think!

Cute Stuff Alert!

Since the end of summer is almost here, I've been reading more fashion/beauty magazines than normal.  In all my recent reading, I've stumbled across three cute products that are either out now or are coming out soon.  Check out these cuties...they're lust-worthy!

Kooba for Laura Mercier Wallet, $85.  Preorder by September 1st from www.nordstrom.com. Here's what Nordstrom has to say about this baby:

Kooba, known for their attention to detail, original styles and distinctive textures, joins Laura Mercier, the founder of the 'flawless face,' in a brilliant partnership to create a limited-edition color palette wallet.

Carry your makeup in style. This trendy textured Kooba clutch holds your wallet essentials, plus a limited-edition Laura Mercier palette of hand-selected shades. Also included is a double-ended professional brush and mini mascara. Many different makeup looks can be created with this versatile color mix for eyes, cheeks and lips. A 'Look Card' with a few of Laura's secret tips and techniques is included. You'll love the portability of this take-along clutch—it's absolutely perfect for touchups on the go!

Guerlain Ecrin 6 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette (in Champs-Elysees--above), $84 from Neiman Marcus or Bergdorf Goodman.  According to Allure, "lift the filligreed silver lid and you'll find a mirrored door that reveals six coordinated shadows and a double ended goat-hair brush."  So pretty for so many reasons!

The Gossip Girl Collection from Nicole by OPI.  I've never been a fan of Gossip Girl (I've never watched a single episode!), but the nail colors in this collection are a lot of fun.  Available at Target soon, you'll be able to pick from Scandal, Secrets & Sparkle (a sparkly silver shade), Too Rich for You (a lovely blue), and Nicole...Spotted (a glittery, lighter blue).  I love blue nails in the fall/winter, so Too Rich For You looks irresistibly yummy to me!

Beauty Product of the Week: The Falsies

What is it? Maybelline's Volum'Express The Falsies mascara provides, "false lash glam in a tube, instantly! The Falsies Mascara delivers a false lash look, giving you a full set of voluminous, bold, fanned-out lashes and the appearance of no gaps from any angle. The Pro-Keratin Fiber enriched formula is designed to deliver immediate results, distributing volume and visible intensity to your lashes. The spoon-shaped brush helps fan lashes out. The Falsies Mascara is designed to give the appearance of no gaps and spaces. In a wink, lashes you didn’t even know you had look visibly thickened!"  Available at drug stores and big box stores for about $7.50 or less.

What did you think? I don't know about you, but I find mascara ads to be very, very misleading.  They show women with layers and layers of false lashes and claim that their mascara will provide similar results.  We all know it's a pack of lies, but we all fall for it.

Maybelline's The Falsies mascara promises to give you fake lash results without the need for you know, fake lashes.  The applicator is very flexible and is easy to use. You can work the mascara into the inner and outer most lashes without too much effort.

With The Falsies, my lashes looked more defined than normal...and very dark, thanks to the fact that I bought Blackest Black (that sounds like a Danzig song, but whatever!).  I did not have any trouble with clumping (a huge plus!) and I found that The Falsies added length while thickening my lashes. One minor annoyance: this mascara seems to go on thick and wet.  It seemed to take a few seconds to dry, but I've never had it smudge while I was waiting for it to set.

I don't think I got "fake lash" results, but I did like the overall look of my lashes with The Falsies.

The final verdict?  The price is right and the mascara does a decent job at lengthening and thickening lashes.  It's not the best mascara I've ever tried, but it sure is far from the worst.  Not quite a ringing endorsement, but still--it's a perfectly adequate product and I'd consider purchasing this again.

Beauty Product of the Week: Voluminous Mascara

What is it? L'Oreal's Voluminous Original Mascara "is uniquely formulate to build lashes five times their natural thickness for a full and dramatic lash-look. Patented Volume-Maximizing brush thickens lashes evenly and smoothly, leaving them soft with virtually no flakes, smudges, or clumps." Available in black, brown, soft black, and blackest black wherever L'Oreal products are sold for less than $8.00.

What did you think? I rarely buy L'Oreal makeup products, but thought I'd give them a try. This mascara is one of their best selling products, so I thought I'd take it out for a test drive. To me, this mascara is nothing special. The brush doesn't seem to be anything new, and the formula is also ho-hum. It seemed to lengthen my lashes more than it thickened them, so I was somewhat disappointed with the "volumizing" aspects.

That said, it did a nice job of defining my lash line and making my lashes stand out. You need to be careful when you apply the product because I did get a few clumps when I first put it on.

The final verdict? I'd say this is an average product. It will give you decent lashes, but it doesn't rock my world. It's adequate, it's functional, it's affordable, so I can see why this is such a popular product. If it's on sale and you need mascara, I'd give it a try--just be careful to avoid clumps and flakes!

Beauty Product of the Week: DiorShow Mascara

What is it? Dior's DiorShow is a "cult-followed mascara that leaves lashes ultra thick, long, and curled.DiorShow Mascara is Dior's original, must-have mascara that delivers ultra-glam, catwalk-length lashes. Makeup artists all over the world use this product to create the longest, thickest, curviest lashes ever." Available at department stores and Sephora for $24.

What did you think? This may come as a surprise, but I do not like to spend a ton of money on beauty products. I also don't buy as many beauty products as you might think. However, there are times when I like to splurge and get something expensive and wonderful for myself...and when those times come, I tend to gravitate towards certain brands. Dior is one of those brands.

This is not a surprise to regular Kiss and Makeup readers, but I love, love, love mascara. It's my absolute favorite beauty product. A good mascara can make your lashes longer, thicker, and can accentuate the shape of your eye. I've used a million different brands--from the super cheap to the super expensive--and I must say: DiorShow has a spot in my top five all time mascaras.

DiorShow has a nice, fat brush that makes lashes thicker and longer with only one swipe. I use black mascara which makes my lashes super dark and really makes my eyes pop. Using a good eyelash curler and a decent eyelash comb along with DiorShow results in my eyes looking bigger. My lashes look made up, but not over done. And when it comes to mascara, there's a fine line between looking "done" and looking "over done."

The final verdict? $24 is a lot to spend on mascara, but I don't regret this purchase. DiorShow is a pleasure to use and it gives me the results I want. If you want to pamper yourself with a higher-end product, check this one out!

The Eyes Have It At Sephora

I feel like I am in an eye rut. I always tend to wear shade of brown shadow, though I'll eventually get crazy and try out a gray or purple hue. I almost always use a deep brown eyeliner (that's probably a little too old to be considered hygienic....yes, even beauty bloggers have bad habits), and black mascara. I need to break out of my boring routine!

I was just at Sephora over the weekend and left without anything for my eyes. But if I had made finding a new look for my eyes a priority, there are plenty of options at our favorite beauty mecca. Here are some bright-eyed options from Sephora:

Kat Von D High Voltage Eye Primer ($15) – Use this lightweight, non-greasy eye primer to keep your colorful lids fresh all day long.

Sephora Collection Eyelash Curler ($16) – Make your eyes pop with this pinch-proof eyelash curler that gently and comfortably give your lashes a dramatic curl.

Sephora Colorful Mono Eyeshadow ($12) – Color your lids with these high-pigment paraben-free shadows that deliver intense, long-lasting results! Available in 25 rich new shades.

tokidoki Perfetto Eyeliner ($16) – This waterproof, liquid, quick-drying liner pen with a unique, innovative chisel tip makes for an easy, precise application every time! Available in eight bold shades.

Tarina Tarantino Fleur De Lash Mascara ($19) – A long-lasting formula that dramatically thickens and lengthens lashes for a seductively long look.

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!

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.

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!

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.

Hippety Hoppity...

Apparently Easter is this weekend. I say apparently because I never seem to remember when Easter pops up on the calendar. I only know that I keep seeing plastic eggs and crazy bunnies in all the stores I've been going to lately.

If you're like me, you'd rather skip the Easter egg hunt and opt instead to fill up your own brand of basket--a Sephora basket--with some Spring-inspired goodies. Bunny-hop to Sephora and treat yourself to these wonders:

• Sephora by OPI in Iris I Was Thinner ($9) – This pale, iris purple is the perfect way to wear an Easter pastel without spending a fortune. I really hate the name of this shade, but it's pretty, so I'll give it a temporary pass.
  
• Leslie Blodgett Santa Barbara Eau de Parfum Rollerball ($16) –This luminous scent lingers on the skin for hours and the travel-friendly packaging makes it great for a quick pick-me-up on the go!
  
• Sephora Colorful Mono Eyeshadows ($12) – Let your peepers make a festive statement with these high-pigment shadows. Now available in 79 shades.
• Tarina Tarantino Gem Gloss ($19) – Coat your lips with this sweet shade of lightweight vitamin-enriched gloss. Available in 12 shades.
  
• Sephora “Tricks of the Trade” Perfecting Lash Primer ($14) – Your mascara will outlast your biggest expectations with this primer that helps volumize and lengthen your lashes.
  
• Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Blush ($25) – This cream blush naturally sculpts and highlights cheeks for a healthy, spring glow. Available in 14 shades.