Know a girl who loves lip glosses? Well, who doesn’t! Glosses are the perfect lip wear, pretty on younger women and make the older ladies (me…maybe) look youthful and fresh. A win-win all around!
Benefit Cosmetics has released the Glitz, Glam & Gloss collection ($26.00 USD) just in time for holiday gift giving. I love that in three tubes you get 6 colors — something for every occasion. The colors are:
friends in high places (sparkling raspberry)
kiss you (clear fuchsia)
almost famous (copper penny)
zone out (golden nude)
i’m with the band (golden pink shimmer)
fresh-squeezed (pink grapefruit)
Benefit makes a beautiful Shimmering gloss that glides on smooth without being too sticky and it has a cool tapered applicator, to get all of the curves of the lips. I am loving glosses with gold lately, so I’m with the band is gorgeous as is golden nude — lovely over a dark plum or red lipstick! VERY festive.
You can find these glosses online at www.benefitcosmetics.com, or stop into Sephora and pick them up for all of your girlfriends!
Holiday Trend Alert: Want beautiful party makeup that’s simple but packs a punch! Pur Minerals has gorgeous and good-for-you makeup for a classic look — cherry-red lips, shimmery neutrals on the eyes and warm, flushed cheeks. To get the look, line your lips with Mineral Lip Pencil with Brush ($16.50 USD) in Ruby and fill in with Mineral Shea Butter Lipstick ($15.00 USD) in Red Ruby. For extra shine, apply Pür Balm ($16.50 USD). Next, dust your eyelids with Pressed Mineral Shadows($13.00 USD each) in Champagne Citrine and Gold Dust to give eyes a subtle sparkle. Line your lids with Mineral Eye Defining Pencil in Chocolate Mica ($16.50 USD) for extra definition. Finally, apply Universal Marble Powder in Spice ($22.50 USD) for perfectly flushed cheeks.
These products are all beautiful. I tested the lip liner, lipstick and shadows. I think the lip brush on the pencil is brilliant, you can blend your lips after applying pencil so that the line won’t be harsh, or use the brush with the lipstick or a gloss. The lipstick is very moisturizing and is a beautiful red. My favorite products were the shimmery shadows. They are soft, but really make the eyes stand out, because of the shimmer. Wear them with lots of black mascara and the eyes will stand out as much as your ruby-red lips!
Visit www.purminerals.com to purchase these and other products. They have great gift sets, too, such as a 5 Piece Lucite brush set, eye shadow collections and palettes and lipstick collections — plus many of the holiday items are buy one get one free! Enjoy!
A lip gloss set is the perfect gift for girlfriends, sisters, moms, because there usually is such a range of colors to try, it’s so much fun to receive!
Smashbox has introduced WISH For The Perfect Pout($29.00 USD, $96.00 Value) for the holidays. This limited-edition set of 6 lip glosses that contains best sellers and exclusive holiday shades. There are two full-size lip glosses and four smaller ones.
This set contains:
– 0.20 oz Pout (baby doll pink)
– 0.20 oz Luster (sheer golden pink)
– 0.14 oz Tease (juicy raspberry)
– 0.14 oz Candy (cotton candy pink)
– 0.14 oz Aura (shimmering pink nude)
– 0.14 oz Radiant (shimmering pink plum)
This set has really pretty colors. I love the Aura and Radiant shades and the luster looks great over bold lipsticks. These are a tiny bit sticky, but are so glossy and fun, it doesn’t matter!
Plus, with every WISH purchase, $1 will be donated to Children’s Miracle Network, a non-profit that grants the wish of life to millions of sick or injured kids by providing care and investing in life-saving research. Help Smashbox make miracles happen this holiday. (Donation up to $25,000)
Visit www.smashbox.com to learn more about these products and to purchase fun holiday gifts!
Too Faced is that rare type of makeup company that makes products that are a combination of coolness — colors, packaging, even the product names — and really good quality everyday (and special occasion) cosmetics.
On of my favorite Too Faced products is the Primed & Poreless Skin Smoothing Face Primer ($30.00 USD). It is a makeup primer scientifically formulated to achieve the look of flawless skin without makeup. I don’t usually wear primer unless I really love how it makes my face look and feel. This primer has a nude tone that melts into the skin, so ladies with all skin shades can wear it. It includes Vitamins A & C, Mulberry extract, and a powerful dose of Retinol to make pores appear smaller and hydrate skin.
I like wearing Primed & Poreless with just a little concealer and powder, because on its own, my face looks smoother and I don’t need full makeup. But, it would work well with liquid or powder foundation.
LASHLIGHT ($25.00 USD) — is an innovative mascara formula containing millions of microscopic mirrors that bounce light off lashes for a super-glossy, jet-black finish with an exclusive light up wand to spotlight each lash for the most precise application possible. Cool huh? LASHLIGHT is “formulated to thicken, lengthen, and condition while coating lashes with the glossiest of jet-black finishes to make eyes look brighter, whiter, and camera ready. A combination of Panthenol and Vitamins C and E keep lashes healthy and Red Algae increases Keratin resistance for maximum lash flexibility.”
I like this mascara, but don’t love it. It does make my lashes longer and thicker, but it clumps a bit and I have to work at it to get the clumps out. I do love the light and the mirror on the side of the tube — great for nightclub touch-ups!
Glamour Revolution ($39.50 USD $100 Value) is a limited-edition makeup book that includes everything a to keep you beautiful this holiday season!
This set contains:
– Milk Chocolate Single Eyeshadow
– George & Weezie Single Eyeshadow
– Boy Toy Single Eyeshadow
– Label Whore Single Eyeshadow
– London Calling Single Eyeshadow
– Glamazon Single Eyeshadow
– Dirt Bag Single Eyeshadow
– Party Girl Single Eyeshadow
– Neptune Single Eyeshadow
– 3 Lip Glosses
– Chocolate Soleil Bronzer
– Brightening Blush in La Vie En Rose
– Shadow Insurance (colorless application)
What can I say? This is a fab kit that has everything you need to look stunning! I love the blush and bronzer — pretty together, and the eyeshadows and lip glosses include enough colors to make everyone happy!
Visit www.toofaced.com to purchase. You can also find Too Faced at Sephora and Ulta. Enjoy!
Urban Decay always releases really cool holiday makeup sets, and this year is no exception! I’ve sampled a few of the sets and I think that all of the products aren’t only fun, but they are quality cosmetics that really last. Some of my favorite sets are:
24/7 Sets — do you like Urban Decays long-lasting eye liner? You will love the new 24/7 Sets ($29.00). These each include an exclusive shade of 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, 3 best-sellers, and a Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner. The sets are:
Hi-Fi : new shade, Mildew, a deep green inspired by one of their best-selling eye shadows and exclusive to this set. Also included are Zero (black), Flipside (teal) and 1999 (plum), and Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in Distortion, an iridescent sparkle.
Stereophonic: new shade, Crash, a rich eggplant inspired by another eye shadows and exclusive to this set. Also included are Zero (black), Underground (metallic taupe) and Gunmetal (like it sounds!), and Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in Midnight Cowboy, a beige sparkler.
I love how creamy and blendable these liners are. Long gone are the old days of heating your liner with a lighter to get it soft! And once it sets, it stays on. The set is cool because not only do you get Zero, a great black, you get to try other shades as well. Plus the glitter liner is great for a night on the town!
Smoke Out Kit ($34.00 USD) — I realize how daunting creating a smoky eye can be. It is not an ever day look that we are used to doing. This fab kit not only gives you all of the tools that you need, but step-by-step instructions and a face chart, too!
Included in the kit are 4 shadows, a shadow brush, travel size versions of 24/7 Eye Pencil in Zero (black), and new Skyscraper Mascara. Adorned with exotic wisps of smoke, the kits feature a swiveling mirror and swinging layers, kept shut with magnets.
Remember that smoky eyes don’t have to be black! The kit comes in 3 palettes; black/grey, plus brown and deep green kits. And I LOVE the Skyscraper Mascara. True to its name, you get very long lashes with this mascara. But, they are also very thick, as well. I had a lot of fun playing with the looks with the instructions. You can vary the intensity of the smoky eye, which is great!
Show Pony Shadow Box ($30.00 USD) Is a fun shadow kit that includes a primer and liner for great eye looks! Urban Decay chose Kime Buzzelli, darling of the LA art scene, to illustrate this amazing Shadow Box inside and out. Kime’s paintings feature wickedly fashionable women… often with brightly colored makeup running down their cheeks. Inspired by these characters, Urban Decay has filled this palette with 6 shadows… all totally wearable, and 2 exclusive to this set: Snatch (peachy-pink with glitter) and Painkiller (turquoise shimmer).
This is the first time I have tried the Primer Potion. It is such a great idea, since shadow never seems to stay on all day. The primer potion goes on creamy, not greasy and seems to help shadow stay put.
The LipFusion Holiday Mini Lip Gloss set is not only a fun gift, it’s an excellent way to plump lips to make them appear younger. I love the LipFusion glosses because you get plump without pain.
The claim is: The revolutionary patented LipFusion® technology delivers active collagen into lip tissue painlessly and instantly. The patented LipFusion® delivery system dehydrates the collagen molecule into tiny microspheres that can absorb easily into lip tissue, then search for the body’s natural water to re-hydrate up to 50 times their size, creating a beautiful, full-out pout. Unlike other products in the marketplace that claim to enhance lips, LipFusion® does not contain menthol, caffeine, cinnamon or other irritants that only cause the lip mucous to temporarily swell.
The LipFusion® Holiday Collection features six minis of LipFusion® Micro Collagen Lip Plump Color Shines. The collection combines LipFusion’s® three newest shades Crave, Goddess and Boca Babe and three original and best sellers Clear, Bare and Blush. This limited edition collection sells for $39.
Lip Fusion Holiday Mini Collection includes six sexy day-to-evening shades:
Crave: Flushed pink
Goddess: Decadent golden bronze
Boca Babe: Juicy tangerine
Clear: Subtle shine
Bare: Natural healthy nude
Blush: Subtle and luminescent baby pink
For best results, simply apply an even layer of LipFusion® over the top and bottom lip and allow the formula to penetrate for 2-3 minutes. You’ll experience naturally luscious, full and kissable lips for up to 24 hours. For maximum plumping, combine with LipFusion® Lip Plumping Pencils, and use LipFusion® XL as an intensive nighttime treatment (which I use every night and LOVE).
You can purchase the collection at Sephora, Ulta, Dillards, Beauty.com, Skinstore.com and HSN.com in the US and Sephora in Canada. Enjoy!
CoverGirl’s Blast collection is all about big bold looks. Big and long lashes started it all with LashBlast and more recently LashBlast Length. Now comes Smoky ShadowBlast and ShineBlast Lip Gloss, arriving in drugstores in January.
I love the original LashBlast in the fat orange tube because of the thick lashes it gives. The LashBlast length ($7.79) is also fab, but because of different reasons. This lengthening mascara has a longer, thinner brush — which I prefer. It is easier to maneuver and give lashes that extra length that stubby lashes like mine need!
I also have tried the ShineBlast Lip Gloss ($7.49) that is debuting in January. I’m a gloss girl, and this is a good one! It is non-sticky and very shiny. It smells fruity, but doesn’t have a taste, which is good. If it tastes yummy I lick my lips, which ruins the whole purpose of wearing gloss! The foam tipped applicator is cleverly designed to be thicker on the end for easier application. When released in January, it will come in 16 shades!
The Smoky ShadowBlast seems like a very fun way to apply eye shadow. I haven’t tried it yet, but when I do, I will review it. I do know is that it is a cream stick with a different shade on each end. One shade is for the base and one is for the crease. This comes in 6 duos.
Until December 5th, COVERGIRL has an online preview of the NEW Blast collection featuring Smoky ShadowBlast, ShineBlast Lip Gloss and LashBlast Length Mascara. Consumers who visit Drugstore.com will save $5 and earn free shipping when they purchase all three products while supplies. Those who visit CVS.com will receive free shipping.
Here are the shades available for advance purchase:
Smoky ShadowBlast
-Silver Sky
-Onyx Smoke
-Bronze Fire
-Purple Plum
I have recently discovered the brand Yves Rocher (which I enjoy) and happily tested some of their Holiday 2009 offerings.
My favorite holiday item from Yves Rocher is the Extra Long Wear Eye Pencil ($5.00 USD). This thick pencil goes on very smooth and is claimed to be long -lasting. It didn’t last all day on me, but did last for a while. It comes in two colors — Taupe Rose is a rosy, bronze that is great for day and Bleu Nuit is a dramatic navy that is perfect for evening looks.
Gloss & Charm Mirror – Limited Edition ($6.00 USD) are perfect holiday lip glosses. They are available in two party-perfect shades: Raspberry Jelly and Frosty White. These glosses are soft and shimmery and can be worn over lipstick for more glamour! Plus you’ll receive a mirror charm with every gloss purchased.
Yves Rocher also has a home fragrance collection. I really like the Jardins de Noel Liquid Hand Soap ($5.00 USD). It comes in a generous 10.1 fl. oz bottle and is a festive way to dress up your bathroom (and keep your hands clean) this holiday season. It comes in Fleur de Noel, with notes of white flower, cedar, lemon extract and orange, and Jardins de Noel, with notes of almond, mandarin, bergamot and grapefruit. The bottle is very pretty as well!
Great Gift Idea: Just in time for the holidays, Borghese introduces two mini kits featuring fun, glittery lacquers. These kits would make perfect stocking stuffers, teacher and co-worker gifts, perfect for all of the stylish ladies on your list!
Each kit contains four long-wearing, nail-strengthening polishes that contain Borghese’s exclusive Acqua di Vita complex to help restore healthy moisture to the nails. Micronized Gemstones add brilliance. Each shade comes with a special Duale Curve Tip Brush custom designed to hug the shape of your nail for a smooth, flawless application. The rich, saturated hues are free of DBP’s, Toluene and added Formaldehyde.
The collections are:
Allegra — Gold Glitter, Red Glitter, White Glitter and Black Glitter
Serena — Brown Glitter, Green Duochrome, Multi-Colored Glitter, Purple Shimmer
Each kit costs $9.99 and can be found at drugstores nationwide. Pick one up for a friend — and yourself!
Looking for a natural makeup line that does not break the bank? Yves Rocher creates quality cosmetics that are affordable and fun to use!
Some of the products from this line that I love are:
Loose powder foundation & Kabuki brush ($39.00 USD) This makeup contains organic sweet almond oil which claims to sooth the skin. Most mineral makeup settles in to my pores, which I HATE! This foundation smooths over wrinkles and pores and makes them appear smaller — which is nice for an aging lady! I have also noticed that my skin gets a glow when I use it, which I LOVE. I get the claim of soothing, my red cheeks feel better when I wear it. The kabuki brush is very well made and the bristles are very soft. I pore some of the foundation into the cap, swirl the brush in it, tap of excess and buff it on my face. Wonderful!
Loose Pearls-Intense illuminating effect ($18.00 — $9.00 on sale) will give you a flirty holiday sparkle. This is a nice, shimmery pigment in a very cute little bottle. A little goes a long way with this product, and it would be great for evenings out. It is available in four shades, Pink, Taupes, Gold and Copper. This also contains organic sweet almond oil to help powder stay soft and not dry lids out.
Sometimes, instead of heavy lipstick or gloss, you just want a little color and softened lips. The Cream Balm ($12.00 USD) is a natural lip color that give a little shine and long-lasting moisture. The Cream Balm contains soothing organic sweet almond oil and is available in two shades, Petales de Rose (lighter pinkish hue) and Petales de Cuivre (reddish shade).
Forty, Flirty & Fabulous 