The Makeup Show LA!

hello beauties! tomorrow i'll be spending the whole day in los angeles at The Makeup Show LA. i'm thrilled because i wasn't able to attend last year. while i'm there i expect to learn about brands i'm not familiar with as well as getting the latest scoop on what's new from brands that i am. also, i can't wait to meet some amazing makeup gurus and re-connect with my fellow beauty bloggers. :)

to get up-to-the-minute updates, be sure to follow me on twitter!

xo

Hair Therapy: Living Proof No Frizz Restyling Spray

when Living Proof's people contacted me about their new Restyling Spray, i didn't hesitate to say yes (!!) when they asked if i wanted to try it out-- i'm already a huge fan of their line. with benefits including detangling, conditioning and blocking humidity, i had high hopes for this new product.

and it didn't let me down!

you see, i like to exercise and work up a sweat most days of the week. this means i have to re-do my hair on those days. since i don't wash my hair everyday, i typically add a bit of leave-in conditioner, blow dry the wet parts and go over any areas that need to be redone with my flat iron. now that Restyling Spray is in my life, i just spray it through my hair and style as usual. my hair is left feeling soft and looking like i just washed it.

Restyling Spray is fabulous if you're looking for a product that will refresh your hair without having to go through the whole process of rewashing it. it's oil and silicone-free and has Living Proof's fabulous scent. find it exclusively on qvc.com.


xo
a full-sized product sample was sent to me by the brand for review.

Spring Beauty 2010: Stila Cosmetics

while i'm thrilled that the fall runway shows are giving me a glimpse into the fabulous season that will be fall 2010, i'm looking forward to spring (no, not the heat, just all of the style and beauty treats that go with it, ha!).

Stila's Spring 2010 Collection features some fabulous little goodies that are already creating buzz-- can you feel the sunshine yet? take a look...




One Step Makeup

this product could quite possibly be a dream come true! it's a primer, foundation, concealer and powder all in one easy step! using 100% mineral pigments to deliver a high performance, high definition and long-wearing makeup, this formula offers medium coverage but is buildable and blendable. for some reviews, check out my blogger gal pals over at Beauty Junkies Unite and Beauty 411 who each recently featured One Step Makeup!





Jewel Luxe Lip Gloss Trio

Stila's glosses are amazing, and this set is something to take notice of. while the formula in these glosses contain mango seed, goa seed, and shea butters to offer moisturizing benefits, they also contain the brand's exclusive Gem Complex, composed of diamond, emerald, jade, ruby, moonstone, rose quartz, sapphire, topaz, amethyst, amber, garnet, mother of pearl, and opal-- talk about luxurious!





Jewel Eye Shadow Palette

i'm looking forward to trying this one out! each shadow shimmers and glistens with a perfect blend of pigment and pearl. these buildable shadows glide evenly onto the lids. transparent talc delivers excellent color release and all day wear.




Black Diamond Mascara

diamonds are now a lashes best friend! swirled with genuine diamond powder, this innovative mascara promises to lengthens and adhere perfectly to every lash, leaving them not only feeling soft and plush all day long, but glistening, bringing out the color of your eyes. paraben free. shades include: Black Shimmer, black with silver shimmer and Blue Shimmer, black with blue shimmer.





Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner

this marker-like liner was created to give even novice makeup artists the ability to apply a precise line of color like a pro. the formula is waterproof and goes on smoothly without skipping, smudging, or pulling, lasting all day.




Yumberry Crush Lip & Cheek Stain

the newest member to the crush family, Yumberry Crush is a light midtone pink containing a new superfruit called yumberry. these little fruits boast the highest amount of the most potent antioxidants, is 50 times stronger than vitamin E and 20 times stronger than vitamin C (can you say wow!). use this multitasker to give yourself the most natural-looking flush.


tell me: are you excited about this new collection? discover more for yourself at stilacosmetics.com.

xo
info and images courtesy of Stila

VB Cosmetics Cuticle Oil with Shea Butter

hangnails are dreadful to look at and painful to have. cuticle oil is a great product to keep them at bay and keep nails looking healthy. my current fave is VB Cosmetics' Cuticle Oil with Shea Butter. since i have an issue with getting hangnails, i have to be very attentive to my hands (seriously, i can get them constantly if i'm not careful-- such a pain, literally). if you've ever experienced them, you know what i'm talking about.



this surprisingly ungreasy oil gives my nails and cuticles a nourishing treat each time i use it, about once a day. along with shea butter, this contains safflower, avocado, grape seed and canola oils. application is simple, just brush on and rub it in. i like to use it on my toes, too!.

you can find VB Cosmetics Cuticle Oil with Shea Butter at vbcosmetics.com

xo
product featured was sent to me by the brand for review consideration

hair therapy: Pantene Pro-V Ice Shine Shampoo and Conditioner

i don't know one woman in her right mind that doesn't want shiny, healthy-looking hair. even those i know who could care less about fashion or makeup want to have gorgeous, shiny hair. Pantene's Ice Shine Shampoo and Conditioner promise to leave hair looking super shiny and looking healthy.

i was given the opportunity to try them-- so what do i think?

first with the shampoo. it claims to leave dull, tired hair conditioned and shiny. my hair is typically shiny, but i found that it really got rid of any build-up i had. seriously. on the down side, this meant i couldn't have stopped at just using the shampoo because it is clarifying (it dissolves all build-up on the hair left by other products). after using it my hair was left feeling the opposite of moisturized and really squeaky clean. since it's been some time since i've used a clarifying shampoo, i figured my hair would be ok.

the conditioner was my favorite of the two (surprise, surprise, lol!). it's a light formula, but it left my hair feeling fabulous-- boy, was i thankful for this! it smells wonderful, as all Pantene products do in my opinion, and once my hair was styled i couldn't have been happier-- my hair was clean, clean, clean and even shinier!



if you're looking to give your hair a little boost in the shine department, i recommend you give these these products a try. if you only use the shampoo, be sure to use the conditioner (or your favorite conditioner). it isn't moisturizing in the least. according to Pantene, it's ok to use everyday, but unless your hair is on the oily side, i wouldn't recommend it. the conditioner would be great to use anytime. i think i'll be using these once a month to give my on-the-dry-side tresses a good cleaning (and shine boost) from all the products i test out. :)

find Pantene Pro-V Ice Shine Shampoo and Conditioner at a drugstore near you. visit pantene.com for more info.

xo
products featured sent to me by the brand's PR for review consideration.

Enter to Win the Chance to Become an ELLE Corespondant

do you think you have what it takes to be the next big-shot red carpet reporter? ELLE is looking for a fabulous someone to report the action at one of their upcoming star studded events!

so if you love keeping up with your favorite celebrities and think you can conduct a great interview, ELLE wants to see. your reward for showing off? the chance to win big!

send in your 30-second audition tape showcasing your celeb interviewing skills for your chance in the spotlight by clicking here.


xo
info and image courtesy of ELLE

Shiseido Backstage at NY Fashion Week Fall 2010

Shiseido creative director Dick Page created numerous looks for the runways of fashion week, including looks for Michael Kors, Narciso Rodriguez, Zero + Maria Cornejo and United Bamboo fall 2010 collections; each look was distinct to it's respected collection, but equally beautiful.




the beauty look at Narciso Rodriguez put emphasis on clean, fresh skin and bold eyebrows which were the "most important detail of the look". to create the bold look, Page mixed Accentuating Cream Eyeliner in Black with a prototype of a white cream color from the Shiseido labs to create a dark-grey shade. he sketched the dark-grey cream into the eyebrows with a sharp edged makeup brush and used a mascara wand to groom the brows.





taking inspiration from the collection itself, the Michael Kors beauty look was made to be very classic and all american. skin was kept "warm with a flush of bright color" with eyes that were luxurious looking, "but not too heavy" according to Page.





at United Bamboo, the look was fresh, clean and transparent, with glamorous eyes and "structured" lips. "the lip and cheek color from this palette (to be released in november 2010) was inspired by the geiko in japan. their traditional lip color was made from ground safflower and water; this color is similar, but we added more specks of gold."






the look was "transparent and easy" for the Zero + Maria Cornejo runway show. skin was fresh with rosy cheeks and defined eyes. each model's face was lightly spritzed with water for a "glowy" finish.



xo

Maybelline Lash Stiletto Voluptuous Mascara

mascara, as most of you know, is a must-have for me. this new one, Lash Stiletto Voluptuous from Maybelline, recently caught my eye, and i had to try it (yes, i bought it myself). while i thought the the original Lash Stiletto was just ok, i absolutely love this new version so much more.



the brush is curved, similar to my holy grail, absolutely-cannot-live-without-it mascara Lancome Hypnose Drama. the formula is good, too-- it isn't too thick, but just enough to get lashes looking full.



take a look at the before and after pics...



before



after


so, what do you think? have you tried Maybelline Lash Stiletto Voluptuous yet? you can find it at your local drugstore and mass retailer.

xo

Beautiful Smile Actress

Beautiful Smile Indian Actress

Sweet Smile Actress

Sweet Smile and Beautiful Indian Actress.

Beautiful Actress

A Beautiful Indian Actress is typing a message to her friend.

Selita Ebanks at Fashion Week

wearing a fabulous dress by Rachel Roy, shoes by Gucci, gorgeous makeup created by Sywia Rokowska and a fierce hairstyle, it's easy to see that supermodel Selita Ebanks made her way through fashion week looking amazing. there was one day in particular that was pointed out to me on a day her hair was fabulously shiny and healthy-looking.

so how did Selita keep her tresses looking so gorgeous? her secret is Biolustre, a 4-step treatment system that helps repair overprocessed, damaged, tired hair. to restore healthy shine to her hair before her day of appearances during fashion week, and prepare it for styling, Biolustre celebrity stylist Ricardo Rojas created her style for Rachel Roy's fall 2010 presentation by blowing the hair dry with a round brush to accentuate her natural waves and add volume.

because the Biolustre treatment evens the texture of hair from root to end, Ricardo did not use any other styling products. to hold the look for the entire evening, he finished with Acanthe Curl Enhancing Leave-In Fluid to set the waves for a flawless look.

this Biolustre treatment sounds amazing, right? celebs like Heidi Klum, Mandy Moore and Booke Sheilds also use it to keep their hair looking its best.. visit biolustre.com for more info.

xo
images: Janet Mayer/PR Photos

Bath & Body Works Signature Collection Midnight Pomegranate Candle

candles are so relaxing to me, and scented candles are fabulous for making any room smell amazing at the same time. i recently bought one from Bath & Body Works' Signature Collection in one of my favorite scents (i also own it in the hand cream, hand sanitizer and body butter), Midnight Pomegranate, and i can't get enough of it!

with a blend of pomegranate, patchouli, blackberry and vanilla, Midnight Pomegranate is a blend of enticing fruit and spice with a hint of playfulness. this scent (in any form) works anytime of day, and of course, candles are great year round. :)

visit bathandbodyworks.com for more info.

xo

NY Fashion Week Fall 2010: Thakoon

for the Thakoon fall 2010 show, Nars cosmetics created the gorgeous look.

taking inspiration from Chopinot & Gaultier's Le Défilé, designer Thakoon Panichgul says, "i was inspired by the costumes used in this show and wanted to create a collection that reflected that same era but without the goth element."



Diane Kendal applying makeup to model

lead Nars artist, Diane Kendal says of the look: "the look is fresh, beautiful, luminous and quite confident. we focused on a strong brow and highlighted the eyes to show depth and boldness in a way that wouldn't fight with the various textures, layers and colors of the collection."



on the face: Douceur Blush (new for fall 2010); try Lovejoy or Madly Blush for a similar effect
on the eyes: Coconut Grove Single Eyeshadow (new for fall 2010); try Bali Single Eyeshadow for a similar effect. Tzarine Duo Eyeshadow (new for fall 2010); try the Orgasm Illuminator on brow bones for a similar effect. Portobello Duo Eyeshadow

on the lips: Tashkent Pure Matte Lipstick (new for fall 2010); try Belle de Jour Velvet Matte Lip Pencil for a similar effect.

xo
first two model images at top via style.com; all other images and info courtesy of NARS

China Glaze Wizard of Ooh Ahz Returns + Swatches

China Glaze re-released their beloved Wizard of Ooh Ahz collection just before the holidays and with the whirlwind that comes with that time of year (not to mention my family and i had just moved), i'm finally posting my swatches (better late than never, right?).

if you are a fan of sparkles and shimmer in your polish, these are sure to excite you. if you don't already own these, take a look at this collection...





The Ten Man is a white-silver and one of my faves. it looks good with anything.





Cowardly Lyin' is a really pretty gold. sadly, my cool complexion doesn't look as good in this shade.





CCCourage is my absolute favorite of the bunch. i am a huge purple polish fan, and this shimmery beauty doesn't disappoint.




Dorothy Who? is a jelly polish with blue and silver shimmer. i love this one--it's amazing!




Good Witch? is a soft pink and, as you can see, very pretty. my daughter loves this one (of course).





Ruby Pumps is the best-seller of the group, loved and adored by nail polish fans everywhere, with good reason-- it's gorgeous! this pic does it no justice. i love the shimmer in this red and even i (not much of a red polish wearer) like to wear this one.


each shade required three coats for the sake of the pics. some shades (like The Ten Man and Dorothy Who? and Cowardly Lyin') appeared more sheer with only two coats. in any case, these are all very gorgeous polishes-- what do you think??


visit chinaglaze.com for more info and to find a retailer near you.

xo
this collection was sent to me by the brand for review

NY Fashion Week Fall 2010: Yigal Azrouël

inspired by a collection rich in texture, lead artist Wendy Rowe, working with Bobbi Brown cosmetics, focused on creating "youthful, fresh, but chic makeup with heavy focus on brows..."

this monochromatic look worked flawlessly with the women's clothes (the collection also included menswear), and was a great contrast to the more structured pieces. eyes were complimented with softly smudged eyeliner, and cream shadow, making the eye more neutral; lip colors in Hot Cocoa and Salmon from Bobbi Brown's collection completed the look.



to get the look, the following products were used*:

on the skin: Hydrating Face Cream, Hydrating Eye Cream, Foundation Stick, Creamy Concealer, Corrector.

on the eyes: Suede Long-Wear Cream Shadow, all over lid; Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Sepia Ink, applied lightly and smudged on upper and lower lashline.

on the cheeks: Bronzing Powder

on the lips: Hot Cocoa and Salmon Lip Color

on the brows: clean and brushed up with a touch of Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Sepia Ink


as for the hair, Teddy Charles for TIGI created a modern, understated ponytail loop-bun with a silky, textured finish.




to get the look, the following products were used:

CATWALK by TIGI Your Highness Root Boost Spray

Love, Peace & the Planet by TIGI Freak of Nature

CATWALK by TIGI Your Highness Firm Holding Hairspray


xo
all beauty info and images courtesy of the respected brand PR; model images via style.com
*please note that the makeup look contains products slated for fall/winter ’10 release, and shade names and pricing will be confirmed closer to their release dates.