Beauty Blog

I always enjoy seeing what celebrity style is like on the red carpet…although these people have personal stylists and a crew of hair and makeup people primping them before they venture out to events, its interesting to take of looks that they play it safe with or take a fashion risk with.  Beauty is no exception and by the looks of it, celebs like Eva Mendes, Vanessa Hudgens, and Leighton Meester are doin’ it up right.  Seen here at a Calvin Klein fashion benefit in New York City, Mendes–the new face of Calvin Klein–was glowing with natural looking skin, creamy pinkish cheeks, and a soft, semi-nude matte lipcolor–a trend for this spring season.  I like her hair this way too, it has volume, it looks healthy, and gives off a slight air of sex kitten hair. I also couldn’t help but notice that she really looks a lot like a younger Cindy Crawford here…and that’s never a bad thing!

The slightly grayish smoky eyes work well with the hair, to achieve this look, try to go with a dark gray shadow that has a bit of shimmer in it like MAC’s Satin Taupe ($13.55) or Ambiance.  Gray and pink are complimentary colors so this look on the eyes will be perfect with the lightest pink on the lips.

Leighton Meester…Gossip Girl gone good!  I think she looks so beautiful here at L.A.’s Milk Studios celebrating the launch of the new Chloe Melrose Ave. boutique.  Dressed in a peach Chloe dress of course, the budding young starlet kept her makeup palette matching that of her dress.

Nude eyes, shimmery peachy/pink lips and soft waves for the hair was all she needed to complete the look.  The perfect lip gloss to achieve the look would definitely be the infamous NARS Orgasm lip color ($24).  Perfecto!

Vanessa Hudgens rocked the nude glossy lips and coppery gold eyes here.  Her hair looks incredibly healthy and shiny to boot.  Now, she may be wearing false eyelashes, they just look so long that I can’t help but wonder if they are real.

Nevertheless, for this look…keep it super simple and brush on a shimmery gold shadow with a bit of bronze in it, and layer on a lengthening mascara like Clinique’s Long Pretty Lashes Mascara in Black ($14).  For the lips, pick up a cheapy clear gloss from the drugstore.  Now, if only we had all American boy Zac Effron to dangle from our arm…

Image Source: instyle.com

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more MAC eye shadow and NARS lip gloss.
Discounts on Clinique mascara.

When you want to put your best face forward, but you wake up and look in the mirror and it looks like you can carry some change around in those bags under your eyes….what do you do to get rid or mask them for the time being?

Check out this video that thoroughly explains exactly why you get dark circles and what common misconceptions there are regarding the cause of dark circles (it’s not because you’re tired).

YouTube - Watch Get Rid of Dark Circles

Here is the product suggested by Gember found on Smarter.com:

Clinique All About Eyes Rich Cream: $28.50

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more eye cream.
Discounts on Clinique products.

Ladies! I think we can all agree that “scent” is a make it/break it factor when it comes to men. I don’t care how fine or hot a man is, IF he smells like sewage its a complete buzzzz kill!!

Do we all agree?

That said I just wanted to promote a scent that I currently love, it’s light and fragrant. I tend to lean away from men’s cologne that is too strong and over powering.. but I realize we are all different and I don’t know what you girls like on your men.

Well check out: Clinique Happy for Men

Happy cologne for men, made by Clinique, was launched in 1999. This fragrance for men contains a blend of citrus, lemon, mandarin, orange and grapefruit. I never really understood all that clinical stuff, but I will say that I tend to prefer scents with a citrus blend and are on lighter side. Both for men and women’s fragrances… and whatever is in Clinique Happy for men - I likes it!

Price varies depending on store and size of bottle but is generally $30-$65 bucks

Click here to bargain shop at a variety of online stores and pick the cheapest price for Clinique Happy for Men.

What men’s fragrance do you love to smell on your man? If men were smart they would wear what women like and not what they prefer,  since ultimately making us happy benefits them the most… hahahah! I’m just sayin’.

Plus it’s my experience that the times I felt obligated to ask a guy what he was wearing because he smells good, the answer often consists of ..”oh my wife/girlfriend got me…”

I rest my case.

Celebrity Hairstyle Alert - I feel a thousand copy cats squirming in excitement! Well not to toot my own horn but this was the hairstyle I had before I cut bangs so I guess I am ahead of the curve for once?! Hee, hee…

This is my dark haired version?

(Source: Glamour.com)

Whilst in the land of Smarter Beauty Blogging …

The Legend of Kevyn Aucoin

Bumble & Bumble Hair Products

Myth Buster! - Does drinking the bottled water you leave in your car cause cancer?

Want to become a Clinique Insider’s Club member? Find out how by clicking here…

We’re excited to tell you that Clinique is starting up an awesome program called the Clinique Insider’s Club! They just started accepting applications.

Clinique will be selecting 20 women from the submitted applications to be “Clinique Insiders.”

As “Insiders” the women will get an exclusive sneak peek at the latest Clinique Skincare, and Makeup products and will have the opportunity to give product reviews and opinions which will be seen, heard and read on Clinique.com!

Insiders will also have access to special upcoming events and will receive a special welcome kit which includes full-size Clinique products and a Flip Video digital camcorder!

If your interested apply here:  Application to become Clinique Insider

Good Luck Girls!

The other day a friend told me she could live without any cosmetics but her lipgloss, which I found funny since I almost never sport the stuff. It did get me thinking, though, about my makeup drawer, which is over-stuffed despite the fact that I only use a fraction of its contents. I would, of course, never throw any of it out because who knows when the perfect occasion for teal eyeshadow might arise? It could happen.

At the same time, I don’t think I could narrow it down to any one product–I have a few major makeup loves/dependencies. I’m sure I’ve mentioned all of them at one time or another. Here’s the rundown:

Lorac aquaPrime ($30) is, hands down, my favorite primer because it’s very light and super effective. I am about to get hooked up with the new liquid primer from Smashbox, though, so we’ll see if I stay devoted to Lorac. I’ll keep you posted.

I’ve been a satisfied user of Revlon ColorStay foundation for a long time now, and I don’t see myself giving up on it any time soon.  I really love the new Soft Flex line in the dry skin formula, since the older I get the dryer my skin gets.

Oh, Lorac Sheer Wash ($17.50), how do I love thee.  Honestly, I don’t think any other cheek stain even sort of compares in terms of color or endurance. It’s like instant pretty.

I feel like I’ve done a thousand posts about Clinique True Bronze Bronzer.  I guess I just can’t say enough about it.  I ran out recently and started using some free junk I had in that stuffed up drawer, and that mistake has made me love my Clinique even more. If that’s possible.

I am of the opinion that loose powder is loose powder, and you shouldn’t blow a lot of money on it. I’m using Cover Girl ($10.27) right now because it was on sale at CVS, so it’s more the category of translucent powder that I can’t live without more than any brand.

Oh Almay ($13.65), my friend, what would I do without you (when did this post turn into an ode?!)?  Like I said in my recent “how to” post about liquid eyeliner, Almay makes the grade.  My only advice is to break in the wand on your hand before your first use because it’s just too pointy to be affective right out of the package.

Can’t think of a good gift for someone on your list?  I say, give ‘em a cosmetic gift set.  I mean, who doesn’t love to get a pack of shiny lip gloss or skincare products from their favorite cosmetic brand?  The sets come out in droves every holiday season, so there are lots to choose from at lots of prices.

Here are a few favorites:

Lancome Juicy Lipgloss Set, $35

Japonesque Kimono Brush Set, $62.99

Philosophy Few Good Men Lipbalm Trio, $25

Clinique Travel Gift Set,  $24.50 ( I love that bag. So cute!)

When I first started wearing makeup, my routine consisted of foundation, loose powder and red lipstick–it was the 90s and I was thirteen, what do you want from me? But as the years went by, I brought in new things (eyeliner anyone?) and just let go of others. For instance, at one point, I nixed the lipstick, choosing instead to play up my eyes, and once the dewy look elicited my affections, liquid bronzer took the place of translucent powder.

But that’s all over now. I mean, I still wear the bronzer, but I’ve reincorporated the translucent loose powder and my makeup is all the better for it. And still pretty dewy.  Considering the way it keeps makeup in place all day (no, seriously!), absorbs oil, and minimizes the appearance of pores, I can’t believe I went without wearing it all these years. I guess I thought that it would give me too much matte texture, but if you apply it with a large powder brush, you can really control it.

My technique is to give my face a light dusting after the bronzer but before blush and eyeliner in order to increase the staying power and true color of both. Because of its moisture eradicating super powers, a quick sweep of powder on the eyelids before you let any liner or shadow near  ‘em will eliminate the smudges and makeup build-up in the creases. Yuck, I hate when that happens.

Another trick is to powder your lips before applying lipstick, which makes lipstick last and last. It’s also a good tool if you’re going for nude lips–just dab a little bit of foundation on your kisser until you get the fleshiness you’re going for and then lightly powder. You’ll be amazed at how long the effect will last.

Top to Bottom: LORAC Face Powder for the Face $28, Clinique Blended Face Powder and Brush, $18.50, Shu Uemura New Face Powder, $32