MAC Cham Pale

Cham Pale is the second of the two newest MAC color collections and is the one that I have been looking forward to the most. This one also appears to be the larger of the collections and the more promoted. This collection is based on neutrals and shades of champagne. If you loved last year's Warm and Cozy collection, this is the collection for you. If you found that collection too blah or unflattering, this is not the collection for you. Personally, I feel that MAC needs to release a collection based on neutrals every few months to remind people that anyone can find shades to flatter them at MAC and that the company doesn't just cater to those individuals who love bold color and intricate makeup applications.

The MAC website states the following as the description of this new collection, "The ultimate luxury when only the finest will do for the New Year: a cuvee collection that's cause for celebration...a Champagne smash, colour, and skincare shimmering with all the bubbly optimisim & golden glow of the best that's yet to be".

The collection...

Caviar Dreams: Eye Shadow x 4 - Sparkling with the pale, frosted spirit of the collection's Champagne inspiration, this cool and sophisticated quad of four Eye Shadows includes two custom shades, matched with two complementary favorites. Limited edition.

- Brule - soft creamy beige (Satin)

- Caviar Dreams - dirty frosted pewter (Lustre)

- Retrospeck - beached blonde (Lustre)

- Et Tu, Bouquet? - frosted pale pink gold (Frost)

Studio Fix Lash - Innovative, mousse-like formula gives superior definition, volume, and lift by filling in sparse lashes for a dramatic effect. New moulded brush prevents clumping. Rich in pigments. Long-wearing polymers quickly coat from root to tip. Keeps lashes light, lifted, supple, and full. No clumping.

- Black Fix - black

Chromagraphic Pencil - A highly pigmented wood-clenched pencil with a firm lead and silky soft application. Use for outlining, defining, and drawing. Creates an intense line that blends down for a softer, diffused effect.

- NW25/NC30 - for medium skin tones

- NC15/NW20 - for pale skin tones

Eye Kohl - A soft-on pencil liner that lines, defines, and shades the eyes with rich colour and a silky-smooth, matte/pearl finish. Ophthamologist tested.

- I Get No Kick - metallic nude

Kohl Power Eye Pencil - A kohl pencil that has all the intensity and colour power of ultra-soft carbon. Specially formulated to provide deep, fully opaque coverage, provides an intense, smoked finish with duo-chrome pearl. Versatile in application: blend or smudge.

- Feline - rich black

Paint Pot - A highly pigmented eye colour that goes on creamy but dries to an intense, vibrant finish. Long-wearing, colourfast. Creates seamless coverage without weight or caking. Blends smoothly over the lids. Cream-based, can be mixed with MAC shadows and liners.

- Chilled On Ice - frosted white gold

- Let Me Pop - frosted light copper

- Vintage Selection - frosted dirty peach

- Dangerous Cuvee - frosted cool grey

Lipstick - Colour plus texture for the lips. Stands out on the runway. Simmers on the street! What made MAC famous.

- Tanarama - pale beige with golden shimmer (Frost)

- Flustered - frosted pale bronze

- Quiet, Please - frosted pink champagne

- Gel - sheer metallic beige (Frost)

Lipgelee - A soft jelly-textured glosser for the lips. Fab to apply. Squeezes on. Distributes evenly and easily via its special slanted tip. Moisturizes and conditions the lips - saps them up! Makes them look wet, shiny, super-lush. Comes in a wide range of sheer, soft tints!

- Luxure - off white with pink pearl

- Sin-tillation - sparkly pale icy pink

- Bubble Lounge - sparkly pink peach

- Straight To The Head - sparkly bronze brown

Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15 + Lavender - Softly shaded, with a soothing lavender aroma, this limited-edition Lip Conditioner is all set to give lips the ultimate sweetly tinted, well-cared for pout. A real do-it-all: moisturizes, conditions, and protects the lips with broad spectrum UVA/UVB 15 protection.

- Calm Mode - light neutral beige

Lip Conditioner SPF 15 + Lavender - A limited-edition, lavender-infused Lip Conditioner with nothing else on its mind but to give the lips care and a lavender-scented kiss. Colour-free. A real do-it-all: moisturizes, conditios, and protects the lips with broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 15 protection.

Special Reserve Highlight Powder - Reflecting the lighthearted luxury of this Champagne-shaded post-holiday collection, a silky, pigment-rich, creamy powder that imparts a natural, fully dimensional glow all over the face. The style note: the powder's crinkled paper emboss design. Consider it vintage MAC. Limited edition.

- Chez Chez Lame - soft gold with silver shimmer

- Rose Ole - soft pink with gold shimmer

Nail Lacquer - Revolutionary new high gloss formula. Three long-wearing finishes - Cream, sheer, and Frosted. Visibly different. Provides no-streak/no-chip finish. Contains conditioners and UV protection. Go hi-lacquer!

- Soiree - soft bronze gold

- Very Important Platinum - dirty platinum

Complete Comfort Creme - A moisturizer formulated to instantly rehydrate the skin and provide immediate and ongoing relief from redness and irritation. Ultra-creamy, provides high-comfort wear while providing sensitive skin with the soothing benefits associated with its calming plant-and-marine based formula.

Fix + Lavender - The soothing, calming, chill-me-out scent of lavender is at the heart of this limited-edition Fix +. Like the original, wakes up, refreshes, and conditions the skin while providing tired, thirsty skin with a quick, hydrating boost. Use as an on-the-go pick-me-up or a setting finish after makeup.

I am in serious love with this collection! The eye makeup shades and the skincare items are my two major loves but I have a long list of items that I want to buy from this collection. So first I am going to start with the new skincare that has been released with this collection. The first item that I want to buy is the Complete Comfort Creme, it sounds exactly like what my face needs this time of the year. I would very much like to have both of the lavender spiked products too at this time of the year. All of the eye makeup is right up my alley. I already own Et Tu Bouquet? from A Rose Romance and while it's not my favorite shade ever, it wouldn't stop me from buying the quad. That being said, I want the Eye Shadow Quad, the Paint Pots in Chilled On Ice and Let Me Pop and the Kohl Power Pencil in Feline. Feline has come back for several limited edition collections now and instantly sells out every time, I wish it would become a permanent product. I don't like any of the Lipstick shades but I love the Lipgelees and want to buy the following shades: Sin-tillation, Luxure, and Bubble Lounge. My last from this collection is the Nail Lacquer in Very Important Platinum.

I just love this collection and I adore when MAC releases collection that aren't just about color and can be worn for many different occasions.

photo courtesy of MAC

MAC Stylishly Yours

Finally! I have been stalking the MAC website for about four days now, wondering when the two newest collections would be releasing. Now they are up so without further ado... "Madly chic women give a signature look major oomph and more modern momentum with a presto-change-o colour collection that's always flawlessly fabulous. Play variations on a theme & be ready to double-dramatize how glamourous it is to be you! I am so ready for some new MAC makeup shades! I am big on variations on a theme with my tons of neutral and gold eye shadows and red lipstick shades.

Here is the new collection...

Fluidline - Ultra-smooth, Fluidline's gel formula provides the precision of a liquid liner with a silkier, softer finish. Goes on "foolproof" with a brush in an easy dip-and-stroke action. Long-wearing, smudge-proof. Lines up in a rich array of colours and finishes. Brush sold separately.

- Dark Diversion - blackened plum

- Blacktrack - solid flat black

Pigment - Pigment is a highly concentrated loose colour powder that contains ingredients to help it adhere to the skin. Create a subtle wash of colour or an intense effect. Does not streak or cake. Easy to blend and long-lasting.

- Follow Your Fancy - bright coral with small pearl particle

- Madly Personal - bright pink

- New Fixation - bright fushcia red with soft pearl

- Violet - vivid bright violet pearl (Frost)

Zoom Lash - Major drama. Lasts all day. Creamy, velvety formula builds density and conditions. Feels light, supple. Ultra-sculpted brush has three-sided fibres to embrace and separate each lash, hugging every curve. Coats in one stroke from root to tip. No smudging.

- New Hue - blackened burgundy

Zoom Lash Black - Deeply dark drama. Same as Zoom Lash but with carbon black pigment. Saturates lashes with the richest black ever. Creamy, velvety formula builds density and conditions. Feels supple, light, flexible. Ultra-sculpted brush embraces and separates each lash, hugging every curve.

- Black - rich deep black

Lipstick - Colour plus texture for the lips. Stands out on the runway. Simmers on the streets! What made MAC famous.

- Neon Orange - bright clean orange (Amplified)

- Something New - creamy bright blue pink (Amplified)

- Cockney - sheer red yellow with multidimensional pearl (Lustre)

- Style Curve - bright clean violet pink (Cremesheen)

Clear Lipglass - A unique lip gloss that can create a high gloss, glass-like finish or a subtle sheen. Designed to be worn on its own, over Lip Pencil, or Lipstick, Clear Lipglass is the perfect product for creating shine that lasts. It contains Jojoba Oil to help soften and condition the lips and a tiny bead of this highly concentrated product is all that's needed to cover the lip area. Packaged in a convenient squeeze tube, Clear Lipglass is easy to apply using a lip brush. Clear Lipglass can be mixed with other products, like Pigments, and can be applied anywhere on the body except for the eye area to create interesting effects.

Cream Colour Base - Versatile and multi-purpose, Cream Colour Base can be applied directly to bare skin, or layered over foundation, moisturizer, or powder. Apply with a brush, sponge, or fingers. Colour effects range from a light veil to highly dramatic, depending on method of application. Fragrance-free.

- Virgin Isle - vivid bright coral

- Tickle Me Pink - poppy creamy bright pink
- Movie Star Red - medium toned blue red

- Madly Magenta - vivid pinkish purple

Beauty Powder - A silky-soft "beauty" powder that's delicately tinted and luxuriously pearl. Goes on as an ultra-fine shimmering "veil" to the skin. Can be applied as a highlight, soft blush, or overall finish.

- Play It Proper - pastel pink with sparkles

- Too Chic - soft peachy cream with fine shimmer

209 Eye Liner Brush - An extra-fine tipped synthetic fibre brush that delivers a precise, firm, even, stroke with which to line the eyes. Use with liquid or cream products.

This is my least favorite of the two new collections, I find many of these shades much too bright for my complexion and would be better suited to someone with medium to deep skin. I can count on one hand the items that I would like to purchase from this collection: the two shades of Fluidline and the Pigment in Violet. This collection is great for someone with loves to experiment with bold, funky colors but none of these would work for me so I will be passing over this whole collection. I see that MAC is using a pale skinned model for the promotional picture but I just can't see how this will work in real life.

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Fresh Rice Sake Bath

If you ask any major editor of fashion magazines to name their favorite company for luxury bath and body products, you will get an overwhelming response of people voting for Fresh. This company started back in 1991 and in the less than 20 years that they have been around, they have gained a full-fledged following from the beauty community. My favorite product from this collection is the Rice Sake Bath, a product that I first tried several years ago when Fresh released a limited edition line for the Memoirs of a Geisha flim. That started my love affair with Fresh and sake...

Since sake isn't a common ingredient in many body products, I looked on the Fresh website for the uses and benefits of this Asian ingredient. For those of you who are familiar with sake itself, it an Asian wine that is rice based. The Fresh website states that in Japan, geishas take purifying baths of 100% pure sake. This bath started as pure sake and then other ingredients were added to fragrance and refine the mixture. The final formula is what we have named one of the best bath products ever invented.

Fresh states, "Rice Sake Bath, composed of more than 50% pure sake, unleashes the detoxifying potential of rice and delivers a fusion of Japanese bathing traditions. Sake increases circulation and body temperature, inducing a purifying sweat to eliminate toxins, while active enzymes soften the sin and even skin tone. Pine extract promotes easy breathing as pure ginger renders muscles pliable and relaxed. Inspired by geishas who performed their baths with real peaches, an infusion of exquisite peach absolute makes for an unparalleled experience."

I love this product in the winter months since the sake raises body temperature and I am always freezing. The bath produces thick, rich bubbles that are a pleasure to lie in. The effect that I have often gotten from this bath is explained by the pure ginger included in the mix, I can almost fall asleep in this bath and I feel like rubber when I go to stand up and get out of the tub. I love the slight peachy fragrance and I get some florals out of it too. I bought both the Memoirs of a Geisha version of this product several years ago and the original when I needed to replace my bottle.

If this is how the geishas treat their customers in Japan, I can see why they have the following that they do... This is one of the world's best bath products and makes a lovely treat for yourself or a gift for a close friend or family member.

photo courtesy of Fresh

Lipstick Queen Chinatown Glossy Lip Pencil

Yes you read that right, this product is a glossy lip pencil. How can that be you wonder? A formulation so fine and amazing could only come from the one and only Lipstick Queen, Poppy King herself. Her entire life has been devoted to lipstick and the creation of beautiful, high quality shades and products. I was first introduced this line at the C.O. Bigelow in the King of Prussia when I was shopping for a deep red lipstick. I have heard that this line is so popular with lipstick devotees (meaning myself) that when Poppy drops by her counters in New York City and does lip readings, she draws a giant crowd and has to set up appointments to do the readings.

Today we are going to check out a very unique product that only could be created by a liptick lover and someone who is very knowledgable about anything lip related. The description of the product comes from the Lipstick Queen herself. "Our Lipstick Queen offices in New York are on the border of Chinatown and Tribeca. Everyday I get off at Canal St. Subway and marvel at the kookiness of the products on offer. And...one of my favorite movies is Roman Polanski's Chinatown. All of which served as inspiration for my Chinatown Glossy Pencils! Kooky and fun with bright colors ina super sheer, super moisturizing 'draw on' gloss. Yes! Gloss in a jumbo-sized pencil... Welcome to Chinatown baby! It comes with a jumbo-sized sharpener and the original artwork on the boxes and shade names are all inspired by the Polanski film".

The shades are...

- Crime - sheer hot pink

- Mystery - sheer vibrant purple

- Thriller - sheer scarlet red

- Genre - sheer bright orange

- Chase - sheer lush watermelon

I did some additional research on this product and all the claims made by the company are very accurate. When I played with the products, I was expecting either the pencil to be much harder than the company lets on or that the pencil would crumble and break when any pressure is applied to it. Yet somehow, neither of these iccidents occured and the pencil went on smoothly and softly without breaking. The color that was left behind was a very sheer with a semi-glossy finish. My favorite of the bunch is Thriller, which reminded me of Benetint except this formula is more hydrating and I don't need that additional gloss layer on top of this product. This product isn't as long lasting as a stain or traditional pencil but it is much more comfortable to wear and it can be worn if your lips are dry from the cold weather. I also really liked the Chase and Crime colors with the pink undertones in my skin, however they would work best with spring and summer makeup shades.

Some products are just so wonderful and unique that they can only come from a Queen in the industry. And of course this Queen will support my fellow Queens of beauty...

photo courtesy of Lipstick Queen

Spring 2011 Preview

Oh I wait all year to write my spring season preview and to start looking at the spring collections! This is my favorite time of the year and every single reader that I have knows that. From pink lip glosses to floral fragrances and light scented body products, I am a sucker for everything that comes out in the springtime. Right after Christmas, I start counting down the days until St. Patricks Day and until the weather begins to warm up. I have consulted the December 2010 issue of Allure for the top eight trends from the runways and one of the major statements made about this season was that many of the styles from this season can be considered polar opposites. Hair goes from loose and wavy to slicked back and severe, makeup can go from very natural to fully made up. This is a season that holds a trend or two for everyone.

The top eight trends for spring of 2011...

Day-Glo Lips - "We wanted to bring color back into makeup," said Peter Phillips, the makeup artist who sent neon fuchsia and bold coral lips down the Jil Sander and Fendi runways. His shade of choice, "I like pinks with a milky undertone. If there's too much blue, it can go Barbie." "Orange is a huge color for spring," said makeup artist Tom Pecheux, who did the tangerine mouths at Marni. "A matte finish is unexpected, but orange gloss is softer."

Glazed Hair - From the shellacked buns at Versace and Prada to the tight rolls at Yves Saint Laurent, Guido's team emptied 82 tubes of gel this season. His favorite words were "shine" and "gloss". Hairstylist Orlando Pita created sleek ponytails at Giambattista Valli with hair spray instead of gel. "The hair is glossy, but you can brush it and not have to wash it the next day," he said.

Rainbow Shadows - Orange, red, pink, and yellow are excellent in a fruit bowl, but on the eyelids? That's where they appeared this spring, popping up on aas many catwalks as Karolina Kurkova. These unorthodox colors inspired some pretty unorthodox methods: At several shows, makeup artists used lipstick and lip liner to paint the lids so the color was vivid. Closely rim your upper and lower lashes with black eye liner before applying a bold shadow. It'll ground the look and make the color seem less intense.

Dark Lips - We'll spare you the Twilight pun and just say blood-red lips are stillhot. Coated with gloss, as at Louis Vuitton, they looked rich and extravagant. At Givenchy, Pat McGrath went with a matte finish for a Gothic effect. Pat on a matte lipstick with your finger - or draw on a stain with a pen applicator - and blend the edges inward. "It's a milder way to wear the color," said McGrath.

Hair Accessories - Barrettes had a moment - beaded at Chanel, wooden or golden at Rodarte, and wrapped in hair at Carolina Herrera. So did feathers, silk flowers, brooches, and black-plastic-covered buns. When decorating a ponytail, clip a barrette into the hair above the elastic, or fasten a few down the length of the ponytail, as Pita did at Carolina Herrera.

Loose Updos - "It keeps falling out!" said a model of the updo at Dolce & Gabbana. And that was the point: "I wanted it to look fragile, like hair in a Botticelli painting," said hairstylist Eugene Solueiman. At Michael Kors, Pita knotted the hair and left a chunk loose in front. Before pulling back the hair, tease it all over to create a rough surface so the style won't literally fall out.

Matchy-Matchy - Lips and nails were both shiny red at Gucci; eye shadows and nails matched at Chanel. With colors this strong, the pairings didn't look prissy. For a twist on the trend, match the colors - but not the finishes. We love matte lips with shiny nails.

Iridescent Smoky Eyes - A new twist on the smoky eye look: a luminous greenish black at Chanel, a shiny dark green at Marc Jacobs, and shimmering purple and gold at Louis Vuitton. At Marc Jacobs, makeup artist Francois Nars topped black-green shadow with Vaseline "to make it almost like glass." Less greasy: Press a touch of lip balm over your shadow.

What is my favorite of the new trends? I think that is the loose updos, I see myself making this hair style that I will use a lot in spring. I like the new smoky eye trend but I don't know how shiny I will make mine, I will have to try this one in the privacy of my bathroom before going out in it. The bright lips and shadows I might have a hard time with, I will start with the tip of using the black liner first. Lipwise, I will start with Viva Glam Gaga and see if I can work myself up to anything brighter. The deep lip shades and the matching nails and lips, I should have no problems with pulling off.

I can't wait for spring!

photo courtesy of Louis Vuitton and Vogue.com

Bath and Body Works Lay It On Thick Spa Collection

Well I have the winter blahs at this point and am much looking forward to warm weather. However, spring is months away so at the moment I will have to content myself with cold weather and dreaming of the beach. Right now, I need some pampering and my skin needs some heavy-duty hydration if I am going to make it through the winter. This time around, I am turning back to shea butter and the Bath and Body Works True Blue Spa line of body products. The Lay It On Thick line is available in a bath product, body products, and a matching hand cream to hydrate my body from head to toe.

Lay It On Thick Bath Cream - Nothing makes skin feel better than incredibly rich shea butter. That's why we've transformed our Lay It On Thick body cream into a deeply hydrating, ultra-luxurious foaming bath that cleanses skin throughly while leaving it lavishly nourished with shea butter and moisturizing vitamin E. Pour 1 to 2 capfuls under running water for rich moisture and over-the-top bubbles.

Lay It On Thick Shower Cream - Nothing makes skin feel better than incredibly rich shea butter. That's why we've transformed our Lay It On Thick body cream into a rich shower cream that cleanses skin throughly while leaving it lavishly nourished and shea butter and moisturizing vitamin E. For super-soft skin that defies all laws of moisture, use this shower cream to gently cleanse skin.

Lay It On Thick Intense Moisture Shea Body Cream - Nothing makes skin feel better than incredibly rich shea butter. This deluxe cream takes it even further with protecting, conditioning vitamin E. Because you know that more is really more. This product comes in two sizes and an unscented version for sensitive skin.

Lay In On Thick Hand Cream - Nothing makes skin feel better than incredibly rich shea butter. That's why we've transformed our Lay It On Thick body cream into an ultra-hydrating hand cream that softens and nourishes hands and cuticles with rich shea butter and moisturizing vitamin E. Non-greasy formula absorbs quickly.

This product may not be part of the Lay It On Thick collection but if you like the collection, I am willing to bet that this next product will be another one on your shopping list.

Like Butter Creamy Cleansing Bar - Hold in your hand a stick of butter. Shea butter, that is. For a clean so moisturizing your skin will feel like, well, you know.

I have bought and used all of the above product except for the hand cream since my local store was sold out of it. I have gotten to try the tester though so I can really say how well it works and how much I love it. All the products (except the unscented of course) have a slighty creamy coconut scent that is light enough that it won't offend those who are sensitive to fragrances. The bath cream gives small bubbles but is best at turning the water cloudy and hydrating. This is a great start to a relaxing night and I recommend this product to everyone. The shower cream can be used night or day and produces a small amount of foam that doesn't strip skin of essential moisture. It rinses clean but still keeps skin hydrated. The body cream comes in two sizes and I highly recommend buying the larger size since it is twice the size of the smaller one. The cream really hydrates and soothes skin and doesn't irritate sensitive skin. It helps to soothe the dry patches that I get in the winter and soothes away itchiness and scaliness. The bar soap works the same as the shower cream and is huge so it will last most of the winter.

Bath and Body Works has a great collection with the True Blue Spa line and I think this is one that should be promoted more from the company. I recommend all the shea butter products from this line to get you through the winter months and to get ready for the warmer weather.

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Bare Escentuals Buxom Samantha's Smoky Eye Set

I was instantly attracted to this product because the cover of the set reminded me of a scene from Sex and the City. The cover is of Samantha, a blond secret agent wearing a trench coat which is directly out of a scene from Sex and the City in the beginning of Season Six. Between this scene in the show and the fact that this set is from Buxom makes this a top choice of mine the next time that I go to Sephora. Earlier this year, I wrote about how much I loved the Buxom Lash mascara fromthis collection and I used this product until the very last drop came out of it. Since mascara and Sex and the City are two of my favorite things, this set has me written as over it.

Sephora places this product in the following category, "A kit that has everything you need for that killer combination of sexy, smoky eyes and luscious, nude lips". The website goes on to give a more detailed description. "This set will have you feeling armed and gorgeous with Bare Escentuals' smoking hot combination of: a Buxom Smoky Eye Stick in Smokin' Pistol, a Buxom Smoky Eye Brush, a Lash Mascara in deep black, and a universally flattering nude Samantha Big & Healthy Lip Polish". I found more details about the mascara and the lip polish on the Sephora website so I will share it with everyone.

Buxom Lash - A paraben-free, lash-volumizing mascara. Bare Escentual's Buxom Lash Mascara - Blackest Black holds the style of your lashes for a continuous 12 hours with no flakiness. The silky, vitamin-rich formula darkens, lengthens, and thickens from root to tip without ever clumping. Its patented, hourglass-shaped brush is designed to lift and separate every lash without delivering the perfect amount of antioxidant-rich mascara needed for bigger, fuller lashes.

- Blackest Black - deep rich black

Buxom Lips - A pout-perfecting lip polish. Naturally creates the look of fuller, more voluptuous lips. This mineral-infused polish imparts a luminous high shine with no sticky or tacky feeling. A deep infusion of antioxidant vitamins A and E help keep lips soft, smooth, and protected, while the tingly feeling and cooling sensation reminds you that your lips are getting an immediate increase in fullness.

- Samantha - seductive nude

Since Buxom Lash is one of my favorite mascaras of all time, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase this set even if I only ended up liking the mascara in it. The Lip Polish is on my list of products to review shortly, I hav eonly tried mine once but am happy with it so far. The mascara is just plain amazing, it makes my lashes look long and full and never smudges. The products in this kit are top notch and the concept and package will be loved by any Sex and the City fan. I am really interested in the Smoky Eye Stick and to find out if it more of an eye liner or a shadow pencil. I want to try it out with my MAC liners and see if it helps me to create a smoky easy quicker and easier than just using a traditional liner and shadow.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Awake Clear Gel Wash For Combination Skin

Right now, I am in the process of alternating two face cleansers in an experiment to see if I get better results than with just the use of one. So far, I am not seeing much of a difference in my skin than if I would just use one at a time. I am alternating the Philosophy foaming cleanser that I have reviewed about a month ago and this one from Awake. Both formulas are similar and of the same type of cleanser so I still have ruled out if I would get better results from using two completely different types of cleansers, one foaming and one creamy for instance. But since that's not the case at the moment, I am going to write about the Awake wash that I am using and how much I like it.

This face wash is made for normal/combination skin. It could be too drying for dry skin. The Beauty.com website states the following as the description of the product. "A mild blend of gentle non-soap bases. This foaming, non-soap facial gel removes all dirt and impurities without drying out combination skin. It gently exfoliates to reveal healthier, clearer skin. Natural extracts of lemon, burdock, and ivy help tighten pores and control sebum". The texture of this cleasner will satisfy anyone who loves foaming cleansers or feels that they don't get their skin clean if the cleanser doesn't foam. This is one of the best foaming cleansers that I have ever used. It produces a thick, rich foam that actually doesn't dry skin out. I use a drop that is less than the size of a small button and got all the foam that I needed to clean my whole face.

I found that this this cleanser is more effective on my T-zone area than on my cheeks. It helps to control my oily areas and to reduce the appearance of my larger pores. This cleanser didn't irritate my skin and didn't leave any area tight or dry after I rinsed it off. I am gald that Awake released a non-soap foaming cleanser for those among us with love foaming cleansers but can't always use the traditional formulas on their faces. This formula rinses clean and removes all of my face makeup (I don't use it to take eye makeup off). It didn't irritate my redness but doesn't have any type of ingredient to reduce the appearence of ruddiness.

I have been such an Awake junkie lately and I just wish that I could buy these products at a store instead of just online. I bought this one from Beauty.com and I have no issues with the website, but I just prefer to try a product on my hand/take a sample home before I purchase it. The issues finding the line aside, I love this face cleanser and recommend it to those with combination to oily skin.

photo courtesy of Beauty.com

Three Great Holiday Deals from Tanda!

Several months ago, I talked about the Tanda product line of skincare devices and facial care products. If you haven't checked this line out yet, I highly recommend that you do it right now. since the holidays are upon us, this company is giving you three great ways to try their products out and get more bang for your gifting buck. I got a notice about these two deals in my email and wanted to pass them along to everyone!

Special One: $50 Mail-In Manufacturers Rebate on any Tanda Prestige Kit!

Purchase a Tanda Clear Acne Therapy Treatment Kit or a Tanda Regenerate Anti-Aging Light Therapy Treatment Kit from any authorized retailer between December 26th, 2010 and January 2nd, 2011 and get $50.00 back by mailing in this rebate form!

Special Two: Stock Up on Your Favorite Tanda Topicals at 20% Off!

Purchase any Tanda Clear Pre-Treatment Gel or Tanda Regenerate Pre-Treatment Gel between December 26th, 2010 and January 2nd, 2011 and receive 20% off! (Limit of 4 of each Gel per person).

Special Three: Share the Secret of Clear Luminous Skin for 50% Off!

Purchase any Tanda Prestige Kit and get the 2nd Kit for HALF PRICE! Must be purchased between December 26th, 2010 and January 2nd, 2011!

All of these specials are available at http://www.tandaskincare.com/ and wherever Tanda is sold.

A quick explanation of these products and why you really need to invest in one. The Acne line works by using a blue LED light to kill the P. acnes bacteria that causing breakouts to occur. The Anti-Aging line works by using a red LED light to address all signs of aging. It boosts overall cellular energy which increases the production of collagen and elastin and increases microcirculation. The results from the use of this light is plumper, firmer, and more youthful looking skin.

The topical treatments help to intensify the effect of the lights. The Tanda website provides the following benefits of their use, "Specially formulated to optimize the delivery of light to the skin: Free of light-reflecting particles which may interfere with light delivery; High degree of transparency allowing for maximum light penetration; and Specific viscosity reduces reflection and refraction of light to the skin". Both of these gels are botanically-based, hypoallergenic, and non-comedogenic.

With these great deals, how about we all make 2011 the year of fantastic skin?

photo courtesy of Tanda

2010 Year in Review

I think this year was one of my oddest in beauty world. It was great but I really changed many of my beauty product purchasing this year. I loved everything that I bought but I feel that I bought from the same few companies over and over again this year instead of trying all kinds of new products. This year seemed to have a lot of repeating trends and patterns and I picked the ones that I loved and followed them like crazy.

My two favorite trends this year were the plaid craze and the Lady Gaga obsession. I was obsessed with A Tartan Tale from MAC and the entire Burberry makeup line just because of the plaid packaging. It is at the point where I don't even know if I could use the Burberry products because I don't want to ruin the plaid markings imprinted on the product. This year's release of Viva Glam Gaga just continued to feed my Lady Gaga obsession and with the addition of the lip gloss shade in the early fall, I could continue to feed the craze. Lady Gaga love went full circle with the late in the year releases of Bad Romance from Lippmann Collection and the shades Pokerface and Petit Monstre from the NARS Holiday collection. So it seems like this year I was very into packaging and names and this might have distracted me from other quality colors and products that just weren't wrapped up as nicely.

I was looking over some of my purchases from this year and I noticed a trend of three major brands: MAC, Urban Decay, and Clinique. I bought a huge amount of products from MAC To The Beach and Venomous Villians and I kept coming back to my local MAC counter for everything from primer to foundation to eye liner. I am normally a MAC addict but this year really took it over the top. This also was the year of Urban Decay eye shadows for me, I bought both the Naked Eye Palette and the Book of Shadows NYC and I can honestly say that I wear the shades from these palettes at least three to four days a week. I spend much of this year using through my giant collection of clinical skincare products but anytime that I had to replace products, I went right to Clinique. As happy as I am with all these purchases, I do wonder if perhaps I slanted my beauty budget too much towards those three brands.

I found that I had a great year for perfume in 2010, I bought my first bottle of Creed and just love to look at it on my bureau. My surprise of the year was the new fragrances that came out late in the year from Bath and Body Works. Previously, I had never purchased any perfumes from this company. But with the release of Dark Kiss and Secret Wonderland, I now have these EDTS featured proudly next to Chanel and Creed bottles. The fragrances from that company greatly improved in quality this year, making it another favorite spot of my mine when spending money.

I think this is the first year that I don't really know what I want to focus on in the coming year. I haven't really thought of any great beauty goals this year since I have been able to accomplish so much in the past two year with eye makeup application and finding the perfect shade of red lipstick. My only outstanding goal to get false eye lashes on correctly but with my history on this matter, I don't know that I will be able to accomplish this in only a year. I guess that I could call my goal for the upcoming year to open up my shopping and try new brands and products out instead of always going to MAC and Urban Decay. But somehow I doubt that that will really happen...

photo courtesy of MAC

Korres Lip Butters

I'm in a bit of a beauty rut right now, I have all of my winter products and shades and really won't buy much of anything until the spring collections begin to hit. Also, with the addition of Christmas shopping, I haven't much spare cash to be spending on beauty products for the next week or two. But I need a little something. Enter Korres. I have trusted this brand for ages since I first tried their skincare a few years ago. I am now venturing into their color line with my first look at the Lip Butters.

I have seen these butters on the Sephora site for ages and have noticed them used in many photos in beauty magazines. So far, I have bought one and want to try many more. Sephora classifies this product as, "A buttery balm that melts onto the lips and cheeks for a pretty touch of color". They provide a more detailed product description with the following, "Korres Lip Butter gives lips a lovely, shiny finish and offers a natural flush when applied to the apples of the cheeks. Its shea butter infusion conditions and heals lips and provides a softening touch to the skin". Korres products are on the natural side so anyone can feel good about using this product on their lips.

The colors that are available...

- Guava - clear

- Jasmine - sheer natural pink

- Mango - sheer peach

- Quince - sheer rose

- Plum - sheer lavender berry

- Pomegranate - sheer coral

- Wild Rose - sheer deep red

I have the Guava and I treat it more as a clear lip balm than an actual lip gloss shade. It is a very soft lip balm, very easy to apply and sinks right into my lips. It really helps to hydrate and soften but I don't feel that it has much staying power against the elements. The Guava shade gives very little to no color and a medium amount of shine. Looking at the shades that are also offered, I could see myself liking the Quince and the Wild Rose a lot. I am willing to bet that I will like the Jasmine shade but I wondering how different it will be from the Guava. Since the description states that it is a "sheer natural pink", I am doubting that it will have much pigmentation. i will have to find out the next time that I get Sephora.

The only dislike I have about this product is that I don't like when lip balm comes in a tub, especially any shades that have pigment to them. I feel that I have to wash my hands after I dip my fingers into any pigmented balm and I can't always do that. I will have to see how much this bothers me when I try out a more pigmented shade.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Fekkai Essential Shea Shampoo and Conditioner

I have been on a Fekkai spree recently and my latest purchase is the shampoo and conditioner from the Essential Shea line. The Essential Shea line is perfect for people with dry, coarse, or curly hair. And I have all of the above with the addition of static flyways becuase of the cold, dry air right now. "Moisturizing Renewal Complex and Shea Butter combine to lavish hair with moisture, from root to tip, protecting against dryness and brittleness. Hair becomes silky, supple, and easy to style". All of the products in this collection are enriched with the Moisture Renewal Complex and Shea Butter for deep hydration, from the shampoos, conditioners, to the styling products. So far I have only tried the shampoo and conditioner but am looking forward to using the mask that I purchased from this collection too.

The Fekkai website describes the shampoo as following, "Gently removes oil and build-up from dry, fragile hair while nourishing each strand for softness and strength against damage. Sulfate-free." This shampoo is safe for color treated hair even though it is not in the Technician line of products. All of his products are safe for color even if they are not specially made to enhance color treated hair. This shampoo produces a thick, rich foam that fully lathers on my hair and rinses clean in the shower. I have noticed that after a few washes, I get a bit of build up on my hair from both this product and the styling products that I use. I do have to alternate this shampoo with others in order to clean all the products out of my hair.

The conditioner is described as, "Nourishes each strand with smoothing and softening ingredients to help protect against dryness, styling damage, and split ends". This conditioner is among one of the thickest daily conditioners that I have used in a long time and the texture is closer to a deeper conditioner than some of the daily use ones that I have tried. Based on the texture of this product, I haven't found this conditioner to rinse out as fully as others that I have used.

This product line is closer to the Protein Rx line than the others that are in the Fekkai collection. Both products have a thick, rich texture that really help to hydrate and smooth my dry hair. However, with the texture of this product line, I have found that it doesn't rinse out fully and can cause build up so I have to alternate it with others. I have also noticed that the fragrance of this product is strong and I can smell it on my hair throughout the day. The fragrance is of shea butter and is a make or break aspect of this line. I love the fragrance of these hair care products so much that I have it in all the body products too.

I find that this line makes my hair softer and shiner than others have and it is very easy to style. I am quite pleased with the results of it. I still think that I prefer the Technician line of shampoos and conditioners but I do really like this line too and am glad that I bought this line to try out. I might try alternating them for maximum results. I still have the mask to use in this line so I will have some more thoughts on products in this line coming soon.

photo courtesy of Fekkai

Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk Body Products

Laura Mercier bath and body products are among the most decadent that I have ever used. They remind me of the old Tutti Dolci products that I used to adore, especially the Honey Bath that was a favorite of mine. The Almond Coconut Milk line of products remind me of dessert and Italy more than a coconut that is associated with the islands. This is a perfect fragrance to use to relax and unwind at the end of the day or before a cuddle session. The Laura Mercier line of body products are more about creaminess and luxury than big bubbles or foam. This is the pinnacle of luxury bath and body collection. "Almond Coconut Milk is a warm fragrance rich with powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and a hint of cinnamon. Includes notes of vanilla mousse as well as vanilla meringue".

The products of the collection...

Almond Coconut Milk Creme Body Wash - Laura Mercier Creme Body Wash throughly cleanses the skin while leaving it silky, smooth, and completely moisturized. Natural based cleansers do not strip the skin of its natural moisture. Extremely gentle for daily uses. Protects the skin from the drying effects of the environment.

Almond Coconut Milk Honey Bath - Laura Mercier Honey Bath is a decadent, foaming honey moisture bath with natural ingredients that leaves the skin feeling clean, fresh, and supple. Richly fragrances water, leaving skin with a softly scented veil. Soothes and leaves skin moisturized. Can be layered with Almond Coconut Milk products. Wooden honey dipper included.

Almond Coconut Milk Souffle Body Creme - Laura Mercier Almond Milk Souffle Body Creme is an ultra-whipped scented souffle creme that provides luxurious all-day moisture protection without being too heavy or greasy. Vitamins A, C, and E for nourishment and Shea Butter for moisturizing. Creme gives the skin optimum moisture levels. Use morning or night. Part of the Gourmand Collection and meant to be worn alone or layered with other fragrances in the collection.

Almond Coconut Milk Hand Creme - Laura Mercier Hand Creme is a deep pentrating creme that leaves the skin velvety soft to ensure the healthiest and smoothest hands. Grape and Olive Oils soften and moisturize. Soy proteins rich in amino acids help in the repair process. Replenishes and locks in moisture into the skin. Formulated for all skin types.

Almond Coconut Milk Scrub - Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk Scrub is a polishing scrub with sugar granules and exfoliating beads to gently slough skin. Creamy texture removes dead skin cells from the skin's surface. Promotes a radiant, polished glow. Vitamins A and E protect and soothe while Grape and Olive Oils soothe, soften, and moisturize skin. Can be used every other day but milk enough for everyday usage.

Almond Coconut Eau de Toilette - Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Eau de Toilette, inspired by the Laura Mercier Body & Bath Gourmande Collection, captures the essence of almond, coconut milk, jasmine, rosewood, ylang-ylang, vanilla, tonka, heliotrope and musk. Can be worn alone or mixed with any of her Bath & Body product.

I have played with these products at the Laura Mercier conunter in bloomingdales. My favorite of the collection is the Honey Bath because it reminds of the Tutti Dolci product that I loved and now can no longer buy. I love the perfume in this line, it gives me a rich gourmand fragrance that has hints of vanilla, sandalwood, coconut, and white florals that lasts all day but is never overwhelming. There is not one product in this collection that I wouldn't love to own or use to give as a special gift for a close friend. Now when I think of Gourmand fragrances, my thoughts go right to Laura Mercier. And now I want to head out and try the rest of the fragrances in this collection.

photo courtesy of Laura Mercier

Awake Hydro-Force Eye Treatment

I have been an eye cream junkie lately, I feel like my bags and dark circles are getting worse by the day. Next to nothing has been making me happy lately and I feel that I am relying much to heavily on the concealer to get out of the house in the morning. I don't know if it's because my skin is so pale with the winter season upon us or that my eyes are getting worse than they were before. Right now, I have been using Awake Hydro-Force Eye Treatment for the past two weeks and am just beginning to see some results in this area. I have had great results from other Awake skincare items that I have used so I am very hopeful that this one lives up to the my expectations.

The Beauty.com website describes the product as follows, "Keep your under eye area hydrated and plump with this refreshing gel formula. Just dab on a little to reduce the appearance of fine lines, dullness, and dark circles - your makeup will glide on effortlessly from now on". This product is said to "instantly hydrate the eye area with a refreshing serum-gel formula" and "plump the skin and reduce the appearane of fine lines, dullness, and dark circles". This formula contains Ceramide and Almond extract to provide radiance to the eye area and reduce dark circles.

I use this product in the morning and evening after cleansing my face. I need only one pump of the product to do liberally cover both under eye areas. I love the feel of the formula, it glides on easily and smoothly and absorbs quickly. Over the past two weeks, I have seen a reduction mostly in the puffiness under my eyes. I am also happy to report that my under eye area isn't getting as dry as it usually does this time of the year. My dark circles are somewhat reduced with use of the poruct but I mostly find that it helps to make my concealer go on smoother and I have to use less makeup than before.

The Awake line is getting harder and harder to find but I do recommend searching for it. I bought this from the Beauty.com website but if you are close to Bergdorf Goodman or a Neiman Marcus, you will be able to get this product easily. I really like this product itself but I must say that I love the packaging even more. The pump bottle is very easy to use and one pump gives you the perfect amount of product for both eyes so I'm not wasting any product.

This product is best recommened for those who have dryness under their eyes and puffiness is more a concern than dark circles. I also believe that this product is best used by those who don't need extensive anti-aging products in the under eye area. This is another product that I really like from Awake skincare and I really wish the line wasn't getting harder and harder to find by the day...

photo courtesy of Beauty.com

C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine Organic Sheer Tint

My latest Mentha Lip Shine obsession (now that I have bought all the holiday glosses and willl pick up more at the Semi-Annual Sale to tide me over for the whole year) is the Organic Sheer Tint collection. The shades of this product aren't near as intense as they appear in the tube, every shade gives me just a hint of tint that I can pair with any eye look or on a no-makeup day. I am partial to the pink and rose shades from this collection but the neutrals also work well for someone with a more warm toned complexion.

"Give your lips an Organic Tint! Our Mentha Organics Sheer Lip Tints combine the breath-freshening, shine boosting benefits of our original formula with the added appeal of naturally nourishing organic ingredients". This product is formulated with 92% Organic ingredients and is flavored with 100% Natural Mint for fresh breath. This product is currently available in three shades to suit pretty much any complexion.

Here are the shades...

- Sheer Rose - provides a light hint of deep pink on lips

- Barely There - sheer natural nude shade

- Just Blushed - provides a sheer pale pink tint for lips

My favorite shade is the Sheer Rose, it gives a me a hint of rose on my lips and creates the "my lips but better" look. I have paired it with dramatic eye makeup and it never looks over done. This lip gloss is about a medium in glossiness, it's not over done but you can see the sheen on the lips. I have yet to buy the pale pink or the neutral shade yet, I want to see how tinted they actually appear on my lips since the rose is the deepest shade and it doesn't really change the shade of my lips. I still love the traditional mint taste and tingle of the Mentha formula so I bet that I will be trying these out unless something really nice comes out in the collection in the upcoming seasons.

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Lip Fusion Luxe Boudoir Collection

Pink lip gloss, how I love you so! When pink lip gloss shades are combined with top performing LipFusion, I fall madly in love and must purchase all the pink shades. I first tried LipFusion with one of their Bling Fusion glosses (I need to find this and review on here!) and placed it at the top of my plumper list within minutes of first trying it. LipFusion products were always top sellers at Sephora and said to be the best lip plumper by nearly every beauty editor. I found out for myself that all of these claims were true. I got lovely plump lips without turning into Goldie Hawn in First Wives Club. Any lines on my lips were smoothed they looked naturally plump and very attractive.

The newest shades from LipFusion came out in the Luxe Boudoir Collection, a collection of four pink based shades. "A springtime quartet of moisturizing treatment glosses infused with revolutionary lip-plumping technology. Discover a new level of fullness, shimmer, and color with LipFusion signature instant-plumping technology, now in a limited-edition collection of fresh, vibrant, spring-inspired shades". This little collection was created in partnership with the Seven Bar Foundation and a $1 from each purchase goes to benefit the organization. This organization works to microfinance loans for poor women in South American countries.

Here are a few notes on the technology behind the revolutionary LipFusion lip plumpers. "Achieve maximum volume and brillance for a truly stunning pout. This formula contains tiny, dehydrated, marine collagen micro spheres that absorb instantly and seek out the body's natural moisture. As soon as the spheres become rehydrated, they plump and hold onto the moisture they've collected, creating a mild 'swelling' of the lip tissue. The result is fuller, smoother, perfectly plumped lips in seconds. Results can last for up to 48 hours".

The new shades are...

- Vixen - radiant mauve

- Lolita - radiant pink beige

- Coquette - radiant coral pink

- Princess - radiant hot pink

My two favorites are Vixen and Lolita, which appear to be the more subtle of the four shades. I am a bit worried that the two bright shades might be a bit much with the gloss and the plumping properties. I think it time to begin working on my spring shopping list... I need more pink glosses in my life...

photo courtesy of Sephora

Guerlain My Insolence

When I first heard the name of this fragrance, I was thinking of a fragrance that would be dark and mysterious. The picture that I got in my head was of a French bad girl, a very fashionable lady that doesn't care about anyone else or what society thinks of her. However, when I first saw the bottle, my inital thoughts were shaken because the bottle is light pink, not a deep plum or black like I had originally pictured it. And that was the first of several surprises about this fragrance.

Guerlain states, "The radiance of a surprising, free, daring femininity. Everything about her is free, the world is her oyster! She moves forward, her fragrance trail in her wake. This extreme freedom, indifference to commentary, spontaneity, and even her excesses make her magnificent. She is who she is; she is irresistably set against prejudice and convention and is unafraid to be unreasonable. Her motto: 'Whoever loves me will follow!'"

"From innocence to insolence. My Insolence is a delicious encounter that reveals your emotions and intimate sentiments. Thanks to this voyage of self-discovery, you can finally unveil a new facet of your femininity. Created by the sculptor Serge Mansau, the bottle seems carved in light. If it weren't for the Guerlain stamp on the cap and pearly white frosted lettering, nothing would come between the glass of the bottle and the radiance it captures, which reveal the tender rose of the fragrance. Body, neck, cap: these 3 half-spheres form a triple revolution around themselves".

Guerlain also provides a detailed fragrance description on their website. "Gourmand, Floral, Sparkling. Spontaneous, gourmand, fresh, My Insolence Eau de Toilette takes you on a journey to adorable softness. This gourmand floral expresses the delicious encounter of a ripe, round raspberry and an almond tree flower that has fallen under the charm of a sensually feminine jasmine accompanied by the mysterious patchouli leaf".

I pulled a few more details about this fragrance from the Sephora website becausde what I smelled when I used the fragrance didn't really match up with the description from the company. Sephora's description, "Exuberant notes of violet are accompanied by jubilant red berries like raspberry. A hint of orange blossom and rose impart a striking intensity, while sensual iris and tonka bean resins finish the scent, making My Insolence the ultimate luxury fragrance". The notes are: Spiral Accord, Iris (Orris), Orange Blossom, Rose, Violet, Sandalwood, White Muck, Tonka Bean, Raspberry.

I found this fragrance to be light and powdery instead of the deep complex fragrance that I was expecting. The fragrance would be pretty in the springtime but I feel that the description just doesn't match the fragrance. I really smelled the violet and orange blossom in this fragrance instead of the rose or base notes.

Personally, I feel that this fragrance would have been better marketed with a different name, I understand the essence of the free spirit that Guerlain is going for and I think it matches the fragrance but the name just brings up a totally different image than the fragrance gives off. I am glad that I received a small sample bottle of this product from Sephora or Macy*s before I went out and bought this fragrance.

I like this fragrance but I'm not in love with it. It is pretty but the image that I got of it when I first heard the name just doesn't match with the fragrance and somehow the mismatch just spoils everything for me. I will be sticking with my other rose fragrances for now...

photo courtesy of Sephora

Shu Uemura Holiday 2010 Collection - Abracadabra Fantasy

The prize for the most unique and unusual collection this season goes to Abracadabra Fantasy from Shu Uemura. This collection looks to be bright and girly with lots of pink and color in it. "Cast a spell of wonder and joy this Christmas, with a bewitching collection decorated by magical symbols that will transform your beauty experience. Abracadabra, abracadabra... Aya Takano enchants and delights with her fantasy world. Let the mysticism of her magic spells and symbols take you to another world. Get in touch with your magical side and become a mesmerizing 'New You'. Makeup is the ultimate way to wear your wishes." I am so happy that a company has done something different this season, I can only look at some many red lipsticks.

The new collection...

Sparkly Purple Paint Crayon - This new waterproof formula, long-lasting, creamy mechanical eye liner in a fantastical color will add festive accents to your eyes. The intense color liner is soft to apply with an easy glide, allowing you to draw a defined line but also blend easily right after application. The Sparkly Purple Paint Crayon is a dark purple liner with sparkly gold glitters which adds a fun or seductive accent to your eyes.

Magical Windfalls Partial False Eye Lashes - Easy-to-wear, sophisticated partial lashes in black with some pieces pre-decorated with glittery and shiny magical hearts and star symbols for a cute accent.

Dream Coaster Premium False Eye Lashes - A dreamy pair of customizable eye lashes! With a variety of Abracadabra symbol stickers enclosed, create your very own pair of eye lashes for the festive season. Premium double-layer eye lashes with 2 long white feathers that bounce at every blink. Designed to enchance the size, dewiness, and sparkle of the eyes for a "doll-like" gaze.

Bowwow! Magic Queen Palette - Pressed Eye Shadow/Cream Eye Shadow-Liner/Glow On Blush. A warm-toned color palette for a peaceful holiday season. Feel relaxed, curled up in the magic queen's cozy home that is redolent with the fresh pine scent of her enormous Christmas tree filled with luxurious decor of silver, gold, and bronze. This limited edition Eye & Cheek Palette is complete with three Pressed Eye Shadows, one Cream Eye Shadow-Liner, a Cream Highlighter, and a Glow On Blush as well as two applicator brushes.

- consists of warm shades of golds, bronzes, and peaches

Reindeer Kiss XXX Palette - Pressed Eye Shadow/Cream Eye Shadow-Liner/Glow On Blush. The colors of this palette evoke a frosty winter land covered in crystalline snow that sparkles in the light, frolic in a dreamy winter wonderland where animals and humans play together in the snow. Are you lucky enough to find the reindeer and get a kiss? The limited edition Eye & Cheek Palette is complete with three Pressed Eye Shadows, one Cream Eye Shadow-Liner, and a Glow On Blush as well as two applicator brushes.

- consists of cool shades aquas, silvers, and pinks

Love Apricot Lip Duo Tint & Gloss - Say Abracadabra and cast a spell of love with this duo. Enjoy the matte finish of the tint alone or add gloss for a sweet, youthful look. Apricot gloss gives a rich, sparkly shine with gold and silver glitters, while the rouge is a seductive coral beige.

Harmony Pink Lip Duo Tint & Gloss - Say Abracadabra and cast a spell of love with this duo. Enjoy the matte finish of the tint alone or add gloss for a sweet, youthful look. Enter a world of floral harmony in this vibrant fuchsia gloss with a transparent finish, rouge in a sweet, girly pink.

High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil Advanced Formula - Limited edition. An exclusive art piece created especially for the cleansing oil. A fantasy princess rides her magic stallion, their secret rhapsody sealed with a kiss! For all skin conditions. Shu Uemura's Signature Cleansing Oil. A gentle formula for moisturized, balanced, petal-soft skin to prepare for beautiful makeup. Cleanses gently and maintains the skin's moisture balance with advanced hpo system, Asian botanical oils such as Camellia oil and Ginger Root oil. Leaves skin feeling comfortably balanced and petal-soft with a long-cherished fresh and sensuous aroma.

Miracle Cherry Blush Tint - A unique lightweight gel blush that instantly adds a natural glow to your cheeks. Inspired by that distinctive blush on cheeks, elbows, and legs of Takano's sexy-cute characters. A tint as juicy as a cherry that miraculously adds a blossoming blush to your cheeks, the sweet cherry tint glides on ultra-smoothly and melts into skin for a natural-looking glow. The fresh blossoming finish lasts all day with comfort.

Peace & Harmony Mini Brush Set - Gorgeous portable brushes with a triangular case for a beautiful makeup finish. The triangle-shape of the brush case represents "harmony". The brush set includes a beautiful assortment of four essential brushes: Lip Brush which has soft but firm bristles to create precise lines on the lip; Shader Brush for use of powder, cream, and liquid eye shadow application, the long spread out bristles provide a light touch that is best for blending and building color; Tapered Blending Brush is perfect for shading and blending the crease line with powder shadows; Powder/Blush Brush has the ideal density for face powder and cheek color application, bronzing, as well as dusting off excess powders.

I like everything in this collection but I am thinking that since I don't live in Tokyo, I will not be able to pull many of these items off. Like the False Eye Lashes, they won't be happening for me anytime soon. I'm not really into either of the palettes but I love the Sparkly Purple Eye Crayon, the Miracle Cherry Blush Tint, and the Lip Duo in the pink shade. I am also looking at trying the Cleansing Oil from this company because the limited edition princess bottle is just too pretty to be believed.

photo courtesy of Shu Uemura

Bobbi Brown Holiday 2010 - Smoky, Sultry, Smoldering Collection

Now Bobbi Brown knows how to release a Holiday Collection! This collection consists of both dramatic eye and lip product so that every female create cran her perfect holiday party look, un hampered by what the beauty industry is telling her is the current trend. Trust Bobbi Brown to make every women feel beautiful, no matter what her skin tone or makeup shade preference. "Women think that they're either eye girls or lip girls - but why limit yourself? This collection is all about what mood you're in. Whether you want a pale eye with a strong, sexy lip or feel like a dramatic smoky eye with a nearly-naked lip, these shades let you switch it up".

Here is the new collection...

Sultry Eye Palette - Love a sexy eye? Bobbi designed a NEW limited edition Sultry Eye Palette to make all-out eye makeup easy and wearable. Includes a base color, a bold metallic, and a powder liner that creates a modern, smudged look - plus NEW Brandy Long-Wear Eye Paint, which can be applied wet or dry. Comes with a double-ended Eye Shadow & Liner Brush.

- Bone Eye Shadow - off white

- Antique Gold Metallic Eye Shadow - deep gold sparkle

- Caviar Eye Shadow - black brown

- Brandy Long-Wear Eye Paint - rich golden bronze

Smoky Eye Palette - Love a high impact eye? Bobbi designed a NEW limited edition Smoky Eye Palette to make all-out eye makeup easy and wearable. Includes a base color, a bold metallic, and a powder liner that creates a modern, smudged look plus NEW Onyx Long-Wear Eye Paint, which can be applied wet or dry.

- White Eye Shadow - pure white

- Tin Metallic Eye Shadow - steel icy blue

- Storm Eye Shadow - dark grey

- Onyx Long-Wear Eye Paint - rich black

Smoldering Eye Palette - Love a bold eye? Bobbi designed a NEW limited edition Smoldering Eye Palette to make all-out eye makeup easy and wearable. Includes a base color, a bold metallic, and powder liner that creates a modern, smudged look - plus NEW Port Long-Wear Eye Paint, which can be applied wet or dry.
- Ivory Eye Shadow - creamy white

- Heather Lilac Metallic Eye Shadow - pink heather

- Charcoal Eye Shadow - dark grey

- Port Long-Wear Eye Paint - deep plum

Glitter Liquid Eye Liner - Glitter Liquid Eye Liner contains a blend of sparkling pearls to create brililant shine and intense metallic color - great for transforming your daytime into a party-perfect look. Bobbi's superfine applicator tip makes it easy to line your eyes like a pro. Plus, it's long-lasting and waterproof, so it'll stay put until you're ready to call it a night. Shake well before use. Part of the new Smoky, Sultry, Smoldering Collection.

- Gold - bright gold

- Silver - bright silver

Lip Liner - A naturally flattering way to define lips. Lip Liner is long-wearing and non-drying, applies smoothly and evenly, and helps reduce feathering. Each liner includes a sharpener. Apply Lip Liner after Lip Color, or before Lip Gloss. For the more natural look, make sure the tip is softly rounded. Keep your strokes soft with no sharp edges, now in NEW Red, part of the new Smoky, Sultry, Smoldering Collection.

- Red - true bright red

Lip Color - Bobbi's original formula treats lips to rich color with a soft-matte finish. Infused with Vitamins E and C as well as Beeswax, it also moisturizes and comforts lips. Now in three new dramatic shades of red: Vixen Red, Vintage Red, and Hollywood Red - part of the new Smoky, Sultry, Smoldering Collection.

- Vintage Red - medium cool red

- Vixen Red - deep rich red

- Hollywood Red - candy bright red

Metallic Lip Color - Metallic Lip Color combines high-shine emollients and light-reflective particles for multi-dimensional shimmer that has a soft and creamy feel with medium coverage. Now in Jewel Red, part of the new Smoky, Sultry, Smoldering Collection.

- Jewel Red - red metallic with gold shimmer

Lip Gloss - Formulated with soothing botanical extracts - including Avocado, Jojoba, and Chamomile Oils, and Aloe Extracts - to keep lips soft and supple. Scented with a hint of Vanilla.

- Hollywood Red - candy bright red

Mini Brush Set - Four professional-quality brushes - downsized to fit your sleekest evening clutch. Set features the Eye Sweep Brush, Eyeliner Brush, and the Angle Eye Shadow Brush. Plus our multi-purpose Face Blender Brush, which can be used to apply powder, bronzer, and blush.

My favorite part of the collection is the eye makeup palettes. I think my favorite palette is the Sultry Eye Palette (pictured) but I can see myself getting wear from all three of them. I am in love with both of the Glitter Eye Liners and must have both of them. Lip product-wise, I like the Lip Color in the Vintage Red and Vixen Red shades. Bobbi Brown has given my a bunch of new products to use this holiday season and well beyond...

photo courtesy of Bobbi Brown

Five Favorite - Urban Decay Eye Shadows

In addition to my post on the newest liner set from Urban Decay, I have found another way to help everyone celebrate Urban Decay's Friends and Family Event. I am sharing my five favorite Urban Decay Eye Shadows with all of you guys so you can get more ideas of items to order.

"This is the product that we were born to make - our best-seller! Professionals, celebrities, and makeup junkies swoon for our wide array of shades. Each one is pigment-rich: we load the shadow with color, and add very few binders (the stuff that holds shadow together), resulting in a beautiful color that blends easily and lasts. Lots of finishes to suit your mood: sparkle, shimmer, duotone, or un-sparkly satin. Our subway token compact comes complete with a window (see your shadow without opening), and snaps shut with one hand - no more lost lids".

My five favorites!

Midnight Cowboy - My favorite of all the shadow shades! I get so many compliments on this shade everytime that I wear it. It is described as a "pink champagne with lots of silver glitter". I can pair this shade with other neutral or wear it on it's own and either way, I look naturally pretty and my eyes look large and very blue. It is the perfect attention getter without going over the top. I do recommend the use of the Primer Potion with this shade since the glitter fall-out is a bit hard to work with.

Maui Wowie - I got this one in a palette and I am so glad that I found it! This one is a "medium gold with silver glitter" and I find that many of the comments that I made for Midnight Cowboy are accurate for this one too. Anyone with blue eyes will love these neutral shades because the color simply pops.

Asphyxia - This is one of the most unique shades ever released, from almost any company out there. This is a true duochrome and is a "lavender with a blue shift". This shade flashes lavender in some lights and blue in others. I wasn't sure how I would do with this shade since it has a blue flash but this is another one that I get many compliments on. I am glad that I got this in one of the palettes that I bought since I would never have picked this shade out on it's own. I have been wearing this shade all fall and winter since the trends are leaning toward purples and lavenders. I pair this shade with all types of silvers to highlight.

Chopper - Urban Decay just makes the most amazing neutral shades. Chopper is a "coppery fawn with silver microglitter". This shade is easier to wear than many of the glitters from Urban Decay, the glitter is smaller and much less noticeable. This shade is appropriate for work or play and really opens the eyes up. This is a great shade to wear on the lid with a lighter gold as a highlighter.

Uzi - Another very unique shade, I own nothing else like this shade! Uzi is a "metallic silver with big iridescent sparkles". This shade is another one with larger pieces of glitter and reminds me of a disco ball. This is a night-only shade and really brings all the attention to your eyes. I have really only used this product by itself on my lids since it is a very vibrant shade. This is another shade that I recommend use with the Primer Potion (same reasons as Midnight Cowboy).

Well everyone, I hope that I added a shade or two to your shopping list. I love Urban Decay and I think their eye shadows are top quality and I think that I own more of their shades than any other company (even MAC and NARS!). Check these shades out and let me know in the comments if you have ones that you love!

photo courtesy of Urban Decay

Urban Decay 24/7 Jackpot Set

The latest Urban Decay set is the 24/7 Jackpot Set and their Friends and Family Event is coming upon use very quickly (follow them on Facebook and you will get all the goods!) so I want to into items that are great gift ideas and also get ideas for yourself. The 24/7 Jackpot consists of their best selling 24/7 Eye Liners, which are also a personal favorite product of mine. I already own several shades of this product and would never hesitate to buy more.

"You've hit the motherload! 24/7 Jackpot features NINE travel-size shades of Urban Decay's award-winning 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils plus one FULL SIZE pencil in Zero (our award-winning black)." These pencils glide on smoothly and then can be smudged within the first minute of wear. After that time, the color will set and stay true for the rest of the day. I have found that these pencils don't budge and stay perfectly in place until I go to take them off at the end of day.

The shades included in this set...

- Eldorado - gold

- Stash - dark green-gold

- Mildew - deep green

- Electric - bright aquamarine

- Binge - navy blue

- Ransom - bright iridescent purple

- Rockstar - darkest eggplant

- Gunmetal - gunmetal with teeny silver glitter

- Whiskey - dark brown

- Zero - zealous black

Of the shades offered in this set, I own the Rockstar, Whiskey, and Zero. Zero is a top pick for creating any kind of black, smudy smokey eyes. It is also great for tight-lining the lower rim and it never strays. Whiskey is a great eye liner shade to use day or night, it can be dressed up or down depending on your look. Of the three, Whiskey is the one that I use the most. Rockstar is a bit harder to wear, since I have to wear it with silvers or plums. However, it is very beautiful and makes a great statement. From this set, I most want to try the Stash and Mildew shades, I love those greens!

This is a wonderful set for makeup junkies and anyone who loves beautiful eye makeup. I must order this with my Friends and Family discount...

photo courtesy of Urban Decay

Bathed and Infused Holiday 2010 Fragrances

This is my last post on any etailer companies for the holidays, I don't recommened ordering from these vendors too close to the actual holiday itself because the turn-around-time is usually around two weeks or more. However, I find the products well worth the wait and I know that you or whoever you gift these items to with by utterly happy with. The Bathed and Infused holiday collection is the largest of the companies this holiday so it will be even harder picking fragrances this time around.

The new holiday fragrances...

Avalanche - Get lost in this mountain of mouth-watering almond creme-filled cake enrobed in a rich vanilla buttercream.

Berried In The Snow - Strawberries, raspberries, and cranberries rest upon a blizzard of fluffy whipped cream.

Blackberry Viennese Latte - Our Blackberry Viennese Latte has that strong soothing note of Italian Espresso, frothy steamed milk, and Ghirardelli dark chocolate. To this we added our own Blackberry syrup for this special blend of latte. It's a java jolt that will really wake you up.

Buche de Noel - This decadent log-shaped cake is a traditional French dessert served during the Christmas holidays. Ours starts with a moist sponge cake rolled up with a rich mocha buttercream frosting.

Buttermint - What could be better than the creamy, dreamy, melt-in-your-mouth goodness of buttermints? These delectable minty vanilla candies never last for long.

Cedar, Sage, & Blackberry - A beautiful, calming blend of fresh sage, wood, cedar, and sweet dark blackberry.

Chestnuts & Brown Sugar - "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose..." make your way inside and indulge in some freshly roasted chestnuts sprinkled with brown sugar.

Chocolate-Dipped Candy Cane - Going along with our theory that everything is better with chocolate, we take candy canes and dip them in delicious melted milk chocolate. A cool and creamy treat!

Christmas Tree - The unforgettable smell of walking through a forest of trees on a crisp winter evening...looking for the just perfect tree.

Cranapple Cider - A new twist on the traditional apple cider, the addition of tart cranberries and a hint of spice make a great thirst quencher - warm or cold.

Cranberry Sparkle - Get ready for some Holiday Cheer! Our perfectly tart cranberry kissed by the sweet efferevescence of champagne for an instant-hit holiday cocktail.

Egg Nog French Toast - This is the perfect breakfast on a cold winter morning! Creamy, fluffy French toast made with egg nog instead of milk to give it that holiday spirit.

Egg Nog Pound Cake - It wouldn't be the holidays without some rummy, creamy egg nog, so we took some of our favorite holiday drink and jazzed up some pound cake for a special warm-you-up treat.

Frosty Lime Cupcakes - This fragrance begins with top notes of Persian lime and lemon zests; followed by middle notes of meringue; and well rounded with base notes of Royal vanilla icing and creamed cake.

Ginger Krumkake - This exotic Swedish version of gingerbread is traditionally made to celebrate the Feast of Santa Lucia. Ginger Krumkake is a tantalizing blend of rich, spicy gingerbread baked with saffron, nutmeg, cinnamon, molasses, vanilla, brown sugar, and butter notes.

Gingerbread & Brandied Pears - Now this is definitely a dessert that you need to save room for. We take our perfect fresh-baked gingerbread and serve it with some pears baked with a brandy glaze. Maybe we'll skip dinner and go straight for dessert!

Gingerbread Creme - We like to think of this scent as a gingerbread milk shake! Gingerbread and vanilla ice cream meet for a creamy, slightly spicy combination that's sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Higher Grounds - One of our favorite local coffee shops, Higher Grounds is the perfect escape from the chilly winter air. Step inside and catch a whiff of the spicy vanilla-spiked chai and sugary confections, with just a hint of crisp mountain air right outside the door.

Holiday Escape - The hustle and bustle of the holiday season can get to the best of us, so we think everyone could use a little spa relaxation. The refreshing spa fragrance has top notes of grapefruit and lime, middle notes of fresh cucumber, guava, and passionfruit, and base notes of wasabi, cilantro, and fern. Perfect to "chill" out with.

Holiday Punch - The holidays aren't just about egg nog, so when you feel like a fruity, refreshing libation, try some Holiday Punch. This zippy blend of oranges, grapefruits, and lemons gets a touch of warmth from a sprinkling of cloves. Drink up!

Ice Princess - All pink frills and an icy stare, this Pink Sugar princess wields her candy cane scepter but underneath that frosty exterior, she's really sweetie at heart.

Iced Oatmeal Cookie - Warming notes of spice and gingerbread, followed by a soft medley of cinnamon, clove, and citrus zest. All the while, amaretto and vanilla cream add a touch of sweetness.

Mint Angel - A sweet angelic blend of sugary Angel Food Cake kissed by peppermint candies and vanilla. Oh, Mint Angel, won't you be mine?

Mistletoe Kisses - This is a scent that's sure to have you looking for the mistletoe. A luscious berry blend of loganberry and strawberry combined with cooling peppermint and zesty cinnamon. Pucker up!

Nice - Sugary and sweet! Toasted marshmellow, coconut, fluffy vanilla buttercream, and a sprinkle of sugar come together to make this irresistable blend. What could be nicer than that?

Naughty - Sexy and seductive! A blend of dense Devil's Food Cake, a sprinkling of cinnamon, and a kiss of musk makes this scent oh so naughty!

North Pole - Inspired by the magical home of Santa Claus, this scent begins with cool crisp air, Christmas Trees, roasting chestnuts, fresh baked cookies, and a whiff of pipe tobacco. It's like you're standing outside Santa's window, but that would be trespassing so we suggest this scent instead.

Oatmeal Cream Pie - A truly comforting treat, our delicious fragrance has light creamy oats surrounded with cinnamon and vanilla atop a graham cracker crust.

Orange Pine Wreath - A wonderful blend of zesty orange and pine cones.

Piroutte - These special rolled lace cookies are a decadent treat. We combine melt-in-your-mouth flavor of English toffee and the crispy cookies to get this gorgeous holiday scent.

Plumberry Spice - You'll be having visions of sugar plums too when you catch a whiff of this delicious blend. Sweetened plums, currants, blackberries and raspberries, cinnamon, cloves, and vanill all blended together for a scent that's sure to leave an impression.

Pumpkin & Fig - This unusual blend of sweet and green is a must this holiday season!

Pumpkin Creme Brulee - A decadent creme brulee gets a winter make-over with the addition of pumpkin. Creamy, lightly spiced inside with a crispy, sugary topped crust.

Red Velvet Cake - A classic Southern confection, Red Velvet Cake consists of rich, red-hued cake infused with vanilla beans, a dusting of cocoa and fluffy cream cheese frosting.

Rum Raisin Balls - This tasty little holiday treat is a combination of vanilla wafer crumbs, a hint of cocoa, sweet confectioner's sugar, and rum-soaked raisins rolled into bite-sized truffles. Go ahead and grab another - we won't tell!

Salty Sailor - Ahoy, matey! This crisp ozone fragrance has hints of salty sea air and a light floral base. A perfectly unisex scent that men will surely enjoy.

Santa's Little Helper - Holiday season can be rough on the big guy in the red suit. Making toys, checking lists, flying all over the world in a sleigh in the middle of the winter. When he needs a pick me up, he reaches for this creamy vanilla milkshake blended with a touch of chai, coconut creme, and a drizzle of Mrs. Claus' chocolate syrup.

Santa's Sundae - When Santa returns famished to the North Pole after delivering all those presents, Mrs Claus has a special treat waiting. Scoops of eggnog ice cream topped off with a drizzle of caramel and crumbled gingerbread cookies.

Snoball - We take a little piece of chocolate cake, top it with marshmellow cream, and then roll it all in sugared coconut shavings. This is one Snoball we wouldn't mind someone throwing at us.

Snow Flake Cocktail - When the snow starts falling, stay inside and indulge in this decadent cocktail of vanilla ice cream, creme de cacao, coconut cream, and a splash of rum. Bottoms up!

Snow Place Like Home - An irresistibly cool and clean blend. Top notes of Siberian fir needle meld with tart Granny Smith apple, lemon zest, and pineapple. A floral middle of lily of the valley and frosted jasmine petals leads down a big snowy slope to bottom notes of glacial woods and rich patchouli.

Snow Queen - Our Snow Queen is an exquisite blend of woods, Frozen Blackberry, Fig, Rose, amber, and Spices. Opening with Bergamot and Fig, she reveals a luscious heart of French Rose, Cinnamon, Frozen Blackberry. Base notes of the most seductive Cedar, Balsam, and Sandalwood are sweetened with Amber.

Spiced Fig - The perfect holiday scent blending clove with studded fruit and pies fresh out of the oven.

Spiced Orange Tea Cakes - Buttery bite sized sweets with tangy orange zest and hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla.

Sweet Pecan Pie - Imagine a slice of warm, ooey, gooey pecan pie with carmelized pralines on top. For the sweet tooth in all of us.

Vanilla Hazelnut - Sweet hazelnut with the richness of vanilla cream.

Welcome Home - Toasted graham crackers, vanilla frosting, creamy caramel, and juicy raisins. The smell of home during the holidays.

White Chocolate Chai Creme - What a treat! Warm your soul with this blend of creamy milk and chai spices sweetened with the addition of creamy melted white chocolate and a drizzle of caramel sauce.

This is going to be a big order and at this rate, I will not need to order body products for months to come. My favorite products from this company are the Body Scrub, the Body Fluff, and the Tea Infused Body Wash and I tend to order all my fragrances in these three products. Fragrances I want to order: Avalanche, Berried In The Snow, Blackberry Viennese Latte, Buche de Noel, Buttermint, Chocolate Dipped Candy Cane, Cranberry Sparkle, Egg Nog Pound Cake, Frosty Lime Cupcakes, Higher Grounds, Ice Princess, Mint Angel, Nice, Red Velvet Cake, Snoball, Vanilla Hazelnut, and White Chocolate Chai Creme. I'm going to need a whole Fed-Ex truck for my order from this company...

photo courtesy of Bathed and Infused