Very Exciting Contest from Total Beauty!

 beauty, total beauty  Comments Off
Apr 182008
 

In celebration of Earth-Day on April 22nd, TotalBeauty.com, the first online beauty product library, is set to launch an eco-awareness campaign and their biggest sweepstakes to date, the “Totally Green Sweepstakes.” Starting April 17th through June 5th 2008, TotalBeauty.com will launch the eco-beauty feature and sweepstakes, benefiting HealthyChild.org, while educating women on making eco-conscious beauty choices. One lucky winner will be driving away with a new 2008 Saturn Vue Hybrid car filled with a year’s supply of luxurious green and organic beauty products.

To enter, all Earth-Day supporters just go to TotalBeauty.com and search for their favorite (or not so favorite) beauty products, then write and submit a review. That’s it. From April 17th through June 5th, TotalBeauty.com will be giving away hundreds of Earth-Day inspired daily prizes, including conflict-free diamond from Brilliant Earth, eco-spa trips from Spas of America, and more. And, each time a review is written, TotalBeauty.com will automatically enter the reviewer in the Totally Green Sweepstakes that will give them the chance to win the ultimate prize of a 2008 Saturn Vue Hybrid car filled with beauty products from Origins Organics, Sephora, Raw Natural Minerals, Suki Skincare, and Tela Beauty Organics. And, with every review written about a green product (these are tagged on the site), TotalBeauty.com will donate $1 for to HealthyChild.org, a worldwide charity dedicated to protecting the health and well being of children from harmful environmental exposures.

Win Some Free Stuff at Misikko Beauty!

 Uncategorized  Comments Off
Apr 172008
 

I love a good contest, don’t you? Especially when it involves free stuff. Stuff I get to choose. Kind of like a little shopping spree! Misikko Beauty, a new internet beauty boutique is sponsoring a great contest that could get you $100 or $50 to spend in their store. What do you have to do? Easy. Just visit their website and review products that you’re familiar with. Include your email address, and do as many as you can before midnight Eastern time April 27, and you’re automatically entered! They are giving away one $100 and two $50 gift certificates to spend on anything you choose in the store.

You can get all the details and information here. Now, go get busy! And let me know what you pick out when you win! I’ll be sharing a review of one of their fantastic products very soon.

H&M’s Tribute to Marimekko

 spring, tribute  3 Responses »
Apr 152008
 

I can’t keep up with all the limited editions, collections, capsules, and tributes going on out there. But I have been waiting anxiously for the Marimekko tribute to come to H&M, because the fun, graphical prints that Marimekko is known for are right up my alley this season. I’m all about prints and color. Better wear them now, because you know these crazy colors won’t last much longer.

The dress you see here is the one that I bought on Saturday. It’s very cute, extremely comfortable, and the price was certainly right: $49.90. There are some really great pieces in this collection, so if you are a bright, graphics person, get thee to H&M to check them out.

Be sure to get a preview and listen to the podcast over at H&M‘s US site.

Do. Not. Want.

 review  Comments Off
Apr 152008
 

I think it’s well known that I adore beachy scents. Make me smell like straight up Coppertone circa 1978, and I’m thrilled. It’s weird.

So anytime there is a release of a summer scent, I’m usually all about it. So I was pretty excited to try this one out. The notes are listed as coconut milk, sandalwood, vanilla, vetiver, myrrh, amber, mandarin, bergamot, lemon, orange, tiare flower, jasmine, magnolia, orange blossom and lavender. There isn’t a whole lot listed here that I can’t get down with, especially with myrrh, amber, jasmine, and tiare flower listed. However, on me, this was straight up sandalwood. Nothing else. Just sandalwood all the way through the dry down. I actually went back to my hotel and washed it off my wrists because it was so very annoying.

However, if you are a sandalwood lover, this is probably right up your alley.

Design Editions White Shirt Interpretation at Gap

 Gap  2 Responses »
Apr 152008
 


I can’t help it – I have a soft spot in my heart for Gap. I know most of their sweatshop produced separates are overrated and boring, yet I still go and faithfully go through all their offerings. I said a little thank you prayer to the fashion gods when Patrick Robinson took over as design VP, and continued to hope for the best. I haven’t found a single thing I like since he took over.

So I eagerly awaited what I call the “white shirt” collection. The finalists of the 2007 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund each reinterpreted the white shirt exclusively for gap. This year we have 3.1 Phillip Lim, Michael Bastian, Band of Outsiders, Threeasfour, and Philip Crangi. And to our left, we have the white shirts. See any you like?

As for me, if I was in need of a white shirt (I’m not), I would probably go for the one on the far left, second row by Band of Outsiders.

So, are you inspired by this collection? Planning on getting one?

My Day of Makeup Shopping

 Cargo, sephora, urban decay  2 Responses »
Apr 122008
 

Lovingly laid out for you here on the most gorgeous marble sink I have ever seen is the fruit of my shopping efforts. Here is what I am taking home:

  • MAC Heatherette Eye Trio 2
  • Sephora Bronzer Brush #44
  • MAC Shimmer Blush in Flirt and Tease
  • Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Glide Pencil in Bourbon
  • Cargo Bronzer in Light

All that is missing here is the huge bottle of Chinatown by Bond No. 9 that I forgot to add. I’m going to be forbidden to enter any shopping establishment for quite some time.

Chanel Summer Collection: Oasis Swatches

 Chanel, swatches  Comments Off
Apr 122008
 


It would be nice if I would actually use my digital camera rather than my iPhone. But it was there, and well, I was in a hurry. Here we have Chanel’s limited edition eye quad in Oasis. I was really excited about this quad, and then I put it on and I was kind of meh about it. I do love the liner, Vert Bronze, though. It goes very well with these colors and glides on much easier than my other Chanel eyeliner. It is the waterproof liner versus the eye pencil.

I think I will grow to love these as I use them more. The green/khaki on the far left is really lovely in the crease, and the bronze on the far right is dark enough to use almost completely on it’s own with a shimmery coppery eyeliner to really get that bronze look. It’s the peach and pink I’m struggling with. However, they are heavily pigmented, just as you would expect from Chanel, although they didn’t have the shimmer that I thought they would. Regardless, I’ll be wearing this quad a lot this summer.

Do you love my shower curtain? Of course you do.

Total Beauty Web Tour

 total beauty, web tour  Comments Off
Apr 112008
 


Let’s see what the other fabulous Total Beauty bloggers are talking about this week, shall we?

Laurie at Beauty’s Spot finally dishes on meeting Lauren Conrad at Fashion week and gives you the details on Mark. Cosmetics’ makeup backstage!

Want long, lush lashes? The Beauty of Life offers you the chance to win some with an amazingly lash-tastic contest, courtesy of Ardell Fashion Lashes!

Monique at beauty girl musings shares her timesaving discovery that you are sure to love!

Tink at Casual Lavish shares her newest creations with you. Check out her Delusions of Alice nail polish “frankening” collection.

The Muse reviews the Kiss Spring 2008 Collection directly from Japan!

A Mom in Red High Heels shares about her consultation with makeup artist lebec of lebec cosmetics. Check out all that she learned!

Tea, anyone? Jeanne of Periodic Style spills on some green tea goodies!

Jennifer, from Beauty in Real Life, gives you the tips to avoid the dreaded mascara smudgies!

Beauty411 reviews the Kate Somerville skin care line. Learn how you can get your own Red Carpet glow!

Budget Beauty Love shows you how to get a Cleopatra inspired eye.

Joy from Makeup Junkie gets our skin prepped for summer with Beauty 101: Beauty Prep For Summer Part 1!

Mischo Beauty is pleasantly surprised after using natural skincare and mineral makeup by Erth.

Toya is looking for makeup artists and beauty mavens of color who’d like to be featured on her site!

Laptop Bags

 Uncategorized  Comments Off
Apr 102008
 

Laptop Bags

I’m ready for a new laptop bag, but there aren’t many out there that I would actually consider carrying. For a while, I used a Betsey Johnson tote to carry it around in, but realized that I was better off keeping things seperate, like power cords and whatnot. Anyway, here are a few cute ones that I found while surfing. I’m still not really sold on any of them yet. Except for the poppy sleeve. That one has my name all over it.

See more of my Laptop Bags list at ThisNext.

Something New: Cargo Melt-Proof Collection

 Cargo, sephora  1 Response »
Apr 102008
 


Surfing Sephora today (making my wish list for Saturday, of course), I stumbled across something super cool. Some of my Total Beauty friends recommended the Cargo bronzer on the boards recently, and seeing as how I’ve been on the hunt for a bronzer that is natural-looking without being too dark, I thought I’d give Cargo a try. But look at this neatness: Melt-Proof bronzer, three in one eye/cheek/lip palette, and mascara in one collection! Melt-Proof! Have we discussed the East Coast summers? No? Well, let me just tell you about humidity here. It’s crushing.

Anyway, Cargo tells us that they use “a mixture of emollients and waxes to form a water-resistant film on the skin.” My only question would be: what do I use to take it off? I still haven’t found a decent eye makeup remover. Any suggestions? Because this little collection will be in my makeup bag come Saturday.

PS: this collection is available only at Sephora, and the image is from there too. :)

My New Bag

 beauty  Comments Off
Apr 102008
 

I was out and about shopping today (not too much – have to save for my trip to Tyson’s Corner on Saturday!), but I did find the greatest bag that I just had to have. Undoubtably, it’s the cobalt blue that did me in. This beauty is the Maxx New York Monte Carlo Shopper in Electric Blue. Isn’t it fantastic? I have never owned a Maxx New York item before, but the website is most fantastic – you must check it out.

At any rate, the bag is nice and roomy, but the best part (besides the blue color) is the zebra print lining inside. Fun! Lots of pockets both inside and out, with a special spot for the iPhone. It’s not a bag that you can throw over your shoulder, but it is fun and kicky with it’s shiny exterior and the buckles on either side. And the price was certainly right!

Summer Lovin: CHI Flat Iron

 Product Reviews  1 Response »
Apr 082008
 

So, my CHI Pink Dazzle Limited Edition showed up recently, and I have to say, I’m totally loving it! I’m not sure what makes CHI different from my Tigi Bed Head flat iron that I got from Target, but there is a significant difference. I have a suspicion that it gets much hotter and the plates stay together better, thereby keeping my curly, coarse hair under control. This flat iron produces consistent results, and even came with a cute little travel case! This is a good thing, because I can’t imagine being without it. So, what they say is true – invest in a good flat iron if your hair is thick like mine – you won’t regret it in the long run. I’ve gone through four flat irons and spent far more money on them than I would if I would have just gotten a decent one in the first place. Consider me converted!

Finally! A Drugstore Brand I Like

 Lipstick, Product Reviews  1 Response »
Apr 032008
 

I was hanging out in Rite Aid the other day waiting for my prescriptions to be refilled, and thought I would check out the latest offerings from the drugstore beauty brands. I had heard a lot about L’Oreal’s Infallible Lipstick, most of it quite good, so I thought I’d give it a shot.

I picked Teaberry, thinking it would be a nice light summer color. The directions state to apply the color, wait for it to dry for two minutes, then apply the gloss. Easy enough. After following the directions, I settled in to wait and see how long it would actually last.

Eight hours later, it was still there, and looking quite good. It had gone through one caramel macchiato, one espresso shot (no comments about my coffee habit, please), one lunch of miso soup, three glasses of water, and a full day of work. I did touch up the gloss about midway through my day, but only because my lips were feeling dry, and I have a habit of always glossing my lips.

I am seriously impressed with this product. It lasted even longer than my Revlon, my MAC, and most of my lip stains. My only complaint is that the gloss smells like some sort of horrible cotton candy from circuses of my childhood, but that’s a small price to pay for this kind of lasting color, and I don’t imagine you have to use the included gloss if it grosses you out too much.

I will be going back for some other shades.

Photo via ulta.com, which has this product on sale for $8.99!

Summer Lovin’: Emjoi Soft Caress Epilator

 emjoi, Hair Removal  Comments Off
Apr 022008
 

I never thought that I’d be able to handle epilation. Basically, these handheld battery-operated machines have a tweezing function that remove each individual hair from the root, usually from large areas such as legs, arms, underarms, even bikini lines. I knew logically that it couldn’t possibly be much different than waxing or even tweezing, but I’d heard all the horror stories about the different brands, like EpiLady. Remember when you could buy that at Macys? No? I’m probably older than you.

At any rate, I started to notice that my “tan from a can” wasn’t holding up well on my lower legs. It stood to reason that the reason why was that I was exfoliating that area every day by shaving, resulting in a rather uneven tan. I really didn’t want to let the hair grow out and wax, nor did I want to incur that extra cost and time investment of heading to the salon every two weeks to get that done. So I did what any other product junkie would do and started checking out all the reviews on different epilators. I settled on the one that everyone seemed to like the best, the Emjoi Soft Caress. After much trepidation, I settled in to see just how bad this was going to be.

Are you waiting for my horror story? Well, there isn’t one. The first time I used it it was a bit uncomfortable, but certainly nothing alarming. I quickly got used to the pulling sensation, and eventually it stopped bothering me at all. Probably because the areas I was going over were already smooth and didn’t have any hair to remove. I did one shin and my bikini line the first time. The next day I went back and cleaned up the leg and did the other one. Uncomfortable, not that painful. Although, I will say, everyone has a different pain tolerance – I have a tattoo on my left calf, and it certainly wasn’t anything near what I felt when I got that.

The best part about it is the time it lasts. Because it removes hair from the root and not just the surface growth, I’m getting well over a week with no maintenance, and best of all? An even fake tan. Bonus!

Available at folica.com, emjoi.com, and ulta.com.

Image courtesy folica.com.

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