Doin' the Dash

If some of you are like us, you may still be shopping for that "perfect gift" for your loved ones or yourself. Here's a run down of some "Deals & Steals" that may make your hunt a little easier:

What better way to find the perfect addition(s) to your make-up treasure chest than to hit up beauty wonderland Sephora! With gift sets galore, we are sure you'll find the perfect gift that's too fab to part with. Don't want to deal with the hordes of last minute shoppers? No problem, check out Sephora.com - orders placed TODAY will arrive to your door by 12/24! As if this deal could not get any sweeter, you get to pick 3 Free Samples with EVERY ORDER!


Giving with a Purpose? Check out the "WISH" collection over at Smashbox.com. $1 of each purchase of a "WISH" gift set will be donated to the Children's Miracle Network, "a non-profit that grants the wish of life to millions of sick or injured kids by providing care and investing in life-saving research." The good folks at Smashbox are also offering free Jumbo Samples and Free Shipping (if you don't mind getting your gift after Christmas).

In addition to DELICIOUS holiday pallets, NARS is offering Free FedEx Shipping on all purchases of $25 or more (sooo very easy to do once you see these pallets). Want more than make-up? Be sure to check-out the heavenly scented candles and Essential Oil-Infused Therapy Soak.

Rounding out our last minute holiday "Deals & Steals" are some great finds for "Under $55" over at Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. We are sure you will find that perfect "stocking stuffer" (or cosmetic bag stuffer) in the array of gloss trios, pallets, and cream shadow sets available. You have to hurray though, because the Free 2 Day Shipping offer ENDS TODAY. Running out of wrapping paper? No problem - Bobbi offers complimentary Gift Wrapping & 2 Free Samples.

Credits: Sephora USA, Inc., NARS Cosmetics, Smashbox Cosmetics, Bobbi Brown Professional Cosmetics, Inc.

After Glow

Ok get your minds out of the gutter *smiles*...we are talking about rounding out your fresh faced summer look with a "Living My Life Like It's Golden" glow. The best way to achieve (and maintain) that natural inner radiance look is to apply the same shade on your eyes, cheeks, and lips.

We like to use a sheer shimmer like Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Brick Compact (in "Bronze") on eyes and cheeks, and compliment it with a sheer shimmer lip gloss like "Rose Sugar". The Shimmer Brick's subtleness in color and shimmer perfectly highlights the brow bone; makes eyes "POP" when dusted around the inner corners of eyes; and accentuates cheekbones. To get that "from within" glow, we recommend applying rose or apricot colored blush to the apples of your cheeks.

While some of you may be cringing at the idea of putting blush on your eyes and lips, just remember, THERE ARE NO RULES IN MAKE-UP - BE ADVENTUROUS! Here are some other products we recommend using to get that "After Glow":

NARS out did themselves when they created The Multiple. We love it because it is easy to apply, multi-use, long-lasting, and gives great natural color....and did we say EASY TO APPLY? So much so that any make-up or beauty novice can apply it without looking like a "Clown School Drop-Out". We touched on the Blush and Bronzing Duo (which we also love) in yesterday's bronzer post, and were thrilled to see they now offer a Duo for The Multiple (The Multiple Duo).

So what exactly is The Multiple? It is a cream stick that gives a powder finish (a.k.a. "cream-to-powder") that can be applied to eyes, cheeks, and lips! Since it is cream-to-powder, you will definitely need to apply a sheer or clear gloss over lips to add shine and moisture. We do not recommend using The Multiple if you have oily skin or large pores. Despite giving a matte-powder finish, the cream tends to make large pores look bigger, and does not hold up well on oily skin. The Blush and Bronzing Duo, however, works well and looks great on all skin types.

Our "Recessionista Pick" is E.L.F.'s Shimmering Facial Whip. Aside from being fun and easy to use, E.L.F.'s Shimmering Facial Whip is good for all skin types. Available in a variety of colors ("Toasted" received the 2008 Allure Best of Beauty Editor's Choice Award), these little tubes are perfect for adding a hint of shimmer and glow to your eyes, cheeks, and lips. They can also be added to your lotion to get a little "body shimmer". Packed with Vitamins B, C, and E, this lightweight, non-greasy cream is long-lasting and buildable. Our only "Notes of Caution" for this product are:

a) it can give too much shimmer - so start off light and build as needed.
b) it looks better on Fair and Medium skin tones - the shimmer tended to be too much for Darker skin tones in spite of light/sparse application.
c) it has a sweet citrusy scent, but at $1 a pop, we can live with that!

Credits: Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Inc., NARS Cosmetics, Inc. Eyes.Lips.Face. (JA Cosmetics Corp.)

I'm Melting! I'm Melting!

Hi Gang! We sincerely apologize for the serious gap in posts. Unfortunately, we experienced some pesky technical issues but are back up and running. *whew*

Now that we covered skin care essentials for looking ultra fab, even in the heat and humidity, lets talk summer make-up. As you have probably read (and been told countless times before), "LESS IS MORE" when it comes to looking your summer best. For those of you who are addicted to your foundation be prepared to go into "Foundation Detox". Yes, this REALLY means it is officially time to "Step Awayyy from the Foundation!" Trust us, you will be glad you did (and your pores will too)!

While tanning is a good way to to cover your skin's imperfections, bronzers are a great way to "give good face" without looking cakey, or worse - as if your face is melting. Going the bronzer route also gives you the added perk of no sun damage or premature aging (another result of overexposure to the sun). So take our hand and "step into the LIGHT" - starting with bronzers:

NARS Bronzing Powder is perfect for creating a long lasting matte finish, infusing just the right amount of shimmer with a natural non-orangey bronze glow. This easy to apply powder also "[f]ills in lines and pores for smoother looking skin" and looks great on practically all skin tones. Not sure what blush shade to use for your summer look? Don't worry, they also make these in Blush/Bronzer Duos. As if this product wasn't perfect enough already, we also love that it seems to work well for those with sensitive skin. Some of our sensitive skin ladies raved about it not breaking them out.

For those who want a little more coverage from a powder bronzer, we recommend Sue Devitt's Triple-C Weed Loose Powder. Technically not a bronzer, it comes in a variety of shades that perfectly match just about all skin tones. To use it as a bronzer, we apply shades that are 1 to no more than 3 shades darker than a client's skin tone to create that perfect natural tan. Although silky in texture and matte in finish, this powder will not leave you looking as if you just saw a ghost, or give you a case of "Chalk Face". Like the NARS Bronzing Powder, Sue Devitt's Triple C-Weed Loose Powder will not settle into fine lines, is long-lasting, and was given a thumbs up by some of our sensitive skin ladies. In addition to minimizing shine, it also works well for those with normal to dry skin. This is largely due to the "[p]roven ingredient Nylon-12 [which] ensures long-lasting wearablity and prevents creasing and cracking, remaining completely layerable." We love that it also contains "[s]oothing ingredients" such as "a seaweed sequence that contains valuable minerals, nutrients and vitamins."

Last but not least, we recommend Wet n Wild's Bronzer Compacts (yes, you read correctly) for our fellow "Recessionistas" and anyone looking for a great multi-use budget beauty find. These compacts come in a range of colors for just about all skin tones. Still can't find the perfect shade, no worries, these also make for some great blush and shadow colors. At roughly $3, what's not to like?

Credits: NARS Cosmetics, Inc., Sue Devitt, Inc., Wet n Wild Beauty USA (Markwins Beauty Products, Inc.).