Rohto Eye Drops, Tired Eye's Best Friend

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A busy lifestyle isn't always easy on the sleep schedule, and I personally get no more than 6 hours a night on average between my day job, beauty blogging, and social functions. Lack of sleep isn't exactly one part of the look pretty formula, so oftentimes I have to fake it using products designed to make me look a bit more rested. Lack of sleep actually takes a toll on my peepers, making them appear red, irritated, and altogether not so pretty.

This might be a dramatization, but I feel like they look something like this:

Not pretty, not pretty at all. Nothing ruins a gorgeous, crisp smoky eye more than tired, bloodshot eyes (flames reflected therein are optional).
Fortunately, Rohto has me covered with their fantastic line of Hydra eye drops. Designed to take me from red and irritated, to cool crisp white in no time flat, these drops are a lifesaver. They immediately cool and clarify my tired Scleras (the white part of your eye), making me smoky eye and camera closeup ready.

You can find Rohto at Walmart, Walgreens, and Drugstore.com. At a price range of $7-$9, they are a cheap and easy way to fake awake yourself.

Scult Yourself Perfect

Michelangelo may have created perfection when he sculpted his famous David, but unfortunately, we can't all be chiseled from a block of stone into marbleized flawlessness. We can however 'chisel' our way to a more sculpted face, with the proper tools and skills. All we need is the help of a little cosmetic magic; combining know-how, with just a little bit of pow(d)er. it Cosmetics has put it all together for you with the My Sculpted Face palette. Now we can all channel our inner Michelangelo, by sculpting away roundness, revealing a more chiseled face.

First, a background:
Contouring tricks the eyes into seeing a more angular plain by using shadow to conceal, and light to accentuate. In the cosmetic sense, you are essentially taking dark, matte powders to create sharp (but blended) lines of definition, essentially creating faux 'indentations' where there are none. Shadow sucks points in.
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To finish the effect, you are using light-reflecting powders and pigments to 'spotlight' points, bringing them out and immediately attracting the eye . The contrast between light and dark is what tricks your brain into seeing sharper angles that aren't there naturally.

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My Sculpted Face is a universal palette, with 4 different contouring (shading) powders, and 2 different highlighting powders. Not ones to leave their customers in the round, the folks at it Cosmetics throw in a handy-dandy facechart, making this kit virtually foolproof. Simply use your brush of choice- preferably something with a tapered end, to sculpt your face slimmer. I promise, you will discover that your cheekbones do in fact, exist. The powders themselves get bonus points for being waterproof (sweatproof!), and moisturizing with Vitamin E and Jojoba oil.

Just so you know I am not yanking your chain, here is the result of some careful contouring from this past weekend.
Get yourself a My Sculpted Face Kit, and sculpt yourself flawless. Seriously, it is a must have.

Smashbox On Sale- Curtain Call

Now is the chance to get some amazing beauty items on sale with Smashbox Curtain Call

No codes required, simply click the link here to get to Smashbox sale, and get your shop on. I highly recommend the Bionic Mascara and the Wicked Lovely Blush Rush.

The Artist Summit- Miami and Chicago

Showing some love for the amazing powder group, that hosts THE events to be at in the makeup world.

New York, NY August 29, 2009 - Professional beauty industry experts and producers of The Makeup Show NYC and LA, The Powder Group, are pleased to announce the launch of two new editions of their successful pro-focused makeup events: The Artist Summit Miami, to be held October 3-5 at the Miami Beach Convention Center and The Artist Summit Chicago, to be held October 10-12 at River East Art Center.

The Artist Summit will bring together celebrity artists from beauty, fashion, film and television, top pro-beauty brands and educators with pro makeup artists, hairstylists, business owners and students from across the globe for three days of education, community building and networking. The events are open to pros from any are of the makeup and beauty industries.

Each edition of the event will consist of a series of over 70 educational experiences including seminars, hands-on workshops, keynotes and panel presentations. For the first time, The Artist Summit will also include events focusing on the art of hair styling, allowing both early-stage and advanced professionals the opportunity to combine a focus of both makeup artistry and hair styling at the event. Makeup events will cover an expansive range of technical areas of pro makeup from bridal and salon to fashion and editorial, film, television and FX. The education programs at the event will run Sunday and Monday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with full-day, pre-event sessions of The Powder Group's popular Makeup 101 program and the introduction of Styling 101, on Saturday.

Each edition of The Artist Summit will kick-off on Saturday evening with a special Career Night, where agents and business experts will be on-hand to meet attendees, review portfolios and websites, give career advice and network. Attendees of The Artist Summit Career Night will also have the opportunity to be published in On Makeup Magazine - a semi-annual trade magazine focused on the products, artists and artistry of the professional makeup industry.

Featured presenters include more than 40 of the makeup industry's most ispirational educators including: brand owners Eugenia Weston of Senna, David Klasfeld of Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics and Alison Raffaele of Alison Raffaele Cosmetics; MAC Cosmetics Senior Artists Romero Jennings and Fred Vellon and celebrity artists Matin, Johnny Lavoy, Eve Pearl and Davide. Salon Owner and hair industry expert William Edge will head up the styling education portion of the program and industry business experts Crystal Wright, Marietta Carter Narcisse, Michael DeVellis and James Vincent will be among those presenting business and career development sessions.

The event also features The Summit Shop - a unique pro-focused shopping experience showcasing over 30 top brands and businesses including Global Summit Sponsors: Make Up For Ever, Temptu Pro, Crown Brush, Inglot and Alcone. Other sponsors include renowned artist agency Artists By Timothy Priano, Ruby Room, 3s Prod and On Makeup Magazine.

Tickets start at $65 advance purchase and range up to $290 for an All Access Summit Pass, which provides the attendee entry to the summit for all three days, as well as participation in evening networking events and two hands-on workshops. Passes are available for single or multiple day entry and include all seminars, panels and keynotes. Hands-on workshops are available at an additional fee of $95 and are exclusively available to summit attendees.

Ticket purchase information along with a complete listing of The Summit Shop participating brands, updated education listings, presenter bios and other program details can be found by visitin www.theartistsummit.com

Vampires Gone Glam with the Twilight Beauty Collections

This is a line that needs no introductions. Inspired by the hit movie and fantastic books (ok, I am more than a bit obsessed), two new cosmetic lines have emerged.

Women’s Wear Daily reports :

The Twilight beauty franchise has been separated into two lines. Volturi Twilight, named for a ruling vampire clan in the “Twilight” series, is aimed largely at teens and is launching the middle of next month at Hot Topic, Torrid and Ulta. Luna Twilight, a play on the moon themes in “Twilight,” is targeting older girls and teenagers’ mothers and is launching in the middle of next month at Nordstrom and Dillard’s. DuWop is also a part of the Twilight initiative and has introduced the lip stain Twilight Venom for $16 on Sephora.com. Prices for Volturi’s 21 stockkeeping units run from $9 to $19, and prices for Luna’s 35 sku’s are $18 to $34.

I know you all love to ogle the cast (Oh Eddie, how you do me), but how about ogling some of the amazing products from the line?

Twilight Volturi:
Twilight Luna:
As if those pics aren't exciting enough, I am happy to announce that the site has officially gone live. So hop on over to the Twilight Beauty website, then come back and tell me what you think. ;)

Boston- The FOTD's and OOTD's

In case you are all curious for more details, here are the deets for the various looks of the day.

Friday night:
Face:
Smashbox Photo finish primer lite
Make Up For Ever HD Foundation in 115
it Cosmetics My Sculpted Face (review coming soon)
Illamasqua blusher in Lover
Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights

Eyes:
MAC Painterly Paint Pot
Make Up Designory Eyeshadows in Bronzed and Voodoo
Nars eyeshadow in Galapagos
Lancome Artliner in Plum
YSL Volume Effets Faux Cils in Purple
Make Up For Ever Khol Pencil in Black

Lips:
MAC Lipstick in Myth
Illamasqua Sheer Lipgloss in Soul


Saturday afternoon:
I knew I would ultimately be low-key for a day in the sun, so I kept it simple with my favorites.

Face:
Make Up For Ever SPF 50 Primer
Make Up For Ever HD Foundation in 115
MAC Blush in Otherworldly

Eyes:
MAC Painterly
Dior Quint in Night Butterfly
Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream Shadow in Black
YSL Volume Effets Faux Cils in Purple

Lips:
Make Up For Ever Lipstick in 402 (tangerine)
Illamasqua Sheer Lipgloss in Soul

Saturday Evening:
For my night out on the town, I went with a dramatic silver and blue smoky eye with pale lips. Everything I used just went right on top of my daytime makeup.

Added:
it Cosmetics Sculpting Powders
Make Up For Ever Flash Color in Silver (review coming soon)
Nars Eyeshadow Duo in Underworld
Make Up For Ever Cream Liner in Plum
Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights
And the outfits:

Friday Evening:
Off the shoulder jaguar top by bebe, Jeans by DKNY, Booties by Dolce Vita

Saturday Afternoon
Convertible Dress by Tristan, Animal Print Gladiatiors by Via Spiga, Accessories by Lauren G Adams and Victoria Wieck.

Saturday Evening
One shoulder minidress by bebe, Booties by Dolce Vita, Accessories by Lauren G Adams, and bebe.
And there you have it. Inquiring minds want to know, which look is your favorite? :)

Get Diva Hair sans Diva Drama with DivaDo

All Drama, All Diva, All Teased Hair Mess. Witness Christina in the Moulin Rouge Video.

Being a Diva is more than a state of mind, sometimes capturing your true diva essence is a matter of getting it right down to the makeup, the clothing, and even the hair. Current trends indicate that the pomp is hotter than ever, but teasing your hair to achieve the volume required is not so hot.

In fact, teasing can quickly go awry, and you could end up looking like this:

The Divado is the new accessory that puts an end to the need to tease, and makes your hair a little more pomp with a lot less circumstance.

Inspired by Audrey Hepburn's classic elegance, polish, and iconic hairstyle, Divado created the Audrey- a piece designed to give the hair a posh "bump" at the crown.
Divado is designed to create the ever-popular pomp, without the less than savory act of teasing hair at the crown to no end. The divado is a silicone dome with a comb underneath. You use it by parting hair at the top of your head, sliding the comb in place, and then covering it with your hair from the front. The result is an elevated bump of hair at the crown, that looks completely natural. You literally go from flat haired to fabulously chic in the span of a couple of minutes.

Here is the Divado, from the top:
And from the bottom:
Yours truly, rocking the Audrey.

The Divado is an awesome alternative to getting the hairstyle you want, without the muss and fuss of torturing your hair. You can find the Divado on their website, and have the option of going with the subtle Audrey or the more dramatic Brigitte.

Heaven's Alchemy Giveaway Reminder

Just wanted to remind everyone to enter my giveaway for the Heaven's Alchemy Perfume Sampler Set.

You can win this brand new set of Heaven's Alchemy Scents

For details and my review, hop on over to this post.

Good luck, contest ends tomorrow!

Shades by Barielle Gets All Lacquered Up

For fall 2009, Shades by Barielle and celebrity manicurist Elle extended a hand to guest collaborator Michelle Mismas, founder of the top nail beauty blog, All Lacquered Up. The new collection—aptly named “All Lacquered Up”—takes trend-making to a new level, offering unexpected color combinations, glitter particle and pearl shimmer effects, and a healthy 3-free formulation.

Ever since Michelle of All Lacquered Up had mentioned her collaboration with Barielle, I know that I was most eager to try out some of the amazing colors she helped create. With a nail polish collection that goes as far as the eye can see, Michelle clearly knows colors. Seriously, who else can you trust but one of the definitive nailpolish authorities in our beloved online beauty community? Barielle is not a brand that I have been exposed to before, but I eagerly gave these colors a go and was super impressed with the results.

The colors in the range include:

Lava Rock—a black and red pearl swirl
Blackened Bleu—a black polish with sapphire sparkle
Falling Star—a marine blue with gold glitter particles
Polished Princess—a safari green with copper shimmer
Glammed Out Garnet—a ruby-on-ruby sparkle
Pin Up—a tomato red shimmer
Out-Grey-Geous—a silver shimmer
U-Concrete-Me—a steely gray
Slate of Affairs—a worn denim
Putt-E-On-Me—a classic clay
Make it a Latte—a chocolate cream with golden highlights
Get Mauve-ing—a muted mauve

With everything from black to mauve, Barielle has us covered with the hottest color trends for fall. The polishes apply smoothly and are fully opaque with two thin coats. Dry down is relatively fast, with a smooth glossy finish.

Not one to leave you without a little bit of eye candy, here is Putt-E-On-Me, Make it a Latte, Falling Star, and Slate of Affairs.

Putt-E-On-Me
Make it a Latte
Falling Star
Slate of Affairs
Barielle polishes are 3 free (meaning no formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl-phthalate), and retail for $8.00. You can pick your shades up on their website, which also gives you the option to virtually "try on" the colors. Definitely give it a go, you will be sure to have the trendiest digits in town for sure.

Fall Fashion I Covet

Since we haven't been having much of a summer here in NYC, I figure I will just jump right ahead to fall fashion, and what I am coveting for the cooler months. source

I would rock these Christian Louboutin over the knee Corset Boots boots in a New York minute. There is just something so irresistible about that red sole... If anyone has an extra 2k+ lying around, I wouldn't mind taking it off your hands.

Diane Von Furstenberg Wrap Dresses:

My love for the DVF dress loves no bounds. Perfect for the petite, these dresses hug my curves so well. I need a 'few' more I think.

This little number is the Pablita Wrap Dress, and I think she is something specialAn update on the chunky sweater dresses of last year, this year's long sleeve minidresses are much sleeker, and come with all kinds of fun details like studs and buttons. Another fun type of dress is the one-sided, long sleeve minidress. Both are winners in my book.

I am especially loving this Alexander Wang Goddess Jersey Dress. WANT

What are you craving for fall?

Leonor Greyl Shampoo

My adventures in haircare continue, this time turning to the country of France for help. My hair has serious issues, and it is Leonor Greyl to the rescue with the Shampooing Crème Moelle de Bambou.

Shocking, I know, but I have 'special needs' hair. I struggle with frizz and keeping my curly mop poof-free everyday. Having tried many different brands and having various degrees of success, I haven't sought out products before that specifically address the fact that my hair needs more tlc due to its length. Considering my hair reaches just above my derriere when straightened, I think it is safe to say that my hair falls into the "very long" category.

Why does hair length matter? Well, the longer your hair is, the more exposure the ends have had to damaging elements, causing the overall appearance of hair to be dull and lifeless. Longer hair is also more prone to damage, including breakage and split ends. It is for that very reason that it becomes important when treating long hair to look for products that will not only repair damaged hair, but will also reinforce, strengthen, and infuse moisture into hair that really needs it.

Formulated with natural active ingredients like bamboo marrow, silk proteins, and wheat derivatives; this shampoo's specialty is regenerating damaged hair. The result is shiny, manageable hair without any effort. Being a cream shampoo, this wonder pulls double duty as a cleanser and light conditioner. Love that! The shampoo itself has a musky floral scent that is very soothing and natural. It lacks the traditional lathering agents that ultimately damage the hair too, another bonus.
Don't think that this shampoo is for long hair only, any hairtype that needs a little extra loving would benefit from the gentle, moisturizing cleansing that this creamy shampoo provides.

I give the Leonor Greyl Shampoo a great big thumbs up. I love it!

And if my endorsement isn't enough, I have a tidbit to share with you all.

The Queen of Pop, Madge herself is a big fan of Leonor Greyl as well:

Celebrity hair stylist Andy Lecompte took the following Leonor Greyl products with him to use on Madonna during her current tour:

Eclat Naturel styling cream for dry hair

Laque Souple gentle hold setting spray

Voluforme volumizing setting spray

Leonor Greyl Haircare is available at select salons throughout the county, and also on various websites including BeautyHabit and Folica.Com