Parisian Runway Beauty Summer 2008

Ok, so I know we're still months away from Summer, but in preparation for the New Year, I couldn't resist posting these gorgeous Victor & Rolf Summer 2008 Paris Runway Show pictures.

Quite often runway looks are too outlandish for the everyday woman, but these looks are modern, clean and pretty. This is true beauty makeup--luminous skin and glowing pink cheeks, light and fairly neutral eyemakeup with highlighted inner-corners, sheer and glossy lips, finished with eyebrows that are defined but don't look artificially shaped.

With stunning, fresh-faced makeup like this, I don't think the fashion police would nab you for sporting these looks for seasons to come!

Weekly Beauty Digest

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic checks out Prevage's New Anti-Aging Night Cream

Makeup Moxie reviews Sara Happ Lip Scrub and finds a solution for dry Winter lips.

Say NO to clumping. Beauty Anonymous recommends Kate Magical Long Gel Mascara

Jeni from Savvy Skin writes about her Favorite Makeup.

Beauty and Personality Grooming - Lemon as beauty aid

Enter Spoiled Pretty's latest giveaways, sponsored by J.R. Watkins and The Body Shop.

The Muse's Boxing Day Steals and Deals: Tarte, Vincent Longo, Bath & Body Shop, and many more sales to be found online!

Diorskin Forever-Extreme Wear Flawless Makeup SPF 25

Designer duds? Not quite in my budget yet, unless we're talking Loehmann's. But designer makeup? Absolutely, dahling!

There is something so positively glamorous about reaching for my Diorskin Forever foundation, popping off the sapphire cap, embossed with the letters "CD", clasping the frosted glass bottle and dispensing the product with its precise pump.

This SPF 25, long-wearing foundation feels light on the skin but covers what needs to be covered. Blended with a nano-stretch network to invisibly perfect the complexion and a hydra-gel system to regulate moisture, the formula wears beautifully. And it's waterproof and transfer-resistant to boot! Two pumps are sufficient for the face, and without any messy pouring, not a drop gets wasted.

Merry Christmas!

Have a Very Glossy Christmas Everyone!



xoxo,
Glossy

Be Fine Gentle Cleanser

I'd been curious about the Be Fine products for a while now, but had yet to act because they seemed overpriced. When a $10 coupon good for any Be Fine product popped up on my CVS Extra Care Card Coupons, the offer became too good to pass up. I picked up the Be Fine Gentle Cleanser, and let's just say if I'd paid full price ($15.99 for a mere 3.4 fl. oz.) I would have been sorely disapointed.

The packaging is a disaster---each pump only yields the tinest amount of product, so it takes a ridiculous amount of pumps before there's enough cleanser dispensed to actually clean the face. The actual product itself is only mediocre. It barely lathers and doesn't feel like it really did anything. Peppermint Oil and Peppermint leaf extract give a nice mintiness, but it could be kicked up a notch. Sugar cane extract is added to moisturize, but if anything, my face felt somewhat tight after cleansing.

This cleanser also contains Oat Bran Extract to soothe skin, Rice Bran Proteins to protect collagen and Rice Bran Oil to nourish the skin.

Love Her Look: Beyonce Knowles

Want to upgrade your look? Try Beyonce's warm-toned, super-star look!

To get glowing, flawless skin like B's, mix a luminizer with a liquid foundation and blend it onto the face. Try adding Smashbox Artificial Light Luminizing Lotion to L'Oreal True Match Foundation, and then lightly set it with a dusting of a tinted powder, like L'Oreal True Match Powder.

For the eyes, sweep a warm gold like MAC Woodwinked Eyeshadow on the inner lid and along the lower lash line. On the outer lid, use a warm brown like Mally Beauty Copper Penny Eyeshadow, and blend the two shadows. Using your favorite black eye kohl, line the entire upper lash line, thickening the line as you approach the outer corners, and line the waterline as well. Stretch your lashes to the max with a lengthening mascara like Lancome L'Extreme Mascara. (But if you want to be be a real diva, wear some lashes!) Give the eyebrows some light definition--if your hair is highlighted, go with a brow shade that matches the lightest tone in your hair to keep the face bright and mimic B's look.

Warm up the cheeks with an orange-brown blush like this Korres one. A sparkling gloss, like Vincent Longo Diamond Lip Gloss in Coral Cabana tops off the look.

Now go on with your bootylicious self!

Sephora Brand Slim Pencil-Lip

Sure, I have no qualms cruising the drugstore aisles for a quick beauty-fix, but one route I don't ever go is generic. The Sephora Brand has always struck me as just that--generic. But somehow a few of their lip liners have made it into my collections anyway, and perhaps I was too quick to judge.

My hunt for an elusive blue-tinged baby pink lipliner is what brought me to the line. The array of shades featured in the Sephora lipliner line is nothing short of impressive. These babies are richly pigmented and super creamy--no hardened tip that skips and tugs on the lips here.

Plus, they're only $4 a pop! And since Louis Vuitton does own Sephora anyway, I guess the line could be considered not your average store brand!

Maybelline Lash Stylist Mascara

A few weeks ago, I was lamenting the fact that I have yet to find a new mascara to obsess over. Well, sometimes it's best to heed the old adage, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," and go back to a tried-and-true favorite. For me, it's a mascara that's met with gasps of horror and endless praise at the utterance of its name: Maybelline Lash Stylist.

True, it's not a mascara for the timid, but once you're batting a thick span of dangerously dark, upturned lashes, there's no point in playing coy anyway.

The v-comb deposits a healthy dose of non-flaking mascara on the lashes, building them quickly, stretching them upward and defining them. The key is to not let the coats dry in between the application, and to comb through the coats a few times without re-dipping into the tube. This enables the product to be distributed smoothly and evenly. One extra coat can take you from "Look at those lashes!" to "Are you channeling Twiggy today?" in a flash. But you know, I'm totally fine with rocking a Twiggy-esque look. At work.

Naturally, I love, love, love heavy lower lashes. This little comb is the BEST at getting tiny lashes and into the outer and inner corners lashes--which is where the real magic happens anyway.

With all this praise for Lash Stylist, you may be thinking, "Didn't I know a good thing when I had it?" Truth be told, I grew tired of the ingenious plastic comb that gives astonishing results, but well, is just that--a hard plastic comb. I was longing for a soft, plush brush to cozy up to my lashes in the morning, and I strayed. But now it's safe to say this on-again, off-again affair is definitely back on.

Revlon Brow Fantasy

I live and die by my simple eyebrow mantra: Defined at all times. Why? Because it can take your look from pretty girl to spellbinding beauty in an instant.

Revlon aims to bring perfectly groomed brows to the masses with their Brow Fantasy, a duo with a brow pencil on one end and a tinted gel on the other.

At first I loved this product--my brows looked defined, but natural, the color was a good match (available in 4 shades, mine's dark brown) and the gel kept any unruly hairs in check. But after a few weeks of testing it, the performance was inconsistent. Sometimes the gel takes on a dull, greyish color. Also, the pencil is so soft and chubby that it can be difficult to make tiny, hairlike strokes.

This product is alright but it won't replace my own eyebrow combo: MAC Mystery eyeshadow applied with a MAC 208 angled brush and topped off with my beloved MAC Brow Finisher--a tinted wax stick. The wax stays soft (so you never get that dull, harded-glue look), holds the brows and power in place, and gives just a hint of extra color. Once you go with wax, you'll never go back!

Stila Natural Finish Oil-Free Makeup

Remember that episode of 90210 when Donna was co-hosting the radio show with David and she had a complete melt-down on the air? She caught a glimpse of her reflection on the back of a CD and started rambling, "Where does the makeup go? You put it on in the morning and it's gone?!"

That is how I feel when I wear Stila Natural Finish Oil-Free Makeup. Sure, the foundation goes on smooth, the shade is a perfect match and the semi-matte finish is nice. But if the dog-gone stuff doesn't stay on, what's the point? This foundation only lasts a few hours max, and then I'm looking in the mirror, scratching my head, and thinking "was my whole getting-ready makeup routine this morning just a dream?"

If my foundation doesn't look fabulous, I don't feel fabulous. It's a good thing I have my old stand-bys, Revlon Colorstay and Estee Lauder Double Wear, to fall back on!

Love Her Look: Salma Hayek

Here's an excerpt of the Campari ads featuring the breathtaking Salma Hayek. Her smoldering eyes and flawless skin make for a seductive combination.

Perfect skin with a liquid foundation like Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation. Set the foundation with a whisper of loose powder, like Lancome Photogenic Sheer Loose Powder.

Salma's thick, defined brows add to the intensity of her dark eyes. Try using a brow powder like Anastasia Brow Ex-press. Shade the lids with a shimmery grey shadow, for example Dior 1-Couleur Powder Mono Eyeshadow in Silver Dust. Use this same color to line the lower lash line. Next, using a matte black shadow like Make Up Forever Eyeshadow in Black 4, make an inward pointing caret shape (< ) on the outer portion of the eyes. Blend the two shades together and upward. Highlight the tear ducts with a luminizer like Benefit Moon Beam. Line the eyes with the blackest of black eyeliners, like MAC Eye Kohl in Smolder. Draw a thick line on the upper lashes, extending the outer-corner upward slightly. Then, line the lower lashes, stopping about a third of the way in. Coat the lashes with a volumizing mascara like Avon SuperFULL Mascara.

Contour the face with a sculpting powder-- check out Kevyn Aucoin's. Shade the hollow of the cheeks, sides of the nose, hairline and jawline--but be sure to blend! Pass on the blush and lightly tint the lips with a mauvish-rose color such as Sephora Jumbo Pencil-Lip in Figure 404L.

Now this is a look I'll toast to!

Nexxus Sleektress Sumptuous Smoothing Shampoo

If you're anything like me, your shower caddy is packed to the hilt with products, and your tub is encircled with even more products, so that each time you step in and out you have to do so carefully to avoid a domino-effect.

It's things like my quest for sleek locks that got me into this situation in the first place. So when I spied Nexxus Sleektress Sumptuous Smoothing Shampoo, it was a sure bet that I was going to buy it.

It's gentle, smells good, lathers well, definitely reduces frizz and softens. It smooths strands without greasing hair down. While it hasn't sparked the same feelings of devotion that my Ojon shampoo did, this has its own advantages.

The formula is pretty sophisticated. NexxuSpheres, which use a time-release delivery system, are tiny capsules packed with Ceramides, Nourishing Botanicals, Anti-Oxidant Vitamins, and UVA/UVB Protectors. These capsules are attracted to the weak spots in the hair, and dissolve over time to release a steady dose of nutrients to the hair. The shampoo also contains Silk Amino Acids and Avocado Oil to soften and strengthen hair.

So really, what's the harm in adding one more shampoo? :)

Big Things Poppin'!

I am ecstatic to announce that Glossypink has just been inducted into the Beauty Blog Network! Check out the new blogroll on the right to see what the other fabulous beauty bloggers are talking about!

xoxo,
Glossy

Amore Pacific Moisture Bound Refreshing Complex

The more I experience the Amore Pacific line, the more I love it. In two words, it's innovative and effective.

The Moisture Bound Refreshing Complex is an oil-free moisturizer, designed to absorb excess oil and deliver a healthy dose of minerals to increase skin's resilience. This lightweight lotion hydrated my face and absorbed completely and instantly. It kept the oil in check for hours and my skin soft.

The most incredible thing about this product? It's water-free! That's right, it uses Stabilized Bamboo Sap instead of water to boost skin's strength. The brag-worthy ingredient list includes Ginger Root and Matsutake Mushroom to enhance the complexion, an Aqua-Sponge Complex to hydrate, Water Lily Extract for its astringent properties and Green Tea Leaf Extract to anti-oxidize.

NARS Blush in Madly and Taos

"On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me NARS Duo Surabaya Eyeshadow. On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me NARS Madly Blush, NARS Taos Blush...."

Ok, so on Friday I told you about my wonderful early Christmas gift--some NARS! In addition to the Surabaya Duo, I received two blushes, Taos and Madly. True to form, NARS did not disappoint with these babies, either.

Madly is a nude shade bespeckled with gold, that's perfect for adding warmth and definition to the cheeks. Only NARS could pull off a beige blush so well--the high pigmentation keeps this light hue from disappearing on the cheeks. It looks amazing paired with plum eyeshadow or sexy as part of a monochromatic nude face.

At the other end of the spectrum is Taos, a fiery rose color, also laced with golden sparkles. This color is guaranteed to make you look energized and turn up the heat. This extra-hot blush will likely involve some additional buffing, but it's worth the elbow grease. Try wearing this vibrant hue with a soft matte brown eye and clear glossy lips.

For all of my NARS blushes, I lightly tap my brush into the powder, as opposed to swirling it across, in order not to overload my brush with pigment.

NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Surabaya

The other day, I let out a cry to the makeup gods, "Let there be a bounty of makeup this Christmas!" Well, they answered my plea early with a delivery of one NARS Duo Eyeshadow and two NARS Blushes!

The Surabaya eyeshadow duo (not the shades pictured) consists of a brow sugar and a chestnut shade, and Honey, it makes all other eyeshadows look like child's play. The pigments are so extremely rich and smooth, it's practically sinful.

Whether using the two shades together to create exotic warm smoky eyes, or separately as a crease color, the results are picture-perfect. Flecks of golden sparkle, interspersed through these otherwise matte shadows, dance on the eyelids, and are a nice alternative to straight-up shimmery shadow. The shadow stays vivid and true all day, and can also be used wet as a cake-eyeliner.

If on Christmas morning, my stocking is filled with nothing but NARS Duos, I wouldn't be complaining! Tune in Monday to get the low-down on the blushes!

Love Her Look: Emmy Rossum

In honor of D.C.'s first gentle snowfall of the year, I'm posting this picture of Emmy Rossum, in which she looks just as fresh and delicate as a snowflake.

To get Emmy's look, begin by smoothing on a sheer, cream-to-powder foundation that has a natural-skin finish. Try Vincent Longo Water Canvas Creme-to-Powder Foundation. Skip additional powder to keep the face looking super-fresh.

Tones of softly shimmering white and grey, like LORAC Shimmer and Dreamy shadows, brighten the eyes. Sweep a white shade over the lids and on the inner corners of the eyes, keeping the application light so that the lid still shows through. Then, work a grey shadow into the outer corners of the eyes. Blend the shadows well to create a diffused look. Line the upper lids with a black-brown eyeliner like Cover Girl Perfect Blend and smudge the line using the cushioned blender tip. Coat the upper lashes with a lengthening mascara like Lancome Definicils. Keep the lower lashes clean, with just one light coat of mascara.

Get the cheeks glowing with a soft pink blush like Bobbi Brown Ski Slopes Blush. Next, create a soft yet precise lip by lining the lips with your favorite nude lip liner and then filling them in with a pinky-peach frosted lipstick like MAC Sandy B Lipstick.

And by now, you should be one gorgeous snow-bunny!

Dermalogica Skin Prep Scrub

Scrubs buff and brighten the face, and even though I wash daily with a glycolic acid cleanser, I still use scrubs on a regular basis too. Dermalogica Skin Prep Scrub came up in last night's rotation and while it's a solid product, it's lacking that wow-factor.

Finely ground Corn Cob Meal polish the skin, while Mallow, Ivy and Aloe Vera soothe the skin and Arnica and Cucumber extracts cool. The scent is a little strange, but it does gently refine the skin's surface without irritating or stripping the skin.

Dermalogica does provide a great tip in the directions though: mixing the scrub with cleanser for a milder experience. This technique would tone down any scrub and allow you to calibrate the level of exfoliation.

Bonne Bell Glimmer Bronze in Gold n' Glitz

I never got mixed up in the seemingly infinite flavors of Bonne Bell Lip Smackers, but one BB product I go way back with is their Glimmer Bronze in Gold n' Glitz.

A couple quick brush strokes with this shimmering loose powder and your skin will look so radiant, you'll be doing a double-take in the mirror. Never orange, this golden-brown shade gives skin a celestial splendor. The bronze is mild enough to gently warm pale winter skin, and I think it would only look more golden--not ashy--on darker skin tones.

For a sun-kissed look, sweep this powder over the high planes of your face, making sure to include the bridge of the nose (this bronzer is magic on the nose!) or try blending it with your loose setting powder for an all-over diffused glow.

Stila All Over Shimmer Eyes

I love goooooold!* No, I'm not talking about the precious metal, I'm talking about gold eyeshadow! Gilded lids flatter every eye color and look stunning with baby pink lips, screaming red lips, and everything in between.

One of my favorite tones of gold is Stila All Over Shimmer Eyes in #7, an antique gold. Formulated with pearl particles and refined shimmer, this rich powder imparts a gorgeous sparkle on the lids. The sifter-top keeps accidents at bay, and one jar lasts and lasts.

This product reminds me a lot of my favorite collection of shimmering shadows, Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Glimmer, which boasts 30+ shades, compared to Stila's sparse 4-shade collection. Thankfully, Stila decided to include this hue in their pared-down collection, because you can never have too much gold!

*Remember Goldmember from Austin Powers? :)