Just wanted to pass on a fabulous offer directly from Alison Raffaele!

We are having a 60% off sale on our glosses and shadows at RetailHappyHour.com…feel free to tell your friends and family, too!

Here’s the link:
http://www.retailhappyhour.com/landing-cat.php?cid=36

xox
Alison

I haven’t tried her glosses and shadows before, but if they are any bit as wonderful as her primers, foundations, and concealers, you will not be disappointed.  They put this clever countdown clock at the top of this page too, let me know what the number is when you on are on this site!  Right now it is at:  142 hours, 54 minutes, and 57,56, 55 seconds…

We received the most amazing green-tip contributions from those who participated in the Alison Raffaele Earth Day Giveaway last month!

Three winners were selected for their amazing green tip based upon creativity and the usefulness of their idea.  Each of these winners will receive one Alison Raffaele Reality Base Foundation in the shade of their choice (valued at $38)!

Alison Raffaele chose the entry from Monique R.:

As a mom of two, I found myself going through rolls and rolls of paper towels…ughhh. I recently bought a large package of dish towels and always have a clean one on the counter. I have noticed that I hardly ever have to buy paper towels anymore, and that makes me feel great to be green!

Mo chose an entry given by:  Stephanie C.:

I don’t really have a new tip – one that no one has heard before. My tip would be to be aware of all your actions – and to stop and think about the consequences and alternatives. We recycle, shut off lights, unplug appliances, shut down computers at night, replace regular lightbulbs with CFLs, run the dishwasher only when full, cook many more one pot meals….. Anything you do is better than doing nothing….

and Jen selected this dynamic household/beauty duo tip from Kimberly:

One of the best things i learned is how to get spotless windows, using vinegar, water & old newspapers. The windows come out clean & free of lint! I never throw out my almost empty lipsticks, gloss, & blush. I mix them to come up with a brand new custom color!

Thank you to all who contributed their favorite green tips, so many good ideas to be kinder to our planet.

And big alert, a new Urban Decay Giveaway TBA Friday, May 8th (don’t miss out)!!!

A quick note from a super cool hometown friend on facebook…

Jen,

I have been looking at your website and am fascinated. I have a question. I don’t wear much makeup but have horrible under-eye circles that are worse on some days than others but never seem to completely go away. I don’t wear foundation and have tried a few concealers but then I look like a reverse-raccoon. Any suggestions? I hate that I can’t ever really cover these up.

Kirsten

Hiya my sweet girlfriend from Bloomington, Indiana! (more…)

Alison Raffaele Cosmetics is partnering with Mythbuster Beauty to award 3 prizes to 3 winners - which will be a bottle of her Reality Base Foundation in the shade of the winners’ choice! 

Reality Base Foundation is an oil-free liquid foundation that looks and feels good! New creamier texture for medium coverage with a satin finish – now talc and paraben free and fortified with our Frutta di Vita antioxidant complex.

(more…)

1. Like Mo or DecoDiva, you can express yourself in St. Patty’s Day fashion with beautiful green color on your eyelids!

2.  You can go green by buying eco-friendly skincare or haircare products:

Like trying one (or several) of Herbaria’s green soaps in:  Triple Mint Oatmeal “Just in time for refreshment in warmer weather, we invite you to enjoy the natural menthol tingle and scent packed into this new bar,” Lime Coconut Aloe, or Spearmint Orange!

(more…)

Prompted by a Bionic Beauty post last week called, “What makeup are you wearing today?”  I was also inspired by DecoDiva’s great going out post and pics last week on her blogsite.  I wanted to ask MBB readers a similar question.  When you go out for the evening, how do you “kick it up a notch?”

Evening makeup deserves a more intense lip color, a richly pigmented black mascara, and some fabulous glow.   On a recent evening out with my hubby, I went with a bolder berry look, inspired by two of Urban Decay’s new lip products, their 24/7 Lip Pencil and Lipstick. 

• Hair:  Jessicurl’s Aloeba Daily Conditioner, Rockin’ Ringlets Styling Potion, and Confident Coils Styling Solution, set with hair clips, scrunched with a microfiber towel and allowed to air dry.
• Skin prep:  SK1N Probiotics Daily Moisturizing Cream
• Anastasia’s All About Brows Kit:  Defines and tames my brows
• Prescriptives Flawless Skin Foundation in Rose, applied with a foundation brush and fingers
• Laura Mercier Eyeliner in Bleu Marine, appliled with flat eyeliner brush
• Profaces mineral eyeshadow in a rosy gold glimmer
• Sugar’s Bronzer/Blush Duo, blush on apples of cheeks and bronzer around face and jawline
• Alison Raffaele’s True Concealer
• Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-on Lip Pencil in Wicked, creamy and lasts, truly lives up to its glide on name.
• Urban Decay’s Lipstick in Hotpants, luxuriously creamy and beautiful medium pink shade.
• Napoleon Perdis, Long Black Mascara, one coat
• Light dusting of Aromaleigh’s Illuminator Finishing Powder, a translucent, sheer loose mineral cosmetic powder, that contains reflective minerals to give your skin a radiant appearance.  Apply on brow bones, above cheeks and lightly around forehead, chin, and decollete.
• Finish by lightly tapping around face with soft clean towel to set in makeup (tip from Alyson Hoag, makeup artist at Authentic Beauty).

While browsing through Raging Rouge’s site, she mentioned that Alison Raffaele is running an online 20% discount code through Friday, August 15th. This code is only good for one more day, but better late than never.

You can receive this discount by entering the promotional code ARC20 at checkout at www.alisonraffaele.com!

My favorite Alison Raffaele products include her Face Forward Primer (Age and Acne Response) and her True Concealer (feels silky smooth and offers fantastic natural coverage). Earlier this year, MBB gave away several Alison Raffaele products in a shine busting giveaway. Alison’s line is 100% paraben, talc, oil, gluten and fragrance free.

And be sure to hop over to Raging Rouge’s site to read her Alison Raffaele Cosmetics recommendations and reviews.  Don’t miss out on this opportunity to try this truly wonderful cosmetic line! Thanks Raging Rouge!

“Not to Prime is a Crime!”- Napoleon Perdis

Okay, that statement is a bit dramatic, but if there is one cosmetic product that I would recommend you add to your daily makeup application, it would be a primer.  And Why?  Glad you asked.

Facial Primers:

•  Allows your foundation to glide over the skin (so you actually use less foundation)
•  Soothes the skin and fills in fine lines and imperfections for a more flawless complexion
•  Helps makeup last longer and stay in place
•  Generally contain soothing ingredients like chamomile, and antioxidants that can protect and hydrate the skin

I recently met with the Napoleon Perdis Team at Cosmoprof and was given their Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer to try.  I am already a believer in using pre-foundation primers, and Napoleon’s formulation has earned a top contender status, among my other favorites like Alison Raffaele’s Face Forward and N.V. Perricone’s Ceramic Skin. 

Some of my favorite aspects of this primer is how light the consistency is.  Many primers (like Smashbox’s) feel a bit too heavy on my skin because of a high amount of dimethicone.  Napoleon got it just right here.  I also like the slightly floral and natural fragrance.  Napoleon’s primer added chamomile, yarrow extract, and vitamin e to soothe and add moisture without giving your face a lot of silicone slip.  This primer leaves my skin feeling soft, natural and looking even.  Sorry Bionic Beauty, NP’s primer adds glycerin.  Now that I have been aware of people with glycerin sensitivities, I have been watching for it in ingredient lists and am amazed how many times I find it!

Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer sells for $39.00 for .24 fl.oz

And don’t just take my word for it; Teri at Beautiful Makeup Search gave NP’s primer a great review as well:  http://www.beautifulmakeupsearch.com/beauty-blog/2008/7/15/not-to-prime-is-a-crime.html.

Summer is around the bend, and summer brings the heat, humidity, and the blazing sunshine. Unfortunately for oily-skinned gals, the summer heat helps create another type of shine, the skin shine that causes our makeup to slip and slide off within a few hours.

Alison Raffaele Cosmetics has come up with a fantastic set of products to offset the slippery effects of the summer skin oil slick.

Introducing Alison Raffaele’s “Shine Buster” set:

Face Forward Primer Acne Response ($44)

Alison’s Face Forward Primer is one of my favorite rave about products and was reviewed on St Patrick’s Day as a great way to go green. A little bit goes a long way. This primer not only makes my skin feel like velvet; it helps my foundation glide on beautifully, and it provides an spf 15.

• Foundation primer + acne treatment + SPF 15
• Contains proprietary, time-released (12+ hours)
• 100% paraben, talc, oil, gluten and fragrance free
• Natural mineral-based sunscreen SPF 15 provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection
• Dermatologist Tested and Approved

Alison Raffaele Blotting Tissues ($9)

Unbleached and powder-free, these super-absorbent paper tissues remove excess oil and perspiration from the skin without disturbing makeup.

Transparent Finish To Go ($42)

• New cornstarch-based formula is talc and paraben free for your healthiest skin ever
• Although powder appears white in jar, Transparent Finish is completely clear on ALL skintones, from fairest to deepest
• Suitable for ALL skin types – will not build up or oxidize on oily skins and will not collect in the fine lines of more mature skins
• Ultra lightweight formula feels clean and comfortable on the skin
• Perfect for setting all liquid and cream cosmetics
• Will not change the color of other cosmetics
• Banishes shine and provides a natural matte finish
• May be reapplied as necessary
• 100% paraben, talc, oil, gluten and fragrance free, Dermatologist Tested and Approved

Hello again, its me Jen.  Mo needed a week off from beauty duty due to an incredibly harsh week at home.  She promises to join us next Wednesday with some new great beauty finds from her trip to Seattle! 

I recently received a letter from Lisa V in Minnesota.  She has been searching for a new concealer, read on…

“So . . . after the last few days I realized I’m getting more overwhelmed and frustrated with this whole trying to find a new concealer.  I know you already suggested a few options, but I think I’ve narrowed down my main criteria, so wanted to ask again.  And please let me know if there is another source on the Internet you know of that could be helpful with my search (I’m going to be completely out of concealer in a day or two!).

Cream/Liquid Concealer Criteria:

• USAGE:  for undereye (I use it over a yellow concealer to cover dark circles so people don’t tell me I look tired all the time)
• COST:  prefer to pay less than $15 (current product is .35oz for around $9), if it’s more product I’d be OK with more $$$; need to be able to purchase in a store (like Target, ULTA, SEPHORA, drugstore, etc.).
• INGREDIENTS: no talc, no fragrance
• Other:  It doesn’t need to be an acne treatment as I don’t usually need to use it elsewhere . . . and I would like to go more organic/natural as long as I don’t have to fork over my paycheck.” 

Jen’s Picks: 

My favorite concealers would be TheBalm’s Anti-Aging Concealer ($17 at Sephora), and although I haven’t tried the newest formulation of Alison Raffaele’s True Concealer ($23), the previous formula was one of the best liquid concealers I have ever used!   Since January, I have been using a wonderfully creamy 3 in 1 Camouflage Series concealer from Profaces ($21.50) from my friend Aly’s website Authentic Beauty.  Profaces is a great concealer, has a very soft, velvety feel and covers my under eye darkness well.  Only Alison Raffaele’s is considered organic, but all perform well with my sensitive skin.   Note:  none of these are under $15, and all need to be purchased at either their specific websites or at Sephora. 

I am also curious about Prescriptives Camouflage Cream Concealer ($17.50), and it gets very high ratings.  I have loved everything I have ever tried from the Prescriptives line.  Lisa also mentioned that this tube will probably last a while, and Prescriptives is available at most major department stores.
Lisa V also wanted to know if anyone has used or has experience with the Garden Botanika brand concealer, and if you have, please comment!  I have been lusting after the Chantecaille’s Bio-Lift concealer ever since I found out that Marcia Cross (Bree from Desperate Housewives) uses it, but cannot quite stomach the thought of spending $65 on a concealer, no matter how wonderful it might be!  Ahh, the agony!

SO!   What does everyone use as their concealer product?  Do you use one concealer for everything, or do you use one specific formula for your eye area, and another for covering imperfections and blemishes?  Why do you love it, or are you still searching for that holy grail of skin coverage?