Do you know what yesterday was? If you said “Thursday” then you get partial credit and a warning that nobody likes a smart aleck What “it”was in my neck of the woods was the counter launch for MAC’s To The Beach collection.

I went in about a week ago asking about the collection, since Karla at TNBTTGSY swatched them and made me want them SO BAD. Seriously, she swatches like nobody’s business. Anyhow, I was just dying for some of the collection and I hopped in to see if it was out yet. It wasn’t on the counter but my gal Jessica let me sift through the spanking new testers and pre-order what I wanted. You can bet your buns I went straight down after work yesterday to pick up my new babies. Good thing too, 3 of the 5 items I picked were already gone and the store had only been open for 3 hours! This is a really fun , not too bright(imho) collection and I will get tons of use out of my purchases.

For a full selection of swatches visit Karlas posts here and here. And click through at the end for my pictures as well

I nabbed Sweet & Punchy and Humid($14.50), two gorgeous shadows and Float on By($14.50), which is a beautiful dark green/turquoise eye pencil. Since no purchase is complete without lip color I also grabbed Lipglass in Splashing($14), a pretty pink, and a lipstick in Funbathing($14), a bronzed plum color. Funbathing is almost exactly a more sheer version of my favorite lipstick ever, MAC’s O. It’s a perfect way to wear my favorite color through summer and I’m so tickled that I just might have to go buy another one before it sells out. I highly suggest you run to your nearest MAC counter ASAP and give this collection a whirl, I love it. And hurry, some of these products are already sold out online! (more…)

A while back one of my favorite giveaway sites featured a skincare set from Kiss My Face. I didn’t win, but I got over it quickly enough when some Kiss My Face products showed up in my mailbox a couple weeks later.

Besides the super fun name, what makes Kiss My Face different? Well, for one thing they’re no newbies to this natural skin care thing.  They sprung into action in the 80’s with a big ol’ bar of ugly green olive oil soap and have kept on truckin ever since, even after a fire wiped out their warehouse and distribution center in the 90’s. They also believe in humor and honesty, two things I look for when deciding where to spend my time and money. Hanging on for almost 2 decades in a market that is just now really starting to appreciate the value and impact of natural products is no small feat, and managing to maintain an independent spirit and sense of humor as well speaks volumes to their dedication and passion.

I tried some products from their Potent & Pure line, a selection of products that get the job done with natural and organic ingredients. (more…)

So last week I mentioned that L’Oreal  has tried the custom mix glosses and that the results  were less than spectacular for me. Today I’d like to share a little more about that product and my feelings on it.
L’Oreal Color Presso lip gloss is two tubes of gloss in one container. You squeeze each tube until you get exactly what you want at the tip and then apply. It sounds easy but it doesn’t work quite as well. First things first, I love the glosses. The colors are nice and the few I’ve tried have all been very flattering. They last well and give a nice even color. (more…)

To be honest, I was floored when Avon asked if I wanted to be part of their first ever lipcast. I know Jen sent them my info for consideration, but I still feel like just a teeny tiny part of the coolest beauty blog on the web most of the time and it’s cool to swim with the big fish every now and then. This was such a cool thing to be a part of. It was a real pleasure to listen to the minds behind the product share the long hours an extensive thought that went into the newest additions to their collection. I was excited to hear the thoughts of creative color director Jillian Dempsey, and it did no disappoint.
Full disclosure here, I used to be a cosmetics snob. It’s true, in my pre-kid days I would look down my nose at drugstore brands or direct sales brands like Avon. Funny how the addition of kids to an already tight household budget makes you consider everything in an entirely different light yeah? Instead of looking at the brand name I began to focus on quality and ingredients and I soon found that there are a LOT of great products out there that don’t require your firstborn as a down payment to afford them. So it was with this fresh open mind that I gave 3 new Avon lip products a try. (more…)

A little over a year ago, tarte cosmetics was one of the first companies Jen introduced to me that I hadn’t tried before. I remember first trying their cheek stains and just falling in love with the whole concept and ease of the product. Then I tried the lights camera lashes mascara, and the light, natural look and feel of the formula made me realize tarte is really on to something.

The ’spring greening’ palette had a few nice surprises for me as well. The straw case is reusable (my son has already claimed it as the future home of his hockey card collection) and even the foam tray inside is constructed of post consumer recycled material.  It features 6 eye colors, a bamboo handled shadow brush, and 3 of their t5â„¢ infused lipglosses. t5â„¢ is tarte’s proprietary blend of 5 super fruits, packed full of antioxidants and nutrients, and it gives you a healthy anti aging boost in a product you were going to apply anyway. (more…)

So much makeup, so little time. 

Here is a list of my favorite cosmetic products for 2008, no small endeavor!  This past year I have  sampled more makeup than I have tried cumulatively in my entire life.  All of these beauty products passed my A+++ big cosmetic love status!

HD Invisible Cover Foundation ($40) - leaves my skin feeling natural, flawless and works well with my sensitive, break-out prone skin

 

NARS Sephora Exclusive Lip Gloss Collection ($81 Value) (Original Price $45), now $35. This set of five great glosses is $10 off.

 

 

NARS Eyeshadow Palette (Original Price $50), now $45.  This palette includes:

- Kilimanjaro I (opalescent gold)
- Bohemian Gold II (iridescent copper)
- Surbaya II (chestnut)
- Himalayas (iridescent pink)
- Ondine (plum with gold shimmer)
- Night Flight (black with cobalt blue pearls) (more…)

Summer days are here, and the kids are home 24/7 from school.  Who has time for a complicated morning makeup routine?   Most days, I generally have 5 minutes to get my makeup on before a disaster strikes.  Like my two year old discovering a permanent marker, or deciding to change her own messy diaper (those are actual examples of events that have happened at my home in the last week).   

This is my bare minimum lickity-split makeup plan: 

Clinique’s Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss has become my new favorite go to lipbalm.   A slightly thick gel gloss, melts on and leaves my lips super moisturized and shiny, without the annoying stickiness of some lip glosses.  The Raspberry tint is perfect for me,  just a touch of sheer color with lots of shine.  You could easily layer this on top of your favorite lipstick. 

I carry my Superbalm around with me in my purse, and use it throughout the day.  Clinique’s Superbalm comes in several beautiful shades like Raspberry, Lilac,  Mango, Grapefruit, and Rootbeer, and retails for $13.50.

My big purchase at Sephora a few weeks back was the Nars Lip Gloss and Nail Polish Set in Orgasm (Sephora LE exclusive for $30). Some of the names of Nars cosmetic shades make me blush (for example: orgasm, multiple orgasm, and Pussy Galore). YIKES, I am glad my kids aren’t reading this blog, but they sure are gorgeous! I have tried the infamous Nars Blush in Orgasm and I although love the color shade, the shimmer is a bit to much for my personal liking.  However, I found their nail polish in Orgasm to nicely compliment my skin tone with its peachy pink golden shimmery shade.

The O gloss is a hardly noticeable golden hue and a bit sticky on my lips.  This gloss has no flavor and has a non-descript lip gloss scent.  I am going to say that this is not my favorite lip gloss, and overall would recommend the Nars Gloss and Nail Polish Set with reservations.

Raging Rouge just wrote a fabulous post today about some beautiful nail polish shades for summer toes. Be sure to read her recommendations at her site: Summer Must Haves: Pretty Pedicure Polish.

What are some of your favorite summer shades?

Tarte Cosmetics wants to help you start the summer right with a great deal.  Spend $40 at http://www.tartecosmetics.com and receive a FREE picture perfect eyelash curler!  Just add a picture perfect eyelash curler to your basket before check out and enter the code:  May08   Code Valid:  May 20 – June 1, 2008  

Need some Tarte shopping advice?  May I suggest any of the Tarte Cheek Stains, “Lights, Camera, Lashes!” Mascara, or my favorite tinted moisturizer, “Smooth Operator Foundation!”