Spook-tacular Lips

Ok, for many (including me) this might seem like a pretty scary beauty item, but it seems that black is the new red. Check out the limited-edition YSL Gloss Pur Black. It's out of stock on the YSL site, but Neiman Marcus still has it. It's $28. And while for many of us (again, speaking mostly for myself!), the idea of black lipgloss is quite daunting, the advice I've heard is too layer it over a red lipcolor to add depth and shine, so as to not end up looking goth.

Happy Halloween, my pretties!

Oh, Happy Day!!

Today, the mailman delivered to me something fabulous!! It was my THREE CUSTOM COLOR SPECIALISTS ' custom-created lipsticks!! I wrote a post on October 1st titled "Really, I Can't Live Without My Lipstick" about the great Three Custom Color Specialists and how I order from them a shade called Once Bitten based on a sample of lipstick from the Diane von Furstenberg beauty line developed few years ago that was discontinued (boo-hoo). I recently ordered four (yup, 4!!!) new tubes (you get a discount if you order more than two, plus a $10 discount when you re-order, so it was worth it). And I desperately needed them - or at least one - I was all out. The only thing good about being out of your go-to-everyday lippie is that it forces you to find something else to wear until those precious tubes of colored happiness arrive in your mailbox. I found in my lipstick bin (yes - my own personal lipstick bin) one named True Mauve from Victoria's Secret that I was really happy to rediscover as it works perfectly with the smoky color palettes for this fall . However, I did not buy it recently, and, surprise, surprise, it seems it no longer exists. Anyhoo -- as nice as that color is, I am already sporting my custom-color creation. And all is right in my world again...Ok, well, at least in my lipstick world!

New Lash Stash!

SEPHORA has come out with another of their way cool mascara samplers called The Lash Stash. This new kit comes with ten, that's right, count 'em, TEN mascara minis. And at $35, that means each one is only $3.50!

The kit includes a 0.12 oz Smashbox Bionic Mascara; a 0.10 oz Sephora Atomic Volume Mascara; a 0.11 oz Vincent Longo The Curl Mascara; a 0.10 Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara; a 0.13 oz Too Faced Lash Injection Pin Point Mascara; a 0.10oz Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash Mascara; a .32 oz Urban decay Big Fatty Mascara; a 0.13 oz DuWop Lash Venom Mascara; a 0.13 oz Korres Deep Colour Mascara; and a 0.17 oz Cargo Texas Lash Mascara.

It is a SEPHORA exclusive and limited edition, and I plan on telling my sister about it now so she can get it for me for Christmas! Hey, SEPHORA how about a Christmas Lash Stash - it could be the 12 Days of Mascara!!

Kate's Great - Free Shipping!

Free Shipping on ANY order!! Whoo-hoo!! Thru Oct. 31st. Enter promo code FREESHIP 9 at checkout at KATE SOMERVILLE.

Dolce & Gabbana - The One (For Me)

Oh my god - how do I even begin to convey how much I looooooooooooove this perfume? DOLCE & GABBANA's The One smells so good that I wanted it after smelling it on of those magazine strips. And it does not disappoint in the bottle, or the body lotion, that came in the set my hubbie get for me, and that also included a roll-on vial - great for traveling.

As described by DOLCE & GABBANA:

The top notes radiate a vibrant luminosity, with a sun-touched citrus blend of bergamot and mandarin. Warm fruity notes of luscious lychee and succulent peach add to the delight. The passionate heart evokes an exploding femininity, with an opulent floral soul comprised of madonna lily, muguet and jasmine, creating a distinct, audacious signature. An unexpected hint of plum glows as the base finally blooms with the luscious allure of precious vetyver, accentuated with the lasting warmth of vanilla and sweetened ambery-musk tones.

Did you get all that? I'm sure it really does have all those things in there, but what I smell is mostly vanilla and musk, and not the terribly sweet vanilla that some scents have. I love the scent of vanilla, but I don't want to wear it and smell like a baked good. I swear, when I wear it, I like to smell myself! The One is a rich, deep, delicious, sexy fragrance. A little much for day, but great for a steamy night. Wear The One, and you will make it a steamy night!!

Can't Live Without Featured Product!!!

There is a creamy pink pencil from BENEFIT called Eye Bright that I Can't Live Without! You see, I have the circles under my eyes that will not go away no matter what. Eight hours of sleep? Still there. Fancy eye creams? Still there. Expensive undereye concealers? Still there. According to my dermatologist, these dark circles are oh-so-lovingly referred to as "tear troughs," and injectible fillers are pretty much the only way to get rid of them (ouch). However, for the needle-shy and those feeling the pinch of these troubling economic times we are living in, Eye Bright is a solution that only costs $20, so it doesn't hurt your wallet or your face. I draw a pink line or two on the dark circles/indentions under my eyes and in the inner corners of my eyes where darkness lurks, and, ouila - instant brightness! It truly helps. It can also be used as a highlighter on the brow bone. I still use regular concealer under my eyes, but the Eye Bright goes right on those really troublesome areas. I may get Restylane at some point, but for right now Eye Bright is right for me.

Prescriptives is My Friend!!!

Check out this amazing sale from PRESCRIPTIVES! You know cosmetics NEVER go on sale at department stores, but Prescriptives is having a Friends & Family Event online. And not just any ol' sale -- 25% off AND free shipping (which you know I looooove my free shipping). Just enter the promo code FRIEND8 at checkout for the FREE SHIPPING!!! This ends tomorrow, 10/24 at 11:59pm est, so don't dilly-dally. I need to stock up on my foundation - Virtual Matte Oil-Control Makeup w/SPF 15. If you need coverage, this gives it to you, but it's not terribly heavy. It really evens out your skin.

But What If You Live In A Blue State?

Stila has come out with a lipstick called Rock the Vote Red in honor of this year's Presidential Election. See, you can be civic-minded AND pretty, too! A percentage of sales of this highly-qualified lipstick will go to Rock The Vote. And if you haven't registered to vote - well, you might be too late (please check your state's registration guidelines), but you could always volunteer to make phone calls or hand out flyers or at least slap a bumper sticker on your car for the candidate you support. Do something!! Like buy a lipstick, perhaps?!

And you know what? Since this is my blog, I want to show my support for Barack Obama! And my fellow Univ. of Delaware alum Joe Biden (no, we didn't attend at the same time, just went to the same school- many years apart). Go Dems!

But I will say, Sarah Palin gets my vote for best lip color and overall makeup - any ideas what she's got going on there in terms of brands and shades?

New York & Co. - Pink at the Mall

In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, New York & Company is offering their Spirited Pink Lip Gloss for $3 with any purchase (regularly $6). During the entire month of October, $1 of every limited edition lip gloss sold will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. While supplies last.

So, hit the mall and spend a little green to help pink!

Nordstrom Beauty Gift!

With the purchase of $100 in beauty or fragrance items, Nordstrom will "give" you a croc-embossed train case filled with 15 deluxe samples. And there are some good ones:

Fekkai Glossing™ Shampoo and Cream Packettes (0.3 oz. each)
Clarins Extra-Firming Tightening Lift Botanical Serum (0.1 oz.)
Lancôme Absolue Ultimate ßx Serum (0.33 oz.)
Clinique 7-Day Scrub Cream (0.24 oz.)
BVLGARI Jasmin Noir Eau de Parfum Natural Spray (0.05 oz.)
Origins Checks and Balances™ Frothy Face Wash (0.24 oz.)
Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Eye Cream (0.17 oz.)
Kinerase® Clear Skin Regulating Mask (0.24 oz.)
Jack Black Industrial Strength Hand Healer (0.5 oz.)
Too Faced Lash Injection Extreme Thickening & Lengthening Mascara (0.17 oz.)
Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash (1 oz.)
MARC JACOBS Daisy Eau de Toilette Spray (0.04 oz.)
Bare Escentuals® Paraben-Free Mineral Veil (0.2 oz.)
Donna Karan Cashmere Mist 'Cashmere Silk' Packette (0.03 oz.)
Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Eau de Parfum Spray (0.05 oz.)

Online and in store. One per person, while supply lasts.

Bobbi Brown Loves Pink

In support of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Bobbi Brown has created this exclusive, limited-edition set featuring Pink Quartz Glitter Lip Gloss and Tulle Lip Color. Pink Quartz is a pale silvery pink that works beautifully with Tulle, a soft pink. A portion of the proceeds from sales of the Pink Ribbon Collection will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Help make a difference. In support of Breast Cancer Awareness month, bobbibrown.com is offering Free Standard Shipping with any order that includes the NEW Pink Ribbon Collection. Enter offer code at checkout*: PINK08*Offer code required. One time use. Valid only on BobbiBrown.com 9/29/08-10/31/08 (midnight ET or while supplies last).

So pretty, and for such a great cause!

Go Yellow for Pink!!

Make a dramatic different with this special limited-edition of that beloved Clinique moisturizer, Dramatically Different™ Moisturizing Lotion, and help the Breast Cancer Research Foundation find a way to prevent and cure breast cancer. $10.00 from your purchase helps support The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Includes FREE Clinique “C” charm and Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Ribbon key chain.

C'mon -- go buy one (or two, or ten). You know you want to!!

Breast Cancer Awareness Beauty

In honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I'm going PINK to feature beauty products that give back -- products whose proceeds, or some part of the proceeds, go towards supporting breast cancer research.

Let's find a cure -- and if we can stay pretty while doing that, even better!!!

It's Here: Estee LauderTurboLash Mascara is Now In Stock

The new "it" product is now in stock. Estee Lauder's TurboLash , that is. Are you going to try this vibrating mascara?? I'm not sure if I am or not. I just can't decide if it's really worth the $30, or if it's just a gimmick.

From esteelauder.com: It's the world's first "turbo-charged" motion mascara with a vibrating brush. An innovation of design and engineering. Auto-powered, patent pending*, and precision-engineered to achieve lash effects you never thought possible. Turn on the power and the brush does the rest. Feel the buzz, as the gently vibrating LashSonic Brush™ with micro-pulse bristles works its magic, moving rapidly through lashes. Continuously separates and saturates lashes with a rapid release gel formula. Finds lashes you didn't even know you had (don't all mascaras claim that?!) and coats them instantly and perfectly. Creates the ideal lash effect—maximum volume, length, curl and separation—all at once. The motion brush keeps lashes clump-free. So you can reapply several coats without heavy build-up—even refresh lashes during the day.

I would be interested to try it, but I'm not going to run out today and get it. If anyone tries it out, let me know your thoughts! Is TurboLash a new "Can't Live Without" or is it a "do without"?

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Every three minutes, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. This staggering statistic resonated deeply with the members of the Total Beauty blog community, many of whom have been personally touched by the disease. In the spirit of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, TotalBeauty.com, in partnership with its network of beauty blogs, is hosting a month-long initiative that integrates breast cancer awareness, breast cancer research fundraising and beauty giveaways to engage women in the quest for a cure.

Total Beauty - Total Cure is dedicated to increasing awareness about the importance of prevention and early detection, and arming women with the knowledge they need to take control of their health, bringing us one step closer to a world without breast cancer.

"As a hereditary breast cancer survivor, I know the importance of early detection. Research is the key to increasing survivorship and finding a cure. I am more optimistic than ever that it's possible. I am thrilled that the beauty bloggers are joining together to do their part," remarks beauty blogger, Debbi O’Shea.

Breast cancer information, screening guidelines, and links to available resources will be integrated throughout the campaign. The Total Beauty blog community will engage its readership through daily giveaways that require entrants to answer breast cancer trivia, making the contests dually educational and fun. Giveaways will also be hosted on Total Beauty - Total Cure pages on Facebook and MySpace; throughout the month of October, all visitors who become a "friend" of the pages will be entered in a drawing to win a bounty of beauty products. Giveaway sponsors include Anastasia Beverly Hills, Benefit, Cargo, Clarisonic, Jurlique, L’Oreal Paris, NARS, Stila and Tarte. This unique collaboration of beauty bloggers, beauty brands and Total Beauty is one to show a united voice of strength and hope that, someday soon, we will close in on a cure to breast cancer.

For more information on the Total Beauty-Total Cure campaign, please visit http://www.totalbeauty.com/.

Let's make breast cancer something we will all "live without" in the very near future.

Really, I "Can't Live Without My Lipstick"!

The fact that I call my beauty blog "Can't Live Without My Lipstick", I thought I would write about finding out that my favorite, used-everyday lipstick was discontinued, and thinking "how will I live without my lipstick??!!" I'm sure you all can feel my pain having discovered at some point that your favorite lipstick, or eyeshadow, fragrance, body lotion, whatever - name your beauty poison -had been eliminated! My well-loved but doomed lipstick was from Diane von Furstenberg's makeup line that she had a couple of years ago for about, oh, ten minutes. She still has a few beauty items, but not the full line. My pick was a lipstick called Once Bitten. It was a great pinky-beige (yes, the favorite neutral lip color, boring, I know, but we all want it, right?), but it had a slight sheen, so it wasn't heavy and matte, but also not sheer where it would disappear after half-an-hour, and it just seemed to be the closest to a perfect everyday lipstick I have ever found. (Of course, I am still looking, and probably always will for that ever elusive perfect lip color!) If I put foundation on my lips before applying, I'd get a great nude look. Conversely, lightly exfoliating my lips before application would result in a rosier hew. That's not a new trick, but it really worked with this shade. The day I went into Sephora, walked over to the DVF display to replenish my Once Bitten stock, only to find it GONE was traumatic (not to be melodramatic. I know a discontinued lipstick is not the end of the world, but y'all know, if you're reading a beauty blog, that it can really be disappointing to have a fave product taken from you). However, I had heard about this company called Three Custom Color Specialists that duplicate to the best of their ability discontinued makeup items. I decided to take a chance, and I'm happy to say it was a great experience. You can call them at or go to their website, and they'll give you instructions. I sent a Once Bitten tube with a little bit of the lipstick left in it (that was tough - what if it got lost in the mail, and then I had nothing?!) so they could match it. After a few days, I found myself anxiously awaiting the mailman to see if my new (old) lipstick had come yet. I remember it was summer, and if I was not home when the mail was delivered I'd be worried that the lipstick might melt, sitting in a hot mailbox. Luckily, no such fate fell upon my two (or was it three?) new tubes of my duplicated lipstick. Now, it isn't 100% exactly the same, but I would say it is 99.5%, so that's pretty darn fantastic, huh?! I have since ordered more - they keep your formula on file. They have a list for you to check to see if your shade has already been duplicated, saving you the trouble of sending in a sample of your makeup item. So, if you find yourself in the sad situation of having your adored lipstick vanish like I did, don't despair, Three Custom Color is there to help. You don't have to live without your lipstick after all!!