Holiday Gifts: Lancome Juicy Tubes Holiday Gift Set

Sparkly, shimmery, glossy lips? You'd be hard-pressed to find a woman who wouldn't appreciate some lipglosses that help her achieve that effect. And one of the best glosses around has got to be Lancome Juicy Tubes.

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Holiday Gifts: Sephora Girls Secret Box

At heart, this beauty chick will always be a twelve-year-old girl longing for the palettes and beauty cases at the drugstore around Christmas. That's why I am absolutely in love with the Sephora Girls line -- it's fun, it's cute and it's designed for girls just starting to wear and appreciate makeup. And this holiday season, I will definitely be asking for the Sephora Girls Secret Box, a two-tiered keepsake box which is positively loaded with absolutely adorable beauty goodies.

The top tier opens to reveal a built-in mirror shaped like a heart, a sparkly mini nail polish, two lollipop lipglosses, multipurpose makeup base and a ponytail holder. As if that weren't enough, the bottom tier contains a comb and brush set on a glittery pink keychain!

And the best news of all? It's only $24 on Sephora.com! The twelve-year-old inside of me is positively bursting with glee.

Creative Collaboration: NARS and J. Mendel

Beauty and fashion go together like peanut butter and jelly. So it's always great to see a collaboration between a beauty brand and a fashion house -- especially when it's two heavy hitters like NARS and J. Mendel!

Long a fan of both the brand behind bestseller Orgasm and the gorgeous clothing made by the luxury furrier, this beauty chick was ecstatic to discover the new NARS for J. Mendel Fall 2007 Collection Lip Palette. Each shade held within the tiny case is rich, sophisticated and elegant, exactly pinpointing the feel of each J. Mendel collection.

The top row contains three Lip Lacquers in Chica Boom (rich plum), Chastity (shimmery lavender) and Galactica (sparkling clear). The bottom row features three beautiful Lipsticks in Dolce Vita (matte rose), Scarlet Empress (deep berry) and Viridiana (rich mauve).

Holiday Gifts: Jo Malone Bath Oil Collection

Looking for that little something special to really let your friends and family know you care? Induce the feel of luxury into your loved ones' lives this season with Jo Malone. While there are many gift offerings from this beauty chick's favorite luxury parfumeur, the one at the top of my list is definitely the Bath Oil Collection.

Six miniature bottles of gorgeous, heady scents -- including Orange Blossom, Grapefruit, Pomegranate Noir, Lime Basil & Mandarin, Amber & Lavender and Blue Agava & Cacao -- are absolutely perfect for bathtime. And they are each placed within Jo Malone's signature black and white box so elegantly and invitingly, you'll be dying to keep them for yourself!

It's unfortunate that you'll have to give them away -- so you should probably make sure to request this on your gift list as well.

Note: This product is no longer available.

A Healthy Diet for Your Lips: Neutrogena Lip Nutrition

Ultra-rich. Super-moisturizing. Uber-smooth. All words you'd love to hear describing your lips. Unfortunately, winter tends to ravage our pouts, leaving them chapped, dry and flaky. Until now! Neutrogena's Lip Nutrition lip balm offers up tons of relief, suppleness and moisture guaranteed to banish ugly chapping forever!

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Forward March: Ole Henriksen Hands Forward SPF 15

Okay, this whole 60 degrees one day, 30 degrees the next thing has got to stop. My hands just can't take it much longer! But luckily I discovered Ole Henriksen's Hands Forward SPF 15 lotion recently.

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Black and White: Stila Blanc and Noire Palettes

While refusing to see shades of gray can be a person's downfall, sometimes it's exactly what the beauty doctor ordered. Case in point: Stila's new, limited-edition Blanc and Noire palettes.

The palettes themselves are absolutely, undeniably gorgeous -- felt tops are festooned with sweeping flowers and vines that evoke a romantic, boudoir sensibility. Once opened, each reveals three eyeshadows (base, crease and liner), as well as one cheek color.

Blanc contains shadows in shimmering golden beige, sparkling copper and gold-flecked espresso and a rosy cheek color, while Noire offers shadows in glimmering pale pink, glittering blue-gray and glistening charcoal and a mauve cheek color. Whichever you choose, you're sure to be the belle of the ball.

But act fast, as they won't be available for long! Each is available on Stila's website for $32. What do you know -- sometimes things really are just black and white.

"Shea" It Isn't So: Frederic Fekkai Shea Butter Hair Mask

How to restore shine, smoothness and life to otherwise lusterless locks? Masks are the key. And for a long time now, this beauty chick has kept her favorite product to herself, worrying that it would fly off the shelves before she had a chance to restock! But the time has come to let you in on the secret. What is this wonder of wonders? Frederic Fekkai Shea Butter Hair Mask!

The slender tube contains some of the creamiest, richest, most moisturizing treatments around. Formulated with shea butter -- good for softening everything from knobbly knees to scaly elbows -- this conditioning mask is aided by the addition of macadamia nut oil to really pull out all the stops. And the longer you leave it on, the softer and more gorgeous your tresses will look and feel! (This beauty chick recommends applying at the beginning of your shower and leaving it on for at least 20 minutes.)

Frederic Fekkai Shea Butter Hair Mask retails for $23 at drugstore.com.

Holiday Gifts: Philosophy Cranberry Memory Set

Cranberry. There might not be a more enticing scent around the holidays! Philosophy feels the same way -- hence the Cranberry Memory Set, a limited-edition boxed set of two absolutely delicious products perfect for bathtime. Love Philosophy's trademark 3-in-1s? You're in luck -- this time around you get it with the lovely aroma of cranberry. Skin in need of some TLC? Bring it on with a bottle of body lotion! And since each is a hefty 8oz., you'll be welcoming in the gorgeous scent of cranberry all season long. But this beauty chick's favorite part? It's gotta be the packaging. The bottles are held within an absolutely adorable red box, emblazoned with memories like "an old photograph that calls your name" and "the smell of your mother's perfume from years ago" -- and smack dab in the middle are two sweet-faced, beaming kids in red snowsuits. While you might have a problem giving this set to someone else instead of keeping it all to yourself, the amazing $25 price tag on Philosophy's website certainly doesn't hurt. Now all that's missing is my mom's cranberry sauce.

Spray On: Origins Organics Silkening Body Spritz

A spray-on lotion that's 95 percent certified organic? What a novel concept! And who better to present it than Origins, purveyors of lots and lots of fantastic organic products? This beauty chick sure can't think of a better partnership.

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Warning: Tons of Gift Giving Ideas Ahead!

The holiday season is in full swing, and you know what that means -- gifts galore! Lots of this beauty chick's posts in the coming weeks will offer up ideas for everything from palettes to bath salts, lotions to candles and everything in between. So sit back, relax and enjoy the myriad items presented for you to give everyone on your list!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow beauty junkies! Posting may be sporadic over the next few days, as this beauty chick will be drowning in turkey and cranberry sauce -- but I'll do my best to keep you up to date on the finest products out there. Have a wonderful holiday!

Make Way for Royalty: Principessa Bella Candela

You've always known you were a princess. Isn't it time to let everyone else in on the secret? First step: Purchase the absolutely adorable Principessa Bella Candela.

Once opened, the mix of cake and flowers gives off such a heady, intoxicating aroma. And since it's hand-poured from VegeSoy wax with an all-natural wick, you'll be doing good for the environment as well as for yourself!

It's great for taking on trips to otherwise lonely and dark hotels, or for just burning on your vanity. Before you know it, everyone will know what a princess you are.

The Principessa Bella Candela retails for $23 at principessabeauty.com.

Glamour Girl: Creative Nail Design Pulse

Head-to-toe glitter might be a little much. But a little bit of sparkle never hurt anyone! And luckily, mega-nail brand Creative Nail Design has gotten in on the action with their latest sparkly shade, Pulse.

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Too Faced and GoSmile and Sundari, Oh My!

One-stop shopping for a self-professed beauty junkie? Makeup.com has it. Where else can you find everything from Lola Cosmetics and Cargo to Hamadi and Jaqua? When I recently stumbled upon this gem of a site, I was immediately taken in by the beautiful bounty arrayed before me. On the homepage alone, you can find the absolutely adorable Best Friend Makeup Palette by Sugar Cosmetics (a tri-fold palette with tons of glittering eyeshadows and lipglosses to keep you -- or your best friend -- busy for hours), the Maple Treatment Starter Kit by B. Kamins (five cleansers, masks and creams guaranteed to give you glowing, bright skin), and theBalmshell by theBalm (a vibrant, reusable tin with two Plump Your Pucker Tinted Glosses and the brand's awesome Stainiac cheek and lip stain!). And even better? With the link below, you'll get free shipping on all orders over $40! Sephora might just have some competition from this beauty chick.

Salon and Spa Directory: Facial at Shizuka New York

Do you want to be pampered? I'm not really sure whose answer to that question would be no. Ever on the quest for the spa that cares, that goes the extra mile, that really puts your needs first, this beauty chick recently entered the haven that is Shizuka New York.

Surrounded by the hustle and bustle of tourists around Rockefeller Center, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Luckily, a relaxing and tranquil environment awaited me. I was immediately greeted and led to the changing rooms and locker area, where I was given the cutest-ever flowered kimono in its own matching bag! After changing and relaxing for a few minutes in the lounge (complete with plenty of oversized armchairs, tasty orange-flavored water and tons of good magazines to keep me busy), I met with Shizuka Bernstein herself for my Signature Micro Facial ($160 for 80 minutes).

First, however, Shizuka asked me some questions about my daily skincare regimen so that she would know how to proceed. Once she started, I knew I was in the hands of a master -- she massaged and scrubbed with the best of them! The treatment included an absolutely yummy-scented pumpkin peel to make my skin glow, and of course put me in the mood for Thanksgiving and pumpkin pie! The most notable part of the facial, however, was the absolutely painless extractions. While extractions have never been too painful for this beauty chick, they've never exactly been a walk in the park, either! But with Shizuka's expert touch, I seriously didn't feel a thing. And when she proceeded to give me an upper body, hand and foot massage, I thought I would float right up into the clouds.

I was left with bright, supple, smooth skin and the wish that I could go to Shizuka for this kind of treatment every day. And all this and more can be yours if you just call and make an appointment. Trust me, you'll be left feeling more than satisfied.

Sensationally Supple Skin: Malin + Goetz Vitamin b5 Body Moisturizer

Finding the right lotion can be tricky. There are so many out there that are deceptively enticing, only to become greasy, watery and intensely cloying upon application. Not so with my new favorite product from cult beauty brand Malin + Goetz: the Vitamin b5 Body Moisturizer.

Formulated with everything from delightful bergamot extract and absorbent fatty acids to nourishing shea butter and soothing honey, it's surprisingly refreshing. The non-drying cream makes hands visibly softer and smoother instantly -- and the subtle medicinal aroma is strangely comforting. And since it's free of all oils and residues, your skin will look and feel amazing.

The good news? It can be yours for only $36 on Malin + Goetz's website. The great news? Your skin will be noticeably softer and smoother in no time flat. Seems like a win-win!

Brush It Off: Goody Add Shine Jojoba Oil Infused Hairbrush

A hairbrush that makes hair shiny and cuts down on frizz, all without the use of a hairdryer? Too good to be true, I thought when I first picked up the Goody Add Shine Jojoba Oil Infused Hairbrush.

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Bronze Beauty: Sephora Enchanted Eye Palette in Bronze

If you're like me, you're completely fascinated by makeup palettes. The sheer abundance of choices within each one -- brown eyeshadow or blue? red lipstick or purple? blusher or bronzer? -- especially when combined with the pretty packaging and the cuter-than-cute brushes is enough to make this beauty chick scream with glee! Size truly doesn't matter, either -- I could go for a palette with a hundred different shades or be happy with eight. And Sephora must have heard my call, because their latest and greatest -- the Enchanted Eye Palette in Bronze seems like it was made especially for me!

It contains eight absolutely gorgeous shades of brown, green and gray, all which seem to complement each other perfectly and would look good on truly any skin tone! Choose from Chrome 01 (pearly white), Pearl 03 (sparkling lime green), Strass 03 (shimmering gold), Pearl 08 (sparkling champagne), Mat 02 (matte grey), Strass 04 (glimmering olive), Strass 05 (glittering bronze) or Kiss From... (sparkle-tinged chocolate).

All are held within a simply stunning gold palette with an intricate floral design splashed across the cover. It seems the eyes would have it.

Unfortunately, this product is no longer available.

Multi-Tasker: Dior Creme De Gloss

Lipstick or lipgloss? That seems to be the question on, well, every woman's lips these days. Do you prefer a matte, creamy formula? Or one that's lighter, shinier, glossier? Luckily, Dior has heard the calling and created a new formula that's completely revolutionary -- a lipstick and a lipgloss in one! Creme de Gloss has the feel of a rich, creamy lipstick in the body of a shimmery, shiny gloss -- so your lips don't feel thick or sticky but completely luscious and soft.

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Work Out The Kinks

Absolutely heavenly. Oh-so-relaxing. Soothing beyond all measure. What mythological fantasy might this beauty chick be speaking of? None other than the Muscle Meltdown Massage at Oasis Day Spa.

This spa had intrigued me for quite some time -- the least of which because they actually have an outpost at JFK for weary travelers! I finally decided to take the plunge and make an appointment, and I must say the spa did not disappoint. I chose the One Park Avenue location, and from the moment I entered was completely comfortable and relaxed in my surroundings. The reception area was quite lovely, and the locker room and dimly lit lounge each had so many amenities it was astounding!

My massage therapist, Lisanne, collected me shortly after I had been seated in the lounge, and led me to a nicely sized treatment room that was lit by candles and had soft music playing. She warned me before starting that this massage causes people to sweat pretty profusely, since hot packs are placed all over your body throughout the treatment -- and said that if at any time I was feeling too warm, to definitely say something because I would just get hotter! But luckily, I never once felt too warm -- I really did feel comfortable throughout the entire treatment. Lisanne was a wonderful masseuse, working out all my kinks and knots with the utmost of ease and care. And the hot packs, which were strategically placed across my back and legs, really did remove tension and pain from the afflicted areas.

Intrigued? Well, you should book your massage with Lisanne or one of the other skilled masseuses at Oasis Day Spa before too much time goes by! You can even book your treatment online through the spa's website. The Muscle Meltdown Massage is $120 for 60 minutes or $155 for 90 minutes -- if I were you, I'd go for the full 90. Why not take in all the relaxation you can?

Choco-Rific: Philip B. Chocolate Milk Body Wash

It's creamy, it's heavenly and it smells like chocolate. Willy Wonka would certainly be clambering to get a hold of Philip B.'s latest creation -- Chocolate Milk Body Wash!

Snap open the cap, and within one whiff you're wishing you could just drink the whole bottle. (But don't, because unfortunately it would not do a body good.) But if you can't drink it, at least your whole body can take on the intoxicating aroma. This tasty treat takes me back to my childhood, when I would sit at my grandparents' kitchen table with a tall glass of milk so chocolatey it was almost black, smacking my lips with every delicious sip. But if possible, Philip B.'s concoction is even better! Because with infusions of cocoa butter, oat protein, aloe and wheat amino acids, it moisturizes, it cleans, it soothes and it satisfies.

You'll be chocolated out in no time. So drink up -- or at least let your skin do the drinking.

Philip B. Chocolate Milk Body Wash retails for $35 at beauty.com.

Totally Poppin': Benefit Powder Pop

Sometimes a girl just needs more than one powder to choose from. Maybe you feel like going for barely-there flush. Or perhaps you want sunkissed, glowing skin with just a hint of color. Quite possibly you really want to play up your cheekbones with some not-so-subtle contouring. But isn't it time-consuming -- and heavy on the makeup case -- to carry around so many different shades all the time? Cue Benefit Powder Pop!

This is a totally cute, totally stashable version of their three popular powder colors (Dandelion, Hoola and Dallas). Cute packaging? Check. Easy to use? Double check. Gorgeous, natural shades? Triple check.

Note: This product is no longer available. Find similar items at benefitcosmetics.com.

Over 500 Hits in Two Days! Thank You!

Just a quick thank you to all my readers ... The Beauty of Life has gotten over 500 hits in just two days! Whether you're a new reader or have been following along for awhile, this beauty chick thanks you -- and hopes you'll keep coming back for more!

Stay beautiful,
Jamie

Ravishing Darling, Simply Ravishing: Kitten Vixen Put Your Lips Together Lip Gloss in Ravishing Ruby

With all the lipglosses, lipsticks, lip pencils and the like out there, how can we ever find the one to call our own? Every time this beauty chick thinks she's found it, another one comes along to lay its claim. And the most recent? Kitten Vixen Put Your Lips Together Lip Gloss in Ravishing Ruby.

It makes your lips look instantly kissable and supple, while the barely-there crimson hue is soft and sweet with just a hint of sexiness. But just how is this amazing feat accomplished? With organic oils like macadamia seed, aloe leaf and apricot kernel added of course!

Becoming both a kitten and a vixen at the same time -- it can only happen if you head to Kitten Vixen's website and plunk down the $16. This beauty chick sure is going to give it a try.

It's a Bumpy Road: Bliss Ingrown Eliminating Pads

Always a bit skeptical of products that claim to eradicate painful ingrowns, I admit I felt a touch of trepidation when opening Bliss Ingrown Eliminating Pads.

A circular pad -- which looks much like Oxy's acne-removal pads from those awful 80's commercials -- that will really make sure I have no ingrowns or stubbly red bumps? You've gotta be kidding.

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Always Coca-Cola: Bonne Bell Smackers Coca-Cola Collection Bag

You know what this beauty chick's biggest pet peeve is? Ordering a Coke at a restaurant and being told, "We don't have Coke, is Pepsi okay?" As the comedian Gary Gulman says, "No! Pepsi NOT okay!" Bonne Bell is definitely on board with this theory, as evidenced by their latest and greatest Smackers invention -- the Smackers Coca-Cola Collection Bag!

Six tasty and delicious flavors await inside an absolutely adorable red plastic bag bedecked with gray fizzes and bubbles. The classics are here, of course -- Cherry Coke, Barq's Root Beer and Black Cherry Vanilla Coke. But three delicious surprises are in store as well, all from the Fanta family -- Strawberry, Grape and Orange! Not that I needed another reason to get on board with Smackers -- they're already in my handbag, my makeup bag, and strewn across my vanity and desk in every color and flavor imaginable.

Unfortunately, this product is no longer available.

Split Personality: Too Faced Good Girl/Bad Girl Makeup Palette

Sometimes we're good. Sometimes we're bad. And usually we're forced to wear the same makeup no matter which side of our personality we're exhibiting on any particular day. Until Too Faced came along and invented the Good Girl/Bad Girl Palette, that is.

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Heading to the Emerald City: Dior Eye Show in Queen of the Green

Okay, who doesn't have a certain fondness for Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tinman and all the rest? I can't even count how many times I've seen The Wizard of Oz. Maybe that's where my fascination with green eyeshadows started! And it's continued to lead me toward finding the newest, the best, the brightest eye makeup around. And what's currently on my list? Dior's Dior Eye Show in sultry Queen of the Green.


The miniature crystal tub alone is fascinating, complete with a gleaming "CD"-engraved silver top. But once unscrewed, the tub reveals an enticingly wonderful deep green hue (see the swatch on the right) that just begs to be swept across the eyelid and taken out for a night on the town! The delectable creamy formula glides on smoothly and cleanly, and the texture feels almost like whipped butter! With a subtle gray tinge, this shade is ultra-flattering on everyone from redheads to blondes and everything in between!

Unfortunately, this product is no longer available.

Tartly Tempting: Pacifica Seabrook Cranberry Candle

Thanksgiving is fast approaching ... which means turkey, stuffing, and this beauty chick's favorite, cranberry sauce! And candle company Pacifica Candles must have known this when they created what I believe to be their most intoxicatingly wonderful candle yet, Seabrook Cranberry.

My love affair with this beauty started as soon as I saw the box, covered in succulent cranberries just waiting to be plucked off the vine. The first whiff I drew in upon opening the box was instant magic -- the candle smelled so real, I half-expected my mother's cranberry sauce to magically appear before me! Even better, all Pacifica candles are hand-poured -- this one from vegetable-based soy wax -- and they last for such a long time!

It's almost a shame to burn the candle now, while there are still almost two weeks until Thanksgiving. But hey, I just can't help myself!

This product is no longer available, but you can find many other amazing scents at pacificaperfume.com.

Thou Shalt Not Covet...

Who amongst us has not coveted our neighbor's goods at least once? I thought so. Sarah Jessica Parker must be used to people wanting everything she has (Cavalli, Chanel, Oscar de la Renta and all the rest) -- hence the name for her latest fragrance, simply titled Covet.

Open up the gold-lacquered box to reveal a simply stunning bottle, subtly square in shape and topped off with a carved flower stopper in gorgeous faceted jewels. Definitely one to keep on the vanity or in the boudoir! And it smells as amazing as it looks.

Smelling faintly of chocolate and musk at first, it's absolutely enticing and makes you want to keep spritzing and spritzing until the entire bottle is gone! All of the notes are interesting in their own right, however. Top notes are mostly floral -- geranium leaves, lavender and wet greens laced with chocolate and lavender. Bottom notes are where the musk lies, imbued with vetiver, bois de cashmere, amber and teakwood. And the heart consists of sweet-smelling honeysuckle, magnolia and muget.

So whether you're in love with these scents or just think the bottle is to die for, I think we can all agree that this fragrance is one worth coveting. Get your own for only $68 at Macys.com -- and make other people start coveting you.