Sinfully Rich with Jaqua Cocoa Buttercream Frosting

Jaqua, you just keep knocking it out of the park. Every time I think I've seen the best, you just throw something even better my way! Already a fan of the brand's incredibly decadent Buttercream Frosting line, you can imagine the joy I felt when I discovered their newest and greatest -- Cocoa Buttercream Frosting!

Upon taking in the succulently sweet aroma, I felt as though I had died and gone to heaven. My favorite offering has got to be the Cocoa Buttercream Frosting Guilt-Free Body Treats. Held within the pink candy-striped and cake-decorated gift box lie a regular-sized version of Shower Creme and tiny versions of the Boddy Butter and Hand Creme, all laced with the intoxicating scent.

And at only $30, how can you go wrong? Jaqua, oh how I love you.

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Big Grins for Goldie Alice in Wonderland Tinted Lip Balm in Thump

Once in awhile I come across a product that's just so full of fun and joy, I can't help but write about it. And what might that product be this time? Why, none other than Goldie's Alice in Wonderland Tinted Lip Balm in Thump. (Yes, I'm on a bit of a Disney-themed Alice in Wonderland kick this week!) I love all things Goldie, and all things Disney, and apparently all things Alice ... so this seemed like a sure bet.

The tube is printed with none other than the Cheshire cat (always a favorite of mine from the movie, despite his somewhat maniacal grin and pesky knack for disappearing whenever Alice needed him most). Unscrew the gleaming silver top to find the most gorgeous red shade, flecked with touches of glimmer and shimmer that make it just the prettiest color this side of the rabbit hole. Add to that the extremely nourishing and long-lasting formula and I'd say this is one for the books!

Pick one up for yourself on Bath and Body Works' website -- at only $12, it might as well have a little tag attached to it that says "Buy me."

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Out with the Old, In with the New

With fashion week just around the corner, this beauty chick is wondering what amazing beauty trends she's going to see on the runway this season. Pale, glossy lips? A sexy flush? Cascading, beachy waves? It's so exciting to think about what lies in store. But let's take a trip down memory lane for a moment, paying homage to the looks that cropped up time and time again at the Fall 2007 runway shows.

RED LIPS
Always a hot seller, the sexy red lip made its mark once again this past season. John Galliano's models wore a rich stained burgundy and the lips at Vera Wang were rimmed in magenta. But who did it best? Proenza Schouler, hands down. With most of the face hidden under oversized cloche hats, the slick crimson lips were unmistakable. Not for the faint of heart -- but oh, so sexpot-ish.

GLOWING SKIN
A healthy glow was all over the runways. Farewell, slightly dull and matte skin -- hello, look-like-you've-just-come-from-the-best-facial-of-your-life! From Lela Rose to Cynthia Rowley, a light sheen was all the rage. And let's applaud Donna Karan for the best of the best -- so flushed, so gorgeous, so absolutely perfect.

THE SMOKY EYE
It shows up again and again. How many times must we read "the new twist on the smoky eye"? But this season, one designer attained it better than all the rest. Who is this mythical creature? Why, none other than Ralph Lauren. Fresh-faced models walked his runway with just the right amount of blacker-than-black mascara and a thick, even line of deepest-black liner on the top lids only. Who knew this could look so amazing? Ralph did.

Whatever lies in store for Spring 2008, this beauty chick will be there to document it all for you! Look out for posts galore on the hottest, the newest, the latest beauty trends coming your way. Can't wait!

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Allure Directory -- With a Writeup by Yours Truly!

Some of you may already know this, but this beauty chick recently did a writeup of a spa treatment in Boston for Allure's monthly Directory section. It appears in the September 2007 issue, on newsstands now (yes, featuring the one and only Britney Spears on the cover). I wrote about the African Shea Butter Indulgence Body Wrap at Rosaline's Day Spa in Brookline, and my byline is included! See page 187 for the writeup and 188 for the byline. Okay, shameless self-plugging is now complete.

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With Davies Gate Sugar Plum Soothing Shower Gel, Tchaikovsky Has Entered the Shower.

Christmas may still be a few months away, but this beauty chick is already aching to see The Nutcracker. And why is this, you may ask? Because of Davies Gate Sugar Plum Soothing Shower Gel, of course.

Imagine my surprise and delight when I recently decided to give this baby a whirl. Originally enticed by its vibrant violet hue, I unscrewed the cap to discover the most glorious scent wafting up through my nostrils. A magnificent plum aroma combines with sweet vanilla and succulent peach for a truly out-of-body experience. Add to that the nourishing benefits of Vitamins A and E and organic botanical extracts and, let's face it, why would you ever try another shower gel again?

Hear the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy in your shower by heading to Davies Gate's website immediately -- for only $18, the magic can be yours.

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Beauty Is On the Outside.

Replenished. Rejuvenated. Reinvigorated. Yes, I'm talking about my skin -- and it's all thanks to Clinique's latest and greatest product, Zero Gravity Repairwear Lift. The silvery jar, while it may be tiny, packs quite a punch with everything from retinol and whey protein to tons of different vitamins. And what does this miracle product do, you might ask? Why, firm, tighten and produce visibly amazing results within just a few uses, that's what! It's no lie to tell you I started to see results immediately. My skin instantly looked younger, fresher and more hydrated, and this was upon only the first use! And it comes in three versions -- Combination Oily to Oily, Dry Combination and Very Dry to Dry (I tried the last), so no matter what your skin type, there's one made just for you. While not yet available (fellow beauty chicks will have to wait till September to get it on Clinique's website and at Clinique counters nationwide), you can start drooling now. Can Clinique do any wrong? This beauty chick thinks not.

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Alice-Isms: Gianna Rose Atelier's Alice in Wonderland Sets

Off with her head! I'm late ... I'm late ... for a very important date! Who ... R ... U? I saw him go down the rabbit hole! All of the above can be attributed to one of the movies atop this beauty chick's favorite Disney flicks -- one Alice in Wonderland. Apparently I am not alone in loving this movie, as one of my favorite soap companies, one Gianna Rose Atelier, recently decided to create some absolutely adorable soap sets featuring Alice and her pals.

Choose from three utterly delectable delights, like Alice's English Garden (gardenia and white rose soap petals held within an antique-like apothecary jar and wrapped in a paisley-patterned gift box), and Red Queen's Court (four playing card-shaped soaps emblazoned with the movie's main characters and contained within a vibrant pink-and-black gift box).

But my favorite has to be Alice's Treasures. This baroque-inspired box holds three guest soaps -- one in the shape of a key, one of the Queen's hearts and a certain rabbit's lost pocketwatch. All are so intricately detailed, you'll feel terrible using them -- so maybe you should just leave them untouched in your guest bathroom for now.

Unfortunately, you must wait with bated breath for just a little while longer -- these three sets retail for $37.50 each and will not be available until September 10 on Gianna Rose's website. Until then, this beauty chick will see you down the rabbit hole.

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Sephora's Beauty Insider Program: Be In The Know!

Want to be the first to hear about the hottest lipcolors ... the newest eyeshadows ... the latest shower gels ... the most amazing gift sets? Then you'd best sign up for Sephora's Beauty Insider program. It's totally free and has amazing rewards, like invites to private shopping events and free samples. Just use your card (available in a cute, hang-right-on-your-keyring size) every time you shop at the store or online, and with every 100 points (each point equals one dollar) you'll get all sorts of free goodies! Even better? There are exclusive, limited-edition products available only to Beauty Insider members. (Last glance at Sephora's website showed this beauty chick fabulous offerings from LORAC, Philosophy, Smashbox and Stila!) And best of all? You'll get a free gift from Bliss on your birthday. Now who wouldn't want that? Sign up and start earning rewards today at Sephora.com. You won't be sorry!

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Great Event Coming Up!

Fashion and beauty magazines are like the ambrosia of the gods. They feed such a certain need in this beauty chick's life -- and I'm sure many others would agree! So I was totally excited this morning when I found out about an event being sponsored by Glamour on August 21st. Most beauty chicks will already have heard of their annual Glammy Awards (their readers' choice awards for beauty products), but did you know that this year they're holding an event in NYC to celebrate it? Glamour has partnered with the charity Look Good...Feel Better for "The Glammies Take Manhattan." Taking place on Tuesday, August 21st from 8:30am-2pm in NYC's Washington Square Park, ladies can come by with their old makeup and trade it in for a Glammies makeup bag filled with products that appear in this year's Glammy Awards! As an added bonus, every item you trade in will see another dollar that Glamour donates to Look Good...Feel Better, which helps women affected by cancer to offset appearance changes related to the disease. It's such a great cause, so please come out and show your support!

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Thanks for Reading!

Just a quick thank you to all of my loyal readers ... there are now over 1000 hits on beautychick101.blogspot.com! Thanks for everything, and stay beautiful!

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Great Site Alert: Saks.com

Now, everyone who's anyone knows that Saks Fifth Avenue sells the best of the best when it comes to fashion. Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan, Michael Kors and all the rest can be found among the department store's hallowed halls. But did you know that Saks.com has quite the extensive list of beauty brands as well? The website is divided into quite Type A-ish categories, which this beauty chick actually loves -- it makes it so much easier to find what you're looking for! Choose from Color, Skin Care, Bath & Body, Sun Care, Hair Care, Accessories, Women's Fragrance, Men's Grooming & Fragrance and Home Sets. Whew, I'm tired just thinking about all of the possibilities! Of note in color? Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Brick Compact ($38), Dior's ultra-cute, dice-charm Dior Play lipgloss ($55) and La Prairie's Skin Caviar Concealer Foundation (a hefty $165 -- but so worth it!). But I'm totally digging the Bath & Body section, with offerings like Bliss Lemon + Sage Body Scrub ($36), Kiehl's Unusually Rich Hand Cream ($15.50) and Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Body Creme ($75). Whatever your fancy, you're sure to find something here to love. If I haven't bought everything out from under you, that is!

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Drink It In with Banana Republic Chilled Sangria Candle

Ahh, the search for the perfect candle. Why am I never content with the 40 or 50 already cluttering my dresser, vanity, windowsill, and every other inch of space in my apartment? Always on the search for the next candle to spend time burning each evening, I recently came across Banana Republic's new line of candles -- all in earthy, woodsy, sumptuous scents guaranteed to make you take many deep breaths of contentment and delight.

My favorite? Chilled Sangria -- a luscious mix of ripe cassis, red currant and ruby peony that, if possible, is even better as a candle than a drink! Housed within a gorgeously-hued red glass, the poured candle lasts for up to 50 hours and comes with its own set of matches. This beauty chick thinks she'll be enjoying sangria for many, many hours to come!

Get your own on Banana Republic's website. At only $24, what's better -- one pitcher that leaves you feeling tipsy or one candle that just gives off the great scent and leaves you in your right mind, so you can keep enjoying it? That's what I thought.

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Minty Fresh: Oral Fixation Mints

"Fresh breath is a priority in my life." So says Anthony Michael Hall's Geek to Molly Ringwald's Sam in Sixteen Candles. And you know what? This beauty chick totally agrees with him. Who doesn't want fresh breath? And so we are always on a quest to find the mintiest toothpaste, the freshest mouthwash, the peppermintiest breath mints. Well, look no further -- I have discovered the best and the brightest in the breath mint category!

Enter Oral Fixation Mints, colorfully-hued tins containing some of the tastiest breath mints this side of, well, anywhere. Nine different flavors, from Mojito Mint (a kelly green tin with Cuban-star imprinted mints that taste better than any cocktail) to 7 Deadly Cinnamon (the fire engine red tin offers up "7"-engraved babies) to this beauty chick's favorite, Jasmints (flower-flavored mints imprinted with pretty flowers), there's something for everybody.

You have two choices for purchasing these wonderful-tasting beauties. Option 1: buy an already-created Oral Fixation 6 Pack ($15 for Mohito Mint, 7 Deadly Cinnamon, Sugar Free Tibet, Night Light, Spare Mint and Classical Peppermint). Option 2: Build Your Own Box! For only $30, you get 12 tins of your own choosing. Brings new meaning to the term BYOB, huh? Snap up your own packs before this beauty chick buys them all.

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