Are you as excited for the launch of Lancome Pixel Pink Lipstick as this beauty chick? I can't wait to get my hands on a tube. In fact, I already discussed it in a previous post ... and I can't believe I still haven't bought one!
Pixel Pink was created exclusively for designer Thakoon Panichgul's Spring 2008 collection. (Side note: I used to work with Thakoon at Harper's Bazaar!
Are you planning on buying Pixel Pink? Let me know in the comments!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Introducing Lancome Pixel Pink Lipstick
Brief Hiatus!
So, my fellow beauty chicks ... I regret to inform you that I am taking the most brief of hiatuses from writing. Never fear, I will be back on Wednesday -- but until then, I will be in the City of Light! Yes, that's Paris! I'm going for a little vacation -- I leave tonight and will be back in NYC on Tuesday evening. My schedule will be jam-packed, as this is my first trip to Paris -- I'm going to try and fit in the Louvre, Monmartre, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Champs d'Elysees, L'Arc de Triomphe ... and of course I can't wait to check out the drugstores there and see things like Bourjois and La Roche Posay at a fraction of the price! Until then, au revoir!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Hello Gorgeous! (Skin, That Is): Lubriderm Skin Nourishing Moisturizing Lotion
Wallet-Friendly Wednesdays: Victoria's Secret Pear Glace Collection
Body Lotion: $9
Body Mist: $9
Hand and Body Cream: $9.50
Eau de Toilette Spray: $9.50
Body Scrub: $9
Body Butter: $10
Bath Bubbles: $8.50
This beauty chick's absolute favorite is definitely the Body Lotion. Ever since my brother gifted me with it in the late '90s, it's been a staple in my beauty stash. It sinks into skin instantly and doesn't leave behind a greasy residue. And at $9, it's definitely wallet-friendly!
Unfortunately, this collection is no longer available.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Lash Envy: Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Lash Extending Treatment Mascara
But then I unscrewed the cap of the beautiful gold tube, and before I even swept the formula over my lashes I began to change my mind. The brush was full of thick, plump bristles that promised to make my lashes long, lush and full. And the fact that the mascara is infused with a mixture of Ceramide Triple Complex with Vitamins A, C and E (to reinforce and restore lashes' natural protective barrier) and Keravis (to strengthen and fortify lashes) just made it all the more exciting. A mascara that keeps my lashes healthy? Sign me up!
As I swept the brush across my lashes, absolutely no smudging and clumping occurred -- which, in my opinion, is a complete miracle. Even my trusted standbys have a bit of that going on from time to time!
Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Lash Extending Treatment Mascara retails for $20 at beauty.com.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Botox? Not Needed: Patricia Wexler No-Injection Instant Line Filler
Now, this beauty chick has, unfortunately, begun to notice miniature lines appearing around her eyes -- probably from smiling too much as a teenager in the high school drama club! But as I squeezed out a tiny amount of the clear gel and applied it to my laugh and smile lines, I was amazed as they literally disappeared right before my eyes. I even tried the product on my forehead wrinkles and watched them fade into nothingness! Best of all, it worked for hours on end -- no need to reapply throughout the day.
My life has seriously gotten so much better since discovering this beautiful red tube. Hey, it's a lot cheaper than Botox!
Unfortunately, this product is no longer available.
Must-Have Mondays: Anastasia Beverly Hills All About Brows Kit

Perfectly groomed brows can be yours with the seven products contained within the gorgeous metallic purple pouch. Essentials like tweezers and brow gel are, of course, a given. (And the tweezers are fantastic! I use them religiously -- the slanted tip really helps to yank out even the most stubborn hairs.) And whether you're just maintaining your already perfect arches or starting from scratch, the rest of the items in the kit are there to help. From a Brow Powder Duo (available in three shades -- Ash Blond, Medium Ash and Brunette) to a Duo Angle/Spooley Brush (perfect for brushing your brows and sweeping the brow powder on with intense precision), and even including an Eye Lights highlighting pencil, it seems like nothing else can even be needed, right? Wrong! Innovative Brow Stencils in four shapes are super-helpful in ensuring that your arches look nothing less than fabulous at all times.
The road to perfect brows just got a little easier.
Note: This product is no longer available.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Toweling Off: Garnier The Refreshing Remover Cleansing Towelettes
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Trend-Filled Thursdays: Stained Red Lips
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Wallet-Friendly Wednesdays: Essie To Dry For Top Coat
Perfect for Wallet-Friendly Wednesdays with its friendly $8 price tag, this clear gloss slicks over nails to dry them quickly and easily. The quick-drying ingredients within the gloss make nails super-shiny, while the protective elements make it do double-duty as a topcoat.
I decided to test this out for myself over the weekend. So after I brushed on two coats of Hard Candy's Stop, I followed with some strokes of To Dry For. Literally within about five minutes, my nails were completely dry! And we're not talking the "well, they're sort of dry, but I should still move around gingerly and not reach into my purse or wallet for anything just yet" kind of dry. They were as dry as if I'd never put polish on them in the first place! The shine factor was also considerable -- while the polish itself was pretty shiny, this gloss took the sheen to a whole new level.
So is it worth it? We all need a topcoat for our polish, so why not have one that dries quickly?
Essie To Dry For Top Coat retails for $8 at ulta.com.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Two-For Tuesdays: Ralph Lauren Romance Collectible Bottle and Locket Necklace
My signature scent? It's been Ralph Lauren Romance for as long as I can remember. It's fragrant but light, heady without being cloying, and just the right blend of floral with musk to make it completely alluring. So I am totally loving the new limited-edition Romance Collectible Bottle and Locket Necklace set, making it perfect for this week's edition of Two-For Tuesdays!
The bottle, normally clear in color, is now a beautiful shade of pale pink that's so feminine and girly but still not over-the-top. Floral notes of sungoddess rose, marigold, yellow freesia, white violet, lotus flower and day lily combine with ginger, chamomile oil, patchouli, oak moss and musk and swirl in the potion within. Wrapped around the neck is a gorgeous silver heart locket that's delicately shaped and strung on a fine silver chain. And while I always think Romance is enough on its own, with the addition of the locket this is definitely a must-have.
This set is available for $69.50 on Sephora's website -- not too shabby when you consider the fragrance on its own retails for $69.50! Truly timeless, this fragrance is one for the ages.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Gettin' Lippy: Laura Geller Lip Strip Cooling Sugar Scrub
The Scent of Happiness: Diana B. Peach Frangipani Candle
Must-Have Mondays: T3 Evolution Hair Dryer
The design itself is quite sleek -- the white dryer features a line of rhinestone detailing up the back and is very portable at 13.5oz. Even with the incredibly long time it takes to dry my thick hair, my arm doesn't get tired holding this! It's also much quieter than my previous few dryers -- set to the highest and fastest setting, it still barely makes any noise! Of course that made me think it wouldn't dry my hair quickly, even though it's a 2000-watt dryer, but imagine my shock and surprise when my hair has consistently been completely dry in five minutes!
Whether I'm using a round brush or just doing the quick blow-dry-and-go, whether I've waited a bit to dry it or just pick the dryer up right out of the shower, it keeps the drying time to a minimum. I also love that there are three speed settings, two heat settings and a cool shot button -- so no matter what combination I use, my hair comes out shiny and sleek. Plus it comes with replacement air filters, which I've never seen come with a hair dryer before and have to say I much appreciate!
Unfortunately, this product is no longer available.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Sleep Tight: Bath By Bettijo Lavender Sleep Mask
A good night's sleep is something we all strive for, but don't always achieve. If you're like this beauty chick, you might lay awake for hours each night rehashing the events of the day, thinking about finances, envisioning the way your favorite nail polish will look after your manicure tomorrow. But unfortunately all this not-sleeping can definitely take a toll on your skin and, of course, your undereye circles. So I was really excited to try out Bath By Bettijo's Lavender Sleep Mask -- not only because I want to feel like Holly Golightly or Carrie Bradshaw with a chicer-than-chic sleep mask on, but because this one is infused with lavender to help falling asleep become easier.
The design alone grabbed me -- one side is a vibrant violet, while the other is patterned in a glamorous black-and-white zebra design. Each side is crafted in lustrous silk charmeuse that feels amazing against the skin -- it doesn't chafe or rub at all. Hidden over each eye is a lavender blossom pouch to aid in deeper, more rejuvenating sleep. I tried out the mask for a solid week to see if I would in fact fall asleep faster and actually stay asleep for long enough to feel rested in the morning.
I have to say this really helped me. Not only did it block out all of the annoying light from my surrounding neighbors' apartments (gotta love living in New York where the apartments are so close, you can reach out and touch your neighbor through the window), but the scent of lavender was so soothing that I found my breaths becoming deeper and more even almost as soon as my head hit the pillow! No more was I laying awake for hours on end, wishing I could just fall asleep already. Instead I was waking up when the alarm went off after at least seven hours of really good, deep sleep!
Note: This product is no longer available.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Something Seems Fishy: The Fish Pedicure
Now, I am all for trying out new spa treatments. I've been buffed, bronzed, massaged, poked, prodded and facialed with the best of them. But when I stumbled upon this article -- originally found on my fellow beauty blogger Christina's page, Bon Bons in the Bath -- I literally gasped aloud in fear and my stomach flip-flopped. Apparently there are spas throughout the world, especially in Kuala Lumpur and throughout Turkey, called fish spas ... and while there, you stick your feet into a tank of fish who nibble off your dead skin. Tell me -- what ever happened to the good, old-fashioned way of exfoliating? Namely a pumice stone, some good sugar scrub and following that up with some rich shea-butter-infused lotion? I am seriously disturbed by this. This beauty chick is definitely going to stick with normal spa treatments. But tell me -- would you ever try this? Let me know in the comments!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Trend-Filled Thursdays: Exaggerated Color
The Fall 2008 collections saw a bevy of fantastic hair and makeup trends that really got this beauty chick excited for things to come. One of the most fascinating was definitely the exaggerated color sweeping up over the models' lids and out toward the cheekbones and browbones, in many cases creating such a dramatically gorgeous look that I just had to pick this trend for today's Trend-Filled Thursdays column. From the wearable to the costumey, there's something for everyone.
(Thakoon): Makeup artist Gucci Westman washed models' eyes and upper cheekbones in the prettiest pale lavender, creating a look of ethereal beauty.
To get this look, try Shiseido's The Makeup Hydro-Powder Eye Shadow in Violet Visions ($23) -- an ingenious cream-to-powder formula that will leave a subtly dewy finish.
(Badgley Mischka): Rose shadow swept out toward the hairline and was accented by the tiniest dab of hunter green shadow in the inner corners. The end effect was that of an impish sprite.To get this look, use Last Call and Mildew from Urban Decay's Ammo Shadow Box Palette ($34).
(Behnaz Sarafpour): "Vibrant" doesn't really even seem to cover it, does it? While deep violet shadow heavily rimming the eyes is a bit intense for most situations, unless you're headed to a costume party, you can definitely simplify it for a night out on the town.
To get this look, M.A.C's Pigment in Violet ($19.50) adds just the right amount of drama.
(Proenza Schouler): Electric blue is, well, electric! The color really pops when it's applied heavily and thickly around the eyes to create a beautiful almond shape.
To get a more toned-down version of this look, try Too Faced's Foiled Liner in Turquoise Tinsel ($16.50).
(Oscar de la Renta): This is definitely the most wearable of the bunch. Gold liner accents deep brown shadow that sweeps out past the outer corners for a really glamorous finish.
To get this look, the six shades in Pop Beauty's Lid Bronzer palette ($22) will give you exactly what you're looking for.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Wallet-Friendly Wednesdays: Neutrogena Deep Clean Blackhead Eliminating 2-in-1 Foaming Pads
Blackheads might just be one of the peskiest things this beauty chick has ever encountered. Worse than gnats and mosquitoes flying around in the summertime, worse than exuberantly loud coworkers talking on the phone at all hours instead of doing work, worse even than running out of my favorite lipgloss or mascara. While my skin is fairly clear, thank goodness, I do have the unfortunate task of dealing with blackheads on my nose. Thankfully, they tend to look like freckles from far away, but still -- I absolutely hate them. And there are only so many facials and extractions one woman can endure! So I was totally psyched to come across Neutrogena Deep Clean Blackhead Eliminating 2-in-1 Foaming Pads.
To use, you simply wet your face, remove a pad from the package and begin rubbing it across your skin. The pad itself is quite ingenious -- one side is smooth, for cleaning purposes, while the other is beaded to exfoliate and loosen impurities from the skin. I treaded carefully at first with the beaded side, as I thought it might be too rough for my sensitive skin. I was pleased to discover, however, that far from being harmful, it really did work to clear my skin and leave it fresh and glowing!
A pleasant tingly feeling ensued as I swept the beaded side across my skin, and subsided slightly as I followed with the smooth side. A delightful lather foams and bubbles as well, which really makes it an altogether enjoyable experience. And since the pads are alcohol-free and soap-free, there isn't much in them to harm your skin no matter how sensitive it is! I am totally hooked on these now and will definitely continue to buy them.
Quite luckily, they are only $7.10 on Drugstore.com -- perfect for Wallet-Friendly Wednesdays. Dewy, glowing skin? Now that's something I can get on board with.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Nostalgic Beauty Products
My fellow beauty blogger, Jeni at Savvy Skin, had a great post yesterday about her favorite products from her pre-teen/teen years. It got me thinking -- what were the products this beauty chick just couldn't live without as a youngster? Here's a sampling of what I was totally in love with back then. (And, actually, I still use quite a few of them to this day!)
Two-For Tuesdays: Urban Decay Big Fatty Mascara Duo
I heart mascara. It's one of those products that, if you only have about one minute available for makeup time, really transforms your whole face in the blink of an eye. (Pardon the pun.) So is there anything better than Urban Decay's Big Fatty Mascara? The bottle alone just screams for you to try it -- it's vibrant, it's loud and it's fun to look at. This baby vows to create lashes that are full, fat, plump and long ... and it's even infused with hemp oil for moisturizing properties.
So, with all that being said, this beauty chick is super-excited about the Big Fatty Mascara Duo that's just perfect for Two-For Tuesdays! Whether you want to keep both tubes for yourself or share with your BFF, this deal is too sweet to pass up. While one tube retails for $19, you can get both for only $29 on Sephora's website! The word "fat" never looked so good.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Must-Have Mondays: Hard Candy Delinquent Mini Nail Kit
Friday, February 8, 2008
Beautiful Makeup at Milly
Oh, Milly ... how I love thee. Let me count the ways. And of course I must start with the absolutely beautiful makeup seen on the runway for Fall 2008 Fashion Week. With glowing skin, slightly defined eyes and vibrant red lips, the look was classic and elegant with just the subtlest touch of glamour. MAC's First Look has some amazing pictures and descriptions of how to achieve the look, which was conceptualized by makeup artist Romy Soleimani -- here are some highlights.
Press M.A.C Studio Sculpt Foundation onto your skin with a brush, then apply Nude Creme Colour Base into the corners of your eyes and cheekbones for added glimmer.
Eyes were kept on the simple side -- which was not the norm for the fall runways, making it a welcome change from all the smokiness seen about. To get this look, apply M.A.C Studio Moistureblend Concealer where needed and then smudge Smolder Eye Pencil into the root of your top and bottom lashlines with an eyeliner brush. Curl both your top and bottom lashes and finish with a light coat of Zoom Lash Mascara. While I love a good smoky eye -- especially in blues and purples -- it was definitely nice to see something different here.
How sexy is a deep red lip? Gwen Stefani, Scarlett Johansson and other glamour chicks have certainly got it right. Made the focus at Milly, red lips were vibrant and gorgeous as the models came down the runway. To get the look, apply M.A.C Desire Lipstick from the center of your lips outward with a lip brush, then pat with your fingers to create a slight stained look. Matte is back!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Amazing Makeup at Monique Lhuillier
While I unfortunately did not get to attend the Monique Lhuillier show, I did have the chance to check out the makeup looks on MAC's First Look. I think it is simply divine! Check out the closeup of the eye makeup:
I think this is just stunning. Makeup artist Val Garland applied M.A.C Smolder Eye Pencil to the bottom lash line and the inside water line of the eye. She then used Indigo Eye Pencil as a base on the inner and outer corners, which she blended from lash line to brow. Blue Pigment was then layered on top with brushes 239 and 224. In the center of the lid is M.A.C Plumed Violet Creme Colour Base (applied witih Brush 272), and then Violet Pigment was layered over it with the 239 Brush. But that's not all! Intensifying the color is Reflects Blue Pigment, applied to the inner and outer lid corners; then Night Moth Eye Pencil along the bottom lash line and blended with the 239 Brush. Finishing the look is Beauty Marked Eye Shadow, pressed into Night Moth with the 239 Brush. The end effect? Gorgeous.
Trend-Filled Thursdays: Purple Nail Polish
Move over, navy. Purple is here to take your place as the hottest new nail color! From the runways to the red carpet, various shades of violet, eggplant, lilac and all the rest have been spotted recently. Don't believe me? Here are some examples:
as seen at Christian Dior's Spring 2008 Couture show
on the Fall 2008 runways this week at Vivienne Tam
"Umbrella" girl herself, Rihanna, promoting her new umbrella line this past week!
So now that you simply have to get this shade yourself, what are some options for you? Luckily, this beauty chick has found six fabulous ones for you to try. Added bonus -- they're all under $10!
CoverGirl CG Boundless Color Nail Polish in Grapevine ($3.59): You can hear it through the grapevine just like Gladys Knight and the Pips after slicking this on!
Essie Nail Polish in Bahama Mama ($8): Almost mulberry in hue, this one is absolutely gorgeous for both fingers and toes.
Orly Nail Polish in Velvet Rope ($7): This dark, black-ish shade is so witchy and wonderful.
Barielle Nail Polish in Edgy ($8): With this on my nails, I think I might be able to find my inner punk princess.
NYX Cosmetics Nail Polish in Wild ($3): Hear the call of the wild with this shimmery violet hue.
Zoya Nail Polish in Yasmeen ($6): Love. Love, love, love. Plus I am so happy with Zoya in general -- the polish doesn't chip and lasts for weeks!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Wallet-Friendly Wednesdays: Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Leave-In Conditioning Cream
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Direct from the Runway: Terexov
Thank you, Alexander Terekhov. His Fall 2008 Terexov collection definitely didn't shy away from color or an interesting use of fabrics. Cashmere, silk and wool were elegantly draped and fitted in gorgeous hues of burgundy, purple, red and loden for a totally different approach to fall's normally drab color palette. Accented with touches of black and gray and cinched at the waist with wide belts, models sashayed down the runway in what seemed to be a dream-like state. Beautiful separates -- my favorite look was a lipstick red skirt paired with a simple gray cashmere sweater -- walked next to fitted cashmere coats and flowing silk dresses for a truly ethereal feel. Far from seeming thrown together or mismatched, each piece was carefully edited and worked seamlessly with the others around it.



But what would my attendance at a show be without talk of the beauty looks? First up, the makeup. Nadine Luke for M.A.C Cosmetics created what was quite possibly my favorite look thus far. No heavy-handed eyeshadows or smoky eyeliners were applied here ... rather, pink or pale gray shadow was dusted up to the browbone and accented with long black lashes and subtle black eyeliner rimming the inner lashlines to create a look of utter romance. Cheeks were heavily contoured with pink blush and lips were the palest nude. Far from being washed out, however, the models looked stunning and perfect whether going to a cocktail party or to the office. As I am always searching for new looks to take me from day to evening, this is definitely one I will have to try. See below for pictures from the runway:

Two distinct hairstyles, created by Eugene Toye for the Rita Hazan Salon, dominated the runway. First up was the look I am always dying to create but just can't seem to perfect (though with my lovely T3 Medium Duality I can definitely come closer). Locks were parted in the middle and hung so long and so pin-straight, it looked as though they were laid over an ironing board, a la the 1960s! Not a flyaway in sight, each hair was perfectly in place and just super-shiny and gorgeous. Here are some examples:


On the other end of the spectrum were tresses that called to mind a fancy boudoir. Again parted in the middle, this time they were curled at the ends and left a bit undone to create a sexy, come-hither vibe. They literally bounced as the models sashayed down the runway.

All in all, did Terexov deliver? I'd say he's definitely one to watch.
*All images are the sole property of The Beauty of Life.






