The Best Cuticle Treatment: CND SolarOil

So I have a confession to make. No matter how many manicurists tell me I need to take better care of my cuticles, I just don't listen. Now, I'm not a nail biter and I don't sit around picking apart my nails and cuticles ... but they do tend to become pretty ravaged by changing climates, excessive travel and lots of stress. Enter CND SolarOil.

This little bottle had been sitting on my nightstand for close to three months before I finally picked it up. I looked at it every day before that, thinking, "Well, I could brush this on." And then I went about my business without even opening the bottle. In the past two weeks, it's like something clicked in my brain and told me that if I didn't start treating my cuticles better, I would regret it ... and so this handy-dandy little bottle has become my nails savior.

I've taken to brushing SolarOil on my cuticles right after I get out of the shower. I love the nail polish brush and the ease with which the treatment just soaks right into the skin. I've seen a marked difference in how much better my cuticles look in less than two weeks -- in less than one week, in fact! And this is while I've been in Cleveland, where the high was around 30 degrees. I have fewer hangnails, less skin breakage and my nail beds just look generally healthier and better taken care of.

Plus, I love the almond scent -- it smells so amazing and just begs to be used!

CND SolarOil retails for $9 at goindulge.com.

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Mani of the Week: Chanel Particuliere

I went back to an old standby this week -- one of my all-time faves, Chanel Particuliere. I love the glossiness and the rich, creamy brown hue. It looks amazing with absolutely everything in my wardrobe and garners more compliments than almost any other color!

Truth be told, I will probably change my nails to something sparkly and glitzy for New Year's Eve, but I couldn't resist wearing this neutral for just a few days.

What's on your nails this week? Let me know in the comments!

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12 Days of Beauty Giveaways: CND Scentsations The Berry Collection

I may be Jewish, but that doesn't stop me from loving everything having to do with Christmas! I love decorating my friends' Christmas trees, I love caroling, I create awesome iTunes and Spotify Christmas music playlists, I love looking at Christmas decorations ... and the 12 days of Christmas just amplifies my excitement! This year, I'm counting down the 12 days of Christmas with 12 very fabulous beauty giveaways from some of my very favorite beauty brands!

Well, it's the last day of 12 Days of Beauty Giveaways. I hope you've enjoyed them as much as I have! And to finish up the fabulous prizes is one just as amazing ... CND Scentsations The Berry Collection! This beautiful collection contains the following lotions guaranteed to make your skin smell fantastic and feel just as wonderful:

Cranberry
Black Cherry & Nutmeg
Winterberry

And one lucky winner will receive the collection, with a retail value of $12! To enter, leave your name and email address in the box below.



THE RULES:
This giveaway ends on Sunday, December 25 at midnight. One winner will be chosen AT RANDOM on Monday, December 26. One entry per person and email address. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Giveaway is open to US residents only.

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12 Days of Beauty Giveaways: Caress Body Wash Collection

I may be Jewish, but that doesn't stop me from loving everything having to do with Christmas! I love decorating my friends' Christmas trees, I love caroling, I create awesome iTunes and Spotify Christmas music playlists, I love looking at Christmas decorations ... and the 12 days of Christmas just amplifies my excitement! This year, I'm counting down the 12 days of Christmas with 12 very fabulous beauty giveaways from some of my very favorite beauty brands!

One of my favorite body washes of all time? Caress Daily Silk Body Wash. It makes skin feel amazing and it smells incredible -- and it was the first body wash I ever used, so I've got a soft spot in my heart for it.

Well, today, I'm giving one lucky winner the chance to not only win Caress Daily Silk Body Wash, but to win a collection of ALL EIGHT BODY WASHES from the line! One person will win the following eight body washes, with a retail value of $48:

Daily Silk
Cashmere Luxury
Evenly Gorgeous
Glowing Touch
Tahitian Renewal
Velvet Bliss
Sheer Twilight
Red Lychee & Pomegranate Patchouli Oil Scent

To enter, leave your name and email address in the box below.



THE RULES:
This giveaway ends on Saturday, December 24 at midnight. One winner will be chosen AT RANDOM on Sunday, December 25. One entry per person and email address. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Giveaway is open to US residents only.

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First Look Fridays: Celebrity Hairstylist Janine Jarman

When the last season of Shear Genius was on, my mom and I would watch every episode and then immediately call each other to discuss what had just happened. And the stylist who really grabbed our attention? Janine Jarman. The pint-sized firecracker created so many interesting looks on the show and had such a fun and interesting personality to boot -- it was impossible not to love everything she did! Read on to find out her favorite challenge from the show, the pomade that's great for short hairstyles, and so much more.

Can you tell me a bit about yourself?
I grew up in Long Beach and Huntington Beach in California, and went to beauty school at Golden West Community College.

How did you first become interested in beauty, and what led you to become a hairstylist?
When I was 15, I started doing hair in high school for school dances. I teamed up with my best friend Noel, who would do the makeup, and we made our own company called "Noel and Neen." That’s when I knew that hair was my calling! After high school, I completed beauty school and apprenticed under Sexy Hair Concepts’ founder Michael O’Rourke for several years before opening Hairroin Salon in 2005.

I loved watching you on Shear Genius. What was it like being a part of that show, and were there any challenges that stuck out as your favorites?
I think the finale was my favorite challenge. I love runway hair, and I was so pumped that we got to bring back the other contestants to help us.

You have quite an impressive celebrity clientele! What have been some of your favorite looks on the red carpet?
I love when celebs try something out of the norm and are a bit adventurous. It was fun when Danica Patrick had me do a faux bob on her. Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls always let me do great exaggerated hair styles on her. I also love it when celebs rock vintage-inspired hair looks.

What are your top 5 favorite hair products?
1) Sebastian Shaper Hairspray: It is the best lightweight, workable hairspray.

2) Sebastian Volupt Spray: The best wet styling volumizer. It amps up volume from the start without any product feel in the hair.


3) Nioxin Diamax: The best thickening leave-in treatment and styler in one.

4) Sebastian Trilliant: Great for heat protection and a huge dose of shine.

5) Sebastian Matte Putty: The perfect pomade for moldable hold in short styles.

What are your top 3 hair tips?
1) Healthy hair is sexy hair! Make sure to trim it every 6 weeks and use deep treatments.

2) Brush your hair every night from root to ends to distribute scalp oil to the ends.

3) Sleep or work out in a damp braid. When dry, release for undone mermaid waves.

Being a hairstylist must be fun, but what do you do in your spare time?
I love cooking, crafting and gardening. I just finished making homemade limoncello with my husband for holiday presents. I love getting and giving homemade goods. It’s more thoughtful.

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12 Days of Beauty Giveaways: OPI The Muppets Collection

I may be Jewish, but that doesn't stop me from loving everything having to do with Christmas! I love decorating my friends' Christmas trees, I love caroling, I create awesome iTunes and Spotify Christmas music playlists, I love looking at Christmas decorations ... and the 12 days of Christmas just amplifies my excitement! This year, I'm counting down the 12 days of Christmas with 12 very fabulous beauty giveaways from some of my very favorite beauty brands!

If you like OPI and you like The Muppets, then today might just be your favorite day of the year ... because I'm giving away the entire OPI The Muppets Collection to one lucky winner! This set has a retail value of $102 and includes the following TWELVE amazing nail polishes:

Gettin' Miss Piggy With It
Excuse Moi!
Meep Meep Meep
Animal-istic
Fresh Frog of Bel Air
Rainbow Connection
Warm and Fozzie
Designer, de Better!
Gone Gonzo!
Divine Swine
Wocka Wocka
Pepe's Purple Passion

To enter, leave your name and email address in the box below.



THE RULES:
This giveaway ends on Friday, December 23 at midnight. One winner will be chosen AT RANDOM on Saturday, December 24. One entry per person and email address. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Giveaway is open to residents of United States and Canada only.

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12 Days of Beauty Giveaways: Deborah Lippmann Collection

I may be Jewish, but that doesn't stop me from loving everything having to do with Christmas! I love decorating my friends' Christmas trees, I love caroling, I create awesome iTunes and Spotify Christmas music playlists, I love looking at Christmas decorations ... and the 12 days of Christmas just amplifies my excitement! This year, I'm counting down the 12 days of Christmas with 12 very fabulous beauty giveaways from some of my very favorite beauty brands!

Deborah Lippmann is not only one of my favorite manicurists -- she's chock full of amazing tips and polishes the tips of some of the most famous people in the business (think Lady Gaga and Cher) -- but her polish is unmatched for me in terms of color, application and sheer wow factor. Well, have I ever got a treat for you nail polish fanatics today. One lucky winner is going to win a collection of Deborah Lippmann nail polishes worth $72! One person will win the following four AMAZING colors:

Believe (a gorgeous silvery gold that Deb created with Cher)
Boom Boom Pow (gold glitter that contains real 24karat gold dust)
Shake Your Groove Thing (full-on flickering gold glitter from Deb's holiday collection)
Happy Birthday (a "party in a bottle" with rainbow glitter flecks)

To enter, leave your name and email address in the box below.



THE RULES:
This giveaway ends on Thursday, December 22 at midnight. One winner will be chosen AT RANDOM on Friday, December 23. One entry per person and email address. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Giveaway is open to United States and Canada only.

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12 Days of Beauty Giveaways: Clarisonic Garnet Mia Skin Cleansing System

I may be Jewish, but that doesn't stop me from loving everything having to do with Christmas! I love decorating my friends' Christmas trees, I love caroling, I create awesome iTunes and Spotify Christmas music playlists, I love looking at Christmas decorations ... and the 12 days of Christmas just amplifies my excitement! This year, I'm counting down the 12 days of Christmas with 12 very fabulous beauty giveaways from some of my very favorite beauty brands!

I've waxed poetic about my love for the Clarisonic Mia so many times in the past, I hope you're not sick of hearing it by now! And, really, I hope you aren't, because one lucky winner has the chance to win the Clarisonic Garnet Mia Skin Cleansing System today! This giveaway has a retail value of $119 and will make your skin look incredible.

To enter, leave your name and email address in the box below.



THE RULES:
This giveaway ends on Wednesday, December 21 at midnight. One winner will be chosen AT RANDOM on Thursday, December 22. One entry per person and email address. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Giveaway is open to US residents only.

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12 Days of Beauty Giveaways: Mario Badescu Bag of Favorites

I may be Jewish, but that doesn't stop me from loving everything having to do with Christmas! I love decorating my friends' Christmas trees, I love caroling, I create awesome iTunes and Spotify Christmas music playlists, I love looking at Christmas decorations ... and the 12 days of Christmas just amplifies my excitement! This year, I'm counting down the 12 days of Christmas with 12 very fabulous beauty giveaways from some of my very favorite beauty brands!

I've made no secret over the years about how much I love Mario Badescu. This skincare line has products that are good for all skin types and is chock full of products that make you glow. So I'm thrilled to partner with them for today's giveaway, which features a bag of my favorite Mario Badescu products! One winner has the chance to receive all of the following amazing products, with a retail value of $104:


Drying Lotion
Buffering Lotion
Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater
Citrus Body Cleanser
Hyaluronic Eye Cream
Vitamin E Body Lotion

To enter, leave your name and email address in the box below.



THE RULES:
This giveaway ends on Tuesday, December 20 at midnight. One winner will be chosen AT RANDOM on Wednesday, December 21. One entry per person and email address. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Giveaway is open to US residents only.

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12 Days of Beauty Giveaways: Philosophy Fun in the Frosty Air Trio

I may be Jewish, but that doesn't stop me from loving everything having to do with Christmas! I love decorating my friends' Christmas trees, I love caroling, I create awesome iTunes and Spotify Christmas music playlists, I love looking at Christmas decorations ... and the 12 days of Christmas just amplifies my excitement! This year, I'm counting down the 12 days of Christmas with 12 very fabulous beauty giveaways from some of my very favorite beauty brands!

Want to smell unbelievably sweet this holiday season? Then you definitely need to enter today's giveaway! One lucky winner will get the Philosophy Fun in the Frosty Air Trio, which includes three of Philosophy's famed 3-in-1s (shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath). This gift set includes Sugar Plum Frost, Fresh Vanilla Frost and Ginger Berry Frost and has a retail value of $19.

To enter, leave your name and email address in the box below.



THE RULES:
This giveaway ends on Monday, December 19 at midnight. One winner will be chosen AT RANDOM on Tuesday, December 20. One entry per person and email address. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Giveaway is open to US residents only.

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Mani of the Week: China Glaze Ruby Pumps and Emerald Sparkle

I've said it once and I'll say it again. I'm a Jew and I love Christmas. Give me carols, give me lights, give me a friend's Christmas tree to decorate ... and, of course, give me tons of delicious Christmas cookies. (Side note: my dad's girlfriend makes the BEST Christmas tree sandwich cookies. She uses six sticks of butter in the batter. DECADENT.)

But I digress. In honor of Christmas finally being upon us this week, I simply had to do a red and green manicure! I chose China Glaze Ruby Pumps, from the highly acclaimed and much loved Wizard of Ooh Ahz Collection back in 2009, and China Glaze Emerald Sparkle, from the Sleigh Ride Collection in 2008. Yes, these are oldies but most definitely goodies! Ruby Pumps and Emerald Sparkle are two of my very favorite nail polish colors of all time -- I love the rich color, intense sparkle and slick jelly finish of each. And how absolutely perfect are they for the holiday season, especially together?

What's on your nails this week? Let me know in the comments!

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12 Days of Beauty Giveaways: Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Active Vitamin D Serum Oil

I may be Jewish, but that doesn't stop me from loving everything having to do with Christmas! I love decorating my friends' Christmas trees, I love caroling, I create awesome iTunes and Spotify Christmas music playlists, I love looking at Christmas decorations ... and the 12 days of Christmas just amplifies my excitement! This year, I'm counting down the 12 days of Christmas with 12 very fabulous beauty giveaways from some of my very favorite beauty brands!

I've made my love of Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare well known over the years. Every product in the line makes your skin look amazing -- think clear, youthful and glowing -- and they just all feel so luxurious. So I am super excited to offer one winner the chance to receive Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Active Vitamin D Serum Oil today! The first and only serum to supply the skin with active Vitamin D, it works to hydrate, radiate and tighten the skin. This giveaway has a retail value of $65!

To enter, leave your name and email address in the box below.



THE RULES:
This giveaway ends on Sunday, December 18 at midnight. One winner will be chosen AT RANDOM on Monday, December 19. One entry per person and email address. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Giveaway is open to US residents only.

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12 Days of Beauty Giveaways: butter LONDON Favorites Collection Giveaway

I may be Jewish, but that doesn't stop me from loving everything having to do with Christmas! I love decorating my friends' Christmas trees, I love caroling, I create awesome iTunes and Spotify Christmas music playlists, I love looking at Christmas decorations ... and the 12 days of Christmas just amplifies my excitement! This year, I'm counting down the 12 days of Christmas with 12 very fabulous beauty giveaways from some of my very favorite beauty brands!

I've made no secret about how much I love butter LONDON and its fabulous founder, Nonie Creme. So of course I had to include a collection of my favorites from butter LONDON in my 12 Days of Beauty Giveaways! And this giveaway is pretty amazing, if I do say so myself, because it's worth an unbelievable $125! One winner will receive the following products:

NAIL POLISH:
Diamond Geezer, Snog, Marrow, Toff, Victoriana, Henley Regatta, Fash Pack

Half Moon Nail File

Top & Tails Set (Nail Foundation Flawless Basecoat and Hardwear P.D. Quick Topcoat)

To enter the giveaway, leave your name and email address in the box below.



THE RULES:
This giveaway ends on Saturday, December 17 at midnight. One winner will be chosen AT RANDOM on Sunday, December 18. One entry per person and email address. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Giveaway is open to US residents only.

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Holiday Gift Guide: Soap & Glory You Cube

Somebody's got a crazy sense of humor, bringing out the Ho, Ho, Ho and Ha, Ha, Ha. Soap and Glory's You Cube adds that touch of joy and hilarity in its packaging and naming rights. Instead of staid beauty products, a set of fun-filled items pops from the pink-slogan inscribed box with the metallic top. "Without Soap & Glory, why wash?" That's what the hilarious website claims!

Try the Clean on Me (Lean on Me?) shower gel with the enclosed fluffy puff for a lather of fresh scent. Proceed to The Righteous Butter (Righteous Brothers?) body butter and Hand Food hand cream. All delectable and moisturizing!

For yet another play on words, Soap and Glory declares that it has been supporting the Clean of England since 2006. Marcia Kilgore launched the company and soon after opened the Bliss Spa. The Righteous Butter included in this set ranks as England's best body butter with votes to prove it.

Include the Soap & Glory You Cube in your holiday purchases for instant smiles. It retails for $25 at sephora.com.

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12 Days of Beauty Giveaways: La Prairie Cellular Treatment Liquid Soft Glow

I may be Jewish, but that doesn't stop me from loving everything having to do with Christmas! I love decorating my friends' Christmas trees, I love caroling, I create awesome iTunes and Spotify Christmas music playlists, I love looking at Christmas decorations ... and the 12 days of Christmas just amplifies my excitement! This year, I'm counting down the 12 days of Christmas with 12 very fabulous beauty giveaways from some of my very favorite beauty brands!

Today's giveaway is a true treat. One very lucky winner will receive a bottle of La Prairie Cellular Treatment Liquid Soft Glow, with a retail value of $60! The air-light, silky formula enhances your natural skin tone and gives it a brightened luminosity. And it's flattering on all skin tones! La Prairie's legendary Cellular Complex helps skin feel flawless and gives it firmness and lift.

To enter the giveaway, leave your name and email address in the box below.



THE RULES:
This giveaway ends on Friday, December 16 at midnight. One winner will be chosen AT RANDOM on Saturday, December 17. One entry per person and email address. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Giveaway is open to US residents only.

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Holiday Gift Guide: Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV

If ever there were a makeup palette that could do everything, the Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV would be it. Seriously, this gorgeous box -- yes, box -- packs the most unbelievable makeup whollop I may have ever seen.

Let's begin with the box itself, shall we? Printed and popup butterflies flit and float amongst colorful shooting lasers, making this the most perfect palette to display in a place of honor on your vanity. And then you open it up ... and that's when the real fun begins.


A huge mirror is placed upon the top hinge, so doing your makeup is a total breeze. Pull out the drawer and you'll find sixteen eyeshadows, 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Perversion, a miniature tube of the cult favorite Primer Potion, and a tiny tube of Supercurl Curling Mascara.


The eyeshadow selection includes some of Urban Decay's most famed and favorite colors, each one more shimmery and sparkly than the last: Blue Bus, Gunmetal, Cobra, Baked, Bender, Gravity, Lost, Hijack, Midnight Cowgirl (my personal favorite), Sin, Midnight Rodeo, Crystal, Bust, Missionary, Skimp and Zephyr. Can you even imagine how many fun makeup looks you could create with each one of these colors?

Oh, and you thought that was all, didn't you? Well, you're forgetting about the included QR codes to download how-to videos to your phone -- you can learn how to do Monochrome, Smoke Out, Crystallized, Purple Cat and Naked makeup looks. And there's also a miniature speaker that connects to your phone or mp3 player so you can play music while you're getting ready for a night out on the town!

Seriously, the Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV thinks of everything. Score one for yourself -- because, let's be honest, this is a holiday gift worth keeping -- for $64 at urbandecay.com.

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Holiday Gift Guide: D.L. & Co. 2-2-2 Gift Set

I love candles. I love beautiful packaging. I love D.L. & Co. And, as might be expected, I love the D.L. & Co. 2-2-2 Gift Set.

As gift sets go, this is one of the most luxurious I've come across. Six miniature D.L. & Co. candles come nestled inside a black silk hat box that's tied with a wide silk bow. That would honestly be good enough for me, except the candles themselves smell so divine!

Aptly named the 2-2-2 Gift Set, this D.L. & Co. set contains two each of three of its bestselling candles in delightful miniature sizes. You'll find Thorn Apple, Angels Trumpet and Lady Rhubarb waiting for you when you lift the top off of the box.

And have you ever seen such a beautiful candle design? I love the sculpted crescent shape -- it's a work of art that lives on long after the 15-hour burn time has passed.

The D.L. & Co. 2-2-2 Gift Set retails for $80 at dlcompany.com.

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Holiday Gift Guide: Fresh Sugar Obsessions Rollerball Trio

I love a good rollerball. In fact, I've collected quite a few over the years. They're perfect for travel, I'm horrible at using up perfume bottles, and they're great for experiencing lots of fragrances in small doses. So is it any wonder that I'm, well, obsessed with the Fresh Sugar Obsessions Rollerball Trio?

This collection of three Fresh rollerball fragrances takes my love of Fresh to new heights. Rollerballs in Brown Sugar (citrus and caramel), Sugar Lychee (sparkling fruits and exotic florals) and Sugar Lemon (citrus and fruity florals) all bring something different to the table.

I love every Fresh Sugar scent, so it's honestly hard for me to pick a favorite! I think each one speaks to a different personality and different mood, so the set is perfect for the girl who likes fragrance choices.

The Fresh Sugar Obsessions Rollerball Trio retails for $35 at sephora.com.

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12 Days of Beauty Giveaways: Dior J'Adore L'or Essence de Parfum

I may be Jewish, but that doesn't stop me from loving everything having to do with Christmas! I love decorating my friends' Christmas trees, I love caroling, I create awesome iTunes and Spotify Christmas music playlists, I love looking at Christmas decorations ... and the 12 days of Christmas just amplifies my excitement! This year, I'm counting down the 12 days of Christmas with 12 very fabulous beauty giveaways from some of my very favorite beauty brands!

Today I'm giving away a truly amazing prize from one of the most luxurious beauty brands around. I'm speaking, of course, about Dior J'Adore L'or Essence de Parfum. With notes of rose de mai, jasmine and vanilla absolutes, this fragrance is a nod to the art of haute perfumery with exclusive ingredients for the House of Dior. One winner will receive this beautiful fragrance with a retail value of $110!

To enter the giveaway, leave your name and email address in the box below.



THE RULES:
This giveaway ends on Thursday, December 15 at midnight. One winner will be chosen AT RANDOM on Friday, December 16. One entry per person and email address. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Giveaway is open to US residents only.

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Holiday Gift Guide: Bumble and bumble The Mending Affair

I know that I use a lot of excuses to explain the look of my hair:

Bad hair cut -- yes.
Hair dyed from a store-bought bottle -- yes.
Too much blow drying -- yes.

My excuses don't work anymore.

Bumble and bumble's The Mending Affair performed a magic act. For the first time, my hair is SOFT and full of BODY and SHINE!

Even the outdoor elements can't affect the striking results. Despite the rainy, windy weather, my hair looks ready for holiday partying. The process is simple. Start with the Mending Shampoo. You can use it sparingly, because a small amount produces a quick lather. Try the Mending Masque next. After ten minutes, apply the Mending Conditioner. Prepare to be stunned by the quality of your hair. Glorious!

Bumble and bumble's The Mending Affair retails for $35 at bumbleandbumble.com.

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New from China Glaze: Colours from the Capitol Collection

This is a truly exciting day, fellow beauty chicks! I just got word of the China Glaze Colours from the Capitol collection that will be launching early next year. What is this collection, you ask? Well, it's based on the bestselling series, The Hunger Games!

I am a HUGE fan of the books and have already read them three times. And the only books I purchased for my new Kindle? The Hunger Games, of course! (I just started rereading them this past week.) I'm super excited for this collection of 12 nail polishes inspired by Panem's Capitol, which is awash in lavish food (like Katniss's favorite, the plum stew), extreme cosmetics (think gold facial tattooing and pink wigs) and outlandish fashion. The 12 colors in the collection will be:

Dress Me Up
Foie Gras
Fast Track
Hook and Line
Stone Cold
Smoke and Ashes
Agro
Mahogany Magic
Harvest Moon
Riveting
Electrify
Luxe and Lush

I am anxiously awaiting the release of this collection, which should happen around the time of the movie's release in March 2012.

Are you as excited about this China Glaze collection as I am? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

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Baby Your Lips: Maybelline Baby Lips SPF 20 Lip Moisturizing Balm

Lip balm that keeps my pout moisturized, gives a bit of fabulous color AND protects with SPF? Impossible, I thought. But then I discovered Maybelline Baby Lips SPF 20 Lip Moisturizing Balm.

This lip balm really packs a gorgeous, delicious, super nourishing punch. And I love that they're formulated with SPF 20 to really protect my pout from any harmful UV rays I may encounter while strolling the streets of New York City. I've tried each of the six colors, and I'm here to tell you they are all amazing! Choose from the following (left to right, above):

Quenched
Peppermint
Peach Kiss
Cherry Me
Grape Vine
Pink Punch

My favorites are definitely Quenched (when I just want a basic lip balm with no color) and Pink Punch (which leaves a gorgeous hint of pink upon the lips).

Maybelline Baby Lips SPF 20 Lip Moisturizing Balm retails for $3.99 at ulta.com.

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Holiday Gift Guide: Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater Round Hatbox

The upscale mall in my neighborhood includes a Crabtree & Evelyn shop which entices with its fragrances, announcing that you're getting close to a unique shopping experience. Now, one of its distinct offerings has entered my home, the Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater Round Hatbox Collection.

Whoever thought of packaging a gift set in a hatbox reigns as a genius of design! Reminiscent of early 20th century women who lovingly protected their hats in covered style, the Crabtree & Evelyn version offers a deep pink box decorated with a rose-covered lid, tied with a bow.

Treat yourself to a beauty experience of Rosewater delight. Start with the Bath & Shower Gel or Triple Milled Soap bar to cleanse and moisturize. Finish with Body Lotion and Hand Therapy to soothe and smooth. I love each member of the set!

The Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater Round Hatbox Collection retails for $58 at crabtree-evelyn.com.

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12 Days of Beauty Giveaways: The Zoya Color Box

I may be Jewish, but that doesn't stop me from loving everything having to do with Christmas! I love decorating my friends' Christmas trees, I love caroling, I create awesome iTunes and Spotify Christmas music playlists, I love looking at Christmas decorations ... and the 12 days of Christmas just amplifies my excitement! This year, I'm counting down the 12 days of Christmas with 12 very fabulous beauty giveaways from some of my very favorite beauty brands!

To kick off my 12 days of beauty giveaways, I turned to Zoya. Three lucky winners will receive the Zoya Color Box of their choice. What is the Zoya Color Box, you may ask? Each crushed velvet box contains three coordinating nail polish shades. And each box is individually packaged in a black glossy gift box, and THEN it's wrapped in Zoya tissue paper! Choose from fabulous collections like Classic Reds, Bold Greige or even Spectacular Sparkle (seen above).

To enter, leave your name and email address in the box below. THREE winners will get to choose the Zoya Color Box of their choice! Each Color Box has a retail value of $24.



THE RULES:
This giveaway ends on Wednesday, December 14 at midnight. One winner will be chosen AT RANDOM on Thursday, December 15. One entry per person and email address. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Giveaway is open to US residents only.

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Holiday Gift Guide: M.A.C Dazzlesphere! Mini Nail Lacquer Ornament

I think it's well known by now that I love nail polish. So when I come across a set of four absolutely fantastic polishes that are presented as beautifully as they look on the nails, I simply can't help but think it's a fantastic holiday gifting item. Such is the case with the M.A.C Dazzlesphere! Mini Nail Lacquer Ornament.


Much Adored is a sheer milky white with a pearlized finish. While eye-catching on its own, I would love to see it layered over bright, creamy hues for a bit of glamour.


Dark Angel is a dark ruby-lilac. As you can tell from the photo, one coat is a bit sheer and splotchy in parts and was a bit tough to apply. But two coats give it a dark, rich finish.


Mistletoe is definitely my favorite of the collection. The pale gold has a greenish cast to it and I just love the sparkle. Definitely perfect for any holiday party.


Style Tip is a gorgeous nude with pinkish undertones. I love this color -- I'm always looking for a good nude polish, and this definitely is in the same category as Deborah Lippmann Fashion and Rescue Beauty Lounge Grunge for me.

Four mini nail polishes are nestled ever so elegantly inside a spherical ornament. All of the polishes and the ornament are limited edition, so it's best to snap them up before they're all gone!

The M.A.C Dazzlesphere! Mini Nail Lacquer Ornament retails for $25.50 at maccosmetics.com.

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Holiday Gift Guide: Laura Mercier Warm Roasted Chestnuts Candle

I look forward to Laura Mercier's limited-edition holiday candles all year. No matter which scents are created, they always really say "holidays" to me ... and, of course, they smell amazing. Such is the case with the Laura Mercier Warm Roasted Chestnuts Candle.

A blend of roasted chestnuts, nutmeg, spicy berry, clove and warm vanilla completely envelop the room and just make it feel so homey. I've been lighting the candle for only 20 minutes or so every day and my entire apartment smells absolutely incredible! I recommend lighting it just before bed so that your bedroom smells absolutely delicious. The only problem is it might make you hungry!

If you're looking to really get in the holiday spirit, this candle is definitely the one for you. And I have to say, the burn time of 40-50 hours certainly doesn't hurt.

The Laura Mercier Warm Roasted Chestnuts Candle retails for $42 at lauramercier.com.

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Tucker Sample Sale!

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Holiday Gift Guide: Nails Inc. Front Row Collection

If you're looking to give your nails a large dose of holiday cheer, the Nails Inc. Front Row Collection is a must-have this season. This set of four mini nail polishes packs a major sparkly whollop -- and each of the four colors fits a different nail color need.

I actually love that each of the polishes is miniature-sized. I have the hardest time using up a bottle of polish, so the adorable, useful minuteness of these bottles is not lost on me.


St. Pauls is a dark purple sparkle. I found this to be the most difficult to apply out of the four, but with two coats it gives good coverage and makes a dramatic statement.


Gloucester Place is pretty much your typical holiday red. I think it's a lot like China Glaze Ruby Pumps, though I give the edge to that one since it's one of my favorite colors of all time. But this is a really pretty candy apple red that is perfect for December.


George Yard is a nude champagne with lots of shimmer. I love the new take on a neutral hue in this color, and it applies like a dream.


Chelsea Manor is a gorgeous sparkly graphite. This polish adds boldness to any holiday look.

The Nails Inc. Front Row Collection retails for $18 at sephora.com.

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Mani of the Week: Nails Inc. George Yard

Since the holidays are in full swing, I wanted to go for a little glitz and glamour on my nails this week. Enter Nails Inc. George Yard, which is part of the Front Row Collection. (Stay tuned for my review on that soon!)

This champagne-hued nail polish is liberally packed with shimmer and sparkle to really up the ante this holiday season. I love this new take on a neutral hue -- it's attention-grabbing but not over the top.

What's on your nails this week? Let me know in the comments!

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Holiday Gift Guide: Clinique Complete Happiness Coffret

This is the time of year when "happy" edges into our wishes: Happy Holidays...Happy New Year. Wouldn't it be miraculous if we could make every day a happy one? Clinique set out to accomplish this feat in 1997 when the company bottled "Happy," which has become its best-selling fragrance.

I've never tried the Clinique perfumes, so I was eager to see what the buzz is all about. Now I know! The Clinique Complete Happiness Coffret spoils you with five scents, one for every work day!

Each fragrance spreads a sweet aura lasting throughout the day: Happy (my favorite), Happy Heart, Happy in Bloom, a Hint of Citrus and a Wealth of Flowers. Floral scents mixed with fruit essences leave a fresh, appealing "happiness."

Clinique Complete Happiness Coffret retails for $37 at sephora.com.

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Haute Hippie Sample Sale!

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What I Want for Christmas (Or, Okay, Hannukah)

While most of this month is taken up with holiday gifts perfect to buy other people -- and, I'll be honest, I actually love giving gifts more than I like getting them -- I do have a few items on my wishlist!

Deborah Lippmann Get This Party Started
Nail polish, tons of sparkle and Deborah Lippmann. What's not to love? This set of three nail polishes includes Candy Shop (bubblegum pink), Forget You (dark multicolor glitter) and one of my all-time favorites, Happy Birthday (rainbow sparkles).
$42 at deborahlippmann.com

Diane von Furstenberg Mantra iPhone 4G Case
I bought my very first iPhone last month (the 64GB 4S, natch), and I've become absolutely obsessed with cases. I feel like I need a different one for every day of the week! This DVF one is not only super fun but reminds you to love life each and every day.
$28 at dianevonfurstenberg.com

DKNY Marcey Suede Sandals
I'll preface this by saying I already own a pair of Dolce & Gabbana strappy red heels. But they are TOTALLY DIFFERENT, okay? I love the lipstick red hue, the multiple sexy straps, the cage silhouette, the sky-high heel, the sumptuous suede ... need I go on?
$255 at net-a-porter.com

Alexis Bittar Pave Accented Gold Carnelian Vine Hoop Earrings
Oh, Alexis Bittar. You draw me in time after time with your exquisitely crafted designs and gorgeous use of color. These oversized hoops with deliberately placed jewels and teardrop-shaped cabochons are no different.
$225 at alexisbittar.com

Tom Ford Charlie Sunglasses
I've wanted a pair of Tom Ford sunglasses for, I don't know, six years. And while I've never been able to pull the trigger on actually purchasing a pair, I look at them online and covet them EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. I love the subtly architectural, oversized silhouette of the Charlie.
$380 at shopbop.com

House of Harlow 1960 Kye Haircalf Flats
I'm normally not a leopard print girl. But these haircalf flats are so undeniably chic that I just can't help myself.
$188 at shopbop.com

What's on your holiday wishlist? Let me know in the comments!

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What's Your Favorite, Can't-Live-Without-It Handbag? (Mine's By Tano.)

We all have that one special handbag that, no matter how many we buy after it, holds a special place in our hearts. Maybe you bought it at a pivotal time in your life. Maybe it was a bag you'd wanted for years. Or maybe, in the case of my Tano bag, it was an impulse purchase that turned into the bag you can't live without.

Truth be told, I hadn't even heard of Tano before I set my eyes on this bag back in 2008. I walked into Bergdorf Goodman intending to buy a dress -- for what, exactly, I don't remember -- and, instead, walked out with this purple bag that changed my life. Overly dramatic, I know, but it's the complete and honest truth.

The color and shape were originally what spoke to me about this bag. I also have to admit that since it was under $200, I could justify the impulse buy. But the longer that I've had it, the better the bag has looked. The leather ages so amazingly well, and it came treated so it even weathers a rainstorm without any wear and tear! (I found this out when I got caught in a rainstorm and discovered that rain only makes the bag look BETTER.) The multifunctional shoulder and crossbody straps and the fact that it's big enough to fit a 15-inch laptop only add to its allure.

I honestly don't know what I would have done without this bag over the past few years. I travel everywhere with it -- it's been with me in Hawaii, in Grand Cayman, in Boston, in Pittsburgh, and of course in New York.

If you want your very own Tano bag, head to tanobag.com. I can't recommend one highly enough!

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My New Favorite Collaboration: Shoshanna for AHAVA Holiday Set

I love a good collaboration. And the limited-edition Shoshanna for AHAVA Holiday Set is definitely one of my favorites in a long time.

For starters, AHAVA is one of my very favorite beauty brands. I've been using the products for years, and when I visited Israel two years ago, I made sure to stock up at the AHAVA boutique at the Dead Sea! (Everyone on my trip bought hundreds of dollars worth of AHAVA products on that trip. True story.) So I suppose it comes as no surprise that this set would call my name.

This set contains travel sizes of Mineral Hand Cream, Mineral Body Lotion and Dermud Intensive Foot Cream, which are three of my go-to products from the line. Each moisturize, nourish, soften and smooth the skin in an instant.

As if that's enough, they come in a gorgeous case by Shoshanna! Shoshanna was inspired by AHAVA's ability to make women look and feel their best at any age. I'm totally in love with the bold, colorful swirl print and the grosgrain pull tabs on the zipper ... and the fact that the interior contains two oversized zip pouches that fit so many beauty products!

Best of all, this set is only $35. Score one for yourself at ahavaus.com.

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Holiday Gift Guide: Philosophy Fun in the Frosty Air

(Sing to the tune of "Frosty the Snowman")
Three zesty bath gels
from Philosophy with flair.
Berry, plum and vanilla frost appear
called Fun in the Frosty Air.

Yes! Opening the adorable canister to find three Philosophy gems makes me want to sing. Glitter lights up the artwork on Frosty and a bunch of smiling kids sailing downhill on a toboggan.

Then, the joy begins with each bottle of shower gel/shampoo/bubble bath in the Philosophy Fun in the Frosty Air collection. Will you choose a favorite or be like me and love all three? Ginger Berry Frost, Sugar Plum Frost, Fresh Vanilla Frost. All leave your skin super soft, and your hair will shine.

Treat yourself to the Philosophy Fun in the Frosty Air gift set or that special "snowmanette" in your life. It retails for $25 at philosophy.com.

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