Must-Have Mondays: Peter Thomas Roth Lips to Die For Pink Bombshell Lip Balm

Lips to die for? They certainly will be when you use Peter Thomas Roth Lips to Die For Pink Bombshell Lip Balm. Yes, this is the longest name you may ever come across for a lip balm. But you know what? It will roll right off your lips -- no pun intended!

Read more »

Must-Have Mondays: Sephora Stimulating Lavender Cuticle Oil

I'm normally not a fan of lavender. There's something about the scent that, outside of spas, makes me run the other way. But all that changed when I came across the Sephora Stimulating Lavender Cuticle Oil.

Suddenly, I found myself jonesing for more and more lavender. Everywhere I went, I needed to have this little pen right by my side. I began compulsively applying the lavender-scented gel to my cuticles, sometimes up to three times a day, in the hopes that the scent would calm and soothe my nerves.

And you know what? It did. Plus it made my cuticles look a heck of a lot better than they had before, especially with the horrible weather conditions New York has experienced this season. Gone were the ravaged, dry, cracked and peeling cuticles of my past. Here to stay were cuticles so gorgeous, I actually started getting compliments.

It's been about a month of serious use with this pen, and I still can't get enough. My cuticles are moisturized and conditioned more than they ever have been, and my hands smell fantastic. What's not to love?

Sephora Stimulating Lavender Cuticle Oil is available for $12 at sephora.com.

Must-Have Mondays: Bobbi Brown Shimmering Body Oil

Glitter. Shimmer. Glimmer. Glitz. If you're looking to add a bit of high-intensity glamour to your life, then Bobbi Brown Shimmering Body Oil is definitely the way to go.

Read more »

Must-Have Mondays: Deborah Lippmann Collection Purple Rain Nail Polish

Are you a fan of Prince? Then you'll definitely love the new color from Deborah Lippmann Collection, the one and only Purple Rain. Inspired by one of the most popular songsters of the 80s, this color packs such a punch that you'd be a fool not to fall in love.

Read more »

Must-Have Mondays: Urban Decay Sin Primer Potion

I can wax poetic about the fabulousness of Urban Decay Primer Potion. This stuff makes me so happy, I would marry it if that were legal. So when I found out that there was a new one called Urban Decay Sin Primer Potion, I simply had to try it out immediately.

Like the original UDPP, this primer keeps shadow in place all day long. No smudging, no creasing, no moving of any kind. You can even sleep with your eyeshadow on -- and yes, I know it's wrong not to wash your face before bed! -- and when you wake up in the morning, your shadow will be completely intact.

But there's been an update to the formula with Sin. This creamy formula includes a ton of shimmer that makes your eyeshadow totally pop. It somehow gleams and glimmers out from beneath the shadow to add a dose of glamour to your look. And it's actually thick enough that you can wear it on its own if you prefer -- though I really like to layer it with cream shadow like a M.A.C Paint Pot to really make the shimmer come out full force.

The new Urban Decay Sin Primer Potion is available for $17 at sephora.com.

Must-Have Mondays: Stila Backstage with Lela Rose and Beauty.com

So last week I went on ad nauseum about how much I loved the hair and makeup at the Lela Rose show during Fall 2009 Fashion Week. (Click here to check it out.) Well, guess what? You can totally get in on the action with Lela Rose and Stila with the brand-new Stila Backstage with Lela Rose and Beauty.com paint can. Similar to the Barbie paint cans that been so popular recently, this can combines some of Stila's bestsellers so you can create the look from the Spring 2009 fashion show. Pretty cool, huh?

The can includes the following Stila products:

Lip Glaze in Cranberry (one of my all-time fave shades; it creates an absolutely gorgeous red pucker. It gave a pop of color to the models' pouts)
Sun SPF 15 Bronzing Powder in Shade 01 (a beautiful matte chestnut which was used to bronze the models' cheekbones)
Refillable Compact
Eye Shadow in Starlight (light shimmery taupe that let the lids shimmer with a champagne glow)
Major Lash Mascara in Brown (this gave the models long, luxurious lashes and helped to create a balanced, feminine face

What I love about this paint can is that the top of it includes the face chart from the runway show, so you can see exactly how to recreate the look. When you've used all the products, you'll be left looking like the picture above!

The Stila Backstage with Lela Rose and Beauty.com paint can is available for a limited time only and retails for $34 at stilacosmetics.com.

Must-Have Mondays: Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15

Well, I did it. I caved and bought Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15. I resisted this purchase for quite some time, as I honestly thought spending over $20 for a lip balm was absolutely insane and unnecessary. And in these trying economic times, it seemed less than prudent to purchase such an indulgence.

Read more »

Must-Have Mondays: Laura Mercier Chocolate Truffle Creme Body Wash

I love chocolate. I love a good body wash. So is it any wonder that I'm completely enamored of my newfound fave, Laura Mercier Chocolate Truffle Creme Body Wash? This stuff smells so delicious, I find it difficult not to just pour it down my throat in the shower every morning. (And yes, I know that would be a mistake.)

Read more »

Must-Have Mondays: Givenchy Radically No Surgetics Complete Age-Defying Care

I'm convinced that I have fine lines and wrinkles. Most people tell me I'm crazy, but I know they're there. Maybe those lines near my eyes are smile lines -- in all actuality, I do smile and laugh quite a bit -- but come on, I still don't want crow's feet. That's where Givenchy Radically No Surgetics Complete Age-Defying Care comes in.

Read more »

Must-Have Mondays: Chesapeake Bay Candle Signature Collection Honey Lemon Creme Filled Candle

I'm obsessed with candles. But you already knew that, didn't you? In this beauty chick's opinion, they just make a home look, smell and feel 100 times better. And while I love my Trish McEvoy Wild Blueberry Vanilla Candle and Jo Malone White Jasmine & Mint Candle, I'm always looking for new -- and cheaper! -- options to add to my collection. So coming across the Chesapeake Bay Candle Signature Collection Honey Lemon Creme Filled Candle (say that three times fast) sure felt like an amazing stroke of luck.

For starters, it's only $20. That's pretty darned good for a candle -- especially one with a 35-hour burn time. This means it's way less than a dollar per burning hour, so you're totally getting your money's worth!

But there's so much more to this candle than just the price. I'm in love with the glass holder, which is emblazoned with an intricate silkscreened tree motif that really makes it feel homey and warm. And the combination of notes held within -- the aforementioned honey and lemon, along with grapefruit zest, sandalwood and vanilla -- really make it smell interesting and inviting. The scent envelops you without becoming cloying or thick, and even after burning it for hours on end it never seems to be too much.

In addition, the candle is hand-poured with soy wax. It burns evenly and cleanly, never getting that annoying hole in the middle that some candles seem to take on after a few hours. And it looks oh so elegant sitting on a vanity or even just in the middle of a wooden floor. (Yes, I've just set it down in the middle of my living room more than once and let it burn away.)

To conclude? This is a candle you should definitely have in your arsenal. Rain or shine, snow or sun, it's just one of the most perfect scents you could ask for.

This product is no longer available.

Must-Have Mondays: Oribe Shampoo for Brilliance and Shine

$44 for a bottle of shampoo? I know you're thinking one thing right now. Jamie has gone off the deep end. But just hear me out. I find it quite difficult to spend a lot of money on haircare, even though I spend more time on my hair than any other part of my morning routine. But for some reason, spending more than about $15 on any one hair product really just doesn't sit well with me. Until I discovered Oribe Shampoo for Brilliance and Shine, that is. This shampoo has found its way into my daily regimen for quite a few reasons:

1) The intricately carved midnight blue bottle is absolutely gorgeous and looks amazing sitting in my shower.

2) The consistency is rich, lush and creamy -- almost to the point of feeling like conditioner.

3) It has a slight shimmery quality to it that just makes it feel really luxe.

4) It smells absolutely divine -- seriously, like heaven in a bottle.

5) Every time I lather up with it, my hair is sleek and shiny for at least two days. Sometimes three, depending on how hard I've been on it.

Is this enough to tell you why I think it's worth the $44? Well, if you need another reason, let me just tell you this. Oribe is one of the world's premier hairstylists. He's coiffed the likes of Jennifer Lopez and Debra Messing. And he seriously knows what he's doing!

Trust me on this. You really won't be disappointed. Get your own at oribe.com.

Must-Have Mondays: Clean Warm Cotton Eau de Parfum Spray

The scent of fresh laundry? It's always been somewhat intoxicating to me. Every time I walk by a laundromat, I just have to draw in a deep breath and enjoy the loveliness that wafts out. And since I discovered CLEAN Warm Cotton Eau de Parfum Spray, I have to say I feel as though I've died and gone to heaven!

Read more »

Must-Have Mondays: Philosophy The Gingerbread House

Did you ever create a gingerbread house as a kid? I remember having to find all the components in fourth grade, from graham crackers to marshmallows, that would really make mine stand out in the classroom. (It was a school assignment that we were actually graded on, can you believe it?) The idea of the gingerbread house has always intrigued and excited me, so when I came across Philosophy's The Gingerbread House, I just knew it had to be mine.

Why? Because not only does the actual packaging really convey a gingerbread house -- come on, it's an actual house that opens up! -- but inside are four delectably scented 3-in-1s (high-foaming shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath) in the scents that actually make up the house! Check out what's waiting for you inside:

Spicy Gumdrop
Gingerbread
Sweet Creamy Frosting
Cinnamon Hot Dots

Each of these four scents is unbelievable. I really do want all of them lined up in my shower so I can mix it up every day! Gingerbread and Sweet Creamy Frosting are both utterly scrumptious and mouthwatering, while Spicy Gumdrop and Cinnamon Hot Dots are tangy and zesty. And Philosophy just continues its trend of creating scents that just smell exactly right and real.

At only $30 on philosophy.com, this is definitely a house in anyone's price range!

Must-Have Mondays: Seche Vite

I've already discussed my love for the Seche Ridge Filling Base Coat. (Click here for a little refresher course.) Well, I'm adding another product to the fabulousness of all things Seche ... and its name is Seche Vite.



Now, I've tried many a top coat in my day. And while they all claim to make nails dry quickly without any sort of smudging or streaking, there's always something that seems to go wrong. Either they leave tons of pesky little bubbles in my polish, or they don't make the polish any shinier. But this is a true miracle worker that I just can't believe I ever lived without.

Each time I swipe this across my polish, my nails dry to a glossy finish within minutes. I'm able to be up and about without any worry of screwing up my freshly polished nails literally by five minutes after I sweep it across the nail! Not only that, it keeps my polish from chipping for up to 10 days. Yes, 10! Isn't that unbelievable?

But best of all, it is seriously cheap. A bottle will only set you back $4.25 at 8ty8beauty.com. Have you ever heard of anything more glorious?

Must-Have Mondays: ModelCo Disco Lights Lip Gloss

Remember when I talked about the amazingness that is the ModelCo Lip Lights Ultra Shine Lip Gloss? (Click here for a little refresher course.) Well, ModelCo has certainly outdone themselves with their latest creation -- Disco Lights Lip Gloss.

Read more »

Must-Have Mondays: Sephora Scent Sampler Best Sellers For Her

Not sure what your favorite perfume is? Looking for that one signature scent to complete you, but haven't found it as yet? Well then, the Sephora Scent Sampler Best Sellers For Her set is totally up your alley.

This convenient, handy dandy little box packs quite a big punch. Inside it, you'll find a whopping ten deluxe samples of Sephora's -- you guessed it -- best selling fragrances, all of which are guaranteed to make you melt. You'll get samples of the following:

Aquolina Pink Sugar
Bulgari Omnia Crystalline
Calvin Klein Euphoria
Givenchy Very Irresistible Givenchy Sensual
Gwen Stefani L.A.M.B.
Lavnila Vanilla Grapefruit
Marc Jacobs Daisy
Philosophy Amazing Grace
Stella McCartney Stella
Vera Wang Princess

But that's not all ... it also contains a voucher that lets you get your favorite of the ten fragrances free! Yes, that's right. You pay only $50 at sephora.com, and then you can bring the voucher into any Sephora store and redeem it for your favorite of these amazing fragrances. And since each retails for way more than $50, you're getting such a fabulous deal! The only bad part is deciding which of these ten really calls your name.

Must-Have Mondays: Prescriptives Custom Blend Lip Gloss

What's the absolute best product I could think of buying? One that's totally unique and completely my own. So the fact that I was recently able to create my very own Prescriptives Custom Blend Lip Gloss just, well, tickled me pink all over!

Read more »

Must-Have Mondays: M.A.C Pearlglide Eye Liner

A liner that stays on the waterline without creasing or smudging. A liner that looks fabulous no matter which color you pick. A liner that glides on easily and creamily without any need for fixing or touchups. Who knew all of this could be possible in one little pencil? But with M.A.C Pearlglide Eye Liner, it just is.

These handy dandy little pencils come in a variety of shades that are all flattering and utterly gorgeous. But more than that, the application is just absolutely flawless. I've never had such an easy time drawing a line across my lashline -- I usually have to work a bit, really tracing and fixing the color. But with this liner, it's just effortless. It glides across the lid so easily, you'd swear it was tracing the line by itself!

And the colors, oh, the colors. Choose from the following hues:

Molasses (glittery dark brown)
Miss Fortune (eggplant tinged with pink glitter)
Rave (glittery purple)
Spare Change (brown tinged with copper glitter)
Black Russian (black with navy blue glitter)
Wolf (grey tinged with gold glitter)
Bankroll (glittery dark green)
Fly-by-Blue (glittery light blue)

My favorite is definitely Rave. The deep violet hue is somehow subtle enough to appear almost black -- but at closer range, the sparkle-bedecked purple really stands out. And it looks amazing with shadows ranging from brown to black to grey to silver to green to ... well, you get the point.

Whichever shade you choose, you can be confident that your eyes will seriously pop with color and glimmer! M.A.C Pearlglide Eye Liner retails for $14.50 at maccosmetics.com.

Must-Have Mondays: Ken Paves Healthy Hair Boost Up Brown Color Drops

Looking for a way to boost up that color without spending an absolute fortune at the salon? Well, have I got the answer for you. Give Ken Paves Healthy Hair Boost Up Color Drops a chance! This little bottle will do wonders for your tresses.

Read more »

Must-Have Mondays: Chanel Haute Chocolat Nail Polish

I am fairly obsessed with brown nail polish. When I was in high school, I used to search all over the mall for the perfect brown polish colors -- usually picking up tons of bottles from Old Navy and Afterthoughts! Combine that with my love for the annual Color of the Year Contest sponsored by Seventeen, in which people have the opportunity to create a nail color that could be picked up by CHANEL, and Haute Chocolat is a total winner.

Created by 19-year-old Amy Gonzo, Haute Chocolat is the absolute perfect shade of deep brown that looks fabulous on tips and toes. It's run through with shimmer to really make the cocoa hue pop -- and it goes on unbelievably slick and creamy.

If you're a chocolate lover, then this is totally a polish for your arsenal. It's completely and utterly unique -- I've never seen a polish like it before. And even just having the bottle in your collection is a total indulgence and luxury.

This polish isn't cheap. But it's so, well, haute -- your nails will be gorgeous for days on end. And look at it this way -- you'll have a piece of the design house for way cheaper than the quilted black leather handbag with chainlink strap!