Lusts of the Week: Products for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Every October, pink products invade the market for breast cancer awareness. And, while do believe in the cause, I don't always get involved in all of the product hoopla surrounding the month. This year, however, I couldn't help but gravitate toward a few of them. Read on to see my favorites.

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My Pittsburgh Beauty Regimen: Check Out My Video!

It's been quite awhile since I made a video for you! I'm working in Pittsburgh this week and wanted to give you a little peek into my beauty regimen. Check out my video below to see what products made the cut!



Seen in this video:

Biore Makeup Removing Towelettes with Green Tea
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Hydra-Pure Firming Serum
La Mer The Moisturizing Gel Cream
Darphin Anti-Fatigue Smoothing Eye Gel
M.A.C Wonder Woman Defiance Eye Shadow Palette
Stila Jewel Eyeshadow Palette
M.A.C Haute & Naughty Lash
Smashbox O-GLOSS Intuitive Lip Gloss

My Latest Haul from Sephora: Stila, Fresh and Marc Jacobs, Oh My!

As many of my beauty compatriots would probably happily attest, it’s quite near impossible to walk into a Sephora and leave without buying anything. I don’t think I’ve ever come away without plunking down at least $40 on pure impulse purchases. The thoughts that go through my head include: That lipgloss? I need it! That body scrub? I’ve been dying to check it out? Oh, and that facial cleanser? I had just been thinking about buying one!

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Obsession of the Moment: Stila Jewel Eye Shadow Palette

If you're into eyeshadow and you're into palettes, you simply must -- and I mean must -- check out my latest video post! My latest obsession of the moment is the Stila Jewel Eye Shadow Palette. Check out my thoughts in the video below!



This palette includes the following four shades:

Golden Topax (shimmery taupe)
Amethyst (dark glittery purple)
Black Diamond (glistening black)
Rose Quartz (sparkly pale pink)

The Stila Jewel Eye Shadow Palette retails for $32.

Disclosure: This product was furnished by a PR representative for Stila.

Direct from the Runway: Betsey Johnson Spring 2010

What a flurry of fun backstage at Betsey Johnson this season! Peter Gray for Redken (hair), Sarah Lucero for Stila (makeup) and Nonie Creme for butter LONDON (nails) created a rocker-chic look that was "good girl gone bad with the bad boy from town," as Sarah so brightly put it. Get all the details after the jump.

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First Look Fridays: Makeup Artist and Stila Global Education Director Sarah Lucero

If you've had the opportunity to meet the fabulous Sarah Lucero, Makeup Artist and Global Education Director for Stila, consider yourself fortunate. This spunky gal turns up at tons of major shows throughout Fashion Week and she's worked with some of the biggest names in the business! Plus she's the nicest person ever ... and of course she's gorgeous! I'm thrilled to bring you this week's edition of First Look Fridays with Sarah Lucero. Read on to discover the Stila product she can't live without, how she spends her days off and the makeup artists who have taught and inspired her.

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Beauty Giveaway: Stila Backstage with Lela Rose and Beauty.com

Remember when I talked about how much I loved the Stila Backstage with Lela Rose and Beauty.com paint can earlier this week? (Click here for a quick refresher.) Well, good news, fellow beauty chicks! One lucky winner will receive this can absolutely free! This limited-edition set, which has a retail value of $34, contains the following products:

Stila Sun Shade 02
Lip Glaze in Cranberry
Eye Shadow in Starlight
Major Lash Mascara in Brown

Entering is easy. Simply enter your name and email address in the box below. The winner will be selected on Friday, March 6 and notified by email. It's that simple!



This giveaway is open to US residents only. Giveaway runs until Thursday, March 5 at midnight. One entry per person, email address and IP address. Multiple entries will be disqualified.

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.

Holiday Gifts: The Lipgloss Edition

Can't decide on a single lipgloss to gift your bestie? Well, now you don't have to ... because tons of fabulous gift sets have popped up just in time for the holidays! You'll not only want to give these to others ... you'll so want to gift yourself a few too.

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Wallet-Friendly Wednesdays: Special Offer on Stila Lip Glaze

I could wax on for years about how much I love Stila Lip Glaze. A few of the myriad reasons:

1) I love the clickable tube.
2) I love the brush that swipes on just the right amount of color.
3) I love the multitude of wearable shades available.
4) I love that it's not sticky or tacky.
5) I love that it lasts for hours without fading.
6) I love that my hair never gets caught on my lips when I wear it.

(Are those enough reasons for you?)

So, gals, it only stands to reason that I am psyched about this week's Wallet-Friendly Wednesdays column. Because one of my all time faves, Stila Lip Glaze, is on super mega special for a limited time only. Certain shades are being offered up for only TEN DOLLARS at stila.com. Considering they're normally $22 a pop ... seriously, how fabulous is that?

Check out the gorgeous shades that you can snap up for a mere fraction of the price:

Fig (sparkly lavender)
Peach Cobbler (sheer, shimmery peach)
Plum (glittery deep purple)
Pomegranate (glimmering bright purple)
Pon Pon Gerbera (sheer, shimmery peachy pink)

My fave is definitely Pon Pon Gerbera. It's beautiful, gorgeous and totally wearable. But at this price, I am totally stocking up on each and every one! Because, let's face it, what's better than having a different Lip Glaze for every day of the week?

Trend-Filled Thursdays: Gold Products

Whenever I'm feeling blue, or just when I want to add a little more sparkle to my look, I go for the gold. Gold products, that is! And you know what? I'm not alone! Brands like Chanel and Smashbox have created collections specifically around the gloriously royal hue. And what's better for the holidays than a little glisten under the mistletoe? Read on to find the products that will really have you glittering in golden glory.

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Lusts of the Week

Well, fellow beauty chicks, good news. Today is my Friday! Tomorrow I head to the wonderful city of Cleveland, OH for a dear friend's three-day wedding extravaganza. In my bag -- unfortunately not a carry-on, as I have way too many outfits and products to pack! -- will be these products for sure. Because what would a week in the life of this beauty chick be without some lust-worthy products?

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Rock the Vote with Stila's Rock the Vote Red

This November will see some very interesting changes in our country. And while I keep this blog from being political in any way (unless we're talking about bests and worsts in makeup, of course) ... voting is important! We really can -- and should -- influence the outcome of what will happen for our country.

And what better way to head to the polls than with Stila Rock the Vote Red Lipstick? Stila has teamed up with Rock the Vote to create a totally rockin' red hue that should inspire all of us to get out there and vote. Even better, a percentage of sales from each $17 tube will go toward Rock the Vote! To get yours, head to Stila's website. We can make a difference!

Trend-Filled Thursdays: Orange Lips

Tangerine. Carrot. Persimmon. Salmon. Any way you slice it, the color orange has some pretty fabulous counterparts. It's no wonder that the shade was seen in tons of variations and striations all over the Spring 2008 runways -- the hue pops against skin whether you're tanned like a sun goddess or pale like Snow White. Iterations at Jil Sander and Nanette Lepore ran the gamut from muted to traffic-stopping, respectively. And while the color may seem way too harsh for some skin tones -- this beauty chick was definitely under the impression that orange would never, never, NEVER work on her pasty skin -- as it turns out, it's much more wearable than you may imagine.

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Products To Get in Every Color: What Are Yours?

There are a lot of products I can't only not live without, but need in every single color. Here's what I seriously would spend my entire paycheck on if possible!

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Trend-Filled Thursdays: Products with Floral Packaging

Spring is finally here ... and that makes this beauty chick excited to sip margaritas at outdoor happy hours, wear skirts with flip-flops and no tights, and -- of course -- to see pretty flowers! But while I'm waiting for tulips and crocuses to spring up, I can at least content myself with one of the hottest beauty trends for spring -- products with floral packaging! From blush crafted in the shape of blooming peonies to perfume bottles emblazoned with tangling vines, there are gorgeous blooms popping up everywhere. The beauties below simply make me blossom with happiness!

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Stila Gives A Whole New Meaning to Vintage Shopping

I know tons of people love vintage shopping, but it's just not for me. Something about the crowdedness of the racks paired with the fact that the clothing isn't, well, new, just doesn't appeal to me. But I can totally get on board with Stila's Vintage Stila products ... because not only are they brand-new-in-the-packaging-never-been-touched-before, they're all the old favorites and standbys that I thought had disappeared but are making a new appearance for a limited time only! On a recent perusal of the Vintage Stila section on Stila's website, I came across so many products that I'm just totally in love with ... and will definitely need to stock up on before they're gone for good! Here are some of my favorites.

Summer Must Haves ($45): The pink kit contains five essentials for gorgeous summer glamour -- Kitten Eye Shadow, Kajal Eye Liner in Tiger's Eye, Multi-Effect Mascara, Convertible Color in Lillium and Lip Glaze in Grapefruit.

Eye Shadow Trio in Acapulco ($32): This was my favorite Stila product from last fall! The palette itself is just so beautiful, and the colors are all totally wearable.

Vintage Lip Glaze ($20): I can't wait to snap up my all-time favorite lipgloss in colors like Pumpkin (shimmering coral) and Pina Colada (sparkling nude).

Creme Bouquet Purse Spray ($30): The vanilla, pink lilac and lily of the valley fragrance is now in an adorable miniature EDP that fits into even the smallest clutch!

Plus, for a limited time only, you can save 20 percent and get free shipping on Vintage Stila orders over $30! Simply use code VAVOOM at checkout. Happy shopping!

Trend-Filled Thursdays: Stained Red Lips

Seen all over the runways during Fall Fashion Week in New York? Stained lips. Gloss seems to be a thing of the past, which is sad for this gloss-loving beauty chick! But I can definitely get on board with the gorgeous red pouts seen at more shows than I can count! Puckers at 3.1 Philip Lim and Barbara Tfank were stained a deep cranberry, and the lips at Carolina Herrera were a subtler shade of crimson. Marc Jacobs, of course, upped the ante by making the lips at his Marc by Marc Jacobs show hot pink instead, while Michael Kors went with an almost nude stain. But whether you're into girly pink or the more vampy red, luckily, there are a bounty of options available to help you obtain the perfect stained lip.

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Beauty Freak-Out!

I recently came across a hilariously funny post entitled The Makeup and Beauty Blog Freak-Out. My fellow beauty blogger listed the items that, if they were discontinued, would cause her to totally freak out. This made me think -- what are the beauty products I simply could not live without ... and would send me into a tizzy of epic proportions were I to head to the makeup counter/Sephora/et cetera to discover they were no longer available? Here are the items I came up with.

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Going Gaga for Stila: The Best of Stila Set

I can't help it -- I'm a sucker for pretty packaging. And that's exactly why The Best of Stila Set on Ulta.com beckoned to me the second I saw it.

My love affair with Stila is nothing new -- I've been smitten with Lip Glaze, the Creme Bouquet fragrance and all forms of eyeshadow, from shadow pots to loose shadow, since college. And this set has simply got every item I'm always dying to have strewn around my vanity, all packaged up and looking pretty in a cutely decorated pink canister! Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15? It's there. Convertible Eye Color in Onyx? You'll find that, too. Not to mention Major Lash Mascara, Eye Shadow in Kitten, Convertible Color Dual Lip and Cheek Cream in Peony, and of course Lip Glaze in Brown Sugar.

Basically, this is the perfect set. End of story.