My Latest Product Favorites: Plus a Video!

Hello, my fellow beauty chicks! Today I'm bringing you a video of my latest product favorites -- I wanted you to see them up close and personal. In the video, you'll hear me talking about the following fabulous products:

M.A.C PRO Eye Makeup Remover
M.A.C Get-Away Bronze Powder Blush (from the To the Beach Collection)
Weleda Skin Food
Zoya 3-in-1 Formula Remove+

And you know what I just realized as I was writing this post? I have a green and purple theme going on here!

Enjoy!

Dying for Dior Makeup Palettes

In a fit of cleaning frenzy this week, I came across three Dior makeup palettes that had somehow gotten buried underneath mountains of hair products, shower gels and lipglosses. I felt immediately remiss in not bringing you information on these three palettes sooner, as each one is unbelievably gorgeous. Check them out!

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My Favorite Eyeshadow of the Moment is Actually a Blush! Introducing M.A.C Blush Ombre in Azalea Blossom.

Want your eyes to really pop? Then you simply must try M.A.C Blush Ombre in Azalea Blossom. Yes, this is actually a blush. No, that doesn't mean I've been using it on my cheeks.

The pink and purple swirled ombre hues in this blush lend themselves perfectly to a shade of fuchsia-lavender that makes my eyes look like no other shadow I've tried. It garners compliments from coworkers, fellow event-goers, even people on recent flights! I simply can't recommend it highly enough.

Unfortunately, M.A.C Blush Ombre in Azalea Blossom is no longer available.

Say it with Sparkle: Givenchy Hydra Sparkling Magic Lip & Cheek Balm

As a multitasker, I love multi-purpose products. Anything that can hit two or more beauty uses for me immediately gets my vote. The new Givenchy Hydra Sparkling Magic Lip & Cheek Balm is not only a huge time-saver, but it adds that little je ne sais quoi to your look instantly.

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Is It Wearable? NARS Cream Blush in Gold Member

“Wow.” That’s the only way I could describe NARS Cream Blush in Gold Member when I first saw the mega-wattage highlighter. There was no way I could wear this without looking like fool’s gold, or even worse, simply a fool. The intensity of the yellow was too intimidating for me, so I went looking for help.

At a NARS makeup counter recently, I was shown just how wearable (and versatile!) Gold Member can be. The makeup artist introduced 4 fabulous ways to work with the creamy formula –- and I loved them all! Check them out after the jump.

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A New Use for Bronzer: Make it a Blush!

With summer two months in, I now have a nice (if uneven) tan and need to change up my daily makeup a bit. I’ve found that after a weekend in the sun, pink blush is not the answer to my almost sunburned cheeks. Instead, I dream of the warm, golden glow that’s on all the ads with the women in expensive white bathing suits on yachts.

I decided to experiment with bronzers and use them in place of blush. After a few Lindsay Lohan (post Mean Girls) mishaps, I found two bronzers that create the perfect golden goddess look.

M.A.C Mineralize Skinfinish in Sunny by Nature ($27): This addition to the Mineralize Skinfinish line is part of the Colour Craft collection and keeps the colors fresh with a bit of metallic shimmer. The key is to find a fine powder bronzer -- this one is velvety soft -- that highlights your natural tan instead of just darkening the skin. This one is a rich bronze with swirls of pink pearl and gold highlights, which looks amazingly natural on any skin tone. If a golden goddess could blush, this would be the look.

Soleil Tan de Chanel 4 Facettes Bronzing Powder ($65): This is the one big ticket item for the perfect summer glow. Over the course of a summer, I’ll go through the whole spectrum of brown, and I’m loving that this powder bronzer keeps up with my chameleon skin. With a palette of four subtle, illuminating shades, I can either wear the colors alone or blend together the lighter shades in May and move onto the darker shades in August. The formula is extremely light and can be layered for effect or used to contour without ever looking dull or flat. Simply a healthy, gorgeous, perfect glow!

--Jennifer Lee

Disclosure: These products were furnished by PR representatives for M.A.C and Chanel, respectively.

Is It Wearable? M.A.C Just A Pinch Gel Blush

 
Introducing a new feature on The Beauty of Life: Is It Wearable?. It's about those colors you'd love to try but are afraid to wear out of the house. From turquoise eyeshadow to gold blush, we try it all. But the real catch? We're wearing these crazy colors DURING THE DAY.

A gel blush is great for the summer heat! It gives a hint of color and doesn’t streak when you sweat. But when I got the M.A.C Just A Pinch Gel Blush, my first thought was, “Pinched how hard?” The pot was vampire blood red! Could I wear this blush without looking like Bobo the Clown?

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Gorgeous Product Alert: M.A.C Naked Honey High-Light Powder in Honey Light

Well, M.A.C has done it again. They've created a product so beautiful I can't bring myself to actually use it. I think you'll agree that M.A.C Naked Honey High-Light Powder in Honey Light is undeniably beautiful.

This limited-edition powder was created specially for the Naked Honey collection -- which, you guessed it, has a honey theme! And I'm totally loving the pattern of this powder, which looks like an embossed honeycomb. Don't you think bees would just love to get their stingers on this?

If I can ever actually force myself to ruin the beautiful pattern, it will give me a lusciously bright glow. Maybe I'll dust it across my forehead and cheekbones and shoulders before brunch tomorrow to embrace the dog days of summer. Or maybe I'll just continue to leave it on my vanity as a beauty-themed paperweight!

Note: This product is no longer available.

Throbbing with Desire for Benefit Thrrrob

Once in awhile, a product comes along that not only performs amazingly well, but has such fantastically innovative packaging that you'd be a fool not to run out and buy it immediately. Such is the case with Benefit Thrrrob. The cheekily-named blush comes in a tiny box accented with a corseted ribbon design that just begs to be opened immediately.

Now, Benefit Thrrrob is by no means a new product. But considering I just made my first foray into the blush world within the last year -- with another Benefit product, coincidentally -- it's only natural that I would have just discovered Thrrrob's greatness.

The bright pink shade inside the box may seem a bit scary at first. But it actually applies like a dream and just leaves such a gorgeous flush upon the skin. The accompanying brush has flat, smooth bristles that spread the powder evenly across your cheeks. I actually like to sweep it very lightly all over my face to give it a bright flush and subtle dose of sparkle.

Benefit Thrrrob retails for $28 at benefitcosmetics.com.

The 9 Best Summer Bronzers

As temperatures heat up, thoughts turn to beach trips and sun-kissed skin. But if you're like this beauty chick, only a few minutes spent in the sun will turn you into a lobster! That's where these bronzers come in. I've rounded up the bronzers guaranteed to give you that gorgeous summer glow without any harmful UV rays. Discover my favorites after the jump.

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Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc Gilded Garden Creates a Floral Fantasy.

Laura Mercier has got to stop designing palettes that are so pretty I'm afraid to actually use them. Look at the latest Shimmer Bloc Compact, the Gilded Garden Mosaic, for example:

So gorgeous you can hardly stand it, right? This palette is truly a work of art. Fuchsia, purple and rose flowers dance across a shimmering pale pink ground with tonal raised daisies. It's fresh, youthful, flirty, fun ... and so pretty I really can't bring myself to actually use it.

I have a feeling this palette is going to sit atop my vanity staring at me for months, taunting me with its beauty. But can you blame me for not actually wanting to ruin its perfection?

Unfortunately, this product is no longer available.

Wallet-Friendly Wednesdays: Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in Peach Satin

A gorgeous rosy glow inspired by snow bunnies? Totally not impossible to mimic ... at least when you have Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in Peach Satin at the ready.

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Two-For Tuesdays: Tarte Berry Couture Limited-Edition All Natural Stain Set

After literally falling in love with blush a couple of weeks ago, I'm now on a mission to find all the shades and brands that work the best for me. And lo and behold, I came across the Berrylicious Cheek Stain from the new Berry Couture Limited-Edition All Natural Stain Set by Tarte.

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Lusts of the Week

How is everyone's week going so far? I'm doing pretty well, though I threw my back out the other day -- so I'm in pain! Luckily I have some beauty products perking me up while I lie on my back.

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Enter Another Dimension: Prescriptives Fall Dimensions Cheeks and Eyes

Do you remember the show Sliders, starring an absolutely adorable Jerry O'Connell? In each, he and his travel companions slid through different dimensions, trying desperately to get back to their own. (And the episode in which they actually were back in their own dimension and left without knowing it? Heart wrenching!)

All thoughts of Sliders aside, the new Fall Dimensions Eyes and Cheeks palette from Prescriptives totally makes my face look like it's entered another dimension ... the dimension of glowing, ethereal beauty!

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Confessions of a Blush Novice: The Truth Behind Benefit Posietint

I'm about to admit something shocking. I don't wear blush. There, I said it. Do you hate me? Really, I can explain. While I am very fair-skinned, my cheeks have a natural rosiness to them that lets me get away with going au naturel. But ever since I discovered Benefit Posietint, I've become a blushaholic. I can't help it ... it brightens, it pinkens, it tints to perfection.

Somehow, just a few tiny swipes across the apples of my cheeks with the miniature paintbrush make them look more alive than ever before. While the color looks a bit scary when first applied -- it's almost a Pepto Bismol shade of pink when right out of the bottle -- it blends into the skin effortlessly and becomes a gorgeous posy hue.

And can we just talk about how glam the bottle is? The metallic pink cover gleams and glistens, beckoning to me from within the rest of my makeup stash. It's just begging to be used -- and how could I deny it?

Blush addicts and novices alike should try this out. I'm betting your cheeks will thank you.

Benefit Posietint retails for $28 at benefitcosmetics.com.

Shimmer and Glow from Head to Toe: Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact

I have somewhat of an affinity for makeup palettes. No matter how many seem to accrue inside my makeup bag, I'm always trying to squeeze in just one more! But one that gets permanent time and attention both in my bag and in my daily makeup routine is the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact.

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Two-For Tuesdays: Smashbox O-Glow and O-Gloss Kit

"O" wow. Looking for that perfectly pink pout? Dying for that rosy-cheeked glow that comes from being out in the cold air all winter? The new O-Glow and O-Gloss Kit by Smashbox is definitely, well, "O"-inducing.

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Two-For Tuesdays: NARS Dolce Vita Set

It's Tuesday ... which means it's time for another new weekly column! And every Tuesday will be simply fabulous on The Beauty of Life because you'll get another dose of Two-For Tuesdays! What does this mean? Each Two-For Tuesdays column will feature not one, but two items that are packaged together to bring you double the joy!

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You Glow, Girl: Tarte Ready, Set, Glow Kit

A healthy glow is definitely on my top list of priorities. Winter or summer, rain or shine, this beauty chick loves to show a little shine! And Tarte's new Ready, Set, Glow Kit is jam-packed with glowifying essentials to take you from day to night in total style. Products for your cheeks, eyes, lips, even your decollete await in this glorious set of six Tarte goodies.

My absolute favorite is definitely the double-ended lipgloss in Elle & Emmett -- two sparkly pink shades that may not make you legally blonde, but will at least make you feel a little more like the spunky Elle Woods! You can also find:

Tarte Mini Cheek Stain in Tipsy (shimmery peach)
Rest Assured Brightening Wand (one end contains a pencil while the other has a cream that both really highlight your eyes and cheeks!)
Tarte Mineral Powder Bronzer in Park Avenue Princess (a glimmery taupe color, complete with two gold chains wrapped around the luxurious faux croc packaging)
Glistening Powder in Sugar Daddy (perfect for highlighting your ... umm ... assets!)

Note: This kit is no longer available.