Beautiful Belles: Audrey Hepburn

A series focusing on beautiful women throughout history with important contributions to the arts and entertainment industry and charity -- and a fabulous sense of beauty, inside and out!

That classic sophistication. Those red lips. That trademark bun. Those gorgeous high cheekbones. These words more than aptly describe the one and only Audrey Hepburn. Born May 4 in Belgium to an English banker and a Dutch baroness, Hepburn has become an icon around the world for her incomparable elegance. Who among us has not wanted to stand in front of Tiffany's wearing oversized sunglasses and an LBD looking absolutely and utterly perfect?

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First Look Fridays: Nancy of Beauty411

I am pleased to bring you this week's edition of First Look Fridays, featuring the lovely Nancy of Beauty411. Nancy is one of my fave beauty bloggers -- she has a zest for life and she's just one of the nicest, sweetest people I've met! Plus she has an innate knowledge of skincare and is just a fabulous writer. Read on to discover more about the amazing Nancy of Beauty411!

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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

Happy hump day, fellow beauty chicks! I am totally not happy about the dropping temperatures ... I'm just in denial over the fact that winter is upon us. I know it's December, but come on -- I still want to wear my new Juicy Couture plaid wool peacoat! Ah well ... I guess I'll have time for it next year. In any case, my skin has become quite ravaged by the falling temps -- which means it's time to break out the big guns in terms of products that will soften it back up ASAP! Here are the ones that have been doing the job admirably.

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Wallet-Friendly Wednesdays: Sweet Grass Farm Liquid Soap

I'm always on the lookout for new hand soaps to try. Softsoap just really doesn't seem to cut it in my book! And while Jaqua tends to make my soaps of choice (click here for my account on how fabulous they are), I am definitely aware that there are other amazing versions out there. So when I came across Sweet Grass Farm Liquid Soap, I simply had to give it a try.

And you know what? I am so, so glad I did. This stuff is seriously fabulous for so many reasons! Not only does it smell absolutely amazing (my fave scent is definitely Lavender), but it moisturizes and conditions my parched and winter-ravaged skin to the point of utter unbelievableness.

Formulated with natural glycerin and tons of vitamins, it really does work to keep skin soft and smooth. Sweet Grass Farm even claims it can be used as a body wash or shampoo! And while I've so far only tried it as a soap, I can definitely see how this could be true.

If Lavender isn't really your scent of choice, you can also try the following:

Fresh White Lilac
Lemon Verbena

Each scent is utterly refreshing and fragrant. And with the onset of winter, it's nice to have some summerness in the bathroom!

Sweet Grass Farm Liquid Soap retails for $8.95 at sweetgrassonline.com.

Holiday Gifts: Bumble and bumble Bb. Bandball

As a kid, there was nothing I found more fascinating than rubber band balls. (Well, maybe the Rubix Cube came a close second. How DO you solve that thing?) But I digress. I was completely and utterly fascinated by the fact that a bunch of seemingly uninteresting rubber bands could come together to form a ball of such substance. So when I came across the Bb. Bandball from Bumble and bumble, I knew it would be just perfect for Holiday Gifts.

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Two-For Tuesdays: Marc Jacobs Daisy Gift Set

Marc Jacobs Daisy, oh how I love thee. Let me count the ways.

1) You smell utterly and unbelievably fantastic.

2) You are housed in one of the cutest bottles I've ever seen.

3) You last for hours and you never become too close or cloying.

4) You keep coming up with new and interesting ways to draw me in, like with this new Gift Set.

Get the picture?

No matter how you slice it, Marc Jacobs Daisy is one of my true faves. And this Gift Set is definitely one of the most fab things I've seen in quite some time. And why, might you ask? Because not only does it include a 1.7oz Eau de Toilette Spray, but a Solid Perfume Ring comes along for the ride.

The fragrance itself is delightfully warm. Fruity notes of strawberry and ruby red grapefruit combine with floral notes of violet leaves, gardenia, violet and jasmine petals, topped off with rich notes of musk, vanilla and white woods. What this results in is a deep, intensely lovely scent that stays on the skin for hours yet never makes you feel like it's too close or strong.

Best of all, this set retails for $60 on sephora.com. Totally a bargain in the eyes of this daisy lover!

Beauty Giveaway: Philosophy Bring on the Bubbles!

It's time to get into the celebratory spirit. And what better way to do that than with a couple of products designed to help you celebrate the holiday season in style? I'm talking about none other than the Philosophy Bring on the Bubbles! gift set. One lucky winner will receive this gift set, valued at an impressive $20. It includes:

Pink Bubbly High Foaming Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath
Pink Bubbly Flavored Lip Shine

Entering is easy. Simply enter your name and email address in the box below, and check back on Monday, December 8 to see if you've won. It's that simple!



This giveaway is open to US residents only. Giveaway runs until Sunday, December 7 at 11:55pm EST. One entry per person, email address and IP address. Multiple entries will be disqualified.

Holiday Gifts: The Best Part of December!

December is here, and you know what that means ... it's time for tons of Holiday Gifts posts! Read The Beauty of Life throughout the month for tons of great gift ideas, spanning everything from hair and makeup to body and skincare. There's something out there for everyone, and this beauty chick will be bringing it to you all month long. So stay tuned!

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.

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