beauty in real life...: 6/1/08

Monday, June 30, 2008

burt's bees winners

We have randomly chosen 5 winners for the Burt's Bees giveaway.....

Ashleigh M, Zoe, Kelly H., Heather C., Kristen H.

If you are one of the five, please contact us at beautyinreallifecontests@gmail.com with your name, email address and mailing address. As what was mentioned in the giveaway, we have to forward your information to Burt's Bees so that they can send you your Radiance Kit.

Congratulations to those who won and thank you to everyone who entered!

Everyone should come back tomorrow, I have a feeling you won't be disappointed....

with love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

dr. brandt microdermabrasion body

We love that beauty companies are getting the fact, that many of us like to treat our bodies to the same quality ingredients that we apply to our gorgeous faces.

Well, Dr. Brandt...whose skincare line is just amazing by the way...has come out with a product specifically for the body.

Called Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Body ($45) it promises to soften your heels, knees, and elbows, revive dull skin, and work on improving those little tiny bumps on your arms and thighs (called Chicken Skin or...more accurately Keratosis Pilaris).

All for much less than the cost of an actual office visit!

We think we're in love.

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine
photo courtesy of dr. brandt skincare
proud members of total beauty and the bbn networks

this just in...one new lippie winner is chosen

Wow?

Seriously?

We've only been contacted by one of the two new winners...and that person's time is up.

So....

Let's try this one more time.

They say third time's a charm right?

Okay...our new winner is Erica P.

You will be receiving an email from me very shortly. Please check your spam box too. You will have 48 hours to respond. If you don't reply with your address...we will choose another winner.

So...uh...contact us...would you please?

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

lavilin natural deodorant cream

I had the chance to try Lavilin Natural Deodorant Cream ($14.50 at the vermont country store) a couple of weeks ago. I have to admit, it's been sitting in my closet for most of the time, because I was afraid to try it.

Why?

Well, it's labeled as a natural deodorant that can last up to 7 days with one application.

7 days.

Sure.

And you only need a little bit for it to work.

Yeah right.

Now do you see why it's been sitting in my closet?

I decided to take it down and give it a whirl, only after reading some other reviews around the blogging world. To say I was skeptic, would be a gross understatement. But, I applied the product according to the directions and surprised myself.

The stuff actually worked.

Did it last for seven days, before having to be reapplied?

No. But keep in mind I am a serious sweater.

So the fact that it lasted for almost four days blew my mind...considering I was sweating like mad in the heat, that's major too. While I did have a little bit of wetness by the third day, there were definitely no yucky smells under there until the next day.

Believe me, I checked and I asked Big L to check.

Gotta love a man that'll do that.

How does it do it, considering it's all natural?

Well, they found a way to kill the bacteria that causes odor. They use a combination of ingredients...chamomile, calendula, and arnica...that stops stankiness dead in its tracks.

Now that's what I'm talking about.

They also put out a foot cream called Lavilin's Foot Deodorant (try lavilin.com for more information), that uses the same principles. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm trying to catch Big L when he's sleeping and slap some on his tootsies.

Don't judge me.

I love the man, but seriously....you haven't smelled them after he's been on his feet all day and they've been crammed into boots.

Not good. Trust me. Not good at all.

Jennifer
photo courtesy of vermont country store

rescue your nails... ji baek

I think that I am probably the oldest subscriber to Teen Vogue.

It's actually the only teen magazine that I get for a couple of reasons...

1. Teen Vogue is way cooler than any teen magazine that existed when I was younger...and you can incorporate their makeup and fashion trends into your wardrobe and routine.

2. I got a subscription for this and regular Vogue, on amazon.com, for the most amazingly sweet deal.

Checking out my August issue that arrived yesterday...thank you very much...I zoned in on a quick little article on Ji Baek.

If you don't know who she is...you're about to.

She's the founder of Rescue Beauty Lounge nail spas in NYC. You know...the ones that women flock to in droves?

And she's so incredibly cute, it's ridiculous.

Anyway, she has a new book out called Rescue Your Nails: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Perfect Fingers & Toes ($11 amazon.com).

It's a book I'm actually thinking about buying, considering I have nothing like this at home. Plus, it's a chance to hear some great information and tips.

She gives a couple in TV...just for a tease.

Here's one...eye cream is great for softening cuticles. She doesn't give a particular one, but I always just rub in the extra cream after I apply mine under my eyes. Also, if you ever get a gwp and you positively hate the eye cream (or face cream) they give you...I would definitely keep it in your nightstand drawer and apply that to your cuticles as well. Just a suggestion.

Another one...sterilize your metal tools by putting them in boiling water. Good advice considering I tend to use my tools after just giving them a quick swipe with alcohol. So, clearly my sterilization technique needs an upgrade.

She also shares some of her fave products and I am loving her nail color selection. Gorgeous.

Looks like I am going to have to grab Christine and plan a girls night with a mani and a movie.

That is...unless I could convince Big L that blue would look great on his toes. Hmmmmm.

Jennifer
photo courtesy of amazon.com
proud members of total beauty and the bbn networks

Sunday, June 29, 2008

hey guys...just a little fyi

Hey everyone!

We haven't forgotten you. We're just spending a little time with our families.

We'll be back tomorrow to announce the 5 winners in the Burt's Bees Giveaway, as well as announce the new winner in the Lippie Extravaganza.

We want to wait until Monday, in case people are traveling on their weekends...just to make it fair for everyone.

Until then, why not visit some of our friends.

Tink over at Casual Lavish has a great how-to for some major beach waves. Check it out here.

Or stick around and check out some of our older posts, either way, it's nice having you here.

with love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

Saturday, June 28, 2008

under a million...are you serious?

Okay...you have probably seen this little box with these really crazy numbers down our side column...right?

And you've probably wondered what the heck they were all about.

Well, they have to do with our Alexa ranking.

Basically it's our ranking among all of the blogs and websites that exist on the Internet. All of them.

We're talking in the several millions here people.

The lower your number, the higher the rank.

To be under a million when we've really only been up and running since February 11, 2008, is just unbelievable.

And, to be honest, it's really all because of you.

Our readers.

You keep coming back for more and...well...that's just amazing.

So...thank you...from the bottom of our hearts.

And please stick around...we're just getting started.

with love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

beauty deal of the week...tarte cosmetics

We love a freebie.

Well...really...who doesn't.

Right now, over at tartecosmetics.com you can get this Sunburst Beaded Bronzing Facial Moisturizer ($28) absolutely free!

How, you ask?

All you have to do is purchase $50 worth of other divine Tarte goodies, add a Sunburst Facial Beaded Bronzing Moisturizer to your basket, and at checkout enter the code BRONZE to receive your Sunburst for free*!

This offer is only going on from June 20, 2008 - July 20, 2008...or until supplies last.

So hurry your gorgeous little self over to tartecosmetics.com, to take advantage of this phenomenal deal.

with love (always),
Jennifer and Christine
photo courtesy of tarte cosmetics

*Valid only at www. tartecosmetics. com while supplies last. May not be combined with any other offer. Not valid on previous purchases. Not redeemable for cash or credit. Tarte reserves the right to cancel any order due to unauthorized use. Free product does not count as a 3rd product to qualify for free shipping. Offer valid from June 20, 2008- July 20, 2008. Expires July 20, 2008 11:59pm EST

weekend reads...from the beauty blog network

Hello darlings! Here's some reading material from our friends over at The Beauty Blog Network. Enjoy!

Melissa from The Makeup Divas reviews and shares photos of eye shadows and slimshines from the Mac Cool Heat Collection.

A Touch of Blusher looks at Dior's fall 2008 makeup collection.

Still confused about products that use the words NATURAL, ORGANIC and PURE on their packaging? Cybelesays discovers an organization that's setting a standard with their seal and some big indy brands are joining up.

Beauty Banter uncovers the most important sweatproof beauty products of the summer - a sweaty face is SO 2007!!!

Are you ready for a Warm Chill? Roselyn from Makeup Makes Me Happy™ is also raving about the latest collection from MAC Cosmetics. Here she gives us another wonderful makeup tutorial featuring the cool blue hues from MAC's Cool Heat.

Beauty Anonymous reviews La Mer The SPF 18 Fluid Tint.

Get your summer beauty fix with The Daily Cookie's coverage of Nordstrom's Beauty Trend Show in 3 parts - Summer in the City, Get the Look, and All About the Tan!

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic finds her new favorite hot weather fragrance, Elizabeth Arden's Green Tea Lotus!

The Muse decides to saw her Urban Decay Primer Potion in half and make the most of it!.

Beyond Beauty Basics is having a Burt's Bees Radiance Kit Giveaway in honor of National Pollinator Week June 22-28. Comment and win an assortment of natural personal care products!

Makeup Moxie dishes on her favorite way to practice safe sun in this face sunscreen review.

Beauty Blogging Junkie tells you how to channel Gossip Girl's Serena van der Woodsen here.

The Fragrance Fanatic tells you some great ways to Wear Your Fragrance.

Beautiful Makeup Search picks out some products from the Shu Uemura 25th Boutique Birthday collection.

Come join The Life of a Ladybug's no!no! giveaway! All you have to do is enter your name and e-mail address and you have a chance to win a brand new no!no! hair removal device!

The fabulous ladies of Beauty in Real Life, have the details on the N.Y.C. Color Big Apple Bronze Summer Collection.

Have you tried Yes To Carrots Lip Balm? Face Candy tells you what she thinks of it.

Every day this week, Spoiled Pretty is giving away a chic summer bag, filled with beauty booty to help you beat the heat. This series of giveaways is all that and a bag of products! Enter today!

Summer heat doing a number on your skin? Beauty411 shares how the new June Jacobs Cooling and Soothing Masque can help you beat the heat and improve your skin!

Makeup Junkie shares a new Makeup Obsession!

Pursebuzz.com reviews her favorite tinted moisturizer. Clinique Moisture Tint :) See why I love it so much here.

Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog shows you how to create a light purple and blue eye with MAC Cosmetics.

The Beauty of Life is giving away over $100 worth of Lisa Hoffman products! Click here to enter!

Have a great weekend!

with love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

weekend reads....from total beauty

Here is what's going on in the world of Total Beauty this weekend.....

Are you ready for a Warm Chill? Roselyn from Makeup Makes Me Happy™ is raving about the latest limited edition collection from MAC Cosmetics. Here she gives us a fabulous makeup
tutorial featuring the coolblue hues from MAC's Cool Heat.

Who is the THEVI Woman? Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog introduces you to the new line of cosmetics for the NEW ethnic woman.

Does the T3 In-Salon Treatments Really Worth it?

Viva Woman compares compact, mineral and loose powder foundation and finds out which is better based on coverage, skin type, formulation, convenience and affordability.

The Muse saws open her Urban Decay Potion Primer and finds out how to make the most of it!

Meredith at Daily Dose of Coffee finally checks out MAC'sTendertones and thinks that it's a product worth keeping in your makeup bag.

Beauty's Spot is tangled up in shades of orange this summer as Nars Lip Lacquer in Capucine has stolen her heart.

Beauty Anonymous reviews Corioliss Pro Black Flat Iron!

Tink at Casual Lavish provides a step by step BeachWaves hair tutorial. Get your summer groove on with some fun waves and have fun!!

Monique at Beauty Girl Musings has discovered a new, more grown-up scent that she adores!

Top 10 Celebrity Hair Stylists Hair Tips by Talking Makeup.

Come join The Life of a Ladybug's no!no! giveaway! All you have to do is enter your name and e-mail address and you have a chance to win a brand new no!no! hair removal device!

Jeanne at Periodic Style is dealing with a self-tanning mishap...

Summer heat doing a number on your skin? Beauty411 shares how the new June Jacobs Cooling and Soothing Masque can help you beat the heat and improve your skin!

Makeup Junkie shares a new Makeup Obsession and it's not lip gloss!

Beauty Tyrant is virtually poreless now, thanks to her Pore-fect Idealist. Find out how this product makes it to her Holy Grail!

The Beauty of Life is giving away over $100 in Lisa Hoffman products! Click here to enter!

Melissa from The Makeup Divas reviews and shares photos of eye shadows and slimshines from the Mac Cool Heat Collection.

Have a happy weekend!

with love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

Friday, June 27, 2008

this just in...some tips to perfect your pout

What do the pros do when they need a model's lips to look gorgeous...yesterday?

Well, first Mathew Nigara uses Smashbox Emulsion Lip Exfoliant ($18) to get rid of the icky flakes.

Then he wipes it away with a washcloth that has been soaked in baby oil. The baby oil (of course) helps to make the lips soft and drench them with moisture.

He applies Laura Mercier Skincare Lip Silk ($20) as a final step, so that anything added on top goes on smoothly and evenly. As a bonus, it also increases circulation in the lips making them look naturally rosy.

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine
photo courtesy of flikr.com
info courtesy of allure mag

patricia wexler - skincare tips for your 20's, 30's, and 40's

I used to have an Uncle Louie.

He was the nicest guy around, a true Italian through and through.

You know how people always take a couple of years off of their age, to seem younger?

Well, Uncle Louie had a better idea.

He would tell everyone he was ten years older than he actually was.

Think about it. It's genius actually.

Say you're really 35...tell everyone you're 45. Believe me, they won't be able to get over how young you look.

And that's the reaction Uncle Louie got, pretty much everywhere he went.

In case you really want to be able to defy nature and really look like you are ten years younger than your actual age...here's some tips from the phenomenal Dr. Patricia Wexler.

In our 20’s, sun exposure may have already caused freckling, pigmentation and fine lines most obviously around the eyes.

Tip: A good skincare regimen including daily exfoliation and moisturizing with an SPF of 30 will ensure youthful skin and thwart wrinkles from developing.
Try: Patricia Wexler, M.D. Dermatology Universal Anti-Aging Moisturizer SPF30

Tip: Use at least one anti-aging product to prevent further damage to collagen and elastic tissue.
Try: Patricia Wexler, M.D. Dermatology Universal Anti-Aging Cleanser

In our 30’s, etched lines become more exaggerated especially around the eyes, and forehead. Stress and hormone manipulation may require adult acne relief. Men are particularly prone to follculitius of the beard, which can be treated with topical salicylic acid, exfoliation, and topical antibiotics.

Tip: Avoid smoking, wear large sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection to protect the delicate eye area.
Try: Patricia Wexler M.D. Dermatology Intensive 3-in-1 Eye Cream

Tip: Use antibacterial but not drying solutions. It is vital to incorporate your acne regimen into your anti-aging routine.
Try: Patricia Wexler M.D. Acnescription Exfoliating Acne Cleanser and Overnight Acne Repair Lotion

In our 40’s, lines previously only seen with movement become visible at rest.

Tip: Use products that contain peptides for immediate relaxation of lines while promoting long term collagen and elastic stimulation. In addition, line fillers containing dermaxyl and polysilicone will give immediate improvement in the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
Try: Patrica Wexler M.D. Dermatology Fastscription No-Injection Line Filler for Lips and Eyes

Tip: Pigmentation and dull sun damaged skin can be treated with glycolic peels, micro dermabrasion, and skin brightening moisturizers with peptides like Haloxyl and botanical brighteners.
Try: Patricia Wexler M.D Dermatology Resurfacing Microbrasion System and Skin Brightening Daily Moisturizer SPF30

I'd like to thank Dr. Wexler, for taking the time to give us this great information and I'd like to thank my Uncle Louie, for being the coolest Uncle that ever lived.

Jennifer
photo courtesy of bath and body works

clinique happy in bloom limited edition

You know you've smelled her before.

That woman.

You know who I mean.

The one who you can smell minutes before she enters the room?

The one who showered herself with her Eau de Stinky perfume, before she left her house?

That one?

Wow.

Just out of curiosity...why would anyone want to do that?

And why won't anyone tap them on the shoulder and say...uh...could you maybe stand way over there? Thanks.

That's why I love scents that are lightly sweet and fresh. And that's why I'm adoring Clinique Happy in Bloom ($38.50).

It contains just the right hints of florals and citrus that smell heavenly to me.

Plus the bottle is just too precious for words. I mean, come on, I'm a sucker for anything pink and flowery.

You'd better act now though. It is a limited edition after all.

By the way, over at clinique.com they are offering free shipping with any purchase of $50 or more.

What to add to your list?

Well...how about their best selling Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss ($13.50)?

Not only will it give your pucker an instant color boost, it will also keep your lips moist and protect them with antioxidants.

See?

Now you can smell nice and be all kissable too.

You can thank me later.

Jennifer
photos courtesy of clinique.com
proud member of total beauty and the bbn network

estee lauder bronze goddess soft matte bronzer

I remember the days when my older sister would sit out in the sun, applying a combination of baby oil and iodine drops to get the perfect tan.

She would also use one of those big reflectors held under her chin, to direct the sun to her face.

Uh...yeah.

How she's not as wrinkled and leathery as an old worn out chair is anybody's guess.

Now-a-days, the best choice for the perfect tan is bronzer.

I'm loving this matte bronzer from Estee Lauder.

First of all...it's a ginormous compact. Seriously, it's huge.

Plus it comes with a soft brush to apply it with.

Who doesn't love extras?

Just take the brush and apply the bronzer to the parts of your face, where the sun would naturally hit. You can also apply it to your shoulders and chest as well. Use a light hand, because you can always add more.

Because it's matte, it gives your skin a believable sun kissed look that's great for daytime.

Want to really kick it up a notch?

Apply their Tender Blush in Rose Nuance ($25) to the apples of your cheeks, for a gorgeous pop of color.

Finish off with some gloss and mascara...and you're stopping traffic honey.

Jennifer
photos courtesy of esteelauder.com
proud member of total beauty and the bbn networks

Thursday, June 26, 2008

n.y.c. new york color - big apple bronze summer makeup collection

This is the N.Y.C. Big Apple Collection. It will be available in July and features some really great products at an even greater price.

Here's the scoop.

It's a collection of bronzers, shadows and glosses to give a little pop of color in the Summer months...without having to worry about damaging your skin by tanning.

Does anyone actually tan outside anymore?

We're loving the gorgeous colors and love how you can mix and match these drugstore finds into other parts of your makeup collection.

One of our faves?

The Bronze and Glow Highlighter. It's a liquid highlighter that blends in effortlessly and gives just the right amount of sun kissed goodness, right where you need it. We love applying it to spots where the sun would naturally hit, but...really...the application possibilities are endless. Comes in two colors, Hampton Glow and Fire Island Glow.

Here's the rest of the scoop:

SWEET CHEEKS BRONZER a really adorable compact with the sweetest sun imprint. Allows you to layer your bronze-y glow a little or a lot. Check out Bronx Beauty or Brooklyn Babe.

LIP CANDY LIP GLOSS we're addicted...seriously. It smells so yummy and comes with three colors that you can blend, or apply separately. What's not to love? Available in Soho Sweetheart and Soho Sweet Tart.

EYE CANDY EYESHADOW hello...five colors? There is nothing more we need to add. Comes in Coney Island Beach and Brighton Beach.

BRUSH 'N BRONZE BRONZING POWDER coolest product of the bunch, with the most easy to use applicator. The brush is the packaging. Genius. Get it in Long Beach Bronze or Rockaway Beach Bronze.

The Big Apple Collection is available at select retailers (head on over to newyorkcolor.com to find a list of retailers). Everything in the Collection is priced from $3.99 to $5.99. How great is that?!

And stay tuned for product reviews from this collection. They should be coming soon!

with love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

tarte lash stain 4 day stay

Tarte's new 4 Day Stay ($18) is a lash stain with PolyFlex™ technology just hit stores in May. Just in time for all the fun in the sun.

According to Tarte, the 4 Day Stay is designed to keep lashes looking naturally full for 4 days without reapplying! Our new PolyFlex™ technology allows mineral derived pigments to adhere to lashes for extended wear-time while keeping them soft and flexible – so whether you’re hitting the pool or hitting the shower this gentle lash stain will keep lashes looking fresh, and won’t fade or flake!

skinvigorating™ ingredients:

water
provitamin B5
mineral pigments
PolyFlex™ technology: tarte’s proprietary polymer blend. It allows natural mineral pigments to adhere to lashes for up to for 4 days while remaining supple and flexible.

Other skinvigorating™ benefits:

synthetic dye free
mineral oil free
petro-chemical free
sulfate free
fragrance free

A BIG important thing to mention here is to avoid ALL oil-based products around the eye area while wearing 4 day stay lash stain...this means ANYTHING with oil (eye makeup removers).

I am still in the process of trying this product out. I have only tried it a couple of times and I have to admit I have not left it on for 4 days. I have too much of a routine going on and by the time I realize what has happened the makeup remover has already been applied and it's too late. My goal next week is to put it on Monday and see how long I can go. So far, I do like how the brush is curved. It really helps get into the inner corner of the eye.

It is available at Sephora, sephora.com, tartecosmetics.com and any where else you can find Tarte.

Christine
photo courtesy of sephora.com

velashape - white tea spa, nyc

Admit it...you never thought about it in your teens.

Probably not in your twenties.

But then, in your thirties, it hits you like a sock filled with ricotta cheese...cellulite.

It's not even like it's just a problem for those that are extremely overweight. Anyone can have cellulite.

Sandra Mendez, the co-owner of White Tea Spa, thinks she might have the answer we've been looking for...

VelaShape™ has been added to the spa menu, as a secret weapon to aid in cellulite reduction.

Here's the nitty-gritty...

The VelaShape device has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) pre-marketing clearance for the temporary reduction of the appearance of cellulite, as well as temporary reduction of thigh circumference.

We don't know about you, but the chance to have our thigh circumferences improved in such a gorgeous setting, had us at hello.

Add to that the fact that they claim visible results in four visits, makes us want to book our first visit now*.

Head on over to whiteteaspa.com for more information on pricing and how to book an appointment.

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine
photos courtesy of white tea spa nyc

*Now before you start firing up the comment section...yes we know that cellulite is hereditary. Yes, we also know that barring any crazy medical procedures, it's there to stay. But understand that they are honestly pointing out that the results are temporary and we give them credit for that.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

this just in...two new lippie winners chosen!

Okay...this is take two.

Two out of the five winners from our Lippie Extravaganza have still not contacted us...and it's officially past the deadline. So...we've chosen two others from the entries that we received.

They are...Sarah J. and Carie W.

You should both be receiving an email from me, letting you know that you've won and to reply with your address.

Failure to reply within 48 hours will mean that you forfeit your prize and someone else will be chosen.

Honestly, if we don't get contacted back this time, I'm just giving up.

*Update...so now we're just waiting for Carie W. to contact us. Sarah J. apparently found hers in her spam box...so...you might want to check there Carie.

Jennifer

le metier de beaute blonzer powder

This is definitely going on my list of must check out soon items.

Le Metier de Beaute Blonzer Powder ($58) has me intrigued.

Described as sort of a hybrid of blush and bronzer, it's apparently able to suit nearly every skin tone.

Whether this is actually true, remains to be seen.

Either way, I like saying Blonzer.

Is it just me, or does it sound like a G.L.O.W.* name.

Like...ladies and gentleman...make way for the for the Blonzer!

Yeah...it's just me.

Jennifer
photo courtesy of neiman marcus

*Okay...really going back a little here. If you recognise that acronym as standing for the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling...you watched way too much TV as a kid...like me. : )

tattoo potion number 1 sun protection

This is the true story, of how I stopped a friend from getting the worst tattoo in the history of tattoos.

It's the early 1990's.

We're in a tattoo parlour checking out the books. C (my friend) is waiting for the guy who owns the place to come back and do her tattoo.

She's been waiting for a while and getting a little impatient.

Another tattoo artist is there and asks her what she was thinking about getting. It's kind of starting to look like C is going to go with him, if he can let her see what she wants.

I'm thinking (at this point) that this isn't the Hair Cuttery and she shouldn't just take the next tattoo artist that's up. I mean if you really think about it, a bad haircut will grow out, an ugly tattoo is there for life.

Anyway, the guy is asking her what she's looking for and she says she wants a cute turtle...kind of cartoonish looking...small...for her ankle

Easy huh?

Wrong.

He proceeds to draw the ugliest turtle in the history of ugly turtles.

I mean...it was actually scary looking...the stuff nightmares are made out of.

She looks at me for help and I say...well...maybe a little more cartoony (emphasis on the cartoon here people) and maybe a little cuter?

Then C says and wearing a top hat.

He proceeds to draw THE EXACT SAME TURTLE DANCING WITH A TOP HAT!!

He looks at her like he just finished drawing the Mona Lisa or something and says...okay...are you ready to get it?

She's looking at me for help and I actually think she's considering getting it so she won't hurt the guy's feelings, or some crazy thing like that.

I look at her like she's insane, turn to the guy and say...uh...no...thank you (Mr. Blade or Weasel or whatever your name is)...she'll just wait for the owner.

So crisis averted.

She did eventually get the tattoo she wanted, from the owner...who coincidentally did mine too.

Don't freak out. It's a small tattoo of a dolphin on my ankle...nothing ginormous or in a spot that will sag with time.

What does this have to do with the lotion you see here?

Well, after you get a tattoo, you should of course take care of it. I mean, it's going to be a part of you for life.

This is a one of the products in a new line of tattoo after-care.

It's genius, because anyone with a tattoo knows you should always cover it up with sunscreen before heading out in the sun.

Tattoo Potion Number 1 with SPF 30 ($19.99) is made with all natural ingredients to keep your skin feeling smooth and healthy, while protecting your tat from fading.

Counting tapioca as an ingredient, it's reportedly able to keep sand from sticking to your body as well.

With two other products in their line...Tattoo Potion Number 9 Aftercare and Tattoo Potion Number 7 Longevity...they plan on keeping your tattoos looking their best.

I don't think they can do anything for ugly dancing turtles though.

Jennifer
photo courtesy of tattoopotion.com

beauty bytes

Here's a little something to get you over your Wednesday...from some of our friends at Total Beauty and The Beauty Blog Network.

Enjoy!

Alison of the Advice Sisters Guide to Life, Success & Happiness Blog has discovered Skin Glow Salt Scrub by Tanzotic and a beautiful side to the ugly but amazing, emu!

The Muse reviews Vincent Longo's new Liquid Eye Shadow from the Vincent Longo Beautiful Dream Summer Collection!!

Frappelattes raves about her favorite pink Estee Lauder firming eye cream!

Toya of The Life of A Ladybug continues her "Bronzers for Brown Girls" series with a review of the fabulous NARS Blush/Bronzer Duo in Sin/Casino!

Daily Dose of Coffee reviews L'Oreal's Sublime Bronze Spray Bronzer. Another spray bronzer that doesn't make a huge mess.

The girls over at Beauty in Real Life, give you the secret to applying eyeliner like a pro.

Monique at Beauty Girl Musings shares another reason why she is falling in love with Redpoint Cosmetics.

Talking Makeup's Top 10 Celebrity Beauty Secrets!

Vanessa from Nessasary Makeup hits the Pasadena Makeup Convention and shows some seriously awesome photos from the event!

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

5 minutes, 5 questions with fatima olive

We could not let the fabulous Fatima Olive go away, without asking her some questions in our 5 Minutes interview column.

So sit back, relax, and read on...

1. In your opinion, what is the one mistake most women make when it comes to applying their makeup?
The biggest mistake most women make is not taking care of their skin/themselves, and consequently using makeup as a band-aid.

I feel as women we always put everyone’s needs ahead of our own.

So at night, instead of taking 5 minutes to take care of our skin, we pack the lunches or fold the laundry, or send that email we needed to get out. You’d be surprised how many women confess that they some time sleep with their make up on.

I just try to make skin care part of my ritual, like brushing my teeth….. I put my skin care scrub and masque in the shower so I will use it…..It’s the little things we do daily that add up in the end.

Skin and it’s beauty are the most crucial part of any makeup application. I believe make up should enhance the skin not mask it. You want to get compliments on how great you look, not how great your make up looks.

By the way, some of the best things you can do for skin don’t always come in a bottle. Drinking water, exercising/reducing stress, and eating well, will work wonders for the skin!

2. Can you give our readers an easy five-minute look for daytime?

~Start with a tinted moisturizer with SPF. This will moisturize, even out the skin tone, and give you sun protection in one easy step.

~Apply a Cream blush that can double as a lip tint, be sure to chose a color that looks like what your skin looks like when you blush.

~Apply brow gel to groom the brows and make the eyes look finished (don’t forget to tweeze the brows prior to makeup application).

~Last step, black mascara frames the eyes and makes you look more awake.

3. How about a five-minute look for nighttime?

~Assuming you already have some make up on I would say touch up darkness or discoloration with concealer, make sure the color matches the skin perfectly.

~Use a brush and give your face a light dusting of a translucent powder. Then, using the same brush, apply a powder blush with a bit of shimmer to give the skin a beautiful glow.

~Take a black or chocolate pencil and apply at the upper lash line. Be sure to smudge it right into the lashes (this will make the lashes appear thicker).

~Apply one or two more coats of mascara separating the lashes between coats.

~Apply a lip-gloss in a neutral tone to finish the face.

4. What are the top three beauty products that you can't live without?

1. Cream blush because I believe it looks the most natural on the skin and blushing skin always looks healthy.

2. Mascara because it opens the eyes with out looking as if you are wearing a lot of make up (I think everyone can wear black).

3. Lip balm/moisturizer...this can do double duty prepping the lips and also work with a lipstick to make it more sheer.

5. Can you tell us the best piece of beauty advice you've ever received?

Less is more!!!!! Without a doubt the right product, in the right shade, applied lightly can do more than a truckload of Spackle!!!

Okay...it's official...we love her.

If we can finagle it, this won't be the last we hear of Fatima. With September right around the corner, we smell some makeup tips for Fall.

Stay tuned!

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

spinlash

I know you have probably already read other reviews about Spinlash, but I thought I would give you my spin on it.

Hee hee, "spin on it" because it's Spinlash.

Oh man...cold medicine makes me funny.

Let's hope the rest of this makes any sense.

So, Spinlash is a mascara wand that rotates to help apply your mascara better. It spins in 2 different directions to help you depending on how you are holding it or where you are applying it. It comes with it's own tube of mascara that locks onto the wand, but you can also use it after you have applied other mascara to get rid of any clumps.

I have used it primarily to get rid of any excess mascara that I have already applied. You know, when you think one more coat would be great but you were wrong and it ended up being one too many. Well, use the Spinlash and it separates and gets rid of clumps beautifully.

The only downside to the Spinlash is that you can't change the batteries in it. It's supposed to last 90 days (the length of time you are supposed to keep mascara). Considering it's $14.95 and I only use it as an electronic mascara brush, I don't think I would buy it just for this use. If I were to use the mascara that came with it, then it would be worth the $15.

I did try the mascara that came with it once. It wasn't my cup of tea. Since I started using the CoverGril LashBlast, there are very few mascaras that can compare.

If you haven't tried out the Spinlash yet, stay tuned to beauty in real life and a few of you may be able to give us your spin on it. wink, wink

Christine
photo courtesy of spinlash.com

oopsy daisy beautiful baby

This line of baby care products is pure genius!

I wish I had known about this about 2 years ago when my darling MJ was first learning how to eat something that wasn't in a bottle. I still have nightmares about cleaning the walls in that kitchen. Even now, there are nights when a bath is just not in the cards. Or on non-bath nights, MJ always seems to know and somehow slide down a grass hill or just can't help himself and has to jump in the puddle in the parking lot.

The Oopsy Daisy Beautiful Baby line was created by a mom who was inspired to invent High Chair Hair Care after one too many spaghetti slinging episodes with her two daughters. After endless searching for a quick, no rinse cleaning solution, only to come up empty handed, she decided to create her own.

Jenn tried out the High Chair Hair Care ($18) on Little L and noticed that it left his hair really clean and soft. She also mentioned it smelled really nice. The Hair Care contains all-natural orange, vanilla and lavender scents. And it works by putting the foam into your child's dry hair, wipe away, brush and go. Really, it's that easy.

On MJ I have been trying out the No Bath Bubble Bath ($18). It's a no water needed--way to quickly clean up hands covered in dirt, faces hiding behind chocolate pudding, or whatever your curious kid gets into. And it has the essential oils of lemon verbena and lavender, so, it smells really nice as well. And it also works really well and I have seriously thought about getting one for the car, diaper bag and each floor of my house. I love my son, but he's a boy... who's about to be 3. Clean just isn't in his vocabulary yet.

There is also Pip Squeaky Clean (an all-natural shampoo and body wash), Cutie Pie Curlz (an all-natural leave-in conditioner), and Kiddo Kream (an all-natural head to toe moisturizer infused with Shea butter, aloe and jojoba oil). All products are available at oopsydaisybb.com.

No more stares as I walk through the mall wondering what people are staring at, only to realize MJ is covered in his snack or juice or whatever else he manages to find and only having wipes to help me out.

Christine
photo courtesy of oopsydaisybb.com

we've been tagged....again...

One of our favorite beauty bloggers Carleen over at Beauty and Fashion Tech, tagged us...well...a while ago...and it's taken us a while to post this so...here goes.

We are always on the lookout for new products to try and love trying just about anything. But here is a list of our favorite beauty secrets (at the moment):

My Foundation:

Jenn: Redpoint Dual Foundation in Medium

Christine: Clinique Almost Makeup

My Mascara:

Jenn: Chanel's Inimitable and Bobbi Brown's Everything Mascara

Christine: CoverGirl LashBlast and Estee Lauder Double Wear

My Blush:

Jenn: Redpoint Blushwhip and Nars Orgasm

Christine: Bobbi Brown Powder Blush in Desert Rose, Tarte Cheek Stain

My Eye Shadow:

Jenn: Clinique Quick Eyes in Sea Shell

Christine: powder and creme shadows from Bobbi Brown, Clinique Quick Eyes, and Rimmel eyeshadows

My Day Cream:

Jenn: Olay Definity SPF 15 and iQ Derma Life Without Wrinkles Day Cream

Christine: Neutrogena's Anti-Oxidant Age Reverse SPF 20 and Olay Definity SPF 15

My Lipstick:

Jenn: Bobbi Brown Lipsticks or Lipglosses (too many to list here), Clinique Long Last Glosswear, my Chanel Glossimers....who am I kidding here...any gloss is my favorite!

Christine: Hourglass Lip Gloss, MAC Viva Glam, Clinique Almost Lipstick, Burt's Bees Lip Balm

My Beauty Product Brand:

Jenn: there are too many to mention here as I seem to have faves from each line...but three of my fave brands are Chanel, Bobbi Brown, and Kerastase.

Christine: Bobbi Brown, Kiehl's....but I too have a favorite for almost every line that I have tried

My Essential Beauty Product:

Jenn: anything hair related...if the hair ain't right, nothing else matters.

Christine: mascara and lip gloss

My Favorite Makeup Product:

Jenn: Hmmmm....this is a tough one. I swear I tend to fluctuate between brands because we get to review so many...I'll day the Redpoint Dual Foundation because I've been using it a lot lately.

Christine: same as Jenn, I have too many to mention but I am sort of lovin' the Tarte Cheek Stain lately and Benefit's Brightening Primer.

My Perfume:

Jenn: I switch around a lot. I like Bobbi Brown's Beach, almost any of the Jo Malone scents, Daisy, and Juicy by Juicy Couture...also anything citrus, fresh, and light.

Christine: Marc Jacobs Daisy, Clinique's Happy and Banana Republic's W

My Nails:

Jenn: OPI, Chanel and Essie

Christine: OPI, Essie, Sally Hanson, Chanel, Revlon

My Feet:

Jenn: I agree with Amber from Beauty Blogging Junkie...Aquaphor is such an amazing product to use on my heels. And a pedi at least once a month in the warmer months.

Christine: Olay Thermal Pedicure, Kiehl's Creme de Corps and a good pedi as often as I can go

Jenn: Second that on the Kiehl's Creme de Corps.

My Hands:

Jenn: so far my fave is the cheapest...Vaseline Hand and Nail Cream (Pink Tube)...but the one from Jan Marini comes in for a close second.

Christine: Kiehl's Creme de Corps, Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme

Three Products To Bring On A Deserted Island:

Jenn: does Shia LaBeouf count? No? OK then...sunscreen, tooth brush, and toothpaste.

Christine: Jenn, Jenn, Jenn....are you really admitting this to the world? you are braver than me....(sigh....George Clooney) sunscreen, lip gloss, and toothbrush/toothpaste and a mile high pile of good gossip magazines

Jenn: oh..second that on the gossip mags and lip gloss...even though that's way more than three.

Woman I Adore For Their Beauty:

Jenn: Michelle Pfieffer is GORGEOUS and doesn't seem to have had a lick of surgery or botox...amazing.

Christine: I think Jennifer Garner and Reese Witherspoon are my favorite at the moment.

Woman With The Best Sense Of Style:

Jenn: I know these ladies are younger and waaaayyyy too skinny sometimes, but I love Nicole Richie's style and Rachel Bilson's style as of late. Jennifer Aniston is one I always admire- a little more my age (she's actually older by a couple of years- ha!)

Christine: Again, I have to go with Reese Witherspoon and I think I would add Jennifer Aniston and Sophia Bush. I agree that Rachel Bilson has been quite cute lately too.

My Ultimate Dream (but I do not believe in selling my soul to the devil for it):

Jenn: I have three 1. to be able to walk into a car dealer and buy Big L (my hubby) the car of his dreams, 2. to tell my husband he never has to work again, and 3. that Little L grows up healthy, happy, and wise.

Christine: is it wrong my first thought wasn't doing something great for my husband....I have a couple...live in ultimate bliss in a fantastic house on the beach with my husband, maintain a happy family with my husband and son and cat and dog and goldfish. and selfishly...there is a Chloe bag out there with my name on it.

My Favorite Fashion Publication:

Jenn: Vogue, Teen Vogue, Lucky, Allure, Glamour, Elle, Bazaar, and People StyleWatch. I'm probably leaving some out here, but I'm sure Christine can fill them in.

Christine...can I just say Jenn gets every magazine known to man so yeah, she left some out.
OK, back to me...Lucky, Allure, People StyleWatch, Marie Claire, InStyle.

I guess now, it's our turn to tag a couple people. I think that they're aren't too many people who haven't been tagged so....we're tagging you dear readers! Leave us a comment below telling us your faves for the list above! Yay...let's have some fun!

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

the clinique insider's club

Okay...so Clinique is awesome and amazing and you really didn't need us to tell you that...right?

Well Clinique is doing something even more amazing....they are starting up an fabulous program called the Clinique Insider’s Club!

They just started accepting applications and we think that this has our readers written all over it.

What are the details you ask?

Well...Clinique will be selecting 20 women from the submitted applications to be “Clinique Insiders.” As “Insiders” the women will get an exclusive sneak peek at the latest Clinique Skincare, and Makeup products and will have the opportunity to give product reviews and opinions which will be seen, heard and read on Clinique.com! Insiders will also have access to special upcoming events and will receive a special welcome kit which includes full-size Clinique products and a Flip Video digital camcorder!

Isn't that the most phenomenal thing you've ever heard of?

If you're interested in applying, you should head on over to here.

Good luck!

With love (always),

Jennifer and Christine

Monday, June 23, 2008

this just in...we're on alltop people!

Okay people.

Something weird is going on here.

First Jenn's husband does the laundry without asking...seriously, we're talking a major miracle here...and now this....

Beauty in Real Life is now on Alltop!

We are totally serious here.

This means that we can now count ourselves among some of the best beauty blogs on Alltop.com. Blogs that we heart too...Spoiled Pretty, Beauty Addict, 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic, Daily Dose of Coffee, Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog, The Daily Cookie, The Beauty of Life, and more. Only a few beauty blogs can count themselves among these ranks...so we're really honored.

If you haven't been to Alltop.com, you need to visit them ASAP. They have hand selected some of the best blogs around, from all different categories. You seriously need to visit there now....if not to at least check us out on the Beauty section. Go on...take a look...we'll still be here.

Cool huh?

So thank you to our readers and thank you to Alltop.com for allowing us to sit at the cool table (our fave line from Meredith at Daily Dose of Coffee).

Oh yeah...by the way...be on the lookout for a badge like the one you see here. We'll be proudly sporting it in the sidebar soon.

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

we wanted to give you some news...

It seems as though we've only been contacted by three of the five winners, from our Lippie Extravaganza Giveaway.

What does that mean for you?

Well..we're going to give the two who haven't replied, officially 48 more hours to respond with their addresses. If, when those 48 hours are up, they still haven't submitted their addresses, we will disqualify their entries and choose two other winners from the entries that we have received.

We'll keep you updated.

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

jan marini age intervention eye cream

Okay...if my sister reads this....she will kill me.

Seriously.

What I am about to tell you cannot leave this blog.

I'm serious...okay?

To keep her somewhat incognito, I'll call her Sister J.

Well, Sister J is my older sister.

How much older you ask?

Well....ummm....eleven years older actually.

Sooooo...anywho....she's been trying to cut back on the beauty spending.

And, she's been out of eye cream for ages.

Being I'm of the generous sort...and could not stand to see any one's under eye area go unmoisturized...I reached into the beauty closet and pulled out this...Jan Marini Age Intervention Eye Cream ($60).

I mean...really...wouldn't you do the same for your sister's under eye area too?

How could I not let her check out the newly developed Peptide and Retinol blend? Or get a chance to see smoother, firmer, and a more supple eye area? I would be the most horrible younger sister on the planet.

What does she think of it?

Well...since she got this in her hot little hands, she's been loving it. I mean gushing-about-it-every-time-I-talk-to-her loving it.

Her words?

It's incredibly moisturizing. My under eyes actually feel more toned and look better. I'm noticing less darkness under the eyes and my makeup goes on better. Plus, I don't need a lot to see the results. I love this cream!

Okay...maybe she won't try and kill me after all.

Jennifer

photo courtesy of jan marini

proud members of total beauty and the bbn networks

how to apply eyeliner like a pro

What I love about the web is the plethora of material that is right at your fingertips on any given day.

Case in point...

A reader on our blog, leaves a comment about her sometime issues with eyeliner. I thought, well I know if she's having a tough time...so are others.

A couple of clicks on youtube.com and voila...instant video tutorial.

What's so amazing about the tutorial you are about to see (besides the cool music) is that your instructor (the awesome Michelle Phan) teaches you how to apply eyeliner on yourself...by doing it on herself. She gives some amazing tips too.

Oh...and she covers all of the eyeliner types...pencil, liquid, and cream/gel...talk about thorough.

Behold...

Here are a few of my fave products that will get the job done:

Redpoint StayPut Eyeliner ($21) A great find...literally...it was in my bag from the Total Beauty Summit. It has a smudger at one end and also has a sharpener. Plus the color (Conga) is a great metallic brown, without being too metallic-y that you can't wear it for day. Oh and as for its stay-put-id-ness...uh...wow...really stays put soon after you apply, so smudge quickly.

Clinique Quickliner for Eyes ($14.50) There's a reason why it's on everyone's list as a "must buy". It's fairly inexpensive for a department store brand. It lasts. It's easy to apply. It comes with a smudger at one end (Christine will tell you...she hearts companies that do this) and it also comes in a great assortment of colors.

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner ($19) True to its name...it is long wearing. Comes in an adorable pot and makes me feel chic when I put it on. A "must have" in any makeup bag.

Global Goddess Beauty Cairo Eyes Liquid Kohl Eyeliners ($22) Amazingly easy to apply and comes in a cute container. Plus, who wouldn't want to be a Global Goddess?

Have fun.

Jennifer

you look mauvelous...bobbi brown limited edition face palette

Bobbi Brown puts out the most to die for palettes...doesn't she?

Her colors are always beautiful and there's never some rogue, random, ugly color in the lot.

The limited edition Mauve Face Palette ($55) is sublime, with three colors for lips and eyes and one gorgeous blush.

Colors for the palette are...Navajo, Vintage, and Chocolate Mauve Eye Shadows; Mauve Blush; Dusty Mauve Creamy Lip Color; Mauve Lip Sheer; and Vintage Mauve Lip Color.

All packaged in her easy-to-take-with-you case.

Another limited find?

Her limited edition Mini-Brush Set ($55).

If it sounds a little steep consider this...it comes with its own case and (separately) the brushes alone would cost you a great deal more.

Plus, we're all giddy over the sheer mini-ness of it all.

Right now, both can be purchased over at neimanmarcus.com. Come July, they will be available at all Bobbi Brown counters and at bobbibrowncosmetics.com.

Also, Neiman Marcus is offering free shipping at any price with the code SHOPNM...just enter it at checkout. It's only for a short time, so hurry on that. Bobbi Brown Cosmetics is doing free shipping with any purchase of $75 or more.

Considering gas is like $10 a gallon right now, you're saving right there. Hopefully we'll be reviewing this soon...if we can ever get out to the mall.

With love (always),

Jennifer and Christine

photos courtesy of bobbi brown

Sunday, June 22, 2008

burt's bees giveaway over at bionic beauty

Our pal Jami, over at Bionic Beauty is having a giveaway of some Radiance Kits as well. Head on over and up your chances people! Then stay awhile and peruse...her blog is amazing!

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

bee smart...enter our burt's bees giveaway

You probably take it for granted...

I know we do.

You just head to the store, and pick up your fruits, veggies, and those cute little bear containers with the honey inside and go about your day.

Unfortunately, all of that may be in jeopardy thanks to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).

CCD is the sudden and mysterious die-off of honeybee colonies that has been occurring across the U.S. for the past couple of years.

Watch this video from the founder of Burt's Bees...

What can you do to help?

Well...we have a few ideas.

First head on over to burtsbees.com and purchase a tube of your favorite lip balm. Burt’s Bees is donating 5% of the proceeds from every purchase of this special edition Beeswax Lip Balm to The North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC) and its Honeybee Health Improvement Project.

If you've got a green thumb...or like to think that you do... sign up on burt'sbees.com for a free packet of bee-friendly wildflower seeds that you can plant to give bees a healthy place to live in your neighborhood.

What else can you do?

Well...we're running a contest courtesy of Burt's Bees.

Five lucky winners will win the Radiance Kit you see here:

The contest is now closed...no more comments will be accepted!

Thanks!

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine
photos and videos courtesy of burt's bees

*Please Read This: In entering this contest you are giving us permission to forward your email, name and mailing address to representatives for Burt's Bees for fulfillment and mailing of contest prize(s). If you fail to include that information we will disqualify your entry. Five (5) winners chosen at random will receive a Burt's Bees Radiance Kit. Duplicate entries will not improve your chances of winning. Giveaway sponsored by Burt's Bees. Some restrictions may apply. Open only to US residents only...sorry. Entries will be accepted through 11:59 pm on Saturday, June 28th, 2008.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

fun in the sun - nobis headwear

These are some cute hats from nobis that are perfect for summer and help protect from the sun. I know I always have an issue with forgetting about covering up when I head out.

Fashionable headwear is a great incentive to cover up, while wearing the perfect accessory for any outfit. At nobis, life is about defining yourself through creative-driven headwear, as their summer collection is a true expression of individuality and personal style.

Here are a couple of the many, many hats that are available from nobis...

- Maxi (pictured left): Whether you're looking to spice up your lake-side look or head out for a day of errands on the town, this cotton canvas newsboy cap is the perfect accessory for the casual gal in all of us.

- Hidi (pictured center): A cotton French terry poorboy, this hat is available in four colors and is made for the mysterious gal looking to hide out at the beach or in park while reading her favorite book.

- Boots (pictured right): Heading out for a day on the town or a little league baseball game? This plaid cotton ivy cap is the perfect accessory for any summer activity.

Check out nobis for more information and where to buy these hats.

with love (always),
Jennifer and Christine
photos courtesy of nobis

weekend reads....from total beauty

Here's the skinny on what some of our friends over at Total Beauty have been up to this week...

Meredith at Daily Dose of Coffee attempts to stop the ravages of time on her face with L'Oreal's Skin Genesis line. Find out how it works and what she thinks.

Viva Woman invites you to check out her updated tips on sunscreen protection and application this summer.

Advice Sister Alison at The Advice Sisters Guide to Life, Success and Happiness Blog discovers a luxe, multi-tasking face treatment by Chanel :a luxe, multi-tasking face treatment by Chanel called HYDRAMAX + ACTIVE TEINTE Active Moisture Tinted Lotion SPF 15. It's truly a Skin Saving Wonder and it's Advice Sisters Product of the Week!

Tink at Casual Lavish explores the nail polish watercoloring technique.

The Muse reviews Bourjois Paris Hi-Tech Rouge before it even hits US shores!

If you never try anything else Beauty's Spot recommends (which would be incredibly foolish) you must try this Honey Heel Balm by Farmhouse Fresh. It will change your feet!

Beauty Anonymous thinks Anna Sui Fall 2008 Makeup Collection is adorable!

Summer skin got you down? Beauty411 reviews a new product from REN that will jumpstart your skin and leave it looking like you just had a facial!

Jeanne at Periodic Style wants to get buff this summer...

Talking Makeup: How To Give Your Skin A Natural Glow by Celebrity Nutritionist Oz Garcia.

Monique at Beauty Girl Musings shares a new product to help control those fly-aways!

The Jet Set Girls try out L'Oreal's latest self tanner.

Joy from the Makeup Junkie dishes on her night out with Cover Girl!

Discover which skincare line is loved by celebrity moms andA Mom in Red High Heels alike!

Toya from The Life of A Ladybug proves brown girls can and should wear orange in her Electro FOTD!

Have a great weekend!

with love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

weekend reads...from the beauty blog network

Here are some great weekend reads from our friends at The Beauty Blog Network.

Click away!

Raging Rouge kicks off the summer season with an introduction to the current sun protection debate: should you use physical or chemical sunscreen?

A Touch of Blusher loves YSL's fall 2008 makeup collection.

Roselyn from Makeup Makes Me Happy™ is this week's lady in red! In this lovely makeup tutorial, she'll show you the best way to strut sexy red lips this summer!.

Beauty Anonymous thinks Anna Sui Fall 2008 Makeup Collection is adorable!

Bionic Beauty shares her 7 tips for summer hair.

The Makeup Divasreviews and shares pics of Mac Tendertones in Hot 'N' Saucy and Honey Bare.

StyleBell reports from the floor of the 62nd Annual Tony Awards Official Presenter Gift Lounge. See what hair products Whoopi, Brooke Shields, and Mary Louise Parker chose!

The Muse reviews Bourjois Paris Hi-Tech Rouge before it even hits US shores!

Girl Gloss polls a few fellow beauty addicts and finds out Beauty Bloggers' Favorite Lip Products

Cybelesays suggests a new to the states nail polish line for Britney Spears. She needs to clean up her nails, dontcha think?

Beth from Beauty Junkie in SF is giving away 5 sets of BEE-utiful products from Burt's Bees in celebration of National Pollinator Week. Check it out and win!

The girls from Beauty in Real Life have some fabulous summer makeup tips from Fatima Olive...check them out!

Summer skin got you down? Beauty411 reviews a new product from REN that will jumpstart your skin and leave it looking like you just had a facial!

Beauty Blogging Junkie takes you backstage to the Tony Awards Gift Suite. Find out which stars got which gifts here .

Karen of Makeup and Beauty Blog shows you how to create a summery blue eye with the new Cool Heat eyeshadows from MAC Cosmetics.

Beauty Banter discovers the amazing brow kit by Anastasia ... brow specialist to J. Lo, Penelope Cruz, and Sharon Stone!!!

there's a new feature this summer at makeup loves me - bright lights, big color helps you stay up to date on the current bold color trend.

Kitiya from Mischo Beauty discusses her perfect home pedicure achieved using Nailtiques in her “Mischo Beauty Pick: Nailtiques Oil Therapy post.

Face Candy goes over the latest Marc Jacobs Daisy accessories.

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic has a great new way to clear up your acne!

The Beauty Bug urges you to look at these fierce Shu Uemura lashes that a knock-out drag queen rocked at a local Shu Uemura party.

Joy from the Makeup Junkie dishes on her night out with Cover Girl!

Pursebuzz.com shows you a quick and easy way to wear barely there makeup, a look that is all over Hollywood.

Ready for a vibrating mascara brush? Makeup Moxie is buzzing over Lancome Oscillation.

Toya from The Life of A Ladybug proves brown girls can and should wear orange in her Electro FOTD!

MAC’s new Volcanic Ash Exfoliator cost $19, but Spoiled Pretty would gladly pay twice as much. Click here to find out why.

Happy reading!

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

Friday, June 20, 2008

dazzle dry...quick-dry nail polish system

We love getting manis and pedis, but rarely do we have the time to head out for either one.

Although, believe us when we tell you that a nice foot massage in a massaging chair would be quite excellent right now.

Well...the products here may not come with a massaging chair, but they do come with the promise of a quick drying manicure in minutes.

Dazzle Dry Nail System Kit ($54) comes with a one 1oz. Nail Prep and one 0.5oz. Base Coat for natural nails. You also get one 0.5oz. Dazzle Dry quick drying Top Coat and three 0.5oz. Nail Lacquers of your choice. And they have some pretty cute shades to choose from.

They are all formaldehyde free, toluene free, nitrocellulose free, and phthalate free, as well.

We're still in the process of testing them, but we have to say that the couple of times we did, the lacquers dried pretty quickly...faster than other quick dry top coats we've tried in the past.

Not too shabby.

If the price has you reeling a little, we admit...it is a splurge....consider this, both of us recently got the worst mani and pedis ever in the history of manis and pedis.

Horrible.

Christine's even left her in mid-pedi to take a phone call...what is it with people taking phone calls in the middle of a service? I mean, understandable if there is an emergency, but...

And they jacked up the price without letting us know until the end!

Seriously!

How much did it cost?

Well...including tip...over $70! And it was horrible. I mean, for that price we could have gone to a much nicer place and drank like cucumber water or something like that.

At least if we bought this, we could have gotten a lot more use for the money...just saying.

Okay...rant over...moving on.

Recently, VB Cosmetics’ own Dr. Vivian Valenty, was a guest on TV3 Good Morning Arizona Sunday.

She and host Tess Rafols discussed and displayed the VB Cosmetics brands including Dazzle Dry (nail polish system), Be Silky (Callus Spray) & Abrione (skin care).

That's her cute little self on the left in the pic.

In case you think that Dr. Vivian is like a doctor of philosophy or something like that, she's taught organic chemistry and biochemistry at Skidmore College.

For real.

This was taken from the About section on the site...

Abrioné is the result of thirteen years of product development, testing and market research. It embodies vision, integrity, out of the box thinking, molecular engineering, chemistry, creativity, persistence and balance.

Neither one of us knows what the heck molecular engineering is...but it sounds really scientific and can probably only be understood by really smart people.

Just stating our opinion.

Do yourself a favor and head on over to vbcosmetics.com. They have some amazing items besides nail lacquers...like yummy scrubs and lotions....and that callus spray that we'll be reviewing soon. Also, don't forget to check out itsaglamthing.com, they continue to have what's new in beauty products.

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine
photos courtesy of vb cosmetics

and the winners of our lippie extravaganza are...

First of all, we would like to thank everyone who took the time to enter this amazing giveaway!

And thank Sally Hansen for supplying us with all of the divine lippies.

It blew our minds that almost 400 people entered our giveaway! 400!!

Out of the 400 entries, we randomly selected five and they are...Andrea, Danielle, Jody, Megan, and Kara!

Congratulations ladies. All five of you should have received an email, so that we may obtain your mailing addresses and send your phenomenal prizes!

For those of you who didn't win...don't worry.

We have some amazing prizes in store for future giveaways.

We might even have another big one...very soon. If you catch our drift.

So come back again and stay tuned, you ain't seen nothin yet.

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

josie maran cream bronzer

There is no end to my love for cream blushes.

When done right, they can just melt into the skin making it more of a natural flush.

Now I can add cream bronzer to the list.

Josie Maran Cream Bronzer ($30) is absolutely divine and definitely going on my wish list.

It's delivers a believable bronzed glow, that allows you to layer it without looking all Lohan.

Housed in a bio-degradable compact, it also contains natural, organic ingredients, no fragrances, and no parabens.

Perfect for those with sensitive skin.

Considering it's a creamy formula, you have several options on how you can apply it...fingers, sponge, or brush.

Personally, I always get the best application when I apply my cream makeup with a foundation brush and then blend it in a little with my fingers.

Gorgeous results every time.

Jennifer
photo courtesy of josie maran cosmetics
proud members of total beauty and the bbn networks

clarins and childhelp

What's better than buying beauty products? Of course buying beauty products where 100% of the proceeds go to a phenomenal cause. Our friend Amber over at Beauty Blogging Junkie is delivering the scoop on this amazing project from Clarins and let's us know how we can help. Read on darlings.

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine
photo courtesy of clarins

Thursday, June 19, 2008

warren tricomi shampoo and conditioner

On and off over the last month or so I have been using Warren-Tricomi PureStrength Shampoo and Conditioner for fine hair.

And I like it.

It smells wonderful. It rinses out well and doesn't weigh my hair down at all. And I have about as fine of hair as you can get. Granted I have a lot of it, it's still really fine. I have sad, sad ponytails when the hair is longer. I digress.

I am still using my Matrix Amplify and the John Frieda Sheer Blonde, but it's nice to know I have other options that work really well. I also don't have all 3 pieces of the set. There is shampoo or cleanser, closer and conditioner. And according to the website the Close (the one I don't have) is an integral step in the PURESTRENGTH™ Three-C System (Cleanse, Close and Condition). The active ingredient in Close instantly causes the cuticles of the hair to lay flat, sealing in moisture, leaving fine hair stronger and protected with noticeable volume.

So.....I guess I might need to try the Close step to see if I notice stronger hair and more volume. Although, even with just using the shampoo and conditioner I am happy with the results. It does seem to work better on days that are less humid, but that can be said for many hair care products.

The description for the PureStrength is for those with fine hair, especially hair that’s been color-treated and/or hi-lighted, often turn to heavy styling aids and rich conditioners to add body and volume. This only weighs the hair down making it appear lackluster and dull. No more. The PURESTRENGTH™ Three-C System for Fine Hair provides a healthy boost of nutrition and hydration to transform unruly limp, thin hair into strong, thick and healthier strands.

They also have this set for all hair types and for extremely dry and damaged hair. There is even a trial set for all hair types for $20 (pictured right), which is a great way to try out all 3 steps for less than the price of one bottle of their shampoo. The regular size sets are normally $75 but are on sale right now for $67.50. And you can also buy the shampoo, closer and conditioner individually for $22-$28. You can purchase everything mentioned at warrentricomi.com.

Christine
photos courtesy of warrentricomi.com

luxury liner from ongossamer

While we can't speak for everybody, we find it really annoying to have our undies creep up into areas they should never travel.

Plus, trying to figure out how to get them out of said places without making a major scene, requires a crazy dance that should only be done in private...with the blinds closed.

OnGossamer's new Save the Day lingerie, promises to remedy the situation.

Being it's coming from such a trusted name in underpinnings, it has to be good.

Called Luxury Liner, it's meant to never ride up, lose shape, or give you panty lines. As if that's not enough, it's also stain free, fights odor, and will never leak.

And if you head over to ongossamer.com, you're in for a treat. Just for our readers...if you enter the code OGSUMMER08 at check out, you'll get 20% off!!!

With these undies, you can save the dancing for the club!

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine
photo courtesy of ongossamer.com

wellness getaways

Anyone looking for a little R&R should take a look at spaweek.org. They have some pretty good deals at some excellent spas around the world.

Here are the details....

What: Book a vacation or just get away for a few days with the special Spa Week discount at Bedford Springs, a AAA 4-Diamond resort famous for its Springs Eternal Spa. Rates start at $298 per person with free $100 spa credit. Just visit www.spaweek.org/content/wellness/spa to check out the details.

Where: Bedford Springs Resort – Bedford, Pennsylvania (and many, many other spas listed).

Why: The dog days of summer have officially begun, and you're stuck in front of a computer. Wouldn't it be nice to get away for a while? Cash in those personal days and escape from your busy work schedule to one of these fabulous resorts. Spa Week presents Wellness Getaways packages designed to let you unwind and indulge while saving you some money.

with love (always)
Jennifer and Christine

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

tarte glam gams bronzing leg stick

Okay...so neither one of us would ever think of wearing short-shorts and/or micro minis.

I think the rule is, if you remember wearing it when it was a trend the first time around, you really shouldn't try wearing it again.

So...Daisy Dukes and these thighs? Uh...no.

But it's not like either one us is planning on sporting a caftan a la Mrs. Roper either.

So, to avoid the harsh glaring lights bouncing off of our pale legs...we're thinking this might remedy the situation.

Tarte Glam Gams Leg Bronzing Stick ($30) is like body makeup for your sexy stems.

Designed like their heavenly cheek stains, it's much easier to use. Plus it contains their amazing t5 super fruit complex...can you say hello to anti-oxidants?

It's also waterproof, smells like yummy gardenias, and contains ingredients meant to make your legs look better with use.

Thank you Tarte.

With love (always),

Jennifer and Christine

photo courtesy of tarte

proud members of total beauty and the bbn networks

sun smart tanning...completely bare model tan

I would love to have that California look...you know what I mean. That sun-kissed look that some celebs have.

Think Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz...not Lindsey Lohan.

Their tans are perfect.

Just the right amount of bronze-y and glow-y goodness that's just sublime.

It says I'm-so-laid-back-I've-gotten-a-tan-and-I-don't-know-how-it-happened.

And isn't that what you're after when you self-tan?

I mean...really...orange is not the new bronze people.

And even though laying outdoors might give you a nice natural color. Who wants their skin to look like leather...or the lady behind the counter at my local CVS....no offense, but tan much?

That's why the Completely Bare Model Tan ($36) has me intrigued.

First off, it's formula contains a shimmer that begins to disappear as you rub it in ensure a sah-weet glow. Plus it lets you see where you are putting it...unlike other self tanners...yes, I'm looking at you...soon-to-be-reviewed-sprayable-self-tanner-that's-sitting-in-my-closet-right-now-as-I-write-this...mocking me.

Sorry...I'm digressing. Moving on.

The best part about this tanner, is it's formula. It actually protects the skin while it bronzes it. A special blend of antioxidants prevents cellular damage to maintain skin’s health and youthfulness. Vitamins A, C, D and E step in to nourish the skin . The result is naturally radiant, healthy skin that will make you look like you spent time in the sun, without the damaging effects.

Nice.

Jennifer
photo courtesy of completely bare
proud member of total beauty and the bbn networks

summer makeup tips from fatima olive pt 2

If there is a Fatima Olive fan club, we seriously want to join it.

First off, she's super-cute.

Second, she's super-nice.

Finally, she gives some amazingly easy-to-follow tips for creating a sun-kissed look without the damage.

Here you go...

1. Start with a highlighter for a natural illumination. Choose a liquid or cream with light golden tones and apply at the brow bone and tops of the cheek area.

Try Sephora Brand Colorful Duo Eyeshadow - Cream & Powder ($6) in Brown Harmony.

2. Next, using a sheer red stain (even a sheer red lipstick) will create a "sunkissed" flush on the cheeks for a natural glow. Apply on the apples of the cheeks and blend thoroughly into the highlighter for an even complexion.

Try Tarte's Natural Swirl Cheekstain ($28) or Redpoint's Airbrush Effect Blushwhip ($28).

3. Finally, add a neutral tan bronzer to complete the illusion. Redpoint's Rejuvinating Bronzing Silk ($38) will help to firm and moisturize your skin for a natural looking tan. With the companion Kabuki brush, swirl bronzer from the temples to just under the cheekbones, then lightly on the bridge of the nose and chin. Continue to apply bronzer on the tops of the shoulders, collar bone, and even cleavage to complete the illusion.

Another great bronzer to try is Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Soft Matte Bronzer ($29.50).

Finish the face with mascara and lipgloss and you are good to go!

Look for our 5 Minutes, 5 Questions...with Fatima Olive soon and head over to Summer Makeup Tips Part 1 to read more.

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine
proud members of total beauty and the bbn networks

this just in...exclusive reader discount for beauty in real life readers!

An amazing treat for all Beauty in Real Life readers, courtesy of Elizabeth Grant and their gorgeously revamped website.

Head on over to ElizabethGrant.com, make a purchase or two, enter the code GOLDEN, and receive 20% off your purchases!

And...you have until the end of July to get the discount!

What to buy?

Try Caviar Pearls ($129).

It contains caviar extracts and Torricelumn™, Elizabeth Grant’s superior moisturizing compound. Both work together to make the skin appear more resilient and firmer.

The Caviar Pearls repair and strengthen the skin with Omega 3 fatty acids from the inside out leaving it noticeably healthier. Specially formulated to be used at night, it works even harder to repair the skin while you sleep by rejuvenating skin cells with vitamins and essential nutrients. This sophisticated and highly advanced treatment also targets fine lines and wrinkles with Argiriline - a safe and natural alternative to Botox that helps inhibit wrinkle formation and reduce wrinkle depth.

How's that for a great deal in the AM?

Stay beautiful darlings.

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine
photo courtesy of elizabeth grant

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Delectable Spa Discounts

What: Delectable Spa Discounts for the Cost Conscious Consumer. Indulge in a Body Glow, Spray Tan, Brazilian Wax or Mani-Pedi Combo at one of our favorite spas to ensure you look your best when you hit the beach.

Where: 64 days spas across the country are offering Different discounts and packages

When: The full month of June

How: Check out the deals at www.spaweek.org/content/deals and book directly through the spa

Why: The summer is here and with Spa Week's June Steals & Deals you can be confident baring all. With prices this great, you'll have enough money left over to splurge on a new pair of shades.

with love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

this just in...amazing coupon for our nyc readers

For our NY readers, an amazing offer. Courtesy of Gotham Aesthetics Med Spa, you can receive 60% off any Facial or Skincare treatment from now until June 30, 2008. Yes...you read it right...60%!!

All you have to do is book your appointment with Gotham Aesthetics, print out the coupon above, and take it with you when you go. That's it.

Have fun and you can thank us later.

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

bramble berry mineral eye shadow kit

For all of you out there who like to have control and do everything yourself - here's the perfect makeup for you. Bramble Berry Mineral Eye Shadow Kit ($44.99) lets you be the creator of your own eyeshadow. The kit has everything you would need to make matte eye shadows and shimmer eye shadows.

The Kit includes:
5 containers of mineral bases (the actual ingredients for eye shadows)
9 pigment powders (the colors)
10 empty eye shadow pots
5 measuring scoops
2 cosmetic brushes
1 detailed instruction manual

According to brambleberry.com all you need to do is 5 easy steps:

Step 1: Add 3 scoops of desired mineral base into an empty jar.
Step 2: Add desired pigment or pigments.
Step 3: Mix well.
Step 4: Carefully pour into a shadow pot.
Step 5: Apply.

I tried out this experiment over the weekend. I have mixed results. I think if I didn't have MJ running in and out every 2 seconds it would have been easier. Or if I had waited until it was his naptime, it might have gone more smoothly. Let's just say, I tend to spill things and this stuff got everywhere. It did give the counter a nice sparkle though.

Once I grasped the instructions, I went on to make 3 different colors. First, you have to make the base (either shimmer, matte or simple - I made the simple, it only involved mixing 2 items). Then you pick out the recipes for the color you want to make and add in the pigments to your base. I made a periwinkle, light gray and medium gray. If you had some time on your hands you could go crazy and probably come up with quite a few unique colors. They give you recipes for violets, blues, greens, metallics, browns, and grays. And for each color you can make it either shimmer or matte. So there are a lot of options.

It goes on really well, as with most mineral makeup, a little goes a long way. What impresses me is how long it stays and there is very little creasing, but I also use a Bobbi Brown cream shadow as a base, which helps keep everything around longer and keeps everything from creasing. Either way it does last all day. I'm too much of a convenience person and like my makeup already all together for me but like I said before, if MJ was older and I wasn't constantly keeping an eye out for him all day long, this would be fun to do. Or have the girls over and drink some wine and make makeup - think of the crazy colors bound to happen.

They also have do-it-yourself kits for blushes, foundations, bronzers and lipsticks. All of these plus the eyeshadow kit can be purchased at brambleberry.com.

Christine
photo courtesy of brambleberry.com

slim down, shape up and get fit quick giveaway

Here is a contest for a free spa trip. It's in Utah for 4 days and 3 nights and you get to bring a friend with you if you win. Here are the details.....

What: Win a free trip (Value $2,830)! Escape with a friend for 4 Days and 3 Nights in the Four Diamond-rated luxury suite at the Green Valley Spa. Spa Week brings you the luxurious fitness getaway to start off your summer right!

Where: The Green Valley Spa set in Utah's scenic back country.

How: It's quick and easy, just visit www.spaweek.org/content/promo/greenvalley and enter your e-mail and two friends to win. (you just forward the link to them, you don't enter them into the contest)

Why: Slim Down, Shape Up and GET FIT quick. Green Valley Spa will have you looking fabulous on the beach in just 4 days! Get your tummy taught with all the Yoga and Pilates classes you can handle, and get bikini ready with your very own personal trainer and healthy cooking classes.

For all the package details visit their website: www.spaweek.org/content/promo/greenvalley.

This sounds like it would be an intense 4 days, but if you come out of it ready to sport a bikini and you don't have to pay for it, this sounds like the perfect way to jump start you for summer.

with love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

carolyn's beauty scoop...an allure beauty blog

Both of us are magazine addicts.

Probably, between the both of us, we subscribe to about every beauty and fashion magazine known to man.

Well, the Associate Director of Merchandising for Allure (that basically means she gets to check out all of the amazing products that get into the mag) has started her own blog.

For the next 30 days, you can check out Carolyn Montrose's blog on beautifulforgood.com.

After you take in her amazing cuteness, you'll get to pick up some great beauty tips.

In addition to the beauty fun, you'll also get a chance to enter two great sweepstakes.

Beauty Scoop Sweepstakes

Enter for your chance to win the ultimate beauty package—a trip to the Allure Headquarters in New York City!

As if that's not enough, you'll get all of this:

~Round-trip airfare Hotel accommodations for two nights
~Gourmet lunch with the Allure Merchandising team
~Appointment with a makeup artist
~$500 shopping spree
~Bag filled with Neutrogena® products

“100 Days of Healthy Beauty” Sweepstakes

Enter everyday until 11:59 P.M. EST on September 20, 2008 for the chance to win a limited-edition Allure cosmetics case and a full-size Neutrogena® Healthy Volume™ Mascara!

Sound amazing?

We think so.

Head on over to Carolyn's Beauty Scoop to check our her fabulous blog and to enter!

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

Monday, June 16, 2008

giveaway from the daily obsession

One of our favorite blogs, is having a giveaway! Over at The Daily Obsession, they're giving away a gorgeous Luxembourg Satchel in Black Crackle Patent leather bag by Andrea Brueckner. It's valued at $685!

All you have to do is head over to TDO and enter between June 16-22, by simply leaving a comment telling them where you'd wear the bag.

It's that simple.

We're planning on entering, how about you?

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

summer book exchange at kiehl's

Alright all of you book and Kiehl's lovers, this one's for you.

From June 24 through Labor Day, you can visit your nearest Kiehl’s store, drop off a book you've read to death, and pick up another one!

Customers who purchase a Kiehl’s sun preparation will also receive a Limited Edition “Safer Fun in the Sun” bookmark, to further remind them of the importance of sun protection.

Kiehl's has this to day about sun protection...

At Kiehl’s, we hold firm in the knowledge that the regular use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen is a vital aspect of any daily skincare regimen and the key to healthy, protected skin. We strongly recommend the consistent use of sunscreens for the face, eye area and body on a daily basis throughout the year, even on cloudy, seemingly “sunless” days. Because summer days are the longest of the year, and there’s greater interest on outdoor activities, it’s even more important that the face and body be fully protected.

We love Kiehl's products here, and use many of them regularly. Neither one of us will exit the house without at least an SPF 15 on ourselves and we both slather our little guys with the highest SPF we can find.

Head over to kiehls.com to see their great assortment of sun products.

With love (always),

Jennifer and Christine

photos courtesy of kiehls.com

iq derma restore eyes

As I'm writing this, it is a little after midnight. Understand that I am so unbelievably tired, I wouldn't be surprised if this post came out sounding like the ramblings of a crazy person.

I love cheese.

Why am I writing at this god-awful hour?

Sleep is good.

Because I am committed to bringing you the reviews you want to read.

I think my screen is melting.

And because Little L does not feel the need for an afternoon nap anymore, I am relegated to writing some of my postings late at night...instead of sleeping in my nice warm bed.

Mmmmmm...bed.

So, I will persevere and bring you my latest find...Restore Eyes by iQ Derma ($85).

Eyes, pies, thighs...

This is the other eye cream that I alluded to in an earlier post. I've been using it at night, ever since I received a sample at the Total Beauty Summit back in May.

Mother may I.

Although, you might think the price is up there...understand that I've been using this since I got back...about a month here. Because you only need a little to get the results, I still have an obscene amount of product left. I also have to say that I really like the results I'm seeing so far.

Bars, cars, stars, jars.

It hydrates my under eye area, without being too greasy, and really seems to make me look like I've had more sleep than I've actually had. I definitely feel that it's doing its part to fight the darkness too and things have been looking a lot more firm under there.

Pear, stare, care.

And that's definitely a keeper in my book.

Books are fun to read.

So, do yourself a favor and head on over to iQderma.com, to find out how you can get yourself one of these fantastic eye creams. While you're there, check out their phenomenal 30 Day Bottom of the Jar Guarantee.

Me...he...hehe...dreams......dream.....

I'm off to bed.

Zzzz.

Jennifer
photo courtesy of iQ Derma
proud members of total beauty and the bbn network

5 minutes, 5 questions with lorenzo calderon of the warren-tricomi salon in la

Okay, you have to have heard of the Warren-Tricomi Salon..right?

You know the one where everyone who's anyone gets their hair done?
Well, we had a chance to ask one of their amazing stylists, Lorenzo Calderon, some questions about Summer hair.

Can we just pause here and mention that we both love the name Lorenzo? I mean...hello...can you say swoon?

Let's just say that if either one of us is ever in the LA area, we are definitely going to book him for an appointment.

I mean, really, if his name oozes that much sexiness...could you imagine what he could do to your hair?

We are so loving him right now...

1. What is the hottest hairstyle for Summer?

This summer its all about no hassle "beachy" hair. I recommend shampooing at night and when your hair is still slightly damp, put a couple of braids in it. Then in the morning take out the braids, blow dry your fringe with a round brush, and put in product like Warren-Tricomi Spray Wax ($18). Shake it up. And you're good to go.

2. For someone who has a classic chin length bob and wants to update it without taking major length off, what would you recommend?

Explore color changes. You would be surprised how much more dimension you can get from highlights and lowlights for summer. Its like a whole new haircut!

3. What celebrity has the most requested hairstyle (in your salon)?

Right now I'm getting a lot of Rihanna! Short and sexy for the summer, with a longer fringe so its still versatile and feminine.

4. What would you say is the one mistake most women make when it comes to their hair?

Trying to hard for a look! When bringing in a picture of a celebrity look to your stylist, keep in mind that certain changes even when ever so slight, can make it a better look for you.

5. What one product should every woman leave your salon with?

For this summer, Kerastase Soleil Masque ($58) to protect from all that sun damage is a must-have! Protection from the elements is key!

Thank you so much Lorenzo. If we're ever in the LA area, we'll definitely be making an appointment. And if any of our readers happen to be in the LA area, please book an appointment with the genius that is Lorenzo.

Head on over to warrentricomi.com for hours and more information on how to book an appointment.

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine
photo courtesy of the warren-tricomi salon

this just in...max factor new products sneak peek

Not to be outdone by their previous awesomeness, Max Factor has come up with two new ColorGenius products and one new lippie.

First up, we have Max Factor ColorGenius Foundation with Minerals ($10).

Said to provide light, luminous, and buildable coverage, with patented smart pigment technology.

Created with the help of Max Factor's Global Creative Design Director, it made it's debut at New York's Fall/Winter 2008 Fashion Week.

Another ColorGenius product, sure to delight the inner golden goddess in all of us, is Max Factor ColorGenius Mineral Bronzer ($8.50).

What will set this bronzer apart from the others?

Well...it's a mineral-infused, loose powder, that delivers light coverage to areas the sun would normally hit.

Tiny gold flecks will help highlight your skin and give you that bronze-y, glow-y look that's just too gorgeous for words.

Max Factor Lipfinity3-D ($9) comes in 26 shades, plus six fantastic new shades have been added to the collection.

The dual ended goodness that is Lipfinity, promises to deliver long-wearing color to your pout.

One side contains a lowlight layer. The lowlight layer features semi-permanent PermaTone which contains ingredients that should help last through noshing and smooching your honey.

The other side provides the highlighting coat that will reflect light and provide a multi-dimensional shine.

Six divine new shades were unveiled by Pat McGrath at New York's Fall/Winter 2008 Fashion Week. They are...Feisty Fuchsia, Raging Sea, Mango Madness, Golden Delicious, Suede Seduction, and Natural Hue.

All due to arrive on shelves July 2008. Head to MAXFactor.com to find a store near you.

Reviews to come.

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine
photos courtesy of max factor
proud members of total beauty and the bbn

tarte enbrightenment lip gloss

Here at Beauty in Real Life, we love a great multi-tasker

To find something that does the work of two or more products, makes our day that much more enjoyable.

Tarte Enbrightenment: BriteSmile Whitener & Tarte Lipgloss ($26) is one of those phenomenally cool products, that you whip out of your bag and get the what-the-heck-is-that-stuff-and-where-can-I-get-one stares.

On one end you have a divine gloss. The other end houses the BriteSmile teeth whitener....but wait...there's more.

The gloss contains Tarte's anti-aging t-5 super fruit complex, a great minty scent, and blue undertones to make your teeth look even brighter.

And all you have to do with the BriteSmile whitener end is apply it to your teeth, let it dry, and go. I mean...really...what else is that simple?

It comes in two colors, Pearly Pink and Radiant Red. Both look positively brilliant on, but the Radiant Red (a gorgeous sheer red) is quickly becoming my fave.

Now, if we could just get it to do the laundry...

Jennifer
photo courtesy of tartecosmetics.com

Sunday, June 15, 2008

happy father's day!

We would like to wish all of the fathers out there, a Happy Father's Day!

We'd love to tell our own hubbies (Big L and TGT) how much we love them and think that they are unbelievable fathers.

To our own Dads (Christine's is in sunny Florida....Jennifer's sadly passed away last Summer) we love you and thank you for being the wonderful fathers that you are (and were).

In case someone out there is still searching for a last minute amazing Father's Day gift. Look no further than Krups Beertender ($299.99). I mean...really...he'll pass out when he opens this.

With love (always),

Jennifer and Christine

Saturday, June 14, 2008

i've been tagged

Jenn tagged me earlier this week. Here are my answers to six questions about myself, abiding by the following rules:

*Post rules at the beginning of the post.
* Answer all the questions.
* Tag 6 people, and go to their blog and leave a comment to inform them that they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
* Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

Got that? Ok...here goes...

What were you doing ten years ago?

I was living in New Mexico, finishing up my sophomore year of college.

What are five things on your to-do list today?

1. Brace myself for a lot of noise (we are having a deck and fence put up - finally)
2. Feed MJ and hubby (he's working from home today)
3. Brace myself for MJ not taking a nap due to above mentioned noise
4. Try to find an excuse to go to our new grocery store that I am in love with. Thank you Wegmans.
5. Get ready for date night. We are going out for our Anniversary.

Snacks you enjoy?

I never met a snack I didn't like. Chips and salsa, fruit, m&ms, cheese, goldfish

Places you've lived?

South Dakota (where I was born), San Diego, Delaware, Las Vegas, Azores Islands, Las Vegas (again), Albuquerque, Ohio and now DC area for about 3 years. (can you tell my dad was in the military and then I married right back into it)

What are 5 things you would do if you were a billionaire?

1. Buy an island
2. Pay off the bills for us and our families.
3. Probably still shop at Target.
4. Buy my dad that range rover he's been eyeing.
5. And of course shop, shop, travel and shop some more.

People you want to know more about?

Hard one...I'm still learning things about my husband. I'm very curious to see how MJ is going to grow up and who he's going to be.

So now I am suppose to tag 6 people, but it looks like almost everyone has already been tagged. So rather than re-tagging people or tagging people on my own blog (umm...Jenn, I'm looking at you), you can just enjoy my answers.

Christine

it's my anniversary today!

Jenn asked if I would be willing to do a little segment on weddings since both of our anniversaries are in June and it is wedding season and I said "sure!" And then she said how do you feel about putting our pics up from our wedding day and I said "ummmm.....uhh...okay, I guess."

So, here's my big reveal....

Man, I'm funny. That really is me and the hubby.

Alright, enough funny. Here's the front shot...

So, 5 years ago today the hubby and I got married at a Botanical Garden in New Mexico.

I did have someone do my hair that day, but I did my own makeup. I went earlier in the week to the makeup counter at Origins and had the makeup artist do a "trial run" to make sure I had all the right colors and I bought one of almost everything she showed me and replicated the look myself on the big day. For me, it was just easier for me to do it myself and it was one less thing to plan and organize into an already busy day. Plus, I ended up with all of the makeup. I ended up liking the foundation so much that I used it for a few years.

I think my biggest piece of advice it just too relax (as much as possible) and enjoy your big day. The trial run with the makeup was great too, because I already knew what it was going to look like, there was no surprise of looking like a clown or having the wrong colors.

Christine
photos courtesy of me

weekend reads....from total beauty

Here's whats going on with some of our friends over at Total Beauty....

Meredith at Daily Dose of Coffee gets a makeover and checks out the new Stila summer collection eye shadow palette.

Fifty-Cent Head reviews the 2008 Readers' Choice Awards in two posts, because there are so many (and so much to say!): Part One and Part Two.

Viva Woman takes a close look at ingredients in mineral makeup that can cause irritation to your face.

Who couldn't use a little stress relief? Beauty411 raves about Johnson's Melt Away Stress line; check it out and enter the contest to win a free assortment of Melt Away Stress products!

Beauty Anonymous loves Chanel Levres Scintillantes Glossimer for lips!

Talking Makeup loves Smooth
Indulgence Concealer by Dermablend.

Alison (aka. "Advice Sister Alison") of The Advice Sisters de-mystifies beauty product labels.

Kitiya from Mischo Beauty invites you to enter her “Mischo Beauty Johnson & Johnson Melt Away Stress Giveway!”

The Beauty of Life welcomes in the dog days of summer with an assortment of cocktail-inspired beauty products!

Bare Escentuals' Warm Radiance has passed muster with Toya of "The Life of A Ladybug!" Come check this out and the rest of her "Bronzers for Brown Girls" series!

Hair Therapy continues for Monique at Beauty Girl Musings!

Jeanne from Periodic Style is back from her Vegas vacation and wonders what to do with her winnings...

Joy from Makeup Junkie is wondering if no! no! is A No-No? Check out Week 1 of her review!

Henna from Canadian Beauty found a gloss that really lasts - find out which one she's using!

Laurie at Beauty's Spot sacrifices her perfect tan to bring you the skinny on L'Oreal Sublime Bronze ProPerfect Airbrush Self Tanning Mist.

Looking for a new summer haircut? Check out this great style found on A Mom in Red High Heels!

with love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

weekend reads...from the beauty blog network

Here are some great weekend reads from our friends at The Beauty Blog Network.

Click away!

The Daily Cookie shows you how to get stick-straight hair with the Corioliss Pro Flat Iron - complete with before and after photos!

Roselyn from Makeup Makes Me Happy™ tries out the new Physician's Formula Talc-Free Mineral Wear™ Loose Powder. Check out what her thoughts were!

StyleBell reviews the new line of hair care products by Kate Hudson and David Babaii, David Babaii for Wild Aid. Check out how it rates!

A Touch of Blusher adores this face wash!

The Makeup Divas reviews the new Bobbi Brown Pink Collection along with pictures and swatches.

Who couldn't use a little stress relief? Beauty411 raves about Johnson's Melt Away Stress line; check it out and enter the contest to win a free assortment of Melt Away Stress products!

Beauty Anonymous loves Chanel Levres Scintillantes Glossimer for lips!

Bionic Beauty packs up her makeup and skincare and moves half-way across the country. Check out her packing techniques and products.

The Beauty Blog Network welcomes newest member, "Makeup Loves Me to the network. Her blog is an absolute must see.

Elke shows how to contour cheekbones, for an updated version of the newest beauty trend for this summer and fall.

Beauty Blogging Junkie discusses her favorite Three Custom Color Cosmetics.

Kitiya from Mischo Beauty invites you to enter her “Mischo Beauty Johnson & Johnson Melt Away Stress Giveway!”

Beauty Banter gives you A-list Summer Hair Therapy... summer do's, must-have products, and celebrity cutter beauty secrets!

The Beauty of Life welcomes in the dog days of summer with an assortment of cocktail-inspired beauty products!

Bare Escentuals' Warm Radiance has passed muster with Toya of "The Life of A Ladybug!" Come check this out and the rest of her "Bronzers for Brown Girls" series!

makeup loves me is giving away 5 sets of sally hansen lip lab products!

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic gets some great anti-aging tips from Dr. Patricia Wexler!

Beauty in Real Life has the scoop on the, soon-to-be-released, fab new colors for CoverGirl Eye Enhancers.

Glossypink is a believer in bronzer again thanks to this gem!

Canadian Beauty has figured out the way to get seriously radiant skin!

Joy from Makeup Junkie is wondering if no! no! is A No-No? Check out Week 1 of her review!

Headed to Hawaii this summer? Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog gets a manicure and pedicure in paradise when she visits The Lippmann Collection Nail Studio on Oahu.

Beauty companies are slapping the word "natural" and "organic" on every product these days. How do you know what to use? Cybelesays investigates and comes up with a winning skin care line.

Calling all M.A.C. fans!!! Scandalous Beauty has your guide to exclusive M.A.C. Gift Sets, Discounts and the Top M.A.C. Eye Shadowshades ever!!!

Makeup Moxie has beauty lust for L’Occitane Rice Ultra-Matte Face Fluid.

Growing out your bangs/fringes? let Pursebuzz.com show you a cute superfast way to get it out of your face.

This week, Spoiled Pretty is hosting two fantastic giveaways...one for you, and one for dear old dad. Enter today!

Who doesn't need tips for a perfect long-lasting pedicure this summer? Beth from Beauty Junkie in SF has exactly what you need!

Stay beautiful darlings!

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

an eyeshadow palette we both heart...stila's limited edition summer palette

We both fell in love with the shimmery shades, in this Summery palette.

All of the colors seem to evoke the sultry-warmth of the season that is upon us.

They can stand out on their own, or be combined in a myriad of fabulous ways.

Starting from the top we have...

Ray - a shimmery golden copper
Mystic - a shimmery aqua blue
Kitten - a shimmering nude pink (a top-seller on it's own)
Wheat - a pearlescent beige
Prize - a soft gold shimmer
Sun - a shimmering golden peach

Considering it's a limited edition and you are essentially getting six eyeshadows for $40, you'd better act fast.

Try stilacosmetics.com or sephora.com for more information, or to purchase.

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine
photo courtesy of stila cosmetics

Friday, June 13, 2008

what's in jennifer's bag?

Have you ever wanted to peek inside another woman's bag, to see what exactly they're carrying in there? How about a beauty blogger?

Well over at Product Girl, Carla's been featuring what's inside the different bags of her fellow beauty bloggers.

Today...you can take a peek inside my bag and see what exactly is going on in there! Head on over and take a look!

Jennifer

summer makeup tips from fatima olive pt 1

Redpoint's Artistic Director, Fatima Olive (that's her seriously adorable self to the right), is sharing some of her tips for gorgeous and sheer Summer makeup.

She's a celebrity makeup artist who's worked with Petra Nemcova, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, and Jessica Simpson...just to name a few. So, it goes without saying that she knows what she is talking about ladies.

Do yourself a favor. Be smart. Read her tips. Then go forth and apply them.

You'll be glad that you did.

1. Sheer makeup will beat the heat, but it's important to begin with the proper skin preparation for the best results. To start, lightly exfoliate dead skin cells with a washcloth dipped in warm water.

2. Don't forget to apply SPF!

3. Use a tissue to blot excess oil from the skin.

4. Keep coverage light! Mix moisturizer or a primer with foundation to even out the skin tone without looking made up. You can always add concealer to problem spots after. Redpoint's Smooth & Remove Airbrush Pencil ($30) is an easy to use light diffusing concealer pencil to dab on spots and blend with the buffer brush on the opposite end.

5. Groom and shape eyebrows - it's the first step in getting your eyes to look great without actually applying makeup. You can even use a little hairspray or hair gel on an old, cleaned mascara brush to keep brows put.

6. Wash an every skin tone friendly shimmery gold color on the eyes.

7. Add one to two coats of mascara to your lashes.

8. For cheeks and lips, try a stain for a healthy dose of color. To find the perfect, most natural looking color, find a lipstick or cream that matches the inside of your lower lip. Redpoint's Airbrush Effects Blushwhip ($28)is ultra moisturizing with a sheer tint to give your cheeks a healthy boost of color.

Next week, is Summer Makeup Tips from Fatima Olive part 2...read it here.

So stay tuned and stay beautiful!

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

nutra luxe md plus bio-peptide complex

It needs to be announced, that Little L is at that stage where he feels afternoon naps are so over.

Sad, but true.

He used to take the greatest naps ever...between two and three hours...and still go to bed at night and sleep through till morning.

Well, those days are gone.

Instead of me getting a million things done around the house while he dozes, I'm running around trying to keep up with him and trying to beg him to take a nap.

Not fun.

As I drag myself out of bed each morning...or I should say Little L drags me out of bed, he also climbs out of his crib and likes to arouse me from my sleep by pulling the covers completely off of me...and get ready for the long day ahead, I like to use this.

This Bio-Peptide Complex, which to me looks like a crazy experiment gone awry, is what's been my saving grace.

It's a hydrating serum that you can use on your face to protect it and make it look a whole heck of a lot better. It says it's moisturizing enough to use on it's own, but I've been adding my lotion with spf on top and I love it. I have to say that my face has a glow and looks like I actually get more sleep than I really do.

Why the funky suspended colorful doo-hickeys? Well, here's what they have to say about that:

Especially selected to fight and help diminish wrinkles and lines, these BIO- PEPTIDES are formulated with other potent active ingredients and with the Vitamin C l-ascorbic acid/ Vitamin E Complex. Unlike products with similar Peptide ingredients, we also eliminated creme fillers, which provide no benefit and clog your pores. Instead, we developed a moisture rich serum, in which the micro- encapsulated ingredients are suspended.

It even contains an SPF of 30 and no parabens.

Nutra Luxe MD has an amazing assortment of skin care delights. Check it out an see for yourself!

Jennifer

photo courtesy of nutraluxemd.com

proud member of total beauty and the bbn network

jurlique biodynamic beauty night lotion

There was a time, before Little L, that Big L and I used to do some crazy traveling.

It would basically involve looking at a map of the US, picking a state, and then plan the trip.

One Summer, we decided to go to Maine and go white water rafting.

For part of the trip, we had to rough it in a cabin in the woods.

No electricity, no cable, no phone, nothing...just us and nature.

I hated every last stinking minute of it.

I am not a nature girl.

Not in the least.

I love showers. I love air-conditioning. I love electricity. And I love cable.

Bugs freak me out. Animal noises freak me out. And staying in a cabin in the woods, after seeing Friday the 13th one too many times as a kid, will freak anybody out.

Yet there I stayed...for my man...so we could go white water rafting in the sub-zero rapids in upstate Maine.

Hurray for me.

So now you might be asking yourself, what the heck does this have to do with Jurlique?

Well, it's simple really. Jurlique is nature.

It should be something that I would hate, but it's not.

It's made with all natural ingredients, that are grown through organic methods on certified Biodynamic farms. They don't contain any harmful ingredients such as parabens, synthetic emulsifiers, or artificial colors and fragrances.

Just pure nature, at its finest.

I've been using this Night Lotion ($55) in place of my regular one, and I have to say that I like it so far. It hydrates my skin and leaves my skin glowing by morning. It also smells heavenly.

I also know that this shouldn't really matter, but the packaging is just so Crate and Barrelesque that I can't stand it. I wish they would make comforters in this pattern, I love it so much.

So there you have it.

Am I going to be roughing it anytime soon? Uh...no.

But I am intrigued enough by this product to want to try more from this line. I'll let you know how that goes.

Until then...I'll be applying this moisturizer at night, in my air-conditioned house, in front of my plasma screen TV, while watching whatever is on cable.

Happy as can be.

Jennifer
photo courtesy of jurlique
proud member of total beauty and the bbn network

file this under cool stuff...customized diesel fuel for life

Okay...you know how you like to dress up for any random occasion? Well, now here's your chance to dress up your fragrances.

Say what?

Diesel Fuel for Life Men and Diesel Fuel for Life Women present a new collection of 12 outfits, designed by Wilbert Das, Creative Director of Diesel and his team. The totally customized fragrance pouches, dress up these phenomenal scents, in the same kind of uber cool styles that epitomize the Diesel brand.

What are the choices?

Well...Diesel offers each fragrance encased in a denim jacket, lace netting or leather bomber in a wide assortment of colors. It's your bottle, you get to choose how wild you want it to be!

The prices aren't too bad either. The Fuel For Life Women is $52 and the Fuel For Life Men is $49.50.

And you can find them exclusively at a Diesel Boutique near you.

Customize away darlings!

With love (always),

Jennifer and Christine

photo courtesy of diesel

proud members of total beauty and the bbn network

Thursday, June 12, 2008

covergirl eye enhancers

CoverGirl is coming out with a new collection of pressed eye powders called Eye Enhancers that now includes new Blast and Enhance shades that offer a wide range of looks for day or night. With a palette designed by P&G Creative Director and world-famous makeup maven, Pat McGrath, this new collection offers modern finishes that take their cue from the runways of Milan, Paris, and New York. Colors range from light to dark for subtle and natural, to an intense and smoky eye.

Blast shades offer bright, bold, on-trend looks. Enhance colors go on sheer, but can be layered for a desired intensity. Click on the picture for a better look at the colors. Any color with a " * " is a Blast color.

You can get the colors in singles ($3), 3-kits ($4) and 4-kits ($5). The 3-kits and 4-kits contain complimentary shades that look good on their own or work great together to ensure you always have the right color combination. The shadows consist of a silky sheer formula that contain soft, fine micro-sized powder particles for effortless blending and application.

And there are a ton of colors to pick from, there are 25 1-kits, 8 3-kits and 12 4-kits. From looking at the colors available in the picture, it looks like there is something for everyone. The new colors will be available in July!

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

beauty buys under $10 - n.y.c.color minerals

N.Y.C. Color has jumped feet first into the mineral pool.

They've come up with a collection of mineral makeup, that's sure to delight drugstore divas.

The collection consists of a Loose Powder Foundation, a Natural Veil, a Loose Blush Powder, and a Pressed Foundation Powder...each one under $7.

And all except the Natural Veil, have an SPF 12.

They are talc-free, said to not clog pores, and are free of irritants.

The fact that they also come with their own little brush is just adorable.

Also, we love how the container has it's own little plug to make sure your mineral makeup doesn't accidentally get spilled all over your gorgeous white sofa from Pottery Barn...an act that really freaked out one of us.

Note to readers...two year olds + mineral makeup = potential white sofa disaster. Trust in that.

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine
photo courtesy of n.y.c. color
proud member of total beauty and the bbn network.

giveaway from the beauty bunny

We're a little late to the party, but our friends over at The Beauty Bunny are giving away a Spinlash to three of their lucky readers!

All you have to do is this. Head over to The Beauty Bunny. Comment on their Spinlash post and let them know what your biggest problem with mascara is.

That's it!

The top three faves will be chosen and receive one Spinlash each!

How easy is that?

Better act fast though, the contest is over on Monday and a winner will be chosen on Tuesday.

Good luck!

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

lips ahoy matey

Here is something that I am loving right now - Tarte's Limited Edition Lips Ahoy ($30).

First, it's lip gloss - actually it's 4 double-ended, water resistant lip glosses. Second, they come in a way too cute gold case with a starfish on it. Anyone who knows me knows I never met a seashell or beach-themed item I didn't like and the same goes for lip gloss.

So this item had my name all over it. Although I did share the lip glosses and gave 2 to Jenn. She never had a shot at getting the case.

I was just looking at the names of the glosses and now I like them even more. Check these names out:
cherry & dallas — The Outsiders (gold-tinged coral & shimmery pale pink)
annie & sam — Sleepless in Seattle (shimmery pastel pink & gold-tinged apricot)
allie & noah — The Notebook (shimmery thistle & sheer lilac pink)
angela & jordan — My So Called Life (sheer peach & gold-tinged mauve)

How great are those? I ended up with The Outsiders and The Notebook. They all have a natural vanilla fragrance that is not too sweet or even that noticeable once you put it on. They colors go on very sheer and are really pretty alone or over other glosses or lipsticks. As for lasting power, they do stay around pretty good length of time, considering they are lip gloss. You do have to reapply but not nearly as often as some other brands.

Not only are they pretty, but they are good for your lips too. They feature something called a t5 super fruit complex™ . According to Tarte this complex is a proprietary blend of the five most active superfruits: goji, acai, maracuja, acerola and pomegranate. The first blend of its kind, the t5 super fruit complex™ is loaded with naturally occurring, antioxidant rich nutrients and vitamins that have been known to deliver refining, anti-aging and skin-restorative benefits with each application. They are also preservative free, paraben free, phthalate free, mineral oil free, and sulfate free.

And if all that wasn't enough with the purchase of every Tarte Lips Ahoy set, you’ll be helping to preserve the Amazon Rainforest through forest conservation, improve living conditions and educational opportunities for communities in Brazil. Tarte is supporting Sambazon’s Sustainable Acai Project (SAP), a member of the Organic Trade Association and the Fair Trade Federation.

Lips Ahoy is available at sephora.com, tartecosmetics.com, beauty.com and any store that sells Tarte.

Christine
photo courtesy of tartecosmetics.com

father's day gifts from carol's daughter

Yes...yes...we know.

We're pulling our gorgeous, color-processed hair out at the roots, trying to figure out what we are going to get for our men.

Really...how many ties and electronic devices can one man possibly own?

Seriously.

Thank our lucky stars for Carol's Daughter.

She's put together a kit Fit for a King.

In it he'll be treated to:

Sandalwood and Vanilla Bar Soap 8 oz.
Gordon's Shaving Lotion 4 oz.
Unscented Shea Body Lotion 8 oz.
Peppermint Foot Lotion 4 oz.

All packaged in a chic cigar box...and all for only $50 at carolsdaughter.com.

While you're there, why not enter your dad, or any other best man in your life, in the Carol's Daughter The Best Man Contest.

The winner will receive a Carol's Daughter gift basket and sports tickets of his choice in any city.

For complete rules and more information, head on over to carolsdaughter.com.

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine
photo courtesy of carolsdaughter.com

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

yikes...it's almost father's day...thank goodness for bath and body works

Okay, we don't know about you, but our hubbies are the hardest guys to shop for.

Not that they're picky, mind you. In fact it's quite the opposite.

There are just so many great things out there, that they would gladly enjoy, and only so much time to get them.

That's where Bath and Body Works comes in.

See, they've cut the drama and the heartache of having to go to a million places in one day...and made it ridiculously convenient for us.

Here are some of the great offerings, broken down into four specific dad types...

1. For the sporty dad, there’s the Anthony Logistics Grab & Go gift set—everything a guy on the go needs for face, body and hair. Whether he’s hitting the court or hitting the links, dad will have Glycolic Facial Cleanser, Facial Scrub, Cleansing, Everyday Shampoo, Astringent After Shave, and Shave Cream to keep him clean and fresh. ($35)

2. For the modern dad, there’s the C.O. Bigelow Father’s Day Gift Set—a sampling of Bigelow Barber products created by C.O. Bigelow proprietor Ian Ginsberg, based on his firsthand knowledge of what modern men like and need when it comes to personal care. Available in Elixir Black and Elixir Blue fragrances, the set includes Body Spray, Hair & Body Wash, Cologne, Premium Shave Cream by Proraso and a bounce-back offer for free hair and body wash with any full size Barber purchase. ($30)

3. For the traveling dad, there’s the Anthony Logistics 3 Piece Deluxe Gift Set—the perfect way to smell good, look good and feel good on the go. If dad’s away on business or relaxing on vacation, he can still pamper himself with Strength Body Wash Gel, Strength Shave Cream and Strength Body Spray. ($40)

4. For the adventurous dad, there’s Molton Brown Black Pepper Re-Charge Body Wash—a spicy infusion to heighten his senses and reawaken his energy. Steeped in detoxifying black pepper oil, the gel formulation helps boost circulation and leaves the skin feeling deeply cleanse, warmed up and ready for adventure. ($28)

We've hope we've been helpful.

Now, get to the last minute shopping girls!

With love (always),

Jennifer and Christine

photos courtesy of bath and body works

proud member of totalbeauty.com and the bbn network

clinique quick eyes cream eyeshadow

When your day consists of rushing from here to there, dragging a toddler who
loves to fight you every step of the way...it's nice when you find something
that looks good with minimal effort

That's why I love jeans, Converse sneakers, tunic tops, and this.

This is the easiet thing to use and looks great on. You just twist out the applicator, apply a couple of dots on your eyelids, blend with your fingertips, and viola...your cuteness factor just went up about ten points.

It comes in nine gorgeous shades, but I fell for Sea Shell. It's kind of a taupeish-step-above-nudeish gem that looks great with my light to medium complexion.

And, because it's transfer-resistant and crease-proof, as I'm sweating like mad while removing a kicking and screaming toddler from a grocery store balloon display, at least I'll look good doing it.

Suggested retail price is $15 at clinique.com , or any major department store.

Jennifer
photo courtesy of clinique.com
proud members of total beauty and the bbn network

i've been tagged...again!

The phenomenally adorable Daneen over at Spoiled Pretty and we had also been tagged eons ago by SarahPuffy over at The Puff Reports...sorry sweetie, toddlers really soak up the brain cells. Anyway, I had to answer six questions about myself, abiding by the following rules:

*Post rules at the beginning of the post.
* Answer all the questions.
* Tag 6 people, and go to their blog and leave a comment to inform them that they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
* Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

Got that? Ok...here goes...

What were you doing ten years ago?

I was living in New Jersey, having the hardest time finding a job as a teacher. Dating Big L and wondering if he was ever going to propose.

What are five things on your to-do list today?

1. Entertain Little L
2. Feed Little L
3. Try and run Little L ragged so that he takes a nap
4. Beg Little L to take a nap
5. Give up putting Little L down for a nap, straighten up and clean house, do laundry, and make dinner.

Snacks you enjoy?

Uh...how much time do I have? I should say fruit, but I won't. I tend to go between salty and sweet...so...pretzels, these puffed crackery things from Keebler, cheese (God I love cheese)and M&M's.

Places you've lived?

Pennsylvania (where I was born), New Jersey (most of my life), and Virginia (been here about 9 yrs now).

What are 5 things you would do if you were a billionaire?

1. Pay off all bills and buy a ginormous house
2. Travel the world
3. Walk into any department store where I was treated horribly by the staff and reenact that scene in Pretty Woman...remember?...You work on commission right? Big mistake!....awesome.
4. Buy a house for my sister and mother.
5. Hire Madonna to sing at my Summer barbecue...just because I could.

People you want to know more about?

My husband...when he says there is nothing wrong...but he's acting like something is wrong...is there something really wrong? Hmmmm.

Whew! Thanks Daneen for tagging me, that was fun!

So now I have to tag six others...hmmm. I'm going to cheat a little here and say my co-editor Christine, Tink over at Casual Lavish, Beauty 411, Meredith over at Daily Dose of Coffee, Denice over at Beauty Chat Blog, and Leeann over at Join the Gossip.

Can't wait to see your responses ladies!

Jennifer

bath and body works blushing cherry blossom collection

If you live in the DC area, or if you're a frequent visitor, chances are you've heard about and possibly have even taken part in the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

People will literally line up in droves, to view parades and participate in various events...all with the one purpose of seeing the thousands of cherry blossom trees that line the shore of the Tidal Basin.

Over 1 million people will visit our Nation's Capital, to see these gorgeous blooms that started out as a gift from the mayor of Toyko in 1912.

Around here, the blooming of the cherry blossoms are a sign that Spring has begun. Bringing with it the beautiful scents of the season.

Well, now that Spring is over, that doesn't mean you can't get a chance to experience cherry blossoms.

Blushing Cherry Blossom is part of the Bath and Body Works Signature Collection of florals and it delivers on the floral part.

What's nice about this floral, is that it's not the sickeningly sweet florals that body lotions can sometimes fall into.

It actually has some hints of citrus and a little warmth thrown in, which makes it an everyday wearable fragrance for me.

I went ga-ga for the body lotion because it combines two of my favorite things, moisture and a delicious scent.

The shower gel has a nice lingering scent on its own or combines with the lotion for all day yummy goodness.

The best part is all of these cost $20 or less and can generally be bought on sale.

Like right now...over at Bath and Body Works...they are having a ginormous sale. It's called their Semi-Annual Sale and it's a doozy. Certain scents and products in the Signature Collection are on sale as buy 3 get 1 free!

Yes...you heard me...get one free.

Plus, while supplies last, you can get this extremely adorable tote for just $5 with any purchase online!

So head on over and get yourself some scented delights!

Jennifer
photos courtesy of bathandbodyworks.com
proud member of total beauty and the bbn network

covergirl wetslicks amazemint lip gloss + pf chang's china bistro = heaven on earth

OK ladies, this is fantastic. It combines two of our favorite things....Chinese food and lip gloss.

What's the deal?

Well CoverGirl and PF Chang’s China Bistro, are teaming up for an after dinner treat. On Friday, June 27th women dining at PF Chang’s China Bistro will enjoy a special surprise at the end of their meals. CoverGirl is teaming up with the restaurant to offer all female customers a free CoverGirl WetSlicks AmazeMint lip gloss! Now that's what we call service!

The new lip color, which is not yet available in stores, includes Crest Peppermint Oil to help keep breath fresh. The first 500 females to purchase dinner from 5pm until supplies last will receive the after dinner treat free of charge.

Okay...let's break it down to the nitty gritty. Details are below...

What: Free CoverGirl Wetslicks AmazeMint at PF Chang’s China Bistro
When: Friday, June 27th from 5pm until supplies last
Cost: Free lip color with meal purchase
Where: Select

Dallas (Grapevine)
650 Highway 114
Grapevine, TX 76051

Miami (Downtown)
Mary Brickell Village
901 South Miami Ave., Suite 104
Downtown Miami, FL 33131

Atlanta (Alpharetta)
7925 N. Point Parkway
Alpharetta GA 30022

Chicago
530 N. Wabash Avenue
Chicago IL 60611

Washington, DC
Tyson’s Corner
1716M International Drive
McLean, VA 22102

Baltimore
600 E. Pratt Street Suite 101
Baltimore, MD 21202

Los Angeles
Beverly Center
121 N. La Cienega Boulevard #117
Los Angeles, CA 90048

The best part for us is that we actually live near the one in DC! And...that one is in Tyson's Galleria...so that could mean shopping before and after.

Okay...stop it...it's too much.

Stay beautiful darlings. Oh...and be on the lookout for more information and a review of the CoverGirl WetSlicks AmazeMint lip gloss.

If you can't stand the anticipation and want to learn more, check out our fave pal Amber over at Beauty Blogging Junkie. She actually met with the Molly Stern and nabbed one of these amazing lip glosses! We'll try not to be too jealous much.

Stay beautiful darlings!

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine
photo courtesy of covergirl
proud members of the total beauty and the bbn network

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

5 minutes, 5 questions with lisa hoffman

I am really excited to announce a new feature to our blog....5 minutes, 5 questions. This new feature is where we get to do a quick interview with people in the beauty industry. We figured, 5 minutes is really all the time busy people have, to give us answers to the more important questions. Plus 5 minutes is about as long as we can go before there is a 2 year old screaming in the background for juice or Diego.

So....here is our 5 minutes, 5 questions with Lisa Hoffman, of the Lisa Hoffman Skin Care Line and wife of legendary actor, Dustin Hoffman:

1. First, could you tell our readers a little about how you came up with the idea for the line?

The most important thing in my life is family. When my husband and I got married and decided to build our family together, I knew I was in for some unique challenges. His career in the entertainment industry entails a lot of travel, and a lot of time in the public eye. And, since we made a promise to keep the family close together, this means that I have always had to do a lot of traveling, and by association, spend a lot of time in the spotlight.

Taking care of my skin has always been important to me, but this schedule is pretty demanding, especially when you add five kids into the mix. I've always insisted on taking all possible steps to care for my skin, and required the best when it comes to skin care products, but I have always wished that there were some way to make the whole process simpler, less time-consuming, and more convenient to carry around.

It was this desire that inspired me to create a line of beauty products that simplify daily beauty routines by making it easier to use and convenient to carry, while providing formulas that represent the best ingredients that science and nature have to offer.

2. All of the products are just amazing. Is there one product in particular that you think every woman should have?

It's too difficult to just pick one! :) But if I have to pick, it would be the Vitamin A/C serum. It's one of my top selling products and I just love it's silky texture and the amazing results it gives you. The Vitamin A/C Serum is a rich anti-aging serum that is used before bedtime. It contains highly potent ingredients designed to reduce the signs of aging. The skin's rate of of cell renewal is highest at night, and the absorption of active-care ingredients increases between midnight and 4am so I believe it's very important to capitalize on this anti-aging opportunity by using a high quality product.

3. Can you let our readers in on any new products that are in the works?

We have a couple new fragrances that we're working on. In September, we're launching Japanese Agarwood and Madagascar Orchid. These fragrances are currently featured in our bath and shower collections and they became so popular that we had to extend them into the fragrance category.

I'm also working on collections for hair care, baby care, men's grooming and more!

4. What three beauty products can you not live without?

The products I can't live without are actually from my own line: the 24 Hour Packette and the Spa Bath & Spa Shower Packettes. I think I am like most women. I want to be able to take care of myself while I'm on the road, but I don't want it to occupy too much time and space in my life. Life for so many of us these days is quite full and complicated and I'm always looking to simplify. The packettes give me the convenience of being able to use all the products in my regimen without having to lug around large jars or bottles. The packettes take up little space and very little time to pack.

I also have very curly hair, with a mind of its own so I like to use Kerastase hair products to tame my curls. Kerastase offers travel sized versions of their shampoos and conditioners, which I like to take with me on all my trips.

5. What's the best piece of beauty advice you've ever received?

I've received so many great pieces of beauty advice over the years, but the best tip I've recently received has actually come from my 15 year old nephews! They like to use my clay mask as a spot treatment for blemishes. It helps reduce redness, absorbs excess oil, and helps to promote healing.

To see more of Lisa Hoffman's Skin Care Line, please visit lisahoffmanbeauty.com.

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine
photo courtesy of lisahoffmanbeauty.com

this just in...why you should wear sunglasses

Okay, you should all know by now, that sunglasses protect the delicate skin around your eyes from the harsh glares of the sun.

And..of course we all know that they'll protect the eyes themselves as well.

But did you know that sunglasses can also prevent you from getting cataracts?

Studies show that wearing sunglasses when you are outside during the day, can reduce the amount of UV light your eyes are exposed to. But, it's important to choose shades that will filter out the most UV light.

A classic and fashionable choice?

These Ray Ban Classic Aviator Sunglasses ($129), will keep your eyes safe* with 100% UV protection and garner envious stares from others.

Stay beautiful.

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine
photo courtesy of neimanmarcus.com
information provided by self magazine and healthline.com

total beauty and bbn network members

*Of course, we are not doctors. So if you are concerned about getting cataracts and want to know which glasses are best for you, or what else you can do to prevent cataracts, you should contact your local eye doctor for more information.

and end scene, the final primer - smashbox

Here is the last primer I have to talk about.....

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer ($36).

As I mentioned in my 2 other posts on primers, I have been using all 3 primers, but I find myself using this one and the Benefit primer the most. I love the way this one feels on my skin. Very silky and it definitly helps with oil control and make the makeup stick around a little longer.

And it's really good for your skin too. Sephora had this description: it contains a blend of vitamins and antioxidants that smooths and perfects skin, while the unique formula helps to inhibit the destruction of collagen, and fills in fine lines and pores for a flawless finish. It can be worn alone or under foundation and it works overtime to fill in fine lines and even out skin texture.

I have not bought this one....yet. But Sephora gives out ridiculous sized samples if you want to try it out before you make the purchase, since this is one of the more expensive ones - which is what I did. After trying the Laura Mercier primer, I was hesitant to fork out another $36 and only to hope I liked it. Samples are the way to go.

Another thing I like about Smashbox, is that there are 7 different primers to choose from depending on what you are looking for. Over at smashbox.com they offer up travel sizes of almost all the different primers for $16.

This is one primer worth checking out, whether you get a sample, travel size or regular size bottle. I had my mom use some of my sample jar from Sephora, yes they are that generous, and now she's hooked and went to Ulta to get it (another great place to buy it, because they hand out coupons almost every week).

Christine
photo courtesy of sephora.com

Monday, June 9, 2008

bobbi brown hydrating eye cream

Between cleaning the house, doing the laundry, making meals and snacks, going grocery shopping, cleaning up spills, kissing boo-boos, and...well...you get the picture....there isn't a lot of time in the day to...uh...you know...sleep.

I would have some serious eye baggage if I didn't use two eye creams, one for night and one for day. Here is the one I heart for daytime.

Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream ($40), is nothing short of amazing.

It manages to hydrate the under eye area, without making it so greasy that your concealer just slides off. In fact it apparently contains a primer of sorts, that will make your makeup last longer when applied on top of it.

All I know is that I haven't been able to live without this since I bought it a couple of months back.

So...yeah...it's that good.

Speaking of things that are good...

While you're over at bobbibrowncosmetics.com, you might want to pick up one of these limited edition Mini Tube Tint Sets ($30).

I mean...seriously...how cute are they?

My favorites?

The Peony Lip Tint with SPF 15 (a bright pink) and the Clear Glitter Lip Gloss.

Love.

Jennifer
photos courtesy of bobbibrowncosmetics.com
proud member of total beauty and the bbn network

the surgery-free makeover

Okay, we're just going to put this out there.

Our viewpoint is this...we would both love to live long and healthy lives.

If we could do that and look hot at the same time...well..who wouldn't want to do that...right?

The hard part here is getting around something called gravity.

You know...gravity...that funny little thing that eventually goes around and spoils the party for everyone.

Up until now, if you wanted to look younger than your years, you had to resort to the drastic measures of plastic surgery.

Now...we do not judge people here...at least not to your face. So whatever you decide to do to your body, that's your decision...not ours.

We just know that the thought of going under the knife really freaks us out.

All we had to do was watch one episode of Dr. 90210 or Nip/Tuck and we were having nightmares the rest of the week.

Finally someone came along with a surgery-free alternative to looking young...Brandith Irwin M.D.

In her new book, The Surgery-Free Makeover: All You Need to Know for Great Skin and a Younger Face ($24), Dr. Irwin provides a no-nonsense guide for women in their 40s and 50s on how to achieve a younger looking face with minimum expense and zero surgery.

Hello?

Did someone just say a younger looking face with zero surgery?

We're intrigued.

Considering she's appeared on both the Today Show and Oprah, she must be onto something.

In fact, Paula Begoun, the best-selling author of Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me says..."Dr. Brandith Irwin is one of the few independent voices in the medical world today who can help consumers make educated decisions about procedures and medical options so they can stay as young as they can for as long as they can."

While neither one of us is in her 40's or 50's yet, lord knows it'll be here soon.

So, let's just say this'll get put on our wish list.

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

proud members of the total beauty and bbn network

skinn cosmetics highlight, bronze, blush, and sculpt kit

The other day, I was having a major moment.

I had to be ready to go out in a hurry and I couldn't find my favorite blush.

Traumatic? Yes.

Was my husband sympathetic?

In a word...no.

His comment?

Come on Jenn you look fine, let's just go already.

Which in translation means: I-really-am-getting-tired-of-waiting-for-you-and-even-though-you-look-about-as-palid-as-a-corpse-I-really-want-to-go-so-I'll-just-throw-out-the-old-standby-guy-
line-to-get-you-in-the-car.

So what did I do?

Well, to save an argument, I grabbed this palette and a couple of brushes and left.

In the car, to give my face a little oomph, I applied some of the bronzer to my face (where the sun would naturally hit) and applied a pop of color to my cheeks with the gorgeous coral-ly colored blush (for reference they are the two colors located to the far right of the palette, one underneath the other).

Beautiful.

It gave me an subtle jolt of color without looking like I had a ton of makeup on.

The best part, it lasted through the night, until I washed it off.

This is me the next day, with the replicated look.

I took this photo in my bathroom in natural light. It's a pretty good example of how cute the blush color is and how it turned up on my skin.

Just for reference, I'm also wearing Redpoint's Transformative Dual Foundation...which I have fallen in love with and will be reviewing soon.

I also have on the bronzer from the palette as well.

The palette does come with two other blushes, a highlighter, and a contour blush as well. All of the colors are labeled universal and I think that most skin tones will be able to get away with them because they layer very well.

The Highlight, Bronze, Blush, and Sculpt Kit is available at skinn.com and is only $44 for everything you see above.

Jennifer
photo courtesy of skinn.com
proud total beauty and bbn network member

Sunday, June 8, 2008

beauty deal of the week...nordstrom

We figure this...if you're going to spend $100 or more on beauty products anyway, you might as well get a little more bang for your buck.

Now at Nordstrom, with your $100 beauty or fragrance purchase, you'll receive a really cute and reversible tote...perfect for schlepping your stuff to the beach or the pool..

Plus you get the following deluxe samples:

Anastasia Brow Gel
Anthony Logistics for Men Self-Tanner with Anti-Aging Complex
Clarins Sunscreen Soothing Cream SPF 20 (0.28 oz.)
Cover FX 'Skin Prep FX' Treatment & Priming Serum sample
Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel (0.1 oz.)
Freeze 24.7 IceCrystals™ Anti-Aging Prep
Hanae Mori 'Butteryfly' Eau de Parfum (0.04 oz.)
John Varvatos Eau de Parfum (0.05 oz.)
KORRES Natural Products Guava Body Butter (0.85 oz.)
Lancôme Hypnôse Custom Volume Mascara (0.07 oz.)
Laura Mercier Eye Colour in Sandstone (0.03 oz.)
PHYTO Phytodéfrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm (0.5 oz.)
TanTowel Self-Tan Towelette (1 application)

This offer is available online and in store...while supply last. It will automatically be added to your purchase once you checkout!

Happy shopping!

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine
photo courtesy of nordstrom

member total beauty and bbn

Saturday, June 7, 2008

lisa hoffman summer kits

Here is a line of skincare products that I am very interested in trying out - The Lisa Hoffman Skincare line. And they have 2 new kits out for a limited time just for summer. They are the Lisa Hoffman 24 Hour Skincare Summer Kit in either Day or Night. Each kit is comprised of full-sized products, the same formula as the original Lisa Hoffman 24 Hour Skincare, just in fun summer packaging and at a fraction of the price!

The Summer Day Kit ($45) is pictured right and includes:
• Day Cleanser (1.9 oz)
• Day Toner (1.9 oz)
• Day SPF 15 (0.8 oz)
• Day Eye Cream (0.45 oz)
• Day Lip Conditioner (0.45 oz)
• White Cosmetic Bag

And the Summer Night Kit ($65) is pictured left and includes:
• Night Cleanser (1.9 oz)
• Vitamin A/C Serum (0.45 oz)
• Night Cream (0.9 oz)
• Night Eye Serum (0.45 oz)
• Night Lip Serum (0.45 oz)
• White Cosmetic Bag

These are available as a limited time offer, both kits are available now exclusively at lisahoffmanbeauty.com.

I haven't tried anything from this line yet, but I do have one her Spa Facial Packettes sitting on my sink in the bathroom calling my name. I will definitely let you all know how it goes. And if anyone has tried anything from this line, let me know how you like it!

Christine
photos courtesy of lisahoffmanbeauty.com

weekend reads...from total beauty

Here are the weekend reads from some of our girls over at Total Beauty.....

Tink at Casual Lavish reviews Burt's Bees Avocado Butter pre-shampoo treatment. Does this give her hair the shine she wants? Check out the review to find out.

The Beauty of Life bares it all with Bobbi Brown's new Yogi Bare Lip Balm!

Talking Makeup's Marta Walsh interviews IMAN
for Beauty Interviews!

Beauty Anonymous invites you to Peach-a-Boo! from OPI.

Laurie at Beauty's Spot has started a new feature detailing her personal product all-stars.

Alison, (aka. "Advice Sister Alison" ) shares five fast, easy and fabulous ways to brighten your smile without products or dentist's bills on the Advice Sisters Guide to Happiness Blog

Toya of The Life of A Ladybug introduces you to Laura Mercier's Bronzing Duo in Pink Bronze , another in her "Bronzers for Brown Girls" series!

Kitiya from Mischo Beauty invites you to enter her SPINLASH giveaway!

Monique at Beauty Girl Musings lets you know all about her new favorite hydrating product.

A Mom in Red High Heels embraces her curly-girl side! Discover which product leaves her hair soft and full!

Meredith at Daily Dose of Coffee checks out Pop Beauty Tan Popper collection to see if it really does pop that tan.

The amazing ladies over at Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog, share the awesomeness of K Street Tees.

It's The Jet Set Girls to the rescue, helping us with our frizzy, Summer hair.

We hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

weekend reads...from the beauty blog network

Here are some great weekend reads from our friends at The Beauty Blog Network.

Click away!

Lilan from The Daily Cookie gets the low-down on Nordstrom Beauty Director Joelle Russo's Dior must-haves for your makeup bag.

Raging Rouge is totally stumped about what to buy Dad, until she stumbles upon these perfect Father's Day Gifts.

A Touch of Blusher's guest reviewer reports on the new Thierry Mugler makeup line.

The Beauty of Life bares it all with Bobbi Brown's new Yogi Bare Lip Balm!

Beauty Anonymous invites you to Peach-a-Boo! from OPI.

Looking for a cool beauty gadget? Bionic Beauty absolutely loves her PedEgg for summer pedicure preparation!

Intergallactic glamour! Roselyn fromMakeup Makes Me Happy™ does an amazing tutorial andrevamps the smokey eyewith the Solar Bits from the latest M.A.C. Solar Field Collection!

Beauty Banter spent the day on location for a new NBC TV show... and she raided the hair and makeup trailer! Find out all the beauty tips from her day spent on-set (these are too good to miss)!

It's All About the Men this month!! Beyond Beauty Basics tells you how to take care of your guy's skin with these simple skincare products in their Father's Day Men's Special!

makeup loves me lashes out!...and gives you the 411 on two of the much-buzzed about new tools in for eye lash curling and separating.

The Makeup Divas reviews and tells you about a great mattifying product that Carmindy and professional make-up artists use and recommend.

What's Beauty Blogging Junkie using to achieve Valley of the Dolls Hair? Find out here.

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic continues to add to her summer bright nail polish options with Essie's Summer Neons!

StyleBell discusses Redken's fab tips on how to do the perfect blow out for your hair!.

Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog shows you how to get a silver and pink eye look with eyeshadows from MAC Cosmetics.

Scandalous Beauty shows youhow to easily and effortlessly cover Acne, Blemishes and Skin Discolorations. This is a video you don't want to miss!!

Toya of The Life of A Ladybug introduces you to Laura Mercier's Bronzing Duo in Pink Bronze , another in her "Bronzers for Brown Girls" series!

Makeup Moxie reviews the new Hourglass Bronzer Duo.
Kitiya from Mischo Beauty invites you to enter her SPINLASH giveaway!

Cybelesays picks their favorite springtime flower-scent products.

Kyle at Face Candy loves Boots No. 7 Quick Thinking 4 in 1 Wipes.

Are Escada fragrances too sweet for your liking? Kia of Yummy411 recommends another fragrance you are sure to like!

The Beauty Bug previews new products that have just hit counters and shelves this month.

Pursebuzz.com interviews Ford Model's Johnny Lavoy. Spend an hour with us as we talk about his start and his secrets to fabulous hair and so much more!

Beth from Beauty Junkie in SF found a way to flirt with boys without getting into trouble. Genius!

The Mineral Makeup Blog reviews and loves Cosminology's Mineral Concealers!

Michelle from All Lacquered Up shares her latest nail polish obsession, a gray lacquer she's dubbing the next "it" color.

This week, Kim Kardashian revealed some more of her beauty secrets. What are they? Visit Spoiled Pretty to find out!

Stay beautiful darlings!

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine
member totalbeauty.com and bbn

Friday, June 6, 2008

secret clinical strength

Check out secret.com for more information and to find out where to buy.

Later darlings!

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

skinn cosmetics the final webisode

Itsaglamthing.com and the fabulous Demetri James of SKINN Cosmetics, are back in this final webisode.

This time, he's showing us how to get that perfectly lined eye, without looking like it was done by a toddler with a permanent marker.

Observe...

Love the wheel o' liner he used?

Well, he used his SKINN Dimitri James Eye Definition Line & Shade Wheel ($14). The talc-free gleaming eye shadows were designed with luminous pigments that reflect the true essence of the seasons. It comes in three different color combinations, so you're bound to find one to love.

Also, It's a Glam Thing is having an amazing giveaway. Basically, one winner will receive all of the SKINN Dimitri James Cosmetics used in all four of the webisodes, plus one surprise product!

Do yourself a favor and head over to itsaglamthing.com right now, for the complete rules and to learn how to enter.

Hurry...one winner will be chosen by June 10th.

Stay beautiful darlings.

With love (alwaya),
Jennifer and Christine

jan marini age intervention hands

I neglected to live up to my promise on delivering you a hand cream review last month.

For that, I am truly sorry.

I won't try and bore you with excuses, like Big L has been working incredibly long hours and Little L is going through what I can only describe as the horribly-retched-increasingly-embarrassing-temper-tantrum-filled terrible twos.

Although...both are sadly true.

Can I just say, that they left that whole chapter out, in all those baby books I read?

Just saying.

Okay...moving on.

As I'm getting older...my 37th birthday is in August...uh...yikes...I've become bound and determined to keep my hands looking their best.

I mean, you can have the youngest looking face, but your hands are a dead giveaway to your age. Most of us forget to protect them and many of us forget to pamper them.

Well here's your chance to do just that.

Age Intervention Hands by Jan Marini, is a great cream for taking care of your precious appendages. She uses various acids, lightening agents, and anti-inflammatory agents to take care of the signs of aging.

There is also a full-spectrum sunblock to protect your mitts against further damage from the sun's rays.

I've been using it for about three weeks now, and am loving it so far. It really makes my hands feel soft and lasts through several washings. I didn't have any age-spots that needed lightening (thank god for that) so I couldn't say honestly if it lightens them, but my skin does seem to be a more uniform texture and not as dry.

It's definitely a splurge at $62 for a 4oz tube, but it's lasting me a while because you don't have to use that much to see the results.

For more information on where you can buy this product, head on over to janmarini.com.

Jennifer
photo courtesy of janmarini.com

the biore two week challenge...are ya up for it?

I'm always up for a challenge.

Really.

I think it has to do with my competitive nature.

When I was in elementary school, I used to kick some serious spelling bee butt.

Growing up in the 70's, my father taught me how to play soccer and because there were no girls teams who would play year round, I used to play on a boys team.

Was that a challenge? You betcha.

So when the opportunity came about to try the Biore Two Week Challenge, I was game.

There are two challenges in the Biore line...The Pore Unclogging Challenge and The Breakout Challenge.

Being my problem only tends to be blackheads with the occasional pimple or two, I took on The Pore Unclogging Challenge (seen above, right).

There are two components to the challenge, a Pore Unclogging Scrub and the Deep Cleansing Pore Strips.

I really liked the Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub. It's a very gentle scrub that contains salicylic acid, smells yummy, and lathers up well. After washing, my combination skin didn't feel tight, just clean.

Before we get to the Deep Cleansing Strips, I have to tell you one thing. This is really going to sound incredibly gross, but I love getting the gunk out of the pores of my nose. Really...I do. I have spent many an hour in our master bathroom, looking at my pores in a mirror and degunking like mad. It's sick, it's bizarre, and I can't stop.

Moving on.

The Deep Cleansing Strips were my guilty pleasure (for the obvious reasons above). I love them. These are actually better than the ones I remember using years ago. They get the gunk out of your pores and leave the evidence behind for you to throw in the trash.

Glorious.

I'm almost done the two weeks system and I have to say that I really liked it. I found a cleanser that can replace my other salicylic acid scrub, for those times I want something a little more gentle, and some great new strips to degunkify my nose. The best part is they all cost $5.99 each and can easily be found in any drug store, Target, or Walmart.

Me likey.

Jennifer
photos courtesy of biore

Thursday, June 5, 2008

every man jack for father's day

What did I realize today (almost in horror)?!

Father's Day is next Sunday. And I've got nothing. Seriously I can't think of a single thing and I know Jenn is right there with me on this one.

But what did I stumble across this afternoon?

Every Man Jack. Who are some users of this line you ask? Let's see....Ed Burns, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Will Smith, David Arquette and Denzel Washington to name a few.

If your father or husband is like most, he wants to look good but doesn’t want to put a lot of time or effort into his grooming regimen. Every Man Jack has assembled some of their best-selling products into their special “Beginner’s Luck Kit.” Packaged in a ready-to-gift box, the kit includes a full-size Shave Gel, Face Wash, Face Lotion, Body Wash and three Body Bars, all in their classic Signature scent. It all comes in an EMJ toiletry bag. It’s everything he could want to get a smooth shave, refreshed face and clean body.

The Beginner's Luck Kit is available at target.com and everymanjack.com for $24.95.

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

primers...take 2 benefit that gal

The second primer of the three I have been using is Benefit's That Gal Brightening Face Primer ($27). I was a little put off at first by the fact that it is pink and rather fruity smelling. But I had read many many reviews that claimed this be one of the best primers, so who am I to judge? I gave it a whirl.

I like it a lot. It goes on nicely and the fruity smell is barely noticeable once you apply it. It definitely puts on a nice highlighting glow. I definitely notice the days I forget to use it. And it's in a fun container like a glue stick.

I do not use it everyday. I am still on the fence between this one and primer #3 that I will be reviewing next week. I seem to alternate between the 2 almost every day. Although for days that I don't put on all of my makeup, I like this one better - either alone or just with pressed powder on top.

benefit.com has this to say about the primer: It's a silky pink primer that makes skin appear smoother & brighter. Wear alone for clear complexion radiance or apply before makeup for smooth, effortless application. Re-brighten during the day with "that gal." It's "that gal" perfection for a happy complexion. It contains soothing raspberry & chamomile, combined with sweet almond & algae extracts to help skin retain its natural moisture, for a soft silky finish and has light-reflecting pigments to brighten the complexion.

Apparently you can also reapply this during the day to re-brighten your complexion. Although, I'm more of the once my makeup is done in the morning, it's done. Unless we are going out later in the day where I'll just touch up. But for the most part whatever happens at 9am is all that is making it's way on to my face.

That Gal Brightening Face Primer is available at sephora.com and benefitcosmetics.com.

Christine
photo courtesy of benfitcosmetics.com
total beauty and bbn member

we would so go to this...if we could get two babysitters

Okay, first of all, we both share the same babysitter...the amazing Katherine and no you can not have her number.

Second, Jennifer is going out to dinner with her hubby, in celebration of their wedding anniversary, and it's their first date night in lord knows how long...so...yeah she's not going.

And Christine, well, that would require her dragging her hubby and toddler out to NYC and...uh...that's just not going to happen.

So, while we can't go, there's no reason why our readers from the NYC area can't attend this awesome beauty event.

The nitty-gritty:

Date: Saturday, June 7th, 2008

Time: 12pm-5pm

Location: DEX New York, 224 W. 30th Street (bet. 7th and 8th Avenue), NY, NY 10001

RSVP: Call 212.643.3188 to RSVP and for further details

The scoop:

You're invited to DEX New York for a mix and mingle with beauty industry professionals and other fashion forwards just like yourself. Your visit to Manhattan’s newest beauty atrium, makeup artistry atelier and photography studio will include a brief overview of upcoming summer makeup workshops with our celebrity makeup and hair experts. This experience is sure to step up your beauty expertise.

It sounds like a blast and a great time to do a photo montage with your friends...and who doesn't love a great photo montage?

If you do go, please let us know how it was in the comments. That way we can live vicariously through you!

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

marini lash

Today is the launch of Marini Lash, a new eyelash formulation designed to give users amazingly dense and lush lashes. The people over at Jan Marini recently discovered proprietary peptide which, when combined with other essential factors, produces extraordinary eyelash and brow enhancement.

"For three decades, I have been dedicated to developing products that provide men and women with real solutions for their skin and hair, offering them the full benefit of the latest scientific innovations," said Jan Marini, president and CEO of Jan Marini Skin Research. "I was overwhelmed by the incredibly passionate response of women worldwide to my previous eyelash enhancement formulas. I am confident that Marini Lash will give everyone spectacular-looking, lush lashes."

Marini Lash, offered in a mascara-style container, is available through physicians and licensed skin care professionals worldwide. Visit janmarini.com for more info and where to purchase.

Basically, this is a lash conditioner that with some special peptide gives you insane eyelashes and brows. I'll be interested to see how this performs. It will be available starting today!

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine
photo courtesy of janmarini.com

beauty in real life's lippie extravaganza...featuring sally hansen!

Welcome to the biggest giveaway we've had yet!

We are so excited at the prospect of announcing this...we've both been totally dying to tell you for almost a week now!

Can you believe that we both actually kept a secret for that long?!

Now please, don't be mad at us.

There was a reason we kept the details a secret.

It's major.

5 of you...yes...that's right...5 of you will be receiving a gift bag stuffed with the goodies you see here!

The good folks over at Sally Hansen have provided the chance for five of our readers to each walk away with a gift bag worth $243!!!

Yes...that's right...each bag is worth $243!!

Can you stand it?

Each winner will receive...

- Line Fix Lip Repair
- Lip Blush Plumping Lip Balm
- Prep and Perfect Lipcare
- Overnight Lip Recovery
- PM Lip Plumper
- Gentle Plumping Lip Treatment in each of the following colors: Tickle, Tease, Playful, Happy, Tender, Serene
- Lipnotic Gem Gloss in each of the following colors: Precious, Treasure, Bejeweled, Bling Bling, Rich, Embellished, Lavish, Sumptuous, Sparkling, Glitz
- Satin Effects Lip Gloss in each of the following colors: Glamorous, Romantic, Pleasure, Delightful, Tempting, Seduction, Intrigue, Attraction, Sexy, Sensual

For a total of 32 lip products in all!

See...we told you it was going to be a Lippie Extravaganza!

All you have to do is just enter your name and email address below and that cool little gizmo will do the rest. For this giveaway, only US residents may enter and you may only have one entry per person. You also have from now until Jun 19th at 11:00 PM EST to enter!

A winner will be chosen June 20th!

So good luck, get to entering, and stay beautiful!

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

world ocean day, oceana, and la mer

To honor of the legacy of Dr. Max Huber, the founder of La Mer and creator of Crème de la Mer, La Mer is announcing their support for Oceana by donating $100,000 to help fund global initiatives and support ocean conservation.

This Sunday is also World Ocean Day. It's basically a day for everyone to recognize the sea's importance as a vital ecosystem and to learn how to protect it for future generations. so they can continue to use its resources.

The scary part is this...

“Scientists say that we might only have until mid-century to save the oceans if we continue to overfish and destroy critical ocean habitats at the current rate,” said Andrew Sharpless, CEO of Oceana.

But...he adds, their is some hope...

“It’s a dismal forecast, but I really believe that we can turn the tide and bring our oceans back if enough people get active and involved. It is no coincidence that a forward-thinking company like La Mer not only understands this point, but is also doing something about it. Oceana is grateful for La Mer’s generous support and is looking forward to getting more done for the oceans as a result.”

Oceana has honored many of Hollywood's elite for their outstanding work in the field of marine conservation. Past honors have gone to filmmaker James Cameron, ABC President Stephen McPherson, ocean activist Keely Shaye Smith and her husband Pierce Brosnan, and last year, former Vice President Al Gore and leading Marine Biologist Dr. Daniel Pauly.

Oceana’s lead celebrity spokespeople include Ted Danson, model/actress Amber Valletta and Sam Waterston.

To learn how you can show your support for World Ocean Day, head on over to WorldOceanDay.org. There is also this great tip sheet on how to keep our seas pristine over at LaMer.com. Also, be on the lookout for the special Creme de la Mer packaging (seen above) in stores.

Stay beautiful and ocean savvy darlings!

With love (always),

Jennifer and Christine

photo courtesy of la mer

the bronzed pink collection by bobbi brown

If you love Bobbi Brown as much as we do, you're going to love this... Bobbi’s Bronzed Pink Collection!

We love a great bronzed eye and with her limited-edition Metallic Eye Shadows in Bronzed Pink and Penny (seen here) you're able to acheive that and get long-lasting, crease free wear.

Her Tinted Lip Balms are just amazing and now come in three new permanent shades: Bronzed Pink (see picture), Desert Bronze and Golden Pink. They're definitely going to get us put on Cosmetic Probation with the hubbies.

As if that's not enough, the divine Ms. B. has also come out with an Oil Control Lotion SPF 15!

It's perfect for those of us who experience oilier skin in the warmer months, or even year round. It contains Seaweed and Lavender extract to help soothe skin and reduce visible irritation. Plus it provides a soft matte finish, perfect for under your foundation. If it's anything like her Eye Cream (which...hello...we love) it's bound to find a lasting space in our medicine cabinet.

In case you're like us and still haven't had the chance to go shopping for Father's Day...make a pit stop and pick up her new clear Lip Balm, Yogi Bare. Although your guy probably won't know who Bobbi Brown is, he'll definitely know who she named this balm after, her good friend Yogi Berra.

Be on the lookout for future reviews on these products. We're positively giddy at the prospect of heading out to Nordies, to check out the new goodies. It's honestly been too long since we've had a Girls Day...and darn it we need one!

Stay beautiful!

With love (always),

Jennifer and Christine

photo courtesy of bobbi brown cosmetics

giveaway from beauty girl musings

Head on over and visit our friend Monique over at Beauty Girl Musings.

She's having her first giveaway, just in time for Summer.

One lucky winner will receive this great bronzer and blusher duo from NARS.

It's one of our faves and sure to be a instant makeup bag addition to whoever wins it!

So check it out and enter immediately...the contest ends this Friday!

With love (always),

Jennifer and Christine

photo courtesy of nars

these are a few of our favorite...bronzers part I

Good morning darlings!

Let me let you in on a little secret...want to get a rested look, when you're feeling a little Night of the Living Dead-ish?

Bronzer.

I love a good bronzer.

Who doesn't really?

They have that remarkable ability to make my skin look more rested and ready for the day ahead. Even if I had, like, zero hours of sleep due to Big L's insistence on taking up 3/4 of our King Sized bed.

I mean...really...could ya give a lady some room to turn maybe?

Anyway...here are four bronzers that Christine and I just can't get enough of...

1. Stila Sun SPF 15 ($28) - A great bronzer with a light shimmer, perfect when you need a pick-me-up or heading out at night. It also contains SPF 15 to protect your gorgeous face. No wonder it's their best selling bronzer.

2. Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder ($33) - A fave of mine. Provides a nice sun kissed glow that doesn't look artificial...Bobbi is the queen of natural looking makeup. If you're looking for something subtle for day, without any shimmer, this is it.

3. Rejuvinating Bronzing Silk w/ Kabuki Brush by Redpoint ($38) - I've been on a Redpoint kick lately and it's no wonder. This contains anti-aging ingredients, plus it helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. If that's not enough, it even comes with it's own little Kabuki brush. Besides, I love saying Kabuki.

4. Goddess Glow South Pacific Shimmer ($32) - The multi-tasker of the bunch. The colors can be used separately as eye shadows, or together for a radiant and believable sun goddess glow. It's also the most gorgeous compact I've seen around.

In case you're not sure how to apply them, click here to take you to a great video tutorial we found.

Then choose one or choose them all...a girl can never have enough of a sun-kissed glow!

Jennifer
photos courtesy of stila, bobbi brown, redpoint, and global goddess

this just in...p and g seal a scent deal with avril lavigne

Yes...that Avril Lavigne and yes that Procter & Gamble.

We swear that we've been shocked with every move she's made, since the gorgeous dress and look she chose for her wedding a few years back.

But a fragrance?

Hey...it's not like either one of us would turn down the offer to have a fragrance named after one or the both of us.

Could you imagine?

Beauty in Real Life...the scent of a stay-at-home-mom. What would that smell like?

Hmmmm.

Maybe a crazy combo of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, soap, and baby powder.

Huh.

Oh well...we guess it's going to be just a matter of time before all of the celebs have a namesake scent.

At least there's one cool thing about Lavigne...her songs are pretty catchy. I mean really, try watching the below video without singing it the rest of the day.

We dare you.

With love (always),

Jennifer and Christine

photo from world wide web