this just in...a phan-tastic lancome giveaway

Lancôme just sent me an email about a fabulous giveaway they're doing on their Lancôme Facebook page.

Anyone who becomes a fan between now and Friday night (April 2nd) will be eligible to win all the products in Michelle Phan’s new Lancôme video!  Plus, existing fans are eligible as well.

Get it?

Phan-tastic?

See what I did there in the title?

Man I kill myself sometimes.

Okay...sorry...I'll stop now.

As many of you know YouTube phenom Michelle Phan joined the Lancôme team earlier this year as their first-ever video makeup artist.

Her latest video, called Clubbing Makeup, went live a few days ago and has already passed 825,000 views.

Check it out below, then click here to go right to the Lancôme Facebook page and become a fan!

update...

Okay...so I'm not dying.

Apparently my doctor says that he thinks it's an infection of my lymph nodes that was probably brought on from a sore throat that went untreated.

He also said that it should go away quickly with medication.  If it doesn't go away, he mentioned words like biopsy and other cancery sounding terms that really freaked me out...so I decided to stick with his original diagnosis and figure this should be out of me by early next week.

Anyway, remember Kevin?

The high school kid who basically suffered from foot-in-his mouth-itis and ended up on the wrong end of a smack?

He wrote back to me after my post and here's what he had to say!

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You're never going to believe this! I emailed her last night and she actually accepted my apology! Her reply is below if you have any interest. I never imagined a girl could be so warm and forgiving after being so upset. I'm excited about the coffee date...hopefully things will go more smoothly this time, lol.

                                                                                                                                             -Kevin
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Hi Kevin and thank you for writing to me. 


I got your note last night, and I've been thinking things over. You seemed like such a sweet guy at first, and so smart and interesting! We were having such a wonderful conversation and that's why I was really disappointed when you started commenting on my body. It felt really weird and uncomfortable, especially since we hardly knew each other. I've also had some weight issues in the past and I guess I'm really sensitive about any comments that hint at being overweight.


Regarding the abrupt ending to our conversation depicted by the graphic below (editor's note: i left it out because I have no clue how to add it)....hehehe


Well, I'm an old fashioned girl and I felt it was the most appropriate response for a guy I just met who had the nerve to "size me up". There is a time and place for those sorts of comments, and it's not when you first meet a girl. I will say that you took the slap like a gentleman by turning the other cheek and then coming back to make a sincere apology. Most boys would not be that mature.


I do think it would be unfair for me to write you off as a jerk. After all, we had a really great conversation up to that point. So yes, I'm willing to forgive and forget and might even meet you for coffee, like we had talked about, but the terms are that you have to pay and I get to order something really extravagant like a large, caramel macchiato.....just joking ;-)

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So I guess congratulations are in order Kevin!

Hope that things are going well.  Did you guys meet for that Caramel Macchiato?  I personally think that drink is amazing and get one at least 3 times a week...iced of course.

Write back and let me know what happens and if you guys end up going to the prom (or should I have said prom without a "the" in front of it?) or something like that.

i'm sick...or something

So, here I am, sick...or something.

I've been having a major sore throat and I've been putting off going to the doctor because I just figured that my allergies are acting up again.

Last night I could barely keep my eyes open and went to bed early.

Then I woke up this morning with major swelling under my jaw...and it hurts.

I have no clue what it is...it can't be good if your husband takes one look at you and says yeah it looks pretty bad...so I quickly made an appointment for later today.

I'll try and post later and let you know the deets.

new bobbi brown brightening skincare

Happy Monday!!!

Can you believe that March is almost over and April is right around the corner?

With the warmer weather soon to come,  you better make sure that your skin is in check.

Bobbi Brown is just releasing her new Brightening Skincare just in time.

There are five parts that are meant to be used one after the other...

1 

PREPARE

Brightening Hydrating Lotion ($50)

Your journey to a brighter, clearer complexion begins here.

Skin is clearer, instantly hydrated and perfectly prepared for

the next step.

2 

BRIGHTEN

Brightening Intensive Serum ($95)

The star of the Brightening Skincare line, packed with

a Vitamin C Complex and unique blend of Grape, Mulberry

and Scutellaria to inhibit melanin production and diminish

the appearance of dark spots.

3 

MOISTURIZE

Brightening Moisture Cream ($70)

This deeply hydrating, lightweight lotion quenches skin,

locks in moisture and strengthens your skin’s natural barrier,

improving its ability to resist future damage. Skin feels fresh,

soft, and perfectly hydrated.

4 

PROTECT

SPF 50 UV Protective Face Base ($38)

This lightweight, quick-absorbing lotion shields your skin

from the harmful effects of the sun with a high level of

broad-spectrum UVA and UVB to prevent future damage

and maintain a radiant, even skin tone.

5 

TREAT, COVER and PERFECT

Brightening Spot Treatment Corrector SPF 25 ($35)

Bobbi’s secret to instantly vibrant skin. This unique,

double-action treatment makeup covers dark spots and

freckles immediately—and is packed with natural, effective

ingredients that even out skin tone over time.

I'd love to test out that Protective Face Base and see if my skin likes that.

Be sure that you check it out the next time you're at your local Bobbi Brown counter or at bobbibrowncosmetics.com.

runway, real way, and the nars way

Who doesn't love watching fashion shows and wishing you could replicate the look in a way that works for the real world.

Well it's Nars to the rescue darling.

There's a series of three quick little videos that feature makeup artists taking the looks straight from the runway and turning them into a real-way look you're sure to love.

Each video, filmed backstage at NY Fashion Week, features a wearable take on the stylized NARS makeup runway look that will be easy for women everywhere to recreate. NARS makeup artists Jenny, Uzo and Jane outline the three key steps for recreating the makeup looks from, 3.1 phillip lim, Marc Jacobs and Thakoon, respectively. Always a proponent of real beauty, the models featured in the videos are women from the NARS Marketing team.

Here's one.  Enjoy...

julie hewett los angeles the capri palette

This is palette perfection.

Julie Hewett Los Angeles, The Capri Palette was inspired by Jackie Kennedy who used to spend her summers on the isle of Capri.

The result is a combo of shades that leave me in classic beauty bliss.

You get two eye shadows (silk: a shimmery light beige and terra: a nutmeg-brown with a little gold shimmer), a rose camellia balm, and a totally gorge shimmery coral blush.

All colors that go on easily, look positively divine, and last throughout the day.

Really everything you'll need for the fabulous island hopping you'll be doing this summer darling.

Okay...maybe not island hopping...but you get the idea right?

One caveat though, it's not available till May.

If you can't wait until then, head on over to juliehewett.net to check out some of her other pre-made palettes.  You can also get creative and put together one of your own!

clinique even better clinical dark spot corrector

Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector is definitely a favorite for me right now.

It's a serum that you can use day or night to bring about a more even skin tone.

While everybody will see results differently with daily applications, I saw results at a little over a week.

It worked that quickly.

I use it in the morning under my daily moisturizer (right now it's Clinique's Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 20...love it!) and before I hit the sheets, under my night-time hydrator of choice.

You don't need to use a lot either...one pump is enough for my whole face.

Trust me though, that one pump delivers one heck of a skin-evening boost that leaves behind glowy skin.

Love.

A product worth a look-see next time you're around a Clinique counter.

a little beer info for your st. patty's day consumption

Please do me a huge favor and do not go nuts during this holiday.

I mean...I know St. Patrick's Day makes it okay to go out after work and get your "drink on".

But...really?

Is it totally necessary to don green from head to toe and drink various green beverages if you're not even Irish?

And, while I'm at it, if you're past your 20's (and not a teacher) it is not okay to wear anything shamrock related on your head.  So that means no headbands, no hats, and no crowns with bouncy shamrocks or the words Kiss Me I'm Irish on them.

Especially if you are totally not the least bit Irish.

Just saying.

Anywho, I found this on the web and I thought that it was totally appropriate for the (legal) drinking that many of you will be performing at your local bar/pub.

It's from Women's Health and it's called Good Beers Without the Guilt.

You may get a little tipsy, but at least you'll still be able to fit into your jeans tomorrow.

dear jennifer...

This email showed up in my inbox the other day and I just couldn't help but post it and write my response.

Read on...

Dear Jennifer,

My name is Kevin and I'm 17 years old.  I know this might not be your
particular area of expertise, but since you deal with beauty and
self-image issues I thought you might have have some good insight on an
experience I recently had. It involved a girl I had just met at a
dance. We talked for a good half hour and seemed to be hitting it
off. She was very pretty, smart and nice. We even exchanged email
addresses. I was so excited!

Then, things suddenly went downhill. I commented that she had a
“really nice, hourglass figure”. I thought she would take it as a
compliment but instead she became deeply offended. I went into damage
control mode and tried to clarify my comments but I think I only made
things worse when I used the term “healthy”. With a look of complete
disgust, WHAP!, she slapped my face and departed.

As I was standing there alone rubbing my cheek, with my friends nearby
laughing at me, I was wondering why she was so offended. She had a
classic hourglass figure - very busty, narrow waist, shapely hips/legs.
I guess she had interpreted “hourglass” as meaning big/overweight/full
figured. Why can't girls embrace their curves?

Btw, I do have her email address. Do you think I should her an apology
note or should I interpret the slap in the face as another way of
saying she does not want to see me again?

Dear Kevin,

First of all, can I just totally thank you for making me feel like Dear Abby as I write this?  I mean I am channeling her in a big way right now.  Go me!

Moving on to your dilemma (*ahem*)...

Why can't girls embrace their curves?  There is a myriad of reasons why that's so hard for many women to do.  I could totally go on and on answering this question alone, but for time's sake I'll just get mention one that comes to mind.

The media.

Let's be honest here, the world is not to kind on anyone who doesn't fit into the ideal-size mold.  If a celeb puts on a few pounds...everyone's a critic.

If memory serves me, wasn't there an article written recently where a journalist called out Jennifer Anistion and Courtney Cox for looking a little on the heavy side?  COURTNEY COX and JENNIFER ANISTON!!!???

My left thigh is bigger than Jennifer Aniston's waist (not literally, but you catch my drift right?) and here she is being chastised for (maybe?) putting on a pound or two.  I mean, I honestly didn't think she did...but if she gained 5 lbs it's not a big deal.  She looks great!

You get where I'm going here?

What kind of message does that send to a teenage girl?

A girl who's already insecure and in the process of trying to figure out who she is.

That might be a little of where she's coming from.

To start off, just lose the words healthy, big-boned, curvy, shapely, and voluptuous from your vocab.

At least for now.

Try replacing them with beautiful, gorgeous, stunning, and amazing.

Also, learn how to respond correctly to a female.

For instance, if I say to my husband hey, does my butt look big in these jeans he better damn well reply (very quickly too) why no honey, not at all.

Because if he didn't...there would be hell to pay.

Trust that.

So my advice to you is this.

If you really like this girl, start groveling now.

Just grovel like you've never groveled before.

Then maybe, just maybe, she'll accept your apology and allow you into her life.

Maybe.

You better hope she does too...she actually sounds pretty fabulous.

Any girl who'll smack a guy in the face, then turn on her heel and leaves is the shiz in my book honey.
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What about you guys?

What do you think?

Leave a comment below!

jessica simpson doesn't brush her pearly whites

So I heard this earlier today when I was listening to my fave morning show, Wake Up with Taylor on Cosmo Radio (fyi their Seven Things to Know Before You Go is the best).

Yes, apparently Jess doesn't brush her teeth that often.

Observe...



Um...ew?

I do think it's cool that she has kind of a full disclosure policy lately, but yuck...I totally didn't need to know that.

What about you, what do you think?

covergirl's newest mascara...lashblast fusion

If you're like me and you adore CoverGirl mascara, have I got some news for you.

CG is announcing its newest LashBlast mascara – LashBlast Fusion!

LashBlast Fusion is CoverGirl’s first ever volume and length mascara, so now lashes that want it all, can have it all!

LashBlast Fusion will be available in-stores nationwide this April, but you can get it before anyone else staring today during the exclusive online pre-sale.

LashBlast Fusion has a suggested retail price of $8.99 and pre-sale customers can take advantage of free shipping from March 12th – April 5th.  The only downside, there's a limited quantity, so it's only being sold  while supplies last.

Visit facebook.com/COVERGIRL today to find an e-retailer.

Just to give you a little sneak-peek, here's a quick little video featuring CG's Global Creative Design Director Pat McGrath.  She actually previewed LashBlast Fusion exclusively during Fall/Winter 2010 New York Fashion Week. Here's Pat backstage at the Anna Sui show using her new favorite mascara.

Enjoy.

award show beauty...sandra bullock's oscar look courtesy of chanel

Another celeb I loved was Sandra Bullock.  I have a total girl crush on her and have decided that she and I would make the best of friends.

Okay, now I'm starting to sound creepy here...moving on.

Her makeup artist was Angela Levin for Chanel.

Keep reading for the deets...

Beauty Inspiration:

Tonight was Sandra's big night and she was in a happy, ethereal mood. I
wanted her to look like the true movie star she is, so we went with modern
classy Hollywood - dewy skin, soft eyes, and a bold classic red lip.

Angela prepped Sandra's skin with Chanel Sublimage Fluid. She then used a foundation brush to apply Chanel Vitalumiere Satin Smoothing Fluid Makeup in Shell all over the face.

Angela created a structured brow with the soft brown powder in the limited edition Les Regards de Chanel Palette. She lined Sandra's eyes with the darker brown shade in the same palette.

Finally, she applied three coats of Chanel Inimitable Waterproof Mascara in Noir for sexy, glamorous lashes. To create the real focus of Sandra's look- a gorgeous, bold red lip - Angela applied Chanel Rouge Coco Lip Colour in Paris.

She finished the look by gently dabbing a bit of the same lip colour on the apples of Sandra's cheeks - Angela's signature makeup trick.

Try your local Chanel counter or chanel.com for products used.


image courtesy of telegraph.co.uk

award show beauty...demi moore's oscar look courtesy of lancome

All I can say is thank God there are still women who are not teens working it at the Oscars.

I mean...how amazing did Demi Moore look last night?

She was just on from head to toe.

Here's the scoop on her makeup...

Celebrity makeup artist Jo Strettell did the beauty honors for the always-stunning Demi.

For Demi’s complexion, Jo mixed two Giorgio Armani foundations—Luminous Silk Foundation and Lasting Silk UV SPF 34 Compact Foundation—and swept YSL Touche Éclat under the eyes and around the nose.  Lancôme’s Blush Subtil in Rose Fresque, just on the apples of the cheeks, brightened her complexion.

Jo created the soft, smoky eye with Lancôme Color Design Eye in Ciel du Soir on the lid and Color Design Eye in Honeymoon as a highlight from right above the lid to the brow bone and on the inner corner of the eyes. Lancôme’s Le Crayon Khôl in Gris Noir lined the eyes and Jo softened the look by smudging the line.

The lashes were curled with a Shu Uemura lash curler, followed by several coats of Lancôme Hypnôse Drama in Excessive Black on the top lashes and Ôscillation Mascara in Black to the lower lashes.

For Demi’s lips, the combination of Lancôme’s L'Absolu Rouge in Rich Cashmere and Juicy Tubes in Spring Fling created a pretty, nude lip that had just enough pop.

Now you know!



image courtesy of ew.com

origins ginzing eye cream

Words cannot express how positively vital this has become in my morning routine.

It's just that good.

As you all know, I've been getting up several times a night lately because little e is teething like crazy.  In case you aren't aware, teething + baby = no sleep for mommy.

This makes me look as if I had the recommended 8 hours rest, when it's really only been about 4...thank you natural optic brighteners.

Just apply it around the eye area for an immediate and gorgeous yes-I'm-awake boost.

You're welcome.

Find it at your local Origins counter or origins.com.

tim gunn is the shiz

I know that I am not going to win a lot of fans, but I couldn't agree more with Tim Gunn here...



God I love/adore him.

What about you...how do you feel?

bobbi brown color strips collection

Honestly, what's not to love about this new little collection from Bobbi.

To die for palettes that contain just about all you need...complete spring eye, lip and cheek wardrobes.

Bobbi has put together three palettes with pops of colors—plus the perfect neutral that makes them work for everyone.

Each has five Eye Shadows and three shades of Pot Rouge designed to work together beautifully.

I am in heaven.

Bonfire Palette ($60)

Orchid Palette ($60)

Aquamarine Palette ($60)

I've yet to see these in person, but I think Bonfire and Orchid are calling my name.

All are available right now at bobbibrowncosmetics.com and your local Bobbi Brown counter.