Splendid Weekend Reads

From the Splendicity community, comes this week best in beauty, fashion and shopping.

SHOPPING

With the economy in bad shape, NY Spender is looking for new ways to save, from coupons clipping to smaller perfume bottles.

Shopalicious shares the scoop on surfer-cool Toms Shoes latest release: the ultra stylin' wrap boot!

Style...a work in progress finds some haute couture inspiration in the high street when she tells us that Coco joins the Crew.

ShopDiary reviews Bond No. 9 New York's latest fragrance, Andy Warhol Lexington Avenue.

Shoe Blitz adores the purple and black L.A.M.B. Miyagi.

Glamour Gift Guide suggests the gorgeous Marc Jacobs Ostrich Stam Satchel.

BEAUTY

Krizia from Beauty Match boldly states: Why I will NEVER gain weight

Viva Woman shares with you the beauty benefits of drinking milk.

Beauty Secrets Revealed shares a Hot Oil Hair Treatment Recipe For Dry, Damaged & Frizzy Hair

Beauty and Fashion Tech looks at a number of powder sunscreens, so now you can reapply sunscreen without ruining your makeup!

Beauty Blogging Junkie has partnered with Three Custom Color to provide 25 readers with TCC's new Watercolours for Cheeks in Wallflower, a dewy beige. Click here for more info on how to enter.

Beauty Bento Box shares her thoughts on a recent experiment with the Nivea Visage DNAge Cell Renewal Eye Cream.

FASHION

Petite Fashionista knows that you have to feel your best, to look your best! Join Christa and the readers of PF as they do a 5 day RESET to have more energy and fit into their "skinny" jeans!

Her Accessories is looking at the horsey side of things with her top picks for equestrian-themed accessories.

Just A Formality loves these silk sandals from Oscar de la Renta - perfect for a formal event.

The Space Between My Peers is blogging her own comeback! Check out the before pictures and offer your suggestions.

Tops 2 Bottoms features one of the trends for Fall fashion, Checks and Plaids.

Achieve an Editorial Lip

You know, dolls. A lip worthy of an editorial SPREAD. Or one reminiscent of one of the "expect more. pay less." Target ads with the phenomly shiny red lips. I'm vamping it up with MAC Pro Longwear Lustre Lipcolour in Red Flame/Orange Flicker ($20) from the brand's Lustre Twins collection. Red Flame is a liquid lipcolour; Orange Flicker is a super-glossy gloss that boasts mirror shine. Apply Red Flame first, then brush on some Orange Flame. The combo is the perfect accessory for minimal eye makeup, a white T and some jeans.

Total Beauty Web Tour

In honor of the newest limited edition collection from MAC Cosmetics, Cult of Cherry; Roselyn from Makeup Makes Me Happy does a gorgeous makeup tutorial, showing you how to achieve a fabulous look for this upcoming Fall season!.

Beauty Anonymous reviews YSL's fall eye shadow palette.

Alison of the The Advice Sisters Guide to Life, Success & Happiness Blog thinks that Sue Devitt's Bermuda Triangleis a Great Way to Banish Wrinkles!

Viva Woman discovers that baking soda really whitens her teeth!

Looking for a lipgloss that will stay put and last a long time? Then check out The Makeup Divas review on the Mac Lustre Twins.

Fabulous Over Forty discusses all week about her experience at the L'Oreal Color Space at the MN State Fair.

Monique at Beauty Girl Musings is surprised by a new fall lip color. Find out which one!

What are Jamie's 3 must-haves? Find out at Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog.

Crave for beautifully rejuvenated skin with absolutely no cost at all? Find out at Beauty Tyrant, she has whipped up askin rejuvenating peach facial!. You'll love your skin even more now.

Beauty Blogging Junkie has partnered with Three Custom Color to provide 25 readers with TCC's new Watercolours for Cheeks in Wallflower, a dewy beige. Click here for more info on how to enter.

If you're a Bobbi Brown makeup fan (and who isn't?) Beauty411 has the latest on new Bobbi Brown palettes!

MissWhoever-You-Are has found out how you can get a free tote YSL tote during Fashion Week. No Joke!

Wondering about Fall's Makeup Trends? Learn how apply a Pretty Power Pout like the pros on A Mom in Red High Heels.

Thought hair mousse was just an 80's trend? Think again. Daily Dose of Coffee tries out one of the most interesting hair mousses ever: Sebastian Whipped Creme.

Product Girl shows you how to make your own lipstick palette and it's easy as pie!

Don't miss out on your chance to win the entire line of Sera Anti-Aging skincare products over at Beauty in Real Life.

Chocolate lipliner? Sounds good, looks great! See it at Glossypink!

The Beauty Alchemist hits drugstore paydirt with Jergens Renew Lotion.

LashBlast had better watch her back. There's a new voluptuous lash in town, and she's wearing Exceptionnel de Chanel Intense Volume and Curl Mascara. The creamy formula and six-sided brush took Spoiled Pretty's lashes up, up and away!

Butterfly Diary reviews the luxurious collection by

Sultana de Saba , whose Body Karite Butter and Honey Mask will make Cleopatra wish she had been reborn. Check it out here.

Weekend Beauty Reads from The Beauty Blog Network

In honor of the newest limited edition collection from MAC Cosmetics, Cult of Cherry; Roselyn from Makeup Makes Me Happy does a gorgeous makeup tutorial, showing you how to achieve a fabulous look for this upcoming Fall season!.

Beauty Anonymous reviews YSL's fall eye shadow palette.

Lilan of The Daily Cookie shows you how easy it is to use Anastasia's Brow Pen to tint your eyebrows with a fun video how-to!

The Muse from Musings of a Muse shows you three different looks you can create using Too Faced Smoky Eye Palette! She also reviews the Too Faced Mirror Mirror Gloss!!

A Touch of Blusher looks at Paul & Joe's fall 2008 base makeup collection

Looking for a lipgloss that will stay put and last a long time? Then check out The Makeup Divas review on the Mac Lustre Twins.

Need smoother legs longer? Cybelesays has found one that keeps legs smooth and totally moisturized.

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic has found natural, medium coverage foundation, from the drugstore!

Beauty Blogging Junkie has partnered with Three Custom Color to provide 25 readers with TCC's new Watercolours for Cheeks in Wallflower, a dewy beige. Click here for more info on how to enter.

If you're a Bobbi Brown makeup fan (and who isn't?) Beauty411 has the latest on new Bobbi Brown palettes!

Rouge Deluxe offers a sneak peek at Lancome Holiday'08!

Beauty Junkie in SF recommends going nude with NARS Striptease lip gloss. It's HOT!

Beauty Banter tests the Worlds first organic skincare range... and finds the most AMAZING moisturizer!

Elke shares a great tip on how to mistake fix your makeup.

Product Girl shows you how to make your own lipstick palette and it's easy as pie!

Need a new body cream? See which are Christine's favorites over at Beauty in Real Life.

Kyle at Face Candy, shows you how she is using Pashmina shawls to brighten complexions at her wedding.

LashBlast had better watch her back. There's a new voluptuous lash in town, and she's wearing Exceptionnel de Chanel Intense Volume and Curl Mascara. The creamy formula and six-sided brush took Spoiled Pretty's lashes up, up and away!

makeup loves me wants to give you one of fall's hottest mascaras. click here to learn how you can win your own spinlash.

Beauty for a Good Cause: Three Pink Products that Benefit Breast Cancer Charities

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and I wanted to share with you a few fab beauty items which donate a portion (if not all) of their proceeds to benefit various Breast Cancer charities. Check it:

DuWop LipLingo Pink ($32)
Liplingo Pink is a sleek lip palette containing a rose lipstick and four wonderful ways to top it: a subtle gold frost, a pale pink shimmer gloss, a rich pink sherbet tone with sparkle and a pink tinged clear balm with a high shine. DuWop has joined in the fight to support research by donating 20% of proceeds from Liplingo Pink to breast cancer research and the betterment of women living with cancer. Available at shop.duwop.com

Philosophy She Colors my Day Bath Product Benefiting the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund ($20)
Philosophy is proud to launch the She Colors my Day high-foaming green bubble bath to celebrate the bond between mothers and daughters and help give back to a very worthwhile cause. She Colors my Day has been created for the sole purpose of creating a cure for mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends around the world. Available exclusively at philosophy.com


Darphin Predermine Wrinkle Corrective Serum ($205)
Darphin honors Breast Cancer Awareness Month with Predermine Wrinkle Corrective Serum, part of the collection of Predermine age-defying formulas. This pale pink-colored bottle contains a concentrated, innovative serum that instantly absorbs into skin. Developed to visibly reduce the prominence of wrinkles, this serum delivers dramatically smoother and more youthfully supple skin. Darphin North America will donate $20.00 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation for EVERY Predermine Wrinkle Corrective Serum sold during the month of October. Available at darphin.com

ExfoliKate to Reveal Gleaming Skin

ExfoliKate ($85): This seaweed-green scrub is tres chere (expensive) but sends dulling older-than-dirt skin cells running for the hills so you don't look older than the hills. Or better yet, older than The Hills. Here's what I'm into about this scrub: you FEEL it working. The active feruit enzymes go to town on your skin to reveal a smoother, rosier complexion. Its packaging is truly intelligent: it's an air-tight jar with a top that depresses in order to dispense scrub without letting air into the container. Air breeds bacteria. Who wants that? Not you, girls.

Weekly Phenom List: Buh-Bye Summer!

TGIF and happy almost Labor Day! Labor Day is kind of depressing (no more white pants till May 2009!) but I think September in New York is the absolute most gorge time of the year here. In September you can FEEL the energy of new beginnings (I'm forever on a school year schedule - mentally, anyway-- despite the fact that I haven't been in school for six years.) Here are my fave beauty items (specifically of the in-shower ilk) of the week to get you through the final beats of the summer!


Benefit Bathina Shower Cap ($16): This is a tip that might be totes obv, and if it is, ignore me. Here's the situ: I wash my hair every other day. On the days I don't wash my hair (and I shower at night 80% of the time), I rock a shower cap BUT, was somehow waking up every morn with raging curly BEDHEADNESS... JUST on the underneath part of my hair close to the roots. Weird, right? I thought maybe I was some kind of weird sleep sweater. Except I never felt hot. So anyhoodle, one day it occurs to me: I don't take pains to really secure my cap around my hair, ensuring that water doesn't seep through the bottom part of my hairline. I'd simply wash my face in the shower, shave my legs, etc... without pulling the cap sufficiently around my hairline. Dumb, right? Well, the adorable Bathina cap is adorned with precious little pinup girls and is large enough in diameter to make certain your hairline will stay SAHARA dry. Waterproof and fully lined. "Bathina knows... the higher the hair, the closer to heaven!" Oh, and another fab Matthew James tip: to smooth out baby hairs around the hairline when blowing out wet hair, (or bedheaded-up strands) just use a fine-toothed comb to lift hair up and stretch it out so that nary a curl can form.


Philosophy Purity Made Simple High-Foaming Daily Cleanser ($22): I know it's stu... but I feel like my skin gets cleaner when I use a foaming cleanser. I still use those that don't bubble up... but it's not quite as satisfying. Most satisfying of all are the ones that foam up directly out of the nozzle. Which is why Purity Made Simple is doing mage shower rotation right now. It rinses super, super clean and leaves my skin refreshed and cleansed... never tight or dry. Makeup dissolves in its wake.


Jaqua Pink Champagne Shower Cream ($18): Jaqua products are guilt-free decadence. This creamy-to-the-nines lathery shower accoutrement smells luxuriously festive. It's the perf non-seasonal scent.

What's in your shower rotation? Tell me in the comments section!

Three Days of Free Shipping on any Benefit order!

3 days only! FREE SHIPPING on any order! Enter promo code AUGUSHIP at checkout.* benefitcosmetics.com.

A Fabulista Fave: TB Reports on Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner

TotalBeauty.com content:

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner

Guest review by TotalBeauty.com editor Kristen Oldham-Giordani

This little pot o' liner is awesome. It goes on easier than a traditional liquid liner -- especially if you use a quality fine-tip brush -- and actually lasts. See review

Berry Nails and a Random Update

Morning, gals!

Four things.

*I just read the new DailyCandy book The DailyCandy Lexicon: Words that Don't Exist but Should and I ADORED it. I've long enjoyed their "lexicon" series on the DailyCandy site, and this book contains some of my former faves and some hilar new ones.

For example:
GPX
n. A tracking system devised to monitor your ex's every move (Nancy uses MySpace as GPX.)

Nontourage
n. A group of undesirable sycophants. (The party was fun until Justin showed up with his nontourage.)

Do you LOVE it? Also, I hit up DailyCandy's White Hot Media party on Tuesday, which was super-fun. It's been a DailyCandy kind of week!

*In other news, my berry nails I sported to my friend Chopin's lake house were super popular. My shade? Big Spender ($8), from Essie's Fall 2008 Collection. It's a medium violety red. It reminds me of one of my old discontinued Essie faves, Tribeca. My mani is still holding up extremely well, a full week deep. Okay?

*BTW, Chopin, Stephanie, Tiffany and I had a blast on Chopin's boat where we employed the Stephanie-coined word "boatiquette," which is obv, etiquette on a boat. You know. As in, you always have to wave to other boaters when you pass, etc.? It's one of my new fave words.

*Also, apropos of nothing, I have to report the most phenom dating screen name ever: MrDarcy. My roommate told me about this dude, with whom she's going on a date this week, and I have to applaud his clever choice. Is there any better male archetype than Jane Austen's famed protagonist? (There isn't.)

Happy Thursday!

Matthew James at Sam Brocato: Achieve a Voloisturized Blow-out

Don't you love the word "voloisturized?" I just made it up. It means volumized + moisturized. Always the goal, right? Let's discuss the truly PHENOM voloisturizing blow-out I got today by Matthew James at Sam Brocato's salon in SoHo, NY. Best. Blow-out (including a stress-relieving massage!). I've had in YEARS. Years. I just told Matthew, my stylist, that I like volume and curl on the ends (which is pretty much my standard wording, although I've received a variety of results after dropping that description, running the gamut from FLAT/stick straight to exactly what I wanted. More often than not, my 'do embodies the former, not the latter.

Matthew, dolls, DELIVERS the goods. Before working at Sam Brocato, he worked under the famed Sally Hershberger, so rest assured that he knows his stuff. I walked out with hair worthy of a Gossip Girl extra role and a bunch of new Brocato products to try out. I can report on two products I'm in lurve with already because Matthew used them on me during the blow-out. Swell Volume Leave-In Volumizing Conditioner ($16, pictured above) is, GENIUSLY, a leave-in VOLUMIZING conditioner. Have you ever heard of such a hybrid? During the tenure of my hair obsession (going on 16 years), I have never seen this combo. It works like a dream. It moisturizes, but not at the expense of excellent voluminous texture. Brocato's commitment to volume is also evident in his Swell Volume Full Body Styling Clay ($16, left). It works to produce pieceyness with mild hold while encouraging the hair shaft to swell/expand.

Moi, chez moi, post-'do.
The salon itself is chic and doesn't belie its hip downtown vibe whilst still maintaining an air of utter UNPRETENTIOUSNESS. How is that achieved? I met the fab Sam and his Sharon Stone doppelganger of a wife Holly, and I had the answer. They're a DARLING, but charismatic couple.

Matthew shared some blow-out tips you can try out at home:

1. Pull a small section of hair with a small round brush taut (only around the top of the brush). He says to do this in the same manner you curl gift ribbon with scissors.

2. Move the dryer nozzle slowly downward. The slower you go, the glossier your hair will be.

3. After a section is dry, wrap the ends of the section around the brush's HANDLE while it's cooling. This imparts a kicky curl at the end of your hair.

Try that shiz out and let me know what you think!

Kisses,
Amber

Want to experience a Matthew James blow-out yourself? Head to the Sam Brocato Salon!

Sam Brocato Salon
42 Wooster Street
New York, NY
212-334-3777

Jessica Biel at 2008 Palm Springs International Shortfest

Making her red carpet debut for a screening of her new movie, Hole in the Paper Sky, Jessica Biel showed up looking every ounce the bombshell wearing Stella McCartney. Her hair and makeup artist for the evening, Brett Freedman, shares his secret for adding a little “pop” to a neutral dress:

"The night of Jessica’s screening was hot and humid, so we aimed to make her look polished but not overdone. The Stella McCartney dress was beautiful, but that beige/nude color can often make skin look washed out, so I needed to make her face luminous. Her skin is naturally flawless, so all she needed was a light touch of Neutrogena’s Healthy Glow Sheers in Medium and a little bit of Prescriptives Concealer. I applied Rimmel’s Colour Rush duo in Metallic Pearls to her lids with a little bit of water to create a dewy sheen. To give her cheeks just a hint of blush, I lightly applied Benefit’s Cream Blush in Illium and gently filled in her brows with Vanitymark Brow Pencil in Blondie before coating her lashes with Vanitymark "The LASH" Mascara in Blackest. Benefit’s Her Glossiness in "Kiss You" had just the right amount of lilac pigment in it to make the face appeared more ‘dressed up.'

"We kept her hair super-casual and created waves with a 1-inch curling iron all over. We lightly misted with hairspray before tousling to make it look as though she came straight from the beach to the premiere!"

I can't figure out what I like more: her beauty concept or her fashion one! What say you, gentle reader?

poll by twiigs.com

Image credit: Getty

Don't Let the Economy Get in the Way of your Fall Beauty Spree

FEH, right? What is more depressing than this economy? Well, Target just introduced some PHENOM new brands that you prestige makeup whores will recognize at a price that falls exactly in the middle of mass and prestige.

Their JK Jemma Kidd Line, NP Set and Pixi by Petra lines are all available now at Target and target.com.

Let's talk about my fave items from each of the lines, shall we?

JK Jemma Kidd
J'ADORE her i-conic eyes pencil liner in 06 supermodel ($14), a rich brown. This liner is DIVINITY in a pencil, the likes of which I haven't seen since Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils. It is creamy; it is SMOOTH. Let's get back to the color though. I lurve a little on my inner rims (even though I'm so squeamish when applying it there). It yields a delish, chocolaty hue. Additionally, I can't get enough of her JK Jemma Kidd Mannequin Skin Complexion Enhancer($24) (you know I love anything involving the word "mannequin").

Also, her lip id colour adapt gloss ($20) is supposed to turn your lips your OWN unique shade for a perfect match, but I'm pretty sure (slash positive) that it simply turns your lips a bright pink (mostly because I applied it to my leg after my lips and quelle suprise - it was the same "unique" shade. The situ was tres reminiscent of the Beauty Addict's jaunt with Smashbox O-Glow. That said, I noticed that when I tissued off the gloss, a gorgeous, natural stain remained that was quite long-lasting and PRETTY. Invest in it for that purpose.

See all JK Jemma Kidd here.

Pixi by Petra

Lumi Lux Eye Palette ($38): As if merely pronouncing the name of this 20-color palette weren't enough, its range of shades is a full shadow WARDROBE - light to dark, fall to spring. It comes in the most festive gold packaging. This palette is going to worn DOWN this fall. I spy a sparkly black (with gold flecks) that I will so be wearing as a liner with a slant brush and some agua.

See all Pixi by Petra here.

NP Set
Cruise Blush in Atlantic ($18) is a wearable coral. Each of the shades are named after OCEANS. Is there anything more fun than that? (There isn't.) I keep mine in my purse to ensure my cheeks don't get too drained of rosiness despite hours under florescent lights.

See all NP Set products here.

Win a Three Custom Color "Wallflower" Watercolours for Cheeks!

Gals, I'm delighted to announce that I've partnered with Three Custom Color to give you dolls the opportunity to win one of 25 Watercolours for Cheeks in Wallflower, the brand's new dewy shimmering beige shade.

The name (wallflower, obv) is adorable, but be warned, upon sporting this lurvely shade, a wallflower you won't be. My sample has established PERMANENT residency in my makeup bag. It's The Business, girls. I touch on a bit with my fingertips to my cheeks and nose and instantly look sunkissed. Since it's creme bronzer, I know it won't age me one minute faster than necessary (I'm not into powder bronzers for this reason).

The contest begins today, August 26th at noon and ends on September 2nd. Click here for more info and to enter. Good luck!

Franken Berry Fall Colors

Berry colors are so hot right now. And you know who I think would be so very GRATIFIED by this info? The underrated Franken Berry of 80s cereal commercial fame. That Count Chocula got SO much more press, n'est-ce pas?


So, as a tribute to the fab Franken Berry who never got his fifteen minutes, I'd like to dedicate this post to him. Why? Because one of the best lipstick formulas to ever cross my path is the exact shade as he is. The lippie is YSL's Rouge Volupte in 08 Kissable Rose (the shade pictured is different, I just needed you to see the GORGE packaging - click the link to see a swatch of the shade).

Get on board with it, dolls. Its texture is buttery and it glides on with the ease of a comfortable grey sweatshirt. Its color is a more subtle hue but is of the same vivacity as the famed Alexis Bledel lip at the premiere of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. This one is like, the blonde's counterpart to producing THAT kind of bold pink lip. It's exacty THAT kind of party. Best of all? It manages to contain SPF 15.

Perhaps Pangloss wasn't mistaken when he said that this is "the best of all possible worlds." Who said you can't discuss 80s cereals and Lebnizian philosophy at the same time? Not me, gals. Not me.

Support the Susan G. Komen for a Cure Foundation with ChapStick

This October, Breast Cancer Awareness month, take the opportunity to do your part to help in the fight against this life threatening disease: ChapStick® will donate $125,000 this year to the Susan G. Komen for a Cure Foundation with proceeds from its ChapStick Pink Pack.

Made of the same ingredients found in ChapStick Moisturizer, the ChapStick Susan G. Komen for the Cure Pink Pack includes three lips balms designed to keep lips looking and feeling soft and healthy with a blend of 10 protective moisturizers, including Aloe and Vitamin E. It even features SPF 15 to protect lips from the sun’s harmful rays.

ChapStick Pink Pack will be available at food, drug and mass merchandise stores throughout the U.S. during the month of October with a suggested retail price of $3.99.

ChapStick also offers free supplemental educational brochures about basic breast health and how to conduct self-examinations at chapstick.com.

WWD: CVS to Roll Out Luxury Beauty Units - Competition for Sephora?

This just in from my Fire Island house friend Willis who works in finance...

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Pharmacy is talking about a revolution.

The growth-minded drugstore chain has drafted plans to open upscale beauty emporiums — about the size of a Sephora store — filled with previously untouchable department store brands.

To drive home the drugstore chain’s seriousness about tackling prestige beauty, the concept will be called Beauty 360, with no mention of CVS in sight.

The first concept store is slated to open by year’s end in a major East Coast city, Mike Bloom, CVS’ senior vice president of merchandising, told WWD exclusively. Another will open weeks later on the West Coast, he added.

Bloom would not elaborate on the rollout strategy, but sources briefed on the initiative said the initial concept stores are planned for Washington, D.C., and Sacramento, Calif., and long-term plans call for 500 to 1,000 stores, with about 100 slated to open in the next year.

Click here to read more.

Source: WWD

Image credit: WWD

Lovely Lids: A How-To

Hi, girls!

Long time no SPEAK. So I started a new job this week and although it's a massive improvement, (I finally have achieved the title of Editor in my paying job) my access to pretty much everything is BLOCKED. So while I didn't spend a ton of time during the workday on my blog (mostly lunch break posts), it appears now I'll be able to spend NO time. So bear with me while I figure out a new blogging sched (right now, it's looking like 10pm-1am - not sure how sustainable that will be). I'll update you at least once a day, but my posts will likely be posted later.

Anywho, I wanted to brief you on my latest eye concept. I'm loving Skyn ICELAND Icelandic Relief Eye Cream ($45). It's a DRY cream - do you know what I mean? It hydrates but does so without any dewiness/glossiness. It sinks into skin easily and leaves it plumper and soft without moistness. Now that said, sometimes I love a dewy eye cream - one such option is Dr. Hauschka's Eye Contour Day Balm ($50). But SKYN ICELAND's is feathery lightweight and cools skin slightly, which is great for August schvitzy-hot heat.

After I've applied my eye cream (don't EVER forget this step, friends. No one over the age of 25 should be skipping eye cream), I use my fingertips to dab on just the teensiest amount of Elizabeth Arden Advanced Eye-Fix Primer ($22). My eyelids are almost translucent - you can see my veins through them, which sounds vile, but I promise you, it merely looks like shadow. In fact, I've always thought it kind of resembled a super-fun abstract art. You can really only see them if you're UP in my face and I'm pulling my lid down. Most of the time I leave them as-is, without shadow (and field questions as to which shadow I'm rocking, funnily enough), but sometimes, I want an even surface if I'm going to wear a light shadow. A tiny bit of this nude-tinted primer does the job to perfecsh.

My daytime shadow for work of late is NARS Eye Shadow in Biarritz ($22), a smooth matte creamy ecru with pink undertones. I sweep it all over my eye real estate with a big floofy brush before lining with a gel liner.

Splendid Weekend Reads

From the Splendicity community, comes this week best in beauty, fashion and shopping.

FASHION
eye4style plans to be $990 poorer this Fall. Find out why here.

Teen Style Lounge wants your opinion on the Menswear Vest trend for women. Is it a Yay or Nay?

SHOPPING
The Well-Heeled Society is gifting their twentieth commenting subscriber a pair of My Sensual Almost Elbow-high Leather Gloves, and they get to choose from ten fashionable colors - including purple!

STYLEnosh asks you to weigh in on, "How much is too much to spend on a handbag?".

BEAUTY
A Touch of Blusher brings you Fall 2008 Makeup Trend Report.

TheScentedLife is loving Diptyque's Oyedo perfume as a late-summer pick-me-up!

Beauty Banter has a new favorite makeup line... and it's purrrfect for every face!

Find out what Beauty Blogging Junkie is using to hydrate her chlorine-ravaged locks here.

Total Beauty Web Tour

Monique at Beauty Girl Musings discovers it's what's on the inside that counts with Elizabeth Grant's Vitamin C Body Lotion.

Viva Woman tells you how John Masters Organics Vitamin C Anti-Aging Serum & John Masters Organics Mandarin Maximum Moisture help to lighten up some of her pigmentation caused by sun damage.

Beauty's SPOT figures out that waxing and plucking may be a thing a of the past with the Artemis Woman Personal Groomer.

Don't forget to enter Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog free giveaway from MORE Magazine.

Frappelattes gives L'Oreal's new Bare Naturale Mineral Mascara a spin and lets us know how it delivers.

Roselyn from Makeup Makes Me Happy counts down the 10 most wacky beauty tips, that actually work!. You may just be surprised to see what they are!

Win a RisWallet from A Mom in Red High Heels. It's a hands-free solution for a busy woman!

Now is your last opportunity to win in the[comfort zone] giveaway atFabulous Over Forty

Beauty411 tells you about a product that will help you rewind lines and wrinkles. And it's completely painless!

Want a gorgeous tan without damaging your skin? Beauty Tyrant has found a summer must-have sunscreen that lets you enjoy the sun without worrying about your skin!

Meredith at Daily Dose of Coffee offers up some tips on purchasing the perfect mascara for YOU.

How to get your skin glowing like Beyonce-Talking Makeup!

The Beauty Alchemist visits with Van Cleef and Arpels new Feerie perfume

The girls over at Beauty in Real Life are at it again...check out their latest giveaways with Luzern Labs and Sanctuary Spas.

Beauty Anonymous reveals her travel-friendly beauty goodies.

To celebrate the kickoff of the new Hills season, Glossypink tells you how to score Whitney Port's beautiful makeup.

Product Girl is having a giveaway and you can enter to win Essie's 6-piece fall collection. Good luck!

Ah, Fall! Celebrate the peculiar and sexy scents of Autumn with Fifty-Cent Head and Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs.

Find out what Beauty Blogging Junkie is using to hydrate her chlorine-ravaged locks here.

Weekend Beauty Reads from The Beauty Blog Network

Find out what yummy scented body souffle The Makeup Divas is all excited about.

Losing sleep over your dark circles? Beauty Junkie in SF has found a little tube from Smashbox to help brighten those eyes and make them camera ready.

Roselyn from Makeup Makes Me Happy counts down the 10 most wacky beauty tips, that actually work!. You may just be surprised to see what they are!

Katharine Towne of HBO's hit show, Tell Me You Love Me reveals her beauty tips **exclusively** to Beauty Banter!

Find out why the Muse is excited about Urban Decay's New Lipsticks with a detailed review and swatches of four shades!.

A Touch of Blusher brings you Fall 2008 Makeup Trend Report.

Beauty Anonymous reveals her travel-friendly beauty goodies.

Beauty411tells you about a product that will help you rewind lines and wrinkles. And it's completely painless!

Beauty and Fashion Tech looks at Five Great Uses for Creme de la Mer and tells you how it can actually be a good value.

Girl Gloss tries out lip balm made with beer!

How's your summer skin doing? Cybelesays suggests finds one that is made just for this seasons hot temps.

makeup loves me reveals the details of what promises to be fall's most talked about (sought after) limited edition product!

The girls over at Beauty in Real Life are loving Avon's new collection with Jillian Dempsey. Check out the collection here.

Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog gives you swatches and product shots of the entire Cult of Cherry collection, the newest release from MAC Cosmetics.

Kyle at Face Candy suggests 2 new face oils to try.

Product Girl is having a giveaway and you can enter to win Essie's 6-piece fall collection. Good luck!

Find out what Beauty Blogging Junkie is using to hydrate her chlorine-ravaged locks here.

Mary Rambin's Makeup Stash

Photo credit: mary.nonsociety.com

On Tuesday, I met with stylista and Julia Allison partner-in-crime Mary Rambin to learn her fave makeup tips and products. The poor thing was extremely under the weather, but she somehow still managed to look Hitchcock Heroine-esque, despite feeling terrible. That's impressive.


Mary's beauty tips:

1. Use a lip brush - it makes a difference. Did you ever notice that Amber Tamblyn's lipstick in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 is super-dark and not even necessarily the best color for her, but it looks infinitely more chic only because it's expertly applied with a brush? I thought so.

2. Tease hair at the root for volume. Mary recommends back-combing with an ACE comb ($2). Very cheap, yet makes an enormous difference.

3. Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Shine City ($7) - Mary recommends layering it on top of everything. It looks shimmery in the tube, but looks glassily gorge on your lips.

4. Do not blot or rub lips together once lipstick and/or glossed is applied unless you WANT it to wear off more quickly.

Products:

Makeup
MAC Studio Fix Powder ($26): Mary says to apply with a brush or just with a sponge post-moisturizer.

Kitten by Stila ($18): It's official, I need some of this. Both Julia and Mary have declared this shadow vital. Mary likes to use it all over her eye real estate except right under the brow. For that area, she uses Smashbox shadow in Butter ($16).

Revlon Lash Fantasy in Blackest Black ($9): This stuff curls like a dream. No curler necessary!

Eve Pearl Sweet Cheeks Blush Trio ($36): Mary likes using the outside two colors first, then uses the middle color to sculpt cheekbones.

T LeClerc Fard a Joues in Rose Glacee ($46): Mary reserves this one just for summer on top of the aforementioned Eve Pearl blush for an extra sunkissed flush.

Revlon Illuminance Cream Shadows in Twilight ($7): Mary's quite the Revlon gal! She uses these creme shadows on her lids after applying black liner close to the lashline.

Hair
Mary's favorite shampoo/conditioner combo is Paul Mitchell Lavender Mint Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner ($25 each for a liter).

Bath/Body
K. Hall Designs Soap in Cypress and Cassis ($12) is made of olive oil and shea butter for luxurious moisture.

Thanks to Mary for sharing her tips and fave products with us!

PureOlogy Partners with the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition

During September and October, PureOlogy will offer a Limited Edition Break the Silence Volume Booster promotion ($52) includes PureVolume Shampoo, 10.1 Oz. and PureVolume Condition, 8.5 Oz. Also included is their complimentary, tortoise shell style brush with NOCC’s signature teal color bristle pad. The box features information about the signs and symptoms of Ovarian Cancer to educate women about this disease.

Throughout 2008, NOCC and PureOlogy and will host 21 NOCC & PureOlogy’s Walks to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer around the U.S. with a national walk in September during Ovarian Cancer Awareness month taking place in Los Angeles, California. NOCC’s national spokeswoman, Eva LaRue of CSI: Miami, is scheduled to attend the national walk to help increase awareness of the work NOCC and PureOlogy are doing to educate women about the symptoms and risk factors for ovarian cancer.

Additionally, PureOlogy will be on-site at each walk, distributing travel-packs containing HydateShampoo®, HydrateCondition® and teal PureOlogy wristband, to walk participants.

Help Break the Silence on ovarian cancer! Participate in one of the upcoming 2008 fundraising walks in your area:
* August 23 – Wichita, KS
* September 6 – NATIONAL WALK in Los Angeles
* September 7 – Dayton, OH
* September 13 – Philadelphia, PA
* September 14 – Pittsburgh, PA
* September 14 – Providence, RI
* September 14 – Nashua, NH
* September 20 – Sacramento, CA
* September 20 – Omaha, NE
* September 20 – Long Island, NY
* September 20 – Toledo, OH
* September 21 – Boston, MA
* September 21 – W. Orange, NJ
* September 21 – Columbus, OH
* September 27 – Cincinnati, OH
* September 27 – Dallas, TX
* September 27 – San Antonio, TX

Visit pureology.com for salons and spas to purchase the Limited Edition Break the Silence Volume Booster promotion. Also, visit pureology.com/nocc for NOCC & PureOlogy’s Walks to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer dates, locations, and registration information.

Venus Embrace Online Sweepstakes!

Venus Embrace has partnered with songbird Taylor Swift to offer a fab contest. The winner receives two tickets to a Taylor Swift concert and the opportunity to meet the artist backstage. Click here to enter!

I lurve my Venus. Read what I thought about it here.

Good luck!

BBJ Featured on Allure.com's Daily Beauty Reporter!

The fabulous Jessica Matlin interviewed Daneen, Nadine, Erika, and me about our respective fave skincare items and posted our answers on Allure's blog, Daily Beauty Reporter, today! Find out here what scrub I've repurchased nine times. It's THAT good.

Image credit: allure.com

Woman's Day Shares Beauty Secrets of Olympians

Dolls, when I awarded my fave products the gold, silver and bronze, I got a lot of questions about what I thought olympians ACTUALLY use. Well, Woman's Day is spilling olympic swimmers Katie Hoff's and Natalie Coughlin's beauty product recommendations here. Check it out!

Pictured: Katie Hoff

Midnight Sparks!

I have nearly used up my Prescriptives Sparkle Eye Pencil in Plum Sparks from their Fall 2008 Daring Collection, and was deeply excited to try out their Midnight Sparks pencil ($17.50). I love a navy liner. I was kind of flummoxed when it arrived with not silver sparkles, as the plum sparks liner boasts, but GOLD. Gold and blue, to me, is reminiscent of my high school colors (go Trojans!). Fab for school spirit, but I wasn't so sure how it would look on my lids. You know? Anyway, I tried it out and it's absolutely GORGE. Not high school-spritesque at all. On lids, it provides definition seemingly garnered directly from a starry night. In fact, it reminds of that eponymous very popular former (like, ten years ago) Chanel nail polish color. Side story: Picture it: Blue Bell, PA, 1996: that polish was one of my first high-end beauty buys and I nearly assassinated my friend Angela when she spilled nearly half of it (by accident) while painting her nails at my house after school. I LURVED that stuff. Anywho, the pencil is absolutely divine and is limited edition, so get on it!

In other news, I'm in the Philly 'burbs until Friday. Today, I hit up Marshalls (when you pay NYC rent, unfortunately, you're limited to discount shopping) and they had THE BEST STUFF. I purchased:
a yellow long-sleeved Rebecca Beeson T-shirt
2 Laundry by Design Dresses (one navy, one grey)- as you know, that's my new fave brand. They make dresses that are PERFECT for work, but also for my post-work lifestyle. Seriously, it's so hard. The title of my memoir should be What Can I Wear to Work at my Business Casual Office that is Also Approp to Wear to Interview a Supermodel about her New Perfume?
a green short-sleeved Velvet T-shirt

Then, I enjoyed a delish lunch at with my mom and my friend Lee at Panera, which I only WISH we had in NYC. Later, I drove into Philly by myself, which I haven't done since the year 2000 to meet Daneen for dinner. Given that I drive approximately 4 times a year, I was kind of nerv behind the wheel and definitely held up traffic when I had to sneak my way into the left lane to get on to Fairmount Avenue, which I nearly missed and people were HONKING at me. It was stressful, but Daneen and I had a fab time catching up over hummus and delish entrees at St. Stephen's Green. We finally had to leave when the older gentleman seated behind me started sneezing wet-sounding, disgusting sneezes upwards of ten times... within the span of four minutes. Daneen hilariously remarked that she felt like she needed to put on a hazmat suit to protect herself from the germs.

Happy Wednesday!

Image credit: prescriptives.com

Weekly Phenom List: Head to Toe

This week's Weekly Phenom List features products that produce fab results, in the words of the great Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam, "from head to toe."

Shu Uemura Moisture Velvet Shampoo ($40): I don't know what's better: the fact that this stuff actually infuses my hair with glassy shine only possible from a hydrating yet cleansing formula OR that said formula is derived from camellia japonica a unique oil originally used by geisha to soften, smooth and enhance the beauty of their hair. I mean, who doesn't want geisha hair? I sure as heckfire can't think of anything better than that.

Elizabeth Grant Vitamin C Body Lotion ($40): I mean, if I were a bottle of lotion, I'd want to look just like this one. Is it not GORGE? I love the yellow/gold packaging. But, as you know, it's what's on the inside that counts -- this moisturizer is like fresh-squeezed OJ after a night of alcoholic indulgence. My skin drinks it in and I feel like it's... NECESSARY somehow. It applies a bit thickly, but absorbs pretty quickly. Even better? It's formulated to be a veritable shield against aging. Its moisturizing compound - Torricelumn™ - enhances vitamin C's anti-aging properties and is proven in clinical trials to increase skin softness, elasticity and hydration, and reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion for Body ($45): This is designed for use on the entire body, but I especially love using it just on my tootsies. It's a def-con 5 level exfoliator - not for the weak. It polishes and softens even the roughest, nastiest skin in mere minutes. Smooth on, leave it for 2 minutes, then rinse off to reveal gleaming pampered feet. Bonus: It's also good for improving tiny bumps on the arms and thighs called KP (Keratosis Pilaris).

Image credits: Shu Uemura, Elizabethgrant.com, drbrandtskincare.com

Want Hair Like Stephanie Pratt's at The Hills Season 4 Premiere Party?

ghd US Artistic Ambassador, Andy Bodine, gives you a step-by-step on how to create the same glamorous, goddess waves he created for Stephanie Pratt (pictured with Lauren Conrad) at The Hills Season 4 Premiere Party…

· Start by applying ghd miracle mist throughout damp hair to help detangle any knots.

· Mist ghd thermal protector prior to blow drying to protect the hair from any heat damage.

· Smooth ghd fat hair lotion through the hair with your palms. The revolutionary formula works like a mascara for the hair, pumping it up and thickening while improving shine and condition.

· Blow dry hair thoroughly, then starting at one ear and ending at the other, create a tight braid as close to the hairline as possible, creating the illusion of a headband. Use ghd polishing serum to keep the braid smooth and give it shine, then secure the braid with a small elastic band.

· Lightly mist ghd creation spray throughout the hair, which gives a flexible hold, then use your ghd IV styler to create loose waves. Going through small sections of hair at a time, positioning the styler close to the scalp, then turn it 180 degrees toward you. Move the styler down through the hair a few inches, then turn the styler 360 degrees in the other direction. Move the styler down again and continue this ‘rocking back and forth’ motion until you reach the ends.

· Finish the look with ghd ultimate hairspray to ensure your glamorous waves last throughout the night.

Chlorine Havoc Reducer: Frederic Fekkai Agless Creme Luxe Hair Treatment

So, I'm off from work this week (I'm starting a new job on the 25th!) and it's PHENOM. I started my day with 30 minutes of laps in the pool at NYSC's UES location. This morning, I thought to myself, if Michael Phelps can win eight gold medals, surely I can get IN a pool. Right? I LOVE to swim. I just never have time, usually. Swimming to me is FREEDOM. I adore it. Anyway, one of the mage reasons I refrain from pool time is my HAIR. Loyal readers know my hair is my everything. Well, chlorine is a strand ASSASSIN, so post-swim, I treated my hair to a little TLC in the form of Frederic Fekkai's new Ageless Creme Luxe Hair Treatment ($75). It's definitely pricey, but if you have the means, I have to recommend it. In the words of Ferris Bueller, "it is so choice." After blow drying, my hair was glosstrous, super-smooth, and tangleless. Thanks, Fred. You never disappoint.