Free REN Intro Kit with $60 Puchase

Go to www.renskincare.com to redeem. Enjoy!


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15% Off All Molton Brown Orders

Go to moltonbrown.com to take advantage!

You're welcome,
Amber

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Today Only: Free Shipping at Fresh

Enter MOM as the promo code at checkout. Today only. Click here to take advantage of the offer.


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Jammahs' Sleek New 'Do

Though gals with straight hair are as ubiquitous as husband-hunting shiksas and speech pathologists in Murray Hill, my friend Jammahs has maintained her curls throughout the decade she spent living in NYC.

Now that she's relocated to Khaki and Pearls Country (a phrase she coined that she, our friend Lauren and I use to refer to DC), she decided to "straighten up" her 'do. She confesses to being inspired by Patti Stanger's constant encouragement for gals to go sleek in her show, The Millionaire Matchmaker.

Pictured, above: Jammahs after!

She decided to undergo the Brazilian Keratin Treatment ($300-$350) at Axis with stylist Jeanne. Her hair looks lustrous, yet voluminous, right gals? So often with chemical treatments, I find that shine is suspiciously absent, like Norm's (NOOOORM!) wife Vera on Cheers. She's mentioned all the time, but plum never shows up.

Anywho, If you live in DC, I'd give this place a go. Or, if a salon treatment is simply not in your budget at the mo', do look into Liquid Keratin
($69 for the starter kit).

Pictured, above: Jammahs' before pic, looking all DC.




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Backstage Beauty Tips

Backstage Beauty Tips

Learn the 26 tricks we picked up from top hair, makeup and nail pros

We asked hair, makeup and nail artists for their best kept secrets. Read on to find tips that will help add a little runway glamour to your signature style. See tips

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Ted Gibson Clip-in Extensions Review on Daily Makeover

Gals, remember I vlogged about my Ted Gibson Clip-in Extensions? Well, I was commissioned by the fabulous Rachel Hayes over at Daily Makeover to do a write-up of the experience as well. Ted and I are pictured above at the Ted Gibson Salon! I'm rocking my new clip-ins, obv.

Check out the full review at Daily Makeover by clicking here .


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Britney Poses with Sean Preston and Jayden Jaymes

I continue to love that Britney Spears is back and looking fly. Here, she poses with her adorbs sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James at the Candie’s “VIP Sweet Lounge” backstage at her LA Circus concert on April 16. Britney is the spokesperson for Candie’s which is exclusively available at Kohl’s Department Stores.

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Green But Not Lame: Josie Maran Cosmetics

When pregnant with her daughter a few years ago, former face of Maybelline cosmetics Josie Maran searched for natural makeup formulas to use and discovered that none lived up to the sophistication and luxury levels she wanted. She then realized that after spending hundreds of hours in the makeup chair, she was uniquely qualified to create her own line of cosmetics, the type of chic yet healthy makeup that she was searching for. Not long after the birth of her daughter, Josie Maran Cosmetics was born. Priced from $18-$52, all Josie Maran Cosmetics formulas are created with natural, organic ingredients (including avocado, coconut, flax, jojoba, olive, soybean, beeswax, cocoa butter and shea butter).

Each product comes in metallic rose packaging that is recyclable and/or biodegradable. The compacts are made of a corn based plastic (PLA), the lipsticks and concealers are all housed in aluminum, the argan oil bottled in glass, and the outer boxes are made from recycled stock and soy ink.

The other day, I had the opportunity to meet the gorgeous Josie and I have to tell you: the brand is a complete collection of natural cosmetics that don't compromise luxury or beauty. I don't have to tell you how rare that is. Not only do the products feel luxe and work perfectly--good color pay-off and everything--their argan oil formula gives them ample GLIDE. Glide is one of my cosmetic rubrics that I take very seriously. It's crucial for eye liner, but in everything, even in shadow, it helps. It makes it adhere better to your skin and eliminates a potentially uncute chalky effect.

I took some time to familiarize myself with the collection (a FANTASTIC one, BTW) and have edited down my must-have list to a few key jewels. Check it:

Cream Blush ($22)

Tinted Moisturizer ($38--My shade is Butter)

Concealer in ($22--My shade is Creme)

Eye Shadow in Beach ($20)

Eye Liner in Brown ($18)

Lipstick in Rumi Joon ($18)

If you're keeping it natural, you absolutely MUST try Josie Maran Cosmetics. It's available at Sephora and josiemarancosmetics.com.

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The Top 11 Best Hair Cities

The Top 11 Best-Hair Cities

Did your hometown make the list? Find out!

Are you having a good hair day? You probably are if you're living in one of these cities. We looked at humidity levels, pollution, rainfall, average wind speeds, water hardness, demographics and the number of beauty salons per capita to find which cities have the best conditions for healthy, stylish hair. So did your town make the list? See cities

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Thank You for Bea-ing a Friend.

Gals, you know how much I adore me some Golden Girls. I was deeply deva to learn of Bea Arthur's passing on Saturday and felt that I just had to share some of my favorite Dorothy Zbornak quotes on BBJ. A bit late, but warranted, n'est-ce pas?

Slip on a gauzy caftan a la Dorothy, raise an eyebrow, maybe even bite your fist in aggravation and let's take a trip down memory lane.

Blanche: The Great Herring War?
Rose: Between the Lindstroms and the Johannsens.
Dorothy: Oh, THAT Great Herring War.

Dorothy: You'll have to excuse my mother. She suffered a slight stroke a few years ago which rendered her totally annoying.

Rose: Can I ask a dumb question?
Dorothy: Better than anyone I know.

Dorothy: [the girls visit a birthing center] What kind of idiot would want to give birth here?
Rose: This place makes me want to run out and get pregnant!

[Dorothy is solving a murder mystery--FROM MY FAVORITE EPISODE!!]
Dorothy: I think I see now how it happened - last evening, at dinner, when Miss McGlen saw Blanche give Kendall Nesbitt her key, she was furious. She dropped a steak knife into her purse...
Sophia: Big deal. I took a whole place setting.
Dorothy: NOT NOW, MA!

[Rose is up late, baking]
Rose: I couldn't sleep, so I whipped up a batch of Sverhoeven Crispies. It's a traditional midnight snack from St. Olaf dating back to Viking times.
Dorothy: Well, I guess after a hard night of pillaging and raping, a Viking would want a little something to go with his cocoa.

Blanche: Rose and I are taking a dirty dancing class.
Dorothy: Really.
Blanche: It's become quite popular since that movie came out.
Rose: What movie is that?
Dorothy: Lawrence of Arabia, Rose.

Be sure to check out my Golden Girls inspired post about Blanche's vegetation themed bedroom from my 80s Ladies Week series. Anyone else craving a mint julep on the lanai?

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Betsey Johnson Sample Sale

Via Julia.nonsociety.com

You're welcome,
Amber
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Mother's Day Deals on Fresh Products

Go to fresh.com, enter MOM as the promo code upon checkout through May 7 at 7:00AM EST and get a free Brown Sugar Body Polish sample and a Sugar Eau de Parfum sample with any online order of $75 or more.

Enjoy!

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This Week's ideeli Sales

Gals, here are this week's ideeli sales and giveaways. Need an invite? Score one at www.ideeli.com/invite/beautybloggingjunkie.

I'm especially into those Guillaume Hinfray shoes. I'm CRUSHING on those yellow flats. Are they not art? His other designs are equally gorge.

Guillaume Hinfray Shoes
Save up to 55%
Prices Start at $199
Begin with paramount quality, form into blatant sensuality and garnish with a sprig of defiance. This is the roux, the decadent foundation, of every Guillaume Hinfray shoe. With each strappy sandal and suede pump walking a fine line between artwork and footwear, it comes as no shock to learn that Hinfray's career launched within the walls of Paris's finest couturiers.

Cardigan Sale Tops, Dresses, and Cardigans

Save up to 71%
Prices Start at $44
For those seeking that perfect wardrobe essential, up-and-coming label Cardigan delivers all that it's name suggests, and more. Designer Lynne Hiriak has been enamored of knitwear ever since she created a black jersey dress for her first class at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology. After graduating from the prestigious school, she cut her teeth working for the likes of fashion giants like Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, and Derek Lam, and eventually launched her own apparel company along with the CARDIGAN line in 2008. Motivated by her affinity towards cardigans (the designer has amassed a collection of more than 100), Hiriak decided to create a line composed solely of luxe, fashion-forward sweaters.

Michael Kors Clothing
Save up to 71%
Prices Start at $38
MICHAEL by Michael Kors offers the same breed of jet-setter sportswear as his namesake collection, but without breaking the bank. High fashion women like Heidi Klum and Catherine Zeta-Jones love Michael Kors' style, so you'll be in good company with your new MICHAEL cardigans, lightweight blouses, dress pants, and dresses. New York's Michael Kors will outfit you with a crisp, classic American wardrobe that exudes casual cool. If your closet needs a stimulus, here it is.

Mother's Day Giveaway
Secret Start Date
To find out start date- join ideeli!
Mother's Day is nearly here, and ideeli knows there's nothing more fashionable than gratitude. In celebration of ideeli's new Twitter page, as well as all those amazing moms out there, we're giving one lucky winner two MinoHD Flip camcorders (one for her and one for her mom) to capture this year's celebration in style! Designed by David Arquette and Courteney Cox, the Graffiti Love Hearts camcorder is not only chic, but also socially conscious. For each camcorder sold, $10 is donated to Feeding America. Won't that make Mom proud?

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Mother's Day Deals for Bobbi Brown Products

Enjoy!

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Wash Your Workout Wear With WIN

Can you even HANDLE that alliteration?

Though I'm currently a benefactor, as opposed to a member, of my gym (NYSC), I feel the need to tell you about a fab new detergent designed specifically for your workout clothes. WIN High Performance Sport Detergent is the first laundry detergent specially formulated to eliminate embedded sweat and odors found in athletic attire. WIN gets rid of odor while maintaining the sweat-wicking efficacy of your Lululemon and Under Armour. WIN is also the official licensed detergent of the U.S. Olympic Team and used at training centers across the country.

Available at Dicks Sporting Goods, Sports Authority, specialty stores and online at www.sweatlifter.com. WIN retails for $7.

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The Best and Worst Retro Celebrity Hairstyles

The Best and Worst Retro Celebrity Hairstyles

See these hairstyle hits and misses on Drew Barrymore, Heidi Klum, Scarlett Johansson and more

Recently, celebrities are drawing inspiration from many eras including the turn of the century, the twenties, forties, sixties and seventies. While a retro hairstyle can be a refreshing change now and then, it presents pitfalls that even stars need to avoid. See hairstyles

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New From NARS: Modern Love Palette

I've said it before and I'll say it again. There's nothing like a NARS shadow. Well how about six of them?

NARS employed top-ranking shadows, in hues ranging from matte black to shimmering browns to ethereal metallics. Each shade was chosen for its ability to complement the others, so you can mix and match for an endless number of subtle or dramatic looks. The resulting palette can be used effortlessly to create various day-to-night looks, with six shadows to accent the lashline, lid, crease and browbone. The Modern Love Palette unleashes your inner artist.

Shades:

Alhambra (top left) Metallic Rose Mist
Jezebel (top middle) Shimmering Sable
India Song (top right) Shimmering Walnut
Tokyo (bottom left) Soft Silver-White
Habanera (bottom middle) Sparkling Charcoal-Plum
Pandora (bottom right) Matte Black

I envision rocking these shades with a grey sundress and a kir royale on a veranda somewhere warm. What say you?

Available in May 2009 exclusively at Nordstrom for $50.

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Michelle Trachtenberg Rocks Dior's Bois d'Argent Cologne

Who says you can't rock a men's cologne? Michelle Trachtenberg is a fan of Dior's Bois d'Argent.

Michelle, currently starring in 17 Again with the adorbs Zac Efron,
raved about the fragrance during an appearance she made on Late Night
with Jimmy Fallon last week.

Bois d'Argent is a leathery, woody fragrance that was created as part of a
collection of three fragrances available exclusively at Dior Homme
boutiques.

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And The Winner of the Erno Laszlo Giveaway is...

Shirley Hicks!

Congrats, Shirl (can I call you Shirl?)! You'll receive your package shortly.

Here are the deets of the giveaway, in case you've forgotten. Thanks to Erno Laszlo for sponsoring! And be sure to check out this week's Lumene Blueberry Curl Mascara giveaway.


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Bliss Foaming Face Wash

Bliss' fab foaming face wash ($22) may be dressed up in new packaging, but its formula remains the same oil-free cleanser and mild exfoliator we've loved for ages. This luxe lathering lave is comprised of perfectly round sloughing beads that rid you of yesterday's skin but protect from tiny abrasions in skin that can be caused by rough, jaggedy granules. And who wants that, right? Safeguard against that mess with skin care from bliss. Mmkay?

xo,
Amber


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Win One of Twenty Lumene Blueberry Curl Mascaras!

Gals, fantastical news. Lumene has offered to give away 20 bottles of their Blueberry Curl Mascara ($10) (which I've deemed holy grail, BT dubs) to 20 BBJ readers. Click here to read my review of this PHENOM lengthening, thickening, defining mascara made with Finnish blueberry oil.

Just enter via the widget below--include your name, full address and phone number (for tracking purposes) and you'll have a chance to win. The deadline is Sunday, May 3 at 5pm. U.S. residents only, please. Winners will be announced on Monday, May 4.

Good luck, dolls!



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Sam Fine's FINE: The Basics of Beauty DVD

Hi, girls!

How was your weekend? I had an uber fab event to attend on Saturday night at Rasputin in Coney Island for my friend James' 30th birthday. Rasputin, by the way, is a decadently hilarious venue. It's decorated to resemble (uncannily, and yet, unironically) the Babylon (the night club Tony Montana frequents in Scarface). Huge plates of Russian food abound, as do buckets filled with wine and bottles of Grey Goose. Of course. The food is to die. Even my Russian grandmother, a phenom cook, has never prepared a chicken dish like these breaded balls of white meat chicken that are filled with dill and BUTTER when you bit into them. They were DIVINE. It's called Chicken Kiev, for those of you who were raised without copious amounts of sour cream-laden food.

Let's get to the beauty news, though. Last week, I attended an event to celebrate the launch of celeb makeup artist Sam Fine's new instructional makeup DVD, FINE: The Basics of Beauty. Sam, by the way, is a hilar DOLL. He's thoroughly entertaining in the DVD. I learned lots of new makeup tricks which inspired me to try out some this weekend, pre-Rasputin. Sam is responsible for some of the looks of Iman, Tyra Banks, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah and Vanessa Williams, to name a few. He's highly recognized for his ability to translate trends, tips, and techniques into looks that work for an array of skin tones.

His DVD is a veritable tutorial and covers a myriad of cosmetic concerns, from covering blemishes and discoloration to creating a smoky eye. In just an hour, Fine offers TONS of application tips to teach anyone from the makeup novice to the aspiring makeup professional. The DVD features three step-by-step makeovers using varying levels of technique.

Here are some of the tips I gleaned from scanning the video:

• Don't use pressed powder under the eyes--it's too pigmented and comes out cakey.
• Long-haired brushes are best for blending.
• Use brow gel on brows first (before applying makeup) to brush brows up and then trim the excess length (upwards) with cuticle scissors.
• There is a color difference on most women's faces--the center of your face varies in color from the jawline. Be sure to test concealer and foundation on the areas you'll be using it, not just on your neck/hand.
• Warm foundation and concealer with your fingers before sweeping it on. Your body heat makes it easily blendable.
• Bring concealer from your under-eye area to down around your nose and fan it out for a more natural look.
• Use one ply of a two-ply tissue to blot foundation so that it looks less opaque.
• Using a touch of mascara (wipe the wand with a tissue) before curling lashes gives them more staying power. It's akin to using hairspray before curling your hair with a curling iron. I love Sam's hair analogies, he's a dude after my own heart.
• Lastly, set brow pencil with loose powder to keep it more dry--not waxy, as pencils tend to be.

Are you not ENLIGHTENED? Buy his DVD the MINUTE it comes out in May. There are so many more tips where those came from.


It's $25 and available at samfine.com and amazon.com.

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New From Benefit: Crescent Row

Gals, I love Benefit. The whimsical, retro brand houses some of my favorite items ever. So you can imagine how jazzed I was to be invited to the launch of their new fragrance collection, Crescent Row, last week. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to meet Jean and Jane Ford, the hilarious founders of Benefit. Benefit has so generously provided yours truly an official blog exclusive to break the news.



Jean's daughters (and Jane's nieces) Maggie and Annie were inspired to bring the concept of Crescent Row when they stumbled upon the incredible Royal Crescent whilst on a trip to Bath, England. I love (in addition to the heavenly scents) the backstories about the perfumes. I love a backstory. It makes such a difference, no? The brand envisioned three girls as neighbors, living on Crescent Row. I fancy myself a Sofia, but you'll have to learn about all three before you let me know which one sounds like you in the comments.

The perfumes were entrusted to perfumer François Demachy of LVMH and developed by Jean and Jane Ford over two years with fragrance companies Robertet and Firmenich. The scents are housed in flacons inspired by a cocktail shaker Jean and Jane found in their grandmother's belongings from the 1920s in their home state of Indiana. The design was modernized and recreated by Ateliers Dinand. Each is packaged in a mini dollhouse-esque townhouse complete with interior design reflecting the furnishing and decorations of the corresponding fictional gal's eponymous fragrance.

Let's take a stroll down Crescent Row and discuss the three fragrances, shall we?

Laugh with me LeeLee
Her playful wink
and mischievous smile

the flirtatious side
of her innocent style

no thought or worry
of what's meant to be

first laughter, then love
"... along came leelee"

Woody Floral
Top notes: cassis, melon, citrus
Middle notes: Black violet, lily, jasmine
Bottom notes: blonde wood, amber, sandal

Something about Sofia
She lives in a dream
more dazzling than fiction

imaginary yet real
she defies all prediction

an incredible girl
Sofia draws you right in

to where the everyday ends
"and magic begins."

Oriental Floral
Top notes: mango, freesia
Middle notes: sheer lily, jasmine sambac, peony petal
Bottom notes: musk, white caramel, vanilla bean

My Place or Yours Gina
Gina lives to seduce
to tempt and flaunt

and knows you should always
get what you want

so sinfully sexy
her allure is unjust

but as they say...
"all's fair in love and lust."

Woody Oriental
Top notes: Pink pepper, bergamot, tangerine
Middle notes: Peony, wild raspberry, wild lily
Bottom notes: Patchouli, tonka bean, vanilla

Crescent Row hits counters in July 2009 and costs $36 apiece for the scents. The brand will feature a holiday set with a 1 oz perfume and 2 oz body lotion for $46.



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Ted Gibson Styles Debra Messing's Hair for the Tribeca Film Festival

Debra Messing is in New York this week for the 8^th Annual Tribeca Film Festival and my hair boyfriend Ted Gibson has been creating her red carpet looks for the events.

“My clients are always amazed when they discover a great styling product and see the difference it can make,” says Ted Gibson. “However, I’m not exclusively talking about the final result --The right products make styling so much easier, and that’s important to so many women who find it difficult to style their hair."

Here's the look he created for her last night. Incidentally, he did her hair right after doing the models' hair for the Operation Smile benefit last night, at which, I interviewed him backstage. Stay tuned for a post on that, dolls.

To create Debra’s signature sexy, big curls; Ted applied fix it gel ($23) for texture and volume and finished with beautiful hold hairspray ($25).

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Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman Week: Josie Maran Bronzing Argan Oil

Julia's rave review of this little gem got me on the Josie Maran Bronzing Argan Oil ($52) train and I'm taking it all the way to Coney Island. You dig?

In the past six months, I've had a serious love affair with Argan Oil that commenced with Moroccanoil and most demonstrably, is continuing. The stuff makes EVERYTHING better. It's the cosmetic equivelant of Neosporin. Packed with Argan Oil (natch), Vitamin E and essential fatty acids, this lightweight yet moisturizing oil brightens up hair, face and body.


What a multi-tasker in These Financial Times, n'est-ce pas? It even comes in a recyclable adorbs little bottle.

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Lindsay Price's Favorite Beauty Products

Check out Lindsay Price's presentation at the Degree Fine Fragrance Collection launch earlier this week to find out what she won't cut back on:




I talked to Lindsay after the presentation about her beauty faves. On her nails, Lindsay rocked Essie polish in Mademoiselle, a classic for the ages, as beauty mavens know.

I then told Lindsay that I've spent half an hour at a time discussing her hair with my friends and got her to spill about her fave hair products. She disclosed that she adores Kerastase products. Those are her main hair care staples. Once a week, she uses Kiehl's Olive Fruit Oil Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner. "I find it's a bit too heavy to use every day, but once a week it's great to infuse my hair with moisture," Lindsay explained.

Lindsay told me that her genetic legacy of Scottish and German DNA (from her father) and Korean good hair genes (from her mother) is how she came to have such covetable wavy, yet glossy non-frizzy strands that reign supreme in Asia. She's also a fan of Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo for days in between washing and Elnett Hairspray. Her T3 PRO Evertwirl Curling Iron (pictured, left) is her secret to perfect waves. She has become a pro at creating waves with a beveled flatiron (like the T3 Medium Duality Iron) and recommends practicing on a friend to get good at waving with an iron.

Lindsay's next move is a pilot of a TV adaptation of The Witches of Eastwick. I'm looking forward to seeing her once again onscreen!

Thanks to Lindsay and Degree for this PHENOM beauty opp!

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Mother's Day Deals at Spa Chakra Fifth Avenue

The former Cornelia Day Resort is now Spa Chakra Fifth Avenue. The new spa officially opens on May 1^st. The spa will feature June Jacobs products.

To celebrate Mother’s Day, along with the reopening of the spa, June Jacobs, creator of June Jacobs Spa Collection, and her daughter Rochelle Jacobs Silpe will be hosting an open house for mothers and daughters on Saturday, May 9^th from 12-4pm. You can sip champagne, tour the spa and learn more about the June Jacobs collection.

Spa Chakra Fifth Avenue will also offer the following special Mother’s Day promotions:

• Free Gift: Stop by to meet June & Rochelle on Saturday, May 9^th and receive a June Jacobs Discovery Kit filled with deluxe product samples to enjoy.

• Buy More, Pay Less: For this weekend only, stock up on a selection of June Jacobs’ best selling products in professional value sizes at wholesale prices. Consumers can save up to 35% so you can indulge in spa luxuries to get pampered at home for less.

• Treat Mom to Treat Yourself: Book any combination of spa services totaling 3 ½ hours (or more), and receive a complimentary companion pass (which is valid for the same treatments) and a free June Jacobs Lip Kit worth $60. Just FYI, I've declared that Lip Kit phenom before. Read about it here.
  

Spa Chakra Fifth Avenue
663 Fifth Ave., 8th Floor
NYC, NY
10022
212-871-3050

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Elizabeth Arden's Eight-Hour Vintage Edition 1960s Skin Protectant

Thanks, Bellasugar, for alerting me to this.

Bust out your mini skirt and go go boots and elongate your cat-eye liner. Elizabeth Arden Eight-Hour Vintage Edition 1960s Skin Protectant now comes in a delightfully groovy 1960s edition. The online exclusive retails for $25. Click here to read my review of the 1950s-packaged version. Isn't it a gas?

Stay tuned for the 1970s edition!

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Beauty For A Good Cause: Allure's Beauty Box to Benefit Skin Cancer Foundation

Allure has put together a box of phenom summer makeup, skin care, and hair products from brands like Aveeno, Burt’s Bees, John Frieda, and more to benefit the Skin Cancer Foundation. May, in case you didn't know, is Skin Cancer Awareness month.

A $150 value, the Play Safe in the Sun Beauty Box is for sale at allure.com/go/beautybox09 for just $39.99, and $5 from the sale of each box will go to the SCF. Check it out!

Image credit: Allure

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Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman Week: Lumene Blueberry Curl Mascara

Lumene Blueberry Curl Mascara has eclipsed all others in my repertoire. It is my new end-all be-all mascara. Holy grail. And the best part is that it costs a mere $10.

It's formulated with a Finnish blueberry seed oil that nourishes lashes whilst its brush--the best I've EVER experienced--guarantees defined, voluminous, long CURLED lashes with a single stroke. I know. Listen to me. It sounds like an urban mascara myth. Rest assured, it's true. Its tiny little flat brush features rounded sides, which is exclusive to Lumene.

I'm most loving the mascara's key ingredient, Finnish blueberry oil. Allow me to Teddy Ruxpin out for a minute. I have a hilar story about Finland. First of all, it gets the least amount of press of the three Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden and Finland) and thus serves as a fantastic comedic choice. Rebecca Bloomwood in Confessions of a Shopaholic claimed she spoke fluent Finnish on her resume only to get called out on it later in the book (also in the movie).


So, my friend Ari was born in Finland (his mother is Finnish, his father is Indian. It has to be said, he's stunningly handsome) and moved to the US when he was in elementary school. In order to avoid being recruited into the Finnish army (apparently, all citizens have to serve, though he'd been living in the US for years) post-college, he had to submit a lot of paperwork to the Finnish Consulate. Bt dubs, Ari is a genius. No, really. I majored in French and it's he who reads Le Monde (a French newspaper) on a regular basis and so charitably assumes I'm well versed in recent articles when I see him on his jaunts back to the US (he currently lives in London).

Anyway, this is the world's longest story, but Ari had accepted a position at a major investment bank in London but had to postpone his start date by a year. Why? Because the floor of the building which housed the Finnish Consulate where his paperwork resided was QUARANTINED due to an asbestos infestation. The result: he had to spend a YEAR serving in Finland's army. Ari, with his dark Indian coloring amongst blonde-haired, blue-eyed Finnish solidiers. He was unbelievably good natured about it and regaled his friends via email with hilarious tales of his troop's preparations for wars in which they'll never partake (when was the last time FINLAND was involved in anything remotely belligerent?) He eventually finished and did ultimately take the job in London... but how hilarious is that story?


Also. My friend Erika has long had an uphill battle with getting her Asian lashes to curl. We discuss it all the time. "Have you tried heating a Shu Uemura lash curler with a blow-dryer?" I ask. She laughs at me. "Of course!" Nothing gets those babies to curl. Today, in a group email, I mentioned that I'm loving Lumene and she shared the following mascar-ecdote, "I have to say, the Blueberry Curl even curled MY lashes. Which is nearly impossible. I did one eye with an eyelash curler and then mascara, and one eye with just the mascara and they looked identical."

Okay? Get yourself some. Stat.

It comes in Rich Black and Black Brown and is sold at Ulta. One more thing--be sure to enter my Lumene Blueberry Curl Mascara GIVEAWAY next Monday! Check back for a post about it then.

Check out Daneen's natural product pick of the day over at Spoiled Pretty!


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Degree's New Fine Fragrance Collection

Degree commissioned world-renowned fragrance expert Ann Gottlieb--"the nose" behind many of the most gorge fragrances--produced each scent as a perfume with top notes, middle notes, and base notes. That's some serious stuff for a simple deo, right? Degree has certainly outdone themselves this time. The brand has paired each deodorant with a matching body mist for the ultimate in fine fragrance on the go. Perf for toting to the gym, no? Each smells fabulous and Degree's quality and wetness protection remains top-notch, in spite of the fragrance upgrade. The new scents are

Delicious Bliss (my fave of the trio!

• A light and energetic fragrance with a hint of fruitiness


• Top and middle notes include floral and juicy notes such as magnolia, jasmine, hyacinth, muguet, apple, peach and raspberry


• A hint of musk rounds out the base notes

Sexy Intrigue

• A warm and seductive fragrance that is sure to stimulate the senses


• Top and middle notes include fruits and florals such as jasmine, rose, blackberry, strawberry and pink grapefruit


• Vanilla makes up middle and base notes

Classic Romance

• A sophisticated and classic fragrance with floral notes


• Top notes include floral and citrus scents including peony, muguet, bergamot and orange


• Middle notes also include muguet, peony and rose
  

The price for both the body mists and the deodorants is a wallet-friendly $4. But, you can get a $1 off coupon here. Enjoy!

Earlier this week, I was delighted to have the opportunity to chat with one Ms. Lindsay Price at an event Degree threw to celebrate the launch of three of the brand's new fragrances. We discussed her fave beauty products which I'll share in another post. Stay tuned!

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Real-woman Tutorial: Perfect Eye Liner

Real-Woman Tutorial: Perfect Eyeliner

Quick and easy tips for a perfect cat eye, liquid liner and more - brought to you by fellow blogger Temptalia

This tutorial is designed to show you step-by-step how to line your upper lash line and wing out the liner subtly, which is typically called a cat-eye. Check out these tips and you'll be on your way to perfectly-lined eyes in no time. See how-to

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Shobha Products Now Available at drugstore.com

Great news, girls! Just in time to ensure you're fuzz-free for summer, Shobha products are now part of the Uncommon Collection at drugstore.com. You'll even get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.

Click here to shop for Shobha goodies.

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Bobbi Brown Nautical Collection

“I love sheer colors for summer -- they’re wearable, easy and look good on everyone.”

Bobbi's new Nautical Collection, launching in May, boasts totes wearable shades. The collection features two new products: Sheer Color Lip Gloss and Sheer Color Cheek Tint. From the look of the pics, I could pretty much live in the sheer lip glosses.

Sheer Color Cheek Tint ($22) is available in six shades and gives cheeks a sheer tint of natural-looking color. The translucent, lightweight formula glides on smooth and blends evenly onto skin. It comes in a swivel-up stick for convenient and easy application. The available shades are:





Sheer Raspberry
Sheer Mauve
Sheer Lilac
Sheer Coral
Sheer Pink
Sheer Blackberry


Sheer Color Lip Gloss ($20) is the newest addition to Bobbi’s Lip Gloss collection. This limited-edition gloss is available in four shades. It has a see-through finish making it wearable for almost anyone. The available shades are:

Marina Pink
Cabana Coral
Sailor
Popsicle

I envision wearing these shades on a boat (and being all, "I'm on a boat mother f*ckers", like my current celeb-crush Andy Samberg says) whilst perhaps practicing boatiquette. You know. Etiquette on a boat.

The Bobbi Brown Nautical Collection will be available at Bobbi Brown counters nationwide in May.

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Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman Week: Dr. Hauschka Eye Contour Day Balm

Happy Earth Day, dolls! Have I got a Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman rec for you! This one's been a fave of mine, in the words of Stanford Blatch, since I "took the subway and wore Candie's." Obv, I still take the subway, but doesn't that phrase say it all?

Without further ado: Dr. Hauschka Eye Contour Day Balm ($52) is my Mr. Big of eye creams. It was actually my very first eye cream.

Fun Fact: my recommendation of this line-smoothing, deeply hydrating cream to the now defunct Jane magazine beauty blog garnered me a shout-out of thanks from beauty editor Celia Ellenberg. This actually proved pivotal in my lifestyle; it spawned my confidence that I should be educating the masses about beauty recommendations and I started BBJ shortly thereafter.

Be warned: the stuff is a smidge waxy in texture (it's made with beeswax) and is Nickelodeon yellow. But don't fret. It looks and feels like a dream. Most of all, it does the damn job. Cocoa butter and jojoba oil soothe dehydrated eye areas whilst imparting a dewy bit of sheen. The sheen is my favorite part. I think it should be requisite of ALL eye creams.

I love this stuff so much, I referenced it even in a nonbeauty related article I wrote.

What green product is Daneen discussing over at Spoiled Pretty today? Head on over and find out!

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