Totally Luxe

I probably own more than 20 different mascaras at any given time. I'm constantly on the lookout for the perfect one. Despite the fact that I own many relatively pricey brands, CoverGirl constantly amazes me.

My new obsession? CoverGirl's LashBlast Shimmery Volumizing Mascara. Not only does it go on clump free, it also deposits the perfect amount of shimmer in one of four fabulous shades! My pick is Black Cabernet, a cool-toned purple shade. It really makes my green eyes pop!

For a mere $8.49, you too can enjoy looking glam anytime. Bat those lashes, gals!

Trick of the Trade: Fixing Shattered Eye Shadow

If you're a total klutz like me, you've broken more than a few good eye shadows. This is an emotional subject for me, as I am almost constantly dropping my fave powders on my bathroom floor and often shatter my heart in the process (okay, that might be a little over dramatic). But honestly, there is nothing worse than shelling out $20 for a new shimmery shadow only to watch it fall and break into tiny little pieces. After years of crying over spilled eye shadow, I've found a tip that actually seems to work fairly well.

First, add a few drops of rubbing alcohol into your compact. Then, take a bit of saran wrap and gently smooth the powder into place. The added liquid forces an immediate bond and the alcohol dries up in moments, leaving behind a nearly perfect powder.

Water will not have the same effect, as it does not dry the same. I've also heard of people using petroleum jelly, but that actually makes the eye shadow appear greasy.

If the powder is broken up beyond repair, you can always completely break it up and simply use it as a loose eye shadow.

Girl's Night In!

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, now is the perfect time to treat yourself to a beautiful gift! Sephora is selling this exclusive limited-time gift set from Benefit. The set includes:
- 2 creaseless cream shadows (Birthday Suit and Skinny Jeans shades)
- 1 lipstick (Lady's Choice shade)
- 1 Talent Brush
- 3 Love Your Look mannequin magnets
- A custom lesson

The shades are ultra flattering for every skin tone. The set retails for $48, which is pretty reasonable. Enjoy!

Hello Kitty Meets MAC!!

I have the best news ever-- MAC and Hello Kitty are teaming up for MAC's Spring 2009 makeup collection! My absolute two favorite things in the world are Hello Kitty and makeup. The combination of Hello Kitty's cute little face on a gorgey new lip gloss is probably the best thing since sliced bread. Honestly.

The collection contains a ton of different makeup (and even cuter accessories). A bonus? They all have awesome names. A few of my faves are: Fashion Mews sheer pale lavender lipstick, On the Prowl light creamy grey nail polish, Milk Frosty pale silvery pink pigment, and the Hello Kitty Petite Makeup Bag.

I cannot wait for spring.

[Update: All of these products will be available February 12, 2009!]

I Heart Shoes!!!

For all the gals out there who are obsessed with shoes: here's a cute charm bracelet to celebrate your love affair.

LuLu's For only $15, you can be the owner of this glam accessory. Dangling from the chain are various shoe types with black and white details. The charms measure about 1.25" Bracelet is 8.5" long.

Fabbity fabulous!

Fashion Faux Pas: the Mister Rogers Cardigan

Dear idiot guys who think that cardigans are the best thing since sliced bread:

You are wrong.

I do not know why this is even still an issue, but apparently some people (e.g. my boyfriend) do not realize that old-man cardigans are not in style. In fact, they are simply unacceptable unless you are over the age of 70. Mister Rogers was basically the only person who could pull off the look and even that was a bit ridiculous--regardless of how much I loved him. I do not care if said cardigan is by a fabulous designer, that does not make it okay. Even the best designers are allowed to make a mistake here and there.

In all honestly, I do like sophisticated men, but if I wanted to date a grandpa, I'd find my dates at the local old folks home bi-weekly dance parties.

Do me a favor guys (and the ladies that dress them), skip the cardigan and go with a simple sweatshirt or even a long sleeve tee.

Thanks.

Love,

Alana

Glitzy Shoes--on Sale!!!

Happy New Year, all! My New Year's resolution is to be fabulously stylish (as always), without spending all of my rent money on makeup and shoes. This is quite a challange for me. Therefore, I have searched high and low for post-holiday sales and thankfully have found the best shoes to dress up nearly any outfit. For $30.

Ann Taylor's Gemma Glitter Flat is really a gorgey shoe for any time of year. It's a bit gutsy, so if you wear these flats, make sure to downplay all other accessories. In fact, I'd probably wear these with a pair of dark-wash jeans and a black tee.

These shoes are going fast, so run--don't walk--to the nearest Ann Taylor store. Or better yet, visit the website! Let's make 2009 a totally fashionable year. Are you with me?!

Glamour to GO!

I love little makeup palettes because I always need to have makeup with me at all times. I realize that I may be slightly crazy. Be that as it may, Too Faced has basically read my mind.

The Glamour To Go 2 Pocket Palette by Too Faced has everything you need for beauty touch ups on the go. The set includes 8 universally flattering eye shadows, 4 lip glosses, and a shimmery blush.

The best part? The whole palette folds up and is about the size of a credit card. Not bad, if I do say so myself. It retails for $19.50, which is quite a steal for such gorgey products!

Go Commando!

Oh my. There is now a way to go commando without...going commando! Commandos has come out with Go Commandos Patches. I haven't tried them yet--I'm more of a cute panty gal, but rumor has it, they're pretty fabulous.

They are absorbent fabric patches that you attach to the inside seam of pants, jeans or tights. They act as a replacement to underwear and leave no panty lines or uncomfortable chafing (the pads are incredibly soft, you hardly notice them at all). It's almost like attaching a pantyliner to the inside of your jeans, minus the uncomfortableness. They also stay in place quite well, whereas a pantyliner won't. They even come in organic cotton.

Unfortunately, there is a downside. Cost-wise, they're a steep $16 - $18 for a package of 8.

Beauty Myths Uncovered

Now we've all heard various beauty "tips", but are they really tips after all? I found a list of 10 beauty myths that are not only false, but plain old ridiculous!

1) Does Chocolate Cause Acne? NO. Extensive research shows this is simply not true.

2) Are Organic or Natural Products Better for Skin? Not always! Many organic skincare products have a short shelf life and can harm skin if the product is expired. Other organic products are made from fruits which can irritate skin and cause allergies.

3) Should Concealer Be Lighter Than Your Skin Tone? Don't buy concealer that's a shade or two lighter than your skin tone or you may end up with that lovely "reverse raccoon" look. Not attractive.

4) Can You Use a Body Lotion on Your Face? No. Lotion formulated for the body can be drying or can irritate the more sensitive skin on your face. Your body's skin is thicker and tougher than the skin on your face so companies can get away with putting fragrances and cheaper ingredients in a body lotion.

5) Is It Unsanitary to Use His Razor? Not at all. Go ahead, raid his bathroom cabinet if you're in a pinch.

6) Best Way to Spritz Perfume: Spray First, Then Walk Into the Mist? This is actually NOT the best way to apply perfume. Walking into the mist means you're coating your clothes with fragrance and not yourself! Since fragrance is formulated to work with the heat of your body, it's best to apply perfume to pulse points -- wrists, back of the knees, the base of the throat and just behind the earlobes.

7) Never, Ever Tweeze Above the Brow. This is tricky because many women try doing this themselves. PLEASE, for the love of God, pay a professional to do this for you! You will look more polished and great eyebrows really help frame the face.

8) She Did Your Makeup, Are You Obligated to Buy Everything? We've all been there--who doesn't love a complimentary makeover at a beauty counter? Consider how much time you took up of the salesperson. If you asked for a consult and took up a lot of her time asking questions and for more makeup, then you should consider buying something as a courtesy. But if she nabbed you to try a liner or lipstick and you didn't like it, thank her and move on.

9) Toner is a Must for Any Skincare Regimen. False. Why? These days, cleansers do a good enough job removing excess oils and dirt from skin, you don't need an added astringent. Plus, toners can be drying to skin so the only people who would benefit from an astringent are those who suffer from extremely oily skin.

10) Can You Prevent Stretch Marks With Lotion? Not really. Sorry, ladies! Stretch marks are caused by weight gain or weight loss. The best thing to do is apply some self tanner to camouflage and hope for the best!

Pick your Pretty!

I have an addiction. And I'm not ashamed of it.

I LOVE gift sets from department stores. I'm a huge sucker for miniature sized products, be they makeup, skincare products, or anything in between. And now what Christmas is over, I think it's just about time to treat myself to a gorgey gift bag full of goodies.

Clinique has a new divine bag filled to the brim with their most popular products. The "Pick your Pretty" gift sets come in two different collections: Pink Perfection and Plum Sensation.

Each kit contains:
-Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief, 1.7 oz
-7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula, 1.7 oz
-High Impact Mascara in Black, .17 oz
Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss, .17 oz
-Exclusive Colour Surge Eyeshadow QuadBlushing
-Blush Powder Blush with brush
-Clinique Hair Brush
-Canvas Tote

Again, the colors do vary depending on which collection you choose. So here's the deal: the 8-piece collections are $32.50 with a purchase of $25 or more. Not to shabby, considering that the products on their own cost a steep $84!

The promotion is going on while supplies last--but I'm sure they'll be flying off the shelves, so get yourself over to your local Clinique counter stat!!!

Free Gift with Purchase!!

Oh Ulta, how I love thee. Currently, Ulta is offering a special free gift with purchase. I'm always such a sucker for those anyway, and this is no exception. With any $25 purchase, you can get a divine gift set for free (valued at $20). The best part? You can choose from three different sets: The Women's Trend pack, The Women's Classic pack, or The Men's pack. So, you can get whichever pack tickles your fancy. Each pack is full of various deluxe samples and is really quite the steal.

Hooray for free stuff!

O My! O-Gloss Lips!

I recently decided to give Smashbox's O-Gloss a try due to the fab reviews I've been reading. And now I am officially in love.

The gloss is intuitive--it seems to have a mind of its own. When first applied, it goes on clear. After a couple minutes, you have your perfect lip gloss in your very own perfect pink!

Because I am super fair-skinned (read: transparently white), I generally cannot wear lip gloss that supposedly works for every skin tone. This gloss is much different. On me, the shade ended up being a very sheer raspberry pink. This is great to wear on its own, or to layer on top of your fave lipstick.

The gloss retails for $22 and lasts for a while; definitely worth the price. Enjoy!

Holiday Sparkle

I'm obsessed with palettes. I don't know what it is--I just love having so many products in one little compact. And it helps when the compact is super cute.

Cargo came out with an absolutely divine fabric compact that is filled to the brim with holiday-inspired beauty products. Together, they create a shimmery look that is perfect for an eve out on the town. Included in the set is:
-4 x 0.085 oz Holiday Nights Eye Shadow Quad
- 0.317 oz Blush
- 0.041 oz Boogie Nights Eye Pencil in Silver
- 0.078 oz Face & Body Sparkle

Retailing at $25, it's a pretty great deal. It makes the perfect gift for just about anyone (even yourself)! An added bonus? The makeup is held in a removable insert so you can use the gorgey box for whatever you choose!

It's in the Stars

Ever wonder what to buy for yourself, or a friend? Beauty.com offers a great beauty horoscope complete with fabbity fab beauty buy suggestions for each sign.

So, what's your sign?

Oodles of Makeup

Oh Sephora, how I love thee! This season's Ultimate Blockbuster palette tickles my fancy. It has all the essentials for eyes, face, and lips--pretty much all you need for complete classic beauty. The gorgey kit includes 71 eyeshadow shades (0.04 oz each), 13 cream eyeshadow shades (0.03 oz each), 5 blushes (0.19 oz each), 1 compact powder (0.19 oz), 60 lip glosses (0.03 oz each), one lip liner, one eyeliner, 4 brushes, 3 sponge-tipped applicators, and a fab black case that's just as classy as you are.

What's not to love? Oh and did I mention that the palette is actually a $320 value? Because it is. Yet, all you have to pay is a mere $48. Not bad if I do say so myself.

Fashion Faux Pas: Denim Suits

This one's for the guys out there. Denim suits are not, nor have they ever been, fashionable.

I went to a career fair this week and obviously someone did not get the memo. Clad in a full denim suit (which I'm fairly sure was homemade), this lovely fellow tried to further his career by making the rounds to all of the businesses' booths. Needless to say, he did not get even one great response...at least as far as I can tell.

So for all the guys out there, stop wearing denim suits (or even blazers for that matter) and try dressing like a normal human being. How about a nice charcoal suit? Giving up the denim suit immediately increases your chances of getting a job by 200%. It's a fact. I promise. That is all.

Wear Love, Not War

Harajuku Lovers has a great new line of fragrances that truly embrace...well, love! Actually, there are oodles of emotion choices but love is obviously the best. I mean, the perfume bottle alone is cute enough to just display anywhere.

Luckily, the scent is pretty much amazing as well and stays true to its' name. Spritz some Love on and be prepared for the consequences. The scent is reminiscent of a floral bouquet, with notes of pink pomelo, rose, and creamy vanilla orchid. What's not to...love? The scent is perfect for a night of seduction, or even just a night on town.

The perfume retails for $25 (for .33 oz), which is really quite a steal if you ask me.

Seeing Green?

Let me start by saying that I have green eyes. As a common rule, you aren't supposed to wear eyeshadow that is the same color as your eyes...Or so I'd heard. That said, I tried on a delightful eye shadow from The Body Shop that just happened to be Peacock Green (I was talked into it) and got oodles of compliments a I left the store. And no, these people were not paid to compliment me. I asked. And no money was exchanged.

The lesson? Don't rule out any eye shadow shades. You never know what might enhance your eyes and make you look even more gorgey than you already are.

Fashion Faux Pas: Toadily Insane?

While in a beauty supply store, i saw a couple wearing matching t-shirts with this graphic on them.

I understand that people wear stupid shirts. But these people were talking about the hair salon that they both operated together...now am I "Toadily Insane" or is this just simply unacceptable? I vote unacceptable. Toadily.