Katy Perry Got Her St. Tropez Glow on at the VMAs

Not only did Katy Perry win Video of the Year at the VMAs, she also looked perfectly bronzed and gorgeous!  She always looks great and for the VMAs, celebrity make-up artist Jake Bailey gave her a little extra glow with some St. Tropez products (which I love love love!)

To get this look, he used the St. Tropez Gold Skin Illuminator all over her body and dusted St. Tropez Bronzing Rocks over her face.

You can get this look at home with these super easy tips from St. Tropez Skin Finishing Expert, Fiona Locke:

1.  For an extra smooth finish ensure that you have prepared your legs with St. Tropez Body Polish to remove any dry skin, focusing on the knees, ankles and feet.

2.   St. Tropez Everyday Perfect Legs is a quick and easy way to help hide imperfections on the legs and give an airbrushed effect.  Start by applying the Gradual Tan Everyday Body lotion in the white pump, smoothing evenly over the leg and blending up over the knee and gently down onto the feet.

4.  Shimmering St. Tropez Bronzing Rocks provide the perfect skin finish to a St Tropez tan, adding smooth, golden bronze glow. Apply to the face and décolletage with a soft brush and blend over the contours.

5.  Finally, highlight cheekbones, décolletage, arms and shins with St. Tropez Skin Illuminator. 

St. Tropez products are available at Sephora or online at sttropeztan.com.

Kiss My Face Toothpaste and Mouthwash GIVEAWAY!

We all know that having clean teeth is probably the most important beauty tip out there.  A white and bright smile makes you skin, lips and your overall appearance look much more fabulous.

Kiss My Face, a brand that I'm obsessed with (their skincare line is amazing!) has just come out with toothpaste and mouthwash products.  I'm in love.  Swoon.

I tried out their Triple Action Toothpaste and really loved the clean feeling it left me with.  The toothpaste includes natural ingredients like cool Mint freshness, natural whitening, Co-Q10, Tea Tree, Herbal Extract, Olive Leaf Extract, Organic Aloe Vera and is free from Fluoride and SLS.  The Aloe Vera seemed odd at first to me because I've never seen it in a toothpaste.  But it worked really well.

The mouthwash I tried was their Spearmint Breath Blast.  I tend to always use a mouthwash after brushing because I'm obsessed with having fresh breath.  This stuff did the job. And then some!

I've been using both products for about a week now and really like the combo and the fresh feeling I get from them.

Now just for you lucky readers, I have one set of the Triple Action Toothpaste and the Spearmint Breath Blast Mouthwash to give away.

To enter the giveaway, send an email to sassyalana@gmail.com with the subject line reading "KISS MY FACE".  The giveaway ends 9/5 and the winner will be alerted via email.

Good luck, ladies! If you want to buy the products, you can get them on the Kiss My Face website.  They're currently running a great promotion on the toothpaste value packs, which are $8.99.  The mouthwash value packs are $9.95.  More info can be found on the site.

Goodluck!  And keep those teeth clean, ladies!

Disclosure: This post contains a product sent for giveaway consideration. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Clinique's Latest Gift with Purchase!

By now, you know I'm obsessed with any and all GWPs. Clinique always has the best ones.  I just can't pass them up!

The latest GWP features an adorable bag festooned with sketched Clinique products. Super cute. When you spend $21.50, you get all this:

• Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
• Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief
• Exclusive Colour Compact
• Instant Lift for Brows in Soft Blonde
• Different Lipstick in Tenderheart
• Exclusive High Impact Mascara in Brightening Black
• Cosmetic Bag

The products are all fabulous, and finding something to purchase is not a difficult task.  Personally? I'd go for the Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator ($23). It's sheer and adds a gorgey glow to any skinetone.

Button Up!

I love love LOVE unique, quirky earrings.  And Fred Flare almost always has something unique to satisfy my need for cool jewelry.

My latest find is these Button Up Earrings that are super cute.  In fact, they're cute as a button (I know--super cheesy).  But really, how adorable are these earrings??!

What I like most about them is that they're the type of earrings that make people look twice.  At first glance, the earrings are simple gold studs.  But upon further inspection, they're funky buttons!  You can wear these with virtually any outfit you own.  From a simple tee and jeans to a business suit, these earrings will add a funky vibe to any look.

Each pair is $10.

Wanna Look Radiant?

I don't know anyone who doesn't want to look radiant. Constantly.

I'm a huge fan of Organix hair and skincare products, so when I saw their Coconut Milk Frangipani Radiance Mask I knew I had to give it a try. Also I had nothing to do one morning and figured wearing a face mask around my apartment might totally freak my boyfriend out (which it did, as it happens).

This mask is amazing!  It works like a clay or mud mask.  To use it, you squeeze out the thick product and apply it smoothly and evenly over your face (obviously, avoid the eyes and mouth). Then you let it sit for about 10 minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water.

Immediately after applying the mask, I felt it cool my entire face.  It also smells amazing and instantly gives you that expensive "I'm at a spa!!!" feeling (without having to dish out a couple hundred bucks).  My skin simply felt great the entire time I had the mask on.

Once I rinsed it off, I could detect some definite changes in my skin.  It looked super healthy and even seemed to glow a bit--I actually needed to apply less makeup than usual afterward since my skin looked so fab on its own!  I'm really surprised that the mask worked this well since my skin is really sensitive, crazily dry and still breaks out from time to time.  The result was exactly what I was looking for:  an extra punch of fabulous for my face!

I've seen the mask (and other Organix products) all over the place, but mostly at Target and Ulta.  Each 3.3oz.  bottle is $9.99.  For what it does, and how much product you get, the price is perfect!  I plan on using this stuff once a week and highly recommend you all do the same!

OPI Miss Universe Collection GIVEAWAYYY!!

Oh and by the way, after you've read my post about my LOVE for OPI's latest Miss Universe collection, enter this fab giveaway!

I have one complete OPI Miss Universe set to give away to one lucky reader!!

To enter the giveaway, send an email to sassyalana@gmail.com with the subject line reading "MISS UNIVERSE".  The giveaway ends 8/31 and the winner will be alerted via email.

Good luck, ladies! If you want to purchase the polishes on their own, you can find them at professional salons and spas nationwide including national chains Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA for about $8 each.

Disclosure: This post contains a product sent for giveaway consideration. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

New OPI Miss Universe Collection

When I was younger (like 5 or 6), I wanted to be in pageants. I used to wear frilly dresses all the time and parade around in my mom's heels.  Sometime's there'd be a faux feather boa or two in the mix.

Anyway, ever since then, I've had a soft spot for pageants.  And Miss Universe is a big one!!  So, I wasn't surprised that OPI came out with its very own Miss Universe collection to celebrate the event (it should have come sooner!) I also couldn't wait to see it because the Miss Universe competition just screams glitz and I knew this collection would deliver the goods!

There are four shades in the collection.  Here are the swatches:

Congeniality is my Middle Name is a bright red shimmer that can go from looking more berry-hued (like in the above pic) to looking like more or an orange-ish red, depending on the lighting. Basically though, I'd consider it a berry shimmer with pink, purple, orange and a hint of blue shimmer to it. It sounds like an awful lot of shimmer packed into one polish, but the shimmer is super fine and together it makes a fabulous shade.

Swimsuit...Nailed it! is a fun blue color with some silver shimmer to it.  I also detect maybe some darker tones, like a pewter shade mixed in somehow.  It's definitely a pretty blue hue, but just isn't my fave in the collection.  I love blue on nails, but for some reason this polish just isn't grabbing me as much as the others.

It's My Year is easily my top pick from the collection.  It's a medium plum-based shade packed with tons of shimmer in a plethora of pinky-purple hues.  There's also a decent amount of gold shimmer that gives the polish a foil-esque finish.  I'm so incredibly in love with this shade--it looks like a completely different color depending on the light, but still manages to get the base plum shade through. This is one shade that has a guaranteed spot in my fave10 polishes for the season!

Crown Me Already is incredibly perfect to top off this collection.  It's a chunky silver glitter polish with different sized glitter flecks throughout.  It looks great on it's own, but I've tried it over tons of solid OPI hues and it really enhances any polish out there.  This shade has all the glitz and glamour that you'd expect from Miss Universe (and then some!)




The whole collection is fabbity-fabulous and is totally worthy of winning its very own crown!


If you'd like to try out the polishes, you can find them at professional salons and spas nationwide including national chains Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA for about $8 each.

Disclosure: This post contains a product sent for giveaway consideration. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Amazingly Cute Flat Iron for $20 (That Actually WORKS!)

I stumbled into Marshall's the other day to kill some time and literally walked into a display of adorable patterned flat irons. Since a girl can never have too many flat irons (this is my third or fourth!), I took a look at a box to get the details.  I'm personally a CHI  and/or ghd snob, so it takes a lot for me to reach out and try something else.

The Cermika PRO flat irons I was looking at seemed to have everything that high-end straighteners have--ceramic plates, temperature controlled heat that goes up to 450 degrees...everything! Except that they also all had super cute designs and only cost $20!!

Crazy, right?!

So I skeptically bought one, assuming that there was no way it'd be on par with my other flat irons. I was SO wrong! Not only are the Cermika irons cute as a button; they also work just as well as my $200 CHI!

The only problem? I haven't been able to find them online. Anywhere. And I have no idea how long they'll be at Marshall's. But if I were you, I'd run to the nearest store and stock up! The patterns are endless and will truly make you want to straighten your hair, merely since you'll be able to use something so cute!

Here's another design I found online:

Totally fabulous, right? I also saw a light blue one with retro flowers on it that I just might have to pick up...Eeee!! I love finding cheap goodies!!

Bath & Body Works Latest: Paris Amour!

Has anyone else tried Bath & Body Work's new Paris Amour fragrance?! It smells absolutely divine and I'm currently obsessing over it.  The scent is described as: a dreamy blend of French tulips, apple blossoms and sparkling pink champagne, inspired by a romantic stroll through the streets of Paris.  It smells super yummy!

Right now, Bath & Body Works is offering up this utterly adorable gift set (pictured) for $10 with any Paris Amour purchase. The set includes a mini fragrance spray, shower gel, and body lotion so that you can enjoy the whole Paris Amour experience!

To get this fab deal, I suggest going for the amazing Shimmer & Shea Shimmer Gel & Body lotion.There's a dial at the top to control how much shimmer comes out with the lotion (you'd better believe that I have mine cranked all the way up!) The lotion is $14.

Je 'taime!

Wondering What to Wear?

It takes me HOURS to get ready for something--especially if it's a special event. I go back and forth on accessories and tops...it's ridiculous.

This cute What to Wear Pad has everything you need to keep your outfits organized.  You literally write down every single thing that you're wearing on any given day.

There's even a checklist for helping you find out what look you're going for!  How fabulous is this??!

Each pad is $8--and definitely worth it to save time and stay organized when it comes to fashion!

Dry Your Nails in a Jiffy!

I absolutely HATE sitting around and waiting for my nails to dry.  Despite the fact that I use a fast-drying top coat, I usually still end up having to wait for over 20 minutes before I can use my hands (and even then, the polish is still tacky and can be easily damaged).

The solution?  Revlon's Liquid Quick Dry Nail Finish.  There are tons of overly expensive products out that that produce similar results, but I've found that this Revlon finish gets the job done for a fraction of the price.

I tend to use a few drops of it after applying my usual fast-drying top coat, and I've found that it literally cuts the drying time in half.  I love this stuff!!

The best part? You can get the nail finish for under $5.  Not bad for a super time saver!

BEAUTY ALERT: Anne Hathaway at her One Day Premiere

Anne Hathaway always looks so utterly chic and gorgeous.  She never looks fake and her hair always has that effortless, yet glam look to it.

The secret? Some fab Frederic Fekkai products applied by stylist Adir Abergel!  Here's how to get the look:

Adir began by applying Fekkai Advanced Full Blown Volume Styling Whip to the roots of the wet hair. He then added Fekkai Coiff Bouffant Lifting and Texturizing Spray Gel from the middle of the hair to the bottom, helping to hold a slight natural wave. Adir then dried the hair while using a Fekkai Large Round Brush to ensure that the ends of the hair had a nice bend. Once the hair was completely dry, he used a 1” curling iron to create waves from the middle of the hair to the ends. After allowing the hair to cool, he added softness to the waves by spraying Fekkai Sheer Hold Hairspray and brushing it through. Adir finished the look by applying Fekkai Advanced Brilliant Glossing Sheer Shine Mist to the ends of the hair, creating beautiful shine and bounce.

All products by Fekkai: Fekkai Advanced Full Volume Styling Whip ($23), Fekkai Coiff™ Bouffant Lifting & Texturizing Spray Gel ($24), Fekkai Large Round Brush ($65), Fekkai Sheer Hold Hairspray ($24), and Fekkai Advanced Glossing Sheer Shine Mist ($24). Available at Fekkai.com and Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue stores.

Vitamin Water Lip Balm!?

Eeeee!! Just when you thought they thought of everything...Vitamin Water has come out with its very own Lip Balm.  And I'm in LOVE with it!

My fave balm by far is the strawberry kiwi flavor, but each balm has a fab scent and taste of its own!  All of them smell remarkably like their drink partners.  They're all super yummy.

You can find them all over the place, but drugstore.com seems to be the cheapest I've found so far--$2.99 per tube!

Yum!

Yes to Blueberries!!!

I'm a huge fan of all the "Yes to..." products, and their latest Yes to Blueberries Gardener's Hand Cream is no exception.

I must admit, I don't really do much gardening.  That said, the hand cream works wonders on my sensitive skin.  I've been applying it regularly (especially when I'm outdoors) and I've found that my hands feel silky smooth without any sort of greasy residue.  Huzzah!

Some bonus factors? The hand cream is 95% natural and is not tested on animals.  Also, 100% of the proceeds go to the Yes to Seed Fund to give kids fun and engaging ways to connect with mother nature and teach them to lead healthier lifestyles through nutrition, gardening & being outdoors. How fab is that?!

Each 2.5oz tube is $8.99.

Disclosure: This post contains a sample product sent for consideration by a PR firm. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Applaud Women Summer Issue is Out!

The latest issue of Applaud Women is online!  The whole magazine is fab, but I am going to pimp myself out a little here.  I wrote a fashion article that you can find on pages 42-43.

So check out the mag for some great pieces and be sure to check out my summer savings article for ways to wear summer trends without breaking the bank!

Fab Temporary Tattoos

I always have great ideas for tattoos and get cravings to look more bad-ass.  But I have a job, and sometimes the tattoos that tickle my fancy simply aren't appropriate for everyday wear.

That's why I love temporary tattoos.  The good news? They're not just for kids anymore!  Tattly has some amazing temp ink that's as awesome as it is cheap.

My faves are the Knucks (letter sheets that allow you to spell out anything) and the You're Late watch.  Both are $5 each.

There are tons of other groovy designs.  Explore the site and find your own unique tat!