Rethink What Matters with BE

Hello lovelies! It's been much too long! I've been consumed with side projects and just life in general but I'm really trying to get back on track. And when a press release came my way announcing a new campaign for one of my favorite brands of all time, Bare Escentuals, natch, I simply had to let you know about it. Rethink What Matters is a fun new campaign from BE to get you talking with your friends and other BE lovers via a discussion topic featuring five questions found at Rethinkwhatmatters.com. New discussion topics will be posted weekly for you to answer and share with your friends through email, Facebook and Twitter.

Here's the best part: each week product freebies will be given away to a lucky group of randomly selected groups who answer the Rethink questions and share with their friends. On March 26th one grand prize winner and two runner-ups will be chosen for some super fab prizes. Stay tuned on here - I'll be holding a giveaway and will choose one lucky reader to receive a fabulous Bare Escentuals goodie. 

Head on over to Rethinkwhatmatters.com and start talking!

New Year, New Look

So things are looking a little over here at Beauty is the New Black if you haven't noticed. I'm in the process of a fabulous re-vamp and this is stage one. Please forgive me for the appearance over the next few weeks as I get things finalized, but I'll still be reporting on all the goods. But for now, it's back to watching the Golden Globes!

Naturally Enhance Lashes with tarte

I'm a total sucker for lash enhancers, primers, volumizing mascaras, basically anything claiming to make me look like I'm wearing false lashes without having to go through the application process. I'm also a big tarte fan, and one of my fave makeup brands is launching a lash enhancing primer and lash enhancing mascara for spring. (In the beauty world, spring begins in February).

tarte MultiplEYE primer is clinically proven to increase lash volume by 739%, while also increasing length. And when used with the natural lash enhancing mascara, that number jumps to an 1102% increase in volume. Now this is what I'm talking about. Sweet almond extract and soy protein strengthen and soften, while tarte's HydroPlant peptide increases lash health, thickness and appearance of length.

MultipleEYE lash enhancing mascara increases lash volume by 638%, while also increasing length when used alone. Provitamin B5, soy protein and cellulose thicken and nourish, while HydroPlant peptide increases lash health, thickness and appearance of length.

Pick up both for $22 and $24 at tarte.com and sephora.com beginning in February.

The Only Lip Palette You'll Ever Need

If you're like me, you have about 20 lipsticks and glosses in your purse on any given day. It's gotten so bad that airport security makes me put them all into my already-stuffed-to-the-brim toiletry baggie to be x-rayed (who knew a lip gloss addiction made me a terrorist suspect). As much as I can't live without a million shades of lip color, the whole routine of fishing around in my bag and deciding between gloss, lipstick, neutral, red, plum, shiny, matte etc. is getting exhausting. That's why I'm so in love with the Bobbi Brown Basic Lip Palette, which contains Naked lip gloss (the perfect neutral, shiny gloss), Posey Shimmer lip gloss (a glossy clear pink with shimmer), Brownie lip color (a pinky brown full coverage natural finish lipstick) and Rum Raisin lip color (a dark yet neutral raisiny shade).

With these four shades you can create day, evening, glossy, full color, neutral and more bold looks. Each looks perfect by itself and can be mixed together for a custom shade. So free up some space in your bag without sacrificing the lip look you crave and pick up the Bobbi Brown Basic Lip Palette on Nordstrom.com.

Test Drive: Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse

If you're a regular on here, you know my love affair with bareMinerals by now. If you need to be reminded of the extent of my craziness, check out said psycho raving posts here, here and here. As much of a devotee I am to my bareMinerals, I have to admit I was intrigued by Maybelline's Dream Liquid Mousse, especially since it promised a 100% poreless airbrush finish. I've had airbrush makeup before and it really looks so natural, yet covers everything and has amazing staying power. So even though I felt so guilty abandoning my bareMinerals, I thought what kind of beauty writer would I be if i didn't test out the goods?

The Experience:

Upon first application I have to admit I was grossed out. I've been using mineral makeup for a good five years now so it was quite a shock to apply liquid makeup. Although after multiple uses I got used to the feeling of liquid again and if you're a regular liquid user, this actually is light compared to some. It also dries to a really nice, natural finish in seconds. I applied with a foundation brush (specifically the one included in this kit), all over, starting at the middle of my face and blending out, paying special attention to blend down from the jawline to the neck, and then stuck my face an inch from the mirror and surveyed the results. Was the finish 100% poreless? Absolutely. I was shocked. I am shiny with visible pores and Dream Liquid Mousse floated on and didn't settle into pores as promised. Other bonuses: I didn't get shiny and it held up well after hours of wear.

The Verdict:

Delivered on its promises. Definitely check out Dream Liquid Mousse if you're looking for a natural airbrush effect on the cheap (under $10) and for skin that truly is poreless. Available at drugstores.

Too Faced Tackles the Walk of Shame

Where was this kit when I was in college? (Errr, just kidding mom). We've all had those nights where you unexpectedly have to sleep out. Whether you're crashing at a friend's house after a few too many cocktails or having an impromptu rendevous with a special someone, always be prepared with the essentials with Too Faced Walk of Shame set. This kit contains literally everything you need to freshen up before bed and pull yourself together the next morning. 

Specifically:
*Mini Primed & Poreless Face Primer
*Exclusive Compact with Shadows and Bronzer
*Shadow Insurance Eye Shadow Primer
*Lip of Luxury Lipstick in Totally Nude
*Too Faced Toothbrush
*Oral Fixation Mints

Such a great idea, why hasn't someone thought of this sooner? Pick it up today (it's a limited edition) at Sephora stores and Sephora.com.

Put the Lime in the Coconut

It's still vacation mode here at Beauty is the New Black, and I keep imagining I'm back in St. Lucia in the sand and sun and not enduring 100 mph winds on the East Coast. Here's me, sans a speck of makeup, trying coconut milk straight out of the coconut. It's surprisingly spicy and sort of peppery, as opposed to sweet. This inspired me to round up my fave coconut scented products, in an effort to bring a little bit of the islands here to the dead of winter.

Noah's Naturals Coconut Vanilla hand and foot cream smells so delish you could eat it (but please don't). It's also insanely moisturizing and really rich, perfect for dry winter feet and hands. Sweet Almond oil and Coneflower extract get the job done, while the yummy sweet scent makes you forget that it's 2 degrees out. Plus one product does double duty for only $7.99. Pick it up at retailers like Walgreens.

What I wouldn't give to own every single scent of Philosophy shampoo, bath and shower gel. It's impossible to pick which scent is my favorite, but Coconut Frosting is definitely leading the pack. I love that these are three-in-one, so they're perfect for traveling, and this formula, thanks to its conditioning agents really quench skin and hair. Plus it's not sickeningly sweet like some Coconut-scented products. It's just enough scent.

I love Kiehl's lip balm #1, check out a previous post here. It's so moisturizing, healing and protecting, and bonus: it comes in a delicious coconut flavor. I love a good flavored lip balm, but sometimes they can be more about the flavor and not so much about the moisture. Kiehl's is the perfect balance of a lip balm that works with a sweet flavor.

Detox After the Holidays

The holidays are over, it's back to work, and I feel like I need another vacation. All the traveling, visiting family and friends, cocktailing and lack of sleep can really do a number on your face. So when I woke up yesterday looking puffy, dehydrated and dull, it was time to pull out the old detox routine. When I've been living in excess, a few key products always bring me back in balance.

Biologique Recherche Biomagic Mask is an instant pick-me-up for lackluster skin. If you're not familiar with the brand, it's a French skin care line primarily sold in spas, but you can also order online here, that contains highly active ingredients, which means that sometimes the products don't smell and feel elegant, but they are so effective. Biomagic Mask is an energizing and balancing mask that leaves skin purified and glowing in only 15 minutes. It really is my go-to mask when I'm feeling a mess. I alternate it with Masque Vivant, which is perfect for when you're having an oily, breakout moment.

For dry, puffy eyes, nothing works like La Roche-Posay Hydraphase Eyes. This is a refreshing, hydrating gel that contains caffeine and de-puffs in minutes. The key is all in the application: dot the gel around the under and upper eye area and massage in a circular motion until fully absorbed to drain the fluid that causes puffiness. I always dot on an undereye corrector or brightener after (I love Smashbox Photo Op, check out more info here, or Neutrogena Skin Soothing Under Eye Corrector) in lieu of concealer, which can look a little cakey when your eye area is in disarray.

Then I just apply a super hydrating but gentle moisturizer (you can't go wrong with Kinerase Cream, it's a classic, effective moisturizer you can even use on post-procedure skin), generous amounts of bronzer (Too Faced Sun Bunny), the perfect pinky peach blush (NARS Orgasm) and my mascara du jour, L'Oreal Extra Volume Collagen. Voila! Looking normal again.