Everything You Need for a Summer Glow

I love Sephora's Beauty in a Box sets because they're an awesome value and contain an array of products you actually want to own. The new limited edition exclusive set is Too Faced Endless Summer Beauty in a Box set, which literally contains everything you need to create a gorge summer glow, plus a how to guide. 

The set contains:

• 0.11 oz Shadow Insurance
• 0.17 oz Eye Shadow Quad in Lovey Dovey (sable brown with gold micro-glitter), Honey Pot (warm gold shimmer), Heaven (matte ivory) and Neptune (turquoise shimmer
• 0.33 oz Sun Bunny Bronzer (satin suntan/ rich satin bronze)
• 0.12 oz Glamour Gloss in Plush (candied coral)
• 0.4 oz Lashgasm Mascara in Black
• 1 oz Tanning Bed In A Tube

I am a huge fan of both Sun Bunny Bronzer and Tanning Bed In A Tube because they both create the perfect, natural looking tan. Scoop up this set at Sephora and Sephora.com for only $45.

How To: Wash Makeup Brushes

So I had been neglecting my makeup brushes for quite some time and I finally gave them a good wash and it was literally like a whole new world applying my makeup (cue Aladdin theme song).

I couldn't believe how soft they were, how smooth my products went on and how true to color they were. It seems obvious, but chances are you don't wash your makeup brushes often enough, or properly.

• Wet your makeup brush with lukewarm water
• Pour a small amount of brush shampoo, baby shampoo or any other gentle shampoo (I personally like Peter Lamas Wheatgrass Purifying Shampoo because it's all natural) in the palm of your hand
• Swirl the makeup brush in the palm of your hand and repeat the process until the suds are clear
• Rinse with lukewarm water and squeeze out excess
• Reshape and lay flat to dry on a paper towel

You really should be cleansing your brushes once a week, but if the whole process is just too tedious for a weekly routine, only wash key brushes this frequently, like your foundation brush, that are bound to collect lots of grime and bacteria. I also like to freshen up in between washes with Bare Escentuals Quick Change Brush Cleaner to make sure I'm not mixing my bronzes with my greys.

Quick Summer Update: Peach Lips

The sun is shining, the weather is warming up and it's time to update your makeup look for spring and summer. One of my favorite two second updates is adding a peach lip. Peach warms up skin better than pink, but isn't as extreme as coral or orange. It also looks amazing with warm tones on eyes like gold and bronze or cool tones like gray. Check out my two favorite peaches below. 

NARS lip gloss in Giza is my ultimate peach because it's pigmented, shiny and isn't too orange. It warms up skin and shows a tan (no matter how slight). It's the perfect complement to a bronzy look, yet is neutral enough to not overpower smoky eyes. It's definitely a spring/summer staple for me.

DHC Moisture Care Liquid Lipcolor in OR06 is a moisturizing peach gloss with a subtle shimmer that is sheer enough to work on pretty much any skin tone. Plus I love that the brush is long and helps define the contours of the lips.

Test Drive: John Frieda Anytime Volume Refresher

Friends, have you been loving this new mass market dry shampoo trend as much as I have? It seems drugstore hair care brands are finally getting the memo here and while Klorane will always hold a very special place in my heart, I love that I no longer am condemned to a life of buying $18 cans of dry shampoo every two weeks. I recently tried John Frieda Luxurious Volume Anytime Volume Refresher - read on for the scoop.

The Experience

At first I thought this can looked mighty small - and skinny - but then I realized my beloved Klorane was 3.2oz and this is 3.5 so maybe this is some sort of optical illusion. I tried Anytime Volume Refresher two different ways: on clean hair when I wanted to inject some volume and texture and on actual, unwashed, dirty hair. First thing I noticed and absolutely loved is the complete and total lack of white powdery residue. If you're a dry shampoo vet you know what I'm talking about - the whitish cast on your roots that makes your hair look gray in pics. There was none of that here people. 

When I used this on dirty hair I was really impressed that it absorbed the greasies sans aforementioned white residue, and it definitely injected some life into my locks. This is the perfect dry shampoo to perk up second day hair, but I'm not sure I would use it on say, 4th day hair (but by that point, let's just wash shall we?). 

A quick spritz on freshly washed hair added some texture, volume and hold, so if your strands are baby fine like mine, you'll definitely be reaching for this even if you just shampooed. 

The Verdict

For under $7 this is really an amazing dry shampoo. It houses a lot of product (even though it looks like it doesn't), gets rid of the greasies, adds volume, and, say it with me, leaves NO white residue behind. I highly recommend getting into a relationship with Anytime Volume Refresher stat.

Red Carpet Recap: 2011 Met Ball

Nothing can resurrect my lack of posting quite like a red carpet event and the 2011 Met Ball didn't disappoint! There were some celebs who shall remain nameless with, er, some questionable choices, but a few majorly stood out in my mind. See below for my faves:

Taylor Swift

I have to admit I am usually beyond bored with TSwift's red carpet choices (same curly/wavy/crimpy looking hair left down, same short, sparkly dress) but I thought she looked phenomenal! It's unexpected (for her) and I love the texture and one shoulder. 

Kate Hudson

I know from experience it's pretty hard to look glamorous when you're this pregnant, but Kate Hudson pulls it off nicely. Love the champagne hue of the dress, subtle sparkle, and beach goddess hair and makeup. 

Blake Lively

Blake is probably the celeb whose beauty and fashion choices I most covet (side note: didn't she have red hair like 30 seconds ago? How is it blonde again already?) because she always looks perfect, polished, amazing. This dress is majorly daring and Blake pulls it off perfectly.

Dianna Agron

This dress stood out to me for its effortless simplicity - I love that Dianna didn't just throw on a sequin dress and call it a day. The neckline is interesting, the color looks great on her and the simple accessories and hair and makeup perfectly complement. 

Sarah Jessica Parker

I'm not one of those rabid SJP super fans who thinks she can do no wrong, but I definitely give credit where credit is due - this dress is perfection on her. Love the fact that she's almost totally covered between the elbow length sleeves and high neckline, but her body looks amazing in this. 

Love it or Leave it: Feather Hair Extensions

Last year it was glimmery tinsel that looked like you plucked it straight off of your Christmas tree, this year it's feathers hair extensions as the craze du jour as seen here on Jennifer Love Hewitt. I'm sort of in between on how I feel about these.

On the one hand I think they look cool, but would I ever do it? Absolutely not. Maybe if I was 24 again working at a Soho PR firm I would do subtle feathers a la Hillary Duff, but not at almost 29 and six months pregnant.

What do you think? Would you sport feather hair extensions?

Drugstore Gem: Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque

Drugstore Gem is a series uncovering the best drugstore products that you might not have otherwise tried. 

Chances are you've seen or heard of Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque (it's been around for literally 75 years), but maybe you didn't pay much attention to the big bottle usually hanging out on the bottom shelf of the drugstore. It was one of those products I was always sort of intrigued by but just never tried until Mr. M's cousin's wife recommended it to me when I was having some pregnancy-related skin issues because it helps clear acne without any of the big no no's (salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, retinol). 

I now use it religiously twice a week and it totally keeps everything under control. It's minty and refreshing (hence the name), sucks out pore-clogging impurities and leaves skin super clean without that dry, tight feeling. The best part? A huge tube is less than $5 and you can find it at any drugstore.

Beauty Crush: Ojon Volume Advance

I have been meaning to post about these fab products for ages because they are truly amazing. Ojon Volume Advance Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner is perfect for not only fine hair types, but those with strands on the drier side as well. I come from the school of thought that body and volume is really more about the styling products and blow drying than the actual shampoo/conditioner, but this line totally changed my mind. 

I really put it to the test, by not using any products or fancy blow drying techniques, just the simple round brush blow out. My hair felt really light and bouncy (and it is in desperate need of a trim so this is saying something), really clean and super soft. Volumizing shampoos/conditioners have always been a slippery slope for me because on the one hand I have find strands that need volume and body, but on the other I color so I need moisture. Volume Advance is the best of both worlds thanks to Ojon oil, which repairs damage and protein-rich Peruvian Amaranth, which builds body. 

Bonus: Ojon products are free of parabens, pthalates, synthetic dyes - all the yucky stuff. The only downside is the products are definitely pricey ($22 for 8.5oz.) but I say if it works, it's worth it. Scoop up at Sephora.

The Eye Cream Diaries: La Mer The Eye Concentrate

Few things are as luxurious as Creme de la Mer, but it takes a lot to impress this jaded beauty girl, especially when it comes to eye cream. I've been testing out La Mer's The Eye Concentrate for awhile and have been pretty happy with the results thus far. I dug this eye cream out of my stash when I was battling serious dehydration and fine lines, not to mention insane dark circles due to lack of sleep from my work overload and was hoping this would be the ticket. 

It's definitely hydrating alright. As rich and moisturizing as this is though, I love that the texture is still light and refreshing instead of heavy, tacky and sticky. It's definitely too rich for daytime for me though (I get oily throughout the day) so I stick to pm use. The Eye Concentrate absorbs super quickly and almost gives my eye area a glossy bright eyed look. The fine lines have definitely been reduced and dark circles have lightened up. 

The Verdict:

If you need an intensely hydrating eye cream that tackles fine lines and dark circles without harsh anti-agers that can irritate like retinol, leaves eyes with a luminous and you have cash to burn (retail price is $165) pick up La Mer's The Eye Concentrate and you'll look bright eyed and refreshed in no time. Head over to the La Mer site if you're planning on ordering because you'll receive complimentary shipping and two samples.

Beauty Crush: John Frieda Full Repair Perfect Ends Sheer Mist

I have a scandalous confession to make: I wash and blow dry my hair everyday. A total no no according to every stylist, but I can't help it; I just need freshly washed and blown out hair. And to top it off, I don't spray on a heat protectant.  Now that I haven't been highlighting my hair (God I hope this baby appreciates the fact that her poor mom spent 9 months walking around with drab, dirty blonde 7-inch roots) my ends have been in better condition but they still look totally frayed from the constant heat styling. 

I was majorly intrigued by John Frieda's new Full Repair line when I first spotted it while in the drugstore picking up a card. The first weightless solution for over-worked hair? Yes, please. I decided my foray into the line would be with the Perfect Ends Sheer Mist, which repairs and protects fine-textured hair damaged from high heat (cue spotlight on this girl). The key ingredient is Incha Inchi Oil, a lightweight micro-oil rich in omega-3. When I first sprayed it on my hair, concentrating on the ends, it felt like it was really sinking in. I also sprayed a little bit in my hand and then coated my ends again for extra smoothing. 

After I blew my hair dry I was impressed. It felt so soft and smooth, the ends weren't their usual bone dry self and my frizzies and flyaways were better tamed than when I used an actual frizz-reducing product. Plus, it feels super lightweight and not weighed down one single bit. My new hair care obsession. 

The line includes shampoo and conditioner, Root Lift Foam, Perfect Ends Deep Infusion (which is the counterpart to Sheer Mist, except it's for medium-textured hair) and Touch Up Flyaway Tamer. I need to own everything stat. I predict a long-term relationship on the horizon.

And Baby Makes Three

Where does the time go? I can't believe I haven't posted in an entire month. It certainly isn't due to lack of product testing and beauty news, but more so to do with the fact that...drum roll please... Mr. M. and I are expecting our first child! We will be having a beautiful little daughter come July and between all of the researching what to eat/not to eat (bye bye sushi and booze), what beauty products and treatments you can't use (um, basically everything you actually want to), numerous doc appointments (it's one a month but feels like 80 for some reason) and other freelance work, something had to give. 

I'm back in a comfortable groove though and promise to devote more time to you; I've definitely missed posting! And stay tuned because I'm working on a spin off blog dedicated to staying beautiful through pregnancy and being a new mom (have no fear! This won't all of the sudden morph into a mommy and me blog where every post is about babies).

I will say it has been fun to daydream about what our future offspring will look like and grow up to be. I naturally think our daughter will make the perfect beauty editor at Allure magazine. Mr. M. seems to think she'd be much more suited as an equity research analyst at Goldman Sachs. We'll see who ends up being right.

Sundance 2011: Emma Roberts

As I'm sitting and staring outside my window at the blizzard happening right now, I figure I might as well be at Sundance because it's just as cold and snowy.

The totally cute Emma Roberts is at the festival promoting her movie "Homework," and I have the scoop from her makeup artist, Sonia Lee, on what she used to prep her skin for her radiant look.

“Emma Roberts has gorgeous young skin. I started with Votre Vu SpecialEyes Intensive Eye Treatment before I applied makeup, and used a bit of Amour d'Ore multi- vitamin oil for face, body and hair to prep her skin and keep the moisture in. 

Champagne Kisses Enhancing Lip Balm made her lips feel soft and gave me the perfect base for lip color.”

Sundance 2011: Elizabeth Banks

It's that time of year again... Sundance! All the celebs gather in freezing Park City to basically gather swag, watch movies and bum around. I was there a few years ago and it is a great time, but being out in that cold weather can really take a toll on your hair and skin (although it's also basically -3 where I am too).

Elizabeth Banks is looking totally radiant promoting her two movies: My Idiot Brother and The Details and I have the scoop from her hair and makeup team.

Says hairstylist Creighton Bowman:

“On Elizabeth, we wanted a sexy natural wave with lots of shine. I started by using Lait Luminescence Bi-Phase detangling milk by Leonor Greyl from root to end on towel dried hair. 

I did a soft blow dry using a medium round brush, and then used  a medium curling iron to create her soft waves. With a light back combing at the roots I finished with one of my all time favorite products, Serum De Soie Sublimateur!”

Says makeup artist Sonia Lee:

“I used the Votre Vu Champagne Kisses lip balm of course – everyone gets chapped lips in cold weather. (ED note: I've been using this too so look out for a review in the coming days). I prepped her skin with Attentive Serum for sensitive skin and Attentive Crème de Jour sensitive skin to keep her skin looking flawless for her long press day. I used the SpecialEyes Intensive Eye Treatment as a base on her eyes and it really kept her looking fresh all day. The Amour d’Ore body and face oil and Tarte d’Amande body soufflé also helped keep everything moisturized in Sundance’s dryyyy weather.”

Click here for the scoop on Leonor Greyl products, and here for the deets on Votre Vu. 

Redken Launches Nature's Rescue

My fave hair care brand Redken just launched Nature’s Rescue, a collection of paraben-free, sulfate-free and silicone-free haircare products inspired by the ocean and enriched with plant and marine extracts. The line includes shampoo, conditioner, sea polish and sea spray that thoroughly cleanses to remove impurities and buildup while helping nourish and refine the hair. 

I'm loving the fact that Nature's Rescue is sulfate free because as someone who has colored their hair more years than they care to admit, I can attest to the fact that sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners absolutely preserve and protect hair color from fading and are just all around more gentle and less damaging to hair.

Nature’s Rescue includes four products formulated with water-fresh fragrances, cooling sensations and ocean-inspired textures that provide the perfect balance of moisture:

• Step 1: Detox with Nature’s Rescue Refreshing Detox Shampoo
• Step 2: Refine with Nature’s Rescue Refining Sea Polish - this is an exfoliant that removes impurities and reduces frizz
• Step 3: Replenish with Nature’s Rescue Cooling Deep Conditioner
• Step 4: Uplift with Nature’s Rescue Radiant Sea Spray - this spray adds texture and a fresh fragrance

Log onto Redken.com to locate a salon near you.

Votre Vu January Special

Luxury French skin care brand Votre Vu has a fab promotion running now through January 31st. With the purchase of any Face Base set, receive a free full size Luxee Yeux Eye Beauty Balm, a $49 value. Votre Vu takes the French approach, natch, when caring for skin, which involves following a cleansing, toning, treating and moisturizing routine. Each Face Base set includes a cleanser, toner, serum and day creme for four specific skin types:

• Attentive, for Sensitive Skin ($98.70 instead of $141 individually)
• Full Benefits, formulated specifically for Mature Skin ($125.30 instead of $179 individually)
• Peau Equilibrée, for Oily and Combination Skin ($95.90 instead of $137 individually)
• Best Regards, for Normal to Dry Skin ($94.50 instead of $135 individually)

Luxee Yeux Eye Beauty Balm is specifically formulated to counter the three prominent signs of aging – moisture loss, collagen breakdown, and free radical damage. Visit the Votre Vu site to order your Face Base set before January 31st to receive a free eye cream.

Everything Old is New Again

In the new year I usually decide to revamp my makeup and skin care wardrobe, but I already have so many products that even for a beauty aficionado like myself, it's getting to just be too much. So I decided that instead of buying a slew of new items, I would scavenge my existing goods and rediscover old favorites. 

There's always those amazing staples that I adore, that one day I come across and am thinking why did I ever stop using this!? In no particular order, here are my old faithfuls:

Revlon 3D Extreme mascara is one of those mascaras I occasionally cheat on because I just can't help myself, and then I start using it again and vow to never use anything else. It creates amazing length, volume and curl and strangers (yes, really) always comment on how long and thick my lashes are and ask me if I'm wearing falsies. Major bonus: it's under $10.

NARS Orgasm blush is one of those cult products that everyone raves about, but unlike some others (I'm talking to you Maybelline Great Lash!) actually lives up to the hype. It's the perfect peachy pink with a subtle golden sheen that works on everyone regardless of skin tone. I like to mix up my blushes depending on season and my makeup looks, but if I could only choose one for the rest of my life, this would be it. 

It's really hard for me to commit to a skin care product because there's always something "new and revolutionary that will change your life" hitting the market. Kinerase C8 Peptide Intensive Treatment is something I always have close by because it smooths fines lines, brightens skin and protects with antioxidants. At $98 it is a little bit of an investment, but unless you're very dry, it can replace your daytime moisturizer.

What are your recent new discoveries from your existing stash?

Look to Love: Lauren Conrad

I don't know what it is about Lauren Conrad's look from Cover Girl's 50th Anniversary party but I thought she looked amazing. Maybe it's her sunny glow, peachy cheeks, perfectly pinky nude lips, but I love that it looks effortless, yet polished. I'm also a major fan of the darker hue on her - totally brightens her face.

Luckily it looks like it's a breeze to pull off with a generous helping of black liner (I love Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner) peach blush (NARS in Gina is peach perfection) and pinky nude gloss (Clinique Full Potential Lips Plump and Shine in Glamour-full is a the perfect pink nude with a little gold shimmer).

For hair, make a middle part, create a few large waves with a jumbo curling iron, curling hair away from the face, spritz with shine spray and voila - you're Lauren Conrad.

The Eye Cream Diaries: Bvlgari Regard Precieux

Bvlgari Regard Precieux Intensive Regenerating Eye Contour Cream is a luxuriously rich eye cream that isn't too heavy or greasy and illuminates the eye area with a surge of moisture. I went into testing out this eye cream thinking it would be a great hydrator and would probably lessen the appearance of dark circles, but I didn't have very high hopes for its wrinkle-smoothing benefits.

Well, I was completely wrong. After only a few weeks of use, Regard Precieux really smoothed the appearance of fine lines, brightened the overall eye area and hydrated. I will say I don't have major lines, just the beginning signs of aging from tanning (which I no longer do). I use this cream day and night and it's super concentrated so you only need a tiny amount. 

The only downside is the price tag: $150 for a .5oz. size. Not all luxury skin care lives up to its claims, but Regard Precieux absolutely does. If you're in the market for an eye cream that is super hydrating, basically erases fine lines and illuminates the eye area, pick this up. For a little savings, head over to Luxury Parlor where Regard Precieux is discounted to $111.99.

Must Have: MAC Peacocky Collection

MAC introduces about a bazillion collections each year and sometimes it's a process to navigate through all the new products; which is the exact reason I really only cover the collections that I consider must haves. MAC Peacocky Collection feels like classic MAC to me, which I love. It's not about kitschy packaging or campaigns, it's about amazing colors and formulas that are richly pigmented.

The Mega Metal shadows in particular are the perfect eye shadows. The formulas are super pigmented, really smooth, can be used wet or dry and the color selection is divine - neutrals with some pops of color. Quick note though - as the name implies they do have a shimmery, metallic finish, so if you're into matte, these may not be for you.

Mega Metal Shadow Suggested Retail Price $19.50 US

• Peek-at-You – Frosted yellow white
• Dalliance – Light champagne
• Prance – Frosted mauve pearl
• Top of the Posh – Frosted white pink
• Tweet Me – Gold bronze
• Mating Call – Dirty frosted violet
• Odalisque – Deep teal
• Sexpectations – Metallic burgundy
• Paparazz-she – Deep copper bronze
• Ego – Forest green
• Noir Plum – True purple with silver pearl
• Dandizette – Navy with silver pearl
• Spectacle of Yourself – Deep bronze
• Centre Stage – Frosted chocolate brown
• Unflappable – Frosted black with purple pearl

Kissable Lipcolour Suggested Retail Price $18.00 US

• Enchantée – Light blue pink
• Woo Me – Light pinky nude
• So Vain – Muted dirty coral
• Vanity Fair – Mid-tone blue pink
• Exxxhibitionist – Red-toned coral
• Strut Your Stuff – Bright true red
• Scandelicious – Blue fuchsia
• Peacocky – Sky blue with red pearl
• Super – Muted neutral brown
• Temper Tantra – Mid-tone reddish brown
• Flaunting It – Grey mauve
• Love Peck – Blackened blood red

MAC Peacocky is now available on the MAC website so get shopping! 

Sheer Cover: A Love Affair

It's no secret I'm a big fan of mineral makeup and I've always been intrigued watching the infomercials for Sheer Cover and have been wanting to try for awhile. I finally had the opportunity to test the kit and I'm totally in love! Here's why:

The Concealer: Oh baby, this stuff is industrial strength. This concealer covers everything, yet has a really light, creamy consistency. I apply under the mineral foundation to nix all traces of redness, uneven tone and under eye circles, then apply on top of foundation to any blemishes. The brush is great for precise application, but I also use my fingers for larger areas, like around the nose. 

Ease of Application: Sometimes mineral makeup can be an involved process with all the buffing and building coverage involved. I love that I can use either the regular brush or the denser kabuki brush and quickly buff the foundation over my face for flawless coverage.

Staying Power: Mineral makeup isn't exactly known for going the distance, but Sheer Cover really lasts through a long workday and into happy hour (or all night on the weekend). 

The Sheer Cover kit includes: 

• Two shades of mineral foundation
• Duo Concealer
• Conditioning Cleanser
• Nourishing Moisturizer SPF 15
• Extra Length Mascara
• Travel Pocket Duo
• Foundation, contour and concealer brushes
• Makeup case
• Tips and tricks DVD
• Application guide
• Compact of highlighters, lip glosses and eyeliner

Visit Sheercover.com to order and receive free shipping.

Proactiv: Beyond the Three Step System

So unless you live under a rock you know about Proactiv's famed three-step system for acne-prone skin. What you may not know is that the brand has a slew of other products perfect for those who experience the occasional breakout, but don't have a major acne problem. I had the pleasure of trying out a few products that definitely changed the way I think about Proactiv.

Clarifying Night Cream is hands down my new favorite skin care product. It contains all the ingredients that really improve skin - retinol, salicylic acid, vitamins, but it's gentle and non-irritating. This is perfect for in between skin when you don't need to use a serious acne medication, but you don't need a heavy duty anti-ager yet. Clarifying Night Cream improves skin's texture and tone, refines pores and just makes skin look glowy and amazing. 

I've seen people on the three-step infomercial rave about the Green Tea Moisturizer and it really is that good! It's the perfect daytime lotion because it replenishes moisture without feeling heavy and greasy. In fact, it actually feels light and refreshing and is perfect under makeup. Plus, I'm a total sucker for anything with antioxidants.

I'm a major lover of makeup removing cloths and Proactiv's Makeup Removing Cloths are super soft, I'm talking t-shirt soft, and thoroughly remove eye makeup. I reach for them when I'm feeling exceptionally tired (or lazy) at the end of the night, or anytime I need a quick refresh, like pre- and post-gym. Plus I love that the package is truly resealable so they won't dry out - a major towelette pet peeve of mine. 

Each of these products is available at QVC.com.


Disclosure: Samples were provided for editorial consideration.