holiday 2014: Mally Beauty Gift sets

{singing} it's the most wonderful time of the year…

still need more gift ideas? i have some fabulous gems for you to consider from Mally Beauty!

if there was ever a beauty brand to give {or gift to yourself} that would be loved, it's the brand Mally Rancal heads up. her products are amazing, formulated to last while making its user look and feel beautiful. we follow each other on Twitter and the woman is fabulous! currently, she's boasting her festive flair and it's so contagious {check out her Instagram, too}. 

for the holidays, her gift sets are {as Mally would say} gorgois ~ from rich and colorful eyeliners to maximum-shine lipsticks packaged in trendy bags, they're sure to be the hit of the season...

Mally Beauty Evercolor Starlight Waterproof Eyeliner Set:

light up your eyes with this set of liners in festive shades. the budge-proof, waterproof eye liner glides on smoothly and effortlessly, while delivering rich color. accompanied with a chic metallic bag, you’ll look gorgois even on the go. 

Mally Beauty Mally Golden Rule of Beauty 5-Piece Collection with Clutch Bag: 

achieve a flawless, luminous look for lip to lashes with this coordinated five-piece kit! add a sheer layer of color on your lids with crease-proof eye shadow and add definition with a deep, waterproof eyeliner. put the perfect finish on your lashes with jet-black mascara; add a gentle blush to make you look flawlessly flushed, then finish off your look with High-Shine Liquid Lipstick in Cherry Blossom to make your lips look irresistible.

visit qvc.com to order these sets {don't wait too long, time is running out to receive by december 24th}. happy shopping!

info and images courtesy of Mally Beauty representative 

holiday 2014 {beauty}: Bobbi Brown Scotch On The Rocks Collection

when considering beauty gifts, the brand i'd consider highly for gifting would certainly be from Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. for holiday 2014 allow me to bring your attention to the Scotch on the Rocks collection ~ a gorgeous, confident assortment of new products featuring sexy, warm matte browns, golden metallic nudes and silky rich reds. these beauties can be used to create simple yet stunning looks to complement anything you wish to wear, day or night. 

the Bobbi Brown Scotch On the Rocks Collection includes:

LE Warm Glow Eye Palette

Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Black Scotch

Lip Color in Sultry Red, Bordeaux, Malt Shimmer and Beige Gold Shimmer

Lip Gloss in Scarlet, Gold {glitter} and Bellini {high shimmer}

Nail Polish in Bordeaux, Scotch Shimmer and Cherry Tomato

LE Highlight Powder in Pink Glow and Bronze Glow




needless to say, this is a beyond fabulous, breathtaking collection! any beauty-loving person {including me} would be happy to receive anything {or everything} from it.

you can find the Bobbi Brown Scotch On the Rocks Collection now at all Bobbi Brown counters, including nordstrom and macy's and of course at bobbibrowncosmetics.com

info, images, and video courtesy of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics

Foolproof Fall Makeup from butter LONDON

bonjour, beauties! it's a pretty busy time in my life currently, and since there are no signs that things will slow down, especially with the holiday season right around the corner, saving time wherever possible is truly helpful…

so when makeup artist and butter LONDON global color ambassador Katie Jane Hughes offered some tips for a foolproof fall makeup look that anyone can achieve in about 10 minutes, i was more than happy to learn more, and of course, share the tips with you!

Katie says: "bold lips are always a fall makeup staple, but you don’t have to spend hours in front of the mirror trying to create a look that’s worthy of the red carpet. for a foolproof fall makeup look, i suggest pairing a bold lip with a soft eye." 

 follow these steps below for the perfect fall look that’s sure to get you out the door faster:

skin:

"always start with a clean base. use one of the new Scrubbers Makeup Remover Wipes to remove excess makeup or oil from the skin. apply moisturizer {like Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream} followed by foundation {Laura Mercier Silk Creme} over the T-zone and concealer {Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage} as needed. dust a bit of pressed powder over the face.

eyes:

take a brown pencil, like WINK Eye Pencil in Twigged, skim the pencil around lash line and blend so it looks lived-in, like a natural smokey shadow. {tip: the striking metallic effect will look great against a matte lip!} finish with a few swipes of mascara {WINK Mascara in Union Jack Black} being sure to separate each lash.

lips:

"for a fall lip, i love matte lipstick. my current favorites are LIPPY Moisture Matte Lipstick in Old Blighty and Ruby Murray. to maximize your matte, press your finger into the lipstick bullet and dab onto a puckered lip, applying until most of the lip is covered. finish by gently pushing your lips together. if you want extra definition, use the highest point on the lipstick bullet to line lips or use a brown liner {WINK Eye Pencil in Brown Sugar ~ this product is genius, i've even used it to contour!} to blend in added color and create an ombre pout."

cheeks:

fall doesn’t require too much color on cheeks, but a barely there pop of color is nice. take a blush brush and lightly dab into CHEEKY Cream Blush in Ruby Murray and gently brush over the apples of your cheeks. Your skin will look fresh and natural.

for the overachievers:

if you have an extra few minutes, a liquid-lined eye is a gorgeous addition to this fall makeup look. take your liner {try WINK Matte Liquid Eyeliner in Brown Sugar} and start with the wing, working out from the edge of your lash line where the top and bottom lid meet. work up and outward and then back toward the lid. stop here if you want an Angelina Jolie inspired cat eye. if you want more of a doe-eyed Zooey Deschanel look, continue to line the length of the eye towards the inner corner.

thanks, Katie! and to you, dear beauties, i hope this info will keep your life easy and allow you to be your fabulous self in minimal time {and if you're interested, take a look at Katie's own bold lip look on Instagram}.

you can find butter LONDON at Ulta, Macy's and online at butterlondon.com

info and images courtesy of butter LONDON

holiday 2014 {beauty}: Laura Mercier Colour Collection

the holiday season is on its way, beauties! have you seen the Laura Mercier Colour Collection? this gorgeous collection of makeup that should be considered for all the beauty lovers in your life.

let's take a look, shall we?

Into the Wild Look Book Collection {pictured above} features ultra-sheer, blendable products, this set of palettes have been inspired by Laura's work with celebrity clients, who wanted a universal compact that would "wake up" their skin and give them an immediate healthy glow. from bronzer, to cheek color, to glow, it’s easy to customize your look. contains three palettes:

*Safari Chic Palette includes 5 eye colors {Buttercream, LE Goldspun, LE Bronze Glow, Cognac, Bamboo}, 1 Face Highlighter {LE Coral Shimmer}, 1 Mini Longwear Crème Eye Pencil {Espresso}
*Jungle Chic Palette includes 5 eye colors {LE Vanilla, LE Granite, LE Asphalt, LE Brocade. LE Black Envy}, 1 Tightline Cake Eye Liner {Black Ebony}, 1 Mini Kohl Eye Pencil {Black Gold}, 1 Travel Flat Eye Liner Brush
*Tribal Chic Palette boasts 6 eye colors {LE Gold Leaf, African Violet, LE Ambre, LE Royal Pink, LE Sugarplum}, 2 Second Skin Cheek Colors {Orange Blossom, Pink Lotus}

the Luxe Travel Brush Collection {pictured above} contains 8 brushes you'll need to aid in flawless makeup application {Cheek Colour Brush, Secret Camouflage Brush, Pony Tail Brush, Crème Eye Colour Brush, Eye Crease Brush, Smudge Brush, Flat Eye Liner Brush, Angled Eye Liner Brush}. the full-sized heads have travel-friendly handle lengths and are housed in a chic, multi-purpose case.

Lip Transformer Trio {pictured above} features a color-coordinated trio of lip essentials, one for creating a perfect, pretty-in-pink look {Pink Spark} or Laura's signature red lip {Ruby Spark}. the Pink Spark set contains Mini Lip Pencil in Potpourri, Mini Crème Smooth Lip Colour in Creme Coral, LE Full Size Lip Glacé in Pink Spark; Ruby Spark set includes Mini Lip Pencil in Ruby, Mini Crème Smooth Lip Colour in Red Amour, LE Full Size Lip Glacé in Ruby Spark.

5 mini lip glacés in Pink Pop, Wildflower, Tulip, Bare Pink, and Angelic make up the Mini Glacè Collection.

Mini Caviar Stick Eye Colour Collection has 6 shades {Rosegold, Amethyst, Moonlight, Copper, Khaki, Cocoa} to shadow, highlight, line and define eyes for every occasion.

Portable Colour Palette for eyes, cheeks & lips includes 3 eye shadows {Vanilla Nuts, Baroque, LE Cedar}; 1 Tightline Cake Eye Liner {in LE Ground Espresso}; 2 Second Skin Cheek Colors {Lush Nectarine and Barely Pink}; 1 Lip Glacé in LE Rosebud

what stands out to you from this collection? i'm wishing for it all under my tree {so what's new, LOL!} you can find the Laura Mercier holiday Colour Collection now on counter and online at lauramercier.com

info and images courtesy of PR for Laura Mercier

fall beauty: new collections from INGLOT

hope you're enjoying your weekend so far, beauties! i have some beautiful news for you {you'll definitely appreciate it if you're already a fan of the brand}...

INGLOT has launched two new collections today!

these two collections include HD Perfect Coverup Foundation, enriched with white truffle extract to keep skin balanced, and the Fall in Love collection is a grouping of new frosty, metallic shades {with romantic names like Golden Brown, Fields of Gold, Fine Pine, Silver Blues, and Rosé Mist} that will join the other beautiful shades existing in the brand's gel eyeliners, eyeshadows, and nail enamels.

take a look…

   AMC Eyeliner Gel are high intensity pigments that provide ideal coverage and rich colors after just one application. the new shades boast calm, delicate shades in the creamy and delicate long lasting formula that dries in 60 seconds to a waterproof, smudge proof, and crease proof finish.

the gorgeous new nail enamels in the new shades still provide durability and high gloss finish. i'm told the drying time is short to medium, and the formula does not contain toluene, formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate or camphor.

the INGLOT eye shadows contain special silicones and treated pigments; the new colors feature the same high lubricity and silky feel to create an easy, smooth, long lasting, and crease resistant application.

and finally, the HD Perfect Coverup Foundation is formulated with a hypoallergenic formula that promises to provide long lasting coverage, conceal discoloration and other imperfections, as well as provide a natural, flawless finish. available in 8 shades, the new skin perfecting foundations adjust to each skin tone and prevents excess shine.

so, are you excited about the new INGLOT additions? i think they look perfect for the current fall season and will certainly make the winter months absolutely beautiful! 

visit inglotcosmetics.com for more info

info and images courtesy of PR representing INGLOT 

Lupita Nyong’o for Lancome L’Absolu Rouge

 to announce the addition of six new vibrant shades to the franchise, Lancome ambassadress Lupita Nyong’o shines in her latest campaign as the face of L’Absolu Rouge, Lancôme’s most classic lipstick to date.

this gorgeous campaign features Lupita exuding femininity and elegance, wearing a bold dress to complement her vibrant red lips. a cool fact about this collection {if you didn't already know} is that each of the six lippies were created to match beautiful bright pinks and deep reds of actual roses. in the ad, Lupita is wearing L’Absolu Rouge #160 in Rouge Amour, an intense scarlet red inspired by the Grand Amour rose.

other products used to achieve her full look include Teint Idole Ultra 24H foundation {in 560 Suede}, Color Design 5-Pan Eyeshadow Palette {in Chocolate Amande} and Grandiose Mascara {in Noir Mirifique}.

 the ad will be debuting in december print magazine issues like Glamour, that just so happens to have Lupita on its cover!

:)

i say you should treat yourself and pick up one of these lipsticks this weekend, beauties! why not? any of them would be fabulous. visit your local Lancome counter {at major department sores} or lancome.com. 

have a gorgeous weekend!

info courtesy of Lancome PR rep and Glamour magazine

currently loving: Pür Minerals

i'm not going to lie, i've been under a lot of stress these past couple of weeks. in addition to the fact that my daughter and son are now in high school and middle school respectively, health issues i've been battling and trying to manage have been acting up. i've been more tired, scatter-brained and unfocused than i've been in months.

it hasn't been pretty.

thankfully, there are plenty of pretty, uplifting and positive things in my life {on and offline} that keep me focused on the good things and the fact that things will get better. :)

among those positive things, the following Pür Minerals products have become some of my favorite beauty goodies and have been getting lots of use in recent weeks. want to know more? take a look, beauties ~ you just might want to add these to your beauty wish list!

the Jupiter Palette ~ how gorgeous is this? i've had this set, inspired by the forthcoming movie, Jupiter Ascending {starring Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum}, for a few months. it's fabulous and is so versatile. i love that it features a beautiful assortment of eyeshadows, an eyeshadow brush, pink lip gloss in Galaxy {it lights up!}, and black liquid eye liner.

the eyeshadow shades include:

Majesty {pale taupe}
Destiny {cream}
Night Sky eye shadow {slate}
Jupiter eye shadow {rose}
Caine eye shadow {mocha}
Cosmos eye shadow {iridescent white}

to keep skin looking its best, the brand offers primers to prep skin and an amazing foundation to create a flawless face, suitable for wear anytime. i've been using all of them, as i mentioned, on most days and highly recommend!

the Correcting Primers are available in 5 formulas that address the most common concerns: oiliness, redness, dullness and rough texture, all while creating a smooth base that enhances skin tone and makes sure your makeup stays in place all day. i was sent the Prep & Perfect, Redness Reducer, and the oil-free Hydrate & Balance. i like them all, but since the weather has been on the warm side, i've relished the oil-free formula and its ability to keep shine at bay.

j'dore...

the last {but certainly not least} gem is the Pür Minerals Air Perfection CC Cushion Compact Foundation. this portable liquid foundation not only makes skin look beautiful but is also good for it! with its skin-benefitting ingredients {like antioxidant vitamin e and hydrating lauric acid}, application is beautiful, it covers effortlessly and i love how lightweight it feels on my skin.


what products have been keeping you cheery these days? be sure to discover more about the fab Pür Minerals brand at purminerals.com. 

products featured sent to me for review consideration; pics taken by me :)

Project Runway winning look: Bold Metallic Eyes by Mary Kay

for the Project Runway Season 13 finale, one beauty trend captivated the runway…

 bold metallic eyes!

Mary Kay global makeup artist Luis Casco created glowing silver eyes for the models of Project Runway winner, Sean Kelly, which is so simple to do! it easily transfers from runway to real life, and i would know this because i did it!

 this winning shiny metal look is playful and sexy enough for the catwalk, but absolutely fabulous for daily wear by regular gals like me {and, if i'm being honest, the closest "runway" i get to walk is a grocery isle or hallway in my house, LOL!}.

in any case, here's how to get this metallic eye look:

1. generously apply Mary Kay® Cream Eye Color in Glacier Gray all over eyelids as a base with brush.
2. sweep Mary Kay® Mineral Eye Color in Sterling on to inner halves of eyelids and build out under inner thirds of bottom lashes until you see it disappear. take color left in brush and sweep across brow bone to brighten eye.
3. line along creases and outer thirds of lower lash lines with Mary Kay At Play™ Eye Crayon in Purple Smoke and blend slightly.
4. intensify lashes with two coats of Mary Kay® Lash Love Mascara in Black to top and bottom lashes.
5. apply Mary Kay® Mineral Cheek Color in Golden Copper to apples of cheeks in an upward diagonal toward brow bone.
6. pair eyes with a neutral lip by applying Mary Kay At Play™ Jelly Lip Gloss in Teddy Bare to center of lips.

told you it was simple! and, as always, i love all the products {full disclosure, i've been a huge fan of the brand for many years}. the shadows are fabulously pigmented, the blush silky and the mascara is among one of my faves for creating defined, lush lashes. the gloss is creamy and leaves my lips feeling great without being too sticky.

so, what do you think of this look? if you watched Project Runway, what did you think of this season? were you happy with the choice of Sean as the winner?

be sure to visit marykay.com for more info about the products featured. and be sure to watch Project Runway Allstars, currently underway. Mary Kay is the beauty sponsor for this new season as well. 

products sent to me for the purpose of creating the winning Project Runway look; pics taken by me. :)

get her look: Felicity Jones at Theory of Everything nyc premiere

while i've only seen three of her movies {Chalet Girl, Albatross and Breathe In}, i'm a huge fan Felicity Jones. she's a fabulous actress and i'm thrilled to know she has another film being released. for last week's red carpet premiere of the film, The Theory of Everything, celebrity makeup artist Sabrina Bedrani used Orlane products to create an edgy look that is still romantic and pretty.

Felicity wore a full-length, black Elie Saab gown with lace at the top and midway to the bottom, so Bedrani wanted to create a look that was "more edgy with a strong smokey eye ~ not too romantic as to contrast the lace." 

to create the look, applying Orlane Absolute Skin Recovery Care Anti-Fatigue Serum to Felicity's skin was the first step. this was followed by applying Super-Moisturizing Light Cream, giving her skin a boost, hydrating and creating a smooth canvas for makeup application.

while the serum and moisturizer were absorbing in the skin, Bedrani began the eye look. the Pale Gold shade from Antonym Eyeshadow Quattro in Noisette all over her lid. on the corner of her eyes,  Moiré from Votre Vu Palette Play  in Violette was used and blended inward to create a gorgeous gradient effect. Black from Antonym Eyeshadow Quattro in Croisette was applied on the outer corner and blended inward again, stopping just shy of the purple shade. a lining on both top and bottom rims of Felicity's eyes was smudged out with Antonym Ecocert Certified Natural Waterproof Eye Pencil in Noir, followed by two coats of Orlane Volume Care Mascara to finish the eyes.

Orlane Vitality Radiance Care Eye Contour was applied to hydrate the under eye area and Dior foundation to even out the skin tone; Orlane Transparent Loose Powder was lightly dusted all over to set the look

for radiance and definition, Bedrani brushed Antonym Ecocert Certified Organic Baked Blush in Peach on the apples of the cheeks along with Orlane Bronzer in Soleil Cuivre 02 underneath the cheekbones, using Antonym Contour Brush #3.

lips were kept natural as to keep the focus on the eyes. first moisturizing Felicity's lips with Orlane Extreme Line-Reducing Lip Care for the base, lipstick was then applied on top.

this a gorgeous look, don't you think?

Orlane products are available at orlane.com.
Antonym products are available at antonymcosmetics.com.
Votre Vu products are available at votrevu.com.

holiday 2014: NARS Laced with Edge Color Collection

it's time to start thinking holiday, beauties! yes…now.

have you seen the gorgeous NARS holiday color collection? each year the brand creates such gorgeous offerings, and this year is no exception...

cutting-edge color ~ anything but straightlaced. for holiday 2014, François Nars projects a bold new design for the future femme. decoding the thrill of seduction, this captivating collection exposes a full range of colors and textures with dramatic dimension.

take a look at the limited-edition Laced with Edge collection and tell me what you think...

for eyes, Hardwired Eyeshadow {new formula}:

Canberra ~ shimmering lavender

Opal Coast ~ iridescent white

Gabon ~ bronzed green

for lips, 3 new fabulous shades each of Hardwired Lipstick {featuring a new formula} and Lipgloss:

Femme Fleur ~ shimmering brick red with gold pearl

Deadly Catch ~ crimson

Adriatic ~ glistening soft cream

Corsica ~ shimmering pink raspberry

Soleil D’Orient ~ shimmering pink champagne

Burning Love ~ bright ruby with subtle shimmer

for nails, gorgeous, high-gloss, metallic Nail Polish:

Algonquin ~ sparkling lilac

Barents Sea ~ sparkling deep blue

Sherwood ~ shimmering violet rose

Blush:

 Almería ~ tan rose

besides the color offerings and new formulations, a true standout of this collection is the packaging. designed by architectural designer Chris Kabatsi, his digitally-rendered Nebula print creates a dynamic yet delicate web of black gloss that grips the NARS signature soft-touch packaging in a modern take on lace and it looks simply beautiful.

you can find the NARS Laced with Edge holiday color collection now at NARS boutiques, department stores and narscosmetics.com.

happy shopping!

info and images courtesy of NARS cosmetics