total beauty: holiday beauty gift guide

there's no denying the holiday season is now officially here, so there's no better time than now to start shopping for gifts. really, don't be a procrastinator! here's a fab list of suggestions, courtesy of Total Beauty, that should help...

Holiday Gift Guide: Beauty

Pretty picks for the product-obsessed

This is a TotalBeauty.com Health & Beauty article What do you get for the girl who has lipsticks and eye shadows for days? Something from our holiday gift guide, of course. These holiday palettes, brush sets and nail polishes are the must-haves of the season. See our holiday gift guide for beauty buffs

happy shopping!

total beauty: what your favorite nail color reveals about you

i often find myself drawn to the same shade of polish. yes, i have many shades and colors, and i love mixing it up depending on my mood, but pinks and purples are always my go-to shades. it has a lot to do with my personality, according to the following Total Beauty article.

 their descriptions are pretty accurate...

take a look for yourself ~ do you agree with the descriptions? let me know in the comments!

What Does Your Nail Polish Say About Your Personality?

your favorite nail polish shade reveals a lot about your inner self...

This is a TotalBeauty.com Nails article if you're anything like us, you have nail polish in every shade of the rainbow ... and then some. Then why, with all of those colors to choose from, do you keep going back to the same shade? It turns out your favorite nail color in your collection is actually an indicator of your personality type. See what your favorite nail polish color says about your personality.

total beauty: fall beauty must-haves

this Total Beauty article {by Dawn Davis} offers a fabulous way to guarantee your fall season is enjoyable. this is especially so if you're the type who dislikes seeing summer end, and are not a fan of  the inevitable shorter days and cold temps that are to follow.

take a look a this list of beauty goodies and {hopefully} you'll discover there are plenty of fabulous things about the autumn season to be cheery about...

9 Best New Beauty Products We Want for Fall

The beauty products we're fall-ing for this season

This is a TotalBeauty.com Health & Beauty article It's time to accept that summer is over, and these fall-ready buys are here to help you deal. From a gorgeous purple (yes, purple!) lipstick to a wrinkle-busting serum, these are the best beauty product picks of the month. See the best beauty buys for September

total beauty: create a perfect bronze smoky eye

i am among the many beauty lovers who will always wear a smoky eye, no matter the time of year. i love creating variations using colorful shades and, of course, the traditional black/grey smoked-out look is always fabulous.

for day, a neutral tone look is a safe bet and bronze tones are a gorgeous option to help eyes that little something extra. Sonia Kashuk has a gorgeous palette of shadows  {see it here} that the fine people at Total Beauty have used to create a look that works for day and will certainly make you stand out for a night on the town!

take a look {and have a fabulous weekend}!!

The Ultimate Guide to Bronze Smoky Eyes

A runway-ready metallic smoky eye can be yours with this quick tutorial

This is a TotalBeauty.com Makeup article Transition your smoky eye into summer by swapping your blacks and grays for shades of shimmering metallic bronze. The perfect compliment to your LBD, wear this look out for drinks and just let the compliments roll in. See the guide to bronze smoky eyes

Total Beauty: quick fixes for your broken makeup

broken blush? the worst! it's ok…Total Beauty has put together some fab tips to save it, plus, 6 other fixes for broken makeup, clogged hairspray, clumpy nail polish, and other damaged goods...

How to Salvage Your Busted Blush

And six other quick fixes for your broken makeup

This is a TotalBeauty.com Makeup article There's nothing worse than that "oops" moment when your compact flies out of your hand and hits the floor. Yep, it's broken. Busted. Smashed to smithereens. The makeup you threw hard-earned cash at is now reduced to chunky flakes of powder. Wanna know the secret to getting it back to its original form? Of course you do. Click through to find out how to return your busted blush to its former glory, along with six other broken makeup fixes. See makeup fixes

Total Beauty: makeup touchup cheat sheet

isn't the mid-day makeup breakdown so impossibly frustrating? thankfully, this beauty conundrum can be fixed. the tips and tricks offered in the following Total Beauty article have been super helpful, so i wanted to share! take a couple of minutes to read through the following advice, come back and tell me if you agree. and if you have any tips and tricks that keep your makeup looking fresh all day, share those as well! The Cheater's Guide to Mid-Day Makeup Touchups

How to look like you just did your makeup, no matter what time it is

This is a TotalBeauty.com Makeup article Ever wish you had someone waiting in the wings to touch up your makeup? While we can't provide you with a personal makeup artist, we do have the best tips and products for touching up your makeup on the go. Find out how to get rid of that runny mascara and keep your foundation from melting off of your face -- without starting from scratch. Get the cheat sheet

the best of the best makeup removers from TotalBeauty.com

 if you're looking for some fabulous makeup remover recommendations, look no further than these picks rated by the users on TotalBeauty.com. i myself have used 8 out of the 14 items mentioned and can tell you they definitely deserve the praise!

 and now i'm curious to try the others. :)

take a look and let me know if you agree...

The 14 Best Makeup Removers

Still waking up with mascara smeared on your pillow? You need one of these

This is a TotalBeauty.com Health & Beauty article A makeup remover that completely removes your makeup, doesn't make you break out, and doesn't leave your eyes red, itchy, and sensitive is hard to find. If you're using your concealer to cover up yesterday's mascara residue, it's time you checkout out our reader-approved, top-rated makeup removers. See makeup removers

NO. 14: NOXEMA CLEAN MOISTURE MAKEUP REMOVAL, $4.79

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.5

"These remove makeup and oil gently, but thoroughly. They smell amazing and don't irritate my skin or clog my pores."

NO. 13: NEUTROGENA MAKEUP REMOVING CLEANSING TOWELETTES -- HYDRATING, $6.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.5

"They will remove waterproof mascara, waterproof eyeliner, eye shadow primer, eye shadows, concealer, foundation, and more with great ease and absolutely no irritation at all."

NO. 12: ALMAY OIL FREE GENTLE EYE MAKEUP REMOVER PADS, $6.49

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.5

"These pads work great! Just the right amount of remover seems to be on each one. For travel I throw a few in a zip lock baggy and I don't have to worry about a 3 oz. bottle on the plane!"

Want to see what was the No.1 Best? Click Here!

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fall beauty 2013: the easiest eye makeup look

i can't say it enough: i love the fall season!

and for good reason: cool, crisp air; beautiful color-changing leaves...

when it comes to beauty, earthy, vibrant colors inspire the creation of warm, golden beauty looks; grounded in hues that are uber-flattering, these shades work for everyone, not to mention they're simple, pretty and beyond easy to incorporate into your every day makeup routine.

Total Beauty recently created a pinboard on their site and it features the easiest makeup recipe that you need to be wearing now {product suggestions added by me}:

1. sweep a light golden shadow over the base of your lid {mark. I-mark Goldi Luxe wet/dry shadow is a gorgeous option}.

2. tap a deep, rich brown into the crease and down to the corners of your eyes {my current go-to shade is found in the Jasper combination of Prestige cosmetics' Shimmering Trios Mineral shadows}.

3. use a blending brush to smudge the colors evenly.

4. trace a chocolate brown eyeliner pencil over your top lid {try Laura Mercier longwear creme eye pencil in Espresso ~ it applies smoothly, smudges effortlessly and locks in place all day}.

5. finish with a volumizing mascara {Rimmel London ScandalEyes is my current fave}

voila! you're beautiful ~ i told you it was easy... :)

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Total Beauty: phone cases for beauty lovers

if you love fabulous accessories and own a smartphone, it's definitely a good idea to dress it up with a stylish case! if you love beauty products, these suggestions from Total Beauty are certainly worth checking out...

6 Best Phone Cases for the Beauty-Obsessed

Show off your cult-classic beauty taste with your smartphone

This is a TotalBeauty.com nails article Since cell phones might as well be glued to our hands, think of your case as a permanent accessory. While it's easy to swap out your rings or bracelets, a smartphone case is something you need to pair with every outfit -- like a classic pair of black stilettos or your go-to ballet flats. You want it to be chic and streamlined, but also original. And if you're the beauty-obsessed type like I am, you'll love these sleek cases that feature a pretty lipstick or a classic mirror. See phone cases

tell me: which one is your favorite?

Total Beauty: new ingredients to add to your beauty routine

skincare products have a special place in my heart, so {naturally} it's always exciting for me to discover and learn about new technology and the formulations they're being used in.

this list from Total Beauty will help you learn more about some of these new ingredients, already creating buzz, and should you decide to try them out, be a fabulous boost to your current beauty routine...

7 New Skincare Ingredients To Get Excited About

Retinols and glycolic acids are so yesterday. Get updated on the new buzz-worthy skin care ingredients

This is a TotalBeauty.com Skin care article When it comes to the beauty products we use everyday, skincare is where the science is. New skin care ingredients and skin care advancements are being discovered practically every day. The tried and true concoctions should still hold a place in your skin care regimen (don't skimp on the SPF and don't give up on retinol just yet!), but there are new and exciting skin care ingredients that you should introduce into your regular routine. Click ahead to get the 411 on the special skincare ingredients you should try. See ingredients

Total Beauty: must-have beauty for march 2013

it's the start of spring, beauties, and that means new product launches! yes, i realize that new goodies are practically released daily, but this is the time of year that brands really punch up the wow...

from makeup to hair treatments, your favorite brands have you covered. take a look at this round-up of the best beauty releases and say hello to what will certainly be a most beautiful spring...

8 March Beauty Buys You Can't Pass Up

Spring is almost here! Celebrate March by snagging these new beauty must-haves

This is a TotalBeauty.com makeup article Another month means another batch of beauty products, but March in particular has something a little more special hitting shelves. March marks the beginning of spring, which means many brands hold out until the third month of the year to release their best campaigns and products. From Estee Lauder's Mad Men collection to Jo Malone's Sugar & Spice Collection, we've rounded up the top product launches. See products

Total Beauty: 25 best polish names...ever

some of the most gorgeous nail polish shades also boast the best names. if you're a lacquer lover, you know exactly what i'm talking about. from OPI's Don't Know...Beets Me {a deep yet bright pink cream} to Butter London's Gobsmacked {a glittery charcoal grey}, the following list, compiled by the lovely folks at TotalBeauty.com, features some fabulous picks.
take a look...

The Top 25 Best Nail Polish Names Of All Time

From spot-on color descriptors to clever double entendres, we rounded up the best shade names of all time

This is a TotalBeauty.com nails article Sure, the color of nail polish in the glass bottle is a big deal, but the next thing you do is flip the bottle over to read the name written on the bottom. If that name makes you roll you eyes, it's going back on the shelf. If it makes you laugh out loud, there's a good chance it's getting painted on your fingers and toes. We compiled a list of the 25 best nail polish names that are clever, funny, and just simply spot-on. Click ahead to see if your favorites made the list. see polish names

tell me: what are some of your favorite nail polish names??

Total Beauty: the hottest hair and beauty trends to try in 2013

if your resolution to be a bit more daring with your look has cooled off a bit {or just maybe didn't begin to heat up at all}, don't worry, there's still plenty of time to experiment! take a look at some of these new, worth-a-try trends for 2013 ~ sure, some of them are bold, but mostly just gorgeous and flattering, not to mention beyond simple to pull off...

2013's Hottest Hair and Makeup Statement Looks

It's time to ditch the bold red lip and bid farewell ombré hair. Get ahead of the style curve with 2013's hottest hair and makeup trends

This is a TotalBeauty.com hairstyles article Tired of playing it safe? This year's hottest hair and makeup trends are all about being bold. Instead of neutral nails and pink lips, the new trends are all about off-beat colors and perfecting the "wow" factor. You may be a bit hesitant to try more daring looks, but the best part about these new beauty trends is that they are both flattering and easy to pull off! It may sound too good to be true, but we're confident that some of these will become part of your new signature look. see looks

after reading, come back and share: what trend{s} do you plan to try??

Total Beauty: cult-classic beauty products

what beauty product could you absolutely not live without? you'd flip at the mere rumor of its discontinuation, break into a letter-writing frenzy, building websites with petitions to stop the horrible event...??!

ok, you get my drift...

so, which product would it be? Essie Ballet Slippers nail polish? L'Oreal Elnett hairspray? for me, it would be my beloved Seche Vite, MAC Blotting Powder and Lancome Hypnose mascara.

no, my picks didn't make the following list, but i am a fan of the products that did! check it out for yourself and tell me if you agree...

8 Classic Beauty Products That Deserve Their Own Fan Clubs

No new products can get between these classics and their diehard devotees. Which one is your fave?

This is a TotalBeauty.com makeup article Certain books, movies and TV shows are deemed "cult classics" due to their diehard fans and devoted following. We probably don't even have to tell you that beauty products are no exception to this phenomenon. In a world where new palettes and lipsticks are released every 10 seconds, today's mascara will quickly become a forgotten thing of the past. However, there are a select few beauty products that will likely live on forever. We've rounded up the cult classics that hold a special place in many women's hearts and makeup bags. Which one is your favorite? See classics

Total Beauty: Ready-to-Give Gift Sets

do you still have holiday gifts to buy? gift sets are perfect and always come packaged and ready to give.

the following picks, courtesy of Total Beauty, are incredible {think everything from MAC glosses and Aveda bath goodies to LORAC beauty sets and Diptyque candles}; your recipient will be so thrilled with them that they won't even notice pretty paper and sparkly ribbons are missing!

take a look...

Pretty Beauty Gift Sets You Don't Even Need to Wrap

Save yourself time (and paper cuts) with these beautifully-packaged holiday gift sets

This is a TotalBeauty.com makeup article The days left in December may be dwindling, but the to-do lists are only growing. After all that shopping, getting the decorations up in time, and remembering to RSVP to friends' shindigs, meticulously wrapping all the gifts moves further down your endless to-do list. To avoid any full on panic attacks, we've rounded up amazing beauty gift sets that kill two birds with one stone. These perfectly-packaged sets are not only filled with great limited-edition products, but they're also so pretty on their own that they don't even need to be wrapped, making these the perfect presents to give. Score gift sets