This post was written by Latest Beauty contributor, Eli K.

Colgate-Palmolive just introduced a new Speed Stick deodorant that features the revolutionary Stainguard with Stain Defense Technology. This innovative line of antiperspirants and deodorants is formulated specifically to help eliminate yellow stains and residue build-up on clothing that deodorant use tends to cause. It’s also clinically proven to provide odor and wetness protection for 24 hours, which is a nice added bonus for those who sweat heavily throughout the day.

Yellow armpit stains have a number of causes, including sweat, stress, diet, detergents, and antiperspirant ingredients. When these factors combine, there might seem to be no stopping the yellow stains from forming. No matter how many times you wash your clothing, the yellow armpit stains will remain, and you’ll end up going through white T’s like toilet paper. By using its patent pending Stain Defense Technology formula, Staignguard improves adhesion and is designed to make sure these stains never occur in the first place

First off, let me say that I have been waiting for a product like this to come out for years. I’m the type of guy that loves to wear jeans and a white t-shirt. Call me simple, but I feel it’s classic American-man attire, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Obviously, nobody can pull off any manly appearance if they have embarrassing yellow stains under their armpits; yet that’s what most men like myself have to deal with. Every man wants to smell good; it’s undeniable that a fresh scented man will win over Mr. BO. But why should I have to sacrifice my favorite shirts for the sake of smelling good? Thanks to Speed Stick and the new Stainguard deodorant line, I don’t have to anymore.

I was very skeptical when I first starting using my Stainguard antiperspirant/deodorant stick. I got the “fresh” scent, and thought it smelled great, and that at least the deodorant aspect would be taken care of. It’s a solid stick, which I was on the fence about at first because I’m used to a gel stick, but the stick went on smoothly, without the reside that other solids leave behind. The antiperspirant worked great, but it was nothing new for Speed Stick. So at that point it was just another deodorant from a trusted brand – nothing new, nothing special.

After I started using it for a couple weeks was when I started thanking the Speed Stick team for making the Stainguard product line. I’m a pretty active guy, and I can honestly say this stick does what it claims to do. My white shirts would come out of the wash without the yellow stains and when I wear it there’s no residue left on my shirts. Bottom line: great scent, great protection, no compromise.

Disclosure: Samples of Lady Speed Stick with Stainguard and Men’s Speed Stick with Stainguard were provided to us by Colgate-Palolive’s public relations team. However, all views and opinions stated in this review belong to the author of the post and not influenced in any way. No other compensation was received.

Additional Note: Stainguard Technology is also avaialble on Lady Speed Stick antiperspirant, as well, for those of you ladies that worry about sweating while wearing white shirts!

I confess: I’m something of an eyeshadow novice. In fact, after eschewing the product for years in favor of my trusty old (and, admittedly, boring) black eyeliner/black mascara combo, I only started branching out into the world of shadows earlier this year. Sure, I’d swiped a wash of color on my lids from time to time, but I’m just now learning how to use multiple colors at once, accent the crease, blend up to the brow bone, and so on. I’ve actually never used a mineral eyeshadow before, so forgive me if any part of this review is marred by user error or plain old ignorance.

Lily Lolo is a UK-based brand of mineral makeup, and LB recently received a few adorable little pots of their loose powder eyeshadow for review. The shades I tried, both part of the new Summer Essential line, were Vanilla Shimmer (described as “a softly shimmering pinky-beige”) and Moonlight (“a rich, luxurious and glistening chocolate brown”). Vanilla Shimmer is recommended as a base color or for highlights, while Moonlight is intended to add depth or function as an eyeliner. I wouldn’t have chosen either of these colors for myself, as I tend to prefer shades that are dark and/or bold, but they both looked perfectly lovely in their pots and swatched on the back of my hand. These shadows are smooth and light as silk, and the shimmer is soft yet noticeable – sounds great, right?

Unfortunately, I’m going to have to give them a thumbs down overall because they had virtually no staying power whatsoever! Now the website claims that these shadows have “strong colour pigment to give long lasting wear,” but my experience was exactly the opposite. The colors looked nice when I first brushed them on, but when I attempted to blend at all, they simply faded away. (I tried this on my hand as well, and they really do seem to vanish on me after just one or two swipes!) I was unable to create any sort of look with these shadows, which is too bad, because they really did look pretty in the pot. However, I didn’t use a primer or base, so I suppose that could make all the difference, or this could just be the nature of mineral shadows.

In conclusion, Lily Lolo seems like an intriguing new brand, and I would be interested in trying some of their other products, but these shadows were not my bag, baby. What do you think of mineral eyeshadows? Do you have any brands that you swear by?

Fans of Elizabeth Gilbert’s bestselling memoir Eat, Pray, Love – which has been adapted into a movie starring Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem, in theaters August 13th – should be pleased to hear about the latest fragrance offering from Fresh: A trio of scents inspired by the three countries that give the book (and film) its name. 

• “Eat” was inspired by the delicious wines and desserts of Italy, with notes including lemon, basil, cannoli (!) and caramel, balanced by Italian liqueurs like Prosecco and Limoncello.
• “Pray” calls to mind the heady spiritualism of India in a scent that is reminiscent of incense and spices with its notes of amber, patchouli, jasmine, cardamom and more.
• “Love” evokes the romantic tropical landscape of Indonesia with notes like bergamot, mango blossom, sandalwood and red currant.

Each scent will sell for $32 individually, or you can purchase a trio of travel-sized candles for  $45. What do you think of this inventive tie-in? I haven’t read the book, but I’m definitely interested in sniffing these out; they both look and sound divine!

After our fabulous guest blog by Sheila from the Painted Ladies, I don’t need to get too into detail about eye makeup for your wedding day.  Check out her blog and you’ll have a great guide.  I agree that primers are a must and I love her trick with the cream base to really may your shadow pop.  Since most brides wear white on their wedding day, you have a little liberty with your eye makeup.  You can choose to keep it really natural with natural tones, like tans and browns or you can play with color.  Pinks and lilacs are a great way to up the pretty if you want to experiment with color.   It all depends on how adventurous you feel on your wedding day.  It also depends on what you are planning to do with your lips…

For your lip color you can go bold or you can keep it natural.  But whatever you do, enhance the natural pigment of your lips so they don’t get lost in pictures.  I highly recommend putting on a stain under whatever lip color you ultimately decide on.  Even if you are using a long lasting lip color, you don’t want to be concerned with double checking to make sure everything has stayed in place.  With a lip stain, you will have a beautiful flush no matter how many kisses or drinks you’ve had throughout the day.  I use Cover Girl’s Outlast Lip Stain as a base for my lips on a daily basis.  The clever magic marker tip makes application really easy.  If you want a more traditional stain, you can’t go wrong with Benetint.  I love their Pocket Pal stain because it comes with a handy lip balm all in one package.  Perfect for when you want to add a little shine as the night goes on.

Last but not least, don’t forget your cheeks!  You will need some sort of blush in order not to look washed out.  Remember that matte is key but there is nothing wrong with a little dash of bronzer to help create that “in love” glow.  Again, I’m a fan of Cover Girl and love their Cheekers bronzer.  It comes in two shades and is not overpowering.  It gives just a light flush that looks very natural.   Use a larger blush brush, like MAC’s #168 large contour brush, to get the right application.

If you still need a little more guidance on how to properly apply all of your makeup goodies, set up an appointment with one of the makeup artists at any MAC store.  That is what I did when I got married.  The woman who helped me showed me the exact products I would need to create the look I wanted.  Then she made a step-by-step guide that was personalized for me on one of their face maps.  I don’t know the actual name for that….my memory fails me!….but I had it out on my wedding day and followed her instructions.  It was like having my own personal makeup artist with me, which was pretty sweet!

The following post was written for LatestBeauty by Sheila from the fabulous Painted Ladies. It’s an awesome primer on how to craft an eyeshadow look with maximum impact. Enjoy, visit her blog, and leave your thoughts in a comment!

XOXO,

The LatestBeauty Team

***

Breaking Down Beauty: How to make your shadow go KABLAM!
By Sheila Arkee

Hello, Latest Beauty readers!

My name is Sheila and I am the creator of the Painted Ladies beauty blog. We are a group of makeup aficionados and makeup artists, and what we like to do is to talk about all aspects of beauty from a very honest and real person perspective.

I have a regular section called “Breaking Down Beauty,” where I post tips and tricks I’ve learned through the years. So, here for you is a very special “Breaking Down Beauty,” one that I have not even shared with my own readers!

I firmly believe that every person who uses eye shadow must include a primer or base under their color. It’s a must, and essential for their shadow to stay on your lids and not underneath your eyes, AKA my entire first two years of wearing makeup. My favorite primers are MAC’s Paint Pots – they wear like steel and your shadow will not budge!

Here’s a little trick for you all… if you want to make your shadows REALLY stand out and get maximum impact from them, use a little cream shadow on top of the primer, before shadows.

When worn on their own, I am not a fan of cream shadows whatsoever. Do not expect a cream shadow not to crease, and yes, Revlon, I am talking about you! My favorite cream shadows are also by MAC, check out their Cream Color Bases.

However, if you keep the cream base localized right underneath the crease area, you are in luck. Avoid the crease AT ALL COSTS!

You don’t even have to use a cream base, you can even utilize your eyeliners to help give your shadows a boost by scribbling them on your eye and then blending with a brush or your finger.

See? In this example I’m wearing MAC’s Expensive Pink shadow on with just a primer. In the second photo, I’m wearing the same shadow with a coordinating cream base (MAC’s Virgin Isle) underneath. What a difference!

You can do so much with a cream base and a powder shadow, transforming them to totally unique colors that you customize as you wish. Now THAT’S empowering!

When it comes to cream shadows just remember these tricks:

1. Always use your no-fail primer underneath.
2. Do not under any circumstances get your cream shadow near the crease.
3. You don’t need globs of product; just a small amount will do it.

Now, go have some fun with your makeup!

I posted yesterday about the basics to start with for your wedding day makeup in Wedding Makeup:  Part One.  I recommended the use of MAC’s Select Foundation.  I noted that it had SPF in it and my bestie wrote to me right away.  She thought everything looked good but she had read somewhere that using makeup with an SPF is bad for photos.  This was news to me so I quickly did some research and….

Turns out she was right!  I had never heard of this before but I found a lot of info.  The titanium dioxide that is used as SPF in makeup is formulated to reflect light in order to protect the skin.  Which means that you can end up with a washed out look when using flash photography.  You learn something new everyday.  I checked out MAC’s foundation and sure enough, it has titanium dioxide.  So I have to amend my previous post’s suggestion!

So what kind of foundation is best?  When I got married, I used Cover Girl’s TruBlend Foundation.  It covered evenly and looked great in photos.  But I just went over to their site and it looks like they have changed their formula and people aren’t thrilled.

I don’t like recommending something I haven’t used personally yet but since MAC has never let me down, I feel comfortable suggesting you check out their Face and Body Foundation.  It doesn’t have SPF and it is water resistant.  That could come in handy for the teary moments you may encounter on your wedding day.  And the sweaty moments – which will hopefully happen when you’re dancing!

Since today was a day of learning and an amendment to yesterday’s post, I’ll have more for you tomorrow on the best eye, lip and cheek products to try, in Part Three.  This could be a week-long series!

One of the best aspects of the online world is the sense of connectivity it gives you, and that definitely applies to the vast and vibrant beauty blogging community. If you’re hoping to discover exciting new products you’ve never even dreamed about or you’re looking for a review of something you’ve had your eye on for a while, the bloggers are a great place to turn. It’s still hard to beat a big, glossy fashion or beauty magazine when it comes to relaxing by the pool or in the airport, but the blogs have the glossies beat when it comes to keeping it current, casual and comprehensive. It’s hard to narrow it down, but here are 10 of my favorite beauty blogs, in no particular order:

1. Musings of a Muse: This blog is fantastic for a number of reasons, but mainly because the Muse is incredibly thorough! If there’s a collection you’re curious about, chances are she’s seen it, swatched it, and has the pictures to prove it. Although the blog is based in the U.S., she regularly features products from both Europe and Asia, which is fun and unusual. I also adore the informal, friendly tone and the clean, easy-to-navigate layout.
2. Nouveau Cheap: A recent discovery of mine, it’s safe to say that I’m absolutely obsessed with this blog penned by “the Recessionista.” She scouts all of the usual suspects – drugstores, Target, Walmart, etc. – for the best deals on affordable makeup and beauty products. Along with regular posts about coupons, sales, online promo codes and more, she also regularly takes pictures of the latest in-store displays and reviews and swatches products from lipstick and eyeshadow to shampoo and body spray. If you’re pinching pennies, you need to bookmark this site asap!
3. Scrangie: Okay, so I have a soft spot for nail polish – it’s true. But did you know that there are dozens – maybe even hundreds – of blogs dedicated to polish and polish alone? It’s true! And for an addict like me, it can get pretty overwhelming to sort through all of them. Fortunately, Scrangie is the gold standard of polish blogs; if you only read one, make it this one. Her pictures are always gorgeous, her manicures flawless, and her descriptions both accurate and humorous.
4. All Lacquered Up: …and if you have room for two polish blogs in your life – c’mon, you know you do! – add ALU to your bookmarks as well. ALU always has the inside scoop on the latest collections before they even hit stores, and the site will keep you up-to-date on celebrity nail trends and creative techniques (such as the “moon manicure”) that you can try at home.
5. Clumps of Mascara: The best thing about this blog is its irreverent, down-to-earth tone. You really feel like you’re talking to a friend when you read one of Brittany’s posts! True to the name, Clumps reviews a lot of mascara – but there’s more to the site than that. I always look forward to her “Amor de Lacquer” and “FOTD” posts, as well as the ongoing series about coping with acne.
6. The Next Best Thing to Going Shopping Yourself: Quite simply the best resource for checking out swatches online. If you’re interested in a product but you have no idea how it will actually look on you, save yourself a trip to the store and visit Karla’s site instead. She regularly posts pictures of entire collections -yes, every single shade - shown on actual human skin, in natural light. Enormously helpful.
7. Hey, Dollface!: This blog is based in Britain, which can be a bit frustrating at times for those of us who live Stateside, but I still like to visit regularly to check out products that I wouldn’t normally know about. I also adore the large pictures that accompany each post, which saves you the trouble of clicking to enlarge teeny thumbnails.
8. Nadine Jolie: Not the most thorough blog when it comes to reviews and swatching, this is still a must-read because  of the author’s beauty insider status. (Check out the various shots of her with celebs at swanky events!) You can also rest assured that she fully endorses the products she does feature, making them that much more special.
9. The Art of Accessories: While the main focus of this blog is, indeed, fashion and accessories, there is also a great deal of well-written beauty content, making it an excellent and well-rounded read.
10. Beauty411: Pretty standard beauty blog fare – product reviews, collection previews, celebrity features – but what really sets Beauty411 apart is its regular interview feature. If you’ve ever wondered which makeup brushes Trish McEvoy recommends or whether Lucky editor Jean Godfrey-June actually uses all those products she rhapsodizes about in the pages of her magazine every month, look no further!

What are your favorite beauty blogs? Leave a link in the comments!

My best friend is getting married in September and she is planning on doing her own makeup!  I love this idea because it gives you the opportunity to go and buy quality makeup that will last you long beyond one day.  But which products do you buy?  With wedding day makeup, you have to be sure to get products that photograph well and this where some hard and fast rules come into play.  Today, let’s take a look at the basics:

Use a Primer

Primer is brilliant because it gives you a blank slate to start as the foundation of your entire look.  My favorite primer that has never let me down is Prime Time by Bare Minerals.  One pump is enough to smooth over my entire face and it helps to make my pores look smaller and fine lines smoother.  But the real reason behind my love is that it makes my makeup last all day.  And that is what you need on your wedding day.  Knowing that your foundation is going to stay put gives you one less thing to worry about!  And speaking of foundation….

Buy Matte

When it comes to foundations, powders and concealers, buying products that have a matte finish will give your skin the polished and beautiful look you want in your wedding pictures.  This is an important note for women who wear mineral makeup on a daily basis.  I am one of those women!  I love my Bare Minerals for everyday looks but every time I’ve been a part of a professional photography shoot, the makeup artists have advised against minerals.  Minerals tend to reflect light and you can end up looking a little oily in photos.  Because of this, Bare Minerals did create a matte formula for their foundations.  So if you are set on minerals, then this is the one to check out.  But if you feel like you’ll be more comfortable with a liquid foundation that has a matte finish, I’d recommend checking out any of MAC’s Select Foundation.  It comes in 18 shades and SPF 15 and finishes with a matte look.

Now that we have the canvas of your look prepped for photos, let’s add on the right layers for the pops of color on your cheeks, eyes and lips….tune in tomorrow for Part Two!

Latest Beauty Giveaway:

According to a recent independent survey, teeth whitening is the #1 requested cosmetic service today.  In fact, 80% of Americans age 18-49 want whiter teeth.  And among young adults in the 18-24 age group, 6 out of 10 believe that a whiter smile will help give their self confidence a big boost.

Here at Latest Beauty, we believe that a beautiful smile is an absolute beauty essential, but it can also be very expensive.  Teeth whitening services at a dental office can set you back several hundred bucks!

But we’re young and on a budget.  And we don’t have an hour to spend each day to whiten our teeth with whitening strips.  So how can you achieve beautiful white teeth, on a budget and on-the-go?

Easy!

Try the new Colgate Wisp Plus Whitening – the mini disposable toothbrush that helps you clean your teeth, freshen your breath, and now, even whitens your teeth.  Wherever, and whenever!  For the random times you spot a cute boy at a club and have food stuck between your teeth, the times you wish you didn’t eat that potent garlic bread with your salad for lunch, and for the times that you forget to carry a toothbrush in your handbag (seriously, who does that?), the Colgate Wisp is here to save the day.

According to the folks over at the Colgate-Palmolive Company, “as you brush, a refreshing, liquid-filled bead releases a burst of Coolmint flavored freshness along with a high cleaning silica ingredient that helps whiten teeth by removing surface stains.  No need to rinse, just brush and go.”  Simple, right?  Now, a must-have for your beauty arsenal.

Giveaway Alert: Luckily, Colgate sent us a few packages of Wisps Plus Whitening to give away to our readers here at Latest Beauty. So from now June 18th until next Friday, June 25th, just comment on this post with your favorite teeth whitening tips, and you could be one of three lucky winners to win a packet of four Colgate Wisps.

For those that don’t win, you can find them at your local drugstore for $2.39 (4-pack), $4.39 (8-pack), $7.99 (16-pack).

Everyday tips to keep your pearly whites, err…white, for free!

• Decrease your consumption of teeth staining liquids like coffee and tea.  And if you must have them, drink with a straw!
• Brush/rinse after consuming such liquids
• Follow good oral hygiene (um, duh): brush AT LEAST twice a day, with a toothpaste like Colgate PROCLINICAL Daily Whitening (it has little whitening crystals that help remove surface stains) and of course, don’t forget to floss.  I recommend brushing after every meal and flossing twice a day, but that’s just me

Have I mentioned my love of One Bath and Body yet? If not, here goes: Yay for One! This environmentally friendly, Texas-based brand began making waves in the beauty blogosphere when it debuted at Target early this year. “Affordable Lush dupes!” screamed the headlines. Now, I love me some Lush, but the price tag – and the relative scarcity of Lush stores (yes, I still prefer to shop for things in person rather than online, whenever possible) – means that I can’t indulge in their handmade goodies nearly as often as I’d like. So I hightailed it to Target and picked up a honey-scented Bath Fizzer, coconut-scented Shea Body Butter (LOVE this product), and a tiny yet adorable tin of their Cherry Pie Lip Butter Balm. Conclusion: One is awesome. But that’s not all!

If you decide to give One a try, keep an eye out for a little paper insert in the packaging touting “free lip balm” for filling out their online survey. Then, go here to fill out said survey, choose which flavor you’d like to receive, mail in your insert to the address provided, and wait for some complimentary lip love to hit your mailbox. My free tin of “Shea my lips” shea butter balm came a few days ago, and wow – it’s fantastic! So much better than the cherry pie flavor! (No offense, cherry pie.) This balm is soft and moisturizing and non-sticky and has a gentle, sweet smell that is kind of addictive but won’t overwhelm you. I’m obsessed with it. I carry it around with me from room to room when I’m at home. When I momentarily misplace it, I panic. And yet I can’t stop thinking about how I want the Honey cream and Coco-coconut flavors as well! One, what have you done to me?!

Anyhow, don’t let my tale of addiction scare you off. Grab a One product from Target and then send off your insert for a free lip balm today!

If you’re older than, oh, 10 or so, you probably have a few skin flaws that you’d like to clear up for good. Personally, I have several dark marks on my face from past acne breakouts that I wouldn’t mind fading into obscurity. Even if you’ve never had a single pimple in your life, perhaps you wrestle with freckles, age spots, hyperpigmentation or just random skin discoloration here and there. If so, you have two options available to you: Cross your fingers and hope that time will heal all wounds and take the edge off your dark spots, or invest in a good brightening cream. I’ve never tried a brightener before, but I was definitely interested. Luckily for me, the good folks at Skinbright were kind enough to provide us here at LatestBeauty with a complimentary bottle of their skin brightening serum, and I immediately volunteered for the privilege of testing it out.

What is Skinbright? According to their website, it’s a “gentle, yet powerful skin brightener” that uses natural ingredients (like kojic acid, lemon extract and hemp oil) to exfoliate the skin and decrease the production of melanin, fading dark spots while keeping skin hydrated and healthy. The packaging – a skinny bottle with a pump dispenser designed to keep air out of the product – is attractive enough, and the product itself is easy to use: Just take a little bit (one or two pumps should be plenty) and rub it in to the spots you want to fade. Skinbright recommends that you do this twice a day, everyday, unless you experience adverse effects. (As for my experience, I didn’t notice any burning sensations or dryness whatsoever.) But how well does Skinbright actually work?

Well…it’s hard to say. I’ve been using Skinbright for less than two months now. I have noticed brightening, but my spots are still present. However, I’m willing to give this product the benefit of the doubt and wait the full three to six months that the website claims it may require to restore my skin to pristine, spot-free condition. In the meantime, I have to say that I’m pleasantly surprised by the effectiveness of this product. Frankly, I expected it to do little to nothing, but within just a few days of starting my twice daily application regimen, my boyfriend noted that my skin looked nice, and asked what I had been doing differently! One caveat: This was around the time that I also started using my new Bliss anti-acne cleanser, so I really can’t say for certain which one is contributing to my improved skin tone, although I suspect that it may be the combination of the two.

A final note: Skinbright retails for $49 a bottle on the website (although there are price breaks if you order several at a time) – a little steep, although hardly unheard of for quality skincare. However, it is worth noting that they offer a money-back refund if you’re dissatisfied with the product for any reason. Even if you finish the entire bottle, you can still get your money back, minus your return shipping costs and a $5 handling fee. Not bad, right? If you’re curious about Skinbright, I fully endorse giving it a go.

Has anyone else tried this brightener? If not, what other kinds of brightening creams have you used? Were they effective in improving your skin tone and lightening your dark spots? Do share!

Since Meagan’s Shampowder review – which I largely agree with, by the way – provided a basic rundown of the product, its promises and how well it delivers on them, I figured I would use my turn at the LatestBeauty pulpit to answer another burning dry shampoo question you might have: How does Shampowder compare to Tresemme’s Fresh Start Dry Shampoo, which I snatched up for less than $2 at the drugstore? Read on for the details of this heated beauty battle…

EASE OF USE: Fresh Start is dispensed in a spray can, which – as Meagan mentioned – is pretty standard when it comes to dry shampoos. Shampowder, on the other hand, comes in a cute little tube with a brush for more targeted application. I like that the tube is clear, so you can see how much Shampowder you have left, I love how the bristles are protected when you close the cap, and I love the portability. I ‘ll admit that the brush application did take a little getting used to on my end, but once I got the hang of it, I definitely preferred it to the spray. WINNER? Shampowder!

SCENT: Shampowder describes its scent as a “light vanilla.” Another blogger (I can’t remember which! argh) said that it reminded her of cupcakes. Personally, I think it’s somewhat baby powder-esque, but a lighter, more sophisticated version of baby powder. The Fresh Start isn’t terrible, but it’s also a little odd and takes some getting used to. Shampowder smells great from the beginning, and it won’t overwhelm you if you have a sensitive nose or you like to wear perfume, lotion or body mist. WINNER? Shampowder!

OIL-ABSORBING ABILITY: Okay, I have to be honest here…I haven’t been using the Fresh Start a whole lot lately. Why? Because I keep reaching for the Shampowder instead! It’s so much better at absorbing oil and adding subtle body without forcing you to sit there while it soaks in and then brush it through a million times until the white foam disappears (if you’re lucky). Mineral pigments in Shampowder mean that it’s tailored to match your hair color (blonde, black or brown/red), and the fine texture means that it’s absorbed instantly into your hair. Brush it through just a few times – or don’t! – and you’re good to go. Like Meagan, I wasn’t able to actually go a full week without an old-fashioned wet shampoo, but it’s definitely a godsend if you’ve skipped for a day or two. WINNER? Shampowder!

PRICE: Finally, we have the little matter of the price tag to consider. Tresemme’s dry shampoo sells for around $6.99 (or less, if you can find a deal or you have a coupon – like I said, I got mine for just $1.34). Shampowder, however, retails for $15.99 on the Buttercream Cosmetics website. That makes Shampowder more than twice as expensive. However, I do feel like the quality you get is much higher, and the price tag seems fair. Still, if you’re looking for an extremely cheap dry shampoo, it’s clear who comes out on top in the price category. WINNER? Tresemme Fresh Start!

ULTIMATE WINNER:

SHAMPOWDER!

Since this little miracle in a tube swept 3 of the 4 categories, I have to hand it to Buttercream – they have a winner on their hands with this product. I thought I was happy with Fresh Start until I tried Shampowder! If you’re as intrigued by dry shampoo as we are, you have to check it out.

Yes, friends, I finally decided that it’s time to start investing in my skin a little – and that means no more drugstore cleansers. (I have no actual proof that using a cheap cleanser compromises the quality of your skin, but after years of using products by the likes of Neutrogena, Cetaphil and – yes – even Ivory bar soap, I decided that a little splurge might be in order.) I headed straight to Sephora and asked the nearest sales associate what she recommended for oily, acne-prone skin.

Her top suggestion was this No ‘Zit’ Sherlock Purifying Cleanser+Toner by Bliss. She said that, despite the somewhat-medicinal smell, my skin would feel “like butter” after use, and I could count on the encapsulated formula to keep battling breakouts even after it had been rinsed away. The price tag was a totally reasonable $22, and combined with Sephora’s generous return policy, I decided to go for it. (By the way, are you aware of how awesome their return policy is?! You can bring anything back if you’re not satisfied, there’s no time limit on returns, and you only have to have the receipt for cash-back returns; without a receipt, they’ll give you store credit instead. Nice!)

Anyhow, can I just say that this is officially the best cleanser I’ve ever used in my life? I don’t know about you, but I always relied on other skincare products to do the dirty work when it came to my breakouts, which I would classify as moderate in terms of both severity and frequency. Spot treatments, clarifying lotions, natural remedies (like sea salt or tea tree oil, both of which I still highly recommend)…all were more effective in actually clearing out my pores than anything I used to wash my face. But this stuff is fantastic! My skin felt so soft and smooth after just one use, and it really has cleared up a few spots that were threatening to take over my face – and this is after only 3 days of use! I also love that it’s a nice combo of natural ingredients (yogurt, meadowsweet extract) and standard acne fighters (salicyclic acid). It’s so awesome, in fact, that I’m planning to pick up the entire trio of No ‘Zit’ Sherlock products, which includes a Correcting Serum (formulated to minimize pores, refine skin texture and reduce the appearance of post-pimple pigmentation) and an Oil Control Moisturizer. Has anyone else had luck with Bliss skincare?

Yes…I have to admit…I wasn’t entirely planning on seeing Sex and the City 2 this weekend.  I know that a lot of people are gathering their girlfriends, grabbing some cosmos and buying their tickets – if they haven’t already.  The movie officially opened yesterday and I wasn’t sure if I would set aside time to see it while its theaters.  But there is something about the above picture of the ladies doing the red carpet thing at the London premiere that makes me want to make some room in my schedule.  They all look stunning and I’m wishing I was in on this conversation.  Kim has got something juicy to tell,  SJP is eager to hear, Cynthia isn’t sure if she buys it and Kristin is shocked.  They epitomize their characters in this picture and it makes me want to see the movie, just to feel like I’ve gotten a glimpse into this picture on the big screen.  Even if it was just a clever ploy to get me to buy a ticket…it may have worked.

By the way, let’s just talk a little fashion for a moment.  SJP is paying homage to her friend, the late and great Alexander McQueen by wearing one of his runway pieces.   And notice the black band on her arm?  A subtle and classy way to honor a friend’s passing.  The color of Cynthia Nixon’s dress is stunning with her skin tone and hair color.  And I love the way the bodice pulls off the one-shoulder trend.  Can I say enough about Kristin Davis’ dress?  From the elaborate gold to the flattering waistband this dress is something I wish I had hanging in my closet.  And Kim Cattrall looks like a classic Old Hollywood siren.  The cleavage and the slit are sometimes too much when paired together but Kim shows us how to do this daring look just right.  Blake Lively should take some notes….

And I love the vibrant color on Kim’s nails.  It may just be classic red but this picture makes it look like there may be a slight orange tone to the polish.  Fire!  I know what color I want to paint my nails for this holiday weekend now.

A quick search over at Essie is leaving me feeling satisfied.  Doesn’t this red-orange shade called Vermillionaire look awfully similar to Kim’s mani/pedi?  I think it is time to paint the town red-orange with a little help from my girlfriends…both real and onscreen.

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Disney certainly has a ravenous fan base, which should come as no surprise to anyone. But what you may not be aware of is the following that some of the most sinister Disney characters – i.e., the Disney villains – have. Perhaps it won’t come as such as shock when you consider the fierce physicality of some of these evildoers. Take, for instance, the Queen from Snow White:  Sure, she’s asking her henchman to find and murder an innocent young girl simply because she’s a little bit prettier, but check out those perfectly arched brows, those shadowed lids, that ruby pout!  Then there’s Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, who not only turns herself into a dragon, she also rocks purple eyeshadow, tomato red lipstick and some sort of horned headpiece as an accessory. Kind of makes you want to take a walk on the dark side, if only for a night, right? Well, you’re in luck – or you will be, come September (just in time for Halloween!), because that’s when MAC is set to launch their Venomous Villains line. The collection, which was created in conjunction with Disney, will include lipstick, lip gloss, blush and powder in shades inspired by four specific villains – although MAC isn’t spilling the beans on which baddies will be represented just yet.

Are you looking forward to MAC’s Venomous Villains line?

It’s been unusually overcast and drizzly in L.A. lately, but Memorial Day is approaching and that means summer is right around the corner, no matter what the weather has to say about it! In the spirit of ushering in the hottest season of the year, why not check out Bath & Body Works’ seasonal Summer Vanillas Collection?

Pretty much everyone loves the sweet scent of vanilla on its own, but B&BW had the brilliant idea of pairing the perennial favorite with three delicious and complementary scents - namely, Berry, Coconut and Lemon. Berry Vanilla, Coconut Vanilla and Lemon Vanilla are available as shower gels, cooling mists, fragrance mists, candles, hand soaps and scrumptious flavored lip glosses.

If you feel like you simply can’t choose and must have all three scents, fret not: Bath & Body Works is currently offering a Buy 3, Get 2 Free OR Buy 2, Get 1 Free deal on the entire Summer Vanillas Collection. Products range in price from $5 for the hand soaps to $12.50 for the fragrance mist. Which one will become your new summer favorite?

Since I was running out of my coconut body scrub and I had a coupon for $1 off Aveeno products, I decided to try out one of the body washes in their new Positively Nourishing line, which promises “essential moisturizing benefits” coupled with “delicious and exciting fragrances.” The delicious, exciting fragrance I selected was Fig + Shea Butter, because a) figs smell amazing, and b) you don’t see many fig-scented beauty products, especially in the drugstore. So how well did my gamble pay off?

I love this body wash! Seriously. I’ve always had good experiences with Aveeno in the past, so I wasn’t exactly surprised, but this stuff smells delicious, lathers up nicely and doesn’t leave your skin feeling dry or tight. The scent really does become “amplified by the steam from your shower,” and it smells nicely figgy rather than weird and artificial. (I suspect it would also make for a nice bubble bath, although I haven’t had a chance to try it out yet in that capacity.) The bottle is a nice size as well, and it came packaged with a sample of Aveeno’s excellent shampoo and conditioner, so for the $6 I paid, I’m very happy. Incidentally, you can fill out a survey and get a coupon for $3 off any two Positively Nourishing products in the mail. While browsing the collection, my only complaint is that they don’t offer body wash and body moisturizer in the same scents. For instance, I would love to have a Fig + Shea Butter moisturizer or a Blueberry + Goji Berry body wash.

Has anyone else tried the Positively Nourishing line yet? What do you think?

Demystifying celebrities - mainly by showing images of them without the beautifying effects of makeup and/or Photoshop - is a recent trend that shows no signs of slowing. You may recall French Elle’s 2009 “No Makeup” issue, which made waves by featuring the likes of Eva Herzigova and Monica Bellucci sans cosmetics. Recently, Jessica Simpson went bare-faced for Allure, while an unretouched version of a Britney Spears ad for Candie’s sparked yet another discussion about the role that the media plays when it comes to shaping women’s perceptions of their bodies. When I saw this “model mugshot” that Louis Vuitton released - dozens of models, including a few big names like Laetitia Casta and Elle Macpherson - I figured I would get your opinion: Does seeing celebrities without makeup still carry the impact it once did?

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Stop by Ulta’s website and check out their BOGO (Buy 1, Get 1 Free) sale - there are tons of great deals to be had on Ulta brand cosmetics (including minerals) and beauty tools. You can browse through seven pages of deals, to be exact, on everything from eyeshadow and lipstick to callus shavers and cuticle nippers! Whatever you need, Ulta probably has it…and now, you can get 2 for the price of 1. Yay!

Sometimes a beauty synchronicity occurs here at the Latest Beauty headquarters.  Completely independent of one another, Melissa and I were checking out Tresemme products…but we had no idea that either of us were.  While she was testing out their new dry shampoo, I was developing a love affair with Tresemme’s Heat Tamer Spray.  Here’s how it happened:

I had just gotten the best haircut of my life and I was looking for ways to keep my “fresh from the salon” look going.  I was paying careful attention to what products my stylist used on my hair so that I could recreate the look at home.  I had already invested in a CHI flat iron so that I could straighten as well as he does.  And I started taking the time to blow dry my hair with the aid of a round brush.  But I still felt like was missing something.  I noticed that he sprayed on some sort of protectant before flat-ironing my hair and I decided that is what I needed.  I wanted an affordable drugstore option so I went to Target and began my search.

I was a bit overwhelmed.  There are A LOT of products available to protect your hair from heat and I wasn’t sure which one would be best.  I ended up choosing Tresemme’s Heat Tamer for two reasons:

1.  It smelled really good.

2.  It was under $5.

I decided, if anything, at least I wasn’t spending too much if I didn’t love it.

Well….

…I love it.

My hair feels so soft when I use it.  And I use it whenever I’m using any heat appliances - hair dryer, flat iron or curling iron.  And I recently was on set and the hair stylist commented on how good my hair smelled and then she demanded to know what products I used.  I was quick to rave about my Tresemme find.  I have very fine hair that is “volume-challenged” so I was worried that using another product might weigh it down…but that’s just not the case.  I’ve been having some of my best hair days since I made this little discovery.

Do you have a protective product that you can’t live without?  Tell me about it!

* Tresemme did not send us products or compensate for these reviews - both the heat tamer spray and dry shampoo were bought by us and independently reviewed.