I have incredibly dry skin and as winter creeps closer, I am always game for trying a new moisturizer. And since I have developed an even stronger sensitivity to smell lately, my usual Vaseline Cocoa Butter Lotion wasn’t going to cut it anymore. I needed a hard working
The bottle recommends to use it after shower or bath, which works great for me since I keep my lotion in the shower to do just that. The best thing about this product is how it seems to immediately absorb into my skin. I don’t feel greasy in any way after using it. With other lotions, I have sometimes felt like I needed to allow time for it to absorb before getting dressed, so I would swan about in my robe…which left me with a very moisturized robe, instead of
Already, I love that the product has no discernible fragrance. I have always been sensitive to fragrances but for some reason that sensitivity has been heightened lately, so fragrance is a make-or-break factor these days. And when I put a dab of it on my hand (because I’ve already moisturized my face today) it really made my hand feel silky and soft. There is a definite textural difference from the area where I smoothed on the Dermagenics and the area that was only moisturized by the hand lotion I had applied about 30 minutes before receiving the package from Dermagenics. We’re off to a good start, Dermagenics and I.
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.
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.
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.
? 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.
ms 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 op inions stated
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!
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
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
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!
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
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
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.
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.
In seconds, you look like you just stepped out of the salon!”
I am a bit fascinated with the concept of dry shampoo so I was eager to try out Shampowder, sent to us by the lovely folks at Buttercream Cosmetics. My interest was even more piqued when I saw the form of the dry shampoo: Instead of being dished out by a spray can like most dry shampoos I’ve tried, it came in a cute little powder brush. It looked like makeup and I instantly knew this was going to be different. What really intrigued me though was the fact that the inventor of Shampowder, Jayne Polan, says that she uses it almost everyday and only washes her hair every 5 to 7 days. That is a long time to go without a shampoo and water cleansing….was I up to the challenge
There are two things that I really like about Shampowder:
The applicator makes it really easy to target the oily parts of your hair and is super convenient to store in your purse for whenever you need it. The portability of the product goes a long way in its favor. I especially like how the silver portion protects the brush bristles when you put the lid back on for storage. When you try Shampowder out, you’ll know what I’m talking about. I h ate putting
a lid back on a brush and crimping the bristles – a personal pet peeve of mine.
The scent is a light vanilla that is pleasant and in no way overwhelming. The smell of dry shampoos has been a major reason I haven’t used them more regularly. I tried out Ojon at one point and learned an expensive lesson about smelling something before you buy it. It stunk so badly that I used it once and had to take a shower. Not so with Shampowder. I am very sensitive to smells – I can’t even wear perfume – and the scent of Shampowder is very subtle and noninvasive.
As far as effectiveness goes, Shampowder can really increase the volume of your hair which is one reason I like dry shampoo. My hair is pretty limp on its own and Shampowder definitely kicked it up a notch. I tried to go a week without washing my hair, like Jayne does. The first day of not washing, I was really pleased. My hair looked clean and it didn’t feel yucky. The second day of not washing, my hair felt okay in the morning with its second Shampowder application. By midday I was starting to feel a little antsy about it though and threw it back into a ponytail.
By that evening, I had to go back to traditional shampoo and water. I actually think my hair looked good still but I couldn’t break the mental barrier of not feeling clean enough.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Worth your $$. Definitely worth having in your arsenal. Perfect for giving your hair a pick-me-up before going out or on days you don’t have time to do the whole wash-and-dry routine.
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.
So I finally got around to using my Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo, the drugstore dry shampoo that I’ve been obsessing about for the past week or so. As a dry shampoo newbie, I was smitten with the idea of being able to go an extra day without washing my hair but not having to worry about greasy roots or unpleasant odors - plus, I heard that spray-on shampoo can be an excellent way to add a little texture to even clean hair, and since I’m always looking for ways to mess up my (occasionally boring) straight hair, I was definitely on board. So how did my experience measure up to my expectations? I’m happy to report that I really love this product…with one major caveat!
The first time I used the Fresh Start Dry Shampoo, it had been around 24 hours since my last proper “wet” shampoo. I sprayed it on as per the bottle instructions (really easy to do, except for the part where you have to shake the bottle vigorously between each and every spritz - argh!), let it sit for 2 minutes to absorb oils, and brushed it through. (This does require a thorough brushing, but I didn’t notice any white residue leftover when I was done.) The smell was pleasant, although not overwhelmingly awesome, but what I really loved was how thick and manageable it made my hair! I could tease the crown! I could pin it back, and it would stay! I could swoop it up into a lovely ponytail! Again, my hair is usually too soft and swingy to be styled, so I was an instant dry shampoo convert.
The next day, I decided to tempt fate and try the Tresemme again. Now, I have no idea what went wrong - are you not supposed to use dry shampoos two days in a row without a proper washing in between? Does the product build up at your roots? Or did I simply use too much? In any event, this was not the happy walk in the park I had experienced before! I had to brush my hair so many times to remove all of the chalky residue that my brush became positively caked with dry shampoo. I actually had to stop and wash my hairbrush in order to continue. Not good! I did apply more than I had the previous day, so I’m going to blame this completely on user error and say that, with a little common sense and proper application techniques, Tresemme’s Fresh Start Dry Shampoo is a great product for the price. I can’t compare it to other dry shampoos, but I was definitely pleased with my (initial) experience, and I look forward to using it again.
If you’re thinking of picking up a bottle for yourself, you should still be able to score the $1.34 Walgreens deal if you print out the Tresemme Fresh Start coupon and head into the store before the week is out!
Revisiting old posts seems to be a theme for me on LB lately - case in point, last Friday’s update on how well it works to use sea salt as an acne treatment (hint: very!). In the spirit of finishing what I’ve started, I’m going to revisit two more products that I posted about but never actually got my hands on…until now. Fortunately, both were worth the wait!
First, I am happy to announce that I finally have my own glorious bottle of Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear polish in Wet Cement, which I wrote about in my gray nail polish post and have been attempting to track down for months. In fact, I’m actually wearing it on my nails as I type these very words! Hurrah. I’m not sure why I was so obsessed with this particular gray polish; maybe it’s something about the price tag ($3 or so), maybe it’s the fact that it’s at least a shade or two lighter than most gray polishes…or maybe it was just the fact that it eluded me for so long, which only intensified my frustration. In any case, I picked up a bottle (one of only two left on the shelves!) at a nearby Walgreen’s, and wow. It is creamy, shimmer-free, cement-colored heaven! Not only is the color fun and unexpected without being over-the-top, it was also extremely easy to apply; great coverage, opaque in 2 coats, and very shiny, even before a topcoat. Plus, it’s been a few days now and still no chipping! Love it. (Note: I actually have a few different polishes from the Xtreme Wear line, and they’re all pretty great - if you’re interested in trying out new/trendy colors on the cheap, I highly recommend it.)
While at Walgreen’s, I also spotted my other new beauty obsession - the EOS Smooth Sphere lip balm, which I wrote about way back in June of ‘09. I’ve been meaning to pick one up for a while, because I’m basically infatuated with the strange packaging, but I pretty much forgot all about them. The only flavor they still had in stock was Honeysuckle Honeydew, so I snatched it up. The bulbous container and lightly fruit-scented, waxy sphere of balm contained therein are both absolutely adorable, but I was even more delighted by how smooth and soft my lips felt after applying. I expected the EOS Smooth Sphere to be little more than a novelty, but I was wrong! It’s actually an excellent product, and earth-friendly to boot - 95% organic and 100% natural, to be exact. Like the Sally Hansen polish, these can also be had for a mere $3 or so. You’re welcome!
Last month, I was blown away by our First Lady’s glowing skin at an event. I blogged about a tip I read on how to achieve a similar effect with oil and lotion. The idea was to apply oil to your skin in the shower, with a washcloth. You rinse off the excess and then apply lotion on your skin after you’ve toweled off…So how did it go when I tested it out myself?
Ladies, let me tell you: This has become my new weekly luxury! My skin has never felt this silky and smooth - at least, not since I was a baby! I absolutely love how soft my skin stays for several days after I treat myself. Through trial and error, I found the best way to go about the process:
1. After I’ve finished bathing, I take a dry washcloth and generously put Johnson’s Cocoa Butter Baby Oil Gel on it. Then I apply the oil all over wet skin, focusing on my legs and arms. Bonus: the dry washcloth exfoliates skin.
2. Next I carefully rinse off the oil that hasn’t been absorbed. I emphasize “carefully” because the tub gets really slippery!
4. I slip into a robe for about 30 minutes so that all of the yummy moisturizing products soak into my skin and not my clothes. I liken the robe to how you would put on gloves after moisturizing your hands.
Voila! Softest. Skin. Ever.
Not only does it give me silky skin but it also makes me wash the tub once a week…I admit, sheepishly. Cleaning the bathtub is my number one dreaded chore - everyone has their thing. For some its doing laundry, for others its cleaning the toilet. For me, its cleaning the tub. I hate it, so I put it off. But since I could possibly greatly injure myself or my husband with the amount of oil slicking up the tub, I’m forced to clean it. That should show you just how much I love this soft-skin-technique: I don’t mind cleaning up after if I can have the soft skin I want!
Well, mascara definitely seems to be the watchword today, because Meagan’s not the only one who decided to try out a new lash booster for the new year! Of course, my motivation was a little less admirable; while Meagan was looking for a more natural alternative, I just wanted prettier eyes. So, inspired in part by our recent guest post from Clumps of Mascara’s Brittany, I decided to finally give CoverGirl’s legendary LashBlast a go. It’s hard to believe that I’m only now trying this product for myself, considering the fact that LashBlast has received the most effusive praise of any drugstore mascara this side of Great Lash, but there you have it! There are several different varieties of LashBlast available, including the sparkly “Luxe” line and LashBlast Length, but I decided to go with the classic “Volume Blasting” formula in the fat orange tube.
Was I impressed? Did it live up to the hype? Absolutely! This is probably the best drugstore mascara I’ve ever tried. It’s incredibly volumizing, and gives my lashes a nice little curl when I apply it slowly. I find that it can get a little clumpy on the first coat, but if you keep working the giant applicator through your lashes everything should right itself and you’ll be left with amazing eyes. The brush, with its flexible plastic bristles, is huge, it’s true - but it’s also surprisingly easy to use, so don’t be intimidated. My conclusion: You need to try this mascara if you haven’t already. I’m already looking forward to finding out how the “Length” formula (the one in the skinny yellow tube) measures up!
One of my New Year’s resolutions is to be kinder to my face. And I’m not talking about whispering sweet nothings into the mirror. I’m talking about resolving to use more natural makeup products so that I don’t assault it with so many chemicals on a daily basis. And I thought that starting with my mascara might be an easy way to go.
a good sample for me to try. Sure enough, they had the a mascara from Korres Natural Products. It is their ProVitamin B5 & Rice Bran Mascara and I thought, Jackpot! But I was a little concerned about how a natural formula would work to volumize and lengthen my lashes.
Well consider me resolved! I am seriously impressed by how dramatic the results were. I swiped it on only a couple of times on my right eye (which is on the left side of the photo here) and I left my other eye’s lashes naked. You can see the results below. I have naturally longer lashes, so I’m lucky in that regard, but doesn’t it look like I have false lashes on the left side?? I mean, I don’t think they look fake, per se, but they do look kind of awesome. This is one resolution that is going to be easy to keep…
My acne-prone skin has always made me a little reluctant to try new powders, foundations and concealers, for fear that they’ll make me break out - but on the other hand, I’m always willing to give the benefit of the doubt to Neutrogena. (I had a dermatologist tell me that their cosmetic products are the most reliably skin-safe out of all of the drugstore brands.) Since I’ve had great luck with their Mineral Sheers line in the past, most notably the Concealer Kit (which I love), I decided to give the Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation a whirl.
Here’s what I love about this product: It’s so portable! Everyone who’s ever tried loose mineral makeup understands what a pain it is to transport, and this is actually quite easy to throw in your purse. When you’re ready to use it, take off the cap, slide the clear plastic that surrounds the brush down, and shake it a little to dispense the powder. That’s it. I was also fairly pleased with the quality of the brush. It’s not amazing, but it performs better than you might expect.
Unfortunately, I noticed a few flaws as well. First, while I appreciate the portability of the built-in brush, I don’t really like how you can’t access the powder any other way. If you want to use your own brush, you’re out of luck. I also think the “shake to dispense” method leaves something to be desired, as specks of powder always end up all over my bathroom counter - how wasteful! And, although the product is good, I can never build it up to a suitable intensity. It’s just way too sheer for my tastes. If I’m going to wear Neutrogena powder foundation, I think I would prefer to stick to their Powder Foundation Compact, which offers similar results but allows for more coverage than the loose powder. All in all, a decent product, but I doubt it will become one of my everyday essentials.
I’d like to take a moment today to address my newly rekindled love for an old favorite from my high school days: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Blackberry. Back then, I wore this lipstick on a daily basis, applying and reapplying until I had worn the color down to a nub. In recent years, I’ve been pretty lax about wearing lipstick, preferring instead to just slather on the lip balm and focus on my eye makeup instead. But now that it’s winter and the weather is actually (finally!) changing here in L.A., I started to crave dark, berry-colored lips again, and on a recent trip to the drugstore I was browsing around, trying to find just the right shade, when I happened upon my old pal Blackberry. I bought it right away, and I have to say that I love it just as much as I ever did. This is a great shade that can be layered for a deep, dark lip look, or you can slick on just one coat and then blot for a light berry-colored stain. The formula is perhaps my favorite among all drugstore lipsticks - creamy and moisturizing. Come to think of it, I really have no complaints about this lipstick whatsoever. Highly recommended if you’re craving a new lippie for the colder months. What’s your favorite drugstore lipstick?
I have a confession: Until about a month ago, I had not bought shampoo or conditioner for well over a year. I had some Garnier products stockpiled from an event I went to early in 2008 and I didn’t need to buy anything new. And, another confession, I still have enough shampoo and conditioner to get me through another few months…
But I recently decided to grow out my shoulder length hair and I’ve heard nonstop chatter about Pantene’s Beautiful Length Collection. On blogs, in magazines - it keeps showing up everywhere - and people are raving. Marie Claire’s editors even voted the conditioner as one of the best products of all time. That is a pretty bold claim. And I got curious…could it live up to its hype?
So I broke down and finally bought the Pantene Beautiful Lengths shampoo and conditioner…
Pantene claims that their Beautiful Lengths line allows your hair to remain healthy and strong in order for it to grow past its “breaking point,” protecting against breakage when it is both wet and dry. My hair is fragile - it is thin and I shed so much that at times I wonder how I’m not completely bald. So a product that claims to protect against breakage gets my attention. What holds my attention is that this is the first drugstore shampoo and conditioner that I have tried that actually delivers on its claim. I’ve been using Beautiful Lengths for over a month now and my hair has never felt softer. And, while I’m fully aware that it may be the power of suggestion, my hair seems longer. To really quantify the effect, I definitely shed less - which I can tell by my comb. And looking at my ends, there is definitely less breakage. Which is another major bonus, since I haven’t had my hair cut since…September? I think?
I am beyond pleasantly surprised by my month-long affair with Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths and I have a feeling this is going to turn into a long-term relationship. I wasn’t looking for love but sometimes the right product comes along and surprises you.
Yes, we’ve already talked about Twilight - a lot, in fact, from the red carpet styles of stars Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning to the Twilight makeup line that recently hit stores, but it just occurred to me that we’ve never actually discussed our feelings about the latest movie itself! The Twilight Saga: New Moon, as the second film in the series is officially called, is a supremely guilty pleasure for me, but it is a pleasure nonetheless. Is it silly? Yes. It is borderline offensive at times? Sure. But seeing the film with a big group of girls gave all of us the chance to relax, giggle like teenagers, and leave our worries behind while we focused on debating much more pressing issues, such as whether Robert Pattinson (as brooding vampire Edward Cullen) or Taylor Lautner (as hotheaded werewolf Jacob Black) looks better with his shirt off. The movie feels a little long, but I think it’s more eventful than the first film, and I loved the Italy-set scenes in which Bella finally visits the sinister, vampire-governed city of Volterra. And, love it or hate it, you can’t deny that the Twilight ladies are a pretty gorgeous bunch! Kristen Stewart, who plays Bella, may be a bit divisive with her devil-may-care red carpet persona, but she looked great in her casual/dressy emerald green birthday gown with black cardigan and sneakers. Love that headband too! Rachelle Lafevre, who plays villainous vamp Victoria, also made an impression in this movie with her wild, untamed curls and bohemian wardrobe. Unfortunately, I heard that she’s been replaced in the next film, Eclipse, by Bryce Dallas Howard - can anyone confirm or deny this rumor? It would be a real shame if it’s true - I’m seriously starting to love her. And, of course, Dakota Fanning is the epitome of sadistic sweetness as Jane, one of Volterra’s vampire elite. If you feel like investing in a black cape and a pair of red contacts, Jane would be a super easy Halloween costume, no? (Yes, I’m already thinking ahead to next Halloween…!) Overall, I thought New Moon was a fun ride…as long as you go into the theatre knowing what to expect! Anyone else have any thoughts on this movie?
She always keeps her look fresh and fun and unexpected. She recently stepped out to The Back Room, a new spa from Carol’s Daughter. I love the texturing of her hair and how much fun she always seems to have with her hairstyle. And I am particularly loving her blue cat eye makeup. To get that same look, I would head straight to MAC because I think they have the best eyeliners
To get the most precise look, I would use their Fluidline gel formula in Waveline. It is an indigo blue with a gold pearl sheen for that metallic look. The gel formulas are best if you are good with an angled brush. You can also opt for a liquid eyeliner if you have never used a brush but I would recommend trying out the angled brush because it is easier to use than you may think.
The key to getting a cat eye just right is to start small and then layer, layer, layer. Using one hand to gently hold your eyelid taut, use your dominant hand, starting at the inner corner of your eye, to draw a line as close to your lash line as possible. Once you reach the outer corner, gently draw the line upward. The trick is to you use your natural lashes as a guide. Follow your natural lash line. Cat eyeliner should look like a dramatic extension of your lashes. Once you have this first line done sit back and look at your handiwork. Is it too slight? You can always go back and layer more liner, thickening the line. You may find that you like the simple one line. Do your other eye and sit back to assess your work again. Make sure your eyes are balanced with each application. Once you reach your desired cat eye fierceness… go out and rock it!
Everyone talks about the CHI but the GHD provides some stiff competition in the flat iron world. There are a lot of GHD flat iron reviews out there comparing the two flat iron giants. How do you decide which one is the best for you?
Zoe Saldana lit up the red carpet with her sleek hairstyle, promoting Star Trek around the world. Her stylist used a flat iron for the finishing touches. Want the same look? You need the right tools…
One of the biggest differences between the two flat irons is that the GHD retails for more. The question is, does the higher price mean a better performance? The general consensus seems to think that it does. The GHD flat iron tends to have a longer life span which is a definite bonus when you are spending extra money to make sure your hair looks great. The GHD flat iron reviews also say that hair looks healthy and shiny when used correctly. The ceramic plates insure that the heat is evenly distributed and that the natural oils of your hair are locked in. The GHD is ideal for the woman that straightens her hair on a regular basis and needs to keep her hair looking healthy and well-maintained.
Stylists everywhere know that if you want to get the sleekest, prettiest hair you have to use the right tools. Farouk CHI Hair Products are a staple in practically every salon you will visit. They set the standard for ceramic hair styling tools, giving consistent professional results. Reese Witherspoon’s sleek and sophisticated style is a great example of how you can make your hair shine with Farouk CHI hair products. It is always a good idea to use a spray that offers thermal protection before heat styling your hair. CHI has a very effective shine infusing thermal protection spray. Reese’s hair has such a beautiful shine to it in this style that I wouldn’t be surprised if she used it for this event! CHI hair products really are a great investment if you want to have perfectly polished hair.
I have incredibly dry skin and as winter creeps closer, I am always game for trying a new moisturizer. And since I have developed an even stronger sensitivity to smell lately, my usual Vaseline Cocoa Butter Lotion wasn’t going to cut it anymore. I needed a hard working
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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 
So I finally got around to using my 
First, I am happy to announce that I finally have my own glorious bottle of Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear polish in Wet Cement, which I wrote about in my 
Sphere lip balm
Ladies, let me tell you: This has become my new weekly luxury! My skin has never felt this silky and smooth - at least, not since I was a baby! I absolutely love how soft my skin stays for several days after I treat myself. Through trial and error, I found the best way to go about the process:
Well, mascara definitely seems to be the watchword today, because Meagan’s not the only one who decided to try out a new lash booster for the new year! Of course, my motivation was a little less admirable; while Meagan was looking for a more natural alternative, I just wanted prettier eyes. So, inspired in part by our recent 
One of my New Year’s resolutions is to be kinder to my face. And I’m not talking about whispering sweet nothings into the mirror. I’m talking about resolving to use more natural makeup products so that I don’t assault it with so many chemicals on a daily basis. And I thought that starting with my mascara might be an easy way to go.
My 
I’d like to take a moment today to address my newly rekindled love for an old favorite from my high school days: 
instead. But now that it’s winter and the weather is actually (finally!) changing here in L.A., I started to crave dark, berry-colored lips again, and on a recent trip to the drugstore I was browsing around, trying to find just the right shade, when I happened upon my old pal Blackberry. I bought it right away, and I have to say that I love it just as much as I ever did. This is a great shade that can be layered for a deep, dark lip look, or you can slick on just one coat and then blot for a light berry-colored stain. The formula is perhaps my favorite among all drugstore lipsticks - creamy and moisturizing. Come to think of it, I really have no complaints about this lipstick whatsoever. Highly recommended if you’re craving a new lippie for the colder months. What’s your favorite drugstore lipstick?
m
ovie itself! The Twilight Saga: New Moon, as the second film in the series is officially called, is a supremely guilty pleasure for me, but it is a pleasure nonetheless. Is it silly? Yes. It is borderline offensive at times? Sure. But seeing the film with a big group of girls gave all of us the chance to relax, giggle like teenagers, and leave our worries behind while we focused on debating much more pressing issues, such as whether Robert Pattinson (as brooding vampire Edward Cullen) or Taylor Lautner (as hotheaded werewolf Jacob Black) looks better with his shirt off. The movie feels a little long, but I think it’s more eventful than the first film, and I loved the Italy-set scenes in which Bella finally visits the sinister, vampire-governed city of Volterra. And, love it or hate it, you can’t deny that the Twilight ladies are a pretty gorgeous bunch! Kristen Stewart, who plays Bella, may be a bit divisive with her devil-may-care red carpet persona, but she looked great in her casual/dressy emerald green birthday gown with black cardigan and sneakers. Love that headband too! Rachelle Lafevre, who plays villainous vamp Victoria, also made an impression in this movie with her wild, untamed curls and bohemian wardrobe. Unfortunately, I heard that she’s been replaced in the next film, Eclipse, by Bryce 
Dallas Howard - can anyone confirm or deny this rumor? It would be a real shame if it’s true - I’m seriously starting to love her. And, of course, Dakota Fanning is the epitome of sadistic sweetness as Jane, one of Volterra’s vampire elite. If you feel like investing in a black cape and a pair of red contacts, Jane would be a super easy Halloween costume, no? (Yes, I’m already thinking ahead to next Halloween…!) Overall, I thought New Moon was a fun ride…as long as you go into the theatre knowing what to expect! Anyone else have any thoughts on this movie?
If I could replicate anyone’ s
Everyone talks about the CHI but the GHD provides some stiff competition in the flat iron world. There are a lot of GHD flat iron reviews out there comparing the two flat iron giants. How do you decide which one is the best for you?
Stylists everywhere know that if you want to get the sleekest, prettiest hair you have to use the right tools. Farouk CHI Hair Products are a staple in practically every salon you will visit. They set the standard for ceramic hair styling tools, giving consistent professional results. Reese Witherspoon’s sleek and sophisticated style is a great example of how you can make your hair shine with Farouk CHI hair products. It is always a good idea to use a spray that offers thermal protection before heat styling your hair. CHI has a very effective shine infusing thermal protection spray. Reese’s hair has such a beautiful shine to it in this style that I wouldn’t be surprised if she used it for this event! 
