TheMakeupGirl

Clinique Dry Spot Balm...

Winter....winter...winter....I have poor circulation so I am ALWAYS cold so that means cranking the heat.  Unfortunately cranked heat means dry air, so I have to take certain precautions.  I have a humidifier so I don't dry out but that doesn't always work.  That's where products come in.  One that I discovered recently that I have been using is from Clinique's new medical line which available exclusively through dermatologsts.

Clinique Medical, the new skin care line from Allergan and Clinique was created specifically for anyone who is planning to undergo a non-surgical cosmetic procedure or taking certain prescription medications.  I don;t fall into either of those categories BUT the Dry Spot Balm is certainly something that could be used on just about anyone. Formulated with marine botanicals it helped sooth while the six lipid complex helped block the windy weather and kept my lips soft and moisturized. Now a word of caution, if you are looking for a "sexy" lip balm this is not for you.  Clinique Medical products are decidely clinical in both taste, smell and feel.  I did find it (and the rest of the line) available through the Derm Store online as well.

Stay Pretty!!

Take Good Care: Bobbi Brown's Winter Skincare Essentials...

Is winter doing a number on your skin?  It is to mine, between hormonal breakouts on my chin (I pray I am going through "the change" soon) and wacky schizophrenic east coast weather, my skin is dare I say....confused at the moment.

I just took home a few of these Bobbi Brown Winter Essentials to try and get my skin back on track.  My favorite so far is the Intensive Skin Supplement, a serum with white birch (think tightening darlings), and grape extract (for brightening...which I so desperately need).  I also grabbed the Buffing Grains and started mixing it with my cleanser to make my own custom foaming exfoliator.  As you know, my feeling is the best makeup look is perfect skin...without that you can't go wrong.  I would much prefer people to say they love my skin more than they do my makeup.

Skin Pretty...

Beauty News: 3 Custom Color Teams Up With Showtime's Hit Series The L Word...

If you are a fan of the series The L Word then you know that this is the last season...(booooo).  I just heard that 3 Custom color has partnered with them to launch a line of lipsticks (sure to become collectors items now that the show is going off the air).  Put Shane, Kit, Bette or Alice on your lips with these pretty sheer but buildable formulas.

Three Custom Color Specialists is proud to announce their partnership with the SHOWTIME® original groundbreaking series, THE L WORD. A new collection of lipsticks ($20.00 each) inspired by THE L WORD's most popular, sexy, iconic characters -- "Bette," "Kit," "Alice" and "Shane” -- will be available online at www.threecustom.com and through THE L WORD shop at www.sho.com beginning on January 18th, at 8:59 PM preceding the premiere of the show’s sixth and final season. Be the first to have them! Place your pre-order now, and your lipsticks will be shipped on January 18th.

The four shades were created in Three Custom Color's award-winning sheer lipstick formula – highly moisturizing, with sheer and buildable coverage to flatter a wide range of skin tones.

Stay Pretty!!

Check Out My Girls: Weekend Links You'll Love...

Julia from All About The Pretty is in love with the Sedu Revolution flat iron...(Me too!!  I love that thing...)

Amber from Beauty Blogging Junkie reviews the Smashbox Muse Collection for Spring 2009...

Jen & Christine from Beauty in Real Life along with Carmindy show you how to get the 5 minute face...

Courtney from Makeup Kitty shows us that all minerals are not created equal...

Christine from Temptalia is having her second annual beauty awards...get your vote on...

The Girls in the Beauty Department at Glamour Mag have their list of beauty resolutions, do you have yours???

Ben from We Love Beauty fills us in on a new line we should know about called Hissy Fit...

Read Pretty!!

Steal This: Sephora is Having a SALE....

Well, I don't remember this happening EVER.  Last I checked, only a few lines here and there were ever on sale at the big S....but not this time.  Save up to 75% off all throughout the store! 

This is your chance to get your hands on items like Ojon's White Tawaka Ball which was exclusive to Sephora for a mere $35 (it was originally $65).  Or how about a good brush set or new makeup bag for the new year?

These are some serious STEALS my friends so don't sleep on them.

Shop Pretty!!

Editor's Note: Happy New Year!!

Hello 2009!!!  Are you awake??  Are you feeling okay?? Are you eating your black eyed Peas??  Nana always told me that if I ate them on New Years day, it would bring me luck.  Not only that, but she also told me that for every pea I ate was equal to a dollar from the heavens.  So what did I do??  Honey you know i was a black eyed pea eating FOOL!  I even swallowed them when I got tired.

First of all, let me say that I appreciate all of the love and support that all of you have given me over the past 3 years - seriously I couldn't have done it without you!  I am so incredibly blessed and elated to have you all in my lives and that TheMakeupGirl is a part of your daily regimen.

Wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year!!

Stay Pretty!

Awww Helll Nawww!!!: Donatella Versace on Vacation in a Bikini....

One last Awww Helll Nawww for 2008!!!  I just finally found an up close version of this pic which has been all over the internet for the past week and all I have to say is shame on you Donatella.....damn!  Donatella (who is only 53 by the way) looks like a piece of jerky (or a raisin or insert favorite dried fruit here)....if this doesn't stop you ladies from slathering on baby oil and laying down in the sun I don't know what will.

Sunblock in every shape and form is the eternal fountain of youth and I pray diligently to it's altar.  I NEVER....EVER want to look like this and if someone actually catches me slipping  you have my full permission to pull my card.

This is not pretty or sexy...I know there is nothing she can do about it now but damn.

Beauty News: Good Byes (and Buys...)

It's that time again...as we all know, consumerism and the cosmetics industry don't always get on all that well.  Inevitably some of our favorite things end up to be total duds on the counters of department stores and Sephora's everywhere.  In addition, cosmetics companies always have to make room for new items by paring down existing lines. Here are some goodbyes you may want to get your hands on before it's too late...

MAC Good Byes

Bobbi Brown's Closet

Prescriptives Last Chance

Estee Lauder

Shop Pretty!!

Get This: Best Products of 2008....

Okay y'all it's time!  Happy New Year!!  2008 is coming to a close and it has been a great year in beauty.  There have definitely been some hits and misses BUT I have compiled my list of my top must haves (I DEFINITELY couldn;t narrow it to 10 or even 20!!) from 2008.

Prescriptves All Skin Mineral Makeup The best mineral makeup - period.
Chanel Beige The most amazing scent I have ever smelled in my life....
Chanel Sublimage Cream Very pricey but in my opinion, totally worth every drop.
Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color Fantastic super-moisturizing, lightweight lip color that comes in a multitude of shades.
Bobbi Brown Nudes My favorite nude collection this year besides the MAC N Collection (which is already gone)
MAC Beauty Powder Blush Silky fine blush with a slight pearl sheen, beautiful.
Clairol Perfect 10 Hair Color Great at home coloring kit that gives AMAZING results.
Mama Mio O-Omega Body Oil Not just for expecting mama's!  FANTASTIC body oil treatment with omegas for your skin.
Clinique SuperBalm Completely obsessed with this, I have it in several colors, just about the best hybrid of gloss in balm out there.
Redken Real Control Intense Renewal Mask Perfection if your hair is dry or porous...
Smashbox Sheer Focus Tinted Moisturizer If you like a tinted moisturizer this one is the best I have found so far, sheer foundation-like coverage with light-weight feel.
Ojon Rub Out Dry Cleanser great for in-between blowouts...
Estee Lauder Sensuous Lovely amber, woody floral....
Bobbi Brown Metallics LOVE these shadows, if only for the fact that you can make your own palette but they last last last.
Clarins Bright Plus HP Intensive Brightening Mask Great pick me up for dry skin or skin that is looking a bit dull
Chanel Haute Chocolat Nail Lacquer My all time favorite polish of the year....deep chocolate brown with gold dust...perfection.
Suave Daily Exfoliating Bodywash Fantastic bodywash, great for everyday, and at under $3 you can get two.
NARS Super Orgasm & The Multiple in Orgasm This color really does look great on everyone and now there is a multiple AND the super version which is just pumped up with a little more shimmer (how bad can that be??)
Aveda Hand Relief One of the best hand creams I have found, hands still moisturized even after excessive hand washing.
Bobbi Brown Brights Palette Just look at it....how could you NOT want it??  Perfection for spring or anytime you need a little punch of color.
Philosophy's When Hope is Not Enough Body Lotion More like a serum than a lotion to me....I use it under my body lotion/cream.
Suki Intense Brightening Cream Great "green" line that I discovered, the brightening cream transformed a rough patch I had on my cheek into smooth silk.

So there you have it...my top favorites for 2008.  Have a SAFE and happy New Year!!

Stay Pretty!!

Pricey Creams: Chanel Sublimage Texture Supreme Essential Regenerating Cream...

Okay....I have never been shy about admitting my lust for expensive skincare.  I do like a mix of high and low but sometimes to me the high is the only thing that does it.  Trust me in certain instances, you most definitely get what you pay for and this is one of those times.  Now Chanel Sublimage is an entire line, so there is an eye cream (which i adore...), a serum and the cream.

The first time I tried Chanel Sublimage Texture Supreme Essential Regenerating Cream, I was at Fashion Week in NY and I had pilfered a few samples from my friends at the Chanel counter at Bendels.  Well those samples with sparse dabs here and there, I was able to make those samples last 6 weeks.  Month one I started to notice a difference in my skin, it was looking more dewy and dare I say radiant. Week 3 I noticed that my skin was actually feeling firmer AND the small dry patches dissipated. By the end of 6 weeks, I was done and ready to sell my soul to the house of Chanel.

Bear in mind, this is a rich cream (described as cashmere-like texture), so if your skin is on the oily side I would try her lighter weight sister, Chanel Sublimage Texture Universelle Essential Regenerating Cream which will be on counters January 2009.

If you are on the fence, do what I did and go to EVERY Chanel counter you can and get a sample, stretch it out and see if you can make it last for 6-8 weeks.  Do your own comparison so you can decide if it's really somthing you want to do.  To me, skincare and how your skin looks is the most important thing (more important than makeup).  So I feel like whatever you buy, is an investment in how you look, I'm not saying you NEED to spend buckets of money to do that, but sometimes there is just no substitute.

Stay Pretty!!