Beauty Solutions: Benefit's Glitz, Glam, Gloss set

If you want to look girlier and you want to start with makeup, the simplest way to do so is lipgloss. Shiny, luscious, kissable lips are a must for every girl. To help you out, try Benefit’s Glitz, Glam, Gloss Set.

These are double-ended lip-glosses, which means less space, lower price and more gloss! Benefit’s product names are always funny and the names of these awesome, super glossy, non-sticky lip-glosses are no exception. “Friends in high places" is a sparkling raspberry color, “Kiss you” is a clear fuchsia, “Almost famous” is a beautiful copper penny shade, “Zone out” is a golden nude, “I'm with the band” is a pretty golden pink shimmer shade and “Fresh-squeezed” is a pink grapefruit kind of color.

The applicator is a doe-foot type wand, but it’s really soft and cushioned to provide an even distribution of the product. Benefit’s lip-glosses are known for lasting a very long time on your lips compared to so many other brands so you won’t need to reapply very often.

You can wear any of these lip-glosses over your favorite coordinating lipstick, alone or mixed and matched with each other. I can just see myself applying “Almost famous” over a bright neutral red lipstick to make it warmer. This would make a really fun and useful Christmas present for you best friend, sister or mom by the way!

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration "

Micky

Gloss Is Back - Minus The Mess: Benefit Cosmetics

Aren't you tired of your stale lip gloss - whose shine has ran its course? Whether or not you're having this issue or would like to introduce a new addition to your beauty collection - I've found vibrant lip smacking glosses solely for your benefit.

Benefit Cosmetics has introduced their sexy new amped-up lip glosses which comes in 8 irresistible summer-ready shades. The great thing about these lip glosses is that they glide on without sticking. So you'll get the shine minus the mess! The soft cushion paddle smoothes on easily for glimmering, shimmering lips. You need no occasion to pucker up to these electrifying colors.

Shades include:

• kiss you (clear fuchsia)

• fresh squeezed (pink grapefruit)

• i'm with the band (golden pink shimmer)

• friends in high places (sparkling raspberry)

• almost famous (copper penny)

• zone out (golden nude)

• who are you wearing? (passion fruit pink)

• life on the A list (first kiss pink)

Plus, get FREE US Standard Shipping with purchase of a new lipgloss. Use code LIPGLOSS. Offer valid 6.23.09 to 6.30.09. Not valid with other offers.

Priced at $18 each Mu............aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"

- Suzanna

Foundation Spotlight: "Hello Flawless"

I’m always looking for the perfect foundation and I haven’t found mine yet, but today I’d like to share with you my thoughts on “Hello Flawless” from Benefit. As you’ll be able to tell, I’ll be completely honest with you. There are some things about this foundation I love and some I don’t like so much. I’d rate it an 8.5 out of a possible 10 and, honestly, that’s the highest I’ve ever rated any foundation.

According to Benefit Cosmetics, “ This silky powder cover-up glides on naturally sheer and layers beautifully for customized coverage with SPF protection. With 6 shades, it's easy to find your perfect match.

Tips and tricks: For a sheer finish, sweep "hello flawless!" on with your brush. With quick, light strokes, blend from the center of your face outward. Use it over bare skin, moisturizer or primer to look naturally flawless! To cover it all (& then some!), apply evenly over entire complexion with sponge. For spot cover-up, dab on boo boos & blend. "

It is true that it’s silky and layers extremely well. Achieving full cover with this foundation using the provided (washable!!!) sponge is fast and easy and powdering your face with the provided brush or any other powder brush (for example this Celazome Natural Skin Brush) is also fast and super easy. I’d recommend buying another makeup sponge with similar texture because sponges can take their time to dry. It has SPF 15 so it might not be the best pick for when you know you’ll get photos taken because SPF reflects the flash light and will give you a ghost-like white aura.

I never buy into the “radiant” and “luminous” foundations. I feel they leave my skin looking and feeling greasy and I hate that. You'll end up powdering too much and it will never feel comfortable. This foundation, whoever, leaves your skin radiant with absolutely no shine and stays on like a dream. I tried it out at Sephora today and walked home about half a mile in an 81ºF heat and it stayed with no shine whatsoever. So that’s the best part about this foundation. This foundation with be best for those with oily to combo skin, though it’d be also nice for people with normal.

Powder and Cream-to-Powder foundations are known to oxidize a lot. This means that in contact with air, the color will deepen. However, I don’t think it oxidizes much; it oxidizes much less than most mineral powder foundations I’ve ever tried. This is definitely a plus and a big one, This means you can put your foundation and walk out the door knowing the color will look the same throughout the day as opposed to applying your foundation really early before leaving the house to avoid looking too pale or having to worry that your face looks orange by noon. Now, as I'm writting this post, 7 hours later, my skin looks awesome.

Some of the down sides to this prouduct, would have to be the lack of color choices and that it transfers. If your skin is darker than a medium-deep tan, they won’t have a color for you. For reference, I am a MAC NC 20 to 25 and my Benefit’s Hello Flawless shade is 01- Me Vain? (Benefit is very original and fun when naming their products. I love it). And sadly, it transfers to your clothes or hand if you happen to touch your face. The transferring aspect is why I don’t give this foundation a higher score.

As I said before, this is an extremely good foundation and, to me, the best so far. If you like MAC’s Studio Fix Powder, this foundation is similar, only it’s better. It has a more radiant finish, it doesn’t do that nasty oxidizing and it isn’t as yellow. It is, however, more expensive.

Buying foundation is something very personal and everybody’s tastes are going to be a little different. I'd recommend go to a Sephora or other place where they sell Benefit Cosmetics and ask the sales assistant to let you try it and see how it works for you. Then let me know what you think. I love reading your comments, and I have a lot of fun replying to you all.

"Fashion is Foremost Inspiration"

Micky

First Date: Beauty & Makeup Tips

So you're going on a first date with a hot guy that you've just met and you really want to impress him: this night has to be perfect! You've found the perfect dress, shoes, perfume, and accessories -- but you're clueless on how to wear your makeup and what to wear. Having the right cosmetic application is just as important as what you're wearing when it comes to a first dates. Here are some beauty tips that'll help you make your first date a success

First, give yourself a refreshing start. Exfoliate your face, neck, and body. This method is great for shedding dead cells, softening your skin, and radiating your youthful glow. Don't get caught out there rugged and ashy. Instead, lather yourself up with silky lotion. Men love it when a woman has silky smooth skin --- he won't be able to keep his hands off you.

Although they say honesty is the best policy when it comes to a relationship; you're not so sure if and when this will blossom into something more... after all, you are prepping for your first date. Don't be so quick to expose your flaws such as pimples, blackspots, and uneven tones. Cover it up with a concealer. Here, I used Make Up For Ever's Full Cover Concealer in Chocolate #18. This concealer worked it's magic in concealing my dark spots.

Next, I applied NARS' Balanced Foundation in Trinidad. As I previously posted, I love using this foundation - it shows off the natural radiance of my skin and the shade matches my complexion perfectly. Unlike most makeup, this liquid foundation has a lighter feel; resulting in a translucent finish that smoothes fine lines and imperfections without appearing heavy on my skin.

Since this is your first date, I would suggest staying away from bright and bold theatrical eye shadow colors such as green, yellow, pink, purple, etc. They scream attention and may look tacky in this occassion; save those colors for a girls' night out instead. Believe it or not, most guys are turned off to such colors. Guys are more interested in your inner beauty, so try going for a natural, soft, feminine look. Here, I used earthy tones such as Lola Lola (neutral brown with shimmer), Fez (velvety cocoa), and Galapagos (rich bronze with gold flecks) by NARS. First I was going for the Smokey Eye Look then decided to play around. Not only do these colors compliment my complexion - they're excellent for day and evening uses as well.

Because you love your lashes so much, bat your babies to Benefit's BADgal Lash Mascara in black. I love using this mascara: the oversized brush defines, volumizes, and lengthens your lashes without clumping. Also, it separates your lashes beautifully without weighting down your eyes. One coat of this mascara will have his eyes locked into yours all night!

To enhance your brows for a fuller appearance, penciled it in with Anastasia's Perfect Brow Pencil. Here, I used Brunette - which is a dark warm brown color. This double-duty wand is comprised of a velvety pencil on one end and a brow brush on the other.

Just in case he makes you blush - come prepared with NARS' Orgasm. This soft, sheer pressed powder blush gives cheeks a perfect pinky-peach flush and subtly highlights with accents of golden shimmer. I love using Orgasm; the color goes well with just about any complexion and is a definate must have. Its no wonder Orgasm was chosen as the winner of the best of Sephora for the past 5 years!

And finally, give your date the ultimate lip service with a limitless lip smacking gloss. The perfect shades are always hard to find, but just incase you can't make up your mind don't be afraid to get creative and mix up different colors. For fun, I mixed Smashbox's Lip Enhancing Gloss Full Color in Aura (a light muted pink shimmer) with Limitless - Long Wear Lip Gloss SPF15 in Boundless (juicy melon). I applied Boundless - which is darker, around the outter edges and Aura - which is more neutral, around the center. The Long Wear Lip Gloss is idea for a long evening: it lasts up to 6 hours so you don't have to worry about taking frequent beauty breaks to reapply gloss on your lips. Want more; Here's a quick list of the hottest items beauty addicts all over the world are shopping for right now.

And there you have it: your First Date Beauty and Makeup Tips!

Don't forget these items with you on your first date:

1. A small touch-up brush, such as a Kabuki brush to refreshen your look

2. Breath Mints

3. Credit/ Debit card - a woman should be able to hold her own

4. Cell Phone - for emergency purposes

5. Most importantly, Your smile and sense of humor

Remember that purity is the key to beauty: use colors that will compliment your beauty and radiate your smile. Have fun on your date and good luck!

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"

- Suzanna