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concealer, foundation and blush are important, beauties. because if your skin doesn't look flawless, then no amount of lipstick or eye makeup is gonna make you look cute, sorry.
best concealer - goes to benefit erase paste. regular readers, this better not come as a surprise. i've been raving about it all year long. it covers up zits and dark circles and lasts. done.
best foundation - cover fx natural fx water based foundation is a product i truly discovered in 2009, before this year i had no knowledge of it. but i'm wearing it (along with a touch of erase paste) in the picture above of my friend heidi's wedding with two of my wonderful friends tiffany and jazmine. doesn't my skin look like it's actually flawless?! discovering this foundation was definitely a "where have you been all my life" moment for me.
best blush - hard candy blush crush is the perfect amount of color and high sheen. this year hard candy came back from the dead and found itself at walmart -- i'm looking forward to what they offer the beauty world this year.
here's to 2010, beauties! tell me your beauty resolutions!
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a girl needs three great lipsticks in life - a great red, a great bright pink and a great nude. and i'm a lucky girl because i have all three (am i sounding like carrie bradshaw right now?).
best red - anything by nars - they make reds that are not too orange, yet not too blue and last for hours without bleeding. these are pretty much the best qualities a red lipstick can possess. specifically be sure to include dragon girl velvet matte lip pencil and bloodwork lip gloss in your 2010 arsenal.
best pink - and by pink i mean a bright fuchsia, and for that, you have to go with MAC. my favorite is speak louder from cremesheen collection, which cam out in 2008, but the color is still available through the MAC site.
best nude - laura geller lip gloss in better than bare makes my thin lips look like luscious angelina jolie lips - it is nothing short of a miracle.
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the last week of the year is always a time of reflection - what worked for you and what you can do better in the new year to come. i'm doing a lot of that this week, but since this site is about makeup, i'll only subject you to the cosmetic portion of my cosmic reflections.
welcome to mLm "best i ever had" week.
best kohl liner - noir cosmetics black mania kohl eyeliner: i actually tried this liner in 2008 (!), but it's still the best i've ever had. i said it when i tried this product and i'll say it again, if you have a company that only does one thing, it tends to do it right -- and noir cosmetics only makes black eye makeup, so work the rest out.
best liquid liner - urban decay liquid liner: this is another product i've known about pre-2009. it's been a favorite of mine for years. why? because it continues to deliver. other liners might come close, but no liquid liner ever tops this formula or color selection.
best glitter liner - urban decay glitter liner: groupie, urban decay's pale pink glitter liner has never been properly reviewed on mLm, but it adds the proverbally and literal twinkle to my eye on at least 40% of my nites out.
best brow pencil -anastasia perfect brow pencil: this is another product i've been too busy using to get around to reviewing. finished brows finish your face, everyone says it and it's true. and this is the brow pencil that gets it done for you.
best mascara - diorshow extase: i may have only tried it last week, but i know love when i see it.
what were your eye makeup favorites of 2009, beauties?
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 i know you beauties are hot off holiday shopping, but if you still have money to burn during your sales/holiday return shopping trip hit sephora because (brace yourself) there's a new diorshow mascara in town. and today's it's first day on shelves. and it's a sephora exclusive. and it's lash-tastic.
i'm not one to rave about diorshow mascaras, i usually think you can do more for your money. but the latest in the dynasty, diorshow extase, does it for me.
their have been a plethora of novelty mascara brushes flooding the market in the last couple years, but this brush - which alternates short and long bristles - really reaches all my little lashes. beyond looking novel, this brush makes my fringe fantastic.
$28, exclusively at sephora stores and sephora.com.
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merry christmas, mLm readers (who are into that sort of thing)! i hope you are enjoying a beautiful day with your families or friends. i already received some fabulous gifts. my beau got me a day at faina european spa, complete with massage, facial, pedicure and champagne, and my parents got me (amongst other things) laura mercier creme de pistache souffle body creme, which i fell in love with after one whiff. for $55, though, it's a serious commitment. thanks mom & dad! i hope you beauties got everything on your wishlists! 
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merry christmas eve, for the beauties who celebrate! my next tip is christmas-y but works for new year's eve and right through the rest of the winter season as well! if you're looking for another way to work the emerald trend, try emerald nails! rich green is a beautiful contrast to the white snow backdrop.
after trying different hues of green nails, sally hansen instra-dri fast dry nail color in jumpin jade is the winner. unlike the "jade" polishes of fall 2009, this is not a minty shade, but a true evergreen color -rich green with a hint of blue (not sure why they named the polish jade...). but no matter, everywhere i go people are complimenting my tips.
the formula is a bit thick - if i had planned better i would gone with one coat instead of two. $4.99 at your local drugstore.
editor's note: in accordance with the ftc regulations, please be advised that a sample of the products mentioned was provided to MakeupLovesMe.com.
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i told you it was only a matter of time before i got my hands on bobbi brown's chrome eye shadows. like emerald green, metallic makeup offers a subtle nod to the holiday season.
 what's extra nice about these metallic shadows is how soft they are, they feel like silk when i dip my fingers into them, which is why i can't touching them. pewter is my favorite, it's warmer than silver and more subtle than gold.
see my finger-painting below, from left to right: pewter, gold and silver. $22 a piece at bobbibrown.com and bobbi brown counters.
editor's note: in accordance with the ftc regulations, please be advised that a sample of the products mentioned was provided to MakeupLovesMe.com.
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 emerald green is the new "it" color. and it's perfect for this time of year - a green rimmed eye is a less cliched nod to the holiday season than say, a red lip.
my pick? urban decay's limited duo , which includes the stagedive 24/7 glide-on eye pencil and the covet heavy metal glitter liner. i line my top lashes with the glitter liner and my bottom lashes with the eye pencil. this look is perfect for holiday parties and new year's eve alike. i wanted to take a pic - but alas my camera is on the fritz again.
get this - the limited duo has been marked down from $24 to $14 (!!!) at urbandecay.com.
UPDATE: one of my three cameras is currently slightly working, so i grabbed a swatch pic of the duo.
stop by all week for more emerald and holiday trend makeup tips, and visit my girl amy at metrostylewatch.com for some emerald purse suggestions.
editor's note: in accordance with the ftc regulations, please be advised that a sample of the products mentioned was provided to MakeupLovesMe.com.
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 i tried out sara happ's lip scrub in creme brulee on friday while browsing at the plaza beauty by warren-tricomi -- and it's quickly becoming my newest beauty obsession. my lips felt to soft and looked so fresh after using it that i can't get it out of mind.
exfoliators always comes to the front of my want list when snow flakes start falling. but i'm extra crazy in love with lip scrub by sara happ because it's all organic (meaning safe to eat! and it tastes damn good), it's the perfect price, $24, and comes in 6 delicious scents:
- almond creme
- peppermint
- vanilla bean
- brown sugar
- cinnamon sugar
- cocoa
 plus, i think it goes without saying it makes the perfect last minute gift or stocking stuffer -- since it already comes in a neat, tiny box with a bow. also high on my obsession list is the accompanying product - lip slip by sara happ (not to be confused with the phrase "nip slip", something your fav jersey shore star may do). lip slip is a sheer, ultra-hydrating gloss that's totally un-sticky that lasts for hours --also retailing for $24. available at several fine merchants, including the plaza beauty by warren tricomi and amazon.com.
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we interrupt our regularly scheduled holiday gift suggestions to give you an urgent message, which is this: my hair is shining like the sea!
i normally don't fall for products that advertise their secret ingredient as caviar -- just because i can't afford to eat caviar doesn't mean smearing it on my body will make me look rich (right?!). but in the case of kelly van gogh daily caviar shampoo and daily caviar conditioner that's exactly what's happening - my hair's so shiny that i look rich, (bitch).
so shiny that a guy i work with said to me yesterday, "your hair is getting prettier", which made me feel a combination of outrage and secret joy, but either way it's undeniable that it's made a noticable difference if dudes are noticing it. it's also making my hair more voluminous - without any extra product it's already lighter and easy to style. even better? it's for colored treated hair! it's like this hair care was made for me.
let's review:
super shine - check!
volume - check!
color protection - check!
and for caviar, it's none too pricey. $28 for the shampoo and $32 for the conditioner at spaceNK and bloomdale's. learn more at kellyvangogh.com.
editor's note: in accordance with the ftc regulations, please be advised that a sample of the products mentioned was provided to MakeupLovesMe.com.
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still haven't gotten a gift for the office secret santa? lush has you covered.
they have a gift called the secret santa - an already wrapped (in environmentally friendly paper, nonetheless!) hand-made satsumo santa bath bomb and snowcake soap. but, shhh! don't tell anyone at the office i told you what inside - it's a surprise! $9.95 at lush.com and lush stores.
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the bobbi brown holiday collections have me craving makeup like i haven't in weeks (for me, that's saying something). this season bobbi is offering some serious gems.
 the highlight of the chrome collection is three metallic shadows - in silver, gold, and pewter. i've been looking for the perfect metallic shadow - and now i think i need three, $22 a piece.
 and even though i already have more lipstick than i know what to do with, and the artist lip set far surpasses my lipstick needs - i can't help but dreaming about it instead of sugarplum fairies. 45 varied shades, for $225.
oh, bobbi, you have me thinking about receiving rather than giving this holiday season! visit bobbibrowncosmetics.com to help make your wishlist complete.
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liquid liner is one of my things - i always come back to a thin, winged line along hugging my top lashes.
the unfortunate thing about liquid liners is that they tend to dry up or get goopy after a couple of months, so if you can save some beauty bucks on this frequent purchase, you should. the problem? some cheaper formulas can come out looking like faded versions of the color you see from the outside of the packaging -- i faded black line does not make the statement, "i'm audrey hepburn".
jemma kidd's i-tech liquid liner is available at target - and has excellent color payout (in 7 vibrant shades) and staying power (i kid you not when i say mine i still on from last nite). i've been having fun with covert (a shimmery teal pictured here) and aesthetic (a warm brown similar to urban decay's roach liquid liner). the catch? jemma kidd's liner is a good, but not great, price - $16, whereas urban decay's liner rings in at $18. available at target.com.
editor's note: in accordance with the ftc regulations, please be advised that a sample of the products mentioned was provided to MakeupLovesMe.com.
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today is the day i stop online previewing holiday gifts and get to shopping. my beloved friend liz and i will be hitting the columbus ave spaceNK today.
i'm already thinking the laughter mini-treats (pictured above) would make a great gift for the ladies who go out of their way to lend an extra hand at work. i love when miniature products come in stationary envelopes. plus, who wouldn't want something that is called a "laughter mini-treat"? $20 at spaceNK.com.
editor's note: in accordance with the ftc regulations, please be advised that a sample of the products mentioned was provided to MakeupLovesMe.com.
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oftentimes i end up with more shampoo than i have the hair for.
 usually i keep shampoos for volume or color-treated hair, and my friends and family get to try out the others - in fact in the past couple of months i've given more than 10 shampoo + conditioner sets to friends - and 2 received rave reviews.
aveeno's nourish + moisturize is being used by my thick-locked friend liz, who raves, "while my hair doesn't look any better than usual yet, it feels very soft! i love this shampoo!"
available at food and drug stores for $6.49-7.49 a bottle.
 pureology's antifade essential repair is my boyfriend's mom favorite shampoo (got that?). like me, she has color-treated tresses. ever since i gifted her a bottle she's switched to this brand because it gives her great shine, combine that with the fantastic fade protection, and it can't be beat.
available in fine salons for around $45 a bottle.
editor's note: in accordance with the ftc regulations, please be advised that a sample of the products mentioned was provided to MakeupLovesMe.com.
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every year MAC does a little too good a job of creating holiday gifts for the makeup lovers. the gifts are so perfectly put together that i end up wanting to keep all the gifts for self.
since i believe you have to love yourself before you can love anyone else, i strongly advise you invest in one of MAC's brush bags for both yourself and the beauties on your gift list. they only make them for christmas season, and they always end up being a useful purchase (i've accumulated 5 over the past 5 years and i still use all of them). this year they are offering three varieties, $49.50 at maccosmetics.com:
 do-the-trick buff and line brushes  wave of a wand sweep and define brushes
 morning, noon & knight everything eye brushes
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 attending a cookie exchange party? need a hostess gift?
nothing could be more perfect than philosophy's cookie exchange shower gel set (how meta!). collection includes 4 philosophy 3-in-1's:
- lemon cookie
- oatmeal raisin
- coconut macaroon
- chocolate chip
all in a cute tin for $30. visit for philosophy.com to see their traditional holiday gift offerings ( the cookbook) and some of their newer ideas ( gingerbread man hot salt scrub). you can't go wrong!
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Lianne from The Makeup Girl went to the Ted Gibson Salon in DC and experienced a Keratin Treatment for the first time!! She may never be the same....
Marina from makeup loves me found an eye cream that instantly brightens your eye area, not after 4-6 weeks of use, because who has that kind of time?!
Amber from Beauty Blogging Junkie has more details about on-the-set skin care for cinema sensation The Twilight Saga: New Moon.
Be sure to stop by Beautiful Makeup Search each day for Teri's annual 12 Days of Giveaways, going on now!
The girls at Makeup Bag have been getting their holiday looks on. Check out some fun holiday looks from Erika, Bree & Bailey!
Spoiled Pretty is partnering with Clean & Clear for a giveaway. Win some fabulous anti-acne skin care products, plus a digital camera to document the improvement in your skin!
Julia from All About The Pretty found some fantastic products by Joya Reserve that she has sprinkled throughout the house.
Beauty Blogging Junkie @Glambr
Makeup Bag @makeupbag
TheMakeupGirl @themakeupgirl
All About The Pretty @aatp
Makeup Loves Me @makeuplovesme
Beautiful Makeup Search @beautyblogger
Spoiled Pretty @spoiledpretty
The Beauty Girls @thebeautygirls
Join The Beauty Girls official Facebook Fan Page!
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my favorite chocolatiers - vosges - have an online holiday discount!
enter the promo code BLGF09 at vosgeschocolate.com to receive 10% off from now to the end of december '09!
pictured about is their exotic caramel collection - you haven't lived until you've indulged in vosges caramels.
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 yes, i hear the sound of crickets buzzing around mLm...i know what you are thinking, "bad marina! where have you been?" it's been a crazy week, and now i'm in florida visiting my family and hitting the beach.
even though the past week has been a trying one, that doesn't mean i haven't been keeping up on my beauty routine. in fact, when i'm stressed i sometimes discover my best beauty secrets!
a few days ago the lack of sleep was making my eyes look swollen shut -- not hot. since my last birthday eye cream went from being something i gave my mom to being my best friend. so i went to my eye cream bag of tricks to see if there was something that might help. after a few days of tinkering with different brands and formulas, lancome's genifique eye is my latest and greatest find. i love the instant effects, when i need eye cream i don't need it to take effect in 4-6 weeks, and i need it now! and lancome delivered, my eye-area was instantly brightened and less swollen. $59 at lancome-usa.com.
and beauties, please accept my apologies for being m.i.a., and except more tales of my beauty experiences from the past week to come.
editor's note: in accordance with the ftc regulations, please be advised that a sample of the product mentioned was provided to MakeupLovesMe.com.
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