review: keratin perfect 30-day brazilian hair smoothing system.

keratin perfect 30 day brazilian hair smoothing system is poised to be the next big sephora exclusive. hitting sephora.com on may 1st, 2011 and shelves on may 12th, it's an at home keratin treatment rumored to be on par with the salon service by the same name.

the set comes in three versions - the smoothing duo (just the shampoo and treatment) the essentials collection (add styling products, sans flat iron) and the deluxe addition (all of the above, plus a flat iron). the three collections will retail for $65, $95 and $235, respectively.

i used the essential collection with my own flatiron (my amika flat iron, who i love dearly) did it last saturday and so far i'm pleased as pie with the results. i can't compare it to the salon service, because i've never got a keratin treatment/brazilian straightening, but i can say my frizz be gone, during what has been a very humid week.

here's what you need to know:

• you will need to devote 1.5 hours to the process from start to finish -starting with a clarifying shampoo, then the treatment which you comb on, let rest for 10, leave in as you proceed to blow dry then flat iron.
  
• i want to re-emphasize that it's a leave-in treatment - you don't rinse it out - i had a lot of trouble wrapping my head around that, and the directions didn't go out of their way to make it abundantly clear.
• it's sulfate free and safe for color treated hair.
  
• it has a very distinct, though not entirely on pleasant smell - sort of like mangos, and straight-up weed.

in sum: if your looking for sleek, shiny hair you can create at home, keratin perfect is for you.


editor's note: in accordance with the ftc regulations, please be advised that MakeupLovesMe.com received attended an event for and received samples of this product for review.

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new: josie maran bares it all in video for women's earth alliance.

this picture of josie maran really does not do the video justice, josie maran's argan oil video for sephora's youtube channel is the sexiest cosmetics video i've seen since eva mendes 2008 calvin klein video.


model turned cosmetics mogel, josie maran takes it all off and rolls in the sand while describing her cravings for argan oil. it's mesmerizing. click here if that souds like something you want to see. surprisingly, the video is not done in the name of exhibitionism. it's to raise awareness and funds for the women's earth alliance, which works on many global environmental issues including supplying clean drinking water to those without.

to learn more about josie's work with women's earth alliance or josie maran's summer makeup and skincare infused with argan oil (i like the argan self tanning cream a lot) visit josiemarancosmetics.com.

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the "road to healthy skin tour" is coming to a city near you.

the skin cancer foundation's "road to healthy skin" tour, presented by aveeno and rite aid is starting their fourth year. the tour travels around the US providing free skin cancer screenings, along with aveeno sunscreen samples, coupons and complimentary copies of fitness magazine.


skin cancer is the most common cancer is the US, affecting 1 in 5 americans. if you are not already seeing your derm or derm NP for an annual skin check, please go get down with this tour. so far on this year's tour they have already discovered 12 melanomas, 65 basal cell carcinomas and 27 squamous cell carcinomas.

to see when they will be in your hood, visit www.skincancer.org/tour.

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new: jo malone decorated home candles by david hicks.

candles pictured from left to right: red roses in hicksonian, lime basil & mandarin in riviera, and pomegranate noir in herbert's carnation.

spring cleaning has me thinking about the little details throughout my apartment that express my (and alas, also the boyfriend's) taste. small vintage toys or souvenirs from our travels are some of my favorite things to bring a room to life. but, a well-crafted candle is a close second.

ideally, a candle will both fill a room with its beautiful scent and be an eye catching addition to the room, the latter being where many a candle falls short. but not the jo malone decorated home candles by david hicks. fragrance genius jo malone has collaborated with decorating mega force ashley hicks to create 3 candles of artfully exquisite beauty, with an undeniable sex appeal, which 100% what i'm trying to convey with my home decor.

ashley hicks is the son of david hicks, famed late 20th century interior designer. ashley designed this line as a celebration of his father. he says of the collection, "the lively riviera pattern, matched with lime basil & mandarin, transports me to summers spent in the mediterranean. while the shade for hicksonian, paired with red roses, is taken from the drawing room of my father's oxfordshire home that was flooded with the scent of summer blooms. and the rich plum of the geo-floral carnation is deep and intense. just like pomegranate noir." indeed.

$65 per 200g candle at jomalone.com.

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review: neulash active eyelash technology.

neulash is a non-prescription lash enhancer. with nightly application along the lash line (application is similar to that of liquid liner) neulash conditions the lashes to create longer, fuller lashes.

there are many different lash enhancers whirling about the market, but i decided to try neulash after visiting LA last month. my nail tech's lashes while i was there were gorgeous -- i couldn't believe her when she told me she didn't have extensions, and she swore up and down that her lashes were nothing to write home about before she started using neulash. if i didn't have her lashes committed to memory i never would have made it through the first 4 weeks - because i saw absolutely NO increase in my lash length during that time. instead, i saw was a bit of redness on my eyelids after applying, which went away in about 1/2 hour.

but at the 4 week mark, like a very slow magic trick, my lashes started to wow me. they are still nowhere near as long as the nail tech's, but they are on their way and noticeably fuller. my new hobby is running my fingers along them.

1 tube of neulash retails for $130-150, comparable with a set of lash extensions. while mine are nowhere near as long as my extensions usually go, one advantage neulash has over extensions is it's your own lashes, so you can sleep on them and get them wet all you want.


editor's note: in accordance with the ftc regulations, please be advised that MakeupLovesMe.com received a sample of this product for possible review.

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review: gillette venus proSkin moistureRich razor.

calling all clumsy girls! you need this in your life.


as someone who makes a habit of nicking my knees and ankles every time i've shaved my legs for 15+ years now - venus proSkin moistureRich razor comes to my apartment as a godsend. i have not cut myself once since i started using it two months ago (gods, please don't let writing that jinx me!).

venus' newest razor has a respectable 3 blades (i'm starting to think that razors with 4 might be overkill - and probably doesn't help with my massacred legs issue), plus a moisture strip (much more useful than a 4th blade because it means no shaving gel needed), plus a pivoting head (again, helps with the nicking situation).

venus proSkin moistureRich razor plus two blades retails for approximately $10 at retailers nationwide.


editor's note: in accordance with the ftc regulations, please be advised that MakeupLovesMe.com received a sample and attended an event to become familiar with this product.

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how to choose your sunglasses.

beauties, my dream of sunshine for nyc has come true, at least for a day.


yesterday's warm weather got me thinking about the many necessary makeup adjustments that sunshine brings. one of the most important adjustments isn't makeup, strictly speaking. sunglasses become necessary for a finished face because there is a direct correlation between temperature and eye makeup meltdown. shades are especially useful when one brunching and promenading, summer's finest activities.

the perfect sunglasses should flatter your face and reflect your taste, not just stop you from squinting. my favorite brands are tom ford and ray-ban. both brands offer unique styles without getting cartoonish and without going too oversized (i have a small head, so this is key).
for this summer, i've chosen a new pair of ray-bans as my signature shades (from the shadesdaddy.com) -- the ray ban olympian II (see above). i love the gold band across the top. this was my first time using shadesdaddy -- but i'll be going back because i see they have a ton of tom ford's at discounted rates (not to mention just about every other sunglasses designer).


editor's note: in accordance with the ftc regulations, please be advised that MakeupLovesMe.com received a sample of this product for possible review.

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nail art in nyc: blush nail lounge.

blush nail lounge is nyc's latest hot spot for nail art (i may not know many things, but you know i know about hot spots for nail art).


their specialty seems to be creating leopard print nails in any color combo imaginable (i have grey with neon spots covering my toes right now), but they are open to doing just about any nail art that you can dream up. after much deliberation, i settled little bows on my ring finger (see below), that the artist did totally freehand! if you are in need of inspiration they have an idea book filled with pictures of nails they've done, including one of nails covered in a cut-up dollar bill (i was thisclose to getting those...).

if you love nail art but don't necessarily want calgel nails, this is the place. manis start at $13 and increase based on your art needs. visit them at blushnails.com or IRL at 218 east 5th street.


editor's note: in accordance with the ftc regulations, please be advised that MakeupLovesMe.com received this service gratis for possible review.

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new from benefit: B. radiant skincare.

beginning this month, benefit cosmetics adds a newest benefit to their cheeky brand - a skincare line.


B. right skincare by benefit is, as the name implies, a line devoted to achieving radiant skin. at the launch event for this line i watched a video that was way over my head -- but it involved a frenchman in a labcoat, so i can assure you that this line has a lot more to it than pretty packaging (though the sea glass-esque packaging is really working for me).

the 9 piece line includes all the basics - eye makeup remover, eye cream, foaming cleanser and moisturizer - as well as some truly unique offerings - triple performing faical emulsion SPF 15 and ultra-hydrating mist (nothing - but nothing - says extravagance like a facial mist). all at a very affordable price point - nothing breaks the $40 mark.

obsessively check for it sometime this month at benefitcosmetics.com.


editor's note: in accordance with the ftc regulations, please be advised that MakeupLovesMe.com received attended an event and received samples of these products for possible review.

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