review: mario badescu enzyme cleansing gel.

if you like cetaphil wash, you'll love mario badescu's most popular cleanser - enzyme cleansing gel.


like cetaphil, enzyme cleansing gel is a gentle, non-foaming, non-drying cleanser that removes dirt, oil and makeup without striping skin. but this is where enzyme cleanser smokes cetaphil --it's also packed with skin brightening enzymes - like papaya and grapefruit - for a refreshed glow. with the change in weather wreaking havoc on everyone's skin, this is my go-to.

$12 for 8 ounces, $20 for 16 ounces at mariobadescu.com.


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: benefit "they're real!" mascara.

ginorous lashes are all over the place nowadays --- and i couldn't be more thrilled. i seriously have no idea why anyone would want a product called "natural looking mascara". keep the dramatic lashes coming!

continuing on that premise, benefit introduces it's newest mascara - they're real!. the formula is designed to lengthen, curl, volumize, lifts & separate. this is the mascara to wear for showstopping lashes without having to hit the lash glue. perfect for balancing a bright lipstick, a la mode, or finishing off a smoldering eye.

$22 at benefitcosmetics.com.

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: urban decay lipstick.

urban decay makes the most distinctive lipsticks on the market. their encasement alone makes a bold statement - each lipstick is housed in engorged cocktail swords.


what really sets these lipsticks apart is the range of vampy shades available - urban decay has every hue of raspberry, blackberry, violets, and crimsons. with halloween just days away the right mix of sexy and sultry can surely be found at the UD counter. some of my personal favorites include apocalypse (blackberry), confession (deep semi-sheer burgundy), and gash (blood red). also, i must point out that their creamy formula and both hydrating and long wearing.

there's nothing not to love about urban decay lipstick. $22 at urbandecay.com.


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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new: beyonce's scent dream.

a few weeks ago i attended the launch for beyonce's latest scent, pulse, at the dream hotel in NYC's meatpacking district.

during the event i had a chance to sample the scent, enjoy some nibbles, and just barely missed seeing the pregnant queen B herself who did a Q&A on the scent.

pulse is a sweet combination of pear blossom, blue curacao accord, frosted bergamot, bluebird orchid, delicate peony, midnight blooming jasmine, madagascar vanilla infusion, intoxicating musk and precious woods. i'm not sure what precious woods is, but the fragrance reminds me of blue raspberry lollipops mixed with vanilla.

$59 for 3.4 ounces at macys.com.


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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miracle skin transformer joins sephora.

the miracle skin transformer line has entered sephora stores.

i stopped by sephora times square where brand founder sarah mcnamara was celebrating entering the next market frontier with cupcakes, champagne and mini-makeovers. the celebration gave me the opportunity to try miracle skin transformer treat & conceal. this concealer is not playing around. it's my newest trick for tired/puffy eyes. lightweight, but maximum coverage.


don't believe me? pop into sephora and see for yourself!

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offer from shobha!

if you haven't visited my favorite threading spot, shobha, now's the time.

when you show this offer, or mention my incredibly long name, you can get a free upgrade on your brow threading. you pay for a price of a junior stylist, but will be ungraded to a level 2/senior stylist.

one of shobha's senior stylist is the one who created my signature brow look -- not too arched, thin or rounded. i get compliments on my brows all the time, so i highly recommend.

enjoy! visit myshobha.com for locations and booking info.

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new and limited: lush halloween and day of the day products.

halloween, and the adjacent mexican holiday day of the dead, are two weeks away. lush cosmetics always creates extraordinary and thematic products to honor both holidays. this year lush has in-store offerings and online exclusives.

online exclusives:

• calacas shower jellies - are colorful fruit-scented shower jellies are designed to represent dancing “calacas” or skulls – an iconic image found in the Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations. i adore these, though can't truly figure out how to use the them. the directions say something about putting them in the freezer then enjoying them in the shower.

• lady catrina soap - zesty and uplifting hat-shaped soap decorated with brightly colored flowers is a homage to Lady Catrina, a symbolic image for the Day of the Dead (she also wore hats!).

• jacko bath bomb - this item actually has nothing to do with the michael jackson trial. it's a brew of cinnamon powder, ground chili and cayenne pepper to warm you up on those chilly fall nights.

• cobweb bath bomb - spiced cobweb-shaped bath bomb magically turns your bath water into a shimmering Halloween night sky.

• pumpkin knot wrap - wrap up your Halloween goodies in this little Pumpkin version of our Knot Wrap, or pop in a spooky bath bomb of your choice to create a fabulously seasonal Jack-o-Lantern.

in stores and online:

• ghost shower gel - made with rose and dove orchid infusions, this shower gel is translucent, lovely and only around for a moment before it disappears.
  

• pumpkin soap - this limited edition soap is pumpkin-colored and shaped with a lovely and rejuvenating scent of cinnamon, good enough to eat.
  

• calaveras bath bomb - my personal favorite - calaveras are an iconic image for Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations. this version is filled with marigold petals and zesty lime oil to make your bath time festive!

don't trick yourselves, beauties. you need to to treat yourself to one of these.


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: violent lips temporary lip tattoos - plus swatch!

violent lips temporary lip tattoos gives a theatrically dramatic makeup look, while not really requiring much skill, effort, or need to reapply. i love!

how to: similar to a non-lip temporary tattoo, to apply just blot the backing with a wet cloth and peel. i found that part very easy, however the step before, cutting the tattoo down to match the size and shape of my lips was a bit tricky. the backing is set up with vertical and horizontal lines, like graph paper, to help with the lip measuring, but it's still an imprecise science.

the packaging (contains 3 appliques for $14.99):

and here's how it turns out when i got violent with my own lips:

i took multiple pics - and this one was actually the least frightening. the mix of colors in the sprinkles tattoo makes it somewhat zombie-esque, perfect for halloween. i'm still into the concept, but i'm thinking of trying out one of the red of pink styles next time for a sexier look.

my pattern was part of a limited edition dessert themed collection violent lips did with the sugar factory. shop all other styles at violentlips.com.



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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it's spa week!

PSA: it's spa week in new york, and many other cities! and amazingly, there are still deals to be had.

from now until october 16th many spas are offering some of their signature services for just $50. now's a perfect time for an end of summer facial or to try out a new service.

to learn more about what's still available visit spaweek.com.


editor's note: in accordance with the ftc regulations, please be advised that MakeupLovesMe.com attended a spa week event.

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review: scope dual-blast mouthwash.

one of my favorite scenes in mean girls is when cady and her new-found friends, the plastics, are discussing their imperfections. cady confides to the other girls that she sometimes has really bad breath in the morning. the other girls are totally appalled by this confession. classic.

cady, i, too, suffer from morning breath. my latest cure is scope dual-blast mouthwash. this amphora of freshness kills 98% of bad breath germs and helps obliterate strong food odors. dual-blast was specifically designed to allow consumers to enjoy their favorite odor causing foods, like onions and garlic, knowing they can follow it up with the mouthwash and have a stink-free day.

suggested retail price $4.99 (750ml); $5.99 (1250ml). currently available at mass market retailers nationwide.


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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the perfect matte, bright peach lip color - 12 swatches.

my best friend, and author of the incredibly articulate personal style blog self styled serendipity (and hottest woman on earth, see above picture for supporting evidence), recently told me she was on the hunt for a matte, bright, peach lip color.

since amy used to work sephora and the shiseido counter she knows makeup speak - therefore she chose the perfect adjectives to describe her desired lippie. i chose those same adjectives - matte, bright and peach - to search the beauty files for her perfect shade.

here are the top twelve contenders:

from this project i learned that like the juicy fruit itself - peach comes in many hues - some more coral, some orange, some pinks, and some flesh tones. mass brand and prestige brands had shades that fit the bill - some even had the words peach or nectar in the name. within this range there should be a peach for every skin tone, budget and desired level of drama.

from wrist to elbow:

• MAC sheen supreme lipstick - gotta dash!
• nuance salma hayek color vibrance lipstick - coral
• three custom color specialists classic lipstick - cool peach
  
• three custom color specialists classic lipstick - cococabana
• bobbi brown rich lip color - rich coral
• covergirl lip perfection - rapture
• lime crime opaque lipstick - cosmopop
• mark lipstick - coral fixation
• bobbi brown rich lip color - sweet nectar
• maybelline color sensational high shine lipstick - coral lustre
• maybelline color sensational high shine lipstick - peachy scene
• wet n wild mega last lip color - just peachy

my pick for best matches - meaning these two are the brightest, the most truly peach, and the most matte - are lime crime opaque lipstick in cosmopop and wet n wild mega last lip color in just peachy. now that amy has 12 colors to chose from i can't wait to see exactly which version of peach she was envisioning.

have a peachy week, beauties!

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review: eos ultra moisturizing shave cream.

beauties - this is a story of how things often go when i shave my legs: i apply the shave gel, take a second to pick up razor, and begin shaving only to notice that the i gel i applied has already washed away. i might as well just dry shave.


eos ultra moisturizing shave cream has an ultra rich, non-foaming formula that stays put. this is what makes it my favorite.

other benefits include it's hydrating formula (with aloe, oat, shea butter and vitamins e and c) and it's subtle scents:

• pomegranate raspberry
• vanilla bliss
• lavender jasmine
• fragrance-free (for sensitive skin)

availabe at walmart, walgreens, and target for a suggested retail price of $3.49.


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: i love...cosmetics.

dupe- a word used in the online beauty community to refer to a mass market product that can pass for the it's high range counterpart.

for the philosophy girl (like myself), i love...cosmetics offers the perfect dupe.

available stateside at duane reade stores, i love...cosmetics turn iconic edibles into body washes, lotions, body butters and lip glosses. even their simple packaging with neat black print evokes the philosophy brand.

current flavor offerings include:

• vanilla & icecream
• coconut & cream
• raspberry & blackberry
• strawberries & milkshake
• lemons & limes
• mangos & papaya
• blueberry & smoothie

i tested the strawberries & milkshake lotion, and while it a lot more strawberry than milkshake, the smell was still good enough to eat. for around $10 at the local duane reade, i love...cosmetics makes for an easy last minute gift or pick me up at the end of a bad day.


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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new: head & shoulders itchy scalp collection.

beauties, my scalp can get a little itchy and flaky during this transitional weather time. it's not cute, but at least i know it and i do something about it. i always add head & shoulders to my shampoo/conditioner rotation for the fall and winter.

this year brand has 3 new varietals:

• itchy scalp collection - menthol and eucalyptus scent
  
• dry scalp collection - almond oil infused
  
• sensitive scalp collection - with aloe

i have the itchy scalp shampoo and conditioner, which serve the dual purpose of waking me up with it's refreshing menthol-y scent. plus, the flakes and itch have disappeared (thank god).

$4.99 a bottle at mass retailers nationwide.

in addition to new product lines, the brand also has a new ambassador, alyson hannigan, from how i met your mother. hannigan is working on their how to be a good girlfriend guide, including advice on relationship blunders and beauty faux pas. learn more at the head & shoulders for women facebook fan page.


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: paul & joe upper east side pencil eyeliner.

i love a glitter liner. for fall 2011 -the manhattan collection - paul & joe have introduced the perfect one. upper east side is a a charcoal black with a dash of glitter for eye catching intrigue.

what's so perfect about this liner is that it stays put! usually about one hour into applying my glitter liner someone will say to me, "i love the glitter on your cheeks!" and i'm left thinking, "that was actually supposed to be around my eyes, but oh well." the waterproof formula paul & joe created really does keep the liner in place, even the glitter!

liners run $20 a piece. the manhattan collection itself is filled with many other charms - including eyeshadows that look like candy. see it the whole collection this fall at bergdorf goodman or apothica.com.


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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