Two weeks ago, I woke up bright and early Saturday morning, excited to head to Nordstrom at Roosevelt Field Mall for the Spring Beauty Trend Show. Those early to the show were treated to a beauty pre-show outside the store, as well as coffee and pastries. As it neared 8am, everyone entered the store and took their seats along the runway. This year’s theme was “Beauty Getaway“, and the runway show paired beautiful spring and summer outfits with the season’s hottest makeup trends. The host of the show was Nordstrom’s East Coast Beauty and Fragrance Director Tawni Hart,...  Read More..

I was so excited to attend my first International Beauty Show (IBS) and International Esthetics, Cosmetics, and Spa Conference (IECSC) at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC a few weeks ago. I was eager to see what was new in the beauty world, popular makeup, hair, and nail trends, plus I got to purchase some great products. The show was huge, featuring over 700 exhibitors showcasing everything from hair extensions, to gel nail systems, skin care and cosmetics, beauty tools, curling irons and hair straighteners. I attended the show two days in a row so I could make sure not to miss an exhibit. In...  Read More..

Mother’s Day is this coming weekend, and since it’s the one day of the year that’s devoted to spoiling moms, why not treat her to a gift of beauty? What mom doesn’t like to get gorgeous? We’ve rounded up the best beauty gift picks that are great to pamper your mom (or yourself if you’re a mom too) on this special day. 1. The Color Surge in Bloom Mother’s Day gift set by Clinique is a wonderful kit that will give your mom everything she needs to create a bright and beautiful look this spring. The 6-pan set includes Color Surge eyeshadow, High Impact mascara,...  Read More..

I have been using a sample kit of Amore Pacific’s Moisture Bound Collection, and this luxe trio of products has been really hydrating and I’ve noticed a decrease in fine lines and dark under eye circles. If you are looking for a nice moisturizing cream to add to your skin care regimen, Amore Pacific would be a great addition. This company has its foundation in Korea, with a strong emphasis on skin care made with potent green tea as well as other Asian botanicals. It was the first company to stabilize and use EGCG, a very powerful antioxidant. After cleansing my face, the first product...  Read More..

I am ‘going green’ as much as I can, and I’m always excited to learn about natural, organic and eco-friendly beauty products. I heard about Green Grab Bag by White Apricot and I was really excited when they sent me their March bag to sample. Green Grab Bag is a monthly subscription service where you will receive at least 6 natural, organic, and vegan beauty products, including skin care, hair care, cosmetics, or fragrance. After sampling the products, you can get coupon codes from their website to be used toward the purchase of the products in full size. In my March bag, I received...  Read More..

I have been hearing so much buzz about beauty sample box subscriptions so I figured it was time for me to learn more. I was so excited when Birchbox sent me one of their sample boxes. It contained some information on the history of the company, which was founded in September 2010 by two friends Katia and Hayley, as well as a card explaining how the service works. Birchbox members pay $10 a month for a monthly delivery of 4-5 deluxe samples that are hand-selected to match their beauty profile. In addition, each member has the option to shop Birchbox.com for full-sizes of samples that they fall...  Read More..

If you have been following fashion and beauty trends, then you know that orange is THE color of the moment. I was so excited when I saw that Sephora had teamed up with color authority Pantone Universe and created sets based on Tangerine Tango, the 2012 Color of the Year.  Although it may seem like a bright color, it is universally flattering and will look great this spring and summer. I went to Sephora a week after the sets debuted and they were flying off the shelves. I was lucky to grab the last Sephora + Pantone Universe Color of the Year Collector’s Edition Set. The set contains an...  Read More..

Have a love/hate relationship with your skin? Most of us experience skin issues on our faces, especially in the T-Zone. I’m constantly dealing with a shiny nose, despite layering my foundation with powder. And now that the weather is getting warmer, I worry that I’ll continue to deal with a less-than-perfect complexion. I recently tried the Proactiv Solution Smoothing Primer – an oil-free, non-comedogenic face base, which really works well at keeping your face dewy, not greasy. I love this primer because I can wear it alone or under my makeup. It’s especially great for...  Read More..

I recently purchased some Simple skin care products from my local drugstore. The line was new to me and looked to be really natural and affordable. I then started seeing the TV commercials for this line. They are a UK-based skin care brand focused on using natural ingredients. The packaging is green and fresh-looking and I was excited to give the products a try! I bought the Kind to Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes and the Hydrating Light Moisturizer. I really liked using the wipes; they are not overly saturated, are pure and light and do a wonderful job of removing makeup and cleansing the skin. These...  Read More..

I always seem to end up with dark shadows leftover when I finish with my eye shadow palettes. I often find them to be too dark for daytime and never use them up as quickly as I do my lighter shadows. So I was really excited to get my hands on Trish McEvoy Finish Line. It is a liquid that you can add to your powder eye shadow to transform it into liquid eyeliner. You can also use it to seal your eye shadow color. It is genius, and I am wondering why I hadn’t discovered this product sooner! To use Finish Line, you just use the dropper to dispense a tiny drop of it into a corner of your eye...  Read More..

Ramona Singer 5.85ct Emerald-Color Quartz and White Topaz Sterling Silver Ring I am a huge fan of Ramona Singer jewelry for HSN. With each new collection I find pieces that I love, that work well together, and are made with exquisite details. I was happy to speak to Ramona this week and get the scoop on her latest jewelry collection for HSN, as well as some dish on Season 5 of The Real Housewives of New York, which just wrapped filming. Ramona Singer Multigemstone and Diamond Sterling Silver Earrings For Ramona’s third anniversary with HSN, she brings a collection on which she worked extra...  Read More..

Did you catch all the action during Fall 2012 Fashion Week? In addition to the wonderful apparel, there were tons of exciting beauty looks. We’ve picked three hot beauty trends, right off the runway, that you can try at home, starting today. No need to wait for Fall! 1. One trend that stuck out were the touches of neon (created by NARS) we saw at the Thakoon F/W ’12 show. My favorite way to wear neon makeup is on the lips. You can keep your eyes neutral and have all the focus on your lips, and this look works great for day or night. Some colors to try that will look great on all skin...  Read More..

During dry, cold winters, moisture is a must for your skin! I’ve recently started using Avène Thermal Spring Water aerosol spray on my face throughout the day. I am loving this mist as a great way to set my makeup, refresh my face during the day, or to use for minor skin irritations. Rich in silicates and trace elements, this low-salt mineral spring water has been proven to soothe, calm and soften skin. Over 300 clinical studies have proven the skin benefits of this water. The water is bottled at the source and is perfectly pH balanced. I never really thought to use a water mist, but now...  Read More..

I recently got a bunch of makeup goodies to sample and the first thing I wanted to try was POP Beauty’s ‘Pretty Punk’ eyeshadow palette. This palette rocks! It is portable for on-the-go use, but totally packed with all the colors you need to create many of today’s hottest beauty looks. Create a smokey eye using the black, silver, and grey shades. Or line your upper lash line with one of these shades. Choose one of the bright punk shades, either purple or blue and add a pop of color. If you dare to be bold, trace over your lash line in a bright shade. Use the four neutrals...  Read More..

I recently went to get my eyebrows shaped at my local Anastasia counter and was excited to learn that in addition to all the brow goodies, there also is a skin care line. I love all of the Anastasia Beverly Hills brow products, so I had high hopes for the skin care products too. I left my eyebrow shaping with some samples, and was looking forward to trying them. All of them are great, but I especially loved the Anastasia Line Erasing Crème Advanced. It is infused with Instalift Goji, an active glycopeptide derived from the Goji berry, which helps to lift and firm your skin, along with high-performance...  Read More..

It’s Valentine’s Day, and the best way to celebrate is with a big smooch for your favorite person! But first, get kissable lips with Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter and Maybelline Baby Lips. I have been hearing a lot of buzz about lip butters and wanted to see what the hype was all about. I picked up each product to try, and liked them both! Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter is a buttery gel balm infused with mango, shea and coconut butter, that boosts moisture by 156%. This lip balm delivers gorgeous color while keeping your lips very soft and hydrated. I used the Tutti Frutti – a nice...  Read More..

Burt’s Bees offers an affordable and natural body care and beauty line that is popping up in most drugstores. They have a wonderful philosophy of working towards making all of their products 100% natural. Using natural goodness like beta carotene, chlorophyll, and mica, Burt’s Bees products help you to look and feel good naturally. I recently bought some of their lip products, and was so impressed I wanted to let you know about the great items I found. The Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm is like the ultimate Chapstick! Shea butter and botanical waxes are what make the tinted lip...  Read More..

I was very intrigued by the Almay commercials and ads for their new Smart Shade Makeup. I was excited to find the foundation on sale today, so I picked up a tube in shade 100, which is for light skin. This foundation is super lightweight and offers fresh, natural coverage. The cool thing about the Smart Shade Makeup is that it goes on white and then adjusts to your skin when you rub it in, resulting in the perfect shade. I was skeptical at first but I must say that the foundation did blend perfectly to my skin tone. I like the light coverage for everyday wear, and if you are someone who likes...  Read More..