Is it just me or is there another “revolutionary” new makeup product introduced every freaking day?! Just walking into Ulta or Sephora (or even Walgreens!) sends many chicas into fits of hysteria, reaching for the nearest brown bag to regulate their breathing. It’s all so overwhelming.

So how can you know which product – among the sea of thousands – is the best? Which does what you need it to do? Which ones are worth the extra money?

Let me help. I don’t know every beauty product out there, but I’ve tested a lot of them and I’ll share the best and the worst with you.

What it is: Dior Skinflash Primer- Radiance Boosting Makeup Primer

Why this should be in your bag: This product is pricey at $40, but it is multi-functional.  You can use it as a primer underneath your makeup, then throw it in your bag and apply it during the day to even out your skin and eliminate shine.  It includes Photo-smart pigments.  Okay, I have no idea what that means, but it must be good because it adds light to your face for an instant glow and makes you look refreshed even if you were up super late studying… or partying.  Instant wonderful glow.

How to use it: This primer has a built in brush, which makes it portable.  Just twist the base and the primer will flow into the brush.  Apply the makeup to the back of your hand and swirl the brush in, then apply to your face to make your foundation last or to look instantly refreshed. Read More »

Mmm. Afterbirth...

I’m all for living an organic lifestyle. There’s simply no reason not to. But I draw the line at smearing birthing excrement on my face.

Gross, I know, but Hollywood is telling me that the new fountain of youth comes from the very beginning of youth itself.  So alert the media: the new craze for the beauty-obsessed is placenta facials.

Just to make sure we’re all clear, placenta is a temporary organ joining the mother and fetus. It transfers oxygen and nutrients from the mother to the fetus, and permits the release of carbon dioxide and waste products from the fetus. But don’t worry, the facial itself is “ordinary-smelling.” Phew, because I smelling like afterbirth and fetal waste is the real problem here.

Although it may be vile, placenta is rich in proteins and zinc, so it can’t be discredited just because it came out of someone’s birth canal.  And it’s not like weirder things haven’t happened.

I blame Victoria Beckham. She told the world she was rubbing bird poop on her face and the next thing you know people are scraping fresh droppings off their windshields and saving it for a nighttime facial treatment. I believe this was at the same time people were using bull’s semen as a leave-in conditioner. That just leaves me wondering how said semen was protracted. All kinds of nasty.

Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a rash of Placenta Snatchers showing up bedside at the birth of children everywhere, led by none other than Joan Rivers. Protect your placenta, new mothers.

Oh, the things people will do for beauty.

When I was growing up, my dad always told me, “Caitlin, be prepared.”

I’m pretty sure he was referring to things like school work and job interviews, but I took that advice to heart….with beauty supplies.

Thanks to my dad I never leave the house without my big bag of beauty essentials. You never know what could happen on your way to class – blisters from your shoes, a sudden monsoon, laughing so hard you cry off all your mascara – so it’s best to bring along a few things to save you from a makeup meltdown. I’ll share with you all of my must-brings that have gotten me through all of my beauty emergencies and then you can customize your portable beauty bag to hold whatever you like (yeah, stacks on deck, Patron on ice…). Read More »

When a tiny picture of a naked “plus-size” model showed up on page 194 of Glamour last month, the readers went wild for it.

And for good reason. How often is it that we are shown a beautiful woman that isn’t a size zero, comfortable in her own skin and naked on the pages of any magazine?

We’ll ignore the fact that being able to “pinch and inch” doesn’t make you plus-size and that this women pictured (who looks maybe a size 8, tops) still isn’t representing a huge portion of the female population who actually are wearing plus sizes. At least we are making a step in the right direction.

Or are we?

After Glamour cashed in on a crapload of press and positive publicity from the picture, Marie Clare decided they wanted in and will now feature a plus-size columnist who plans to give fashion advice to plus sized readers.

While it’s a good start that she actually is plus sized (a size 18 to be exact) and will be able to give helpful and honest advice to other women her size, I still can’t help but wonder what the real motivation is behind this trend to cater to the plus sized readers.

I doubt it’s a coincidence that as sales plummet and magazine companies are dropping like hungry models, they are finally realizing a whole population of their readership has been left out of every fall fashion special, every swimsuit edition, every best-jeans-for-your-body article. Why now?

I’m afraid that the answer is self-serving and superficial: they want to make money. They are capitalizing on and exploiting a whole population of woman in order to boost sales.

Do I love that we are able to have diversity in what we consider beautiful? Yes. Does a picture of a naked plus-size woman bring a smile to my face? Yes. Is it necessary to have fashion advice for women of all shapes and sizes? Absolutely! Read More »

We caught up with some stylish celebs and top make up artists to bring you their get-gorgeous tips and tricks that you can DIY at home! Here are the tips we found most useful:

To keep her scalp hydrated and healthy, Padma Lakshmi (host of “Top Chef” and Pantene spokesperson) told us she microwaves a cup of jojoba oil and massages it into her hair. We tried it and it left our hair feeling nice and soft. (Photo courtesy Pantene). Read More »

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It’s always hard to dump someone.  There are hurt feelings and harsh words, maybe a few tears, definitely some cocktails and desserts smothered in chocolate, caramel, and Oreo cookie crumbles.

Well get out the Edy’s, Sephora.

Everyone knows that Sephora and I (and Sephora.com) have been going steady since I was 15, but we’re currently on the rocks.   There’s a new makeup store in my life, and it’s name is BeautyTicket.com. Yup, although Sephora was the love of my life, I just can’t control my feelings for this much better beauty stop that recently rocked my world.

But it wasn’t just a one night fling; this is serious. I’m falling in love.

This amazing website carries super great brands like YSL, Smashbox, Stila, Tarte, Urban Decay, and Pop, for up to 85% off.  Wow.  I’ll give you a minute to think about how freakin’ amazing that is.  I’m talkin’ Smashbox wooden 4-shadow/blush pallet, originally $45, now $19.00.

These are a few of my favorite current finds, but the merchandise changes so check em’ out quickly:

Smashbox Muse Artist Eye Shadow Pallete: $48 down to $29.99: 10 different colored shadows with a brush!

Yves Saint Laurent “Love Collection” Blush: Was $60, down to $29.99.  This blush is embedded in a foundation so you can use one or the other, or both.  Oh, and its shaped like an adorable pink heart. Read More »

The whole thing was scripted?! NO!

So You Think You Can Dance gets X-rated.

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Amy Winehouse channels Eminem.

Few girls have unlimited time to spend in front of the mirror every morning – most of us are battling for that precious ten minutes of bathroom time with roommates or siblings. But a lack of time is no excuse for tired, puffy eyes and messy hair!

Invest in products that do more than one thing, saving you time, money, and space in your makeup bag. Here are the ones we can’t live without: Read More »

It’s no secret that I love Bare Escentuals Mineral Makeup.  I ban myself from going in the store because I simply can’t control my credit card when in the presence of such amazing makeup. 

When friends need to go in I blab on and on about what they should get, to the point where sales associates consider offering me a job.  Don’t worry though, I don’t actually work for a mineral makeup company so everything I’m telling you is legit; no one is paying me under-the-table (but if you are from B.E and are lookin to throw some dough my way…hit me up). 

Okay, so before you dismiss this as just another article advertising mineral makeup, listen up: I’m going to tell you exactly what the benefits are so you can decide if mineral makeup is right for you. There are so many things you need to know (beyond what those ladies tell you in the 3am infomercial) and you may realize that mineral makeup is the best thing for you and your punim (that’s face.)

- Many types of regular makeup (i.e. certain liquid or compressed powder foundations) contain harsh chemicals or fragrances (synthetic dyes, preservatives, etc..)

- Mineral makeup doesn’t contain these extra chemicals and instead most mineral makeups contain titanium dioxide, which is a natural anti-inflammatory and sunscreen.  This is especially beneficial if your skin has inflammatory issues (like if it gets red easily or you have acne).  The color in mineral makeup is also a natural pigmentation. Read More »