Do you remember getting those gigantic makeup kits for your birthday or a holiday?  You know, the ones with the cheap lipg loss and eyeshadows, and those tiny lip brushes that never seemed to work right.  Well, I recently got a more updated version of that: the NYX Box of Eyeshadows.  It’s more sophisticated and actually practical.  Plus I scored it for twenty bucks on Hautelook!

NYX is a really great brand and is still independently owned by founder Toni Ko, who started it in her 20′s (what have you done with your life?).  It’s definitely a brand worth checking out! While the color pigmentation wasn’t as striking as I hoped for, this still remains a huge addition to my makeup collection.  With 112 colors, it’s a pretty useful palette.  I found that these were best used wet because the color payoff when used dry was a little light.  Adding just a little bit of water to my brush amped these babies right up and gave me the true color that I actually saw in the giant box.

Watch the vid for my full review and an explanation on how you can salvage less pigmented shade! Read More »

This is just FAILtastic

Puck (Mark Saling) is releasing an album…we couldn’t be more excited

How to have sex with a vampire

Cameron Diaz is dating our fave Glee teacher?!

What $500,000 buys around the world

Win one hundred dollars from hautelook

Why must all celeb moms get in on the spotlight?

Well this is almost normal for Katy Perry

Justin Bieber would regret this

Guess Playboy is getting desperate for F-list celebs

I’ve heard of them all: Gilt Group, Hautelook, Rue La La, Ideeli… The exclusive, invite only “sample sale” sites that promise hot labels to a select group of shoppers at a reduced cost. Once you snag an invite, they seem like a win-win, right? Chi-chi clothes at recession prices! But like many things that seem too good to be true, the cons might outweigh the pros.

Love ‘em:
Obviously, there’s the appeal of getting cheap, cute, designer clothes without having to get out of your pajamas. Or bed. A few weeks ago, Hautelook had a Primp boutique and I flipped out. $88 thermal leggings for $20? Perfection. I figure I can wear them for future online shopping, um, trips. I also probably wouldn’t just waltz into Neiman Marcus or Bloomies sans makeup (and chic outfit) just to check out the Chloe dresses or Gucci purses without any intention of making a purchase…but doing so online is totally acceptable!

The sites also feature a large variety of designers. Sure, these sites feature well-known, crave-worthy brands like Marc by Marc, Seven For All Mankind and Oscar De La Renta, but they also have some surprising finds. Rue La La has offered Birkenstock and Lululemon boutiques, Gilt features Rachel Leigh jewelry, and Hautelook highlighted Ecoskin. It really can’t get better than old favorites and new finds. Read More »