One of my favorite things about fall is not the return of pumpkin everything, but the chance to start fresh with my look: new clothes, new boots and a complete overhaul on my makeup drawer. I love how it feels to have a completely fresh wardrobe and to be excited about getting dressed every day. I love the challenge of incorporating new trends into my look. And I just love any excuse to play with my makeup for a few hours.

One of the trends I’m most excited for this fall is the return of the bright, bold, purple eye. I know it sounds scary and overwhelming, but you you can wear violet hues without looking like Barney. Just look at all the models doin’ their thang during Fashion Week!

Like with all bold makeup, the key to pulling off this look is to keep the rest of your face simple so the purple on your eyes will really pop.  Try out some of the products and techniques below and I promise to get you looking like a chic starlet walking the red carpet… not like a big, scary Purple People Eater. Read More »

Let me start off by saying that I am a firm believer in spending money on quality makeup.  Oftentimes well-trusted and expensive brands of makeup are more effective, longer lasting and – shocking – a much better product all around.  However, there are times when buying the expensive stuff is just stupid.

Case in point: when new makeup trends come along. It is silly to spend a ton of money on something without knowing if you’re really interested in the product or if it’s just all the hype. This is the perfect time to invest in the cheaper version to see if it’s something you want to incorporate into your makeup routine long-term. If it is, you can fork over the cash for the better stuff later.

Below are some of the major makeup trends happening right now that (if you get inundated with the ads as much as I do) you’re probably dying to test out. I included the expensive version and the cheap(er) version so you can try them on for size without going for broke. Read More »

So if you are like me, you’ve been eating more ramen, wearing last year’s winter coat and squeezing every last drop out of the lip gloss tube. In these tough economic times almost everyone is tightening the belt and, sadly, our beauty regimens are one of the first luxuries to get cut. Penny pinching can be depressing, but finding small ways to treat yourself can really boost your spirits. There is a beauty brand out there the really understands this fact and could prove to be our savior!

e.l.f. – eyes lips face Read More »

So Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and while I am not uber pumped – as I am finding myself boyfriendless – that doesn’t mean that I don’t still love one thing about V-Day: red and pink. I don’t need a boyfriend; I love my makeup.

Reds and pinks are usually restricted to lips, but why not get a little crazy? Here are some ravishing red and pretty pink products to try out. So whether you have a romantic candlelight dinner planned with that special someone, or whether your special someone is a bag of green M&Ms, and a handle of Svedka, you’ll be prepared for a great night!

Bare Essentuals liner shadow in Black Ruby: Intimidated by the idea of red liner? Don’t judge just yet… This shimmery powder is a dark brown with flecks of ruby color. It looks great either as a dry liner or mix it with a little bit of liner sealer to create a more dramatic wet liner.

Clinique Eyeshadow Duo in Strawberry Fudge: This twosome is a take on a delicious dessert. The brown works really well with the light pink to create a subtly pink-princess look.

Urban Decay Mascara in Black Cherry: This burgundy mascara may be a bit much on your lashes alone, so try coating them with black mascara first. When it dries, coat just the tips of your lashes with this fun deep-red hue. Read More »

So it’s no secret that I love makeup, especially quality brand-name makeup. What I don’t love is the high-end prices (duh, who does?). While I’m not trying to cheat on my bffl Sephora, I’ve made a couple of discoveries of places where you can get the same brand names…for less! A lot less.

Want your Lancome Juicy tube for half the price? How about a Stilla liner on the cheap? Check out these discount stores and you might just get lucky! Read More »

The holidays are the best time to get great beauty bundles for your best girlies, or – umm – yourself. What could be better than getting the best makeup brands at the best prices? Adding a little shimmer to your holiday look could never hurt, and these beauty kits will help you create the perfect look for the year to come. Even better, you can break them down and give the individual components out to lots of people (now that’s some smart shopping!).

Below are some of the best beauty bundle deals out there right now. I’d just wait until the lines die down at the mall (or stick to online shopping) to get these; you don’t want to end up like that Wal-mart employee.…

The Sephora Brand Ultimate Blockbuster: This amazing kit includes 84 eyesshadow colors (both cream and powder) and 60 lip glosses. Also included in this mega make-up kit are blushes, face powders, and brushes. Customer reviews rate the $50 kit at 4 stars, making it a great deal. While some reviewers complain about poor makeup quality, overall I find it hard to complain about such a diverse kit. While you may not find bright blue to be useful on a daily basis, I assure you it will come in handy one day for an 80s party.

Bare Escentuals: Bare Pleasures Kit- This kit includes 9 Bare Minerals eye shadows in neutral and bright tones. These shadows are blendable and easily layerable. They are also easy to convert into eye-liners with a touch of liner-sealant. If you’re an even bigger Bare Minerals fan, I would suggest checking out Nordstrom’s exclusive Bare Escentuals Ultimate Indulgence Collection. This collection is exclusive to Nordstrom and features 20 eye and face powders. These hues, ranging in color intensity, are a $200 value at only $75! That makes it quite easy to justify picking up one for a friend (and yourself.) Read More »

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We’ve all seen the commercials, heard our mothers’ and doctors’ advice and read the warning articles. But SPF still remains a point of negligence for way too many of us. For a solid 16 years I tried to defy my Irish heritage and insisted on laying out and beaching it with my uber tan girlfriends, sans sunscreen. After several severe sunburns throughout my childhood and early teens (I’m talking blistering, purple skin, too painful to wear clothes or move sun damage), I was only slightly weary about the danger I was exposing myself to.

Finally, halfway through high school, I made peace with being pale and embraced the art of self tanning. Since then I have (tried to) become religious about slathering on sun protection every. single. day. It is a chore sometimes, but when I want to slack on the SPF, I just think of this gadget. Here’s how to work SPF into your lifestyle easily.

SPF Moisturizer: For every day exposure, protection while going to and from work or school, or spending minimal time outdoors. Daily use of a low SPF sunscreen (like 15) can reduce sun damage even more than occasional use of a super high SPF. Sub this for your regular morning face lotion. Aim for at least 30. Most people don’t use the right amount of sun protection (about a teaspoon for your face)–they usually use only half, so double the level of SPF you desire. If you think you’ll miss that sun kissed glow you achieve on your cheeks and nose, try Neutrogena Summer Glow Daily moisturizer. You’ll still get a healthy glow…emphasis on healthy. Read More »

‘Tis the season for parties, get togethers and family dinners.

And if you’re going to be spending the next few weeks in a perpetual state of socialization, you’d better look your best!

Manicure anyone?

Lancome, the French makeup brand who I mostly associate with mom’s and makeup counters at the mall has released it’s newest polish which is set to completely blow your mind.

Le Magnetique is a brand new nail varnish that is activated with its own custom magnet…which leaves a sassy little star shape on each and every finger. Perfect for the holidays, right? Read More »

My name is Diana, and I’m a mascara junkie. In addition to touching up my Almay retractable eyeliner numerous times a day, my purse always holds an eyelash curler and a tube of my mascara-of-the-month.

I am not one of those classic Maybelline Great Lash girls. When I shop for a new mascara, I pick up whichever package has the most exciting adjectives (Volum’ Express Turbo Boost!) and lofty promises (“Visibly lengthens by 40% Volumizes up to 4X!).

And yet, despite all my efforts and the naturally thick, dark lashes I start with, I can never quite achieve that flirty, heavy eyelash fringe I was seeking. I don’t envy celebrity bodies—I envy their lashes. Read More »