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.

Bare Escentuals Liners: Waterproof and smudge-proof liners in Sugar Plum (metallic lilac) or Now (plum wine).   Use a neutral eye shadow as a base then line your top and bottom lash line with a fine tipped brush, blending at the corners.  To create a thick dramatic line, add water or liner sealent to the liner, but a soft dry powder works just fine.  You can create a smokey purple eye with the liners by using them more as a shadow. Sweep the purple close to the center of the lid and then going over the center with a light shadow.

For another liner option try Clinique Cream Liner in Starry Plum.

Pop Beauty “Brown Eyes” Shadow Set: Find this on my new favorite site BeautyTicket.com for only $8.99! These light shimmery shadows can be blended together to create different shades of perfect purple.  Because these shadows are light you can use a thicker liner and more dramatic mascara to glam it up.

Vincent Longo- Trio Eye shadows in “Chariot Wings” or “Purple Sky”: This eye shadow trio lays it out so easy for you that there really isn’t an opportunity to mess up.  The shade with the moon imprint is to be used as an accent through crease in your lid, the sun implant is applied on the lid up to the brow and the star imprint is used as a liner on the top and/or bottom lash line. For a bolder shadow option try Sephora’s Colorful Mono Eye Shadow in Fairy Princess, but stick to a simple face, and don’t try this color during the day.

Purple nail color is also in for the fall so try Lancome nail polish in Blind Date, for only $8 here.

Enjoy going plum crazy!

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.

Vibrating Mascara
Things that vibrate are good, but does that apply to makeup?  Vibrating mascara is the new thing, but I’m pretty skeptical about it being as effective as ads claim.  Lancome makes a vibrating mascara that retails for $34 (if I’m spending that much on something that vibrates it better do more than lengthen my lashes).  But if you just want to test out the pulsating mascara trend without breaking the bank, you could also check out Maybelline’s vibrating mascara for only $14.99.  Much better idea for a product that you aren’t totally sure of.
Savings: $19.

Foundation Finish
Foundation veils are a great way to add a matte finish to your look, but they don’t work wonders for everyone. Why spend money if you aren’t sure it will make a drastic difference on your skin?  As much as I love Bare Escentuals (trust me, it’s a lot), $19 is kind of a lot to spend on a product that may not make a huge difference.  So if you want to test out a foundation finish, try e.l.f’s mineral booster for only $5! Yes, the price of a Subway footlong!
Savings: $14.

Lip Boosters
If you wanna plump your lips without the aid of collagen, lip boosters are the cheap alternative.  But if you aren’t sure how your lips will react, or how great the change will be, you probably don’t wanna shell out a lot of money.  Laura Mercier’s Lip Plumper is $30.  Yikes! But, our ladies at Victoria’s Secret created a lip plumper for only $18.  Much better option if you want to test out this type of product.
Savings: $12.

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

It used to be that if you wanted dirt cheap makeup, you had to settle for Wet N Wild’s oddly colored crayon textured lipsticks. But what happens when a luxury beauty mogul gets fed up with beauty innovations only being available to people with loads of cash? Well…you get GREAT makeup for A DOLLAR. That’s right one hundred pennies will get you fabulous new makeup.

Scott Vincent Borba created a luxury skincare line called Borba. It was innovative, effective and everyone loved it, but good ol’ Scotty boy thought that it was unfair that only prestige (read: very pricey) brands could offer quality ingredients and innovations. So he decided to create e.l.f. – eyes lips face. The concept was to use very basic packaging, keep advertising costs down (no celeb endorsements) and pass the savings on to the customer. The result is a quality makeup line where most items are just a buck and almost everything is under five.

What’s the catch? Well, there are a couple. Sizes can be a little bit smaller than what you are used to and you have to pay for shipping, which can take awhile. So if you only want a few items, it’s probably not worth the order (paying $7 shipping for $4 of makeup is not too practical). Also, if you buy a product you don’t like, you’re kinda stuck. Unlike Sephora, which takes back anything and everything even if you used it already (really!) e.l.f. does not do returns. There’s always a down side, but e.l.f. makes their own versions of some beauty favorites. Here’s an example of how e.l.f could totally cut your current beauty budget.

Let’s say you are a fabulous makeup maven who uses Bare Escentuals Foundation ($25), Stila Lip Glaze ($20), MAC eye shadow ($14.50) and Lancome Mascara ($24). Just the basics leaves you with an $83.50 price tag.

The same look from e.l.f.

Mineral foundation – $5

Hypergloss – $1

Brighten Eye Color – $1

Earth & Water Mascara Duo – $1

Grand Total: $8

Of course you love your favorite beauty products and would never want to give them up forever, but e.l.f. is the perfect place to weather the economic storm. If there’s a daring new look you’ve been dying to try but didn’t want to spend the money on something pricey, or you are just looking to find more affordable replacements for your old staples, why not get a few girls on your hall together and place a big order? You can have a fun beauty night when everything arrives and enjoy even bigger savings, as orders over $75 get free shipping!

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.

Lancome Color Fever Gloss in Mercury Rising: Intense red is really in right now and perfect for V-Day. Lather in this bright red gloss, but keep the rest of your face simple, for a classic look.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Pink Pursuit: This pastel pink lip gloss is super shiny and also moisturizes. Plus, 10% of these proceeds are donated to breast cancer research!

O.P.I Nail Polishes: So. many. options. If you are looking for a pretty pink try: I’m Indi-a Mood for Love. Or, if you are looking for a deep garnet color try: Romeo and Juliet. Or, if you are looking for a translucent pink check out: Who Needs a Prince Charming? (Amen to that!)

(Bonus: reading all the nail polish color names on this site is quite amusing. How do I get a job naming nail polish colors?)

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!

Costco: You probably know Costco as the warehouse your parents shop at for electronics and 30 gallon vats of mayo, but who knew it also had amazing makeup? A glorious June day last summer I found an amazing Shashbox kit with four eye shadows, mascara, glosses and highlighter – for only $20! Twenty dollars!! Other great Costco finds include Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume at an unbelievable price, as well as Chanel products and Kirkland. (A little less known but makes great products. Try the perfect match concealer!)

No local Costco? Try out BJ’s Wholesale Club.

Helpful Hint: These stores require membership, but it’s a simple process to get a card and totally worth it.

Nordstrom Rack: Obviously the neglected sister of Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack contains many of the same brands at a highly discounted price. In addition to awesome clothes and accessories, Nordstrom Rack has some great makeup brands, like Stilla and Two-Faced. It’s a great, reliable place to pick up everything like shadow pallets and lip glosses at practically half off. My friend got a gorgeous Stilla gloss for only $7!

No Norstrom Rack? Check out Saks Off 5th (Saks Fifth Avenue’s discount store).

Mashalls: Of course Marshalls has fabulous shoes and dresses, but they also have a couple of great makeup finds. I’ve seen brands such as Lancome and Stilla, among others. The makeup can be a bit hard to locate depending on the organization of the store, but once you find them you can get some awesome brands.

No Marshalls? Check out your local TJ Maxx instead.

Tips for Discount Makeup Locations:

*Although you can’t order makeup online from most of the above mentioned stores, you can search for the nearest locations to find out the best option for you.

*Make sure you check back often; sometimes makeup missions can be failures, but stock changes constantly. Ask a manager what day new stock comes in and make sure to check on that day.

*Sometimes people can be careless at discount stores and you’ll find a lot of makeup has been picked through and opened. Make sure that the makeup is sealed before you purchase it. No matter how great a deal it’s not worth contaminated skin!

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.)

Sephora’s Scent Sampler Collections: If you’re looking for a gift of scent check out these scent sampler collections. From the trend-setter kit to the classic choices, these kits provide at least 8 samples of top-selling fragrances. They cost between $50 and $70 and allow the gift recipient to sample several fragrances then choose the scent they like best and redeem a coupon that is included for a full-sized version of their fave perfume.

Lancome Juicy Tubes Holiday Set: This kit includes 8 Lancome Juicy Tube lip glosses for only $39.50. These glosses are of the utmost quality, and glide on smoothly without mess or stick. They taste great and provide long lasting shine and color. This set allows the purchaser to try out different flavors and colors in mini sample sizes.

Merry Make-Up Shopping!

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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.

Sun Screen and Sun Block: There is a difference! A quick tutorial:

Sun screen: By far the most popular sun protection products, they absorb UV rays before your skin can. They come in the most variety of forms, and still allow for some gain of color (but tan at your own risk! Even the slightest change in your skin shade indicates sun damage).

Sun block: Offers a stronger level of protection by reflecting UV rays. Usually somewhat thicker in consistency, but technology has improved that factor. (Remember that sticky, thick coating that Mom used to rub on and acted as a sand magnet? Yea, it’s improved since then.)

Overall, the two act in much the same way and are ideal for any serious outdoor activity.

Remember, application is even more important than the level of SPF you need. You should use a shot glass sized amount (great excuse to have one handy at your next pool party!), at least on your body. Basically, put it anywhere your skin might be exposed and apply enough so that a film is visible before it dries. Apply it before you hit the great outdoors, because SPF takes 20-30 minutes to start working. I like to do mine before I get dressed or put on my bikini, therefore allowing ample time and preventing it from ruining my bathing suit.

Another important thing to remember about sun protection is that it is temperature, time and chemically sensitive. A good rule of thumb is to treat your sunscreen like you would your condoms! Seriously though, avoid high temp storage (in the car, a no no), always check the expiration date, and remember that certain medications (like antibiotics) interact negatively with SPF.

Be aware that while all blocks and screens block UVB rays (the ones that fry you), they don’t all block UVA rays (aging rays). Check the label to see if it specifically protects against both types of damage. Two brands that protect against both are Neutrogena–which uses Helioplex technology to battle aging and cancer, and L’Oreal (or any of their products, including Kiehl’s and Lancome):they use the chemical screen Mexoryl.

So ladies, whenever you head outdoors this summer, remember to wear protection! Ok, enough with the condom jokes. But seriously, it will establish a good habit. Come your 50th birthday you will be very grateful for that your skin is in better condition than your brand new leather handbag.

[Photo courtesy of ebaumsworld.com]

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?

And yeah, while magnets are kind of random to be pulling out during a mani/pedi, think about all of the other seemingly twisted rituals we go through for the sake of fashion.

Here’s the catch: this futuristic polish is sold out at most retailers but you can snag some on EBay…for a lot more than the $17 retail price.

Happy holidays!

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.

But here’s a secret: there’s no celebrity eyelash gene that gives them those fat lashes with not a trace of mascara gunk in sight. So, what do celebrities have that we don’t? Well, among other things—money to burn. And sometimes, that money goes into eyelash extensions.

Often made of real human hair or silk, eyelash extensions are quickly becoming a staple in salons across the country. And these are hardly the drugstore fakes that you pick up for your sexy librarian/nurse/elf/whatever Halloween costume.

Each individual lash is applied one by one to your real lashes, avoiding that “I have a small spider resting on top of my eyelid” look that fake eyelash strips give you. The lashes come in a variety of lengths, so you can choose to look sex-kittenish or just impossibly fresh-faced.

The initial set will cost at least a few hundred dollars, and touch-ups every two weeks will run you up to $100. And since the fake lashes will fall out naturally over the course of 4-6 weeks, you may be shelling out up to $800 every six weeks—a bit steep if your idea of splurging is blowing $23 on Lancome’s High Definition Mascara.

But really–isn’t that a small price to pay to look refreshed and doe-eyed on your walk of shame, free of mascara smudged down to your chin?