Wow it’s been a long time since my last post. I started a new job that I absolutely love, getting ready to go to Mexico – life is good! But I haven’t forgotten about my baby – my blog! I also went to the International Beauty Show in NYC this past weekend (recap to come soon).

I have to tell you about this Smashbox Master’s Class Beauty Breakthroughs kit ($59, smashbox.com). It contains all of Smashbox’s most innovation products:

• Waterproof Eye Shadow Palette
• Brow Wax Pencil
• Lash Detailer Mascara
• Poured Photo op under eye brightener
• Cheek Stain
• O-Gloss Shimmer

Despite loving all of the products in this kit, my absolute favorite is the shadow palette. I've never used Smashbox shadow, but look forward to trying more shades after using these. These eyes shadows are so smooth, and they don’t budge all day. The color palette includes a matte beige and a shimmery beige, as well as shimmery olive green, plum and brown. The shadows are high quality and they look it. If you're looking to refresh your makeup kit with more modern, versatile products and shades, look into purchasing this kit. It containes everything you need for a flawless face.

    

Valentine's Day has come and gone, but you can still share the love withSkinAuthority's Go! Love skincare kit ($52, skinauthority.com). The four products included in this kit work to clean, exfoliate and protect skin. The lightweight Daily Cleanser can be used on the face and body (although, its a small body so I stick to the face). It contains 3% glycolic acid to remove dead skin and makeup. The Resurfacing Accelerator is a lightweight gel to apply after cleansing at night, which promote cellular renewel while improving acne, aging, scars and sun damage. Before you fall asleep, apply Tri-Power Peptide Hydrator  to hydrate thoroughly at night. Peptides, and vitamins work to soothe skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines. For the daytime, apply the Sunscreen Moisturizer to protect against sun damage.

Products in the Go! Love kit delivered what they promised — my skin felt smooth and hydrating while using these products. They were so gentle and worked great on my sensitive skin. Hurry up, this product is a limited edition!

    

I’m really impressed by the new CoverGirl Smoky ShadowBlast Eye Color ($7.49, covergirl.com), the funky double-ended cream eyeshadow. The rounded side is the base color; the other side, a darker color that provides a thinner application for the crease. This product is easy to apply, lightweight and lasts all day. It comes in 6 shade duos:

• Onyx Smoke
• Bronze Fire
• Silver Sky
• Citris Flair
• Purple Plume
• Tempest Blue

Great product – wonderful price. This shadow is a huge hit with me and if you’re looking for something easy to apply, you’ll love it too.

    

BIOTONE announces its 2010 Spa Open House Series for day spa owners, therapists and private practitioners to network and find out about new treatments, menu ideas and marketing tips. The series, which is free of charge, is held at the BIOTONE corporate training center at company headquarters in San Diego.

The BIOTONE Spa Open House Series kicks off with Swing into Spring on March 29. The workshop includes new treatment ideas to get clients’ skin ready to show off for spring, You’ll also come away with ideas for special Mother’s Day spa packages and learn about a new ‘Floral Treat’ for the feet. Featured BIOTONE products will be available for discount.

The other two Open House sessions focus on: Summer Fun on June 14 and the Holidays on October 18. At all sessions, participants have the option to earn 3 CE hours for a $39 registration fee.

For more information about the BIOTONE Spa Open House Series or to register, call 1-800-445-6457 x 119. You also can register online at: http://www.biotone.com/?s=ohregister

    

Hey there Cali Girls... visit Sephora in Standford on Saturday, February 27th where Smashbox Cosmetics will be hosting an interactive event hosted by Hank Hoffman, celebrity makeup artist for Smashbox and Steven Khan, celebrity photographer. 

Sephora Stanford is located at:
355 Stanford Shopping Center
Palo Alto, CA

The event is from 11-7pm and is open to the public.  Meet with Hank Hoffman and Steven Kahn and with any $100 Smashbox purchase, each customer will take professional headshots by Steven Khan (celeb photographer) and walk away with a CD to share with friends and family.

 

    

The Event Makeup Artist, a Web site offering an instructional DVD course that teaches professional makeup application, today announced the company is donating makeup application courses to women involved with Beautify the Meek, a non-profit organization that helps battered women better themselves and lead an empowered lifestyle.

Beautify the Meek is a non-profit faith-based organization that encourages self-improvement, spiritual and personal improvement, while providing life-skill training, cosmetic, skin care, beauty and personal care, motivational conferences and coaching primarily along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and surrounding Gulf Coastal regions. The resourceful organization provides dressy-casual to business attire, beautification consulting and products for disadvantaged and under-served women who have suffered various life-crises and are transitioning into their next stage in life.

The Event Makeup Artist is a resourceful Web site that offers a DVD course that teaches the entire makeup application process, with emphasis on how people can launch a career for themselves as an event makeup artist. By offering courses to women involved with Beautify the Meek, participants will gain a marketable skill that will give them the financial freedom they need to move on with their lives. It is a vocation that will give confidence back, motivating women to make themselves a priority, while focusing on taking better care of themselves, as well as their families.

More information about Beautify the Meek can be found by visiting the organization’s Web site at www.BeautifyTheMeek.org. Additional information about The Event Makeup Artist can be found directly at TheEventMakeupArtist.com.

    

I'm one month away from my big spring break vacation! Well, I'm a little past spring break age, but I'm making up for all those years I spent spring breaking working extra hours! I figured I'd contact one of my favorite makeup companies, Cargo, to get my hands on their soon-to-come travel sizes 7 in 7 mini kit ($39, cargocosmetics.com). The 7 in 7 mini kit  includes all the amazing products in the full size kit, but small enough to take with you wherever you're heading this spring.

The kit includes:
Mini One Base — a concealor/foundation in one
Mini Essential Palette — 4 neutral shades to give you that sexy, but natural, nude eye. Cargo even gives you directions how to acheieve the look.
Mini Eye Liner — Cargo's classic soft, smooth liner
Mini LashActivator — a black mascara that promises (and delivers) thicker, longer lashes in 30 days. 
Mini BeachBlush — Going to lay under the sun? This products is a blush and a bronzer in one, and a best seller at that!
Mini Reverse Lip Liner — this product is specially designed to work with gloss; its flesh-toned and creates fuller looking lips.
Mini Lip Gloss — a best selling, non-sticky gloss; a favorite among celebrities and makeup artists.

Every product in this kit is high-quality and something I'd rely on daily (especially the LashActivator) — My only gripe? I couldn't seem to remove the blush and shadow palettes from the cardboard piece they were set in. But that could just be a personal problem Otherwise, its a great way to try Cargo's best products, or bring them with you wherever you go.

    

If my boyfriend, or any other guy's guy, knew how much time, thought and money goes into a woman’s eyebrows, he’d think I’m crazy. And maybe I am, but brows are definitely an essential part of every girl’s beauty routine. Call me shallow, but bad eyebrows are one of the first things I notice on someone’s face. (Wow, that is totally shallow). Luckily, NYC eyebrow specialist Elke Von Freudenberg has launched a line of eyebrow essentials to keep you from looking over, under or un-plucked. Her line includes brow groomers, tools, pencils and shadows. I love the versatile Glowstick ($20, elkevonfreudenberg.com) a sheer highlighter that you can use as an eye shadow, face & body highlighter – I love using this on the browbone, to make eyes pop and to cover up any stray hairs you may have missed when tweezing.

    

Neutrogena, a worldwide leader in clinically proven, dermatologist-recommended skincare and cosmetics, announced today that actress and recording artist Miranda Cosgrove has signed on as its newest Brand Ambassador.  One of Hollywood's most accomplished young stars, Miranda joins beauty icons Gabrielle Union, Hayden Panettiere, Susie Castillo, Vanessa Hudgens, Jennifer Garner, Diane Lane and Emma Roberts as the latest member of the Neutrogena family. 

"My friends and I have always loved the Neutrogena brand and their ability to help inspire confidence. So when I found out I was actually going to be part of the Neutrogena family I was really excited," said Cosgrove.  "I have always looked up to many of the actresses who are already Neutrogena Ambassadors, and others are my peers, so it is an amazing honor for me to be part of this incredible group."

"Miranda embodies the youthful and vibrant spirit that has always been part of the Neutrogena brand and we are proud to have her as our newest ambassador," says Jim Colleran, President, Neutrogena.

Cosgrove is the star of the Emmy-nominated iCarly, Nickelodeon's highest rated live-action show.  She plays Carly Shay, a teenager who webcasts with her two best friends.  She got her acting break when she landed the highly sought after role of Megan Parker on Nickelodeon's mega-hit Drake & Josh where she played the sweet, mischievous little sister whose scene-stealing role led to her own show, iCarly.  

"Her energy will be a wonderful addition to our 2010 partnerships and initiatives," adds Susan Sweet, General Manager, Neutrogena.  "We're excited to debut Miranda's first ad in early spring."

    

The Betsy hotel extends its inspirational design and imaginative amenities with a new Wellness Garden offering a range of spa treatments and therapies. A refreshingly relaxed remedy atop the hotel, away from the crowds, the Wellness Garden offers sweeping, unobstructed views of the ocean peeking just above the palm trees. The Zen-inspired sanctuary was designed to soothe the senses with the incorporation of earth born elements – wood, stone, bamboo and natural fibers. For those seeking respite from the buzz of South Beach, individual cabanas capture the light ocean breeze, and are shielded by retractable sails set horizontally in the sky. Devoted to health and beauty, the Wellness Garden offers deliciously unique treatments and massage therapies derived from food and plant based ingredients, available, weather permitting, on The Deck, or in-room...<< MORE >>