Robyn Cosio of Sally Hershberger Shares Some Helpful Beauty Tips

makeup artist and eyebrow specialist Robyn Cosio, of the Sally Hershberger salons in los angeles and new york, has amazing skills that set her apart in the world of beauty. she has not only worked with some of the most recognizable faces in hollywood (including Nicole Kidman, Kate Bosworth, Marisa Tomei, Christina Applegate and Cat Deeley), but she makes "everyday" women look amazing as well (and she's even written a book!).

Robyn has shared some fab tips with me that i just had to pass along. hopefully you'll adopt one, or all, of these easy-to-do tidbits to ensure you maintain your best look throughout this spring season and beyond.

take a look...

tip #1: never tweeze nude

"before you tweeze your brows, make sure you use a pencil to fill your desired shape. without a guide in place, you will always over tweeze! once you have the shape in place, simply pluck the hairs outside the line for perfect brows."

tip #2: let your lips speak

"bright red is hot for lips this spring and will command attention all on its own. adding eyeliner into the mix will make you look over the top and drown out your lip color. a gorgeous summer lip color and great brows are all you need to frame your face and stay on trend this spring!"

tip #3: add color to brows

"if your brows are looking pale, fill them in using a brow powder. avoid using a pencil as they can make your brows look fake and one dimensional. brow powders are softer and applied with a small brush (look for one that is stiff and angled) and help to give your eyes that extra pop. blondes should go one shade darker than their natural color to avoid looking monochromatic."

tip #4: sun, surf and mascara don't mix

"avoid applying mascara in summer when you spend more time outdoors and at the beach. the humid weather and water will cause your mascara to run. try having your lashes tinted – this is an easy way to keep eyes looking beautiful and eliminates the need to reapply waterproof mascara."

xo

Style Find: Mar y Sol 'Guadalupe' Straw Shopper

this straw bag, as you can see, isn't the average straw bag. it's not only adorably fun and bold, but it would function perfectly with casual and more dressy summer ensembles.

i admit, i'm not typically drawn to straw bags, but after seeing this one's unique flower design, i can definitely see myself carrying this in the sweltering heat-- i would be miserable (heat, yuck), but at least i'd have a cute bag, right?

available in an assortment of colors, find the Mar y Sol 'Guadalupe' Straw Shopper at nordstrom.com

xo

Get Her Look: Kristen Bell at the Academy of Country Music Awards

Kristen Bell attended the Academy of Country Music Awards (the weekend before last) looking gorgeous with a fresh makeup look to compliment her nude Herve Leger dress. read below to find out the products mark. celebrity makeup artist Mai Quynh used to give the Gossip Girl her red carpet look.

on her face:

For Goodness Face Antioxidant Skin Moisturizing Lotion
Face Xpert Flawless Touch Makeup in Natural (applied with a foundation brush).
Good Riddance Hook Up Concealer in Light/Medium around her nose and under her eyes. Powder Buff Natural Skin Foundation (to set the foundation) using the powder brush. Bronze Pro Bronzing Powder in Pro Golden to her cheeks, chin and forehead.
Good Glowing Mosaic Blush Custom Color Palette in Hush Baby


on her eyes:

liner applied the lashline: Keep It Going Longwear Eyeshadow & Liner in Exposure using the Hook Up Eyeliner Brush, then smudged.
I-mark Custom Pick Eye Shadow in Tiki
I-mark Custom Pick Eye Shadow in Biscotti to the inner corner of the eye as a highlighter, using the Hook Up Eyeliner Brush.
inner rim of her eyes lined with Eyemarker Color On Line in Java, smudging Tiki underneath along the lower lashes.
two coats of Lash Splash Hook Up Waterproof Mascara in Black.


on her lips:

Dew Drenched Moisturlicious Lip Color in Skinny Dip
Pro Gloss Hook Up Plumping Lip Shine in Swell


all products by mark. visit meetmark.com for more info and to purchase the products listed.

xo
image source: accidentalsexiness.com via Kaplow PR

Meet My New Beauty Girl...

the other day, my husband came home and said he thought we should get a dog.

my jaw almost fell off. i wasn't sure, but kept an open mind-- one never knows...

so we went to the local shelter with a mental list of what we were looking for:

an older dog, sweet tempered and not too hyper, small, but not too "yappy" (neither of our neighbors to each side of us has a dog-- we don't wasn't to become the annoying neighbors, LOL), and he or she should have hair rather than fur because i have a mild allergy to dogs with fur.

who knew we'd find our dog so soon!

she was in need of a a serious brush when we met her...



so, my beauties, meet Piper, beauty girl #3 in our home! :)

Piper is 5 and a purebred Havanese. when we met her, she had a whole lot of hair, but it was matted terribly, so the groomer had to go short (she's cute both ways, of course, don't you think?).



she is so fun and playful, but knows when to be calm. it's not in her nature to bark, and we have yet to hear her do so. she did whimper after being put back into her kennel when we had to leave her (she had to be spayed and given a rabies shot before we could bring her home) and a little bit on the drive home.

my kids' faces lit up when they came home to find her in our family room! they are beyond excited. :)

xo
pics taken by me :)

Arlenis Sosa's Beauty Must-Haves

at only 20 years old, model Arlenis Sosa is a top model and Lancome spokesperson. she has taken the world by storm, captured the attention of the most important people in fashion, and i'm definitely a fan! so, what beauty products does Arlenis keep in her beauty arsenal?


to name just a few...




Lancome Bienfait Multi-Vital SPF 30 Lotion
this moisturizer just really works on my skin. my skin is so dry, and this makes it look and feel more hydrated. plus, i love that it has UV protection. it's all i need.




Kerastase Bain Oleo-Curl
my hair is very curly, especially around the hairline. there are so many products that just don't work on it, but these do. they really smooth the curl and keep it that way.




Marc Jacobs Daisy
it's soft and almost juvenile. i don't like scents that are too overpowering. and everyone likes it on me!


to see the full list of Arlenis' beauty must-haves, visit style.com

xo
source: style.com

Happy Earth Day!

yesterday my son told my daughter, "every day is Earth Day."

true story.

even if you're not the most eco-concious person on the planet, you can definitely do things each day to help keep our environment healthy!




make every day Earth Day! :)

xo

Beautiful and Cute Girl

Hong Shih Beautiful and Cute Taiwanese Girl.

Beautiful Smile Hot Actress

Beautiful Smile Hot Taiwan Actress.

Sweet Smile Girl

Sweet Smile and Beautiful Singaporean Girl.

Bath & Body Works Summer Vanillas

as the weather heats up, it's time to start thinking about how you want to smell. i like to go the citrus or floral route, but Bath & Body Works caught my attention with their new Summer Vanillas collection.

i'm not usually a vanilla girl, but the idea of creamier versions of smells i already like was very appealing. Coconut, Berry, Lemon and Apricot (which is only online, otherwise i would have bought it in store, too) compliment vanilla to create fabulously cool and refreshing summer scents.



while the collection features, body sprays, candles, etc., i couldn't resist getting a lotion-- the amazing new formula makes my skin so soft-- and Liplicious gloss-- they smell delicious, are glossy without being sticky and have a hint of shimmer-- in each scent (it was buy 2 get 1 and i had a $10 off coupon, too-- yay me!). my daughter went absolutely gaga for the all of them, too, so i will share. :)



for more info, visit bathandbodyworks.com or head to your local Bath & Body Works to smell these new goodies for yourself!

xo
all pics taken by me :)

The Music of Madonna on 'Glee'

attention Glee fanatics (including me)! the show we love is finally back! the most exciting part-- the music of Madonna will be featured tomorrow night!

ok...i'm going to try to limit my use of exclamation points, for the remainder of this post, i promise...


i am a huge fan of Madonna's music. if i were to compile a soundtrack for my life, many of her songs would be on my first disc-- and the second and third, for that matter (one disc per decade so far)!


here's the track listing for Glee's episode, The Power of Madonna:

*Express Yourself

*Borderline/Open Your Heart

*Vogue

*Like A Virgin

*4 Minutes

*What It Feels Like For A Girl

*Like A Prayer

*Burning Up

Glee, The Power of Madonna airs tuesday, april 20, 2010 (tomorrow!!) with the soundtrack available now for pre-order on iTunes and Amazon.com (will be released tomorrow, april 20, 2010). visit fox.com/glee for all things Glee, including full episodes and more. :)

xo

Zac Posen for Target

Target's collaboration with Zac Posen launched in nyc last night, but will become available to the rest of us next week! as usual, i'm excited to see these pieces in person-- i love the dress pictured above and plan on trying it on first.

i admit, the past few GO International collections haven't thrilled me, especially so after seeing them in person, but let's hope this one is different (especially since most of the items sold out very quickly last night)!

watch this video of Zac showing off the limited edition collection:



ranging in price from $16.99-$199.00, the Zac Posen for Target line includes a variety of party-ready frocks and day-to-day wear in graffiti prints and bold, spring-appropriate colors-- click here to see the collection.

Zac Posen for Target launches april 25th - may 30, 2010 at most Target stores nationwide.

are you excited for this new collection??

xo
source: Target via The Cut

Estee Lauder Names Two New Global Faces

today it was announced that Estee Lauder has signed two new spokesmodels. these women are two of fashion's brightest runway and editorial stars-- french model Constance Jablonski and chinese model Liu Wen.

"Estee Lauder has always searched for global beauties that define a generation," said Aerin Lauder, senior vice president, creative director, Estee Lauder. "Constance and Liu Wen are the beauties of our time. both models have quickly captured the attention of the fashion and beauty world."

Constance and Liu will join the roster along with current models Hilary Rhoda, Carolyn Murphy, Elizabeth Hurley and Gwyneth Paltrow. look for them to debut in global advertising campaigns beginning june 2010.


xo

Green Beauty: LUSH Naked Kit

earth day is just around the corner (april 22nd, if you didn't already know), and to celebrate, LUSH will be launching their Naked Kit. true to its name, this limited edition kit houses six of LUSH's most popular solid, unpackaged and preservative-free offerings in a biodegradable box.

here's a sneak peek at what's inside...

•Mini Squeaky Green Shampoo Bar-- this shampoo lasts 60 washes and will revitalize and stimulate the scalp. consider this: if the entire population of North America used a solid shampoo bar (equivalent to three 8 oz. bottles), then it would save 122 million plastic bottles from being produced and ending up in the landfill.

•Mini Buffy Body Butter-– packed with natural butters to moisturize, and sand to exfoliate, this bar will save time, money, and the planet.

•Mini Therapy Massage Bar-– soothe your body and your conscience with this 100% certified organic massage bar, a true LUSH invention made with natural oils and absolutely no preservatives.

•Sexy Peel Soap-– with uplifting lemon and lime, this soap (along with all of LUSH soaps) is made with a palm-free base. a first of its kind, this revolutionary soap base has saved 133,000 pounds of palm oil from being produced, helping to save rainforests, indigenous people and orangutans in southeast asia.

•Choice of Toner Tab-– steam your face with these LUSH inventions. choose from: T-Tree (oily skin), Vitamin C (aging skin), Vitamin E (all skin types), and Q10 (skin soothing).

•Cleanser: Fresh Farmacy or Coalface-– LUSH uses the finest ingredients when creating our solid face cleansers. choose from: Fresh Farmacy (for troublesome skin) or Coalface (for oily skin).



to further increase LUSH's eco-friendly initiatives, they're eliminating in-store gift wrap service and introducing the Knot Wrap (pictured above). this furoshiki-inspired technique uses scarves (made from recyclable materials or organic fabrics) to wrap your products in a way that is kinder to the earth-- fabulous, don't you think?

LUSH's The Naked Kit is only available for a limited time, so visit lushusa.com to find out more info and to place your order.

xo
source: beautypress.com

Spa Week Spring 2010 Has Officially Started!

Spa Week kicked off today (april 12th) and runs through april 18th-- have you made your appointment yet? there are numerous spas participating in many major areas.

if you aren't already familiar, Spa Week offers consumers the opportunity to experience fabulous treatments at a fraction of the cost ($50 per treatment to be specific). discounts are not for everything on the spa's menu, but 2-3 of their most popular treatments.



spas are still accepting appointments throughout the week-- some are all booked up, but many time slots and treatments are still available! so it's not too late to take advantage of treatments that normally range between $75 and $500.

visit spaweek.com for more info, spaweek.com/book-now to schedule your appointment, and be sure to follow@SPAWEEK on Twitter!


xo

NARS Summer 2010 Collection

created and photographed by Nars founder and creative director Francois Nars, the NARS Summer 2010 campaign was inspired by Catherine Deneuve's character Severine in the movie Belle de Jour. as with the Spring 2010 collection, Amber Valletta is the face of the collection.




i personally am loving the glamour of this collection even though it's for summer. take a look...


Enchanted
a soft-peach cream blush with a hint of shimmer; leaves skin luminous with smooth and silky color. the vitamin-enriched formula is long-lasting and blends easily for a sheer flush and healthy, glowing summertime skin.

Burn It Blue
an iridescent ocean-blue and turquoise duo cream eyeshadow. the soft cream formula can be applied with fingertips or a brush for more precision. swipe on alone or layer one on the other-- the final look is delicate, yet striking.




Cayenne
spicy, deep brown cream eyeshadow; the weightless texture makes it a versatile summer option. use it to line eyes or swipe it across the entire lid. can be applied sheer or layered for more color, intensity and pop.

Love Devotion
sheer guava lipstick delivers a subtle and glistening color, and lips are left looking soft and sumptuously in season.

Coup de Coeur
like the french phrase it's named after, this apple-brandy tinted lip gloss is shiny and sheer. convenient wand application is perfect for adding gloss throughout the day for ultra-tempting fullness.

Lamu
a fresh, glazed-apricot shade with gold sparkles to create shimmering accents. gives a glowing complexion, is lightweight, foolproof, quick and easy.

Versailles
a regal, opalescent, champagne-gold nail hue with shimmer that creates a sophisticated, light-catching tint.


NARS Summer 2010 Collection is available april 15, 2010 on counter and at narscosmetics.com

xo
info and images courtesy of NARS

30% Off Urban Decay!

listen up ladies and gents, Urban Decay is having an amazing friends and family sale! until april 19, 2010 you can take advantage of their 30% off discount that applies to everything-- yes, even sale items!

so what are you waiting for? this is the perfect time to get some of those 24/7 eyeliners you've been wanting for some time now (i'm obviously speaking to myself here, LOL).

use code 1SFNF at checkout, urbandecay.com

happy shopping!

xo

Bioelements Giveaway Winner!

and the winner of the Bioelements giveaway is...

Eve D.!

your info has been sent to the brand. :) thank you so much to all of you who entered, and a huge thank you to Bioelements for sponsoring this giveaway!

xo

Chanel Summer 2010 Makeup Collection

spring is in full swing-- isn't it fabulous? i am loving all the vibrant colors and the cool breezes that compliment the warmer temps. with this time of year also comes the introduction of summer goodies. Chanel has a new collection available soon, and i am already liking what i see...

bold and audacious, Gabrielle Chanel pushed the boundaries of style...

to continue that tradition, Peter Philips has create a gorgeously free-spirited makeup collection. inspired by an idyllic seaside vista, the new collection, Les Pop-Up De Chanel, includes vibrant and fresh new hues for lips and nails that are sure to end up with a cult status. these energetic pops of color (including neon pink, sunny coral and brilliant turquoise) will be the perfect compliment to bronzed, glowing skin...not to mention will be the standout shades of summer. :)

Les Pop-Up De Chanel on counter in may 2010.

xo

nail color of the week: Sonia Kashuk Ooh La La

to be honest, Sonia Kashuk's fabulous color called Ooh La La was what i was wearing on my nails last week, but i completely forgot to post it. this gorgeous fuchsia shade is deep yet still bright at the same time. i took different picks so you could see how it looks at different angles and light (flash, no flash and natural light to be specific).

the formula is great and very easy to apply. for the four days i wore it, i had no chips, only wear at the tips from typing. i love Ooh La La-- so happy i bought this for my collection. :)

xo

Shiri Appleby's Beauty Must-Haves

since i'm a huge fan of the new show Life Unexpected (mondays @ 8pm on the CW!!), i was pleasantly surprised to find a fun interview with one of its stars, Shiri Appleby, on US Magazine's website. yes, i do read the celebrity gossip, but mainly i go to their beauty and style page-- it's pretty good!

in the interview, Shiri shares her beauty secrets and must-haves, and i had to share them with you. so what does she love when it comes to beauty products?

for starters, Shiri's top beauty secret (that she learned from a pro) is that she makes sure to always take off her makeup before bed. her cleanser of choice is Cetaphil and when she's too tired to cleanse her skin, she uses makeup removal wipes. another beauty secret: she applies sunscreen every day.

Shiri is currently obsessed with a bright pink cheek and likes to use Bobbi Brown's Sheer Color Cheek Tint. to keep her look fresh, she keeps makeup minimal and loves mark. Mini Mark It Stick Hook Up Stick for Lips; to play up her eyes, she loves using mascara then adds false lashes on the corners of her eyes to really make them pop.

to put the cherry on top, Shiri's desert island product pick is one that i use every day and night myself...

Smith's Rosebud Salve!

shop her favorite products here (i added the mascara, lashes and sunscreen):

More Avon...

xo
source

Rainy, Book-Reading Kind of Day

happy monday beauties! in my neck of the country, the day began very rainy and gloomy (as you can see from the picture above, taken from my patio).

i stayed home from the gym due to the fact that my back was bothering me (a little nuisance that, like my sometimes achy knees, has been passed down by my mother), so it worked out to be a good thing. i spent my morning hanging out with my kids, then browsing the web.



in my perusing, i came across a fab website called goodreads.com, a social-networking site for people who love to read. users can rate and keep track of books read, write and read reviews, join book clubs, and even create a list of want-to-read books-- it's so fun! i think i was on there for over an hour.



i love reading. it's such an escape for me. i'm currently reading two books, My Sister's Keeper and Shopaholic Ties the Knot. i'll be keeping track of my progress and will hopefully adding them to my "read shelf" soon so i can reading books on my "to-read shelf". on the list? The Lovely Bones, Twenties Girl and Something Borrowed, just to name a few.

rainy days aren't so bad, especially when the sun comes out later. :)



how was your monday?

xo

Brand Worth Knowing: Illamasqua

when Illamasqua was launched in the UK back in 2008 it became an instant hit. when it (finally) become available here in the states, there was an excitement beyond measure.



the makeup was created to be worn at night and is all about a bold look. of course, that doesn't mean you have to only wear their products at night. i was sent a few products to try out and i have to say, i am loving what i've tried.





their Powder Blusher, pictured above in Kiss, a dusty plum shade (deeper in person than in the pics), is so versatile-- a swipe of my brush over the powder then dusted onto my cheeks gives my them a just-pinched look or i can pump up the volume and really make them stand out by adding more.




the Sheer Gloss (pictured in Soul, an icy champagne) is fabulous. it's surprisingly long lasting for a gloss and not at all sticky. the finish is very pretty and leaves my lips feeling very moisturized.




the Nail Varnish formula is amazing. i was sent a shade called Snap, and as you can see, it's a shimmery grey-- so chic! application was smooth, it dried relatively fast, and i have a feeling i'll be wearing this shade a lot this season. i may even add a few more shades to my collection.

visit Illamasqua.com for more info about the brand-- they have a blog too-- and in the u.s., visit your local Sephora or sephora.com to purchase.

xo
products sent to me for the purpose of review; all pics, except the first, taken by me :)

Shu Uemura Still Available Online

as you may have being reading around the web, the Shu Uemura brand will be leaving the states soon. if you're a fan, this is terrible news, but don't get too upset just yet!

while you won't be able to make purchases at department stores, or at one of the boutiques (these locations will begin to phase out in the coming months.), you will still be able to purchase products at shuuemura.com, and new products will also continue to be introduced via the site-- and i'll be sure to let you know!

you'll also be glad to know that shu uemura Art of Hair is not affected by these changes. they will continue to remain in top-tier salons across the country as well as online at shuuemuraartofhair-usa.com.


xo