Beauty Addictions: Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream SPF 35

Smashbox, BB Cream, $39, http://www.smashbox.com

Whenever beauty editors and beauty fanatics start tweeting and raving about a product, our ears perk up and we get to digging around for what makes this product so special. Smashbox is always on our radar and now they’ve got a bonafide reason to celebrate with their latest launch – BB Cream. This multi-tasking moisturizer not only smooths fine lines but it also primes and preps skin for makeup, rids skin of oil and keeps your makeup and skin looking good all night long. They should’ve named this product – My Little Miracle!

Beauty News: Chanel Rouge Coco Baume

Chanel, Rouge Coco Baume, $32.50, http://www.chanel.com

Luxury lip balm may sound ridiculous to some but when the weather ravages your lips to the point where you can wear your favorite lipstick or gloss, you’ll be happy to shell out big bucks for serious lip treatments. Chanel has decided to throw their hat in the ring with a new lip balm that has beauty fanatics buzzing. Coco Rouge Baume glides on smooth and shiny but dries down to a matte finish leaving lips prepped and primed for lip color or even better yet a smooch or two. We adore the clear balm as a lip base or primer and can’t wait to toss this pricey lip treatment into our Tory Burch cosmetics bag when we hit the sandy beaches of Miami this summer.

Beauty Addictions: NARS Spring 2012 Collection

 

NARS Spring 2012 Collection Has Us Ready for Warmer Days!

 NARS is one of our biggest beauty addictions as they continuously create some of the most stunning products, colors and finishes in the beauty business. Spring 2012, they’ve done it again! The prestige beauty brand recently launched a sophisticated yet edgy color collection that is sure to be on the beauty “it” list this spring season. We are ready to rock the succulent shimmer lilac shade – Diamond Life. We’re also mentally preparing ourselves for the color shock of Mexican Rose lip pencil. This seriously hot pink is not for the faint at heart or the shrinking violets. We know we are still in the dead of winter but with warm temperatures in the forecast, we know spring is just around the bend which means NARS Spring 2012 Collection is well on its way into our lives!

 

 

Product Review: Japonesque Medium Eye Shadow Brush

Japonesque, Medium Eye Shadow Brush, $15.50, www.ulta.com

A good eye shadow brush is like making an investment in a fabulous designer purse, well worth the money and an item you will cherish and use for years to come. I recently purchased an amazing eye shadow brush that has made applying my favorite eye looks easier and more detailed. The medium eye shadow brush from Japonesque is a short, firm, synthetic-haired brush that allows you to apply cream-based shadows with ease. I also highly recommend this brush for glitters, pigments, shimmers and loose shadows as you can load lots of product onto the brush and not have to worry about tons of fall out. I love this brush and will be using it on a regular basis. It’s a great tool to have in your beauty arsenal.

Beauty Addictions….YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis À Lèvres Glossy Stain

YSL, Pur Couture Vernis a Levres Glossy Stain, $32, http://www.sephora.com

It’s part lip gloss and part lip stain and it’s 100% glamorous. We can’t get enough of the new YSL Pur Couture Glossy Stains. We are all about products that multi-task especially as our lives become more hectic and busy; we want our products to do double duty too. In the past, regular lip glosses were fun to wear but became a bit of a chore as you always had to reapply every 20 minutes or less if you were eating, drinking, talking or anything else that involved the use of your lips. We may not have our hands or lips on these gloss/stains yet but we are definitely putting them on our must-have list for spring and so should you!

Beauty Addictions: NARS Makeup Removing Water

NARS, Makeup Removing Water, $28, http://www.narscosmetics.com

With all of the beauty products that we test and try out on ourselves, it’s imperative that we have an amazing makeup remover handy at all times. We’re not ashamed to say that a good quality makeup remover is well worth it’s weight in gold especially when you’re in a rush and getting ready and need to correct a smokey eye gone run in ten minutes or less. One of our newest faves is the NARS Makeup Removing Water. It’s extremely gentle to the skin and removes even the most stubborn waterproof mascaras, eye liners and cream shadows without a hitch. Another wonderful aspect of this makeup remover is that it’s oil-free, soap-free, and alcohol-free which is great for those with sensitive skin. We give two thumbs up to this makeup removing wonder!

Beauty Addictions: Stila Jewel Eyeshadow Collection Spring 2012

Stila Cosmetics, Jewel Eyeshadow Collection, Spring 2012, http://www.stilacosmetics.com

We are so happy it’s 2012 and that Spring is right around the corner. While we wrap ourselves up in our warmest winter wares, we are daydreaming about the gorgeous spring weather that will take us out of the doldrums and into light, sunny afternoons. Fortunately for us, many of our favorite beauty lines are already debuting their spring 2012 collections so we can just drool awhile at the exquisite colors and shades while planning out our entire spring look. One of our favorite new collections has to be Stila’s Jewel Eyeshadows. These creamy shadows glide on silky smooth and can be worn wet or dry depending on how intense you desire the effect. They come in eight amazing shades and are perfectly on trend with the spring season’s feminine styles. Can’t you just envision yourself wearing that drop dead gorgeous aquamarine shade while lounging on a patio with your girls sipping bellinis? Okay, maybe that’s just us!

Beauty Addictions: MAC Metal X Collection

MAC, Metal X Collection, http://www.maccosmetics.com

 Metallics made a huge splash in 2011 and fortunately for us, they are not going anywhere for 2012. MAC leads the way with their stunning new collection of metallic shadows called Metal X. The collection hits store on December 26th just in time for New Year’s Eve! Nine unique shades done in exquisite metallic finishes are sure to be top sellers from South Beach to Seattle. We are so feeling the metallic vintage green, golden tarnished bronze and fusion gold for women of color – these shades are perfect when it’s time to shimmer and shine. These fun shadows have us ready to rock out in some precious metals! Check out the nine shadows:

Beauty Addictions: China Glaze Debuts “Colours from the Capitol” Polish Collection

The highly anticipated film “The Hunger Games” has spawned a polish collection!

Inspired by “The Hunger Games”, a new polish collection is making its debut with tons of fanfare and excitement. “Colours of the Capitol” is the nail collection inspired by the sci-fi thriller. With twelve unique shades, there is something for everyone. We love how varied the shades are from tone to finish. This collection is sure to be a big seller as fans prepare to see the film. Take a look at the swatches from the gorgeous collection:

 

 

The Art of Concealer

Using concealer takes your look from beautiful to exquisite.

We’ve all seen beautifully shot models in fashion magazines, their faces as perfect as if they’ve never known a day with a blemish or discoloration. Even though we all know the model was photoshopped to the hilt and had a top makeup artist working his/her magic, we still believe that there is a slight possibility this woman actually has perfect skin. Well, as a beauty editor for the past thirteen years, I can assure you, there is no such thing as perfect skin. There is however a little makeup secret that all of the world’s most beautiful and photographed women swear by and that’s concealer. Unlike foundation, the art of concealing is a bit more intricate. There are various methods and beliefs systems behind the right way and the wrong way to use concealer. In order to make things clear, I am going to discuss the two best ways to use concealer and highlight a few of the best brands for women of color.