I Sense A Pattern Here

Missoni, the Italian fashion house, recently threw their saw-tooth patterned hat in the cosmetic ring. The new Colori collection consists of a gold face highlighter compact and quadruple-hued lip gloss.




Stroke the shimmering bronze, champagne, and dusty rose colors on your cheeks and temples to zigzag your way to a radiant, sun-kissed complexion. The chocolate-berry flavored gloss creates the perfect pink by layering sheer red, apricot, fuchsia, and pearlescent white in the Missoni trademark pattern.

Available at Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Couture For The Cure

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dior will donate 20% of the sales from its limited edition Couture Palette - which features a bronzer and two lip glosses - to the American Cancer Society. The palette is available at Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue. So go ahead, make a puchase with purpose.

As a staff member and volunteer with the American Cancer Society, I am proud to report that the largest private, not-for-profit source of funding for cancer research is involved in the fight against breast cancer in many areas. Since 1972, the Society has awarded approximately $322.7 million to breast cancer research grants. Society-funded research has also led to the development of lifesaving breast cancer drugs such as Tamoxifen and Herceptin, as well as discovery of the breast cancer gene.

Here are some ways that you can get involved in the fight against breast cancer:

*Walk and raise money to help us continue to make strides against breast cancer – sign up for your local Making Strides Against Breast Cancer® walk. Since 1993, more than 3.5 million walkers have raised more than $230 million through Making Strides events to support the American Cancer Society’s efforts to eliminate breast cancer. For more information, visit www.cancer.org/stridesonline.

*Become an advocate for women who cannot afford to be screened or treated for breast cancer – join the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the sister advocacy organization of the American Cancer Society, to advocate for all women to have access to mammograms and follow-up care. Visit www.acscan.org/makingstrides today to send a message to your member of Congress asking them to support the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. After all, financial status should never determine whether someone survives cancer.

*Get a free email mammogram reminder, and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Sign up here. You can also call the American Cancer Society for a free breast cancer information packet at 1.800.ACS.2345.

*Learn more about breast cancer, early detection, treatment options and how you can take control of your breast health at www.cancer.org/breastcancer.

Good Gourd

October is right around the corner. And when I think of the tenth month of the year, pumpkins always come to mind. Although the fruit (you thought it was a vegetable, didn’t ya?) is most commonly used in pies and bread, pumpkin’s health benefits make it a beneficial beauty product ingredient.

Pumpkin contains more than 100 nutrients, which may be used to help reverse signs of aging. Pumpkin enzymes have the highest source of beta carotene and vitamins to combat oxidation and free radical damage.

Fall is officially here…and to celebrate the change of season, here are my top picks of the pumpkin patch. Trust me - these products will leave you glowing and grinning like a jack-o-lantern.


Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Peel
A detoxifying peel for the face and neck. Utilizing pumpkin enzymes to easily and gently dissolve dead surface skin cells, this deep exfoliator stimulates cellular turnover, to reveal radiant skin that is supple and naturally hydrated. Age-fighting anti-oxidants and Vitamin A help protect, nourish, and repair skin. Plus it has a delicious, irresistible pumpkin scent.


Molton Brown Skinbalance Toning Lotion
Naturally exfoliate and brighten the complexion with this non-drying, rebalancing preparation. American pumpkin enzymes, pink grapefruit, lime and yeast extract combine to strengthen the skin and reduce moisture loss. Skin is revitalized, softened and smoothed. Gentle enough to use around the eye area, this is suitable for all skin types.


Bath & Body Works Pure Simplicity Pumpkin Purifying Mask
It's like putting holiday dessert right on your body! But this purifying mask does more than just smell great—it exfoliates and moisturizes, leaving your skin smooth as silk. Oprah touted this product as one of her 'favorite things' back in 2003. (Bath & Body Works recently discontinued their Pure Simplicity line, but you can still find this magnificent mask on eBay).


Burt's Bees Miracle Salve
Save yourself from dry hair and skin, miraculously. Moisturize and nourish hair, hands, and body with this super-enriched, emollient formula. Pumpkin seed oil, which is rich in fatty acids, combines with olive oil and wheat germ extract to hydrate and protect dry hair and skin. Meanwhile, protein-rich bee pollen nourishes and rejuvenates, while emollient beeswax holds in moisture.


Yes To Carrots C is for Hair Care - Hair and Scalp Mud Mask
Experience gorgeous hair like never before with C is for Hair Care. C is for Hair Care moisturizes, softens, detangles, shines, and volumizes...and contains extracts of carrot, pumpkin, orange & honey, rich with Beta-Carotene, Alpha-Carotene, Vitamin E and other enzymes that keep your locks in tip-top condition.


Bella Lucce Pumpkin Glow Body Scrub
The enzymes in pumpkin pulp combine with pumpkin seed oil to dissolve dull, dead cells, revealing the healthy radiant skin underneath. Pure cane sugar is enveloped in this creamy blend of nourishing oils and butters, spiked with warm, aromatic essential oils for a soothing treat. As with all Bella Luccè scrubs, their Pumpkin Glow emulsifies into a creamy lotion when applied, then rinses clean for delectably soft skin without oily residue. Bella Lucce also carries a Warming Pumpkin Masque.

PS (Pumpkin Secret) – In the late 90’s, the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago conducted a study that concluded one third of American men are turned on by the smell pumpkin pie. Intrigued? Click here to learn more.

Simply The Best

You could spend months, and thousands of dollars, searching for the ultimate beauty products. But Allure Magazine did the work for you.

This past spring, Allure collected nearly 2,000 lipsticks, body scrubs, mascaras, skin serums, defrizzers, and more to bring you Allure's twelfth Best of Beauty issue. In the end, 218 assiduously tested products won the Allure stamp of approval.

To discover the beauty buys that perform better, last longer and make us look better, skip the newsstand and click here.

Good Clean Fun

Sometimes, it's super-fun getting dirty. Shouldn’t it be as enjoyable getting clean again? With these soap stars, it can be!


Soap Leaves by Trace Elements
Only Mother Nature could form soaps this beautiful. Genuine dried and cured leaves form a pretty, latice frame for a gentle soap resin that has been mixed according to a secret Thai formula. Each honey-scented soap leaf will last for one to two washings. Available in Ivory or Green. Box of 20.


Sapone da Viaggio Assorted Gift Soap Set by Tocca
A charming gift set of three Sapone bar soaps in Stella (Blood Orange), Florence(Orris Rose), and Cleopatra (Grapefruit Cucumber), Sapone Da Viaggio makes the perfect gift. A gentle, moisture-rich bar soap that uses key ingredients like Kukui Nut oil, blue-green algae extract and Vitamin E to hydrate, firm and repair skin, leaving it soft and glowing.


Bar Soap by Pure & Basic
It was only recently discovered that green tea has deodorant properties that are surprisingly effective. In formulating their exclusive soaps, Pure & Basic used Green Tea extracts that provide natural deodorant protection. For the first time, health-conscious consumers can buy a gentle deodorant soap that really works. Ingredients include tea tree oil, lotus leaves, and shea butter. Available in five fragrances: Fresh Fig, Green Tea, Honey Shea Butter, White Tea, and Wild Banana Vanilla (my fav!).


La Source Triple-Milled Soap by Crabtree & Evelyn
La Source cleansing bars are formulated with shea butter to moisturize and condition your skin. The relaxing sea air fragrance smells so good, I get compliments from friends and strangers.


Original Soaps by Fresh
These soaps have a pure vegetable oil base enhanced with nourishing shea butter. Because the bars are milled twice, there are no air pockets - which makes the soap dense, luxurious, and long-lasting. My favorite scents are Verbena, Vanilla, and Mangosteen.


Let's Circulate Salt Rub Soap by Origins
Massaging nubs and purifying Dead Sea Salts buffered in moisture-grabbing Glycerin lather up to release surface toxins and get positive energy circulating throughout your whole being.


Exfoliating Body Soap by L'Occitane
Enriched with exfoliating apricot kernel powder, nourishing grape-seed oil and revitalizing organic grape juice from Provence, this exfoliating soap cares for your skin and reveals all its beauty. It smoothes rough areas and effectively sloughs away dead cells and traces of ink, adhesive bandages, self-tanners, etc.

It's In The Bag

Genetics only get you so far. Even “It” girls need a little cosmetic help. What’s inside their makeup bags? InStyle.com gives you a sneak peek.

Katherine McPhee



*La Roche-Posay Anthelios W Gel SPF 40, $43; zitomer.com.
*Dior 5-Colour Eye Shadow in Beige Massai, $52; sephora.com.
*Victoria's Secret Very Sexy Lip
*Luster in Baby Doll, $12; victoriassecret.com.
*Tweezerman Wide Grip Slant Tweezer, $20; tweezerman.com.
*Hanae Mori Eau de Parfum, $85; neimanmarcus.com.

America Ferrera



*MAC Lip Glass in Entice, $14; maccosmetics.com.
*Dior 5-Colour Eye Shadow in Incognito, $52; sephora.com.
*Maybelline Volum' Express Mascara in Very Black, $7; drugstore.com.
*Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, $18; shuuemura-usa.com.
*Kiehl's Lip Balm SPF 15 in Hue No. 30G, $8; kiehls.com.

Evangeline Lily



*Mario Badescu Honey Moisturizer, $25; fredsegalbeauty.com.
*The Body Shop Shimmer Cubes Palette in 06, $17.50; thebodyshop.com.
*NYC Browser Brush-On Kit in Brunette 876A, $4; at Wal-Mart.
*IS Clinical Super Serum, $125; caliderma.com.
*The Body Shop Perfume Oil in Vanilla, $12/.5 oz.; thebodyshop.com.
*MAC Powder/Blush Brush No. 129, $34; maccosmetics.com.
*L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Mascara in Black/Brown, $7.50; drugstore.com.
*Cargo Lip Gloss in Chattanooga, $20; sephora.com.
*MAC Blush in Pinch O' Peach, $17.50; maccosmetics.com.
*Lancome Juicy Tubes Ultra-Shiny Lip Gloss in Hallucination, $16.50; lancome.com.

Get On The Bus

Wanna go glam? Look for Style Network's sleek, 34-foot Beauty Bus as it delivers free fun and fashion to a mall near you! Visit the Bus to learn about the hottest new looks and style secrets, then get your own mini-makeover by top beauty professionals from Garnier and Maybelline New York! Special hair, nail and makeup stations on board the fully customized RV offer complimentary services ranging from hairstyling and blowouts to makeup consultations and manicures. After being pampered and made over, you can sit and relax in the Style Lounge.

Participants in the Beauty Bus road show will also learn about Dress for Success, an international organization promoting the economic independence of disadvantaged women. Show up for a Style Beauty Bus stop in a town near you for a dose of the best in fashion, beauty and on-the-go glamour!

Under Construction

The Stila website is currently under construction. Visit stilacosmetics.com and enter your email address to receive a special offer once the site re-launches.

In the meantime, shop Sephora for all of your Stila needs. And add Stila as your friend on Myspace to be the first to know about exclusive offers and special events!

Are you a Stila girl?

Going To Great Lengths

Think that celebrities’ hair grows faster than us regular folk? Well, guess again. Tress trendsetters, like Jessica Simpson, regularly rely on hair extensions to transform their manes from mundane to magnificent.

"Fake hair is no longer taboo," says L.A. stylist Jonathan Hanousek. "It has become another fashion accessory."



Clip-in extensions are a great way to change the texture of your hair, while adding length and volume – in mere minutes! Clip-ins provide the look of traditional sewn or glue-bonded extensions, without damage to the hair… they’re perfect for your real-life red carpet moments.

Click here to watch Kim Kimble, The Queen of Hair Extensions, show you how to go to great lengths with do-it-yourself clip-in extensions!

Note: If you decide to purchase clip-in extensions, like HairDo by Jessica Simpson and Ken Paves, be sure to buy human hair – NOT synthetic. Yes, it’s more expensive, but human hair extensions are specially processed so that they can be professionally colored, permed, and/or cut to match your needs. And, unlike synthetic hair, you can wash and use thermal tools on human hair to achieve star style.

Heavenly Bliss

Don't you just love when a beauty sample is so good that it becomes a beauty staple?

As a Sephora Beauty Insider, I recently received a birthday gift for my birthday suit. Bliss Naked Body Butter Maximum Moisture Cream is a hand and body moisturizer that "instantly drenches dry skin to leave even the scaliest sort feeling seriously soft." It leaves your skin incredibly soft, not slippery - and it's unscented, so you can mix it with any fragrance you fancy.

Right now, Naked Body Butter is temporarily out of stock at Sephora.com, so if you want to see what all the hype's about, I suggest you surf on over to the Bliss website. And while you're at it, be sure to check out their blowout sale. Save up to 80% on products from Bliss, Remède, Model Co., and Laura Mercier. Hurry...sale ends September 30th.

You Say It's Your Birthday...

...It's my birthday too, yeah!

In honor of my twenty-something birthday, I’m sending a collective shout-out to all of my readers born between September 23 and October 22. Here’s what Glamour.com had to say about us lovely Libra ladies:

Why you’re wonderful: You’re classic in beauty and style - and quietly balanced in life. You don’t chase; you attract.

Why you’re impossible: Though calm and collected on the outside, you’re sometimes selfish and can’t make up your mind to save your life.

Your month: You haven’t been this head-over-heels in love since your first really good kiss.

Your mission: If it’s a new fling, things could get messy. Coupled? It’s big decision time (think babies or a wedding).

Libras much more famous than us:
Barbara Walters – 9/25
Catherine Zeta-Jones – 9/25
Gwyneth Paltrow - 9/28
Mira Sorvino – 9/28
Naomi Watts – 9/28
Monica Bellucci – 9/30
Julie Andrews – 10/1
Donna Karan – 10/2
Kelly Ripa – 10/2
Gwen Stefani – 10/3
Parminder Nagra – 10/5
Kate Winslet – 10/5
Rachel McAdams – 10/7

For my birthday, my sister bought me the perfect gift for a beauty blogger – a cosmetic bag full of Molton Brown favorites! Thanks, Lauren. I can’t wait to try the products…I plan on getting started tonight. Stay tuned for reviews.

Carol’s Daughter Made Me Do It

I don’t need any more lipgloss. I didn’t think I’d ever admit that (let alone, put it in writing), but it’s the truth. If I wore a different lipgloss every day, I could go for a month or more without repeating colors.

So on Saturday, as I drove to Sephora, I promised myself that I’d only purchase products that I actually needed. And I would have gotten away with my Visa card unscathed if it weren’t for that meddling Carol’s Daughter and her irresistible lipgloss.

Candy Paint Lip Gloss delivers color and intense shine while hydrating, moisturizing, and protecting the lips with shea butter, aloe vera, and vitamin E. And thanks to the unique formula, you can kiss sticky textures and hair caught in your gloss goodbye. It’s also Paraben-, mineral oil-, and petroleum-free.

This gloss had me at hello. And once I lavished my lips in ‘Bubbling Brown Sugar’ (shimmering light brown), it was a done deal. Carol’s Daughter was like, “I now pronounce you girl and gloss.”

Available in 12 tempting tints, at carolsdaughter.com and Sephora.

The Gold Standard in Bronzer

Happy 1st day of fall, y'all! I’m a fall baby, so I love this time of year. The crispness of the air…the red, orange, and gold of the foliage…and football!

But on the flip side, the days are getting shorter and your summer glow is getting dimmer by the day. Instead of investing in a tanning salon membership, do your skin a favor (news flash: tanning causes cancer and wrinkles) and pick up Prescriptives Custom Blend Bronzer. It's not yet on the website, but it's available in stores.

I have a wedding to attend, so I’m going to pass the mic to one of my favorite blogs, Makeup Loves Me. Click here for the review.

It's All About The Hamiltons, Baby

I never spent more than $10 on shampoo. I never saw much point to spending more than a Hamilton on something I’m going to put in my hair, just to rinse out. To me, shampoo was just the equivalent of liquid soap. That is until I discovered Frederic Fekkai Technician Shampoo For Dry, Damaged, Color-Treated Hair.

This shampoo is formulated to replenish moisture and restore hair to good health by strengthening and protecting it. Natural cleansers gently clean the hair while natural conditioners add moisture. Apricot, avocado, calendula, and peach provide extra moisture and softness to hydrate the hair. After using it, as promised, my abused hair was softer, smoother, and shinier.

Note: Your hair needn’t be dry, damaged, and color-treated to enjoy this product. As long as your strands are one of the above, they will reap the rewards of this magic potion.

An 8 ounce bottle of the shampoo will cost you one Jackson and two Washingtons. But take it from me, it's definitely worth every Lincoln.

Available at Sephora.

Attention: Phillies In Philly

If you live in Philadelphia, or plan to pass through this fall, be sure to stop by the Blue Mercury store on Walnut Street. Between now and November, the chain’s Rittenhouse Square location will host several fun (free) events! Learn about beauty trends, seasonal looks, and new products - all from brand experts, and receive makeup and skincare consultations.

Here’s a sampling of the schedule:

Bobbi Brown
September 28-29, 2007
Is your makeup drawer a mess? A Bobbi Brown artist will show you how to get organized with Bobbi Brown’s new fall palette system.

Darphin
October 5-6, 2007
Is your skin feeling tight or taught? A Darphin expert will perform a mini facial and makeup consultation leaving your skin youthfully smooth and naturally radiant looking.

Laura Mercier
October 12-13, 2007
Take your lips out for a new look and a day at the spa. And while you’re at it, how about the rest of your makeup? Let a Laura Mericer artist provide a fall makeover, and rejuvenate your lips - making them fuller , plumper sexier and more kissable.

MD Skincare
October 17, 2007
Looking for some “Skin Truth”? Join us for a complimentary skin consultation and learn about MD Skincare’s Truth Serums. Also includes a 6-step mini facial.

Fresh
October 26-27, 2007
An invigorating Mangosteen hand treatment will leave your skin soft and supple. Instantly hydrate and revitalize your skin. Get swept away with a Fresh makeover featuring the newest “romance and intrigue” collection.

Bliss
November 1, 2007
Chin in need of a fall “pick me up”? Come and try Bliss’ thinny thin chin to help pick up the slack (seriously!). Improve the appearance of necklines, lumpiness and hyper-pigmentation. An oxygen mini-facial will refresh and create a younger looking face.

NARS
November 3, 2007
Need a new, dramatic fall look? NARS seduces with magnetic intrigue and bold mystique.

Call 215.569.3100 to book an appointment.

Fleur De Lips

Inspired by Coco’s beloved blossom, Chanel’s new Camelia Lip Palette holds four complementary cream shades - rose, sheer rose, lustrous white, and plum. Beautiful in the package, even more lovely on you. Limited edition.

Oh…Oh…O!

It’s the blush whose name actually makes you blush. Even if you’ve never tried it, you’ve undoubtedly heard about it. It’s Nars Orgasm, the peachy-pink blush that imparts a universally subtle and sexy flush of color.


It was only a matter of time before Nars united its most celebrated shade (Best of Sephora winner) with its most sought after multi-purpose product. The Multiple in Orgasm (pure marketing genius) delivers shimmering accents, contours, and dynamic highlights to eyes, cheeks, lips, and décolletage.

Go get you some…and bask in the afterglow!

Available exclusively at Sephora.

Can't Hardly Wait

Yesterday, I got the email that I had been anticipating all summer. The new Sephora store at WILLOW GROVE PARK, PA (suburban Philadelphia) will celebrate their grand opening on Friday, September 21.

Can't wait two days? Join Sephora for a sneak peek celebration from 6-9:30pm on Thursday, September 20. Sample new products, spritz yourself pretty and score a beautiful new look from one of our educated experts. RSVP to rsvp@sephora.com by Wednesday, September 19. Don't want to get gorgeous alone? Tell a friend.

Next month, Sephora opens its doors in Center City Philadelphia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! More on that later...too much excitement for one post. I'm having heart palpitations as I write this.

To find a Sephora store near you, or see if a store is opening in your area, click here.

Everything But The Kitchen Sink

I really don't mean to be writing about MAC all of the time. But it seems that, lately, they release a new product or collection every other day. If they keep this up, my job might as well start making my checks payable to Make-up Art Cosmetics, Inc.

Here's what's new at a MAC near you:

Fall Trend Bags

Lashes

Plushlash Mascara


Viva Glam VI Lipstick and Lipglass

Matte² Eye Shadow and Liquidlast Liner

Mattene

Available at MAC counters, stores, and at maccosmetics.com.

One Concealer To Go, Hold The Oil

Today, I received an email from a reader asking me to recommend an oil-free concealer…which got me thinking about concealer, in general. As a person with combination skin, I tend to gravitate toward oil-free moisturizers, primers, and foundations…but I never think to look for oil-free concealers.

It makes absolute sense that if you’re using concealer to cover blemishes, you would want an oil-free formulation. But, for some reason, most concealers aren’t marketed that way. After conducting a lengthy Internet search, I was surprised to find that there aren’t many out there that make the claim to be oil-free. So either the choices really are limited, or there are a lot of cosmetic companies that don’t bother putting the words on the package. My suggestion is to look for concealers made for "oily or combo skin" - these formulas tend to contain drying properties that reduce both inflammation and oiliness.

The following are the fruits of my labor. As I am a tried and true fan of Bobbi Brown’s Creamy Concealer Kit, I can’t vouch for these products. So head on over to Makeup Alley for some unbiased and candid reviews.


Drugstore


Revlon Colorstay Undereye Concealer's exclusive formula and soft-touch applicator work to gently conceal dark undereye circles and discolorations, while giving you natural looking coverage all day. Patented SoftFlex provides a lightweight, comfortable feel. Oil-free. Non-pore-clogging. Non-irritating. With SPF 15 UVA and UVB protection.


Neutrogenia Skin-Clearing Oil Free Concealer treats and helps prevent breakouts with its easy to use click pen. Unlike ordinary concealers, this dermatologist developed formula contains salicylic acid to get rid of acne you have now and help prevent future breakouts. Natural-looking coverage helps to reduce the appearance of acne.


Almay Clear Complexion Concealer is an oil-free spot concealer that targets your blemishes with salicylic acid to speed healing, while never blocking pores. The sponge tip wand delivers the perfect amount of concealer every time. Infused with meadowsweet to help purify and clear skin as well as calming botanicals such as chamomile and aloe to soothe irritation. Not for use near eyes.


Department Store


The Supernatural Airbrushed Canvas by Philosophy is a multi-tasking 4-in-1 high-pigment powder that conceals, camouflages, and provides SPF protection all in one easy step. The lightweight powder is talc-free, fragrance-free, paraben-free, water-free and oil-free and the incredibly fast and easy-to-use sponge applicator makes this gentle powder safe to use on all skin types - from the most sensitive, to the most prone to breakouts.


Full Cover by Make Up For Ever is an ultra long-lasting, matte finish, oil-free, waterproof, full coverage concealer. Designed to cover major imperfections like scars, hyperpigmentation, major discoloration, burns, and tattoos, this light and creamy concealer contains a high concentration of pigments that stay put, making it perfect for use on the face, as well as the body. Full Cover is clinically tested on sensitive skin and dermatologically controlled for gentleness.


Conceal, shield and heal blemishes with Galactic Shield - an oil-free, waterproof anti-acne concealing stick. In three shades that suit almost every skin tone, it's your daytime avenger! Received Elle magazine's Top 5 Winner "spot-on blemish eraser" award and voted "best concealer for acne" by Real Simple magazine.


Clinique Acne Solutions Concealing Stick provides natural-looking spot coverage as blemishes heal, disappear. Its medicated formula works to cover and clear blemishes. Convenient stick formula blends on easily, under or over makeup. Oil-free.


Clinique All About Eyes Concealer disguises dark undereye circles while helping to reduce the look of puffiness. Long-wearing, moisturizing formula won’t crease or settle into fine lines. Oil-free.


Created for women with sensitive skin, LORAC's Oil Free Neutralizer is a specially-tinted makeup which can correct and conceal imperfections. Formulated without the use of harsh chemicals, this neutralizer is infused with rich botanicals such as aloe, comfrey, and chamomile to calm and soothe skin. The Oil Free Neutralizer can be used as a foundation, as a cover for redness, or as a concealer of blemishes, pigmentation spots, and under-eye circles.