One mascara that I have read rave reviews for time and time again is Dior Diorshow Mascara. So many reviews and people that I know will only use this mascara and some of the reviews have said that it’s like false lashes in a bottle. Of course, like any beauty junky, I was intrigued but not quite interested enough to invest $24.00 in a tube. One of my favorite perks of being a Sephora Beauty Insider are the deluxe samples that you can receive and I was excited to see Diorshow Mascara as an option the last time that I purchased from Sephora.

The first time that I used Diorshow, I wasn’t too impressed with the product. It left a lot of clumps on my lashes. However, after the second use the clump issue has been resolved. I used the mascara while traveling thanks to the great size of the deluxe sample, so I’m thinking that all the atmosphere changes created by toting it in my carry-on may have had something to do with the clumps. After nearly two weeks of use now, I can say that I do like this mascara an awful lot but, I still don’t think it’s worth the price.

While it did add length to my lashes and I do love the rich black of the mascara, it did little to add volume to my lashes, which is what I always look for. I naturally have long but fine lashes, so I need all the help in the volume department that I can get. While it definitely doesn’t create the false lash look on me, it definitely does create a great natural doe-eyed look that any girl into the hippie fashion craze would love. It also doesn’t feel brittle or stiff like a lot of other mascaras do.

Have you used Diorshow Mascara before? Did you like the results?

Have you thought about checking out Rancilio Silvia?

Like most girls that I know, I love trying out new lotions and serums. So many of them promise to do amazing things and, while so few actually pay off with their promised results, it’s always a lot of fun to try out new things. One moisturizer that I’ve recently tried for the first time is Malibu Secret Anti-Aging Body Cream. What initially drew me to the cream was not only it’s anti-aging claims but also the celebrities that openly use the products. If Pamela Anderson, Heather Locklear, Kathy Hilton and Bai Ling use it then there definitely must be something good about it. There are so many anti-aging face creams out there, but hardly any for your body. This thick cream is specifically designed to prevent the signs of aging on your neck, arms, stomach, decollete, bust, legs, and everywhere else. If you’re like me, you know that it’s a lot better to start prevention early on rather than trying to combat skin damage that has already occurred. This is what attracted me to Malibu Secret in the first place. If it could help prevent any signs of aging before they occur, it’s worth a try.

Malibu Secret uses natural antioxidants (such as hibiscus flower extract, pear extract, and green tea leaf) to help prevent free radical damage. Antioxidants are something that we’ve heard are great to ingest as they help your immune system, but they also do wonders for your skin. Free radicals are caused by many factors in life - from pollution to natural processes in the body - and are what can cause pre-mature aging by damaging your skin. Being able to fight against free radicals is a very important step in anti-aging skin care.

(more…)

While fashion week isn’t exactly recent, I’m still loving many of the looks and styles that celebrities featured. One of my favorites was Gossip Girl Leighton Meester’s make up. Her skin looked flawless, amazing, and glowing. Don’t you wish that we could all have such luminous skin? With just a few essential products, you can.

For this look, Leighton Meester actually had her make up done by NARS cosmetics makeup artist Norman Sands. He shared the exact products that were used to achieve her glowing skin. First, he applied NARS Firming Foundation in Punjab around her eyes and nose. This will balance out any redness or uneven skin tone that tends to occur in those areas.Then dusted NARS Super Orgasm Blush on cheeks and forehead. For her eyes, he swept on Single Eyeshadow in Cyprus, Blondie and Duo Eyeshadow in Elsa. Then topped with Mascara in Bamboo. For a final touch, he applied Lip Liner Pencil in Fantasia and topped it with Lip Gloss Duo in Giza/Boogie Nights.

This is a great look for day or night that could easily be re-created with cheaper products and would look great on all skin tones. What do you think of this look? Is it too simple, or just simple enough?

Looking for some tips on where to get luggage?

The holiday season is already here and, if you’re like me, you’ve barely made a dent in your shopping. One of my personal favorites to give and receive are beauty items. For my latest post on Sparkle Shelf, I put together a list of The Best Beauty Items To Give and Get. I found some of the best sets out there for $40 or less that will definitely give someone more than enough to love.

We all know that the malls are going to be insane today. So, if you’re like me and want to skip the possibility of being trampled, there are still some great options for Black Friday Deals online. Here are some of the ones that I wish I had the funds to take advantage of :

Benefit Cosmetics : With a $30 purchase you can get a BADgal pencil or a Mr. Frosty pencil for free. Enter the code “BADGAL08″ or “FROSTY08″ at checkout to receive one of these babies for free. You can also use the codes to get Free US Standard Shipping on any $50 purchase. Enter promo code PRETTY50 at checkout., or FREE International Shipping with any $115 purchase. Enter promo code WORLD115 at checkout. Benefit also has a Buh-Buys section, which features items that have been discontinued at really low prices. Save up to 75% at BenefitCosmetics.com! Check out our sale section. You can also get November 28th only get Free US Standard Shipping with $25 purchase at Benefit Cosmetics. Enter promo code BLAKSHIP. And, on December 1st, December 1st only get Free US Standard Shipping with $25 purchase at Benefit Cosmetics. Enter promo code: CYBESHIP.

Philosophy : From today until December 1st, Philosophy is doing free shipping on any and all orders. You should also check out their Gift Center where you can save up to 40% off select items.

Juicy Couture : Use the promotional code JCGIFTS at checkout and receive free shipping on any order from Juicy Couture. They just released their Holiday Charm Bracelet, which is quite cute and limited edition. Definitely check out their sale section for some steep discounts on items of all kinds.

Sephora : There are tons of promo code deals at Sephora right now!! Thankfully, because they love their customers, they have it all on their Sephora Beauty Bonuses and Sephora Promotions & Offers pages to easily view. They also offer samples with every order. Be sure to sign up to be a Beauty Insider (if you haven’t yet!) and you’ll get extra bonuses through out the year. I love getting the deluxe samples because I’ve been able to score some pretty sweet and out of my budget items.

(more…)

Every season it seems like there are new polish trends and the same classic shades for the season. Burgundy nail polish has always been huge for fall, and gray is the new trend this year. Below is a list of My Top Five Fall Nail Colors for this fall. For each shade that I picked, I tried to list a high quality and more expensive brand as well as a lower end less expensive brand. When it chips after a few days anyways, it’s not always worth it to spend the extra cash on a deluxe bottle.

1. Gray : Gray is the newest and trendiest shade right now. It’s all over celebrities and people in the street. What’s great about the gray polish trend is that both matte and metallic shades are in style. This makes it one of the most versatile shades for fall. Try Laura Mercier Nail Lacquer in Caviar Dreams or Underground by Rimmel London in Cat Fight.

2. Burgundy : This is such a classic fall shade that will never go out of style. It’s the fall version of spring’s bright red and pink nails. Try Dior Dior Vernis in Mystic Violine or Underground by Rimmel London in Hard Edged.

3. Peach : This is quite possibly one of my favorite fall shades because it’s so unexpected and so different from all the other dark shades that are trendy. It’s a great way to add some fun color to your look as well. Especially if you are in a work setting that doesn’t allow the darker shades that are trendy this season. Try NARS Nail Polish in Orgasm or Express Finish by Maybelline in Sheer Crystal Dash.

4. Navy Blue : This shade is great for those who love the look of black nail polish but aren’t quite ready to try it on themselves. It’s a bit more glamorous than black and goes with just as much. Try NARS Nail Polish in Midnight Express or N.Y.C. New York Color Nail Polish in Skin Tight Denim Creme.

5. Black : No matter what anyone says, I think that black is a very classic color. It’s a great way to make a nod to the punk and goth styles that have influenced today’s fashion without going over the top. Try Dior Dior Vernis in Black Sequins or N.Y.C. New York Color Nail Polish in Black Lace Creme.

Learn more about diet pills.

Over the weekend, Nicole Richie showed up to the 30th annual Carousel Of Hope Ball at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California looking absolutely stunning in a golden bead embellished gown. The Carousel of Hope raises millions of dollars in support of treatment and research programs at the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes by holding a charity ball every other October. Nicole Richie went the natural, glowing, and glamorous make up route by pairing a dramatic cat eye with natural make up on her face.

Her face make up is quite similar to that shown in the Get The Look : A Healthy, Radiant Complexion video from NARS. Start with well moisturized skin. Nothing helps make up go on smoother or brings out your own natural glow better than soft skin. A luminizing primer, such as That Gal Primer by Benefit Cosmetics. Perk up your complexion with the Blush/Bronzer Duo by NARS. The bronzer is great for highlighting and the blush is great for creating a natural flush. Stick to a neutral lip gloss. When playing up your eyes, it’s typically best to keep your lips neutral. Try lip gloss by NARS, who makes great quality gloss in a variety of nude shades.

A bronze smokey eye is a great sexy and chic look for evening. Two great color palettes to try are the Starry-Eyed Baked Eyeshadow Trio by LORAC in Superstar or the 5-Colour Eyeshadow by Dior in Sunset Cafe. Not sure how to create a smokey eye? Check out this tutorial from Sparkle Shelf. Liquid liner is best for cay eyes because it’s more dramatic and wears longer. If you’re new to liner or have a hard time keeping a steady hand, try drawing the lines with pencil liner and going over them with liquid. For a long wearing waterproof liner that won’t budge, try Blinc’s Liquid Eyeliner. You won’t be able to scrub it off, but you can actually peel it off at the end of the night. If you’re not sure how to do a cat eye effect, check out this Guide to Getting a Cat Eye Look from Sparkle Shelf. To add some extra glam, try out some false eyelashes. The Make Up Forever Lashes are good basics, but there are also fun options by Shu Uemera. Finish with several coats of a lush black mascara, such as Diorshow Black Out Mascara by Dior.