Best of Bounty!!

Hey BGND folks!

A new "Best of" list is out and it is one of my faves...

The good peeps at Allure have listed their latest list of shopping bag must haves and it is comprehensive and fabulous as usual!! There are some old faves on the list of course but some newer products (either to the market or to BGND) that I am completely excited to try! Some of these new discoveries are....

St. Ives Elements Microdermabrasion Scrub - $6.99

(MicroDB from St.Ives? Sign me up.)

Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette - $9.99

(I had heard this was good- now I really have to go check it out.)

Duri Nail Growth System Rejuvacote - $12

(If it makes my nails stronger and longer- I'm in.)

These of course are just the tip of the beauty ice berg...check out the whole list for yourself:

http://www.allure.com/beauty/bestof

And report back BGND readers - did any of your faves make the cut? Is there something you cannot believe was left off?!

Let's make the be-all-end-all "best of"beauty list together!

Keep looking fabulous,

BGND

A picky problem...

Dear BGND,

I have really done it this time! I went out Friday night with my face looking fabulous, had a few drinks, a few appetizers and when I woke up on Saturday - I had a huge zit had appeared overnight!! I HATE THAT.

Well, I just couldn't leave it alone and I picked at it. I did it. I mean I REALLY did it. What was a relatively normal pimple (now that I look back at it) has turned into a scary, scabby, VERY obvious resident of my chin.

Help, I have a date and it would be nice if it didn't feel like my date was looking at it the whole time. How can I cover it? Oh yeah, and can I do it without looking like I have a ton of cover up on?

Help me BGND!

Picking fool in Pasadena

Dear Picker,

Oh girl...I have SO been there! I would like to think that I am immune to the picking instinct and that I always do the appropriate thing when it comes to the occasional inflamation of a pore. Well sadly, BGND is human. I have also found myself thinking "Why, oh why did I touch this? It is so much worse now then before! ARGH!!!!!"

Well, because of these momentary times of weakness I have had to concoct a cover-up method that I am comfortable with and is BGND approved. So here you have it Picker, my time proven method for covering up a pimple.

1) After washing and drying and applying your normal face lotion/sunscreen, try to exfoliate any dry skin surrounding the pimple (for techniques on this, please reference the BGND blog from 9/23/08 - Item #2).

2) Take a coverup stick or coverup paste in the color of your choice and apply on top of the pimple and a bit around the surrounding area. With clean fingers, gently blend.

3) Use a liquid concealer in color of your choice and apply on top of the pimple and surrounding area and blend this liquid with your fingers and mix it with the coverup stick/paste that you have already applied.

4) Dip a q-tip in loose translucent powder and apply to the area. I find it is better to tap the powder on top of the pimple to set. If you rub you will just remove some of the work you have just done.

5) Continue with the rest of your daily routine- foundation, powder what have you....

6) If after you have finished the rest of your face you feel that the pimple is still visible, repeat steps 2-4 on top of the rest of your make-up.

This layering method has worked for me time and time again and is what I have found to be best in terms of good coverage and layering without looking like you have a pound of concealer on one tiny little pimple.

My tools of choice?

Benefit It Stick - $20 (Benefit counters nationwide, and online at Benefitcosmetics.com and Sephora.com)

Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Wheat - $24 (Laura Mercier counters nationwide and online at LauraMercier.com and Sephora.com)

Almay Nearly Naked Loose Powder - $11.99 (Drugstore nationwide and online at Drugstore.com)

So Picker, there you have it. Have a great time on your date (pimple successfully hidden!) and try to fight the urge next time.

We can do it together!!!

Keep Looking Fabulous!

BGND

Item of the Week - September 25th, 2008

I have spent some time here on BGND talking about facial cleaners but haven't broached the topic of eye make-up remover as of yet....and in terms of finding a product that works and can be a go-to in your medicine cabinet. - I find a solid eye make-up remover to be extremely important and hard to find. I have spent years going from brand to brand, searching lotion and cream, often times either irritating my delicate eye area skin into a red mess or ending up with those tell tale mascara moons on my face towel.

Well, after all that searching and experimenting (and desperately trying to find a cheaper version of this exact product), a year ago I resigned to the fact that this is the best THE BEST eye makeup remover out there.

Clinique Take the Day Off Makeup Remover for Lids, Lashes and Lips - $16.50 (Nationwide at Clinique counters, Sephora and online at Clinique.com)

This combination liquid (you activate it by shaking the bottle before use) takes off anything and I mean anything. Liquid eyeliner, heavy smoky eyes..whatever you put on those lids, this magic potion will take off.

Now, one note on eye makeup remover...It should be a three step process.....after soaking your cotton pad with the remover place it on top of your lid and hold it down on your lashes for at least 10 seconds. The remover needs time to break up whatever you have on your lids/lashes. After that gently swipe downward as you press and then up again on the under side of your lashes.

You will love, love, love this remover and it will significantly reduce any mascara residue on your face. I find the gentle removal and efficiency that this product provides far outweighs the cost for a somewhat small bottle of product.

Enjoy and keep looking fabulous!

BGND

Random Acts of Advice

I don't always watch What Not To Wear on TLC...In general, I prefer the original British version with Trinny and Susannah....however today I was having some breakfast and wanted something fluffy to watch and WNTW seemed perfect. Well, little did I know that WNTW would inspire today's post...but indeed it did. The lovely make-up artist said something that really stuck with me and made me think about all the great random pieces of advice I have received over the years. So today I present you with the five most random bits of advice I have ever received that are serious habits that can mysteriously make or break your beauty routine.

1 ) The "tightness" test for dry skin (courtesy of WNTW on TLC)
If you have dry skin or are anyone just looking for a moisturizer, apply moisturizer to your skin after washing and wait 5 minutes. If your skin feels tight after 5 minutes, whatever you are using is not rich enough. (I know for a fact this works...I had tried something similar in the past and found indeed that the moisturizer I was using was not enough for my skin.)

2) The q-tip exfoliator trick
You know how sometimes you get some peeling around acne on your face- whether from treatments or just from general healing? Then when you go to try to cover it up - it doesn't really work because your concealer just highlights those flaky bits of skin. Well, this is my FAVORITE random trick....take a dry q-tip and gently rub it in circles on top of wherever you have your flakiness...it will miraculously exfoliate off any excess skin without causing new damage or spreading any kind of bacteria. Then you can go ahead and cover up whatever you want. LOVE IT.

3) The number one element to an at home manicure
Make sure after you have done whatever you are going to do - file/buff/use cuticle oil etc....simply wipe your nails with some nail polish remover and then apply your base coat. If you try to put base coat on your nails without making sure they are clean of all lotion and oil, your polish will flake and chip and your manicure will last half as long. A ten second added part of your manicure that will make the difference between your nails looking salon done and home done.

4) Think outside the makeup box
Just because something is designed for your lips or eyes or cheeks, doesn't mean it can't be just as effective or even more effective somewhere else. It will do you good to think outside the box. My favorite blemish concealer is actually a eyeshadow base by Laura Mercier. It is designed to prep your lids for color, but it is ideal to cover blemishes. Just the right consistency, a good shade and thick without looking cakey. I never would have discovered this if I hadn't needed a concealer and not had anything. I tried it, and now it is my go-to cover up if I have a bad pimple.

5) Use your friends
Hehe- not literally of course! However, we all have bought a lipstick or an eyeshadow and gotten home only to realize it doesn't look like it should. Well, we then of course try to make it work and use it a few more times because we were really excited about the purchase and inevitably we are still stuck with a lipstick we just spent $15 on that looks terrible. Well one woman's trash is another woman's treasure. Some of my favorite shades have arrived at my doorstep because a friend bought them for herself and they didn't work. And I in turn have given things away that others have ended up using. So share and share alike- you will find some new cool things and not feel so guilty about all the money you spend on products that just gather dust.

Well all, hopefully these are tips that are new finds to you and that you will love and use as much as I do.

Keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Tuesday Morning

Are any of you as intrigued by this store Tuesday Morning as I am? I am completely fascinated by the idea and know that if I were to ever set foot inside a TM store I would waste a TON of money. Well, in case you haven't been watching the news lately- our financial system is in SERIOUS trouble. As a result I am thinking now is not the time to find a new favorite money spending location, as much as I am curious about Tuesday Morning.

So today, in honor of my morbid fascination with TM and to bring to light the fact that in today's economy we could all stand to save a little money, I present you with the 5 top beauty products/items/things you are probably spending money on that you do not need to.

1) Astringent/Toner
Astringent is really a hold over from a time when products were much simpler. Back in the day there was not a lot of anti-aging in face care and needless to say the choices were much smaller (think Neutrogena Face Bar, Noxzema, Sea Breeze and Ponds). For most women, astringent simply does not need to be a part of your process. For one thing, astringent is mainly an exfoliant and we are all getting that in other ways (or should be!) Whether it be through our face wash with microbeads, facial peels or any other number of sources, we are well exfoliated. Also, a lot of astringents unnecessarily dry out your skin and strip natural oils making you look OLDER and can potentially conflict with all the anti-agers we use. My one exception to this rule is Clinique 3-step skin care. If you are using one of their toners and your skin is in good shape and you like the program, keep going. But for the rest of you, don't feel like you need astringent/toner. Most likely you do not.

2) Callous razors at the nail salon
I used to be a junky for this fun little part of a pedicure - whether the extra cost be $2 or $5. BEWARE. These razors are not your friend...they are unhealthy, unsafe and ultimately do not work. Those callouses will come back and then the cycle begins again. Instead of bringing germs to your feet in a very real way, simply purchase a pumice stone at your local drugstore and use it for 30 seconds on each foot in the shower daily with some gently cleanser. Add the PedEgg I have told you about before if you have seriously callous feet and the combination will ensure soft, touchable, safely clean feet. Plus you won't be adding a 25% surcharge every time you go to get your mani/pedi.

3) Lip Exfoliators
This is one of the silliest products out there. If you have flaky lips you can take care of them in some simple ways. Get some good old fashioned chapstick, Carmex or even petroleum jelly and apply each morning and before you go to bed at night. And of course, apply as needed through the day. As far as true lip flaking goes, if you have this issue all you need is your toothbrush. Brush gently when lips and brush are dry or with petroleum jelly (although this can gunk up your toothbrush.) Don't overdo it , but a little of this can take care of most lip exfoliation issues. After brushing, use some of that chapstick and you will be good to go.

4) Expensive Shampoo
If you look at the back of most shampoo bottles, the ingredients are nearly the same. Now this isn't to say that some shampoos don't work better than others...they do. But you do not need to spend $30 on a 12oz bottle of shampoo. You can find something that smells nice and works for under $10 and in some cases, under $3. Play around, find something you like but don't buy your salon's shampoo just because you feel like you need to. You can get something cheaper that will work just as well and you won't up the cost of your haircut by a third.

5) Those all-in-one facial wipes
You know the kind I am talking about...the "facial" in a cloth? If you are lazy/tired and can't be bothered to wash your face - fine - this is better than nothing. But honestly, the cost of these for the amount of use you get out of them is just not worth it. Plus, I am just not sold on their ability to clean. Sure, they will take off your make-up but as for getting in there and cleaning out those pores, I am not convinced. You are better off with a wash cloth and a bar of soap.

So go forth my friends with less product in your bathroom and more money in your pocket...

Keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Top Trends...

Some Monday musings on my favorite fall make-up trends....Many trends come and go, but these are the ones I think are legit for the season and worth a shot. These are my top three but I am in love with trend #1 at the moment.



1 - 60's style mod make-up
Simple eyeshadow, nice black liner, solid lips.....
This is a classic Bridget Bardot look and ALWAYS look classy and fresh and best of all is easy to replicate.






Some tools to make this happen:
Nice, neutral eyeshadow....good color choices from MAC (Vapor) and Cargo (Georgia)
Solid black or navy liner - good color choices from Avon, L'Oreal and MAC
Berry lipstick - CoverGirl WetSlicks in Tickled Pink, L'Oreal Paris Colour Juice Sheer Lip Gloss





2 - Gray Eyes
A nice subtle option for those afraid of solid black or raccoon effects. Try this color in your eyeliner and your shadow and try multiple layers of both for the ultimate in smoky eyes. Best or fall gray shadow and liner will really bring out any eye color..makes blues fresh, greens deeper and browns sparkle.

Some good options:
Chanel charcoal Eyeshadows
Stila Smudge Pots in Gray
Maybelline Expertwear Eyeshadow Trios and Dream Mouse Shadows

3 - Green Shadows
This is really only for the brave of heart but I experimented a little and I am on board. Try to focus the greens toward the outer crease of your eye or you will look like a little girl playing with her mommy's shadows.

My picks for the green trend:
TooFaced Cosmetics Duo Shadow in Lucky Charms
Wet n' Wild MegaEyes Shadow Pot in Sensual Sage

Have fun, find your fall trend and keep looking fabulous!

BGND

A review and a new recommendation....

I am obsessed with lashes right now, not sure why but I am rolling with it....

So a few updates on some of my latest musings on lashes...

1 - I have now used my free gift of Zoom Lash by MAC a few times and am not totally impressed. It covers lashes well and does the length thing pretty satisfactorily but it does cause my number one no-no when it comes to mascara. It FLAKES- ugh and gives you that icky dark under eye circle caused by mascara that does not stay on! Now, I will say this....If you are doing a smokey eye or an edgier look I am not totally opposed to have some under eye darkness a la Debbie Harry...

But for everyday - I am NOT a fan of anything that makes you look less polished and more tired.

2 - I was running late yesterday and had to do some eye make-up in the car (no worries- I wasn't driving!).....and instead of bringing my full size go-to mascara I used my in-purse back-up...another freebie I had received, this time Clinique High Impact Mascara - $14 (nationwide at Clinique counters, Sephora and online at Clinique.com). ( I like to keep all my mini's in my purse for just this reason- I will use them and can then perhaps add them to my rotation.) And holy cow! It is fantastic!! Never mind the fact that it was put on in a moving car in a little tiny mirror, it made my lashes full, dark, long and they actually stayed that way for my entire rehearsal (through sweat and all.)

This is definitely going to be a new favorite of mine- try it out - I think you will love it too!

Have a great weekend and keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Product of the week- September 18th, 2008

Today I am so excited to talk about something that has been in my make-up kit for quite some time and I believe to be one of the best deals out there. I found this lovely item on a "best of" list a few years ago and it has been with me ever since. I KNOW that you will love it as well.




L'Oreal True Match Concealer - $8.06 (Drugstores nationwide and online at drugstore.com)

Do NOT be fooled by the fact that this is a very unassuming product. It provides great coverage, will cover dark circles under your eyes like nothing else and comes in a variety of shades in cool, warm and neutral tones to match anyone's skin. I do have other concealers in my arsenal that I will use occasionally but for under the eyes- this is my GO TO product. I have tried other things over the years but they always end up gathering dust in the back of my make-up drawer. So try it out of you are looking for a good concealer and your face and wallet will thank you!

A note on concealer, you should use a different concealer for under eye circles than you should for blemishes. This is my fave for under the eye, but look out for my blemish recommendation.

Keep looking fabulous!

BGND

Going Old School...

Alright...it is Wednesday and time for some truth.
Please raise your hand if you not only are fighting wrinkles but also Acne?! UGH - gotta love getting older....

Well for quite sometime now I have been searching for a new face wash to use at night that would help fight acne but not clash with all of my anti-aging products. After trying an Aveeno wash that I was not really impressed with, I was recommended the Clean and Clear Advantage Acne Control Face wash. Well I was sad to discover that you cannot find this cleaner on it's own! You have to purchase it along with the other two "Advantage" products in a kit - see below...

The kit is actually a good deal and if you are needing a program similar to something like Proactiv- this is a good option for you (Drugstores nationwide, $17-$21). However, I simply wanted the face wash and the "advantage" wash that C&C offers outside of this kit is actually much less benzoyl peroxide than found in the one that comes with the kit.

So after a glance down the Clean and Clear section (looking for the 10% benzoyl peroxide I wanted) I settled on this lovely product:

Clean and Clear Continuous Control Acne Cleanser - $6.79 (Drugstores nationwide)

This is a lovely, non-drying acne cleanser that gives you once of the highest levels of BP on the market that is available without a prescription. I immediately felt the difference last night and was pleased with how my skin felt and looked. Of course, only time will tell if this is the new nighttime wash for me but I thought a blog was worthy.

Clean and Clear is a great example of how you don't need to spend a ton to get great skin...they are an "unglamorous" brand, but it gets the job done and that is what matters.

Keep looking fabulous!

BGND

Wiggle Room

Mascara is one of the easiest things to apply well...and often times women just slap it on without a thought, not realizing that with just a quick wrist flick you can easily get much more mileage out of your mascara.

All of the women I have recommended this technique to love it and swear it has made a difference is the way their lashes look and the way their mascara lasts. I call it the "wiggle" or the "saw". It is very simple but will make a big difference.

When applying mascara, instead of just moving the wand up the lashes and coating the lash vertically only as you normally would...wiggle or saw the mascara in a horizontal motion as you travel up your lash. Just simply move the wand back and forth as you move it up. This not only gets more mascara on your actual lashes but will make it easier to coat and thicken each individual lash since you will be getting all sides of all lashes. You will see a huge difference and for once feel like whatever you are wanting your mascara to do, it will do. If you want length, you will get it. If you want, thickness you will get it.

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

A good new mascara to try - MAC Zoom Lash - $12. I got a free sample recently and it is a potential new fave.

Keep looking fabulous!

BGND

Grey-t Nails

In our beauty lives, there are a few things that are hard to find...a great lipstick...a good mascara and of course, a new favorite nail polish color.

Well I have found my new fave nail polish. For the past few years, dark has been the rage. First it started out as deep plums and dark dark wine reds, then it switched to black in the past couple years and this year, although dark is still in, the new color of choice is grey. And I have to tell you, I AM SOLD. I had a wedding to go to over the weekend and my dress of choice was black. So on a whim while getting my manicure and pedicure, I decided to go with a new sparkly grey. And I am in LOVE.

Introducing....

My Private Jet by OPI - $8 (Beauty supply stores and ULTA nationwide)

This color is amazing. It is best described as gun metal grey filled with slight sparkles. It looks sassy and edgy but not so scary that you couldn't wear this to work if you work in a conservative workplace. I love love love it and think you will too.

Another good option for the trend is Essie Over the Top Nail Polish - $8 (Beauty supply stores, ULTA nationwide and online at Essie.com)

Keep looking fabulous!

BGND

Friday Fun

Hey all! So I think it is important in our beauty lives to remember that beauty does not need to always be so serious! With all the worrying about acne and wrinkles and covering dark circles, sometimes we can forget that fun element of make-up and products. The element that would make me sneak into any female relative's make-up bag when I was a kid and play.....

So today, I am going to talk about one of my favorite "fun" beauty items- the fake eyelash.

Definitely not for the novice, but not as scary as you would think either. Once you learn how to put on fake eyelashes, they can become just like any other part of your make-up routine. They can actually be something as familiar as putting on mascara or blush.

You can get fake eyelashes almost everywhere - from your local drugstore to any good beauty supply store ( I miss you Ricky's in NYC!) and of course at many make-up counters.

I find that the MAC lashes are good for most everyone. They are affordable (only $12 and reusable) and come in many different styles so you can go crazy and wild for a night out with the gals dancing away, or just natural for a hint of lash fabulousness when going to a black tie event.

Because there are so many styles and eyelashes are personal, I cannot recommend just one set to every BGND reader.

Here is the link to all their fab lashes -

http://www.maccosmetics.com/templates/products/mp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY15100

If you are not feeling brave enough to order right from the site, go into a MAC store or to a MAC counter and talk to one of the make-up artists about what you are looking for.

$12 can buy you long magazine mascara ad lashes and tons of confidence- try it out!

Keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Brushing up your skills....

If there is one thing that I see go unnoticed and unused by many many many gals in the beauty world it is make-up brushes. For many, there are deemed unnecessary or only for hard-core make-up gals. Well I am here to tell you differently.

Make-up brushes can make or break anyone's look and without a doubt they are one of the top things that I am always talking to people about when they look for advice. It doesn't matter if you have all the right products in all the right colors...if you are not putting them on correctly and with the correct tools, you are doing yourself a major disservice. Think of a painter trying to do a clean, flawless portrait using only their fingers. The job will get done, but it won't be as pretty as it would if that painter was using their favorite brushes. Now, don't get me wrong, there are plenty of times in make-up land when using your fingers is effective and 100% the way to go. But for the most part, you need good make-up brushes - plain and simple.

Now BGND can appreciate that not everyone wears every kind of make-up everyday. Many of us are lip gloss, mascara and blush gals. Well, I would still say that you should invest in a few good brushes for your fancy nights out or for when you feel like stepping out of the box a bit.

The good news in brush land is that make-up brushes have come a long way in the past ten years. There are of course expensive Aston Martin - level brushes but there are now also Prius - level efficient brushes that also will get the job done (and at some savings to you!)

So without further ado, here are my picks (in no particular order) for the best brushes out there for the budget savvy as well as those looking for a real investment:

For BGND gals with $$$ to invest:

- Kevyn Aucoin Brushes - $25-$65/brush - http://www.beauty.com/

- Prescriptives - $16-$45/brush - http://www.prescriptives.com/ or nationwide at Prescriptives counters

- M.A.C. - $17-$62/brush - http://www.maccosmetics.com/ or nationwide at M.A.C stores and counters

For those looking for a more reasonably priced brush:

Sephora - $10-$35/brush - http://www.sephora.com/ or nationwide at Sephora stores

Sonia Kashuk for Target - $7.99-$19.99/brush - http://www.target.com/ or nationwide at Target stores

Essence of Beauty - $4.39-$9.99/brush - http://www.cvs.com/ or nationwide at CVS stores

Now a few general notes on brushes:

1. You get what you pay for. In the case of the "investment" level brushes- if you take care of them they will last a LONG time - years and years in fact. So if you can afford it, spring for the pricier brush and take care of it.
2. What does it mean to take care of it? Be NICE to them. Store your brushes in a brush case ( I recommend the Sephora soft brush cases) and keep them clean. This means using a brush cleaner every week (if you use them daily) and when you wash them, use a gentle facial cleanser or a brush cleaner. Most every make-up brand makes brush cleaner.
3. Natural fibers and hair are always better than synthetic.
4. If you can only afford a few brushes the few you should get are - a large fluffy powder brush, a good blendable eyeshadow brush, an eyeliner brush and a blush brush.

I love my brushes and know that they make my make-up look the way it does. Hopefully you will go out and find some brushes you love as well.

Keep looking fabulous!

BGND

Recession Blues

Wow! I don't know about the rest of you but I live away from family and I just booked my plane tickets home for the holidays- YOWZA! Talk about hitting BGND where it hurts.....those tickets cost a lot!!

All this drama of course got me thinking...thankfully not all things in life are $100/ounce or in the case of air travel - $25 per bag, and per inch of leg room, and per time you use the loo and on and on. So today I dedicate BGND to all products that are fabulous and affordable. Now all you readers know I pride myself on mixing the pricey with the cheap so today's list will only contain things I have not previously blogged on.

Here is BGND's current top ten list (in no particular order) of must haves in your arsenal (all affordable and readily available)....These are items I have found to be just as fabulous (if not better) than their more expensive counter parts and all for under $10. Also, all are available at drugstores nationwide. ENJOY!!

1. Suave Body Lotion - $4.04


2. Maybelline Expertwear Eye Shadow Quad - $5.21


3. Max Factor Lash Perfection Mascara - $6.89


4. L'Oreal Le Kohl Eyeliner - $7.16


5. Herbal Essences Shampoo and Conditioner - $6.99 each


6. Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm - $2.99


7. Dove Frizz Control Taming Cream - $4.49


8. Secret Platinum Anti-perspirant/Deodorant - $5.19


9. Olay Body Wash plus Body Butter Ribbons - $6.59


10. Almay Nearly Naked Loose Powder - $10.79 (okay - this one is over $10 but by mere cents.)

So there you have it, a peek into the budget world of BGND. All of these price quotes are from the fabulous www.drugstore.com. And even better news than all these cheapo products?

Drugstore.com is having a beauty blowout! Save up to 40% off all your faves so even in these lovely recession times you can get all 10 products listed above and still have enough left to splurge on a few fancy beauty items.

Keep looking fabulous,

BGND

Another Monday, Another Best of...

Happy Monday!

Don't know if you already saw this as the news was released over the weekend, but Sephora has released their list of the Best of products available at their stores!!! This is one of my favorite 'best of" lists as it gives us Sephora shoppers a guide to the overwhelming amount of products available at their shelves. Plus, these "best of" winners were chosen by people just like you and me so they are proven winners, not just the products beauty editors want you to buy.

There are six categories represented; Complexion, Makeup, Skincare, Hair, Fragrance and Beauty Wows. Some of BGND's faves are on the list of course...Smashbox Primer, Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, Tarte Lip Stain and Nars Lipgloss among others.

Click here for the complete list of Sephora's winners as well as the honorable nominees.

http://www.sephora.com/go/bestofsephora/index.jhtml

Happy Shopping and here's hoping you find your new favorite product....

Keep looking fabulous,

BGND

Balmy weather...

So the other day I discovered what I think to be a new (new to BGND at least) and noteworthy brand - the Balm. I found one their mini brochures at my waxer's office and immediately was drawn to the fun colors and the kitschy motif. Well as I opened the new found catalog I was immediately struck by one thing- this is make-up made by someone who loves make-up and has fun. And to be sure - the line was created by Marissa Shipman ( a beauty girl herself) who got fed up with nine to five and wanted something better. And the brand's mantra is "beauty in five minutes". That is DEFINITELY something any BGND gal can get behind.

The line contains a number of potential new faves. Products with names like Shady Lady (eye shadows) and Time Balm (anti-wrinkle concealer) show that this is a creative brand. Their most famous product (having been used on many tv shows and movies as well as having been mentioned in numerous magazines) is The Staniac tinted gel blush. It can be used on lips as well as cheeks and looks to be a fantastic product. ( I am ashamed I had not yet heard of it.)

My only complaint? The line seems to borrow VERY heavily from Benefit Cosmetics- both in design and product description. (And I do love Benefit- probably why the Balm catalog stuck out to me.) Also, I don't think the line is available anywhere but online - www.thebalm.com and at www.sephora.com.

Anyhoo, I am excited to try this fun new discovery and thought you all might be as well....I will keep you posted on the products I try and what passes or fails the BGND tests.

Keep looking fabulous,

BGND

Product of the Week- September 4th, 2008

Here it is September and the temperature has not dropped - argh! And sadly in the dead heat, it isn't really a good idea to layer on tons of perfume. As a result the best way I have found to feel soft and smooth in the summer while still smelling nice is to combine my lotion and perfume into one step. I am sure many of you have tried this and know that scented lotions are the way to go if you want a gentle scent or you are just looking to save time. Well this week's POTW is perfect for these last days of summer...

Essence of Beauty Body Lotion - $4.99 (Drugstores nationwide)

Now perhaps you have seen these bottles on the shelf at your local CVS and walked by, scoffing that drugstore fragrances are bad news. Maybe you have even had bad Love's Baby Soft flashbacks.....
Well I am here to tell you that while yes, some budget fragrances are not your friend (Designer Impostors anyone?), there are other great options right under your nose at the drugstore that you should give a shot.

The lovely line of Essence of Beauty lotions is one such overlooked jem. The lotions are light, hydrating and absorb quickly. They come in a zillion scents so there is something for everyone (my favorite - Pomegranate/Apple is shown above). Best of all, at $4.99 this is a great saver at less than half the price of an equivalent product from some specialty lotion stores specializing in scents.

So enjoy these last warm days, smelling delish and feeling smooth!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

The Inside Scoop....

So as you all know, I am a Sephora girl. I remember when the very first US Sephora opened up in Manhattan ( I had ripped out the announcement in InStyle magazine and had it posted on my fridge forever.) I just love that they have almost all the brands you want in one place (except for Prescriptives - sniff, sniff) and they are easily accessible to the masses in a mall or on a street corner near you.

Well, if you are a Sephora girl like me, there is one thing you should be taking advantage of if you are not already. The wonderful Sephora Beauty Insider club. It pretty much works like your discount card at the grocery store, swipe it at the checkout every time you make a purchase and before you know it you will have a fabulous free gift waiting for you. And unlike some other discount cards, you actually get up to your free gift pretty quickly (I average 2-3 visits to get one free gift.) You will get a choice of three different freebies so you can pick whatever interests you. I have gotten everything from free mascara, to vitamin make-up supplements to my most recent favorite free gift, cute miniature Clinique 3-step skin care one time use pods.

It is a no-brainer to join the club. Totally painless and so worth it!

Check out all the details below:

http://www.sephora.com/beautyinsider/

Keep looking fabulous,

BGND

Lashing Out

The holiday weekend is over, we have all survived (barely!) and I am coming to you with a little end of summer pick-up that one of the loyal BGND readers tipped me off to! (Thanks Lauren!)
Hopefully this lovely set from Sephora will get you excited for fall and new products!!
So without further ado.....drum roll please...



The Lash Stash by Sephora - $28 (Sephoras nationwide and online at Sephora.com- see link below)

http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P217701&categoryId=S10510&shouldPaginate=true

This is a fabulous and AFFORDABLE mascara kit that I cannot believe I did not know about! You get 7 travel size mascaras from some of Sephora's best selling lines. Now sometimes I am not a fan of these kind of kits....you end up buying it for one thing and then you never end up using what is in the rest of the kit because the colors are weird or it's some odd product that no one really ever has a use for.

That is not the case here! Mascara is the perfect product to have in a kit like this...you can mix and match and try things out and potentially find your next great mascara love. Plus, even if you don't love the other mascaras as your solid go-to everyday mascara, these travel size tubes are perfect for stashing in your purse to lightly refresh your mascara before you go out at night....or when you leave the house without finishing your make-up....or for when you have been crying at the movies...you get the idea.

One word to the wise, I have used the BadGal Lash from Benefit before and am not really a fan. I love Benefit but the mascara is sub par. However, even if you removed it from the kit 6 other little mascaras to try at $28 dollars is still an amazing deal.

Go forth and bat those lashes!!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND