Scary Steals!

Well, Halloween is here....the costumes, the candy, the deals! That's right...Halloween may really be for the kiddies but you can still trick or treat - for beauty items! Many many websites have deals at Halloween time....those lovely little secret discount codes that you enter to save you shipping costs, give you a free gift or even get some % off your purchase. So tonight, curl up with your laptop and in between answering the door for your neighborhood cuties, order yourself some treats online!!

But beware, all of these are ONLINE ONLY discounts and many of the codes expire before the end of the weekend and in some cases at the end of today so catch them before they disappear!! BOO!!

Sephora:

Givenchy - http://www.sephora.com/browse/section.jhtml?categoryId=C19802&cm_mmc=email+ret-_-news1+20081025+promo-_-modl+likebrd-_-giv&dicid=364742:14450575544:5258272

Smashbox -http://www.sephora.com/browse/section.jhtml?categoryId=C19806&cm_mmc=email+ret-_-news1+20081025+promo-_-modl+likebrd-_-smash&dicid=364742:14450575544:5258352

Marc Jacobs - http://www.sephora.com/browse/section.jhtml?categoryId=C19804&cm_mmc=email+ret-_-news1+20081025+promo-_-modl+likebrd-_-mj&dicid=364742:14450575544:5258354

Frederic Fekkai - http://www.sephora.com/browse/section.jhtml?categoryId=C19801&cm_mmc=email+ret-_-news1+20081025+promo-_-modl+likebrd-_-fekk&dicid=364742:14450575544:5258356

Bliss - http://www.sephora.com/browse/section.jhtml?categoryId=C19800&cm_mmc=email+ret-_-news1+20081025+promo-_-modl+likebrd-_-bliss&dicid=364742:14450575544:5258358

Jean Paul Gaultier - http://www.sephora.com/browse/section.jhtml?categoryId=C19803&cm_mmc=email+ret-_-news1+20081025+promo-_-modl+likebrd-_-jpg&dicid=364742:14450575544:5155818

Benefit Cosmetics:

FREE U.S. SHIPPING at http://newsletter.benefitcosmetics.com/W0RH00428479E17A7811A29B093E30!
Enter promo code SPOOKY08 at checkout.

FREE some of a kind Gorgeous Mini with a purchase of $35 or more, enter code LOVEMINI at checkout.

Bath & Body Works:

Add $10 of Bath & Body Works merchandise to your bag. Add your free True Blue® Spa or Aromatherapy item, up to a $15 value. At checkout, enter promo code FREESC.

Clinique.com:

FREE shipping and a FREE travel-size Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief with $35 or more, enter code MSURGE at checkout.

E.L.F. Cosmetics:

Buy one item, get the second for 50%, enter code GET50 at checkout.

Kiehl's:

Free ground shipping on all orders over $75, enter code KIEHL at checkout.

Prescriptives.com:

Free shipping on orders over $35, enter code FREESHIP2 at checkout.

ULTA Beauty:

$5 off $10 or more, enter code 96306 at checkout.

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Product of the week - October 30th, 2008

Boo! Halloween is scary and frightful...and so is your skin! Dry, patchy, tired, sad and scaly....In other words, your winter skin has arrived. So in honor of all of the very dry skin out there on legs, arms, feet and everywhere you can imagine...I present you with not one but two of my favorite affordable body lotions for the winter season. (Why two? - because lotion is personal and not everyone likes the texture or smell of certain lotions.) But have no fear, both of these lotions will fix all your dry patches and make you baby smooth.

Option #1:

Alba Botanica Very Emollient Body Lotion (Original/Regular) - $10.99 (Drugstores/Health food stores nationwide and online at Drugstore.com)

I found out about this lotion (amazingly) from a male friend of mine. He had a bottle of it in his bathroom and I tried it out and LOVED it. I quickly went out and bought some for myself (back in the day that it was only available at Whole Foods!) and was hooked. It smells fantastic and literally makes my skin softer and smoother than any other lotion out there. There are versions that are unscented or with SPF, so there really is something for everyone. This lotion is AMAZING. You will not be disappointed. Thanks Mike!!

Option #2:

Olay Quench Body Lotion for Extra Dry Skin - $9.99 (Drugstores nationwide and online at drugstore.com)

I am generally pleased with most Olay products. Some are not as great as others but this thick moisturizer I have found to be one of the best creamy lotions out there. It smells great, has amazing lasting power and you will notice the difference in your skin within one day. Best of all, you get a pretty decent sized bottle for $10 so you really feel like you are getting a luxe lotion for a steal.

Scary Scaly Skin officially gone!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

All for one and one for all...

Well, we can all feel it. The holidays are upon us. Now I know it is only Halloween time, but as November nears every one's schedules fill up and all free time magically disappears. So today I dedicate this BGND blog to those of us looking to streamline. Those of us wanting to find a few more minutes in our mere 24-hour day. Today I present you with the best skin care lines that do it all, are straight forward and will leave you with some time in your day that you can use for something other than fighting father time. So here they are ladies and gents- the product lines that work together to fight aging, provide exfoliation, clean with the best and soothe some moisture into your tired skin.

1 - The Classic

Clinique 3-step skin care - Nationwide at Clinique counters and Sephora, online at Clinique.com and Sephora.com

We all have seen it, if not tried it, and that is for good reason. Simply said, it works. You get personalized cleansing and exfoliation plus the best selling moisturizer out there.

2 - The Acne Fighting Affordable Combo

Clean and Clear Advantage Acne Control Kit - Nationwide at Drugstores and online at cleanandclear.com

Think of this as a more reasonable (and easier to buy and return) version of Proactive. You get a cleanser, a moisturizer and a spot treatment. Perfect for those of us who are more concerned with annoying acne than with reducing wrinkles. Best of all, this three step does so much work for you already but there are more products that go with the line including a toner and blackhead eraser.

3 - The Luxe Lotions Line

Kinerase Anti-Aging for Dry or Oily Skin - Nationwide at Sephora and Online at Drugstore.com

This line is pricey (cost for the products range from $30-$135) but it works. The product line has 7 total steps but if you are wanting to try this out and not spend the total amount of money for all seven items, you can make a good routine for yourself with the cleanser, the anti-oxidant mist or the peptide treatment, the day cream and the night cream. Now we all know she has had some botox, but Courtney Cox Arquette is the Kinerase woman and her skin is fantastic.

Enjoy some new routines to try out and keep looking fabulous!

BGND

Nailing down the problem...

Dear BGND,

I have had it with my nails! They are so brittle and they break every chance they get. They peel, they are weak and it is so annoying to want to go for a manicure but not being able to because of my stumpy and sad nails. Please help! What can I do to make my nails grow, last and be healthy in general?!

Breaking in Boston

Dear Breaking in Boston,

Nails are difficult to be sure. I am not personally blessed with long, lovely nails that grow easily. I have had to force mine into submission and even then they do not always cooperate. But I do have some tried and true tips that I can give you both to get your nails in top shape, but to keep them that way.

1) Keep them covered

I know this idea of constant nail polish seems counter-intuitive but if your nails are in bad shape they are probably dry and dehydrated. And while it is important to give your nails the occasional breather, one of the easiest and best ways to strengthen nails in the short term is to keep them covered. Nail polish traps your nails natural oils and whatever moisture you already have in there, plus as we all know, polish is a hard cover. This will help peeling, breaking and general assaults on your fingernails.

I don't recommend continually covering your nails with dark polish. Try to rotate between soft colors and deep pigment (you don't want to stain or yellow your nails with too much dark polish). But if you are simply looking for something to cover your nails that is low maintenance I recommend good old fashioned Sally Hansen Hard as Nails or Sally Hansen Double Duty Strengthening Base and Top Coat (show below).

Available nationwide at drugstores - $2.99

2 - Love your cuticles
This goes hand in hand with the #1 tip on this post. Just like it says above, if your nails are dry they will break. Keeping your cuticles soft and moisturized will also go a long way in keeping your nails healthy and growing. The easiest way to achieve happy cuticles takes only a minute a day. To deal with this at night - rub cuticle cream into your nails before bed and then follow with a hand moisturizer. Or if you prefer to add that minute to your morning routine - rub some cuticle oil into your nail bed right before you get into your shower. I have found that the heat and steam of the shower will allow the oil to soak in as you get into the shower and even the 2 minutes before the oil comes into contact with your shower soaps will allow for some great moisturizing benefits. For your morning cuticle oil I recommend Sally Hansen Vitamin E Nail and Cuticle Oil. For your nighttime cuticle fix, I recommend Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream (shown below).

Online at burtsbees.com or at drugstores nationwide- $6.00

3) You are what you eat - and that goes for your nails too!
I love junk food. And when I over do it- my nails suffer. However, I always can tell when I have been really good with my eating because my nails look fantastic. If I am eating my fruits and veggies and drinking my water, my nails are healthy, shiny and long. It is an easy fix to your nail issues. Observe how your eating coordinates with your nails and you will see what I am talking about. Good for your body, your health and your nail growth!

So those are my top three major tips but some other good and easy ideas to keep your nails on the path to amazing status are below:

- Keep a nail file in your purse, in your car, easily reachable at home, in your desk at work etc.....That way every time you do have a break or a snag you can file in softly and not pick at it or peel the break away. If you file you are gently solving the issue, if you peel at a snag you will cause more tears and more damage to your nail.

- Treat your nails like they are already fabulous. File them, buff them, protect them everyday. Ask your lunch mate to open your can of soda and don't bite or chew on those nails. The better you treat your nails, the better they will be.

- Every time you wash your hands, follow up with hand cream. Constant washing is one of the easiest ways to damage your nails and strip them of moisture. Same can be said for those hand sanitizers....so if you are washing moisture off- replace it.

Well Breaking in Boston, I wish you luck. Hard, strong nails are difficult to achieve but well worth it and I think the tips on today's post will get your there.

Keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Shopping Surprises

Just a quick little shopping tip for your Friday..
If you are looking for some hard to find beauty item and the usual sites are coming up empty (Drugstore.com, target.com, beauty.com, walmart.com etc...) - there are two sites that should not go unchecked.

1 - Ebay.com
I know a lot of people are scared off by eBay but it truly can be your best friend for so many things. Often times there are not only hard to find beauty products on eBay but also things that have been discontinued. I have bought discontinued colors of some of my favorite lipsticks and lip glosses, hard to find/keep in stock OPI nail polish and many other beauty finds. So if you are looking for something and you can't find it either online or in any of your usual stores- don't forget about eBay!

2 - Amazon.com
I know, I know...most people only think of amazon.com as a place for books and dvds only. But what amazon.com can be SO GREAT for is beauty products. This was the only place I was able to find the foot lotion that I love recently and it was the cheapest that I have ever found it. Add to that the benefit of free shipping and you have found your go-to place for all your products.

Anyway, hope these two spots will make your hunt for beauty goods easier- I know they have for me.

Have a great weekend and keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Product of the week - October 23rd, 2008

Eye creams are a dime a dozen. So many work, so many do nothing..but in general I find it pretty easy to find a decent one for a decent price.

My current fave is this week's POTW superstar...

Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Eye Cream - $12.99 (Online at cvs.com and at drugstores nationwide)

I LOVE this eye cream. I have been using it for well over a year. It is cool and soothing and chock full of all the good stuff - Lycopene, Vitamin C etc.. Best of all, it promotes cell turnover and diminishes all that puffiness and the nasty darkness that loves to lurk in the eye area. AND it helps smooth out those nasty fine lines. Even better- it smells fantastic. Honestly, it is a good deal, does it's job and does it for a decent price.

Don't walk, run out and go get this eye cream.

Keep looking fabulous!

BGND

Good vibrations

Well kids, I am sure you have seen the ads...I am sure you have seen the inserts...I am sure you heard the buzz - literally.

I am of course talking about the newest make-up fad on the market- "Vibrating Mascara". Now if you have not heard of this new fancy invention you may be thinking - "wtf"? Well let me tell you I have heard nothing but raves. The concept is simple, your mascara wand vibrates as you use it thereby depositing more mascara on your lashes but doing so without clumps and without your hand getting tired from the application of 15 coats per lash. It is new and fancy and the latest trick out there to get you ridiculously long lashes.

I have not tried out the vibrating wands yet but like I said, I have heard nothing but major kuddos. My one biggest complaint? The price tag! Of course for a make-up implement to be actually mechanical one cannot assume that the price will be under $20 (but BGND can dream!)



The best reviewed vibrating mascaras on the market?


Lancome Oscillation - $34 (Lancome counters nationwide and online at Lancome.com)

Now first things first- $34 - OUCH! That is some pricey lash ink! However, the brush literally oscillates to coat each and every lash from every angle and good old Lancome is known and thought by many to be THE industry standard when it comes to mascara. So in BGND's opinion, go big or go home. If you are looking to try out this (somewhat ridiculous) new invention - go with the grandaddy of them all.

Now I am not totally sold on the necessity of this kind of mascara - I have my good old fashioned favorites. However, make-up shouldn't be safe or have boundaries so I like that this is an out-of-the-box idea and I am going to roll with it.

So BGND readers, if you do pick up some of this mascara or any of the other vibrating brands- report- let me know what you think and let the great vibrate debate begin!

Keep looking fabulous!

BNGD

Stinky Business

Oh BGND friends....

Every once in a while, we all have a facial crisis of sorts...a time when our skin decides to rebel and do something so wrong, so evil that we can only hang our sad faces in shame, shake our heads and think- why skin? WHY?

Well ladies and gents, BGND is having one of those moments. The skin around my mouth, the sides of my nose, my chin and even my jawline and upper neck is FREAKING OUT. It is dry, it is red, it is itchy - IT IS ANGRY AT SOMETHING.

Well, I am sad to report- it is rebelling against something I had high hopes for. Something that had been recommended to me, something that has received beauty award after beauty award.

The offender?

AVON Renew Retroactive Night Cream

Now- the picture I have above is NOT the exact cream that I am using. I actually believe that my particular Avon night cream has been phased out by the company. However, I bring it up to you, my loyal readers more for the lesson I have learned from this ugly face situation than to diss this particular cream. I was recommended this cream - I was told how great it was, what it would do for my fine lines, how it would moisturize and make me wake up with fabulous glowtastic skin.

Well, it has not. Why you ask? Well first of all, let me tell you that I am using this cream on a lark (not always a great idea). I am currently traveling and I had this in my bag of "to try" products. So I packed it away instead of my usual night cream and after 3 nights- disaster. First of all, in the cream's one defense, I am in a different part of the country with different temps/humidity/water. However, the issues I have with the cream, not because of these factors.

The biggest tip off that something was wrong? The SMELL of this cream. Not sour or bad, but strong and very perfumed. I have a girlfriend who also recently tried this cream and she also told me of the smell (yay Beth!) and she was not joking. It seems like a scented body lotion in terms of scent strength, not a face cream. And what does that mean? ALCOHOL. And if you want to dry out your skin and irritate it into a inch of it's life- use a cream heavy in alcohol. In winter, you should be using something soothing and rich. Something to moisturize your tired skin while you sleep, give it new life and work with your anti-agers, not against them. This was not that cream.

Well, I have re-learned my lesson. Beware alcohol. It does not belong in your night cream. It will dry you out- it will make your anti-agers angry and it won't work. I tried to give this cream a shot, I thought all the reviewers couldn't be wrong. But I was right and they were wrong. BAD. VERY BAD. So if you get something new and it seems like you are putting perfume on your face and not lotion, get rid of it. You can give it a try like I did- but beware the possible results. And most importantly- 9 times out of 10 YOU CAN RETURN OPENED BEAUTY PRODUCTS. CVS takes things back, Sephora takes things back no questions asked..many places will take things back if you just explain you had a bad reaction. Even salons and day spas will often take things back...it doesn't hurt to try.

So go forth BGND readers- with soft, smooth, NON-DRY facial skin!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

I love a Parade....

In this age of the Internet and news every which way, very few of us still pick up a newspaper - BGND included. Well, my mother is an avid newspaper reader and being that I am at the 'rents house right now, I have perused a newspaper or two in the past few days.

Well, I was SUPER pleased to discover that one of my childhood faves- Parade Magazine is still out there and in full effect every Sunday. I have always loved Parade for the random articles, the "profile"on the last page and the questions section on the inside of the front page. Well yesterday I was pleased to discover that Parade's main article of the week was something BGND related. This week's Parade highlighted the subject of women's health. And although here at BGND we are primarily beauty focused, I am a firm believer in you are what you eat, take your vitamins, drink at least 8 glasses of water a day and get as much sleep as possible. All of these things will help you in your quest for beauty far more than any product. So this week's Parade subject was right up my alley.

Best of all, the article does not disappoint. It highlights the following:

1. Breast Cancer diagnosis and screening




2. How to avoid the common injury




3. Four ways women are different from men




4. Sensational skin at any age

All of the topics are well covered, well written and a fresh breeze in your day from a reliable old school source.

You can read the entire selection here:

http://www.parade.com/healthystyle/index.html

So check it out and enjoy the blast from the past that is Parade Magazine.
All of the information is great and totally relatable!!

Keep looking and feeling fabulous!

BGND

It's Not Easy Being Green...

Ah, going "green"...oh so trendy, oh so of the moment....oh so not something people are really doing. Yes of course, we have our canvas shopping bags and we have started using those energy saving light bulbs- all worthwhile efforts.
But have you ever really stopped and thought about what your product addiction is doing to the environment? If you are like me, you buy many different things and a lot come double wrapped in plastic with fancy eye-catching packaging.

Well remember, you CAN recycle all of those containers although you may not think so....seriously, even the little plastic tubes and tubs your eye cream comes in can be recycled. And of course, your shampoo and conditioner bottles, your shaving cream cans..these days most things can be reduced and reused.

So today, here are my top 5 tips for going "green" when it comes to your cosmetics...
(On a side note - I am not going to address the chemical implications of cosmetic companies and trying to be organic - that is a topic for a different day.)

1- Recycle within your favorite brands and companies
Many brands out there will offer incentive programs for bringing back empty containers of their products. Often times you will get a discount or a free refill but even if not, it makes you feel good. I am aware that M.A.C. and Aveda both offer recycling programs and I know many other companies out there do as well. So if you have a favorite brand, check out their website, ask a sales clerk- you never know what do-gooding possibilities lie within the walls of your favorite store.

2 - Buy in Bulk
Now we all know Costco is a dangerous/glorious place when trying to curb your crazy over-consumption. However, if there are things that you always use- your bathroom staples if you will - that are available at Costco or Sam's Club...there is really no reason not to buy them in bulk. You will save money on the price of the product, you will be using and recycling one large container instead of many little ones and you will be saving gas on fewer trips to the drugstore (oh- and saving money by going to the drugstore less and therefore buying less impulse purchases!)

3 - Packaging, packaging, packaging
Don't judge a book by it's cover and don't buy something just because it is wrapped up in a nice little bow. I am victim to buying something that has more packaging than usual because it comes with a "free gift" attached...and guess what, I never use that free gift and off it goes into the garbage full of product instead of into the recycling bin empty. So although it goes without saying, look for products that are not wrapped when not necessary - why does lipstick need to be in plastic on cardboard? It doesn't - try to shop for companies that recognize this.

4 - Disposable probably means disposable in your routine as well
You all know my feelings on the "facial in a cloth" - unnecessary. The same can be said for most "one-use" beauty products. Don't use individual exfoliation pads- use a reusable washcloth. Try to use the replaceable razors, not the all in one disposables. There are tons of "one-use" items on the market and almost all of them are cheaper and better for the environment in their original form- in bottle or can with washcloth or good old fashioned bare hand application.

5 - Think outside the box
You can save money and the environment by thinking outside the box. My biggest shower change this year? I went back to good old Dove soap and a washcloth instead of the shower gel and poof. Now I recycle the cardboard the soap comes in and can wash the washcloth over and over again. All this = very little waste. Shower gel comes in a plastic bottle that cannot be refilled and shower poofs go straight into the garbage when tired and worn out. And the cycle of buying the poof and the gel just keeps going. All that = lots of waste. This one change has allowed me to reduce my consumption (and save money) in a big way.

Now don't get me wrong - BGND is not perfect...never have been, never will be. But I can try to be green whenever possible so I am making a real difference in my home, not just by showing off my canvas bag at the grocery store.

Keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Product of the week- October 16th, 2008

Well BGND readers...I have a confession. In general, I do not like foundation. I find nine times out of ten it is too dark or too light or too cakey or too thin...and in a lot of cases, I find that the person wearing the foundation does not need the layers of make-up they have on.

However, I do see the merits of a good foundation and what it can do for an uneven skin tone and for someone who is needing a boost of confidence. Well, today's product of choice is a foundation and a fantastic one at that.

L'Oreal True Match Foundation - $10.95 (Drugstores nationwide)

This foundation is FANTASTIC. As I explained above, it is hard to impress me with foundation. However, I recently had an occasion for which I HAD to wear foundation so because of the Allure endorsement I decided to give it a try. I was blown away. This foundation goes on smoothly, covers without being too thick or streaky and really does blend into your skin better than some counter foundations I have tried. Oh and by the way - it only costs $10!!!

This is now a permanent member of my make-up bag - a foundation- who knew?!

Keep looking fabulous!

BGND

Tubs of creamy goodness....

I don't know if all of you out there in BGND land have hopped on the smudge pot aka cream liner movement, but I am ALL on board. I have experimented many times with these pots of eyeliner fabulousness and I am always happy and willing to drop another chunk of change on the latest color or brand that I have found, tried and loved.

These smudge pots are a good bang for the buck, totally versatile and a fun mix up tool when it comes to the smokey eye. This fall, the smokey eye has veered more towards grey than black and a smudgeable line is really the only way to go to get this look the way it should be.

There are many of these eyeliner creams on the market but today I am going to simply list the ones I prefer that come in "tub" version. The following is a list of the best of the best, all of which come in a variety of colors and textures and any of them will do a good job for any BGND reader out there.

So have fun, mix and match these colors/pots and you will never go back to a pencil eyeliner whether you are looking for a deep line or a perfect smudge.

1 - Stila Smudge Pots - $18 (Sephora and department stores nationwide)
2 - Smashbox Cream Eyeliner - $22 (Sephora nationwide)
3 - Makeup ForEver Cream Liner - $20 (Sephora nationwide)

4 - Clinique Brush On Cream Liner - $14.50 (Sephora and Clinique counters nationwide)

A side note on the cream tubs....you will need a small liner brush to pull of this look the way it should be....any eyeliner brush should do the trick but my personal pick?

Stila's #28 Smudge and Line brush - $32 (Sephora and Stila nationwide)

Pricey for sure, but this brush has a flexible tip for applying the smudge liner as well as a fatter "brush" like tip to smudge - SO GREAT!

Keep looking fabulous - smokey eyes and all!

BGND

Love, Angel, Music, Baby...hurry up and come and save me....

Saving me money and smelling good at the same time- LOVE IT.

As we all know, Gwen Stefani is taking over the world. Most of her creations are fabulous in the opinion of BGND (I especially love the Harajuku Lovers bags!!) and her latest outing is fab for a new reason- it is BGND related.

Introducing....

The Harajuku Lovers Fragrance Collection - $25 - $45 (Fine department stores nationwide)

I am completely in love with this fragrance collection right now. There are so many reasons that this is the next thing I will be spending BGND money on...

1 - How cute is that packaging?

2 - With 5 different fragrances there truly is something for everyone.

3 - The price cannot be beat for a quality perfume.

4 - Gwen Stefani is awesome with two kids, a killer career and a gorgeous husband (okay perhaps this last one is a bit biased and not having much to do with the fragrance but still true!)

Anyhoo, I of course noticed this collection because of it's catchy ad campaign and clever bottles....then when I sniffed I was blown away by the fact that these perfumes actually smell great. Now granted, I do not love all 5 of the scents for me personally but I can appreciate that they will appeal to all kinds of BGND readers. My personal favorite scent is in the pic above- Music.

I beg you to run over to your local Macy's and either sample all five or ask for the small promotional booklet that has all five fragrances for you to sample.

I think you will love it as I do.....

Keep looking fabulous (and smelling great!)

BGND

Cheap Trick...

As all of you BGND readers know...I LOVE a good bargain.

Well my fave new bargain?

Rimmel London Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil - $3.49 (Drugstores nationwide and online at drugstore.com)

This eyeliner is fantastic. It goes on smoothly, deposits deep color and can stay in a strong line or can be easily smudged. There are 10 awesome colors so you can get good basics like black or brown plus fun trendy colors like my current fall fave "Loveable lilac". I was a bit hesitant to try Rimmel (I am a fan of the wonderfully cheap Wet n' Wild and Rimmel scares me a little bit because of Kate Moss). But I am so glad I gave this eyeliner a shot...I am pretty sure that it is going to replace my other drugstore go-to eyeliner. In fact, this liner is similar to what Mac sells for 5 times the cost.

Give it a try and have a great weekend!!

Keep looking fabulous,

BGND

Product of the week- October 9th, 2008

As all of you BGND readers know, there are a few basic beauty necessities that it always feels like you are looking for. Either you have been making do with something that isn't quite up to snuff or you are just itching for a new product or maybe you are just itchy and your skin is dry!

Well today I introduce to you my favorite new daytime face lotion with SPF.

Eucerin Everyday Protection Face Lotion SPF 30 - $7.82 (Drugstores and Target nationwide, online at Drugstore.com)

Finally a day lotion I LOVE. And I honestly mean I love it. It moisturizes, it protects (why are so many face lotions out there only SPF 15- argh!), it is scent-free and it is safe for all skin types. In a word, this lotion is FANTASTIC. It is lightweight but gives you great coverage and it doesn't try to do too much. It simply does what it should. There are no anti-agers or special oxygen additives or miracle elements made to match your skin tone. It keeps your skin supple and wrinkle free. What is not to love?

One word to the wise, I had heard of this miracle lotion but had a bit of a hard time finding it. I went to two stores till I was successful at the third (Target). Also, $8 might seem like a lot for what is a relatively small bottle but to BGND it is a well spent $8. I have a new day lotion that I will be using for years to come. Well moisturized, no wrinkles and clear skin are all I see in my future!

Hooray!

Keep looking fabulous!

BGND

Trying to spread good will not bad...

Hey BGND readers!!

First off, my apologies that it has been nearly a week since I posted. We have had some issues with our Internet lately...mainly that it was out for 5 straight days! All is fixed now and instead of being angry and bitter that our Internet was out for no good reason (argh!) I am going to try to spread some good will.

So with that in mind, I bring you a little charity love.

As most of you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. And each October, most major brands in the country open their arms wide to this very worthy cause and offer products that donate some or all of their proceeds to Breast Cancer research. Now if you are like me, all of that pink can be dizzying and sometimes I do not know where to start. Not this year! I have found my Breast Cancer Research Foundation product of choice...and wouldn't you know it- it is BGND approved.

Too Faced Cosmetics Betsy Baby Duo Eyeshadow - $17 (Sephora nationwide and online at Sephora.com)

$6 of the price of this item will go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (And it is a limited edition available only at Sephora- so strike while the iron is hot!)

Now I will grant you, here at BGND we are on a bit of a Too Faced Cosmetics kick. But there is another reason that we chose this particular product for your hard earned money. The colors are fantastic and it is an affordable and stylish way to donate to an important cause. These are nice neutrals that will work on most skin tones and the color truly lasts.

Now if this eyeshadow isn't your cup of tea, there are plenty of BCA products being carried by Sephora and there is something for everyone.

http://sephora.com/browse/section.jhtml;jsessionid=AICMZSP3OP1AKCV0KRRQX0Q?categoryId=C15188

So get out there and spend some quality money on a quality product going to a quality cause.

Keep looking fabulous!

BGND

The Limited...

Hey BGND gals!

First off, sorry for my spotting posting the past little while...I am in the middle of opening a new show and my time is not my own. I will try to keep up with everything!

So as you all know, Sephora is every beauty gals go-to store. Well right now in honor of their 10 year anniversary they are bringing back some "Limited Edition" collections...some of the best of the best items they have had over the past 10 years. Here at BGND we are totally excited about this! These are the best products Sephora has had to offer since we all started shopping there and now they are all there at once and in complete collections to boot.

The one I am most excited about?

The Too Faced Quickie Collection - $59.10

(8 vintage lip gloss, shadow and blush colors)

I have used the Quickie Collections over the years and have discovered some of my favorite blush and eye shadows this way...they are a great way to get more bang for your buck.

I am off to Sephora today to pick up this item and some of the other Limited Editions.....check them out!

Keep looking fabulous!

BGND