Smashing Smashbox!

I love Smashbox Cosmetics. They make quality products, invent new make up bag staples year after year and they give back to the community- AMAZING.

Today I have to give a little shout out to the new Smashbox 2009 Holiday Collection. Not only are there some fantabulous finds in this year's event (hello 8 awesome choices - I am loving the Smashbox Sampler Kit myself!) but with each purchase a donation goes to the Children's Miracle Network.

So go ahead - get a beautiful gift for a friend and something special for yourself. It's a charitable donation right? Tax write off!! (Hehe- just kidding...)

Keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Freebie Fun!

So this weekend when exiting the movie theater with my lovely significant other, a shiny blue package was shoved into my hands. I immediately thought that whatever this was would end up one of two places - the garbage or the bottom of the family junk drawer. However when I looked down..I saw that this was not a flier or some odd new candy treat I was being handed - it was a sample of the best kind of freebie- a beauty freebie!!

Dove Intense Damage Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner - $4.77 each (Online and nationwide at mass retailers)

So there I was holding 5 FREE SAMPLES!!! of both the shampoo and conditioner - who am I not to give them a try? Well today in the shower I braved these new sweet smelling hair products and I was pleasantly surprised. I have never been a big fan of Dove shampoo and conditioner- I have found it to be more fragrance than substance. However, this newer version of their product performed decently well on its first outing.

It is winter time so my hair is on the dry side...as a result it literally sucked up the moisture in this "therapy" shampoo. In fact, the shampoo had that feeling of more a shampoo/conditioner combo than it did pure shampoo. It was sudsy and it lathered well but my hair felt smooth and soft- almost conditioned after the wash. The conditioner was pretty standard.

So my final thoughts on this freebie? Good at first use- definitely worth a try in the winter. However, I would be concerned on hair like mine (fine and wispy) that this product would be too heavy over time. However, if you have coarse or thick hair I think this could be just what the hair doctor ordered.

All in all, I think perhaps I will give this a go for a few days in a row to see what the buildup is like on fine hair and if it is too much for a regular everyday shampoo/conditioner- this will have a spot as a once a week treat for my winter dry hair.

And good news - if you are interested in trying these Dove products out - drugstore.com is having a buy 1, get 1 50% off sale....click here for all the details.

Happy Monday and keep looking fab,
BGND

Handy Information....

The following is a post from last October but considering my hands are cracked and bleeding AGAIN and I have gone to this product as my savior - AGAIN - I thought it was worth sharing...
AGAIN!!

Hehe....


Ah the crisp fall weather has arrived AT LAST. Now for some of you in the eastern or northern parts of the country, the weather has been deliciously fall-like for some time. However, for those of us here in Southern California (and other warmer climates) mother nature has been taking her sweet time getting around to fall. Well, it has FINALLY cooled off (no more 90 degree October days hopefully!) and here at BGND we are loving it.



Well, as much as I love the cool, along with it comes a host of beauty issues that arise from cooler outside climates, drying inside heaters and inclement weather in general. Today's issue of choice?
DRY HANDS.



I love me some hand lotion....I have several tubes dotted all over the place...in the car, on my nightstand, in my purse, at my computer...the list goes on and on. Well, in these frigid times my hands really take a beating. They get red and dry and sore and cracked and it is NOT fun. So today I bring to you my favorite hand creams for fall...a little something for everyone if you will. The following list includes some classics, some personal faves and some hand lotions with a little something extra. Mix and Match- I know that you will love them all!





My absolute #1 pick? (aka the ROCKSTAR hand Cream)
Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream - $4.49 (Drugstores nationwide and online at Drugstore.com)

This hand cream is no joke. It is scent free, goes on without any greasy residue, absorbs quickly and a little goes a long way. Best of all? When my fingers and knuckles start to crack and bleed from dryness (yes - gross but true for me in the winter) this is the ONLY thing that will bring them back to life. LOVE IT. (Side note - there is a version with SPF that I also enjoy but don't find it quite as effective at hard core moisturizing and repairing.)

Other great choices:
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Concentrated Cream with Vitamin E - $4.04 (Drugstores nationwide and online at drugstore.com)
- smells great, rich and creamy and feels ultra-soothing
Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Moisturizing Lotion (Travel Size) - $3-4 (Nationwide at Bath & Body Works and online at bathandbodyworks.com)
- great scent choices, good moisturizing and anti-bacterial..perfect for your car or on the go
Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream - $11.69 (Nationwide at drugstores or online at drugstore.com)
- scent free, great for sensitive skin and all skin, not just hands

Of course, you know my love for this lotion as well...http://beautygirlnextdoor.blogspot.com/2008/08/product-of-week-august-7th-2008.html.

So go forth and may your hands, fingers and knuckles survive the cooling outside!

Keep looking fabulous for fall,
BGND

Color Me Mine

As you BGNDers know- I love finding things meant for one thing and using them for something else. It is truly how some of my best product finds have come about. But this urge to think outside the box spreads not just to the product category but to accessories as well. For example, I love to use a concealer brush for any kind of shimmer or glow application - it is just the right size for precise illumination.

Today's think outside the box moment I think is something that will benefit any of us who need help with organization (me!!). I saw this item advertised in In Style as an answer to organizing and storing menus and coupons in your junk drawer...but as soon as I saw the pic- something else came to mind...it is so pretty and color coordinated- it made me think of an eyeshadow palette.

Semikolon Accordion File Folder - $32 (Available online at seejanework.com)

I love this pretty pretty file folder. It is so bright and cheerful and in my opinion - a great organizer if you are someone whose eye make-up is all swimming around in a bag or a drawer somewhere. Simply put each color eyeliner and eye shadow in its coordinating folder and you will always know where your favorite black eyeliner or your favorite pink eye shadow is. So easy!!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

P.S. www.seejanework.com is a SUPER cute website so even if you aren't into the file folder- check out all their other goodies!!

Pop go the eyes!!

So my good friend Anne always hooks me up with free stuff - she has some killer connections! And since she is a very tan blonde and I am a very pale brunette - we don't use the same cosmetic colors and the ones she can't utilize get thrown my way.

Her most recent freebie is one that has been amazing since the first use....

Eyecake by POP Beauty - $19-$20 (see link below for locations)

I seriously have been blown away by this set. Not only are all the colors beautiful and perfectly coordinated AND they highlight whatever color eyes your momma gave you -best of all - they last.
Yup, you read that right- they actually last from when I put them on in the morning at 7am all the way through till 11pm when I am washing my face for bed (and yes that included going to the gym and sweating it up...). In a word- these eye shadows are solid quality. And what is most telling to me is the fact that when it is very early in the morning and I am staring at my make-up kit thinking I have nothing to use (you know the same feeling we all get in front of the closet) - I inevitably grab for this eyeshadow palette just like we all reach for that killer black dress. Yup - these eye shadows are that great.

Totally recommend this pack and a huge thank you to Anne for giving me my first taste of POP Beauty. I am already making a list of the other products I am going to try. So no worries POP- I will be paying money for these eye shadows and more soon enough!

If you are as into this new find as I am - click here and POP will hook you up with the retail location closest to you.

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Clearly Amazing...

Okay so all I have to say is - YES PLEASE to this device.

Recently my lovely fiance treated me to a facial (the man knows what a girl wants!) and during the wondrous event the facialist pulled out a contraption that I have heard about a TON and have been super curious about.

The Clarisonic Skin Cleaning System - $149-$225
I had seen this baby advertised everywhere and recommended by all the mags and stores as a major breakthrough in skin cleaning. But I was skeptical by all these endorsements...did I really need it? Did it really work? And holy cow that is a lot of money for a face cleanser!!!


I was not disappointed.
This tool is FANTASTIC. Made by the same folks behind the Sonicare toothbrush...think of this as the ultimate cleaning tool for your face. It gently and smoothly works your cleanser deeply into your skin but does so without irritating, hurting or damaging a thing. It reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles, gently exfoliates, allows your moisturizers and serums to absorb more effectively, reduces the appearance of pore size, helps with acne and dry patches alike- this baby does it all. It can be used with any cleanser or any exfoliant with spherical beads (this is important- they must be the round exfoliating beads otherwise you will damage your skin.)

So what convinced me that this brush was a wonder to be appreciated?
Well - The facialist started the gently buzzing brush towards my face and the moment it touched my skin I was seriously impressed. I was so blown away by the sensation, the exfoliation and the soothing nature of the brush that when I saw what my skin looked like after the facial I headed straight to Sephora to check one out in person. Then when three days after my facial my fiance said- wow your skin is still really soft- I was sold.

Now this does have a hefty price tag but there are Clarisonic options for everyone. You can buy the base model (1 speed), waterproof (2 speeds) or the one that can be used on other body parts other than the face. I will be buying the waterproof for myself in case I want to use it in the shower. I think the body Clarisonic is a bit much- I don't need to spend that much more just so I can scrub my elbows and knees. But if you want one of these and you don't want to spend too much I think the base model is also great.

Anyway, I wanted to share my love with you all and perhaps you can give your family or significant other a holiday gift idea?

Keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Old but still sad news...

So this information has been out there but I still wanted to address it now that I am back to blogging...

Two of my go-to makeup brands are going out of business! They have been staples for years but unfortunately we all know that in this economy no business or individual is really safe!
In case you don't know who these companies are....

Max Factor and Prescriptives...so sad.

Now Max Factor has been around forever...If you want some background on the company - check out their Wikipedia page here. They have made countless innovations in nearly every field of cosmetics - umm...they created foundation, lip gloss and waterproof mascara for goodness sakes!

And Prescriptives, while not as old as Max Factor was seriously formative for me in middle school and high school and they are a current favorite of makeup artists and celebrities. They have done amazing things in many areas of cosmetics and skin care including being the first company to really come out with any kind of cream highlighter or reflective makeup with their *Magic line. ( Some day I will share with you my nightmare black light experience with one of their early reflective lotions!)

Anyhoo - the saddest part for me of both of these companies going out of business (besides the obvious real world concerns of job loss etc..) is that these two companies carry two of my ultimate go-to products.

Max Factor makes the AMAZING Lash Perfection Mascara. A perfect separator, lash-coater and darkener for each and everyone of your lashes. Plus it is UBER affordable at $8.99!!
I will be going out and purchasing many many of these tubes of mascara...They are amazing and will be sorely missed! If you go out to buy this - just remember LASH PERFECTION- sometimes the packaging is different.

Prescriptives makes more than one product that I have used over the years - from eye shadows to concealer to fragrance. One that I have purchased over and over is the awesome Traceless Foundation. It is light, smooth as silk and provides great coverage without looking like you are wearing foundation. It literally just makes your skin the very best it can be. I am SO sad that Prescriptives is going away- this is THE ONLY liquid foundation I buy. Not surprisingly - Traceless is totally out of stock on line. You are going to have to hit a Prescriptives counter if you want a container of this gem.

Both of these companies are being shut down and pulled off the shelves in January 2010. So if you are a Max Factor or a Prescriptives fan- get your goods now!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Holiday Time!

Okay okay - I know that it is only a couple days after Halloween but I can't wait to talk about all the fun that is happening over at Sephora!
This time of year is one of my favorites at everyone's destination for beauty supplies...
Why you ask?

Well....the winter holidays at Sephora equal one thing....

GIFT SETS!

All that fabulous packaging, all the fun little goodies waiting to be found! Now of course, these are designed to be purchased for others- so they say! I believe that Sephora and all the cosmetic companies put out these multi-faceted wonders to tempt those of us who are regular Sephora goers. They know the glossy pics and the promise of something new inside will convince us to buy more than we intended when we walked in ( like that doesn't already happen anyway!)

My favorites so far this year...

Too Faced Glamour Revolution - $39.50

Stila Smudgepot Collection - $32

These are just two of the gift sets I will be getting this year....I have seen a ton of other awesome choices in the store and online but these two will be the first of many that I pick up. I love Too Faced for many reasons and their shadows are the ones that I use almost daily. And Stila's smudgepots are the gold standard when it comes to cream eyeliner.

What gift sets are you going to get for yourselves and others?
Do you already have a favorite?

Have a great Monday and keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Happy Halloween!!

Well it is official! I'm back (and with any luck - for good this time!)

Things have been C-R-A-Z-Y around here but now as they seem to be settling down again, I have been re-invigorated by some awesome new finds and am so excited to blog!!
Before I jump right back into today's post let me just tell you a few things. In the next few months there will be some awesome and fun new changes here at BGND. We are getting a new look, a new layout and more fun columns and features. I hope you guys are as pumped as I am....

So what you may ask brought me back from my blogging slumber? A FABULOUS new product by Lancome that has me thinking about and looking at my skin in a whole new way. I had recently been feeling a bit lost when it came to my powder and foundation. I am getting older (aren't we all..sad...) and while my skin still looks pretty good, I have felt lately like I needed something a little bit more involved than what I had been doing in the past. I wanted something light but with enough coverage that I would be evened out but not caked over. And what did I find?

Lancome Oscillation Powerfoundation SPF 21 - $48





This is the new IT product. I had seen little mentions of this here and there and thought ultimately this might be just what I was looking for. I headed straight for the nearest Lancome counter, got a fabulous tutorial and walked away with a new lease on my skin. This product is simply put, a wonderful vibrating powder puff that gently applies mineral powder foundation, while softly buffing and smoothing your skin along the way. It gives me great coverage (which like all mineral make-up I can customize) and blends seamlessly. And hello - SPF 21!! Overall a killer new powder foundation that I think will be hanging around my make-up kit for quite some time.

Now of course (as with most new products) there are downsides...

1 - The PRICE! YIKES!
$48 is insane for a tiny little container of powder but I guess that lovely motor causing the puff to vibrate does not come cheap.

2 - The Amount of product/durability of the motorized puff
The nice sales associate at Lancome was a pro with application of this new wonder but could not give me a straight answer as to how long the motor in the puff with last. You can't replace the battery so when the motor dies it dies. Also, you cannot buy the powder separate from the motor so I see imbalance in the future.

If you buy a new motor before you have used all your powder you will have a surplus of powder continually. Or if you use all the powder before the motor runs out you will end up with extra motorized puffs. Annoying and a downside but not a huge issue since a) you can always apply your extra mineral powder with a traditional kabuki brush and b) we all do not replace our applicators when we should so the motor dying causes us all to throw out the bacteria filled old applicator and get a new one.

Regardless of these two downsides, I am loving this new Lancome beauty. Hey- it brought me back to the blog so you know I am seriously into this thing!

If you decide to try it out - make sure you check out the online tutorial at www.Lancome.com or talk to a sales rep - there are a few techniques to know for application.

Have a great Halloween and keep looking fabulous!
BGND

P.S. If you do any fun Halloween makeup tricks on yourselves or friends or family - send me the pics and I will post them!

Daily BGND - Giveaway!!

Did you guys get this morning's Daily Candy? Not only are they recommending my go-to travel essential (the cleanser towelette) they are having a fab giveaway! Partnering with Ponds Wet Cleansing Towelettes they are offering some great travel essential gifts as prizes. Plus, you can print out a $1.50 coupon even if you don't win.

Now usually I use the Garnier cleansing towelettes but for $1.50 off I will definitely be trying the Ponds wipes.

Click here for all the info on the giveaway - good luck!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Budget Swap

As all you BGNDers know- I love me some face scrub. I consider it to be one of the best ways to not only keep your skin healthy, but to make it glow with less lines and younger texture all around. Well today, I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of a scrub that I have heard loads about.

Aveeno Skin Brightening Daily Scrub - $7.49 (Drugstores nationwide)
This scrub is fantastic. Not only does it smell wonderful, it has the small microbeads that are so hard to find in the less expensive scrubs. I found this scrub to be more runny than my favorite Clinique scrub but to have the same essentials- tiny, tiny microbeads that polished my skin just enough. A great exfoliator but definitely gentle enough for everyday use.

I would highly recommend this product to anyone who loves the Clinique scrub (like I do) but needs something for less money (who doesn't) and is sick of the St. Ives (who isn't). St. Ives makes a great product but sometimes you just want something new.

Go get this- totally worth the money!

Have a great Monday and keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Disappointment of the week - July 16th, 2009

I have a sad review to deliver today. I was pretty excited to try this product being as how I loooove mascara. And while I can't give this lash beautifier a perfect score by any stretch of the imagination- it is not all bad. Which is why I am still reviewing it today but calling it my disappointment as opposed to my product of the week.

Revlon Double Twist MascaraLet's start with the good of this mascara. The formula is actually excellent. Seriously defines, lengthens, thickens...all the things you want a mascara to do. It is actually one of the best formulas I have ever used. It doesn't flake or smear and it can easily be layered for a more dramatic effect. If I was simply reviewing the product inside the tube - this mascara would be an A+.

Now for the bad news...the brush is HORRIFIC. I know that is what they were going for when designing and marketing this product but the brush is the downfall of this Revlon item. First off, it is huge. You can barely get it through the opening in the tube. And the combo of the thickening brush and the silicon separators just creates a clumpy mess. When you pull the brush out of the tube the top half of the brush is cleanly covered with mascara while the bottom half looks like you spread the mascara on the bristles with a thick Spackle. It is BAD.

The only way I have managed to still be able to use this mascara is to clean off the bottom bristles with a tissue when I pull the brush out and then try to focus the application with the upper bristles. You waste a ton of product when doing this so sadly I am not expecting this tube to last very long.

So if you have a coupon for this mascara and you need one....I say go ahead and buy it. Or perhaps if you don't care about the brush- the formula is still worth a try. But really- it is just a big fat disappointment.

Keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Bad Bad Blogger

Sorry folks!! I know I have been totally MIA recently...I am getting married and was out of town doing wedding madness!!

However, I am back and ready to blog! Today's fun tidbit:

Benefit's Summer Sale-Abration!



Benefit is having a HUGE sale right now! 50% off a giant selection of Benefit Cosmetics products and major discounts on countless others - totally worth a look. Plus, with every $35 order you get a FULL SIZE California Kissin AND if you enter PRETTY50 at checkout you get free shipping on orders over $50.
Now that IS a Sale-abration!

Happy Shopping!

Keep

Spring Break lives again!

So do any of you folks out there have some old shot glasses gathering dust?
Perhaps they say something like "Cancun Spring Break 1999"?
It's going to be okay, I promise. You are not alone in your shame.

Now there is a legitimate use for that sad little relic of your college binge drinking past....(Not that shots are off limits now - they are just served the right way now- hidden as martinis- ha!)....

Drum roll please.....
Sunscreen serving utensil!! That's right ladies and gents. As I am sure you have read, you should use at least a full shot glass full of sunscreen to cover your body when heading out into those UVBs and UVAs. And recently I read a fabulous tip about actually using a shot glass to portion out your sunscreen...not just guesstimating a "shot glass amount" as most of us have been told to do. But literally keeping a shot glass in your bathroom next to your tube of sunscreen. And when it's time to protect that lovely skin - fill up that shot glass and go to town.

So now, not only are you guaranteed to be protecting yourself in the right way with SPF, you FINALLY have an excuse not to throw out your old mementos - no matter what your boyfriend or wife might say....

Keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Follow Up

Hey all...
I don't know if you remember but a while ago I did a blog posting on bikini waxing?
(Click here for the original post.)

Well yesterday MSN.com had a great article about the same topic that I think is worth the read - especially now that bathing suit season is here.

Bikini Waxing (according to MSN.com)

Keep looking fab - in those swimsuits!
BGND

Manic Monday

Have you guys heard of this site?

www.CouponCabin.com

Daily Candy featured it today in one of their emails and I am shocked to say I did not know about it!! ( I like to think of myself as being up on all the cool spots in coupon cyber space...)

It has tons of deals and coupons, not only for things like groceries, cleaning supplies and pet products but beauty items too!!! They have active discounts for drugstore.com, beauty.com, Bath and Body Works and SpaFinder among others. And these aren't all one kind of coupon either- some are online discount codes, some are printable coupons.

Click here for the full low-down as told by Daily Candy.

Keep Looking fabulous!
BGND

Charity of the day....

So in light of the fact that we don't always need to focus on products (nor do we want to)...today I thought I would talk about one of my favorite charities that you may or may not be familiar with.

Look Good...Feel Better (From the American Cancer Society)

LGFB is one of my all time favorite organizations. LGFB was founded to help women suffering from cancer feel their best and their most beautiful at the most difficult time in their lives. Volunteer beauty professionals teach these brave women how to deal with skin/nail care, make-up application, dealing with hair loss and how to overcome the appearance related side effects of cancer treatment.

It is such a cool foundation and you do not have to be a licensed Cosmetologist to volunteer. (If you are - that's great - they need you!) But if not, there is always room for those who simply believe in the cause and want to help out.

For more information and to see some inspirational before and afters - check out the website...

www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org.

Have a great Thursday and keep looking fab,
BGND

A Summertime Classic...

There is just something about summer...the sunshine, the cool breezes (when you are lucky!) and just being outside more...it is glorious. And every year without a doubt I want my make-up to look fun and summery and just glowy.

So every year I go back to Sephora and get a new eyeshadow. And by new, I simply mean a replacement for my go-to summer shadow combo. Because once I found this baby I never looked back when it came to my summer eyeshadow needs.

Eye Shadow Trio in Bronze Glow by Stila Cosmetics - $ 28 (Sephora, Sephora.com and Stila counters nationwide)

This shadow is in a word - magnificent. I never thought that the colors would look good on me - I am a very pale Irish gal with blue eyes and freckles. However, this trio is one of the best color combos on my ever. It makes my eyes pop, my skin glow- it even makes my hair look good!

I can wear one of the colors or all three at once and Stila's makeup magic makes the color sheer and saturated and blendable all at the same time. Seriously, if you are looking for a good summer shadow combo and you don't have a ton to spend- this is the way to go. For $28 you get three awesome colors to mix and match.

Plus, if you go to Sephora and try this color combo (Bronze Glow) and are not blown away on your skin tone - there are two other trios - Champagne Glow and Gold Glow - Each as equally awesome as the bronze.

For a night out on the town, any of these combos mixed with the Stila Smudge Pots will deliver you the smooth smokey eye you only dreamed possible. And of course, just because it is summer and we all want to be bronze - it doesn't mean that this shadow can't travel to fall/winter because believe me when I say I have used it plenty in those seasons as well.

And just in case you needed one more thing to prove the awesomeness of the Bronze Glow - it is sold out on the Stila website! People love this trio! So get your butt to Sephora before they are all gone!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Prescriptives for the cure

I am not sure why there aren't more people who are major followers of Prescriptives. Perhaps it is because they are one of the only major lines that is not at Sephora?

I have been a HUGE fan since middle school when a friend of mine introduced me to the brand. Her mother was allergic to Formaldehyde and back then, Prescriptives was one of the only brands that was exclusively Formaldehyde free. Prescriptives has come along way since those days and now is the maker of some of my all-time favorite products. Why am I telling you all this?

Because now is your chance to get acquainted with Prescriptives and get a deal at the same time. Right now at all Macy's, Prescriptives is having a great deal to promote their mineral make-up line.

They have two very popular options - the Mineral Powder and the All Skins Mineral Makeup with SPF 10. And for a limited time when you buy either of those products you can get a FULL SIZE tube of Flawless Face Primer and a FULL SIZE Foundation Brush (specially formulated to work with either mineral foundation- liquid or powder), all for only $17. That is a MAJOR steal. The brush alone makes this a killer deal as Prescriptives' brushes are amazing quality and very long lasting. My everyday brushes are Presriptives and I have had them for years.

So if you are new to Prescriptives or perhaps looking for a new mineral makeup, I say take advantage of this deal. I never met a product from Prescriptives I didn't like and I don't think you will either.

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Summer Steals!!

It has been a while since I posted any bargain codes for all you online shoppers and I felt it was high time!

Here are currently the best deals to be had in cyber-space in my opinion....enjoy.....
And pardon the picture above- just thought it was worth the laugh!

Benefit Cosmetics
Free shipping on all orders over $50 - enter PRETTY50 at checkout.

Bliss World, LLC
15% off and free shipping on orders $50 or more - enter 039908 at checkout.

Bloomingdales.com
$5 shipping on all beauty and fragrance products - no code needed.

Bobbibrown.com
Free FULL SIZE (!!) Shimmer Wash eye shadow in Copper Penny and free shipping on orders $65 and over - enter EYES55 at checkout.

Clarins.com
Free Extra firming Travel Gift Set & Free standard shipping on orders $75 or more - enter CLARINS35 at checkout.

Drugstore.com
Get 30% off any three Allure Best of Beauty Winners - click here for more information.

ELF Cosmetics
50% off orders up to $15 - enter CAROLINA at checkout.
Free shipping on orders of $30 or more - enter ECTAPBY at checkout.
Free mini make-up collection with purchase of $15 or more - enter FREEMINI at checkout.
5 $1 items for free when you enter 5FOR5FREE at checkout on orders of $10 or more.

Kiehls.com
Receive a free deluxe sample of VitalSun SPF30 Lotion plus free ground shipping on orders of $30 or more - enter SUNAF at checkout.

Lancome.com
Free shipping on any purchase off $45 or more plus a Sensational Summer Lip Color Sample Selection - enter JUNELIPS at checkout.
Free shipping plus a deluxe sample collection on orders of $50 or more - enter JUNEBEAUTY at checkout.

Lush Cosmetics
Get 15% off your order - enter GIFTFORYOU09 at checkout.

Origins.com
Free FULL SIZE A Perfect World Highly Hydrating Body Lotion with White Tea when you order $25 or more - enter APW6 at checkout.

Sephora.com
Free Sephora reusable nylon tote with any online purchase - enter EARTHDAY at checkout.
Free travel size Sevin Nyne Tanning Mist when you purchase full size - enter TANMIST at checkout.
40% off Decleor products - click here for more info.

ULTA Beauty
20% off any one item - enter 97176 at checkout.
$3.50 off any $10 purchase - enter 27908 at checkout.

Happy Shopping!
BGND

Are you Gellin'?

So for whatever reason - Hair Gel is making a huge comeback. Now keep in mind, I am not talking about those huge neon vats of hair gel that you see at the 99Cent store, or even spiky boy band hair styles.

In general, I am just saying that after years of abuse and bad products (see the two examples above), gel is back on the market in a big way. It seems like the folks over at the cosmetic companies decided to look into this old stand-by and see what could be made of it in today's marketplace. Everything old is new again after all! As a result, the shelves are flooding with gel-related products but these are not the sticky culprits of yesteryear. Think of these as Gel 2.0.

My favorite of the new gel products?

Redken Layer Lift 07 Length Elevating Spray Gel - $12.99 and up (Online or at your local beauty supply store)

This is seriously my new miracle worker. Currently I am growing out a very blunt and styled bob. When I don't style it properly in this state- it looks a mess. All uneven and stringy and just BAD. Plus, I naturally have very fine strands of hair. So even though there is plenty of it, often times it can look FLAT and sad.

Then along came this baby! It gives my hair body and control and style without adding a ton of weight. The spray is fine and well dispersed and the result? I get body and oomph and it doesn't look like there is much of any kind of product in my hair. It just looks natural and lush.

Love this product and totally recommend it - even if you have long, thick hair not my thinner short hair. This will give you lift and control and eliminate the need for too many other products.

If this Redken item is the shape of things to come in the land of Gel 2.0- I AM IN.

Have a great weekend and keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Product of the week - June 18th, 2009

Ever since I got into mani/pedis I have been going at least once a month for my toes, sometimes every other week if the mood stuck me. Well now with the financial situation the way it is in my home, I can finally admit that two pedicures a month is sometimes over-doing it. And that sometimes even a once a month pedicure is more than the wallet allows.

So lately I have had to rely a lot more on my home mani/pedi skills. I have always loved giving myself pedicures because 1) It saves money, 2) I find it to be relaxing and zen, 3) It gives me an excuse to watch something shameless on television while I paint my toes.

So today while painting away I was inspired and reminded of one of my favorite cheapo drugstore buys.

Revlon Nail Enamel - $5 or less (Drugstores nationwide)

Reasons this has been a BGND staple for years?

1) It is extremely high quality for a super low price. Seriously, this polish lasts just as long as Essie or OPI or any of the other name brands. Plus you still get that glossy finish and deep color that salons give you.

2) It comes in over 60 shades!!! In other words there is something for everyone. Today I am wearing Plum Baby, at Valentine's Day I wear Revlon Red. And they just came out with 8 new shades including some trendy sheer pale pinks and deep, dark almost blacks.

3) It is DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde free.

4) There is something awesome about doing my nails with Revlon and then being asked by someone on the street what color I am wearing and that they love my toes. That's right - toe envy for less than $5.

Anyway, regardless of your color tastes or what your usual go-to brand might be I recommend you go to your local drugstore and pick up a bottle of Revlon (or two for that matter). You will not be disappointed and hey if you want - treat yourself to a latte on the way home. You will have still spent less than a manicure or pedicure.

Keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Being True to my skin...

Happy Tuesday folks!
As some of you might remember a little while ago I did a post about Being True Cosmetics. They were having a giveaway in conjunction with Daily Candy and I wrote a little blurb about it and how you - my BGND readers - could get your hands on one of the free items.

Well here it is, roughly a month after I wrote that post and I am LOVING the Anti-Aging Youth Revealing Complex that I got in the free giveaway. Some things to know about this wonder item...



1) It is not cheap - the bottle runs $110 for 30 ML - in other words - this is what I like to call an INVESTMENT product.

2) It is gentle yet effective. I have had no stinging, no reactions of any kind other than feeling and seeing this product work.

3) My skin is smoother, more supple, softer, full of moisture and loving all the good stuff in this product (Mainly an anti-ager called Idebenone- which I think sounds like a trendy celebrity baby name.)

4) The color of this serum is bright yellow and stays yellow a bit on your skin even after it has been applied and rubbed in- odd but true. It doesn't stain your pillowcase or anything like that but don't be alarmed if you look a little jaundice-y for 3-5 minutes after you use it.

Anyway, I am very happy with this product and would highly recommend it for anyone looking for a new serum and not happy with what they have found over at their local Sephora. Also, Being True has a huge collection of other products - not just skin care but make-up as well (and the prices on cosmetics are more in the department store range).

Keep looking fab,
BGND

They're making a list, checking it twice...

All you BGNDers know that I love the "Best Of" lists that come out every year. Some are good, some are bad, some are informative, some are redundant. Whichever category the "best of" list falls into, I still rush out to get each magazine and tear through the new list with fury. Often times I will find a winner for my skincare or make-up routine- other times I am astounded at how strong products remain year after year.

Well, Allure has their "Readers' Choice" list out at the moment and it does not disappoint. I highly recommend you pick up this month's issue and check it out. Or of course, check out the full list online here.

Either way, some good BGND stand-bys made the list like 7-Day Scrub Cream, Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion and All About Eyes - all from Clinique, as well as Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Lover's Fragrance, Essie Nail Polish in Mademoiselle and L'Oreal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Make-up.

Happy Shopping!

Keep looking fab,
BGND

A beautiful bikini

In my endless search to save money on all things beauty related there are two hair removal products out there that I am totally fascinated with...



The Smooth Away Hair Removal System (Available at Drugstores nationwide)




First things first, I find it odd that these are just called Smooth Away. Why Not "Smooth Away Pads" or "Smooth Away Cloths"? Anyhoo, these are the latest in "As Seen on TV" hair removal products. From what I can tell they are sort of like small pieces of cosmetic-grade sand paper that buff away any unwanted hair in an so-called gentle/non-irritating way. I have not tried these out yet but the few reviews I have read say they are best on smaller areas (you waste too much time and effort to do bigger areas) so I think the upper lip and bikini line are the spots to go with. Through the website you get two different size Smooth Aways plus replacement pads for $14.99 - not a bad deal.


And....

The Schick Quattro TrimStyle Razor (Available at Drugstores nationwide)
Now the marketing for this product? Kind of hilarious....The best way to describe it is to see the pic below...sorry it is not the greatest quality...



Get it? Anyway, this is a new razor/trimmer that is obviously being marketed to ladies for the purposes of keeping their bikini lines clean and for shaping them into similar styles that you might find at a waxer. The razor end has four blades just like the regular Schick Quattro and the bikini trimmer is waterproof making this item an in-shower essential.
Am I convinced that you can get the same kind of results as you can from your waxer? Not yet- but I have hope. And best of all- this is only $12.99.

Anyway, just thought I would share with you all some new ways to save money this summer.
If you try either product- let me know what you think!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Product of the week - June 11th, 2009

Today's product of the week is of the summer specific variety....

Clinique Moisture Surge - $34 or $46.50 (Clinique.com, Sephora and Clinique counters nationwide)

Now perhaps you all remember my post about the Moisture Surge Spray - a fab product. Today I want to talk about the original Moisture Surge. Or to describe it a different way - your best friend in the summer.

Now I know that when it gets hot and sticky outside the last thing I want to do is layer on some super ridiculous night cream. This product from Clinique has been the answer to my nighttime summer skin care prayers. I have been using it after my 3-step skin care as a moisture mask and have immediately noticed a difference in my skin's texture, feel and a reduction of all those fun, fine lines and wrinkles. It is perfect for delivering the amount of moisture your skin needs but not trapping it or causing it to feel suffocated in the summer heat. It is light, cooling and moisturizing. Definitely BGND approved!!!

Best of all you can use this anytime of day when you need a little extra boost- even over make-up. This is my new moisture/age fighting miracle.

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

P.S. Clinique.com is having a great offer with purchase deal right now- $92 worth of skin care and make-up plus a Lilly Pulitzer-esque tote all for $32.50. Check it out here.

Overnight Bags

Today's post comes via one of my loyal readers....

Dear BGND,

I am a super busy mother of two so I don't always get my recommended 8 hours of shut eye a night (oh who am I kidding - I am lucky if I get 6 hours a night!) As a result I often end up drinking more diet coke than water - adding dehydration to the mounting fatigue. The results of this combo? The bags under my eyes have gone from bad to worse! I feel like I have tried so many concealers and brighteners but nothing seems to make me look - oh I don't know - awake! Any suggestions?

Sleep deprived in Savannah

Oh SDIS - you are not alone! The under eye bag/circle/dark patch can torpedo an otherwise glowing face. (One time someone asked me when I got my black eye....I simply hadn't put concealer on my eyes that morning and my thin skin/blue veins underneath looked like a shiner- glamorous!)

There are two main (cosmetic) ways to combat this very common problem.

1 - Step up to the big leagues in terms of concealer.
(This is the way to go if you have darkness and bags as your main issue.)

Not all concealers are created equal. For one BGNDer, a thin smooth brush on concealer might be enough...for others- Spackle is the only thing that will hide their skin discoloration. In the later category there is one clear cut champion...

Laura Mercier Concealers
Her concealers are pretty THE best for thick but natural coverage. The two best for under-eye darkness are the Secret Camouflage and the Secret Concealer (which I have posted about before). Either one could work for you depending on your level of darkness. If you have the cash to spend and are ready to invest- I would go with the Undercover Pot ($34) - shown below. With the Undercover Pot you get both the Camouflage and the Concealer with a translucent powder to set the combo. It is a killer deal and will work wonders on those dark circles.

Another great option for a thicker concealer is Erase Paste ($26) and Boi- ing ($18) both from Benefit Cosmetics.

But don't just assume that layering a thick concealer will fix everything. Sometimes you need a brightener to wake your look up after you have hidden what you need to hide.
The second option to help with the eye area?

2 - Go Pink.
(This is the option for those who want to look more bright and awake.)


The Eye Bright Pencil ($20- shown below) from Benefit is amazing. It is used as the last step in your cosmetic process and is best for the deep and dark inner corners of your eye (my biggest darkness concern). It gives you just the slightest "awake" and perky look.

I also love the Powderflage ($28) from Benefit. Designed to be brushed over concealer or used alone, this very pink powder brightens and highlights the face ever so slightly. I would highly recommend using it over a thicker concealer to give you the awake look after you have cover your darkness.

So I hope I have not confused you more than you were when you wrote in!
My final parting advice would be to hit your local Sephora and try some of these thicker concealers on a clean make-up free face. Try a different one on each eye and see what works for you. Then layer the brighteners and see what works best with your complexion.

There are many routes to go but if you get a thicker concealer combined with either a brightening powder or stick- you'll be looking like you got 12 hours of sleep in no time!


Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Catch it before it's gone!!

I am sure all you well educated BGNDers already know this but...

The Bath and Body Works Semi-Annual Sale is currently going on! I love to hit up this sale whenever they have it, not only to re-stock up at great prices on all my favorites but to also hopefully find some new ones!

And now that the summer is here and the temps are getting higher it is the perfect time to find a new favorite scented body lotion. Scented lotion is the best way to wear a delicate scent in the summer but not overpower yourself with some of the stronger perfumes that are more fitting to the winter months. Plus you can apply the lotion first thing in the morning, then refresh with the matching body spray before going out for the evening. The perfect summer accessory!

My personal favorite among the summer-friendly BABW scents?

Wild Honeysuckle(Loving the new packaging!)

The deals abound at this sale (as always) including 4 for $10 in the Anti-Bacterial collection, $5 Signature classics and Buy 2 Get 1 free in the Signature collection (Wild Honeysuckle included!) among others.

Best of all, if you have your heart set on a certain fragrance but the selection is picked clean at your local mall - all of the scents and deals are available online.

Happy shopping!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Perricone does it again!

So I don't know if any of you BGNDers out there have ever used Perricone MD products- but in a word- they are fantastic! Expensive but fantastic....

Well our good friend Dr. Perricone has a new item on the market (exclusively at Sephora) that I am dying to try....

No Foundation Foundation - $50 (Exclusively at Sephora and Sephora.com)
I am so totally intrigued by this new product. It is designed and formulated to do exactly what the name says- make it appear that you have the smooth foundation perfect face you have always dreamed of, but that you have that look without foundation. It is chock full of anti-oxidants (of course), specifically Alpha Lipoic Acid - designed to smooth out those fine lines and wrinkles, make your skin glow, reduce the appearance of pores...the list goes on and on. Pretty much it claims to make your skin look 16 years old again! To top it all off, it comes with a non-chemical form of SPF 30. Now I am not sure what "non-chemical" means when it comes to sun-care....however, an SPF of 30 is an SPF of 30.

I would say this is the ideal product for anyone who wants to give their skin a healthy dose of anti-oxidants while also protecting and evening out skin tone. It is like the wonder woman of foundation. A multi-tasker's dream!

Definitely worth a pick-up on my next trip to Sephora.

Have a great Monday and keep looking fab,
BGND

Lauren's lovely locks!!

So today's post comes via my friend and loyal BGNDer Lauren!
She often sends me amazing emails of all the products she is loving (or not loving) at the moment and the one I received recently was one of her most effusive to date. Read below....

Just wanted to share my most recent (and mildly life-changing) Sephora purchase...

Frederic Fekkai's DIY salon color

I used it a couple days ago and EVERYTHING about it is fabulous. The smell, the bowl/brush application (vs harder to apply squeeze bottle), the pre and post coloring treatments, and most of all...THE COLOR. It's so rich, from root to tip, and it's a REAL color...not brassy, I don't know how better to describe it but it's just SO much better than what's in the aisle at CVS :) It's $30 which I'm happy to spend for the ease, and still spending less than the salon :) Just wanted to share!

I love this email from Lauren! FF products are amazing and even though I don't color my hair- this makes me totally want to!!
$30 is a great price point for high quality and DIY makes this perhaps the easiest quality hair color out there. Best of all- there are 24 different shades.

Here is the Sephora link for all of you that want to check out the goods.....

Thanks for the awesome info Lauren!!!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Make your own body scrub...

I tore this recipe out of a magazine some time ago and recently rediscovered it in my "inspiration" folder that I keep for the blog. Seeing as how summer is around the corner (cue super smooth skin) and we are all looking to save a little green- this seemed like the perfect time to bust it out. It is easy to make and execute and most of the items needed to make it are probably already in your cabinets.

Ingredients:
Finely ground coffee beans
Brown sugar
Sesame oil
One sliced orange
Warned honey
Fave body lotion

1) Combine equal parts coffee and sugar, then slowly add sesame oil till mixture has the consistency of a soft paste.

2) Standing in shower and using both hands, firmly massage scrub in circular motion from feet to shoulders.

3) Now repeat the massaging motion but with the orange slices (probably will need about 8 for the whole body) - this will improve your circulation.

4)Apply a thin layer of honey to skin, leave on for five minutes and rinse. (You may want to bring a magazine into the bathroom with you for this step so you are not just standing in the shower twiddling your thumbs!)

5) Finish with your fave lotion.

Keep looking fabulous!
BGND

P.S. Thanks and credit to US Magazine and Ole Henriksen.

Travel Tragedy turned Triumph!!

Wow- I have been a bad blogger. I was on vacay and I left you all hanging..but have no fear, I am back, fully refreshed and with a new BGND discovery to boot!

We all know what it is like to go out of town and the amazing coordination it takes to not only pack everything you need, but to not over pack and go crazy. Well this time in my attempts to not over-do it...I left something I NEEDED at home. As my fiance said, "Wow- that is very un-BGND!" and indeed it was. I left all of my make-up brushes at home.

Now this is not a level one emergency such as forgetting underwear but it is still annoying. Especially when you love your cosmetics (as I do) and need to look very polished (as I did) for a big family event/reunion. If we had just been kicking it on the beach I could have used my fingers and gone no muss- no fuss for the trip. But nope- I was attending events that deserved brush applied make-up.

Now the funny part of this quandary is that I have not one but TWO sets of full brushes at home. My everyday use brushes and my travel kit (yes I actually have a separate set that I forgot). So my budget was limited considering this would be my third set of brushes.

However, from lemons come lemonade as I found this killer and super affordable brush set...

Essential Tools : 11 Piece Travel Brush Kit - Varied Prices (Walmart stores and online at Walmart.com)
This brush kit is in one word - AMAZING. Not only does it house every kind of brush you need....it does so in this fabulous and very sturdy folding hard plastic case. Each brush has a slot and a holder so it can fold and unfold super easily and all of the brushes are standing up ready to be used. (You can kind of see what I am talking about in the bottom of the picture- the packaging has an image of the set unfolded.) It comes with a mirror as well and I paid a mere - $9 for this kit. Yup- $9!!! I got nine decent quality brushes, plus a case and mirror for $9!!! Talk about budget friendly. It fact, I am so impressed with this collection that I think it is a decent purchase for someone who wants brushes but doesn't need/want to spend a lot. Run don't walk to Walmart for this deal!

Happy Monday and keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Watered down...

Have you seen all the water-related beauty products out there? I am all about hydration so I am super curious if any of these work...Anything to get all my BGNDers drinking more water.

The two "beauty drinks" most intriguing are:

1 - Glowelle (by Nestle)


Glowelle is touting itself as your skin's needed dietary supplement to help nourish and moisturize from the inside out. It contains Vitamins A, C and E plus some other proven anti-agers. It comes in pre-packaged beverages or in the those handy little packets you add to your own bottle of water and in Natural Raspberry Jasmine or Natural Pomegranate Lychee flavors. All in all seems like a pretty good product. However, I can only find it on ebay or at Neiman Marcus. And yes I love water and I love the idea of a new product to make my skin glow but only available at limited places and for more than I would like to pay...hmmm...

2 - Crystal Light Skin Essentials (by Kraft)



This is the more accessible of the "beauty drinks" out there. Sold wherever Crystal Light is, this product has very similar ingredients to Glowelle (vitamins A, C and E etc...) but only comes in the powder to add to your own water. The flavors here are a bit more exciting as well - Pomegranate Lemonade and White Peach Tea. Not backed up by the fancy marketing of Glowelle, this product seems just as good just for less coin.

All in all I am intrigued but not sold on these beauty drinks. Do they work because of the ingredients or just because you are drinking more water? Do they work at all? And is it worth the investment?

My vote is to buy these if you need inspiration or a real helping hand in getting your water intake to where it should be on a daily basis. For me, I will wait till I get a coupon and then report back. But for now, I will be sticking with basic H2O.

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

A friendly reminder for your Friday...

I know that I am like a broken record with the sunscreen talk here at BGND. But what can I say? Not only did I have one too many burns on my fair, freckled skin as a child...I want to get as few wrinkles as possible!!

But of course the number one reason to use sunscreen is not for vanity but for health. While many dismiss skin cancer as an easy cancer, it still is the big C and should not be taken lightly. However, if caught early skin cancer is 99% curable.

So this is my gentle reminder to go get a body check by your dermatologist if you haven't been in a while. (Ideally you should be doing this at a minimum of once a year while checking your own skin on a monthly basis.) Now, perhaps you do not have insurance (46 million Americans do not) but just because you don't have insurance doesn't mean you have to skip your yearly dermatologist visit.

Neutrogena and The American Academy of Dermatology are providing free skin cancer screenings during the months of May, June and July. Simply visit aad.org or neutrogenaskinhealth.com to find a screening in your area.

Now you have no excuses.

Have a fab weekend!
BGND

Hairspray Hoopla...

YAY!
My current container of hairspray has officially run out which means I now have a legitimate reason to go out and get this uber-trendy spray I have had my eye on... (yes sadly, I have been waiting to purchase hairspray - but hey- waste not want not right?)...Anyway, I digress.

Elnett Hairspray by L'oreal is THE hairspray to have. For years this gleaming gold spray can was only available outside the US for purchase (boo). But that didn't stop it from being the go-to hair hold product for every fashion show, hair stylist and beauty junkie the world over. For a little while now it has been available at Target for the low price of $14.99 (hooray!) and I have been waiting to buy it.

I will definitely keep you all posted on this baby and let you know if the hype is true and if this Rolls Royce of hairsprays really is the best of the best.

Happy Wednesday and keep looking fab!
BGND

Facial Freebie!!!

In this lovely economic climate- everybody wants something for nothing. Problem is, most of what is out there for free- isn't really worth the time/effort for what you get. That is SO not the case with today's free find - for a limited time Origins is offering not one but two fabulous freebies!!

A FREE sample of their breakthrough exfoliator - Modern Friction and...
A FREE mini-facial.
Yes......love it!

Modern Friction is a new product from Origins meant to replace the ever effective, ever popular and ever harsh microdermabrasion.


It uses all natural rice (yup rice) to effectively, naturally and gently reveal the youthful skin hiding under your current skin. Sounds intriguing no? And oh by the way, the cost difference is huge (as you can imagine) as a full size Modern Friction only goes for $37. ( Compare that to hundreds and even thousands of dollars for dermatologist administered microdermabrasion.)

So of course you are wondering- how do I get my hands on this free sample and free mini-facial? There are two very easy options...

1 - Through the Origins website you can get a free sample and free shipping through 5/31/09 simply by entering the code - REAL SIMPLE in at checkout (thank you Real Simple mag!!)

2 - To get your free mini-facial, call or visit your local Origins counter or store and set up an appointment. To find a location near you, call 1-800-ORIGINS (and select #2). I am not sure if you get a free sample this way or if they just use the product on you during the free facial...

Whichever option you go for - enjoy your new glowing skin courtesy of Origins and Real Simple magazine.

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND