Before we get started

Let me tell you a little bit about me, what kind of beauty products I like generally, and what is important to me.

I am:
Slightly over 30 years old.
Married.
Someone who lives in a warm, humid climate.
Someone who does not have a lot of time, so I like products that do not require a lot of time.
A fanatic when it comes to skin care.

I think:
Natural and organic beauty products are awesome, so I look for them all the time.
Everything looks better when it's applied on great skin, so we should all care for our skin properly before looking at anything else.
Makeup can be fun, but should never be a chore.
Makeup for special occasions is even more fun.
The best products are not always the most expensive ones, but sometimes you do get what you pay for.
The right perfume and scent can make a huge difference.
Sometimes you need to feel girly and glamorous, and beauty products can help us do just that.

Some of my favorite brands are:
L'Occitane
MAC
Clarins
Dior
Chanel
Neutrogena
Lancome (especially their mascaras)
Lumene (a brand made for Scandinavian skin)
But I still have tons of other brands to try, and I also use products from tons of other brands as well on a regular basis.

(pic from Face Fitness Center)

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Winter Beauty Must Haves

Last week, I taped a TV segment at CVS with the lovely Lilliana Vazquez. Want to know which products I named as winter beauty must-haves? Watch and learn...

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Neutrogena MoistureShine Gloss: Recessionista's Fabuless Pick of the Week

I’m a lip gloss aficionado. I probably own 350+ tubes – and, yes, I realize that that’s utterly ridiculous. But I can’t help myself; I have an insatiable appetite for glosses.

It’s the one cosmetic that I wear every day, so I suppose my compulsion is somewhat justified (not really, that’s just what I tell myself). But despite my addiction, I’m quite the lip gloss snob. My collection is an exquisitely edited assortment of glosses, and a new addition must pass a rigorous set of standards before it is inducted into my own private lip gloss hall of fame.

The latest inductee? Neutrogena’s new MoistureShine Gloss – and here’s why…

First, MoistureShine Gloss has the perfect level of opacity for this time of year. In the spring/summer, I become the Goldilocks of glosses. I look for a gloss that delivers a hint of color; not so little that I might as well be wearing a clear gloss, and not so much that it looks like I’m wearing lipstick. MoistureShine Gloss gives the lips just the right amount of color, not to mention creamy, megawatt shine. The conditioning formula is antioxidant-rich and actually improves the healthy look, softness and smoothness of your lips over time. Plus the gloss has a subtle berry fragrance, natch.

MoistureShine Gloss isn’t sticky in the slightest, and feels more like a balm on the lips. For this review, I tested shade 410 (Wine Wellness, left) - which looks gorgeous, in an understated way, against my tan complexion.

If you’re a lip gloss nut like me and you’re looking for a new beauty that won’t break the bank, Neutrogena MoistureShine Gloss ($8.99) is an excellent choice. Available in 14 shades, it is sold at mass market retailers nationwide.

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Golden Globes Gorgeous 2010: Jennifer Garner

Beauty Inspiration: "Jen's dress was a perfect nude colour, and the beads were pink and silvery. The overall look was champagne and beige. With her pale skin and dark hair, it was my job to bring color and radiance to the silhouette because everything else was quite monochromatic. I saw it as an excuse to break out the perfect lip shade." -Makeup Artist Kate Lee

Beauty Tip: "I prepped the skin with CHANEL Hydramax + Active Serum and then CHANEL Sublimage Fluid Moisturizer, which leaves a velvety texture on the skin. On Jen's eyes I used CHANEL Quadra Eye Shadow in Kaska Beige. I liner her lids with CHANEL Long Lasting Eyeliner in Espresso, smudged it out, and used the dark burgundy shade from the quad along the lash line. I then used my favourite color in the world, the beigey-taupey-lilac shade in the quad, in the socket line. I feathered it along the lash line as well, to blend the chocolate brown liner. I curled the lashes, an applied one coat of CHANEL Inimitable Waterproof Mascara in Noir. On her cheeks I used Neutrogena: a combination of Neutrogena Mineral Sheer Cheek Colours in Apricot, Sable, and Rare Rose. Finally, on the lips I used CHANEL Rouge Coco in Rouge Orage (coming in March). I chose this shade because it has amazing staying power and incredible hydrating properties. It's an intense rosey color with a bronze shimmer – perfect or Jen's full lips."

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