B B Babies!!

 All the rage...Beauty Balms or Blemish Balms aka BB Cremes have finally hit our market and in FULL force. Although they have been in the Asian market for some time, we finally have these wonder creams right in our own back yard. Many are asking what are these creams and how are they different..the short answer, think-ALL in ONE. Most are skin brightening, tone balancing, and treatment. The perfect hybrid of coverage and skin care. I think of it as a tinted moisturizer on steriods!

These are some of our favorites from Sephora, all ranging from $30.00 to about $40.00. Our favorite budget friendly BB Cream is from Garnier for under $20.00! These are light weight and have an airy feel...treating the skin and perfecting your skin tone.

Less products, less work, better results....who doesn't like that?

Spring is in the air...well, at least in my kit it is!

 With our weather here in the South, we are swinging temps ranging from 45 degrees to 75 degrees. Between the teasing of Spring and my vacation just off a cruise-I am craving everything SPRING!

 Make Up along with fashion is created several seasons ahead and typically rolls out in stores a few months before the actual "season" begins. I was thrilled to see a few lines debute some of their spring goodies...a few things are out now (like this gorgeous Chanel 2012 Spring line) and a few (lux new perfume by Jimmy Choo), we will have to wait until late March.

Love this new Lingerie Palette by Laura Mercier. The best bang for your buck- $60.00 for a spring wardrobe? Sign me up! (Notice the warmer colors on one side, cooler on the other-oh, and the 2 gorgeous blushes in the middle-this is foolproof!)

This mini bottle set of polishes has the perfect brights to jazz up toes and the greatest neutrals to keep fingers polished and on point.

Is there anything Jimmy Choo that is NOT fabulous? We don't think so! They can't launch this product fast enough (late March). It will be worth the wait!

This is the first season in a while where I feel color inspired. I have been mixing and using multiple products to get the exact color I want, especially for cheek and lip. If this is what is in store this season, I am excited for us all!!

Ciao~ take care and stay warm!

Golden Globe Goddesses!

 I love a good Award Ceremony and with Award Season in full swing-I am thrilled to seeing not who, but what goes down the Red Carpet. I love watching the machine at work and studying the looks that tooks months to prepare. From the hair to the make up, to the dress to the jewels, to the handbags to the shoes...I enjoy looking at seperate details, but am always surprised that few people (in my eyes)...seem to get it ALL right. I love when stylists take a risk with color or blur the lines with dresses that show skin with a surprise cut out...however, it is the more glamorous, put together total package that catches my eye. Like a perfect symphony-everything gets orchestrated right on key.

Here, I love Debra Messings total look. Her make up balanced out her hair that played beautifully with this brown (yes, I said brown) Monique Lhuillier gown!

 Love Emma Stone in this drapy, flowing feminine, yet risky,edgy Lanvin gown-wowza!

 Salma Hayek in Gucci...need we say more??

Even though I thought the make up took a little bit of a back seat compared to the rest of the elements this year-it was all so well put together, that it looked intentionally understated. Here is where it worked...Charlize Theron looked like a dream when she stepped out in this Dior gown. VISION!

All in all, I love the elegant look and casual vibe of the Golden Globes...I think it is a perfect dress rehearsal for the Oscars-can't wait!!

Winter WOW!

 We hope you are staying snug as a bug this winter! As the season changes, so does our skin, and it's needs. We need to be more gentle with our cleansers, more emollient with our moistuizers, brighter under our eyes, and creamier with our blushes and lips.

 We have included a few of our winter favorites, that will take your skin from whoa to GLOW! Philosophy's Purity has been a best selling product for a reason. It is gentle on all skin types and it WORKS-removing any trace of  make up. It cleanses without stripping the skin. We also love love Josie Maran's Argan Oil! This is an amazing multi-purpose produt that can be used on the face, hair,  and even nails. Don't let the word "oil" fool you-this is light weight and soaks directly into the skin. You won't even know how dehydrated you were until you use this. A little goes a long way and your skin and hair will thank you!

 We also love a simple, clean, healthy look-even in the dead of winter. This Bobbi Brown Rouge Pot has been a staple in my kit for years because, it's FABULOUS! Dab a bit on the apples of your cheek and use the rest on your lips. It will give you just the right amount of color and that lit within glow.

Last, but certainly not least- a jam up, jelly tight concealer! You want something that has some density to it (since we tend to be lighter in skin tone this time of year) and something that will cover the circles but not get cakey. I love this product from LORAC because the stick concealer is creamy (which I usually pat gently underneath the eye area) and the highlighter gives just the right amount of "glow"-feel free to be more liberal for evening. The rollerball applicator ROCKS, pushing the product seamlessly into the skin.

All in all, taking just a few simple steps-adding just a few changes into your routine will take you from Winter to WOW!

Stay warm...until next time-xo

RED HOTT!

Tis the season to be red, hot, and fabulous!

Nothing dresses up or polishes up a look faster than a red lip. Go classic or sultry with this easy go to...

The main tip to know is whether you should wear a "cool" (blue red) or "warm" (more orange or yellow based) red. There are a million gorgeous reds from chocolate cherry to maple, but as promised- here are a few of our favorite true red hot reds.

MAC Red

Nars in Jungle Red

L'Oreal Infallible Lip Gloss in Rebel Red

*PS- Check out a newbie fav...Revlon's Color Burst Lip Butter. In select drugstores, so stash up! 2 we grabbed-Cherry Tart and Red Velvet-yummy!

Next week, smokey eye favorites!! xo

Best of the Brush Sets!

We love love a great brush set. It can make or break your make up application and as professionals-using the "right" brush can save us time, while still getting the perfect look.

My pro brush collection looks like my personal one...it is a mix of very expensive high end brushes and also many I bought and hand cut from our local craft store. Just like the make up in our kit, we use whatever it takes.

Often we get brush collections and bust them up, using what we love and giving away the ones that don't often get used. We were on the hunt (especially around Holiday time) for fabulous brush sets that rocked our world a bit. All at different price points. We posted pics of our top 3 favs, with a nod to 2 other goodie sets (on opposite ends of the price point). You can't go wrong with any of these sets. My advice is to invest in a top of the line set for your vanity at home and buy a more budget friendly set for travel (that way, you won't go into a panic if something happens to them).

The 1st is a fabulous 6 piece brush set from Bobbi Brown @$175.00-luxury worth every penny.

The 2nd is a sweet double sided brush set from Laura Mercier @ $85.00...this is my travel set and I love it-talk about bang for your buck!

The 3rd is a fantastic value brush set from Sonia Kashuk (found online and at Target)...@ $19.99, you can't find better brushes and the case is too cute (all about the wrap and the case it comes in-usually you have to pay extra for that!).

A nod and shout out to 2 other favs we have...the luxury set from Trish McEvoy $245.00. We love love love (did we say love?) these...take good care of them and you will have them forever!

Eco Tools Brush sets by Alicia Silverstone...get the green nod and are adorable while actually "working" as fabu tools. Check online or at Ulta, Walgreens, and CVS for the latest with Eco brushes-they rock and the price point rocks right along with the product.

Next week...our favorite holiday reds!! xo

Pretty Palettes!

Tis the season to be trollin'...trollin' for the best Holiday Deals!

This is a wonderful time to pick up holiday collections, deals, and specials on all of your favorite brands. Amazing palette collections and kits at bargain prices.

This week, we were on the hunt for favorite COLOR collections and these are our favorite palettes...all at 3 different price point, perfect for any of Santa's "helpers"...

Stila-$39.00

Tarte-$52.00

Laura Mercier-$98.00 (includes travel brushes)

Next week, on the hunt for the best holiday brush sets...xo