Bit By the Beauty Bug

After a rough morning at work, at about 11AM, The Beauty Bug had had enough - She dropped everything She was working on and went to the MAC store for a Dazzleglass fix. She deserved it. She had been thinking about it since yesterday afternoon when Michelle from All Lacquered Up planted the Dazzleglass seed. Michelle is a self-admitted enabler - she told The Beauty Bug that she had to have Love Alert and Bare Necessity and that was all it took.

The Beauty Bug entered the MAC store, and made a beeline for the Dazzleglass. She was a Beauty Bug on a mission. She went straight for Bare Necessity, a caramel apricot color with hints of red and gold pearl. While it was a bit more pink than She had hoped, the shade nonetheless wowed Her with it’s powerful spark and shine. MAC Dazzleglass is one of the only glitter glosses that is sexy and sophisticated -it’s not your typical 13 year olds glitter gloss. She happily purchased Her gloss, and left the MAC store; Her now more profound, sparkling lips leading the way.

At any mirror She could stop at, She would just to have a look at Her blinding lips. She took Her time cutting through the multi-level department store pausing occasionally to admire the new gloss that on a sunny day, one might need sunglasses to look at it head on.

The Beauty Bug will leave you with a few lines from one of Her most favorite plays and movies, CHICAGO. “Give ‘em the old razzle dazzle, razzle dazzle ‘em. Give ‘em an act with lots of flash in it, and the reaction will be passionate.” This gloss razzles and dazzles….

MAC Dazzleglass is available on MacCosmetics.com for $16.50.

From the most superstar, can’t-take-your-eyes-off-of lip gloss, to your very own professional eye shadow and blush palette made by no one other than you, here’s what you can expect to see on the shelves and counters this month…..

For the face (makeup)…

The Body Shop Limited Edition Summer 2008 Make-up Collection - Available from May 11 through the end of August, this collection and the colors are all about shimmer, lustre and the capture the carefree spirit of summer. The standout product in the bunch is the ever-popular Shimmer Cubes in Sea Blue - an enchanting, mystifying blue only found in the clearest waters of a tropical island. Other products in the collection include sun lustre powder bronzer and brush, eye lustre liner, eye lustre pearls, sheer lip lustre and body and leg shine.

Bobbi Brown Custom Palettes - Bobbi Brown, the queen of palettes, introduces the ultimate in personalized beauty this month with her new custom palettes. Pick your favorite blush and eye shadow shades, and voilà, you have all your favorite shades in a sleek mirrored palette. Palettes are $10, and are available in 3 pan, 4 pan and 6 pan sizes. Eye shadows and shimmer wash eye shadows are $20, and blushes and shimmer blushes are $22.

SexySmile™ 3-in-1 Whitener – Plumper – Gloss - This new gloss features an advanced tooth whitener and breath freshener, a long lasting lip gloss and a powerful lip plumper. Available in six shades, the whitener promises to deliver one of the strongest, most effective and safe tooth whitening formulas available outside the dentists’ office and the gloss is packed with Shea Butter and Vitamins C, A and E.

MAC Naughty Nauticals - Like men in uniform? This collection is for you. Cruise for romance with this collection of perfect blues and navy eye shadows, paired with pink and coral lips. The one product that The most intriguing product from the collection? The dark royal blue frost nail lacquer that shares its’ name with the collection. Don’t miss the boat - get this collection before it sells out.

MAC Dazzleglass - Billy Flynn, from one of The Beauty Bug’s favorite plays, Chicago, had it right when he sang, “Give ‘em the old razzle dazzle, razzle dazzle ‘em!” Dazzeglass does just that - it’s a flashy, bold, can’t-stop-staring gloss. It’s a brilliant, dazzling lip gloss with large quartz particles and opal crystals. The Beauty Bug stopped by her local MAC counter today, and even one of the makeup artists was gushing like a little girl about these glosses telling The Beauty Bug that she had sold 6 Comet Blue’s in just a few hours. Behold MAC’s best gloss yet!

Go Brow from Anastasia Beverly Hills - A new brow duo stick that features a universal blendable brow shade for filling in sparse hairs one one end, and a pastel highlighter that helps accentuate the shape and adds a luminous glow around the eyes on the other. Use together or separately.

Juicy Cheeks by Ramy Beauty - How can you not love a blush named Papa Don’t Peach? Juicy Cheeks are mini pots of sheer intense color designed to light up cheeks and lips with a dewy, fresh finish. Available in three universally flattering shades, plus one clear shimmer highlighter, Juicy Cheeks are $24, and the Pure Juice highlighter is $28. Call The Beauty Bug a “Material Girl”, but She needs this product! It gives Her the most bright and cheerful glow that lasts all day.

Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Lip Service - Perdis’ coveted Lip Service is now available in 2 tinted shades - Hush, a soft pink, and Cherry, a muted red that gives lip that bitten look. As Perdis himself put it, it’s “protection foreplay.” Designed to condition and repair with Vitamin Vitamin E and menthol, lip service can be used on it’s own or as a primer to keep lips hydrated and help color last. The Beauty Bug can’t stop reapplying - it keeps her lips cool, and noticeably smooth.

Desert Chic Collection by Smashbox - A collection of sizzling summer shades inspired by the Sahara, Mojave and Arabian deserts. Included in the collection is a Fusion Body Bronzing Powder and Brush Set, Fusion Eye and Cheek Color in Heatwave, lip enhancing gloss, desert chic eyeshadow, sheer focus tinted moisturizer, and the Oasis shadow and liner quad (a Sephora exclusive). The Beauty Bug loves how the compact mimics the ripples in desert sand!

Stila - Because every day is a sun-day, Stila has just launched their new Shine Lip Color SPF 20, and Oil Free Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30. Available in eight warm and cool shades, the vanilla-scented SPF 20 lipstick is packed with healthy ingredients including Vitamins A, C and E, as well as several antioxidants. The tinted moisturizer provides full protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays, evens skin tone and flaws with medium coverage color, and naturally absorbs oil to leave skin glowing and never shiny. Other new products include the super-shimmery silk shimmer lip gloss that contains Vitamins A, C and E, the silk shimmer eye shadow wash, and the limited edition summer eye shadow palette that features shimmery, summery golds and bronzes.

For the face and body…

Demeter’s Tootsie Roll Collection - Talk about a candy that stands the test of time - the first Tootsie Roll was made over 109 years ago, and it’s still one of the best selling candies of all time! Over the years, the Tootsie Roll has been the star of several songs and jingles, dances, of course its own lollipop, and now its own fragrance. Included in the very nostalgic Tootsie Roll Collection are 3 fragrances inspired by the most popular and iconic candy treats of all time - Tropical Dots, Junior Mints, and of course, Tootsie Rolls. The Tootsie Roll fragrance is a combination of fudge, caramel, chocolate and vanilla, Tropical Dots is a fresh and exotic blend of mangoes, pineapples, coconuts, grapefruits and passion fruits, and The Beauty Bug’s favorites, Junior Mints, is a refreshing, cool, crisp scent that combines peppermint, wild mint, cocoa bean, vanilla and dark chocolate. A healthy, no-calorie option for those with a sweet tooth!

MAC’s Skinsheen Leg Spray - This product is hitting MAC counters after 2 years of testing backstage at Fashion Week. Available in medium dark, dark, and deep dark, the sprayable lightweight gel is highly water resistant and lasts for up to 2 washings. Two important things to note about this product - it adheres best to naked, non-moisturized skin, and make sure the product is completely dry before putting it comes in contact with clothing. For an extra-smooth, apply with the 179 body buffer brush.

Philosophy’s When Hope Is Not Enough Omega 3•6•9 Replenishing Oil - Ideally used in the PM, when hope is not enough omega 3•6•9 replenishing oil helps fight moisture loss and free radical attack while nurturing the skin’s natural barrier and inspiring a healthy glow. It also serves as a great post peel or exfoliation treatment to soothe irritated skin and provide overall conditioning benefits.

Philosophy’s When Hope Is Not Enough Hyaluronic Acid/Peptide Capsules - When hope is not enough hyaluronic acid/peptide capsules provide the skin with advanced hydration to maintain ideal moisture levels and eliminate dryness. The capsules are oil-free and contain a cutting edge blend of hyaluronic acid and peptides designed to nourish stressed skin. Hyaluronic acid is designed to replenish the moisture levels in the skin, which helps skin appear smoother and plumper. For those who need a bit more hope…

Bienfait Multi-Vital Glow SPF 15 -Because natural glows are the best, Lancome brings you a vitamin enriched moisturizer that gives skin a sheer sun-kissed glow. This nourishing formula provides UVA/UVB SPF 15 protection and revitalizes skin with essential minerals and fatty acids.

Dermalogica MultiVitamin Thermafoliant - Part of Dermalogica AGE Smart system, a collection of products developed to address aging concerns, this self-heating skin polisher softens, smoothes and refines skin texture while targeting and controlling the main biochemical triggers that leads to skin aging. With key ingredients including Lactic Acid, Citric Acid and Salicylic Acid, pure Vitamin A, and Vitamin E, this is one of the products that The Beauty Bug is most looking forwatd to trying.

WEI East Natural Beauty Protectors - As you know, The Beauty Bug loves WEI East, so She can’t wait to try this new line. With the help of powerful age defying Chinese herbs with an advanced Western beauty secret, light-bending micro-crystals, the Natural Protectors products smooth away skins’ imperfections to expose one’s natural beauty. Included in the line is the Natural Beauty Protectors Eye Treatment, a gel that revitalizes, soothes & refreshes tired eyes, a Natural Beauty Protectors Face Treatment, a Featherweight moisturizer formulated to moisturize and illuminate, and Natural Beauty Protectors Hand and Body Treatment, an herbal formula that treats hands, body and cuticles by evening out skin tone while softening, moisturizing and illuminating.

For the hair…

Kérastase’s Resistance Collection - Without getting too scientific so you don’t feel like you’re reliving high school chemistry, Kérastase’s new and reformulated collection is the first ever of its’ kind. It features internal and external double reconstruction treatments to rebuild and strengthen hair from the inside out. Similar to its best-selling predecessor, the new Resistance Collection now includes revolutionary technologies -Vita-Ciment Topseal, which reconstructs and fortifies the hair’s internal structure, and Vita-Topseal, which refinishes and reinforces the hair’s external layer. Prior to this morning, The Beauty Bug’s hair was a Kérastase virgin - it’s now changed forever . If you’ll excuse Her, She’s taking Her shiny, supple hair and going to get Herself some champagne and caviar…..

New and Improved Biolage Fortethérapie - Check out this list of ingredients that this new formula boasts - bamboo, guarana, and mango seed oil extracts - The Beauty Bug can’t wait to smell this! The Beauty Bug is semi-familiar with guarana because it’s a fruit native to The Beauty Bug finance’s home country, Brazil. Fortethérapie helps to repair existing damage resist future damage while increasing moisture and manageability. Products include strengthening shampoo and conditioner, and the intensive strengthening masque, which when used before a chemical service, promises to counteract some of the damaging effects.

Smashbox and Sephora are going to find out!

The pair has partnered to discover the next beauty guru with a superstar personality and an innovative vision for a blockbuster beauty product.

Think this sounds like you? Interested consumers should create videos, develop commercials, or submit blogs online showcasing their larger-than-life personas and revolutionary product ideas.

Entrants who submit ideas will have the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Los Angeles with a friend, where the winner will design the official Smashbox Fashion Week Makeup Palette and take home $5000 worth of Smashbox Cosmetics. The grand prize winner will also receive two tickets to attend Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week for the star-studded debut of their palette, which will be sold exclusively at Sephora stores nationwide and featured in the Sephora catalog.

The top ten entrants, as chosen by the Smashbox panel, will win a Smashbox Swag Bag stocked with $500 of Smashbox Cosmetics. The five most viral internet entries will win the Ultimate Smashbox Swag Bag, including $1000 worth of Smashbox Cosmetics and a year of Smashbox products from new collection launches.

Round One of the Are You The Next Beauty Guru? Contest begins online at 12:00am PST on May 1, 2008 and ends at 11:30PST on June 20, 2008.

On May 8, the program will kick off live at the Hollywood & Highland Sephora store, where attendees have the opportunity to present their idea to a panel of expert judges, comprised of Smashbox founders Dean and Davis Factor and celebrity makeup artist Charlie Green. Ten attendees will receive a “golden ticket” that automatically places them in the Top 100 entrants of the contest, and get their idea taped and edited by a professional videographer.

Good luck!

PEOPLE StyleWatch is on news stands now! It feature tips, tricks and product picks from the industry’s best. The Beauty Bug recently had a chance to speak with PEOPLE’s Beauty Editor, Holly Carter. Here’s what she had to say:

BB: What’s the most interesting tip/trick that you learned while compiling this piece?

HC: Gosh, there were so many! We worked with an amazing roster of pros to assemble the most useful, interesting tricks for our readers. I love Kristofer Buckle’s tip on steeping mascara in hot water to loosen the formula and prevent clumping. I also think occasionally washing hair with a clarifying shampoo and always following conditioner with a cold-water rinse helps increase shine. The most unique tidbit was from Christine Chin. She suggests that you stop drinking water two hours before bed so the body won’t retain water overnight and eyes won’t look puffy in the AM. Who knew?

BB: The BeautyBlender sponge is listed as one of 12 makeup must-haves. This product seems to be garnering more and more buzz lately. How does is compare to the famed MAC 187 Duo Fibre brush?

HC: You can’t really compare the two. The egg shape of the BeautyBlender sponge is designed for blending and getting to those hard to reach crevices (like on the sides of the nose). I am sure that MAC brush is great, but I haven’t tried it.

BB: The Beauty Bug especially enjoyed the “It’s Wacky But It Works!” tips. Two in particular that made Her chuckle were the tip that encouraged women with sensitive skin to store their tweezers in the freezer before plucking so the coldness would numb the skin, and another that suggested woman use spray deodorant to create volume in their hair. Have you tried this? Does it work?

HC: Cold tweezers are definitely soothing to the skin. If you don’t have volumizer on hand, spray deodorant (make sure it’s natural) on the roots can be an effective alternative. One of our staffers tried it and was happy with the results.

BB: Kim Kardashian can’t live without her NARS Turkish delight lip gloss. What gloss can’t you live without?

HC: Lately, I’ve become more of a lipstick girl. I switch colors about four times a day so there’s not really one that to which I am loyal. Right now I am loving Paula Dorf Ariana and Avon Cherry Glisten. Also, I must admit that I am a big fan of Vaseline. Not only does it condition lips but it can transform any lipstick or even lip pencil into gloss.

BB: It would cost the average person $18,000/year to follow Beyoncé’s beauty routine. This includes hair cuts and color, styling sessions, brow shapings, and lash extensions -what’s the most expensive beauty treatment you’ve tried? Was it worth it?

HC: One of the most expensive services I’ve tried was a deluxe caviar treatment at the La Prairie spa. It started with a facial, then an exfoliating body treatment and ended with a delicious presentation of caviar with all of the accoutrements. It was very luxurious. I also LOVE lash extensions, which cost about $400. They last for about 6 weeks, and there’s nothing like looking like you have mascara on when you first wake up.

Quick Summer Beauty Hits

BB: Bob or Beachy Waves?

HC: Beachy waves

BB: Favorite summer scent?

HC: Bobbi Brown Beach

BB: Matching nail polish on both the fingers and toes, or, it doesn’t matter?

HC: Don’t match! Let toes and fingers be unique.

BB: The one product that you won’t leave home without this summer is…

HC: Sunscreen

BB: Tinted Moisturizer - Laura Mercier, DuWop, or Stila?

HC: I actually prefer mineral powder. Love Bare Escentuals.

The Beauty Bug has been MIA for a few days now - but She has a great excuse, She was getting a makeover. A much needed one if you ask Her. She was almost at the point where an intervention was needed. Almost at the point where She needed Her blogging friends to ambush Her and take Her to appear on How Do I Look (for websites) at which point FInola Hughes would give Her outdated .com style a new chic, stylistic look.

Okay, maybe not that bad, but you know what She means. Her site was serviceable, and that just wasn’t good enough anymore!

To refresh your memory, below is the old Beauty Bug, and you’re looking at the new one….

The Beauty Bug is so much happier with Her new look - it fits her personality to a tee, and it’s sassy and hip. Nothing extremely different, but different enough.

So tell Her, How does She look?

As Kermit The Frog said, “It’s not easy being green.” The same goes for a beauty product. A product is considered eco-friendly and “green” if it’s:

• Made from environmentally friendly materials - These are the products made of materials that can be recycled after the product is used.
• Free from harmful chemicals and compounds - Here’s that buzz word that you’re starting to hear more and more. Parabens. Parabens are the most widely used group of chemicals used as preservatives in many beauty and personal care products. To qualify as an eco-friendly product, no parabens or any other chemicals can be used.
• Does not deplete the environment during production and transportation - Factories that reduce their dependence upon natural resources, actively recycle, and take other action to reduce their impact upon the environment are eco-friendly. Products that are minimally packaged, preferably with recycled materials, also fit this criterion.

Below are a sampling of “green”products:

1. Physicians Formula Organic Wear - This line is the first ever ECOCERT certified makeup line available in the US. It’s 100% free of harsh chemicals, synthetic preservatives, and parabens, and all the packaging is recyclable. The best part? With this new line comes the first ever dual-compartment paper compact which uses 93% less plastic than a traditional compact. If every woman bought an Organic Wear compact 4,586 tons of plastic would be saved each year.

2. de-luxe Foaming Body Scrub - A top seller on DrugStore.com, de-luxe Foaming Body Scrub is a luxurious green product. Free of harsh detergents and preservatives, this biodegradable product is also cruelty free (no animal testing). At $3.60, it won’t break the bank either. It’s a favorite of The Beauty Bug’s because it’s the only body scrub that She’s encountered that both exfoliates and foams. For other similar products, visit DrugStore.com’s Green and Natural Store.

3. Beautorium.com - A completely “green” marketplace that features beauty brands from around the world that are not only environmentally-friendly, but some are exclusive and new to the U.S. Want to give your medicine cabinet a “green” makeover? Look no further than The Beautorium.

4. Tweezerman’s Go Green Tweezers - A smaller version of the award-winning Slant Tweezer, the greener and smaller pair is helping to build trees. Tweezerman will donate $1 from every sale of these tweezers to the National Arbor Foundation.

5. CARGO’s PlantLove Lipstick - The Beauty bug already gushed about these, but now CARGO has launched more shades created by celebrity mothers Denise Richards, Angie Harmon, and Kim Raver. PlantLove is a revolutionary lipstick housed in a biodegradable tube made entirely out of corn. The outer carton is made from flower paper embedded with real flower seeds, so plant it, watch it grow, and give back to the earth. Need another reason to buy these green-fabulous lipsticks? $2.00 from each tube sold is donated to St. Jude’s Pediatrics Research Hospital.

6. Kiehl’s Environmental Initiative - To encourage environmental consciousness, this Earth Day, the first 50 people that return empty Kiehl’s bottles to one of their free-standing stores for recycling will receive a Kiehl’s reusable canvas tote bag that they may use to help reduce their consumption of disposable shopping bags. Kiehl’s continues to be committed to the environment, and use organic ingredients and recyclable materials.

7. Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer - A list of Earth Day green products without a mention of Burt’s Bees is like a daytime moisturizer without SPF. It’s just not right. Burt’s Bees makes earth-friendly personal care products without parabens or artificial preservatives. The Beauty Bug especially likes this Lip Shimmer with its pearlized shine. Made from the famous Beeswax Lip Balm, the tube is made from 92% post-consumer recycled plastic.

8. Organix Soft & Silky Vanilla Silk Collection - Discovering the Organix line has been the best drug store find for The Beauty Bug in a long while. She’s absolutely obsessed! As its name states, all products contain organic active ingredients and are sulfate free. The Silky Vanilla Collection, and the White Tea Grapeseed Collection have Her smelling her shiny, moisturized hair all day. The Beauty Bug can’t wait to try the Mocha Espresso shampoo and conditioner.

What’s your favorite green product?

TotalBeauty.com has just launched the “Totally Green Sweepstakes” in celebration of Earth Day. One lucky winner will be driving away with a new 2008 Saturn Vue Hybrid car filled with a year’s supply of luxurious green and organic beauty products.

To enter, all Earth-Day supporters should go to TotalBeauty.com and search for your favorite (or not so favorite) beauty products, then write and submit a review. That’s it. From April 17th through June 5th, TotalBeauty will be giving away hundreds of Earth-Day inspired daily prizes. And, each time a review is written, TotalBeauty.com will automatically enter the reviewer in the Totally Green Sweepstakes that will give them the chance to win the ultimate prize of a 2008 Saturn Vue Hybrid car filled with beauty products from Origins Organics, Sephora, Raw Natural Minerals, Suki Skincare, and Tela Beauty Organics. And, with every review written about a green product (these are tagged on the site), TotalBeauty.com will donate $1 for to HealthyChild.org, a worldwide charity dedicated to protecting the health and well being of children from harmful environmental exposures.

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic finds a great new gel eyeliner!
Makeup loves me is helping you get ready for wedding season, by giving away 10 sets of french manicure fake nails!

StyleBell tries the CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protecting Spray and loves it!

A Touch of Blusher is putting gold on the lips.

The Makeup Divas reviews and falls in love with La Mer foundations and powder.

Beauty Anonymous loves the natural-looking makeup from Physicians Formula Matte Collection Quad Eye Shadow.

Girl Gloss loves the all natural classic flavored lip balms from the Badger Company.

Continue reading »

Happy Birthday to the Queen! Queen Elizabeth Alexandra Mary II turns 82 this coming Monday, 4/21. Molton Brown is celebrating by breaking out the bubbly and toasting to her Royal Highness every hour. For every $82 spent at any Molton Brown emporia throughout NYC, each customer will receive a free gift. If you don’t spend $82, take your chances with the raffle - you could win a birthday gift of your own.
Molton Brown NYC locations include:

• Molton Brown Madison Emporium, 515 Madison Ave
• Molton Brown SoHo Emporium, 218 Spring St.
• Molton Brown 3rd Ave Exporium, 1098 Third Ave

The Beauty Bug has 2 things to say to The Queen - remember, age is nothing but a number! And, who knew you were a Taurus? You hide your stubbornness well!