]]> http://www.bitbythebeautybug.com/2011/12/13/shape-magazines-best-beauty-buys-for-under-32/feed/ 0 http://www.bitbythebeautybug.com/2011/12/08/beautybug-bytes/ http://www.bitbythebeautybug.com/2011/12/08/beautybug-bytes/#comments Fri, 09 Dec 2011 01:21:03 +0000 The Beauty Bug http://www.bitbythebeautybug.com/?p=2916

 Meet artist Ariana Page Russell. She has a rare  disorder called dermatographia  where lightly scratching her hypersensitive skin causes raised, red, temporary line. Just as we blush when we’re flushed or embarrassed, Ariana’s reaction is completely natural and uncontrollable. She has celebrated and claimed her disease by creating patterned body art and photographing it. Just call her the girl with the skin tattoo….

Because “Nobody likes the fugly” is just one of the reasons that Alpha Nail, a nail polish for men, was created. (But, chances are if you’re fugly, have foot odor, fungus, etc – you’re in need of a whole lot more than nail polish, my friend). Others reasons
include to give men strength, swagger, style and get more sex. Visit their site and you are greeted with a series of macho glamour shots – most of which look like they are stills from a soap opera. Marketed as nail polish for the warrior, the formula claims to be “biologically superior” and promises to hold up from the boxing ring to the beach. So, more strength, swagger, style and sex for only $10 a pop?  Patti Stanger, are you listening? Sounds like your job may be in jeopardy.

2 – Rimmel London Volume Accelerator Mascara – A big tapered sturdy  mascara brush that provides great control – what more can a girl ask for from her mascara? The Beauty Bug finds Herself reaching for this mascara on a daily basis now. Not only does it lengthen like a boss, but it contains a grow-lash complex with Keratin and caffeine, which helps promote the natural growth of stronger, thicker lashes. Apply layer after layer until your heart’s content, with no clumping or flaking.

3 – Tarte’s Limited-Edition Lip Surgence Collection – If you haven’t learned your limited-edition lesson yet, shame on you. Every beauty junkie should know that you need to devote a small portion of your savings to these sets every holiday season. Hoard, rent extra storage space – do whatever you need. One of those sets not to be missed is the Tarte Lip Surgence Collection. It brings the Beauty Bug back to Her childhood, and reminds her of  coloring with over-sized Crayola Crayons. The lip tints provide a natural shimmering flush that is high in shine and moisture. All colors are extremely wearable  and glide on like the smoothest silk.  The best part other than the extreme value (set is worth $120 and cost  $29) ? The surprise hint of peppermint!

4 – LATHER Ultra Mild Face Wash –  This cleanser is a fooler. While it may be one of the most gentle products on the shelf, it certainly packs a powerful punch rich with antioxidants …. well, the softest punch possible. Its foaming formulation is a dream, and it contains lavender oil that balances, energizes and soothes, as well as Aloe Vera to calm, and dissolve impurities.   It has the effectiveness of a cleanser with harsher ingredients, while preserving the skins natural emollients.  Pair it with LATHER’s Facial Polishing Powder to add a bit more exfoliating action. For The Beauty Bug, once She begins to massage it on Her face, She instantly feels relaxed.

 The Organic Pharmacy Honey & Jasmine mask is available on their website for $65.

Rimmel London Volume Accelerator Mascara is available at drugstores for $8.99. 

Tarte’s Limited-Edition Lip Surgence Collection is available at Sephora stores for $29. 

LATHER’s Ultra Mild Face Wash is available on their website for $19. 

Disclosure: press samples of The Organic Pharmacy Honey & Jasmine Mask, Rimmel London Volume Accelerator Mascara, and LATHER’s Ultra Mild Face Wash were provided o The Beauty Bug. 

• Is it a hair elastic, or is it a bracelet? The answer, both. Check out Goody’s new DoubleWear  - black elastics adorned with silver or gold decoration that double as bangles when you aren’t wearing them in your hair. Pure gen-ius. They bear a striking resemblance to these bracelets which are $69/set.
  
  
• In the previous edition of (Beauty)Bug Bites, The Beauty Bug told you about a spa treatment that was $5,000. This time it’s $1350 lashes that are 18-karat gold and diamond encrusted from Kre-At Beauty. For the girl who has everything, these doozies are available at Barney’s by special request only.
  
  
• NEW BRAND ALERT – The Beauty Bug spotted these during a recent trip to Sephora and was amazed by the intricate filigree. Inspired by the art of Chinese paper-cutting, these lashes are….paper. They come in several designs and themes including peacocks, under the sea, and deer and butterflies. Each design has a symbolic meaning: Deer & Butterfly (free, beautiful, and sensitive), Peacock (auspicious and lucky days), Peach Blossoms (love is coming), and Under the Sea (secret treasure)
  And you thought your paper snowflakes that you made in second grade were impressive…
  
  
• Crikey! Check out the new LCN reptilian manicure or as The Beauty Bug likes to call it…just another crackle polish with a sexier name.
  
  
• Happy Anniversary, Allure!  In honor of the magazine’s 20th anniversary, Dior created this stunning Silver Lake nail polish. Available on Dior.com only during the month of November.

Prescriptives All You Need Continuous Action 24-Hour Moisturizers – Prescriptives has reformulated their All You Need franchise to 24-hour moisturizers! Available in normal, drier and oilier, The Beauty Bug loves the normal moisturizer because it absorbs quickly and She can readily apply Her makeup right after using it. The gentle formula boasts brightening agents, antioxidants, and caffeine. Make it your new everyday moisturizer for $39.50

Clinique’s Air-Kissed Colours Collection – The design on Clinique’s Happy in Bloom fragrance says it all – this collection is about colour in bloom…and gloss! The collection includes a new limited-edition Colour Surge Eye Trio in Kiss of Pinks, the Fresh Bloom Allover Colour that has become one of Clinique’s signature products, Longlast Glosswear SPF 15, Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief – which is The Beauty Bug’s best weapon again summer dryness, and The Beauty Bug’s favorite from the collection – the Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss. Available in Passionfruit, Guava, Hazelnut and Cocoa, the balms provide mega shine and moisture. Pucker up!

Elizabeth Arden’s Bronze Look Collection – This is one of the most impressive summer collections that The Beauty Bug has seen thus far – the products are reasonably priced, the packaging is sensible, chic, and easy to transport (especially the Bronzing Beauty Kit), and all the products come with solid brushes. The aforementioned Bronzing Beauty Kit, that retails for $35, features four beach-inspired eye shadows and a bronze/blush duo that creates definition on the cheeks. The stunning Sun Goddess Bronzing Powder in medium, complete with a Kabuki-style brush ($32), provides a healthy glow with a shimmery finish and the Color Intrigue Gel Eyeliner and Brush ($22.50) in Bronze Pearl and Black Pearl apply evenly and easily with an alluring pearlized formula.

Jane Iredale’s Dream Tint SPF 15 – This product wins the lofty title of The Beauty Bug’s Product of the Month! She’s been waiting so long to gush about this new tinted moisturizer/base, and it’s finally hit the shelves. The Beauty Bug especially loves the texture of it – it’s not wet or runny like others She’s tried. It boasts a unique lightweight mousse consistency feel weightless on the skin. Other product benefits include UVA/UVB SPF 15 protection, sea lipids to help to improve skin’s elasticity and prevent water loss and boron nitride to minimize the appearance of fine lines and enlarged pores. Even The Beauty Bug’s co-workers agree – they love the sheer coverage, smooth finish. Dream Tint is available in 5 shades ranging from light to dark and is $36.

theBalm Two Timer Mascara - The Beauty Bug has just welcomed two new men into Her life – Marcus Lashalot, and Johnny Finetune. The brush duo is quite a pair. Marcus is twisted, and provides Her with volume without any smudges or flakes, while Johnny is meticulous and can always be counted on to define and lengthen. At times they bicker, but in the end, they work well together. Two mascaras in one for $19.

Bobbi Brown’s Bronzed Pink Collection – This sun-kissed collection gives you that “I just spent a day at the beach look”. It includes two limited-edition metallic eye shadows (Bronze Pink and Penny), three new shades of her award winning tinted lip-balm (Golden Pink, Desert Bronze, Bronzed Pink) and Bobbi’s new Oil Control Lotion SPF 15 with seaweed and lavender. The Beauty Bug loves the tinted-lip balms – they are slowly becoming Her go-to summer lip product.

Yes to Carrots C Me Smile Lip Butter - Available in berry, carrot, citrus, melon and mint – these are the first 95% USDA Certified Organic Lip Balm to hit drugstores. Find these Paraben-free, petroleum & phthalate-free balms at Walgreens for $3.69.

June Jacobs Cooling and Soothing Masque – The Beauty Bug could smell the delicious mix of tropical ingredients in this masque before She even took it out of the box. What she was smelling was the pineapple, mango, papaya and coconut extracts. The an ultra-gentle, paraben and preservative free gel formula helped to refresh and moisturize Her skin, while softening and revitalizing. The Beauty Bug will definitely reach for this masque on those sweltering 90 degree days in the middle of the summer while She sips a mojito.

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.

For the Face and Body (skincare)…

• Kiehl’s Superbly Restorative Body Lotion and Dry Oil - This new collection helps to restore and maintain hydration, elasticity, and smoothness of skin and hair. The lotion is a light-weight hydrating, antioxidant moisturizer that promises to protect skin’s moisture barrier, restores tonicity, and provide a radiant, healthy-looking skin tone and texture. The multi-purpose dry oil for the face, body and hair protects and smooths skin, while improving the appearance of skin tone and radiance. When used on hair, the emollient formula helps to smooth split ends and adds a healthy sheen to hair. Available April 1.
• Prescriptives Good In Bed Skin Restoring Night Moisturizer – Containing shea butter, glycerin, and Vitamin E, this new formula promises to soothe and condition skin, while grapefruit extracts re-texturize, brighten and reduce the appearance of fine lines. Available April 1.
• Awake’s Polyphection Wash and Polyphection Fluid Cleanse – Two new additions to the Polyphection collection, the wash and the fluid cleanse are both mild formulas containing Lavender Polyphenols (a fancy word chemicals found in plants that contain antioxidants). The wash is a foaming cleanser that develops into a creamy lather, and the fluid cleanse a milky, lightweight pre-cleanser that gently removes makeup. Available April 1.
• Seikisho Exfoliating Massage Gel – How much exfoliation is enough on a daily basis? No more wondering with this color-changing gel. The black gel turns gray in color, indicating that the exfoliating action is complete revealing a smoother complexion. The Beauty Bug will bring you a full product review later in the month. Available April 1.
• Weleda Birch Body Scrub – Beeswax, carnauba wax and Castor oil plant wax are bound into round pearls to exfoliate and revive skin. The not-so-secret, yet powerful ingredient – organic Birch leaves, known for their purifying and detoxifying effects. Available April 1.
• Demeter Frozen Margarita Pick-Me-Up Cologne Spray – Since The Beauty Bug is a lime lover, this is one the product’s that She’s most excited about this month. Made with read lime juice, The Frozen Margarita Cologne Spray crisp, fresh cool and citrus-y. Best thing about this fragrance – it can be used anytime, anywhere and contains no added sugars! Available late April.
• Lancome Collaser-5X Face and Eye – A follow-up to the best-selling, cult-classic, Collaser-48, the new formula is inspired by cutting-edge laser therapy advancements and contains a complex that targets five key types of collagen that make up more than 80% of collagen in the skin. With the addition of new ingredients, the face and eye serum promise to improve skin tone (by improving surface cell turnover) and diminish the appearance of fine line and wrinkles. Available April 1.

For the hair…

• Yes to Carrots Hair and Scalp Mud Mask – Priding themselves in offering paraben-free hair, body and facial products, Yes to Carrots utilizes detoxifying and moisturizing Dead Sea Mud in all of its’ products. The hair mask contains extracts of carrot, pumpkin, orange & honey — rich with Beta-carotene, Alpha-carotene, Vitamin E and other enzymes, the mask promises to keep your locks in tip-top condition.
• Alterna’s Caviar Blonde Shampoo and Conditioner – An extension of The Beauty Bug’s favorite Alterna line, the Caviar Blonde products are exclusively for blonde/gray hair. Although She’s not a blonde, The Beauty Bug found it interesting that these products contain optical brighteners, something commonly used in skincare. These brightener diffuse the darker tones in blonde hair and reflect the light, making hair look bright, light, and shiny. All the products are paraben-free, sulfate-free, and have full UVA/UVB protection. Now, if only they’d launch a line for brunettes….In stores April 1.

For the Face (makeup)…

• Clinique Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 – Available in 18 shades, Clinique’s new formula promises to stay put for 8 hours providing long-lasting, high
  shine with the added benefit of SPF 15. The Beauty Bug is looking forward to trying Knockout Nude, pictured above. Available on counters mid-April.
• DuWop Cheek Venom – After the stunning success of Lip Venom, DuWop introduces this new product, a conditioning blush that contains long-lasting pigments that will leave a trace of color that lasts all day. Best thing about this blush? It contains a carefully balanced blend of silicones and hyaluronic acid to hydrate and condition as well as firm and tighten the skin.In-stores April 15.
• DuWop Revolution Body – This cult favorite is being re-launched this month, with brand new packaging and a more user-friendly formula. A moisturizer that contains SPF and a subtle hint of shimmer and bronzing pigment, this re-launch is sure to catch the eye of The Beauty Addict, who is a huge fan of Revolution Face.
• Physician’s Formula Brow Tweez – One word – genius. The Beauty Bug knows She needs this, so why has someone only just launched this? An all-inclusive grooming brow tool for brow touch-ups anytime, anywhere, the tweezer and eye liner “set” includes a genuine stainless steel tweezer, a wax-based brow pencil, and a natural fiber brush shaper for blending and shaping. Available April 1.
• Physicians Formula Plump Potion Lash Plumping & Stimulating Mascara - This product promises instant drama with its Pro Plumping Precision Wand that was inspired by makeup artists. The mascara features ActiPlump™, Physician Formula’s exclusive Advanced Lash Maximizing Technology for instant and long-term effects. Other new Physicians Formula products include the Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Shadow and Liner palette, and Eye Definer Felt Tip Eye Marker in new shades. All are available April 1.
• Lancome Cabana Bronze Summer Collection – Picture yourself poolside, as you put your Pina Collada down you reach for Limited-Edition Lancome Star Bronzer Sun Cherub Compact for a touch-up! The new Lancome Cabana Collection is the just that – the perfect poolside companion. The Cherub compact houses a sea of light and dark bronze shade for customizable color, and the Color Design Cabana Bronze Eye Shadow Palettes are available in Cabana Sunrise (pinks, lilacs and browns), and Cabana Sunset (golds and deep browns). Available on Lancome counters in mid-April.
• Bobbi Brown Quick Face Collection – Designed for those who apply in the car on in the subway and are always on-the-go, the collection features four new limited edition Lip Crayons, a Mini Tube Tint Set, and five new shades of Bobbi’s popular Long-Wear Cream Shadow. Available April 1.

Bee in the know – check in with The Beauty Bug at the beginning of every month to preview the newest launches!

Have a new product that’s launching? Email The Beauty Bug to let Her know!