Fifty-cent Head

Best online makeover site I've ever seen!

Taaz. Check it out!

I went out there and made myself a redhead (since I'm thinking about doing that anyway). I had a fauxhawk, a long layered do, a bob, and a short crop.

I tweaked my eye color with fake contacts- I don't look good with grey eyes. Good to know! I made my eyes heavy and MAC-tranny, and messed with my lashes. Heavy eyeliner makes my eyes disappear (I didn't need a computer to tell me this, but it was fun to play).

I messed with lipstick shades and confirmed that cherry red is not my friend. I may next upload a picture with my teeth showing, since I want to play with the teeth whitening tool.

The site even gives some beauty tips along the way. Neat!

I really had a lot of fun and could see losing a bit of time on this site. Go play- and share your results if you're bold enough.

Check out my girls from Total Beauty!

Lilan from The Daily Cookie has found a new love in MAC Heatherette!
Mischo Beauty shares her best tips on how to prepare for a bikini wax and what to expect!
Jennifer and Christine from Beauty in Real Life are having a giveaway! Click here to take you there!
May is declared National toss your makeup month. What is your tossing habits? Check out Casual Lavish and give your thoughts.
The Beauty of Life finally figures out how to banish undereye circles for good! Check out her two miracle products!
Dealing with those pesky ingrown hairs with Daily Dose of Coffee.
Laurie from Beauty's Spot has a coveted moment's peace with Exhale Massage
Joy from Makeup Junkie gives us the scoop on Fall/Winter beauty trends from Toronto L'Oreal Fashion Week !
Got 10 minutes? Beauty411 reviews Clairol Perfect 10 haircolor and tells you how your haircolor can go from drab to fab! Kathryn from Budget Beauty Love gives us the lowdown on Cosmetic Outlets.
The Muse discusses Aube's Early Summer Collection of Limited Edition Frutina Glosses and does a mini review of last year's releases!
Discover how pineapple and papaya reveal more radiant skin at A Mom in Red High Heels! Also, enter for your chance to win the product!

And now, the news...

I have been a not-so-diligent poster in the past few weeks, and for that I apologize. I am hoping that the family's health is stabilized and the work situation is evening out, and that I am a much more prolific blogger. For now, let's catch up on the news together:

• Planning on ordering from Elizabeth Arden online for the first time? They're celebrating the reopening of their flagship store in NY and you benefit! Get a free 1oz 5th Avenue fragrance with any order of $50 or more by entering in the code CELEBRATE at checkout.
• Speaking of Elizabeth Arden, their new Summer collection has launched! It's called Bronze and it's really pretty. It includes a great little fold-up palette with 4 limited edition eyeshadows and a bronzer/blush duo; 3 lipsticks that are a preview of the new lipstick formula with a to-be-announced-later launch date; a bronzing mousse (it's nice!); a powder bronzer compact; and two gel liners (black and bronze). A review of the collection is coming soon.
• Vanishing Varnish! What happens when enterprising and clever girls are banned from wearing nail polish at school? Why, they invent a polish that appears almost non-existent inside, but reacts to ultraviolet light outside and turns into a visible color! What a cool idea - I can't wait for it to hit the market. Sign me up to test drive it! Source. Thanks for the heads-up .
• No stranger to cosmetics for a cause, Lush has a new UK product that's politically driven - £2.75 gets you Guantánamo Garden, an orange Bath Bomb colored to represent the jumpsuits worn by detainees at the US's controversial Guantánamo Bay base. The Bath Bomb was created to support closure of the base and it releases a picture of two detainees when it dissolves in water (regardless of how you feel about Guantánamo Bay's base, that's fairly nifty!). Proceeds benefit Reprieve, a group who "campaigns for legal representation for Guantánamo prisoners and for those in US prisons facing the death penalty." The bath bomb is orange, jasmine and chocolate-y goodness and is emblazoned with a white dove.  Source
• MAC's Dazzleglass promo pic has surfaced in multiple spots. Take a look, then read up on the collection here. Source


• Besame Cosmetics has dramatically reduced the price of some of their products to make room for "new and exciting" items coming soon. Swing by the site to see the discounts on items like Cashmere Powder Compact, Masterliner Eye Pencils, Loose Powder, Lip Glazes,  Rose Lotion, Alluring Shadows, and Boudoir Rouge. (Some other items are already sold out, so not listed here)
• Bumble and Bumble recently introduced a new hairspray developed backstage - it's incredibly flexible and quick-drying, due to "intelligent polymers" that help hold almost any style. Take a look at Bumble and Bumble's spray de MODE. Thanks Blogdorf Goodman for the heads-up.
• Here are some great beauty tips from Allure magazine and Allure.com (please try to ignore the fact that the editors didn't catch that the page is quite vividly mislabeled as the April 2007 issue):
  • Green tea as a topical antioxidant is only effective if it's made up of 50 percent polyphenols. How to tell if yours has what it takes? The cream or serum will be brown.                    
  • If you want to experiment with bangs, first try a side-swept style rather than a blunt cut. This flatters most face shapes and is easiest to grow out.

  • To prevent split ends, blow-dry hair when it's damp (not wet) and add two or three drops of silicone serum to the ends.

                       
• Angelina Jolie has made a new ad for Shiseido, and here it is:

Duck! Incoming MAC info!

Specktra, man. Specktra has all of the insider dope! I need those gals like I need water and air! 

Guess what's coming 'round the bend? New perm lipsticks.

YUP. You heard me, sistah! NEW PERM LIPSTICKS!

Alas, they are only for the European market.

Well, let's take a look anyway...

Images courtesy of PurseBuzz via Specktra.

Naked Paris | Sheer pink brown with multi-dimensional pearlized pigments (lustre)
Rue D’ Bois | Sheer mid tone pink with multi dimensional pearlized pigments (lustre)
Patisserie | Sheer creamy neutral pink (lustre)
Barcelona Red | Frosty deep coral (frost)
Costa Chic | Frosty light coral (frost)
Milan mode | Sheer deep pink with multi dimensional pearlized pigments (lustre)
Going Dutch | Frosty mid tone pink (frost)
Saint Germain | Pastel pink (amplified creme)
London Life | Sheer deep berry with multidimensional pearlized pigments (lustre)
Ramblas Red | Blue red (amplified creme)
Cockney | Sheer yellow red with multi dimensional pearlized pigments (lustre)
Neon Orange | Bright clean orange (Amplified Creme) (PRO)
Show Orchid | Vivid hot pink (Amplified Creme) (PRO)
Full Fuchsia | Bright clean warm pink (Amplified Creme) (PRO)
Fast Play | Medium neutral pink with plum-brown undertones (Amplified Creme) (Repromote)
Bombshell | Soft bright rosy-pink with golden shimmer (Frost) (Repromote)

How 'bout a CP, friends in Europe!?

Source: Specktra Beauty News, of course.
Discuss Euristocrats with other Specktra-ites. Check out Specktra's swatch thread for this collection.

I am a bronzed goddess - or at least my left leg is!

I was completely gypped when I was born. I inherited- from someone? somewhere? - super fair skin. I have that type of skin that is usually called porcelain. I should have blue eyes and pale blond hair. Red hair would make people automatically assume my last name begins with Mc or O'  (it doesn't). I should be explaining my heritage as Nordic,- that would make sense. If my skin were a bit more rosy, I'd be referred to as "peaches and cream" but instead I just have a saucer of milk. No one else in my family gets a sunburn when they go out to get the mail, but I do. No, I'm not kidding. I've always wanted to be bronzed and gloriously (safely) tan, and I recently had my chance to try it.

"Jen gets a tan". That's what I wanted to call this post, but that would be exaggerating a bit. At least it wasn't "Jen turns orange". I got to try touch of bronze moisturizing body lotion from Clinique (a self-tanner) recently and I want you to know about it.

Keep reading to see how it went...

Oh, for the love of Pete...

Can't type....

...laughing too hard...

...freakin' Cuba Jungle Snake! muahahahahahaha!

Trust me- go read BellaSugar's Eau No: 30 Worst Perfume Bottles!

I am powerless over MAC lipgloss products...

MAC Dazzleglass is on its way, soon (due to hit counters May 1st by most accounts). So far much of the reporting on Dazzleglass is rumor, but since it's coming from quite a few sources we can can get some facts together...

This is a new formula of lipgloss. I expect it will be Limited Edition, but don't know for sure. Remember when 3-D Glass came out in 2007? I loved that stuff - hope this is as good or better! PS: MAC, can we get some 3-D Glass in the perm collection!?

At any rate, some of it hit the eBay circuit and folks snapped it right up. From those people and the usual sources who leak info early, we know the following: the collection will come in 16 shades; the product uses something called telectro pearl atoms (source);  packaging seems to be in a longer package than Lipglass (maybe Lacquer length?); they have a brush instead of a doe-foot applicator; the formula is quite sticky, maybe stickier than Lipglass (STICKIER THAN LIPGLASS!?); the effect is sheer and very glittery- but not chunky- and appears to add volume to the lips.

Shades will be:
Comet Blue | Violet blue
Funtabulous | Purple with violet pearl
Ms. Fizz Bright | pink with blue pearl
Like Venus | Clean light bubble gum pink with red pearl
Baby Sparks | Pale pink with violet pearl
Money Honey | Mid-tone rosy mauve with red pearl
Rags to Riches | Plumy pink with teal and red pearl
Date Night | Deep plum with blue and gold pearl
Spanking Rich | Raspberry pink with red and gold pearl
Get Rich | Quick Warm yellow brown
Bare Necessity |Caramel apricot with red and gold pearl
Steppin’ Out | Clean yellow pink with red pearl
Glamour O.D. | Bright coral red with red pearl
Suugar Rimmed | Milky pale pink with red, teal and white pearl
Pleasure Principle | Clear white violet, teal and white pearl
Love Alert | Raspberry red with red pearl

source and another source

I will definitely "need" Love Alert, Spanking Rich,  Date Night, Money Honey, Funtabulous and Comet Blue. OK, and probably others, too. Sigh...

 

Visit Specktra's Dazzleglass discussion and also peek into Specktra's Swatch Thread for pics on skin and lips!

---

Group pic courtesy of Bjooti (if that image was borrowed from someone else, let me know - whatever language Bjooti is in, I don't read!)

Floating Dazzleglass images courtesy of MAC_Whore (who is a Glam Sandwich)  @ Specktra.

Thank you to Bjooti, Specktra and Kiss and Makeup for the details!

The results are in on MAC Strobe Lotion...

MAC's Strobe lotion was created as a lighter version of their infamous Strobe Cream - which sounded great because many of us liked the look we got from Strobe Cream, but hated the way it smothered our skin. With much anticipation, we waited for Strobe Lotion when we heard it was on the way...

Like many of you, I rushed to the counter to swoop up Strobe Lotion and hopefully slathered it on my face. Ok - I didn't really slather it, I tentatively applied it to my very smooth, very blemish-free skin and then crossed my fingers.

I immediately loved the effect I got: radiant skin that didn't look makeup-y. It was slightly more subtle than the Strobe Cream - not as obviously iridescent, but instead pleasingly candlelit. YAY!

Later, I did not love the effect I got: a raging breakout on my nose and chin. GRRRR....

Strike Two, MAC. You gotta pull it together...

So I say to you sensitive-skinned gals, those of you with combination skin, and my oily-complected friends: you may not be happy with Strobe Lotion - not any happier than you were with Strobe Cream. As my daughter would say, "Bummer."

Flawless skin is one of the Benefits of this kit... (sorry - had to do it!)

Have you seen this great little kit, The Fast and the Flawless, from the geniuses at Benefit?  It's a little flawless skin lesson accompanied by the products needed to fake great skin! Fake foundation, alertness, a healthy flush, and long fluttery lashes. Oh, and order more Benefit from Sephora while clicking your mouse on the free The Fast and the Flawless mousepad that comes with the kit!

You get: Some Kind-a Gorgeous, Eye Bright, Get Bent Lash, Benetint deluxe sample, the aforementioned mouse pad, and a makeup lesson to pull it all together.

Did I forget to mention that this is a Sephora exclusive?

$48 USD for a set that's worth twice that.   

SpecktraBlog got a face lift and it's prettier than ever!

Janice and the gang gave the Specktra Blog a new look - I love it! Have you seen it yet? What do you think? Now the Specktra Beauty News site has more space for posts and a consolidated link area. Now... what do we have to do to get on that BlogRoll over there!?

Now, on to recent scoops in the Specktra world:

• Check out what happened at the Heatherette Press Release

• Neo-Sci Fi details have been leaked (May '08)-

  • 5 lipsticks
  • 4 lip glosses
  • 4 eye shadows
  • 3 lip liners
  • 1 mascara (plush lash)
  • 2 blushes
  • 4 nail lacquers

• Naughty Nauticals debuts in May, and here's some info-
  • 4 lipsticks
  • 4 lipglosses
  • 5 eye shadows
  • 4 pigments
  • 2 technakohl eyeliners
  • 1 mascara
  • 2 nail lacquers
  • 1 quad (eye shadow x 4)

Thanks for the info, Specktra - and we'll be watching and reading constantly for more, as always!

In case it's not clear - all images and info on this page are courtesy of Specktra Beauty News.

Fifty-Cent Head is now on MySpace!

Please go out and friend me!

MAC Heatherette swatches & review

Just for you, my swatches of Heatherette...

Not enough? Need more? Want to hear my opinions of the collection? Keep reading...

Neroli + Laura Mercier = SIGH...

Looking for a light, summery scent to get you in the mood for the warmer weather that's just around the bend? Take a look (a sniff?) at the newest item to hit your local Laura Mercier counter:

$65 USD buys you 1.7 fl oz of glorious light citrusy-floral smells. Inspired by the Mediterranean Orange Blossom, this scent is perfect for the first night in a sundress (or the first night you wish you were in one!).

• Top Notes: orange bigarade, lemon peel and freesia
• Heart notes: neroli, fresh jasmine and peony
• Bottom notes: musk, amber, sandalwood and vanilla

I haven't smelled this one yet, but as soon as I do I'll let you know what I think. I don't usually like citrus-based scents, but this one has actually piqued my interest...

Chanel takes you on a road trip - a Safari actually!

Imagine this scene: a chic woman grabs her camera and zoom lens, packs a bag and takes off to Africa  for a spur of the moment photo-safari. While she's there, she sees amazing sunrises, long stretches of savannah grasses, gorgeous scenes of bronze and gold - all the while dressed in her utilitarian but somehow sexy and amazing khaki outfits (and mosquito netting!). After she returns home, her photos are spotted by an agent who quickly comes up with a show. What does this artist/fashion plate wear to the opening? Why, Chanel makeup inspired by the colors of her trip, of course!

• SOLEIL TAN DE CHANEL Moisturizing Bronzing Powder comes in 5 shades that will get everyone their bronziest ('cause of course you wore SPF on that trip, right!?).
• BRONZE UNIVERSEL DE CHANEL Sun Illuminator boosts that sexy summer glow.
• OMBRE ESSENTIELLE Soft Touch Eyeshadows in Tigre (bronze), Nomade (pink rose), Khaki (khaki green), and Safari (stone brown) give you that sunset on the safari eye you so want.
• LUMIÈRES FACETTES Iridescent Effects Eyes in Oasis, a quad containing khaki, bronze, coral, and pink shimmer put that twinkle in your eye, even late at the end of your gallery opening.
• Creamy shadow lovers will be happy to see OMBRE D’EAU Fluid Iridescent Eyeshadow in Atoll (golden sand).
• STYLO YEUX WATERPROOF Long-Lasting Eyeliner comes in an exotic new shade, Vert Bronze (green bronze), so in case your safari takes you to the local watering hole, you're safe from the wet!
• INIMITABLE WATERPROOF Mascara Multi-Dimensionnel is now available in Emeraude, a shimmering, jade-green, so (big) cat eyes are yours!
• Make like the animals in the fields and try ROUGE HYDRABASE Creme Lipstick arrives in Leopard (golden coral) and Rose Flamingo (flamingo pink).
• No matter your adventurer spirit, we've got you covered: ROUGE ALLURE Luminous Satin Lip Colour keeps things soft with Naïve (pinkish nude) and Curious (nude brown).
• You'll know exactly where you're going in AQUALUMIÈRE Sheer Colour Lipshine SPF15 in Zanzibar (soft peach) and Mauritius (bronzed coral).
• LE VERNIS Nail Colour in Antilope, a frosted golden-brown, and Flamingo, a bright tropical pink make sure you won't look travel-worn while you toast your own success!

DID YOU SEE THAT!? INIMITABLE WATERPROOF IN A JADE GREEN!? I AM ALL OVER THAT!!

Ah, Chanel, I love you! I wish you and I were really going on a safari together, but I'll make due with this new collection you're coming out with in April...

Benefit's website has new fun stuff!

Check out the Benefit site! It's got some fabulous new nooks and crannies to see. Look!

Beauty School: Take beauty quizzes (are you Lana, Gabbi or Betty?);  go from now to wow and solve common beauty dilemmas; learn your lessons and how to work specific Benefit products; and figure out how to get those amazing Benefit looks shown on the site.

About Benefit: Get the backstory on the brand; learn what awards Benefit has won; learn about the land of Benefit all around the world; find Benefit boutiques near you or your next trip; and get some great downloadable goodies for your computer!