Fifty-cent Head

FCH Top 10 Must-Try Items from Sephora's New Catalog

The newest Sephora catalog has landed

- here are my lemmings, in no particular order:

1. Bare Escentuals Tutorials - Rocker Eye | Now, really... do I need more eye shadow? No. Will that stop me from acquiring more? No! I've never used Bare Escentuals for anything other than face makeup (and I'm not a fan for m y own skin). Want to try the rest of the line, and this seems like a great way to go! For a mere $38: 2 smokey shadows; 1 liner; 1 double-ended brush... and one makeup lesson. (Is it wrong that I mostly want the brush?!)

2.  Urban Decay lipsticks | Why? Why did this kick-ass line have to go and do this to me? Am I not a fan? Have I not spoken kindly about the line and been its friend? Why add lipsticks just to drive me mad with desire!? WHY!!!!?!?!?!?!!? I mean- the lipsticks are creme-caramel-scented, the product is vitamin-enriched (it's good for me!), and it's got hyaluronic acid in it to fill some of my stupid lip lines. C'mon here.. this isn't even playing fair. And the end of the lipstick applicator is a dagger. A DAGGER! I'll start with Wicked and Wanted, but it won't stop there I'm sure....

3. Smashbox Wicked Lovely Lip Pencil in Tempt & Smashbox Wicked Lovely Lip Gloss in Sultry | <------ Did you see those lips?!?!The dark lip trend is not new (what is?) but this Fall's interpretation is rocking my world. Get those particular lips with my Tied-for-#3 Lemmings.I've never been a big fan of Smashbox, but only because they have such a small collection. However, recently I've started to take a second look and everything really seems nicely pigmented and high-quality. I have been wrong before! I think my first foray into Smashbox will be these two products. Don't you love that almost-black vinyl look in the picture above?!

4. SEPHORA by OPI nail lacquers | I have Metro Chic (dark smoke) [I've been trying to swatch it, but not finding the best light to do it justice] The color smooths on nicely, the brush is the perfect size, the formula lasts and doesn't chip. SWOON! Now I must try some more of the seasonal shades and a handful (or more!) of the brand new standing collection. On the list: Run With It! (shimmering dove gray); I'm with Brad (shimmering wine over dark coffee); Brunette on the Internet (dark cranberry chocolate); Braniac (muted spiced pumpkin); Curve-aceous (cool candy apple). Is that enough? Probably not...

5. Fresh Twilight Freshface Glow | I sure do love a glowy complexion! I have a few favorites for this (MAC Mineralize Skinfinshes, Stila Illuminating Foundation, Aramani LSF, Benefit Moonbeam) but that doesn't mean I mind expanding the repertoire! I'm also a firm believer in primers, 'cause they smooth your skin down to what it should be: flawless. And they also keep makeup just where it should be: where you put it! My favorites so far are MAC's Prep+Prime Skin and face time cosmetics velvet veil. I think I may have to try this one, 'cause it gives some luminousity while priming. What does that mean? Radiance. Smooth skin. Minimzed pores. Flawless and healthy skin. There is no downside...

6. Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes | Just look at the brush, then ask me again "why?"

7. Mini fragrances | Everyone knows: small things are cuter than larger things. It's a fact. It's probably even a law! So of course we're all excited to see that Sephora has a ton of fragrance minis this season. My list definitely includes a 1oz of Emilio Pucci Vivara (italian bergamot, amaretto, sambac jasmine, narcissus, indonesian patchoili, iris butter) which is also available in a tiny .33oz roll-on (!)  and a little-but-expensive bottle of Tom Ford's Black Orchid (1oz) (bergamot, citrus, mandarin, black gardenia, jasmine, ylang-yland, lotus wood, orchid, spicy floral accord, patchouli, sandalwood, incense, vanilla). Ok, yes, I have a full-sized bottle of Black Orchid. What's your point? If you like fragrance and/or have a mini collection - please click the link and visit - there are some really neat fragrances representin'!

   

8. Diorshow in Plum 878 | Ladies and gentlemen... I have tried Diorshow and I love it.  ("FINALLY!", some of my friends say. lol) The lengthening, the ... er....fullness-ing, the dark glossy lashes! And now Diorshow comes in Sephora-exclusive-Plum. I have brown-green hazel eyes and the best thing to bring out the green is a sexy and hot plum. Don't think I'm not going to rush out and add this to my arsenal.

9. Sephora Brand "Tricks of the Trade" Lip Last | I'm probably the only woman in the world who wants her lipstick to stay put without fading and feathering, right? LOL! Of course not! I've tried some lipstick "sealers" before, and they always make my lips uber-dry. Wonder how this one works? The catalog even touts it as keeping "your color and shine in place" [emphasis mine]. That's worth trying, especially for only $14! What say you?

10. Sephora Professional Platinum Natural Smudge Brush #11 |         I realized that in my ginormous brush collection there is no smudge brush. I'm aghast! And then I realized that this is probably because MAC doesn't make one (THE SHAME!) and I got almost all of my brushes from them back when I was raking in product with my 60% discount. I need a smudge brush, and $20 will get me this one. I. Must. Have. This. Brush.

So... what do you "need" from Sephora right now!?

---

Other posts you'll enjoy:

• The Usual Suspects - My HG or everyday beauty products
• My Lush wishlist…
• BeautyBlitz End of Year Top 10 Lists- Best Finds! (2007)
• Let's go shopping!
• Top 10 products I need if stranded on an Island

Do you Alltop?

We're recent and very proud members of Alltop, and we want the world to know!

"What's Alltop?" you ask... We'll tell you:

Alltop tells us to think of them as a "digital magazine rack" and I love that metaphor! The site is an aggregator, which means it collects the best of the best of the web and showcases it (broken down by topic) for you to peruse.

This isn't just a blogroll or list of links, though. Alltop has linked to the feeds from the participating sites, so what you see is the 5 most current headlines from each site (except in the Moms.alltop.com category which as so many feeds that putting 5 for each site would be overwhelming and complete insanity!).

Here's how it works: Go out to Alltop and check out the categories. While you're staring at the links, hover your pointer over a headline that interests you and get a little blurby that tells you a bit more. Pick what you want to know more about, and click the appropriate links to scoot out on the net to read the dish. When you're hungry for more (and you will be!), come back to Alltop and scan for more you-worthy content.

Are you so over one of the sites? Click the little "x" in the corner by the site's name and Alltop will hide that site from your view. Sweet.

(Tip: click the name of the story to go directly to the story; click the name of the site to go directly to the homepage for that site)

Rather than list the myriad topics on Alltop, why don't you just go check it out yourself? Everything starts on one page - and it's a clean and easy-to-read page, at that!

Alltop is run by Nononia, a company that also runs Truemors (an aggregator that posts rumors/news -not gossip- sorta like NPR). The folks who run the show: Will Mayall, Kathryn Henkens, and Guy Kawasaki - all heavy-hitters in the field of ---- well, just about everything!

If you click the links to Truemors and Alltop, be prepared to lose many hours browsing the excellent content. Don't say I didn't warn you. ;)

 

Do be sure to tell us in the comments what you think of Alltop (and Truemors, for that matter).
Had you already been using them?
Did you check them out on our account?
You likey?
You no likey?

It's that time of the month!

No, not that time of the month! Geez! We're tight, but we're not tight like that! Pull it together, girl! I mean it's time for A Little Lunacy!

Every full moon brings special tricks and treats to Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs (BPAL), and this month is no exception. Until April 22nd and not a second later, get your Dragon Moon swag...

A LITTLE LUNACY
DRAGON MOON 2008
 
In some cultures, the Dragon is benevolent, bestowing blessings and granting wishes. In others, the Dragon is an icon of destruction and harbinger of catastrophe. In all its incarnations, both baneful and benign, the Dragon is a symbol of strength, authority, and the raw power of nature. Our Dragon Moon represents the forces of rebirth and the vigor that springtime brings: dragon's blood resin, galbanum, blue sage, lavender, peppermint, sweetgrass, frankincense, moonglow magnolia, bergamot, and green cedar.

$17.50 and available online or at the Lunacy events.

Dragon Moon is also live at Black Phoenix Trading Post! Get the t-shirt so everyone knows you were there!

Artwork by Jennifer Williamson. If you haven't checked her out yet, you're foolish.

---

Please note: The Atomic Luau Lounge collection hits the road on April 22nd, too, so if you've been dilly-dallying about those scents you need to jump now!

Fifty-Cent Head is now on MySpace!

Please go out and friend me!

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!

FINALLY - LORAC's website is live!

I am a great big fan of LORAC cosmetics, and I'm pleased to see that their website is (finally!) working. I have been checking back periodically, and am so glad to have this site to go visit and drool and order products! YAY!

Now if only they'd make that gloss I love in something other than a discontinued palette... but that's for another day. :)

The site shows the newest collection, a page of best-selling LORAC products, some LORAC behind-the-scenes imagery, and Red Carpet Tips - natural content for a company that bills itself as "The Red Carpet Authority". And that they are, led by founder and celebrity makeup artist Carol Shaw (LORAC is Carol spelled backwards).

By the way, the site is currently offering free shipping on orders over $75.

Go to the site. GO! What are you waiting for!?

Wanna see MAC + Heatherette collection? Wanna buy it before anyone else?

Take a look at that, won't ya!? A rare glimpse of the elusive MAC + Heatherette collection... in the wild, it's natural habitat! Want to see more and/or learn how you can take it home with you ?  Keep reading!

DISCLAIMER: The images in this post came directly from ebay, and apparently the person who posted them got some/all of them from Specktra without attributing them, along with the product descriptions - I don't condone that behavior! So: thanks to Specktra.net for the images, and apologies for inadvertently posting them without the disclaimer for a few hours.

Also, Janice at Specktra posted on her blog that these items were given to the press at a press event - and the person who has posted them on ebay is making money on these things she received for free. NASTY behavior. Not nice at all. Please do NOT purchase this lot- but feel free to gawk at the images (thanks again Specktra for those that came from you).

---

Pout-à-Porter: Lancôme - Thakoon lipstick Pixel Pink available online tomorrow!

Pout-à-Porter. The collaboration between Lancôme and rising stars in the fashion industry. Lipsticks made when Lancôme and the designers put their head together to plan a product and a runway concept.

This collaboration is between Lancôme's former creative director, celebrity makeup artist Gucci Westman and Thakoon, emerging designer. This is the 4th of 4 Pout-à-Porter lipsticks; the first 3 were made for Behnaz Sarafpour (Fall 2006), Proenza Schouler (Spring 2007) and Peter Som (Fall 2007).

Starting tomorrow (!) this lipstick, a Color Fever Shine lipstick called Pixel Pink will be available only in limited quantities and only at lancome-usa.com. If you want to wait until you can see it in person to buy it, you'll have to wait 'til March 1st and head quickly on over to your Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, or Lancôme boutique (of which there are only 5).

Pixel Pink will be $25US.