Fifty-cent Head

I'm guest posting for awhile - check it out.

The fabulous Tink of Casual Lavish has been sidelined by some health issues, so I'm doing a bit of guest-posting here and there.

Here's my first post over there. Check it out!

PS, Here's a sneak peek:

Images courtesy of Shades of You (Moth Brown) and Scrangie (NARS Zulu).

Fab nail polish news from around the way...

Look what I found out...

• The Polish Addict has tossed out some images from the new China Glaze Bahama Blues collection. Check 'em out!
• The Polish Addict also shot out the first images of China Glaze's holiday beauty kit: Sleigh Ride. A red, silver and green to rock the holidays away. See them here. Oh, in case you can't wait that long to see the names, here they are: Ruby Pumps, Tinsel and Emerald Spark. (I already have Ruby Pumps, but I want the other two!)
• The Polish Addict is on a roll! She's swatched Rescue Beauty Lounge's second Fall collection: Teal, Bruise, and No More War. My lemmings have quadrupled!
• The Crystal Files has unearthed the Ulta Essie exclusive, Groovy Grape. She described it as "blackened wine with ruby red shimmer". There are two others, too: Plumski and Retro Red. Anyone seen 'em yet? See the post here.
• Tink at Perfectly Polished Tips shared images she was shown of OPI's holiday collection, Holiday in Toyland. Wanna see them?
• Perfectly Polished Tips also gave a peek at the Lippmann winter collection. Four shades... each one will suit someone! Here they are.
• Scrangie took a look at Operation Color from China Glaze. Did she like them? Take a look, here.
• The Makeup Girl has images and info on Chanel's newest shade: Haute Chocolate. It was created by a Seventeen reader, and it's a sexy gorgeous brown. Take a look.

 

I'm in a polish mood! While we're on the subject, why don't you go see my first post on SparkleShelf?! It's here.

What you & your favorite bloggers are loving & lemming this Fall

You've got your list & we've got ours!

Wanna share???

It's hot, it's still summer, and I'm bored with summer makeup. Do you feel the same way?

I'm sure you have made your list of favorites for this upcoming season. I know I have!

I thought maybe we could play a little pre-season game.

I'm going to give you a list of the things I've got that I just adore for fall, and a few things I'm lemming (wanting) but haven't gotten my hands on yet.

I'll show you mine, and you show me yours!

Here's my list of Love & Lemmings:

1 - Misa Poisoned Passion - Toxic Seduction is an amazing green that I absolutely MUST own! And I'm a real purple nail polish fan, so I need Fatal Affair and Forbidden Lust.  (All Lacquered Up's swatches are here).

(image source)

2 - MAC Mineral Makeup - So, they're expanding this line and I, for one, couldn't be happier. (This hardly makes me unique in the world of cosmetics whores!) I will need the two MSFs in this collection: Soft and Gentle and Gold Deposit, the former for me and the latter for my kit. I already love the rest of the line and have what I need, though I wasn't a MAC-addict when Amuse was out, so I'll have to check out those shadows. I own all 3 of the Antiquitease repromotes, and they're perfection in a compact, especially Earthly Riches.

The repromotes are top left; 2nd row on the right; the bottom one.

3 - MAC for Manish Arora |Maybe it's my love for most things Indian. Maybe it's the packaging. Maybe it's just Manish Arora's unapologetic verve. Whatever it is, despite the fact that many of the things in this very LE collection are repromotes: I WANT THEM. I also want a plate of chana masala, but that's another story altogether.

(image source)

4 - Tom Ford White Patchouli | I just wrote about this stuff, and I haven't even smelled it but I know I wanna try it. I'm one of the "loves it" gals when it comes to Black Orchid and Black Orchid Voile de Fluer - I own both and have even worn them this summer, though they're awfully full-blooded for this time of year. At any rate, I haven't tried any of the Private Blend scents (too spendy), but want to. In the meantime, I'll try to get my hands on White Patchouli...

<---another gratuitous image of Tom Ford, just because I can.

5 - Armani Lip Wax | I need another lip product like I need a hole in the head, but I just can't shake the feeling that these are going to be AMAZING. I'll need # 4/Raspberry, #6/Chianti and maybe #2/Antique Rose.

6 -Shu Uemura Instinct collection | I want the shadows, but if I had to pick only one it would Mystifier, the black and brown one. I also have a major lemming for the Luring Powder. A MAJOR LEMMING.

7 -Bond No. 9  Lexington Avenue | Sexy notes of cardamom, roasted almonds, peony, creme brulee, patchouli and sandalwood. What else needs to be said!? I have a sample, now I want the bottle (preferrably the one with the charms!)

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So what are YOU loving or lemming for fall?!?!

Tell us in the comments!

I also invite my (favorite) fellow bloggers to tell us about their loves and lemmings for Fall!

Bloggers, if you're in, post a list of your favorites for Fall (feel free to link to your own write-ups of them) and link to your post in the comments! I've made my own game of tag! ;) Wanna play?

PS: Feel free to forward this and include any other bloggers you want, just please link 'em back here so I can follow along!

• All Lacquered Up
• Casual Lavish
• Musings of a Muse
• Scrangie
• The Daily Cookie
• The Next Best Thing to Going Shopping Yourself
• The Polish Addict
• Yummy 411
• Misa Polish
• babyassface
• The Crystal Files

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to The Daily Cookie

Congratulations to Lilan at The Daily Cookie! Happy 1st Birthday!

 

FOUND!

FOUND! Another great beauty blog!

Check out babyassface, a fabulous and well-written skincare blog by advertising copywriter Jennifer Sandbank. The blogs tagline is "naturally beautiful skin is just hundreds of products away."

With headlines like "a shaving bar so good you'll wish you had more legs" and "It's the Xanax of body scrubs"  - hell, with a name like "babyassface"!!! -  how can you not go check it out!?

Kudos, Jennifer. Great blog!

About me - I've been tagged

Hiya, all. I've been tagged, which is pretty fun! The always lovely Beauty 411 tagged me, so I will be answering the following six questions. Here are the rules:

* Post rules at the beginning of the post.
* Answer all the questions.
* Tag 6 people, and go to their blog and leave a comment to inform them that they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
* Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

And so we begin...

What were you doing ten years ago?  I was working at the phone company, hating my job. When people would ask me what I did for a living, I would always reply "I sit at a computer, slowly dying."

What are five things on your to-do list today?

1. Get shoes for me and Ara for my brother's wedding in two weeks (!). 
2. Get a decent bra - ostensibly for said wedding, but let's face it: I'll be doing everyone a favor. ;)
   
3. Blog. I have so much to write! I'M SO BEHIND!
   
4. Wash clothes so no one has to go to work without clean underpants next week, and clean up the house after apparent tornado swept through kitchen and family room.
5. Check out the MAC Friends & Family discount at the MAC Store, and drop off my pro card application.

Snacks you enjoy?  I just enjoy snacks. I'm more a carb-y snacker rather than a salty snacker.

Places you've lived?  I grew up in Maryland with a brief hiatus in Virginia Beach. Now I'm in Richmond, VA. In my head, I live in New England.

What are 5 things you would do if you were a billionaire? 

1. GIVE SOME AWAY. Geez: "billionaire"? No one should be a billionaire.
2. Get a jet and pilot. I don't love flying, but with millions I would fly anywhere and everywhere. 
3. Buy a home in Oaxaca, Mexico and one in Ireland. 
4. Send my parents to Italy for a vacation and buy them a new house if they wanted one.
5. Start a cosmetics company that was eco-friendly and multi-skintone-friendly. Hip, but also classic.

People you want to know more about?  I have a friend who is an enigma to me most of the time, so that's who I'd like to know more about. 

In the past, I haven't tagged other people because I didn't want to be annoying, but I'm going to go there this time. :) Hope you all don't mind... Tag, you're it: All Lacquered Up, Bit By the Beauty Bug, Mischo Beauty, Beauty Snob, Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains, and Now Smell This.

Other times I've been tagged include: 6 unspectacular quirks and it's in the bag.

The best posts from TotalBeauty week of 6.8-6.14

Catch up on your reading with these fabulous posts from my friends at Total Beauty

Meredith at Daily Dose of Coffee gets a makeover and checks out the new Stila summer collection eye shadow palette.

Fifty-Cent Head reviews the 2008 Readers' Choice Awards in two posts, because there are so many (and so much to say!): Part One and Part Two.

Viva Woman takes a close look at ingredients in mineral makeup that can cause irritation to your face. Who couldn't use a little stress relief?

Beauty411 raves about Johnson's Melt Away Stress line; check it out and enter the contest to win a free assortment of Melt Away Stress products!

Beauty Anonymous loves Chanel Levres Scintillantes Glossimer for lips! Talking Makeup loves Smooth Indulgence Concealer by Dermablend.

Alison (aka. "Advice Sister Alison") of The Advice Sisters  de-mystifies beauty product labels.

Kitiya from Mischo Beauty invites you to enter her “Mischo Beauty Johnson & Johnson Melt Away Stress Giveway!”

The Beauty of Life welcomes in the dog days of summer with an assortment of cocktail-inspired beauty products!

Bare Escentuals' Warm Radiance has passed muster with Toya of "The Life of A Ladybug!" Come check this out and the rest of her "Bronzers for Brown Girls" series!

Hair Therapy continues for Monique at Beauty Girl Musings!

Jeanne from Periodic Style is back from her Vegas vacation and wonders what to do with her winnings...

Beauty in Real Life has the scoop on the soon-to-be-released, fab new colors for CoverGirl Eye Enhancers.

Joy from Makeup Junkie is wondering if no! no! is A No-No? Check out Week 1 of her review!

Henna from Canadian Beauty found a gloss that really lasts - find out which one she's using!

Laurie at Beauty's Spot sacrifices her perfect tan to bring you the skinny on L'Oreal Sublime Bronze ProPerfect Airbrush Self Tanning Mist.

Looking for a new summer haircut? Check out this great style found on A Mom in Red High Heels!

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?

I was tagged!

I love getting tagged (a game bloggers play) but I don't usually do the tagging (mostly I'm tagged at the end of a round, anyway, so there's no one left to tag!). This time, I was tagged by one of my favorite bloggers, Beckie at Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog.

The goal: list 6 unspectacular quirks about yourself. There are so many! I challenge you to try to think of your own list (share it in the comments!) and stop at only 6. But stop at 6 I must, as that is the game. Without further ado:

1. I have "a thing" about office supplies and art supplies. I love looking at brand new notebooks, unadulterated packs of colored pencils, pristine white paper. But once the pencils have been used, the notebooks dinged-up, the papers written upon, I lose interest until the next fresh batch catches my eye.
2. Magazines are my Achilles Heel. I have the hardest time passing up a magazine rack.
3. I don't like socks. I get what I refer to as "toe claustrophobia" and they freak me out. Must.Pull.Off.The.Socks. (my daughter, Ara, has the same issue, which proves that genetics is an odd thing, indeed) The socks below make me stressed just lookin' at 'em.

4. I fancy myself as a runner. I want to be someone who goes running everyday (and I was that girl for a few weeks, 5 or 6 times in my life) but my fibromyalgia won't allow it. And so, I know I am a marathoner at heart, but I am just taking a break. ;)
5. If the window shades are up, they must be at the same height if there are multiple windows in a room. Anything else than precision in this matter will drive me batty. I try very hard not to think about the other windows in other rooms on that side of the house - I don't have that kind of money for therapy.
6. I crunch on ice. I can't stop. I'd love to trade this for another bad habit, but I cannot. I'm stuck. And to make matters worse, I don't like ice made in the freezer at my house. It must be ice that comes in a bag from a store (ice makers and ice trays result in ice that smells like the freezer and I hate broccoli-ice).

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Our motto here at Fifty-Cent Head is "we search for beauty news so you don't have to" and whilst surfing yesterday I came across a wonderful treat for you. Ya ready!? I'm about to jingle your bells, ladies and gentlemen!

What's everyone's favorite thing about Thanksgiving, besides the pumpkin pie? Well, it's the Black Friday releases at MAC, isn't it???

 

Take a look at this bad boy- one of the bags from the 2008 MAC Holiday Collection. It's got square edges, and appears to be shiny... like pleather, maybe? And it's the amazing, dazzling, spectacularific shade of red...

Introducing:

RED SHE SAID














 

More after the jump!

MAC News, courtesy of Specktra.net and other sources

The gorgeous lassies and lads at Specktra.net have been posting away, letting us know about the upcoming collections at MAC. I've been waiting a bit to show you what's coming up, 'cause the collections don't release 'til next week or a few weeks thereafter, but I wanted you to have time to plan so today's the day!

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Naughty Nauticals, May:

A great seafaring collection, this is the big Summer releases typical in May. It includes the mandatory "let's pretend we sell bronzers" selection - and beware: it apparently is a bit better than last year's offering, but still isn't waterproof and still may transfer onto white/light clothing. Grrr...

Details provided by Specktra.net, of course. Read more here/color story, here/discussion, and here/swatches. Some of the swatches are amazing!

See some great pics of the promotional collateral for this collection here at Specktra.net.

Lipsticks $14.00USD

Ahoy, There! - (Lustre) (LE) ~ the nude
Buoy-O-Buoy - (Glaze) (LE) ~the pink
Port Red - (Frost) (LE) ~ the plum
Party Mate - (Lustre) (LE) ~ the red

Lustreglasses $14.00USD

Bateaux (LE) ~ the nude
Ensign (LE) ~the pink
Hey Sailor (LE) ~ the plum
Love Knot (LE) ~ the red

Eyeshadow $14.00USD

Meet the Fleet - (Matte) (LE)
Illegal Cargo - (Frost) (LE)
Pandamonium - (Lustre) Smoky Grey with silver pearlized pigments (LE) (Repromote from       Pandamonium Eyes in Balloonacy)
Submarine - (Frost) (LE)
Shore Leave - (Veluxe Pearl) (LE)

Pigments $19.50USD

Lovely Lily - (Frost) Lilac with red pearl (LE)(Repromote from Lingerie)
Bell Bottom Blue (Frost)
Larkabout (Frost)
Wave (Frost)

Techakohl Liner $14.50USD

Smoothblue- Ocean blue with frost (Repromote)-
Greyprint- Rich pewter grey with frost (Repromote)

Mascara

Prolash in Coal Black - Lengthening, thickening, non-flaking, non-smudging.

Nail Lacquer $10.00USD

Naughty Nautical - (Frost) Dark royal navy blue (LE)
Shirelle - (Cream) Classic she's a dame red (Repromote)

This collection includes a Nordstrom exclusive quad: Stowaways.

Awash (Frost) - Lightest tan off white with gold and pink pearl (LE)
Crest the Wave (Frost) - Light, frosty yellow with yellow and white pearl (LE)
Satin Taupe (Frost) - Taupe brown with silvery bronze shimmer (Repromote)
Sea-Cadet (Satin) - Grayed dark navy blue (LE)

See swatches here on Specktra.net.

The Skinsheen portion of the collection is the "let's pretend we're tan" part:

Skinsheen Leg Spray $22.50USD - A sprayable, light weight gel formula that provides a sheer wash of colour and glow to the legs. (LE)

Medium - Soft golden caramel with soft gold nuances ~ International only

Medium Dark - Soft bronze with golden tan pearl

Dark

Deep Dark ~ North America only

 

Body Buffer Brush $52.00USD

#179 - A short handled brush with large, flat, circular shaped top for efficient distribution of body makeup. Recommended for smooth application of Sundressing and other powder products. 6.5 cm long. (Repromote)

Specktra's Skinsheen discussion  and Swatches.

 

FCH must-haves for Naughty Nauticals: Larkabout, Illegal Cargo, Mutiny, and Bell Bottom Blue. I'm a pigment whore. :(

 

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Tendertones, end of May:

I loved Tendertones right from "go!". I thought the scent was incredible (kiwi and strawberry) and the color payoff was great, too, 'cause it was just so light and sheer. Doubters abounded, though, and I had a hard time selling the green one last year (fools, you!). So, according to Specktra.net and members mezzamy and Erine1881, here's the new Tendertones scoop:

 

Deep Sigh | Sheer bronze with red pearl (LE) (Repromote)

 

Pucker | Sheer raspberry pink (LE) (Repromote)

Sweet Tooth | Sheer coral w/ white pearlized pigments(LE)

Take a Hint | Sheer intense mid-tone pink (LE) (Repromote)

 

Hush Hush | Sheer peach with gold pearl (LE) (Repromote)

Hot n’ Saucy | Soft cherry red (LE)

Tread Gently | Soft lime green w/ yellow pearlized pigments (LE)

Honey Bare | sheer peach w/white pearlized pigments (LE)

E-Z Baby | Sheer milky pink (LE)

Sweet & Nice | Sheer red grape w/ red pearlized pigments (LE)

PS: Read the Specktra.net page carefully and you'll see that the rumor mill says we may see Tendertones as permanent additions to the Pro collection at some point. YAY!

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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!

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.

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!

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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!