BSB: Beauty news, makeup swatches and pictures, nail polish articles, makeup tutorials, product reviews, and how-to's from a MAC-trained makeup artist.

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?

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TotalBeauty.com

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TotalBeauty.com

Enter the TotalBeauty.com Totally Green Sweepstakes for your chance to win* the new 2008 Saturn Vue™ Hybrid filled with tons of great green and organic beauty products from Origins, Suki, Sephora and Raw Natural Minerals. They’re also giving away fabulous green gifts every day! Every time you write a review about the products you love (or even dislike), you’ll be entered for a chance to win* great instant prizes from Sephora, Raw Natural Minerals, Allure, Brilliant Earth, Spas of America, Suki and Tela. Here’s how…

Search for your favorite (or not-so-favorite) beauty products on TotalBeauty.com. Write and submit your review and see if you’re an instant winner!* They’re giving away hundreds of fabulous, Earth Day-inspired daily prizes, including conflict-free diamond jewelry and more! Also, each time you write a review, you will be entered to win the new 2008 Saturn Vue™ Hybrid, filled with tons of great beauty products from Origins, Suki, Sephora and Raw Natural Minerals.*

Hi-Def, like a brightly lit bathroom mirror. EGADS!

Hi-def TV. What does it mean, besides a lot of extra money the next time you need a television set? Basically, hi-def tv is digital and extra, extra precise, making the viewing experience much more vivid. Were you watching the evening news in hi-def and the anchors weren't wearing great makeup, you'd know who missed a few hours of beauty sleep and who was having a break-out from ratings stress. Imagine letting the whole world into your bathroom every morning with a magnifying mirror, and you now understand why stars and tv personalities have been running to Sephora and/or hiring better makeup artists!

What ever is to be done? Well, naturally many cosmetics companies have stepped up to the plate to give the entertainment and news industries something blur all of their imperfections. Can we non-performers benefit from these new technologies? I'll have to pose the question to The Beauty Brains - if I can manage to find a functioning contact form on their site.

Take a look at CARGO's blu_ray collection:

blu_ray products are  designed, like most of the hi-def products on the market, to give full coverage without looking caked-on. After all, you want your hi-def makeup to cover a multitude of sins while still looking like radiant and healthy skin! Well, since these are from CARGO, you know they're good.

The line uses "photochromatic pigments" which are meant to self-correct and look good in any light. I picture tiny little magical perfect raindrops covering the skin, glinting their perfection in any situation. But I may be a little drunk at the moment, so don't mind me. (just kidding)

The products use microfine particles that don't really sit on top of the skin the way older makeup might (this microfine particle thing is becoming the norm in quality makeup, by the way). Light diffusers, also common in some other makeup, are a particular friend of mine because they gently and softly diffuse light, minimizing the appearance of imperfections while also adding a bit of radiance .

The lip products are also smoothing, thanks to hyaluronic acid and peptides, making fine lines less visible.

Above are, from left, the CARGO blush/hilighter (it's oil-free!), $27 USD; lipgloss palette (4 neutrals, endless possibilities for blending!), $29 USD; powder, $32 USD; mattifier (use over or under makeup), $24 USD;  and mascara (strengthens and conditions with no clumping), $20.

blu_ray is available at sephora.com.

Other ways we can learn to look better courtesy of the hi-def phenomenon:

• lighting is key! | check your makeup out in different lights- you may not realize it, but makeup applied in the wrong lighting can turn insta-tranny in another environment!
• get into a skincare routine |stars flock to their estheticians for facials more than they ever had, because makeup won't hide bumps. sign-up for regular facials, if it's in your budget, or invest in good skincare so you can cleanse+exfoliate+tone+moisturize your way into flawless skin. let all new skincare systems work for about 3 months so you can see if they work (clearly discontinuing earlier if you're having a negative reaction!). i also recommend the Clarisonic brush to help make sure you're spending enough time really getting your skin clean.
• drink it up! | drink your water and stay hydrated from the inside-out, please.
• ditch the bad habits | smoking is bad for so many reasons (i'm a former smoker, myself). if your health isn't enough to make you quit, maybe you'll quit because i tell you this: smoking makes your skin dull and wrinkly and some people even have skin discoloration from the daggone nicotine. besides, it makes you stink, which has nothing to do with hi-def tv, but someone had to tell you and it might as well be me. even though you think you don't stink, i promise you: if you smoke, you stink of smoke. ew.
• get up and move | i need to take my own advice here, i'll admit it. exercise gets the blood pumping and is overall better for you, which will naturally show in your complexion.
• stop the madness, stop the tanning!  | please. you know this. you think it's cute, but you're wrong. tanning is damaging and aging and ultimately has a dangerous potential for death. and frankly, leathery skin is not attractive in person or on hi-def tv.

RG

Black Phoenix Trading Post gives me my one true love...

I am completely enamored of Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs and all related companies and products. I'm besotted and will tell anyone and everyone! And I thought I had found my One True Love before: Morocco. And I still love it! Then I thought I found my One True Love again: O. And that is a damn good scent. In fact, I love both of those oils so much I get stressed when they're running low. But now I need to add to the list. I have a new One True Love: TKO.

(image source)

TKO comes in an oil, available at BPAL, in the Pancea Collection. I can't wait to hit up the rest of that collection, man! But since we're focusing on Black Phoenix Trading Company products today, I thought I'd review TKO Pancea Massage Oil.

Sigh...

I don't even really know how to begin, because this is such a lovely blend I doubt I can do it justice (I faced the same problem launching my reviews of Morocco and O.

Basically, I haven't used this as a massage oil, as designed, instead putting it on generously before bed. It is, after all, called "TKO". The implication is that it's good for those headed to Dreamland. In fact, here is the Lab's description of the scent (note that there are no notes annotated):

Many things -- such as loving, going to sleep, or behaving unaffectedly -- are done worst when we try hardest to do them.

And it is true that this helps me sleep. And it helps me stay nice and calm. And I want a vat of it, and another of the perfume oil.

What does it smell like? A gigantic lavender marshmallow, actually. That's the best I can do. It's sweet and it's sugary and it's got a hint of lavender (really, only a hint - I don't love lavender, so I promise it's not much). It's not so foody that it makes me hungry, and not so sweet it makes me sick. It's perfect, actually, and it does exactly what I want it to do, while smelling good at the same time. (sometimes aromatherapy blends or "functional" scents tend to work, but aren't able to pull off a satisfying fragrance while doing it - not so at BPAL)

So, I guess what it boils down to is that I have Three True Loves and a bunch of slightly lesser loves queuing up just behind. Let's just say, I'm eagerly awaiting my next box of preciouses from BPAL, BPTP, or TAL (TAL is my next spree!).

[Editor's Note: I am not affiliated with Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs in any way. They have sent me items to test in the past, but I have also spent a good amount of money there, too. I just talk about them so much because I really do love them that much- not because someone's paying me to. The icons on my blog that lead you to BPAL are also my idea and are not a paid advertisement. I don't even know if anyone at the lab knows they're there, in fact.]"

Black Phoenix Trading Post: ATMOSPHERE (or why does a Drag Queen like the smell of a Cathouse?)

Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs Day here at FCH continues with this offering, technically from Black Phoenix Trading Post.

The first item I'm going to review from the Trading Post is one of the Atmosphere Room and Linen Sprays: Cathouse.

(image source)

No, not that kind of cat house. More like:

(image source)

What does a cathouse smell like? And why does one want to make a room or a linen smell like one? These are questions I asked myself when I unwrapped the package of Cathouse, but I trust Beth (creator and genius at BPAL) completely, so I decided to give it a chance.

(Note: I will give anything Beth sends a chance - if she sent me a baby diaper in a box and told me to try a sniff, I'd probably do it. That's how much I admire her mad fragrancing skills. This is not a far-off proposition, as she's expecting a baby probably this summer)

Apparently, a Cathouse smells delicious. Who knew!?  Here's the official scent description:

A nineteenth century Southern bordello: magnolia, jasmine, honey musk, tobacco, vanilla bean, bourbon vanilla, and Spanish moss.

I suppose that you have realized now that this is pure genius? OF COURSE a Cathouse smells of magnolia, jasmine, honey musk, tobacco, vanilla bean, bourbon vanilla, and Spanish moss. And if you're wondering what that smells like, it smells like Heaven. Who knew a Cathouse smelled like Heaven? BPAL did, naturally.

I actually spray my linens with this every night (lightly) before going to bed, and that paired with another Black Phoenix Trading Post item (to be reviewed later) has given me the best sleep I've had in ages.

Now, if you're wondering what the other part of this post's title means ("Why does a Drag Queen like the smell of a Cathouse?"), I can't really answer the question, but I can give you an explanation of why the question exists in the first place. I have taken to popping my bottle of Cathouse in my work bag, and spritzing my office with it from time to time. Every single time I do this, a gentleman I work with (who happens to spend some of his off-time as a very lovely Drag Queen) pops his head in and enthuses about the scent. Every single time. This tickles me to no end, because I figure the last person who should be interested in the smell of a Cathouse is a boy who likes to kiss other boys, though I guess since he likes to dress like a lady it all balances out in the end.

At any rate, check out Cathouse and the other Atmosphere Sprays at Black Phoenix Trading Post. You won't be disappointed!

PS: Atmosphere Sprays seem pricey, at $40 a bottle, but trust me: you'll get your money's worth!

Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs | Black Phoenix Trading Post

Falling into BPAL is like opening Pandora's Box - you never really know what you're going to get! If you're not familiar with Pandora, here's a brief: she was, according to the Greeks, the first woman. Blessed with curiosity, like most women are, she opened a jar* she was told not to open, unleashing evil** in the form of slander, vanity, greed, envy and pining.

*Yes, I said "jar". The phrase "Pandora's Box" is a hot mess, 'cause linguists tell us that it wasn't a box at all, instead a jar or jug. Blame Erasmus for the linguistic faux pas - it's his fault. 

 **Evil, eh? See how apropos "Pandora's Box" is for a discourse on BPAL? A quick walk through BPAL shows you the true meanings of vanity (want to smell good, attract a mate, look and feel gorgeous?), greed (ok, well maybe I'll just 6 more imps to this order!), envy (how did she get an aged bottle of Spooky 06!?), and pining (oh, I can't wait for my next order of the precious arrives! i can't sleep, I'm so excited!). I think the only thing BPAL didn't get from Pandora's box is slander, which is currently being monopolized by the presidential candidates.

Now look what you've done, you've distracted me, and I was attempting to explain something.

Ahem.

What I was saying was this: falling into BPAL is like opening Pandora's Jar. You never know what you're going to get. Just when you think you've gotten acclimated to the site - the general catalog and it's kazillion amazing oils, the poetry and prose, the art, the wit, the history lessons; just when you've picked your first imps and ordered your first bottle - BAM!: you discover The Forum! You dive in, hungrily reading review after review, delighting in the imagery (and the clever screen names). After some time, you come out of your self-imposed hibernation, feeling satisfied you've poked and prodded every little corner of the boards and learned everything you can about your fellow BPAL addicts, discontinued scents, and aging Snake Oil - BAM!: someone mentions The Trading Post.

SCREEEEECH!!!!

Back it up a second... what's that? "The Trading Post"!?

Yup. There's more. The Black Phoenix Trading Post. It's where you go to spend even more money experience even more BPALy goodness, of the non-perfume oil variety. There you will find:

• Lunacy t-shirts (and other clothing that pays tribute to your BPAL additction)
• Atmospheric Room and Linen Sprays
• BPAL soaps, bath goodies, massage oils and nail polish
• Scent lockets
• ID cases, cases for your imps, pouches for your precious
• Perfume oil bottle tops, shot glasses, notepads, keychains
• Gorgeous leather clutches, imp cases, and wrist gear
• And other creatures

And hopefully these other goodies, coming soon:

• Solid perfumes
• Boxes

NOTE: Black Phoenix Trading Post and Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs are not the same company, and so orders to one cannot be combined with orders to the other. Please make two separate orders!

I haven't even told you about TAL yet. That's for another day...
The savvy BPALer will find it,
but the rest of you can wait 'til that Pandora's Jug is opened for you! ;) var site="s29papow"

Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab is good for you and the earth!

poison ivy image courtesy of Comicvine.

This post is late, but to my defense I already told you my muse went missing for a little while. And I feel like this was fate, because now I can write this post and it's not going to get buried in the onslaught of information being thrown at your during Earth Week.

Basically, since I love BPAL so much I decided to ask Beth (founder, perfumer, Nose, perfume czar, genius) how they were helping the earth. This was a challenge I was fairly certain BPAL was up to , but would have posted the answers regardless. So, on to the official answer from Beth Moriarty on BPAL's commitment to keeping it real:

We believe in compassionate consumerism, and in giving as much back to the community as we can through charitable contributions, volunteer work, and by supporting fair trade and self-sustaining growers whenever possible. We participate in the Green Power for a Green LA program at work and in our homes, and have participated in fundraisers for many fine organizations, including the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, the Orangutan Foundation UK, AIDS Project Los Angeles, the Animal Assistance League of Orange County, Bat Conservation International, Safe Haven for Donkeys in the Holy Land, Midway City, United Hope For Animals, the International Bird Rescue Research Center, the Red Cross, the Humane Society, and local women’s shelters.

Our bath and massage oils are paraben and formaldehyde free, and do not contain sodium lauryl or sodium laureth sulfate. With the exception of any formula that contains honey or beeswax, they are vegan, and are blissfully lacking in harsh chemicals or unwholesome fillers.

Our soaps were created with the finest environmentally-responsible ingredients, including Palm Kernel oil farmed from organic, fair-trade farms in Brazil (on reclaimed, replanted mixed-use rainforest) and organic Jojoba Oil grown in Arizona. They are completely free of artificial colors or preservatives, and are blissfully lacking in petroleum, silicone, or other unwholesome fillers.

BPAL’s Atmosphere Blends are non-aerosol, and our nail polish formula is free of toluene, DBP, and formaldehyde.

With the exception of our honey-based products and our bath products that contain goat’s milk, everything that comes from Black Phoenix is vegan, and we abhor animal testing.

And last, but not least… Black Phoenix Trading Post’s labels are printed on an Earth-friendly corn biopolymer.

Beth has given us lots of food for thought- this is not new, as just browsing her site makes on want to educate oneself (and slather on great-smelling products!). Please follow the links below to fall in line behind Beth and the BPAL gang and make the world you live in just a little bit better...

Learn more about Green Power here.
Read about and support the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.
Visit the Orangutan Foundation UK and learn - and make a donation!
Support AIDS Project LA.
Check into the Animal Assistance League of Orange County, here.
I adore bats, so encourage you to check out The Bat Conservation International site and learn more about these misunderstood mammals.
A cause many have not heard of, but still a wonderful cause nonetheless: Safe Haven for Donkeys in the Holy Land. Learn more here.
Donate to United Help for Animals.
Peep the International Bird Rescue Research Center (the images will break your heart!).
The Red Cross can always be found online here.
Everyone has heard of The Humane Society, but when did you last volunteer or donate?
Please, please check your local directories to find women's shelters in your area and figure out a way you can help! Donate clothes, old equipment, blankets, money, toys, cosmetics, suits... ask what they need and find a way to provide it!

Learn more about veganism here.
Find out what fair trade really is - and then seek out companies that use fair trade ingredients, please!

What does it mean to be paraben free? The debate rages on over this issue, but read up about the basics, here.
Formaldehyde is natural, but undesirable in high quantities. Read more here.
Depending on who you hear it from, sodium lauryl and sodium laureth sulfate aren't so good for you. For example, read this. My feeling on this and parabens is: if the jury is still out, I'll avoid these when I can!
Why avoid products with petroleum in them? Oil harvesting can be damaging to the earth and wildlife, it's clearly getting more expensive, and burning oil is probably contributing to global warming. Besides, the oil the earth has left to share is dwindling fast, so why use it up when there are alternatives?!
I happen to like a lot of topical makeup products with silicones, but many folks avoid them. Read why, here.
Most of us don't use aerosols the way we used to when I was a kid (walking through 8 feet of snow, barefoot, to get to school- but I digress). Learn why, here, and be glad BPAL doesn't use them.
BPAL polishes are "Big-Three Free" which means--- well, read about it here. I must admit, I only use "big-three free" polishes now.
Go on, investigate biopolymers. I did, and I feel so much smarter now - and I know what to look for when shopping, now, too!

Today is Black Phoenix Day at FCH!

Take a look around this place and you'll see that here at FCH, we love us some BPAL (that's Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab in case you're new here). And I recently got some goodies from their affiliated site, Black Phoenix Trading Post, a great place to get non-perfume oil BPAL goodness. I want to tell you about them today, but I'll do so in separate posts. And I will probably get so in-the-mood for BPAL that I'll also post a review or two on some of my favorite oils.

So buckle yourself in, 'cause today is BLACK PHOENIX DAY here at Fifty-Cent Head!

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Celeb Makeovers

                                                

                                                

Like many of us (myself included) celebrities change their looks. In fact, some do it all of the time and that becomes part of their mystique and persona. For others, it's a bit of a dangerous venture because they become identified with a particular look. (Hello, Jennifer Aniston with "The Rachel" and now her iconic long straight locks)

Visit TotalBeauty for some cool images of celebrities who have made dramatic changes to their looks... and let us know how you like the article!

Mother's Day: A gift I wouldn't mind

So, around any kind of holiday, including Flag Day, Groundhog Day, No Socks Day (yes, it exists, and it's today[!], and I am 100% behind it - see why, here), I get swamped with emails from tons of PR folk. I weed through and find out what I'm interested in and what I think you'll be interested in to see what's going on FCH.

One of these items keeps popping up again and again, for every holiday, and so finally I'll bite.

The line?  Molton Brown. I admit: I have not tried anything from this line, but it seems to get decent press. I checked my ultimate online resources for mass reviews, MakeupAlley and TotalBeauty and got mixed reviews. I hate that!

[Editor's Note: clearly, FCH is your best resource for everything beauty, but I haven't tested everything, so I go to these sources if I don't have my own experience yet! ;) ]

Regardless, I'm still intrigued by this brand.  It's from England, and it's all-natural. Or wait ---- is it? Despite the buzz you may here in some placles, the answer is: NO. Here's a quote from the company:

"We endeavour to use as many naturally derived ingredients as possible, sourced from sustainable sources around the world. We will not mislead our consumers by implying that our naturally derived or natural ingredients equate to a totally natural product."

That doesn't turn me off of the brand, but it's just worth pointing out for those of you who won't use products that aren't 100% natural. If that's you, move on to another post! ;)

This is nice, though:

"Molton Brown's iconic bottle is fully recyclable, and we will be launching ranges in 2008 taking advantage of the most recent environmental advances in packaging. As a business we are currently constructing a five-year plan to become a market leader in environmental ethics, focussed on the reduction of carbon emissions and waste. However green our products and business practices evolve to become, this is never something we would manipulate for marketing purposes."

So, moving on to the offering that really piqued my interest.

Give mom the gift of relaxation with Molton Brown. Yuan zhi, a wild South China plant, is used traditionally to balance energy (Chi) and soothe the spirit. This richly moisturizing bath formula and sleep mist combats stress and promotes peaceful sleep.

Price: bath gel $28, sleep mist $44, Available at www.moltonbrown.com

I could use some Chi balancing, I'll tell ya. While I have a favorite going-to-bed scent, I would be open to seeing how this one works! (Yes, that's what happens when you're a beauty blogger- you adopt strange behaviors like having a "going-to-bed scent". I'm going to be posting about my going-to-bed-scent later today, actually, so stay tuned if you're curious!)

Have you tried Molton Brown products? How about this one? Tell us in the comments if your Chi is balanced or any other thoughts you may have...

 

Mother's Day: flowers... perfume... how to choose?

Traditionally speaking, what do most moms get on Mother's Day? A crayoned picture framed in  macaroni-embellished tongue depressors... a bottle of perfume... a bouquet of flowers...

While most moms will completely cherish all three, why not just go with the picture and a combination of the other two?

This fragrance set is called Soliflores, which means "single note fragrances". This limited edition collection of florals comes from the renowned perfume house  Annick Goutal, founded by former model and designer Annick Goutal, run since her death by her daughter, Camille. (See how that got tied together - a mother-daughter combo for Mother's Day. Clever, no!?)

Each  perfume represents a single flower, favorites of the perfumers. In the collection:

• La Violette
• Le Jasmin
• Neroli (Orange Blossom)
• Le Chèvrefeuille (Honeysuckle)
• Le Muguet (Lily of the Valley)

I got to try out La Violette, which was a treat because I had no familiarity with this line. Oh, I like it! I am now going to include violet in my short-list of notes I like in a fragrance! The length of wear is nice, and it's soft - I'm not going to choke anyone nearby in this. Hours after applying it, it's not powdery, which is a great thing to say about a floral, as I turn many into Johnson and Johnson's...

Price: $400, Available at Saks Fifth Avenue

Mother's Day Idea: Plant Love

What are you getting your mom for Mother's Day? There are so many choices, but sometimes simplest is best! One thing that would touch me, as a mom, would be a thoughtful beauty gift - and what's more thoughtful than this?

Everyone who knows me, knows I'm a beauty fanatic. I fully admit to it - geez, I write a beauty blog and go to work every day as a makeup artist. Does that mean I can't appreciate a well-done product? OF COURSE NOT! Who could appreciate it more than I!? I enjoy my plants (note to husband: I do not have a black thumb - I'm just a forgetful water-er!) and am trying to be more green each day. AND I'm a proud, proud mommy.

I can totally get behind a lipstick that's eco-friendly. Cargo's Plant Love products are a) fantastically smooth and come in a gorgeous array of shades; b) packaged in biodegradable PLA (corn-based plastic) boxes embedded with wildflower seeds; c) contain no mineral oils or petroleum, instead featuring jojoba, shea butter and botannicals; d) charitable, because $2 USD from the purchase of each tube goes to St. Jude's Childrens' Research Hospital; and e) some of the shades were designed by celebrity moms Kim Raver, Denise Richards, Angie Harmon and the colors were named after their kids.

I got to sample Cherry Bliss, a brilliant neutral red. It's so silky and lovely on the lips (that's gotta be the shea and jojoba, both of which I love and are so good for the skin!). It lasts well, and the color (described as "sheer cherry") makes me want to sport red lips. That hasn't happened since MAC's Queen's Sin last holiday season. Definitely makes me want to go try the rest of line.

These lipsticks are $20 USD, and can be found at Sephora.com.

The bright nails trend

It's Spring '08, and one of the brightest trends for the season is technicolor nails (see my current favorite trend whore, Rhianna, above). What do you think of this trend? Let us know in the comments!

Here are some great resources for getting drenched in this trend. Check it out:

Just above, we see the newest offering from Chanel. These colors are a tribute to the new Robertson Blvd store, opening this month, and they're only available at that store (or online in July) - so if you're intrigued, hustle over there! I'm loving the pop art inspired imagery and colors, but since I'm not 100% sold on the trend, I will probably not be dropping $25 USD for each bottle. (*gulp*)

MELROSE | A fun, hot pink destined to become spring’s must-have pedicure
RODEO DRIVE | A purple splash: girl power meets the power lunch
L.A. SUNRISE | A primary yellow as bright and cheerful as its name
L.A. SUNSET | A warm tangerine — just the thing for an afternoon shopping splurge

 

Here are the Summer collections from Zoya, a 3-free polish company: Gossip (on the left) and Chit Chat (on the right).  Gossip is a set of great creams (my favorite when bright colors are the topic). The shades are named after your favorite characters on The Hills (which I am so old I have never seen!): Audrina, Whitney, Lo, Elodie, Heidi and LC.  Chit Chat is actually a sweet collection of gold-based bright shades - and they are named for bloggers! Yes, that's right, the names are inspired by some beauty bloggers we know and love: Gaia, Erika, Becca, Lianne, Annie, and Elke.  I saw some swatches on of Chit Chat on All Lacquered Up (here) and Blogdorf Goodman (here), and from those it looks like I'll need to really check out Elke, Liane and Annie.

Mod About Brights is the new collection from OPI. There's a nice product shot on BellaSugar, here, which gives a bit more of an idea what the colors look like, I think. One of my new favorite blogs, The Polish Addict, shows some swatches here. I want to see these in person, particularly Mod-ern Girl and Dating a Royal.

The collection above, "The Summer Collection", from Essie, certainly loses in the "inspired collection name" category, but the polishes are cute (and have better names). These are brights for the quieter girls among us, or those in more conservative jobs. Check out swatches here at Makeup And Beauty Blog.

Purple Panic and Pink Voltage

Shocking Pink

Turned Up Turquoise and In the Lime Light

Orange Knockout

Blue Sparrow

Flying Dragon

Rose Among Thorns

Sacred Heart

Japanese Koi, Celtic Sun, and Ink

I love China Glaze - I just wish they had better blogger-outreach, 'cause I can't seem to get in touch with their PR folks for anything! At any rate, check out Ink, their summer collection, above. I may just need the turquoise and the green, and will have to see the purples in person - my favorite nail polish of all times is, after all, a China Glaze purple: Coconut Kiss!

Lippmann has released two shades for summer, Lady Marmalade and Shut Up and Drive. They both look nice, but I'm not really feeling the frosty look for these bright summer shades.

I found these great shades in Rescue Beauty Lounge's collection. I think I need to add Smitten to the list of colors I want to try from Ji Baek's products, which are gaining popularity at an amazing speed!

What do you think of the bright nails trend?

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!

The lovely ladies of Specktra have done it again - the scoop to beat all scoops if you look at it from a "early breaking news" standpoint!

All that has been unearthed - or at least all we've been told about so far - is that the name of the collection is "Red She Said" and that these are some of the promo pics.

A) I love the promo pic with the model! It's gorgeous!
B) I like the packaging on the shadow sets - hopefully the jewel isn't too faux looking.
C) LOVE the lipstick and lipglass packaging. LOVE. Sadly, I'm going to have to buy at least one set just for the packaging. Go ahead, taunt me! I admit it: I'm a packaging whore.
D) Brush sets: meh. They're ok, but I'm never wowed by brush sets. Let's wait 'til the details on the brushes before I enthuse too much. (Though I must say that white brush looks like a 217, and if you don't have one - you need one!)
E) Love the rounded tall case... Specktra speculates that those are to hold your brushes, but I'm wondering if they aren't going to hold the obligatory sparkle liners and lipglasses, like the hard cases from the Holiday 2007 collection?
F) The bag that looks like a mini shopping bag, sort of--- do we think that may be what the 2 lipstick-1 lipglass sets will come in?
G) I love, love, love that last bag at the very bottom. MUST. HAVE.

What are your thoughts? Anyone else itching for Fall, now!?


Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou to Janice
and the other ladies of Specktra.net for sharing these images!

We'll be waiting for more news as it comes to the surface.

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Strange new lipstick

Have you seen the new Avon commercials? The ones with Reese Witherspoon smiling her soccer mom way through the spot while using an odd implement to apply her lipstick. She really is a good actress, because she was able to carry on through the ad without cracking up at this stupid product she was forced (by contract) to promote:

From the press release:

For the girl on the go, there’s finally a lipstick that can keep up! AVON is introducing a lipstick that lets you take on the world single handedly…Pro-To-Go Lipstick makes the one-handed application possible – you can open, apply and close at the push of a button.

Whether you’re on the phone, hailing a cab or juggling shopping bags – Pro-To-Go Lipstick gives you an instant beauty boost with luscious color, moisturizing lip care and SPF 15 all-in-one.

By combining one-handed application with luscious color and hydrating lip care, Pro-To-Go is the new must-have beauty essential. Available in 15 shades, Pro-To-Go Lipstick is all you need this spring for instantly gorgeous lips. You’re good to go. . . just like a pro!

I'm not such a traditionalist that I don't like product innovations, but I personally don't see that people should be so busy and need such a streamlined life that they need to have a topless lipstick (or use a machine to apply their gingerbread-scented mascara). Is life so busy that you can't slow down and enjoy the ritual that millions of women have participated in for years!?

Additionally, I find this to be creepy, and I'm not sure why. I'll try to give it some thought. Meanwhile, what do you think about this product?

Need the product? It's already available for only $9. See your Avon representative (and please don't let me know).

Missed the ad? You can see it here, though not in English:

 

Have I found my muse at MAC?

I have completely lost my muse recently... I have been distracted and tired and not at all inspired. I've been doing a lot of beauty reading - Google Reader is a ready enabler for a bad case of procrastination by way of Writer's Block- and there are so many great writers out there that it's easy to get derailed from one's own agenda and get lost in someone else's.

I've been waiting for my muse, and I'm not sure where she's been. I sniffed for her in my BPAL stash, and I thought she danced by, but she was too quick for me. (She's often found there, but she's being quite quite difficult recently) I momentarily thought she was going to be found in that new Clinique gloss I've been loving, but she wasn't - at least not for long. Flipping though the new Bliss catalog, sadly she was nowhere to be found. I haven't lowered myself to wandering the virtual-aisles of Sephora.com waiting for my muse to poke me, but I thought it was going to come to that.

Then, today, I stopped by the MAC counter, and it's possible I found her. Time will tell, of course, but I just had to come home and tell you about some great finds!

It's very sad, but I'm completely head-over-heels for Dazzleglass. This is the second time I've been at the counter with this collection, and let me tell you it's hard not to just yell "I'll take one of each! Wrap 'em up!!!"

I've been wrasslin' with my muse to come up with description of these, and I think the best I can do is remind you old folk of the Reeses commercial where two people bumped into one another and said "hey, you got chocolate in my peanut butter!" and "hey, you got peanut butter on my chocolate!" It's like that but different. Imagine if 3D Glass ran into Lacquer and then got hit with Lustreglass and a handful of Reflects Glitters. Voila: Dazzleglass!

(If you're new to MAC, that didn't help, did it? Let's just say this is a fairly thick but not sticky, soft-on-the-lips gloss with great multi-tonal reflective shimmer and leave it at that, ok?)

Dazzleglass best-of-the-best:

Above is  Pleasure Principal (Clear white violet, teal and white pearl) which is a must for any cool-toned chica (like moi). I think this is Lustrewhite's fashionable older sister: a clear gloss with shimmers, yes, but these shimmers are bright (but not over the top) and busily glinting away, reflecting amazing shades of purple and blue and green while somehow still not looking too trendy or immature. I consider this a must-try (and will probably need backups for my own stash!). Warm-toned gals, try Sugar Rimmed for a similar result (despite what the description says - "milky pale pink with red, teal and white pearl" - this is a warmer toned gloss).

Below, find Funtabulous (It's purple with violet pearl). It's spectacular. I can't stop swiping this stuff on! (and alas, one must, because it doesn't have tons and tons of staying power - it's good, but it's not "longwear" by any stretch of the imagination) This color just makes me smile. I put it on alone or over a pink, but maybe tomorrow I'm going to put it over one of my purple lipsticks (Full Blown?). That should make the spa ladies scared, no? ;) 

I was starting to feel my muse nearby, but wasn't 100% positive she was there - maybe because I already owned a few of these Dazzleglasses? Maybe because I have a few and have been using them all week? Regardless, at lease I was feeling encourage.

And then I saw Naughty Nauticals. Really a truly stellar collection, it blew me away! Well, please understand my stash is so ginormous that I don't need to add stuff unless it's really spectacularific (hullo, Dazzleglass! I mean, geez, there's a blue one for gosh sake!) so I didn't buy out the counter. But if you're still avidly collecting or especially if you're new to MAC, this collection is worth checking out!

Let me tell you about the standouts:

• Been with MAC for years? Maybe slightly jaded or just getting really picky? Check out:
  
  • Party Mate | MAC often bills lipsticks as "sheer midtone pink" and that's how they've labelled this one, but it's actually a fabulous rose. If you loved Longstem Rose Slimshine, you'll want to check this out. It would be a fabulous addition to the permanent collection which is sadly lacking in rose shades
  • Love Knot | When I saw it I figured, "
    Ah, there it is, the standard pale pink offering of the collection." I'm such a cynic. But as I dutifully swatched it, I realized there's nothing standard about this gloss! In case you weren't really paying attention, read the description again: "sheer pink with blue & white duochrome". SHUT UP! It's a pink lipglass with a blue and white duochrome, man! It's soooo pretty! LOVE.
• Got a decent collection, but still jonesin' for more? Check out:
  • Lark About | This pigment is described by MAC as "sheer frosty white blue" and I guess that's exactly what it is. If you don't have a tone of nearly-white pigments, this one is a great one. In fact, I almost took it to the register with me, but talked myself down because I already have 2 jazillion pigments I don't use now! If you love that oh-so-current frosty/white trend, pick this up. If you have Crystal Avalanche, you may not need this. Yes, Crystal Avalanche is a pressed shadow, but it's still a similar color! I used to work for MAC -don't question me! ;)
    
  • Illegal Cargo | This is a really nice shade of muted purple, described as "midtone frosty grey plum". I really liked it and had it out on the counter for consideration, but then looked over at Shale and realized they were fairly similar. I swatched, and indeed they are - Illegal Cargo is lighter by a hair, but they are of the same ilk. If you have Shale and don't use it much, you may want to pass, but if you're a purpleaholic or just want another dusky plum, rock on with the Illegal Cargo, girl!
  • Port Red | I liked this red, and if you haven't gotten a red lipstick yet, come out from under the rock and walk towards the light of the MAC counter - it's 2008! If you are sad you missed out on Queen's Sin, try this one on for size - it's not exactly the same shade, but it may satisfy that craving 'til they bring back Queen's Sin (they have to, right? It was an amazing color! And I'm still kicking myself that I didn't buy it, despite the fact that I rocked it at the counter several days during the collection!).
  • Mutiny | "Clean sky blue with gold pearl" is what they want us to believe. I'll buy that, I suppose, but only if the sky you're referring to is in a colorized black-and-white movie. It's a pretty intense, bright blue. If you can't get enough of Electric Eel and Clarity, check out Mutiny. It reminds me a bit of one of the pigments I already have - if I can beg a tiny tester of this, I'll do a swatch comparison for you. If you like to wear neutrals, this is probably not your cup of tea.
• If you're new to MAC or have a small stash you want to add to with wild abandon, consider: all of the above mentioned products, plus the following...
  • Ahoy There | This glaze (read: sheer and glossy) formula lipstick is "sheer light dirty pink with multidimensional pearl". A very pretty shade, and a great one to carry you through Spring and Summer. This is the kind of color I'm really drawn to, and it may find its way home with me, but I'm trying to be strong.
    
  • Shore Leave | I was confused - I thought this was Stila Kitten at first, then I realized it's actually Phloof!'s fraternal twin sister. "Pale frosty cream" in Veluxe Pearl formula (my favorite!) - lovely, but not unique if your collection fills the spare bedroom. (Who, me!?)
• Don't bother with (unless you have buckets of expendable income and/or just like to acquire makeup even if it's not truly unique):
  • Pandemonium | Girls, don't we have this in about 4 quads? If you don't, you will soon as MAC seems to release this shade or something damn close to it in every other collection. PASS...
  • Naughty Nautical | Memorial Day is just around the corner, and then after that comes the Fourth of July. There: two times this shade of nail polish will come in handy. Is it worth the $10-per-bottle-for-a-easily-chipped-polish? I say nay... if you must, stick with Shirelle, the other lacquer in the collection, which is also in the permanent collection but is a more wearable shade. (And this is coming from a woman with iridescent green toenails at this very moment!)

I'll try to swatch madly tomorrow, and actually take my camera with me (that was my downfall today I realized, after swatching up my right arm). I'll document it all, including my effort to get my fingers into that quad at Nordies. Meanwhile, keep a lookout for my muse - I think that's her trying on the blue Dazzleglass...

Disclaimer: I'm still blacklisted by MAC PR, so I don't have images - I borrowed the ones on the post from Specktra.net (thank you Specktra!). Go over there and check out the swatch fiesta and discussions about Naughty Nauticals (swatches/discussion) and Dazzleglass (swatches/discussion). Viva la Specktra!

Or maybe my muse is making her debut appearance in the top left of Fifty-Cent Head's pages.... What do you think about our new look!?