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I self-tagged myself for this Beauty Meme from Flamingo Musings.  Feel free to auto-tag yourself!

Beauty Secrets

My Foundation: Currently, Stila Illuminating 30 Watt Foundation. Usually it’s some type of tinted moisturizer.

My Mascara: afterglow cosmetics mascara has no chemicals that will hurt your eyes

My Blush: MAC, Thevi

My Day Cream: Berwick Beauty great rose scent from real roses!

My Lipstick: Shu Uemura great color

My Beauty Product Brand: Too many to list, ALL except Benefit (way too gimicky)

My Essential Beauty Product: Lancome Juicy Tubes and I’m planning on getting to the counter to get a new one today!

My Favorite Makeup Product: Rosebud Salve because it is always there for me, lasts fooooorever

My Perfume: Chanel Gardenia was a mainstay for a few years but now I sphritz all that’s handy

My Nails: Chanel BUT I want to try some of the polishes that are non-toxic

My Feet: Miss Oops Pedicure in a Bottle and Curel foot formula

My Hands: I don’t even know the name of this but it comes from the body shop, comes in a metallic squeeze tube. I buy it less than once a year on autopilot and too lazy to see the name.

Three Products to bring on a deserted island: red lipgloss like a Juicy Tube, some type of cleanser that lasts forever like Cetaphil, globs and globs of conditioner

Woman I Admire for her Beauty: Lynda Carter

Woman with the Best Sense of Style: I hate to say this. Really. Hate. This. I would say J Lo, ole sweet face herself and Beyonce.

My Ultimate Dream: To be a snowbird, we already have the home in Maine, just need a home somewhere warm!

My Favorite Fashion Publication: Fashion from real women, I love the blogs that are from people just like me that are dealing with budget, size and practicality.  Check out the Splendicity blog roll under fashion.

Your turn now - care to share your beauty secrets?!

From the Splendicity community, comes this week best in beauty, fashion and shopping.

FASHION

Painfully Hip suggests the perfect havoc-wreaking ensemble for the next time a wild streak sneaks up on you.

Wardrobe Oxygen offers some tips for a woman in her ’30s to perform a proper closet clean-out.

The Well-Heeled Society interviews Shoe Designer Mark Schwartz about his journey from being the protégé of Roger Vivier to his website launch of High Heeled Art.

Snarkstress wants your opinion on Jessica Simpson’s latest look: Is she hot…or not?

Teen Style Lounge has found 3 pairs of double-duty cuties that will take your footwear wardrobe from summer to fall.

BEAUTY

A Touch of Blusher reveals where to indulge in beauty retail therapy in London.

The Fragrance Fanatic suggests some great gift sets exclusive to Nordstrom’s Beauty Exclusives sale.

Beautiful Makeup Search says to Ban the Bumps with Bikini Zone. She is so excited about this product that she is giving away five tubes of this fantastic cream.

Aging Fabulous says that she is in dire need of this neck cream from StriVectin.

Beauty Blogging Junkie has identified her holy grail concealer. Find out what it is here.

Beauty Banter uncovers the secret powers of ZINC… in sunscreen!

Beautyholics Anonymous discovered the joys of Too Faced’s Shadow Insurance. Bye bye crease lines!

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic found a great liquid makeup from Tarte, but hurry, it’s Limited Edition!

Beautynomics interviews PCA Skin Head Scientist/Dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Linder about PCA Skin and gets to learn alot about skin care!

Steeping Beauty gets cleansing with NARS balancing foam mousse.

SHOPPING

eye4style gives in to a guilty fashion pleasure -Tori Spelling’s new jewelry line for HSN. Check it out here!

No matter your political persuasion you can show up to the polls with a powerful pout.  Stila’s Rock the Vote Red Lip Color will go on sale any minute now for a limited time at www.stilacosmetics.com 

25% of proceeds from the first 500 sold will be donated to Rock the Vote. Rock the Vote is dedicated to getting young people involved in the political process.  The color is described as a pink/red hue, sounds powerfully pretty. If you’re not a registered voter, look for the icon on Stila’s website. 

Even if you don’t believe in either of the main candidates, don’t miss your chance to let them know you’re engaged and interested.

Cast your vote for glam.  Don’t forget, Free shipping on $50+ @ stila

Are you excited yet? The Sex and the City movie starts Friday, May 30th, 2008 and the Soundtrack will debut May 27th but you can get a FREE copy right here!

PRIZE: Sex and the City Soundtrack and $25 Fandango Movie Gift Certificate

How to Enter: Leave a comment on this post stating which SATC lady you’d most like to be friends with and why. Be sure to fill out your deets in the appropriate fields so I can contact you when you win!

The winner will be drawn at random late Friday May 30th some time before midnight!  make sure to get your entry in early.  I will co-ordinate getting your address to the sponsor.  Good Luck!!  US & FPO, APO

SATC Movie Soundtrack:
1. Labels or Love (Fergie)
2. All Dressed In Love (Jennifer Hudson)
3. The Look Of Love -Madison Park vs Lenny B Remix (Nina Simone)
4. New York Girls (Morningwood)
5. All This Beauty (The Weepies)
6. I Like The Way (Kaskade)
7. It’s Amazing (Jem)
8. How Deep Is Your Love (The Bird & The Bee)
9. The Heart Of The Matter (India.Arie)
10. Auld Lang Syne (Mairi Campbell & Dave Francis)
11. Kissing (Bliss)
12. . How Can You Mend A Broken Heart (Al Green featuring Joss Stone)
13. Walk This Way (Run-D.M.C. featuring Steve Tyler and Joe Perry of
Aerosmith)
14. Sex and the City Movie Theme (The Pfeifer Broz. Orchestra)

Does anyone else mark their calendars?! if not use your BlackBerry, Blackboard whatever you have to don’t miss out.  Felicia Sullivan, Author, Foodie and Rockstar, is on the road promoting her stirring memoir, The Sky Isn’t Visible from Here.

All YOU need to do is be in the right place at the right time! 

Felicia Sullivan Book Tour Schedule:

Wednesday, April 30—NEW YORK, NY—Guerilla Lit, BAR on A - 170 Avenue A @ 11th Street, 7:30 pm

Wednesday, May 7—SAN FRANCISCO, CA–Booksmith, 1644 Haight Street, 7:00 pm

Friday, May 9—LOS ANGELES, CA–Booksoup, 8818 W Sunset Blvd., 7:00 pm

Saturday, May 10–PASADENA, CA– Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., 4:00 pm

Sunday, June 8—BROOKLYN, NY—Sunday Salon @ Stainbar, 766 Grand Street., 7:00 pm

You’re feeling the urgent need to buy the book buy now, so don’t procrastinate, buy the book!

The Sky Isn’t Visible From Here @ Amazon

The Sky Isn’t Visible From Here @ Barnes & Noble

The Sky Isn’t Visible From Here @ Booksense

The Brand: Milbar Laboratories

Milbar Labs has been formulating skincare for dermatologists and plastic surgeons for over 25 years.  A few years ago, the lab team was presented with a challenge, create the most efficacious and luxurious, no-expense-spared, anti-aging formula. 

The project took on a life of it’s own and became M LAB.  The concentration of active ingredients immediately set M LAB apart from the rest.  Average luxury cosmeceuticals average 10-20% clinically active ingredients, but M LAB products range from 45% to 74% targeting all fine lines and wrinkles!  For the first time ever an unknown beauty brand was launched at Harrod’s prestigious White Hall in London. 

M LAB  7 Products

Get noticeably younger skin, improve color and texture as well as clarity with M LAB’s 7 part plan. 

• M LAB anti-aging treatment cream 68% clinically active ingredients (2.4 oz jar, $260)
• M LAB anti-aging cleanser 45% clinically active ingredients (6 oz bottle, $60)
• M LAB anti-aging toner 62% clinically active ingredients (6 oz bottle, $60)
• M LAB anti-aging treatment serum 74% clinically active ingredients (1 oz bottle $275)
• M LAB anti-aging day treatment SPF 15 65% clinically active ingredients (2 oz bottle $125)
• M LAB anti-aging eye cream 59% clinically active ingredients (0.5 oz jar, $170)
• M LAB body treatment cream 55% clinically active ingredients (6.7 oz jar, $185)

The M LAB collection comes in sleek black bottles which will appeal to lovers of clean, basic skincare.  These products are unisex, great for men, the packaging is strong and masculine.  All the products are designed to work alone but of course for maximum results each one should be used daily. 

Consider the 7 piece travel kit as an introduction to the line, just add a ziploc bag to get through airport security and you’re ready to fly off into the sunset.

M LAB products are available exclusively at www.mlabonline.com and Harrod’s London.

Don’t miss it!  it’s not too late to attend the Totalmente Latina tour in Miami on 4/26/2008.  “ the four-city festival is a moment in time in each city to celebrate the beauty of Latin women, her role in her family and her community. Totalmente Latina Tour is loaded with free makeovers, facials and massages; live entertainment performances and give-aways; as well as healthy-family inspired education that combines to make it a little easier to juggle family, health and beauty every day. “  For more information on the Totalmente Latina tour.

CosmoGIRL! is getting all up in your business, do you know a girl that’s 13-22 and has a strong entrepreneurial concept?  BKFK and CosmoGIRL! have launched a cool contest: CosmoGIRL! Mind Your Own Business Challenge!  $10,000 in prize money is up for grabs, enough seed money to reap a whole lot of benefit and bring the idea to life!

Only girls who are citizens of the United States, aged 13 - 22, are eligible to participate in the CG! MYOB Challenge. The contest period runs from April 1st, 2008 until 12:00PM EST on June 30, 2008. All entries must be received online at: www.bkfk.com. BKFK.com’s exclusive social entrepreneurship platform, the “Idea Locker™” will provide powerful online tools for idea generation and brainstorming, to support the creative process of this competition.

 Sephora: The Ultimate Guide to Makeup, Skin, and Hair from the Beauty Authority (Hardcover) by Melissa Schweiger

I got my copy of SEPHORA yesterday and I have got to tell you it is an amazing resource for all beauty chasers.  Wether you’re a makeup junkie, a skincare lover or just like to know what’s in the stuff you’re putting on your face, you’ll find valuable info presented in a compelling format.

I haven’t loved a beauty book like this since Cindy Crawford’s Basic Face back in 199x.  I carried it around with me and flipped back and forth, my husband was completely annoyed but oh well.  If I went, so did the book, I had an especially long commute from Tokyo to the burbs and Japanese women on the train looked over my shoulder and sometimes even asked me about it.

Basic Face was a how to apply makeup guide without mention of specific products which was fab since I had little access to designer brands back then!  SEPHORA takes it a step further by recommending specific products to get the effects shown.  I’ll be referencing SEPHORA in posts to come for a very long time.  I’m especially crazy about the quotes, beauty company founders, and secret ingredients sections of the book. 

It also takes into account different preferences and conditions you may be facing, no ‘one XX fits all’ mentality here.  SEPHORA is full of visuals that will stop you in your tracks but at the same time chock full of insider secrets and tips.  The back cover proclaims “It will make you want to be as beautiful as beautiful as you can be - and Sephora makes it easy!”  You know what?! I do, I do, I do!

You won’t have to wait much longer, SEPHORA will be released in a few days.  Pre-Order available through Amazon

Something making me very happy this season is Escada’s Signature Fragrance for Women.   I’ve always been curious about Escada, it’s been around forever and always makes it mark on the times.  Most of the times it’s for their fashions on and off the runway and red carpet but the fact is Escada fragrances are equally deserving.

Signature is a light floral perfume that has all-day staying power.  Originally released in 2005 it’s still being spritzed daily by adoring fans.  

Sniff notes of  jasmine, orange blossom, musk, amber, patchouli, black currant, leafy greens, cucumber, magnolia, Italian lemon, nectarine, muguet, rose, vanilla, and Bergamot. Perfect mix for anytime but it’s my choice for spring.  Escada is a brand that makes you feel like a woman, it’s elegant and feminine without the fluff and frou frou.  

With true vision of a global luxury brand they are opening (and re-opening) clubs all over the world, that’s not just sexy and beautiful - it’s smart!  Visit Club Escada in places like Beverly Hills, Mumbai, Hong Kong and Berlin.  Hopefully more locations will be added but I’m not holding my breath on Maine getting one anytime soon!

Escada Signature smells of  glamour, aspiration and style.  A perfume that will keep you partying into the night or smelling sweet at work, while gardening, running errands and all the other things women do daily.