Bobbi Brown Mauve Face Palette Review

This fall, Queen of everyday basic makeup, Bobbi Brown shows the world that basic does not mean boring with her limited-edition Mauve Face Palette. This alluring palette features the following new and exclusive shades: 3 lip colors (Dusty Mauve Creamy Lip Color - sheer shimmery brown; Mauve Lip Sheer - sheer dark brownish rose; and Vintage Mauve Lip Color - darkest color of the 3, red with brown undertone); 3 eye shadows (Navajo - Ivory Beige, Vintage - soft gray, and Chocolate - grayish brown); and a blush (Mauve - dark rose). Even if you are not a fan of her Nude Lip and Eye Palette, this is one that will win you over.

As with all things Bobbi Brown, what I love about this palette is it accomplishes everything she wanted it to be: wearable, blendable colors for everyday use with a nod to vintage. Gray is huge this fall with all major designers debuting accessories in various shades of it. This Mauve palette is a perfect compliment to fall's accessories.

I'll be the first to say that I am not a fan of her Nude Lip and Eye Palette because of the lack of pigments in the collection, but the Mauve makes up for it. The cool tones work well for any skin colors and all ethnicities. For my day look, I like to use the Navajo and Vintage, and to take it to a night look I blend Chocolate into my crease with liquid liner and plenty of mascara!

What do I think? You can always count on Bobbi Brown to create shades that work for women; especially, working professionals, and those who are afraid of colors. But if you are looking for intense colors and pigments, stick to MAC.

Check it out at Neiman Marcus, $55: Limited-Edition Bobbi Brown Mauve Face Palette.

Stila Backstage Beauty Eye Shadow Palette - The Front Row Look Review

Stila is set to wow the crowd this fall with its limited edition, Marchesa-inspired Backstage Beauty Eye Shadow Palette that comes in a gorgeous faux leather (for all you animal lovers out there) wrapped with a rosette that can also be worn as a fashion accessory.

Included with this palette is a Kajal eyeliner and helps even the most novice makeup users perfect the simple smoky eyes look (think cat eyes!) or the nude makeup look. Stila - and MAC - is famous for how blendable their eyeshadows are and this palette is no exception! I love the versatility of the colors and they work well alone or with my other existing makeup collection! Definitely a purchase that will go the distance! The best part? They are highly pigmented and lasts all day!


Sign up to be a beauty insider today and grab this palette, $40: Backstage Beauty Eye Shadow Palette.

Lancome Oscillation Mascara Review

Good things are worth the wait. Maybe I did not exactly wait, but I did have friends in really important places (J, I love you!) who hooked me up this morning with the first batch of Lancome's Oscillation Mascara before its official launch this Fall. I heard from many reliable sources, unless you are a model or celebrity or a VIP, this is the toughest find of the day!

This breakthrough vibrating mascara, a first for Lancome, does 7000 oscillations per minute to wrap each individual lash with an amazing coat of the most velvety smooth mascara imaginable - 360 degrees! You go figure!

What do I think of this revolutionary mascara? God sent! Combined this with my Revitalash'ed lashes (see post on Revitalash) I now have these amazing Kim Kardashian lashes - all at the press of a little button on my mascara wand! I have never achieved such separated, lengthened, thick, feathery lashes - like ever!

If you were not one of those lucky few who managed to grab/beg/steal an Oscillation, $34, today, sign up for the email notification at Sephora when the shipment comes in and be the first to experience what is arguably the best mascara Lancome has every launched: Oscillation. And Lancome is famous for their mascaras, think High Definicils.

Update: So many people asked me what I did to my face today and many more commented on my gorgeous lashes! Ladies, this mascara is definitely worth the wait! Lancome, the luxury mascara giant, did it again by setting an incredible bar!

Sonya Dakar Drying Potion Review

Ever wonder how celebrities like Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, Gywneth Paltrow, Jessica Biel, Fergie, and Madonna always look so picture perfect on the red carpet while normal people like us combat zits? Look no further than the fairy godmother of skin, Sonya Dakar! If you are not among the lucky few who can score a facial with Ms. Dakar, worry not, Sonya Dakar Drying Potion, to the rescue.

The Drying Potion was named Best Zit Cream by the prestigious Allure magazine and lives up to its much hyped reputation. This is universally recognized in Hollywood as the last and only resort to banish those pesky blemishes before a red carpet event.

The formula consists of Dead Sea sulfur, lavender, chamomile, sage, peppermint and works wonder under the most extraordinary circumstances. I turn to this trust worthy lotion every time I notice a zit forming. I dab a bit of the potion on the problem spot, go to bed and wake up to a less noticeable bump. Granted it is going to take Harry Potter to make zits disappear completely but this comes as close to it as humanly possible.

Check it out at Sonya Dakar, Drying Potion: 0.5oz for $25; 1 oz for $45.

Mason Pearson Boar Bristle & Nylon Hair Brush Review

Mason Pearson is to brushes what Birkin is to handbags - ultimate, timeless luxury. Katherine Heigl, Marcia Cross, Anna Friel, Brooke Sheilds, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Jennifer Garner are just a few of the Hollywood celebrities who have enjoyed the "Birkin" touch on their gorgeous mane.

Growing up, I heard of this legendary brush, and have always wanted one. But on my $10/week allowance, this was an idea I dare not entertain. So when I finally started working, I scrimped and saved my tiny internship salary and did the once unthinkable: I bought a Mason Pearson Boar Bristle & Nylon Hair Brush! Now I finally have something in common with Victoria "Posh" Beckham. We both swear by our MP Brush! Although, I secretly wished we shared her husband, David Beckham, instead :)

Mason Pearson brushes are all handmade from pure boar bristle and you can definitely feel the difference when brushing your hair. I have never achieved such perfect blow-outs. The ends of my hair are smooth, straight and shiny; even strangers compliment how glossy my hair looks!

The best part? 6 years later, my brush is still going strong. I reasoned with many people that if I had amortized this brush, it would have paid for itself many times over, considering my old brushes never lasted more than a few months (note, blow-drying is my life!) And you wonder why this brush is a regular on the InStyle Best of Beauty Buys?

If you can afford it, why wait, go to Drugstore.com and start experiencing the smoothest, most voluminous or straightest blow-out you can every imagine. Mason Pearson Boar Bristle & Nylon Hairbrush, $126.

Look of the Day: Leighton Meester

(Picture from Just Jared.com)

Leighton Meester looked stunning at the premiere of The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants 2 so I was inspired to do a "look of the day" on her.

Here is how to get her look:

FACE:
Note: No products or color recommendation; please tailor to your skin type/color.
Step 1: Start with clean face, tone and moisturize, then apply a primer all over the face.
Step 2: Since her look is more of a freshed face look, I would recommend using a face tint as opposed to a foundation. Apply with fingers all over the face. Blend well to ensure no demarcation or spots.
Step 3: Use a concealer and go over areas that need more help, such as undereyes, blemishes, etc. Pat on and blend with gently.
Step 4: Set face with loose translucent powder using a big fluffy brush, focusing on T-zone.

CHEEKS:
Step 1: Apply Nars, Gilda (coral color) on the apples of the cheeks and blend out towards hairline.

EYES:
Step 1: Apply primer all over eyelid. I recommend Urban Decay Primer Potion (see review) to help eyeshadow adhere.
Step 2: Using a slightly darker colored eyebrow pencil, fill in sparse spots with light feathery stokes and brush to blend with an eyebrow brush. Apply brow gel to set brows. This is like hairspray for your brows and helps your brows stay in place all day long.
Step 3: Apply a neutral color all over lid. I recommend MAC's naked pigment.
Step 4: Apply a grayish eyeshadow (MAC Scene) from lashline to crease and blend.
Step 5: Using the same color, use an eyeliner brush and line the bottom of your eyes.
Step 6: Line the outer corners of your eyes with a gray eyeliner and smudge into the lash line. Go over your lash line with the gray shadow using your eyeliner brush to blend the colors.

LIPS:
Step 1: Line your lips with a pinkish-red liner like Pink 340 from Shu Uemura.
Step 2: Using your fingers, blot some lipstick (Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited in OR 532) onto your lips, you do not want the look to be too "done" so do not use a brush.
Step 3: Apply a clear gloss over your lips.

Enjoy! Carry blotting paper to blot your face as-needed since no Gossip Girl should be caught with excessive shine! You can purchase this look online at Sephora and MAC.

Anthousa Cliff Rose and White Carnation Home Fragrance Review

When Maria Christofilis, founder of Anthousa, went to Italy to be an apprentice to a perfumer, little did she realize she would go on to create room fragrances that would fill the home of many celebrities. Anthousa, means the perfect bloom in Greek, launched in 2004 and it was not long before it became a household name among the well-heeled.

Anthousa's collection of fragrance diffusers boosted a wide variety of spell-bounding scents to satisfy even the most discerning shoppers. Kate Bosworth counted on the White Tuberose scent to unwind after returning home from her hectic worldwide Superman Returns promotion. Mandy Moore, Kate Hudson, and Jennifer Garner are just a few of Maria's celebrities and models following.

My favorite from the collection, one that I use all year round in my bedroom, is the Cliff Rose and White Carnation scent. I love the soft white floral blend that lingers around the room all day long and the hint of rose hidden amongst it. Although the website says that it lasts for approximately 9 months, mine have, at times lasted for as long as 12 months.

Anthousa's home fragrance diffusers come in three size, Grand (495ml; $90; lasts 9 months); Demi (245ml; $65; lasts 6 months); and Petite (100ml; $35; lasts 3 months). I always buy them in Grand because it just makes more economical sense.

Try my favorite scent today at Anthousa: Cliff Rose and White Carnation.