The famous line goes: "By the way....they're real and they're fabulous". Now you can say that about your lashes with Benefit's new mascara They're Real. This mascara gives you insane length and separation. Check out the research (Research results on mascara?! Yea they went there.) The precision bristles on the custom domed tip lift, define and curl like that bra you have for a "special" night out. The end result is luxurious silky lashes that won't smudge, clump or dry out. This is serious man-catcher mascara. So check out They're Real and dare your man not to get lost in your eyes.

-94% saw dramatic length and volume*
-90% saw base-to-tip curl*
-94% saw visible lift*
-100% saw long-wearing results*
-*Results observed in a consumer panel survey

Benefit Cosmetics They're Real! Mascara

$22.00
by Benefit
at Sephora

Hitting the US and EU markets right now are BB Creams or they are also known as Blemish Balms. From my research, I have found that BB Creams were first made popular in Asia. Originally though it was formulated in Germany by a doctor who was trying to find a make up that his patients could use post laser treatment. BB Creams come in a variety of different formulas. Some of them are made with brightening or whitening properties. Others are anti-acne, anti-wrinkle. They can treat scarring. The sky's the limit with BB Creams. Some brands that are on the market today are Boscia, Dr Jart +, Lioele, Skin Food, The Face Shop, Missha, Skin79 and most recently MAC and Illamasqua got in on the game. As far as I know, Missha and Illamasqua are the only brands who offer a shade range. Illamasqua is HD and does not contain sun screen. All of the others do. I have tried a few of these and I have to say that the Dr Jart + Water Fuse is my absolute favorite. (I have only tried Dr Jart, Boscia and MAC so far) It gives me a soft glow, loads of hydration and it finishes smooth. The Illamasaqua isn't out yet but I am trying to get my hands on it. The reason I'm loving BB Creams right now is because I need little else with them. If I'm running out of the house, I don't even prime. I just wash my face, use a serum and then apply BB Cream. That's it. Other than that, I tend to use it as a primer/tinted moisturizer under powder foundations. It looks incredible under Smashbox Halo Powder and Make Up Forever Duo Mat Powder. If you want to see more, I'm adding links at the bottom.

http://www.allbbcream.com
http://www.maccosmetics.com
http://www.sephora.com
http://www.illamasqua.com

on friday i flat ironed my hair. today i washed it for the first time since then. if you haven't seen pics of me, my hair is extremely curly. flat ironing my hair takes two people and at least 2 hours. it looks really pretty when i do it but i hate doing it because it takes such an effort. i LOVE my curls. they are a pretty texture, light and easy to fix. today when i was ready to wash it i had to use the following products to restore it:

Huile D'Ales

Phyto This Availability Of This Item Is Unknown At This Time.

Bumble and Bumble Gentle Shampoo

Bumble and bumble Gentle Shampoo

Bumble and Bumble Deep Mask

Bumble and bumble Deeep Masque

$12.00
by Bumble and Bumble
at Sephora

Aveda Be Curly (not pictured)

Living Proof Full Thickening Cream

Living Proof Full Thickening Cream

$15.00
by Living Proof
at Sephora

Bumble and Bumble Texture

Bumble and bumble Bb. Texture Hair Dressing Creme

$26.00
by Bumble and Bumble
at Sephora

I let it air dry with all of these products in there. The result: FULL BOUNCY CURLS. Not fried. Not stringy. Just curls. Love all of these brands. Check them out for the most exquisite hair day ever.

Armani Beauty Fluid Master Primer

$56.00 by Armani at Barneys New York

Julie Hewitt Camellia Balm. If you haven't tried this product order it now. It's a do all beauty product. Throw it in your bag and bask in the glow of natural camellia oil. http://www.juliehewitt.com

Georgio Armani Fluid Master Primer: Visibly reduces the appearance of texture. Makes everything go on silky smoothe.

Urban Decay Lip Love Honey-Infused Lip Therapy

$16.00
by Urban Decay
at Sephora

Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

$22.00
by Stila
at Ulta

Two things and it's all about HAIR. Today is a lazy day for me. I'm off of work and spending it bonding with my crazy little boy. It's hot out and super humid so it's a hair up day. In order to get my hair to do what I wanted, I used two products both by the wonderful Bumble & Bumble:

Bumble and bumble White Hair Powder

$19.00
by Bumble and Bumble
at Sephora

I can do the Blondish Hair Powder but since it's hot (and humid) white will be better so no color comes off on my hands. This is instant volume in a can. I kid you not. Try it out.

Bumble and bumble Brilliantine

$21.00
by Bumble and Bumble
at Sephora

What it is:
An oil-based styling cream that's unique and hard to define.

What it does:
This cream gives hair polish and a sort of languid, slept-in, sexy look with separation and extra sheen.

What else you need to know:
This first-ever product by Bumble and bumble was inspired by photos and films from the '30s and '40s and remains a must for both classic and casual razor cuts.

Seriously. Read the description. It says it all.

Pores your problem? There are tons and tons of products on the market to cover and disguise your pores. What if you can unclog and de-congest your enlarged pores to reveal smoother skin? Here's how: I have included a few products that are appropriate for all skin types (even girls with dry skin have larger pores sometimes) and do not completely break the bank. All products have immediate and long term effects and should be used according to package directions.

Deep Cleansing Facial:

Step 1: Cleanse with a soap free deep cleanser. Two that I love: Ren Clear Calm Anti-Blemish Clay Cleanser OR Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser. Both cleansers are clay based and gently yet effectively get skin and pores super clean. Bonus: Use a Clarisonic with the new Deep Pore Cleansing Brush Head. If you don't have access to a Clarisonic, the Kiehl's cleanser has diatomaceous earth to gently exfoliate.

Step 2: Apply a mask that will clean the pores but won't strip the skin. Two that I love: Boscia Luminizing Black Mask OR Kiss My Face Pore Shrink. Both masks are anti-oxidant rich and help to detox and nourish the skin. Reveal more luminous smooth skin after one treatment.

Step 3: Apply skin friendly pore treatment serums. Two that I love: Clinique Pore Refining Solutions OR Derma Doctor Picture Porefect. Both serums help pores to appear smoother by removing blackheads and other congestion from the area. Also, they both effectively help to calm inflammation. Clinique states that pores will be diminished in size by 53 % in just 12 weeks. Derma Doctor says on average, users experience pore size reduction by 39% in 8 weeks.

Step 4: Protect, hydrate and refine. Choose moisturizers that care for your pores and give you lots of moisture to prevent dehydration. Added bonus if they include sunscreen. Two that I love: GoClear Moisturizing Sunscreen OR Shiseido Urban Environment Cream for Face/Body Water-Resistant Sunscreen SPF 35 PA +++. Both provide moisture, protection and smooth the skin.

If you are reading this blog, I have to assume that you are a beauty junkie like I am. You are only a small percentage of women who spend time and money on skin care. According to many many women whom I've personally surveyed, a skin care routine is not something they currently have or worry about. Yet, nearly all of these women express concerns about aging, discoloration, acne and sun damage. For these women (my clients) I put them through "Skin Care Boot Camp". They all come to me asking to cover, conceal and mask their concerns. My first question to them is "Why conceal when you can potentially fix the problem?" The answers I usually get are:

"Nothing can fix my problem so I just cover it up"
"Skin care takes too long"
"I'm afraid of breaking out"
"My skin is too sensitive"

Well, it's time to step out of the dark and into a whole new day. You don't have to pile on the make up to look great. Most top brands are offering lighter textures and concealer is just an after thought. What if you could look in the mirror and feel happy about what you see? I make this happen for my clients and, today, I'll tell you how to make it happen for you. This is The Skin Project.

1) Let a professional get a good look at your skin. Visit an aesthetician, a dermatologist or a dermatology nurse to get a deep skin analysis. When a professional is able to get a magnified look at your skin through a dermascope or mag lamp, they can see everything. Also, a lot of professionals will employ the use of a Wood's Lamp which has a specific ultraviolet wave length to see what the eye can't see. In other words, acne, scarring, hyperpigmentation and other skin conditions will show up on the skin as different colors. They can see what's hiding and, most important, what can be treated.

2) Work with this professional to determine which skin care routine will be best for you. Think of it as your road map to great skin. Over the counter? Specific ingredients to look for in your products? Is a prescription product best? What is the best course of action? This is also the time to ask a lot of questions about their recommendations such as: What side effects can you expect? How long will it take to begin seeing results? When should full results be expected? What precautions should you take while using new products? Should you expect to see break outs or any other anomalies during the course of your new routine? Asking questions is crucial to your success.

3) Stick to your routine! If you are told that you will likely have a break out OR that your skin will get worse before it gets better don't give up. This is the most common mistake people make when starting a new routine. They see blemishes or peeling and panic and stop using the products before they really have a chance to work. If your skin is uncomfortable or you are concerned about what's happening, consult with your skin care professional before continuing with the routine. Some downslide is normal and expected but sometimes your skin may react badly. It is important to let a professional know so that you can either (A) Switch it up or (B) Start from scratch. If you asked a lot of questions, you should know what's normal and what's not.

4) Don't add if you are not seeing results fast enough. If you are told to use gentle cleansers and lots of sunscreen, do it. If you are using a Retin-A, laser treatments, in office peels or any other strong ingredients, adding other strong ingredients can do more harm than good. It seems tempting to do more but don't give in. Some ingredients can interact badly. If you are told 30 days to see results, believe it. Most ingredients take the amount of time it takes for your cells to turn over to work. If your cells are turning over every 45 days, expect results in about 50. Don't attempt to speed up the process. You'll be sorry.

5) Be realistic. We can hope for miracles but don't expect them. Everyone is different so every product will work differently. You should know that genetics plays a big role in how your skin looks today. You can't change that. Also, your skin did not get this way over night. It won't get better over night. Realistic expectations means you won't be disappointed in the end. In truth, your doctor can only tell what average results are. No one can tell you what your personal results will be. Most skin care companies do not claim to get rid of wrinkles and lines, they only claim to diminish them. If you can accept that your lines and wrinkles will not go completely away, you might feel better about your choices. If you want complete removal of a certain concern, think of surgical or non-invasive options that can be provided by health care professionals.

6) Think of your skin as a lifestyle change. Topical products work best when you take care of your body. Most professionals will agree that your skin is a good indicator of what is happening internally. If you are stressed, have a poor diet, don't get enough sleep, or engage in other unhealthy practices on a regular basis, you can bet that your skin will show all of that. A lot of common concerns can be addressed by making changes in diet and exercise. Also, protecting your skin from the sun can prevent future damage. Your daily dose of sunlight is extremely important and you can still protect your skin from burning. Remember, UVA rays are known as aging rays because they break down collagen and elastin. They are present year round. It is easy to prevent damage. Put on some sunscreen. (Oh, P.S. It's not enough if you have sunscreen in your make up. Make a choice to add it in your skin care routine.)

Take these six steps and be happier with your skin. If you have one less thing to worry about your life will feel a little lighter, like your foundation will feel soon.

Josie Maran is not new. I'm putting this brand on spotlight because the brand is expanding fast. It also looks like they're going more of a skincare route in a lot of Sephora stores. I've been to a few stores and saw that the unit has been updated. There's not a lot of make up on there. I was able to buy the cleansing oil. LOVE IT. I want to try the self-tanner. If any of you have tried it, please let me know how the color comes out. I have been using Argan oil for a while and really really love it. How many things can she infuse with Argan oil?! Anyway, if you haven't checked out this brand you can get her on Sephora.com, most Sephora stores and on QVC. If you are currently using the brand Moroccan OIl, I encourage you to try Josie Maran's Argan Oil. The first four ingredients of Moroccan Oil (according to packaging) are synthetics. Even though they are not tested on animals, this product is in no way natural. You can get a head to toe glow from Argan Oil. Please try it. It is an incredible product. It's only ingredient is 100% pure Argan Oil. Have you tried anything from Josie Maran? Comment below to tell me what you think.

Josie Maran Organic Argan Oil

$14.00
by Josie
at Sephora

What it is:
A lightweight oil that can be used as a daily moisturizer and skin treatment.

What it does:
Josie Maran Organic Argan Oil is a legendary oil that's rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, and grown organically in Morocco. Argan oil is known to have many treatment benefits, including hydrating and nourishing skin, as well as toning and firming. It's gentle enough to use on all skin types and is believed to help with skin conditions including acne.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:

• Parabens
• Sulfates
• Synthetic Fragrance
• Synthetic Dye
• Petro-Chemicals
• Phthalates

What else you need to know:
The oil is housed in a recyclable glass bottle, and purchased from women's cooperatives in Morocco to support their social and economic welfare. These cooperatives work within a UNESCO biosphere reserve that ensures the protection and reforestation of Argan trees.

See Josie Maran reveal her #1 personal beauty secret: 100% Pure Argan Oil.

*For each "Like" made on this Josie Maran Argan Oil product page from 4/15-5/31, $1 USD will be donated to the Women's Earth Alliance© (up to $25,000 USD total) by Josie Maran Cosmetics.The Women's Earth Alliance strengthens and unites grassroots women-led environmental initiatives around the world.

The name and logo of Women's Earth Alliance is used with its permission, which in no way constitutes an endorsement expressed or implied of any product or company. © Copyright 2011. Women's Earth Alliance, a not-for-profit, section 501(c)(3).
Sephora is the exclusive beauty retailer for this product.

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