MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FELLOW BEAUTY WHORES!!!

'tis the season for all things beautiful!
kissies,
the beauty whore

FREEBIES!!!

HOLIDAY FETE'S MUST-HAVES

With Christmas season among us, Holiday parties seem to be in the air. I don't like to do my whole "made-up" face for a cup of egg nog and some Christmas carols. Instead, I enjoy a lighter, fresher, more youthfull me! (I also think that if I look younger AND feel younger, I will BE younger... and then maybe, just MAYBE, Santa will come down my chimney this year!)

So this is my Holiday party beauty routine:

Natural, wavey hair thanks to John Frieda's Starlet Waves Wave Enhancing Spray (left). I literally spray on wet, just washed hair and leave to air dry.




A sun-kissed complexion from Guerlain's Terracotta 3(rich warm bronze). Note to Self: I used to only be able to buy this product when en route to some exotic locale at a duty free shop in a European airport... now, it's sold at Sephora!!! Love this product because it absorbs yucky surface oils and adds the perfect amount of color!



Eyebrow gel for my unruly brows (a MUST MUST MUST... I actually take it EVERYWHERE!) I prefer Cover Girl's Professional Natural Lash Mascara. It's meant for your lashes but does wonders for the brows... heavy duty stuff!

On my lips, my new must-have(thanks to my recent trip to Sephora) is Benefit's Color Plump in Love Ya'. It's a stick, but it goes on like a mixture between a gloss and matte lippy and it just so happens to actually plump your lips without making them super shiney (and we all know how much a beauty whore loves a plumper pecker!) It boasts the ideal amount of color leaving your lips natural and tres tres kissable!

what's YOUR beauty routine...

Stocking Stuffers!!!

Brushing your teeth isn't exactly considered an exciting task... I mean, granted, a nice set of pearly whites can definitely help you with the boys. And it is said, that if you're apt to over-eating, brushing your teeth when you feel the hunger urge splurge, can actually rid you of the desire (i've tried it, and it really does work!)
But the actually act of brushing is pretty much a bore. Toothpaste is toothpaste... end of stroy.
Until now...
GoSmile has revolutionized the tooth brushing industry and with the Holiday season quickly approaching, GoSmile has yet again offered us a fabulously fun take on toothpaste! The GoSmile MINI Holiday Toothpaste Duo is the perfect stocking stuffer for any beauty whore! With two travel size toothpastes, one in ginger bread cookie (tingles with a cinnamon and nutmeg taste) and the other in pepperment candy (think of a candy cane with an extra shot of peppermint), not only will your teeth sparkle with delight, but your mouth will smile too!
Brushing your teeth doesn't ahve to be a chore!

WEEKLY MUST-HAVE

If your eyes are the windows to your soul, then it's crucial to put your best eye forward! Susan Posnick's Color Coated Mascara is a winter must-have! Not only does the mascara lengthen those lovely lashes, but the other side of the wand boasts a fabulous brow gel!
Susan is make-up artist to the stars including Cindy Crawford, Amber Valletta and Diane Lane and her line consists of four perfectly usable and necessary products (like the amazing ColorFlo coverage powder with brush attachment). The two-in-one mascara and brow gel is just the latest in her fantastic line! And for a limited time, our luck beauty banter readers can be among the first beauty lovers to try this product... all you have to do is write in and tell us your Winter beauty routine and five lucky winners will receive their very own beauty banter Holiday present!
Trust me. This is a product you NEED in your make-up bag. Your eyes will flutter in appreciation!

Santa Wishes From a Fellow Beauty Whore...

Dearest darling Santa,
The holidays always send me down memory lane. And looking through old photographs reality sank in: no matter how good I am, you're not bringing me back the skin I had when I was six. To cope with this harsh truth, please stuff your sleigh with a year's supply of MD Skincare’s Alpha Beta Face Peel in those clever travel packs (so my skin will glow no matter the time zone) and throw in a few bottles of Smashbox Photo Finish with Dermaxyl, which leaves my skin as silky as the original but now fights wrinkles and has an SPF 15 (see how good I am?). Living in the arctic you know dry skin, so out of sympathy fill my stocking with Rosebud Salve, Mustela Hydra Stick, and Nars Balancing Moisture Lotion. And I you can't forget Korres conditioner for dry hair. Tis the season for dry ends. Then indulge me a little with Tarte Cheek Stain in Flush and Delux Beauty gloss in Asher so that even in sunny Los Angeles, I can look like I just came in from the cold.

Fa la la de dah,
Alexandra

Alex

Here is where I have bought my stuff (and it seems everything is available at Sephora so I should start one-stop shopping):
MD Skincare’s Alpha Beta Face Peel - MD Skincare, nordstrom, sephora
Smashbox Photo Finish with Dermaxyl - bloomingdales
Rosebud Salve - Sephora, bath and body works
Mustela Hydra Stick - Fred Segal Beauty, Bath and Body Works
Nars Balancing Moisture Lotion - Neiman Marcus, Sephora
Korres conditioner for dry hair - Bath and Body Works, Sephora
Tarte Cheek Stain in Flush - Sephora, Nordstrom
Delux Beauty lip gloss in Asher - sephora NEVER has it so I buy it up when they do. In part because I love the color and because Asher is my middle name!

Thanks to Alex for sharing her blissful beauty wishes... and please, tell us what you'd like Santa to bring this Holiday season!

Beauty, Defined... the British way

(Queen of all British models, Kate Moss!)
Here is a great article about pale skin, kohl rimmed eyes and romantic lips.
Fox-Up For Autumn by Kitty Argent redefines the Winter look. (partial article below)

Fox-Up For Autumn
Stuck in a make-up rut? Then it’s about time you gave yourself a new season make-over. Take inspiration from the key catwalk trends for autumn/winter ’06 and update your look, replacing your old favourites with inspirational new must-have make-up items…
White out - face up to pale, porcelain skin

White out – face up to pale, porcelain skin…
As seen at: Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Jacobs, D&G, Givenchy and Prada.

This season brings bad news if you're a self-tan slave. Sun-kissed is out and pale and interesting is most definitely in but don’t worry - it doesn’t mean you have to go from gorgeously golden to Goth in one fell swoop.

Start by reducing your fake tan quota by mixing a little moisturiser in with it, and gradually wean yourself off self-tan altogether by swapping it for a tinted moisturiser such as Dermalogica’s Sheer Tint Moisture (£21.60) or No 7’s Soft & Sheer (£8.50).

As the days get greyer and nippier you’ll soon realise that a paler, creamier skin tone enhanced with a dab of pink cream blush is far more flattering than the brash bronzed look.
Swap: fake tan and bronzing powder combinations for Clarins’ Horizons Express Face Palette (£25), Stilla’s Cheek Duo in Sugar Loaf (£15), Clinique's Patchwork Pink palette (£18) and Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation 29 (£25) - a beautiful shimmering golden pale taupe colour.

Eye eye – give a wink to heavy, kohl rimmed and shadow-heavy peepers…
As seen at: Versace, Ferre, Giorgio Armani, Giles and Gucci

Although complexions may be clean and creamy for the new season, eyes certainly aren’t. Deep, dark intense rock chick-like peepers are a key part of the A/W 06 look so it’s time to invest in a sultry charcoal or midnight blue eyeshade, a dramatic kohl or liquid eyeliner and lashings of lash-lengthening mascara. Just make sure you have plenty of eye-make up remover on hand for getting rid of it all!
Swap: boring brown shades for rich, darker dramatic ones. Giorgio Armani’s Eye Couture Palette (£45) boasts a trio of day and night friendly aubergine, russet and peach shades plus a black one for dramatising and defining eyes. Serge Lutens Eye Kohl Liner Pot (£38), Guerlain’s Divinora Eyeliner (£18.50) and Urban Decay’s Smoke Out Eye Pencil (£11) will all help you achieve your look, and for flutter fabulous eyelashes flick on some of Clinique’s revolutionary High Definition Mascara (£12.50) or Chanel’s new Inimitable Mascara (£16.50).
LIP SERVICE – pucker up to romantic rosebud, nicely natural lips . . .
As seen at: Calvin Klein, Alexander McQueen, Michael Kors, Bottega Veneta and Anna Sui

Although there was the odd bolt of bright red slicked onto lips at MaxMara and Prada, the predominant trend for autumn/winter ‘06 was for nicely natural, just-been-kissed lips. The key to achieving this is to make sure your lips are in tip-top condition, so give them some daily TLC with a special moisturiser such as Vaseline or Carmex. Alternatively, cut out the hard work of applying a moisturiser and colour and just use a tinted lip balm such as M.A.C's Rose De Sheer (£10.50).
Swap: tropical pink or coral shades and barely there browns for pretty pink gloss or matte ones. Revlon ColorStay in Natural Cashmere (£7.99) Fresh’s Gloss Absolute (£16.50) and Lancôme’s Color Fever in Walk The Catwalk Brown (£15.50) will all help you get perfectly natural looking pouts. If you want to add a little depth to your nicely natural look for night time, then go for a shade that’s shot through with a touch of glitter, such as Dior Addict’s Rose Scenario (£15.50) or Chanel’s Rouge Allure in Evocation (£16.50).


Tell us your Winter Beauty Routine and you could win some fab prizes!!!! Including a soon-to-launch mascara by celebrity make-up artist Susan Posnick! Also, a deep conditioning masque from Lucid (my very own hair care line!) Be one of the first to try these Winter must-haves!!!!
CLICK HERE TO SHARE!!!

SOURCE

Santa's List... Part 1

Dear Santa,
All I want this year for Christmas is plumper, fuller lips. I'm scared of needles and don't want to fall into the "plastic surgery" category and, unfortunately, I was not blessed by the genetic pool of perfect pouts. It looks like I need a miracle.
Can you please help me, Santa?
Signed,
Momentarily Mute

Dear Momentarily Mute,
Although I can't grant you a miracle, nor can I change your genetic make-up, and I can't force you to go under the needle if you're unwilling, I can, however, offer you a fabulous product that will leave you with fuller, fiercer lips. Lip Fusion XL! And exclusively at Sephora, as a Holiday gesture of sorts, you can purchase the "two double ended lip fusion duos," a.k.a. perfect pout, (a combination of color and gloss) for a mere $39.00! Your lips may sting like a pack of bees, but rest assured, your pucker will be very pleased!
Signed,
The Beauty Whore for Santa Clause

WEEKLY MUST-HAVE

I'm a smoker (gasp) and not proud of it. Besides pre-mature wrinkles, stained teeth and bad breath, not to mention chest and lung issues, smoking is less then glamorous. Bottom line, smoking stinks! And I mean, everywhere! On your skin, clothes, car and hair. And then just yesterday, I received a great little package filled with delightfull smelling hair fragrances. Being the hair fanatic that I am, I was cautious to try out this new product. What if it stripped my color? Or even worse, died my hair? Or maybe it would cause breakage? (Ironic, I know, considering all of the damage the ciggies are doing to my insides). But being an unbiased reporter means putting yourself on the line, even if that means testing a product on my million dollar mane. Alas, I have fabulous news! These hair fragrances ROCK!!! Not only do they smell divine, they are also alcohol free AND they won't cause frizziness! Plus, they're not so over-powering as to distract from an everyday perfume!
Pure & Petal Hair Fragrances come in four sinfully yummy aromas: sublime citrus, heavenly clean, linden blossom and summer passion (pictured). And even if you're not a smoker (which I hope you aren't!), we all know that over-washing your hair leads to dull, thinning, broken, stripped locks. So now there are no excuses! Take care of that hair... and smell fresh in between washings!
To purchase Pure & Petal Hair Fragrances, CLICK HERE!

'Tis the Season...

(pre-NYC transformation)
I spent the past weekend in New York updating my Winter beauty look, and let me tell you, it was quite a glamorous transformation. I died my ever-oxidized blonde locks into a healthier and richer chocolate brown - thanks to the fabulous fingers of uber-colorist, Ludovic at The Pierre Michel Salon. Ludovic has been beautifying A-list clients including Sharon Stone and Michelle Williams for the past 13 years, so needless to say, I was in good hands. Why brown? "Chocolate brown is the color this Winter because it is warmer for the skin," says Ludovic.
Next, I marched on over to the newly opened Sephora on Lexington Avenue and Fifty-Eight Street. The trend of the moment is golden eyes - the more shimmer, the better - and red lips. For blush, a just-walked-in-from-the-cold look is natural and necessary.
So here it is: The Ultimate Beauty Whore... transformed!
(post-NYC transformation)
On eyes, Laura Mercier Eye Book, exclusive for the Holiday Season. I blended the golden color with a bit of the burnt brown in my crease and under my lids. On lips, Bourjois Rouge Heprfix in Rouge Ultime 7. On cheeks, what else but Stila's Convertible color in POPPY!
Send us your Winter wonderland transformations! And remember, it's all about color!