M.A.C. Presents... Kids Helping Kids

We, here at Beauty Banter, think that these Holiday cards are quite special. As part of MAC's fight against A.I.D.S., every holiday MAC has children living with, or affected by HIV/AIDS create gift cards and wrapping paper. With 6 cards, 12 gift cards and 2 patterns of wrapping paper, all featuring the most adorable children's drawings, MAC's Kids Helping Kids Program just got a lot more chic!

As always, ALL proceeds will go to the MAC AIDS Fund to support Pediatric AIDS organizations world-wide.

May this Holiday season bless those living with the disease, and may we, as a people, find a cure!

Thank-you, MAC!


12 gift cards with envelopes for just $6.00! CLICK HERE to purchase...

Praying to the God of M.A.C.

MAC Cosmetics new holiday collections (yes, 7 in all) are INCREDIBLE! From the packaging (silver or gold compacts with royal crown motifs and cream fabric clutch bags with metallic threading) to the products (brush sets, lip sets, eye compacts) to the colors (rich silver and golds, plum, coral, tan and pinks), MAC has totally outdone themselves this year!!!

I just received an ENORMOUS box filled to the brim with the ENTIRE MAC holiday collection... I mean, how lucky am I?!

It's gonna take me awhile to play with all of these amazing products, but in the meantime, check out the collections (click on the name to view the entire collection):

• Antiquitease/ Colour

"She loves silver, she loves gold. Her Holiday indulgences inspired by the ornate excess of antiquity. Shades and finishes worn as gilded treasures. Modern by nature, she flirts with the style and fashion of another time. She's an Antiquitease."

• Royal Assets

"Stately in look, fabulously collectible: our gilded antique-inspired compacts for lips and eyes. With their magnificent assortment of shades and distinctly royal colour waves, who wouldn't regard these as an asset?"

• Heirlooms

"Extol the virtues of the past while staying perfectly au courant - with our Heirlooms brush bags. Each features the antique signature of M·A·C Holiday with a full set of professional brushes. Available in three distinct collections: Face, Eye and Basic."

• Curiousitease

"In the majestic fashion of our holiday Antiquitease collection yet with a style and realm of its own. Handsome in their bearing, these mini colour sets come in a textured cream paper cylinder with gold or silver crown motifs. Inside, all your M·A·C favourites."

• Finery

"Every Antiquitease adores her finery, including this petite purse of woven cream fabric with metallic thread and an ivory crown motif on the handle. Each contains three lipcolours of one colour scheme. Fabulously authentic in look and feel."

• Viva Glamorous

"This season's crowning glory: the VIVA GLAM compacts make their debut in their traditional red this year, embellished with our royal crown icon. Available in Cool and Warm palettes. Every cent of the purchase price goes to the M·A·C AIDS Fund."

• Kids Helping Kids

"With the joyous graphics of our young artists featured in a coordinated collection of cards, gift cards and wrapping paper, this is Holiday signed, sealed, ready to send! Each purchase helps support pediatric AIDS organizations around the world."

Available in stores, October 18, 2007.

Do you have any favorite MAC Holiday Products?!

Lash Finder By Prescriptives...

Prescriptives Cosmetics has launched a fabulous new podcast to teach beauty enthusiasts which mascara is right for you! I reviewed their Prescriptives Here To Stay 24-Hour Longwear Mascara (CLICK HERE for post) back in September, and I've gotta say, I still love it (and use it)!

Now, they've made 4 Podcast Tutorials demonstrating how to wear 4 of their best mascaras. Not only do they tell you about the mascara, but they also tell you how to work your eye to get the best effect from said mascara!

Here's what it is:

Four “how-to” videos featuring Prescriptives’ Director of Artistry and QVC® spokesperson, Jillian Veran will help you choose the right lash look:

• 24-Hour Lashes (featuring Here To Stay 24-Hour Longear Mascara)
• Long Luxe Lashes (featuring Lash Envy Volumizing Mascara)
• Curled, Conditioned Lashes (featuring False Eyelashes Plush Mascara)
• Beyond Long Lashes (featuring Beyond long Maximum Length Mascara)

I've included the Long Luxe Lashes tutorial on this post (just kidding... blogger isn't working so well), but to view the other (and equally educational) podcasts, CLICK HERE.

I am so excited to try this mascara, you have NO idea!

Which one will you try???

WEEKLY MUST-HAVE!

I'm usually pretty apprehensive about applying oils to my face... I already have enough natural oils! But when I received a sample of Superfoods Rx Complex Age Defying Serum, I promised myself - a month of the oil. And let me tell you, this stuff is genius! Not only did I not break out, at month's end, my face was more firm, skin tone more even and I had an overall dewy look.

A word (or several...) from the company:
"SFRx™ Complex is a patented formulation that took years in the laboratory to develop. Containing l-ascorbic acid, this pure form of Vitamin C together with other antioxidants and whole-food based ingredients—or SuperFoods—was the key scientific breakthrough to developing an efficacious Vitamin C formulation with the power to produce the results you’re looking to achieve.

It feeds your skin with a patented complex of super nutrients. These vitamin-based antioxidants and other active ingredients are scientifically proven to help your skin look younger, softer and more radiant by reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and increasing collagen synthesis to protect your face and neck from future damage."

So what does the serum really do? Well, it reduces the appearance of wrinkles, reduces blemishes, improves skin firmness, protects from environmental damages, increases collagen production and restores natural moisture. Basically it injects your skin with a large dosage of vitamin c and important anti oxidants that feed your skin the same vitamins and nutrients that leave your body healthy too!

Our month is up, but we're keeping this product in our daily face care regimen!

SPLENDID Weekened Reads....

 

From the Splendicity members, comes another round of their best links.



BEAUTY
Face Candy shows us Guerlain's latest - and it is gold.
Makeup Loves Me tells us about her love for Lancome's Color Fever Gloss in Volcanic.
A Touch of Blusher shares her shopping list for Japan.
Beauty Banter has the exclusive information regarding Smashbox Cosmetics and Petro Zillia's collaboration.
The Scented Life describes Mariah's new fragrance.
15 Minute Beauty Fanatic shares what is on her Bobbi Brown wish list.
Beautiful Makeup Search says that this from Smashbox is a Must-Have for Tired Eyes.
Beautynomics reviews Tarte's Lip Stain and Lip Enchancing Duo.
Vanity Vibe tells us if she thinks that the SK-II Air Touch Foundation and Blush is worth it.
eBeautyDaily  lists 50 Beautiful Things you can do with Vaseline.
Hot Mama Daily gushes about Mama Mio's Skincare.

FASHION
Chic by Nature introduces us to Five Accessories Eco Bags.
Spork Fashion has the latest from Heatherette's Spring Show from Los Angeles.
The Fashionable Kiffen tells us that Rules are Made to be Broken.
Style Nosh shares some more Style Tips.
She Knows Best has a Cuff-Link Lesson for the men in our lives.
Style Tots tells us about her Must Have for Boys.
The Snarkstress rips up Kate Bosworth's look, like only she can.

SHOPPING
Wardrobe Oxygen has a Review of Duo.
Let's Go Shopping has a great video of Roberto Cavalli's Fall and Winter Collection.
Haute and Bothered says that this bag is Totetastic.
The Latest Luxe tells us how to stay warm in this Sable Bolero.
Style It Less found a pair of Michael Kors Shoes under $100.
Teen Style Lounge says it is never too early to start Holiday Shopping and has some pink goodies for you.
The Well-Heeled Society asks if you Love or Hate these from Lanvin.
Aging Fabulous got a new bag, now she needs the matching wallet.

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

In celebration of my birthday (21... yet again!), I've decided to post a few of MY favorite links from past beauty banter postings...
Some of these are really old, from the early days of beauty banter, so for my new fellow beauty whores, I hope that you get a chance to catch up with these incredible posts!


xo xo Beauty Banter (sorta like Gossip Girl... sorry, couldn't resist!)

Here's a few of my favorite things from back in March, 2007... i loved this post because it was the first of my favorite things and everything on the post is relatively affordable and products that are still favorites!

Alice + Olivia designer, Stacey Bendet, writes exclusively for beauty banter about how she stays healthy - from yoga, to a list of must-have vitamins, to foods and teas that are absolutely necessary!

I dish on the expensive maintenance of million dollar hair... and the must have products for a fab mane!

Still, the BEST hand cream, and Jackie O's personal favorite... where to buy it in the states...

One of my absolute favorite articles written about the "100 New Beauty Rules You Need to Know For Autumn," from British rag, Grazia. Each of these rules is still pretty relevant and worth a re-read!

Silky skin like a Vegas Stripper - the must-have product - and it's super cheap!

Thanks to fellow beauty whore Alex Shears for this next bit of beauty education - from British Vogue, famous makeup artists dish on the products that they can't live without! I often refer back to this particular post when I am in dire need of some SOS beauty advice!

An Italian import - one of my favorite line of body products that is tres affordable! And a beauty blogging discovery!

Another brilliant post by Ms. Alex Shears - Organic must-haves... the good, the great, and the super fabulous!

The beautiful Bijou Phillips dishes on what she has in her make-up bag... 10 products that will send you straight to Sephora!

Make-up tips from my summer film, I Heart Veronica Martin's, incredible makeup artist, Sole Alberti... how to achieve the hot and sexy look of the gorgeous stars from my film!

So there you go... some great reading, fab beauty advice and awesome products!

Shout Out To Beauty Banter!

Christine, over at 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic was kind enough to post about Beauty Banter in her Blog Spotlights section!


She writes, "Beauty Banter has long been one of my Go-To Blogs for information and honest reviews. "The Beauty Whore" is the author, and like most beauty bloggers, she's a long time beauty addict who knows what she likes. She posts great product finds as the "Weekly Must Have," showcases beauty ideas such as new ways to wear your ponytail with a huge collection of pictures, and seems to be almost as big a fan as I am for makeup palettes!"

To read the entire review, CLICK HERE!

Thanks, Christine! We heart your blog, too!

Petro Zillia + Smashbox = Makeup Bliss

Beauty Banter Exclusive!

It's sort of a trend lately to have designers and make-up companies join forces and create products (Remember Lancome and fashion designer Peter Som's incredible berry red lippy, P.S. Kiss?)

Well, on the heels of LA Fashion Week, fashion house Petro Zillia and Smashbox cosmetics have announced that they will team up to create 3 products that are sure to suit the beauty and fashion enthusiast in each of us!

I was at the Petro Zillia show, and let me tell you, the look was fierce. Bold, colorful lip, fresh, clean face and dramatic eyes. I spoke to head designer and owner, Nony Tochterman, and she gave me the inside scoop on the look she was trying to achieve.

"Everyone is doing smokey eyes. It's all over the runways. But I wanted to concentrate on lashes and liner. We did massive lashes, and black liner on the top of the model's eyes. We left the rest of the eye relatively clean. We also accentuated the brows by coloring them in with a darker shade."

The makeup suited the clothes perfectly - a rainbow array of color, linear and gorgeous! (And don't you just love the colorful product outer wrapper?!)

Here are the items created by Petro Zillia exclusively for Smashbox:

• Photo Finish Lipstick With Sila-Silk Technology in Stunning
• Focal Point Lash Building Mascara in Black
• Jet Set Waterproof Eye Liner in Midnight Black

The products will be available at the Petro Zillia store in West Hollywood, starting October 31st, or by logging onto the Petro Zillia website, www.shoppetrozillia.com

Looks from the show:

Multi-Vitamins For Your Hair

Finding a great new shampoo is like a guy discovering a winning sports team - an adrenalin-rushed experience of pure excitement!

I recently came across the Greek line, Propoline, all natural hair and body care products. As most of you know, I have a deep love for another Greek line, Korres (click HERE to view previous post) - their body balms are like heaven in a jar. So, I was thrilled to receive the package containing Propoline's Multi-Vitamin Shampoo and Conditioner. Vitamin's for your hair? Genius!

A word (or several...) from the company:
"Propoline natural products are formulated by learning from the self-sustained community of the bees and the natural materials they produce. The key ingredient in Propoline products is propolis, a valuable and unique substance produced by bees in order to build a protective, sterile wall around the hive. Propoline products also contain honey and beeswax, and incorporate a variety of natural extracts derived from the Greek flora such as rosemary, soapwort, marigold and St. John's wort."


The shampoo is a gentle, everyday shampoo that smells delicious and leaves my hair vibrant and healthy. Apparently, the grape seed extracts add vitality and shine while protecting from harmful UV rays. Being that I live in sunny Cali (it's 90 degrees today!), my hair needs all of the protection that it can get!


The multi-vitamin conditioner, again, is gentle and intended for all hair types. It didn't give me as much conditioning as I like but it's great for frequent washers or people who want added volume to their hair (thus, less conditioner). But I've gotta say, I adore any product with a pump top!

What I love most about this line though, is that they present you with about a DOZEN choices for shampoo's - oily hair, shampoo just for men, dry-scalp, color-treated, etc.

Other products I can't wait to try - the hair masks (dry, colored hair, multi-vitamin, and tonic) and, get this - Dental Care Products!

God Love Us Some Greeks!!!

Shout Out To Beauty Banter!

Thanks to our friends over at Belle Ringer Public Relations for posting the incredible post all about Beauty Banter!

CLICK HERE to have a read!

Also, Beauty Banter and MOI were tracking the latest beauty trends on the new CW show, CW NOW... Sunday nights, 7pm.




Thanks for supporting!

History of the Earring...

Get this: Earrings weren't always just beautiful jewelry that hung from your earlobes...

If you had been born in a different culture or time, you might have been using earrings to mark your social status, keep away evil, or even show your availability to marry. Earrings have a long and colorful history of being used in ceremonial, social, and religious settings for different purposes. They were worn not only on the ear lobes, but in other parts of the body too. While you may not believe now, like Indian brides did previously, that piercing your left nostril and putting an earring stud in it will drive away pain in childbirth, it can still be fun to discover why these earring customs took hold back then.

Sponsored Post Sponsored Post Sponsored Post Sponsored Post Sponsored Post

Sunday Poll!!!

SPLENDID Weekened Reads....

Here are the best posts from around the Splendicity network this week.



Beauty
The Mineral Makeup Blog reviews MAD’s Exquisite Anti-Aging Mineral Treatment.
Viva Woman says that not all natural lipsticks are lead-free.
Savvy Skin says Bye Bye Botox.
Beauty Secrets Revealed shares a wonderful Sinful Chocolate Spa Recipe.
Spa Beautifully has all of the details on The Ultimate Spa Experience.
Beauty and Fashion Tech shows how beautiful the new Nail Lacquers from MAC's Holiday Antiquitease Collection are.
Shades of U dishes about her beautiful look with Pinks, Lavenders and Meow Mineral Foundation.
NY $pender found a great cosmetic database and has some information behind it.

Fashion
Adventures in the Stiletto Jungle dishes on the latest trend of gorgeous Glossy Grey Patent Shoes.
Her Accessories discovers some Eco-Friendly Tote Bags.
Laya's Eye spotted some really cute Foxers Boxers.
Petite Fashionista tells the petite Bootylicious Babes how to dress.
Style...A Work in Progress says that for the new Sexy and the City movie, you can be too rich and too thin.
Between My Peers has Five Fall Trends for even the frugal Mom.

Shopping
Shopalicious! Blog found a Gigi agate pendant necklace from Two Sisters Jewelry.
Shoe Blitz keeps us on trend with a bunch of new Burgundy Shoe picks.
The Latest Luxe has Holiday Fever.
Shop Diary says Dress Like A Gossip Girl - with Lorick.
CelebLOOK tells us where to get Renee Zellweger's Viva La Cure T-Shirt.

Enjoy and have a splendid weekend!

New Favorite Eye Cream...

I'm a total sucker for a good eye cream.

The other day, while browsing the aisles of my favorite store (Sephora), I came across an incredible new product.

Here's my problem: I have oily skin that I often over-dry. And my eyes seem to be taking the brunt of the dryness... Even though I apply eye cream twice a day, the inner corners of my eyes never seem hydrated! Thus, concealer looks caked on and lines that aren't even wrinkles look like deep crevices in my face!

Enter Murad's Eye Treatment Complex SPF 8, "a patented formula containing glycolic acid to gently exfoliate, encouraging cell renewal and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Provitamin B5 repairs and protects to recapture a more youthful look."

I've used the cream for about a week and I actually notice a difference - my eyes are finally hydrated, yet they don't come across as oil wells (people with oily skin know what I'm referring to!) And an added bonus - lighter dark circles!

C'est la vie!

$58.00 for .5oz.

UPDATE: This eye cream made me break out!!! Weird, I know, to break out from an eye cream but the skin under the eyes is very sensitive and this cream was just too thick to do the job without clogging my pores!!!

Body and Soul - Happy Body Care...

This is why we blog, people!!!

Okay, fine. I blog for many reasons: Trends before they are trendy, PR mailings, free samples of fabulous products, and, of course, spreading the word when we find a true gem of a product!

I'm a huge body care fan. I love it all: exfoliators, moisturizers, body butters, balms, washes, foot creams - you name it, I own it! And 9 out of 10 times, I actually use it! That's not to say that I haven't come across my share of "blah" body products - or gimmicky ones that cost a small fortune and nest under my sink because I can't bare to throw said product (and the small fortune) away.


A couple of weeks ago, I received a package - a very special package. How special, you ask? Well, let's just say that I could actually feel the love that went in to preparing this package and it's contents. Every product seemed so perfect, like it was formulated and packaged just for me! From the moment that I opened the box, my apartment instantly smelled like the fruit section at the grocery store - fresh, clean, even edible.

I instantly found myself dreaming of a warm bath and a smooth exfoliation. I became enraptured by the homemade look and feel of the products - tubs of pure, whipped shea butter, sugarcane scrubs, aloe vera surprises, homemade soaps!
I was in heaven, literally!

Allow me to introduce you to your new favorite line of body products: Pure Necessities, all-natural, botanical body-care with that homemade quality that the big, corporate companies can only dream of!

A word (or several...) from the company:
"We love to feed our skin and spirit with luxurious crèmes, butters and lotions. Our recipes are simple and are designed to maximize nature’s ability to do wonders. Our products are made to deliver immediate results. Our scrubs are filled with all natural oils and butters that leave your body and face feeling renewed, moisturized and refreshed."

I could go on for pages about the beauty of these products - but the best way to understand the magic is to try it out for yourself. All of the products are delicious and affordable. You can choose your own scent from a lengthy list that include, Coconut-Lemongrass, Kumquat-Freesia, Lychee-Apricot and Yuzu-Grapefruit, or you can opt for unscented.

I am seriously obsessed with this line and have already recommended it to many of my fellow beauty whores - and now, my friends, I recommend it to you as well!

Here's what I sampled:

Yuzu-Grapefruit Sugarcane and Shea Body Frosting Scrub (8oz. for $16.00) - a relatively gentle scrub that both exfoliates and moisturizes, leaving skin clean and glowing! You can actually feel the oils at work on your body - it's a divine experience!




Sweet-Orange-Vanilla Shea Butter Sorbet (5oz. for $8.00) - an all-purpose shea butter moisturizer that is soft and supple, leaving your skin silky smooth! Unlike your common shea butter balms, this sorbet actually soaks into your skin.

Kumquat-Freesia Aloe Vera Shea Butter Body Whipped Creme (8oz. for $18.00) - possibly one of the best moisturizers I have EVER put on my skin - a mixture of aloe vera and shea butter, both in pockets throughout the tub, leaving skin soft and moisturized. A great alternative to an after-sun moisturizer!


Happy shopping!

P.S. The candles are to die! I kid you not, these are some of the best soy candles that I have ever used... I have 2 burning as I type! These are a definite stock-up item - perfect for gifts or personal splurges! And at $16.00 for a 9oz. gorgeous tumbler (complete with dried flowers in the wax), I'm going to buy in bulk! They come in 6 blissful scents - fig, flower, home, love, spa and winter.

Holiday Style...

Bluefly.com and beauty.com, in association with hair maven Oscar Blandi (check out previous post for our Blondi product rave) and celebrity makeup artist Tina Turnbow, have put together a 3 minute video showcasing 3 holiday styles - from the hair, to the make-up, to the clothes!

You must check it out! It's like a mini tutorial! Pay close attention to the smokey eye (we love how Tina mixes black and navy... also how she blends the black liner with her finger, upwards, to add that extra "smoke"). Also, make sure to study the fabulous and sleek, ultra-side part - a quick way to transform hair into a classic and chic style!




Thoughts???

It's Shampoo Time!

Any true beauty whore knows that washing your hair on a daily basis is actually bad for your hair. It strips the hair of natural oils that are used to conquer breakage and promote hair growth. Basically, if you're washing your hair every single day, you are doing it a huge injustice - stripping the natural sheen and volume of your precious mane!

Okay, so you don't wash your hair every day and the scalp gets super oily, right?

Well, here's a trick that the fashion world has been using for ages! BABY POWDER!!! Baby powder absorbs excess oil and offers a nice aroma for your hair!!!

Okay, so you have brown hair and the baby powder turns it grey (and you are so NOT into the premature aging look...)

Well, here's another trick that I've used for ages! Instead of pouring the powder directly onto your scalp, pour a good amount into your hands, press them together to get rid of any excess, then, starting at the roots, finger your hands through your scalp! Make sure to really get in there... don't be afraid to mock the scrubbing motion!

And if you're still a little skeptical about the baby powder, try Oscar Blondi's Pronto Dry Shampoo - available in a pour top powder or a spray! Not only does it decrease the oil, it also increases the volume!

So before you wash your hair, remember what you're taking away from the roots! Try Dry Shampooing - you'll be impressed, we promise!

SPLENDID Saturday Reads....

Here are the best posts from around the Splendicity network this week.

Beauty Face Candy has a sneak peek at Dior's Holiday Romantic Collection.
A Touch of Blusher dishes More on Dior Holiday 2007 with TOTALLY DIOR Cannage.
Makeup Loves Me is holding a contest. The prize? A Mineral Fusion Makeup Kit.
The Scented Life shares her thoughts on the latest Bond no. 9 Fragrance and it's bottle.
Beauty Banter knows all about the hair to die for this season.
eBeautyDaily received an advanced copy of the book Beauty Confidential. See her initial thoughts.
Aging Fabulous introduces us to the RejuvaWand.
Let's Go Shopping found the Make Up Trends for Fall.
Style It Less published a video to show us how to apply the Incoco Nail Applique's.
Fashion
The Well-Heeled Society says to Come Out with your Gunmetal Blazing.
Snarkstress teases us with a Very Sex-y Wedding.
Teen Style Lounge found her cutie outfit of the week and on the cheap.
Style Tots discovers the Anne Geddes Baby Clothing Collections.
The Fashionable Kiffen says that the new 3Luxe is Simply the Best.
Shopping
The Latest Luxe dreams about this Burb erry Beaton Shopper.
Shopalicious gushes about this new Cello Corto Leather Handbag.
Haute and Bothered shares her latest Gotta Have It Dresses.

Christmas Is Coming Early...

We adore a good Holiday collection over here at Beauty Banter. Holiday Collections mean that Christmas is just around the corner, and Christmas means that the weather is getting cooler, the air is getting muskier and the days are getting shorter! Don't get us wrong, we LOVE the sun too - but there's just something so... cozy about Christmas time!

Here are a couple of our favorite products from a couple of our favorite companies (to view the entire collection, click the company heading):

Smashbox Beyond Beauty Holiday 2007
Smashbox is ALL about fresh and clean. We're loving the Beyond Beauty Fusion Eye & Cheek Palettes: 8 neutral eye and cheek colors that can be worn alone or blended together!

Stila Dazzle & Dream
Stila has made the make-up process as simple as a single compact! Guinevere's Deluxe Palette and Scarlett's Deluxe Palette both include 3 eyeshadows, a blush and a lip gloss. And it comes wrapped in a gorgeous Swarovski decorated case! We love the Guinevere's Deluxe Palette - a combination of warm golds, apricots and peaches! And they all shimmer like the ornaments on a Christmas tree!


Nars Holiday 2007
Golds and apricots for the eyes, crimson for the lips (this collection reminds me of a pumkin patch!) The Balthazar Duo Eyeshadow pairs a burned yellow with a pumpkin pie colored orange. But my favorite product in this collection is the Viridiana Lipstick. A dark, blood-red hue reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour and perfect for that special Holiday party!

Bobbi Brown Metallics
Silver and blue shimmers for the eyes with pale lips. The Midnight Metallics eye palette has 3 shimmering shades - white, silver and blue. We're feeling the white, all over the eye, with a dark black liquid liner. Very snow flake...

Hair to DIE For...

Jen Atkin, celebrity cutter over at the Chris McMillan Salon (frequented by those hair-savvy celebs like Jen Aniston and Nicole Richie), and the woman responsible for MY fab mane, tells me that the two most desired hair cuts of the season are:

1 - The Rihanna bob




2 - Claudia Schiffer's feathered look from the new Ferragamo campaign

Matte is Back... with a TWIST!

Lipsticks come in many forms - frost, gloss, matte - and beauty enthusiasts love them all!

MAC has recently debuted their new and improved line of matte lippies, MAC Mattene!

Why do we like matte? Well, matte creates a smooth canvas, fills in lines and lasts much longer then gloss! And the mattene's create the same matte look without the dry matte feel... silicone and waxes provide a silky moisture! Did we mention the new cases? Well, let's just say they're sleek - like the lippy inside! (long, thin blackness... loving it!)

The Colors:

Poise - Clean yellow pink (Semi-Matte)
Composure - Neutral bronze plum (Semi-Matte)
Flattering - Beige pink (Semi-Matte)
Café Matte - Rich caramel (Semi-Matte)
Orange Dare - Bright yellow orange (Semi-Matte)
Seriously Rich - Bright pink red (Semi-Matte)
Immodest - Bright magenta (Semi-Matte)
Night Violet - Deep purple grape (Semi-Matte)
40’s Pink - Neutral mid-tone dirty pink
All Grown Up - Deep chocolate brown
Tango - Dirty coral
You Say Tomato - Tomato red
Classic Dame - Blood red
Rapturous - Deep red berry
Powersuit - Vibrant clean yellow pink
Rougette - Wine berry

Beauty Banter picks: Classic Dame (for night), Composure, Cafe Matte and Flattering!

Available in stores October 4th.

Also check out the new Matte2 eyeshadows - bold colors, non-creasing, smooth application, matte texture - and they stay on all day!

WEEKLY MUST-HAVE

I love starting out the week with a Weekly Must-Have!
And today's must-have is major! How many of us fear magnifying mirrors because of those barely-there wrinkles next to our eyes and lips?
I know that I do!
Well, I have found a fab product that literally erases the "worry lines" (hey, I do not have wrinkles!)
Fresh Anise Wrinkle Eraser is God-Sent, literally! The product instantly fills in fine lines and wrinkles to visably reduce their appearance! It's great to use before applying foundation of cover-up. Think of it as a line primer... you know, like the primer's we use on our face to fill in those annoying pores - well, that's what this product does to crow's feet!

A word (or several...) from the company:

"ANISE WRINKLE ERASER with hibiscus peptides is the latest advanced age-defying skincare introduction from Fresh Laboratories. This revolutionary topical filler is an alternative to dermatologist in-office filler injections. Smooth this colorless, weightless, skin smoothing formula over wrinkles around eyes, lips or any other facial area to instantly fill them in and reveal younger-looking skin. This daily quick-fix is scientifically proven to immediately reduce the overall appearance of wrinkles by 66% and also contains ingredients proven to have long term wrinkle-reducing benefits."

So stop fretting magnifying mirrors and natural sun-light! Your skin can be flawless...
I'm wearing my wrinkle eraser every day... even to bed! And I'm obsessed!

Sunday Poll!!!

Chanel IS Essential...

Chanel is timeless (and essential!). I've been dying for a Chanel bag for ages now. It's actually on my "things I must do before I'm 30" list... BUY CHANEL BAG. It's sort of like one of those female rites of passage...

Well, a Chanel bag may be a bit of a splurge (as in like, not eating for a month...) but the new Chanel compact, well, that's a little more attainable.

The Collection Essentielle De Chanel Multi-Use Make-Up Palette is both glamourous and essential. In one easy compact comes four eyeshadows, four lip colors and one blush! And it's a combination of Chanel's best selling colors (you know, those gorgeous nudes and browns that have made the cosmetic line so famous)! Could we ask for anything more?!

The compacts come in two tones: Lumière Naturelle and Lumière Soleil, both are limited editions.

And at $85.00 per compact, it would be a sin not to snatch up one of each! After all, even Chanel make-up is timeless....

Ponytails Are Pretty AND Practical!

A good old fashioned ponytail... ahhh... those were the days. You'd gather your hair into you hands, pull it high and fasten with a rubber band. It just made life so easy!

Well, luckily for us pny lovers, the tail is back in high demand!

Of course, it's never just a normal ponytail... these days hairstylists and trendsetters are recreating the classic style. And they've got celeb names too! (Source)

The Side Ponytail (a.k.a. The Nicole Richie)



InStyle says that "the side ponytail is softer and more flattering than your average ponytail."

How To Get The Look:

Step 1: Create waves with a wide-barreled curling iron. To do this, spritz styling spray on 2-inch sections of hair and wrap around the barrel of a curling iron. Alternate directions.
Step 2: Finger comb waves into a ponytail, securing just a few inches either to the left or the right.
Step 3: For an even more polished look, take a pencil-sized piece of hair from the bottom of the ponytail and wrap around elastic. Secure end of hair in the band and hold in place with a bobby pin.
FStep 4: Finish with a spritz of hairspray.

The Cute Ponytail (a.k.a. The Paris Hilton)



Decorate with barrettes and bobby pins.

How To Get The Look:

Step 1: Spray volumnizer at the roots, then let hair airdry, scrunching it for a bit of wave. Don't have time? Blowdry hair without brushing, use fingers instead to separate hair.

Step 2: Rake hair back with your fingers (skip the brush) and secure either at the nape of your neck or just a bit higher. Scrunch pony more for more wave.

Step 3: Pin bangs or unsecured layers with a decorative bobby pin or little kid barrette.

The Dramatic Ponytail (a.k.a. The Tyra Banks)



The higher and tighter, the better! With or without bangs...

How To Get The Look:

Step 1: Spritz hair with a volumizing spray like Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray, then dry hair straight. If you have curly hair, use a diffuser and an anti-frizz productinstead of the volumizer.
Step 2: Take a section at the top part of the back of your head and tease hair at the root. This will give you needed volume for the dramatic look.
Step 3: Once hair is sufficiently teased, carefully brush hair back into a pony up high on the back of your head just above your ears. Gently pull hair at the top of the pony out and up for drama.
Step 4: Run a gloss (we like Bumble and Bumble Gloss, see sleek ponytail above) through ponytail, using extra at the ends.
Step 5: If you're going out at night, up the drama ante by securing a gorgeous barrette.

The Half-Up Half-Down Ponytail (a.k.a. The Emily Blunt)


In every variation - straight or curly hair, messy or proper - the only requisite is that it doesn't ALL go up!

How To Get The Look:

Step 1: Part hair from ear-to-ear into a top and a bottom section.
Step 2: Secure top section with a ponytail holder.
Step 3: Take the point of a rattail comb and put it under the hair, just at the crown. Gently coax hair up until it's just a bit puffed.
Step 4: For more drama, wrap a ribbon or a strip of fabric around hair and fasten with a bobby pin.

Have a favorite pony? Share it!




All of the information in this post is from http://beauty.about.com/od/hairstylephotogalleries/ss/ponytailphotos.htm.

Do It Yourself...

It's been awhile since I've posted at-home recipes for beauty products... I just stumbled upon a fantastic site that has recipes for anything and everything you could possibly dream of making at home.


One reason why making your own beauty products is so awesome is that you know EXACTLY what is in your product!

Here are a few of my favorites (all of these recipes come courtesy of www.makeyourowncosmetics.com):



Avocado Hair Creme

This is a great conditioner for dry hair.

Yield: 1 application for long hair
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Price Category: 1
Difficulty Level: 1
Shelf Life: None, keep refrigerated

Ingredients:
1 very ripe avocado
2 tablespoons plain yogurt

Blending Procedure:

1. Using a small food processor, process the avocado and yogurt until smooth. To use, apply to damp hair and comb through to the ends. Massage the scalp too if it's dry.

2. To remove, use your hands to squeeze as much of the mixture out into a trash receptacle or plastic bag as you can and discard. This will minimize sink clogs. Once you have removed as much as possible, rinse and shampoo and style as usual.


Fresh Cucumber Vitamin Clay Mask

A great clay mask for oily skin, for use after cleansing and before application of facial toner.

Yield: 3/4 cup (enough for several facial/neck applications)
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Price Category: 2
Difficulty Level: 1
Shelf Life: None, keep refrigerated

Ingredients:
1/2 cup green clay
1/4 cup aloe vera juice
1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
1 teaspoon Vitamin E
3 teaspoons cucumber hydrosol
1/2 teaspoon ascorbyl palmitate (Vitamin C Esters)
1/2 teaspoon niacinamide (Vitamin B3)

Blending Procedure:

1. Combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly. To use, apply immediately to clean skin. Allow to dry thoroughly and then remove by rinsing with warm water. Follow with Fresh Cucumber Toner and moisturizer of choice.


Citrus Ginger Body Oil

This is a mixture of oil and water so it's even better than a lotion since it contains only goodies that your skin will drink in. It's also better than body oil alone, which it sometimes difficult to massage into the skin unless it is damp from bathing. It's rich and delicious and the only emulsifier is you!

Yield: 8 ounces
Prep Time: Approx. 10 minutes
Price Category: 1
Difficulty Level: 1
Shelf Life: 3 months

Ingredients:
2 ounces sweet almond oil
1 ounce jojoba oil
1 ounce liquid shea butter
1 ounce meadowfoam seed oil
1 teaspoon Vitamin E
3 ounces distilled water
20 drops ginger essential oil
30 drops lemon essential oil
10 drops lime essential oil
10 drops bergamot essential oil
20 drops sweet orange essential oil

Blending Procedure:

1. Combine the essential oils in a small glass vial and allow them to mellow for a few weeks. (This step is optional but will enhance the aroma of the finished product.)

2. Place all ingredients in an 8 ounce flip top plastic bottle or a glass bottle. You can use either but since plastic slowly absorbs essential oils glass is a better choice. On the other hand, it''s easier to dispense the product using a flip top plastic bottle that you can squeeze.

3. Label and store in a dark place in the bathroom, away from direct sunlight. To use, simply shake well to emulsify the ingredients, then apply to your skin. Feel how smooth and silky it is! You may need to rest a bit before putting on your clothes so you don''t stain them with the oils, but the feel of your skin after using this product makes it worth the wait. Enjoy!


Easy Bath Bombs

An easy and fun recipe to make those wonderful fizzy things that effervesce in the tub! This recipe is a "quick make" so you don't need fancy molds or spritzer bottles.

Yield: 2 large bath bombs
Prep Time: 10 Mins
Price Category: 1
Difficulty Level: 1
Shelf Life: Indefinite

Ingredients:
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup corn starch
1/2 cup citric acid
1 tablespoon distilled water
1 teaspoon melted cocoa butter
3-4 drops food coloring
3-4 drops fragrance or essential oil of choice

Blending Procedure:

1. Mix all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Make a "well" in the middle of the ingredients. Set aside.

2. In a separate container, combine the wet ingredients together. Pour them into the well of dry ingredients.

3. Mix everything together well using a large spoon, then pour the mixture into a food processor to remove all of the lumps and distribute the color evenly.

4. Once mixed, pack the mixture tightly into large plastic molds, each large enough to hold half of the mixture (or just use one big plastic mold of any shape that will hold the mixture). I find that the easiest way to get the product out of the molds without breakage is to line the molds with a bit of cooking spray first. They tend to break up less this way.

5. Leave them in a dry place overnight and once they've hardened, they're ready to go!!


Simple Lip Balm

This is a nice simple lip balm recipe for people who don't want to spend hours making lip balm. It is simple and good!

Yield: approx. 1/4 ounce
Prep Time: 10 mins
Price Category: 1
Difficulty Level: 1
Shelf Life: 3 months

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon grated beeswax
1 vitamin E capsule (400 mg)


Sweet Eye Make Up Remover

This is a great natural eye makeup remover. Easy to make and easy to use.

Yield: about 3/4 ounce
Prep Time: a few minutes
Price Category: 1
Difficulty Level: 1
Shelf Life: 6 months

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon castor oil
1 tablespoon light olive oil
2 teaspoons canola oil

Blending Procedure:

1. Blend the above ingredients together and store in a tightly sealed bottle.

2. Apply with soft tissue or cottonball to remove makeup around the eyes.

Blending Procedure:

1. Place grated beeswax (or beeswax beads) into a heat proof cup. Add olive oil and liquid from the vitamin E capsule.

2. Place the heat proof cup into a hot water bath until the beeswax is nearly melted. Remove from heat.

3. Pour into suitable screw top or other lip balm containers. Allow to solidify and cool before using.

4. Enjoy and tell your friends!

Like these recipes? Have a favorite of your own? Let us know! Post a comment!

Nails are Purrrrty!

I'm totally into dark nail color for fall. So far, I've been wearing MAC's Nail Lacquer Nocturnelle. Basically, it's a shiny black hue and I'm obsessed! And then I saw friends and fellow beauty and fashionistas roaming around Los Angeles in similar colors - black with a midnight blue tint, deep purple that almost looks like black, etc. Apparently, black-ish colors are tres trendy this fall (singer Rihanna even donned the hue on her nails for the MTV Video Music Awards!)

Creative Nail Design (CND) make some pretty fab shades. Most recently, they were commissioned to design 8 nail colors for specific fashion shows, and tend to over 37,000 fingers & toes in 10 days at New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2008.

Sure this is a look into Spring nails, but, hey, let's stay ahead of the trends, right???

A word (or several...) from CND:

So, what looks will glamorous women go for when it comes to next spring’s manicures and pedicures?

Healthy, clear pastel tints, like lip gloss for the nails
Bright pops of hot pink
Dark nails are the new classic for dressed up events

Here are 3 looks from 3 shows:


Nail Noir, an aubergine crème, at Marchesa


Trophy, a vibrant pink, at Milly


Cold Shoulder, a metallic white and thin clean line of Voodoo black painted on the tip, at Jayson Brunsdon (a new take on the French Manicure... love it!)

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

According to the American Cancer Society, in 2007, an estimated 178,480 women in the United States will be found to have invasive breast cancer. It is the most COMMON cancer in women, in the United States. These are staggering statistics, ones that we must change.

October is breast cancer awareness month. We, at Beauty Banter, would like to make you AWARE of the disease, and ways that you can help. With a simple click of your mouse, you can purchase these great products that will donate money to help find a cure for breast cancer!

(click on the NAME of each product to purchase...)

Philosophy - shower for the cure pink ribbon shower gel- a creamy all-in-one formula that can be used as a shampoo, shower gel or bubble bath. this long-time philosophy favorite contains a touch of milk proteins and fruit essences to provide a delightful experience for your senses. shower for the cure represents the spirit of every woman and 100% of the philosophy net proceeds from the shower for the cure is donated to the Women's Cancer Research Fund.


DARPHIN Rose Aromatic Care for BCA. This unique essential oil softens smoothes and helps guard against free radical damage. A very special limited-edition bright pink bottle was created in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Price: $75.00 with a 15% donation throughout the month of October to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.


DuWop Purse Your Lips is an adorable pink miniature purse with a wrist chain strap filled with DuWop’s Pink Shimmer Lip Venom. A portion of the proceeds from Purse Your Lips will be given to CEW’s Cancer and Careers, an organization that helps provide inspiration and insight to working women living with cancer.

Oral Fixation Mints will be donating 5 % of all profits from the sale of their Fabulous Fruit Gourmet Mints during the month of October to the American Cancer Society.


TINte Cosmetics will be donating 40% of the proceeds from each sale of our Nikki Pink Shimmering Face Pearl, Double Bubble Flavored Lip Shine and Bubble Gum Flavored Lip Color to breast cancer awareness and research.

LeSportsac is putting out an adorable cosmetic bag that was designed especially for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Best of all, it’s only $5 and 100% of the proceeds go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation!


Pink Beauty will donate 50% of all net proceeds from the sale of Sweet Pea Glamour Glaze Lip Gloss in October to Rethink Breast Cancer, available at 10 Holt Renfrew locations across Canada throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

To administer a self breast exam,Click Here. Breast Cancer is treatable if detected in its early stages.

I urge you to take a few moments, check out these fabulous products, research more breast cancer stats, and join the fight to irraticate the disease!
Together, we can accomplish great things!