Free Sample of Escada Incredible Me Perfume!

Escada's new Incredible Me Fragrance for Women blends honeysuckle, tiramisu, clementine, orchid, sandalwood and vanilla. To get a free sample (sorry...US residents not eligible), click here.

Is There A Correct Order For Applying Hair Products?

You shampoo your hair. Then you apply a mis-mash of conditioner and styling products in an attempt to tame your mane. But is there a correct order for applying hair products post-shampoo? O, The Oprah Magazine's beauty director, Valerie Monroe, sets the record straight.

Yes, that's a good idea, says Eva Scrivo, owner of the eponymous salon in New York City, because each product has a different function.

After you shampoo, start with a conditioner or detangler to coat the hair so that the styling products you use next will be evenly absorbed. Follow that, if you like, with a mousse, styling gel, or styling lotion, which you should comb through your hair for even distribution, to increase the product's effectiveness. (Combing through ensures that the stuff covers the whole strand instead of just lying on top of it, so you get more volume or moisture saturation or whatever it is you're going for.) Finally, if your hair is frizzy or hard to control, work a silicone-based smoothing product through the ends before you blow-dry. After you've done your styling, you can use a spray for shine and hold, or, if you want a piecey look, try a texturizing wax.

Bottom Line: The magic formula is condition, style, then hold.

Source

MAC Halloween 2008

Halloween is just a few weeks away. Do you know what you'll be this year? Why resort to cliches like 'scary witch' or 'sexy nurse' when MAC has ten Halloween inspired face charts with step-by-step instructions? Behold...the power of makeup.

Amphibian: A cool blue pool of shimmery aqua-reflections create your water sprite look. Float through the parade. Do the Wave.

Night Bloom: Fantasy blooms at midnight. Beautiful and expressive. This exotic floral arrangement will likely attract a few B's (that's boys).


Colour Spill: Colourful, minimal, abstract, modern, this Colour Spill loves to hang out where art's the thing. If this is your canvas, your best accessory might be a frame.

Tronika: Part Robot, with a glimpse of Human, Tronika shows she's hard-wired for Halloween techno-glamour.

Tribal: A striking mask of universal symbols. For all those new-age tribalists who consider Halloween a ritual.


She's A Doll: Wide-eyed and with apple cheeks! A dolly mix of cutie and sweetie. Adorable!

Woody: A natural beauty. A woodsy nymph. Adroitly drawn lines in earthy organic tones articulate the look of wood. A tree-mendous look for eco-girls and -boys.

Space Diva: She comes from Out There. Her glittering metallic spaced-out looks make her a sexy, enigmatic rave at any Halloween party.


Skull Meister: Mr. Bones has nothing to hide - and dares you to expose your finest features - in ghoulish black and white. The ultimate shape and contour: X-ray style.


Play The Fool: With a little face painting, elements of this Renaissance harlequin prepare you for a mad-happy night of clowning around.

For My Philly Girls: MAC Master Makeup Class at Willow Grove Bloomie's

On Saturday, October 18th, MAC Bloomingdale's at the Willow Grove Mall is having a special Studio Talk Seminar called 'New Diva'. It's a beginner to intermediate level Makeup Master Class and will be held upstairs in a private location, there will be hors d'oeuvres and drinks. There will be makeup and tools supplied for you to use, and there will be new tips and techniques for you to learn in a fun and creative atmosphere.

Classes will be held at 11am & 4pm, and it is a $50 pre-pay in the form of a gift card, which you would use toward the purchase of product. If you are interested in attending, stop by the MAC counter (no phone calls) to reserve your seat.

Bloomingdale's Willow Grove
2400 W. Moreland Road
Willow Grove, PA 19090

New York Fashion Week: Beauty and Bags and Boots, Oh My!

I have so many untold NY Fashion Week stories, you don't even know. I've been meaning to get back to my FW reporting, but I have been up to my eyeballs at work, and busy co-chairing the Total Beauty - Total Cure Breast Cancer Awareness campaign with the hilariously snarkalicious Amber.

So hop into my DeLorean, switch on the Flux Capacitor, and let's rev this baby up to 88 mph. We're going back in time...

During New York Fashion Week, L'Oreal held an exclusive blogger event, and I was one of the lucky few on the invite list. At an expansive and gorgeous townhouse - complete with a tdf courtyard - I sipped mimosas, noshed on blueberry pancakes and chatted up some of my cosmetics-craving colleagues. As a parting gift, L'Oreal presented us all with Fashion Week survival kits, packed with a festival of goodies. It was then that I was formally introduced to my new fave lippie, HIP Jelly Balm.

Here's me and Amber. Fix your eyes on the chicness that is my Krina handbag. The Calista Tote (in Azure) is both functional and feminine, made of rich Italian leather and accented with gold-plated hardware and flirty tassels. The Calista is oft seen on the fabulous fashionplate, Katherine Heigl!

Later that day, Amber and I popped by the Boots booth at the Bryant Park tents, and were introduced to one of my Fashion Week beauty discoveries. No7 High Lights Illuminating Lotion
is a pearly lotion that contains light reflecting particles to illuminate your skin exactly where you want it, while diffusing imperfections such as fine lines and wrinkles. Highlight your cheekbones or brow bone to look truly radiant...or mix with foundation for an all-over glow.


Check us out, getting our glow on. You too can look this dreamily dewy...and for less than $13!

PS - Like my earrings? Get your own from Forever 21 for less than $4!!!

Sephora On Sale: Makeup Bags

I am of the opinion that a woman never have enough makeup bags. But when it comes to cosmetic cases, I advocate saving money when you can...so that you have more moolah to spend on products to fill them.

Right now, Sephora's got some great makeup bags on sale. Their discounted items never last for long, so snatch them up before a fellow beauty addict beats you to the punch.

Sephora Striped Bag Collection, $6-24 (originally $12 - $48)

Sephora Metallic Sequin Clutch, $9 (originally $18)

Safari Bag Collection - Zebra, $3-30 (originally $5-48)


Sephora Signature Small Case, $7.50 (originally $15)


Sephora Signature Zipper Wristlet, $10 (originally $20)

Click here to see what other goodies Sephora has on sale.

Loofah...To The Next Level

If you enjoy exfoliating as much as I do, you absolutely must pick up Dermalogica's Ultimate Buffing Cloth. This cloth emilinates the need for exfoliating body washes and scrubs that can coat your tub/shower with slippery and gritty grains.

Once you use it, you'll tell your loofah to "hit the road, jack" and you'll never look back. The Ultimate Buffing Cloth is gentle, yet effective - and can be used with any body cleanser to reveal smooth, glowing skin. It works wonders on elbows, knees and heels...and is especially handy dandy when used on legs pre-shave. Say sayonara to stubble and hello to silky stems!