A few weeks ago, Sara (a licensed esthetician) and Rebecca (a makeup artist) from In The Makeup shared their secrets for making beauty queens sparkle at the pageants.

Now they're back with a second and equally glammy tip: How To Look Fab In Photos. Click!

"The very first thing to consider in preparing for fab photos is the makeup you DON'T apply. The less makeup you have to wear, the better you (and your photograph) will look. So we always recommend to our clients that they go all out on skin care. This doesn't necessarily mean buying the most expensive treatments you can afford. Rather, it is a well thought out skin care regimen - executed obsessively, not aggressively.

Now for the makeup you DO apply.

Foundation: Choose a photo-friendly foundation. Mineral foundations and foundations with high SPF are the best choices for everyday wear, but are not recommended for photography because they reflect light and can give skin a “white” cast. Finding your perfect foundation is like finding your perfect pair of jeans – you’ll probably need to try more than one brand and be open to different formulas. You may need a liquid or cream foundation in the winter, a powder or mineral in the summer, a stick when you’re in a major rush, a sheer tinted moisturizer for a “day off” of makeup… or you may be blessed and do perfectly well with one true-love. Whatever you’re wearing, perfection requires buffing and blending to make sure you don’t have foundation “sitting” on your skin. And don’t forget… make sure that your neck, décolleté, and ears match your face!

Concealer: Under-eye concealer is the key to the cosmos; the totality of all beautifully made-up faces. Makeup without concealer is a beauty sin akin to shampoo without conditioner. Have we emphasized it enough? A best-kept secret is that under-eye concealer should be last – so you can clean up any eye makeup that has fallen and apply concealer onto clean skin. Using your pinky or a concealer brush, pat on a creamy concealer designed for delicate under-eye skin, and set immediately with a finely milled translucent powder.

Powder: Some women shy away from powder, thinking it might make them look dry or “powdery.” For photography, think of powder not as an option, but as a way of life. Even if you don’t look shiny to the eye, there is a good chance that, without powder, you will look shiny to the camera. Must you wear powder every day? We don’t.

Color: Play it safe in photos by keeping blush and eye shadow matte. If the look you’re going for really needs some sheen, use shimmer sparingly and strategically. A tight dab of shimmer in the most recessed part of the eye’s inner corner, a touch right on top of the cupid bow, and a hint on the highest point of the cheekbone.

Talking about makeup for photography is never complete without a word about lighting. Light will change how a camera reads the intensity of your makeup. With outdoor lighting, the camera will often see what the naked eye sees. Studio lights or very strong lighting will often wash-out color, beckoning a heavier makeup application. With today’s digital cameras, try to sneak a peek at the screen and then adjust your makeup accordingly.

Happy New Year’s Eve! As I wrote in my last entry, I had decided to celebrate the holidays with festive new red lips. With so many different shades of red, I was grateful for help from Sara Biria, Sephora Pro Beauty Team member.

I was positive I would need to stick with gloss since my lips get unrelentingly dry in the winter. But Sara reminded me of a makeup accessory I had discovered with foundation: primer. She suggested using Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15, since my chapped lips needed a moisturizing boost. When I applied it, I became immediately hooked to its sweet texture and scent.

Sara said, “It’s absolutely necessary that your lips are hydrated when wearing red lipstick. First of all, it will be much smoother. And secondly, if your lips are dry, the color won’t last at all. The pigment will adhere better with a hydrated base.”

Sara told me another essential for red lipstick is using lip liner. Any lip liner works, even one in a neutral shade, because red is such a strong color. A good starting point for beginners (like me!) is using it to trace the “cupid’s bow” in the middle of the top lip, which is where Sara started. She continued lining my lips and then filled them in about halfway (so the red lipstick wouldn’t bleed).

Next, Sara added the red. She chose Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella and applied it directly on my lips, using a lip brush at the end to fill in the details. “Application is all about tools because red lipstick can get a little messy,” she said. (I learned she was right when I tried to read my red-smudged notes later.)

Sara divulged a secret tip she got from a Nars rep: After applying red lipstick, if you’re not finishing off with gloss, put some translucent powder on your fingers and brush it on the lips softly. Then blot. It will seal in the color!

I’m posting my finished look, but there’s still more to come next time. (Too many details for one post!) In the meantime, I’m trying to gain the courage to recreate the look for tonight, and if I do, I’ll be sure to take pictures to show you all.

How will you be dressing up your look tonight?

-Bo Young Lee

It's Bo again!

I am so excited for the holidays! After exploring the neutral shades of foundation, I felt inspired to focus on something fun and colorful to pair with my festive holiday celebrations. What better way to brighten up my party look than with a fresh new shade of lipstick or gloss? Plus, gloss has always been the one vibrant staple in my otherwise meager makeup collection.

I have been faithful to the same product – Nars Lip Gloss in Talitha – for seven years. When my first gloss ran out, instead of experimenting with new shades, I went out and bought not just one, but two more of the same. And although the color looks great (and I’m still sufficiently stocked up), I know in my heart it’s time to update my look.

Already addicted to her expert advice and tips, I went to visit Sara Biria again, Sephora Pro Beauty Team member. Before we met up, I had decided I wanted to choose a subtle color that would be good for my everyday look. But when Sara asked me what shade I wanted, I heard myself blurt out, “Red!”

Sara chose a great shade for me that immediately grabbed people’s attention from the minute I left the Sephora store. But before I get into my experience next week, I would like to say good-bye to my old gloss. Nars Lip Gloss in Talitha, in all these years, I never strayed or even looked at another gloss. You have been the perfect complement to both my everyday and party looks. Even after seven years, people still compliment me on your pretty, shiny pink.

But I need to move on. Even though I love you, I’m just not in love with you anymore. (Actually, never mind, that excuse never works!)

Hello! My name is Katee Giffen and I am the blogger at e-polishblog. My blog is all about nail polish. Yes, that is right, nail polish.



My nail polish obsession started when I decided to start doing my own manicures at home so I could save the $15-$20 weekly I was spending at the nail salon. Besides showing color swatches, I also like to share tips and tricks so that my readers can give themselves perfect manicures.

Hi, it’s Bo again, here with the conclusion of my journey to foundation illumination. My guide was Sara Biria, Sephora Pro Beauty Team member. We had chosen two different kinds to test out: Laura Mercier Oil-Free Liquid Foundation for the right side of my face and Bare Escentuals bareMinerals SPF 15 for the left.

But before we applied the foundation, there was yet another unforeseen step: PRIMER! Primer can be used for reasons ranging from color-correcting complexion (for instance, green primer can be used to correct redness) to simply preparing skin for makeup. Again, we picked a different primer for each side of my face: Smashbox Photo Finish on the right and Laura Mercier Oil-Free Primer on the left. Sara applied the primer, starting from the center of my face and working out.

At last, we were ready for the foundation! We began with the Laura Mercier formula. According to Sara, proper application of liquid foundation is key. She said, “I see women who buy really nice and expensive foundation, but since they don’t apply it correctly, it doesn’t look right.” She stressed the importance of using a foundation brush, not a sponge or fingers. “You shouldn’t put it directly on fingers and apply because it could easily become blotchy.”

Sara loves the Sephora Brand Professionnel Platinum Stippling Brush #44. She used it to apply the Laura Mercier formula, beginning again at the center of my face and working out. “Think of your face as a canvas,” she said, as she artfully wielded the brush back and forth. “Build the coverage slowly.”

(Runway secret from Sara: After applying liquid foundation, use a tissue to pat off any extra.)

For the bareMinerals, Sara used a brush specifically designed for the minerals. As all you mineral lovers already know, you swirl the brush in the makeup and tap off the excess before applying.

Last step: Sara sealed the foundation on both sides with a translucent powder by taking a brush and pushing the powder into the skin, not just brushing back and forth. "This way, the powder will work into the foundation and last longer,” she said.

Finally, finished! And the results? My skin’s color was unusually uniform, and the foundation on both sides definitely felt lighter than I had anticipated, especially with the bareMinerals. Even later, after running errands, eating dinner, and an unscheduled nap, I went to the mirror to inspect the results. My skin still looked professionally done, and my complexion appeared smooth and clear.

But I have to be honest: My feelings about foundation remain unresolved. Although the coverage felt almost weightless on both sides, I was still conscious of it throughout the day. On the other hand, I’m sure I would adapt quickly, and I would definitely like to check out other types of foundation. Plus, I keep thinking about what Sara told me: “Complexion is key to feeling beautiful. When your skin is glowing, your beauty shines through it.”

So, here’s a question for all you foundation devotees: What are your tried-and-true foundation and techniques?

Ever wonder where beauty pageant girls learn their tricks?

It's Bo again!

Last week, I confessed that even though I work at Sephora, I've never used much makeup. I'm starting with the basics: Foundation.
My first experience with foundation was when I was 12. I visited the local makeup counter, a.k.a. my mother’s vanity. Unfortunately, my mom’s foundation was shades too dark and very heavy in texture. When my pores clogged, and I started to break out, I went back to my au naturel look. Flash forward a couple of decades, and, as you now know, I’m still continuing that same beauty regimen – which is to say, nothing much at all.
So, I was both excited and nervous when I went into the Sephora Fifth Avenue store to meet with Sara Biria, Sephora Pro Beauty Team member, one of only 14! Expecting to be intimidated by a certified beauty expert, I was relieved to meet Sara, who was super nice and helpful, and proved to be a fount of foundation wisdom.
Sara told me that many women, like me, come into Sephora looking for the right foundation, and it can be overwhelming with so many different types (powder, liquid, cream-to-powder, and mineral.) First step: identifying my skin type, which I told her was mostly normal-to-dry but oily on my T-zone. We decided to test out two different kinds of foundation, one on each side of my face.

For my right side, we picked an oil-free formula to avoid potential breakouts. “Just because it’s oil-free doesn’t mean it’ll be dehydrating,” Sara told me. Her recommendation: Laura Mercier Oil-Free Liquid Foundation. For my left side, we opted for another oil-free option, Bare Escentuals bareMinerals SPF 15, which I’d been itching to try.
Next, we did a color match for the liquid foundation by applying three strips of different tones on my face, near the jaw line. The perfect shade would be the one that disappeared on my skin, which turned out to be Sunny Beige.

When testing the bareMinerals, Sara let the three strips sit on my skin for 30 seconds. “The minerals will oxidize, and when they do, the color will change,” she said. “It might look good at first, but then a pink or yellow tone could come out later.” After 30 seconds, we discovered my right match was Light.
One foundation violation: wearing the wrong shade to look darker. Sara said, “Women usually want to look darker, which is fine, but they shouldn’t do it with foundation. They should use bronzer or highlighter.”

My tale of two foundations continues in my next entry! Until then, I would love to find out: Does everyone see foundation as a beauty must?

Hi. My name's Bo.

When I got hired as a copy editor at Sephora, most of my friends laughed. I admit, Sephora and I were an unlikely pairing. I’m the one friends always want to make over and whose own mother even begs for her to wear “just a little makeup.” A couple of weeks ago, right before a wedding, my friend Debbie took one look at my sorry attempt to apply makeup, and as she whipped out her makeup and tools with an expert hand to fix it, she said, “Get it together already! You work at Sephora now!”

And it hit me. Yes, I work at Sephora now! In fact, my plain-Jane inclinations have already started to succumb to my new environment. I recently have found myself haunting Sephora stores after work, looking timidly at the different shades of glosses and blushes, eyeing the wide range of foundations and moisturizers, and wondering if it will ever be possible for me to apply eye makeup correctly. Sadly, I always leave empty-handed, too overwhelmed in knowing where to start.

So, that brings me here, to the blog! It’s time to face my fears. I decided to share my explorations in beauty with the hope of encouraging fellow makeup rookies, while gaining a LOT of guidance from all you gurus out there. Plus, there will be fun treats along the way. So, stay tuned!

And please, be gentle to this beauty newbie.

Idle hands are the devil's workshop....or they're two wickedly good tools for practicing a few new makeup tricks.

Hello! I'm Roopika Malhotra (née Nayar), and I'm the beauty blogger behind beautyguroo.blogspot.com. Prior to joining the blogosphere, I held editorial posts at both Allure and ELLE, and have covered beauty, fashion, fitness, and food for publications such as Self, In Style, and Condé Nast Traveler.

Over the years, my beauty adventures have taken me from New York Fashion Week, where I've grilled trendsetters including Charlotte Tilbury, Orlando Pita, Dick Page, and Pat McGrath, to behind-the-scenes labs, where I've watched perfume "noses" concoct scents from start to finish. A true Jersey Girl at heart, I never stray far from my trusty Chanel Le Crayon Khol Intense Eye Pencil (in Ambre) or generously loaded on Nars blush (in Orgasm). Here, a few of my other, must-have, can't-live-without-them products.

Nars Body Glow: This super-luxe body oil is a year-round pick-me-up. Whenever I feel like my skin looks dull and lackluster, I smooth it on (it's more fool-proof than self-tanner, but has a similar sun-kissed effect). The combination of coconut and monoi de Tahiti oils leave my skin silky-smooth and subtly-scented, while tiny shimmer particles give my limbs a gorgeous golden sheen.



Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish: When you're a real beauty junkie, you remember the first time you tried a product the way you remember a first kiss. I splurged on a tub of this amazing body exfoliator as a broke college student nearly seven years ago—and I haven't looked back since. It's got real brown sugar crystals and a fragrant blend of essential oils that work together to gently (read: no stinging whatsoever) get rid of flakes and dryness. Even now, I'm incredibly precious with my supply, using it only before special occasions to make sure my skin is soft and glowing. Trust me, this product is The One.


Josie Maran mascara: Even when I'm just running errands or going to the gym, I swipe on a coat of this stuff. It's formulated with jojoba oil, which actually strengthens and conditions your lashes as it tints and lengthens. I love the way it makes my lashes dark and slightly glossy, but still completely natural-looking.


Stila Eye Shadow in Kitten: The ultimate, universally- flattering eye shadow. Its texture is incredibly velvety and crease-proof, and this shade honestly looks amazing on every skin tone. I use it day and night (sweep it all over lids, or just use it on browbones and the inner corners of your eyes with your favorite smoky shadow). It's also great for highlighting the cupid's bow above lips. The best part? One pan lasts forever. Love!


MD Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel: Dennis Gross, MD, is an A-list dermatologist, and this 30-day system is almost as good as one of his coveted in-office treatments. Gentle enough to use every day, but effective enough to erase fine lines, age spots, and skin-dulling flakes.

Greetings beauty mavens! Nicci from nicciknows.com here.

Yesterday's trick was the art of doing 3-minute makeup! Today, I'll tell you which beauty picks are best when you're in a hurry.

Keep it simple. A 3-minute makeup session means not using more than four products. The general recipe is:

1) A perfecting product like foundation, powder foundation or concealer

Nicci’s Sephora Faves: Smashbox Sheer Focus Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15; Make Up For Ever Duo Mat Powder Foundation and Laura Mercier Secret Eye Concealer.

2) An enhancing and brightening product like bronzer or blush.

Nicci’s Sephora Faves: Tarte Tres Chic Limited Edition Mini Cheek Stain Set or Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Powder

3) Framing the eye in some way whether it’s with mascara, eyeliner or one eyeshadow.

Nicci’s Sephora Faves: Diorshow Iconic Mascara, Yves Saint Laurent Easy Liner for Eyes, Nars Duo Eyeshadow in Bohemian Gold.

4) Coloring the lip with lipstick, gloss or tinted lip balm.

Nicci’s Sephora Faves: Vincent Longo Lipstain Lipstick, Stila Cosmetics Shine-on Gift of Glaze Limited Edition Lip Glaze set, Fresh Lip Shine

Happy hustling!!

Greetings beauty mavens! Nicci from nicciknows.com here.

As a beauty expert and makeup artist with over 10 years of experience (I know, I'm dating myself), I can tell you that it IS indeed possible to create a great look in just 3 minutes - here's how:

Taking your look from ordinary to extraordinary can take only 3 minutes with some simple and clever makeup tips. You might even want to print out this article and tuck it inside your makeup bag so you’ll have a quick reference on those rushed occasions.

The key to looking polished, pretty and pulled together in just 3 minutes is in knowing yourself and understanding your beauty needs. To know what you need to look good, take a closer look at your features. Here are some things to consider:

1) Are your eyelashes blond?
If your eyelashes are light, mascara is generally going to be a must.

2) Are your hair and skin tone a similar shade?
If so, then color on the cheeks will be necessary to brighten you up.

3) Or, are they vastly different: i.e. black hair and very fair skin?
If there is a stark contrast in your hair and skin tone like black hair and fair skin, then a lip color that will brighten and balance is going to be crucial.

4) Does your skin have acne, acne scars or discoloration like rosacea?
If your skin has visible imperfections, applying a foundation for coverage is going to be important.

5) Is your complexion on the sallow (yellow) side?
If your skin is sallow, wearing a blush color that brightens and adds color will be vital.

Then ask yourself the following…what do you need to feel like yourself and be comfortable? For some people, this could be black liquid eyeliner or filled-in brows.

These are all factors in determining what items are needed for your 3-minute makeup.

Tomorrow, I'll tell you which picks will get you gorgeous in 3 minutes!

If any girl knows about using beauty as a tool of charm, it's a romance novel heroine. So our fave romance novel writer (take a peek at her latest, "Try A Little Tenderness") and Sephora blogger Roslyn Hardy Holcomb gives us the deets.

Being a romance heroine is hard work these days. A generation or so ago, all you had to do was look good and wait for the intrepid hero to rescue you. Today’s heroines are prone to do a bit of butt kicking in their own right. More than one hero has found himself being rescued by a woman that has somehow managed to slaughter a roomful of bad guys while maintaining a luminescent beauty that renders him speechless. Not only that, but they’re frequently haring off to some exotic location on a moment’s notice. The hero in my most recent book, Try A Little Tenderness, whisks the heroine off to the South Pacific with little more than the clothes on her back! Spontaneity is sexy and all, but it can wreak havoc with a heroine’s beauty routine.

Yes, romance heroines have changed quite a bit, but one thing remains the same––they have to make this look good. Being that it’s my job to create the lovely ladies, I thought it only fair that I recommend a few products to help them adhere to romance heroine beauty standards.

Philosophy Kiss Me Lip Balm
This one is a no-brainer. What with all the passionate kisses and marathon sex scenes, heroines have to keep their lips moist, luscious and succulent at all times. This product is loaded with natural ingredients and humectants to help them maintain their sumptuous pout. A heroine’s lips get quite a workout, with this product in her arsenal she’ll never have to worry about being up to the challenge.



Clarins Sunscreen
I admit that at first glance this might be an odd recommendation, but remember what I said about taking off for exotic locations? Unfortunately, such places tend to be in the tropics, and tropical sun will leave you looking like Keith Richards in no time flat. It’s a great look for a rocker, but for a romance heroine? Not so much. This product contains plant extracts to head off premature aging. Better yet, it doesn’t leave you shiny or smelling like a piña colada. A savvy heroine will be sure to pack several tubes for her next romantic excursion.

Carol’s Daughter Tui Leave-In Conditioner
Long, lustrous manes of hair flowing across the cover is a signature of the romance genre. Unfortunately, everyday living can leave a heroine’s hair dry, dull and lifeless. Butt kicking takes its toll as well. This leave-in uses natural plant infusions to return hair to its natural beauty. Long, flowing locks aren’t born; they’re made, or at least maintained with this yummy product.




Photo credit: Freshfiction.com

So nice to meet you! That's me, Laurie, on the left. I started Beauty's SPOT: Spa. Product. Organics. Travel. on a whim during a cross country drive to San Francisco exactly one year ago. Since then I've bagged my 9 to 5 and started writing beauty and spa content for any website that will have me. Basically, I'm a single, 27 year old gal living the dream. Chances are I'll be visiting a beauty counter, spa, or fashion show near you soon. So check out the SPOT and say hi if you see me around your town. I'll be the one who looks like I robbed a Circuit City and a Sephora and stuffed the entire contents in my purse;)

Photo taken at Smashbox Studios during LA Fashion Week with blogger Marta Walsh (right) of Beauty Interviews.

So nice to meet you! That's me, Laurie, on the left. I started Beauty's SPOT: Spa. Product. Organics. Travel. on a whim during a cross country drive to San Francisco exactly one year ago. Since then I've bagged my 9 to 5 and started writing beauty and spa content for any website that will have me. Basically, I'm a single, 27 year old gal living the dream. Chances are I'll be visiting a beauty counter, spa, or fashion show near you soon. So check out the SPOT and say hi if you see me around your town. I'll be the one who looks like I robbed a Circuit City and a Sephora and stuffed the entire contents in my purse;)

Photo taken at Smashbox Studios during LA Fashion Week with blogger Marta Walsh (right) of Beauty Interviews.

Hello Fellow Makeup Mavens! My name is Nicci and I am a beauty blogger at nicciknows.com.

I have my fourth grade teacher to thank for launching my love affair with makeup by giving me detention (that was pretty cool “back in the day”) for sneaking into the bathroom at recess and applying my favorite florescent, metallic pink lip gloss.

I’ve been a professional makeup artist for over 10 years, and a devout makeup aficionado (sounds better then a makeup junkie, because I don’t like to use the words “makeup” and “junkie” in the same phrase, thank you very much) FOREVER. Like many of you out there, my favorite products change quite regularly. I’m always looking for the best new products out there, which is why Sephora.com is No. 1 on my favorites list.

Speaking of favorites, here are some of mine of the moment:

Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder
It’s an ultra smooth, fine finishing powder that comes in translucent for all skin tones. Perfect over any foundation or even alone, this heavenly 100 percent mineral powder sets makeup perfectly, looks totally natural on the skin and never looks dry or powdery. I only wish this came in a gallon size.


Too Faced Lava Gloss Eyeliner in Chocolate
This pencil is super silky, long wearing and the chocolate color is simply divine for all shades of blue and green eye color! It is infused with Cocoa Bean to hydrate the base of the lashes too! I like to rim the waterline of my eyes with it (top and bottom) or I use it as a shadow base on my eyelid and put my favorite shadow over it for a sultry, smoky look.


Laura Mercier Secret Concealer
I mentioned earlier that my favorite products change quite regularly, but this under-eye concealer has been a consistent must-have for me for years now. The perfect combination of great coverage with a creamy-but-not-cakey texture, this color is ideal for taking the darkness out of dark circles. Truly the best I’ve found.



NARS Powder Blush
We know that Orgasm is the color that everyone thinks of when NARS blush is mentioned….but the color Deep Throat is my silent beauty assassin! A soft, bright peach shade with a light gold shimmer make it both a blush color and a highlighter in one. Works well for all skin tones and lights up the skin. I apply with a blush brush to the apples of the cheek and blend upward to give skin a lift. Think of a motion like the Nike swoosh.


T3 Bespoke Labs Featherweight Dryer
The most amazingly unbelievable hair dryer I have ever come across. It is worth every single penny and then some. It is formulated with Tourmaline and literally has cut my drying time down to 5 minutes (I’ve timed it!). In five minutes, my hair is smooth, soft and dry-literally a dream come true. Plus, my hair stylist told me at my last appointment that my hair is in the best condition ever.

When I met Tosca Hillman, the first thing I noticed (besides her glowing complexion), was her passion for the beauty world. Though she’s been in the industry for over 12 years, she still lights up while speaking of her favorite Hourglass products and their transformational results. After speaking to Tosca, you want to buy every, single one of the products she's selling.

Tosca’s all about luxury, not in a pretentious way, but in a lavish-and-nourish-my-skin-with-the-finest-ingredients way. Luxury is taking the time to feel the ingredients working into your pores—softly sweeping on face cream and delicately dabbing on eye serum—and not rushing through your daily beauty routine. Tosca reminded me that you don’t have to own a Prada bag or be on a yacht in St. Tropez to experience luxury—it’s a state of mind, after all.-Jennifer Appenrodt

Tosca is a seasoned expert when it comes to all things beauty-related. I asked the makeup maven a few questions, and here, are her answers.

What does your beauty routine consist of on a daily and nightly basis?
I usually clean my face with Caudalie Cleansing Water followed by their Cleansing Mousse. Then I use my Caudalie ContourCream Eyes and Lips.

Where does the name Hourglass come from?
The founder, Carisa Janes, came up with the name Hourglass because it has a feminine, old-world mystique to it.

Tell us a fun fact about Hourglass?
Carisa (brand founder) is a die-hard animal lover who once owned a 300 lb pet pig named Pete!

If you were going to your own private island and could only take 2 products
with you, what would it be?
My Veil Primer with the SPF 15 in it and Extreme Sheen Lip Gloss in Reflect.

What is the most unique, unusual product your brand carries right now?
I would say our amazing Illume Cream to Powder Bronzer Duo. I'm addicted to it
and I think every woman needs one in her bag.

Do you have an anti-aging tip?
Yes! Ladies, PLEASE STOP pulling your eyes when you apply liner on the top
lid!! You are contributing to premature crows feet. Just gently lay your
hand above or to the side of the eye and apply the liner.

Finish this sentence: One you use Hourglass makeup, you’ll feel…
Renewed as well as luxurious. Remember, luxury is a state of mind.......

Xoxo, Tosca

Hello all! If you are a reader of my blog, you know that I am a D.I.Y. DIVA that loves fashion and I'm a sewing fanatic! As a lover of all things fashionable, my greatest accessory is a polished look. As a stay at home mother, my days go from very laid back to beyond hectic. I need products that prepare me to be ready for anything. I love to look and feel glamorous, but I don't want to commit a lot of time to the process. Here's why I love:


Cosmedicine Healthy Cleanse Foaming Cleanser & Toner In One - This is a fabulous all in one product. Recently, I spent a few days in New York City. With all of the walking and subway riding in the heat and humidity, I was beyond greasy! Not oily, but greasy! I produced more oil than I ever had. When I returned home, I re-evaluated my cleansing products and discovered I needed something new. This is a great product that removes makeup and it even removes waterproof mascara! And to top it off, it has a built in toner! I have enlarged pores on the sides of my nose that tend to look like teacups, and this product is great for tightening them.


Sephora Brand Double-Ended Blemish Extractor - If you get the occasional pimple as I do, this is a necessary little tool. I hope you already know that you should never, ever pop a pimple with your fingers. I know this looks like a scary, surgical instrument, but it's a must-have for me.





Sephora Brand The Smokey Eye Kit - My favorite part of my face to make up are my eyes. This is a fantastic 6-piece set of tools to create The Smokey Eye. The set includes 5 Sephora Professionelle brushes (wide smudge, all over shadow, small domed smudge, detail, and dual-sided brow brush and come), Volume Mascara in black and the how-to instructions for applying the smokey eye look, in a very chick gunmetal faux leather case.




Fresh Supernova Mascara - To top off the look of the smokey eye, you need thick, luscious eyelashes. This mascara only takes one coat and it's very light. My lashes never feel weighed down. It really makes my eyes pop! This is one of the best mascaras I have ever used.




Marc Jacobs Daisy - Once I'm all dressed and made up, I add a little spritz of Marc Jacob's fragrance - Daisy. The first thing that caught my attention was the beautiful bottle - I had to find out more. This scent reminds me of a beautiful Spring day. I love fragrances that are light and not overpowering; I don't want my fragrance to be introduced before I am. Top notes: bright and fresh violet leaves, wild strawberries. Mid notes: comfortable violet petals, jasmine bouquet. Base notes: feminine musk, vanilla infusion. -Perfect