When I travel, I like to be as compact as possible…but still maintain as many options as I can.

This week, I’m spending a few days visiting my parents for the Passover seders, and I really don’t want to carry my big trunk of war paint.

It’s easy to be ready when I bring my palettes! The newest addition is Bobbi Brown’s Lip Quads.

Each compact has four shades that work well together, or on their own and each pans can be popped out and inserted into Bobbi’s customizable palettes, to be mixed and matched. How cool is that??? Cosmetics for the commitment-phobes. Gotta love it.

Image: Nordstrom

Inspired by Fashion Week, Bobbi Brown’s new Brights collector’s edition palette is perfect for a gal like me who never outgrew playing dress-up and experimenting with her makeup.
The palette includes 35 soft matte shadows in shades ranging from pinks and greens to blues and purples. All the shades are new and exclusive to this palette, which features a unique, fold-out design and full-sized mirror.

I do tons of work-related travel - and this baby will take all the guesswork out of beauty product packing! (Well, as far as my eye lids are concerned, at least.)

Image: Bobbi Brown Cosmetics

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are highlighting Pink Ribbon products that benefit the cause. I’m a big fan of Bobbi Brown lipstick and this month, you can get their limited edition Pink Ribbon Collection.

The set includes Pink Quartz Glitter Lip Gloss and Tulle Lip Color. The lip gloss gives you a terrific sparkling shine that can be worn alone or in conjunction with the lipstick.

Bobbi Brown is donating a portion of proceeds from the collection to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. You can order the set online at Nordstrom.com for $40.

How do you get lip color that lasts?

Here are some simple tips:

• Exfoliate your lips with a washcloth to create a smooth surface.
• Apply powder or primer to your lips if you are using creme formula lipstick.
• Fill in your entire lips with liner before applying lipstick.
• Use a lip brush for precision. You will be able to extend the color to the corners of your lips.

For more information about Breast Cancer Awareness month, turn to Pink Ribbon Review.

Photo credit: Nordstrom

Some fun beauty and summer related news.  Saks Fifth Avenue and Havaianas have joined forces with some of the most prominent women in beauty to make three pairs of the cutest Havaianas:

Through the entire month of June, proceeds from sales of these shoes will go to benefit charity:water.  A little info about the three makeup artists designs:’

Trish McEvoy wanted to bring to her sandal design the feeling of a walk on the beach—her favorite way to relax. “My colors this season brighten your complexion and call to mind the deep blues of the ocean, the pearlescent shades inside a seashell, and the glitter of the sand-taking you on an instant vacation.”

Laura Mercier decided to fill her canvas with kisses showcasing the new lipstick shades in her summer assortment, saying “A comfortable sandal should be as comfortable as wearing the lipstick on your lips.” 

Bobbi Brown created a pair that reflects the spirit of summer- keeping it simple, enjoying every moment, and of course, and always looking fabulous in the process. “The beach is where I go to unwind with my family, so I keep things easy by wearing sunscreen, simple makeup and a fun pair of flip-flops.”

Which ones would you pick?  I have to say the Laura Mercier for me, for sure.  Too dang cute, and a super inexpensive $15 (which, surprisingly is a few bucks less than your regular Havaianas), you should be able to get at least one pair - IF you are on the ball enough to catch them before they sell out!

Ok, I am going to try this again today and hope that the technology gods are on my side.

If you don’t want to shave all your hirsuteness away, what else can you do? For small areas, such as your eyebrows, where you would like precise hair removal, and no stubble, you can tweeze. I showed you Elke and Julie’s awesome video a week or two ago where she covers all of the important things you need to know about tweezing your eyebrows - shaping them, and specific tweezer usage tips that will help more effectively and less painfully remove those little hairs. My tweezing confession is this - I hate cheap tweezers (and hair products, but that is another post). I am a real snob about them. I have tried cheap tweezers and they just don’t work, or they don’t work for long. Two bucks for a set of tweezers *sounds* good, but it isn’t. Ever. I don’t like Revlon, L’Oreal or any of the other drugstore varieties, and I have tried them all at one point or another (when I have lost my good ones and was desperate and poor). You will buy 100 sets of cheap tweezers and your $40 tweezers will still out last them. You need good, precision tweezers.

My current favorite tweezer is made by Rubis - a Swiss brand that is very well known but not as mainstream as, say, Tweezerman (which makes a good tweezer too, but choose the upper price point tweezers). On top of being very precise and longlasting, they come in a huge array of colors and styles. For general tweezing, I personally much prefer a flat or angled tip, rather than a pointed tip- but I will probably invest in a pointed tip soon, they come in very handy sometimes. Rubis also manufactures Bobbi Brown’s tweezers. Pictured above (and linked to Amazon.com) is the tweezer I use and love, by Rubis, and it is available at Amazon.com for $34.95. A good price. Trust me on this.

Do you tweeze any other body parts besides your eyebrows? Tell me about it, I would love to hear.

After seeing the makeup trends at the Oscars, I am going to start showing the artist’s visions of Spring 2006, starting with Pink Sugar, by Bobbi Brown.  Bobbi’s step by step to create this look can be found at her web site, here.  A great and handy item from Bobbi for the spring is her Pink Sugar Palette (shown below), available at her website for a very affordable $50!