Shades of gold and bronze are hot this summer - you’ll see it in shoes, bags, and all sorts of accessories.

Image: Nordstrom

Why wouldn’t it make it into your eye palette?

Estee Lauder’s Sensuous Gold Signature Eye Quad is a limited-edition compact that includes a variety of shades of hammered gold.

They can all be worn alone, but are designed to be blended and worn together, to create a variety of golden looks. Mix and match is the beauty of the eye quad. It’s 4 colors, but many options for looks and variants. You can even wear the darker colors as a shimmery liner.

I love to pair my shades of gold with neutral makeup and a white draping dress–it’s very Helen of Troy, and super hot!

Image: Nordstrom

Before we even discuss this product, take a moment to check out the awesome brush that comes inside.

Image: Nordstrom

Is it not a perfect little fan? (Very similar to the one you will find in my favorite product of the summer, Benefit’s One Hot Minute, part of why we love it!) - this is Estee Lauder’s Gilded Rose Shimmer Powder, and it’s a fabulous way to get an instant glow.

It’s made of what is, quite simply, baked marbleized powder. But it also has an essence of shimmering gold to it, which means when you put it on, you instantly get a fabulous sheer - almost luminous - aura.

Obviously, it’s for your face, but I’ve been using it on my décolletage - to sexy results!

For the last few weeks, Allie and I have been doing the Sim-fast Challenge…(with minor ups and downs…it is vacation/wedding/event season!)…and we have finally reached our finale!

After a month of following the plan (to the best of our ability), Allie has lost 6 pounds and I have lost 3!

“In the morning when I have extra time, I love to put milk, the powdered drink mix, and frozen fruits in the blender to make a cold and fruity smoothie. I look forward to it every morning!” Allie says.

She goes on: “For example today, I added 1/2 cup frozen peaches and 1/2 cup frozen raspberries then 1 cup skim milk and a scoop of strawberry powder.”

Allie is a teacher with a very on-the-go schedule, so Slim-Fast has been perfect for her to grab and go with. It’s a great way of saving money by not buying expensive, unhealthy lunches every day at work, as well!

I love the chocolate powder - I mix it with some vanilla soy milk and put it in the blender, it tastes totally indulgent, but isn’t!

Image: Carolyn Hsu/The Daily Obsession

My friend Carolyn, over at The Daily Obsession, also took part in the challenge with us! “I decided to take the SlimFast challenge because I had only a few weeks to get in shape for a fashion video shoot I was taking part of. As a busy city gal, I don’t always have time to cook or plan out my meals ahead of time, so Slimfast seemed like the most optimal solution for me since I wouldn’t even have to think for two meals of my day. I consumed a combination of Slimfast shakes and bars throughout my work day and then would come home and (usually) cook something healthy for dinner. I found the taste of Slimfast to be very appealing actually. In fact, one of the biggest challenges for me on the challenge was not to over-consume my allocated number of Slimfast meals and snacks per day! As it turned out- when video shoot day came, I actually fit into a form fitting dress (see picture) while managing to keep my rolls in check!”

So, we are fans. So much so, that we may continue to drink it…recreationally!

If you’ve read eBeautyDaily, like, ever, you are probably already well aware that I am a fan of Bare Escentuals.

Image: Nordstrom

Actually, to call me a fan would be like to say that Elvis sort of liked peanut butter. I am obsessed - and the new water-based Hydrating Mineral Veil has not faltered my love at all.

This new take on mineral veil is great for thirsty skin and has a cooling effect, it also helps brighten skin - but in a non-obvious not-shimmery sort of way, which helps to create a smooth finishing touch.

My advice: Best way to use this is to buff it over makeup or bare skin with a great kabuki brush!

How unbelievably cool and sexy are these???

Image: Nordstrom

I am beyond smitten with these night sky-colored eyelashes with star motifs. They will create a fabulous twinkle on the edges of the eyes that will make you the star of ANY party!

shu uemura Mini Star Glitz False Eyelashes are not for the office - unless I guess you work in a very unique sort of company - but can sexy up that little black dress in no time at all.

I used to think funky false eyelashes weren’t for me - I’m a  pretty shy girl - but I was blown away the first time I saw myself in pictures, in them. They will add such sass to your style, you’ll be hooked in no time!

So, last night I blogged about the incredible importance of sun protection.

Image: PCA Beauty

Roughly 12 hours later, here I am, blogging from the beach.

Clearly, one would think I would follow my own advice. Especially since the OCD in me led me to take my computer TO the beach, where said advice is readily available.

That said, I am wearing sunblock, at least.

I’m scared to death of skin cancer. I am super pale, and have at least one questionable mole I’ve been living in blissful ignorance about; but let’s be honest here–melanoma, sun spots, wrinkles, burns are no joking matter.

That said, they are no reason to render ourselves indoors on an absolutely gorgeous day.

Today, I was at least smart enough to apply PCA Skin Perfecting Face & Body Hydrator SPF 30, a new sunscreen I’ve received with pigment control and is effective for both daily facial and body use.

This is not just a sunscreen, but a UVA/UVB moisturizer developed to hydrate the body and offer broad-spectrum UV protection and minimize skin discolorations. But the truth is in the pudding - I have been using it for the last few hours, and while my skin is a bit on the pink side, no burning is happening. This is a huge deal - normally I’d be a tomato by now!

So, I am a fan. And would probably be even more of one if I applied it as often as I’m supposed to. (About hourly.)

Mineral makeup is key to breathable skin.

Image: Nordstrom

All Skins Mineral Makeup 16-Hour Wear SPF 10 is an all-day liquid mineral foundation that promises to stay fresh and at the same time help protect your skin from the evil the sun has to offer: i.e. those UVA/UVB rays.

This is great, if you are like me, and despite being in the Hamptons on a sunny weekend, half the time forget to sun-protect.

It is made with an exclusive R.E.C. complex (Radiance Emitting Crystals—a unique combination of amethyst, rose quartz and calcite) that also gives skin a bit of glow. Pretty hot…especially out here!

Sexy eyes are a make or break in the dating scene. (Not to say I know ANYTHING about what works in the dating scene, clearly, but I know what looks good.)

I’m off to Montauk this morning, and I really want to look sexy - look what’s in my overnight bag!

Image: Nordstrom

Made exclusively for Nordstrom, MAC’s Rose Is a Rose is an exclusive compact of four shades that are very flirty and floral - but because it’s MAC - have a touch of edginess to them.

Included are the limited-edition shades Seeds of Love and Petal Worship, and encores Solar White and Contrast - all shades that will make YOU worship-worthy. Unless your date is clueless and a waste of time…which most are, anyway.

Too Faced Cosmetics, one of my favorite brands, just emailed me to ask me to pass on the news about a ridiculously huge summer sale they are having for the next few days on their web site,

Image: Too Faced Cosmetics

Here’s the deets:

-20% off entire purchase

-4 days only

-promotion code is SIZZLE

-free Mini Pinpoint with $35 dollar purchase

-free shipping with $75 or more purchase

In case you don’t know what you want, my recommendations are Shadow Insurance (my fave eyeshadow primer) or their absolutely fabulous Retractable Kabuki Brush.

Take advantage while you can, the sale ends with the weekend!

Everyone I know is always in search of the next-best mascara. And whether they are looking for volume or length or curl, no one is ever 100% happy - and thus the search continues.

How cool would it be to have your entire search in one kit?

Now you sort of can! Sephora is doing a series of “best of” sort of kits, and Lashstash is their mascara array.

There’s a little bit of everything in this set, from a lash base to a rice-bran-enriched mascara! My trick: Don’t try just one, mix and match until you find the combo that makes you look your most lust-worthy.

In this set is:
- 0.1 oz Anastasia Lash Lifting Mascara
- 0.1 oz Tarte Lights Camera Lashes
- 0.1 oz Sephora Atomic Volume Mascara
- 0.24 oz Stila Multi Effect Mascara
- 0.14 oz Benefit Bad Gal Mini
- 0.2 oz Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash
- 0.13 oz Too Faced Mini Lash Injection Pin Point
- 0.12 oz Smashbox Bionic
- 0.07 oz Lancome Cils Booster
- 0.085 oz DuWop Lash Venom
- 0.14 oz Korres Provitamin B5 and Rice Bran Mascara

Image: Sephora