Thanks to everyone who entered last week’s Walmart beauty giveaway.  It was the most successful contest ever at Makeup Minute with over 280 entries! And with no further adieu….drumroll, please…congrats to Heidi Gall, whose comment was selected via Random.org as the winner.

Heidi, I’ll email you shortly for your address – hope you enjoy the Olay Regenerist and all of the other goodies!

Stay tuned for more giveaways on Makeup Minute, coming soon!

“Perfect” is among the most overused words in beauty marketing and beauty writing – I’m guilty of using and abusing the adjective myself.  But today, I was introduced to Per-fekt, the proper noun and that’s a whole new ball game.
The first Per-fekt product that I’ve tested (there are just three in the line) is coincidentally the newest, the Eye Perfection Gel. This treatment/primer/concealer/brightener (no, really…it effectively acts as all of those things) enhances the delicate under-eye area with the most natural look imaginable.

So what does that really mean? Well, effectively, Eye Perfection Gel smoothes the skin, provides minimal coverage, treats puffiness and …read more

Our friends at Stila have really made a play in social media in recent months (you can follow them on Twitter here) and now, they’re merging beauty and technology with the launch of the NEW Makeup Player.

Part makeup case, part media player docking station with speakers, this portable vanity blends cutting edge technology with Pro Artist expertise, giving you the tricks and tools to create your own looks, on demand.
Downloadable mobile tutorials are available from www.stilabeautytube.com; to replicate the look, simply dock your device into the Makeup Player and unleash your inner artist with the press of a button. Once your …read more

Toasting the New Year and its 15th anniversary, NARS is celebrating with red-hot holiday-packaged gifts this season. Here are a few highlights:

NARS introduces two 15th Anniversary Palettes ($75 each) to celebrate 15 years of color innovation.
First up is Everlasting Love contains intense eye hues to create the perfect smoky eye while Wild at Heart featuring bold lip shades for a deeply pigmented pout.
The Plein ete Mini Multiple Set ($45) is n exclusive set of mini Multiples boasting three best-selling shades.
The Drop Dead Gorgeous Mini Nail Kit ($30) is a dreamy stocking stuffer; the mini collection includes four festive shades: Arabesque, Chinatown, …read more

There’s a chill in the air and evenings are getting darker earlier but regardless, it’s the season for holiday parties and a few quick and easy tricks from the pros are in order. Alison Raffaele, celebrity make-up artist and creator of Alison Raffaele Cosmetics, has some tips on how to get your glam for your big night out.

Alison says,
To quickly and easily get your glam on this Holiday season, try brightening or deepening your eyes and/or your lips. For example, if you normally wear a soft plum lipstick, a step deeper would be a more of aubergine color …read more

This month,  Estée Lauder is launching two new collections for Holiday: Ultimate Red Color and the Holiday 2009 Compacts, which are always a favorite of mine.

The Ultimate Red Color Collection is luxe and gorgeous!. The classic navy blue Signature Estée Lauder packaging has been transformed to a holiday gold, encasing jewel-inspired shades of lavish plums and gold flecked caramels. Lips create a high impact in deep shades of cranberry and blackberry while the skin is lightly dusted in luminous, shimmer powder.

The highly collectible Estée Lauder compacts are back this holiday season with their usual whimsical flare. This …read more

Wow, it’s hard to believe that the holidays are just around the corner (they come earlier each year, don’t they?), but it’s true! News of all the beautiful makeup collections for the season has been rolling in for weeks now, but I’ve held out on posting. But from now through the end of the year, stay tuned for amazing holiday gift ideas and pro tips on festive makeup looks for party season, along with our regularly scheduled reviews.
First up is Bobbi Brown’s new Chrome Collection. Hitting counters this November is the Chrome Palette- her cool, contemporary take on holiday beauty. …read more

Halloween is tomorrow and no matter what’s on your agenda – party or parade – the killer style and flawless faces seen on AMC’s ‘Mad Men’ would be the perfect costume (simple, feminine and beautiful!)

To get the look, try snagging a vintage dress from your closet or the closet of your mom or grandmother. Accessorize it conservatively with classic pearls, diamond studs, matching mid-height heels and a chic clutch.
For the makeup, start with a powder foundation (I like the one from Michael Marcus Cosmetics ($40) as it creates a close – to – flawless complexion.)
Next, apply a thin line of …read more

Truth be told, since I live in NYC, Walmart is a positively exotic shopping experience to me.  I’ve only been a handful of times in the past few years but whenever I’m in the vicinity of a store, I feel compelled to shop.

I have no excuse for not shopping Walmart anymore though – the site just launched Health & Beauty products online for home delivery. That means that thousands of  items from your favorite mass brands like Neutrogena, L’Oreal, Pantene and Gillette can now be shipped directly to home. Convenient, right? No running out of razors or sunscreen!
To help …read more

Though I like to complain about how old I am, few things would actually make me want to turn back the clock and be a college student again. But one of those few things is definitely the great discounts that students enjoy.
In fact, the folks at beauty retailer Ulta just got in touch to share the news that they’ve been offering exclusive monthly discounts on the hottest beauty trends to students everywhere who show their student ID.

As 2009 comes to a close, so will the “College Day” program, but before it does, Ulta still has two more “College Day” offers to …read more