Image: Drugstore.com

So…with all this mascara loving going on in my life, you can bet that when I had the opportunity to try the new Maybelline Lash Stiletto, I just about died and went to heaven. But would this much-hyped new product make my lashes smile…or would it be a flop?

The verdict: I LOVE IT!

This mascara is absolutely fab. It’s even better when you realize you’re only going to have to shell out about $7-$8 for your own tube!

The wand, I think, is one of the better wands I’ve used in a while. It really promotes the lengthening aspect of this stuff and makes your lashes separate without any clumping – no small feat for any mascara, for sure.

It comes in the standard colors (Soft Black, Black/Brown, Very Black, etc) and the tube itself is a total riot – it looks like a stiletto heel!

The formula is silky, not sticky, and I experienced no problems with smudging, flaking or irritation. The little bit I did manage to get on my eyelid during application easily wiped off with a Q-Tip dipped in good old fashioned saliva. Fantastic!

Overall, I rate this mascara a total keeper. It’s definitely worth a try and definitely deserves a spot in your makeup drawer. Check it out!

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• Step 1. Prepare your lips by using warm water, a wash cloth and a lip mask (or another safe, grainy cleanser). Apply the mask or cleanser directly to moist lips. Allow to set while you prepare the warm cloth. Rub the mask/cleanser off by using circular motions. This will help work most of the dead, dry skin off, revealing smoother, plumper lips. This step should be done once or twice per week.


Image: Drugstore.com

• Step 2. Line lips. Choose a liner two shades or so darker than your lipstick, and trace your natural lipline, paying special attention to your Cupid’s Bow (the “V” part of your top lip). Once lips are lined, color in the remainder of the lip with the liner as well. This gives a nice base color in case your lipstick later does the slide.
• Step 3. Add color. Now it’s time to slather on your lipstick. After your first coat, grab a lint-free tissue and blot by placing the tissue between your upper and lover lips, and pressing down. Next, swipe on another coat. If possible, separate a 2-ply tissue so it’s one-ply, then place the tissue gently over lips and dab with loose powder. The tissue acts as a filter, allowing just enough of the powder to get through to set the lipstick without changing the lip’s color or texture.
• Step 4. Choose a gloss to highlight and plump. With gloss, you want to dab, rather than slick. A small dab of a shimmery or light-grabbing gloss in the center of your bottom lip will plump up your pout in an instant. That one small move adds dimension and a shot of light to your lips, drawing attention right where you want it.
• Step 5. Blot. Place your index finger between your lips and pucker up. See the lipstick left on your skin? That could’ve been on your teeth. Do it again, just to be safe.

So, that’s it. Remember to change up colors to suit your moods, but to also have one “constant” color in your handbag, desk or car for emergencies. Investing in a lip mask is a great idea, but if you’re too cheap, just be sure to work that warm wash cloth around your lips.

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Image: Prescriptives

I must say, I am a mighty picky chick when it comes to foundations, and I’m willing to bet many of your are too, no? And that once you find a great product, you’ll stick with it forever and ever, right? Well, as a die hard fan of tinted moisturizer paired up with a pressed powder, I am now singing the praises of this Prescriptives makeup and am even willing to go so far as to chuck my old stand-bys in the garbage. Seriously.

First off, the compact is absolutely gorgeous, which I’ll admit, is a huge selling feature to me. When something that makes me look beautiful looks beautiful on its own, that’s a great start.

Second, the makeup itself goes on beautifully, provides fabulous coverage, lasts for ages and does not clog my easily-clogged pores. I was very, very afraid that now that I have my skin under control and looking great, trying a new makeup would make it rebel, but I’m happy to say that after a week of use, I see no signs of breakouts at all. Hallelujah!

Here are a few selling points:

• Suitable for all skin types
• Natural looking in all types of light
• Minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Minimizes the appearance of pores
• Oil-free, fragrance-free, and non-acnegenic

This is a cream-to-powder makeup with light-reflecting properties. It’s available in 12 different shades, so you’re sure to find the right one for you. It’s a fabulous product any way you look at it.

Interested? You can snatch this up for about $35 by vising Prescriptives.com or by stopping by any Prescriptives counter nationwide.

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Have you heard the word Recessionista? It’s being bandied about these days as so many of us try to keep up with our beauty habits without breaking the bank.

Recessionistas are those resourceful ladies who refuse to let the failing economy interfere with their fabulous looks. They’re bargain hunters, they’re repurposers and they’re all-around smart cookies who keep themselves looking hotter than hot, even on a budget.

Thankfully there are plenty of great cosmetics companies offering fantastic beauty finds to all of us Recessionistas, and I’m thrilled to share some of them with you here. Take a look at where you can get the most bang for your beauty buck:

e.l.f. cosmetics – This generation’s answer to the 1980’s Wet ‘n Wild phenomenon, e.l.f. (which stands for Eyes, Lips, Face), is a bargain hunters dream. Here you can find entire collections for a fraction of the cost of a traditional makeup counter’s offerings. The e.l.f. site often features comparisons of their collection versus lines like Clinique at huge savings. It’s fun just to hop on and see what is available and how happy your pocketbook will be with the savings!

Furthermore, many of e.l.f.’s choices (single products, not kits) run around a buck a piece – seriously, that’s it. They often run lots of sales (be sure to get on their email list) and offer free shipping with orders over $75. Fantastic!

Drugstore.com – If you don’t visit Drugstore.com on a regular basis, you are definitely missing out.

Chock full of beauty bargains, Drugstore.com has everything from the latest and greatest offerings to the oldies and goodies. You’ll find greatly reduced prices on the very things you’ll find at online sites as well as big box retailers like Target and Wal-Mart. They also have shipping specials and other assorted offers here and there.

Mineral Makeup – Looking to save some cash, yet score quality products? Of course you are! In that case, I urge you to look no further than mineral makeup, the hottest trend in cosmetics. Nearly every single line offers some type of mineral choices, including bronzers, foundations, powders, eye and cheek colors and more.

The benefits of mineral makeup are endless. They’re naturally great for your skin and provide just the right amount coverage without a plastered-on feel.

Perhaps the greatest benefit, however, is that mineral makeup is generally found in loose form and very little of it is needed in order to deliver the results you’re looking for. Once you become used to applying minerals, you’ll soon find how much money (and time!) you can save by using these awesome products. And as I said, nearly every single cosmetics line on the planet now offers some mineral products, so finding what you need in any price range should definitely not leave you hard-pressed.

These are just a few ways to get your beauty fix without breaking the bank. Do you have any other ideas? If so, please share. And be assured, any time I come across a product I think will make your wallet sing, I’ll be sure to share it. Until then, give these tips a try.

Happy Budget Hunting!

This post brought to you by redtagcrazy.com where you’ll find one sought-after fashion label at a time up to 80% off. Get an instant $5 to spend on anything you want courtesy of Makeup Minute.

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Remember how utterly gorgeous Heidi Klum looked at last year’s Academy Awards? That killer red dress, the perfectly coiffed hairdo, the amazingly perfect makeup. She was stunning.

Well, it’s no surprise Ms. Klum is ready to wow us again and this year her Oscar makeup look can be yours courtesy of Heidi’s awards season makeup kit. Inside the kit, you’ll find everything you need to duplicate Heidi’s subtly smokey look, as defined by Victoria’s Secret makeup artist Linda Hay.

The kit contains eyes shades, cheek color, mascara, lip gloss and more, all in a very chic little pouch which can be toted anywhere you’d need to get yourself all Heidi-esque.

What’s more, if you head to any Victoria’s Secret makeup counter and tell them Heidi sent you, you can receive $10 off this totally awesome kit. What a deal!

Looking like Heidi Klum on a budget? Who’d have thought? Sounds pretty exciting to me! (Can’t wait to see her at the Oscars too!!)

Images courtesy of Victoria’s Secret

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Here’s what’s on tap:

* Maybelline Stiletto Mascara

* Products by Prescriptives, including a Face Primer, Blush, Eye Cream and more

* DEX loose mineral pigments

* The newest formula of Crest Whitestips

Exciting stuff, huh? I can hardly wait to dig into all this stuff and share my impressions with you.

Have you tried any of these products? Care to give us a sneak peek of what I can expect? If so, let us know. If not, stay tuned for the whole scoop.

Have a great weekend!

Image: Drugstore.com

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Concealer. Sometimes we can’t live with it, but we definitely can’t live without it.

There seem to be a zillion formulas of concealer on the market, and for each formula, there are several shades. Choosing the right concealer for your complexion and the flaws you’re looking to hide can be quite a challenge.

In my quest for finding the perfect concealer, I stumbled across Mary Kay’s Color Concealer and I’ve been hooked ever since. Its formula is creamy, but not gloppy. The coverage it provides is thorough, but not paint-like. There are several colors, but not so many that you’re left with your head spinning as to which one is your best choice. And the best part? If you are buying through an Independent Beauty Consultant, you can try before you buy, ensuring that you get the best color for you. And if for some reason the concealer you choose ends up not being right, you are able to return or exchange the product. Fabulous!

I know there are a ton of concealers out there that are fantastic and if you have a fave, please share with us and let us know. But for a mere $10 and delivery right to your door, I have found that the Mary Kay Color Concealer is a great product at a great price. Definitely a personal fave!

Image: MaryKay.com

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Congratulations! You’ve found the perfect lipstick shade. That’s Major Accomplishment #1. Now, to tackle Major Accomplishment #2 – keeping that glorious lipstick off of your teeth!

Not to worry, it’s actually quite easy to do. Here, a few tips to keep your new shade on your pout and not on your chompers:

• Use a lipstick primer before you slather on your color. This quick tip helps keep lipstick in place and eliminates bleeding and the color migration.
• Dust lipstick with a loose powder to set the color. Just grab a facial tissue and separate it into 1-ply. Place the tissue over your lips, then dust on the powder. Voila! A set look without the powder showing through.
• And finally, after applying lipstick (particularly when you’re on the go and don’t have time to utilize the first two tips), place your index finger between your lips and slide it out. Any extraneous color will go there instead of on your teeth.

These have been tried and true tips I’ve used for years. Do you have any to add? We’re all ears (eyes)…

Image: Drugstore.com

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Let’s face it, ladies. Even in the winter our fabulous selves can end up shiny, leaving a mess of the makeup we so diligently applied that very morning.

So what’s a girl to do? Grab some of these Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets, that’s what!

For only $4.76 on Drugstore.com, you can get yourself some of these awesome little sheets to stuff everywhere from your handbag to your car’s glove compartment, to your desk at work to wherever. Any time you glance in the mirror and see a little oil slick forming, grab a sheet and dab it over the shiny areas to restore your beautiful finish.

I use these daily and promise you your makeup will remain in tact, but the grease will be gone. They’re handy and easy and completely economical. Easily one of my favorite face-saving products of all time.

Have you tried these (or another brand)? Let us know what you think in the comments below…

Image: Drugstore.com

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The other day, I asked you what you were getting yourself for V-Day and suggested the uber-cute Candy Hearts Lip Duos. But just in case yummy tasting lip gloss isn’t your thing (huh?!?), here are a few other items you can pick up for yourself on the cheap. And, of course, since this is Love Day and all, everything here is a truly fantastic girly pink!

Treat your nails with Black Radiance Bold & Sexy Salon Lacquer in Provocative. This lovely pink hue boasts a long-lasting salon formula which withstands anything your busy life throws at it. The best part? You can snag this polish for only $3.99 at Wal-Mart!

Keep your pout kissable (and pink!) with Tropez Ultra Glaze Lip Gloss in Perfectly Pink. This gloss gives a glassy sheen that keeps lips looking amazing, as the ultra-shiny formula glazes lips with rich creamy color while giving them high-shine. Get this awesome stuff for only $2.99 at www.Walgreens.com.

And finally, if you need somewhere to put all these pink goodies, look no further than the Modella Pretty In Pink 3 Piece Weekender Set. This set is perfect for packing all the essentials for a weekend getaway with your Valentine (or the girls) and can be found for only $12.47 at Wal-Mart!

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