Palacinka Beauty Blog

Time Machine Manicures at Nicole Miller Fall/Winter 2012 NY Fashion Week Show

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:40:00 +0000

Now THIS is nail art! It's a bit of giant lollipop and 60's psychedelia all in one.

At Nicole Miller, CND's Wanda Ruiz helped showcase parallel times to prove that "the past plays out in the present." CND's "Time Machine" manicures at Nicole Miller were trippy and hypnotic in colorful swirls of CND!

The colors used were:

Plumville, Electric Orange, BicycleYellow and Anchor Blue (all shown, above). You can master this look at home with a toothpick (or a detailing brush) - and some patience.

P.S. The models eyelashes are AMAZE too! - RLB

Tween Beauty Find - Ottilie & Lulu

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:00:00 +0000

Founded by Deborah Hernan, a mother of a tween Ottilie and Lulu offers a range of easy-to-use products specially formulated for girls 7-14.

This line is perfect for those of you who have tweens in your life (or if you are one reading our blog!) and want products that contains anti-oxidants vitamins to nourish, and enriching botanicals to sooth skin. All the products in the line are made without irritating glitter, heavy perfume or strong colors.

The Clean Skin Face Wipes are gentle (no salicylic acid) and have a beautiful rosewater scent (light) that leaves skin feeling clean and refreshed. The wipes do a great job of cleansing without stripping and drying skin or leaving a film. They are made with cotton and are semi-wet out of the pack. 1 wipe easily cleans face, neck and ears. This product is also a PTPA Award Winner (Parent Tested Parent Approved).

Another great product is the Ottilie & Lulu Feel Good Shampoo & Body Wash which has a super fresh mint fragrance and contains soothing ingredients like chamomile, wheat and jojoba proteins. It gently cleanses the body as well as hair and because of the mint, it feels a little tingly on the scalp which is very nice.

It lathers nicely and after rinsing, skin feels moisturized. For normal to slightly dry hair, it also does a great job of cleansing and keeping hair soft and smooth.

Both of these products are perfect for tweens because they are easy to use, are multipurpose and smell fantastic, so they'll be more likely to remember to use them in their daily life and help create healthy beauty routines for the future! - RLB

Go-->http://www.ottilieandlulu.com/

*These products were provided by Ottilie + Lulu PR for reviewing purposes.

Top 5 Drugstore Beauty Products

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:00:00 +0000

This guest post is by Elena Donovan Mauer for Completely You

Have you paid off your credit card? If your balance was anywhere near as big as mine was (believe me, it was big), I’m sure you’ll agree it feels pretty darn good. But it was a long, hard road that took quite a few cutbacks, one of the largest being my beauty budget. I had to force myself to stay away from the makeup counter (except for a few essentials), and scour the drugstore aisles instead for something good.

These beauty products are my favorites, and now they’re my new beauty staples:

1. Pantene Pro-V Medium-Thick, Frizzy to Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner
$5 for 12.6 fluid ounces

OK, so you probably know about this one, but Pantene now makes many more formulations of its shampoos and conditioners just for specific hair types. I happen to have thick hair that’s wavy, but I usually prefer to wear it straight. Most smoothing shampoos and conditioners give me the greasies, but this one’s simply perfect.

2. Physician’s Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Face Powder

$14
Doesn’t make me break out. It’s sheer, yet it covers my skin’s redness and sun damage (shhh ... ) and really reduces shine.

3. John Frieda Frizz-Ease Heat Defeat Protective Styling Spray
$6
On no-wash days, I spritz this on before flat ironing, and my hair looks super-sleek and shiny.

4. Burt’s Bees Replenishing Lip Balm With Pomegranate Oil
$3
If you don’t mind a fruity scent, I highly recommend this balm. It glides right on and doesn’t feel waxy or drying. It’s also got just a hint of color.

5. Sally Hansen Salon Effects
$9
These nail polish strips are awesome. Sure, they’re almost as pricey as a manicure, but for me, they last much longer. Plus, they look like you had a designer manicurist come to your home and paint on a custom design. Argyle, leopard print and stripes are just a few of the cool designs. The best part? No drying time.

Here’s to being out of debt -- and still looking amazing!

What are your favorite drugstore beauty products? Share below or tweet me @Completely_You

Elena Donovan Mauer is Completely You’s beauty and lifestyle blogger. She has written for Self, The Knot and iVillage, and is the co-author of two books on relationships, The Good Girl's Guide to Living in Sin and Have Sex Like You Just Met ... No Matter How Long You've Been Together.

Drugstore Buy of the Week - St. Ives Naturally Smooth Body Lotion

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:30:00 +0000

St. Ives has created another drugstore product that is more than a bargain - it's an advanced moisturizer that contains natural fruit AHA complex to exfoliate skin and eliminate little bumps on elbows, knees and other dry patches.

I loved the light, creamy texture and how SUPER fast it absorbed into my skin. Even better, it's paraben-free. I was a little surprised by the scent however. It's not exactly a fruit-like fragrance. It's faintly citrus but with a slight tinge or plastic. It doesn't last very long and it interestingly doesn't transfer to the skin at all, so no worries there.

This is a great body moisturizer to apply out of the shower to lock in moisture all day, and I also liked using it as a quick hand cream as well. The AHA's are gentle but effective. I found after using 1-2 times a day for a few weeks my skin had an increased glow, and was very soft and smooth throughout the day. And at 21fl oz for a little over $5 that's a great thing! - RLB

Go-->Available at most drug stores nationwide.

*This product was provided courtesy of St. Ives PR for reviewing purposes.

Super Cute! - Paul & Joe Kitty Blusher Sticks

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:30:00 +0000

In this series of beauty & personal care product finds - Super Cute!- I share with you products which have innovative, artistic, fantasy, child-like, vintage and/or retro themes and an "irresistible" quality to them!

These make perfect little splurges and gifts for yourself or for the girly girl (or someone youthful in spirit!) in your life too.

Paul & Joe are back with a new version of last year's Kitty lipsticks in honor of the company's 20th anniversary. The Kitty Blusher Sticks also have the adorable cat-shaped heads, as well as creamy, soft formulas that I love.

I got the Catfight (pictured, far right), which is a bright tangerine in the tube that is a bit sheerer on the skin. I loved how it brightened up my complexion instantly, and the formula didn't fade or dry out during the day. The feel is like a gel/power hybrid and was very easy to blend quickly with my fingers. The blusher sticks are made with moisturizing and skin softening ingredients like Orange Flower Water, White Lily Extract, Rosemary Leaf Extract and Jojoba Oil.

Although not pictured, not only is the actual tube and case adorable, but the printing on the box is very unique with little kitty faces with different expressions when you turn the box.

And honestly, how amazing is it to be able to pull out this blush for your touch ups? All your friends will be jealous! - RLB

Go-->Paul & Joe Kitty Blusher Sticks

Pat McGrath Shows You How to Create a Vibrant Lip

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Makeup Artist extraordinaire Pat McGrath uses the new COVERGIRL Blast Flipstick in her favorite shade, Stunner, to achieve the hot red-orange shade on model Jessica Stam. The double-ended lipstick allows you to blend different shades to create a customized color with beautiful dimension and a touch of shimmer.

Pat uses the creamy end of the stick first to achieve a vibrant lip and adds a layer on top using the shimmery end of the stick to finish the look.

Here's the exclusive behind-the-scenes photo of Jessica getting glam at the shoot with Pat! - RLB

Natural Beauty Find - Sponge Skin Care

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:45:00 +0000

Well, Sponge Skin Care, as you might have guessed, it's not actually a line of sponges.

Sponge Skin Care is a Greek, all-natural skincare line that more and more people are discovering.

There are two of my favorite products which I now LOVE and reach for almost every day. The first is the Ladi Avokanto Avocado Oil. It's the perfect texture - not too oily, runny, thick or thin. It's really a serum/oil hybrid. Just two pumps was enough to hydrate and add a beautiful glow to my skin.

The oil absorbs very quickly, so you can begin makeup application or the next step in your skincare routine very soon after applying. Tip: I also mixed a tiny bit of the oil with my foundation on very cold/dry days and loved the nice "sheen" effect and how soft and smooth it left my skin all day.

At night I used the oil after cleansing, and then added a touch of my second product which I love, the Krema Triantafillo: Rose and Sage Cream. The moisturizer smells amazing! It's rose for sure, but the added touch of Sage brings a bit of sweetness to it that is just perfect. The scent is not overwhelming and very relaxing while you're applying it. The cream is a lotion texture and spread very well, so again, not more than a few pumps were needed. It hydrated the drier parts of my skin easily, absorbing quickly and leaving a beautiful, soft layer of moisture.

All of Sponge's products are formulated without parabens, Sulfates, Synthetic Fragrances, Synthetic Dyes, Petrochemicals, Phthalates, GMOs or Triclosan - RLB

Go-->Available at Sephora.com and Sephora's new NYC Meatpacking District store

*This product was provided courtesy of Sponge PR for reviewing purposes.

Hair Accessory Find - Hairbanglez

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:00:00 +0000

A few weeks ago I shared a really cool hair band/jewelry hybrid with you.

This week I have another unique way to store your hair bands. Hairbanglez are actual bangle bracelets which store and camouflage your bands at the same time.

The were created by company founder Karin Zanella, a woman who always wanted to have her hairbands nearby. They feature a groove where you can put your hair elastic. Voila! The hair elastic is placed within the groove in a black bangle, which when stacked, looks like it's actual modern jewelry.

The bangles come in two sizes, Classic and Skinny, and currently only in Black (so your bands would need to be black in order to be invisible. The company is exploring adding more shades/finishes for the bands as well. I love this idea and these also make a perfect little beauty gift for someone as well! - RLB

Go-->Hairbanglez.com

*This product was provided courtesy of Hairbanglez PR for reviewing purposes.

Reader Giveway! - Mally Beauty City Chick Smoldering Eye Palette

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:30:00 +0000

Our friends over at Mally Beauty are offering 1 lucky Palacinka Beauty reader their latest eye product - the Mally Beauty City Chick Smolders Eye Palette!

City Chick Smolders eye opening shadow is the clean, upbeat way to make eyes look open, while still delivering a finished, smokey eye look. The set shown at above is the Smoldering Chocolate (browns). - RLB

To Enter:

1. Simply send an e-mail to: palacinkabeauty@gmail.com with "Mally" in the subject line.

2. Include your: Name, Address, Telephone

That's It! Entries will be accepted until the deadline, February 13th, 2012 at 12Midnight EST.

Rules: One entry per person please. Open only to US residents.

Wear Red Lipstick With Confidence

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:45:00 +0000

This guest post is by Carrie Stern Kleiner for Completely You

Too shy to wear red lipstick, even for Valentine’s Day? Don’t be. Nothing says elegant, sophisticated, chic and romantic like scarlet or poppy lips. But with such a bold color, finding the right red for you can be a little daunting. Here’s how to take the guesswork out of the process.

Red Lipstick Tip No. 1: Find the right color.
The key is to match the undertones of your skin with the undertones of your red lipstick (blue to blue, golden to golden). “Fair skin with pink undertones looks best with blue-based cool reds,” says Brett Freedman, a Hollywood makeup artist who has worked with Vanessa Hudgens, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Jessica Biel. Go for lipstick shades with pinky-blue undertones and names such as scarlet, cranberry or magenta.

Medium skin with yellow undertones looks great with a red that has a touch of gold, like orange-reds and corals. Choose shades called coral, poppy or tomato, says Freedman. Those with darker skin should try a terra cotta tone with an orange base. Cinnamons and bricks fall into this category.

If you’re still not sure which to wear, Freedman suggests pulling five red lipstick colors you like and lining them up. You’ll start to notice the cool and warm tones in each.

Red Lipstick Tip No. 2: Try it on.

It’s not enough to look at the right colors and swipe them on your hands. “You really need to try the nominees on your face,” says Freedman. His no-fail trick? Take out your cell phone and snap a few photos. You’ll know immediately if you’ve found the right red lipstick.

Red Lipstick Tip No. 3: Prep properly.
The key to making your color last is starting with a slough. For an even finish, gently exfoliate your lips with a washcloth. Lip balm acts as a canvas to anchor color.

Red Lipstick Tip No. 4: Pick your potion.
A red lip can be bold or demure, depending on the formulation you choose. For daytime (especially if you’re a nude-gloss kind of girl), a sheer glaze or stain is the way to go. It’s subtle and won’t be overpowering, says Freedman. For a big night out, wear it bold. Choose a moisturizing lipstick with a satin finish. Prep with a touch of concealer around the lip area to help the lipstick last longer and prevent color from bleeding and feathering, he says.

Red Lipstick Tip No. 5: Keep the rest simple.
Your pretty pout will get all the attention, so it’s best to keep the rest of your makeup more subdued. For blush, “try something fleshy with a touch of sheen,” says Freedman, who also likes a sweep of champagne cream along the cheekbone. For the eyes, try a pale sweep of shadow and an application of mascara. To dress up the look, apply liquid liner. Be sure to keep liquid liner close to the lash line.

Do you wear red lipstick? Tell us below or connect with us @Completely_You

Carrie Stern Kleiner has contributed to such publications as The Knot, Fitness, Health and TotalBeauty.com. She was an editor for New York Magazine Wedding Guide and the senior beauty editor for Quick and Simple magazine.

Nail Polish Find - Butter LONDON Nail Lacquer, Disco Biscuit

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:45:00 +0000

Butter LONDON's Spring 2012 Collection has pretty, sparkly pastels, a fresh green shade and this amazing butter LONDON 3 Free Nail Lacquer, in Disco Biscuit.

The bright magenta brightens up any manicure or pedicure and looks great against the skin for a pretty splash of color. It's semi sheer and has a little surprise - super tiny, fine, blue shimmer! With two coats you get a finish that's close to the bottle, but three coats are required if you want the exact deepness of the pink, and it's still with a sheer finish. It's very close to some of their "Jelly" nail polishes.

This is also a great shade to experiment with over another deep or bright opaque pink to add some dimension to it. This will be in rotation all spring for me! - RLB

Go-->butter LONDON 3 Free Nail Lacquer, Disco Biscuit

Natural Beauty Find - Physicians Formula Organic wear 100% Natural Lash Boosting Mascara

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:45:00 +0000

I've tested a few natural mascaras over the years and was not completely in love with them. Now I'd like to share a fantastic one, Physicians Formula Organic wear 100% Natural Lash Boosting Mascara.

The product is all natural, inexpensive and does a great job of creating fuller, thicker lashes (it's not really for length). I think the unique, flat leaf-shaped tube design is very cute, and the brush (it's quite fat) took a little getting used to, but did a great job of separating my lashes and creating beautiful volume. Note: You need a little patience to get in the inner corners due to the size of the brush, but it is doable.

The produces a healthy, full lash, but it's not going to be an over the top effect. I would put it somewhere between natural (1 coat) to perfect for a complete day-to-night look (2 coats). It didn't smudge, run or flake during the day, and was very easy to remove in the evening.

This is one to pick up...you'll like it and can feel great about the ingredients you're adding to your lashes daily! - RLB

Go--> Available on Ulta.com

Beauty Find - Make Up For Ever Spring 2012 La Boheme Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil Gypsy

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:45:00 +0000

Make Up For Ever's latest romantic collection is called La Boheme, inspired by the creative spirit of the 1970s.

Creator and Artistic Director, Dany Sanz has create a new shade in her amazing line of Aqua Eyes Waterproof liners, called Gypsy, as part of the collection.

It's a limited edition shade that should be part of your collection because it's one of the prettiest brown liner shades I ever used! It's a medium brown and matte, but there seems to be just a touch of plum which makes it very unique and perfect for creating a softer smoky eye, or just adding to the top lash line for a bit of a new version of a "natural" eye look.

As with all of the Aqua Eyes collection, the liner goes on and stays on. No smudging, running or fading! It's a limited edition shade so don't wait to pick this one up. - RLB

Go-->Make Up For Ever Spring 2012 La Boheme Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil Gypsy

Lusting Over Illamasqua's Untold & Ruthless Nail Duo!

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:45:00 +0000

This guest post is courtesy of Thefind

Christmas and all its accompanying holiday chaos may be behind us (unless of course you still have loads of reject presents to return), but that's no reason to toss all the gorgeous holiday makeup aside like your mother's tacky hand-me-down decorations!

In fact, just because a collection is branded for holiday doesn't necessarily mean it's too dated or that it's gone out of style - unlike a Christmas CD playing nonstop through January (ugh!), repurposed holiday beauty doesn't have to scream 'Christmas' unseasonably! Take Brit-based Illamasqua's holiday nail varnish, for example - like the Untold & Ruthless Festive Nail Duo. Red nails are having a serious moment for 2012, so it's time to take full advantage of this gorgeous, on-trend duo of scarlet shades, no matter what the branding! With a high-gloss formula and the perfect healthy amount of glitter, these shades make a serious statement when worn alone, but are even more stunning when worn together for a show-stopping sparkly effect!

- Alexandra Gambardella

Drugstore Buy of the Week - Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Trio, Nude

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:45:00 +0000

I really like this idea of a "Nude" eye - I mean many of us love the Nude or "Your Lips But Better" lip, so it's a great way of switching it up.

To create it, the three shade work like this:
Create the Nude Eye: Apply the black Eyeliner at the base of upper and/or lower lash line (if you want it to look more natural, just apply to the upper. The layer the light champagne shade right above the upper lash line. Finish by adding the Pewter shade (a golden brown with a bit of sparkle) on the lower lash line. Of course, you can mix and match the shades any way you want, which makes this a really great buy. The Champagne shade, which is quite light, provides a beautiful amount of shimmer to just take the nude smoky effect up a notch, but of course it will be more noticeable on lighter skin tones.

What's also great about the pencils is that they are the type that easily swivel up from the base and they have a sharpener hidden at the end of the pencil. This makes them ideal for travel and packing in your bag for evening touch ups.

They are long wearing and did not budge one bit during the day and well into the night which is another bonus.

This is a MUST have drugstore buy! - RLB

Go-->Available at Ulta.com

Fragrance Find - Versace Yellow Diamond

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:45:00 +0000

Right around the holidays I shared with you my amazing men's fragrance find from Versace - Versace Pour Homme.

Their latest women's fragrance is Versace Yellow Diamond, and it's a easy, crisp, fresh floral that will bring you the feeling of spring even in the middle of winter.

I loved the opening notes on my skin - lots of fresh, crystal-clear citrus that really energized me. Soon after, the big florals made their way into the mix, and they were beautiful (Freesia, Orange Blossom and Mimosa).

The heart of the fragrance stayed with me throughout most of the day, and it the florals did get a bit more intense. At the end of the day, the scent became softer, but still with that touch of bright floral, mixed with a bit of spice. This is a perfect scent for sunny weekends out and everyday wear. Oh, and yes - I love the big yellow simulated diamond on top of the bottle and the pretty yellow print packaging featured on the box! - RLB

Fragrance Notes:

Top notes: Citron, Pear, Neroli and Bergamot

Middle notes: Freesia, Orange Blossom and Mimosa

Bottom notes: Amber, Wood and Musk

Go-->Available at Macys.com

*This product was provided courtesy of Versace PR for reviewing purposes.

Reader Giveaway! - African Pride Haircare

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:20:00 +0000

Our friends at African Pride hair care are offering you the chance to win a pack of three African Pride haircare products for the "My Pride. My Way" Black History Month Giveaway!

Included in the prize pack: Olive Miracle Deep Conditioning Hair Care helps provide moisture and nutrients the hair & scalp desires, because it helps replace the moisture and elasticity lost to styling and environmental factors. Naturally rich in vitamin E and other powerful antioxidants, African Pride Olive Miracle Deep Conditioning Hair Care helps restore and retain hair and scalp’s health, vitality and natural luster.

This is a great line for relaxed, curly, natural and even wavy/straight textures that are in need of intense moisture!

African Pride Olive Miracle: 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner (pictured above)

African Pride Olive Miracle: Miracle Creme (pictured below)

African Pride Olive Miracle: Growth Oil (pictured below)

Join us as we celebrate healthy hair, celebrate your individual style and beauty, and celebrate your African Pride. - RLB

To Enter:

1. Simply send an e-mail to: palacinkabeauty@gmail.com with "African Pride" in the subject line.

2. Include your: Name, Address, Telephone

That's It! Entries will be accepted until the deadline, February 28th, 2012 at 12Midnight EST.

Rules: One entry per person please. Open only to US residents.

Please also visit the African Pride Facebook (http://facebook.com/MyAfricanPride), and Twitter (@MyAfricanPride) pages for more updates.

5 Products for You and Your Home You'll Love

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:45:00 +0000

This guest post is courtesy of Completely You

Beauty Find - Rodin Hand & Body Cream

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:45:00 +0000

RODIN olio lusso RODIN Crema Luxury Hand & Body Cream is a cult beauty product that is definitely worth the hype...but I like to think of this as a "Skin treatment perfume lotion"

Why do I call it this? Well, it has a very heady floral (Gardenia, Rose, Neroli), scent upon opening and application.

This may be the best thing since sliced bread for those of you who love white floral scents, and Gardenia in particular. The scent does linger, but fades as the day goes on. If this is a scent you love, the great thing is that reapplying during the day after washing hands will prolong the floral scent. It's also a statement making scent that's very distinctive, so if you also like for people to know you by your scent, that's another benefit to using this cream.

As far as the cream itself, its rich, hydrating and creamy. The cream is made from natural oils which is perfect for those of you looking for a rich, natural moisturizer. It's not too oily or greasy, but does leave a nice sheen to the skin and it can be mixed with a little foundation/tinted moisturizer for a dewy effect or for those of you who battle dry, flaky skin during the winter. - RLB

Go-->RODIN olio lusso RODIN Crema Luxury Hand & Body Cream

*This product was provided courtesy of Rodin PR for reviewing purposes.

How to Pull off Dramatic Makeup

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:45:00 +0000

This guest post is by Karen Cicero for Completely You

I’m usually a nothing-on-the-lips kind of gal. Maybe it’s because I’m lucky enough to have some natural color in my pucker or because I hate having to reapply every time I eat or drink. Either way, wearing lipstick is an exception rather than a rule for me.

Which must be why my friends were totally blown away when I showed up wearing bright red lipstick to an after-work dinner. The first thing they said to me: “Wow, you look all glowy!” and “Love the bright lips!” What’s awesome is that not only were the compliments good for my ego, but I also got a confidence boost knowing I stood out. So I truly recommend going the bold route -- especially for any big presentations, dates or speeches you’ve got to make, where you’ll really need the extra confidence.

Scared to take the plunge? Here’s some stuff I learned to help you know you’re doing it right:

Choose just one feature and make it bold.
Makeup artists and makeup counter gurus alike will tell you this: If you’re going for a red lip, go easy on the eyes and cheeks. Just pick one feature to accent boldly and make the rest more subdued. To avoid the clown look, never go bold all over (unless, of course, it’s Halloween … or it’s your kid’s birthday party and the entertainer canceled).
Make sure you’re totally put together.
Just because your lips look amazing doesn’t mean you should neglect your hair or your skin. You don’t want to get paranoid that everyone can see that unconcealed zit, your shiny T-zone or your cowlick.
Apply in good lighting.
Doing drastic makeup requires using some finesse while applying. That means having a steady hand and great lighting that allows you to see exactly what you’re doing.
Check the mirror more often.
Even if you buy longwearing makeup, you’ll need to check your makeup more frequently than normal. That’s because it can easily fade, feather or come off on your wineglass. And unlike with the natural look, everyone will notice.
Really prepare for the extra attention.
You’ll love all the extra positive feedback about how hot you look, but know that there may be some compliments you may not exactly be looking for (you know, the stereotypical construction-worker-style cat calls). Try not to get annoyed -- and know that it happens just because you look totally amazing.

What’s the worst line or reaction you ever got on a night when you looked particularly good? Share below or tweet me @Completely_You

Photo: @iStockphoto.com/millann

Karen Cicero

is Completely You’s “Need to Know” blogger. A health journalist and magazine editor with more than 15 years of experience, she has contributed to such publications as Prevention, Self and Health, and has edited the dental column for Heart & Soul magazine.

Impulse Buy of the Week - Hello Kitty Mon Amour Palette

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:45:00 +0000

This year our favorite little Kitty travels to France!

The Hello Kitty Mon Amour Palette is the perfect treat to create soft, feminine spring looks. The key word here is: soft. The shadows are creamy, blendable and are very easy to layer, but the finish is very sheer, so although they are pigmented, it's for a soft pastel eye. The Raspberry Macaroon blush is also a really deep pink with a little pop or red that looks great on all skin tones.

My favorite shades in the palette are the Passion Fruit Macaroon, Fleur de Lys and Eiffel Tower which are perfect together or blended with any other the other shades.

It's the perfect beauty treat for yourself and of course the Hello Kitty lover in your life! - RLB

Go--> Hello Kitty Mon Amour Palette available on Sephora.com

This set contains:
- 0.061 oz eye shadow in Passion Fruit Macaroon (shimmery lavender purple)
- 0.061 oz eye shadow in Jardin (matte turquoise blue)
- 0.061 oz eye shadow in Parisian Pink (matte rose pink)
- 0.061 oz eye shadow in Fleur de Lys (iridescent deep purple)
- 0.061 oz eye shadow in Lemon Meringue (matte butter cream)
- 0.061 oz eye shadow in Croissant (golden vanilla), Pistaschio (golden soft green)
- 0.061 oz eye shadow in Eiffel Tower (golden grey)
- 2 x 0.13 oz blush in Strawberry Macaroon (peachy pink) and Rasberry Macaroon (hot pink)

Get the Look - Sophia Vergara at SAG Awards

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:30:00 +0000

Sophia Vergara has been a stunning fixture lately on the awards show red carpet circuit. At last night's SAG awards she was "classic Sophia" - featuring a beautiful clean, fresh - yet sultry look that's easy to recreate with Cover Girl Cosmetics!

Here's how to get the look from her makeup artist Kayleen McAdams

"You'll see that Sofia's jewelry had purple tones, in both the bracelet and earrings so I wanted to subtly bring that out in the eye with a plum shadow", says McAdams. "To bring the whole look together, I used a mauve lipstick as it complemented the eye and also accented the jewelry".

How face products were applied:

I applied COVERGIRL TRUconceal Concealer #4 under the eyes and around the nose first, and then applied COVERGIRL NatureLuxe Silk Foundation in Nutmeg #360 using a sponge starting at the center of the face and then blending outwards. To set these creamy products, I used a good, fluffy brush and COVERGIRL Clean Pressed Powder in Soft Honey. To brighten the face, I applied COVERGIRL Cheekers Blush in Classic Pink along the cheekbones.

How eye products were applied:

I started with COVERGIRL Liquiline Blast Eyeliner in Brown Blaze at the outer corner of the upper lash line and all the way along the bottom. I applied COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers 1-Kit Shadows in Forever Fig over the entire lid starting at the outer corners and blending towards the center. I then used COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers 1-Kit Shadows in Brown Smolder at the outer corners and along the bottom lash line. I finished the eyes with two coats of COVERGIRL LashBlast Volume Blasting Mascara in Very Black on both the top and bottom lashes.

How lip products were applied:

I started with COVERGIRL LipPerfection Lipcolor in Eternal to fill in Sofia's entire lip. To add dimension to the lip, I used new COVERGIRL Blast Flipstick Lipcolor in Vixen in the center to give it a little shimmer.

Additional beauty prep:

-At the last minute, I decided to add a little more brown liner to the upper lash line to give it further depth. Other than that the look was all set!

-I gave Sofia the lip products I used as well as a pressed powder to combat any potential shine throughout the night

-When I applied COVERGIRL Blast Flipstick Lipcolor, I started with a lighter pink but eventually decided to switch to a mauve shade. The COVERGIRL LipPerfection Lipcolor in Eternal is one of our absolute favorites so I knew we wanted to use that one

Get Your Caffeine Fix With Barista Bath & Body's Coffee-Infused Skin & Haircare

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:45:00 +0000

This guest post is courtesy of Thefind

If you've resolved to cut back on your caffeine intake for 2012 like some of the crazy people I know, you're likely seriously jonesin' for a cup of joe by now! If you don't mind, I'm going to go ahead and keep sippin' away at my 6 cups a day (don't hate), but I do have a lil somethin' that might help you get your caffeine fix, no double-shot non-fat no-foam latte required! Barista Bath and Body is all about creating natural skin and hair products that promote our bodies' natural ability to rejuvenate, and to infuse that same joe-induced joy into their products that we coffee fiends get from sippin' our macchiatos, jitter-free!

But wait - coffee for your skin? Barista incorporates organic coffee, coffee extract, essential oils and herbal extracts to take advantage of the beautifying benefits of coffee, like reducing the appearance of cellulite and promoting hair strength, elasticity and shininess. The products themselves are also adorably packaged and cleverly named, from the One Lump or Two exfoliating scrub to the Perk It Up energizing shampoo, so they're not only a great way to get your fix and beautify yourself, but also make perfect gifts too!

End-of-Winter Trend Alert: Charcoal Nail Shades

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0000

This post is courtesy of Thefind.com

Keeping up with nail polish trends can be tricky enough - now, with the added awkwardness of the transition phase between winter and spring, you've got yourself a real stumper. But don't fret - it's time to say 'so long' to your blacker-than-black tips and lighten up (just a little) with a charcoal or gunmetal polish.

Charcoal still has that edgy sophistication of black, but has a bit more depth and mystery in its cloudy, slightly-shimmery finish. Last year, no one could get enough of matte gray shades, so consider charcoal to be the sexy, updated 2012 answer to last year's fad. If glitter is your thing, don't miss Nars' Night Breed with its lustrous silver glitter. RGB's Slate and ButterLondon's Chimney Sweep also have sparkle but with a considerably more subtle, shimmery finish. On the other hand, Deborah Lippmann's Stormy Weather is the perfect creamy granite shade - no sparkle here! - while Forever21's Charcoal shade allows you to experiment with the trend without burning a whole in your wallet!

Will drinking water before meals help me lose weight?

noreply@blogger.com (Palacinka Beauty) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Expert QA

Will drinking water before meals help me lose weight?

From the Editors of Completely You

Yes, my weight loss research at Virginia Tech shows that drinking water before eating can make a difference in how many pounds you drop.

In our study, reported in the journal Obesity, we divided participants aged 55 to 75 into two groups: One group was instructed to drink 2 cups of water 30 minutes before each meal, the other was not. Both groups followed the same meal plan, eating 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day.

While the water group lost, on average, 15.5 pounds over 12 weeks, the non-water group lost 11 pounds -- a notable difference. We also received fewer complaints of hunger from the water group, and they seemed to have an easier time following the diet.

In older adults, food takes longer to leave the stomach, so they’ll feel full longer by drinking water half an hour before mealtime. Younger people may need to drink water 15 minutes or even right before a meal to see the same effects. (This is something we’ll probably explore in future research.)At the very least, caloric beverages are definitively linked to weight gain. So switching to water is an easy way to reduce the number of total calories you consume.

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Dr. Elizabeth Ann Dennis is a researcher in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise at Virginia Tech. She is also the lead author of a study published in the journal Obesity. This is her first article to appear in Completely You.