There are four different formulas for normal, oily, dry and acne-prone skin.  Each has its own unique ingredients to cleanse, tone and hydrate the skin all in one. The cloths are larger than normal and soft against the skin and while I haven’t tried them on waterproof mascara, they do remove waterproof liner, kohl liner and regular mascara easily. They work well on bare faces as well removing dirt and oil and are a great way to brighten a make up-free face at the end of the day.

They come in a nice portable 20-pack and although I wish they were a bit cheaper, these are some if the best remover wipes I have used.  So, I try to always keep a pack around as they always come in handy. They are easier on my face than baby wipes, are good for my skin and are just perfect for a lazy gal like me.

Photo via Comodynes

The texture of these colors can’t be beat: they are soft, creamy and feel like velvet upon application. I appreciated the light feel as most hydrating lipsticks feel really heavy to me, but with this, I barely noticed that I had lipstick on at all. The colors are sheer to medium in coverage and they also have the added bonus of SPF 20 so your lips are protected from sun damage. While these don’t seem to have as much lasting power as some lipsticks, they feel so good going on that I find myself applying it almost as much as I would lip balm.

The packaging is classically Dior and I really like that they come in the slim longer tubes over traditional lipstick tubes because they fit better in my makeup bag. There are eight shades to try and even though they are a little pricey, I think they are worth it. Also, your lips will thank you too.

There are three different sets for each eye color. I went with the palette that had the most neutral colors, which for me meant one with a warm peach shade, a purple mauve and a warm neutral brown. Since I don’t normally wear mauve, I decided to follow the online application tips to get it right. And as it turns out, application is pretty easy and is the same for all of their trios.

Step 1: Apply the medium shade to the lower lid. For me, this was the purple mauve shade, which I didn’t love at first, but applied it all the same from the lashline stopping just under the crease.

Step 2: Apply the darker shade to the crease blending well. In my case, this was the warm brown shade, and I really liked how it looked, especially how the colors blended together so well.

Step 3: Apply the lightest shade from the crease to the brow bone to highlight. For me, this was a little backwards as I like to apply the lightest shade first, but it still worked and blended nicely.

Step 4 and 5: I finished it off with a swipe of black eyeliner right along the lashline and lots of black mascara.

So were my eyes smoldering, glowing-brown orbs popping out of my face? Sort of. My eyes did look really brown and pretty, but the overall look was a little too dark and heavy for me. It was more eyeshadow than I normally wear (and I tend to like a lot) and the look was, dare I say it, too old for me. On the plus side, the shadows are good quality and easy to use, so I think with a little modification to the application they could work really well for enhancing the eyes.

Don’t Start Shaving Right Away: The hair on your body has a courser texture than the hair on your head. So, you should give the hair you want to remove a few minutes to soften in the warm water. This helps prevent irritation and itchy skin and make shaving much more comfortable (especially in the bikini area).

Exfoliate First: Shaving by itself provides some exfoliation, but if it has been more than a few days or weeks since shaving, removing any dead skin will help your razor get as close as possible. The best way to achieve a light exfoliation that won’t cause irritation is by using something soft, like a washcloth or a soft pouf, to gently slough the surface of the skin. Be sure you don’t scrub too hard though, because that can lead to irritation. Just a light pass over the skin to be shaved will do.

Change Your Razor Often: I know razors are bloody expensive, but changing your razor often will prevent all sorts of unpleasant shaving side effects. As your razor gets older, the metal on the blade not only starts to dull but can develop microscopic pitting (instead of a smooth edge it becomes slightly jagged) which can cause nicks, cuts and ingrown hairs. If you are prone to these, it is even more important to change your blades frequently. As you shave, you cause friction between your skin and the blade. Multiply that by the blade itself being heated by hot water and you get the idea of what a hot, dull blade will do your skin. Not good.

Don’t Use Soap: I know your soap or body wash is usually the most handy thing to shave with, but your skin will hate you for it and punish you by itching relentlessly. Shaving creams work well but I have found that the best thing to use as a lubricant for shaving is your hair conditioner. Think about it, your hair conditioner is designed to soften your hair after shampooing and it works the same for the hair on your legs. The only drawback is that conditioner can clog your razor up faster, but a few swishes in some warm water washes the residue away quickly.

Avoiding Ingrown Hairs: If you are prone to ingrown hairs, the best thing to do is to shave with the grain of your hair than against it. This does not give as close a shave as you can get going against the growth pattern, but the pain of ingrown hairs is worse. I like this method for the bikini area and underarms which are the body parts most prone to ingrown hair. Another way to prevent ingrown hairs that is a little more time consuming is a little tip that I learned from a barber: Use warm water for everything involved in shaving except wetting and rinsing the blade. Use cold or lukewarm water instead. The idea is that you cut down on the amount of heat that is actually touching your skin since the blade will create friction and will heat up on its own as you shave.

I only wash my hair every four days (it just takes way too long to style to wash it any more often than that), so I was really excited by the time it came to washing. I’ve been having a major problem with breakage lately and figured a little extra moisture wouldn’t hurt. So, after shampooing my hair, I left the conditioner on for 15 minutes before rinsing. I was a little heavy handed and probably used too much, but I could feel a difference even as I was rinsing it out. My hair gets really tangled when it gets wet, but this conditioner left my hair snarl free and easy to comb out. The brush glided through my hair like a hot knife through butter.

My blowdryer went even smoother than expected. It was faster than normal, made my hair as shiny and bouncy as ever, and my frizz was almost eliminated. Any curly-haired girl will tell you that the biggest problem we have is frizz, and I am a little surprised at just how much this conditioner helped. It even stood up to the rain which I couldn’t believe. I’m in love with this conditioner and will be getting the shampoo to try as well. I can’t wait as using both of them together could be the miracle this mixed chick had been waiting for.

I love Oscar night! I love watching the awards themselves, but let’s face it, I really just want to see how good everyone looks, and this year Hollywood didn’t disappoint in the glamour category. I’m writing this post while watching the show live and, so far, I’ve seen a ton of hits and very few misses when it comes to the hair and makeup of Hollywood’s leading ladies. True, with everyone playing it very safe with makeup and hair there weren’t a lot of risks taken, but that’s okay with me. After all, it’s the Oscar’s, I’ll take classic glamour over risks on Oscar night.

I’m so glad that the looks from last month’s fashion week seemed to have been completely ignored by Hollywood, including this years “it” lady Zoe Saldana, who looked absolutely stunning in a bright-peach blush that complimented her skin beautifully. To get this look, try Stila Convertible Color Blush in Gladiola.

Sarah Jessica Parker wins the Best Use of Glitter Award with her light sparkle applied just above the lash line that was really only visible from above or when she closed her eyes. To steal this look, try Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in Silver.

Amanda Seyfried’s simple, swept-back up do was a great look for her but what I really liked the most was her lip color. She looks great in red, but her soft-peach lip worked wonderfully with her pale skin and eyes. To steal this look, line your lips with a neutral lip pencil like M.A.C Spice and top with a sheer lip color like Laura Mercier Tender Lips.

All in all ladies, you all looked fabulous. Some other honorable mentions for great hair and makeup are Carrie Mulligan, looking adorable and fresh faced with her pixie hair and scissor dress, Molly Ringwald (so nice to see her) and her brilliantly-red hair, and Sandra Bullock who, well, looked as good as she always does, especially with her sleek ’40s-inspired hair do that was fabulously glam, even if it had fallen by the time she got her award.

Left 4 Dead 2 | Single Player or up to 4-Player Co-op

In L4D2, you are fighting for survival in a post-apocalyptic, deep south filled with zombies, boomers, witches and other nasty, undead mutants in a four-person co-op team. The newest version of this game features 20 new weapons (my favorite is the samurai sword), better co-op play than the original, and sneakier zombies that now come at you from all directions so you must always be on your toes. One of the best features of the co-op play is the ability to heal and revive your teammates so if you are less experienced your teammates can help you out.

Bubble Bobble Neo | 1-4 Players

This is the classic arcade game that has been around forever. I used to love this game as a kid and it’s still just as much fun as I remember it. In this classic, puzzle-platforming game you play a dragon named Bub who can blow bubbles that trap your enemies as you make your way through the puzzle. The levels only get harder as you go along, and they can inadvertently suck away hours of your precious time in either single- or multi-player mode. Keep in mind, though, you do have to have an XBox Live Gold or Silver account to download the game, and it costs 800 XBox points ($10.00). Note: this game is also available on the Wii.

Worms 2: Armageddon | 1-4 Players

If you haven’t played Worms before, you should download/buy this game immediately as it is available for all systems. It is a super-simple concept: you play a team of worms wearing cool helmets and your mission is to blast all of the other players (worms) off the battlefield in a timely manner for victory. You have a limited number of weapons, ranging from grenades and rifles to exploding sheep and UFO air strikes. It’s all about strategy and customization as you are able to create your own levels and weapons preferences, and is refreshingly non-violent despite the concept. I think of it more like chess, always looking a few steps ahead.

The packaging of this product is great as it comes in a small mirrored compact with a silicone tipped applicator that is shaped like an eye shadow brush. The silicone helps ensure that you will get an even smooth application every time and is a little more hygienic than using your fingers. Lip Tech is a delicate balance between a lip gloss and a lipstick.  It has a little more color than most glosses, but I wouldn’t call it a lipstick either because its not nearly as drying as a lipstick. I tried it with using both my fingers and the applicator and while I didn’t think it would help, the applicator does make it easier with a lot less mess.

The look of Lip Tech is also different as it is definitely not as shiny as a regular gloss and worn without lip liner, is a super natural look on the lips that is still extremely soft. For a more intense look, apply a nude liner to your entire lip before the gloss as this will also give the gloss some more lasting power. Smashbox may be onto something with this semi-matte gloss but please, if you are going to use a darker lip liner, make sure you blend them together well or you could end up with only a dark outline after a few hours.

“PureOrganic Technology is a blend of organic oils, ripe-harvested from renewable plants at the peak of their freshness, cold pressed and refrigerated immediately to ensure maximum purity. Sprayed into the hair while still damp, Protective Moisture ‘infuses each individual strand of hair with vitamins, nutrients and protein for strength and vitality.’”

A quick scan of the ingredients verifies that this spray is loaded with essential oils—rosemary oil, nettle oil and thyme oil being the most abundant. Vitapro is certified organic, is cruelty-free and contains no animal by-products. I’m usually very skeptical of organic products, but since VitaPro is also designed to protect your hair from heat styling, I was anxious to try it earlier this week.

I used this product two different ways. First, I sprayed it liberally into my clean, damp hair and made sure to distribute it evenly.The spray itself is very lightweight and my hair absorbed it instantly. I enjoyed the light natural scent, but I think I used way too much that first time. I tend to be a little heavy handed with hair products and felt like when I was done drying I could still feel the product in it. It wasn’t that my hair felt bad, but I decided to try again and washed again the next day. This time I succeeded and got the right amount sprayed in. My blowdry wasn’t any faster, but my hair felt clean and soft and there seemed to be a reduction in the amount of broken hair around the sink when I was done.

The second way I used this spray was my fave. The next morning, I sprayed a light mist over my dry bedhead hair and gave it a blast with the hairdryer. Then I used my flatiron to polish it off, and Vitapro worked beautifully. It gave my roots some much needed volume and tamed the flyaway, broken baby hairs around my hairline. The light scent also eliminated any odor and left my hair smelling nice and clean. I definitely like it better as a dry hair styling product rather than as a leave-in. But I will continue to spray some on my breakage and ends that so desperately need cutting to see the effects of long term use on some seriously damaged hair.

As a result, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about what kind of beauty products are safe to use when you are expecting. I’m sure most of you know that when you are pregnant you must be careful, especially in the first trimester about not only what you eat, but what you use on your body as well. So if you are one of the pregnant masses–Congratulations! I hope everything goes well for you and your baby throughout your pregnancy. Just please remember that your comfort still matters and there is nothing wrong with a little pregnancy pampering.

For Stretch Marks.
Mustela Stretch Marks Double Action is a very rich cream that can be used on any of the areas of the body that may be prone to stretch marks–breasts, hips, abdomen and your upper thighs. It is safe to use during your entire pregnancy and should be used daily for maximum prevention. I know there are a lot of stretch mark prevention methods out there, but if you are sensitive to smells as my BFF is, you will appreciate this cream’s light almost undetectable scent. Some other good product to try from Mustela are Instant Comfort Legs and Specific Support Bust.

For Treating Acne.
When you are pregnant Retinoids (Accutane), Salicylic Acid and Beta Hydroxy Acids are all big no-nos, which is heartbreaking since so many women suffer from acne while pregnant. Belli Pregnancy Acne Clearing Facial Wash was developed by an OBG-YN and his wife, and as such, it uses Lactic Acid for fighting acne and is designed specifically for pregnancy-induced acne. Also, Glycolic Acid is safe to use as long as the product does not include BHAs

For Preventing Melasma.
Oh boy. There are many, many things that I hope will not happen to me when I decide to breed–I know my hope is futile–and this is one of the top five out of five million. Melasma, or pregnancy mask, is a darkening of the skin on the face. If you are suffering from melasma, rest assured that in most cases it goes away on its own after you deliver, but the best way to prevent melasma is to wear sunscreen every day and stay out of the sun. Your skin is much more sensitive to damage during this time, so stay out of the sun! Once again Belli Pregnancy Anti-Chloasma SPF 25 is designed for pregnancy, but really any Titanium Dioxide based sunscreen is safe and highly recommended.

Let’s Talk Hair Removal.
I know that as your pregnancy progresses being able to shave is only going to get harder, and if you are not a fan of waxing, rest assured that depilatory creams are perfectly safe as long as you are not allergic to it. Do a patch test on the back of your knee to make sure you don’t have a reaction.

Anna Sui, one of my favorite designers, went for an almost pale goth look with her models sporting alabaster skin, sharp cheekbones, brown smokey almost sunken eyes and (groan) brown lipsticks with darker brown lip liner. Really? Are we going down the path of Sharpie lip-liner again? It was awful in the ’90s and it’s still awful now. (I should know, I have many a picture of myself with red lipstick and black lip liner. What was I thinking?)

Christian Siraino must have used Frida Kahlo as his muse this season as his models all sported big, bushy overdrawn eyebrows, brick red lips and even (gasp!) a hint of mustache. While I know that the actual look of his models is extreme, I feel that he is heading in the right direction by celebrating full natural brows and my favorite part of being a girl: Red, red lipstick.

By far the most use of color in a make up was not from one major designer, but from The Heart Truth’s Red Dress Collection. This line promoting heart disease awareness is modeled by celebs not supermodels and Joan Collins rocked the runway with her classic big hair and Dynasty make up. Felicity Huffman looks stunning and fresh faced too, and I even appreciated Kim Kardashian’s turn on the runway because at least she wasn’t wearing brown lipstick like every other model in New York.

All in all, I have to say that I am kind of disappointed in the make up looks this year. In my opinion, nobody took any risks, with Siraino’s look being the most creative. With vampires, zombies and all things supernatural as popular as they are, designers are trying to emulate that, but I have a feeling that the emaciated pale/brown look with un-rouged cheekbones that could cut glass only works on Robert Pattinson and supermodels. That’s kind of what this years fashion week looked like to me, a VERY well-dressed zombie fashion show.

Unfortunately, when it comes to two player games on the PS3, there are not a lot of games that have a multi-player or two player mode that is not online. I don’t like playing the mega-nerds online because most of them are jerks who know I’m a noob at online gaming and, let me tell you, they are merciless. So, if you are like me and just want to play with your man, these three games are some good ones to try.

“Little Big Planet: Game of the Year Edition” 1-4 Players

The Game of the Year Edition is the same as the original version but with seven of the extra online plug-ins included. In this side-scrolling platform game, you play a Sack Person (which is completely customizable) trying to make your way through the various levels collecting outfits, stickers and decorations for your home (pod) while completing the goals set for each level. This game is ridiculously cute and tons of fun for kids and adults alike.

“Borderlands” 1-4 Players (also available on XBox360)

In Borderlands, you play a mercenary on the planet Pandora seeking out alien technology (I know, it sounds just like Avatar, but Avatar’s Pandora is much prettier). At the beginning of this first-person shooter, you pick one of four player characters, each with their own specialties and weapons. Then you ravage your way through the Borderlands completing various quests, shooting alien critters that want to eat you and leveling up your character by gaining experience points. This game is right up my alley as I love gory, zombie/alien shooter games. Note: The two player function is a split-screen and you can only have four players if you are online.

“Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2″ 1 Player (up to 18 online) (also on XBox360)

First off, the actual story mode of this game is a single player game. However, in Special Ops mode, there are multiple co-op missions and there is always the massive online community that is as devoted to Call of Duty as any World of Warcraft player. Did you ever see that episode of The Office when the entire Stanford office got on Jim’s case for sucking at Call of Duty during the “team building exercise”? Yup, this game is THAT addicting, and one of the few for which I will venture online. Yes, the mega-nerds are still jerks, but I can hold my own at this game.

First let’s start with a little make up counter etiquette. If you want to get a full makeover, it’s best to call ahead and set an appointment. Letting the counter know that you are coming in allows them time to make sure you get the best service possible. The last thing you want is to be in the middle of your makeover and your artist has to keep leaving you to help other customers.

If you are having a full makeover, be prepared to purchase at least a few items. Yes, technically makeovers are free but counter artists do work on commission so if you are not planning on purchasing anything that day be honest about it upfront.  Take the recommendation sheet with a smile and a cash tip is always appreciated if you like the makeover. I have never met a counter artist who didn’t appreciate a tip especially if they knew their customer wasn’t purchasing anything that day.

Make sure you arrive at the counter with a clean, moisturized face. If you are only looking for foundation, tell the artist what your skin type is and what kind of coverage you are looking for and she should be able to give you a few options to start with. The right foundation shade should blend into the skin instantly and be undetectable along your jawline and neck.

The FACE is the the best and only place you should test foundations. The inside of your arm or the back of your hand is NOT the same color as your face. Once you and your artist have settled on a shade, have the artist apply the foundation to half of your face.  Leave the other half bare and walk outside or into direct sunlight with a hand mirror. Examine your face carefully. Is there a noticeable line down the middle of your face? Is it too dark or too light against your neck? If you see anything at all that you don’t like go back and try again. Repeat until you find one that matches your skin exactly.

Once you have found one that matches you, have her apply it to your entire face and wear it for the rest of the day to make sure it doesn’t change color. If you purchase a foundation that day, do not open it just yet and follow these steps.

1. Get a sample of the foundation you are wearing as well as the two shades that are closest to it, one a shade lighter, the other one a shade darker. if you are trying a cream foundation, they should also be able to provide you with samples. Powder foundations are a little trickier but I have seen it done before too. You should leave the counter with three samples but no more, more than three and it just gets confusing.

2. Try the three samples over the next few days and examine them in all of the different lighting you are in throughout the day. If you can’t tell the difference ask your co-workers, they see you everyday and can spot something different faster than your boyfriend.

3. If you like the foundation, liked your artist and haven’t purchased it yet it is always nice to call and let her know that you will be coming in to buy it. Even if she isn’t going to be there that day I guarantee, that if you call ahead she will have it ready and waiting for you (usually with some sort of gift!) and she will get credit for the sale. If you find that after your purchase one of the other shades are better and you have to return it don’t worry, if you followed these tips she will take care of you for life and will not rest until you are happy.

If you decide to pick one out yourself, shop at a store that does not provide samples, or want to go with a drugstore foundation the same three shade testing rules apply.  It will just be a little more expensive as you will have to actually purchase 3 different shades. Most drugstores provide testers nowadays, but just make sure that you are buying the right shade, the testers are always in the wrong place. Also, make sure you are clear about the stores return policy for opened products if they won’t take it back go somewhere else.

If you are going solo, the main thing that you want to consider when choosing a shade is to consider you skin’s undertone. A nifty little trick I’ve heard about on how to determine your undertone is to look at the inside of your wrist. Can you see your veins? If they look more green than blue you are probably in the warm or yellow undertone category. If your veins look blue you are probably in the cool or pink undertone category. Choose your shades accordingly and remember when you are trying on the foundations, use a Q-Tip to get the product out of the bottle and never double dip. A clean bottle is a more returnable bottle.

PetHead is a line of designer grooming products and accessories for all of you who just can’t help spoiling the bejesus out of your pooch. PetHead has it all, shampoos, conditioners and grooming sprays with clever names like Life’s an Itch for pooches with sensitive skin and Dry Clean a waterless spray shampoo that smells nice and clean.

I have no idea how one conditions a dog’s coat without making a huge mess, but if you know how they do, try out Furtastic for curly maned pups or So Spoiled, a conditioning treatment (do dogs get breakage?) that can help with matting and knotting of the coat.

The PetHead line also includes a number of punk inspired accessories so your pup can unleash its inner rockstar. The pink studded “bracelet” is really cute, but I know my cat would hate it. Oh well. One day I will have a dog. Another designer hair care line that also offers pet care is Paul Mitchell with John Paul Pet.

Photo via Petco

Anyway, I’m getting off the subject and I’m proud to report that for the last three years he hasn’t failed to get me at least a little something. We both believe that you shouldn’t have to spend a lot on a fancy gift, so he always ends up choosing the same type of gift every year: makeup or beauty products. This year the Mister went a step further and simply asked me what I wanted and knowing our tight money situation, I looked around the Internet accordingly. Let me tell you there are some really cute beauty sets out there this year so if your man is as clueless on what to get you as mine (and a procrastinator) you may want to help him out with a few of these affordable last minute gift ideas.

Too Faced Fun in the Dark Light Up Mirror Make-up Palette $32.50

This limited-edition palette comes with 4 eye shadows, two different lip shades, a cheek color and bronzer all in light peach, pink and green shades that are perfect for spring. The attached mirror lights up and is great for easy portability and touch ups.

The Seduction Kit by Booty Parlor $38.oo

Okay, okay this isn’t really a beauty product and this gift is as much for him as it is for you but the lipgloss that is included with this kit is stunning, tastes like peppermint and gives you a nice plump without the burn unlike some other lip plumpers. The other goodies in the kit are an added bonus and I love the way they smell.

Benefit Celebutante Personal Stylist Make-up Kit $34.00

This little gem has two of Benefit’s bestsellers Benetint Lip and Cheek Stain and HighBeam Completion Enhancer included along with Dallas Face Powder, two lipsticks, two eye shadows and two brushes. An attached mirror allows it to be portable and the lipsticks are in individual tubes so if you like the shade you can just throw it in your purse.

So many women have a problem finding the right shade of foundation and with so many choices out there, I’m not surprised. I’ve decided to break down the basics of foundation and how to find the right formula/shade for you. It is looking like this will be a 2 part post, so for the first one, I’m going to focus on the different formulas and how they work.

First, I would recommend figuring out your skin type.  One way to tell (keep in mind I’m not a dermatologist) is with this little experiment: Wash your face and wait at least an hour before applying moisturizer.

When the hour is up examine your face. Is it oily and shiny all over? You are probably an oily skin.
Shiny only in the T-Zone and dry on the cheeks? You are a combination skin.
No shine at all and you face is screaming for moisture? You have dry skin.

So when it comes to picking out a formula, keep your skin type in mind.
If you have Oily Skin: look for a foundation that is oil-free or that has oil-controlling properties.
If you have Dry Skin: look for a foundation that is hydrating or moisturizing.
If you have Combination Skin: I would determine whether you are more oily or dry and and go from there. Note: Oil-free is not always the best choice for combination skin.

Liquid, Cream, Powder or Mineral…

Liquid Foundations: Liquid foundations are the most abundant and tend to have the most color choices. They come in a variety of different formulas for All Skin types and the amount of coverage you desire.  Liquid foundations can be layered so you can apply a thin layer for sheer to medium coverage or “build it up” for maximum coverage. They can be applied with a sponge, brush or your (clean) fingers and most liquids should be set after with a light dusting of powder. Keep in mind that a lot of today’s liquids are meant to let your skin breathe and show through so if you have a lot of discoloration liquids may not give you the coverage you are looking for.

Cream and Cream to Powder Foundations: Most cream foundations offer medium to heavy coverage and usually work best on Normal/ Combination Skin.  A cream foundation is usually applied with a brush or sponge and if it doesn’t dry to a powder, it will also need a light dusting of setting powder. Cream to Powder foundations are applied the same way, but don’t need a setting powder as they set with a powder finish. Oily Skins may have problems with cream foundations staying in place and will have to touch up frequently. Dry Skins can benefit from creams but beware as they travel into fine lines easier than liquid and can look streaky on the skin if it is not properly moisturized.

Powder Foundations: I know I will have a lot of people disagreeing with me on this but I feel that powder foundations only really work on Normal, poreless, perfect skin. That’s not to say that they are bad in any way, powder foundations are easy, quick and are usually portable so touching up is a breeze. If you want maximum coverage, powder is the way to go as it will cover up everything and that is one of my problems with it. Powder foundations are applied with a brush or a sponge and cover the skin so completely you must rely on the rest of your make up to bring the color back into your face. Powder foundations are a big no-no for Dry Skin, it will only make you look drier and Oily Skins will lift it right off of their face with one touch (StudioFix users, ‘fess up you know this happens).

Mineral Foundations: Mineral foundations are all the rage right now and when if comes to deciding on if it’s time to switch the only thing I can tell you is that you have to try it on. Mineral foundations, loose powder that is buffed on with a brush offer various coverage options and can give excellent coverage with only a small amount of product. Mineral foundations are safe for All Skin Types and are offering more and more color choices as they get more popular. Here is what I’ve found with mineral foundations: they either work for you or they don’t and you will be able to tell right away. I worked in a store that had 3 different mineral foundations and it was the same for all of them either it looks fantastic right off the bat OR it looks dry and your pores look bigger than ever no matter what your skin type is.

Hope that this helps answer any questions you may have about the different types of foundations out there. My next post will be about choosing the right shade and make up counter etiquette so if you have any questions for me, please leave them in the comments.

Photo via Squidoo

I settled on the Hydralicious Reconditioning Shampoo and Conditioner for dry and damaged hair. There are also two other Hydralicious “flavors,” Lightweight and Self-Targeting, but the reconditioning formula was the one that seemed right for me. The shampoo itself is bright purple with lavender that is all swirly like a candy cane and matches the bottle, so I’m assuming that the other two are also color coordinated to their respective packaging, but I didn’t check.

The consistency of the shampoo is THICK.  I poured some into my palm, the shampoo barely moved and it coated my hair in a really nice, thick lather. A drawback was that it rinsed away very slowly and took me a lot longer than normal to feel like I got it all out, but it didn’t leave my hair feeling coated or in need of a second shampoo.

The conditioner is even thicker and doesn’t run which is great for me as I like to pile all my hair on top of my head and let my conditioner really soak in. Let me tell you, once I had this stuff in my hair it was like a conditioner helmet and it stayed plastered in place until I was ready to wash. It took about as much time to rinse as the shampoo, so that was a little annoying, but it left my hair fairly soft and completely tangle- free.

So, here is why I unfortunately, won’t be buying it again however. I can’t STAND the scent. It was one of those times when I liked it while I was in the store, but once I got it home and was surrounded by it, it became way too much. It’s not a bad scent, really, I just have a problem with really strong scents that don’t fade. In the bottle it smells citrus-y and fresh, on my hair it smells like coconuts and grape Bubblicious.  I know I’m in the minority with this but I HATE the smell of coconuts. No offense, it smells nice on others, but … I just can’t stand it and the scent lingered in my hair for almost two days. It was just like when I put mayonnaise in my hair as a teen and it smelled like old mayo for weeks. I ate dry sandwiches for years after that incident.

Eyelash extensions are individual lashes, usually made out of silk, mink or polyester, that are glued to your own lashes giving you a natural full look without having to use mascara. The amount of time the extensions last varies due to your natural growth hair cycle and lifestyle but can last anywhere from 2-8 weeks. Fills are required every 3-4 weeks (can also vary) to keep your extensions looking their best.

The glue is safe for use around the eyes and is waterproof so you don’t have to worry as they can get wet.  Here are the ingredients in the glue from the Materials Fact Data Sheet for one brand and if you can decipher it’s chemistry you can view it here.

The entire process took about 2 1/2 hours, but she was just learning and she got faster as she got better at applying them. (Note: this is not something you can do yourself, you must see a pro.) The process itself is comfortable as you are lying back in a chair the whole time. The only uncomfortable part are these little half-moon sticky pads that are applied under the eye to protect the skin and make your lashes visible. Using tweezers and a swift light touch, my friend tediously glued on over 300 lashes to my lids (she said she had no idea I had that many lashes) and I was batting Bambi-lashes for weeks. They really are beautiful if applied well. The look of extensions is really natural and although you can use mascara a lot of women choose not to with extensions. Since a first time full set will cost you at least $300+ I would expect nothing less.

But, they do require very specific care: mascaras, if used must be oil free and water soluble and only 1-2 coats max. Cleansers must also be oil-free and typically milky cleansers are no good for extensions. The reason being that you are trying to keep your extensions for as long as possible and mineral oils will weaken the integrity of the glue. Also, you must be careful as to how you wash your face and eye area, scrubbing your eyes can also tear them out with your own lash along for the ride (ouch). I found that cleaning the area around my eye with a Q-Tip was the best method but it was so much more time consuming so eventually I just scrubbed anyway. Yes, they did fall out faster.

Another thing to consider is that without the fills, you will have some serious holes in your lash line as they start to fall out so its kind of a commitment. As mine were falling out ( I just love wearing mascara too much to keep it up) there were a few that just wouldn’t come off and boy, were they troopers. Those suckers held on for 8 weeks.

Fair Skin with Olive Undertones: Try reds that have a blue or purple under tone. Anything too orange can make your skin read a little green and give you a pasty appearance. Try: Chanel Rouge Allure in Passion.

Fair Skin with Pink Undertones: Try bright reds in cherry tones or for redheads, orange bases. Blue based, fire engine and brick reds are not right for you so steer clear. Try: Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited #128.

Medium Skin Tones: Try true reds (M.A.C Ruby Woo yay!) or reds that have a brown undertone to them. Your skin tone is almost the most versatile and can even pull of sheer orange based reds as well. Try: Lancome Color Design in Red Stiletto.

Dark Skin Tones: Try, well try just about any shade as darker skin tones can wear almost any shade from bright brick to orange depending on undertone and even that doesn’t matter a lot of the time. Try: Dior Rouge Dior in Celebrity Red.

Putting the crazy fashion aside, all of the ladies who attended put their best faces forward, but by far my favorite look of the evening was the queen of the Grammys herself Taylor Swift. As usual, Swift looked absolutely wonderful even though I didn’t really care for her shimmering green Kaufman Franco gown. Her hair (fabulous) and make up were were what did it for me as she pulled together a sophisticated look with dark smokey eyes and a pale red lip that was perfect for her age. (Miley Cyrus also had great hair and make up but it was overshadowed by her tiny dress and enormous shoulder pads.)

To recreate Swift’s look:

1. Apply a neutral eyeshadow in white or cream from the bottom of the lid to the brow bone. Bare Essentials in Soul or Vanilla Sugar are good choices.

2. Apply a shimmery grey shadow (Urban Decay’s Stardust in Void) gently into the crease and outer corner of the eye. If you are having some problems getting the smokey eye right I have a video for you to watch, click here.

3. Line upper lids with black liquid liner making the line slightly thicker at the outer edges. I like Nars Eyeliner Stylo in Nuits Blanches. Lightly line lower lash line and the inner lid with a soft kohl pencil (M.A.C Eye Kohl in Smoulder).

4. Apply false eyelashes, Swift’s look like a full strip applied to the lash line. Try Ardell #110 lashes.

5. Keep the cheeks light by applying a cream blush instead of powder. To apply cream blush I like to just use my fingers and start on the apples of the cheeks, blending back to the hairline at a slight upward angle. Try Stila Convertible Color in Gladiola.

6. Lightly line and fill in lips with a red lip pencil (try Jane Iredale in Brick Red), blot off any excess color and top with a semi-matte gloss or Rosebud Salve for a softer look.

Other honorable mentions for the great face category include Fergie for laying off the heavy makeup and looking better than ever, Jennifer Hudson, motherhood seems to be agreeing with her, and Sheryl Cooper (wife of Alice Cooper).

Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution 2 (1-4 players)

There is a newer version of this game, but I still like the 2007 Wii edition the best. This is what is called a typical “button masher” game, a game that you can still win by just hitting random buttons frantically even if you don’t know the actual combos. It is your typical fighting game (think: Mortal Combat or Double Dragon) with a wide array of characters with unique abilities and special moves, all featured in the ridiculously popular Anime. If you don’t want to spend the whole time fighting each other, you can also team up and battle characters together so you don’t spend the entire night getting your butt kicked. Note: This game can be used with the standard Wii Remote and Nunchuck or classic GameCube controllers. The GameCube controls are much easier, but there is a bonus move that is really hard to pull off using the motion control in the Wii remotes. I stick to GC controllers, the bonus move isn’t that great.

Mario Party 8 (1-4 Players)

If you have never played a Mario Party game you, my friend, are missing out. This is a classic video board game with each player taking turns working their way around the board avoiding various traps and sabotaging the other players in order to obtain stars and ultimately victory in the Mario World. There are always 4 players in a game so if you only have two players the computer will play the other two. At the end of each round there is a mini game that everyone plays, the mini games vary and are fun, quick and easy and a chance for you to gain some of  the oh-so-coveted endgame bonus stars. Believe me, those bonus stars can steal a solid victory away from you in a heartbeat. The game uses the Wii remote only and some of the motion control in the mini games is a little spotty so if you find a mini game that you just hate you can block it from game-play in the menu. Note: you can change the number of turns each player takes but a 10 turn game takes about 45 min- 1 hour.

Wii Sports Resort (1-4 Players)

This is a new version of the original Wii Sports that came with the system. The original Wii Sports had 5 games: bowling, boxing, baseball, golf and tennis and was designed to show off the motion control of the Wii. It proved to be a fun game but also showed off the limits of the remote. This version is revamped with twelve new games: Swordplay, Wakeboarding, Frisbee, Archery, Basketball, Tennis, Golf, Bowling, Power Cruising, Canoeing, Cycling and Air Sports. The motion control is not perfect but the games are so fun you can overlook it’s flaws. My favorite is the Swordplay and I haven’t gotten the hang of Archery yet but it is still fun. The games are fun with couples or kids and all who play will find something that they are good at. There are a whole bunch of remote add-ons to make the game more realistic and the game can come bundled with the Wii Motion Plus, a small add-on component that makes the motion control even smoother.

Tarantino’s jewelry, colorful, sparkly pieces featuring Hello Kitty and classic Barbie as design subjects (Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz are also current themes), can be seen on celebrity hipsters Katy Perry, Zooey Deschanel and Kelly Osbourne (Kelly wore a lot of her accessories on Dancing with the Stars).

Her cosmetics line is as beautiful as her jewelery when it comes to the unique packaging. There are only a few items available on sephora.com currently, but my favorite product so far is the Sparklicity Shimmer Dust, a body shimmer that comes in a perfume bottle with an honest-to-God pink atomizer for an easy yet glamorous application. I would love to have one of these on my vanity (hint, hint, husband; I know you read my posts) and maybe a couple of the eyeshadows too. They come in little to-die-for jeweled containers and would look perfect next to the shimmer.

If you have never heard of Tarina Tarantino or her accessories, please take a moment to browse and covet the sparkly creations here. Just make sure you aren’t drooling on your keyboard as you email your Valentine’s Day choices to your boyfriend.

The collection itself is small, only 19 pieces including two eyeshadow palettes, named Rodeo Drive and Bel Air Beige, naturally, along with the standard complimentary lipstick, gloss, a super black eye pencil and nail polish. The entire collection is designed to take you from day to night with only a few pieces and is perfect for those who want an ultra-feminine look.

Rodeo Drive is bolder of the two with bright pink blush and black eyeshadow for a bit of evening glamor and the Project Runway judge told InStyle that he used the “cool California palette” of the Bel-Air Hotel for the Bel Air palettes brown and caramel shades.

The collection is available in limited release at some Estee Lauder counters for now with a wider distribution coming soon. Now I love pink, but I must say this, this line is for those of us that REALLY love pink. Everything but the shadows and liner are various shades of bright pink that, while they go on sheer, may cause some of us (ahem) “older” clientele to pause. I haven’t worn fuchsia pink lipstick in years and even though it was sheer, I still felt like I had a neon bulb on my lips screaming “Look at me!”

Epicuren uses an enzyme protein complex in all of their products that they call the Metadermabolic Enzyme. This enzyme is designed to encourage skin-renewal and deliver moisture and antioxidants for more youthful skin.

The line itself is ridiculously complicated with hundreds of products that are only available through certified retailers, spas, medical doctors and licensed aestheticians. To get a full Epicuren regimen, I recommend getting a full facial treatment at an certified spa. But the body moisturizer is something everyone can use, no professional recommendation needed.

After Bath Moisturizer comes in a variety of different scents: Unscented, Orange Blossom, Papaya Pineapple, Wake Up Rosemary, Rose Petal, Wild Lavender, Herbal Spice, Kukui Nut Coconut, Sandalwood, Geranium, Vanilla Bean, Lemongrass and Chocolate Creme. (Orange Blossom is my favorite.) All of the scents are from essential oils and are good for all skin types.

The texture of this moisturizer is light and it quickly absorbs into the skin, leaving it smooth and lightly scented. It is good for problem skin, oily skin, dry skin, you name it, no matter what your skin problems this will probably work for you. This is also a good moisturizer to use after tanning to add much needed moisture to the skin.

Note: The Metadermabolic Enzyme is an active ingredient and since Epicuren is preservative-free it will go rancid faster than some of your other products. It is recommended to keep all Epicuren products in the fridge.

Many of us grew up playing a video game of some kind and I’m dating myself when I tell you my first video game system was an Atari 2600. Qbert and Frogger were my favorites until my brother and I got our first Nintendo, after that Mario was my main man. Can any of you remember the massive event the release of Super Mario Bros. 3 was? I do and I feel old.

The whiz-kids over at Nintendo have revamped the Mario game experience with the release of Super Mario Bros. Wii. It’s easily the most challenging Mario game in years and many of you will instantly recognize the style of gameplay and levels.

Your goal is the same: To make your way from point A to point B (still a castle with the flagpole) while avoiding various obstacles and enemies. All of your old favorites are back, Goombas, Turtle Shells and Hammer Bros, and they are all out to get you. Mario gets two new outfits, a penguin suit, which throws snowballs that can freeze opponents and helps with swimming. Then there’s the helicopter suit, which allows Mario to shoot himself into the air and hover for short periods of time (this is accomplished with the Wii motion control). All of Mario’s other abilities are available too, fire-flowers, starmans, and red and green mushrooms are all still here and in some levels you get a ride from Yoshi as well (too cute with a saddle on his back).

The main difference in Super Mario Bros Wii is that you can have up to four players all at the same time. Mario, Luigi and two toads can bounce, fly and fire-bomb their way through the levels and when that happens, hilarity ensues. It is complete and total chaos as you can pick up your fellow players and either carry them through rough spots or throw them into danger if you are one of “those” kind of players.

As I said, this is the most challenging of the Mario games, The first level is pretty easy, but it only gets harder from there on. There is a “cheat” option, if you lose eight lives on one level The Super Guide kicks in (I believe this is only on one player) and you have the option to have Luigi come in and lead you through the level so you can move on if you wish to. This is good for kids and grownups alike and will probably relieve a lot of video game rage and flying Wii remotes. As for the controls, the game can be played with either the nunchuck and Wii remote or by turning the Wii remote on it’s side like a classic Nintendo controler. The motion control is pretty good with only a little bit of a learning curve so don’t let that scare you, it’s not that difficult.

This is a great game, not only for its nostalgic feeling but the fact that Nintendo actually took the time to make the game good. The visuals are amazing and the game has great replay value. I’m sure there are a ton of secret little places I missed and find them all I will.