New Year's Eve Nailpolishes- What will you wear?

4 Perfect-for-New-Year's-Eve Glittery Nail Polishes

Try this sparkly trend for the new year. I'm here to share the lacquers I love now

This is a TotalBeauty.com nails article I recently waxed poetic about the possibility of wearing glittery eyeliner or eyeshadow for the holidays, which I totally did, BTW. And, I'll admit, it looked quite smashing and not nearly as tween-y as expected. But now it's time for glittery nails, here's how I'm getting them … See polishes

Skin care products you don't need!

9 Skin Care Products You Don't Need

Some beauty products are just a waste of money. Which ones, you ask?

This is a TotalBeauty.com skin care article We gave dermatologist Dr. Harold Lancer a ring to help us figure out which skin care products (general product types, not necessarily specific products) for our face or body are totally unnecessary. With so many gimmicky things out there, we should at least be able to knock a few off our list, right? See the products to ditch

Bridal Series #6: Achieve your Best Skin Ever with Dr. Brandt Skin Care products

If your big day is coming soon, it's important to stay on top of your skincare regimen to help your skin stay smooth and flawless. If you've got some a few months or more to go, there's no better time than to start figuring out how to get your skin to look its very best. If you have large pores and uncontrollable shine, Dr. Brandt has some great products to help control those oilies. Even in the winter, your skin may feel really dry one minute but then very oily in a couple of hours. Dr. Brandt had a Best Skin Ever kit that came out a few months ago. Unfortunately I don't see this sold at Sephora anymore, but it is available on their website here.

What's also great about this kit is that you can sample several of Dr. Brandt's best-selling skincare products without a major commitment. To get the full scoop..

- 3.5 oz pores no more® cleanser Great lathering cleanser for oily skin! Contains Salicylic Acid, Tea Tree Oil, and Willow Bark, and wasn't harsh on my skin at all. - 0.17 oz collagen booster® Contains ingredients to stimulate natural collagen on your skin. I found the sample to be too small and I quickly used this before I saw much of a difference. - 0.4 oz pores no more® vacuum cleaner® This blue product was like a mini nose mask. Def. have to use this consistently to get results..otherwise the blackheads came back :( - 0.4 oz pores no more® anti-aging mattifying lotion This lotion was a lifesaver- used it to control my t-zone and it also has retinol to improve my skin. Score! - 0.068 oz pores no more® pore refiner sample packet (Read my full review on the Pore Refiner here)

Overall, great kit to purchase for people with oily skin, because I have definitely seen an improvement since using this. Controlled oilies means less breakouts for me! :) I do have to say that I wish this kit contained a moisturizer sample, because you really can't achieve your best skin with a moisturizer!

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)Check out more blogs @ TotalBeauty.com

Happy Holidays!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas (if you celebrate) and/or holidays just in general! I have been enjoying every moment with family, friends, and my new gifts! :) I did some major cleaning to recycle/giveaway old items I no longer needed and have been basically taking up space in my room, to bring in the new items for 2011! So for 2011, I resolve to live a more simpler life, use what I have, be more economically savvy ;), read & write more and be crafty! My Christmas items this year revolved around games (my wii!), crafts (starting a new craft in 2011 once I get my tools and supplies), and of course, beauty!

Have a festive week and enjoy the last days of 2010 !

Cheerio !

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Holiday Series #9: Holiday Shopping at Daffy's in NYC

If you're looking for affordable holiday gift items then you should check out NYC's Daffy's department stores. They have a huge assortment of discounted clothing for men, women and children, as well as home goods. It reminds me a lot of stores that sell different brands but at a huge discount. On the price tag, you see the retail price and then the DAFFY's price, a whole lot cheaper.

I was given the opportunity to go on a bit of a shopping spree to find items that are holiday-worthy. (THANK YOU DAFFY's!) After browsing on several floors (there's 4 floors in the DAFFY's in Herald Square, New York) I came myself to liking the Stationery/Organizing sections best. They have lots of great products including binders, notepads and organizing compartments for your desk. Their design prints are also super adorable and they're such a great deal! These make wonderful gifts for friends who love matching things!

Here are some key holiday items that I got and loved!

This adorable Santa dish can be used to hold your candies, cookies, treats, whatever you want for the holidays! This only costs about $5-6.	The set of 6 citrus- decorated coasters makes a great gift! Made of ceramic, these are sturdy and can be easily wiped off so no worries about a spill! Best part? It's only $4.99 ! :)
This $9.99 jewelry organizer has 9 compartments to organize all your favorite necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. The gorgeous black and white paisley print on the outside gives it a nice touch, too!	I'm loving this green and brown paisley print for the inside of these desk organizers. I have tons of pens and letters that need organizing so these are a great! So's the price; it only costs: $7 - 10!
If you prefer to have your jewelry hung and be seen, this 16-jewelry pouch is a great alternative! You can hang this in your closet and visually see 16 of your favorite jewelry all at once. It's only $13 but makes a terrific gift!	I didn't get these large candles which were only $10, but I found these to be incredibly festive for the holidays. I haven't seen anything like these before (I'm talking about the large cone shaped ones, not the small regular ones..)

Hope you enjoyed my Holiday Daffy's picks! You can find a great selection of holiday items for yourself, for friends and for your home just in time for the holidays and year-round!



(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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How-to: Get Rid of Blackheads

How to Get Rid of Blackheads -- Permanently

Those stubborn blackheads will no longer be the bane of your existence if you follow this step-by-step guide

This is a TotalBeauty.com skin care tips article By following this skin regimen you will finally ditch those unsightly, and totally stubborn spots called blackheads. It's really not as difficult as you might think, the key is to stick to an effective skin care plan. What is that, you ask? Read on to find out. Get tips

Bridal Series #5: Miss Oops for Your Dress

In case you haven't heard of Miss Oops (Check out my Holiday Series here and reviews.) they have products for your everyday fashion blunders. For Brides-to-be, I found these items that are perfect for common problems that you may face when you're wearing your special bridal dress (or any other dress too!) Here are just a few if you're looking to get the perfect cleavage or hide anything you don't want showing. ;)

(Check out TotalBeauty.com reviews on Miss Oops here.)

This is the Mishap tape that is strong double-sided apparel tape to keep things hidden and in-place! Whether it's making sure your dress is stuck on your skin so you don't bare it all or you want to keep your straps in place, a strip from this kit will help everything stay in place. What is great about this is that it comes with 36 strips and in two widths - for $6.99!

Learn more about to give yourself some oomph or if you've got too much...

Miss Oops Show Stoppers are basically nipple covers to wear when you're wearing a dress that's not bra-friendly and don't want anything to show.. It's made of silicone and it's reusable for up to 15 wears because it sticks to your body. Normally a bra would do its job and you wouldn't need this, but if you're wearing a rather thin one- these are a great option. (A pair will cost you $16) They definitely stuck on but I wouldn't feel comfortable just wearing this... instead, I'd opt for these...

These Chicken Cutlets look exactly like its name! These are half-moon shaped silicone padding to give you some enhancement au naturel. These would be great to wear with your wedding dress to give yourself a bit of a boost without it being too much! Since they can give your bust an increase in a cup size, it's best to make sure your bra is also a bit forgiving too. Wouldn't want those cutlets falling out, would ya? These are $28 which are a steal for what you get!

You can currently get both Chicken Cutlets and Show Stoppers at Miss Oops' website for only $28. They're a part of their Bosom Buddies kit here.

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Enter the John Frieda Hair Dare Sweepstakes by TotalBeauty.com

Contest Alert! Enter the John Frieda Hair Dare Sweepstakes

Enter for a chance to win the $500 Grand Prize package of the hottest hair tools of the season and must-have products from the John Frieda Hair Care Experts

This is a TotalBeauty.com hair care article Our holiday Hair Dare Sweepstakes will help you get the gorgeous hair you've always wanted -- just in time for the New Year. Enter now

Holiday Series #8: Sally Hansen Holiday 2010 Collection

The Sally Hansen Holiday 2010 nail polish collection arrived on my doorstep right in time for the holidays and I'm excited to share this with you! With 10 gorgeous colors that scream, FESTIVE, these bright reds and plums and glittery goodness colors are perfect for any holiday dress you'll be rockin' this month and into the New Year's!

From Left to Right( Downtown Rubies, Feeling Saucy, Perfect Match or unknown, Trouble Maker, Rockstar Candy, Starry Starry Flight, Golden Ticket and Sequin Scandal.)

Unfortunately one of the polishes leaked and I couldn't read the name for it, hence no swatch for "Feeling Saucy" either. The polish that jumped out the most is Trouble Maker. The bottle makes it look a lot lighter than it is but two coats of this and you've got a gorgeous dark plum.

My favorite part of the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure nailpolishes are (not only its gorgeous color ranges) but their brushes!! Its wide brush and rounded tip makes it so easy to do a neat manicure and its formula gives you a sleek shine at the end. No need for a top coat or base coat!

(Read reviews on Sally Hansen nail polishes here.)

To see swatches.......

(Note, I don't have the second from the left polish- Feeling Saucy)


(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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COVERGIRL NatureLuxe products in January 2011

One of my very first lipsticks was purchased by my mother. She bought me a bright fuschia colored lipstick from COVERGIRL and I wore it to a 6th grade event. Back then, I thought it was the most hideous color- it was too bright- but it was moisturizing though. Yet looking back at my old pictures, I realize the color isn't so bad because it stood out and brightened my face. Since then, I have dabbled here and there with other COVERGIRL products- hello LashBlast! While browsing on their website the other day, I was interested to see Taylor Swift on the site. She's the new face of their new luxury makeup line- NatureLuxe. Available in mass-market retailers starting in January, there are only two products in the line- Silk Foundation and a Gloss Balm.

For more details...
Both products contain SPF and are formulated to give you a lightweight, luxurious feel. The foundation contains jojoba and rose hip and the gloss balm contains hints of mango (yum) and shea butter. Unfortunately, I am allergic to SPF (I can only use natural SPF Products such as Titanium Dioxide) but if they didn't have it, I would be all over this line!!

Check out the COVERGIRL NatureLuxe website here.

Read more reviews on COVERGIRL beauty products here.

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PrettyCity's Beauty Sample Sale 2010

NYC PrettyCity's annual Beauty Sample Sale with SHAPE Magazine took place on November 17 at NYC's Greenhouse. I wait all year to attend the beauty sample sales and this is my third one! Overall, I had a lovely time (again!) meeting lots of new vendors, snacking on cupcakes, and spinning the famous SHAPE wheel for prizes! As usual, there were tons of people so it was rather crowded. However, crowds I can deal with- it is NYC afterall, but the required coatcheck got people a bit riled up. Other guests wished they had known about this beforehand incase they didn't have any cash on them.

As always, PrettyCity.com never lets you leave empty-handed so they had a nice goody bag filled with treats. Inside the bag included samples of a VitalFusion adult gummy vitamins, lip balm, KISS nails and more!

Here are some pictures of the event: (excuse the darkness, there wasn't much lighting which doesn't help my phone camera!)

(Shape Magazine's Prize Wheel) I got SPANX and an athletic tee in size XL! I won't be wearing that but the SPANX sounds cool!

To see more here..

	ZOYA polishes that were used at a spa
	PurpleLabNYC was there to represent! Saw them on twitter @PurpleLabNYC and I knew I had to check them out! Look at these great products!
	More products- couldn't see these b/c there were tooo many people!

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Bridal Series #4: Get Picture Ready with the Christi Harris Eyebrow Kit

On your wedding day, make sure all eyes are on you and that your eyebrows are picture-ready!
Eyebrows are an important feature on your face that can really define your face. Born with almost skimpy and shapeless brows, I was pretty excited to try the Christi Harris Precision Brow Planing System. This kit has all that you need to create gorgeous, defined brows without tweezing or dying! Oh and a sweet bonus? These tools also create a smoky, defined eye look!

In addition to this extensive kit, there are instructional videos (click here!) on the website to to achieve your perfect brows. It may look overwhelming but once you know your overall desired brow shape, it's all about filling and defining your brow. The Color Blend Trio (offers 3 shades of brow colors) to match most eyebrow colouring. If you feel one of them isn't your match, the best part is you can blend the three colors together. Experiment on your hand first, if you have to. Pretty soon, you'll get the hang of it!

It's important to know what kind of brow you have. There are 4 general types..
Bushy, Skimpy, Shapeless, and Browless. Which one are you? Shown in the "Advance into your Custom Design" video, you will figure out tips and tricks using the Definer brush to create an outline of how your brow will look like.. Check it out!

The AddaBrow is also a cream, not so waxy texture, that will help fill in those sparse areas and create your brow. It's my fave part of the kit b/c it can miraculously "grow" your brows.


(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Winter Survival Beauty Tips from Beauty Expert - Rebekah George

Looking for beauty tips to survive the winter blues? Got cold, chapped and dehydrated skin? Check out this short clip of Rebekah George telling you some of her favorites including:
- Tide Free, a dye and perfume free detergent
- Cover Girl's Cheekers Bronzer to turn your pale face glowy (read reviews here.)
- Cover Girl's Liquiline Blast Eyeliner (read reviews here.)
- Various Olay products for your face and body! (read reviews here.)

You may have recognized Rebekah from the Today Show or Good Morning America where she covers beauty and fashion trends for regular women just like you!

Stay tuned for my own reviews on these products!

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Review: Scunci no slip grip hairties & Upzings

Are you tired of your hair-ties getting loose after a few times? That's been happening to a lot of my Goody hair ties that are bound together with glue. (Got a ton of them at past Shecky's Girls Night Out events.) I've started to use Scunci No Slip Grip® hair ties which are perfect to get perfect ponytail without any slippage. I've used it so many times and each time, it's like I'm wearing a brand new hair tie! Woohoo! The only con is that I can't place these on my wrists.. it's too tight!

To dress up your hair for the Holidays, you should try the new Scunci Upzing Double Combs. They're great for updo's and will bring some zing to your hair if you're always wearing it up in a claw or just a pony tail. The intricate beading details makes it unique and very pretty. It uses two hair combs to secure it on each side. I do recommend that you use bobby pins and some hair spray especially if you have fine and an uneven length hair because not all of it will be held by this.

Next time you're at your local retailer that sells hair products, look out for these two Scunci must-haves!

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Bridal Series #3: The Perfect Scent

Don't you love it when you walk into a room and it smells so perfect? Whether it's your wedding reception, bridal shower, or just a lovely party that you're having, it's always best to have that lovely scent. There are two I recommend from NEST fragrances and Thymes...

This fall I have been obsessed with fragrances- the pumpkin chai aroma for the changing of the season's and the smell of holiday. Of course, I'm not surprised that NEST fragrances has teamed up with Vera Wang to create the Vera Wang Floral Bouquet Boudoir Candle. It smells really good and contains notes of lily, gardenia, blossoming Damask rose, leafy greens and watery nuances. These would be perfect to have at your dinner tables to get the smell of rich flowers. Perfect for the day time event!

Having an evening soiree? Then the Thymes Moonflower Aromatic Candle would be perfect. Dubbed the glimmer of Twilight, this candle will surround you with notes of cinnamon, clove, and sugared quince. It's a deep, dark mysterious scent that leaves you wanting more. The design of the candles are also so pretty and decorative so even if you're having a simple or lavish wedding, these are elegant enough for the right touch! Check out their Agave Nectar collection here. (Read more reviews on Thymes here.)

(Disclaimer: I received these products from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Tarte Friends & Family Sale, 40% Off Ends December 13, 2010

Tarte is also having a Friends & Family sale from now until December 13, 2010. (Check out Urban Decay's Friends & Family sale here.) Save 40% off of Tarte products with the code: FFDEC but there are some limitations. Check out the image for more details.

Get reviews of your favorite Tarte products here.

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Urban Decay Friends and Family 25% Off Ends December 12

Urban Decay's Friends and Family is here! Save 25% with the code: 1FFNF and shipping is free with any $15 purchase. There are exclusions though on the FF sale, including theirBook of Shadows V3, Naked Palette (boo..) and Glide on Pencils.

Hurry! Ends December 12, 2010 !

Get reviews on new Urban Decay products here.

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SANTE Cosmetics come to America!

Natural cosmetics are the rage right now, at least in my beauty world. :) Consumers are more conscience and aware of what ingredients are in their products they're using and some actively seek out products that don't contain harmful ingredients. I was sent several SANTE Natural Cosmetics and was so excited to try them. SANTE is the top selling European brand and with the launch of SANTE AMERICA, these products are now available in North America. (Read more reviews here.)

Here's the 411 on these products:

	Foundation- Soft Cream Foundation. This is one of the best mineral-based foundations I have seen. It goes on smoothly and one pump is all I need to cover my face. Since wearing mineral foundations, I have actually been using less and less and focusing more on getting better skin. This really helps my skin to look "flawless" and moisturized as well! Perfect for the cold and winter season. Tip: One pump is all you need for face for minimal, natural coverage. ($17, USD)
	Eyeshadows- Their Eyeshadow Trio: rose wood 03 This trio will help you achieve the perfect everyday neutral look! The colors are incredibly silky and blendable so I was really impressed. I'm not a huge fan of their tiny applicator, so I would recommend using your own brushes. It is okay for on the go with a nice mirror on top. If you're packing light and can only carry a few items, this would make the cut. Looove the neutrals here! ($16, USD)
Nails- The nail polish packaging is quite unusual- it looks like a lip gloss' packaging right?! The colour I tried is French Pearl 03, a soft, pale pink natural shade perfect for a French manicure. I've worn two coats for the past several days and so far so good. The tips are getting a bit faded though, but overall, I love the sheen and colour! It costs $15 each, which is a bit pricey but keep in mind, the formula doesn't contain any formaldehyde and toluene- toxins in other nail polishes.
	Lips- I tried their Soleil Lipstick Balm SPF 15 in Magenta. It's a nice red/berry color to brighten your look. It's got natural jojoba oils and mineral pigments to get the perfect color. This winter, instead of looking so blah, get this winter berry color on your lips.. stay tuned for pics! ($7, USD)
	Eyeliner- Called Dipliner, I tried Sante's eyeliner in Sparkling Grey. The color is a darkish grey with minimal sparkles, so don't expect it to be super-glittery. The color was good and I really like that the brush is very precise so you can get the perfect "winged" look. It does driy rather quickly so it's important to use it quickly.. I wouldn't recommend this for newbies. (Available for $12)

Check out www.santeamerica.comto shop!

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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How-to: Holiday Eye Makeup!

Holiday Eye Makeup Tricks

Check out these tips to look smokin' at every gathering this season

This is a TotalBeauty.com eye makeup article Makeup artist to the stars, Terri Apanasewicz, shows you how to create the best holiday eye makeup looks Read tips

Bridal Series #2: Wedding Salon event- Recap & Pictures

To continue with my introduction to the Bridal Series, I wanted to show you all the pictures that I took at the Wedding Salon event in NYC back in mid-November. (Missed my Intro? Check it here.) There were many vendors but it was too crowded to take pics at each booth..

Pictures are worth a thousand words....

Have you ever thought about a honeymoon in Disney?

To see more pictures,


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