Light Shadow: Pastel Eyeshadows For Summer May 12th, 2011 By

This summer we’re all about the romantic look with soft pastels and dreamy color palettes.  Thinking of escaping into a sea of soft colors?  Want to be carried away on a cloud of pinks and lavenders and the softest blues?  Look no further than these luscious eye shadow palettes like the Bobbi Brown Pastel Eye Shadow Palette.  Seven colors and includes a brush! 

The POP Beauty Eye Topper Beaming Blink Eye Shadow Palette is like candy for your face! Bubble gum pinks and delicious peach colors.  These shadows also act as a highlighter for eyes, cheekbones – anywhere you need to add in some brightness.

With the Clarins Color Quartet for Eyes, you have mauves and pinks and neutrals, making this a perfect palette to keep in your purse, for day-to-evening touch-ups.

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The Best Dry Shampoo for Your Hair May 10th, 2011 By

Fellow readers, we’re dying to know… do you use dry shampoo?  What are your reasons?  Do you use it regularly or just on days when you need a break from washing?  Without naming names around here, a few of us have tried it while others admitted to using baby powder and other “drying” tricks to volumize limp or otherwise dirty hair. 

Well, we’ve done our research, and it seems that the products below really deliver results.  Any good ones we left off the list?

Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo Spray
This product refreshes hair in minutes by soaking up oil, removing product buildup, and boosting volume.  It’s free from parabens, sulfates and synthetic dyes; and it’s not tested on animals.

Liquid Keratin Volumizing Dry Shampoo
This is a powder-free dry shampoo that is specifically formulated with a keratin complex to enhance the strength and elasticity of damaged hair.  Create a frizz-free finish with shine while absorbing excess oils.


Osis + Dust It Matifying Powder
This is the perfect product for those of you who want a matifying effect from your dry shampoo.  This lightweight powder helps to texturize hair with a natural feel and long-lasting hold.

Bumble and Bumble Blondish Hair Powder
This is ideal for darker blondes with oily hair (read: less than clean).  This tinted hair powder requires a dirty ‘do so it has something to hold on to, but it delivers a major punch with a texturizing, matifying spray.  Bonus: this product can be used to blend away roots in between appointments!


Klorane Gentle Non-Aerosol Dry Shampoo
One of the more natural dry shampoos available on the market, this non-aerosol dry shampoo leaves your hair feeling clean and fresh with protective oat extract and natural oil-absorbing powders.  It’s also hypoallergenic and free from parabens and sulfates.


> shop all dry shampoo spray
> shop all dry shampoo powder

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Essie Wedding Collection May 4th, 2011 By

In case you haven’t had enough wedding news in your life (can there be such a thing?), we’re adding the Essie Wedding Collection to the mix.  In this mini collection, four modern shades were created to complement bridal beauty; they include a petal pink, creamy white, iridescent pearl, and lilac cream.

Looking for a shade fit for a princess?  When Kate requested her custom nail color for her wedding to Prince William, Essie Allure from the 2011 Wedding Collection was added into the final mix.


Ready to take a walk down the aisle?  Then we’d like to reccommend a polish of the same name — Essie Walk Down the Aisle.  This is a fresh and creamy white polish from the 2010 Wedding Collection that will always be classic and elegant.  The best part of using Essie nail polish is that they are all formaldehyde DBP and Tolune free.

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How to Wear Bright Colored Lipstick April 25th, 2011 By

Bright Lipsticks on the Beso Blog

Bright lipstick is a great way to make a statement with your makeup this spring. You can exude confidence with just one swipe, and wearing bold lips is easier than you think.  Here is our tried-and-tested method to prep your lips for bright colored lipstick.

1. Bright lips need a smooth canvas. We love The Lip Scrub by Sara Happ, and Laura Geller Lip Strip Cooling Sugar Scrub to leave our lips supple and smooth.

The Lip Scrub by Sara Happ

The Lip Scrub by Sara Happ 1oz (VANILLA BEAN)

2. After the exfoliation step, moisturize as necessary.  Some stellar lip treatments we love are La Prairie Cellular Luxe Lip Treatment and Estee Lauder Lip Conditioner.

La Prairie Cellular Luxe Lip Treatment

La Prairie Cellular Luxe Lip Treatment SPF 15

3. Now that your lips are prepped and ready to go, proper tools go a long way when it comes to application and staying power.  Bright lipstick is best applied with a lip brush, and using a liner is always recommended as it is more accurate and really helps the lipstick stay put.  Bare Escentuals Covered Lip Brush is nice because it’s compact and won’t smear lipstick all over your makeup bag.  We also love Sisley Lip Liners, keeping in mind to go no more than one shade darker than the color of your lipstick.

Bare Escentuals Covered Lip Brush

Bare Escentuals Covered Lip Brush Sisley-Paris Phyto-Levre Perfect Lipliner

Sisley-Paris Phyto-Levre Perfect Lipliner

4. When wearing bright lips, you’ll want to keep the rest of your face understated and polished.  To achieve this look, try skin brighteners like Benefit Cosmetics High Beam or Clinique Supermoisture Makeup after foundation and concealor.  Choose a neutral eyeshadow followed by just a few swipes of black mascara (one of our favorites is Dior Diorshow Blackout Mascara).  Finish your look with a light dusting of bronzer, as necessary.

Now you’re prepped and ready to rock your bright lipstick.  Don’t forget to keep your clothing neutral so your lips really get all the glory.

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Garnier Pure Clean Shampoo & Conditioner April 21st, 2011 By

In honor of Earth Day tomorrow, we’re so excited to share the newest products from the Garnier Fructis family: Pure Clean Shampoo and Pure Clean Conditioner.  These unique formulas are 92% biodegradable and free from silicone, paraben and dye.  The containers themselves are made from PET, the most widely recycled plastic, and contain 50% post consumer recycled plastics. 

Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Shampoo & Conditioner

I’ve been using the shampoo and conditioner religiously for the past month, and I’m in love!  They’re both really lightweight and smell great — plus, it feels so good knowing that I am doing my part for the environment.  Pure Clean encourages everyone to do their part, and on-pack instructions promote recycling used cosmetics bottles and reducing water consumption.

> learn how to get involved and recycle with Garnier Pure Clean and TerraCycle

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Favorite Spring Fragrances April 17th, 2011 By

I’m not sure about you, but I always choose a fragrance based on my mood and the weather.  I find that as the months warm up, I need a lighter perfume and tend to gravitate toward more floral fragrances.  Here is what I’m currently loving right now; and while they have all been around for a while, they’re classics in my book:

J’Adore by Christian Dior
This is a great everyday fragrance that is fresh and sophisticated.  Orchid, Damascus plum and amaranth wood are some of the more exotic notes, but I find that it smells a bit like mandarin and roses.

Lola by Marc Jacobs
Warmer and muskier than J’Adore, Lola by Marc Jacobs is a sexy fragrance with notes of pear, rose, fuchsia peony, vanilla and creamy musk.

Pure Poison by Christian Dior
This is my go-to date night perfume.  Jasmine, orange flower and white amber musk makes for an deep and oh-so-flirty fragrance.

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NYX Nude on Nude Review April 15th, 2011 By

*all images via NYX Official Site

I was generously gifted the latest makeup set from NYX — Nude on Nude, and couldn’t wait to share my experience with you.  First off, the product: it’s 20 eyeshadows paired with 10 lips colors for the ultimate bronzed and smoky experience.  A true artist’s palette, with moderately pigmented shadows so you can control the intensity and use wet/dry.  I’ve had really good past experiences with the indie makeup line out of LA (not to mention the fact that they know how to throw a great party), so it was no surprise to me that the shadows glided on smoothly, and really stayed put.  The lip colors range from soft roses and nudes to intense red, and it’s so fun to mix and match for your desired shade of pink pout.

The only thing that tripped me up was the packaging!  I spent about twenty minutes trying to pull open the bottom tray of lip glosses, only to realize they actually slide out of the tray!  And of course I didn’t realize that there is a diagram on their website that explains this.  All in all, the Nude on Nude kit is a steal for only $25.

> shop all NYX

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Seeing Red: Red Lipsticks You’ll Love April 7th, 2011 By

Fashions come and go, but red lipstick is the type of iconic style that never disappoint.  Guerlain, M.A.C., tarte – these are just a few of our favorite lipsticks.

When Guerlain went about designing the spectacular case for their Le Rouge G de Guerlain lipstick, they called in one of the most notable jewelry designers from the Place Vendôme in Paris, Lorenz Bäumer.  He designed a 2-piece lipstick compact: click 1 reveals a mirror; click 2 reveals the lipstick.  Finally, Guerlain has exquisite packaging to match the exquisite product inside that is long-lasting, fully saturated, and beautiful to the max.


M.A.C. is known for their wide range of colors and high impact pigments.  Plus, 100% of their M.A.C. Viva Glam lipsticks go to charity.


Tarte LipSurgence Natural Lip Tint is “a natural lip stain that is clinically proven to increase lips’ moisture content by 6000%.”  Sold.  It’s an added bonus that tarte stains have fabulous pigmentation, staying power and environmentally conscious packaging.  What’s not to love?

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M.A.C. Lipglass + Lady Gaga for Viva Glam March 22nd, 2011 By

Over NYFW, I was gifted an old favorite: M.A.C. clear lipglass.  While I’m not into the super-shiny lips these days, it’s actually the perfect thing to blend your favorite lip pencils for a natural sheen and a wearable matte look.  I’ve been getting a few questions about the latest lip colors, and while my first question always is “well, what are you wearing?” my next tip is usually “pick a color that suits you and your outfit, and opt for a matte look rather than a glossy finish. You can still use a little gloss for moisture, but don’t overdo it.” 

Fall 2011 runways ran the gamut color-wise, from Burgundy lips at Lela Rose and Nanette Lepore to bright red at DVF to barely there pale at Jason Wu and Thakoon.  But overall, the looks were pouty, punchy and shine-free.  One color set that has been on my radar lately is Lady Gaga’s Viva Glam collection.  The color reminds me of the one used for Chloe’s Fall 2011 runway (which was actually M.A.C. Freckletone lipstick), and every cent of Viva Glam going to the M.A.C. AIDS Fund.


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Beachy Hair Products March 19th, 2011 By

As the weather has been warming up here in Los Angeles, we’ve been hitting the beach at any sign of an early summer.  We went to soak up some rays last weekend and left with the most textured, wavy hair that is so hard to imitate.

Perfect beach hair via 5 Inch and Up

To re-create this look without having to drive to the coast, we’ve gathered up the best and the brightest texturizing beach sprays for us to achieve this beach bum look, permanently!

MOP C-System Texture Spray

MOP C-System Texture Spray

KMS HairPlay Sea Salt Spray

KMS HairPlay Sea Salt Spray 6.8 oz

d-fi Beach Bum Texturizing Spray 4.23 ozd-fi beach bum texturizing spray 4.23 oz

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Kerastase Masquintense Review March 10th, 2011 By

For whatever reason, I seem to be fielding a lot of questions about hair products lately.  It seems that a lot of you are over winter and the dried out static strands that come with it.  Enter celebrity favorite Kerastase Masquintense.  Available in two formulas, one for fine hair and one for thick hair, the product is designed to nourish and strengthen distressed tresses, leaving hair noticbly smoother and shinier (I’ve actually tried both, but tend to stick with the “Thick” formula).  While a bit pricy, the cost is nowhere near the price of a Brazilian blowout or a number of other professional treatments available, and the results are beyond worth it.


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Haute & Naughty, Getting Caught Up, #NYFW February 15th, 2011 By

I have to tell you about the most insane mascara I just tried.  Gifted to me from M.A.C., it’s called the Haute & Naughty Lash Mascara in black and I haven’t really tried any mascara like it before in my 10+ years working as a makeup artist.  What makes it so different to me is the formula itself.  Extremely black and very, very wet, the mascara glides on with a super dense look that is a little intimidating at first.  With around 21+ swipes and a few minutes of not moving/blinking/waiting for it to dry, the lashes are manipulated in a manner where each lash is thick, dramatic and LUSH looking.  And this is just with the main applicator.

Bonus:  There is a second layer of packaging for a much less dramatic look should you so choose! (I’m big into mascara options for day/night or dramatic/natural looks).

Haute & Naughty Lash Mascara

I also wanted to tell you that I got fitted for a free pair of Levi’s Curve ID jeans (I’m a demi) while in New York last week, and I can’t believe how well they fit.  Thanks again to IFB for hosting such a lovely conference with such awesome folks as Levi’s, TheFind, Gucci, and many more (complete list of sponsors here).

In other fashion news, I also got an e-mail from QVC about their Mercedes Benz Fashion Week plans.  They’ve got some amazing brands these days — Gypsy Mara Hoffman, B. Makowsky, Muxo by Camila Alves — way to go, QVC!  So check ‘em when you get a chance.  NYX is also in full force on the West Coast, featuring Janelle Monae at Sunday’s Grammy Awards.  If you haven’t heard of NYX, they’re an indie artist’s line that is both affordable and high-quality.

We’ve got a contest coming up tomorrow, so stay tuned, beso lovers!  I hope you all had a lovely Valentine’s Day.

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