Review: Clinique High Lengths Mascara

So far, my quest for the best mascara in the world has led me to a lot of crumbly smeary raccoon-eyed days of test-run misery. As I've said a million times before, my miracle lash product thus far is Clinique Lash Power Mascara - waterproof, small precision applicator brush and all-around kickass formula that lasts through sweat, tears and Miami Beach in July.

Recently the fine folks at Clinique dropped me a sample of the NEW Clinique High Lengths Mascara. I didn't expect much since the other (non-Lash Power) Clinique mascaras out there rate a solid "meh" from me - they're nothing to write home about. High Lengths surprised me by being FREAKIN KILLER. KILL-ER.

Cost: $14
Details: The brush is this crazy skinny one-sided comb that looks like a praying mantis' leg or something. But it WORKS. Not only does it deliver enough product to give a glam lash look immediately (not a wussy wispy one) but it does so while enabling you to banish clumps and define each lash with a few swipes. NEVER in my life have I been able to get my lower lashes to look this long and separated.
Verdict: Get your ass to the Clinique counter STAT. I predict a sell-out in the near future!
Side Note: So far it's not on the Clinique site, but Neiman's, Bloomie's and Sephora have

Check it Out: Ulta Beauty

If you're anything like the majority of my lady friends, then you may not have ever gone to Ulta. I've known about Ulta for years, but being the Sephora junkie that I am, I sort of turned my nose up at Ulta. I thought they sold off-brand cosmetics and I referred to it (in my head) as the poor girl's Sephora. I'm not sure when or why I decided to give Ulta a chance, but I called up my BFF one day and told her we were going to check it out.

I have no problem admitting when I'm wrong and I will tell you right now that I was so wrong about Ulta. It's like Sephora and CVS had a baby. Ulta has a lot of the same make-up brands as Sephora, but they also carry your favorite drugstore brands. Additionally, Ulta carries just about every hair care product you can imagine AND they have a salon in the store! Now, I trust my hair to the one and only Maggie K. at Rapier Hair Design in North Palm Beach, but I will say that I've seen some good hair in the Ulta salon.

I like Ulta and Sephora equally in terms of product availability, but I do favor Sephora's rewards program. Ulta gives out quarterly rewards based on your point totals, whereas Sephora lets you cash in your points for gifts as soon as you reach the right amount of points. On the other hand, I see tons of coupons around for 20% off a purchase at Ulta and they have some killer sales and discounted products in the store.

I definitely recommend checking out your local Ulta if you have a chance. Not one in your area? No worries. Their website is full of goodies too and if you use promo code 22049 this week you can save 20% off your order!

Let me know what you ladies think and definitely tell me about your most recent Ulta purchase in the comments.

MAC's Latest Multi-Culti Color Collection

Totally feeling the array of "nude" shades MAC just came out with in their All Ages, All Races, All Sexes collection. A few shades are re-runs of older shades, but the majority are limited edition and the loose pigment powders have gotten a packaging makeover that's going to stick. I'm dying to get my hands on the goldish "Universal Mix" pigment ($19.50) and the eyeshadow in "All Races" ($14.50)

5N, Empowered, Equality, Myself

Universal Mix, Rich Life

Personal Style, Alls Good

Cross Cultural, Banshee, Showstopper, All Races

30% Off Everything at UrbanDecay.com

Urban Decay cosmetics are reasonably priced, cruelty-free and come in a rainbow of bold colors - what more could you ask for? A discount. Get 30% off your order through Friday (November 20th) using code "FNFW1"

Not sure what to get? Their shimmery pale gold Shadow Primer Potion ($17) is the bomb because it both locks down your eyeshadow for hours AND looks sweet on its own as an eye shimmer cream. I can't live without their Liquid Liner in "Perversion" ($18) and 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil ($17) is also a great product.

Also, check out their 2009 Holiday "Looks" for ideas:

Book of Shadows, Frigid, Show Pony and Super Stash

Ricky's NYC is Online

How did I miss this?! When I lived in NYC's West Village, trannylicious beauty supply store Ricky's was a weekly stop-off for me. They have everything you could possibly need to complete your look, from velcro rollers to glitter to the kind of clip on ponytail that scares you every time you open the bathroom closet. It's enough to give any product junkie a beauty boner (speaking of which - they also sell sex toys.) Not only is it piled high and deep with goodies, but the vibe inside is fun even if the staff is a smidge fresh - it's like a Sephora on rave drugs.

For years I've checked to see when they'd finally get on the whole e-commerce bandwagon because I love the loose shimmer powders they carry by a brand called Matisse, and to my amazement yesterdays Google of "Ricky's NYC" was a fruitful one!

What's better? Currently they have a sale for 20% off a vast array of items with code ANNUAL20 - including Matesse cosmetics. It ends November 30, so get on that shit before your local Beyonce impersonator wipes it out. If you live in NYC, Long Island or Miami, go explore your local Ricky's in person.

Vampy Lips Go Violet

As with so many things, the key to purple lipstick glory is proper context. Pair it with heavy eyeliner and fishnets and you may as well park yourself in the food court with an ironic lunchbox full of rejected Smiths lyrics. Pair it with a bare face, a tailored ensemble and a dash of Tammy Faye mascara and you're fashion.

Since it's a trend (yes the vampy lip gets a re-up every year, but far more frequently in red), I'd recommend a cheap tube for your test run. For a matte version, check out MAC "Night Violet" ($14.50), for a laquered look try the latest shade from Revlon "Va Va Violet" ($5), pictured right.

The Look:
- Apply liquid foundation to even out skin tone and skip the blush
- Dab highlighter on eyelids concentrating at the inner corners and blend outward
- Carefully line lower water line (above lashes) with white eye pencil
- Add several coats of mascara to top and bottom lashes, sweeping alternately inward (towards the nose) and outward to create irregular "points" or clumps
- Fill brows with a neutral pencil (as I have mentioned, I live for MAC Lingering)
- Line lips with a dark berry lip pencil (like Revlon Colorstay in Plum) and fill in with lipstick

Warning: Violet doesn't do your teeth any favors - catch up on your Whitestrip applications before you go making this your shade of choice. Also- be prepared for dudes and townies not to "get it." This look might be a bit much for their untrained eyes to handle.

Fashionable Halloween Clearance Rack Steals

As you probably know, the day after (and sometimes day of) Halloween is when stores pull all of their theme items and throw them on a clearance rack for 50-75% off. There's not much you can do with a ceramic jack-o-lantern past it's sell-by date, but there are a few style items worth snatching up at a discount for year-round usage.

1.) Black, purple, glitter and other wild nail polish. Since when do those not work in January?

2.) False eyelashes - even some of the crazier sets can be fun around the holidays and for parties or going out. Falsies don't have to be expensive to look amazing.

3.) Stripe, fishnet and fun colored tights. Also not a halloween-only accessory.

4.) Skull jewelry (but leave the spiderweb and pumpkin earrings on the shelf, please)

5.) Glitter.

6.) Novelty socks. Does anyone see what's under those snowboots in the winter? If you find cuddly ones for 99 cents, stock up.

7.) Next year's costume. Like any end-of-season purchase, stash it away in a box for next year and be so excited when you realize you don't have to fight the crowds and pay full price next October. Suckers!

PS: Two notable Halloween free shipping deals from sweet websites:

- ASOS.com (UK) is offering free shipping to the U.S. this weekend on EVERYTHING.

- MAC Cosmetics is offering free shipping on any purchase during "the witching hours" between 6PM and 3AM tonight.

Lancome Lovers: Get 20 Percent Off

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HLS readers in New York, New Jersey, Texas and California are in luck next week! Print out the above coupon and bring it to any Lancome boutique (not counter, Sephora, etc. - just boutiques - find locations HERE) to get 20% off.

My picks? Get on the deep blue trend early and grab something from their Declaring Indigo fall color collection. I love the Indigo Charm eyeshadow palette, but if you're less daring, the nail polish in Indigo Paris is also gorgeous.

Smashbox's Tudor-Inspired Fall Color Collection

Smashbox put out a fairly classic palette for Fall 2009 with foliage-esque gold, russet and pine shadows paired with complementing liners and a neutral lip and cheek. I'm loving the colors (and I'm a huge fan of their products in general - total quality) but I'm confused. The collection is said to be inspired by the English Tudors. According to what I've read, the rage quite consistently from the Crusades up through the Elizabethan era was rosy red on cheeks and lips. I can only assume they're referencing fabrics.

Nonetheless, I'm dying to get my hands on the deep green shadow! At $42 the set is a little steep. To the wishlist it goes...

EndsTonight: 25% off at M.A.C.

Sale ends in just a few hours! Use code SAVE25 for the discount.

Smashbox Sale: 20 Percent Off

In case you don't have your bifocals on, the code is FFSB9 for 20% off. I recommend their glosses - very similar to NARS gloss in their non-sticky texture and color range.

Revlon Can't Win the Youth Game

The other night I saw the first Revlon commercial starring 38-year-old actress and new spokeswoman Jennifer Connelly. Unfortunately they made her up like a Robert Palmer girl and aged her up about 10 years (photo at left), but she's a great pick for the brand nonetheless. It got me thinking...

As far as representing the "mature woman," Revlon has nailed it, haven't they? Every ambassador is classy, beautiful and talented. But when it comes to twenty-somethings, they pick the most unlikeable chicks in Hollywood. The latest (as of Monday)? Jessica Biel.

Check out the stats:

Age 30-50
Jennifer Connelly (Oscar winner)
Halle Berry (Oscar winner)
Julianne Moore (Oscar nominee)
Susan Sarandon (Oscar winner)
Elle MacPherson (actress, model, prestige business owner)

20-somethings
Kate Bosworth (never been in a good film, totally unhealthy)
Jessica Alba (never been in a good film)
Jessica Biel (never been in a good film, kind of a man)

If Revlon wants to capture ANY of the youth market they need to step it up and at least pick someone with a personality. Then again, if your best product is lipstick, is aiming older a bad idea?

Do you wear lipstick?
	Often
	Occasionally
	Never

Jane Cosmetics Bellies Up

Cheapie drugstore makeup brand Jane. has filed for Chapter 11, according to WWD.

Bummer - I never really wore anything but this one coral-colored blush that they made (finding an oil-free blush is daunting), but it was a damn good blush before I lost it in my car.

I guess if you were a fan, it might be a good idea to hit Rite Aid and clean them out right about now.

Amazing Tip from Lancome

If you haven't already hit the official (and brand new) Lancome Blog link we list as one of our faves, today is a good day to do so. They have an amazing tip regarding highlighting that you've probably never heard about (I hadn't even heard of it, and I'm a makeup slut.)

I'm totally impressed with a company as major as Lancome for launching a fun and unpretentious blog. So far it has really been the smaller hipster brands who've gotten on the blog-wagon.

NARS Reveals Summer 2009 Products

NARS is one of the few brands that is not a bff of Hearts Like Stars yet (We've reached out a few times... maybe they're just not down with bloggers?) so I can't give you the skinny on the texture and lasting power of the colors they released today. What I can say is that the look is bold, but at the same time, sophisticated. I'm a big fan of the upcoming orange lipstick trend.

The model is wearing new single eyeshadow in Tropic ($22), lip liner in Tonga ($20) and lipstick in Outsider ($24). The entire summer 2009 collection is pictured at left. Notice there is no blush? Don't do it if you're wearing eyes and lips this bold! A dusting of bronzer is all the color you need.

(Product and model images via NARScosmetics.com. Click to enlarge.)

Deal of the Week

You can spend a million on expensive makeup, but without the right brushes you're still going to look a mess. After years of using cheap drugstore brushes that constantly shed bristles all over my face, I started to consider dropping the big bucks on some prestige brand brushes. Then I came across this set by EcoTools ($10.99 at Target) and have since been deterred. The quality and texture of the brushes are really (I hate to use this word, but it's the only one suitable) luxurious, and gave a much softer application visually. No more streaky blush or blotchy bronzer for me!

PS - If you do go drugstore for brushes, the concealer and shadow brushes by Essence of Beauty are also good - just steer clear of their black-bristle brushes.

Fall 2009 Makeup Trends

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Color! So glad it's sticking around beyond the spring and summer seasons for 2009. Dior's models rocked the rainbow at the Fall 2009 show, and the old 80's up-to-the-eyebrows trend seems to be back with a vengeance. So long as you choose a flattering color for yourself, I say go nuts.

A slash of black liquid liner along the top lids is a classic look, but I like how they also lined the crease to create a longer eye at Moschino. At Vivienne Westwood they punked out the usually ladylike look by applying liner to the entire lid. Try Urban Decay's Liquid Liner in Perversion ($18 - P.S. I find the liners with brushes as opposed to "felt tips" create a cleaner line.)

Usually a summer makeup trend, bright coral showed up on lips and cheeks in two fall shows. Combined with a complementary bright pink lip or a doll-like smoky eye, when done lightly this color is completely wearable on most skin tones. Zac's model is wearing M.A.C. Cosmetics - Eyeshadow in Blackberry ($14.50)and Lipstick in Morange ($14.50). Betsey's model is wearing Stila - Long wear lip color in Hippie ($17)and Convertible Color in Gladiola ($25)on cheeks.

This is a strong look and a tough one to pull off, but with the right evening ensemble (I'd go with something simple, with a feminine accent like a ruffle or bow just for contrast) the goth lipped look can be done. Betsey's model is wearing Stila Cosmetics - Onyx Kajal eyeliner ($18) and Convertible Color in Poppy ($25), both on the lips.

I'm not a big bronzer gal myself, but toned down the full lid of shimmery brown shadow and a peachy nude blush can look really soft. Back in the day this went hand in hand with a heavily shaded brow - I like how they left them natural at the Chloe show (pictured.) Try Smashbox eyeshadow in Sienna ($16), layered with Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy shadow ($14).

And the best for last - conceptual God John Galliano sent the ghosts of gypsies past down the runway for fall, and thanks to some equally masterful makeup artistry, models looked like abandoned childhood dolls left to freeze in a blizzard.

Eyeshadow was applied to the entire socket of each eye, with the inner corners and browbones highlighted with a dash of metallic cream to prevent a completely punched-out look. Cheekbones were carved out with plum powder and brought forward with cool metallic highlighter.

I'm really fascinated by the way it was done, so be on the lookout for a how-to in the future.
A great highlighter I recently tested? Smashbox 2-in-1 Luminizing Primer. ($34 for .98 oz.)

Give Me a Black Eye

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[Clockwise from top left: Yigal Azrouel, Cavalli, Marc Jacobs, Marc Jacobs, Versace]

Dark and heavy - it's what many designers seem to have asked makeup gurus to deliver for Fall 2009, because it was all over the runways. This was not just a "smoky eye" - it was smoky, glossy, hard, reminiscent of both Egyptian royalty and proto-punk. Call it a cat eye if you will, but understand this is more the type that would maul you to death. You need attitude to rock this look, and not money.

Marc's girls wore Nars cosmetics (check out their "Night" series of shadows), applied by Francois Nars himself. Shocker since he hasn't worked a show in about a decade. People sure love Marc. Or he gives a mean BJ.
Azrouel's wore M.A.C. and Cavalli's went drugstore with Max Factor's 200 Calorie mascara piled on.

Just musing here: Maybe the vicious painted glare is their collective nod to the disasterous economy, the grittiness of life at the moment? With $50,000 dresses flying down the runway beneath these faces, it would appear (at least I would hope) to be an ironic juxtaposition.

Review: Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse

I have to be honest. I too am sometimes suckered into a purchase by an ad telling me something I want to hear. For example: "This makeup will totally hide the cavernous pores your dad's genes cursed you with" (I'm paraphrasing.)

I grabbed a bottle of Maybelline's new Dream Liquid Mousse foundation the other day to see if it delivers on the promise of a "smooth, 100% poreless finish." It kinda did.

The first time I applied it was immediately after applying a heavier moisturizer (Neutrogena Healthy Skin anti-wrinkle.) The makeup definitely sank into my pores making them even more visible, which is exactly what the fancy animation in their TV spot claims it won't do. I tried it again later with a light moisturizer (Jergens Natural Glow Face) and this time waited for it to absorb before applying foundation. I didn't pay much attention to the result, but later as I was trying on clothes in a store dressing room I did a double in the mirror. My skin looked really soft and matte in a natural way, and my face did not, for once, look like the surface of the moon.

Verdict: It ain't a miracle, but at $8-ish a bottle, it's one of the best full coverage foundations in it's drugstore price range. (The other one I like? Loreal Infallible.) The other bonus is that the cap is fitted, reducing the chance of a dried up foundation wad clogging the dispenser, and reducing the chance of the cap falling off in your bag.

Clinique Launches Spring 2009 Collection "First Blush"

I had the opportunity to try out the spring 2009 collection from Clinique this past week, "First Blush". Highlights include flower-themed eyeshadow duos in ethereal neutrals, high-shine glosses with just a whisper of color, and the standout innovation I adore - Quick Blush.

I have to admit, I'm a child and I played with the products before reading the details, so I had no idea how to use Quick Blush and ended up sticking my finger in the cap (where the blush is.) Here's how it actually works:

With a twist the brush picks up just enough blush from the cap to add a nice flush to your cheeks. Equally impressive is the quality of the super-soft retractable brush, which alone is worth the price of the product. I'll probably clean it and continue to use it even after the blush runs out. Reduce, reuse, recycle, ladies!

The eyeshadow packaging is super cute, and Clinique just has a knack for creating universally flattering shades. Of course I could show you pics of the gorgeous model with artist-applied eyeshadow they sent me, but I wanted y'all to see how they look on a real chick who applied them in about 30 seconds:

[Fresh Bloom Eye Shadow ($16.50 each, from left): Tiger Lily, Apple Blossom, Maple Blossom, Cherry Blossom; Lash Doubling Mascara ($14, all photos); Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 in First Blush (1,2) and Honey Shimmer (3,4), $14 each; Quick Blush in Hurry Honey (1,3) and In-a-Rush Blush (2,4) $21.50.]

"First Blush" will be available at Clinique locations nationwide in February 2009, and online at Clinique.com.

P.S. My faves? The Quick Blush in Hurry Honey and the shadow in Tiger Lily.