Favorite Things Giveaway 6: ADORN Temporary Tattoos

•December 16, 2009 • Leave a Comment

Ever wanted a tattoo without the pain (so I’ve heard) of getting it and the commitment of keeping it forever? Well Temptu has the perfect temporary tattoo kits to add that finishing touch to your beauty routine.

ADORN Temporary Tattoo kits ($25) are versatile designs that can be used to make a big impression or as a small beauty accessory. You can change your tattoo from day to evening, season to season, or let it reflect your mood. According to Temptu, “The cosmetic-grade ink formula enables the tattoo to apply cleanly and precisely while the exclusive true-tattoo color ensures 2-to-5 day wearability.” Adorn is available in three kits—Seductive, Girly, Zen—of which Seductive and Girly are up for grabs.

Seductive Chic, above, offers a romantic and sexy take on temporary body art, hand-drawn by a true artisan.

Zen Chic offers an exotic and inspiring take. Both kits contain 9 tattoo design sheets (3 sets of 3 designs) that can be applied individually or in pre-placed clusters.

If you dare, add a little fun and flair to your beauty routine. Enter to win one of the ADORN kits by completing the contact form below or sending an email to blendedbeaute@gmail.com. Contest open to U.S. residents only.

Congrats to Lisa V., winner of the Senna Cosmetics beauty kit.

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Holiday Gift Ideas: e.l.f Cosmetics

•December 15, 2009 • 4 Comments

I was in Targáis (Target) the other day to pick up a few things but got totally sidetracked and suckered into buying some of e.l.f Cosmetics’ holiday sets. They are too cute! Perfect stocking stuffers at unbelievably low prices. From smokey eye shadow kits, lip gloss, nail polish and liquid eyeliner sets to complete makeup collections and brush sets. If you’re familiar with e.l.f, then you know just about everything is $1 and it’s not bad makeup at all. Pricing for the gift sets ranges from $3-$40.

I picked up the above lip gloss set for only $5. The colors are great and will complement any skin tone. They also had a three-piece set for, you guessed it, three bucks!

I couldn’t pass up the nail polish either. Really pretty colors. The set pictured is only $5. The collection I bought included gorgeous deep purple, midnight blue and pearl white shades. And I couldn’t leave without the liquid eyeliner set that came in three colors: rich black, white and glitter. Check out e.l.f.’s other beauty buys at your local Target or www.target.com.

Keep following Blended Beauté because our next giveaway is coming up. Temporary tattoos anyone?

Favorite Things Giveaway 5: Senna Cosmetics

•December 13, 2009 • 4 Comments

Don’t let winter blues steal your glow. Get a glowing complexion in seconds with our next giveaway from Senna Cosmetics. The beauty kit up for grabs includes Glisten Beach Shimmering Face Powder, Wildfire Sheer Mineral Blush, Base Buffer 22 Brush and Mimosa mini Lip Lacquer in a cute clear pouch. And as a bonus, Blended Beauté is throwing in two of our favorite Senna lip colors: Nova and Glint.

I fell in love with Senna back in September when PR sent some products to try. (Read the review Part 1, Part 2). It’s a great line with products that perform. I use several items in my professional makeup kit including the Silky Primer, Lip Love, Brow Definer, Brow Fix, Spot Lites, Double Effects Creamline Powder Duo Palette and some of their lip liners.

The beauty kit in the giveaway includes some of Senna’s best products for a healthy glow in seconds. The colors are universally flattering and will look good on many skin tones. Glisten Beach is a shimmering sheer medium bronze that instantly perks up skin and helps diminish flaws; Wildfire is a sheer golden pink blush; Mimosa lip lacquer is a golden peachy pearl that looks good worn alone or over lipstick; Nova (glistening peach) and Glint (warm pink) are great sheer lip colors. Lastly, the Base Buffer 22 Brush is a wide rounded brush great for applying bronzer over the entire face and soft enough to buff it to a fine satiny smooth finish.

Enter to win this fabulous kit (a total value of $107.50). Complete the form below or send an email to blendedbeaute@gmail.com. Contest open to U.S. residents only.

Congratulations to Ruchee and Avartsy, winners in the Z Palette giveway!

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Hot Holiday Party Looks 2: Go for the Glitter

•December 10, 2009 • Leave a Comment

Holiday parties are the perfect time to add a little shimmer, so why not go for full sparkle. One way to add some twinkle to your eyes is with glitter. One technique I like thanks to celebrity makeup artist Gucci Westman is to dust glitter onto the center of the lid and then sheer out with a dot of moisturizer to make it look more lived in and effortless. My go-to glitter is Make Up For Ever’s Diamond Powder ($24). They’re lightweight, fine particles of bright light that add glamour to any type of makeup, and they can be used on the face or body. A little goes a long way with Diamond Powder as well. For a long-lasting effect: Pat on the skin with a wet brush. Some other brilliant beauty tips:

“Sprinkle onto lip gloss in the evening to emphasize lip volume. To make glitter adhere to the body or hair, first spray these areas with water, then place a small amount of glitter in the palm of your hand and gently blow onto the dampened areas.” — MUFE creator Dany Sanz

So get ready to party because it’s never too late to shimmer!

A catwalk just wouldn’t be a catwalk without glitters. These lightweight, fine particles of bright light add glamour to any type of makeup – on the face or body. A little bit goes a long way. Just pat on the skin with a wet brush for a long-lasting effect.Dany’s Tip: “Sprinkle onto lip gloss in the evening to emphasize lip volume. To make glitter adhere to the body or hair, first spray these areas with water, then place a small amount glitter in the palm of your hand and gently blow onto the dampened areas.”

Favorite Things Giveaway 4: Z Palette

•December 7, 2009 • 6 Comments

Walk on the wild side or look pretty in pink with Z Palette’s newest additions. If you’re a makeup artist or makeup lover, you’ve probably heard of Z Palette. It’s the “ultimate customizable makeup palette” with an open magnetic base to fit any size shadow, blush, bronzer and some foundations. You can even condense makeup from different brands into the palettes, which is why it’s one of our favorite things.

Some other reasons why we love Z Palette:

  • Sleek and slim
  • Made of high quality matte paper which is easy to clean and 70% recyclable
  • Eco friendly because you don’t have to purchase product in plastic or metal packaging
  • Cost effective because refills made for palettes are much cheaper than the shadows in pots
  • You can see the contents when the lid is closed, so no guesswork or digging for single colors

So tis the season to find your inner artist! Customize your makeup palettes to your own taste or add some flair to your kit with the newest colors. Enter for your chance to win just in time for the holidays! Complete the form below or send an email to blendedbeaute@gmail.com. Giveaway open to U.S. residents only. Palettes don’t include colors pictured above.

Special thanks to fellow makeup artist and Z Palette creator Zena Shteysal for contributing to Blended Beauté’s Favorite Things giveaway.

HOLIDAY DEAL: To introduce the new colors, Z Palette is offering an online special when you visit www.zpalette.com. Take 10% off if you spend $40 or more with special code ZPALHOL1, or 15% off if you spend $60 or more with special code ZPALHOL2. And there’s FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the US. (special runs 12/6/09-12/20/09)

Congrats to Christy, Mary, Lola and Nina. Winners in the “Luscious Lips” giveaway.

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Favorite Things Giveaway 3: Luscious Lips

•December 4, 2009 • Leave a Comment

Smile bright for the holidays with five of our favorite lip products that will definitely give you the perfect pout.

Revitalize, hydrate, and pamper your lips so that new lip color you’ve been dying to wear looks its best. The Artistry Lip Care Kit offers a gentle exfoliating Lip Polish that lightly buffs away dry skin cells from lips, while the Lip Conditioner instantly softens, soothes, and smoothes. This kit is a Blended Beauté favorite because it truly creates soft, supple lips. And both products together provide the ultimate protection without being heavy or sticky.

Smashbox’s WISH for the Perfect Pout is a limited-edition set of six gorgeous glosses showcasing best-selling and new-for-holiday shades, including two bonus full-size glosses. The set includese Pout (full size), Luster (full size), Tease, Candy, Aura and Radiant.

Get high shine and major flavor with Victoria’s Secret Beauty Rush lip glosses. The set includes Cherry Bomb (sheer red), Strawberry Fizz (light pink shimmer) and Cupquake (pink shimmer). Pucker up with a satiny swipe of yummy color.


Want a grown and sexy lipshine? Then reach for Lancôme’s La Laque Fever Ultimate Lasting Full Color Lipshine. I loved this when PR sent it to try because of its great color payoff and shine in one gliding stroke. And it truly is lasting. I didn’t need to touch up for hours. I usually don’t like the applicators that come with glosses, but this “soft-sculpt” applicator is different. Not only does the color glide on, but it precisely defines fuller lips in an even layer and shapes the contours of the lips for a great application. Fever lipshine is available in over 20 shades too. Since purple is hot this season, we have the universally flattering Plum Savvy up for grabs!

I’d never heard of Laneíge Cosmetics until a trip to San Diego over the summer. I was shopping in a small boutique in Old Town where I tried several products. Truly liked the Snow Crystal Sheer Lipgloss and love the concept behind the line:

“When light meets snow crystals, the reflection generates different effects in each of the six steps in the snow’s journey. Those effects are incorporated in the makeup line of Laneíge.”

Snow Crystal Sheer lipgloss has beautiful shimmer and shine without stickiness. The texture is light and the finish is glassy, sleek, sheer brilliance. It has a great soft-tip applicator as well. It comes in 15 shades of which Shine Purple is up for grabs.

To enter to win one of our favorite lip products, fill out the contact form below or send an email to blendedbeaute@gmail.com with “Luscious Lips” in the subject.  Giveaway open to U.S. residents only. Good luck!

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http://www.smashbox.com/WISH-FOR-THE-PERFECT-POUT-SET

Hot Holiday Party Looks

•December 1, 2009 • Leave a Comment

The holiday party season is here and now is the time to shine with sexy, sultry makeup that will get you noticed.

LUSCIOUS LIPS Get glam with a lacquered lip. Put the sticky gloss aside and go for a chrome-like finish that’s super-shiny and sparkly. Berries, wines and reds are great holiday lip colors so don’t be afraid to add a little punch of color. Some lip lacquers to consider: Lancome La Laque Fever Ultimate Lasting Full Color Lipshine available in 20 shades; and Smashbox’s WISH for the Perfect Pout set which has six gorgeous holiday-ready glosses.

SOFT SMOKY EYES A classic holiday party look you can certainly never go wrong with. But think outside the black, brown, or gray box and try more vibrant hues. Purples are hot this season so get playful with a purple smoky eye that makes any eye color pop. Use eyeliner to define your eyes and coat your lashes with mascara. Pair with a gorgeous soft nude lip.

AU NATURALE If you prefer to stay in the natural zone, that’s okay too. Try sultry, sparkling eyes in golds, champagnes, soft peach tones, pink tones or lavender, depending on your complexion. And add a little bit of black eyeliner along the lashline and a white eyeliner on your waterline, which will make your eyes appear bigger.

CONGRATS to Naseya and Tina, winners in the “Smoky Eyes” drawing. Keep following Blended Beauté for your chance to win. In the spirit of hot holiday party looks, we will have some luscious lipshines up for grabs next!!

Favorite Things Giveaway 2: Smoky Eyes

•November 29, 2009 • 2 Comments

The smoky eye look is one of my favorites to do as a makeup artist. It’s classic, sexy, and anyone can pull it off. From a subtle smoky eye to super dark, there are many variations. Want to rock a smoky eye but not sure how to achieve it? Well the two smoky eye kits we have up for grabs make it super simple, which is why they are Blended Beauté favorites.

Sephora’s Smoky Eyes Palette is an all-in-one-kit to create sultry, smoldering eyes. The palette gives you the tools and instructions you need to achieve the classic smoky eye in six easy steps. The kit includes:

  • Four eyeshadow shades
  • Black eyeliner pencil
  • Gradual Volume Black Mascara
  • Double-sided brush/sponge-tip applicator
  • Palette equipped with explanatory pictures and a mirror

Now you can take the makings of a stunning look wherever you go with this essential ensemble.

Sally Hansen’s Natural Beauty inspired by Carmindy line has a Perfect Smoky Eye kit that is also makeup made simple. In just five steps, you can achieve smoky eyes. The kit includes:

  • Eyeshadow palette in Storm (pictured)
  • Mascara in Jet Black
  • Liquid eyeliner in Black Onyx
  • Step-by-step instructions

The eye shadow colors are a shimmery black (goes on the lid); shimmery dark gray (for the crease); and a vanilla (highlight color). The colors are universal and look good on many skin tones. This kit is also a Blended Beauté fave because it’s part of Sally Hansen’s line of paraben-free cosmetics.

To enter for your chance to win one of these awesome foolproof kits fill out the contact form below or send an email to blendedbeaute@gmail.com with “Smoky Eyes Giveaway” in the subject.  Giveaway open to U.S. residents only.

CONGRATS TO SMASHBOX GIVEAWAY WINNERS Deanna (Photo Finish winner) and Gretchen (WISH for the Stars winner)!!! Thanks to everyone who entered. The drawing was conducted by Random.org, a third-party drawing service using entrant email addresses. The contest closed at midnight on Saturday, Nov. 28th and the drawing was completed at 6:48 pm EST. A permanent record of the drawing is here. Entrants can query the drawing to see if their email address was included and whether it won or not.

Keep following Blended Beauté for more holiday freebies from MAC, Tarte, Lock & Mane, Z Palette, Lancome, Senna, Steelo and more. The giveaway won’t end until the last prize is won!!

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Smoky Eyes Palette ($50 Value)
What it is:
An all-in-one kit to create sultry, smoldering eyes.What it does:
The Sephora Brand Smoky Eyes Palette gives you the tools and instructions you need to achieve the classic smoky eye in six easy steps. It’s the ultimate sexy look made beautifully mistake proof!What else you need to know:
- Four 0.07 oz eyeshadow shades
- Black eyeliner pencil
- 0.1 oz Gradual Volume Black Mascara
- Double-sided brush/sponge-tip applicator
- All in a smart, handy palette equipped with explanatory pictures and a mirror. Take the makings of a stunning look wherever you go with this essential ensemble you simply can’t miss.

Smashbox Giveaway Now Closed!

•November 28, 2009 • Leave a Comment

Thanks to everyone who entered the Smashbox Giveaway!! The contest is now closed and the winners will be announced later today. The drawing will be conducted by Random.org.
Stay tuned!

Favorite Things Giveaway: Smashbox Cosmetics

•November 26, 2009 • 2 Comments

Today kicks off Blended Beauté’s “My Favorite Things” giveaway! We love this time of year and have teamed up with some great sponsors to spread a little cheer. First up are two awesome sets from the WISH Holiday Collection from Smashbox.

If you want to create a perfect canvas for foundation application, then enter to win this limited-edition set of Smashbox’s best-selling foundation primer. Photo Finish is one of our favorite things because its silky blend of vitamins and antioxidants smooths and perfects skin, while the unique formula helps to inhibit the destruction of collagen, and fills in fine lines and pores. The set includes both full and travel sizes for flawless skin anytime, anywhere.

Get portable beauty for the holidays with WISH for the Stars, a limited-edition set of Smashbox’s superstar products in convenient travel sizes. This is a Blended Beauté fave because it’s perfect for your holiday clutch or carry-on tote and the colors are universally flattering. The set includes:

  • Lash DNA Mascara in Jet Black
  • Lip Enhancing Gloss in Illume
  • Fusion Soft Lights in Dusk (Perfect if you’re in a pinch. Just sweep over eyes for a wash of shimmery shadow).

To enter for your chance to win, fill out the contact form below or send an email to blendedbeaute@gmail.com with “Smashbox Giveaway” in the subject.  Giveaway open to U.S. residents only.

GRANT A WISH THIS HOLIDAY Blended Beauté sends a heartfelt thanks to Smashbox for helping us give back to our readers. You can also join us in discovering the beauty of giving and getting. With every WISH purchase, $1 will be donated to Children’s Miracle Network*, a non-profit that grants the wish of life to millions of sick or injured kids by providing care and investing in life-saving research. Help Smashbox make miracles happen this holiday. (Donation up to $25,000). Visit Smashbox.com for a glamorous way to give back.

SMASHBOX DRAWING CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT! !!!!

Keep following Blended Beauté for the next giveaway! Smoky eyes anyone? ;-)

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