The Beautyblender Sponge.

Covering shows backstage at Fashion Week has me searching for the beauty products that will be on trend next season. There is one product that I saw over and over - at every show I covered this year and it was this, the Beautyblender. If it is a fave of the makeup artists and is used at the biggest shows of the year, it has to be good. In two words, let me just say this: it is.

This super cute pink sponge makes application of foundation and concealer totally even, while covering skin and making it appear almost flawless. When bouncing, yes BOUNCING, or in makeup terms, stippling the Beautyblender sponge over the face, an air-brush finish will be achieved. No lines, no streaks, no tell-tale sign of demarcation. Just a beautiful finish.

To use, I first dampen the sponge by spraying a a few squirts of water on it. I then apply my foundation to the back of my hand and dip the large round bottom of the sponge in it and bounce it over my face. I bounce a bit more where I need more coverage and continue to bounce and adjust the pressure as needed all around my face. I use the smaller slightly pointed end to apply concealer under and around my eyes.

Caring for the Beautyblender Sponge is simple with it's Blendercleanser, an environmentally friendly cleansing solution. You can buy both the Beautyblender sponge and the cleanser in this little travel kit. Not only is the Travel Kit a great buy at $23.95, but during the month of October, Beautyblender will donate 10% of all product sales to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Shop at beautyblender.net (the BCA package is only available here) or Sephora for this ultimate beauty tool.

10/2/2011: Beauty News Roundup.

As October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and I like to support the various efforts, this months Beauty News Roundups on Sundays will highlight various efforts from our favorite beauty brands.

Shine a Light on Breast Cancer
This years
Estée Lauder Companies' BCA Campaign theme: Together. Connect. Communicate. Conquer. For a Future Free of Breast Cancer.

Every year, global landmarks are lit pink to raise breast health awareness. This year, BCA will be virtually turning the world pink through messages of hope. Starting tomorrow head on over to bcacampaign.com to share your inspiring messages of hope and help reach millions around the globe worldwide!Follow along on the site and through the BCA Campaign facebook page.

Show your support by picking up your free pink ribbon wristlet at any Estée Lauder counter and wear it throughout the month of October. Also, purchase the BCA products that support the campaign. I will be highlighting them throughout the month, but you can shop for them all right from the 2011 Pink Ribbon Products page.

P&G Beauty's Do Something Beautiful
This years the P&G Beauty Breast Cancer Awareness campaign focuses on spreading the word on the importance of early detection through regular health screenings. Read the real-life stories of 6 different P&G employees who have been impacted by breast cancer and be inspired.  You will see these employees in advertisements throughout the month as well as on the P&G Beauty Facebook page. Make sure you “like” the page as P&G will donate $0.10 to National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) for every "like" it receives.

Also, throughout the month of October, shoppers will receive a $10 rebate and will also trigger a $10 donation to NBCF with the purchase of $50 worth of P&G Beauty products, including Venus, Olay, Secret, CoverGirl, Nice ‘n Easy, Pantene, Safeguard and Ivory.

Look in your newspaper today and on October 16 for GIVE Hope brandSAVER flyers. In it you will see  discounts for P&G products, including Olay, Pantene, Crest and many more. Additionally, for each GIVE Hope brandSAVER coupon redeemed, P&G will make a donation to NBCF.

AHAVA Hope Blossoms Mineral Bath Salts
Through the National Breast Cancer Foundation, AHAVA is helping to find a cure for breast cancer. For every purchase of these mineral bath salts, AHAVA will make up to a 15% donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation in support of their mission to help fund research and promote education and early detection. These mineral-rich salts contain 21 essential Dead Sea minerals, including Magnesium, Potassium and Calcium that work to melt away stress, while providing essential moisture to skin and relief to tired muscles.
Price: $22, Available at AHAVAUS.com

Stila Positive and Pretty Palette
Get empowered in pink with this limited-edition palette featuring four award-winning Eye Shadows, a Cheek Color and a Highlighter. A mirror is included for on-the-go application and a detailed face chart offers how-to tips and tricks. A total of 10% of proceeds will go to a variety of BCA charities, one of which is the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Price: $14 (a $62 value), Available at stilacosmetics.com

 
TIGI’s BCA Collection

With each purchase of TIGI’s pink ribbon products, TIGI will donate a portion of the proceeds to City of Hope, a leading research, treatment and education center for cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

·         TIGI Bed Head Hard Head Hard Hold Hairspray – A long-lasting, strong, but flexible hairspray that conditions and fortifies, without sacrificing shine ($14.50)
·         TIGI Bed Head Manipulator – This fiber-forming cream helps achieve perfect texture, body and a matte finish ($17.50)
·         TIGI Bed Head Masterpiece Massive Shine Hairspray – Get massive shine and serious hold with this fortifying, tropical berry scented hairspray ($18.50)
·         TIGI Rockaholic “Dirty Secret” Dry Shampoo – This dry shampoo absorbs oil and keeps hair looking fresh and smelling clean for longer ($18.95)
·         TIGI S Factor Flat Iron Shine Spray – With a scientific blend of ingredients, this spray provides a thermal shield, lustrous shine and a soft, healthy finish ($29)
·         TIGI S-Factor Molding Wax – Achieve perfect texture and hold with this creamy wax that shines and moisturizes. ($27)
Available at salons nationwide.

 

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Breast Cancer Awareness Month is Here.

As probably know by now, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.  One of the great supporters of BCA's efforts are The Estée Lauder Companies’.  Estée Lauder brands have created 20 products that give back to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation this year. 

 

 

This year, Estée Lauder is launching a bold and provocative campaign theme entitled: Connect. Communicate. Conquer.  Prevent Breast Cancer. One Woman at a Time.  Wear It. Share It. The Pink Ribbon. 

This new campaign draws its inspiration from Mrs. Estée Lauder’s “High-Touch” method of reaching consumers through “Telephone, Telegraph, Tell-A-Woman.” Their approach to conquering breast cancer reinterprets this powerful messaging into a philanthropic mission for today’s modern and fast-paced culture.

In celebration of this message, 10 influential bloggers took the pledge to conquer breast cancer by covering their naked breast with their right hand, illustrating this message. To see the blogger portraits, visit the campaign on their Facebook page, where you can also connect with BCA Pledge for exclusive content on Facebook, Tumblr. and Twitter.

The 20 fabulous beauty products that Estée Lauder has created for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation cover all beauty categories -- Skin care, Makeup, Fragrance and Hair care – and include products from brands such as La Mer, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Jo Malone, Aveda, Bumble + Bumble, Lab Series, Origins and more.  Evelyn Lauder, Senior Corporate Vice President of The Estée Lauder Companies and Founder and Chairman of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, along with celebrity spokesperson Elizabeth Hurley, have also designed special lip collections to raise funds. I have listed all of the products, with links in which to purchase them on the Breast Cancer Awareness 2010 page.