Meet Laura Geller and Her Baked Beauties.

I was recently introduced to some great beauties from the famous New York makeup artist Laura Geller. Have you seen this feisty dynamo on QVC? Well, that is where I was first saw Laura and her products, and now she is sold at Sephora! Yeah!!

My favorite items I am using from Laura have got to be the products in her Baked Beauties Set. Laura's baked products are her signature products, that offer the finest, color0infused and uniquely blended color that will work on every single skin tone and shade - believe it - it is true! These baked products are made in Italy, exclusively for Laura. You see, the products start out as liquid which is then poured into individual terra-cotta pans. These pans are then infused with color and baked for 24 hours. The result? A silky, long-lasting product that allows your skin to radiate a lively and luscious glow. 


The Baked Beauties collection features the following:
Blush-n-Brighten in Golden Apricot. I was afraid that this shade may be too orange for my pale winter skin, but it is not. Golden Apricot left me with a soft peachy, golden glow - very pretty and probably flattering on all.
Balance-n-Bronze Split Compact. This is a compact that includes two of Laura's best-selling products, Balance-n-Brighten on one side, and Bronze-n-Brighten on the other. I like to use the Bronze color lightly all over to get a bit of a bronzed glow, then use the Blush, and then highlight with the Balance. It really gives me a nice look. Not heavy or made up - just natural and glowy!
Marble Eye Shadow in Unearthed. This is a swirled eyeshadow that contains hues of deep to light golden brown with shimmery highlights. It is simple to apply all over the lid to get a multi-dimensional, natural look.
Creamy Black Mascara. A nice, deep, rich black mascara that rivals L'Oreal's Voluminous, I am telling you. My lashes become extremely full and thick using this, but never dry or cakey. I am so glad to have found this mascara!
Lipstick in Peach Melba. This is another one of those swirled shades that seems to look a bit different on everyone. The lipstick is creamy with pearly peach and brown hues.
Spackle Under Makeup Primer. This is the product I have so wanted to try from Laura for a few years now. The callers into QVC swear by it, and I am a great believer in it now too. Spackle is a silicone-based, lightweight makeup primer (think a heavier duty Smashbox Photo Finish) that fills-in and retexturizes skin for the ultimate flawless finish. If you like primers and need a little extra fill, like I do (especially first thing in the morning when I am very dry), then this is the primer you are looking for. Spackle contains natural plant extracts and it protects the skin with aloe vera and other ingredients to help it retain moisture, and helps to lock out your makeup from fading into your skin.

The cost of Baked Beauties is just $55! It would retail separately for $100, but I repeat, is just $55. It really is a great way to try Laura's best sellers, and make you a Laura Geller devotee too.

If you are a Laura fan or try this out, please do let me know what you think!

Exclusive to Sephora.

How do I start my day?

After dropping off my little girl, I come to the office and have a date with my computer and my coffee. I start by reading the bevy of beauty blogs and surf on over to Sephora.com and few other beauty sites.

Sephora has negotiated some excellent exclusive's this season, and I thought I would share a few of my favorites here with you.

Philosophy The Ski House - A wonderful little gift in the cutest ski house box. Indoors you will find everything to keep you warm: Double Rich Hot Cocoa 3-in-1 shampoo, shower gel, and bubble bath, a Marshmallow Body Souffle, and a Kiss Me Pink peppermint lip balm. $35

Smashbox Swingin' Scene Ultimate Beauty Collection  - What is there not to love about this $140 value from Smashbox. IT IS ONLY $59!!! Inside a chic carry-all bag is: a  layer lash primer,  that's a wrap mascara in black, the travel size Photo Finish Foundation Primer,  Blush/Soft Lights Duo in Action/Shot, 2 Lip Glosses in Location and Illuminate, and an Eye Shadow Trio in Freeze Frame. $59

Bare Escentuals Shake Your Tail Feather  - Another superb value ($131) from one of my favorite lines, Bare Escentuals. Shake Your Tail Feather is about luminous colors, and here is what is included in the beautiful bronze bag: All Over Face Color in Pure Radiance, bareMinerals Glimpse in Peacock, bareMinerals Eyeshadow in Pure Spice, a Big Tease Mascara in Blackest Black, Beautifully Luminous Lashes in gold, and a Lip Gloss in Dolly Buxom. This coupled with 2 full size brushes to help you apply makes this a generous offer. $55

A Test - Smashbox Photo Finish Primer

Touted as the best foundation primer on the market, I am finally using Smashbox's Photo Finish Primer. But before I started using it on a regular basis, I put it to the test.

Here is the description from Smashbox.com:
"Create the perfect canvas for foundation application with our best-selling PHOTO FINISH FOUNDATION PRIMER. With grapeseed extract to soothe and protect skin, this colorless formula fills in fine lines and pores to help skin appear visibly softer with a smooth velvet finish. Use after moisturizer and before foundation for complexion perfection."

So onto my testing.

The first time I tried it out, I had applied my regular eye cream and then Philosophy's When Hope is Not Enough Replenishing Cream (meant for night time use, but my skin has been so dry). I opened the tube of primer (the travel size tube, which is a perfect size), and dispensed a small, almost pea sized amount. It felt like the silicone serum I had used on my hair. Well, duh, Teri... it is silicone based, I thought to myself. Anyway, it smoothed out over my skin very easily, and the slippery feeling quickly turned almost powder like - in the feeling that is. I waited a few minutes, and applied MAC's Select Tint, which is really a tinted moisturizer, and followed that with my regular powder of choice, MAC Studio Fix.After a few hours, I saw no difference, and my skin actually looked a little more yellow than normal. Hum.

The next day I tried it over a very light-weight moisturizer, and still followed with my tinted moisturizer and powder - and the results were amazing.  I loved the way my skin looked so flawless - and the look lasted well into the night.

My next try was over the same light-weight moisturizer again, but this time I used only my Studio Fix Powder on top of it. And to my satisfaction, it worked like a dream again. I was surprised that using only a powder, my skin didn't look dry or cakey. Wonderful.

To me it seems as though the primer creates a barrier. It doesn't let anything from the skin (oils, pores, etc.) get into the makeup. While at the same time. the same barrier helps the makeup and powder from sinking into the skin. It just lies there on a perfect surface.

My feeling is that if used with the correct moisturizer, this primer will work best. Maybe on my first try I didn't use enough of the primer, but I have a feeling that the heavy moisturizer was the culprit.

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer comes full size in a glass bottle for $36 or in a smaller "travel" size tube, which I like using, for just $15.

If you are looking for a primer, or have read the editor raves like I have about this one, don't hesitate anymore. I know you will be happy with it too - and make it a part of your daily routine as I finally have.