Reader Q&A: How to Get Flawless Skin

Check out these easy ways to improve your complexion with diet and exercise

Reader Q&A: How to Get Flawless Skin
This is a TotalBeauty.com clear skin article
This week, reader Anna from New Jersey asked, which one food group should I banish from my diet if I want my skin to look great? And, is there any sort of exercise that will improve my skin? See what celebrity fitness and lifestyle coach, Ashley Borden had to say…
NOTE: This post is syndicated from Total Beauty and does not necessarily represent the views of this site. This site receives compensation for posting this material.
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Boscia is Back and Not Just in Black!

Boscia, the leader in preservative-free skincare, is back with three new May skincare launches to meet your large pore, puffy under-eye and dull complexion needs!

Pore Purifying Black Strips

Troublesome T-zone? Take action with these revolutionary pore strips! Combining high-performance active ingredients with the finest botanicals and powerful antioxidants in a unique delivery system, boscia’s Pore Purifying Black Strips are the next evolution of the boscia “black franchise” and are poised to be the pore-refining treatment of the year. Formulated with activated charcoal, these strips absorb excess oil and impurities while depositing potent botanicals and antioxidants into the skin. Simply adhere to your nose and peel off to reveal exfoliated, clear skin. You will wonder how you lived without!

Price: $15
Availability: Sephora



Restorative Eye Treatment for Under-Eye Bags
Tired of people asking if you’re tired? Give your beleaguered under-eye area a refreshing boost! is the latest member of the best-selling Restorative collection, which addresses the needs of parched, wrinkle-prone skin. This innovative product provides intense hydration while preventing future free radical damage, diminishing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone and dullness, and restoring luminosity and brightness to the skin. Your glowing eyes, not your “baggage,” will quickly become the center of attention!

Price: $48
Availability: Sephora



B.B. Cream SPF 27 PA ++


Finish with a flawless face! Beloved by celebs and makeup artists in Japan, B.B. Cream is a “blemish balm” that not only conceals imperfections, but also hydrates, firms and heals the skin. It’s not a tinted moisturizer, it’s not a foundation, it’s not a concealer—it’s all three and more! This ultimate multi-tasking product protects skin against both UVB and UVA rays while providing long-wearing, buildable coverage in a shade that suits most skin tones. It’s the secret weapon that should be in every woman’s skincare arsenal!

Price:$36
Availability: Sephora

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16 Best Eyeliners for $10 (or Less!)

See the eyeliners that readers say are topnotch and cheap

16 Best Eyeliners for $10 (or Less!)
This is a TotalBeauty.com eye makeup article
The million-dollar question is … can you get a great eyeliner without breaking the bank? Well, according to our honest and loyal Total Beauty reviewers, the answer is yes. To prove it, we've compiled their favorite eyeliners that cost less than $10.
TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 8

"It's super black, goes on very easily with the felt tip, dries quickly, never smudges/transfers/slides, and is affordable!"
TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 8.1

"I've been using this product forever. It lasts forever and [the] price is great."
TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 8.3

"What a nice surprise! This pencil is fantastic ... and it's only five bucks!!"
NOTE: This post is syndicated from Total Beauty and does not necessarily represent the views of this site. This site receives compensation for posting this material.
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Dior Addict Lipstick Review Swatches and Special Offer



The ultimate fashion accessory, the new Dior Addict Lipstick delivers vibrant color and intense shine, while hydrating and plumping lips to perfection.

They come in a dazzling array of shades for runway-ready lips. Easy to wear, these shades dress the lips with a veil of color and spectacular shine.



The formula has 25% less wax than a classic lipstick and contains an extraordinary gel that provides modern transparency, intense plumping hydration and a magnifying glass effect to intensify shine, volume and above all, color.

{MY REVIEW}


I was able to sample 3 of these in the shades 525 Vintage, 454 Parisian Chic and 972 Rose Shocking.


I want to start off by saying that I absolutely love the packaging of these lipsticks. So elegant and chic looking.

What I can't get over is how creamy and satiny smooth these lipsticks are. It feels like your wearing a gloss but without the stickiness. Very moisturizing too. Staying power is about medium for me. The colors are sheer but buildable.

Dior Addict lipsticks are definitely in a league of their own. I think every makeup diva needs to have at least one of these in their makeup arsenal.




DIOR would like to offer The Makeup Divas readers a complimentary Travel-size Diorshow Extase Mascara with any Dior Addict Lipstick purchase on Dior.com now through April 30, 2011. Use code ADDICT2011 at checkout.

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Note: This review contains a sample/samples of products sent for consideration by a representative of the manufacturer.
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Cynthia Rowland Natural Face Fitness

Cynthia Rowland is widely recognized as an expert in all natural facial fitness. She has appeared on The View, The Today Show, Rachael Ray, The Doctors and other popular shows. Cynthia is co-host of The Ageless Sisters on blogtalkradio.com and author of The Magic of Facial Exercise. This author, speaker and television personality is leading the crusade to keep men and women looking vibrantly younger through natural techniques without spending their children's inheritance. www.cynthiarowland.com

Click on all of the images to enlarge them.


Facial Exercise Overview
Articles
Videos

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MAC Flighty Big Bounce Shadow Swatches and Review

MAC will be introducing their new Big Bounce Shadow with their Flighty Collection May 5th.  They come in 16 colorful hues that build from sheer to medium. I had fun playing with the four I received...

Spread the Wealth - dirty olive with gold pearl.
Count Your Assets - rich blue purple with multicolour pearl
Rich,Sweet - chocolate gold with gold pearl
Black Diamond - black with gold pearl

The texture, which I happen to love and I am sure you will to, is thick and creamy, somewhere between a mousse and pudding like consistency. The formula is wet so application was a bit difficult for me. I used my finger first to pat the color onto my lid and then switched over to a shadow brush to help smooth it out. I found the shadows to slide around on my lids and I couldn't quite get them to blend without leaving a few streaky patches. I had to keep reapplying shadow to cover up the streakiness and once I was able to get it to where it looked presentable, I found myself warming up to them a bit more. After a few hours of wearing them, I was expecting to see the shadow migrating all over and my lids looking all creasy but was pleasantly surprised to find that the shadows hadn't budged.

As you can see in the color swatches they all have a pearl like sheen to them so be careful not to apply too much product. I swatched one with a heavy hand and didn't bother to smear them out so that you could see the colors better. And the other with a light hand to see how sheer they can be.

These shadows require extra time to apply and because I am pressed for time in the morning I don't want to spend most of it applying these shadows. Powder shadows are much easier to work with in my opinion. Having said all that, I do like the shadows and will wear them on special occasions or whenever I have the extra time to sit and play with them.



Note: This review contains a sample/samples of products sent for consideration by a representative of the manufacturer.
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Mother's Day Special: 10 Best Fragrances for Your Mom

Pick up one of these thoughtful scents in order to thank the most important woman in your life

Mother's Day Special: 10 Best Fragrances for Your Mom
This is a TotalBeauty.com perfume article
Trust us, she'll love these picks way more than the mug with "#1 Mom" slapped on it. She had to say she liked that … it's called unconditional love.
NOTE: This post is syndicated from Total Beauty and does not necessarily represent the views of this site. This site receives compensation for posting this material.
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Bobbi Brown Almost Bare Collection, May 2011


Bobbi Brown
The Almost Bare Collection

“You – Only Better”
May 2011

“From bronzers to the light shimmery glosses, The Almost Bare Collection creates the gorgeous sun kissed look
you get after a day at the beach, one of my favorite sources of inspiration.”
-Bobbi Brown


New, Limited Edition Bronzing Powder
Formulated for all skin types, Bobbi’s Bronzing Powder has just the right mix of red and brown – the colors you’d find in a true tan – to give skin a warm tint of healthy-looking color.  What makes it so wearable?  The lightweight mica-free powder applies smoothly and evenly and feels ultra-comfortable on skin.  Now, this makeup bag essential is available in two limited edition shades ideal for darker skin tones.

Bronzing Powder is available in 2 shades:
Deep Chocolate, Rich Cocoa

Available May 2011 from Bobbi Brown counters and www.bobbibrown.com
Price: $33.00 each

New, Limited Edition High Shimmer Lip Gloss
Because there’s nothing sexier than glossy lips paired with luminous skin, Bobbi introduces her most high shine gloss ever.  This ultra shiny formula glides on smoothly and offers medium to full coverage that makes lips look lush and full.

High Shimmer Lip Gloss is available in 3 shades:
Pink Tulle, Citrus, Bellini

Available May 2011 from Bobbi Brown counters and www.bobbibrown.com
Price: $22.00 each

Almost Bare Fragrance
A Bobbi Brown classic, this fresh floral eau de parfum features a delicate balance of inspiring Italian Bergamot blended with Violet Leaves to relax and soothe the senses.  The scent is enhanced by a note of Soft Muguet and gentle Jasmine Petals with a Soft Cedar and Warm Amber background.

Available May 2011 from Bobbi Brown counters and www.bobbibrown.com
Price: $60.00
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11 Copy-Worthy Natural Hair and Makeup Looks

Look like you, but better with these natural hair and makeup looks

11 Copy-Worthy Natural Hair and Makeup Looks
This is a TotalBeauty.com natural makeup article
While achieving the ever-elusive natural, no-makeup makeup look seen on celebs takes a bit more effort than rolling out of bed, it does take a heck of a lot less time and effort than a smoky eye or perfecting bold red lips when done correctly.
NOTE: This post is syndicated from Total Beauty and does not necessarily represent the views of this site. This site receives compensation for posting this material.
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Live, Love, And Laugh - Fragrances By Skinn Cosmetics To Live Your Life In

SKINN COSMETICS
Fragrances To Live Your Life In



Dimitri James and Skinn Cosmetics fans rejoice! Skinn Cosmetics at last announces the release of three captivating, young and sexy fragrances to scent each moment of a woman’s life. The trio, fittingly named LIVE, LAUGH, and LOVE, captures the different facets of a woman’s personality in compact, roll on bottles. They come just in time to sneak into beach bags and tiny clutches for long days at the beach and hot nights on the town.



LIVE, a fresh fragrance that captures the lightness of air, water, white flowers and green grasses was created tomake you feel fully alive and is intended for daily wear.

LOVEis a fragrance that seduces the senses with night blooming flowers, exotic tropicals, and rare spices. The perfect fragrance for romance, LOVE, is the right choice to compliment thatlittle black dress.

LAUGH is the fragrant dance of 150 flowers, dark ripe fruits, and the sparkle of champagne. This was created to uplift your spirit and enhance the memories of laughter that you will treasure for a lifetime.

These three scents are perfume strength so a tiny swipe goes a long way and lasts for hours. The roll on bottles allow you to control application to the pulse points on your body so that the scent lays close to your skin and gently surrounds you. The fragrances are blended with natural oils for a true to life sensory experience.

Celebrity make-up artist and Skinn Cosmetics founder Dimitri James has worked with women of all ages and knows the transportative power that scent has on memory. He says,
“Fragrance has the power to seduce, the power to trigger precious memories, and the power to render you unforgettable. I have created LIVE, LOVE and LAUGH to scent the most beautiful moments of your life.”

Price $38.95 for the trio. 3 x 8.5ml 0.29oz

Skinn Cosmetics



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NARS INTRODUCES MAKEUP YOUR MIND: EXPRESS YOURSELF

INTRODUCING THE NEW BOOK FROM FRANCOIS NARS
 MAKEUP YOUR MIND: EXPRESS YOURSELF

In May 2011, François Nars will be launching his newest book, Makeup Your Mind: Express Yourself, the sequel to his best-selling beauty manual that launched in 2001. Readers will not only learn about makeup application from François himself, but are encouraged to express their beauty, individuality, and creativity through makeup.

Back in 2001, François Nars published Makeup Your Mind, the globally celebrated, best-selling beauty manual that boasts two shots: one of a model without makeup, and another shot of her with makeup. In between lies an acetate overlay that details where on the face the makeup products were applied. Building on the first books success, Makeup Your Mind: Express Yourself brings together Nars’ two passions-makeup and photography. Taking the before-and-after concept to the next level, François turns the lens on 60 beauties – both men and women all of ages and ethnicities hand-picked from the streets of New York City.

Head to our Makeup Your Mind: Express Yourself  tab on Facebook for exclusive information and details!
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Every Drop Beauty Spatula Giveaway and Review

CONTEST CLOSED

Winners:

#4 Amber
#39 Kittenish
#31 hofken
#50 ferriz
#77 Erica
#57 laheelahee
#82 deadmonkeys90


Note: #5 entry was disqualified and a new one was chosen... #82


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Every Drop Beauty Spatula works on all shapes and sizes of bottles and containers. Studies have shown that up to 25% of lotions and creams can be trapped in bottles and containers.  The patented Every Drop swipes product from a bottle’s sides, bottom and under its shoulders allowing consumers to use all of the product they’ve paid for. Every Drop is washable and reusable. Every Drop does not absorb product like cotton swabs.  Every Drop’s demonstrations can be seen at www.tryeverydrop.com.  Every Drop is not available in stores.
Consumers and professional makeup artistis are using Every Drop on serums, anti-aging creams, face, hand and body care products, hair care products, tanning products even trapped lipstick.  Since Every Drop does not absorb product, it can also be used as a daily scoop in place of fingertips to help prevent germs from entering beauty products.

Enter giveaway after the jump.



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{MY REVIEW}


I don't know about you, but I find it rather annoying when I can't reach that last little bit of product in a container and I end up having to throw it away. I feel like I'm pouring money down the drain just knowing that there is a sufficient amount of product left inside that I could use. I've tried using q-tips but all that did was absorb the product up. When I heard about Every Drop Beauty Spatula, I was really excited to try it out. I must say this handy innovative tool really does work! It gets every last drop of beauty product out that you normally wouldn't be able to reach.
I have a favorite lip gloss that I absolutely love and cannot live without that costs me $22 for a .24oz tube. That is not a lot of product for that price so I try to get every last little bit of it out. But it never fails, I end up having to throw it away simply because I can't get to the bottom to scrape it all out. However, when I swiped the Every Drop Beauty Spatula, I was able to retrieve every last bit from the bottom to under the shoulders of the tube. I was shocked to see just how much product I had been throwing away. This is really a must have beauty tool.

And because I love this handy tool so much I am giving away SEVEN (7) of them! Not only that but for those of you who do not win, Every Drop Beauty Spatula will be offering a product discount for THE MAKEUP DIVAS READERS!! Stay tuned for the promo code that I will be posting after the giveaway has ended! Thanks to Every Drop Beauty Spatula for sponsoring this great giveaway!!



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{TO ENTER}


SEVEN (7) lucky readers will win one reusable Every Drop Beauty Spatula.

OPEN TO: USA residents only.
Contest Ends: May 6th , 2011 at 8:59 PM EST

Please read these Rules before entering this giveaway.

Winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here. I will also notify winners via email as well.


You MUST Do the Following :

1. "LIKE" Every Drop Beauty Spatula on Facebook. (leave your Facebook name in a comment here)

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Extra Entries:
"Leave a separate comment for each entry that you do"
1. "LIKE" THE MAKEUP DIVAS on Facebook. (let me know your Facebook name in a comment)(worth 1 entry)

2. "FOLLOW" @THEMAKEUPDIVAS on Twitter. (Quick way to follow: hover over my twitter handle(@THEMAKEUPDIVAS) and click the follow button.) (let me know your twitter name in a comment)(worth 1 entry)

3. "TWEET" this giveaway everyday ( up to 5 times). In your tweet mention RT@themakeupdivas with a link to this post.(leave the tweeted link in a comment)(worth 1 entry per each tweet)

4. "SUBSCRIBE" or FOLLOW by email, feed or Google Friend Connect to The Makeup Divas. Leave your name in a comment.(worth 1 entry)

5. "BLOG" about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post. (post the link in your comment; don't forget to leave 2 comments) worth 2 entries.

Good luck to everyone!

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Note: The featured product/products for this giveaway have been provided by the PR Rep of the manufacturer.


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Hair How-To from Tricoci University of Beauty Culture!

Below are tips from Director of Cosmetology at Tricoci University of Beauty Culture, Jenn McGann. “Whether you’re adventurous or prefer a classic take, the classic ponytail is a great standard that you have plenty of options to work with,” says Jenn. You can rock a simple, sleek finished pony or dress it up with a side part and braid. 



To achieve a wet look finished pony….
THE BASICS:  Prep wet hair with a heavy blow dry lotion like Redken Velvet Gelatine® combined with Styling Gel for optimum hold and shine.  Blow dry hair about 75% dry with a large Paddle Brush to create a smooth texture. 




THE TRICK:  Apply a shine serum mixed with a heavy shiny gel on almost dry hair from base to ends generously to achieve high sheen and the wet look. 

POLISH IT:  Use the paddle brush to smooth hair back toward the direction your final pony will be.

TIP:  If the hair is really dense, you may want to work in sections starting with brushing the nape into your hands and work upward for maximum control. 


FINALLY:  Use a finishing product like Redken Forceful 23® Hairspray and a generous amount of Vinyl Glam® to complete your look and add extra “wetness”.


To play on the trendy and polished side braid or side pony and stay on trend with the wet look, try a smooth and polished side pony with a pop of texture using a side braid! 

THE BASICS:  Prep wet hair with a heavy blow dry lotion like Redken Velvet Gelatine® blended with aMelissa, Styling Gel for the optimum sleek look.  Blow dry hair about 75% dry and follow styling directions for the wet pony. 

THE TRICK:  Before you style and secure the pony, take a small section in front (or wherever you’d like to add interest!) and create a French braid or fish tail.
POLISH IT:  Once completed, begin to smooth and secure hair to the side including the braid.  

TIP:  Always remember to work with your guest’s face shape. 


FINALLY:  Use a finishing product like Redken Forceful 23® Hairspray and a generous amount of Vinyl Glam® to complete your look and add extra “wetness”.

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