My Favorite Beauty Web Sites

I love to shop. Everyone who knows me knows that. Especially my husband...and his wallet. I've been doing a lot of online shopping recently. I've come across some web sites that you may or may not have heard heard. Here are some of my new faves..... Folica.com---I discovered this site years ago and keep going back. I just purchased a new flat iron(from solia) from them. The prices are good and the service is great. Right now they are having a summer clearance sale and are also giving away a travel heat proof pouch for your flat or curling iron with select purchases. Misikko.com---I discovered them last month after reading a review of FHI Heat Hot Sauce. They were listed as a place to buy from. I placed an order for a few things. Unfortunately the Hot Sauce was on backorder but the customer service was superb. They let me know right away about the backorder and were very easy and friendly to deal with. The prices are really good as well. They too are giving away a travel heat proof pouch for your flat or curling iron with select purchases. Skinbotanica.com---A friend turned me on to this site. It sells all natural and organic beauty products. They also have a vegan category. They carry great brands including Juice Beauty, Pharmacopia and Red Flower. The site is very user friendly and has a great selection. I purchased the Doll Face Mai Tai Firming Eye Gel.

Kat Von D for Sephora

Kat Von D, the edgy tatto artist from TLC's LA Ink, has created a limited edition color collection exclusive to Sephora. The line includes a set of brushes, eyeshadows, eyeliner and lipstick. It's a pared down but very consistent, focused collection. The colors are very L.A. and very rocker chick. The packaging is sleek and sexy. And the names of the colors are very cool...Sinner, Lucifer and Turbo Lover just to name some. Although I don't know if I'll be purchasing anything from this line, I think it will be a success especially with anyone that likes a little darker, edgier, rock n roll look.

Pretty Pastel Nail Color

It's a cold rainy day here in NJ. Not much like May at all. To take away the chill I put on my fuzzy slippers and sat down to paint my nails. I knew I wanted a pastel, cheery but chic shade. I looked through my way too large collection of polishes and found my latest purchase....O.P.I.'s Mod About You. It's a pretty dark pink pastel. Instant springtime in a bottle. Some other pastels that you may want to try to add a little spring are:

• Lippman Collection Nail Lacquer in My Romance

($15 www.lippmancollection.com)

• Creative Nail Design(CND) Nail Enamel in Turquoise Tint

($6 www.cnd.com)

• Estee Laduer Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Peach Sorbet

($18 www.esteelauder.com)

• China Glaze Nail Lacquer in Groovy Green

($2.99 www.head2toebeauty.com)

Tammy Fender Holistic Skin Care

Friday while out to lunch with some of my girlfriends we got to talking about our skin care regimens. One girl is addicted to any product that contains vitamin C, a few others can't live without retinol. And then there's my friend Trish. Trish is the natural girl among us. She doesn't wear a lot of make up, is naturally beautiful, doesn't own a flat iron or a curling iron and has a body to die for from all the yoga and pilates she does. Anyway Trish says that she only uses Tammy Fender products. We were like Tammy Who? Turns out Tammy Fender is a holistic skin care line consisting of products that are custom blended and all organic. Tammy is well known in Hollywood and is based out of ritzy Palm Balm. Some of Trish's can't live without products from Tammy Fender are:

• Roman Chamomile Tonic ($60)
• Purifying Cleansing Gel in Rosemary & Tangerine ($50)

I ordered both of those over the weekend and can't wait for them to arrive. After looking at the website and reading the ingredients for the products I'm thinking my skin is going to love this. Big drawback though is the price. The products are a little on the pricey side which my wallet will not love. Anyway once I try them I'll review them. Until then check out the Tammy Fender website at www.tammyfender.com.

May's Winning Packaging

It didn't take long to find 3 awesomely packaged products this month. These jumped right out at me.

• Hard Candy Keepsake Heart Gloss
• Lancome Color Design Cabana Bronze Compact
• La Prairie Limited Edition Silver Rain Fragrance

Sensational Smelling Shampoos

This morning I used one of my fav shampoos...Aveda's Shampure Shampoo. Of course I really like the way it makes my hair feel but I think what I like most of all is the scent. It's a very soothing aroma with the essence of flowers and plants. Here are some of my other favorite smelling shampoos:

• Frederic Fekkai Apple Cider Clarifying Shampoo- So clean smelling and it really does smell like apple cider

• Bliss Lemon & Sage Supershine Shampoo- The lemon and sage smell great together and the fragrance lingers on my hair so I can smell it throughout the day

• Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Shampoo- Totally takes me back to being 17. I remember it smelling like watermelon then but now when I smell it it's more tropical

• Bath and Body Works Signature Collection Moisturizing Shampoo Cherry Blossom- This smells really feminine and not too heavy

Perfect Perfume Bottles

I was in the store recently and spotted Jennifer Lopez's new perfume Deseo. While I wasn't too excited by the scent I thought the bottle was beautiful. It reminds me of a jewel and the colors are really pretty. It got me looking at other perfume bottles. Here are some others that I think are special. All of these scents can be purchased at fine department stores such as Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Macys.

• Princess by Vera Wang- It's cap is a crown. What more can I say?

• Euphoria by Calvin Klein-Very modern and clean looking

• Omnia Amethyste by Bvlgari- Extremely unique and beautifully colored

• Palazzo by Fendi- Luxurious and rich looking

• Black Orchid by Tom Ford- Sexy and sleek...plus I love all things Tom Ford

Great Gifts for Mom

Mother's Day is quickly approaching. If you want to give mom something to pamper herself and make herself feel great I have some picks for you.

• Help mom protect her skin from sun damage with Sephora's Sun Safety Kit ($25). This kit contains 11 travel ready sizes of great skin and sun products from brands such as Korres, Murad and Clarins. Plus 100% of the net profits (that's $21.55 from every kit sold) will benefit The Skin Cancer Foundation. Purchase at www.sephora.com

• Give mom the gift of relaxation with L'OCCITANE Cherry Blossom Caressing Bath Pebbles ($22). Mom can relax in the tub with these delicately scented effervescent bubbles. Purchase at www.loccitane.com

• For the mom who loves to garden try the Lush Garden Mum Gift Set ($18.95). This delicious smelling set contains a Lily Savon handmade soap and Lemonypackaging is made with recycled material and the band contains wildflower seeds for planting. Purchase at www.amazon.com

• Give mom the gift of fragrance with the Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Gift Set ($45). The set includes a 0.8 oz Eau de Toilette and a 1.7 oz Refreshing Body Gel in a signature box. With notes of Sicilian Citron, Bluebell and Granny Smith Apple this is a fragrance that will become a favorite. Purchase at www.sephora.com

Estee Lauder Partners with HSN

According to Women's Wear Daily, the Beauty Bank division of Estee Lauder has created a makeup line exclusively for HSN. The brand, called Eyes By Design, is set for a July launch. Price points are expected to be in the range of $16.95 for an eye pencil to $69.95 for a makeup set. As the name might give away, all the products are for eyes. Applying eye makeup is the area most women feel least confident about. Watching how the products are applied on HSN in the comfort of their home and having the ability to call in and talk to an expert will be far less intimidating for some than navigating the makeup counter. I'll be tuning in to HSN in July. To read full article go to www.wwd.com

Glamour's Beauty Steals and Deals

Glamour's beauty section of the June 2008 issue is packed with great tips and awesome products. It always is. What's different in this issue is that they are showcasing products that won't break your bank account. Some items you can buy for $15 or less. Here are some great beauty tips from the issue that use things you probably already own.

• Use clear lip gloss as an under-brow highlighter or to smooth split ends
• Add volume to flat hair by working a dab of alcohol free hand sanitizer into roots
• Use your salicylic-acid acne cleanser to de-gunk makeup brushes
• Use hair conditioner on your legs as shaving cream
• Crush powder blush and mix with lip balm to achiever the dewy cheek look