Thursday, October 27, 2011

Smell great to fight cancer!

Fall fashion color trends change from year-to-year, but one shade that’s always in season for October is pink! Lisa Hoffman Beauty, a collection of fragrance inspired by Lisa's international travels with her husband Dustin Hoffman, is proud to donate 100% of proceeds from the Tunisian Neroli 4-Vial Varation collection to benefit the National Breast Cancer Coalition. This year – give back in a beautiful way with Lisa Hoffman Beauty!

Lisa Hoffman Beauty Variations® pulse point oils: This unique fragrance concept features four pulse point oil variants of a single fragrance in a portable and chic leather wallet. This amazing set will also make a fantastic gift!

About the National Breast Cancer Coalition: As a network of hundreds of groups and tens of thousands of individuals, NBCC speaks for women.  We’re not afraid to rock the boat. We believe scientists must get the funding they need for meaningful breast cancer research. We believe everyone must have access to quality care. We believe trained, educated advocates must have a voice everywhere breast cancer decisions are made. And we believe with Breast Cancer Deadline 2020® we can end breast cancer by January 1, 2020.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

The Cutest Soaps help save sight!

Discover the new fund-raising soaps from L’OCCITANE!
Launched October 12th, 100% of the proceeds from sales of the Get on Board for Sight Limited Edition Soaps ($6 each) will support ORBIS,an NGO committed to ending preventable blindness.

Inspired by the ORBIS plane, also known as the Flying Hospital, these limited-edition charitable soaps from L’OCCITANE are crafted in the shape of a plane wearing glasses. Enriched with nourishing shea butter, they leave hands soft and delicately perfumed. Available in Pink (floral and fruity) and Blue (verbena), 100% of the proceeds from sales will allow ORBIS to launch a large-scale project in Burkina Faso, Africa. This country is very special to L’OCCITANE as the company has been working with women’s cooperatives to source Shea Butter since the 1980s

Monday, October 17, 2011

Mama Mio Double Duty

Mama Mio is working TWICE as hard to help women with cancer!

1.      Mama Mio has partnered with Butter Lane cupcakes to create an exclusively designed, limited-edition B-Cup(cake) to be sold in Butter Lane retail locations and www.ButterLane.com in honor of BCA Month. For every B-Cup(cake) sold, Mama Mio will donate $1 to Look Good...Feel Better, the cancer support charity that helps women manage the visible side effects of cancer treatments.

2.     Additionally (and separately), Mama Mio will also donate $1 to Look Good. . . Feel Better for every purchase of Boob Tube Bust & Neck Firmer (packaged with a breast self-exam instructional pamphlet) made on www.mamamio.com during the month of October.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Get LUSH Hair

I may have, on occasion, mentioned my love for LUSH.
Great products, great company, awesome packaging, entertaining catalogs, Canadians... What's not to love?
In the last year, I have gone on a LUSH hair odyssey.
My hair now loves me for it!

Top 3 LUSH shampoos... so far
1. Godiva- Like the Lady, not the chocolate. Shea & Cocoa buttery goodness make this solid shampoo superb, the jasmine smell is irresistible.
2. Seanik- Lemon and jasmine and seaweed, oh my! Go-to solid shampoo for traveling and summer living.
3. Cynthia Sylvia Stout- Fun to say, amazing to use. Calms frizz-prone hair during times of high-humidity, and smells incredible.

Match with a LUSH conditioner & you'll be good to go!
I like leave-in treatment R&B when my hair is dry, Veganese is nice when you just need a bit of a creaminess.

The website is nice & easy-to-use, but if you happen to be in the proximity of a store, go & smell everything. They even let you try stuff. And the people tend to be very helpful and enthusiastic.

Vapor Organix Beauty Mesmerize Shimmer Eye Treatment
























Click Here

This color is perfect color for blue eyes. It's a nice brown purple that is sheer but can be layered for a darker look. Cream shadow is always a bit greasier and this is no exception but I like it better than a powder. My only complaint is the applicator- even when twisted up pretty high, it's hard to put it it on my eyelid without having to use my finger. I prefer a brush but I like it just fine.

Home Hair Color How-To from Paul Cucinello

Read these must-know tips from Paul Cucinello, Beauty Expert and Creative Director of the Chris Chase Salon in Chelsea!

Rich Chocolate Brown
AKA The Katie Holmes, a rich brown always calls for a semi-permanent color in a neutral tone. Permanent colors tend to pull too much red because the peroxide in the product brings out the natural warmth in your hair. I suggest trying L’Oreal Healthy Look Crème Gloss Color.
Pro Tip:  After applying the color to your roots be sure to refresh your ends. To richen up faded color without over processing (or achieving a darker result than desired) pick up an extra box of color and mix the included deep conditioning treatment into the color and developer mixture. This will dilute the color so it stays sheer and deposits just enough to refine the tone. Apply it to the ends and leave it on for up to ten minutes.

Blonde Bombshell
Blondes can be tricky because most at-home hair colors yield a much more golden result than people are looking for. Don't choose a shade that's too far from your natural color and remember that the color on your roots should be slightly deeper than the ends like Jessica Simpson. Select an ash shade if you want a more neutral result. Unless your natural color is VERY pale, avoid anything that is labeled “Golden” ...chances are you will wind up unhappy.
Pro Tip: Is your blonde feeling "blah"?  Brighten up your color with an at home brightening product. It's a great way to kick your color up a notch without frying your ends. It can also soften the look of re-growth. Try John Frieda Go Blonder Controlled Lightening Spray.

Sun Kissed Blonde
Although I rarely suggest attempting highlights at home, even adding a streak here or there can sometimes be the difference between a costly trip to the salon or a great night out! Using a tail comb, try carefully selecting a few pieces around your hairline that are no thicker than a half of a centimeter. To get a highlighted look like Hilary Duff, place the hair in foil and paint your highlighting color on each piece until they are thoroughly saturated. Try using L'Oreal Couleur Experte 8.2 in Iced Meringue.
Pro Tip: Be sure to keep checking your highlights to make sure they get light enough. Here's where most people make mistakes: You can always tone highlights down if they get too light, but if a highlight isn't light enough after you rinse, unfortunately the only way to correct it will be to re-color each piece again.

Dark & Mysterious Black
Kim Kardashian amps up the sex appeal with her signature black mane. It's super shiny and mysterious. This shade is easily achieved on hair that's already dark, so very gentle color should be used to ensure that it doesn't wind up looking like shoe polish. You can select any shade from “dark brown” to “blue black” depending on your skin tone. Try Revlon Colorsilk in Soft Black.
Pro Tip: If you choose to dye your hair black, know this: it's a long road back so make sure you're ready for a long term commitment. I'm a big fan of using gloss to try color on first and then when you're ready for a major commitment and want to bump up the intensity switch to a semi- permanent color.



Flaming Hot Red
Nothing looks worse than a really fake red.  Stick with colors that can occur in nature, just like Adele. Choose natural reds that are more golden or copper (avoid cool, cherry tones). Reds should also be somewhat uniform, so don't be tempted to try adding highlights to a rich red base. If you're a blonde and you want to try copper hues, use a semi-permanent color in strawberry blonde. I suggest trying Couture Color Luxeblend Créme Color in Strawberry Blonde.
Pro Tip: If your hair is naturally dark and you want to achieve a soft, coppery shade, try using a golden blonde permanent color instead of an actual red.  The result will be warm and coppery without looking too artificial.

Also, be sure to protect your skin while coloring your hair at-home. Grab your favorite moisturizer and apply a generous amount to your hairline, the tips of your ears and the nape of your neck to avoid staining.

TOCCA cleans up after Breast Cancer

TOCCA will be donating 15% of its Laundry Delicate collection to Living Beyond Breast Cancer during the month of October.
You can treat your clothes to the finest, best smelling clean while helping women in all stages of cancer.

Spoil yourself and gift your loved ones with something from TOCCA 
Laundry Delicate now, and please check out LBBC!

I highly recommend the Delicato da Viaggio (Laundry Travel Set), that way you can get all the amazing scents!

Put some Boo in your routine

Bath & Body Works is all about Halloween and Fall right now, which I love.

The Pocketbac (mini) sanitizing gels are the perfect size, and are in some crazy fun combinations--my favorite is Haunted House Sour Drop.
The best?
The super cute Hand Soaps! My bathroom has a Green Candy Apple soap in a bottle with the most adorable glow-in-the dark skeleton.

Get some now & scare the germs right out of your Halloween!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

E-mail to Fight Cancer

MeebleMail is proud to donate 50% of the purchase price of their Pink Collection to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. They have committed to raise $10,000 - help them reach Their goal!

Monday, October 10, 2011

Kiss My Face All Natural Castile Peace Soap Pomegranate Acai


















For those who don't know, Castile soap is olive oil based -super hydrating and perfect for the changing of the seasons going on now. And I can honestly say, this is the best scent of soap I've ever used. Hands down! So yummy and fruity. Another great thing - a little goes a long way. A dab on the shower puff or wash cloth and you're good.

Kiss My Face Whitening Toothpaste




























So I'm not one of those people who loves to chew on INSANELY strong gum or mints. In fact, it might be be one of the grossest things to me. This translates into toothpaste as well. I seek out subtle minty flavor for fear of gagging from mint overload. Enter: This stuff. The natural aloe vera gel flavor has a smidge of mint flavor but it's refreshing and still like toothpaste nonetheless. It also has the flat cap so it stands up in my medicine cabinet -great for this clean freak.

Starting to really love this brand!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Pureology helps treated hair and treatment for cancer

Great hair care, great cause!
Pureology is proud to announce its’ support in the fight against breast cancer with a limited edition promotion which includes Pureology PureVolume Shampoo, Hair Condition and Blow Dry Amplifier. It retails for $39 and is currently available in participating salons nationwide! In conjunction with this limited edition promotion, Pureology will make a $20,000 donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure® in support of their mission to end breast cancer forever.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Bobbi Brown goes Pink

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Bobbi Brown has created the Limited Edition Pink Ribbon Collection. The set features Pink Lip Color and Bellini High Shimmer Lip Gloss, which can be worn individually or layered together. With each purchase, $10 will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, an organization dedicated to preventing breast cancer by funding clinical and translational research worldwide. Also, you get Free Standard Shipping with your purchase of The Pink Ribbon Collection the month of October.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Lip Service From EOS

One of my very favorite Lip Balms is helping the fight!

For every EOS Lip Balm Smooth Sphere in Strawberry Sorbet purchased from October 1 – 31, 5% of proceeds will be donated to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to fund research for Breast Cancer treatment and prevention.

Originally released as a limited edition flavor, eos’ Lip Balm Smooth Sphere in Strawberry Sorbet will become a permanent addition to the USDA-certified organic and 100% natural lip balm collection this fall.  These soft-to-the-touch spheres are petrolatum and parabon free, and are formulated with nourishing jojoba oil, Shea butter and Vitamin E.

Price:  $3.29 / Availability: Target

Beautiful hair for you, courtesy of Redken

Love this look, and sounds like even I could do!

Redken Creative Consultant Guido created another gorgeous blow-out for Saturday’s Sonia Rykiel show in Milan.
“Inspired by Sonia herself- this season the look is a little 1940s meets 1970s, very flirty and pretty.  The style is a healthy, bouncy blow-dry with a deep left side part, curls at the end and a black barrette an inch above the right eye to add a bit of sophistication.”
–Guido, Redken Creative Consultant

Redken Products Used:
-satinwear 02 ultimate blow-dry lotion
-hot sets 22 thermal setting mist
-fashion work 12 versatile working spray

Create the Look:
- Apply satinwear 02 ultimate blow-dry lotion to damp hair and blow-dry making sure to lift the roots away from the scalp.
- Create a deep left side part.
- Mist hot sets 22 thermal setting mist on the hair and using a 1-inch iron, pin set the hair.
- Let the hair down and brush out the curls- hair should be smooth, leaving the curls in at the ends.


- Secure a 1x4 inch black barrette about an inch above the right eye for added sophistication.
- Finish with fashion work 12 versatile working spray.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

L'Occitane makes Shea Butter beautiful

Great products, incredible packaging... I'm thinking THE BEST GIFTS...

Launching October 12th is L’OCCITANE’s newest limited-edition collection, and it’s one that the brand holds close to heart:
The Limited-Edition Shea Butter Collection features packaging designed by L’OCCITANE Founder Olivier Baussan who was inspired by the traditional bogolan fabrics of Africa and the country’s indigenous flowers. Available in the below scents, the limited-edition body cream, hand cream and lip balm speak to L’Occitane’s ongoing work with the women of Burkina Faso, Africa who produce all of the Fair Trade Shea Butter used in L’Occitane products.
-       Desert Rose from Morocco is known for its generous blooms and fruity, zesty aroma, which perfumes the desolate landscape.
-       Hibiscus from Egypt delights the eyes with its brilliant colors -- from the purest white to the most passionate red. Its sensual, sunny perfume awakens the senses.
-       Cocoa Flower from the Ivory Coast has a warm, comforting scent with a delicious hint of cacao.

 Ultra Rich Body Cream: Exceptionally rich in shea butter (25%), this body cream envelops dry skin in supreme comfort and softness, leaving it deeply nourished, protected and perfectly moisturized.

Hand Cream: Shea Hand Cream, the #1 best-seller at L’OCCITANE, is rich in shea butter (20%), to protect, nourish and soften the skin.

Lip Balm: This new organic balm, made with 10% shea butter, soothes dry and chapped lips and provides gentle nourishing and protective care.

Urban Decay presents The Revolution High Performance Lash Curler

Using a lash curler always makes me feel a bit insane.
Really makes me nervous.
The Revolution still makes me nervous (steel pinching millimeters from my eye ball!), but at least it doesn't make me feel as though I am sending my eye to prison.
The cage-less design is really cool, makes the whole process easier.
Gives the lashes a good upturn, not a harsh bend/crimp.


If you don't have naturally curly lashes (who does?), this is the next best thing.
My only negative issue-- the little black rubbery pad has a tendency to fall out. I have to keep it in pinched-mode with a hairband while traveling.

Worth the price, the scare, and the hairband, though!

Push Up for the cure

In the News from New York, one of the BrainyBeautys favorites is helping your wallet & fighting cancer:
In celebration of lifting boobies, brows, and spirits, BOOM BOOM Brow Bar is donating 10% of the sale of each BOOM BOOM Push-Up Brow highlighting pencil sold during the month of October to the American Cancer Society.  And, the price is dropping from $18.00 to just $10.00 all month long!  It's a deal no one with boobs can refuse!

BOOM BOOM Push-Up Brow highlighting pencil lifts, supports, sparkles, and quite frankly, makes people look younger.   This two-sided pencil creates the illusion of an instant eyelift -- use daily for a subtle matte look and switch to the sparkly side for more razzle dazzle -- the twins can't be the center of attention all the time!

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Help kiss breast cancer good-bye

We're going pink this month & showcasing products that help fight breast cancer!
Remember, the fight begins at home-- check yourself! Not just this month, EVERY month!!!

And now... the newest collection from Violent Lips: The Pink Ribbon for The National Breast Cancer Coalition.

 THINK: A kiss that cares.

WHAT IT IS: Pink ribbon pouts. Makeup trends come and go, but beauty with a conscience is always in style. Violent Lips is proud to unveil their latest collection of temporary lip tattoos—the Pink Ribbon Line---in support of the National Breast Cancer Coalition. Featuring three exclusive pink ribbon patterns, the collection offers a stylish new way to kiss breast cancer goodbye.

$2.00 per package sold will be donated to the NBCC.

ABOUT VIOLENT LIPS: Violent Lips' mission is to change the way women apply makeup. Hailed as "The Future of Lipstick", Violent Lips intends to keep pushing the boundaries of lip wear with out-of-the-box designs and innovative applications that last up to eight hours.

TO USE: Shape It, Peel It, Set It, Wet It

AVAILABLE PATTERNS: Ribbon Pattern, Solo Ribbon, Pink Plaid with Ribbon designed by celebrity makeup artist Katie Alves.

WHAT IT COSTS:$9.99 for a set of three.

WHERE TO FIND IT: www.ViolentLips.com