Danny Sanz, Creator of MAKE UP FOR EVER  has done it again!  When it comes to high pigment, HD (high-definition) color the woman is a goddess in my book.  The latest addition to the MUFE collection is Aqua Cream.

Sanz created the line out of deep need by makeup artists for products that can stand extreme conditions from television studios to fashion shows, that could combat high heat from spotlights and would also be resistant to water.  22 shades of pure smudge-proof, tear-proof, waterproof color, which can be worn on eyes, lips and cheeks.  The amazing burst of intense color glides effortless on all areas of the face, and a little goes a long way.  Once applied, you have about a 10 second window to adjust the application, because once it’s on, it’s not going anywhere.  If you need to adjust the employment, just go in with a q-tip with makeup remover.  A seriously stunning collection of colors, that can be worn alone or blended together to create endless looks.  Best part is it doesn’t crease.  The cream formula goes on matte, but has such high pigment and picks up light from your surroundings for high shine.  Can be applied with your flinger tip or brush.  If it’s too drying on your lips, apply lip balm first or lipgloss over.

Price: $22, available at Sephora.com

Affiliation: This product was given to Pretty Connected by a company representative.  Pretty Connected was under no obligation to write this review.

Just in time for spring, the June 2010 issue of Women’s Health Magazine will report the winners of their 4th annual Beauty Awards. Featuring both reader’s and editor’s picks by category (hair, face, body, and makeup), I had the privilege of joining the publication for the announcement of their winners and received an advanced copy of the magazine.

So who won? Here’s a sneak peek at some of my favorite editor’s picks:

• Best Budge-proof Eye Shadow – Tarte Lock & Roll Eyeshadow in Burnt Bronze
• Best Sheer Cheek Color – NARS Cadacques Multiple Tint
• Best Foundation – Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
• Best Self-Tanner – Clarins Self-Tanning Instant Gel
• Best Mascara – CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume
• Best Dry Shampoo – Umberto Beverly Hills Dry Clean Dry Shampoo
• Best OTC Treatment for Uneven Skin Pigmentation – Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector

I have to say this event was a lot of fun. Women’s Health Magazine featured all the winners by category and I greatly enjoyed reading about each product and having the opportunity to talk makeup with Women’s Health Beauty Director Molly Nover-Baker and Associate Beauty Editor Alexis Farah and answering the infamous question of ‘what do you think?’ Honestly, I was impressed for a number of reasons, mainly because I thought it was very original.

I was happy to see of the products I had tried, all of them were in my top five for that category (if not my favorite), and pleasantly surprised that I hadn’t tried the majority of the winners. There was great mix of mass and prestige brands across all categories and price points. They didn’t choose a lot of the ‘classic winners’, which while deserving, it’s always nice to learn about some unsung heroes who are just as worthy. In fact, I noticed a healthy assortment of new products that launched within the past year that have been on my radar won. Of course we all have our favorite products and brands we’d love to see make the charts, but it’s difficult to be so opinionated when there really are so many spectacular products on the market right now. So while I can’t judge what I haven’t tried based on the assortment of winners, I’m very intrigued and excited to try their recommendations. This is especially true for the Best Product for Curly Hair winner of whom Alexis raved about –however you’ll have to pick up the issue for that winner (I’ve spoiled enough of the surprise).

The complete list of winners is available in the June 2010 issue Women’s Health Magazine hitting newsstands on May 25th. For more information visit WomensHealthMag.com

Be-cheek my heart! Given my addiction to pink blushes and bronzers, when I came across Sue Devitt’s new Hydrating Marine Minerals Destination Eye & Cheek Palette in Solomon Islands, it was love at first site.  A perfect gradation of pink to gold, the hues can be blended together for a variety of looks which you can customize to create your perfect shade.  I greatly appreciate that since I love to mix and match or for back of a better term – play.

My personal preference is to use the light pink as a highlighter under my eyebrow while applying the more bronze shade across my face and the sheerer pink on my cheekbone for a perfect sun kissed look.  Apply with a brush and the colors blend very naturally and evenly onto skin.  The colors are sheerer then they appear in the picture, which really allows you to build your desired shade for a stronger pigment. And best of all it’s incredibly compact and portable and incredibly convenient for any girl that’s on the go.

Price: $37.50.  For more information visit www.suedevittbeauty.com

Affiliation: This product was given to Pretty Connected by a company representative.  Pretty Connected was under no obligation to write this review.

Last night at the MET Gala, Lively looked gorgeous in her blue mini Marchesa dress and makeup look by Elaine Offers for NARS Cosmetics.

Get Blake Lively’s Makeup Look:

Using all NARS Cosmetics products, Elaine Offers used PRO-PRIME Skin Smoothing Face Prep, on her face, Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base and Goddess Soft Touch Shadow Pencil on her eyes, Beverly Hills Multiple Tint for cheeks and Love Devotion Lipstick on lips.

Well done, she looked impeccable!

What I loved about Jennifer Lopez’s makeup was how soft and sophisticated the look was and yet so wearable for the everyday woman.  NARS also took the opportunity to showcase their latest Cream Blush, ‘Enchanted’ which will not be available until their Summer 2010 Collection.

Here’s the official list of NARS products makeup artist Matthew Vanleeuween used:

• Orgasm Illuminator
• Enchanted Cream Blush (NEW for Summer 2010)
• Desire Blush
• Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base (NEW for Summer 2010)
• D. Gorgeous Single Eyeshadow
• Brousse Duo Eyeshadow
• Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara
• Cruising Lipstick
• Sweet Dreams Lip Gloss

For more information visit narscosmetics.com

Great for medium skin tones, Sunkissed is the perfect shade for me!  It’s peachy-pink with a light shimmer, that lets you build color to adjust to your desired shade.  For cheeks (my primary use for the balm), I apply a small amount during the day along my cheekbone for a nice, sun-kissed natural glow.  For more of a classic blush look, I apply a stronger stroke, which brings out more of the pink tones to the peach.  Plus it’s easy blend formula makes it effortless to keep cheeks even (and wipe off any excess if you apply too much).  For eyes, I like to use a single stroke under my eyebrows for a nice highlighting shimmer effect, which not only brings out my eyes, but whatever eye makeup I’m sporting for that day.

Made with 100% pure, natural, and organic ingredients, including organic olive, coconut, and jojoba oils, beeswax, and aloe vera, the Freedom Glow Balm collection protects, hydrates, and moisturizes your skin.

All Revolution Products are free of chemicals, parabens, synthetics, and artificial ingredients.  I’m sold!

Price: $34. The Freedom Glow Beauty Balm is also available in other shades, Blushed and Bronzed.  For more information visit bigelowchemists.com

Affiliation: This product was sent to me by a company representative.  I was under no obligation to write this review.

If you’re looking for a gift for a makeup maven, or are one yourself, don’t miss out on these two limited edition palettes. From beginners to pros, if you’ve ever asked yourself, ‘I wonder if I can pull off wearing…,’ here’s your chance to find out. These two sets can be mixed and matched to create endless looks. So much fun! Lets face it, not every color is going to look great on you, but that’s half the battle when experimenting to find your perfect look. Once you’ve figured out your best looks, you can go back for the full size versions feeling more confident.

Sephora Brand’s Ultimate Blockbuster

Set Includes:

• How-to Guide
• 3 qty Blushes
• 60 qty lip glosses
• 2 qty Lip liners
• 3 qty Eyeliners
• 6 qty Cream Eyeliners
• 84 qty Eyeshadows
• 6 qty Matte Eyeshadows
• 6 qty Sparkling Eyeshadows
• Double-ended eyeshadow applicator/ eyeliner brush
• Double-ended sponge-tipped applicator
• Lip brush
• Powder brush

Price: $48 ($400 value)

Tarte Treasure Chest

Set Includes:

• 16 qty Full-Sized Shimmering  Eyeshadows
• 16 qty Full-Sized Matte Eyeshadows
• 16 qty Lipglosses
• Mineral Powder Bronzer In Park Ave Princess
• Pink Luminizer
• 4 qty Powder Blushes

Price: $52 ($686 value)

A combination of all new colors and best sellers, these products have all been dermatologist tested and does not containparabens, petro-chemicals, phthalates, sulfates, GMOs, Triclosans, preservatives, gluten, talc, glycols, MEA/DEA/TEA, and formaldehyde donors.

Compact and beautifully packaged, this bejeweled kit, which includes a mirror that folds to be amazingly compact.  I’m slightly enamored.

For More information on both sets visit Sephora.com

In anticipation of my birthday this week, it triggered the usual, ‘What do I wear? How should I wear my makeup?’ freak-out.  Fortunately, I received a complimentary makeup application at Paul Labrecque Salon and Spa in the gift bag from Nicole Williams‘, Girl on Top book launch.  No time like the present to use it!

Considering the reputation of the salon, and the many beauty awards they’ve received (everyone from Vogue, and InStyle, to Allure Magazine), I plopped myself down on the chair and placed my complete trust in them.  I gave no guidelines on the application or makeup look, just a description of my outfit to my big event so the stylist could make sure they matched.

Without any hesitation, my lovely stylist Salome, who has been with the company for over 8 years, gave me a gorgeous bronzed glow, using product by NARS Cosmetics and Cle de Peau.

But see for yourself:

My birthday look:

EYES:

NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Pandora, Kilimanjaro, and Isolde

Cle de Peau Intensifying Cream Eyeliner in #101

Cle de Peau Mascara in Volume in Black #101

FACE:

NARS Liquid Foundation in Sedona

NARS Face Powder in Mountain

NARS Concealer in Toffee

NARS Multiple Stick in Palm Beach

CHEEKS:

NARS Blush in Exhibit A

LIPS:

NARS Lipliner in Papau

NARS Lip Gloss in Turkish Delight and Stolen Kisses (NARS)
The staff was so great and warm, I had such a lovely experience and my makeup lasted all night, without any touch ups.

Thank you Salome and Paul Labrecque for making my day so special!

For more information onn Paul Labrecque Salon and Spa click HERE

The Hard Candy for Walmart launch party

Founded in 1995 by Dineh Mohajer, Hard Candy is one of those brands that takes me back.  That’s the year Clueless hit theatres and every female teen from that generation, become instantly obsessed with Alicia Silverstone.  Well at least I did, so when she appeared on the Letterman show talking about her ‘Sky’ nail polish from Hard Candy, it’s no wonder that color became an overnight cult favorite.  It was pastel blue and I loved it.

At the Hard Candy for Walmart launch party

So imagine my excitement when I received an invitation to attend Hard Candy’s launch party on August 18th at the Bryant Park Hotel.  Guests were given a makeup bag and access to a gondola stocked with the entire line, and told to basically go nuts. I went straight for the nail polish, but grabbed a few other categories to try (I had a makeup case, not a suitcase).  I’m happy to report the nail polish is still in the original packaging, and as good as ever.  And while I didn’t see ‘Sky’ in the assortment, I am loving ‘Pretty in Punk’ (hot pink) and ‘The End’ (black).  All of their nail polish is DBP, toluene, and formaldehyde free.

What can I say, I haven’t worn pastels in over a decade, I’ve moved on, and evidently so has Hard Candy- to bigger (markets) and better (wallet happier prices) things!

For more information visit Walmart or Hard Candy