[Every Saturday I wake up early, brush on some much needed concealer, and come here to bring you the best beauty products, tips and ideas. I’ve changed your life with some awesome makeup innovations, so now I’m back with more beauty finds that will enhance your eyes…and your life.]

The Smoky Eye. It’s one of the most powerful make up maneuvers a woman can use. It’s sexy and seductive, but do it wrong and you can look like you took a swift fist to the eye. Or like a crack whore. Thank God that some very clever brands took all the mystery out of the smoky eye. They’ve made it simple for us. So if you want a fool-proof smoky eye, try one of these fantastic products.

Stila Smoky Eye Talking Pallet ($40 sephora.com)

This little pallet could be called “Smoky Eye for Dummies.” It comes with 4 shades perfectly suited for a smoky eye, but the really crazy thing is that it actually talks you through the steps. You press a button, and it plays an audio recording taking you step by step through the process. Stila has some of the best eye shadows around, so you get the best of both worlds: quality product and technical instruction all in one little box! Plus is comes in 5 different color collections so you can pick the perfect shades for you.

Too- Faced Smoky Eye Pallet ($32 sephora.com)

So it may not talk to you, but the Too Faced Pallet does have a step by step instruction card. The thing that makes this pallet special is that is comes with NINE colors. They are divided up into three different looks - a soft brown for day, a classic black for evening, and a bold color combo. It keeps things simple and organized and gives you plenty of options for whatever mood you are in! Read More »

In the spooky Halloween excitement, we’ve all fallen prey to the same trap: spending a ton of dinero on things you never use again (those white go-go boots seemed so versatile at the time!). To help you out, here three makeup items that are perfect costume accessories and beauty staples every girl should have in her makeup arsenal.

Nars Lip Pencil - Jungle Red ($20 sephora.com)

If you decided to skip the lingerie and animal ears and go for something ghoulish, this blood red pencil is perfect. You can easily draw blood droplets, gashes or scars. Try lining you eyes with it for something really creepy.

When the costume craze is over, line and fill your lips with this deep shade. Put a clear gloss over it for a glamorous look on a special night out.

Benefit BADgal Eyeliner ($20 sephora.com)

This fat eye pencil is perfect to black out some zombie eyes. It’s also a quick way to draw on mustaches or bushy eyebrows - hey you could be the Mario Brothers! Or you can easily draw on some tattoos for your Amy Winehouse costume. It also perfect for an Egyptian eye if you want to do the Cleopatra thing.

When fright night is done, simply smudge this pencil out for a quick and easy smoky eye. Or use it to create a sleek cat-eye look for something more glam. Read More »

Red lips are everywhere this season, and for good reason; they are totally glamourous. In attempts to make this trend my own, I have spent countless hours at Sephora trying on every last red lip gloss, stick and tint in the store, but to no avail. Each one looks worse than the one before, making me look more like a little girl playing with her mom’s lipstick than a superstar.

The celebs and fashionistas of the world look sexy and sophisticated donning a red lip down the red carpet, but what about the average woman? Can we really rock this look? Should we?

What are your thoughts on red lipstick?

[Make-up is wonderful, but it can also be confusing. There are so many shades and colors and sheens and reasons to wear it that a girl can get completely lost attempting to find what fits her face best. What’s the best blush color for a redhead? How do you really put on lip-liner? Is there such a thing as too much eyeshadow?

In this weekly series, actress / model and fabulous CC blogger, Jen, will be using her make-up know how to teach us all how to look flawless in class, out at a party, or grabbing coffee with that cutie from Psych 101.]

Everyone is always talking about long, luxurious lashes, but how do we get em without getting clumps? And do we really have to spend $40 on a tube of mascara to get that sexy lash we covet? This week Jen gives her expert advice on the best mascaras on the market (in all price ranges) that are sure to get you lookin’ like a Cover Girl.

It’s no secret that drinking takes a toll on your skin. Dehydration, blotchiness and puffiness are just a few of the wonderful effects of alcohol–a moisture zapping diuretic– on your epidermis. So what’s a girl to do when faced with a serious liquor induced skin issue? Quit drinking? I think not.While that would obviously be the most effective move, it’s not one I plan on making any time in the near future (near future including this semester and every one after that until I graduate). Luckily, the makeup gods determined long ago that girl-kind should be able to have her cake (flavored mix drink) and eat it too (um, have nice looking skin).

The following products will salvage your face be you hungover and desperate for a quick fix, prepping for bed after drinks with the girls, or planning ahead for a night of partays (you overachiever, you). Read More »

Summer, for me, is a blessing and a curse. As much as I love cute little dress season, my skin isn’t quite as easy to please. This time of year is when I start chucking my foundation or tinted moisturizer, because there’s no way a liquid is going to do anything more than melt and cause breakouts. I’ve been a faithful Bare Essentials user for years, but as I’ve tried to manage my budget and seem to go through it ridiculously quickly. The time has come to move on and try something new.

Fortunately, Sephora has an array of mineral powders to choose from, both pressed and loose. I decided to stay with this product, because it does seem to keep me relatively fresh-looking even on the beastliest of hot days. I like the texture, its ability to double as a concealer, and also that it’s SPF 15. Let’s face it, no one wants to be a bag of wrinkles by age 30.

As I perused various brands, Laura Mercier’s Mineral Powder Foundation grabbed my attention. For one, it’s a loose powder that sells in 0.34 oz containers, so while it’s $35.00, there’s no question that it’s going to last. Also, the top has a swivel closure, so even without a lid you can keep your foundation from spilling. I tried a little at the store and fell in love. Another fun fact is that you’re not limited to Sephora. You can purchase this product online through www.lauramercier.com, or at department stores. Read More »

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over and over again in recent months, it would have to be that less is most definitely more. Just like Mom used to say, this almost always rings true for makeup. Unless, of course, it’s Halloween, you’re in a theater production, or some other extenuating circumstance.

So why limit the theory to just your face? Why not try lightening up your makeup bag and going for a three- or four-in-one product that just may be able to change your life?

NARS is a brand that’s definitely made a name for itself in the way of staple, Sephora-endorsed items, particularly their powder blush in Orgasm. The shade works on any skin tone and gives that rosy, euphoric glow to any complexion. I personally discovered NARS by way of a lipgloss in the same shade, and let me tell you, the day I could scrape no more from the tube was a sad one. It’s just enough warmer than a complete nude hue to make your lips a shiny, kissable pale pink without being sticky or goopy. Read More »

Guys aren’t the only ones afraid of commitment.

Ladies can be just as commitment-phobic as the hottie who is “just not ready for a relationship.”

Terms like “final sale,” “no samples” and “the tester is missing” are as terrifying to us ladies as hooking up with only one girl is to a guy.

Would you want to be stuck with a pair of jeans that looked great in the fitting room mirror but turned out, after closer home inspection, to be all in the lighting? Damn clothing-store fluorescent lighting.

And don’t we all wish we could try a beauty regimen before committing to it? (Note: importance of free samples and testers!)

Nothing is worse than full bottles of “instantly longer” locks shampoo and “miracle magic” hair treatments taking up the already limited space in your medicine cabinet.

Rather then pull your hair out in frustration, take yourself to Sephora where you will find Ojon’s five-piece “Try Me” Hair Ritual Kit: a complete hair-restoration ritual from native Tawira of Central America’s tropical rainforest, known as “the people of beautiful hair.”

Yes, it is another hair treatment, but this one works, trust us, and you can try it out before committing to a lifetime supply. Read More »