All That Sparkles

Hard Candy, Bling Bling, $16 is unlike any other loose glitter product we’ve ever seen. Pretty pots of glitter with a plus: sizzling sparkle that comes with a base to keep it in place. Each of the five shades come in ingenius stacking pots containing one shade of glitter and two shades of base. Try nude, to create an invisible base or black, to create an unforgettable dazzling smoky eye.

The overflowing bling at Make Up For Ever is justification to let your creativity go w-i-l-d! Dazzle your face and body with sparkles, mulitcolored star confetti and our favorite, tiny jewels. Strauss, $25 are glue-on multi-colored crystals that add an abundance of drama and sparkle to any look.

Although the glue is not included (complete PIA), try Urban Apothecary's, Stuck Up Adhesive, $14. It's also great on sluggish straps and plunging necklines, Stuck Up works wonders with all that sparkles, glitters and glows. Or opt for their ranbowilicious line of glitter, Glitterazzi. Professional make-up artists use them and abuse them during fashion shows. For a sparkling veil over the face, body and hair, the $10 (and currently buy-one-get-one-free) shaker-top pots pack plenty of perfectly sized, fine sparklers in a mind boggling array of 24 marvelous, colorful shades. This is a great alternative to MAC's high-level Glitter, $16.50 which is currently only available in a single, solitary lonely shade of Reflects Blue.

Trend: Supernatural

Bare faced beauty is always a hit on the runways and this season is no different. Sephora reports, beauty has a supernatural flair this season. The look in fact, is so widespread, that companies such as Urban Apothecary incorporated the trend permanently into their array of mineral makeup products, aptly named Supernatural years ago. The result: a line-up of unshakable best sellers. The guise: neutral shades to accent facial structure, brows are penciled, cheeks are dramatized and lids are monotone.

Secret Agent Sunscreens

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 90% of aging (yes 9-0!) is caused by sun damage. If you don't wear sunscreen every single day, changes in your skin can begin in your 20s. Protecting your skin while you’re out and about is a must, whether you’re hitting the beach or running errands. The easiest way, sneak it into your daily routine. Below you’ll find a list of our favorite, secret sunscreens. Beach beauties Jessica Biel and Kate Hudson are fans of the antioxidant rich B. Kamins Day Cream SPF 15, $68.00.

Face Wash

The First-Ever Wash-On Sunscreen with SPF 15 and UVA/UVB Protection in a Facial Cleanser Ice Sheild Face Wash SPF 15 by Freeze 24, $48 is a great option for those who can't seem to remember the SPF. It cleanses skin and protects with SPF 15 from everyday UVA and UVB exposure in one easy step. Fresh, super fast, and it doesn’t leave a greasy residue like a traditional sunscreen. What a better way to feel protected from everyday incidental sun exposure.

Every Day Moisturizer

SPF 30 Sheer Moisturizer, $29 by Juice Beauty also hydrates skin. The chemical-free, full spectrum SPF 30 sun protection combines certified organic white grape and pomegranate juices, vitamin antioxidants, and essential nutrients to replenish and protect for optimum antiaging benefits.

Makeup with SPF
Urban Apothecary Mineral Sheer Tint SPF 20, $38 contains advanced skin-matching pigments to truly cover imperfections and enhance your own natural skin tones as it blocks rays.

Bronzer
Murad Firming Bronzer SPF 15, $48 has a shimmer to help hide imperfections and cornflower and rosemary to help tighten skin. The active firming complex actually increases skin firmness by 32% in 15 minutes.

Spray Tan

If easy application is what your after, try the Continuous Spray Sunblock, about $10 by Coppertone. Available in a wide array of SPFs ranging from Dry Oil SPF 10 all the way up to Kid's Sunblock Spray SPF 50, the constant mist gives you quick protection, and it even sprays when it’s upside down -especially handy for hard-to-reach places (and flailing children).

Eye Cream
Shiseido Sun Protection Eye Cream, $30 minimizes the appearance of wrinkles and enhances skin's radiance while providing exceptional protection against UVA/UVB rays. Contains rose apple leaf extract, an antioxidant that prevents the production of free radicals. Better yet, it's recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation as an effective UV sunscreen.

Lip Balm

Lip-balm junkies take notice: This SPF 15 treatment glides on your lips, imparting delectable, dependable moisture. The natural formula protects and restores with a blend of vitamin E, essential fatty acids, and sugar. Sugar Lip Treatment, $22.50 provides long-lasting protection that feels and tastes too good to be good for you.

Spot Check

California Baby's Sunblock Stick SPF 30, $13 is a convenient non-chemical, fragrance-free sunblock stick that pops easily into into your pocket, purse or diaper bagp. It provides a high-level, full-spectrum UVA/UVB sun protection ideal for lips, eye-area skin, nose, ears, scars. And with skin-defending vitamins, helps prevent signs of premature aging.

Nails

Find that polish fades or turns yellow in the sun? Try Seche Vite, $10. This profusely patented, top coat dries nail polish quick to a glossy finish that’s guaranteed not to yellow.

Makeup Must-Have

Backstage at fashion shows and before high-wattage events, amkeup artists reach for certain products again and again. Here are a few that we've noticed as of late:

• Lipstick: Nars, Dolce Vita, $23
  Winning a coveted Best of Sephora 2006 for Best Lipstick, Dolce Vita is the perfect shade of natural for everyone. It's the new universal neutral.
  
• Eye Pencil: Three Custom Color, Light Clarifier Pencil, $14
  The super creamy formula goes on without tugging or pulling. It's a must to transform tired eyes.
  
• Mascara: Dior Show Mascara, $23
  Also winning a Best of Sephora 2006 award, this mascara goes on rich and thick in one coat. So if you're looking for instant lash extension sans the trouble, this is the tube.
  
• Eye Shadow: Lorac Enlighten Eye Shadow, $16
  The go-to eyeshadow, always appropriate and always beautiful. It has just enough color to brighten up eyes and make eyes look polished with minimal effort.
  
• Blush: Urban Apothecary, Crush Mineral Blush, $18
  One sweep of this translucent, natural orange shade with a subtle pink undertone, applied to the apples of your cheeks looks young, flirty and modern.
  

Super Quick Fix

Although we love all things girly and can spend hours gushing over stacks of skincare and mountains of makeup, who has the time? I love a quick fix and I’m betting a lot of you out there follow the same hectic schedule. I’ve a two year old toddler in tow, another on the way and a to-do list as long as my left arm. Chronically ten minutes behind schedule, these quick fixes are sure to free up some precious time and get you out the door in five minutes flat...

1. I love to entire time-saving Comodynes range, but my favorite is the Beauty Flash Radiant Effect, $13 for 3 count. A shock treatment for improving tone and smoothing features in record time. When applied before make-up, it clears signs of tiredness and provides smooth and bright skin within 1 minute.

2. Fake a perfect complexion with Urban Apothecary, Mineral Sheer Tint, $38. This sheer, lightweight moisturizer contains a protective SPF 20 sunscreen and a hint of color for a natural finish with a healthy glow. Fingertip application is a cinch and the coverage is long lasting, leaving you with a perfect finish every time minus the full morning routine.

3. Urban Apothecary, Mineral Sheer Radiance, $32 is embedded with micro-prisms that refract light away from wrinkles, dark spots and other imperfections, this powder takes your skin from ‘looks like you pulled an all-nighter’ to glowing and well-rested in ten seconds flat. Using a fluffy or Kabuki brush, sweep this compact over your t-zone to go from blah to ahhh!

4. Smashbox, Limitless Lip Stain, $22. A pigmented lip stain on one end and a clear gloss on the other, just apply and forget. The stain gives you flushed lips and stains put all day. Three flattering shades to choose from: 7, raspberry pink, Infinity, cherry red and Non-Stop, a burnished rose that looks great on just about everyone.

5. I’ve honestly tried every mascara under the sun. I really like Kiss Me Mascara, $24. It stays put, doesn’t run and looks great all day--- but be prepared to purchase a new tube every other month. I’ve found the formula starts to ‘tube-off’ alone after regular repeated use. It’s annoying, so I switch back and forth with Longcils, Ultra, $32. The black cream mascara is a volumizing formula for dramatic and glamorous eyes. It’s also water-resistant all day long.

Wax Works

Clear brow gels have a tendency to leave artful arches crunchy or unnaturally shiny. For softer hold, try a grooming kit that contains wax. Urban Apothecary's version, Just Brow-sing, $25 comes with two shades of powder so you can custom blend your color. The wax in Anastasia’s Brow Ex-press, $38 contains shea butter and vitamin E to condition as it shapes. Wax plumps up individual hairs so brows look lush, not stiff. You should always apply the wax first since it gives the color something to stick to.

The Power of Pink

Do good while you shop. Think pink and support Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October. Purchase any of these fabulous rose-hued finds, and you'll be contributing to organizations aiding the cause.

• Stila, IT Gloss Trio
  A collection of dazzling, universally appealing pink lip glosses. Set includes three full-size shades in Enticing, soft pink, Courageous, a gold pink, and Inspiring, a fuchsia pink. All proceeds from this lip gloss trio benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). $34.
  
• Urban Apothecary, Hope 3d Eye Shadow
  Power of three, this seductive palette of rich, versatile colors allows you to create a multitude of makeup looks depending on your mood. All proceeds from this eye shadow compact benefit the BCRF. $25.
  
• La Mer, Creme de La Mer Skin Cream
  In a short time, skin becomes softer, firmer, looks virtually creaseless. Aging lines and pores are noticeably less visible. If everything in life were so simple. A $25,000 donation will be made to the BCRF. $195.
  
• Sage, Roll-On Perfume in Coral
  Vibrant underwater castles that have entranced human beings for centuries. Now you can enjoy this captivating aroma without a trip to the deep blue sea. A blend of subtle coconut, orange blossom, mimosa, sandalwood and vanilla that illuminates the wearer like sunlight streaming through tropical waters. 30 percent of sales benefits Living Beyond Breast Cancer. $45.
  
• Philosophy, Shower for the Cure Shower Gel
  A creamy all-in-one formula that can be used as a shampoo, bath or body wash. Its light, clean tangerine scent and touch of milk proteins and fruit essences provides a delightful experience for your senses. 100 percent of sales benefits the Women's Cancer Research Fund at the Entertainment Industry Foundation. $20.
  
• The Republic of Tea, Sip for the Cure
  We Love: Rose Green Tea. Delicate blossoms and petals lend an elegant floral note to the bright, fresh flavor of china green tea. Pamper yourself with the very essence of pink. 75 cents from each Sip for the Cure tea tin sold will be donated to the Komen Foundation. $10/50 bags.
  
• Dyson, Pink Clean Sweep
  The Shabby Chic vacuum is a must for every discerning home owner. For every pink vacuum sold, Dyson and Target will each donate $20 to the BCRF. $400.
  
• Red Envelope, Think Pink Poker Night
  The pink cards and chips, invitations and recipes turn your weekly girls’ night in into a stylish, high-stakes poker party. Go ahead and gamble—10 percent of your purchase will be donated to the Entertainment Industry Foundation's Cancer Research Fund. $25.

Glitterazzi Glitter

Glam up your eyes, lips and face with the ultimate sparkle. Apply them once, and you'll never love another. Designed for gals who love glitter, but prefer a more sophisticated sparkle, each Urban Apothecary pocket-sized Glitterazzi, $12 features a super-fine shaker top that allows you to control dispensing. Buff it onto your arms, legs or shoulders for a sexy look or mix it with your favourite nail polish or lip gloss to match your favourite outfit. Buy One, Get One Free for Beauty Buffet Subscribers until 10/31/2006.

Sale! Urban Apothecary

3 Day Sale! A rare and brief opportunity to order your favorite Urban Apothecary makeup and skincare ranging at prices from $4-$35 (originally priced at $16-$90). The sale starts Sunday, August 20, 12pm CST and ends Wednesday, August 30, 5pm CST. Stock up and save with their exclusive shipping offer. Free ground shipping on every order over $100. Offer excludes international orders. All sales are final. Shop early for best selection - as quantities are limited.

Top 3 Urban Apothecary Items:
Pick-Your-Palette: Eye Shadow Palettes are offered in an assortment of color combinations that contains six brilliantly paired Fresh colors. The intensely pigmented and moist formula is enhanced with crushed Polynesian pearl and antioxidant green tea extract.
Sale Price: $35
Retail Value: $90

Lip Whip Sheen: The cosmetic equivalent of really gorgeous pastries, these tubes of instant sex appeal for lips add special shimmer effects with a whisper of color. Lip Shine is an ultra-emollient formula that glides on for a smooth and shiny finish. Available in popular colors including: Sugar, Custard and Tart.
Sale Price: $5
Retail Value: $15

Pro Pigment: These highly concentrated loose color pigments offer intense, radiant shimmer and iridescent shifting color for a variety of effects. Wear Pro Pigment on eyes-- dry for soft, subtle or smoky looks, or wear it wet for a more dramatic effect. Sweep over cheeks for a translucent wash of color or shimmer, or glide over shoulders and décolleté for a cutting-edge glow. Either way, if you love to play with color and experiment to your heart's content, Pro Pigment is a dream come true.
Sale Price: $4
Retail Value: $16