Home on the Upper West Side

Well, I made it to the city with my 2 suitcases (one weighing 50+lbs) and a laptop bag. It also helped that Mike surprised me at the airport to help me out :).

I'm discovering quickly that the Upper West Side is just my style. The picture to the right is in front of our building. Walking distance from our studio on 89th and West End are 3 grocery stores, a nail salon at every corner, and great restaurants and bars. It's super family friendly, kids are running around everywhere!

As soon as I got in we tried Hi-Life Cafe for a late breakfast. Their omelets were delicious, and the starter bread basket was even better. They give each table mini muffins and cinnamon toast with strawberry butter - irresistible.

We were so busy exploring we totally forgot to eat lunch! For dinner we did NY style Perfecto Pizza. Mike can normally eat a large himself and the both of us didn't even put a dent into a large round pizza here.

5 things I've learned so far in NYC:
1 - The subway system. I'm still getting use to which trains are express trains, but for the most part, I can navigate them
2 - Iced coffee is the new black
3 - You have to be a creative thinker when it comes to utilizing space. I miss my bathroom counters!
4 - The rude NYC stereotype is not true. Someone came up to me and Mike yesterday while we were looking at our phones and asked us if needed help finding something (we must have really looked touristy!).
5 - Keep your eyes peeled at all times for celebrities. I crossed paths yesterday with Dr. MacNamara from Nip/Tuck *lovey sigh*

Beauty Blog Coalition Weekly Roundup

• Is your hair and skin dry and damaged? MyStyleBell explains the difference between Argan Oil and Grapeseed Oil and explains which one is better for your hair.
• Are you interested in trying a monthly sample service for beauty products? Emily has tried a few and was happy with the first impression of Sample Society by beautybar.com. See what came in the June Sample Society box!
• Everything has a scent, even cold!  Designer Serge Lutens celebrates it in his avant-garde, new fragrance, l'eau Froide. Alison Blackman of the Advice Sisters checks out the fragrance and gives a report.  Cool yourself all Summer long!
• Miss L from Beauty by Miss L tried L´Oreal Youth Code Luminize Super Serum and now shares her thoughts about it.
• Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom showcases polishes inspired by the movie Snow White and the Huntsman.
• Glitter.Gloss.Garbage has swatches of MAC Casual Colour.
• Brooke from BlushingNoir shows you what is in her first (and second!) Little Black Bag with this open box video!
• BeautyJudy wear-tests, reviews and shares swatches of Dermelect's new ME Anti-Aging Color Nail Lacquers. Do theydeliver on the company's promise of chip-resistance and nail strengthening? Find out!
• BeautyTidbits is giving away a bunch of new NIVEA skincare goodies and a trendy beach tote to get you ready for the beach season!
• Phyrra brings you the best in bright hair from Premiere Beauty Orlando.
• The Pink Sith yammers on about mermaids and cable TV, but she shows you some awesome pictures of Models Own Nail Polish in Indian Ocean while she does it.
• Take the headache out of nail art and try this simple trick from Blushing Basics.
• Are you looking for a great peel for summer-ready glowing skin? Lola from Lola's Secret Beauty Blog is a huge fan of Suki Renewal Bio-Surfacing Facial Peel because it's natural, vegan, and highly effective!
• There are some big-name must-haves out there, but when you shop locally a whole new world can open up for a beauty enthusiast! Follow Bailey around a farmers market and see what local beauty she finds.
• Beauty Info Zone wants to teach you about double cleansing with Dermalogica PreCleanse. They also want one US reader to win the product to see how great it is for themselves.
• Beauty and Fashion Tech looks at some truly odd beauty items with The 8 Strangest Beauty Products.
• Girl Gloss has a MAC Casual Colour Collection Swatch of the Shade Keep it Casual.
• How do you remove your makeup? TheFabZilla tried a gamut of ways but got hooked with Micellar water. Check out her recent faves.
• It is Giveaway time over at Pammy Blogs Beauty! So, head on over to enter to win a Total Beauty Collection sample box!
• Polarbelle spends a little time getting her nautical on with the Mac Hey, Sailor eyeshadows.
• Nails and Noms shows us some pretties from the new indie kid on the block, Cirque Nail Polish with their Dark Horse Collection!
• The Makeup Divas shares swatches and reviews MAC Ditto Shade & Smoke Shadow Liners.
• Have you been searching for a Polish that wears like a Gel? Midnight Manicures presents Dazzle Dry, it's vegan, big 5-Free and dries in 5 minutes!
• Want a tan without the wrinkles? Lipgloss Break reviews Dr. Dennis Gross's New Glow Pad sunless tanning towels.
• Playing Russian Roulette with your Hair? Cosmetically Challenged gives you three tips to help keep you and your hair safe.
• Stephanie Louise- All Things Beautiful is traveling across the country & shows you the L'Occitane Verbena Sachet & Fragrance/Gloss Duo that are traveling must haves!
• Gia of Bottles and Bottles of Polish wore 3 purple polishes at the same time- check out how amazing they looked together
• Where the party at? Lynn shows you the After Party on her nails over at Oh So Lacquered.
• Always on the search for great makeup, Christina of Curls N Pearls shares a review of the RevitaLash Spotlight Highlighting Pencil. Check out what she thinks!
• Nails Beautiqued has some summertime fun mouthwatering hues for your nails?  Checkout Jessica Gelato Maio Collection.
• Always looking for the best in skin care, Spontaneous Chick posted 4 avocado face masks that work.
• Hello Dollface copies Julianne Hough's natural makeup for a pretty daytime look. Will you see Rock of Ages this weekend?
• Geniabeme has a bright FOTD using Kiss My Sass Cosmetics!
• Do you believe in happy endings? Mina of Fabulous Awesomeness swatches the Fairytale Collection by Cult Nails!
• Katia-Blondycandy went to Beauty Trend Show at Nordstrom in South Coast Plaza and was lucky to get two great makeovers from YSL and Guerlain. Watch her funny photos and read advices from best makeup artists.
• Want a colorful, dramatic, and edgy look? Nancy from The Dark Side of Beauty shows us how to create it with the Sugarpill Burning Heart palette!
• Perilously Pale shows us how to achieve the on trend anti-smokey eye look with the new Maybelline New York Luminous Lights Quads.
• Beauty from Liz shows beauty products that she has purchased in May. Maybe it is interesting to see what you can buy when you live in Estonia?

butter LONDON Lippy

butter LONDON has released a line of lip glosses that match their nail polishes. Lippy Lipgloss is lacquer-like gloss that is long lasting with great colors. Lippy launched in March at Ulta, in 5 different colors: Primrose Hill Picnic, Snog, Trout Pout, Yummy Mummy and Teddy Girl.


Dictionary Definition:  LIPPY – British slang for someone who makes impertinent or cheeky remarks.  (Glosses are $17 each)


Matchy matchy is in, match your toes and nails to your lips!

pictured: Trout Pout polish and lipgloss

And the Winners are...

Mally Beauty Giveaway - jslbrown_03
Eucerin Calm line - Jesskaufman

Stephanie Johnson cosmetic bags


Congrats to Marilyn! She won the Stephanie Johnson cosmetic bag giveaway. Her empowering moment was 'When I received my college degree after much hard work.' Congrats Marilyn - that's a huge accomplishment!!

China Glaze Summer Neons

Hot hot hot!

· Pink Plumeria: Light pink with gold shimmer

· Under the Boardwalk: Fluorescent raspberry

· Splish Splash: Bright sky blue shimmer

· Love’s A Beach: Sizzling hot pink

· Hang-Ten Toes: Bubblegum neon with iridescent purple shimmer

· Beach Cruise-r: Glimmering fuchsia grape

· Orange You Hot?: Bright orange with attention-grabbing gold glimmer

· Surfin’ For Boys: Glistening bright coral

· Flirty Tankini: Shimmery strawberry smoothie pink

· Ride the Waves: Dark ocean blue

· I’m With the Lifeguard: Glimmering lime green

· Sun-Kissed: Hot highlighter yellow

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pad

I'm a self tanning queen, especially in the summer. I don't like to bake in the sun (no wrinkles please!) so I like to use a self tanner to give myself some color in the summer.

I just tried Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Glow Pad and loved the color it gave me. It's a large towel that covers your whole body. The towel has little scrubbers in it so it acts like an exfoliator for a smooth application. Right after I applied the towel to my skin I followed up with an unscented lotion, to help ensure an even application (and for extra moisturizing!). 

I applied the towel at night, waited about 10 minutes before getting dressed, put on dark loose clothing, and then went to bed. I woke up the next morning looking like I just got back from the Caribbean! I saw my mom that day, who can appreciate a good self tan job, and she said 'oh my goodness, you are TAN!' I went over my legs and arms twice with the towel, which makes me think my tan came out even darker than normal. I did have one streak on my leg (my fault), which I fixed by scrubbing with a damp wash cloth. 

I love this type of packaging for traveling. They fit nicely in a makeup bag and you don't have to worry about these leaking in your luggage and the carry on liquid rule.

Glow Pads retail at $48 for a box of 8 pads. Definitely worth the splurge if you want a tan for a special event or vacation, or while you are traveling.

Giveaway Break - Anastasia Beverly Hills Hydrafull Gloss

When you hear the name 'Anastasia Beverly Hills' you may think of eyebrows, but she does it all! Along with her brow kits and shapers, her line also includes bronzers, shadows and my favorite, lip glosses!

Anastasia's Hydrafull Gloss is jam packed with shine. They are jammed pack with color and are super hydrating. I was a little surprised by the plastic paddle applicator but it helps the gloss to go on smooth. The fortifying formula includes jojoba oil, shea butter and Anastasia's exclusive Balkan Botanical Infusion.

They have a handful of colors ranging from 'Barely' there nudes, to pretty pinks and corals. The gloss on the right is Cameo, which is an iridescent sparkle with a hint of pink.

***Giveaway***

Enter to win Anastasia of Beverly Hills Hydrafull Gloss in Cameo! 

Fill out the form below to win! For extra entries, you can sign up for my mailing list, post a link to this giveaway on your blog, follow my blog, follow me and retweet on Twitter , follow me on Pinterest or become a fan on Facebook; just make sure to list the entries in your comment. Enter up to once a day!

This giveaway is open to US residents only. The contest will end on Wednesday, July 4th. I will randomly select one winner and announce them on Lipgloss Break, so keep checking to see if you're a winner - Good Luck!

Father's Need to Beautify Too!

Father's Day is coming up, why not pamper him?

For the 'clean shaving' Dad:

SheaMoisture Shea Butter & African & Black Soap Shave Butter – This age-old shaving preparation will help dad fight ingrown hairs and razor bumps with a vengeance.  Contains pure African Black Soap, unrefined organic African Shea Butter, healing oils of Coconut, Black Seed, Juniper and Willow Bark extract.  Lather up with SheaMoisture's 100 percent badger hair Ultimate Shave Brush (SRP: $7.99) or with fingers. Does not contain harsh soaps or synthetics, so don’t expect a lot of foam.  SRP: $6.99.  Available at Target and Walmart locations nationwide.

The world’s oldest and most prestigious apothecary, Santa Maria Novella, offers the ultimate in men’s grooming – pamper Dad with a exquisite Shave Set, Shaving Foam, Before and After Cream, Non-Alcoholic Emulsion and more! All ingredients are natural and organic, and all products (including distillation of fragrances) are made onsite in the Florence, Italy workrooms as much as possible.  Celebrity fan Dad’s include: David Beckham, Javier Bardem, Jason Bateman, Gavin Rossdale, Eric Dane, and more!   From $17 - $320 at www.santamarianovellausa.com.   

For the 'organic' Dad:

Give your Dad something that all men need this Father’s Day, after shave. Aubrey Men’s Stock Aftershave ($9.50 SRP) works instantly to tighten pores and cool skin. It is formulated with organic aloe vera to hydrate, witch hazel to soothe and menthol to cool. Leaves skin smooth and fresh, with a unique, natural scent.

If you want your Dad to look his best this Father’s Day, trying gifting him Aubrey Men’s Stock Daily Moisturizer ($13.85 SRP) is a lightweight, invisible formula for men. Made from 100% natural ingredients, the Daily Moisturizer absorbs into the skin quickly, leaving skin conditioned, soft and shine-free. Flaxseed extract is used to help balance oil in skin, leaving pores unclogged and your face smooth and healthy looking.

Aubrey Organics Men’s Stock is available at Whole Foods or at www.aubrey-organics.com.

For the 'grilling' Dad:

Gear up for sizzle-cranking, tailgating, hand-toting, fold-and-fling fun on the go! The Element Portable – the all-in-one, 13-pound, light-weight grilling machine, that will make your summer days that much more fun! This grill is so hot, it won’t stay put! Get it now at www.stockngo.com for $150.

For the 'forever young' Dad:

For those Dads wishing to stay Forever Young this Father’s Day, Christina Cosmeceuticals offers the perfect Men’s Kit to get you on the right track.  The Beginner’s Kit for Men ($120) is the perfect way to start the day looking and feeling great, with three easy steps that target men’s unique complexion challenges. The products within the kit include Extra-Action Scrub, Fortifying Aftershave Gel and Age-Fighter Cream SPF15 that protect skin from aging, photo-damage and shaving irritation with the most advanced clinical ingredients and botanicals available. Christina Cosmeceuticals can be purchased at skincarebyalana.com and at select salons and spas.

What's in my Beach Bag? - UnBurn

It's that time of year again! I got my beach bag out of storage and filled it with all sorts of good SPF products and magazines. Each week I'll highlight a new item that is 'beach bag approved'!

This week, my go to product was used AFTER I spent the day in the sun. It's the inevitable, the first few sunny days of summer I always miss a spot with sunscreen and get a little sunburn. The weather was so nice this weekend in Michigan that everyone at my house got a little pink from the sun.

Luckily I had Water-Jel Unburn Sunburn Relief waiting for me on my bathroom counter. Unburn is a topical gel that draws the heat out of your burn using heat exchange technology. In other words, it soothes it. It contains 2.5% of Lidocaine, which provides pain relief, as well as a Vitamin E, aloe, tea tree oil and spearmint oil. You can also use it on other burns, for example, a flat iron burn.

Regular aloe seals in the heat from a burn, when UnBurn literally takes the heat out of the burn. Both my husband and I used it this weekend and really liked it. It soothed our sunburns, and took away any soreness we would have experienced. It also smells good - kind of a fresh like spearmint. I would suggest waiting for a few minutes before dressing, but for the most part it soaked in really quickly.

Unburn is available in 8oz. bottles at Walmart.

Check out a few items that were in my beach bag last summer!
Borghese Body Bronzer
Korres Mango Butter Lipstick

Jessica Summer 2012 Gelato Mio Collection

If these colors don't SCREAM summer to you, then you're from a different planet! Jessica based her summer line off of Gelato colors...how appropriate! The line is called Gelato Mio, which is Italian for 'My Ice Cream.' Yum. 

Colors (starting in the upper left, going clockwise) are: Barely Blueberry, Lime Cooler, Banana Peel, Tangerine Dreamz, Strawberry Shake It, & Surfer Boyz 'n Berry.

Most of these needed 3 coats to get a solid, streak free color. I got a pedicure last week with Surfer Boyz 'n Berry and the lady next to me asked to borrow my color. 

Want to get creative with this line? Check out a post on one of my favorite nail polish blogs, The PolishAholic. She did a Gelato Mio Water Marble manicure and it's dreamy!