Lipgloss Break

Shopping for a Cure

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and tons of brands are showing their support and generosity by donating proceeds from special items to Breast Cancer research groups and funds. Below are a few brands and stores that are carrying specific items to help support this cause...

Target.com - Perfect for travel! Sonia Kashuk is a makeup artist and a breast cancer survivor. 15% of the purchase price benefits the Breast Cancer Research Fund.

Avon.com - Avon is donating more than $6 from each Crusade Sock and Foot Works Overnight Treatment

Tinte Cosmetics - For the month of October, 40% of the proceeds from the Blushed Beauty Matchbook Kit,Nikki Pink Shimmering Face Pearl, Double Bubble Flavored Lip Shine, Bubble Flavored Lip Color, & Pink Shimmer and Shine Box will be donated to Breast Cancer Awareness.

Opi.com - OPI Pink of Hearts was created exclusively for Susan G. omen for the Cure. OPI Will be donating $25K to the charity.

MissionSkincare.com - A soothing paraben and preservative-free lip balm. One dollar from each sale goes to the Young Survival Coalition.

Dr. Brandt Skincare - In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, dr. brandt skincare will donate a portion of the proceeds from any GLOW, DNA or XYY online purchases from October 1st through 31st. Simply pick up one of these breakthrough anti-aging products on www.drbrandtskincare.com during the month of October and you’ll be helping to support breast cancer awareness.

Mama Mio - Mama Mio is supporting the cause by donating $1 for every bottle of Boob Tube sold in the US to Look Good Feel Better, the cancer support charity that helps women manage the visible side effects of cancer treatment.

BeautySak.com - Shop specific 'Pink' items and get 10% off, while they will donate 5% to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Use promo code 'PINK' at checkout. All eligible items can be found here.

*Post may contain affiliate links via Skimlinks.com

Sephora Gift Card Giveaway

Happy Monday! Arielle over at Beauty by Arielle is hosting a giveaway to celebrate her blog's 2nd anniversary. It starts today and ends October 21st. The prize is a good one...a $100 gift certificate to Sephora! Enter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beauty Blog Coalition Weekly Roundup

Blushing Noir: OPI Supports Breast Cancer Awareness for the Seventh Year in a Row! See Pink of Hearts 2013 here!

Mama Fashionista: When you go check out Quinn's September Favorites, make sure to leave a comment and tell her yours!

Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: Given that the season is changing, it is time to switch what we carry in our makeup bags. Can you guess what's inside Lola's Secret Beauty Bag?

TheFabZilla: Give your hair royal treatment. Win full-size bottle of Arganesse hair treatment oil, a $120 value! Open international.

Painted Ladies: Glitter lovers rejoice! e.l.f. Cosmetics Glitter Primer is a $2 bargain must have!

Slashed Beauty: Miranda shows you how to easily transform into a mermaid for Halloween!

D.G.S.Beauty: My hair is LOVE the nuNAAT NAAT Brazilian Keratin Daily Care Collection

In Her Makeup Bag: See what budget makeup products made it into Stephanie's "5 under $5" post!

BeautyTidbits: Check out the review and swatches of the new PureMoist Lipsticks from jane iredale.

A Little Polish: With October being Breast Cancer Awareness month, Stephanie share with us a pink skittle mani to show her support!

Pammy Blogs Beauty : It is Giveaway time again!!! Visit Pammy Blogs Beauty for a chance to win 3 amazing items from Emani Cosmetics: their new HD Concealer, an eyeshadow trio, and a blush!

Advice Sisters Beauty?Fashion/Lifestyle Website: Can you justify $50.00 for an eye shadow palette? Yes, if it's Sensai by Kanebo

Lipgloss Break: MAC Cosmetics Paint Pots stay on all day - check out my review!

My Highest Self: Tina reviews L'Oreal Paris Magic Nude Liquid Powder, see the before and after photos!

MAC Cosmetics Paint Pots

My new makeup go to product in the morning is MAC Cosmetic's Pro Longwear Paint Pot. I bought it more for the color, and not because the MAC rep told me it would stay on all day.

I was a skeptic at first. I've never had good luck with eye shadow staying on without a proper primer. Well, there's a first for everything! I've never had a shadow last this long. No primer needed. From 7am to 7pm, a full days work, this stayed on.

My go to eye make up for the past few weeks has been Paint Pot in Rubenesque, black liner, and mascara. Super easy for early mornings when I need to get to work quickly and for traveling. I've been using a shadow brush to apply Paint Pot to my lids. It goes on super smooth and even.

On my wishlist: Paint Pots in Let's Skate (pinkish pearl), Camel Coat (muted beige) and Painterly (nude beige). I love how versatile the nudes are. You can wear them alone during the day, and you can play them up with liner for night. You can also use these along with other shadows as a base shadow. These retail for $20 a pot. It's a little pricey, but you pay for the quality of product. I've been using mine for the past month, every day, and have barely made a dent in the pot. A little goes a long way! Purchase at maccosmetics.com or
shop.nordstrom.com.

Have you ever tried Paint Pots? If so, what did you think? What's your favorite MAC Cosmetic product? Please share!

Ellie Malta Capri pants

I heart new workout clothes. It motivates me to go to the gym! My new favorite workout pants are from Ellie.com. The Malta Capri pants, from their Bon Voyage collection, are ridiculously cute and unique. One of the coaches at my gym said, 'they look pants from the future!'

These pants are so different, you're bound to be the only person wearing them at the gym. Hitting mid shin, these grey capris have a fuchsia band across the top and fuchsia straps at the bottom of each leg. There's also the added convenience as hidden inside pocket for a credit card, cash or a key. I was a little worried about how these would wash, but after 3-4 washings they remain just like new.

Early morning Divvy bike ride in Chicago

Early morning run in Chicago

Fall walk in Michigan to check out the changing leaves

Additional info from Ellie.com for the Malta Capri pants...

Moisture wicking pre shrunk fabric
UPF 50+ protection
Open side detail, contrast waistband
Natural waist, hidden pocket inside waistband
Designed for running, yoga, outdoors
Material – Eclon, Supplex contrast

Ellie releases a fashionable new line of workout gear each month. October is themed Lightspeed and is releasing today!

Use this link to get 20% off your first order - Happy Shopping!

Have you tried Ellie gear out yet? If so, which pieces? What did you think?

Note: This review includes products that I received as samples, provided by the brand company or a PR rep. Please click here for more information regarding my disclaimer.

Clean Eating Apple Crisp Recipe

As much as I love Summer, as soon as October hits, I'm all in for Fall. Bring out the tights, bold nail colors, and cider mills. Last year we went to the orchards in Long Island and it was SO MUCH FUN. We brought back two huge bags of apples and I made a large bowl of apple sauce. But after one serving of it, as good as it was, I was kind of over it. So when my neighbor dropped off a bag of apples from a Michigan orchard, I hit the interwebs and researched some clean eating recipes.

Apple Crisp it is! I found several clean recipes but many still called for butter and brown sugar. I found this recipe on The Slender Grapefruit that looked good, and did my own variation.

Here's what I used:

7 small green apples
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup natural honey
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
3/4 cups oats
1/4 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup granola (I used Nature's Path Organic Coconut Chia Granola from Costco)
2 tbs of ground flax
1/4 cup plain greek yogurt

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Wash and chop up apples into cubes, toss with vanilla extract, and set aside
3. Mix honey, cinnamon and nutmeg, set aside
4. Mix oats, almonds, granola, ground flax and Greek yogurt in separate bowl
5. Spread apples in a 9x13 banking dish.
6. Coat with honey mixture, and then top with oat mixture. Cover apples evenly.
7. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until apples are soft

I served this over a little bit of Greek yogurt, instead of the usual ice cream that comes with crisp. Just keeping it clean! This got rave reviews from my husband and brother in law.

What are your favorite 'apple' recipes? I'd love to hear about them in the comments below! Please share!

Jessica Cosmetics A Night at the Opera

One of my favorite things about Fall is deep, dark nail colors! Here are swatches from Jessica Cosmetics A Night at the Opera collection. Details on the shades are below from JessicaCosmetics.com...

Velvet & Pearls - a brand new definition of black
Opening Night - a debut-worthy fuchsia (similar to Zoya's Mason)

Standing Ovation - a green guaranteed to get glowing notices (I will be sporting this for St. Patty's Day for sure)

Overture - the start of something big in iridescent copper (fun to wear with neutrals)

Blue Aria - an unforgettable song in cobalt (Love the name! This is a dark blue. Looks black in most lights)
Prima Donna - a violet celebration of the inner diva (fun purple for fall!)

I'm a huge fan of Jessica Cosmetics nail polishes. This line is perfect for the Fall we're having in Michigan. It's 80 degrees! But I can still get away with wearing some of these colors (Prima Donna, Opening Night, and Standing Ovation) since they aren't too dark, and could pass for a Spring/Summer shade.

What colors are you wearing on your nails this Fall?

Friday Favorites

This is a style themed Friday Favorites. I usually keep an eye open for fun styles that I can wear to work and transition to night. I normally don't buy stuff that I can't wear to my office (we have a casual dress code, but I usually dress business casual). The past few weeks I've found some really great Fall pieces from H&M, Target.com and at Marshalls that are work and date night friendly :)

Top: H&M, Pants: Piperlime.com Blank NYC, Necklace: Etsy.com, Bag: 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target.com, Shoes: Franco Sarto from Marshalls.com

Top: 3.1 Phillip Lim from Target.com, Jeans: DL1961, Shoes: Steve Madden, Bag: 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target.com, Necklace: Wantable.com

Normally I'm not a Target clothes shopper (they usually fit me weird) but I've been super impressed by their designer partnerships to date. Phillip Lim has been the best one yet!

Dress: Marshalls, Jacket: boutique in Chicago, Shoes: DSW Nine West, Necklace: Francesca's

Dress: Marshalls (old!), Jacket: boutique in Chicago, Necklace: RocksBox, Shoes: Marshall's Aerosoles (extremely comfortable!)

Dress: Vince Camuto from Marshalls, Shoes: Aerosoles from Marshalls

I'm a huge Marshalls fan. I find the cutest dresses, tops and shoes there. I'm kind of obsessed with my new beige suede booties from Marshalls. Because they are Aerosoles and have extra padding inside, they are super comfortable, even with the heel. I have been wearing them with both jeans and dresses.

Where are your favorite places to shop for work and weekend clothes? Please share in the comments!

NARS Bold Lip Tutorial

Want to rock a bold lip this Fall? Check out this video tutorial by NARS head makeup artist, Cindy Rodriquez. All products used are inspired by Guy Bourdin's Holiday collection. Details on the collection coming soon!