Beauty of a Site Blog

From a quick survey of the internet, it's oh so obvious which halloween costumes are going to be the most popular this year: Lady Gaga, Jersey Shores cast members, Twilight Characters, Alice is Wonderland, Avatar... and the list goes on.  Unfortunately, these had been all of my first picks as well, so the question remains: What can I do to set my costume apart? Ladies, the answer is always the same: The costume is in the details... it's time to accessorize! Here are some tips to make the three top costume choices your own, with a little help from Beauty of a Site: 1.  Lady Gaga with Falsies:  There's no question about it; if you want to rock Lady Gaga, you've got to rock some wicked cute false eyelashes.  And you know how it goes- the crazier the better.  We suggest something lush and dramatic like Eye Candy Strip Lashes or something jeweled and sparkly, like Tinsel Town Strip Lashes. 2.  Jersey Shore with Some Serious Volume: If you're going to pull of Snookie's look this Halloween, you're going to have to not only temporarily dye your hair black, but you're going to have to sport that massive bump in your 'do.  For some serious height, try Tigi Catwalk's Your Highness for Volume line.  Find root boosters, sprays and even a shampoo and conditioner that will help you get that elevation you need! 3.  Sexy Vamps with Glistening Complexion:  It always takes some skill to pull off Twilight cast costumes, because they dress like normal people.  The biggest difference between an undercover vampire and you and me is some super pale, lovely, glittery skin.  Add a little glitter to your powder to pull off the look!  We suggest using a mineral powder, like Orglamix Pure Mineral Powder in light Balsa, and mixing it with a fine silver glitter.  Not only will the mineral makeup give you a flawless complexion, but the bit of sparkle will have you looking like Alice, Rosalie or Edward in no time!

With the recent release of OPI's Burlesque collection, I had the opportunity to paint my nails a gazillion times in a row.  As I'm sure you can imagine, this could certainly do some damage to your cuticles.  However, Cake- one of our new product lines!- had just the product to help me through it! Cake Beauty Milk Made Smoothing Hand and Cuticle Buffer includes purifying sugar granules, nourishing grapeseed, coconut and sweet almond oils, this spa-quality manicure treatment is designed to both exfoliate and nourish.  After thoroughly working the formula over your hands and cuticles, Cake's Smoothing Hand and Cuticle Buffer gets rid of dry skin or left over product while infusing your hands with nourishing essential oils to keep them smooth and supple.  Simply rinse off after use! The best part about this Cake product is that it smells YUMMY.  Like vanilla with a touch of raspberry, your one step mani is going to be soo much sweeter! I was shocked by how well this worked! I didn't even have to use cuticle oil, as the buffer was so backed full of great essential oils.  My hands were smooth all day, and the formula didn't do any damage to my dry skin.  I will officially use it whenever I can! Below are some of our other favorite Cake products for you to check out!  Or, click here if you want to browse them all! Cake Walk Triple Mint Foot Cream: Cake Beauty Cake Walk Triplemint Foot Creme is a a fresh, rich foot creme packed with nourishing butters and oils. This great creme is formulated to soothe, cool and nourish rough and tired feet while locking in moisture and instantly giving feet (and legs) a lasting nourished look and feel. Cake Beauty It's a Slice Supreme Body Mousse: Cake Beauty It's a Slice Supreme Body Mousse is a rich whipped tahitian vanilla and coconut body lotion to blanket your body in. This ultra light body lotion with extreme hydraters leaves your skin lightly scented and perfectly moisturized and smooth. Cake Beauty Citrus Squeeze Better Body Rub: Cake Beauty Citrus Squeeze Better Bod Rub is a skillfully blended moisturizer that does so much more! Infused with active ingredients that help tone, firm, reduce the appearance of dreadful dimply bits and ‘not so’ fine lines.

I've always been jealous of my friends with curly hair, but they always argued that they'd KILL for straight hair.  Apparently the daily task of reigning in a mane of curly hair is more than the average woman has time for.  Well, curly-haired-friends, I have good news. Tigi's newly revamped Catwalk product line features products specifically designed for curly hair:  Curlesque.  One of our favorite products is the Curlesque Curls Rock Amplifier.  Though this product is designed to actually amp up your curls, never fear- it separates and defines as well.  Helping your curls look exactly how they're supposed to! Simply work the amplifier through damp hair for beautiful definition, subtle shine and INCREDIBLE frizz control.  Best of all... it's on sale this month at Beauty of a Site.  Save $2 on every bottle! Click here to check it out!  

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Beauty of a Site is inviting you to join the fight by making one simple decision: shop pink!  Some of our favorite brands have made their best selling products (that you already love!) available in pink versions to raise money for major breast cancer research and support organizations.  The more we buy, the more money is raised for the cause! Click here to browse all of the products that you can purchase to raise money for breast cancer!  Here are some of our favorites: 1. China Glaze Fight Like a Woman Nail Polish Collection: Featuring three dazzling pinks to both raise awareness and support the cause, this new collection features Empowerment (cotton-candy creme), Encouragement (pink shimmer) and Endurance (raspberry shimmer).  Available for a limited time only, order today! 2. Woody's Real Men Wear Pink Daily Grooming Kit: The perfect way for a guy to join the fight!  Featuring the pinkest boxers we could find, as well as a Woody's Daily Shampoo and Woody's Mega Firm Gel to help you rock your boxers in style!  It's like they say- it takes a real man to wear pink. 3. Tigi Bed Head Masterpiece "Pink" Shine Hairspray: One of our favorite "keep-it-right-there" hairsprays, Bed Head Masterpiece helps you capture your creativity and keep it where it needs to be, all day long.  Bright pink and in support of the City of Hope, Masterpiece is perfect for October and any time.

So I admit it; I shared my favorite colors with you last time, but here are some shots of the over major colors.  These are indoor shots as opposed to those in broad daylight, but I am intending to show how they show up under office / home lighting.  They are actually quite similar (in any light!) but the subtle differences are visible when in close proximity: OPI Show Must Go On.  The pinkest of the bunch, this very true dark pink is a beautiful color.  Not as purple as the fuscia OPI Let Me Entertain You, this pink is spunky but classy, featuring a dark pink shimmer for interest, but an overall bold color appropriate for the business woman and party girl alike. Compare the pink above with this deep red, OPI Ali's Big Break.  Even though there is a slight pink hue to this crimson shade, Ali's Big Break is a true red, beautiful with any skin tone and a truly sexy color! The truest orange we've seen from OPI in some time! OPI Take the Stage is a beautiful, bold orange shimmer, not bright orange or neon orange, nor burnt or smokey.  A gorgeous warm color, more red than yellow featuring perfect gold sparkles, Take the Stage is a great color for any one and any occasion! Here's a closer comparison of these colors to help you see the subtle distinctions: Oh- and by reader demand- here are two of the other glitter polishes.  These are terribly un-photogenic.  Like diamonds, these chunky polishes can't quite handle a camera's flash.  But this will give you an idea of the subtle color differences between them. OPI Simmer & Shimmer (blue on the left) and OPI Glow Up Already (green on the right).  Again, sorry for the odd lighting, but these things are out of control sparkly- I hope you can see it!

So you've probably heard the rumor and seen the promo pics- OPI's HOliday collection is themes after the new movie Burlesque, starring Cher and Christina Aquilara.  We have great news:  WE HAVE SWATCHES! This blog is part 1 of our Burlesque debut.  Check back for more updates!  Here's the full collection! Six shimmering solids are bright, sexy and incredibly fun.  There are no words for their glittery counterparts; they offer glam, glitz, the whole shebang! Reminiscent of OPI's Alice in Wonderland glitters from earlier this year, we are already anticipating these being the "it" colors for Holiday 2010! I need to admit it: I love dark colors, so I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this collection.  I immediately loved OPI Tease-y Does It, a burgundy / brown / mocha shimmer, with a base very much like OPI's Espresso Your Style with the addition of a more burgundy-tinted shimmer: One of the boldest colors from the collection is OPI Rising Star.  A super warm orange guaranteed to be a burst of sunshine on your chilly holiday, OPI Rising Star is actually quite beautiful, even on my light skin tone.  If you sport a beautiful bronze tan, this will look gorgeous! Now, the non-solid polishes from this collection are seriously glittery.  Like, I'm talking chunky rough pieces of glitter.  The effect truly is dazzling and cutting edge- perfect for a night out, perhaps even a glittering New Year's Eve party! Because of the nature of the polish, multiple layers are DEFINITELY necessary.  In fact, I achieved the best coverage when I applied the polish in chunks, and then spread it evenly before it dried.  Here is OPI Sparkle-icious in 1, 2 and 3 coats: As you can see, the sparkle-y polishes really could function well as top coats. To experiment a little bit, I applied OPI Rising Star as a gold base, and then topped the polish with OPI Extra-va-vaganza! in a single layer, to act as a glitter top coat. Here is the pretty beautiful result: Keep checking back for more swatches and updates about the availability of this limited time polish! At Beauty of a Site, we're accepting pre-orders RIGHT NOW- claim your polish today!  Click here!!

Booty Parlor has been giving us frisky, luxurious skincare and gifts for years, but we're totally excited by their two newest products!  Perfect for an extra special Friday night, or for maintaining beautiful skin through daily use, these are essentials for dames who love to feel gorgeous! Booty Parlor Lust Me, Dust Me Kissable Body Shimmer Trio: This group of three shimmering powders will add subtle sheen to any skin tone that not only makes your skin look sexy, but features three beautiful (and tasty!) fragrances and flavors! Click here to check it out. Booty Parlor's Flirty Little Secret Pink Caviar Scrub with Pheromones: Featuring skin polishing beads and sugar, Pink Caviar Scrub features BP's secret weapon: a powerful pheromone designed to make you irresistible to the opposite sex!

Who doesn't!? Applying false eyelashes can seem pretty daunting, and without some tips, it can be a big fat mess.  But never fear- when done properly (and when you have the know-how) it's a breeze and looks great every time! 1.  First things first- trip 'em up!  False eyelashes are one size fits all, so to make sure that they look natural on your face, trim them to the exact size and shape of your eyes.  Feel free to adjust the length of the individual lashes and the density of the group to get the look you're wanting. 2. Don't over-glue.  Glue is the "scariest" part about applying your own lashes, but it doesn't have to be.  Squeeze out a little bit of the glue onto a paper towel, a sponge or even the back of your hand, and carefully dip the edge of the falsies into the glob, getting just enough glue on the lashes.  This way, glue stays on the lashes and can't drip where it shouldn't be. 3. Make sure to mascara!  The best trick for getting your false lashes to stay put is by applying mascara very carefully after your lashes are firmly dried in place.  By applying mascara over both your natural and false lashes, the normal adhesion of the mascara holds both groups of lashes together and makes them blend perfectly, for extra hold and a perfect match! 4.  Get gutsy.  The best part about false eyelashes is their ability to give you a totally new look.  Try thicker, thinner, more colorful, more dramatic or sexier lashes to fit your mood, costume or plans!  Here are our suggestions for the best lashes for your style: Sexy: Eye Candy Strip Lashes, $9 Gaga-style party: Tinsel Town Strip Lashes, $9 Dramatic: Been Around Strip Lashes, $9 Natural: Black Sweeties Invisi-band Lashes, $6.50 Classic: Black Demi Wispies Invisi-band Lashes, $6.50 Click here to browse all of these sexy lashes!

It's been cool enough here in the Midwest this week for us to talk like it's Fall.  Along with cardigans, books and other Fall goodies, we're making some subtle adjustments to our cosmetic bag that scream, "hey, it's Fall!"  Here's our quick guide to small changes you can make to freshen up your style for the Fall season: 1.  Neutral nail shades.  Glamour's August issue warned us that we'd be seeing neutral nail shades everywhere we looked, and we're here to report that we are!  Along with Glamour, we totally recommend Essie's Mink Muffs (a classy, sassy taupe) and OPI's You Don't Know Jacques! (funky grey-beige creme) as the coolest neutrals of the season. 2.  Pucker up with red lips!  Whether you're heading to a show with friends or to an office meeting, rock classic red lips to liven up your look.  The bright lips work best with simple eyes (maybe even mascara only) and only a light bronzer instead of pinker blush.  Let your lips do the talking!  Do it best with DuWop's Private Red Lipstick which magically adjusts to be your own personal perfect red shade! 3.  Eyebrows that show.  That's right kids... stop plucking those suckers.  This trend started showing up earlier this year, but has really established itself both on the runways and in our own back yard.  With neutral makeup and a clean look being such a big part of fall style, having eyebrows to shape your face and give your look some color is a welcome change.  Keep your brows even and in order using Blinc's Eyebrow Mousse in the color that's right for you!

For the month of September, Beauty of a Site is partnering with Juara to offer ALL of their incredible skincare products at 15% off- all month long, on any sized order! In honor of those momentous occasion, I wanted to try out one of their most popular products: The Candlenut Body Creme. First impressions: Hello tropical. It's not an overpowering tanning oil-infused tropical smell, but a soft, calm, relaxing nutty smell (reminiscent of coconut). I hate overpowering fragrances, and this formula featured the perfect balance. Consistency: As a body creme, the product is definitely thick and creamy, but not in any way heavy. The moisturizer almost feels whipped; light enough to soak in, but thick enough to nourish the skin. Result: Skin feels silky, not sticky, but deeply moisturized. The scent lingers slightly, which has a surprisingly powerful calming effect! I actually used the product on recently sunburnt skin, and was amazed by how soothing the creme was! It isn't necessarily designed for healing, but it was so moisturizing that I felt serious improvement. Usage: Because of the creme's thick consistency, a little goes a LONG way! I used a .17 oz sample and was able to apply the creme liberally on both my arms and legs.  Success! I highly suggest giving this body creme a try, particularly at such a great price!  Click here to check it out!

To help our customers celebrate the hard working spirit of the American people, we want to say thank you!  Use the coupon code below to save 15% on any order placed between this morning and midnight on Monday night.  It's an excellent deal! Not sure where to shop?  Click here to see all of our newest items; they're perfect gifts for dear friends or for yourself, to celebrate your hard work over the last year.

Here at Beauty of a Site, we take it upon ourselves to share a little of our best and worst dress opinions. But since I am writing the blog, I suppose I get the final word. If I start any intra office conflicts, I'll let you know about the minority opinions. :) Editorial note: I'm a Glee fan. This might sway my votes. My favorite two dresses: 1. Lea Michele (Rachel Berry on Glee) She's sporting that gorgeous deep blue that we're seeing in makeup and fashion all over the place this Fall. That, plus her incredible form. Excellent. 2.  Tina Fey (30 Rock) I read on Yahoo! this morning that people weren't all the way thrilled about this dress (the Yahoo! community graded it a B+), but I give her one of my top votes.  The dress is beautifully propotioned and truly unique.  The color flatters her and is classic.  Plus, there's a rumour that she was wearing tennis shoes under her gown.  Best idea ever. Ok, so here's my very least favorite dress.  There are almost no words.  This monstrosity comes to us from Holly Burrell, wife of Ty Burrell, star of Modern Family.  We have it on good authority that they're pretty funny people, and could very well be joking.  Let's hope for that, friends.  Let's hope. Disagree?  Think we skipped over something?  Just let us know!  Comment below and get this discussion movin'!