The Daily Beauty Break

Honesty really IS the best policy. That’s why I love the girls over at Product Fiend….they dish on all the latest and greatest in the skincare world (and all the trials and tribulations regarding it…..wrinkles AND zits, anyone?). Seriously though, I’ve always followed the “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all” policy here at TDBB.  Mainly, if I try a beauty product and it’s a real STINKER….it’s won’t get a mention here either way…I try my best to “keep it real”….bottom line, I want to help YOU the dear reader look and feel her best….and if a product doesn’t fit the bill then I won’t write about it.

But after reading Wendy’s review of Bare Essentials Bare Essentials Bisque Concealer today (I swear it almost sounds like she got a bad batch or something..), I just had to make a little list of my own favorite concealors….I mean, talk about being worked into a corner….Zits just suck all the way around….and if you are like moi, when it comes to hiding the little buggers price can be no object ( nothing like returning a concealor to a counter girl becuase it won’t cover your zits…GOOD TIMES)  So I thought I’d do a quick list of my ALL-TIME favorites…

1. Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage ($20)…(with ya on this one Wendy!) This little duo has the perfect constistency for covering zits….super pigmented and thick, it won’t budge!!! Bonus, you can mix the two shades as your skin changes with the seasons so you will always get a perfect color match!

2. PUR Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Foundation ($24.50). I slap this bad-boy on in the am when I have to take the kiddos to school but just can’t bear to go out of the house with the “chaos that is my face” showing….bonus, you don’t need to set it with powder and there’s no icky sheen like some other mineral makeup! TOTAL COVERAGE = TOTAL RELIEF, I say!

3. Illuminare Extra Coverage Foundation/Concealor ($27). This is my “go-to” foundation and concealor when I am really in a skin pickle and have to go do makeup for a photoshoot…(nothing like being a makeup artist w/ acne)! A cult fav among us makeup artists…Illuminare probably has the most pigment of any pre-mixed foundation I have ever tried…..I always get compliments on my “skin” when I wear it…If they only knew….

TIP: When it comes to covering your zits…A. make sure your skin is prepped…flakes are toned or scrubbed away (go easy) and you have a good oil-free foundation primer on to help “even out the topography”..if you know what I mean! After foundation, set with a good translucent powder…then move on the concealer…apply in layers my dears….think concealer/powder/concealer/powder until the madness is GONE, BABY, GONE!!!

Be Beautiful Ya’ll…..

Happy Halloween my beauties!! You got your costumes for the weekend all figured out? Well, rather then re-invent the wheel I wanted to show you all the great How-To’s on one of my favorite beauty websites Total Beauty. Total Beauty is one of my sources for all the latest and greatest beauty finds, professional makeup tutorials and   “real people”  cosmetics reviews. They aren’t afraid to keep it real and I love that they do lists like “Editors 9 LOWEST rated body lotions”.

But seriously, TB’s Halloween makeup How-To’s are off the hook!!! There’s the “Twinkling Fairy” (pictured above), “Glamorous Mask”, “Sexy Kitten” (why do women always have to be either “sexy” or “dumpy” when it comes to Halloween…I soo don’t get that), “Classic Pin-up” (think Vita Don Teese), “Sexy Vampire” and MY favorite “Retro 60’s Girl”.

The step-by-step instructions are SUPER easy to follow and you don’t have to be a professional makeup artist like moi to re-create the looks…….Total Beauty Rocks!!!

So I hope you have a totally fun, totally safe (sorry it’s the mom in me) Halloween this year my pretties!!!

Be Beautiful and send pictures…..

*OH and don’t forget to enter my Sally Hansen Natural Beauty….inspired by CARMINDY giveaway (it will just take you a second….)!

Happy weekend beautiful people. If you get a minute, here are my top picks from the Beauty Blogosphere this week:

1.  My girls at Product Fiend want to know if Beyonce was “white-washed” in Loreal’s latest Feria Haircare campaign….weigh in and give them your opinion….

2.  Sign-on to win $200 bucks of natural beauty booty from the girls at Organic Beauty View!

3.  Go see Tyra Banks transform into Michelle Obama ( say what?) at Beauty Addict….

4. 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic shows us why Prescriptives is Daring for Fall 2008 ( one of the counters I loved working behind back in the day…).

5. And finally Temptalia shows us how to wear light-green eye shadow beautifully….

Have a beautiful weekend ya’ll!

And if you haven’t already don’t forget to enter my contest for free YBF skincare...

Happy weekend girls! Here’s some of the best I’ve found in our beauty blogosphere this week:

Lianne over at TheMakeupGirl finally went under the syringe!!!! Read about her “adventures in Botox”…..(I’m next in line ya’ll).

Product Fiend talks about the new trend of Celebrity Detouching.…..check it out if you A. need a little ego-boost this weekend and B. You want to see what Madonna would look like if she wasn’t the most vain woman on the planet (I’m so over her…).

The Glamazons over at Organic Beauty View share The 5 Best Organic Beauty Buys under $10 bucks!!! (more IS better, right?).

Go say Hi! to Lilan over at The Daily Cookie and enter to win a FREE Kat Von D eyeshadow pallet just for signing up for her newsletter…..

Celebrity makeup artist and brow genius Elke Von Fruedenburg shows us how to Keep those makeup brushes clean!

And last, but not least…. Bionic Beauty shares the coupon code to get the CUTEST Gift with Purchase from Benefit (you gotta see this darling little makeup bag)!

Have a beautiful weekend Ya’ll!

OMG..and I almost forgot….if you are new to The Daily Beauty Break be sure to say Hi and enter my YBF skincare drawing!