Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend!

There are a few innate things you can always count on in life: taxes must be paid every April 15th, the sun will rise in the east and set in the west and the ladies will always have a weakness for a certain sparkly gemstone. Think about it: have you ever met a girl who didn't go gaga over diamonds? Whether it's the pre-recession/finance-induced/celeb-sporting multi-carat (read: as big as your face) stone or a more subdued micro-pave, females will always become a bit weak in the knees. And a girl will always be able to recount the first diamond she received. The incidence sets a precedence, given from one loving person to another (for me it was the studs my parents gave me on my 16th birthday). Along those lines I have a diamond gift for my readers...

If there is one part of your face that you would like to sparkle like a million little diamonds or glitter the way fresh snow dances with a radiance-like dazzle, it is without question your lips. The multi-faceted shimmer of a D-flawless lipgloss imparts a sumptuous, multi-dimension, almost irresistible look to lips. So for your gift: drumroll please as you tear the wrapping paper, discover amongst the tissue a small blue box and open the lid to find....Chanel Levres Scintillantes Glossimer! Without question, this is THEgloss for a sophisticated, timeless glimmer. Imagine a micronized diamond bracelet that was transformed into a lipgloss and you would get Chanel Glossimer's. Available in 40 different shades, this gloss is what makes your lips desirably and unattainably kissable (beware of people becoming so fixated with your lips that they will be chasing you down the streets for just the smallest hope of kiss!). Formulated with my favorite antioxidants, vitamins C and E, this product will also prevent against free radical damage while the water-resistant formula stays put for hours upon hours. So for your next night out (or if you want to add a little something to your day) pull this out and frost your lips with this multi-watt diamond gift!

Usage tip: Use alone or layer on top of a complimentary lipstick for intensified shine and color. My personal favorite color is Unity which originally launched as a limited edition but like all blockbuster hits became a Chanel mainstay. It's the perfect caramel, shimmery bronze hue well matched and non-competing with any eye shadow color!

The result: Timeless, classic lips (after all that's what diamonds are!)

Smack That

So I know I promised another tutorial eye makeup post but I had an urgent request from 3 beaute 101 readers and I figured if they were all asking the same question perhaps you were too (just not out loud!). Yes fall has officially arrived! I started "winterizing" my closet and taking out the scarves to make my daily commute a bit warmer and perhaps more interesting (didn't you see the movie Shopaholic? That green scarf made her!). And while it's fun to rediscover your sweaters, this seasonal swap is not unique to just your clothes...you have to adjust your beauty regimen (and I mean the full shibang). We will cover this category by category, product by product in a lot of upcoming posts but probably one of the first areas you are noticing needing a bit more tlc is your lips.

The skin around the lip area is one of the most delicate and thin, making it susceptible to any external aggressors like sun, colder temperatures and the wind. The dry almost arctic (at times) weather we will experience from now till, well let's see umm April/May if we are lucky, strips your porcelain-like lips of any moisture. With each windy gust the lips moisture barrier (think of it as a wall keeping the water in) gets disrupted and over time your lips lose any ability to stay conditioned. That tight, almost needle-prick feeling your lips feel when the eastern winds are blowing so hard you feel it in your bones (ugh I'm really not excited about the winter!) is their way of saying HELP! Of course any old chapstick won't do for us beaute lovers. We need more perhaps a little color so we don't feel completely bare maybe a little UV protection...you know we want it all. So I have been test driving some lip balms and I have finally found one that may just be winter-proof.

MAC Tinted Lip Conditioners are just like a little pot of gold. The first time I applied it my lips just went "ahhh!" Formulated with the best hydrating ingredients earthly possible including shea butter, avocado, sweet almond and wheat germ oil, this emollient balm coats the lip with essential moisture helping restore the humectants needed to make lips supple and soft again. What's amazing is hours after you've applied it and numerous cups of tea later, you can still feel it like a protective glove keeping your lips safe. Now as I told you before I'm not a huge daytime lipstick wearer so I need my lip balm to also give a touch of color. Available in six versatile colors from pink to coral to bronze beige, MAC has got you covered so that your lips don't look drab in the gray weather. As if that's not enough they even go a step beyond. The lip conditioner also gives your lips a nice juicy sheen you typically only experience in their lip glosses (but no stickiness). So let's see so far you have hydration, color and shine? Oh wait, I forgot to mention the SPF 15 to protect lips from long-term damage. Well folks your lips should be safe this winter, so just go ahead and find a worthy kissing partner!

Usage tip: MAC also has Suntints but I didn't find it to be nourishing enough for weather-battered lips, it's a product more suitable to warmer conditions. For optimal results apply every 2 hours or as needed. Don't lick your lips! It only depletes the moisture from lips. The lip conditioners come in pots so if you're germaphobic like I've become with all the flu warnings invest in a travel lip brush. Added bonus? A more professional, controlled application.

The result: Color-infused, moisture enriched succulent lips!