I love fall.  Fashion is spanking new and so is makeup. With that being said, there are a gazillion beauty goodies out now that I really, really want.  As a matter of fact, I need them.  It’s hard to nail down, so no doubt there will be an updated lust list next week, but in the meantime, my must-haves for makeup, skin care and hair care are below.

1. Makeup

Everyone knows I’m a NARS freak, and with good reason.  His colors are always on point.  I don’t wear much eyeshadow, but I think I will be rocking this plum, after all it’s the color of the season.

NARS Eyeshadow Daphne $23 Narscosmetics.com

Named after Daphne Guinness, this hypnotizing, deep-violet eyeshadow exudes excitement. Use across lids up to the brow, blending outward.

NARS Single Eyeshadow Daphne

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Are you going to the Art & Soul Festival this weekend in Oakland? I think almost everyone I know is checking it out one day or another. And why not, look at the lineup:

WHO:      CAKE, MC Hammer, Tony! Toni! Toné!, En Vogue, Lenny Williams, Sheila E., Edwin Hawkins and others bringing Oakland’s rich musical heritage to life; tens of thousands of revelers of all ages and backgrounds.

WHAT:    10^th Anniversary Art & Soul Oakland . Live music, art, food, celebrity chefs, wine tasting, community mural painting and the largest Family Fun Zone of any festival in the Bay Area.

WHEN:    Saturday, August 21 from Noon to 6pm and Sunday, August 22 from Noon to 6pm

WHERE:  Downtown Oakland centered around Frank Ogawa Plaza , City Center and surrounding streets

The weatherman promised HOT weather, so here are a few tips to keep your sexy on the cool side while you are enjoying the festivities.

1.  Don’t let them see you sweat

I love these handy wipes by DERMAdoctor. They banish perspiration for hours! Med e Tate $48 Dermadoctor.com

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Do you ever dread putting on your “face” on the weekends? Facing makeup is not always what we care to do on an “off day”. Rather than going bare-faced, try simple sexy!  Choose double, even triple duty items that made it simple to look fresh and vibrant, yet sexy, on a laid back Saturday.

Doesn’t Joy Bryant epitomize “simple sexy” beauty?

Joy Bryant — Getty Images

Your how-to for simple sexy weekend makeup in 3 steps:

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Iman CFDA 2010 Getty Images

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On the Ask Tracey section of my blog, I was asked about those pesky white bumps that sometimes appear after waxing.  Have you had that experience?  You shouldn’t…

Arlice Nicole asked:

I have a dilemma. I’ve only had my eyebrows arched once, so I decided to treat myself and do it again. Two days later, my forehead broke out in bumps. Particularly the area just above my eyebrows and upper forehead. Some were kinda big too (yuck!)

I went to my regular hairstylist. What went wrong here? Is this normal?

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I am absolutely obsessed with eye creams. At any given moment throughout the day, you can probably spot me dabbing something around my eyes, and most recently that has been Relastin Eye Silk. (I don’t tend to use products as recommended)  If everything else on my face falls apart, I will have smooth tight eyes til the day my expire.

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Do you have a hard time creating a smokey eye? Most people do and I suppose that’s why there are a million smokey eye makeup kits, video how-to’s and tutorials on Youtube.  As a makeup artist, creating a smokey eye is second nature to me, but even I love shortcuts.  And I found a great short cut to an easy hot smokey eye.

In my goodie bag that I received upon check-in at the blogger event hosted by IMAN Cosmetics was an IMAN Cosmetics Eye Defining Powder in Black Magic .  Being the makeup junkie that I am, I couldn’t wait to play, so I wore the Eye Defining Powder that night.  And the smokey eye was HOT!  And simple!

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I am a dress and heels girl. I have been for years. I think that women look better showing a little leg.  With that being said, it’s Friday, get fierce.  Show some leg girlfriend.

Check out lovely Alicia Keys — I love how she is so ladylike yet über sexy in her leather dress and Christian Louboutins.

Alicia Keys 2010 Silver Rose gala and auction at the Beverly Hills Hotel on April 18, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California. Getty Images

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So, I am back from New York. More specifically, back from being transported to New York by Iman Cosmetics to be part of their presentation of their new Luxury Radiance Foundation. (My blog posting about my ultimate foundation won this fabulous trip).

I had a great time.  Stayed in a lovely hotel, made some new friends and met Britany from Clumps of Mascara and Erin of Scandalous Beauty — also winners of this great trip.  And most importantly, I met the one and only Iman. My proof is below!  (I was having issues with my dress, wasn’t trying to flash anyone…)

Me on the left, Iman on the right (like you needed that identification)

And I will be reviewing the new Luxury Radiance Foundation.  Real soon.  Like next week.  But I already love it.

Jones Magazine editor-in-chief Tracey Ferguson

By Qianna Smith

Magazine editor-in-chief’s are becoming pop culture fascinations. Vogue’s Anna Wintour gave us a glimpse into her high-fashion life last summer in the acclaimed movie, “The September Issue.” And, now Jones magazine editor-in-chief and founder, Tracey Ferguson, is the latest industry glamour girl to hit the screen. Ferguson is the star of reality show, “Keeping Up With the Joneses,” airing Thursdays at 8PM EST on Centric, BET’s newest network, starting April 8. Viewers will get a rare look at all the drama that goes into publishing each issue of Jones – and Ferguson’s quest to take her Houston-based magazine national. Under Ferguson’s leadership, Jones has flourished from a wishful concept bantered about during a monthly book club meeting, into a vibrant, influential and beguiling quarterly publication that serves as an authority on very best in fashion, beauty, hair, parties and travel.

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