Beauty, Clinique, Dior, Kerry Washington, Kerry Washington, Lancôme, NARS, Too Faced

Notable Nude Lips: Kerry Washington

November 8, 2011 / No Comments

Only seven days into November and Kerry Washington has graced the red carpet of the L'Oreal Paris Legends Gala To Benefit Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, the Keep A Child Alive's 8th annual Black Ball, and Glamour's 2011 Women Of The Year Awards.

Wearing a bronze full-length bias-cut Ralph Lauren Collection gown, a modern white fairytale Donna Karan Resort 2011 dress, and a yellow chiffon gown by Marchesa, Kerry's makeup went from smoky eyes to flirty eyes, with all the looks tied together by a nude lip.

Sam Fine perfected Kerry's smoldering looks for the L'Oreal Paris Legends Gala while maintaining her signature nude pout.

The beauty of a wearing a nude lip is that it pairs equally well with clean eye makeup or a smoldering look like the one Kerry wore to the L'Oreal Paris Legends Gala. Notice that a nude lip can take on the a more matte appearance without much color, or it can go sheer and glossy with a slight pink undertone.

Notable Nude Lipsticks we love:

1. NARS Satin Lipstick in Honolulu Honey $24

2. Dior 'Addict' Lipstick in Nude 333 $28

3. Clinique Surge Butter Shine Lipstick in Delovely $14.50

4. Too Faced Lip Of Luxury in Free Love $20

5. Lancome L'ABSOLU NU Replenishing & Enhancing Lipcolor in Pale Petal $29

Lipstick by NARS

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Editor’s Picks: The Hardest Working Beauty Products for Labor Day

In 1884, just two years after the first “workingmen’s holiday” was celebrated, the Central Labor Union christened the first Monday in September as the official Labor Day holiday. As beauty buffs, we’re insatiable. When it comes to the art of beautifcation, we operate to an 8-count of harder, better, faster, stronger–we’re constantly on the prowl for those products that are always on the grind and keeps us gorgeous. So in honor of this tribute to our nation’s workers, we have dedicated this edition of editor’s picks to the hardest-working beauty products we know. Our Labors of Love are as follows… Editor-in-Chief Tracey’s Labor of Love: Black Opal Brightening Scrub $9 “I love this double duty scrub/mask. I scrub my face like crazy before I get in the shower. Then I let the mask work its wonders while I do my daily duty in the shower. The last thing I do is rinse off the mask. My skin is exfoliated and brightened in one fell swoop. And the best part is that this Black Opal scrub mask duo is under $10. On top of that the benefits are culmulative–my skin gets progressively smoother and brighter while I use this hard working beauty product.” Chelsea’s Labor of Love: Benefit Cha Cha Tint $30 “This mango colored blush in a bottle is the epitome of perfection! I am on the darker side of the spectrum for Black/African-American skin and many tints don’t show up on me. However, this bottled blush is highly pigmented, even on darker skin tones. It has a brush applicator that makes Cha Cha Tint an amazing multitasker—great for lips and cheeks. For a flawless, fetching face, Cha Cha gives a glowing color like no other.” Taylor’s Labor of Love: Coralactives Retinol Exfoliating Cleanser $22 “Simply put, CoralActives Retinol Exfoliating Cleanser does double duty by cleaning and exfoliating simultaneously. This is great because I don’t want to do any more than I have to in order to get the job done.” Staff Labor of Love: Peter Thomas Roth Gentle Complexion Correction Pads $36 “Peter Thomas Roth Gentle Complexion Correction Pads is a powerhouse in a pot. It truly sets the standard for adult acne correctors everywhere since it doesn’t have a traditional, medicinal smell. In fact, it brings the spa to you by incorporating peach bellini! But soothing scents beside, I’ve never experienced such immediate results after using a skin care product. All I saw was glowing, poreless skin. With all the anti-aging benefits, soothing botanical extracts and inclusion of glycolic and salicylic acid, you’re definitely doing your skin a huge favor!” Terez’s Labor of Love: Burt’s Bees Coconut Foot Creme $9 “I’m a huge fan of Burt’s Bees and I can’t say enough about the Coconut Foot Creme. It is nothing short of miraculous and it transforms rough, calloused feet overnight! This creme has a rich, honey-like consistency and smells delicious. I’ve also used this product to moisturize and protect dry elbows, knees and cracked cuticles.” Nalo’s Labor of Love: Estee Lauder’s DayWear Advanced Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant Creme SPF 15 $43 “Since it is important to use a moisturizer with SPF in the summer as well as during the cooler months, Estee Lauder DayWear Advanced Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant Creme SPF 15 works for all seasons. This hardworking beauty product reduces the appearance of fine lines, discoloration and dullness. It also fights free radicals while refreshing the skin with cucumber. Apply daily and at night to reap the benefits. ” Bona Fide Face Deidre’s Labor of Love: DDF Glycolic 10% Toning Complex $35 “I love when I don’t have to be slave to a great acne product. What’s worse than acne? Having to keep an acne product in tow in hopes of keeping an onslaught of fresh zits at bay. I use DDF Glycolic 10% Toning Complex about twice a year to give my skin a glowing, renewed state so my products-of-the-moment get their glory. This product rivals treatments at the derm office minus the sticker shock.” Shop the beauty products that work hard for the money: Face Anti-Aging by Estee Lauder
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Bad Beauty Habits: We Resolve to Break Them…At Least Try

Sexy crooner Maxwell sang about "Bad Habits," and we all have them. As the beauty veteran at Blinging Beauty, I know I need to practice what I preach. But I don't. Not all the time at least. Unfortunately for me, I have this "all or nothing" issue—either I'm going like gangbusters, or I'm totally DONE! So I'm all over doing the right thing with my hair/skin/body, or I'm just a flat out #loser. I'm trying to learn moderation in all things, and at the ripe old age of 54, to stay on top of my beauty habits. So, I forced asked my Bling Team members to share one bad beauty habit—or maybe that should be non-beauty habit— that they are going to try to squelch this year. Since I am at the helm of this ship, I figure it's only fair that I'm the first to divulge my bad habits. While I only asked them to talk about one, I'm going to spill the beans—I'm sharing my top 10 non-beauty habits. Drum roll please…. 10. Sleeping in makeup. 9. Not sleeping enough. 8. Going to bed with my hair wet (looks really bad when I wake up). 7. Using that tacky razor thing on my eyebrows between visits — I'm already doing better with this one, but I'm starting to resemble Brooke Shields. 6. Not drinking enough water. 5. Picking and tweezing my whiskers (I'm 54, it's a reality). 4. Frowning—it's a family thing, but I noticed I'm getting a permanent furrow in the middle of my otherwise line-less forehead. Booooooo! 3. Applying mascara and driving. This is more of a safety issue… even though I can do it without looking in the rearview mirror. 2. Drinking coffee all day. It's dehydrating, I know, but I really love it. And the biggest, nastiest, grossest habit I have… 1. Picking my cuticles. It's really bad. Every time I get my manicure, Tanya (my regular manicurist) says to me, "Tracey, you stress me out. Why you bite your cuticles?" Well, that answer is simple, I stress myself out. That's why. So with that being said, I'm cutting out stress from my life. Cut the stress, gain beauty, get ungnarly cuticles. Now, to heal my cuticles, I have a couple products that I am using that are wonderful. 1. Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream $30 Professional, emollient-rich treatment — with soothing Sesame Oil and fortifying Japanese Mulberry — forms an invisible protective "glove" that shields hands from the elements, minimizing signs of aging. Softens and comforts dry, chapped, irritated skin. Helps strengthen nails and condition cuticles for youthful-looking hands, naturally. 2. Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream $6 Give your cuticles some TLC. Specially formulated, this buttery cream taps Sweet Almond Oil and Cocoa Seed Butter to moisturize and soften your cuticles while Vitamin E and Sunflower Oil nourish brittle nails. Feel pampered and polished from tips to toes. • Moisturizes and softens cuticles with Sweet Almond Oil and Cocoa Seed Butter • Nourishes brittle nails with Vitamin E and Sunflower Oil • Fresh Lemon scent Break that ugly cuticle picking habit! Hand Treatments by Burt's Bees
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Editor’s Picks: Leap Year Winter Skin Care Essentials

It’s Leap Year. That means you have an extra day this year to do something special for you. Since we are in the throes of winter, with the harsh cold wreaking havoc with out skin, it may be time to check out some skin care products that bump up the level of beauty quotient of your skin. Remember how you used to write a word and associate another word with each letter of that word? Well we are doing just that for LEAP year. 1. L—Lather Choose gentle cleanser that not only get’s your skin clean, but is calming and chock full of good-for-you ingredients. Try: First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser $18 What it is: A face cleanser with a whipped texture that transforms into a rich cream when blended with water. What it does: This Face Cleanser gently cleanses the skin—removing surface oils, make up, dirt and grime—and its whipped texture transforms into a rich cream when blended with water. It’s infused with a powerful botanical antioxidant blend that works hard to scavenger free radicals. It calms redness and is PH-balanced to maintain the natural acidity of the skin. Daily use will result in fewer flare ups and reduced skin reactivity. 2. E—Exfoliate Improve texture, brighten and clarity your skin in one fell swoop with a gentle yet effective exfoliant. Try: Jurlique Fruit Enzyme Exfoliator $45 What it is: A fruit-based facial treatment that leaves skin visibly smoother and revitalized. What it is formulated to do: This ideal natural alternative to synthetic chemical peels harnesses enzymatic action to gently exfoliate skin and boost cell renewal for a refreshed, clear, glowing effect. Indigenous Australian extracts help to brighten and invigorate dull complexions, and improve skin texture and firmness. A dose of antioxidants and humectants soften fine lines and wrinkles while contributing to an overall healthier look and feeling. This formula is dermatologist tested. 3. A—Anti-aging It’s never too early to start fending off the ravages of time. Adding a treatment into your daily skin care regimen will slow the clock or turns the hands counter-clockwise. Try: Philosophy Miracle Worker™ Miraculous Anti-Aging Concentrate $62 What it is: An advanced antiaging serum designed to target the appearance of deep wrinkles and loss of elasticity. What it is formulated to do: This versatile, gel-textured, oil-free, age-defying essential features breakthrough peptide technology that bolsters the skin’s self-restorative capacity, supporting natural collagen to increase firmness and elasticity, and minimize lines and wrinkles. The water-based gel formulation helps bind hydration to the skin, maintaining a natural moisture barrier, while multiple antioxidants protect against free-radical attack. – Encourages improved elasticity and firmness. – Helps improve the appearance of deep wrinkles. – Helps protect against environmental attack. 4. P—Pamper Take one day a week to pamper your skin with a mask that adds hydration and nutrients. Try: AmorePacific Moisture Bound Vitalizing Masque $60 What it is: An overnight mask with a liquid-gel texture for improving internal hydration and antioxidant levels. What it is formulated to do: Restore tired, dehydrated skin overnight with this lightweight mask. AmorePacific’s 5-Hydra Complex dramatically improves internal hydration and antioxidant levels. Cellular turnover and youthful metabolism are promoted while moisture loss is prevented, all from the inside out. Get your leap year goodies here: Editor’s Picks: Leap Year Winter Skin Care Essentials Face Anti-Aging by philosophy Face Moisturizers by Amore Pacific
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The 7 Beauty Products You Need for Winter—Budget to Luxe

Winter chill is upon is and that means our we need to take extra care to hydrate our skin and hair. From the harsh weather to inside heating, the elements — natural and artificial — can deplete our skin of moisture. That’s why we have rounded up our favorite, (tested) winter-worthy beauty products to help you make it through the next couple months. 1. A bomb Lip Balm Why sacrifice color for utility? Stock up on tinted lip balms for your most moisturized pucker of the seaxon. Try: Laura Mercier Stick Gloss $24 This ultramoisturizing lip color is a cross between lip balm, lip color, and lip glace. It cares for your lips while delivering color in a sheer and sophisticated finish. Or Try: Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm $6.99 Adds a Hint of Sheer Color, Nourishes with Shea Butter, Super Conditioning 2. A Mega Moisturizing Night Cream Your skin rejuvenates at night, so feed it extra moisture during these cold months. Try: Jurlique Nutri-Define Rejuvenating Overnight Cream $110 A luxuriously rich, multitasking overnight treatment with Biosome5, a breakthrough liposomal technology, to provide deep, lasting moisture and a softer, youthful-looking complexion. Or Try: Lumene Time Freeze Firming Night Cream $24.99 Helps to reinforce your skin’s firmness and restore it’s elasticity during the night, while smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles. 3. A Deep Conditioning Hair Mask Hair needs to be kept moist for ultimate health and shine. Incorporate a weekly deep conditioning treatment to keep hair properly hydrated for winter. Try: Kerastase Maskeratine $62.50 Daily deep conditioning mask,Provides maximum frizz control, extreme softness and suppleness. Seals ends to help prevent future blowdry damage. For Fine to Coarse, Unmanageable Hair Or Try: SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque $12.99 SheaMoisture’s Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque deeply moisturizes and repairs dry, damaged or over-processed hair. 4. Luxurious Body Lotion Your skin deserves to be pampered with the best body lotion in frigid weather. Keep ashy skin at bay with the a rich body lotion. Try: MOLTON BROWN London Oudh Accord & Gold Body Lotion $44 This soothing body lotion hydrates your skin while leaving behind a beautiful fragrance you can revel in all day long. Or Try: Nubian Heritage Goat’s Milk & Chai Body Lotion $11.99 Goat’s Milk, high in protein, vitamins, and minerals, help soothe and nourish skin. Organic Shea Butter, Chai and Rose Extracts blend to create a luxurious and aromatic skin conditioning moisturizer that will leave the skin feeling soft. 5. A Creamy Blush Ditch your powder blush and opt in for a creamy blush that gives your skin a fresh look. Try: Kevyn Aucoin The Creamy Glow $26 A sheer, dewy wash of color for skin that glows with vitality! Or Try: Maybelline Master Glaze Glisten Blush Stick $7.99 Makes cheeks go dewy and gently glazed with sheer blush color. 6. Hydrating Lipstick Try: Marc Jacobs Beauty Le Marc Lip Crème $30 A rich, velvety, ultra-hydrating lipstick that delivers a dramatic punch of vivid pigment and endless hours of luxurious wear. Try: IMAN Luxury Moisturizing Lipstick $10 It glides on smooth to condition and moisturize. It provides full-coverage, long-lasting wear. 7. Ultra Rich Hand Cream Try: Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream $30 The nourishing formula absorbs quickly to deeply invigorate and tone skin. Shea protects skin against the drying effects of external factors, while also minimizing the visible signs of aging. Or Try: Yes to Carrots Nourishing Intense Repair Hand Cream $8.99 Intense Repair formulas target extra dry or itchy skin with intense ingredients to make your skin breathe a big ol’ sigh of relief! Shop:
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Skin Care Review: Moroccan Magic Lip Balm

Thinking back to when I was much, much younger, I’m sure the first beauty product I used was lip balm. In my mind it was a gateway beauty product — next would be lipgloss and then the golden prize — LIPSTICK! The irony is that now, decades later, I’m still in love with lip balm, and it’s a necessary piece to my makeup and skin care arsenals. I’m sure everyone has a reason for using a lip balm — it’s the perfect lip primer for those super matte lipsticks. Lip balm keeps your lips moist during harsh winter weather. It’s the natural go-to for an errand day or a dressed-down Saturday. Lip balm is pretty much a necessity. I had the pleasure of trying out Moroccan Magic Lip Balms. And pleasure I do mean… About Moroccan Magic Lip Balm $12 for 3 to $30 for 7: HIGH QUALITY LIP TREATMENT: Our balms are ultra smooth, healing and long lasting without that waxy feel or taste. Moroccan Magic Organic Lip Balms are infused with USDA Organic Argan and Essential Oils and are proud to only use high quality, fair trade, USDA Organic ingredients in our products. Our Formulas are non-toxic, cruelty free and always made with simple, pure, clean ingredients from nature MADE WITH NATURAL INGREDIENTS: As a company, we have very high standards for our manufacturing process from ingredients to packaging. We never use synthetic ingredients, parabens, sodium laurel sulfate, phyhalates, chemicals, fillers, animal testing, mineral oils, petroleum. In fact, each ingredient included in our small batch formulas have purpose and are believed to have their own healing properties PURE, SIMPLE, CLEAN FORMULA: Our simple recipe for the perfect lip balm starts with quality ingredients. Each ingredient included in our small batch formulas have purpose and are believed to have their own healing properties. Enjoy Ingredients such as organic beeswax, argan oil, and rosemary extract for long lasting, smooth-as-butter results MOROCCAN MAGIC: As a true lip balm lover, you are most likely (and understandably) very picky about which lip balms you use. That’s good, we are too! That’s why we have created what people are now calling “The Smoothest Lip Balm Ever!” We are proud to offer a better balm, it’s as simple as that. You deserve a higher quality everyday lip balm at an everyday price Available in 8 flavors: ROSE: This naturally sweet and earthy flavored lip balm was specially crafted with organic rose essential oil. MANUKA HONEY: This naturally sweet and earthy flavored lip balm was specially crafted with organic Manuka honey. PEPPERMINT EUCALYPTUS: This naturally sweet and earthy flavored lip balm was specially crafted with organic peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils. LEMON THYME: This naturally sweet and earthy flavored lip balm was specially crafted with organic lemon and thyme essential oils. LAVENDER VANILLA: This naturally sweet and earthy flavored lip balm was specially crafted with organic lavender extract and organic vanilla. COCONUT ALMOND: This naturally sweet and earthy flavored lip balm was specially crafted with organic sweet almond and coconut oils. ELDERBERRY AND MANUKA HONEY: This naturally sweet and earthy flavored lip balm was specially crafted with elderberry fruit extract and organic Manuka honey. UNSCENTED: This unscented lip balm was specially crafted to be your new favorite go-to lip balm for everyday chapped lip relief. My results: Moroccan Magic Lip Balms have raised the bar for inexperienced lip balm in a tube. The ingredients are exceptional— argan oil and a plethora of essential oils and herbs to vary the “flavor” and scent of the balm. My favorite use is under my lipstick as I like to use a long-wearing lipstick for work and those tend to be drying. However when I use Moroccan Magic Lip Balm before applying an ultra matte lipstick it saves my lips! These lip balms are also my daily go to as opposed to a lipgloss when I’m having a casual day. Moroccan Magic Lip Balm is also part of my nighttime skin care routine. A touch of this lip balm keeps my lips moist through the night. I do have my favorites–Elderberry and Manuka Honey, Coconut Almond and Lemon Thyme. But they are all wonderful. Bling Factor: Pro: Moisturizing, soothing, long-lasting, great ingredients Con: None Price: $3.99 each plus package prices Buy again: None Packaging: 5 Blings, each “flavor” is easily identifiable Overall: 5 Blings Hero Ingredients: Organic Argan and Essential Oils Natural/Organic/Vegan: Yes Cruelty Free: Yes
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