Ballasox by Corso Como "the shoe with the sewn-in sock"

Hello dolls!

While I primarily write about beauty-related items, ya'll know my other loves are shoes and handbags! I mean, if you have cute feet and a good handbag, then your whole outfit will look good! I love wearing high wedges or heels, even during the day. As a short-average height girl, I just love that "tall" feeling from wearing shoes that give you some height. But, this can take its toll on tired feet. So, I will often put a pair of flip flops or flats in my bag to change into later or to wear on the way home.

This is where Ballasox by Corso Como comes in! These adorable leather flats fold up into a little drawstring bag so that you can take them with you. Genius!!! Perfect for a mid-end of day shoe switch-out!

For more about Ballasox and some photos, please keep reading after the break!

Total Beauty: 7 Summer Makeup Trends

7 Summer Makeup Trends (Plus Melt-Proof Tips)

The sexiest looks for 2011 -- and application secrets from the pros -- you'll want to try now

This is a TotalBeauty.com makeup trends article Imagine your $28 Dior Addict Lipstick after leaving it in your car on a super-hot summer day. You end up with a gooey, hot pink puddle of unusable goodness. Now, imagine that on your face. Yuck, right? Get this season's hottest makeup trends and expert tips on how to keep them from melting off your face. Get expert advice

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Travel Packing: What's in my makeup bag?

Hey everyone!

Is anyone else out there a terrible packer? I am a self-proclaimed over-packer! With my love of makeup and all-things-beauty, a lot of time and consideration goes into my travel makeup bag packing. Plus, with a large makeup collection, it is just hard to choose what to bring!

Where did I go? Cancun! Have you ever been there? It is so beautiful!!! We stayed at a fabulous resort called Live Aqua. I would highly recommend it! We normally don't go on such "fancy" trips. But, since our 10 year anniversary is coming up, we figured it was time for a 2nd honeymoon!

So, I hope you enjoy this blog post and YouTube "Travel Packing: What's in my makeup bag?" video! I included a list of not only what I brought, but a post-trip list of what I actually used! My desire is to better streamline my packing for my next trip!

So, if you would like to see what I brought and watch my video, please keep reading after the jump break!

Sigma Miss Taylor Kabuki Giveaway Winner

Hello dolls! 

Just a quick post today to announce my Sigma Miss Taylor Kabuki brush Giveaway Winner!!! Thanks again to all of you who took the time to enter! I had a fabulous response to this giveaway! 

If you want to know who won, keep reading after the jump break! 

Beauty Spotlight: Weekend Links

This week our lovely team of bloggers help you conceal, bronze, get ready in a flash AND win some great beauty loot!

At Prime Beauty I've been channeling my former Hippie Chick with the BECCA Halcyon Palette. I'll give a hint....she thinks it's groovy!

Have you heard of Birchbox? It is a monthly sample subscription gift box of fabulous deluxe sized samples. See what Pammy Blogs Beauty got in her June Birchbox!

On her seemingly endless search for the prefect under eye concealer, Visionary Beauty Diorskin Nude Skin Perfecting Hydrating Concealer to the test.

Over at Lipstick Musings, Shannon gets a serious shock when she lives on the edge and tries Rouge Dior lipstick in #786, Mysterious Mauve.

Total Beauty: 10 Daring Haircuts for Summer

10 Daring Haircuts for Summer

Are you ready for something new? Check out these 10 bold haircuts

This is a TotalBeauty.com haircut article With the weather heating up, now's the best time to get a shorter 'do. Our mentality here at Total Beauty? Go bold or go home. Take a look at these hot new cuts and get inspired. See cuts

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Artisan Naturals Luxury Skin & Body Care

Hello my dears!

I have a skincare line review for you today! I just completed testing a variety of products from the Artisan Naturals Luxury Skin & Body Care line. As many of you readers know, I am a huge fan of natural skincare and cosmetics. If products are effective *and* eco-friendly, then they are just products that you can feel good using!

Have you heard of Artisan Naturals?
Artisan Naturals is a Natural and Organic skincare line with a focus on "Sustainable Beauty". They utilized wild-crafted ingredients, steam distilled essential oils, and natural preservatives. In addition to being organic, they are also cruelty free. Artisan Naturals products are free from: animal testing, parabens, sulfates, petro-chemicals, synthetic fragrances, and artificial colorants. I love that this brand uses organic ingredients from around the world. Artisan Naturals purchases quality ingredients such as essential oils, herbs, butters, and extracts from small self-sustainable companies and farms. These are business practices that I can respect.

For my reviews of Artisan Naturals Zine & Aloe Anti-Acne Treatment Serum, Soothing Aloe Face Cleanser, Linden Blossom Firming Eye Gel, and Replenishing Toner, please keep reading!

Cover It! Concealer Review Series: Exuviance CoverBlend

Hello lovely readers!

I am back with another concealer review for my Cover It! Concealer Review Series.

What am I looking for in a concealer? Primarily I am looking for medium to heavy coverage for the under eye area to conceal my super-dark under eye circles. But, I am also looking for medium coverage concealers to cover slight redness around my nose and on my chin. For more background, check out my Cover It! Concealer Review Series Intro. Also be sure to check out previous Cover It! post Boo-Boo Cover-Up.

This review is for Exuviance CoverBlend Multi-Function Concealer SPF 15 by NeoStrata. I was thrilled when NeoStrata contacted me to see if I wanted to test out one of their best-selling products. A "medical" anti-aging concealer with good coverage *and* SPF 15? This product "had me at hello"! I mean, this concealer sounds too good to be true!

So, "how did I like it" you ask? Keep reading!

Total Beauty: 14 Luxurious Beauty Products to Try

14 Luxurious Beauty Products to Try

These high-end beauty products are totally worth the splurge according to our readers. Check 'em out

This is a TotalBeauty.com best beauty products article When it comes to expensive beauty products, you'd better be buying them purely based on the fact that they ARE better than less-expensive varieties, agreed? See what our readers guarantee are the luxe products you won't mind plonking down your hard-earned cash for. See products

No. 14: Nars Lipstick, $24

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.6

Readers agree this lipstick offers colors that are "very pigmented and super long lasting."

No. 13: CHI Turbo Ceramic Ionic Hair Dryer, $119

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 9

"The price seems hefty for a dryer, [but with] dry time cut in half [and] hair left soft and smooth," it's worth every penny.

No. 12: Bliss Lemon + Sage Soap, $18

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 9.3

It gives "clean, smooth, healthy skin and a lovely scent."

Want to see what other beauty products made the list? Click here!

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can receive compensation for posting this material.

June 2011 Birchbox: Box Opening

Hey everyone! I am just now able to post my Monthly Birchbox Post as I was out of town (anniversary trip to Cancun!) when the box arrived. I must admit that it was fun to come home to my monthly "surprise"Birchbox full of goodies!

If you are not familiar with Birchbox, it is a monthly sample subscription of a gift box filled with 4-5 deluxe sized samples plus occasionally a "treat" or an "extra". The subscription is about $10/month and it includes the monthly Birchbox, access to the fabulous member's only Birchbox website, free shipping on full sized products included in the current month's box, and opportunities to earn Birchbox points for reviewing the products on the Birchbox website (accumulated points go towards discounts on purchases). 


I really enjoy my Birchbox subscription and look forward to these boxes around the 10th of every month. While some boxes have been better than others, overall I am super pleased with the Birchbox goodies! For me it all boils down to value. Am I getting a good deal? Is the value of the box greater than the $10 that I spent? Well, the good news is that the value of the box always exceeds the actual cost. Besides value, I just love that feel of getting a monthly "present" of beautifully wrapped surprise goodies! I have found some really great products through my Birchboxes! Curious about my previous Birchboxes? Check out my monthly posts: January 2011 Birchbox, Feb 2011 Birchbox, March 2011 Birchbox, April 2011 Birchbox, and May 2011 Birchbox. 


So, was this month's box a "good one"? Keep reading to find out!

Total Beauty: 12 Gift Ideas for Father's Day

12 Gift Ideas for Father's Day

Are you (and him) getting sick of the ol' tie gift? Time to switch things up this year with these fun -- and useful -- gifts

This is a TotalBeauty.com men's body products article Sure, beauty products may not get him as flushed and excited as we do, but these "manly" (read: practical) body products can help the recipient and the giver if you catch our drift. See the grooming items disguised by a "cool" man factor that you both can enjoy. Get gift ideas

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Top 10 Award

Hello my dear readers! I was just recently tagged by G over at Noveau Cheap for this Top Ten Award! Thanks again to G for the nomination! I am thrilled to be included! :) Be sure to check out G's fabulous blog Noveau Cheap. Noveau Cheap is the place to find out about trends, new releases, product reviews, and sales for drugstore cosmetics!

So, how does this Top Ten Award work? Well, there are three things I must do to accept this award.
1) Link back to the blog that nominated me.
2) Nominate 10 other beauty bloggers.
3) List my Top 10 Favorite Beauty Products

What fun, right!

Here it goes!

My 10 Favorite Beauty Blogs: 
It was so hard to choose just 10! (For some of my other faves, please check out my Blog Roll in my sidebar).

1) 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic
2) XSparkage
3) Tanya Burr
4) Makeup By Tiffany D
5) Prime Beauty
6) Phyrra
7) Pinkbox Makeup
8) Productrater!
9) Makeup Minutes
10) Gaby's Beauty Blog

My Top 10 Beauty Products:
(again, very hard to pick just 10!)

1) Mascara: Cover Girl Lash Blast Fusion Mascara-Love this! Never smudges, wears great, good separation. HG Status!

2) Powder Foundation: MAC Studio Fix in NC 15: I can't live without this! Great match for my skintone.

3) Liquid Foundation: NARS Sheer Glow in Siberia. A perfect match for my skin. Love the finish!

4) High End Eye Shadow Palette: Urban Decay Naked Palette: As a neutrals girl, this is the perfect palette for me! The quality of the shadows is amazing, the palette is sleek and compact, and the shades included are perfect for a variety of neutral looks! Love it!

5) Drugstore Eye Shadow: Wet n Wild Color Icon Palettes: I especially love the newer 8 pan palettes in Petal Pusher when I want some color (I *heart* purples and pinks!) and Comfort Zone for neutrals. The texture, finish, pigmentation, and wear of this shadows blows me away for the price!

6) Lipgloss: Revlon Super Lustrous: These are my current all around favorite lipglosses. Revlon does lip products so well! These glosses are glossy and moisturizing without being sticky. I have many glosses from this line and I love them all! I only wish there were more colors!

7) Bronzer: Cargo Bronzer in Light. I have tried a million bronzers, but always want to reach for this one. It is such a perfect bronzer for fair skin!

8) Eyeliner: Bobbi Brown Gel Liners: These were the first gel eyeliners that I ever tried. They are so easy to work with and they wear all day! Love!

9) Drugstore blush: Milani Baked Blushes (I especially love the shade Luminoso): These are high-end quality with a drugstore price! Fabulous pigmentation and a nice color selection. This blush wears ALL day! Lovely!!!

10) High End Blush: MAC (fav shade: Pink Swoon): MAC blushes are amazing!

Thanks so much for reading!
Stay beautiful!

Napoleon Perdis Blush Patrol and Bronze Patrol (review)

Hello dolls! 

As some of you regular readers know, I have a total "thing" for blushes. With my super fair porcelain skin, I *need* blush to get that healthy glow. Blush gives me some color and perks up my face. Honestly, I like almost every single blush that I try. But, certainly I love some more than others. Generally, I tend to gravitate towards pink and peach toned blushes. So, I was super excited to try out this Blush Patrol baked blush by Napoleon Perdis with its deep burgundy and gold tones. 

Bronzers are great for adding color too, for all skin tones. I like using them for contouring as well as giving my skin a "tan" glow. Now, I am a bit more selective with bronzers. Some bronzers turn my skin "muddy" or are generally too orange. I also don't want a product that is too loaded with shimmer. So, I am looking for just the right balance of color and "glow" to give my face a sunny warmth. Since I use high SPFs every day, a bronzer is really the only way that my face gets a "tan". This Bronze Patrol baked bronzer by Napoleon Perdis looks like it has just the right balance of warmth to give my skin a sunny summer glow. 

Makeup Artist and Napoleon Perdis founder Napoleon Perdis states, "A great bronzer should make you look like you just got back from a weekend in Palm Springs". What can I say, I would love to have that look! :)

Keep reading for my full review and swatches of Napoleon Perdis Blush Patrol and Bronze Patrol. 

Cover It! Concealer Series: Boo-Boo Cover-Up (review)

To continue my "Cover It! Concealer Series",  I thought I would review a very inventive product: Boo-Boo Cover-Up.

Boo-Boo Cover-Up is unique because it was actually created to be a body cover up. But, it also works for the face! Yes, I know my main focus with my concealer series is to find fabulous products for covering dark under eye circles. But, in the process of searching for the "Holy Grail" under eye concealer, I know I will stumble upon other great concealers for the face and even the body.

This product is brand-spankin-new. Actually, I tested a prototype product. The good news? It is now available online! For photos, swatches, and my review, please keep reading!

Total Beauty: 5 Must Have Beauty Products

5 Must-Have Beauty Products

See what beauty products one editor cannot leave the house without

This is a TotalBeauty.com beauty products article I am a certifiable product junkie, but since I can't schlep my closet full of beauty products around with me, I'm always sure to have the bare minimum at hand in case I need a fix. Here's what's always there for me in my case of need ... See products

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"Cover It! Concealer Review Series" Intro

Hello there my loyal readers! 

This post is my introduction to a new blog series: Cover It! Concealer Series. I am embarking upon a series of reviews dedicated to concealers. 

My Cover It! Concealer Series will primarily focus on concealer reviews for various product that I have tried. I will also post various "tips and tricks" that I have gathered for reduction of dark under eye circles, moisturizing and prepping the eye area, eye brightening, and general concealment. 

My Dark-Circle Story:

Let me start off with a little bit of background information. I have had a life-long struggle with dark under eye circles. They are the bane of my existence. Dark circle concealment is the primary reason that I fell in love with makeup. 

All of the causes/reasons for Dark Under Eye Circles apply to me. I have allergies; therefore, I am plagued with redness and slight puffiness in the eye area. My allergies are not just seasonal, but year-round. So, I struggle with this throughout the year. Also, my dark under eye circles just seem to be  hereditary.  So, in addition to the redness and puffiness, I have those dark purplish dark circles. Furthermore, I never seem to get enough sleep and have some mild insomnia issues. All of this combined =major dark circles! I swear concealer were invented for someone just like me! :)

When I discovered that a fabulous concealer can truly erase this pesky dark circle problem, I completely fell in love...with makeup! If you are curious, it was a makeover at an Aveda Salon many years ago and the concealer that magically erased my dark under eye circles was Aveda's long discontinued Conceal + Protect. As many of you know, often products that we love get discontinued. 

So, the search continued and still continues as a constant quest to find the perfect under eye concealer. Even when I find a fabulous product that works very well, I am always curious as to what else is out there. Is there a product with better coverage? A perfect texture? An ideal match for my skin tone? 

This series will delve into the remarkable world of concealers for not only the eye area, but also the rest of the face and even the body. We might as well "Cover It" all, right?!?!

Do you have dark under eye circles or concealment issues too? If so, then I hope you will join me on this Cover It! Concealer Series! This will be an ongoing journey of product testing for the ideal concealer! 

Total Beauty: 7 Worst Self Tanners for Summer

7 Worst Self-Tanners for Summer

Readers would rather be pasty than use these self-tanners that leave skin streaky and Snooki-orange

This is a TotalBeauty.com tanning article While self-tanners are the safest way to get a faux-tan, our readers discovered that not all self-tanners are created equal. Make sure to avoid these seven worst self-tanners. Get products

No. 7: Banana Boat EveryDay Glow SunDial Face Self-Tanning Lotion -- All Skin Tones, $9.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 7.1

"This is nasty. It reeks of chemicals, it has no accuracy whatsoever on the dial, and it takes MANY applications to work."

No. 6: L'Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Luminous Bronzer, $8.97

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6.9

"This product resulted in a streaky mess in my hands … I rubbed and rubbed and rubbed and still could not get it to look uniform."

No. 5: Jergens Natural Glow Healthy Complexion Daily Facial Moisturizer, $8.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6.9

"It took so long to dry and left my skin feeling sticky. The smell is horrible too."

Want to see what other products made the list? Click here!

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Beauty Spotlight: Weekend Links

Each member of The Beauty Spotlight Team has just one post out of many to share with you this week. We hope you learn about new blogs from us and that you’ll explore them to find out just how much information you can learn (and how much of your money we can try to spend).

The Lipstick Diva has a case of summer lovin’ for Chanel’s new Pensee and Pink Peony Glossimers.

Zuzu’s Petals did the Time Warp at Everyday Beauty over Rouge Bunny Rouge Colorburst Lipstick in Got Rid of the Man.

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed just can’t choose a favourite product from the Lancôme Bronze Azure Summer 2011 collection – come check out her swatches and help her decide!

Modesty Brown lifts the lid on her highlighters including beauty bloggers favourites, BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector and Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow in Rose Gold.

Replica at Visionary Beauty was unable to resist the claims of a radiant eye lift so had to pick up one of Dior’s 5 Couleurs Lift palettes.

Total Beauty: 5 Best Summer Hairstyles

5 Best Summer Hairstyles

Hair extraordinaire Charles Baker Strahan answers reader questions on styling hair in the summer

This is a TotalBeauty.com hairstyles article As temperatures start to rise, it gets harder to keep hair cool and coiffed. So Strahan gives us tips to beat the heat while still looking great. Get tips

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