In support of Aids Run & Walk Chicago, MAC Cosmetics and Team Viva Glam Squad are throwing a party at Sound Bar next Wednesday, August 27, 2008.

All you have to do is arrive at 10:00pm with a $10 donation in hand for an evening filled with drink specials, MAC swag bag, gift certificate giveaways and makeup lessons! All proceeds from this event will be donated to AIDS Run & Walk Chicago.

I am soooooooooooo going and I hope to see you ladies there =)

Sound Bar is located at 226 W Ontario in Chicago. For more information, visit Sound Bar.

Credits: AIDS Run & Walk Chicago.

Labels: mac

Guest Review: Marco Pelusi Anti-Frizz Leave-In Conditioner Rated 9.5 by TotalBeauty.com Editor Charli Schuler It's easy to see why Marco Color Anti-Frizz Leave-In Conditioner with Collagen Color Guard is hairstylist Marco Pelusi's signature product. Just one or two pumps miraculously detangle knots and tame frizz on all hair types. ...More

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Since some of you requested to see my top beauty must-haves, I have picked out ten products that I cannot live without.

Clockwise starting from the top:

* MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack ($15)
This "solid flat black" goes with everything, stays on forever and is super easy to use. Loves it!

* Ardell False Lashes ($3-5)
I am in *love* with these lashes! I wear them almost every day and my favorite ones are #110, #131 and #116.

* Shiseido Eyelash Curler ($17.50)
I have been using this for over 10 years now and it is still my favorite!

* Bobbi Brown Lip Balm in Yogi Bare ($18)
My lips are chapped all year round and this is the only lip balm that keeps them moisturized.

* Skin Food Mushroom BB Cream ($40)
I have completely replaced my foundation with this. Nuff said!

* MAC Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF50 ($28)
This is hands down the best primer for me. It feels very moisturizing and the high SPF also means I get to skip sunscreen. I wear it with or without makeup.

* NARS Aqua Gel Hydrator ($72)
Moisturizing is a big thing for me and this *always* keeps my dehydrated combination skin hydrated and soft.

* Kose Softymo Deep Cleansing Oil ($15)
This takes everything off in seconds and never leaves an oily residue behind.

* MAC Makeup Brushes ($17 - $45)
Wanna know the secret to perfect blending? MAC brushes! My favorites are the #239 Eye Shading Brush, #219 Pencil Brush, #224 Tapered Blending Brush and #187 Stippling Brush.

* MAC Eyeshadows ($14)
I have a ton of these and I love love love the wide variety of colors and textures.

17 Hairstyles That Take Less Than 10 Minutes Up 'dos mere mortals like us can actually replicate at home With a few (and only a few) key products and styling tools, you can quickly give yourself a salon-worthy 'do. And hey, if you hate it, try a different one -- at least you haven't blown 60 bucks and a hour of precious time on it. ...More

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My Fall 2008 Sephora catalog just came in the mail and I am really loving their eye looks. Below are some of my favorites:

Bold Liner and Faux Lashes
Inspired by the Haute Couture and Dior Fall 2008 fashion shows, these two looks are definitely not for the shy.



Purple Eyeshadow and Smoky Eyes
Smoky eyes are definitely one of Fall's signature looks and this year, the two it colors are purple and gray.



Coloron Eye Envy
With animal prints everywhere this season, it is no surprise that we are seeing them even on the eyes.



For videos on how to duplicate these looks, check out Sephora's Visual Effects.

Image credit: Sephora.

Labels: fall 2008

Hair Product Challenge: Frizz Fighters These product reviews reveal which formulas tame fine, thick, wavy and curly hair ... and which are a waste of money We painstakingly perused your ratings and reviews of anti-frizz products to find out which ones made your repeat purchase list and which fell short of your expectations. Soak up the feedback and use it to your advantage next time you're shopping for the perfect frizz-fighting formula for your hair type and beauty budget. ...More

Top 10 Makeup Felonies No one is innocent, not even Paris Hilton. Celebrity makeup artist Fiona Stiles tells which beauty crimes to avoid Before you make up your next face, there are 10 crucial no-nos you need to know. (Chances are you're guilty of at least one of them.) To ensure that your best efforts aren't wasted, we asked celebrity makeup artist Fiona Stiles to explain why these common mistakes really are that bad ... as if fear of looking like one of these celebrity offenders isn't enough ...More

In the latest August 2008 issue of Instyle (p.136), super gorgeous and talented singer Christina Aguilera opens her makeup bag and gives us the low-down on her top beauty must-haves:

* Davines Momo Conditioner ($22)
* Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer ($28)
* Dior Rouge Lipstick ($27)
* MAC Eyeshadow in Smoke & Diamonds ($14)
* Decleor Aromessence Ylang Ylang Night Balm ($67)
* Inspire Perfume by Christina Aguilera ($49)
* Dior Abricot Nutritional Creme ($23)

And more of her beauty picks from an interview with Now Magazine earlier this year:

* MAC Hyper Real Foundation ($28)
* NARS Lipliner Pencil in Jungle Red ($20)
* MAC Lipstick in Lady Danger ($14)
* MAC Eyeshadows in Goldmine and Gorgeous Gold ($14)
* Smashbox Illuminate Capture Face Powder with Luxe Brush
* Smashbox Fan Brush #22 ($18)
* Smashbox Definer Brush #15 ($28)
* Smashbox Foundation Brush #13 ($34)


Credits: Instyle and Now Magazine

Labels: celebrity

Wanna win a goodies bag delivered to your door with beauty products I personally picked out for you based on your skin tone, eye color and hair color? Here is your final chance! All you have to do is subscribe to my blog via e-mail and leave a constructive comment on any of my blog entries. 3 winners will be randomly drawn and their names will be announced on my blog on August 20th, 2008. The sweepstake is open to everyone so good luck!

Subscribe to Makeup For Life by Email

Wanna look a million bucks without spending that much? Check out the following list to see what products you should splurge and save on.

Products Worth Splurging

* Foundation, concealer and powder. Since you do need a perfect match for a flawless complexion, you are better off heading to a department store where you can try out different colors and formulas. Brands like Prescriptives even offer custom blending to help customers find their right match.

* Makeup Brushes. We all know the importance of brushes when it comes to makeup application. High-end brushes from Shu Uemura and MAC are usually made from denser, softer hair and will last longer so they are definitely worth the investment.


Products Worth Saving

* Mascara. Mascaras need to be replaced every 3 months, so why spend over $20 when you can buy one for a few bucks at the drugstore? My latest favorite drugstore mascaras are Maybelline Colossal Volum' Express mascara and Rimmel Glam'Eyes Mascara.

* Eyeshadow. When it comes to eyeshadows, trends come and go all the time. You are better off experimenting with different colors and textures with drugstore and mid-end brands. NYX, Milani and MAC all make eyeshadows in a variety of colors with decent pigmentation.

* Blush. Just like eyeshadows, you can find decent blushes from drugstore and mid-end brands like Milani and MAC.

* Lipstick/Lip gloss. From my personal experience, high-end and drugstore lip products differ only in their packaging. The texture and color are pretty much the same.

* Nail Polish. Nail polishes have a short shelf life plus brands like OPI and Essie offer the same if not better quality than luxury brands like Chanel.


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