Famous Faces Representing Beauty Brands

There have been three recent, noteworthy announcements about famous women signing up to be the "face" of beauty companies. I think all of them were great choices!

Actress Diane Kruger was just announced as the new face of Calvin Klein’s upcoming women’s fragrance launch, Calvin Klein Beauty. Highlighted for her recent work in Inglorious Bastards, the stunning starlet is well-known for her remarkable style. She joins a brand roster of fashion and beauty icons that includes Kate Moss, Scarlett Johansson, Christy Turlington, Natalia Vodianova, and Eva Mendes.

Kruger attended the 2010 Costume Institute Benefit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, celebrating the night with Francisco Costa, Calvin Klein Collection’s Women’s Creative Director. Her look for the evening was in line with the iconic Calvin Klein aesthetic of clean lines and understated elegance.

Calvin Klein Beauty will debut this fall, and Diane Kruger will star in the global print and television advertising campaign.

And who better to represent COVERGIRL than the darling Taylor Swift? With her fresh beauty and authentic style, the Grammy winning, multi-platinum singer and songwriter is the perfect face for the brand. COVERGIRL appeals to all ages, but has a special place in the makeup bags and hearts of under-30 beauties.

Equally brilliant, I think, was Lancôme's choice of the gorgeous actress Julia Roberts as its newest ambassadress. Julia Roberts, known around the world for her talent, charm, and smile, has a look that appeals to everyone.
We all study these faces for their looks. Some of us try to recreate them! Who doesn't read the notes featured in magazine ads that identify the shades of makeup these famous faces are wearing? I'll enjoy following these gorgeous gals.

Photos courtesy of Calvin Klein, COVERGIRL, and Lancome

CoverGirl LashBlast Fusion Mascara

CoverGirl makes some great mascaras. The new LashBlast Fusion ($9.99) isn't one of them. The much-hyped Fusion has arrived at all the stores, ready for CoverGirl mascara mavens. Naturally, I wanted to try it.

LashBlast Fusion is promoted as CoverGirl's first-ever volume plus length mascara. The fiberstretch formula and oversized brush are supposed to make every little lash bigger, fuller, longer-looking, and more dramatic. It's just not that good in my humble opinion.

I wish I could tell you that LashBlast Fusion is superior in some aspect of its performance. I do like the fact that it's available in many shades, including very black, black, black-brown, and brown. That gives us plenty of options. Depending on the look I'm trying to create, I might choose a very black mascara one day and black-brown the next. Other mascaras come in all of these shades, though, so there's no competitive edge there.

I don't care for the Fusion wand. It's big and clunky, making application of the mascara something like painting with a roller. You won't be able to use this wand to separate your lashes if they are nice and full. As long as we are talking about big, I don't even like the feel of Fusion in my hand. It's fat - too fat for my small hand. I find a slimmer tube more comfortable.

LashBlast Fusion paints my lashes just fine, but it has no special lengthening properties. My lashes are long, and I appreciate a mascara that easily coats them to show off their length. I have to work to apply Fusion to coat the entire lash surface. I will say that it doesn't clump while I work to apply it. I guess that's an advantage.

If this mascara hadn't been so widely hyped, I would have tried it and tossed it - without writing a word. Given the many fine words that have been written about it, I decided to write my opinion to provide some balance.

There are better mascaras. At the drugstore, start with Maybelline's Define-A-Lash. Or stick with your CoverGirl old favorite.

Photo courtesy of Drugstore.com

The Chalk Full of Beauty Sweepstakes

COVERGIRL and Secret are teaming up with USA Gymnastics and Olympic gold medalist Nastia Liukin for the Chalk Full of Beauty Sweepstakes! Starting now and until May 28, 2010, you can enter to win one of two fabulous grand prizes: a trip for two to New York City to enjoy a full weekend of beautification and relaxation OR a visit to the U.S. Women’s National Team Training Center for the opportunity to meet Nastia. What a choice!

As a champion athlete, Nastia Liukin knows that being both strong and beautiful is a balancing act all its own. “If I like the way I look with my hair and makeup,” she says, “it makes me feel confident about my performance!” She wants to show girls everywhere they can feel amazingly beautiful whether they’re running the field or walking the school hallways.

Here is a short Q&A with Nastia about her gold-medal look. She's a top-notch cover girl! She chalks up her stellar performances and camera-ready demeanor to feeling amazing on the inside.

What are your favorite beauty products?
My favorite beauty product is COVERGIRL’s Lash Blast Mascara. I love using it for competition because it really makes your eyes stand out! My other favorite is Amaze Mint Lipgloss. It gives your lips a little tingle!

It seems like you'd need extra makeup (and hairspray) for the cameras when competing. Do you have special preferences or beauty rituals?
I do use A LOT of hairspray for competitions to keep my hair in place. My favorite is Herbal Essences Set Me Up Hairspray. It smells great too!

What’s your favorite makeup look?
I love the personal make-up look Molly Stern gave me! She gave us each a personalized look, and I think it fits us all perfectly! Molly always told us "Less is more!" so we like to go by that theory!

So how can you enter, and what might you win? There are two grand prizes.

• A fabulous trip for two to the U.S. Women's National Team Training Center (Bela Karolyi Ranch) for the exclusive opportunity to meet Olympic gold medalist Nastia Liukin and receive a fabulous basket of beauty from Secret and COVERGIRL! The Grand Prize trip to the U.S. Women’s National Team Training Center consists of a three-day/two-night trip for winner and guest to the U.S. Women’s National Team Training Center in Huntsville, Texas. The prize includes round-trip coach air transportation, two nights hotel accommodations (double occupancy), along with a COVERGIRL/Secret gift basket and a $500 check payable to the winner.
• Win a beautiful trip for two to New York City! Enjoy a full weekend of beautification and relaxation including a COVERGIRL/Secret beauty basket and spa day! This trip consists of a three-day/two-night weekend of beauty in New York City for the winner and a guest. The prize includes round-trip coach air transportation from the major airport nearest winner’s home, two nights hotel accommodations (double occupancy), airport transfers, a day of spa services for the winner and guest (awarded as a $250 gift certificate for each), transportation to and from the spa, a COVERGIRL/Secret gift basket with sponsor-specified products, and a $500 check payable to the winner.

But that's not all! You could also win other great prizes.

• Five First Prize Winners will each receive a basket filled with selected COVERGIRL and Secret products.
  
• 75 Second Prize Winners will each receive a basket filled with selected COVERGIRL products.

It's easy to enter. Visit www.usa-gymnastics.org/chalkfullofbeauty and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the entry form and submit an entry into the Sweepstakes. Entries must be received by noon ET on May 28, 2010. An individual can use only one e-mail address to enter, and there's a limit of one entry per e-mail address throughout the promotion period. It's that easy! For all the official rules, visit this link.

Head over now to enter before you forget. I'd love to know what you think about the contest. I'd be excited to win. Would you? If you won, which grand prize would you select?

Photo courtesy of COVERGIRL and Secret