Urban Decay 24/7 Super Stash Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Bonnie! She won the Urban Decay 24/7 Super Stash collection of mini 24/7 eye pencils! She has been notified by e-mail. Bonnie had been assigned lucky #61 and #62 (she got her second entry by being a Twitter follower from the get-go when I joined the Twitter conversation in December). Random.org selected #61.

This has been our most amazing giveaway to date. I was blown away by the number of entries - and the time it took me to assign numbers to each entrant, based on the e-mails and Twitter follows. I think it proves how stupendous these Urban Decay pencils are! You must all know they are fabulous.

This set includes nine mini-sized 24/7 Eye Pencils, including four shades exclusive to the set: Corrupt (brown sparkle), Binge (navy), Eldorado (a new gold), and Oil Slick (black sparkle). Also included are fan favorites Zero, Graffiti, Ransom, Rockstar, and Stash (my personal favorite). The collection is a great deal at Urban Decay, where you can purchase one for $36.

Thank you for entering and hugs for all of your kind e-mails. I hope you will stay tuned for our next giveaway contest, starting tomorrow. What do you think? Bobbi Brown or Stila? Let me know!

Now, to interrupt this blog, I'm going back outside to shovel more snow. It's my fourth trip. It's snowing at the rate of two inches/hour, and I have to keep up with it, or I'll be one sore puppy next week. May be anyhow!

Photo courtesy of Urban Decay

mySkin and Your Skin

You may have noticed a new feature here. On the right side of the page there’s a new “Blidget” from mySkin.com, a network dedicated to providing unbiased skin care advice. The blidget rotates through the blogs that have been selected for the mySkin network based on their coverage of skin care. I'm proud to write one of those blogs.

These days, there are hundreds of sites offering advice on skin care. Why another one? In our saturated beauty market of more than 70,000 cleansers, creams, lotions, serums, and other skin care choices, there’s a constant parade of claims. mySkin was developed to help you figure out what products will give you the greatest benefit for your hard-earned dollars. They accept no advertising from companies making skin care products in order to protect their independence.

How can they help you? Many variables affect skin health and appearance: genetics, lifestyle, health conditions, and environment, to name a few. Using scientific principles and sophisticated modeling and statistical algorithms, mySkin analyzes these variables for insight on skin profiles and how products work on different skin types. They use the information they glean to analyze your skin and match you with others who have the same profile. Then they use information from consumers like you, physicians, bloggers, and industry experts to make product recommendations from well over 100,000 products for which they have data. And they are growing! As more and more people participate in the mySkin community, their database is being enriched.

Want to give mySkin a try? Go to the mySkin Web site and join. Use BTiBeauty as your invitation code. Once you fill out confidential information about your genetics, skin concerns, and the products you use (they only ask for first name), you can also provide additional information about your lifestyle, medical history, and preferences. mySkin will give you a personalized skin assessment report and make recommendations for you based on your own profile and the products in their database. Explore while you are there. You can set up a daily skin journal, and you might win a $50 gift certificate. There's also a forum for reader discussions about skin care.

Most of the recommendations that were made for me were good ones, although I found that many of them were on the low-priced end of the spectrum - probably because there's more data being supplied on "affordable" products. They told me how much I was spending per day on my skin, based on the products I'm using. Lordie! They even told me it was snowing out! The only thing the site got wrong was my sun protection recommendation: "feel free to enjoy the outdoors." My UV range, based on my zip code, was zero. Since mySkin is still in test mode, there's time to work on that. :)

The Blog Channel is a lot of fun, so make sure to click on the blidget here or visit the other mySkin bloggers on the Blog Channel when you are logged in. You can follow mySkinInc on Twitter too. Have fun!

Logo and photo courtesy of mySkin

The Friday Forum - February 5

Now and then, my Charlie bounds out the front door, only to find his little indoor butt sinking in snow. When I found this photo, it reminded me of his shocked reaction. You can see more cute photos of this kitty and his friend at this link.

It's hard for me to believe another week has passed, and it's time for The Friday Forum. The Friday Forum is devoted to what you have to say about anything related to beauty. Let's chat! Some of us will have a lot of time for that this weekend.

Are you using a fabulous product and want to sing its praises? Tell us about it! Did you find a beauty product disappointing? Tell us why! Do you have questions others might be able to answer? We can help! Want to talk about skin care? I'm game! Just use the comments.

Normally, I don't provide a Friday Forum topic or ask you a question to kick off the conversation. Today I will repeat last week's question. I've written about a lot of Spring 2010 cosmetics collections. Have any of them given you the "I-wants"?

As usual, I will share beauty bits with you over the weekend. I'll put them in the comments, so check for free shipping offers and other treats from beauty companies. I may be writing a lot this weekend.

The microphone is yours!

Photo courtesy of slidingrock.com

Chantecaille Spring 2010 Look - Les Dauphins

This arrived in my inbox last night! I have been enthusiastically checking the Chantecaille counter at Neiman Marcus, waiting for the Spring 2010 Look. Now, I'm waiting for the hours to tick by until I can find out if the colors have actually arrived in the store. I think the look is gorgeous!

What animal (or makeup) lover could resist Les Dauphins ($77)? Each pan in this new quad is embossed with dolphins! The duo shades for the eyes offer warm grays, delicate beiges, and iridescent neutrals. The perfect pink cheek color offers "a universally flattering flush of rosy warmth."

I must have this! How could our impending snow storm deny me? If it's not at the store - or I can't get there - I'll be ordering online at the Chantecaille Web site. Fast! Trust me, friends, this palette is going to sell out!

I'll let you know more as soon as I can get my hands on Les Dauphins (and more) from Chantecaille for Spring 2010.

Photo courtesy of Chantecaille

Rethink the Need to Find Yourself

Ready for week 3 of the Rethink What Matters? This week's fun theme is "Rethink the Need to Find Yourself." The first thing that came to my mind? I'll have a lot of time to "find myself" over the weekend, while I'm snowed in! Or, I hope I can find myself if I fall in two feet of snow (or that someone else finds me).

To be serious for a moment, this is an opportunity for you to rev up those creative juices! There are no right or wrong answers with Rethink What Matters! This is your chance to have a good laugh or a revelation - whichever you choose.

I'm thinking about Charlie's sweet, furry love - the moments that melt my heart (as opposed to his "devil boy Bengal" moments). When he's sweet, he's an angel. When he's a devil boy, he goes into the bathroom and knocks my makeup off the counter - just to get attention. Then he smirks as he runs off with a "You can't catch me" or "Find Charlie" parting shot. When he's sweet, he sleeps next to my computer on a pillow. When he's a devil boy, some insignificant (to me) noise spooks him, and he leaves tracks on my arms or legs when he instantly escapes the "jungle danger." What matters is my love for him. It makes me happy, and I hope it makes him happy too.

Head over to Bare Escentuals to participate in the fun! Take the quiz. Who knows? This may be your lucky week to be one of 500 women who will win a Bare Escentuals goodie. As Lady Luck says, "You can't win if you don't play!" At the end of March, one very lucky "rethinker" will be selected for the Grand Prize trip of a lifetime. There are details at Rethink What Matters.

Want to really dive in? Join or follow the conversation on Twitter. Search on the tag #rethinking to find out what others are rethinking. I enjoy following the fun on Twitter. Make sure to check out the Archive too. Can you really have too much stuff?

Photo courtesy of Bare Escentuals

Laura Mercier's Great News for Women with Darker Skin

Women with medium to dark skin often have a tough time finding foundation, tinted moisturizer, concealer, and other makeup items that have to match skin tone. Laura Mercier has introduced some new shades to make it easier for them. There's a whole new array of color at the Laura Mercier counter at Nordstrom!

There are three new shades available in each of the following products.

• Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20
• Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20
• Secret Concealer

In both tinted moisturizer formulas ($42), there are three new shades: Bisque, which fills a gap that makeup artists had filled by mixing shades; Caramel for lightly tanned and olive complexions; and Mocha for deep complexions with yellow and red tones. Mocha is a welcome "sister" to Walnut, adding a new dimension to the dark shades available.

In Secret Concealer ($22), there are three new shades, all darker than the original offerings. Shade #4 is described as a true neutral beige for those with neutral yellow undertones. Shade #5 is described as warm honey for medium yellow and golden skin tones. Shade #6 is targeted toward deep complexions with rich, warm undertones.

You can see the swatches of all of these at the Laura Mercier Web site. I saw the shades at Nordstrom this week, and I was impressed by the range now available to women with medium to dark skin. The new shades will make Laura Mercier's respected tinted moisturizer and concealer products even more popular. If you have a hard time matching your skin - as some of my friends do - you should check these out in person. They are in stores now.

Photo courtesy of Laura Mercier

New MARC JACOBS Splash Scents

Inspired by the "decadent indulgences of a patisserie," MARC JACOBS has introduced three new MARC JACOBS Splash Scents ($68)! These new limited-edition splashes (that spray) "awaken the senses and entice the palate." Fresh and inviting, crisp, and delectable, the three fragrances are designed to be the perfect warm-weather treat.

The splash fragrances are all appropriately colored: Apple (green), Pomegranate (pink), and Biscotti (gold). I tested them all and selected Apple. Pomegranate was a close second and is the favorite of my friend Chris Coles at Nordstrom.

Maybe my nose is deficient, but Apple doesn't smell like apples to me. It is very green, light, and fruity - truly lovely. I just don't smell apples - even Granny Smiths. Pomegranate is also fabulous. It's sweet, but has a note that makes it a bit masculine. I think it's the amber. Biscotti just isn't my "cup of tea." As a rule, I don't want to smell like a cookie or cupcake. That's one of the reasons vanilla-based or other foodie fragrances don't usually appeal to me.

I found these fragrance notes at The Moodie Report. The Apple Splash is described as fruity, fresh, aromatic, and energizing. Composed by Givaudan’s Yann Vasnier, it features notes of apple juice, lemon, grapefruit, rosemary, jasmine, magnolia, coriander, and cardamom.

Pomegranate is said to create a fresh sensation, while capturing the radiance of an exotic fruit. It was created by Patty Hidalgo of Fragrance Resources. It features notes of pomegranate, mandarin flowers, bergamot, rhubarb, violet, musk, vanilla, and amber.

Biscotti is said to deliver a savory aroma with a touch of citrus. It was developed by Richard Herpin of Firmenich. The notes are freesia, bergamot, orange flower, pistachio blossom, and vanilla.

Splashes are intended to be light. This one defies the odds and lasts about five hours on the skin. I think that's impressive for a splash. While I usually spray them on myself, I have a friend who sprays them on his pillow cases and sheets. Since they often come in generous bottles, that's not as extravagant as it sounds.

You can find these at Nordstrom. If you want a reminder that spring is coming, as we hear forecasts of two feet of snow for this coming weekend, check them out!

Photo courtesy of Nordstrom