Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Independence Day! I try to remember that our holiday isn't just about cookouts, fireworks, and family. We commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, on July 4, 1776, from the Kingdom of Great Britain - today one of our greatest allies and best world friends.

The United States of America - and the freedom we hold dear - has been threatened by wars and now terrorism. Today we celebrate our freedom and recommit to protecting the freedom of others who would live our dream. It's a remarkable day!

MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Cream - Not Just for Eyes

A couple of weeks ago, I told you how smitten I was with MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Cream ($22). I had purchased Silver (true silver shimmer) and Taupe (taupe brown shimmer) from Sephora. I was revved by both, so I placed a second order for Gold (yellow gold shimmer) and Warm Beige (champagne shimmer).

They arrived, and I loved them as much as my first two. As an aside, the very slight creasing I noticed when I first started using Aqua Cream disappeared when I switched to a slightly less emollient eye cream.

Feeling the need for more of this long-lasting wonder makeup, I ordered the Golden Copper I had been eying. At the same time, I decided it was time to try a shade I could wear as a blush or on my lips. Peach (#5), a pinky-peach with gold flecks, appeared to be the logical choice for me. Some of the shades looked very bright, and I was ordering from Sephora online.

Peach arrived, and it's beautiful! I took an arm photo in sun to show you how it looks when applied with a brush. I applied it rather heavily to show you the color, and I blended it to show you what it really looks like when applied on fair skin. If you have any pink in your cheeks (or lips), as I do, it will appear pinker than it looks on my arm.

It does have some sparkle to it, but not as much as the sunshine gave it in the photo. I love the Aqua Cream sparkle on my eyes and lips. On my cheeks, its use is limited (for me) to after work. It really adds some zip to banish any fatigue I might feel from my early start and usually full day.

This cream makeup blends like a charm - as long as you blend quickly. No distractions, ladies, because once it sets, it will stay where you put it for a long time. Its long-lasting formula will not crease or smudge in the most extreme heat and humidity. It's said to be waterproof. I believe it!

I hope MAKE UP FOR EVER decides to introduce even more shades of this beautiful cream makeup. I love it!

You can buy it at Sephora, where I purchased mine.

The photos are mine

Weekend Rant - Sex and Nudity

Are you tired of sex, nudity, and exhibitionism? It's everywhere - in advertising, fashion pages, entertainment, politics, and everywhere else. You'd think people in the United States were obsessed with sex. Are we really no more sophisticated than a randy bunch of male teenagers?

The new Gucci Guilty advertisement? Sex. The pages of W, Vogue, and other popular fashion magazines? Nudity (not fashion). I want look at clothing, not naked women. I can buy Playboy if that's my thing. The red carpet? The girls have become a bit too exposed. Clearly, Hollywood Fashion Tape can't hold on to a dress bulging with silicone or saline. I got so tired of Dolce & Gabbana's tasteless advertisements, I stopped buying their clothing. And I like my leopard print, silk-lined suit jackets. Even politics is now impregnated with sex bombs, as the indiscretions of political leaders have become big money and front-page news. Can you even imagine meeting a presidential candidate and the first thing out of your mouth is, "You're hot"?

Since when did it become OK to run to the mall wearing little more than a bra from the waist up? Why do parents let their young girls go to school looking like street-walking tramps? Are we shocked by nothing? Have sex and nudity become the norm? No wonder other cultures regard us with disdain.

I've had it with sex - and I don't mean what you think. I'm tired of the relentless pressure on women, especially young women. The message is, "You need to look sexy to look beautiful." Grace Kelly was beautiful. Women wanted to look like her; men wanted her. She didn't project sex - she projected "gorgeous." The mind can make the leap without help! Do they think we're all stupid?

Did Madonna start this trend? No, she's just a wickedly savvy entertainer who recognized a good thing and used it to her advantage. Same with Lady Gaga, who continues the exhibitionism for the latest generation of wannabes. Apparently, sex sells.

The next time you read a women's magazine, take note of the advertisements and editorial pages that scream sex. If I had a daughter, I wouldn't want her to think that her value to the world - and attractiveness - is inextricably linked to sex.

I think it's time for a sea change. What do you think? Have I gone round the bend?

Photos courtesy of Maybelline, Dolce & Gabbana, and Madonna, only a few I could have selected for this rant

Weekend Roundup - July 3

Fireworks remind me of makeup. They come in every color of the rainbow! This weekend, we'll celebrate makeup - and all products that make us beautiful - in our weekend roundup.

Age spots: We hate them, but unfortunately most of us get them. Gaia from The Non-Blonde has been testing Clé de Peau Beaute's Anti-Age Spot Serum with some wonderful results. "Worth every penny of the pretty pennies it costs." Gaia also has a giveaway contest for a mini Aftelier fragrance of your choice. Be sure to sign up! Who doesn't like to win free stuff?

Do you love cream eye shadows? I sure do! Head over to see what Kelly at Gouldylox Reviews has to say about the newest Stay-There cream shadows from Buxom. They haven't hit the makeup counters yet, but you might want to stand in line to get yours!

Kari at Fab over Forty shared with us one of her many summertime must-haves. The luxurious Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Powder helps to keep the shine at bay and your skin soft and glowing without any cakey feeling or dry look. Another winning product from our friends at Armani!

They "eyes have it" as they say. How can you get "it" too? Chelsea from BeautyXposé gave us some tips on how to get beautifully lined eyes without breaking the bank using COVERGIRL's newest eyeliner.

Are you spending part of your busy holiday weekend at the beach? Laurie from Product Girl is. In addition to her required sunscreen, she shares with us her must-have beauty products for time at the beach. You will want to find out what she took with her.

Cindy at Prime Beauty has what she calls CADD (Cosmetic Attention Deficit Disorder - look out medical professionals, it's the next big affliction), but these five products are ones that stay at the top of her beauty list. They've been around for awhile, but they keep Cindy going back for more!

Yes, it's barely July, and the fall collections are already arriving on the shelves. Lianne at The Makeup Girl spotlighted Tom Pecheux's latest collection for Estee Lauder, Blue Dahlia. He's injecting some beautiful new products into the line and that makes us happy!

Looking to give your skin the royal treatment? Debbi at DivaDebbi gave us the scoop on Keihl's Imperial Body Balm. Does it make her feel like a queen? Go find out!

Vicki at Makeup Artist Backstage gave us more information on what she carries in her professional makeup "suitcase." Have you ever seen Yabby's World of Paint Palette? I haven't, but next time I see Vicki, you can bet I will.

I flipped over Bobbi Brown's Denim & Rose Collection for Fall 2010. I love the highlighter pens, face palette, gel eyeliner - everything, really. You can read about the collection and see swatches here at Best Things in Beauty. Just scroll down!

Today is the last day to enter my giveaway contest for the Bvlgari's Omnia Green Jade fragrance. Enter by midnight if you'd like a chance to win.

Happy beauty reading and remember your sunscreen! It's easier to prevent age spots than get rid of them.

Photo courtesy of warrumbungle.nsw.gov.au

The Friday Forum - July 2

I'm looking forward to this long weekend! On top of the holiday, I'm taking a few days off from work next week. I'm hoping to get some rest and tackle some projects on my to-do list (such as sort makeup).

It's hard for me to believe that Best Things in Beauty just passed the one-year mark! The time has flown. During the last year, readership has grown beyond my wildest dreams, and I've made so many new friends. I appreciate all of you very much. Thank you for reading my blog!

It's time for The Friday Forum! Most of you know, we share information in The Friday Forum. 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. We have busy weekends and slow ones on the forum. Either way, I always enjoy hearing from you. I know you will be busy this weekend. I hope you have fun!

As usual, I will share the best beauty bits (noteworthy sales and special offers) with you over the weekend. I'll put them in the comments. There are a lot of beauty bits this holiday weekend, so start looking for them this afternoon. I'll be coming home from work early, so I'll post comments then.

The giveaway contest for Bvlgari's Omnia Green Jade fragrance ends tomorrow night, Saturday, July 3. Don't forget to enter! Please check back Sunday morning to see if random.org chose you as the winner. We will start our next contest on Sunday evening. No hints yet on what it will be.

What's on your mind? The microphone is yours!

Chanel Fall 2010 Collection Joues Contraste Powder Blush & Lèvres Scintillantes Glossimer

In Part 2 of my look at Chanel's stunning Fall 2010 Collection, I'll focus on the new, limited-edition blushers and the lip gloss I purchased - the must-haves that reached out from the display and said, "Don't leave here without me!" Let's start with the three new, gorgeous shades of Joues Contraste Powder Blush ($42).

Chanel's blushers are among my all-time favorites. They have always been available in flattering shades, and they allow you the control you need to apply a sheer wash of color or build a more dramatic look using your brush skills. Since I couldn't select just one of the new shades, I came home with all three. They are described as having a shimmer finish. I don't see much shimmer. Instead, I see a flattering, radiant glow when I apply them.

My arm photo shows the shades, applied heavily, in sunlight. At the top is Pink Explosion. Rose Temptation is in the middle. Plum Attraction is at the bottom of the photo. My favorites - for my face - are Pink Explosion and, believe it or not, Plum Attraction!

I won't be applying any of these beautiful blushers as heavily as I applied them for my photo. I think all three are gorgeous when applied properly. Pink Explosion is a natural for me. The Rose Temptation will be perfect for days when girly pink doesn't work. My sales associate (from another line) and I had an interesting conversation around Plum Attraction.

She: That one will be too dark for you.
Me: I love the look. I'll just test it on my arm...Look how pretty this shade is for fall. You can apply it lightly, and it works.
She: Wow...I never would have guessed. That's beautiful.

And so it goes. Don't let the color of Plum Attraction in the pan scare you. It's dark, as you can see on my arm photo. It's also a great seasonal shade, and if you apply it lightly with a fluffy brush, you'll be able to wear it no matter how fair you are.

In my book, Chanel scored a home run with the new Joues Contraste Powder Blushes! You will see some previously introduced shades alongside the new, limited-edition shades on the display. If you haven't tried two of my favorites - Rose Bronze or Orchid Rose - in the past, they are definitely worth your attention.There are four new Lèvres Scintillantes Glossimer lip glosses ($27) in the fall collection. All four are very pretty, but they look like spring and summer shades to me. Let's just say that you can wear all four lip gloss shades year round.

• Pink Teaser - vivid pink
• Petite Peche - pale peachy-pink
• Rose Dilemma - soft pink
• Coral Love - pink-coral

I purchased Pink Teaser, a vibrant pink shown on my arm at left. I would have bought all four if I had recently won the lottery. Lèvres Scintillantes Glossimer gives your lips a gorgeous high-shine look - and I love shiny lips! They look full and perk up my face. They not only look good, they feel good!

Rounding out the collection are three Rouge Coco Hydrating Crème Lipcolour shades, two Le Vernis Nail Colour shades, and an Intense Eye Pencil in Claire (dark beige). Fortunately, none of these were must-haves for me. I had spent enough. Remember that I purchased all the new eye shadow shades too.

I bought my new Chanel makeup at Neiman Marcus. The new collection is available at Chanel's Web site, and I'm sure it must be at the other department stores too. If it's not, it will be soon. Anything catch your eye?

Chanel's photos courtesy of Chic Profile, a great blog you should check out

Chanel Fall 2010 Collection Eye Shadows

Chanel seized its opportunity to shine with the Fall 2010 Collection. I love fall's traditional fashion colors (dark greens and blues, plums and purples, every shade of brown, and more). The Chanel collection for fall offers cosmetics to enhance your look while you're wearing the new, seasonal clothing. It will be a good autumn!

The "look" above gives you a preview of the collection, with a pretty version of the smokey eye; strong, chiseled cheeks; and light lips. I think it extends spring's "pretty" into pretty special for fall.

Chanel's fall collection has arrived at stores. I had an opportunity to see it - and buy the pieces I coveted the most - last weekend. Today, let's look at the gorgeous eye shadows in the collection. As we finish the week, we will move on to the other noteworthy components.

Enigma is the latest addition to Chanel's iconic Quadra Eye Shadow ($56) collection. The shades range from subtle to dramatic, and are all complementary. Enigma will please you whether you wear one or two of the shades applied lightly for day or brush on the full smokey eye look for night.

I photographed Enigma in full sun to show you the quad as it looks in person - quite different from the photo at left on Chanel's Web site! Although my quickly snapped photos aren't always the best, this one's pretty true to the shades in the quad.

My two favorites are the taupe at upper right and grey at lower left. Could you have guessed? The pink shade isn't too pink, as you can see in my arm photo below, and I think that's great - makes it very wearable. The smokey lavender shade does carry some red tones, and it may not be the best shade for me. That doesn't mean there aren't thousands of women who will love it. I just have a hard time wearing shadows that bring out any redness in my eyelids - or my eyes on a day when they are irritated (by anything). I know I can wear the shade as a liner very close to my lashes. We'll see how it looks as a shadow later when I'm in the mood for fall. Having just closed out the warmest June on record in the DC area, it's a little hard to think fall. I plan to put these shadows away for September.

The photo to the right shows the smokey lavender shade at the top, followed top to bottom by the pink shade, the taupe shade, and the grey shade. I hope you can see how muted and pretty these colors are. I applied them fairly heavily to take this picture. You can ease up on the brush for a more subtle look.

There are two new, limited-edition Soft Touch Eyeshadow ($28.50) singles in the collection: Vert Khaki and Taupe Grisé. I photographed them in the pan and on my arm. Both are spectacular (in my opinion)!

Check out my arm photo at right, which shows Taupe Grisé at the top and Vert Khaki at bottom. The subtle green in Vert Khaki is very pretty on the lids; it will give you a versatile autumn look no matter what your coloring is. Taupe Grisé? You will probably use it right down to the bottom of the pan!

The shadows have just a touch of shimmer - nothing over the top, no glitter. They are very flattering!

I don't have to tell you that Chanel's eye shadow's are top-notch. They apply and blend easily and stay where you put them. Beyond their superior qualities, though, there's that je ne sai quois, the hard-to-describe feeling of luxury that comes with using and wearing Chanel's products. If you want to treat yourself, make sure to see these beautiful eye shadows soon.

I bought mine at Neiman Marcus. The new collection is available at Chanel's Web site, and I'm sure it must be at the other department stores too. If it's not, it will be soon. Next up, I'll describe the gorgeous new, limited-edition Jous Contraste Powder Blushers that were used to create that strong cheek above.

Look and quad photos at top courtesy of Chanel
Quad close-up and all other photos are mine