Concealer Series: Dalton Line and Crease

Dalton is a new line for me, though they've long been a QVC favorite. Their face products contain "Dermaflex Technology, a proprietary formula that combines specific ingredients designed to flex and move with your skin allowing you to express yourself without settling." So, basically they've tried to make their products move with you throughout the day. Sounds pretty good to me!

The concealer also contains hyaluronic acid to help with hydration and light reflectors to help distract from fine lines and wrinkles. I don't notice there being any shimmer (this is good, sometimes the light reflection is too much), and I was pretty happy with how the concealer worked overall. I did have to use several light layers to cover my stubborn visible capillary under my eye.



Consistency: While the concealer comes in a pot and is in a cake form, it seems a bit less compact and "looser" than many traditional cake concealers.
Blendability: Since it is a bit creamier than other cakes, I did find it easier to blend.
Buildable coverage: Yes, though I recommend stopping at 3 light layers as it starts to cake a little bit.
Feeling on skin: Medium weight in feeling
Wear: 8-10 hours
Problems with wear: Caking as noted above with too many layers
Shades Available: 4 colors available

Dalton Line and Crease

OPI Starring the Rockettes

An amazing pink-gold foil that only needs 2 coats. I debated about showing this one off. Since it is from the 2006 Holiday Collection, it would be nearly impossible to find anywhere but eBay or via a swap through Makeup Alley. But, it's too pretty to keep to myself!

OPI

The Look of the Royal Wedding

Royal Wedding hype is in full effect, and I'm sure that the day will be just as memorable as the wedding of Charles and Diana. Except that the couple is actually in love.

I'm sure that there will be a ton of viewing parties and even those that want to watch it live while all dressed up. Personally, I'll be TIVO-ing the broadcast and will watch it later that day. To get you in the festive Royal Wedding mood, here are a few Royal Wedding links!

I shared how to recreate Kate Middleton's hair with the hair team from Lifetime's William & Kate movie.

Rimmel has a ton of great things over on their Facebook Page. You can check out British celebrity makeup artist Liz Pugh's tips and tricks on how to get Kate Middleton's look, enter a few contests and get coupons for Rimmel products.

In honor of the Royal Wedding, Kiss Artificial Nails is holding a contest for $3,000 towards a wedding dress.

Beautisol's Need I Glow More: A Facial Sunless Tanner That Works With Your Skin Type

One of the reasons that I've been reluctant to use self tanners in the past (and have embraced the pale), is that the facial products don't seem different from the body products. After years of acne, I've fought hard for my clear (ish) skin, and don't want to give that up just to look a little bit tanner. Am I right?

Well, the people over at Beautisol knew that many people share my reluctance. They've released the first sunless tanner for the face that is skin type specific. So, if you have dry skin or are acne prone you won't be using the same product! This is likely enough to make me overcome my sunless tanner aversion. In the meantime, Ellery tried it out as part of our sunless tanner series.

Read on to see what Ellery thought!

Clinique Day to Night Travel Palette

I hate it when something I'm coveting is only available at Travel Locations. Like this new Day to Night Palette from Clinique. The colors in this palette could easily take you from day to night and are pretty universally flattering. Available in May.

Clinique

Chanel Morning Rose Nail Polish

A pretty mid-tone rose, this color is almost a bubble gum pink. There is fine gold shimmer that is so subtle that only you will know it is there.

This color does have some streaking issues, so use a very light touch with application and I recommend letting each coat dry for a few minutes before adding more polish. I needed 3 coats to reach opaque.

Read on to see a few pinks in the same color range.

Concealer Series: FACE Stockholm's Magic Wand

This concealer seems to be a little more moisturizing than most, so it needs less area prep for perfect application. I love the wand it comes in, perfect for on the go application! Be careful if you need more coverage, building too many layers does result in some caking with this product. This is one I'll be keeping in my purse for on the go touchups.


Consistency: Liquid, comes in a wand with a brush end
Blendability: Very blendable
Buildable coverage: Yes
Feeling on skin: Lightweight
Wear: ~10 hours
Problems with wear: Caking, with many layers this becomes apparent towards the end of the day
Shades Available: 4 shades, better for those with fair skin

FACE Stockholm Magic Wand

A Little Change Makes All the Difference: Goody Stay Put

Sometimes a little change can make a big difference. Can you see what it is in the images above that has made styling my hair each day that much easier?

Read on to find out

Essie Summer 2011: Color Me Braziliant

Have you seen Essie's upcoming Summer 2011 collection yet? It looks really fun and colorful, absolutely perfect for summer pedis!

Braziliant: Outrageous, blazing orange
Too Too Hot: Fierce fire coral
Super Bossa Nova: Pulsating tourmaline pink
Meet Me At Sunset: Intense flamingo citrine
Smooth Sailing: Dreamiest blue topaz
Absolutely Shore: Pale, seafoam green

The collection comes out in June. I'm interested in the entire collection, which is strange for me. Even the orange. It might be the orange that gets me to wear orange nail polish, usually a bad color for me. Essie does a great job of making really well pigmented, bright colors. A lot of my favorite bright/dark pinks are nearly one coaters, all from Essie.

Which shades are you most interested in?

Essie

Every Thing You Ever Wanted to Know About Under Eye Circles, Bags and More....

In my recent post on how to use concealer and corrector on your under eye area I very briefly alluded to under eye bags and what causes them. I didn't go in to it, as that's a whole other ball of wax. It's a post that I've had in the back of my mind for years, but for some reason I've never gotten around to writing it.

Well, I don't need to write it after all! Dr Cynthia Bailey, my favorite dermatologist, has written an amazingly comprehensive and easy to understand post on what causes under eye circles, bags and puffiness. This is the post I've wanted to write for years, but better written and more inclusive. Definitely go check it out.

Dr Bailey Skincare


Pictured above is my new mommy under eye area, sans makeup and eye cream. I felt the need to share since I had a picture in the concealer post that was on a good day, with amazing lighting, and so blown up that everything looked incredibly smooth. I felt the need to pull this pic out of my iPhoto trash (see why it was there??) to show that I definitely have bags! At least those bags had the decency to be insanely expensive luggage in this post. You can even see my visible capillary. It's been there since I was little and is really hard to cover with concealer, hence my obsession with highly pigmented concealers.

Chanel Mimosa Nail Polish

I admit it, I bought in to the hype and bought "the" color of the season, Chanel Mimosa. This yellow is a bit more wearable than I had thought it would be, as it is a tad darker than most highlighters (I had feared it would be that ugly bright yellow highlighter color). It does have a little bit of same color shimmer that just can't be captured in a picture.

I would like to point out that this color is very difficult to work with. Yellows have always been known to be finicky in the world of nail polish, and I had been hoping that the nail polish gurus over at Chanel would be able to fix this. Not so. The formula is a bit streaky, and something with the brush just seems to drag and make it much worse. Use a light touch and let your layers sit for a few minutes in between to help keep the streaking at a minimum. I needed 4 light coats to reach full opacity without visible nail line or streaks.

Also, I should add that I'm not really sure why, but I seem to be really gripping the bottle in this picture! I swear my fingers aren't that red in real life. For some reason I guess I was worried the bottle would run away??

Chanel

Win It! Napoleon Perdis Mother's Day Gift Box Set

Today I have a great contest! This Napoleon Perdis Mother's Day Gift Box Set is filled with makeup items that work for pretty much any one.

Included in the box:
• Prismatic Eye shadow Quad 5
• Lip Veil Tangerine Slice
• Rose Blush
• Black and Gold Striped Cosmetic Bag

To enter the Mother’s Day giveaway to win a Napoleon Perdis Mother’s Day Box Set, you can get an entry for each of these items:
• Answer the question “How Has Your Mother Inspired You?”, post your answer in the comment section on 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic.
• Post your answer on Twitter with @15minbeauty & @napoleonperdis using hashtag #spoilyourmother
• Follow @15minbeauty and @napoleonperdis on Twitter
• Like 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic on Facebook
• Like Napoleon Perdis on Facebook

Make a comment below for each entry above, including your email address please! If you win, I'll need to verify that entry with your Twitter or Facebook name. Open to United States and Australia Residents, contest closes on Monday May 2nd at 5 pm EST.

Napoleon Perdis Mother's Day Gift Box Set

The prize in this contest has been provided by the company.

Concealer Series: L'Oreal Paris True Match Concealer

One of the things that I love about this product, truly, is the way in which the shades are labelled. How many times have I tried to buy a new foundation, concealer and powder set in a store (from the same line in a brand) and had each product have a different name? All things like natural beige or bisque... so confusing. L'Oreal makes it easy here with letters and numbers (C1, C2, C3 are cool, N1, N2, N3 are neutral, etc) and the colors actually correlate with each other. Amazing!

Best of all, L'Oreal has a great see through color picker on the display. Hold this piece of plastic up to your skin and the tone that disappears is the one you should buy. And guess what? That thing actually works.



Consistency: Liquid, comes in a tube with a sponge tipped wand
Blendability: Yes
Buildable coverage: Somewhat. It can build in coverage but not to a large extent
Feeling on skin: Lightweight
Wear: 8-10 hours
Problems with wear: Caking towards the end of the day
Shades Available: 9 shades

L'Oreal Paris True Match Concealer

Beauty Blog Network Weekend Reads

Phyrra debuts Geek Chic Cosmetics new collection, N7 and gives you a sneak peek of an upcoming collection, Mana Screwed! So if you're a fan of Mass Effect or Magic the Gathering, you've gotta check them out.

To keep or to ditch? Megan from Painted Ladies reviews L'Oreal's new One Sweep eyeshadow.

Grey explores her brow obsession with Inglot!

Raging Rouge is thrilled to have found an inexpensive, hypoallergenic shampoo Finesse Clean + Simple!

The Makeup Divas are giving away three (3) full size jars of facial cream from True Promise Beauty. What a great gift this would make for you or for your mom this Mother's Day.

The Pink Sith Tells you all about her Super Fantastic Happy Happy Joy Joy Makeover from Armani Beauty at her local Neiman Marcus!

A Touch of Blusher loves Chanel Rouge Coco Shine.

Cinnamon Kitten chats with Sarah Crawley, founder of The Soap Girl.

A Blast from the Past: Noxzema!

Noxzema is one of those items that every teenage girl uses at some point or another. I obviously loved it (I even mention it in my About Me page for this blog). I have to admit that I started using it even before Rebecca Gayheart was enlisted to be the Noxzema Girl in 1991. I fully believe that this casting is my generation's Breck Girl, and I mostly blame Rebecca for my teenage coveting of curly hair.

This week I've been using Noxzema again as they've released a ton of new products. Joining the line since I've last used Noxzema are Makeup Removal Cloths (my friend Daneen over at Spoiled Pretty reviewed the cleansing cloths if you want to see what she thought), Clean Blemish Control Foaming Wash and Daily Scrub (formulated for adults with acne issues) and Triple Clean Anti-Blemish items. I've been using the Original Deep Cleansing Cream Pump, which is exactly what it sounds like– the original Noxzema I loved so much back in high school, but in a much easier to use pump form.

Noxzema still has that signature scent that I remember so well from high school, the menthol-camphor and eucalyptus oil combination. It is thick and creamy with a light tingle as I apply it. I found that while it does a good job of removing makeup on my face, it doesn't do a good job of removing any eye makeup, including mascara smudges. So, I've been using it after eye makeup remover to take everything else off. It rinses off nicely, but my favorite part is right after I'm done rinsing. My skin feels super soft and hydrated. Even before moisturizer!

I'm sticking my pump of Noxzema in the shower to make it my morning facial cleanser, and I'll be hunting down some of the cleansing cloths for nights that I'm just too tired to do my whole routine.

Noxzema

Concealer Series: Make Up For Ever's Full Cover Concealer

Since I had meant to actually start the concealer review series about 5 or 6 weeks ago, I have to blame the delay on 2 things. First, I'm obviously super busy with my new baby. The second has to be this concealer! MUFE's Full Cover was one of the first I tested and I could not tear myself away from it. I would have the best of intentions regarding trying another concealer. I would even open up another product and decide I didn't want to test that day, I wanted to use my Full Cover. So, back to the Full Cover I went. I eventually had to hide this concealer in a drawer as it was so distracting having this on the counter of my vanity.


Consistency: Liquid, comes in a tube
Blendability: Very blendable
Buildable coverage: After about 2 layers things get dicey, though it's so well pigmented you shouldn't really need so much concealer.
Feeling on skin: Lightweight
Wear: ~12 hours
Problems with wear: Caking, Settles into fine lines when more than 2 layers are on.
Shades Available: 12 shades in a wide array of colors

Make Up For Ever's Full Cover Concealer

Orly's Summer 2011 Collection: Pinup

Orly has announced their Summer 2011 collection, Pinup. The collection is "inspired by the unapologetic glitz and free-spirited attitude of the most iconic pinup girls, the collection exudes a vivacious, dolled-up femininity that laces any look with sheer confidence."

Honestly, I don't know of any pinup girls that wear colors like this (I think of a red creme for a pinup girl). But, I still love these colors! Perfect colors for the summer.

Va Va Voom: Pink Neon Crème
Here Comes Trouble: Sparkle Green
Coquette Cutie: Coral Crème
Bubbly Bombshell: Purple Glitter

Orly

L'Oreal Paris Infallible & The Love of Lipstick

L’Oréal Paris recently conducted a survey of nearly 2,300 men and women about lipstick, and I thought the results were very interesting!

75% of women believe that lipstick improves their confidence
90% of women said that she’s not wearing that sultry-hue for you—it’s for herself! (This is sooo me, by the way. I wear all makeup for me, not for anyone around me.)
60% of men believe that smeared makeup on their face is a telltale sign of a steamy make-out session
30% of men would rather wear lipstick for a day than gain 30lbs

In celebration of lipstick, there's a great promotion going on over on the L'Oreal Facebook page. Over a 30 day period, you can "like" a new Le Rouge Lipstick diary entry from an A-list L’Oréal Paris spokespeople like Eva Longoria, Doutzen Kroes and Kerry Washington to name a few. You'll find out which of the 30 shades they’d choose to flirt, seduce or impress…

You'll be entered to win daily prizes including tubes of Infallible Le Rouge Lipstick and can enter the Live La Vie En Rouge in NYC sweepstakes for the chance to win a grand prize trip for two to New York City.


L'Oreal Facebook Page
L'Oreal Paris

Bare Escentuals Beautifully Bronzed

Bare Escentuals has a new sunless tanner brush, and it is debuting today on QVC! This product duo is a little bit different from other sunless tanners for several reasons. First, you see the color as you apply it, making goofs such as missed spots or dark areas on your knees a thing of the past! It also goes on with a buffing brush, so you can avoid orange palms. The formula even contains Vitamins C & E as well as Sweet Almond Oil.

As with all of my sunless tanner reviews, my cousin Ellery tried it out and wrote the review for me. Read on to see what this sunless tanner guru thought of the Bare Escentuals formula!

Formal Looks: Nicole Kidman's Edgy Updo at the SAG Awards

Stylist David Babaii created an edgy updo for Nicole Kidman at the SAG Awards this year.

Starting with clean hair, David applied his new favorite must have product called Couture Colour Pequi Oil Treatment to her entire head.

Next, he blow dried Nicole's hair with the IT&Y HAIRFASHION Ionic Dryer along with a large round brush to achieve a sleek straight finish.

After the hair was dried, he gently back combed the top and sides for volume and then smoothed the surface. To begin the up-do, he swept the hair gently over creating a faux side-part and brining the rest of the hair to the center back and securing with a band just at the top of the nape.

David wrapped the hair into an un-structured Chignon and securing with bobby pins. The secret was not to over comb or smooth the hair but to allow the hair to create a soft natural look. To finish, he used additional Pequi Oil to her bang area to define strands. For added glamour, David added a subtle decorative clip to the side.

IT&LY HAIRFASHION
Couture Colour

Concealer Review Series: How and Where to Use Concealer and Corrector

Back when I was entering my 3rd trimester, I was thinking about what topics I would be interested in covering shortly after my daughter arrived. I would need something interesting enough to spend a little time on it, rather than simply staring at the baby. (She's super cute as she sleeps! Obviously I must watch this for hours!)

Anyways, I decided that the things I would be most interested in would be speeding up my routine to get ready in a jiffy (hence, spending even more time staring at the baby) and looking for ways to look awake while I do so. I started to work on a concealer review series. A lot of my favorite brands have decided to participate, from Revlon and Cover Girl to Estée Lauder, Elizabeth Arden and even QVC favorite Dalton! The series currently has over 20 concealers, and will go on for quite a while. Watch for a new concealer review every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

In the meantime, I thought I'd share what info I have in my brain about undereye circles and taking care of them to look more awake. I've accumulated a lot of little tips over my years of beauty blogging, but most of them came from being a beauty obsessed medical student and resident. So, this post is ~90% reviewing covering up undereye circles.

50% off at Beauty Ticket!

You can read more about my relationship with Beauty Ticket on my disclosures page, but they don't pay me anything.

Rihanna's Amazing American Idol Red Nails

Did you see Rihanna on American Idol last week? I have to admit that I do watch that show and wonder about nail polishes (though it is usually in regards to J Lo). Rihanna always has amazing nails, and I really loved the red she was wearing.

It turns out that it was a combination of 2 different gel nail colors.
• EZ Flow Gelez Buff: a subtle, shimmery nude gel polish
• ibd Red Velvet Gelac: a deep, shimmery maroon gel polish on top

In case you missed it, here's a video of her performance!


EZ Flow
ibd

Heidi Klum's Feather Extension: Yeah or Nay?

Heidi Klum recently had a feather extension added to her hair (it was done at 901 Salon in West Hollywood). The feather isn't just a temporary, while on vacation thing. According to Modelinia, it stays in her hair even for photo shoots!

The feather reminds me quite a bit of the friendship bracelet things I used to put in my hair back in elementary school (yes, it was the 80s!) While friends would create the bracelet around their actual hair, I didn't like the way hair would always stick out of the string. So, I made my own bracelets, then would put them on a small barrette buried in my hair. I changed out the colors to match my outfit while friends were stuck with the same messy one every day.

Anyways, what do you think of Heidi's feather? I like it, though I'm not sure I could rock it for every day.

Victoria's Secret Attractions

In all of my digging back through my email yesterday (wow, I'm still super behind!), I found this video that had been sent to me by Victoria's Secret. I love the Bridgette Bardot vibe that Lindsay Ellingson has toward the end of the video. Actually, I love her look at the beginning as well with the skinnies, big shirt and blazer. It makes me happy that things are finally warming up to the point around here that I'll be able to sport this look as well, without a big wool coat over it!

Victoria's Secret

A Few Things...

I've been busy dealing with a few things in my personal life (which have turned out just great!) so I feel as if I've been neglecting the blog! Likely you haven't noticed anything, but I feel horribly behind as I don't have my "normal" 1-2 weeks worth of posts banked already. Oh, and I'm about 2 weeks behind in my emails. Today I'm trying to dig myself out of the email hole I've dug, so here are few things worth checking out. I'll keep adding things to this post as I come across them in my email adventures!

Self Magazine is offering a special for today only for their Workout in the Park series. Workout in the Park is "a transformative total-body experience that brings the pages of SELF to life and puts attendees in the center of the action with a day of invigorating exercise, beauty consultations, style savvy, nutritional know-how, and exclusive freebies and giveaways." If you buy your tickets today you'll get a special WIP Starter Kit including a limited edition SELF notebook and water bottle.

Dates:
• San Francisco (Little Marina Green): April 30, 2011
• New York (Rumsey Playfield, Central Park): May 7, 2011
• Chicago (Butler Field, Grant Park): May 21, 2011
• WHEN: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., rain or shine


LaVanila is one of my favorite "green" beauty brands, and they have a great promo going for Earth Day! For each new “LIKE” received on the LaVanila Facebook Page on April 21st and April 22nd (Earth Day), Lavanila will plant one tree through their long-time partnership with The Nature Conservancy. They also plant a tree for each order placed on-line.


Kiehl's has a Limited Edition version of their Rare Earth Mask that has been released for Earth Day. 100% of the proceeds will go to the Waterkeeper Alliance.


My friend Sinead (ok, I've only met her on-line, but still many email chats and we are Facebook friends!) has an amazing line of sunless tanners, Beautisol, which I've reviewed in the past. When I'm not embracing the pale, this is my go-to sunless tanner. Tomorrow Sinead will debut it on HSN! She'll be on live at 6am EDT, 6pm EDT and 11pm EDT.