Free Dry Bar Blowout!

Free Blowouts January 12th at ALL Drybar Locations Courtesy of Freeform  In Celebration of “Pretty Little Liars” Winter Season Premiere

What: Freeform, the new name for ABC Family, is partnering with Drybar to celebrate the winter premiere of their hit original series Pretty Little Liars. To get fans ready for the new season, Freeform will cover the tab for blowouts (including tax & tip!) on the day of the big premiere at ALL 50+ Drybar locations across the country.

When & Where: Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Drybar Locations Nationwide – all day long

More Details: Drybar will bring Pretty Little Liars to life by creating a unique and engaging experience for fans. Clients will watch episodes of the show from earlier in season six, receive tune-in cards and enjoy signature Drybar styles incorporating popular Pretty Little Liars characters – i.e. The Aria Straight Up and The Spencer Mai Tai. Think nothing in life is totally FREE? Think again – the deal even includes tax & tip! Pretty Little Liars winter premiere is Tuesday, January 12th at 8/7c on Freeform, the new name for ABC Family.

All U.S. locations. One day only. Limited availability, by appointment only. No walk-ins. Book on thedrybar.com or the Drybar iPhone app.

Filthy Fragrance for the New Year

Happy New Year! I hope 2016 is going to be the best year for each and every one of you! In the spirit of the New Year, I thought it might be fun to explore new fragrances (sometimes we need a change), and a great, discount place to buy them! I love, love, love a good deal! One of my resolutions this year is to not pay retail if at all possible!

With free shipping on orders over $59, this site is a steal! Here are a few of the fragrances I'm interested in, that are new, classic or something I think you might be interested in! Here goes!

BVLGARI AQVA DIVINA

Retail price: $90 Filthy Fragrance Price: $48.99

Aqva Divina is the first feminine fragrance from the Bvlgari Aqva collection, which has so far included only masculine scents. Bvlgari Aqva Divina came out in February 2015, inspired by Botticelli’s painting The Birth of Venus, so it's still a relatively new fragrance. The fragrance is announced as very bright and sensual.

Its floral-aquatic composition signed by perfumer Alberto Morillas opens with aromas reminiscent of the salty sea; there are accords of bergamot, salt crystals and red ginger. Magnolia and quince form the heart of the perfume, which is followed by the base of beeswax, precious woods and amber.

So in general terms, this is going to be a slightly floral fragrance, with a sensual undertone. Perfect for this time of the year. Warm and inviting.

BOND NO. 9 HAMPTONS EDP
Retail price: $300 Filthy Fragrance price: $159

I'm obsessed with Bond No. 9 fragrances. They are all so unique and named after different neighborhoods of New York. But they're expensive. Too expensive to try many. But this is almost 50% off! And they have LOTS of other fragrances available. Some unisex, some perfumes and some colognes. A personal favorite is Montauk or Coney Island.

Now Hamptons isn't a brand new scent - it was launched in 2005. But it has staying power because of its name and the light crisp citrus notes with a hint of floral and a creamy dry down finish.


MONT BLANE FEMME DE MONT BLANC

Retail price: $79 Filthy Fragrance Price: $30

This is a rich, sultry fragrance. With notes of bergamot, cardamom, cinnamon, pineapple, Turkish rose, jasmine, may blossom, orange blossom, heliotrope, woods, amber, musk chocolate, raspberry and peach.

Another fragrance perfect for this time of year because it is so warm and inviting. And let's face it, you can't beat the price. A classic.

 
Still looking for your favorite? Click the banner below to browse all that Filthy Fragrance has to offer. I hope you'll be as pleased as I am! Happy New Year!

November Favorites

The holidays have really kicked into gear by now, and there are lots of favorites on my list, so let's jump in!

1. Acne Treatment
Even though I'm in my late 30's, I still get breakouts, whether due to hormones, stress or bad luck. However, I have a powerful product in my must-haves that keeps the damage minimal without drying out my face. It's the SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense liquid. Just a few drops on a blemish and it begins working to dry it up without drying aging skin.

Yes, it's a little bit of a splurge at $88, but it's worth it. One bottle will last months, and it's the best blemish treatment I've found in many years of looking!

2. Under Eye Circles
Whether the holidays have you stressed out to the point you're not sleeping, or you've been to too many holiday get-togethers, the under eye area can give us away so quickly! Jane Iredale's Enlighten under eye concealer is the way to go for covering up those dark areas. Unless you are very dark complected, I would choose shade 1. The trick is to use your middle finger and take the smallest amount and pat gently under the eyes.It will look a little reddish orange but that's ok! Then you can cover with a tiny speck of foundation, or a colored powder. Either way, your eyes will look more vibrant and alive! At $29, it's not exactly cheap, but not too pricey considering one pot will last a long time.

3. Smell Goods
It's that time of year again when LUSH ever so graciously shares with us the Rose Jam shower gel. A mixture of roses and lemon, this shower gel will become your instant favorite. As I looked today, it's out of stock online, but you may be able to find it in stores - if not, I'd suggest perusing eBay. It's totally worth it. I make sure to get enough each Christmas to last me (sparingly) throughout the next year. Haven't once regretted it! lush.com

4. Getting Rid Of Fine Lines
Yep, I've got them. Mine are mostly around my mouth, and I hate them! Short of doing some kind of injection, I've found the Rodial Bee Venom Moisturizer softens the deep crease I have on the right side of my mouth. I'll go ahead and tell you now - it's expensive. $190 a jar. But it's much less expensive than Botox or Juvederm or any other fillers. Maybe you can even score a sample - who knows?



I know, I know I owe you a December/End of the Year favorites. Working on that now! I love each and every one of you who stop by to read my thoughts on everything beauty, skin care and hair care. You are my people!

2016 Hair Forecasts

Whether you're looking for a new look, or want to freshen up the one you have now, Redken ambassador and owner of Cutler Salons, Rodney Cutler takes a look back at 2015 to share his top trends for the coming year. Hot off the red carpet, these looks will be the most requested, most Instagrammed styles in the coming months.

What looks like something you'll try in the next year? I'm loving Taylor Swift's textured lob.

CUT: Bangs / Textured Lob 

Growing out last season’s hot short shag cut? Ask your stylist for a bob outline with interior layers that will add texture to the lob shape, creating a more versatile cut and style. The soft, separated veiled bang was a big trend on the runway and red carpet this past year and will continue to dominate in 2016.

STYLE HOW-TO:

Prime hair with Redken Pillow Proof Express Primer before blow-drying to protect the hair from the heat and styling tools. Work towards smoothing the root down slightly – You want a little bit of volume at the crown but not much. A little Redken Guts 10 directly on the root should do the trick! Using a flat-iron, twirl small sections of the hair starting from below the bang line to create a ribbon curl with straighter ends. Finish with a light working hairspray like Redken Fashion Work 12.

PRODUCTS:

Redken Pillow Proof Express Primer

Redken Guts 10

Redken Fashion Work 12

CUT: Slick Sweepback 

The intention for this haircut is a chic, strong silhouette that is ideal for showing off your beautiful face. Tucked, smooth hair behind the ears to keep the focus on your features – strong cheekbones, stunning eyes, full lips. This cut is ideal for the stylish girl who doesn’t need to hide behind her hair!

STYLE HOW-TO:

Apply a small amount of Redken Diamond Oil Glow Dry Serum and blowout hair in root direction with a Mason Pearson brush while creating a strong side part. Tuck hair behind ears and finish with Redken Triple Take 32 for maximum hold and all-day control. 

PRODUCTS:

Redken Diamond Oil Glow Dry Serum

Redken Triple Take 32

STYLE: Top-Knot Updo Style

This easy top-knot updo is the perfect hairstyle for the girl-on-the-go, requiring minimal effort and maximum beauty!  

STYLE HOW-TO:

Start with a great dry shampoo like Redken Pillow Proof Two-Day Extender and spray throughout the hair. Brush through removing all knots, but not too smooth – you still want a disheveled starting point. Create a high top-knot at the very top of your head, wrap around and secure knot with long bobby pins for maximum security. Leave out a few inches and smooth down this tail. Spray hair generously with Redken Triple Take 32. For a special touch, add a small accessory to add a little sparkle or shine to this effortless style!

PRODUCTS:

Redken Pillow Proof Two-Day Extender

Redken Triple Take 32

COLOR: Bronde 

Coined “chocolate chip cookie hair color” by Cutler Soho colorist Ryan Pearl, “bronde” highlights have been creeping into the hair lexicon for much of the past year. Expect this low-maintenance color to continue to populate on Instagram feed and Pinterest boards throughout 2016. This is the perfect color for the indecisive fashionista – the ideal mix of light and dark with minimal damage to the hair allowing for future changes without compromising the integrity and health of your locks. Plus, it’s gorgeous!

PRODUCTS:

Redken Blonde Idol Custom-Tone for Warm/Gold Blondes – This toning conditioner is perfect to maintain the warm, golden hues while minimizing brassiness between color appointments.

COLOR: Opal 

After the Rainbow-Brite Technicolor dreamscapes of 2015, expect avant-garde hair color to take a softer, more iridescent transition in the New Year. Opal color with its blend of pearl, light pink, blues and purples will be the go-to trend on the red carpet and front row at the hottest fashion shows. However, this color trend is definitely NOT for everyone. Expect your initial appointment to run anywhere between 3-6 hours depending on your existing color situation. We suggest seeing an experienced colorist for a complimentary consultation first to review their portfolio (most great colorists will have an Instagram feed featuring their recent work) and gain some professional insight from them. This is a big step and you should have a trustworthy relationship 

PRODUCT:

Redken Extreme Strength Builder Plus Masque – If your hair is in a distressed state after all of the bleaching, try this protein-based masque to restore strength and vitality to your thirsty locks. 

READY TO BUY?
Find all of your Redken products on Beauty.com and click the link to get $15 off!

$15 off Beauty.com orders of $75+ w/ code BEAUTY15

August Favorites!

August, you've come and gone, but I couldn't ignore the favorites I discovered and continue to love throughout the month.

First and foremost: My feet. Let's just say my heels are pretty much in bad shape all the time. Scratchy, scaly, rough heels are not attracting anyone. But using the Amope Pedi Perfect has made a huge difference. Used on dry skin, the rotating file grinds down the tough skin, leaving it smooth and ready for lotion. It's not a one and done deal, but with regular use in between pedicures, you'll be able to keep your feet looking nice and soft. It's a little pricey, but if you think about how often you'll use it, it's worth the cost. You can find it anywhere from the grocery store to the drug store to probably even drugstore.com or Ulta.

Wrinkles - be gone! I've been lucky to not have many wrinkles, and I believe it's due to the fact that I moisturize and use sunscreen daily. However, Caudalie's Anti-wrinkle Eye and Lip Cream is a crazy duo that I really love. It's a great moisturizer, and is safe for the tender skin around the eyes and the mouth. It's not greasy - it melts into skin instantly, offering moisturizing benefits and skin plumping ingredients to keep eyes and lips looking youthful. Because let's be honest, the crows feet and lip lines are a dead giveaway we're not 19 anymore! Available at Sephora.

 Last but not least, I've found a line of makeup brushes that are reasonably priced, and work really well. They're from the Drew Barrymore collection, FLOWER. I'm obsessed with the powder brush. It's soft, picks up powder easily and places it evenly on the face. I can't vouch for the longevity of the brush, but the prices are so reasonable, even if you only get 6 months to a year out of it, you're in good shape. It's definitely worth checking out. I think it's important to save where you can, so you can splurge on that one item you can't live without! The FLOWER line is available exclusively at Wal-Mart.

That's all I've got for August favorites. Let me know if there's anything else you're dying to hear about. Happy to share and love to hear your comments.

xoxo,
Brett

July Favorites

Hi all! I know this is a little late, but considering the circumstances, I hope you'll forgive me this time. (Ok, so I'm usually late anyway, but I was trying to be on time with this one!)

I love a good cleanser - and especially one that exfoliates, yet is safe for sensitive skin. The Suki Skincare Exfoliating Foaming Cleanser covers all the angles. Its bright lemon fragrance, gentle exfoliation and generous lather leaves skin feeling soft, smooth and refreshed. It has become my staple cleanser because it preps skin perfectly for moisturizing.
I go to an Aveda salon, and they always have little samples of things to take home and try. One in particular has become a favorite and it's the Botanical Kinetics Intense Hydrating Soft Creme. I like it because it's good for all skin types, it isn't greasy, it melts into skin fast, yet leaves skin with a moisturized feeling for hours.If you have dry skin, they also have a "rich" formula. Same great product, just more moisture for those with skin that needs a little more moisture.


I love a little luminosity on my face. Milani's Illuminating Face Powder in Hermosa Rose does a great job of making my face look lit from within, warming up my face with a hint of bronzer - without being too sparkly or shockingly highlighted. It just leaves a gorgeous all over glow. I use the Hermosa Rose, but there are two other shades, so lighter and darker skins can take advantage as well. Milani is a drugstore brand, and I typically get mine from CVS, because they have promotions a lot of the time. When I repurchased mine, it was Buy 1, Get 1 50% off. Not too bad!

Looks like I'm due for an August favorites - so keep your eyes open for that! ( I promise to get that finished before the end of September!)

xoxo,
B

Urban Decay: Free Shipping!

This doesn't come around often! Take advantage! Urban Decay (www.urbandecay.com) is offering FREE SHIPPING this week with NO MINIMUM purchase! How awesome is that?

It's time to pick up the new Naked Smoky Palette, Perversion Mascara (which is now coming with a free sample size of Subversion Lash Primer - I love this stuff!), or whatever else you need to stock up on. You can't beat it! I'm shopping as we speak!