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

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!

My Latest Labor of Love

I'm excited to share with you all my latest labor of love: my column in Atlanta Social Season Magazine (www.seasonmagazine.com). This spread is all about creating that shimmery sun goddess look for these long, warm days.

Also, it's important to protect your hair and skin, so they will be luminous from being healthy!

Here's a direct link to my spread online: Shimmery Summer I hope you enjoy it!

The Sweetest Thing

With Valentine's Day coming, the discussion always turns to chocolate, amiright? And while chocolate is good, very good, we both know that our resolutions centered around healthier eating and less scarfing chocolate. So bless Too Faced heart for creating their newest sweet thing in beauty. The Semi-Sweet Chocolate Bar. It even sounds delicious, doesn't it?

Full of antioxidants and infused with cocoa-powder, these 16 shades are cocoa powder-infused and a mix of matte and shimmery shades with sumptuous names that make you think of caramels, mochas and a surprise pop of blueberry. You have to see it to believe it.

What else, you ask? Well, I'm glad you did - starting TODAY! Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics is offering the MAD LOVE’ LIP TAR & STAINED GLOSS TRIO SET, $39.50 ($72 VALUE).   Available exclusively on occmakeup.com  the trio set includes a trio of textures to play with:  Matte, Metallic, and Stained Gloss.  Wear each shade alone for seductively simple pouts or mix shades and textures together to take your lips to new heights of color sensation. Look at those lips! Amazing!

Life.Syle Store in Melbourne Has Hair-Brained Idea

Napoleon Perdis in his gorgeous Life.Style store. Melbourne.

And it's working! Napoleon Perdis, native Australian, has been quietly creating his Life.Style stores across the country. These stores are an all-inclusive, total immersion in everything beauty, fashion and style. And that is apparent from the moment you walk into the store. It's the center of chic.

Blond Wig Chandelier. Really.

With a massive blonde wig chandelier hanging proudly from the ceiling, Perdis' Life.Style stores open customers with welcome arms to peruse items that Perdis has found interesting and therefore decided to share with the public. Items range from ready-to wear jewelry to housewares. But it doesn't stop there. You didn't think Perdis would open a store without including his world famous makeup and beauty services, did you?

A sampling of the available items in Life.Style

Now we just have to convince him to come stateside so we can get in on the fun! Or, just book a ticket to Melbourne and check it out now!

More samplings from Napoleon's personally curated collection.

If you can't make it to Melbourne, you can at least enjoy wearing his makeup by purchasing your own stash at napoleonperdis.com

Urban Decay Naked Lip Gloss - First Impression

 I love a good lip gloss, don't you? But I hate the overly sticky feeling of many and the way my hair gets caught in my lips when the wind blows. Yuck.

I recently got to try the new lip glosses from the Urban Decay Naked line. I was pretty excited!

First, they are so so pretty! All of the colors are in the neutral/naked range - so they are light and perfect for spring. I tried a few and personally, some were a little too light for me - I preferred those with a tiny bit more color - something closer to my natural lip color. Rule34 and Beso fit the bill nicely. Naked is pretty, but just too nude for me.

Second - They smell nice. I'm generally off put by lip products that have funky and/or a chemical smell. Naked glosses smell fresh, with a hint of mint. But nothing so strong it's all you can smell. It's just a nice, clean fresh scent.

Third - They're not overly sticky. This is huge. Glosses appeal to me (and maybe you) because they're easy to apply, give some color and moisturize. But sometimes that moisture comes with stickiness. No thanks. The Naked glosses feel slick when applied - a definite selling point.

Fourth - The applicator is great. It's a paddle applicator and it picks up just the right amount of product so you don't have to double or triple dip to get the right amount of gloss.

Want to get yours? Visit Urban Decay and pick a few up. They're $20 each and come in nine nude shades.

Beauty Deals and Gifts

I know we're down to the wire here, but you've got to get to an Ulta store, because they've got some great makeup sets at awesome prices that are perfect for a last-minute gift or an indulgent splurge for yourself.

Cargo Cosmetics is offering a Let's Meet in Paris Eye Shadow Palette - it's gorgeous and includes 12 metallic shades in the lovely brocade compact. But the best part? It's only 19 dollars!
Also included is a dual ended eyeshadow brush.

I love this palette and I love these colors. The holidays are the perfect time to add some shimmer to your eyelids.

Lorac is my new favorite brand for mascara. Lorac Pro is so awesome I wish everyone could experience it. The wand is sort of egg shaped and tapers at the end, making it easy to get the lashes in the corners of your eye. But the fact that you get amazing volume and length from a mascara that is Ophthalmologist approved, makes my eyes so happy. Normally, by the end of the day my eyes are watering non-stop because of my mascara. But not with the Lorac Pro! Rockin' Red Hot Lashes set is boxed with a Lorac Pro mascara and a pretty red eyelash curler. You also get a free gift. All for only $23 (I think I paid $25 for the mascara by itself, so I consider this a great deal!)

Smashbox also has an introductory set of their favorites: Eye Liner, Mascara, Primer, Lip Enhancing Gloss and a few more goodies that are well-loved from the brand. There are 6 products total in the kit and it's only $19 as well.

What a great way to try a new brand, or try several products at a low low price.

I also love Ulta because they have an amazing return policy - if you don't like it, take it back. No questions asked. Just hang on to your receipt!

September Favorites

Here are a few things I've discovered, rediscovered, or have just really been enjoying the last month. A little late, but better than never!

1. Dry Shampoo - such a time saver! I'm pretty much in for all dry shampoos I've tried, but current faves are Oscar Blandi and Keratin Complex. One's a powder formula that you shake on, the other is a spray. Both work nicely and smell good. Just make sure you brush well after applying to remove any white cast. Or, try Batiste's dry shampoo for dark hair. I'm pretty sure you can get all of these at Ulta shops or online.

2. Jordana's Twist and Shine Balm Stains - so cheap, so pretty. Available in so many colors at Walgreens, these balms leave a slight stain on lips. For a balm, they have a huge color payoff. (Not as much with the lightest shades, though) I love the amount of moisture they give lips. I've been loving Honey, but there's a Cranberry color I'd like to try this month.

3. Rose Jam shower gel from Lush. Oh my. It smells SO good. Like Roses, but better. A hint of lemon. Sweet, but not overly so. It's heaven in a bottle. And it moisturizes with argan oil. Not too heavy. Just right. And did I mention it smells awesome?! Sadly, it's limited edition, so you must go now to get yours. I believe it's available through Christmas and that's it. Stock up, everyone. It's that good.

Mascara Magic

I've searched high and low to find a mascara that does everything I want it to. It's harder than you might think. Some give volume, but look clumpy. Others give length, but not volume. I want both!

Volumizing Mascara

Late one night I was channel surfing and I stopped on QVC. Mally Roncal was on showing off her Mally Beauty line. Her models had amazing eyes. So I watched like a star-struck teenager. I wanted to try this bullet-proof mascara. I had to get my hands on it. And I did.

It truly is amazing. With one coat, my lashes have length and volume. No clumps. No teary eyes! (I have very sensitive eyes who tend to water profusely when they dislike the eye makeup I've chosen) No flaking off during the day onto your under eye (that is such an ugly look). Mally's Volumizing Mascara gets 5 stars from me! Once you try it, I know you will agree. (It also comes in a waterproof version, but I have not tried that, so I can't speak to whether it's as good as the original.)

You can purchase this from QVC here. Last time I checked it was a great deal - you get two tubes of mascara for $28, plus something like $5 shipping. Keep one for later, or bless a friend with beautiful lashes!

You can also buy Mally at the Ulta store online for $20 (but I honestly think the QVC deal is better, since you're getting two tubes for only $8 more.)

Reviewing Starlooks Beauty Subscription Box

Sample Box from March

What can I say? I'm a lucky gal. I get to test and try lots of products that are new, or you may not have heard of yet and then report back and let you know what I think. You can think of me as giving you the inside scoop on beauty products far and wide!

So, naturally, I was excited when this package from Starlooks (the Starbox) showed up on my desk - I love new things and this was something I had never heard of before.

Lash Boost Mascara Primer

Now the concept is the same as some other monthly beauty subscription services - once a month you'll receive a box full of new products to try out, but unlike other services, these are all products from the Starlooks brand. You may be saying to yourself, "But, I've never HEARD of this brand...why should I try this out instead of something else?" Trust me, I said it too!

There are lots of other subscription services out there sending out brand name products - but don't forget, they're samples. With the Starbox, you get full-sized PRO quality makeup at a fraction of the cost. And the products chosen for each box are picked carefully so that you might use them together to create a specific "look".

Infinity Lipstick in Ageless

While not every product is perfect for every body - the products you DO fall in love with (like for me, the mascara primer- it has become a stable in my beauty routine) are available for purchase by themselves when you run out (or if you want to share with a friend!)

You can try one box at a time, or pick up boxes from months past (if they've not sold out) and try it yourself. Once you get it home, if there's a product you're unsure of how to use, check out http://looksbook.starlooks.com for tips and tricks and recommendations that can help. Starbox prices start at $15 per month, and individual items begin around $14.

It's a fun, inexpensive way to get top-quality products shipped right to you door, and an easy way to try something new.

In Honor of The Young & The Restless: Jabot

Yeah, I admit it. I'm a closet soap fan. I'm addicted to the uber-drama of the daytime world. It's my respite from the real world, my guilty pleasure and reminds me of my childhood, as many people in my family regularly watched CBS soaps.

If you are a Young & The Restless fan, then I don't need to introduce you to Jabot Cosmetics - the line speaks for itself.

If you're not a soap fan, then Jabot Cosmetics may be new to you and I am happy to introduce you to a line that is near and dear to my heart. It's conception was born on the show, and now, some 20 years later, a real line has been developed and promoted and launched simultaneously on the daytime drama and in real life on HSN.

I had to try it. It became my mission. I worked and worked to get information on this line and my persistence paid off! A package arrived filled with some of my favorite things!

Enter the Jabot Lasting Performance Foundation. Available in 5 shades from Fair to Deep Mocha, this foundation goes on evenly and sticks around all day - I love long wearing foundation! There's not much worse than foundation that slides off your face before the day is over.

Want to pick some up to try for yourself? Visit HSN or www.shopjabot.com or now you can visit your local ULTA store to try out this iconic brand.

Congratulations to our first giveaway winner, Holly Havens! She won the Urban Decay set of mini nail polishes!

We have more giveaways coming up, so stay tuned and follow me on this journey!

Give It Away!

Are you all as excited as I am?


Brett knows Beauty has partnered with Atlanta Social Season Magazine and Urban Decay Cosmetics to bring you my first ever blog giveaway!

You have from now, until November 18th (that's over a week!) to complete a few, quick tasks and be entered to win.

"So what do I have to do?", you ask. It's easy! Simply become a follower on Brett Knows Beauty, and leave a comment on one of the upcoming posts. That will get you entered to win one of my most favorite holiday goodies - The Urban Decay Nail Polish Sampler.

With jewel tones and sophisticated neutrals you can rock out and captivate the room this holiday in style. With fun names like Hot Mess (also my personal favorite), Wrecked, Gunmetal, Mars and Ziggy, they've pulled their best sellers and combined them into one awesome set. And it can be yours!

If you're unfamiliar with this brand, it's a great way to try it out and see how you like it. If you're already familiar with Urban Decay, then you know how innovative, fun and inspiring this line is! So what are you waiting for? Follow, comment, win!

Primer Worth Time and Money

So it took me awhile to buy into the whole Primer phase. I use a moisturizer everyday and I didn't honestly believe a primer would make that much of a difference. I was wrong!

I tried Global Goddess Beauty's Upgrade Complexion Face Primer and Holy Cow! It certainly did upgrade my complexion! With a hint of pearlescent pigments, Upgrade Face Primer evens out complexion and protects skin with luxurious vitamins A and E.

The best thing is that ANYONE can use this product, your skin coloring is irrelevant. It brightens and smooths and for me, helped my makeup last longer without sliding off. And let's face it, ladies. Anything to help prolong makeup is a plus in my book.


Get yours today at Sephora.com. They always have great deals on shipping and wonderful freebies, too! Now it's easier than ever to look and feel like a Goddess!