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From bold neon to pretty peony, pink lips are the color of choice—and will be through spring and summer.  Blake Lively showed off a chic shade of magenta that complimented her fair skin and blond hair at the Noon By Noor Fall 2012 presentation.

“Pink really is universally flattering if you find just the right shade. For medium or olive complexions, look for a dusty rose or mauve tone.  If you’re darker try a bright pink with blue undertones for a pop of color” says our beauty expert and celebrity makeup artist, Beth Bender.

One of the coolest eye makeup looks at Fashion Week so far is from Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B. show.  Super, super cool cat eyeliner that blew us away, but not surprising considering it came from a lady who screams beauty, and has never strayed too far from her own signature look.

Notice anything different?  She used Eye Studio Master Drama Cream Pencil in Sapphire Strength to draw a thick line along the lash line, with a slight wing at the outer corner—but then here’s the key: She drew a second line in the crease. Somehow the combination of the two lines looked totally funky and quirky and fun.

Here’s a close-up:

This Valentine’s Day get out your red lipstick and start swiping girls…Red is in.  So, why not wear it today!  Depending on your skin tone, there is the perfect shade of red just waiting for you…Check out these celebrity beauties caught wearing red.

Emma Stone

We just love Emma and with her fair complexion, she can pull off a red with a bit of an orange undertone.

Singer Jennifer Hudson

Pop singer Jennifer Hudson’s dark skin looks great in a red shade with purple/mauve undertones.

Taylor Swift

Another cream skinned beauty, Taylor Swift wearing red lipstick like Emma Stone with a deeper orange undertone.

Angelina Jolie

And last but not least, our all time favorite beauty, Angelina Jolie wearing a red lipstick with purple undertones that match her slightly olive skin tone.

You can find the right shade of red at your local drug store, walmart, k-mart, target, or beauty supply store.  If they have samples readily available make sure to test it on your hand to see if it matches your skin tone.  For olive or darker complexions make sure you buy red shades with purple/mauve bases.  Creamy white/fair complexions stick to orange based reds.

Happy V-day from the bsw beauty dept.

Most women have a love-hate relationship with mascara. They love that it transforms their appearance but hate that it clumps and flakes lashes. Fall in love with the right Mascara from Make-Up Designory (MUD), world-renowned professional make-up school and its new cosmetics line.

MUD Squeezable Tube Mascara

This award-winning pigment-rich mascara provides even coverage lush with fibers to maximize and lengthen lashes for super-volumizing results. Available in a black cream and volumizing formula, MUD’s Mascara comes in a pewter gray squeezable tube that lessens waste.

MUD’s Mascara is less likely to dry out or spoil. The squeezable tube is perfect for a professional make-up artist and heaven-sent for at-home use.

Tip: For thicker lashes apply 1-2 layers and glide brush from inner to outer corner of bottom lashes. The full-bristled brush allows for a smooth and easy application control for individual users, whether creating a subtle daytime look or glamorous evening eyes. Use MUD Make-up Remover Towelettes to gently wipe away.

MUD takes it a step further with an innovative outer packaging that tells the consumer how to correctly use the product with illustrations and symbols rather than words. MUD’s Mascara has a suggested retail price of $14 for a .40 ounce tube and is available at select MUD shops and boutique locations or www.mudshop.com.

the bender sisters

On a budget this Valentine’s Day?  No worries boys and girls…There are plenty of options!  One of my favorites is a good clean fragrance.  I have a bathroom just overflowing with delicious scents.  One for every mood!  Can never have enough…So, check these out…Packaging and design makes them more expensive looking yet they’re not!

Tattooed Body Fragrance For Women and Jordin Sparks "Because of You" Fragrance

Tattooed by Inky (A Mi Amor) – Flaunt your love and all its mixed emotions – passion and romance, sometimes tears, then delirious joy.  Love can make you weak in the knees, but somehow makes you stronger.  A Mi Amor vividly captures all that you feel with a complex blend of white florals, vanilla and amber.  $5.99 at Target Stores

Tattooed by Inky (Sudden Freedom) – You’re ready to fly at a moment’s notice, looking for new adventures, without a care in the world.  Confident, vibrant and independent, you reach for the stars and inspire others to do the same.  A fresh and feminine bouquet of aquatic florals, pink jasmine and warm rosewood – innately captures your charismatic spirit and style. $5.99 at Target Stores

Jordin Sparks “Because of You” Fragrance – A sheer, floral – oriented fragrance, it opens with a bright burst of citrus and a dangerous hint of blond woods. The overall effect is young, stylish, and eminently wearable – a daring edge of spunk and sassiness that captures the essence of Jordin Sparks.  $17.95 at K-Mart, Wal-Mart and Sears Stores.

te-see

Adorable packaging aside, Besame Cosmetics NEW Sweetheart Lip Balm is packed with antioxidants to condition and the colors are ripe for spring including Sweet Rose, Cherry, Peach and Tangerine.  (The flavors smell and taste yummy…)

Sweetheart Lip Balm by Besame

The luminous lip moisturizing balm provides an elegant, long lasting finish.  The healthy formula deeply moisturizes and conditions, while fortifying with antioxidant vitamins C and E fight free radical damage.  It’s highly emollient and protective as it drenches the lips with exceptional comfort and hydration in sheer, shiny pops of color.

Also included are beneficial ingredients: aloe leaf extract and shea butter, known for soothing, healing and antiseptic properties, and jojoba, a naturally-derived oil that is easily absorbed into skin.  Rosa canina extract, a fragrant extract with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Retails for $18 at www.besamecosmetics.com and select retailers nationwide and internationally.

bsw beauty dept.

Tired of your nails cracking, splitting and just breaking off without warning…Then check out Duri Cosmetics Hemp Seed Liquid Wrap.

Hemp Seed Liquid Wrap

Duri Cosmetics Hemp Seed Liquid Wrap ($5) really gets nails into tip-top shape in no time.  Hemp Seed Liquid Wrap can restore weak nails back to optimum health in just 3 to 14 days!

• Contains tiny fibers that provide strength and support for healthy, natural nails.
• Fortified with nylon fibers to reinforce weak and/or splitting nails.
• Enriched with Hemp Seed Oil Extract to aid in restructuring distressed nail cells and maintaining healthy nails.
• Rich in essencial fatty acids – Omega 3, Omega 6 and Linolenic acid (GLA).

We all know that we can’t carry our entire makeup collection in our purse…However, there are a few essential items that you MUST always have on hand.

Essential beauty items for every purse

#1  Black Eyeliner…My favorite is from Too Faced.  It’s waterproof, glides on easily and is smudge proof!  Although it is water proof, it comes off in one fell swoop with eye makeup remover.  A good black eyeliner will come in handy for touch ups or to add a little spice to your eyes if you ran out without a stitch of makeup on.  NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT THIS IN YOUR PURSE!

#2  Egyptian Magic…This is a beauty product that’s great for your face, hands and body.  Dab a bit under your eyes to illuminate your skin underneath your SPF!  Also great on your dry lips and hands.  If you happen to live in a warmer climate, show off your feet by slathering some on your heels and toes to soften your dry skin.  Your feet will look decades younger!

#3  SPF…You should never ever leave home without this!  It’s always there at hand if you need to protect your skin.  Remember, SPF needs to be replaced a year after it is purchased since it loses it’s potency as time goes by.

#4  Cream foundation…this comes in handy when you have a blemish that decides to show it’s ugly head when you least expect it or your face needs a quick touch up!

#5  A Good Nail File…There is nothing worse then breaking a nail and not having a good nail file to fix it!  Who wants to go through the day with a ragged nail…?  NOT ME!

#6  Tweezers…These need to be readily available for those brows that need taming, the occasional splinter or gray hair that needs plucking…HA!

Oh, the list can go on…but these are essential items for your purse.  All fit nicely into a stylish cosmetic bag…

muah!

bsw beauty dept.

Lately I have been seeing a lot of this royal blue color and I predict blue will be a major color this spring! Complimentary to nearly everyone’s skin tone and color, this gorgeous shade was seen on Charlize Theron, Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Lopez. Cameron also sports shorter hair which brings me to…

Hottest celebrity hair styles this Spring

Hair trends! Thank goodness the new styles  are shorter! This is good news for people like me who are not capable of growing long luxurious locks!

Julianne Hough, January Jones and Ali Larter sporting the new Spring Hair trend!

I love Julianne Hough’s color, style and length. Ideal for those of you lucky women with hair that is on the thick side. For thinner and straighter hair, January Jones and Ali Larter (both new moms) choose a sharp edged blunt bob.

cindy

At a screening of Haywire in New York City, Blake Lively’s flawless complexion was front and center, even in the dead of winter.  If your skin is naturally clear, a tinted foundation topped with a sheer highlighting powder can take it to the next level.

The lightweight lotion will even skin tone and lend extra radiance; a gentle dusting of powder brightens dull areas and can provide a bit of extra coverage. Apply powder in a polishing motion, using small circular motions to ensure it’s fully blended and doesn’t settle into fine lines.