OMG, You Guys! Lauren Conrad Just Launched a Beauty Site!

Lauren Conrad is Allure’s May cover girl, and she is guest editing the beauty bible’s Facebook page all week. Yesterday she casually mentioned, “My new beauty site is launching right now!” Huh? What? Beauty site?

Yes, it’s true. The site, called the Beauty Department, is a collaboration with her hair stylist Kristen Ess and her makeup artist Amy Nadine. According to the “About” page:

This is a site for anyone who’s ever had a beauty question or gotten into a fight with a hair brush and lost. We’ll be covering all kinds of hair+makeup how-to’s, nail trends, skin issues, tools, current obsessions & inspirations, as well as countless quick tips.

There’s not a lot of content up yet, but go see LC looking pretty while curling her hair into perfect vintage waves. And the ombre nail feature? She has an eye for cute trends, no doubt about it.

I have a feeling this site is going to be my guilty pleasure. After so many cancellations and disappointments, we think girlfriend may finally have found her perfect niche. (And let’s not forget about Paper Crown.) Rumor has it that she wants to launch her own line of makeup and hair care, too.

Be still my heart.

MAC Surf, Baby! Collection

IT’S NO SECRET THAT I LOVE MAC… AND THIS NEW LINE IS RIGHT UP MY ALLEY WITH ALL THE BRIGHT COLORS AND BRONZERS READY FOR SUMMER. I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE SUMMER HEAT AND THIS COLLECTION TAKES ME RIGHT TO IT…. GO GET YOUR STUFF GIRLIES, I KNOW I WILL 😉

Grab the board, hop in the Jeep, quench your lips in Krazy Kahuna, cruise the Pacific Coast Highway…Surf’s up! The lure of the endless summer starts here with a Colour Collection that captures the spirit of a subculture obsessed by wild encounters with waves: Freedom, escapism and individual expression…where stylish survival meets grace under pressure and artistic invention. Surf Baby! Beaded and bearded beach boys strum their love in surf shacks and bikini-babes bring commotion to the ocean with My Paradise cheek powder, a Summer Stash of Crushed Metallic Pigments, Hibiscus Lipstick and ride the curl in Splashproof Lash Mascara that won’t smudge in the surf. Colourful lustrous, and full of life…journey to a world where feeling the rush means taking a risk. Hang Ten!

Surf, Baby! Bronzing for every dude and dudette looking to hit the half-pipe with a killer (but totally harmless) tan. In between surf sessions, live barefoot and sand-caked, your skin sun-kissed by Solar Riche Bronzing Powder and brushed in Gold-go-Lightly with our NEW Studio Careblend/Pressed Powder. Capture the surf spirit with the NEW Skinsheen Bronzer Stick, sculpting and contour-creating, adding dimension in a way that a flat-out tan can’t! Defy sun-and-sea blasted lips with Full of Grace, Pink Tinge and Lilt of Lily, three Suntints SPF 20 Liquid Lip Balms. A LIMITED- EDITION, way epic collection for beach bums and babes of all ages, all races and all sexes.

 

BRONZING POWDER Suggested Retail Price $24.00 U.S.$29.00 CDN Refined Golden Finely spun golden with soft pearl finish

 

CRUSHED METALLIC PIGMENT Suggested Retail Price $32.50 U.S.$38.50 CDN
EYE SHADOW Suggested Retail Price $15.50 U.S.$18.50 CDN
LIPGLASS Suggested Retail Price $15.50 U.S.$18.50 CDN
LIPSTICK Suggested Retail Price $15.50 U.S.$18.50 CDN
M·A·C SKINSHEEN BRONZER STICK Suggested Retail Price $29.50 U.S.$35.50 CDN
NAIL LACQUER Suggested Retail Price $15.00 U.S.$18.00 CDN
POWERPOINT EYE PENCIL Suggested Retail Price $15.50 U.S.$18.50 CDN
STUDIO CAREBLEND PRESSED Suggested Retail Price $28.00 U.S.$33.50 CDN

 

SUNTINTS SPF20 LIQUID LIP BALM Suggested Retail Price $15.50 U.S.$18.50 CDN

QUICK BEAUTY TIPS FOR SPRING !! :)

With one almost-70-degree day under our belts, spring is most definitely at our fingertips (it became universally official on yeserday-March 20!). While we all  have limitless amounts of inspiration for giving our closets a major clean-out and priming our wardrobe with all things feminine and light, it’s also time to get our beauty routine in shape.

Your nails, skin, and hair all need special attention to reveal that pretty spring-to-summer glow that can shed a very long winter in a heartbeat. From switching out your liquid makeup to freshening up your locks, I’ve tracked down four top beauty experts to provide you with the ultimate mini tip-sheet for getting pretty this spring in a flash.  

HAIR: TRIM AND TEXTURE

“Make sure you get a trim each season, to keep ends healthy,” says celebrity stylist Theodor Leaf. “But if you’re looking for a quick, 3-minute style pick-me-up, create easy beach waves with just dry shampoo and a curling wand. Spray dry shampoo at the roots to add texture and volume, then take pieces of hair at the crown and wrap them around the curling wand. Finish by curling a few pieces in front.” Extra credit: We also recommend an easy at home-conditioning treatment to restore any moisture the cold and dry heat have zapped from your locks. 

Above, from left: Alberta Ferretti spring ’11 image courtesy of Redken; Suave Dry Shampoo, $2.99, available at drugstores nationwide Conair Curling Wand Styler, $29.99, available at Ulta Ojon Dry Recovery Intensive Hydrating 2-Minute Hair Mask, $29.99, available at Sephora

MAKEUP: LESS IS MORE

 “I automatically switch from my creamier liquid makeup that helped in the dry winter months to my lighter Airbrush Spray Makeup that’s perfect for the hotter, more humid months,” says makeup artist Carmindy. “It’s lightweight but provides enough coverage; spray it into your palms and apply with fingertips.” Extra credit: Try a tinted moisturizer with SPF protection to add a subtle glow to sun-starved skin. 

Above, from left: Thakoon spring ’11 image courtesy of NARS; Fusion Beauty PrimeResults Tinted Moisturizer +SPF 15, $40, available at Sephora; Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Airbrush Spray Makeup, $13.99, available at CVS.

SKIN: MAGIC POTION

NYC Aesthetician Andrea DeSimone recommends changing your skin care with the season: “Don’t use the same rich, winter moisturizer during the spring and summer. Instead, use a thinner serum or moisturizer under your sunscreen. Keep greasy skin at bay and mattify your complexion with rice papers or use an oil-free moisturizer during the more humid months.” Extra credit: Add a works-while-you-sleep night treatment to your routine to even out skin tone, help clear up breakouts, and pump skin with vitamins and antioxidants, so you’ll always wake up looking radiant. 

Above, from left: Sephora Super Loaded Age Defying Seurm, $32, available at Sephora; Patyka Combination Skin Balancing Face Moisturizer, $55, available at Spirit Beauty Lounge; Tatcha Blotting Papers, $12, available at Tatcha; Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Gel, $45, available at Ole Henriksen; Honor spring ’11 images courtesy of NARS.

NAILS: SHORT AND SWEET

While your nail length and color is ultimately up to you, CND Celebrity Nail Professional Roxanne Valinoti says, “In general, neutral shades like porcelain peach or nearly nudes—which are always big for spring—look best on shorter, softer nail shapes like round and oval, while pointier shapes and longer nails can pull off bright, intense colors and edgier designs.” Extra credit: Use an natural almost oil to moisturize extra dry cuticles (don’t forget your toes). This versatile miracle moisturizer is also great for smoothing lips and dry patches. 

Above, from left: Isaac Mizrahi spring ’11 image courtesy of CND; Liz Earle Superbalm, $29, available at Liz Earle; CND Nail Colour in Smoochie, $9, available at CND; Essie Nail Polish in Topless and Barefoot, $8, available at Essie.

TOUGH LOVE M.A.C.

Pucker up this Valentine’s Day with a collection of tough and tender shades for lips celebrating dark hearts & scintillating secrets certain to bring out all your devious desires.

Lipstick

Colour plus texture for the lips. Stands out on the runway. Simmers on the street! What made M·A·C famous!

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A unique lip gloss available in a wide variety of colours that can create a high gloss, glass-like finish or a subtle sheen. Designed to be worn on its own, over Lip Pencil or Lipstick, Tinted Lipglass is the perfect product for creating shine that lasts. It’s pigmented, very shiny and can impart subtle or dramatic colour. It contains Jojoba Oil to help soften and condition the lips. Tinted Lipglass is packaged in a convenient bottle with a sponge tip applicator that provides a quick, smooth, even application.

 

 

HOW TO DO A SEXY SMOKEY EYE….

 

I love smokey eye makeup. It’s a very easy way to add life to your face without wearing too much makeup believe it or not. Once my eyes are this intense a light pale lipstick or gloss will do the trick, nothing too busy (You don’t wanna look like the new cast member for the Jersey Shore 😉 )

How To Do Smokey Eyes

To copy the bevy of famous people sporting smoldering, smoky eyes on the red carpet, stay away from blue hues – which unfortunately can make you look like you have undereye circles, says Giorgio Armani makeup artist André Drykin. Instead, go for black, grey, brown or if you want “color,” dark green shadows and liners. Then, follow these steps:
First implement a cream concealer more than your eyelid to make a smooth base for your eyeshadow.

Next use a pencil liner (black or grey looks best) to trace your top lashline from the inner corner to the outer. Then, use the exact same pencil to dot between your lower lashes. Smudge both lashlines having a cotton swab or an eyeliner brush.

Then you will want to sweep powder shadow (brown, gray and dark green all work with black or grey liner) over your lid and into your crease, blending the colour up and outward, says New York City makeup artist Morgen Schick DeMann.Marie Claire recommends: Morgen Stained Glass Eye Wash in Spruce; Shiseido The Makeup Eye Shadow Brush; Cover Girl Perfect Blend Pencil in Basic Black; Origins Full Story Lush-Lash Mascara in Black.

TIP: To stop colour from fading and give your lids a more shimmery finish, pat a cream shadow more than the concealer on your lid first, wait five minutes, then top having a matching powder shadow.

You’re nearly done. Dust a lighter, neutral eyeshadow (such as ivory) over just your browbone.

Finish with two coats of black mascara!