EARLY WARNING: May 8th is Just Around the Corner... Shop Our Mother's Day Gift Guide Now!

Ah, Mother’s Day…a time to celebrate the woman who gave you life, raised and nurtured you from birth and helped to shape you into the person you are today. It’s typically a low-stress holiday once it arrives, but every year, panic begins to set in before the holiday as I frantically try to figure out what to get for the most important woman in my life. If you’re anything like me, you wait until the last minute and end up harried and disappointed with your gift selection.

In an attempt to alleviate some of this pre-Mother’s Day stress, I've started early and put together a list of my top Mother’s Day gift ideas, so we can all relax this year and know that we’ve gotten Mom something she’ll truly love. I’ve categorized my selections by Makeup, Skin Care, Bath & Body, and Fragrance, so no matter what your Mom is in to, you’re sure to find just the perfect thing!

Makeup

If Mom’s a makeup maven, she’ll love one of these specially packaged sets!

Cosmetique Beauty Boutique Blockbuster – For the Mother who appreciates choices, this palette has every color imaginable for a glamorous, customized makeup look she’ll love!

Sistina Italian Riviera Collection - Mother-Daughter trip to the Mediterranean not in your spring budget?  Give Mom the glamour and sophistication of the Italian Riviera with our sleek, sunny new collection - perfect for summer!

Pur Minerals Heavenly Delights - Delight your mother with this heavenly collection of complexion-flattering, feature-enhancing shades - brush included!

Skin Care

Give your Mom the gift of beautiful skin with one of these elegant skin care collections.

Energie Vitale Spa Skin Care Collection – This is the ultimate gift for the skin-obsessed! It is a complete skin care system designed to cleanse, purify, and fight the signs of aging with a potent cocktail of active ingredients.

Murad Evening Renewal Regimen – This kit from Murad includes everything your Mom needs to cleanse, tone, hydrate, and firm her way to perfect skin. How could she not love this?!?!

Princess Livia Royal Treats Skin Care Collection - Give Mom's skin (and nails!) the royal treatment with this collection of our best-loved products featuring the wonder-ingredient, bee pollen!  Plus, as an added bonus, she'll get her very own Princess Livia Miracle Grow Nail Treatment. 

Bath and Body

Help Mom to relax and unwind with these aromatic gifts for bath and body.

Arabella Stuart Belle Fleur Bath and Body Set – This includes everything your Mom needs to cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize her skin. The bath gel and moisturizer are delicately scented with Bergamot, Gardenia, Sandalwood and Musk, so Mom will enjoy her gift all day long.

Sara St. James Country Classics Set – Give your Mom a little hint of the relaxing countryside with this classic set. It includes a foaming shower gel, an exfoliating puff, and a light, natural fragrance.

Zents "SUN" Solid Perfume Balm - Soothing and enlivening like the warmth of a mother's love, this solid perfume balm is a blend of aromatherapeutic essential oils in a shea butter and beeswax base.  This heavenly fragrance balm can be used at pulse points, to condition dry areas like cuticles, elbows and knees, and as a shine-enhancing, conditioning pomade for hair.

Fragrance

If your mother's a fragrance fashionista, delight her olfactory sense with the gift of perfume! 

A Woman’s Touch Perfume Collection – The perfect woman’s touch! Give your Mom a lift with this trio of delightful fragrances.

Couture Creations – Let your Mother be the head-turner she was meant to be with this three-piece collection of dramatic scents.

Missoni Eau de Parfum - This sun-drenched fragrance combines notes of Bergamot, Mandarin, Chocolate, Amber, Peony, Rose and Persimmon. The sublime blend captures the luxe sensuality of an Italian resort getaway...  Send Mom on vacation this May!

Those are my top picks for a Mother’s Day gift sure to bring a smile to any Mother’s face.  Do you have an idea for the perfect Mother’s Day gift?  Share it by leaving a comment.  Also, be sure to check our website http://www.cosmetique.com/ for even more great gift ideas for Mom!

Don't forget to also check Facebook, and Twitter for details on our super-exciting, super-secret April Fool's Day Deal (hint: you get something for FREE!) - the perfect motivation to get that gift shopping done early!  Make this your best Mother's Day ever...  With a little help from your friends at Cosmetique!

Beauty Editor's Pick of the Week: Two Faced Duo Shadows

I don't know what you ladies have been up to lately, but over here at Cosmetique, we're all awash in spring's hottest hues!  We've talked lips, cheeks, hair and clothes - everything you need to get ready for one of my favorite seasons.  Now, we're talkin' eyes.  From soft pastels to sultry jewel tones, eyes are set to have one heck of a spring!  So, for my pick of the week, I've chosen an ultra-trendy, easy-to-use eye shadow duo, to make getting hip a whole lot easier...

The Product:  Too Faced Duo Shadows

These fantastic shadow combos cast a glamorous, sparkling starlet of shade combinations. Featuring a light color ideal for highlighting, adding all-over shimmer or creating a brightening effect in the corner of the eye, paired with the perfectly matched, rich and powerful co-star - crease and shadow color. Together they perform a long-wearing, crease-resistant and pigment-drenched love affair.

The long-adored duos are available on our website in the following shade combinations:

COCOA LILLY - Whether you crave soft, romantic looks, or dramatic, bronzed smoky eyes, this little duo packs a big punch!  Have you ever seen a more precious pink?

EROTICA/SILK TEDDY - This hot color combo is great for sophisticated day-time looks, or understated evening attire.  You can't go wrong with these universally-flattering shades that are appropriate for all ages!

SKINNY DIP - Channel the shimmering, mesmerizing beauty of the ocean with brilliant cobalt and soft azure.  Looks great with spring's bold coral lip!  BEAUTY TIP:  Blue eye shadow really makes brown eyes POP!

 OOH & AAH - Ooh and Aah, indeed!  This is a high-impact, high-contrast duo that will really make a statement.  Create smoldering smoke by using more of the darker shade, or soft shimmer by concentrating on the magnetic silver ... The only question is:  What are you waiting for?
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
BEAUTY MARK - Both demure and dramatic all at the same time, this duo can be used to execute super-subtle looks as well as eye-popping, late-night drama.  Soft pink adds warmth and sheen, while the super smoky shade adds depth and definition to the eye.






Seriously girls, would I lead you astray?  Take this opportunity to amp up your eyes, along with your glamour quotient this spring with our Too Faced Duo Shadows...  available now at http://www.cosmetique.com/!

STOP THE (MARCH) MADNESS: 5 Beauty Blunders to Banish This Spring PLUS Quick Fixes and Expert Picks!

Spring is a time of awakening... rebirth... and BANISHING THOSE BAD BEAUTY HABITS!  Make this the month you stop the (MARCH) madness and start avoiding these classic blunders.  Read on for our list of the 5 biggest makeup mistakes a girl can make, and our expert advice and product recommendations for changing those habits for good.  Get a jump on gorgeous this spring... With a little help from your friends at Cosmetique!


BEAUTY BLUNDER #1 :  Applying your makeup with dirty brushes...

Photo Courtesy of Japonesque.com

WHY THIS IS "POSITIVELY MAD":  Using dirty brushes to apply makeup means you're transferring bacteria, dirt and pore-clogging oils onto your skin every time you use them!  This can cause acne, dullness and premature aging of the skin.  It's also bad for your brushes!

QUICK FIX:  Use a gentle hair shampoo to lather up brushes once a week.  Be sure to massage bristles from base to tip, and rinse thoroughly.  Reshape brushes and allow to dry flat on a clean paper towel.  Don't you just feel better?

EXPERT PICK:  Try Garden Botanika Fresh Mint Shampoo for a refreshing scent and luxe lather that conditions as it cleanses.

BEAUTY BLUNDER #2:  Poorly-blended foundation...

Photo Courtesy of Isabellagucci.com

WHY THIS IS "POSITIVELY MAD":  Poorly-blended foundation sets the stage for poorly-applied makeup!  Just as an artist begins with a perfectly primed canvas, applying your foundation like a pro will ensure an even, smooth surface on which to perform your magic.  


QUICK FIX:  For expertly-blended foundation with no streaks, caking or mask-like lines at the jaw, ear and forehead, choose a natural-looking, semi-sheer foundation with a brush applicator.  The lightweight formula and brush application allow for perfectly-natural, perfectly-YOU coverage, with no tell-tale lines or streaking.  Tap a damp sponge over foundation after application to blend and remove any excess product.  Step back and take a look in the mirror... OMG!  It's Complexion Perfection!!!


EXPERT PICK :  Too Faced Magic Wand Foundation has a built-in brush and delivers light-diffusing, skin-perfecting coverage for perfectly natural-looking skin!

BEAUTY BLUNDER #3:  Skipping the eyelash curler...

Photo Courtesy of Health-beauty-tips.org

WHY THIS IS "POSITIVELY MAD":  Uncurled lashes appear shorter and make your eyes look smaller and less awake.  Curled lashes look longer and fuller, and give eyes a well-rested, alert appearance.  Because curled lashes allow more light into the eye area, eyes appear brighter and sparklier!  What girl can say no to that?!?!


QUICK FIX:  Use a high-quality, stainless steel eyelash curler with a no-stick silicone pad to curl lashes at the base, mid-way point,  and tips for eye-opening lashes that look ultra-long and flirty!  Be sure to follow with mascara for maximum impact.

EXPERT PICK:  Japonesque Power Curl Eyelash Curler creates dramatic, uniform curl with no sticking, clumping or pinching.  

BEAUTY BLUNDER #4:  Too-Nude Lips...

Photo Courtesy of Prettyobsessed.com

WHY THIS IS "POSITIVELY MAD":  While rich, warm nudes can lend subtle sophistication to an otherwise edgy, smoky eye;  too-nude, too-light lips can sap skin of vital color and make the complexion look sallow and ashy.

QUICK FIX:  Banish lackluster lips and embrace this season's hottest trend!  A shade which flatters many women AND is appropriate for all ages, coral is THE color for lips this spring.  A moisturizing, color-rich lipstick formula ensures high-impact, lip-loving pigments that last and last.  Be sure to choose a shade appropriate for your skin tone.  Fairer-skinned gals should stick with pinkish hues while those with deeper skin tones can experiment with bolder, warmer shades.

EXPERT PICK:  For a stay-true, stay-put lip color in a universally-flattering shade of this season's hottest hue, try Sistina Lipcolor Perfetta in Mandarino Coral. 

BEAUTY BLUNDER #5:  Heading to bed without washing your face...

Photo Courtesy of Collegecures.com

WHY THIS IS "POSITIVELY MAD":  Leaving makeup, dirt and oil on your face while you sleep clogs pores and creates a breeding ground for germs and bacteria which can exacerbate acne conditions, cause eye infections, and leave skin looking dull.  What's more, by not cleansing skin properly before bed, you allow the free radicals from the day to sit on skin overnight, potentially contributing to cell damage and premature aging.

QUICK FIX:  First remove eye makeup and lip products using a makeup remover designed especially for those delicate areas.  Now, using circular motions, massage a gentle cleansing gel onto wet skin for 30-60 seconds to remove makeup and impurities without drying your complexion.  Be sure to rinse cleanser off thoroughly with water and pat dry.

EXPERT PICK(S):  Beat hard-to-remove eye and lip colors with Arabella Stuart Makeup Remover for Lids, Lashes and Lips.  Follow with Princess Livia Gentle Cleansing Gel with Bee Pollen to unclog pores, and remove excess oil and impurities.  

   

There you have it ladies, our expert tips and recommendations to help you banish beauty blunders for good.  Don't forget to check out the rest of our blog @ http://www.cosmetiqueblog.com/, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter(@CosmetiqueUS) for all sorts of tips, tricks, trends and more! 

Beauty Editor's Pick of the Week: Jean-Michelle Lip Couleur Liquide

By now, you've probably heard that the word this spring is COLOR.  Runway fashion is characterized by wild color combinations and daring color-block prints.  Makeup is vibrant and incorporates the same bright hues.  The color trends we've discussed on Facebook, Twitter and the blog include: sophisticated, blood-red nails, striking coral lips, cool pastel eyes and burnished bronzes for eyes, lips and cheeks.  But, what if color is just not your thing?  Perhaps, like the rest of us, you feel silly stealing looks directly from the runway and are looking for a more subtle interpretation of the season's trends... 

Enter Jean-Michelle Lip Couleur Liquide!!!  This lip-loving, high-shine liquid lip color comes in all the season's hottest shades, but has a sheer, pearlized quality that makes it perfect for translating the bold color statements from the spring runways into wearable, everyday looks - for every gal!

Jean-Michelle Lip Couleur Liquide comes in 6 gorgeous shades - Perfect for Spring!  Pick your favorite and wear it like it's goin' out of style, OR try 'em all for a complete lip wardrobe.  In addition to being available to purchase separately, they are also available in specially-priced trios which makes them an absolute steal. 

Try Jean-Michelle Lip Gloss Trio in Sunshine (pictured, top left), for a healthy dose of shimmering summer heat, or Moonlights (top right) for a cool, mysterious glow.

Need a little more definition?  Try Jean-Michelle Le Stylo Pour Levres Duo - double ended lip liner with any of these lip-enhancing glosses.  This 2-sided lip pencil includes a warm, neutral shade on one end, and a soft, cool shade on the other - so this is, LITERALLY, the only pencil you'll ever need!

Get in on this season's burst of refreshing color - without ever leaving your comfort zone (makeup-wise, that is... ).  These glosses give you a complexion-flattering wash of ultra-shiny, lip-conditioning pigment for the most wearable version of spring's runway trends.  Brighten up your lips, AND your mood... with a little help from your friends at Cosmetique!

Beauty Editor's Pick of the Week: Sistina Lipcolor Perfetta

I've said it before and I'll say it again:  The theme for Spring 2011 is COLOR!  As such, I've chosen Sistina Lipcolor Perfetta as my "Pick of the Week."  With its opaque, saturated shades and magnificent, satiny smoothness, there is no better way to bring a little color into your life than with one of our best-loved lipsticks in this season's hottest hues!  To take some of the guesswork out of choosing the perfect color, I've compiled some of my favorites for you (along with a few tips on how to rock 'em right)...  So, here they are, my 5 favorite shades of Sistina Lipcolor Perfetta, sure to spruce up your spring with brilliant long-lasting color.

PESCA CORAL - A satiny-smooth, peachy nude which flatters all skin tones.  This shade is the perfect complement to a dramatic smoky eye.

ROMA RED - A brilliant, eye-popping red, this show-stopper requires nothing more than a little concealer and one coat of black mascara.

ROSA PINK - This feminine shade of pink is the ultimate finishing touch to this season's violet, plum and navy eye looks.

ROSETO PLUM - A classic, universally-flattering shade, this lipstick needs very little accompaniment.  A tinted moisturizer and soft rose blush complete this romantic look.
















MILANO MOCHA - Some things never go out of style, and this complexion enhancing nude lip color is one of them -  The perfect accompaniment to spring's bronze smoky eye makeup. 






Kiss winter goodbye, and welcome the COLOR BURST this season with our best-selling Sistina Lipcolor Perfetta.  Its lip-loving formula and of-the-moment shades are sure to bring a smile to your face!  So put some lipstick on for heaven's sake and get ready to TWIST AND POUT all spring long... with a little help from your friends at Cosmetique!

SPRING COLOR BURST: Get This Season's Brightest Runway Looks With a Little Help From Your Friends at Cosmetique!

Color!  Color!  Color!  The spring runways across the globe were all a-glow with this season's hottest hues.  From Marc Jacobs to Gianfranco Ferre, the world is ready for spring and is letting loose with everything from prim pastels to beguiling bronzes.  Need a little inspiration (and maybe some instruction...  Hello!?!?)  Never fear:  Here are my favorite makeup looks straight off the hottest runways in Paris, London, Milan and New York... AND what you need to get them!


The Spring 2011 Runway Trend:  Cool-Toned Eyes in Pink, Plum and Navy
As Seen At:  Chris Benz, Giorgio Armani and Gianfranco Ferre

Photos Courtesy of Blog.beautylish.com

Pair It With:  Barely-There Blush and Pale Pink Lips


Get the Look:  Our Jean-Michelle Springtime in Paris Collection (Jean-Michelle 6-piece Color Collection in Pink)  includes a palette of 4 of the silkiest, icy-cool shadows in the most beautiful shades imaginable!  Use the lighter shades for soft, pastel-y daytime looks or go for all-out evening drama by layering the rich plum and navy.  Don't forget to define and enhance lashes with our never-needs-to-be-sharpened eye liner and luxe black mascara.  This specially-priced collection also includes a soft pink lipstick to drench your lips in moisturizing color and a coordinating nail polish for the complete runway look!

The Spring 2011 Runway Trend:  Sun-Drenched Eyes and Skin with Warm Russet-Red Lips
As Seen At:  Marc Jacobs

Photo Courtesy of Blog.beautylish.com

Pair It With:  Black Mascara and Matching Russet-Red Nails


Get the Look:  Begin by warming eye lids, cheekbones and temples with our easy-to-blend, skin-perfecting Sistina Tuscan Sun Contour Wand.  Coat lashes thoroughly with an ultra-black, lengthening formula like Sistina Mascara Maxima in Mezzanotte Black.  Accent lips and nails with this season's high-impact orange-y hues.  For luscious, look-at-me lips and an attention-grabbing manicure, try Sara St. James Easy Color Lipstick in Russet Red and Sistina Ceramica Classica Nail Enamel in Bronzino.  Bellisima!

The Spring 2011 Runway Trend:  Blood-Red Nails

As Seen At:  Christian Dior

Photo Courtesy of Ilovemanicures.info

Pair It With:  Understated Neutrals

Get the Look:  If you're the type to "make an entrance," let your hands do the talking with this season's hottest hue!  Sistina Ceramica Classica Nail Enamel in Red Glorioso has all the warmth and sparkle to make a splash this spring.  If you like the idea of red nails, but want a subtler statement, try one of the more muted, blue-based reds like Madeleine Mono Nail Enamel in Raven Red or Jean-Michelle Laque Luisant Nail Enamel in Red Glace.  No matter what shade of red you choose, be sure to keep nails short and oval to avoid looking like a character from Dynasty. 

The Spring 2011 Runway Trend:  Coral Lips
As Seen At: Fendi

Photo Courtesy of Allure.com

Pair It With:  Soft, Undone Hair 


Get the Look:  One of this season's easiest-to-execute statements, the strong coral lip is all you need to get a finished spring look.  For the most polished take on this season's trend, begin by defining lips with a warm, neutral lip liner.  Follow with an opaque coral lipstick applied directly from the tube.  For added shine, apply a lip gloss in a coordinating shade to center of lips only.  Our Jean-Michelle Moisture-Riche Lip Set in Coral includes all 3 products in 1 specially-priced collection for the perfect "runway" effect.

The Spring 2011 Runway Trend:  Soft Smoky Eyes in Rich Bronze, Copper and Gold
As Seen At:  Blumarine

Photo Courtesy of Makeupforlife.net

Pair It With: Subtle Bronze-y Lips


Get the Look:  Sky's the limit with this one!  Use any combination of shadows from our Diandra Urban Chic Multi Eyeshadow Palette in Warm Sensations and you will have nailed this look right on the head.  From soft, disco-inspired golds and coppers to sultry bronzes and dark browns, this season's smoky eye allows you the utmost freedom of expression.  Take it from day to night with the addition of the black shadow along upper and lower lash lines and at outer corners of eyes.  Accent lips and nails with perfectly coordinated shades of soft bronze.  Try Diandra Nail Color in Mocha Frost and Diandra Color Shine Slimline Lipstick in Maple Sugar to complete the look.

There you have it ladies, the 5 hottest color trends, brought to you directly from the most glamorous runways in the world.  Now, you have all the knowledge you need to experience this spring in TECHNICOLOR... With a little help from your friends at Cosmetique!  

Beauty Editor's Pick of the Week: Diandra Urban Chic Multi Eyeshadow Palette

 

Create beautifully captivating eyes with Diandra Urban Chic Multi Eyeshadow Palette, which comes in 2 fabulous color combinations:

 Warm Sensations...



...and Cool Sensations. 

With eight easy-to-blend shades, you can go from daytime chic to all-out evening glamour with just one comprehensive palette.  In all of this season's hottest hues, these fabulous eyeshadows are silky smooth and easy to apply.  Each palette also features a large mirror and dual eye shadow applicators for a picture-perfect application every time.

Still not sure how to wear 'em? 

Try some of these user-friendly EYE-deas:

-Highlight brow bones and inner corners of eyes with one of the pale shimmering shades. 

-Create lust-worthy lids by choosing an eye-popping shade, like the brilliant royal purple or sun-drenched, shimmering bronze, and sweeping it from lash line to crease. 

-Smoke out eyes for evening by using one of the deepest shades to define upper and lower lash lines, in lieu of pencil or liquid eye liner.


-Use only the lightest shades to highlight and define for the perfect, no-makeup makeup look.


-Highlight bone structure by applying one of the light neutral shades to the tops of your cheekbones and the bridge of your nose.


-Get a subtle moonlit effect by patting one of the lightest shades onto the center of lids only.


-Create dramatic contours by pairing the lightest (for lids, browbones and inner corners) and darkest shades (crease and liner) and skipping mid-tones.

The list goes on and on...  Whether you like it warm or cool (I like to combine them for even more fabulous looks!) this palette truly offers a multitude of eye-enhancing EYE-deas for the makeup artist in all of us.  Channel your inner siren and get your glam on this spring... With a little help from your Diandra Urban Chic Eyeshadow Palette and of course, your friends at Cosmetique!