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Beauty Blog Network: Weekend Reads

By the looks of this weekend's beauty reads, it's been a busy week!  See ya back here on Monday with a review of a fantastic new skincare line!

Product Girl is giving away 4 goodie bags from the upcoming Sex and the City movie! Check out Product Girl for more information.

StyleBell shows you how to make some serious waves with your flat iron.

Beauty Anonymous reveals the jelly pinkness of the Tracy Reese for Sally Hansen Spring 2008 Salon Collection !

Raging Rouge announces the MAX Factor May Makeover giveaway. Over $750 of MAX Factor products will be divided up between TEN winners on May 17th. Good luck!

SugarShock Beauty has a newfound love for foundation: the makeup artist- and Madge-approved Face Atelier Ultra Foundation.

The Muse whispers in your ear about Benefit's Newest Cheek Stain for Summer! Pssttttt! Enjoy the first ever images, product photos, and swatches from a link available at Musings!

This mascara ended A Touch of Blusher's mascara search...

Beauty411 reviews Soaptopia, a bath line that promised to be "100% junk free"! Check it out!

Beauty Blogging Junkie schools you on how to avoid snaggy, dry lips.

Looking for skin care products that deliver results? Read The Makeup Divas review of the Somme Institute Skin Care Line.

Beauty and Fashion Tech is giving away two sets of John Frieda Lustrous Touch Shampoo and Conditioner. One for blonde hair and one for brunette.

At Girl Gloss, you can win a set of seven Classic Badger Balm Lip Balms.

Beauty Junkie in SF is on her way to a flawless face with the help of a new high-tech skincare system.

The Beauty of Life brings you the highs and lows from the celebs' beauty looks at the Costume Institute Gala.

Beauty Banter dishes on the new Spring Hair Style and actress Shiri Appleby models the look!

Need a nail intervention but can't afford regular trips to the salon? Glossypink goes there to get great nails.

What makes you feel your most beautiful? Toya at The Life of A Ladybug wants to know!

Kitiya from Mischo Beauty helps you determine if you’re a candidate for microdermabrasion!

A reader at makeup loves me claims to have gone up one cup size by using victoria's secret bust enhancer!

Makeup Moxie finds Complexion Perfection when she reviews the foundation and concealer duo compact by Global Goddess.

Face Candy reviews NARS Orgasm Multiple, Lip Gloss and Nail Polish.

The Muse whispers in your ear about Benefit's new cheek stain and has a link to swatches!.

Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog Gets a Surprise Stage Makeup Makeover with Kryolan Professional Makeup.

Pursebuzz.com does a step by step tutorial on how to create that extra dramatic smokey eye look as seen on Gwen and Fergie and everyone on the red carpet.

What has a delectable chocolate fragrance when you smooth it on that morphs into a fresh, powdery scent once it sinks in? Spoiled Pretty tells you what it is and why you need to try it!

Cybelesays gets to the Shea of Things with their picks of the best Shea Butter products out there.

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic gives you the low down on Kristin Davis's makeup for the SATC publicity tour!

Weekend Total Beauty Blog Tour

Check out these great reads from Total Beauty Bloggers and come back on Monday for a review of a new skin care line!

Beauty's Spot goes back to her college days to give you her oldest beauty secret, The Soap Opera.

Beauty Anonymous shows you Givenchy Summer 2008 Makeup Collection!

Beauty411 reviews Soaptopia, a bath line that promised to be "100% junk free"! Check it out!

Meredith at Daily Dose of Coffee actually posts a "Face of the Day" (yikes!) and reviews the new LORAC Croc Palette.

The Beauty of Life brings you the highs and lows from the celebs' beauty looks at the Costume Institute Gala.

What makes you feel your most beautiful? Toya at The Life of A Ladybug wants to know!

Kitiya from Mischo Beauty helps you determine if you’re a candidate for microdermabrasion!

Monique from Beauty Girl Musings finds a great natural deep conditioner is not so natural after all...

The Muse whispers in your ear about Benefit's new cheek stain and has a link to swatches!.

Jeanne at Periodic Style goes platinum -- is it really true about blondes having more fun?

Christine, from Beauty in Real Life, offers up some phenom looks for spring for under $25.

Henna, from CanadianBeauty.com, tells you about a fabulous new scent inspired by Andy Warhol!

Bath & Body Works Enchanted Orchid: The Scent of Spring

Bath & Body Works has welcomed Spring with a gorgeous new fragrance:  Enchanted Orchid.  This is a lush, tropical fragrance that any woman would love.  Part of the B & BW Signature Collection, Enchanted Orchid has top notes of pink grapefruit, wet greens, waterlily and crisp apple; middle notes of Calypso Orchid, fresh gardenias, delicate iris and violet petals.  Base notes are vanilla orchid, heliotrope, creamy amber and skin musk.

A basket of several Enchanted Orchid products would make for a special Mother's Day gift.  I would choose the Satin Body Veil, Creamy Body Wash and Eau de Toilette, which would make a nice layering set.  I've tried the shower gel, the lotion and body spritz and that trio also would be a perfect gift suggestion.  On the website, there's a Buy 3 Get 1 Free promo going on, so pick something out for yourself, too!  This really is a lovely fragrance and perfect for spring and summer.  Additional product information can be found on the Bath & Body Works website or in-store.

Savvy Skin Guest Post: Dark Undereye Circles

Jeni from the Savvy Skin blog put out a call to beauty bloggers to be a "guest blogger" on her site.  I contributed with a post on undereye Dark Circles, because that is one of the most common beauty problems that women experience and one that I continually have to deal with, too.  Here's a snippet of the article:

Are you plagued by dark circles?  Dark circles are one of the most common—and frustrating—beauty problems.  With diligence, patience and some effort, you can learn to manage, or in some cases, eliminate your dark circles.  First, let’s take a look at some of the causes of dark circles and what you can do to treat or minimize the problem.

Dark undereye circles can be caused by many factors, including:

• Lack of sleep or fatigue
• Heredity/genetics/aging
• Hormones or allergies
• Sun exposure
• Smoking

The rest of the article, with my recommendations for eye creams that work (from my own personal experience) can be found here.  Are dark circles a problem you experience?  What have you found that works? 

The "Scoop" on Open Sundaes

Open Sundaes is a Canadian Bath & Body line that gives new meaning to the words "girly girl".  These handmade products are not only fun, but are done with incredible attention to detail.  All the fun and eye candy of tempting treats without the calories. 

Here's the scoop:  The Bon Bon Bath Melts come four to a container.  With flavors like Strawberry Shortcake, Chocolate Raspberry, Cherry Almond Shortcake and Bubble Gum, they look exactly like a colorful box of candy.  Drop one into your bath water for a heavenly treat.  If you didn't know better, you'd swear the Blue Hawaiian Cupcake Bubble Bath was the real deal!  Shaped like a cupcake with frosting on the top, it's a real treat.  An interesting product is the Chocolate Shake Hair Powder.  You shake it into your hair, work through and it's like a dry shampoo with a chocolatey fragrance.  And one of my favorite products is the Lip Toppings, which is a delicious tasting, sheer lip gloss with a hint of shimmer.  Not goopy or sticky, this really feels--and tastes--good on your lips.

If you need a gift for a 'tween, shower favors, a Mother's Day or Girlfriend gift, or just want to treat yourself, check out Open Sundaes.  All the fun without any of the calories!  For more information on Open Sundaes products, visit the online store.

Space.NK Apothecary Bath & Body Collection

Space.NK Apothecary is a trendy beauty store that has migrated from Britain to the U.S. and is already a huge hit with beauty product junkies.  The reason?  A fabulous selection of highly sought after product lines and knowledgeable staff; an unbeatable combination.  In addition to the niche lines, Space.NK has it's own line of fragrances, as well as bath and body products, which are--like the store--fabulous.

There are a total of nine fragrances, which were designed to evoke forgotten memories and emotions.  Here's a sampling of my favorites:

• Enrapture:  Enrapture is completely romantic.  A blend of tuberose, ylang-ylang, blackcurrant bud and orange blossom, it's sensual and perfect for a romantic summer evening.  I tried this fragrance in a hand lotion, which is rich and moisturizing.

Soulful:  Woody and floral; a blend of cedar, sandalwood, rose and lily of the valley.  Not overpowering; think gentle, tranquil, relaxing fragrance.

Laughter:  Uplifting and fresh, Laughter is a blend of lime, rosemary and juniper with a bite of ginger.  A walk in the fresh air or on the beach, Laughter is a light fragrance.

Expression:  If Enrapture is romantic, Expression is sexy.  A blend of vetiver with jasmine, bergamot and a hint of nutmeg.  This is a more personal fragrance; uniquely yours.

Each of the fragrances is available in select formulations, such as perfume, body balm, hand lotions or washes and so on.  The quality in each product is apparent; the body balm and hand lotion is rich; the bath oil, so fragrant and moisturizing.  You can purchase at a Space.NK store or the entire collection is available on the Space.NK website.

Mother's Day~ Give a gift of beauty!

Mother's Day is such a special time to remember Mom.  Give her a gift of beauty that will help her feel extra beautiful, inside and out.  These are some of my favorites:

Pamper your Mom with Breakfast in Bed:  This cute set from philosophy includes the famous 3 in 1 scented show gels in Cafe au Lait, fresh cream and Belgian waffles fragrances. One of my favorite lines, leave it to philosophy to come up with sweet treats without the calories!  Available at Sephora.

Just in time for Mother's Day is the gorgeous new Gardenia Collection from Kiehl's.  Choose from a variety of products, including Hand & Body Lotion, Gardenia Liquid Body Cleanser and Gardenia Candle.  What a beautiful collection this is...in a classic fragrance that any Mom would love.  Hurry into your local Kiehl's store to mix and match a gift set.

If your Mom's not into fragrance, give her the gift of skincare.  This Pampering Weekend Kit from Liz Earle has everything she needs to feel indulged.  Inside the exclusive vanity case is a selection of mininature Liz Earle Daily Essentials, Bodycare and Special Treatment products.  You can find my review of Liz Earle products here.  Available at www.lizearle.com.

This is the time of year when cosmetic and fragrance companies put together gift sets, which can be a terrific value.  Check out the sets above or head out to your favorite store to pick out something wonderful for Mother's Day.  And who knows, you might find something irresistable for yourself!

Beauty.com teams with fashion designer Lela Rose for GWP

Beauty.com is partnering with New York fashion and wedding gown designer Lela Rose to offer customers a limited-edition beauty bag filled with an incredible selection of prestige beauty products.  The exclusive Lela Rose Travel Bag comes just in time for the summer travel season and is available to customers with a $100 purchase on Beauty.com.

The limited-edition Lela Rose "mini-valise" features Lila's signature dot print for 2008 and, with products, is valued at over $120. 

The case includes both full and deluxe sizes of the following:

• ARCONA Cranberry Toner
• Alterna Caviar Moisture Shampoo with Seasilk
• Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
• L'Occitane Verbena Harvest Shower Gel
• L'Occitane Verbena Harvest Body Lotion
• Vincent Longo La Dolce Vita Lashes
• Vincent Longo The Curl Mascara
• Freeze 24/7 IceShield Facial Cleanser with SPF 15
• Bliss Fabuous Facial Foaming Wash
• tarte Cheek Stain in Tipsy

If you haven't shopped for beauty products at Beauty.com, you really need to give it a try.  In addition to "Everyday Free Shipping" (and who doesn't love that?), you can get 5% back on every purchase, free samples with every order, 100% color match guarantee and a shared online shopping cart with sister site drugstore.com.

This seriously fabulous offer starts TODAY so get shopping! More information on this exclusive Lela Rose promotion with Beauty.com can be found here.

Soaptopia: 100% Junk Free!

Soaptopia is a small soap company in California with a big sense of humor and a fabulous product!  I love being able to feature artisan businesses with great product lines and Soaptopia definitely fits that description.  Add that the bath products are handmade, natural and with a dedication to being "100% Junk Free" and you have the makings of one hip, bathing experience.

Soaptopia creates over 40 different flavors and scents, so there's a soap for every body.  The soap is made with a base of olive oil, shea butter, hemp seed oil, coconut, palm and essential oils.  I tried the Orange Blossom and Blue Velvet soaps and totally love them.  They last forever and are so moisturizing that even out of the shower, your skin is left soft.  I also tried ALOTTA Bubbles, which is a sulfate-free, sugar-based bubble bath.  Great scent and lather.  And my favorite product is called the 50/50 Body Balm.  When I first looked at the jar, I went "what is this?".  Then I put it on my skin and went "this is sensational!"  The 50/50 Dr. V'Nilla, is a 50% blend of deep natural therapy creme swirled with 50% Madagascar Vanilla Essential Oil.  It's unlike anything I've ever tried, and it's incredible. Trust me on this one.

Soaptopia offers a 5 for $25 special on their soaps when you use code 5for25 checkout.  Orders are shipped in recycled boxes with natural nesting fibers and leaves, flower buds and other natural fillers.  Gift wrapping is free. Make sure to browse the website to see the entire of line of products.  Give Soaptopia a try and bathe 100% Junk Free!

The Beauty Blog Network Weekend Reads

Be sure to check out the great reads from The Beauty Blog Network!  See you back here on Monday!

Spoiled Pretty is giving away $1,400 worth of beauty products to one lucky bride-to-be. And if you're a future wedding belle from the Philadelphia area, we've got something for you too. Enter right away - contest ends May 4th.

Found out how The Daily Cookie gets her flawless face with Clinique!

SugarShock Beauty has fallen in love with Greek natural beauty line Korres's new Body Butters, which come in a pump-tube, so it's super-easy moisturizing for us time-pressed gals.

Raging Rouge tests dozens and dozens of pink lipsticks and glosses, and narrows the field down to the best pink lip colors of Spring 2008.

Beauty Anonymous shows you new colors of the DiorKiss Lip Gloss Line!

StyleBell uncovers simple and easy tips to help manage and control curly hair.

A Touch of Blusher reviews ck Calvin Klein's new mineral-based loose powder.

Product Girl is giving away 2 pairs of Tweezerman's Animal Print Slant tweezers!

Find out what Beauty Blogging Junkie recommends for achieving shimmery shoulders for summer.

Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog interviews MAC Cosmetics Senior Makeup Artist Jennifer Karsten and gets the skinny on how it's like to work with Kanye West.

The Makeup Divas reviews Bath and Body WorksHello Sugar! shimmering body lotion.

The Muse reviews Etude House'sSpring Collection from Korea!

The Beauty of Life no longer has to suffer from lash envy with the Dior Black Lash Kit.

Toya from The Life of A Ladybug got sucked in by Darac Beauty's Sifted Blur Powder and TorQuam brush! She doesn't want you to get sucked in, too!

Kyle at Face Candy gives you a peek at her favorite Makeup Minis.

Don't know why you should be rocking the sunscreen every day? Beauty411 reminds us that May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month!

makeup loves me introduces you to a non-chocolate truffle that she is confident you will still love! Beauty Banter dishes on the top concealers on the market!

Everything you need to know about covering-up and having a glowing complexion! Glossypink reveals an essential warm-weather item to give your skin its sexiest glow ever!

Pursebuzz.com shows you how to create long lasting curls with just a few products. It's called the Wavy Waves.

Cybelesays introduces us to a new line of mineral makeup.

Kitiya from Mischo Beauty loves REN’s Mayblossom and Konjac Balancing Moisturiser and tells you why!

Does lipgloss cause skin cancer? Makeup Moxie gives you the lowdown.

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic checks out the new Essie Summer 2008 Colors!