Mother's Day Giveaway: Sultra Hair Irons only at Sephora

Mother’s Day is fast approaching. (May 9!) We’re celebrating early with a week’s worth of giveaways you can share with your Mom.

We've saved the best for last. One lucky winner will receive not one, but two five-star-rated irons from Sultra for a total winnings of $385! This state-of-the-art line of heat styling tools will certainly bring tears of joy to your mom and cement you as her all-time favorite child.

Sultra irons are made of ceramic so they heat up fast, straighten and curl in one pass, and they don't fry your hair. In fact, quite the opposite, the irons' infrared rays actually repair your hair.

The first item in our prize package is the Seductress, which straightens and gives you every kind of curl from '40s Hollywood siren waves to messy mermaid locks.

The second is the Laser Zebra, a glitter-rock gadget that creates pin-straight hair, and like all Sultra irons, it comes with an auto-shut off feature that turns off the device if left unattended for 30 minutes.

How excited are you to win? To enter, you can either ask us a question about hair (and we'll answer it in upcoming posts) or share your expert styling tip. We also need your email address. This giveaway goes 'til Monday morning 9 am PST. Good luck!

Mother's Day Givaway: Michael Kors

Mother’s Day is fast approaching. (May 9!) We’re celebrating early with a week’s worth of giveaways you can share with your Mom.

Who here has a glamour mom? Truthfully, I've never even seen my mom wear nail polish, but she's still a babe. No matter what kind of glitz your mom exudes, it's safe to say that Michael Kors can make it shine even brighter. His scintillating blends are distilations of timeless beauty. That's why we're giving some away.

This prize includes two fragrance sets--one for you, one for mom: Very Hollywood Gift Set and Michael Kors Gift Set. You'll have to rock-paper-scissors for which one you want. Although I'm guessing Mom will give you first choice ;)

To be eligible to win, post a comment by 5pm PST TODAY about why your mom is glamorous. We'll pick one winner at random. Don’t forget to include your name and email address!

Mother's Day Giveaway: Stila

Mother’s Day is fast approaching. (May 9!) We’re celebrating early with a week’s worth of giveaways you can share with your Mom.

Today marks the last day to win some amazing things from some of our favorite brands. In honor of their gorgeous mothers, Stila created a limited-edition Mother’s Day Set. The collection includes an Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer, all-in-one One Step PrimeColor, Lip Glaze in Mayberry, and Eye Shadow Trio in Anya ($62 Value). What could be more special for the lovely lady in your life? How about, two free sets of your own?

Five winners will each win two sets, one for you and one for your mother.

To be eligible to win, leave a comment about what you’ll be doing for your mother for her special holiday—a picnic, going to a movie, or just spending the day together? Let us know what you’re planning to do to show her your appreciation. Post your comment by 5pm PST TODAY—and don’t forget to include your name and email address!

Hair Today, Different Tomorrow

True Story: Every day I wake up and say to myself: Self, today is the day you are going to do soft waves at the office. And then I imagine getting off the elevator at the office or sashaying down the street to catch the metro in a cinched trench (another fantasy item) and I feel great about myself, my look and—of course—my hair. But then as the morning progresses and I’m downing a green juice in between sips of coffee, because I spent too long reading the papers online and I’m running late for work, and, oops, I haven’t showered yet, all of those thoughts and desires for soft waves vanish. And the reality remains that I’m lucky if I actually washed my hair that day, never mind styled it. So when I stumbled upon this new-to-me beauty site called BeautyRiot.com, I was pretty shocked and awed about this awesome girl’s ability to try a do every day for a month. She claims to have been in a similar rut as me hair-wise and so determined to break out, she tried and tested different styles, updos and combing techniques. The best thing about the photo gallery are the product call-outs and the application tips. I’ll admit, although inspired, I seriously doubt I’m going to be taking the hair challenge anyday soon. But I am taking out all the necessary accessories for the aforementioned soft waves tonight. And tomorrow, I’m going to wake up early to get it all done in time… Swak –Jenna Mahoney

image courtesy of hairtsyle.blogspot.com

Mother’s Day Giveaway: Narciso Rodriguez

Mother’s Day is fast approaching. (May 9!) We’re celebrating early with a week’s worth of giveaways you can share with your Mom.

Narciso Rodriguez creates sophisticated, feminine fragrances, very similar in style to his ready-to-wear fashion collections. Here’s your chance to experience them—for free. We’re giving away a pair of his most famous perfume sets: For Her Eau de Parfum and the For Her Eau de Toilette. Both fragrances contain sensual mixtures of Egyptian Musk, rose, and soft amber. However, the Eau de Parfum is slightly richer thanks to a blend of rose, peach pulp, wood, and pink floral. The Eau de Toilette mixes musk with orange blossoms and creamy vanilla for a refreshingly luminous take.

For your chance to win both luxurious gift sets (one is a pair of Eau de Toilette bottles, the other an Eau de Parfum and Body Lotion set), leave a comment about a mother you know that’s as sophisticated and elegant as these fragrances. Why would she adore these beautiful scents? Post your comment by Friday, 9am PST for your chance to win. Be sure to include your name and email address in your comment!

Mother's Day Giveaway: KORRES Color with Skincare Benefits Collection

Mother's Day is fast approaching. (May 9!) We're celebrating early with a week's worth of giveaways you can share with your Mom.

As a little girl (and even still to this day), car or bus rides easily make me queasy. Knowing this, my mom always had a few crackers stashed away in her glove compartment or pocketbook to save me from getting completely nauseous. Today, when I called my mom and told her about the awful commute I had on the express bus and how I almost ... she immediately interrupted me and asked "Where were your crackers?" My mom has given me tons of words of wisdom, but this one seemed to be top of mind. (Maybe because during this morning's commute when we were stuck in major traffic and our driver kept on tapping the gas, tapping the break, all I could think of was how much I wished I had some crackers on me!)

To be eligible to win today's goodies, write in the comments section about one piece of advice your mom gave you that you'll never forget. Five lucky winners will each receive 2 sets of KORRES Color with Skincare Benefits Collection Kits—one for you to keep and one for Mom.

She'll love it because it's filled with natural products that are good for you, like Quercetin & Oak Age-reversing Primer (clinically proven to improve skin texture by 97%-very impressive!), Soft Eyeliner White (makes anyone who feels tired look wide awake), Deep Colour Mascara (filled with Provitamin B5 to strengthen lashes and Rice Bran to maximize volume and fullness), and Guava Lip Butter (packed with shea butter for the smoothest smackers).

This giveaway lasts just 24 hours, so make sure you post your comment by Friday at 1pm EST. Good luck!

Win Your Memory Contest

Ever catch an aroma that instantly reminds you of something? Well, put it into words and your “memory” could actually happen!

Leslie Blodgett Perfume Diaries is a collection of unique fragrances inspired by the Bare Escentuals creator’s own personal memories. Win the opportunity to make your Leslie Blodgett-inspired memory come true with our Win Your Memory Contest. Take a few sniffs of one of Leslie Blodgett’s fragrances, put in words what it reminds you of (50-100 max), and you could win a chance to actually make your “memory” become a reality. Make sure to be specific—describe the location, scenery, activities, and more. Be creative! Click here to watch Leslie read pages from her diary for inspiration of your own fragrance-inspired memory.

One grand prize winner will receive a trip for two to realize your memory and more great prizes. Four others will win the 2nd place prize, which includes the full Leslie Blodgett Perfume Diaries collection and a Sephora shopping spree. Click here for more details on how to enter and learn about the other great prizes you could win.

What will your memory be?

Sephora and Rebuilding Together's Big Dig

BATB is spotlighting Sephora Project Manager Aimee Ninan, a glamorous gardener who is equally dexterous at whirling an augur as she is a mascara wand.

For the last two weekends, Aimee has led a group of Sephora volunteers to San Francisco’s McKinley Elementary School, working alongside Rebuilding Together, an organization that renovates community sites. Aimee and team have been leveling the school’s grounds (not a small feat considering that the city is known for being hilly) to prepare the school for an organic garden and rainwater catchment system.

Besides digging, they’ve been building retaining walls and benches (very rustic chic!). Come September, the space will be ready for McKinley’s students to plant a garden of their own and in the process learn to care for the environment and beautify their school. We're beaming with pride already.

See the work of Sephora’s natural bulldozing beauties here.
For more information on how to get involved in your local community, visit Rebuilding Together.

Mother's Day Giveaway: LAVANILA Healthy Baby

Mother’s Day is fast approaching. (May 9!) We’re celebrating early with a week’s worth of giveaways you can share with your Mom.

LAVANILA, known for their healthy fragrances and use of natural ingredients, has created their first collection of baby products. The Healthy Baby Collection is the first to offer luxurious, chemical-free, and pediatrician-approved products that delicate enough for a baby's sensitive skin. The 100% natural collection—which includes a soothing Healthy Baby Butter, Healthy Baby Block SPF 40, Healthy Baby Bottom Relief Cream, Healthy Baby Lotion, and Healthy Baby Wash—has only been available for a week, and you could win the entire assortment!

Three lucky winners will each receive the entire collection.

Leave a comment here telling us about a mother you know who can benefit from The Healthy Baby collection. Don’t forget to include your email address. This giveaway lasts just 24 hours, so make sure to post your comment by Thursday morning, 9am PST. Happy winning!

Mother’s Day Giveaway: StriVectin Dull and Dehydrated? Kit

Like mother, like daughter … StriVectin is giving out two kits, one for each of you! This Dull and Dehydrated? Kit will brighten and hydrate complexion with three powerful products: StriVectin-SD Intensive Concentrate for Existing Stretch Marks, StriVectin Instant Moisture Repair, and StriVectin Overnight Facial Resurfacing Serum.

Pamper mom and yourself with two of these triple-threat sets. Just write in the comments section what special thing you did for your mother for a past Mother’s Day (or if you’re a mother, describe what your daughter did for you) by Thursday at 9 AM EST. Don’t forget your e-mail address!

Beauty Do-Over: What's Yours?

This past weekend my best girlfriend from high school came down to the island of Manhattan. We hadn’t seen each other in about—umm—10 years, but thanks to the power of Facebook, we reconnected for her big weekend in the City. We had a glorious SATC-style Saturday lunch at the yummah and perfect La Masseria, chatting about our lives, our families and a few mean girls from back-back-in-the-day. And is known to happen when I’m in the room, we got to talking about beauty. Favorite mascaras (Benefit BADGal and Dior’s DiorShow topped the list), must-have nail lacquers (three cheers for anything by OPI!) and the possibility of utilizing mother’s-little-helper-type injections peppered our conversation. Then we got down and dirty. And she spilled the beans about her greatest skin sin of all time—gasp—tanning! Yes, it’s true, my flaxen-complexion pal admitted to the spending many years tuned out and heated-on in a bed to get just a “little bit of color.” “For shame!” I exclaimed. And she admitted to wanting to take it back (although, not the moments of just being there by herself without a care in the world). And that got me thinking to my beauty do-over, something that I’d wished I had realized was so important in my younger years and wouldn’t have to worry about now. Although, I’ve been known to forget to apply the SPF, I think my biggest blunder has been overindulging in coffee and red wine and thinking that my pearly whites would stay just that. So there you have it, my beauty do-over is a desire to treat my teeth and smile like a beauty accessory as opposed to a function of anatomy. So, I’m on the hunt for some new whitening products (I just loaded up on a ton of GoSmile) and possibly a good dentist who can make my mouth shine like the top of the Chrysler building. Now, it’s your time to spill: What’s your ultimate beauty do-over? –Jenna Mahoney

Techie Tuesday: SEPHORA I.T. Brushes

SEPHORA COLLECTION has just released a new line of technically sophisticated brushes called the I.T. Brushes. Created by French designer Philippe Di Méo, they’re shaped specifically to ensure balance and precise makeup application no matter where you hold them.

Di Méo combined his knowledge of contemporary utilitarian design with the effectiveness of shaping the tools for ultimate precision. Each brush is comprised of super-quality bristles (natural and synthetic) and colored by category (face: pink, eyes: blue or purple). The lightweight aluminum handles are easy to maneuver and come with their own caps to keep the tips tidy and covered.

The colorful handles are extra-long and internally balanced. There are 14 brushes in the collection—collect them all for effortless makeup perfection. Voilà!

Mother's Day Giveaway: Pacifica Duo

Mother’s Day is fast approaching. (May 9!) We’re celebrating early with a week’s worth of giveaways you can share with your Mom.

Today's free goodies come compliments of Pacifica. We've got 10 of these awesome Tahitian Gardenia Body Lotion and Body Wash Sets to give away to B&TB readers. Featuring the brand's bestselling scent, this limited-edition duo is specially packaged with an "I Heart Mom" band (not pictured).

5 lucky winners will each receive 2 sets--one to keep and one to give Mom.

To be eligible to win, write a comment here about your favorite ways to shower mom with love. Don't forget to include your email address so we can get in touch if you're selected as a winner! This giveaway lasts just 24 hours, so make sure to post your comment by Wednesday 9am EST. Leave your comment and come back tomorrow--there will be more giveaways all week!

Mother's Day Giveaway: First Aid Beauty

Did you inherit mom's eyes? Her sense of humor? Her sensitive skin?

Enter First Aid Beauty, a line of allergy-tested, fragrance-free skincare developed by dermatologists to deliver emergency care to itchy, swollen, and scaly skin.

Five lucky winners will receive a full-size set of the brand's three most popular products:

1. Ultra Repair Cream: an apply-anywhere moisturizer with colloidal oatmeal and eucalyptus oil to relieve dryness and ceramides and shea butter to protect the skin's barrier

2. Face Cleanser: a gentle alternative to regular cleansers packed with ultra-soothing ingredients like aloe and glycerin
3.Detox Eye Roller: an anti-aging eye treatment in a roller ball that massages away puffiness, soothes swollen eyes, and shrinks blood vessels

For a chance to win, post your name, email address and a reason for wanting First Aid Beauty in the comment field. This giveaway lasts just 24 hours, so make sure to post your comment by Tuesday noon PST. Good luck and keep checking back all this week. We're giving away multiple sets everyday!

Mother’s Day Giveaway: Tarte Super Set

Mother’s Day is fast approaching. (May 9!) We’re celebrating early with a week’s worth of giveaways you can share with your Mom.

To celebrate our mums and all the wonderful things they have done for us, we’re giving away some lovely treats this week. First up: two Tarte Super Sets, one for you and one for your beloved Mother! This great set includes Tarte’s bestsellers, including the Mineral Bronzer in Park Ave Princess, 4 Day Stay Natural Lash Stain, Eyeshadow duo in Damecuta, T-Zone Travel Shine Control To Go, and two shades of Double Dose T5™ Berry Boost & High Shine Gloss—all packaged in Tarte’s cute reusable “Be Good to Your Mother (Earth)” tote bag (a $137 value).

Leave a comment here telling us why your Mother is so wonderful and why you think she should have this sweet little steal—you might be selected to win two of them. Don’t forget to include your email address! This giveaway lasts just 24 hours, so make sure to post your comment by Tuesday morning at 9am. Happy winning!

Tried + Tested: Dr. Brandt Pores No More Anti-Aging Mattifying Lotion

Jam-packed with a host of potent anti-aging ingredients, Dr. Brandt Pores No More Anti-Aging Mattifying Lotion is the newest addition to the celebrity dermatologist’s popular pore-shrinking, oil-controlling Pores No More line. The moisturizer boasts apple stem cells that delay signs of aging by boosting activity levels of existing stem cells, as well as retinol that stimulates new cell turnover to improve the appearance of fine lines.

While wrinkles won’t disappear in an instant, the mattifying power of this product is apparent from the first use—and a boon to anyone with oily or combination skin. When applying the lotion, you’re first greeted with a fresh, clean scent (a combination of tea tree and lavender oils), and then, once the product is absorbed, a silky-smooth matte finish that comes courtesy of oil-absorbing micronized powders. It’s almost as if you’ve powdered your face, but in an invisible, I’m-not-wearing-makeup kind of way. (I’ve been using it before I go to the gym so that I’m not totally barefaced, but also not that person who goes to workout at 6:30am with makeup on.) This anti-aging, mattifying wonder is now available at both Sephora and Sephora inside JCPenney.

Beauty Calls: Help! I'm a Vegan and a Makeup Maven

I can't believe it's vegan.
Items in this set:
DuWop Foundation of Youth™ 3- Bisque, $38
Tarte Glam Gams Leg Bronzing Stick 2 oz, $30
Tarte Double Dose Acerola Rush, $21
Urban Decay Stereophonic 24/7 Set ($62 Value) Stereophonic 24/7 Set, $20
Urban Decay Pocket Rocket Lip Gloss Timothy - Weekend Prep, $19

On the day-after-Earth-Day, we checked in with Beauty Advisors Olivia and Theresa at the Call Center. Just like any other day, Olivia biked to work. Theresa spent the morning saving energy by shampooing and rinsing in cool water, which btw is a great frizz-fighting and cuticle sealing tip.

We also found this very relevant question in our Twitter account.

Q: Do you have any products that are vegan? - @TarRaRaBoomDeAy

A: First off, did you know that Oreos are vegan? There's not one iota of animal product or animal-derived ingredients in those delectable treats.

As for makeup, natural and organic brands are a great place to start but some of their products may still include ingredients like beeswax. It gets even trickier. Even within the same brand of products, certain shades may contain animal products. To prevent confusion, some companies like Caudalie have marked their products very clearly "no animal ingredients."

To help you sort through, we’ve provided a list of vegan products divided by categories. Specific shades to buy and skip are mentioned whenever applicable. Enjoy! And remember if you have a beauty question for us, post it here in the comments, via Twitter or on Facebook.- Theresa and Olivia

SKINCARE

All Boscia products

Skyn Iceland Glacial Cleansing Cloths

Tarte Smooth Operator SPF 20

MAKEUP

Duwop Foundation of Youth

Urban Decay Surreal Skin Mineral Makuep (Universal, Dream, Hallucination, Illusion, Mirage, Nirvana, Supernatural, Trance, Vision)

Urban Decay Surreal Skin Cream to Powder Foundation (all shades)

Tarte Lifted Natural Eye Primer

Tarte Clean Slate Natural Face Primer

Urban Decay Complexion Primer Potion

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder

Tarte the Erase 4-in-1 Natural Concealer

Urban Decay Surreal Skin Creamy Concealer (Dream, Hallucination)

EYES

Tarte Multipleye Natural Lash Enhancer

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara

Tarte Lash Hugger Mascara

Urban Decay Deluxe Eye Shadow (Graffiti, Honey, Peace, Shag, Underground, Zero)

Urban Decay Ink for Eyes (all shades except Empire)

Urban Decay Matte Eyeshadow (ABC Gum, Chronic Matte, Foxy, Naked, Narcotic, Perversion, Secret Service, Revolver, Yeyo)

Urban Decay Loose Pigment (Baked, Goddess, Graffiti, Gunmetal, Protest, Rockstar, Shag, Shattered, Smog, Yeyo)

Urban Decay Eye Shadows (Acid Rain, Baked, Chains, Chopper, Eldorado, Flipside, Goddess, Green Goddess, Half Baked, Kiddie Pool, Lounge, Maui Wowie, Midnight Cowboy Rides Again, Mildew, Oil Slick, Roach, Shattered, Smog, Speed, Stray Dog, Strip, Twice Baked, Urb, Vapor, Vert)

Urban Decay Smoke Out Eye Pencil (Green Goddess, Mary Jane, Mauie Wowie, Purple Haze, Smoke Out)

Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eye Pencil (Air Guitar, Baked, Distortion, Glam Rock, Metalhead, Mullet, Spandex)

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil (Baked, Covet, Deviant, Dime, Electric, Gunmetal, Honey, Lucky, Stash, Yeyo, Zero)

Tarte Emphaseyes Brow High Definition Brow Pencil

Urban Decay Brow Beater (Brilliant Blonde, Brunette Bombshell)

LIPS

theBalm to the Rescue

Tarte Frxtion Natural Sugar Exfoliator and Lip Balm Duo

Tarte Lip Gloss Double Dose Berry Boost and Gloss

Tarte Lip Gloss

Urban Decay XXX Shine Lip Gloss (Baked, Guys Love Betsey, Heatherette, Joyride, Kinky, Love Junkie, Ozone, Quickie)

Urban Decay Pocket Rocket Lip Gloss (all shades except Doug)

Urban Decay Lipstick (all shades)

Urban Decay Lip Envy (Envious, Greedy, Jealous)

Urban Decay LIP PENCIL (Fur, Midnight Cowboy, Roach)

Urban Decay 24/7 GLIDE ON LIP PENCIL (all shades)

CHEEKS

Tarte Mineral Powder Bronzer

Urban Decay Afterglow Blush (Exhale, Fetish)

Urban Decay Baked Bronzer (Baked, Gilded, Toasted)

BRUSHES

All Urban Decay brushes are animal-hair free

BODY CARE

All Pacifica products

Urban Decay Santa Tanita Body Bronzer

Tarte Celebutante Moisturizing Dry Oil Spray

Tarte Glam Gams Bronzing Leg Stick

FRAGRANCE

All Pacifica products

5 Palettes for the Price of 1

Whether you are a makeup maven or tiptoeing your way into wearing color, I promise, you'll drool when you get this SEPHORA COLLECTION Color Play 5-in-1 palette in your hands! In one larger palette there are five mini portable ones that each house 10 eye shadows, two lip shades and one cheek color. Dinner in Paris features sultry smoky shades, Shopping in Milan sports pretty plums, Tango in Buenos Aires is all about the turquoise, Clubbing in Tokyo rocks pretty pinks and greens that pop, while Coffee in New York is filled with every shade of java you can think of.

Check out these videos of Sephora PRO Beauty Team members Gilbert Soliz and Sara Biria, behind the scenes at the SEPHORA COLLECTION Color Play 5-in-1 palette photo shoot. You never know what you might learn!

Limited Edition Lash Libraries

One tube of mascara is just not enough anymore. You need varying brush sizes, different colors, and a range of effects for every mood. Sometimes I want clean, thin lashes and need almost barely-there mascara. Other days, I prefer full, thick lashes for a more dramatic look. It’s all about your mood and the look you you’re going for.

Well, I have the answer to all your lash woes: Sets including almost every type of mascara you can think of! Make things easy on yourself (and make your lashes pretty) by getting your hands on these limited-edition lash libraries:

Dior DiorShow Lash Essentials Set
For ultimate lash enhancement, Dior is a go-to. This set (pictured above) includes all three of the fabulous DiorShow mascaras—DiorShow Black Out in Kohl Black and DiorShow Mascara in Black are both travel-size, and the DiorShow Iconic Mascara in Black comes in full-size.





LANCOME Best Lashes Mascara Gift Set
This set includes four Sephora-exclusive, travel-size tubes and their Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover ($45 Value). Get a taste of each of Lancome’s best-selling formulas for high definition coverage and full-bodied lashes.






SEPHORA FAVORITES LashStash Mascara Deluxe Sampler
This is a total score for the price— for $39 you get ten different mascaras from brands like Fresh, Urban Decay, Benefit, Tarte, and more! They are Sephora’s most-wanted tubes, all in deluxe-size ($104 Value).




Clinique A Perfect Look for Every Lash
Have a different lash look for every day of the week with Clinique’s assortment of mascaras. This Sephora-exclusive set includes five of their favorite mascaras ($39 Value) for long-lasting, high definition coverage.

Do the White Thing

“Beauty is power; a smile is its sword.” That’s what English novelist Charles Reade said regarding the expression for pleasure. This quote definitely comes to mind when I come across pictures of models and actors who I believe have mastered the art of the elusive “perfect smile.”

My sister and me beaming

Interesting: A recent survey asked how important each of the following is to a person’s physical attractiveness—his/her smile, hair, build or figure, eyes and skin. Only smile was rated as “very important” according to the survey participants. Only 37% of Americans say that they are completely happy with their own smiles, and nearly one in five say they avoid having their photo taken because they are self-conscious about their smiles. Which is such a shame, because I firmly believe that a smile is the most important way of communicating.

And just what exactly makes up the perfect smile? Teeth obviously play a huge factor in the aesthetics of a smile, and the whiteness and brightness of them, even more so than if they are straight or gapped, in my humble opinion. In fact, I even find smiles that come with under bites, crookedness, and spaces quite endearing! If they’re yellow? Not so much. White teeth not only represent hygiene and health, but they take years off your appearance, making you look younger. Just on that alone, I love brushing my teeth! Seriously! For me, what makes this mundane-but-necessary action more enjoyable are GO SMiLE’s Whitening Luxury Toothpastes.

I mean, this duo is incredibly refreshing! Now, as cliché as that sounds, I swear, it’s true. The AM Energy Toothpaste has lemon, mandarin, lime and peppermint in it, a mix that gives an energy boost. (Which is especially great if you’re a snooze-button enthusiast like me.) And the lavender and vanilla extracts in the PM Tranquility Toothpaste exudes relaxing and calming vibes.

But I do have to point out the obvious: Having those dazzling white teeth and an insincere smile never go hand-in-hand. Come to think of it—that’s what makes the “perfect smile:” a genuine one. —Joyce Dulanas

Behind the scenes at tokidoki's beauty blogger event

Two of the models' looks that wre created by Sephora PRO Beauty Team members Jose Rivera and Gilbert Soliz. Which girl do you think looks criminally cute and who looks irresistibly edgy?

Just got back from the most criminally cute event ... EVER! Tonight, tokidoki celebrated its new and exclusive line of cosmetics and accessories with the beauty blogging community and lucky me ... I got to experience the imaginative playfulness of the tokidoki universe firsthand!

Like the adorable animated characters, one glance at this event space was not enough. There were stations of the whimsical, yet high-quality products on display, professional skaters in the middle of the room doing tricks on a killer ramp, larger-than-life-size tokidoki characters dancing around, models putting on a vivid fashion show and tunes played by the band Tina Parol. Ah-mazing!

tokidoki creator, Simone Legno was asked by bloggers, "Which character is your favorite?" and he responded "That's like asking which kid is your favorite. You just can't answer that!" He was also asked if there was a product he created that he using in an unexpected way and Simone shared that the Sephora PRO Beauty Team was using the Fantastico Lip Stains on models' eyes to create pops of color and cool geometric lines. Can you say multi-tasker?

So, in the spirit of tokidoki, escape into this magical world, and explore this new collection of must-have makeup.

Pro skaters sporting their tricks and some of the new and adorably cute products! SANDy, a.k.a. cactus girl is actually an oversized nail file!

Lipstick Application at the Table—Yea or Nay?

Beauty is hot, hot hot on the Twitter feed, ladies. (Of course you know that. And if you aren't already follow us @sephora.) This morning, one of the lovely ladies I follow RTed a Q from another one of her pals: Is it ok to apply lipstick at the table. My first thought was hmm is this really a question. And then I got to all Carrie Bradshaw-like thinking, which I’m known to do in these parts. And as I rode the subway to work I really did ponder the Emily Post question a whole lot more. Here are things I think are bad at the table: Cell phone talking, texting (yes, even under the table—I see you!), checking your teeth (yes, even with the clean knife trick—I see you!). I’m also not a fan of nail painting, hair brushing or foot-putting on the table, but I tend to think in polite society that rarely happens. Lipstick application, however may be a horse of a different color. Personally, I never gloss up when I’m eating. Pre meal or post coffee, yes, but getting on the gloss during the eating and the drinking just gets all goopy. And I can’t recall ever seeing someone else at one of my tables putting on lipstick during a meal, even in between courses. I will say that I’m ok with application as long as it doesn’t involve a mirror—for that you’ve got to go where the queen goes alone. In fact, I feel that way about all primping. Please don’t whip out a hand mirror and braid your hair or put on eyeshadow anywhere in public, not just the table. What about you? What do you all think about primping in public in general, and lipstick application at the table in specific. Swak –Jenna Mahoney

Guest Green Blogger: Josie Maran

For me, every day is Earth Day. I’m always thinking of ways I can reduce my carbon footprint—whether it’s finding biodegradable packaging for my cosmetic line, wearing sustainable fashion or stocking up on organic veggies from the local market. And, as the founder of Josie Maran Cosmetics, I realized that your makeup is one of the easiest ways to go green. It’s true—you CAN be a beauty junkie and eco-fabulous at the same time! Here are a few of my favorite eco-beauty tips:

Try products that are made with organic ingredients and housed in biodegradable packaging. Just because you “go natural” doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice performance! You can still get the color intensity and texture you’re looking for. Take my new Magic Marker Lip and Cheek Stains, for instance—they give you a punch of intense, long-wearing color in 6 shades for spring. Like all my formulas, the stain is free of parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, and phthalates. Plus it comes in recyclable packaging. Beautiful for you and the environment!

Try mixing up your own at-home beauty remedies—it’s fun and eco-friendly! Spa pedicures use electricity, and you burn gas driving to get to the salon. Instead, save energy (and money) by whipping up your own pedicure recipe with ingredients from your kitchen. One of my favorite recipes is a Sea Salt Peppermint Foot Scrub. I mix 1 cup of course sea salt, a dropper full of my 100% organic Argan Oil (about 10 drops), 6 drops of peppermint oil, and one tablespoon of Dr. Brommer’s pure castile soap (an organic soap made from olive oil). I mix all of the ingredients together with my hands to make a wet paste, then massage onto my feet to remove dead skin and smooth rough calluses. The Argan Oil works to moisturize and nourish the skin, leaving feet feeling soft—just like a salon pedi!

Host your own beauty swap meet. I’m sure you all have makeup bags, drawers, even closets full of products that you just don’t use. So, go through your beauty booty and instead of throwing away products that you never wear, swap them with a friend's. Just don't swap any opened mascara tubes or anything that's expired. You’ll keep unused product out of landfills and help friends in need of some new beauty goodies!

Happy Earth Day!
Love, Josie

Sephora's Earth Day Salute to FEED Projects

Photo: Vincent Cobb from http://www.blogger.com/www.reusablebags.com

Today is the 40th annual celebration of Earth Day. We hope you'll spend some time reflecting on how to make a difference. At BATB, we have been taking a hard look at our weakness for packaging. We’ve affirmed our reduce, reuse, and recycle commitment when we found out that it takes a plastic bag 1000 years to decompose and that Americans throw away approximately 100 billion polyethylene bags a year. Just this Tuesday, we were saddened by the whale that had more than 20 plastic bags (and a pair of sweatpants) found inside its belly at the time of its death.

Switching from plastic bags to cloth totes, it’s such a small change to make a huge difference and we’re saluting FEED Projects, which has taken the no-more-plastic-bag concept to another level of global good. The brainchild of model/activist Lauren Bush and co-founder Ellen Gustafson, the foundation sells eco-friendly cotton and burlap sacs and then donates the money to the United Nations World Food Program, an organization that provides lunch for an entire year to hungry children.

Each bag is priced and assigned a number that correlates with the number of children benefiting from the donation – starting at $60 for a FEED 1 bag and up to one hundred.

Just one FEED bag says no to plastic bags, protects our oceans, reduces landfills, and fights global hunger. Lauren, Ellen and their team prove that there’s more than one way to love the planet.

Guest Green Blogger: Pacifica's Brook Harvey-Taylor

I love being a citizen of the world. But that doesn’t mean that I always have to be a world traveler. In fact, sometimes I just crave home. And less travel means a smaller carbon footprint and supporting my local community. Here are some tips for a memorable stay-cation:

1. Always remember you are on vacation. Don’t fall into your usual routine. Mix it up. Get up later, stay up later, have breakfast in bed.

2. Treat yourself to a spa day at home. Take a relaxing bath or shower with some great sulfate-free products like Pacifica! (If your shower has a low-flow water head, keep it under 10 minutes. If you want to linger longer, the bath is a better choice.) Lounge around in your hemp robe for a while. After all, you ARE on vacation.

3. Be a tourist in your own town. My kids love to go to our local museums, hike up their favorite mountain, or go to a new beach to surf. Make time to do your favorite things.

4. Have lunch somewhere you have never been. I love going to a new restaurant, the unfamiliarity can feel like traveling.

5. Travel to exotic places though fragrance. Try on some Hawaiian Ruby Guava or Tahitian Gardenia and be immediately transported to the South Pacific.

6. Get some magazines from other countries (French Vogue is always fun) and spend the whole day outside reading under an umbrella. (And don’t forget your sunscreen or to recycle your reading material.) Travelogues are always fun, too. Reduce your footprint by checking them out at your local library or getting them digitally.

Fall in love with your own city all over again. And with all the money you save, plant a tree in honor of Earth Day!

New: Fresh Soy Exfoliant

Please welcome the newest addition to the Fresh soy family, Soy Face Exfoliant. Of course it’s packed with soy, which is rich in hydrating amino acids and perfecting proteins. But this formulas is also loaded with other good-for-you ingredients that work together to even and soften the skin—like a good exfoliator should.

First, the natural microdermabrasion—a mixture of jojoba, rose hip, and cucumber seeds that delicately eliminate dead cells—refines complexion and revives skin. Then, grapefruit extract brightens skin and Vitamin E moisturizes, so your skin will feel smooth and appear more radiant. Lastly, cucumber extract soothes. Sounds amazing, no?

This exfoliant was just released this month and already has three 5-star reviews! See what people are saying about it here.

A Supertest for Supergoop

3 days in the desert? Pass the SPF, please.

That's what I asked of our skincare merchant Kim, right before I took off for Palm Desert last weekend. She happily supplied me with both the Supergoop! SPF 30+ Everyday UV Slim Travel Tube and SPF 30+ All-Over Everyday UV Refillable Spray.

The mercury hit over 90 degrees during my trip, and since I was outdoors for most of it--laying by the pool, strolling through the Living Desert, shopping on El Paseo, riding bikes through the neighborhood--I was especially happy to have this slim tube of SPF on hand.

My previously un-sunkissed skin escaped 100% burn-free after the extended basking session. I'm impressed. And kind of tan! Super job, Supergoop!

That's AMORE!

Most of you B&TB readers may already know that we at Sephora are on a little mission called the Skincare Challenge. It's where we're asking everyone to discover their healthiest skin with 4 simple steps: Cleanse, Treat, Moisturize and Protect.

When we stopped by the AMOREPACIFIC spa downtown New York, we chatted with facialist Oni Chavez about the perfect products from AMOREPACIFIC that fit the Skincare Challenge bill. Check out this short video (below) where Oni explains and demonstrates the benefits of each product, which will really get you glowing!


Step 1: AMOREPACIFIC Treatment Cleansing Foam
Oni says "This is great for people who like to have that squeaky clean feeling after they cleanse, but it won't strip the skin of its natural barrier," says Oni. "It also has jojoba beads in it so it will gently cleanse the bad oil off the skin and leave the good oil."

Step 2: AMOREPACIFIC Treatment Enzyme Peel "Exfoliation is an important step to your routine because it gets rid of dry, dead skin cells, so your skin can absorb hydration and achieve a radiant glow," she recommends. "Plus, you can use it after sun exposure because it is gentle enough and won't irritate skin."

Step 3: AMOREPACIFIC Moisture Bound Refreshing Hydra Gel
"This is an oil-free moisturizer that is also water-free. It's an 8-hour formula so your skin stays hydrated, and it won't clog your pores because it's an oil-free formula," she says.

Step 4: AMOREPACIFIC Natural Protector SPF 30
"This is an oil-free, chemical and physical sunblock, which is important. It is great under makeup, and this can also help to mattify the skin in the really hot weather summer months."

Recycle, Reduce, Reuse… Your Makeup

In an effort to make our world a better place and reduce our carbon footprint, many companies have taken to creating refillable or recyclable packaging. When I buy refillable eyeshadow palettes or blush compacts, I’m able to purchase without feeling guilty after tossing gently used materials just because they’re empty. Plus, when the packaging is pretty or innovative, why would you want to throw it away? Now, you have a good reason for keeping cute empty boxes and packages.

Here are a few Earth-friendly items to add to your personal stock—because it’s the right thing to do.

Stila Refillable 4 Pan Compact uses magnets to make replacing your cheek or shadow colors easy. The case is purse-sized and color pans are sold separately.

Tarte Femme Naturale Eye Palette is a reusable palette. There are 10 eyeshadow spots, so you can refill with shades of your choice and reduce environmental waste.

Stila Refillable Single Pan Compact is easy for popping in new colors as you need them and the single compact makes for easy toting. Color pans are sold separately.

Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil Mini Refillable Buffing Brush is pre-filled with bareMinerals Original Mineral Veil, but you can refill with any bareMinerals complexion products. Other products are sold separately.

SEPHORA COLLECTION Refillable Rollerball is handy for fragrance on the go. It doesn’t come with any scent, but you can use any fragrance you want and pour in with the convenient funnel so you don’t make a mess.