Kissed by a Vampire

All we can think of today are vampires of the hunky variety - and by association wanting to look like the love interest of an undead suitor. We've assembled a sliding scale of lip color from sheer balms to creature-of-the-night shades for ladies with varying commitments to dark lipstick. There are sheer tinted balms for the girl who wants to be Bella-the-girl-next-door all the way to matte black lipstick for Bella-the- gothic-princess. What shade of vampire rouge are you?

From top left: Fresh Sugar Plum Tinted Lip Treatment, Stila Pomegranate Crush, DuWop Twilight Venom, Givenchy in 19 Black Plum, Kat Von D Homegirl in Dark Plummy Brown, and Illamasqua in Pristine Matte Black.

MTV Reality Star Shallon Lester Gets A Special Occasion Makeover at the Beauty Studio

Whether strutting down Fifth Avenue, hitting the hottest clubs till dawn, or just exuding that über-confident air of mystery, many New Yorkers think they’re celebrities. Located in the heart of Midtown, Sephora on 34th Street has seen its fair share of A-list clients over the years, from stunning supermodels to teen sensations.

Looking like a celebrity — even just for a day — is now easier than ever with our Special Occasion Makeovers. Book an appointment with one of our talented color experts, and we’ll have you camera-ready in no time, and even better, you’ll have a ton of new tips and tricks guaranteed to make you fabulous and flawless.

Recently I had the pleasure of working with an actual reality-TV celebrity, Shallon Lester, the star of MTV’s Downtown Girls, before one of her press events. During her Special Occasion Makeover, I gave the Glamour.com blogger a sassy yet subtle smoky eye using the LORAC Multi-Platinum Palette and the Smashbox Jet Set Waterproof Eyeliner in Black. I also reached for a favorite among Hollywood’s stars and makeup artists alike, the TEMPTU AIRbrush Makeup System, to give her gorgeous skin a healthy glow. Side note: I’m totally convinced the 302 Gold Highlighter was solely made for her complexion! Since no smoky eye is complete without a nude lip, I turned to a few barely there shades for Shallon’s perfect pout. Try the LORAC Lip Pencil #18 and Couture Shine Liquid Lipstick in Vintage then top it with NARS Lip Gloss in Greek Holiday for a little extra sparkle.

If you haven’t checked out Downtown Girls yet, seriously what are you waiting for? Have your friends over and do a mani/pedi party (with Sephora by OPI) or kick back with cocktails and watch Shallon and her friends dish on the hot topics on every single gal’s mind: dating, guys, relationships, oh, and shopping, too. And don't forget to check with your local store for more details on the Special Occasion Makeovers. —Jenni Mennella

5 Fun Facts: Sultra

Sultra—the brand that makes hair look good and feel healthy—is known for creating lavish styling tools. Their collection is fast-heating irons and energy-saving dryers uses cutting-edge technology to keep their products fresh, as well as pretty colors and patterns to keep their designs youthful. These tools never cease to amazing. Learn more about what’s behind this brand.

1. Sephora is Sultra’s exclusive retailer. Other than buying their tools in our stores or on Sephora.com, the only way to get them is if you're a professional hairdresser.

2. To create the perfect curls, just act as though your curling ribbon as you would when wrapping a package: clamp hair in the tool, turn 45 degrees counterclockwise, and pull down to the end—voilà!

3. Sultra’s Seductress and Slim Luxe irons have heat settings for your type of hair: 375 degrees for fine, 385 degrees for normal, and 395 for thick hair.

4. Sultra founder Dana Story, a trained hair stylist and 25-year beauty industry veteran, worked for a number of the world’s largest beauty corporations before moving on to build his own unique hair styling brand.

5. Sultra’s artistic director, Omar Lopez, worked as a stylist for handful of Hollywood’s leading ladies, as well as for major fashion shows and leading fashion magazines, before teaming up with Dana to build the Sultra brand.

Beautiful Boys: What's in a Name?

Writer Disclaimer: This may not exactly have to do with the business of beauty, but it sort of does, so I’m posting it. (insert smiley face emoticon)

Raise your hand if you’re watching the World Cup.
Here! Here! I’m so involved with the coverage that I’ve actually skipped out of my day job a few times to watch the matches. And as I type this, I’ve got espn.com radio blaring through my speakers. I’m also really into the controversies—Should they allow video playback? Did you hear the French team went home in coach-class? And Is manscaping the reason why England lost? Apparently, folks at the are blaming (among many other things) England’s crushing loss to the fact that one of it’s star players waxed his chest prior to the game.
Whether or not the Samson effect is a real thing, the deal that I can’t get past is the ridiculous moniker that has been attached to grooming. What’s the deal with the gender-specific names (guyliner, murses, mandels) when it comes to men and seemingly feminine accoutrement? I honestly don’t understand why a man just can’t wear eyeliner. Women have tattoos and that is what they are called—tattoos. Women wear pants and guess what, that’s what they are called. So why do open-summer shoes get a stupid new word when it comes to men? Is it to help them feel more masculine? Or is it a way to market ideas and things in a new way? Whatever it is, I think it’s we should just call a rose, a rose. What do you think?
And while I’m at it—I’m banning the phrase girl-crush. Swak --Jenna Mahoney

Beauty Gallery: Summer Scents

Much like when many beauties opt for lightweight coverage or breezy hairstyles during the summer months, fragrances are often known to show their sheer sides when the sun comes out. This year, a large handful of classics have gotten re-blended with brighter notes, like crisp citruses and delicate florals, and bottled in the sunniest designs. Here are the best of the refreshed--click on an image to learn more about each fragrance.

Coming Soon: Naked Palette

As many of you already know, Urban Decay is known for creating cutting-edge colors and innovative formulas—their newest addition is no different. Check out the Naked Palette, the brand new assortment of eyeshadows, available online July 8. This launch is right on cue with one of the hottest eye trends this season: nude eyes.

The gorgeous streamlined palette contains 12 fabulous shades, both matte and shimmering—five of them are brand new, never-before-seen shades, and the other seven are their most popular, best-selling colors. Achieve multiple nude eye looks using a number of these lovely colors: Baked, Sin, and Naked. Or, do the opposite, and get a darker, smoldering eye using Toasted, Smog, and Gunmetal. No matter which you choose—the neutral look of the moment or a classic smoky eye—this palette is all you’ll need.

But wait—there’s more! You’ll get a travel-friendly tube of Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion and two Double-ended 24/7 Glide-On Pencils. Basically, this is everything you need to create a ton of different looks, everything from summertime bronze to sultry smokiness to mellow neutrals. You’ll get all of your desired looks from just this one palette, housed in a pretty chocolate velvet and gold foil case—you’ll feel and look so beautifully decadent, you won’t even need clothes.

The Essentials: Effortless Summer Hair

Playful, trendy, carefree—here are your secret weapons for the season’s “It” style, handpicked by Sephora's hair care experts.






STYLE
Accentuate existing curls by applying an enhancing cream to damp hair.
HerCut Curly Long Layers Catalyst








SMOOTH
Tame frizz to ensure curls look smooth from roots to ends.
Living Proof Wave Shaping, Curl Defining No Frizz Styling Spray for Fine to Medium Hair







PROTECT
Prevent dryness and color fading with an SPF hair mist.
Phyto Phytoplage L'Originale Protective Beach Spray








REFRESH
Use a lightweight detangler to keep curls bouncy and breezy.
Ouidad Botanical Boost Moisture Infusing & Refreshing Spray








EXTEND
Make it last—use a dry shampoo to soak up dirt and oils that weigh hair down.
Ojon Rub-Out Dry Cleanser








ACCESSORIZE
Add a stylish braid to your waves for the ultimate summer look.
SEPHORA COLLECTION Thick Braidie Headband

What to Wear with Your Tan: Aquamarine Eyes

If you've got your tan on, the eye shadow for you is this sultry aquamarine found in the Summer Goddess Palette from SEPHORA COLLECTION. Sexy on warm, sunkissed skin, it's a holiday from your usual smoky eye, but keeps the drama for balmy nights when eye flirting is in order. For the turquoise-timid among you, we've provided this tutorial found inside our all-in-one kit. With a step-by-step diagram and written in both French and English, it's summer school that's actually fun and edifying. We just learned that mascara is the same word in both languages. Wouldn't it be easy if we could just add "le" in front of everything?

For your French lesson and your perfect tropical eyes, click to enlarge.

5 Fun Facts: Laura Mercier

Laura Mercier’s luxurious line of makeup and skincare has been favored by many since its conception in 1996. Beauty addicts will tell you they could not live without her tinted moisturizer, and many of Hollywood’s leading ladies swear by her makeup techniques. That’s because the French makeup artist is one of the ultimate masters of timeless beauty. (One must always acknoledge the classics, no?) Hence, she’s is a mainstay in our makeup bags, too. Get to know a little more about her.

1. Laura Mercier created the very first facial primer.

2. All of Mercier’s makeup brushes were modeled after actual paintbrushes that she purchased from an art store.

3. Her tinted moisturizer is the world’s best-selling item of its kind. They claim to sell one tube of it every minute.

4. Mercier and her brand artists use only sponges and fabric puffs (not brushes) to apply foundation. Accordingly, her foundation products are specially formulated to be applied with sponges.

5. Laura’s secret tip for applying setting powder: Use a light patting motion, gently pressing the sponge to the oily areas of the face. After, softly buff away excess powder with the flocked side of the sponge.

The Girls of Summer Are All Rocking SEPHORA by OPI

If Minx were kool-aid, we'd already be drunk. We have officially joined the cult. Last weekend, select Sephora stores offered free manicures and B&TB Special Correspondent Gianna Locasto was on hand (haha) to cover the fiercest styles and photograph the ladies who rock them. We especially love the new glitter top-coat, Only Gold for Me, which may be going head-to-head with our love for Minx.

Want to share your love of SEPHORA by OPI with the world? Email us a picture of your manicure (cheryl.locke@sephora.com) and we'll add it to our slideshow. The more Minx the merrier!

Product Patrol: This Week's Hottest Launches

Kat Von D Adora: This sensual fragrance has notes of crushed berries intertwined with thyme and a crisp shot of cassis. The Adora collection also features a smoky eyeshadow palette and a candy-apple red lipstick.

Urban Decay Beauty In A Box: A limited-edition kit of Sephora's favorite Urban Decay products (plus a how-to guide!). I love the shadow shades in this boxed set-- they'll work double-time for daytime smoky or sultry nighttime looks.





Sephora Collection Nail Lacquer: This polish formula contains a unique resin-and-wax combo that delivers a complete manicure in a single coat. The flat, wide brush makes application easy-breezy, too.

Benefit Ultra Shines Lip Shine: Drench your pout in a burst of juicy color and shine—sans the stickiness.

Peter Thomas Roth Clini-Matte All Day Oil-Control SPF 20: This sheer lotion keeps shine at bay while providing UVA/UVB protection. It also works at the cellular level to eliminate excess oil and visibly reduce pore size. So, bring on the summah-time sunshine!

5 Fun Facts: Benefit

What’s not to love about Benefit? Their products are fantastic, the packaging fabulous, and their humor is contagious. The San Francisco-based brand, which began as a small boutique, has grown into a (beauty) force to be reckoned with. And they keep coming out with more, more, more! Here, some fun facts for all you Benefit fans.


1. Keep your “That Gal” brightening primer in your refrigerator—the colder it is when you apply, the tighter it dries, giving you a brighter and lifted complexion. If you're in a hurry, go over it with a blow dryer on “cool” the cool level so that it sets quicker.

2. Boi-ing is such a strong concealer that it even works for covering colorful tattoos.

3. In 1977, long before starting Benefit Cosmetics was born, founders Jean and Jane Ford opened a small store in San Francisco called the Face Place.

4. The first Benetint (originally just referred to as Rose Tint) customer at the Face Place was an exotic dancer looking for a rose-tinted stain.

5. Some Kind-A Gorgeous, the foundation-like complexion perfector, contains Color Smart Technology so the shade will adjust a few shades darker or lighter to match your skin tone. And they will be releasing a third, darker shade very soon!

The Pink Ladies

As regular readers of this blog know, I’m addicted to shimmering glosses. I love the transparency and hint of color that they impart. And I dig the kissable illusion of depth they create. But lately, I’m feeling the call of matte pink lipstick like the sirens to the island. I started thinking about rockin’ the look when I got a glimpse of candied pink lips on some starlet at a movie premiere I attended about a month ago. I admired the punch of color and stay-put power. And I imagined that the sweetly, painted pout made her more confident. My obsession became full-fledged when flipping through my favorite clothing catalog I found myself drawn to every. single. spread (and outfit) with a model sporting bright pink, matte lipstick. So when I bumped into my fashionable friend and fellow beauty blogger Fiorella and her pretty kisser at an event the other night, the deal was sealed. What I like most about the trend is that it seems so effortless and so carefree. And somehow it transmits an I’m-so-sophisticated vibe while still maintaining a laid-back attitude, you know, sort of like women in France. So now that I’m officially hooked, I’ve got to get the goods. I think my first choice is the full-coverage, super stay-put Make Up For Ever Lipstick in florescent orange pink ($19), but being a newbie at this game, I’m open to suggestions? What pink formulas do you like? Swak –Jenna Mahoney

Colorful Tools: ghd

There’s no reason why you shouldn’t look pretty while making yourself look pretty. ghd Stylers have been favored styling tools since their conception—and now they’ve stamped with gorgeous bright colors: Purple Indulgence, Green Envy, and Blue Serenity. Like their predecessors, these vivid sensations have multiple functions (they can straighten or curl hair, while instantly softening) and universal voltage, so you can use it wherever you go. Plus, they sport an automatic shut-off feature and heat-resistant pouch.

These hot little Sephora-exclusive items are limited edition, so make sure to scoop up the vibrantly colored Stylers before you miss your chance—they’re like pieces of hair history.

Beauty Calls: Help! Where Do I Draw the Line?

Q: Should I or shouldn't I line my lower lashes? Ditto with mascara. - Anonymous

A: We're going to be coy and say it depends. As firm believers in personalized beauty, we'll share with you our expert pros and cons and let you come to your own conclusion.

The rule of thumb is to think about flattering your face shape. If you have a smaller face with smaller features, lining the lower lash line may close up your eyes and make your face look rounder. However, if you have a longer face, it can really bring out your features in a stunning way.

If you do decide to line or apply mascara on your lower lashes, we would be amiss if we didn't arm you with these smudge-preventing tips. xoxo, Theresa and Olivia

1. Use primer, which serves as a magnet for your makeup.
2. For mascara, wipe off excess formula with a tissue before applying.
3. Do your eyes first and concealer and foundation after.
4. Dust loose powder under eyes and then brush it away after, as it takes the excess away.
5. When shopping for a liner, find a velvety, waterproof formula that easily glides on. For mascara, choose a non-clumping and waterproof formula.

New: Benefit Ultra Shines

Get set to shine with Benefit’s newest, hottest lip gloss. The Ultra Shines come in five different glorious shades: Foxy Lady (sparkling rose), Back to the Fuchsia (sparkling fuchsia), Spiked Punch (coral), Wild Child (sparkling amethyst), and Dancing Queen (bright pink). The fabulous flirty shines have a specially-designed custom brush, so they glide on smoothly and with tons of color.

Right now, Beauty Insiders have an exclusive opportunity to buy the gloss online before it becomes available to everyone else. If you’re not already an Insider, sign up now for free and you could be one of the first proud owners of an Ultra Shine!

Watch this cute video to see how people feel about this sweet little tube of shine! (They love it.)