Ok my beauty divas! Here is your chance to become the next Breakthrough In Beauty star! Ok, so you’ve had that really good idea in the back of your head about creating that next cosmetic brand. Or that all natural anti-aging skincare line. Maybe you have even gone as far to create that basement chemist lab! But here is your chance. To create something great! Because Breakthrough In Beauty is here to make that dream happen.

Beauty entrepreneurs can submit innovative beauty products and ideas for consideration to become the next $100 million beauty brand. (Wow!) All up and coming beauty visionaries can submit their products only until August 30, 2008 at www.BreakthroughinBeauty.com. Finalists will be announced in late September and will participate in a two-day “Breakthrough in Beauty” event for a final round of competition to determine the winner of this year’s search!

Only the Best will compete for this incredible offer - be in the spotlight - and become the next beauty product Star!

“Breakthrough in Beauty™ represents a new, more personal era in beauty retailing,” explained Marina Randolph, Founder of Breakthrough in Beauty. “By continually searching for and accepting only the very best in undiscovered concepts, incubating them and providing them with growth opportunities and guidance, we enable innovators to thrive. Their products become irreplaceable – and more importantly, accessible – in women’s lives.”

2007 Breakthrough in Beauty™ winner: Timeless Secret®

Now is the time to live your dream. If you’re anything like me -aka - a product hound! And you have that fantastic idea, create it, deliver it, and make it special. And you may just be the winner of this exclusive competition! Good Luck to you all my beauty-nistas!

Enter now at the Breakthrough In Beauty submissions!

Source: Breakthrough In Beauty

Popularity: 5% [?]

In a continuation of our beauty regiment, last Friday we made your eyes look fabulous with faux lashes. After the weekend, (and all that partying!). Your eyes are probably stressed and tired looking. Well again from our friends at Sephora, they have got great tips to make those tired eyes awake again.

Banish those under eye blues with the two-steps-to-pretty approach. First, dab on a light-reflecting primer to brighten things up. It dazzles and distracts so you won’t need as much concealer!

Next, grab a peach- or yellow-toned concealer. Peach wipes out blue hues and yellow cancels purple. Also, don’t forget that dark circles are called circles for a reason, says Sephora Beauty Pro Vanessa Dunn. She recommends dotting concealer all the way around your eye, making sure to get your lids, edges, and that little spot between the corner of your eye and the side of your nose.

Try this product:

Vincent Longo Cream Concealer

Bingo! Eyes that say, “Eight hours every night”…even if it isn’t.

De-puff with a little pre-planning: Stash your eye cream in the fridge the night before for an instantly calming, cooling, and baggage-checking application the next morning.

Need a little more lift? Treat your eyes to an espresso—either with an eye cream containing caffeine or by pressing two cooled-down green tea bags under your eye. A little jolt of caffeine gets blood circulating, and that helps break up those big ol’ bags. (Psst! It’s not a bad idea to help yourself to a strong cuppa joe, either!)

Try this product:

LORAC Undercover Lover

Try this product:

Skyn - Icelandic Relief Eye Cream

Get more great ideas from Sephora’s Eye Q.

Source: Sephora

Popularity: 4% [?]

Get flash with your lashes! Here’s how!

Get dramatic eyes quickly! And go wild with three easy steps to getting faux lashes, with a splash of glam!

1st Step: Start with mascara

Make Up Forever Mascara

Coat lashes with black mascara prior to false lash application; the extra texture will help faux lashes better adhere.

2nd Step: Add faux lashes

Make Up Forever Faux Lashes

Coat the strip of lashes with glue and apply to upper lash lines. Push inner and outer corners down with fingers, and hold for 1 minute until glue dries. For bottom lashes, paste the strip just below the lower lash lines, holding until glue dries.

3rd Step: Top with black liquid liner

Dior Eyeliner

Line over the edges of the faux lashes to hide seams. On upper lids, start line just inside the inner corners, extending 1/2 inch past the outer corners. Mirror this shape along the lower lashes. Add eye shadow for extra drama.

TIP: If you’re a lash novice, try cutting the strip in half, and applying to outer corners only. The smaller the lash strip, the easier it is to make it stick.

Get the look at Sephora’s Beauty Central to learn more!

Source: Sephora.com

Popularity: 6% [?]

For Today’s Beauty, we are featuring the gorgeous than ever faces of Estee Lauder. And you can’t get more Sensuous than this. Gwyneth Paltrow and Elizabeth Hurley - the iconic faces of Estee Lauder. Are launching the latest campaign for the perfume house and international cosmetic brand. The distinctive perfume line - Sensuous.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Elizabeth Hurley bring on their sensual side for Estee Lauder

The campaign reaches to all women. Here we have the classic American actress Gwyneth. Who brings a softer and emotional transparency to her look. Where as the British actress - Elizabeth Hurley - brings an international confidence to her beauty. Both women uniquely portray themselves. But are excellent choices for such a campaign appealing to the women in their 30’s to 40’s.

Carolyn Murphy and Hilary Rhoda for Estee Lauder

Hilary conveys youth, while Carolyn’s classic look communicates elegance. The perfect look for women in their 20’s and teens. Estee Lauder featuring such a broad campaign has finally started a look that is clean, classic, and widely appealing to all women.

Hilary, Gwyneth, Elizabeth and Carolyn are the international faces of Estee Lauder

Source: Estee Lauder

Popularity: 7% [?]

Couture in the City is proud to present with Sephora our Red, White and Beauty giveaway! Two days left to enter.

Sephora Brand Atomic Volume Mascara

Sephora Brand Nail Patches available in red for our giveaway item

*Editor’s Pick: Sephora Brand Flashy Waterproof Liner

So to win the fabulous items mentioned subscribe to Couture in the City! If you already do you are already entered into the pool of picks! The giveaway will run until July 10th.

Go to www.sephora.com to see more of what beauty has to offer!

Popularity: 4% [?]

This beautiful actress is really hot right now, and is our fashion celebrity of the day. With the movie blockbuster Hancock under her belt, Charlize has been sizzling at her red carpets worldwide. Dazzling in designer gowns, perfect make-up and hair styles. She most certainly can’t go wrong!

Charlize blazes in red’s, purple’s and pinks at the opening of her Moscow red carpet for Hancock

Do you love this look? Well you can have it too! Start with applying the right make-up;

1. Apply Dior Skin Air Flash foundation.
2. Define eyes with Dior Eye Show in Glam & Glitz and Dior Show Unlimited Mascara in Black.
3. Dust Dior Blush in Passion Fruit on cheeks.
4. Focus on lips with Rouge Dior lipstick in Red Premiere.

And pizzazz! You’ve glammed your look for an evening out, with a touch of celebrity style!

Charlize dazzles us in a designer Valli dress

Charlize wears designer Giambattista Valli at her premiere. You can get a very similar look by going with a pink theme, combined with a high couture look. Try this high couture number by Mary L;

Mary L Couture Print Halter Gown

Style Tip: Where can you use this look?

1) Weddings.
2) Corporate parties.
3) Evening dinner parties.
4) Or a high profile event.

Or pick a purple theme and try a more sophisticated look with a silk print dress instead.

Single Dress Border Print Silk Dress

Style Tip: Where can you use this look?

1) Cocktail parties.
2) Dinner with friends.
3) Evening out on the town.

Either way you are sure to be the belle of the ball! With a great look inspired by Charlize Theron. Let’s us know how you get your celebrity look!

Source: People.com, Sephora, Nordstrom, Just Jared.com (image)

Popularity: 4% [?]

Beautiful Bride Makeup Kit

There’s nothing worse than a bad makeup job, especially if it’s a bad makeup job on your wedding day. Luckily, Bobbi Brown has come up with this amazing Bridal Kit to avoid any disastrous beauty mishaps.

This all-in-one cosmetic set comes with everything the bride will need to look natural and gorgeous on her big day and beyond. The sleek white case contains makeup suitable for all skin types, with neutral eye shadow, a pink lip gloss and a smudge-free mascara, for those tearful moments. Which means it’s not only perfect for a bridal shower, but it also makes a lovely bridesmaids gift.

Bridal Kit starting at $75.00

Source: Gift Rap Blog

Popularity: 4% [?]

Getting beauty secrets from the Stars has just got easier! Now more than ever, make-up artists are revealing their trade secrets to the public. Ever wished you could achieve the ‘Sunny Face’ of Sarah Jessica Parker? Or the ‘Smokey Shimmer’ of Rihanna?

Well heres how. I have chosen 7 super stars and how to achieve their look.

Sarah Jessica Parker is a natural in shimmering neutrals—copper-brown and salmon cream shadows, bronzer, and nude lipstick. Re-create the look with easy instructions from makeup artist Stephane Marais. Go to Looks by Allure and create the interactive look yourself!

Rihannas’ look is ‘good girl gone bad’. Sweet pink cheeks and lips with sexy, sooty eyes. Make the look yours with instructions from makeup artist Mark Carrasquillo.

Jennifer Lopez glows with a subtle bronzer, dark lashes, and neutral lips.

English Rose Keira Knightley blossoms with glistening sand and pink. Beige shades look effortless and luminous on the young starlet.

Liv Tyler looks super sultry with sooty eyes and glossy nude lips. Learn how to re-create her make-up.

Scarlett Johansson looks simply divine. Adding bronze highlighter gives her skin a youthful, healthy glow. Achieve this look.

Jennifer Hudson looks sublime in green-gold eyeshadow and caramel lipstick.

Source for images and content: allure.com

Popularity: 7% [?]

Continuing in a good fashion, we love to keep you up to date with fabulous goods at TheFind.com

Today we are featuring an array of beauty products which are hot, hot, hot! Be sure to see these fabulous features for yourself.

Lets start with Korres Natural Beauty Products.

Korres, Athens. Something that the ancient Greek gods would of used themselves. This intelligent array of products has its roots embedded deep within the oldest homeopathic pharmacy in Athens.

The history of Korres is as rich as the decadent body butters and nourishing creams they create. Their roster of ingredients reads more like a secret potion. That’s because every Korres product relies on plant extracts and essential oils of only the finest quality, which entice the senses and effectively treat the skin. Korres brand naturally achieves to bring out the Greek goddess in all of us!

My choice from TheFind.com is the Korres Natural Products Best of Korres 6-piece Natural Skincare Kit.

The Best of Korres Kit allows you to enjoy the very best of Korres’ natural skincare and bodycare products. This selection showcases Korres’ bestsellers, and was inspired by customer requests for their favorite products. Korres Best of Korres Kit Includes: 1.69 oz. Basil Lemon Shower Gel - fresh green spice with a vibrant lemon zest scent. This foaming cleanser is enriched with wheat proteins and aloe, and hydrates your skin as it cleanses. Retails at TheFind.com for $25.00.

Also at TheFind.com is Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polish .

Featured in Allure magazine. This nail polish phenomenon, took several lab technicians to quit their jobs before they were satisfied with the polish that would bear the Rescue name. The result is a long-wearing polish created with resin and high molecular polymers to improve flexibility, durability and high shine. Retails at $18.00 a bottle.

Brown Sugar Body Polish is a body scrub with a natural blend of brown sugar, botanical and floral extracts and citrus essential oils. Real brown sugar crystals, saturated with healing oils, gently exfoliate and restore elasticity and suppleness to skin. Enriched with precious evening primrose, sweet almond, apricot kernel, and jojoba oils.

The therapeutic extracts include anti-inflammatory arnica and calendula, stimulating ginseng and peppermint. Retails at TheFind.com for $62.50.

Enjoy shopping at TheFind.com!

Source for images and content: TheFind.com

Popularity: 6% [?]

Now as we all know as the seasons change so does our skin care and make-up regime. Spring is finally here, and the long awaited season of summer soon to come! So now is the time to prepare! Get out your tanning lotions, and give yourself a glow. A favorite of mine is ‘Sublime Bronze’ self-tanning lotion for the face and body by L’Oreal. Perfect for this time of year, especially the light-medium as it gives your skin the glow it needs. The plus about this product is that it offers an SPF 15 sunscreen to protect your skin. So you are not only getting beautiful results, you are also getting great skin protection from the UV rays of the sun. It is streak-free, and has Vitamin E added for smoother skin.

At $9.99, available at many retail outlets (Walgreen’s, Rite Aid etc) where beauty products are available, it is a must for your skin care this season. So shop to it!

The Sublime Bronze collection also comes in a self-tanning gelee. In medium-deep. That is if you wish to get a slightly deeper tan. But also offers the same great protection as the cream.

Source: www.loreal.com

Now I am a huge fan of Sephora, and I am always recommending this fabulous store to friends and girlfriends (men and women alike). Now, if you have a Sephora near you, and you are a product hound (like me) I highly recommend that you pay a visit. Now don’t despair! If you don’t have a store located near you, then pay a visit to their site at www.sephora.com. Now I hope that you enjoy history, as were about to have a Sephora history lesson.

Sephora started its humble beginnings in France and had a chain of beauty stores which were founded in 1969. Acquired by Paris-based LVMH in 1997, Sephora became the leading retail beauty chain in Europe. And then opened its first US store in New York in 1997. With triple digit growth for the last ten years, Sephora is one of the fastest growing retailers in the US. Phew! Now that’s not all! Sephora is the Greek form of Tzipporah צִפּוֹרָה, which means ‘bird’ (female) in Hebrew, and was the name of the wife of Moses in the book of Exodus. OK, now I’m done! Had enough? Good, let’s get to product!

Continuing on our spring skin care line, I have chosen six of my beauty must haves from Sephora.com.

Starting with Anti-Oxidant Water Booster - Blueberry by Dr.Brandt.

What it is:
This blueberry flavored antioxidant water booster is a healthy and convenient way to increase skin’s health with three potent antioxidants: green tea, white tea and grapeseed. Retail’s at $35 a bottle.

Things get a little dangerous with DuWop’s ‘Venom’ line. A Series of lip plumping balms and lipsticks, that have a little ’sting’ when you apply them. My choice is ‘Prime Venom’.

What it is:
A matte finish plumping lip balm infused with the Lip Venom formula that also works as a lip primer. Retails at $20.00.

Sephora has its own fantastic line of make-up products. Which are also great for your wallet. Pick up Lush Flush Wine Lip & Cheek Stain by Sephora for only $10.00.

What it is:
A unique tint for lips and cheeks from Sephora that is formulated with red wine extract.

Great for spring is Sephora’s Peach Blossom Body Collection at $16.00 a piece.

What it is:
Bath and body products lightly scented with Sephora’s Peach Blossom fragrance.

Shiseido has a collection available at Sephora.com. My choice is The Makeup Multi-Shade Enhancer starting at $10.50-$25.00.

What it is:
A pressed powder bronzer composed of five coordinating shades.

And last but not least, a wonderful spring fragrance by L’Occitane, the magical ‘Cherry Blossom Set’, which retails at $42.00. Exclusively at Sephora.com.

What it is:
A trio of cherry blossom-scented body products from L’Occitane.

Well, now that you have a head start to your beauty regime, spring into action!

Source for products and images: Sephora.com

Popularity: 7% [?]