Philosophy's newest Summer essentials: Never Let Them See You Shine. These three beauties give you a long-lasting clean, so you can hide the shine on your face and focus on what really makes you shine... being you!

Never Let Them See You Shine products moisturize and soothe skin while absorbing and controlling oil every step of the way. They are ideal for anyone with oily, sensitive, blemish-prone skin who wants to get unsightly shine under control.

The products in the line-up:

Never Let Them See You Shine Oil and Shine Control Cleanser ($20) - Start off with the cleanser that leaves your face feeling super-squeaky clean. This cleanser dissolves dirt and oil deep down into pores to provide long-lasting oil and shine control - without ever over drying your skin.

Never Let Them See You Shine Oil and Shine Control Scrub ($20) - To sweep away dead skin cells to leave your skin clean, smooth, refreshed and most importantly oil-free. Use this scrub in conjunction with the cleanser for the ultimate control or on it's own if it control your shine enough for you.

Never Let Them See You Shine Oil and Shine Control Velvet Touch Primer ($20) - The ultimate and must-have product to control and absorb excess oil. This primer also minimizes the appearance of pores to act as a smooth and velvety base. Makeup glides on flawlessly.

This collection of fine products that are a must in your Summer stash are available at philosophy.com, Sephora, sephora.com, Nordstrom and other specialty stores.

I have a strange relationship with makeup primers.

When going for a long day of makeup, I make sure to take the time to do the extra step. But for an everyday, I guess I am lazy.  I think I must not have found the right makeup primer for me.

My mission over the next few months wil be to try and find a primer that I love, on that helps my makeup go on more smoothly and makes my makeup last all day. I will be hunting some down!

 

I did find a nice feature over on Total Beauty where 7 primers were tested. I think I might use that as a guide, at least to begin with! 

Any suggestions?
 

Has Sephora gone and lost their mind? When I saw this beauty I thought wait. I see Smashbox. I see Stila. Why does the page say Sephora? Could it be a misprint?

Then I understood. Sephora put together the ultimate Supermodel Kit with some of the products needed to help make you look like a Supermodel. Well, not quite, but that is what I thought. These products were the actual products that the Sephora makeup artists used for Fashion Week Live. They put them all in a great glittery cosmetic bag too.
 
Wondering what is inside? Only the best, with a value of $145, for just $79, this Supermodel Kit is a must! The kit includes a Stila Lip Glaze in Brown Sugar, Make Up For Ever Diamond Shadow in Diamond Black 307, Smashbox Mini Travel Photo Finish Foundation Primer in Original, Smashbox O-GLOW, Dior Diorshow Mascara in Black 090, and a Sephora Blush Me! Mono in Abricot Plaisir 6.

Perfection!

I was recently introduced to some great beauties from the famous New York makeup artist Laura Geller. Have you seen this feisty dynamo on QVC? Well, that is where I was first saw Laura and her products, and now she is sold at Sephora! Yeah!!

My favorite items I am using from Laura have got to be the products in her Baked Beauties Set. Laura's baked products are her signature products, that offer the finest, color0infused and uniquely blended color that will work on every single skin tone and shade - believe it - it is true! These baked products are made in Italy, exclusively for Laura. You see, the products start out as liquid which is then poured into individual terra-cotta pans. These pans are then infused with color and baked for 24 hours. The result? A silky, long-lasting product that allows your skin to radiate a lively and luscious glow. 


The Baked Beauties collection features the following:
Blush-n-Brighten in Golden Apricot. I was afraid that this shade may be too orange for my pale winter skin, but it is not. Golden Apricot left me with a soft peachy, golden glow - very pretty and probably flattering on all.
Balance-n-Bronze Split Compact. This is a compact that includes two of Laura's best-selling products, Balance-n-Brighten on one side, and Bronze-n-Brighten on the other. I like to use the Bronze color lightly all over to get a bit of a bronzed glow, then use the Blush, and then highlight with the Balance. It really gives me a nice look. Not heavy or made up - just natural and glowy!
Marble Eye Shadow in Unearthed. This is a swirled eyeshadow that contains hues of deep to light golden brown with shimmery highlights. It is simple to apply all over the lid to get a multi-dimensional, natural look.
Creamy Black Mascara. A nice, deep, rich black mascara that rivals L'Oreal's Voluminous, I am telling you. My lashes become extremely full and thick using this, but never dry or cakey. I am so glad to have found this mascara!
Lipstick in Peach Melba. This is another one of those swirled shades that seems to look a bit different on everyone. The lipstick is creamy with pearly peach and brown hues.
Spackle Under Makeup Primer. This is the product I have so wanted to try from Laura for a few years now. The callers into QVC swear by it, and I am a great believer in it now too. Spackle is a silicone-based, lightweight makeup primer (think a heavier duty Smashbox Photo Finish) that fills-in and retexturizes skin for the ultimate flawless finish. If you like primers and need a little extra fill, like I do (especially first thing in the morning when I am very dry), then this is the primer you are looking for. Spackle contains natural plant extracts and it protects the skin with aloe vera and other ingredients to help it retain moisture, and helps to lock out your makeup from fading into your skin.

The cost of Baked Beauties is just $55! It would retail separately for $100, but I repeat, is just $55. It really is a great way to try Laura's best sellers, and make you a Laura Geller devotee too.

If you are a Laura fan or try this out, please do let me know what you think!

How do I start my day?

After dropping off my little girl, I come to the office and have a date with my computer and my coffee. I start by reading the bevy of beauty blogs and surf on over to Sephora.com and few other beauty sites.

Sephora has negotiated some excellent exclusive's this season, and I thought I would share a few of my favorites here with you.

Philosophy The Ski House - A wonderful little gift in the cutest ski house box. Indoors you will find everything to keep you warm: Double Rich Hot Cocoa 3-in-1 shampoo, shower gel, and bubble bath, a Marshmallow Body Souffle, and a Kiss Me Pink peppermint lip balm. $35

Smashbox Swingin' Scene Ultimate Beauty Collection  - What is there not to love about this $140 value from Smashbox. IT IS ONLY $59!!! Inside a chic carry-all bag is: a  layer lash primer,  that's a wrap mascara in black, the travel size Photo Finish Foundation Primer,  Blush/Soft Lights Duo in Action/Shot, 2 Lip Glosses in Location and Illuminate, and an Eye Shadow Trio in Freeze Frame. $59

Bare Escentuals Shake Your Tail Feather  - Another superb value ($131) from one of my favorite lines, Bare Escentuals. Shake Your Tail Feather is about luminous colors, and here is what is included in the beautiful bronze bag: All Over Face Color in Pure Radiance, bareMinerals Glimpse in Peacock, bareMinerals Eyeshadow in Pure Spice, a Big Tease Mascara in Blackest Black, Beautifully Luminous Lashes in gold, and a Lip Gloss in Dolly Buxom. This coupled with 2 full size brushes to help you apply makes this a generous offer. $55