smashbox

There's always been something magnetic about vampires, and with the upcoming release of Twilight, you can expect fang fever to hit a high not seen since the days of my beloved Buffy. Bella Swan, the heroine played by Kristen Stewart, has a fresh, natural look that's simply gorgeous.

"Bella’s description in the novel is very pale and extremely beautiful with large chocolate brown eyes, so she wore colored lenses every day," says Jeanne Van Phue, the movie's head makeup artist. "I also pictured her as a natural beauty, which is exactly what Kristen is. I used a light hand while applying all neutral colors to make her look as though she had no makeup on."

Want to know the items used to get Bella's look? For the straight-from-the-set scoop, read more

Last week I told you about my newly single friend who was looking for some advice. She's back in the dating scene and wanted some guidance on how to present herself as the complete package — both brains and beauty.

My pal didn't want to come across as overly done up, but she didn't want to look like she made no effort at all. I asked you to recommend some products, and now thanks to your work, I'm sure second dates will be no problem whatsoever.

Thanks to Team member Baby Girl for suggesting Smashbox's Compact Anti-Shine ($28), an oil free mattifying product that ensures your makeup will remain intact. As she so humorously articulates, "No one wants to look like they just wiped their face with a pork chop." I couldn't agree more.

Check out my widget below for some more great first date looks:

Smashbox wants us to think of the naughty/nice paradigm with its new collection, Wicked Lovely, but instead, I keep thinking of Boston slang.

Annnnyway: Smashbox's Fall collection is out on the early side, and as you'd expect, the mood is more intense than that of Summer makeup. But don't be fooled by the Siouxsie Sioux bent of the ad campaign; although there are dark cherry lip glosses and sooty eye shadows for smoldering looks, there are plenty of lighter color options for a softer style. I'm looking forward to checking out this cream liner set ($32), which includes three cream liners and a sparkling pewter powder. Sounds promising — if potentially messy. Do you like the looks of this? Or is it too vampy?

Meow. Sex kitten Gina Gershon knows how to turn heads with her killer smile and effortless sex appeal. She looked stunning at the 2008 Tony Awards channeling old Hollywood with a beautiful diamond-brooch hair accessory and hint of edgy New York spark with her two-toned hair.

Her flawlessly smooth skin was contrasted by dramatic eyes and lips. For those of you who are interested in re-creating her beautiful Broadway makeup look at home, read more

Summertime always breeds safe, fun, sunless bronzing products and I've noticed that a few of the new bronzing-powder compacts contain more than one shade in them. The idea is to create a healthy-looking glow, and I suppose the gradation of colors is a way to achieve that look. Instead of having a flat tan all over your face, the variation of shades creates a more natural effect. Here are five new multicolor powder bronzers on the market for Summer 2008 for you to check out.

• Shiseido The Makeup Multi-Shade Enhancer ($35) contains five shades of shimmery bronzer. Blended together, it can be worn on your face and body and used separately it can double as eye shadows or a highlighter. Also, it is available in two shades.
• Caribbean in a Compact in Sun Bunny ($25) is a dual-shaded bronzer made from silky, light-reflecting powders. Each of the colors can be worn individually or layered together.
• Lorac TANtalizer Baked Bronzer ($28) is a multishaded terracotta baked bronzer that can be used on your face or your body. This marbelized makeup also contains a brush and mirror on the lower level of the compact.
• Sephora Summer Safari Bronzer ($16) is a powder bronzer available in two animal prints depending on your skin tone. Giraffe is light and zebra is dark and coppery. Blend the shades together for a bright, glowy complexion.
• Smashbox Desert Chic Fusion Body Bronzing Powder and Brush Set ($55) contains four tan and bronze shades and comes with a mini-kabuki brush. This oversized bronzer can be worn on your face and body for a healthy, glowing tan.

Here's a lovely way to spend your lunch hour today. Smashbox is offering a free gift with any purchase made between the hours of 9am and 2pm PST. Not only that, but right now shipping is free for for all orders. Since there's still an amazing clearance sale going on, now is the perfect time to take advantage of the great deals. I'm a fan of the cult favorite Photo Finish Foundation Primer, but Buzz is raving about O-Glow lip gloss lately. Happy shopping!

I'm not a big fan of cold weather, especially when I'm outside so much at New York Fashion Week. But I do love this season for its great Winter sales! I live for a great deal, and there is nothing better than scoring some loot from my favorite brands at a great discount. Right now Smashbox is having its Curtain Call sale where you can snap up great staples like the Seamless Liquid Foundation or a honey-scented Lip Gel. It's also a great opportunity to experiment with a new shade or a trend that you wouldn't want to pay full price for, like the bold, jewel-toned eye shadows in the Electric Quad, or a highlighting powder like this pretty pink one. Standard shipping is free in the US, so you don't even have to brave the elements to enjoy a little Smashbox.

Looks like the eco-friendly movement is going strong into 2008, and with results this pretty, I doubt anybody can complain. Smashbox is launching the Green Room collection, filled with beautiful neutral colors for a more refined earth-girl look. Most of the products have moringa seed extract, and with every product purchased, Smashbox will plant a moringa tree in a developing country. (The tree can feed people with its leaves and fruit.) Plus, all of the packaging is biodegradable or recyclable — as it should be, I think. (I'd also like to see a "green" collection do away with unnecessary cardboard box packaging, but maybe I'm just crabby.)

Anyway, the colors are light and pretty for Spring. For a description of the products in this collection, read more

O-Gloss ($22) isn't just any new lip gloss, it's a version of Smashbox's hugely popular O-Glow, a gel-cheek color that comes out of the tube with no color at all and then changes into a pinky shade upon contact with your skin. There are several blushers on the market like this right now, but nothing in a gloss, so this is actually pretty cool.

The gloss follows the same principle as the cheek version. When it comes in contact with your skin, it transforms into a bubble-gummy pink hue that's a little bit brighter than the natural color of your lips.

It is made with Goji Berry-C Complex, gingko biloba, marine plankton, pomegranate seed, and avocado oils to give you shine, nourishment, and antioxidant protection.

I've tried O-Glow and if weren't for the fact that I have so much pink in my skin already, I think I really would have given it a go. On lips, though, it might be another story. Do you think you'll try O-Gloss?

Welcome to the first installment of my five-part series on brightening products for the face. Brightening creams, primers and foundations are easy and effective solutions for perking up tired-looking eyes and skin. They are safe, bleach-free formulas that are usually created with light-reflecting pigments to give your skin a well-rested, healthy and alive look. Makeup artists have been using these products for years, so it's time that you knew about the many different options in this category too!

Shiseido Makeup Brightening Veil SPF 24 ($32) is a colorless face primer that helps minimize the appearance of dullness, uneven skin and freckles for an all around radiant complexion. It contains Advanced Luminous Technology, which uses shimmer bits to create a soft, dewy and lustrous glow. It glides on like velvet and is extremely moisturizing. It is most effective when worn alone or under your favorite foundation. Available in one universal sheer shade.

For two more brightening face primers, read more