Nail Polish Break - Zoya Exchange Program

Do you have old nail polish that you want to get rid of? Out the old, in with the new! I found out about this from e-polish.blogspot.com (my favorite nail polish blog!) and I already signed up! Zoya has put together an exchange program. You send them your old nail polish, and they'll send you new polish! You'll get one bottle of Zoya nail polish, color of your choice, for each bottle you send them. The catch? There really isn't one except for you have to pay $3 for each nail polish, for shipping and processing.

Visit http://www.zoya.com/exchange/ for more details and to fill out the form to participate. Make sure to check out their Spring 2009 line, namedTwist!

Lipgloss Break - Find Your Best Pink Color

Take the quiz at Total Beauty! Find out which shade (or shades!) were made for you!

Contest Break - Elke Brow Ware Giveaway

Enter to win Elke Von Freudenberg's 2 piece Brow Groom Set from her Brow Collection. You'll get (1) Clear Eye Brow Ware and (1) Brow Tamer. Click here to enter!

A little background...Elke Von Freudenberg has been in the beauty industry for 20+ years as a top celebrity and editorial makeup artist, based in Los Angeles and New York. Her makeup style has appeared on celebrities at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, as well as the designer runways of Docek & Gabbana, Ralph Lauren and more; and her eyebrow work has been seen on top models. Check out Elke's blog at http://www.elkevonfreudenberg.com/services/

Makeup Break - Dolce & Gabbana Launch Makeup Line

Dolce & Gabbana has announced the face for their new makeup line...Scarlett Johansson. Get this...the lipsticks will be scented with rose! The products are set to launch for spring with prices ranging from $20 for nail lacquer to $59 for powder foundation.

Shop Break - Bath Tub Caddys

This is the perfect addition to any bath tub pamper session! After a long week at work, I filled my tub up with plumeria bubble bath, poured a glass of white zinfandel and read a few chapters of Twilight. Everything fit nicely, including the wine, in my new bath caddy. I loved not having to worry about getting the pages wet in my new book. The bath caddy I have pictured is from Delight.com. Valentine's Day is coming up...it's the gift that keeps on giving!

Makeup Break - Too Faced The Smurfette Collection

I love when cosmetic companies pair up with fun cartoon characters, nostalgic personalities and celebrities. The Too Faced Smurfette Collection includes an eye pallete, liquid eyeliner, mood changing lipgloss and illuminating face powder.

The eyeshadow palette includes Smurfette's favorite glamorous colors. The velvety shadows glode on smoothly creating the signature Smurfette look. The Smury-Eyed Liquid liner comes in an opalescent glitter and glittery blue color. The lipgloss is mood swing emotionally activated. It varies shades of pink depending on body temperature. The illuminating powder has color-correcting shades that blends together for the perfection complextion.

So Smurfy Illumination Face Powder - $26
Smurfy-Eyed Liquid Eyeliner - $17.50
So Smurfy Eye Shadow Collection - $32.50
Mood Swing Emotionally Activated Lipgloss - $18.50

Shopping Break: Smashbox is Having a Sale

Visit Smashbox.com and check out all of their sale items. Everything under 'Curtain Call' is 25-50% off.

News Break - Retailers to Give Away Cosmetics to Settle Lawsuit

Starting January 20, and until supplies last, retails such as Macy's, Dillards and Nordstrom (and others) will be distributing free cosmetics to shoppers who bough certain cosmetics between May 29, 1994 and July 16, 2003.

'The offer is part of an agreement to settle a lawsuit filed in 2003 in a California federal court. The suit alleges stores tried to limit sales and scale back on the amount of cosmetics in their inventory, thereby keeping both prices and competition high' (BusinessWeek.com). You can read more about this HERE.

Shoppers are only permitted to receive one product made by cosmetic companies that include: Chanel, Estee Lauder and L'Oreal USA, among others.

The following stores will be particapting: Bergdorf Goodman, Bergner's, Bloomingdale's, Boston Store, Carson Pirie Scott, Dillard's, Gottschalks, Herberger's, Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Parisian, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Younkers.

You can find the list of products being distributed here: http://www.cosmeticssettlement.com.

Makeup Break: L'Oréal Double Extend Lash Extension Effect Mascara

It took a lot for me to stray away from my Benefit mascara, but I thought, 'what the heck? I'll try it out!' I heard it was similar to Kiss Me's 'tube' technology, so I was intrigued. One end of this is a primer for your lashes, which helps coat them so the mascara can form 'tubes' around your lashes. This mascara give my lashes great length, but not thickness. The removal of this mascara is a little different, and a little uncomfortable at first. You just have to use warm water and you almost 'pull' the tubes off of your lashes. The best part is that it doesn't leave black stains on your wash cloth!

I found this mascara at my local Ulta store, they were buy one get one free, no coupon needed. I definitely plan on keeping the second one for myself!

Contest Break - Prince Reigns Giveaway

Check out The Beauty Counter blog to enter for your chance to win Prince Reigns Ingrown Hair Serum. This stuff is talked about by top celebs, ranging from Giselle Bundchen to Oprah Winfrey. Hurry...contest ends January 23rd!