Lipgloss Break

Congrats to Konector Top 50 Beauty Blogs

Congratulations to all who made the Konector Top 50 Beauty Blogs!

Although some of my favorite blogs were left out, I'm honored to be listed as one of the top 50 among the other fabulous blogs selected.

Style Break - Entrouage's Emmanuelle Chriqui

I stayed up past my bedtime on Sunday to catch the new Entourage. I love that Sloan, played by Emmanuelle Chriqui, is back on the show. She is just so stunning. She opened up to Women’s Health in the July/August issue. Read below on her advice on how to be totally irresistible…I don’t know about you, but I’m doing everything she says :)

Emmanuelle’s 7 Ways to be Totally Irresistible, Just Being YOU…

1. Don’t freak over so-called imperfections “Never reveal your insecurities to a man, because nine times out of 10 they have no idea they even exist. Most guys are not as observant as women are.”

2. Let the real you shine through "For the record: I wear makeup. All. The. Time. But I do it in a way that looks natural. My skin is blotchy, and I'm Mediterranean—I've got dark circles. So I need foundation and concealer. One thing I swear by is Armani Silk foundation. It offers coverage, but it breathes, so people never think I'm wearing makeup. For under my eyes, I use Touche Eclat by Yves Saint Laurent, which I love because it's moisturizing and creamy and blends into my skin without getting cakey. I also wear a bronzer—Cargo and Nars have great sun-kissed colors—just to give a little depth to my cheeks."

3. Play up your best feature "I would say that my favorite part of my face is my eyes. I have very long lashes, but they're not thick, so when I apply mascara—I love L'Oreal Voluminous—suddenly my eyes are transformed. It's cool. I've also learned a few eye makeup tricks. For example, highlight your brow bone to give your eyes a more wide-open look. Also, as you're applying mascara, twirl the brush—from the root [to the ends]—so the color covers the whole lash for a fuller look."

4. Find a good role model "To me, natural beauty means having a real sense of confidence. I just think that there is something so incredibly sexy about a woman who takes care of herself and doesn't try to bend to be something she's not, like Robin Wright Penn, Meryl St

reep, and Diane Lane. And Kate Winslet—I mean, my God! She's gotten even more beautiful with age!"

5. Develop your own sense of style "Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Moss both have great personal style. So does Katie Holmes. It's risky, but it's a statement and I like that. In elementary school I was always transforming stuff, like turning the top of [a pair of pantyhose] into a bandeau. It was my way of expressing myself. Now my look is tomboy meets hippie chic. A great pair of jeans, a T-shirt, hoop earrings, and a pair of boots or sandals, and I'm good to go.

“You have to be comfortable in what you're wearing, because it shows. I know what fits my body and I'm crazy particular about that. Something I've been living in: my AG jeans. They're tight, boot-leg, low-waisted and holey. You can wear them dressed up or dressed down, with running shoes or sandals, whatever. Sometimes I follow trends, like when the skinny-jeans craze was going on, but usually I just do what feels good to me. I'm not afraid when it comes to fashion. If I love the way something looks—whether it's ethnic, Goth, or ultra sexy—I'm like, let's do this!"

6. Express yourself with accessories "I love David Yurman rings, but overall, I'm much more into street jewelry. I find the best bangles and the coolest, most gigantic ornate earrings—things that you just don't see just anywhere else. I'm very even-handed when I jewel myself up. I'll either wear a serious pair of earrings or a ton of bangles, but not both. Less is more."

7. Be brave in your beliefs "My spirituality happens to be a big part of my life. For example, I believe that we're constantly surrounded by energy; things we don't see that guide us. So I go to a healer who uses, among other things, essential oils to align my chakras [centers of energy, according to Indian medicine]. I think if you are open to this, it can be transformative; I've actually seen it in my own life. Of course, here [in California], this kind of stuff isn't considered all that weird. Still, I've had somebody very close to me belittle my journey. It was really difficult because I felt as though they were rejecting a really big part of me—but, you know, it didn't make me waver for a moment."

Giveaway Break - LashFood

***Giveaway***

Enter to win LashFood! Eyelashes are the beauty must-have for 2009. You can achieve long, full lashes, with false eyelashes, but who likes to put those on? Interested in achieving long, full lashes naturally? Keep reading. LashFood is a natural conditioner that will make lashes fuller, longer and stronger. Check out my blog post on LashFood HERE.

Sign up below to win! For extra entries, you can sign up for my mailing list, post a link to this giveaway on your blog, follow my blog, or follow me on Twitter, just make sure to list the entries in your comment. Enter up to once a day!

This giveaway is open to US residents only. The contest will end on Tuesday, August 11th. I will randomly select the lucky winner and announce them on Lipgloss Break, so keep checking to see if you're a winner - Good Luck!

Giveaway Break - Baggu Bag

Grocery shop in style and save the Earth at the same time. Reusable grocery shopping bags are all the rage with those who are taking steps to save the environment. Based on the form of the iconic plastic grocery bag, a BAGGU does the same job without harming the environment.

Because reusable bags only reduce waste when you use them, we made BAGGU light weight, so it's easy to keep with you for an unexpected errand, and so beautiful you’ll actually want to carry it. Using one BAGGU for one year replaces 300 to 700 disposable bags.

***Giveaway***

Enter to win a Baggu bag in Rhubarb!

To enter the contest, fill out the form below. For extra entries, you can sign up for my mailing list, post a link to this giveaway on your blog, follow my blog, or follow me on Twitter, just make sure to list the entries in your comment.

This giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents. The contest will end on Friday, August 7th. I will randomly select a winner and announce them on Lipgloss Break, so keep checking to see if you're a winner - Good Luck!

Total Beauty Break

How to Get a Sun-Kissed Glow on Budget

One reader gets a glowing red carpet-worthy overhaul that's a cinch to maintain -- see if it's right for you

After losing 80 pounds, TotalBeauty.com reader Deana felt great on the inside but still needed help on the outside. Inspired by sunny Hollywood blondes like Goldie Hawn and Heidi Klum, our celebrity hairstylists and makeup artist gave Deana a bright new look to help boost her confidence, and kept it budget-friendly to boot!

See tips

Total Beauty Break

How to Get a Sun-Kissed Glow on Budget

One reader gets a glowing red carpet-worthy overhaul that's a cinch to maintain -- see if it's right for you

See tips

And the Winners Are....

Sweet Beauty Lip Balm Giveaway - Bronco Mom
Borghese B Gloss Giveaway - Frosted Couture
Amazon Beauty Shampoo & Conditioner Giveaway - JessKaufman & Discriminating Diva

Didn't win? Don't fret - there are still a ton of great giveaways you can enter to win!

Hyper Luxe Weekend Roundup

Askmewhats reviews Modelco Lash Wand Heated Eyelash Curler.

Beauty Junkies Unite answers the question: What the heck is a free radical, and why should I be concerned?

Best Things in Beauty tells us about yNS Radiance - three fabulous moisturizing and anti-aging ingredients in one product.

Claire's Beauty sniffs Bond No. 9 Astor Place and gives it two thumbs up!

Cult of Couture takes a peek at Elie Saab Couture.

Alyson of The Gloss Menagerie shares her thoughts on Urban Decay Pocket Rockets.

Hot Beauty Health discusses Beyonce Sasha Fierce new line for House of Dereon.

Lipgloss Break has two incredible giveaways from Huge Lips Skinny Hips and StripTeas.

SparklingPinkGorilla gives her review of Revlon Colorstay Makeup.

Felicia from ThisThatBeauty finds a recessionista deal.Three great eye creams all under $20.

Unfunded sits down with the designer behind indie clothing line Dustie Doll Clothing.

UrbanLuxe shares 5 delicious desserts that you must try.

If you'd like to learn more about the HLMN or becoming an affiliate please visit our website.

Nail Break - Essie Loves Diamonds

Judith Ripka has partnered with Essie nail polish to create an exclusive new polish collection named Essie Loves Diamonds by Judith Ripka - a limited edition polish made with real diamond dust. At $15 a bottle, there are only 30,000 bottles in the world! The vision is simple: diamonds and nail polish come together to create a new spin on “a woman’s best friend.” Three lucky Essie customers will win an actual diamond, emerald and sapphire! Shop online at http://shop.judithripka.com/ and save when entering the UPC code on the polish bottle. The colors will be hitting salons in August 2009.

Three Polish Colors:

1. Put a Ripka Ring on It (Blush Pink)

2. Heart My JR Jewels (Dark)

3. Queen of Hearts (Red)

Giveaway Break - StripTeas

Unlike most tea bags that contain bits of burnt stems and plant byproduct rather than actual tea, Strip T eas contain whole, real tea leaves masterfully blended with exotic spices and delectable herbs.

Stripteas’ innovative recyclable foil infusers are fresh, sophisticated, and practical. 100% natural and equally healthy, we know you’ll agree that StripTeas are beautiful inside and out.

I was excited to see they have 'Darjeeling' tea and I can't wait to try it out. Darjeeling was my first weekend trip in India and I drank the best tea of my life there!

***Giveaway***

Enter to win a box of StripTeas...your choice of flavor!

To enter the contest, leave me a comment. For extra entries, you can sign up for my mailing list, post a link to this giveaway on your blog, follow my blog, follow me on Twitter, and/or sign up for the StripTeas newsletter. Make sure to list your extra entries in the 'Extra Entries?' field below. Enter up to once a day!

This giveaway is open to US residents. The contest will end on Friday, July 31st. I will randomly select a winner and announce them on Lipgloss Break, so keep checking to see if you're a winner - Good Luck!