WEEKLY MUST HAVES: Labor Day Weekend List

If all goes as planned, I'll be in LA and Malibu for the last official weekend of summer. Where will you be?

Here is a list of must-haves for the weekend of rest and relaxation:

1. SUNSCREEN! You wanna look your age or decades older? Enough said. Try a spf with zinc to really block the sun. Zinka Clear SPF 30 Zinc Oxide Sunscreen ($9.38) should do the trick.

2. Deodorant - It's a smelly, smelly world out there. Keep your pits from perspiring after all of that sun and surf. Try a deodorant without parabens or aluminum. Lavanilla The Healthy Deodorant in Vanilla Cocunut  ($18.00) is deliciously summer!

3. Bronzer - While your face is frolicking at the beach loaded with SPF, fake the tan with a mineral bronzer. Peter Thomas Roth's Bronze Instant Mineral SPF 30  ($35.00) is the perfect on-the-go bronzer. It comes attached with a convenient brush applicator! And best part, another added 30 spf!

4. Hair Protector - Now your face and body are protected, but what about your luscious locks? You'll need to carry around sun care for your hair! Aveda's Sun Care Protective Hair Veil ($20.00) is a lightweight, water resistant UV defense mist that smells tropical and leaves hair happy.

5. Perfume - There's nothing like a nice spritz of something sweet after a long day lounging beachside. My go-to summer perfume smells like a trip to the islands. Infusion Organique Buddha's Fig ($35.00) is heavenly!

Happy Labor Day Weekend, Beauties!

Zoya Takes To The Spoon

Imagine how many countless nails you could have saved from the "wrong color" if this nifty little invention was around before....

Zoya Nail Polish is launching a new way to shop for nail color: The Zoya Nail Spoon. For .50 cents, you can choose any hue from their wide range of over 300 colors and sample it to make sure that it's the perfect pink or that irresistible indigo your nails are pawing over. The best part, it ships free of charge! You will never have to go through the wrong shade to find the right one again.

How it works:
Simply visit www.zoya.com, select a color(s) to try, click on the coordinating Zoya Color Spoon option in the product ordering area to add the color spoon to your shopping cart. Order as many as you would like. After your order has been approved and processed, zoya.com will ship your selected color spoons out for you to try and email you a confirmation along with your spoon value code (code will also be available under the “my account” section of www.zoya.com so you never have to worry about losing it).  Plus, the amount you pay for the spoons will be added to your account in the form of code that will be available for use on a future Zoya purchase.

There's only enough color to try it out, so if you heart it, you'll have to buy the bottle to dress up those nails but, rest assured, you will have the opportunity to find your perfect match before purchasing.

Genius.... now if only cosmetic companies would follow suit!

Launching September 1 at www.zoya.com. All Zoya polishes are formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, camphor free and vegan friendly.

Will you try the spoon?

Nars Introduces Pure Matte

Just in time for fashion week AND award season, Nars is launching their Pure Matte line of lippies. They were used on Sunday night at the Emmys: Both Kerri Russel and Lea Michele wore Pure Matte on the red carpet.

“A matte lip is very modern, whether nude or deeply pigmented. Try a color close to your skin tone for a universally flattering look. Pair darker hues with a fresh complexion and little makeup. But, always choose a formula that has hydrating ingredients to condition lips.” -François Nars, Founder & Creative Director of NARS Cosmetics

"Over 15 years ago, François Nars created a collection of 12 perfectly edited lipsticks. Nars’ passion for lipstick never wavered. Now comes Pure Matte Lipstick– the newest addition to the NARS lip category. Pure Matte’s luxuriously rich texture glides on effortlessly, without drag, cakiness or resistance. Defying the traditional challenge of long-wearing lipsticks, it won’t dry out lips. Rich in antioxidants, including Vitamin E and Acai Oil, as well as containing Wild Mango Butter, Pure Matte nourishes and conditions lips."

COLORS:
Volga (Deep Aubergine)
Bangkok (Soft Rose)
Tonkin (Cinnamon Plum)
Terre De Feu (Black Cherry)
Tashkent (Nude Beige)
Vesuvio (Full Bodied Red).

Launching September 1 at Saks!

PRICE TAG: $25.00

Emmys Spotlight: Christina Hendricks

One of my favorite looks of last night goes to the very voluptuous Christina Hendricks. She looked flawless, from the hair to the makeup to the bust line :)

Here are the deets on her makeup:

Celebrity makeup artist Vanessa Scali

Inspiration:
Mia Farrow’s Daisy Buchanan from “The Great Gatsby”

Face:
Vanessa prepped the skin with Lancôme’s La Base Pro. To perfect Christina’s already luminous skin, Vanessa used Lancôme’s new Teint Miracle Lit-From-Within Makeup. “It has an amazing transparent quality that leaves the skin looking flawless and luminous without being shiny,” said Vanessa. “I applied it with a brush and then blended with my fingers.” Blending with her fingers heated up the foundation a bit, allowing for a seamless finish. Vanessa followed with Effacernes Concealer under the eyes, her “all time favorite concealer.”

Cheeks:
For a fresh pop of color I used Lancôme’s Blush Subtil Shimmer in Pink Pool on the apples of her cheeks. Dabs of Giorgio Armani Beauty’s Fluid Sheer #2 highlighted Christina’s cheekbones.

Eyes
The eye shadow was mix of YSL’s Ombre Solo Eyeshadow in Cashmere Brown and Midnight Black. “I applied these all over her lid, under the bottom lashes and blended it out past her natural lash line to softly elongate the eye,” reported Vanessa.

Eye Liner:
To define and elongate the lash line, Vanessa lined the eyes with Lancôme’s Le Crayon Khôl in Black. “I used a touch of liner under her bottom lashes but smudged it for a softer look,” said Vanessa.  For added depth, Vanessa used Artliner Precision Point Eyeliner in Noir at the very base of Christina’s lashes.

Mascara:
Several generous coats of Lancôme Définicils Waterproof Mascara in Black were used on the top and bottom lashes.

Lips:
Christina’s lips were a mix of Lancôme lip colors for an effect that Vanessa described as “red with a little dash of pink.” A sheer coat of Color Design Matte Lipstick in Corset was topped by La Laque Fever Lipshine in Cyber Coral.

EMMYS 2010

Award Season 2010 has officially begun! The Emmys saw it's fair share of losers... and a couple of lucky winners. We, here at Beauty Banter, want to know who wins in the category RED CARPET FACE?

Here are some of the good -- and not so good -- faces of Emmy 2010:

Anna Paquin - I'm not a fan of this look. The hair is too coiffed, the makeup too drastic for Anna's cute face. She looks great when she does "fresh and young," she should keep it that way. It all seemed a bit overdone and old-fashioned.

Christina Hendricks - She looks fab! Those boobs, I mean, curls are so oversized! I do love this makeup, the sultry eye is that of a blue-grey which goes great with the dress.

Claire Danes – The golden smokey eye and light lip look stunning (and very summer appropriate) on Claire. She played it safe and simple but I like it. California starlet works for her. She's tres bronzed here, too. Hmm, fake and bake or vacation?

Eva Longoria-Parker - I think that she could have done more. Again, hair is too coiffed for my liking, it's the Emmys woman, not prom! And makeup is as she always wears - dark eyes, nude lip. Nothing stands out as OMG and she's a hot broad.

Heidi Klum - Okay, she's a supermodel and, yes, my expectations may be a bit higher than the average folk, but Heidi, what have you done to yourself? So much makeup, so much hairspray! Not enough easy chic. And those lips look scary transluscent, like she's on the verge of frost bite.

January Jones – I heard one commentator say that her hair looked like she just rolled out of bed. Um, hello, beach-chic bead head is so in and it’s still summer people. While I do think she could have tried a tad bit harder, I don’t think January was going for Hollywood glam girl look. And P.S. I love the long bob (lob) haircut!

Jewel – WOW red lips! Jewel looks like the consummate starlet. This is how award show red carpet is done. I don't even mind the updo! Flawless. Love it.

Kim Kardashian – Makeup is always pitch perfect. Lots of it but the drama suits her. Hair was up and back. I like Kim with her locks down, but that’s just a personal preference. This is definitely more ethereal, which is the look I think she was going for.

Lea Michele – Bangs are big this season and Lea is showing hers off. The hair was very age appropriate and the makeup was in-trend (grey shadows are making a statement!). Loving the nude lips with the smokey liner.

Rose Byrne - I love me some Rose Byrne but girl looks like she stuck her finger in an eletrical socket. What is up with that hair? Hideous! The makeup is decent but I can't really focus on anything but that nest of hair.

Sofia Vergara – She’s like a giant bottle of sex. Voluptuous lips, hair, cheekbones and …. yes, that too. Makeup and hair were ultra sexy, not necessarily award season style, but hot none-the-less.

WEEKLY MUST-HAVE: Emergency Zit Stick

Oh, zits, be damned! Not everyone has acne breakouts but everyone has an acne flair up. Some of us just have an unsightly pimple pop up during PMS. Or others, from wearing a certain foundation. Maybe even the pollution or humidity. Point is, it's likely that everyone breaks out at one point or another, some are just fortunate enough to have the breakout be minimal -- i.e. the zit from hell forms on your chin right before a big date.

Oh, zits, be damned! Bremenn mergency Zit Stick is damning those zits away. The paraben-free solution clears up acne blemishes on impact. It comes in a tube with a wand so you literally just apply the wand to your zit -- never having to actually touch it with your bacteria-filled hands. The active ingredient is good old Benzoyl Peroxide, 2.5 %, so chances are, that zip is getting zapped -- and fast.

This is a great product to have in your beauty arsenal. Carry it in your purse for those "in case of emergency" moments. Apply on the go. No mess, no fuss, no dirty application. Watch the zit disappear.

Fans of the Zit Stick include Jersey Shore’s Snooki and Adrienne Bailon. Now I, too, am a convert.

PRICE TAG: $21.00

REN Tackles Acne

I'm a huge fan of acne treatment systems. Proactiv is, of course, a favorite. I also love the Burt's Bees acne combination therapy products. They are an amazing alternative to the harsh and synthetic ingredients found in most acne products.

Well, ladies, I just discovered another incredible anti blemish system -- REN ClearCalm3. It's all natural and follows a 4 step process: cleanse, control, treat, comfort. Simple as that.

First, there is the Clay Cleanser ($32.00), "a purifying, antibacterial cleanser formulated to combat and help prevent breakouts and blemishes." Next, you have the Day Fluid ($40.00), "a light fluid formulated to combat and help prevent breakouts and blemishes leaving skin looking clear, healthy, even-toned and mattefied." For the evening, there's the Replenishing Night Serum ($30.00), "a soothing and replenishing gel-serum formulated for use overnight to leave skin comfortable, clear and calm." Finally, there's a twice a week Treatment Mask ($45.00) that is "formulated to reduce visible blemishes and leave skin looking clear, calm and even-toned."

When used in conjunction, these products remove excess sebum, build up of dead skin cells and blemish-causing bacteria... without harshness.

While the clay cleanser doesn't foam, it does clean immaculately. All of the products feel wonderful on the skin and left my face more radiant and even-toned.  But my favorite product has to be the Replenishing Night Serum. It smells so fresh and absorbs into the skin to calm and refresh after a hard day of polluting my face.

I must say, I am extremely impressed by the outcome of these products. Yay for REN! Finally, a high-end, all natural acne system.

Treat Me Right: Sexy Bath Time

Bath's are meant to be sexy. Period.

So read this post, grab your significant other and give them a bath they'll (and you'll) never forget.

Here are some pointers:

1) Rose petals are required. But try rose oil too! REN Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil will give you the allure of the rose scent with 100% natural fragrance. Great for sensitive skin.

2) Candles set the ambiance. Tone and mood are SO important when you're bathing. Nothing creates sexy time like a couple of candles. Staying with our rose theme, try Diptyque's Rose Candle ($65.00). Remember, lights out.

3) Bomb that bath. A bath fizzy -- also known as the bath bomb -- gives you, the water and your bath something to gush about. It makes everything all the more fun. Try Bath Bombs by Lush, the original! Surprise, surprise.You may even encounter a few flower petals or bubbles in the explosion.

4) Finish the bath with a dash of cool. There's nothing like a bit of cold to counter the hot. At the end of your bath, let the cool water run while you drain the bath. This will lock in all of your essential oils and luscious scents!

5) Heat your towels. A cool rinse, a nice warm towel. Put towels in dryer prior to bathing for a spa-like, comfortably heated dry off.  You can douse the towel with a linen spray for extra fun. Try making your own. Click here to learn how.

What are some of your bathing secrets!?