December's Crushes

This month, though it is only 55 degrees, my crushes have begun to be more cold weather necessities like lip balm, moisturizer, cold-remedies and make-up that helps me not look like the walking dead.  I'm sure that current obsessions have a lot to do with the fact that I've just caught my husband's cold.  Now, I'm off to drink some OJ and use that Cold-Eeze.

ADELE's "Rollin' In the Deep"

NARSSkin facial care line

Gorjana Melody necklace

Smashbox High Definition Concealer

Keep A Child Alive/Buy Life Tee

Cold-EEze

Linea Pelle Woven Waist Belt

Gorjana Knox Wrap necklace

Philosophy Kiss Me Tonight

LORAC Make-up Prep

Skin Deep

The most important part of any make-up look is flawless-looking skin.  Unfortunately, unless you're still 15, odds are high that you no longer have flawless skin.  Luckily, some make-up and skincare brands have some excellent products to help us fake it well.  Some of the best ones are below.

Resurfacing
LORAC Make-up Prep
CARGO blu_ray Polishing Cloths
L'Oreal Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base


Primers

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer
MAC Prep + Prime Skin
NARS Pro Prime

Super-Correctors
Stila One-Step Correct
Benefit "That Gal" Brightening Face Primer
Face Stockholm Corrector Quads

Airbrush Look
Kevin Aucoin The Liquid Airbrush Foundation
Philosophy The Supernatural Airbrushed Canvas
Urban Decay Razor Sharp

Under-Eye Dark Circle Fix-Its
Benefit Cosmetics Lemon Aid and Erase Paste
LORAC Undercover Lover
Smashbox Photo-Op Under-Eye Brightener

Illuminators
Benefit Cosmetics High Beam
Stila All Over Shimmer Liquid Luminizer
Smashbox Artificial Light Luminizing Lotion

Mattifying Correctors
Shiseido Mattifying Stick
CARGO blu-ray High Definition Mattifier
Smashbox Anti-Shine

Concealers
LORAC Coverup
CARGO One Base
Smashbox High Definition Liquid Concealer

Complexion Kits
Smashbox Complexion Perfection Kit
Benefit Cosmetics Confessions of a Concealaholic
LORAC Evening Out Complexion Kit

Foundations
Smashbox High-Definition Healthy FX Foundation
Stila One-Step Make-up
LORAC Breakthrough Performance Foundation

November's Crushes

Another month has passed and it is time for an entirely new list of things with which I am obsessed.  As usual, at least one is an album or artist and most are fashion or beauty related.  However, there are a couple of things this month that I am obsessed with that are not music or beauty or fashion related; but, they are so beloved that I cannot get enough.  My phone died in the middle of the month and had to be replaced and boy do I love the replacement!  After three months of repeatedly going to get this one treat on an every-other-day basis, I decided that it must be included in the list.

Maroon 5's new album

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks

Bobbi Brown Face Blender Brush (to use with Shimmer Bricks)

iPhone

tarte double dose lip gloss

Philosophy Kiss Me Tonight Lip gloss

Banana Republic Tights

CHI Infra Treatment

Panera Mango Smoothies

Tkees sandals

Beautiful for the Cure

I considered writing this post on the first day of the month, when I discovered this video and that Commando Underwear was donating $5 of every product sold on their website to Fashion Targets Breast Cancer.  Thinking that I was probably the only one that is a tad bit overzealous about buying things that donate to breast cancer research (since my mother died of the disease when I was a child), I decided against it, opting just to post a few of the more interesting ones on this facebook page when I came across them.  

It was one of these, OPI's "Pink of Hearts", which interested a reader.  I promised to do more extensive research to tell you all about other beauty and fashion products that benefit breast cancer research and awareness and spent that entire day doing so, but wasn't able to write the piece right away.  Though it is the end of the month, there are still quite a few awesome buys.  

Made Her Think Talon Pendant (50% of proceeds to Breast Cancer Network of Strength)

AHAVA Hope Blossoms Bath Salts (Unknown portion is donation to National Breast Cancer Foundation)

Clinique Great Lips, Great Cause Lip Gloss Set and Great Skin, Great Cause Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion or direct donation ($5.00 donation from lip gloss, $20.00 donation from moisturizer or amount of your choice from donation to National Breast Cancer Foundation)

Kim Kardashian Pink Ribbon Rollerball Fragrance (10% donated to Young Survival Coalition) plus 10% discount with coupon code CURE at checkout.

ULTA Windows of Love Campaign (helps fund their $50,000 donation to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation)

Jo Malone Red Roses Bath Oil and Red Roses Cologne or direct donation (helps fund their $14,000 donation to Breast Cancer Research Foundation)

Elemis Sparkling Beauty Skincare Collection (helps funds their £10,000 donation to Breast Cancer Care)


Hatley Pink Elephants Collection (20% of sales supports John Wayne Cancer Institute for Breast Cancer Research)

Limited Edition Clarisonic Plus Sonic Skin Cleansing System (50% of proceeds donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure)

Paul Mitchell Pink Express Ion Dry and Ion Smooth (unknown portion supports the American Cancer Society)

Origins Peace of Mind (helps fund their $35,000 donation to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation)

Philosophy Shower for the Cure (100% of net proceeds donated to the Women's Cancer research Fund)

La Mer Moisturizing Creme (funds their $30,000 donation to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation)

Jane Iredale Sugar and Butter Phoenix Lip Treatment ($2 donated to Living Beyond Breast Cancer) - similar to the one SPiCY mentioned in Sugar Lips yesterday.

Regis Salons Designline (10% of October net proceeds to Regis Foundation for Breast Cancer Research)

Drugstore.com has an entire selection of products that benefits CCosmetic Executive Women's Cancer and Careers

Baccarat Scarabee Pink Pendant Necklace ($40 donation to the breast Cancer Research Foundation)

Gorjana has 5 pieces of jewelry (60% of sales goes to Breast Cancer Connections)

Aveda Hand Relief ($4.00 Breast Cancer Research Foundation)

Shiseido Lip Gloss in Pop Life ($5 to Cosmetic Executive Women's Cancer and Careers)

Trove Tkees Gloss Sandals in Pink Lemonade (15% to Breast Cancer Research Foundation)

Urban Outfitters Young Survival Coalition Tee (100% to Young Survival Coalition)

Beauty for Real Lighthearted Lip Gloss (10% benefits Jackson Cancer Center)

Tory Burch Limited Edition Umbrella (15% to Breast Cancer research Foundation up to a $10,000 donation) 

Coach Breast Cancer Research Foundation Mini Maggie (20% to Breast Cancer Research Foundation)

Dermstore has quite a few products (brands donate various percentages of their proceeds to various organizations; Dermstore donates an additional 5% to Cosmetic Executive Women's Cancer and Careers)

Smashbox Limitless Longwear Lip Gloss (100% of proceeds to Breast Cancer Research Foundation)

Arcona Magic Pink Ice ($2.00 to Cosmetic Executive Women's Cancer and Careers)

Decleor Aromatherapy Aromessence Sets ( Up to 10% to Cosmetic Executive Women's Cancer and Careers)

Bobbi Brown Limited Edition Pink Shimmer Brick (help funds their $35,000 donation to the Breast Caner Research Foundation)

Donna Karan Cashmere Mist (funds their $15,000 donation to the breast Cancer Research Foundation)

Bath and Body Works Sweet Pea Line (50% to American Breast Cancer Foundation)

Dior Limited Edition Couture Palette (unknown portion to American Cancer Society)

Estee Lauder Elizabeth Hurley Lip Design Collection (funds Estee Lauder's $500,000 donation to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation)

CHI Limited Edition Ionic Flatiron Set (unknown portion to breast cancer research)

AVON has quite a few products

Also, if you are not interested in buying a product, but want to help somehow, a friend did the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk at the beginning of November and is a bit short of her goal.  You can donate to her here in whatever amount you choose.  Even small donations help her get closer to her goal.  She must reach her goal by November 3.  In addition, RightatHome.com has a way to turn your profile picture pink to show your support for breast cancer awareness and research.  

Last, but certainly not least, th best way that you can help defeat breast cancer is detection and prevention in yourself.  Be sure to get regularly scheduled mammograms as recommended by your doctor and do your monthly self-exams.  Pick a day of the month that will stick in your head or schedule them on your calendar or enlist the help of your significant other and be sure to do them every month.  Early detection is the best way to stay happy and healthy.  If you have risk factors, you may need to have mammograms at a younger age so be sure to speak with your doctor.  The Estee Lauder companies have a pledge that I really like that each of us should take.  Four very good sources for more information on breast cancer are National Breast Cancer Foundation,  Young Survival Coalition, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the American Cancer Society.  

Sugar Lips

The winter months are fast approaching and with it comes that familiar, dry skin we all dread.We've all got our favorite methods; salt or sugar scrubs, creams, lotions, moisturizers, etc. Everyone has a routine that they swear by and what works for me won't necessarily work for you. But exfoliating and moisturizing your body is a story for a different day, because my biggest concern, all winter long, is my lips. Dry, cracked, chapped and just plain mad at me, for staying in this frigidly cold, dry city for yet another winter.

I'm a loyal product junkie. I find something I like and I stick with it. That is not to say that I'm not open to new products, because I'm always down for something new and improved. But, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, you know? And this goes DOUBLE for my lip moisturizers.

My current, can't live without, winter love of my life, is tarte's fRxtion natural sugar exfoliator and lip balm duo. From the day I found this product, I was hooked (and as an added bonus, it's only $15). I'm picky when it comes to lip balms, moisturizers, et al. I hate it when they're sticky, or when it smells like candy and tastes like wax. But this one... this one is just LOVE. It's soothing, calming and my favorite part? It's sweet like vanilla. Plus it makes my lips SO soft and as another bonus? He likes it too. ;-)

Now I don't expect everyone to fall head over heels for this product the way I have, so in true Sequins fashion, I've got a few others for you to check out:

Emulsion Lip Exfoliant by Smashbox (sugar-based peppermint exfoliator - $18)

Pop Beauty's Sweet Good Morning Kiss ($18)

Lip Silk by Laura Mercier (Not only does this bad boy exfoliate, he also holds lip color in place and reduces feathering. $20)

Philosophy's Kiss me Exfoliating Lip Scrub (Infused with peppermint to add a breath-freshening effect - $15)

Sugar and Butter Lip Exfoliator and Plumper by Jane Iredale ($18.36 via Amazon)

Lip Exfoliator by Colorescience ($10)

C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Buffer (Sugar crystals for exfoliation and mint for fresh breath - $7.50 via Bath & Body Works)

Sara Happ Lip Scrub in Brown Sugar, Cinnamon Sugar, Vanilla Bean, Cocoa or Peppermint (SaraHapp.com is currently under construction, but luckily you can buy these darlings from Amazon for $24)

Sugar Lip Treatment by Fresh (Regular, Rose or Plum tinted - $22.50)

Lip Scrubs by Treat (Various flavors and types. $8-$15)