Celebs are Shopping Recession-style

From Blake Lively (pictured here in an Alpinestars shirtdress - retails for $68) to Miley Cyrus, celebs have been spotted lately wearing low budget couture. Many of them are mixing their high fashion Prada and Gucci with more wallet-friendly names such as Old Navy and Forever 21. I think this is a great trend because it allows you to dress like your favorite star without breaking the bank. Also, fashion can now be for the masses, can't it?

Click here to read the full article at Shine by Yahoo.

Get this Look - Privileged

Privileged is one of my favorite new shows of the year, and I have to say that I love the fashion and decor showcased on the show. The protagonist, Megan Smith (played by Joanna Garcia) wears the cutest clothes! Her style reminds me of the clothes at Anthropologie and is very feminine - she is often wearing pretty florals and decorative sweaters. I fell in love with the casual look featured above - comfy and stylish! A similar look can be bought at Express for $59.50:

Get Glowing Skin Part Two

In my last posting I talked about faking glowing skin with the High Beam highlighter from Benefit. Another one of my favorite products that I use on a daily basis is SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel($52.00). Because I spend a large amount of time outside during the summer I am prone to pigmentation and freckles on my face.  Phyto corrective gel helps to diminish any spots, creating a glowing complexion. It is extremely soothing and also assists with correcting any redness.  I simply place a few drops on my face after washing in the morning and evening.

If you are truly trying to diminish freckles or pigmentation its also a great idea to try a microdermabrasion treatment once a week in addition to using the phyto to speed up the process, such as Dr Brandt Microdermabrasion:

*The above comments are merely the opinion of the writer and different skin types may notice different effects. Please consult a dermatologist if you have sensitive skin or are undergoing a new skin regimen. 

The Secret to Glowing Skin

Of course we can't all have dewy skin like Camilla Belle. However, it's so easy to fake it with High Beam by Benefit. This is definitely one of my favorite go to products when I want my skin to glow for a night out. I typically swipe the nail polish-style wand up the top of each cheekbone and blend. Next, I highlight my brow bone and blend. Finally for definition and to create the illusion of a slightly thinner nose - I swipe down the bridge of my nose to the tip. You can really highlight any part of your face or body that you want to emphasis, like the apples of your cheeks or your cleavage. Play with it and find what works best for you. Go with the glow for the holidays!  The high beam - satiny pink highlighter blush is $24 dollars.

Madonna's New Louis Vuitton Ads

I have mixed feelings about Madonna. I find her music to be just ok - catchy, but nothing special. She also looks pretty intimidating most of the time with her uber sinewy body and bulging biceps. However, in this new ad she looks pretty hot. I love the retro-styled hair, red lips and pose. Sometimes I think she can look a little hard, like some of the all black outfits she is wearing for her tour- but here they are sure to show off her fabulous legs and she looks great. Kudos, LVMH! 

Gift Others (And Yourself!)

Many of the top beauty companies are offering amazing promotions over the holidays that allow you to get something extra for free when you order a certain amount of $ for their products. This is a great way to get your friends and family more for the money or to give yourself an extra gift while buying for others (c'mon you know we all do it!) Here are some great offers that I scoped out:

Clinique

With their 10 Days of Happiness promotion, Clinique is offering different gifts for every day of the week, plus free shipping! Click on the link below to see what the gifts are:

10 Days of Happiness at clinique.com. Every day through Dec. 14th, enjoy FREE shipping with any purchase! Plus a new FREE treat every day from Dec. 5th through Dec. 14th

I suggest gifting the Long Last Shine Limited Edition (pictured above), which includes four  different shades of their Long Last Glosswear SPF 15.

Origins

Don't miss out on getting an amazing full-sized product for yourself from Origins! Click on the link below to get this offer:

A gift for you from Origins.com: Receive a Full Size Salt product with any $50 order for two days only! Offer expires 12.06.08

I suggest getting the Change their World gift set (A value of $123.50) $85.00 as your purchase. This gift set provides an amazing skin regime with some of Origins best products: 

These offers are only available for a limited time, so I suggest getting your gifts early so you aren't paying a ton of money on shipping right before x-mas!

Stand Out in a Crowd With this Dress

I love dressing up for all of the parties during the holiday season and nothing is better than wearing an adorable dress that stands out in a crowd. This gorgeous dress from Nanette Lepore is funky and cute at the same time. The pattern is fun and the design is young and free-spirited, and I like how they have paired the black tights with the dress in the image above because it gives it a  little more gravitas for winter.  The Indochine Silk Dress by Nanette Lepore is $430 and is available at eDressMe.

Holiday Gift Idea - best of bliss set

With the holidays approaching, I have been scoping out some gifts for my friends and family and came across the best of bliss set. This is a perfect gift for a girlfriend, mother or relative. Bliss has amazing skin-care products and this set really does contain some of their star products along with a cute bliss blue tote. The products included are the lemon+sage body butter, high intensity hand cream, triple oxygen instant energizing mask, hot salt scrub and my personal favorite the youth as we know it moisture cream.  The set is $55 and available at blissworld.com.

Gossip Girl Style - Serena's "New Haven" Look

I have been avidly following the Upper East-side style of Gossip Girl since it began and Serena Van Der Woodsen's chic blazers, oversized bags and sexy boots have renewed my longing for simple and elegant ensembles. I have currently been scoping out some appealing boot options. The problem with boots is that there are so many choices and you want a pair that are wearable with many different looks. Well, I have picked out two structured and classy pairs from Nine west that are both affordable, sexy and versatile.

First up is the Miley from Nine West for $159.99 - these are black like Serena's Michael Kors boots except they have a heel(because not all of us are as leggy as Blake Lively) and the top is folded over. These would be great to layer over jeans or with a dress and black tights. The other great thing is that they come in different widths so you can really get a fitted pair:

Next up is the Look Boot for $149.99. These are a little more rugged to go with your casual wear:   

                                           

             

Beauty Obsession of the Week:Bare Escentuals® 'Ultimate Indulgence' Collection

I am a huge Bare Escentuals® fan and this gift set is a must-have this holiday season! This 20-piece kit is $75 and contains 14 eye colors, a liner shadow and 4 all-over face colors. Be warned that the containers are tiny, but if you love adorably miniature makeup and trying new colors this is the kit for you!  It’s also great for any upcoming holiday parties because there are some beautifully dramatic colors, such as a deep purple. Like many Bare Escentuals’® offers – this is probably for a limited time only. Click here to view the "Ultimate Indulgence."