Shiny Face Or Matte Face: Are You A Powder Puff Gal?

"Excuse me. I have to go powder my nose."

We've all heard that line before, and maybe you REALLY do powder your nose.

What's the point?

Many makeup artists will set the face with powder as the final step in a beauty routine. The powder helps makeup last longer and takes away shine, and gives a polished, matte finish.

We do the powder, too. We believe it helps the skin look flawless, or as near perfect as one's complexion can be. And we also have uber oily skin, so this is a MUST in our beauty bag.

But there is a powder difference. We aren't wild about the compact powder. We think that application can be a bit telling. In other words, it builds up on your face and the texture of your makeup can look cake-y or heavy.

What you want to buy is loose face powder---one that is colorless and sheer. And we have the favorite of many makeup pros:

Coty Airspun Face Powder in Translucent ($7.19, at local drugstores).

What's so wonderful about Coty's powder?

Celebrity makeup artist Kristofer Buckle sums it all up:

"It goes on incredibly evenly and easily; it's always been one of the best-textured translucent powders on the market," Kristofer Buckle.

Kristopher has powdered the faces of many A-listers-----Mariah. Madonna. Blake Lively. Mary J. Blige, and so on.

Coty Airspun Face Powder in Translucent is a cheap and very effective beauty product.

Don't be left in the dust. Powder is a gal's best friend.

Jennifer Aniston's Secret Beauty Tip Involves 'Fig'

We love when good-looking celebrities start spilling all their beauty secrets. Okay, maybe they won't give out all their tips, but we are happy to see famous beauties drop a few brand names and favorite shades of makeup, etc.

Today, we are looking at Jennifer Aniston, and how 'fig' fits into her beauty routine.

Jennifer has such an appealing girl-next-door look. Nothing over the top---makeup is always fresh and natural. And the actress' smile is soft and attractive. In other words, you won't catch the movie star with bold, red lips. That's not her style.

Jennifer spoke to InStyle magazine recently. In the January 2012 issue, now on newsstands, the youthful actress talked about her looks, and we were surprised to see her mention a favorite cosmetic:

Estee Lauder's Automatic Lip Pencil Duo in Fig ($23.50, at fine dept. stores).

Says the actress: "I've used this Fig lip liner for god knows how many years. You can mix anything with it."

This is how to use the Fig Duo Lip Pencil, according to the folks at Estee Lauder:

Versatile, double-ended pencil with twist-up color on one side, a lip brush on the other.

Color tip is always perfectly shaped—never needs sharpening.

Use the lip brush to apply your lipstick or other lipcolor; creates a defined, professional look.

Comes with an initial color cartridge plus one refill. Additional refills available.

Pencil me in: For longer-lasting lipcolor, fill in entire lip area with pencil, then top it off with your favorite lipstick.

A super, no-nonsense beauty tip from Jennifer Aniston!

Fashion's Charlotte Ronson Also Designs Beach Hair

Textured and tousled hair, with mega-shine.

Who doesn't want that?!

Of course, there are tons of beach and surf-styling sprays out there. Some work well, some fizz out, and others get discontinued. And now that mermaid waves are really hot this season, everyone seems to be looking for the perfect hair product to amp up the waves and gloss.

We've stumbled onto a Perfect Mess Beach Hair by designer Charlotte Ronson ($20, at Sephora. The story goes, that the fashion designer 'designed' her OWN styling spray to keep her long, enviable wavy blond locks beach-y all day long.

If you look at the customer reviews at Sephora.com, you will find that most women adore Charlotte's styling spray. It gets a 3.5 out of 5.0 rating.

So, what makes this surf spray effective? This is how her company describes a Perfect Mess Beach Hair:

"To develop waves and texture, spray it throughout wet or moist hair. Marine botanicals give hair bounce, flexibility, and long-lasting hold. Infused with LFT™ (Light Filter Technology), it delivers an unbeatable beach shine that automatically adjusts based on your lighting. Plus, its light scent is reminiscent of a perfect beach day—taking you back to summer, all year long."

The spray contains some interesting ingredients like---sea salt, jojoba, algea, and green tea extracts.

Gypsy Global Boutique Jewelry: Exotic Faraway Style

Gypsy. Exotic. Bohemian.

Those words say a lot about a woman's style. And when it comes to jewelry, it's a look that's unforgettable.

Earrings, bracelets, necklaces and rings that evoke a place faraway, hold a wonderful mystery about them.

Maybe it's just us, but we adore exotic jewlery. The detail, color and craftsmanship speak volumes. And today, we are looking at Gypsy Global Boutique.

Celebrities like Lindsay Lohan (check out those gorgeous chandeliers), Glee's Jenna Ushkowitz, the Kardashian sisters, and many others, are drawn to the beauty of the Gypsy Global collection.

Such stunning statement pieces! And although not cheap, Gypsy's jewelry is well-made and a smart investment, since the pieces are timeless and look like they cost much more than a few hundred dollars.

According to the Gypsy website......"The collection is handcrafted in Istanbul by skilled artisans using centuries-old techniques. The painstaking process and attention to detail renders each piece an extraordinary work of art."

Take a long look at the Gypsy Global Boutique collection. We can't take our eyes off the unique pieces.

Popular British Nip+Fab Skin Care Line Arrives at Target

Just last May, we were writing about a popular, new skin care line that British beauties were raving about:

Nip+Tuck.

And now, the skin care collection that had long waiting lists for their SOLD-OUT wrinkle creams in the U.K., has launched the brand right here in the U.S.. And all you have to do is visit your neighborhood Target store.

Plus, Nip+Fab is really fab when it comes to affordability. Prices range from $5 to $19. And the skin care line includes 20 products for the face and body----from cellulite-busting cream to dark circle serum and more.

The most popular Nip+Fab item that British women claim hides wrinkles, is their Nip+Fab Frown Fix, a Botox copy-cat. This is a gel-based, firming topical cream. Read on:

We found this interesting article online at the UK's Daily Mail:

"The cream, which the company says is 'clinically proven' to reduce lines and wrinkles by up to 50 per cent, contains Grant X, a natural alternative to Botox.

While the cream was initially designed as a wrinkle filler - to sit in expression lines and minimise their appearance like a posh Pollyfilla - users found the cream had a cumulative line-reducing effect, with fine lines and wrinkles being significantly reduced over time.

The product is said to work thanks to muscle relaxing properties, collagen synthesis stimulation, and a light-diffusing action that hides and softens wrinkles."

By the way, a tube of Nip+Fab Frown Fix costs 10.25 in British Pounds or $16.67 in US Dollars. Not a bad price.

But an even BETTER price here in the states. We found a tube of Nip+Fab Frown Fix for just $9.95 at Target.

Can you say, another beauty stocking stuffer?

Bella's Breaking Dawn On-Set Beauty Tips

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn- Part 1 has captivated so many movie-goers with its incredible cinematography and story-line.

Twi-hard fans are also crazy over Bella's beauty and how actress Kristen Stewart comes across on the big screen.

Today, we have a couple of good beauty tips right from Kristen's makeup artist, Stacey Panepinto. And the look is fresh and natural, and something you can add to your makeup routine:

1. Dr. Hauschka Moisturizing Day Cream ($40, at drhauschka.com). This is an excellent, light moisturizer for those with a dry complexion. If you're looking for organic ingredients, then look no further....Extracts of anthyllis, witch hazel and calendula combine with nurturing oils to deliver soft, healthy skin.

2. Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment, SPF 15 ($25, at fresh.com). Another wonderful beauty product that allows you to look natural and pretty. This tinted treatment glides on to lips like butter, for a very soft, protective base with a hint of sheer color. Nothing heavy or greasy. And yes, sugar is really in this lip tint, for added moisturizing power.

We're not saying you will find yourself next to Edward after putting on the moisturizer and lip treatment, but you will be wearing 2 great brands of skin care that offer natural, healthy formulas.

Tyra Banks Loves $100 Hobo Clutch For Holiday Gift-Giving

Who doesn't want a sleek new handbag for the holidays?!

We know we would like to receive one, especially the gorgeous hobo clutch that model Tyra Banks was showing off this morning on GMA.

The good news----the Lauren Wallet/Clutch by Hobo International is a classic and a smart investment for $100.

And by the way, the lovely model has the hobo clutch on her list:

Tyra Banks' 7 Must-Have Holiday Gifts.
You can see her entire gift-list-- here.

We adore this very feminine, Lauren Hobo/wallet/clutch all-in-one. It's well-made, can go solo as a bag or can be tossed INTO your bag, and has these amazing features:

Secured center panel features ID window, three credit card slots and large zip pocket.
Double frame interiors fully lined in paisley fabric with Hobo signature credit card wall, bill pocket and zip security pocket.
Italian top-grain leather, extra tumbled for a unique ‘broken-in’ look and beautiful shine.
Brushed Nickel Hardware.
8.5W x 5H x 1D.

Plus, the Lauren comes in a pretty rainbow of colors.

Miss Tyra Banks, we give you an A+ on this one.