Ask SugarSocial

You may have noticed a new header here on SugarSocial (or maybe you haven’t; I know I’m not that observant!). But see that blue arrow in the screencap above? That’s pointing you directly toward Ask SugarSocial, the new feature I debuted on the site.

Burning beauty questions, cosmetic quandries, product recommendation requests — you name it, I want to hear it. (Even if you just want to say hi, I’d love that, too!) Click on the tab above (follow the blue arrow) and read over the details quickly of what you should include so I can give you a detailed, accurate response. I’ll post questions here on the blog, if you’re up for it; and if you’d rather get advice off-the-radar, that’s ok, too (through the marvels of modern technology, we can email!)

It’ll be like your own personal consultation…over the Internet. But, in the immortal words of Tim Gunn, we’ll make it work!

What are you waiting for? Start typing!

Ultraflesh Expands Its Line

Last fall, I wrote about Ultraflesh Panthera mascara, which was making waves in the beauty world because of its panther head-topped wand. Now Ultraflesh has expanded its line with equally sexy products. Read details on the brand’s full new collection after the jump.

A Little Sparkle

This week, I added a little twist to my standard manicure. I dusted the tip of my ring fingertip with glitter. It’s a fun way to embellish your ring finger (or any finger of your choice) with just a hint of sparkle. I got the idea from this post on Cupcakes & Cashmere. I decided to do my own take on it with OPI’s Elephantastic Pink and Martha Stewart Crafts Fine Glitter in gold.

It was super easy and took just a few extra minutes. I brushed topcoat on the tip of my ring finger, then dipped a Q-tip into the jar of glitter. I lightly patted the Q-tip onto my finger to adhere the glitter, and let the topcoat dry so it’d stick. To finish, I brushed on another round of topcoat.

It will be fun to experiment with variations on this over the summer. I also love this ombre glitter idea from the blog Une-Deux Senses.

What do you think? Will you be trying this on your fingers?

On the Shelf: Design*Sponge At Home

I’ve been reading the blog Design*Sponge for years. It’s my go-to source for home decor inspiration via home tours, decor ideas, DIY projects, and even floral bouquet photos. Now Design*Sponge is being translated into book form with Design*Sponge At Home, which is now available for pre-order. You can get a sneak peek at the book here; Grace Bonney, the site’s editor, is featured in a gorgeous little trailer, and some stills from the book are featured. I love the trailer; the way the videographer captured everything D*S is about with beautiful imagery is just stunning.

Video still courtesy of Design*Sponge

Guest Blog: A MAC Lipstick For Every Woman

Today’s guest blog comes from Zara Husaini, a Pittsburgh-based freelance writer and graduate of Drexel University in Philly. Zara is a pop culture aficionado who loves sequins, stilettos, and wearing too much black.  Follow her on Twitter @zarhus and on Tumblr at Maybe You Should Blog About It.With the hundreds of makeup lines out there, it’s hard for brands to really carve out their own niche in the cosmetics industry.  Quality alone won’t get you recognized in this market.  In order to really stand out, a line has to do something that other lines can’t – and that’s why MAC is arguably the world’s most well-known cosmetics line.  The thing about MAC is, there truly is something for everyone; the brand is especially famous for creating some of the most popular lipsticks in every shade imaginable. From bold to bashful, there’s a shade of MAC lipstick for every facet of every woman’s personality.  The seemingly endless options can be a little bit overwhelming, but not to worry – this guide will help you pick the perfect shade for your lifestyle.

Who she is: A modern-day woman who loves to evoke the glamour of days gone by.   She can be found dining on filet mignon, sipping on Cabernet, and sporting the season’s most fabulous LBD.
Celebrity Equivalent: Anne Hathaway
Her Perfect Shade: “Russian Red,” a timeless matte scarlet.

Who she is: The consummate girl next door.  This little lady rarely wears makeup, but she’s a girly-girl to the core.  She’s usually the first one to help out a friend in need, and flowers and freshly baked cookies are the way to her heart.
Celebrity Equivalent: Taylor Swift
Her Perfect Shade: Brave. Don’t let the name fool you, this shade is really quite tame.  It’s a perfectly creamy, soft pinky-biege.
Who she is: A fearless fashionista who loves being the only one rocking a certain look – the problem is, everything she wears seems to catch on like wildfire.
Celebrity equivalent: Rihanna
Her Perfect Shade: Morage. It’s all orange, all the way.  If you can pull off this neon shade, more power to you.

Who she is: The crusader who would never dare wear makeup that isn’t eco-friendly.  She was born beautiful, but a little bit of makeup never hurt anyone – and she’ll be sure to participate in the “Back to Mac” program!
Celebrity Equivalent: Natalie Portman
Her Perfect Shade: Myth, a pale, peachy-beige that goes on smoothly and lasts for hours.

Read more of Zara’s picks after the jump!

Weekend Snapshots

This weekend was unexpectedly packed with stops, shops, and lots of action. A welcome change from the quiet, lazy days of summer I’ve been experiencing in weekends past.

I dropped by the annual Manayunk Arts Festival to see local and national artists hawking their wares: everything from jewelry to photos and prints. This pretty painting is by local artist Katie Jeanne Reim. I have one of her prints hanging in my living room.

On Saturday morning, we stopped by the Three Potato Four barn sale, a once-a-month round-up of antiques, found objects, and little surprises, all for sale in a giant old converted barn. The raw space is rough and rustic, and the objects inside are equally old-timey. I love to think of what the items were used for in their past lives. It was so good, I had to go back on Sunday!Old bottles in good shape are hard to come by, but they selection here was plentiful. And I adore the wood slab table on which they were all lined up. Even the old labels were intact!I particularly loved the mix of frosted baby blue bottles.Tins with typography that spelled out “fresh oysters.” And century-old taxidermied fox heads set up next to them.These old numbers would be great for an entryway or just haphazardly strewn on a side table.

Finally, I helped my cousin move into a new apartment in Center City. This is the view from her window…lovely!

What did you do this weekend? Whatever it was, hope it was wonderful.

Joeur: Bright Now!

I remember when Jouer launched their line of cream blushes and shadows at Sephora years ago. Since then, they’ve expanded their products, redesigned their packaging, shipped out of Sephora.

The line of basics is now a bit more trend-focused, as evident in their summer 2011 round-up of cosmetics. Taking a cue from the Pantone Institute‘s summer color predictions, they created a new creamy cool pink shade, Peony, to pack a summery punch. Seen in the snapshot above is Moisturizing Lip Gloss ($20), a creamy cool pink, and a “summer must-have,” according to their site; Mineral Powder Blush ($24); and Cheek Tint ($20), a silky cream blush. The cheek products will give you a creamy, just-pinched flush to your cheeks, and the lipgloss is a great way to add a pop of color to an otherwise natural face.

Scoring Jouer is a little tough, as the line is available only at Henri Bendel in NYC and The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, and online.

Bird & Branch GIVEAWAY on Sifting Thoughts (Closed)

Want to deck yourself out in new jewels…for free? Leah of the awesome blog Sifting Thoughts is hosting a Bird & Branch giveaway. The winner gets one piece of their choice from my Bird & Branch jewelry line. Check it out and enter now!

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nailpolish Strips

Love the look of Minx but hate the high price tag? Now there’s a less expensive way to get the look — and you don’t have to go searching for a salon that offers it. You can pick up a Minx-style mani right at the drugstore with Sally Hansen Salon Effect Nailpolish Strips ($10).

Pretty and funky patterns are par for the course with these. I tried the leopard print (of course), which I adore not only because they’re leopard, but metallic, too. Leopard not your thing? Sally H. also offers black & white houndstooth, zebra, a pretty pastel floral, and several other styles. Patterns not your thing? They’ve got solids, too — creamy and metallic.

Summer Beauty Survival Guide 2011

Summer is a tough season for looking your best. Although (fake) tans and natural sun-kissed highlights are super flattering, dealing with woes like frizzy hair and suburn can really bring you down. Not to mention heatwaves that make you sweat like there’s no tomorrow. So, to combat all of the beauty trials summer hands you, here’s a handy guide to conquering them and looking your most fabulous — even in blistering heat.

Fake It Like a Pro. With so many excellent self-tanners on the market, there’s no need to risk it in the sun. Go faux and be safe. A faux glow is even better for ladies who can’t tan, but burn instantly. Pick a tinted self-tanner so you can see where you’re applying it and avoid streaks and other mistakes. My personal picks: Bare Escentuals Faux Tan ($22-$52) and St. Tropez Self-Tan Bronzing Lotion ($40). Extend the life of your faux glow by moisturizing twice daily with a lotion that doesn’t contain parabens (like Johnson’s Baby Lotion).

More super helpful tips after the jump!