Benefit’s First Liquid Foundation: Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow

One thing you may have realized about Benefit over the years: there is no liquid foundation in their permanent product line-up. That will all change when they unveil Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow ($34) in February.

Available in 9 shades to suit a wide range of skintones, this liquid foundation contains a brightening formula with Benefit’s new proprietary Oxygen Wow Hydrating Complex infused with vitamins C and E. Skin gets a boost from the antioxidants in these vitamins. The coverage is light to medium, and you can layer it on for more opacity.

The new foundation is being rolled out in a staggered debut. Here are the release dates.
Feb. 2: Sneak preview on HSN
Feb. 15: available online
March 1: available in stores

Image via Temptalia

Stick Straight: Bumble & bumble Concen-straight

Got unruly curls or waves that you just want to tame? Sick of spending hours blowing out your frizzy locks into straight strands? Bumble and bumble Concen-straight ($45) is a new, single-use treatment that smooths and tames frizz for up to 30 shampoos. Unlike some pricey salon straightening treatments, this won’t damage your hair, and you can use it on color-treated tresses.

B&b attributes its power to the formula, which contains a “gemstone blend” of pearl, tourmaline, sapphire powder, and Brazilian green malachite. This potent cocktail relaxes the “inner S-bonds” that give hair its wave. The amino acid polylysine refines the S-bonds to make hair smoother and appear glossier. Silicone is added to the mix to seal in the treatment and set the hair in a straight line.

But, you can’t just apply this treatment and expect salon-quality results. Click through to find out what B&b recommends to maximize the impact of this treatment.

Bobbi Brown Spring ’12: Rose Gold

There are few things I love more than gold…no outfit of mine is complete without stacking gold bracelets on my wrists, loading up my fingers with chunky gold rings, or dangling huge gold earrings from my lobes. My love of gold adornments has me so excited over Bobbi Brown‘s spring collection, Rose Gold. But unlike my penchant for bold statement pieces, Bobbi’s take on rose gold is neutral, pretty–and utterly feminine.

This collection is relatively small, featuring only 2 cheek palettes, and new colors of 2 products. In keeping with the theme of the collection, the pinky-rose and soft gold shades are so soft and delicate, they make a statement with just a whisper. This is a truly gorgeous way to wear makeup…just look at the model in the photo above!

To see what’s new, click through.

Love Is In The Air With…Stila Love At First Blush Set

Stila’s Love At First Blush set ($20) is a lovely little pink package perfect for Valentine’s Day, but great for any time of year, too. Tucked inside is a perfectly pink blush and 2 deluxe Lip Glazes. The blush is embossed with hearts and contains 3 shades of pink that you can swirl together for a customized flush, or sweep on individually. It’s laced with subtle shimmer for just a hint of glow; it highlights cheeks nicely. Two of Stila’s wildly popular, ultra-shiny lip glazes (in Bubblegum and Pinkle Twinkle) round out this delicate, feminine kit.

Image via Sephora; Valentine print via Lilly Pulitzer.

MAC Spring ’12: Shop MAC, Cook MAC: Odd Title, Great Colors

MAC’s spring 2012 collection, Shop MAC, Cook MAC, seems like a very odd theme to me. And I’m not the only one; the web is buzzing with angry commenters who have taken offense to the way this collection is being marketed. But I’m not going to get into that. I’m perplexed because to me, shopping and cooking don’t seem to go hand-in-hand with makeup, but let’s just put that aside for a second and scope out the collection. This collection features almost the entire color spectrum, from saturated brights to creamy pastels and darks pumped up with color.

Wanna see more? You know what to do!

Chanel Spring ’12: Harmonie de Printemps

I am loving the saturated hues of the spring makeup collections as seen here and here. But Chanel is taking a different approach and backing away from vibrant brights, instead preparing faces glow in pastel shades. Gorgeously flattering pinks, peaches, and roses take center stage in their collection inspired by the dawns and sunsets of spring.

This collection nails a more demure look that captures the refreshing mood of spring while being utterly feminine.

Blush Horizon de Chanel ($58): Swirl a fluffy brush over the surface of this multi-striped blush for a feminine pink flush. Or use the stripes individually to color and accent eyes and cheeks.

Rouge Coco Hydrating Creme Lip Color ($32) in Destinee (garnet plum), Paradis (pink coral), and Charme (pink).
Not pictured: Superstition (golden beige).

Want to see more? Click through!

Love Is In The Air With…Viktor & Rolf’s Valentine’s Petite Flowerbomb

Viktor & Rolf have released a limited-edition version of their popular perfume. Petite Flowerbomb ($50) arrives at Sephora just in time for Valentine’s Day. The scent inside remains the same as the original, but the revamped packaging features a smattering of hearts just for VDay. It’s perfect for giving — to someone else, or yourself.

Image via Sephora

China Glaze Hunger Games Collection: Capitol Colours

I am sort of obsessed with the Hunger Games trilogy. I never got into Twilight, Harry Potter, or any other young adult literary saga, but this particular series was so good. I may just be fighting teens for a movie ticket at the theatre on March 23.

So I’m really excited about China Glaze‘s new Hunger Games collection of polishes, “Capitol Colours.” The Capitol is the ruling entity of the nation of Panem, a place where excess, luxury, decadent food, fantastical fashion, and body modification are the norm. If you’ve read any of the books in the trilogy, you know how dark, sinister, and bizarre The Capitol and its rulers are. I think these colors capture that sense beautifully.

As All Lacquered Up pointed out, the shade names reference the specialty of each of the 12 districts that comprise the nation of Panem. Love that!

The collection hits stores on March 1; the movie hits theatres March 23.

Nailpolish image via China Glaze; movie still of Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket and Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen via InStyle.

MAC Spring ’12: Perfectly Finished

Why is finding a great undereye concealer so hard? By divine intervention, MAC has tapped into my current skin woes (thanks, Old Man Winter) and extended their line of Mineralize concealers and foundations. In the Perfectly Finished collection, 2 new mineral-based cover-ups debut to expand your options in creating a flawless face.

Mineralize Concealer ($19): MAC says this creamy concealer “goes on smoothly, discreetly with a touch of moisture,” making it perfect for the undereye area. Available in the following shades: NW15, NW20, NW25, NW30, NW35, NW40, NW45, NW50, NC15, NC20, NC30, NC 35, NC42, NC45, NC50.

Mineralize Foundation/Loose ($30) buffs onto skin and provides medium coverage with a radiant finish. Available in Extra Light, Light, Light Plus, Medium, Medium Plus, Medium Dark, Medium Deep, Dark, Dark Deep.

The collection is being paired with 188 Small Duo Fibre Face Brush ($34) for its use with the powder.

The collection will be available Feb. 16 in North America, and in March 2012 internationally.Images via MAC

Anastasia’s The Kit For Perfect Brows and Eyes

If you’re clueless about brows and just can’t get to a pro for a shaping, celeb brow guru Anastasia Soare can help with The Kit For Perfect Brows and Eyes ($75). While I can’t fully get on board with the stencil method (I believe everyone’s brows are unique), I do think it’s the best alternative to a professional shaping. Why? Because at home, we tend to pluck in magnifying mirrors, or pull out stray strands rather than trim, or generally have no clue what we’re doing when it comes to brow maintenance. And that’s where Anastasia steps in. She makes it easy to give yourself arches that flatter you, even if you lack the necessary know-how.

This kit is a bit of an investment, but it goes beyond basic brow products. Tucked inside, you’ll find necessities and treats for your arches, including:

• A set of stencils so you can determine your ideal brow shape and thickness
• Brow Powder Duo
• Anastasia tweezers
• Clear brow gel to set your brows in place
• Matte Camille highlighter to spotlight your arches
• Mini dual-ended brush (angle-cut brush for applying powder on one end, spoolie brush for brushing brows on the other)
• And a DVD and instructions to pull it all together.

In addition to the brow products, the kit includes a Cooling Eye Brightener (to bring life back to tired, baggy eyes), and a mini tube of Lash Lifting Mascara.