MAC Winter ’11 Brush Rolls

Here’s something that will definitely be making an appearance on my holiday wish list! MAC has just updated and rereleased brand-new Brush Rolls. Crafted of black nylon fabric, these brush rolls come in 2 sizes and make toting your tools a snap — while keeping them tidy, organized, and properly stored.Small Brush Roll ($40): Holds 10 brushes, and contains a zipper pouch.

Large Brush Roll ($50): Holds 18 brushes. Features a zipper pouch for stowing sponges, cotton swabs, cotton balls, and other essential accessories. Also contains 2 small open pouches.

Both rolls are available now at Nordstrom. Images via MAC.

Trying Out the Shiseido Eyelash Curler

A few months ago, Shu Uemura ceased operating in the U.S., which means that no U.S. stores (like Sephora and Nordstrom) carry their revered eyelash curler anymore. I’ve been using that curler for more than a decade, and had just purchased a new one right before the announcement came that the brand was leaving the country. When I tried to purchase another this past weekend, I heard the news that Shu products are only available in Japan now. So if you are one of the countless women who loved the Shu eyelash curler and are now searching for a replacement, this post is for you.

Devoted fans of the curler can still order online (thank goodness!). I plan to do this in the future, but I needed a curler pronto, so I went with a recommendation from a super friendly Sephora associate, who said that the Shiseido Eyelash Curler ($19) was the next best thing to my beloved Shu.

“It’s not the same,” she warned, “but it’s pretty close. You’ll notice a difference, but it’s a good substitute.”

I picked it up and hoped for the best.

Pretty Ways To Support Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Image via Estee Lauder

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Although we’ve come so far in battling this ugly disease, it’s disheartening and discouraging to see so many women still affected by it. But there’s always hope: as of 2010, there were more than 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. alone. You can help that number increase by purchasing these beauty products. During the month of October, a portion of the proceeds from their sales will be donated to breast cancer research and awareness foundations.

Before I delve into all the great products you can buy to support this cause, a word about the photo above. Estee Lauder is one of the most active companies in contributing to breast cancer research and crusading for awareness. Their first campaign launched in 1992, and they have worked tirelessly year-round ever since to get the word out about early detection and prevention, which can greatly improve survival rates. This year, they’re launching a new campaign concept: “TOGETHER. Connect. Communicate. Conquer. For A Future Free of Breast Cancer.” Their campaign promotes the importance of life-saving early detection and regular screenings.

And now, onto the products.

Image via Addicted To All Things Pretty

OPI Pink Shatter: Pink of Hearts ($8.50) is a crackly vibrant pink topcoat that benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Tweezerman Limited Edition Breast Cancer Awareness Tweezers ($20) are 2011′s answer to picture-perfect brow maintenance. The white Precision in Pink tweezers feature a Swarovski crystal pink ribbon, and are just as exacting as Tweezerman’s other excellent hair-removal tools. Proceeds go to various organizations devoted to finding a cure for breast cancer.

Image via Beautyblender

Beautyblender Travel Kit ($23.95) includes the iconic reusable pink foundation sponge and a mini squirt bottle of their blendercleanser to clean it with. 15% of all proceeds from this product go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Recession Beauty: Sonia Kashuk Blending Sponge

You’ve probably heard of the beautyblender, the iconic reusable pink sponge that allows you to flawlessly apply your makeup. Its price point, to me, seems a bit high; $20 for a sponge just doesn’t fit into my budget these days. To spare my wallet major agony, I picked up Sonia Kashuk Blending Sponge ($9.99, spray bottle of brush/sponge cleanser included).

I love this reusable applicator. Its curvy design fits perfectly into the palm of your hand for easy, even application. It expertly stipples on tinted moisturizer and foundation.  And the opposite end is fabulous for getting into tight spaces, like under the inner corners of the eyes.

More details and photos after the break.

Fellow Bloggers: Need Stock Photography?

Fellow bloggers (and all SugarSocial readers), this is for you! Stock photography is often a way of life in the blogging world. Too bad it can be a huge pain in the butt. Crediting photos is a must (and the right thing to do!), but with re-blogging and pinning sites such as Pinterest, it can be tough to find the origin of a particular photo.

The awesome people at Fotolia offered me a free trial, and I love it. Their library is extensive, and I’ve had no trouble finding the photos that I need in just a few minutes (like the one above). There’s so much to choose from, and with all the information provided, you’ll never have to worry about miscrediting a photo ever again.

Fotolia wants to give SugarSocial readers a FREE trial to their service so you can check out their stock photo library for yourself. You’ll be able to download three images per day for two weeks with a trial subscription. Give it a whirl; you’ll be impressed.

So, how do you sign up? Email me at sugarsocail[at]gmail[dot]com. If you have a blog, please include a link to it, and use “Fotolia” as the subject line. You’ll receive a confirmation email from me in return.

To be clear, this offer is open to everyone, not just bloggers!

Laura Mercier Holiday 2010

Laura Mercier‘s holiday collection is festive, fun, and full of color. The small collection features 3 limited-edition seasonal sets that are Here’s a peek at what you can expect from this brand this holiday season.

Eye Colour Sampler ($48, pictured above) packs eight eyeshadows in a portable palette with a dual-ended brush for on-the-go touch-ups and application. Colors: Sparkling Dew, Chocolate, Latte, Pink Tulip, Ultra Violet, Pink Copper, Mica, Black Ice.

Arguably Laura’s most popular product, the Mini Lip Glace Set ($48) gives you a chance to sample the lip glosses with 5 party-ready colors that are somehow juicy, glossy, sheer, and loaded with color. Shades include Sparking, Violet, After Hours, Bare Beige, Rose.

Travel Brush Set ($85) gives you all the tools you need in travel-friendly format. The brushes are full-size heads with travel-size handles and a handy carrying case, making these a necessity, not a luxury. You get a fluffy foundation/bronzer brush, a dual-ended shadow brush (for blending and placing color), a dual-ended angled brush and spoolie brow brush, dual-ended foundation and concealer brush, and dual-ended liner and smudge brush for eyes.

Available October 2010.

Beautiful Ways to Support Breast Cancer Awareness and Research

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As important as this month this, there are some scary, sobering facts attached to why it’s such a big deal:

• In 2010, an estimated 270,090 cases of invasive breast cancer and 54,010 cases of non-invasive breast cancer will be detected.
• This year alone, about 39,840 women will die of breast cancer.
• 1 in 8 women will experience breast cancer in her lifetime.
  (Statistics courtesy of breastcancer.org.)

Given those daunting stats, the good news is supporting awareness and research efforts has never been easier. So many companies are allocating funds from products purchased. All you have to do is buy something that you’d probably purchase anyway. Here are some ways you can support the cause.

Bobbi Brown Pink Ribbon Shimmer Brick ($38). Free standard shipping on this item when purchased in October.

Tweezerman is known for being the most precise tweezer on the market. Get your brows in shape and support awareness and research with the Precision in Pink Slant Tweezer ($20).

Essie We Can Do It! nailpolish ($8) benefits Living Beyond Breast Cancer, a non-profit organization that empowers women living with the disease to lead full lives.

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizer ($35), the gold standard in skin hydration, donates $10 from each purchase (that’s a lot!) to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Estee Lauder Elizabeth Hurley Lip Design Collection ($25) features 2 dual-ended Pure Color Glosses in Extravagant Pink, Rock Candy, Nude Rose, and Brazen Berry are tucked inside a sleek pink croc clutch. Proceeds from this and all of Lauder’s pink ribbon products benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Philosophy Shower for the Cure ($20), benefitting the Women’s Cancer Research Fund. 100% of proceeds from this and all Philosophy pink ribbon products are donated to the fund.

Sephora Perfect 10 Pink Brush Set ($60) packs up 10 pro-quality brushes in a pretty pink brush roll. For each set purchased, $1 will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Fund.

The KitchenAid Stand Mixer is an iconic kitchen staple. Add to your cookware collection with the pink version, which supports Susan G. Komen For the Cure.

Purchase any Jo Malone Red Roses product in October to support her $20,000 pledge to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Like yogurt? Look for the pink lids to support Yoplait’s Save Lids to Save Lives campaign. Save your (clean) lids and mail them back to Yoplait, who’ll donate 10 cents per lid to Susan G. Komen for the Cure – up to $1.6million.

Japonesque Pink Ribbon Pocket Eyelash Curler ($11, limited edition). 20% of proceeds benefit breast cancer research.

Purchasing any of these products (and a ton more – just look online for your limited editions of your fave products) fund important life-saving research initiatives, provide screenings that can promote early detection, and help all women get mammograms regardless of their insurance status. Even if you haven’t been affected by breast cancer, there’s a good chance that you one day will be. Purchasing any of these items and supporting these wonderful foundations is one small thing you can do for women everywhere.

MAC Holiday 2010: A Tartan Tale

My heart is skipping like 10,000 beats right now. This. Is. AMAZING. Judging by this single photo, MAC’s holiday 2010 collection, A Tartan Tale, is shaping up to be one of the most ridiculously cool collections I’ve ever seen. Mad for plaid my entire life, I love the packaging, with its royal crests and regal plaid patterns, and the colors look killer. I need one of each. Now, please.

The massive collection will include an individual color collection and these palettes, kits, and sets, which are obviously to die for.

I can’t take this!!

Launches October 28. Not soon enough.

Sultra’s Bombshell Curling Wand Provides Glam Locks with a Twist

For those of you obsessed with achieving the perfect curl to your hair (my own preference: Hollywood-style loose waves with major staying power), you’re bound to hear about the Sultra Bombshell curling wand ($130) sooner or later. It’s a clampless wonder with precisely the perfect barrel size (1 inch) to give you glam, celeb-esque waves. No clamp means no unsightly crimping of ends. Simply wrap the hair around the wand, hold in place, and let loose. Beautiful waves never came so easy.

The wand creates gorgeous curls in half the time of standard curling irons with a steady stream of 360-degree heat – meaning more uniform curls. The wand is coated with ceramic and releases infrared heat to repair hair as you’re curling away. It comes with a pink glove to keep your digits free of burns while you’re curling. So major.

And it’s Rachel Zoe-approved. Ba. Na. Nas.

Recession Beauty: Sonia Kashuk Lash & Brow Groomer

Target may be the king of all drugstore-level makeup, thanks to cosmetics queen Sonia Kashuk. Her super affordable makeup is awesome…so great, you’d never know it was from a megachain like Target.

I’m a big advocate of spending wisely, and investing in quality brushes that will last you forever when properly cared for. However, there are those tools that are just not worth dropping a lot of dough on. Thankfully, Sonia’s brushes are hard-working superstars…and they’re cheap!

Sonia Kashuk Lash & Brow Groomer ($8) is the best tool to grace my lashes. The metal teeth on the lash comb grip each & every lash – gently, without tugging – to separate my lashes into a defined, lush fan. If your mascara ever clumps up on you, or you have a case of spider lashes, this is the best thing to get them straightened out. It totally kills its plastic counterparts!

And the brow brush is great, too. Its firm bristles are soft enough to brush against your skin, but taut enough to whip your brows into shape. Brush them through before defining them with pencil or powder, or setting with clear brow gel. Also use this handy tool to brush brows up before tweezing or trimming.

For $8, what more could you ask for?

In light of the economic downturn, Recession Beauty is a SugarSocial series that features low-cost, budget-friendly products as an alternative to luxury or designer brands.