The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly (A Slew of Reviews in One Post)

I’ve tried so many new products lately, I haven’t had the time or energy to write full-fledged reviews about all of them. But I still wanted to let you know which ones rocked and which ones stunk, so I’m combining several reviews into one post. You’ll find everything here, from makeup to skincare to haircare.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Professional Size: I got this on sale at Sephora for $20 (normally $30)–the same price as the standard Primer Potion. But this tube contains 150% of the original size’s product. Good deal. This really, truly is the best eye primer out there. It’s the only one I’ve ever tried that completely resists creasing and smudging, even after hours. It keeps shadows exactly where you apply them until you take off your makeup. Genius.

Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Moroccan Sleek Oil Treatment (approx. $5-6): I’m not one of those people who loooooves Moroccanoil. It’s ok, but it doesn’t transform my hair–but I still use it to nourish my ends and protect my strands from heat styling. This new product is Garnier’s version of Moroccanoil. I noticed no difference between the two, and guess what? I’ll be buying this $6 version from now on (even though the bottle is huge, and it’ll probably last me forever). (Image via drugstore.com)

Josie Maran Argan Illuminizer ($28): This is an excellent highlighter. It’s a creamy nude base with a slightly pink pearl. I’ve been mixing it with my BB cream to give my complexion a pretty glow. You can also use it as a highlighter on the high points of your face (cheekbones, brow bones, etc.) if you want to accent certain features. I really like this — a lot. (Image via Sephora)

There’s a whole lot more (6 more reviews) after the jump.

Here Comes the Urban Bride

Wedding season is upon us, and that means lot of champagne toasts, tiny pigs-in-blankets (if you’re lucky), expensive wedding gifts…and bridal beauty. To celebrate the season and the release of the movie Bridesmaids, Urban Decay created Urban Bride ($42), an all-in-one kit for the bride who wants one less thing to worry about on her big day.

Tucked inside a box bearing purple lace and fishnet printing is a bevy of travel-sized beauties that will help prep you for your walk down the aisle: Lip Junkie Gloss in Midnight Cowboy (a universally-flattering shimmery nude); Razor Sharp Ultra-Definition Finishing Powder (to keep discoloration at bay); Supercurl mascara in black (for doe eyes); Eyeshadow Primer Potion (in full size glory); All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray (to make sure the bride’s face doesn’t melt off mid-first-dance); and Marshmallow Body Powder (for a little sparkle on the skin and a sweet marshmallow scent).Maybe the bride-to-be in your life would appreciate this as a pre-wedding gift. And you don’t have to be walking down the aisle to enjoy these on-the-go goodies; just toss them in your bag and you’re prepared for whatever beauty trials the day brings.

Get the Look: Lauren Conrad on “LA Candy” Book Tour

Lauren Conrad looked fabulous this summer as she embarked on a tour to promote her first novel, “LA Candy.” Miles away from her overbleached, overtanned, overprocessed Laguna Beach days, she has entered her early twenties looking polished yet youthful. She looked particularly radiant in the photo above. After jump, find out how you can look as radiant as Lauren and steal her glistening yet expertly-defined eyes.

Urban Decay Fall ’09 collection

Urban Decay just posted their fall 2009 catalog online. My head is spinning. Their fall collection is jam-packed with 30 new products that are edgy, sexy, and totally rock-and-roll.

The Eyes Have It
One of the standout pieces of this collection is Ink for Eyes, a badass cream eyeliner containing top-secret ingredient Nylon 12, a polymer that makes the liner glide across your lids smoothly for a flawless look – no more gaps! It also softens delicate eyelid skin and absorbs excess oil, which gives the liner ultra staying power. Available in 6 shades, this hot little number is packaged in a sleek metal tin with an elaborate peacock etched on the lid. Nestled inside is a double-ended brush: one is angled for precise, razor-sharp application; the other is a blending sponge for a sexy, smudgy, just-rolled-out-of-bed look. The model in the photo above is sporting Binge, an inky, deep indigo, on her eyes.

With this rocking liner comes 3 new shades of Deluxe Eyeshadow, a velvety, fine powder that glides across lids and stays put. Deep plum is definitely the trend of the season, as 2 of UD’s 3 shades are plummy: Frigid is a deep plum with blue undertones, and Freakshow is a red-based plum. Rounding out the new shades is Ruthless, a gilted, glittering taupe.

All About Lips
They have added 3 new lipstick shades to the collection. The model in the first photo is wearing Naked, which looks so hot. Urban Decay has also picked up on the plum lips trend with Confession, a semi-sheer dark plumberry, seen on the model in the photo above. Last in the lineup is Oil Slick, a glossy black flecked with silver sparkles. Not a fan.

Added to the new lip collection are 2 new nude shades of 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil: Wallflower, a medium-toned pinkish nude, and Paranoid, a deep pink nude.

Wait! That’s just the beginning!