Vacation Flawlessly With Travel Tips and Summer Beauty Products From Elizabeth Arden

Summer is getting closer by the day and it's time to update your makeup and skincare bag with the latest products. Look no further than these new launches from Elizabeth Arden. I'm a huge Elizabeth Arden fan and being that I like to travel light in the summer, my beauty bag can't be too heavy and the products inside must be multi-use. I recently attended the Blog Meet Brand event and received a makeover from the talented artists at Elizabeth Arden. They introduced to three fab products --  Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Serum, Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant, and Beautiful Color Luminous Lip Gloss.

The Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Serum delivers the perfect amount of hydration and ceramide. If you don't know what ceramide is -- it is comprised of 50% of the essential lipids found in the skin and are essential in maintaining defense against signs of aging. I love using this product right before bed. You awake with skin feeling smoother, tighter, and glowy. Who doesn't want to glow more?

For a quick morning face I first apply Elizabeth Arden's legendary Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant. It was created by Ms. Arden in 1930 and has never been changed. It's perfect for the traveler who need around the clock hydration. On my lips is their new Beautiful Color Luminous Lip Gloss. These glosses are high-shine with increased moisture and a yummy vanilla scent. I intend to travel with these products all summer long. Rebecca Restrepo, Elizabeth Arden's new global makeup artist, shares her tips for travelling beautifully:

• Skincare is even more important when traveling. I love multi-use products and ones that can be packed in a carry-on bag. The Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Serum deliver so much moisture. I apply mine mid-flight for extra hydration and also use as a makeup primer when traveling.
• Skin can get very dehydrated when flying, so Eight Hour Cream is essential! I apply to my lips before every flight and use it on my hands and elbows throughout flight. I like to warm up the product in the palms of my hands before applying to my skin, helping it activate and absorb quickly.
• Someone once told me that solids travel better than liquids, so now I never go anywhere without my Flawless Finish Sponge-On Cream Makeup.  It provides as much coverage as I need, without making a mess in my makeup bag.
• Before I land after a long flight, the perfect pick-me-up is a touch blush to brighten the cheeks, a swipe of brightening shadow to open the eye and a dab of rosy lip gloss. To achieve this fresh and well-rested look, Ceramide Cream Blush in Nectar, Beautiful Color Eye Shadow in Innocence and Beautiful Color Luminous Lip Gloss in Sweet Pink are my go-to products.

Keep up with Elizabeth Arden on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram. 

This is a sponsored post from Elizabeth Arden.  All opinions stated are my own.

What's your beauty travel routine look like?

CEW Names 2013 Beauty Award Winners

Last Friday, I celebrated this year's CEW Beauty Insiders' Choice Awards at the beautiful Waldorf Astoria. 36 products across 30 product categories were awarded. The CEW Beauty Awards is the only awards program in which the winners are determined exclusively by beauty industry professionals, CEW's 5,500 + members who know the best in beauty. The CEW Beauty Award is a high honor and sets the stage for consumers to know what products to buy next. See below the winners for each category:

5 New Products To Try From Anastasia Beverly Hills

Every now and then a brand comes along that leaves me inspired and allows users to channel all their inner creativity. That's how I feel about Anastasia Beverly Hills. They launch products every year that continue to impress me. This year is no exception. I've chosen 5 must-have new products from the line you have to try. Up first is their new Bold & Beautiful Kit ($36). It has all your eye essentials - neutral to smokey eye shadows, a double sided brush, brow colors, and even mini tweezers for touch-ups. Next, I'm obsessed with their new Hypercolor Brow and Hair Powder ($12.50). This innovative product allows for an intense flash of color without dying or bleaching hair. You can apply directly to brows with an angled brush or streak hair as desired for a funky finish.

The Rise Of The CC Cream: Which To Try, Where To Buy & Everything In Between

Say hello to the newest beauty trend, CC cream. CC cream, also known as Color Control cream, is similar to BB cream and was developed in Korea. BB cream was the hottest trend last year and the launch of CC cream has everyone a little confused. What's the difference? Do I need it? How does it compare to BB cream? How do I find the right one for me? Here's everything you need to know about CC cream.

Sugar Factory Opens in NYC Leaving The Area A Little Sweeter

Move over Serendipity -- There's a new sweet spot in town and this one already has a cult following. The wildly popular Vegas restaurant, Sugar Factory American Brasserie, has just opened a new location in NYC's Meatpacking district. Known for its celeb following (Kim Kardashian, Britney Spears, Drake, Eva Longoria, Katy Perry, Rihanna just to name a few...) and mind-blowing candy drinks, this restaurant is just what the city ordered. The 3,000-square food palace of sweet delights serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and the best desserts.

Products Of Interest: May 2013

1. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Sci Fi Lullabie Lip Tar in Pris ($18): Pris is described as a "palest champagne metallic." Part of the sci-fi inspired collection, this lip tar is sure to impress as all lip tars do. I'm curious to try the metallic versions to see what kind of finish they give.

2. Ciate Chalkboard Manicure ($25): I've had my eye on this for some time. Something about the kit makes me want to bite the bullet and order one. I love the idea of releasing your inner child and doodling on your nails. The kit features black matte polish and chalk pens that can be used to draw on top.

3. Laura Mercier Baked Blush Bronzer in Ritual ($36): I'm obsessed with bronzer and I love that this product is a blush and a bronzer. Five complementary shades work together to create a perfect, natural color for cheeks and face. I can't wait to get my hands on this.

4. Guerlain 'Terra Ora' Powder Compact ($72): Guerlain summer bronzers are always gorgeous and so pretty that swatching them seems like a crime. I have yet to take the dive into a limited edition one (the price is a bit too steep for me) but this beauty may change my mind. 

5. NARS ♥ New York Set ($75): The title of this palette drew me in (of course) and the shades are great for everyday. Laguna is one of my favorite bronzers and I can easily see myself using this palette over and over again.

6. ALTERNA Caviar CC Cream 10-in-1 Complete Correction ($25): The idea of a CC cream for hair is most intriguing and being that Alterna is one of my favorite hair brands, I know eventually I will have to try it. It's described as a miracle cream that perfects hair in 10 different and unbelievable ways. It provides moisture, shine, smoothness, softness, anti-breakage, heat protection, light hold, UV protection, manageability, and strength (woo). Gimme Gimme.

Any of these on your wish list?

Win It! MAC RiRi Woo Lipstick

MAC Cosmetics RiRi Woo sold out in just under 3 hours and now is your chance to get your hands on this limited edition shade. This matte cool red is the perfect addition to your makeup collection. See below on how you could win! Good luck. ♥

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Top Beauty Looks From The Met Gala 2013

The "Punk: Chaos to Couture" exhibit premiered this past Monday and the Met was filled with the elite of the fashion world and celebrities. The Met Gala is always an exciting time in the fashion and beauty world. It unofficially sets the mark and upcoming trends for the season. Since Punk was the theme this year, we saw many rocking smothering smokey eyes and others that took more of risk. Here's my list of the the beauty looks that won me over.

Get The Look: Ginnifer Goodwin At Met Gala 2013

Makeup artist Mai Quynh created a Siouxsie and the Banshees/punk-rock-inspired look for Goodwin using Laura Mercier, who according to Quynh, “loves wearing edgy makeup.” She stated, “Ginny loves to play up her eyes and wear fun makeup. She’s never afraid of colour or going too bold, and lets me have fun and be daring with her looks.”

EYES:  Quynh gave Goodwin “heavy, dark eyes” to complement the black leather trim of her floor-length, mixed-metal Tory Burch dress.

• Quynh used Laura Mercier Matte Eye Shadow in Noir ($23) to create Goodwin’s bold eye look. She applied it to her lashline, winged it out then connected it to her eyebrow – filling in the shape completely.
• Quynh then layered Laura Mercier Sequin Eye Colour in Black Ice ($23) over the lid, along the lashline and under the eyebrows, blending all together.
• Using the Laura Mercier Finishing Eye Brush ($32), she applied Laura Mercier Sateen Eye Colour in Seashell Pink ($23) and blended it all over Goodwin’s lid, over the Laura Mercier Sequin Eye Colour in Black Ice, creating a gradual light to dark effect.
• After applying individual faux eyelashes, Quynh added a few coats of Laura Mercier Full Blown Volume Lash Building Mascara in Black ($24) to her top lashes.
• Lastly, she rimmed her eyes using Laura Mercier Kohl Eye Pencil in Black Violet ($20).

FLAWLESS FACE:  Goodwin’s skin was radiant with a healthy glow.

• Quynh first applied Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 in Nude ($43) all over Goodwin’s skin.
• Next, she used Laura Mercier Undercover Pot #2 ($34) to conceal any imperfections.
• She then applied Laura Mercier Crème Cheek Colour in Oleander ($24) to apples of Goodwin’s cheek and set the look using Laura Mercier Pressed Powder in Translucent ($32).
• To add the final touch to her glowing skin, Quynh applied Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colour in Lotus Pink ($24) onto Goodwin’s cheeks to help the colour shine through, and ensure her look would be long-lasting.

LIPS: Quynh kept the lips simple and nude.

• Quynh applied Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Lip Colour in Angelic ($24) onto Goodwin’s lips, allowing the attention to be on her bold eyes. 

Get The Look: Anne Hathaway At Met Gala 2013

Adam Breuchaud created this subtle nod to the event’s punk theme by creating a bold, “electric blue” smoky eye to complement Anne Hathaway’s flawless, porcelain skin using all Laura Mercier products.

FLAWLESS FACE: A flawless, “clean” face was the perfect canvas for the look.

• Breuchaud first applied Laura Mercier Foundation Primer ($32), to give Hathaway’s skin an “even, lasting finish.”
• Then, he used a damp sponge to apply Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 in Porcelain ($43) to even out her skin tone and give the skin an “amazingly sheer veil of color.”
• Lastly, he lightly dusted on Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder ($22) to set the Tinted Moisturizer and ensure the skin kept its “dewy finish” throughout the night.

EYES:  Breuchaud went with a “bold smoky” eye to pay homage to the “punk” theme.  

• First, Breuchaud mixed Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Orchid ($24) with Laura Mercier Matte Eye Colour in Deep Night ($23). 
• In order to deepen the look, he applied Laura Mercier Crème Eye Liner in Noir ($22) to her lash line and blended the eye liner throughout the corner of her eye using the Laura Mercier Corner Eye Colour Brush ($25).   
• Breuchaud added the final touch of glamour by applying multiple coats of Laura Mercier Faux Lash Mascara in Black ($24) to the top and bottom lashes.

LIPS: Fresh, natural lips complemented the dramatic eye.  

• Breuchaud applied Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Lip Colour in Pink Blush ($26), which he described as a “beautiful soft pink” to Hathaway’s lips.