Luxe Beauty Gift Guide {For Her} + A Naked3 Giveaway!

Christmas is right around the corner and many are flocking to stores to pick up last minute gifts. Most online boutiques are offering rush shipping, so don't worry! Consider these luxe gifts for the women on your list. What woman doesn't love a little luxury?

1. Limited Edition Minnie Mouse Makeup Kit - Romantic Serenade 02 by Anna Sui, $50
2. Bobbi Brown Old Hollywood Eye Palette, $75
3. Ciate Mini Mani Month, $41
4. Frends Taylor/Rebecca Minkoff Headphones, $250
5. NARS One Night Stand Palette, $65 (Sold out online but still available in many Sephora boutiques!)
6. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar All-Star Mini x 12 Set, $58
7. Lush Cosmetics Christmas Candy Box, $48
8. Urban Decay Naked3 Palette, $52 (Sold out online but still available in many Sephora boutiques!)
9. Moroccanoil Repair Essentials Collection, $69
10. Limited Edition Tom Ford Beauty 12-Piece Lipstick Set, $588

One of my favorite luxe gifts on this list is Urban Decays new Naked3 Palette. It's a stunning palette with rose gold eyeshadow tones & sleek packaging. I knew I needed to have it and didn't want you to miss out as well, so I picked up a second for a giveaway. See more details on how to enter below. Best of luck & happy shopping!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Palette Dreaming: The Newest Palettes On The Block

1. NARS Foreplay Cheek Palette ($49.00) 
2. Urban Decay Smoked Eyeshadow Palette ($49.00) 
3. Anastasia Beverly Hills 'She Wears It Well' Eyeshadow Palette ($34.00) 
4. Tarte Amazonian Clay Eye & Cheek Palette ($44.00) 
5. Too Faced The Return Of Sexy Eyeshadow Palette ($48.00) 
6. Smashbox The Master Class Palette ($59.00)

Products of Interest: August 6, 2012

I've got my eye on three products at the moment: Urban Decay's naked foundation, Ciate Nails velvet manicure & Lancome's hypnose star mascara. Urban Decay's naked foundation is said to be weightless and give a luminous finish. The velvet manicure from Ciate Nails (popular for their caviar manicure) promises luxury and innovation. I'm curious about the texture. Lancome's hypnose star mascara is inspired by Betty Boop. The formula gives a glossy gel-like finish and unique brush helps leaves lashes separated, defined and lengthened.

What have you got your eyes on lately?

Beauty News Vol. 1 -- Kardashian's New Makeup Line, Urban Decay No Longer Cruelty Free & More

Welcome to the first edition of Beauty News. In the section, I'll be posting new and relevant beauty news as it is announced. So let's get to it, shall we?

1. The Kardashians Launch a Makeup Line: It's no secret that Kourtney, Khloe, & Kim Kardashian are known for their good looks. Kim, in particular, is a makeup maven having become wildly popular for always wearing a gorgeous smokey eye and nude lip. It was really only a matter of time for the ladies to launch a beauty line. The beauty line will be titled Khroma Beauty and will include everything from eyes, lips to complexion. When I think of the Kardashians and makeup, the first brands that come to mind are NARS (Kim is known for wearing lip gloss in Turkish Delight) and MAC Cosmetics. The ladies are fans of those brands, so I'm hoping they will take inspiration from them. The line is set to launch in December and will even include a product called a Kardazzle compact. Can you say bling bling?

2. Christian Louboutin to Launch Beauty Line: Red Sole lovers beware! Cosmetics are coming. Can we pray for all sleek black packaging with red bottoms? Christian Louboutin is launching "Christian Louboutin Beaute" and will join fellow designer Tom Ford who launched his beauty line in 2011.  The cosmetic line will sell worldwide and is set to launch in 2013.

3. Urban Decay No Longer Cruelty Free: The controversy on the street is Urban Decay will begin to sell their products in China. The Chinese government reserves the right to conduct animal testing with cosmetic products before the products are approved for use by Chinese citizens. Urban Decay has been honest about their brand's stand against animal testing. On June 6th, 2012, Leaping Bunny took away their certification. The beauty community has responded in an uproar about their decision. Will you continue to purchase Urban Decay?

UPDATE: Urban Decay released a statement stating they will not be selling their products in China. Read more here. 

What are your thoughts on this month's beauty news?

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette -- In Stock On Sephora Online

Hey loves!

Just wanted to give my readers that were waiting for the Naked 2 a heads up. The palette is now available at SEPHORA.COM until it's sells out. Retail is $50 and if you purchase online your eligible for free shipping (woo hoo). The palette will also be hitting stores end of Jan 2012. Happy Shopping ☺

Will you picking up Naked 2?

Urban Decay Launches Naked 2 Palette

Urban Decay's original naked palette broke records in sales and demand. With every neutral color you could possibly imagine, they've done it again and launched a brand new "Naked 2" in a handy tin that includes 12 eye-shadows, a double ended brush and a mini naked lip-gloss. This palette includes 5 NEW shades and I'm sure will sell out fast. Only 5,000 are available TODAY and more on the way next week. Order one  A.S.A.P to get in time for the holiday season. Retail is $50 and will be available at Sephora, Ulta, and Macy's in late January 2012.

                                 Will you be picking up Naked 2?

LOTD: My Favorite Eye Look With Urban Decay's Naked Palette

I'm one of those beauty lovers who will always love a great "natural" eye. I remember the days when I used to only wear one eyeshadow. Oh so long ago... This look I constantly wear and I like to call it my "natural smokey eye." The reason being that it's considered natural by most people standards because of the colors used but has a slight smoke at the ends.. what I call the "baby smoke." Haha. Let's take a look...

See? I love this look because you can wear it for so many things. It's natural enough to wear during the day but can always be wore at night. Whenever I wear it, I always get compliments. 

Here are the products I used to complete this look:

Seen above: Brushes --Tokidoki Mozzarella Eyeshadow Brush, Tokidoki Adios Amigos Crease Brush, Sigma E25 Blending Brush & Bdellium tools eye 780, Too Faced Shadow Insurance & Make Up For Ever Black Liquid Eyeliner #13

Seen above: Urban Decay's Naked Palette, MAC Pigment in Shimmer Time. Can you tell Urban Decay's Sin is one of my favorite shadows? The pan is EMPTY. I definitely need a refill. Till then I've been using MAC's pigment Shimmer Time instead. I got this pigment in a set two holidays ago.

Seen above: Shu Uemura's Eyelash Curler, Urban Decay Lush Lash Mascara, Hourglass Film Noir Lash Lacquer, NYX Cosmetics Jumbo Eye Pencil in Cottage Cheese

This look is super easy to do! Here are the steps below:

Step 1: Apply Too Faced Primer all over the lid

Step 2: Apply Urban Decay's Virgin on the inner corner of the lid.

Step 3: Apply MAC's Shimmer Time Pigment to middle of lid

Step 4: Blend Urban Decay's Smog & Darkhouse mixed into outer corner and slightly in crease

Step 5: Blend Urban Decay's Virgin under brow

Step 6: Blend all colors together for a finished look

Step 7: Using a smaller brush place Urban Decay's Smog on the outer bottom lash of eye

Step 8: Using the same brush place Urban Decay's Virgin on the inner bottom lash of eye

Step 9: Line your upper lid with Make Up For Ever Black Liquid Liner #13

Step 10: Curl your lashes with Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

Step 11: Coat your lashes with Urban Decay's Lush Lash Mascara

Step 12: Use Hourglass Film Noir Lash Lacquer on the tips of eyelashes

Step 13: Line your inner rim with NYX Cosmetics Jumbo Eye Pencil in Cottage Cheese

& you're set and ready to go. Woo hoo. I've been trying all kinds of different natural eyes lately... definitely taking inspiration from some of my favorite celebrities:

Who are your favorite celebrity makeup inspirations?