You might say that we're obsessed with getting perfectly glossy nails. We keep a nice glossy topcoat in our handbag just in case we need a midday shine refresher. But maybe, just maybe, it's not about all about the shine. Maybe you can have a gorgeous manicure with 100% matte nails. That's the thinking behind the polishes by KO Knockout Cosmetics. Theyve recently released a line of no-shine polishes, and they're absolutely stunning. If you're a fan of Essie Ballet Slipper try Powder. Or go for a vamply rockstar look with Karen, created for the lead singer of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Take a chance, and you might be the coolest kid of the block. Calamine looks great too!

Trust us. Matte nails are going to be all over the place come Fall, so try it now. Would you ever wear a matte nail polish?


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It's not a lipstick, and it's not a lip gloss. Lip stains are perfect for women who don't necessarily want the complete coverage of a lipstick, but don't want that sticky, glossy look either. We still have our reservations about the trend (no one likes dry lips), but that doesn't mean we're not going to try it.


Laura Mercier Lip Stain $15
Pink Sith has a fantastic review
Temptalia tried it out too.



The Balm Stainiac $15


Beaute Cosmetics Lip Stain $29
These come highly recommended from KarlaSugar. Her exact words, "Beaute cosmetics' stains are the BEST. I can't stop talking about them." LA Story has the scoop




Styli-Style L3 Lip Stains $8
One of our faves!




CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain Lip Color $7.49 Buy 1 Get 1
Steph's Closet has a fabulous review
So does Rural Glamour

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Take 20% off at Smashbox.com now through May 29, 2009. Enter FFSB9 at checkout.

Follow @hlmnbeautydeals to keep up with the latest beauty deals throughout the day.

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Ever since the Laguna Beach days, we've always been solidly team Lauren. Lauren Conrad has grown up on reality tv, and in recent years she's become a beacon of the sleek and chic. We're huge fans of her always natural looking makeup.

Recently, Lauren's makeup artist, Amy Nadine divulged LC's beauty todos. The secret: black eyeliner.



We can't get enough celebrity beauty.

This look was spotted @ Fashionalities

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By now we should all know that when it comes to beauty products, expensive does not always mean better. There are quite a few products that we can think of that just couldn't live up to their luxe pricetags. But this isn't one of them. For some reason, YSL makes some of the best cosmetics of any couturier. One of our favorites is Yves Saint Laurent Everlong Lengthening Mascara

Finally a mascara that delivers on its promises.

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Affordable Fashion has 6 fab Summer dresses priced under $50.

Amber of Beauty Junkies Unite reviews Cargo Lash Activator Mascara.

Beauty Luxe has listed the 6 best lip glosses. Do you agree?

Work your own fierceness! Deborah Estelle shows you how to accentuate your fab five features.

Dirt Cheap Beauty uncovers a new summer beauty must have.

Memorial Day will be here soon and no matter what set of fashion rules you follow White Pants are perfect for so many activities. Fab Finds Under $50 has you covered.

Fab Glance Nashville is letting you know about a great sleeper trend: white jeans.

Hot Beauty Health shows us how Shea Butter enhances a women's beauty.

We already counted down the top Summer sandals. Now Style Luxe has the 25 hottest handbags and The Ultimate Guide to Memorial Day Sales.

Tres Chic Style has the inside scoop on the debut of Real Housewives of Atlanta's Sheree Whitfield's fashion debut.

Workchic shows how you can still be Mom-to-be chic even in the summer heat!

To learn more about The HLMN or about becoming an affiliate please visit our website.

Beauty Luxe lovers know that we have an infatuation with NARS Cosmetics. They're by far our favorite high end brand, and we've stocked our shelves full of their goodies. As it turns out, InStyle Magazine is also a pretty big fan of the beauty brand. They've chosen 8 NARS products as Best Beauty Buys. They're smart women because they've chosen a few of our favorites.



Editor's Pick for Cheeks: NARS Multiple Duo


Lipstick with Best Color Range
Powder Blush


Pink Nail Polish: Schiap
For Medium to Fair Skin: Korfu Cream Eyeshadow, Orgasm Blush, Chelsea Girls Lip Lacquer
For Medium to Dark Skin: Turkish Delight Lip Gloss

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Affordable Fashion has a fashion relic we though was extinct. Cute dresses priced under $10.

Beauty Junkies Unite has the lowdown on the best concealers on the market.

Beauty Luxe has tips on how to wear brown mascara. Hint: It's not as hard as it seems.

Kimberly of Fab Finds Under $50 found a convertible dress perfect for all Summer weddings.
Fabuless Beauty reviews several shades of Max Factor Vivid Impact Lipcolor.

Check out the trends for Summer 2009 Image and Style News

MissLikey has a review of the Chanel 2010 Resort Collection. He's going back to Venice, y'all.


Who doesn't love shoes? Style Luxe has 20 fab Spring sandals.


To learn more about The HLMN or becoming an affiliate please visit our website.

Marilyn got it wrong. It's lip gloss, not diamonds, that are a girls best friend. We couldn't narrow it down to just 5, so we're brought you 6 best lip glosses.


Loreal HIP Lip Gloss in Giddy $9
We love dramatic color, and no gloss can offer as much proverbial bang for the buck as the colors from L'Oreals HIP line.





MAC Clear Lipglass $14
This gloss is a must have for anyone who loves high intensity shine. MACs colorles lip glass can be easily layered over and lip gloss, lipstick or lip liner for added pop.



NARS Lip Gloss in Sweet Dreams $24
NARS certainly knows how to deliver a great nude lip product, and this peachy pink gloss does not disappoint. The color is rich and lasting.



Diorkiss Gloss Red Currant $21
You won't get the intense NARS or MAC colors from this tube. What you will get is a fun sheer red color perfect for a night on town.



Sephora Moroccan Sunrise Lip Gloss in Rosenberry $15
This delicious berry pink delivers perfect daytime shine. It's a tad bit sticky, but the color is worth it.




Lancome Juicy Tubes Jelly Ultra Shiny Lip Gloss $18
In our experience, this is the only gloss that comes close to delivering MAC shine.

What are you favorite glosses? Let us know in the comments.

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Brown mascara can be tricky for those of us who've never had the guts to try it.

We learned over at TheMakeupGirl that brown-eyed beauties can use brown mascara to give their eyes a green glow like J.Lo in this pic.

If you have blue eyes brown mascara is often a better bet. The color will define your lashes, but keep you from looking like a clown. Brown mascara is great especially if you have light eyes and are going to be taking pictures. The harsh light can give you a raccoon look.

Our Picks:
LORAC Publicity Stunt Lashes ($19.00)
MAC Plushlash in Brownette ($12.00)

NARS has decided to bring back some makeup fan favorite nail polishes this season. The collection is pretty diverse. Tell us what you think!


(Blue Lagoon, Hunger, Zizi, Cha Cha Cha, Tallulah)

NARS Cosmetics Vintage 2009 Nail Polish

We can't wait to get our hands on Hunger.

Spring Palettes by HyperLuxe Media on Polyvore.com

Nars Modern Love Palette, $50; Urban Decay Wallpaper Shadow Box
, $36; Sephora Brand SEPHORA PURE Natural 7-Color Palette, $36; Bare Escentuals Free To Be Naturally Classic ($61 Value), $39.50; Bobbi Brown Platinum Pink Shimmer Brick, $40


Spring is the time to experiment with your wardrobe. The warmer weather gives you tons more options. But it's also the time to get more adventurous with your makeup. Palettes are a great option if you're looking to do a bit of experimenting. Mix and match colors, brands, and textures, and do it all for a fraction of what you would have paid to purchase all of the items separately. That's why we believe that if you're a makeup lover, you have to check out these palettes.

The HLMN loves Nars Cosmetics

Check out our Spring/Summer'09 Essentials.

If you love Leighton Meester (or hair care) as much as we do, then you'll definitely need to make a visit to your local newsstand to pick a copy of InStyle's annual Hair issue.

You'll get exclusive access to celebrity looks, beauty tutorials, and star stylist advice. We can't wait.

Spotted at Spoiled Pretty.

We couldn't be happier that Stila Cosmetics is back! Apparently, they're pretty happy too. They're offering all of us beauty lovers a free lip gloss with a $25 from Stila. All you have to do is enter the code: APPRECIATE at checkout!

Model in a Bottle - Regular 2 oz.

Those of us here at Beauty Luxe are addicted to makeup. Which should come as no surprise. You do read the blog don't you. So much so that we spend our days testing new products and experimenting with new looks in hopes that we'll find a magical combination that will render the perfect, flawless makeup application. And when we're super lucky we find a few picks that we love and show them to the world.

As exciting as this can be, it's a real downer to check a mirror an hour and a half after you've created your perfect face to realize that your makeup is almost gone.

This is where a makeup sealer comes in. Celebs like Tyra Banks, Oprah and Selita Ebanks use makeup sealers to insure that their makeup looks are able to withstand the hot lights of a tv studio, and you can use it to keep your makeup until you put the kids to bed.

Product suggestions after the cut.
If you're on a budget, your best bet would be either Model in a Bottle - Regular 2 oz. or Cinema Secrets Super Sealer

It took me a while to start using them, but now I wouldn't think of leaving the house without spraying my face.

Have you tried a makeup sealer? Would you? Do you have any other suggestions? Let me know what you think in the comments.

A great manicure is a surefire way to lift our spirits. Somehow, having well-groomed hands gives us some sort of beauty zen. However, every time we go to the salon the same question comes to mind: are manicures still chic? We've been pondering this for awhile. Yes, they're "classic" but is classic just a code word for dated? What do you think?

Jouer cosmetics is one one of our favorite luxury beauty brands. For one week only, when you buy three Jouer products at Henri Bendel, you get the fourth free! Promotion lasts Sunday, May 10 through Saturday, May 16.

Henri Bendel
712 Fifth Avenue
NYC

We spotted this luxe beauty deal over at Beauty Blogging Junkie. Thanks, Amber!

Not only is Bobbi Brown the godmother of professional beauty, but she's the queen of accessible beauty. Now she's made it even more accessible with her new book: Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: For Everyone from Beginner to Pro.


The book was written"as a complete reference guide for everyone who wants to know about beauty and makeup." That couldn't be more true. You'll be hard pressed to find a more comprehensive read. The book is chockful of beauty tips and makeup advice on everything from choosing basic skincare to advanced makeup application. With this book you'll get over 200 pages of gorgeous pictures and incredible knowledge. Somehow, Bobbi's managed to channel her career that's spanned nearly three decades onto the glossy pages. Including giving advice to aspiring makeup artists and provding a beauty history.

We especially love that Bobbi Brown has embraced the mission of The HLMN. She showcases beauty tips for a variety of ethnicities and skintones.

Win Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: For Everyone from Beginner to Proin this week's Talkback Tuesday giveaway. Leave a comment and win a book!

Kim Kardashian is known for being a natural, exotic beauty, but the woman definitely knows her way around a makeup counter. In a recent interview she did with Spoiled Pretty, she revealed that the key to her signature lip is Nars Belle de Jour Lipstick. It's gorgeous sheer nude that glides on effortlessly. Nars is known for their phenomenal colors, but Kim shows that less is more.

Joi at Beauty BLVD gives suggestions on how to get a bronzed glow for all complexions.

Find out how famed makeup artist Pat McGrath creates a flawless face for under $55 at All About The Pretty.

A Girl's Gotta Spa highlights how butter London provides you with all the tools to keep your feet looking picture perfect in Sandals.

Who knew black lip gloss could be so wearable? Jami shows just how gorgeous Lancome's Piha Black lip gloss can be.

The Beauty Alchemist gives a preview of the new Lush Vanilla scented collection.

Carla at The Product Girl shows up the new Smashbox Palette.

What they say: "Lasting Silk UV SPF 20 spotlight proof, high resistance makeup. Inspired by extreme backstage conditions, this revolutionary new water-based foundation provides 14-hour luminous matte coverage without the coverage feel. SPF 20. "

Tim Quinn, Giorgio Armani Beauty’s Celebrity Makeup Artist and National Artistic Director, says “Lasting Silk UV SPF 20 Foundation is the perfect foundation for women on the go, but also for women who simply crave seamless coverage. For the every-day woman, this is a fantastic quality as it allows you to put it on in the morning with the confidence that it will look the same at the end of the day. There’s nothing worse than looking in the mirror midday and wondering where all your makeup went!”

What we say: We're always weary of a super-high priced beauty product. They almost never live up to the hype, and we end up with a serious case of buyer's remorse. Giorgio Armai Lasting Silk UV Foundation actually went a good 12 hours before we needed a touchup. That's better than almost every other foundation we've ever tried. So just for that we've got to give it two thumbs up.

Luxe Beauty Tip: For natural, youthful looking skin, apply foundation to the center of the face and blend outward. Always use powder sparingly, and to conceal or brighten dark circles, select a concealer with a pink undertone then gently pat it on.

Essie Shelter Island

Every once in awhile a trend takes hold, completely out of the blue, and you can't help but fall for it. Hard. That's exactly what happened to us with the blue nail colors that have been popping up in virtually every collection and beauty spread. Sure we were skeptical at first, but once we got a glimpse of uber gorgeous shades like Custom Kicks and Shelter island, we knew this was a trend unlike all the others. It's not exactly appropriate for the office, but imagine how cutting edge you'll feel rocking Blue Grotto while your coworkers are wearing they're tired burgundys [editor's note: nothing can compare to a classic red]

Our Picks:
China Glaze Custom Kicks
OPI Blue Grotto
Essie Shelter Island

What is your favorite blue? Would you ever wear try this trend?

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Is it wrong to lust after a makeup brush. Karla at TNBTTGSY has the most comprehensive rundown of MAC brushes we've ever seen.

This Summer neon bright nails are totally in. Fabuless Beauty takes a look at Zoya's new La-Di-Da collection. [editor's note: LOVE that name]

You know we're a sucker for a fabulous gloss. In My Professional Opinion has an incredible review of some of the most fantastic glosses.

We've been reviewing the Summer 2009 collections, and we're pretty sure that these are some of the best efforts we've seen in a while. Now there's only one problem: how do we choose?

Which Summer collections can't you wait to get your hands on? What are your must have products?

Don't forget that today is Talkback Tuesday, so leave a comment and you'll be entered into a drawing to choose any Nars Cosmetics lip product, eye shadow and/or nail color of your choice (Pick 2 of 3).

We're just a lowly fledgling blog network struggling to get by. We'd truly appreciate your support as we try to bring quality content to urbanistas, trendsetter, and tastemakers.

Pick up a world famous CHI flat iron from Folica.com



Get 30% off Sean John, Baby Phat, and LRG at Dr. Jay's.

Buy a fab handbag for less than $30 at Kmart.com

Get our favorite new beauty product Tropic eyeshadow from Nars' Summer 2009 collection.





Scoop up some sale items at the Gap.

Summer should be a beauty lover's favorite season. This is one of the only times of year when you're encouraged to experiment with super-bright shades and the glossiest of glosses. There's only one problem. It seems like every time we turn around there's anew collection being released. It's definitely hard to keep track. So here's our roundup of the best Summer collection guides.

Addicted to Lipstick gives us a glimpse of Too Faced Collection. We want it just for the cute makeup case.

Take a look at the barely there Bobbi Brown Sheer Nauticals Collection

Sail the 7 seas with Nars Summer 2009 collection fit for an exotic escape to St. Tropez.

A rose by any other name could never be quite as luxe. Take a peek at the A Rose Romance collection from MAC.

Brave the wild with Smashbox Cosmetics' Untamed collection. How cute is that packaging?

Who doesn't love a bit of luxe beauty? Dior got some super pricey and super chic offerings in the Crystal Collection.


Don't forget that today is Talkback Tuesday, so leave a comment and you'll be entered into a drawing to win any Nars Cosmetics lipstick, lip gloss, or lip liner of your choice.

Warmer weather is here. That means it's time to break out the sandals and open-toed heels, but before you do, drop by BeautyBLVD and learn how to give yourself a world class pedicure.

The Makeup Girl has a sneak peek at the CEW Best of Beauty Award winners.

Jennifer of Beauty in Real Life inspired us to try Laura Mercier Satine Eye Color. Yay for new products!

Lipstick Powder and Paint has a fab interview with the founder of DuWop Cosmetics Cristina Bartolucci.

Wish you could get your hands on that discontinued MAC lipstick or that? Three Custom Cosmetics is perfect for women who just can't live without their discontinued products. The company has a huge archive of beauty products that lets them to recreate your shade of choice. All you have to do is send the makeup gurus a dime sized sample, and they'll send you whatever you're looking for. You can also search their list of popular scrapped products or create your own shade.

Chad Hayduk and Trae Bodge cofounded the company and are both veteran makeup artists and cosmetics educators. Be sure to be on the look out for upcoming features from the beauty duo right here on Beauty Luxe.