V-DAY SURPRISES

V-day is just around the corner. Let's be honest -- you probably don't want to go spending big bucks right now on gifts.

But you can still treat yourself or a friend or your mom to a fun treat without breaking the bank.

1) This year skip the chocolates ...

From Bare Escentuals' Buxom line ... a great cherry-colored plumping lip polish in "Charity" red that supports the fight against heart disease in women. 

$18 sephora

2) From Avon -- adorable lip balms that soothe parched lips and make you feel like a kid again.

And, at $.99 you can't go wrong. 

Tuck one in your pocket -- and keep one at work. 

These balms are guaranteed to make you feel better and they're calorie-free.

3) Need to keep your lips shiny and moist? Try Miss Oops' Pucker Protector, the balm that's dressed like a gloss. It has SPF protection and freshens the breath with a minty scent. Can be used under or over lipstick.

$14

Three Custom Color Specialists

Just wanted to give a a quick shout out to my friends at 

Three Custom Color Specialists

Wishing Trae, Chad & company the best of luck with the launch of their new online Pro Shop ... for makeup professionals and beauty junkies...

Looking for a recession-friendly pick-me-up?

 Try Simply Beautiful Sheer Lipstick or gloss.

Perfect for every skin tone.

$21.50

Bottoms Up!

So my package from Tarte arrived and I promised to review their new ReCreate foundation

(I will, don't worry)

But first I had to tell you about Tarte's new mascara.

It's called Bottoms Up. It's for the lower lashes, but I use it on top too.

The formula is water-resistant and not supposed to flake.

But the key here is the product's tapered brush that allows you to coat even the tiniest lashes...

Use it sparingly and with a light hand and you will be pleased with the results.

One caveat -- I don't recommend this product for folks with very fair lashes. Although I like this mascara, it does clump just a TEENY bit, and it may overwhelm very fine and/or fair lashes.

Bottoms Up; $16

The product is free of parabens, mineral oils, phthalates and sulfates.WANT MORE *TARTE*

WATCH QVC :

FEB 1ST AT 5PM EST

FEB 3RD AT 7AM EST

FEB 25TH AT 7AM & 4PM EST

Tarte!

My new Tarte foundation just arrived and I am looking forward to trying it out. Look for my review here tomorrow.

Love in Here to Stay

I love discounts and deals. 

Enjoy free shipping & a free sample of Here to Stay Mascara with any Prescriptives purchase through 1/24/09.

Code: Love9

MAC goes Mineral!

Jessie Bedrin here. Jaime's admiring sis-in-law who loves all things product since she was a little girl. 

I really hit the "in-law jackpot" with my successful and beautiful sis, who let me guest blog today as I review Mineralize Skin Finish/Natural by MAC.

The background here is that I am looking for a low/natural-coverage everyday foundation. I have combination, sensitive skin, so it's very tricky for me to avoid flakes while not going greasy. I don't love the feel of liquid foundations but powder triggers flakes in my t-zone. Mineral foundations seem to be all the rage these days. I tried Sephora's 10-day sample of Bare Minerals and was disappointed. It didn't apply evenly and an hour into wearing it I was oily. So, after not wearing MAC Studio Fix since my high school days I decided to try out their Mineral Skin Finish in Light/Medium -- the price is right at $25 and it comes in an easy compact you can travel with. Three days in I am very satisfied. It is very natural, very light, and my sensitive skin goes about 6-8 hours before needing a touch up. You can layer on the coverage, though it will definitely will never get to be full coverage. It can be used alone (like I do) or to set your favorite foundation. So if you're looking for something very light to even out your skin tone and finish off your natural-looking day makeup, this is a good find.

Editor's note:

Thanks to Jessica for her guest blog post. Look for more posts from Jessie in the future.

Hairstyle Pick-me-ups...

If you're like me, your hairstyle is neither here nor there. So for those days when you need to do something clever or creative, try one of these Goody hair clips. They are easy to use, inexpensive and fun. You can use them in short hair or long hair.  Just hide them from your girlfriends or they may disappear. I like these little twists. It's a messy - sexy style, but keeps your hair away from your face. Very Jennifer Garner. By the way JG, congrats on your new arrival.

Brighten Up! Jaime's Triple Threat!

It's no secret that winter is rough on the skin.

Dry heat robs the skin of its moisture - just strips it. I don't know why we overheat our buildings, but it seems that most places are a bit warmer than they need to be.

Yesterday I was at a NYC diner and I thought I was going to melt away.

I can't do much about the dry heat or the bitter cold weather. But I can offer some tips on how to keep your skin looking fresh.

Here's my recipe  for success:

1. Wash face with everyday cleanser.

2. Use an effective scrub/mask. I like Prescriptives' Instant Gratification because it exfoliates and helps to resurface the skin. Let it sit on the skin for 5 minutes before rinsing off.

3. Next, apply a hydrating mask like Kiehl's Brightening Botanical Hydrating Mask. This mask is lightweight, soothing and very moisturizing. It contains Vitamin C, and white flower extracts and is alcohol-free. I like that it rinses off easily.

4. Finish with moisturizer. I am enjoying Clinique's Moisture Surge. This is a gel-like moisturizer that absorbs very quickly. Leaves skin feeling refreshed.

Sunny Days

It is 17 degrees today in NYC. 

Forecasts call for even colder temperatures tonight. 

Need a pick me up -- but can't afford to jet to Turks & Caicos? 

Buy a festive, feminine, light pink nail polish that screams spring.

This one is from Lancome.

It's called Sassiness.

It was created by the company's new artistic director Aaron de May who comes from one of my favorite places, New Zealand.

Another option for springing forward ... these shades by Barielle. They won't be available until February. Something to look forward to as the weather thaws.

Jaime's Favorite

Lip gloss is kind of tricky. Sometimes what you see is what you get. Sometimes, that's not the case. But I tried a gloss by Julie Hewett, called Bardot. When I looked at it, I was concerned because it was kind of odd-looking. It was bronze-y. But it's lovely on the lips. Very natural and complimentary. So the morale of the story is ... TRY BEFORE YOU BUY.