My cousin Lois, one of my loyal subscribers, suggested that I apply to join the Amazon Associates program, and I was accepted. The program gives me the opportunity to “sell” products via Amazon on my website. For products that are purchased through Never Say Die Beauty, I can earn between 4-8.5% based on the volume… Continue reading How to Buy Beauty Products on Never Say Die Beauty
Ulta: 21 Days of Beauty in March
March is finally here, and starting on March 10 till the end of the month, Ulta will be hosting 21 Days of beauty demonstrations and how-to’s as well as sales on specific days for specific products. Below is a screen shot of part of the calendar, but check out the whole thing at http://www.ulta.com/21days/. The… Continue reading Ulta: 21 Days of Beauty in March
Pantone Color IQ: A System for Color Matching Foundation Makeup
Have you ever stood at the foundation makeup display and tried to figure out which shade was the right match for your skin? Have you wondered whether you should test on your cheek, your jawline, your neck, your hand, the inside of your forearm? Women in my focus groups always tell me that one of… Continue reading Pantone Color IQ: A System for Color Matching Foundation Makeup
Bobbi Brown BB Cream: First Impressions
I think I’ve finally found the BB cream I’ve been searching for: Bobbi Brown BB Cream. Browsing around my “laboratory” — AKA the Sephora on Boylston Street in Boston, I wasn’t looking for anything in particular. I picked the brains of a couple of the saleswomen on a couple of products I’m interested in, and… Continue reading Bobbi Brown BB Cream: First Impressions
50 Beauty Products to Buy Before You Die from allure.com
50 Beauty Products to Buy Before You Die: Beauty Products: allure.com. Click on the link above to see a fun post from Allure.com listing their picks for the 50 beauty products they can’t live without. It’s a list of classics as well as of-the-moment beauty musts. “nothing to disclose” I’m embarrassed to say, or not,… Continue reading 50 Beauty Products to Buy Before You Die from allure.com
Spring 2013: Brights! See Which Colors Are Right For You
Brights are the thing for spring this year in fashion and color cosmetics. If you’re not comfortable with an entire outfit of brights — channeling the 1980s, lol, add a pop of bright color to an otherwise neutral outfit based on black, grey or khaki. Same with color cosmetics. Bright eye makeup and a bright… Continue reading Spring 2013: Brights! See Which Colors Are Right For You
Look More Awake with White Eyeliner
Late night? Early wakeup call? Just feeling tired? Use white eyeliner to make your eyes look more awake and also much bigger. A few years ago, I saw my next door neighbor at Bunco (that silly dice game that people use as an excuse to get together to chat), and her eyes captured my attention.… Continue reading Look More Awake with White Eyeliner
Quick Beauty Tip: How to Keep Moisturizers in Jars Clean
In focus groups I’ve conducted over the years, many women tell me they prefer lotions to creams because they don’t like to put their fingers in the jars. They say too messy, or they’re concerned about adding bacteria from their fingers and face into the jar. But for mature or drier skin, lotions are often… Continue reading Quick Beauty Tip: How to Keep Moisturizers in Jars Clean
Revlon Photoready BB Cream
I recently read a couple of reviews by younger beauty bloggers of Revlon Photoready BB Cream that were quite positive, so I thought I’d give it a try on my “mature”, dry, sun damaged skin. Torture test, right? I’m looking for a BB cream to use when I don’t feel like taking the time to… Continue reading Revlon Photoready BB Cream
20% off Sale @ Urban Decay
Not sure if you’re familiar with Urban Decay. It’s an edgy line of color cosmetics created by entrepreneur Sandy Lerner, who was one of the founders of Cisco. Talk about a “Jill-of-all-trades”! She also wrote a sequel to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice highlighting the opportunities for women in the 18th century, and she is… Continue reading 20% off Sale @ Urban Decay
Foundation Makeup: Friend or Foe?
For most of my life, I didn’t wear foundation. I was lucky that I always had “good skin” with few breakouts, rosy cheeks and a few freckles. I couldn’t understand why I would want to wear foundation. I thought it was messy and heavy. Although I can’t remember the brand, I can see in my… Continue reading Foundation Makeup: Friend or Foe?
The 10 Most Influential Women in Beauty – Beauty With Brains – Daily Glow
The 10 Most Influential Women in Beauty – Beauty With Brains – Daily Glow. (original article no longer exists unfortunately) If you’ve ever wondered how today’s and yesterday’s beauty brands got their start, take a minute to look at The Daily Glow’s brief history and photos of the visionary women who created them. Over the… Continue reading The 10 Most Influential Women in Beauty – Beauty With Brains – Daily Glow
Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush
It’s almost Valentine’s Day, one of my favorite holidays, because I am and have always been a collector of hearts. Strangely, it is something I have not outgrown. I have heart-shaped everything. And I’m easy to buy gifts for: anything with a heart will do. So, it comes as no surprise that I would… Continue reading Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush
“Linda Mason’s Makeup Salon as Art Gallery” via NY Times.com
Next time you’re in New York (or maybe you’re always in New York), stop in to Linda Mason’s makeup salon and art gallery, The Art of Beauty, at 26 Grand St. in Soho and be transformed into a work of art, or just see what’s going on. Speaking of “never say die” beauty, Ms. Mason… Continue reading “Linda Mason’s Makeup Salon as Art Gallery” via NY Times.com
Skin Benefits of Avocado, or Justification for Eating Guacamole (recipe included)
In spite of the fact that my team, the Patriots, didn’t make it into the Super Bowl this year (tear), we’ll watch the big game. And that means guacamole. Did you know that Americans eat about 8 million pounds of guacamole on Super Bowl Sunday? I adore guacamole, and I’ll be contributing to that 8… Continue reading Skin Benefits of Avocado, or Justification for Eating Guacamole (recipe included)
Beauty Q&A
Yesterday, my friend Sue asked me via email a question about what to do about her cracked fingertips. I emailed her back with a number of suggestions. In a follow-up email, she suggested that I add a place to the blog to ask beauty-related questions. I think that’s a terrific idea! I looked into different… Continue reading Beauty Q&A
SEPHORA by OPI At-Home Gel Manicure System
Just got news from Sephora about the introduction of their brand, spankin’ new at-home gel manicure system. “nothing to disclose” For those of you who grimace every time you spend $75 or more to have gel applied at the nail salon, this is worth a look. The system includes the brush-on gel formula (base coat,… Continue reading SEPHORA by OPI At-Home Gel Manicure System
Nordea Soaperie: Handmade Soap, Lotion & Perfume Oil
Things made by hand have special meaning for me. I like to think of myself as a crafter. I’m almost always crocheting scarves, shawls, ponchos, bracelets, and hats. I make my own jam, bread, pickles, and even marshmallows. So, it’s no surprise that I love things that other people make by hand. Today,… Continue reading Nordea Soaperie: Handmade Soap, Lotion & Perfume Oil
Green with Envy? Emerald is Pantone’s Color of 2013
December was a busy month, so I’m a little behind the curve on getting out the word about Pantone’s new Color of the Year for 2013. Pantone is the world’s color authority, providing standardized color formulations and color swatches for designers and art directors. Their Color of 2013 is emerald, a green with a little… Continue reading Green with Envy? Emerald is Pantone’s Color of 2013
Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones @ Peabody Essex Museum
January is already half over, and there are only about 2 more weeks to see Hats: An Anthology by British millinery designer, Stephen Jones, at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem MA. The exhibition closes on February 3, and if you haven’t seen it yet, you’re missing a real treat. I’ve gone twice! Though hats… Continue reading Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones @ Peabody Essex Museum