win a dvf dress from celeb makeup artist malley roncal

Remember how long the lines were at the Diane von Furstenberg sample sale after Sarah Jessica Parker wore her wedding dress in the Sex and the City movie? We don’t need any more proof that the designer’s silhouettes are worth the wait. Now you can have your shot at being a proud owner of a DVF original–without paying a price. Celebrity Makeup Artist, Mally Roncal, is giving away a Diane von Furstenberg dress to one lucky winner! All you have to do is follow Mally on Twitter (www.twitter.com/mallybeauty) and Re-Tweet whenever she sends a tweet out! The winner will be selected at random. For more info about Mally, go to www.mallyroncal.com.

site focus: beauty connexion

A marketing and advertising veteran of 20 years, Roula Panagiotopoulos is an expert on promoting woman-focussed brands. She spent four years at an international skin care company and left there with a drive to provide woman with real honest information about skincare.

"The fact is, once my girlfriends found out my background they would pester me with all their skincare questions…like, "I have this, what do you think?" So she launched Beauty Connexion one year ago.

"We are a resource for women for all things beautiful from skin care, to style, to home, even down to their finances. For those savvy individuals, we provide expert articles, how to's, and new product launches. It's all about real information." Here, she shares her experiences with PrettyIsPrettyDoes...

Prettyisprettydoes: What is the inspiration behind Beauty Connexion?

Roula Panagiotopoulos: "The inspiration was two-fold. First, there were my girlfriends. Knowing my background in skincare, they would continually ask me about new products and what I would recommend for their skin type. The light bulb went off in my head quite quickly, making me realize the need for real information that was out there. In addition, there was my desire to support budding women entrepreneurs and give them a place where they can introduce their products. One of our recent features highlights woman entrepreneurs (5 Minutes With:) We have received great feedback on it. At the end of the day, it was about connecting the two."

PIPD: How does Beauty Connexion differ from other beauty oriented websites?

RP: "It is our experts that lead the way. These are industry experts that are currently working in the field in which they are writing about. And we feel that this manifests into articles with information that is unbiased and real. What we always strive for in our articles is to provide our audience with a little nugget of information they may not have been found anywhere else. For example we recently covered a launch of a new skin care treatment and, being curiously minded, we wanted to know what ingredient provided the effect so we dug a little deeper and shared that with our audience."

PIPD: Where do you hope to see Beauty Connexion five years from now?

RP: "We turn one in this month. It has been a tremendous year and we have been growing and learning along the way. Our goal for beauty connexion is to become the wikipedia of beauty and, in doing so, continue to help woman launch their beauty brands and bring aspiration to younger women."

For more info, go to www.beautyconnexion.com.

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fabulously flawless

It's hard to believe all the hype about mineral makeup minimizing your fine lines and covering your flaws. No matter which brands I've tried, they've often resulted in the inevitably cakey look.

Not KSS Professional. I was eager to try it since it seemed so simple to use (the company provides videos that demonstrate the product usage so it couldn't be easier): A little goes a long way so just dot disperse a small amount of the loose mineral powder over your face, then buff it out. Repeat using the mineral foundation in a personally selected shade. The results? Flawless!

But don't take my word for it...listen to the comments I got when wearing it:

"What did you do differently? You're glowing!"

"Your skin looks great. You look so rested, like you just got back from vacation."

"What kind of foundation do you use? It looks so natural."

One friend was so enthralled with my new look, she wanted to try the product right away. The next day happened to be her birthday so I wrapped up my precious products and actually gave them to her! She said it was the best birthday present ever!

So how do the products offer such a natural effect? The loose powders are crafted by hand and made from the highest-quality ingredients. Plus, they're easy to apply, last all day and feel as though you are wearing nothing at all.

The line consists of nine shades of foundation ($25), Universal Powder ($16), and a no-shed guarantee, vegan brush ($20--it's SO soft, you have to try it!). With titanium dioxide (SPF ranges from 30 to 70 naturally!) being the main ingredient, the line is ideal for athletic women as well as those on-the-go since it's humidity and sweat resistant/proof.

In addition to making women look good, the KSS Professional team also helps local Kansas City women feel good--by donating 5% of the company's profits to its Foundation Foundation.

KSS Professional products can only be obtained through professionals. So click on www.kssprofessional.com to find a salon in your area where the products can be purchased.

Fashion's Night Out: at C.O. Bigelow Apothecary

New York Fashion Week is just around the corner! Kick off the week at Fashion’s Night Out on September 10, 2010 at the C.O. Bigelow Apothecary store from 6-10 pm.

The downtown landmark Apothecary store, located at 414 6th Avenue, is a neighborhood favorite to New Yorkers and celebrities alike and will have specials during the event from some of their top-selling brands. Vinny Guadagnino of MTV’s hit show The Jersey Shore will be at the store from 7pm to 8pm to meet and greet with C.O. Bigelow consumers. He will also showcase his essential grooming products and favorite beauty products for the ladies in his life that are all sold at C.O. Bigelow. Bring your cameras!

Learn how to boost body confidence and feel great in your skin with the experts from Mama Mio Skincare. Mama Mio will be serving complimentary mocktails while sampling its Get Waisted Body Shaper to reduce fat cells, tighten and firm tummy flab. Come on girls! Let's Get Waisted!

In addition to body treats and beverages, C.O. Bigelow will also have a makeup artist from Jane Iredale giving consultations and tips to stay fresh-faced all week long, a manicurist from Barielle for a quick polish change and a skincare specialist with Rilastil sampling the latest eye cream. Additionally, Soap & Paper will be giving away a free shea butter soap with any purchase in the store!

For more info on Fashion's Night Out, go to www.fashionsnightout.com.

Fashion's Night Out: Get Beautiful

Who: Warren-Tricomi Salon
Location: The Plaza Hotel (New York City)

Join the Warren-Tricomi Salon at The Plaza Hotel for complimentary hair styles and updo’s to start your Friday night off from 6-8pm. While you are at The Plaza, you can also join us in viewing the CFDA Incubator Project designs throughout the Shops. Musician, Corinne Bailey Rae, will be performing an intimate concert at The Plaza’s Palm Court. Following the concert, Joel Warren, Edward Tricomi, Douglas Hannant and Frederick Anderson, co-hosted with the CFDA and Shops at the Plaza, invite you to an after party in the Terrace Room from 9 – 11pm to celebrate this night of Fashion.

Who: The Plaza Beauty

Location: The Plaza Hotel (New York City)

The Plaza Beauty will offer complimentary mini-facials, hand treatments and makeup touch ups to get you ready for your Friday night out! Meet the creators of top beauty companies such as Alison Raffaele and Kimiko and receive insider tips on how to create the perfect look for fall! Enter to win a custom-made hair accessory from Lucia Tristao Hair Designs and look out for exclusive offers that night from Miriam Mirani and Diego Della Palma. Afterwards, show off your new look at a concert performed by Grammy nominated EMI artist Corinne Bailey Rae hosted in The Palm Court at the Plaza Hotel

Who: Pur Minerals

Location: Duane Reade The Look Boutique (Soho) (233 Lafayette St. New York, NY)

Join celebrity makeup artist to the stars, Jackie Gomez, for complimentary makeup touch ups from 6:00pm – 8:00pm with Pur Minerals. Gifts with purchase will also be available throughout the night from 6pm-11pm.

Who: Completely Bare

Location: Completely Bare (25 Bond Street, b/w Lafayette & Bowery New York, NY)

CONNECT THE Dots!! This Fashion’s Night Out, participate in a scavenger hunt-themed styling contest in multiple Soho New York-based locations called “Dots SPOTS.” Follow the clues and choose your favorite Dots pieces to create your own personalized look! Meet back at Completely Bare and get a free Richie Rich vatoo, enjoy refreshments and have your photos taken on the pink carpet.
Celebrity stylist Mia Morgan and fashion legend Richie Rich will co-host and judge your personalized looks! Winning looks will have a day of beauty and styling with Mia Morgan, a new Dots wardrobe and a trip for two to a tropical location! Proceeds to benefit the Family Justice Center, which helps victims of domestic violence put their lives back together. Follow @Dotsfashions, @completelybare @kingcollective on FB & Twitter for more details. Stay fashionable!

For more Fashion's Night Out info and listings of events, go to http://www.fashionsnightout.com/.

happy mother's day: indulge her

We all know, you can tell a lot about a gift from the box it comes in. Take your mom to The Plaza Beauty at New York City's famed Plaza Hotel and she'll get a sense there's something special about to happen the minute you walk through the front doors. Stop by on May 7th and May 8th to let mom choose her own gift or treat her to some luxe beauty treatments from brands like Kimiko, Alchimie, Smashbox, Ky Bae, JUARA, Juliette Has a Gun and Rancé Fragrance. This premier beauty retreat features tips, treatments, trunk sales and more. Find out what’s in store for the season, experience products first-hand, and indulge in beauty essentials from around the world. Go to http://www.theplazabeauty.com/ for more info.

expert advice: get a gorgeous spring makeup look from Sarah Lucero of Stila

The Fall 2010 NY Fashion Week shows may have just wrapped up but new spring beauty products and makeup tips are on everyone's lips...literally! The brains behind the beauty at shows like Betsey Johnson and Lela Rose, among others, Stila makeup will definitely make an impact this season. Sarah Lucero, Stila’s Pro Artist, shares her spring 2010 beauty tips.

“The spring beauty looks have color and vivid shades on the eyes and lips. Lipstick is making a huge comeback; we are using bold bright shades that leave a matte finish. Reds, Hot Pinks, and Bold Orange are seen at many shows and have created a beautiful trend. Keep the skin smooth and dewy, as this will allow bold eyes and lips to stand out and look modern. If you over-apply foundation, it will take away the youthful glow and you will look like you have on too much makeup. Try using a tinted moisturizer with illumination in it – Stila has Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer and almost all skin tones and types can wear either shade 1 or shade 2. it just brightens up your skin and adds hydration to dull skin. Cheeks have a pink flush and you can achieve this by using a gel cheek and lip stain such as Stila Yumberry Crush Lip & Cheek Stain. It will last all day and give you that youthful flush we all want that! Think fun color, vivid hues, and a beautiful glow and sheen on the skin.”

Test drive these beautiful Stila products yourself to get a fresh new look for spring. Stila One Step Makeup ($44) is my favorite. The four-in-one primer, foundation, concealer and powder blend flawlessly into your skin and feels luxurious on. This, from someone who is not a foundation fan. But any product that can conceal my lack of sleep is more than OK in my book! The Stila Jewel Luxe Lip Glaze Trio ($34) is another winner--three glosses that glide on gorgeously and leave a trial of sequin-y reflections on lips. They all contain Stila's Exclusive Gem Complex, which contains diamond, emerald, jade, ruby, moonstone, rose quartz, sapphire, topaz, amethyst, amber, garnet, mother of pearl, and opal. The amethyst shade looks dark in the tube but brushes on with just the right dose of color and moisturizes while it softens. The Stila Jewel Eye Shadow Palette ($32) offers four glittery shades that leave you sparkling. They feel creamy on so they're easily blendable and will last all day. Personally, I'd rather sparkle at night but they do that too. Stila's Black Diamond Mascara ($24) is very cool. I tried the black with silver shimmer--it lengthens lashes and leaves them looking like you've just come in out of a gentle snow flurry. All are available at www.stilacosmetics.com.

vday beauty: get a sweet makeup look with Josie Maran makeup

Ready for date night? Not so fast. Refresh your makeup regimen with these pretty products from beauty expert Josie Maran. They're perfect for Valentine's Day and beyond...

On eyes: Sweep easy-to-blend, long wearing velvety eye shadow ($20) in Valentine (light pink shimmer) over lids and Chianti (muted red plum shimmer) in the crease for a romantic approach to smoky eyes. Other pretty shades include Sweetheart (cream shimmer), Sweet-Talk (cream nude shimmer) and Beach (ivory beige shimmer). For an edgier effect, try Pewter (silver shimmer) or Embrace (soft copper shimmer) all over the lid. They're all available in a beautiful biodegradable case (made of corn plastic!).

On cheeks: Add a touch of Cream Blush ($22) in Sunset (coral) to give cheeks a pretty flush. It's a lightweight, natural shade that blends flawlessly into your skin and gives you just the right amount of color you need.

On lips: Try Lip Gloss (now $10!) in Authentic (a coral pink shimmer). The non-sticky formula with organic Argan oil gives you natural-looking color with sophisticated shine (no glossy goop to deal with). The brush applicator makes it easy to apply and smooths the product evenly across your lips.

After the party: Come clean with Josie Maran Bear Naked Wipes ($6-$12). These natural cleansing cloths are biodegradable (meaning they won’t clog landfills after you throw them away) and they’re made with natural ingredients that will soothe, comfort, and gently cleanse your skin without harsh chemicals or toxins. (Note: They work well with Josie Maran makeup but not as well on my hard core eyeliner from another brand).

Get this look and others at www.sephora.com.

vday beauty: break the rule

Red nails for Vday? Sure, if you do the Hallmark holiday the classic way. The Jessica Red Alert Manicure Kit ($24) covers all the bases, from a strengthening basecoat, to a quick drying topcoat and three amazing colors to apply in between. Choose from Royal Red (almost fire engine--will really send his heart a flutter), Shall We Dance (darker red, with a dose of gold) and Grecian Touch (a darker shade of brown, almost purply--my favorite for winter!) Packaged in convenient travel sized bottles, the kit is available at www.jessicacosmetics.com.

have a heart

February is American Heart Month! Forget your affairs of the heart and do something good for the heart this Valentine's Day. Astral Health & Beauty Brands—parent company of Pür Minerals, CosMedix and Aloette—is lending its support to the American Heart Association and its efforts to help women fight heart disease with passion and positive action. In 2010, Astral Health & Beauty Brands will donate $250,000 to support the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women ® movement, furthering the health and wellbeing of women. On February 5th, National Wear Red Day, a part of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women program, each brand will contribute to the cause in its own unique way. To join forces with the American Heart Association and Astral Beauty Brands, wear red this Friday and help spread the word! Go to www.americanheart.org or www.astralbrands.com for more info.

hair that gets noticed

True story: I was waiting on line at the bank and a woman walked up behind me and said: "Wow! You have beautiful hair!" The day before, I had washed my hair with two new hair products, Redken Body Full Shampoo and Light Conditioner, proving that they do offer volume that lasts for 24 hours. The clear hair shampoo provides cotton (softens and detangles), wheat extract (adds texture, volume and body) and soy protein (reinforces hair to prevent breakage) for a fuller, voluminous look. It gives you a rich lather and leaves your hair smelling clean and fresh. The creamy conditioner is an ultra-lightweight detangler which contains soy protein to give hair bodifying strength. Plus, it's safe for your hair color and leaves hair with a natural-looking shine. See for yourself at www.redken.com or a local beauty supply store.

holiday gift guide: give Carol's Daughter

It's one thing to get a beautiful gift. It's even more rewarding to get to meet the creator(s) and talk to them about their creations. If you love Carol’s Daughter, you can stop by one of these friendly get-togethers in your city to chat with Lisa Price, the brand's founder and innovator. Learn the secret Almond Cookie Candle Recipe for Naturally Beautiful Hair, and the inspiration behind her Magical Beauty Collection- a line that celebrates Disney’s first African-American princess, chronicled in “The Princess and the Frog”. Lisa will also share her recipe for her Holiday Potpourri, a budget-friendly solution for a month of endless entertaining. Meet up with Lisa at a store near you: Macy's Arlington, TX (Sunday, December 13th, 2-4PM); Carol's Daughter Westfield Wheaton Mall, MD (Thursday, December 17th, 6-8PM); Carol's Daughter Arlington, VA (Friday, December 18th, 6-8PM);

Macy's Waldorf, MD (Saturday, December 19th, 1-3PM). Go to www.carolsdaughter.com for more info or for a complete selection of holiday gifts.

holiday gift guide: give Burt's Bees

I asked a good friend what she wanted for Chanukah and she said, "A Burt’s Bees Holiday Gift set." I didn't even know they made them. But a quick click on the company's website proved her right. Being a big Burt's Bees lip fan, I was excited about the Burt’s Bees Lip Balm Purse Packs ($9.99), adorable cloth purses with four lip favorites. Choose from the Classic Purse Pack – featuring four Burt’s Bees® Beeswax Lip Balms – or the Mixed Purse Pack – a grab bag of favorite flavors. Then there's Burt’s Bees Mini Lip Gloss Collection ($14.99), featuring four shades of the Super Shiny Lip Gloss in mini forms, perfect for travel. Burt’s Bees Bee Keeper ($9.99), offers the signature lip balms in a festive reusable tin. Burt’s Bees A Few Favorite Things ($19.99), combines the Beeswax Lip Balm, Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme, Milk & Honey Body Lotion and Soap Bark & Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream. Burt’s Bees Tingling Treats ($19.99) lavishes you in invigorating peppermint oil in the form of lip balms, foot lotion and more. Burt’s Bees Polka-Dot Perfect Mani-Pedi kit ($19.99) contains Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Crème and Coconut Foot Crème, plus a Pomegranate Lip Balm all in one tidy bag. With so much to choose from, I'm not sure which one my friend had in mind so I'll let her choose--but it can't hurt to keep a few on hand for last-minute gift giving. Go to www.burtsbees.com to order.

gift-a-day holiday gift guide

check out prettyisprettydoes'

holiday gift guide,
featuring a gift idea every day
for the month of
december.
plus,
great party
makeup essentials....

happy
holidays!

cyber monday: www.thefairest.com

It's Cyber Monday...the first big shopping day after Black Friday when the biggest sales are happening online. Among all the great sites to shop...check out TheFairest.com, an exclusive, members-only online beauty destination where beauty lovers can participate in premiere-brand, private sale boutiques, each open for 24-48 hours. Membership is free, and subscribers can purchase today’s top beauty brands up to 75% off retail. A first of its kind, the private sale site focuses exclusively on beauty by providing a platform for brands to communicate directly with consumers. This includes: user-generated makeup brand reviews, industry insider commentaries, and expert editorial content from the site’s Editorial Director, Nadine Jolie of http://www.jolienadine.com/. If you can't live without Jurlique's face mist, Pixi's makeup palettes or Sonya Dakar's Pore Minimizer, check out http://www.thefairest.com/ to fulfill all your beauty needs at a price that works for you. Invite your friends to join and they'll save on their beauty essentials too.

beauty score

This past weekend, Serena Williams took the Wimbledon Women's Tennis title in London and announced the launch of her new luxe beauty line with MISSION skincare. On July 23rd and 24th, she'll appear on HSN to give you a preview of her Mission Skincare Active Beauty Line: featuring Serena Williams. The products offer proven solutions for the active lifestyle of today's woman. The Oxygen-Active Daily Facial Cleanser ($39.99), with a unique self-foaming, oxygenating technology, cleans skin, removes makeup, nourishes and renews in only 90 seconds. Also try the gently exfoliating Sugar Body Scrub in Honey Sugar ($29.99), the Restorative Body Butter in Honey Sugar ($24.99) designed to protect and hydrate skin, the Lip Balmer SPF 15 in Pomegranate ($3.99) with broad spectrum sun protection, moisturizing cocoa butter and soybean oil to nourish and hydrate, and the Lip Balmer SPF 15 in Pink Lemonade ($3.99) designed to moisturize lips for up to eight hours. Check out the products on www.missionskincare.com or win a chance to meet Serena herself! From July 8th to July 21st, the tennis star turned beauty guru is hosting a contest to see what you can do in 90 seconds. Enter at SerenaMISSION.com for the chance to meet her and win two VIP tickers to one of her upcoming tournaments among other prizes.

expert advice: lancome's tarek abbas

Yet another reason to get to the Windy City...or a great way to spend a day if you're already there. Stop by Nordstrom Chicago this Friday (5/29) or Saturday (5/30) for some hot new makeup tips from Lancôme National Makeup Artist Tarek Abbas. For advice that will truly highlight your individual features and skin type, book a one-on-one appointment to get an inside look at the season’s hottest beauty tips and learn how to create a flawless finish for summer. Tarek has been creating glamorous looks throughout the years and has touched the faces of the most beautiful celebrities and models including Elettra Wiedemann, Juliette Binoche, Selena Breed, Eva Longoria, Goldie Hawn and many more. He is one of Lancôme’s go-to makeup artists and has become Lancôme spokesmodel Arlenis Sosa’s favorite artist. Tarek created Arlenis’ fabulous look for the Met Ball this May. Check out the schedule below or go to www.lancome-usa.com for more specifics.

Nordstrom Michigan Avenue on 5/29

10:00 am – 6:00 pm

55 East Grand Avenue, Chicago IL 60611

Number to book appointment: 312-464-1515 ext. 1427

• 10:00 am – 11:30 am – General appointments. There is a $50.00 reservation fee fully redeemable towards Lancôme products.

• 11:30 am – 1:30 pm – One-on-one appointments. There is a $100.00 reservation fee fully redeemable towards Lancôme products.

• 1:30 pm – 6:00 pm – General appointments. There is a $50.00 reservation fee fully redeemable towards Lancôme products.

Nordstrom in Oakbrook on 5/30

10:00 am – 6:00 pm

10 Oakbrook Mall, Oakbrook, IL 60521

Number to book appointment: 630-571-2121 ext. 1064

• 10:00 am – 12:00 pm – One-on-one appointments. There is a $100.00 reservation fee fully redeemable towards Lancôme products.

• 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm – General appointments. There is a $50.00 reservation fee fully redeemable towards Lancôme products.

beauty school

Every so often I have those days when I wish I had a big-time makeup artist living in my medicine cabinet. That way, I could open the door, have her reach out a brush or sponge, and make me look picture perfect. But, of course, that would be ridiculous (especially given the size of medicine cabinets in Manhattan apartments!) If you can relate, I urge you to get to Bloomingdale's on Thursday, May 7th, for a playful day of beauty plus a two-hour makeup lesson from one of the world's leading makeup artists, Trish McEvoy. Her Power of Makeup Master Classes feature new products, makeup tips and application techniques. The cost ($150, redeemable in products) is definitely worth all the expert advice. The place: Bloomingdale's, 1000 third Avenue, New York City. The time: 5:30 PM or 7 PM sessions. The products: www.saksfifthavenue.com.