Belle Belle Beauty

Nicole Richie ‘Nicole’ Fragrance and Giveaway

I’m not one for celebrity fragrances, but I am willing to make an exception for Nicole Richie. I spent eight years of my life in California and still love to channel that beachy, Bohemian California girl look Nicole does so well. I got my paws on a (beautiful) bottle of her first fragrance and can’t stop spraying.

The fragrance smells unusually expensive and unlike anything else I have ever worn. Yet, there are some familiar notes.

The fragrance opens with notes of succulent blackberry and Seville orange, moves into a heart of golden amber, Moroccan rose, lily of the valley and papyrus before settling into a warm, creamy blend of sensual cashmere wood, sandalwood, sugared patchouli and vanilla absolute.

I’d say the scent is feminine but not overly sophisticated or womanly. It is more sensual and exotic than preppy. The bottle is inspired by the art deco movement. I like it with the top on, but love the sleek angles of the bottle when the top is off. It is a true gem for your vanity.

And now is my chance to say “Ho! Ho! Ho!” and put on my Santa hat. I teamed up with the Nicole Fragrance team and we are sharing SIX Nicole Richie Fragrance prizes with you guys.

three 1.7 ounce eau de parfums
three 10ml rollerballs

Enter using the widget below and good luck! Open to residents of the US and Canada.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE WAS PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

J.R. Watkins Natural Apothecary Lemon Hand Cream and Salve

This drugstore find has me drooling in a completely calorie-free way. In the interest of my latest adventure on Nutrisystem, I’ve been finding ways other than food to reward myself for workouts and diet victories. And you can probably guess beauty goods are right up my alley. The lemon cream scent from J.R. Watkins is sweet, fresh and delicious. And the hand cream and hand & cuticle salve are coming in extra “handy” this winter. My cuticles are looking healthier after a couple weeks of use. And the back of my hands look more even and perky (is that possible? but yes, I contend it is).

Lemon Cream Hand Cream contains natural shea and cocoa butters, whipped with 10 natural oils in a 96% natural formula. It is a light, fluffy lotion while still being on the rich side. You can use this on hands and other dry and rough areas – I’ve been known to use it all the way up to my elbows.

Lemon Hand & Cuticle Salve is made from a premium beeswax base. While the consistancy is pasty, the salve absorbs quickly unlike some other balms. I love using this at night and before a walk outside in brisk, dry air. I bet this would be great on the ski slopes. The make a dedicated foot repair salve in peppermint, but this could also double for your tootsies.

Both products are: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Free, Sodium Laureth Sulfate Free, Paraben Free, Phthalate Free, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum free and Dye Free.

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Makeup Tips: Lining Your Eyes

I feel like I have been going on and on and on and on about “nude lips, inky eye”. Not only is it my current favorite, but I see it on the runways, celebrities and so many of my friends. It is low matenience for a night on the town (no lipstick touch ups). You can vamp it up for drama, or chill it out for during the day. The hard part is getting that eye liner just right.

First, pick the formula of eye liner you are most comfortable with – usually a pencil. Use short strokes close to your lash line to get the perfect shape. Use a pointed q-tip to clean up mistakes. Don’t worry about skipped spots or perfect color saturation. Just get a base coat on. Second, take a gel liner with a brush or liquid liner pen and trace over keeping exactly in the line you have already drawn. You can use short tiny lines with the end of the liquid pencil. Or use a very fine brush to apply the gel within the lines (see how tiny that tarte brush is on the left?).

If you are an overachiever, take a final layer – of liquid or powder – and set that liner for the long haul. Make sure to apply mascara from the very roots to really emphasize and extend that line.

This post is the first in a series of makeup tips. Hope you enjoy!

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For this look, I’d use these products:

Pure Illumination Light Up Lip Gloss

I love a gadget. Any gadget. My iPad is basically a family member. So when tech and beauty meet, I notice. And this one is truly a midwest discovery. Pure Illumination was created out of a quest to cure dry lips. But as the developed their product, they came up with the genius idea to afix a LED light in the applicator and the side mirror on the tube. I happened to be a dark dinner with my blond bombshell friend when she whipped out her beacon of beauty. No light or mirror necessary – she had that lipgloss reapplied perfectly and was back to sipping wine in no time. So many of my Tulsa friends were pulling out these futuristic, lighted lip balms, that I had to track one down.

I’ve been rocking a nude lip and inky black eyes lately, so I was keen to pick up Pure Illumination in Hillbilly Rockstar (told you this was a midwest discovery). The shiny shimmer shade is a mocha nude with a peppermint scent. The finish is shiny and wet with normal gloss staying power. Jojoba oil, almond oil and vitamin E hydrate and moisturize.

I also have been trying out their Lip Plumper (also has the LED light) in clear. Like other lip plumpers, this uses a vasodilator, causing a little tingling while it increases blood flow to the area. While it is a little odd, it isn’t irritating or uncomfortable in the least. The plumper also contains Jojoba Oil or Vitamin E. This moisturizing duo is effective for improving hydration and obtaining soft lips.

And in true midwest fashion, made in the U.S.A.. You can purchase the lip gloss and lip plumper at purecosmetics.com.

Rescue Dry Winter Lips

I’ve been fielding loads of questions about caring for dry, chapped winter lips. I battle dry lips year round, so I am in even more of a pickle when the humidity plummets. Here are my favorites to have on hand over the colder months:

1. By Terry Baume de Rose: I was a little weary of a rose scented balm, but this rich formula melts into a glossy, nourishing treatment. I wore it over red lipstick yesterday and the effect was a blended, shiny pigment with loads of hydration. This also doubles as a great cuticle cream.

2. La Mer ‘The Lip Balm’: If mint is more your thing, this other luxury option is more of a solid balm with still the same nourishing hydration. The balm contains La Mer’s famous Miracle Broth™ with marine extracts, botanicals and vitamins to regenerate the delicate lip skin.

3. bliss fabulips sugar lip scrub: There are a couple different lip scrubs that are often repeated as “favorites”. I’ll tell you why I love this one: it is gentle while removing flaky mess and leaves behind Shea and Cocoa butters to soften and heal.

4. Kate Somerville ‘Quench & Correct’ Plumping Lip Gloss & Restorative Lip Treatment: This option is packed with skin care to help improve the appearance of your lips. The Correct end of the pen contains Hydra8™, boosting collagen renewal and eliminating dryness. On the other side, Quench, adds moisture and plumps. See Kate’s Winter Skin Care Tips here.

5. ChapStick Cooling & Soothing Lip Balm: I couldn’t be more tickled with the latest flavor of ChapStick: Peppermint. The same healing formula now has a cooling feel that seals in moisture while you brave the elements. I can’t think of a more festive lip balm.

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Winter Skin Care Tips from Kate Somerville

If I had to pick one person to be my skin guru, hands down it would be Kate Somerville. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Kate – couldn’t be nicer or more approachable. I have visited her skin clinic in West Hollywood – um… beauty mecca dare I say! And I have tried (or at least sampled) a huge portion of her products. The clean lines, direct approach and efficacious formulas add up to real, smart skin care.

So, today I am thrilled to share some of Kate’s Winter Skin Care Tips. Her main message: As the winter month approach, it’s important to tweak your skin care regimen to balance the harsh temperatures and your skin’s confusion to the drastic changes in environment. Now is the season to Exfoliate, Hydrate and Moisturize for glowing skin!

So excited about the recently launched Ultimate Kate Rewards – the loyalty program for KateSomerville.com. This program allows you to earn points for sharing, purchasing online, reviewing and much more. The points can be redeemed for rewards. And enrollment is free. Find out more here.

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