Apr 23

Recession Chic: Sigma Makeup Brushes

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imageAsk a beauty neophyte or serious makeup maven to name a high end makeup company and MAC Cosmetics would definitely be on the list. The staple brand for any makeup artist is also super accessible and fairly budget friendly for people like us. So when I went to the local counter to take a peek at their makeup brushes to round out my collection, I wasn’t prepared for the sticker shock! Luckily, I found a comparable new company called Sigma Makeup. Sigma carries a line of handmade professional quality brushes and a fraction of what MAC charges. If you check out the Professional Brushes Complete Kit, the 12 brushes included are essentials in any makeup bag and only cost $69. If you buy the same brushes from MAC, it would cost a whopping $333 (aka a new pair of shoes!). As a devout follower of being recession chic, $69 is still a lot of money, but believe me, quality brushes can totally change the way you apply your makeup. I can’t imagine doing my makeup without using their soft powder brush or eyeshadow blending brush. They also carry some brushes individually including a super cute line of Hollywood themed kabuki brushes as well a small collection of makeup. All I can say is, watch out MAC!
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Apr 22

It’s Easy Being Green Today With Earth Day Themed Products!

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imageI’ll be the first to admit that aside from choosing public transportation for my daily commute, I don’t excel at being eco-friendly or doing my part to minimize my carbon footprint. I mean well, but sometimes inconvenience, lack of know-how, or my love of hairspray just gets in the way. No matter what the excuse, today we can all pitch in and be more eco-conscious in our living in the hopes that it will influence more green efforts in the future, and not just on Earth Day! And that includes the way we shop, the clothes we wear, and the beauty products we use! In honor of Earth Day, I’ve compiled a slideshow of celebratory products, including this “Down to Earth” CC Skye eco tote that will revamp your shopping style, and Kiehl’s Biodegradable Liquid Cleanser which donates 100% of its profits to an eco systems charity! Take a look at the slideshow for 10 Earth Day products that will green-ify your style!

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Apr 21

Hot In The Hive: MAC ‘Crush Metal’ Pigments

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imageI remember way back in my early high school days, when I first graduated from the makeup section at Bath & Body Works and was introduced to the wondrous world of MAC (the rest is history!), I was totally enamored by their big sparkly pots of brilliantly-colored pigments. But in all seriousness, does anyone actually use all of the powder that comes in that pot? A little goes a long way, and even though the holiday sets offer smaller versions with a slightly more realistic amount of product in each, I still haven’t gotten close to finishing those mini vials either! That’s why when I noticed these stacked ‘Crush Metal’ versions of their pigment jars, which came out with their spring collection earlier this year, I was totally intrigued! Unlike the holiday sets, which come with a rather random jumble of colors that are often totally impractical, each stacked column comes with wearable coordinating colors that you’re more likely to wear daily (or at least once a week if you’re not too lazy to deal with loose powder). While this warm color combo is one of the few that aren’t already sold out, hopefully MAC has gotten the memo and will continue using the stacked set theme for future pigment collections!

Price: $32.50
Who Found It: xgalexy was the first to add the MAC ‘Crush Metal’ Pigments to the Hive.

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Apr 20

Six Senses Spa

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Situated in the center of Paris, the calming Six Senses Spa services and interiors offer visitors an afternoon of otherworldly respite from daily life.

Recently-opened within the Westin Hotel (one of the chain’s better properties thanks to its location in Paris’ posh 1st arrondissement), the 2,700 square-foot haven includes a menu of pampering treatments inspired by the Far East, as well as some sourced from Paris’ own backyard. Along with herbal Thai-style massage and detoxifying seaweed body wraps, one of the spa’s signature facials relies on honey pollinated from bees in the the nearby Jardin des Tuileries and produced on the rooftop of the city’s celebrated Palais Garnier opera house.

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The first French branch of the notable exotic-chic spa and resort chain, other locations include Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Thailand and Vietnam. Designed by French architect Pierre David, a finalist in the recent World Trade Center Memorial competition, the space features a palette of muted tones derived from Brazilian hardwood and Greek marble. One wall displays a digitally-projected panorama of the Parisian skyline (captured in real-time), while a lush vertical garden cultivated with plant species from far-flung locales occupies another.

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Even more curious, two cocoons enclose the rooms where treatments occur, lending a warmth that’s undoubtedly good feng shui. Part space pod, part mega-gourd, curved bands of oak treated with a scrim-like fabric on the interior comprise the structures.

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Six Sense’s name comes from the body’s five senses, plus the euphoric sensation one has when everything comes into perfect harmony—a name aptly describing this spa.


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Apr 20

Slicked Back Hair Done Right

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imageIt’s amazing what a simple hair cut or style can do for your face shape or to change the feel of an ensemble. While some faces look better with a sweeping side part and others shine more with a simple mid-part, the most flattering look is to have no part at all! A coif that’s slicked back from the face is a sleek, modern look and leaves the wearer looking clean, dynamic and stylish. However, there is such thing as doing a slicked back style wrong. Does anyone remember Megan Fox’s crispy, greasy, over-gelled debacle at the MTV Music Awards? As hot as she is, even she couldn’t pull off that look. The trick to doing slicked back hair right is to choose a hair product that holds your tresses, but still leaves it flexible and natural looking. Another tip to help make this sleek ‘do work for you is to give it a bit of lift at the roots (but remember to avoid looking like Snooki) and give it some dimension. Want to try this look for yourself? Click on the slideshow to see some favorite hair styling mousses and waxes that add volume to your roots and holds your hair in place in a flattering way!

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Apr 19

Stylehive’s Stylescopes Think You Deserve A Break With These Pampering Products!

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imageSure, spring break may have just ended (that is, if you still get one! I sure don’t…), but that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to take the time to unwind. Whether you’ve been stressed from school, work, tax season, or drama from your ol’ ball-and-chain, Stylehive’s Stylescopes think this week is as good as any to take a load off and really fit in some “you” time — even if it’s just a few minutes! A true fashionista doesn’t need an excuse for some quality at-home beauty pampering, anyway! If you’re a Capricorn, the stars say you’re destined to forget that distant deadline and surrender to your senses with a nice relaxing bubble bath… or perhaps more than one, if you have the time! As for the Pisces ladies, all that nonstop errand-running has really wrecked havoc on your feet, so you have a soothing exfoliating scrub in store — recruit your man-friend for a rubdown (or trade him for one who’s willing, of course)! To see how you should pamper yourself this week, check out your sign’s forecast in the slideshow!

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Apr 13

Rock Matte Blue Eye Makeup Like Leona Lewis!

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imageWhile matte blue shadow and/or liner may conjure up nightmarish visions of Mimi from The Drew Carey Show, or horrendously dated beauty trends in general, you may be surprised to find that when done right, matte blue makeup can look sophisticated and not tacky! For example, Leona Lewis’ peepers totally popped on the red carpet with a bright teal liner on just the inner rims of her eyes — after all, when it comes to bold color, less is more unless you’re going for a GaGa-esque statement. If turquoise isn’t your thing, you can also opt for matte navy blue nails, or try a blue take on the traditional smoky eye with Cover Girl’s double-sided ShadowBlast stick. Take a look at the slideshow for my favorite matte blue makeup picks! PR Photos: PR Photos

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Apr 06

Get Porcelain-Smooth Skin With These Pore-Refining Face Primers!

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imageUnfortunately we weren’t all blessed with picture-perfect skin; in fact, some of us were “blessed” with pores the size of dinner plates. But luckily, now that there’s such a focus on pre-makeup beauty in the market today (eyeshadow bases, lipstick preppers, foundation primers, etc), we don’t have to be forced to “embrace” our skin imperfections as they are. Refining primers aren’t miracle workers, but they sure can do a darn good job at minimizing the appearance of pores (and not in a “too-subtle-to-be-helpful” way either!), whether meant to be worn in place of foundation or under it. But since we come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and skin types, I won’t just bombard you by insisting that you try out my favorite (*cough* Dr. Brandt! *cough*). In fact, I’ve got a list of 8 (count em — 8!) different pore-refining primers, so you’re bound to find one that suits your fancy, whether you’re on a budget… or even on an eco-friendly routine. I got you covered, much like your minor skin imperfections will be once you find your perfect primer match! Take a look at the slideshow to see my top 8 picks!

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Mar 31

Hot In The Hive: Stila Jewel Lip Glaze Trio

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imageRunning out of places to wear your bling? The new lip glaze from Stila is made from a formula that contains real jewels! No joke — the three glosses in this set (only $32 for a $66 value!) include Stila’s “gem complex,” which contains diamond, emerald, jade, ruby, moonstone, rose quartz, sapphire, topaz, amethyst, amber, garnet, mother of pearl, and opal. Crazy, right? I totally gave up buying lipgloss for Lent (okay, not really… but I’ve been forcing myself to seriously cut back), but this trio is just too luxe to let pass me by. Plus, aside from that whole treasure trove of jewels packed in each tube, the gloss also contains moisturizing agents like mango seed butter and shea butter, so your lips won’t be left feeling rough and grainy like some other glitter-heavy formulas!

Price: $32
Who Found It: xgalexy was the first to add the Stila Jewel Lip Glaze Trio to the Hive.

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Mar 30

Coral Spring Beauty: Give It A Glow!

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imageWhether it’s a dusty pink hue, or as a bright pop of color, coral is showing up all over the place in the beauty world. Coral adds brightness and warmth to those that might be a little lacking in the melanin department, and gives warmer skin tones an instant glow. Sculpt cheeks and emphasis your decolletage with a sheer beige tinted coral powder, or add a punch or fun with a saturated coral lip gloss or nail polish. A surprisingly versatile hue that compliments numerous skin tones and colors, coral simply screams sunny days and windblown hair. Click on the slideshow to see the top ten coral beauty products to add some warmth to your complexion for the sunny Spring days ahead!

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