And The Winners Of The Seed Giveaway Are…

imageWhat’s better than a skincare line that’s completely good for your skin and good for the Earth? How about one that’s given to you for free? Yeah, we thought so too, which is why we offered up FIVE skin and body care sets from SEED. Here’s a fun fact: SEED products are made from grape seeds, which just happen to be a byproduct of wine making. So it’s basically like bathing in (the benefits of) wine, if you really think about it. Five lucky winners are going to receive a gift set containing a nourishing lotion, a moisturizing soap, and a conditioning shampoo bar, in their choice of fragrance! Want to know if you won? Read on to find out!

Ladylike Nail Art Tips From Blake Lively’s Manicurist

imageBye bye black nails and ballet slipper pink pedicures- those nail colors just seem plain old boring compared to these high impact nails! With Valentine’s Day coming up, you’ll want nails that are just as sexy as the dress you plan to wear on your date. Try some sexy peek-a-boo lace nails like Blake Lively and Jennifer Lopez. I got some tips from celeb manicurist Elle for Barielle (she did both Lively’s and Lopez’s nails) on an easy way to get the look. Start with dry, clean nails, and then brush on a coat of Gel Resin like IBD 5-Second Brush-on Gel Resin (available at most beauty supply stores). Attach a thin piece of lace (you can buy this from fabric stores) or get crafty by using scraps from an old vintage slip. Spray with Glue Dry (also available at beauty supply stores) and trim down the lace with a small pair of embroidery scissors. One last coat of Gel Resin and you lace manicure is ready to go and will last till your nails grown out or till you soak it in an acetone nail polish remover. To keep your lace mani looking fresh apply Barielle Intensive Nail Renewal Oil around cuticles daily.

Will you be rocking the lace nails this Valentine’s Day? Tell us in comments!

Get Your Best Smile At Weller Aesthetic and Restorative Dental Care

imageAre you ready for your close-up? Get ready with the help of Dr. Jeffrey Weller. Located in Chicago’s beauty-conscious Gold Coast district, Weller’s Aesthetic and Restorative Dental Care practice provides services with a smile, whether you require work that’s cosmetic (veneers, bonding, whitening), restorative (crowns and bridges, inlays and implants) or preventative (routine cleanings, periodontal care). Also a TMJ specialist with more than 22 years of dental experience, Dr. Weller (with the help of his treatment coordinator and wife, Tina) offers the ultimate dental experience in a serene setting. The mission: to make your visit as stress-free and enjoyable as possible (for example, by offering you the option to watch a movie or listen to relaxing music) while assisting you in achieving your best possible smile.

Get Glowing Skin Like Liv Tyler With Evening Primrose Oil

imageEvening Primrose has been used for centuries all around the world. Its oils have been used as a natural remedy for a wide variety of health issues such as stomach dysfunction, PMS, diabetes and chronic fatigue. But this miracle oil can do just as much for the outside as it can for the inside. The oil, pressed from the seeds of the Evening Primrose flower, is a rich source of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids, which promote healthy skin by conditioning and restoring moisture. Fresh, the line best known for its sugar scrubs, used evening primrose oil in a whole line of products but one of my favorites is the Twilight Fresh Face Glow Primer. The illuminating sheer cream leaves you naturally glowing and with its restorative evening primrose root extract, it will repair and protect damaged skin. Get all the benefits from primrose oil when you use it as the last part of an at home mini peel like Ole Henricksen’s Micro/Mini Peel System. Primrose oil is also a key ingredient in Rodin’s Olio Lusso, a celeb favorite. Kate Moss and Liv Tyler are devoted fans! Hair can also reap the benefits of this time-tested oil. Shampoos and conditioners with primrose oil help better prevent dryness and add luster and shine. Check out the slideshow for more evening primrose oil products to add to your beauty arsenal.

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Beauty Bargain: Get The Givenchy Shimmer Bronzer Look On Any Budget

imageDon’t you just hate it when you flip through a beauty magazine and find a must-have that simply needs to belong in your makeup bag… and then you look at the price? I mean, $53 dollars for a shimmer bronzer palette from Givenchy? Yeah, high prices are to be expected of Givenchy, and the colors are gorgeous, but $53 dollars for a sparkly glow is kind of overkill when there are so many ways to achieve it at a fraction of the cost! MAC’s multicolored powder ($27) may not be as neatly compartmentalized as its far-more-expensive designer counterpart, but it still gives you the same balance of matte and pearl shades. And if you’re still willing to splurge somewhat, Bobbi Brown’s bronzing shimmer block is a fan favorite — at a much more reasonable $38. Check the slideshow for 5 more affordable alternatives to warming up winter skin, for both drugstore and designer makeup budgets!

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Enter To Win One Of FIVE Natural Skincare Gift Sets From Seed!

imageWe all know by now that natural skincare products can do wonders for our skin and overall well-being, and there’s even evidence to show that your nightly glass (or two) of (red) wine has health benefits of its own. Turns out, these two things may not be entirely coincidental. When Rebecca Gournay and her husband, both avid lovers of wine with a growing interest in natural products, discovered that tiny grape seeds, a byproduct of winemaking, were themselves chock full of antioxidants and fatty acids, they knew they were onto something. This knowledge, combined with Rebecca’s business background, led to the creation of Seed.

The 100% natural line contains nourishing lotions, moisturizing soaps, and even conditioning shampoo bars, all fortified with grape seed oils in addition to pomegranate, apricot, and strawberry seeds and extracts. Even the packaging is recyclable and biodegradable, and is made in the United States, so you can be assured you’ll reduce your carbon footprint while you treat yourself with the best that nature has to offer. There are three completely natural scents from which you can choose: Invigorating Citrus Thyme, Restful Lavender Sage, or, if you prefer, Simply Unscented.

The lotions are sold in packages of three, which retail for $20, so they’re perfect for sharing with friends! Likewise, soaps and shampoo bars are $20 for six boxes (men love these too- they’re specially formulated for shorter hair!) Do the math and you’ll realize they’re comparable to popular drugstore brands you might already be using, except these are completely gentle- to both your body and the Earth.

Let’s recap. A skin and body care line that’s completely natural, and inspired by a love of good health and good wine? We’ll drink to that!

Be Fresh-Faced In Any Weather With These Rain-Proof Beauty Picks!

imagePersonally, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I hate the rain (after all, my plants need nourishment somehow). I’m cool with it as long as it doesn’t get in my way, like that time it postponed my 9th birthday party picnic or those few hundred times it drenched my freshly flat-ironed hair. However, life usually requires that I go about my day rain or shine, and despite my wishes, it doesn’t conveniently drizzle only when I’m already cozy in bed watching TiVo’d episodes of Tough Love. So what else can a girl do other than be prepared? Unless you’re caught in a freak-of-nature sudden downpour, there’s no reason you have to show up at work, class, or a date (heaven forbid!) looking like a bizarre mix of a wet rat and a watercolor gone wrong. With the slew of water-resistant beauty products and frizz-fighting hair care on the market these days, you can face off with any weather and still show up looking first-rate… as long as you don’t actually end up swimming in the puddles. Check the slideshow to see how you can rain-proof your mane, mascara, and even bronzer!

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Hot In The Hive: Bourjois “Rendez-vous a Paris” Wet/Dry Eyeshadow

imageI never did cash in on the opportunity to study abroad during my college years like some of my friends did, and though I regret it, that doesn’t mean I can’t be in love with all things reminiscent of France from afar — macarons, the French New Wave, these cute Paris-inspired eyeshadow pots from Bourjois… just to name a few! The “Rendez-vous a Paris” collection features a series of their popular wet/dry shadows (sweep on dry over lids, or apply with a wet brush for a bolder pigment), except these come in a cute painted Paris-themed pot, featuring the Eiffel Tower, the Paris Opera, and other landmarks I’ve only visited in the movies. And since they’re limited edition, you know they’ll be snatched up fast! Of course, in that case you could just opt for Bourjois’ regular wet/dry shadows — but these Parisian ones are so much cuter!

Price: $14 each
Who Found It: xgalexy was the first to add the Bourjois “Rendez-vous a Paris” Wet/Dry Eyeshadow to the Hive.

WhatsWear Keeps Us Quenched With Three Haute Hydrating Products

imageAs much as we would love to wish the winter months away, spring is still a while away. The main complaint of almost every woman during the frosty season is chronic dryness. Scalp, hair, skin… you name it. Allow us to recommend a few products to help you quench your body’s thirst for moisture. When your hair is dry it becomes a playground for brittle ends. Heat-styling with blow-dryers and high temperature curling irons only encourages more breakage. Using a light daily serum to protect your hair is a start, but to really nourish those tresses you need an intense, rich conditioner. Insert Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment ($32.00). This deep treatment strengthens and helps repair dry, damaged hair. It has the highest concentration of Ojon oil, a rare blend used by the Tawira Indians that helps to smooth and hydrate coarse, unmanageable tresses. For best results, leave on overnight. Click on over to our friends at WhatsWear to see what else they recommend!

Celebs Vs. Models: Who Rocked These Beauty Trends Best?

imageIf you’re looking for a new beauty trend (or 10) to try, models and celebrities can provide tons of inspiration. But what happens when you pit the two beautiful groups against each another? Elle scooped up pics of celebs like Rachel McAdams, Nicole Richie, and Lady Gaga, and found runway models from Alexander Wang, Oscar de la Renta, and Marc by Marc Jacobs rocking nearly identical hair and beauty looks. It’s up to you to decide who pulled off each trend best, so click over to Elle and vote now! Photo Credit: Getty Images/Imaxtree
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Imaxtree