Almost Pretty

NARS Makeup Your Mind Beauty Guide

Russian-American poet Joseph Alexandrovitch Brodsky said that "There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." And even if you prefer a life that is more visually inclined there is still much one can do to learn. This NARS Makeup Your Mind Beauty Guide includes 65 before-and-after photos of models of various ethnicities and looks, including Naomi Campbell and Erin O'Connor to help you learn about the entire process of makeup application from start to finish.

ColorOn Instant Eye Shadow Applicator

We just discovered the oddest beauty product on earth. Apparently if applying eyeshadow is too challenging you can just buy something to take care of it for you! The ColorOn Instant Eye Shadow Applicators are a little sticky covered in eyeshadow that you can just plop on your eyelid for apparently perfect eyeshadow treatments. We have no idea if it works but it is just so crazy we simply had to post it!

Japonesque Handy Bottle Pack For Beauty Travel

Must drugstores carry mini-bottles into which one can theoretically pour your expensive beauty routines when traveling. But most of the varieties we have found don't take into account the need for differing types of bottles or applicators. We just discovered Japonesque Handy Bottle Pack and we think they may be the solution.

Carry exactly what you need in a convenient go-anywhere size. This assortment of compact Japonesque bottles organizes your creams, gels, sprays and lotions in a zippered vinyl pouch. The caps screw on tight to prevent leaks and the pliable bottles wont crack or break. Assortment includes two bottles with wider openings for faster dispensing, a flip-top bottle with small opening for precision applications, a pump-top and a dropper bottle.

MAC's Stylistics Collection

MAC, ever on the new product launch bandwagon, has just released images for their new Stylistics Collection.

The pearls, classic colorings and downtown twist really do evoke the message that this is for those with taste, style, and a certain je ne sais quoi.

We are guessing that they hope to attract that ever elusive PTY (pretty young thing) crowd and the women who wish to live that life. Heck the brush bag is just the sort of bag a true "it" girl would re-purpose as a clutch!

We love the lipstick and compact in particular. Styling indeed!

Fragrance Friday: Juicy Couture 'Perfume Atomizer' Charm

We love being surprised by a brand. Sometimes a line you associate with tacky does something totally darling. We are in love with this Juicy Couture 'Perfume Atomizer' Charm.

It just seems like the perfect charm for a perfume lover wanting to show their love. We might not want a Juicy fragrance in there but you can't have it all can you?

We're The Girls With The Diamond Dolls....eerrr Duster!

We loved Alvin and the Chipmunks as a kid. The songs from their movie still occasionally play in our heads. The Chippette's song "Diamond Dolls" instantly popped into our heads when we encountered Laura Mecier's Diamond Duster.

Laura Mercier Diamond Duster is a spherical plume of Marabou feathers gathered to allow a feather-light dusting of powder for a subtle glow. Ideally used with the Mineral Body Powder, Diamond Duster creates an alluring appearance of diamond-like shimmer on the body.

We love the idea of shimmer which probably means we are closer to our girlhood days than we think. Well at least we were able to relive it on Youtube!

Beautyblender

Having the right tools is half the battle we have found when it comes to looking good in the morning. Slapping product on with grubby fingers rarely produces the desired results. Thus we were excited to discover Beautyblender and their patent pending elliptical shaped sponge.

Beautyblender's patent-pending elliptical shape was designed to help you apply makeup like a pro. And its unique suede texture gives your complexion a flawless finish.

Application: Start with a clean and moisturized face. Dip Beautyblender® into makeup and gently "bounce" it rapidly up and down on your face, using the rounded end to apply foundation and blush to larger areas of your face and the pointed end for hard-to-reach spots around the eyes, nose and mouth. Finish on problem areas, if needed, by gently twisting Beautyblender's pointed end to cover and feather out makeup, creating a flawless finish.

While the product was pretty nifty we are still not totally sold on its hefty $20 price. It is easy to handle certainly but we imagine we need a little more training to produce a flawless face. But every little bit of help is sometimes required on the toughest mornings so if you have the means why not?