Guys, I was just sent over the most unexpected, softly beautiful picture this morning.

This is the just released promo picture of Lady Gaga as MAC Cosmetics Viva Glam spokesperson for 2011. Here's what WWD had to say:

MAC Cosmetics has signed Lady Gaga on for a second year as the spokeswoman for its Viva Glam campaign. Gaga teamed up with Cyndi Lauper for the 2010 campaign, which launched earlier this year. The company said the Gaga-Lauper campaign was the most successful ever for the MAC AIDS Fund, which has raised more than $190 million for the cause since its founding in 1994. For her solo turn in 2011, Gaga was shot by Nick Knight and styled by Nicola Formichetti.

I can't wait to see the new color for next year - it definitely looks tamer than what I would normally expect from the lovely Lady Gaga.

What do you think? Do you think that MAC made the right choice for their campaign for next year? Or do you wish they had chosen a new face?

Clarins knows that the Holidays is the time of year for luxury and extravagance. This holiday season they are giving us a glimpse into the "dramatic, daring and sensual style of the baroque period" with their "Barocco Holiday Colour Collection".

This limited-edition collection includes 4 pieces in packaging that is described as "a precious, jewel-like decoration inspired by the delicate work of a goldsmith". (*Check out that pretty glossy white gold case on the eyeshadows over there.) The pieces are:

• Barocco Face Palette: A soft, light compact powder with a scroll motif in peachy-pink and sandy-beige. The combination of the two shades is perfect for illuminating the face or adding matte touches to the complexion. ($55USD)
• Barocco Shimmering Gold Powder for Face and Décolleté: An elegant black and gold powder box holds little nuggets dusted with golden pearl. With a sweep of the puff, they release a fine powder to beautifully enhance the skin with sparkling reflections. ($35USD)



• Barocco Eye Colour Trio: A trio of shades that create the perfect smoky eye for day and night with these ultra-fine textures that can be combined, layered or blended together for perfect holiday makeup. Create a wash of bronze to enhance the eyes, black to define the eyelids and gold to catch the light and brighten the inner corners. ($40USD)



• Barocco Rouge Prodige: The purple velvet drapes of the Baroque period are the inspiration for the colour of this lipstick. The rich formula combines long-hold colour, extreme shine and total comfort. ($24USD) (*I almost think I could pull this berry-ish red off.)

Does any of this decadence tempt you? Lemme know if you pick any (all?) of these pieces up.

*Disclaimer: I received the eyeshadows in a giveaway goodie bag from BeautyBlitz.

With everything we do out of our normal routine during the Holiday season, our skin can get out of whack, too. GoodSkin Labs has got just the thing to help it out, no matter what you are doing:

GoodSkin Labs is available exclusively at your local Kohl's or online at kohls.com.

"Black Friday" isn't all about getting up in the middle of the night to fight the crowds for bargains - this year it is also about the new limited-edition MAC collaboration with Trinidadian Hip-Hop Diva, celebrating the release of her new album, Nicki Minaj called "Pink Friday".

This vibrant pink, satin finish lipstick was designed by Nicki herself and she says her inspiration was:

"This shade is similar to the one I've worn for years by MAC (*Pink Nouveau) but with a little extra ZING! I wanted a color that represented female empowerment as well as euphoria! The color makes you feel free to rule the world. Its sexy, yet fun! It pops! Its theatrical! It turns heads! No matter your age, Pink Friday makes u feel like you're the life of the party!

And, to make this lippie even more special, it's available for purchase *only* on "Black Friday" (November 26th) and the following three Fridays - December 3rd, December 10th and December 17th on the MAC "Pink 4 Friday" page for $14.50 USD. (*It's also avail in France, Germany and in the UK on the same dates, too.)

Are you going to try to pick this color up? If you do, let me know what you think of it.

I know some of you lovelies aren't lucky enough to have some "Mulberry for Target" on the racks at your local Target, like I do:

But, don't fret - I found out that "On November 14, another delivery of select handbags from the collection will hit shelves in select Target stores nationwide." (*US only).

So, you have another chance to score one of these bags for yourself. If I were you, and I really wanted one of these bags, I wouldn't hesitate, as we know how fast they flew out of the stores the first delivery, and how the website is still sold out. (*Not certain if they are replenishing the online inventory, too).

Just had this come across my email - I love treasure hunts & even tho this isn't happening around me, maybe it's happening around you. Let me know if you take part or if you find the treasure yourself!

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Cover FX Invites You to Participate in a Treasure Hunt!
“Eye Spy With My Big Bright Eyes..”

With their launch of the Eye Prep FX, Cover FX will be hosting an international treasure hunt! Be the first to get your hands on the Eye Prep FX before it hits stores mid September!

How it works: From September 7th – 11th, Cover FX will be placing treasure boxes throughout selected cities across US, Canada and the UK. Fan Cover FX on Facebook to learn specific clues and locations on where you can find the hidden treasures in a city near you. All packages include the new Eye Prep FX, and some lucky winners may receive gift cards up to $100 in select treasure boxes redeemable at participating Cover FX retailers*! http://www.facebook.com/CoverFX

* Retailers include Shoppers Drug Mart and Murale (Canada), Sephora (US), Harvey Nichols and House of Fraser (UK).

Let the games begin! http://www.facebook.com/CoverFX

About Eye Prep FX:
Eye Prep FX anti age smoothing primer is an innovative cosmeceutical eye smoothing formula with clinically proven anti-aging benefits:
• The blend of ultra-elite ingredients, Haloxyl and Eyeliss work to reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness
• Peptide Flash Complex is also incorporated, which instantly tightens and firms while long-term improvements include repairing and strengthening the eye area
• Cucumber extract works with detoxifying minerals to cool, soften and hydrate the skin leaving the eye area feeling fresh and revitalized
• Eye Prep FX instantly binds concealer and eye shadows to lids and eye area with Dermaveil Cool Technology, a proprietary complex that immediately reduces the appearance of fine lines and creases and creates a smooth base for makeup

Cost: $43 CA&US/£41
Availability: CoverFX.com and select Sephora, Nordstrom, The Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart, Murale, Harvey Nichols and House of Fraser stores.

It's no secret around here that I color my hair to the lovely red auburn shade that I sport, while trying to cover my grey roots. Heck, I've been coloring my ashy brown hair red WAY before I ever even started showing roots. I know I've talked about using Natural Instincts on here before. (*Heck, I'll still take credit for getting them to change their instructions).

Well, they are running a contest that I am seriously thinking about entering - the Natural Instincts Hair Color Contest (*catchy name, right?). Here is what I could win (*or you if you choose to enter yourself):

Grand Prize

• Trip for 2 to New York City
• Makeover at celebrity colorist Marie Robinson's salon
• $1000 spending money
• Appear in a Natural Instincts how-to video

All entries must be received by August 30th, contestants will be reviewed until October 6th & then will be voted on by "America" on October 7th thru the 14th. (*You guys WOULD vote for me, right? RIGHT?)

The contest is being held in conjunction with the Natural Instincts Hair Color Challenge which says that you will "get healthy-looking hair in 10 minutes. Guaranteed. Or we'll buy you 2 boxes of your old color.** (**Satisfaction guaranteed or we will refund you for one Natural Instincts box and the value of 2 boxes of your old hair color/replacement hair color (up to $14 per box))." So, even if you don't want to enter the contest, you might want to think about taking them up on their challenge.

Okay, so now I am off to go find my color - "18RG Golden Mahogany" from the "Golden Shimmers" collection - which, for some reason I can't find easily locally, but its worth it to search it out, imo. Do you use or have you tried Natural Instincts? What color are you?

I know I am not the only one that thinks a black smoky eye is just too heavy for them. Well, I love the fact that we are not limited to *only* black for a smoky eye, but can use other shades in the same style. Luckily, brands are hip to this and work to help us lovelies out. Take for instance, tarte. They have teamed up with Sephora to create the new, limited-edition Beauty in a Box: Bronze Smoky Eye kit.

"Be bronzed and beautiful with this Sephora exclusive kit packed with best-sellers and brand new products featured in new shades; all of which are waterproof or water-resistant for a look that will last morning 'til night! From lids to lips, each longwearing must-have perfectly complements each other for an overall bronze glow topped off with a modern take on an old favorite: the bronze smoky eye. Unlike the traditional charcoal smoky eye, this look is flattering on a wide variety of skin tones and can easily be worn day to night."

Sephora exclusive kit includes:

• full size lock & roll 12-hour eyeshadow, burnt bronze
• full size emphasEYES™ waterproof clay shadow/liner, plum (*you KNOW I'm dying for this *PLUM*!!)
• full size rise & shine lip gloss and stain, nude
• full size clean slate natural face primer
• deluxe mineral powder bronzer, park ave princess
• deluxe lights, camera, splashes! natural waterproof mascara

These products also contain "skinvigorating™" ingredients:

• rice bran wax: natural wax that helps lengthen lashes
• carnauba wax: emollient, natural wax ensures smooth application
• provitamin B5: vitamin B derivative that treats and thickens lashes
• vitamin C: antioxidant that fights free radical damage and prevents oxidative stress and premature signs of aging

This limited edition set is supposed to be available from Sephora from August thru October 2010, but it looks like it is available on the website already.

Is there anything in this set that you want, besides "all of it"? I am lemming that Plum liner so much - the hunt for the perfect Plum continues!!

On Thursday, July 22nd Estée Lauder will kick off its largest sampling program to date – America’s Night to Repair. For 4 synchronized hours – from 5:00pm – 9:00pm (all local times) – Estée Lauder Beauty Advisors will be distributing a total of 360,000 deluxe samples. Customers can choose either a 10-day supply of NEW Advanced Night Repair Eye Synchronized Complex or Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex at ALL Estée Lauder department and specialty store counters nationwide – one sample per customer while supplies last. Customers can visit Advanced Night Repair for additional information.

Bond No. 9's motto is "Making Scents of New York", and boy do they ever. All of their 40+ fragrances are all named after something/someplace in New York.

This fall, they will be adding two new scents to their "neighborhood" of fragrances: "Cooper Square" and "Washington Square".

I don't really have any info on what the scents smell like, or their "notes", but we all know I don't really know much about those anyway, right? So, I'll just say that the bottles look pretty cool - esp the "Washington Square" one with the arch on it.

"Cooper Square" launches September 1st, 2010 and "Washington Square" launches November 1st, 2010 at your local Saks Fifth Avenue Bond counter, any of the 4 NYC retail locations or online. I don't know exact pricing but I am sure it will run along the same lines as the others, between $45 to $300+, depending on size. I know it's not exactly budget, but, Bond's packaging (*and scents, of course) can almost make a collector out of anyone.