Here's a problem that's not the easiest to solve: you currently have short or medium length hair but you want to have long, luscious locks and you want them NOW. It's always the way.
I've been writing Kiss and Makeup since July 2006. Wow--a lot has happened in that time and yet it's gone by so quickly. While I write all about makeup and beauty products, I haven't ever really told you all about WHY I write this blog. It's time for a peak behind the curtain, so to speak.
What is it? A new formula from Smashbox, Bionic Mascara, "is the first ionic mascara. It will leave you with longer, stronger, and more voluminous lashes! The specially-engineered brush coats lashes with our revolutionary long-wearing, water-resistant formula for a dramatic full lash. Aloe, silk, and wheat protein strengthen and condition." Available only in Jet Black (rich black) for $19 exclusively at Sephora.
I don't have time for a proper post about beauty products today (life is just way too busy), but if you need some fresh content, head over to my other blog, Oh My God Girl. There I talk a bit more personally about life and what it is to be a woman these days. I invite you all to come join the conversation!
So the hour long season premiere of the Hills on Monday left me with both a bad taste and a good taste in my mouth.
1. Mariah Carey claimed that she absolutely loves watching the Hills but I refuse to believe that she's ever even seen an episode until that night.
2. Whitney and Lauren: How DARE you not know how to pronounce "Givenchy" and you're in fashion and there's a camera in your face!
3. Once the paparazzi is caught taking pics of reality stars while the reality show is being taped, its time for a series finale. Lauren's no longer a reality star she's just a celeb.(Did anyone else catch the pap-snap as the girls were leaving Colette?)
4. Mistakes of an intern (cuz nothing that they did would go down in the "Real" world!)
A. NEVER put going to pick up your dress before getting the job done!
B. NEVER stitch a designer LOAN gown and then go to a club with it on. I gagged when I saw her preparing to do this!
C. NEVER put you beauty supplies next to your designer LOAN gown. That was actually hilarious because Whitney didn't seem to care at first.
D. So now Lauren the man gives you a loan and you hop on a Vespa?? Yeah...NEVER!!! Just NEVER!!!
5. Spencer looked like he gained the marital weight before the wedding even went down!
6.What a dream to meet a semi-hot French rock-star and take mini-tours around Paris!!?? Loved the Eiffel Tower scene
7. Seemed like Lauren got to be more hands on than Whitney but I'm super happy that Whitney is finally finding her way!
8. Kimball...I love you!
9. I'm starting to feel some kind of way about Audrina because why would you make an international call just to tell your friend that the man she likes is showing off his new girlfriend?
10. Heidi's Stepdad to Spencer : "What the heck?!!!" Spencer to the Stepdad: "Yeah I'm a complete loser and it would be a much better moment if you just hit me with that shovel."
Clearly I made that up cuz Spencer's an idiot for going all the way to CO but I love Heidi for making him feel like an idiot at the dinner table with the folks!)
All in all an awesome premiere and can't wait 'til next week! The Heidi drama-train has just left the station!!
- Crystal Hines
Flipping through my monthly collection of beauty mags, I found myself frozen in the depths of desire as I stared at some runway model and her perfectly shiny lips. They had just enough color not to be dull and oh-so much shimmer. I instantly wanted whatever she was wearing.
Jamie Lynn Spears has a new accessory to go with her growing baby bump. 
If you read through my list of beauty products I use on a daily basis, you'll no doubt notice that I use a fair share of Olay products. And I have done so for years. My mother always used Olay face moisturizer back when it was called Oil of Olay. Probably thanks to her influence, I trust Olay products and incorporate them into my everyday beauty routine.
"I read the news today..."
Being a good little beauty blogger, I read my fair share of beauty and fashion mags. And every time I flip through my reading, I run across ads that try to scare me into buying a product.
What is it? Here's what Sephora's website has to say about their Matte Blotting Film: "Excess oil and shininess on the nose, forehead or cheeks got you down? Sephora to the rescue. Made from a unique, absorbent, microporus film, our soft, blotting sheets instantly whisk away shine without disturbing makeup. The finish is fresh and matte - never dry. To use: Simply press a single sheet flatly onto the areas of the face where you want to tame shine. In most cases, one sheet is enough to cover the entire face. For pop-up dispensing: Open the lid and peel away the brown tape liner on the flap of the packet to expose the adhesive. Close the lid and reopen to dispense one sheet at a time." A pack of 50 sheets costs $10.
I was getting my hair colored a few weeks ago, my hair looking very much like a baked potato all wrapped up in pieces of foil. My stylist was chatting with her colleagues while she painted on the bleach, gossiping about their girl crushes on a former salon employee. They went on and on about how gorgeous she was, my stylist commenting on this girl's eyelash extension and how great they looked.
First slightly-secretive weekend meetings with Mel Gibson and now an acting gig over at CBS.
Because people in my real life know I'm a "beauty blogger," I am often asked about specific products. To be fair, I am not a beauty expert, just a beauty enthusiast, and try as I might, I haven't used every product on the market. After giving my disclaimer, many will ask me what I use on a daily basis, so I thought I'd have my answers at the ready here in this handy-dandy blog entry.
I don't care if the chicken came before the egg (or vice versa!). What I DO care about is whether you should apply eye cream before moisturizer or moisturizer before eye cream. And apparently, I'm not the only one confused about this.
Well she can't stay pregnant forever...but I'm pretty sure Halle Berry won't mind. 
I'm not a religious girl, but for some reason, Sundays are my days off. On Sundays, I reject my normal routines and allow myself to just be me...completely unaltered. Though I always shower on Sundays, I rarely wash my hair, I don't take my allergy medications, don't use body creams, swear off perfumes, and rarely if ever wear makeup.
Don't worry, Paris and Nicole aren't feuding again, Paris is just realizing that her BFF may have new responsibilities at home, i.e. baby Harlow. So, with Nicole Richie technically out, Paris is looking for a new someone to keep her company.
What is it? According to their website, Kiehl's Creme de Corps Soy Milk and Honey Body Polish is a "luxurious, creamy formula with Shea and Jojoba Butters and Sweet Almond Oil blended with ground Luffa Fruit to exfoliate body skin without drying. With the addition of Pure Honey and Soy Milk Protein, our body polish nurtures skin, leaving it comfortably soft, smooth, and primed for moisturization." Available at Kiehl's for $27.50 for a 6.8 oz tube.
Those tricky people in the world of beauty want us to spend money on their fabulous products. And to do so, they're tempting us with bonuses and discounts. Here are a few currently going on:
Lancome is selling some great skincare sets right now on their website, www.lancome.com. For just $38, you can choose a set of skincare products designed to match your skin type: Beinfait Multi-Vital Set for Normal/Combination Skin, Nurtrix Royal Set for Dry Skin, or Pure Focus Set for Oily Skin.
Matt Damon and wife Luciana are expecting!
I keep getting emails about new high-definition makeup and I wonder: does the average consumer really need such a product?
Watch out Scarlett Johansson, Kristin Davis is giving you a run for your money!
I was reading one of my many fashion and beauty mags the other day, and they were highlighting trends for the new season. One trend they were touting was white fingernail polish.
Christian Siriano proved that "fierceness" was just what Heidi Klum was looking for as he (emotionally) took the title of best designer of the hit-show's fourth season. Siriano, from Annapolis, MD and the youngest contestant to ever win, achieved another difficult task as well...he made the one and only Posh smile. Victoria Beckham, who joined Klum, Michael Kors and Nina Garcia on the judging panel for the final runway show, admitted that Siriano's collection was something that she would wear and in her own words said, "It was major." 
What is it? Sally Hansen's Smile Brightening Lip Treatment is "the first lip gloss with the secret to instantly whiter teeth. The exclusive formula with color-correcting pigments, blue botanicals and brightening pearls creates a magical teeth whitening effect. Shiny gloss provides beautiful color and vinyl-like shine so you see an irresistibly brighter, more radiant smile. Available in 5 luminous shades, dermatologist tested and hypoallergenic. Contains Optical Brightening Pearls, Borage and Cornflower Extract to help create the effect of whiter teeth, botanicals and Vitamins A, C & E to soften and condition dry lips, and a pleasant vanilla mint flavor freshens breath." Available at drugstores for less than $7.
"Spencer and I have really had our ups and downs this past year," Montag tells Us. "I've definitely been betrayed by friends before, but I've never had a boyfriend do this to me."
She adds, "Spencer and I may differ on what it means to cheat."
Pratt, for his part, tells Us, "We're definitely on a roller coaster. I'm not too happy about a lot of things."
Even though the evil George Bush is our current "president," it seems like Americans are really getting on the "Save the Environment" bandwagon, and that's a good thing. I've been critical of companies in the past for claiming to be environmentally friendly because they use some organic ingredients in their pricey products. But now, I am happy to report that there is a new company called ecoTOOLS that makes environmentally friendly products and adopts an earth-friendly philosophy in its business practices.
Sephora is one of the best places on earth. They have it all: perfume, makeup, skin care, and beauty tools all in one spot. While it can be crammed and somewhat confusing if you don't know what you want, Sephora remains one of my favorite stores...hands down!
By the time yesterday's Oprah had ended, Drew Barrymore had not only expressed her feelings about her cutie of a boyfriend Justin Long, but more importantly, made the HUGE announcement that she was donating $1 million to the World Food Progamme. 
It seems like there are new whitening products on the market every few months or so...probably because so many of us want (or need!) to brighten up our smiles.
Crest Healthy Radiance Daily Paste and Weekly Strips
