I love dramatic eyes, but when it comes to my complexion, I want to look natural. And in the winter, I want that perfect just-came-in-from-the-cold look.

Liv Tyler does it so well!

The secret? Ditch your powder blush and snag a cheek stain instead. Try Benefit's Benetint (Sephora, $29). At first, it looks a little intimidating; when you unscrew the cap, it looks like a nail polish applicator, and the stain appears quite dark in the bottle. Don't be scared; it goes on lightly and the application technique is a snap. To apply, dab a little on the apples of your cheeks with the included applicator (I usually make three lines on the apple of my cheek) and blend back toward your temples with a sponge. Use over foundation (if you're a full-coverage girl) or under (if you're using sheer-to-medium foundation or tinted moisturizer).

Top it off with a dab of highlighter, blending just along the cheekbone to give you a dewy, natural look (I'm a fan of Stila's multi-tasking Smudge Pot in Kitten (Sephora, $20), then polish your look with your favorite setting powder (I like BareMinerals Mineral Veil, SPF 25 (Sephora, $20).

Ever tried a cream or stain blush? What do you think?

Hello all!

In the spirit of the holidays, I'm doing a giveaway!

The winner will receive:



Benefit Watt's Up Soft Focus Highlighter
NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer
Buxom Lip Tarnish in "Caught on Tape"
Ulta Eyeshadow Single in "Bayou"
Make Up For Ever HD Powder
Josie Maran Argan Oil
Bare Minerals Pretty Amazing Lipcolor in "Confidence"
Ojon Damage Reverse Restorative Hair Serum

How to enter:

1.) Follow my blog (required to enter)
2.) Follow my Twitter (+1 entry)
3.) Tweet about the giveaway with a link back to this post (+1 entry)
4.) Post about the giveaway on Tumblr with a link back to this post (+1 entry)
5.) Post about the giveaway on your own blog with a link back to this post (+2 entries)

Once you've entered, comment on this post. I'll need your first name, the username you used to follow my blog, your e-mail address, and links to anything you followed/promoted me on. If you don't want to post your e-mail address publicly, send the information in an e-mail to me.

Winner will be selected via random.org on New Year's Day.

Good luck & tell your friends!

It's no secret to those who know me that I adore television from across the pond. If you ever catch me in front of the TV and there's not a hockey game on the screen, you can bet it will be something British. Enter my latest addiction: Merlin! My husband and I were recently introduced to it and we marathoned the whole thing until we caught up.

While trying to think of a theme for my latest nails, I immediately thought of doing something Camelot-inspired. Here they are:

Top L-R: Excalibur, knight's helmet, Morgana's Fomorroh, chainmail, the Pendragon crest Bottom L-R: Fleur-de-lis, shield, crown, Holy Grail, Fisher King's trident

I used a single tool for the whole thing though, in hindsight, I wish I'd have used a fine paintbrush for the Fisher King's trident and maybe the crown and Grail. Here's the tool, which I got in my brush set:


I picked mine up at a local craft store... you should be able to find a similar brush set at any decent-sized craft store.

Chime in: what cool nail designs have you seen lately... or what British show should I watch next? ;)