Hard Candy: Sweetie You Look Fabulous!

Spring cleaning means out with the old and in with the new [makeup].  If your makeup drawer is filled with half-empty containers and dried-out nail polish, it's time to replenish and you don't have to spend a lot of money.  Great makeup doesn't have to be expensive and fussy.  I can't wait to tell you about some of the newest spring offerings by Hard Candy, an affordable and effective cosmetics brand that gives prestige cosmetics a run for their money.  Everything in the Hard Candy collection is under $10.  Small 4 Style is giving you a break down of what you must have in your beauty tool box, and a few extras to make your look a little more sparkly.

Sheer Envy Primer ($8): 
You'll get the most bang for your buck with the primer.  Before you apply any makeup, you need a smooth canvas to work with.  Hard Candy's Sheer Envy Primer provides a soft layer of lightweight coverage that fills in cracks and pores. I like to apply my primer with a sponge, but your fingers or a foundation brush are other options too.  As much as some of us like the feeling of splurging on prestige cosmetics, Hard Candy's primer has a lot of the same ingredients as the popular Smashbox one that's 4x as expensive at department stores. 

Crystal Confetti, Crushed Chromes and Itzy Glitzy Nail Polishes ($4 each): 
It's official, Crush on Hot Pink is the perfect pink nail color!  The Crystal Confetti polishes are also really fun.  I love the fat specks of glitter that add dimension and sparkle to my manicure.  Your Hard Candy nails will last for about a week if you apply a top coat.

1,000 Lashes Mascara Primer ($6) (mascara here):
This is a white mascara that you put on before your black mascara to thicken and lengthen your eyelashes.  Hard Candy's version of this product is great because it doesn't dry clumpy.  It's an extra step so sometimes I forget to do it, but it adds that extra oomph to my lashes.

Plumping Serum Volumizing Lip Gloss:
I have teeny tiny lips but I like the fact that this makes them look a little fuller.  A classic pink gloss is a purse must-have.

Poppin Pigments Pure Glitter Eye Shadows:
Though I don't wear glitter on a daily basis, I love having it on hand.  The key to a successful glitter eye shadow application is precision, control and a lot of practice.  It's helpful to use a concealer or lid primer and a small brush to keep the glitter from going out of control.  If you're feeling adventuresome, use it to spice up your nail art.  I haven't tried that yet, but it could be a fun experiment.   

Hard Candy cosmetics can be purchased at Walmart stores and online.

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DIY Spa Day with InstaNatural

DIY spa days every once in a while are lots of fun.  You can enjoy some of the relaxing parts of the spa in the comfort of your own home while saving hundreds of dollars.  The pinnacle of my spa rituals is a good mud mask.  My latest fave is the Dead Sea Mud Mask from InstaNatural.  I started using some of InstaNatural's most popular products last month and have enjoyed the benefits.  The Dead Sea Mud Mask is an easy detox for your skin.  As the mask dries on your face, this premium mixture of mud and nourishing natural ingredients extracts excess oil and improves the appearance of fine lines.     

After about 15 minutes, I rinse off the mud with warm water to reveal soft skin.  I then use the Youth Express Eye Gel for my dark circles and puffy eyes.  If you want some extra cooling, pop it in the fridge for a few minutes before use.

Another InstaNatural face product I like is the Retinol moisturizer, which is made to even out skin texture and pigmentation.  It's potent and gentle.  However, I don't recommend using it at the same time as the eye gel if you have sensitive skin like I do.

Here are some tips and products I like for relaxation.  Happy spa day!

• Take a bubble bath with some aromatherapy suds to reduce stress.
• Lavender always makes me feel relaxed.
• While I do a face mask, I also like to deep condition my hair with a mask like InstaNatural's Argan Oil mask.
• Chilled cucumbers on the eyes are super-refreshing. 

What Makes You Beautiful: Makeup by 1D Giveaway!

Tweens, teens, and adults alike have gone crazy for British boy band One Direction.  Beginning in August, Markwins International beauty is launching a brand-new, limited edition collection called Makeup by 1D that will make you beautiful.  You can choose from 3 sets, each of which are named after 1D songs.  Each set comes with 7 pieces: eyeshadow palette, mascara, lipstick, chubby eyeliner, lip gloss, nail polish, and stencils.  I tried the Up All Night collection with cool blue shadows and bubble gum pink lipstick.  The eyeshadow palette allows you to achieve lots of looks - from pretty day to dramatic night.  Definitely a must-have for any 1D fan (or makeup junkie) out there.  Scroll down to find out how you can win one!

US Release Dates (international release TBD)
Macy's - August 11th
Stage Stores – August 25th
Dillards – August 25th
Beauty Brands – August 25th
Lord and Taylor - August 25th

Giveaway Alert! Enter for a chance to win a limited edition Makeup by 1D set before they become available in stores!  Fill out the entry form below or click here to access it online.

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Neiman Marcus Laura Mercier Event this Saturday June 14

Neiman Marcus at Northpark invites you to an exclusive Laura Mercier event this Saturday, June 14 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.  Quality and elegance are two words that I associate with Laura Mercier.  No matter your age, Laura Mercier cosmetics are kind of timeless.  Join Neiman Marcus at Northpark for a Saturday of shopping, hors d'oeurvres, and champagne.  In addition to the Neiman Marcus Camp Gorgeous event that's happening, they're offering some really legit gifts when you buy Laura Mercier cosmetics.  Here's a summary of the free gifts you'll receive when you shop at the Laura Mercier counter on Saturday:

$100 - Neiman Marcus 7-piece gift tote

$125 - Laura Mercier 5-piece travel set

$175 - Full size skincare product (tbd)

$500 - HUGE gift basket with full size products

Global makeup artist Ryan Thomas will also be on hand to offer great makeup tips for summer.  And to make the event even more interesting, there's a contest to see who has what it takes to be the top Laura Mercier counter in the USA.  It's an intense battle between Neiman Marcus at Northpark Dallas and Bergdorf Goodman in NYC.

Even though I never really need to buy more makeup, I always want to buy more makeup.  And I want Dallas to come out on top.  Hope to see your beautiful faces at Neiman's this Saturday.

For more details, please contact:

Christina Presti 

Laura Mercier Product Specialist at NM Northpark 214-363-8311 Ext-2100

christina_presti@neimanmarcusstores.com

#flawlessindallas

Feeling Blue... Makeup! BA Star Eye Shadow Palette

Runway images from elle.com

Every spring fashion magazine lately cites blue eye makeup as this season's hot look.  In an attempt at being cool, I recently jumped on the blue wave and tried BA Star's Midnight Smoky shadow palette.  The runway makeup artists make blue shadow look easy to pull off, and it takes a few attempts to get it just right.  Luckily, BA Star makes it simple.  I started by brushing the neutral shades over the entire lid and used the blue shadow in the palette as an eyeliner.  Once I got comfortable with the boldness of blue, I went all out and rocked blue shadow - runway style!  BA Star cosmetics are made for performers who need their makeup to last long.  But if you're like me and don't thrive in the performing spotlight, you can still benefit from BA Star's long-lasting cosmetics.

Tip: a neutral lip offsets the bold blue eye look.  Classy! 

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Sophisticated, Chic & Quick: Rimmel London Makeup Look

As a girl on the go, I don't have as much time as I would like to spend on my makeup.  I also don't have as much of a budget for makeup as I would like either.  After using Rimmel London products for the past several years, I've come to realize that jumping from brand to brand wasn't that fun.  I like the feeling of knowing that Rimmel is both quality and cutting-edge.

Rimmel works for every girl, and for every event in her life.  It's easy for you to take control of the level of drama in your look.  Day or night, you can never go wrong with neutral eye shadow and beautiful red lips.  Below I've shown how you can get a simple, fast daytime look that's Sophisticated & Chic.  To shop for these makeup items, hover over the photo below and click on the icons.  I think you'll be happy to know that most of Rimmel's products are under $10!  

Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation c/o Influenster.  

Studio Gear Cosmetics Stuns This Season

Your holiday season just got a little merrier.  Studio Gear Cosmetics recently released a holiday eye shadow palette with the metallic essentials to get your desired look.  Whether it's smokey or subtle, the palette is really practical.  It's just an added bonus that the set includes a cheeky pink blush and instructions for achieving that stunning holiday glow.

The shadows in this palette, as well as all Studio Gear products, are long-lasting and highly pigmented.  I know that it's meant for "holiday" but I've been using it every day since I got it.      

Studio Gear is offering the palette for a special price, plus an additional discount for Small 4 Style readers.  Enter the code SGHOLIDAY for 10% off your entire Studio Gear purchase online.  Best of all, the code doesn't expire... sweet!  

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Victoria Jackson Cosmetics: Face Your Future - Review and Reader Giveaway!

Face it, when our skin isn't clear, it kills our confidence.  We've all had that blemish that's impossible to cover up when getting ready for an interview or event.  Victoria Jackson Cosmetics is changing the face of the industry with her philosophy about success: when we look better, we feel better.  And when we feel better, we can change our life.  

I think I've hit the jackpot with Victoria Jackson's "No Make-Up" Foundation Duo.  Now I'm able to cover acne scars and blemishes easily without piling on the foundation.  Instead of just sitting on my face like a mask, this stuff blends into my skin for a pretty finish.  Plus, each mirrored compact includes two shades and a sponge for optimal blending.  

Now it's your turn to try Victoria Jackson Cosmetics!  Use discount code BLOG2013 for 20% off your online Victoria Jackson purchase.  The code expires on 12/31/2013. 

Contest Alert!  One lucky Small 4 Style reader will win a Victoria Jackson Foundation Duo in the shade of their choice!  Just follow the steps below to enter.  Each task will earn you an entry.  Good luck! 

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