Not Nekkid, Nude

Ms. New Beauty loves the summer. She is actually quite comfortable in the heat but after three months of 90% plus humidity, she is so ready for fall. And this fall is one that's really got her excited. First, this is the first fall ever where MNB has no need for the words "Back to School." She's done with school and has no need to think about registrations, textbooks, school supplies or any of that stuff. But more importantly, she's really excited for the new season of fashion and beauty looks. This season is all about a return to glamour and even better, effort. No more of the "I just rolled out of bed looking like this and really don't want the world to know that I care about what I'm wearing." This fall, being pulled together is a good thing. Gone are the days of pairing your tailored blazers with your worn in jeans so that the world won't think you tried. Nope. Ms. New Beauty is putting those tailored blazers with sexy pencil skirts and reveling in the unabashed glamour of fall. She's slipping into her perfectly fitting wide leg pants and pairing them with her perfectly fitting blouses.

Of course, MNB is also embracing the more done makeup looks. She'll definitely be doing the red lip with black eyeliner and continuing in her love affair with smokey eyes, but expanding beyond the basic black into a range of shades. Ms. New Beauty also knows how important it is to temper some of these bolder makeup looks. The smoky eyes will take center stage while her lips play second fiddle in the nude. The red lips will stand in the spotlight while her eyelids remain their natural color. But, taking a backseat doesn't mean that MNB will just skip the makeup and leave parts of her face completely naked. Instead, they'll be tastefully nude and she's so elated that she found the perfect line of makeup that creates nude color looks that even women of color can enjoy.

Vasanti Lipstick in Jordan

I've always loved the look of the nude lip. Unfortunately, nude lips can be hard for a brown skin girl to achieve. Many colors labeled nude show up so chalky and ashy on darker skin tones that they really end up making you look like an enbalming room extra from Six Feet Under. The only other option is to wade through the vast amount of brown lipsticks which are often gold-flecked and just ruin the flat look necessary for a true nude lip. Enter Vasanti.

Vasanti Cosmetics is like the perfect tree rustling breeze on a fall day. Desperately needed yet a refreshing surprise at the same time. Created by three South Asian women in Toronto, Vasanti was developed to address the needs of women of color from all backgrounds. Their tagline, which I am just in LOVE with, is "I Love My Colour." The perfect antidote to so many cosmetics companies that teach us just the opposite of that with their whitening products that are quite popular around the world. Mama New Beauty is actually the one who put me on to this line. She didn't want me to tell you all that she recommended it to me but I'm doing it anyway. My mom is fabulous, still looks 10 years younger than she is and is absolutely the one who turned me into a product junkie at 6 years old.

Vasanti specializes in colors that will look fabulous on women whose complexions are more yellow-based. And, my favorite part, and I always have a favorite part, is the names they give their shades. All of the products are named after cities and countries around the world native to people of color - like Kenya, Tunisia, Brunei, and India. The perfect nude lipstick for fall is Vasanti's Jordan. Jordan is the perfect warm beigey brown that will look good on just about everyone. It's a pretty brown for fairer women and the perfect nude for darker ones. The look is subtle yet done, the perfect match for any kind of bold eye look.

$15, available at Vasanti.com and select Ulta locations

Khartoum Eyeshadow

Khartoum is a pretty golden brown with just a hint of bronze in it. It's a subtle brown shade to wear on your eyes when you have something bold, like red, going on your lips. It finishes the look and tells the world that you really do care enough to do your whole face, but know better than to have too much going on at once. For my medium brown skin, this shade blends in perfectly and is barely there but just there enough.

The best part of this shadow is the sleek compact it comes in. A small, purse portable silver compact with a perfect little mirror built right in the top. And, I appreciate that they didn't stick those q-tip like sponge applicators anywhere near this divine eyeshadow. Honestly, companies have to know that anyone paying good money for eyeshadow isn't going to slap it on with that imprecise and silly little q-tip applicator. I'm not saying any names, but there are plenty of beauty firms that missed that memo.

$15, available at Vasanti.com and select Ulta locations.


Remember to go nude (not naked!) with some of the bolder looks for fall, and always "Love you colour," just don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!

Getting Your M.A.C. On

Greetings New Beauties of the world!!! MNB is so ashamed of herself. She really is. She knows that she didn't update last week. Normally when there's a gap in posting, it's because her life is moving at a racehorse pace. But this time, she really has no excuse. She had the time, definitely had new products to write about, and wasn't banished to some deserted island without an internet connection. Ms. New Beauty just wasn't feeling the slightest bit creative. She really tries to make her posts interesting and to write in a way that's a equal parts product knowledge and girlfriends gabbing on the phone. And, last week she just couldn't do it. A post last week would have read like "Got crust? Grease your feet with Aquaphor." Sure it gets the job done but it's no fun doing it. Well, MNB woke up yesterday to find the perfect question to jump start a feature she'd been meaning to include here for a long time. So, apologies for the lack of posting last week and welcome to the first installment of Ask Ms. New Beauty!

Dear Ms. New Beauty,

My girl gave me a $150 gift card for my birthday and on the back she wrote USE THIS ONLY TO buy M.A.C. I went online to do it but got immediately intimidated!!! I buy my makeup from Walmart - not M.A.C. But I saw the difference when I had my makeup done professionally last week - it transformed my face - not just added color. So, I want to do what she has instructed me to do - but I don't know where to start...

HIZHELP!!!

Signed,

Need Help Getting My M.A.C. On

Never fear, Ms. New Beauty is here. Gift cards are a wonderful thing. But it's always so hard to know exactly what to do with them. Do you get the things that you need? Or do you blow the whole thing on something utterly fabulous that you'll hardly use? Both! Since you have wonderful friend who blessed you with a gift in an amount big enough to really enjoy it.

(Sidenote - I really consider gift cards for less than $50 a tad declasse. What am I really going to get with that? A book? A pair of socks? MNB Gift Giving Guide Lesson 204 - $50 may be all you can afford but it's not all you have to spend. Devote the time to picking out a lower priced gift that will really mean something to the recipient. A $20 gift card just says you don't care.) Enough of that, on to the products!!!!

Investments

Foundation

If you've been buying everything from Wal-mart, you MUST make your first purchase a good foundation. Luckily, M.A.C. makes a bunch of different foundations in different formulas, textures and most importantly, colors. M.A.C. was one of the first lines to truly devote the same amount of counter space and shades to foundations for women of color. Take advantage of that. Head over to the counter and talk to one of the makeup artists to find the right formula for you. Liquid or cream formulas work well for dry skin, though you may want to try a matte or powder option if you are naturally oily. Don't let the artist do your whole face - instead, use two or three shades that look close to your complexion and swipe them along your jawline. Make a note of the one that disappears into your skin. Excuse yourself and go outside into natural light to make sure that it really appears natural on you.

Studio Fix is a pretty versatile liquid formula and comes in 23 shades. $25

Concealer

If you have ever have to deal with dark circles or blemishes, you'll need to get yourself a concealer too. Actually, you'll need two of them. Dark circles need a creamy or liquid concealer in a shade slightly lighter than your skin. Using a perfectly matching shade will just make those undereye circles look darker. If blemishes or pimples get in the way of your perfect complexion, pick up a cakey concealer that matches your skin exactly. Precise application is key, otherwise, you'd be better off using a red Sharpie to draw an arrow pointing directly to your zit instead of wasting time and money with concealer. M.A.C. has made the application game much easier by putting a concealer in a very easy to use and precise pencil form. Once you find the right shade for your foundation, the makeup artist can pick the concealer shades that will work best with it - so don't worry if you forget which shade you need for which problem.

Studio Touch-Up Stick, $14.50

Blush

The last product you should really invest in is a great blush. Your blush should be the color that your skin is naturally when it's flushed. Give your cheeks a quick pinch or think about what you look like after you run up a flight of stairs or come in from the cold. That's the look you're going for. The makeup artist will be able to try a number of shades and formulas to find the one that will look most natural on you. They're well trained professionals so don't be afraid to ask the makeup artists for their expertise.

All M.A.C. Blushes are $17.50

That's it for the investment products. You have everything you need for your everyday makeup needs and can look effortlessly fabulous and flawless. Now, on to the fun stuff.

Splurges

Eyeshadow

Most powder eyeshadows aren't really that different from each other. The things that truly differentiates good shadows from the cheap ones are the pigment and the formula. M.A.C. is know for their intensely pigmented shadows. For women of color, this is especially important because some colors can disappear on darker skin if there isn't enough pigment. Use your gift card to try some fun bright shadows here. The kinds of colors you can use to really make your eyes pop on a night out. For fall, blue eyeshadow is definitely on trend. Not that frosty blue hideousness or that Mimi clown shadow, but pretty blues in a range of shades that really stand out.

M.A.C.'s devoted a whole new collection to this trend. Blue Storm features five smoky blue and gray shadows that will all layer beautifully with either other and keep you on trend with the dark looks in store for fall. Even though this is definitely fall in line with the latest trend, smoky colors are always a great part of any New Beauty's makeup case. It would be worth your money to invest in all five shadows because you will be able to wear them for years to come.

All five Blue Storm Eyeshadows, $72.50

Grand total for foundation, concealer, blush, and eyeshadow = $129.50

That leaves you with $20 to pick up any lip gloss, lipstick or other treat that catches your eye.

Have fun at the makeup counter, pick up real investments alongside the fun stuff, and remember, all you have to do is ask and Ms. New Beauty will tell you!

Is This 2007?

Ms. New Beauty had no intentions of posting today. Absolutely none. She's been working out like a fiend and not eating enough so she is ridiculously tired today. She's not intentionally starving herself, more like forgetting to eat. And, after churning out Monday's post and an additional post over at Imperious Ent., MNB needed a break. But, today she opened up her email to find some very disappointing and disheartening news about the antics of an editor at one of her favorite magazines.

your roots are showing

'Glamour' Editor To Lady Lawyers: Being Black Is Kinda A Corporate "Don't"

The latest issue of Glamour advises readers use Kimble leave-in conditioner followed by a flat iron followed by a curling iron followed by spritzer and augmented with hair extensions to achieve "Mary J. Blige's loose beautiful curls." Um, how about time better spent solving the mortgage crisis? Well, a recent slide show by an unidentified Glamour editor on the "Dos and Don'ts of Corporate Fashion" at a New York law firm shed some light on the topic, according to this month's American Lawyer magazine.

First slide up: an African American woman sporting an Afro. A real no-no, announced the 'Glamour' editor to the 40 or so lawyers in the room. As for dreadlocks: How truly dreadful! The style maven said it was 'shocking' that some people still think it 'appropriate' to wear those hairstyles at the office. 'No offense,' she sniffed, but those 'political' hairstyles really have to go.

Um, hey, 'no offense' taken -- my hair has been totally apolitical ever since I learned about the dangers of "Republican highlights" -- but next time you tell a group of professionals they'll need to submit to extensive regular treatments if they expect to survive in the corporate world, maybe try a crowd that isn't so familiar with, like, the law?

The story ends happily, with the law firm Cleary Gottlieb's managing partner Mark Walker, who wasn't at the lady luncheon, sending everyone an email pointing out the stupidty of the Glamour editor and of fashion magazines and yeah pretty much all the things we here at Jezebel hold so near and reviled.

As for the identity of the editor, neither Cleary Gottlieb nor Condé Nast Publications Inc. (publisher of 'Glamour') would say. Indeed, almost all of the half-dozen 'Glamour' editors contacted for this story professed not to have ever set foot in a law firm. 'Cleary what?' asked several. And Walker says he has no idea whether the editor who sparked all this controversy is a well-known fashionista. Not that Walker would know, even if Anna Wintour herself crossed his path. 'Who is she?' Walker asks. 'I really don't know people in the fashion industry.'

Ah, to be a white man.

Source: Jezebel

I have to ask - is it 2007 or did I wake up in a time warp and it's really 1907 outside? Are people this clueless and insensitive that they would admonish women that their natural beauty, the assets that God gave them are not appropriate in the workplace? An afro is a political statement? Has this Glamour editor, someone who is professionally charged with being on top of fashion and beauty trends, been asleep for the past thirty years and missed the fact that natural hair is not about politics? I swear the world takes one step forward and then two steps back.

I normally look forward to reading my Glamour issue every month but this is really leaving a bad taste in my mouth. I'm off to right a strongly worded email to the editors at Glamour and the higher ups at Conde Nast. I fully expect to see a written apology in the next issue or my subscription will be canceled. I encourage you to do the same if you were as equally offended as I was.


Voice your opinion on this subject, let Glamour know that this is unacceptable, and don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!


P.S. I hate that the 100th post on Ms. New Beauty had to be taken up with something as foolish as this!

Double Up

Ms. New Beauty is a pretty laid back kinda gal, but she takes a few things in life very seriously. Her hair. Her physical fitness. Her television. Now this last one tends to get a little more MNB effort than the others. When Ms. New Beauty falls for a show, she falls hard. She waits all week for the latest installment, cuts the cell phone and computer off when it starts, yells at the scream if need be, and then instantly pores over everything that happened once it goes off. All of this effort keeps MNB from committing to more than one show at a time and from auditioning new primetime regulars. But, since summer tends to be pretty slow with the TV offerings, MNB decided to take advantage of On Demand and catch up with a show that she'd heard was pretty good. From the first episode, Ms. New Beauty was loving Weeds. Over the course of the next few weeks, she caught herself up all the way through both seasons and was just salivating for the third season opener. Finally, Showtime advertised the season premier. And, instead of excitement, MNB's heart sank. The third season of Weeds is starting at the same time and night as the third season of The Hills! What a quandary, does she tune in to see what happens once Heidi moved in with her jerky boyfriend Spencer or does she watch to see whether Silas gets caught with $300,000 worth of MILF weed in his trunk???? What's a TV junkie to do? Set her Tivo to record The Hills, watch what happens on Weeds, and turn her focus to two beauty faves that only work better when used together and cause no anxiety.

M.A.C. 3D Glass in Boundless

If you've picked up any of the September issues of any magazine that even remotely deals with fashion or beauty, you've been beaten over the head with liquid eyeliner and red lipstick as the new looks for fall. But of course, neither of these products are easy to pull off on your first try, especially not the latter. Red lipstick requires lots of trial and testing, precision in application and meticulous maintenance to get the look right. Get a red that's too blue for your yellow undertones and you'll be left looking clownish about the mouth. Slap it on too fast and that imprecise line around your lips will make you look sloppy. And, the tendency to forget you have on such a "look-at-me" color on your mouth can lead to lipstick on the teeth, which is one of the 7 Seven Deadly Beauty Sins.

So my advice for those who are just venturing into Crimson Kisser territory is red lip gloss. Yes, it is shinier than the matte look all over ad campaigns and photo shoots, but it is much easier to apply and pull off than red lipstick. It is also the perfect first step to take on this trend to see if it is truly right for you.

The perfect red lip gloss for fall is from M.A.C.'s new limited edition 3D collection. When I first saw Boundless in the tube, I instantly thought this was a shade that I'd give to my mother, since she far prefers the deep, bold lip colors. But, I tried it on just to see what I'd be missing and instantly knew that this was one red I'd have to keep for myself. The color goes on sheer but doesn't disappear so it's still noticeable on your lips. A second coat gives the perfect shade of red to make a statement without screaming. The sheerness of the formula insures that it'll work with any complexion. And, even though it's a gloss, it's not so sticky, shiny and goopy like other glosses can be. It has just a hint of shine but still keeps the look simple.

$14, available at M.A.C. counters for a limited time


Maybelline Lineworks Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

For some people, liquid eyeliner is scary. But for me, that was never the problem. I actually learned how to use eyeliner using a liquid formula. The pencils were always too hard for me to use. The only way I could get color to show up on me was by damn near stabbing myself with the pencil. So I naturally gravitated towards the liquid eyeliner because there was no stabbing involved.

Liquid eyeliner can be tricky and it was for me at first, but if you try some simple techniques, you'll have a gorgeous cat eye going in no time. First, stabilize your hand by resting your elbow on the table, vanity or sink where you put your makeup on. Then start close to your inner eye, right on top of your eyelashes and drag the line out. If you have too much wiggling and the line gets crooked, just take short strokes and connect each dash to the one before it. Finally, make sure that you keep the liner as close to your eyelashes as possible. Nothing is tackier than skin showing through between your lashes and liner. For a sexy little cat eye, extend the line up just a bit at the outer corner. But please do not go too far into Amy Winehouse territory! If the line is too dark, let it dry a few seconds and then smudge ever so slightly.

This liner is great because it has a soft felt tip applicator. It makes lining your eyes simple if you've ever been to kindergarten and played with crayola markers. Just follow my tips above and you will be a liquid line whiz in no time. Plus, it's waterproof so you don't have to worry about your eyeliner migrating during the day or not surviving a session of Steel Magnolias. Be careful though, Maybelline makes another liquid liner that is very similar to this one called Line Works Ultra. That formula has a brush applicator which makes applying it with precision tougher if you don't have a steady hand.

$7, available at drugstores.


Note - Both red lips and liquid liner are very attention grabbing beauty looks by themselves so wearing them together be overwhelming. Keep this look tame by skipping other color on your face. Even out your complexion or cover blemishes with foundation or concealer that matches your skin perfectly. Wear a nude eyeshadow if you must and keep your blush very, very subtle. Any other color on your face will take your makeup from Glamourous to Clownish is 60 seconds flat.


Double up on the glamour and on the good tv, but make sure you keep them both in check, and never forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!

And The Winner Is

Donyetta D. from Richmond, VA!!!! She'll be having a great time playing with all her new products in the next few days.

Ms. New Beauty thanks everyone who signed up to be part of the giveaway. The response was so amazing that she's going to make giveaways a more regular feature here at Ms. New Beauty.

Congrats again to Miss Donyetta!


Thanks for reading, thanks for subscribing, and remember that Ms. New Beauty always tells you!

The Stroke of Midnight

There is just a little over twelve hours left in the greatest contest in Ms. New Beauty history. At the stroke of midnight tonight, MNB is going to put all of her subscribers' email addresses into a random generator program to select the winner of the Ms. New Beauty 1st Anniversary Giftbag Giveaway. The lucky winner will be notified via email and receive the box of goodies. And, just in case you were wondering whether you should subscribe or what exactly you stand to win, Ms. New Beauty is offering a full rundown.

The giftbag includes

• 8 loose powder pigment eyeshadows from the M.A.C. Rushmetal Collection
• 2 flat eyeshadow brushes
• 4 lipsticks
  
• 2 eye liners
• TESS Rise and Shine Cleanser
• TESS Ooh-Refreshing! Toner
• TESS Time for Some ZZZ's Moisturizer
• TESS Wipe Out Facial Wipes
• TESS Perfect Pout Lip Gloss
• 2 Clairol Shine Happy Clear Shine Treatments
• 2 Clairol Nice 'n Easy Color Seal Conditioning Gloss
• 3 Maryam's Soap Nook Luxury Body Mist
• 2 Maryam's Soap Nook Whipped Shea Monoi Body Butters
• Maryam's Soap Nook Shea Butter & Dead Sea Salt Glow Scrub
• Gloves in a Bottle Shielding Lotion
• Shiseido The Skincare 3 Step System
• $15 Gift Certificate to Scent Design

The total retail value for all of these products is over $450! So make sure you sign up for your chance to win. And, if you've already signed up, make sure you check your email early tomorrow to find out if you are the lucky New Beauty getting all of these goodies.


Subscribe and sign up to win but don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!

Exit to Ecstasy

What a Saturday Ms. New Beauty had! MNB's sister is getting married in the fall and celebrated the occasion, as many brides do, with a bridal shower. This shower was a wonderful event, however, it took place in Connecticut - three hours away from Ms. New Beauty's home. And, getting to Connecticut on a summer Saturday is no small feat. What should have been a relatively simple three hour drive ended up being a four and a half hour study on the traffic patterns of New Englanders. And, all of the traffic heading towards the event was in Connecticut. Not on the Jersey Turnpike, not crossing the George Washington Bridge in New York. Just concentrated on an accident-free, construction-less stretch of I-95 in Connecticut.

Now, Ms. New Beauty wore her cute high heeled mules for this trip, which are not driving shoes, in case you were confused. So, after about thirty minutes in the car, MNB had to kick those shoes off and drive barefoot. It was a little uncomfortable and produced a moderate foot cramp, but Ms. New Beauty persisted because the heels were far too shaky on the accelerator. Her right foot made it to the shower with not too much pain. But, on the way back, when Ms. New Beauty saw that traffic approaching New York City was just bumper to bumper, she couldn't take it anymore. She pulled right off the highway and headed into the city to give her cramped foot exactly what it needed and deserved - a pedicure and a fresh coat of polish.

Essie Nail Polish in Life Saver

After all that driving, my right foot was coming down with bad case of carpal tunnel (if that's possible in feet). I just had to stop by my favorite SoHo nail salon, Spa Belle, and treat myself to their wonderful spa pedicure. Oh, it is an hour of absolute bliss. They add milk to the bath for extra softening, scrub callouses and dead skin with painstaking diligence, and massage and rub your feet and legs with the most relaxing blends of oils and lotions. I so did not want to leave when Kay was finished with me. The only hard part of the pedicure process was picking the right nail color.

This summer, I have been absolutely loving the coral nail polish. It used to seem like a Palm Beach Bitty shade, but coral has taken on a much more modern look lately. It is one of the few shades that truly lives up to the phrase universally flattering. Because coral is a mix of pink and peach, it really does work with every shade, undertone and color of skin that exists in this universe, not just the lightest ones. But, depending on the situation - like a very stuffy conservative workplace - coral can be a little too much on the hands. It's bright and it screams "hey, look at me" which means that it is perfect for your pedicured toes. It is the right shade to peek out of your flip flops, wedges and sandals at any of your summertime outings.

We've established that coral is amazing, but now the question goes to which coral is the best. Is it a pinky coral or a peachy one? Darker or lighter? More red or more orange? Well, I've been trying almost every coral incarnation this summer. There has only been one non-coral diversion for my toes, and it only lasted about 5 days. I just couldn't take it. So far, Essie Lifesaver has been my favorite. It's more on the orange side of coral with a little of a golden shimmer. But it has just the right amount of pink to keep the shade from reading too citrusy. This polish added the perfect bit of punch to my black and white bridal shower ensemble and totally lifted my spirits after hours and hours of traffic.

$8, avaiable at Essie.com


Treat your tootsies right, pick a polish that's pretty and lifts your spirits, but just don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!


And remember to sign up for the giftbag giveaway! Only three days left until one lucky New Beauty wins a giftbag (well, now it's becoming a box because a bag would be too small) with the M.A.C. Rushmetal Collection, a bath & body set from Maryam's Soap Nook, a gift certificate to Scent Design, a cleansing regime from TESS, color savers from Clairol, and a bunch of other goodies. Sign up for a Ms. New Beauty subscription with Feedblitz to enter for your chance to win!!!

We Invented The Remix

The original is always good, but Ms. New Beauty loves her a remix. Remixes have such potential to fail miserably, but when they don't, when they actually succeed, a remix is like a revelation. Ms. New Beauty feels like she's discovered some whole new aspect of something she already loved. She swooned as a child when Jodeci beckoned her to "Come & Talk to Me." But when they remixed it and started singing "come and talk to me I really want to meet you girl, I really wanna know your name," she yelled her name in response and then almost passed out. It was like K-Ci and Jojo were singing right to Ms. New Beauty. All of a sudden the song she had always loved took on a whole new meaning. And, MNB often has this same reaction to other wonderful remixes. Chips Ahoy 100 calorie packs and the myriad permutations of reality shows starring, featuring or copying off of Flavor Flav come to mind as quick examples. But, when it comes to her cosmetics, MNB tends to be a purist and stick with the originals guaranteed to please rather than risking disappointment from a "new & improved" remixed version. Yet, there is one product that has been remixed to death, but Ms. New Beauty is still going along for the ride and enjoying every minute of it!

C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine

The Mentha Lip Shine is one of the most popular and most loved C.O. Bigelow Products. It is consistently their best selling product. The original debuted just two years ago, but it has become a staple in the makeup kits and purses of women everywhere. The concept is simple yet ingenious at the same time. A non-sticky lip gloss infused with peppermint oil to freshen breath while it leaves behind a subtle shine on lips. I had a moment when I first discovered Mentha Lip Shine. I just had to pause and have one of those "why didn't I think of this?" dialogues in my head. But that moment soon passed and I started telling everyone I knew about this ingenious little lip gloss. So, needless to say, me and Mentha have been in love for a while. But, I am also in love with everything Mentha does and every remix he gives me.

$7.50, everything is available at C.O. Bigelow or Bath & Body Works

Mentha Vitamin Body Wash

This product has been a long time coming. And, it timed its debut perfectly. Just as New Beauties everywhere are in the throes of sweltering, tortuous heat waves, this body wash appears on shelves to bring us some cool to our boiling hot days. Imagine that you've just spent all day at school or work, then decided to be healthy and sweat out your stresses with an hour at the gym or maybe even a hot yoga class, and now you have to deal with a 30 minute car, bus or train ride until you finally get into your own home and A/C. Infused with peppermint oil, this is the product you will reach for once you finally get in the house and out of the heat.

The mint cools off your tired skin and brings your body temperature down fast. Then, once you're done and the shower is turned off, the air hits the water on your skin and makes you tingle all over. You'll feel as if you've just taken a dip in a Scrooge McDuck sized pool of Vick's Vapo-rub, sans the greasy residue. Plus, it has vitamin A, C, & E infused beads to really treat your skin right.

$14

Black Cherry Mentha Lip Shine

I'll admit, I even like the flavored versions of the original Mentha. What worried me at first was how the flavors would work with the mint. I initially imagined a horrible taste in my mouth, one reminiscent of what happens when you sit down for a glass of OJ or plate of pancakes too soon after brushing your teeth. But, the Bigelow Chemists definitely deserve a raise because there is no such bad interaction here. At first, when you apply it to your lips, you'll taste the flavor of the lip shine. Then, that'll pass and leave behind the cool taste of mint and a little tingle on your lips. I don't know how, but it works.

Black Cherry is part of the soda pop Mentha remixes. I love it! It takes me back to the days when Bonne Bell Lip Smackers were the only makeup I was allowed to have. I had two favorite flavors - Grape, which tasted like Kool-Aid to me, and Dr. Pepper. Come on now, you know you loved the Dr. Pepper Lip Smacker too. The Black Cherry Mentha Lip Shine is the grown up version that you will not have to be embarrassed about pulling out of your purse and putting on in public. The Soda Pop Collection also has Cream Soda and Root Beer flavors too.

$7.50

Citrus Mentha Minis

This one I just picked up last night. It was sitting by the register and the bright colors beckoned me. The cashier had already rung me up but I just had to slide this in with the rest of the purchases. Shame is, I have a degree in Marketing and still fall for all of those tricks. I know better, but I don't care.

Anyway, this is a great little trio. Three small lip shines in Lime, Grapefruit, and Orange flavors. The sizes are perfect to fit in the teensy tiny clutches that go so well with your night out on the town outfits. So far, Grapefruit is my favorite flavor but the lime is coming up a close second for me. I'm not really a fan of the Orange, but then again, orange in general does nothing for me. I never liked the Orange flavored Tic Tacs and that's exactly what this tastes like to me.

$10 for the three


Let the mint make you tingly from head to toe, but remember C.O. Bigelow really invented the remix, and tell a friend that Ms. New Beauty told you!

P.S. Don't forget to sign up for the gift bag giveaway. You only have until Wednesday at midnight to subscribe with feedblitz and be included in the drawing!

MNB All Over The World

Ms. New Beauty loves to travel. In the past few years, she's gotten quite a few new stamps in her passport and she loves it!!!! Each little stamp makes her excited and she just can't wait to get another one. She wants to live in abroad for at least two years. She wants to step foot on every continent (well, not Antarctica) and as many countries as possible. She just wants to go as many places and see as many faces as she can. But, as much as she likes to travel, Ms. New Beauty has really only been one place when it comes to the internet - right here! This little site is her home and her haven. But now she's starting to get her internet travel on and skipping herself all around the world wide web.

Now, this is no cause for worry dear New Beauties. MNB will always be here with her product reviews and beauty musings. But she's also branching out and is now a featured guest blogger on Imperious Entertainment!!!!! Her first post over at Imperious is another installment of Cheap & Chic, the Bronze Goddess Edition. Check her out and make sure you leave a comment.


Get your internet travel on and visit MNB at Imperious Ent., but just don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!


And, really don't forget to sign up for the giftbag giveaway. Less than one week left!!!!!