Here’s a great tutorial on creating a smokey eye look for the Holidays by makeup artist Sandy Gold.

This holiday season why not give the gift of makeup to those on your shopping list. Elf has come up with three holiday makeup collections for every budget including $25, $50(not pictured) and $100.

Get this which is 25 items for $25!

It includes: mascara-Black, nail polish-clear, nail polish-light red, nail polish-coral, liquid eyeliner-black, eyes shadow-butternut, eyeshadow-silver lining, candy tin-frosting fanatic, new moisture care-baby lips, new moisture care-maple sugar, super glossy-angel, super glossy-Mauve Luxe, plumping lip glaze-plum pout, plumping lip glaze-ruby kiss, hypershine gloss-joy, hypershine gloss-honey, conditioning balm -strawberry, blush-shy, blush-glow, total face brush, bronzing brush, eyeshadow brush, eyelash curler, shine erasers, and mirror.

Or this set of 100 items for $100.00.

Have you tried Elf products before? What were your thoughts?

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving here in the USA. I enjoy Thanksgiving because we finally get a chance to slow down and reflect on all the blessings we have in our lives. I have a lot to be thankful for including all of you. I feel so blessed to have such wonderful readers. Have a great day tomorrow (no matter what country you live in) and enjoy this poem.

“Be Thankful”

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.
~ Author Unknown ~

Every year I look forward to watching Oprah’s favorite things show. After all it’s because of that show that I found out about one of my all time favorite skin care companies Philosophy. This year I learned about some new bath and beauty products that I’ve never tried but sound wonderful. What are they you ask?

KAI BODY BUTTER and BODY BUFFER

“Bathing is an art form and nobody enjoys it more than I do,” Oprah says. Kai customized their signature scent into a moisturizing body butter in a tub just for Oprah. “It’s clean and fresh,” she says. She also loves the Body Buffer by Kai, which combines an exfoliating loofah and cleansing soap all in one. Just wet and squeeze to release foaming bubbles that smell like an exotic garden.

Retails for:Body Buffer $28; Body Butter $55 at www.kaifragrance.com and www.eluxury.com

CLARISONIC SKIN CARE SYSTEM

The Clarisonic Skin Care System helps remove six times more makeup than soap and water alone. The bristles vibrate 300 times per second and massage your face to squeaky clean perfection. “It’s a miracle massage for your face,” Oprah says.

Retails for: $195.00 at www.clarisonic.com

CLAUS PORTO SOAPS FROM LAFCO NEW YORK

These soaps have been created by the Claus Porto’s family-run factory in Portugal for the past 117 years. The jumbo-sized soaps appeal to the senses with beautiful wrappers and 17 magnificent scents, from honeysuckle to grapefruit fig. “They make great hostess gifts,” Oprah says.

Retails for: $42 (set of 3) at www.lafcony.com

Have you tried any of these products? What were your thoughts? For all of Oprah’s favorite things check out her website at www.oprah.com.

Gasp!! The new Neiman Marcus Bobbie Brown Exclusive kit is gorgeous. This would make an amazing Christmas Gift. Santa are you listening?

What they say:

Hand-crafted in genuine leather, it provides a refined and luxurious way to house and display your makeup. Custom-filled with an array of Bobbi Brown makeup and treatment products.

Includes the following items:

Sand Creamy Concealer Kit
Sand Luminous Moisturizing Foundation
Sand Foundation Stick
Bone Eye Shadow
Taupe Eye Shadow
Mahogany Eye Shadow
Heather Eye Shadow.
Rose Gold Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow
Bellini Long-Wear Cream Shadow
Ballet Pink Long-Wear Cream Shadow
Sandy Gold Long-Wear Cream Shadow
Galaxy Long-Wear Cream Shadow
Tawny Blush
Pale Pink Blush
Medium Bronzing Powder
Blushed Rose Pot Rouge
Pink Truffle Pot Rouge
Pink Quartz Shimmer Brick Compact
Buff Lip Gloss
Petal Lip Gloss
Rosy Lip Gloss
Pink Brightening Lip Gloss
Peach Brightening Lip Gloss
Mimosa Shimmer Lip Gloss
Rose Sugar Shimmer Lip Gloss
Pink Sugar Shimmer Lip Gloss
Ruby Sugar Shimmer Lip Gloss
Brown Lip Color
Slopes Lip Color
Cranberry Lip Sheer
Rosy Lip Sheer
Plum Lip Shimmer
Raspberry Lip Shimmer
Brown Tinted Lip Balm
Raspberry Tinted Lip Balm
Chocolate Shimmer Ink Long Wear Gel Eyeliner
Black Long Wear Gel Eyeliner
Indigo Long Wear Gel Eyeliner
Black No Smudge Mascara
Black Everything Mascara
Smoke Lash Glamour
Instant Long Wear Makeup Remover
Hydrating Eye Cream
Extra SPF 25 Moisturizing Balm
Overnight Cream
Intensive Skin Supplement
Beach Fragrance 50ml
Beach Body Lotion
Lathering Tube Soap
Buffing Grains for Face
Concealer Brush
Foundation Brush
Blush Brush
Face Blender Brush
Ultra Fine Eye Liner Brush
Shader Brush
Cream Shadow Brush
Bronzer Brush
Eyelash Curler
Tweezers
Empties

Retails for:$2,000 at Neiman Marcus

According to her facialist, Mariah Carey, is a huge fan of aromatherapy and anti-aging collagen treatments. One of her fave products is Decleor Aromessence Neroli Comforting Concentrate.

Formulated for normal and sensitive skin. Apply just a few drops of this cocktail of essential oils morning and evening to revitalize skin. The extraordinary nutritional properties of this aromessence oil restore suppleness and skin tone, increasing the efficacy of all the subsequent skincare products. A perfect beauty treatment for radiant results.

This product retails for $62.00 and is available at Sephora.

Do you ever wonder how the girls from Sex and the City stay fit? They recently shared their secrets with OK magazine.

Sarah Jessica Parker:

Sarah,42, says “I’m just someone who doesn’t gain weight. I really don’t do anything special. I don’t work on my figure at all. ”

That must be nice Sarah *heavy sigh*

Cynthia Nixon:

She has a pretty active lifestyle. With no television in her home, Cynthia is no couch potato. She led a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge recently as part of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual Light the Night Walk.

Kristin Davis:

“I’m a curvy girl. I’m never going to be the thinnest person in Hollywood,” Kristin says. ” But the truth is, I don’t want to be.” Kristin does Pilates three days a week. ” My teacher changes the routine all the time to keep me interested ,” she says.

About food she says:

“My main issue is to never let myself get hungry. I make sure I eat every three hours or so , mostly proteins, good carbs, veggies and salads. ”

Kim Cattrall:

“I have to diet because I love to eat.”

On working out she says:

“I exercise as much as I can. If I don’t exercise I feel sluggish.” What does she do? “I try to workout 30 minutes a day. If I can’t get to a gym, I walk. I find it a release. There is no secret. I have some genetics on my side, but time is taking over,” she laughs.

Inspired by star-studded fashion trends, Juicy Tubes Sparkling Night delivers high-tech, kaleidoscopic color. Shimmering stardust particles illuminate lips to create an out-of-this-world, prismatic pout. This limited-edition packaging is adorned with a sparkling star shower. The reflective silver design coordinates perfectly with the season’s hottest metallic accessories.

This product is available in six shades and can be purchased for $17.50 here.

Before filming her new movie Major Movie Star, Jessica Simpson turned to trainer Harley Pasternak to get her into shape. Harley is the man behind the book 5 Factor Fitness. The plan which I myself have been following off and on for years really does work. I lost a lot of weight several years ago doing this program. It involves working out five days a week for 25 minutes and combines cardio with weights.

The details:

1. Do a 5 minute cardio warm up.

2. Do one upper body strength training exercise like chest presses.

3. Do one lower body exercise like squats.

4. Do an ab exercise.

5. Do a 5 minute cardio cooldown.

The diet program, consists of 5 meals a day (breakfast,lunch,dinner and two snacks) and focuses on lean protein, low glycemic carbs, fiber, healthy fats and sugar free beverages for a total of about 1,400 calories.

For more details on this diet and fitness plan visit www.5factordiet.com.

Gwyneth Paltrow is a fan of the organic French bath line Patyka. Patyka uses only the rarest and finest botanical ingredients to make beauty organic for you. They also grow all of their own materials and don’t use any intermediaries. The products come in scents like rosewood and eucalyptus spearmint.

They also contain:

NO silicone
NO petroleum products
NO PEG
NO sulfates
NO parabens
NO phenoxyethanol

The bath wash retails for $29.00 and is available at: Luilei.com.