Beauty for Charity:

As anyone who's ever searched eBay for the latest out-of-stock Chanel polish or Limited Edition MAC shadow can attest, women will gladly pony up big bucks for their most desired beauty products. I've seen beauty products quadruple their retail price, all in the name of "gotta have it" and said, more than once, that any woman that is willing to pay over $100 for a nail polish needs to find a charity.

Apparently, I wasn't the only one who thought so, because a few weeks ago, I was contacted by the lovely Karla of Karla Sugar (when I need swatches, this is my first stop!) about an incredible opportunity to participate in a charity organization she was spearheading.

BeautyBloggers.org is a collaboration of almost 50 different beauty bloggers and brands who, in the spirit of the holidays, want to make a meaningful contribution to charity. So we’re putting our makeup on the auction block. Winning bids will be donated directly to Doctors Without Borders.

It's a fact that women are always disproportionately affected in any disaster. Doctors Without Borders is committed to bringing quality medical care to people in crisis, regardless of race, religion, or political affiliation. They treat rape victims in Papua New Guinea; they make sure women don’t die in childbirth in Pakistan; they helped flood victims in Mexico and earthquake victims in Haiti. They work in 65 countries around the world, and your donation will make an immediate impact.

The cool thing is, that warm fuzzy feeling in the pit of your tum-tum isn't the only perk you get out of donating at BeautyBloggers.org- there are some great (and almost impossible to find) things up for bid (remember that hard-to-find-this-season's-hottest nail polish I mentioned in the beginning...?)

So what are you waiting for? Bidding began today, and will end Monday, December 20th at 5 pm CST. International bidders are welcome, so please spread the word!

Oh, and in case you're interested, here's a list of the BeautyBloggers.org 2010 sponsors:

Afrobella, A Girl's Gotta Spa!, AlyWalansky.com, Armani Beauty, Bay Area Style File, Beauté Cosmetics, Beauty Alchemist, Beauty Info Zone, The Beauty Look Book, Bobbi Brown, Cafe Makeup, Cargo, China Glaze, EnKore, Estee Lauder, Fashion. Style. Beauty., For the Love of Beauty, From Head to Toe, Givenchy, Gloss Menagerie, Gouldylox Reviews, Grace Gold for AOL StyleList, Illamasqua, JeweledThumb, KarlaSugar, KraseyBeauty, Lancome, Leonor Greyl, The Makeup Girl, Miss Whoever You Are, Musings of a Muse, My Lips But Better, Nadine Jolie, The Non-Blonde, Older Girl Beauty, OPI, Out in a Pout, Pink Sith, Prime Beauty, Product Girl, Pursebuzz, Renee Rouleau, Retrodiva's Beauty, Sasquatch Swatch, Sicka Than Average, Spoiled Pretty, Talika, Three Custom Color Specialists, and Votre Vu

This Week's Sales: NYX, Dr. Hauschka, TIGI...and more!

Was Thanksgiving this week? In all of the hubbub about Black Friday, my memories of the actual holiday, I admit, are a bit fuzzy. I'm pretty sure it involved poultry of some sort. Hopefully, those that celebrated followed their recollections of gratefulness with some good deals, but in case you didn't do enough damage this past weekend, here are a few more sales for your consideration.

HauteLook has NYX on Monday, November 29th, followed by Pur Minerals on Wednesday and Michael Todd Cosmetics on Thursday, December 2nd.

Gilt Groupe On Monday check out Dr. Hauschka, on Tuesday catch Molton Brown and on Thursday, peruse selections from Comptoir Sud Pacifique.

Beyond the Rack has a Cyber Monday Madness sale going on today- starting at 5am, 5 new events will launch every 5 hours, with $5 shipping all day. There's also still time to get in on Joey New York, and Fusion Beauty begins on Tuesday.

Beauty Story has Rock & Republic Beauty on Monday, DermaNew on Tuesday, Vapour Organic Beauty on Wednesday, Philip B. on Thursday and Fenix on Friday.

Brand Alley has BellaPierre Cosmetics as well as a Bath, Body & Hair Boutique (featuring TIGI, MOP, Anatomicals and more) until Tuesday. They'll also be offering an exclusive 50% off spa package at the Baglioni Hotel Kensington. Gift for someone that has everything? Perhaps just what you need after a looooong day of holiday shopping! If you're not a member yet and you'd like to help us both earn a £10 voucher, click here for a personal invite from yours truly!

Don't forget to check out the list of Black Friday & Cyber Monday sales, there are some new ones today, and a lot of the "Black Friday" sales are still going on, so there's still time to get in on some of the best deals I've seen in a long time! Also, if you're not already a follower here, what are you waiting for? Click that FOLLOW button so you don't miss the BIG news this Thursday!!!

Black Friday & Cyber Monday DealsLatest Update: Monday, 4:13pm EST

For those of you not familiar, Black Friday is the official start of the US Holiday shopping season, so named because it is traditionally the day that retailers go "into the black". In the days of ole, when book keepers wrote out ledgers, deficits were written in red ink. When a business got to the point in the year when they were finally making a profit, the ink was changed to black. In the US, the day after Thanksgiving is generally the biggest shopping day. Thus, Black Friday. Now you know. Cyber Monday is simpler, if you need explanation on that one, you'll have to Google it!

Anyway, I've scoured the interwebs for all of the beauty deals out there I could find. I'll be updating this as I learn of new sales, hopefully I'll have time in between updates to eat and use the potty! If you know of any sales not listed here, feel free to leave them below in the comments so we can all get in on the goods.

*all sales listed below are, to my knowledge, are on-line only.

Armani Beauty: Friends & Family starts Wednesday, November 24. Get 20% off & free shipping with $75 purchase with code: FRIENDS. Offer expires Tuesday, November 30.

For Cyber Monday, spend $125 and receive 20% Off, free Shipping, and a 6 piece gift! Use code: FRIENDS2 at checkout.

Bath and Body Works: 25% all online orders on Monday, November 29th with code CYBER25.

BeautyTicket.com is having a Cyber Monday sale! Save 30% on November 29th with the code CYBER30. Starts at 12am.

Bliss Spa: Blue Week sales include 30% off on create-your-own (code GIFT30) and bundled gift sets (code GIFTSET), as well as a 50% off "outlet" featuring products by the brand itself as well as lines like M Lab, Becca and T3. Offers end November 29th.

Butter London: 30% off with code FF2010, expires November 30th.

CherryCulture: Thanksgiving sale starts November 24th. Use code TG20 to get 20% OFF everything in store. Offer ends Sunday, November 28th.

Cinema Secrets: Cyber Monday only, get 50% off any order with the code CYBER50.

Clarisonic: Additional 20% off skin care pairs - Monday, November 29th and Tuesday, November 30th. Fans can get the deal early beginning Friday with the code PAIRS!

Coastal Scents: 33% off from Black Friday to Cyber Monday (sale ends Monday at 12am EST). Free US ground shipping on orders over $50.

Dr Dennis Gross Skincare: 25% off all weekend plus a free gift worth $14. Free ground shipping on orders over $100.

E.L.F.: Buy one get the second 50% off on Black Friday only. Use code BOGO50 at checkout. Also, get free shipping on orders over $30. 55% off sitewide on when you spend $25 or more on Cyber Monday only. Use code 55WIDE.

Elizabeth Arden: From Friday, November 26 to Tuesday, November 30th, get 25% off makeup, skincare and fragrance, plus free shipping!

For Cyber Monday only, get a free 31 piece tote bag with any purchase of $65 or more ($300 value) with code CYBER65.

Eve Pearl: The Black Pearl promo is back, giving fans the opportunity to stock up at savings up to 55% off! The event starts Thursday, November 25 at 12:00 AM EST and ends on Monday, November 29th at 11:59 PM EST. The Code is BPCM2010. Free domestic shipping on orders over $100 (international orders over $200 are shipped for free also.)

Geek Chic Cosmetics: Buy 5 get 1 free, plus 15% off the entire order. Also, domestic orders over $30 get free shipping. All international orders over $50 get $5 off.

Haus of Gloi: Handmade soap bars, whipped soaps, body butters and bubbling scrubs for under $5.00, while supplies last!

Hi-Fi Cosmetics: Starting Friday, use code OMGBF40 to get 40% off your entire order (excludes samples and "any 5/10" deals). Discount expires November 29th.

High Voltage Cosmetics: November 24th-27th, take 30% off your entire order. Includes all full sized products and samples. Refunds will be sent through PayPal.

Kate Somerville: 30% off with code KSFF2010, expires 11/30. (And, yes, that code includes everything- including Clarisonic!)

Kiehl's: Friends & Family runs this Friday November 26, through Thursday, December 2nd. Enjoy 20% off all purchases at Kiehls.com and in free-standing Kiehls stores. There's no code needed on-line, but if you're shopping in store, you'll need a printed invite: click here and I'll send one out lickety-split! Orders over $30 are shipped for free; just enter code FAMILY10 at checkout.

Illamasqua: Starting on Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 25th) get 25% off you order when you enter the promotional code THANKSGIVING. Offer lasts until Sunday 28th November, Midnight PST.

Lierac Paris: Friends and Family begins on Friday, November 29th. Use code FF2010 and receive 30% off all products. Offer ends Wednesday, December 3rd.

Lime Crime: Black Friday though Cyber Monday, get 40% off with code BLACKFRIDAY40.

Lorac Cosmetics: Limited edition Cyber Monday Collection; 5 full-sized Lorac all-time favorites packed snug inside a sexy black makeup bag. A $100 value for only $25.

Makeup Geek Store: 20% off on Cyber Monday with code MUGCYBER20.

Mario Badescu: Free ground shipping and a free gift with purchases over $50 with code bfriday.

Missha 40% off on all items, no code necessary. Sale starts Thursday, Nov 25 and ends on Sunday, November 28th.

Morgana Cryptoria will be hosting a "super totally awesome Black Friday sale". Details should be available Wednesday night.

NYX Cosmetics: 50% OFF your entire purchase, Friday November 26th.

OCC Cosmetics is giving 20% off of Lip Tars. The sale begins 12AM PST tonight (Sunday) and ends Monday, November 29th at 11:59PM PST. Use the code CYBER 2010 in the special instructions at checkout.

One Hand Washes the Other: 10% off everything in the shop, $5.oo Black Friday gift sets. Also special deals for Cyber Monday in OHWTO's Etsy shop!

Origins: $10 off any order over $25 with code MONDAY on November 29th only (excludes gift sets). Also, free standard shipping on any order from November 25th through November 29th.

Pür Minerals: Friends and Family, now through November 30th. Use code FF10 to save an extra 20% off your order and receive free shipping.

Sally Beauty: 25% off your ENTIRE order with code 555156. Excludes equipment. Offer expires November 29th.

Sephora: Free tote with orders over $25 on Black Friday (while supplies last) with code MYHAUL.

Sigma Makeup: Free international shipping for Black Friday (Nov 26th) with code BF2010.

SkinCareRX: 20% off everything site wide using code BESTSKIN20.

SkinStore: 20% off everything with code CYBER20, with free shipping on orders over $49. Certain items are excluded from offers. Sale ends Wednesday, December 1st.

Stila: 20% off with code STILALOVES through Tuesday, November 30th.

Sugarpill: Pinkweekend is the code for 30% off Friday, November 26th or 20% off Saturday November 27th through Monday, November 29th. As always, US shipping is only $5, with free international shipping on orders over $75.

Tarte Cosmetics: Up to 30% off with code CYBERMON. Orders over $25 get free shipping and a free gift!

Trish McEvoy: Enjoy exclusive gifts, free shipping, and 20% off your total at www.trishmcevoy.com using coupon code TMHOLIDAY. Offer expires 11:59 est on Monday, November 29th.

Walgreens: Three day Black Friday sale- save $10 off your order of $50 or more with code TENOFF. Sale runs valid Thursday, November 25th through November 27th.

YSL: Free shipping and 20% off all orders over $50 with code FRIENDS, expires November 30th.

This Week's Sales:Carol's Daughter, Oscar Blandi, Ginger+Liz...and more!

Well, the week many wait for all year is finally here: Black Friday week. Oh, yeah, Happy Thanksgiving to my continental readers too! I have a feeling many of our favorite sites have special surprises up their sleeves for Black Friday (and of course, Cyber Monday next week). Make sure you're following me on Twitter to get the latest updates on sales, contests, and moderately interesting trivia.

Also, if you're not already following, I'll love you forever if you click that little button over there!

It really means a lot to me (and you are here anyway, right?) Plus, this way you won't miss my big Blogiversary giveaway! To thank my followers for 2 awesome years, I'll be giving away a nice bundle of my favorite things from brands like MAC, Sugarpill, and Barry M. Need I say more? I could ('cause there is more...) but you'll have to wait to find out!

As for the sales- here we go...

HauteLook starts the festivities off right on Monday, November 22nd with Tarte. On Tuesday check out Carol's Daughter followed by Ginger+Liz on Wednesday.

This Monday, Go Smile over at Gilt Groupe (that's not just a cherry suggestion, it's a sale too!) and while you're there, shop with Oscar Blandi & Corioliss Hair Tools as well.

Also on Monday, Beyond the Rack features HauteSkin.

Swirl has their Holiday pop-up shop going hot (or cold?) and heavy. Click "beauty" for deals on upscale beauty goodies from Lipstick Queen, Tokyo Milk, Honoré Des Prés and more!

For my UK readers, there's still time to get in on tons of sales over at Brand Alley! Rio Professional Nails, Designer Fragrance and Haircare boutiques, as well as InstitutKarité Paris are on on the menu this week. If you're not a member yet, click here for an invite and help us both earn a £10 voucher!

Last but not least, hop over to Beauty Story on Monday for ABI Dermaceuticals Skincare. Tuesday's special is Borghese Makeup, Hand Perfection by Ellen Sirot is on Wednesday and the site hosts a blow-out "Black Friday’s Fashion Finale MEGA Sale" on, um, Friday.

In non-members only sales:

E.L.F is having 50% off it's entire Studio line on any purchase over $20 with code HOLSTU. Offer expires 11/24/10.

Smashbox is having it's online friends & family, so you can enjoy 20% off your order using promo code FFSB20. Offer lasts until November 29th.

Kate Somerville is also having friends and family; they're offering 30% off of all internet purchases, now through November 30th. Use code KSFF2010.

Bliss is having their "blue week" which means a new deal every day! Today they announced 30% off any customized gift set purchase (which looks like it's any two or more items bundled together!) Offer is valid at blissworld.com only, use code GIFTS30!

Folks, have a wonderful week, a happy holiday if you're celebrating. Most of all, remember: Black Friday is not for the tired, the weak, or the easily intimidated. It is also not for the "I don't use my rear-view mirror in parking lots" crowd but believe me, some people out there on Friday will not have gotten my memo! For the sake of all that is soft and cuddly in this world, be careful- and lemme know what you find! :)

Drugstore Dupe: RetinolOver-the-Counter Vs. Prescription

OK, so you caught me: technically, both of the products battling it out in today's Drugstore Dupe are available at the drugstore. In some cases, the "over-the-counter" option comes in the form of pricey, high-end department store formulas. For the purpose of this post, I'm going to be lumping all of the OTC products, from La Prarie to Neutrogena in a comparison against the most popular prescription retinol, tretinoin (sold under brands names like Retin-A, Renova, and Avita).

First of all, why would you even want to use retinol? Well, in short, it's one of the most effective ingredients at clearing up acne, reducing sun spots and is currently the only topical ingredient that's FDA approved to treat lines and wrinkles. If you need to brush up on how exactly retinol does all of this neat stuff, you may want to check this out first.

The important thing to know if you decide you may be interested in a course of treatment that includes retinol: over-the-counter retinol products are not the same as prescriptions like tretinoin.

Over-the-counter products that contain retinol, regardless of whether it’s listed as simply retinol or as retinyl palmitate (aka vitamin A palmitate) are about 20 times less potent than the active chemical in prescription tretinoin: all-trans retinoic acid. That’s because the over-the-counter ingredients, in order to function as the prescription strength does, must first be converted to retinaldehyde, and converted once again to all-trans retinoic acid in order to be effective. Whether or not this conversion will even take place depends on the stability of the product; retinol is light sensitive and breaks down easily if not formulated, packaged and stored appropriately.

This doesn’t mean that some over-the-counter options aren’t viable, it’s just really difficult to know if you’re getting one that is or isn’t. Manufacturers rarely reveal the percentage of retinol in their formulation, but if you can find one that does, keep in mind you'll likely need one with at least .5% or more to equal the level of potency of a .025% prescription cream (the lowest concentration that I'm aware of). Even then, the chemical conversion that needs to take place with over-the-counter options take time to occur in the skin, so it could take twice as long to see results. The good news is that over-the-counter retinol and retinyl palmitate options are sometimes less irritating that prescription strength treatments, though I can tell you as a person who has (according to my dermatologist) "very, very, very, very sensitive skin" (4 very's, I counted!) I have been able to use prescription retinol with fairly minimal irritation- in fact, I've had worse reactions to some alpha-hydroxy acid treatments than I have to my retinol!

Another thing to throw on the scale is price. As I mentioned before, there are over-the-counter retinol treatments available at every price point imaginable. High praise has gone to drugstore treatments by ROC and Neutrogena, both retailing for less than $15 an ounce, while prestige brands like Sisley and Cle de Peau have treatments that literally cost more per ounce than a month's rent! By comparison, my tube of .025% tretinoin cream cost me about $90 at my grocery store pharmacy. I chose the generic version, which my derm assured me was identical to the much more expensive name brand Renova. The tube it came in is 45g, or 1.59 oz. That means by weight, I paid $56.60 an ounce for prescription tretinoin. Doing the math I realized, it’s actually cheaper than many over-the-counter options!

Retinol is a great product, and it can make all the difference to some users. Of course, not everything works for everybody, and it's important to find the right balance of products for your skin type and concerns. The things I discovered in my research made me decide to take the plunge and get a prescription. After years of buying pricey over-the-counter treatments, the piece of mind that I got from knowing that what I was buying was actually going to be as effective as possible made it a simple decision.

Bargain Beauty: CeraVe Moisturizers

Today, while posting on one of my favorite website forums (Lipsticks & Lightsabers- thanks to the awesome Anastasia for setting up the forums for us!) I realized that I've totally dropped the ball in telling you about one of my favorite skincare finds, CeraVe Moisturizing Creme. I mentioned it briefly in my 2010 Best of Beauty post. And, OK, once again when I posted about my skincare routine, but I guess I feel like it deserves its own separate post to celebrate it's glory.

I rarely trust my skin to drugstore brands, so when I find something I like it's all the more special. Now, I'll admit, I'm far from the first person to extol the virtues of this cream- I must have read about CeraVe about 100 times in magazines, on "best of" lists, in "dermatologist recommends" columns, etc...before I finally hunted it down.

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream comes in a gigantic (for face cream) 16oz jar and runs about $15. It's pretty bare bones- the jar looks generically medicinal, and the cream doesn't feel as luxurious as many upscale creams, but it's my first choice when my skin is angry and won't put up with anything else! The medium-weight cream feels slightly waxy at first, but spreads easily and soaks in within a few minutes without ever feeling greasy on my skin. It's got glycerin to hydrate, hyaluronic acid to attract & hold in moisture (in case you haven't noticed, hyaluronic acid is a favorite ingredient of mine!) and ceramides to help strengthen the skin's natural protective barrier. It's fragrance free, non-comedogenic (won't clog pores) and it's actually time-released so it works throughout the day.

For oilier skin, CeraVe does offer a lotion formula. Since my skin is dry to severely dry, I've not used the regular lotion, but I do like the new AM version (around $13.99 for 3oz). Aside from all of the components listed above, it's got SPF 30 and the anti-aging ingredient niacinamide (a friggin' wonder ingredient, it does everything!) I like the SPF lotion, though occasionally it can seem a little light for my skin (but only when I'm super parched). The only other minus to the AM version is it's scent; probably because they don't add fragrance or other ingredients to mask the natural scent, the lotion smells strongly of sunscreen, and that smell lingers a bit when you first apply it. It is, however, a small price to pay, in my opinion, and I'd still give the CeraVe AM lotion a big thumbs up!

So...what's your favorite drug-store steal?

Beauty Buzz Word: Niacinamide

Niacinamide (aka vitamin B3): A new(ish) wonder ingredient in the skin care scene, niacinamide is a multi-threat! There is strong scientific support showing that it increases the skin's elasticity, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, sun spots, redness, and skin sallowness. It also helps to repair and maintain the skin's natural protective barrier by increasing the ceramide content in the skin. This helps make sensitive skin more tolerant and also helps alleviate some symptoms of rosacea, such as redness and inflammation. On top of all of this, niacinamide has anti-oxidant properties, and is an excellent hydrator that may even help treat acne!

Sleek Makeup 50% Off Sale!

For those of you that follow me on Twitter, this probably isn't big news, because I've been talking about it since I first heard it was going to happen a few weeks ago. If you're not familiar, Sleek Makeup is a UK based brand probably best known for their i-Divine Palettes; 12 super pigmented eyeshadow shades for less than the price of one pan of MAC! If you missed it, their Acid iDivine Palette was one of my "Best of Beauty" mentions this year, and I absolutely adore their Pout Polishes (I own them all except the very newest and I promise an in-depth review soonish!)

The big news is that, as a thank you to their fan base, the brand will be hosting a 12 hour long 50% off sale on their website tomorrow, Thursday, November 11th. The sale will begin at 12:00 GMT (which, if my calculations are correct, means I'll be setting my alarm for 7am EST!) For US users, the code USD50SLK must be entered at check out. In the UK, the code is GBP50SLK, and EUR50SLK is the code for all users in the rest of Mainland Europe (those where the € sign is automatically selected as the default on the website).

If you've never tried Sleek, now is the time. Everything I've tried from the brand is well worth the full retail price (and more!) so half off is a deal you definitely shouldn't miss. Oh, and make sure you're following me here for a chance to WIN some awesome Sleek goodies!

This Week's Sales:Rock & Republic Beauty, Michael Todd Cosmetics, Becca...and more!

This week in sale land...

HauteLook brings back Rock and Republic Beauty this Monday and features Becca on Tuesday, November 9th.

Also on Monday over at Gilt Groupe, check out The Peninsula Spa by ESPA or hop over to Beyond the Rack to peruse their selection from Bread & Butter.

The Beauty Story roster starts with She Essential Beauty Skincare on Monday. AminoGenesis is Tuesday's special. On Wednesday check out Michael Todd Cosmetics, followed on Thursday by Isola Luce & Santuario di Bellezza. The site wraps up the week on Friday with Actifirm Anti-Aging Skincare.

Brand Alley has a Designer Cosmetics boutique going this week featuring, among others: Dior, Lancome, and Stila (shadows for £2.00 anyone?) The site also features Baylis and Harding gifts as well as a Designer Fragrance shop. Click here if you're not a member; I'll send you a personalized invite that'll earn us both a £10 voucher!

Calaveras de Azúcar

For those of you who aren't familiar, Dia de Los Muertos (which translates to day of the dead) is a Mexican holiday to honors, remember and celebrate those who have passed on. The holiday is marked by festive eating and drinking, sometimes on the grave site of the dead, where colorful altars are set up with favorite foods and drinks of the departed loved ones. Among the common decorations are calaveras de azúcar (Sugar Skulls).

In commemoration of the holiday, which is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd (to coincide with the Catholic holidays All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day) I thought I'd share with you my Halloween costume from this year: my very own pout painted up like a super sweet sugar skull!

This was my first crack at a calavera de azúcar, but luckily for me, they come as basic or as detailed as you'd like, so I had a wide range to work from. I started out by applying Ben Nye Cream Foundation in P-1 White over my entire face using an ELF studio powder brush. Next, I applied a fine white opalescent glitter all over (I'll be washing that out of my hair until next year!) I used a good craft store glitter; unfortunately, you really can't see it in the picture, but trust me- it's there. This gave a nice effect that was reminiscent of actual sugar, though were I to do this again, I'd spray a sealer over the white cream before applying the glitter. I didn't this time and I found that the cream makeup somewhat coated the glitter and reduced its shimmer.

Next, to make my face appear more skeletal, I used a MAC 109 brush and NYX Black eyeshadow to carve out the hollow under my cheek, angling the line down along my chin and then blending it out toward my neck. An inverted heart painted on with MAC Blackground Paint Pot mimics the nasal cavity of the skull.

For my lips, I chose a red lip liner (Ben Nye in Plum LP-24 which, despite its name, is a cherry red shade) and traced a small, heart shaped lip inside my natural lip line, slightly exaggerating the line up over my Cupid's bow. Once I was happy with the shape, I filled in with MAC Lady Danger lipstick and a tiny bit of OCC Lip Tar in NSFW. For the stitches/skeleton teeth effect, I used Lancome Artliner in Noir.

The first step for my eyes was a good primer- I used Urban Decay Primer Potion this time, but I like Too Faced Shadow Insurance just as well, so if that's what you have, use it! Using my orbital bone as a guide, I then used a synthetic concealer brush to fill in the entire ocular cavity with black. I ended up using the same MAC Blackground Paint Pot that I'd used on my nose, so in the end I may not have needed a primer, but better to be safe than sorry! When I finished filling in my eyes, I topped of the black area with a dusting of Sugarpill Chromalust pigment in Stella (an awesome black base with vibrant rainbow sparkles!)to add a bit of interest.

To do the "petals" around the eyes, first I took a liner and lightly traced the area- the same Ben Nye Plum for the red petals, and Urban Decay Ransom for the purple. I did the smaller, red petals first, basically placing one above and one below my pupil, and then one at the outer corner of my eye. Then I went back with the purple and drew larger petals in the gaps. For the red petals, I used Sugarpill Love+ to fill in, on the purple petals I first filled in with Sugarpill Poison Plum and then made a center highlight and blended out to the edges of the petal with Sugarpill Dollipop.

At this point, I was running out of time and had a very impatient toddler (and perhaps a more impatient toddler's Daddy!) waiting, so I grabbed a bit of Sugarpill Darling Chromalust and mixed in a couple drops of MAC water-based mixing medium to make a paste. Using a fine lining brush (Grumbacher #1 Goldenedge Round from the craft store) I pained a freehand vine on the center of my forehead, as well as spikes coming out from between the petals around my eyes. I also used the same brush to paint a few hash marks around the inside corner of the eye, and after washing it, painted small hearts at the end of the petal spikes using Makeup For Ever Aqua Cream #7 Fuchsia. My final touch was a flower at the center of my head- the orange center is done with Sugarpill Flamepoint (which darkened a bit due to the moisture from the cream makeup) and the yellow petals are OCC Liptar in Traffic with Sugarpill Buttercupcake on top. A spritz of Mehron Barrier Spray kept the entire thing on through the night; this photo was actually taken after trick-or-treating!

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday, and even if you're not Mexican or Catholic (I'm neither myself) use this day to remember with fondness the people in your lives who are no longer with you in body, and take comfort in knowing that as long as you honor them in memory, they'll always live on in spirit.

This Week's Sales: Urban Decay, Cosmesis, Tweezerman...and more

HauteLook Monday, November 1st the site showcases Urban Decay Beauty and and "On the Go" bag boutique. On Tuesday, it's Lava Flo with blinc on Wednesday, JUARA on Thursday and Dr Copeland on Friday.

On Tuesday, November 2nd, after you VOTE check out Rue La La's Freeze 24-7 sale, or pop over to Ideeli for Cosmesis Skincare. For the guys, Beyond the Rack will be featuring a Men's Fragrances shop.

Privatistas has Olivia Care on sale this week, head on over or click here for a personal invite if you're not a member yet.

Beauty Story starts the week this Monday with Urban Rituelle Garden Party. On Tuesday, check out Wrinkle Magic Anti-Aging & Lashem Enhancing Serum. Wednesday's special is NVEY Le MaQuillage Makeup followed by Barex Hair Care on Thursday and Red & White Spa on Friday, November 5th.

Over in the UK, Brand Alley has Designer Fragrances and Beauty, and Tweezerman this week.

If you're not a member, click here for an invite and we can both earn a £10 voucher!

Last but not least, Billion Dollar Babes has a Holiday Gifts Boutique this week. I spied MOR Cosmetics in the shop, and new items are added daily, so head on over and get a jump on your shopping list!