Beauty Maverick

Revlon Signs Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba has just signed an endorsement contract with Revlon, joining the likes of Eva Mendes and Halle Berry, in the fight to keep the struggling brand youthful & relevant.

As her first endorsement for Revlon, Alba will be featured in a global advertising campaign for the new 3D Extreme Mascara which is set to launch in July.

"We are thrilled to have Jessica as part of the Revlon family," says Elizabeth Crystal, Senior Vice President of Color Cosmetics. "She is both a dynamic and beautiful woman who represents the modern, glamorous spirit of the brand."

"I'm honored to be joining the Revlon family," says Jessica. "Revlon celebrates diverse, dynamic women of every walk of life and I'm proud to be associated with a company that is so involved with women's causes and issues."

Kiss it Better

Cargo's PlantLove Botanical Lipsticks are not only made from completely eco-friendly, renewable resources but they're also donating two dollars from the sale of each shade to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Also for the celebaholics out there, five of the twelve lovely shades were designed by celebrities including Lindsay Lohan and Evangeline Lilly.

Retailer: Sephora
Cost: $20.00

Scent of a Woman

Fragrance layering has become all the rage so why not add a Touch of Pink to your fragrance wardrobe and help an important cause?

This youthful, uplifting fragrance from Lacoste is a perfect summer scent with notes of coriander, blood orange, vanilla, and jasmine blended together brilliantly.

A percentage of each sale of this product will be donated to the Young Survivors Coalition which is an organization that lends help and support to young women with Breast Cancer.

Retailer: Sephora.com
Cost: $52.00- $65.00

Have Your Cake & Eat It Too

Feeling a bit guilty for that new pair of Prada pumps you just bought? Perhaps it's that dinner at Nobu you treated yourself to last week with the girls? Well now you can indulge yourself without an ounce of guilt.

Philosophy just introduced this delicious (and 100% calorie-free) treat that excites your senses and soothes your soul.

When purchased from Philosophy.com, 100% of the net profits from the Carrot Cake 3-in-1 Shampoo, Shower Gel, & Bubble Bath benefit ChildHelp, which is an organization whose mission is to meet the physical, emotional, educational and spiritual needs of abused and neglected children.

Retailer: Philosophy.com
Cost: $20.00

Tarte Rise & Shine Plumping Lip Stain

Functional in concept, this little duo works by staining your lips in one of four shades available with one wand and with the other glosses your lips with a plumper that works on a cellular level.

After only the first application, my lips were visibly fuller (and without that dreadful stinging that can occur with other lip-enhancing products), but I didn't find the stain to last very long and found myself reapplying this product as much as I would any other gloss.

Retailer: Sephora
Cost: $21

Freeze 24/7 Ice Shield Facial Cleanser w/ SPF 15

No joke, a facial cleanser with SPF. I bet you're thinking it's not possible as you have to wash the product off, but this super-charged SPF cleanser protects, hydrates, and clarifies your complexion while infusing skin with essential anti-oxidants. It works by utilizing an encapsulation technology which allows the cleanser to bind sunscreen to the skin while a mild cleansing system washes away dirt and impurities. Brilliant.

Retailer: Overstock.com
Cost: $43.00 (Regularly $48.00)

Starlets Go Au Natural

A starlet caught sans makeup? Yes, you read correctly (and I'm not talking about the cover of Star Magazine with the ten latest celebs looking a right mess), this feature is fully consensual and included in the 2007 People Magazine's 100 Most Beautiful issue on newsstands now.

The ladies (including Drew Barrymore and Rosario Dawson) look lovely and the feature is a refreshing change to the airbrushed, color corrected images we're continuously fed.
Images available at People.com.

Drew Barrymore Inks CoverGirl Deal

Come January, Drew Barrymore will be the latest model/spokesperson for CoverGirl Cosmetics joining the likes of Queen Latifah and Molly Sims in the 2008 campaign.

In true Drew style, she will not only be modeling for the Proctor & Gamble brand, but also co-creating the ads. "I leave the makeup and product up to them, that's their expertise," she told The Associated Press. "What I want to do is honor the tradition of CoverGirl but hopefully bring myself and my personality into it, as well as some edgy fashion-forward thinking and positivity to it."

"We partnered with Drew because she emulates the iconic image of CoverGirl with her fresh, natural beauty and energetic yet authentic spirit," said Esi Eggleston Bracey, Vice President and General Manager of CoverGirl Cosmetics North America.

I'm sure the ads will be a big success, especially with Drew being named one of People's 100 Most Beautiful People just this past week...

Murad Clarifying Cleanser vs. Patricia Wexler M.D. Dual Action Foaming Cleanser

Murad Claim: This gel cleanser effectively treats and prevents acne and skin breakouts by reducing 99.9% of irritating surface bacteria in less than one minute.

Wexler Claim: A gentle foaming cleanser that heals acne while fortifying healthy skin. It effectively cleanses the skin without causing irritation.

Price: $26.00 for 6.75 oz. of the Murad Cleanser and $18.00 for 3.4 oz. of the Wexler  Cleanser

Cleansing Ability: Murad 8/10; Wexler 8.5/10

Blemish Control/Reduction: Murad 7.0/10; Wexler 8.5/10

Texture: Murad 8.5/10; Wexler 8.5/10

Summary: Though both of these products were decent cleansers, I found the Murad product stung my eyes a bit and also made my skin feel quite taught. The Wexler product, on the other hand, made my skin feel as though it had been thoroughly cleansed without creating an obvious imbalance. 

Winner of this cleanser comparison:
Wexler Dual Action Foaming Cleanser available at BathandBodyWorks.com

Anna Sui Ring Rouge

Plastic costume jewelery has made a strong comeback and can be seen everywhere from the runways of Marni and Chanel to the racks at H&M, so why not find the most clever way to follow the trend? This inexpensive wonder from the creative, kooky workshop of Anna Sui holds a gorgeous gloss and doubles as a playfully over-sized flower ring when closed.

Where to buy: Amazon.com
Cost: $16.00