This Holiday Gift Guide is for the well read bella on your gift list. You know her, right? She’s always got her nose in a book. She loves nothing more than spending her Sunday afternoon curled up with a paperback. Well here’s the ThisThatBeauty Approved Holiday Gift Guide: For the Book Worm on your gift list!

Follow The Model – Miss J’s Guide To Unleashing Presence, Poise, and Power by J. Alexander ($15.63 via Amazon)

How does a six-foot-four, Bronx born gay man become Queen of the Catwalk? In one word: ATTITUDE! J. Alexander, affectionately known as Miss J, recounts a remarkable life/ career and reveals his secrets to succeeding at what you love most (MESSAGE!). Miss J shares lots of life lessons in a rich and colorful anecdotal way that only she can!

Lessons of a Lipstick Queen – Finding and Developing The Great Idea That Can Change Your Life by Poppy King ($11.20 via Amazon)

If eighteen-year-old Poppy King’s search for the perfect matte lipstick can turn into a multimillion-dollar company, anything is possible. When Poppy King finished high school, all she had to show for herself were lackluster grades and a hundred and one ways to get out of phys ed. Within three years, however, she became the president of her highly successful lipstick brand, Poppy Industries.

In Lessons of a Lipstick Queen, Poppy reveals how she managed to launch a multimillion-dollar business, extracting valuable lessons from the experience as she goes along. Through Poppy’s’ example, you can learn how to become a real entrepreneur – from recognizing a good idea and finding financing, to marketing yourself and your brand, to approaching the media, and avoiding common pitfalls. In a world where everyone is looking to get ahead it’s essential to think like an entrepreneur. Much more than just a guide to success, Lessons of a Lipstick Queen is a candid adventure story designed to take you on a journey of self-discovery.

Stepping Out of Line – Lessons for Women Who Want It Their Way…In Life, In Love, And At Work by Nell Merlino ($11.90 via Amazon)

Nell Merlino created Take Our Daughters to Work Day in 1993. She is currently CEO of Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence. Stepping Out of Line is Merlino’s bold manifesto for women to stop waiting and get what they want in love, life, and work. She shows women how to imagine bigger lives, find support, and stay on course.

Fridays with Felicia: An intimate look behind the curtain as I share my favorite style/ beauty discoveries and ThisThatBeauty shenanigans from previous week.

The highlight of my fashion and beauty filled week was the opportunity to attend the sneak peek event for the Target Harlem Grand Opening. The star studded press event occurred on July 20 and on July 25, Tarjay Harlem will officially open its doors. Yay Team Harlem! So spread the word New York – For style, design, and great value: take the 6 train to 116th street.

Naturally I represented and wore a strong red lip (Lipstick Queen Red Sinner) for the grand opening. I mean c’mon, it’s Target…their logo is red!

Since I haven’t done a good old fashioned Face of the Day post in forever, let me go on and break this down for you

• FACE: Cover FX Skin Prep Primer. Make Up For Ever HD Concealer #360. Lanccome TEINT IDOLE FRESH WEAR (shade Suede 2w).
• CHEEKS: Lancome Ageless Minérale Blush in Brilliant Berry
• EYES: It Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Eye Brow Pencil. Kevyn Aucoin Volume Mascara
• LIPS: Lipstick Queen Red Sinner

Selita Ebanks walked the red carpet at the Target store opening. She added a bit of glamour to her nude Sir Alistair Rai dress with a gold braided necklace from the Melania™ Timepieces & Jewelry collection.The piece is available at QVC.com and retails for $39.00.

Selita was indeed a vision on the red carpet. I appreciate that she went high/low and combined her designer frock with a frugalista friendly accessory piece.

I too went the high/low route with simple black Christian Louboutin pumps, Fiona Paxton necklace,Mossimo v-neck pocket tee (From Target) and this Aqua brand gold/black metallic skirt from Bloomingdales. I snagged it on sale for about $18!

And you couldn’t tell me a thing as I hit my hottest contortionist model pose on the red carpet! Hilar!

Ok, next time I’ll leave the “posing” to the real models

While perusing the aisles (makeup aisles, of course) at the grand opening, I spotted one of my beauty faves. She was carefully inspecting her product line on the shelves — crossing t’s and dotting i’s! See if you recognize this iconic makeup artist and entrepreneur…

It’s Sonia Kashuk. Yep, THE Sonia Kashuk — the woman behind the popular exclusive target cosmetic line. We chatted for a spell and did a quick interview regarding her new eco-friendly beauty tools. More deets on the interview soon…

Here’s Sonia Kashuk’s new line of bamboo and cork brushes….

Culture and lifestyle maven, Bevy Smith was in attendance and I was lucky enough to snag a quick flick (and rub the hem of her DVF garment). If you’re not following @bevysmith on Twitter you’re missing out on a daily dose of invaluable “Bevy-isms”.

Speaking of Twitter, I finally met one of my Twitter faves in-person. Please meet @theelegantthrifter aka Stan Williams. His book, The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating With Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details (Clarkson Potter) shows you “not just what to look for, but also how to look at an object to identify a great piece.”

Also follow Stan’s blog at www.theelegantthrifter.com

Here I am with world-renowed chef Marcus Samuelsson. Check out his kitchen collection at Target! Five-percent of each product’s purchase price will go to The Fund for Public Schools in support of the library at PS 180: Hugo Newman. www.schools.nyc.gov/site/M180

While I certainly enjoyed the many wonderful humans I met in Harlem that evening, it was a four-legged friend that sent my heart sailing….

Most folks at the event took “one” picture with Bullseye the Target mascot. Yours truly could not resist requesting a second picture with Bullseye…this one with a kiss! MmmmmmmmmmMWAH Bullseye!

Definitely check out the Harlem Tarjay! What a wonderful win for the community. #TeamHarlem!

********************

Beauty360.com, the online shopping destination for CVS/pharmacy’s prestige beauty retailer Beauty 360, carries coveted skincare brands including Ahava, Bioelements, Borba, Canyon Ranch Skincare, Mario Badescu and many more.

Today thru July 25 shop Beauty360.com for 20% off all your suncare and skincare purchases! By entering coupon code GLOW at checkout you will also receive free shipping when you spend $49 or more. Click on this link for additional details and products: http://tinyurl.com/337cyau

You may follow Beauty360 at www.twitter.com/beauty360 for beauty tips and news, event details and upcoming promotions.

**********************

Here’s one for my brides — NYC Smile Design announces a cosmetic dental makeover contest for one lucky bride –to-be to win a FREE dental makeover worth up to $30,000. NYC Smile Design’s “Extreme Bridal Makeover” is a contest based in the metropolitan area. Women who are getting married are encouraged to share their stories for a chance to win a makeover worth $30,000.

In order to enter, the contestant must submit a story about why she is unhappy with her smile along with a picture. Dr. Ramin Tabib and Dr. Mello of NYC Smile Design will choose the person with the most compelling story to win the makeover and they will then work their magic to create the perfect smile for the big day.

In order to enter for a chance to win, you must first become a fan of NYC Smile Design’s Facebook page. Visit NYC Smile Design’s Facebook page for details to enter and for daily updates about the contest follow NYC Smile Design on Twitter.

*******************

Visit Youngblood at the Plaza Hotel to get your ultimate mineral makeover. Through July 24, join the artists behind Youngblood to learn about flawless foundation application. For purchases over $150 you will receive an organza bag filled with a full size lip gloss, deluxe Primer sample, deluxe Hi-Def powder sample and a Kabuki brush.

Youngblood offers a comprehensive collection of natural-looking makeup. Visit the Plaza Hotel’s beauty level and learn more!

WHO: The Plaza Beauty

WHAT: Youngblood Cosmetics

WHEN: Now through Saturday, July 24th, 2010

WHERE: The Plaza Beauty One West 58th Street, Concourse Level NY, NY 10019 212.223.4694

******************

On July 26 one of my favorite makeup brands will debut on ShopNBC. (See previous BECCA posts here, here, here, and here)

BECCA Cosmetics will premiere on the network this Monday, July 26^th at 11am and 7pm ET. The line is a fave of mine because its complexion range satisfies from Nicole Kidman to Alek Wek. The line features natural looking cosmetics that focus on a flawless and fresh finish, while benefiting the skin with anti-oxidant vitamins and high levels of broad spectrum sunscreen.

Of the launch on ShopNBC, BECCA founder, Rebecca Morrice Williams, has this to say: “We’re thrilled to be launching BECCA on ShopNBC. Offering women the opportunity to create flawless, natural looking skin is what the BECCA line pivots around. We’ve chosen many special, best-selling products for the face, eyes, lips and cheeks, and are very excited to introduce them to the ShopNBC audience”.

Tune in and learn more about BECCA!

******************

Last, but certainly not least, here’s a deal from Stila that I just had to share…..

• Do you need makeup? (of course you do. LOL)
• Do you have $10?
• Ok, buy this!

Stila just launched limited edition Stila Girl Travel Palettes! The first of the series is Road to Radiance Across the USA inspired by Kylie’s road trip across the US!

The frugalista friendly palette includes:

Four Eye Shadows:
- Snow Bunny (shimmery champagne)
- Southern Belle (mauve)
- Valley Girl (pink)
- City Chick (alloy)

Convertible Color:
- Hibiscus (I lurrrrve Stila Convertible color cheek colors. “Fuchsia” is one of my faves)

Each palette is ONLY $10, a $65 VALUE! Collect all Five (check back next month for the new palette!)

******************

Have a great weekend everyone…I hope to do some crabbing down the shore! Nom nom!

xo,

Felicia

Looky here! Urban Outfitters is in the beauty game…and in a big way. You won’t find your standard run of the mill beauty brands here. No ma’am. Urban Outfitters goes off the grid with below the radar niche brands like Lipstick Queen, Malin+Goetz, Paul & Joe, uber pigmented bargain cosmetic powerhouse NYX.…and many more!

Get familiar!

Want to win a $500 Urban Outfitters gift card,$500 worth of Stila cosmetics and s trip to NYC –

CLICK HERE FOR DEETS

It is widely known that Lipstick Queen is my most favorite lipstick brand EVAH!….so when I came across this spectacular offer to try the best of LQ for a ridic low low price, I HAD to share. If you’re dying to know why I go gaga for LQ, try the Discovery Kit (PS: For previous LQ reviews on ThisThatBeauty, simply search my site using the term “Lipstick Queen” and prepare to be amazed!!!)

Introducing: DISCOVERY KIT from LIPSTICK QUEEN
Get Back to Wearing Lipstick After Years of Gloss!

Just in time for spring…discover your inner lipstick queen.  Perhaps you have been wearing your nude lip gloss for too long and are ready to experiment with a little more color?  Don’t know where to start?  Lipstick Queen is making it easy for you with the introduction of the new DISCOVERY KIT.

Poppy King has selected 3 of her best selling lipsticks and packaged them into a stunning little box to get you gorgeous for spring.  It’s a lipstick wardrobe, hand picked by the Lipstick Queen herself!

With each one more delightful than the last, inside you’ll find:

• Medieval – A sheer red that is super light on the lips to give you just a sexy hint of red.  This stain is packed with Vitamin E to help condition and soften lips.
• Saint Nude – From Poppy’s original Saint collection this is that perfect 60’s nude that looks super chic on the lips.  Infused with Shea Butter for extra hydration.
• Butterfly Ball in Fly – A fun and flirty sheer fuchsia with a fabulous hint of iridescence.  Features a hint of blue shimmer to make teeth look brighter and whiter.
  

What better way to come out of your winter cocoon and spring ahead then with smooth, moisturized lips and brighter smile!

DISCOVERY KIT (SRP: $48.00) will be available in March 2010 at Space NK, Barneys New York, Henri Bendel and online at www.lipstickqueen.com.  For other boutiques and apothecaries that carry Lipstick Queen products, check out the site.

Today’s gift guide is is for the gal pal on your holiday list who absolutely positively lives for makeup (meaning: she’s a lot like moi). Gloss, bronzer, blush…you name it – she’s obsessed. Not sure what to buy your makeup loving BFF? Fret not, I’ve got you covered. Behold…

ThisThatBeauty Approved Holiday Gift Guide: For the Makeup Obsessed

MAKE UP FOR EVER Flash Color Palette – $95

Want to see your Makeup Obsessed BFF completely lose it? If you answered, “yes”, may I suggest MAKE UP FOR EVER Flash Color Palette! It is a creamy, highly pigmented color palette with soft texture that blends easily with other shades. Flash Colors are ideally suited for creating personalized hues of blush, eye shadows and lip color. I swear by the peach and pink shades as a blush base for brides. Flash Colors are easily set with loose powder or eye shadow. This palette is a makeup fiend’s dream. Trust me on this one!

Clarins Gold Attraction Face Palette – $57

Embrace all that sparkles this holiday season! Clarins Gold Attraction Face Palette is the perfect choice for a subtle hint of sexy golden shimmer on the face or decolletage. This luxuriously packaged face palette is a great gift for the makeup lover in your life. The soft beige powder with both glossy and matte colour combine beautifully to create a face palette that is extremely flattering and will compliment a variety of complexions. Inspired by the radiance of Venice, Gold Attraction Face Palette can be used to light up your eyes, decolletage and high points of the face. This gift is sure to make a statement!

Smashbox Eyelights in Smokebox – $34

In my experience as a makeup artist, do you know what the number one requested look is? Yep, you guessed it…SMOKY EYES! Eyelights in Smokebox is a smoky, sultry trio of shadows designed to work flawlessly to create the ultimate smoky eye. You don’t have to be a makeup artist to achieve this highly sought after look. Smashbox makes it simple with this perfect palette of intense metallic shadows. Eyelights in Smokebox includes warm beige, soft brown, and intense black. FIERCE!

My Sculpted Face – $38

This is the perfect gift for the makeup obsessed bella in your life who has EVERYTHING! Help your makeup loving BFF take her application to the next level. My Sculpted Face provides step by step instruction on bringing out cheekbones, contouring a double chin, slenderizing the forehead, and slimming or straightening the nose. All powders in My Sculpted Face are designed in custom shades that closely match the natural shadows created by facial feature dimension. Furthermore, My Sculpted Face is plain old cool and will knock your makeup crazed BFF’s socks off. I use My Sculpted all the time and LOVE the results!

Lord & Berry Black Wardrobe – $38

This four piece eye pencil set offers you all the shades of black you need: matte, shiny, sparkling black, and violet-black. Lord & Berry Black Wardrobe is truly a wardrobe in black. Smooth Black is perfect for everyday office wear. The slight hint of violet in Cool Black dresses up you eyes with just of hint of smokey purple. Mirror black is slick and glossy for an uber wet effect. Sparkly Black is best for a night out on the town…all eyes will be on you! Black Wardrobe is packaged in a portable Lord & Berry soft pouch. The set also includes a sharpener.

BECCA Showgirl Holiday Palette – $65

My Holiday Gift Guide would be incomplete without the inclusion of BECCA, one of ThisThatBeauty’s fav brands! Many of you followed my recent breakdown on Twitter when I lost my beloved Compact Concealer. Thankfully New London Pharmacy NYC had my shade (Truffle) in stock. Crisis averted!

As a huge fan of multitasking palettes, I simply had to add Showgirl Holiday Palette to my holiday gift guide for the Makeup Obsessed. Showgirl is a glamorous collaboration of shades for eye, lips, and cheeks. This conveniently packaged all-in-one palette is perfect for the glamour gal on the go who needs to get gorg fast! The shades include:

• Lip & Cheek Creme – Holly hock (berry)
• Nude Lip Gloss – Parisette (soft pink)
• Eye Color Wash – Tulle (misty lilac)
• Eye Colour Wash – Charmeuse (mushroom beige)
• Compact Eyeliner – Emmanuelle (dark brown)
• Dual Ended Brush – Eyeliner/ Eye Shadow Brush combination
  

The Body Shop Eye and Cheek Palette – $13

Here’s another palette stunner. These party-ready products for eyes, lips and cheeks feature highly effective moisturizing and skin conditioning community Trade Marula Oil from Nambia’s Eudafang Women’s Co Operative.

Laura Gellar Baked Cake Eyeliner Duo – $27

This revolutionary liner offers creamy and intense buildable color that glides on with a fluidity that creates the perfect flawless line or a sultry smudgy look! When Baked Cake Eyeliner Duo is applied wet, the liner become water resistant and lasts for hours. ThisThatBeauty’s fav shade is Blueberry/ Dutch Chocolate. Yumma yumma!

Lipstick Queen Butterfly Ball Shimmer Treatment Lipstick – $20

Inspired by Mohammed Ali’s famous quote from Rumble in the Jungle “I float like a butterfly and sting like a bee”, Lipstick Queen’s latest launch, Butterfly Ball Shimmer Treatment Lipstick, comes in five beautifully subtle shades that are as sheer as the wings of a butterfly. Each shimmer tint contains a hint of turquoise which creates a very flattering blue flash to make your teeth appear whiter. How cool is that? The luscious formula contains nourishing Vitamin E, C, B and Aloe which makes Butterfly Ball Shimmer Treatment incredibly wet, soft, and moisturizing. All five shades are incredibly flattering and sheer enough to be universally flattering.

• Float – Pale shimmering nude
• Fly – Hot shimmering pink
• Trance – Subtle shimmering Raspberry (my fav!)
• Moment – Sexy shimmering Red
• Goodbye – Deep shimmering wine

Want the deets on Lipstick Queen‘s newest product? Well check me out over at TheMakeupGirl for the full scoop on Lipstick Queen’s recent NYC launch event.

Click here to read the article over at TheMakeupGirl!

My new found love for red lipstick cannot be contained. When it comes to celebrity glamour, a fiercely fiery red lip is nothing new. But for the everyday gal about town, a red lip is a big deal. And I’m not talking about a toned down see-through sheer red tint (while that’s nice at times). I’m talking true, bright, festive red! The kind of red that commands the attention of the entire room (in a good way…not in an, “OMG, who’s that whore for hire” – type of way.

Prior to my encounter with the breathtakingly beautiful Poppy King (creator of Lipstick Queen) I never fancied myself to be the red lipstick type. I gave up on wearing red a long time ago. The wrong red has a strange way of aging you. Also, as a woman with rather full lips (au natural, baby!) I’ve always felt the need to shy away from too much color/attention the lips.

So back to Poppy King…earlier this year I had the privilege of working with Poppy King on the launch her latest collection, Chinatown. While spending time with Poppy, I decided to try HER signature color. Oh what the heck…”when in Rome”, I thought to myself. I have to admit, I was a little self conscious at first. How dare I think I can wear red??? After applying the lipstick I went up to Poppy and asked her thoughts. And in her lovely Australian accent she responded, “Ohhh, its gorgeous on your darling”. SO there! My red lip is Poppy King approved!

Ever since that day I have been absolutely smitten with red.  Not one to leave well enough alone, I set forth a quest to uncover more great reds! I think you will be very pleased with the gorgeous range of reds out there. So without further ado, here’s your ThisThatBeauty approved list of great reds!

I hope you fall in love with one or two:)

Lipstick Queen Red Sinner - This is the red that started it all.

And when I tell you I wore this puppy everywhere…I WORE IT EVERYWHERE…

Going on a coffee run, where’s my Red Sinner…

Running errands, where’s my Red Sinner…

I need a new facebook profile pic, where’s my Red Sinner…

At a Kiss New York Makeup event, where’s my Red Sinner?

Hanging out with Academy Award nominee Taraji Henson (not really…just a photo op), where’s my Red Sinner….
Pal-ing aroung with RuPaul, where’s my Red Sinner…

*********************************

More Reds to love….Here’s ThisThatBeauty’s run down of amazing reds that have captured my heart and lips. Here’s to hoping you find your perfect red!

Smashbox Skybox

This three color palette offers the coverage of a lipstick with the shine of a gloss. The color to the far right, “deep red”, creates a beautifully bold and fiery pout.

Three Custom Color Specialists Lipstick in Rosie The Riveter

Rosie The Riveter is from Three Custom Color Specialists “A Century in Red” lip palette. The collection showcases some of the most stunning Reds of our time. Rosie The Riveter is a 1940′s inspired rich blue-red (available in the palette or in a tube)

Smaskbox Photo Finish Lipstick with Sila Silk Technology

The Photo Finish Lipstick collection offers lipsticks in three formulas - cream, shimmer, sheer. The three reds to catch my eyes are all cream formula and very hydrating. Try these three gorgeous reds….

1)Ravishing

2) Lavish

3) Legendary

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in NSFW

OCC Lips Tar in NSFW is ThisThatBeauty’s Recessionista Red! A pin drop is all you need for beautiful red lips. One tube will last a lifetime with product left over to be included in your will…and at $12.50, NSFW screams RECESSIONISTA ALERT!!!

Youngblood Lip Colour in Vixen -

A great mineral based red. Mineral makeup fans rejoice. Youngblood offers  a luxurious, moisturizing lipstick with great staying power. The formula is lanolin-free.

Prescriptives Colorscope Lip color offers two perfect reds!

The formula is extremely and moisturizing. It glides on like a dream!

1)Prescriptives Classic Red

Prescriptives Race Car Red

Smashbox Doubletake Lip Color in Cranberry

This wonderfully warm berry shades comes from the fall collection, Reign. Doubletake Lip Color is a liner and creamy lipstick all in one. The long wear portable stick is chock full of vitamins which help to nourish the lips!

So what do you guys think? Are you gaga for red? Do you see something in this post that appeals to you? Leave a comment. I love hearing from you:)

Felicia

For today’s installment of ThisThatBeauty Pops Lip: Lip Colour du Jour, I am partnering with one of my favorite designers, Diane Von Furstenburg.

I give you DVF “Foreign Affair”. 

Foreign Affair is a bold red 1940′s inspired lipstick. It is described as “matte crimson”. Ever since my brush with Lipstick Queen Red Sinner, I’ve been walking on the wild side and playing around with red.

How about y’all? Who wants to walk on the wild side with me and try DVF Foreign Affair? Well today’s your lucky day because I am offering two lucky ThisThatBeauty readers the opportunity to win a tube of Foreign Affair.

Check me out below showing off Foreign Affair. If this shade is for you, follow the instructions and enter my contest. Its that simple:)

WARNING:

I took these pics really quickly and on a whim. I am wearing absolutely NO makeup and I had just washed and airdried my hair. You’ve been warned….

So do we like? Do we wanna win this?

OK, two lucky ThisThatBeauty readers will win Diane Von Furstenberg “Foreign Affair“.

• Leave a comment with your email address
  
• One reader will be chosen at random
  
• You have until July 5 to enter contest
  
• US residents only
  

Good luck,

Felicia

For today’s installment of ThisThatBeauty Pops Lip: Lip Colour du Jour, I am partnering with one of my favorite designers, Diane Von Furstenburg.

I give you DVF “Foreign Affair”. 

Foreign Affair is a bold red 1940′s inspired lipstick. It is described as “matte crimson”. Ever since my brush with Lipstick Queen Red Sinner, I’ve been walking on the wild side and playing around with red.

How about y’all? Who wants to walk on the wild side with me and try DVF Foreign Affair? Well today’s your lucky day because I am offering two lucky ThisThatBeauty readers the opportunity to win a tube of Foreign Affair.

Check me out below showing off Foreign Affair. If this shade is for you, follow the instructions and enter my contest. Its that simple:)

WARNING:

I took these pics really quickly and on a whim. I am wearing absolutely NO makeup and I had just washed and airdried my hair. You’ve been warned….

So do we like? Do we wanna win this?

OK, two lucky ThisThatBeauty readers will win Diane Von Furstenberg “Foreign Affair“.

• Leave a comment with your email address
  
• One reader will be chosen at random
  
• You have until July 5 to enter contest
  
• US residents only
  

Good luck,

Felicia