How the time as flown!  My little “shugga-bugga” is now a lovely young lady of 16.  Happy Birthday Simone, I love you always!

A recent sighting during a shopping trip, had me reflecting on a Hidden Gem I brought to you a year ago.  Now, I’m going to assume at that time you (lady at checkout) were either not a reader of this site or you thought this topic did not apply to you and you moved on.  Let me say this as nicely as I can…

Along with my pet-peeve of dried-up feet, I also want to dig my eyes out when I see ladies sporting moustaches worthy of Groucho Marx and Sasquatch.  So before that hair reaches jungle-status, grab a tube of Nair Sensitive Formula Face Cream with Green Tea and tackle that mess head-on!  This 5-minute hair remover is made specifically for the face and it’s green tea formula soothes skin, along with the aid of sunflower oil.  I have sensitive skin and using anti-aging and acne products irritate my skin even further, so a gentle hair remover is a must for me. 

So remember ladies, it’s this…

Not this…

Nair Sensitive Formula Face Cream with Green Tea averages $5 or less at most retailers.

If you haven’t heard of The Fairest, it’s time you were introduced.  The Fairest brings your favorite high-end cosmetics together in one site, at deeply discounted prices!  This week’s sales include 50% off Korres and Tarte Cosmetics.  Be sure to sign up for the email newsletter for sales alerts as they happen and for every friend you refer, $10 credit is yours for the taking.  The Fairest also has a blog, with some of the top beauty bloggers as contributors.  Topics include the latest sales and great beauty advice.  So, if you’re pinching those pennies (and really, who isn’t?), The Fairest gives you a license to splurge!

I didn’t think it was possible for Rimmel to top their 2008 mascara releases, but the new Glam’Eyes Lash Flirt Mascara has taken luscious lashes to a whole new level.  I need to get my lashes right the first time (no patience for 2 coats, thank you) so a high-performance brush is a must for me.  The Lash Flirt brush is thinner than most I’m used to, but this ended up being a plus for me as I was able to get those tiny corner lashes with no problem.  The mascara formula itself is deeply pigmented for dark, sultry lashes and one coat was all it took for a lengthy, full look. 

Every girl needs to know how to flirt, so Makeup Masala is giving away this mascara (in their choice of shade) to 2 lucky readers.  Just leave a comment telling us your favorite way to flirt!  Winners will be chosen Saturday, September 12th at 10:00pm CST.  Readers of all countries are invited to participate!

It’s been awhile since I’ve written a Helping is Beautiful segment, but an incident on Twitter and the Internet, has touched me deeply.  Many on Twitter yesterday became aware of a video of the beautiful actress Maia Campbell (shown on the right) which circulated the web.  This video (you may Google it if you wish), shows the personal torment and decline of a once well-known actress.  Many used Twitter yesterday to ridicule and pass judgment on Maia, while others used Twitter as a means to lend a kind word or a prayer.  I myself had to watch the video 3 times throughout the day and each time it left my heart broken.  It was so hard for me to believe that the person I was watching, someone who was suffering from mental illness (and drug abuse), was the same person I had at one time admired for her beauty and talent. 

I felt this same way years ago, when another famous beauty passed away from AIDS.  The immensely beautiful, Gia Carangi (shown on the left), was known as the first supermodel, and her slow decline into self-destruction was just as painful to witness as Maia’s.  The underlying cause of both of these women’s torment is mental illness and both turned to drugs for reasons only known to them.  What is most shameful to me, is both women were used and abused for their beauty, but their demons of mental illness have been ignored.

I can vouch that almost every person reading what I have written today, knows (or loves) someone who suffers from some form of mental illness.  This disease can turn a loved one into a stranger and it is up to us to help where we can.  There are many resources on the web to help you recognize the signs of mental illness and help you in the struggle to fight it.  Helping someone doesn’t always have to be a grand gesture.  Someone out there is yearning for just a smile, a touch, or a few kind words.  Please take a moment to help turn someone’s life into something beautiful.

After an excruciating long wait, Urban Decay is bringing back their famous polishes!  The kit shown above consists of 7 mini-polishes and retails for $25.  I would pay $50, that’s how EXCITED I am to see these arrive today.  Before you whip out the credit card, head over to Scrangie to view her always fabulous swatches!

Congrats to Natalia W.!  She is the winner of the $50 Ulta gift card for August’s giveaway.  Thank you to all who entered!