Hey, friends!

I can’t believe I’m already thinking about Back-to-School… it seems like summer just started.

For me, high school volleyball tryouts start in less than two weeks, and then school starts two weeks after that. NOOOO!

Some of my friends will be seniors this year, which means they’re getting ready for Senior Portraits. This can be totally overwhelming as there’s a zillion different things to think about: choosing a location, what to wear, how to pose, and most importantly HAIR AND MAKEUP.

Being the super-helpful friend that I am, I took it upon myself to check out some local photography studios for some senior portrait tips. (After all, no one wants to look back on their senior portrait and cringe .)

In addition to the basics of 1) wear solid colors to keep the focus on you and not your outfit, 2) schedule outdoor photo shoots during the hour before sundown for the best lighting, and 3) relax and be natural–I also learned a few makeup tips for looking your best in pictures:

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• As much as you’ll be tempted to go all Prom with your makeup, please refrain. If you don’t normally wear blood-red lipstick and feather-tipped-falsies, it’s not a good idea to wear them in your senior portrait.
• Powder is your best friend. While natural, dewy skin is lovely in real life, it can translate to OIL SLICK in pictures. Not good. I like CoverGirl Clean Pressed Powder .
• Shimmer and sparkles can reflect light and cause the same I-didn’t-wash-my-face-today look. Step away from the sparkles!
• Too much gloss can look as if you’re drooling. Ew. But a little blue-tinged gloss like Benefit California Kissin’ Smile Brightening Lip Shine can make your teeth appear whiter. (This one also has a minty fresh scent!)
• Lightly dust the apples of your cheeks with peach blush. (If you’re like me and my friends, you probably don’t take the time to wear blush, but trust me–it makes a HUGE difference. Try L’Oreal Light Softening Blush in Charmed Peach.)

So there it is. Simple, easy, natural.

Happy posing!

Rich, luxurious hues mark CLINIQUE’s modern fall collection: Play in the Darks.

Finding inspiration on the runways, this collection is all about elegance and sophistication with intense color that ranges from soft and sultry to bold and dramatic.

Play in the Darks. Fall 2007 has some wonderful treats in store for us– including new shades of the fabulous Brush-On Cream Liner and joining Black Honey (the Almost Lipstick that we all bow down before) are three new limited edition shades of the best-selling formula. Can you believe?!

Here’s the scoop:

Brush-On Cream Liner

• Black Honey
• Deep Brown
• Graphite (limited edition)
• Egyptian (limited edition)

Application Tip: Lightly dip the eye liner brush into the cream liner pot. For the most precise application, dab off any excess product on the back of your hand, using it as a palette. If you don’t have a steady hand, draw three dashes along your lash line—outer corner, middle, and inner corner. Then, go back and connect the dashes.

Almost Lipstick

• Black Honey
• Black Raisin (limited edition)
• Black Raspberry (limited edition)
• Black Plum (limited edition)

Color Surge Eye Shadow Trio

• Black Truffle (limited edition)
• Creme Brulée (limited edition)
• Totally Neutral (new)
• Blushing Nude (new)
• Ebb and Flow (new)
• Come Heather (new)

Blushing Blush Powder Blush

• Sunset Glow
• Smoldering Plum

And now, the most exciting news of the day (for us, anyway) is the NEW Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss. With all the treatment benefits of our beloved Superbalm Tinted Lip Treatment, this new luxurious gloss comes in a bigger tube and offers more moisture and shine. Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss comes in eight high-sheen shades to wear alone or over lipstick:

• Apricot
• Raspberry
• Mango
• Rootbeer
• Lilac
• Ginger
• Currant
• Grapefruit

Play in the Dark. Fall 2007 and Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss will be available beginning August 2007 at Clinique counters nationwide and at clinique.com.

*Find out how to re-create the Play in the Darks look here.

At first glance, the new RYOKO fragrance ‘pebble’ by Kenzo Parfums could be mistaken for a teeny computer mouse.

Meaning ‘travel’ in Japanese, the RYOKO is a smooth little container housing one of Kenzo’s four favorite scents (FLOWERBYKENZO, SUMMERBYKENZO, L’EAU PAR KENZO pour femme, & L’EAU PAR KENZO pour homme).

Pocket-sized and ergonomically designed, the ‘pebble’ fits so perfectly in our hand we don’t want to put it down.

Ideal for travel or our handbag, this virtually spill-proof (we’re not sure it even opens) RYOKO keeps our favorite Kenzo fragrance with us at all times.

(Okay, second favorite Kenzo fragrance. KenzoAMOUR is not available in a RYOKO. Yet.)

Available August 2007 exclusively at kenzousa.com.

MAC’s newest collections, Flashtronic and Rushmetal are hitting counters today!

The baked Mineralize Eye Shadow and Mineralize Skinfinish powders of the Flashtronic Collection are little works of art, with several shades swirled together in marble perfection. Our favorites are By Jupiter, a light taupe (imagine!) with beige and deep brown veining, and Ether, a deep aqua with silver, black, and gold veining. (Athough Mercurial, yellow gold with lilac and chestnut veining, came very close to making the cut.)

Full of shimmer and shine, the rich, metallic Pigments of the Rushmetal Collection are the perfect accessory to sun-kissed summer skin. We couldn’t do without Mauvement (surprise–taupe, again!) and Cocomotion, a dirty gold with olive undertone and gold sparkle.

Rushmetal also brings a lipstick to die for: Fastlane (mauve with silver pearl).

Check out both collections at maccosmetics.com and then tell us your Flashtronic and Rushmetal must-haves!