Beauty Tools

Estee Lauder Let’s Play Makeover Widget!

If you're like me, you may WANT to spend countless hours sampling everything at the makeup counter, but really never have the time. Estee Lauder understands you're busy, and has recently launched this super-cool widget so you can do a home-makeover with Estee Lauder products right on your computer!

Unlike the lame attempts at virtual makeovers I've sampled in the past, Estee Lauder uses state-of-the-art technology that actually enables users to play with actual colors from the Estée Lauder makeup collection. Want the most rewarding, instant gratification ever? Check out the ‘one click looks’ that instantly apply products from new color collections to your image. A warning: do not use this in the office. You can easily burn hours playing with this tool!

To download the Estée Lauder Virtual Makeover Widget to your desktop or social media page visit http://www.esteelauder.com/LetsPlayMakeover/or the Estée Lauder Facebook page at www.facebook.com/esteelauder.

Bargain Beauty: Strength In Numbers

Women everywhere are searching for tips to reduce their beauty overhead. Raging Rouge will be dedicating a series of posts to "Bargain Beauty", pointing fellow makeup addicts into directions that will save them money without compromising results!

My first budget-busting suggestion? Remember there is always strength in numbers! MAC super-rich pigment comes in generously sized jars. Small amounts of pigment are needed for each use, so a single jar lasts forever. Rather than buy only one shade, gather your three best girlfriends, and hit your local MAC counter. Each of you should select one shade of pigment, and also buy four travel jars (click HERE to view the version sold by MAC). Split up the pigment between yourselves using a digital kitchen scale. For a total of only $25.50, you'll now have a collection of four MAC pigments to use!

The gorgeous shade of purple pictured, Circa Plum, is from the Rose Romance collection. It's one of my favorite season-less bursts of color, and a shade you may want to consider adding to your arsenal when you use this advice!

Retail price per pigment is $19.50. MAC travel jars are $6.

Click HERE to shop MAC online.

Click HERE to buy MAC at Nordstrom online.

Click HERE to shop MAC at Macy's.

Revolutionary Beauty: The Clarisonic Plus

I've been itching to get my hands on a Clarisonic for about 6 months, and finally got the chance to add this fine product to my nightly cleansing regimen!

I know it probably seems like a huge splurge, to spend $225 on a product that WASHES YOUR FACE, right? I mean, skeptics would certainly point out that a washcloth serves the same purpose. But if you're in agreement with the skeptics, you are truly missing the boat.

From the same company that brought us the Sonicare toothbrush, the Clarisonic uses the same sonic technology to effectively wash the face and improve the condition of the skin. Clarisonic has a sonic frequency of more than 300 movements per second, ensuring that all traces of makeup, oil and dirt are cleared from your pores. It also makes quick work of removing dry skin. Not only does this leave skin looking more radiant, but it enables your favorite anti-aging product to absorb better, making them more effective!

The Clarisonic Plus differs from the standard Clarisonic system in that it includes a body brush. This brush is hard-core! When placed onto the handset, the Spot Therapy brush head exfoliates the body better than anything I've ever sampled. Used in conjunction with the Clarisonic Refining Skin Polish, or your favorite scrub, it can eliminate dead, dull skin in only a few uses! The back of my arms are generally very dry and scaly by winter's end. The Clarisonic Spot Therapy brush made them soft again after only TWO uses!

A real surprise was how amazing the cleansers are. The kit comes with a trial size of each Clarisonic facial cleanser, each ideal for a different skin type.

Retail price of the Clarisonic Plus Skin Care System is $225.

The set contains:

Clarisonic Plus three-speed brush
International charging cradle for worldwide use
Sensitive brush head
3x trial-size facial cleansers
Spot therapy brush head (for the body)
Trial-size refining skin polish (for the body)

Brush heads should be replaced every 3-4 months, and replacements retail $25 each. Clarisonic offers three different brush heads, so you're sure to find the perfect fit for you. Brush heads are available in normal (for normal skin and shaving prep), sensitive (for sensitive to normal skin) and delicate (for the extremely sensitive skinned). I have extremely sensitive skin, and use my Clarisonic with a sensitive brush head nightly with no problem. Next time around, I might try out delicate, just to satisfy my curiosity.

Click HERE to shop for a Clarisonic skin care system at Clarisonic online (if you buy directly from Clarisonic, you can even personalize the system at no charge to you. This is especially useful in a dorm situation, where others may try to swipe your prized possession!).

Click HERE to buy the Clarisonic Plus Skin Care System at Sephora.com or

Click HERE to shop Clarisonic at Beauty.com.

The Brush Guard

product review, the brush guard, makeup brush storage, tips and tricks Here's a genius little contraption that crossed my desk recently: The Brush Guard.

Simple, easy-to-use mesh tubes are sized to fit most standard makeup brushes, and protect their shape during storage and travel. I've ruined many a brush to errant zippers over the years. The brush guard prevents this catastrophe!

Here's another great use for The Brush Guard. When you shampoo your brushes, rather than lying them flat all over your bathroom counter for drying, slide a Brush Guard onto each brush and place them upside down in a cup or two. They'll dry without losing their shape!

The Brush Guard is available in five sizes: extra small (for shadow/liner brushes), small (for blush brushes), medium (for foundation brushes) and large (for powder and kabuki brushes). A package of five brush guards retails for a mere $5.50. What an inexpensive way to protect your expensive brushes!

Click HERE to visit The Brush Guard online.

Like what you just read? Be sure to head to the Raging Rouge Beauty Blog homepage for more makeup reviews, product swatches and beauty news.

BECCA Spring 2009: Half Moon Brush

becca, half moon brush, santa rosa collection, spring 2009

Rebecca Morrice Williams, the founder of BECCA, made a name for herself by accentuating the natural beauty of women everywhere. Her tip for achieving this type of look successfully? Use superior tools! This Spring, BECCA has introduced the Half Moon Brush as part of their Santa Rosa collection, and if you had to use one word to describe it… superior would certainly fit.

The Half Moon Brush is extremely thick, with the highest grade of goat hair hand-layered with super fine white synthetic fibers. BECCA's latest brush is for blending, buffing, highlighting and contouring. So many uses for one little brush!

I am amazed by the blending prowess of this brush. It's the last thing I use every day before heading out the door, to ensure my makeup is as natural looking as possible!

The BECCA Half Moon Brush retails for $45.

Click HERE to shop the BECCA online. Other retailers include Neiman Marcus.