Wishing You a Happy, Safe & Aware New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve is a lot like camping. The journey may be long and dangerous, so you're better off carrying provisions.



First and foremost, bring a bottle of water and a snack in your purse as well. When the clock strikes one or two o'clock and you're still out, you'll be hungry, and a healthy Clif bar or something like these Michel Cluizel mushroom-shaped chocolates (Les Champignons) will help past midnight.

Bring a small kit of the products you normally use, that way if you or your girlfriend is in a pinch, rain or snow thunders down upon your face, or any other unforeseen obstacles appear, you will be way prepared. Hypothetically, you are a Russian princess and must carry some teeny, tiny fabulous Swaworski-crystal encrusted purse, so we feel you too. Scrape your lipstick and gloss into something like this credit-card sized 5" makeup palette.

Last but not least, be yourself or a mermaid. Be careful. People love you every night of the year. Have fun! Today is the last day to enter our deluxe New Year's Giveaway!!!!! (Click here to check out the hot black market goods.)

Can't Get Enough....

Champagne manufacturers stole the thought bubble out of our head. According to Reuters today, pink champagne is the "it" drink for New Year's Eve. How Jem and the Holograms is that? These superlative patterned stockings ($20, Look from London in Warbler) and a coat of pink lipgloss might make a match.

Click on the x's and o's to learn about our special new year's contest, xoxoxox. Hearts to you and you.

Eye Do

They won't call you shy with eyes like these. Lash out with Shu Umera's Tokyo Lash Bar collection ($50, pair).

Buy it: Shu Umera.

We Wink for Cute Cassettes

There's a new cool mix tape project at http://www.myspace.com/mixtapeproject. The membership fee is $10. Or just e-mail international.mixtape.project@gmail.com with the subject line "JOIN" and they'll give you the lo-down.

Day After Xmas Tip: Be a Mermaid

If you're living off of eggnog, we must say that pretty faces prefer agua. Double up Evian face spray ($10.75) with a glass of Evian and avoid winter dehydration.

Buy it: Sephora.

If You're Hoofing It...$25 and Under Gifts

See our hand-picked best last-minute holiday gifts! And don't forget to sign up for Eyeshadow Government's special New Year's contest. See details below.

1. Colour Surge Butter Shine™ Lipstick Palette ($25) by Clinique. Buy it: Macy's.

2. Best of Korres kit ($25) Set includes Basil Lemon Showergel (1.7 oz.), Guava Body Butter (1.7 oz.), Wild Rose 24-Hour Moisturiser SPF 6 (0.34 oz.) and Yogurt Cooling Gel Sachet (0.3 oz.). Buy it: Select Nordstrom, Whole Foods and Sephora retailers.

3. The James Bond-inspired Clarins Forever Diamonds Sparkling Eye Pencil ($24). A diamond-encrusted barrette for party hair, and the slim silver stick doubles as an eye pencil. Buy it: Macy's.

4. Too Faced Glamour to Go ($18). Buy it: Nordstrom.

5. Ole Henrikson Fresh Lips ($15). Lisa Kudrow & Linda Evangelista like it. Buy it: Sephora.

6. Mistral Shea Butter soap gift set ($14) in Verbena, Lavender, Melon pear. Buy it: Anthropologie.

7. Aromatherapy Ylang Rose Body Wash ($13). Buy it Bath and Bodyworks.

8. Stella McCartney Eau de Parfum Roll-On Perfume ($10), a rose and amber miniature. Buy it: Sephora.

9. Oiseau lip balm ($8) in Sweetheart Berry & Emollient Vanilla. Buy it: Anthropologie.

10. Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadow palettes ($6). Buy it: most drugstores.

Hi!

Personal information will not be sold, rented, or otherwise distributed to other folks.

The Sands of Time, Bare Minerals Foundation Help from Wizards, and Courtney Love

After smearing a layer of Bare Minerals foundation en route to the company holiday party, I stopped cold in my tracks and knew I could not take another step looking as matte as unglazed pottery. The Government endorses rations of the i.d. Bare Minerals product line but until today, we just didn't know how to paint it on.

In a state of utter matte-ification, I called upon the resident cosmetics wizard to remove my shoddy craftwomanship from my face.

Listen carefully girls because these are life lessons. Two words for ya: three layers. It is tempting to use the signature "tap and buff" technique encouraged by the Bare Minerals philosophy without considering the wisdom of the sands of time.

1. If you are seeking more coverage than a tinted moisturizer, simply tap a very slight amount of mineral foundation into the cap of the foundation container.
2. When applying Bare Minerals foundation, the wizard says, "Use less than you think you will need."
3. After dipping the brush in the powder, tapping the brush prevents globs of powder from setting on the face.
4. Once the first thin layer is applied by buffing the face evenly, apply one more layer.
5. And then apply one more layer.
6. And then another, for three layers.
I went from looking like a pottery project gone awry to damn sexy. (By the way, thank you.)

Aucoin (RIP) Beauty note: When Courtney Love appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone in an annual Women in Rock issue, the famed makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin applied no less than seven layers of foundation to her for the photo shoot.

Skin Deals

We're on the third night of Hannukah, and a week and counting to Christmas, so here's a few deals for thrifty gals.

Today is the final day: 25% off all non-sale items at AZALEA boutique online this weekend with the coupon code, "holiday." Check out the Skyn Iceland detox kit (Sale price, $33.75), a chip off the polar icecap.

Chilly just thinking about it?
25% off purchases, cashmere sweaters and the like, at Suedebox with the code, SUEDECANDY. Source: DailyCandy

Need to dress up those frumpy sweaters?
Finger-friendly designer accessories, Kenneth Jay Lane, etc. 30% off all non-sale items at Max and Chloe. with the code, DCMC12. Source: DailyCandy

Free shipping on orders of $75.00 or more at Kiehl's with the code, express. Their special edition Cherry-Almond lotion seems very festive. Offer expires 12/19/06.


For a pound of cherry-scented flesh, this weekend KRS is giving away a free Bikini Kill tape with all online orders of Bikini Kill CDs...Why not?

Turn Heads in Red

Pair Kate Spade strawberry-hued sunglasses with a coat of Strawberry Kiss My Face Organic Lip Balm SPF 15.

Buy it: Sunglasses, Kate Spade; Kiss My Face Organic Lip Balm SPF 15, www.drugstore.com.

Product Alert: Heavenly Scent

Speaking of divine, I just sprayed myself with Pure & Petal hair fragrance in Linden Blossom. Purely sweet and airy, my Saturday morning is already delightful.

Pure & Petal Hair Fragrances, concocted by a Canadian perfumer, is available online at Pure & Petal.

Lipsticks Pretty Enough to Eat

“Oh, it’s Foolish Virgin,” said the cosmetics mistress at Sephora and giggled, while showing me this fab Vincent Longo Lipstain. “This other one is Fig [Laura Mercier Lipstick, $20].”

Personally, we don’t give a fig about foolish virgins or bathing in Rose Soap [Weleda, $15]. But there’s room in our Government-issued Beauty Cabinet for all three.


[Pictured from top to bottom, Vincent Longo Lipstain SFP 10 in Foolish Virgin, Weleda Rose Soap, and Laura Mercier Lipstick in Fig.]

Also, on our Holiday Must-List: Warm toast with ricotta and fig jam spread, and the gentlest Snow Powder Blouse [$328, Anthropologie].