Whether you’re a beauty addict or never picked up an eye pencil in your life, Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics has something for everybody. As Spa Week’s Fall 2011 Exclusive Cosmetic Sponsor, they are giving one lucky winner $500 worth of makeup products. They are the premier luxury mineral cosmetics line with plenty of options for all skin types. Feeling overwhelmed? No worries! A Youngblood professional makeup artist will help guide you in picking the right products.

Founder, Pauline Youngblood, worked as a Medical  Aesthetician where she saw first hand how harsh chemicals were damaging her client’s skin. This inspired her to develop her own mineral makeup line that would help conceal your skin’s flaws but also allow it to breathe without causing irritation.

Youngblood prides itself  on their products not containing oils, chemicals, alcohol, artificial fragrances, or dyes. They don’t do animal testing. All  products are free of talc and other fillers that can clog or irritate skin. Made from pigments from the earth, mineral cosmetics are much healthier for your skin than typical cosmetics which can contain harsh petroleum dyes.  There’s a lower risk for allergic reactions with mineral makeup which do not support the growth of bacteria or microbes. They also have sun protective properties that keep your skin healthy and youthful.

With all these wonderful qualities, Youngblood is sure to attract some fans. Their celebrity following includes Jennifer Lopez, Hayden Panettierre, Heather Locklear, Mena Suvari, Cheryl Cole, and Nina Dobrev.

Now it’s your chance to enjoy these wonderful products! Contest ends October 31, 2011 – enter here.

Are you completely guilty of going into Target with the intention of buying only a few items on your list and end up walking out with a cart full? GUILTY. And even our very own First Lady is a fan! Allure is offering one lucky winner a chance to win FREE beauty products including Sonia Kashuk, JK Jemma Kidd, NP Set, and Pixi —plus a $200 gift card from Target! Wonder Ms. Obama thinks about that?

As Spa Week’s Fall 2011 Exclusive Media Sponsor, Allure has their finger on the pulse of  the beauty world. Cosmetic companies strive to be voted “Best of Beauty” by the magazine but only a select few will earn the coveted title.

And yours truly was featured in their October and September issues. Did you spot us?

For full details and to enter the giveaway- click here!

If I knew what sound leopards made, I would do it right now because this brand new Dolce & Gabbana  multi-tone powder palette is sizzling! You’re going to need a fantastic bronzer to highlight all the hard work you’re about to do by the pool this summer, so if the phrase “Italian Summertime Collection” romances you like it does for me, this is pretty perfetto. Be one of the first to try out the new collection featuring the Animalier bronzer; this Saturday (right before the world ends) at Saks Fifth Avenue in NYC, the one and only Pat McGrath and her team of makeup artists are taking appointments! Here’s your invitation:

Who: World-renowned makeup artist Pat McGrath will debut the new Italian Summertime Collection and must-have Animalier Bronzer from Dolce&Gabbana The Make Up at Saks Fifth Avenue’s flagship location in New York City.

What: McGrath and her team of make up artists who work backstage at Dolce&Gabbana’s Milan Fashion Shows, will conduct personal consultations with customers to recreate the looks of the runway, featuring the Italian Summertime Collection and Animalier Bronzer. McGrath will share beauty tips and makeup application emphasizing the modern femininity of Dolce&Gabbana The Make Up.

When: Saturday, May 21st - One-on-one consultations by appointment only: 12 to 5:30

Where: Saks Fifth Avenue, Fifth Avenue and Fiftieth Street - Dolce&Gabbana The Make Up Counter, On One

Contact: Customers may schedule an appointment by contacting: 212.940.4949

By definition, a boudoir is a woman’s private bedding room, sitting room, or dressing room; derived from the french verb boudeur. Watch any old film and you’ll see the lead starlet wrapped up in a blush pink silk robe seated in front of the mirror beautifying and pampering herself in her boudoir.

Service at Studio Trés Jolie in Manhasset, Long Island effortlessly captures this old school aesthetic in its French inspired makeup studio and spa. The studio was founded by Jessica Lauren, a leading New York area makeup artist with the vision of creating a European salon/spa experience in New York. The salon uses top of the line skin care products and the full service spa provides airbrush makeup, facials, laser treatments, airbrush tanning, bridal services and so much more.

The salon spa specializes in making brides beautiful for the big day. A few shots of their work are below:

For Spa Week, Studio Trés Jolie wants to give you the same European pampering with a range of $50 treatments. Choose a Makeup Application service, 60 Minute Yonka Paris Classic Facial, or Laser Hair Removal for Underarm, Bikini or Lip all for only $50 each. Call 516.472.0918 to book – appointments are still available.

P.S. – They are extending their Spa Week prices until April 24th!

Guest contributor: Healing Lifestyles & Spas

When it comes to your diet, you’re generally healthy and super-conscious of what you’re putting IN your mouth, but how much do you know about the ingredients you’re putting ON your mouth? You probably don’t tend to think too much about your lip products.

FACT: Women ingest about 7 pounds of lip products over a lifetime. Wow! The main ingredient in many of those is petroleum jelly, a by-product of OIL.

Petroleum jelly is what gives glosses their shine, but danger lurks beneath the shimmery surface. The European Union has banned many petroleum jelly products, and experts are concerned they could be linked to cancer.

Keep your kisser safe by just tossing the lip balms and glosses that contain petroleum. Simple as that, just get rid of the temptation!

Choose natural versions made from beeswax, shea butter and natural oils like coconut and jojoba. Zinc oxide is good for protecting your lips from the sun. Not only will your lips be softer and smoother, it’s not harmful to ingest these natural ingredients.

Check out our shopping list of our favorite natural (and safe) lip balms.

Softlips PURE

It’s the skinny Softlips balm you remember, but in a new certified organic version. You’ll love the fun new flavors like chai tea, acai berry and honeydew. PURE

Eco Lips Dagoba Chocolate lip balms

It’s a good thing that these balms are certified organic- flavors like Chocolate Mint, Chocolate Raspberry and Chocolate Lavender (made with real organic cocoa powder) mean that sweet-lovers will be licking their lips and sneaking an extra swipe. And the base of organic sunflower oil, beeswax, cocoa butter and jojoba oil equals a super-soft pucker. Eco Lips

Yes to Carrots

Yes to Carrots Lip Butters are certified organic and made with 6 natural oils, beeswax and shea butter for a moisture-packed treatment for your lips. Fun flavors and a drugstore price tag make them a must for every purse and pocket. Yes to Carrots

Intelligent Nutrients

Intelligent Nutrients Lip Delivery Nutrition is a splurge, but it’s not just a lip balm! Lip Delivery Nutrition is made with a super-antioxidant, anti-aging blend of seed oils that are meant to be ingested. You’ll be helping your body inside and out with every application. Intelligent Nutrients.

As an in the know source for health, wellness and beauty, click here to view Healing Lifestyles’ 7 must-have $50 Spa Week treatments.