Saturday's Cocktails: The Tinsel Bellini

I am throwing not one, but two holiday parties this year at my house. I don't know why I do it to myself, but there it is. Needless to say, I've already started planning, because I like to do it up right.

Marie Claire actually has a helpful little party planner guide, and while flipping through it I found a whole mess (that's myspeak for a "whole bunch") of holiday cocktail recipes. I'll be trying some of these out for my party. This is one of them.

Tinsel Bellini

• 2 oz. HPNOTIQ
• 1 oz. limoncello
• 1 oz. champage or sparkling white wine
• splash of lime juice

Rim the Champagne Flute with a light coat of sugar. Pour chilled HPNOTIQ, Limoncello and Champagne into the champagne flute. Add a splash of lime juice.

And before you ask me about the champagne flute above, the answer is, I don't know. But I did find some that are very similar (you'll have to tie on the pretty silver string). Check out the Schott Zwiesel Pure Tritan Crystal Champagne Flutes Set of 6 on Amazon. Pretty!

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Product Review: L'Oreal Double Extend Lash Extention Effect Mascara

L'Oreal Double Extend Lash Extension Effect Mascarais the latest drugstore addition to the "tubes" effect mascaras, where the mascara forms tubes around your lashes creating the illusion of thicker, plumper lashes.

This is also a "two step" formulation, giving you a base coat to nourish and protect the lashes, while the top coat forms the tubes, which are smudge-proof and flake-proof.

My beef isn't with the smudge or flake factor, both of those were fine. My main complaint was with the mess it created when I was trying to get the mascara off. Black clumps of mascara was everywhere when I was washing it off (with just the warm water that was recommended), and it was quite a hassle trying to get it away from my hairline and off my face. I really prefer that my mascara come off with my eye makeup remover, and this product didn't budge when I tried it.

It really didn't give me any more amazing results than the average mascara I've tried. While the application wasn't difficult or tricky, I didn't think the results paid off for a two-step process. It was pretty standard, and nothing out of the ordinary. So if you purchase this going for my "dramatic look" lashes, I fear you will be disappointed. This is a good everyday mascara if you can succeed in getting it to come off as it should.

There are several tube technology mascaras out there that I'm fond of (like Too Faced Lash Injection), but this isn't one of them. I'd only purchase this if it was on an amazing special, like two for one, and even then I'd probably have to think long and hard about it.

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I Have a New Haircare Secret For Fighting Frizz

Dealing with frizz is a constant preoccupation for me. I've tried just about every line out there in an effort to keep it tamped down, and have finally come up with a workable solution that I've pieced together from a lot of different lines. However, I was recently given the opportunity to try the line from Living Proof called No Frizz, and I have to say, I'm impressed, and that's hard to do.

No Frizz is actually silicone-free, which made me nervous at first. I love my silicones. But No Frizz uses a Polyfluroester compound which claims to reduce frizz by 30% more than usual silicones. Another benefit that I was excited about says that it actually repels dirt and oil 100% more than leading silicone products, enabling you to go longer between shampoos, which as we all know, is much better for your hair, which could back up the claim that performance improves with continued usage.

First in the lineup was the styling spray. Saturate damp hair and comb through, then apply the styling cream. Blow dry (usage of heat tools helps this formula work better). Then, use the spray on sectioned hair before flat ironing. Works like a charm.

No Frizz claims to prevent frizz for 16 hours, while I found that my frizz control lasted two days. And with my hair, that's pretty amazing. Usually I have to treat it with something on my second day.

There are two formulations: Straight Making for creating sleek, straight looks, and Wave Shaping, which controls and tames curls and waves. I've used both and both work well for what they are supposed to do.

Living Proof's No Frizz formula is available at QVC.com and will be at Sephora starting in February. Find out more at Living Proof.

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Need More Gift Ideas: YSL's Gift Guide

Hello cuteness! Pink, puffy, and smells good. Obviously that would fit really well into my stocking, I don't know about yours.

But if you still need gifts for your beauty-obsessed friends, don't skip YSL's Holiday Gift Guide. Lots of gorgeous, fun, and useful things all starting at $30. Better yet, spend $100 and get free shipping.

Have you bought your Pur Black gloss yet? I'm just saying...

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Ask Me Mondays: Brighten Eyes

Q: I really need something to brighten up my tired-looking eyes, especially after a late night of studying (or going out). Any tips?

Oh, yes. White eyeliner is your friend in these cases.

But before you get all crazy with the white liner, a few words of caution: don't use it like your regular liner.

After using a good concealer all around the eye, fill in your shadow as usual. Take your white (or nude) eyeliner and gently line the waterline of your eyes. This will emphasize and bring out the whiteness of the eyes while diminishing the darkness underneath. You can finish up by using your regular liner along the lower and upper lash line, although I would stay away from anything too black. A neutral brown works really well with this combination.

Another trick I've found is to take my Benefit Cosmetics Eye Bright pencil and use it on each corner of the eye as well as my waterline. This really brightens up any dark circles I might be suffering from.

Here are a few white eyeliners that are available, but you shouldn't have any trouble finding a white liner at just about any drugstore. Remember, if it's not a soft pencil, you may experience tugging on the delicate skin of the eye, which is never a good thing.

Sephora Brand Slim Pencil - Eye

Make Up For Ever Aqua EyesGivenchy Magic Khol Eye Liner Pencil

Estee Lauder Artist's Eye Pencil

Avon Smooth Over Eye Definer

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