Summer is officially here. With the hot weather upon us, I try to stay away from applying too many cosmetic products. One of my makeup must haves is bronzer. It helps add a little glow to my face, while avoiding too much color like blush sometimes gives. 

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According to Onamia Chun, the Senior VP of Fuglylab.com: “The name, Fugly Lab, is the antithesis of the typical beauty company; this is exactly why I love the name so much. Fugly Lab is not like any other beauty company and it never will be.”

(Fugly Lab’s very own Onamia Chun.)

Chun also commonly uses this tagline: “Fighting Ugly One Sample at a Time.” Get it? With its catchy (and totally clever) company name, Fugly Lab offers sample-size sets of makeup, skincare, hair care, and bath and body products, while providing the huge benefit of trying before buying. Based in Los Angeles, Fugly Lab held their launch party early May this year, and although I wasn’t able to make it, the pictures from their event are available to the public. I always love that! It’s like a “See what you missed, and hope you can make it to our next event” sentiment. For sure.

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Starting as a hobby and developing into a profession in 2003, the women who create Anna Carey Jewelry Design are talented individuals dedicated to developing beautiful items and helping others along the way.

The Anna Carey team is made up of three ladies; Suzanne and Star (mother and daughter) put together the designs, and sister/aunt Karen, who makes the jewelry. The company was named after Suzanne and Karen’s mother, and Star’s grandmother.

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Congrats to Denise Russell, who was selected to win the Gwendolyn’s Gate giveaway! And, just in time for summer.

The Beauty Chat crew loves that she has pedicure parties with her girlfriends!

Thanks to all who entered, and to Gwendolyn’s Gate for sponsoring the giveaway! As always, thanks so much for reading Beauty Chat.

After some serious reading, analyzing, and debating, a winner was selected for the Fab Freebie Giveaway, commemorating Beauty Chat’s one year anniversary. Congrats to Kristen who left this comment:

“I’m brand new to this site, and all I can say is WOW! I’ve probably just spent…Oh my god! The past 3 hours (at work, mind you) just reading through all the great articles and reviews of products! I have to say that my favorite so far is “Somme Many Skincare Choices, What’s A Girl to Do?” by Denice. The title is so clever, and the way she talks about the skincare system really makes me want to try it, and gets me excited to do so! Thanks for all the great info Beauty Chat!”

Kristen, while we don’t condone blogging on the job, we’d like to say that we greatly appreciate your delinquency =) Don’t tell your boss that we said this, but feel free to read Beauty Chat whenever you have the urge! Each of our staff writers thank you for the warm words and are glad to have you as a reader.

Now, on to the “Plastic Makes Perfect” T-shirt giveaway. Four lucky ladies were awarded this prize, and they are: Laura Lapcheska, Mikki, Dee, and JB. It was no easy task narrowing down the terrific comments that were left for us, but these entries really stood out.

Once again, thank you to everyone who entered both contests. And if you didn’t win this time, that’s okay because there are more fab freebies coming your way. In fact, check back with us next week!

As an individual obsessed with the latest trends in hair color, cut, and style, I am always looking to the latest products to help give my hair the look that the celebrities like Jessica Simpson have. 

And with big hair trends creeping up in the fashion and beauty world lately, I was excited to learn of Cibu International’s latest volumizing line of products– “Shang High.” As a woman with thick but not voluminous hair, I have been searching for a product to lift my locks without making them greasy, and the Shang High collection has seemed to be that product! 

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I love visiting my hairdresser June for a good ‘ol flat iron run-through. She has always smoothed it out with the greatest of ease, and never fails to be amused by me afterwards. Hello – don’t you like to flip your hair over your shoulders in slow motion like those Pantene commercials? OK, well maybe that’s just me.

( “Me with rocker hair — wild and without the use of my flat iron!”)

Really though, for years I just couldn’t straighten my hair myself, nor would I even dare try to do so in the Southern California summertime heat. My mom and I have different hair texture (my mother is Caucasian), so using her cute curling iron back then barely did the trick. Had I known that having the right type of flat iron actually matters, I could have saved nearly $2,500!!! That is the amount I spent on my hair for two years wearing long braids, which was basically my way out of not having to truly put time into doing my hair. More »

Last week I indulged in a summer vacation full of fun, sun, and lots of water; a houseboat trip to Lake Powell to be exact. Located in Southern Utah, this large body of water is an ideal destination for those who love splashing around. However, the downside of such activities — the dreaded sunburn.

Luckily, I was covered…in Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen. This stuff is amazing. I admit that I have always been ridiculously lazy when it comes to applying sun block. In fact, I usually don’t use any at all, even when I am at the lake where 120 degree temperature is the norm. I have always had the foolish approach that my burn turns into a tan, so why worry about it? Well, skin cancer is a good reason to worry about it!

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Having a problem being a chic mom? Feel down, frumpy, unappreciated? Well I suggest you pick up a book called “The Chic Mom’s Guide to Feeling Fabulous” by Nina Sutton. While reading this book, a few friends with children came to mind. So I thought I’d pose a question: As a mom, how do you stay chic on your personal budget?

Here are some of the great answers I received:

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When you’re getting ready for your date with that special guy, do you wear what makes you feel attractive or something that you know he likes on you? If you’re wearing something that you think he likes, it may be a good idea to check if he actually likes it first. Chances are he only says he likes it on you because you like it. Think about that hideous T-shirt your guy likes to wear, you told him it looks great on him but inside you’re wishing that the laundry monster eats it one day. Same goes with your guy and what you’re wearing.

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