Beautiful Jessica!

I sing: “These Boots Are made for Walkin’” and what do you think of? If you’re a guy, it’s probably about how hot Jessica Simpson looked in that music video in her Daisy Dukes. If you’re a gal, it’s probably….well, how hot Jessica Simpson looked in those Daisy Dukes (AND what kind of torture she must have gone through to fit into those things)! But at a recent chili cook off performance in Florida, Jessica revealed a new, more bootylicious figure. And surprise, surprise, our body-obsessed media went wild. Hurtful “fat jokes” about Jessica’s minor weight gain have circulated the Internet. I think Jessica looks beautiful and healthy, and in my opinion, a whole lot better than she did with her ribs poking out. And hopefully she’s a little happier than she was when she looked so darn hungry. It’s sad that our world still finds it acceptable to criticize a woman’s weight. I just love what Pete Wentz, Ashlee Simpson’s husband, had to say about how all the body criticism towards his sister-in-law is affecting young fans. "It's bad for young women," Wentz added. "I see it affecting young girls who come to our shows, and that's a bummer." The Fall Out Boy bassist continued: "Real beauty is on the inside, man." We agree, Pete! Embrace your curves. Be yourself. We at It Cosmetics are committed to helping women be the most beautiful version of themselves. At any size.

Does Beauty Equal Pain?

How far would you go to put your “best face forward?” For some, the quest for beauty involves pain. Lots of pain. A nose job, face lift, a little botox here and there, what about a chin implant or cheek augmentation? Countless celebrities are suspected of having gone under the knife (Ashlee Simpson, Lindsay Lohan, Tara Reid, Ashley Tisdale, really the list goes on and on and on).

The obsession with the perfect face is universal. Check out this uncomfortable-looking little torture chamber from Japan called a “face belt.”

You fit the donut around your head, pump in air, and squeeze your double chin and droopy cheeks inward and upward. Fun. Not.
We at It Cosmetics confess we have our own face insecurities…whether it’s wanting to disguise a double chin or contour our cheekbones. We are so excited that we have found a cheaper, less-painful alternative to the madness of plastic surgery (and face belts!). Meet your new best friend, “My Sculpted Face.” It’s complete with 6 contouring and highlighting shades and a face chart that shows you exactly where to apply each shade to sculpt your face to achieve a slimmer face, straighter nose, or whatever it is you want. So before accepting that silly and old-fashioned “beauty is pain” saying, consider the pain-free power of contouring and save your surgery money for something that involves more fun, and less bruising.

Miss America Swimsuit Secrets Revealed on Rachel Ray

There she is…..Miss America!!!!!! And what’s that she’s holding? An Abs in a Box kit! It Cosmetics was featured on the Rachel Ray Show this week where Miss America 1993 Leanza Cornett put our Abs in a Box kit to the test in the show’s human lab. The verdict? The beauty queen and the audience gave it two thumbs up! Body makeup secrets may not have been around (or maybe they were just a little more hush hush?) 16 years ago when the lovely Leanza competed, but now, from regular gals, to mom’s like Leanza, to celebrities and of course almost every pageant girl we’ve talked to uses it to get a leg up (a smokin’ hot leg of course) on the competition or just look a little better WITHOUT going under the knife. We can’t help but wonder if the newly crowned Miss America, Katie Stams, used body makeup contouring to help her achieve that picture perfect swimsuit body. Don’t worry, Katie, if you did, your secret is safe with us!!

Celeb Resolutions

We are approaching the end of the first month of the New Year…do you know where your New Year’s resolution is? Hopefully it’s not been thrown out the window yet, but if it has…don’t despair! You’re in good company. Only about 8% of New Year’s resolutions actually succeed.

Despite the less than optimistic success rate, celebrities are resolving along with the rest of us. Check out what some of your fave stars told Us Weekly they are working on for 2009:
KIM KARDASHIAN:

"Probably just to continue last year, which was to get in shape and stop eating sweets. I think I'm going to continue that because I broke it a little bit."

SPENCER PRATT :

"To stop eating pizza every day. I think my wife [Heidi Montag's] resolution will make that happen. She says she's going to cook."

CAMERON DIAZ:

"I have always had the same New Year resolutions: to stop smoking, to start wearing a bra and to stop shopping."

BRITNEY SPEARS:

"I would like to stop worrying so much because I worry all the time. And to learn how to be happier, just in general. And to stop biting my nails!" EVA LONGORIA PARKER "To give up meat."

FERGIE:

"It's always the same: to work out more and eat healthier. I'm trying to go organic, eat more raw."

ASHLEE SIMPSON :

"All my focus is on my son. Every day, being a better mom and learning with him. It's an incredible experience."

CARMEN ELECTRA :

"To have more fun! I was just with Jenny McCarthy not too long ago, and she said, 'Carmen, life is supposed to be fun.' And I remembered that, it stayed in my head. And that is my goal." JAMIE FOXX:

"I'm looking for the right woman. I need a magnifying glass! I'm trying to find that rare jewel." STEPHANIE PRATT:

"I'm making my boyfriend quit smoking. I'm lazy -- that's all I'm doing!"

JULIE BOWEN:

"To have a healthy baby. Last year, my New Year's resolution was to run the L.A. Marathon, and I got up to 18 miles in my training and I got injured so you know what, I'm putting it on the list for next year."

KANYE WEST:

"My resolution is to be as nice as possible to the press." JENNIFER MORRISON: "To learn Spanish faster. I started doing the Rosetta Stone program a year ago. I'm getting there, but I want to get a little more focused."

AISHA TYLER:

"To be happier! I'm a pretty happy person, but I try to be as happy as I can."

BRIAN AUSTIN GREEN:

"It seems to be to stop smoking every year. We'll see how it goes this time."

KATHY GRIFFIN:

"To eat more carbs!"

DAVID ARCHULETA: "I would like to learn more about the music and business that I have gotten into. I would like to get more involved in the writing side of music, and also I’m learning more things about performing and meeting a lot of new people that I can learn from."

We want to know...did YOU set a resolution this year? If so, are you still on the resolution bandwagon?

The It Lady's Look on Inaguration Day

Ever since Obama won the election, we have been debating over what the soon-to-be first lady will wear on Inauguration day. While we don’t know who designed her certain to be fabulous gown, we do know a very important piece of the puzzle…makeup! Mrs. O’s makeup artist, Ingrid Grimes-Myles, revealed to US Weekly what products she will be using to glam up the already gorgeous Michelle for the big day.
Grimes-Myles said she would choose "chic neutrals" for the daytime Inauguration ceremony, including:
It Cosmetics Lip Plumping Pencil in Attract and Energy
Model Co Colourbox Eye Shadow in Seychelles
Stendhal Mascara in Noir Black
POP Beauty Blush Cake in Natural in Nudes

For the evening ball, the executive makeup artist hinted that she will be going for “major glam, with deep, smoky plum-lined lids.” She will be using:

Mineral Essence Eye Shadow in Merlot
Bloom Cosmetics Liquid Eyeliner in Jet Black
Laura Geller Blush-n-Brighten in Berry
Paula Dorf Lip Color Sheer Tint in Innocence

We at It Cosmetics are truly honored that our lip pencil was selected by Mrs. Obama's makeup artist! For more information on sculpting YOUR perfect presidential pout, click here!

Makeup Tricks for Full Sexy Lips

Do you ever notice the plump, full lips of celebrities like Jessica Alba, Angelina Jolie, Britney Spears or Kim Kardashian and wish you could achieve a similar look? Here are a few tricks to get your lips seriously plumped up!

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New Year's Resolution Update

We are approaching the close of the first month of the New Year…do you know where your New Year’s resolution is? Hopefully it’s not been thrown out the window yet, but if it has…don’t despair! You’re in good company. Only about 8% of New Year’s resolutions actually succeed. Despite the less than optimistic success rate, celebrities are resolving along with the rest of us. Check out what some of your fave stars told Us Weekly they are working on for 2009:

KIM KARDASHIAN:
"Probably just to continue last year, which was to get in shape and stop eating sweets. I think I'm going to continue that because I broke it a little bit."
SPENCER PRATT
"To stop eating pizza every day. I think my wife [Heidi Montag's] resolution will make that happen. She says she's going to cook."
CAMERON DIAZ:
"I have always had the same New Year resolutions: to stop smoking, to start wearing a bra and to stop shopping."
BRITNEY SPEARS:
"I would like to stop worrying so much because I worry all the time. And to learn how to be happier, just in general. And to stop biting my nails!"
EVA LONGORIA PARKER
"To give up meat."
FERGIE
"It's always the same: to work out more and eat healthier. I'm trying to go organic, eat more raw."
ASHLEE SIMPSON
"All my focus is on my son. Every day, being a better mom and learning with him. It's an incredible experience."
CARMEN ELECTRA
"To have more fun! I was just with Jenny McCarthy not too long ago, and she said, 'Carmen, life is supposed to be fun.' And I remembered that, it stayed in my head. And that is my goal."
JAMIE FOXX:
"I'm looking for the right woman. I need a magnifying glass! I'm trying to find that rare jewel."
STEPHANIE PRATT:
"I'm making my boyfriend quit smoking. I'm lazy -- that's all I'm doing!"
JULIE BOWEN:
"To have a healthy baby. Last year, my New Year's resolution was to run the L.A. Marathon, and I got up to 18 miles in my training and I got injured so you know what, I'm putting it on the list for next year."
KANYE WEST:
"My resolution is to be as nice as possible to the press."
JENNIFER MORRISON:
"To learn Spanish faster. I started doing the Rosetta Stone program a year ago. I'm getting there, but I want to get a little more focused."
AISHA TYLER:
"To be happier! I'm a pretty happy person, but I try to be as happy as I can."
BRIAN AUSTIN GREEN:
"It seems to be to stop smoking every year. We'll see how it goes this time."
KATHY GRIFFIN:
"To eat more carbs!"
DAVID ARCHULETA:
"I would like to learn more about the music and business that I have gotten into. I would like to get more involved in the writing side of music, and also I’m learning more things about performing and meeting a lot of new people that I can learn from."

We want to know...did YOU set a resolution this year? If so, are you still on the resolution bandwagon?

One True Beauty

One of the great parts about It Cosmetics being part of the HSN family is getting to meet the many other brand founders and experts that are there as well. We recently shared a visit date with the brand Carol’s Daughter where I got to meet the lovely founder Lisa Price. I don’t usually write about these experiences, but decided to share this with you simply because of how beautiful Lisa was/is. We all know how wonderful her products are, but to meet her behind the scenes and chat with her like two longtime friends was a gift. Within the first few seconds of talking I could feel her warm, welcoming spirit and the best way I can describe being around Lisa is ‘home.’ That same comfortable, joyous feeling you get when you are home, is the same vibe oozing from Lisa Price. Her products not only make us feel beautiful - Lisa is truly beautiful, inside and out!

Global Beauty

I recently returned home from a two-week trip to India where I was working with a non-profit called Longitude to build houses for members of the Untouchables caste. Although I was working with the poorest of the poor, I was struck by the pride these women took in their beauty. They were strong, fearless, and passionate women on the inside, and drop dead gorgeous on the outside. It was amazing to me how in the midst of such poverty, women still take such pride in their beauty and fashion. In India, married women wear saris. A sari is a strip of unstiched cloth that is wrapped around the waist, with one end draped over the shoulder. They come in colors and patterns as unique and stunning as the women that wear them. It’s a beautiful site to see women working out in the dirt and under the hot sun, building houses, doing laundry, and walking miles to collect water, all while looking like they’re headed to the Indian Golden Globes in their colorful saris! Indian women also adorn themselves with bangles, earrings, and a necklace. They are almost never without their full set of jewelry. Even the poorest women I met, living on one meal a day, still had their jewelry, most of which has been passed down through the generations. The biggest beauty must have? Henna! Women (and even many of the men) decorate the palms of their hands in this reddish brown ink made from the henna plant. Since I was in India during the holiday season, a time where henna is used to celebrate, I was able to see tons of beautiful henna hands, and I was even able to take part in the festivities…the women dressed me up in a sari and covered my hands in beautiful henna patterns. It was such a wonderful experience, and was fascinating to see the beauty practices of women across the globe!

It in Africa

It Cosmetics is excited to announce our support of some very special little ones all the way across the world in Kenya, Africa. Former Miss Washington USA, Carly Shorten, brought this very worthy cause to our attention after she visited the Neemaland Kings and Queens Palace orphanage herself. After reading the story of this orphanage and seeing pictures of the precious kids who call it home, we knew we had to help. The orphanage was started in 2007 with 20 orphans, and after just one year, it has grown to 56 children. The orphanage has no shortage of faith, hope, and love, but they are struggling to provide enough food and other essentials to keep these beautiful children healthy and thriving. It Cosmetics donates a portion of our overall revenue to help support these brave little children. Check out their website at www.right2thrive.org.

10 Steps to a Pretty Winter

Winter--the season of flaky skin, chapped lips, pasty complexions…you get the picture. And it’s not a very pretty picture! But just because everyone else looks, well, a little dull, doesn’t mean you have to. Be the belle of the ball at your holiday parties and the prettiest little snow bunny on the slopes. Just follow these 10 steps…
10 Steps to a Pretty Winter
1. Drink Water
Battle parched, flaky skin from within! Hydrate your complexion by drinking lots of water and if your stuck in the snow, warm up with some hydrating herbal tea.
2. Exfoliate
With the heaters running full blast, moisture is sucked out of our skin, causing a major build up of dead skin cells. Buff it off to reveal the soft, pretty glow underneath! Try out the award-winning Clarisonic Skin Brush ($195). Looking for something a little less painful on the pocketbook? Try St. Ives Apricot Scrub ($4.29) from your local drugstore.
3. Humidifier
If you’re really fighting dry skin, you might want to consider bringing in the big guns…a.k.a. a humidifier. This will help to counteract the moisture sucking heater in your house by restoring moisture to the air.
4. Oil based moisturizer
If you have mature skin or aren’t too acne prone, I recommend trying an oil-based moisturizer for dry skin. If you’re super oily like me, just layer on your oil-free moisturizer.
5. Sunscreen
This is often the first step to disappear when the snowflakes start to fall. Big mistake! Just because it’s 15 degrees outside doesn’t mean those vicious wrinkle-causing rays are hibernating. It’s crucial you protect your skin with at least an SPF of 15 or more.
6. Gloves
Protect those pretty little hands! Get a cute pair of warm gloves or mittens to protect your hands from the elements. Also, get a pair of cotton gloves for at home…slather on a thick hand cream, and then put your cotton gloves on. This will allow the cream to really sink into your skin so they’re supple and soft.
7. Blushing Beauty
Embrace the paste! If going to the Bahamas isn’t in the plan for you this winter, play up the beauty of a fair complexion with a little pop of blush. I love layering on creamy blushes in soft berry hues, right on the apple of the cheek. They give both color and moisture to really make you glow! Try Revlon’s Cream Blush.
8. Brush Your Lips
Flaky lips? So not good under the mistletoe. For a super smooth pout, take toothbrush and gently buff your lips. This will remove any little flakes creating a perfect palette for your lip balm, lipstick, or gloss.
9. Whiten Your Smile
The downside to not having a summer tan is that the paler your skin, the more yellow your teeth look. Think of how an off-white wall looks white, until you put a piece of stark white paper next to it. It’s the same with the contrast between your skin and teeth. Counteract the yellow with some It Signature Smile Brightening Blue Lip Gloss! Also, be sure to only select blue based lipsticks. Anything other than blue based shades is going to make your teeth appear more yellow!
10. Get Your Snow Glow On!
Nothing is prettier in the dead of winter than a radiant, glowing you! Finish off your pretty winter look with highlighter (be sure to use waterproof highlighter like that found in Get Wet Waterproof Highlighter and Bronzer, if you’re going out in the snow or rain) in all the right places. Sweep some over your cheekbones and right in the corner of your eyes and under the brow bone for a fresh, dewy look!

Fun, Fabulous and Fantastic HSN!

From Left to Right: (Back Row) Nicole, Jean, Angela, Jamie S., Ileyna, Jamee K., Anya
(Front Row) Coleta Thomson (It Cosmetics Global Makeup Artist), Jamie Kern Lima (Co-Founder, It Cosmetics)

What an amazing way to end 2008 and kick off 2009 – HSN! Our visits to HSN are always hectic, exciting and rewarding. Not only do we get to introduce our products to millions of women across America live on national TV (you never know what’s going to happen!), we also get to spend time with the wonderful HSN team members, our incredible merchandising team and our fabulous HSN models. This week, the above group of women were beyond spectacular on-air, they were each quality women that we got to spend a whole lot of time in the green room with…sharing stories, jokes, advice and just good old girlfriend time! The models above range in age from 18 to 66 and are some of the kindest most interesting group of women we have worked with to date. Coleta and I left our HSN visit with new friends, lots of hugs and gratefulness in our hearts for their work on-air and their beautiful spirits off air. To see that some of you actually ordered our products for everyday use after modeling them on-air last visit was just the icing on the cake. So, to the gals above….you are and always will be “it” models, “it” gals, “it” mothers, “it” survivors and “it” friends!

XOXO

Jamie