URBAN DECAY

Blues, magentas, and tangerines, oh my! There are so many ways to brighten up your spring and summer collections without breaking your piggy bank. Update your make up bags with a slew of new and exciting products that boast electric shades to compliment your wild side!

For starters, shimmering, dewy skin is a must for summer. Even if you're not ready to dive right into all the richly colored hues, wade your way into the water with glittered shades of brown. Neutral shades of golden brown, rosy bronze, or ivory will work well with whatever you natural skintone is--added bonus if you have a tan--and the glitter will add light-reflecting shine to give you a sunkissed finish.

With summer on the way, it can be daunting to think about the heat and humidity that ultimately causes oil buildup on our skin. This is the time when all of us are more prone to those little red blemishes we continuously try to avoid, and a shiny appearance that no one wants! In order to fight the oil buildup, we have to use the right products that will get the job done and Glam Damn It, we’ve found the cures! Below are our favorite top-rated products. Check out these cleansers, masks, and makeup products, to help banish oil and improve the appearance of your skin!

Ricky Gervais is officially a spokesperson for Cruelty Free International, a newly-established worldwide campaign to ban testing cosmetics on animals. Launched by the long-standing British Union Against Vivisection, CFI will work with governments, companies and partner organizations to place animal testing at the forefront of policymakers' agendas.

On the issue, Ricky says: "Animal testing for cosmetics is still allowed in most of the world. That means thousands of animals can continue to die for the sake of a new shampoo. We urgently need a worldwide ban on this cruel and unnecessary suffering. Get involved. Please join me in supporting Cruelty Free International in its global mission to consign animal testing for cosmetics to the history books.”

While the European Union has banned the testing of cosmetics on animals, 80% of countries still allow the practice. Common test procedures include force-feeding large amounts of chemicals to assess toxicity and applying caustic ingredients to eyes and skin to measure irritation (one now infamous mascara test measures how long a chemical ingredient takes to burn away a rabbit's cornea). Rats and mice are the most frequent test subjects, but guinea pigs, rabbits, cats, and dogs are also commonly used. Cosmetics companies are not required to use animals to test for safety and can instead use human skin cultures. Numerous studies, including several published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and the British Medical Journal have concluded that animal tests do not reliably predict outcomes in humans due to basic biological differences.

Consumers can now find cruelty-free cosmetics for every need and at every price point. Some mainstream examples include Revlon, wet n wild, Burt's Bees, Prestige, Bare Minerals, Stila, Urban Decay, Bath & Body Works, The Body Shop, Paul Mitchell and Aveda. Because there is no regulation of "cruelty-free" labeling, be sure to check the label for the BUAV's leaping bunny logo. View a complete list of cruelty-free cosmetics and household cleaning products here.

Learn more about Cruelty Free International and how you can get involved.

Urban Decay's 'Naked' eyeshadow palette is a must for every woman. It's so good it deserves its own blog. (And I don't say that lightly). The value is actually good considering you get 12 different shades of eyeshadow as well as an eyeshadow base, and a dual-sided pencil of UD's 24/7 waterproof eyeliner in black and brown. It truly has every shade necessary to go from natural to dramatic -and everything in between! You really don't need anything else except a wand of mascara.

We have all seen the bright beauty looks of the Spring/Summer catwalks, and have found Derek Lam’s coral eye to be particularly envy inducing. But can we wear it during the day without looking a little freaky?

Derek Lam used a combination of orange and coral shadow close to the upper lid, accented with stripes of iridescent white highlighter, to achieve this high fashion look. The face was kept neutral, with no more than a nude lip to complement. To replicate this look for daytime, lightly shade in the brows and apply a neutral beige shadow from lid to brow. Next, take a thin angled brush, and wet and dip into a sparkling salmon shadow such as Mac 'Neo Orange' Pigment. Apply in a thin line above the upper lash line and finish with a coat of black mascara. As with Lam’s models, keep the face neutral and clean. Just a touch of coral blush such as Benefit’s 'Coralista' combined with a nude lip such as Mac's 'Myth' completes the look.

If you do not have a disposable income, shopping for the trends can burn a hole through your wallet. Luckily, here are some tips to help you stay fashionable through any season without breaking your bank.

1. Leggings: From sand to snow, leggings can be the foundation to any look. They can take the place of a snug pair of jeans or even be worn under a sun dress. You can never have enough pairs of black leggings, stock up with Forever 21's Stretchy Ankle Leggings.

Space is always limited in our tiny evening clutches, understandable because no one wants to dance the night away with a brick on their arm. This year, you'll have more room for cocktail cash because we found five products to keep you looking fresh all night long.

1. Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner by Urban Decay: Most of us leave the glitter out of our daily beauty rutine, but New Year's Eve is a night to shine. Glam up your look with this clear-based glitter liner. They come in five fabulous colors and best of all once it's dry it won't budge.