Almost one year ago, for some reason I thought it was a good idea to purchase a champagne/flesh toned metallic eyeliner from a brand I wasn't that familiar with. A lot of my friends rave about this particular brand, so I trusted their effusive tweets in support of my decision and placed my order.

The moment the Sephora box arrived, I tore the box open to discover that upon first impression, the liner was everything that I wanted and more. Naturally, I removed the plastic wrapper and applied it immediately. At some point during my work day, my eye itched and I must have rubbed it, because the next thing I knew, my eye became so irritated it looked like it was bleeding.

To make matters worse, I was attending a MAC event with Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper IN PERSON. Needless to say, there was no way I was going to have my photo taken with Lady Gaga, much less meet her with this crazy looking eye. Instead, I downed glasses of champagne like a wallflower. I'm still traumatized.

Fast forward to last September. Backstage at NYFW, all of the MAC artists were raving about an upcoming collection full of shimmering highlighters and gorgeous shadows. Little did I know that this mysterious collection, Cham Pale, would include a metallic eyeliner similar to the one that will forever hold the blame for coming between me and Lady Gaga.

My history with MAC is rich - I've loved the brand for as long as I could remember, so naturally their products are the only ones who can heal my emotional scars. The special, limited edition eyeliner, I Get No Kick, is everything you'd expect from a flesh- toned metallic pencil. Wearing this color on your lower lashline is perfect for opening your eyes, especially when paired with MAC's Chromagraphic pencils.

After wearing I Get No Kick several times, I can safely say that it has not come between me and any celebrity encounters or ruined my night. All's well that ends well - but someone, somewhere still owes me a picture with Lady Gaga. ;)

Earlier today, I hopped up to 59th & 3rd to check out Shiseido's pop up store to see what they have in store for Spring - let me tell you, it is glorious! I was so excited by the new lipstick shades that I immediately threw on the new Shimmering Rouge lipstick in Golden Dragon (RD601). The texture is super smooth and the formula is hydrating. I'm in love (more on those later)!

In celebration of their fall & holiday collections, Shiseido has opened a pop-up store for one week only - November 12 through November 19th - at 59th & 3rd. You can check out the fall & holiday collections, receive signature services and even pick up a few goodies of your own. At the pop-up location, you can score:

• Gift cards for complimentary facial massages at Bloomingdales (right across the street!)
• Deluxe samples of signature Shiseido makeup and skincare products
• Information on the latest collections

Get a jump on holiday shopping or pick up some goodies for yourself - but whatever you do, make it to Shiseido's pop-up shop!

WHAT: Head to the Korres store in SoHo on Friday, September 10th for an evening of cocktails, cupcakes and makeovers. The event will feature ‘Detox Bubbles, Cupcakes & More’ for guests to enjoy as they help VOGUE magazine celebrate a night of fashion. The stores will include a detox bar serving complimentary antioxidant-infused cocktails based on the Greek skincare brand’s natural ingredients – Wild Rose, Pomegranate, Thyme Honey & Raspberry – along with delicious cupcakes also ‘packed’ with natural ingredients. Attendees can detox on the outside as well with a complimentary Korres makeover or advice on how to wear VOGUE’s hottest color looks of the season using 'green' make-up. All guests will receive a product samples including global bestsellers.

WHERE: KORRES / 110 Wooster Str. [btw Prince & Spring, SoHo, NY]

RSVP: Korres Store 212-219-0683 or Woosterstreet@korresusa.com

WHY: In a global initiative to promote retail, restore consumer confidence, and celebrate fashion, U.S. and international editions of Vogue are coordinating evening extravaganzas in their respective world fashion capitals. The first evening of New York Fashion Week, Fashion's Night Out will encompass an array of festivities. ABOUT: Korres Natural Products is a Greek skincare brand with roots in the first Homeopathic Pharmacy of Athens. The first Korres product was an aromatic herbal syrup with honey and aniseed, a recipe inspired by "rakomelon", a warming spirit-with-honey concoction, which George Korres' grandfather used to favour in his hometown on the island of Naxos. Set up in 1996 with the aim to utilize its extensive scientific resources for the development of clinical effective and safe products, the company today offers a natural and certified organic skin & hair care range, a make-up line as well as suncare products and herbal preparations.

Not even going to pretend - not only am I a devoted viewer of Pretty Little Liars, I totally have a girl crush on Lucy Hale. Her hair alone is worth many, many a blog post. mark's celebrity makeup artist, Mai Quynh, gave Lucy a peachy bronze look for the red carpet that is super easy to recreate at home, using the following steps.

For eyes:

“To begin, I used the mark Concealer Brush to apply the bronze shade from mark Keep It Going Longwear Eyeliner & Shadow in Surreal to her lashline and blended upwards to the crease. Next, I applied a top coat of mark I-Mark Custom Pick Eye Shadow in Gioia into the crease and smudged up to her brow bone. Next, I lined both her upper and bottom lashline with mark I-Mark Custom Pick Eye Shadow in Java using the mark Flat Eyeliner Brush. To add an extra hint of drama, I lined her inner lids with mark Eyemarker Color On Line in Jet and finished with two coats of mark Make It Big Lash Plumping Mascara in Raven.”

For face:

“I prepped Lucy’s face by applying mark Face Xpert Flawless Touch Makeup in Golden with the mark Foundation Brush to even out her skin tone. Next, I dabbed mark Good Riddance Hook Up Concealer in Light/Medium under her eyes, blending it in with the mark Concealer Brush. For her cheeks, I used the mark Foundation Brush to apply mark Just Pinched Instant Blush in Peachy to the apples of her cheeks. I then dusted a light coating of mark Matte-nificent Oil-Absorbing Powder to eliminate any excess shine in her t-zone. I then swept a combination of mark Bronze Pro Bronzing Powder in Pro Golden and mark Glowdacious Illuminating Powder in Shimmied Up with the mark Powder Brush to accentuate the contours of her face and add a gorgeous radiance.”

For lips:

“I used mark Juice Jems Lip Gloss in Juicy Fig to give Lucy’s lips the perfect amount of color and shine, without looking overdone.”

For more information on the products used, visit Meetmark.com.

As I write this post, it is 84 degrees in NYC. The sun has barely come up to greet the day and Weather.com is attempting to convince me that the humidity is at a soupy 68%. I've spent several days in a row running around the city, in and out of the subway, standing next to randoms who should become more intimately acquainted with their deodorant stick, and smelled things no human should have to endure. Needless to say, NYC in the summer is brutal. It feels like someone has stuck in the oven like a baked potatoe and there is no coming out. How on earth can you be expected to remain beautifully put together when there is sweat dripping in places sweat should never be?

The truth is - you can't. However, there are a few products and tricks than can help you revcover from the city's bruality.

1: Grab a fan and make it your BFF.

When the slightest whisper of summer begins to rumble through the city, I immediately hop down to Pearl River Market and stock up on colorful fans of all shapes & sizes. Whipping one out in the subway is the quickest way to relieve the feeling that you're about to be someone's Baked Alaska.

2: Noxzema's Clean Moisture Makeup Removal Cloths

When you spend all day away from your apartment, running from meeting to meeting, your face literally becomes a hot mess. No amount of blotting sheets, tissues or powder will help contain the mess. For me, the easiest thing to do is throw a package of Noxzema's Clean Moisture Makeup Removal Cloths into my purse and refresh my face before evening. For an extra boost, keep a package in your fridge for the most refreshing and soothing treat at the end of a long day.

3: TRESemme's Fresh Start Dry Shampoo

Under no circumstances can I survive without this product. My hair refuses to maintain any sort of style or liveliness after 5 minutes in the wild. Within 60 seconds of spraying this into my roots at various points across my head, the formula dissolves without any residue or dulling my hair.

4: Bold lips

Let's face facts - in the summer, there is no possible way to to keep makeup of any kind on your face. Even mascara inevitably ends up below your eyes, so eye makeup of any type is out of the question. For me, the most I can wear is tinted moisturizer, concealer, bright eyeliner(under my eye), cream blush and a bold lip. Summer favorites include MAC's Show Orchid, NARS' Heat Wave, and any Obsesive Compulsive Lip Tar.

(If you're looking for new posts on StyleITOnline.com, please keep scrolling past this post.)

If you're anything like me, you've been avoiding this oppressive heat by parking yourself firmly in front of the air conditioner. While this keeps us from wilting like the delicate flowers we are, it also keeps us from achieving that summer glow. Fortunately, Physician's Formula has graciously offered (er, enabled?) to us to continue to sit in front of the a/c and achieve bronzed perfection by giving away a complete set of newest and greatest bronzers. Should you be the lucky winner, you'll receive:

• Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Pressed Shimmer Bronzer
• Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Pressed Shimmer Bronzer
• Healthy Wear SPF 50 Pressed Bronzer
• Bamboo Wear Bamboo Silk Bronzer
• Powder Palette Mineral Glow Pearls
• Shimmer Strips Custom Bronzer, Blush & Eye Shadow
• Summer Eclipse® Bronzing & Shimmery Face Powder

How to win: Tweet "Hey @StyleIT! I want to win Bronze-a-palooza from @PFCosmetics! http://bit.ly/PFBronze"

Click here to automatically tweet this from your account (when signed into Twitter.com).

To be eligible to win, you must be following @StyeIT and @PFCosmetics on Twitter. Giveaway begins on July 26, 2010 at 10:00 am and ends on July 30, 2010 at 10:00 pm. Open to US residents only. Comments on this post will not count as entries.

Unfamiliar with Physician's Formula's bronzers?

Physician's Formula Bronzer