Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Makeup of the Day


Today I got out my MAC Antiquitease goodies and really gave them a good try. I hadn't explored too much yet. I then realized that I had a face chart book I had forgot about and so decided to do one for the days makeup. It was like fingerpainting.


I used new Your Ladyship( edited 11/1, nice that I finally realized what I used) Pigment on the inner corner eye ( this is a great pale pinky -ecru shimmer) and the Sweet Sienna ( this I loved right off, a somewhat deep taupe-ish brown grey with sparkle,) all along the rest of the lid, blending the two together. They look wonderful together . Two coats of Cover Girl Professional Lash, then my old MAC Bamboo blush, a dusting of Set Powder. The lips first got the new Corsette lipgloss. I wasn't sure about how this would look on me but loved the color. It did pretty good, goes on a bit grey metallic at first but soon the brown came out more and it stayed metallic and shimmery, and I liked it.


I ended up using Barely Lit later in the day as the Corsette was a bit much for daytime , and the chart is mix of both.


Monday, October 29, 2007

MAC Curiositease


I love the new MAC holiday items, it's my favorite MAC collection of the year and the best holiday one for awhile, to me. I have gotten a look at the new Curiositease gift sets, out Nov. 8th.



These come in cute hardboard containers with the "royal " seal on them. When you lift the top off , you get whatever set you choose sitting in a base. I know every year the pigment sets go fast and these are really cute. There is a warm and cool set. All the gift sets are fun as is the whole collection.




I was expecting the palettes to be lightweight, but they have a heft to them. The metal is heavy. I adore the gold ones, as I think they look most vintage but the silver would be vintage of an even older era than the gold, so it's all in which shades you like.



The Finery sets, in the small bags, all have white lipstick/gloss cases with the gold or silver embossing look, and I love those white cases.



Basically you can't go wrong with any of these as gifts. The packaging boxes are all a hard card stock type with the gold or silver logo motif. It's put on a bow and go.

Sets:
Warm 5 Lipglass/Lustreglass- Expensive, Bada Boom, Pink Grapefruit,Beaux, Ornamental

Cool 5 Liplglass/Lustreglass-Be Seen, Spirited,Nymphette, Star Nova, Flashmode


Plushglass-Wet Wild Wonderful, Pretty Blush, Bountiful, Plus Luxe, Hot Stuff


Softsparkle Pencils-Nightsky, Peacocked, Iris Accents, Reflecto, Goldenair




Warm Pigments- Lily White, Dazzleray,Copper Sparkle,Sunpepper, and Glitter in Reflects Gold


Cool Pigments-Reflects Blue, Helium, Naval Blue, Forest green,Softwash grey


All sets are 29.50


















New Bond 9



Bond 9's flagship on Bond St. is a beautiful store and always a highlight of the semi- annual Sniffapalooza fragrance weekends.



Bond is so good to us, giving us breakfast and a wealth of samples as well as sneaks at the newest scents coming.




I got to try the new Andy Warhol Silver Factory for the first time. This is a very well crafted fragrance and one that many will love. In fact , a lot of fellow fragrance lovers have it on pre -order.





I can appreciate the beauty of a well done fragrance, but I have to mention that I am not a fan of incensy or smoky scents in any way. Silver Factory is both of these and more.


Starting out very smoky, but as a lady near me said, not a damp smoke, but dry, and warm. Laurice Rahme of Bond 9 describes it as a fireplace. The incense comes in at the drydown. When I walked outside last night and smelled a neighbor's fireplace going, I thought, hmm, thats close. More like if you burnt a sweet , aromatic wood in your fireplace.


There is a pathcouli like note and I think thats the resin note coming through. Cedarwood is quite present as is a touch of the lavender and iris notes. It has a very cold winter Christmas morning feel .

If you like this type of smoky scent, then you will love Silver Factory.
The next Andy Warhol scent will be Union Square and Brooklyn in the regular line is coming too. I don't know what they will smell like though.( at least not yet )

I also finally got my hands on the Bond body creams. They are amazing. Super lush they make your hands( or whatever) so soft. It's like the plump almost. West Side is a very light version of the perfume and just has a touch of scent. Chinatown is much stronger scent wise. I didn't test the others, but pick your scent, these are gorgeous, and yes another addition to the wish list.








Bottles photo by: Michael Friedlander






Saturday, October 27, 2007

Clinique " Reel Moments "


In early October Clinique sponsered Glampour Magazine's Reel Moments program. Here are some details, plus the link too see these films by some wonderful actresses. The pictures are from the premiere. ( Doesn't Kate look great ??, this is a good look for her )

"This year Clinique sponsored the Glamour Reel Moments program featuring the directorial deputes of three of Hollywood’s most talented leading ladies, Rita Wilson, Kirsten Dunst and Kate Hudson. Each woman created a short film based on real women’s stories written by Glamour readers. The project empowers women in Hollywood in two ways: by creating opportunities for actresses to get behind the camera and direct; and by producing films about real women. The films are all sponsored by Clinique and all share the theme of “happiness” inspired by Clinique’s best selling Happy fragrance. The movies made their on-screen début at a premier in Los Angeles at the Director’s Guild of America on Tuesday, October 9th. Check out these amazing films by visiting

http://www.clinique.com/ and following the links to Glamour Reel Moments.

Friday, October 26, 2007

Leiber Perfume



Another fragrance sample tested this past weekend at the Sniffapalooza in NY was Leiber, the scent launched in September by Judith Leiber, the doynenne of fabulous evening bags.


Leiber is a lightly oriental rose perfume. The notes include bergamot, pineapple, mandarin leaf, rose, white gardenia, vanilla ,musk and amber.


After a bit of bergamot at first spritz, the rose come in. I smell little pineapple, mandarin, vanilla or gardenia. On the way to drydown, the amber is there and by the drydown it's a lovely, soft ambery-rose with a hint of the fruits.


The scent is very soft and elegant. Not overpowering in any way, and I needed several spritzes just to get a good sense of it. This is a perfect any time fragrance, totally unoffensive and therefore great for a work environment. Leiber's soft and lightness plays well to places where you don't want too much. I like this but would prefer it with a bit more sillage . It stays close to the skin on me.


Available at Bergdorf Goodman online and in store.

Eau de Parfum, 1 oz.
Price: $75.00

Eau de Parfum, 1.7 oz.
Price: $110.00





Thursday, October 25, 2007

MAC Holiday

Some pics of MAC holiday. The Gold & Silver cases are Royal Assets, the red ones Viva Glamourous. These are on counter now.
I love these cases, they remind me of an antique card case I have. Much nicer than last years, on par with the cute ones from 2005.

ANTIQUITEASE’S ROYAL ASSETS:
MAY APPEAR LIKE MUSEUM PIECES
BUT THEY LOVE NOTHING BETTER
THAN TO BE PUT ON DISPLAY.
STATELY IN LOOK, FABULOUSLY COLLECTIBLE:
OUR GILDED ANTIQUE-INSPIRED COMPACTS
FOR LIPS AND EYES. THE CHOICE, MAGNIFICENT.
FOR LIPS: TAN, CORAL, RED, PINK, THREE SHADES IN EACH.
FOR EYES: SIX SHADES THAT ECHO
THE MOODS OF WARM, COOL OR SMOKY.
THE DESIGN, A ROUNDED EDGE COMPACT
FINISHED IN A FINELY TEXTURED BASE OF GOLD OR SILVER. ON THE LID, AN INLAID
CERAMIC EMBOSSED ROYAL CROWN IN IVORY,


















































































Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Pucci Vivara


I had been wanting to try the new Pucci Vivara for awhile, and got a sample at last.
Many haven't found Vivara to their taste, but I love it. It's very fresh and sunny , light but with solid sillage.

I get a lot of the jasmine and narcissus notes as well a bit of citrus and other fruit. It's not super fruity though. Technically it could be a fruity-floral but it is more sophisticated than that and has a breezy quality that really does feel Italian. Bergdorfs calls it a green floral and thats more apt. Patchouli is also a light prescence with orange blossom notes too. I can just barely smell a hint of amaretto that is listed in the notes.


Vivara really is an any season scent but there is no doubt that it feels like sunny, warm days by the water, the breeze blowing and a drink at your side. It's an uplifting sort of fragrance and goes well with the Pucci design bottle. I would and will wear it now ( at least until my sample runs out ).

I think a bottle of this needs to be mine at some point.

1.7oz 85.00

3.4 oz 110.00

Body lotion and mousse available.




Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Lipstick Queen

Had a chance to try the Lipstick Queen line by Poppy King. Poppy made the most wonderful lipsticks under By Poppy back in the mid 90s. They were long wearing, good texture, great color, a substantial lipstick. Only sold at Barneys I think, they disappeared after a few years.


Happily she is back with Lipstick Queen, and new line, but still the amazing quality.

Divided into 2 categories Saint( sheer), and Sinner ( opaque matte), they are packaged in cute art deco -ish packs with a retro looking tube( gold Saint and black Sinner).


I tried Nude in both versions. I am a Saint.


The sheer nude is actually a medium sheer, not too sheer and the shade is a deep skin tone, but not a light flesh tone. Now back in the Poppy line days , the nude called Honesty( in picture) was my holy grail nude. It was a thick , perfect tan semi matte nude that lasted for hours. I still have it, even though I can't wear it after all those years.

Saint Nude goes on creamy and wears well. It is very natural, your lips but a bit darker and better.
Nude Sinner( shown is swatch) is much deeper and is more russet than nude on me. A pretty color, but darker than I wear . It is very matte but not dry and for those looking for a lipstick with substance, the Sinner is the way to go. It will last long and give a bold look.




There are 10 shades to choose from, and a lipgloss is also available.

Poppy aims to make lipstick fun, and for each person to find their perfect one. She champions a return to lipstick , and has made it her life's work basically.

Lipstick Queen is available at Barneys stores and online at Barneys.com .
Retails at 18.00

The main website list additional sites.



New York Day of Testing


Sunday was a whirlwind day in New York testing fragrances and meeting wonderful people, like the adorable Kilian Hennessy of By Kilian perfumes. I am trying samples as fast as I can and will soon have reviews on the By Kilians, Andy Warhol Silver Factory, Pucci Vivara, NARS candles, and more.





Monday, October 22, 2007

Narciso Powder


Just in time for holiday giving , Narciso Rodriguez is releasing a powder in a brush version of his well loved eponymous scent. No exact details but keep an eye in dept. stores come December.

Edit 10/27: This is now online at Nordstrom.com

MAC Sweepstakes



MAC and Net A Porter have joined up for a great sweepstakes. Win the MAC for McQueen collection plus the Alexander McQueen patent leather, suede-lined, mini box-clutch with crystal-jeweled skull clasp. Approximate total retail value: $1,137.00!!

Heres is the link . Good Luck.

www.maccosmetics.com/mcqueen

Friday, October 19, 2007

Thierry Mugler Makeup


Thierry Mugler is launching a makeup line at the end of the year called Dare the Metamorphosis. He will also introduce several new fragrances.
One would think Mugler makeup would be a bit subversive, but it looks pretty tame in this pic. Nice, though. You do have to make something that will sell after all.


Should hit Saks in December, then by next year, a wider release.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Estee Lauder Holiday Fragrance Compacts







Estee Lauder has a beautiful lineup of solid fragrance compacts this year. They range from 80.oo to over 300.00. All are detailed and perfect gifts . I have one from a few years back , I love it and would love to add another.


Available at Estēe Lauder counters nationwide beginning October 2007:
Estēe Lauder pleasures Little Teapot - $80.00
Pure White Linen Heavenly Harp - $80.00
Beautiful Jingle Bell - $80.00
Youth-Dew Flower Cameo - $80.00
White Linen Glistening Snail - $80.00


Available exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue stores beginning August 2007:
Intuition Magical Foo Dog (designed by Jay Strongwater) - $350.00
Pure White Linen Magnificent Bonsai (designed by Jay Strongwater) - $350.00
Beautiful Jeweled Ornament - $250.00
Estēe Lauder pleasures Pretty Paisley - $230.00
White Linen Treasured Hat Box - $200.00


Available exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue stores beginning October 2007:
Estēe Lauder beyond paradise Precious Plane - $300.00


Available exclusively at Neiman Marcus stores and Bergdorf Goodman beginning August 2007:
Pure White Linen Twinkling Turtle - $275.00
Estēe Lauder beyond paradise Gilded Bird Cage - $350.00
Beautiful Bejeweled Butterfly - $300.00
Estēe Lauder pleasures Sparkling Sailboat - $300.00
Intuition Glorious Great Wall - $275.00
White Linen Fluttering Feather - $250.00


Available exclusively at Neiman Marcus stores and Bergdorf Goodman beginning October 2007:
Beautiful Glorious Gramophone (designed by Jay Strongwater) - $325.00




































Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Terra Tints



Lip Balm season has arrived and it's only going to get colder. Being a lip balm devotee, I wanted to share a good natural, tinted one.



Terra Tints come in several shades and are a medium to deep tint. I have one in terracotta type shade( old style, and now discontinued I think) and it acts as both balm and lipstick which is handy. They have good pigment which provides more than just a sheer color wash.


As I said mine, however, is the older style tube, and they have a new look, but hopefully the same formulation.


They are also extremely natural with good ingredients. I find them to be a good moisturizer, and they have a peppermint scent.


The balms have SPF 18 and are all mineral tints.

From the website :
Ingredients:
Hydrogenated coconut oil, beeswax, euphorbia cerifera (candelilla) wax, ricinus communis (castor) seed and olea europaea (olive) fruit oils, iron oxides, mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, tocopherol and tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), natural flavor, mica, calendula officinalis flower and echinacea purpurea extracts, titanium dioxide and glycine soja (soybean) oil.


Standards:
• Hypo-allergenic•
SPF 18•
100% natural mineral color
• No artificial colors, petrolatum, mineral oil, phthalates or parabens.
• 100% vegetarian ingredients and no animal testing


Colors range from sheer pink (Dawn) to Chocolate ( Kona).


Terra Tints retail for 3.99 and Terra Glosses are available also.


You can find them at your natural foods store, Whole Foods, some GNC, and online at drugstore.com, and more.



http://www.albabotanica.com/?id=70

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Vote for Benefit "That Gal "


















Benefit has selected the finalists in the "That Gal " contest.



You can go to www.sephora.com/thatgal to watch the videos and cast your vote.


The winner gets :

-an audition for talent representation with The William Morris Talent Agency
- a guest co-hosting spot on Extra
- photo in Lucky Magazine and on Sephora.com
- a year supply of Benefit makeup



Of course you can check out some of the newer Benefit products while you are there like highlighter Miss Popularity and gloss set Her Glossiness.






















Monday, October 15, 2007

MAC Antiquitease 2


Here is a pic of the whole collection. These may not be new to you as they have already popped up many places, but thought I would post more anyway. This collection looks to be a beauty and I hear good things about the gift sets to come.

The ad copy speaking of a lady who loves all things gilded and vintage is very me :



SHE LOVES SILVER,
SHE LOVES GOLD.
SHE LOVES ANYTHING, RICH,
EXTRAVAGANT AND OLD…
THE LOOK SHE ADORES, INSPIRED BY
THE ORNATE EXCESS OF ANTIQUITY.
HER INDULGENCES: DECORATION,
THE REFINEMENTS OF CENTURIES PAST,
BRUSHED WITH AUTHENTICITY.
HER RICHEST TREASURES ARE
GILDED, GOLDEN AND WORN
LIKE TREASURES CLOSE TO HER SKIN.
MODERN BY NATURE, SHE FLIRTS
WITH THE STYLE AND FASHION
OF ANOTHER TIME.
SHE’S AN ANTIQUITEASE

Lipstick
Gilty Kiss Yellow gold with gold pearl (frost)
Her Fancy Sheer light pink with gold pearl (frost)
Antiquitease Copper with red pearl (frost)
Queen’s Sin Intense red with red pearl (frost)
Budding Lust Deep neutral plum (frost)
Suggested Retail Price: $14.00 U.S./$16.50 CDN

Lipglass
Red Romp Mid-tone red with red pearl (frost)
Corsette Dirty grey brown with gold pearl (frost)
Trifle White pink with pink pearl (frost)
Majestic Yellow gold with gold pearl (frost)
Suggested Retail Price: $14.00 U.S./$16.50 CDN

Mineralize Eye Shadow Duo
Silversmith Silver blue with dirty mid-tone blue and white veining (frost)
Earthly Riches Deep plum and dirty deep grey with pink veining (frost)
Engaging Pinky beige and yellow gold with rose veining (frost)
Family Silver Dirty light silver and mid-tone
Mi’ Lady Intense blood red and rich purple with white veining (frost)
Suggested Retail Price: $16.50 U.S./$20.00 CDN

Pigment
Gold Stroke Mid-tone chocolate brown with red pearl
Your Ladyship Creamy white with gold pearl
Sweet Sienna Dirty brown with grey pearl
Suggested Retail Price: $19.50 U.S./$23.50 CDN

Fluidline
Uppity Yellow gold with gold pearl
Blacktrack Solid flat black
Suggested Retail Price: $14.50 U.S./$17.50 CDN

Fibre Rich Lash
All Black Black
Suggested Retail Price: $11.00 U.S./$17.50 CDN

Nail Lacquer
Vestral White Creamy white (cream)
Gold Veneer Tarnished yellow gold (frost)
Suggested Retail Price: $10.00 U.S./$12.00 CDN

MAC Antiquitease Holiday


Here are some pics from MAC Holiday upcoming. More info to come .



































































































































































































Sunday, October 14, 2007

Sick Day

Feeling a bit under the weather as they say. I think this turn from 83 degrees to 55 degrees in one day is the culprit.
I hope to post again late tomorrow. Please bear with me, and have a good Monday.

Friday, October 12, 2007

Body Shop New Fall Products



The Body Shop has put out some new fall products to lead into the cool fall weather.

A nice addition is the Vanilla Spice Body Polish.

Last year at the holidays, this line from the Body Shop was one I went to for some gifts. Most people love the scent. I am not as into Vanilla myself, but this Body Shop one is really nice and people are very happy to get gifts of it. Soon the gift sets should be in stores.


Here's all the new items:





"NEW Aloe Protective Restoring Mask ($16.50, 3.3 fl oz)
For sensitive skin, The Body Shop has launched a skin-saving new addition to
its preservative-free, fragrance and color-free Aloe Skin Care range. The Aloe
Protective Restoring Mask helps reinforce the skin’s natural defense
system, by protecting against irritants and forming a blanket of soothing
protection. Leaves sensitive skin feeling soft, silky and completely cushioned.Contains the world’s first fair trade aloe from Guatemala.

New Vitamin E Moisture Serum ($18, 1.0 fl oz)
To give you extra hydration during the cooler months, we’re now offering even
more of the exceptional protection and hydrating benefits of vitamin E in a
wonderful new Vitamin E Moisture Serum. The concentrated serum is
designed to be used as a pre-moisturizing treat before applying Vitamin E Day
or Night Moisture Cream, to offer all skin types the very best moisturization
and hydration to help protect skin for longer.



NEW Vanilla Spice Body Polish ($20, 200ml)
It’s all glow with this luxurious creamy polish, loaded with the exfoliating
particles of kiwi seeds, walnut shell and coconut shell to gently ease away
dead skin cells, leaving the skin super soft, smooth and delicately fragranced.
Vanilla Spice Body Polish contains warm, indulgent spicy aromas, blended
with sweet, sugary textures to cocoon and pamper your body in pure
pleasure. Top notes of orange and cinnamon, middle notes of ginger and
nutmeg, and base notes of vanilla and licorice all blend beautifully for the
ultimate indulgence.





New Flawless Skin Protecting Foundation SPF 25 ($22.50)
Don’t forget that, even though we may have waved goodbye to the summer
sun, your face still needs protection from the suns rays during the cooler
months. The innovative cream-to-powder foundation is enriched with oil from
the baobab tree, known as the ‘tree of life’ and Community Trade marula oil,
both with superb skin moisturizing and protecting benefits. Baobab also
contains high levels of vitamins A, E and F and natural moisturizers. With a
mineral defense shield complex to care for your skin, this product helps
protect your skin from sun damage. Thousands of tiny spheres smooth over
the skin giving it a wonderful, even tone and natural appearance. Using this
fabulous foundation helps improve elasticity and helps prevents drying,
resulting in youthful-looking radiant skin.
The foundation is available in six shades and comes in a portable compact
with a sponge and mirror for ease of application.




New Special Edition Precious Rouge Lip Color ($14.50)
This season, lips are ultra-rich, balmy and awash with gloss. A real gem in our
Make-Up collection is Special Edition Precious Rouge, an ultra glossy lip
color with a premium diamond shape and three sensational shades to deliver
a rich color and sensational shimmering finish. Available in three opulent
colors: 01 Shade: Lavish Pink, a flirty, precious pink; 02 Shade: Opulent
Rose, an alluring, deep rose shade; 03 Shade: Sleek Brown, a neutral
copper"