Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Shu Uemura Cream Eyeshadows


I love it when a cream eyeshadow comes along that is said to be long lasting. Even better is when one really, really works. Thats the case with the new waterproof cream eyeshadows from Shu Uemura.

These have a unique technology that according to the company allows the volatile oils in the shadow to evaporate right after application, and a "film former polymer creates a layer on the eyes that concentrates the color " leaving you with creaseproof all day shadow. Evaporating oils? Sounds good to me.

I got almost all day wear out of these. Whether I used a base or not, the wear was almost the same, but the base brought out the color in the shadow better. These are not overly creamy, they are easily blended though. Once on the eye, they stick and that means they can stand up to my oily eyelids. I kept checking the mirror expecting the shadow to have vaporized, but every time it was still there. Big smile.

There are 9 colors, ranging from neutrals to bright yellow. I have used Light Green , Sand Brown( pictured) and Beige. The Light Green is a shimmer , very lime and I love it. It pops and is gorgeous. Sand Brown is a muddy brown matte and deep but it works well with other colors. When I added a gold powder shadow to my inner crease, it looked great. Beige( shimmer) is extremely sheer, almost not there. I like this one as a base.

These hit counters in April and have a high price tag. They sell for $30.00. To me , they are worth it . Shu Uemura doesn't come cheap but the quality, the intense pigments, the color payoff of all the products are top of the line.

Monday, March 30, 2009

My Favorite Beauty Deals

deals2


Beauty products come in all price ranges. Since everyone is trying to save a few extra pennies where they can and thinking harder on splurge vs. steal, I thought I'd share some of my favorite products that don't break the budget . I certainly lean towards more high end beauty but I am not averse to a deal either. I am happy to say there are many great products out there at a good price. Not all my picks are drugstore, but most are. Feel free to weigh in with any of your own.

Mario Badescu Elasto-Seamollient Hand Cream- Serious thick, creamy moisture from a top skincare brand. I have a tiny sample of this and a tub is on the to buy list next time I am at an MB counter. A full 4oz. tub is only 8.00.

Jergen's Naturals Body Lotion- These all smell great,moisturize great and have a large percentage of organic ingredients. No it isn't like the natural foods store ones, but it's good to have more organic options readily available. I have the Renew version and love the slightly blueberry-ish scent. Approx. 5.99

Cover Girl Mascaras- Totally smudge free, and that's on me , chief mascara wrecker. My favs are Volume Exact, Lash Blast and Professional. I can get Professional at my nearest Walgreens for 4.50. It doesn't get much cheaper than that and I love how good it works.

Softsoap Pomegranate Mango Body Wash- The first time I used this I was amazed at how good, no great, it smelled. No chemical smells, just a blast of juicy fruit. One of the best smelling gels period, and not drying like some can be. Priced at 3.99 or less.

Annick Goutal Un Matin D'Orage Rollerball- I love that Annick Goutal, one of the highest end, top quality French perfume houses does these little rollerballs that make this scent affordable to all. Yes it's small, but that not that small and a lot better than 150.00 bottle. It's also travel friendly. Un Matin D'Orage is the most beautiful light white floral scent, and one of my new top favorites. The rollerball is $29.00 and will be for sale in April. A rollerball in Petite Cherie, a floral with a hint of pear, sells for $39.00. Shop at Neimans, Bergdorf Saks, Nordstrom, http://www.aedes.com/

Avalon Organics Shampoo- Some of the best shampoo I've used in the past were organic brands. Nature's Gate & Kiss My Face are great as it Avalon Organics. Only a few dollars more than a drugstore brand, you get no laureth sulfates, it's better for the environment and your hair. My hair was shiny and soft with lift. I mentioned Avalon here first as it seems to be showing up in Wal Mart stores, making it most the most accessible. Most of these shampoos run about $6.99

Crazylibellule and the Poppies Perfume Sticks- I'd seen these about 4 years ago when they were only at the Paris Sephora and hoped a friend going there would pick me up one. She wasn't able to but finally they hit the US. I still didn't get one until last month when our Sephora finally got them. These are cute,large lipstick size solid perfumes. There are fruity ones, spicy, herby ones and vanilla based ones. Created by the woman who started Sephora years ago, these are perfect for the purse. Made with none of the bad ingredients , they sell for $ 18.00

Pet Themed Nail Files- We all need nail files, why not have fun with them? I have a marabou trimmed one and now one with German Shepherds. These come from Petsmart in many breeds and cats for 2.49 in a clear sleeve. Also as http://www.petsmart.com/

NYC Mosaic Powders- These look a lot like more expensive ones, but if you can't swing 20, 30, or 50 dollars, these are just 4.99. I am totally impressed with NYC which I hadn't tried ever until a few weeks ago. I posted earlier in the month on the awesome tinted lip balm tins. For 2.99 you get color & moisture that literally lasts for hours.

Chapstick Lip Butter- I've mentioned many times my love for tinted lip balms. Sometimes you need one thats basic. This Lip Butter is basic only in that it's shineless, scentless and colorless. It moisturizes like crazy due to the 5 butters in there and despite my arsenal of lip balms, is one of the ones I most often reach for. Great for the guys too. $ 2.99


Sunday, March 29, 2009

Jenni Kayne Baby Bag GWP at Drugstore.com


Jenni Kayne has designed an exclusive baby bag for Drugstore.com . I love this. My dearest friend is having her second baby this summer and this would be such a great gift. I wish I could buy just the bag. I am always encouraging the BFFs to get as many natural baby products as possible and this has a lot of good ones.


It comes with a 50.00 at drugstore.com purchase.Drugstore .com sells so many things you wouldn't even think,so racking up 50.00 might not be that hard. Then there's the Vincent Longo makeup over at Beauty.com ( Both sites can share a cart, adding to your overall total)


Kayne, who welcomed her first child Tanner late last year, wanted to create something large enough to store products for a quick outing and small enough to stash tidily into a stroller or slouchy handbag. The washable, durable bag has elasticized pockets for bottles and snacks and offers a reliable way to keep baby travel basics separate and accessible. “When I was pregnant I was looking at diaper bags and thought there should be more options for busy new moms,” says Kayne. “Diaper bags can be so cumbersome and sometimes when you’re going out for a walk or need to run a quick errand with a baby, a giant bag doesn’t make anything easier.”



The Jenni Kayne Mommy Bag is valued at over $50 and comes filled with full and deluxe-sized samples for Mom and Baby, many from the drugstore.com Green and Natural store:

Philips Avent Silicone Orthodontic Pacifiers, 0-3 months

Philips Avent 4oz/125ml Bottle BPA-Free, 0-3 months

Burt’s Bees® Baby Bee® Buttermilk Lotion

Belly-bar™ Vanilla Dreams Milkshake

Belly-bar™ Baby Needs Chocolate Bar, Chocolate Toffee Crisp

Seventh Generation™ Diaper> California Baby® Calendula Cream

California Baby® Super Sensitive™ Shampoo & Bodywash

Earth’s Best TenderCare® Chlorine-Free Diapers & Wipes

Earth’s Best TenderCare® Chlorine-Free Baby Wipes Resealable Travel Pack

Susan Brown’s Baby™ Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer

Aveda Light The Way Candle for Charity


In our second Earth Day/Month initiative we have Aveda's Light The Way Candle.

How great is a candle thats only $10.00, smells wonderful and helps a good charity ?

Aveda is bringing back the limited edition Light the Way™ soy wax candle sold only during the month of April to raise funds and awareness for clean water rights across the globe. This year’s candle features a new, French-inspired stress-relieving aroma with 100% EcoCert certified organic ingredients.


The Earth Month candle sells for $ 10.00 and,your purchase of the candle support's Aveda’s global efforts to help make clean water a human right and help raise $1,000,000 if all candles are sold.

Aveda will donate 100% of the proceeds to its global Earth Month partner, Global Greengrants Fund.



Burn time is approx. 20 hours.



Image is last years version, will post new one asap.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Origins Earth Day Freebie Offer & More


Earth Day is coming soon and many companies are having special events, giveways etc. to mark it.

First up is Origins who are giving you a free sample with your old empties. The sample program is at ALL stores beginning Mar. 29th and you can bring in ANY brand empty to recycle. ( I will find out how long this program runs).
Some events are only at specific locations.

Read on for all the details :

Origins Earth Day event slated for April 2nd in select stores Nationwide. The first 100 people to return cosmetic empties on April 2nd at these locations will receive a deluxe sample of A Perfect World™ Intensely hydrating body cream with White Tea.


The event will start at 10 am and will be held at:

Austin - Origins at Central Park
4001 N. Lamar Blvd. Suite 570
Austin, TX 78756
512-302-3267

Boston - Faneuil Hall
1 Faneuil Hall Market Place
Boston, MA 02109
617-742-7447

Cambridge - Origins Harvard Sq
8 Brattle Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-868-8090

Denver - Origins Cherry Creek North
2800 E 2nd Ave
Denver, CO 80206-4902
303-388-0018

LA - Century City:
10250 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90067
310-772-0272

San Francisco - San Francisco Centre:
865 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
415-537-9440


All stores Nationwide will be participating in the Recycling program, beginning April 2.

For complete program info, check out the event page:
http://tinyurl.com/cjsehc

As part of the Origins Earth Month initiatives, Origins fans are invited to share event info and pictures of their beauty recyclables:

(1) Upload images to the Origins Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Origins/19777183712
(2) Post images on Flickr, make sure to tag all photos with "Origins Trash Talk"
(3) Tweet to your green heart's delight using hashtag #OriginsTrashTalk


Don't forget- for every new Facebook Fan and every image (of beauty empties) that's uploaded to Flickr and tagged "Origins Trash Talk" the brand will plant a tree!

LUSH Hops Into Easter

LUSH has some sweet but not edible treats for Easter. These cuties really look like Peeps to me, but they are bath bombs.


Bunny Bath Bombs ($4.95)
Mini Egg Bath Bombs ($5.95)

Here all the new Easter/Spring scents:

The sweetly scented Honey Bun Bunny Bath Bomb soothes skin with aloe vera and rhassoul mud while sweet orange and bergamot oils enliven your mind.

The petal-packed, skin nourishing English Country Bumpkin Bunny Bath Bomb and Mini Egg Bath Bomb ( shown) adds roses, blue mallow flowers, poppy petals and sunflower petals along with refreshing geranium, precious orris and soothing sandalwood oils into your bath so can breathe the soothing aromas of a peaceful English meadow.

The sparkling Fluff Bunny Bath Bomb and Mini Egg Bath Bomb is made for that little darling in your life with sweet scents of marshmallow and candy and a touch of iridescent golden glitter.




Give into your chocolate craving with the Chocolate Bunny Bath Bomb ( shown) and Mini Egg Bath Bomb filled with chocolate that will indulge your skin and your sweet tooth plus vanilla to calm and comfort and aloe vera extract to soothe and heal.

A little Magic Egg Bath Bomb can bring a little luck and energy to your life. It not only soothes skin with marjoram oil and rose absolute, refreshes senses with a basil and peppermint fusion but this bomb is also full of some real magic as you watch the water slowly change from blue to pink.


There are also two gift sets, Pink and Yellow ( $29.95)



The Pink One - The Candy Fluff Bath Bomb shell holds the bubble-gum pink, vanilla-scented Rock Star Soap and a soothing and sexy Flosty Gritter Bubble Bar created to send you straight to a calm state.

The Yellow One - Honey Bee Bath Bomb hatches open to two bath treats to send you into honey bliss. The best-selling skin soother Honey I Washed the Kids Soap is filled with honey, bergamot and aloe to soothe and nourish skin. Ma Bar Bubble Bar sweetly scents you and your bath to satisfy your senses and tone skin.




Friday, March 27, 2009

Rouge G de Guerlain

New info on the new Rouge G de Guerlain luxe lipstick. It is now showing for sale online at Bergdorfs and Neimans.

It looks pretty amazing. Guerlain's current Kiss Kiss one are among the best , and this ups the ante. The case was designed by jeweler Lorenz Baumer.It opens to reveal a mirror on one side and then a compartment where the lipstick is . They say the magnetic case even has that sound of an antique powder compact being opened and closed.

The lipstick itself has a lot going on. There is hyaluronic acid for moisture, gugal resin for line filling, wild mango butter for hydration,Vitamin A and tiger grass for plumping, ruby mono- crystals ground into powder for extra radiance, and concentrated pigments combined with mother of pearl liquid which form an opaque film to reflect light.

There are 25 shades , 10 basic ones and 15 bolder ones.

There is even one called Guerlainade after the scent"signature" of the Guerlain Fragrance House. It's a neutral , and I will check it out soon.

Nadia is wearing No. 65 Grenade in the photo.

Retail is $45.00, which is a splurge, but a new and great lipstick like this might just be worth it.










Thursday, March 26, 2009

New Men's Scents From YSL & Stetson

Need a new scent for the man in your life ? There are two new ones at opposite price points, for everyone.

First up is YSL's new La Nuit de l'Homme, a new deeper version of their l'Homme scent. This one features notes of bergamot, cardamom, lavender, vetiver, cedar and coumarin. It's an EDT and comes in 2 sizes:
2 oz is $ 55.00
3.3 oz is $ 72.00

Visit www.yslbeautyus.com for more info and the new mini-movie starring French actor Vincent Cassel.

Next is new All American Stetson, a flanker addition the men's Steson line with an ad campaign once again featuring Tom Brady of football( and Gisele ) fame.
All American Steston features notes of black suede (Tom Brady’s self-professed favorite), cedar leaf, sage, vetiver, ginger, musk, and fresh water ferns.
If you visit http://www.allamericanstetson.com/ you can challenge Tom Brady in extreme sports, including Kayaking, Motorcross and Snowboarding.

The top scorers can win a dream 3 day adventure trip packed with horseback riding, rafting and a Hummer 4x4 excursion, plus autographed Tom Brady memorabilia, and of course, All American Stetson.
You can also request a sample at the site.

Pictured are some of my favorite blogger buddies at a video conference with Mr. Brady about the new launch. It sounded like they had a great time and they found Tom to be very friendly and clever.

The scent is available now at most mass market retailers and sells for :

0.5 fl oz - $14.50
1 fl oz $19
1.5 fl oz $26







Group photo :Flickr/All American Beauty Event

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Sally Hansen Insta -Dri Nail Enamel


Want an your nails painted and pretty in a minute or less? These new( ish) Sally Hansen Insta- Dri's do the trick.

I was amazed at just how fast these dry. I painted my nails, put the cap on the bottle and was able to immdiately wash my hair. Before I began the hairwashing part , they were dry. Hard dry, so that after washing, they looked fine. Finally a nail polish you can apply and go right to sleep, no sheet smudges. This I need.


I had used fast dry polishes years ago, but hadn't tried any new ones. I always found them to chip too fast, like the next day. These are a bit tougher. I still got tip wear fast but then that can happen to me with regular polish. I tend to get tip wear quickly. Also, I didn't apply a top coat right away and once one was applied, the wear was better. I did use base coat( the also new Quick Care Growth Treatment Stick).

The brush is a new style and wide to help paint faster with less mess. I tend to make a mess all over my finger edges normally, and my nails are narrow, so I did still do that but it was definitely less. I kind of liked the brush though. I need to work with it more.

Insta -Dri comes in a full color range. My favs are in the picture- Jumpin Jade, Pronto Purple and Quick Sand.

Retail is approx. 4.95

Penhaligons Shower Gel Gift Set

A beautiful Penhaligon's gift set showed up in the inbox today. You don't see many specials from this elegant British line but every so often something almost sale- like comes along.

This is a set of 6 of their wonderful shower gels in a leather travel case. Penhaligons doesn't come cheaply, but this is a nice deal. It would make a perfect gift for so many. Several of the scents are unisex, and it's surely not something they already have.

I am partial to the Lily and Rose, but they are all nice.


Use this link to go right to this web special page. I wasn't able to access it without using the link in the email.




The set contains:

Quercus bath and shower gel 50ml
English Fern bath and shower gel 50ml
Blenheim Bouquet bath and shower gel 50ml
Lavandula bath and shower gel 50ml
Elisbethan Rose bath and shower 50ml
Lily of the Valley bath and shower gel 50ml

US Offer ONLY

Or call at:
1-888-450- 7578

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Reviva Vitamin E Stick


This Vitamin E stick from NJ based Reviva Labs has been on "to blog about" list for some time .

This lipstick size stick is highly emollient but not greasy and can be used anywhere. Lips, eyes, cheeks and is SPF 15.

I tend to use it on the eye area since I have loads of lip balms. This is great for when my eyes feel dry. I have easily rubbed it over makeup with no problems. When you come in from a really windy day and feel dry, this is great , or of course put it on before you hit the outdoors. Either way it works .The moisture lasts too.
Two more great things- Reviva is a natural beauty company and this little stick sells for a whole $ 4.00.

You can find Reviva at most health /natural food stores like GNC, Whole Foods or your local outlet.

I have seen the line at beauty supplies as well and I bought my stick at Ulta. You can shop online at http://www.revivalabs.com/


Monday, March 23, 2009

Win a Shopping Spree from Lucky Mag



Lucky magazine has a great contest going. Here's the details:


"Vote to Win a $1,000 Lucky Brand Shopping Spree.Three aspiring stylists got full access to the Lucky Brand showroom to put their spin on the spring collection. Vote for your favorite for the chance to win a $1,000 Lucky Brand shopping spree. "

Vote here:
www.luckystylespotter.com/luckybrand

Vintage Musical Lipstick Holder ( Carillon)


I have been enjoying fellow blogger Blogdorf Goodman's series for Lent; 40 Days and 40 Nights of Lip Service. She has been featuring some unique finds .

Reading some posts reminded me that I had long wanted to share photos of one of my most interesting antiques. I bought this about 12 years ago. It was listed at the antiques place as a Carillon. I assumed it was an antique lipstick holder, because well what else would fit so perfectly in those holders? Today's lippies are a bit too big to fit in now, but I can get glosses in. Older lipsticks like Revlon work too.


When I saw this , and realized what it was, it was a must buy . Someone else was eyeing it up but not touching , so I grabbed it, gently. It plays music, Lara's Theme from Dr. Zhivago, and the panels open and close while the music plays. Truthfully, I can watch this over and over for awhile. There is a lyre ornament in the middle and a cherub on top. It is made of enamel and porcelain and was made in Italy. It is quite large as well, being about 9 inches tall.
I have never seen anything like it again, if you have, let me know in the comments.




Sunday, March 22, 2009

Delirium & Co. Scarlet Grapefuit Candle


I love grapefruit scented candles and they can be hard to find. I loved one made by Vitabath from years ago, but thats long gone. Delirium and Co. now has their own version of a grapefruit candle.

Delirium and Co. is a new candle company I first heard about in December . They make some unusual scents housed in very elegant chrome/ silver handmade glass containers. No country candle look here.

One of their newest scents is Scarlet Grapefruit. It has a few more notes than just grapefruit but they all blend well. There is a lot of redcurrant in there and I can smell some of the amber. ( Other notes are apple, jasmine and mandarin). It's really very pretty, a citrus floral and perfect to burn in these Spring days that are cool but not cold.


Delirium and Co. can be purchased at http://www.candledelirium.com/


38.00 for 7.8 oz candle and 55 hour burn time. Candles are a soy blend.


Saturday, March 21, 2009

Smashbox Mother Earth Palette & O Bronze

Smashbox has some new items just hitting the shelves at Sephora. I haven't seen them in person myself yet, but I love the look of the peach blush in the palette most of all.

O Bronze is an intuitive bronzer gel for your cheeks in the manner of their O Glow pink blush gel. The gel reacts with your skin to give you a bronze shade that is right for your skintone. Smashbox’s exclusive Goji Berry-C Complex™ as well as Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract to boost microcirculation. If you are afraid of bronzer being too much on you, this might be one to try .


The Mother Earth Palette houses four eyeshadows and a blush made from certified organic ingredients and the compact is recyclable. The carton it comes in is made from sustainable materials and printed with eco-friendly ink

Also, in a nice touch, with each purchase, a tree will be planted by Trees for the Future, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating sustainable environments through reforestation throughout the world.


Mother Earth is 45.00 exclusively at Sephora and LE.
O Bronze is 26.00 at Sephora





Friday, March 20, 2009

eenamaria Handbags


I first saw eenamaria handbags on ebags.com when looking at some other brand and these scanned by. I thought they looked quite neat and were amazingly inexpensive. Then during Fashion Week an invite came to a group show that the brand was part of. Alas, I didn't get to the event, but still tracked down more info on the purses.

The line is created by Sarah Morgan, who has twice been nominated for a Fashion Group International Rising Star Award and is based in Brooklyn.


As you can see her bags are super colorful and fun. The look of many is very Mondrian like and I had a clutch in similar design back in the 80s that I adored. These bags are all also under 75.00. There are travel bags ,totes, clutches, even a pencil case.

The current collection is called Chelsea Boi and is inspired by NYC's Chelsea district. Next up is Harlem Swing, (one of the bags is shown in the last photo).

I just think they are so fun and I am really contemplating buying Murse or Purse or the Workin' It bag.

eenamaria will be debuting today on QVC, making these bags far more accessable. Ms. Morgan will be on in the 1PM EST hour if you get a chance to tune in.


Prices :
Chelsea Boi collection :

Every Queen Needs One ( First Photo) $60
All Night ClubberRetail: $45
Murse or Purse ( Second Photo) $45
Talk a Walk on the Wild Side $45 ($55 for larger size)
I Mean Bizness $75
Workin' Weekend Baby $65
Got it Goin On Clutch $30
Girlfriend's Bestfriend $20
It's For My Pencils $20
Workin It $75

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Lush First Swim for the Seals Bubble Bar


I try to keep my causes and this blog separate. This is the place for beauty/fashion. Sometimes, however, the two nicely coinicide. Such is the case with the new First Swim bath bomb by Lush.

Made to bring awareness to a cause I have long supported- stopping the clubbing of baby seals in Canada for their pelts. The practice is horrific ( sadly, I have looked at photos) and it needs to end. No one should need a seal fur coat ever, and I don't take the argument that seal killers have no other means of income. There has to be another way to make money than killing those precious babies.

So big kudos to Lush for taking this on as their cause. 100 % of proceeds from all the of the sales of First Swim benefit the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Sea Shepherd is directly involved in trying to stop this practice.

Also on the Lush website is an online petition you can sign. Please sign it. It takes but a minute and signatures will go to the PM in Canada.


First Swim sells for 5.95


More info:





Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Go SMiLE's Go Whiten 7 day system

Teeth whitening has reached a fever pitch these days it seems. I hadn't done any except a brief tryout of the first Crest Whitestrips years ago. Not that I don't need it. My teeth are very much in need of whitening and brightening. I am also way behind for a cleaning.

Enter Go Smile. I had bought little Go Smile touch ups for a teeth obsessed friend and the Lemonade toothpaste for myself a few years back but never the whitening ampoules.

It was time to try them.
Go Smile has 2 new products out, part of a two step program. Go Whiten for 7 days and daily FlashLiTES( cute name, no?) for touch ups/breath freshening.


I've done the 7 day regimen and I think my teeth got about 1 1/2 shades whiter. A definite improvement. Like most things results will vary I am sure, depending on how white or not, your teeth were to begin with. For me, as a starter set and whitening for the first time in years I was happy . My teeth are much shiner too. Really sparkly clean.

This set is so easy to use and thats the best part. No waiting and fussing. Even the busiest person can manage and you never have to make an appointment.

You "snap" the vial by gently squeezing it to activate. Then apply to your teeth. The brochure says no drinking for at least 20 minutes. Thats it. Done.


These ampoules also have a newer formula, the strongest in the line yet , more adhesive power and zero to almost no sensitivity to your teeth / gums.( One tooth in the back was a tiny bit irritated two out of the all the times)

Go Smile also has a new duo set of AM & PM toothpastes. Each with aromatherapy scents to wake/relax. Now toothpaste may seem an unusual splurge, but if it gets you more excited about tooth health, and means less dental visits, then it might be worth it.


The Go Whiten 7 day kit is $ 89.00
Go Daily, 7 ampoules is 10.00
AM/PM toothpastes ( sold as set) 30.00
Buy at Sephora, Blue Mercury, Ulta, Nordstrom .


Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum



We know Vitamin C is great for our skin. It's also very volatile when exposed to air. I love serums for their lighter texture but had not used a straight Vitamin C one before. I had, however, just read how important one is in keeping skin youthful.

Enter Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum.
I have been using this each night for almost 2 weeks. It's hard for me to stay in a skincare routine but I was determined to use the same products for awhile.

This serum is , to me, very moisturizing, even though it is not a moisturizer. It does have hyaluronic acid and collagen. When I use it night I don't need to add any other creams except on my eyes. During the day I use a light moisturizer. Right now it's been M Lab serum.
The Badescu serum has 7.5 % Vitamin C and is in a thick ,opaque bottle to keep light out.

I do see a difference and I have pretty good skin to start with. It's a good sign if somehting makes good skin look better. There is brightness, firmness and smoothness. Really noticeable smoothness.

The serum itself is not light. It does have a heavy feel and does take awhile to sink in. I have used some around the eyes lightly with no irritation, even though it says not to.

Another reason to love is the prices. It's rare to see top quality skincare priced like this. Most other companies would charge double for a serum like this . The bottle is large and will last long. It's a great value.

Vitamin C Serum is $45.00 for 1 oz.

Ingredients:
Propylene Glycol, Ascorbic Acid,Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus Fruit) Extract,Ginseng (Panax Ginseng Root) Extract,Aloe Vera Gel,Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid,Lavender Oil

Mario Badescu products are available at Blue Mercury stores. Nordstrom, Henri Bendel and at http://www.mariobadescu.com/

___________________________

Monday, March 16, 2009

Bobbi Brown Sale- 25 % off


When does a high end beauty brand have a sale? Well almost never, but starting tomorrow Bobbi Brown online is having a sitewide 25% off sale. Totally time to stock up on Beach fragrance and Tinted Lip Balms and Shimmerbricks. www.bobbibrown.com


The fineprint:

*25% discount & free standard shipping with $60 order automatically applied at checkout. Valid only at Bobbibrown.com through March 19, 2009 (midnight ET). Offer may not be used in combination with any other offer or discounts. Offer applies to merchandise purchases only. Offer is not applicable to the purchase of eGift Certificates, pending purchases or purchases made prior to March 17, 2009 or after March 19, 2009. All purchases are subject to bank authorization prior to processing. Only authorized purchases will be processed and shipped. We reserve the right to cancel any order due to unauthorized, altered, or ineligible use of offer and to modify or cancel this promotion due to system errors or unforeseen problems.

Bumble & bumble's new Gel , Gellac

I am a hair gel girl, always have been. My hair is short and very thick. A strong gel gets it where I want it to be, usually with a bit of spikiness. I would love to really spike it again but somehow never quite go there . I use hairspray sparingly, much preferring to use the gel to define and hold. Thus I am always on the hunt for new, extra hold ones.

I heard back at fashion week that gels were coming and I patiently waited to get my hands on these goodies . I even have cool videos for you. The first one is the gel, the next ,gellac.



Most associate gelled hair with the 80s . Bumble's even says on the gel tube that it's not "stuck in another era". Yes it ruled then and it did because it really held. Freezing gels and sprays then were amazing. I wish I had some now. Thankfully hair companies are getting back on the gel-wagon. Bumble and bumble have cooked up 2 new ones for us.( The first they have ever done).

The gel is amazing and can be used on dry hair or damp hair before styling. I am doing both. As a blowdrying styler it rocks. My hair really holds the style, and a tiny bit worked into ends when dry defines pieces and adds extra hold. I do mean hold .

Last week, we had a day with over 20MPH winds. I was out a lot and my hair did not lose one bit of the style. I had used the gel and spritzed lightly with Bumble's Classic hairspray. My hair wasn't overly stiff, and there was none of the old days crunchiness.



Gellac is a very unusual product. One thats been in the works by Bumble for some time trying to get the right formula. This is super strong hold and the go -to if you want super slick backed hair that will not fall out. Think the Don Draper's Mad Men hair on men. A little goes a log way. It has a stiffer feel than the gel but still not bad.


I am getting some serious styling out of both of these.

Bb.Gel, 5 fl oz. $24, and Gellac, 4.2 fl oz, $24 premiere March 9, 2009 at Bb.Network Salons across the country and March 15th on http://www.bumbleandbumble.com/.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Purse Sprays- By Kilian & Chloe


Purse sprays are fun , portable and airline friendly. All good things. They are very luxe too aren't they? Pulling one of these out of the handbag would be tres chic. You can have your perfume and spray it too.

Lately more and more lines are coming out with purse sprays, meaning you have far more choices than before. Two newest are from By Kilian and Chloe . Both come in beautiful cases, and the By Kilian's are refillable.

Chloe Lisy is the name of the new purse spray, which is the pure parfum here.

The Chloe line is large with candles, an excellent body cream and shower cream and now this leather encased purse spray . They've tweaked the perfume for this some. It now has pink peppercorn in the top notes, sandalwood and tonka bean at the drydown. This makes a slightly spicier scent than the original which is a soft, slightly powdery rose/violet.

Parfum 15 ml Purse Spray & Leather Case – $150 ( LE, each season a new case shade will added)
Parfum 15 ml Purse Spray – $100

Currently exclusive to Saks in US, also at Harrods UK, and Holt Renfrew in Canada.


By Kilian is the perfume line created by Kilian Hennessey. I've reviewed all fragrances in the past. The line doesn't come cheaply but the quality is excellent . These are well done, beautiful fragrances.

The cases are engraved and as mentioned , refillable at any By Kilian counter. You can find one at Bergdorf Goodman, Aedes de Venustas in NY( http://www.aedes.com/ ), Apothia in LA and at many stores worldwide .

Available in all scents in the line( Prelude to Love being my personal fav)

The travel spray with 4 refills .25 fl.oz. $ 135
The set of 4 refills .25fl.oz $ 70

Friday, March 13, 2009

MAC Sugarsweet

MAC sugarsweet


These colors are part of the new MAC Sugarsweet collection hitting counters March 19th.

I am already in love with the mint green nail polish- Peppermint Patti. Can't wait to see it in person and I have no doubt it will be a fast seller. There are some repromotes and Lollipop Loving from Hello Kitty is one that makes a return.

The new Tri Color Glosses are part of the line and are serious eye candy. 4 of the 5 shades are shown.

MAC triple

Colors shown in first pic are Seasonal Peach & Peppermint Patti nail polish, Stars n Rockets eyeshadow( deep purple), Sugar Shot eyeshadow( peach/beige) , Bubbles( light beige) and Touch lipsticks.

The full list:( All are LE)

LIPSTICK
-Bubbles- Sheer frosty white beige
-Saint Germain- Clean pastel pink
-Lollipop Loving- Clean mid-tone coral and subtle green
with gold iridescence
-Sweet Thing- Mid-tone magenta with multidimensional pearl
-Touch- Peachy cinnamon

TRICOLOUR LIPGLASS
-Consume Me-
Top Sheer white with reflects Mi ddle Pale mint with
duochrome pearl Bott om Creamy light peach with pearl
-Just Dessert-
Top Sheer yellow pink with reflects Mi ddle Mid-tone
yellow pink with duochrome pearl Bott om Mid-tone
creamy yellow pink
-Simply Delicious-
Top Sheer peach with reflects Mi ddle Pale coral with
duochrome pearl Bott om Creamy mid-tone coral
-Triple-Yum-
Top Sheer gold with gold reflects Mi ddle True gold with
duochrome pearl Bott om Mid-tone bronze
-Tasty-
Top Sheer blue pink with reflects Mi ddle Mid-tone blue pink
with duochrome pearl Bott om Dark creamy red pink

EYE SHADOW
-Sugarshot- Pale frosty beige
-Dear Cupcake -Mid-tone pink coral with gold pearl
-Aquavert Soft mint with white pearl
-Stars ‘n’ Rockets -Dirty lavender with red and pink reflects
-Club -Muted reddish brown duochrome with green
opalescent shimmer

SHADE STICK
Lemon Chiffon -Frosted pewter
Butternutty- Frosted pale white gold
Penny -Light pinky copper
Red Velvet- Frosted mid-tone pink
Cakeshop -Frosted light neutral beige

NAIL LACQUER
Seasonal Peach -Creamy pale peachy pink
Peppermint Patti -Creamy mint green

MINERALIZE SKINFINISH
Perfect Topping- Pink/peach/lavender mélange
Refined- Tan/peach/coral mélange



_________________

Victoria's Secret Heavenly Bloom

Victoria's Secret has a new LE addition to the Dream Angels Heavenly line called Heavenly Bloom, a friuty-floral-woody scent.
I haven't tested this but I do think the floral notes like magnolia , gardenia and pear blosson sound nice. It also comes in the cutest flower fragrance ring. The perfect Easter basket stuffer.

Here's the details:

Inspired by lush white florals of Dream Angels Heavenly heavenly bloom is softer, more subtle. Innocent. Blissful with fresh Yellow Freesia, delicate Magnolia Flower and pure Blonde Woods, heavenly bloom captures the true essence of spring. The Heavenly Bloom fragrance collection.

Notes:

TOP: Yellow Freesia. Sparkling Mandarin, Honeydew Melon, Pear Blossom

MIDDLE : Magnolia Flower. Jasmine Petals, Blooming Gardenia, Apple Flower, Apricot Nectar

DRY-DOWN: Blonde Woods. Musk

-EAU DE PARFUM - 2.5 OZ. $52
-SCENTED BODY LOTION - 8.4 OZ. $20
Fragrant, conditioning lotion gently nourishes and silkens. Layer with Eau de Parfum for a blissful scent that lingers.
-SOLID FRAGRANCE RING - $30Golden cocktail ring topped with delicate bouquet of pearlized flowers holds a secret: a heavenly bloom solid perfume.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

NYC New Lip Sliders Tinted Lip Balm

NYC may be one of the cheapest lines I have ever featured, and I have to tell you one I have never tried anything in. My bad.
NYC is a very well ( read low) priced drugstore line. When some samples arrived with another brand, I wasn't thinking I would be into them, again my bad.

Shows you always need to be up to trying new brands/products.

One of NYC's newest products is a tinted lip balm in a slider tin. Now I have professed my tinted lip balm love many times so I grabbed one and gave it a whirl. I loved it. I love it and have been wearing it all the time this past week. I am not a fan of slider tins, or any pot kind but I can get around that. I have for years with my fav MAC Tendertones. I put it on right with my morning makeup .


What's so good? Well for one they last long. Yes a glossy balm that actually lasts. I used the cherry shade Sugar Baby( left) first. I wanted color. It has way more pigment that you would think and looks more like a gloss. Very shiny and super moisturizing , not goopy . Hours later, it's still there. Maybe not looking fresh applied but a tint of color is left and loads of moisture. Darn good for 2.99. As good as most high end ones I have.


I also tried Sugar Kiss, a light pink. That one was too light for me but very pretty. The lighter color didn't last as long either. There are 6 shades in all, 3 deeper ones and thats where my money is.

NYC is available at most drugstores and again, the Lip Slider Tinted Balms are $ 2.99. A beauty bargain.

See more including a nice Mosaic Color Face Powder at http://www.newyorkcolor.com/

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Help Disaster Victims


This ends at 11AM est on the 12th, and seems like a great idea. No one would think washing machines for disaster victims, but if you think about it, they certainly would need them and then not have to rely on a pay laundromat to help sanitize what they are able to salvage.


"Total Beauty is in a race to raise money for natural disaster victims -- all proceeds fund this amazing program that takes washing machines to families hit by natural disasters. Go here for more! Or you can just go buy a cute "Loads of Hope" T-shirt here for $20. "

Nexxus Dualiste Haircare


It's usually exciting when a big name haircare brand launches something new. It also doesn't happen that often. I think it has been some time since we saw anything new from Nexxus until now. The Dualiste line is all about color protection for your hair, and each set takes care of one other concern. There is Volume, Intense Hydration and Anti- Breakage.
Nexxus has always been big in my house. The Mom loves their products and has been using them for over a decade. Her can't do without shampoo is their Diametress for thickening. She has fine ,limp, colored hair and thats consistently the one that works. Emergencee treatment is another fav of hers. I wondered if she would want to try their new Dualiste Volume shampoo?

Turns out I love the Volume ones, and she the Anti -Breakage. I have thick hair so volume isn't usually an issue except when it gets cut too short, but this just gives it so much bounce and workability and yes ,volume. I have been using both shampoo and conditioner. Each is light and the conditioner is not over moisturizing. It suits my hair well.

I also use the Leave In Conditioner from the Intense Hydration set.

I like a light leave in product. Something that conditions the ends mainly without too much weight or greasiness. It's a light mist that smells like coconuts( coconut oil being an ingredient) and adds just the right amount of moisture. This is a great product.

Dualiste is available at all mass market outlets. It surprised me a lot when they went mass market years ago instead of beauty store but it's really good to be able to go to any store and get top haircare. The old formulas didn't change and this new line is a keeper.

Each shampoo or conditioner sells for 11.99 each

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Gillette Venus Embrace- New


The new Venus Embrace razor is the first with 5 blades. It promises ultra smooth skin and it delivers.

I had forgotten how wonderful these more upscale razors could be. Lately I have been mostly using lesser expensive disposables which did the job but not like this. Going from them to this was wonderful. Less stubble, stinging etc. Is it wrong to get excited over a new razor? Is that a sign of the recession- it's the little things? I think it's just the beauty nut in me, even though the little things are great too.

Venus Embrace has thick bands of moisture that treat your legs while you shave and it is refillable. The main kit also has a shower "pod" as they call it, to hang your razor handily in the shower. It's very worth the money and great for your legs too.

The starter kit with pod, and 2 refills sells for approx. $12.00 depending on outlet.

See more including videos at http://www.gillettevenus.com/

Tom Ford Champaca Absolute Fragrance


One of the newest to the line of Tom Ford Private Collections perfumes is Champaca Absolute.

This whole line of fragrance is nice with many great scents. Personal favorites so far( I haven't tried them all) are Neroli Portofino and Black Violet.

With the Champaca you might expect as floral, since the Champaca is a small orange colored flower. You'd be wrong . It's actually very spicy, slightly boozy and amber that can be unisex.

It's considered to be a Floral Oriental and that does fit. It's a well developed and blended scent.

The actual notes include:

-Top- Tokajii Wine and Cognac

-Middle-Bergamot, Davana, Mediterranean Broom Flower, Phantomia Orchid,White Violet and Night Blooming Jasmine

-Bottom-Vanilla Bean , Amber, Marron Glace and Sandalwood

50Ml is $ 180.00 at Neimans and Bergdorf exclusively.

Chantecaille La Baleine Compacts


Every time Chantecaille comes out with a new embossed wildlife compact, I think it's the most beautiful. Then they do another. I am still not past wanting the Bengali Tiger one and just last night I see these two new beauties on Bergdorf's website. ( also on Neiman Marcus ).

Five percent of the proceeds goes to to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN),an organization that helps protect the high-seas. They are only available for pre-order at this point.

Beautiful, if not inexpensive.









image : Luxist.com

Monday, March 9, 2009

Chanel UV Essentiel

 Leave it to Chanel to make the chicest and cutest UV protection . Their new UV Essentiel comes in the darling-est( real word or not, I like it) little bottle .


Perfect for popping in your travel bag, purse or vanity table .

You can see by the pics that it fits in your hand.

Jean Godfrey June said the same thing in the April issue of Lucky. She feels and I agree, because I am a prime example, that you might use sunscreen more often with something like this handy. It's working for me, and I can be spotty about sunscreen.

One reason I am is that so much of it is oily or heavy and I don't want to break out. Well UV Essentiel has mattifying agents. You need to shake it before using and then blend quickly. It's a thin, milky formula that dries to a powder soft finish very fast. It's undetectable on the face.


Now even though it is mattifying, it does have hydrogenated castor oil as one of the last ingredients. So it's not oil free, but it also isn't oily .

UV Essentiel is SPF 30 and contains Licorice extracts to help fade dark spots. Vitamin E, mineral( UVA/UVB shielding) and plant(anti -pollution) extracts are in there as well.

$48.00 for 1.0 oz

It's available now at all  Chanel outlets.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

American Idol /Garnier Fructis Singing Contest


If you've always wanted a shot at showcasing your singing talents this new contest from Garnier may just be for you. If you enter, good luck and let us know.

"Garnier Fructis, the official hair care sponsor of American Idol, has launched a nationwide contest. Anyone over the age of 18 is invited to rock their style by showcasing their favorite song.

Fully clothed contestants are asked to perform up to 1 minute of a selected tune and upload their video submissions to the web. Entrants are encouraged to let their personality shine and will be judged on their originality, style and creativity. Deadline for entries is March 16th 2009.
Semi-finalists will be selected and their videos will be uploaded to the garnier.com/idol website by April 1st, where their videos can be reviewed and voted on through April 30th. The semi-finalist with the most votes wins the grand prize which will be posted on the garnier.com/idol website or about May 15th 2009.

The grand prize winner and a guest will be flown to Los Angeles and attend the American Idol 2009 season finale, receive $5,000 cash, and a fabulous hair style makeover. "

For more information on the contest, how to enter or vote, go to www.garnier.com/idol