MAC Sneak Peek for Spring 2010

Yes that title says sneak peek for 2010. Really.

New York magazine's Cut Blog scored a fantastic behind the scenes look at what Gordon Espinet and Nadine Luke of MAC are cooking up for the upcoming Spring 2010 shows in 2 weeks and consequently what might just show up in new collections.

Nadine tells us that the smoky eye will be big for Spring but a colorful smoky eye. I can get behind that. A purple smoky eye is fav of mine.

Gordon says that pinks will play a big role, but not normal pinks. Gray pinks and pepto bismol pinks. Hmm. I do love the grape looking lipgloss in the image. Lets hope that makes the cut.

I've got a couple images here, but for all 22 images and the whole story , hit this link :

http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2009/08/mac_beauty_preview.html#

Photos: Melissa Hom for New York Magazine

Peter Thomas Roth New Eye Duo & UnWrinkle Foundation

Peter Thomas Roth gives us two new weapons to help skin look fab this fall. Both are now available.

First is Eye Overhaul Duo- This is , yes, a two part product. One for day , one for night. The night side is a thick gel ,very firming and lightly moisturizing . The day cream has SPF 30 and is very moisturizing . They work well . I could feel fast firming in the night gel and the day side is a fluffy, soft cream.

Both sides of the jar are loaded up with potent ingredients:
"COLLAXYL®IS* at 1.5% helps to hydrate and smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles associated with aging while SUBERLIFT™* at 3% helps to tighten and firm the eye area , HALOXYL™* at 2%, REGU®-AGE* at 5% and light diffusers help to reduce the appearance of dark circles, EYELISS®* at 3% and EYE REGENER®* at 5% and caffeine help to reduce under eye puffiness and signs of fatigue. "

Up next is another addition to the UnWrinkle line-UnWrinkle Foundation . I have written about the powder in this line before , finding to be far better than I imagined it would be ( great for those with "fear of powder"). The new UnWrinkle foundation is medium/full coverage , oil free but imparts a dewy finish.

The Mom tried it and she is very fussy about foundations , but this new one she labeled " fabulous" Why ? She said when she uses it around her eyes she didn't even need concealer ( and she loves her concealer ). She loved the coverage and how smooth her skin looked.

UnWrinkle has loads of good for skin ingredients incl. 3 different neuropeptides, Matrixl3000, Licorice root and Vitamins A,C & E

Eye Overhaul Duo is is $ 58.00 and up now at http://www.peterthomasroth.com/ and more.

UnWrinkle Foundation is $ 45.00 at beauty.com , QVC , skinstore.com and sephora.

LUSH Goes Palm Oil Free ( New Soaps)

I love Lush's charity initiatives and I think most of us do. Recently they came out with a palm tree shaped soap sending 100 % of proceeds to the Rainforest Foundation that quicky sold out. This was all to begin promoting the non- use of palm oil . Now as environmentally concious as I try to be and I am all about wildlife preservation, I have to say I was unaware of this particular issue. Lush's site gives a lot of detail.

To quote:

"LUSH North America has now switched all of its soap production to this new palm-free base, and we are also using palm-free glycerin. Our end goal is to remove palm oil from all of our products, and we are currently investigating our surfactants which might be palm oil derived. Here at LUSH we understand that if the rainforests have any chance of surviving, retailers are going to have stop putting palm oil into their products. "

and

"The global demand for palm oil is causing a staggering amount of deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia. Indigenous and traditional people are being forced from their forest homes, orangutans slaughtered, and the recently logged land is being planted with palm oil trees."

Many of Lush's soaps are palm free but if you want to try the newest , there's Chox Away - you guessed it chocolate scented soap( dark choc, orange,vanila and Honey Trap lip balm scent) and 13 ( Unlucky for Dirt), with rose and oregano.

http://www.lushusa.com/

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Cleanser

I've been on a cleanser testing kick for a few weeks . One has been from the Pores No More line from Dr. Brandt.

I have pores, do I ever. Oil etc. So I need all the help I can get.

This is a strong cleanser but does not leave your skin dry . It cleans well, really gets the oil off . It did burn my eyes a bit, even when I tried to avoid them so I needed to keep that in mind when using. It's a foaming gel and you don't need a lot.

The cleanser has salicyclic acid, tea tree oil, rosemary extract and willow bark. All know for anti- oil, anti -bacteria properties.

Pores No More Cleanser retails for $ 35.00 for 3.5 oz pump bottle.

http://www.drbrandt.com/

Erno Laszlo Antioxidant Mattifying Complex SPF 15

I've been trying many mattifying moisturizers for oily skin lately. Most are quite good. The most recent has been Erno Laszlo's Antioxidant Mattifying Complex.

What stood out about this one was how quickly it sinks in. You can't even feel it on your face and you have to blend fast. There's no tacky feel which even some oil free ones can have. It has SPF which is definitely a bonus. It also has aloe, cucumber and lemongrass and witch hazel to heal, calm and refresh skin.

It does help mattify the cheek area. Even in the intense humid heat we've been having I noticed the cheek area having much less "glisten" than normal . I don't use it in the T- Zone so can't say about that, although I might give it a try there. It's not super light yet it is. The consistency is thick enough but not on your face. A good thing.


This was my first foray into Erno Laszlo skincare along with their Special Skin soap which has been working well. Cleans and softens but no dryness. I've eyed Erno Lazlo a long time, ever since I read Garbo used it and saw that they have an oily skin arsenal.

You do know it was Greta Garbo's skincare choice, right? She had the most amazing skin I've ever seen. ( If you don't know Garbo, go rent Ninotchka right now.)

Antioxidant Mattifying Complex SPF 15 is $ 75.00 for 3 oz


http://www.ernolaszlo.com/ and Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Dillards and more.

Lipstick Queen 15 Minutes of Fame Lipgloss

New from Poppy King the Lipstick Queen herself is your chance to have a minute of Andy Warhol's 15 minutes of fame proclamation.

Her new lipgloss line is 15 Minutes of Fame and each gloss is named for a minute.

I tried 3 Minutes and 4 Minutes, both at the lighter end of the minute spectrum. As the numbers go higher so does the depth and brightness of color.

3 Minutes is my favorite as it's a pinky nude. 4 Minutes is a bright pink, bubblegum like color but not neon bright. Both are very wearable.

These glosses pack nice pigment, last well and are more creamy than sticky. There is no shimmer in them.

The applicator is twist pen , so it's easy to use and will take you, yes, just a minute. Well, less actually.

$ 16.50

Visit: http://www.lipstickqueen.com/

Also available at Barneys in stores and online.

Fashion's Night Out Sept. 10th

By now you may have heard about the big shopping extravanganza that Anna Wintour of Vogue and the City of New York have whipped up called Fashion's Night Out.

On September 10th over 700 stores and boutiques are participating in New York, but worldwide there will be events as well. Look for them in the UK ,Greece, Italy, Russia, France , Brazil, India , China and Germany and more as well as various cities in the US incl. Philadephia( King of Prussia Mall)

The list of stores and event happening at them is immense. You can see Oscar De La Renta sing, Giuseppe Zanotti DJ , and meet Maria Sharapova at Cole Haan .

I've combed thru the bulk of offerings and have picked my favs. I hope to be there and enjoy these hot spots as well.

* Bergdorf Goodman- a treasure trove of multiple events. A few highlights: Padma Lakshmi, Bravo’s Top Chef, judges a designer cook-off with Peter Som, Cynthia Rowley, and others. 6:00–7:00 P.M.

André Leon Talley hosts the new game Fashion Rules, with teams led by Donna Karan, Linda Fargo, and Robert Verdi. 8:00–9:00 P.M. Sandy Linter, makeup artist and ambassador for Lancome will be holding forth on the beauty floor. The beauty floor alone is worth a visit.

* MAC- a party preview to sneak peek the Style Black collection. I can't see wearing all this black lipstick, but I want to check it out all the same. They'll have DJs and canapes.

* Lancome at Bloomingdales ( Note this is Soho)- Hop over here and you just might see some of your favorite bloggers holding forth at the counter from 6-7. Plenty other events at Bloomies too.

* Molton Brown- Both locations are turning into an English Pub for the night with Guinness and snacks. ( Brit pubs are a theme here, as Rag and Bone will also do up an Irish pub, band and all at their shop )

* Gap- Another pop up at the 54th St. store. This time with Paris boutique Merci. An eclectic mix of vintage and new, and did I mention- French ?

* Bumble and bumble- Stop by the uptown salon and get a quick hair makeover and style tips. Having seen many of these ladies and men in action, I can tell you it will be worth it.

* The Plaza Beauty by Warren-Tricomi. Joel Warren and Edward Tricomi themselves will be there to do demos , and you can check out the large selection of top beauty brands . Hand massages, makeup touch-ups and mini facials available.

Website:

http://www.fashionsnightout.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashions-Night-Out/79996199375?ref=ts

Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray

I have always looked for something to help my makeup last longer. I need that badly. One of things recommended to me by makeup artist James Vincent when I asked about that was this Skindinavia . I had it in my Beauty.com cart for 6 months and just could not decide whether to try it or not.

Then this quarters Beautyfix came along and there it was. So how has it worked? Medium well I would say. Few people I've ever met have makeup melt like I do, so your mileage may vary. I found that it definitely helped keep my makeup on longer- especially the blush and foundation. I still had sweat and oil breakthrough but the colors held on better. Not all day fresh but not total melt either. Some help is better than none thats for sure. I know others who have had great success with it.

The spray goes on dewy , which is not a plus for me, but a hit of matte powder takes care of that. It dries fast and doesn't screw up your nice makeup job.

I'll continue to use it on days when I really need it, but it's not quite the miracle I was looking for. I wonder if the Dance or Cool Flash versions would be even stronger.

You can find this and more( incl. bath ice cream) in this quarters Beautyfix kit at http://www.beautyfix.com/

Philosophy The Supernatural Cream Blush

Philosophy is coming out with color cosmetics. Aside from their tinted lip treats , we haven't seen this before from them. The Supernatural collection adds in lipglosses, cream and powder blushes, mineral bronzer and a palette.

One of the new items is the Supernatural Healthy Cream Blush. This is a creamy mineral based blush with shea butter, sunflower seed oil and more. If you have dry skin and lament a blush that really works for you, try these.

The colors in the compact look much brighter than they go on. The pink ( Look on the Bright Side) goes on with a nice pop of sheer medium pink, not anywhere near the hot pink shade in the case.

There are 3 shades in all incl. Feel Warm All Over , the other one shown here.

$ 22.50 each

Donna Karan New Cashmere Mist Luxe

Donna Karan's Casmere Mist is one of the more popular fragrances. In fact it's the 4th best selling one in the US acc. to NPD research.

It's a classic and now celebrating it's 15th anniversary. In honor of this there is a new version- Cashmere Mist Luxe.

The Luxe is just slightly different from the original. There is more emphasis on the aquatic notes and the florals of jasmine and ylang ylang. It's less powdery than the original to my nose. I like it better. Cashmere Mist is a big favorite of the Mom's , and she likes both.

Luxe will be launcing in stores in September .

You can check out all the ancillary products as well. I tried the deodarant/anti-persiprant and was pleasantly suprised. I didn't expect it to be as good as it was. It worked every bit as well as any strong drugstore brand and left just a light scent of the perfume.

Cashmere Mist Luxe is $ 48.00 ( 1.0 oz) and $ 70.00 ( 1.7 oz)

Cashmere Mist Deodarant/Anti-persiprant $ 18.00

Rue La La Mobile Website & Giveaway

Shopping website Rue La La is launching a mobile website. Use it and you can score a gift card to iTunes.

The M. Fabulous Giveaway :

Ooh La La! Rue La La is sending some fabulousness to all members who order from the new mobile website next week:

August 24th – August 28th

m.ruelala.com

So grab your iPhone and get tapping!

Cover Girl Lash Blast Length

Cover Girl's newest mascara entry is Lash Blast Length.

Lash Blast Length is just that- all about length. The wand itself is incredibly long and thin. The brush has 450 bristles, 20 % more than Lash Blast. The accent is not on volume here.

Lash Blast Length has Elasta-Nylon fibers in it to make longer lashes. The new formula is also flake free. Cover Girl has had their smudge free formula for years now and it's been one of my favorites. I need all the smudge free help I can get and I am a fan of most of their mascaras for that reason and I also get good results.

I liked but didn't love Lash Blast, but am a fan of Volume Exact, Fantastic Lash and Professional Lash .

With Lash Blast Length I got very long, defined lashes. They lasted all day , no smudges and no drooping. I like my lashes as long as can be, who doesn't really ? So I used 3 coats and there wasn't any build up or clumps.

The mascara comes in both a regular and waterproof version.

Colors are :
Very-Black
Black
Brown-Black
Brown

The pre-sale is happening now online: http://www.covergirl.com/ for more info.

Stores will have it Sept.

Retail will be approx.$ 7.49

MAC Nail Trend Jin Soon Choi Collaboration

MAC and nail guru Jin Soon Choi have joined up to create a set of nail polishes inspired by the backstage trends and Jin Soon's love of edgy colors. The shade Beyond Jealous was the one that models wore in the Doo Ri show last February.

I've tested two shades and swatched them. I love the Cool Reserve- a muted lavender/grey. It looks great on and is very on trend .

Rich, Dark, Delicious is not overly unusual but is a nice deep dark brown. Perfect for those wanting a dark nail but not black.

All shades are high shine cream formulas. There is also an Underlacquer and Overlacquer.

The line :

Cool Reserve - Dirty grey lavender
For Fun - Rich clean purple
Dance All Night - Brick red
Dry Martini - Khaki olive green
Rich, Dark, Delicious - Rich blackened brown
Beyond Jealous - Blackened blue green

The MAC Nail Trend collection by Jin Soon launches on August 27th .
Retail is $12.00

You can buy them online at MACCosmetics.com and at MAC counters nationwide.

The Body Shop Baby Buriti

Time for something to pamper and soothe the babies out there. ( No, not the grown up ones, the little wee ones).

The Body Shop Baby Buriti line is a more natural and very gentle line of body care for babies.

Years ago the stores had Mama Toto for moms and babies. I gave this to a cousin for her new baby and she was so impressed with the difference between that and the drugstore lines. Eventually it was discontinued. Now Baby Buriti is the new kid on the block.

"Buriti is from the Amazonian "tree of life".The oil of the Buriti nut contains one of the richest sources of beta-carotene and pro-vitamin A and helps soothe, soften and protect the skin against over-drying. "

Yes, you can use these on yourself, especially if you have sensitive skin. They have little to no scent and really are highly moisturizing. My 3 month old honorary Goddaughter is using them now. ( It is never to early to start the kiddies on the right path to good products ).

There is a body butter, lotion, bath gel, shampoo and conditioner. Available online at The Body Shop and in stores.

Memoire Liquide

I'd been eyeing and intending to investigate the Memoire Liquide counter every time I went to NYC but somehow didn't have the time. The line is comprised of over 150 different pure perfum essences that can be blended in any way to creat your own custom scent. I already had one courtesy of a custom blend made for a Sniffapalooza event GWP at Henri Bendels. It was gorgeous , the notes pre -picked.

Making ones way through them individually seemed a bit harder.That many essences can be daunting even to a perfume fanatic like myself who knows her notes and what she likes.

Finally in July I had the chance to meet one of the founding sisters of Memoire Liquide ( as well as Studio BeautyMix at Fred Segal in LA) Jennifer Coe Bakewell. She couldn't have been nicer and helpful. With a smaller set of notes on hand, and her counseling we tested and chatted . I immediately was drawn to the Neroli ( Orange Blossom) note. An all time favorite. Upon mentioning my love of citrus , she showed me Orange Sanguine( Blood Orange) and we had a major winner. A mix of these notes have made such a bright , uplifting summer scent with the Neroli taking center stage.

I also fell in love with a champagne et mure essence . That one will be for another time. As I said there are over 150 essences, but there are also many pre-blended scents available. At this point I have a ( long) list of possible combinations.

It's incredibly nice to have your own custom scent and the price isn't always right . Here it is. 1/4 oz rollerball of pure parfm is $ 45.00. A little usually goes a long way with these, so they will last long.

You can now buy online at http://www.studiobeautymix.com/, and counters are at the store in LA, Bloomingdales flagship in NYC and Henri Bendels in NYC . Also some pre -mixed are online at http://www.beauyhabit.com/

Memoire Liquide also has body lotion , shower gels and larger size perfumes available.

Philosophy Bake Sale & Partnership for Pediatric Cancer

From August 15th – October 15th philosophy will be donating 100% of the net proceeds of their oatmeal raisin high foaming shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer -- an organization created to raise awareness of and funds to support research for new and improved therapies for pediatric cancer through the concept of hosting local bake sales.

philosophy will also be hosting two local bake sales of their own at their Arizona store locations, and wanted ask your help to do the same for a really great cause.

The Cookies for Kids’ Cancer website (http://www.cookiesforkidscancer.org/) makes it easy for anyone that wants to get involved in the fight against pediatric cancer by detailing the 4 easy steps you will need to throw a bake sale of their very own (planning, details, bake, sell!).

Cancer remains the number one disease that claims the lives of our children. Each year cancer kills more children under the age of 18 than asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and AIDS combined.
Non bakers can help as well by picking up the oatmeal raisin high foaming shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath benefiting Cookies for Kids’ Cancer on http://www.philosophy.com/

The September Magazine Covers

Time for me to jump on my soapbox a bit. I seem to do this each year for the September magazine covers and here we are again.

So lets talk covers. The years biggest issues are coming into mailboxes now and it's always a big deal who gets the covers.

Now I rarely buy a magazine for it's cover . It's what inside that I want to check out and frankly, it seems covers are so less inspired lately. I also understand that making money is the name of the game. Editors want to sell mags , so they need to make them friendly. I just wish that didn't mean unique got thrown out the door.

When I heard the rumor that Susan Boyle might be Harper's Bazaar cover girl I was really hoping it would happen. I knew , though, that it wouldn't. Would that not have been an intriguing cover choice ? She gets a great spread inside the mag at least. The cover is Leighton Meester, which isn't a bad choice. ( or Agyness Deyn in Michael Jackson garb for subscribers).

It seems there are only a handful of cover women anymore. They turn up on all the covers. If I see one more Beyonce or Fergie cover I will scream. Nothing against them, but enough already. Haven't they ( or their publicists) heard of overexposure. Not to mention Beyonce is always in a bodysuit. Then Fergie wore a bodysuit in last months Marie Claire. Originality anyone? Besides no one looks flattering in a bodysuit. I don't care how pretty you are, wear a bottom piece.

So Elle gives us Jennifer Aniston in September. Yawn. She is pretty , and I am sure she is having one hell of a happier life than the press want to paint her with, but haven't we seen her before? Recently? A lot ? Now the issue itself is quite good. So see - it's whats inside that counts.

I was thrilled when Lucky had Diane Kruger in June. She's so fashion savvy, beautiful, and new to covers. Thank you. This month- Mandy Moore. I think she did Marie Claire in spring right ? I like Mandy, but again? In Style-Jennifer Lopez . Snore.

Marie Claire has Ashley Olsen, who also was last Septembers cover girl.

Charlize Theron is up for Vogue. Not too bad. She's gorgeous and intelligent. She has graced 2 Vogue covers before, but nothing recently. Besides, like any fashion nut worth her salt, I anxiously await the September Vogue each year at this time. Good cover or not.

So who would be your dream covers? Curious to see if anyone else feels as I do, so let me know in comments.

Some of mine- Singer Adele, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Iman, Michelle Yeoh, Monica Bellucci, Audrey Tatou, Debbie Harry, Christina Hendricks of Mad Men.





Vogue image : JustJared

L'Oreal Extra- Volume Collagen Mascara

Extra- Volume Collagen is the latest mascara from L'Oreal. I hadn't used a L'Oreal mascara in a very long time and then got Voluminous and this one close together. Voluminious has been ok. Too natural and soft looking.

I was not thinking I'd like the Extra Volume Collagen either after seeing the ads. I hate how Eva Longoria's lashes look in them, . I though thats not what I want mine to look like ( even knowing those things are enhanced).

So I got, tried it, and liked it a lot. I get great volume and serious length and I want both , not just volume. It really gives a full look , lasts long, didn't clump and has almost no smudging until very late in the day. The waterproof version would take care of that. So this gets a thumbs up. I do wipe a tiny bit off the wand before using. The wand itself is nice. Not too huge but large. ( The size is 50% larger than tradional L'Oreal volume mascaras).

Available now at all mass market outlets with a retail of $ 7.95

Lierac Diopti Eye Care Line

Time to talk eye creams and really good ones at that. French beauty brand Lierac is bringing out not 1 but 5 targeted new Diopti eye treatments to stores next month.

I had the chance to get advance samples of all 5 , and I used mine each night for 5 weeks to get a really good idea of it.

I also enlisted 2 other guest testers to help with some of the others.

I tested the Diopti Creme for anti wrinkle. In all honesty this is one of the best I have used. I am extremely fussy about eye creams despite not having lots of issues. I have a few very fine lines and I need moisture, thats it. After a few weeks of use, I noticed my undereye area was super smooth. It didn't even dawn on me at first it might be the eye cream, but I realized that was the only change I had made. I also saw a softening of the fine lines. Really. No they aren't gone, no cream takes them away totally,but they were less noticeable. Plenty of moisture here also but it's not heavy.

The Mom tested Diopti Lisse for firming. She used hers for weeks also. She told me it was "gold". She felt her eye area looked much better , and toned. This one also can act as an undermakeup base.

Lastly dear friend The Movie Mommy tried Diopti Cerne for dark circles. She is a full time working mom with 2 toddlers and 1 husband. She needs anything she can get to not look like what she calls "dead mommy". She also has rosacea and super sensitive skin. She too was very happy. The first treatment she's been able to use that didn't irritate her skin at all. Circles were only reduced a little, but overall she felt moisturized and brighter. She is just beginning to dip her toes into the skincare world and so far everything has made her skin flare up.

I didn't know until the Movie Mommys comment, but Lierac's eye creams are formulated for even the most sensitive skin and high tolerance.

Other highlights are a totally recyclable aluminum tube and they have an opthalmic type applicator tip to keep most contaminants out. They can each be used on their own or combined for your own recipe.

The other two treatments are : Diopti Calm- to sooth, cool and decongest the eyes. Can be used as an eye mask. This one does have witch hazel in it, so it's not going to moisturzing, but more refreshing and tightening. Diopti Gel is for puffiness.

You can read lots more here, including full ingredient lists: http://www.lierac-diopti.com/en/

The line will be available at CVS stores that carry Lierac and online at drugstore.com

Price is $ 34.00 each

Carol's Daughter Groove Sea Salt Scrub

OK, can you believe aside from a quick , small sample of shea souffle, I'd never used any Carol's Daughter products? I have no idea why, as I look at them, test them and think they smell amazing.

So at last I have brought some into my life. I've been using the Groove scented Sea Salt Scrub.

Carol's Daughter scrubs are highly moisturizing and smell amazing. Groove is fruity but not a fruit basket scent. It's more subtle. It also has plenty of non fruit notes.

You get a serious scrub from this, so since we're still in self tanning season , it's worth looking into. In winter, it will obliterate those dry patches. Oh and it cutely had a seashell right in the scrub.

The scrub uses sea salt blended with avocado, jojoba and wheat germ oil.

Red currant ,dewberries,Tahitian vanilla, cocoa and rich musk along with a blend of peach, pear and raspberry gardenia, hazelnut and jasmine ,sandalwood, musk and vanilla are all in there.

Price is $28.00 for a large 24 oz. jar

Bobbi Brown Ivy Leaque Swatches

Bobbi Brown's Ivy Leaque collection has been on counters for a week or so, but I waited to post until I could swatch a couple of the eye items.

I am all about the greens and well Ivy Leaque would suggest greens, right ? I have the Shimmer Wash shadow in Autumn Shimmer and the Long Wear Gel Eyeliner in Forest Shimmer. These make a great pair but are good by themselves .

Autumn is a medium olive taupe. More green than brown , it goes on semi sheer but with plenty of color. It may be a fall shadow but I've been wearing it now.

Forest Shimmer Ink liner is just what the name says. It goes on the eyelid quite dark but looks a bit lighter in my images. It does have shimmer but on paper you see it more than on the eye.

Ivy Leaque also has Bash Metallic shadow , a deep green and the return of the Lip Crayons and as well as new Creamy Eye Pencils in a nice , basic shade array, including, a green. Haven't tested these except the Lip Crayons from their previoosu release. They are super creamy and blendable and now are permanent in the line.

Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo & Conditioner

Living Proof's No Frizz treatment line has been out for awhile, but come September there will be shampoo , conditioner and leave- in conditioner added.

I personally have no issues with frizzing, but I have friends who do, so one of them became my guest tester for the shampoo and conditioner.

Pat has colored, semi-straight hair that is prone to a fair amount of frizz. She loves her flat iron . So I asked her to use these and report back. Her word- excellent. She felt that not only did the combo keep the frizz at bay in a big way but that there was almost a "weight" on her hair holding it down. Now she meant that in a good way. Not that her hair was heavy but that it seemed to have something holding the frizzies down. ( I am thinking thats the special ingredient PolyfluoroEster)

The line was developed by scientists and MIT and according to the company " each product has been developed to address the dryness and damage often associated with hair prone to frizz, removing the harsh sulfates, heavy oils and ineffective silicones and replacing them with modern, more effective ingredients. The formulas also utilize a new delivery system that really deposits No Frizz’s breakthrough ingredient, PolyfluoroEster, on the hair, allowing it to remain even after rinsing. In fact, after five uses, almost 1/3 as much PolyfluoroEster remains in the hair as with the No Frizz leave-in styling products, ensuring continued frizz-fighting power even before you style."

The treatments are online now, these new products will be in Sephora in September .

Price is $ 24.00 each

The September Issue Movie Trailer

In case you haven't yet heard- The September Issue is now not just next months mega magazine, but also a behind the scenes look at Anna Wintour putting together the massive September issue. Fashion mavens are eagerly awaiting the flick.

Here we have a link to a preview trailer.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp8iIyKDOtk


The September Issue will be released August 28, 2009 in New York, and nationally on September 11.

Beauty News Round Up

A round up of all the quick news that has come in the past week.

---Mario Badescu is now available in all Ulta stores. This is good news. MB is one of my favorite brands for acne reducers among other great products and they have always been harder to find only in higher end stores.

---The ladies from The Twilight Saga: New Moon show you how to go from daytime pretty to nighttime hot in “Twilight Beauty,” as featured in Glamour’s upcoming September issue, on newsstands August 11th. The gorgeous photo spread, shot by Matthias Vriens-McGrath, features Nikki Reed, Rachelle Lefevre, Ashley Greene and Noot Seear. The issue hits stands Tuesday, August 11. See the full story: http://www.glamour.com/beauty/2009/08/twilight-beauty

---Christian Siriano for Victoria's Secret Makeup has launched in stores

--- Women's Health magazine has a new workouts iPhone app - “Women’s Health Workouts.” The $1.99 application includes 16 exclusive workouts and 120 exercises from the country’s top fitness experts and trainers. Each workout features step-by-step instructions, high-quality photos and advanced logging functions

---Carol's Daughter are partnering with Disney to make a line based on Disney's first African American Princess. From the image, it looks very cute. I predict a big seller.

--- Aveda is now on Facebook-http://www.facebook.com/Aveda

---Origins wants to send you to Las Cabos , Mexico ( thats nice of them isn't it ?) :

Origins' new "Leave it all behind" sweepstakes will grant one lucky winner a FREE luxurious getaway for two to gorgeous Los Cabos, Mexico.

The Grand Prize includes two roundtrip tickets on Continental Airlines, a three-night stay at the Marquis Los Cabos beachfront resort, two rejuvenating spa treatments, and the entire collection of refreshing Origins Gloomaway products.

To enter, fill out the registration form at https://www.origins.com/sweeps/sweeps.tmpl?sweeps=getaway2009&cm_mmc=Email-_-07-28-09-_-los_cabos_sweeps-_-sweeps by August 31, 2009.

---Bobbi Brown has done up a new website . There are many great new features and if you write a review on a product, you will be entered to win $ 450.00 worth of products. You are entered for each review you write. Contest is good thru Aug. 28th. http://www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com/


Carol's Daughter image: WWD

Lavanila & Lisa Curran Summer Kits

Swimsuit designer Lisa Curran has teamed with Lavanila again this season for 2 very cute travel and beach friendly sets to take you from the water back to land with ease.

The Summer Essential Swimsuit Kit by Lisa Curran for Lavanila ($175) includes:

-A Lisa Curran swimsuit—Tops and bottoms are sold separately to ensure the ideal fit for every shape and size. Choose from three lavender-hued options inspired by Lavanila’s lavender-infused collection, each with different detailing and design.

-Lavanila Vanilla Lavender Healthy Lip Shine (.5 oz)—This 100% natural, anti-oxidant rich, lip conditioner delivers a sheer wash of color and irresistible high shine for a youthful, luminous glow— perfect for beachside moisture and sheen.

-Lavanila Vanilla Lavender Healthy Body Butter (2.75oz)—An after-sun must for replenishing and soothing skin. 100% pure Shea and Cocoa butters instantly hydrate while powerful anti-oxidants protect the skin from free radical damage.

-Lisa Curran for Lavanila Reusable Bag—Made out of swimsuit fabric, the kit makes the perfect beach bag to tote keys, sunglasses, wallet, sunscreen and Lavanila essentials while protecting beach must-haves from getting wet.

The Summer Essential Beauty Kit by Lisa Curran for Lavanila ($36) includes:

-Lavanila Vanilla Lavender Healthy Lip Shine (.5 oz)—This 100% natural, anti-oxidant rich, lip conditioner delivers a sheer wash of color and irresistible high shine for a youthful, luminous glow— perfect for beachside moisture and sheen.

-Lavanila Vanilla Lavender Healthy Body Butter (2.75oz)—An after-sun must for replenishing and soothing skin. 100% pure Shea and Cocoa butters instantly hydrate while powerful anti-oxidants protect the skin from free radical damage.

-Lavanila Vanilla Lavender Healthy Deodorant (1.7oz)—A freshly scented deodorant providing superior, long-lasting odor protection. Soothing essential oils blend with powerful anti-oxidants and beta glucan technology for daily defense and nourishment.

-Lisa Curran for Lavanila Reusable Bag—Made out of swimsuit fabric, the kit makes the perfect beach bag to tote keys, sunglasses, wallet, sunscreen and Lavanila essentials while protecting beach must-haves from getting wet.

You can buy at : www.lisacurran.com & www.lavanila.com

***Also, with the purchase of each Summer Essentials Kit, Lisa Curran and Lavanila give back to The Ocean Project, a nonprofit organization that works to protect the ocean in partnership with aquariums, zoos, and museums around the world.

Guerlain Kiss Kiss Baby Lip Balm

I'm in love..... with a lip balm. Not the first time this has happened, and most likely not that last, but Guerlain's new Kiss Kiss Baby will be hard to top .

You know by now my total adoration of tinted lip balms, and ones by Guerlain? All I can say is ooh la la.

Encased in the traditional Kiss Kiss tube, these beauties are a sheer-medium tint with shimmer, lots of moisture, and SPF. They have it all and are lighter on than they appear in the tube.

The color I have is Red Nude and I feel like at last I have a red I can wear. It's more than barely there but still not too much tint either. No need for perfect application, just swipe it on and go. No offense to basic balms, but this is going to look so chic when whipped out of your bag and applied. Very splurge worthy.

There are 6 shades including a clear Crystal Nude that just gives you shimmer. ( The main image is Rosewood Nude)

Ingredients include :

-Wild Mango Butter- infuses lips with moisture and suppleness.
-Luffa Oil- nourishes dried-out and chapped lips.
-Oligopeptides- (proteins + trace elements) increases volume and softness in lips.
-Sun Protection Factor 10

Shades:
200 Cristal Nude

241 Rosewood Nude
220 Red Nude

260 Romantic Nude
240 Honey Nude

261 Rosy Nude

Kiss Kiss Baby is $30.00 at select Saks Fifth Avenues, Nordstroms, Neiman Marcus’, and Bergdorf Goodman.

Sally Hansen Intros Insta Dri Brights, HD & A Contest

I've been working on posting about the new Sally Hansen Insta Dri Brights nail colors, and in the meantime, I heard they have also launched a fun contest along with the new HD nails color line. So going to cover it all in one go.

I've posted before on the Insta Dri. I really like it. No .you won't get that long lasting manicure from a fast drying formula, but the convenience of a nail color that dries literally in minutes is wonderful when you need to be ready fast , or just want a quick color change for a night out.

The Brights collection is all very neon . I particularly love the yellow Lemon Dash and Instant Iris ( swatched along with Lickety Split Lime). There are several pinks, oranges and a great turquoise as well.

Even newer are the HD formulas. I haven't tried these, but the colors look great.

Both of these lines are in stores now .

Now to the contest- here are the details :

HD Hi-Definition Nail Color from Sally Hansen.

The Color: Pure, vivid pigments with multi-dimensional color & vibrance.

The Technology: Patented formula with Real Liquid Crystals for multi-dimensional color and iridescent shine!

The Result: Dazzling, Lustrous High-Definition Color.

High Definition is the new standard for visual and audio entertainment. Now Sally Hansen translates this unrivaled clarity and brilliance into nail color!

Enter Sally Hansen's HD Hi-Definition Nail Color Sweepstakes!July 8, 2009 - September 15, 2009.

Sweepstakes Prizes :

--Grand Prize winner will be randomly selected to receive a 32inch HD TV
--An iPod Nano will be awarded each month to a randomly selected winner

--10 winners total will be randomly selected to receive a Sally Hansen gift bag

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Sweepstakes open only to legal residents of the 50 U.S. or D.C, who are at least 16 years of age and who have an active e-mail account and Internet access prior to the beginning of the Sweepstakes. Void outside of 50 U.S. or D.C. and where prohibited by law. Sweepstakes ends 9/15/09. Subject to complete official rules available at http://www.sallyhansen.com/.