Thursday, May 31, 2007

Nordstrom Beauty Gift

Nordstrom is having online only a straw bag packed with sample goodies available with a 95.00 purchase. This is a great thing if you were already thinking of making a buy of perfume, etc. Get some great samples for fee. There is a pic at the website, I could not get it to load here.


The details are :
Exclusive Online Offer
With your $95 beauty or fragrance purchase, receive a summer straw tote with deluxe samples from favorite brands (supply is limited), including:
Anastasia Brow Gel
Bare Escentuals® RareMinerals™
Clarins Hydra-Matte Lotion
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
DKNY ‘Be Delicious’ Body Lotion
Dr. Weil for Origins Plantidote™ Mega-Mushroom Face Serum
Estée Lauder Idealist Skin Refinisher
GoSMILE B1 Ampoule
Juicy Couture Body Crème
Korres Sugar Crystal Cream
Lâncome ‘Bi-Facil’ Eye Makeup Remover
Laura Mercier Mini Brown Copper Kohl Eye Pencil
Lippmann Collection ‘The Stripper’ Nail Polish Remover Towelette
Miss Boucheron Fragrance
Prescriptives False Eyelashes Mascara
Too Faced ‘Lash Injection’ Mascara

Online only. One per person, while supply lasts. Gift will be added automatically in Checkout and can only be shipped to the same destination as your order.


http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/2377897/0~2377897?cm_mmc=email-_-052907-_-general_beauty-_-beauty_gwp

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Mellow Yellow at Cannes


Cannes sets summer fashion in swing for some, and this year yellow ruled the carpet. Several stars showed up in striking yellow dresses. Dame Helen did it best with a soft beauty, but Angelina lookd great too, she just needs to put a few pounds back on.

Is this a trend- yellow dresses and more? I kind of like it.













Monday, May 28, 2007

Bye Bye Blemish


I posted about the great Mario Badescu Drying Cream, and recently I came to find another very similar product. This one is called Bye Bye Blemish and is most likely easier to come by, and less expensive.

The idea is the same, a sulfur based solution that you dab as is on acne spots. It dries them up super fast. I have used this and think it worked quite well. It sells at Ulta stores, online at Drugstore.com and is 9.99 retail( 8.99 at Drugstore.com)
The line has other products as well. I have not tried those, but they all are made for geting rid of acne.

Saturday, May 26, 2007

MAC Moonbathe Update


Having had the chance to test drive a few of the Moonbathe items, I thought I would update.


Clair De Lune eyeshadow( pictured) : A very pale shade with an iridescent shimmer. Reminds of a much paler version of Arena. 2 shades paler, although it is a flesh tone almost. Very nice base shadow.


Cosmic eyeshadow- A medium bronzey gold , high shimmer in gold. A beauty.


Afterdusk Sheertone Blush- This is lovely, a medium sheer shimmery golden pink. Looks plum almost in compact, but isn't .



Eclipse lipstick- a very deep, dark rust shade. Layered with gold shimmer. For deeper skin tones, this is great.



I also like the white containers

Thursday, May 24, 2007

kaplanMD Skincare


kaplanMD skincare is a skincare line developed by Dr. Stuart Kaplan, a Beverly Hills dermatologist, for the needs of transitioning skin. He particularly addresses the changes in skin due to hormonal changes/imbalances.

About a month ago, I gave mom a sample of Replenishing Night Cream to try. She is the skincare lady, and has , ahem, "mature skin". It is good skin, however. Still somewhat oily, her main concerns are firmness, and lessening of the fine lines at the eye area especially.


She gives the Kaplan MD high marks. She is very happy with it. One of the things she has seen most, is a boost in overall skintone, skin condition. It looks more even toned and better. There is more of a glow. The product firms extremely well . She feels that the lines do seem less, or at least less defined than before. It also is a non greasy feeling product, and sinks right into skin, but provides plenty of moisture. The company describes it as a velvety cream, and that does apply.

She likes this a lot,( one of the best she has tried , she said) and plans to continue to use it.


The Replenishing Night Cream sells for 210.00 for 1.7oz ( this lasts quite awhile),and is available on the company website, where you will also find more products and information.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

MAC Tendertones


MAC has a new lip conditioner coming out called Tendertones. Tendertones come in a glass jar like the Fluidlines.

I tried Purring and Shush.

Purring is super orange in the jar, but very sheer on the lips, with a hint of color and a lot of shine. Shush is lime green in the jar, and a shiny, pearly clear on. It is fun to take out something green to put on your lips.

I love MAC's other lip conditioner( TLC), so these being so nice is no surprise.

These moisturize really well, and last. After several hours I still had moisture and some shine left on lips.

They are soft , sheer and have an SPF 12, so they are a great summer bag accompaniment. The flavor is strawberry- kiwi, I get mostly kiwi.

Tendertones will hit counters on May 31 and are LE, so shop fast.

Retail is 14.50

The list of all Tendertones:

Pucker Deep Sigh -Sheer bronze with red pearl
Softnote- Sheer lilac with blue/purple pearl
Hush, Hush -Sheer peach with gold pearl
Warm Smile -Sheer pinkish brown
Purring- Sheer tangerine with pearl
Tender Baby- Sheer watermelon pink
Shush!- Sheer lime green with multicolour pearl
Take A Hint -Sheer intense mid-tone pinkSheer raspberry pink

Monday, May 21, 2007

MAC Moonbathe Collection

MAC's new summer collection is called Moonbathe, due in stores June 11th. I usually love MAC"s summer collections, and this one looks to be no different. So far I have just product decscriptions , but many of the colors seem very nice. The Sheertone blush in Other Worldly,both Glimmershimmers, and Sunmetal lipstick sound especially good to me, as well as the brown eyeshadow pictured, which I think is Saturnal.

The collections is meant to be beauty in a " Lunar Phase".


The colors:

Lipstick
Sunmetal- Warm bronze with silver pearl
Honey Moon -Warm pink bronze with gold pearl
Solar Plum -Berry with red and gold pearl
Eclipse- Deep rust with gold pearl

Lipglass
Crescent- Soft maple with gold pearl
Moonbathe- Sheer tangerine with white and gold pearl
Dark Flower- Warm plum pink and gold pearl
Elaborate -Soft low karat gold with pearl

Small Eyeshadow
Cosmic- Warm yellow gold with gold pearl
Saturnal -Deep olive with gold pearl
Firespot- Intense orange with gold pearl
Cranberry- Reddish plum with pink shimmer
Claire de Lune- Soft cream with pink pearl

Liquidlast Liner
Molten Sol Rich -gold with intense metallic pearl
Point Black® -True black

Pro Lash
Coal Black® Black

Sheertone Shimmer Blush
Afterdusk- Sheer neutral pink with gold pearl
Other Wordly- Warm yellow gold with gold pearl



Glimmershimmer
Astral Rays -Sheer gold with white pearl
Ritzy -Peachy bronze with gold pearl

Nail Lacquer
Fireball- Intense tangerine with gold and orange pearl
Golded® -Soft peach with gold lay down



Lash
Sunsational Lashes Red metallic colour


Sunday, May 20, 2007

" Cool " Makeup bags


Sephora has a new line of makeup bags for summer. What makes these unique is that they have a 1mm layer of heat resistant insulation in them. Thats a really good idea.
Not only is it great for when your makeup has to be exposed to heat all day, but it would be good too for stashing a snack or candy bar in as well during a long day of touring, or at a pool, etc.
They do not tell you about this on the website, but the info came in a email from them. There are different sizes and they range in prices from 22.00 to 35.00


http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P178700&cm_mmc=email+ret-_-tips+20070520-_-bi-_-seph+floralbags&dicid=332942:13127567928:3377172

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Miracle product 2 - Benefit She-Laq


She-Laq from Benefit is an all makeup sealer. Used mainly for eye makeup, this really works. Apply over eyeliner, mascara, eyeshadow, brows etc. It makes them totally waterproof and runproof.

The set now includes various brushes for each use. I have the old style that is just the bottle with an applicator. Either way, it works. I have used it not just for me and my runny mascara and eyeliner troubles, but on friends at weddings as well. You need to let it dry for a minute or so, and then off you go, no worries.

With the plethora of longer lasting products out there I use this less than I use too, but if you have an eyeliner that won't stick or trouble with smudging mascara, this is the go to item.
The other day someone posted on another blog looking for mascara's that would make it thru her day of adding contact lens drops. I forgot to add this to the list. If you read this M, try it.

It sells for 28.00 at Sephora, Benefit counters, and Benefit.com

Thursday, May 17, 2007

China Glaze Surfs Up Nail Polish


Surf's Up is the summer collection from China Glaze nails. I used this brand for the first time after Christmas and loved it. It went on really nice, looked good for a long time , wore well.
So I was interested to try the new colors especially since they are brights. I love bright for summer.


I did a couple nails in Orange- Pacific, a bright coral orange with great medium sparkle. The rest with White-Kwik-Silvr. I loved the Orange- Pacific, a top color for me, but will save that for super summer nails.

White-Kwik-Silvr is a nice white, sheer at first, but deeper after more coats. I have 2 quick coats on in the picture with no base coat.


It has lots of shimmer as well. ( the polishes all have colored micro flecks of glass). I am not one for overly sheer nails. Light colors ,yes. I used to have a white nail polish in the 80s. It was opaque and harder to work with, but I liked it. This is much easier to apply, and looks great. It will look even better with more of a (self)tan. A light but still different color. No ballet slippers polish here.

All the colors in the Surfs Up collection are super. There is a great shimmery yellow that will be the next one I try. I see great pedis with that( but I will do manicures as well). A red , a medium peachy pink, and a neat black/deep blue round them out. All of these will make standout summer mani/pedis. It's time to embrace color, color.



China Glaze polishes are available at Ulta stores, and specialty beauty supplies.









Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Miracle product- Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

Warm weather is upon us, and it's time for me to start posting about Summer must haves, and a couple Miracle Products, as I call them. With oily skin in a humid , hot summer, I have looked high and low for many years for the products that won't melt, sweat off,or run. Ones that will clear up acne , and keep oil at bay. Happliy there are more now. Back in my teen years, how I could have used all these, but I am glad they are here now. So off and on for the next week I will be posting these must haves.

First up- Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. This is the miracle. It truly dries up the dreaded pimples in one night, or if they are tougher, deeper ones, maybe 2-3 nights. It's seriously strong , kick butt pimple fighter.

It's also pink, so you really need to apply at night. You dip a Q-tip into the jar of solution( without shaking or stirring), and dab onto the inflamed area. It dries very quickly. Go do your evening stuff or head to bed. By morining pimples be gone, or almost .


I can't say enough about how wonderful this is. My last bottle, I bought an unused tester, as thats all the store had. They were out and I was not leaving with out my drying lotion. I was out and it's an hour drive to get it. Do not get between the Alchemist and a miracle product.


It sells for 17.00 and lasts really long. Mario Badescu is avalible at Nordstrom, Blue Mercury Stores, www. mariobadescu.com


For you acne sufferers, another hint that involves no products. Swim in a chlorinated pool. Yes, the fashion mags go on and on about how chlorine is drying, well if you're really oily, be it skin or hair, thats a good thing. Even a small amount of time spent in the pool each week, will make a huge difference in any acne you have, and will keep much of it from coming on. It also keeps oily hair clean much longer. As soon as pool season ends, my skin goes retrograde, my hair gets oily quicker. I lament the chlorine loss. So swim, heal up your skin and have fun at the same time.

Pool photo by The Alchemist

Sunday, May 13, 2007

2 new goodies at Sephora



Went browsing on Sephora.com and these 2 new items were featured. The first is a new eyeshadow trio by Stila. Comes in 3 color combos, and was made to resemble Aztec sun disks. It looks quite nice. Retails for 32.00



The next is a special sun care kit that not only includes some great sun items but also gives most proceeds to charity. The Sephora site states :

"Set includes a 1 oz Murad Waterproof Sunblock SPF 30, .17 oz Bliss Sunban Face SPF 30+, .10 oz Clarins Sun Wrinkle Control Eye Contour Care SPF 30, .15 oz Juice Beauty SPF 15 Tinted Lip Moisturizer in Playful, .25 oz Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Defense Moisture Lotion SPF 30, .5 oz Korres Natural Products Watermelon Sunscreen Face Cream SPF 30, .5 oz Cosmedicine Global Health Face SPF 30, and a .09 oz DDF Glossy Lip Therapy SPF 15.


100% of the net profits (that's $18.23 of the $22.00 purchase price) will benefit the Skin Cancer Foundation. Sephora will make a total donation of up to $182,000.00 before 12/31/2007. Supplies of the kit are limited and will be available from April through July or while supplies last."


22.00 retail price


Friday, May 11, 2007

Met Museum NY Costume Gala

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY hled their Costume Institute Gala on Monday. I had wanted to post on this earlier but got into other posts. Other bloggers have covered it but I wanted to put my 2 cents in. Usually this gala is the highlight of the NY fashion scene/year. This year it wasn't. Somehow almost everyone managed to look either bad or just ok. Thankfully there were a few standouts, and they haven't been picked too much on other blogs.

First though, with the " What was she thinking" award ( and sorry if this picture scares you)


Jessica Simpson. Ok . we can safely say she was thinking she was hot, most likely. Bu really, this is all too much. It's Beyonce at the Golden Globes again but even worse. Her makeup, that lipstick, the haircolor even is not her. Her dress was by Roberto Cavalli, and he is not known for modest clothes. He arrived with her, calling her his " muse". So he wasn't thinking too well either.

Now , who rocked the walkway:

Ellen Barkin: that lady knows how to do it, even without showing off any cleavage or skin. She is tough and we know it.




Christy Turlington, and Claudia Schiffer: Both wore beautiful dresses. Claudia wins best dressed by a bit. ( after all didn't she
recently have a baby?)

























Thursday, May 10, 2007

L'oreal new Sublime Glow Spray Micro Mist



After reading about this in ads and checking some reviews, I decided to give it a try. Always looking for good self tanners, but not impressed with the Sublime Bronze gel I had last year, I hoped this would be as good as others had said. It is.


This is a light spray that you mist over yourself. I have done my legs for 2 days and now they have a nice slight tan look. I bought the spray in the medium skin tone, even though I am pale. I want color. It mists very easily, and dries very fast. You don't need to rub it in, and can be dressed in 10 minutes or less, and ...... it doesn't have that self tanner " smell", I get very little scent from it all.


It does take a few times to get used to putting it all where you want it. I have a few places on my legs that are a bit lighter, and I kind of thought I might have missed them. Just be thorough, and don't underspray but don't overspray.

I like this a lot, it's easy, and gives a nice color that builds. The spray is much better than the lotions. I have used Sublime glow lotion as well. It was pretty good, but this is better. It does have moisturizers as well.


This week Eckerd stores have it for 5.99 with the ad coupon, and CVS , I believe has all L'oreal tanners buy 1 get 1 .

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

The Stylish Queen


As most of you know, HM Queen Elizabeth II has been visiting our country for the past week.


She seems to have enjoyed her visit, and she stepped it up a notch in the fashion department for her American jaunt it seems. The Queen always looks lovely and has great hats, but she was looking better than ever . I mean, you have to love a lady who disembarks her plane with 2 men behind her carrying her hatboxes.




Her first day outfit with the pink and blue hat was a standout, but then so was the fabulous green ensemble she wore with that gorgeous hat to the Derby. Then there was the lace trimmed one at the White House. I wonder if I can have her hat castoffs.


Todays green hat with the pink flowers actually is somewhat like a vintage one I have that was my grandma's.



Look at her in this picture, she has perfectly pink lips to match the flowers, just lovely.

I really can't pick a favorite, but the Derby day comes close. What do any of you think?


The gown for the state dinner was not impressive, but then she has that enormous crown, so who cares about the dress.

Here's hoping she keeps up the stylin' look. You go girl.



Monday, May 7, 2007

Mona Di Orio Perfume



I have been fortunate to sample all the Mona Di Orio fragrances recently. I had been wanting to try them for awhile.


Mona Di Orio is a perfumer from France who was mentored by the famed Edmund Roudnitska.


Her fragrances are incredibly well done and the use of the finest of raw materials shows through. These are complex creations.


The perfumes seeem to share a somewhat similar base, in the vein of the " Guerlainade". There is a sandalwood, amber feel to most of the drydowns. What strikes me most in these, is the evolving nature of them. The fragrances seem to go through many changes on the way to the base drydown. Good changes.

Carnation:
Carnation is a very powdery floral. I can smell lots of ylang ylang, slowly then getting a woodsy aspect.I also smell geranium in there and geranium bourbon is in the notes. It seems a very old fashioned fragrance. Not a true floral, but a spicy blend.

The notes do not include carnation, by the way. The fragrance is named for the pink of a woman's complexion ( Carnation in french.)

Other notes include begamot, jasmin, styrax.




Nuit Noire:

This one has a major burst of sandlewood in the drydown. There is also cedar, coming from the cedarwood note. It is also powdery, but much less so than Carnation. This is a darker fragrance, but by no means simply for evening.
Nuit Noire has great sillage and lasting power as all the Mona Di Orios's seem to.


Lux:
This is my favorite and one that goes on the "list", the very long list of ones to buy .
Lux really is like it's name. It's bright and clear. Initially you get a burst of citrus, not straight lemon, but more citronella like. Not the candle variety , more of what the Scented Geranium smells like( the actual note is sicilian lemon). It also reminds me of a burning lemon verbena candle, as a smokiness comes through quickly following the citrus. It's a sweet, and not overpowering smokiness , though. One that blends well with the citrus. Makes it a fragrance for a cool summer night.
The sandalwood, vanilla and amber come into play here too. They underscore all the rest. This perfume goes through many layers and evolves over time.
Lux lingers long on the skin and has nice sillage. All day you have a smoky citrusy lemon wafting on your skin.



Oiro: The fragrance of jasmin. An abundant jasmin floral, with the Mona Di Orio base of musk and amber, Oiro is soft and rich at the same time. A luxurious fragrance. A little citrus comes through at the beginning, then the warm amber base comes along to mingle with the jasmin. The jasmin is there always, and this perfume changes less than the others.
Oiro uses the rarest and costliest jasmin absolut. Other notes include green mandarin, heliotrope, vetyver,sweet pea , and immortelle. The ful list can be found on the company website.
Oiro is my second favorite here, and another that would be nice to have .

_________________________________


I find these to be sophisticated , beautiful fragrances, even the ones that are not totally me. They are worth trying if you can, and would look, and smell, very nice next to the rest of your collection.


The company website lists all the outlets to buy these. They are hard to come by, but Aedes in NY will ship,( Aedes.com) and there is a shop in Charlotte,NC that carries them as well.

Saturday, May 5, 2007

Clinique City Block Sheer Oil Free Daily Face Protector SPF25


Clinique has released a new version in their City Block line. This one is SPF 25 and oil free , and meant for those of us with oily skin who still need sunscreen. As one of those people, it has always been hard to use something as sunscreen that wasn't already in my makeup. I worried about greasiness or breakouts.


I have used this now for about 5 days. Today was a good test day, as I was outside doing work in the yard. Very hot, very sunny.


So far, so good. It does go on a bit sticky, but if you give it a minute it will dry. The stickiness seems to help it stay on the skin, however. It seemed to hang in there pretty well today, and the other days I didn't notice much shine breaking through, which is important.


The product has ingredients that help to absorb moisture on your face, plus cut back on oil production. It is also 100% chemical sunscreen free. It is a very lightweight lotion and applies well.

Clinique City Block Sheer Oil Free Daily Face Protector SPF25 retails for 16.50


Thursday, May 3, 2007

Estee Lauder new Pure Color Lipgloss











Estee Lauder has re-formulated and re-packaged their Pure Color lipglosses. The new formula is said to be very long lasting, and it really is. I know, a lipgloss that lasts? YES. This goes on a bit like a lipstick as far as consistency. You get smooth, creamy, full coverage. I have long loved the Pure Color lipsticks as I have mentioned before, but this was my first try out of the lipglosses for some reason.

Mom even got in on it, loving the shade Nude Rose, which is just that. It looked great on her and is a super summer shade. She declared it better than Glossimers( high praise from a lady who loves her makeup much like her beauty crazy daughter). She had actually had the old version years ago in a pale pink shade ( Star Pink, I think) that I had gotten her. I recall her liking it then as well, but the new formula seems thicker, creamier, and as I said it lasts. Better.
No need to re-apply all the time.


The regular glosses have less shimmer than the crystal versions, but are not flat. I am loving all the neutrals but Ginger especially caught my eye. It's a light tan bronze with good shimmer.
The new tubes are longer and thinner, the new formula is also moisturizing.






Pure Color Glosses are available at all the EL counters and online.
Retail is 18.00



Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Free Lipstick if you're in NY


Maybelline has announced a lipstick giveaway. I posted on the new Shine Seduction Lipstick awhile back. I was very impressed with it and still am. Wore 2 different shades of it today.

If you are in the area, why not get a free one. It would be neat to see them do this in more places. NY gets most of the cool stuff.

Maybelline Shine Seduction Event

" Hey New York, on May 11th and 12th, men in white suits will be handing out Shine Seduction™ in places like SoHo, Union Square, Meat Packing District and Central Park.* *Locations subject to change. While supplies last."



PS 2 standout shades- Spiced Potion, a peachy neutral, and Garnet Charm, a light wine with a bit of brown neutral undertones.

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Incredible New Shoe Design


In the newspaper this weekend was an article on new innovations by local people. This ingenious shoe was one of them. Called CamiLeon Heels, they have a heel that basically folds into itself to transform into a flat shoe at a moments notice. Wow. This is in the category of " why didn't anyone think of this sooner "?


The company and design was started by a brother and sister. The link to the article is at bottom, and tells the story and details the design and structure of the shoes. It's very interesting.



The shoes sell at Zappos .com.
I would love to test drive these, but the price point of 280.00 and up is much more than I can do right now. For those of you who can spend that on shoes ( and do I wish i could ) I think they are very much worth trying. I love the idea of being able to wear a heel, but when more walking is involved, or the feet start hurting, slip it into a flat and off you go.



If any readers should decide to buy a pair, please report back with details.





http://www.philly.com/inquirer/image/20070429_Fashion_forward.html ( scroll to bottom for shoe info)


Essence of Beauty Kabuki brush


I have been hearing about these brushes for quite some time on the MakeupAlley boards, but had never tried them. I needed a kabuki brush, so I was in CVS and got one. It's very bit as good as they say. Natural hair, small but not tiny( about 4 inches tall), and soft. It blends really well. It's sells for 9.99. A great price for any brush, especially a quality one.

There is also the adorable case you see it in, sold separately for 4.99, so your Kabuki can go on the road.


This line is only sold at CVS drugstores as far as I know, and well worht a stop to check them out.


The photo isn't mine, I have to credit a MakeupAlley member who had one posted. I was unable to find any otherwise
.