Lady Caron

Anytime is a good time for Lady Caron perfume, but the 4th of July holiday seems even more so.

This gorgeous white floral bouquet was conceived originally as a tribute to America, the land that took in Mr. Ernest Daltroff, founder of Caron , during World War II in 1939.

He wanted to creat a tribute perfume. The inspiration was there but it wasn't until 2000 that the new owners of the company finally created the fragrance.

The bottle is decorated with a bas relief of the Statue of Liberty . As I said it's very much a white floral but has hints of oakmoss in there as well. It's not heady but not shy either.It blooms on the skin and is simply elegant.

The staying power is excellent and this has long been a favorite of mine. I was turned onto it by the lovely Cavewoman who writes occasionally for Blogdorf Goodman. She graciously sent me a sample and I've been a fan ever since.

Notes are :

Neroli
Magnolia
Jasmine
Rose
Raspberry
Peach
Oakmoss
Sandalwood

Lady Caron is available at many online outlets , Saks and Nordstrom stores as well as the Caron boutique in NY (1-877-88CARON )

Prices are :EDT 50 ml $95 / EDT 100ml $130 / Pure Perfume Extract: $180/ EDT Galuchat: $85

http://www.parfumscaron.com/

Prescriptives All Skins Mineral Liquid Makeup

Let me say , first, that aside from the new Mineral Powder foundation from Precriptives I got a few months ago, I had not used a foundation from them in years. I like the powder one, but as of yet I'm on the fence with the various mineral foundations. I was far more happy to see a liquid version. I also realized that re-visiting Prescriptives was going to be a good idea.

This new one is called All Skins Mineral Makeup 16 Hour Wear/SPF10.

It is definitely long wear. So many foundations claim to be humidity and sweat resistant, and on me , they aren't. I never expected this to be either, frankly. I can melt almost any makeup . So on a hot , very humid day, I went into the bathroom ,looked in the mirror after several hours, and it still looked good. It was all there, even having been out in the heat at times. Not bad at all. Color me happily surprised. Yes I still got some T Zone shine, but nothing major.

The coverage here is good, it's medium to full. Concealer still needed on some acne spots but that was it. It's light feeling on the skin , blends right in.

Here are some details :

· All day wear (Up to 16 hours)
· Transfer-resistant
· Humidity and sweat-resistant
· Reduces the look of lines and wrinkles
· Suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin
· Weightless
· UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum SPF 10 protection
· Oil free
· Fragrance free
· Non-acnegenic
· Ophthalmologist tested
· Dermatologist tested

Technology:
· Radiance Emitting Crystals (R.E.C.), a unique mineral complex of Amethyst, Rose Quartz and Calcite, give skin a soft, luminous finish as if it were "glowing from within."
· Flex Matrix Technology provides outstanding longwear and a smooth, even application.
· Titanium Dioxide provides non-chemical broad spectrum sun protection with SPF 10.
· Sodium Hyaluronate helps maintain skin’s moisture balance.


This is counter and online now at http://www.prescriptives.com/

Suggested retail price – $32.50

YSL Water Resistant Cream Eye Shadow

This summer season has brought a few new creme eyehshadows out. All long wearing and I have had success with most of them , but the new YSL- well it wears almost like glue.

Shimmery, very creamy( a thin cream) this gives major pigment and major last. I have it in shade 2 , Amethyst Grey ( the one shown). The dark brown shade is in my future. Brown is a staple for me and to have one that will last all day would be major. It doesn't hurt that the packaging here is so pretty as well. A little YSL golden cube.

If you need a shadow that will hold up to heat,humidity and perhaps even the pool ( mine made it partially thru a shower) than this is one to try.

YSL Water Resistant Eye Shadow sells for $ 28.50

http://www.yslbeautyus.com/

Kim Kardashian & Nivea Fight Cellulite

Kim Kardashian has joined the Nivea cellulite challenge. Lets face it, many of us have cellulite, and anything that might help reduce it even a little, is something to take a look at . It's nice too, that Nivea isn't just saying" buy this cream", they've got a whole regimen designed to help.

Kim was recently featured on the cover of a national magazine saying that she, like millions of women, has cellulite.

Although she loves her curves, Kardashian admits, "cellulite is not cute," so she decided to do something about it.

She has enrolled in the NIVEA "Good-bye Cellulite, Hello Bikini Challenge," a four-week, holistic program that combines fitness, nutrition, style and skincare with NIVEA Good-bye Cellulite Gel-Cream and Patches to help women visibly reduce the appearance of cellulite and feel better in their swimsuits.

According to her :“After taking the four week challenge, I’ve noticed an improvement in the appearance of my cellulite. My energy is up and I feel more confident in my bikini than ever before,” Kardashian said. “It’s been a great way to re-commit myself to my fitness and nutrition goals. I’ve also really enjoyed using the gel-cream and patches. I’m very picky about my creams and this one goes on smoothly and smells great"

My personal experience with cellulite creams is that they do help , if you stick to using them routinely. Nothing totally takes it away but you can make things more toned and firmer. It's a start. I haven't yet used Nivea's, but I can say most Nivea items I have used have always been top notch.

Now you too can get swimsuit /bikini ready and join Kim in the challenge by visiting www.NIVEAusa.com/bikini

Chapstick True Shimmers-New Flavors

Chapstick is rolling out two new flavors of their popular True Shimmers line. The new ones are Blended Fruit Sherbet and Peppermint Rush.

Now, I actually bought the Blended Fruit Sherbet back in September on a rare outing to Wal -Mart. I had never seen it anywhere else. At the time it must have ben exclusive to them. I even blogged about it then. Being a lip balm nut, I loved it and to me it had a taste of gummy bears . There is not much color tint in this one or Peppermint, just a hint of shimmer .

At this point I have all the True Shimmers and surprisingly the Botanical Berry is my favorite. I though the Tropical would be. The berry one has an actual light berry tint, so that ups it in my opinion. It's also a nice berry flavor, not a cough syrup one, which with berry and cherry flavors can often happen.

The Tropical is a Pina Colada in a balm and yummy too. A tiny hint of gold in this one.

At a price of 2.79 or lower, one of these is a must have in the purse . It gives a quick , no need to look in the mirror, touch up . They are quite moisturizing too.

The new Blended Fruit Sherbet and Peppermint Rush will be in all stores July/August.

See more at http://www.chapstick.com/

Citizens of Humanity Holiday Looks

Yes, holiday lookbooks are arriving slowly. I'm not there yet, but in fashion, they are.

Citizens of Humanity is a huge celeb and model fave. Many of the holiday jeans are very '80s looking incl. a pair of black stirrup jeans. They look great- on the model of course. Real life, not sure. There are some semi acid washed ones and cute boyfriend styles as well as super skinnys. Something for everyone. They are also bringing back their soft rayon blend knit tops.

Win A Year's Supply of Shu Uemura Haircare

Shu Uemura Art of Hair is giving you the chance to win an entire year's worth of their amazing haircare. Trust me, your hair will be the best ever with these goodies.

Here's what you have to do to enter :

Grand Prize: One year’s worth of Shu Uemura Art of Hair products, retail value approximately $1680.00.

To enter, go to http://www.shuuemuraartofhair-usa.com/ . Existing Shu Uemura Art of Hair registrants and Salon Professionals are not eligible for the sweepstakes. Consumer non–registrants must register by completing their online profile, providing their complete name, birth date, zip code and a valid e-mail address to be entered. Registration is free and you can cancel your membership at any time.

All entries must be received by 11:59:59 PM ET on June 30th, 2009. Limit one entry per person/e-mail address. Multiple or duplicate entries received will be disqualified. Entries are the property of the Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, or otherwise misdirected entries that are processed late or incorrectly or are lost due to computer or electronic malfunction or other error. This Sweepstakes begins at 12:00:00 AM Eastern Time (“ET”) on June 16, 2009 and ends at 11:59:59 PM ET on June 30th, 2009

WINNER SELECTION/RANDOM DRAWING: One (1) Grand Prize Winner will be selected in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received. The random drawing will be conducted on or about July 6th, 2009 by Sponsor whose decisions on all matters relating to this Sweepstakes are final and binding in all respects pertaining to this Sweepstakes. Odds of winning a Prize will depend on the number of eligible entries received.

Bath & Body Works American Grown Collection

Hitting Bath & Body Works stores shortly is the new American Grown line inspired by great American destinations.

There are 5 scents in all. I got a sneak peek of two- Montana Sky and Savannah Mint.

I wasn't sure what to expect with Montana Sky. I've sadly never been there, so no idea what it smells like. This scent is aquatic and very fresh smelling. There's a hint of fresh cotton linen in there, too.

Savannah Mint is just that-very minty. It has peppermint oil in there and is a bracing , wake up scent.

The other scents are :

Washington Apple
Napa Grape
Siesta Key Lemon


Each product in the American Grown line includes natural extracts grown on American soil.
I am waiting to try the Siesta Key Lemon. I have a feeling that will be my summer stand by.

These are LE by the way and come in both Shower Gels ( $ 12.50 for 24oz) and Handsoap ($ 6.50 for 16 oz)

Herbal Essences Tousled Hair Collection

Herbal Essences is bringing us haircare for a "tousled " look. Every time new hair products come out they are sleekifying, straightening, for severe damage, frizz taming. You almost never see something for thick hair, short hair, and yes, tousled hair, i.e a shag style cut or layers. ( Although longer hair gals who want undone, messy waves fall into "tousled" category too).

I have a modified shag that is fairly short. Oh and it's as straight as could be. I'm glad of that, but I was happy when I saw this new Tousle Me Softly line. These are for me I thought and I can go right to the drugstore for them. I know all those other lines are much needed, but it's nice someone finally gets it( besides Sally Hershberger)- that the whole world does not have the same hair needs. What happened to us shorter hair gals?

I love to spike, fluff, and piece out my layers especially at the top. I am an all out gel girl because they do the best job of defining and holding.

The Tousled line has a spray gel (finally making a comeback, I used to use spray gels a lot years ago), a mousse ( again welcome back), a hairspray, a finishing creme ,and of course, a shampoo and conditioner.

The shampoo/conditioner combo made my hair super soft but not limp. I added in the spray gel before drying and got decent hold and defined pieces. The hairspray is a much stronger hold than they tell you, which is fine by me , but high humidity will break it down some.

The line launches in stores July 1, but more info and images are available at :

http://www.herbalessences.com/us/collections/tousle_me_softly/default.jsp

Garnier Anti- Sun Damage SPF 15 Eye cream

Summer is here and when warmer weather kicked in, I realized that I needed to add an eye cream with SPF to the routine. Yes, we need SPF all the time, but lets face it, when the summer sun is blistering down, we need it even more.

Enter Garnier's Skin Renew Anti Sun Damage SPF 15 Eye Cream. Long name, nice product. I feel good knowing I've got extra sunscreen around the eye area, and this is light and sinks in fast. It makes applying makeup over it a breeze, but has a nice bit of moisture in there. I also had no irritation with it.

The cream is has ingredients to help reverse past sun damage as well as prevent any new damage. I can't say I've seen a huge difference but I do think the area below the eye has gotten a tiny bit brighter . (I've been using the cream now for about 2 weeks). The cream has a larger dose of Vitamin C, Lycopene, and Magnesium along with UVA& UVB protection.

The .5 oz pump bottle is available at all mass market outlets for approx. $ 12.00

Read more at http://www.garnierusa.com/

Crazylibellule and The Poppies Les Garconnes Perfumes

Adorable perfume company Crazylibellule and The Poppies is bringing a new set of solid perfume "crazy sticks " out next month. The new scents are an homage to fabulous ladies of the Roaring 20s.

I've been in love with this line for some time .They'd been on my radar before they were even available here in the US. To see them at Sephora now is wonderful.

Part of what makes these special is the portability, the great price point, and the cute factor . They smell great too, which is most important.

A great line from the website describes the inspiration a bit :"I am a REVOLUTION because I do whatever I please. I defend the colors of audacity, of freedom of expression and of respect for women."

The first one I had was Ananas Imperial from the Shanghaijava collection .

Now I have added some of the Les Garconnes. I've tested 3, and so far my favorite is Rose Saigon. It's a Rose/Violet combo to my nose with a healthy whiff of the Gaiac wood note( which smells of fruit , not woods.)

Tamara Charleston is also quite nice. It reminds me of a sweltering summer scent, fitting for anything Charleston.The Mandarin, Jasmine and Hay are what my nose grabs most here. The hay smelling more grass-like than dry hay. It's an interesing mix.

I look forward to trying the rest when they launch in July.

The Crazy Sticks are all $16.00 for a 5g stick.

Full List:

-Chère Louise ~ with hyacinth, rose, pepper, iris, saffron, patchouli and gaiac wood.

Hommage à Gabrielle ~ with jasmine, peony, ozonic flower, cedar, incense, leather, vanilla and elemi.

-Pompon Gardenia ~ with lime, watermelon, lily of the valley, gardenia, amber, tobacco and heliotrope.

-Rose à Saïgon ~ with mango, rose, jasmine, gaiac wood, ylang ylang, passion fruit, vetiver and patchouli.

-Jeanne Voyage ~ with bergamot, mandarin, iris, musk, violet leaves, nutmeg, heliotrope, amber and rose.

-Joséphine Jonquille ~ with lemon, ginger, cardamom, tiare, jonquil, jasmine, patchouli and chocolate.

-Tamara Charleston ~ with peach, mandarin, fresh cut hay, absinthe, jasmine, lisylang (a Robertet molecule), gardenia and amber.

http://www.crazylibellule.com/

Online now at http://www.b-glowing.com/

Aveda Fathers Day E-Cards

If you need something very last minute and are good with doing something virtual, you can send Dad an e-card from Aveda. It comes with the chance to win some great men's haircare as well.

Visit: www.AvedaThanksMan.com

Q-Tips Decorative Vanity Packs

There's no rule that everyday, functional objects have to be boring. We love pretty perfume bottles and makeup compacts so why not have pretty ways to hold our basics .

Q-Tips brand has come up with these very pretty vanity boxes . Each "pack" holds 285 Q -Tips in a pull out drawer . There are 4 color scheme choices.

I can totally get behind this , as after all, I'm the person who has a Waterford crystal box holding my cotton balls. I have also had nicer than normal cotton swab type containers before.

Having nice things by the sink or vanity just spruces it up more, nothing wrong with that.

These will be available everywhere Q-Tips are sold, and retail for $ 3.19

Summer Essentials the Chanel Way

If only my summer bag / look was all this. I think the Chanel shopping tote handbag is very cute. It's not a quilted beauty, but still nice. Although, the ceramic watch might be my favorite of the non beauty items.

I do have and love the UV Essentiel. Can't recommend it enough esp. for those with oilier skin. It's for anyone, so light you don't even know it's on.

Wonder Woman Havianas

I can't help but love these Wonder Woman flip flops from Havainas. They're just too fun and flip flops are an area where you can defintely have a bit of fun.

I have the Laura Mercier Lipstick Kisses ones from last year and am wearing them as I type.

These are LE and sell for $ 35.00

Batman , Superman and The Joker are available too. Me, I am all about the Wonder Woman .

http://www.havianasus.com/

Shu Uemura Painting Gel Eyeliners

Painting Gel Eyeliners are on the brand new products from Shu Uemura. Like the new Cream Eyeshadows , these are long lasting , waterproof and loaded with pigment.

I have Brown and Purple. I love the purple . Such a fun color. This one is less intense on the eye than it is in the pot, whereas the brown is super intense on the eye, and is a very dark brown. These are very blendable, buildable and can be used for any face application, not just as eyeliner.

They really hold up well. They are supposed to be sweat, sebum and tear resistant and thats a good thing. I've done well with them .

Available now in 9 colors at $ 24.00

You can see more on http://www.shuuemura-usa.com/ and also at http://www.nordstrom.com/

Clinique Acne Solutions Clearing Concealer

Clinique has a new concealer just for acne/acne prone skin. This is good news. If you've looked , you'll see there aren't too many concealers for the really oily or acne prone. We needed more.

When I heard back in Spring that Fresh was coming out with a clay based concealer, I was so excited. Clay is so good for oil absorbing. But, it turns out the product has jojoba seed oil in it. So it's not really for me. I hear great things about it from many, but there is no way I can put that on my Texas oil well of a nose.

Acne Solutions Clearing Concealer has Salicyclic acid to help treat acne and break up oil, 10-Hydroxydecanoic acid to help control the spread of acne causing agents on the skin, Laminaria Saccharina extract, a seaweed that helps reduce sebum production as well as Caffeine to reduce redness.

What all that means is that your concealer won't add to your oil problem.

This holds up well throughout the day. I 've used it under my makeup and it has helped keep the shine down. You only need very little to cover a good size area.

There are 3 shades and a green tint for extra redness.

$ 13.50 at all counters in July

Poolside Hair Care

I spend a lot of time poolside in summer. I love it. I slather on the sunscreen as we all should, but what about hair care? Until this year my hair was easy, now it's gotten much drier and I need to think about it more.

Well I have a lot of experience with pools and a decent bit with hair so here we go.

First- I bust the big summer pool hair myth, that chlorine turns you a hair green. It doesn't. Metals in the water, namely copper, are what turn blonde hair a green tint. So get your water tested, or ask your pool owner friend what their last copper test was.

The Mom has fine, platinum blonde hair and always has. We've always had to keep that in mind and at one time I had a blonde German Shepherd who ,yes, would tint green too. It was a sure sign we needed metal remover. Thankfully, it was a rare occasion . A green dog is rather odd.

One of the best ideas to keep your locks in shape poolside is to use a leave in conditioner after a swim or combing it in pre-swim for protection.

A UV blocking or moisturizing spray is a great idea too. Sun can damage hair and can be especially harsh on fresh color.

Lastly, if you have oily hair, the chlorine in the water can be your friend. It will help dry up that oil and you won't have to deal with as much oil . Sometimes it's a good thing.

There are many great products out there for summer hair , and I've highlighted a few:

Phyto:

-Phyto Plage Protective Sun Veil- Has a UV filter, sunflower extracts and sweet almond proteins but no oil. Great for normal or higlighted hair. ( $20.00)

-Phtyo Plage L"Originale Protective Beach Spray- The original formula improved . This one has oil for optimum moisture as well as UVB filters. Contains Olive extract, calendula and Castor Oil.($18.00)

-Phyto Plage Moisturizing Hair & Body Wash- Made esepcially for rinsing pool water off hair and body . Has Palm Coconut oils and Wood Cellulose for moisture. I just used this, it has a barely there scent, and works as good as normal shampoo ( $ 20.00)

Aveda:

-Aveda Sun Care Protective Hair Veil- A water-resistant, UV-defense spray hair veil that provides protection from sun exposure for up to 16 hours. Has certified organic shea butter and coconut and palm oils for moisture , natural derived UV filters made from wintergreen and cinnamon bark oils ($ 26.00)

-Aveda Sun Care Hair and Body Cleanser-Has Tamanu oil and certified organic coconut oil along with green tea extract, certified organic sunflower seed oil and vitamin E. ($20.00)

-Aveda Sun Care After-Sun Hair Masque-An intensive cream masque that moisturizes and restores sun-exposed hair. Also has a blend of tamanu oil, organic shea butter, coconut and palm oils help restore moisture.$ (26.00)

Redken:

-Color Extend Sun After-Sun Shampoo- Cleanses and removes minerals, chlorine and salt deposits while helping to repair sun-damaged hair.


-Color Extend Sun After-Sun Mask- instantly detangles and revitalizes sundamaged hair with intense moisture replenishment and repair.


-Color Extend Sun Sparkling Shield Leave-in Smoother- Helps provide water-resistant protection against UVA/UVB rays, chlorine and minerals while creating a sleek, polished finish. Even adds a bit of shimmer to your slicked hair.

Ultra Swim - the mass market shampoo , easy to find and removes chlorine from hair as well as minerals.( $ 4.99)

Aubrey Organics Swimmer's Shampoo- a great natural brand. This has a matching conditioner. Shampoo has shea and coconut butter, bitter almond oil.

dog photo: the beauty alchemist ( yes, thats my dog :)

Sebastian Hair & Adam Lambert from Young Hollywood Awards

Sebastian haircare provided the hair looks for several of the red carpet ladies this past week at the Young Hollywood Awards, and also provided backstage touch ups for that serious pompadour type do Adam Lambert was rocking.

I can tell you first hand that Sebastian hairpsrays hold like glue without looking like glue.

Among the products used was Re-Shaper hairspray , which is awesome. I'd also add for super all day hold Shine Define hairspray. It took me all through a

humid, rainy day this week.

Some of the the hair looks:
Led by Sarah Jenkins, Master Stylist at Hairroin Salon, the Sebastian Professional styling team created show-stopping looks for the evening’s celebrities including Joely Richardson and Shawn Johnson. At the backstage lounge, the team touched-up American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert to keep his look all night long.

How to Get the Look with Sebastian Professional:
Create your own award-winning look with the help of these Sebastian Professional styling products:

· For a look that shines, spritz Sebastian Professional Trilliant on hair before styling for thermal heat protection and light-body and soft conditioning.

· To give hair supple shape, apply Sebastian Professional Whipped Crème for long-lasting curl and soft, sexy waves.

· For hold that lasts, spray Sebastian Professional Re-Shaper to get brushable, humidity-resistant staying power.

· To add subtle definition, work a small amount of Sebastian Professional Microweb Fiber throughout layers for touchable texture and body-building volume.

Along with In Touch weekly, Sebastian is giving a a goodie bag from the night. Enter here: http://intouchweekly.madberries.com/itw/enter/drawing/d63bf70e1eb4ce6ab5edf55619c6166c1f8acc44touchweekly.madberries.com/itw/enter/drawing/d63bf70e1eb4ce6ab5edf55619c6166c1f8acc44

Total Beauty Weekly Web Tour

The Informed Makeup Maven talks Kissable Couture, Genie and gives away Diorshow, MAC, Stila and Maybelline!

Beauty Junkies Unite shares an easy guide to sexy summer legs!

Can you lose weight by eating cookies? eye4style invesigates The Cookie Diet. Nom, nom!

Beauty Anonymous reviews Shiseido's Maquillage Face Creator 3D!

My Makeup Blog answers one reader's question and gives tips and tricks on monolid eye makeup. Come and take a look!

Makeup Files wants to know: What is your nighttime skincare routine?

Meilily discusses cosmetics ingredients: are they harmful, safe, or who knows?

addicted to lipstick gives us the rundown for the top 2009 Celebrity summer hairstyles.

Beautè Noire is giving away free Max Factor makeup!

Need to eliminate frizz in your curly hair? StyleBell has the answer with the Redken How-To on Creating Curl Perfection!

Monique at Beauty Girl Musings reviews 3Lab "M" Cream-- read what she thinks about it here!

Alison of the Advice Sistershas found a lip gloss (yes! a lip gloss! that can actually help you lose weight!.

Boutique Flair reviews this summer's must-have fragrance for women. Find out what it is HERE!

Amy at LA Pretty is still glowing from her facial at Arcona in Santa Monica. Now you can get your own glow on as readers have a chance to win an Arcona Travel Kit (valued at $87!) plus a copy of Eco-Beautiful, a guide to natural beauty!

The Makeup Divas are giving away one pair of Current/Elliot The Boyfriend Jean valued at $229! So pop on over and enter today!

Beautiful With Brains celebrates its first birthday! Celebrate with us by entering our birthday giveway!

image and style news gives us the hair report on the summer haircolor trends for 2009 and the hottest haircuts for 2009.

Beauty in Real Life is having another giveaway, this time 3 lucky readers will each receive a Zannclip - and they get to pick the size and color. ,

Enter Face Candy's MAC Style Warrior Giveaway.

Read why Mineral Makeup is the Best Makeup for Acne at Mineral Makeup Reviews.

Suzanne at RN Guide to Skin Care tells you everything you need to know about Hyaluronic Acid Skin Care.

The Beauty Blog reviews Avon Anew Concealer (also known as Anew Age-Transforming Concealer SPF 15).

Fabulous Over Forty talks to Barneys Beauty Guru for your best makeup looks.

The Beauty Alchemistpreviews the newYSL Fall 09 Makeup

Intense At It Best....Next Level Eye Color Loreal High Intensity Pigments Eyeliner!!.

Paula at Older Girl Beauty Blog gives us her opinion on the new Maybelline Pulse Perfection vibrating mascara.

Hot Beauty Health shows you 10 natural solutions to preserve your youth and beauty and its review on Smooth Away As Seen on TV product.

Butterflydiary has pictures and a full report from herJohnson's Body Care Cause party.

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Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog is giving away a $795 TRIA Hair Removal System. Enter now!

The Beauty Alchemist on About.com

I was featured today on the skincare section of About.com. I'm thrilled and if you want to check it out, here's the link :

http://skincare.about.com/b/2009/06/12/beauty-blog-feature-the-beauty-alchemist.htm

A big thanks to Jen @ About.com for a great interview.

Dr. Wexler New Daily Defense Tinted Moisturizer

Dr. Patricia Wexler has had a skincare line at Bath and Body Works stores for a few years now. One of the newest to the line is the Daily Defense Anti-Oxidant Tinted Moisturizer.

The tinted moisturizer uses Dr. Wexler's MMPi-20 technology, which helps with anti-aging concerns. It also has broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 30, NDGA- a free radical fighting antioxidant compound.

What's nice about this, is it goes on smoothly and is very light. It sinks in fast and evens out skin nicely( better than I expected it to)It provides sheer coverage and comes in 3 shades . For a light makeup look use it on it's own, or use it under makeup or powder for more coverage.

Priced at $ 29.50 for 1.7 oz at all Bath & Body Works stores or at http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/

L'Oreal HIP Eye Kohls

L'Oreal HIP Eye Kohls are the bomb.

I didn't know what to expect with them , but it's love.

Best feature- the point. The point on the end of the wand is major. It's sharp and super hard so it makes applying easy. No dragging , no smudging, pulling. Just lay that baby lightly across your eye and you've got it. Sometimes eye brushes are just not hard enough to get that point, even hard edged ones, This elimates that need.

I've been using the Gold color which is fab. It's a dark gold so it shows up against neutrals. I blend in more sometimes and just use it as an eyeshadow as well. Theres a bit of shimmer and only a little fall out.

There are 4 other colors , all darker shades, available and I am thinking about getting the teal and brown shades.

Plus it has the hole at the cap, and I keep thinking- I can add that to my keychain. Thats such a girl thing to do, but for travel I just might do it. After all I already have a lipgloss on there.

Also fairly new are the HIP Color Presso Lip Glosses. I saw these in early winter and thought the packaging was fun. It's flat so tucks in a pocket very easily.

Each gloss set has two complimentary colors to mix and blend. The smell like vanilla cookies and have a nice , creamy texture. It can be a bit hard to squeeze them out and to get both at same time, but overall they are pretty nice.

I'm enjoying exploring the HIP line which I have to say I haven't used much of in the past.

All L'Oreal HIP items are available at all mass market outlets.

Bobbi Brown's Antiqua Illuminating Bronzer & A Sale

Bobbi Brown has come up with the bronzing solution for the palest of skintones. Her new Illuminating Bronzing Powder collection has 2 pink toned shades. I have Antiqua , so pretty and happens to also be the one featured in a video you can check out on the BB website. It's not super pale but more a medium pink shimmer.

Somehow even though it isn't a gold or bronze shade, it makes you look sunkissed. This is perfect for the super pale, porcelain skinned ladies, or ones who like my mom - fear the bronzer .

I used this for my quick first test as a blush and it worked great, but it is a bit paler than what I normally use as blush. So it has multiple uses and would also be great as a highlighter over any other deeper blush as well as over your whole face.

Another highlight for sumer is the Shimmer Brick for the Body .This is far larger than the face ones. I was testing it at the counter over the weekend. I would say it measures about 4" across. It's very soft and shimmery.
Right now thru June 11th get 25% off all Bobbi Brown at her website. Purchase $ 60.00 or more and get free shipping.

If you have your eye on the Body Shimmerbrick, this is a big savings and you get the free shipping.

Also, proceeds from purchases during this sale will benefit Dress For Succcess.

Illuminating Bronzing Powder is $ 33.00

Shimmer Brick for Body is $ 75.00



http://www.bobbibrown.com/

White Musk White Hot Summer from The Body Shop

One of The Body Shop's newest scents is a summer reworking of White Musk- White Musk White Hot Summer .

First off the bottle screams the hot summer part. Graduated shades of hot pink and yellow look like a heatwave.

The scent is fun too. Obviously heavy on the musk but the addition of flower notes and bergamot is a good one. It's not too strong but not super subtle either and the White Musk has never been an in your face kind of musk. It's always been softer. This is a fun , easy summer scent to add into your rotation.

Top notes: pink pepper, bergamot and violet leaf
Middle notes: rose, carnation, heliotrope and orris
Base notes: sandalwood, musk and vanilla

$ 17.50 for 1 oz EDT

There are also matching body products.

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