Friday, April 30, 2010

Taylor Swift for COVERGIRL


Taylor Swift has just been announced as the newest face for CoverGirl . It's a perfect fit and her ads will begin appearing in January 2011. She will be the face of what the company is calling a new line of "luxury" products.

The photo is a sneak peek from her recent photoshoot for the brand.

Kate Hudson at Tribeca Film Fest


If you've seen images of Kate Hudson at the Tribeca Film Festival, most likely all anyone mentioned was her outfit( or her possible boob job). It's getting buzz both good and bad. Personally I like the cape from Louis Vuitton. She has a more plain LBD underneath. But that's not what I want to talk about. Have you looked at her makeup? It's a total wow.

This is all out glam with mad gorgeous contouring , smoky brown eyes and volumized hair. I love it. It's a bit 80s but she is working it. A fab departure from her normal boho, low key look. Her face is transformed , which is what good conturing will do. I wish I knew who did the makeup and hair but I haven't been able to track that down.

It's not often that I see a look on a celeb that I wish I could recreate but this is one. Bravo, Kate.


Thursday, April 29, 2010

Votre Vu Duette Luxe Lips and Hands


A few of my fellow bloggers friends have been raving about the Almond Pie scent from Votre Vu for a few weeks. Now I know why. If you want your hands to smell so good that you basically want to sniff them all day, then try this.


It doesn't really smell like almonds, by the way. More like coconutty almond vanilla buttercream. Words really cannot describe, but the catch all delish will have to suffice. You won't be disappointed.


What's neat is that the tube is a hand cream but also a separate cap houses a very emollient lip balm as well. The lip balm has shea butter and coconut oil and UV protection.

The hand cream is also highly moisturizing and the scent is strong and lasts long. Ingredients include: sunflower oil, jojoba oil, grape seed oil, aloe and sun filters.


Votre Vu is a botanical spa brand from France and in the US is sold at http://www.votrevu.com/

Duette retails for $ 38.00

CVS Essence of Beauty- Juniper and Citrus


At September 2009's fashion week many of us editors were asked to test and vote on several new scent choices for a new Essence of Beauty fragrance addition. Now in April 2010 we get to hear what got the most votes and see it released at the end of the month.

At the time the winning scent was called Lemon Tea and what was I picked. Now it's Juniper and Citrus. It's quite refeshing and pretty no matter the name, but I think Lemon Tea is more apt.

The fragrance is one of fresh iced tea, brewed not too strong with a good dose of lemon. It doesn't quite smell like black tea, but isn't green tea either. Closer to green though. The juniper is minimal, just enough to give the citrus a base.

I have to say again how impressed I am with Essence of Beauty's line. Before that fashion week, I hadn't tried it at all and it's been a nice surprise. Juniper and Citrus is one that will go into the large summer citrus fragrance rotation.

The full line is in CVS stores now including body lotion, hand soap, EDT and more.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Atelier Cologne - Orange Sanguine


Atelier is a new line of fragrance based on the cologne formula but better. Traditionally colognes were citrus based and used as almost a splash and they didn't have much longevity Atelier has created several new scents and gave them more lasting power.

Atelier fragrances are citrus based but have a 12-20% concentration which is far higher than most modern colognes ( 2-5 %). These are also not simply men's cologne. They are truly unisex .

I have only tried Orange Sanguine so far, but with blood orange , I was bound to love it and it's definitely going on the full bottle list.

Orange Sanguine is a burst of juicy orange immediately, then some geranium comes in and a bit of light woods. Overall it stays true , a tart orange /citrus that's not sweet .

Atelier Cologne is based in Paris, sold exclusively in Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman and was founded by by Sylvie Ganter (who built the brands for FRESH, Hermes and was North American CEO of Selective Beauty) and Christophe Cervasel (founder and former International CEO of Selective Beauty).

Atelier wanted to create scents that echo a mood and a special place. The image above is the postcard provided by Atelier that shows you into the visual scene that they hope Orange Sanguine represents. I don't know about you, but it looks good to me. I am looking forward to trying the other scents as well.

The five Atelier Cologne unisex scents are: Orange Sanguine, Grand Nérole, Bois Blonde, Tréfle Pur, and Oolang Infini .

Orange Sanguine is $ 145.00 for 6.7 oz

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base

Makeup bases are not something I use a lot, aside from mattifying ones on the T- Zone as I worry they'll be too moisturizing or break me out. I need the help making makeup last longer though.

The new L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base is very matte on and has no moisturizers , so it just may work . At first I wasn't so sure even after applying makeup , but when I looked a half hour later and everything had time to really set, I was pleasantly surprised. . How it compares to other brands I can't say , but with this my makeup looked good. Matte, but not dry, smooth and perfected.

The best part here though, is that it makes a great eyeshadow base. It works better on my eyes than most eye primers I have tried. I plan to keep using it for that purpose and on the face occasionally. ( Mind you, I have no idea if you are supposed to use it near your eyes , but the box doesn't say not to).

Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base is available now in all mass market outlets and www.lorealparis.com for $ 12.95


Monday, April 26, 2010

Vintage Files- Urban Decay Nail Polish 1997


With Urban Decay bringing new nail polish out again after a long absence , I thought it time to share my old bottles ( vintage by now) from the company's earlier days and when bold color nail polish was really new and groundbreaking.


In 1997 Urban Decay partnered with designer Todd Oldham and made a set of 3 polishes to benefit one of my favorite causes- animal welfare. I had to have this set with names like Stray Dog. The 3 polishes came in a usable, small, dog dish. It was called the Urban Animal Collection.



The 3 shades were Stray Dog( greenish tinted silver) , Alley Cat ( copper, and one I no longer have) and Shelter( emerald green).

The colors were awesome but have sadly dried up. It's rare that happens as I have 20 yr. old polish that are still good, but they did. You can still see the awesome shade colors though.



As for today, Urban Decay just put out a new Summerof Love collection of polishes if you're looking to add to your own collection.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Glamour Squad Weekly Reads




Butterflydiary gives you anecdotal evidence of what happens when two beauty products look vaguely similar....



Krasey Beauty explores the new Bobbi Brown Color Strips, and promptly falls in love.

Clumps of Mascara means Iman!


The Product Pasha chats with Cover FX's Jenny Frankel about primers and is giving away a Big Cover Up Kit.


The Beauty Alchemist dazzles with new MAC Superglass

Diva Debbi gives Jergens Natural Glow Firming a second chance

Friday, April 23, 2010

Sneak Peek- Burberry Makeup







Here's two photos to whet your appetite for the upcoming Burberry makeup line. I like the look of those textured lippies.

Should be on counter in July at Harrods in UK and Nordstrom in US























Images:WWD

Thursday, April 22, 2010

MAC Superglass

Be prepared to dazzle and be dazzled- MAC's new Superglass is coming. This has the most bling in a gloss ever. Previously I have loved ( and still do) LORAC Multiplex and MAC's LillyLand Lip Gelees for uber sparkle. The new Superglass has larger , faceted glitter that seriously shows up. This is not the gloss for the faint of heart.

Here's what MAC says about the new formula: "With secret, snowflake-shaped helicone pearls sparkling in three different facets for triple the dazzle! Lips have gone big bang, explosively dimensional, a rare eclipse! Gloss feels slick and sleek on application with no draggy speed bumps, not a hint of grit."

The no grit part is true. There is little grit feel. The pigments run from sheer to medium. The shade Disco Blend ( my favorite) has good color as opposed to Sugar Overload, which is just tint and sparkle. As you go up the color spectrum , they get deeper. One that looks to be another winner is the purple Fab Frenzy shown left.

Superglass is on counter May 6 and will be $ 18.00

Full shade list:
Sugar Overload-White-Beige
Superflash-Mid Tone Yellow Pink
Sweet Tart-Pale Baby Pink
Disco Blend-Light Tan
Gift Wrap-Light Pinky Peach

Cherry Electric-Bright Cherry Pink
Totally Bang-Fuschia
Fab Frenzy-Deep Blue-Purple
Tunnel of Love-Deep Blue-Brown

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Earth Day

It's Earth Day and you will no doubt be inudated with messages and ideas and products to help the earth today. It's no different here. I've chosen a few eco-friendly options that have Earth Day promotions, but are often Earth Day everyday as well. It's important to remember it's the little things sometines and all little things count. Buying a product that is even a little bit more earth friendly is good. Unplugging the cell phone charger. It all adds up. Personally, not only do I try to recycle as much as I can, but I am extra judicious about paper. Even scrap pieces go into the recycling bin . I am also all about saving the seals, polar bears and wolves. I don't do it all, but I try do what I can and that's a start.

Elemis- There is very little Elemis doesn't do right. Their Monoi line is a favorite here. This Earth month the Exotic Lime & Ginger Travel Duo is a featured product. Both products are paraben, Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLES) free. Elemis does not test on animals and 100% of net proceeds ($10) from every purchase made in April 2010 goes to CARE'S Climate Change Innovation Fund to support their on-the-ground programming, research, innovation and advocacy around climate change.
$20 Elemis Travel Duo

Pure and Natural- A line I've passed in the Target aisle more than once and finally sniffed and tried . I love a good grapefruit scent and their Renewing Pomegranate and Grapefruit smells spot on. Tart and citrus. It comes in both a shower gel and hand soap. The line uses ingredients derived from nature( 94% natural origin), is biodegradable, paraben free , and not tested on animals . The new, nicer packaging is recyclable and they are making an annual donation of $ 100,000.00 to one of my very favorite charities The World Wildlife Fund .

The shower gel is $ 6.29 and hand soap $ 4.49. ( 3 other scent combos available).

Lancome Juicy Tubes 100% Natural Origin- We all love Juicy Tubes, right? Now there are new versions to try . I have Rose Pretty and it's very subtle flush of light rose tint. It also happens to be the 10th birthday of Juicy Tubes , and to celebrate Lancome brings us Juicy Tubes 100% Natural Origin. A limited-edition collection with honey as its main ingredient. The formula, flavors and pigments are 100% natural origin and preservative-free.

Lancome is also partnering with Lancôme spokesmodel and environmentalist Elettra Wiedemann’s charity, http://www.justonefrickinday.com/. By logging on its website, you can calculate and donate just one day of your daily pay, or any amount you choose , to make a difference. The charity’s latest project will raise funds to help install Solar Electric Panels that will provide sustainable power to a hospital in one of world’s poorest countries, Burundi.

Lancôme will also make a donation to http://justonefrickinday.com/ to kick off this special Earth Day offering.

Kiehl's Acai Damage- Protecting Mist - Kiehl's has partnered with Jeff Koons, Pharrell Williams, Malia Jones and Julianne Moore and has had each of them create a Limited Edition label for Kiehl’s Açaí Damage-Protecting Toning Mist – itself part of a skincare collection that is not only Eco Cert certified organic, but is also the first skincare range ever to ever receive gold standard Cradle to Cradle certification – meaning that it is made with the least amount of waste from start to finish.

Photographer David LaChapelle took photos of each celeb. incl this one of a fabulous looking Julianne Moore ( but then she always looks fab doesn't she ?).

100% of net proceeds (amounting to $200,000) will be raised worldwide to benefit Rainforest Alliance with this collection. $ 26.00. http://www.kiehls.com/

Thymes: Enjoy for one day only( April 22) a free Clean Slate Experience Kit with any $100 purchase. Also take advantage of free shipping on orders of $50 or more until Wednesday, May 5th, 2010.

The Clean Slate Experience Kit is valued at $61 and combines Thymes’ best selling Face Polish with customer favorite Body Scrub. This duo includes everything you need to scrub away yesterday and renew your skin’s resources.

Made with essential oils, natural ingredients, Thymes is botanically based Bath & Body products that are biodegradable and eco-friendly.
Online orders only: http://www.thymes.com/

Victoria's Secret Heavenly Flowers


Heavenly Flowers is the newest entry in the Dream Angels Heavenly line from Victorias Secret. This one is based on the peony note in Heavenly and according to Victoria's Secret it's "juicier and more enticing with a touch of luscious fruit and a blend of sun-splashed blossoms."

I don't find this an overly fruity floral though. Not in a too sweet way. This is more of a floral and a very light , almost sheer one. It's got a lot of spring flower notes going on with a hint of fruit. Once it's been on for awhile , you barely notice the scent and it stays very close to the skin. With it's softer scent and little to no powder note , I like this far better than the original.

The new scent comes in a lotion ,body spray and solid perfume bracelet. ( The solid in a sample form was my tester).


Heavenly Flowers is LE and the EDP is 8.4 oz. is $49.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Peter Thomas Roth Oily Skin Instant Mineral SPF 30


Last year Peter Thomas Roth's UnWrinkle Instant Mineral was one of my summer finds. Now I have added the one for Oily/Problem skin which is even better.

With my oily and perspiring skin, in summer keeping SPF on my face is very difficult. I can't use SPF creams all over my face, not at all in the T -Zone and what I do use is not going to last the day or even afternoon possibly. I rely a lot on my makeup SPF but that degrades some too. So in addition to light SPF mattifying moisturizers for my face , I need powder SPF. That's where the Peter Thoma Roth comes in. The oily skin version is mattifying and even has .4 % salicyclic acid and willow bark extract , both great for oily skin.

I love that no matter when , I can grab this and dust on SPF 30 . It's easy and portable. You just remove the cap and brush on. You may have to shake a little powder into the brush, but not usually. Now the retractable brush here isn't top grade makeup quality,but to swipe on a quick powdering, it matters not to me. It goes easily over makeup and is invisible.

There is also regular Instant Mineral SPF in the line. ( The UnWrinkle version seems to have been discontinued).

Retail for both is $ 30.00 each for .15 oz

Monday, April 19, 2010

Guerlain Terracotta 2010 Highlights

Gorgeous SPF infused glosses and a new tinted moisturizer are among the Guerlain Terracotta 2010 lineup.


The glosses have the aformentioned SPF 10 in them and very creamy and moisturizing. The colors are not sheer but not deep either, with very little shimmer. It's easy to see how nicely they will highlight tanned skin . They look great now, but with a self tan on, even better. They have a nice, fruity fragrance, not the Guerlain note and it's not strong. Shown are Grenade and Ebene.

The new tinted moisturizer is called Teint D'Ailleurs. This is light but not super sheer and packs plenty of moisture. It's part gel and part cream so not heavy in any way.


The Blonde shade I have is pretty deep but it blends down really well and leaves you with a well tanned glow and light, even coverage. This is quite pretty and can replace foundation on a casual day, be used with it , or mixed into yours.

Teint D'Ailleurs comes in 2 shades- Blonde and Brunette.

Retail is $ 46.00 for 1 oz.
Terracotta Gloss is $ 30.00

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Jennifer Aniston's Lolavie Fragrance


Here's a first look at the bottle and ad for the latest celeb to join the fragrance parade, Jennifer Aniston. I can't get excited by perfume with her name, but then again no celebrity scents thrill me. Her's is said to smell very natural, almost like no scent.( I'm expecting something lightly aquatic). That sort of defeats the purpose I think, but also means it won't be shrill and that's good too.

As of now release info is out for the UK but nothing for the US -yet.

Images:WWD

Friday, April 16, 2010

CVS/pharmacy Beauty Days


CVS is running their Beauty Days event through the end of May. Each week brings special deals both in stores and online.

There are some great buys here , including a Value Robe for $ 5.99. I can also highly recommend the Essence of Beauty line. It was a surprise, impressive find at fashion week last fall and their hand lotion was one of the ones that kept my hands in great shape this past winter.


Here's a full list:

Week of April 18
-L’Oreal Excellence Hair Color: $5.49
-Crest Premium Toothpaste 6.2oz: $1.88 – lowest price of the year.
-VO5 Shampoo/Conditioner: $0.66
-Sally Hansen Complete Line: Buy 2 Get 1 Free

Week of April 25
-Revlon Complete Line: Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off
-Pantene 12.6oz Shampoo/Conditioner: 2 for $5.00
-Designer Fragrances ($14.99 and over): Buy 1 Get 1 50% off
-Value Robe: $5.99
-Essence of Beauty Complete Line: Buy 2 Get 1 Free

Month of May
Hot looks and even hotter prices continue with exclusive “scan and save” CVS ExtraCare card offers. In-store, you can simply scan their ExtraCare card at coupon centers and get a new beauty savings coupon each week throughout the month.

Online Spring Beauty Days
: CVS/pharmacy is extending its great deals online with exclusive discounts for http://www.cvs.com/ members. Join the mailing list to receive:

25% off all Beauty and Skincare (April 12 – April 13)
20% off all Beauty and Skincare (April 13 – May 9)

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Chanel Noir et Or Collection


Chanel's Noir et Or is a collection Global Creative Director Peter Philips created for the Metier D'Art Chanel fashion show in Shanghai. Also know as the Paris- Shanghai collection.

Exclusive to Chanel .com and Chanel boutiques , the line is an homage to the Shanghai of the 30s and 40s. ( Recommended movie viewing for a look at this era- The White Countess with Ralph Fiennes and Natasha Richardson ).

There are 3 nail lacquers and an eyeshadow/liner duo.

The eyeshadow shade in the duo is a very pretty gold, but also a very sheer one. I would have loved more pigment. It is however, a great highlighter, or to use to tone down a darker shade. The liner is matte black for drama.

The nails shades are gold and black as well. Gold Lame is a creamy gold and very metallic with great shine. In my image there are 2 coats with no top coat and over a regular, not ridge filling base coat.

The next image is Gold Lame with Illusion d'or over it. Illusion d'or is a super sparkler. It has large pieces of almost holographic glitter in light purple as well as smaller iridescent pieces set in a clear base. What's really nice here is that this goes on smooth. No chunks, no rough feeling. I can see myself using this as a top coat over so many of my other polishes.


The black polish, Black Velvet, I didn't swatch. It's actually not a pure matte. It's flat but not that dry matte look. I am feeling the gold here more than the black, but it's still a nice one. I would want the Illusion d'or over it for shimmer, personally.

The line is available now.

Le Vernis Nail Colors are $ 25.00
Ligne et Ombre de Chanel in Jet-Gold is $ 45.00


Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Lancome Color Design Matte Lipstick

Lancome's new matte is the matte for those who are not too sure of matte lipsticks. People like me. I just love my shine, shimmer or at least a little glow in a lippie. It's very hard to go matte and when I do I end up putting lip balm over them at least.

Lancome's Color Design Matte is a very creamy, very soft matte. So no dry feeling on your lips. It has some moisture and there's a lot of pigment. Lancome has used a light-diffusing gel instead of powders to achieve this texture along with waxes and emollients. So you don't need the lip balm, but I still will anyway.

The color shown is Lucky Kiss, which is a deep nude/brown.


Color Design Matte is exclusive to Macy's and on http://www.lancome-usa.com/

There are 8 shades at $22.00

* Red Haute * Posh Pink * Lucky Kiss * Corset
* Plum Show * Pink Preview * Bronze Show * Stylista

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Garnier Full Control Anti-Humidity Hairspray Non- Aerosol


In time for warm weather Garnier has released their new Anti-Humidity hairsprays in a non -aerosol form. Last year the regular aerosol form of Full Control got used at Alchemist HQ by several people and was well received. High end , strong sprays are used mostly here , but this did a good job. It's a solid drugstore option. ( And I live in a high humidity area, 90% or more in summer).

There is also a new version of Sleek and Shine Anti- Humidity hairspray. Both are Ultra Strong Hold , are in stores now and retail for $ 4.11 each

Partial ingredients:

-Natural Bamboo Extract – known for its strength & resilience, bamboo locks hair in place, while still preserving its natural movement
-Fruit Micro-Waxes – seals out humidity and combats frizz, keeping strands sleek and smooth without extra weight
-UV Filters – protects color and hair fibers from the harmful effects of the sun

Monday, April 12, 2010

NARS Multiple Tint Tubes


The always informative The Cut blog at New York Magazine gave us this first look at 3 new Multiples from NARS. Very different from past ones, these are super bright but they are also very sheer according to the site. Personally I think they look fun and might give the orange one a try.

Colors are: Cadaqués( fuschia) Beverly Hills ( red) and Turks & Caicos ( orange).

They are online at http://www.narscosmetic.com/ on May 1.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Origins Free Concert With Macy Gray

**Update** On April 19th go to www.origins.com/liveconcert beginning at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST to watch Macy’s performance streaming live and view behind-the-scenes video .

If you live in or near New York/ New Jersey , you could be among the attendees at a free concert by Macy Gray, hosted by Origins.

Details and more about Origins recycling and Plant a Tree programs:

In celebration of Earth Month 2010 and Origins Earth Initiatives which support programs that help to sustain the planet, Origins will host its first annual Origins Rocks Earth Month Concert in NYC on April 19th. Fans are invited to the FREE star-studded concert at Webster Hall New York City located in Downtown Manhattan featuring Grammy Award-Winner Macy Gray. Origins has chosen to partner with Macy as her new single “Beauty In The World” captures the sentiment of Earth Month. The concert will also include performances by emerging artists Ryan Star and Jon McLaughlin and will be hosted by a special celebrity guest emcee.


One free concert ticket will be offered to those who bring at least one empty cosmetic package, regardless of brand, to Origins retail stores in NYC, Westchester and the Garden State Plaza Mall (no purchase necessary, while tickets last.) Ticket holders must arrive at Webster Hall New York City for first come first serve entry. Origins will collect all the packaging and recycle or responsibly convert it to energy through its Return to Origins Recycling Program.


RETURN TO ORIGINS RECYCLING PROGRAM
Earth Month 2009 marked the launch of the Origins Recycling Program, a first-of-its-kind national cosmetics recycling initiative. Origins leads the industry-wide campaign by providing customers a place to drop off their empty cosmetic packaging including bottles, tubes, jars, caps and compacts regardless of brand to any Origins retail store or department store counter. Origins will then submit the packaging to be recycled or responsibly converted to energy.

According to The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, everyday packaging accounts for approximately 1/3 of all landfill waste. In an effort to continue Origins commitment to protecting the earth and its resources, Origins decided to tackle this problem head on and launch the Return to Origins Recycling Program. As a thank you for participating, Origins offers consumers a free product sample of their choice.


PLANT-A-TREE CAMPAIGN
To further its Global Plant-A-Tree Campaign, Origins will plant a tree on behalf of each concert attendee through its partners Global ReLeaf™. Did you know that just one tree provides oxygen for up to four people per day?

In addition to planting a tree for each concert attendee, from April 18th to 30th, Origins will plant a tree in honor of each customer who purchases the NEW A Perfect World™ SPF 25 Age-defense moisturizer with White Tea or current moisturizer.


Friday, April 9, 2010

Orlane Anagese 25+ Skincare



Orlane has addressed a skincare area long ignored, a line for those in their 20s . Well, not simply the 20s, 25-35 to be exact. Anagese 25+ First Time Fighting Care geared towards those who want to begin to prempt signs of aging before they barely begin.

Even though I am well past 25, I was able to use and like this line. With my oily skin, products meant for youunger skin mean less heavy hydration for one thing. And fighting signs of aging is always good , right ?

Orlane has put a lot of science into these new products, which are based on Pro Cellular Growth Factors that help to stimluate the proliferation of fibroblasts, and increase the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid .
Ingredients include: The Bio Marine Complex, Ginseng, Hibiscus Seed Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamins A& E and the Pro Growth Factors.
So now that you know some of the science , what about the products?

Anagese 25+ is a 3 step system. A day/night cream, a serum and an eye cream.

-The First Time Fighting Care cream provides good moisturization and is lightweight but creamy and feels good on your skin. It can be used day and night. ( $ 100 for 50ml)


-First Time Fighting Care Eye Contour is a mid -weight , easily absorbed eye cream. ($ 85.00 for 15ml))

-Morning Recovery Concentrate Serum is my favorite here. Lightweight and not too moisturizing, it feels cool and refreshing , works over and under makeup and is one I will be turning to for summer when my oil is in overdrive. ( $ 100.00 for 15 ml)

Orlane Anagese 25+ and more can be found at http://www.neimanmarcus.com/

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Illamasqua New Body Electrics


Today we have a guest post from the wonderful Butterfly Diary who took time to cover this exciting new Illamasqua launch for me.

Illamasqua Body Electrics Debuts for Spring/ Summer 2010We are simply crazy about Illamasqua for the face - but now, the company introduces makeup for the whole body.

Called Body Electrics, the line is inspired by motion, the art of body movement and a dance-like fluidity. This collection is absolutely gorgeous in every way, from the creams, powders to the dry body oils -- all of them electrified with shimmer and shine.

This is the first Illamasqua collection that debuts in the U.S. to use exclusive, limited edition products. The line has been formulated with richly pigmented light-reflecting particles to give a rich sheen to the skin. It's all about confidence that's more than skin deep.


During the press preview, we had a chance to Skype live with Illamasqua's Creative Director, Alex Box, who designed the avant garde visual campaign. So, what are the products in this new launch?

Gleam Cream ($36): This lightweight cream is perfect for both body and face, and helps you highlight thos special areas that need highlighting. Mix this with foundation for a skin brightening effect. It comes in one color called Flex, a soft pink iridescent shade.

4-Color Liquid Makeup Palette ($42.50): This is my favorite of the collection, and features four metallic shades that are rich and pigmented. You can use this palette for just about anywhere, for the face, eyes, body and to be applied with fingers or a brush. The shades in the palette are Solstice (gold), Enrapture (bronze), Surge (platinum), and Phenomena (silver).

Liquid Metal ($26): This metallic cream is also richly pigmented and comes in two new shades: Surge (Platinum) and Phenomenon (Silver).

Powdered Metal ($36): This is a loose metallic powder that is used to sweep over face and body to create a subtle sheen and a metallic finish. It comes in Thalia (golden tan shimmer).

Powder Eye Shadow ($20): These matte shadows come in Imagine (electric blue) and Can Can (violet).

Pure Pigment ($24): This is a high-shine pure color powder that highlights eyes, cheeks and brows. It is meant to be played with, so you can mix it with eye shadow, blusher or use it alone. It comes in Furore (beige shimmer) and Static (white with pink and violet flecks).

Sheer Lipgloss ($20): This Divine (hot pink) shade is surprisingly sheer YET pigmented.

Bronzer Duo ($30): The luminous bronzer comes in a sleek compact and can be used on face and body for a subtle glow. It comes in Glint/Burnish (soft luminous peach/ golden bronze).

The Body Electrics collection is on www.illamasqua.com only , April 9th and hits select U.S. Sephora stores and Sephora.com in May.

*Note that the Gleam Cream and 4 Color Liquid Metal Palette and Powdered Metal are limited edition.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Tigi Catwalk Your Highness Volume Line



Tigi ( the makers of the very famous Bed Head line) introduces Your Highness for super volume.

The line is a full one, with Shampoo, Conditioner, Thickening Gel Creme, Root Boost Spray Mousse, Weightless Shine Spray and Firm Hold Hairspray.

Now as you may have read here before, The Mom is forever in search of fullness, volume and lift for her platinum blonde fine, limp hair . If you ever need volume tips, she's your woman.

So she was happy to try something new and maybe even better than her stand -bys. She has the Root Boost Spray Mousse and Firm Hold Hairspray. The Root Boost especially is winning major raves. She has been using Big Sexy Hair Root Pump for about a year now. She doesn't love it but it's the best she's used thus far. Your Highness has done it way better. She loves that this conditions her hair while also giving major oomph . It didn't help that the Big Sexy brand left her scalp flaky and oily. Your Highness Root Boost does none of that thankfully. Hair is soft but also full. The Mom goes through a lot of products and if it gets her seal of approval, it has to be good.

The Firm Hold Hairspray is doing a great job as well . This is extra hold and held up in the hot days we had earlier this week. It doesn't weigh hair down and kept it in place for the day.

You can visit http://www.tigihaircare.com/ for much more information,including a Catwalk micro-site, a full product roster and a salon locator.


Your Highness Root Boost Spray Mousse is $ 14.95
Your Highness Firm Hold Hairspray is $ 20.95

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Urban Decay Friends & Family Sale

Urban Decay rolled out their friends and family sale yesterday. Save 30 % on all items including the brand new summer releases. There are so many great summer picks- Makeup Setting Sprays, De- Slick in a tube, Eldorado in a full size 24/7 . Besides those, two more top picks of mine are:




Summer of Love Palette- 4 shadows, a mini liner and a mini primer potion. ( $29.00 before discount)

Pocket Rocket in Max- a light peach/nude, no shimmer gloss that just says summer . ($ 19.00 before discount)

Sale runs through Apr. 16th. Use code 1SFNF at http://www.urbandecay.com/