Getting Nailed Challenge:

My polish for the week is Zoya's Vivi. It is a bright fuchsia with a purple sheen. Very similar to OPI's Pompeii Purple but with more spark and flash.
This polish has a great glossy shine and impressive staying power.

What is your polish today?
Let us know in the comments.

Credits: Blogdorf Goodman

Boots Hand Therapy
From Boots : Care for your hands and nails with this light, intensive hand cream that instantly soothes and relieves dry skin. Bilberry extract improves skin microcirculation for brighter skin while equisetum extract and SPF10 help protect against visible skin ageing. Your hands will look and feel softer and more youthful.

It is a feathery light formula that leaves no greasy film on your hands. It manages to moisturize in the most non-intrusive way. It is an ideal lotion to keep in your work desk.
It keeps your hands soft without any hassle. I did not slip or slide on my computer keyboard. Greasy keyboards are common when using standard lotions at work. You almost have to wait for it to dry before you touch any surfaces or type.
Boots Daily Therapy lotion is ready to go after application.

This lotion also has a subtle scent that does not interfere with your perfumes. It smells like bran or oats with a green note thrown in. It is oddly comforting.

This is available at Target
http://www.target.com/gp/homepage.html


Read about bilberries at:

http://www.stevenfoster.com/education/monograph/bilberry.html
and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilberry
Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Boots.

Vanessa Paradis

"We’ve been together now for 3 years and I feel as though I’ve met the one who you think about as a child, searching the world over and finding the one, the right one. I feel very blessed to have her. She’s incredibly understanding. I mean, she has dealt with me for 3 years, which is no easy task, I imagine. I feel like I’ve been given my destiny."-Johnny Depp

My favorite Chanel commercial

White Stripes Tour News

I have been combing through the Internet looking for information on tour dates and the release date of the new album Icky Thumb. I stumbled across a photo of their new look and tour dates at Harpmagazine.com

I prefer Meg's Loretta Lynn phase but I could get use to the hat.

09/04/07 Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom

09/05/07 Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom

09/06/07 Lincoln, NE @ Pershing Center Auditorium

09/07/07 Fargo, ND @ Fargo Civic Auditorium

09/08/07 Rapid City, SD @ Rushmore Plaza Civic Center

09/10/07 Jackson Hole, WY @ Snowking Center

09/11/07 Boise, ID @ Idaho Center Theatre

09/12/07 Salt Lake City, UT @ The "E" Center

09/13/07 Albuquerque, NM @ Kiva Auditorium

09/15-16/07 Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits

09/19/07 Inglewood, CA @ The Forum

09/21/07 Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre

09/24/07 Anchorage, AK @ William A. Egan Civic Center

09/26/07 Seattle, WA @ Paramount Ballroom

09/27/07 Seattle, WA @ Paramount Ballroom


Enjoy one of my favorite Simpsons moments that involve The White Stripes!
Photo Credit: Autumn DeWilde and Youtube

Deco Girl Necklace

Handcrafted Heirloom pendant from Tartx.

This retails for $38.99

The site has an incredible selection from Jane Austen to Madame de Pompadour.

Visit the site at: http://www.tartx.com/

Credits: Tartx via Modish

Liquid Eyeliner from Boots

I have not worn liquid eyeliner since high school. I was a little worried that my hand would not cooperate and that I would have a huge fiasco on my eye lid.

It was like riding a bike.

My hand was steady and I managed to get a razor straight line with no fuss or mess. This liner has an ultra thin brush for accurate application. It dries fast and is smudge free. The black color is an inky blue black that seems straight out of a Shu Uemura lab.

Boots Liquid Liner is available at Target for $9.99.
http://www.target.com/gp/homepage.html
http://bootsus.bri-global.com/

Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Boots.

MACnificent Prom

On Saturday, May 12th, McDonough #35 Senior Class of 2007 in New Orleans received the makeover of the year, with the help of M.A.C Cosmetics.

M.A.C Cosmetics brought the colorful spirit of prom to a high school and community that has been hardened by the challenges and hardships from Hurricane Katrina. McDonough #35 Senior High School, founded in 1917 as the first public African-American high school in New Orleans, serves as a College Preparatory High School for the New Orleans Public School District.

M.A.C Cosmetics, the leading cosmetics company known as much for their philanthropic efforts as they are for their comprehensive and cutting-edge color collections, is giving back to the community by helping build the social and emotional spirit of this devastated community on one very memorable day: senior prom.

M.A.C Cosmetics rallied 25 of their top makeup artists from around the U.S. to head to New Orleans to provide free makeovers to all seniors attending the McDonough #35 Senior High School Prom on Saturday, May 12th.
M.A.C literally turned the gym at McDonough #35 into a beauty boudoir to help students beautify for prom with pre-booked appointments throughout the day.
Not only did students get free makeovers; they also received goodie bags of M.A.C product from its’ 2007 prom collection, Balloonacy.
McDonough #35 Senior High School is the first school to be selected in M.A.C’s new annual prom program, where every year on prom night, M.A.C will make over the student body of a high school that overcame obstacles.

Credit: MAC

Lippmann Collection Fever

By Melanie Parker

Sun lights up the day time
Moon lights up the night
I light up when you call my name
And you know i'm gonna treat you right.
You give me fever...


Taking advantage of the Victoria's Secret Semi-Annual Sale, I stocked up on Lippmann Collection polishes. They were less than half price--only $6.99 a bottle, so I chose five. The swatches online vary greatly from the true colors, so I thought I would share the ones I have used so far so you can see swatches on the nail in comparison to a bottle picture.

I ordered Satin Doll, which I had long admired for its shimmery, neutral goodness, but abstained from because it was made for Mariah Carey. Once you get passed this by throwing out the box with the holographic butterfly and Mariah's name on it, there is no evidence of the association with her on the actual bottle. It's a light peach shimmer on the nail and reminds me of Chanel Cashmere nail lacquer.

I also ordered Just Walk Away Renee, which is inspired by Renee Zellweger. For some reason, this association doesn't bother me nearly as much. This one does say her name on the bottom of the bottle. It's a hot vampy blackened red color. There are others like it that apply just as well, such as OPI Kangarooby and IsaDora Midnight Red. It's not unique, but it's a great color for tips or toes.

And the last of my new stash that I have swatched is Fever. This was an unexpected surprise. I thought it looked like burnished rose color on the Web site swatch, so when I saw it was a tomato red with orange shimmer, I was a bit surprised. It is truly unique, and the sleeper hit of my order! I think this is a great pedicure color for summer. It looks like a shimmer in the bottle, but dries a dark orangish red creme. It would look great with some coral jewelry and gold strappy sandals.

I haven't tried Girl Talk and Secret Love yet. They both look like they might be sheer, and are a little too similar. I feel like I wasted a pick getting both of them. But Secret Love has a warmer tone to it than Girl Talk, so I am sure they will look different when they are swatched on a nail.

Disclosure: This product was purchased by the reviewer, Melanie Parker.

Boots Primer

Say goodbye to rosy cheeks with this sea green coloured cream which counteracts redness in the skin. It won't clog your pores and contains horse chestnut extract to care for your skin.

I have been using this primer for an entire week. I am fairly loyal to Smashbox Primer due to it's consistent results with my face. I would consider it "Holy Grail" material. Boots Colour Calming Primer has made me rethink my position. I think there might be room for two "Holy Grails." Colour Calming eliminates redness and helps keep my makeup fresh and intact.

I was nervous with the first application since it literally turned my face into a ghostly green color. It was subtle but I saw the green tinge. The tint went away once I applied my foundation. This primer actually enabled me to use less of the La Mer foundation since I did not have to pay extra attention to problem areas.

It delivers on neutralizing the redness along with providing no skin flare-ups. It did not break me out or irritate my skin in any way. It contains "cones" so this worked well with keeping my makeup intact throughout the day.

I am hooked.

Boots Primer is available at your local Target store.

http://bootsus.bri-global.com/default.asp

Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Boots.

Kirstin Dunst and Marianne Faithfull.

I spotted this Kirstin Drunkst photograph months ago in W magazine. It made me think of this great photograph of Miss Faithfull.

Today I was looking around Youtube and spotted this video of Marianne singing As Tears Go By.

Thought I would share!

Have a wonderful Monday!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVSJt5r5n6U

Pretty Frocks

Matthew Williamson $2900

Chloe's Chiffon Plisse $5,065

Anna Sui Pleated Dress $359

Playing around on Net-A-Porter

http://www.net-a-porter.com/am/Home.ice

Questions to Blogdorf

Sarah asks:

I was wondering if you could recommend a blush, I have liked Nars cheek stain in the past but they no longer make it, and Cover Girl in classic pink. I have blond hair, green eyes, and a cool complexion. I hear raves about Nars Orgasm but it is described as a "peachy pink" and I am afraid it will not look good with a cool complexion...Any suggestions would be sooo appreciated, I'm sure you get lots of emails like this so thanks for taking the time to read this!

Please post your suggestions in the comments!

Boots Line Smoother

Glimmer Necklace from The Foundling

Glimmer: a faint shining; twinkle, shimmer or flicker

You know how I love shimmer!

The necklace retails for $40 and is available at

http://www.thefoundling.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_18_20&products_id=48

Credits: The Foundling via Modish

http://www.modish.typepad.com/

Boots Restore and Renew Beauty Serum

Waiting Lists

Boot's No7 Protect & Perfect Beauty Serum flew off the shelves following a programme screened on the BBC called ‘Horizon’. Today there are waiting lists for this miracle serum. Waiting lists are the wave of the future. They are both annoying and enticing.

Boots describes the cream as a 'skin-firming and complexion-brightening serum'. The ingredients include peptides, which have been shown to increase the levels of supporting collagen in the skin, and white lupin extract. This is claimed to reduce the breakdown of collagen by enzymes known as matrix metalloproteinases. I love Peptides! Estee Lauder's CP Perfectionist is chock full of Peptides and works wonders.

Boots No7 Renew & Restore is sold at Target nationwide for $19.99.

Anyone try this yet?

Credits: Boots

Versace

Exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue. The floral, vibrant and sensual bouquet delicately emphasized by a gentle marriage of jasmine and azalea. The fragrance is finally enveloped by the silky softness of a veil of musk, wrapped by the preciousness of warm and delicate kashmir wood and Moroccan cedar wood. (Saks)

The drydown is warm and toasty but the opening moments are sharp and unappealing.
I am not a fan at all.

However I have fallen hard for the original Versace scent. That juice is heavenly.
I was able to catch a whiff of it courtesy of Cavewoman. She has a collection of discontinued scents that would make a grown perfumista weep.
Donatella really needs to resurrect that jewel.
It would be a massive hit in today's market.

Credits: Blogdorf Goodman

Chanel Resort 2008

“A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.” (Chanel)

It was a strange mixture of St. John's Knits and Lindsey Lohan.

Seriously....there was some hardcore matronly knits on that runway.

The accessories were the standouts. The cuffs are covet worthy.

Credits: Fashionspot

Getting Nailed

Rimmel's Underground Play Fast Quick Dry Nail Polish

Dramaqueenie2 reported on all things Rimmel Underground in March. She started many lemmings that remained unfulfilled due to the lack of Underground products in Ohio.

Patti and I searched high and low for this new line.

We grew frustrated.

We gave up.

Last weekend we stumbled across a huge display at our local Target. We stood around bitching how we never did find the collection as we fussed over these polishes. The minute I picked up Killer Queen I knew that we finally found what we were looking for.

Plus I noticed the huge Underground sign and display.

The collection was worth the wait.

I caved on the nail polishes.

#110 Punch is a metallic fushcia
#410 Killer Queen is a merlot color with red shimmer
#430 Hard Edged is a vampy black red with subtle plum shimmer. This polish puts all the vamp shades to shame.
#400 Night Light is a putty gray
#320 Cat Fight is a sheer silver with multi colored shimmer

Read and see DQ2's original review and great photos:

http://blogdorfgoodman.blogspot.com/2007/03/rimmel-underground-is-out-rimmels-new.html

Available at Target and Ulta.
http://www.ulta.com/control/main

Credits: Blogdorf Goodman

Interview with Frederic Malle on Musc Ravageur oil

From an interview with Amy Larocca in New York Magazine.

What’s the philosophy behind this oil? It’s freedom oil! You can put it all over. It’s a technology for maximum sexy pleasure.

Oh. [To our assistant: “Could you go get a pack of handiwipes at Duane Reade? Hurry!”] And why turn this scent into a body oil?I first tested the fragrance on my assistant Mylene. That evening, a crazy guy chased her home on the métro. It is a musk that destroys everything in its passage.

And how has it been received on these shores? When I had my launch party in New York, this big guy said, “Mr. Malle, you have changed my life!” You see, it is not a fragrance that the large houses can do. It is too naughty.

Available at Barneys for $110.00

Visit: http://www.barneys.com/b/index.s

I love the gadgetry of Rimmel's Light Beam After Dark Lip Gloss. The cool factor with this gloss is the built in light. It is part night light and part lippie.
I purchased #810 in Strobe Light.
It is a clear gloss with not enough shimmer for my taste. It makes up for the lack of glitter with shine, texture (feels satin-like not tacky or sticky), scent(berries) and taste(bubblegum). One side of the gloss has a handy mirror perfect for quick touch ups. I am not a fan of sponge applicators(prefer brushes) and was disappointed that it took several applications to see a result. I want my sparkle fast and intense!

Still I would encourage caving on this product. It is much too fun to pass up!
It is available at your local Target store.

Disclosure: I purchased this Rimmel lipgloss at my local Target store.

FlowerBomb: Glamour with Rage!

I found this interview while wasting some time on the web. This snippet is about Viktor & Rolf's perfume Flowerbomb.

KATJA: You launched your new perfume, Flowerbomb, in the U.S. this spring. Back in 1996 you staged a fake perfume launch. You designed a bottle that wouldn't open, accompanied by an ad campaign, shot by the fashion photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. It was a statement that fashion branding is more concerned with packaging than content.
VIKTOR: We were being ironic when we launched our fake perfume, but it also revealed our desire and ambition to actually branch into cosmetics. It was a projection of what we wanted for the future. Our first product is an Eau de Parfum, but soon we'll expand into body and skincare. We're currently working on a men's cologne. There are a lot of possibilities.

KATJA: Is making perfume a very different creative process from designing clothes?
ROLF: Yes. First we had to learn how to smell! So we went to Paris, where perfume was born. We were drawn to the big classics that had lots of flowers, but we wanted to make something modern.
VIKTOR: We feel that fashion is about creating an aura, and that goes beyond mere clothes. Perfumes are just licensed products for many designers. It's not like that for us. It's not separate from our fashion. It comes from the same mind and the same soul.

KATJA: How did you decide to name this first perfume Flowerbomb?
ROLF: We didn't want to focus on one flower — we thought it should be an explosion of scents. Viktor said, "It should be like a flower bomb," and we knew we had a name.
We wanted it to be romantic, but volatile. We wanted glamor, but with rage. We enjoy playing with opposites.

Talk amongst yourselves...

I will give you a topic....

Flowerbomb is neither a flower nor the bomb....

Discuss....

Actually there are flower notes in Flowerbomb. You just can not detect them for every long. The floral notes are Jasmine Sambac, Osmanthus, Rose, Freesia and Orchids. On my skin their appearance is quick and brief. The drydown is a rich Patchouli, pure Vanilla Absolute(not gourmand-ish but earthy and slightly dirty) and Benzoin. The patch is the dominant note mixed in with a slightly powdery drydown. I prefer it to Angel but it pales in comparison to Prada's fragrance.

Visit: http://www.viktor-rolf.com/index2.html and their weblog

http://viktoretrolf.typepad.com/viktor_rolf/ for more scoop and information.

Interview by KATJA RAHLWES/Index Magazine 2005

A Prize Package from Lippmann!

Last week I actually won a contest. This was a massive event in my life considering I am terribly unlucky. I have never won a thing in my life. No spelling bee championships. No Lucky magazine contests. No powerball jackpots.

Lippmann contacted me and stated that I was chosen randomly for their monthly give-away. I was so excited that you would have thought I won a car on the Price is Right. I was clapping and squealing like a school girl.

My winning package arrived and it included:

My Old Flame and I Dreamed You nail polishes, Rehydrating Base Coat and samples of The Stripper to Go and Rich Girl cuticle cream.

Visit and sign up for the Lippmann site.

Register in the Ask Deborah section.

If I can win...then everyone truly has a shot!

http://lippmanncollection.com/07/LC007_index.html

MAC's Moonbathe Collection due at counters June 11th 2007:





Lash
Sunsational Lashes Red metallic colour

I know that I do not have many occasions to wear fuchsia lashes...but the inner drag queen in me wants to have these. I can always wear them around my house in my tiara.

Lipstick

Sunmetal Warm bronze with silver pearl

Honey Moon Warm pink bronze with gold pearl

Solar Plum Berry with red and gold pearl (This sounds like a possible winner!)

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 (I can not wait to see this!)

Small Eyeshadow

Cosmic Warm yellow gold with gold pearl

Saturnal Deep olive with gold pearl (Could this satisfy my Erika F lemming?)

Firespot Intense orange with gold pearl

Cranberry Reddish plum with pink shimmer

Claire de Lune Soft cream with pink pearl

Glimmershimmer

Astral Rays Sheer gold with white pearl

Ritzy Peachy bronze with gold pearl

Pro Lash

Coal Black® Black

Sheertone Shimmer Blush

Afterdusk Sheer neutral pink with gold pearl

Other Wordly Warm yellow gold with gold pearl


Nail Lacquer

Fireball Intense tangerine with gold and orange pearl

(Perfect shade for summer toes!)

Golded® Soft peach with gold lay down

What are you lemming from this collection?

Credits: MAC and Gustav Klimt

The Jerry Effect

Supermodel Erin O'Connor: ''If I'm ever feeling low, red lipstick is the best pick-me-up ever. It makes you feel on top of the world." (British Vogue)

There is a great article by Poppy King in June's Vogue. Ms King is the creator of the Lipstick Queen line available at Barneys.

Poppy was inspired by the great Jerry Hall in the pages of Vogue circa 1977. She fell in love with Jerry's Texan brash beauty.

" I learned that lipstick was a means of doing this, a tool of instant transfiguring power that could make me feel like Jerry Hall even if I could never look like her. True, I had blonde hair, but it was the bushy rather than flowing kind. I had legs, but not the type that can "make a grown man cry", as her boyfriend sang. Mine managed only to raise me to an unlofty five foot three. But what I did have was lips, and as long as I had lips I , too, could paint them red; and as long as I had red lips I , too, could enter a world of glamour."

Years later Poppy spots her muse and inspiration at Fred Segals in Santa Monica.

" Excuse me, Jerry Hall?"

"Yes?" she said with a lovely smile.

" I just wanted to give you this red lipstick that I made, because you inspired it."

"Thank You," she said, and I walked away, not wanting to bother her further.

After all, it was I who should be thanking her...those were the lips that changed my life.

I think this is one of the best beauty pieces I have read in years.

Please Vogue...give us more.

Credits: Photo by Blogdorf Goodman and Quotes from June's Vogue Paint it Red by Poppy King

Guerlain's Aqua Allegoria Angelique-Lilas

This is a limited edition fragrance currently sold at your local Sephora. It is a charming floral that has the most delicate lilac note with a dash of celery.

Lilacs have always been one of my favorite flowers. They seem to herald the arrival of spring.

The staying power of the fragrance is short but sweet. This needs to be reapplied throughout the day. I know I throw the word "pretty" around often but this one clearly deserves to be described as a bottle chock full of pretty.

It oozes pretty.

It is all about pretty.

Pretty, pretty and pretty.

The notes are: Pink Peppercorns, Jasmine, Seville Orange, Angelica, Lilac, Ylang-Ylang, Cedar, Heliotrope.

Credits: The Time of the Lilacs by Sophie Gengembre Anderson and Sephora

Hamadi Review:

Linda Evangelista, supermodel: ''The one product I can't live without is Hamadi. Whatever I have done to my hair over the years, this is the one thing I can rely on to let it grow back shiny, long and strong. I wouldn't have played around with my hair so much if I didn't trust it. It's full of essential oils and completely organic. I love it.' (British Vogue)

I love the Shea Hair Mask, Shea Spray and Shea Leave in Conditioner. They smell fabulous and manage to tame my frizz prone hair. There is no heavy buildup so there is wonderful shine and volume. The entire product range is created with 100% organic essential oils and plant extracts.

Shea Hair Mask is a rich moisturizing treatment with vanilla and ylang ylang essential oils. This has helped my hair regain its zip after a rough winter. I swear my hair laps this up like it has not had a drink in years.

Shea Spray helps with the daily frizzies and fly aways. I use it before blow drying and this ensures that those pesky short hairs lay flat. I hate those wisps of hair that will not behave.

This spray has Clary Sage, Rosewood and Ylang Ylang essential oils along with shea butter, avocado and kelp.

I generally hate leave in conditioners. I think they are heavy and often dull the hair. The Shea Leave in Conditioner can be used as a styling cream or a daily conditioner. I use it as a treatment for 30 minutes. It is not sticky or nor does it leave a mess. The hair is feels thicker and vavoomish. It contains Verbena, Lavender, Lemongrass and Ylang Ylang.

Visit http://www.hamadibeauty.com/main.html for more information on ingredients and products.

The line is available at Beauty.com and Beautyhabit.com

Credits: Fashionspot and Blogdorf Goodman, Quote from British Vogue and information from Hamadibeauty.com