2007 Favorite Things

I think I am going to miss 2007.
My highs were beyond fabulous. My lows were traumatic but a learning experience. In the end 2007 was interesting, memorable and mindblowingly wonderful. The same could be said about my beauty discoveries. I stumbled across some holy grail products along with some clunkers. I learned more about my skin and what works for it. I realized that you could fall in love with a fragrance all over again. I learned that there are many variations of nude lipsticks. I discovered that not all masks can be uncomfortable. I fell in love with a navy blue nail polish after a solid year of wearing black and vamp shades. Here is my humble list in some kind of order of importance. My #1 pick this year is not a fragrance or a shimmer powder.

1. Zoya's Indigo

No one did a navy polish better than Zoya. This was a true midnight blue with dashes of multi colored shimmer. The color was deep and saturated. It was a great alternative to the black trend. In fact my boss even sported navy nails. She chose Zoya over OPI. She just felt this was a more professional fit. Zoya polish also survives very well on fiberglass nails. I have no issues such as chips, bubbles or cracks when I wear Zoya. I chose this as my #1 pick because the navy nails trend was huge among my small band of friends. We discussed the merits of all the navy shades from Sally Hansen to Nars. We hunted down rare shades and always brought the bottles to show off during lunch. I have photographed polish bottles in the parking lot of a local chinese restaurant to the streets of NYC.
Zoya's Indigo was the best out of all the navy shades I tried. It was a deep midnight blue with twinkling stars captured in the bottle.


2.Face Time Velvet Veil Primer

The primer that rocked my loyalty to Smashbox. This is a silicon based primer that managed to keep my makeup fresh and intact after going to sleep with it still on. This was not just any sleep. This was a restless flu sleep with night chills and sweats. I woke with my makeup in all its glory. My blush was still vibrant. My shimmer powder still sparkling and glittering. It was a feat that no primer had ever been able to do.

3. Eve Lom Rescue Mask

This is a mask that manages to not tighten your face to the point of physical pain. It is gentle and refreshing. You can eat, talk and show facial expressions while wearing this. It rinses off with ease. The results are wonderful. It really helps with lackluster skin in a gentle way.


4. Lancome's PS Kiss Lipstick

I loved how it performed on all different skin tones and colorings. It looked amazing on each and every wearer. It looked slightly intense in the tube but was surprisingly buildable. I applied it with my finger and topped it off with a lip balm. This was suggested to me by both the Beauty Addict and Miss Twizler.


5. Putain Palaces by Etat Libre d'Orange aka Hotel Slut

I am on my second bottle. I discovered this at NYC Henri Bendels. The names of the fragrances are naughty and foul but the actual juice is impressive. Who would have thought to mix Jasmine with Cigarettes or Bubblegum with Incense? Think Christopher Brosius ...but with his mind in the gutter.


6. Poppy King's Oxymoron in Honest Politician

It applies like a standard lip gloss but gives a matte finish. It does not dry or leave any mess on the lips. The shade, Honest Politician, is a great cross between Nars Foul Play with MAC's Spice Lip liner. It is a cool blue based nude that works well with a smokey eye.

7. Bond 9's Bryant Park

Just all kinds of pretty. Notes are lily of valley,rhubarb,pink pepper,rose, patchouli,raspberry,and amber. I did not think I would succumb to this Bond because I am not much of a lily of the valley fan. But to quote the Godfather, Bond made me an offer I could not refuse. That offer was a great combination of rose and patchouli.

8,9 and 10. Chanel's Poudre Universelle Libre in Merveille (shimmer powder),
the Exclusifs, and the relaunch of Coco Mademoiselle

2007 was all about Chanel for me. They are responsible for my favorite shimmer powder, all my high end fragrance lemmings and my great love for Paris.
The shimmer powder manages to straddle the line of shimmer magnificence and subtlety. It adds more than a touch of shimmer but manages to not go into drag queen territory.
The Exclusifs are fragrances that were created by Jacques Polge. They are works of art.
The six scents are Coromandel (dry amber-ish oriental), 28 La Pausa (iris), Bel Respiro (green leaves and stems), No. 18 (Ambrette seed), 31, rue Cambron (an experimental chypre that omits the classic oakmoss note), and Eau de Cologne. They are currently available at Bergdorf Goodman. My first perfume crush was No.18 but lately my heart patters for 31, rue Cambron. I have to be quite frank but there is no clunker in the bunch. Each scent is a masterpiece and worthy of hoarding.


2007 is the year that I went to Paris for the relaunch of Coco Mademoiselle. It was magical and unforgettable. As a child I dressed up as Chanel for my 4th grade history day project. I read all her biographies and created a speech that included a very colorful paragraph concerning her choice of lovers. My teacher pulled the plug before the speech concluded and promptly called my parents. My mother was 100% supportive and was proud that I did not go as Florence Nightingale and Betsy Ross. I am sure she never dreamed that one day I would stand in Chanel's living room. I know that I never dreamed that big.
During the trip I fell in love again with Coco Mademoiselle. I wore this fragrance during my first years at my current job.
Now it smells like Paris to me.
It is an incredible memory and the perfect fragrance to capture it.



11. Bobbi Brown's Stonewashed Palette

I never believed that Bobbi Brown could top her Chocolate Palette. I was wrong. I loved the cool taupes and rich browns.

12. Smudge Brush

How the hell did I survive this long without this brush?
My smokey eye game has improved dramatically. I can not boast that I am professional but I can manage to fake it now.

13. Parfums de Nicolai's Sacrableu

This is a fragrance created by the granddaughter of Pierre Guerlain. It is exquisite yet modern.
Griff brilliantly stated that this is "like a Guerlain without dust".

14.Guerlains Poudre Sublimatrice "Forever Gold" Dust

I spent $85 on glitter.
But it is the best damn glitter I have ever seen.
Microscopic shimmer with the power of a million fireflies.

15. MAC Our Ladyship and Sweet Sienna pigments

I have a respectable collection of MAC pigments. Nothing to wow my friends at Specktra but enough to be able to say that these two pigments really belong in the MAC Pigment Hall of Fame...if a Hall of Fame existed.
Our ladyship is a pigment I use often for eye washes along with sprinkling it in my loose powders. It has a twinkling pixie-like shimmer that is a pale pink gold. This is a pigment that I will mourn when I use it up.
Sweet Sienna is a dirty taupe/pewter color that flashes green and gold. A must for the smokey eye fans. I will be bold and say that this is my all time favorite pigment.
It is a masterpiece.


16. MAC Family Silver Mineralize Eyeshadow

Everyone I know from beauty bloggers to MUA members owns this eyeshadow. It is a dirty light silver with flashes of copper.


17. Estee Lauder Private Collection Gardenia

I loved the tuberose note in this fragrance. Tuberose and I have never been friends. Fracas scares the bejesus out of me. The most intimating and powerful women in my life wear tuberose. One of my bosses wears Michael Kors and the minute we whiff the sillage....our hearts race and our minds scramble.
It smells like fear.
Estee Lauder has managed to tame the wild beast of tuberose. They have managed to make it dainty and blissfully feminine.

18. La Mer The Lip Balm

I live in a climate that it can be 60 degrees in the morning and by mid-afternoon it can be an Arctic low 20's.
Ohio can inflict stress to your skin,hair,mind,body and soul.
My lips suffer greatly during the winter. I tested the La Mer lip balm and saw immediate results. My lips settled down and gave me no grief with just one application. It also feels like silk and smells great. I know that people weill mutter under their breath about the price and discuss the merits of chapstick but I am going to be bold and say that this worth the coin.



19. Caron Powder Puff

Just a piece of pretty that makes putting powder on a more elegant experience.


20. Chanel Rose Blossom Pressed Powder

A shimmery pink pressed powder compact that has managed to control my life. It is never out of my purse or makeup bag. When Delta recently lost my luggage, my first thought was on this powder. Tears actually rushed to my eyes. Call me a dramaqueen but the thought of that powder in a Delta warehouse made me crazy.
What makes it worth tears and panic?
The pink shimmery goodness can not be matched.

21. Space NK Energizing shower gel

I have finished two tubes very quickly. So quickly that I know I have to slow down or beg the powers that be for an economy super size. I think a vat will do me just fine. The notes are sweet orange,grapefruit,bay,bergamot,geranium,patchouli and rosewood oils. I can promise you that once you showered with this...you will be hooked. It helps soothe your soul after a stressful and hectic day.
I jokingly refer to this as "Shower Valium".



22. Chanel's Brilliant Lumiere Fluorescent Glossimer in Mango
I wish I had stockpiled this gloss. I literally emptied the tube clean. I contemplated sawing the rest of the tube open to get the remaining gloss. You know a gloss is great when you are thinking of trying to operate a power tool. It literally was a spotlight on your lips.

Please visit these fellow bloggers and check out their picks for the best beauty products of 2007. You will discover shared favorites and potential new lemmings.
I want to thank everyone for participating and being so patient with me this year. Special thanks goes out to my dear friend Melanie Parker who created the adorable graphic and who managed to fix the final link list. She really saved the day!

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic

Afrobella

All About The Pretty

All Lacquered Up

Beauty 411

Beauty Blogging Junkie

Beauty Talk

Beautiful Makeup Search

Beauty Hatchery

Beauty Jones

Blogdorf Goodman

Canadian Beauty

C'est Chic

Coquette

eBeautyDaily

For The Love of Beauty

Give Me Your Eyes I Need Sunshine

Getting Amped

Grayburn

HauteMommaStuff

Koneko's Beauty Diary

Makeup Bag

The Makeup Girl

Miss Whoever You Are

My Life,My Words,My Mind

Legerdenez

Perfumista

Periodic Style

Platinum Blonde Life

Product Girl

Shop Diary

Slap of the Day

Steeping Beauty

The Beauty Alchemist

The Daily Obsession

The Life Of A Ladybug

The Non-Blonde

Urbane Girl

Victoria's Own

We Love Beauty

Credits: Blogdorf Goodman, Notcot, FaceTime, and Melanie Parker.

Straight from the pages of WWD: Union Square by Bond No.9

Andy Warhol Union Square by Bond No. 9 is a floral fragrance with a musk and spicy twist. Created by Stephen Nilsen of Givaudan, Andy Warhol Union Square is composed of top notes of lily of the valley and green stem; middle notes of sweet blue freesia and white birch wood, and bottom notes of amber and silver-cloud musk accords.

It debuts in March at the Bond Boutiques and Saks Fifth Avenue. I have seen the 10 bottles in person and they are lemming worthy. In fact I fell very hard for two of the bottles.

Now I have a few short months to decide which one will come home with me......

Credits: WWD and Cavewoman for the link!

Bobbi Brown's Pink Raspberry Face Palette for Spring

I am smitten with this cool toned palette. The shades are flattering and actually useful. I have been wearing the gorgeous Pink Raspberry Blush(gives a lovely china doll flush to the cheeks) and Fog eyeshadow exclusively. The Navajo shadow is one of the most useful washes. It has no trace of gold or any kind of spark or shimmer. The lip colors are perfect rosebud shades.

All the shades are only available in this limited edition palette. It is priced at $55.

Palette Includes: Navajo and Fog Eye Shadows; Pink Raspberry Blush; and Raspberry and Blue Raspberry Lip Sheers.

Credit: Blogdorf Goodman
Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Bobbi Brown Cosmetics

Recap on January's Allure

Page 48
I might need to covet the fabulous palette from Kevyn Aucoin. It is called The Essential Eye Shadow Set in Palette #6
It contains shades of celadon, mint, plum and black. It brings to mind the amazing Nars Habanera duo.

Elizabeth Arden's Prevage Anti-aging Night Cream. My mother is currently addicted to anything with Prevage on the label.

Page 52
I love the look of Boots High Shine Gloss in Lust(available at Target) and Maybelline New York shine seduction Glossy in Beaming Berry.

Page 56
Christine Davis recommends white eyeshadow for a "crisp" look. She suggests Nars Night Snow and Vincent Longo's Wet Diamond in Sparkle White. She also extols the virtues of Benefit Miss Popularity Precision Highlighter.

Page 127
I am going nuts for the new Calvin Klein makeup line.

I will be honest...I blew it off until this article. The colors are rich and saturated.
The Fusion lipstick is this outrageous fuchsia that straddles on the line of red. It literally stopped me in my tracks and nothing does that anymore.
Tempting Glance eyeshadow in Wedgewood is like a navy version of Lancome's Erika F.
Tempting Glance eyeshadow in Lavender haze is a plum with a dose of gray.
Tempting Glance eyeshadow in Midnight Blue reminds me of Zoya's Indigo.

The line debuts in January at Sephora.

Credits: Allure

L.U.C.I by Gucci Westman

Gucci Westman, the celebrated makeup artist and Lancôme’s artistic director, was captivated by the beauty of sand, the iridescence of shells and the play of light on water at different beaches around the world and turned to the labs to bring her inspiration to reality. Gucci test-drove some of her new creations at Peter Som’s Spring 2008 show. “I wanted the models’ makeup to look easy and sexy,” says Gucci. “I gave the eyes a bit of a pop with Ombre Glacée for a sultry effect.”

L.U.C.I Eyes – Light Color in Motion Eye Shadow Duo

A stunning shell-shaped eye shadow compact holds two shadows, a beautiful bronze and a photonic shade. Use the photonic shadow over the bronze color to create a unique third shade. Or use the photonic shade on its own to create a luminous look. Available in Ray of Apricot Light. Suggested Retail Price: $45.00

Photonic – Illuminating Powder Brush Face

This glowing, translucent photonic loose powder can be used to sculpt the face or add a sheer veil of radiance. Available in Ray of Apricot Light. Suggested Retail Price: $40.00

Ombre Glacée – Cooling Gel Illuminator Eyes

This creamy, cooling eye shadow can be used alone or blended over another color to highlight and brighten the eye area. Apply the light texture over your eyelid and up to the brow bone or experiment by bringing it from the eye down to the cheekbone to create a beautiful aura that lights up the face. Available in Chameleon, Morning Pearl and Sunrise. Suggested Retail Price: $22.00

Color Fever Gloss – Sensual Vibrant Lipshine

Make a statement and use the photonic gloss as a topcoat over lipstick or one of the two new shades of Color Fever Gloss to transform shades into intense, brilliant colors. Available in Sunray (photonic shade), Seashell and Rainbow. Suggested Retail Price: $23.00

Color Fever Shine – Sensual Sheer Color. Vibrant Shine.
Revamp your lips with two new lipsticks. Use the photonic shade by itself for a reflective lilac effect or place over the deep rasberry shade for a dazzling, luminous result. Available in Luminous (photonic shade) and Desert Pink. Suggested Retail Price: $25.00

Traceur Design –Illuminating Long-Lasting Eyeliner Soft Brush
An eye liner with photonic lilac reflections to line the eyes and make them sparkle. Available in: Ray of Purple Light. Suggested Retail Price: $20.00

Credits: Lancome,Wikipedia and Style.com

Gotta have Lancome's Pixel Pink

According to January's issue of Vogue, there is a waiting list at Bergdorf Goodman for Lancome's Pixel Pink. This is the limited edition lipstick from the Thakoon spring show. This might be the most wearable and most certainly the last lippie from the Gucci Westman/Lancome collaboration. Westman has announced that she is moving on. My uneducated guess is that we will be seeing her launch her own line of cosmetics. She has her finger on the pulse of what beauty junkies need and covet. I am hoping that Lancome continues to work with a makeup artist and develop lippies that make us all bombard the stores with orders and general begging.

As for Pixel Pink...this lippie looks so darn pretty and fresh.

Call Bergdorf Goodman and get on the Pixel Pink train at (212)872-2740.

Credit: Lancome and Vogue and Style.com

butter Me Up!
By Melanie Parker

Billing themselves as "3 Free Nail Lacquer," butter LONDON is relatively new to the world of salon-quality nail color. And despite their name, they are based in Seattle, WA. If you are ever flying through Seattle or Sacramento, you may see a butter LONDON kiosk at the airport. Otherwise, you will want to check out their Web site (www.butterlondon.com). At $12 a bottle, 3 free nail polishes can get a little pricey. But if you are worried about the chemicals you are using in your beauty products, this is a safer alternative.

Since I had never seen the butter polishes in person and clicking on a Web site is so easy, I decided to grab the Fashionista's Favorites Autumn/Winter 2007 pack for $45. This seemed to offer a sampling of the season's best color trends.

Then, I added on the four other colors I was most curious about: Charlie Dickens, Teddy Boy, Thames, and Henley Regatta. Here are my thoughts on these colors:

Fash Pack: Hideous in the bottle--mushroom brown with navy veining. This swatches as a dark mushroom creme . I like it, but it definitely would appeal to those who love earth tones.

Chimney Sweep: The sleeper hit of the order. It's a dark gunmetal gray with mini-prismatic particles. It's like CND Hyde in the Dark with pixie dust!

Eastender: A pale cream sheer.

Mariner: A dark navy crème. It's almost black in the bottle and it is black in the swatch.

Queen Vic: A magenta crème polish. I bought this pack for this color and was disappointed that it is so similar to OPI All That Razz-berry.

Charlie Dickens: A slightly-lighter-than-Queen Vic berry crème. It's lovely, but again reminds me of OPI Chica-go Get a Manicure.

Teddy Boy: A lovely dusty rose neutral crème polish. I think this one is posh and elegant. It is classic, yet I don't have another polish that is like it.

Henley Regatta: A peacock blue glitter polish. I LOVE it!

Thames: A peacock blue shimmer polish. This one is such a disappointment. It was billed as a green, but it is definitely blue. I would normally think it is pretty, but NYX Jungle is prettier and a fraction of the cost.

Henley Regatta and Thames are so similar in hue. However, Henley Regatta is a glitter while Thames is a shimmer. You definitely don't need both of them.

Disclosure: All products reviewed in this post were purchased by the reviewer, Melanie Parker.

Holiday Greetings from Blogdorf Goodman!

I can not stop playing this song!!!



I've been a clean living boy
I promise you
Did every little thing you asked me to
I can't believe the things I'm going through (The Killers)

Prescriptives Custom Blend Foundation

Several weeks ago I was in NYC with Erika from Makeup Bag and Michelle from All Lacquered Up. We paid a visit to the local Prescriptives counter at Bergdorf Goodman. We were there to check out the custom blended tinted moisturizers. The SA's created beauty concoctions that managed to transform the skin into pieces of art. In all seriousness, the blends made the skin look immaculate. Think Nicole Kidman before the botox. I was watching with true envy.
I am a girl that needs extra coverage. Jason Garland,my SA insisted that I am twisted and see imagined flaws but I can not be budged when it comes to foundation.
He insisted that I sit down to have my foundation custom blended.
I reluctantly agreed.
He examined my face kindly and then started to whip up a recipe. It was hard to keep track with what he put in my blend. I saw moisturizers, luminizers and treatments being thrown in along with something the looked like a thick pea soup.
Along the way he stirred the potion and would give it a good "martini worthy" shake. At the end it was an exact match to my skin color. A strange mixture of pale pink with flashes of yellow. On the skin it toned down the redness, counter balanced the yellow tones and covered everything it needed to. It did not settle into any pores or lines. It survived the day with no mishaps.

It did not morph into any orange shade, it did not fade or disappear, and it did not move or slide.

It performed all these feats without a primer.

The price might make most beauty lovers pause. It is $62.
As a La Mer foundation junkie...I considered this a bargain.
I wish I could get a perfect match at my local drugstore.
But no brand has managed to match my skin tone and stay on my face for more than 4 hours.
In the end it pays to spend more on my foundation.
My vanity is not cluttered with foundations that do not work for me.
Instead there is room for perfumes and countless lip glosses.

Not all Prescriptive counters offer custom blending. Call your local counter for details.
The next time you visit Bergdorf Goodman please stop by the Prescriptives counter. The men are damn geniuses and will give you the best makeover of your life. Ask for my guy, Jason Garland or Asif Zaida.

Credits: Blogdorf Goodman
Disclosure: I purchased my custom foundation at Bergdorf Goodman.

Blogdorf Goodman's Drugstore Deals and Steals for December 23rd through the 29th 2007:

Rite Aid

Maybelline: 40% off of cosmetics

Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on all lip color and nail enamel

L'Oreal:Buy 1, get 1 FREE on all face products

Neutrogena: 20% off on all skincare
Buy 1, get 1 50% off on all cosmetics

Almay: Intense i-color cosmetics,eye makeup remover or one coat mascara is priced at$4.99

St Ives: Lotion(18 oz), scrub(6-6.5oz) or cleanser(6-6.5 oz) is $6

Aveeno: 20% off on skincare or bath products

Pantene: Shampoo, conditioner or stylers are $3.99

got2b: Buy 1, get second one 50% off

CVS

L'Oreal: Buy any HIP pigment foundation, eye or lip color and earn $2 CVS extra bucks

Maybelline: Buy 1 Great Lash or Define-A-Lash, get 1 FREE with CVS card
Buy any L'Oreal foundation and get L'Oreal Powder or blush or concealer FREE with CVS card

There was nothing in the Walgreens flyer and Target was missing.
Let us know in the comments if you have spotted any drugstore makeup deals....

Miss Popularity by Benefit

This is a white shimmer highlighter with a wand applicator. This makes application less messy and more precise then using pigments.

It also helps with overuse. I am guilty of going overboard with shimmer products. I like a lot of sparkle for my buck! The first application is just a whisper of the product. Coverage is subtle and buildable.

It retails for $24 and is available at your local Sephora.

Credits: Blogdorf Goodman

It's that time of year again.
Time to reflect on how well 2007 treated you.
Every year I organize a small group of fellow beauty bloggers to list their favorite discoveries of the past year. If you would like to participate please contact me at:
annieytown@yahoo.com

There are no set rules.
We publish the lists on December 29th through January 2nd. The lists can range from 10 to 30 products. It just depends on how much you fell in love with and how much time you have. You are not limited to just featuring brand new products. You can rave about vintage Guerlain fragrances or discontinued OPI nail polishes.
There are no guidelines or rigid rules.
It is all about having fun and celebrating beauty!

Space NK

Space NK was founded by Nicky Kinnaird in April 1993. Her vision "was to achieve a light, open, yet intimate enviornment, serviced by high skilled and unbiased beauty retail experts, and to offer a unique and eclectic mix of both lesser known brands and the best of the familar ranges sourced from around the world". Brands range from Chantecaille to Eve Lom.

Kinnaird helps nuture the creative people behind our favorite brands. She works with Christopher Sheldrake on Space NK fragrances. She was also an early fan and believer in Poppy Kings lippie vision.

Space NK offers the Nars, Laura Mercier, and By Terry makeup lines. They also offer exclusive cult favorites Zelens, Pro-Ferm, Eve Lom(my latest love), Huilles and Baumes, Face Boutique and Joshi Holistic skincare. High end lines Revive, Jurlique and Ren are also offered at the store.
The fragrances sold at Space NK range from the highly popular Marc Jacobs to the Stoned by Solange Azagury. I recently fell under the spell of Diptyque's L'Ombre dans L'Eau. This is a gorgeous blend of blackcurrant leaves with Bulgarian roses.

Visit the store the next time you are in NYC.
It is located on 99 Greene Street in Soho.

http://www.spacenk.com/default.aspx

Credits: Blogdorf Goodman
Disclosure: This NYC trip was made possible by Total Beauty

The Return of Parrot: MAC's Originals hits the counters on December 19th 2007

The MAC Originals Collection will be at the counters tomorrow! That means the legendary MAC Parrot will be at your local counter until it is snatched up by all the hardcore beauty junkies. Patti aka Cavewoman gifted me my beloved Parrot last year. To this day I have no idea what she had to trade to get me this. She might have had to put up her house, a grandchild or reveal her secret spaghetti sauce to one lucky beauty addict.

Was it worth the trouble?

Yep.

Parrot is a worthy legend. All the hype is true. It is a true peacock blue with just the perfect dash of shimmer.

LIPSTICK

Rozz Revival Watermelon reddish pink (lustre)

Chintz on Chintz Sheer mid-tone yellow brown (lustre)

Utter Pervette Soft pastel pink (lustre)

Back to Del Rio Deep brown red (lustre)

Nouveau-Frou Beigey grey pink with white pearl (lustre)

Retrofluid Sheer dirty deep plum with gold and red pearl

Supersequin Plummy pink with silver pearl (lustre)

Twig-Twig Neutral brown plum (lustre)

Sandy B Light shell pink

Russian Red Intense bluish-red

Suggested Retail Price $14.00 U.S./$16.50 CDN

LIPGLASS

Full on Lust Neutral brown pink (cream)

Avarice Mid-tone yellow red with soft red pearl (cream)

Real Desire Deep plum with red plum

Nico Now Mid-tone grey purple with multicoloured pearl (cream)

C-Thru Soft peached-beige with shimmer (cream)

Suggested Retail Price $14.00 U.S./$16.50 CDN

SMALL EYE SHADOW

Daisychain Soft yellow beige with soft white pearl (satin)

Ochre Style Mid-tone yellow brown with gold (frost)

A Little Folie Mid-tone red brown (matte)

Memorabilia Dirty purple (matte)

Clue Mid-tone dirty grey with silver (matte)

Alum Mid-tone blue grey with soft blue pearl (frost)

Charred Deep steelgrey with silver pearl (frost)

Frisco Soft pastel pink (matte)

Parrot Deep aqua blue with bright green and blue pearl (frost)

Suggested Retail Price $14.00 U.S./$16.50 CDN

PIGMENT

Kitschmas Light airy shimmering pink/mauve pearl (frost)

Violet Vivid bright violet-purple (frost)

Melon Soft bright golden peach (frost)

Golden Olive High frosted green gold (frost)

Steel Blue Rich deep turquoise green-blue shone with

small pearl particle (pearl)

Suggested Retail Price $19.50 U.S./$23.50 CDN

GLITTER

Reflects Blackened Red Sparkling burgundy

Reflects Very Pink Sparkling fuchsia pink

Reflects Transparent Teal Sparkling white with turquoise

Reflects Antique Gold Sparkling taupe

Suggested Retail Price $16.50 U.S./$20.00 CDN

EYE PENCIL

Ebony Soft black

Coffee Muted brown

Indigo Muted greenish-blue

Suggested Retail Price $12.50 U.S./$15.00 CDN

MASCARA X

Black Black

Suggested Retail Price $12.50 U.S./$15.00 CDN


Credits: My beloved Parrot
Blogdorf Goodman

Estee Lauder's Art Of Pleasures:
A Limited Edition Artist Bottle and Candle designed by renowned textile designer Kazumi Yoshida.


Japanese-born Kazumi Yoshida of Clarence House(a lux textile house) is the second in a series of artists to design a limited edition bottle for Estee Lauder.
This Pleasures bottle is whimsical and lovely.
The artwork is delicate, feminine and spring-like.
It is a perfect fit for the floral fragrance.

Pleasures is a sheer and airy spring floral with notes of white and black lilies, violet leaves, white poppies, pink roses, karo karounde blossoms, Baie Rose, patchouli and sandalwood.
The breezy fragrance settles into a surprisingly deep and comforting drydown.

The bottle and candle will be available at your local Lauder counters in January 2008.
The suggested retail prices are:
Pleasures Artist Edition 2.5 oz/75 ml bottle $58.
Pleasures Artist Edition 9.5 oz $32.50

Today as the tempature drops in Ohio and a heavy snow fall is predicted in the midwest and NYC, I thought I would give some readers a little taste of spring.
I like to think of it as being just around the corner.
Soon there will be fresh flowers, green grass and hours of warm sunlight.
Until then...just crack open a Pleasures bottle to get in the mood.

Credit: Blogdorf Goodman
Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Estee Lauder

Total Beauty NYC Launch Party: A night of Red Lippies, Champagne and Beauty.

This past week I attended the NYC launch party of Total Beauty. I joined Kristen from Total Beauty, Erika from Makeup Bag and Julia from All About The Pretty for a night of beauty and fun. The party was held at the fabulous Space NK.

I am really smitten with this place. It has the most amazing niche brands and a sales staff that is knowledgeable on all things beauty. This is a true beauty sanctuary.

The Total Beauty party goers were a mixture of bloggers,magazine editors and super cool PR gals. I finally got to meet Amber from Beauty Blogging Junkie, Marina from Makeup Loves Me, Elke from The Beauty Newsletter, Delphine from Steeping Beauty and the dashing and hilarious Ben from We Love Beauty.

It was great to mingle with fellow beauty addicts and meet some of the fabulous editors and writers from my favorite magazines. I quickly adored Genevieve from Allure. She was beyond lovely and a blast to dish beauty with.

Julie, Erika and I showed off the Total Beauty site to the party attendees. The site's goal is to be the ultimate beauty source on the Internet. They have created a useful beauty product library that is constantly growing. As a beauty junkie and a friend to many cool librarians...this is thrilling.
The site also provides reviews, beauty videos and the soon-to-be-famous Beauty Scout. This function will recommend beauty products based on your needs and likes after you complete a series of questions. The recommendations appear in the subtle beauty scout box on the screen. The box is small, non-intrusive with no flashing or annoying pop ups. It is like a little beauty buddy instead of a pesky sales associate. I highly recommend this part of the site. There is a number of questions to answer but the end result is actually worth it. I swear on my Lancome Behnaz lipstick!
Speaking of the beloved Lancome lipstick...both Julia and I wore it to the party.

The night ended with Amber's buddy, Dana, discovering her holy grail red lippie. The mysterious lippie transformed this Jennifer Connelly look-alike into a "Dita Von Teese worthy" bombshell. It was fun to be a part of this moment.
You never forget your first red...
Dana has promised to do a review for Amber's blog, Beauty Blogging Junkie.

You will need to stay tuned at BBJ for the revelation on the lippie's identity.

Credits: Blogdorf Goodman
Disclosure: This NYC trip was made possible by Total Beauty.

Let Me Introduce You To Mr Edward Bess...

This weekend we made a pit stop at Bergdorf Goodman. Griffie, Erika from Makeup Bag and I were strolling the beauty floor when we stumbled across Mr Bess. He was making a personal appearance at the store. Mr Bess is a dashing 21 year old with a great eye for beauty. He has created a quality line that looks spectacular and performs magnificently. The packaging looks like lacquered bento boxes.

Griffie caved on the Midnight Bloom lipstick and Deep Shine Lip Gloss in Bare Rose. Midnight Bloom is a gorgeous red that is scented with wild fig. It contains a heavy dose of vitamin A and E, silicon, ginkgo biloba extract and magical polymers. The lippie was highly emollient, applies like a dream and has great lasting power.

The Bare Rose lipgloss was Griffie's Holy Grail gloss. It lit up her face like no other lippie. She loved the lasting power and was impressed with how pigmented it was. This is the secret weapon in his lip wardrobe.

Mr Bess's cosmetic line is currently exclusive to Bergdorf Goodman. He plans to expand the line with mascara, bronzers and fragrances.

I can not wait to see what he comes up with. His attention to detail and passion for beauty just charmed the socks off of me.
I can not rave enough.

Visit Mr Bess at http://www.edwardbess.com/

and cave on his products at Bergdorf Goodman. Call 1-888-774-2424.

Credits: Blogdorf Goodman

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice...

Indult's Tihota Review

I have been testing a sample for the last few days. Vanilla as a main note is not my cup of tea. I have read that men find it both erotic and innocent. I personally think it smells like cake.

So I decided to bring it to work and ask the experts what they think.

Sandy: She said the scent made her think of holiday baking. She thought the vanilla note was one of the truest representations she had ever smelled.

Thais: She started to sing "Love is a Symphony" and said that it smelled innocent and youthful.

Vince: He thought it smelled very powdery and a cross between Angel and Pink Sugar.

He also stated that it was very sexy.

Vince is a lady's man.

Denise: She said that it initially took her back to her youth. It made her think of cotton candy. Denise also stated that it lacked sensuality and was not terribly sexy.

Darryl: He stated that it was very pleasant and ultra-sweet. However he did not have "the reaction" to it. Darryl stated that this a fragrance that will not drive a man crazy with desire.

Gela: This is the toughest critic to charm. Gela thought the vanilla note was slightly creamy but that the perfumer toned the sweetness with an unknown note.

She gave it a thumbs up.

Tihota is currently available at Luckyscent.

A 50 ml bottle is priced at $225.

http://www.luckyscent.com/

Disclosure: A press sample vial of this product was provided by Luckyscent

Totalbeauty.com launches today!
This future beauty juggernaut was created by Emrah Kovacoglo. The fun and informative site is chock full of product information and reviews, beauty "how to" videos, and links to some of my favorite beauty blogs. The blog featured today is Michelle's All Lacquered Up.

Make sure you check out the Beauty Scout function. This feature promises to give you smart recommendations on anything from hair care to the holy grail foundation.


http://www.totalbeauty.com/debut

Credits: Blogdorf Goodman
Disclosure: This NYC trip was made possible by Total Beauty

Eve Lom Rescue Mask

I have been "jumping at the bit" to test any Eve Lom skincare product. The buzz is that this is the skincare that will change your life.
I do not test many skincare products because my skin is temperamental and prone to sudden outbursts. I treat it like a sleeping giant. I do not wake it up and make it angry.

I decided to test Eve Lom because I believed it was worth the risk. I was desperate for a change and an improvement. I need a rescue from my skin issues.

Last night I tested the Lom Rescue Mask while watching television. This mask was created as a weekly treatment to help with skin flareups and drama.

You have to shake this tube very well. The mask formula is very wet but not clay like. It melts into the skin and is very mild. It does not make the skin tingle or tighten. Some masks will painfully tighten your skin that it makes it impossible to talk, smile or have any expression. This mask is actually comfortable.

You leave the mask on for 15 to 20 minutes. Afterwards you remove it with a damp muslin cloth. The skin is not irritated, blotchy and red. It feels silky smooth and fresh. The results are fairly fabulous and impressive.
I am officially a fan.
Eve Lom rocks!

If you are interested in placing an order visit Space NK
http://www.spacenk.com/default.aspx

Ingredients: kaolin, aqua (water), glycerin, alcohol denat., mel (honey), prunus amygdalus dulcis (almond meal and extract), camphor, magnesium aluminum silicate, sodium chloride, allantoin, aluminum chlorohydrate, propylene glycol, magnesium chloride, methylparaben, phenoxyethanol, butylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, calcium chloride.


Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Space NK

Bright Lights, Big City....

Prada Lighting Fixtures at Nordstorm


Credits: Blogdorf Goodman