40 Days and 40 Nights of Fragrance Notes: Vetiver

Review by Ceil

Oil extracted from the roots of vetiver are used in perfumery often as a fixative in the base of a fragrance. But there are also many vetiver fragrances that feature and celebrate this unique smell. Vetiver is a note that can be earthy, dry, citrus-like, green, woody and astringent. But, besides the quality of the oil, and where and what conditions it is grown in, what vetiver is combined with can very much change the feel and energy of the smell produced. Some of my favorite fragrances are based on vetiver as the feature note. And it seems to be a note that is used quite often in men’s colognes, but there are also unisex and feminine fragrances that are absolutely wonderful. I think that vetiver is especially nice to wear in hot weather, and can be quite refreshing.

One of my favorite vetiver fragrances really personifies the plant. Frederic Malle’s Vetiver Extraordinaire opens with a dry astringent blast of green “in your face” vetiver root. I think of it as the vetiver counterpart to Serge Lutens Iris Silver mist. It is intense, but unusually subtle at the same time. Green and earthy…but fresh and new feeling at the same time, it is an amazing fragrance that has my personal devotion. Apart from this “benchmark” vetiver there are many other blended, toned down, cleaner, woodier, herbier variations on the use of vetiver. I personally love most of these fragrances in their own right. And the exploration of vetier fragrances is a very fun journey that I hope you will take.

Here are some good ones to try:

Guerlain Vetiver: a classic for sure. It is blended with wood, tobacco and spice notes but the vetiver is still quite prominent. It is quite a favorite for both men and women.

Creed Vetiver: is soapy, clean, green and grassy. This is not to be confused with: Creed Original Vetiver: which is green, rootier, brighter and has a citrus aspect to it. It has Ginger, mandarine and bergamot for top notes and iris as a mid note. I personally am a huge fan of this one. I would say that the Creed’s are unisex to masculine oriented.

Jo Malone makes a very nice light totally unisex vetiver. It is super fresh, clean and “very vetiver”. Quite true to the note. It is perfect for layering when you want to add this note to another fragrance, and on it’s own it is totally refreshing. A very fun variation on vetiver is Jo Malones Black Vetyver café…which blends vetiver with a coffee note.

L’Occitaine en Provence makes a men’s vetiver cologne that has vetiver blended with rosemary and cypress. It is very woody and herbaceous with a more blended quality rather than having the vetiver as a prominent note.

Prada makes a vetiver fragance also, Infusion de vetiver. You may find it in the men’s cologne section rather than women’s fragrance. But I find this one to be very very unisex also. It is a woodier version and reminds me of Infusion d’iris with vetiver added in.

One of my very favorite vetivers is Armani Prive Vetiver Babylone. I have heard people say that they get very little vetiver from this one…but I personally get vetiver that is lovely clean and woody that lasts most of the day for me. It’s fresh, peppery and bright. I personally like fragrances that don’t last until the evening so that I have a choice to either respray or change my scent. And this one lasts perfectly on me. ….can you tell I love it?!

There are just sooo many vetiver fragrances to explore and I’d love to know what you have tried and liked. But I will end with another of my favorites that I also think is one of the most unusual vetivers out there. The Different Company’s Sel de vetiver. The notes are grapefruit, patchouli, cardamom, geranium, Haitian vetiver, and ylang ylang. But it is primarily a representation of salt. And this combination is fascination and fabulous for sure!

Reviewer: Ceil

Disclosure: The products reviewed in this post were purchased or sniffed by the reviewer

Graphic Credit: Melanie Parker

40 Days and 40 Nights Of Fragrance Notes: Oudh

Oudh by Ceil
aka MUA's Tussah

Well… I realize that there are experts that can tell you the details about and the history of Oudh in much greater detail and can give you an encyclopedic listing of fragrances that feature oudh. But, I am not going to attempt to cover this very fascinating perfume/note with that kind of expertise. I will instead tell you how I got interested in oudh and how I feel about it.

Oudh is a very personal and emotion note in perfumery. Very few fragrance friends of mine feel ambivalent about it. It’s love/hate all the way…and from what I’ve smelled in most commercial fragrances I have to say it is a note that I both adore and dislike at the same time. How it’s handled and the quality make an amazing difference in the final scent.

One of…if not the most expensive natural ingredient in perfumery is oil of Agarwood. Oudh. Used for centuries for religious, spiritual, medicinal purposes and in perfumery, oil from the resinous heartwood of Aquilaria and Gyrinops trees is a precious commodity. These evergreen trees from Asia become infected with a mold. In response to this they form a resinous substance in the heartwood of the tree from which the Agarwood essential oil is extracted. This aromatic oil has ancient and modern use for perfumery and incense. The rarity of this oil is due to depletion of the trees that are the natural source for this oil. There are now also synthetic aromachemical versions of this note as well, which is a much more affordable, but not the same way to introduce this representation of the natural oil into a perfume.

I got interested in wanting to smell “good quality” natural Agarwood/oudh fragrances from reading descriptions of it’s fascinating beauty. And…interested in reading about the huge difference that the quality of ingredients make to that smell. Quality oudh can smell woody, incense-y, sweet and rich, smoky, floraly resinous, and fruity, in a rich long lasting multifaceted way. The smell is calming and richly beautiful. Poor quality oil can produce oily, sharp, leathery, sour and bitter smells. Smells that are acrid and irritating.

I finally got to try this good quality oudh…and it is stunningly beautiful, and lasts days on the skin. I have yet to find a commercial fragrance that comes close. I also have the synthetic aromachemical and it is pleasant but thin, and not really any comparison to the real thing. But for the price, I use it, and can certainly see why it is used in commercial perfumery.

Oudh seems to be quite the popular ingredient these days in fragrance. Some I personally like and others not so much. I will say with the variations in quality and types of chemicals natural and synthetic, it is always worth trying oudh fragrances. They vary so very much, and react so individually with body chemistry that you never know how it will turn out on you until you really test it for yourself. Something that can smell really questionable on a blotter card can turn into something truly lovely when applied on the skin…and vice versa.

I have a love affair with natural quality oudh however…it’s stunningly gorgeous on or off of the skin. It is the stuff of dreams to me….beautiful, resinous, magical and spirtual.

Review by Ceil aka Tussah
Graphic Credit: Melanie Parker

Random Acts of Kinerase: Part 2

Day 16: Kinerase Pro + Therapy Lotion with Kinetin & Zeatin and....Kinerase Pro + Therapy Ultra Rich Night Repair
By Ceil

So… as I was saying about my overly product sensitive skin….

I am using 2 Kinerase Pro + Therapy moisturizers after cleansing with the Kinerase gentle daily cleanser: Lotion with kinetin & zeatin and Ultra rich night repair. They are miracles for me. I started using these after my laser surgery and previous to this I just could not find a moisturizer that did not cause dry, visibly flaking, inflamed and/or broken out skin reactions.

Now my face is smooth, hydrated and pain free. I use both products at night and every other day in the morning as well. On the off days I use both products at night and only the ultra rich night repair in the morning. Kinerase also makes ultra rich day repair. My skin is so dry that I just use the night repair and it is not too moisturizing for my condition. But I would think that the day repair would be a better choice for most to use for their daytime regime.

Kinerase pro + therapy Lotion with kinetin & zeatin is non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic and for all skin types. This lotion contains kinetin & zeatin to help improve fine lines and wrinkles. It improves skin texture and lessens the look of blotchy uneven skin tone. It gently moisturizes dry, sensitive and photo damaged skin. It can also be used on post-procedural skin.

I also use what is left on my fingers from applying it to my face as a leave in conditioner for my hair, since I have yet to find any other hair product for this purpose that does not “mess up my face”. I have long tangle-prone hair and it needs some type of detangling product in order to get a comb through it. My stylist suggested that I try this since everything else was breaking me out. So far, so good. This is an expensive product, but I use very little….about the size of a baby aspirin, so it lasts quite a long time, making the price a little less painful.

I then follow-up with approximately the same amount of Kinerase Pro + therapy Ultra rich night repair. This is also for dry, sensitive and post-procedural skin. It also contains the kinetin and zeatin along with plant based extracts for treating the visible signs of skin aging minimizing wrinkles, fine lines, blotchiness, uneven skin tone and sun damage. Kinerase says that this is scientifically proven to improve moisture retention by 26%. And…I swear by it.

These Pro+ therapy products are available through physicians. Kinerase makes other day/night moisturizing products (I believe without the zeatin) available through regular stores such as Sephora also. I started using these products after my laser procedures and have continued with them many months following. If you have sensitive, dry or product sensitive skin…I recommend giving these products a try. I can say they have allowed me to breathe a huge sigh of relief!

Disclosure: This product was purchased by the reviewer
Credit: Kinerase
Credit: Melanie Parker/Veronica Lake in I Married A Witch
Visit Kinerase website for details: http://www.kinerase.com/default.asp

Random Acts of Kinerase

Day 8: Kinerase Review
By Ceil

To say that Kinerase products changed my life…would be an understatement. I have unbelievably product sensitive skin (including sensitivity to cleansers, moisturizers, shampoos, conditioners and foundations) and have spent a ton on trying to find “something” that just wouldn’t cause painful skin issues and dryness for me. I’m sure many of you can relate to a certain degree. It takes forever to test one product at a time….and I am one of those who doesn’t get a reaction till I’ve used a product for a week or more…so figuring out what does or doesn’t work can be a long painful process.

I recently had laser surgery. My surgeon suggested that it, in combination with the Kinerase products, would possibly give me some relief from my skin issues…and…I have had amazing results! I got “off the wagon” just to see if I was still product sensitive…and oh yes! I sure was….so I want to share a little about these products that have helped me so much.

Kinerase daily cleaner is non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic and for all skin types. In the past…other cleansers left my skin literally dry and cracked and peeling. If they didn’t dry me out, I ended up with severe acne-like issues. This one leaves my face clean, but not tight or dry and no acne issues. I follow up with a series of Kinerase moisturizing products that leave my skin quite soft and clean feeling with no visible dryness and no flakes or cracks.

This product contains green and white tea extracts to sooth the skin and for anti-oxidant benefits. It also has algae extracts to moisturize the skin.

Now…I have to say that this product “ain’t cheap”…but it’s also not the most expensive product on the market and a little goes a long long way. I have been using my bottle since July and it’s still over half full! The instructions call for using 2-3 pumps of this product. Oh my…I think you would be wasting it! I personally only need about a half of a pump. I apply it to my face and add a little water. It feels silky smooth and slips around my face with no pulling or tugging. There is nothing abrasive in this. It is cool and calming to my skin. I use it twice a day usually.

A couple of other things that I want to share is that I always use eye makeup remover to get rid of all of my eye makeup first, and then cleanse my face with the Kinerase cleanser. And I also found out that this daily cleanser is so gentle that it can be used after procedures such as chemical peels and laser resurfacing also.

So…especially if you have skin issues ….I hope you get a chance to try this product as it may prove to be helpful to you.
It’s been a lifesaver for me!

Disclosure: This product was purchased by the reviewer
Credit: Kinerase
Credit: Melanie Parker/Veronica Lake via I Married A Witch

Best of 2009: Better Late Than Never

You might have been wondering where the devil was my Best in 2009 list.
2009 was not my most favorite year.
In fact, there is only person I know of that had a spectacular 2009.
Her name is Lady Gaga.
2009 can kick rocks. 2010 is already better with some lovely beauty launches and moments.
Still, I want to give props to some of my favorite discoveries in 2009.
I am joined with my usual beauty crew. Please scroll way down to enjoy the lists of MUA's Cavewoman, Jessica M, Angie W, Konkeo, Ceil and Miss Griffie.
Please post your favorite things from 2009 in the comments.

MAC's Feline Kohl Eye Power is a beast and deserving of the title of Best of 2009. It is the deepest and the darkest black. It is true sooty goodness. I will never understand why MAC has not made this permanent. I mean...how many times does it have to sell out? 5 times? 20 times?



MAC's Lavender Whip was a little weirdo. It was a murky, dusty lavender shade that managed to touch the lemmings of the most jaded beauty junkies. I am on my third tube.

Shiseido Makeup Perfect Rouge Lipsticks
Dick Page designed a 20 piece lippie orchestra ranging from the useful nudes to the most vibrant pink of the land. The formula is engineered to perfection status.

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Diabolic is wicked cool. It is vampy in a 1920's vibe. It was my "go to" shade for 2009. You could never go wrong with it. A new and true classic for the Chanel nail arsenal.

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour Cosmic Violine is magnificent. It has a pink shimmer fire that just warms my heart. This polish garners compliments from strangers. You could get hypnotized staring at your nails in the sunlight.

Zoya's Pinta Nail Lacquer is a true violet blue shade. The color is the selling point. How did they manage to replicate and bottle my favorite crayola crayon? It is a creme formula that survives unblemished for two weeks. It replaced my beloved Indigo. If Zoya tweeks this and adds just a smattering of shimmer....I will lose my mind.

MAC's Seriously Hip Nail Lacquer was a sleeper from the Black collection. Mere mortals could not handle this shimmer fire.

Lipstick Queen had a very good year in 2009. I have been searching for the perfect taupe shade since a Paris trip. All the Parisian newswomen wore a smoky eye paired with a cool, shimmery taupe lip. I searched high and low and could not find a decent dupe. My pining was rewarded with Poppy King's Big Bang in Space. This is it! It is so damn good.
How did Poppy know?

La Mer The Radiant Concealer was the most anticipated beauty release. La Mer scientists have been cooking this up for years. It was well worth the pining. It is the best concealer on the market. It diminishes darkness, brightens and avoids any cake issues. Plus it comes in a compact with a mirror!

Lipstick Queen's Pop Art Gloss Fifteen Minutes of Fame
Loved the pigment power and light texture. The plum was perfect for the fall of 2009.

Lisa Hoffman was my favorite discovery of 2009. I can not stress enough the quality of her perfumes and skincare. Do not sleep on this line. Japanese Agarwood is magnificent in all its forms. It will shatter your heart and make you a fan for life. I can not gush enough.

MAC's Via Veneto Dazzleglass. My most favorite lipgloss. A lavender with baby blue glimmer.

Bond's No 9 Andy Warhol Success is A Job in New York
I love the entire fragrance story that began with Chinatown and was furthered in Lexington Avenue. Success adds more amber and sugar.

Chanel Rouge Allure Laque. This is a light lipgloss with the pigment power of a lipstick. Innovative and lemming worthy. A CEW future nominee.

Perfumes The A-Z Guide by Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez in paperback
I call them Mr T and Tbone. I also call them good friends. The book has inspired serious debate and death threats. Many of my favorites take a hit, but it would never inspire me to do violence. I appreciate their noses, knowledge, wit, snark and ability to do the kung fu.


Best of 2009 with MUA's Cavewoman

Considering that I hadn't been shopping for the last three months of 2009, I didn't think I could come up with ten great finds of the year. But it didn't take me very long to make my list. Here they are!

1. Bond No. 9 Harrods For Her.
One of the most unusual Bonds! I cannot stop wearing it. The nutmeg note captivates me. A masterpiece by the amazing Laurent De Guernac, who also created another favorite of mine, MAC Stylistics Air Of Style. Oh, and my precious Shawn designed the bottle! It's perfection inside and out.

2. Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Mineral Powder.
Yeah, there are boards on the internet (which shall remain nameless) where people diss the Arden brand as "old lady." I resemble that remark. Too bad, because this powder gives a perfectly flawless, luminous finish to the face, and it makes my skin look absolutely poreless. It's a miracle in a very clever compact.

3. Illamasqua Cream Blush in Promise.
It's my perfect pink, makes me look like I just had a nice walk outdoors in the Ohio Winter (which could end any time, thank you) -- the texture has a great slip to it, it applies without gripping, and is easy to smooth out. I want to try more colors. Interesting shaped compact, too.

4. Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Success Is A Job In New York.
The best floral-gourmand I've ever smelled. I never want to be without it. I'm wearing it as I type.

5. La Mer The Radiant Concealer.
I hate to recommend a Lauder brand product because I'm mad at Lauder for discontinuing my beloved Prescriptives line. But this concealer does everything I want it to do, gives a slight glow to the eye area, and it does not sink into the little lines below the eye. You almost can't use a small enough amount, which is great considering the price. The compact is hard to open, though. I'll deal with it.

6. Nanette Eau De Parfum by Nanette Lepore.
I'd rather be adding one of her suits to my closet, but for now I am happy that I caved on her latest fragrance. I'll brag about her Youngstown connection, our home-town girl makes us proud with everything she does. This rose-violet fragrance (you all know that's my favorite floral combo) is womanly and elegant, with a beautiful woodsy-incensey base. The bottle is stunning. I simply cannot rave enough.

7. Clinique Maple Blossom Eyeshadow.
The absolute most perfect taupe ever made. Of course it's a Lauder brand. See #5 above. It was a Limited Edition shade from the Spring 2009 Collection. I'm glad I have two of them.

8. Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Lipstick in #20 Spicy Pink.
It's one of those no-thinking-required colors. This is by far my favorite lipstick formula, and the shade is a lovely muted, mauvey pink shade. It makes me want to throw out all my other lipsticks and just have Rouge Voluptes on my vanity.

9. Sally Hershberger Hair Care.
Every single product I've tried has performed perfectly on my hair. The entire line is a winner. So is one of her star hairstylists. (Hugs to Melissa! I love my new cut!) Get the haircare at Walgreens, and go see Melissa at the salon on Madison. Give her a hug from me!

10. Borghese Nail Color in Rossi Apple.
It just makes me happy. It's the sweetest pinky-red color. I love the bottle, too.

I've already started my 2010 list! But I won't tell you the item that I just discovered, you'll have to wait a year to find out!


Best of 2009 with Jessica M

2009 had its ups and downs for me, but overall, it was a positive year for style and beauty. Here are a few of my favorite new things, which I’ll continue enjoying in 2010.

Anna Sui for Target: Anna Sui’s collaboration with “Gossip Girl” and Target made me positively giddy. The line’s pop-up store in SoHo was a walk-in dream for Sui-lovers. I bought two dresses and I wish I’d grabbed more.

Lipstick Queen Butterfly Ball: Once again, I bow to the Queen for introducing several excellent products in one year. The standout in my own beauty bag is Butterfly Ball Shimmer Treatment Lipstick in Moment, a sheer red that I’ve been wearing everywhere I go.

Strange/Beautiful Library of Color: This is a high-quality collection of nail polishes in colors inspired by art and modern design. All the shades, from bold to subtle, are complex and unique.

Edward Bess Ultra Slick Lipstick in Tender Love: The perfect rosy-nude cream lipstick for someone with dark hair and pale, cool-toned skin; I’ve been looking for this shade for the past decade, at least!

Intelligent Nutrients Anti-Aging Serum: Beneath my makeup, I like to use natural skincare. This organic potion of antioxidant seed oils and botanicals keeps my face feeling smooth and soft.

Kiss My Face Cell Mate: From Kiss My Face’s new and improved skincare line, a light but effective daily moisturizer with physical SPF (titanium dioxide) and a light lavender scent. So useful!

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra: Not a new product, but wasn’t it relaunched this year, with ads featuring Kate Winslet? In any case, I finally tried it. Excellent matte-but-not-cakey, oil-free, long-lasting coverage.

Fyrinnae Fluff: Several companies released silica-based finishing powders this year, but Fluff is my favorite. It’s well priced, and it’s so finely textured that it works even for touch-ups.

Travel size scents from Sonoma Scent Studio and Ayala Moriel Parfums: I’ve already listed some of my top fragrance picks of the year on Now Smell This, but I’d also like to credit these two “indie” perfumers for releasing mini bottles of their fragrances; affordable and collectible!

Audrey Tautou as the face of Chanel No. 5: I love No. 5, but I’ve never been a big fan of Nicole Kidman. I’m glad her No. 5 reign is over. To me, Audrey Tautou seems like a much better “fit” for Chanel.

Have a beautiful 2010!

Best of 2009 with Koneko

This was a wonderful year for me, in terms of beauty/skincare finds. I had been in a rut- I can think of just 1-2 items I was really wild about in 2008- so I think that I made up for it in 2009! In alphabetical order...

Amore Pacific Enzyme Treatment-
I want to get a bottle of this for all my friends... that's how much I love this baby!
My dry, sensitive skin usually cannot tolerate any type of exfoliation: I develop red, irritated patches, broken capillaries, and tight, dry skin. Then I found this lovely gem! Very gentle, non-abrasive, and the end result: silky smooth, brighter skin. My skin doesn't feel tight and dry, nor do I get redness. It's comes in powder form; you add water, create a lather and massage the suds onto your already-cleansed face. In 45 seconds you rinse off. My skin has really improved in texture and clarity. I think it allows treatment products to work better too. I use this 2x a week. (If I use it more than 3x/week, I do get dry.)

Chanel Rouge Allure Laque.
Thanks to the beauty gang, I snagged this up. I was skeptical that I'd like it... I was sure it would dry my lips terribly, since it was "long lasting." So you can imagine my surprise when I got deep pigmentation, a weightless texture, and no drying effect. It sweeps on easily, and keeps my lips feeling fairly supple. Ot lasts a decent amount of time, and it fades uniformly, so no weird dark lines!

Chantecaille
Lip chics have a very nice glossy finish, and great pigmentation. They go on smoothly, and have a slight vanilla-ish scent. The finish makes it look like I layered clear gloss on top. They are so easy to use and don't dry my lips. I love the shiny gunmetal gray tubes too!

Dior Backstage Pro cheeks-
I have never been a fan of cream blushes... they never blended well, and the way they "settled" emphasized my dry skin. However, this cream blush is in a league of its own... it blends seamlessly, and the whipped texture feels so lightweight on the skin. It can be quite sheer, but builds up well. They have GOT to expand the colors... there are only 4.

Dior Serum de Rouge lipstick-
I was skeptical about this "treatment lipstick"containing skincare ingredients. After seeing all those gimmicky plumping lip products on the market, I was feeling cynical. However curiosity killed the skincare-lover cat, and I was quite surprised by how smoothly it applied, and also how light it felt on my lips. And to my delight, it seems my lips are softer and don't chap as easily when I use this. At first I thought it was my lip serum/balm, but I think it really is this product. I hope they expand the color range soon!!

GHD flatiron-
I've always been a wash-and -air-dry type of girl. However, I've noticed that my hair lies limply about my face... and it's not a very nice frame. I was quite ignorant of the versatility of the flatiron until I saw my lovely cousin style her hair with one. So fast, so efficient! I decided on the GHD, after discussing w/ my in-the-know friends and family. It heats in a snap, and the porcelain plates don't catch on my hair at all. Now, I pass it through my hair with a few twists, and look much more polished.

Jill Stuart- Jelly Eyes, Blush Quads
Thanks to a very generous family friend, I got some lovely products. The packaging is divine. It's so princess-y and pretty, I have to contain myself from saying, "my preciousssssss." Also, I have to force myself to use the products, and "ruin" their perfection. I adore the Jelly Eyes, it has a unique consistency and feels cool to the touch... and it packs a punch of shimmer. I have to use an eyelid primer, which helps w/ possible sparkle "fall-out." I also am enjoying the blush quads, which have the cutest (functional!) brush attached. I'm still getting a hang of the eye shadows... the palettes are so pretty, but they tend to repeat themselves. Everything seems to have a light fruity fragrance, but it fades away quickly.

La Mer lip balm
I have resisted the idea of the La Mer lip balm for some time. I was convinced it was overpriced chapstick, with the La Mer name on it. Then, one day, I compared the price per ounce of the La Mer w/ my usual Olay regenerist lip treatment, and was shocked that La Mer was more affordable! This minty balm has done wonders for my poor cracked lips. When used at night, I find my lips much softer and smoother in the morning. I do not want to ever be without this!

Lisa Hoffman Skincare: A&C Serum and Lip serum
I owe Annie BIG TIME for this find. During a beauty gang meet-up, she introduced us to Lisa Hoffman's fragrance collection, which was quite nice. Just a week later, I got a gift with purchase from dermstore: a deluxe sample of Lisa Hoffman's A&C night serum. Since I liked the fragrances Annie shared with us, I decided I'd give this a chance. Usually, I put away samples for when I'm feeling adventurous. I'm so glad I didn't wait! This clear, silicone-based serum sinks in quite quickly, leaving skin feeling velvety. I noticed smoother texture and more even tone. I now rotate this with the P&J serum. The day lip serum is also fantastic... it works as an underbase. It sinks in quite well, and keeps lips moisturized and quite soft. I put a layer of La Mer lip balm on top, and the two seem to really work well together.

MUFE Aqua Eyes
I love my gel-eyeliners, but they do take a while to apply (for me, anyhow.) These eye pencils work great! They are super soft. They have long staying power, and they are the first pencil liners not to give me raccoon eyes (it will smudge eventually, under certain conditions: tearing, rubbing.) I can easily tight-line, which I couldn't with the gels. Awesome color selection too!

Mustela Baby products- Stelatopia line. I have terrible eczema flares, and am always searching for something to help. After reading products reviews for eczema/sensitive skin, I learned about this line. I adore the cream cleanser. After using this a couple days, a red, angry eczema patch on my neck faded away. It had been there for months! I can even use this on hair (I get some eczema on the hairline.) It didn't weigh down my thin hair. I now have a pump in the shower as well as by the sink-- it's my new hand soap!

OPI for Sephora Nailpolish:
I'm with Brad. I have no idea why this color is not more popular that it is, but it sure ought to be! It's a sort of inky color w/ an overlay of crimson shimmer which gives it multi-dimensional depth. Quite vampy.

Paul and Joe cosmetics- Eye glosses
The Eye Glosses N are now staples for me... they are so easy to use. They have a nice consistency, allowing for easy blending. It has a lovely pearly (not shimmery) finish. The result is just "pretty." They don't crease on me either, which is a rarity!

Paul and Joe skincare- Serum
I am mad about Japanese skincare, so maybe it's no wonder that the P&J line is actually made by a Japanese company, Albion (another company whose products I enjoy!) The line has a faint orange blossom scent. I love the P&J Whitening Serum- it evens out skintone so well. My forehead/neck were 2 shades darker than the rest of my face (making foundation hunting difficult!) but now it's it's about 0.5-1 shade off.

Shiseido Majolica Majorca mascara
Lash Extender Frame Plus mascara- OMG. I finally found a replacement to my much mourned Stephane Marais comb mascara! It has a comb applicator which separates lashes quite well, while depositing mascara on lashes. No lumpiness. And there appear to be fibers in the formula, so there is a slight lengthening effect. Once it dries, it lasts and lasts! It's not touted as waterproof, but it feels like it! Removal can be a bit of a chore, be sure to used an oil-based cleanser like Shu.

Best of 2009 by Ceil(Tussah)

New fragrances released for 2009:Odin 01 Nomad
Bond no. 9 Brooklyn
Serge Lutens Fille en Aiguilles

New to Me in 2009
L'Artisan Iris pallida
Guerlain Angelique noir

Nail polish:
Nfu Oh "flakies" polishes
Rescue Beauty lounge Scrangie
Rescue Beauty Lounge Frugolista
OPI Suede You don't know Jacques

Lipstick:
Mac Lavender whip
Mac Cream in your coffee
Urban Decay Oil slick

Eye products:
Urban Decay Ink for eyes Zero eyeliner
Chanel Les 4 ombres eyeshadow quad 16 Murano
Lancome Erika F shadow
and... I need that Jill Stuart gel eyeshadow that Marianne got :)

I'm still waiting for the lipgloss that will rock my world...maybe in 2010.... I reach for Becca Maraschino most often though.

I also really loved my purple Sam Edelson gladiator sandals....

Best of 2009 with Griffie

Coming up with my top picks for 2009 was tough for me, mainly because while my credit card bill speaks of conspicuous consumption, very little stands out. That statement is more telling than I like to admit. That being said, here goes.

EYES
For years my usual routine has been a coat of black mascara and on a high maintenance day a slightly shimmery neutral shadow with a smudge of black eyeliner. In 2009 I stepped it up and found that a little eyeshadow can be big fun.

Mac Plumage eyeshadow-who knew that peacock blue was a neutral? It turns my hazel eyes positively green.
Mac Tealo eyeliner-goes on like a dream and again turns those hazel eyes straight up green.
Chanel Le Crayon Yeux eyeliners –excellent color selection and smooth application. My faves are Brun Cuivre (just a hint of bronzey shimmer makes this a very soft look) and Evergreen (the perfect well, evergreen color).

LIPS
I am, always have been, and always will be slightly promiscuous when it comes to lipstick. I am actually a lipstick slut. The standouts this year were:

Chanel Rouge Allure Lacque. Love the creamy liquid formula and the big color payoff. I also love the doe foot applicator, I don’t know why, I just do. The lasting power could be better but… I hope Chanel brings out more colors in this formula.
Chanel Rouge Allure in Fatale. I love the Rouge Allure formula, it borders on sheer, at least on my lips and is not the least bit heavy. Fatale is the perfect cherry red (not cherry like those stupid cherries on the god awful Mary Engelbreit cards) but dark, bing cherry cherry. As Fatale wears off it leaves a beautiful, just bitten stain on the lips. Oh how I love this color.

FRAGRANCE
There were a ton of new releases this year. Three stand out to me.

Estee Lauder Private Collection Jasmine White Moss. I love that ELPCJWM is not a patchouli/gourmand, does not smell like jolly ranchers and has no shimmer particles in it. I love that it is green and cool and refined. Unfortunately ELPCJWM took on a distinctly bad breath accord on me, but it smells delightful on others that I know.
Hermes Vanilla Galante will most likely find its way into my stash. I cannot adequately describe it but I get a spicy, sprightly lily (I don’t like lilies but I like this), and I get the saltiness mentioned by others. The only reason Vanilla Galante is not sitting on my dresser right now is because somehow the double strap Cape Cod Tonneu watch made its way into my bag instead. I get so easily distracted.
Issey Miyake A Scent. Green, tropical, fairly simple, not nearly as sophisticated or special as ELPCJWM, but no bad breath note.

SKIN/HAIR
Finally my top pick of 2009 is Coconut Oil. Yep, the kind you buy in the supplements aisle at Whole Foods. My curly hair is tamed, the curls are defined and shiny. Seriously, my hair is luminous, I could be a Pantene commercial. I also have been using the oil as a body lotion and so far so good. The only down side is that my dog is also fond of this oil, and if given the opportunity will lick it right off of my calves and hair. I can tell you it is an alarming way to be pulled out of a deep slumber.

Best of Beauty 2009 by Angie W.

Skincare:
La Roche-Posay Anthelios SX Daily Moisturizing Cream with Sunscreen – After years of futile searching for a lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer, I finally discovered this wonderful product. This will be a staple in my beauty routine forever after!

Eve Lom Face Wash – Sure, this has been a cult classic for ages but having only recently discovered it, I was amazed at how versatile this product is. You really don’t need moisturizer or a scrub after using this fab (albeit pricey) product.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple High-foaming Cleanser – A terrific foaming cleanser that never strips my combo skin.

Borba Cashmere Fiber Lip Kix – One of my fav lip balms of all time. Contains Shea Butter, Cashmere Fiber, Vitamin E, Pomegranate Extract, Walnut Extract, Coconut Oil, and Apricot Oil. If you can’t afford a cashmere sweater after the holiday spending frenzy, at least you can afford this little piece of luxury!

L’Oreal Skin Genesis Wet Cleansing Towelettes – Goodbye to Boots wipes and Olay’s face wipes! Thanks to Cavewoman for suggesting these great wipes. They stay moist, take off even stubborn eye makeup, and you don’t even need moisturizer after using them!

Color Cosmetics:
Shu Uemura Nobara Cream Cover Stick Foundation – I discovered this backstage at Chris Benz’s recent fashion show where the lead makeup artist was applying this with a concealer brush. Great coverage for dark circles and redness!

MAC Fantasia Lipstick – This wonderful pinky brown lipstick has a subtle shimmer and is a wonderful daytime lippie for work. It’s too bad this has to be purchased as part of a limited edition holiday set (House of Mirth lip bag) since the lipstick is the real keeper. Come on MAC, make this lipstick to be sold individually!

Lipstick Queen Butterfly Ball Lipstick in Moment – This is a lovely, deep red that’s made w/subtle blue shimmer to make teeth appear whiter. It’s one of the most moisturizing lipsticks I’ve ever tried.

MAC Red Pepper Lipstick – An elegant, deep rust-red lipstick in a matte texture that’s not too dry. Too bad it’s only available at MAC pro stores!

Jane Iredale Longest Lash Mascara in Espresso – Darn them for making a terrific, lengthening and glossy, natural looking mascara and pricing it at $32! I was lucky enough to be given a sample to try and I’m here to tell you, if you desperately want the perfect, soft brown mascara, you just might want to splurge on this!

Day 17: CoverGirl Lipstains

by Ceil

The subject of lipstains seems to bring out some vehement reactions among cosmetics lovers. Love or hate? I have to say that I am usually in the love camp for these products. I will admit major frustration however, with the applicators that lipstains seem to get packaged with. So when CoverGirl came out with their new Outlast lipstains I had to try them…if nothing else, just to see if they came up with a better brush or way of applying the stain.
I have to say, I am totally enamored with these lightweight stains. They not only come in a beautiful range of colors, but also have applicators that are hassle-free and do not deposit huge amounts of stain all in one place. They come packaged in a pen-like brush applicator that deposits the stain naturally and evenly on your lips. The tip has a “hard” texture and can be used as a liner for defining the narrow part of lips as well. It’s like using a felt tipped pen and applying the color exactly where you want it.
And the colors!!! Such beautiful shades! Not just the typical “beet-juice” red. There are 10 colors to choose from ranging from nudes to corals, berries, blush & plum colors. I personally found that the ones I chose all seemed to have a slightly “reddish” tone within their color range….but the red was the “natural” color of the lip, not a fake red. As a result, even the shades I was afraid of …“sassy mauve” & “bit of blossom” …looked very natural, even though they had more “color” than I, as a nude lippie lover, usually wear.
The stain is water-based, non–drying and doesn’t seem to transfer or bleed outside the lipline. And, they don’t have that annoying drippy quality that so many stains have either. You can also layer this stain to increase the intensity of color (let it dry between layers). Outlast lipstains give a soft matte finish…which can be kept nicely with a matte lipbalm , or they are gorgeous with a clear gloss, or clear Mac dazzle glass on top. This is a very fun product that I think will be perfect for a natural summery look. But with colored glosses on top they can also provide a very striking evening-type look as well.

Lipstick Queen's Black Tie Optional
by Ceil

"Even though I have the type of coloring that is suited by warm tones and nude lippies...I am secretly attracted to unusual and vampy colored lipsticks and glosses. So, it is not really a surprise to me that when Lipstick Queen came out with Black tie optional, marketed as "sheer black stockings for your lips"....I was fascinated!


You know...I've tried other blackish lip glosses before and found that when I looked in the mirror...I pretty much looked like I was going to come down with an illness soon.But...I hadn't tried a "lipstick" that was black...so I caved and ordered it.
Black tie optional has turned out to be one of the most useful things in my cosmetic arsenal. Used alone...it gives your lips a soft greyish-purple hue that is-- what I might have to describe as rather unflattering...at least on me. But where this product really shines is how it reacts with other colors when used over and under other lipsticks and with glosses.

It's consistencyis slightly waxy, but not at all sticky. It feels almost powdery soft and smooth on, but has that "drag" that a little more waxiness in products like a lip conditioner would have.What this does so magically if worn underneath another color is that it act as almost as a primer and keeps other dark vampy lip colors in place. I personally have big-timeissues with dark colors bleeding and looking sloppy or swollen and this product eliminates this for me. And...it also slightly deepens medium to light colored lipsticks and turns them into very arresting shades. I also have very pale lips and when worn underneath it holds up better to losing all of my color from drinking my morning coffee.

Black tie optional also does something else very very fun when worn over another lipcolor. It can change a "too garish" or too dark color and turn it into somethingwearable and gorgeous. With my fair colored complexion...those vampy fun colors that I love often just don't look right on me. Those lipsticks can stand out like a flag sometimes.When worn on top, this Lipstick Queen black shade mattifies and tones down, but doesn't reduce any saturation of color. So I end up with a softer version of a vampy or striking shade.I end up with a fun look that I can wear...one that doesn't wear me."

40 Days And 40 Nights Of Beauty Cult Classics
Day 26, Benetint by Ceil aka Tussah

Benefit’s bene tint is a cheek and lip tint that gives you a perfectly natural rose colored glow. Sheer, but tinted with a shade somewhere between rose and blood red, it is easily applied with the nailpolish-like brush that comes with it. For me it never applies as splotches or streaks like some lip and cheek stains. Just a few dots on the cheeks will blend perfectly with your natural blush color. Used alone on the cheeks and lips it can give you an innocent but sexy look.



I tend to use bene tint along with my other blushes. I am fair skinned and have red in all of the wrong places. I also have very pale lips naturally. So….often instead of just using the bene tint alone….I will use it as my “first-layer” and then apply my other blush on top. I also use it as my lip stain and then apply my gloss or lipstick on top. Then as the day wears on I still have a nice but natural color showing if any of my makeup wears off.

For me this product definitely has justification for cult status….How do you use it and feel about it?

Benetint is priced at $28 and is available at Sephora.

Credit: Blogdorf Goodman
Disclosure: This product was purchased by Ceil.

40 Days and 40 Nights of Beauty Brands Reviews

Day 27, Nars

Cavewoman: The NARS line of makeup has something for everyone. From theatrical and totally dramatic, to soft everyday wearable shades, a trip to the NARS counter is always the first stop for The Cleveland Gang Get-Togethers. Our NARS wizard Alesha greets us with a hug and then we dive into the newest testers and the huge display unit of dazzling shadows and gorgeous glosses. We dust shimmery powders on our hands and dab blushes on our cheeks, and we always come away from the counter with our little bags of purchases, heading off to lunch where we open our black NARS boxes and show each other what we've bought.
I've mostly stuck to the more tame NARS selections in the past, but when Alesha and Shawn told us about an upcoming National NARS event last December, we all signed up for makeovers. NARS principal makeup artist Ayako would be coming to our Saks store to supervise eight makeup artists from all over the United States, and our dear Shawn was also going to do the makeovers. I knew I'd be in good hands when I asked for Shawn to be my makeup artist for the event.

Shawn escorted me to Ayako after applying foundation, concealer and powder to my complexion. She asked me a few questions and then turned to Shawn and told him what she wanted him to do for my makeover. I was happy that she wanted a smokey eye and a red lip for me, two things I love but have difficulty achieving on my own. Shawn set to work using silvers and blacks, with Night Breed (pitch black with silver sparkle) and Night Fever (pitch black with red sparkle) as the main colors. He showed me what he was doing every step of the way, and he instructed me on how to use the smudge brush and Night Breed mixed with a bit of water to line the inner rims of my eyes. While he was working, Ayako happened to look over at our station, in the middle of interviewing another makeover candidate, and she stopped mid-sentence to smile with approval at what she saw. I was so proud of Shawn, and even though I knew his skills, it was wonderful for Ayako to recognize his talent and praise his work. A swipe of red lipstick and a dab of blush and I was taken back to Ayako for her final approval. She did not want him to change a thing, and she complimented his work and my amazing transformation. I've since practiced my dramatic smokey eye technique and have worn it for evening and special occasions. I wish Shawn were still here to do it all over again! For daytime I still use my basics like Ondine and Ashes To Ashes and my duos like Habanera and New Delight and Sandra. I've come to have a new appreciation for the fine quality of the NARS shadows, both dramatic and subtle. I'm still perfecting my smokey eye, but at least now I know how to do it.

Storybookheroine: I read about NARS in a random beauty magazine late 2005. It touted Orgasm as the be-all and end-all of blushes and announced the arrival of the NARS Double Orgasm set, which added the new Orgasm stick gloss to the collection. I had seen NARS before. My mother and I shopped at Sephora a year or two prior and she purchased Night Fairy eye-shadow single, which I thought was so pretty, while I looked at the multiples and admired the colors. Back then I remember there were very few shades. I loved the sleek packaging but at the time I had plenty of makeup and did not need more (those were the days...). So I trekked off to the mall solo looking for a few new makeup items and the Double Orgasm set was high one my list. I found it at Sephora and plunked my money down right away. I had recently gone through one of my makeup replacement stages and this was to be the last thing to pick up. Little did I know it would set off a mad NARS attack.

Orgasm was a welcome addition and it quickly pushed the other blushes I had purchased out of the running. The beautiful pinky-peach color is sparkly and pretty and the perfect blush for a smokey eye. It quickly became my everyday blush. A visit to NARS online showed me they had a powder foundation and another trip to the NARS counter was planned. What was not planned was the largest amount of makeup I had purchased at one time up until then. Nordstrom and Sephora stock took a hit. I bought 4 eye liners, numerous glitter pencils, Napoli lipstick, Madly and Nico blush, 3 eye shadow singles and a duo, Sandpiper lipgloss and then... I saw them. Palettes. My love of palettes goes all the way back to when I first started wearing makeup. For some reason the counter was out and I ran home to the internet to see what I could find online. And find I did. I hate to admit, between online stores and Barney’s I found almost all of them. For weeks after I stalked ebay looking for the missing few and found them. I bought all but two of them before I was done. Yes. I know. Crazy. But how could I not love them.

My favorite NARS palette is the Warm Palette Artist Palette. It’s the perfect palette for my coloring. The shadows are the All About Eve duo (two flesh toned neutrals, a satin and a shimmer), Bengali (matte chocolate brown I use this wet as a liner) and Lola Lola (a really beautiful shimmering neutral brown). For those of you familiar with nars, the All About Eve duo is HG material, pair it with the two shimmering brown neutrals and you have a variety of neutral polished looks. These shadows can be used wet or dry so I line with them as well. The blushes are Lovejoy, a shimmering bronzed rose, and Deep Throat, a shimmering peach. I love these on their own or used together. The lips are so great I bought them all in full size. You get Nouba (ginger with lots of shimmer) and Barbarella (sheer peach) lipsticks and lip lacquers (really great pot glosses with a wonderfully smooth texture) in Hellfire (warm shiny copper shimmer)and the ever popular Chelsea Girls (nude beige). These can be mixed and matched for day to night. For someone who loves neutrals this is my holy grail. Whenever I wear it I feel pretty and receive compliments. I know it is hard to find but if you ever find it buy it right away! For those not lucky enough to find it, all the components are still available from NARS so don’t fret.


In the interest of disclosing my absolute favorite products from NARS, I need to talk about the Fall 2006 collection. Sephora calls it Ultra Modern and it's a new interpretation on nudes and neutrals, truly refreshing. I am fair to light with freckles, preferring neutral to warm shade, and this collection was a dream come true! All my favorite things are here and in way I did not already have in my make up bag.

Bohemian Gold eye shadow duo is one I would have never thought to purchase on it’s own. I loved the satiny metallic taupe but the iridescent peach color was rather bold at first glance. As soon as I paired these with it’s fellow fall duo, India song, I had the most beautiful and amazing set of neutrals. India Song is a matte vanilla and shimmering walnut (think dark shimmering chocolate). When I put these two duo’s together I get the most beautiful neutral looks with the ability to punch the color up a bit and even go smokey with the gorgeous walnut shade. I can be very light and soft with these or very dramatic. It’s wonderful to have so many options in these four shades and I feel the eye shadows in this collection are a genius play on reinventing neutrals.

Oasis blush I LOVE. In the pan it is so sparkly and beautiful but I wondered if it would be appropriate on. Hell yes! It bumped my HG Orgasm right to the number two spot. Nars says it is a sparkling champagne pink. I’m not sure that is how I would describe it. It’s a nude pink with a hint of brown and the color can be layered from a hint of color to a dramatic flush. The glimmer, NARS speak for fine gold particles, disappeared into my skin and caught the light without making me look non age appropriate, glittery or making my pores look huge.

Four lip choices arrived with the collection and so did my first foray into NARS velvet matte lip pencils. These are fantastic products and should be talked about more. They are long wearing matte pencils but not drying and dare I say creamy in texture. Cafe Con Leche is a light ginger color with shimmer and is perfect on it’s own or layered with other lipsticks. Marina is a rich Cognac that you can build from a YLBB color (when lightly applied)to a new darker wine tone. These so versatile i can’t help but love them. The lipstick from Fall is Tamamgo. It’s described as a glistening cabernet but it’s really more than that. A complex red brown with orange undertones and lots of shine and really does glisten like wine held before the sun. The last item is a new stick gloss called Stolen Kisses. It’s a nude carmel pink with light gold shimmer, very understated goes on smooth and lasts for hours. I was looking for my perfect YLBB gloss from NARS and Stolen Kisses it the one for me! It looks wonderful on its own or layered over any of the above lip shades (my person favorite is Cafe con Leche with Stolen Kisses). All of these lip items I reach for regularly and I love to mix and match them. The lips alone are a stand out in this collection but over all everything is a must have for me!

I LOVE NARS and want to share my favorites from the line I’ve hoarded like one day all makeup on the planet will be gone. NARS is an obsession and a very good one at that!

Personal Favorites

Glosses- Moonfleet (clear with gold and platinum spheres), Stolen kisses (carmel nude with subtle gold shimmer), Butterfield 8 (chocolate brown), Galatica (sheer white with crushed pearl)

Lipsticks- Dolce vita (rose YLBB), Corinthe (brown YLBB), Manhattan (taupe YLBB), Bambi (nude) Tamango (wine), gypsy (red)

Orgasm (peachy pink with shimmer), Penny Lane (nude pink), Oasis (shimmering pink with gold glimmer), Serteo (golden shimmer)

Eye Shadow Singles- Fathom (sheer baby pink with glimmer), Night Star (sheer peach with gold pearls)

eye-shadow duo- Earth Angel (bronzed taupe and olive shimmer), Belissima (beautiful shimmering beige and a gray brown), AAE (a satin and shimmer flesh tone beige) , India song (vanilla and shimmering walnut)

eye liner- Kaliste (the best looking shimmering teal I’ve ever seen), Kyoto (dark olive green with shimmer)

Skin Care- Aqua Gel Hydrator (a miracle overnight moisture mask for super dry skin)

(As a side note, apart from sexy, provocative names and far off vacation spots, NARS products are named after really good must see movies. Next time nothing looks good on Netflix, take a peak at some NARS)


Alesha: I started with Nars six years ago and I never thought that I would still be here. I am the type of girl who is constantly bored. Every time I start to get bored with Nars they reel me back in with something amazing. Damn Nars....

I was starting to feel bored before I went to the Nars Sales Meeting in Miami in January. I saw a preview of luscious things that are going to be coming out. I was hooked again.

One of my favorite things from Nars is the original primer. I use this everyday. It fills in enlarged pores without breaking me out. It has kiwi, honey and echinacea. The primer holds my foundation on all day long.

I also surprising love most of the skin care. The balancing foam cleanser is a great dupe of Cle de Peau fraiche cleanser at half the price.

There is no mud mask on the market as good as Nars. It cleans my pores without stripping. My skin glows when I use the mud mask.

The Oil Free Foundation is my Holy Grail. I have tried every oil free foundation on the market and this one is the best. Even better than Armani. It covers smoothly with great coverage but you can still see my skin. It doesn't look like I have a foundation mask on my face. Nars needs a better range of colors but thankfully I have a yellow based skin tone.

I love all the color. The quality of the blushes is unlike any other brand. I still have blushes that I got the first year I worked for Nars and I haven't run out. They last forever. My favorite color is desire. It makes my skin look like I just came in from the cold. I also love the multiples and the cream blushes. My favorite is South Beach multiple which is a beautiful peachy bronze shade. It looks great on everyone. The best cream blush shade is Pennylane. If you have a problem with blush turning orange, this is the blush for you!! It is a lovely light pink shade.

I love the shadow too. The duo shadows make me laugh. Some of the duo shades aren't meant to wear together but look great separately.


I am not crazy about the concealer and the mascara. But I hear that a new mascara is in the works. Nars is also coming out with a liquid eye liner pen and a orgasm multiple stick.

I am very excited about the new bath and body products that are being launched June 1st. Nars is launching a ginger and grapefruit bath and shower gel and body lotion and an acacia bath and shower gel that smell divine!

I can't give anymore secrets away so you will just have to wait!!

Tussah: The day that I was first introduced to Nars cosmetics was memorable in so many ways. It was the first time I was meeting the “Cleveland MUA gang”. We were meeting Alesha at the Nars counter at Saks to start our day. What fun it was!

Of course I fell in love with all of the beautiful Nars colors, and being stuck in a total neutral makeup rut, I proclaimed “such a beautiful color…but not for me”, when looking at a gorgeous bright shade of cream blush. It was Nars Cactus flower. It was a stunning bright corally pink… almost “hot”. Since at the time my favorite blush was actually brown, I was shocked when Alesha said that, of course I could wear it, and proceeded to give me a make-over using the amazing color.

Ever since then, much to my wallet’s detriment, I have come to really love Nars cosmetics. I now have favorites in their skincare, awesome eyeshadows and so much more. But, one of my very favorite products is still the cactus flower blush. It can look totally natural or be astoundingly dramatic. It never creases or patches and has a smooth silky feel to it. I have layered it with other colors and also used it for a liptint. So, if you’re looking for a fun color for summer—or anytime, check out Nars cactus flower. It really is a winner.

Annieytown: My favorite makeup brand is Nars.
I fell in love with the Orgasm and I have been smitten ever since.

Nars boasts exceptional lip glosses, skincare, brushes, primer and blushes.

But the one item that I can not live without is the Foul Play lipgloss.

Nars glosses are the best in the cosmetic industry. No one can match their pigment, shine and no mess formula. They have a great variety of shades that range from the pinkish Sweet Dreams to the jazzy raspberry of Boogie Nites. The names are often influenced by the cinema such as Risky Business, Pillow Talk(one of my favorite Doris Day films) and Harlow. Foul Play is my "little black dress" of lippies. It always looks appropriate and chic. It is a cool toned pinkish nude. I love and use it so much that I can not estimate how many tubes I have gone through. This is a gloss tube that I dig and scrap to get every last drop out.

What are your favorite Nars products? Let us know in the comments!

Happy Belated Birthday to our favorite Nars/Bond boy, Shawn!!!

Photos: Cavewoman, Blogdorf Goodman, and Sephora

Disclosure: The products were purchased by the reviewers.

40 Days and 40 Nights of Beauty Brand Reviews

Day 18th, L'Artisan Parfumeur

Griffe: When Annie and Patti asked me to review L’Artisan I had to say yes.
L’Artisan was my introduction to niche fragrances and the first two I tried, 7+ years ago, are still my favorites, tied for the #1 spot in my collection and my heart. They are, drum roll: La Chasse and Mure et Musc. At the time I was misguided, and looking for a signature scent. I have grown out of that. I have not grown out of my love for L’Artisan.
L’Artisan fragrances are, for the most part, whispers of scent. Often people complain of their lasting power. I find that they last all day, but they are not strong fragrances. If you want to fill up a room, this is not the line for you, move along . If you like refined, subtle (for the most part), sometimes off beat fragrances, this is the line for you.

As I said before, my favorites are La Chasse and Mure et Musc. La Chasse is a white floral blend. It is summer in a bottle. I swear I hear birds chirping when I spray it. It is feminine, and bright, and utterly adorable. There is a little sharp, peppery, clean bite to it that keeps it from being too precious. It is what I call an "I love being a girl" scent. You can not be mean or unhappy and wear La Chasse.
Mure et Musc is a clean, not overly sweet blackberry and musc blend. It starts out a bit on the masculine side. A little soapy, a little citrusy, like a classic mens cologne. This phase does not last long and the sweet/tart blackberry and soft musk come out. This is my go to, fall back, always right fragrance.

There are many others that are worthy. Give them a try. Passage d’Enfer, The Pour Un Ete, Safran Troublant, Tea for Two, Voleur de Roses, the list goes on. In fact, though not all L’Artisans are full bottle worthy to me, there is not one that I have not liked. If you want people to think "mmm, she smells good", not "her perfume smells good" L’Artisan might be just what you are looking for.
As a side note, my first L’Artisan sample, and almost all of my L’Artisans after were purchased through http://beautycafe.com/
Do pay them a visit.

Tussah: Fig seems to be one of those scents that people either love or hate. Fortunately, I am a fig-lover, and L’Artisan’s Premier Figuier is one of my favorites.


It starts with a substantial show of fig…green fig leaves, and fruit. But, it also has a seductive milky quality that contrasts well with the fruit. Woody, base notes balance and complete the fragrance experience.

Basenotes lists this fragrance as being released in 1994, but it still has an innovative, uniqueness that stands the test of time. It is truly a great fragrance that certainly can be considered suitable for all.

L’Artisan lists Premier Figuier as a blend of: fig tree leaves, fresh fig, almond milk, and sandalwood.
Family: woody, green, fruity.

Annieytown:

I think I need a cup of tea, the world keeps burnin, Oh what a day, what a day what a day" (Erykah Badu's "On and On")

From the L'Artisan website: It begins with the curling, rising steam of Lapsung-Souchong tea. All the notes are orchestrated around the smoke and wooded scents to create a more fiery and warmer sensation. The sweet, fresh, spicy facets reveal the delicious delights of honey.
Both voluptuous and spicy, it is a marvellous tea for your skin!

Tea for Two is a rich, smoky black tea scent with dashes of cinnamon, ginger, green anise, honey and vanilla. This is a very difficult fragrance to wear. The heavy smoke note generally scares most people from attempting to wear it. The first time I sniffed it I was not a fan. I recognized that it was special and continued to test it every few months.

Eventually it worked for me and we have been smitten with each other ever since.

L'Artisan is not my favorite perfume house but some of their fragrances have made their way into my heart.

I adore Safran Troublant and Bois Farine.

Which L'Artisan fragrances do you adore? Post your answers in the comments.

http://www.luckyscent.com/
http://www.artisan-parfumeur.com/fr/index.html

Photos: Luckyscent and Berthe Morisot's La Chasse auex Papillons from personal.kent.edu and http://sunsite.auc.dk/cgfa/morisot/morisot6.jpg

Disclosure: The products were purchased by the reviewers.

40 Days and 40 Nights of Beauty Brand Reviews

Day 16, Hermes

Tussah: I ‘m not sure how it happened. When I was a young hippie-chick in college I somehow got on the mailing list and received a copy of the elegant, colorful Hermes scarf catalog. So there I was in my patched, embroidered hip-hugger jeans, wearing my embroidered suede belt & sitting at my desk in a room full of Yes posters, falling in love with the beautiful scarves that I couldn’t afford.

At some point in a week (for way too many weeks) I would go through that catalog & choose myself a “scarf of the week” instead of studying like I was supposed to. I was taking textile arts classes at the time & we would scavenge at dime & thrift stores for just the right scarf/bandana to wear with our long straight hair. I still like that look. But I could see, even just from the pictures, that Hermes was quality. Wikipedia lists Hermes first scarf as being produced in 1928 & since 1937 they have produced over 25,000 scarf designs. I could say that I got as much enjoyment out of looking at those pictures as owning a gorgeous Hermes scarf, but that would be a stretch.

Hermes fragrances are also some of the most beautiful, quality products available. My personal favorites are Ambre narguile (in the Hermessence series) and Un Jardin sur le nil. Both are lovely, but at two ends of the fragrance spectrum. Ambre narguile is a very comforting, warm, wearable amber, starting out with a cinnamon note that reminds me of warm bakery, but not in an overly foody way. The drydown is sweet, woody and dry. It is a luscious, delicious fragrance that is perfect for fall & winter.

In contrast, Un Jardin sur le nil is fresh & green with lovely floral & basenotes. The opening notes are green mango and grapefruit , with middle notes of calamus and lotus and basenotes of sycamore & frankincense. This fragrance is lovely year-round, but spectacular for spring and summer. Hermes covers the seasons of the year with these two truly amazing fragrances.




Annieytown: Rose Ikebana is a rose based scent with notes of peony, magnolia, pink peppercorn, zest of grapefruit, rhubarb and vanilla honey. The official description states that it is a rose tea scent. It actually does remind me of my beloved rose tea from Takashimaya. It feels like you have received a dozen fresh roses while sipping on the best pot of tea you ever had. Throw in some warm sun and you have the essence of Ikebana.

The grapefruit note is on low volume in Ikebana. It appears crisp, sparkling and bright but it does not distract from the other notes.
It is a zesty and snappy fragrance.
It is a bottle filled with good cheer and hopefulness.
You can not be in a bad mood when you wear it.
I generally wear it during the first week of spring and the hot days of summer.
Hopefully those days are coming.
I can not handle another snowfake.

Photos: Cavewoman and Blogdorf Goodman
Disclosure: The products were purchased by the reviewers.

40 Days and 40 Nights of Beauty Brand Reviews

Day 14th, Giorgio Armani

Cavewoman: The Master Tailor is a tanned, handsome man with white-gray hair and an easy smile. Fashionistas will know him by his nickname in the industry, "The King Of Greige." Perfumistas will recognize and praise the beautiful fragrances of the Prive Collection, in sleek squared-off bottles with smooth stones as caps. Cosmetic addicts know the minimalist black packaging, the superb-quality foundations and lipsticks, and the much-coveted palette compacts in his line of cosmetic products. He is Giorgio Armani.

My new Movie Lights Sheer Shimmer compact arrived yesterday from Alesha at our Saks store. I had only seen photos of this compact online, but Alesha assured me that I'd be delighted with this purchase. She knows me and she knows my taste, and she was right, again, about this compact.

The compact, with its matte black finish and slightly concave lid, displays the signature of Armani in silver raised glitter. Open the lid, and inside the powder glows with the promise of that most-desired luminous complexion. Pinkish, goldish, beige-ish, but with a bit more color than most highlighting powders I have ever tried, I was eager to see if this powder would be any different on the skin than my many other highlighting powders. And indeed, this Sheer Shimmer not only adds a glow to the skin, but a nice bit of color to my Ohio Winter Pallor. I tried it over blush only, as an overall finishing powder, as a cheekbone highlighter, and even as an eyeshadow for under the brow bone, and I was happy with the look in each application. It's hard to describe the effect, but it's a healthy glow, not an artificial 'she's wearing product' glow. Now I want to know if there will be refills!

Now for the Hollywood factor: Inside the compact lid, surrounding the mirror, are eight tiny LED lights. Touch a little button at one side and the lights are on! The effect is that of a movie star sitting in front of the makeup mirror rimmed with light bulbs, getting ready for her next scene. It's absolutely whimsical and delightful and fun, and now you know why I hope there will be refills available for this adorable compact. Everything about it is luxury, and yet everything about it is practical and useable and versatile, too.
I'm eager to find out what The King will do next to attract me to the Armani counter. I like being dazzled!

Tussah: I have liked and worn Armani department store fragrances for quite some time, my favorites being Armani code for women & Armani mania. But I was totally blown away by the Armani Prive fragrances. The first time I heard of or saw a presentation of them was a fun time out with the Cleveland perfume gang. Cavewoman was presenting our friend Shawn with a boxed set of samples of 4. It was by far the most beautiful presentation of perfume samples I have ever seen. The boxes are as elegant as the contents. Inside were 4 egg-shaped “stones” of different natural colors. They were magnetized vessels holding the lovely glass samples of the 4 special fragrances. The presentation was modern, yet organic, glowing, cool to the touch and yet warm. Totally lovely.

I was graciously allowed to sample these fragrances & fell in love with Bois d’encens. It truly is the best of the best. An intense, but cashmere-like incense fragrance, it is enveloping, soft and yet vital. The drydown is amazingly lovely as the perfume seems to become part of you, not just something on you. It is a perfect fragrance when you need something very special, something mood altering, something that throughout the day reminds you that you did something good for your soul.

Annieytown: I have a co-worker who has the most amazing chemistry when it comes to fragrance. You can detect every note from the top to the very end of the drydown on her skin.

She has been blessed with the perfect skin chemistry. She can wear anything well except for Angel. Angel turns terrifying on her wrist. I actually recoiled and winced.

So...the first time I fell for Armani Code was due to her. The day it came out she was wearing it loud and proud. She had a swing in her step and a tune in her ear. I was my usual crabby self so her happiness instantly made me pause. Then I caught her Code sillage and knew instantly why she was so damn happy.

She smelled fabulous and knew it.

Soon I was demanding her to wear it every day.
It became almost like an aromatherapy spray in our department. Work was not so bad if my co-worker brought her Code bottle. It was becoming a crutch and I was not even wearing it.
I am a current Code owner along with most of the bath products.
The drydown is what I love when it comes to Code. It has a wonderful warm mixture of orange blossom, woods and vanilla.
It is comforting like a cashmere blanket, a cup of coffee with vanilla nut creamer and a new episode of Greys Anatomy.

Its that good.

Seriously.

The notes are Blood Orange, Ginger, Pear Sorbet, Sambac Jasmine, Orange Blossom, Seringa Flower, Lavender Honey, Precious Woods Complex and Vanilla.
Armani Code is available at Sephora.com.
Armani cosmetics are available at select SAKS.

What is your favorite Armani product? Let us know in the comments.

Photos are from Cavewoman and Blogdorf Goodman

Side note: I am so smitten with cavewoman's new Armani compact. I love the lights.

Disclosure: All the products in this post were purchased by the reviewers.