Love's always been my game...

A review of Lancôme Rouge in Love and Vernis in Love
By Jessica M and Angie W

Annie has been curious about Lancôme’s spring products for a while, so she when she shared her invitation to Lancôme’s launch of its new Rouge in Love (lipsticks) and Vernis in Love (nail polish) lines, we were happy to attend the party and report back to her.

Lancôme held its event at the jewelry boutique of cult designer Solange Azagury-Partridge on Madison Avenue in Manhattan. The shop is a gorgeous little space, like a combination of Aladdin’s cave and a private nightclub from the 1970s. It has red walls studded with tiny crystals, a rainbow-patterned carpet, and shadowboxes and vitrines displaying colorful, unusual pieces of jewelry. Showstoppers include the Zodiac inspired ring collection; Angie had her eye on an white enamel Aries ram’s head ring. Jessica couldn’t take her eyes off a glamour-Goth ring of tiny white-gold “bones” surrounding a shimmery, diamond encrusted skull.

Between admiring the gems, sipping complimentary champagne, and nibbling caviar hors d’oeuvres, we were offered lipstick applications by Lancôme makeup artists who chose colors for us. Lancôme has divided the colors into three categories: Jolis Matins (M) for classic daytime wear, Boudoir Time (B) for trendier looks, and Tonight is My Night (N) for glamorous evenings out.

Angie was dressed up in Rouge Valentine, a classic blue-red pin-up shade (185N). She was also intrigued by Cocoa Couture (292N, pictured), a deep, chocolate wine shade that would have suited Theda Bara, and Midnight Rose (377N, pictured), a vibrant fuschia that will look gorgeous for spring and summer.

Meanwhile, Jessica was matched with Roses in Love (353M, pictured). Its muted-bright medium pink brings a fresh glow to the face, so she’ll be wearing it well into 2012!

Rouge in Love’s colors appear matte in the tube, but they apply with a silky finish and a slight sheen. Their texture feels like a lip balm and the color has terrific, even coverage. The packaging is a little bit contemporary and a little bit retro: the matte silver cap has a line of red “stitching” running down the back, like the seam of a stocking!

Lancôme also gifted its guests with free Vernis in Love manicures at this party. Angie gravitated towards Vernis in Love in Rose Thé (350M) a muted, brownish pink, while Jessica fell for Rose Plumetis (300M, pictured), a cool-toned rosebud pink with a creme finish. Angie also admired Madame Tulipe (179M), a deep reddish wine, and many women at the event adored Rose Pitimini (343B), a vibrant cotton candy pink. The polishes apply smoothly and easily, thanks to a specially grooved and tapered brush, and two coats give full coverage that lasts for days.

Overall, the Solange boutique was the perfect setting for trying Lancôme’s romantic, lushly colored new lipsticks and polishes. Have you seen Rouge in Love or Vernis in Love in person yet? Have you found any favorite shades for this spring? Feel free to share in the comments!

Lancôme Rouge in Love ($25) is available at the Lancôme website and Lancôme counters. Vernis in Rouge ($15) is currently exclusive to Nordstrom and the Lancôme website; it will reach all Lancôme counters in May 2012.

Title: lyrics from “Falling in Love Again,” performed by Marlene Dietrich.
Photographs by Jessica M and Angie W for Blogdorf Goodman; ads courtesy of Lancôme.
Disclaimer: products were offered by Lancôme for review

Lancôme’s Spring 2012 Collection: Roseraie Des Delices

I just opened the press release for Lancome's Spring 2012 collection.  I had to post it because it looks like a spring collection should look like.  It is bright cool waters and whispery pinks. Like a tropical paradise.
You just want to jump in that picture. I love the looks of the pink powder with the etched Lancome rose and that lipstick tube. I am currently having a "mint" moment.

I have been "missing in action" once again.  I want to thank everyone who has checked in with me on twitter.
A special shout out and thank you to ellemazing101, selfstyledsiren, boisdejasmin, alyssaharad and lipstickrose for the final push to get this blog back into gear.  My friend Christine is going to revamp and convert the blog to Wordpress.  If you have any ideas to make this site better and modern....please contact me or leave a comment.  I have been out of the game...so I need to know what gets on readers nerves...besides not blogging!


Back to spring and new beginnings.....
 
Inspired by a rose garden on a balmy, tranquil afternoon, the collection features blush, eyeshadow palettes, and lip colors in soft pinks and greens.
Aaron De Mey hoped to capture the palette of summer nature, translating water, sun and sky into makeup shades that illuminate both sun-kissed and fair complexions.

Cheeks
La Roseraie Illuminating Powder, is a multi-color powder blush embossed with a delicate rose. This looks so pretty!

Eyes
Color Design 5 Pan Shadow and Liner Palette, $49 – in Rose Romance and Vert Tendresse

Lips
Le French Touch Absolu Nu, $35 in Cotton Candy – Sheer pink lipstick in playful ornate packaging

L’Absolu Nu Replenishing & Enhancing Lipcolor, $29.50 – Rose Petal and Sweet Marmalade

Color Fever Gloss, $26 –Green Petal, Tangerine Petal and Rose Petal

Credits: Lancome

Wishful Thinking

By Melanie Parker

When the MAC Bloggers’ Obsession Collection launched this month, I was excited. It is always good when a company embraces the opinions of those who truly love products, colors, and are tuned into what is missing from the market place. We've already seen great things when bloggers partner with nail polish manufacturers like Zoya, Rescue Beauty Lounge, and Barielle.

None of the Lipglass shades grabbed me, but I had high hopes for a couple of the shadows. Jealousy Wakes is a fantastic green that I am going to covet and use sparingly. It’s like the biggest, clearest, sparkliest emerald that could possibly be captured in a pot. Kudos to Christine Mielke of Temptalia for developing a true green shadow that isn’t too gold or too blue. It should work well on all skin types. It is the shadow that will eclipse Parrot for makeup collectors.

But I was even more excited about the possibilities of Hocus Pocus. Billed as a sooty charcoal gray, I had heard some buzz that it had a khaki cast and the sparkle in the early swatches gave me high hopes that Hocus Pocus was going to be Lancome’s Erika F. coming stateside after all of these years.

I am lucky to have a Lancome Erika F. shadow that little Miss Blogdorf brought me back from Paris. I wore it every day for a month straight, which is unheard of for me because I often like to keep it simple with a light vanilla shadow for work. But Erika F. has a smokey, sagey wisdom to it paired with the fun of a antique golden microglitter.

So, my hopes that the new MAC Hocus Pocus would wow me like Erika F. weren’t dashed when I opened the box. I thought it had potential. But when I put it on, and it is darker, grayer, and it loses its sparkle. It was wishful thinking on my part that the greatness of Erika F could be duplicated. I like the Lancome formula better, and the color is really something special. I'm going to have to continue to use it sparingly. Damn it!

That said, Hocus Pocus is probably a more wearable shadow because it doesn’t have as much shimmer and sparkle to it. It’s dark and smokey, and when used wet it makes a great liner. And no offense to Ms. F., but I like the bewitching name better. Thank you to Lianne Farbes of The Makeup Girl for providing us with the most versatile shadow in the MAC Bloggers' Obsession collection.

Disclaimer: These products were purchased by the reviewer online @ http://www.maccosmetics.com/whats_new/6311/index.tmpl
All Photos by Melanie Parker
The photos feature Lancome's Erika F eyeshadow and MAC Hocus Pocus only.
Lancome's Erika F is not available in the United States.  It can be found at Lancome Boutiques across Europe and Asia. Just look at the most used eye shadow in the tester unit.....that will be Erika F!!!!!!!!!!!

40 Days and 40 Nights of Fragrance Notes: Rose

Everything's Is Coming Up Roses
by Patti F

My relationship with the rose had a rocky start. My next-door neighbor, many years ago, had asked me to come to dinner with her and a few other ladies, and I accepted gladly. That is, until I got in the car with her. I asked her what fragrance she was wearing, and she happily said "Ombre Rose." I was nauseous before we even got to the restaurant. I figured I hated rose scents and that was that.

Fast-forward about twelve years. My sister was in New York City with 40 of her fashion merchandising students from Indiana University. She asked me to meet her there, and I was privileged to tag along to some of their scheduled events. We headed to Bloomingdales one afternoon to meet Mary McFadden in the lingerie department where she was launching her new line of sleepwear. On our way to the escalators, a fragrance SA asked if she could spray my wrists with their newest scent, and I said yes, it seemed so chic to me and I was so caught up in the whole experience that I did not even stop to ask what it was.
We met Mary (charming! Bloomingdales would not allow us to take photos, even though Mary had given her approval) and ooh'd and ahhh'd over her pretty designs. When our event was finished, we headed back down to the beauty floor. And I headed to the SA to purchase whatever she had sprayed on me, I smelled divine. That scent was Paris by Yves Saint Laurent, and I had no idea what was in it, but I had to have it.


I was now a rose scent lover. And for the last 28 years, I've worn and loved Paris. I have used up more bottles of Paris than any other scent I've ever had. I continue to love it so much that it delights me now as much as it did that first day. I wear the Springtime editions too, and I especially love the pretty bottles. Nuit De Fete is what you see in the photo, my favorite of all.

Of course, being a fragrance lover, I wanted to try other rose scents. The failures were many. Nahema by Guerlain, Lutece by Houbigant, and Tea Rose by The Perfumers Workshop were all too pungent and bitter for me, as was Guerlain's Rose Barbare. Others were too green, like MAC Dejarose, Jo Malone Red Roses, and Creed's Fleurs De The Rose Bulgare. Some were more of a floral blend than a real rose scent, like Quelques Roses (another Houbigant) and a few of the Rosines. I liked Caron's Rose but not enough to have it in my collection. I was thinking maybe Paris was the only rose scent I would ever really love. And then, in 2000, at the Lancome counter at our local department store, my SA showed me a pretty teardrop-shaped bottle and insisted that she try this fragrance on me. She said she'd never smelled anything like it and that it was a rose scent. I bought the bottle that day. The next day I went back and bought a second one. That scent was 2000 Et Une Rose, and was a limited edition to commemorate the end of the 90s and the beginning of a new century. (Yes, I know, technically it was the end of the century.)

2000 Et Une Rose is a magnificent, full-bodied, luscious rose scent with a peppery note that has never been duplicated. Nothing else smells like this scent. It is spicy and mysterious, memorable and incredibly satisfying. And gone from the counters within a week. I rationed myself with my two bottles, only an ounce each, and treasured them as long as I could. And then, in 2006, Lancome relaunched the fragrance with the new name, Mille Et Une Rose, and offered it for a too-short time in a beautiful 1.7oz Eau De Parfum along with several other older Lancome scents. Of course you know I repurchased. More than one and that's all I'm saying about that. The love affair continues.

Now, in my pursuit of rose scents, I've discovered so many more, that my friends now consider me to be "the one who loves rose perfumes." They send me sample vials of rose scents and tell me about new launches. I'm happy to show you a few that I love right now. Bond No. 9 has three of my favorites, West Side (a sophisticated rose blended with sandalwood and peony,) Harrods Rose (with a touch of narcissus and tuberose) and Saks-En-Rose (voluptuous rose with spices, woods, and amber.) I discovered the fabulous limited edition Givenchy Harvest 2006 Very Irresistible Rosa Centifolia at Nordstroms and have loved its unusual balance of soft rose petals and deep woods. That one came and went so quickly that it is almost impossible to find any more. And subsequent rose "harvests" have never made it to the perfume counters in our area.

Lately, some perfumers are blending the rare oud note with roses. They balance well with one another. Bond offers their Signature Perfume and the new New York Oud, and from Kilian, the gorgeous Rose Oud that captivated me so instantly that my wrists were barely dry with the sample vial dabs that I was already on the computer, making my purchase!
I'm always on the lookout (or is it sniff-out?) for new rose scents. Of course, not all of them are going to end up on my dresser tray, but after my Paris encounter at Bloomingdales, I know I'll try every rose scent that I can. Maybe some day I'll fall that fast in love again with another rose. In the meantime, I'm happy to wear the beautiful rose scents in my collection.

Tell us which rose scent is your favorite!

Disclosure: The reviewer has purchased the perfumes mentioned in this post. Some might have been gifts.

Day 3: Roses

Reviewer: Patti aka Cavewoman

Photo Credit: Patti F

Graphic Credit: Melanie Parker

Title Credit: Everything's Coming Up Roses" is a song from the 1959 Broadway musical Gypsy, with lyrics by Stephen Sondheimm and music by Jule Stynee.

Mila "Sweet Lips" Kunis in Lancome

Celebrity makeup artist Tracey Levy took inspiration for Mila Kunis’ Oscar look directly from the star’s bold yet feminine lilac gown. The result—sultry and beautifully defined.

Face
Teint Miracle Lit-from-Within Foundation
Blush Subtil in Sheer Amourose

Eyes
Color Design 5 Pan Palette in Coral Crush
Color Design Eye Shadow in Impress
Le Crayon Khôl EyeLiner in Black
Hypnôse Waterproof Custom Volume Mascara in Black

Lips
Color Fever Gloss in Blazing Pink
La Laque Fever Lipshine in Lucent Nude

Credit: Getty Images and Lancome PR

Queen Cate: Robin Fredriksz for Lancome

Celebrity makeup artist Robin Fredriksz made up Cate Blanchett in icy cool tones that complemented her pale lavender gown. The focus: softly defined smoky eyes.

Face Breakdown:
SK-II skincare, including mask, under-eye pads and moisturizer, to prep skin Teint Lancome's Miracle Lit-from-Within Foundation
Lancome's Blush Subtil in Miel Glace

Eyes:
Color Design Eye Shadow in Latte (all over the eyes)
Color Design Eye Shadow in Volcano (in the crease)
Color Design Eye Shadow in Ciel du Soir (as liner on lid and lower lash line)
Définicils Precious Cells Mascara in Black

Lips:
Color Design Lipcolor in Pale Lip

Credit: Zimbio via TFS and Lancome PR

American Gothic: Lancome & Chris Benz Fall 2011

Chris Benz had a Southern Gothic sensibility on his mind when creating his Fall 2011 collection. Indeed, it was his recent travels to Savannah, Georgia, for his role as a mentor at The University for Creative Careers (SCAD), which sparked a collection brimming with dark beauty. To counter this lady-like look, lead makeup artist Daniel Martin went colorful, with a look that was “a little off,” said Daniel, starring a “slept-in” eye, matte skin and bitten lips.

Daniel created two different looks using Lancôme’s new Color Design 5 Shadow and Liner Palette and L’Absolu Nu Lipstick (out in March). Some of the models wore a mix of blue-toned shadows paired with a rose stained lip while others donned aubergine eyes with a muted berry pout. Skin was matte with just a hint of color on the cheeks. Two nail colors were used, Noir 29 (black with a pinch of gold shimmer) and Bang Bang Red (a classic orange-red).

Assisting Daniel Martin was the Lancôme National Makeup Artist team. This is the first time that this talented group of artists has joined forces during Fashion Week. You’ll be hearing more about the team, which includes Tarek Abbas, Darais, Manuel Villegas, Alex Sanchez, Ricardo Costales, Jason Leong and Robert Cook, very soon.

SKIN:
Teint Idole Foundation and Blush Subtil in Mauve Coquette

EYES:
Color Design 5 Pan Palette in Teal Fury (blue eye) and Color Design 5 Pan Palette in Mauve Cherie (aubergine eye)
Le Stylo eyeliner in Noir
Hypnôse Mascara in Black

LIPS:
L’Absolu Nu in Evening Lace (paired with blue eye) and L’Absolu Nu in Satin Toffee (paired with aubergine eye)

NAILS:
Le Vernis in Bang Bang Red and Noir 29 (coming Fall 2011)


Credit: Lancome PR
Photo Credit:Cameron Krone

Lipstick Love Affair

Lancome is having a lippie moment!
Spend $35 on Lancome-usa.com, enter code XOXO and get three full-size lipsticks free! Offer ends on 2/16/2011 (today)!
You have until 11:59am EST.

Happy shopping!

Credit:Lancome PR

Falling in love again....

Review of Lancome Tresor In Love EDP

by MUA's Cavewoman

Autumn arrives today.

I'm not quite sure of the exact time that this will occur, but the morning news programs are abuzz withall things Fall, showing home decor ideas, recipes using seasonal produce, and fun fashions for the coming cool weather.It hasn't been a terribly hot Summer here in Northeast Ohio, and the thought of snow and ice on the way in a few monthsscares me so much. Last Winter, our house suffered some very serious damage from all the ice and snow. We are just now finishing up all the repairs, which went so much deeper than just the roof. I don't want this change of season.

I'm not ready.

Usually around this time of year, I'm eager to set aside my light, warm-weather fragrances, and I start thinking of spices, woods,and rich floral perfumes. These are the ones I tend to set aside when the hot weather comes, reaching into my fragrance collection for citrusy, effervescent, breezy-light florals and fizzy fruits. When cooler weather begins, I'm happy to rediscover all thebigger, deeper scents that I have not used for months.

But not now, not today. I don't mind cooler Fall weather and the wardrobe change it brings, in terms of pretty sweatersand scarves and jackets, but I am also painfully aware that Winter is not far behind. I don't want it. I'm rebelling against the official change of season today. And I'm wearing a beautiful Summer scent, the new Tresor In Love Eau De Parfum, recently launched by Lancome.

When I read that this new Tresor In Love would have rose and violet notes, I had to get to the Lancome counter as quickly as I could. Anything with rose and violet together is usually a big hit with me. It's my favorite note combo. I didn't have much feeling for the fruit notes(peach, pear, mandarin and bergamot) in the top notes, I was only interested in how the rose and violet would smell. I found the beautiful tall, slender bottle at the Lancome counter, and I sprayed my wrist. The peach note was the first and most dominant of the fruits, fun and juicy, easy to take, smelling more like the skin of the fruit than the pulp itself. This could be the best peach note in a fragrance since I Profumidi Firenze Florentia #22, which up until now has been my favorite peachy scent. I never did get the peach note that so many people say they find in Mitsouko. It took about a half hour on my wrist for the peach to fade and the rose-violet to appear, and when it did, I was buying. I prefer my rose-violet to be on the sweet side, rather than the green-stemmy type, and this is exactly how they appeared. The woodsy base notes balance perfectly with the florals, and lasting power is amazing! Here is a fruity-floral with real staying power, depth, and dimension. It's beautiful from top to bottom.

I had to wonder, for a moment or two, why Lancome would launch a fruity floral scent at the end of the Summer season, when most of the other fragrance launches tend to head toward the smoky, woodsy, incensey notes. And I love them, don't get me wrong. It'll be time soon enough to start wearing them, but I'm just not ready. I'm clinging to warm weather and sandals and striped tees for as long as I can, and loving a new fragrance to ease the transition. Maybe Lancome had this in mind when they decided to launch Tresor In Love at the end of Summer. I'll be reaching for Tresor In Love until the first snowflake flies. I hope that won't be for a very, very long time.

Disclosure: This perfume was purchased by the reviewer!

Photo Credit: Cavewoman

Dog Days of Summer

The Lancôme Boutique in NYC’s Upper West Side is kicking off the summer with “The Paws for Beauty” event tomorrow, Saturday, June 19th. Chat with a Lancôme makeup artist while your pup snacks on gourmet goodies. Listen in as dog trainer extraordinaire Andrea Arden shares her tips for caring for a pet through the hot summer months. Even our own Miss Juicy Tubes, Lancôme’s Mollie Winerock, will be there with her adorable Yorkie, Lucy.

Lucy is an adorable pixie!

10% of the total sales during this event will be donated to the Humane Society of New York.

This Is Planet Earth

Happy Earth Day!

Lancome's Juicy Tubes are celebrating their 10th Bday! In a few short years...that lippie will be going through the teenage years! Expect some angst and rebellion!

I kid. I kid.

Anyway...to celebrate this beauty birthday and earth day, Lancome has launched Juicy Tubes 100% Natural Origin, a limited-edition collection with honey as its main ingredient. The formula, flavors and pigments are 100% natural origin and preservative-free.

The ingredients are Hungarian honey, royal jelly extract, beeswax and shea butter. The flavors are
vanilla, apricot and raspberry. The colors are

Pink Precious, Rose Pretty,Blushing Beauty and Sheerfully Sweet. They give you just a hint of color and a whole lot of shine. They retail for $18 and are currently available at your local Lancome counter and lancome-usa.com

For Earth Day 2010, it was a natural fit to partner with Lancôme spokesmodel and environmentalist Elettra Wiedemann’s charity, Justonefrickinday.com. Its mission is to unify and concentrate available resources onto a small number of special charity projects around the world. By logging on its website, you can calculate and donate just one day of your daily pay to make a difference. The charity’s latest project will raise funds to help install Solar Electric Panels that will provide sustainable power to a hospital in one of world’s poorest countries, Burundi.

Also, from April 22nd through April 25th, anyone who purchases Juicy Tubes 100% Natural Origin at the Lancôme Boutique on the Upper West Side in NYC will receive a complimentary limited edition tee. The T-shirts were created by House of Diehl, Rag & Bone, Giambattista Valli, Rogan, Chris Benz and Phillip Lim, to help champion Elettra’s cause!

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

I will be giving away a Juicy Tube gloss(Blushing Beauty) and a t-shirt courtesy of Lancome.

Tell us what you do to help conserve the planet's resources.

My parents have been composting since the 1970s.

We compost everything from coffee grounds to egg shells.

Disclosure: No anon comments. Please leave a name and email address.

I have to keep this contest within the United States due to shipping costs.
The products are samples from Lancome.

Chris Benz at Saks Fifth Avenue!

Chris Benz is doing a personal appearance at the Saks Fifth Avenue Lancôme counter in Manhattan tomorrow. He’ll be signing lipsticks and sharing the inspiration for his Spring 2010 collection. Saks is the official retailer for Chris & Tell and this is one of the only counters that has any lipsticks left. Lippies were reserved for Chris’s personal appearance.

Chris & Tell,was created specifically for the Chris Benz Spring 2010 presentation held in September. Since its debut earlier this month, it’s become one of the fastest-selling lipsticks in the Lancôme Pout-à-Porter designer lipstick series. Six hundred of the lipsticks sold on lancome-usa.com in just 48 hours.

Mr Benz is happy to sign any perviously purchased Chris & Tell lippies. So if you have some time today...go visit him at Saks in NYC at 5pm.

The Deets:

Chris Benz Personal Appearance
Thursday, Feb. 18th
Saks Fifth Avenue Lancôme counter
Fifth Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets
5 to 7 p.m.

Let us know if you attend!

Mudhoney

Chris Benz Fall/Winter 2010 Collection
By Jessica M and Angie W

The Inspiration: Chris Benz reminisced about his Seattle background
and the girls he knew in school. He imagined spirited, rebellious
girls misbehaving and being sent on an “Outward Bound” program for
some rehabilitation, but wearing their fancy clothes in the middle of
the wilderness.

How to get the look: Makeup artist Daniel Martin, who is also a
Seattle native, thought back to the brown lipstick and matte makeup of
the 1990s “grunge” era. He revisited 90s-style brown lipstick, using
newer, sheer coverage to make it more contemporary. For the face, he
chose warm shades that worked with the intense oranges and browns in
Benz’s collection, and he created a dark, rocker-ish eye look for the
“experimental” Benz girl. (Unless otherwise noted, all products were
by Lancôme.)

Face: Models’ faces were lightly enhanced with Photôgenic Lumessence
foundation and Shu Uemura translucent powder, and their cheeks were
brushed with Blush Subtil in Cappucine.

Lips: Martin led his team in a three-step lip look. Le Crayon Poudre
brow pencil in Sable was used to fill the upper lip and the corners of
the lower lip. Matte lipstick in a chocolate-brown shade from the
Fall 2010 Lancôme collection (still unnamed) was applied to the lower
lip, pulling the liner inwards from the corners. A dab of Juicy Tubes
gloss in Touched By Light highlighted the lower lip.

Eyes: Eyelids were coated with a layer of a new crème-gel eye shadow
that will be launched in Fall 2010: this glittery black shade has a
working name of “Caviar Sparkle.” The insides of lower lids were
lined with Le Stylo waterproof eyeliner in Noir.

Nails: Manicurists applied two coats of Sweet Nude, a creamy
peachy-pink that will released by Lancôme later this year.

Hair: Head stylist John Ruidant created hair with a roughed-up feel,
to complement the textures of the clothing in Benz’s collection. He
separated the hair into two sections. The lower section was braided
in an angled French braid across the back of the head, with a ponytail
looped back up to cover part of the braid. The hair on the crown of
the head was twisted, knotted, and looped for a haphazard look.
Ruidant and his stylists used two Redken products: Fabricate 03
Heat-Active Texturizer and Workforce 09 Flexible Volumizing Spray.

Credit: Jessica M and Angie W for Blogdorf Goodman

My Day Has Finally Come!

Lancome has finally done a post on the joys and mysteries surrounding Erika F eye shadow.

***does a spin and twirl***

Check it out at the Lancome Blog http://www.thelancomeblog.com/

Lancome Gift With Purchase At Saks

Lancôme’s is running a gift-with-purchase promotion that runs until this Friday, January 30th, exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue.

If you spend $50 at the Lancôme counter, you will receive a black mini bowling bag filled with a slew of makeup samples, such as a Color Design eye shadow compact featuring several star shades, Color Design Lipcolor in Pale Lip and the always-popular Définicils Mascara. Choose your own anti-aging trio, including a day cream, eye cream and serum, from the Rénergie, High Résolution or Absolue Premium βx collections.

Lancome's Spring line has arrived at your local counters. The Chris Benz lippie is a hot along with the green themed palette. I am beyond OBSESSED with the palette.

A Rose Is A Rose

Rose Byrne's beauty look was lovely and breathtakingly simple. I loved the pink cheeks, subtle smoky eye and flushed lip. It was all achieved with Lancome products.

Ana Marie(the MA) prepped the skin with Secret de Vie Toner (her favorite!) and then applied Lancôme Bienfait Multi Vital moisturizer to keep skin hydrated and fresh.

Lancôme Absolue Foundation in Ecru was applied with a foundation brush and blended with a makeup sponge. This helps the foundation go on evenly and keep the skin looking radiant.

To create a sultry smokey eye, Ana Marie used Lancôme Eyeshadow Quad in Innocence Couture. The Positive shade was swept all over the eyelid and Fashion Scoop and Backstage Pass were blended just to the lash line and smudged. Next, Lancôme Artliner in Noir was used to create a cat line for extra drama. Lancôme Définicils Waterproof Mascara in Black coated the top and bottom lashes.

Lancôme Color Design Cream Blush in Petticoat Pink (Why have I not purchased this yet?) was dabbed on the apples of the cheek and then topped with a powder blush, Lancôme Blush Subtil in Cedar Rose. This technique helps keep the cheek color fresh all day, even with the rain!

Shu Uemura Loose Powder in Translucent was dusted on the T-zone to create a matte complexion.

Finally, Lancôme Juicy Tubes in Simmer gave Rose her ultra-glossy pout.

Credits: Lancome and wireimage

Your kiss is on my list: review of Lancôme Rouge Absolu Lipstick in Chris & Tell

By Jessica M and Angie W

Back in September, we were invited (as Blogdorf representatives!) to attend the backstage preparations for Chris Benz’s Spring 2010 ready-to-wear show during New York Fashion Week. We were able to watch makeup artist Daniel Martin at work, and we even met the designer himself. Since Lancôme will be releasing its newest “Pout-a-Porter” lipstick in February, and 2010’s shade is a collaboration with Chris Benz, this seemed like a good time to recap our visit to the Benz show.

Chris Benz’s spring collection was inspired by Cheryl Tiegs in the 1970s and by the Memphis architectural design group of the 1980s, and these influences were translated into exuberant colors and playful patterns of dots and stripes in a line of youthful, uptown-goes-downtown designs.

The makeup for the show was also lively but easygoing; Daniel Martin said that he always tries to achieve a “do-it-yourself” effect in his work with Chris Benz. He used Lancôme’s Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate on the models' skin, Color Design eye shadow in Honeymoon crushed and pressed onto the eyelid, Hypnôse Drama mascara in Black, and the new Pop‘N Cheeks blush mosaic in Coral Flirt. (We also spied a row of Shu Uemura Nobara stick foundations!)

However, the overall makeup look revolved around the lipstick: all the models wore the new Pout-a-Porter Rouge Absolu lippie, whose name – Chris & Tell – had just been chosen through a contest on Chris Benz’s Facebook page. The color was developed by Chris and Daniel, with input from their friend Elettra Wiedemann, who is also a model and a Lancôme muse. Chris recalled that they kept gravitating towards orange-y shades, and they ended up with a pinkish coral that looks slightly different on everybody who wears it.

Daniel applied Chris & Tell directly from the tube or dabbed it on with a fingertip for this show; no lip brushes were used. As he said, "What makes it modern is keeping the face fresh.” The result was a soft and effortless style, a natural look that did remind us a little bit of Cheryl Tiegs in her heyday, with the lipstick as the finishing touch.

Coral lipsticks were definitely popular in the 70s, but Chris & Tell doesn’t have that outdated frosty or chalky look: it’s matte, but just creamy enough to look clean and young. And, as Daniel suggested, if you want to give the color more dimension, just add a balm underneath or a clear gloss over it.

Annie has a sample of Chris & Tell, and she’ll be reviewing it here in the near future. In the meantime, if you’re hoping to own a Chris & Tell lipstick of your own, contact your local Saks Fifth Avenue or Lancôme boutique to put your name on the waiting list!

Photos credit: Jessica M and Angie W
Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Lancome.

Visions of Sugar Plums

Lancome Ink Artliner in Plum Tease

Plum Tease artliner is a murky violet shade. It is not exactly smoky but it is not a fresh plum picked from the tree. There is a little mystery there. I was impressed with the pigment power. The formula is whipped smooth and glides on the eye like a waltz. I found it to be smoother and creamier than Indigo Charm.

It contains no shimmer, metal sheen or spark. It looks smashing with grey or taupe eye shadows.

It retails for $23.50 and can be found at your local Lancome counter or online at http://www.lancome-usa.com/makeup/eye-pencils-and-liners/ink-artliner.htm?varcode=3605975038583

Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by Lancome

Last Minute Gift Ideas

Lancome's Holiday Eye & Cheek Palette.

This palette features six silky Color Design shadows plus a Blush Subtil, encased in an elegant and colorful compact.

Available in four limited edition color families: Plum Irresistible, Nude Seduction, Alluringly Bronze and Evening Splendor, pictured here.

These palettes retail for $39.50 each. All are available on lancome-usa.com.

Lancome Boutique Discount

From December 11th and through Friday, December 18th, treat yourself to a holiday-friendly 20% discount at any of the five Lancôme boutiques. Print out the invite and present it to receive the discount!

The boutiques are as follows:

MANHATTAN
201 Columbus Avenue(at 69th Street)

New York, NY 10023

212-362-4858

THE MALL AT SHORT HILLS
1200 Morris Turnpike

Short Hills, NJ 07078

973-258-0790

VALLEY FAIR
2855 Stevens Creek Blvd

Santa Clara, CA 95050

408-244-8334

THE BREA MALL
1065 Brea Mall

Brea, CA 92821

714-671-0267

NORTHPARK
1030 NorthPark Center

Dallas, TX 75225

214-750-9364

Let us know what you cave on!
Happy Shopping!