Into the Barely-There Blue

This should be the only blue eye color allowed to be anywhere near your eyes. Avon’s mineral make-up collection includes a smooth mineral eyeshadow in a shade called “Pixie Dust.” It is one of the lightest mineral powders around and allows for a flawless and foolproof application. The inner cap has a small opening that permits just enough of the shadow to adhere to a small brush. (The outer cap keeps the powder firmly in place when not in use.) When the mineral powder is dusted on the eyelids the effect is a light sprinkling of highlights with the merest, most subtle hint of blue.

This Avon eye makeup is blue eyeshadow that is not blue eyeshadow. It is more like a soft kiss of a dusting of the palest, barely- blue. Wear it now to put you in the mood for Spring or to complement the snowy difts of Winter.

Beautiful Bonus from Borghese

There is a very reliable rumor circulating that Borghese is having a fabulous sale. But it is ephemeral so remember the date. Borghese—the name that signifies, as they promise, “ the tradition of Italian classic beauty and modern sensibility” has tempting collections of skincare, make-up, fragrance, hair care, and more as well as a men’s line.

Here is the ephemeral part. For one-day only, you can receive 25% off anything and everything (your complete order, no minimum) when you order online at http://www.borghese.com/. Simply enter the promo code – LASTCHANCE at the checkout. The sale starts at 12:01 am on Tuesday, December 16th and ends at 11:59 pm on December 16th.

With a genuine offer like this, who needs TARP Funds?

Mask-Away Stress

The Purify Self-Heating Mask (sugg. retail price ($5.99) from Bioré deserves another mention.

Right about now just might be a good time to apply the contents of this little power-packed capsule and massage it into your face. And it is easy to open—no “tear-here” tantrums-- unlike some other packaging that instructs “tear here” and no amount of tearing will work--especially nerve-wracking if you are trying to get ready for a shower and don’t have any scissors handy.

The self-heating mask fulfills the promise of a relaxing skin revitalizer…and in only one minute. And there is absolutely no mess. You just massage the mask into your skin. The warmth feels wonderful and soothing—calming. Then you just rinse off and there you are, ready for anything new that comes your way.

Exceptional Exfoliants

One sure way to wake-up a tired complexion in the morning is to wash your face with a facial scrub. There is nothing like it to get your skin cells pumping. St. Ives Elements offers three different versions, each guaranteed to get your face ready for the day.

The Swiss-based St. Ives Laboratories, now a part of Alberto-Culver, with its world-wide line of botanically-based Swiss Formula skin and hair products has long offered a strong selection of high quality and still affordable products.

The most gentle is the Olive Scrub., a 5 oz tube containing olive oil and all-natural exfoliants. The Olive Scrub does exactly what it says—“gently exfoliates while leaving skin moisturized.” It is very easy on the skin and is one of the most mild exfoliants on the market. Another, Microdermabrasion, has fine mineral crystals and chamomile to “gently smooth away the appearance of fine lines.” The texture is not at all gritty and the sloughing particles are so fine all you feel is a tingling. Then there is St. Ives new Warming Scrub, which “relaxes pores for a deeper clean”. It heats with contact with water and makes a rich lather and feels very comforting and at the same time invigorating.

All are refreshing wake-up calls for a still-sleepy complexion.

Bridging Beauty Careers and Bridging Life

We usually write about a specific product in this space but this time we are taking a look at a person behind a well-known brand. This interview was published by Cosmetic Executive Women, Inc. ( www.cew.org ) a nonprofit professional organization of more than 4,000 executives in the beauty, cosmetics, fragrance, and related industries. CEW is based in NYC, and has associated organizations in France and the United Kingdom.

Sonia Kashuk, president and creative director of Sonia Kashuk, Inc., has step by step transformed herself from makeup artist to beauty business executive. Her nine-year-old signature cosmetics collection, long exclusive to Target, has just made a highly unusual leap expanding distribution into the prestige sector with the addition of Space NK shops in Bloomingdale’s. Next year, the line will debut overseas at Space NK stores in the United Kingdom.

How did your makeup career begin?
I helped with the makeup for the music video for the song Funkytown in the early ‘80s. That experience just pulled everything together for me. I remember thinking, `yes, I am going to go to beauty school now.’ Because at the time, you had to be licensed to do makeup, not just for hair like it is today. When I started doing makeup, it focused my energy.

What came after beauty school?
I went to work at a salon, running the makeup department and counter. Clients would get their hair done and I would do their makeup. Within a month of doing that, I knew I was more interested in being a freelancer. I started working on fashion shows and picking up other freelance jobs. I was having an incredible career in Minneapolis, but I knew New York was where I had to go.

How did you prepare for that jump?I studied fashion magazines.
I was so impressed with the work of makeup artist Linda Mason. She used bold washes and stripes of colors. I desperately wanted to meet her. But I wasn’t having much luck until her agent hired me to help on a show. At our first meeting, her face was painted green. She was trying out a look for the designer Willi Smith’s Williwear show. Linda eventually recommended me to the photographer Arthur Elgort. He took me under his wing. It changed my life.

What came next?
In the late 80s, I consulted with Aveda on a new makeup line and the brand’s overall creative direction. And I continued to travel for other assignments.

How did this lead to your relationship with Target?
I worked on a beauty book with Cindy Crawford, titled Cindy Crawford's Basic Face. It was published in 1996. The book tour took us to Target and other big box stores. At the time, Bobbi Brown and Francois Nars were establishing their prestige makeup artist lines. I got inspired to start a makeup artist line of amazing products at affordable prices. I found mass market makeup lines difficult to shop because they had too many color selections. If I found it this overwhelming, how must the typical woman feel? I wanted to do a more edited line. I got the name of a senior executive at Target and called. They’re always looking for new ideas and embraced the concept. I was the second designer, after Michael Graves, that they began working with.

How has your focus changed during the course of your career?When I launched my cosmetics line in 1999, it coincided with the birth of my second child. I realized that I loved doing makeup, but I also loved the concept of creating a brand and handling the business side. I was married with two children and wanted to be more in control of my own destiny. I didn’t want to be waiting for a phone call to know if I had a freelance job the next day. Now that my career has transitioned from makeup artist to beauty entrepreneur, I’m in control of it, instead of it controlling me.

How do you manage work and family?
Our offices are in the same building as my apartment. So when my kids come home from school they can pop in and say `hi.’ We could be sitting here working on [product] names and my kids might pull up a chair and work on names too. I love that about my office. It is not stiff and uptight. It is a creative, peaceful and calm environment.

In 2006 you were diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. You opted for a double mastectomy to give yourself some peace of mind. How did you handle serious health issues, while running a company?
My family has a history of breast cancer. So I had regularly been checked at Sloan Kettering. I got the news in May of 2006 and within a month underwent a lumpectomy to remove the tumor. I realized I had to schedule the most major surgery into my life. I didn’t do it until September 15th. I wanted to have everything organized beforehand. I had to carve out time. It is amazing that whatever you need to do in life you get through it. Target, and my vendors, were so incredibly supportive. Everyone did everything they could to help out. To help others, I partner with Target and the Breast Cancer Research Fund, and in 2009, will serve on the board of the CEW Foundation which supports the Cancer and Careers Program.

What do you think has helped foster your success? A lot of things have happened by my being a little bit aggressive and stepping over the line. What is the worst that can happen, other than someone saying, `no?’



CEW, 286 Madison Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10017

Snickerdoodle in the Shower

It is Philosophy’s philosophy that every day is a holiday. And the holiday collection of mouth-watering scents and fragrances will put even the grouchiest grump in a better mood to start the day. One unique Philosophy product is their 3 in 1 shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath elixir. It really can be used for any of the three purposes, and it does what you ask of each.

This multi-tasking, award-winning shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath formula cleans and conditions hair and skin in one easy step leaving them feeling soft, smooth and smelling delicious. It is a gentle yet thorough cleanser that will send your senses reeling with an array of fragrances so vast that you could try a new one every day for almost two months and still not have experienced all of them.

Some of the seasonally inspired scents include: Pumpkin Spice Muffin, Caramel Apple, Black Licorice, Café au Lait, Double Rich Hot Cocoa, Spicy Pear Cobbler, Orange Cranberry Spritzer, Angel Cakes, Snickerdoodle, Gingerbread--hungry yet? (No, we didn’t put these in the wrong products review page--they only sound and smell like they belong in our food review blog.) The flavor fragrances will delight anyone and inhaling the fresh food aromas may even help satisfy food cravings… maybe.

Our philosophy is that is that even if Philosophy made no other product except the fabulous 3 in 1, they would have lived up to their philosophy.

Just one suggestion--since the elixir is so deliciously thick and rich, it would be easier to get the liquid out of the container if it came with a pump. Idea?

About $16 to $20 each. And worth every cent--scent.

Intense Conditioning

Now that you’ve colored your hair, you’ll want a conditioner that goes beyond the little tube you got in the package. The response to the conditioner in Clairol’s Nice’ n Easy Perfect 10 hair coloring kit was so great that the company decided to offer the Color Seal Weekly Conditioning Gloss separately.

We agree. This conditioner really does live up to its name, making color-treated hair shinier, healthier and smoother and has the added benefit of helping to seal in the color.

The generous 58 ml. tube should last a long time since the conditioner only has to be applied once a week (and rinsed out after about two minutes). It is easy to open and apply in the shower and it protects your hair and your hair color. And it smells great.

Perfection in a Small Package

It is coming into the holiday season, and nothing, not even dreadful economic news, can change that. Leave it to Lancôme to come up with a selection that is sure to lightly thrill any woman on your list and also have them wondering how you knew what would be the perfect gift.

The collection is--C’est Magnifique, and it really is…...

Gothique Chic --If the gift recipient you have in mind is the one who stood on line at midnight to see the premiere of Twilight and pre-ordered Aaron De Mey’s black lip gloss – Lancôme suggests Le Vernis Nail Polish in Midnight Glam or Artliner in Midnight Glam. Both are a dark navy blue shade that’s right on trend for the holiday season!

Glamour Girl – Maybe the person you are shopping for would never even dream of leaving the house without her lipstick and nail polish on –--very Mad Men—then Lancôme suggests Le Vernis Nail Polish in In All Her Splendor. This is a beautiful, classic red that’s perfect for this festive season. Or perhaps one of the Color Design Eye Shadow Quads: Glamour Premiere creates a subtle, natural look, while Hollywood Seductive creates a more intense, dramatic look

Then there is Miss Fashionista – we all know at least one. The first to have the new issues of Vogue and Allure and always knows what is hot, even before you do. Lancôme suggests Juicy Tubes, which come with a special seasonal design and in an array of seasonal colors like Pretty in Pink, Luminous in Lace and Showered in Diamonds

These are all perfect manifestations of your good taste and also speak volumes about your knack for knowing exactly what to give.

Skincare for Men, but for Women, as well

Sometimes it is easy to forget that skin is not just a protective covering holding your insides in. Skin is an organ—an organ like your heart or your lungs. Skin is the body’s largest organ and it needs to be taken care of faithfully.

Skin is the body’s first line of defense and when it is healthy, it is able to withstand extreme conditions - heat, cold, wetness, dryness, abrasion - and even heal itself when damaged.

Vaseline has been making skincare products for some time now and lately they seem to have launched an impressive number of variations. Now they have a skincare line for men. The company states that men’s skin is thicker and more oily than women’s skin – so men need products that are specifically designed for their unique skin needs.

For men or women alike, lifestyle can dehydrate the skin without you even knowing it, since a day spent outdoors can drain at least ½ pint of water from skin and after a swim or a shower, it can take skin up to 8 hours to rehydrate.

Vaseline Men skin care products include:

Fast Absorbing Body & Face Lotion—the quick absorption is a plus for anyone.

Extra Strength Body & Face Lotion –this offers long lasting hydration to help severely dry skin heal itself

Extra Strength Hand Lotion -- relieves and heals dry, rough skin, including hands, elbows and feet, knees, and is also quick absorbing—important for anyone who doesn’t have time to wait for a greasy hand lotion to do its work so you can get on with yours.

There’s no reason women can’t use these skin care products as well, and while it may not seem necessary, other than the appeal of the new packaging, to have a skincare line just for men, if it gets them to protect and care for their skin, then, why not?

Beauty Training

Remember train cases-- those neat, little boxes with handles that held anything from make-up to tissue to favorite pieces of jewelry or other necessities you might need on the train during your journey? Your other suitcases could be packed away but not your train case. That had to be near you at all times. It doesn’t matter if the image of a train case and the possibilities it represents is in your memory from experience or from romantic scenes in films. Train cases have been making return appearances.

One such case comes to us from Lancôme, and is an elegant Beauty Box filled with a full size Bi-Facil and Définicils plus more than a dozen deluxe samples of their best-selling skincare and makeup products (total value of $339). But that’s not what you will pay. For just $49.50 with any $36.00 Lancôme purchase, you can have this chic train case. Starting right now, the black train case is available exclusively at Macy’s. The burgundy train case is available at http://www.lancome-usa.com/landing/beautybox.aspx. and at all other department stores beginning 11/23/08.

Supplies are limited so don’t wait too long to get the first piece of what could be the luggage that takes you on a new adventure. Or could be a lovely gift for someone else.

Purely Alima

Alima Pure, a quiet company based in Portland Oregon is making inroads in the mineral cosmetics realm. Alima Pure offers more than truly lovely 250 products with 60 foundation shades, making it easy to find a perfect match. Their items are available online and at select boutiques and spas nationwide.

Alima Pure is offering Holiday Collections that feel as good on the skin as they make the skin look.

Act 1: Four coordinated shadows for smoky eyes:
Lana (a shimmer of pink), Ingrid (a pearly taupe), Ava (sterling silver) , Bette (a deep, velvety blue) [if you have to ask who those first names belong to, never mind.]

Act. II: Light minerals to create classic contoured cheekbones:
Harlow ( soft pearled highlighter), Garbo ( matte neutral brown for depth), Leigh (a neutral rose, almost matte but with a hint of copper shimmer)

Each Holiday Gift Collection is $25 (a $36. value), and $2 from the sale of each will be donated to the Global Fund for Women

www.alimapure.com

Definity Possibilities

Olay has been in the business of skincare long enough to know what they are doing. Born more than fifty years ago, as Oil of Olay, the skincare company has evolved into one of the best performing anti-aging skin care lines.

Color Recapture, by Olay Definity, one of several categories of skincare that Olay offers, at first seemed like it would be like many often marketed, oft tried combinations of moisturizer and coverage. Too many times products that make this dual promise turn out to be, somewhat duplicitous, if unintentionally. Something just misses—either the color is streaky or the moisturizer is either too greasy or not there. Olay’s Definity Color Recapture, however, really does what it says it will do. And isn’t that what any of us wants from any product?

The slim, clear container is easy on the eye and shows off the ribbons of coverage amid the moisturizer. Just the right amount of the mixture comes out of the pump if you are careful not to press too hard--a little goes a long way. The solution goes on very smoothly and feels like satin against the skin. And the result was a surprising excellent. The color blends in perfectly with the anti-aging moisturizer and provides the right amount of coverage for most days. Imperfections and discolorations are diffused by the sheer illuminating color and the skin has a more supple feel. And even while it is making your complexion more luminous, Color Recapture is working as an anti-aging skin care elixir.

Available in three shades: Fair to Light; Light to Medium; Medium to Deep

Holiday Gifts that Make Beautiful Sense

Sephora has been a leading source of fabulous cosmetics in Europe for a long time. The company was founded in France in 1969 and acquired by Paris-based LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world's leading luxury products group, in 1997. Sephora basically revolutionized the global beauty industry with its unique retail concept based on a very savvy combination of brand and product assortment, distinctive store design and the beauty expertise of its sales consultants.

Sephora has been celebrating their 10th Anniversary in America this year. (The company operates more than 220 stores in the United States and Canada, and the world’s top beauty website, Sephora.com. In Europe Sephora has more than 500 stores within 12 countries and has established 30 locations in China.)

With choices of more than 200 classic and emerging beauty brands across a broad range of product categories including skincare, makeup, fragrance, bath & body, hair care, smile care and tools, as well as the company’s own private label, it should be easy to find a holiday gift.

One idea might be a lip gloss set from Kat Von D that looks like very Hedwig in the tube but appears almost conservative—but still fun-- when applied. The Lightening Lipglosses Mini Set of 5 is $26. Shades include Gunshine, Stormy, Fierce Red, Bam and Saint.

This would be a perfect present for a more reserved friend you think could use a slight edgy touch. It is wild in the tube but a little bit more tame on the lips.

Another choice for a special yet practical gift and a great buy is Sephora’s selection of palettes— such as the 360˚ Palette ($38) – or the 360˚ Palette Beauty Insider Exclusive ($30) – Both are ideal for those who want to streamline their beauty routine or are just starting out in makeup.

Or there is the Body Butter Sampler ($22) – Sephora’s luxurious body butters all in one package. Choose from Home for the Holidays (Cinnamon Nutmeg, Chocolate Espresso and Apple Dumpling) and Island Holiday (Guava Passion, Coconut Cream and Tropical Jasmine).

Or perhaps a Super Shimmer Lip Gloss Set ($28)

There are also a great selection of clutches, starting at around $16. –some holiday sparkly and others a bit more subdued, but all perfect to give or to use. They work as make-up bags or evening bags.

Between the down-to-earth prices and the heavenly products it might be difficult to decide what to keep and what to give.

Tips from the past

.....that still make perfect sense today.

Such is The Dress Doctor – Prescriptions for Style, from A to Z, an adaptation of the best-selling style guide by Edith Head. Head (1897 – 1981) is the most celebrated costume designer of all time and dressed some of Hollywood’s most influential style icons like Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman, Elizabeth Taylor and countless others. Over the course of her career, she was nominated for thirty-four Academy Awards and won eight times for Best Costume Design, more than any other woman to date. The Dress Doctor shared style tips and dozens of entertaining anecdotes on her A-list clients and is back in print with striking sketches by fashion illustrator Bil Donovan.

And, beginning this weekend, Lancôme is hosting in-store events in celebration of the book at our boutiques. Schedule an appointment with one of our makeup artists at the locations listed below to create your own modern-day Hollywood look inspired by the book. Enjoy complimentary cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and take home your very own copy of The Dress Doctor with any Lancôme purchase of $100.
Details on how to book your appointment are listed below, but hurry, reservations are limited!

(You can call your nearest Lancôme Boutique to book an appointment. (A $75 reservation fee is required and fully redeemable in product.)

November 15th
VALLEY FAIR – 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd. Santa Clara, CA 95050 Phone: 408-244-8334
NORTHPARK – 8687 North Central Expressway Dallas, TX 75225 Phone: 214-750-9364

November 20th
SHORT HILLS – 1200 Morris Turnpike Short Hills, NJ 07078 Phone: 973-258-0790

November 22nd
UPPER WEST SIDE – 201 Columbus Ave. (at 69th Street) New York, NY 10023 Phone: 212-362-4858
BREA – 1102-a Brea Mall Brea, CA 92821 Phone: 714-671-0267
So, try to go and if you cannot make it, pick up a copy of the book because not only is it true that everything old is new again (including the recession). Impeccable Style is always in style.

Beautiful Botanicals

From France comes Clarins’ Extra Firming Tightening Lift Botanical Serum. Touted as a “natural alternative to injections, lasers and lifts,” it has a lovely feel-- the amber-colored liquid is like cool silk gliding on your face.

This serum as a double effect—it smoothes, soothes and lifts, making it a bit easier to apply make-up. The skin has more “slip” so make-up glides on. It really does what it is meant to. It can be applied in the morning or the evening, and it is said to offer not just instant results; it keeps working over time, meaning that it helps stimulate the skin’s renewal process.

Ingredients include:

Oat Sugars, which create an immediate tightening effect
Inca Peanut Proteins, smooth and refine skin’s texture
Hibiscus Seed Proteins moisturize
Stimulen, a blend of amino acids and Vitamin E encourages skin renewal.
Silicium (derived from Brown Algae) boosts elastin and collagen synthesis

As it says on the famous white, red and gold box: “Clarins: Effective serious treatments, ensuring maximum results with the highest quality ingredients.” And, as evidenced by the comment form in the box,they care about what their customers have to say.

$75. A very little goes a very long way.

http://www.clarins.com/

The Fragrance of Memory

The description of the newest scent from Jo Malone, the British fragrance house, is tantalizing enough: “The Thai-influenced notes of Sweet Lime & Cedar form a balanced and harmonious fragrance, as sweet lime combines with delicate hints of jasmine and ylang ylang, coconut, and the vanilla-like tonka bean.” Just the name, Sweet Lime & Cedar conjures up visions or memories of a cooling breeze wafting through a sultry rain forest

And the actual scent fulfills the promise and zeros right to the pleasure points of dreams and memory. To say this scent in intoxicating is an understatement. As the fragrance house says, the perfume is “inspired by the diverse flavours of Thai cuisine... this exotic scent balances zesty citrus fruits with aromatic leaves, delicate flowers, fragrance spices and nutty woods.”

This is a scent of heady contradictions that can be worn with ease by a man or a woman. It is at once seductive and fresh, crisp and heady, pungent and sweet.

The composition of Sweet Lime & Cedar :

Top Notes of Kaffir Lime, Blood Orange, Pink Pepper ( to name a few)

Middle Notes of Clary Sage, Coriander, Lavender and

Base Notes include Cedarwood, Amber and Tamarind

Another nice thing about any of the fragrances from Jo Malone-- Sweet Lime & Cedar, Blue Agava & Cacao, Wild Fig & Cassis, Pomengranate Noir, to name only a few-- is that the different scents can be layered like fine silk. Just anoint yourself with one, perhaps Nutmeg and Ginger Body Crème, then after a few minutes, spray on, say, Lime Basil and Mandarin. Deliciously breathtaking.

And if you are looking for an elegant and yet charming gift, Jo Malone offers a Gift Concierge to help you with your choice from among selections such as a Candle Trousseau (a leather jewel box filled with a suite of fragrant candles), or a Cologne Trousseau ( twelve colognes, selected by you or representative, presented in a stately box) or the Pine & Eucalyptus Collection that includes Luxury candles, bath oils and soaps and fragrance. Breathtaking gifts for a wedding party or holiday festivities.

Look to their fine Corporate Gift Services to assist with presenting clients or colleagues with the perfect gift at your convenience.

Sweet Lime & Cedar...........Is it a dream? .................Or a memory? ................Both.

http://www.jomalone.com/

Chocolate Chi

Fragrance in perfume doesn’t always have to be reminiscent of flowers or musk or sandalwood. Vanilla became popular in the mid-1990s and was followed by other foody-fragrances. Men have not been left out.

For a while Thierry Mugler sold a coffee-aroma infused cologne for men and while it was well-received, according to their representatives, it is no longer available. So what in the way of an unexpected fragrance for men is available now?

Armed with research that says nearly 70% of women around the world ranked chocolates as more irresistible than shopping, jewelry, or, yes, even sex, Axe has launched Dark Temptation, an intriguing blend of chocolate with other fragrances.

The result is more complex and captivating than you might expect. A blend of red peppercorn and hot chocolate amber, the overall olfactory effect is an agreeable and different aroma.

Shower Gel and Bodyspray and the cost is an affordable $4.99 each

Color yourself prudent

Everyone with any sense is trying to spend less. Even the phrase “disposable income” seems like a definition from another decade, far, far away.

So anything you can do at home rather than in say, a salon, is one way to save a little money that can be spent on food, gas, or heat.

Consider hair coloring. Yes, it is nice to go to a salon and have someone else color your hair and shampoo and whatever, but this is something you can do at home. You can color your own hair or take turns with a friend. There are so many brands of hair color and some have very precise applicators so you really can’t go wrong.

Perfect 10 Nice’n Easy by Clairol has a selection of 20 gorgeous permanent shades and a comb-like applicator to help you (or your friend) get the color to were it is needed most. This formula has a lower PH to better protect the hair and to reduce any harsh unpleasant odor. The fragrance is a bit like a bouquet of roses and violets next to a bowl of fresh pineapple, peaches and melon. And it offers 100% gray coverage.

And when you just want to touch up the roots, whether they are gray or a color other than the rest of your head, use one of those root touch-up products. They work very well and Nice n Easy now has a more generous amount of color to really do the job. This can take as little as 15 minutes and just rinses out and can hold off a full coloring job for few weeks.

And, you know what? Sometimes going to a salon can be annoying on a day you just don’t feel like having pleasant chit-chat with 10 people at a time who, even though they be genuinely nice individuals, you know they expect some kind of tip for the services they provide. And justifiably so. Still, it is one more thing to manage.

So use the time to stay home and color your hair yourself. Or a friend’s. It doesn’t have to turn into a Makeover Event, but that might be fun, too.

Mascara Madness

Mascara has come a long way over the recent years. The choices are dizzying—do you want to lengthen? Plump up? Be waterproof? Be able to remove with soap and water—something that should bring tears to most eyes--?, curl while you color? ? ? ?

Now there are at least two types—Double Extend by L’Oreal, which promises a “lash extension effect” and The Colossal Volum’ Express (with collagen) by Maybelline that swears you will get 9 X the volume in one coat and no clumps.

Double Extend has “beauty tubes technology” and has two applicators. The first step is to apply a nourishing base coat. Then the Ultra Lengthening Tube Top Coat is applied.

Testing will commence shortly.

Making Scents of Food Flavors

What makes a scent acceptable or even beloved for a perfume? When did Vanilla become a fragrance and not just a flavor? Some claim it all began in 1993 with Coty’s launch of Vanilla Fields.

If a Vanilla perfume, then what about Chocolate? Or Coffee? They are already here. More later.

Sunscreen

The season may be slouching towards Fall but you still need to wear sunscreen daily. It is not needed when it is raining, of course, but have you noticed how many times the forecast calls for rain and then the sun comes out or the day starts drizzly and gray and then just when you are outside exposed to the weather, here comes the sun.

Go ahead. Slather some on your face and hands just to be sure. You’ll be glad you did later.

Regimen Change

In the face of the current economic upheaval, we still want our faces to be clean and healthy and we don’t want to pay too much for the products. Some skin cleansing products that are affordable and pleasurable to use are include in Daily Recharging Skincare Collection from Bioré .
There not too many “steps” in this collection--just enough. This is not one of those “beauty care regimens” so often hawked in department store cosmetics departments. Who has time for regimens—never mind the regime changes--it is past the time for a “regimen change”

A favorite is the Purify Self-Heating Mask (sugg. retail price ($5.99). Just the right amount comes out of the foil capsule-like units—and it opens without scissors, unlike some other companies whose packaging instructs “tear here” and no amount of tearing will work--especially nerve-wracking if you are trying to get ready for a shower and don’t have any scissors handy. The self-heating mask fulfills the promise of a relaxing skin revitalizer…and in only one minute. And there is absolutely no mess. You just massage the mask into your skin. The warmth feels wonderful.

The collection also includes a Detoxify Daily Scrub ( $6.99) that uses rosemary, sage, nettle and chamomile to uncover freshness and soothe at the same time. Nourish Moisture Lotion, SPF 15 ($9.99) contains wild yellow poppy (just the name alone is invigorating, conjuring up images of Georgia O’Keefe’s flowers by way of Oz, rose hip, chamomile and aloe along with silicon to help keep the shine from waxing on your face. Most important is that broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection.

Who can not like the Refresh Daily Cleansing Cloths ($5.99) ? They save so much time and do a good job of getting make-up off the face…you might need to follow up with an astringent to be sure every trace of the day has been swept off your face.
(Sometimes a pre-step to using any facial cleansing cloths is to wipe off the first layer of make-up or grime with an unscented baby-wipe.)

The Restore Boosting Night Serum ( $9.99) is a nice compact dynamo to recharge your cleansed skin while you sleep and hopefully don’t dream of the economy or your job or your 401k.

Even the Bioré commercials for this line are comparatively low keyed and agreeable and the products don’t disappoint your skin or your wallet. And let’s face it, you are not going to be getting a Fed bailout anytime soon.

The Very Good Imposter

When is it not unwise to buy an imposter fragrance? When the perfume you loved some time ago is no longer available. You have searched online for the house that once offered your favorite perfume and it is nowhere to be found. You see a few other telltale signs from others looking for this same scent and it does not look promising. So you write an email to the company inquiring about the availability of that certain scent and get the answer you don’t want. It has been discontinued.

While there are many entities that offer perfume pretenders, there is one we found can actually deliver the goods. Good Scents Ltd, based in Princeton, IL http://www.goodscentslimited.com/ was able concoct a very acceptable version of the long discontinued Princess di Borghese. When the sample arrived—you can request a sample of a fragrance and they will let you know if they can whip one up for you--it was like a door opening slowly. A door to the past. The first whiff was confusing—was it like the original? What did the original smell like—it was so long ago. After the first layer of scent dissipated the lingering fragrance confirmed it. This is the bouquet that had been locked in memory. It was so nice to have it back. Does Good Scents Ltd get a recommendation? Yes.

Good Scents offers hand-blended, natural fragrances for body, home and office. And their prices are reasonable. The selection includes more than 150 scents for women and at least 40 for men. The scents come in a variety of forms—bath salts, body powder, home scents, candle, and aromatherapy.

Good Scents. For the forgotten fragrances we still love.

The Great Imposters

When is it not unwise to buy an imposter fragrance? When the perfume you loved some time ago is no longer available. You have searched online for the house that once offered your favorite perfume and it is nowhere to be found. You see a few other telltale signs from others looking for this same scent and it does not look promising. So you write an email to the company inquiring about the availability of that certain scent and get the answer you don’t want. It has been discontinued.

While there are many entities that offer perfume pretenders, there is one we think we will actually be able to deliver the goods. Will they be able to concoct a reminiscent scent that really does have the essence of the fragrance in memory?
…to be continued

Make-up, made-up

What exactly is the deal with those Minerals (or is it Mineral?) make-up powders? The first ones were advertised on cable and offered exclusively--you had to sign up for a regular supply. And seeing how those products were applied--"no liquid foundation!" the host exclaimed, while she slathered on the special "concealer". It looked to me as if the "special concealer" was acting like a foundation with the minerals powder dusted over that. Of course the result was a flawless complexion.

Now we have many lines to choose from-- at CVS, Drugstore.com, Target, and assorted department stores. How do we put this stuff on our faces so we look like we didn't try too hard to look perfect-- we want to look great naturally.

It can be done, but you do need to apply a concealer--it doesn't have t be the one in the line---you can buy Neutrogena Minerals make-up powder and Maybelline concealer. The effect is the same. Use a light hand, though, or, like any powder--light or not-- the minerals powder will make its way onto every crease, line and crevice in your face. But used sparingly, these powders offer a nice, light alternative for a finished face.