IMAN Cosmetics at Byron Lars Beauty Mark S/S '11 Ready-to-Wear Presentation

led by celebrity makeup artist Valente Frazier, IMAN Cosmetics was the exclusive makeup sponsor of the Byron Lars Beauty Mark spring/summer '11 women's ready-to-wear presentation on september 10th (also the night of the second annual Fashion's Night Out!).

for this event (which was held at the Sony Style Store and included a 3D presentation), Frazier translated Byron Lars' fashion vision into an exciting beauty palette from the IMAN Cosmetics collection.



the easy, clean look had a tribal feel to it and was created using products like Luxury Radiance Liquid Makeup to give skin the perfect-but-not-overly-done finish; Sheer Finish Bronzing Powder in Sand gave skin a fabulous glow.

cheek color was determined by each models skintone and lips were stained with a brown lipstain and topped with tons of gloss to give them a wet look. the stand-out trend were the brows. like beauty looks at many other shows, they were high-drama.

Valente shared on his blog that the eye makeup was created using a combination of currently available Iman shadows as well as shades that will launch come spring 2011.


Valente Frazier and models at Byron Lars Presentation

xo

Glee's Beauty Secret: Dickinson's Daily Facial Towelettes

ever wonder how the cast of Glee keeps their faces looking so fresh after all those dance scenes? i can tell you: Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel Daily Facial Towelettes!

this backstage beauty secret is a must-have product for the cast, and, according to a makeup artist on the set, "Dickinson's Daily Facial Towelettes are great...perfect for freshening up...and also convenient that they are individually packaged for on-the-go!"

to top it off, even the not-so-pleasant-but-hysterically-funny Sue Sylvester as a sweet spot for the Towelettes-- Jane Lynch is a huge fan.

each box of Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Daily Facial Towelettes contains 20 towelettes and are less than $6. you can find them at Walgreens, Duane Reed, Winn-Dixie and other fine retailers.

will have to give these a try myself...

for more information visit dickinsonsusa.com.

xo

natural beauty: Bioelements All Things Pure

one of my favorite skincare brands, Bioelements, recently introduced a new line of products called All Things Pure, and it's pretty delicious for the skin.

there are 4 products in the collection, suitable for all skin types, and all of which have been awarded with the Natural Products Association Seal. take a look...




All Things Pure Cleanser is a creamy, soap-free formula made with a blend of natural bentonite clay that works to cleanse away excess dirt and oils. jojoba seed oil, chamomile and aloe vera helps soothe skin while leaving it clean and soft.




the Eye Oil is unique in that it can be used both around the eyes and on the face. it contains essential oils to give skin (especially around the eyes) a moisture-rich, nourishing treat. i love the yummy lavender scent-- perfectly soothing before bed, and actually energizing each morning (let it soak in before applying makeup).




to keep skin exfoliated and polished, the All Things Pure Scrub is my favorite. it contains curative chinese grains and organic oils (sunflower, jojoba and evening primrose) that scrub away dead, skin-dulling cells. the best thing about it is that the grains actually melt away as it's rubbed into the skin, and the oils leave skin feeling so smooth!




finally, the Moisturizer (rich and emollient, but not too heavy) gives my skin a fabulous drink of moisture with ingredients like purified water and shea butter. i love to use this cream especially at night to wake up with a refreshed-skin look.


if you love organic products, these are definitely worth checking out. each product is wonderful and would work well with your current skincare regimen.


visit bioelements.com for more info.

xo
products featured sent to me for review consideration.<>

NY Fashion Week Spring 2011: Victoria Beckham

since her very first collection, i've loved the collections Victoria Beckham has created. she keeps the aesthetic is true to herself, and it's so obvious every piece is something she would wear. for spring 2011, the chic momma incorporated some bright pops of color and played with more billowy silhouettes.


love this handbag! bold eyecolor created using Lancome Color Design eyeshadows in Trendy and Drama.

featuring shoes from Brian Atwood and the debut of her very first handbag collection (insert a Rachel Zoe catchphrase here, wink), each look was complimented by bold, purple shadow on the eyes and middle-parted hair that was mostly sleek-- a waving tool or curling iron was used to crimp hair at the midsection, for an unexpected pop of texture.


white is always fab for spring

what was Beckham's inspiration? she says, "this season we really have a minimal aesthetic, so we're really focusing on the seaming to help with the details. i'm celebrating a woman's curves this season-- it's all about shape. women want to look sexy in a minimal way. it really does bring out the best in a woman's body."



to see the entire collection, visit style.com


xo
source: stylelist.com; images: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images North America

new fragrance: Gucci Guilty

while at Macy's a few days ago, i came across a display for a new scent by Gucci called Guilty. intrigued, i had to stop and take a whiff of this new fragrance.

wow, am i glad i did.

while i didn't purchase a bottle (isn't it a great bottle?), i was happy smelling this on me for the rest of the day. with notes of mandarin, peach, pink pepper, geranium, lilac, patchouli and amber, Guilty is a scent that i can only describe as sexy (the ads are pretty steamy, too), and would be a perfect change of scent for me this fall/winter season. one spritz smelled fab without being overpowering, but is probably best for wearing out at night. overall, it's feminine with a modern, bold edge. another plus: it lasted well into the same evening and i could smell it faintly the next morning.

when you see Gucci Guilty in your local Macy's or Bloomingdale's, be sure to try it for yourself. the collection includes an eau de toilette, a shower gel, body lotion and shimmer powder.

xo

hair therapy: InStyler Rotating Hot Iron Hair Straightener

you may have seen the InStyler Rotating Hot Iron Hair Straightener on tv or in a local store. i know the first time i saw it on an infomercial (about a year ago), i thought it looked like a good product that could work well on my hair.

when it comes to doing my own hair, i have styling down to 45 minutes (that's from just-washed, towel-dried to finished). this, of course, has taken me years to master. when given the opportunity to try the InStyler on my hair, i was excited to try something new.

it definitely took some getting used to.

in terms of using it, i found the rotating barrel/brush easy enough to catch on to. it was the amount of time it took with each section of hair that left me feeling impatient. with this tool, it's important to keep a proper amount of tension between hair and the barrel, while also rolling it through hair at a slow pace.

sorry InStyler, but i didn't have time for this. after 30 minutes, i wasn't even halfway through my enough-hair-for-ten-people amount of hair, and i had things to do. after three more attempts on three different days (i really wanted this to work for me, beauties, i did), i have come to one conclusion...



the InStyler is best for those who have less hair and/or more time. or maybe i've been doing my hair with my flat iron for so long (using it to straighten or curl) that i haven't given it enough time. i will say that i do like using it for little touch-ups.

while this is my personal experience, my blogger pal Amber had a different one. she loves it (as i know many people do). to find out why, read her review here!

be sure to visit getinstyler.com for more info.

xo
product featured sent to me for review consideration.

NY Fashion Week Spring 2011: Monique Péan Accessories Presentation

celebrity makeup artist, Daniel Martin led the talented makeup team behind the scenes at accessories designer (and CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award winner) Monique Péan's fashion week debut (she has a great name, if i do say so myself, *wink*).

drawing inspiration from the designer's collection (which was inspired by her recent trip to french polynesia), Daniel played up the skin's luminosity and achieve a sun-kissed glow with a very fresh and modern style.

Daniel says, "the right beauty look is so important where a jewelry presentation is concerned, because the makeup creates a backdrop for the pieces. the texture, tone and luminosity of the skin, for instance, must perfectly compliment and frame the jewelry. but the makeup look also depicts the designer's muse and helps bring her to life."

highlighting areas the sun might not normally affect, Daniel used Koh Gen Do's Fresh Face Cheek Caramel Bronze to "sculpt" the face and create dimension.



for the eyes, he added subtle shading in sand to add depth, but not sheen, to balance the opaque style of the hair. to top off the look, he chose a nude lip and then added a touch of Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Juicy Beige Lip Gloss to the center for a full and healthy pout.

as for the hair, created by hairstylist Seiji, it was all about soft waves, prepped with Aveda Phomollient Styling Foam, and then scrunched while being dried to produce movable body. a smidge of Aveda Pure Abundance Hair Potion was then applied to give it that coveted second day slept-in look before it is loosely swept into an unstructured updo and secured with bobby pins.


xo

Dr. Denese HydroShield Hydrating Dream Cream

hydration, hydration, hydration. it should be a top priority when caring for your skin, no matter the season. this past spring season, i was given the opportunity to try HydroShield Dream Cream from Dr. Denese. you could only imagine my excitement. i mean, i watch QVC-- i know who Dr. Denese is and how much women love her products! needless to say, i was eager to discover for myself what so many women rave about.



to my surprise, i really fell in love with this skincare gem. it's creamy and rich in texture, but feels sooo light on the skin. it absorbs like a dream (no pun intended!) and always left my skin looking good, thanks to all of its yummy-for-skin peptides, retinol and ceramides.

Dream Cream became one of my absolute favorite moisturizers, for the better part of the summer at least. sadly, i ran out (*tear*). so, i've been without it now for over 2 months (!). it's taken a lot for me to not order myself a new jar, but i'm currently testing out another line of skincare right now and don't want to hinder that program (oh, the dilemmas of being a beauty blogger, huh? LOL).


sadness over my empty jar...

in any case, i highly recommend Dream Cream. i can't wait to have it back in my skincare lifestyle again!

visit drdenese.com for more info.

xo
product featured sent to me for review consideration.

NY Fashion Week: Backstage Beauty at Alice + Olivia

celeb stylist, Ric Pipino, and his team created three different hair looks for the alice + olivia spring 2011 presentation at cedar lake on tuesday. these styles included the not-so-perfect chignon at the crown of the head, the double, pig tailed-like chignons, and simple, flowing tendrils.



to achieve the not-so-perfect chignon, hair was sprayed with Revolution In Cut Lift Me (from Pipino's hair care line, Revolution In Cut) to add volume, then brushed through, gathered and pinned into a bun at the top of the head.



for the double chignon, stylists used the same process, but created two imperfect buns on the sides of the head.



the simple, flowing tendrils were achieved by blowing the hair dry, using Revolution In Cut Smooth Me to tame any flyaways, and finishing by using a curling iron to create the tendrils.


xo
images: style.com

Bliss to Debut on Gilt Groupe!!

who doesn't love a trip to the spa? well beauties, beginning tomorrow you can find the fabulous skin-fixing and tension-nixing services of Bliss at your fingertips and indulge in the ultimate spa experience on Gilt Groupe!

for the first time ever on any luxury flash sale site, Bliss is partnering with Gilt Groupe for exclusive sales in multiple cities, offering treatments and packages with locations in new york, los angeles and six other cities in between!



to take advantage of this, log onto Gilt.com this thursday, september 16th at 12pm eastern through saturday, september 19th at noon eastern to find the de-stressing services of Bliss at your beck and call.

through this sale, you'll be able to choose from the spa's popular Triple Oxygen Treatment, a three-step complexion-reviving facial; the Blissage 75, a heavenly full-body rubdown, and the Homme Improvement Facial, a must for any well-groomed guy, just to name a few. and if you can't make it to the spa, you can still bring home the spa-quality treatment with products like Zest to Thrill, a citrus-scented bath set; Peeling Groovy, a gentle exfoliating formula; Hot Salt Scrub, a luxurious diy skin-soother, and more, all up to 60% off!


p.s., be sure to check out Gilt's facebook page for a live q&a with one of the Bliss expert estheticians on september 16th!

xo

NY Fashion Week: Backstage Beauty at BCBG Max Azria Spring 2011

Charlotte Willer created a gorgeous, muted and polished look for the spring 2011 BCBG Max Azria show-- i can't help but love it!

"the look was barely there, confident and natural, characterized by soft neutral tones, and no mascara." ~Charlotte Willer



to create the look, Dream Liquid Mousse Foundation was applied all over the face in the same manner as a moisturizer, giving skin a natural luminosity. on the eyes, the creamy golden shade from the Eye Studio Quad in Green with Envy was used to create a chic and subtle effect.




since there was no mascara for this look (a huge trend on the runways this season-- gasp!), brows were the focal point. to give them the right amount of soft, easy definition, Define-a-Brow Eyebrow Pencil was used.




Color Sensational LipStain in Buff was applied on lips. a little balm was applied on top to add a hint of shine.


xo
info and images courtesy of Maybelline's PR agency

Selena Gomez at the 2010 VMAs

makeup artist Karan Mitchell (for Nyx Cosmetics) created a red carpet look for Selena Gomez's appearance at the 2010 VMAs inspired by the star's inner radiance and glowing personality. using Nyx Cosmetics' latest and greatest products, Karan kept Selena's makeup fresh and cool, while adding a bold touch of color to her eyes and a soft hue to lips.

on the eyes:

Karan started by applying the new Concealer Jar in Fair as a base on the lid and then applied Highlight, blending from the crease up to the brow. next, the highly pigmented sapphire blue shade from Eye Shadow Trio in Aquamarine was applied to the lids and slightly above the crease. Karan then blended the deep blue in the I Dream of Antigua 5 Color Eye Shadow Palette on the outside corners of her lids. to add definition, Selena's eyes were lined with Magic Kohl eye liner pencil by Givenchy. 2 coats of Nyx Doll Eye Mascara in Black finished the look.

for the cheeks:

Karan created a fresh-faced, healthy glow for Selena using Nyx Cosmetics Tango with Bronzer Stix #2 in Merengue Flush on the apples of her cheeks.

for the lips:

a fresh, nude lip was created using Nyx Cosmetics Lipstick shade #174 Nude, and Mega Shine Lipgloss in #104 Sweet Heart.


xo
info courtesy of Nyx Cosmetics; images: Wireimage.com

Jason Wu Nail Polish Collection by CND

i always love the details that go into putting the finishing touches on the ensembles presented during fashion shows. of course, drooling over the clothes is a given, but sometimes i just have to know what nail color the models are wearing and who designed the shoes and accessories, if not the designer.

for Jason Wu's spring 2011 runway show, i was excited to discover that another color was created exclusively for the runway by CND, and will also be part of a new polish collection! the Jason Wu Nail Colour & Effects Collection will be the designer's first beauty endeavor and CND's first direct partnership with a designer.

"every season i play with different ways of using color in my collection, so it was a natural choice to collaborate with CND on a capsule of nail colors that reflects my aesthetics," the designer told WWD.

these shades will be limited edition and available may 2011. the stylish palette features four staple colors: Miss Wu (a limestone gray), Brigitte (a dirty rose), Veronica (a blood red, pictured below on model), and Sophia (a dark mushroom). also part of this collection is an effect topcoat, named Anna, that contains silk fragments to provide depth.




tell me: is this a polish collection you'll be interested in purchasing for yourself?

xo

NY Fashion Week: Backstage Beauty at Thakoon Spring 2011

Thakoon's spring 2011 collection was inspired by nature, romance and rock 'n roll, so hair and makeup were created along the same lines, but with a beachy-cool twist.



"the clothes are light so i wanted the makeup to have a little more impact this time-- as if the girls were beautiful, cool fairies," said Thakoon. "i wanted the whole aura to feel like opening windows and letting in a breeze- fresh and romantic but tempered at the same time."



lead makeup artist for NARS, Diane Kendal (pictured above) described the makeup look as being "golden, but not tanned. as if the girls are glowing from within...with, of course, confidence."

to create each model's look, products by NARS were used: skin was prepped with Mattifying Primer and Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer (available spring 2011). eyelids were lined with Hollywoodland Shadow Pencil (available spring 2011) and contoured with Calanque Trio Eyeshadow (available spring 2011) using the darker shade in the outer corners. cheeks were given their glow by using Zen Blush with Laguna Bronzing Powder just on the apples highlighted with Etrusque Single Eyeshadow (new for holiday 2010). the look was finished by ling lips with Hopi Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil and applying Pure Matte Lipstick in Madere (both available spring 2011).


the hair at the show was created using all products by Frédéric Fekkai:

to create the look, dry hair was prepped by applying Full Blown Volume Styling Whip, combing it back away from the face with fingers. it was then spritzed with Coiff Oceanique Tousled Wave Spray from the middle to ends of the hair and finished by teasing the back of the hair, keeping it light and creating easy, beachy waves.

xo

Carrie Underwood Named Olay's First Celebrity Brand Ambassador

a first for the the brand, Olay skincare announced that they have chosen Carrie Underwood to be their celebrity brand ambassador. Carrie said at the press event, "i am very excited about this partnership." she added that she's been using "some product from Olay" for at least the past 10 years.

"Olay is something that women trust," said Carrie. "and i feel like people also have a connection with me and trust me because i can't lie." in regards to beauty care, she said, "it doesn't have to be complicated...you don't have to have 50 things in your medicine cabinet."

in addition to Carrie's appearance in print and television ads for Olay's "Challenge What's Possible" campaign (scheduled to debut later this year), Olay will also sponsor her Play On tour through the fall.


tell me: what do you think of Carrie partnering with Olay?

xo

Revlon's Beauty Look at Rag & Bone Spring 2011

for Rag & Bone's spring/summer 2011 runway show, Revlon's global artistic director, Gucci Westman, created a showstopping look to compliment collection.



using some of her favorite products from Revlon, Westman made up the models in a look she called "real beauty". the Rag & Bone collection itself is full of textured and natural clothing, taking inspiration from Laurence of Arabia, so the makeup look was "meant to capture a journey."

"the girls look slightly windswept, a little raw, and disheveled with dewy skin. this translates to a healthy, subtle color in cheeks and a grayish, slightly brown sheen eye, " says Westman.



Revlon products used to get the look:

on the eyes:

Multi Use Palette in Suede Rhapsody (available early october)
Luxurious Color Matte Kohl Eyeliner in Black Truffle
ColorStay Liquid Liner in Blackest Black

on the face:

Cream Blush in Berry Flirtatious

on the lips:

ColorBurst Lipstick in Fashion's Night Pout (unfortunately, not for sale at retail locations, but be sure to look for exclusive giveaways on Revlon's Facebook and Twitter pages during the month of september!)

xo
images: Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images North America

NY Fashion Week Spring 2011: NARS Creates Makeup Look at Honor

at the Honor fashion show for spring/summer 2011, NARS international lead makeup artist, James Boehmer, led a team of makeup artists to create a look that accentuated eyes and kept lips nude.

up-and-coming Honor designer Giovanna Randall shared that the inspiration for the look came from an "elegant femininity inspired by Catherine Deneuve and Grace Kelly with an edge of rebellion like Cyndi Lauper."



with the venue set up like a parisian apartment, the idea was to communicate a merge of innocent femininity and bold sexuality.



for the look James and his team created round-shaped eye combined with a nude matte lip and an overall blended effect. he says, "we wanted the look to be clean and simple so not to distract from the clothes."

to keep the face soft, features were kept streamlined by not using mascara. below are some key products and steps for recreating the look (all products by NARS):

-Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer (new for february 2011). For now – try a light application of Sheer Glow Foundation
-Zen Blush
-Bombshell Eyeshadow (to highlight cheekbones)
-Alhambra Duo Eyeshadow
-Ashes To Ashes Eyeshadow
-Madere Pure Matte Lipstick (new for spring 2011) dabbed on the lip (try Bangkok Pure Matte Lipstick for now)

xo
info and images courtesy of NARS

MAC 'Going Bananas' Eyeshadow from the Dare to Wear Collection

a little over a month ago, i took the plunge and bought an eyeshadow color i never thought i'd wear. i had heard some good things about it, and, being the makeup junkie i am, was content with the idea of just collecting another LE eyeshadow from MAC if i didn't like the way it looked on me. the great thing is, it actually does look good and i love wearing it!

the color i'm talking about is called Going Bananas and it was one of many funky, bright shades in the Dare to Wear collection. this bright yellow isn't as bold on the eye as i thought it would be. it's finish is a frost, but not glittery and definitely not matte. on my eyes, it adds a nice pop of color and looks good with any other shade i choose to pair it with (who knew?)



the whole collection:

Dare to Wear Lipglass shades:

Dare to Dare-- light blue pink with multi-pearl
Bold & Brash-- bright red with multi-pearl
Ban This!-- deep purple with multi-pearl
Gimme That!-- bright fuchsia pink with pink pearl
So Bad-- mid-tone coral orange with pink and gold pearl
Wind Me Up-- dirty bronze with pink and gold pearl

Eyeshadows:

Louder, Please-- bright fuchsia (matte)
Free to Be-- creamy true coral (matte)
Going Bananas-- soft lemon yellow (frost)
Lime-- lime green (matte)
Sassy Grass-- bright grass green (matte)
Atlantic Blue-- bright violet blue (matte)
Crazy Cool-- pale frosty lavender (veluxe pearl)
Shock-a-holic-- deep purple (matte)
Aqua-- subdued, pale greyed aqua (matte)
Sky Blue-- robin's egg blue (frost)
Winkle-- mid-tone cornflower blue (satin)
Zingy-- bright sky blue (matte)

Dare to Wear is still available online (maccosmetics.com), but not much longer. if you're like me and sometimes procrastinate, you'll be happy to know that there still just maight be products left in stock at your local MAC even if there isn't a display out (trust me, i've done this many times in the past). :)

xo
pics taken by me :)

NY Fashion Week Spring 2011: Aveda Backstage at Christian Siriano

let the beautiful madness begin-- fashion week for the spring/summer season is underway, beauties! so much is going on, but i will do my best to bring you the best hair and beauty as the week progresses. so, here we go...




Aveda lead stylist Antoinette Beenders (pictured above with Christian Siriano) created an amazing, textured bun at the Christian Siriano spring/summer 2011 show. using a lot of Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray, Antoinette explains, "the Christian Siriano hair look for this season is all about different cultures mixing and blending together. the style is a modern bun—full of attitude—with sections of crimped hair cascading over it for texture. it's a strong, contemporary twist on the classic bun."

here's how she created the look:

1. brush hair with a Mason Pearson brush. pull the top section of hair — from the hairline to the crown — and clip it out of the way.

2. comb the remaining hair back into a tight, high ponytail and secure with a bungee elastic. spray with Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray for hold.

3. spray Aveda Brilliant Spray-On Shine directly onto the bristles of a kabuki-style Aveda Uruku Bronzing Brush. "paint" the sides of hair with the Uruku Bronzing Brush for shine.



4. take the ponytail and braid it. then twist the braid into a bun, securing to the head with bobby pins. spray with Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray for ultra-strong hold.



5. remove the clip from the remaining top section of hair and comb to the crown. working with small portions of hair (approximately one inch) at a time, use a micro-crimping iron to add texture from the crown to ends.

6. brush the hair with a Mason Pearson brush to loosen the crimp. gently pull the hair over the bun and secure at the base with hair pins. spray with Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray.



7. pull a few pieces of hair out of the bun with fingers for extra texture. set the look with Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray.



visit aveda.com for more info about the styling products used.

xo
all images courtesy of Aveda