Recently in Beauty Category

For some reason I always manage to drop my tweezers and dent the tips.  This is SO annoying because they're expensive.  I have long been a devotee of the Rubis Slant Tweezers, $35.



But, I recently discovered Mehaz Slant Tweezers, $24.95, and they even come with a little faux leather storage pouch!  They're made in Solingen, Germany which is where all good cutlery is made (Wustof, Henckels).

I find that they work just as well as the Rubis!

I saw this Yves Saint Laurent blush in March Allure...  (YSL Palette Y-Mail, $65)

It comes in the absolute cutest mini-bag pouch that features the Y-mail design that YSL uses on various bags and clutches.

The darker of the two colors is already sold out on YSL's website though!

If you happen to want to spend $1000 to get a matching real bag, Bluefly has this one on sale now (20% off).  Yves Saint Laurent Y-Mail Tote, $956.

 

It is in a black/bronze textured patent leather, lined in fabric and has a zippered pocket and cell phone pocket.  Tres chic, n' est pas?  Even at $956... eek!  That's still expensive.

I am such a sucker for Chanel's limited editions... look at this beautiful eye palette!  The colors are perfect.

I got an email from drugstore.com a while ago saying that Max Factor will not longer be sold in the United States as of this year, so people should stock up on their favorite products...

Here's what the Max Factor website had to say about it:

Hmmm. I don't know... I've bought Max Factor, but I don't think I'd buy anything from Cover Girl... Something about the Cover Girl brand image does not appeal to me.

There is just one Max Factor product that I buy, so this isn't a major tragedy for me.  I liked their clear mascara, but for the eyebrows.  Not that I have bushy eyebrows or anything... but this keeps every single eyebrow in place.  I had never even thought about it, but once at the Chanel counter years ago, the salesperson showed me their brow shaper in taupe and I really liked it.  I used it for a while, but it's $32, so finding the Max Factor clear for about $6 was a coup.  I'm sure I'll find a replacement though...

Chanel has released their Holiday Colour 2009 collection. And - - if you order from Chanel's site directly through Dec. 16th, yout get free shipping and complimentary gift packaging.

I love the Les Tissages Lames de Chanel (Shimmering Tweed Highlighter), $60. I am such a sucker for highlighters, they seem lighter than blush and are supposed to give you the much desired look of "radiance".  Who doesn't want that?

But, since I already have two highlighters, I probably don't need another... darn.  I am trying to remember the concept of "need" more since this whole horrible, tedious recession thing happened...

Oh, other good news the Trapeze color nail polish is now available by itself for $23. Previously it was only available as part of the gift set mentioned on Oct. 19th.

Last time I ordered from Beauty.com I got samples of Frederic Fekkai's Full Blown Volume Shampoo and Conditioner.  I am very picky about hair products so it's great to have a chance to try them before buying.  These are made for hair just like mine: fine/thin/flat.

 

Both the shampoo and the conditioner are $23 for 8 fl. oz. Both are billed to create "luxurious, voluminous hair". They use baobab leaf extract which acts as a plumping agent on each strand of hair.  The shampoo has a really rich lather and nice smell.  It's described as lime mint.  It's not too minty though.  I hate, for example, Aveda's rosemary mint because it smells way too minty... really, who wants to use a product that smells like toothpaste on your hair????  Fekkai's is not like that, it's just enough to be fresh.  The conditioner was nice too, light but not too light, it gets the job done.  Fine hair can tangle so much, but a heavy conditioner is just overpowering and flattening, so it can be difficult to the find something just right.  I really liked both of these products...  There is also a hairspray in the line. I don't use hairspray so I won't be able to comment on that...

 

Chanel has a new eye kit, Le Regard de Noir (smoky eye essentials), everything you need for the perfect smoky eyes, all packaged in a beautiful case.  It's a great gift, for a friend or yourself!  I don't know about you, but I need serious help with the smoky eye... I hope this comes with instructions!

It includes Les 4 Ombres shadows in smoky eyes, Le Crayon Khol pencil in noir, Exceptionnel de Chanel mascara in noir, Le Pinceau Ombre #2 brush and a mini size of Demaquillant Yeux Intense makeup remover.  $140.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Chanel's nail color, Trapeze... and that I couldn't find it yet.  Well, this weekend I was at Bloomingdale's 59th Street (they've unveiled their new ground floor space with a more deluxe beauty department and a huge new David Yurman boutique) and I found it. 

It seems to only be available as part of a three color gift set, Trio Exclusif de Vernis, $65.

It includes Trapeze (a silvery gray), Allegoria (a pink nude) and Tulipe Noir (a rich plum black), they come in a chic little travel case.

 Just to stay on the topic of Chanel for another day... here's what I'd like to buy from the Chanel beauty counter:

Blush Duo Tweed Effect in Tweed Sienna, $45

Rouge Allure Luminous Satin Lip Colour in Ardent (limited edition), $30

 

And, I saw this gorgeous color, Trapeze, in a magazine but it doesn't seem to be available anywhere yet.  I asked at the Chanel counter at Bloomingdale's and no one knew what I was talking about... and the Chanel website doesn't have it either.  The only place I could find other evidence of its existence (and a picture) was an ebay auction that had it selling it for $49.99!  I would just wait, it should cost $23. The ebay auction says it's a Holiday '09 color so it should be out soon and hopefully it will turn up here on the Chanel site.

I'm having a bit of Chanel day myself... I'm wearing my only Chanel jewelry - a double chain necklace with a double C pendant and double C hanging earrings with camelia flowers.  I don't usually wear them together... but what the heck...  I bought them both at the Chanel store on 57th street, and what a great experience that is!  They are SO nice even to plebians like me who could never afford their clothes.  I was impressed by that.  I would never buy Chanel on ebay because there are so many fakes, and the real items are usually totally overpriced (like the above nail color).  I used to be a bit of an ebay addict, but I've largely given it up.  I do not want to support the trade of counterfeit merchandise in any way, and we all know that ebay is a huge facilitator.

Beauty.com is offering this cute clutch filled with Elizabeth Arden samples free with any $20 purchase.

I always used to use their Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick ($16).  It works so well, it doesn't smell the greatest though... but that was until I discovered the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment ($22.50) which works well and smells amazing.  But for anyone offended by spending over $20 for a lip balm the EA Eight Hour is a good option. Both brands now make them in tinted options which is kind of cool too.

Elizabeth Arden also has a new (ish) anti-aging treatment - Prevage ($155 for 1.7 fl. oz.). It's a collaboration with the pharma that makes Botox. It contains a stong antioxidant.  It's supposed to work wonders for fine lines, skin tone, dark spots, firmness etc. and help protect from future signs of aging.  Sounds good - I guess I'll try it in a few years.  (I don't think I'm there yet - age wise.)

 

Great news from Fresh - - they're now selling 2 oz. travel sizes of some of their most popular products including three of my favorites: Sugar Lemon Body Lotion, Soy Shampoo and Pomegranate Conditioner.  They're $7.50 each.

They also have a couple of skincare products in the small sizes: Soy Face Cleanser 1.7 oz. ($15) and Soy Face Cream 1 oz. ($42).  These are perfect for traveling when you don't want to lug around your regular size products.

They're also having a special offer right now, with any $50 purchase at fresh.com you get a free makeup bag. (enter code TRAVEL at checkout).

 

I always enjoy Chanel's seasonal collections.  Fall 2009 "Collection Venise de Chanel" is inspired by Coco Chanel's fascination with the romance and drama of Venice.

Les 4 Ombres eye shadow pallette ($56) is called Murano and includes moss, pink, seafoam and green shimmer shades. Les Tissages de Chanel, tweed effect blush ($45) is offered in a new tweed sienna shade, an earthy bronze.  I love the way the tweed effect looks... so cool!

The Rouge Allure lip color ($30) is offered in six new shades: instinctive (pink nude), comedia (pink rose), intuitive (pink brown), amusing (rich rosewood), captive (red brown) and clandestine (red brick).  Le Vernis nail color ($23) has two new shades: intermezzo (white pearl) and gondola (dark maroon shimmer).

You can check out the new Dolce & Gabbana beauty line at Saks.com.  I love the luxe gold containers and rich colors.

Here are my picks:

Luminous Cheek Color, $44 in nude.

Smooth Eye Coulour Duo, $36 in fortune and stromboli.

Smooth Eye Colour Quad, $59 in champagne.

Crayon Intense Eyeliner, $29 in black and coffee.

Classic Cream Lipstick, $30 in cashmere, nude, velvet and goddess.

I'm not a big fan however of their advertising campaign for the line with Scarlett Johansson.  I think she looks a bit cheesy, not modern and appealing at all.

 

Beauty.com has a cool free gift offer right now.  A cosmetics pouch designed by Lela Rose filled with deluxe samples (Bliss, Borghese, Bulgari, Stila etc).

I love Beauty.com for their 5% back offer and that they carry many of my favorite brands like Fresh, Caudalie, Oscar Blandi, Peter Thomas Roth, etc.  And you can buy drugstore stuff from drugstore.com at the same time and they'll ship it all together.

 

There's a new dry shampoo on the scene - Frederic Fekkai Au Naturel Dry Shampoo. It's $23 for 2.9 oz.

Reviewers on Sephora give it 4 stars.  A few people complained about being able to see the powder on their darker hair.  (duh)  And a few people complained about the smell of it not being the greatest.  I'll need to check it out for myself and report back.

I usually use Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo. It's $19 for 2.5 oz and they also have a travel size 1 oz. for $11.

This one also gets 4 stars from Sephora reviewers.  The scent is described as lemon verbena, whatever it is, it's nice and clean smelling but the smell doesn't hang around all day (which is good I think).  For me this product works great.  I think dry shampoos are especially perfect for blondes because the white powder even brightens your hair a little bit.  My hair is fine too and it puffs it up a little bit as well. 

For all those Caudalie lovers out there, this is a such a great deal... they are offering a FREE FULL SIZE Contour Cream Eyes and Lips, which is $53!  You get it with any $100 purchase and they're also offering free shipping.  The offer goes through May 7.

 

Then, they're also have another great offer for those of us in New York or visiting... for their fabulous spa at the Plaza.  $50 off any body or facial treatment, good through July 31st.

The signature 50 minute Caudalie massage is $165, so even with the $50 off, it's still expensive... but the overall experience at a Caudalie spa is so far beyond average that I think it's worth it.

Chanel is showing sun-kissed shades for their Summer 2009 Cote d' Azur collection.

Here are my picks:

Soleil Tan de Chanel, 4 Facettes Brozing Powder, $65

Aqualumiere Sheer Colour Lipshine, in Salina (Limited Edition color), $28.50

Le Vernis Nail Colour, in Golden Sand (Limited Edition color), $23

Ombre d' Eau Fluid Eyeshadow, Seashore (Limited Edition color), $32

 

Caudalie, one of my favorite skincare brands, is having a friends and family sale later this week!  20% off from March 27 - March 31!  I've never seen Caudalie on sale before!!

I love their Fleur de Vigne Fragrance, Gentle Cleanser and Beauty Elixer. But really, everthing they make is amazing!

I am such a sucker for beautiful things. Whether that means having fresh flowers around, a bed (made every morning) with crisp quality sheets, using sterling to eat pizza..... or the most beautiful product packaging, I appreciate beauty in the day to day things some people may ignore.  Thus my love for Guerlain - they must have the most beautiful packaging in the industry, not to mention great products...  Look at these things: beauty and functionality - - you've got to love that.

Meteorites Pearls Compact, $65

Terracotta Brush, $35

Terracotta Kohl, $34

 

Kiss Kiss Lipstick, $30

[I also love Chanel's packaging... of course. Can it get more classic than black and white and a dash of gold here and there?]

It's Clinique gift time at Bloomingdale's.  Maybe it's goofy, but I love the free gifts, even though often the colors and items included are not the ones I use and I end up giving them away. They're just fun anyway!

I've probably mentioned this before.  But for me, there are 2 staples from Clinique that I just cannot live without:

Super City Block Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 40 - at $17.50 it's an amazing value.  I use it every day, all year round. Premature aging caused by the sun is no joke!

Naturally Glossy Mascara - every year there are so many new mascaras, and I've tried them... but I keep coming back to this one.  I cannot tolerate clumps or stuck together eyelashes. This formula is pefect, and only $14 - another great value.

Clinique has a new product in their line of "Redness Solutions" products, Instant Relief Mineral Powder, $32.50.

Redness is a common problem for fair skinned people. Rosacea of course is a serious problem, but more common are reactive redness and broken capillaries under the skin.  These all show up so much more on those of us with very fair skin.  That's why this product caught my eye.  It looks quite yellow, which is somewhat alarming, but apparently it doesn't look yellow on your face.

 

The reviews from people who have tried it are mostly positive... well, more than positive; really, glowing reviews. 

They even have a redness quiz so you can dertermine if you need redness products.  I will report back after I've tried it. 

Feeling like a little splurge?  (even in the recession we have to treat ourselves once in a while) Chanel's Paris-Mosou nail polishes ($30) in 3 limited edition shades make a nice little treat.  The colors were inspired by Chanel's Paris-Moscou fashion show.  The burgundy color is already sold out online, so hurry.

The blue is too crazy for me, but I'd try the gold!

If you're a sucker for a beautiful container like I am, Givenchy's Rouge Interdit satin lipstick is a must have. It's also a very nice formula, not dry like some, it's actually loaded with antioxidants so it's nourishing and hydrating. And it comes in great colors.

I like the marron glace and the delice brown shades.  I suggest going to Sephora (or other store) in person to look at these though, the colors online at Sephora are not very good representations.

It's a snowy, dull day here in New York.  It's easy to feel and look that way too around this time of year. So brighten up, your face at least, with Benefit's Dandelion Luminizer. ($28)

It's the absolute perfect pink for fair skin.  It's sheer and shimmery (but not too shimmery) and gives you some faux radiance, just what we all need in January!!  The brush that comes with it isn't so good, so plan on using your own brush.

Where would my skin be without Peter Thomas Roth's Glycolic Acid 10% Moisturizer? Probably falling off right now.  This amazing moisturizer's acids seem to eat away at all the dead and dull skin on your face, which is great especially in the very dry and windy Winter weather season.  It is also said to "help reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of aging. Help clarify the skin and smooth out a rough texture."  That is the marketing lingo - but seriously, it works.  $45 for 2 ounces. 

I like to buy it at beauty.com because they give you free samples and you earn dollar rewards with each purchase to apply towards a future purchase.  

PTR also has a new Radiance Oxygenating Masque, ($50, 3.4 fl oz). It "brightens and evens out skin tone, clarifies, detoxifies, and hydrates the skin".  It's got some crazy-serious ingredients: fiflow®, symwhite™, gigawhite™, glucosamine, bearberry, mulberry, licorice, sodium pca, sodium hyaluronate, and vitamins C & E.  You massage it onto your face until it starts foaming and then let it sit for 5-10 minutes. It feels great - tingly and cooling, and then you wash it off.  It is supposed to "help to reduce the appearance of fines lines and wrinkles, plump surface cells, stimulate cell metabolism and enhance cell renewal leading to a more luminous, healthy looking complexion."  I just started using this, it seems great so far.

Caudalie, the wonderful vinotherapie skincare company, is offering a free travel kit with any $50 purchase now through Nov. 20.  So it's a great time to start early for Christmas shopping. Their gifts sets are a great way to introduce someone to the line.

 

The "Spa in a Box" set is a reasonable $38 and includes small sizes of their popular crushed cabernet scrub, hand and nail cream, vine peach shower gel, fleur de vigne soap and nourishing body lotion.  (oh, I LOVE this body lotion, it smells SO GOOD).

The "Vinoperfect Radiance Set" is $98 and includes Vinoperfect Radiance Serum, Vinoperfect Day Perfecting Cream SPF 15, Vinoperfect Night Correcting Cream and a small Beauty Elixer.

Both of these sets would make great gifts.  You can also buy the travel kit for $15 and those make great stocking stuffers.

Caudalie's profile just went up a notch here in the US because they just opened their newest spa at The Plaza. 

I was poking around Sephora this weekend, a favorite pass-time of course, and I ran across 3 eye shadow palettes that look great!  I really wish I didn't SUCK at eye shadow. I guess I need to go get a lesson (pretty sad at my age). I manage with my Chanel eye liner "Le Crayon Yeux" in teak and Clinique Naturally Glossy mascara, jet brown...  Anyway, here they are:

Cargo Essential Eyeshadow Palette, $32.  It comes in 3 color options: warm neutral, cool neutral and dark neutral.  I liked the cool neutral the best (middle). It even tells you where to put the colors, so I think even a dummy like me could figure it out.

Fresh Eye Shadow Trio, Lost World, $32. I love these colors, but I wouldn't be sure where to put the green. I'm not terribly fond of the cutesy looking container though.

Dior 5 Color Eyeshadow, Incognito, $54. The beautiful neutral tones are very similar to the Cargo colors. But they come in a more elegant container and the pigments that Dior uses are apparently better quality.

On a side note, I love Dior's Replenishing Lipcolor, $27. Color 717, "Brown Image" is beautiful. Don't go by the colors online though, they are way off. I love the container too, it's got a quilited look like a Dior bag.

I've become a huge fan of the Diamancel nail file #1.  All Diamancel files are made with diamond dust so they really last a long time and work very well. The #1 file is their finest file which is good for weak nails or for finishing. $26 at beauty.com.

The absolute best tweezers are Rubis from Switzerland. $29.95 at folica.com. I read about theses ages ago in the bible that is the Bliss Spa catalog and they were so right about them! They (Bliss) charge $35 for these same tweezers though.

Magazines always say that either Shu Uemura or Shiseido eye lash curlers are the best.  It's interesting that they're both Japanese companies... I've been using the Shiseido eyelash curler for ages.  It works great, I haven't compared it to the Shu Uemura, I guess I should put that on my to-do list. The Shiseido is $17.50 at and the Shu Uemura $19.00 both at Nordstrom.

I smelled a sample of Dolce & Gabbana's Light Blue fragrance and I'm dying to run out and get it now.  It's a perfect summer scent: light, clean and refreshing. The fragrance notes are Sicilian citron, granny smith apple, bluebell, jasmine, bamboo (who even knows what bamboo smells like??) with a hint of amber, cedar and musk.  I'm not a musk person at all, so must be a very tiny bit because it doesn't bother me.  Incidentally, I was just in Taormina, Sicily at the end of May (and I LOVED it) so it seems like a good idea to wear something this summer that evokes Sicilian citron!

The bottle isn't very exciting though. They could have done better there, but obviously one doesn't choose a fragrance by the look of the bottle! It's $59.50 for 1.7 fl oz or $80 for 3.4 fl oz. You get free shipping and samples at Sephora and if you link to them after logging into your American Express membership rewards and then go to the Bonus Points Mall, you can earn double points!  I love that!

I'm finding that in the Summer I'm loving my Caudalie Beauty Elixir even more than usual.  If you're not familiar with Caudalie they are a pioneer in vinotherapie, the use of beneficial grape-seed polyphenols in skin care products. Caudalie is from Bordeaux, France where I was lucky enough to discover them at the wonderful spa they have at Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte.

The elixir is a spray inspired by the "elixir of youth" used by Queen Isabella of Hungary. It is supposed to soothe the skin, tighten pores and provides a burst of radiance to the complexion.  I'm not sure if it really does all of that, but spraying it on your face after you've just washed it, is one of the most refreshing things I can think of.  It has the most amazing smell, I wish I could describe it. I close my eyes, spray it a couple times right in front of my face and then breath in through my nose... it's just like aaaahhhh.  It makes your skin so happy. It's such a moment! It's made with extracts of grape, essential oil of rosemary, orange blossom and rose extracts, benzoin, myrrh essential oils of organic balm mint and mint. So maybe you can imagine how it smells. I spray it on my clean face at night but you can also use it between your foundation and powder to perfectly set make-up.

They also make a grape water that you can use just like the Evian atomizer spray. (I always take one of the small Evian atomizers on planes for the dry air) They extract the water from the grapes at harvest, so it's better than just water because it has moisturizing polysaccharides and mineral salts from the grape.

You can buy Caudalie products from their own website (they send you free samples with each purchase!) or beauty.com. I like to order from beauty.com who is partnered with drugstore.com because they give you 5% back for future purchases and also free samples. Sephora also carries Caudalie, so that's convenient since there are Sephoras all over the place now.

I absolutely love Fresh products, everything they make is great, but I really love the Sugar and Lemon Sugar items.

My #1 favorite is the Sugar Lip Treatment.  Okay, at $22.50 it seems kind of expensive, but I think it's worth it. It has the benefit of SPF 15, blackcurrant oil cushions the lips with plumping fatty acids and antioxidant grapeseed polyphenols and vitamins A, C & E provide extra protection. And it smells great and comes in a rather nice container.

I also love the Lemon Sugar soap and lotion. The lemon sugar has a really fresh lemony citrus smell, it's refreshing and kind of just makes you happy when you smell it. The soap is a good hard-milled soap, so it doesn't disintegrate like cheap drug store soaps do. The lotion is loaded with good stuff like shea butter, mango seed oil, Vitamins C and E and sugar cane extract.  It's kind of heavy though, I think it's best for winter season unless you have really dry skin.

The soap is $13 and the lotion is $28, all at Fresh.com.

Now that we're into the heat of the summer (yes, even though it's still spring) it's even more important to remember your sunscreen!  Being very fair, I use SPF 40 on my face all year round.  I totally believe that the sun causes premature aging of the skin... you ever see those older, super tan women whose faces look like raisins?  Uggh.  That needs to be avoided!

I LOVE Clinique's Super City Block Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 40.  It's very light and doesn't clump up under base like some SPFs do.  And, it's cheap - only $16.50 for 1.4 fl. oz. I've tried more expensive options but have never liked them as much as this.

When going to the beach or if I'm going to be outside for a long time, I like to protect the sensitive eye area even more, so then I also use Clarins Sun Eye Contour Care Ultra Protection SPF 30. You can use it all around the eye and and the plant based formula helps prevent lines and wrinkles. It's $25.50 for 0.7 fl. oz.

For the body, I've always loved Lancome's formulas. They are light and non-greasy (I HATE greasy SPF). They used to make a spray-on lotion that was fabulous, but it's been discontinued. But this one is good too, Sôleil Expert Sun Care SPF 25 Face & Body Lotion With Pure Vitamin E. It bothers me that they say you can use it on your face and body. I want to put something that is only for the face on my face! So I just use this for the body. It's reasonably priced at $29.50 for 5 fl. oz.

I'm dying to smell these Guerlain Aqua Allegoria scents:  Mandarine-Basilic,  Tutti Kiwi and Herba Fresca.  I tend to like light, citrus and green scents all year round but they're really perfect for Spring and Summer.

They always explain fragrances so beautifully, but then when you go and smell them sometimes they are disappointing. Here's what they say about these three:

Mandarine-Basilic - Aptly named, this citrus concoction is as bright as a mandarin. And when the namesake fruit is paired with the crispness of basil, you get one sparkling, radiant, and lusciously luminous eau de toilette.

Tutti Kiwi - The lively and mischievous Tutti Kiwi imparts its crisp and tangy hue upon your skin for a quick energy fix. Frosty lemon and mandarin join the elegant blend of kiwi, geranium, and sweet mock orange to create a surprising mélange.

Herba Fresca - As fresh as the morning dew and as green as sap-filled stems, Herba Fresca is redolent of a luscious green garden early in the morning. Clover, spearmint, and the crisp aroma of crinkled leaves are enhanced by a tangy zest, the delicate scent of lily of the valley, and cyclamen petals.

I seriously want to run out to Sephora RIGHT NOW and smell these. They sound so yummy.  I love the bottles too, the way the top looks like a honeycomb and that it's a spray. And they're reasonable at $52 for 2.5 fl oz.

I already have the Pamplelune Aqua Allegoria (based around the tangy effervescence and delicate bitterness of grapefruit's golden zest, the composition tingles with fruity, orange notes and the silky caress of vanilla and patchouli. Consider it a kick-start to vitality--and an antidote to gloominess) which I don't love as much as I thought I would because of the patchouli (too strong).

As I mentioned before, I've been on a quest for a new (hair) conditioner ever since John Frieda discontinued my favorite one.  It's most difficult with fine hair to find the perfect one, it has to be very light but also really has to detangle.  Ever since I read an article about silicone and the build-up it causes, I've also been interested in finding a natural silicone free product. 

Korres is a Greek brand that makes all natural products of herbal origin. I picked their Acacia Milk conditioner. It was billed to "untangle the hair without any build-up effect" and is free of: mineral oil, silicone, propylene glycol  and ethanolamine.  I'm not sure what all of those are, but I guess they must be bad.  And it's also enriched with active plant extracts.  So, the results - - very good! It seemed to wash out clean in the shower, not leaving my wet hair waxy feeling like most cheap drug store brands do.  Often times when a conditioner washes out well, then I can't comb through my hair - - but with this one I could!  Now that my hair is dry it feels great, not weighted down and has a light scent that is unusual, but not bad unusual. (is that what acacia smells like?)  So it was a great experiment.  I'm glad, because it sucks to buy a $17.50 conditioner and hate it!  I'd like to try their shampoo now too.  I think I'll alternate between my Fresh shampoo and conditioner and Korres now.

They also make skin care products.  You can find their products at Sephora and Beauty.com.

Chanel has released their colors for Summer 2008. 

The collection is described as "The season's most alluring getaway looks with a beautifully edited makeup collection of heat-baked sands, golden browns, sunset bronzes and an array of khakis."  Sounds compelling!  I think Chanel has the best packaging in the business, it's just so elegant.  And their brushes are the absolute best. I'm in love with their "Pinceau Poudre" #6 powder brush... $49 but worth every penny. Here are my Summer color picks.

Creme de la Mer is a very rich face cream made with sea kelp, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, lecithin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin B12 and oils of citrus, eucalyptus, wheat germ, alfalfa and sunflower.  The ingredients are fermented to create the "miracle broth" in creme de la mer.  La Mer's brochure says it will make skin softer, firmer, and look virtually creaseless; aging lines and pores made noticeably less visible;  and sensitivities soothed.  I use it anywhere I think a wrinkle may show up in the future.  So far, so good.  It has a kind of old lady smell that I don't really like, but that's okay...
   

Estee Lauder bought La Mer in 1995 and it has become more and more popular since then, thanks to the EL marketing machine and more wide distribution. You can buy La Mer at Bloomingdales. It is $125 for an ounce, $220 for 2 oz or $1350 for 16.5 oz. Good grief, who'd need a jar that big?

If you're like me and have fine, pin straight hair, finding the right conditioner can be very challenging.  I used to love John Freida Sheer Blonde Conditioner, but they changed their formula, the new "Glistening Perfection" is way too heavy and feels like it just won't rinse clean.  I hate that! I was reading an article in March Vogue about Louise Galvin (a London colorist who also has her own product line, Sacred Locks), and it explained that most shampoos and conditioners contain silicone, which makes hair shiny but causes build-up. Her products are all natural and contain no sodium lauryl sulphates, propylene, glycol, silicones, artificial perfume or preservatives! And smell wonderful thanks to essential oil ingredients like: grapefruit, lemon, orange and mandarin. But yikes, the shampoo and conditioner sell for $44 and $48 for 6.8 oz. (www.blissworld.com) I guess I'll splurge and try it at some point...  I will report back when I do. 

Meanwhile, there is also Fresh Pomegranate Hair Rinse, it's not completely chemical free like Sacred Locks, but it is very light and rinses clean and is loaded with good stuff like lavender flower water, pomegranate extract, aloe vera leaf juice, ginseng, grape seed oil and green tea leaf extract, etc. etc. It's $24 for 8.8 oz. (www.fresh.com)

There have been some photos out recently of Nicole Kidman with just ridiculously large lips. Ugghh.  Why? Why? Why oh why would a beautiful woman make herself look like a clown like this?  Okay, I know "thin lips" are not attractive, but huge ridiculous lips, come on?  I guess this is nothing new.  I was watching season 4 of Las Vegas on dvd and I see that Nikki Cox's lips in this season have continued their trend of getting larger every season.  (other serial offenders: Lara Flynn Boyle, Meg Ryan, Donatella Versace) I certainly believe in making one's self better, even with plastic surgery etc. (if absolutely necessary), but it should be at a level that is not completely obnoxious.  These designer noses, huge boobs and clown lips have just gone too far.  This is not attractive in any way. Please world, stop.