Chanel Les Noirs Collection Fall 2009 Preview

Chanel dazzles and dazes us with their amazing color collection this fall. Shades of merlot for the nails and lips, green tones for eyes will make all green with envy! Texture and color take us from summer to fall in absolute style, as only expected from the house of Chanel! Be on the lookout for this amazing collection to hit Chanel counters in July!

Includes:
*Irrelle Duo-Acqua Alta
*Les 4 Ombres-Murano
*Joues Contraste-Fresque
*Peche Caresse Douce
*Les Tissages-Tweed Sienna
*Rouge Allure- Clandestine, Comedia , Amusing , Captive , Inuitive , Instinctive
*Le Vernis- Gondola , Intermezzo

Lips fit for kissing!

Philosophy 'kiss me tonight' intense lip therapy

Having soft, supple and plumped lips is not too much to ask for, is it? Not according to Philosophy! Having tried an uncountable number of balms and treatments that just sat on the lips in a waxy haze, this one is a blessing! Their ultra-creamy lip therapy provides intense hydration to relieve dryness and soothe severely dry lips. Kiss Me Tonight provides instant results to help reduce the appearance of fine lines, while adding shape and definition. Working on contact rosy lips are achieved giving you soft kissable lips in an instant. Add it to your daily "Help Me" routine for overall skin perfection!

Getting gorgeous color without the Sun

Sunless Tannning

Having a great summer tan no longer requires hours basking in the skin damaging sun! The days of rubbing on the suntan lotion and sitting for hours worshiping the rays are days of the past. In are the ways of the sunless tan. I’ve used a few that left me with a tangerine tint and a few with uneven spots of tan, and of course the infamous streaks! Technology has reared its head into the beauty industry and given us products of a new level of excellence.

I hate the idea of having to put on gloves to apply my self tanner, and some self tanners require so much prepping I feel like I’ll never get to the tanning part! One I use and love are TanTowels. These towelettes come in a full body size or half body size both of which can be used on all parts of the body including the face. The moist towelettes are saturated with self tanner that you apply by wiping the cloth on all parts of the body you wish to develop color on. Knee’s, elbows even ankles get an even dose of tanner so no more dark, dirty looking knee’s and elbows because of uneven application. The natural looking color develops over 3-4 hours and stays for several days. Apply the tanner every night until you get the tan you are looking for, and then touch up every two days or so to maintain. I rarely get sun, like never! So my legs tend to be a bit blindingly white, but when I have occasion to show my legs, I do just one application and gone are the white legs! There are several brands that use the towelette system, TanTowel and Kate Somerville. Both are equally impressive so it’s a preference to which brand you like.

Another fab self tanner comes in spray form, Mystic Tan. This is also one that can be used on face or body and delivers an even natural looking tan. It gives a fine even mist and is easier to apply to hard to reach areas such as your back. Even though it’s a spray, I found the best way to get even color is to lightly rub it in or blend it after you spray it on. Mystic Tan comes in a cream form as well, but I found it required much more blending to get the even color. So its pretty much a matter of preference. The line also has a wonderful color maintaining moisturizer, so keeping your tan glowing is a cinch!

Both of these products gave me equally impressive results and I use either depending on which one I happen to have at the time! If I could only find one that is all natural or organic! One thing I must stress is, you can use these year round and have a healthy dose of color. So even if it’s freezing cold outside and you have a foot of snow piled up, you can still have a glow that looks natural!

Ilumina Baby Bottom Balm

In my quest of natural and organic skincare, I’ve come across an array of products that claim to be natural. Some good, and some not so much! I was thrilled to find one that met its claim of being natural and organic. Illumina Baby Bottom Balm is technically designed for soothing and protecting a baby’s delicate bottom from rash and irritation. But, I have found it to be superbly effective in protecting my skin against the elements. If it’s gentle enough for baby, it had to be gentle enough for me and I was not disappointed!. And it is truly all natural! The gentle formula contains certified organic oils that prevent and heal irritation, and no BPA’s or Phthalates. Only natural and organic ingredients! Use it on your delicate area’s to shield skin of the harsh environment, or use as a healing cream on dry or cracked skin!

Summer Hair

Help for Summer Hair

Summer is here girls! And it can take its toll on our locks. Whether you wear your hair straight or curly, the frizzies can ruin all of the hard work we put into looking super sleek. We put so much time into our makeup and fashions for the summer but often forget out the care our tresses need! But no fear ladies, help is here!

There are several products available to help ease us into summer’s extreme conditions with style and poise. I especially love Frederic Fekkai’s summer line, designed especially for summer hair care. There is a shampoo for detoxing hair of chlorine and salt water to keep it clean and free of buildup. The Beach Waves spray when used with the Beachcomber leave-in spray is a must for creating those soft, carefree, frizz-free locks.

Wearing your hair straight and sleek need not leave you anxious anymore! Apply Fekkai’s Anti-frizz Silkening Crème before blow-drying and never fear frizzies again. I love how soft and silky my hair feels, even after the abuse of my blow-dryer and flat iron! I just add a finishing touch with Fekkai’s Nonchalant Piecing and Forming wax for texture and I’m set until my next washing!

Another new and innovative line out, which I’m loving is Living Proof.They make fabulous products for keeping both curly and straight hair looking its best through the most extreme summer conditions. Designed by an MIT Professor, technology and innovation make this line extremely effective and gentle, yet highly effective. Yeah for MIT!

And don’t forget the sunscreen for hair. All hair needs sunscreen, color treated hair is especially vulnerable to the affects of the summer sun. We spend so much time and money on coloring our hair that we need to keep it fresh and vibrant for as long as possible. Hair sunscreen will protect colored hair and keep the color vibrant until your next touchup!

Armani's Manta Ray Duo's

Duo #1

Giorgio Armani Manta Ray Shadow Duo’s

I not only love the designers clothing, shoes and handbags, I love the luxuriousness of his cosmetic line. Stunning colors and exceptional quality are expected from the perfection driven designer, Giorgio Armani. Manta Ray Shadow Duo’s deliver the standard Armani quality with true color transfer and super silky micro-fil technology formulation. Available in for shade combinations, there will be one you will love! Or maybe even four!

Duo #1-Charcoal and Beige
Duo #2-Intense Ocean Green and Deep Ocean Blue
Duo #3-Pale Lilac Grey and Luminous Fuchsia
Duo #4-Shimmering Lilac Pearl and Pale Pearl Green

Chanel's contribution to saving our earth

Chanel Double Perfection Compact

With so many different products to choose from these days, we expect quality products that fit our wants and needs. I love products that are re-fillable, not only does it save money but its saves our environment. It always seems like such a waste to throw away a perfectly good compact, especially when it would makes much more sense to refill it!

Chanel’s best selling foundation, Double Perfection Compact, now comes in a re-fillable compact! Elegance and functionality,not only is it convenient, but eco-friendly! You still get the flawless matte finish and super light, super soft texture. Not to mention, long lasting wet/dry SPF 10 formula with light-reflecting pigments to minimize the appearance of lines. Getting a perfectly radiant complexion any where, any time has never been easier. You can get your compact for $50 then refill for $40 at Chanel counters everywhere.

MAC Euroistocrats 2

Mac Euristocrats 2

With new Dazzleglass shades and new Lipstick shades, its easy to add sheen and sparkle for extra oomph! We asked for more and M.A.C gives it to us! Available Now.


Lipstick
Saint Germain
London Life
Naked Paris
Patisserie
Costa Chic
Milan Mode
Chockney

Dazzleglass
Rue d’rouge
Euro Beat
Date Night
Via Veneto
Local Colour
Internationalist
Roman Holiday


Lip Pencil
Magenta
Cherry
Subculture
Whirl

FIVE BRUSHES YOU MUST HAVE

face/blush, eye blender, eye contour, eye shadow, eye definer

Must Have Brushes

Having the right brushes makes perfecting your look so much easier. I know personally, I’ve ended up with a ton of makeup brushes, and with so many different ones it can be confusing to determine which ones you need. I have as of late been able to narrow my necessary brushes down to a mere five! So I thought I’d share them with you and describe what I use each one for. But it’s ultimately up to you which ones will work for you. And of course different looks require different brushes, so that is a consideration as well.

The five I use regularly are a face/blush brush, large eye blending brush, eye shadow brush, eye contour brush and eye detail brush. Just a note, the denser the bristles the more product it picks up so you will have more intense color deposit. Soft fluffy brushes are good for blending and dusting on sheer color deposits.

· Face/Blush Brush- I use this brush to dust on loose powder or blush. I like one that is soft and fluffy so that I get a gently dusting of powder or color.
· Large Eye Blending Brush- This one is great for blending shadows, but can also be used to highlight cheekbones and brow bones.
· Eye Shadow Brush- I like ones that have dense bristles so that I can get quick color deposit.
· Eye Contour Brush- This one is great for applying color to the crease or for contouring the eye area. The bristles tend to be a bit shorter, but I’ve seen ones where the bristles are a tad longer. These are often called “ponytail” contour brushes.
· Eye Detail Brush- One of my favorites, I couldn’t live with out it. It is a tiny brush with very short dense bristles. This brush allows you to get great detailing, such as at the lash line.

There are other brushes you should have such as a bronzer brush or powder brush but you may not use these everyday. However, these are the five you must have for everyday! As with all other makeup, experiment and find what works for you! Have fun an play!

Philosophy Shares The Love

Bye-Bye Flakes!

Lip Scrub by Sara Happ

Brown Sugar is all the rage in skincare lately. And for good reason! It provides hydrating properties in creams and is an uber gentle scrub for exfoliants. Sara Happ’s Brown Sugar Lip Scrub provides lips with a luxurious spa treatment; you will wonder how you ever lived without it! Apply a generous dollop to lips and around lip line, gently rub for a stimulating massage and wipe off with a warm cloth. Voila, soft, plump lips!

A touch of light from YSL

Yves Saint Laurent 'Touche Éclat' Radiant Touch

A cult favorite among YSL users, and a long standing favorite of mine!Touche Eclat has withstood the competition and come out a step above the rest. The wonder wand that made YSL Beaute famous, like magic it adds radiance anywhere your skin needs a touch of brightness. The take-anywhere pen brush adds light and eliminates shadows and signs of fatigue from the eye area, the hollow of the chin, the contour of the lips or the sides of the nose. With a click of the pen, apply this smooth brightening concealer over makeup or on bare skin. Blend with fingertips for flawless instant radiance.

Dior polishes lips to perfection!

Dior Addict Lip Polish

Inspired by the secrets of Dior’s backstage makeup artists, Addict Lip Polish provides ultra smooth and ultra shiny lips that glow with youthful health. Enriched with moisturizing hyaluronic microspheres and reflective mother of pearl pigments, the incredibly supple formula instantly recreates the glowing look of runway lips. The exclusive spin applicator wand picks up the perfect amount of product and rolls it onto the lips while providing a delicate massage. A moisturizing lip primer and polish, each shade is designed to deliver a different affect. Fresh Expert restores lips to the pink tones of youth. Glow Expert adds a sheer coral tone for warm luminosity. Radiance Expert gives a natural beige tone to illuminate with radiance. A shade for every skin tone or a different one for you to use each day. Why not try them all!

Bobbi Brown Nudes

Nudes Shimmerbrick
Nudes Palette

Nudes Caviar Ink

Nudes Creamy Lipstick

Bobbi Brown Nudes Collection

Bobbie Brown’s newest Nudes Collection adds effortless sophistication to the nude makeup concept. Universally flattering textures of soft matte, lightly pearlized and high shimmer metallic’s makes taking a nude look from day into night. The newest collection will include a palette with three duos’, which can later be replaced with any of Bobbi’s shadows, blushes or lip glosses. The Nude Shimmerbrick will blend effortlessly to give skin tones the famous from-within glow. Four new shades of Creamy lip colors will compliment the glowing eyes and luminous lips, and finally a long awaited shade of Long Wear Gel Eye Liner. The entire collection is now available at Nordstrom or Nordstrom.com.

Nude Eye Palette
Contains Navajo-Pebble, Chino-Beige Linen Wash and Maple Sugar-Caviar duos

Nude Shimmer Brick
Nude-pink, gold, bronze, beige and caramel hues

Creamy Lip Color
Rose Bud
Rose Garden
Soft Blush
Twilight

Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner
Caviar Ink

Philosophy Replenishing Cream

When Hope Is Not Enough Replenishing Cream

Round out your routine with When Hope is Not Enough Replenishing Cream. Boost the health of your skin, this emollient moisturizer was formulated with borago seed oil and wild yam to help balance the skin's moisture level and restore it balance. Dehydrated skin is brought back to healthily levels while the ultra-rich, non-greasy formula helps seal in your nighttime treatment products. Improving the overall smoothness of the skin, When Hope is Not Enough Replenishing cream, rich in antioxidants helps to smooth and soothe the skin and protect it from free radical attack, all while you sleep. For skin that is super dehydrated or exposed to the environment, this superb cream can be used to during the day to hydrate and protect.

Help for EYES

Philosophy eye hope

With 83% improvement in fine lines and wrinkled, 85% improvement in puffiness, 95% improvement in dark circles, you can have the eyes of your youth! Eye Hope provides skin tissues around the eye area with tested and proven results in six weeks! 4 out of 5 people saw significant improvement in all eye area concerns when using the new, light weight and multi-functional formula. Eyes are calmed and soothed with the anti-inflammatory benefits while light diffusing properties brighten the skin. Used with Philosophy’s Help Me collection of skincare items, you can have perfection for bright, well rested eyes!

Boost your skincare routine with a serum

Philosophy When Hope is Not Enough Lifting and Firming Serum

Yesterday I posted about the Help Me Retinol Cream, today is step two. After cleansing your skin, apply Help Me to treat uneven skintone, large pores or fine lines. Next would be a few drops of When Hope Is Not Enough Serum.

Guard your skin from free-radical damage while restoring skin cells with a unique blend of antioxidants with When Hope Is Not Enough Firming and Lifting Serum. A potent yet light weight gel, dehydrated skin is instantly brought back to its natural radiance with out added oils. When used under your morning and evening skin care routine, skin is radiant, firm, lifted and revitalized. Never have a dull or tired complexion again; aged skin is instantly revitalized to the skin of youth.

Help Me

Philosophys Help Me

For the next few day, I'm going to be posting about Philosophy's Help Line. This group of products will change the way your skin feels and looks!

If you seek clean, unclogged pores and a product with the benefits of a peel without the peeling, or a multi tasking product that will reduce fine lines and uneven skin, than you seek Philosophy’s Help Me. Help Me is an award winning clinically tested retinol cream that minimizes the appearance of large pores, fine lines and uneven skin with a patented time release retinol delivery system. Releasing retinol gradually for less irritation, this vitamin packed multi-tasker is gentle enough for even for those with sensitive skin. No more flaky skin, redness or irritation from traditional retinol treatments, just clear, even, smooth skin. Pregnant women should consult their physician before using this as it contains retinol. Sun sensitivity is possible with any retinol treatment, so sunscreen is a must while using this. Apply Help Me on clean washed skin prior to any other treatment product.

Get the Jergens® Natural Glow

Jergens® Natural Glow Express Body Moisturizer

I am always looking for a way to get the sun-kissed glow with out the damaging affects of the harsh summer sun. Jergens gives you that, while keeping your skin soft and nourished. Jergens® Natural Glow Express Body Moisturizer is formulated with exclusive Glow Perfecting™ Complex, giving you a natural looking. skin tone matching glow. Get a quick and healthy natural looking summer glow with first use, and then get a full shade darker with daily use for three days. Once you have achieved the color you are looking for, maintain it with Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer. Getting a natural, healthy tan is now quick and easy, and without the damaging affects of the sun.

Bobbi Brown Benefits Charity

For all Bobbi Brown lovers, from now until June 11, 2009 BobbiBrown.com will take 25% off all orders. Proceeds from your purchases will help support Bobbie Brown's donation of $10,000 to "Dress for Success". Enter code Summer1 at checkout.

Dior Radiant Base SPF 20

'Diorskin Radiant Base' SPF 20

A perfect canvas makes for a perfect complexion, so I am always on the prowl for the next best! Dior’s amazing new makeup base inspires the luminous glow of golden ice. A few drops of this dazzling primer gives skin renewed texture and smoothes for a radiant even finish with the benefits of Spf 20. A refreshing and light fluid, this is the perfect primer for use under any Dior foundation. Or wear it alone, for an even sheer golden glow.

Lush Vanilla

LUSH HEAVANILLI MASSAGE BAR

Vanilla beans (pods) are the dried unripe fruits of the orchid vanilla planifora. Every flower is pollinated by and and each blossom produces a single bean that is normally harvested after 8-9 months. Vanilla pods and vanillin extracted from them are used as flavorings in cakes, ice creams and custards. Vanilla absolute has a soothing, soft, creamy scent that most people find extremely calming and comforting, Lush uses 220 pounds or 20,000 vanilla pods each year. No wonder we smell so good!-(Lush)

With the harsh heat of the summer months, I usually need something a bit more intense and moisturizing for my skin moisturizing needs. A butter bar can be too much for my daytime use, but I load up at bedtime and let the moisturizing benefits soak in. When I wake up, head to toe is soft and well nourished to take me through the day. Just a touch of a light lotion in the morning is all I need. Heavanilli butter smells of sensual jasmine, vanilla, tonka and cinder. Soft and sensual, what a better way to soften and scent your skin than with a massage of yummy vanilla scented Heavanilli massage bar.

Fall 2009 Collections

Okay ladies, just getting all of the preview's for the upcoming fall collections! I can tell you this right now, save your money! You will need it to get all of the fabulous items coming out. As they are fabulous! The colors are rich, the collectiions are diverse and you will have a hard time picking and chosing. With the economy so bad, these brands knew they had to do something extraordinary to bring in the customers and keep them buying! They did not dissapoint, I will go broke with the fall collections, there will be no picking and chosing for me. Keep an eye out for the Chanel, Dior, Ysl and Givenchy collections in particular, they are stunning! August is the month for the awaited collections so cancel your vacation plans and head to the department stores! I'll see you there!

Chanel

Chanel Tokyo Happening

A collection paying tribute to the trendy Aoyama section of Tokyo, fun, trendy, young, enthusiastic! Gorgeous shimmer, beyond pale pastels, high shine for lips and fingertips, a perfect tribute to the attitude of Aoyama. Pale shimmering shades of starlight blue, silvery white, tender pink and golden yellow take pale shimmer to a new level of chic. The new Tokyo Happening Collection consists of Les Tendres De Chanel for face and décolleté, four new shades of Levres Sciintillantes and four shades of Les Vernis that compliment each other to perfection. Available at CHANEL.COM

Les Tendres De Chanel-Natural Finish Face Highlighter:
In the attitude of Aoyama, a palette of beyond-the-pale pastels- starlight blue, silvery white, tender pink and golden yellow, shimmering wit iridescent effects for face and décolleté.

Levres Scintillantes:
Wish-sheer light blue with silver shimmers
Lune-Sheer blue-silver with silver shimmers
Galactic-sheer golden beige with golden shimmers
Libellule-soft baby pink with multi tonal shimmers

Le Vernis:
Galactic Touch
Lune d’Argent
Blue wish
Rose Libellule

Photo: Chanel

Duwop Pink Shimmer Lip Venom

Pink Shimmer Lip Venom

Duwop stormed the cosmetic market with their unique and innovative lip plumper, Lip Venom. We ran to the counters to be the first to have plumped lips without the needle! Now we run for plumped shiny lips with a touch of shimmer! Infused with essential oils, ginger and cinnamon shiny, plump and bee-stung lips are achieved. Circulation is increased to promote a healthy pink pout. Duwop’s infamous Lip Venom is infused with pink shimmer to reflect light and highlight the natural shape of your lips. Wear over your favorite lipstick or alone for a spicy, tingly treat.

Natural or Not

I get alot of questions on all natural and organic cosmetics and skincare so I thought I'd give my thoughts on it. With the hype of all things eco-friendly, natural and organic, how do we really know which way we should go? Being one who tries to be as eco-friendly as possible, eats organic and really does want to do what’s best for myself and my world, I find it very confusing at times. I have used, tried and love many of the new up and coming lines that are organic and natural, and let me say, they are fabulous! So what about my coveted lines, my long loves that are not natural and organic?

We could drive ourselves crazy on the subject of what should and should not be used in cosmetics, how they are tested and on what. Not all synthetic ingredients are harmful, the magic of modern technology has allowed scientist to create ingredients that are beneficial and safe. And not all natural ingredients are beneficial to all, some essential oils set off an array of allergic reactions for me. So what is one to do? My only suggestion is to investigate what you are using, what the effects are, good and bad. Then weigh out whether or not it’s something you should use or want to use.

Recently, I was watching a show on how crude oil is manufacturing, and up popped a word I’ve seen many times in various cosmetic items; propoline. This is the product that is produced when crude oil is distilled and separated in to different components for use in industry. Personally, I can’t stomach the thought of using propoline on my skin, as beneficial as some reports say it is, so gone are all things containing propoline. Now, I know that the form used for cosmetics is not necessarily harmful, but it’s my choice not to use it. Its everyone’s choice, what may be good for one, may not be good for another!

Estee Lauder's Newest "Good for your skin" foundation

Estée Lauder 'Nutritious' Vita-Mineral Liquid Foundation SPF 10

Estee Lauder adds skin loving minerals to the lines newest member for makeup that not only looks good but is good. A nutrient rich formulation powered by pomegranate, vitamins and minerals gives skin a dose of anti oxidants while creating an invisible and natural radiant finish. Add the sun protection of Spf10 and you have all you need to have happy, healthy and perfect looking skin in an instant

Chanel Allure Parfum

Chanel Allure Parfum

Allure has been a fragrance wardrobe staple of mine for many years. I often push this aside to try the new, trendy, upcoming fragrance that is being featured for the season. But back to Allure is where I eventually end. It may be at the back of my mind but never forgotten. It’s classy, feminine and time enduring collaboration of notes always floats to the forefront eventually, it endures and surpasses all trends. The mixture of floral honeysuckle, water lily, magnolia lends to soft floral femininity. Fruity notes of mandarin, Italian citron and passion fruit gives a touch of playful citrus that makes you yearn for those cool summer nights. Top it off with bourbon vanilla and you now have ultimate sensuality. Complexity and timelessness has made the house of Chanel a generation enduring fixture, Allure takes wearing fragrance to levels of elegance and luxury that will last for generations. Apply Allure Parfum to pulse points for continuous scent drifts that make passers by wonder “what was that mesmerizing scent?”