Makeup, Hair, Shoes & Beauty Reviews

As the summer begins, women have an important choice to make: Do I bravely bare my winter skin, translucent as it may be, and patiently wait for the sun? Or, do I fake it ’til I make it with tanning sprays and beds? Whichever the decision may be–but particularly if you’re a sun worshiper or you spend a lot of time outdoors–take this advice first and always start with a great sunscreen. Here are our picks for the season from some of the top names in the skin-protection industry.

La-Roche-Sunscreen

La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 is a superlight sunscreen that packs a double-whammy punch: SPF 60 is paired with antioxidants that the company says protects your skin “down to the cellular level” while blocking both UVA & UVB rays. La Roche-Posay has long been touted as the mother of all sunscreens, so you can feel confident entrusting your snowy white legs to them for the season ($27.50, most national drug store chains, larocheposay.us).

From Peter Thomas Roth, an SPF 30 oil-free sunscreen mist is beyond convenient. Its “360-degree” spray goes on surprisingly evenly and the company’s claim of “no-rub” rings true. Give your body the once-over and come away from the beach with nary a zigzag tan line ($28, Sephora, peterthomasroth.com).

Nature’s Gate Aqua Block Sunscreen was developed for surfers and scuba divers, so you can trust that the SPF 50 formula will withstand a day at the beach or a marathon gardening session without breaking a sweat. The added ingredients of chamomile, shea butter and rosemary are soothing, not only to the skin, but to the senses as well ($8.99, natures-gate.com). Read the rest of this entry »

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This fashion-forward kit contains 5 key products used by stila to create a sun-kissed, safari-inspired look for the Lela Rose Spring 2009 show. Stila Backstage with Lela Rose ($77 Value!) Shop Beauty.com!»
$34 ($77 Value)

Blue Topaz Earrings
Only $75! Elegant and sweet, these gleaming 14K white gold earrings feature beautiful pale blue topaz gems. Easy to wear, these jewels have timeless appeal. ShopIce.com!»

LONDON — Tom Ford has seen the light.

The designer, known for his sultry take on style, will show a softer side starting in September with the launch of the four-fragrance White Musk Collection.

Riffing on musk notes, the collection is to be part of Ford’s Private Blend lineup of scents. “I thought I should create something decidedly feminine, something lighter in both color and scent,” said Ford, adding his Private Blend line of unisex fragrances was originally conceived with his men’s store design in mind.

“The men’s stores are dark and luxurious. [When creating the White Musk Collection] I was in the mood for something lighter and a little fresher. In the world today, we’re all in the mood for something simple, fresh, light and a little less heavy. At least that’s what I’m in the mood for,” Ford said.

“This is his ‘white period,’” added Diana Waldron, vice president of global marketing for Tom Ford Beauty, adding the White Musk Collection is intended to appeal to men as well as women. “[Ford] felt a need and a creative desire to look at the musk category. There’s been nothing new there in a long time.”

White Musk Collection’s packaging is intended to reiterate Ford’s penchant for a lighter aesthetic. The requisite Private Blend bottles are made with clear glass and topped with white lids, rather than the dark glass and caps used for the line’s existing scents. Read the rest of this entry »

The fact that Jennifer Lopez ascribes to the gospel of La Mer for her perfectly smooth, radiant skin is fairly common knowledge, although her signature bronzed glow has little to do with the miracle cream. Chalk that up to the self-described “King of Bling” makeup artist Scott Barnes, who has been tending to the singer-turned-actress’ honey-gold complexion since Jenny from the Block became J. Lo. We caught up with Barnes on the set of Lopez’s new flick, The Back-Up Plan (a romantic comedy about a woman who chooses artificial insemination after tiring of the search for Mr. Right—very new millennium), to talk bronzer for summer and beyond.

What’s your advice for steering clear of that unfortunate orange aftereffect that some bronzers can leave behind?

My tip is don’t go too dark. I’ve crossed the line myself but it’s all about knowing when to say I’ve gone too far. People have called me “a man to glow with” because my whole thing is that bronzer should radiate, and to get that result the key is moisture.

So would you recommend cream-based bronzers over powder then?

Liquid bronzers, like my Body Bling, work well to this end, and I just repackaged my cult favorite in a squeeze tube that should be out by the end of the month. Read the rest of this entry »

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

Remember the swinging sixties – totally groovy. Flower power…rock and roll… go go boots…miniskirts. Now you can relive it all with Eight Hour Cream 1960’s Celebration of the Decades Collection.

You’ll twist and shout when you dip into your Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant, the original formula of ultra-moisturizing petrolatum, vitamin E and re-texturizing beta-hydroxy acid. It smoothes, soothes, heals and protects dry skin.

We started Eight Hour Cream Celebration of the Decades with the fabulous fifties and now we’re on to the swinging sixties. Stay tuned for the next in our series. Peace.

EIGHT HOUR CREAM  Eight Hour Cream 1960’s Set ($42 value)

Designed for you to covet, collect and always count on, the Eight Hour Cream 1960’s Set honors Eight Hour Cream’s heritage as part of our “Celebration of the Decades” series.

You’ll twist and shout when you dip into your Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant, the original formula of ultra-moisturizing petrolatum, vitamin E and re-texturizing beta-hydroxy acid. It smoothes, soothes, heals and protects dry skin. 1.0 oz.

Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick SPF 15 is so funky and fun, you’ll want to move and groove with it everywhere. .13 oz.

All packaged in an Elizabeth Arden deluxe, red gift box.

shop online at elizabetharden.com

By BETSY VERECKEY AP Business Writer
NEW YORK September 16, 2008 (AP) The Associated Press

So long, flaws! HD makeup travels from big screen to consumers wanting picture-perfect look…
Makeup sellers seeking to stand out amid crowded cosmetic counters are expanding into a niche once confined to those living under the scrutiny of the lens: high-definition makeup.

The cosmetics, once used just for newscasters, models and actors, are becoming more popular among women who want to appear like they would in HDTV: lifelike, flawless and picture-perfect.

Initially, professional makeup artists used HD cosmetics on celebrities filming in the new system so precise that every detail is magnified more than on standard television. Now, the makers of HD cosmetics are focusing on expanding their use among regular makeup wearers — although not everyone is convinced that consumers should be using HD makeup every day.

The cosmetics, which work when particles in them reflect light instead of absorbing it, are one of the latest trends to hit the industry as companies vie for market share. Morningstar analyst Michelle Chang says there is a “push for innovation” because the industry is so saturated with products.
Read the rest of this entry »

the back story behind the beauty duo who mask smile lines—and keep you laughing Kate Hudson and Rachel McAdams don’t use the same makeup artist, and Sarah Jessica Parker and Nicole Kidman aren’t seeing the same holistic healer. So how to explain their similar rosy glows and collectively perfect bee-stung lips? No, the answer has nothing to do with Photoshop. They’re all members of the cult of Benetint, the original lip and cheek stain from Benefit Cosmetics that’s been making fans of celebrities—and the rest of us—for over 30 years.

The brainchild of twin sisters Jean and Jane Ford, Benefit thrives on a quirky sensibility—a “laughter is the best cosmetic” policy that’s an extension of the founders’ own lighthearted approach to life. After making for the West Coast to pursue a short-lived career in modeling, the Indiana-born Fords launched their beauty empire in the late seventies with the idea that makeup could provide both physical and comic relief for women who, as the sisters put it, “might be having a case of the uglies.” Seven and a half million multitasking bottles of Benetint later, and the Fords are still doling out the pretty. “We don’t follow trends,” says Jean. “Our raison d’être is to create products to fix particular beauty dilemmas.” Their latest venture is a new scent trio due out next month. Read on to discover the method behind their makeup. continue reading…

Stars like Halle Berry, Sophia Bush, Lauren Conrad and more love Farylrobin’s original, fun and stylish footwear. From sandals to heels, Farylrobin has something just right for your summer shoe wardrobe.

Discount: Get 15% off when you enter the code “FLYROBINFLY” at checkout.
Expiration: June 12.
Buy It! Show off your pedicure in the braided “Belly” sandal, with discount $255 (originally $300), at www.shopfarylrobin.com

ELIZABETH ARDEN created 5th AVENUE in 1996. It is the result of the following top fragrance Notes: lilac, linden and mandarin. The middle notes are: violet, ylang-ylang and jasmine and the base of the fragrance is: amber, musk and vanilla. 5th AVENUE is recommended for formal and romantic use.

Elzabeth Arden’s 5th Avenue is a modern American classic that captures all the sophistication, luxury, style and energy of Fifth Avenue. It is a fragrance that epitomizes a striking new image of classic elegance for Elizabeth Arden. 5th Avenue is a modern, floral semi-oriental fragrance, inspired by a place like no other, it is a for a woman with a style all her own.

Bare Minerals is by far one of the best makeup products I have ever used. The powders also last forever so it makes it a great investment. Here is some info from beauty.com on a bareminerals starter kit special….

If you hate the look and feel of traditional makeup but want flawless coverage, join the millions of women who have fallen in love with bareMinerals. Everything you need to achieve complexion perfection from foundation to finishing touch is right here.

Kit includes:

TWO shades of bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation: Medium & Medium Beige (Size: Medium)
Mineral Veil (Size: Medium)
Warmth All-Over Face Color (Size: Medium)
Full Flawless Face Brush
Flawless Application Face Brush
Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush
How-to DVD to show you how to Swirl, Tap, Buff your way back to the skin you were born with.
Bonus Gift- Well-Cared For Brush Conditioning Shampoo

What makes bareMinerals so special?

bareMinerals has always been about using only the purest, highest quality minerals found in the earth. Mined in exclusive regions around the country, our proprietary formula provides the look of beautiful bare skin. It gives you the coverage you desire without any preservatives, fillers or binders. It’s makeup so pure you can sleep in it.

In bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation clinical study, respondents reported the following results:

86% agreed that bareMinerals foundation is the best foundation they have ever tried.*
91% agreed that bareMinerals foundation completely covers skin imperfections while still looking fresh and natural.*
93% agreed that bareMinerals foundation leaves skin soft, smooth and younger looking.*
84% agreed that with continued use, bareMinerals foundation improved the appearance of skin.*
* Based on women who expressed an opinion after participating in clinical studies.

bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation wears The Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation for its Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 15 protection.

go to this site to get it!