beauty products
La Vie Celeste Goes to the Golden Globes
Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance
Next January's Golden Globe celebrity gift bags will have something new and special ---La Vie Celeste Day and Night Restorative Face Cream. Teri Dourmashkin, who created La Vie Celeste, a new skin care company, which makes face cream, eye cream, cleanser, toner, and a lightweight exfoliating mask, doesn't make foolish promises. Unlike so many new start ups cosmetic industry heads, she is low-key, stressing results but not the flawless skin of a Stepford wife, Instead, she talks about ingredients like R-Lipoic Acid, which she says has superior anti-aging benefits and is more effective than the more commonly used Alpha Lipoic Acid. All of her company's products are gentle, well-tested, and totally non-toxic. "I am a big believer in a simple regime," says Dourmashkin who has a doctorate in health education from Columbia University. "The more ingredients you add to a product, the greater the risk of irritation or a possible allergic reaction. Our products are fragrance free and unlike many brands, we don't load up with essential oils which can be irritating for some women," she says.
Although they will be introduced to retail outlets in the fall, currently you can order La Vie Celeste products online at www.laviecelesteskincare.com. The entire range of products from eye cream to an exfoliating mask are made in Loveland, Colorado in small batches. As one of Dourmashkin's goals is to keep things simple, affordable, yet elegant, her prices are realistic considering their ingredients and effectiveness. A three-piece kit with cleanser, toner, and face cream will set you back only $85 with free shipping, a $20 saving over ordering each item individually. The face cream alone, $45, can be used morning and night, even under the eyes. All of Dourmashkin's products are made for sensitive skin and are not guaranteed to eliminate imperfections, but they can surely lighten, brighten and reduce some of those irritating signs of aging,
Anastasia Beverly Hills Essential Brow Kit
Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance
Anastasia Soare, the brow specialist in Los Angeles who trims the brows of celebrities like Victoria Beckham, Megan Fox and Catherine Zeta Jones, has put together a Kit for Perfect Brows and Eyes (above) which will be available exclusively at Sephora this May.
The kit, which I took for a test drive this morning, includes a number of products to make your brows and eyes brighter, and create that "Perfect Triangle" for which Soare is known. The attractive little kit is about 6" x 3" x 1.5" and comes with DVD Instructions to help you achieve your perfect eyebrows.The products include:
- Cooling Eye Brightener
- Mini Lash Lifting Mascara
- Stencils
- Brow Powder Duo
- Precision Tweezers
- Clear Brow Gel
- Mattle Camille Highlighter
- Mini Duo Brush
If you're like me, and have several pairs of tweezers but only use one, you'll be delighted to find these slant tipped tweezers are both sharp and fine, and with a strong grip. The real gem of the package, though, is the stencil set. Find the stencil that matches your shape and you can be sure you're creating even, well-arched brows that follow the Golden Ratio. The stencils make life easier for anyone who's ever looked at their brows and thought: "Is that even? Is the shape weird? Should I tweeze more there or more there?"
The only thing missing from the kit, it my opinion, is a small pair of scissors for snipping those brow hairs that play a vital role but go a little too far. Beyond that, I found all the products, especially the eye brightener and highlighter, terrific -- and while I'd probably ditch the case and consolidate them into my usual makeup bag, this set makes a great gift and/or kit for when all you know about eyebrows is tweezing or your local salon, and you don't know where to start.
The Anastasia Beverly Hills Kit for Perfect Brows and Eyes will be available exclusively from Sephora stores nationwide May 6, 2010 for $75.00.
Can You Layer Scents?
Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance
You can create your own unique signature scent by layering scents, according to Luxist Awards Expert Panelist Harry Slatkin, who is regarded as one of the country's leading fragrance experts.
"Don't be afraid to mix," says the fragrance expert who is the founder and creative force behind Slatkin & Co., the premier home fragrance brand celebrated for its scent experience and design (now a division of Bath & Body Works). "But of course your nose knows what will work and what won't."
For a truly unique scent, consider layering two or more fragrances. The trick is to blend notes that complement each other. Jasmine, vanilla, rose and citrus work well with most scents, while stronger notes such as patchouli and vetiver don't mix as well. A tea scent---or a perfume that has tea in it---might layer well with a rose, gardenia or a lavender scent. Slatkin recommends using a classic fragrance as a base, such as Chanel No. 5, and adding something on top. "Be daring and take it in a different direction," he says, "and you'll end up with something that's truly unique and memorable."
Remember, there may be scents in the shampoo, conditioner, cream and lotions that you use, which can change the scent of a perfume you may wear.
"If you like it, then it works," says Slatkin. "But if you walk in a room and you see people's eyes welling up with tears, then you know it isn't working for anyone else but you. If that is the case, then maybe it is something you shouldn't wear it again. Remember, it is not just about yourself, it is about everybody. You want to please people as much as yourself with scent."
Swarovski Crystal-Embellished Nail File
Filed under: Gadgets
You'll never be able to go back to 10-pack cheapo emery boards after having this beautiful accessory in your purse! The Swarovski Nail File, created by designer Craig Coulton for the design competition organized by Designboom, consists of two filing blades (regular and smoothing) that fold out to reveal a shining layer beneath them. Crystals are embedded along each side of a silver, gold, or platinum body. Seems there's just no end to many ways that crystals can beautify everyday objects.
Organic Beauty Yet to Catch On in U.S.
Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance
We know America is on a shopping starvation diet, but it seems organic beauty products have yet to catch on even in a good economy. Despite reports of 70% of consumers purchasing at least one non-organic beauty product over the past six months, only 5% admitted buying a beauty product labeled organic over the same period.
Despite the ubiquitous Go Green Now! messages around, just a tiny fraction of the population is doing so when it comes to makeup, haircare or other beauty products. Is America just not ready to embrace a movement that started out smelling like patchouli?
[via Makeup and Beauty Blog/The Cut]
Smooth Your Skin With Luxe Essentials
Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance, Green
These products are a triple play -- almost 100% organic, luxurious, and free of animal testing/ingredients tested on animals. Using the tagline "Beautify Not Toxify," Luxe Essentials is a simple line with just three categories: body butter ($10 - $30), bath salts ($37), and bath and body oils ($20). Oh wait, two gift baskets are offered -- lavender and lemongrass ($55). I love lavender, just in case you're thinking of sending me one of these. Hey, I'm just saying, if you need an idea. Anyway ...Luxe Essentials' founder, Nydia Norville, is based in NYC. Read more about her and the line on her MySpace page or her blog, which has some beauty tips to try at home.
Bonuses: The main site accepts PayPal and is affiliated with the Indie Collective.
Alterna Ten Shampoo
Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance
How much would you pay for a bottle of shampoo? How about $60 a bottle? The Alterna Ten hair care products are infused with expensive ingredients including African cacao extract, caviar, white truffle oil, Champagne grape seed oil, Bulgarian Evening Primrose, and Arabian Frankincense to rebalance and nourish hair. As you might expect, the brand boasts a long list of celebrity fans. Other products from Alterna include the Luxury line which is made with white truffle extract.Breath Palette Flavored Toothpastes
Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance
Lately toothpaste has wandered away from basic
mint. If you've tried out cinnamon and lemon and are ready to really expand your tastes get ready for the 31-flavor Breath Palette Line. The toothpaste comes in flavors as exotic as darjeeling tea,
pumpkin pudding and Indian curry. The entire 31-flavor kit sells for $160
at Neiman Marcus or you can buy themed sets such as the smoothie or zen palate. [via The Cool Hunter]
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