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Luxist Gift Guide 09: Sensai Holiday Gift Sets

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance, Holiday Guides



If only Pamela Anderson had discovered the new SENSAI Platinum Edition Coffret Gift Set, before she let her platinum addiction drive her into bankruptcy. The new luxury gift set out just in time for the holidays offers for the first time ever, platinum, in a soft pearl powder and highlighting platinum body lotion. If that sounds decadent to you, it is. Forget the latest diamond cremes, platinum is the new luxury ingredient, straight from the renowned Japanese beauty line, which counts Scarlett Johansson and Jennifer Aniston as fans. The Platinum Gift Set, which includes the powder, flawless brush, and body lotion packaged in a velvet clutch is available exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman, and retails for $80. It's literally all you need to take to any party this season. But use sparingly. A brush of powder is all you need to make your whole face glow.

Selfridges London To Have Europe's Largest Dior Counter

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance

love dior
The largest Dior counter in Europe will soon be found at Selfridges on Oxford Street in London. Hello Magazine reports that the Dior counter will have the widest palette of shades available worldwide (over 250). The counter, which will open on Octber 1, will include a "color creator atelier" that will let you shop in a variety of different ways, exploring the wide palette of Dior shades. And for perfume lovers there is the Fragrance Consultation area where, on November 15, Dior will offer a limited-edition 'expression' of J'adore: The Amphora, of which only 10 bottles of which will be produced, The Love Dior Palette shown above, designed by Dior's creative director for make-up, Tyen, to mark his 30-year anniversary with the brand, will be available exclusively at the counter from October 22 until December.

The Quest for Porcelain White Skin

Filed under: Journeys, Cosmetics and Fragrance, Crimes and Misdemeanors

photo of a woman with a parasol in shanghai
I was just in Newport, Rhode Island, although I didn't see that much of it, because on the night of my arrival, I ate what turned out to be a very bad lobster indeed. (Public service announcement: if you're eating lobster, nay, any shellfish, and you detect even the slightest hint of ammonia, put down the fork, leave the table, and immediately procure saltines and electrolyte-enhanced fluids.)

Anyway, maybe it was because I was tinged green, but for the moments when I crawled out of my very comfortable hotel (the Hotel Viking, book a room in the newly renovated wing), I couldn't help but noticed how very white everyone was. Well, rich-people-in-summer-white, which is to say, bronze.

When I was in Shanghai last month, I was reminded that the Western obsession with toasting is not shared worldwide.

In China, which certainly has its own ethnic tensions, but not (as I'm aware of) those relating to the amount of melanin in the skin, the obsession is looking as white as possible, as you can see in the colorful parade of parasols everywhere, what I can only describe as "forearm cozies" – handmade fabric coverings protecting the skin from the elbow to the wrist -- and for bicycle riders, what looks like a welding mask. (Although I think this is also to ward off projectiles.)

Temptu Creates Makeup of the Future

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance

Temptu Airbrush Makeup System and AIR PodsTemptu has designed a home airbrush makeup kit which is safe and easy to use, and the results are virtually flawless.

It's not very often that we feature makeup on this site (unless it's a makeup bracelet), but this is a development that must be covered: For 28 years, Temptu has been airbrushing makeup onto celebrities, models, and socialites for movies, TV shows, magazine covers, fashion shows, and more, and now? You're going to have that luxury available in your own home -- you're going to be able to airbrush yourself.

This is no under-the-table, infomercial-fueled waste of time; the kits will be on sale at Sephora in September with the tagline "Flawless pro results, without the pro" and an educated staff member to show you how to use it.

I had the pleasure of not only seeing the kit demonstrated but of being airbrushed myself, and I have to say: there is a difference. No lines that need blending, no excess makeup -- you can easily adjust the spray-level to apply more or less makeup -- and the coverage is truly flawless. Airbrushing is not only the method Temptu used to make "The Stepford Wives" look perfect, they also created Rebecca Romijn's Mystique in "X-Men" (in which she was all blue and scaly). Airbrush makeup is serious. And it doesn't look like makeup.

Chantecaille La Baleine Compacts

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance

chantecaille la baleine
The latest beautiful compact collection from cosmetics company Chantecaille celebrates an animal not often associated with beauty products, the Blue whale. The La Baleine collection is currently available on pre-order from Neiman Marcus and will go on sale nationally in March. The eight-item collection includes the gorgeous face and eye compacts shown above. Five percent of the proceeds goes to to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), to help protect the high-seas, an area that accounts for more than 45 percent of the earth's surface but that is currently unprotected. The compacts sell for $98 each.

Past Chantecaille collections have celebrated Bengal tigers, fish and butterflies.

Estee Lauder Plans Drastic Job Cuts

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance


The cosmetics and skincare industry is supposed to be one of the safe spots in a down economy but that doesn't seem to be true any longer. Estee Lauder recently announced a four-year turnaround plan that will result in a six percent reduction in its work force and a freeze on merit pay increases. A total of 2,000 jobs will be cut over the next two years and a hiring freeze is in place. The news comes as Estee Lauder reported a fourth quarter net income that fell 30% to $158 million, or 80 cents a share, from $224.4 million, or $1.14 a share, a year earlier. During the most recent quarter ending December 31, sales of Estee Lauder's makeup brands, which also include Clinique and MAC fell 12 percent while sales of skin-care products fell 7.1 percent.

Pictured above are Hilary Rhoda, Gwyneth Paltrow, Elizabeth Hurley and Carolyn Murphy at the worldwide debut of the new Estee Lauder fragrance 'Sensuous' at Bloomingdale's in New York City last summer.

Free Cosmetics On Tuesday

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance


When you aren't watching the Inauguration on Tuesday you might want to find a department store and get pick up a free cosmetic. As part of a class action settlement, $175 million worth of free cosmetics products will be distributed to customers who between 1994 and 2003 purchased a product from the manufacturers named in the suit. The freebies will be available for a maximum of seven days, while supplies last, on a first come, first served basis starting on January 20. Stores including Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Carson Pirie Scott, Nordstrom and several other chains while be offering selected items from Dior, Chanel, Guerlain, Clinique, Lancome and more. No receipt is required and there will only be one per customer. Some stores will lay the products out on a table for all takers so you may not want to wait until the end of the week to pick yours up. A full list of stores and products is after the jump.

[via Chicago Tribune]

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]

Chantecaille Launches Le Tigre Collection

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance


I've swooned over Chantecaille's artistic cosmetics for good causes before (like the ocean-floor-inspired Protect Paradise compacts). Now they've released their holiday collection Le Tigre, a tiger-inspired line which donates a portion of the proceeds to TRAFFIC, an organization that monitors the illegal trafficking of tigers. There are now fewer than 2,500 wild tigers in existence. Chantecaille celebrates the Royal Bengal Tiger with this limited-edition collection and an event at Bergdorf Goodman, 5th Avenue, New York on November 17 – November 22.

The event includes:
* Holiday Look Master Class with Olivia Chantecaille
* Aromacologie facials by Esthetician Anna Becker
* Private color consultations with a national makeup artist
* Special presentation on tiger conservation hosted by founder, Sylvie Chantecaille

*All appointments must be reserved, call 212.872.2725 for more details. You can also order online. The all-in-one face palette has a tiger-embossed palette that includes a radiant peach cheek shade, a soft gold highlighter, and four eye shades in jungle green, pale silver, dark brown and a golden copper. It sells for $117.

Sephora Ultimate Blockbuster Palette Offers Thousands Of Looks

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance


The Ultimate Blockbuster Palette from Sephora promises 30,000 different looks. That works out to over 82 years if you were on the look-a-day plan. Although we suspect you'd run out before then. The palette has 71 eye shadows, 60 lip glosses, 13 cream shadows, five blushes and just one compact powder, lip liner and eye liner. It sells for $48 and they say it is a $320 value which makes it a very frugal splurge.

[via NY Mag]

Win Y.E.S. Skincare's Dynamic Duo

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance

One reason that cosmetics and skincare brands tend to thrive even in difficult times is that smart people know that your face is forever. Today we are offering a little help to your budget and your face with a giveaway from Y.E.S. Young Essential Skincare. The Y.E.S. products are formulated to help reduce the signs of aging.

The Anti-Aging Serum and Rejuvenating Moisture Cream are called the Dynamic Duo. They use Y.E.S.'s exclusive CP24-Complex™ which is clinically proven to increase cellular proliferation by 250% in 24 hours. The serum boosts collagen, stimulates cell renewal and reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles while the moisture cream provides hydration and toning. The products work with all skin types.

We are giving away one set of the Dynamic Duo to one commenter chosen at random. To enter the contest leave a comment below with your favorite winter beauty tip.
Some other important details:

* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below.
* The comment must be left and confirmed before Friday, October 31, 2008 at 5:00PM Eastern Time.
* You may only enter once.
* One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
* One winner will receive the Y.E.S. Skincare Dynamic Duo valued at $98.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.

See complete contest rules here.

This contest has closed. Thank you for your participation.

Rock and Republic Cosmetics

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance


Denim line Rock & Republic has taken their urban glitz ethos into the cosmetics arena. Their new line is decked out in black and chromed-out compacts featuring a bold version of the company logo and the color names aspire to Hollywood decadence with names like "trust fund," "train wreck" and a shade of red lip gloss called "cougar." The bronzing and highlighting powder duo comes in a crystal-encrusted compact that sells for $225 in three shades called Private Jet, Villa and Penthouse. Erin Weinger of the LA Times checked out the line and questioned whether or not the products are more flash than substance. Sounds like the cosmetics are right in line with the denim brand's overall style.

MAC's Colorful New Collection

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance


Makeup collectors will be swooning over the latest line from MAC. MAC has enlisted designer Manish Arora on a line with a palette brighter than Bollywood. The new Indian-inspired line includes lipglasses, lipsticks, blush and a colorful eye shadow set in a jeweled case. It will be available from October 2008 at Harrods.

Frida Kahlo Face Care Box

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance


Legendary Mexican artist Frida Kahlo has already had her name used to sell tequila, now New York City-based Naturals Skin Care has created a skin care line retail store. Venezuelan-born aromatherapist and holistic cosmetologist Antonio Sciortino has created a line of over 30 products including candles and makeup. There is also an Omega-3 collection, which consists of hand and body lotions, shower gels and anti-aging and anti-wrinkle face creams. The Frida Kahlo Face Care wood box includes the cucumber eye serum, the Omega 3 face cream, micro abrasion cream, mango hydrating face cream, cleanser, toner and olive oil face soap all in a wooden box. It sells for $230.

$62,000 Diamond Studded Lipstick

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance

Finding the right shade of lipstick is not easy to do, and women are willing to pay big bucks for the perfect one. But $62,000?

French cosmetics house Guerlain is releasing KissKiss Gold and Diamonds this week, and for the $62,000 price tag you'll get a consultation with Guerlain's artistic director Olivier Echaudemaison and a lipstick shade customized just for you that comes in an 18-karat gold lipstick tube encrusted with 199 conflict-free diamonds, plus rubies and emeralds. It can be engraved and comes in a black lacquer case with a suede pouch.

Sound good? Get ready to make an appointment, as they will only be available at Bergdorf Goodman via private consultation.


Via Born Rich


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