Friday, December 31, 2010

Thymes Indigenous White Persimmon Aromatic Votive


What a lovely little candle. This one is fruity smelling-lots of pear. The glass is quite pretty. Already saved the Thymes website to my favorites. Perfect gifts!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Give Great Hair

We are in love with the perfect Pureology sets, and the beautiful, well-sized satin gift bags!
In Volumizing and Hydrating, there's something for all the ladies on your list:

Holiday Glamour to Go Hydrate Petites:
Nourish hair during the winter months with top selling Hydrate! Products come in a chic purple satin clutch/cosmetic bag.
- HydrateShampoo (2.0 oz.)
- HydrateHairCondition (2.0 oz.)
- EssentialRepairSplitEndCorrectingTreatment (0.5 oz.)
- Price: $19.00

Holiday Glamour to Go PureVolume Petites:
Plump up holiday stockings with the petite size PureVolume System packaged in a holiday party-ready white satin clutch/cosmetic bag.
- PureVolumeShampoo(2.0 oz.)
- PureVolumeCondition(2.0 oz.)
- PureVolumeThickeningMist(1.0 oz.)
- Price: $19.00

Give a laser to someone you love!

Yes, you can use a laser at home & you don't even have to do air quotes when talking about it, a la Dr. Evil.

Our very brainy young friend, Shannon, used the Tanda to clear up some Senior-year stress before taking her pictures, & we were impressed--& a little jealous. Where was this when we were in high school?!?

Tända – the leader in LED Light Therapy Skin Care – is having AMAZING last-minute deals, sales and rebates. Give the gift of good skin to friends, family or even to yourself! Here is a list of holiday specials:
Special 1: $50.00 Mail-In Manufacturers Rebate on any Tända Prestige Kit!
Purchase a Tända Clear Acne Light Therapy Treatment Kit or a Tända Regenerate Anti-Aging Light Therapy Treatment Kit from any authorized reseller between December 26th, 2010 and January 2nd, 2011 and get $50.00 off by mailing in this rebate form!

Special 2: Stock Up on Your Favorite Tända Topicals at 20% Off!
Purchase any Tända Clear Pre-Treatment Gel or Tända Regenerate Pre-Treatment Gel between December 26th, 2010 and January 2nd, 2011 and receive 20% off! (Limit of 4 of each Gel per person)
Special #3: Share The Secret of Clear Luminous Skin for 50% Off!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Winter Hair Tips

Tips and looks to brighten the holiday seasonfrom Amanda Jenkins, Master Stylist at ARROJO NYC:
For long hair:
· Wear the hair up and classy, such as tying it hair back in a low knot. This is very sexy and sophisticated, as long as the knot is tied low—it should not be high.
· Add styling gel to wet hair and diffuse it, letting the hair fall in loose waves over your shoulders for a more romantic look.
For short hair:
· Add drama by creating a deep side part, keeping in mind to not let you bangs fall in your face.
· Scarf it. Festive scarves worn 70's style is fashionable and adorable.
· Using a curling iron, set hair for a look reminiscent of “Dynasty”.
And since a change in season always means changes for our hair, Amanda has some tips on keeping hair healthy and vibrant all winter long:
· Be sure to deep condition at least once a week to repair hair that can get dried out from the cold weather and indoor heat.
· Brighten up the winter season by taking your color a shade darker or brighter.

Stress-free skin tips

Dr. Kenneth Beer, a cosmetic dermatologist from West Palm Beach and founder of Cosmetic Bootcamp, has a few tips to avoid holiday stresses taking a toll on your skin. If you follow his lead, you will look luminous for the season!
  • Antioxidant-rich fruits, like raspberries, blueberries and strawberries, can help heal and smooth dehydrated skin.
  • Revitalize your skin with Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids! These hydrators help repair damaged cells, making the skin more resilient.
  • Use a mild cleanser, like Scientific’s pH Balancing Cleanser, to avoid irritation during the winter months. Hydrate your skin with Scientific’s Intensive Repair Serum, to leave your skin soft and smooth.
  • Pop in for a Salicylic or Glycolic Peel for a fresh, even complexion
  • Stop by www.scientificskin.com for your holiday gifts. Buy any product and receive a free Brightening Serum to brighten your holidays!

Perfect Hair for the Holidays


MODERN TAKE ON CHIGNON CHIC
The inspiration for this glamorous updo created by celebrity stylist Creighton Bowman of Exclusive Artists Management begins with Grace Kelly elegance. The up-to-the-minute twist: giving the classic chignon a beachy, textured finish.

Instructions from Creighton Bowman:
CREATE:
« First, I prepped hair with René Furterer Naturia Dry Shampoo for extra volume.
« Next, I created three sections, lifted and pinned top two sections of hair at top of head and pulled lower section back into a ponytail. The ponytail is secured above the nape of the neck with an elastic band.
« Then I unpinned top sections and lightly back-combed hair, one section at a time, starting with the section at the back of the head.
« After wrapping ends of back section around the ponytail, I sprayed the ponytail with René Furterer new Vegetal Finishing Spray.
« I continued winding ends of back section around the ponytail, blending the two to create a full chignon.
« Next, I unpinned the front section. After lightly back-combing the section, I brushed it back, working ends into a chignon and pinning securely.
FINISH:
« To smooth flyaways, I applied René Furterer new Modeling Paste to palms of hands and ran palms lightly over hair.
« For long-lasting natural hold, I misted hair with René Furterer new Vegetal Finishing Spray.

For the foodie


Georgetown Cupcakes ships overnight!
Send some Chocolate Peppermint or Eggnog cupcakes & make someone's day.


A little something great


Winter is prime time for chapped lips. Everyone needs lip balm!
Indulge your lucky giftees in super lux lip balms without breaking the bank:
EOS presents its fabulous lip spheres in a great Holiday Collection.
Available at Walgreens, Target, etc, or on-line.
For under $10, you can pick one up for your own stocking as well.

For your smile


The holiday season is upon us--get ready for the pictures!
Smile not so bright?
Get help: Luster's 1-Hour Whitening to the rescue!
Check out our review and be ready to dazzle :)
Get the kit at your local CVS, Walgreens, Target, or several other fine stores.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

For the beauty maven-gamer


Let the Hair fun begin!
Become a Wii stylist with Busy Scissors, a hairstyling and simulation video game, created by Redken and Game Publisher, Little Orbit LLC.
Available for Nintendo Wii™ and DS™ in North America and Europe.
Check out a preview on youtube.
Order the game for you and your friends, available from Amazon.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Tweezerman Pushy and Nail Cleaner


We all know that Tweezerman is the Rolls of beauty tools. It comes as no surprise then that the pushy and nail cleaner is another essential to add to your arsenal. Dab some lotion onto your nails and push the gentle stainless steel against your cuticles. It doesn't scratch or scrape the nail bed either. The round end is for cleaning under the nail. Ideal for both manis and pedis.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Thymes Offerring Good Luck Candle


This candle is so lux. This candle/brand puts the hundreds of lesser brands to shame. The glass is a lovely cream paper overlay with details of white bursts. It matches my living room perfectly. The scent is a spicy pepper musk and it actually releases a strong frangrance. So often candles don't actually release a scent or just barely. It'll burn 60 hours so it's worth the price tag. I'm adding the Thymes.com website to my favorite tabs for gift giving.

Who doesn't love a scarf?

Lindsay Phillips CapeCoral Scarf ($25 at www.lindsay-phillips.com) is super-soft and totally lux.
Available in Blue, Pink, Brown, or Gray; subtle leopard print-- you don't even notice it till you get right up close.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Pureology-Colour Stylist Fortifying Heat Spray


My hair is always really dry during the winter and I usually resort to putting it in a ponytail by the end of the day to get rid of that static-y feeling. This dryness is probably a result of over-using my hair dryer, washing every day, etc...but as most of you fine haired people out there know, hair can start to feel a little greasy after only a day so it's almost necessary! Since I have started using Pureology's Fortifying Heat Spray, however, I have been able to resist putting my hair up for a lot longer--usually the whole day! So far I have loved all Pureology products I have tried and the Heat Spray is one I will definitely keep on my shelf for a long time!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Go!Go!Girl 18" Layered Clip-In Extension


This hair extension (Go!Go!Girl 18" Layered Clip-In Extension) from HairUWear may not have found a happy home on my head, had I not had a very talented friend at hand! I find styling my own hair to be somewhat difficult and typically need help from a friend or stylist in order to create a nice look for special occasions, but even my go-to friend found this extension quite challenging to clip in. My hair is thick, yet fine, and so she ended up having to rat some of my hair to keep the clips from falling out. Once in place, however, I found I really did enjoy the overall look it created! I thought the extension looked very realistic and blended with my real hair very nicely. The look this extension created ALMOST made up for the difficulty of putting it in.

To find more information or to order this product click here.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

For The Beauty Survivalist


Trish McEvoy brings us the Mobile Beauty Emergency Collection:

The portable pink and black leather pouch is a handy phone case with a hidden compartment complete with a makeup palette of touch-up necessities and two tote-able applicator brushes.

Brilliant! You can even have it sent from Bergdorf Goodman and your friends will think you're a swell.

Holiday Nosh

Who doesn't love getting a little snack in the mail, under the tree, or on the festive end-table?
Send some fantastic POPCORN to someone lucky!

Our favorites:

Dale and Thomas-- great samplers, even Kosher! The North Country Cheddar is amazing! I would like to try the White Cheddar and Black Peppercorn. The sweet popcorns are great as well!

Popcorn Indiana has more flavors than you can shake a stick at--
not that you'd want to indulge in stick-shaking when there's popcorn to eat!
Pick some up at Whole Foods and package with a DVD or a Netflix subscription for a great gift!

Monday, December 6, 2010

Deborah Lippmann makes our nails pretty


Make your friends' nails pretty, too, and get a little kickback:

Find gifts for anyone and everyone on your list, spend $100 or more and receive The Princess Bride Set for free! This offer is available exclusively online at www.deborahlippmann.com and is valid from December 6, 2010 – December 8, 2010.

And, receive free shipping on all orders of $35 or more.

Red Carpet 101: Christina Ricci

We love CR's hair--will be copying this look!

RENÉ FURTERER MASTER CLASS: RED CARPET 101
WITH CREIGHTON BOWMAN & JACQUELINE BUSH

Peter Som’s corseted frock with interlocking lace daisies was the inspiration for Creighton Bowman of Exclusive Artists Management for his modern take on a nifty 50s ponytail for actress Christina Ricci’s red carpet moment at the 7th Annual CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards. What gives the look its up-to-the-minute edge: heavy, cheek-to-cheek, face-framing bangs.
« To shape Christina’s “fringe,” I used a point-cut haircutting technique on blown-out dry bangs. This gives bangs slightly rounded curves—a quintessential 50s look—while keeping them slightly jagged at the ends.
« Next, to build volume, I applied René Furterer Vegetal Mousse on towel-dried hair, and then did a blow-out with my Babyliss dryer.
« To style bangs, I sprayed a mini Mason Pearson flat brush with René Furterer Finishing Spray, and then used the brush to create a soft bend in the bangs, enhancing the rounded shape. After styling, I gave bangs a final spritz of Finishing Spray.
« Before gathering hair into a ponytail, I did a loose curling iron set, winding large sections around a 1 ½-inch-wide rod. This is just enough to give the ponytail a soft, sensuous curl.
« Next, hair was secured into a high ponytail. I back-combed the ponytail with a Mason Pearson “Junior” Brush and then smoothed over back-combing to create that 50s curl in the ponytail. The finishing touch: René Furterer Glossing Spray for shine.

Tarte Party!


Tarte, one of our favorites, is having a twitter party:
This holiday season we're is hosting our first live Twitter party! Join us along with co-hosts Celebutante Sisters, GalTime.com and The Daily Buzz on December 8th, 9-11pm EST
for a night of beauty tips, tricks and fabulous tarte holiday prizes! We will be tweeting using the hashtag #tarteparty (don't forget to use it with all tweets!). Share with your friends & family-we have an interactive night of beauty fun planned! We hope to see you online!


Sunday, December 5, 2010

Tarte natural matte lip stain in lucky


OK so I love the rubbery-tip applicator. The mint-infused smell and taste as it glides on is heavenly too. The color is a pale frosty pink that seemed a bit much at first but minutes later settled down to a pretty soft pink. It's ideal for long wear like a wedding.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Hanukkah starts tonight

Ready?
No?
LUSH to the rescue!
LUSH brings a festive hatbox is filled with a special assortment of bath bombs:
Reminiscent of the glowing menorah light, Cinders Bath Bomb is a soothing soaker for
seasonal chills. Prepare yourself for intense Dreidel matches with Avobath Bath Bomb, which has a zingy lemongrass scent to keep you spinning all night long. Toss i
n our limited-edition peppermint Magic Bath Bomb for extra
luck racking in those shekels. Finish the holiday off with a So White Bath Bomb, which has an uplifting apple scent to keep everyone’s spirits up even when the candles have burnt out.

Help for Rosacea sufferers

New York, NY (November 30, 2010) – The Eau Thermale Avène banner ad highlighting an exclusive offer for complimentary Avène Anti-Redness Solution Kits is now live on the skin-care section of Rosacea.org, the official Web site of the National Rosacea Society. Each complimentary kit, available while supplies last, includes soothing products formulated to improve the appearance of Rosacea and reactive redness.
IMPORTANT: click on INFO FOR PATIENTS first, then click on skin care section (a.k.a. Skin care & cosmetics).
The Anti-Redness Solutions in the kits include the following: Antirougeurs Anti-Redness Dermo-Cleansing Fluid, formulated to soothe and calm redness-prone skin as it gently cleanses; Redness Relief Soothing Cream SPF 25, a light green cream that neutralizes and helps minimize visible redness as it soothes and protects against sun damage; Diroséal Anti-Redness Skincare Lotion, a green tint nighttime cream formulated with Retinaldehyde to increase the thickness of the epidermis while neutralizing redness. All Anti-Redness Solutions products are formulated with a high percentage of Avène Thermal Spring Water, proven to soothe and soften skin.
About Avène: The heritage of dermo-cosmetic brand Eau Thermale Avène dates back over 260 years to the discovery of the beneficial properties in thermal water.

We have nothing but love for Avene-- check out past reviews from me and Jill and me again.