Thursday, October 28, 2010

Essie Fall 2010 Nail Colors

When you spot a celeb with something fabulous on her nails, nine times out of ten she's wearing a color by Essie. 
Gaga looking fabulous!!
Lady Gaga on the VMAs red carpet wearing Essie nail color Merino Cool

Essie nail polishes are known for their up to the minute fashion forward colors, as well as their classic, never out of date shades. 
Whitney Port was just pictured in People Magazine wearing Sew Psyched by Essie

If you're an at home manicurista they have the added benefit of drying quickly, not chipping and holding their color for a really, really long time. (those of you that follow me on twitter will have seen and endless stream of pictures over the last 3 weeks where I was wearing Essie's Little Brown Dress nail polish. The color stayed true all the way up until my nails got done yesterday)


This season Founder/President Essie Weingarten took her inspiration from the sanguine hues and camouflage colors showing up on the fall runways. "This fall designers are mixing it up, combining sheer fabrics with leather, along with lingerie as outerwear in deep muted tones and bold color palettes which is very alluring" says Weingarten.
The fashion feeling this season is dark, sexy and minimalist with decadent velvet textures and reflective metallics. An exciting combination of traditional glamor, chic urban warrior and eclectic color combinations.

Essie's color collection allows you to give accent to these hues, or to wear something a little brighter to off set them.

In Stitches is a lovely salmon pink
Limited Addiction is a dramatic, glossy blue based red. And reds never get old!
Sew Psyched is a muted grey green with a slight silver shimmer. Way prettier on than the khaki nail colors that are everywhere - it doesn't leave the skin tone looking flat.
Merino Cool is a cashmere purple-grey. Very moody, muted and soft.
Velvet Voyeur is a deep sexy amythest. One coat gives it a very deep wine look, two coats take it to a near black. Make that super sexy!
Little Brown Dress is a decadent chocolate expresso bean, that can be worn with the depth of a near black, but without the dead look black nails give the hands. I adore this one and have been wearing it non stop.

Angelina Jolie and Christina Aguilera both wear Betony Vernon ring too!
Other celebs who looove Essie? Angelina Jolie, Carrie Underwood, Carolina Herrera, Cate Blanchet, Catherine Zeta Jones, Christina Aguilera, Demi Moore, Eva Mendes, Gina Gershon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, Nicole Kidman, Pink - the list goes on....

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

The Perfect Khaki Eye




Fall eye shadows are typically nothing to get too excited about. 
Most years we see the same old beiges, browns and berries, and it leaves us a little uninspired.

Fall/Winter 2010 however, brings a little excitement to the makeup table, in the form of Khaki.






Khaki is huge this season! The 2010 Khakis are a little more complex than their predecessors, a little more interesting, but still require a few good tricks to make them look sensational.


1) Be really well concealed and color corrected under the eyes. Use pinky/peachy toned color correctors to cancel out the blue/gray tones. Applying an ivory or vanilla concealer will just make the under eye look ashy and gray. The murky depths of a khaki shadow can leave you looking tired if you're not well cleaned up under the eyes.


2) Khaki shadow looks best when you're wearing a full cover, luminous foundation. The olive undertones in khaki can make the skin look sallow, so fire up your most beautiful base, and breathe some life into your autumn cheeks with a fresh hued blush.


3) Look for khakis with deeper green hues. Don't go too pale or too olive as these can give a very bruised look. Depth in color will make your eye look more robust.


4) Avoid flat shadows - go for something with a gold shimmer to it. My favorites this season are Chanel Vert Khaki and Bobbi Brown Forest, both of which have a delicious metallic golden sheen to them, reflecting gold and emerald without being frosted. This immediately wakens and enlivens the eye, while maintaining smoking smoldering intensity.


5) If you have flat olives or browns in your makeup drawer, bring them to life by mixing metallic coppers or bronzes with them, or laying a shimmering gold shadow over top. A good gold shadow creates all kinds of options to reinvent shadows that are looking old or dull.


6) The best way to wear a khaki shadow is as a smoky, moody eye, well blended and with a bold but buffed out liner and tons of mascara.
 

9 Key Ingredients For Youthful Skin

With all the endless marketing out there, glossy print ads, and photoshopped models, its hard to know where to start with skin care products. Plenty are super expensive yet ineffective,even though they promise results.
Courtney Cox for Kinerase

So if you are looking for youth in a bottle, or at least a way to minimize the fine lines and wrinkles that are showing up on your lovely face, here is a list of key ingredients to look for when buying anti aging skin care products, and a mini breakdown of what they mean. 


1. Retinol.
This is a topical form of vitamin A, and is one of the strongest anti wrinkle ingredients on the market, if used correctly. It does cause extreme sun sensitivity, so you must use it at night time only. You can find Retinol/RetinA products over the counter, or get a prescription from your dermatologist for a more power packed version.

2. Hyaluronic Acid
As you age your body  loses hyaluronic acid, making skin less supple and more prone to fine lines and wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid holds hundreds of times its own weight in water, and is a much loved and lauded ingredient in moisturizing skin creams and lotions, as it is super effective in skin surface hydration.
SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Serum leaves the skin smooth, soft and supple. Find it at beautyatskindeep.com
 3. Kinetin
This one promotes cell division and helps to reduce fine lines by reducing photo damage. The thought is that having faster cell renewal promotes healthier, younger looking skin. Researchers are saying it can reverse the signs of photo aging, or damage from the sun.
Kinerase lotion is said to diminish acne scarring, even out skin tone and texture as well as reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

4. CoEnzyme Q10
Known to promote heart health and help prevent cancer when  ingested, some dermatologists say this ingredient when used topically helps strengthen skin cells, tightening skin and improving its texture, thereby making it look more youthful.
Mama Mio's Boob Tube is designed to keep your neck and bustline firm

5. Acetyl Hexapeptide 3
I've been reading about this new ingredient also known as Argireline, which is said to inhibit the muscles around the face that cause wrinkles. Conceptually a topical form of a botox like ingredient. 
It can be found in Bioelements products
6. Vitamin C
This super powerful antioxidant is proven to stimulate the synthesis of collagen, which is essential, as your body naturally loses collagen as you age. Skin gets lighter, brighter, firmer and smoother with the use of Vitamin C. It is however, very unstable, and the only useful form of it in skin care products is thought to be L ascorbic acid. Many companies boast Vitamin C or its derivatives but plenty are ineffective despite the higher cost, so do your homework on this one.

7. Kojic Acid
Kojic acid was only discovered in 1989, so is still very new. It is derived from fungus (mushrooms) and is used to correct pigmentation problems and age spots. It is a lightening agent, similar to hydroquinone.

8. DMAE
If you’ve heard of fish referred to as brain food, you can thank DMAE. This substance is naturally produced in the brain, but DMAE is also present in anchovies, salmon and sardines, boosting the production of acetylcholine, which is important for proper mental functions. DMAE in skin care products shows remarkable effects when applied topically to skin, resulting in the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles. 
personal favorite - Perricone MD Cold Plasma

9. Copper Peptide 
Copper peptide is often referred to as the most effective skin regeneration product, even though it’s only been on the market since 1997. Here’s why: Studies have shown that copper peptide promotes collagen and elastin production, and also acts as an antioxidant. It also promotes production of glycosaminoglycans (think hyaluronic acid, as an example). Studies have also shown that copper-dependent enzymes increase the benefits of the body’s natural tissue building processes. The substance helps to firm, smooth, and soften skin, doing it in less time than most other anti-aging skin care products. Clinical studies have found that copper peptides also remove damaged collagen and elastin from the skin and scar tissue because they activate the skin’s system responsible for those functions

Monday, October 25, 2010

Ruby Wooooo

When beauty, nature, eastern mysticism and New York boho chic all come together the result is an edgy cool, modern and unique jewelry line called Ruby Kobo.


Yuvi Alpert, the back packing son of a diamond dealer, and Danna Kobo, jewelry designer combined their talents to create pieces that are neither too masculine nor too dainty, and not necessarily gender specific. Their pieces are intended to be layered, and easily manoeuvre  from  fashion day wear to glamourous evening wear.

Yuvi's travels through South America and East Asia gave him a love of ancient eastern mysticism which features predominantly in Ruby Kobo's deigns, where high quality materials such as rubies, diamonds and gold meet up with pave lined hasma hands, Tibetan masks and Tulsi wood beads.

Their intense attention to detail has made them a celebrity favorite, with a client list that includes Rihanna, Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow and Naomi Watts.

Julia Roberts in Ruby Kobo

Naomi Watts wearing Ruby Kobo at the premiere of Nine

Yuvi Alpert in the original Gold Hasma Pendant

Lindsay Lohan is a big fan of the Ruby Kobo Sashi bracelets, which have faceted crystals and studs enmeshed in brightly colored woven cords.
Whether you're looking for a simple something special to wear with Levis and a t-shirt or for something to dress up your LBD, check out Ruby Kobo


Friday, October 22, 2010

Nars Pure Matte Lipstick

"A matte lip is very modern, whether in nude or deeply pigmented"
So said celebrity favorite makeup designer Francois Nars at the launch of his first new lipstick line in 15 years, Nars Pure Matte Lipstick.

I've written about these before, but am so enjoying wearing and working with them at the moment that I figured they are well worth another mention.

The key to wearing a matte lipstick is to always choose a very hydrating formula so that the lip is well conditioned and doesn't dry out and flake. Nars collection has ingredients such as acai oil, wild mango butter and Vitamin E to keep your kisser  moisturized and soft.

The collection features fall perfect shades of aubergine, rose, red, nude and plum, with glamour filled jet set names such as Vesuvio, Bangkok, Volga Terre de Feu and Tashkent.

The launch of Nars Pure Matte Lipstick Collection included this fabulous mini movie featuring model Heather Marks wearing the bold, red Vesuvio.


Perfect!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Hot Reds!

If you only buy one item of makeup this season, it needs to be red lipstick.

And not just any old red.
Stay away from the deeper, moodier reds, avoid burgundy reds, brown reds and dark reds. This season is all about a bright, vibrant, fiery red. An uplifting, exciting explosion of red.
The brighter the better!

Everyone is asking me for my favorite reds, so in no specific order, 
here is my list of the best reds for fall 2010

Nars Jungle Red.
Bright, bold and incredibly beautiful.
The name alone evokes a fun time!

Australian transplant Poppy King has her fabulous Lipstick Queen line
with two formulations, the sheer Saints and the all pigment, no shimmer Sinners
of which she says" its positively naughty to get lipstick this opaque, rich and creamy, with a matte, silky finish"
She had me at "positively naughty"!
Check out her Red Sinner


UK brand Illamasqua has two to absolutely die for
Maneater, which is a classic matte red, with a movie star quality to it.

and Tramp, which is a true red, but with a soft warmth to it. 
Very pigmented, but not thick or heavy.

At Dolce and Gabbana Pat McGrath designed two killer reds
Iconic is an opaque, bright, long wearing, very bold, very classic red.
Not for the faint of heart

 and Ruby Classic Cream (not to be confused with Ruby Lipstick)
which has a subtle blue base to it.


Lorac Leading Lady is a creamy, slightly orange red
with a bright sheen as opposed to a high gloss.
It is both moisturizing and wears very evenly.


Tom Ford's Private Blend lipsticks are super expensive at $45 each,
but contain exotic ingredients such as soja seed extract, Brazilian murmuru butter
and chamomilla flower oil, which not only give an extremely creamy finish
to the lip, eliminating any dryness, but also help the lipstick to stay on,
cancelling out excessive reapplying.
And nothing gets his name on it without being truly amazing!

YSL Rouge Pur Couture lipsticks are both high fashion,
and luminous. Check out Shade No 1 le Rouge

And what really great story doesn't have a high heel connection?
At Jonathan Saunders makeup artist Lucia Pieroni matched the model's lips to 
the soles of their Louboutins, giving MAC's Ruby Woo the moniker
"Louboutin Red"
Love it.


Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Ombre Magnetique

I don't get into Lancome products too often,
but this one I love.
Ombre Magnetique is a mousse like cream eye shadow
with a sheer, buildable color,
so you can have the softest hue on your lids,
or build it to some vibrant intensity.

It wears well and is really quite lovely.
Ombre Magnetique comes in three shades:
Urban Silver, Black Macadam and Cherry Cherie


While at the Lancome counter check out a couple of items
from designer L'Wren Scott.
Angelina Joile in L'Wren Scott at Benjamin Button premiere
NIcole Kidman in L'Wren Scott December 2008


Le Vernis L'Wren nail polishes are quite fabulous.


le Gris L'Wren was originally developed as the finishing touch
to her Fall/Winter 2010/2011 show,
but is now available to us all

le Rouge L'Wren is quite gorgeous too

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Chanel Cruise Collection, Venice Runway Show

Sometimes some of the most sensational moments in fashion are so fleeting they are missed or forgotten too quickly, even when their artistic merit can be seen and felt for seasons to come.
I still can't stop looking at this amazing and inspirational show.


Last year Karl Lagerfeld unveiled his 2009/2010 Chanel Cruise Collection at dusk at the legendary Grand Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido Resort.

In the 1920's every refined member of international aristocracy could be found  lounging on Lido beach. Coco Chanel arrived in 1920 and was not only inspired by this artistic and magnificent city, but drawn to the fashionable people who frequented it.
A combination of Coco's love of Venice, and her annual trip to this particular stretch of Italian beach made this the perfect location for the retro-glam resort wear collection.

Man Ray's iconic portrait of the wildly eccentric Italian heiress Marchesa Luisa Casati became the inspiration for the makeup.
The dark decadence of Venice high society in the 20's and 30's, the melancholy magic of this moody city, and the dusty colors of her crumbling facades all contributed to an incredible makeup look that is still relevant to this season, albeit slightly softened.

The exaggerated smoky eye, with thick eye gloss, the immaculate satin-matte pallor with muted soft lips and cheeks, all work beautifully for fall 2010.
At dusk in Venice you feel, taste and breathe the looming magic as it steals your senses and cloaks you in drama and anticipation

I love the sheer madness and beauty of this image.

And now of course, I am dying to get back to Venice...