Beauty411

Mother's Day Best of Beauty Gift Guide 2009--Top 5 picks!

Mother's Day is just around the corner and I wanted to pass along my top picks for amazing "best of beauty" gifts.

Beautyfix - Have you heard of Beautyfix Beauty Sampling Program?  I reviewed the premiere Beautyfix collection and thought it was great; I just received the second collection and it's even better! For $49.99 you get a collection of full and travel-sized products, hand selected by some of the best in the beauty business! A Mom that likes to try beauty products would love Beautyfix! Available at www.beautyfix.com and DermStore.

MAC Hello Kitty Accessories Collection

The MAC Hello Kitty Accessories collection is both cool and affordable. MAC worked very closely with Hello Kitty’s parent company, SANRIO, to develop the accessories and the idea behind the line.  There is something for everyone!

Personally, I love the adorable brush holder (pictured).  There is also a Hello Kitty Plush Doll, a black bracelet with three charms, makeup mirrors, makeup bags, and a tote that’s printed in a Pucci-esque pattern among other items. 

The Hello Kitty Accessories Collection includes:

Hello Kitty Purse Mirror

Hello Kitty Brush Collection

Hello Kitty Mirrored Key Clip

Hello Kitty Plush Doll

Hello Kitty Beaded Bracelet

                            

Hello Kitty Petite Makeup Bag                Hello Kitty Makeup Bag

                           

Hello Kitty Soft Vanity Case                      Hello Kitty Tote

The MAC Hello Kitty Accessories Collection will be available at any MAC location.  Like the Hello Kitty Makeup Collection, these pieces will go quickly.  For more information, check out www.maccosmetics.com.

You may also be interested in:

MAC Hello Kitty Makeup Collection Launches

MAC Blonde Brunette Redhead Makeup Collection

Chanel Gift Ideas

Dear Santa:

I'll make it easy for you this year.  Just. Bring. Chanel.  Need ideas?  Any of these would be fabulous!

Of course I want the newest skincare.  Chanel has just introduced Sublimage Texture Universelle Cream, which is the ultimate in anti-aging luxury.  Formulated with a lighter texture, this cream is tailored to accommodate skin’s changing needs – and a woman’s preference for a fine and silky touch. $375.

Beige is the latest perfume in the Les Exclusifs line from Chanel and pays homage to Coco Chanel's love of the color.  "I take refuge in beige because it's natural," said Mademoiselle Chanel.  Beige is a white flower blend composed of hawthorn, freesia, frangipani and honey accords.  Beige ($190) is exclusive to Saks Fifth Avenue in NYC and will be more widely available in the future.

Chanel Makeup Brushes are high quality, useful tools.  This Essential Travel Brush Set is a four piece mini-brush travel set that is easy to pack or just to keep in your purse.  The brushes in this set include foundation, blush, eyeshadow and shadow/liner. $80.00

The Essential Travel Collection includes perfect sizes of skincare and makeup you could need for the trip. The Essential Travel Collection includes Hydramax + Active Serum Active Moisture Boost, CHANEL Sleep Mask, Soin Tendres Levres Hydrating Lip Treatment SPF 15, Inimitable Mascara Multi-Dimensionnel in Noir-Black, Éclat Lumiere Highlighter Face Pen, mini Levres Scintillates Glossimer in Seashell, and signature bag. $175.

Except where noted, the gifts above are available at Chanel.com, where you can get free shipping through December 16th.

Here, Santa, is where the list gets a little trickier, because we veer off course from beauty products just a tad.  Hold onto the reindeer, because there are a *couple* more Chanel gifts that you could leave me...

Oh, Santa...you more than anyone know that in addition to beauty products, I have a serious handbag addiction.  I know you'll be able to jump to the head of the line and have my back on the upcoming release of the new Chanel Maxi Bag (no picture has been released yet; this is the Classic XL Jumbo Flap).  How gorgeous is this in caviar?  (P.S., if you can't swing it, could you just get my name on a waiting list?)

I love the Chanel J12 White Ceramic Watch.  If you're feeling generous, Santa, feel free to drop this off (I can imagine Santa laughing as he reads this).  Mrs. Claus...could you point out what a practical present this watch would be?  :)  A girl can dream, right?

Holiday Hair: Time saving tips with glam results!

Between shopping for the perfect outfit to wear to the office holiday party, then picking out just the right makeup, who has time to worry about their hair?  Here are some tips to glam up your holiday hair, that will take your look from frumpy to festive in a matter of minutes.

Start by creating a messy updo; it's a modern and romantic look. Think Angelina Jolie--she owns the look.  Before you start, prep the hair with a root volumizing product, like BigWigg from AG.  Spray BigWigg into the roots of clean, damp hair, then blow dry for incredible volume support and shine. Another bonus?  AG products smell amazing!  Pull hair up into a loose ponytail with a Goody hair band then twist and pin, pulling out loose strands to frame your face. 

Spray hair with Nexxus 360.  This is an excellent finishing spray that allows you to go over, under and around your hair without the nozzle getting clogged.  And because it's from Nexxus, you know that you won't get product buildup.  It has a medium hold that is still touchable; it's one of my favorite hair sprays.

Complete the look by accessorizing your hairstyle with Holiday Jewels, from Goody.  This holiday hair collection includes head bands, metallic hair bands, barettes, pins, clips--they're all fabulous! And because they're from Goody, they're inexpensive.  This collection is exclusive to Target through February 2009.  My favorites are the barettes with stones that look like marcasites and the jeweled bobby pins. Love!

If your hair is too short for an updo or you want a complete change, have you ever thought about hair extensions?  Jessica Simpson and her celebrity hairstylist Ken Paves have collaborated on a line of hair extensions called hairdo, that just clip into your existing hair.  Super easy! Available in synthetic or human hair, you can choose from a variety of styles, lengths and textures.  For more information and where to buy, check the hairuwear website or HSN.

And short-haired gals, you're not left out.  Go for a Modern Bob this holiday season.  Recently seen on Anne Hathaway and Gwyneth Paltrow, Fabrice Gili, Creative Director of Frederic Fekkai Soho Salon, recommends using the following to attain this clean, blunt style.  Start off with Fekkai Anti Frizz Creme Celebration of Style Kit to create a sleek. flawless look.  Saturate the roots and then blow-dry hair upside down to create fullness.  Then wrap hair around a 1" curling iron, making sure to leave the ends out to create a relaxed curl.  To soften this look you can add a slight wave and relax curls with Fekkai Finishing Creme.

Holiday hair doesn't have to be stressful if you follow some of these wonderful tips.  Work with what you've got, add in some great products to help out, wear a smile and enjoy yourself!

Photo of Angelina Jolie: credit to Evan Agostini/Getty Images

 
 

Lancome Beauty Box

Lancôme’s Beauty Box is out!  The Beauty Box puts holiday elegance at your fingertips with an exclusive collection of beauty must-haves. For just $49.50 with any $36.00 Lancôme purchase, you’ll receive a chic train case filled with a full size Bi-Facil and Définicils plus more than a dozen deluxe samples of Lancôme’s best-selling skincare and makeup products (total value of $339).


There are two versions of the train case available.  The black train case (above) is now available exclusively at Macy’s. There is also a burgundy train case, which is now available online at http://www.lancome-usa.com and at counter at all other department stores starting on 11/23/08. Supplies are limited, so hurry to your nearest Lancôme location today!

Estee Lauder Blockbuster 2008

The legendary Estee Lauder Blockbuster comes once a year.  This year, the holiday makeup extravaganza looks bigger and better than ever.  The "Blockbuster" is a concept that Estee Lauder invented: a beautiful cosmetics bag or organizer filled to the brim with eyeshadows, lipsticks, blushes and brushes.  It's called a "purchase with purchase", meaning when you purchase any Estee Lauder fragrance product, you're also entitled to purchase the Blockbuster for only $ 49.50.  The value of the beauty collection is estimated at $ 300.  Now, if that isn't one of the best beauty values around, I don't know what is!

This year, the Estee Lauder Blockbuster arrives in croco-looking train cases and includes:

• Deluxe Eyeshadow Compact with 15 coordinating shades Pure Color EyeShadow in Vanilla, Ginger Drop, Sand Box, Amethyst, Bronze Cube, Camouflage, Cinnamon, Honey Drop, Mocha Cup, Pale Moon, Mink, Ivory Box, Sugar Cube
• Estée Lauder Signature Eyeshadow in Roseberry Duo
• Deluxe Face Compact (Bronze Goddess Soft Matte Bronzer and Estée Lauder Signature Silky Powder Blush in Nude Rose and Pink Kiss)
• 2 Pure Color Long Lasting Lipsticks (full-size, in shades Bois de Rose and Sugar Honey)
• Estée Lauder Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick (full-size, in shade Pink Champagne

The Estee Lauder Blockbuster is available at Estee Lauder counters now and I can tell you from my past experience in Cosmetics, that there is a limited supply and they go fast.  If you haven't tried the new Sensuous fragrance (read my review here), that's what I'd suggest for your fragrance purchase. The Blockbuster is a great way to get two gifts; one to keep and one to give.

MAC Adoring Carmine Lip and Brush Set Collections

MAC Adoring Carmine is a holiday collection of three lip and three brush sets in festive red wrappings.

The Brush sets:

• 5 Basic Brushes: the 129SE, 219SE, 239SE, 266SE and 316SE
• 4 Face Brushes: the 168SE,187SE, 190SE and 194SE
• 5 Eye Brushes: the 209SE, 212SE, 217SE, 252SE and 275SE.

The elegant red-handled brush sets are packaged in a medium red brush bag and are a great value at $ 49.50.  Although these are more of a travel-size brush, the value is amazing. Don't believe me?  The 187 brush (Face) that I use every day retails at $ 42.00 by itself. These brush sets are a wonderful way to build your collection; put these on your wish list!

The Lip sets:

• 3 Red Lips-Two full-size lipsticks in Adore It, Racy and a mini Lipglass in Frostlight.
• 3 Neutral Lips-Lipsticks are Soft Spot and Real Treasure, with My Dear mini Lipglass
• 3 Rose Lips-To Swoon For and Romancin' Lipsticks; Delicate Crush mini Lipglass

The lip sets are also an amazing value and for the MAC addict in all of us, a fun collection.  For the holidays, you must have Red Lips.  The lip sets retail at $ 34.50. 

MAC Adoring Carmine Collection of lip and brush sets are available now in MAC stores and online at www.maccosmetics.com.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Supports Women's Cancer Research Fund

Anastasia Beverly Hills is supporting the Women's Cancer Research Fund with a special edition tweezer, set with sparkling pink Swarovski crystals.  This finely crafted tool will allow you to shape and define brows, while helping out a great cause at the same time. 

Fifty percent of the net proceeds from sales of the WCRF Tweezers in October will benefit the Women's Cancer Research Fund.  The WCRF is determined to save lives by raising funds and awareness for the millions of women and their families at risk for or affected by cancer.   

The Anastasia Beverly Hills WCRF Tweezers retail at $33 and are available exclusively at Nordstrom during the month of October.

QVC presents FFANY Shoes on Sale

QVC will be presenting the annual FFANY (Fashion Footwear Association of New York) Shoes on Sale Event Wednesday night, October 15th from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. EST.  I don't know about you, but I'd rather shop for shoes and help out the Breast Cancer Awareness Cause than watch one more debate! 

In recognition of October as Breast Cancer Awareness month, QVC partners with FFANY to present the three hour broadcast, as well as host a gala event in New York City.  Over 100,000 pairs of shoes will be sold at half off the suggested retail price.  Net proceeds from this event will benefit breast cancer research and education.  

Since the first benefit in 1994, over a million pairs of shoes have been sold, with cumulative total proceeds of over $ 30 million. Through funds raised from this event in past years, a groundbreaking nationwide network of prominent breast cancer research centers was developed.  Each of the selected facilities concentrates on individual facets of breast cancer research.  You can get more information on this years' worthy beneficiaries here.

I've watched Shoes on Sale for years and usually can find at least one pair of shoes to help do my part. An excuse to buy shoes?  Count me in!

Vera Bradley Pinwheel Pink Cosmetic Cases

Vera Bradley's Pinwheel Pink pattern is a new spin on pink.  It's a fresh, girly print that also supports Breast Cancer Awareness.  10% of the net proceeds from Pinwheel Pink products will be donated to the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer and other breast cancer projects and services.

I love buying cosmetic bags for gifts and this Large Cosmetic Bag is generously sized and reasonably priced at $ 24. There are several sizes and shapes of cosmetic bags available, making it easy to find the perfect case for your products.

You can find the Pinwheel Pink Collection at Vera Bradley retailers or on VeraBradley.com.