Beauty411

Lancome Ôscillation Powerfoundation..gettin' jiggy with your makeup!

Let me tell you about new Lancome Oscillation Powerfoundation.  It's the next generation in mineral makeup...a foundation that vibrates!  Start with minerals that are good for your skin.  Add SPF 21--one of the highest in mineral makeup foundations, a long-wearing formula and an ingenious applicator.  To me, that's the total package!

Fragrance find: Avon In Bloom by Reese Witherspoon Eau de Parfum

In many parts of the country, winter has finally reared it's ugly head. No matter the season, you can experience spring anywhere with the new Avon fragrance, In Bloom by Reese Witherspoon. This sweet southern scent, created by Reese exclusively for Avon, combines delicate femininity with seductive allure. 

I've had the opportunity to try In Bloom by Reese Witherspoon and I really like it.  It's a floral, oriental--one of my favorite compositions. I liked the way the fragrance developed from the initial peach and floral blend to the warm wood and amber.  I also thought the packaging was very well done; the bottle is a golden hue, topped with a flower in full bloom and looks much more expensive than $34.

Prescriptives Lustre Holiday Color Collection 2009

Prescriptives lights up the holidays with shimmering new shades for the season.  The Prescriptives Lustre Holiday Color Collection features golden tones in pearlized eyeshadows, shimmering cheek shades that dazzle and glimmering lip colors that are nothing less than glamorous and sophisticated.  Get ready to sparkle!

The Prescriptives Lustre Holiday Collection includes:

Estee Lauder Ultimate Red Holiday Makeup Collection 2009

The Estee Lauder Ultimate Red 2009 Holiday Color Collection, is a holiday look of pure luxury and sophistication.  To me, nothing says "holiday" like the color red and this season, Estee Lauder gives us deep, rich reds and opulent golden accents for our holiday makeup look. 

The Estee Lauder Ultimate Red Color Collection includes a Warm (W) and Cool (C) Look:

New, Limited Edition Signature Eyeshadow Quad in Gold Opulence (W) or Lavish Plum (C)  $35.00
New, Limited Edition Signature Lipstick in Gold (W) or Cranberry (C)  $19.50
New, Limited Edition Signature Lipstick in Simply Red (W) or Blackberry (C)  $19.50
New, Limited Edition Opulent Shimmer Gloss in Gold (W) or Cranberry (C) $18.00
New, Limited Edition Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Gold (W) or Burgundy (C) $18.00

Guerlain Holiday Colour Collection 2009 - Imperial Holiday

Guerlain Holiday Colour Collection, Imperial Holiday, is a limited-edition makeup collection worthy of royalty but designed to be enjoyed by every woman.  Guerlain's holiday makeup collection celebrates the opulence and splendor of the aristocracy.  Colours remind us of the nobility of precious stones and fabrics, while the packaging is always elegant.  As with every Guerlain Collection, the products are stunning. Every year, Guerlain is the holiday collection that sets the standard for beauty.

The Guerlain Imperial Holiday Makeup Collection includes:

Sublime Radiant Powder Face & Body: Silky and ultra light in texture, this sparkling powder graces the skin with a sheer veil of diamond-like reflections.  Like fine-spun muslin dappled with delicate sprays of glitter, it will subtly illuminate shoulders, arms, back, decollete and hair and leave a light violet scent. Sublime Radiant Powder Face & Body is one of the most exquisite cosmetics you'll ever own.  $85

Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream

Origins GinZing™ Refreshing eye cream offers a wake-up call for tired, overworked eyes.  Take it from me...stress at work, late nights blogging and alot of windshield time all add up dark circles, undereye puffiness and sallow appearance. 

Origins GinZing™ Refreshing eye cream contains a complex of natural, power-packed botanicals and brighteners, including Panax Ginseng, which helps to boost circulation.  Caffeine helps calm skin, Magnolia Extract helps to reduce dark circles while Silica and Mica help to brighten and illuminate the eye area. 

The results? After using Origins GinZing™ Refreshing eye cream for several weeks, I noticed more improvement in the puffiness than the dark circles.  However, there was definitely under-eye rejuvenation; a smoother appearance, more well-rested look.  I felt this eye cream did a very good job of hydrating the eye area, keeping my skin soft and supple. 

Origins GinZing™ Refreshing eye cream retails at $29.50 and is available at Origins stores and counters, select department stores and at www.origins.com and Beauty.com

3 ways to wear the new CHANEL Noirs Obscurs Makeup Collection

The new limited-edition Chanel Noirs Obscurs Collection could be considered avant-garde; it's definitely a bold makeup collection.  The colors are strong, but beautiful. So how to wear the Chanel Noirs Obscurs Collection whilst not looking overdone or goth? 

My advice is to not try to wear all the makeup in the collection at once.  Pick one feature to highlight--whether it's eyes or lips.  Play up that feature and maintain balance by keeping the rest of the makeup muted. Less can be more with these intense colors. 

Here are 3 ways to wear the new Chanel Noirs Obscurs Collection:

 

The Quatour Boutons de Chanel Quadra Eye Shadow in Les Folies Noir can be used in a variety of  ways.  Apply one of the deep eyeshadow colors on your lid for an intense, smokey look.  Blend well, then apply only a subtle highlighter under the browbone.  Add Inimitable Noir Obscur Mascara in Extreme Black to finish eyes. To balance out the look and keep the focus on the eyes, I would keep the rest of the face neutral and finish lips with the Aqualumiere Gloss in Furious.

LaMer Introduces The Hydrating Facial

La Mer's The Hydrating Facial is a luxurious sensorial, spa-like experience created to reawaken the appearance of youth.  The perfect prep to get skin ready or to withstand the harshities of the fall/winter climate changes, The Hydrating Facial is a two-zoned mask designed to deliver superior hydration.  In minutes, dry complexions are renewed, visibly transforming the skin. Skin is left hydrated, nourished, smoothed and conditioned with a resilient healthy glow. 

MAC Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask

Prepare for the shock: MAC Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask is a little unsettling. Not in texture; it feels like a normal skincare product.  But applying a skincare product that is dark black to your skin?! I couldn't help but wonder if I'd be able to remove it (I was). Although it's rather jolting the first time you do it, the results are so worth it!  MAC's Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask is part of the new Style Black Collection.

You apply MAC Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask to a freshly washed face, and as you do, you'll notice a warming sensation.  The mask itself is black--and it stays black--the entire time the treatment is on your face. I found I needed to use quite a bit of product to adequately cover my skin. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes and then rinse off.  When you rinse, the mask warms again.

MAC Fall/Winter '09 Trend Makeup Collection

MAC, always fashion-forward, introduces the Trend F/W '09 Makeup Collection based on what was on the runways at Fall Fashion Week.  Lips are dark or seductively nude.  Eyes go graphically grey to grey-blue. And fragrance goes urban with the introduction of Asphalt Flower. 

As designers deepen their fascination with all things architectural, so too goes the modern face. Structured, constructed, built to beguile. The shapes and steely colours in this collection are an expression of the backstage trends, an ode to the modern woman, rendered with true architectural precision. This Collection is the kind of makeup that I love for Fall and Winter; lush colors on lips and a grey, smokey eye. 

The MAC Trend F/W '09  Makeup Collection includes:

Eye Shadow X4 - Tone: Grey - A compact featuring four limited edition eye shadows that reflect the key shades found in the Fall/Winter '09 collections. Provides a modern interpretation of the smoky eye, with an emphasis of blue with grey.  Shades include Tone: Grey (dirty grey), Walt (dark smoky blue grey), A Warmer White (pale green grey) and The Right Smoke (rich blue with white pearl).  $36 US/$43 CDN