Beauty411

Inexpensive At-Home New Year's Eve Party Tips

New Year's Eve entertaining can be a pricey occasion, from expensive dinners and cocktails to covers and transportation.  Although not exactly beauty-related, these tips come from Entertaining Expert David Tutera, who’s planned events, parties and weddings for celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Matthew McConaghay, and Star Jones.  Skip the pricey dinner, try these tips and you’re sure to have a fun and festive event that will impress your guests without spending a fortune.  

✽  Create a Sexy Centerpiece

 

Since the 12am toast is the center of the evening, make that the theme of your centerpiece this year by using tableware you already own to decorate! Create a chic and stylish centerpiece for your table by creating a "Drink Glass Runner" placed on a shimmery linen. Use fancy glasses like martini glasses, wine glasses and champagne stems - and place them down the center of your table filled with water. Next, add drops of pink food coloring in varying amounts so that there are different shades in each glass. Place a few floating votives in each “drink” to create a sparkling look.  

 

✽  It’s Not What You Serve, It’s How You Serve It

 

You don't have to spend a fortune on food for your guests. To make your party festive and impressive, try dressing up the containers you serve it in. For a sophisticated appetizer, serve cold or hot soup in shot glasses. To update the classic salad or side dish, serve it in martini glasses with either shrimp forks or fancy chopsticks.

 

✽  Signature Cocktails Make a Party Unique

 

Save money by offering sexy signature cocktails instead of a full bar. Plus, let your drinks coordinate with the glow of your happy guests by serving delicious recipes including NUVO Sparkling Liqueur. The bottle is gorgeous...it looks like a perfume bottle!  Here are a couple of New Year-inspired recipes to get you started:

 

The Midnight Kiss

1 oz. Proseco

3 oz. NUVO Sparkling Liqueur

Add a spoonful of muddled raspberries and blackberries

Serve in a champagne flute

 

The Ball Drop

3 oz. NUVO Sparkling Liqueur

1 oz. Ciroc

Add a frozen sorbet ball garnish

Served in a martini glass

 

✽  Ring in the New Year Right

 

Don't worry about spending a fortune on expensive noisemakers and party favors. Try making your own traditional New Years confetti! Add inexpensive sequins or even small pieces of coordinating fabric and package them in small bags or cones for guests to throw when the ball drops.  To get your guests ready for the big moment, tie a small bag of hand-made confetti to each champagne glass that you pass out!

 

By following these easy tips, you can entertain at home with flair, save money and enjoy your guests.  Have a Happy New Year!

 

Scent your Holiday with Jo Malone Home Fragrances

Create a cozy home for the holidays with the scents of Jo Malone.  Whether entertaining family and friends, or just relaxing around the fireplace, Jo Malone home fragrances fill the air with warmth, elegance and style.  Whether it's candles or fragrances, I love the Jo Malone line. 

Famed interior designer Bella Mancini of Ruby, Inc. frequently uses Jo Malone home fragrances to decorate her home with scent.  Bella shares her tips on how to scent your holidays this season:

• When holiday entertaining, I place a small bouquet of fresh cut eucalyptus and large white roses on the sink in my powder room.  I then spritz Jo Malone Pine & Eucalyptus Living Cologne, which smells like freshly cut pine trees, into the air and on hand towels.  Voila - the bathroom not only looks gorgeous, but it smells gorgeous, too!

• Before holiday overnight guests arrive, spritz the bed linens with Jo Malone Acqua di Limone Scent Surround Spray.  Its lime, citrus scent is refreshing and clean.

• The Jo Malone Wild Fig & Cassis Home Candle is my absolute favorite - I adore its wintry, woody fragrance so much that it has become my home’s signature scent (my friends always mention how wonderfully my home smells)!  When staying with my in-laws during the holidays, I love to bring something special from my home to theirs.  The Wild Fig & Cassis Home Candle elegantly wrapped in signature Jo Malone packaging is undoubtedly the gift I always bring!

• After a long, outdoor walk in the snow, I relax by taking a long, hot bath with Jo Malone Amber & Lavender Bath Oil.  The scent of exotic amber mixed with French lavender comforts and calms my entire body.

The complete Jo Malone home fragrance collection is available at Jo Malone Shops, jomalone.com, Bergdorf Goodman and select Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue stores nationwide.  Available exclusively at Holt Renfrew in Canada. 

For a limited-time, you can get 25% off Jo Malone Holiday Collections!  Don't miss this great opportunity to try the Fragrance Combining experience of Jo Malone.

Holiday Gift Guide: Luxe Edition

Talk of the economy, the cutbacks in retail spending and frugality is so depressing that I decided to compile a money-is-no-object gift list.  I used to get the lecture all that time that money doesn't grow on trees.  Well, if it did, these would be the presents I would be picking:

Crème de la Mer The Luxury Essentials: Includes Crème de la Mer (2 oz.), The Lifting Face Serum and The Eye Concentrate in a limited edition mother of pearl round box.  The Luxury Essentials brings together three La Mer signatures - Crème de la Mer, The Lifting Face Serum and The Eye Concentrate.  Presented in a sumptuous pearlized leather box, this miraculous set boasts extraordinary results.  Available exclusively at Bergdorf Goddman and Neiman Marcus.  Suggested Retail Price $630

The Bobbi Brown Exclusive Makeup Trunk contains just about every Bobbi Brown product in the line, including brushes.  The case is hand-crafted in platinum leather.  Of course, for $ 2000, it would be nice if Bobbi were to come to your house and deliver it, but still....quite fab nonetheless.  Santa, you must have "forgotten" this last year.  So I'm adding it to my list.  Again.  Available at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.

Amore Pacific Time Response Gift Set:  Amore Pacific uses every vital part of the green tea plant in its' Time Response treatments, merging beauty and health in this anti-aging, high performance skincare line designed to restore skin to its optimum, youthful state.  Using Time Response on your skin each day equals the antioxidant value of drinking 15 cups of green tea.  At Neiman Marus.

Estee Lauder Cathedral Square Solid Perfume Compact.  I'm fascinated by Russian architecture and when I saw this Sensuous solid perfume compact, I fell in love with it.  Estee Lauder solid perfume compacts are highly detailed and collectible miniature works of art.  One of the highlights of my life was seeing a collection of the solid perfume compacts in Mrs. Estee Lauders private office in New York in September.  The Cathedral Square Solid Perfume Compact retails at $300 and is available exclusively at Neiman Marcus.

Space NK has put it's signature fragrance into a Deluxe Gift Set, with everything you need for incorporating more Laughter into your world.  I adore the Laughter fragrance, with it's citrus top notes of bergamot, grapefruit and lime.  This Deluxe set includes the Eau de Toilette, Bath Oil, Shower Gel, Body Lotion and a Candle.  Start with the shower gel, layer the body lotion and then spritz the Laughter EDT for a complete fragrance experience.  Or, light the candle, fill the bathrub, then layer the body lotion.  Total indulgence. $225.

If money were no object, what beauty or fragrance items would you put on your list for Santa?  Leave a comment and let me know!

Holiday Beauty Gift Guide: 10 Fabulous Gifts $20 or less!

Beauty gifts don’t have to break the bank in a tough economy.  Even Oprah has decided to replace her popular "Favorite Things" Show with something a little less lavish.  A little more thrifty, in keeping with the times. In that spirit, and with the holidays fast approaching, I compiled a Holiday Gift Guide of 10 gifts under $20, perfect for the beauty addict on your list.  And, if she's reading, a list that even O might approve of.  

Pomegranate Fig Sugar Body Polish: If you haven't tried one of the invigorating scrubs from Klean Bath & Body, you might want to order two  Pomegranate Fig Sugar Body Polishes and keep one for yourself!  Only $ 11.50. 

Slatkin Frosted Cranberry Candle:  Slatkin candles are some of the best fragranced and high quality candles on the market.  This Frosted Cranberry candle smells wonderful and looks waaay more expensive than it costs!  Pick up this festive Frosted Cranberry Candle at Bath & Body Works. $ 16.50.

Estee Lauder Mascara Traveler Set:  This 3 piece limited-edition Mascara Traveler Set packs a full sized Projectionist mascara plus a travel version and a Lash Primer Plus in a croco case for only $19.50.

LUSH Twinkle Holiday Gift Set.  A twinkling strawberry milkshake scented bath bomb plus a sexily scented moisturizing sparkle bar to make your skin look, feel and smell LUSH.  Get this set for only $ 14.95.

Pacifica Hawaiian Ruby Guava 3 pc Gift Set:  Not only is Hawaiian Ruby Guava an amazing fragrance (one of my faves!), but this gift set at only $16.00, includes a travel sized soy candle, body butter and solid perfume.  Also available in Mediterranean Fig, Avalon Juniper and Tuscan Blood Orange. Check out the Fruits of Paradise candle gift sets for only $ 13.95.  I love Pacifica!

Juicy Couture To Go Fragrance:  This fruity/floral Juicy rollerball fragrance is easy to wear and easy on the wallet at only $ 16.  Available at Sephora.

philosophy's sugar plum fairy set includes a shower gel and lip gloss for $20.  This sugar plum fairy duo would be perfect that hard-to-buy teen or 'tween on your list.  Who can resist the sweet smell of sugar plums and a touch of shimmer?  I can always count on philosophy for gifts that fit into every budget.

Sonia Kashuk Travel Brush set:  If you need makeup brushes, don't hesitate to try this Sonia Kashuk 6 piece (plus case) set.  At $ 19.99 it's a great value for the beauty lover. Available at Target.

Rapture Best of Smashbox: This 3 piece set features essential Smashbox products in travel sizes... Bionic Mascara, Mini Fusiuon Soft lights in Dusk and Mini Lip enhancing Gloss in Aura.  $ 19.00.

Stila shimmer and shine! it gloss trio:  A set of 3 high shine, high shimmer lip glosses in pretty colors that would work for anyone.  A $54 value, this set is a steal at $12.00.

From makeup to fragrance, candles to scrubs, this list covers some of the best range of inexpensive gift giving possibilities for the beauty lover on your list.  Got any other sensational suggestions?  Leave a comment and let me know!

Glowology Love Light Candle

Glowology Love Light Candle is the perfect way to light up your home and benefit Breast Cancer research. 

Encased in a glass holder with the signature Glowology logo and pink design, the Love Light Candle is subtly scented with Glowology’s signature honey sugar fragrance.  These candles would make wonderful girlfriend gifts. 

During the month of October, Glowology will donate 50% of proceeds from the sale of Love Light Candles to The Breast Cancer Research Fund. 

The Glowology Love Light Candle retails at $24 and is available at Noodle & Boo.

Candles Offer Ambience and Fragrance for Fall

Scented candles are a great way to add ambience and fragrance your home.  Now that Fall is upon us, there's no better time to pull out some of my favorite candles and try some new ones.  I love burning candles, for the relaxing effect they have, as well as the subtle fragrance they impart.

One of the most gorgeous candles I've recently tried is by Altru, a name which stands for Altruism.  Up to 20% of the proceeds are donated to charity.  The candle I've been using is the Appreciation Candle.  Not only is the container beautiful--the candle is housed in a hammered copper vessel--but the fragrance is divine.  Scents of Tahitian Tiare (a type of gardenia native to Tahiti) and Freesia fragrance fill the air as you burn this soy candle.  The outside packaging is influenced by the patterns of Persia.  It burns for over 70 hours.  Altru products are available exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Henri Bendel, ABC Carpet & Home, and select specialty boutiques nationwide. The collection retails from $15-65.

Slatkin & Co. makes some of the best candles.  Known for a high percentage of essential oils, clean burning and beautiful containers, Slatkin & Co. is one of my favorite brands.  This Fall, set a holiday table and add this Acorn candle, scented with autumnal notes of golden nectar, juicy mandarin and red delicious apple, paired with cinnamon stick, mulled cider spices and harvested red berries. Slatkin & Co. candles are available at Bath & Body Works.

Another excellent candle line is Illume.  Illume is a prestige line with excellent fragrance properties and a soy candle base.  From the "Simply Fall" collection, I like the Blackberry Sage candle.  A blend of cassis, sage and blackberries with raspberry leaf and fresh cedar, this is like a crisp fall day.  

Chesapeake Bay Candle Company has a Harvest Collection in Kohl's stores from now through November. The collection includes this ceramic Votive candle in Pumpkin Spice. The fragrance smells like pumpkin pie, complete with cinnamon.  A couple of these on your holiday table would really make for a festive atmosphere.

If you're just not into the more traditional Fall fragrances, then consider the newest fragrance from Bath & Body Works called Black Amethyst.  This candle is a blend of Italian Bergamot, camellias, sandalwood and vetiver and is, what I would call, an "evening" fragrance.  If you plan on staying in for a romantic evening, this candle is a good one to set the mood.

Remember that wicks should be trimmed to 1/4 inch.  Make sure you don't leave a burning candle unattended.  Place the candle in an area free from drafts.  And of course, keep all burning candles away from children and pets.