Beauty411

Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Lotus Eau Te Toilette

Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Lotus Eau de Toilette strikes just the right balance between a floral, green tea and fruity fragrance.  Inspired by the Japanese lotus, this new fragrance is a wonderful choice for summer.  From first sniff, it's quickly become my daily fragrance.  What I like most about Green Tea Lotus is that it's light, but it doesn't float away when I wear it.

• Top notes:  Ume Plum, Cherry Blossom, Yuzu and Mandarin
• Middle notes: Aglaia, Blooming Lotus, Green Tea, Osmanthus and Jasmine Tea
• Base notes:  Musks and white birch

When first applying, I definitely get a burst of the floral and, as it dries down, more of the citrusy and green tea notes develop.  If you like the floral/green tea/fruity combination, like I do, definitely give Elizabeth Arden's Green Tea Lotus a try. 

Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Lotus Eau de Toilette retails at $37.00 and is available at department stores nationwide, including Macy's and Dillards and online at the Elizabeth Arden website.

Pacifica Solid Perfume

Pacifica Hawaiian Ruby Guava Solid Perfume is my new latest summer fragrance obsession.  And the best part is, I discovered it completely by accident.  While on my lunch hour a couple of weeks ago, I popped into a medi-spa to see what skincare lines they offered and got distracted by the Pacifica display.  I knew I was going to be travelling for business and thought that solid perfume would be a great way to avoid the "plastic bag" issue. When I took one whiff of the Hawaiian Ruby Guava, the fragrance was intoxicating.  It's fruity and tropical and citrusy. Instant aromatherapy.  On top of that, there are no preservatives, there are natural essential oils and it's vegan. The price?  Small, too at $ 9.00 (although prices may vary by retailer).

Pacifica Hawaiian Ruby Guava Solid Perfume is part of a collection of nine solid fragrances, each of them heavenly in their own right.  The Pacifica line also includes candles, soaps and body butters (I definitely want to try those).  The adorable little tins are very collectible and very addicting.  I'd encourage you to check the website to see if this line is available in your area and give the Pacifica Solid Perfumes a try.

Fabulous Father's Day Gifts

Father's Day is just around the corner and I'm not the only one making gift suggestions...my husband is, too!  He's offered his impressions of a few products that you might consider as Father's Day gifts. 

First, for the guy who is into taking care of his skin (or needs to start), is the Age Defying Duo set from Zirh.  My husband is a big fan of this set, which contains the Rejuvenate Anti-Aging Face Cream and the Restore herbal under eye cream.  The Rejuvenate Anti-Aging Face Cream contains ceramides, peptides and other anti-aging ingredients that improve hydration and elasticity.  The Restore herbal under eye cream contains ingredients to de-puff, increase circulation and help to improve dark circles.  My husband has also recently purchased the Protect moisturizer.  Zirh products are available in department stores and at www.zirh.com.

Space.NK.Blue

is a fresh fragrance with notes of lime, grapefruit, star anise and basil in a woody base of cedar leaf, patchouli and oak moss.  The Body Wash cleanses, conditions and moisturizes the skin leaving a subtle fragance.  The Space.NK.Blue Travel Set would make an excellent gift. The Space.NK.Blue line is available exclusively at Space.NK.apothecary stores or on the Space.NK.apothecary website.

Hope these gift suggestions help to make your shopping easier! 

Bath & Body Works Enchanted Orchid: The Scent of Spring

Bath & Body Works has welcomed Spring with a gorgeous new fragrance:  Enchanted Orchid.  This is a lush, tropical fragrance that any woman would love.  Part of the B & BW Signature Collection, Enchanted Orchid has top notes of pink grapefruit, wet greens, waterlily and crisp apple; middle notes of Calypso Orchid, fresh gardenias, delicate iris and violet petals.  Base notes are vanilla orchid, heliotrope, creamy amber and skin musk.

A basket of several Enchanted Orchid products would make for a special Mother's Day gift.  I would choose the Satin Body Veil, Creamy Body Wash and Eau de Toilette, which would make a nice layering set.  I've tried the shower gel, the lotion and body spritz and that trio also would be a perfect gift suggestion.  On the website, there's a Buy 3 Get 1 Free promo going on, so pick something out for yourself, too!  This really is a lovely fragrance and perfect for spring and summer.  Additional product information can be found on the Bath & Body Works website or in-store.

Space.NK Apothecary Bath & Body Collection

Space.NK Apothecary is a trendy beauty store that has migrated from Britain to the U.S. and is already a huge hit with beauty product junkies.  The reason?  A fabulous selection of highly sought after product lines and knowledgeable staff; an unbeatable combination.  In addition to the niche lines, Space.NK has it's own line of fragrances, as well as bath and body products, which are--like the store--fabulous.

There are a total of nine fragrances, which were designed to evoke forgotten memories and emotions.  Here's a sampling of my favorites:

• Enrapture:  Enrapture is completely romantic.  A blend of tuberose, ylang-ylang, blackcurrant bud and orange blossom, it's sensual and perfect for a romantic summer evening.  I tried this fragrance in a hand lotion, which is rich and moisturizing.

Soulful:  Woody and floral; a blend of cedar, sandalwood, rose and lily of the valley.  Not overpowering; think gentle, tranquil, relaxing fragrance.

Laughter:  Uplifting and fresh, Laughter is a blend of lime, rosemary and juniper with a bite of ginger.  A walk in the fresh air or on the beach, Laughter is a light fragrance.

Expression:  If Enrapture is romantic, Expression is sexy.  A blend of vetiver with jasmine, bergamot and a hint of nutmeg.  This is a more personal fragrance; uniquely yours.

Each of the fragrances is available in select formulations, such as perfume, body balm, hand lotions or washes and so on.  The quality in each product is apparent; the body balm and hand lotion is rich; the bath oil, so fragrant and moisturizing.  You can purchase at a Space.NK store or the entire collection is available on the Space.NK website.

Avon flower & petal fragrances by Cynthia Rowley

Avon and Cynthia Rowley have created a one of a kind limited-edition fragrance duo in time for Mother's Day.  The complementary fragrances, flower and petal, symbolizes the bond between mothers and daughters. The flower fragrance has notes of florals--Casablanca Lily and Freesia; warm woods, like Cashmere Woods, Velvet Woods and Sandalwood and Warm Vanilla and Skin Musk.  The petal fragrance is lighter in spirit and scent.  It is a "floral green" fragrance with Lilly of the Valley.  flower is housed in a white bottle (50ml) resembling a keepsake jewelry box, with a moderen/vintage feel to it.  petal is in an identically-shaped, smaller (30ml), pink bottle.  Both have tags featuring the floral pattern that was on the Cynthia Rowley for Avon color collection. 

Of the two fragrances, petal is my favorite.  flower is priced at $30.00 and petal is priced at $15.00.  Avon products are available nationwide through Representatives (call 1-800-FOR-AVON to locate one or check here) or online at www.avon.com. 

Prom Beauty and Makeup Tips

It's Prom Time! That time of year when young women's thoughts turn to special event dresses, the perfect up-do and how-am-I-going-to-wear-my-makeup?  I've got some suggestions on how to keep your sanity, get gorgeous and enjoy the experience (that includes you, too, mom!). 

The look you should try to achieve is you...only glammed up for the big night.  First, your skin.  Think of your face as a canvas.  You want it as clear and blemish free as possible.  If you do have a breakout, use a product like Origins Spot Remover to treat and then use a small amount of concealer. One of my favorites is Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage. Using a light hand, apply foundation or mineral makeup to even out skin tone and blend, blend, blend.  You might want to add Estee Lauder Face Glow to give your skin extra luminosity. 

Next, the makeup.  You want to emphasize one of your features, not all.  So make the focal point your eyes, cheeks or lips, not all of the above!  A good hint is to start with the feature that you get the most compliments on. If it's your eyes, a smoky eye is the way to go.  A good tutorial using MAC cosmetics can be found here.  Remember to use only a hint of blush; Nars Nico or Desire would be a good choice.  Definitely 2 coats of mascara. And because you don't want to have to worry about touchups, put a tube of new L'Oreal Never Fail Lip Gloss in your handbag.

If you're thinking about tanning in advance of the big night, skip the tanning bed and try new Jergens Natural Glow Express.  It's a sunless moisturizer that develops a natural tan in about 3 days.

Finally, don't forget fragrance.  You'll want something innocent, yet sexy and memorable.  I'd suggest Diesel Fuel for Life Pour Femme.  It's an interesting blend of jasmine, patchouli, blackcurrant and creme de cassis that dries down to a powdery, musky finish.  Definitely not forgettable. 

The best advice?  Smile, relax and have the time of your life!

photo credit: yourprom.com

Ed Hardy Perfume for Women by Christian Audigier

Ed Hardy Perfume for Women by Christian Audigier does not look like your typical fragrance.  In fact, Ed Hardy Perfume for Women will stop you dead in your tracks once you see the tatoo art packaging.  It's rock and roll biker-chic meets department store fragrance counter.  I like the unexpectedness of that, and I liked this fragrance each time I wore it.  The composition is that of a fruity-floral:

• Top notes: Tropical mango, wild strawberries and red grapefruit
• Middle notes:  watery mujuet, black freesia, linden blossom
• Base notes:  warm amber, musk, rose, tonka bean, vanilla

This is definitely what I would call a "warm" fragrance; on me, anything with an amber base note really develops nicely.  Although I only had a small vial, this is a fragrance that I would buy; I think it's sexy.  And who doesn't want a little rock 'n roll edge every now and then?  Ed Hardy Perfume for Women by Christian Audigier is available at select Macy's.

Bond No. 9 Saks Fifth Avenue For Her Perfume

Bond No. 9 perfumes are a sensory trip through the neighborhoods of New York.  Add another stop:  Saks Fifth Avenue. Saks commissioned Bond No.9 to develop a fragrance befitting the iconic retailer.  And like shopping at the quintessential department store, Bond No. 9 Saks Fifth Avenue for Her is glamorous, chic and luxurious.  The fragrance opens with top notes of jasmine and tuberose, develops into a lush gardenia and dries down to base notes of vetiver and vanilla.  To my nose, sometimes all-white fragrances can be overcoming, but not so this one.  The Saks Fifth Avenue for Her fragrance is evocative of the department store in that there are so many discoveries once inside.  Although initially a big floral, this fragrance continues to evolve and become more beautiful the longer you wear it. 

The bottle is also as distinctive as the fragrance inside, displaying the retailer's new white on black logo. There is an accompanying fragrance, Saks Fifth Avenue for Him, which is equally as elegant. The Saks Fifth Avenue fragrances are part of a growing Bond No.9 collection that now numbers over thirty. Bond No.9 fragances are available at Saks Fifth Avenue, in the Bond No.9 boutiques and on the website.

Evening Edged in Gold Perfume

Evening Edged in Gold is a new perfume by Ineke, that can only be described as sultry, sensual and memorable.  Ineke is a classically trained perfumer who creates original, artisan fragrances in her studio in San Francisco.  Evening Edged in Gold is the fifth in her alphabetical collection of fragrances.  This perfume opens with bright top notes of plum and gold osmanthus, then warms to middle notes of Angel's Trumpet, saffron and cinnamon bark, with base notes of Midnight Candy, leather and woods.  To my nose, this fragrance is an elegant floral/oriental; sophisticated, unforgettable and flat out seductive.  You can order Evening Edged in Gold, as well as all of the Ineke perfumes at Ineke.com.  Evening Edged in Gold was my first experience with Ineke perfume and it certainly won't be my last.