THE ADVICE SISTERS
"What Works" Beauty Review Column, WINTER 2005 By Alison Blackman DunhamTHE ADVICE SISTERS
"What Works" Beauty Review Column, WINTER 2005 By Alison Blackman Dunham
This web page is very large. Please give it extra time to load! This is Page ONE of a TWO-page review. It features more than 84 different brands and hundreds of products to suit every budget, need, and interest. I review only "WHAT WORKS" (not what doesn't). THIS PAGE features solutions to Winter beauty challenges, new fragrances, complexion-boosters, hair helpers, and other items that make your beauty routine easier. TIP helps you get the most out of selected products and SNEAK PEEK puts you "in the know" about products that aren't available yet, but will be--soon. PAGE 2 reviews the newest makeup for eyes, lips and nails, along with great gift ideas. It also features an exclusive, extensive Buying Guide at the very bottom of the page. Click on the links to conveniently purchase the products you want, or to get more information. Be sure to - Visit the ARCHIVES or use our new SEARCH function at the top of our FEATURES page.
Olympus Fashion Week, NYC, February, 2005 -
AVEDA, one of our favorite cosmetics companies did the makeup for Betsy Johnson (L) &
Multi by Bree(R) (among others) for their Fall 2005 shows. We were there! For
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COLUMN
FEATURE -- "THE SKINNY" ON SKIN! Your skin needs moisture to look, feel, and be healthy. Alas Winter heat
and cold conditions can ruin it. here are products that will help you combat
winter skin woes--especially your face and lips which are always exposed!
FACE FACTS: Is your skin suddenly dry itchy, or flaky? Do you look pale, haggard? or unhealthy? These products help enhance your face and lips and keep them smooth, moist, healthy, protected, and glowing! FACE Stockholm's Orange Cream $46.00 has orange and macadamia nut oils, shea butter, portulaca oleracea, kava and mulberry extracts, and Vitamins C&E. This day/night cream smells citrussy and performs multiple wonders as a moisturizer, exfoliator, and wrinkle reducer. It made our skin soft and smooth, without greasy residue. There's also a soothing, light Seaweed Cream $48.00 in a bright green jar. We liked the fresh scent and the way it absorbed quickly to moisturize, protect and heal. Both of these are so good you may have a hard time choosing. TIP: Once you've cleansed and moisturized, slip on a bit of Perfect Primer $34.00 which smoothes your skin and helps your foundation look great and stay put. Deep sea water, seaweed extract, and aloe help heal, soothe, and rehydrate. We are fans of Sue Devitt's cosmetics so we expected her new line of skincare, launching exclusively at the Sue Devitt counter at Barneys, to be great. We went ga-ga for Microquatic™ Anti-aging Facial Concentrate $125.00 which has a melange of cutting edge ingredients to provide your skin with deep hydration, revitalize tissues, promote circulation, smooth uneven skin coloration, increase collagen production and improve elasticity and firmness. It's pricey, but a little goes a long way and does a lot of good. Equally wow is Microquatic™ Purifying Cleanser $40.00. It compliments the moisturizer with the same good-for-your-skin ingredients. It is oil-free so it works on anyone's skin. It goes on soft both rinses right off with water. If you are traveling and no water is available, just tissue it off! Our skin felt soft, pampered and thoroughly cleansed both ways! This is a superb cleanser! We have always been impressed with Sundãri. For seriously dry (Vata) skin try Omega 3+ and Algae Day Serum $42.00 0.5 fl. oz to keep your complexion glowing, soft, moist and to combat wrinkles. This contains a cocktail of anti-aging ingredients that hydrate, soothe irritated skin, and improve skin elasticity. We like the light gel that absorbs super-fast without any greasy feel. Omega 3+ Amalaki Night Cream 1.7 oz $50.00 is a companion to the day serum. It's a super rich cream-in-a-pump for dry skin that also works for other types as well, to soothe, smooth, protect and hydrate all night long. Both of these products are allergy tested and fragrance-free. If you're looking for a new day and night skincare routine for the Winter, you can't go wrong with these! Sasha Cosmetics made their debut in our Summer, 2004 column. This unique line primarily for yellow-based skintones has a skin care system, formulated by Dr. Roger Nocera, a noted anti-aging physician. Their Anti-Aging day/night system $89.00 is an easy to use system containing one unscented pump tube product for day, another for night. It is easily absorbed with no greasy feel. These have advanced antioxidants and other good-for-your skin ingredients, delivered through a patented peptide-microsomal system. In plain English, means better, quicker, and more effective absorption of the "good stuff" into your skin! Cellex-C is a professional skincare line featuring the benefits of Vitamin C, but their New Betaplex Complexion Cream $59.00 60 ml actually works with a powerful combo of beta hydroxy acids extracted from willow bark to help you shed dull, dry, old skin and reveal a more youthful, vibrant complexion. Cellex-C Speed Peel Facial Gel $33.00 90 ml gives you nearly instant gratification. In less than 2 minutes you can apply this minty green gel and gently massage it off your face right before it dries (or in w minutes) to banish dead skin cells, condition, and moisturize. If you are unhappy with the way your complexion currently looks, these products can definitely help. Sephora Indulgences Great Pumpkin Mask $30.00 8 oz is so spicy and tingly it might make you a facial mask fan (if you're not one, already). This creamy beige gel has a purifying blend of pumpkin, firming nutmeg, cleansing ginger, blood orange, Italian lemon, and cinnamon, softened with caramel and warm vanilla. You can use it on your face and your body. Savor the scent for 10-15 minutes while it works, then wash it off for glowing, smoother skin. TIP: we left a bit of this on the top of our hands for a few minutes. We found it as good as a paraffin treatment (and must faster) to reveal smoother, softer skin! Weleda Everon Face Balm $9.95 1 oz is a take-with-you-everywhere tube of powerful protection against sun, wind, and other outdoor elements. Natural sweet almond oil, and beeswax combine in a no-nonsense, heavy-duty moisture barrier. Be sure to pack a tube before you hit the slopes--or the beach. We know that the men and children in your life will be wanting to use this one too, so you'd better buy double. The drying effects of heat, sun, and wind and pollution can make your face look dull, dry and old. Clinique's newest moisturizer, Superdefense Triple Action Moisturizer with SPF 25 $39.50 is an SOS in a jar! This double-duty cream is quickly absorbed with no scent and no grease. It protects against the suns harmful rays and it also has powerful antioxidants and other ingredients to soothe and improve your skin, and reduce wrinkles. You get protection, moisture and anti-aging all in one! Three intensities suit Normal to Oily, Normal to Dry, or Very Dry. If you've never tried Clinique, now you've got a great reason to try it! Olay is serious, effective, affordable skin care. Avoid premature signs of aging and enjoy soft, moist skin with the new Olay Complete Defense SPF 30 Daily UV Moisturizer $13.49. We love the pump dispenser and the unscented cream that does double-duty. It protects skin from harmful UV rays with a whopping SPF 30, and of course, helps to make our skin moist and healthy. We also like Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Moisturizing Treatment $18.99 1.7 oz. This night cream works while you sleep renewing skin cells when they are most receptive. It uses a time-release effect to deliver an intense, anti-aging serum. We used this slightly tingly cream for a few days and noticed our skin looked and felt better. For eyes, Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum $18.99 .95 fl, oz helps visibly lift and brighten. It can be used on your entire eye area, helping to firm your lids and even your under-eye skin tone. The results are not as dramatic as a surgical eye lift, but it's definitely a useful alternative to cover-ups or expensive, invasive procedures. You couldn't ask for more, at any price! Prescriptives Intensive Rebuilding Moisturizer $96.00 2.0 oz works in eight weeks to rebuild, restore, and revitalize your complexion. We didn't test it long enough to see the fountain of youth in our faces, but we could see positive results. It might really be magic in a jar! We can definitely report that this unscented cream is a joy to use. It's fast absorbing, and it left our skin super-soft without any greasy residue. The cutting-edge formula is chock-full of good-for-your-skin ingredients too complicated to explain, but if you want your a great moisturizer that helps keep your skin healthy and youthful-looking...you've just found it!
If you've got the time, we've got the "zyme" (pun intended). Jan Marini products are new to our review. Ms. Marini pioneered the use of glycolic acid (an Alpha Hydroxy Acid) in skin care. Her exfoliation system is great, using unripened green papaya (up to five pounds for just one jar!) to improve the look and feel of your skin. Worth the time is the Green Papaya Enzyme Mask $35.00 2 oz which takes 15-20 minutes. We tried it on just one side of our face, and we want you to know that this gentle, green, cream made that side look noticeably brighter, smoother and softer.. Ditto the unique Clean Zyme $20.00 4 oz which you use with the mask, or alone. Leave the slightly tingly, lemony-scented green gel on your face for 2-3 minutes. Get clean, soft, smooth, brighter skin. These are gentle enough to use daily, and do their job, perfectly. Clean skin is essential, but soap can dry it out. Visage Cleansers $5.99 each 6.8 fl. oz by NIVEA offer three ways to cleanse, gently and keep your skin moist, balanced and healthy without a greasy feel. We tried and liked Gentle Cleansing Cream for dry and/or sensitive skin. The tube of rich, white, cleansing cream with aloe vera and chamomile has tiny pink dots that help exfoliate for soft, smooth skin. We didn't test them, but those with Oily complexions may want to try Oil Control Cleansing Gel or Refreshing Cleansing Gel for normal and combo skin. There is also a Visage Moisturizing Toner $5.25 6.8 fl. oz that works for all skin types to help eliminate any trace of residue or dirt after cleansing, without drying, stripping, or irritation. We liked the tingly, cool sensation and light scent instead of the common, aggressive use of alcohol! DIBI is Italy’s leading skin care company. Created in 1975, DIBI’s revolutionary products have been correcting the most common beauty challenges, including water retention, wrinkles and slackening skin, fatty deposits and cellulite for over 25 years. This luxe company has three eye products that, used together regularly, could be your alternative to cosmetic surgery (and surgery and other alternatives are even pricier). Try DIBI Nuovapelle Eye Contour Fluid $64.00 0.5 fl. oz, , DIBI Nuovapelle Eye Contour Cream $58.00 0.5 fl. oz, and DIBI Nuovapelle Eye Contour Cream $58.00 o.5 fl. oz. All have a blend of botanicals, nucleic acids and collagen. Thyme and lupin smooth and reduce wrinkles, while hyaluronic acid, and comelia and borage oils moisturize and increase elasticity. Gamma oryzanol helps protect against the sun's damaging rays. These are for all skin types, even those with sensitive skin. An easy, non-invasive facelift-in-a-cream is from Avon BeComing, one of the undisputed leaders in skincare. TransFirm $35.00 1.7 fl. oz has it's own alchemy using something mystically called Lumina8™. It is a 3D sculpting complex that helps tighten saggy jawlines and refines cheekbones. Avon products are always cutting-edge technology at a price everyone can afford. You may not get exactly the same results as a surgical facelift, but you can wear it easily under makeup and, even better, in one week you can make a difference in your appearance, even on a budget! ANEW Retroactive Day Defense 1.07 fl. oz by AVON has spf 15 to protect against the sun's damaging rays while it effectively hydrates and renews your skin with fortifying proteins, antioxidants and plant extracts. Use it alone or with other, excellent ANEW products to combat the signs of aging and keep your skin younger looking, always! Babor has day spas in Palm Beach and Aachen, Germany. Mimical Control $65.00 1.7 oz by Babor uses extract from Italian Curry Plant to stimulate skin cells and relax your skin. Coupled with macadamia nut, avocado, and sesame oils, Vitamin E, Pathenol, and a light, slightly fruity scent of grapefruit, mango, melon and passion fruit, the light cream gently blends these ingredients to relax laugh lines and control wrinkles. If you're wondering what effect this all has, "topical botox" is one description! We didn't use it long enough to see a huge improvement, but with just one application we can report a definite tightening effect, and soft skin. Regular use could work some wonders.
FACE IT! Face it, winter is not only hard on your skin, but it also saps the natural glow you get from being "out and about" in the Spring and Summer. The following products can help you improve the look of your complexion, and help you look vibrant, young, alive and healthy--even if you're nursing a cold or haven't had enough sleep! Your face has an array of colors. Now, Max Factor has a product - Colour Adapt Pressed Powder, $8.95 -- that amazingly, adjusts to the variations in your skin. This silky, semi-sheer, light-reflecting powder smoothes on evenly even if your skin is flaky and dry. There are four shades: light, fair, medium and deep to suit everyone. The clever, crescent-shaped sponge applicator smoothes powder onto face for a natural, matte (not mask-like) look that feels soft and luxurious. Even ruddy skin looked flawless. The oval, matte gold and navy compact is chic, too - this is a real find and a true bargain. Apply Trish McEvoy Face Shine $32.00 to get a subtle, natural, sheer glow from this amazing, translucent, oil-free blush/bronzer solid gel. It glides on like silk, but never feels heavy or greasy. There are six colors, but we previewed "Gold," a warmed golden-coppery shimmer that makes a great blush, or a subtle all-over facial highlighter. TIP: Good on lips or lids, this is all-purpose color for your makeup bag! Nothing is easier than the Pinceau Diffuser de Poudre Libre by Bourjois $20.00. This silky, moisturizing powder comes in seven shades from light to bronze to sparkling, in a totally tote-able, clear plastic, powder-in-an-applicator brush! No more broken compacts, ever! These are so easy it is to carry and use, we'll never leave home without one again. Simply swivel up the generously-sized bristle brush from the case, dust on the powder, and appreciate a more flawless complexion. One quick application immediately erased shine and minor imperfections. We loved the sheer coverage that is great alone, or a compliment to finish foundation--and it remained true to color and never caked-up -- magnifique! When the grandsons of makeup legend Max Factor combined to create a professional line of cosmetics lucky fashionistas got Smashbox Cosmetics! We have been fans of this high-quality, high-performance line for years, and are happy to bring suggest some of their extraordinary makeup. For Winter-weary, dull, dry skin, try Artificial Light Luminizing Lotion $28.00. Pump a bit of this little wonder onto your bare face (or mix with foundation) to create a glowing complexion. Use it as a spot highlighter, or on your eyelids for a sheer wash of luminous color. The oil-free formula not only makes your skin look good, but gingko biloba and Japanese green tea protect itm brighten it, renew it and moisturize it! We tried "Glare," a soft, pearlescent pink that glamorizes everyone. There's also "Reflect" (gold), "Glow" (bronze) and "Diffuse" (sparkly white). If your skin is blotchy, sallow, or ruddy, Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer $32.00 will fill in fine lines and even out discoloration. Try "Smashing Color Adjust" (green) to minimize redness, "Smashing Color Blend" (Apricot) to conceal dark circles, sunspots and veins, and "Smashing Color Balance" (lavender) to enhance sallow skin. TIP: These feel sheer, soft and silky on bare skin but to use with foundation, apply the primer and let it sit for 60 seconds, then apply your foundation for a flawless finish! Illuminating Face Radiance $32.50 by Aloette is a brand-new product that is perfect to deal with the doldrums of winter -- and less than perfect skin. We like the chic, slim, black and gold compact and the aloe-based cream-to-powder formula full of good-for-your-skin ingredients. It slides on like silk, leaving behind a sheet coat of light-reflecting cream with flecks of gold. It's for all all complexions, but we especially loved the way it floated over dry skin patches and dry lines. You'll get a flawless, glowing look that you're going to love! Transparancies $18.00 by Smashbox Cosmetics are curious little things -- spongy pots of a mousse-like color that feel almost alive at the touch! These do-it-alls are lightweight brighteners for lips, cheeks and eyes -- sheer, versatile, colors applied for the merest hint of color or multi-layered all the way to full coverage. We tried "Smashing Flaunt," a rosy-pink that gave light complexions new life and (with a few more layers) deeper complexions, a rosy glow. Ditto for our lips and our eyes. There's also a dark gold, a light pink, a bronzed rose, and a violet. Traditionalists can perk with silky, luxe, Pressed Powder Blush $24.00 available in nearly a dozen colors to suit cool and warm, light and deep, complexions Coveted by makeup professionals and chic women who know great makeup, Make Up Forever is back in our reviews. We are delighted! If your skin is ruddy, sallow, or blotchy, and dry, Corrective Make-up Bases $22.00 by MAKE UP FOR EVER will smooth out your skintone. Better, yet, it has SPF 18 to protect against the sun's damaging rays, and good-for-your-skin ingredients to help it retain moisture and reduce the appearance of pores and fine lines. The products slide on smoothly and feel nearly weightless,even if you wear foundation and moisturizer. Seven different shades (white, blue, green, yellow apricot, neutral, mauve) prepare your skin for the application of foundation and/or powder, and help to correct various skin problems. We tried "White Base no.3." Used on bare skin it gave light complexions a smooth, luminous appearance. "Apricot #4" makes deeper complexions glow and smooth out a fading tan. BLUSH - THE INSTANT PICKER-UPPER. A little blush can give you an instant, healthy glow, even if you are under the weather. Let one of the newest cremes, sheers, powders or gels perk up your complexion and your spirits! Laura Mercier is Face Tint $20.00 is a "healthy, loose powder glow" in a jar. Let it enhance (or re-create) the way your face normally blushes! New (and we think just in the nick of time for Winter) is "Apricot," a super-sheer shade of natural apricot to universally warm every complexion and lift your spirits, too! These powders are so natural and smooth, they're easy and mistake proof. If you're looking for a all-out great glow for blush or for your entire complexion, this is it--and well worth the money. Sonia Kashuk Beautifying Blush $7.99 has a lot of intensity, so you need just a little to put a lot of life back in your complexion! The powder blends beautifully, and is soft and smooth. There are plenty of colors to choose from, but "Lilly" is a warm apricot that will look pretty on nearly everyone, from palefaces to deeper complexions. New, Expert Wear Blush $5.51 by Maybelline comes in four duos, two bronzers, and 10 individual shades. Colors are natural, not gaudy, and come with or without shimmer, in tones of mauve, pink, mocha, berry, rose, plum and peach. We like the clear compact top that lets you easily find the color you want. Try "Two to Glow" a light and medium peach duo to wear together or separately. It's especially flattering to pale winter skin. Yellow-based complexions will warm to beigy-bronze "Sunlight," while warmer toned skin will glow with browned-apricot Salsa Sun." We also like two individual pinks: "Rose Silk" a warm rose, and clear, cool "Pinch O Pink" - perfect for winter-weary faces. The slim, square, clear, plastic case of Rimmel's Soft Blush $3.00 lets you immediately see the sheer, natural blush inside. We were impressed with the creamy formulas that slides on smoothes on light and sheer, and stays true to color. Deeper complexions will warm up with "Rose Kiss," a rich, slightly shimmery deep rose. "Soft Kiss" is a peached-rose that looks unbelievably pretty on pale skin. "Caramel" kiss brightens cool complexions in all intensities. Feeling as faded as the Winter landscape? Perk up your complexion in an instant with a great blush like Aveda's Petal Essence™ Face Accent $17.00, a trio of colors formulated with a blend of flower waxes and pure plant ingredients and a barely-there scent. We love it's velvety-soft feel on our skin. Try the warmed berry colors of "Plum Touch" or the deep rosy-browns of "#165 Bronze Glow" to revive pale skin as a blush, or to use for contour and highlight. Petal Essence™ Cheek Color $14.00 in "#180 Apricot Glow" is also universally flattering. Layer lots of color, or just a little, with Petal Essence™ Face Cheek Tint $22.00. This chunky, portable, swivel-tube of clear, pure color gives a healthy glow, instantly. A standout is "#144 Bronze Patina," a warmed rose that flatters everyone. Looking for a nifty blush for next for less than two dollars? N.Y.C. Powder Blush $1.99 fits the bill (pun intended). You'll get a generous oblong of soft, matte color in four rich, intense shades wine, plum, rose, or peach. The blush also has oil absorbers to help control shine without clogging your pores -- essential when using heavier moisturizers and sun screens, now.
Cheekers Blush $3.15 by Cover Girl is the easiest and one of the least expensive ways to perk up a pale complexion! There are more than 18 fashionable colors to choose from at prices that make it easy to indulge without any guilt! Two universally flattering shades that add warmth to skin are: "Iced Cappuccino" (medium rosy-brown) and "Plum Plush" *deep, very-browned plum) Luminous, light-reflecting translucent powder nestles into a compact with a sheer, shimmery blush in the Blush Duo Compact $27.50 by Shiseido.We tried "Tangerine," a soft, warm melon which we think will nicely perk up most skin tones. However, there's also tan, brown, natural red, pink and rose. This is no ordinary blush combo - it's cutting edge technology married to a makeup designer's art! To use, simply brush a small amount of one or both colors on cheeks. For an even more luminous complexion, apply the darker color of blush first, then add the lighter color and blend together, or use the light powder as a highlighter the deeper one as a definer. However you use it, your skin will look luxe, glowing, and beautiful! This is a little splurge that will pay dividends for your skin all season long! PÜR Minerals Universal Powder $19.50 .21 oz in it's loose form comes in a shaker jar and it's not just for cheeks. Use it on lips and eyes as well for a healthy, natural pick-me-up. We tried "Peach Morganite" great to give medium to deep complexions a warm, rusty-rose glow (there is also a garnet and a gold). TIP: dab this powder on your lips followed by your favorite clear gloss and you've got an instant, "better than born with it" look for lips! The Virgin Cosmetics Company has beautiful products and we're happy to re-introduce them, especially their newest blush for Spring -- Secret Passion Shimmering First Blush £7.50 (approx. $14.20). It's a modern, sheer, layerable gel stick that has a subtle (not gaudy) hint of shimmer. Put the roses back into your cheeks with "Pink Champagne," a clear, sheer pink that gives you natural, healthy glow even if (in reality) you are nursing the flu! There's also "Pink Diamonds" with a hint of silver glam. We loved the lightweight, non-greasy formula and long-lasting color that stays true. These are just lovely! SNEAK PEEK: Shimmer Blush $16.50 by M·A·C from the Madame B collection will be at M·A·C counters at at the end of February. "Sunbasque" is a stunning way to brighten your complexion now into the summer. It's a semi-sheer, pearly peach powder with a mere glint of gold that has such a beautiful, subtle glow right in the clear-topped compact that you know already how great it will look on you! We are so pleased to introduce Jane Iredale. Her line of micronized mineral products color, conceal, and protect against the sun's damaging rays. If you'd like to try this line, a perfect place to start is the Pure Pressed Blush $27.00 -- 14 shades for warm or cool skin. "Cool Cranberry" is a brown-berry for cool complexions. "Tawny" is a warm pink-peach that is sure to brighten the cheeks of palefaces. The blush applies easily, looks smooth and natural, and can be layered for a little intensity, or a lot. We hope to review more Jane Iredale products in the future! SNEAK PEEK: Hot from the runways for Spring (and arriving in February) is Pot Rouge $22.00 from the "Rose Chic" collection by Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. This sheer cream put the roses back in your cheeks-literally, in 8 soft, browned-rose shades. The cream feels like it's melting into your skin, but it's not greasy. These also do double-duty as a natural, semi-matte lip stain! We tried "Powder Pink," a universally-flattering, soft warmed rose. Cooler complexions will love "Pink Truffle" a rose with a tinge of mauve. We also love the newest Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick $35.00. Rose tones are flattering to every skin tone. "Rose" has 4 bands of shimmery warmed-rose from deep to light, plus a band of ivory. They look lovely together! Apply all in one stroke and your cheeks will glow with a hint of rose and shimmer. This is guaranteed to brighten up your complexion. What a beautiful way to blush. Thanks to Bobbi Brown, everything really is coming up roses! |
BLUSH - (continued from left-hand column): PÜR Minerals Rose Inca and Powdered Liten $21.50 wins our love for the easy. natural and flattering way it gives new light and life to pale-medium complexions (there are also deeper shades of both the powder and blush). The sheer, luminous powders are natural mineral based that also offer SPF protection from the sun's rays. We love the split-span with two products and the clever, round compact with a mirror and sponge housed in the base. More importantly, we were impressed with the sheer, light-deflecting, pearly radiance of the powder and the long-lasting blush (use it on lids and lips to make them glow, too)! Vitamin E and shea butter make the powders kind to dry skin. Since they contain no oils, fragrances or talcs, they work for every skin type. Diamond Powder $23.00 by MAKE UP FOR EVER will definitely add life to your look! A ultra-light, ultra-fine glitter powder (in six shades) has the iridescence of pearl and the light-capturing (not to mention eye-catching) qualities of glitter. We loved "#6, a holographic white with purple for eyes, body and hair, "#5" a deep rose is perfect on cheeks and lips. TIP: Glitter needs a base to adhere to. Apply it after your body lotion, moisturizer, eye shadow base, or foundation. Our favorite ways to wear this is to mix it into some lip balm or clear gloss for an awesome lip look that keeps your lips soft and moist, too! Spritz on hair spray and dust it onto your hair before the spray dries -- it's instant allure - a glam, evening-out look. COLUMN FEATURE: FRAGRANCE! Nothing changes your mood or lifts your spirits like fragrance can. Consider it a gift you can give to yourself (and others) every day. Fragrance is always popular for Valentines' Day gifts, too. Here are new items to suit every personality and budget. Select several or choose a signature scent. FRAGRANCE - We love the new crop of "Florientals" (flowers blended with sophisticated combos of fruits, spices, and musks). but fruity, flowery and musky fragrances are always "in style," too. Here's the best-of-the-best to take you through the dark days and nights of Winter, into the lighter, brighter scents of Spring. Clinique Happy won hearts and fans when it debuted. Now, Clinique's Happy To Be 1.07 fl. oz $37.50, 3.4 f.. oz. $49.50 is the newest version, ripe for the picking this Spring! This is a complex, modern, substantial fragrance. The clear fragrance arrives in a clear glass tower screened with orange graffiti and a coppery top. Pear natureprint makes a strong statement, coupled with hibiscus flowers, bulgarian rose, and syringa flower, softened by cocoa butter, sandalwood and sesame. The result is a strong, citrussy floral that on some reviewers seemed to magically switch back and forth between floral and citrus, eventually settling into a soft, modern, citrus-kissed floral scent that is feminine, but sophisticated. It is light enough for daytime but will work as an evening fragrance as well. Flexible, pretty, and intriguing - it'll definitely make you happy! One of our top picks for yourself or a loved one this Valentine's Day is Red Dress Eau de Toilette Spray $50.00 3.3 fl. oz by Five Star Fragrance. Sold exclusively through Perfumania, The scent is a limited edition *1/05 to 6/06) floral musk containing mandarin, freesia, bergamot top notes, rose petals, jasmine and linden blossom for middle notes, and a finale of must, iris and sandalwood upon dry-down. The overall effect is soft and sophisticated, not obvious or overly sweet. The bottle is a ruby-red glass rounded "cone" with a red, plastic clip in the shape of a red dress instead of a traditional cap. *100% of the proceeds from the sales at Perfumania will be donated to the American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women" program to help educate women about prevention of heart disease and stroke -- the #1 killer of women in the United States! Looking for a fragrance you both can share (and especially on Valentines' Day)? Zum Eau de Love $20.00 1.3 fl. oz by Indigo Wild is the perfect V-day choice, and great throughout the Winter season! We're not sure what Cupid put in this peppermint-citrus fragrance wisely presented in a tote-able roll-on with cute red, white and black "hearts" label, but we are certain that if you roll it on each other, your love (and good times) will definitely, roll. For more fragrance and love-enhancing enchantment, Love Oil $13.00 4 fl. oz in the same citrus-peppermint fragrance will keep the good feelings going. TIP: do your body good as well as offering relaxation - this oil works very well as a body moisturizer, too!
Secret Garden Pure Seduction Eau de Toilette by Victorias Secret is the newest in this company's always attractive, sexy, body care line of fragrances. This one is a romantic, light-pink -- a fruity blend of casaba melon, juicy plum, and freesia. It's definitely for the young-at-heart and perfect for women who like a "little something" but not heavy fragrance. There's also a Skin-Silkening Body Lotion, Shower Gel, Body Splash, bath bubbles and hand soap! The collection is $7.50-$9.00 so you can indulge revel in the scent in every possible way! We first introduced sexy celeb and singing sensation Jessica Simpson's Dessert Beauty to you in our Fall 2004 column. Now there's another incredibly nearly-edible fragrance in Jessica's sinfully delicious line --one that she personally developed. TASTE Deliciously Kissable Fragrance $45.00" 1.07 fl. oz has strong notes of Tahitian vanilla, white chocolate, coconut cream, honey & apricot. The overall feeling is warm and sexy, but not so over-powering that you can't wear it in the daytime. We hope to review other items in this scent in future columns. Meanwhile, remember that vanilla is known to be a powerful, aphrodisiac -- so unless you're looking for love, apply with caution! We can't think of anything more appropriate to give or to wear during Valentine's Day season than a new fragrance, True Heart Eau De Toilette $15.00 30 ml by MARK. A dramatic, round black bottle with tall black top holds a sexy, chic fragrance that smells much more luxe than it costs. Top notes of bergamot, lychee and pink peppercorn mix with middle notes of white peony, cardamom, cinnamon, and muget, and base notes of labdanum, olibanum, patchouli, sensual musk, touch of amber, and sandalwood. The initial impression is clear, bright and fruity-floral, but it dries down to a sensuous, spicy musk that men found powerful and enticing. There's also a body lotion and shower gel $5.00 each. How great is that?!!! Looking for a feminine, floral fragrance that will suit women of all ages? Look no further than Pretty Eau de Parfum $30.00 1.07 fl. oz by Avon BeComing. The slightly oval clear glass bottle screened with dainty white floral patterns, and it's substantial, faux Lalique-crystal top holds the palest of pink perfumes. Top notes of tropical fruits such as lychee, mandarin, and persimmon blend with a heart of gardenia natureprint, muget, and Japanese Peony. The bottom note drydown provides a sophisticated blend of musks, sandalwood, and yellow orchid vanilla bean. The result is pleasing, modern, feminine and floral, but smooth and light enough to be sporty," too.This would be lovely for Valentine's Day or any special occasion, but it will be one of your favorites for every day, too. In our Holiday 2004 column we reviewed Urban Decay's Pistol $29.50 a flacon of perfume oil which we called a: "powerful, feminine, weapon of love worthy of Charlie's Angels." For Valentine's Day, we have another intoxicating suggestion enticingly called Sin $29.50. Could this be the sexiest fragrance to give, get and use this V-day? Possibly! A small, square, red cardboard box with a red satin bow on top holds a precious bottle of fragrance oil and a sexy little leopard spotted bag to keep it in. The scent has sweet blood orange as a top note, a solo middle note of jasmine, and base notes of sandalwood and warm vanilla, accompanied by exotic myrrh and a hint of earthy oakmoss. The result is a sexy love potion: citrus, vanilla, and musk. It will drive men absolutely wild Poor things - wear this and they won't know what love spell you've cast, or why they can't stay away from you! TIP: these oils can be mixed. If you already own "Pistol" try blending it with "Sin" for a musky floral that no one can duplicate! Dab some in your hair, on your sheets, on your lingerie.
LIP RX : Lipstick is lovely, but won't look smooth and beautiful if your lips are lumpy, dry and cracked. Check our list below to choose the lip products you'll like the most. Many of these products are non-shiny so men and children will want to use them, too! We could have put Peppermint
Cooling Lip Balm by Bath $6.00 .25 oz by Bettijo (new to our column!) under in
our LIPS section, but the petite, silvery slide-top tin slips so easily into pocket, pack
or purse, and the refreshing, clear, moisturizing balm (but not shiny) balm is so
universally-pleasing, that we are putting it in our "little wonders"
section! Experience a slight tingle of peppermint oil as Coconut, Palm Kernel and Olive
Oils combine with Vitamin E to moisturize and condition your lips. TIP:
This does double duty! You can also massage a bit of this balm into your temples to let
the therapeutic peppermint oil help relieve stress and tension headaches!
Chapped lips look bad, and they hurt! Aveda's Lip Saver with SPF 15 $7.50 is an affordable, effective, good-for-the-entire family lip balm in a stick that glides on smoothly, protects against the sun's damaging rays, and moisturizes without any sticky feel. Cinnamon leaf, carrot, clove and anise add a hint of flavor, while peppermint and lavender oils add an aromatherapy experience every time you use it. It's clear and matte, so men can use it, too. The Therapeutic Lip Treatment $24.00 by DDF is a luxurious, two-step treatment for lips that need assistance. Start with the exfoliating lip therapy that gently exfoliates with a hint of mint, and without ripping lips to shreds in the process! Then smooth on Glossy Lip Therapy SPF15, a slightly tingly, minty-scented soother and softener that the entire family will like. TIP: long-lasting lip colors are great, but they can stain your lips. Using a lip exfoliator will remove the color while improving the look of your lips! Weleda Everon Lip Balm $5.00 uses jojoba oil, cocoa butter, lanolin, carnuba wax, and rose and vanilla extract (for a slight scent) instead of petroleum which can dry out your lips. Like it's sister product for face protection (see Skinny on Skin, above) this is one you have got to have before you hit the slopes or the beach, or the car, or your office. or....well, you'll find a million reasons to use it often! The Lip Care Pencil $16.00 by MAKE UP FOR EVER looks like a chunky pencil, but it's much more than that! Shea butter, Vitamins A and E and other good for your skin ingredients help moisturize and exfoliate dead skin cells while stimulating new cells! Menthol gives it a bit of a tingle and SPF 16 protects lips from the sun's damaging rays. This product is invisible and weightless, so men will like it, too. You'll be able to apply your lipstick or gloss right over it without worrying about whether the color will change or run. We think it makes a good base for a touch of glitter, too! The Lip Kit $59.00 is a set of five new, simple products that will help you have a healthy, smooth, sexy smile even if your lips look dry and mature beyond their years. Start with Lip Renew, an exfoliator in a tube, follow with Lip Dew, a Vitamin E stick that also has SPF. Slick on Lip Fill, a lip treatment that prevents feathering while it conditions, or apply Lip Plump to your dry, newly-smoothed lips. This tingly product increases blood flow into the cells of your lips, so they look fuller, naturally. Apply your favorite lipstick, then slick it with Lip Keep, a sealer which makes any lipstick last longer. We tried it -- it works! Considering the fact that you get five essential lip products in one cute, tote-able, mesh bag it's a good value and a must-have for Winter Lips. We won't leave home without it. Sally Hansen is new to our review, but not to our budget-minded hearts! Their Extreme, All Day Lip Care $5.29 is a beauty item and a serious lipcare treatment! A host of good-for-your-lips ingredients moisturize and smooth dry, cracked, sore lips -- for up to 18 hours, while providing just a hint of color. There are four shades: Mauve, raisin, rose and brown. All are sheer, subtle and shiny. Diamond Lip Treatment $4.95 is an all-out, no-holds barred super-shimmery, shiny lip gloss that also provide lip-loving soothers and moisturizers. Your lips will look shimmery, full, wet, and sexy. You'll find yourself wanting to re-apply these often because they're so pretty! The more you use, the better you lips will look and feel! Our favorite is the clear infused with silvery glitter, but we also liked the mauve, nude, and copper. TIP: If your lips are seriously dry and cracked, a sheer shine will look better than a dark lipstick. Use these treatment-glosses to get lips in condition, then use as top or base to make all your lipsticks, better. HAIR HELPERS: Have fun with your hair this holiday season. Gloss it, glam it, glitter it, dress it up, and love it! Red is the color of romance., and we think nothing is sexier than a redhead. If red's your color, you know that this is the most challenging hair color to maintain as red fades very quickly. . John Freida has created a line of Radiant Red® hair care products just for...you guessed it!... redheads! These leave your hair looking great for pennies, and guard against water, sun, and other elements that can ruin your color. They are effective and incredibly affordable! Choose wild strawberry and ginger extracts for brighter, vivid shades or red, or pomegranate and plum extracts for deeper, richer shades. The Anti-Fade Shampoo and and Anti-Fade Conditioner $6.50 each preserve red tones like magic and leave hair soft and shiny, without adding or depositing color. Follow with Color Envy Sealer $6.50, to seal damaged, porous hair strands and prevent red pigments from escaping! It also smoothes hair for less frizz and more shine and softness. Finally, Color Finish Super-Hold Hair Spray $5.50 boosts volume and holds your style, while protecting against UV rays that fade your color. Redheads, REJOICE! AVEDA is known for it's high-quality, spa bath, body and haircare. If your scalp feels itchy and your hair is dry, Scalp Benefits Balancing Shampoo $12.00 8.5 fl. oz, $34.00 33.8 fl. oz gently cleans and removes excess build-up and debris from your scalp with coconut and babassu nuts, while a blend of good-for-your-scalp ingredients balance and protect. For maximum benefit and a bonus to your well-being, give yourself a scalp massage with this shampoo. Then, rinse and finish with Balancing Conditioner $12.00 6.7 fl. oz, $42.00 33.8 fl. oz. Your hair will be soft and shiny, and your scalp will feel like it's old self, again! If you suffer from dandruff and it's escalating in the dry, Winter heat, Scalp Remedy $11.00 is a leave-in anti-dandruff treatment that does double-duty to add shine, volume and condition. A handy dropper top lets you apply a small amount of the pleasantly scented product directly to scalp. Massage it in, and style. We tried this and found it amazing, easy and effective. If your thin hair looks like it needs a vacation, pump up it's volume with Pure Abundance™ Volumizing Shampoo $14.00 8.5 fl. oz, $39.00 33.8 fl. oz and Volumizing Clay Conditioner $14.00 6.7 fl. oz. Certified organic acacia gum along with other organic ingredients help your hair look shiny, soft and full -- never greasy. The 100% certified organic essential oils including peppermint, ylang ylang, palmarosa, and jasmine make shampooing a spa-in-an-instant. We''re Phyto fans from way back and we've reviewed a number of their high-quality products in our columns. The PhytoSpecific hair care line is celebrating it's first five years and has a new product: Intregal Hair Care 5.07 $24.00 fl. oz will be of interest to anyone with curly, frizzy, and straightened hair. This instant styling spray (with a subtle floral scent) for wet or dry hair tames frizz, holds, and protects hair from the wrath of hot irons and other heat-stylers, moisturizes, and helps styles hold. If that's not enough, it also is a great de-tangler. This is a product that really lives up to it's promises. We even tried it on fried, dried, frizz -- one spritz smoothed, shined, softened, instantly. There are lots of ingredients that we don't have room to mention but we want you to know this: it's a new, one-step, multi-purpose wonder that works! GET IT! We first introduced the EASYSTRAIGHT Hair Straightening System, that lets you create the look of professionally straightened hair in the convenience of your own home, in our Summer 2004 column. Now, there are three new products to help you keep your newly-straightened hair healthy, happy, and shiny: EASYSTRAIGHT Perfect Balance Shampoo $8.00 10.1 oz, Optimal Strength Conditioner $8.00 10.1 oz and Smooth Finish Gloss $8.00 3.0 oz. work to meet the needs of chemically straightened hair of all ethnicities. We didn't test these on hair that had been straightened with this particular system, but based on what we see, these ultra-care products should perform well on any hair that has been colored or chemically treated. If yours isn't what it used to be, they're definitely worth a try! We are already fans of Garnier Fructis products, which we first featured in our Holiday 2002 column. Since then, the line has expanded to include products for specific hair types and needs. Newest on the market this February is Fructis Long & Strong to help those who dream of growing long hair reach their goal--for pennies! Long & Strong Fortifying Shampoo $3.99 has fruit acids, vitamins, fructose and glucose to strengthen hair from root to tip, keep it shiny and smooth, and prevent breakage and split ends that sabotage long hair's health and looks. Get additional support with a detangling Long & Strong Fortifying Conditioner $3.99 and Anti-Split Ends Leave-in Treatment $5.99 which can repair up to 85% of split ends - amazing! These also strengthen, shine and soften without greasiness. If you have dull, limp hair and want style and volume, you will love XXL Volume Weightless Gel $2.99 for volume, styling, and added hold. Reviewers raved over XXL Volume Root Booster $2.99. Sprayed directly on the roots, this pleasant, apple-scented clear liquid hold gives even heavy, long hair additional volume. Men and women who like the casual, "surfer look" will get it easily with Fructis Style Surf Hair $2.99, a texture paste that lets you mold, control, and re-work that "beach look" any time you want. Fruit Micro waxes help you get the look you want and at these prices, you can indulge in the entire line and still have enough left for other important purchases! Redken Body Full Anti-Gravity Volume for Normal/Fine Hair gives hope to those with thin, limp hair. Start with the Body Full Shampoo $8.95 10.01 fl. oz, which has a pleasant, fresh scent and cleanses gently and effectively. Follow with Body Full Conditioner $10.95 8.05 oz to detangle and start adding volume to your hair. The next step to healthy, full, shiny hair is Body Full Weightlifter $12.95 5 oz- a leave-in conditioner that you apply only to the root area of your towel-dried hair. Finally, apply Body Full Plump Treat (also leave in) $12.95 5oz to help thicken and add extra substance while it conditions and shines. We like this lightweight formula that doesn't leave hair sticky, greasy, or weighted down! Is all of this worth the effort and expense! YOU BET! if your hair is thin and not as luxurious as you'd like it to be! Is Tea Tree Hair and Body Moisturizer $4.95 3.04 oz, $10.95 10.14 oz by Paul Mitchell a hair treatment, or a skin treatment? Actually, it's both! The handy pump bottle is filled with a multi-purpose green gel that is scented with peppermint, tea tree and lavender oils. It quickly absorbed into our dry skin leaving it instantly super-soft and grease free, but a small amount applied to clean, damp hair did the same thing! In fact, our hair never looked shinier and and better. This affordable, fun-to-use, multi-purpose product is a definite must-have. What a great product! We would take this with us, everywhere. LITTLE HELPERS: These "little wonders" that solve common beauty challenges, and help you look beautiful and feel confident, every day of the year.We have been huge fans of Laura Mercier's Secret Camouflage (blemish/imperfection coverup) and Secret Concealer (for dark circles) for years. Now we have cause to really celebrate. Hooray! She's combined these two incredible cover-ups into Undercover $22.00 -- one convenient, dual-pan, travel-sized compact that comes in five different color combos to suit every skin tone. Now we can touch up anywhere, any time. Laura, thanks SO much! Winter feet often mean dry, cracked heels and itchy toes. Barielle's Total Foot Recovery System $35.00 is an attractively packaged RX in a box! You get five, 2-4 oz products that work to exfoliate, refresh, soothe, clean, and hydrate: deodorizing foot spray with menthol and spearmint leaf oil, rejuvenating AHA Foot Treatment (alpha hydroxy gently exfoliates), Cucumber Foot Smoother (sooths and softens tired, swollen feet)) Pedi ScrubFoot Smoother (uses natural pumice, menthol and peppermint to remove flakes, oils and dirt from soles while aloe vera and eucalyptus, soothe), Intensive Foot Cream softens and revitalizes skin. This is a great value! Orly 3 Step Handspa $27.65 is an at-home spa treatment for hands that really need TLC. Start with Smooth Gentle Exfoliator containing aloe, cucumber extract and other good-for-your skin ingredients that whisk away dry, dead skin from hands and palms. Second, give your hands a break for 3-5 minutes as Vital Restorative Masque sinks into skin, soothing, healing and protecting with aloe, chamomile, and vitamins A and E. Finally, massage some sheer Radiance Finishing Lotion into your hands. Aromatherapy scents of ylang ylang and Cubeba or ginger and peach, work together with aloe, chamomile and olive oil to leave your skin smooth and soft. These 2 oz products are effective and attractively packaged together only from Orly and well worth the price! DDF (Doctor's Dermatologic Formula) Cold Therapy Kit $35.00 is not an RX for colds-- it's for cold weather! Three products: Restorative Hand Treatment, Pedi-Cream, and Glossy Lip Therapy are packaged in an adorable, red, cardboard, purse-shaped container tied with a white-polka-dot grosgrain ribbon. So cute as a V-day gift for winter pick-me-up for a friend! Get one for yourself too -- the products are effective and indispensable for Winter! We particularly liked the 1.7 oz purse-sized tube of Restorative Hand Treatment that smoothes on and absorbs lightening fast, leaving your hands feeling like silk gloves. If you have limited space in your makeup bag, one chubby, creamy All Over Pencil $6.00 by Rimmell will serve a lot of needs. There are a dozen shimmery and pearly pastel shades. Our faves for this season are "Charm," a champagne-colored glimmer pearl and "Faith," a light-as-a-petal pink pearl. Both look great as a face and body highlighter, on eyelids, or on lips -- just add a slick of clear or sheer shimmery gloss! Clean, white teeth are essential to for a great impression. StaiNo Tooth Stain Removers are new, affordable, effective, and worth every penny! They contain proprietary advanced stain removal technology that safely and quickly removes ordinary tooth stains such as those caused by coffee, smoking and red wine. We were amazed at how well these little wonders, work! StaiNo Floss 'N Toss $2.99 has 32 individually wrapped, one-use floss tabs to let you floss easily, anywhere and also help to help remove common tooth stains! The StaiNo Toothbrush $3.79 won raves for the newly-developed filament in it's bristles that makes this no ordinary toothbrush! This one whisks away tooth stains almost like magic. Use the brush without toothpaste for a mere 30 second, then add toothpaste and brush as usual. We are not exaggerating when we tell you that our teeth looked whiter and brighter with one use! We also like the StainNo Tooth Stain Eraser $3.79, a small, dual-wanded "pen" that works just like an eraser for eliminating teeth stains any time, anywhere. Travelers will also appreciate the aerated, protective cap that lets you tote the brush or keep if sanitary at home. Shimmer powders have been all the rage the past few seasons. One way to shimmer beautifully for just a few dollars comes from one of our favorite lines for budget-conscious fashionistas- Prestige. Their Flavored All-Over Body Shimmer $6.95 in "Shimmery Pink" is a can't miss for Valentine's Day. The strawberry scented, super-shimmery pink powder is packaged in a pretty cardboard mini "hatbox" with clear top to showcase the included pink puff with satin ribbon. Get the look of the luxe brands for less - a lot less! Bye Bye Blemish is a line of anti-acne products featured on television. We were very curious to know if these products really work. Drying Lotion $9.99 1 fl. oz curiously comes with instructions not to shake the bottle. Reach down into the thick, pink sediment at the bottom and apply it directly to your blemish. We can report that a combination of natural drying agents helps reduce even large zits and help the healing process, overnight. For daytime, Anti-Acne Serum $9.99 1 fl. oz deep cleans pores to help stop new breakouts. We didn't use it long enough to report whether the vitamins and antioxidents actually help to renew skin that’s been damaged by old blemishes, but cleaner pores definitely will help to eliminate future breakouts. There's also an Anti-Acne Cleanser $5.99 that we really liked for it's super cleansing effect, and a Purifying Acne Mask $7.99 4 oz that you can use at night to further your fight against acne! YOUR AD OR BANNER COULD BE HERE. CLICK FOR DETAILS Don't Forget there's another page PAGE 2 has the newest Bath & Body products, Gifts for heart & home, and makeup for Eyes, Lips & Nails. Be sure to scroll all the way down to the bottom of PAGE 2 for our exclusive BUYING GUIDE |
VISIT THE 'WHAT WORKS" ARCHIVES FOR COLUMNS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
We adore
Licorice, so we were particularly excited about Institut DerMed Licorice Hydrating
Cream $38.001 oz. (photo) which smells divinely of licorice root,
courtesy of a high concentration of licorice extract. This rich, easily absorbed hydrating
cream made our skin soft and smooth. Anti-irritant, anti-inflammatory properties also
reduce redness and protect even sensitive skin. Anti Oxidant Rich Cream
$38.00 1 fl. oz. features Black Tundra Moss Extract, a potent anti-oxidant that
helps prevent aging, dry skin, and protects against damage from the sun's rays. We like
the clean, easy pump bottles.Institut DERMed is featured in luxe spas -
you are getting serious skincare! 
Z.
Bigatti's motto is ‘Pure Luxury, Visible Results." They are
expensive products, but they are also effective. Considering how much is spent on
expensive facials and peels that don't work, you might actually consider Z.
Bigatti as economical! If your skin is too sensitive to use most product,
and especially those that exfoliate or brighten, now you can! Z. Bigatti
Re-Storation ILLUMINATE $175.00 2 oz, (photo) provides effective
exfoliation and cell renewal for a more radiant and youthful complexion even for those
with sensitive skin. It gently and effectively exfoliates while it repairs and evens out
your skin tone. If you've experienced irritation with chemical and physical (scrubs)
exfoliants before, this could be the answer to your prayers. Re-Storation
Goodnight $295.00 2 oz is an anti-aging/ moisturizing face and neck cream that
combines ceremides, amino acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and natural botanicals into a
super-rich, fast absorbing, non-greasy cream that immediately starts to protect,
diminish the appearance of fine lines, brighten skin tone, increase elasticity, and
provide intense moisture. Better than that, it actually continues it's "good
works" into the next day -- up to 24 hours--with minimal irritation. This is a great
multi-tasker, at any price!
Lancome So
Magic Eau de Parfum $38.50 10 oz, $48.50 1.7 oz, $68.00 3.4 oz has a feminine
mystique to minute you take it out of the pink box and view the pale,pink fragrance in
it's clear glass bottle with graceful gold top. Top notes of violet, pepper and hazelnut
green mix with middle notes of wild rose, pittosporum and narcissus and bottom notes of
clover, cedar and musk. The end result is an extraordinary new fragrance that Lancome
dubs a "sparkling floral." We have translated that to mean a complex floral
that's not overly sweet, but also not gaudy or over-spiced. It's a
"just-right" blend -- a modern, uplifting, spicy-floral blend that you can love
and wear, every day. This would be an especially pretty gift for a new love,a
bride-to-be, or for yourself "just because."
Envy Me Eau de
Toilette $80.00 3.04 oz, $60,00 1.7 oz, $40.00 1.0 oz is a hot, new
fragrance by Gucci out this February, perfect for Valentine's Day and for
every day! This is a definite designer original you an afford! We love the
striking, tall, elegant, squared-off column of clear glass silkscreened with Gucci's
signature crossed GG's in light pink and a white, cubed top. The light-pink fragrance is a
complex combo of peony, jasmine, pink pepper, litchi, pomegranate, pineapple, pink musk,
seringa, white tea, sandalwood, teakwood and sensual musk. It's hard to categorize
accurately. At first spray, the scent is definitely light and fruity-floral, but it
quickly dries down to a softer floral in which the deeper, muskier bottom notes can be
identified and appreciated. It's sexy, and memorable. We also tried the Body
Lotion $45.00 6.8 oz which has aloe vera to offer skin a non-greasy moisturizer,
while sunflower and silicone oils give skin a healthy, satiny sheen along with the lovely,
lasting fragrance! Superb! 
We also loved Lip Balm Buzz!
$3.00 by Baudelaire which has natural beeswax and a truly yummy
"creamsicle" flavor. The super-silky, non-greasy or shiny lip balm has a
fanciful smiling bee design on the tube that it hard to resist. On the serious lipcare
side, palm and coconut oils, sodium hydroxide, seaweed powder, shea butter, fragrance,
iron oxide color make it a products that people of all ages will enjoy using.