THE ADVICE SISTERS® "What Works" Beauty, Cosmetics & Fashion Review Column NOVEMBER 2007 (looking forward to the holidays) by Alison Blackman Dunham
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FASHION AND ACCESSORIES:
Le Sportsac's stylish, lightweight and hardy handbags, tote bags, and specialty bags, have won the hearts of fashionable women everywhere. Whether you're traveling, or enjoying a day of shopping, an attractive, roomy handbag is a must-have. We adore the LeSportsac "Boutique" bag Style # 9641 "Large Garbo" (left photo) $168.00 for it's roomy 14" x 25.5"x 3.25" size, that can almost house a laptop and will certainly hold all your daily must-haves. It looks like a super-sized granny's coin purse, with a large, secure, plastic magnetic clasp, and "patent leather" handles long enough to sling easily over your shoulder, held on the side by a groovy oval and square chains and links. It also has a large exterior pocket trimmed in "patent leather" from which hangs a patent leather dangle in the shape of a wrapped candy, and, surprisingly, a patent leather "monkey wrench." Inside the nylon lined bag, there's also a small zip pocket with a patent leather accent This style comes in solids and patterns. "Cityscape" is a grey, white and red pattern with skyscrapers and "rooftop gardens" of red flowers. Adorable, and so functional. We also like the LeSportsac style #7543 "Greta Grenache Spectator," $68.00. This one is a roomy hobo, 7.5" x 13" x 4.25" featuring a short, shoulder/handheld strap that has a shiny metal seatbelt-type closure, giving this graceful bag a military feel. The bag has a large, exterior zippered pocket lined with signature LeSportsac gross-grained ribbon. The main compartment also has the logo ribbon decorating both sides of the zippered top. Inside, there is yet another small, zippered pocket. This bag is amazingly roomy. It looks sleek, but you'll be able to find everything without having to fuss. We like "Glimmer" featuring soft silver snowflakes with purple and blue accents, on a soft grey background, but there are at least 17 different prints and solids to choose from. It might become your perfect, favorite bag. *check our December What Works Holiday column for more fabulous items from LeSportsac.
Smashbox Cosmetics has a limited edition Holiday collection called "Beyond Beauty" with products to suit a wide variety of budgets--we'll review some of the most gift-able items next month (Platinum Surge Makeup Kit and Encounter Brush Kit), but this month we're recommending a very special (and gift-able palette) you'll want right now: Fusion Eye & Cheek Palettes $39.00 are square, silvery, double-decker, mirrored compacts with two ways to make your complexion, glow. You get a Fusion Eye Shadow palette, and a Fusion Soft Lights Powder, available in "Endless" (warm) or "Reflect" (cool) shades. My "Endless" palette featured four colorful stripes of eye shadow so pretty I hesitated to dip a brush in them! When I did, I realized these were soft, blendable, shimmery and so silky, I was enchanted! The deepest shade is a dark, chocolate brown--the perfect shadow liner or very deep eye color. Then there are three super-shimmery shades of copper, gold and champagne, to mix and match, or blend together for glamorous, but wearable eye looks. On the other side of the silvery compact is a quartet of colors to create a glowing complexion in shimmery bronze, ivory, rose and peach. You can use the different strips of color as a highlighter, blush or contour, or blend one, two three or all four together to get your own, unique kind of glow. These are not only pretty to look at and fun to use, they're of the highest quality--silky, long-lasting, and well worth the money. Get yours (and a few extra for friends) while they last!
November is one of those months when a little "pick-me-up" piece can do wonders for a wardrobe that's getting just a bit too routine. There's a trio of earrings from Avon's Fall accessories collection that can add a much-needed bit of sparkle, without a major investment of cash. For example, the Avon Two Tone Textured Disk Earrings feature two, brushed and hammered , lightweight, wavy disks (large silver and smaller gold). They hang from silvery French clip ear wires, accented with a tiny, rhinestone for just a bit of sparkle. These are so versatile, they'll be the ones you reach for all the time to dress up a tailored suit or tweeds, and add interest to tops and jeans. For more flash, Avon's Silvertone Medallion Earrings add a touch of exotic flair. Thin, silver ear wires hold very large, lacy, fluted medallions of beaded silvertone metal sport a fringe of a dozen, tiny, oval dangles. The look is very "Arabian nights" but they're amazing lightweight, so you can wear them all night, and night bother your earlobes. These can be dressy with a flowing top or dress, casual with jeans and a turtleneck. No matter how you wear them, they'll add sexy shine. Gold lovers with adore Avon's Filigree Dangle Earrings. Long, opulent, goldtone, "chandelier" earrings with slim ear wires, are made up of 16, small, pear-shaped filigree dangles that sway around your face, as you move. The look is delicate, but sexy. Wear these to take your outfit from day to evening. They'll be a perfect partner to your holiday outfits, too.
BEAUTIFUL COMPLEXION! For the holidays, we have found a perfect way to perk up pale skin, give it a glow, and find a perfect stocking stuffer with the Holiday Cheek Duo $24.00 by Stila. Gussied up for the holidays, this generously sized set of peachy-bronze and pink blush add sheer, super-shimmery color that can be subtle, or glamorous, depending upon how much you add. The silky-superfine powder goes on evenly, like it should. The round, silvery cardboard compact featured two pretty party girls in their party dresses, ready for a night out on the town. Dust on one of these complexion-enhancing powders and give your cheeks color and a soft glow with a second's worth of effort! When you are over a "certain age" you can't always use the same products you relied on in previous decades. For women with mature skin, Lumene Premium Beauty offers a range of products including Lumen Premium Beauty Rejuvenating Makeup $19.99 1 fl. oz. A combination of Scandinavian Sea Buckthorn and five power peptides combine to target different layers of skin, to nourish, rejuvenate, and protect mature skin in all the Lumene Premium Beauty Products. This remarkable foundation also has silicones and a light coverage, so you can smooth it onto your face to make it look flawless, without making it mask-like or suffering with dry spots and pools of foundation settling into wrinkles. Reviewers reported good results saying the lightly floral-scented foundation blended nicely, and that it was moisturizing and lightweight on their skin, but still stayed true to color without migrating into lines and wrinkles. Worthy of note as well is it's great UVA/UVB sun protection--SPF 20 and the five color combos in light and medium skintones. We liked the Lumene Premium Beauty skincare products we reviewed in our Summer 2006 What Works column, too. This affordable, effective line is a benefit for women with mature skin, everywhere. When we read that Time Freeze Instant Lift Serum with Arctic Heather $19.99 0.5 fl. oz. by Lumene, would reduce wrinkles and tighten skin, instantly, we just had to try it. The attractive, slim, frosted pink bottle with pink pump cap contains ingredients such as Finnish heather and white peat plant sterols that activate the skin's renewal process. and make it look smoother and more supple. The unscented serum absorbs quickly. Within a few minute we feel a slight tightening of our skin, and when we looked in the mirror, our skin looked smoother and felt softer. While no product will take the place of a face lift or transform seriously wrinkled and sagging skin, we would agree with the 92.5% of testers that said they sensed their skin was instantly firmer. If you keep your expectations realistic, it's a great product.
SHIMMER AND GLIMMER: Candy canes are such a festive, holiday treat, so Victoria's Secret is treating you to quartet of candy-striped bottles of Glimmer Swirl Body Cream $12.00 5 oz. for the holiday season from it's yummy, "Body Rush" collection. This moisturizing body cream is mixed in with colorful swirls of glitter and fragrance, in four of Victoria's Secret's most popular Beauty Rush scents: Appeltini, Slice of Heaven (caramel), Strawberry Fizz, and Juiced Berry. You'll get hydrated skin that's soft and scented, along with a subtle sheen to your skin that's sexy, but not really glittery, so you can easily wear it in the daylight. To add a bit of shimmer, dust on a bit of Body Shimmer Kissable Powder $12.00 .15 oz. The all-in-one brush/container makes application easy and neat, and it comes in the four Beauty Rush Scents featured in the Glimmer Swirl Body Cream plus Grapefruit Blast, and Passion Fruit Pop." The Advice Sisters have reviewed most, if not all, of the Shimmerbrick $38.00 compacts by Bobbi Brown. For this season, the latest, limited edition Shimmerbrick in "Pink Quartz," will be one of those "must-have" covet-ables for makeup lovers. The square, mirrored, signature Bobbi Brown black compact holds five strips of sheer, shimmery color in subdued tones of pink, slightly lighter than Bobbi Brown's earlier Pink Shimmerbrick. What makes these so loved, is their versatility. You can sweep a large, soft brush through all five shades of Shimmer Brick Compact to get a sheer glow on cheekbones after you've applied your brush, or use a Kabuki brush and sweep a small bit all over your face for a bit of shimmer. You can also use each strip of color individually as a highlight. TIP: use this on your eyes as well--a light color just under the brow bone or dabbed on lids adds shimmer without glitter. You can also dab a bit of Shimmerbrick on your lips, add a coat of clear or shimmery gloss, and make this a multi-tasking compact you can take anywhere. Be a beauty reviewer! Our Forums/Bulletin Boards are there for you to ask questions, get advice, share ideas, and post your own reviews and suggestions for products you really love. A red, re-useable, metallic tin with peep-front window and five fantastic glam products that work for day/evening -that's the CARGO Collection $45.00 by CARGO! The set is a $108.00 value that gives you everything you need to create festive day-to-evening looks, most in signature silver CARGO tin compacts. Open the red box with "CARGO" signature around the top and find: a limited edition Vienna Eye Shadow Duo in light pink with gold shimmer, and dark grey with silver shimmer. The velvety powder is sparkly, but just a little gives you a wash of color, adding more, a more opaque, glam look. The grey is a great holiday eye liner as well, for those who want sparkle, but want to keep it under control. Also included is a Black Eye Pencil that has a lovely, soft texture so it doesn't tug at your lids and lashes. You also get a Liquid Powder #01 which is an amazing product--a tube of liquid powder with light-reflecting pigments that help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This version adds a starry glitter as well. Mattify and add sparkle in one step! It's an amazing product. Keep your cheeks glowing with a Powder Blush in "Tonga," a sheer, neutral rose that flatters everyone (no shimmer or glitter in this one) and makes your complexion look healthy even when you've had a hard day (or night before). A South Beach Lip Quad completes the set. Nestled into a CARGO tin compact are four shimmery sheer glosses in champagne, rose bronze, sheer pink shimmer and rose nude shimmer. Glossy, silky, and luxurious, the look great on their own, or over your favorite lipstick. The tins are lightweight enough to tote in a medium-sized makeup bag, too. You can add liquid shimmer to your hair, or you can actually make your hair shine on it's own. Herbal Essences All That Shine $9.99 is a one-time treatment Clear Shine Booster that amps up the shine quotient of natural, colored, and even chemically-treated hair. You mix it up and apply it to damp hair without shampooing, wait 10 minutes, and rinse. The treatment can last up to six weeks. TIP: use 3-4 weeks after coloring your hair, or once a month for natural hair. To keep hair looking shiny for longer, use the Shine Amplifying Conditioner once a week after shampooing instead of your usual conditioner. Another easy way to add long-lasting shine to your hair if it is color treated is with Nice'nEasy ColorSeal Conditioning Gloss $4.49. All you need is just a quarter-sized dollop of this cream applied weekly, in place of your regular conditioner. Leave on for just two minutes and rinse--your hair will look healthier and have more shine, up to six weeks. The product works with any at-home or salon color-treated hair, even highlights. And, since it has a targeted amount of silicones that condition hair and last through rinsing and subsequent shampoos, it stays on, without weighing down your hair. This inexpensive product has six treatments in one slim tube...economical and effective!
LOVELY, LIPS! Lip product lovers dream of beautiful, glossy lip gloss kits. This year, make all their dreams come true (and yours, too) with the Holiday Harmony Palette $12.00 by Sephora. A substantial, rectangular, clear and black plastic mirrored compact holds six chunky squares of sexy, shimmery shades of lip gloss and a mini lip brush! The silky, shiny, super-glossy shades include copper, nude, clear, pink, raspberry and red, all infused with a healthy dose of holographic, holiday glimmer for super-pouty lips whenever you feel the urge to shine. I was really amazed at the price for a kit of this quality and size. I thought at first, that it was a typo, but it isn't. Rejoice, and run to get a bunch--these as they're sure to sell out fast. By November, heat and cold may cause your lips to chap more than usual. Glosses moisturize, but may not give your complexion enough color, and lipstick offer color, but perhaps, not enough moisture. Indecision about what to use is history, now that Dior has introduced Crème de Gloss $24.50. This wanded lip product has the silky color attributes of a lipstick, but the moisturizing properties and shine of a gloss. The deeply moisturizing formula slides beautifully, even over rough skin, and has a slight, white tea fragrance. It feels so sinfully soft and most, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. From now on, we know we simply can't! We tried three shimmery shades: "Fig Nectar," a sexy browned plum, "Golden Glam," a better than bare gold-kissed nude, and "Creamy Almond," a glorious rosy pink. *watch our December What Works review for more DIOR products to love and give, this season. Sometimes, when you're a beauty and fashion reviewer, you find a product that truly excites you. It doesn't have to be large or expensive, it just has to captivate your imagination or make you feel, prettier when you use it. That's the case with the Face atelier Lip Glaze $19.00 I tried in "Ice," a silky, clear, super-shiny gloss with so much silvery shimmer, it leaves a starry trail of silver on your lips even after the gloss has long worn away. The slant-tip tube is generously sized and the gloss gives your lips a patent-leather shine (with amazing shimmer) to be worn alone, or to make any lipstick (especially a darker color) look incredibly pouty and sexy. There's also "Arctic Gold" clear with shimmer, a peach, a pink, and a totally clear version. These are so festive and shimmery, it may be all you need to perk up your holiday look. Face atelier Lipstick $18.00 is also worth a look. "Currency" is a holiday copper as glowing as a new penny. We liked it with added gloss in clear or a gold shimmer. "Merlot," a creamy, matte, slightly warmed, deep burgundy, delighted us when we discovered that it was universally flattering. TIP: If you're worried deep lipsticks like "Merlot," though trendy, won't look right on you, apply, blot, and wear as a lip stain, or go all the way to sexpot by adding a bit of high-shine/shimmer gloss like "Ice." There are a whopping 27 shades of Face atelier Lipstick in seven color collections, in matte, satin, or frost. You're going to be doing a lot of extra kissing (air and contact) this time of year, so treat your lips to something fun. Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Lip Gloss $7.00 is so inexpensive, you'll wonder how Victoria's Secret does it, but you'll want every single shimmery, sheer, shiny, silky, sexy, instantly-make-me-glam, color and flavor. These Victoria's Secret glosses may just be the sexiest products on the planet. There are six new flavors: Butterscotch, The Big Cranapple, Berry Latte, 'Nilla Fudge, Gimme S'more, and Puddin' Pie. Each squeeze tube (with slanted tip for easy application) tube is swirled with sheer color and glittery flavor in an attractive, candy-cane pattern. My favorite is "Berry Latte," a curious blend of berry gloss with holographic gold shimmer, and a scent/taste that mixed coffee with berries, but every single one of these glosses is incredible! These make amazing stocking stuffers for women of all ages, and if you really want to splurge, get the Ultimate Lip Candy Set $70.00 featuring all 34 glam, gorgeous, glorious glosses! Another adorable set of Lip Glosses from Victoria's Secret is the Supermodel Mini Gloss Set $19.50. Four mini-sized "Very Sexy" lip glosses were chosen and autographed by four of the sexiest women on the planet: Victoria's Secret Supermodels! The limited edition set includes four semi-sheer glosses with silky, luxurious, patent-leather shine, nestled into a cute, clear, cell phone "purse" with a hot, pink, satin handle. It's so cute, it's perfect for gift-giving. I really like the nearly opaque, caramel-colored gloss called Yearning" signed by Selita Ebanks and the true baby pink called "Password" signed by Karilina Kurkova. There's also a really fun, clear, super-shiny gloss infused with lots of holographic glitter, called "Bling," signed by Alessandra Ambrosio, and a semi-sheer, hot pink lip gloss called "Make Out" signed by Isabel Goulart. You will feel sexy, if not like a supermodel, wearing any or all of the above! Are you someone who has a jar of lip pencils, but really doesn't know what to use, or how? The Duo Lip Pencil, $26.00 by Vincent Longo makes it easy to line and define your lips. A dual-ended pencil filled with creamy, coordinated color, lets you define and shape your mouth easily, blending with your favorite Vincent Longo lipsticks and glosses. The pencils slide on easily without pulling or tugging (use can use a lip brush to blend as well), but the color is still long lasting, resists smudging, and discourages lip color from bleeding. Even better, there are 10 different duos which means you can tote one product to use for at least two different lipstick colors! "Toffee/Toast," pairs a light and dark nude perfect for all your earthy-toned lipsticks. "Claret/Candy" pairs a bright light pink with a deep wine. "Purple/Brandy" enhances mauves and purple tones. There are sure to be several others that suit your particular lipstick preferences--or color blend two together for your perfect shade. TIP: to add fullness to your lips, draw a fine line that is just over the edge of your natural lip line. To reduce fullness, line just inside your lip edge, and to help lipstick and gloss last longer, fill in your lisp with the lip pencil to create an even application of color. Another Vincent Longo lip product we're loving is the SPF 12 Baby Lip Balm $23.00. This lip product is the epitome of chic--a lip-pampering balm with gloss and sheer color that comes in that wonderful black signature, Vincent Longo lipstick tube. It doesn't just enhance your lips with moist color, however, it is a true protective balm, with Vitamins C and E, and apricot nut oils to soothe and protect against aging. The moisturizing, silky texture helps all lips to look good, and the high shine polymers give even less than perfect lips a moist, sexy, glossy finish. A balanced mix of waxes and lightweight oils create a thin, protective barrier that discourages the balm from bleeding or feeling greasy. Most importantly, there are organic sun filters in this product to block ultra-violet rays while your lips are looking and feeling great. Some of the newest colors include "Honey Cafe," a light, browned/nude, "Positano," a universally flattering browned rose, and "Sorrento" a shimmery apricot. There are plenty of other shades to choose from to create a natural lip day or evening. TIP: this is a perfect product to put in your pocket to keep looking great when you're doing outdoor sports, too. Weddings, family gatherings, the mistletoe...it's a given that you'll be giving and getting lots of kisses in the next couple of months. A long-wearing Lipcolor lets you lock lips without re-applying lip color so often, but many of them are dry, or don't live up to their claims. Infallible Never Fail Lipcolor by L'Oreal $11.99 has a mirror-like compact created by designer John Lonezak, featuring a longwear lip color base coat (in a wanded tube) and a clear, vanilla-scented conditioning top coat (in a swivel-up tube) to seal and color, all in one convenient compact. This dynamic duo gives your lips full, dramatic, opaque color and lots of patent-leather shine. There are lip-loving bennies as well; Vitamin E the basecoat, and Marine Collagen in the top coat. Even better, there are 24 shades in every single color group you'd want: pink, rose, mauve, plum, wine, coral/red, nude and brown. I personally tried "Cerise," a deep red I'd normally avoid because of fading and smudging. But one quick coat with the wand colored my lips a bold cherry, absolutely perfectly. After waiting two minutes, I slicked on the yummy-smelling, super-shiny and soft top coat. I blotted, I rubbed, I kissed, I ate...some of the lip color did wear off, but not without putting it through a complete torture test. And, even so, my lips were still tinted enough that I didn't absolutely have to re-apply color. This is a great product to pop into your purse for day or evening. It's perfect for holiday brides, too. Her Glossiness $26.00 from Benefit is definitely a ritzy gift, fit for a queen (and all who think they are), and of course, for your own, privileged, self! Inside a slim, cardboard box decorated in pink, black, white and a golden crown, are three double-ended wanded gloss wands allowing you to sample six gorgeous, silky, long-lasting, sexy, glosses, two at a time! We like the fact that one side features a shimmery gloss, the other, a non-shimmer, in complimentary colors. Each of the sheer glosses has a "Hollywood" name, such as: "Who Are You Wearing?" (true pink) paired with "Life on the A List" (shimmery pink); "Who Does Your Work?" (wine) paired with "Next Question Please" (berry), and "Talk To My Agent" (shimmery mauve) with "Kiss You" (true lavender). These are truly glam glosses. Mix and match them, pop one or more into a makeup bag and still have room for other essentials. These are perfect for holiday gifts and for a little pampering treat for yourself.
BIG LITTLE BEAUTY HELPERS:
Makeup brushes need TLC if you want them to last a long time, perform well, and be safe to use. You will be protecting your brushes (and your skin) from germs, dead skin cells, and dirt when you cleanse your brushes in Jane Iredale's Brush Shampoo $16.00 4 fl. oz . This antibacterial, anti-static cleanser smells a bit like lemon meringue pie, but it works hard to keep your brushes clean and soft. A botanical formula keeps bristles from getting stiff, a plus that gets our nod, above many other similar products. We also like quick and easy Jane Iredale's Botanical Brush Cleaner $15.00 4 fl. oz. that cleanses and conditions in one step. Spritz a pump or two on the bristles, then blot on a rag or paper towel until the color stops running. The grapefruit extract smells good and keeps your brushes feeling new and soft. This is good for all cosmetic brushes including natural hair. Both products are easy, affordable, and excellent. *Watch our December What Works column next month, for a review of "must-have-for-the-holidays" Jane Iredale cosmetic brushes. It is great to have all the makeup products and tools you need in one compact. I love it even more when the compact is slim and portable. Sending me over the top with joy is a new set of face-in-a-case kits called On Location $4.99 by N.Y.C. New York Color. The slim, clear-topped compact holds four layer-able eye shadow, a blush, and two lip glosses, plus a mirror and a small dual-ended applicator brush and a mini blush brush. Even better, this kit comes in four color combos. "Basic Brown:" "Manhattan Mauve," and the two we tried: "Denim Daze" (photo) features a super-pale pink blush, medium rose and glittery pink lip glosses, and pale yellow, blue and grey shadows, pus a deeper (and more intense) shadow for lining and contouring. "Pastel Craze" has a pale peach blush, pale peach and clear/holographic glitter lip glosses, and four palest-pastel eye shadows in pink, blue/grey, lime green, and lilac. These are about the size of your Ipod and a lot slimmer. You can take the entire kit along, and for less than $5.00, but the quality is still impressive for the cost. These would be great stocking stuffers and a wonderful gift for a young woman just trying out makeup for the first time.
The term "cupids bow" refers to an archery bow that curves inward at the center and usually outward at the ends (like the one the champion of love, mythic Cupid, carries). It is also the description used for a woman's lips when the double curve of her upper lip looks like Cupid's bow. BeneFit has make it easy for every woman to get the perfect, provocative lip shape with their Cupid Bow Lip Shaping Set $28.00. Trust BeneFit to create the cutest box, a fanciful Venus-de-Milo-styled blonde standing on a white swan. Inside, there are to products to make the magic, happen. The bow-maker is a double-ended pencil, the bow maker. One side has a pearly nude highlighter to accent the natural curve of your own cupid's bow. The other end (a pout shaper) is a deep mauve-ish mocha in a natural looking color to give your lower lip appeal fuller. The other lip-shaping tool in this set is a dual-ended brush & sponge for defining and blending. After you've done the shaping, add your favorite color and enjoy lips that look better than ever! It's worth the extra effort. Each BeneFit Cupid's Bow Kit includes a step-by-step brochure, so you can re-create the look you want, easily and quickly. It's sexy, fun, and makes a cute gift idea. Chapped, dry lips are uncomfortable and unattractive, whether you are a man or a woman, girl or boy. Burt's Bees, known for natural lip balms, has created a new, Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil $2.99 that helps make lips live-able and love-able again. Pomegranates are known for their powerful antioxidant properties, of course. The balm is ever-so-slightly scented, and it's a cheerful deep pink (but it is totally clear and slightly glossy on your lips). We liked the silky feel and the way the balm coated easily and felt smooth and pampering. For those who really want to know what is in the products they use (or not in them), this balm is free of potentially harmful parabens, phthalates and Sodium Laurl/Laureth Sulfate. The cheerful yellow swivel up balm tube with red cap makes it easy to find in your purse or pocket, too. These make inexpensive stocking stuffers and are a lovely little "treat."
BIG LITTLE LIFESTYLE HELPERS:
Shopping, parties, late nights at the office...it's enough to make the holidays a drag. When you haven't gotten enough sleep and need a quick boost of energy, you can down sugar packets and black coffee like a former, very jittery boss of mine used to do, or you can simply chew a gum chicklet or eat some candy beans to get a quick boost of energy where-ever and whenever you need it. Life Fitness Rapid Energy Chewing Gum $2.49 12/pcs is a chicklet-style gum in Spearmint of Cinnamon that tastes great, but it's real mission is to release a burst of 300% RDI (Reference Daily Intake) of Vitamin B-12 to increase your energy level fast, without caffeine or sugar. Vitamin B 12 is necessary for the synthesis of red blood cells, the maintenance of the nervous system, and growth and development in children. It is naturally in meat and meat products. However, if you're not up to eating a steak (or you're a vegan) and you need immediate energy, chewing this gum gives you immediate access to Vitamin B-12, allowing it to absorb even more quickly than pills. The sugar-free gum has only 5 calories, no sodium or artificial coloring, and only 2 g. of carbs, so it won't mess up your diet plan. For those who prefer their energy boost from caffeine and want an immediate boost, Life Fitness Instant Energy Beans $9.99/60 taste like Vanilla ("French Vanilla Latte") or delicious mocha ("Double Mocha) and give you 40 mg of caffeine plus 100 mcg of Vitamin B12. Two "beans" give you the equivalent caffeine as a cup of coffee at just 10 calories, and without artificial coloring, sweeteners or preservatives. TIP: these taste very good, but they're not candy, they're an occasion-use stimulant. Please read the package directions and use them accordingly.
About The Works Beauty Reviews:
Products reviews are conducted by Alison Blackman Dunham (aka. Advice
Sister Alison). In some instances, the review reflects additional
opinions of qualified, anonymous reviewers and the term "we" instead
of "I" is used in the commentary. We are not compensated for reviewing
products (that's how we can keep the reviews impartial) and none of
our reviewers are affiliated with the companies mentioned. If you have
comments about the column, or if you would like to be considered as a
reviewer and can pick up products from the New York area, Email us at:
advicesisters@advicesisters.net *special thanks this
column to Erica, Carl, Kelly and Jon
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BATH AND BODY PRODUCTS: The holidays are here, and it's time to start thinking about gifts that are affordable, and loved by all. An easy way to solve your gift-giving dilemmas and make your own home just a bit more "merry," are the Indigo Wild Ornament Bow Bars $6.00. Made of saponified 100% food grade olive, coconut, palm & castor oils, in a goat's milk base, with pure essential oils and mineral pigments, these holiday ornament soap bars look festive on a tree hung from a few, festive branches, or tucked into a gift to give it a great scent and a little "something extra." Of course, these do double-duty to gently, thoroughly, and pleasantly offer "seasons cleanings," all season long! Two round "soap ornaments" tied with shimmery, red ribbons are "Zum Yule," an almond & Clove," scented soap bar with a subtle spice; and "Bah Hum Zum," a round, ivory-colored soap dotted with red and green, and featuring a bracing, Peppermint-y scent. Also to hang, are rectangular soap bars. My favorite is "Spicy Cinnamon," a soft brown soap swirled with touches of caramel-colored vanilla, ready to hand from a shimmery, off-white ribbon. You'll get a whiff of spicy, invigorating cinnamon scent every time you're near it. "Frankincense & Myrrh" mixes a taupe and honey-swirled soap bar with a shimmery, golden ribbon, and a traditional, musky-y incense-y scent for the holidays. There is also a "Zum Tov" bar with Almond and Orange. These all natural products will make you (and your lucky recipients) smile, and since they're all natural and never tested on animals, you can feel even better about choosing them for everyone on your gift list. I have always enjoyed Davies Gate products, for their high
quality and lovely scents. There are several different collections
featuring floral, fruit seeds & grains, and even a collection for
babies. From the Perennials collection I have fallen for White Clover
Moisturizing Body Glow $20.00 8 fl. oz. The thick, cream contains
natural minerals to help even out your skin tone and add subtle color and
a soft shimmering glow. Consider this product as a multi-tasking "skin
enhancer" (use it often for subtle color) and a very nice moisturizer.
With great hydration and certified organic botanicals, this cram is
almost a body butter, easily banishing dry skin. It absorbs quickly, and
does leave a hint of glamorous sheen on your skin. However, the most
outstanding part of the product is the fragrance--and I've never smelled
anything quite like it. A blend of freshly cut grasses, freesia and
ylang ylang that create a spicy, fresh and somewhat sexy scent that is
literally, intoxicating. Also lovely, and a nice Stocking Stuffer
gift, is the
Boots Weekend Pamper Pack $12.99 is just the thing to have when you're relaxing at home on a cold or rainy weekend, or to take on vacation. Five products from the Boots Botanics line do good things for your body and spirit. Packaged in a re-useable, clear plastic box with green-cello wrapper, just add a bow if you need a quick hostess or holiday gift. Inside, there's a Relaxing Bath Elixirs (2.5 fl. oz) with soothing moss extract from Iceland, a 1.3 fl. oz aromatherapy Revitalizing Shower Gelee with invigorating and revitalizing ginger; a super-silky, moisturizing Quenching Body Lotion with honey and ginseng that moisturizes up to 12 hours; a Firming Body Gel (21.3 fl. oz); and a Vitamin Recovery Mask (.27 fl. oz) with gingko extract to recharge dull and tired looking skin. If you want to focus on your face, try the Botanics Facial Pamper Pack $12.99 with a 1.69 fl. oz tube of green cleansing gel with purifying chestnut oil; a 2.5 fl. oz Skin Brightening Toner with fruit acids to tone and mattify, A 1.69 fl. oz tube of super-duper Day Moisture Lotion with rice extract and honey to hydrate up to 12 hours (it really works!); a very nice, Quenching Face with rice and honey that adds the bloom back into your complexion; and a .33 fl. oz packet of Night Moisture Cream with grape extract and ginseng to restore your complexion while you sleep. All of these products are amazingly effective and incredibly affordable. Both make good gifts, and they're a great way to sample the Boots Botanics line. CVS/Essence of Beauty products come in a variety of scents to suit different personalities, and their bath and body line includes vitamins, aloe vera, and essential oils. For pampering that won't blow your holiday budget, try the Shower Gel $4.99 8.5 fl. oz with almond oil, honey and aloe vera, nicely packaged in a flip top tube with a shower hook built right in. We tried "Walnut Whip," a slightly nutty, slightly vanilla-y, slightly sweet scent that lathered nicely and left our skin feeling clean and soft. Use it in the shower, or when you really want to relax, it doubles as a bubble bath! Essence of Beauty Hand Soap $4.99 12 fl. oz is a generously-sized "teardrop" shaped clear plastic bottle with large pump top that enhances any decor. Aloe Vera, essential oil, and other natural ingredients leave hands feeling soft, clean and pampered. We liked the "coconut Lime" scent--a pretty lime green soap that smells like a fresh pina-colada. Use it now, and you'll feel like you're on vacation, every day! It also comes in a variety of other scents, including Passion Flower and Walnut Whip. This is a nice "little something" for a grab bag, for your guest bathroom, and for yourself. NEW AND NIFTY NAILS PRODUCTS: Festive, well-groomed nails with a shimmering polish are the perfect antidote to the Fall blah's. Sally Hansen Lacquer Shine Nail Polish $6.00 is not only great for your nails, it has an amazing color and shine. The deep, rich, intense colors have a super-smooth, shiny finish. Even better, the polish is safe for your nails, without toluene, DBP (dibutyl phthalate) or formaldehyde. Six shimmery, shades range from a nearly black plum called "Glossy," to a very pretty red called "Luminous" and a warmer red called "radiant," that reminds me a bit of the sheen of high quality, oriental lacquer. Other colors in this lovely collection include a semi-opaque hot pink called "Vibrant" that will dress up holiday fingers and toes, nicely, and two berries: "Brilliant," a shimmery raspberry, and "Shining," a deep merlot. The colors are trendy, but very wearable and so affordable it's not a stretch to purchase all six. Holiday nails must be well groomed, and if you know someone who is a nail polish "junkie," a holiday gift set of polish is always a coveted gift. Creative Nail Design has trendy, runway-ready colors, packaged up in three Holiday Gift Sets $12.00 that are all less than the cost of a take-out lunch. The black and white, triangular packets have a clear window to show off the goodies, inside. The back has striking photos of runway fingers and toes, and fashion. "Glamour Girl" (photo) pairs two full-sized, very trendy, deep, jewel-toned nail polishes "Deep Velvet," a blackened, metallic purple, and "Rich Ruby," a metallic burgundy that is perfect for strappy sandals and cocktails rings, with a packet of sparkling, clear rhinestones, to add holiday "bling." "Festive" combines three holiday-themed colors: "Black Platinum," a striking, charcoal silver metallic that looks glimmery, not ghoulish on your nails, and "Hollywood," a bright, glam red has the surprise of golden shimmer to add glitz to your holiday look. "Mother of Pearl," is a clear polish that's anything but "pearly" and proper, as it's infused with tons of parti-colored glitter. Use it alone for just a bit of sparkle, or over these and other favorite colors. It's a party in a bottle! My favorite kit, however, features two new colors: "Pucker Up," a super-sheer pink that tints your nails just a wee bit rosier (but a lot shinier) than your natural color (perfect when you don't have time for a real manicure, but you want something on your nails with a light tint) and "Smooch," a super shimmery, sheer white that looks like light shining on the top of newly fallen snow. Included in this set is a bottle of Creative Nail Design Air Dry, a wonderful, fast-dry top coat that protects nails and give them a beautiful, shiny, finish. The Air Dry is $9.50 and each polish, $6.00, so you're getting a really great deal! Pro-Manicure by L'Oreal Paris brings the quality and performance of professional manicures, home, with a collection of products that make it easy to get great results. The line includes manicure essentials such as a Base Coat, Top Coat, and Quick Dry Liquid $4.99/each that helps prevent smudging by drying the top of your nail enamel surface in just 35 seconds (we tried it, and that is all it took, honest! The Nail Polish $4.99 is impressive, too, with more than 42 shades in five different categories: manicure basics & sheers; pinks & fuchsias; mauves & wines, corals & red, and neutrals & spices. The colors are shiny, long-lasting, chip-resistant (up to 7 days thanks to a shockproof plastics). They also help to strengthen your nails thanks to a pro-keratin complex (derived from the same natural proteins found in your own nails). They do not have formaldehyde, DBP, or toluene, which could be potentially harmful. The coverage is easy and smooth, thanks to a non-streak professional brush with patented flat bristles. All this for under $5.00! ESPECIALLY FOR EYES: Choose the exact colors you want from more than 33 shades in different formulas with the Face atelier 4-Well Palette $8.00 or a 12-well palette $16.00 that you can fill with individual Pans of Pressed Eye Shadow $15.00/each. To the average person, the palettes look like any other, with magnetized bottoms and a clear plastic top, but these palettes have integrated UV protection to shield the pigments from harmful rays and extend the life of the shadows, and the magnets are large and strong, so the colors don't fall out until you take them out. Another nice touch are the small "Wells" on the side of each pot, so you can grasp the shadow and pull it out without struggling. The shadows themselves as a joy to use. They're silky-smooth and apply so easily you can use a fingertip (but use an applicator or brush for best results). With so many shadows to choose from, we can't suggest a favorite (they're all nice). We filled our 4-well palette with "Cafe au Lait," a warm, medium nude from the "Fundamentals" collection, which makes a great basic, natural lid color, or a base for deeper complexions. Trendy, but not over-the-top dark "Plum Glaze" (from the "Plum Perfect" collection) gives your lids a wash of plum that is easily and versatile -- turn it instantly into a deep, smoky eye look by adding more color. Ditto "Slate," a clear, medium gray from the "Graphite" collection. Our final color choice is a holiday classic. "Copper" is a super-shimmery copper that can be applied with a light wash of color for day, but you can take it all the way to gleaming metallic, just by adding more color. What fun! There is also a collection of pinks, purples, and blue and greens. A beautiful, limited edition palette we've recently received from Clarins is their Precious Colours Colour Quartet for Eyes $38.00. Also limited edition, an oval, red, mirrored compact has four sheer, build-able, super-shimmery eye shadows nestled inside, along with a dual ended applicator. "Forest," has a dark and light shimmery green plus rust and peach shimmer shadows. What's great about these is their versatility: add a light wash of color and shimmer for daytime, layer more color for truly "metallic" shimmer, at night, or blend two together for your own, signature color. The shadows are silky and feel luxurious on your eyelids, and they stay true to color without creasing, way into the night. These are from the Fall collection, but they're perfect for the holidays. Get several now, because this is a makeup compact you'll find hard to give away--even to a special friend! Expressive eyes, emphasized with lush, dark lashes and lots of liner, are this season's "it" look. To get the blackest lashes ever, we tried MICROQUATIC™ Black Widow Mascara (Black) $22.00 by Sue Devitt Studio. Sue Devitt's Microaquatic™ products are amazing, combining high-tech with powerful anti-aging ingredients, soothing marine ingredients, and hydrating flower derivatives. This new mascara has all that, plus a unique, nearly triangular-shaped brush and a case festooned with delicate, black spider webs on a silver background. Most importantly, this is an excellent mascara that delivers! Advanced Microsphere Technology ensures each lash is well coated, thickened, and colored with ultra-rich pigments that turn even pale lashes into a seriously deep black, head-turning fringe. The next ingredients may not seem familiar, but hydrolyzed keratin protein, film formers, volatiles and clay derivatives will also make thin, scrawny or dull lashes look longer, fuller and more shiny. Aside from beautifying, this mascara is also good for your lashes, conditioning them with vitamins, pro-vitamins and soothing orchid extract (for hydration) and beeswax and microcrystalline wax to help keep your lashes moist and flexible all day long. To add more allure ala. Amy Winehouse, add a black liner such as Microaquatic™ Lash Line Enhancer in Wicked (Black) $20.00. I'm not a huge fan of liquid liner, but this petite, slim liner has a fine-tip marker brush top, that makes it so as easy to draw a thin or thick line, I'm a convert! The really black pigments are water resistant, and won't fade or smudge. It's incredibly sexy! The formula also thickens and volumizes lashes at the root (when applied along the lash line) so you can add emphasis to that bottom row of lashes without making a mess. The liner is also infused with Orchid Extract, hydrating marine properties and soothing aloe to nurture the delicate eye area. These two products are definite "must-haves" for Fall. To add color to your lids, we are loving the new Eye Intensifier Pencils $22.00. These chubby, dual-tipped eye pencils have a sponge-tipped smudger on one side, a soft, water resistant, slightly shimmery eye pencil on the other. The pencil has a special ingredient: Nylon-12. that gives you a no-tug, easy to apply, crease resistant finish. There are a lot of gorgeous colors. Apply one along the base of your eyelids and bottom lash line, to create an easy-as-pie eye look, or smudge the colors for an intense smoky eye. The newest bunch of colors are mostly intense, such as shiny, black "Pointe Noir" and blackened plum "Chiang Mai" and a slightly lighter plum called "Eva," to "Epernay," a lovely, light, shimmery champagne. Holiday eyes require shimmer, shine and color. Sephora delivers it in a holiday set you have got to have, called the MAC Palette $26.00. Eight coordinated shades of shimmery eye shadow are available in coppery (warm) tones or purple tones. Ours had six, super-shimmery pressed powder shadows in green, copper and bronze that simply scream ("party!") plus a beautiful, pearly ivory highlighter and a matte greenish-grey liner/shadow A slim, dual-ended sponge wand is also included inside this slim, matte "metal" plastic compact, nicely decorated with a swirled floral pattern. The colors are lovely and it's a great little splurge for the holidays. Get yours before they're all gone! Mineral powders are all the rage right now, and for good reason. They offer sheer, natural looking color that won't irritate skin. If you have sensitive eyes or wear contact lenses, this is particularly important. L'Oreal Paris has a line of loose mineral powder eye shadows called Bare Naturale Gentle Mineral Eye Shadow $9.95 we think you'll really like. For starters, they come in a custom-designer mini-shaker jar with a handy, brush top. The lightweight loose powders come in eight subtle and blendable shades: rose, shell, olive, gold, lavender, nude, chestnut and spice. We particularly liked "Bare Olive," that colors lids a subtle, olive green , and "Bare Gold," that gives your lids a warm, but not gaudy, glow. When you dip the brush top into the loose powder and apply it to your eyelids you'll see a wash of color, and you can build upon it with more layers so you get more color options. Even though the color is soft and lightweight in feel, it lasts. And, there are good-for-your-skin bennies including aloe, Vitamin E and Panthenol to condition your skin. If you have been thinking about trying a mineral powder, these are a great introduction. "Touches of Golden Elixir" is the fanciful name of Clinique's Holiday 2007 makeup collection. Festive eyes require intense, glamorous, shimmery shadows for that "special occasion" look. The "Allspice" Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad $25.00 fulfills the glamorous shimmer requirement easily, with beautiful, shimmery pressed shadows with varying levels of "pearle," so you can have the right look for day or evening. Inside this particular quartet you'll find a light peachy ivory, a light copper, a bright bronze-y gold, and a slightly less shimmery bronzed brown for lining eyes or for that always popular "smoky" eye in a subdued and earthy tone. Also for the holiday season, a collection to make you feel "Happy." is the Clinique "Happy & Bright" holiday 2007 collection, with colors that capture the spirit of the season and the fun and festive feeling of their very popular fragrance, Happy. The pinks and peaches in this collection come from the orange packaging and citrus notes in the Happy scent. We received the "Pink Truffle" Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad $25.00 from this collection, with sheer, warm, shimmery light and medium pink shadows, and two medium and subdued bronzes. The luminous shades can be layered and blended for a unique look, but they are universally flattering just as they are. The rectangular, clear, mirrored compacts with shiny silver tops looks holiday-worthy, and a nice touch are the mini sponge and mini shadow brushes that fit neatly inside the compacts.
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What's round, silver, and puts three sexy shadows at your fingertips in one festive box? Stila's Eye Shadow Trio $28.00 gussied up for the holidays! The round, silver box has a bust of a pretty red-haired women on the cover, and inside, a peach-pink, medium nude/champagne, and a deep brown liner all shot through with plenty of shimmer, and coordinated so you don't have to "guess" what to do and where to put it. The feel of the packaging is glamorous and retro, the products inside, high-quality, long-lasting, super-silky and blendable, and thoroughly modern. In our "Eyes" section of this column, we mentioned that Clinique created a collection of holiday cosmetics tied to it's super-popular fragrance, Happy. A gift of Clinique HAPPY Perfume Spray $39.50 3.4 fl. oz. would surely make a special woman, smile, and it's a very uplifting fragrance that will lift your spirits, whenever, where ever, too. How can you feel bad with a scent that starts with sparkling (and long-lasting) top notes of ruby red grapefruit and bergamot, plus West Indian Mandarin Tree Blossom and High Altitude Mountain Laurel? The heart has a true exotic note: boysenberry bush flower, plus morning dew orchid and Melati blossom. The bottom notes/drydown include Chinese Golden Magnolia and Spring Mimosa Blossoms. If you're not familiar with some of these unique ingredients in this well-balanced perfume, all you really need to know is that Happy, originally launched in 1997, is a bright, uplifting mix of fruit and soft florals--a bit like what a bright, sunny day would smell like if it was a scent. The smooth, oval glass bottle with shiny silver cap adds a cheerful touch as well. The feminine, modern, complex fragrance lasts and changes just a bit to make it work with your unique body chemistry. It's great for day or evening, work or play, and for women of all ages. It's already a modern classic. TIP: for a limited time, go to www.clinique.com and follow the Clinique Happy Personalized Photo Bottle links to upload your digital photos, which can be rotated and cropped to the dimensions of the HAPPY bottle. You can preview the photo and order the bottle $52.00 which will be delivered right to your door. Amazingly fun, and makes a perfectly personal gift.
HAPPY HEALTHY HAIR HELPERS: L'Oreal Paris is known for it's modestly-priced, quality makeup products, but they are also beloved by men and women who love great hair products. L'Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss is new, for different types of hair (normal, fine, curly, or damaged), and provides a glossy, seriously great shine that you have to experience, to believe. The cheerful pink bottles with pink, flip-top caps dispense a pearly, lightly fruit-scented, rich Shampoo $4.99 13 fl. oz. or Conditioner $4.99 13 fl. oz., and there's a tube of Nutri-Gloss Conditioning Treatment $4.99 6.8 fl. oz, too. What we found was that the shampoo and conditioner cleanses nicely without making hear dull or greasy, it detangles, and nourishes hair, but most significantly, it provides just what it promises: a mirror-like shine and softness you can experience with your first application. The conditioning treatment helps revitalize damaged and dry hair with a "pearl protein complex" that deep conditions and moisturizes in just three minutes. Pretty amazing, impressive results, and each of these products cost less than lunch!
Rusk Sensories Calm Guarana and Ginger Nourishing Shampoo $9.99 13 fl. oz helps to nourish stressed, damaged hair, leaving it shiny (thanks to guarana extract) and healthy/balanced (thanks to ginger extract). The subtle fruity/fresh scent gives you aromatherapy bennies, too To keep hair looking soft and healthy, Add a protective coat of Rusk Thermal STR8 Protective Shine Spray $13/25 4.4 oz. After shampoo and conditioner, spritz this shine enhancer and hair protector on wet hair (a little goes a long way--don't overdo it) and let the heat of your dryer enhance the conditioning bennies. Spritz a bit more on dry hair or after drying hair and before using heat stylers...your hair will thank you for the extra protection and the UVA/UVB sunscreens. The reward? Shiny, silky, healthy hair. Rusk also has wonderful bath and body products in the Sensories line especially great for sensitive skin. The Calm Body Wash $10.95 12 oz. lathered nicely with a small amount of product. We also liked the Calm Body Lotion $10.95 12 oz. that left our skin silky and beautifully scented. Many fine hotels and spas offer these products to their guests. TIP: Rusk Sensories products have "CFT" (compressed formula technology) - formulas that expand with the addition of water, releasing unique botanical/ozonic aromas. A compressed formula technology lets you get double the bennies, using 30-50% less product. You'll be treating yourself to a spa getaway at a stay-at-home price. GREAT FOR GUYS:
Although men aren't prone to wearing stilettos, their feet hurt, too. Life Fitness Tri-Link Comfort Orthotic $10.99 in a non-prescription way to relieve lower back, ball of foot, arch and heel pain. Luckily for the guys, Life Fitness makes these for the guys in sizes 8-13. The guys really loved the way the sponge-y, blue, black and red orthotics with 3/4 length design slipped into shoes or sneakers making them super-cushy and comfortable, even when standing for long periods of time. An anti-microbial cloth even wicks away moisture and controls foot odor. For guys who want to relieve stress and strain on their heels, the Life Fitness Revitalizing Gel Heel Cushion $7.99 is a true blessing. The cushioning blue gel heel pads feature invigorating reflexology zones. Life Fitness makes similar products for women, too.
PRODUCTS THAT GIVE BACK:
HOME HELPERS:
Get plugged in to a new way to scent your home, with ScentPort (starter kit) $12.50. Created by home scent innovator Harry Slatkin of Slatkin & Company and sold at Bath and Bodyworks stores, this unobtrusive, white and silver, plug-and-sniff diffuser plugs into any all socket, scenting your space with more than 22 bottled fragrances sold as Refills $12.50 .8 fl. oz. Consider the Scentport as you would an Ipod, to be plugged in whenever you want, or leave it "playing" all day and night with continuous fragrance 24/7 (or until you pull the plug), lasting for up to two months! We tried a refill called "Fig," a delightful blend of rich Mediterranean fig with a blend of sweet jasmine, spicy anise and sensual sandalwood that scented our boudoir, beautifully. The refills allow you to pop in whatever scent you want. This is no ordinary plug-in. The scents are ultra sophisticated and the diffuser gives you the perfect amount of scent--never overwhelming or too weak. The Scentport is a lovely way to make your home more "hospitable, and makes a great holiday gift idea, too.
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What They're
Saying About
Jeans these days are a fashion staple,
but for many, shopping for jeans that fit well is almost as bad as bathing suit
shopping! UJeans has a solution that is not only reasonable, but
lets you design the jean of your dreams, with the promise that they'll
fit as if they were made for you--because they really are! According to Daniel Feuer, the
President of UJeans, "I wanted to take away the stress people
feel in finding great jeans. All of our clients can be assured that the
only size information they will see on the tag is 'perfect." If you are
the lucky recipient of a gift certificate, it will come in a metal
tin with a tailor's measuring tape and a CD that takes you step by step
through 11 measurements you'll check to get your jeans to fit you,
perfectly (or use your own tape measure, or
ask UJeans to send you one). The guide has easy to follow
photos both for fit and design. You might want to have a
friend help you with your measurements because some require another set
of hands. After measuring, it's time to design your jeans. The
choices are varied, offering slim, classic, relaxed fit, a low, average
or high waist, legs (slim, classic, wide), ankle (tapered, straight,
boot cut, flared, and choice of additions such as belt loops, fly, coin pocket, back
pockets, pocket flap, and hems or cuffs. There are a number of fabric colors and patterns, in
100% cotton or a cotton with a bit of stretch. UJeans also
employs eco-friendly manufacturing, dyes and recycling processes. The
downside? The wait is 5-7 weeks *we are still waiting for ours at press
time, but you could be searching the stores that long, anyway. If
the jeans don't fit or they are not what you
envisioned, you can send them back for a full refund (less shipping
costs). The $145.00
price tag isn't a turnoff even for off-the-rack jeans, and since these
are made for you, the joy of great fitting Ujeans is priceless!
Esther Nash is a fashion and jewelry designer, stylist,
commentator and actress/model. I wonder how she has time to do it all,
but she excels at everything she does. The designer herself graciously
agreed to model these very special jade necklaces for AdviceSisters
readers! These are genuine jade with sterling accents. The Jade Bead
Necklace $300.00 features large, round beads. The Carved Jade
Pendant Necklace $250.00 features a richly carved jade pendant held
on both sides by a mix of turquoise and jade beads. These are investment
pieces that will work with everything in your wardrobe, from pants, to
adding flare to your everyday suit for power meeting and holiday
parties, to boosting your favorite "little black dress" to star status,
when the event is more formal. You can purchase one or both necklaces
directly from the designer. Visit her web site:
A good handbag should be able
to tote all your necessaries without weighing you down. A great handbag
does this while giving you a fashion accessory you'll feel proud to
wear. Budget Fashionistas will love the Mark Classic Buckle Bag
$30.00 by mark. This large 17" L x 11" H x 5.25" W (8" handle drop),
distressed faux-leather shoulder bag comes in brown and burgundy. It
looks similar to some expensive, designer originals, at a price anyone
can afford. The bag features a small, zippered front pocket decorated
with a burnished gold buckle and hardware. A fully-zippered top opens to
reveal a full satin lining, an interior zippered pocket, and two open
pouches for PDA and cell phone. Although it's large, the bag opens wide
so you can find your valuables, without fishing around. A less classic,
but equally eye-catching bag is the Perfectly Plaid Tote $28.00. It reminds us of the oversized carpetbag popularized by
everyone's favorite nanny, Mary Poppins. A large 29" x 16" soft,
"wooly" fabric tote (in purple, green, orange and taupe plaid or black
and white checks) is gathered like a big pouch, featuring sturdy, faux
leather handles held with eye-catching, plastic tortoiseshell
rings. Inside, the bag is lined with a soft green floral print fabric,
and held securely closed with silver snaps at either end. This bag is so
big, it could do multiple duties as an overnight bag or a gym tote. This
would make a great holiday gift for women of all ages. And it's so
affordable!
Even if you haven't gotten a
big diamond yet, you can afford to buy four huge,
glittering "diamonds" that will make you look pretty. They're filled
with shimmery lip gloss and sparkle powders for yourself or for a
stunning and amazingly inexpensive holiday gift, right now: Boots
No7 Lip and Body Shimmer Holiday Set $9.99 packaged four
diamond-shaped, clear plastic compacts in a cello-presentation box
ringed with violet scrollwork, petty enough to present as-is (just add a
bow). These eye catching beauties include two "diamonds" filled
with sparkling Body Shimmer in frosty white, and beautiful bronze. A
nice feature is the custom "stopple" you can re-insert into the shaker
jar holes after use, to keep the powder clean and easy to use. The other
two diamonds have amazingly silky, semi-shimmery, sheer lip glosses in
Bronze and Champagne, to add a touch of color, and a moist shimmer to
your lips. Neither gloss is super-shiny or shimmery, so you can wear it
in the daytime without blinding someone! This is a beautiful gift set we
think will be a "must-have" for the season and for stocking stuffers,
grab bags, hostess gifts, and as a happy little splurge for yourself.
We knew that Playtex made bras (who could forget
beautiful--and endowed--Jane Russell in the Cross-Your-Heart bra
commercials of decades past)? Cross Your Heart still
exists, but it's just one of 9 Playtex makes: 18
Hour, Playtex Secrets, Cross Your Heart, Everyday Basics, Half Sizes
Too, Feel Beautiful, Expectant Moments, and Shapewear. Let's face it:
when your bra doesn't fit, you simply can't t feel confident and
beautiful, let alone comfortable. Playtex sent me two different styles
to try. The Thank Goodness it Fits Strapless Underwire Bra Style
#4205 $29.00 is a new style that is a convertible strapless
multi-tasking also as a regular style bra, criss-cross, or halter. It's
a must-have for holiday clothes. This one comes in nude, black and
white, and with regular and half cup sizes (yes, just like shoes-this
makes such sense). What a bonus for those who just don't fit into
a cookie cutter A, B, C, D category! The foam cups and strips of
rubberized plastic on the side of the bra offer enough support to keep
"the girls" in place, but they're still soft and comfy. I also tried a
more traditional bra, the Playtex Secrets #4419 Seamless
Shaping Underwire $29.00 that comes in body blush (pink), body
beige black and white. It might be the perfect T-shirt bra, and as a
reporter, I have to say that it is one of the most comfortable bras I
have ever tried. The bra has silky jacquard fabric with a smooth, floral
design, and cups lined with micro-thin foam without any seams to add
support without anything showing through sheer tops. Stay-put
straps angle inward to keep them from sliding down. The bra has control
of your curves, but doesn't squeeze them to death. I put it on, and
completely forgot about it for hours...it's the truth! It was a true
joy. Also worth a look is 
Good things come in small packages,
especially if you have the BeneFit "JustineCase" Mini
Beautifier Kit $30.00 for touchups mini beautifier kit…“just in case”
you need to touchup and there is no mirror or bathroom around. As
always, BeneFit doesn't just give you high-performance, high
quality products, they do it with style and wit. The Justine case
is a small, wine-colored cardboard box (with magnetic closure) decorated
with a graphic of a woman's torso holding a large red handbag. Inside,
there's an interior mirror with some of BeneFit's best for beauty
emergencies. Start with "Some Kind-a Gorgeous," a sheer, oil-free,
cream-to-powder complexion perfector in a one-color-fits-all tint. Next,
add a hit of "Benetint," BeneFit's classic liquid rouge stain for
lips & cheeks. "California Kissin’" is an aqua-tinted gloss that goes on
clear for shine and & minty breath. And, there's also "Eyecon," an
under-eye moisturizer that helps fade dark circles and keep your face
looking bright and lively, even if you're fading fast! This would make a
fantastic holiday gift idea, but we think you'll want to get yours,
now!
no!no! Professional Hair Removal
Treatment System $250.00 by
Love those stilettos, but can't
stand in them? Sometimes the simplest things are the best
solution. Back in
If you're trying to squeeze
into that little black dress for those holiday parties, or you
want better control over hunger in general, we have just
discovered a little something that can help: Special K20
Protein Water Mix by
Kellogg's . In each box of 7 or 14, are slim, single-serve packets of dry
powder that you add to 16 oz of water to contribute flavor, five grams of
protein and five grams of fiber to your diet. Each single-serve packet
of powder also contains niacin, vitamin B6 and B12. Most adults drink
water during the day to stay hydrated, but
adding the powder gives you a feeling
of fullness, so you are less likely to binge. Even better, the product
tastes good. Reviewers liked all three flavors: Iced Tea,
Strawberry Kiwi and Pink Lemonade. My favorite was the pink lemonade
which reminded me of a very popular bottled juice drink, without the
added calories or cost. We
drank a bottle of water with one of these special K20 Water Mix packets mixed in before going out, and those pigs in blankets, little pizzas,
cheese trays, and jelly beans were
less tempting. Start now, and you'll shimmy into that dress in a couple of
weeks--no problem! This is a useful weight management tool for men
and women of any age, especially with attention to diet and exercise. 
I loved
Hello Gorgeous! Beauty Products in America '40s-'60
by Rachel C. Weingarten, with it's kitschy and fascinating
photos of products our grandmothers and mothers used every day to be
"pretty." Now, Weingarten has gotten a bit more serious
about image in her latest book,
Career and Corporate Cool-How to Look, Dress and Act the Part at
Every Stage of Your Career (hardcover) $21.95 recently published
by John Wiley. As an certified image consultant myself, I applaud
the author for trying to infuse humor and human-ness into a book that is
otherwise a basic primer for men and women about how to put together an
image that works, especially at work. Weingarten tries to address
her advice to both sexes at any stage of their lives and careers, and
it's a challenge to dispense unique wisdom to an audience that large.
Much of the advice is a bit basic and you probably know it already (e.g.
put clear nail polish on ripped hose to keep it from running all the way
down your leg; mind your manners; don't wear earrings that overpower
your face) but if you haven't learned all these tips from "mom" or a
friend, they'll be a revelation to you. The advice on basic
business etiquette and networking seem a bit out of place in a style
book, but all in all, this is a "bible of business style" that will
appeal greatly to young people, and help them avoid many of the gaffes
that can sabotage their early success. TIP: get this
book for soon-to-be high school and college grad s this holiday season,
and let Rachel Weingarten amuse and educate them about how to
"create and define their personal professional brand." If
you're feeling particularly generous, add a gift certificate so they can
shop for their own "career and corporate cool" look," too.
There are many cosmetics companies that offer
ambitious people a chance to enjoy their passion for beauty items, and
make some money as well. Last month, we blogged about the
Davies Gate Hand Salve $21.00 4.5 oz. An attractive,
light green "apothecary style" glass jar with silver lid
Until I read about Lumene Premium Beauty Nourishing Mascara $12.99
it never occurred to me that women 50+ might have special needs relating
to eye makeup. Alas, as we age, thick, luxurious lashes apparently
diminish. Lumene Premium Beauty Nourishing Mascara contains
ingredients that help to restore the youthful-ness of your lashes, with
active ingredients 9e.g. arctic sea buckthorn oil) to nourish and
strengthen brittle, thinning lashes. I love the metallic, copper mascara
case (really unique and chic) and the mascara brush that is designed
with short and flat bristles to "lift and separate," and long bristles
to lengthen. The mascara may be directed towards the 50+ crowd, but the
black or brown mascara will benefit anyone with thin or dry
lashes at any age.
A fragrance called Eau de Star
immediately conjures up either thoughts of the holidays, or Hollywood,
or both. Eau de Star for Women Eau de Toilette Spray (refillable)
$79.00 1.7 fl. oz. by designer Thierry Mugler has both "star
quality" and glamour. Launched in September, this fragrance is acclaimed
as " The first Aquatic Gourmand fragrance." It is based, at least in
part, on the feeling of Mr. Mugler's earlier sensational fragrance,
Angel, which features 
Red ("rouge" in French) is the color of
love, we are already loving the graceful, ruby-red,
teardrop-shaped bottle with oval cap of Rouge by designer Christian
Lacroix, in collaboration with 
What do Paris and Paris Hilton
have in common? The former has the Moulin Rouge, known for the
famous dancers of the Moulin Rouge nightclub who performed the sexy "can
can." The second, is known for being Paris (Hilton) and naming
her second fragrance after the Moulin-Rouge Can Can by Paris
Hilton $55.00 3.4 oz, $45.00 1.7 oz. for Parlux Fragrances, Inc.
has all the makings of a flirtatious, glamorous scent that will be a
coveted holiday gift this season. For many, Paris Hilton has star
quality, an undeniable allure that is part elegant heiress, part
shockingly sexy young beauty. The packaging is bright and saucy: a black
sleeve with a photo of Paris Hilton herself in a shocking pink
can-can dress, standing in front of a double row of heart-shaped staged
lights with a middle of red flowers. The box beneath is textured
white with metallic maroon print and a wispy feather seemingly floating
to the bottom of the box. The bottle is a voluptuous, clear glass
"Genie's" bottle with a clear and hot pink- topped cap. The
fragrance within embodies Paris's own personality: a vibrant,
youthful show-stopper, a bit soft, a bit daring and wild, but also a bit
elegant and ladylike. The light, fruity floral mix starts with bright
top notes of clementine flower, juicy cassis and nectarine, mixed into a
heart of wild orchid, orange blossom, and at the bottom, soft musk,
sensual amber, and sexy woods. This is the type of fragrance that will
smell just a bit different on each wearer depending upon body chemistry.
On some of us it remained a fruity floral, but for others, the fragrance
melded into a sensual, creamy musk with fruits and florals in the
background. This is a perfect everyday fragrance for young and old, and
a "special occasion" scent for slightly younger women. We haven't seen
it, but we hear the launch gift-with-purchase will delights as well:
a silver evening bags decorated with crystals and lined in shocking pink
Satin.
Just in time for the holidays, the limited Marc Jacobs
Holiday Gift Set $50.00 will be available exclusively at Sephora.
The lovely and sophisticated designer scent of wet gardenias is light
and romantic. This set includes a 1.0 fl oz Eau de Toilette Spray
wrapped in a classic black ribbon, a 1.7 fl oz Body Lotion and a
Mini Lip Gloss Compact. We have reviewed Marc Jacobs fragrance
previously, but if you missed it, the scent is a fresh gardenia floating
on sparkling water, with a hint of creamy musk. It's intoxicating,
but not cloying or heavy as some white florals can be. Marc Jacobs
captured the beauty of the scent, without overdoing it. The white gift
box with delicate back line drawings of fragrant gardenias on it is
almost no-need-to wrap.
Jil Sander is a German fashion designer known for understated
designs, but with attention to fine detail using luxurious fabrics. Her
newest fragrance, Jil Sander Stylessence, Eau de Parfum
Intense Natural Spray $70.00 30 ml embodies this style. The
bottle shows off with a matte, opaque very deep purple, rounded square
block, topped by another. The first glance seems stark and masculine,
but then you look again, and where the two cubes nearly meet, there's a
lovely, feminine, gracious, curve and instead of matte, there's a
smooth, shiny surface peeking through. The fragrance has a similar vibe.
If you like the previous fragrance, Jil Sander Style, you'll be
happy to know that this new one, Jil Sander Stylessence, is
another interpretation, also designed by perfumer, Bernard Ellena.
The fragrance smells modern, luxurious, and unique. At first sniff it's
both floral and spicy, with just a hint of deep incense. It is
categorized as an "intense woody floral," with top notes of range leaf
absolute or “petitgrain” plus fresh and spicy cardamom (the "spice" I
instantly enjoyed), plus a freesia (likely the floral I liked so much).
The heart has seductive neroli (an orange blossom extract), plus lush
and sensual notes of jasmine and a hint of feminine violet. The base has
woodsy hinoki plus deep and somewhat masculine notes of amber and musk.
The initial effect is quite intoxicating, but yet, upon drydown, like
the gentle curves of the bottle's cubes, it radiates a feminine feeling
that woman who wears it, is worth it. You can add more Jil Sander
Stylessence Eau de Parfum with two bath and body products: a
Milky Bath Powder and a Rich Body Cream $60.00 200 ml. This
scent is a true designer original--not to be missed!
Master hairstylist Frédéric
Fekkai, has been beautifying A-list clients for several decades.
Recently, I got a chance to try a trio of his
Protein RX Complete products in a sample-sized kit $29.00: Protein
Rx reparative shampoo 4 oz.; Protein Rx deep nourishing conditioner 4
oz.; and a Protein Rx Anti-Breakage Treatment Mask 1.7 oz. These
products are specially formulated to strengthen and mend weak, brittle,
broken or chemically treated hair. Used regularly, they gently nourish
hair back to life with soy, milk, and sweet almond proteins. The
Shampoo had a light, almost undefine-able, slightly floral scent,
and made short work of the oil and products coating my hair, without
stripping it and making it dry. The Conditioner was light and
washed out thoroughly, as did the Anti-Breakage Treatment, which
I really loved. For starters, you need just a little bit, and you don't
need to use an additional conditioner as it leaves hair hydrated, soft,
shiny and healthy. In just 10 minutes every week or so, you can ditch
the "straw" and turn those tresses back into gold. The full sized
products are pricey, but if your hair is dry and damaged, it works, and
beats cutting it all off and starting again.
Good tools help you get the best results possible, no matter what you're
doing. When it comes to hair, reviewers raved about the Conair
Infiniti Nano Silver Tourmaline Ceramic Styler $49.99 The
eye-catching, white and silver dryer is attractively packaged in a
large, clear, cello-presentation box (just add a bow for holiday gift
giving). It comes with a unique adjustable diffuser to let you adjust
the airflow for gentle drying of wavy or curly styles, or a direct
airflow for more volume; a large straightening pick (with nano silver
tourmaline ceramic-coated to smooth without frizz) and a traditional
concentrator (to dry spot areas). Even though this dryer is modestly
price for a high performance tourmaline/ceramic
dryer, it has lots of professional quality features: a
powerful high torque motor for faster drying; ceramic disk/ionic
technology (for more shine, less frizz); 1875 Watts; 3 Heat/2 speed
settings; a nice, 360 degree swivel cord; and "nano silver" technology
(this unites micro particles of tourmaline ceramic and silver to help
create clean, healthy looking hair). There's
also a cool shot button to set your style, and an ionic indicator light.
But in the end, soft, shiny hair that looks like it was done in a salon,
is the goal. Tourmaline ceramic dryers generate irons that work on
hair molecules to help dry them from the inside-out. The drying process
is fast and gentle, reducing heat damage and ultimately, making hair
less frizzy and more manageable. Reviewers loved the way this dryer made
hair shiny and soft with noticeably less frizz. For great performance, I
tried and totally loved a combo full-size semi-folding dryer, the Conair Infiniti Professional
Tourmaline Ionic Styler$29.99. This substantial, black dryer with
red and silver accents makes you feel like a pro and dries hair
super-fast without frizz or drying it out. it is a full-sized
dryer, but the large, soft-grip handle twists flat for storage, so it's
easy to store and less bulky in your suitcase. It also has a dual
voltage selector so you can take it with you just about anywhere. The
dryer works effectively and fast, so it won't bake your hair and damage
it, thanks to a powerful motor and 1875 watts of ionic and tourmaline
ceramic technology. Additional features are 2 heat/speed settings; a cool shot button that
actually gets cool to lock waves in place; a removable filter; concentrator attachment;
a large, bell-shaped diffuser for curly and wavy styles, and a long 9' professional-length
cord with a hang ring. It's a powerful workhorse that will
last and give you fantastic results, at a great price. *watch for more
Conair products in our December column
Azzaro's Chrome Legend Eau de Toilette Spray $66.00 4.2 fl. oz;
$49.00 2.6 fl. oz. comes in a deep, brilliant, sea-green/blue bottle,
reminiscent of the sea, with bold, shiny,
silvery top, reminiscent of sailing, and free spirits. This new scent
has an older brother, Azzaro
Chrome, launched back in 1996, Chrome Legend is more chic,
hip, and feels
bracing and fresh. It will appeal to a man who likes Chrome, bit
it is a bit more grown up
and sophisticated. It has top notes of tea, green apple and bitter
orange with middle notes of musk, moss and sea spray, and base notes of
cedar, vetiver, amber and tonka bean. For those who follow perfumers,
Chrome Legend has "hit" written all over it's fabulous blue bottle, as
it was developed by perfumers Christophe Raynaud and Olivier Pescheux
who have, as individuals, created literally dozens of fabulous
fragrances for major perfume houses around the world. Our male reviewers
liked the slightly spicy, fresh and even a bit "salty" scent both for
daytime and special occasions. This fragrance is too sophisticated for
teenage tastes, but it will appeal to men. Chrome
Legend also comes in a Deodorant Stick 2.6 fl. oz. $ 16.00
Since 1997, Clarins has recognized exceptional women who work to
help children in need, with an annual Clarins most Dynamisante Woman
of the Year Award. This month, Clarins will donate
100% of the profits from the sales of the limited edition Eau
Dynamisante Spray $60.00 3.4 fl. oz. to the
Holy Cow--it's such a fun name for a company that creates
cleansers that we simply had to try them. The Holy Cow All Purpose
Cleanser & Concentrated cleanser claims to clean everything, from
bathrooms and counter tops, to jewelry, and it even works as a laundry
pre-spotter and stain remover. Even better, these biodegradable
cleansers contain no alcohol, ammonia, vinegar, solvents or V.O.C.'s
(volatile organic compounds) that could be harmful to humans, pets, and
the environment. At first, we wondered how this cleanser could clean
tires, our bathroom tile, and still be gentle enough for our clothes,
but once we tried the Holy Cow Concentrated Cleanser/Degreaser $2.99
32 oz. we were impressed! We sprayed it on the soiled area of
a cotton blouse and on a set-in stain on a washable woolen pair of
pants. We let the Holy Cow soak in, and then put the stained item
in the regular wash. The new stain was completely eliminated and
the set-in stain lightened up considerably. The product is so
gentle, even though it's powerful, that you can use it without worrying
that the product will bleach or eat through the fabrics. The pink All
Purpose Holy Cow Cleanser All Purpose Cleaner $2.99 32 oz. is also a
cleanser and de-greaser, with a fresh, clean scent. We used it on
countertops and dishes, and even on jewelry and lightly tarnished
silver...it worked! Holy Cow, these are honestly
impressive, and inexpensive, too.
"Mélange"
means (from the French) "to blend or mix." Mélange
Apothecary's boutique in Woodland Hills, California, allows patrons
to custom-fragrance their own products, such as: Eau de Parfum, Home
Ambiance Diffuser, Body Creme, Body Lotion (2 formulas), Bath and Shower
(4 formulas), Bath Salts, Body Oil or Sugar Scrub with Honey and Shea
Butter. If you're not in the neighborhood, however, you can still
purchase their wonderful, custom blended products online. We
sampled the Mélange Home Ambiance
Diffuser $30.00 8.4 fl. oz (photo) that will add a touch of beautiful scent
to any room, any time. The graceful, clear, apothecary-style bottle
comes with a rubber "cork" just like a vintage wine. Once the cork is
removed and the 10, slender reeds are placed in it to absorb the
essential oils, the scent is gently diffused around the room. We
tried a blend made exclusively for the holiday season, called "Citron
d'hiver" which blends a fresh and uplifting orange peel with a spicy
cinnamon leaf, and a bit of amber to warm up the spicy/tart blend. The
result is nearly intoxicating--unique, refreshing, and sexy Each
diffuser can be custom blended for each order. This makes a
lovely gift for a host, and an affordable and luxurious treat for
yourself to make your home a bit merrier and festive. Get one for every
room!
According to Mei Xu, Owner &
President of Chesapeake Bay Candle, the company was founded
in 1994 in the basement of her home. Today, Chesapeake Bay Candle
is one of the largest fragrance and home ambiance companies in the
United States. 
If you're hosting a Thanksgiving dinner this
year at your house, or want to bring something special for your
host/hostess, the Gianna Rose Collection De Nature are
beautifully-packaged, molded soaps with amazing, holiday-scents that
come either in lovely, re-usable, Cardboard Slider Boxes $24.00/4
(photo) with
Victorian designs in harvest colors, or with decorative, pottery bowls
$29.50/4. I particularly liked the
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Avon: www.avon.com or call 800-FOR-AVON Azzaro Chrome (fragrance); http://www.chrome.azzaroparis.com/ and at Sephora a BeneFit Cosmetics: www.benefitcosmetics.com and Sephora stores Bobbi Brown: http://www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com and Bobbi Brown makeup counters, and www.sephora.com Bourjois: Bourjois at Sephora.com Boots: www.boots.com and Target Stores Burts Bees: www.burtsbees.com and at drug and select mass retailers nationwide Career and Corporate Cool by Rachel C. Weingarten: http://www.careerandcorporatecool.com/ CARGO: www.cargocosmetics.com select Sephora stores, and www.sephora.com Chesapeake Bay Candle (travel tins): www.chesapeakebaycandle.com and at Target Christian Lacroix Rouge (fragrance): www.avon.com Clarins: www.clarins.com and department stores and www.sephora.com Clinique: www.clinique.com and major department stores Conair: http://www.conair.com/infiniti/index.php and www.stylesource.com Creative Nail Design: www.creativenail.com CVS/Essence of Beauty: www.cvs.com and at CVS Pharmacy/drug stores Davies Gate: www.DaviesGate.com or call 888-398-9887 DIOR Beauty: at Dior beauty counters nationwide (Dior Confidential is exclusive to Bloomingdale's, Saks, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and www.sephora.com Esther Nash (Jewelry): BabyDoll Sugar Daddy Eau de Star (fragrance): exclusively at Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue. Face Atelier: www.faceatelier.com Frédéric Fekkai: www.fredericfekkai.com Bath and Bodyworks, and Sephora Gianna Rose: http://www.giannarose.com Herbal Essences: www.clairol.com and drugstores and mass market retailers nationwide Holy Cow Cleaners: www.holycowproducts.com supermarkets, Walgreen's and Ace Hardware stores |
Indigo Wild: www.indigowild.com Jane Iredale Cosmetics: www.janeiredale.com, www.dermstore.com Jil Sander: exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue L'Oreal Paris: www.loreal.com mass market drugstores and retailers nationwide LeSportsac: http://www.lesportsac.com/ Life Fitness: www.cvs.com and CVS/pharmacies Lumene: www.cvs.com and at CVS pharmacies mark: www.meetmark.com Mélange Apothecary: www.melangeapothecary.com Nice'nEasy: www.clairol.com and drugstores and mass market retailers nationwide no!no Professional Hair Removal Treatment: and Sephora N.Y.C. New York Color www.newyorkcolor.com and drugstores and mass market retailers nationwide Paris Hilton Can Can (Fragrance): department stores nationwide Playtex: www.playtex.com Rusk Sensories: www.stylesauce.com and at salons, spas online beauty sites Sally Hansen: www.sallyhansen.com and food and drug and mass market retailers nationwide Scanalizer: http://www.neatreceipts.com Scentport: www.bathandbodyworks.com and Bath and Bodyworks retail stores Sue Devitt Studio: www.suedevittstudio.com UJeans: www.ujeans.com Victoria's Secret Beauty: www.victoriassecret.com and Victoria's Secret Retail stores. Vincent Longo; www.vincentlongo.com and www.sephora.com
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THE ADVICE
SISTERS' SHOPPING GUIDE: PURCHASING INFORMATION: The Advice Sisters
offer this Buying Guide as a service to readers. For information
about purchasing or about specific products, please contact the
companies directly through the links in this guide. Buying
beauty-related products is a personal decision. The products
reviewed here should work well for the majority of people but not
every product will perform equally well for everyone. For safety's
sake, we urge you to be a wise consumer. Get information and use
products only as directed. Use common sense and basic safety
precautions.
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