TARTE Eye Couture is a Tempting Treat for the Eyes

Eye Couture $45.00 by Tarte is a limited-edition day-to-night eye palette. It's the type of product that is already fantastic because the products themselves are so good, but it's made even better by absolutely gorgeous packaging. This luxe palette of 20 pressed-powder shadows will give you everything you need for day and night looks this season, but it's the "compact"that is the real stunner. As you can see from the photo, it's not just a ho-hum plastic box, it's a quilted, purple metallic "leatherette" wallet with a luxe touch: a gold lock and key.

Inside, there's a large mirror, and of course, the 10 shadows in pearly to super-shimmery and glittery shades. There are 5 in a bronze-y tone: shimmery champagne, shimmery dusty lilac, rich brown with gold shimmer, deep shimmery bronze, neutral shimmery brown, and 5 in the charcoal family: silver sheen, shimmery pale pink, shimmery deep gray, gold-tinged purple, and a stunning, glittery, black with silver flecked shadow for the most glam smoky eye, ever! There's also a nice, double-ended brush held secure by it's own elastic, and a double-ended brown & charcoal eyeliner, also held in place by elastic. Even better, you can re-use the wallet by replacing used shadows with more Tarte Eye Shadow Singles.

TARTE eye products are "skinvigorating™" which means they have good-for-your-skin ingredients. The shadows have aquamarine (to relax your mind and bring energy, this natural gemstone adds luminosity and a dose of mineral pigment); tourmaline (to bring a sense of peace and tranquility, this natural gemstone also adds luminosity and a dose of mineral pigment); more mineral pigments that soothe and soften your skin, and antioxidant Vitamins C & E:. All the shadows are paraben/phthalate/mineral oil/sulfate/propylene glycol, and synthetic dye & fragrance, free. The Eyeliner also has "skinvigorating™" bennies, including Palm oil (for silkiness), coconut oil (for anti-microbial and moisturizing bennies), Vitamins C and E, and mineral pigments. This is a palette you'll adore, use, and re-use for quite some time!

*To purchase TARTE Cosmetics, visit www.tartecosmetics.com ,www.sephora.com and Sephora Stores, Henri Bendel, Bergdorf Goodman.

Get more reviews of more TARTE cosmetics, along with hundreds of other items for men and women along with our exclusive buying guide, on the latest WHAT WORKS BEAUTY, COSMETICS & FASHION REVIEW COLUMN new this week. Then go to our FORUMS area and tell us about your picks and pans!

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner-Total Beauty Guest Review

TotalBeauty.com content:

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner

Guest review by TotalBeauty.com editor Kristen Oldham-Giordani

This little pot o' liner is awesome. It goes on easier than a traditional liquid liner -- especially if you use a quality fine-tip brush -- and actually lasts. See review

Comfort Zone Man Space--Luxury Skin Care for the Guys

Several years ago The Advice Sisters reviewed some products from Comfort Zone, an upscale, Italian line of skincare products with a collection just for men called: Man Space. You can get these in select spas, and they’re also featured in places where guys really demand luxury, such posh hotels and spas around the world. Our male reviewers liked the unfussy, masculine, olive-green packaging, the matte, pewter plastic bottles with man-sized pump tops, and the refreshing, lemony scented products. Maybe it's because they were created with Téphroline, an extract that reduces stress and promotes an overall sense of confidence and satisfaction. A man’s skin condition changes with the seasons, too.

If you are a guy reading this column, you already know that it's silly to settle for a woman’s product when you can get your own! If you’re a woman who thinks her man’s skin could use some TLC (and the guys can’t cover it all up with cosmetics as wel do) you’ll want to consider getting him some of these high quality skin care products.

For example, if his skin is oil, the Man Space Oil-Control Performer Normalizing Mattifying Fluid $46.00 1.6 fl. oz does double-duty to hydrate, rebalance and regulate the secretion of sebum on his skin. The light lotion has active ingredients with curious names such as : marine affinisphere, sebustop, betaphroline, and one I did recognize: Vitamin E. Our male reviewers really didn’t care about what was in it as much as I did, and they didn’t want to be "bothered" with a lot of products. However, they were sold when they discovered that this multi-tasker: did a good, quick and easy job of moisturizing (what guy doesn’t want his lady to kiss softer skin?), mattifying (so his face doesn’t look like an oil slick moments after cleansing) and oh yes...it also helps to reduce blemishes.

The Advice Sisters's male reviewers were even more enthusiastic about the Splash Performer $28. 00 3.3 fl. oz. This facial cleanser in gel form refreshes, cleanses and hydrates skin while whisking away impurities and controlling shine. They liked the fresh scent, the packaging (there’s a BIG pump top on this one) and the way the cleanser washed off leaving skin feeling good, not "goopy." Men tend to scrimp on wash time..this facial cleanser will motivate the user to cleanse often--–good facial cleansing is especially important for a man's rougher, facial skin.

Visit: Comfort Zone (Man Space): http://www.comfortzone.it/


*If you like this review, see lots more reviews of beauty and fashion for women and for men on the new, Advice Sisters What Works Beauty, Cosmetics & Fashion review column for Fall up the first week in September at http://www.advicesisters.net/whatworkscol3.html

Sue Devitt's Bermuda Triangle--a Great Way to Banish Lines and Wrinkles

Wouldn’t your love to have your facial flaws simply disappear into a permanent abyss, like the Bermuda Triangle? Sue Devitt is guessing you would! This high performance line of great makeup and skincare has created a trio of products in a collection called: "The Bermuda Triangle" help to banish fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes, , smooth and enhance your skin, and help make your lips look youthful and plump. I guess Sue Devitt’s idea of the Bermuda Triangle is that it isn’t a dark, gloomy place, but one that’s literally, glowing with healthy Apricot (all three products as apricot-tinted).

The UnderEye Corrector with Orchid Extract $22.00 is my favorite. A swivel up tube of soft, creamy, concealer in soft apricot (Sue Devitt’s product information says "peach" but I think it’s apricot),. The color helps to correct dark circles, no matter what "fruit" color you think it is. The concealer features a special ingredient called "Nylon-12" that expands and contracts with your facial movements and helps the product stay where you put it without creasing or cracking. Your undereye area shouldn’t just look good, it need TLC, too. Orchid extract hydrates, reduces fine lines and wrinkles and fights free radicals.

The Bermuda Triangle Eye, Lip & Cheek Primer $22.00 comes in a square, silvery compact with clear cover with cut-out "triangle" to enjoy the apricot/peach hue of this creamy concealer/primer. The ingredients include marine collagen filling spheres and Vitamin C, to help fill in little lines and give your skin the illusion of a perfectly smooth surface. You can wear this one under your foundation or eye shadow, but the color is so earthy and pretty, you will also want to use it "as-is" on bare skin. The shimmery peach/apricot shade makes a perfect face glow (a bit on the warm side, so use sparingly). As an eyeshadow, it’s warm and sexy for this season’s earthy trends. The texture is so silky and the product applies so evenly, you’ll fall in love with it, no matter where you use it.

.....And there’s help for your lips, too: Bermuda Triangle Lip Enhancing Gloss $22.00 is a pretty, tapered, clear, wanded-tube (with brush tip) of pure joy for lips. The silky, shimmery, glossy beautifier features water- infused shea butter (one of the most moisturizing ingredients around) plus orchid extract, to pack a punch to banish dry lips. You can actually feel it working. Peptide-5 promotes collagen production (for fuller, more youthful lips) and hydrolyzed elastin and marine collagen also hydrate and make the skin on your lips more supple. If that’s not enough, the product will fill in fine lines so any lip product you apply won’t so readily sink into the "cracks." The sheer, shimmery, apricot/peach tint gives lips life, worn on bare lips, too (and I love it that way).

Visit Barney's New York or www.barneys.com to find Sue Devitt's products

Redken Elastic Works 09- A Guest Review from Total Beauty

See review

Guest Review: Redken Elastic Works 09 Rated a 9 by TotalBeauty.com Editor Sarah Carrillo Redken Elastic Works 09 gives wavy hair well-defined curls that manage to stay bouncy and soft, not crispy or crunchy. I applied it to damp hair and diffused while scrunching. ...More

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Total Beauty Web tour for this week

Fashion Week is nearly upon us, but beauty is 364 and 24/7! Here is what some of the Total Beauty Bloggers are up to:



In honor of the newest limited edition collection from MAC Cosmetics, Cult of Cherry;

Roselyn from Makeup Makes Me Happy does a gorgeous makeup tutorial, showing you how to achieve a fabulous look for this upcoming Fall season!.


Beauty Anonymous reviews YSL's fall eye shadow palette.

Viva Woman discovers that baking soda really whitens her teeth!

Looking for a lipgloss that will stay put and last a long time? Then check out The Makeup Divas review on the Mac Lustre Twins.

Fabulous Over Forty discusses all week about her experience at the L'Oreal Color Space at the MN State Fair.

Monique at Beauty Girl Musings is surprised by a new fall lip color. Find out which one!

What are Jamie's 3 must-haves? Find out at Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog.

Crave for beautifully rejuvenated skin with absolutely no cost at all? Find out at Beauty Tyrant, she has whipped up askin rejuvenating peach facial!. You'll love your skin even more now.

Beauty Blogging Junkie has partnered with Three Custom Color to provide 25 readers with TCC's new Watercolours for Cheeks in Wallflower, a dewy beige. Click here for more info on how to enter.

If you're a Bobbi Brown makeup fan (and who isn't?) Beauty411 has the latest on new Bobbi Brown palettes!

MissWhoever-You-Are has found out how you can get a free tote YSL tote during Fashion Week. No Joke!

Wondering about Fall's Makeup Trends? Learn how apply a Pretty Power Pout like the pros on A Mom in Red High Heels.

Thought hair mousse was just an 80's trend? Think again. Daily Dose of Coffee tries out one of the most interesting hair mousses ever: Sebastian Whipped Creme.

Product Girl shows you how to make your own lipstick palette and it's easy as pie


Don't miss out on your chance to win the entire line of Sera Anti-Aging skincare products over at Beauty in Real Life.

Chocolate lipliner? Sounds good, looks great! See it at Glossypink!

The Beauty Alchemist hits drugstore paydirt with Jergens Renew Lotion.

LashBlast had better watch her back. There's a new voluptuous lash in town, and she's wearing Exceptionnel de Chanel Intense Volume and Curl Mascara. The creamy formula and six-sided brush took Spoiled Pretty's lashes up, up and away!

Butterfly Diary reviews the luxurious collection by

Sultana de Saba , whose Body Karite Butter and Honey Mask will make Cleopatra wish she had been reborn. Check it out at .

Gottex-Sneak Peek Spring 2009

SNEAK PEEK: GOTTEX SPRING 2009 Designer Gideon Oberson goes for Global Glamour with his Spring 2009 Collection. According to the press literature, he will take us on a journey inspired by the most luxurious resorts found in Ibiza, Saint Tropez, Mykonos, and Porto Cervo. "For me, dressing for the beach is no different than dressing for a night out. My clientele is able to go from poolside straight to cocktails and dinner by simply adding a breathtaking pareo or skirt to complete her ensemble."

Top Do-It-Yourself Pedicure Tips from Total Beauty

Pedicure how-to

Top Do-It-Yourself Pedicure Tips Pros share tips on getting salon results at home With gorgeous sandals hitting the shelves, it's no time to be shy about baring your toes. Sure, you could splurge on a luxurious pedicure but who has the time and money to keep that up? Fortunately, celeb-trusted nail pros Roxanne Valinoti, Nicole Dihn and Jenna Hipp are sharing their top tips for pampering your feet. Read their advice to find out how to do a pedicure at home -- and look like you went to a salon. ...More

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Ports 1961 - a Sneak Peek for Fashion Week

Here's my first "SNEAK PEEK" for Fashion Week

Last Season, PORTS 1961 had a runway show that was pure magic, " inspired by the mythology of Gaelic tales and romantic Scotland, through the eyes of Lassair, a fabled muse. PORTS 1962 falls under the spell of a Scottish winter, with dark moods and whimsical auras that tease the subconscious mind." http://www.advicesisters.net/2008/02/ports-1961-magical-mystical-romantic

This season, for SPRING 2009 Tia Cibani’s spring 2009 collection for PORTS 1961 is" inspired by the Canadian artist Emily Carr. Carr’s work specializes in her awareness o Canadian native culture through a number of works representing the British Columbian rainforest as well as expressionist paintings, totem poles and other artifacts stemming from the culture of the Native people of the Pacific North West. "

It sounds like again, it will be a show worth watching. I will report on this show both backstage and from the runway, if possible. Fashion Week begins in just days...stay tuned!

ALISON

PCA Skin packs a punch against skin "Challenges"

Purchasing serious skin care can be serious work. You have to find someone who sells it and you have to know what you need, how to use it, and of course, use it regularly. Not every skin care line is sold everywhere, either. For example, the impressive, PCA Skin products aren’t sold directly to consumers. You get them from select clinical practices throughout the United States and in 60 countries worldwide (there are some products sold online, but be sure that you are getting the real thing from a reputable store).

There are a dizzying number of PCA Skin products to suit men, women, special needs, and all types of skin with a myriad of daily care and treatment options to purchase. The prices are "reasonable" from around $30-$40 per item, to a high of $99.00 for a high-tech peptide Smoothing Serum. In today’s world, this isn’t out of the ballpark, crazy, just-for-celebrities skin care.

The first thing I like about PCA Skin is the packaging. It’s simple, with pump and dropper bottles for the most part, so you don’t have to stick your fingers into gooey jars of cream (messy, and it contaminates the product more quickly). The white bottles with black accents are unisex, making your metro-sexual guy more likely to try it. The products have clean scents that don’t overpower. Also nice are the fast-absorbing formulas, so you can apply the products and quickly slap on your sun screen and makeup with having to wait too long.

PCA has been around for about 20 years, and it’s one of the leading clinical skin care companies to have developed professional chemical peels and advanced . I didn’t check this factoid out, but the web site proudly suggests that PCA Skin has been acknowledged in medical textbooks as the originator of advanced blended chemical peel formulations. In 1990, PCA Skin’s founder, Margaret Ancira, who is a licensed aesthetician, began partnering with renowned physicians and scientists to help create the products that are now available to the consumer, exclusively through doctors and licensed skin care professionals. The list is awesome...there is not way I could (or would) sample all of them. However, the PCA Skin web site does a really good job of categorizing the products in a consumer-friendly way, and they also provide a good amount of information about what’s in it –informative and easy to use–it’s already a reason to love this line. I wish all the skin care lines would help us out and make it easy to understand what we need, what we’re getting, what it costs, etc.

There are so many different types of products for different types of skin, you really do need a pro to help you figure out what is best for you, but the good news is that if you want to try a lot of products for not a lot of investment, PCA Skin provides well more than a dozen different, travel-sized, "Try Me" kits (my favorite thing these days since we can’t take all the full-sized jars with us anymore). These give you a chance to try a lot of the products that are most relevant to your skin type and issues, for about $20-$180.00 (depending upon the number and type of products).

The PCA Skin® Normal/Dry Skin Trial System for example, is just $50.00. This kit comes in a clear, "quart sized" zipper plastic pouch and contains moisturizing, cleansing, and protecting products: Facial Wash - pHaze 1 (1 fl. oz.) - A gentle gel cleanser that eliminates, dirt, debris and makeup–and your skin will feel soft and balanced. . Nutrient Toner - pHaze 5 (1 fl. oz.) - Formulated to help refine pores, remove superficial dead skin cells and provide added nutrients to your skin–just what a toner should do. . Gentle Exfoliant - pHaze 4 (1 fl. oz.) - A light, creamy cleansing scrub that exfoliates and revitalizes dull complexions. Hydrator Plus SPF 25 - pHaze 6+ (0.25 oz.) - a must-have in my opinion–this gives you extra protection from UVA and UVB rays with an SPF of 25–and it also replenishes your skin’s natural oils without turning you into an oil slick! . Purifying Mask (0.25) - A red algae and French red clay mask to soothe and purify skin, formulated with antioxidant vitamins A and E and red wine. Apres Peel Hydrating Balm - pHaze 11+ (0.25 oz.) - Soy isoflavones and chasteberry rebuild collagen to help skin look, younger and more luscious-- progesterone (this one is good for you) plumps and hydrates for a smoother finish. EyeXcellence - pHaze 12 ( 0.125 oz.) - with peptides, licorice and active botanicals to reduce puffiness, dark circles and wrinkles around eye area. C-Strength 15% (pHaze 16+) (0.25 oz.) - this has Vitamin C (15%) and E (5%). Perfecting Body Hydrator SPF 30 (pHaze 30) (1 oz.) - helps to reduce hyperpigmentation and other skin discolorations while preventing future discoloration –and it has broad-spectrum UVA and UVB sun protection, too (love this one)!!

To learn more about the PCA Skin products, and to find out where you can get a referral to someone in your area that offers these products, visit the web site www.pcaskin.com or 877.PCA.SKIN.

If you like this review, check out the newest and best beauty and fashion items in the Advice Sisters FALL What Works Beauty, Cosmetics & Fashion review column--live the first week in September at http://www.advicesisters.net/whatworkscol3.html

Nars The Multiple-A Total Beauty Guest Review

See review

Guest Review: Nars The Multiple Rated a 7.5 by TotalBeauty.com Editor Kristen Oldham-Giordani Nars The Multiple is a cream-to-powder formula that can be used anywhere (though it leaves lips feeling a little too powdery). The jumbo stick glides on smoothly and feels moist on skin, making it ideal for dry skin year-round or combination skin in the winter. ...More

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Baskin Robbins Soft Candy--A Treat That Won't Drip On Your Clothes!

Ice Cream is one of those treats that always makes me smile (and I wouldn't be the only one). But it can pack on the pounds, and it's not a hands-free treat. It also can make your teeth really chatter in the Winter time. But give a child an ice-cream and you'll have a gooey, sticky, messy kid --and a very happy one!



Now Baskin-Robbins has "licked" the problem (pun intended) of how to enjoy ice cream anywhere, any time. They've developed a solid but soft version in a candy-- Baskin-Robbins Soft Candy. Combining ingredients like real cream and some high-tech flavor technology, Baskin-Robbins Soft Candy was designed to give you a real-life ice cream experience.




Tiny rectangles of foil-wrapped "chewy" candy may not be your idea of an ice cream treat, but these really smell just like the real thing. Two pieces are only 38 calories, plus 17 mg of sodium and 4 % saturated fat (no trans fat). The re-sealable zip-bag means you can take these with you as a treat for the kids or yourself, no matter where you are.




The candies come in two flavors: Mint Chocolate Chip and Very Berry Strawberry, and in both regular and sugar free varieties. They are soft, quite a bit softer than a Tootsie Roll or a Starburst. They dissolve fairly quickly, but the flavor stays in your mouth for quite some time. I tried the regular versions, not the sugar-free ones. I loved the scent of the Mint Chocolate Chip. The green candy with black dots doesn't quite look like the color you'd associate with ice-cream, but I quickly was seduced by the scent, popped it in my mouth, and enjoyed a minty treat that was a bit chocolate and a lot mint--a bit like an Andes. I didn't think the texture was creamy enough to be "ice cream" but the candy was delicious. Even better, just one of the candies stopped my craving for ice cream, candy, and sweets.



I'm not a big fan of strawberry flavors --I only really love the genuine item. However, the Very Berry Strawberry Candy got my nose's attention--they smell like berries. These pink with red speckled candies are a bit like strawberry ice cream -- without the cream. Never the less, strawberry lovers and kids will clamor for them. You will be the hit of the play group if you show up with these.




The candies contain soy and milk, and they don't appear to be too bad for your body. They're an inexpensive, fun treat to quench your sweet-tooth cravings and keep the kids happy. There must be dozens of them in the 4 0z packages...enough to take you through a week or so depending upon how addicted you get.





Baskin-Robbins Soft Candy products are available in the candy aisle of grocery, drug and mass retailers nationwide. The retail price of the 2.75 oz sugar free and 4 oz sugar Baskin-Robbins Soft Candy varieties is $2.49. For more information about Baskin Robbins Candy, please visit http://www.bestsweet.com/

Beauty Bytes from Total Beauty- Lip Liners

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Best Liners for Your Lips From MAC and Smashbox to Wet n Wild, the pencils that garnered top ratings and glowing product reviews Not too hard or soft, these lip liners appealed to TotalBeauty.com editors and members for a variety of really good reasons. Find out if you should upgrade the pencil you have at home or add another color to your collection. (Did we miss your favorite? Write a review to bump up its status!) ...More

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See review
Guest Review: Chanel Precision Hydramax + Active Serum Active Moisture Boost

Rated a 9.5 by TotalBeauty.com Editor Charli Schuler
Dry skin types who usually reach for a rich, heavy cream will love this lightweight blue serum. It not only instantly hydrates, but also makes skin a perfectly smooth, youthful canvas for sunscreen, primer or foundation. ...More

Warmbat Eco-Friendly Sheepskin™ boots

The Australian company, Warmbat makes boots. Not just any boots, however. These are wonderful, soft, warm, and cozy. They're created from authentic Australian sheepskin -- a soft and sensual hide on the outside, with an incredibly soft, plush wool fleece inside. The Warmbat boots have been faves in Australia for decades, but now the boots have a global marketplace *you can find a retail store, or shop online through the web site.

I got a chance to experience Warmbat boots with something even more special: the World's First Eco-Friendly Sheepskin™ created to meet the demands of people who care about their health, and the health of the environment. health of everyone and for the duty to the environment. This sheepskin is tanned and finished strictly with Chrome-free tanning agents and chemicals. The Eco-Friendly Sheepskin™ consists of double face for boots and single face for shoe lining and some other varities.

Tanning of hides is not a particularly environmentally friendly process, but the production process for these boots is friendly to the environment The products used in tanning are chrome-free and are recyclable, and can be biodegraded. Even better, these boots not only look and feel good, they won't irritate sensitive, allergic skin.

Why would you plunk down your dollars for sheepskin? For starters, the fashion world has been embracing similar boots, such as UGGS, for so long, sheepskin is here to stay and isn't a passing fad. These are as great as UGGS but they've got even more features to love.

Apart from being a fashion statement, there are practical reasons to buy Warmbat boots for colder months. For starters, ounce for ounce, sheepskin is stronger than steel. That means sheepskin boots can last for years, with minimum care (*a spritz of water repellant on new boots is a good idea). Unlike other soft leathers with soft linings like Rabbit Fur, sheepskin wool won't shed, because it's attached to the skin. And Sheepskin wool is is not just soft and luxurious to the touch, the fibers "breathe" to act just like a natural thermostat for your body. These fibers are hollow, and can absorb up to 30% of their own weight in moisture without feeling wet, so they can actually "wick away" moisture from your feet, to help keep warm and dry. If you go barefoot in your boots, you'll not only enjoy the delicously soft cushioning of the sheepskin wool, but sheepskin also contains lanolin, which will moisturize your feet for additional comfort.Sheepskin. Apparently sheepskin is also: static-free ; flame resistant and wind-proof. Sheepskin is a pure organic product and is unlike any other fiber in the world. If you wear your Warmbat boots long enough, they will conform to the shape of your foot.

There are so many style to choose from you really have to check out the Warmbat web site, but
I tried the Geko Grip Short approx $159.00. This boot is a short boot that will come up about 3" from your ankle. It was inspired by the Gecko lizard (no, not that annoying Aussie critter in the TV insurance commercials), whose grip allows it to climb walls and ceilings with easet has a rugged, These have a rugged, "workboot" style Rubber Gecko Grip outsole that will help you keep your footing on ice and snow ( a larger green gecko is part of the grip design). There's a leather heel and toe cap for added protection. Inside, of course, there's that soft bedding of wooly, luxurious sheepskin to cradle your foot in total bliss! There'a also a gently washable, removable, sheepskin lined, cushioned, memory foam footbed. Each pair of boots comes with a free additional pair of memory foam insoles so you can customize the fit a bit more. The soft, double-faced Australian Merino sheepskin can be folded down even a bit farther to make it a true ankle boot with a fluffy puff of interior sheepskin. There'a slaos a designer touch: an eye-catching strip of coloful, embroidered circles running up the middle of the back of the book, featuring authentic Australian aboriginal artwork. There's also a discreet Warmbat Australia logo on the back of the heel. The boot comes in very wearable colors: sand chocolate, chestnut (rust) black and a soft, khaki green.

The stitching and quality of these boots are simply superb. It may still be balmy outside, but the weather IS going to turn. Why not be fashionable and pampered and warm this Winter? All if takes is a pair of Warmbat Eco-Friendly Sheepskin™ boots. These would make an amazing gift, too.

For store locations, information, and online shopping visit Warmbat's Web Site http://www.warmbat.com

Jessica Simpson's Latest Scent-FANCY

Actress and singer Jessica Simpson has grown up in the past few years, and her newest scent, called Fancy $59.00 3.4 oz. Eau de Parfum spray, $49.00 1.7 oz. (also a body lotion) reflects her wisdom about what girly-girls, want. Her latest, feminine scent was created by perfumer Alexis Dadier of Mane Paris and developed with Parlux Fragrances and the Camuto Group. I would bet that Ms. Simpson had a real hand in creating this since the scent is classified in the press information as a “floriental,” but my personal opinion it's a true gourmand scent that is reminiscent of her “Desert” line of “edible” scented products. The fragrance is sensual, playful and feminine, but with enough seriousness to make it appropriate for adults and not just Jessica Simpson's younger fans (target audience being 15-35 year-olds).

The overall feeling is delicious--good enough to eat. What hooked me on first sniff was the smell of almonds and caramel, nestled in the heart of this blushing pink fragrance. The scents starts with notes of sparkling pear and juicy apricot nectar, plus red fruits, but you don’t really notice them. It’s the romantic heart that wins mine: dewy gardenia mixed with night blooming jasmine, toasted almonds and caramel. At the base is creamy sandalwood infused with amber crystals and warm vanilla. No matter how long this fragrance stays on your skin, it smells good, even as it softens.

If the scent is a sensual delight, so is the bottle. The outside packaging has a muted soft pink cardboard sleeve festooned with a vintage floral design worthy of Maxims in Paris, in gold. One side features a photo of a smiling Ms. Simpson in soft-focus . The sleeve reveals a pink, gold and white box with a similar design (minus Jessica Simpson’s photo). The chunky, round bottle features accents of pink gold (unusual!) And the vintage-y floral design delicately reproduced in pink gold foil. There is an embossed, tiny floral collar in pink gold around the neck of the bottle, topped by a voluptuous, smooth, shiny, round pink gold cap. Even if someone doesn’t like the scent, the bottle is just stunning for a dressing table!


TIP: tie-ins with Sony re: Jessica’s new album (out September 9th) along with her best-selling styles of her shoes at Macy's.

Del Monte Harvest Selections Helps You Eat Your Veggies

I admit it--I'm not a huge veggie fan. I know they are good for you, but I am not every eager to down big bowls of them. That's why I was curious when I received information about a new products from Del Monte called Harvest Selections. These ready-to-heat-and-eat meals are convenient and low calorie, but even more importantly, each bowl contains 2 servings of vegetables (40% of the USDA MyPyramid recommendations for vegetables).

If you or (perhaps more importantly) your kids, balk at eating vegetables, this could be the best way to get them to eat a hearty meal at lunch time and get the benefits of vegetables as well. You can eat pasta or chili and still get those veggies into your body.

I am not a true fan of frozen or pre-packaged meals, but these store flat, and microwave in literally 90 seconds. That's about 1/3 the time needed for a frozen meal. And while I was a bit dubious about how they would taste, the truth is, they were GOOD! The sauces, pastas and meats were tender and warm and far better than the regular, frozen dinners are. These lunch or light dinner meals run around and under 350 calories. They come in flavors like: Cheese and Spinach Ravioli ; Santa Fe Style Rice and Beans ; Home Style Chili; Chicken Cacciatore ; Beef and Vegetable Stew ; Italian Style Pasta Bake.

I got three samples, so I gave the Chicken Cacciatore to my husband. He immediately and suspiciously eyed the plastic bowl and said: "This is going to be like airline food" (remember when we got meals on planes?). But he is my guinea pig for some items, so he began to pick at his plate. Then he really tucked into it and finished the entire bowl. Then he eyed mine (the cheese and Spinach Ravioli) and ate some of that, too!! We both thought the texture, flavor and overall presentation was impressively good. I also tried the Santa Fe Rice and Beans, and found that to be more like a home-cooked version than anything I've ever tried that was frozen. These honestly are good, quite good.

The downside, if there is any, is that the sodium content is high (1100mg for the rice and beans and 1080 for the chicken cacciatore). For those with high blood pressure, this could be a deal breaker. I know pre-packaged foods tend to include more salt for flavor, but I don't see why manufacturers couldn't allow the individual consumer to add more on their own if they wish it.

While the United States Department of Agriculture and Health and Human Services recommends consuming two and 1/2 cups of vegetables each day, studies indicate that most Americans eat less than half the recommended daily amount. Additionally, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may help to lower the risk for certain diseases and illnesses, and help to keep the body strong. For adults who are just too busy to really eat right, these easy to fix, tasty meals are a step in the right direction. They're certainly a better alternative to junk food!

All in all, very impressive. Find Del Monte Harvest Selections in your favorite grocery store.

A Review of Elizabeth Grant Vitamin C Collection--Excellent Skincare!

In 1948 when makeup artist Elizabeth Grant discovered a natural substance used to treat wounds, and had specially formulated with other ingredients to treat her own skin, damaged in the war. She started her own skin care treatment line to share the secret formulation she had created, called: "Torricelumn™" The line used to be available by special order only, but now the Elizabeth Grant line of skin care and beauty products is now available at select retail locations around the world.

The star ingredient is kelp: extracted from the fronds and hidden within the pods that keep the clusters of fronds afloat. These pods lift the leaf-like fronds to the ocean's surface, allowing them to absorb sunlight, photosynthesizing oxygen, the source of life and energy. The seawater absorbed by kelp is similar to human plasma, allowing beauty buffs using Elizabeth Grant products to obtain beauty bennies of the sea's vitamins and minerals, too.

The great news is that these are exceptional skincare products. The bad news if there is any is that the products are not for budget minded beauties. But products with unique ingredients are costly to create. For example, the kelp has to be fresh, which means the plants must reach the laboratory by nightfall. where they go through an endothermic process and are mixed with a blend of other biologically active substances, natural sea vitamins, nutrients and minerals.

By now, my readers all are aware that Vitamin C isn’t just good for colds. It is a powerful anti-oxidant that helps to reduce skin damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules in the environment caused by pollution, smoking and ozone that damage the skin. Vitamin help strengthen Collagen, our skin’s support structure. The Vitamin C plus Torricelumn in the Elizabeth Grant Vitamin C collection gives skin a real boost. The tapered, mustard yellow plastic tubes with shiny gold pump tops makes me feel elegant and pampered, but the products inside are stellar, delivering hydration, nourishment and protection in a single application. The products are lightweight on your skin, and they're very lightly scented. They also absorb more quickly than most products I’ve tried (and I do try a lot of them). The only thing left behind is instantly smoother, softer, hydrated skin. Using these makes you feel as if you’ve had a facial: The Vitamin C Day Treatment $59.99 1.7 fl. Oz and Vitamin C Night Treatment $59.99 1.7 fl. Oz. And the Vitamin C Body Lotion 6.6 fl. Oz. may just reduce your need to run to the spa (save your money for other treatments or treats).

I like the travel-friendly flip-top tubes. I love the Body Lotion that has staying power, but it's easily absorbed. Hours later, the softenss is still evident.

Another luxe product from Elizabeth Grant that is NOT in the Vitamin C Collection but that is a quick pick-me-up for glamour gals are the Caviar Rejuvenating Eye Pads $39.00/6 pads. These target the skin below your eye super-nourishing and hydrating ingredients such as caviar extract, sea proteins and of course, Torricelumn. Apply a set of pads for 15 minutes and think about how much better you’ll look (let the phone ring or take if off the hook and feel like you’ve been transported “away” for a short while). Caviar has a rich supply Omega 3 Fatty to hep that delicate skin under your eye stay firm and supple, plus the bennies of Torricelumn and Vitamin E, an algae-based skin firmer, magnesium, agiriline (helps reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles).

For more luxe skincare, try Elizabeth Grant’s Biocollasis Advanced Cellular Radiance $149.00. You can’t get more luxe than real gold...and these products have the revitalizing energies of gold, plus natural extracts in them. Caviar, gold.....you can't treat yourself too much! Your skin will benefit with an improved, natural “glow,” and hydration you will love.

Visit www.elizabethgrant.com for ordering and information

Elgydium Toothpastes and ToothBrushes -for Fans in the US and Abroad

Elgydium®(the leading toothpaste in France for the last three decades), used to be available only in Europe and in boutique pharmacies. Fans picked it up in France, in caseloads. You'd also get a sample if you traveled first class on British Airways.
Now, you don't have to fly anywhere to get Elgydium® products --who wants to get on a plane these days? The company (as SANTÉ active Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of Laboratoires Piere Fabre, France) has made Elgydium® available in the United States and online.

Maybe choosing a toothbrush and toothpaste seems boring, but if you get products you like, you'll not only use them instead of "forgetting" to brush, you'll brush longer and better. Good teeth are a must-have, so the Advice Sisters tried two of their toothpastes: Elgydium® Anti-Cavity Tootpaste $6.00 3.5 oz. and Elgydium® Whitening Toothpaste $6.99 3.5 oz. Both come in clean-looking, white tubes with d