May 2009 Archives

55 Secret Street gets stung (in the best way) by MAC's Naked Honey Body Wash.

Stiletto Jungle previews summer's must have new lip products.

All About the Pretty can enjoy luxury shopping while vacationing on the beach at the Luxury Collection Boutique Mall in Cancun.

All Lacquered Up experiments with the matte nail trend by wearing matte and glossy nail art.

Allie is Wired features Lauren Conrad talking about life after The Hills.

Bag Bliss pick of the week: Buti Croc!

Bag Snob has the latest from Kara Ross F/W 2009 collection!

Beauty Snob discovers the magic of silver: COR silver soap!

Couture Snob is questioning Balmain's couture craft...what do you think?

Fab Sugar - sends out a trend alert: are bow belts making a come back?

Fashion Pulse Daily kind of can't wait for fall to wear the cashmere-rich TSE fall 2009 collection.

Second City Style isn't waiting for the sun-kissed glow of summer, we are faking it now with matte bronzer!

Shopping and Info used a black bodysuit to channel Angelina Jolie's corset dress.

StyleBakery.com found chic beach cover-ups for every budget.

Stylehive is telling you to spring for a spring trench coat!

The Beauty Stop explains how to pick the right sunscreen for your skin type.

Know any men who need makeovers? Send their pictures to The Fashion Bomb for a chance to win them free gear from Parish Nation!

The Shoe Goddess loves that these Loeffler Randall flat boots can be worn in the summer!

TheMakeupGirl checks out Sunsilk's Captivating Curls line and has bouncing curls with zero frizz in 100% humidity!

Tot Snob found a walking elephant that fits in any room.

No more worry of sun damage or wrinkles-- this summer, get gorgeous, sexy and sun-kissed skin with Bobbi's Illuminating Bronze Collection! Making it easier than ever to get the look of healthy, sun-kissed skin without the damaging effects of sun- the collection includes Bobbi's new limited-edition Shimmer Brick for Body ($75.00). This lightweight silky powder can be used on arms, legs, décolleté or anywhere you want to add a glow. This oversized compact features three bars of color and can be applied with Bobbi's limited-edition All Over Body Brush ($85.00)- the softest, most luxurious brush imaginable! Designed with ultra soft bristles, it is perfect for sheer, even application. Also new in this collection is Bobbi's Illuminating Bronzing Powder (in 6 shades for $33.00). Ultra-soft and smooth, this pressed powder features a unique and innovative blend of sheer powder and micro pearls for smooth and even application that will leave skin with a sheer natural-looking glow. In addition, Bobbi introduces her All Over Bronzing Gel SPF 15 in Golden Sun ($28.00). This gel-based bronzer instantly gives the face a healthy, natural-looking glow with the added benefit of sun protection! Get the Illuminating Light Collection here.

And don't forget to enter in our extravagant Bobbi Brown beauty trunk giveaway with $1,000 worth of products!

I can barely remember a time when I wasn't sporting color polish on my nails -- which is why I'm such a strong advocate of both top and base coats and good cuticle care (love Sephora Brand Cuticle Care Pen and L'Occitane's Cuticle Cream for relieving dry cuticles and maintaining nail health). For the most part I stick to color (currently completely obsessed with essie's Punchy Pink), but I'm intrigued by Gelife. The new technology in manicure and pedicure services is available exclusively at Dashing Diva salons. It's a new procedure where two coats of a soft, removable gel are applied just like nail polish (either clear, cool pink, or warm pink), then cured under a UV light after each application. The gel immediately sets in the UV light, leaving a manicure or pedicure that lasts for up to two weeks and requires no drying time. The coats help protect the nail underneath and the finished results have higher than usual shine. UV Gelife French for French manicures is also available -- after the Gelife has been applied to natural nails, the thin, white French Wrap is applied at the tip. The French Wraps are sealed with additional Gelife and then cured with the UV light (Gelife is removed by soaking nails in pure acetone). Jump for step-by-step photos and pricing!

I wrote about COR silver soap last year and dismissed it as another gimmicky product after a few tries. Its use of nano silver was highly touted in the media but I'd yet to meet anyone who'd actually used it and saw miraculous results until this week. I had lunch with my friend Chloe who brought sample size COR soaps ($14) for everyone at the table-- she excitedly described how it changed her skin. Apparently she had problematic skin that no dermatologist or $500 jar of cream could cure. She tried COR soap on a lark and saw results almost immediately. Her skin cleared and it has continually improved with use.  

I tried it myself this past week and am now hooked!  First, it removes make up COMPLETELY-- I generally have to foam up with my various cleansers several times but still will have left over traces of make up that requires wiping off with a toner soaked cotton pad. I think it's been very harsh on the skin around my eye area as most of these cleansers have fragrance/acid/chemicals of one form or another. COR soap is a hassle free one step solution that really results in soft, youthful and clear skin!  Silver is fast emerging as an anti-bacterial agent. Silver also blocks the bacteria's ability to transfer oxygen through its cell walls to prevent collagen damage and loss. The line also has an eye cream that I plan on trying out next week-- will keep you posted but meanwhile, get yourself a bar of this miracle soap asap! I promise you it will be the best cleanser you have ever tried!  If you can't shell out $125 for the soap, try the sample size at $14. I heard they are also coming out with a recession friendly $45 soap version. Will let you know when that launches!  Get COR soap here.

Have you been to Henri Bendel lately? If you haven't you should! Not only is there an amazing sale going on (up to 60% off -- shortly, Bendel's will remove any trace of clothing in the store so that they can focus exclusively on accessories and beauty), but they've just introduced a new line focused on "Beauty Nutrition," called Functionalab. The line is full of various supplements and tonics, and they've also got a personalized nutrition program. Everything in the line is made with the highest quality natural ingredients and is supported by scientific research. The premise is that we can't get everything we need from outside treatments, we need to have things working from the inside. Ideally we would all get everything we need from food, but at least for me that's proven impossible (ie I load-up on protein, poof! Up goes my cholesterol!). As hard as I try to get all my veggies, fruits, whole wheat, omegas, and everything else in I'll find that one day I'll be good about one thing and bad about another. I've tried taking One-a-Day for Women, but the pills are so big that they upset my stomach. Viactiv is too tasty -- every time I pop one chewy I'm tempted to eat a whole box and Chinese herbal supplements, at least the ones I've tried, left an unpleasant taste in my mouth. Needless to say I was excited to get my personalized one-month vitamin diet supplement pack. Read more about it after the jump!

Bag Snob - Sale Alert! up to 75% off Jennifer Alfano Spring/Summer Sample Sale.

Bella Sugar - Love it or Hate It? Halle's new do.

Couture Snob - Sale Alert! 50% off Oscar de la Renta 5/27

Nitrolicious - is having a Veuve Clicquot Traveler Set + Blanket giveaway in light of the Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic.

Purse Blog - Thinks Katherine Fleming's Bradbury Hobo has put the little black hobo back on the radar.

TheFind - Has found a program that will launch your dream career as a Hollywood Stylist.

The Laughing Storke - is encouraging all mothers to take a babymoon!

Tot Snob - found a great summer road trip companion with this Zookies Art Portfolio.

As you pare down your wardrobe in preparation for warmer weather, don't forget to give your makeup bag a similar overhaul. Follow these do's and don'ts from Prescriptives Director of Color Artistry Jillian Veran for smudge-proof, sweat-resistant looks to get you through the long, sweltering days.

· DO stay protected and hydrated. Apply All Weather Friend Daily UVA/UVB Skin Protection SPF 40 every day over a lightweight moisturizer like All You Need+ SPF 15 Continuous Action 24-Hour Moisture for healthy and luminous skin that lasts.

· DON'T use makeup to create a tan. Instead, apply Good In Bed Skin Restoring Night Moisturizer nightly to face, neck and décolleté. The luscious formula contains a hint of self tanner so skin "wakes-up" with enhanced, natural looking color.

Congrats to our winner, Mary-Frances K from Hibbing Minnesota!
Bobbi Brown wants to spoil your mom (and you) this month with a Beauty Trunk containing $1,000 worth of fabulous Bobbi Brown products!  Bobbi knows that moms need to pamper themselves and want to look beautiful no matter how run down or exhausted she is.  After all, this is a woman who mastered the art of balancing home life with three sons and running a global beauty empire!  How she does it is beyond me; I can barely manage our little network of blogs with only one small son!   All of us at Beauty Snob are super excited about our May giveaway and wish we could enter to win ourselves but only one lucky Beauty Snob reader will get to win.  To win, sign up for our newsletter here.  So simple, right? 

A big heartfelt thanks to Bobbi Brown and her amazing team for the generous giveaway!

We're also featuring a Mom Snob each day at noon until Mother's Day starting with Bobbi today so make sure to check daily!

Rules: US Residents only please.  Contest will end on May 31st and winner will be chosen via random computer drawing.  Winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is picked.

I love Hilary Swank, she always looks so natural and cute! Sure she is not the most beautiful actress in the business but she has a much longer shelf life than most of them. She attended the premiere of "Looking For Eric" by Ken Loach in Cannes last week with healthy glowing skin.  She achieved the look with the help of artist Odile Gilbert for Dior and Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Hydrating Makeup Light Beige N°020.  Her eyes were lined with Dior Palette 5 Couleurs Designer Smoky Design N°008 and finished off with Diorshow Iconic Mascara Black N°090.  I am completely obsessed with this mascara-- it lifts, curls and defines without use of a lash curler!  It's not as thickening as the original Dior Show Mascara so I use the Iconic as the base coat and then top off with another coat or two or three of Dior Show.  My one issue with it is that it's waterproof and difficult to remove without an oil based cleanser.  It will be great at the beach this summer though!    Diorshow Iconic Mascara Black N°090 $27 at Sephora.