October 2009 Archives

Asian women are obsessed with SK-II-- the brand introduces the new SKIN SIGNATURE SERIES for Fall 2009, founded following a dermatological study revealing that each individual's skin has a tipping point, where elasticity and resilience begin to decrease more rapidly (I think that point is between 40-50 for most women).  To help stave off the onset of tipping point effects, SK-II researched a bounty of ingredients, and introduces Oli-Vityl, derived from Tuscan olives to increase anti-oxidant activity and further promote elasticity and resilience.

The new line sounds promising, we will have to hit the counters to test it out next month!  

I did a double-take when I was at L'Occitane's holiday preview a few months ago -- a set of three soaps for $8? From L'Occitane? Whaaaat!? Moments of Africa Soap Set is indeed only $8, comes in a ready-to-gift box, and 100% of the proceeds go to charities fighting blindness. The soaps in the set depict moments of African life and they were produced entirely in Burkina Fasco by co-operatives of entrepreneurial women to promote cooperate efforts. They smell light and fresh -- they're perfumed with essentials oils of orange, eucalyptus and lemongrass and they've been colored with pigments of natural origin. Stocking stuffer, anyone?

55 Secret Street weighs in on Newsweek's Zahara Jolie Pitt hair controversy and wants to know,  "Are We All Really "Team Zahara?".

Stiletto Jungle thinks a wrap sweater you can wear 6 ways is perfect for fall.

All Lacquered Up takes you backstage at Carolina Herrera where made its runway debut.

Heidi & Spencer dress as Jon & Kate for Halloween - Allie is Wired has the pictures.

Fab Sugar has the metallic jacket Trend Alert!

Bag Bliss loves the latest arm candy by Felix Rey.

If you are looking for just one all around great piece for the season or for the year, Bag Snob has it!

Coquette wants to dress up her MacBook and iPhone in the upcoming new Mulberry accessories for Apple products.

The Daily Obsession shares a never published before beauty tip.

Fashion Pulse Daily has teamed up with Manhattanite to give away a Nip & Tuck Hollywood Basket, full of Foot Petals, Miss Oops, and Hollywood products!

The Jet Set Girls pick the black nail polish for Vegas.

KRISTOPHER DUKES is wanting, wearing, and hating the Salvador Dali "Bird In Hand" compact.

Second City Style takes a look at Where The Wild Things Are on the runway and the real way.

From ankle height to over the knee, SheFinds has all the best flat boots to let you walk, run, and skip through fall in style and comfort.

Shopping and Info found the best black cashmere cowl neck sweater.

The StyleBakery.com editors share their Top 10 Picks for Fall, totaling over 100 must-buys for every budget

Stylehive is thinking the basic little black dress has been a bit too nice lately, and is loving black leather dresses for fall...

The Beauty Stop dishes about Reese Witherspoon's beauty secrets.

The Shoe Goddess has fallen in love with this pair of amazing Azzedine Alaia Buckle Boots!

V-Style Loves Thakoon's Mirror Mosaic Booties for fall.

eye4style has the scoop on what's next for New York City's legendary Limelight (hint: it involves shopping!).

Tot Snob has this ingenious booster seat that safely straps your tot to any chair, or to you while sitting on your lap!

Laura Mercier is a great line of cosmetics for a natural look. This Laura Mercier 'Renaissance' Collection is great because it is such a good value. And it's like they compacted everything as well as they can for traveling. They made the concealer brush double ended, so that it's two brushes in one. And they have their fabulous secret concealer in a pot, with the setting powder underneath. It also comes with their Flawless Skin Day Creme with an SPF 15 in a deluxe sample size, a mini Black Thickening and Building Mascara, Pink Champagne Lip Glacé, and an eye color duo, all in cute cosmetic bag. Of course, kits are always a great value, but what's even better is that it's also on sale. So for $167 worth of product you only pay $38.90 for all of it. I mean, when does Laura Mercier really go on sale anyways?

I am completely obsessed with flecked nails! Deborah Lippmann has been coming-out with the most AMAZING shades. I already told you guys about her 10th Anniversary set of three colors ($35) which comes with Rubby Red Slippers (super-dark taupe with red flecks), Superstar (dark brown with copper flecks), and Funky Chunky (black with black flecks). Now Lippman has come-out with Happy Birthday ($18, sheer with multi-colored flecks), and Marquee Moon ($16, silver with silver flecks). I can't tell you how many people ask me about my nails when I wear these shades. They're so fun and different without being too goth/tacky. Plus the play on light/dark and sparkle/matte is great for winter/fall.

Do you like flecked nail polishes as much as I do?

It's hard not to laugh when standing at Asian cosmetic counters-- with products named "Happy Butter Lips" or "Shiny Face"-- do you blame me? When I saw this mascara at RMK-- the "Extra Deep W" (directly translated, they really mean extra long), I stifled a giggle and let the SA put it on me. Holy crap! Remember my Awake "Stardom" mascara obsession?  I vowed to buy the company if they ever discontinued it and when they did-- I bought a dozen tubes!  And if you must know, I did try to buy Awake but my hubby refused to comply.  Anyhoo, I've been searching for something comparable and guess what-- RMK has made something even better!  I bought several tubes at Mistukoshi in Taipei.  Just praying they never discontinue this!  Here is my review-- if you don't move moutains to try and get your hands on this mascara you are no beauty snob!  Rated from 1-5, 5 being best.

Wand- 5: My biggest compaint about mascaras are the large bristles, it gets messy and it's hard to reach the inner corner lashes.  There are mascaras made for the inner corner lashes but then they don't provide the same lengethning/thickening.  This wand is perfect, I feel like Goldilocks every time I use it!

Thickening- 3: There are two sides to the tube, the base side provides thickening but not as well as DIOR Show.  The only downside is this is waterproof-- I abhor waterproof mascara because it's so difficult to remove!  What's the point?  I don't bathe nor swim with make up on!

Lengthening- 5+: The other side of the tube is the reason I love this mascara. This is by far the most superior fiber mascara out there, the fibers are tiny so they don't look obvious or get messy.  You can also keep applying (I do 3 coats) without clumping, a major plus!  In fact, my lashes were so long that my dad (who never notices these things) asked me if I was wearing fake lashes!

I paid NT$1,250 (roughly $38USD)-- very pricey but worth every penny!  Extra Deep W Mascara at RMK counters in Asia and Selfridges in London.  





 

I'm all about braids on a bad hair day: pig tails, French braids, braided ponytails -- whatever. On the red carpet however -- when you're a celebrity like Blake Lively and have had professionals fussing over your hair for hours -- I don't understand why you would opt for this look. If you block out Lively's face, jewelry, and outfit and just focus on her hair, wouldn't you think she was heading to the gym!? I vote slob on this trend. What say you -- Snob or Slob?

There is so much talk about lash enhancers, but what about the brows? In my opinion, brows are what frame the rest of your face. I have a full shape to my brows, but the hairs are on the sparse and thin side. I usually fill them in, but at the ends of the brows, since its so thin, not much product is picked up into them making them look kind of wimpy. I've heard about Anastasia Brow Enhancing Serum for quite some time now and over the summer finally decided to get it. I used it religiously, applying it day and night. After the 2nd week I noticed the hairs getting longer, faster, but didn't really see any new hairs growing. After about 4 weeks, that's when I noticed some stray hairs growing in. My brows did feel fuller, and the end of my brows did seem more pronounced, so I think this product was a success. I stopped using it for about a month to see if it would stay that same thickness, but just like lash conditioners, if you stop using it, your hairs will grow back the way that they were. You can get it at Nordstroms.com for $36.

I have a feeling that with the economy the way it is, this holiday season is going to be amazing for gift sets. I've already begun seeing the great deals at Sephora and among them is the Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Happiness Collection ($54). It's a limited edition exclusive to Sephora and while I know that it's gimmicky I love that it's infused with "mood-boosting Happybelle, a complex containing a natural plant extract believed to mimic the effect of endorphins and induce a sense of happiness" (such a fun little touch if you're looking to give this as a gift...no?). The nine-piece kit has 100% pure bareMinerals eye and cheek colors that are free of preservative, talc, waxes, binders, and fragrances. Jump for more!

Nitrolicious has the Rich & Skinny Spring 2010 Look Book including some new washes and distressed denim.

Couture Snob loved this Robert Rodriquez leather jacket so much, she gave it to her best friend and is now buying another for herself!

The Find was looking for some over-the-knee boots to wear with leggings and a chunky knit sweater and found these Jimmy Choo Yams.

Bag Snob has Lara Bohinc, one of fashion's most dynamic jewelers, who is also a bag designer worthy of a look.

Fab Sugar has a Sneak Peak! Jimmy Choo for H&M.

Tot Snob has this season's three favorite pieces in the color of fall.

Recessionista Blog found these hot boots from Free People for only $98!