November 2009 Archives

I've used Davines on and off for over a year now and always find myself going back to the Momo moisturizing shampoo and conditioner when my hair becomes dry and static-y. It's strange how the texture of my hair changed after giving birth; once glossy and shiny, it now frizzes at will (especially while traveling!). I was sent the Momo anti-frizz protecting fluid to review and brought it on my Thanksgiving trip to LA to test it out.  I used it the morning I was flying before I used my T3 curling iron and was thankful it was not as heavy as it looked in the bottle.  The texture was lightweight and creamy without weighing down my hair and gave it a nice shine without being oily.  Would have been a disaster to have grease laden hair while traveling!  Since then I've experimented and used it before blowdrying and on days I don't shampoo (just on the ends).  Am loving this product!   
Davines Momo Moisturizing Anti-Frizz Protective Fluid, Dry & Frizzy Hair $18

I have a love-hate relationship with food-scented body products. On one hand there's nothing I love more than the smell of a strawberry margarita or some birthday cake, but on the other hand those smells -- especially lathered all over my body -- make me want to jump out of the shower and straight into my kitchen! That said I'm a total sucker for cutesy products and there's something fun in being able to walk-out of my apartment being like "mmm I smell like a delicious piece of birthday cake!" (so sexy, right:-)! Well, at the very least a great conversation starter...). Dylan Lauren, daughter of Ralph Lauren (who, on a side note, I saw in person at the Boom Boom Room in NYC recently -- the man looks AMAZING..how is he 70!??), owns a candy shop (more like an empire given that it takes-up a whole NYC corner and 3 floors), that has a line of Birthday Cake-themed body products. More after the jump!  

40 years ago, Joe Brown spent many nights writing and spinning tales of a character named Marceau to entertain his children.  An attorney for over 50 years (a profession he disliked immensely), Joe wanted nothing more for his children then to be happy.  When one of them declared she wanted to major in "make up" at college, he supported her decision-- Bobbi Brown is now one of the biggest names in cosmetics and credits her father for allowing her to follow her dream.  As a young child, Bobbi remembers waiting for her father to return home from work each evening and begging him to tell the tales of Marceau. She calls him a modern day Dr. Seuss for his ability to weave the stories in rhyming poetry and I have to agree-- my son just got a copy of the book and it is now his favorite (he would like to know when the next installment of Marceau will be available!).  Each page has several "grown up" words with explanations on the bottom of the page.  This is a wonderful way to teach you child new words while you have their full attention.  Bobbi and Joe were recently on the Today show (he is so funny!)--  Watch their segment here!

We are also giving away FOUR copies of the book signed by both Bobbi and Joe-- please check Tot snob for details.  If you can not wait, however, you may purchase The Flights of Marceau here in time for Christmas!  

We sent this charming father/daughter duo a list of questions to answer separately-- read on for their answers!

1. What was Bobbi like as a child?
Bobbi: "I was sweet, very inquisitive, and funny. I was also very social and loved being around my friends. We actually started a jewelry company when I was 12 and would sell the jewelry we made out of the basement. I guess that says a lot about what I was like as a child."
Joe: " She was sweet, well mannered, popular, with many friends that used to assemble at our house."

2. Bobbi's favorite books as a child?
Bobbi: "Peter Rabbit and Dr. Seuss as a young child, and Nancy Drew as I was growing up."
Joe: "I remember 'Black Beauty' which I still give my grandchildren as a first novel."

3. Your favorite memories of each other?
Bobbi: "Spending weekends just him and I at the Playboy Club in Lake Geneva."
Joe: " Her mother had given her a bunch of old makeup. She went into the bathroom to play with it. When we walked in, the walls, sink, floor, etc. were painted with lipstick, blush, mascara, etc. It was not a pretty sight."

4. Did your father have a nickname for you?
Bobbi: "He didn't have a nickname for me."
Joe: "No, her given name is a nickname."

5. Your favorite bedtime story when you were little?
Bobbi: "Stories about Marceau..."
Joe: "The adventures of Patty, Perry and Puddy Boo."

6. What did Bobbi want to be when she grew up?
Bobbi: "A mother and a teacher."
Joe: "A teacher, wife and mother."

7. What did your father want you to be when you grew up?
Bobbi: "Happy."
Joe: "Happy."
 

Bag Snob has the perfect neon clutch for that sparkly holiday dress.

Couture Snob discovered this delightful little boutique while wandering on 3rd Street in L.A. this week.

Stiletto Jungle is excited that Uniqlo HeatTech clothing is now available online.

Allie is Wired fashion face-off: Jessica Biel vs. Mandy Moore.

Fashion Pule Dailyreveals an amazing new dry shampoo during the latest3 Minutes of Beautysegment.

Ouch! The Jet Set Girls experience their first Brazilian wax.

KRISTOPHER DUKES is wanting, wearing, and hating Brulee lingerie.

Second City Style shows us with so much sparkle and shine in 2009 - What To Wear This Holiday Season .

SheFinds won't let you miss a deal - check out the best Black Friday sales, going on all weekend.

Shopping and Info loves Kristen Stewart of Twilight's Sergio Rossi platform pumps.

StyleBakery.com's Huge Holiday Gift Guide rounds up over 130 gifts for everyone on your list (and most are under $50!)

The Beauty Stop tells how you can get your beauty wish granted by Sephora Claus.

The Fashion Bomb
The Fashion Bomb finds the best Black Friday Steals and Deals both online and in stores.

Spy gear holiday gift idea for the ultra curious tot who loves adventure at Tot Snob.

FabSugar has your strategizing for Black Friday with their Black Friday Roundup.

The Tiffany & Co. 2009-2010 Blue Book Collection can be viewed at Jewel Snob.

Diva Snob

Bobbi Brown Exclusive Black Plum Beauty Trunk ($1000) is the ultimate for the Diva in your life.  It has everything but the kitchen sink in it!  Gorgeous plummy shades of eye shadows, liners, blush, lipstick and glosses, shimmer brick and so much more.  It would take a week just to play and try out everything! 

This is just such a glamour puss set-- the Touche Eclat is a perennial favorite and you can't go wrong with a sparkling gloss and smoky black eyeliner at night.  I love the cosmetic bag, too.  So chic!  Yves Saint Laurent Holiday Collection 2009 $60

Of course you can not mention Diva snob without adding a little bit of La Mer to the mix.  La Mer The Connoisseur Skincare Collection $395

This set will allow your Diva friend to sparkle as brightly as the gems she wears.  Laura Mercier does jewel tones so well, the colors are never to sheer nor too opaque and I love the nice creamy quality to the powder shadows.  Laura Mercier Gemstone Eye Collection$125

Who else but a Diva would take the time to airbrush her make up on each day?  Of course she is not doing it herself, she has people who do things like that for her.  Platinum Airbrush System $365

I could not have received the no!no! Skin ($180) at a better time as I was making myself cross-eyed eying a blemish on my chin a few weeks ago. The pocket-size device is from the same brand that made the no!no! Hair and similarly uses "zapping" to target the problem -- in this case a zit. It uses Light & Heat Energy technology (the light treats the bacteria that is the source of the blemish, while the heat speeds up the healing process and reduces swelling), to help pimples heal 55% quicker than if left untreated. I'm usually intimidated by these kinds of gadgets and I wouldn't recommend this for anyone with serious acne issues, but if you're like me and are driven crazy when you have the occasional few pimples pop-up this is probably right for you. It's super simple to use just "Place, Push, Pulse" (each "treatment" lasts 10 seconds and there is a beep to tell you when it's over). It's recommended to use this on your blemish twice a day (two sessions each time), until it goes away. When I used this, I found that while the pimples didn't completely go away by the next day, the no!no! Skin got them to the minimal point where I wasn't self-conscious about them in just 24 hours...and really that's all I want!  

Fragrance Snob

You must get this for the bag and fragrance snob in your life, it's such a cute little accessory to have in your bag or hang on you bag if you like little charms.  I took a whiff of the scent and it's actually quite yummy.  Leiber Crystal Miniaudiere $165

I have Jo Malone candles burning in every room in the house.  My housekeeper has also become addicted and the minute she walks in-- she lights it up-- when we run out she puts it on top of my shopping list (LOL!).  Jo Malone candles burn slowly and last a really long time; this big giant multi scent one should be good at least half a year.  Fragrance Combining Candle $185

My friend Dawn is obsessed with Jo Malone scents and has these little bottles in her powder bathroom so her guests can freshen up with lots of choices.  This will be in her stocking from me.  Cologne Collection $95

Not only is Michael Kors' new scent very pretty, the bottle is gorgeous, too!  This is a fresh and light scent and has the delightful white floral notes that I love.  A fabulous scent for the slopes as the citrus scent will warm you with thoughts of warmer weather to come.  Michael Kors Fragrance Very Pretty $75

If you've never tried BareMinerals before this is a great chance to do so. The BareMinerals Get Started Kit is a great way to try out BareMinerals because it comes with all your basics to get a natural healthy look. Right now and only at Sephora it is 20% off for $48 for only this week and is almost a $200 value. It's got buildable coverage and is great for all skin types. This is a great gift to give girls of any age, so stock up!

The kit includes:

- 2 foundations
- All Over Face Color in Warmth
- Mineral Veil
- Full Flawless Face Brush
- Flawless Application Face Brush
- Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush or Light Stroke Brush
- a How-to instructional DVD
- BONUS - Exclusively for SEPHORA : 0.05 oz Prime Time Foundation Primer

Get it at Sephora for $48. Offer good until December 1, 2009.

I'm a big Rodial fan. I love their sleek white and metallic silver packaging, their cheeky names, and the fact that they're often recommended by dermatologist (and touted by celebs like Jen Aniston), doesn't hurt either.  For those not familiar with the UK line, it's formulated with anti-aging and firming ingredients notably Pomegranate Ellagic Tannin (collagen booster and firming agent). One of their stand-outs (and complement to Boob Job), is their Skincare Bum Lift ($130). No the cream will certainly not replace your squats, but Bum Lift -- which uses a peptide, wheat protein, and caffeine -- does have an immediate firming effect. I don't think there is anything that will actually get rid of cellulite (and I've tried an endless array of creams/gels including painfully textured ones from Clarins and super-smelly ones from Shiseido), but there is definitely an instant smoothing and firmness effect with this gel which makes it stand-out from the pack. To see full effect combine with exercise though! 

What do you use to tighten your derriere?

Sporty Snob

My surfing girlfriends will love Bobbi's Beach set-- even when they are away from the beach they can carry the scent of the ocean with them.  I'm addicted to the scent and am hoping they'll come out with a shampoo/conditioner soon.  Bobbi Brown Beach Set here $75

Is she forgoing surf for ski this season?  You must get her this gift set.  The lip balm is one of my favorites in dry winter months-- it's ultra moisturizing without being sticky.  I have not tried the non-freez face cream yet but if we head out to Vail this winter I'll be picking this up for myself!   Kiehl's Winter Sport Set $37.50-- free shipping at Kiehls this month.

For the Sporty snobs who don't like too much fuss-- the voyager pack from Trish McEvoy will keep them looking gorgeous with just a few swipes of the neutral quad face powder and shadows.  The short handle brushes are neatly tucked away in the case and will take the guess work out of application. Trish McEvoy 'The Voyager' Beauty Emergency Card $65