Recently in Eyes Category

Remember the 80's when you applied your make up colors depending if you're an "Autumn" "Spring" or "Summer"?  I mean back then, god forbid if you wore cool pink tones if you were determined a warm Autumn!  Thank god we've thrown all those misguided ideas out the window-- any one can wear any color if done right.  Which is what Bobbi Brown has taught us since she revolutionized the industry 20 years ago.  It's all about being as natural and neutral as possible, who says a brunette with olive toned skin can not rock a blue eye shadow?  With Bobbi's new "Color Strips Collection" you can do it all, effortlessly!  Color Strips is a complete spring eye, lip and cheek wardrobe designed by Bobbi so you can use pops of color with five eye shadows and three shades of pot rough designed to work together beautifully!  Color without boundaries,,, imagine the possibilities! 

The collection is at retail counters now but we will be giving away THREE SETS courtesy of Bobbi herself!  Stay tuned next Monday to find out how you can win Bobbi's new "Color Strips Collection"!  Or if you're like me and can not wait, run to a Bobbi counter today or click to her website here to purchase-- Price: $60.00

The day after the end of New York Fashion Week I made my way back to Bryant Park for an event that Sephora hosted to unveil their S/S 2010 collection. A number of goodies were revealed, but see below for the most exciting! All items will be launching nationwide at Sephoras in May.

Color Play 5-in-1 (pictured above)
Hard to believe but this limited edition palette is only $29.50! It includes five smaller color palettes each of which can be popped-out and plopped into the travel case shown on the right. The set comes with 50 eye shadows, 10 lip color, and five blushes.

Sephora by OPI Havana Nights
New nail colors for the season will be --

• Rumba Romance - brilliant golden bronze
• Teal We Meet Again - dramatic blue-green
• Havana Dreams - sunny sky blue
• Read My Palm - lush, tropical green
• Caliente Coral - bright coral
• Carribean Cocktail - shimmering sea blue

Each of the shades ($9 each), are high on vibrancy and shine. I have a feeling the golden bronze will be one of the "it" shades of the summer!

I.T. Makeup Brush Collection
I love that Sephora turned to an architect (Philippe Di Meo), to design their latest brush collection (highest quality to date, $14-$40). Not only are they super chic because of their metallic color-coded finish (fuchsia for the face, violet for the eyes, and blue for the brows), but caps were created for each brush to protect the bristles and to help keep the brushes clean (the brushes I use now are from Prescriptives and to avoid getting them dirty I have to store them in Ziploc bags!).

EDUN for Sephora
EDUN is an apparel brand that aims to raise awareness of the possibilities in Africa to encourage emulation. To help achieve this goal, EDUN and Sephora created two palettes ($36) with proceeds going to the Wildlife Conservation Society, a global charity that supports the Conservation Cotton Initiation program (which helps African farmers develop organic cotton in a way that supports community, trade, its development and biodiversity). The palette comes in two shade combinations (each with six shadows and two blush shades): White (warm neutrals) and Black (cool brights), and each comes housed in a natural wood case along with an organic cotton drawstring pouch.

If there's one beauty product that I think is a must, it's the Clarisonic. The contraption completely transformed my skin since I first started using it nearly two years ago (and best of all I saw results after my first use), so my expectations were high for their latest launch, Opal.  Targeting fine lines and wrinkles around the eye, Opal combines sonic micro-massage with a proprietary Anti-Aging Serum and similarly, the results are immediate. I don't have many lines around my eyes, but I do have puffiness, especially in the morning. After using the Opal only once I could already tell that my eye region was noticeably smoother, firmer, and brighter though I did need to moisturize a little after. Application is very quick - charge the Opal, dispense its serum, and infuse your skin by moving the device in a circular motion around the bone of the eye. You're supposed to use it twice a day, but I've seen results and have only been using it once every other day. Opal was also widely used backstage during Fashion Week (most prominently at Chris Benz).

Creme Ancienne ($135) has been a cult-fave since Fresh first introduced it back in 2005. It's based on a 2nd century formulation that was developed to heal gladiators' wounds and the appearance of scars! The original formulation was updated by Fresh co-founder Lev Glazman and today it's produced BY HAND in a monastery in the Czech Republic. Given the popularity of the face cream, Fresh has just introduced Creme Ancienne Eye Cream ($95). The cream is a lightweight, hand-blended cream with a whipped texture that absorbs quickly into the eye-region. Though it isn't made using the same method as the face cream, it's made with the same oils and waxes. In addition it's formulated with Sugar Apple Seed Extract to reduce the appearance of wrinkles (Jojoba Oil, Seabuckthorn Berry Oil, Chamomile Oil, Vitamin E, and Rosewater are also key ingredients). I received a sample of the eye cream and it has a nice rose-scent. The best part about it though is that because it's light and fast-absorbing, I can use it in place of a primer in the morning before applying makeup:-)

Have you tried this magical pencil from Givenchy yet?  This is especially handy at romantic candle lit dinners (the flickering candle casts shadows on the face!) because it is a shadow chaser and a complexion reviver.  Even if you're exhausted with dark circles, this will reduce visible signs of fatigue immediately.  The texture is soothing and fragrance-free plus it contains SPF10 sun protection and Actiwake Complex, a Givenchy exclusive that combines two multivitamin-charged plant extracts to help refresh sallow complexion.  I'll be stashing one of these magic pencils in my clutch during Valentine's Day dinner!  Givenchy Mister Light Instant Light Corrective Pen Mister Milk $32

I remember when I first discovered Stila cosmetics 13 years ago-- it was a shadow called "Kitten" in the most gorgeous shimmer nude pink shade that sparkled on the lids.  I can't even tell you how many pots of "Kitten" I've gone through since then!  I'm a huge fan of subtle sparkle and Stila has an entire sparkling collection called "Dust to Diamonds" for Spring 2010!  Read on to discover the collection!    

Stila One Step Makeup

This is the perfect make up for beauty snobs who only have a few minutes to get ready- it's a primer, foundation, concealer and powder all in one easy step!  It's made of 100% mineral pigments to deliver one high performance, high definition, long wearing, luxurious formula. The medium coverage foundation is buildable and blendable and leaves skin looking flawless.

Price: $44, available at Sephora.com

Eye creams and serums somehow magically all end up in my bathroom vanity, but the latest from Kiehl's is novel. First off, while the roll-on concept packaging is not new (use deodorant lately?), in eye cream territory, it is--at least for me. It took a little getting used to when it came to removing the top cap only to have to remove a second cap, but the no-muss, no-fuss roll, dab-and-go approach is quite efficient and travel-friendly. I'd definitely recommend it for frequent fliers. I suffer from tired, puffy eyes that dry out easily--blame it on late nights watching tennis and early morning meetings--so this product, as part of Kiehl's' ever-popular "Facial Fuel" line geared towards men, managed to hydrate the under-eye areas while providing a cooling sensation (there's honey in the moisturizer!). It's also lightweight and non-greasy, which my combination skin certainly appreciates. Arctic root and hibiscus tea are two of its main components, although I'm sure the caffeine component makes this the facial equivalent of a 3PM cup of coffee.

$18.50 at kiehls.com and Kiehl's counters nationwide

The Tarte EmphasEYES™ High Definition Eye Pencil is probably one of the only pencil liners that I have been able to use.  It is a super skinny retractable eye pencil, so it never gives a fat dull line.  I typically never use a pencil liner because with most of them, to get a nice smooth line, you have to pull at the eye and I just refuse to do that in fear of getting fine lines and wrinkles.  I mean what's the use on spending $200 on an eye cream when you're just going to abuse your face anyways.  This liner applies on really smooth and I get a nice thin line without having to touch my eyes at all.  It stays put pretty well because it's made for the waterline, but I don't put liner there because it tends to close up my eyes.  Get Tarte EmphasEYES™ High Definition Eye Pencil for $18.

I am not one to use shadow base because most products are thick and dry and I think it's very taxing on your eyelids to have too many layers of make up schlacked on.  However, I received a sampe of "Stay Don't Stray" and was tempted to try it because I have greasy eyelids and my shadows always crease and generally end up melting off by mid day. I don't have as much of a problem with my concealer but this can also be used for concealer if you do. The consistency of Stay Don't Stray is lightweight and creamy (has vitamins A & C to protect skin) without being greasy which got my attention, plus it comes in an easy to pump tube.  I applied it on my lids and it dried almost immediately yet did not feel dry.  It leaves the skin soft and clean feeling (like you have nothing on).  I applied my eyeshadow as per usual and went about my day which can be anything from working, lunching, shopping (which is really work in my case) and running around after my 5 year old.  At the end of the day, my shadow was still in tact.  It didn't look freshly applied but there was no creasing at all!  This is great for traveling if you have a sweetheart waiting for you at the airport :) 
Benefit Cosmetics Stay Don't Stray $24.00

This is probably the best concealer that I have ever tried. The MAKE UP FOR EVER Full Cover Concealer is a waterproof, full coverage conceal, and when they say waterproof they mean waterproof. I use it under my eyes and it conceals everything and stays put. I don't need to set it with powder or anything to have it stay in place.  It has a thick consistency and I have to work a little quick or else I'll be pulling at my eyes to blend it out.  Usually I pat it anywhere I need it.  I did some hard core tests on this concealer to see how true it stayed in place and it passed them all.  I put it all around my eye area, and it did not crease at all on my lids and I did not use a primer.  And to give a little background, when I put anything on my lids without a primer, products will crease in less then 5 minutes.  I also took a nice long nap and woke up with it just like I had it when I first applied it.  My eyes also tend to water a bit and it stays on much better then any concealer I've tried.  If I'm bawling and rubbing my eyes then it'll come off, but that's what I expected, or else how would you get this off.  Get it exclusively at Sephora for $30.