Recently in Face Category

Leighton Meester decked-out in NARS makeup at the 3.1 Phillip Lim show.

What could be better than a line of cosmetics inspired by runway looks? You know they'll go perfect with your wardrobe! The fall 2008 NARS collection, with its glowing palette of neutrals in shimmering tones, is a great complement to the bold, solid hues, and feminine textures that will be big this fall. Of course NARS blush is always amazing. I tried the NARS Powder Blush in Dolce Vita which not only was a great complement to my skin-tone, but it's so wonderfully soft that it's a treat to put it on. I also love their new nail color, which is a dusty pomegranate color called Rebel Yell (I'm sooo over the bright, peachy colors of summer!).

Check-out the full line after the jump!

Kanebo cosmetics has a new Sensai Foundation series that you need to know about it. I keep waxing on the virtues of this Japanese cosmetic line because they truly are one of the most luxurious lines of cosmetics in the world.  I've been having fun testing out the new line in order to give you a complete review (I've enlisted the help of beauty snob friends, too!).  I have to say what struck me most was its sophisticated and simple packaging.  Shiny, translucent caps and lids top off gently rounded containers in white and charcoal black.  Tres chic.  But how do the products inside perform?  Read on!

1.  Smoothing Water Make-Up Base $45 -Has the consistency of dense lotion but looks like water.  Lightweight and makes any foundation smooth on flawlessly.  Similar to the hydrating B5 gel but even more smoothing.  Rating: 8 out of 10.  Recommended for all skin types.
 
2. Fluid Finish Foundation $50- Not that I need another foundation but this one gives an opaque coverage without feeling heavy on the face.  It is waterbase but feels really moisturizing.  I won't be using this daily, however, it's best for evenings or on camera.  Rating: 7 out of 10.  Recommended for dry skin. 

3. Anti Age Brush concealer $33- I've been applying concealer with my fingertips but it is so much better to use a brush-- less pulling and stress on delicate eye area.  The coverage is smooth and with the powder over it, it hides circles fairly well.  Best part is its ability to hide blemishes on the face or legs with just a quick brush.  Love this and keep it in make up bag for touch ups. Rating: 9 out of 10  (Must have!)  Recommended for all skin types.
 
4. Translucent Powder $60- Hello silky!  My grandmother would approve of this silky and featherweight water based translucent powder.  The shade looked really white in the container and I was apprehensive but when I patted it on with the applicator, it disappeared into my skin.  LOVE!  Rating: 9 out of 10.  Recommended for all skin types.

Check Kanebo.com for store details or call toll free at  866.271.6815 to order!

 

"Washington power women are in the spotlight and have to look and feel their best not only in person, but also on television.  In a world of High Definition television that shows every facial imperfection, makeup has to be flawless and refined, which can be incredibly challenging"

-Gordon Espinet, Vice President of Makeup Artistry, M·A·C Cosmetics Worldwide

.  "Red Lipstick is a great option as it commands attention and communicates a desire to be taken seriously. Blotting Powder is a must especially under hot lights as it keeps oil at bay and prevents shine. Mascara opens and defines the eyes, and M·A·C's Mineralize Skinfinish Natural is an essential as it gives a smooth, even finish without a cakey look."

M·A·C's talented Senior Artists created various beauty looks they feel will appeal to the women who are immersed in this hot political season and that can easily take them from a debate to an evening gala - no matter what skin tone or hair color you have - M·A·C has colors that will help make you look like the belle of the ball. 

Camouflage dark circles and lines with Benefit's latest product and my latest obsession, the "Powderflage". I have been keeping this in my make up bag-- not recommended as all the powder spilled to the top and when I opened it and got all over my new dress. So now I leave it on my make up counter to avoid more spills of this precious powder that makes me sparkle ever so lightly while hiding the fact that I have not slept properly since I returned home from my NY-LA adventure. I use it over my Laura Mercier concealer and just lightly tap it in with the flat brush (enclosed with Powderflage). Voila, as good as 9 hours of sleep! $28 at Benefitcosmetics.com

Known for their sexy, slim jeans Rock & Republic is launching a line of cosmetics on September 15^th. The 116-piece collection includes 10 product categories and was previewed at the Rock & Republic Spring 2009 runway show where all the models were decked-out in the new line of makeup. In keeping with their collection, which looked very fall for a spring collection, they skipped light, bright, pastel makeup, in favor of a rock-style spring smoky eye, with pale grays to lighten the eye, and luminous skin to create a sexy, rocker-chic look. I haven't personally tried the makeup yet, but I'm impressed with the looks that were created for the show, so I have high hopes for the line. That said, I was struck by one item in the collection -- a Swarovski Crystal-embedded bronzer compact that retails for $225 (it comes in three shades -- Private Jet, Villa, and Penthouse -- hmm -- how appropriate). I'm all about the glitz and the glam, but is this glitz and glam snob or glitz and tacky slob?

 

Caviar? Champagne? Truffles? Yes, yes, yes! Talk about being snob-worthy:) But I'm not talking about these decadent goodies as dinner, I'm talking about them as skincare ingredients. That's right, you can live the good Sex and the City life with Om Aroma -- the organic spa and skincare line that combines natural and organic ingredients with a luxe twist. The collection, which targets wrinkles and signs of aging, has a line which include: Elixir de Beauté - a Champagne Facial Cleanser ($48, 3.4 oz), Crème Luxe - a Truffle Face Crème ($95, 1.7 oz - comes for oily, normal, or dry skin), and Extrait de Caviar - a Caviar Eye Crème ($72, 0.5 oz). You can get all three for $175 with the Luxe Collection. I love the idea of these ingredients being used, plus I'm always alleviated when I read that products make a point of using appropriate minerals and vitamins. So was this as luxe as it sounds? Yes! Truly all 3 products are so smooth and soft -- the eye creme is like butter (minus the nasty grease!) -- seriously the cream just glides on. The only product I had a slight problem with is the champagne foam cleanser. It's brown with darker-colored crushed champagne grape-seed particles so it looks really messy on your washcloth and you can't really tell what's makeup and what's brown spotty cleanser, also the smell which I didn't notice till it was all over my face (smells totally different once it's on your skin) -- was not great -- that said it does, like the eye and face cream go on delectably easily and leaves your skin nice and smooth...mmmm:)

 

An actress once told me she used beaten egg whites on her skin before filming to give her skin a lift. She said she'd slather it on and rinse off about 80% of it, leaving the rest of the egg whites on her face to continue the lift throughout the day. I don't know how smelly or sanitary that is but now you can achieve the same with Prescriptives Super Line Preventor Xtreme Lifting. See your skin visibly transformed with this concentrate, I put it on one side of my face and it definitely looks tighter. This is more of a cosmetic quick fix though it promises long term effects with continued use. SLP-X Lifting Concentrate also features a unique Silicone tip applicator to provide gentle and controlled dispensing directly to your skin. And its convenient portable package is perfect for on-the-go touch-ups whenever and wherever you need it. I will need it after a long day of chasing after my son (literally-- his favorite game is "chase me mommy"), by the end of the day I feel about 80 years old and my face feels like it's sagging to my chest! $38 at Prescriptives.com

 

I know that it's inevitable -- kids are just growing up faster and faster these days, but still, something about 15-year old Taylor Momsen showing-up at Henri Bendel for an event to celebrate the store's Gossip Girl-themed window displays looking like she's a 20-something eerks me almost as much as 7-year-olds with cell phones and Chanel compacts! I know that younglings want makeup too so I was happy to discover that Sugar (they make craaaazy-looking shoes...a million years ago I bought the funniest pointy converse-esque sneakers with smiling cartoon figures on the side!), makes fun cosmetics that are totally appropriate for pre-teens/teens. Of course you don't need to be a teenager to wear this line, just something about the packaging and colors makes it seem more appropriate for young girls (though, unfortunately, there's nothing childish about the prices...).  

 

The Sugar 'Round the Clock' Palette , $42 has a concealer, bronzer, eyeshadow for day, a wet/dry eyeshadow for night, and a lip gloss, but what I love about this is that there are arrows connecting the various components with phrases like "Rise and Shine Concealer", "Afternoon Eye Revival", and "Evening Glow" written on top -- so cute for little girls! More after the Jump! 

 The best color collection for fall I have seen BY FAR is MAC's Cult of Cherry. This color palate emphasizes smoldering eyes and ripe, plush lips to create a dramatic and sensual look. I have the quad in "Tempting", which has every color you need to play up whatever eye color you have, when my friends are raiding my makeup bag they are guaranteed to find something flattering for them to play with, lol. On my wish list: Silverstruck and Illegal Purple nail lacquer -swoon-! I am already picturing myself perched on a stool at one of my favorite bars, reaching hedonisticly for my martini, when the light hits my nails- a dark flash of the most royal purple informs people they are dealing with beauty royalty... Muahaha!

From what I hear (and Beauty Snob Tina can definitely correct me on this one), but it is said that Renee Rouleau's Dallas spa is a must-stop when in the area, especially for her facials. She has quite the celeb following (Rouleau is pictured above with Ali Landry), and though I have yet to stop by her spa, I have tried some products from her beauty line and am loving her Aloe Cleansing Milk, $30.50. I actually usually prefer foam cleansers, but this lotion did a very, very effective job at removing all traces of makeup, dirt and other nasty build-up - one night when I hadn't worn any makeup that day, I used it and couldn't believe all the dirt that had accumulated on my face just from walking around running errands - eeck! If it gets so much off when you're not wearing makeup, you can just imagine what my wash cloth looked like when I used it when I was wearing makeup! What a relief though that it was able to get so much off and clean my face! Best of all the cleanser doesn't stripe moisture from your skin, so unless your skin is super-dry you shouldn't have to apply any moisturizer after using this.