SICKA THAN AVERAGE

Yves Saint Laurent Beauty Holiday 2010 Collection -- A Metallic Colorama Melody

If I had to pick a single beauty collection to highlight on as momentous an occasion as the eve before the dawn of a new year, when the air is rife with hope and the promise of new beginnings, I'd choose the enchanting Yves Saint Laurent Holiday 2010 collection. Elegant without being overly prim, indulgent without being depraved, opulent without treading into baroque territory, this makeup collection explores the nuances of the most beloved, sought-after metal: gold.  

Like an alchemist's dream, the YSL Holiday 2010 collection navigates through a Gilded Era, with nail lacquers that feel like molten pink gold, white gold, and yellow gold; sparkling, shimmering glosses that fuse ruby red, chocolate brown, peachy pink, and caramel-tinged bronze with flecks of gold for a luminous effect; a highlighting powder that gives the complexion a radiant, pearly finish; and two creamy lipsticks in walnut brown and blush pink with a metallic finish. To add drama and counteract these pops of metallic color, the collection also incorporates the Ombres Duolumieres eyeshadow palette, which features a blue-tinged, silvery gray and an intense, purple-y plum with a golden finish, as well as a new plum shade of the Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils.

Below, you'll find more details on the new Rouge Pure Shine lipstick hues, YSL Golden Gloss lip gloss shades, and the La Laque nail polish colors — all of which, as intended, recall the easy elegance of the YSL Belle de Jour "Metallic Colorama" clutch, a leatherette handbag in a burnished gold so slick it could inspire its own Gold Rush.

Enjoy  and have a Happy New Year!

New Year's Eve Makeup Musts -- Bring In 2011 Feeling Gorgeous!

Ready to kiss 2010 goodbye? Well, before you break out the noisemakers and pucker up at the stroke of midnight tomorrow, make sure you start the new year feeling like a vixen who possesses both the beauty and the brains to conquer the world. First, pick a festive shade of red for that pout — preferably one which will keep lips hydrated throughout the evening. Next, add some glimmer to your look with a glitter-packed nail lacquer or cream shadow. Third, opt for metallic shadows or liners to jazz up lids. And, then, of course, make sure to boost your hair's shine with a glossing cream or shine spray.

Below, you'll find some of our picks for a New Year's Eve look that truly sparkles.

 

CND Silver & Gold Sparkling Effects, $22. Visit CND.com for a distributor near you.

Whatever base shade you choose for your nails, make it Studio 54 ready with 1-2 top coats of CND Silver Sparkling Effects or Gold Sparkling Effects. These even work on matte lacquers: I used the silver option over Knockout's Ox lacquer and felt like my nails belonged in Donna Summer's "Bad Girls" video. Toot toot!

Estée Lauder Extravagant Gold Pure Color Eyeshadow Palette, $42. Available at Nordstrom.com

If the silver bells, golden stars, glitter-packed stockings, tinsel strands, and sequined dresses are any indication, metallics are as intrinsic to the holiday season as gingerbread men and candy canes. The Estée Lauder Pure Color Eyeshadow Palette in Extravagant Gold allows you to give your peepers the Midas touch. The palette features neutrals like an eggnog-colored cream shade, a toffee-tinged mocha color, a warm hazelnut brown,  a shimmering vintage gold, and a muddy brown liner color. Check out an everyday look created with these shadows.

 

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Holiday 2010 Nail Lacquers, $7.49 each. Available at drugstores nationwide. Visit Walgreens.com

The Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Holiday 2010 collection offers nine shades ranging from red to plum. purple, pink, silver, gold and brass. For New Year's Eve, we'd suggest Downtown Rubies, a deep red saturated with clear and red specks of glitter that make your nails look like Christmas tree lights; Golden Ticket, an 18k gold hue with light gold glitter; or Starry Starry Flight, a space-aged, Jetsons-ready silver with glittery specks. Check out swatches of the Golden Ticket, Rockstar Candy, Troublemaker, Starry Starry Flight, Downtown Rubies and Perfect Match nail lacquer shades to pick your faves!

 

Senna Cosmetics Cream Lipstick in Valentina, $18, and Sheer SPF 15 Lipstick in Garnet, $18. Available at SennaCosmetics.com

When envisioning Senna Cosmetics' Virtual Vintage collection for Fall/Winter 2010, Eugenia Weston looked to two seemingly disparate inspirations: Avatar and 1940s Hollywood couturier Adrian (yes, he was doing the one name phenomenon long before Madonna or Cher). The collection, then showcases this push and pull between futuristic and vintage, demure and dangerous. Our favorite products in the collection: the Valentina lipstick, a creamy, inviting red; and the Garnet lipstick, a sheer, guava-like color. Check out this photo for swatches of the two shades.

 

Fekkai Shine. Shine. Shine. Gift Set, $27. Available at Fekkai.com

This three-piece holiday set aims to give tresses a lustrous finish thanks to the nourishing, shine-boosting olive oil in the products' formulas. Packaged inside a see-through white mesh bag with a frame closure, the set includes a 2 oz. Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Shampoo, 2 oz. Brilliant Glossing Conditioner, and 4 oz. Brilliant Glossing Cream — everything you need to let your little light shine.

Sparklin' Dannijo iPhone 3 Cases

If you're a fan of Dannijo's hefty, rocker-flavored, uptown-prim-meets-downtown-debauchery aesthetic, you'll appreciate how the beloved jewelry brand has expanded into other goods like handbags and iPhone cases. Their small but formidable selection of printed plastic iPhone 3 cases, made by Uncommon for Dannijo, features kaleidoscopic images of Dannijo's statement-making jewelry pieces.

The Dannijo Sparo iPhone 3 case, for example, nods to the oxidized, silver-plated cuff bracelet by the same name, which is covered by criss-crossed, overlapping chain strands and round, prong-set Swarovski crystals. The Dannijo Paradis iPhone 3 case, meanwhile, seems to reference some of the brand's folksier, more tribal pieces, like the Cleo necklace or the Jakayla necklace, both of which feature bright stones to create a more Bohemian style.

 

Dannijo "Sparo" and "Paradis" iPhone 3 Cases, $98 each. Available at Dannijo.com

Shiseido Fall/Winter 2010 Makeup Collection -- Destination Colors

 

 

Some Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Color Trio Palettes And The Photos That Inspired Them:

 

Shiseido GY901 Snow Shadow:

Shiseido PK403 Boudoir:

Shiseido GD804 Opera:

Shiseido GR305 Jungle:

Shiseido BR307 Strata:

Ladies, first of all, I owe you a massive mea culpa for taking this long to discuss the latest makeup collection from Shiseido which is not only stunning, but really allows customers to delve into the brilliant mind of Dick Page, Artistic Director for Shiseido Makeup. Aside from being a cosmetics sage, Page dabbles in photography, snapping pictures of gorgeous landscapes while soaring above them in airplanes, zooming in on architectural landmarks while trekking through distant cities, taking the time to appreciate the beauty of a rocky hill or a tropical garden. The rich, vibrant shades in the assortment of Fall 2010 Shiseido Satin Luminizing Eye Color Trios, then, were inspired by seven photographs snapped by Page himself.

Each Shiseido Satin Luminizing Eye Color Trio, then, captures the colors of a specific photo in Page's personal portfolio. The GY901 Snow Shadow trio, for example, features a pearly white, silvery slate gray, and navy-tined, charcoal shade, all of which capture the moodiness of a snowy forest landscape snapped from inside a plane while Page was flying over Long Island, New York. The PK403 Boudoir trio, meanwhile, toys with different shades of pink — from a blushing, bride-ready hue to a shimmering peony pink and a deeper fuchsia shade. This palette recreates the colors in a room furnished with sheer pink curtains, blush pink walls, and rumpled white sheets soaked in a flood of pink light thanks to the drapes through which they seeped.

Earthier options include: the Strata BR307 palette, which boasts an eggshell-tinged cream shade, a russet oak brown, and an olive-tinged, muddy brown color, and which was inspired by a rock face in Chaco, New Mexico; and the Fire OR302 trio, which captures the colors of a photo of a campfire in Nevada. For lusher, more tropical choices, check out: the Jungle GR305 trio, informed by a photo taken in a Dominica rainforest, which features three fresh shades of green ranging from a light spearmint to a gold-speckled myrtle color; or the Tropicalia YE406 palette, which was informed by a photo of a bird of paradise bloom in a Los Angeles garden, and which features a lively mix of lemon yellow, kiwi green, and frosted rose pink. And last, of course, there's the Opera GD804, which includes a crisp periwinkle blue, warm camel brown, and tarnished bronze. Inspired by a photo of a golden statue on the roof of the Opera Garnier in Paris, the eyeshadow trio captures the tarnished bronze quality of the sculpture, the captivating beauty of the springtime sky above it, and the golden ridges of the statue where the  sunlight hit it.

Below, you'll find more details on two of these eye color trios, Opera and Tropicalia, along with swatches and photos of looks created. Plus, as an added bonus, you'll get a look at the Perfect Rouge RD732 lipstick shade, also new for the season. They're inspired!

Dermalogica's mediBac Concealing Spot Treatment Hits The Spot

A few years ago, Benefit Cosmetics had a nifty little product in its stable: a tinted, medicated blemish stick that also functioned as a targeted concealer and looked like a slim, retractable eyeliner. If you had a nasty, crater-sized pimple or a rice grain-sized bump, you could camouflage that bad boy by simply rolling the stick over the blemish. The product has since been discontinued and, sadly, its name eludes me (though, for some reason, I think it was called the Zap It! stick). But, during the time when the product had its own devoted slot inside one of Benefit's shelves at Sephora, I was a frequent visitor, often releasing it from its store rack.

And while other companies have attempted to release a blemish stick that also doubled as a concealer, I can't think of any that have really mastered the feat: either the focus is on the pigment, in which case the breakout in question keeps growing and growing like Pinocchio's nose, or the emphasis is placed on eradicating the blemish, doing little to hide any redness or inflammation.

Fortunately, Demalogica has developed the right stuff with its wildly effective Dermalogica mediBac Concealing Spot Treatment, part of the brand's mediBac Clearing collection, which focuses on eliminating breakouts. The concentrated formula contains sulfur and zinc oxide to eliminate bacteria (the source of breakouts), salicylic acid to slough off dead skin cells that could potentially clog pores, as well as a combination of niacin, zinc gluconate, caffeine, biotin, cinnamon bark extract and yeast extract to calm  and purify skin. The natural tint, meanwhile, will blend easily with most fair to medium skin tones.

To use the product, you simply squeeze a pea-sized amount onto your fingertip, pat it onto the affected area, wait five to ten seconds while the ingredients penetrate the area, then blend. Once you sweep powder over your face (be it cream, pressed or loose mineral powder), you should be able to hold your head up high, confident that your breakout won't stop the show. Not only will any redness be concealed, but you'll be able to keep the concealer in place, cleverly disguising any protrusions, and you won't have flaking after the fact since the formula isn't overly drying. Best of all, the Concealing Spot Treatment works surprisingly fast, clearing up acne within days.

I had a whopper right in the middle of my forehead (talk about a less-than-ideal location!) and, within two days of using the mediBac treatment, I was ready for any HD digital cameras my friends and family whipped out. How's that for hitting the spot?

 

Dermalogica mediBac Concealing Spot Treatment,  $25 for 0.33 oz. Available at Dermalogica.com

New Balance X UNDFTD Sonic Fleece 574 Sneakers -- Sweat It Out

 

With football season in full swing, many sports lovers are fondly remembering their collegiate days, when they were rah-rah fans, stomping on bleachers, doing waves, and sipping on hot cocoa during home games on particularly cold days. These new sneakers, then, with their varsity blue soles and heel counters, heather gray fleece uppers, and cardinal red side logos (outlined in varsity blue) speak to the sweatshirt-wearing, team spirit-having undergrad in all of us.

A special holiday collaboration between New Balance and UNDFTD, the Sonic 574 sneakers feature uppers made of a sweatshirt-like cotton, inspired by the reverse-weeve fleece crewnecks favored by athletes and college kids, and synthetic suede accents sonically bonded together. The slightly worn-in look of the heather gray material, meanwhile, imbues the kicks with an '80s, Flashdance-ready feel for added charm.

 

New Balance x UNDFTD Sonic Fleece 574, $88. Available at UNDFTD.com

Be Happy As A Clam With Happy Owl Studio's iPad Clutch

 

 

 

Did Santa finally get you that iPad you'd been lusting after? If so, are you already dreaming of playing dress-up with it, decking it out in the nicest protective cover, propping it up on a sleek easel, and toting it  inside an elegant bag that doubles as a dainty purse? Get a head start by checking out Happy Owl Studio's The Clutch, a multi-purpose case designed to resemble a clutch purse. The envelope-shaped bag has a slightly retro look, with vertical pleats along the front, a slim fold-over strap closure, as well as a detachable shoulder strap for easy toting.

When you open up the clutch, you'll have a protective sleeve for your iPad on one side, designed to provide access to all ports, and on the other side, an envelope-shaped wallet,with credit card slots, a mobile phone pocket, pen slots, a zipped coin purse, and a larger pocket for keys, lip balms, and other knickknacks.

And that's not all, folks. Rather than investing in an easel-like gadget so that you can comfortably type on your iPad when it's on a table or desk, you can simply prop the The Clutch up at a near-45-degree angle (as shown in the photo second from top) and lock it in place by folding the closure strap back on itself and snapping it in for added security and stability.

Hey, you know what they say about owls being wise!

Happy Owl Studio The Clutch, $79.99. Available at HappyOwlStudio.com

iPhones Do The Wave With iWave's Grass Roots Collection Of Eco-Friendly Cases

You may be donning an organic cotton T-shirt and investing in organic skincare and haircare products, but how far have you gone to green your tech routine? Think about it: chances are you own a plasma or LCD TV, and even if you've upgraded to a newer, more energy-efficient model, studies show these can still consume up to 12 watts of electricity during phantom load (a techie term for when a TV is shut off but plugged into an outlet and, hence, continuing to suck power into their vortex). Now, going without a TV, computer and cell phone aren't viable options in the 21st Century, so the best you can do is read up on ways to improve your own habits by lowering your carbon footprint and power usage. And, at the very least, you can deck your gadgets out in eco-friendly wares — because, hey, every little bit counts, right?

Cue iWave Audio's Grass Roots Collection, an assortment of cases made from renewable sources like bamboo and recycled wood. Our favorite: the iWave Audio Bamboo Stripe Cases (pictured above, first and third), which were handcrafted for the iPhone 3G using natural bamboo. Sturdy but sleek and classic, these cases will have you feeling closer to mother nature while setting you apart from the crowd in terms of style.

For more information on the Grass Roots collection, visit iWaveAudio.com.

 

All About Christmas Eve -- Gift Picks For Those Tardy To The Holiday Shopping Party

If you're part of the procrastination nation, first off, welcome! I myself am a card-carrying member of the Last Minute Fellowship, so I'll be joining the rest of you in the hectic dash to complete my holiday shopping. Panic may be setting in right now, but you'll need a clear head and a detailed checklist to make good time. To help you along the way, then, we've compiled some great last-minute buys for those people you haven't checked off your shopping list just yet.

Enjoy and have a wonderful Christmas Eve!

Arcona Nourish & Repair Kit, $60. Available at Arcona.com

This three-piece Arcona set seeks to hydrate, refine texture, and strengthen your skin's immune system (remember: the skin is the body's largest organ!).The Booster Defense Serum is designed for use during the morning, as the step after cleansing and before moisturizing. The soothing lightweight serum features green tea extract,black tea extract, black currant oil, aloe leaf extract, witch hazel, vitamin E, grapefruit extract, and vitamin C to deliver a potent mix of antioxidants that will protect skin from environmental aggressors. The Night Worker Repair, meanwhile, is meant for use only one to two times per week, during the evening hours. This gel refreshes instantly, as it infuses skin with hydrating peach, pumpkin, and apricot extracts, evening primrose oil, and black currant oil. Vitamins C and E help to firm skin and protect it from free radicals. Lastly, the Papaya Enzyme Gel is also designed for use once to twice a week. This potent gel-like substance relies on papaya enzymes to strengthen the skin's natural barrier, while vitamin A helps to fight discoloration, correct acne, and stimulate cell renewal (which in turn helps to fight acne scars). With this skincare trifecta, your skin will be refreshed, rebooted and reloaded.

Prada L'Eau Ambree Parfum de Sac, $76. Available at SaksFifthAvenue.com

Months after releasing its L'Eau Ambree fragrance (read our review here), Prada is offering a portable purse-ready atomizer for fans of the luxurious, gender-bending scent, which features top notes of cedrat (a Sicilian citrus), a heart of rose de mai, and base notes of patchouli, vanilla and oppoponax that evoke an amber-like scent. In keeping with the sophisticated edge of the scent, the Prada L'Eau Ambree Pafum de Sac is a light yellow gold color with the Prada logo engraved across a gold lamé plaque on one side and emblazoned in jet black along the other side, and it features a chain and snap clip so you can attach it to your purse strap or belt loop.

 

Hourglass Cosmetics Extreme Sheen Set, $45. Available at Sephora.com

Hourglass Cosmetics' Extreme Sheen Lip Glosses glide across lips with more ease than a dollop of vaseline, moisturizing lips with vitamin E and enhancing collagen and elastin production thanks to the Laminactine in the formula. Similarly, the  soft brush bristles are softer than most sponge-tip gloss applicators. But there's more to love than the amenable texture of this non-sticky gloss — each color boasts a high-impact sheen and a multi-dimensional fine. With Hourglass' Extreme Sheen glosses, three is never a crowd. The Extreme Sheen Set, then, makes for an excellent gift. It features three 0.12 oz. lip glosses in Ignite, a rosy beige packed with shimmer; Child, a sheer nude that adds just a veil of color to lips; and Siren, a metallic red reminiscent of a Christmas tree ornament. Here's a swatch of the Siren Extreme Sheen lipgloss that will lure you right in!

Island Michael Kors Palm Beach Eau de Parfum, $62. Available at Macys.com

Michael Kors' Island series of perfumes manages to recreate the feel of different sun-drenched destinations. After enchanting us with Island Michael Kors Capri, Island Michael Kors Hawaii, and Island Michael Kors Bermuda, the fashion  and fragrance guru released this tribute to Palm Beach, an enclave of wealth in Florida commonly referred to as the American Riviera. The Island Michael Kors Palm Beach EDP, then, opens with the types of citrus notes we associate with Florida (among them orange, grapefruit and tangerine), then imbues them with an island living feel thanks to Havana-ready rum and vanilla notes, adding feminine jasmine for a floral allure and a black tea note for an exotic touch.

 

Miss Jessie's Value Pack, $64. Available at MissJessies.com and Folica.com

If you're a curly-haired cutie, you've likely heard of buzzed-about brand Miss Jessie's, which focuses on cleansing, conditioning, and styling products for women with soft waves, tight coils, spring-like spirals, kinky curls, and everything in between. Share the Miss Jessie's wealth with other curly chicas by gifting them with the Miss Jessie's Value Pack, which features an assortment of travel-sized (2 oz.) products, among them: the Curly Pudding, which will help you shape strands and give them hold; the Curly Meringue, which revitalizes lifeless curls; the Rapid Recovery Treatment, a leave-in mask for dry of damaged tresses; the Stretch Silkening Creme, a new formulation that combines conditioning and moisturizing ingredients from several Miss Jessie's puddings and buttercremes, yielding a formula that stretches curls and gives them a bit more shine; the Curly Buttercreme, meant to hydrate and pump up the volume on curly strands; and the Baby Buttercreme, a kid-friendly version of the Curly Buttercreme.

Trina "Jayne" Pencil Case, $24. Available at Nordstrom locations and fine boutiques nationwide. To locate a retailer near you visit TrinaStyle.com

This zip-top, vinyl-coated makeup bag features a jungle-flavored baroque floral print, with olive green foliage and blooms against a midnight blue backdrop and surprising hints of teal and purple along the leaves and stems pictured on the back of the pencil case.

 

 

 

 

 

Holiday Gift Guide Part 10 -- For The Girl Staging Gwen Stefani's "Sweet Escape"

From her pink-haired, mid-riff baring days as the lead singer of No Doubt to the early days of her solo career, when she dyed her hair platinum blond and donned low-rise houndstooth print pants, Rasta-colored wristbands and knit caps, and printed hooded sweatshirts, to her current more glamorous look, which involved oversize shades, tons of plaid and chevron prints, bold platform heels and boots, and camo print details, Gwen Stefani has more than earned her spot among the most influential style icons of our day.

In the tenth installment of our holiday gift guide, then, we're giving beaucoup props to the red-lipped rocker by suggesting some gift ideas that would make Stefani herself "wind it up."

 

MAC A Tartan Tale "The 5 Sassy Pink Ladies" Kit, $29.50; and MAC A Tartan Tale "A Lady & Her Tricks" Brush Kit, $49.50. Available at  MACcosmetics.com

Tartan prints have always been a staple in Stefani's wardrobe — whether she was rocking a prep school-worthy cropped jacket on stage during in her Hollaback Girl tour or wearing a red Jean Paul Gaultier coat while out in London with her son Kingston. The packaging of the products in the MAC Cosmetics Holiday 2010 collection, dubbed A Tartan Tale, would have her ready to adopt a Scottish accent. We love the 5 Sassy Pink Lassies Lipglass set, which includes five pink shades of gloss — Fab Fun, a sheer, ultra light pink saturated with microscopic glitter particles; Sassy Lassy, a perky fuchsia; Frozen Dream, a pale pink reminiscent of ballerina pointe shoes; Electro Lush, a sienna-meets-mauve pink with a glaze finish; and The Wee Coquette, a medium pink rose (click here for swatches of all five Lipglass shades)— all packed in a tartan print tin can with a MAC "coat of arms" along the center of the case. Another great choice: the A Lady & Her Trucks Buff & Line Brush collection, which includes the 168SE, 187SE, 209SE, 219SE and 252SE brushes which are designed to blend shadows, line eyes, and buff face and cheeks — all packed in compact bags with mashed-up tartan prints, a detachable shoulder strap, and black leather accents with silver-toned studs. Even if you're not carrying all your brushes, you'll want to take these bags out on the road.

 

UES "Barrow" Studded Slip-On Sneakers in Camo or Washed Black, $145 each. Available at NeimanMarcus.com

Stefani is a sucker for UES kicks -- in fact, she's been spotted in the brand's Chuck Buckle shoes several times during more casual days in London. Between the rows of conical studs along the leather eyelet strips to the punk-flavored uppers (particularly the camo print), these new UES Barrow slip-on kicks would make any Stefani style lover's knees buckle.

Kimberly Baker Eve Necklace, $350. Available at KimberlyBaker.com

Stefani's style is in a constant state of metamorphosis, yet the changes always seem natural, never trite or reactionary. The Ouroboros symbol of a serpent biting its tail, forming a perfect circle, would speak to Stefani's penchant for transformation since it has been interpreted as being indicative of cyclicality and never-ending recreation. In this necklace, however, designer Kimberly Baker takes the motif a step further by manipulating the shape of the serpent biting its tail, opting against the typical simple circle and instead opting for a 2 1/2" strip of slithering curves and coils. The hefty curb chain necklace, meanwhile, adds just the right amount of hip-hop bravado.

 

Craftsmanship Capelet, $118. Available at Anthropologie.com

This plaid coat would look great over a simple ribbed black or gray turtleneck, adding a coquettish effect with cropped, bell-shaped sleeves and flattering the figure with a sash belt.

 

Jee Vice "Dyslexic" shades in Brown Corduroy Bronze, $285. Available at Shop-Online.JeeVice.com

One of our favorite Jee Vice frames of all time, these Dyslexic shades speak to Gwen Stefani's edgy, in-your-face style, with their slightly curved, rectangular shape and thick fin-shaped arms. The brown and golden bronze colors of the stripes along the frames create the illusion of texture and depth, making them all the more worthy of some Stefani lovin'.

 

nOir Jewelry Bugle Bead Collard, $285. Available at NoirJewelry.com

To accessorize the safari-dipped, military-influenced, street-savvy designs in L.A.M.B.'s Spring/Summer 2011 runway show in NYC, Stefani turned to nOir Jewelry, choosing pieces like this Egyptian-inspired statement necklace, which features three rows of glass bugle beads in contrasting black and gold hues.