Gareth Pugh Autumn/Winter 2009 by Ruth Hogben- Another Great Video

Launched in tandem with Gareth Pugh's show during Paris Fashion Week, this film created in collaboration with Ruth Hogben, showcases the designer's Autmn/Winter 2009 collection.

Gareth Pugh, Fashion Designer
Ruth Hobken, Film Director

Gareth Pugh Pitti 2011- Film by Ruth Hogben! AMAZING!

"With a collection inspired by religious iconography and Florentine opulence, Gareth Pugh made his Italian fashion debut at Pitti Immagine #79. Showcasing his clothes via a unique fashion film, created with Ruth Hogben and projected onto the ceiling of a 14th-century church, Pugh melded the grand traditions and art of this ancient city with his own hyper-modern fashion vision."

Gareth Pugh, Fashion Designer
Ruth Hogben, Film Director
Katie Shillingford, Stylist

Inside Coco Chanel's Private Paris Apartment at 31 Rue Cambon!

Suki Skincare Buy 1 Get 1 Free- Plus Free Lip Trio for Every $50.00 Spent!

Suki Skincare is an amazing company with fantastic and effective natural skincare products. Buy 1 get 1 free is a great way to stock up- plus for every $50.00 spent you receive a free lip trio ($28.00 value). This offer expires November 30, 2011 at 11:59 pm. Promo Code: thanks2011

I love Suki products and have used the entire line- these products are safe, effective, and pleasant to use!

http://www.sukipure.com

CYBER MONDAY SPECIALS ARE FLOODING MY INBOX!!

This morning I found my inbox filled with tempting Cyber Monday beauty offers. I am really trying to be good, but it is pretty difficult when so many companies that seldom have sizable discounts are offering up to 50% off! Here are a few of the things that caught my eye:

Kinerase is 1/2 off on www.hautelook.com

Ren is offering 20% off on all orders placed November 28th. Promo Code: XMAS20
www.renskincare.com

Kate Somerville is having a 30% off Friends & Family Event November 25-28. Promo Code: HOLIDAY 2011. I only use Exfolikate, but I really like it a lot! www.katesomerville.com

When you spend $150.00 or more at Space NK online you receive 10 exclusive samples from amazing brands. Promo Code: THANKS150 http://www.spacenk.com

Stila is having an insane online warehouse sale. Prices are slashed and things are starting to sell out-- so act fast if you love Stila! www.stilacosmetics.com/category.asp?category_id=62

Tarte is offering a multi-tiered discount today only. Spend $50.00 & up and receive $10.00 off. Spend $75.00 & up and receive $20.00 off. Spend $100.00 & up and receive $30.00 off. Promo code: CYBER http://tartecosmetics.com

Beauty Bloggers Auction for Doctors Without Borders Begins MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28!

Take a look at some of the amazing things being auctioned off this year! Winning bidders make their donations directly to Doctors Without Borders. This is a wonderful way to help a very important cause and get some wonderful beauty products at the same time.

Be sure to sign up ahead of time so that you can start bidding:

http://www.beautybloggers.org/

For more about Doctors Without Borders visit:

http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

Here's a sneak preview of just a few of the great products on the auction block!

Awesome Handmade Makeup Bags 20% off from asoftblackstar's Etsy Store

One of the Beauty Blogger's that I follow, Lotus from asoftblackstar, makes the most gorgeous handmade makeup bags, makeup brush rolls, and travel jewelry cases that you can imagine. I love her blog and I love cruising her Etsy Store, and at least one or two of her makeup bags are definitely in my future!

She is having a 20% off sale through November 28th at 11:59pm-- so you really must check out her work! There are so many beautiful patterns and colors to choose from that you may not be able to select just one!

Be sure to enter coupon code: BLACKFRIDAY2011 at checkout.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/asoftblackstar

Also check out her blog-- and you will quickly see why she's at the top of my BLOGROLL!
http://asoftblackstar.blogspot.com

Philosophy Gift With Purchase- a Nordstrom.com Exclusive!

Nordstrom.com is having a wonderful Philosophy Gift With Purchase ($50.00 minimum purchase). You get a Sparkling Cranberry Lip Shine (0.5 oz.), Hands of Hope Hand and Cuticle Cream (0.4 oz.), and a silver tote bag! If you are low on your favorite products this is a good time to stock up. There are all sorts of great gift ideas too!

http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/philosophy

BVLGARI JASMIN NOIR Eau de Parfum Spray

 

I am not generally one who is taken by fragrances that are described as woody, I tend to be drawn in by complex florals. However, BVLGARI Jasmin Noir is one of the most beautiful, rich and intoxicating scents that I have tried in a long time. This lovely fragrance commingles the woody and the floral in the most irresistible way. The scent is sophisticated, seductive and hypnotic. In fact, it is so lovely that I find myself continuously smelling my wrist throughout the day. Since there is a certain warmth and depth to this fragrance it is perfectly suited to the fall and winter months. I'm not sure why it took me so long to discover this gorgeous fragrance, but I am glad that I finally did.

Captivating and caressing, Jasmin Noir is a floral-woody fragrance with multiple facets. Infinitely sensual and addictive, its seductive scent is sublimely revealed by jasmine, a flower whose beauty is as pure as it is tantalizing. 

Notes: gardenia, green sap note, jasmine sambac, almond, precious woods, tonka bean, licorice.

1 oz $68.00

1.7 oz $98.00

3.4 oz $148.00

Available at Nordstrom

MAC Black Friday- Black Knight Lipstick is Available for One Day ONLY!

Black Knight lipstick (creamy true black) makes a very bold statement all by itself, but it's not just for those seeking a dramatic Goth-inspired lip. This fabulous lipstick can also be used as one would use MAC's Lipmix formula to customize lipstick shades. If your lipstick isn't quite the right shade then simply create a new and perfect color by adding Black Knight. This is a fantastic and inexpensive way to increase your lipstick wardrobe multifold!

$14.50 Free standard shipping. Use Code: KNIGHT at checkout

Exclusively online www.maccosmetics.com/whats_new/7785/index.tmpl

Sephora Black Friday 10 for $10- One Day Only Sale!

If you need some great gifts for yourself or others- be sure to check out Sephora's list of Black Friday specials. There are some great things for only $10.00!! So put down those Thanksgiving leftovers and run to your computer to see their selection (if you don't want to deal with the shopping mall).

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

MAC Hocus Pocus Eyeshadow- A Sublime Beauty Incarnate

One of my all-time favorite Beauty Bloggers, Lianne Farbes from TheMakeupGirl, is the beauty and brains behind Hocus Pocus eyeshadow from the MAC Bloggers' Obsession Collection that launched June 21, 2011.

Why, might you ask, would I want to effusively gush over Hocus Pocus nearly 6 months after it launched? The answer, quite simply, is that this is one of the greatest and most complex shadows that I have ever had the pleasure of using. Not only did I hit the pan, but I literally used EVERY SINGLE BIT of this gloriously radiant little gem. This may not seem like much to you, but I am eyeshadow fickle and seldom ever hit the pan on any of my shadows (and trust me, I have quite a few in my stash).

Aptly named Hocus Pocus, this magical eyeshadow is multidimensional, complex, sexy, otherworldly, and chameleon-like in its ability to miraculously modulate from one hue to another depending on the light that captures its continued metamorphosis. Hocus Pocus is both lively and vibrant, playful and serious, and for all intents and purposes defies any sort of concrete description.  It is filled with contradictory opposites that reconcile beautifully in this single lovely shadow. It is more ethereal than earthly, and really needs to be seen in person to truly experience and appreciate it for its true beauty and complexity.

This beautiful shade has a Satin finish and is described as a "Dark sooty grey with silver pearl" but it is so soft and silky that it feels like a Veluxe Pearl.  Lianne says that she, "...wanted a shadow that anyone could wear and that would be easy to use (you can use your fingertips- no brush necessary but feel free to use them if you want!)." She custom blended the shade herself (with the help of a MAC chemist) with the intention of creating "an ultra flattering shade for ANYONE expert or novice...subtle or dramatic." Lianne named this beauty Hocus Pocus because it is like MAGIC, and I couldn't agree more.

Hocus Pocus plays well with others, but is just as happy all alone. This shadow makes for a fool-proof smokey eye which is only part of the genius behind this shade. It is a shadow that can be worn from dawn to dusk, and is completely office appropriate. I love to wear Hocus Pocus as a wash of color alone with a nice strong winged eyeliner and mascara, but the number of ways to wear this treasure is only limited by your imagination. This shade has replaced MAC's discontinued and mythologized Smoke & Diamonds (Starflash LE) as my most beloved shade, and for me that's saying a lot. This shade is so buildable and has absolutely no fall-out whatsoever no matter how much is packed onto the lid.

I included three soft-focus swatches on my finger to illustrate how the color shifts as the light captures its ethereal glow and complexity. This color comfortably moves from a dark sooty grey to an olive tinged brown with a golden bronze accent, and then it morphs into the most gorgeous shade of taupe for all to behold. This shadow is not one thing, instead it embodies many. While it's a bit demure in the pan, it really springs to life once applied to the skin. If you do not own this shadow you really are missing out on something very very special and magical- as the name suggests. This is a universally flattering shade that will be stunning on the palest to the darkest of beauties- a feat seldom accomplished by a single eyeshadow. I give this shadow a resounding A+!

MAC, if you are listening, you should really make Hocus Pocus part of your permanent range. This is a classic shade that will never go out of style- it is absolutely on-trend for today, but it will happily be a go-to shade years from now. Better yet, you should commission Lianne to create a whole collection with Hocus Pocus as the crowned jewel.

If you didn't pick up Hocus Pocus from MAC's Bloggers' Obsession Collection before, or you need a backup or two- then you still have some time left before it really is gone for good. I'm definitely going to grab a few back-ups or my stash! $15.00 USD.

http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/shaded/790/363/Eye-Shadow/index.tmpl

If you don't subscribe to TheMakeupGirl, I highly recommend that you do- a better beauty blogger you will not find!

http://themakeupgirl.net

A very special thanks to Lianne who furnished me with my most recent Hocus Pocus eyeshadow, and who graciously allowed me to use images from her blog.

Lianne Farbes is the Publisher and Editor In Chief  of TheMakeupGirl.  She is a Beauty Expert with over 20 years of experience working with makeup and skincare and has held every retail beauty position from sales girl to counter manager.  She has made a living as a professional makeup artist and continues to spread her beauty knowledge through seminars and speaking engagements throughout the US. Source: http://themakeupgirl.net/about-lianne-farbes/

Prescriptives- Established 1979. Refreshed 2011

Prescriptives, which is part of the Estee Lauder Company, has relaunched and revitalized a pared down list of offerings. I was told by one of their online consultants that the line, which was established in 1979, closed down global distribution in January 2010, but that Prescriptives continued to sell exclusively online at www.prescriptives.com.

Prescriptives wants to service loyal customers by making key products available as long as there is a demand for them. Their new mantra "Established 1979. Refreshed 2011" should help garner some attention in their new and revitalized online presence. Prescriptives enthusiasts should be happy to see that many of the cult classics like Super Line Preventor Xtreme and Virtual Skin Foundation are still available.

They offer an online chat forum with one of their beauty consultants, and include a feature that emails you the "Chat Transcript."

 www.prescriptives.com/
1(866)290-6471

BeautyBloggers.org is Having a Charity Beauty Auction Benefitting Doctors Without Borders Beginning Monday, November 28

This is an event not to be missed. Many of your favorite bloggers and beauty companies are contributing to this fantastic auction. 100% of the proceeds from the winning bids go directly to Doctors Without Borders. Check out the amazing top-shelf products that are being auctioned off. I would suggest taking a couple of minutes to peruse the fabulous finds, and then register so that you can bid once the site becomes active. This is a great way to pick up some of the most highly sought after beauty products while simultaneously doing something important. That's beauty with a conscience at its finest!

www.beautybloggers.org/

Yves Saint Laurent Golden Gloss Holiday Trio- A Delightful Distraction

As I was sitting and working (not on my blog) I became a bit distracted- so I did what any self-respecting makeup magpie would do- I started cruising around online to see what fantastic holiday makeup specials were being featured. I ended up at Nordstrom.com and saw the most beautiful YSL lip gloss trio.

To my eyes this set features the most gorgeous trio of purple lip glosses imaginable. 

The website titillated me further with the following description: 

"Adorn your lips in sophisticated, high-shine shimmer with Yves Saint Laurent Golden Gloss, featuring sparkling 24-karat gold flecks (0.2%). With a complex of nourishing oils to protect and hydrate your lips and a fresh mango scent, these glosses are instant gratification for lips offering glamour and care together."

WHAT WHAT WHAT?! Glam lips adorned with a wash of purple infused with 24-karat gold flecks, and it's moisturizing?! Where do I sign up?!

So, when I decided to have a closer look at #2, #10 & #19 at the YSL website- it said that #2 is Golden Praline, #10 is Golden Peony, and #19 is Golden Petal. Neither the names, nor the swatches appear to be purple. That said, they are all gorgeous- but none gave me the same pitter-patter that this picture evoked in me.

The Golden Gloss Holiday Trio features Golden Glosses #2, #10 & #19 ($90.00 value) for $59.00.  

 http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/yves-saint-laurent-golden-gloss-holiday-trio-90-value/3222912?origin=keywordsearch&resultback=0 

Have you seen these in person? Did you pick them up?

Sunday Riley Eye Definer Brush- Review

Among my Sunday Riley purchases at Barneys New York was a very nice Eye Definer Brush. This brush has a short rounded pencil shaped tip made entirely of natural bristles, a black handle that appears to be wood, and a black ferrule that feels like metal. The entire brush is about 6 1/2 inches tall and is nicely balanced.  So far it has not shed a single hair- which is always a huge plus in my book.

This brush has the perfect shape for the precise application of color in the crease, it is perfect for smudging along the upper or lower lash line, for applying color to the inner corner of the eye (near the tear duct), as well as creating the perfect outer "V."

According to my box, this brush is made in the U.S.A., and is made with care and quality parts. I have only used it a few times over the last couple of days and must say that I am quite pleased with the results so far.

I would be remiss if I didn't make the obvious comparison to the best known "Pencil Brush," the MAC 219. The MAC 219 is a little bit heavier, with a slightly more pointed tip, a black wooden handle and a nickel-plated brass ferrule. It also has natural bristles but they are quite light which allows you to see precisely how much pigment you are grabbing- which can have its advantages.

The MAC 219 costs $24.50 and is made by hand.
The Sunday Riley Eye Definer Brush costs $28.00 and is made by hand.

They perform all of the same functions, and are both nice quality brushes. However, for those in need of a finer pointed tip the MAC 219 will be more effective. However, if a finer point is not necessary then you will be very happy with the Sunday Riley Eye Definer Brush.

I think that the perfect scenario would be to have both of the brushes. For me, there is no point in choosing between them-- I think a good kit should have both!

Perfect Red Lipsticks for the Holidays

I have found three red lipsticks that are long-wearing and on-trend for this holiday season.

The first one, shown on top in the swatches, is Unknown Pleasures. This is a lovely Mattene Lipstick from the Posh Paradise Collection. This Limited Edition it is still available online at Nordstrom.com as well as Mac.com. This is a comfortable long-wearing  lipstick that MAC describes as a deep blue red.

The middle swatch is #45 from MAKE UP FOR EVER's Rouge Artist Intense line of highly pigmented long-lasting lipsticks. This shade described as a satin raspberry red, and is definitely a more blue-based shade. This can be found at Sephora or at a MUFE boutique.

The bottom swatch is another winning shade from MAKE UP FOR EVER's Rouge Artist Intense line called Moulin Rouge (#43). This is a satin vibrant red. This can be found at Sephora or at a MUFE boutique.

All three shades are G O R G E O U S and holiday perfect.

Sunday Riley Blush in Blushing (#101) Review & Swatches

The new line of makeup by Sunday Riley that launched in November 2011 includes 6 different shades of the most refined blushes that are silky smooth,  beautifully pigmented,  and finely milled (for launch review and pictures click here). They create the widely sought after "glow from within" effect that is both natural and flattering. The aim, according to Sunday Riley, is to achieve a "sheer, flushed radiance that highlights, defines, and enhances" but that is likewise long-wearing.

These oil-free blushes are created by employing a cutting edge Air-Milling technology that results in an extremely refined product that creates a smooth and even coverage. The pigments themselves are round in shape making them luxuriously silky and soft- imparting a flushed radiance. Light diffusers promote a natural and luminous glow that is just gorgeous.

The blush that I chose, called Blushing (#101), is a cooler leaning pale pink that might best be described as a dusty rose. In the pan it doesn't appear very pigmented, and it appears quite muted which didn't seem like the best match for my cool-toned pale skin. However, once applied to the cheeks this beauty really comes to life as it morphs into the most beautiful natural flush of color that is neither muddy nor overly muted. On my cheeks, in particular, it gives a youthful glow with just enough color to achieve a natural flush. I really love the color and consistency, and was surprised to find that it wore all day long without fading.  It is ultra finely milled and applies like a dream. Sunday Riley blushes offer buildable coverage allowing you to go from sheer to dramatic with a few strokes of the brush.

I photographed the pan numerous times to try to capture the essence of this blush. As you can see from the three pictures above, the color modulates from a light cool pink to a rosier cool pink depending on the lighting. Perhaps one of the things that surprises me most about this color is how muddy it can appear in the pan, and yet how clear, clean and glowing it appears on my skin. In this way Blushing (#101) truly reveals an alluring chameleon-like complexity.

The swatches on my arm really didn't demonstrate the beauty of this color alone, so I also swatched it on a cotton ball in an attempt to capture this elusive shade. The color is very buildable (without becoming chalky), but also neutral enough that it should be lovely across most skin-tones. I do suspect that darker-skinned beauties may find that it isn't quite rich or saturated enough to be a must-have shade, but the fairer-skinned beauties should find it tremendously wearable.

Key Ingredients used and their functions, according to Sunday Riley:

Kaolin- "a mineral that diffuses light, reduces the appearance of fine lines." Kaolin is a clay-like mineral that also has oil absorbing properties, and also draws out impurities and toxins.

Mica- "a translucent, natural mineral that reflects light and creates the illusion of a smoother, softer and more radiant skin tone."

Silica-"perfectly spherical silica particles are first coated evenly with pigments to create the silkiest application and feel."

Nylon 12- "a hypo-allergenic ingredient that reduces shine and feels silky, creating a smooth appearance." This also prevents the product from settling into fine lines.

Paraben Free

Overall assessment: Holy Grail status blush for me! It's a buildable barely-there blush that is natural looking in all of the right ways. It's truly a MCBB (my cheeks but better) blush for paler complected beauties, and a must-have for those with pale to medium complexions. There are many more Sunday Riley blushes in my future! 

$30.00 at Barneys New York

If you are interested in learning more about Sunday Riley's outstanding skincare line, I wrote a comprehensive post on Sunday Riley Skincare for Face & Body- Overview, Reviews & Choosing the Right Products  with links to all of my individual reviews. In this post I have reviewed every single face and body care product from the line. Additionally I wrote a post on Sunday Riley finishing products How to Choose the Perfect Shade for Your Skin Tone with links to my individual reviews as well.