Diptyque Eau Duelle Fragrance

Being a lover of all things Diptyque, I was excited to hear about the new Eau Duelle Eau de Toilette. This new unisex fragrance is a different interpretation of vanilla. If you're big on this seemingly pedestrian spice, you don't want to miss this new scent.

Developed by perfumer Fabrice Pellegrin, Eau Duelle chronicles its journey along the imaginary Spice Route. Two contrasting vanilla notes (Bourbon and Firnat) mark the dual aspects of the scent. Dark, animalistic notes meld with more fresh and delicate ones. Unusual woody and grassy elements (from the calamus reed) are also present in this intoxicating fragrance.

Other spicy notes include cardamom, pink peppercorn, saffron, fresh cypress, elemi, juniper, smoky black tea, amber, frankincense, vetiver and Asian cypriol. The EDT also contains natural vanilla extract, which is a fresh welcome to the strong synthetic derivative.

Eau Duelle will be available in September (1.7 oz. & 3.4 oz. spray and 0.16 oz. solid perfume).

www.diptyqueparis.com

Juice Beauty Organics To Clear Skin Kit

Are you prone to regular breakouts? We all have stressful days where we don't eat nor sleep well. Juice Beauty has an Organics To Clear Skin kit that might work for you. The 30-day skin care regimen contains four essential products to keep those annoying blemishes at bay. They guarantee results in just two weeks.

The non-drying Cleansing Gel has a nice light foam but it's not too thick and soapy to wash off. Made with organic cherry and lemon juices, this actually hydrated my face a bit. I also liked the Blemish Clearing Serum - it contains organic apple and lemon juices, raw cane sugar, white willow bark and coenzyme Q10. This serum does a good job of clearing the few tiny pimples I had near the forehead. Each time I sensed a new zit coming on, I'd put a couple layers on to spot treat.

The Oil Free Moisturizer is very light, almost too light for my needs. This would be quite perfect for oilier skin. Along with certified organic white grape and pomegranate juices, this formula contains aloe vera, vitamins and sea algae.

The kit also contains 2 trial-size containers of the popular Green Apple Peel (Sensitive). It should last a month if you use it weekly. You might see some redness, which is normal. I didn't feel any irritation and my cheeks turned quite pink, so it was definitely exfoliating off the dead skin. Also, don't forget to use sunscreen after using this peel as your skin might be sensitive to sun exposure.

If you go to their website, there's a TV offer that offers this kit for $39 ($85 value). It includes a free Blemish Clearing Powder and a soft eco-bamboo hair band.

Purchase at: www.juicebeauty.com

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.

Lancôme Beauty: Christina Hendricks at Emmys

Christina Hendricks, Supporting Actress nominee for “Mad Men,” was stunning as usual at last night's Emmy Awards. Wearing a lilac Zac Posen gown, her makeup was inspired by Mia Farrow’s iconic character from “The Great Gatsby.” Celebrity makeup artist Vanessa Scali dished about the Lancôme look for Christina. See below for all the expert tips!

Christina Hendricks at the 2010 Emmy Awards. (Getty Images)
Face: Vanessa prepped the skin with Lancôme La Base Pro. To perfect Christina’s already luminous skin, she used the new Teint Miracle Lit-From-Within Makeup. “It has an amazing transparent quality that leaves the skin looking flawless and luminous without being shiny,” said Vanessa. “I applied it with a brush and then blended with my fingers.” Blending with fingers heated up the foundation, which allowed a seamless finish. She followed with Effacernes Concealer under the eyes, which is her all-time favorite concealer.

Cheeks:For a fresh pop of color Vanessa used Lancôme Blush Subtil Shimmer in Pink Pool on the apples of her cheeks. Dabs of Giorgio Armani Beauty’s Fluid Sheer #2 highlighted Christina’s cheekbones.

Eyes: The eye shadow was mix of YSL’s Ombre Solo Eyeshadow in Cashmere Brown and Midnight Black. “I applied these all over her lid, under the bottom lashes and blended it out past her natural lash line to softly elongate the eye,” reported Vanessa. To define and elongate the lash line, Vanessa lined the eyes with Lancôme’s Le Crayon Khôl in Black. “I used a touch of liner under her bottom lashes but smudged it for a softer look,” she said. For added depth, she also used Artliner Precision Point Eyeliner in Noir at the very base of Christina’s lashes.

Mascara: Several generous coats of Lancôme Définicils Waterproof Mascara in Black were used on the top and bottom lashes.
 
Lips: Christina’s lips were a mix of Lancôme lip colors for an effect that Vanessa described as “red with a little dash of pink.” A sheer coat of Color Design Matte Lipstick in Corset was topped by La Laque Fever Lipshine in Cyber Coral.

Image credit: Getty Images

NARS Beauty at 2010 Emmy Awards

Working with celebrity makeup artist Melanie Inglessis, the NARS team designed Lea Michele's (Glee) makeup for the 2010 Emmy Awards. Showcasing products from their new Fall collection, the look was playful yet classic.

Lea Michele of Glee wearing NARS makeup.

“My inspiration was the era of the 60’s. I thought of Raquel Welch and Bridget Bardot: the winged eye, the nude lip. The dress is so classic, so we wanted to be adventurous with her eyes – giving a dash of color with the new Palladium Soft Touch Shadow Pencil – and kept the lip nude with Tashkent Pure Matte!” Inglessis explained.

Items used on Lea Michele:

·         PRO-PRIME Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base & Skin Smoothing Face Prep
·         Douceur Blush (NEW for Fall 2010)
·         Tzarine Duo Eyeshadow (Fall 2010)
·         Palladium Soft Touch Shadow Pencil (Fall 2010)
·         Tashkent Pure Matte Lipstick (Fall 2010)

NARS also collaborated with celebrity makeup artist Tina Turnbow to create a soft, natural look for Keri Russell.

Keri Russell wearing NARS 2010 Fall makeup.

“We wanted to give her look a classic feel to coincide with the vintage dress she’s wearing. Her warm skin tone and the coolness of the dress was the perfect combination for reflecting the same tones through her makeup: warm eyes, and a cool peachy matte lip. It’s flirty with a bit of sass.” Turnbow said.

Items used on Keri:

·         PRO-PRIME Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base and Skin Smoothing Face Prep
·         Tzarine Duo Eyeshadow
·         Nuits Blanches Eyeliner Stylo
·         Douceur Blush topped with Desire Blush for a pop of color
·         Tashkent Pure Matte Lipstick

The new Pure Matte Lipstick will be available on September 1st exclusively at Saks.com. 

Vouelle Fall 2010 Shoe Collection

Vouelle never ceases to amaze me with their sexy shoe collections. Their new Fall/Winter 2010-2011 line offers classy, elegant silhouettes with a very sexy twist. I'm swooning over this Leelo velvet and patent leather sandal. The opulent ostrich feather band is just killer - very Sex and the City. The heel is 4.7 inches - not sure if I can actually walk in these, but who cares?

Leelo velvet/patent sandal with ostrich feathers ($795).

The Xenia charcoal suede and metallic leather boot would make you feel like an Amazon, ready to conquer the entire universe. This one has a 4.3 inch heel and it looks pretty comfy with the platform sole.

Xenia suede and metallic leather boot ($895).

The Hayley red silk satin sandal is just perfect for all the holiday parties and formal events. Again, I'm not sure if you can dance in it, but your feet will look absolutely gorgeous with these on. 

Hayley silk satin sandal in red ($625).

For basic black, you can't go wrong with the Aeryn and Electra suede booties. They go well with so many ensembles - skinny jeans and a cashmere sweater, patterned tights and skirts, etc. 

Aeryn ($675) & Electra ($695) Bootines.

These new Fall styles are available in the U.S. at In Step boutique (inside Wynn Encore Las Vegas). Call (702) 770-5490‎ for more info.

Trinity gold chevron/black patent leather pump ($525).

In addition, you can always contact their main Paris showroom for more styles. Their website will soon launch an e-commerce shop. How exciting...

www.vouelle.com

Giorgio Armani Night Viper Fall 2010 Makeup

Sexy nocturnal shades are the main focus in Giorgio Armani's Night Viper Fall 2010 makeup collection. Deep blue tones, cool pinks and crimson berry can be seen throughout the entire line.

This season's Maestro Eye Shadow Quad features Inky Navy Blue, Dark Brown, Icy Brown and Silver. This might seem pricey but I've seen similar quads for a lot more. This is actually a decent buy.

For the ultimate smoky eye, the Eyes to Kill Eye Color Trio #7 is the new palette for Fall. The center is a pure satin mauve, while the middle ring is a sparkly ink black. The outer ring is a metallic aubergine purple. Purple is one of the key colors for Fall fashion, so if you don't have a purple eyeshadow palette yet, this is one to consider.

Three new shades are introduced for the Rouge d'Armani lipstick line. I tried the 602 Soft Pink and it's just too pretty. This is a misnomer, because it's not soft or light at all, but rather a pretty bright fuschia pink. The color also lasts for up to 8 hours, and it's not slippery. In fact, it doesn't have the heavy "I'm-wearing-lipstick" feeling at all. I also love the magnetic closure - you never have to click it shut.

Rouge d'Armani in 602 Soft Pink.

The new Blending Blush Duo is just lovely. The left dark raspberry side is actually not as bright as it looks, but you can definitely layer it to make your cheeks look darker. The right pale shimmering side is so light on my cheek that I can barely see it. But, if I mix the two shades together it's just perfect - you end up with a gorgeous flush of natural pink color.

For the skin care fiends: Armani also launched the new Crema Nera Extrema High Recovery Elixir. This potent serum offers a triple action formula. Featuring the Extrema antioxidant, it acts as a UV shield to prevent further sun damage. The Crystal Complex, Vitamin CG (stabilized Vitamin C) and Palmaria Palmata (red algae) extract work together to fight hyper-pigmentation. Lastly, the volcanic Obsidian Mineral Complex (OMC3) provides anti-aging properties by stimulating collagen renewal. I haven't used it for a full month but each time I use it the skin just drinks it up. The scent also reminds me of an Armani fragrance.

 

To purchase: giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.

Givenchy Le Soin Noir Yeux & Black For Light Mask

Givenchy's latest 'haute couture' skin care launch, the decadent Le Soin Noir Yeux eye cream, has a wonderfully moisturizing gel texture. Using a patented extraction process, the star ingredient is the Vital Black Algae Sap Concentrate. Listed as the first black eye cream in the market, this algae-based cream is supposed to regenerate the tissue cells around the delicate eye area. The glass packaging is also pretty slick - the container looks like a sleek jewelry box.

Don't be alarmed at the dark charcoal grey color - it will disappear the second your skin absorbs it. I've been using this for a couple weeks and my fine lines have slightly diminished. The results are especially amazing when I wake up in the mornings. It seemed like those pesky fine lines disappeared temporarily. After a 1-month trial, 31 women reported a 74% reduction in dark circles and an 83% reduction in fine lines.

I can now see why the Black For Light Mask is such a popular product. Your face practically emits a subtle glow after using it for ten minutes. It's like wearing a delicate photoshop filter - even the SO noticed the effect. If I were to use this in the mornings before heading out, I probably wouldn't need a highlighter or pearly primer to enable a radiant complexion. The product is pre-measured in nine applications, which makes it very handy for travel. The box also comes with a great brush. When you're done using the entire kit you can re-use it as a concealer or foundation brush.

For more info and to buy: givenchybeauty.com and parfumsgivenchy.com.

For editorial consideration, a product sample w as provided for this review.

Camper Fall 2010 Shoes

Oh, my...I love purple and Camper's Fall 2010 designs are all beckoning me to shop at their SF boutique this weekend. They really are after my own heart. Just look at these awesome designs! The Ariadna ankle boot has a killer stacked heel. I bet the flexible rubber heel would make this so comfy to wear.

Ariadna ankle boot from Camper's Fall 2010 collection.

The Mamba heel gives a casual yet sophisticated flair for a work ensemble. Much better than plain black shoes! The Lulu ankle boot has such great detailing on the side of the sturdy 2.3 inch heel. They also have great etchings on their outer soles. Love love love.

Mamba court shoe in leather and elastic material.Lulu ankle boot in leather with side zipper.

The TWS (twins) collection is always fabulous, but these new colors are just tooooo cute. I can't decide which one is better - if only I can buy both pairs! On the wish list they go...

TWS brown suede mary jane heels & blue leather pumps.

To buy: shop.camper.com

Borghese Fango Active Mud & Tinted Lip Plumper

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the famous Borghese Fango Active Mud collection. Rich in minerals and nutrients, this iconic mud mask is derived from the volcanic hills of Tuscany.

The Fango Delicato is the most ideal mask for sensitive dry skin. It tingles for a few minutes but it doesn't leave any pink blotches after you rinse it off. My face felt so very soft and revitalized after using this mask - I didn't even use moisturizer. You can even use this on your body. The formula is also packed with Aloe Vera, Mango Butter, Green Tea, and lots of moisturizing oils (Olive, Chamomile, Safflower and Grapefruit).

The Fango Brillante Brightening Mud Mask stung a bit more than the Delicato, but this one contains Vitamin A and Citrus Unishiu Peel Extract to encourage a brighter complexion. This formula also seemed to be thicker as well, so it's trickier to wash off if you don't use a washcloth or sponge.

I also got to try the Labbro Più Paffuto Tinted Lip Plumper. The sheer Charme Naturale shade gave a pretty gloss of berry color, which is great for a casual makeup look. Even after wiping off the product, my lips looked smoother and a bit plumper than before. It tingles a wee bit but it doesn't sting at all. The package claims that the plumping action can last up 48 hours, but we'll see...

To purchase: borghese.com

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.

Silver Moon Ice Cream

Finally, there's a heat wave going on this week, and luckily I've got some Silver Moon ice cream so I can literally chill out after dinner. The local dessert company was created after founder Sheri Tate spent several years making the popular liqueur-infused ice creams for her friends and family. If you love cocktails and sugar, this is a delicious marriage of both worlds.

Of the flavors I got to try, I like the Praline Irish Cream the most. The Coffee with Brownie Bits had a nice strong coffee liqueur flavor but I found the brownie bits to be too mushy for my taste. Overall the product recipe is very generous with the boozy flavor - you have to be 21 in order to buy it! I suppose if you were to down the whole pint you might get a bit tipsy. I also enjoyed refreshing Mango Mimosa (infused with Champagne) and Pomegranate Martini (vodka and pomegranate liqueur).

These ice creams are now available at Whole Foods Market in Northern CA. You can also sign up for their email newsletter to win 4 pints of ice cream.

For more info head over to www.facebook.com/SilverMoonDesserts and silvermoondesserts.com.

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.