Wednesday, February 13, 2013

BACKSTAGE BEAUTY: Revlon for KaufmanFranco Fall 2013





 
Revlon Global Artistic Director, Gucci Westman, paired bold smoky eyes with luminous skin to complement KaufmanFranco's Fall 2013 Collection.  What I love about this look is that anyone can wear this.  It's adaptable for everyday wear and not just runway-artistic.  Details from backstage at KaufmanFranco:
“I was inspired by Brigitte Bardot, and classic Parisian women from the 60’s, so this look is all about the eyes. ,” says Westman. “I combined smoky grey shadows with ultra heavy black liner and piled on extra lashes for a mysterious and sultry look. To contrast with the gritty texture on the eyes, I kept the girls skin soft and pretty and gave their lips a natural flush.”
 

Revlon L - R: Nearly Naked Makeup, PhotoReady Primer and Shadow in Pop Art, ColorStay Smoky Shadow Stick in Volcanic, ColorStay Creme Gel Liner in Black
REVLON PRODUCTS TO GET THE LOOK:

FACE:
Revlon Nearly Naked Makeup, $9.99
Revlon Illuminance Crème Shadow in Not Just Nudes, $6.50
Revlon Baby Stick for Lips & Cheeks in Tahitian from The Spring/Summer ’13 Collection by Gucci Westman, $8.99 (available April 2013)
EYES:
Revlon PhotoReady Primer and Shadow in Pop Art (dark green shade and sparkle top coat only), $9.99
Revlon ColorStay 16 Hour Eye Shadow Quad in Free Spirit (darkest shade only), $7.49
Revlon ColorStay Smoky Shadow Stick in Volcanic, $8.99
Revlon ColorStay Liquid Eye Pen in Black, $8.99
Revlon ColorStay Crème Gel Liner in Black, $9.99
Revlon PhotoReady 3D Volume Mascara in Black, $8.99

Revlon L - R: ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in Front Row, ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in Private Viewing, ColorBurst Lip Butter in Creme Brulee, ColorStay Nail Enamel in Trade Winds
 

LIPS:
Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in Front Row, $9.99
Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in Private Viewing, $9.99
Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Crème Brulee, $7.49
NAILS:
Revlon ColorStay Nail Enamel in Trade Winds, $7.99
 
Explore more Revlon products via your local mass retailer on online at beauty.com.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Artisanal Soapy Decadence with Passion Savon


 



How do I love thee ... let me count the ways ...

This phrasing comes to mind when thinking about the incredible creations of Passion Savon.  I found this delicious hand crafted soap company via facebook and have been a devout fan and client ever since.  Founder and creator Nia Hafsia wasn't kidding when she called her company "Soap Passion," as she very definitely exudes an incredible passion for her business, for the gorgeous products she makes and really just for life in general.  I have fallen in love with Nia and her exquisite bars.

The mill in France

Passion Savon is based in Bergerec, France.  The soaps are created on site at Nia's and husband Karim's charming french mill.  There, they have an atelier where the two work together to produce what I consider to be soapy masterpieces.  Oh to be a fly on the wall inside that atelier ... divine aromas wafting through the air, multitudes of color strewn all throughout the space, and free-spirited energy weaving through every molecule of the oils, homegrown fruits, botanicals, and gorgeous ingredients that through Nia's direction culminate in inspired works of art.

Nia in her atelier

Nia, with her creative ability and aromatherapy skills has been making soap and toiletries for over 25 years. It all started in Wales (UK), while pregnant with her second child (Dafydd) and “bored” Nia decided to take an aromatherapy course and study the art of understanding and blending essential oils and instantly had a natural aptitude for this wonderful therapy. She started experimenting with natural ingredients to create unique and special recipes and replaced the chemicals normally used in most personal care products with effective, natural materials.  With four young children (sons Gruff, Trystan, Dafydd and daughter Tirion --- you come to "meet" all of them through Nia's facebook page and realize the love she has for her family is even more expansive than that for her soaps!), Nia sold her first soap company to devote time to her children and her opera singing.  Later, Nia moved to France in September 2007, where she met and fell in love with a Frenchman (Karim). The two are happily married and settled in Bergerac where they create luxury soaps, natural skincare products and blend essential oils.

Nia and her daughter Tirion ... beautiful women

Now, I literally could go on and on about Nia, her beautiful family, her extraordinary talent for creating soap (truly more talent than any one person has any right to embody ... lol), as well as her exquisite bars of soap ... the smells, the colors, the swirls, the gorgeous ingredients, but it's probably better I let you discover Passion Savon the way I did initially .... through Nia's photos and descriptions.

Would encourage you to click images to enlarge to see better detail.


 
 

 
French Lavender: this extraordinary essential oil soap has so many therapeutic qualities. Passion Savon uses a high altitude Lavender (which is a superior quality) and this essential oil is famous for its ability to lower anxiety, calm and lessen stress. For the skin it is valuable for its healing properties and ability to promote the growth of new skin cells. It has a balancing effect on sebum (the oily secretions of the sebaceous glands that moisturises and protects) therefore making it suitable for all skin types, even the most fragile, sensitive and delicate. It is also said to have a healing effect on minor burns, boils, acne, eczema, psoriasis and fungal growths. Suitable for all skin types, even sensitive.
 

 

 
Chestnut and Chocolate Torte:  Nia describes this as her most extravagant soap and sooooo good for your skin. Superfatted with organic cocoa butter, natural vanilla seeds, double cream, honey, coffee liqueur, dark chocolate and the "pièce de résistance" are the chestnuts. Called Chestnut and Chocolate Torte, it will send your head spinning, smells divine and the lather is like silky satin.


 
 


Frosted Orange, Spring Collection:  The freshest, zestiest and more fruity orange blended with orange blossom, red mandarin, yuzu, cypress and peppermint for a real wake-up call to spring.


 


Kiwi and Lime:  The zesty, refreshing blend of 100% natural essential oils are de-toxifying, cleansing, astringent, perfect for normal, oily and combination skin types. You can really see the colours, the black charcoal almost has dark blue indigo tints in it mixed with shimmery green mica. With fresh, juicy, spicy and zesty citrus fruity essential oils. The natural fragrance of this soap bar has the true aroma of fresh Limes with refreshing and cleansing organic Green Tea. This tea has great therapeutic benefits, containing potent anti-oxidants called Catechins. The outcome of several experimental studies suggests that Green Tea has anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic potential, which can be exploited against a variety of skin disorders. Lime essential oils is gently astringent and toning for the skin. Nia also uses whole Kiwi fruit from a friend's garden in the soap, the peel and pulp with its tiny seeds, adds to the texture and lather. Kiwi fruit is packed with more vitamin C than an equivalent amount of orange. It also has strong antioxidant protective properties, keeping the skin healthy and energized.


 


Blackberry Passion:  Described as her most complicated soap, it has nine colours. Blackberry Passion smells like a true fine fragrance of the highest quality, but a clever in-house blend of completely natural essential oils achieve an incredible aroma. Gorgeous!


 


La Mer:  One of their most popular bars for men is La Mer, a sexy, seductive blend of herbs, spices and zesty fruits that women fall in love with too. Look at the textured surface of the freshly poured soap (left) which represents la mer, the sea in French.


 


Strawberries & Champagne:  What is more festive and special than strawberries and champagne and here it is in a completely 100% natural soap with inclusion of fresh strawberries and French champagne. The ultimate top luxe presant for somebody special. 100% natural soap with extra virgin olive oil, coconut, shea butter, sunflower oil and castor oil with essential oils. Handmade cold process without chemicals. No palm oil! One of their most popular soaps ... yes, can see why : ).


 


Kaleidosoap:  Limited edition previously, but now part of the standard range as it is so popular. Green aromas of pine, with fruity mandarin, cedarwood and a few spices thrown in with juicy cranberries, gorgeous. I completely fell in love with at Christmas.  The aroma and shimmery micas make this bar extraordinary.  I couldn't get enough of it ... truly.


If you have a penchant for artisan soaps, a desire to pamper your skin with the most lovingly created bars of nourishing oils, therapeutic botanicals and fresh fruits, or want to experience first hand a work of masterful art in all its beautiful glory, you must treat yourself to a bar or several of Passion Savon's exquisite soaps.  For the price (extremely reasonable, including the international shipping), you truly will not find a more decadent way to experience french luxury.  By the way, my two faves? Vanilla Bourbon Pomegranate ... oh. my. gosh!, and Kiwi Lime ... lively and scrumptious. Enjoy!  xo

Learn more about Nia and Passion Savon via facebook HERE

Explore all that Passion Savon has to offer via the shop online HERE

Thursday, January 24, 2013

NewBeauty Test Tube for QVC

 

Many a beauty junkie knows the benefits of the well curated beauty test tube.  The idea of being able to try a number of deluxe and travel size beauty samples for a nominal cost is very appealing.  One of my personal faves is the NewBeauty Test Tubes available through QVC.  Here I know I'm not only getting the sample goodies and the fantastic NewBeauty magazine (a coveted treasure chest on all things beauty), but also the convenience of product availability through QVC.  With this often comes multiple payment options (easy pay, value pay ... what have you) and the security of knowing the item will be refunded if it doesn't work out and is returned. 

The only downside, as I've experienced it, is keeping the sample options fresh .... and by fresh I mean unique and diverse.  Inevitably, we're going to find a WEN Conditioning Cleanser, a Mally product, and somebody's lipgloss (tarte, Mally, etc) in the tube.  Now for me, this is ok as I happen to use WEN conditioning cleansers exclusively on my hair, have found Mally items to be high quality and effective and am generally willing to add another lipgloss to my stash, but one should be prepared if those items don't appeal. And the small sizes shouldn't turn folks away, there is a lot of product in those tubes and bottles.



I'm loving the picks for the newest QVC NewBeauty Test Tube:

  • 6-fl oz WEN Cleansing Conditioner
  • 1.9-fl oz Living Proof Thickening Mousse
  • 0.17-oz Perricone MD High Potency Eye Lift
  • 0.15-fl oz bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss
  • 0.01-fl oz Mally Evercolor Waterproof Eyeliner
  • 0.11-fl oz Smileactives Tooth Whitening Pen
  • 0.4-fl oz philosophy full of promise moisturizer
  • 0.5-fl oz Perfect Formula Daily Moisturizer
  • NewBeauty magazine

  • With the exception of the bareMinerals lipgloss (just don't like their products), I think I'll use each one.  I am particularly psyched about the Living Proof Thickening Mousse ... love this brand and their styling creams already.

    The NewBeauty Test Tube for QVC is currently available for $29.96 with the option of 2 easy payments of $14.98.  Don't miss out!


    Sunday, January 20, 2013

    The Organic + Natural Beauty Show, London



     

     The Organic & Natural Beauty Show is the first trade show in Europe purely dedicated to natural and organic beauty products from around the world. The show covers cosmetics, raw materials, ingredients and packaging, anti-aging, slimming products, nutritional supplements and vitamins. Exclusively dedicated to the natural and organic beauty industry, it offers a unique networking platform for exchanging ideas, launching new products and meeting UK and European retailers, distributors and beauty professionals.
     
    The exhibition and conference is taking place on June 2 - 3, 2013 at Excel in London. It will attract over 12,000 professionals, 150 exhibitors and 60 speakers and will be hosting the Natural Health Beauty Awards Ceremony, one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the skincare and cosmetics industry awarding 50 organic and natural beauty products.

     
     
    The Show is supported by the industry’s leading professional associations and certification bodies such as The Soil Association, CTPA, Natrue, Ecocert, Cosmebio, BDIH, Ecocontrol, ICEA, Demeter, IBD, Indocert and Ccpb.
     
     
     

    Tuesday, January 15, 2013

    La Bella Figura Daily Elements Defense Oil



    In Italy, “La Bella Figura” signifies a way of living that strives to always embody an authentic image, recognize elegance in simplicity, and beauty in all forms of aesthetics. La Bella Figura Beauty has incorporated that philosophy into their products to enhance the effectiveness that natural and organic ingredients are able to reserve. This is the luxury of hand blended, pure formulations made from whole plant botanicals to reveal radiant skin.

    The La Bella Figura line includes oils, serums, fragrances, elixirs, facemasks, and balms. All products are handcrafted in small batches with ingredients that are fair trade, sustainable, natural, or certified organic. Founders Victoria Fantauzzi and Karen King carefully choose every ingredient — from rare oils to whole plant botanicals — based on effectiveness as well as sustainability and ecological footprint.

    New for Spring/Summer 2013
    La Bella Figura Daily Elements Defense Face Oil offers powerful protection against harmful UV rays and daily environmental exposure with high doses of antioxidants, omegas 3 and 6, and skin restoring minerals.
    Cell and tissue damage leads to collagen loss and vitality in skin appearance. DailyElements Defense Oil is formulated with the most potent actives found naturally in plants to restore oxidative stress and support skin’s ability to repair, renew, and strengthen.
    Key ingredients include high levels of Vitamins A and C from pure Guava seed and rosehip seed oils, collagen building squalene and linoleic acid in organic Camellia seed oil, and the richest source of omegas 3 and 6 found in Sacha Inchi oil. This essential antioxidant and nutrient dense oil is easily absorbed because of its small molecular structure, which increases circulation and draws oxygen to the skin helping to rebuild cell structure and support new cell growth from the deepest level.
    Jojoba oil balances sebum to keep skin well balanced, evening primrose promotes elasticity for youthfulness, and calendula and pitanga leaf extracts help heal damaged skin and are good sources of alpha hydroxy acids. Jasmine, sandalwood, palmarosa and rose deliver skin repairing benefits, which soften, hydrate, and fight textural changes to keep skin smooth and luminous.
    Daily Elements Defense Face Oil is an active free radical fighting formula with a multitude of skin enhancing ability that delivers beautiful results. Use before and after element exposure on face, neck, and décolleté areas.
    Available March 2013.

    Monday, January 14, 2013

    Tarte Treats Us to Emerald


    It's easy is to wear the Pantone color of the year with tarte skinny smolderEYES in rich emerald.  These trimmed down skinny, waterproof liners glide on like velvet, just like you're used to with tarte's Amazonian clay waterproof liners.  They are intended to last throughout the day so you don't have to worry about smudging or travelling down under eyes.  These have rich, pure pigments boosted by Amazonian clay for truer, bolder color.  Use the built-in smudger to soften the look.  What's lovely about having the clay in the liners is that it nourishes lids, reduces surface oil and improves overall texture for easy application and better wear.  What's great about this rich emerald color is it emphasizes the beauty of every eye color.  Enjoy!

    Sunday, January 13, 2013

    Emerald: 2013 Pantone Color of the Year



    Pantone LLC, the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, announced PANTONE® 17-5641 Emerald, a lively, radiant, lush green as the color of the year for 2013.

    The 2012 color of the year, PANTONE 17-1463 Tangerine Tango, a spirited reddish orange, provided the energy boost we needed to recharge and move forward. Emerald, a vivid verdant green, enhances our sense of well-being further by inspiring insight, as well as promoting balance and harmony.

    Most often associated with brilliant, precious gemstones, the perception of Emerald is sophisticated and luxurious. Since antiquity, this luminous, magnificent hue has been the color of beauty and new life in many cultures and religions. Also the color of growth, renewal and prosperity, no other color conveys regeneration more than green. For centuries, many countries have chosen green to represent healing and unity.

    “The most abundant hue in nature, the human eye sees more green than any other color in the spectrum,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “As it has throughout history, multifaceted Emerald continues to sparkle and fascinate. Symbolically, Emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today’s complex world. This powerful and universally-appealing tone translates easily to both fashion and home interiors.”


    Emerald for Fashion
    The prevalence of green has been steadily rising for several seasons now, especially in the fashion and couture markets, and even on the Red Carpet. Appropriate for every occasion, Emerald’s classic elegance makes for striking and irresistible women’s formal, everyday wear and accessories. Emerald also makes a strong statement in men’s sportswear, knitwear and ties. Fashion designers featured in the PANTONE Fashion Color Report Spring 2013, including Tracy Reese, Nanette Lepore, Barbara Tfank, NAHM and Marimekko, are incorporating Emerald into their spring collections. Balanced, yet sophisticated, Emerald enlivens all colors in the spectrum and will continue to make a statement beyond spring and summer into fall and winter.


    Emerald for Beauty
    Equally harmonious on the cosmetic color wheel, Emerald dramatizes all eye colors as it beautifully enhances green eyes, is compatible to blue eyes, emphasizes the green undertone in hazel eyes and intensifies brown eyes to make them appear deeper. Emerald is also a perfect complement to peaches, pinks, roses, ruby reds and aubergines – offering a variety of lipstick and blush options. For those who want to sparkle and stand out, Emerald is the perfect punctuation point in nail color because of its complementary nature.

    photo: Inside-Out Design Blog

    Emerald for Interiors
    Enhance your sense of well-being at home by rejuvenating the interior with Emerald paint, accents and accessories. This jewel-like hue will create a luxurious feel in an entryway, powder room, dining room or study, and can bring life to a living room as an accent wall. Enliven your home with bedding, pillows, bath towels and accessories in Emerald. Add a splash of color to the kitchen and dining room areas with Emerald dinnerware, stemware and appliances.


    Tollens inspired by Pantone
    Pantone proudly announces its new partnership in the world of home decoration with the 260 years old paint brand Tollens, a leader in the European paint industry. This partnership will give birth to an exclusive paint collection, Tollens inspired by Pantone, available throughout France in 2013.

    Tollens inspired by Pantone paint collection is the new way to express the Pantone unique colour feeling in home decoration, with the highest paint quality for walls, wood and furniture. The partnership between Tollens and Pantone will take place in two steps: the launch of a 40-colours ready-mix paint collection in the Castorama DIY network in March, followed by the launch of a 100-shades colour collection in Tollens exclusive professional network in June. PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald will be the flagship colour in both collections.

    “As a producer of high quality paint since 1748, Tollens was meant to meet Pantone, the world’s colour authority for nearly 50 years,” says Stephan Campion, managing director of Groupe Tollens. “This partnership creates a new expression of colour in home decoration, with a unique collection of beautiful colours in the best quality paint.”

    Cross-Referencing to Other PANTONE Libraries

    PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald can also be cross-referenced to all other PANTONE
    Libraries including PANTONE PLUS for graphic design. For cross-referencing information, see www.pantone.com/COY2013.

    About the PANTONE Color of the Year
    The color of the year selection is a very thoughtful process. To arrive at the selection, Pantone quite literally combs the world looking for color influences. This can include the entertainment industry and films that are in production, traveling art collections, hot new artists, popular travel destinations and other socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from technology, availability of new textures and effects that impact color, and even upcoming sports events that capture worldwide attention.

    For more than a decade, Pantone’s Color of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home and industrial design, as well as product packaging and graphic design.

    You may recall colors for the past five years included:
    • PANTONE 17-1463 Tangerine Tango (2012)
    • PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle (2011)
    • PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise (2010)
    • PANTONE 14-0848 Mimosa (2009)
    • PANTONE 18-3943 Blue Iris (2008)
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