ELLE: Newest Top 10 Beauty Essentials

Elle lists their new must-haves in beauty essentials! It's no surprise many of these gems are multi-taskers.  Why not get the most from your beauty?  Here's the scoop on the best and brightests stars on the horizon.

ANTIAGING MAKEUP
Invest in a tinted moisturizer or foundation with SPF (and be sure it's broad spectrum - UVA and UVB protection) to help combat age-revealing lines and wrinkles. A product with nourishing botanicals is a plus!

New Products to Try:
The powder in Sisley Paris Phyto-Poudre Compacte has camellia oil and plant extracts of mallow and linden; Chanel Vitalumière Moisture-Rich Radiance Fluid Makeup SPF 15 is reformulated with smoothing hydrators, marine extracts, and mineral-based pigments.

MULTITASKING LIP CARE
Expect more from your lipstick or gloss—besides imparting color, the perfect tube should also protect and moisturize.

New Products to Try:
With mango butter, antioxidants, and SPF 15, Nars Pure Sheer SPF Treatment keeps lips kissable; vitamin- and moisturizer-packed Pure Color Gloss by Estée Lauder unveils next month; Bobbi Brown Treatment Lip Shine SPF 15 replenishes moisture and collagen

SIGNATURE FRAGRANCE
Even if you go through fragrances like boyfriends, don’t ditch them all—keep one perfume that’s true to your personality and save for special occasions.

New Product to Try:
Next month, Philosophy debuts the fifth scent in its Grace collection, Philosophy Eternal Grace. I pre-ordered this for advanced shipment and cannot wait for it to be delivered. Will certainly post a review for you when it's here.

GO-TO NAIL POLISH
Choosing from a multitude of colors at the nail salon is a treat! Just be sure to have your own bottle of polish handy for those times you can’t make it to a pro.

New Products to Try:
Indulge your girly side with Lancôme Le Vernis in Ms. Perfectly Pink or go bold with Essie Nail Polish in Pretty Edgy, part of the company’s summer collection (available June 1).

EYE REJUVENATOR
The delicate skin around your eyes is the first facial area to show signs of aging. To keep eyes looking fresh, incorporate an antiaging serum or moisturizer into your daily skin care regimen.

New Products to Try:
VMV Hypoallergenics Re-Everything Eye Serum and RareMinerals Active Triple Treatment Eye Cream are each chock-full of depuffing and firming ingredients.

GLOW-GETTING COSMETICS
Grandma may have pinched her cheeks, but there’s an easier (and less painful) way to get an instant glow—whether you opt for liquid or powder, a blush-toned highlighter is a must.

New Product to Try:
Swirl a large brush in MAC Marine Life High-Light Powder, part of the brand’s To The Beach collection (now available), and bedazzle your cheekbones in seconds.

FACE MOISTURIZER
Keep skin supple by not skimping on moisturizer—even if your complexion is blemish-prone or oily, a light layer of lotion works wonders.

New Product to Try:
Estée Lauder Hydrationist Maximum Moisture Crème delivers hydration without clogging pores and comes in three different formulas (normal/combination skin, dry skin, and SPF 15).

LASHWORTHY MASCARA
A coat of mascara can wake up eyes instantly—no shadow or liner required. The key: Finding a lash-pumping formula that doesn’t leave hair brittle.

New Products to Try:
CoverGirl LashBlast Fusion is a buildable mascara that creates length and volume, minus troublesome clumps; Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes Waterproof Mascara gently adds smudge-resistant curl and definition.

CREAMY BODY LOTION
Avoid scaly arms and legs with a moisturizer. Apply daily on shower-fresh skin for optimal results—lotion humectants will draw leftover water droplets into the dermis.

New Products to Try:
Almond milk and oil in L’Occitane Almond Milk Veil nourish, while almond protein firms; Fresh Citron de Vigne Body Lotion revitalizes the skin with vitamins and shea butter—and perks up the senses too (it smells like a vineyard).

NOURISHING SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER
Minimizing your use of hot tools and styling products can improve the health of your strands, but there’s no reason you should go it alone—a great shampoo and conditioner can be hair-savers.

New Products to Try:
L’Oréal Professionnel Source de Richesse shampoo and conditioning mask boost hair health with all-natural, eco-friendly ingredients.

For more information, please visit elle.com for their latest beauty news, trends and tips for getting the most from your beauty essentials.

source: elle; images: elle, nordstrom, sephora, temptalia (close-up image of MAC high-light powder)

Givenchy Proposes to Darken Your Skincare Routine

Have you heard about Givenchy's newest skincare product Le Soin Noir? I am drooling to try this . . .

Touted as a 'beauty renewal skincare cream', Le Soin Noir is an opaque, onyx cream, extra-rich in texture, anti-aging in benefits, composed of a rare black algae to assist in maintaining and prolonging cell longevity.

The specifics:
Givenchy Le Soin Noir contains an extremely precious, natural age-defying ingredient that will secure its status in you're anti-aging routine. Used for the first time in cosmetics, Vital Black Algae Sap Concentrate restores communication between the skin's cells. Givenchy's researchers have developed a method to infuse this potion with a rare black algae extract to help maintain and prolong cellular longevity. Parched skin drinks in the hydration it needs—leaving your complexion firm, glowing, and even-toned.

Vital Black Algae Sap Concentrate is found in the depths of the ocean and reconstructs a catalyst in the skin to counteract the signs of aging. Only Vital Black Algae Sap Concentrate contains these precious black molecules that are extremely rich in vital fatty acids. The result is skin that draws new strength to protect the cells' DNA from light-induced aging and wrinkles as it becomes firmer and restores itself. Smooth it on morning and night to form an invisible barrier that protects against the signs of aging caused by environmental and internal assaults.

If any of you have tried this, please share your thoughts with is in comments!

Givenchy's Le Soin Noir is available online at Sephora and at Sephora's 5th Avenue storie; more information may be garnered at Givenchy. Le Soin Noir retails for $360 (oh my gosh, I just saw that price). Goodness, gracious. It better be some good cream at that price, right darlings?!

NEW IN STORES: August

Here's what's hitting stores this month. Some we've seen a glimpse of already, others I'm seeing info about for the first time. Any of these newbies tickle your fancy?

Barex Gloss Hairspray Strong Hold

Most strong-hold styling mists suck the shine from hair, leaving locks sadly lackluster. This non-drying spray maintains the polish without compromising even a smidgen of holding power - $26

Available at Beauty Pantry and BeautyHabit

ZO Skin Health Ossential Radical Night Repair

This groundbreaking skin smoother from California-based dermatologist Zein Obagi promises to erase wrinkles as if they were never there, thanks to a formula that contains a full 1 percent super-concentrated retinol instead of the .01 percent commonly found in most over-the-counter antiaging preparations - $325

Available at select Nordstrom stores, Nordstrom online, Studio at Fred Segal, and ZO Skin Health

Lollia Guest Haus Petite Treat

Placed sinkside, an assortment of these mini metal tubes of hand cream, shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner are pretty enough to transform even the most ho-hum of home powder rooms into a hotel-quality bath - $8 each

Available at Lollia Life

Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes

Well, this little creation isn't news to us; we've been seeing it all over the blogosphere. It may look like a disco ball, but there's nothing retro about this new mascara that combines a futuristic spherical bristled brush with a flexible, lash-thickening formula for, "the easiest and most thorough application ever", says Givenchy. In Phenomen'Brown and Phenomen'Black - $27

Available at Sephora and sephora.com

Sue Devitt Beauty Sea Spray Microquatic Hydrating Marine Mineral Eye Palette

Is it an eye shadow? Is it a skin treatment? Answer: It's both. These universally flattering mineral eye colors are laced with ceramides and hyaluronic acid to improve skin elasticity with every application. In Blue Waters and Green Isles - $37.50

Available at Barneys New York, barneys.com, Ulta, and ulta.com

source: style.com

Givenchy Fall/Winter 2008 - Dandy Collection

Givenchy's inspiration for their upcoming collection? 19th Century Dandies

Hmmm ... do we like? Well, this collection plays with masculine and feminine elements to create an elegant, edgy, and flamboyant look. The look contrasts a strong dark-toned smokey eye in masculine greys and purples with sweet, delicate feminine baby-pink lips and cheeks, rather than a purely neutral lip/cheek. The collection is set for release in August with the mascara (below) set to come out mid-September.

Interesting is the packaging:


Prism Again! Shimmer'Eyes in Precious Shimmer

Lighter gold, purple, and grey pearlescent shades and a dense matte black base (black dots on white background). When used, the polka-dotted surface disappears revealing the base underneath which can be used to line or blend with the other shadows to alter their appearance.


Prisme Again! Shimmer'Eyes in LE Smokey Shimmer

Dense metallic shades in blue, purple, and silver-blacks accompanied with a a matte white base (white polka-dots on black) to soften the look.




LE Pocket Beauty Case designed to appear like a delicately etched men's pocket watch compact. The case opens to reveal a pink and white pearly highlighter than can be used on the cheeks and lips.






Phenomen'Eyes Mascara - quite different, don't you think? An elegant little spherical brush designed to reach every single lash on the eye; as it applies vertically it is said to reach root to tip coating each lash. Now here's the good stuff - it's a water based, polymer mascara (my favorite kind) which sticks to the lashes, separating and lengthening them and will comes in shades of black and brown.






source: kiss and makeup tv

Spring 2008 Beauty Preview

For those who haven't yet had a glance at upcoming lines for Spring, I thought I'd preview some "eye candy" for you to start drooling over. Some of these lines seem completely UNINSPIRED to me, while others I'm already craving! Take a gander and see what you think.



BOBBI BROWN

I'll start with my one of my personal favorites ... mmm mmm mmm -- cannot wait for this one. Look at those juicy raspberry shades




CHANEL
Beautiful soft pastel blues and lilacs ... waiting for more info on this collection.






DIOR
Everyone seems to be going "ga-ga" over the cute flower compact, but my lemming of this bunch is the quintet in soft pinks and browns - very nice for Spring!






GIVENCHY
Another really fabulous collection for Spring. The stand-out item here for me is the Captiv'Eyes Limited Edition Intense Volume Mascara in purple-black being introduced as well as those gorgeous berry shaded lipsticks. All wonderful for green-eyed ladies ... c'est magnifique!

Other goods include Perfect Again! Corrector Set, a palette of correctors and highlighters for flawless skin as well as the powder and cream eye shadow palettes inspired by their famous denim jeans - both blue and black variations.









GUERLAIN
One look as the fab shadows (they come in quads) is all it takes to imagine how luxurious and stunning they'd be on the eyes, and look how unique the little compact palette is ... delicious!




LANCOME
Alright, now here we break away from the pack ... goodness ... I adore Gucci Westman and think she is incredibly talented, but this collection does absolutely nothing for me. Even the name of the collection seems like an after thought - L.U.C.I. or Luminous Colorless Color Intelligence (huh?).

NOW -- it could turn out to be FANTASTIC; the technology - an optical phenomenon occurs when hues of an object change color based on light interference and viewing angles (not pigment - hence "colorless") creating iridescent color - seems intriguing. We're told color transformations will be different depending on one's complexion reflecting rose, blue, coral or green hues, enhancing lips, eyes and skin. Wellllll ... we'll just have to see.

MAC

What needs to be said here ... earthly, fresh, subtle ... a nice change from some of the more intense collections from MAC these days.

NARS
We're seeing more of the earthy tones here as well, although beautifully delicate and captivating. The shadows whisper of metallic rose, golden champagne shimmer (the duo) and gossamer pearl (the single), while the Dolce Vita lipstick is transformed into a gloss and Belle du Jour into a pencil.

PAUL & JOE ~ Disney
You're either gonna be wildly excited by this idea or completely confused ... Me? I'm scratching my head ...

Yves Saint Laurent

Ooh la la! My favorites here are the Pop Stick Blushes in swirls of N° 1 Vanilla / Chocolate, N° 2 Strawberry / Raspberry, and N° 3 Peach / Blackcurrant; the Palette Pop Collector Powder for Face & Cheeks - both Limited Edition. What about those French Manicure pens? Hmmm ... not sure about those.

photos: http://www.temptalia.com/

For more delightful Spring2008 and other beauty love, please see temptalia

Sorry for the indiscretion, my dears, I'm learning as I go ... xo