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Lara Eurdolian, Pretty Connected Beauty Blog

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Making Scents with Sue Phillips

Our hosts! Sue Phillips and Charu

What’s a dinner party without bergamot, lavender and saffron? Well those we’re just some of the ingredients that lined the table at my good friend, and talented travel/beauty writer Charu from ButterflyDiary.com‘s recent event. The main course? Fragrance. Custom fragrance to be exact –or perhaps that would qualify as the dessert. Before creating a signature scent, my fellow guests and I (including legendary astrologer, Susan Miller! freak out) went on a fragrance journey.

And who better to guide us through the expedition then renowned fragrance expert and perfumer, Sue Phillips, founder of Scenterprises. We began with a multiple choice quiz –what types of fabrics we like, our favorite season, which film icons we most admire… the usual stuff one could use to forecast our fragrance preferences (huh?). Mine pegged me as someone into fresh scents and floral/citrus notes (so true! Isn’t that what I’m always telling all of you!?!?). I do love me a simple, clean, fresh fragrance!  What’s better then the crisp smell in the air after a rainstorm? Or the smell of pine through the forest, gardenias in the summer or anything lavender?

We then discussed composition. Fragrances are constructed by three types of notes, TOP (the first impact note that comes of out the initial spritz and quickly dissipates), MIDDLE (also referred to as the hard note and lasts 2-3 hours) and BASE (which lingers the longest ranging 3-5 hours). Placed on blotter strips (which are used as a neutral way to evaluate scents), the group proceeded to smell a variety of

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Five Nail Tricks Every Girl Should Know

Ahem…everyone should know!

1. Roll, don’t shake – Shaking a bottle of nail polish can result in bubbles. Instead, roll it (the bottle should be upright) between your hands; fingers to palm, back and forth.

2. Vitamins can help– If your nails are dry or brittle, break open a capsule of vitamin E oil and massage it into your nails (I like to do it at night before I go to bed).

3. Matches to the rescue – If you’re out in public and you chip a nail, use the strike strip to file your nail.

4. Wear a base coat – It’s an easy step to overlook when you’re in a rush to do your nails, but failure to do so can cause the polish to seep into your nail bed and dye your fingernails (especially darker shades). Plus they act like a primer for nail polish and offer a more uniform and longer lasting application.

5. File nails in one direction – filing back and forth can damage and split your nails.

Have any tricks of your own? Leave a comment and share them:)


Websites that make your life easier

Recently, I attended an event hosted by SheFinds.com CEO + Editor, Michelle Madhok and dermatologist, Dr. Karcher for tips, tools and websites that help balance life from work. Lets face it, we’re all juggling a million things, so website recommendations to make our lives easier are always appreciated. Here are their top-rankers:

  • For services use Lifebooker.com and ZocDoc.com to book everything from hair to doctor’s appointments online.
  • TheScramble.com offers up healthy meal ideas, complete with printable grocery shopping lists.
  • Skip the grocery line all together and opt for FreshDirect.com or Peapod.com to have your groceries delivered right to your front door.
  • TinyPrints.com saves you time on sending cards and from forgetting important occasion. Just import your friends and family’s addresses and birthdays, and you can have cards automatically sent to them on important dates.
  • Benefit from shopping off eBates.com. You’ll get cash back when you shop at popular websites including Nordstrom.com, Sears.com, Walmart.com and more.
  • Looking for discounted gift cards? Check out PlasticJungle.com where you can buy
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Are You Ready for New York Fashion Week?

I am, I am! Ehhhhhh! The Spring 2012 shows are upon us, and I just got my official press pass to Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week! Joining all the big-wigs of the fashion industry, I’ll be covering the makeup backstage and the fashion shows. IMG has posted the official schedule for Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park for September 8th-15th, and announced some exciting first timers to the venue including J. Crew (are you as excited as I am?), Honor, Candela,

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Let Me Express My Love for Wacoal Lingerie

No, this is not me, but it is my new Wacoal bra!

I recently attended an event for Wacoal, which included a bra fitting and I can’t express my love and gratitude enough for this brand! First off I’ll start by confessing that I’m a 32DD –although if you’ve ever met me you’d probably swear I wasn’t above a B cup (unless you’ve seen me in a bathing suit). And I strive to keep it that way!

I know it’s a tough sell as a complaint and I’m a disgrace to women everywhere who want implants. I’m reminded regularly, but frankly I didn’t ask for this size, or the challenges of finding a button down shirt that doesn’t involve gaping at the chest or a dress that doesn’t require being taken in to accommodate my disproportion. And if that’s not enough of an excuse, two words: Back Pain.

And my least favorite part of it all, bra shopping! Especially with brands that believe in vanity sizing or that include padding their larger cup sizes (I mean seriously?). And don’t even get me started on

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Betsey Johnson’s New Fragrance “Too Too”

By Elizabeth Borenstein

Betsey Johnson holding her signature Too Too Fragrance

Betsey Johnson’s newest fragrance, Too Too, pays homage to her dancer roots. The adorable bottle wearing a bustier, tutu, and fishnets holds an interesting concoction. Using fruity and floral notes, including mandarins, ginger, bulgarian rose and patchouli, the scent registers as pleasantly sweet.

Performance by the Bolshoi Ballet Academy

To celebrate the introduction of Too Too the designer hosted a delicious brunch at MILK Studios complete with pink iced cupcakes. The real treat was singing Happy Birthday to the ridiculously fit and stunning Betsey Johnson. She then promptly upstaged performances by Stephen Petronio Company and dancers from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy when she jumped into the air and did the splits. We should all be that flexible on our 69th birthday!

Too Too, launching October 2011, will be sold exclusively at Sephora.

Disclaimer: Pretty Connected was invited to this event by a company representative

YOU’RE INVITED! Harboring Hearts Hamptons Summer Fete

So I’m helping out my good friends at Harboring Hearts with their Summer Fete! Join us this Friday, August 13th in the Hamptons at the private Paige Estate to celebrate this great cause. Tickets are $125 online ($150 at the door) and include dinner catered by Mark Murphy, open bar by Moet Hennessy and Samantha Ronson is DJing!!! There’s also a NYC-Hamptons shuttle service for $20 round trip for any manhattanites that would like to attend. It’s going to be a great night, hope you can make it!

After party to follw at the AXE Lounge in Southhampton.

To purchase tickets visit http://hhsummerfete.charityhappenings.org/

Stylesight Presents F/W 2012 and S/S 2013 Global Trends

Isham Sardouk Presents at STYLESIGHT LIVE Conference

Stylesight, one of the leading online fashion forecasting and trend-research providers for the fashion and design industry presented the top trends for Fall/Winter 2012 and Spring/Summer 2013 at their recent STYLE SIGHT LIVE conference in NYC. As guests filed into the large auditorium, Stylesight broadcasted a series of 15+ minute long inspirational videos, pulling images from different cultures, nature, cities, fashion and architecture to illustrate the major trends for the season. Then Stylesight’s SVP of Trend Forecasting, Isham Sardouk, recapped the megatrends from each. 

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Renowned Beaute Oblige Comes to NYC

Madame Camille Obadia needs very little introduction to the Parisian market, known for her anti-aging treatments, her clinic, Beaute Oblige has attracted Europeans and clients abroad  for over a decade. An expert in her field, she’s also been a go-to for every major European publication for skincare and anti-aging commentary.

With a strong push from her American clientele to open a salon in the US and the demand for a non-surgical approach to dramatically improve your looks and turn back the clock she recently opened a Beaute Oblige location on Madison Avenue. I visited the clinic and sat down with Madame Camille to learn more about her breakthrough equipment. Bringing the latest generation of technology, she has pioneered TriPollar radio frequency and utilizes an advanced method of electrotherapy to stimulate collagen production and tighten muscles for surgical-like results. Offering a variety of face and body services, was anxious to try this super-power machine!

Now I’m used to going to spas and being told I have some sun damage but overall being complimented on how great it is –and rightfully so, I take good care of it! Madame Camille took one look at my face and pointed to all the areas I’m losing collagen –my forehead, the left side of face (which was less plump then my right) and that I need to focus on my neck. Showing me with a mirror, she was absolutely right! We then

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Matthew Williamson Launches MW Line


Matthew Williamson and Dree Hemingway

Gossip Girl made me in love with Matthew Williamson. Every time I’d walk by this store I’d fall for his colorful prints and whimsical long maxi dresses –although the $2,500 price tag generally kept me from walking inside. Why torture myself? So when I received an invitation from Refinery29 to the exclusive launch party of his new diffusion line MW Matthew Williamson, I was all over it!

With Dree Hemingway on his arm (looking stunning in her MW mini dress), Matthew Williamson walked the store mingling with guests and posing for pictures.

“The aim was really to offer a broader collection, with more units than we have in the line–I think it spans about 250 pieces in the diffusion line,” Williamson told Racked. “The idea is to have it at a lower price point, more accessible, and offer a slightly different slant on the main line. The main line is known more for print and colour and that sort of red-carpet aesthetic, glamour and jet-set and all those kind of ideas. So whilst those ideas have some synthesis within the diffusion line, I wanted to make it more about an urban wardrobe and less about speciality pieces.”

MW Logo and Collection
Guests at the MW launch party
You don't have to text me MW, I'm right here!

The collection ranges from $200-800, and is available in their Matthew Williamson store located at 415 West 14th Street, NYC

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