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NARS Spring 2011 Collection Preview!

NARS Spring 2011 Campaign (featuring Iris Strubegger) and Collection

NARS Cosmetics Spring 2011 collection will be available starting January 15th. Here’s a sneak preview of the collection.

  • CALANQUE TRIO EYESHADOW, $45 – A trio of gold infused platinum with silver flecks, light matte caramel and rich antique bronze steeped with gold
  • BATEAU IVRE DUO EYESHADOW, $33 – Rich sky blue and a deep denim hue
  • NOUVEAU MONDE DUO EYESHADOW, $33 – Metallic silver lilac and rich olive gold
  • HOLLYWOODLAND SOFT TOUCH SHADOW PENCIL, $24 – Versatile pale gold
  • CELEBRATE SOFT TOUCH SHADOW PENCIL, $24 – Parrot green
  • NANA LIP GLOSS, $24 – Deep black grape
  • SUPER ORGASM LIP GLOSS, $24 – Shiny, peachy-pink, laced with gold glitter
  • ANGELIKA LIP GLOSS, $24 – Bright cotton candy pink infused with gold and silver sparkles
  • TZIGANE LIPSTICK, $24 – Sheer, pink brandy
  • MADÈRE PURE MATTE LIPSTICK, $25 – Nude-pink
  • DESPERADO NAIL POLISH, $17 – Antique brass

Available on narscosmetics.com (as of January 15th)

Holiday Shimmer and Shine

Who doesn’t want to shine this New Years Eve? Here are some of my favorite makeup choices to help us shimmer all night long and into the new year.

1. Christian Dior 5 Couleurs Designer Eyeshadow $58 -Featured in shade Amber Design.
2. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Colour Concentrates $11.50 -Featured in shades Cherry Bomb, Pollencount, and Static.
3. Hourglass Cosmetics Extreme Sheen High Shine Lip Gloss $28 -Featured in shade Primal.
4. Girlactik Beauty Star Gloss $16 – Featured in shade Ooh La La Red.
5. Milani One Coat Glitter Nail Lacquer $4.99 – Featured in shades Purple Gleam, Silver Dazzle and Red Sparkle.
6. Milani Jewel FX Nail Lacquer $4.99 – Featured in Silver. Clear nail polish with large silver flakes inside. Add this as a topcoat to your existing nail color to add some silver sparkle.
7. NARS Cosmetics Sparking Pressed Powder $31 – Featured in shade Gold Rush.

While Milani will have your nails sparkling all night (I love the glittery surface texture it has), I should note that it’s very difficult to get off with nail polish remover. I really had to scrub like crazy to get this color off. Pictured above, I’m

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Holiday Gift Ideas: $10 & Up

1. NARS Orgasm Lust Set – $30
2. Harajuku Lovers Wicked Style 0.33 oz Eau de Toilette. Available in scents: Baby, “G”, Angel, Love and Music – $30.00/each  or $100 for the Wicked Style Gift Set (which includes all five fragrances).
3. Hourglass Extreme Sheen Set – $45
4. Victoria’s Secret Beauty Ornaments (choose from VS fragrances, lip gloss and eyeliner sets) – $10/each
5. REN Mini Body Gift Set & Mini Rose Trio Gift Set – $25/each
6. Dermalogica AGE Smart Starter Kit – $50
7. Pevonia Myoxy-Caviar To Go Timeless Renewal Set – $79
8. Michael Aram Twig Snowflake Ornament – $29
9. Tanqueray Gin – $13.99 (375mL/half bottle), $19.99 (750mL)

Okay it’s getting down to the wire. Have you bought all your holiday gifts? Lets talk through a few ideas to help you figure out what to get those remaining on your list.

There are a lot of great holiday sets available right now in the wonderful world of makeup so if the person you’re shopping for has a favorite brand, visit their website and check out their gift sets. Otherwise I recommend #1 & #3 for any picky beauty queens on your list who appreciate quality makeup. #2 is great for anyone from teenagers to your coworker looking for a little friend for their desk. Their scents tend to be on the sweeter/fruitier side. However owning a Harajuku Lover may

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Holiday Gift Guide: Something for Everyone

Okay so it’s the final weeks before Christmas, Hanukkah ends tomorrow so if you’re looking for some gift inspiration, here are some great gifts for everyone on your list.

1. Tocca Gift Sets – Eau de Parfum Viaggio ($45) gift set includes three of their signature fragrances Stella, Florence and Cleopatra in miniature size, and Candele Da Viaggio ($42) box set includes an assortment of four travel size candles including Cleopatra, Grave, Havana and Kyoto.

2. MAKE UP FOR EVER Rock For Ever Aqua Eyes – $36 ($49.50 Value). Set includes five travel size Aqua Eyes pencils in shades Gold, Bronze, Dark Grey, Mat Black  and Silver.

3. NARS Cosmetics – Follow the Boys Lip Gloss Coffret – $40 ($48 Value). Set includes four medium size glosses in shades Turkish Delight (Pink Sorbet), Moon Fleet (Sparkling Platinum Gold), Easy Lover (Ultra Sheer Hot Pink) and Sweet Revenge (Sheer Pink Grapefruit).

4. Tarte The Jewelry Box $52 ($637 Value). This combination set includes 32 eye shadows, 8 lip glosses, 5 eyeliners, a mineral powder bronzer and highlight powder in soft pink all, which opens and folds to condense into a compact jewelry box.

5. Cellies ($35) – Fashionable stretch cuff bracelet that carries your cell phone so you don’t have to. They have a terry version perfect for working out, and a collection of decorative studded ones in pink and black to wear as a fashion accessory.

6. Pylones Mug Angel Wings – $25.  This mug is available in colors: blue (featured), red, lime, black, pink and orange.

7. ThinkGeek Electronic Rock Guitar Shirt – $29.99. Complete with mini amp this interactive t-shirt has a fully playable guitar built into the t-shit. Available in ADULT

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Beauty Queen Gift Guide

It’s easy to classify someone as a beauty queen (or junkie) –we’re everywhere! However it’s not always easy to find the perfect gift for us, especially since we’re so picky. Here are some recommendations to help you get a little more creative this holiday season.

1. Mixer Kit by Geri G ($39) – The all-star in this 5-piece kit is the Mixer Solo (also sold separately, $29), it’s a very cool multi-functional aloe-based product that can be used as a face or eye shadow primer or base to mix your cosmetics. I use it for all of the above. It has a nice silicone type smoothing feel when applied to skin, so I enjoy it as my base product before putting on my makeup. I’m also someone who’s skin-tone changes by season so I often use it as a buffer to mix my foundations or powders to create my perfect shade. Additionally it’s water-resistant, allergy-tested, irritation-free and formulated with Titanium Dioxide for sun protection, The set also includes the M Brush (regularly $14.95), instruction booklet and DVD (11.5min) and mixing spatula.

2. BeautyBlender Holiday Set ($23.95) – This set contains a BeautyBlender sponge and BlenderCleanser bundled a red pouch, ready for the holidays. I was originally turned onto the BeautyBlender sponge by celebrity makeup artist, Jackie Gomez. She raved about it in a class I attended –how great the shape of the sponge was for applying makeup to the contours of your face, how it could be used wet or dry, and that it is

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Welcome Dior.com

Dior.com Launch Party. Makeup by Dior!

Wednesday evening, I joined the Dior team for the launch of Dior.com.  Hosted at SL (aka Simyone Lounge) in the Meatpacking District, guests enjoyed makeovers and the opportunity to explore the new Dior.com site.

My Dior makeup artist, Aliyah was amazing. Anxious to play with the Rouge Dior range, she introduced me to the perfect holiday red lipstick –Rouge Blossom. I have some difficulty finding

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Boots: More Trusted Than The Queen

Last week, I had the pleasure of joining Britain’s leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer, Boots for an evening of pampering, complete with manicures, skincare consultants and cosmetic advisors.  Hosted at the Norwood Club in NYC, Steve Llyod, (CEO of Boots) and Sandra Gabriele (their VP of Marketing & Communications) introduced myself and fellow beauty bloggers to the UK brand and their No7 collection.

Here’s some fun facts I found out.

  • 1 in 7 UK women owns a Boots No7 product.
  • Boots is the original creator of ibuprofin in 1969.
  • Boots and No7 specifically is Britain’s #1 skincare and cosmetic brand (bigger then L’Oreal, Olay..).
  • The No. 7 Protect & Perfect Serum ($23) is their best seller in the US and abroad! One is sold every 8 seconds at Target.
  • Studies show the No. 7 Protect & Perfect Serum actually visible reduces the appearance of deep lines and wrinkles and as you continue to use it the more effective it becomes. And won the Good Housekeeping Anti-Aging award for Best Anti-Aging Serum .
  • Target carries 6 Boots brands: No7, Botanics, Destination Brand, Boots Original Beauty Formula, Expert, Time Dimensions and Hawaiian Islands/Mediterranean/Amazon Forest Bath & Body.
Lara with Steve Llyod, CEO of Boots

After the speeches, I took some time out with Steve Llyod, CEO of Boots to ask a few more question:

The UK is obviously your largest market. Where does the US rank?

The thing about the US is that it’s a huge market so one of the advantages of being in Target and going national is you can have access to a lot of people. The US is the 3rd biggest in terms of beauty sales.  We’re Thailand’s largest pharmacy chain and they rank just above the US, but we’ve been there for 15 years. Boots has only been national in the US since 2007.  And the US market has nearly caught up to Thailand so it will likely overtake them next year.

Any plans to expand in the US beyond Target?

Yes, in the 1st qtr calendar we will have an additional retail partner. I just can’t tell you which one it is; but it’s a national chain.

Will you be in all of their locations or select ones? Can I guess the retailer?

We will be

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The NEW as you like it Clinique Counter at Lord & Taylor Fifth Avenue

By now most of you New Yorkers have seen the rose adorned advertisements and shopping bags around the city for the announcement of Lord and Taylor’s ‘Ultimate Face-lift’. A $25 million endeavor the company invested in the renovation of the iconic department store’s Fifth Avenue location.

Although I was beyond honored to receive an invitation from Brendan Hoffman to the unveiling of  ‘The Ultimate Face-Lift’, I was unable to attend the gala (it was my birthday!). However, I did stop by Lord & Taylor that week for a preview and guided tour of the new Clinique counter. My guides, Clinique’s Anthony Battaglia, Vice President, Global Retail Design and Visual Merchandising and Cherie Werle, Education Executive and Makeup and Skin Care Expert, took me through the new shopping experience they created, based on Clinique’s service as you like it concept.

What does that mean? It literally means service as YOU like it.  From self service to full service Clinique’s organized the counter to cater to their clientele’s needs at all levels, through clear, concise messaging and merchandising that it is not intimidating or overwhelming.

For customers looking for a skin care analysis or application tips, they can enjoy a one-on-one experience with a staff member at the Clinique Full Service consultation table.  Equipped with a diagnostic mirror (which the consultant can

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Gilt Groupe Wedding Shop – Starts Today!

Calling all brides! Today at noon Gilt Groupe is launching a wedding sale. Unlike their regular 1-day sales, this event will last until midnight on Sunday, 10/24 with a different theme everyday.  If you’re planning a wedding, or even in one (that’s me! proud bridesmaid to be), you’re probably well aware of all the expenses associated with both and that it’s hard to skimp for your big day.  So at up to 60% off, Gilt has you covered.

As a side note: all you guests attending the wedding, check out the Michael Aram selection on the last day of the sale (10/24). I’m so fond of his work and aesthetic. In my opinion, his pieces truly make the perfect wedding present.

Here’s the official schedule:

Day One: For the Bride and Groom

Key brands include: Alberta Ferretti, Vera Wang Collection

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Diane von Furstenberg Goes Beauty (Again)

Photo Credit: Amanda Schwab/Startraks

Diane von Furstenberg will re-enter the beauty biz this fall with the launch of a women’s fragrance through her partnership with ID Beauty. The collection will also eventually include a makeup and skin care line.

DVF previously launched a fragrance and color line in the 70s but sold it to British pharmaceutical giant Beecham Group Ltd. in 1983.

I, for one hope this time the fragrance is wearing a wrap-dress (in my size).

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