The count down is on if you’re looking for the perfect gift for any of the beauties on your list, let me personally recommend any of the below:
10 Must Have Wardrobe Essentials
For the past few months, I’ve been updating my wardrobe with some much needed accessories and accent pieces. Here are some of my current favorite, many of which make great last minute gifts!
1. GIGI New York Uber Clutch ($148) – additional colors available. Super chic and season-less. Go for the reptile-embossed leather style for added texture and score extra points if you can get it custom monogrammed.
2. Movado Bold Crystal Accent Bangle Watch ($495) – I received this from a Lucky Magazine event and I rarely take it off. The rose gold makes it fun to mix and match with other metallics (as seen above), gold and silver and makes for great arm candy.
Josie by Josie Natori for the Holidays!
We wear her bras, lust after her clothes, and now — just in time for the holidays — her fragrance is here! Josie Natori recently launched her JOSIE by Josie Natori fragrance, available in an Eau de Parfum Spray (3.4oz/$94, 1.7oz/$75), Rollerball (.25oz/$22), Body Cream (6.8oz/$58) and Body Lotion (6.5oz.$45). The intimate scent is a beautiful musk with fruit and floral notes, opening with Asian Pear and Bergamot followed by a bouquet of Sampaguita flower.
L’Occitane Launches First-Ever Sampling Box
The holidays just got even more merry! Pamper yourself (or a friend) with L’occiBox, L’Occitane’s first beauty sampling box! Discover the brand’s best-sellers and iconic must-haves and embark on a magical journey to Provence…
The beauty sampling program, L’OcciBox (pronounced “LOX – EE – BOX”) is a $15 sampling box that will offer L’Occitane shoppers mini versions of their favorite L’Occitane products once per season. The best part? No sign-up is required and each box will debut with a beautiful, pre-selected assortment of L’Occitane items and an exclusive gift from a special partner. Partners will change each season, launching with ELLE (so, you can expect the bonus gift to be highly coveted!)
The first L’OcciBox is wrapped as a present and available for purchase at L’Occitane boutiques nationwide. Consider us your Secret Santa because we have an exclusive offer for readers: visit this L’OcciBox link and enter the promo code, ‘DISCOVER’, at checkout for a MAJOR discount.
*Please note the box is listed on the website at its full retail value ($50+), but when the code is applied, the box becomes $15. Also, it can not be combined with any other promotions.
Redken Unveils New Styling Collection
Combining the power of science with the desire for beauty, Redken will unveil a new line of styling products in April 2015. The collection, which consists of Braid Aid 03, Stay High 18, Short Sculpt 19, and Metal Fix 08, is inspired by Guido Palau’s iconic runway hairstyles.
Meet Guido
Redken’s creative consultant and global styling director is responsible for creating iconic runway hairstyles for Alexander Wang, McQueen, and Marc Jacobs. When creating the new Redken products, he had a singular mission: to streamline the styling process, making it faster and easier to translate to “real girl street styles”.
Meet the Styling Collection
Braid Aid 03 is a styling balm made specifically for braiding and twisting your hair (think Lauren Conrad). Applied to damp hair, the solution makes it easier to weave hair back and forth without getting strands tangled together.
Stay High 18 is a volumizing gel-mousse for women with fine hair and was inspired by toothpaste that goes from gel to foam. The root lifting technology turns from strong-hold gel into a mousse, providing both hold and lift without buildup.
Short Sculpt 19 is a texturizing gel for for pixies and bobs, making it the perfect prep tool for this season’s hottest hair trend: the lob.
Finally, the most unique and fun product, Metal Fix 08 is a metallic liquid pomade that comes in silver and gold to create the illusion of highlights. Even on the dreariest of days, your strands will shine like a beach bombshell.
We can hardly wait until April….
In other news, Redken just announced their newest brand muse: top model, street style star and trendsetter Soo Joo Park! In 2015, Soo Joo will take her hair to new lengths with an exciting innovation from the Extreme haircare line. Stay tuned!
Australia Welcomes Sephora at Sydney Pitt St Mall
It started with a countdown — one much larger then the counting clock on their door — the long awaited opening of the first Sephora location in Australia. While it was announced in April the world’s biggest retailer would be opening in Sydney, it wasn’t until this past Friday it opened it’s doors at the Pitt St Mall. And the crowd went wild! The line since the opening (just to get in the front door) have been so insane they had to create a barricade around the proximity to secure the line and hire multiple security guards to monitor the coming in and out process.
Nordstrom Beauty Holiday Preview
Even though the Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting hasn’t happened yet, the holidays are in full swing at Nordstrom. PC got a chance to jumpstart our shopping list at The Standard – Highline. This year, we weren’t telling Santa our Christmas list, we were vying to get on Nordstrom Beauty Directors’ nice lists.
This season, Nordstrom Beauty is a one-stop shopping destination for everyone on your holiday list. Seasonal offerings and exclusives include top cosmetics, fragrance, haircare, skin care and men’s grooming brands from Bobbi Brown, Clarisonic, Diptyque, Chanel, MAC and more!
Here’s what’s topping the wishlist this year:
Diptyque Mini Candle Set: Nordstrom Beauty Exclusive – $130
Bobbi Brown Travel Brush Set: $135
Dolce & Gabbana Beauty Light Blue Eau de Toilette Purse Spray Set: $50 ($75 value)
Laura Mercier Into the Wild Look Book Collection: $125 ($276 value)
NuFace Little White Dress Mini Facial Toning Device: Nordstrom Beauty Exclusive – $199
YSL Touche Éclat Radiant Touch: $41
After you’re done shopping, be sure to make a pitstop with Nordstrom’s Beauty Stylists. Similar to personal shoppers, Nordstrom Beauty Stylists offer complimentary services to customers to help them find the perfect makeup, skincare and fragrance products across ALL brands and counters! Nordstrom Beauty Stylists are available in-store, by phone at 1.800.7beauty or via live chat.
Happy Shopping!
Neutrogena Beauty Wonderland Chat with Emma Roberts
On Monday night, Neutrogena threw their annual holiday party, turning Paintbox in SoHo into a glittering white “Beauty Wonderland”. The event, in partnership with Rogaine, Rembrandt, BaubleBar, and Band-Aid, was hosted by Neutrogena brand ambassador Emma Roberts. Between mini makeovers with Amy Oresman, holiday hairstyling with Neutrogena Brand Ambassador Sam Leonardi, and polishing our fingertips with Paintbox, we caught up with the gorgeous star of American Horror Story, Emma Roberts to chat about winter beauty!
PC: What is your #1 seasonal beauty transition tip?
Emma Roberts: “Keep using SPF! So many people stop using sunscreen in the winter for some reason. I’m fair skinned and I made the mistake once when it was overcast and I never will again! I burn at the sight of the sun. “
PC: Do you stick to a fall/winter routine?
Emma Roberts: “Yes, always stick to a routine. If you’re not washing your face every night, it’s going to make dryness worse. Wash your face nightly and put your moisturizer on every morning. Don’t ever forget to take off your make-up. That’s why I keep Neutrogena Make-up Remover Cleansing Towelettes in my purse, in my bathroom, and everywhere else so I have no excuse not to take it off.”
PC: What do you think of the “bare face” trend?
Emma Roberts: “I like the bare face especially because so many girls hide behind a ton of make-up. It’s nice when you have make-up on but look like yourself. You’re accentuating your features instead of hiding behind the product.”
PC: How do you achieve a natural look?
Emma Roberts: “I use Neutrogena’s Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup in Classic Ivory. You can use it all over your face but I also use it just as concealer under my eyes and around my nose and chin. Then, I use the Healthy Lengths Mascara. It’s so easy and looks naturally pretty. I also carry the MoistureSmooth Color Sticks in every color in my bag to change my look by my lip color. They are so sheer you can also layer them on top of each other.”
PC: Since you’re always traveling, do you do any beauty treatments on the plane?
Emma Roberts: “I see girls in full-face make-up and I’m scrubbing mine off in the bathroom. Since most beauty products get confiscated, I carry the Make-up Remover Cleansing Towelettes, which they can’t take away from me! Once, I saw a girl putting stilettos on to get off the plane and I was putting on fuzzy socks from Target. I wondered if I was missing something. “
Beauty On 5 with Saks Fifth Avenue
On Tuesday, Saks Fifth Avenue unveiled their first permanent, one-stop location for Blink Brow Bar, Trish McEvoy, and Nails inc. Housed within a modern installation, Beauty on 5 allows customers to receive expert advice, throw their own Beauty on 5 pamper party, shop exclusive products, and experience an artistic manicure while sipping tea and savoring a curated British menu of light snacks. In beauty junkie terms, it’s a one-stop primping and pampering mecca!
Services Offered:
Blink Brow Bar: Blink Brow Bar offers specialized services and expertise in bespoke threading, tint, lash and eyebrow services for both men and women. Here’s how they transform your brows!
Trish McEvoy: Trish McEvoy offers an exclusive menu of make-up services, access to the limited-edition Easy Smokey Eye Collection*, and for the first time ever, custom monogramming on any Makeup Planner purchase.
Nails inc.: Nails inc. introduces “The Paint Shop by Nails inc” as the destination for a fast fashion fix for nails in New York. The shop hosts a unique nail art menu designed in collaboration with celebrity nail technicians Lisa Logan and Pattie Yankee.
Which service will you be indulging in before holiday party season?
PC Featured on Patricia Field’s Blog and Our Interview with
While I’ve been non-stop snorkling down under, I came up for some air to two really exciting features. First off one of my mentors, and friend, Stylist Patricia Field (yes, the Patricia Field, costume designer for Sex and the City, Devil Wears Prada and countless others), featured me on her blog. Her intro was such a memorable quote and she inspires me everyday to work hard, stay creative and do what I love.
See the full feature at patriciafield.com
Also in exciting news, I chat with fellow Skype Ambassador, Kristen Kellogg about my travel beauty must haves and travels. Check out the video below and here’s the link to the post: borderfreetravels.com/lara-eurdolian-beauty