Deborah Lippman - "The Voice of Nail Color"

Deborah Lippman made an appearance at Nordstrom at Tysons Corner a week ago at the Beauty Trends show. What a dynamo! Supported by her husband, she gave a brief, entertaining presentation as she described recent events in her life, shared a few celebrity stories, and told us about her newest nail colors. She also promised to look at any customer's hands and tell her the best nail shade to wear. I would have taken her up on her offer if it had not been for the hundreds of women who crowded her after the show.

Ruby Red Slippers, shown at the right in the picture here, is the hit of the season. Ruby Red Sippers is one of three shades in the limited-edition 10th Anniversary Set ($35). The other two are Superstar (copper-flecked fudge) and Funky Chunky (sequined sheer black). The sets are almost sold out at Lippman's Web site, so hurry over if you are interested. Who's wearing Ruby Red Slippers? Linda Evangelista and Megan Fox, to name just two famous "sets of hands." Lippman pointed out that red nails should be considered an accessory, so if you don't want to wade into "red" with shoes or a belt, nail color can be just as flashy.

Two gorgeous shades are featured in this month's InStyle. Don't Tell Mama ($16) is a dark, luscious blue-green shimmer, and Nefertiti ($16) is gold. I would love to wear either of them. Lippman told us that Dark Side of the Moon would also be featured in InStyle. Lest you think that dark colors will vanish with spring, Lippman said not so. The trend is anticipated to continue right into the "pastel months."

I found her description and demonstration of The Stripper ($16) fascinating. The Stripper will remove your nail lacquer - even dark and stubborn colors - quickly and easily. Just hold it on and press. No rubbing needed to wipe away the darkest colors. Not only that, The Stripper is enriched with aloe vera to prevent dehydration and lavender to provide anti-bacterial action while leaving a heavenly scent behind. The container is beyond practical. Its twist-lock pump will prevent spills, a real hazard if you have ever tried to remove nail lacquer while sitting on your couch. The Stripper is an Allure Best of Beauty winner. After watching her demo, I can see why! Her best selling product is The Material Girl Essentials Set ($49), which includes The Stripper.

Did you know she is also a singer? You can learn more about Lippman at her blog. If you visit, you can hear her sing! I listened as I wrote this post. She's good. You can find out more and check out her latest album, Vinyl, at her site.

Her nail products are available at Deborah Lippman online and at Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. Fun colors - they are worth a try!

Photos courtesy of Deborah Lippman

La Mer's Addictive The Concentrate

I have an expensive addiction. It's one I can't break. Like most addicts, though, I don't really want to break it. I want to savor it, every last drop of it.

La Mer's The Concentrate ($350) is my addiction. It's a part of my life now. I attribute many good things about my appearance to The Concentrate. And whether my younger-than-I-really-am skin is a result of La Mer, my genes, or the other products I use, I won't take the chance to find out.

Billed as "a revolutionary treatment that complements skin's natural healing process," The Concentrate is a serum that envelopes the skin in moisture. From everything I read, it's intended for skin that needs to heal - from something like cosmetic surgery, sunburn, scarring, or other assault. Read the directions from La Mer.

To complement skin's natural healing process and improve the appearance of scars, thoroughly massage onto affected area at least twice per day.

La Mer reps want me to use The Lifting Face Serum ($315), whether I need "lifting" or not. That's the much-loved La Mer serum, targeted at people over 40. I have friends (men and women who aren't sagging) who swear by it. I've tried the silky lifting elixir, and I like it. No complaints! But I don't need two serums each morning, and I'm addicted - so I stick with my first love.

The Concentrate is a thick liquid. It comes with an applicator that stays dipped into the bottle so that users can "withdraw" just the right amount for the face and neck. A little of the liquid goes a long way, spreading comfortably over my skin. Once I have applied The Concentrate, I need less Crème de la Mer ($230) or other moisturizer. My thirsty skin slurps the first product that goes on, so The Concentrate is it's first drink of the morning after a light cleansing.

Many will say that La Mer isn't the most advanced, up-to-date product on the market. I've heard it all - no hyaluronic acid, no antioxidants, no peptides, and so on. Perhaps, but I use a multi-layered cocktail twice a day to get all the cosmeceuticals I need, while staying true to The Concentrate most mornings. I've tried to go without it, but after a few weeks, my skin shouts, "DRY!"

Right now, I am finishing up a bottle. The applicator no longer reaches the product. That's OK. I'm adept at reaching my finger into the bottle to get the last remaining product out before the bottle is recycled. I have my next full bottle ready to go. I try to purchase The Concentrate when Saks is having Friends & Family or at some other fabulous event with a discount. Every dollar saved allows me to continue my addiction!

You can purchase The Concentrate at La Mer's Web site, Saks, Neiman Marcus, and a few other sources. There is usually a freebie or two with purchase at La Mer online, and Saks often has gifts with purchase. You can usually talk a friendly La Mer rep out of a sample of something when you buy. They know how addictive their products are!

Photo courtesy of La Mer

YSL's New Nude Rouge Volupté Colors

Three of the four, top to bottom:
#24 Praline Delight, #26 Tender Peach, and #25 Soft Beige

I had written up this post; it was ready to go. It should be no surprise that beauty bloggers "write ahead." I like to have a few posts "in the can" so that if I come home from work tired, I can relax.

Then Friday, I read Gaia's excellent post on YSL's new Rouge Volupté shades at The Non-Blonde. You really should go over and read her review of our favorite shade from this new collection of four Rouge Volupté Lipsticks.

YSL tells us that there is nothing more "on trend" than a nude lip. They have created four new Rouge Volupté ($34) shades to help you achieve this look, and they are perfect foils for a smoky eye. You can select from from #23 Luscious Pink, #24 Praline Delight, #25 Soft Beige, and #26 Tender Peach.

I first saw the new Rouge Volupté display at Nordstrom. After trying all four shades, I selected #23, Luscious Pink (shown here), the same as Gaia's choice. This color is perfect with my fair skin tone and blond hair. Described as muted rose, Luscious Pink has enough color to perk up my appearance. I look blah with lips that are too light or beige. I'm not sure this shade qualifies as "nude," but I'll take "on trend" with a lipstick that looks this good.

The color is like my lips, only better. It's pink, but not loud - the perfect everyday color with a satin finish. I think this special color will work for many skin tones - and with different effects on all. Perhaps Luscious Pink would be nude for someone with darker skin. Praline Delight would look ghoulish on me, and the other two didn't appeal to me - probably because they were coral-toned shades.

My new lipstick is going to my office, where I'm sure I will wear it down to a nub while I keep my lips feeling moist and creamy. This one's a keeper!

You can purchase Rouge Volupté at YSL online, Saks, Nordstrom, Sephora, and Bloomingdale's.

Photos courtesy of Sephora

Hyaluronic Acid - Moisturizing Superstar

Do you know what's in the skin care products you are using? It's a good idea to learn about ingredients so that you can choose products wisely. I read every ingredient on the box before I purchase a skin care product. That way, I can judge whether the product is likely to work and, conversely, whether it has anything in it that I know will irritate my skin.

One of today's cosmeceutical superstars in skin care ingredients is hyaluronic acid (HA). You probably know about it, without knowing its name, because the dermal fillers Restylane and JUVÉDERM are made from synthetic HA.

HA exists naturally in our bodies. It's hydrophilic, meaning it loves water - actually binds to water in the skin. By its nature, HA retains water like a sponge. This helps to attract and maintain water within the extracellular space, hydrating your skin and increasing its volume and density. HA is also involved with the transport of essential nutrients to the skin's cells.

As we age and our skin is exposed to environmental pollutants and the sun's ultraviolet rays, the cells gradually lose their ability to produce HA. Studies have shown that older skin typically has lower levels of HA than younger skin. People who are 50 years of age have less than half the HA they had in their youth. Their skin tissue becomes dehydrated, and the collagen and elastin fibers lose their structure - both bad - resulting in a loss of skin volume and the formation of wrinkles.

Hyaluronic acid has been nicknamed by the press as the "key to the fountain of youth" because it has been noted that at least some people who ingest a lot of it in their diets tend to live to ripe old ages. ABC News had a show on a village in Japan, "The Village of Long Life: Could Hyaluronic Acid be an Anti-Aging Remedy?" Dr. Toyosuke Komori, the town doctor, believes that the key may be locally grown starches, which may help to stimulate the body's natural creation of HA. Dr. Komori was quoted by ABC as saying; "I have seen a woman in her 90's with spotless skin." Unfortunately, it's probably too late for most of us to turn back the clock on our habits and diets, so we are going to have to preserve or replace our HA another way.

It's all about water. Dr. Dennis Gross, founder of MD Skincare, wrote an excellent piece on HA, published at CareFair.com. He says the key benefit (and added beauty) HA brings to skin is characterized by turgidity: the optimal plumpness of skin achieved by the retention of water. When skin is optimally turgid, it appears smoother and plumper. HA achieves this effect because it is one of the most important regulators of water metabolism in the skin. HA also provides another benefit by preventing the evaporation of water from the skin.

Because the HA molecule is large, it won't penetrate the skin to reach the deep dermal layers. While nanotechnology to break the molecule into a size that can be absorbed is promising, there is much work to do to ensure that topical HA can work below the surface of the skin. What you are buying in your moisturizer is effective at the surface, just not as effective as it might be if the HA could more deeply penetrate the skin. That's why HA injections are so effective - they put the HA right where it does its best work.

The use of HA in topical moisturizers is not without controversy - for more reasons than we can discuss here. Some sources recommend a more holistic approach to preserve the HA that's already in the skin. Free radicals (which are created in the skin thanks to ultraviolet radiation, pollution, and the natural aging process) decrease the skin's ability to produce HA naturally - and even speed up the process of its degradation. This is because free radicals trigger the activity of a bodily enzyme called hyaluronidase. This enzyme's main function is to break down HA in your skin cells. Supposedly potent antioxidants like Coenzyme Q10 and natural vitamin E can significantly decrease the amount of free radicals in your skin, allowing it to stay firmer, more supple, and youthful much longer. I agree with both points of view, so I use skin care cocktails, with complementary ingredients, to care for my skin.

Bottom line? HA is a highly effective humectant, an ingredient that holds moisture. HA can hold hundreds of times its weight in water and is used in many leading moisturizers. It can provide effective skin surface hydration, either alone or in combination with other moisturizing ingredients. You should be looking for it in your skin care products.

Dr. Audrey Kunin of DERMADoctor wrote a two-part series on HA in which she recommended four products containing HA.

• Kinerase HydraBoost – intensive treatment to rehydrate stressed, dry skin. Over 25% HA combined with a patented Kinetin ingredient, working together to form a “moisture magnet.”
• Peter Thomas Roth VIZ – 1000 – One of the most concentrated formulations of HA available on the market, VIZ 1000 contains a concentrated 75% HA that keeps skin hydrated all day and night. It is the ultimate topical application for dry, damaged skin. It's shown in the photo above.
  
• Cellex – C Hydra 5 B-Complex – This oil-free clear gel combines the benefits of HA with the healing properties of vitamin B for maximum nourishment. Restore that youthful glow and nurture your skin in only three to six weeks. Great for all skin types and gentle enough for daily use.
• Viscontour Topical Hyaluronic Acid Serum – An excellent choice for those with sensitive skin, Viscontour Serum contains no animal proteins, preservatives, or fragrances that can irritate skin. Oil-free and non-invasive, it is a simple, convenient way to rehydrate and nourish skin.

There are many other skin care products containing HA. Look for them! And when you find one you would like to try, look for the best price.

Photo courtesy of DERMADoctor

Jo Malone Vanilla & Anise Cologne

Recently, I had an opportunity to do an extended test of Jo Malone's Vanilla & Anise Cologne ($55 or $100, depending on size). Diana Foerster, Jo Malone representative at Neiman Marcus at Tysons Galleria, kindly gave me some samples. The fragrance had surprised me in the store. Although spicy fragrances are not my cup of tea, I found this one really intriguing and more mellow than I had expected. Although I liked it, I got help with this review since I don't think I'm the best judge of spicy scents. Read on.

Here's what Jo Malone has to say about Vanilla & Anise.

Vanilla & Anise transports you to the floral landscape of Madagascar and captures the fleeting moment of the blossoming rare vanilla orchid. The fragile cream and white flowers found on the vanilla vine are a precious discovery: only one or two appear in the morning, and seemingly vanish by late afternoon.

I shared the samples with work friend and spicy fragrance lover, Anna B. I figured she would be a better judge of Vanilla & Anise than I could be. Here's what Anna B. had to say.

"I totally LOVE this fragrance. The simplicity of just two top notes means that it is clean and uncomplicated without necessarily smelling like laundry. The smell is subtle (read: won't offend your friends and coworkers), yet it lingers in a very pleasant way. It's not one that you spray on and then it disappears 10 minutes later, never to be smelled again for the remainder of the day." That's good, given Jo's description of fleeting orchid blooms!

"Some words I would use to describe the scent: comforting, cozy, sensual, toned-down spicy (thanks to the mellowing affect of the vanilla), dark floral (not spring flowers floral), feminine with a hint of masculine, mysterious, exotic, and sexy. The interesting part is, I'm not a big fan of vanilla and even less enthused about anise, yet I am so attracted to this smell. If I were not me, I'd want to hug me right now!"

Now that's an endorsement! Thank you, Anna B., for your help with Jo Malone's Vanilla & Anise Cologne. We are both grateful to Diana for the samples! I've been shopping with Diana for years - she is my Jo Malone stand-in. If you are a DC local and are interested in learning more about Jo Malone fragrances, she's your expert.

Vanilla & Anise is available wherever Jo Malone fragrances are sold, including Jo Malone's Web site, Neiman Marcus, Saks, and Nordstrom.

Armani Beauty Top Coat in Gold

Armani's little multipurpose charmer will surprise you! This Top Coat ($28), part of Giorgio Armani Beauty's Holiday Crystal Collection, is intended to be worn over mascara. Although it's called "Gold," it's really a bronze color and quite subtle for a top coat.

When it arrived at Saks in Chevy Chase, Loyd Cassler was raving about it. My first reaction was, "I don't need colored eyelashes." Silly me! The top coat, applied over my mascara, was gorgeous - something I would actually wear. It made my lashes shimmer. Then, the real surprise: Loyd showed me how to use it as a liner and a shadow. The color is gorgeous - bronze with just a bare hint or cast of olive in it (to my eye).

To use as a liner or shadow, he stuck a thin stick (the kind that has cotton on the other end that they use for testing) into the tube and applied a small amount of product to his palm. Then he went to work with a liner brush or shadow brush to apply the product where he wanted it. Loyd is a true artist! The results were fabulous.

This Holiday Crystal Collection was just announced on the Giorgio Armani Beauty Web site. It has been available at Saks since October, and one of the products that was selling out was the Top Coat. I'm glad I got mine.

Photo courtesy of Armani Beauty

KORRES 30% Discount

This is worth a quick note! From today, November 20, through Sunday, November 22, you can purchase KORRES products from their Web site and get a 30% discount. This offer is not valid with any other offers. Use code EMPLOYEE at checkout.

Have fun!

Photo courtesy of KORRES

Prevage "Improvements" Announced

I get anxious when something I love is about to be discontinued or "enhanced." When I learned that Armani's Hydra Glow foundation was disappearing, Loyd scoured the country for 10 of them, giving me about a two-year reprieve that I'm still enjoying. Now, I'm worried about Elizabeth Arden's announcement that the company is giving Prevage a "facelift."

Today, WWD ran a story on the plans for Prevage. They sound good, but... I'll never forget a certain improvement that was made to a face cream I had used for a few years. It was for seriously dry and sensitive skin, and it worked really well. The maker, who shall go unnamed, decided to put Retinol in it. I even called the company and complained. "Don't you, the experts, know that Retinol can do serious damage to sensitive skin?" The representative basically told me I was "misinformed." I guess that meant my dermatologist was misinformed about my skin too.

So, with both anticipation and trepidation, I await the new, improved Prevage. Here's the scoop from WWD.

In mid-December through February, the newly formulated products will hit the counters. Elizabeth Park, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing and General Manager of Elizabeth Arden U.S. told WWD, “This new formula represents a new generation of research, which allows the potent antioxidant idebenone to create enhanced protective, preventative, and corrective benefits. We’ve also discovered a way to buffer idebenone and deliver it in a way which is tolerated by even very sensitive skin. We are committed to staying in the forefront of technology of cosmeceuticals. We want to take it to the next level so we can always be the benchmark for the cosmeceutical field, which we pioneered with Prevage.” OK, I have to admit that sounds good. I know that other women with sensitive skin have had adverse reactions to Prevage.

“The new serum’s formula contains a blend of potent ingredients that can tackle the different types of free radicals to provide a higher level of protection,” added Vargas. “The specific antioxidants — thiotaine, bamboo isoflavones, Liprochroman 6, and a blend of green, yellow, and white tea — were chosen to support idebenone in the new formula, working as the first line of antioxidant defense and neutralizing different types of free radical activity. This allows idebenone to help prevent free radical activity and correct the visible effects of existing damage.” Hmm, multiple antioxidants; that sounds good too.

Also key is a new delivery system which pairs idebenone with a skin-compatible ester, providing a time-release reservoir of idebenone for the skin to use as needed, Vargas said. “This was inspired by studies showing how the body effectively stores vitamins and molecules by attaching them to a lipid. Our skin care researchers applied this research to the idebenone molecule found in the new serum to help create a reserve of idebenone to use when and where it’s is needed most. This allows for more efficient use of idebenone and has been shown to be more gentle and effective even on those with sensitive skin.”

In addition, WWD reported that Lys-lastine V was added to complement idebenone in an attempt to maintain skin’s look of elasticity. “The combination supports skin’s natural proteins, including elastin and collagen, to help skin look firmer, more toned and younger,” said Robin Mason, Vice President, Global Skin Care Marketing for Elizabeth Arden.

The serum is intended to treat fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, and discolorations, as well as minimize redness and the appearance of sun damage. Prevage MD (1% idebenone rather than the .5% available in "regular" Prevage) and Prevage Eye (newer) have made a world of difference to my skin! I have been using Prevage MD for years, and I don't know if it will be reformulated along with the regular Prevage, which is more easily located. I suspect it will be. So, in the interests of being prepared, I'll be ordering a year's supply tonight.

Of course I'll enthusiastically try the new serum (face and eye), but I'll have my back-up plan in place.

Photo and interviews courtesy of WWD

The Friday Forum - November 20

It's hard to believe it's Friday again - time to kick back and relax. It's also time for The Friday Forum.

You will remember that our new Friday Forum is devoted to what you have to say about anything related to beauty. Are you using a fabulous product and want to sing its praises? Tell us about it! Did you find a beauty product disappointing? Tell us why! Do you have questions others might be able to answer? Ask! Want to talk about a celebrity miscue? Go for it! We will use the comments for what I hope will be a fun and helpful exchange of information.

I had fun last week, so on we go! Because this is totally open-ended, I won't provide a topic or ask you a question to kick off the conversation. I do have some "beauty bits" to share this weekend, but I'll put them in the comments.

The microphone is yours!

Photo courtesy of thestarryeye.typepad.com/pets

Lancome Holiday Eye Shadow & Blush Palette

These darling little limited-edition Lancome Eye Shadow & Blush Palettes ($39.50) are a great value. Six coordinating shadows join a blusher and a mini shadow brush in a beautiful compact. What a nice way to try some new colors!

The palettes are available in four color families. I bought Alluringly Bronze, and I'm considering going back for Evening Splendor. Our friends in beauty at Saks in Chevy Chase, Maryland gave me the 411 on a discount offer that starts on Sunday the 22nd and rolls for a week. During that time, there are discounts tied to spending levels, and the lowest is easy to reach - $100.

The Plum Irresistible palette features Color Design Sensational Effect Eye Shadows in Rapturous, Seductive Gaze, Magnificent, Captivating, Diva Shimmer, and Entrancing, plus Blush Subtil Delicate Oil-Free Powder Blush in Violet Sunrise.

The Alluringly Bronze palette features Color Design Sensational Effect Eye Shadows in Fabric, Alluring Presence, The New Black, Enticing, Get It Now, and Daylight, plus Blush Subtil Delicate Oil-Free Powder Blush in Mocha Havana.

The Evening Splendor palette features Color Design Sensational Effect Eye Shadows in Honeymoon, Tempted, Impress, Mannequin, Model, and Lezard, plus Blush Subtil Delicate Oil-Free Powder Blush in Bronze Escapade.

The Nude Seduction palette features Color Design Sensational Effect Eye Shadows in Pink Zinc, Wear It Well, Erotique, Amorous, Kittenish, and Feline Strut, plus Blush Subtil Delicate Oil-Free Powder Blush in Aplum.

Essentially, there's a color family for everyone! These palettes are available online at Lancome.com (where there is free shipping on all gift sets) and at Saks, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and most Lancome counters. They will only be available for a limited time - until they sell out.

Want to see swatches? Visit The Next Best Thing to Going Shopping Yourself.

Photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Dermatologists' Tips for Your Beauty Budget

Leading dermatologists Susan H. Weinkle, M.D. and Heidi A. Waldorf, M.D. have shared their expert tips on getting the most out of your beauty budget. The key is to invest wisely and know where you can compromise and where you can’t. The two said the three essential items to keep your skin in top shape now - in order to avoid expensive corrective procedures later - are sunscreen, an antioxidant moisturizer, and a product containing retinoic acid.

Here are their product tips, along with some notes from me.

Worth the Price

• Prescription retinoids (tretinoin, tazarotene, adapalene) – Nothing else has been show to do as much for photoaged skin, and one tube should last several months. I sure wish I could use this stuff!
  
• Certain cosmeceuticals, particularly idebenone (Prevage MD shown above) and coffeeberry (RevaleSkin products) – These are available online, and you just have to try them to know which ones will work best for you.
  

Where You Can Save Money

• Cleansers – If you need to save, a gentle over-the-counter non-drying lotion cleanser will do the job (for example, Cetaphil).
  
• Sunscreen – Drugstore options with appropriate ingredients are plentiful, and you need to use a lot of sunscreen to get maximum effectiveness. I like Anthelios from La Roche-Posay.
  
• Eye cream – The doctors say if you’re trying to save, you can use your face cream for your eye area too. I say that depends! Some face creams will migrate into your eyes, so be careful!

If you have to make choices about where you spend your money, these are some good tips to remember!

Photo courtesy of Amazon
Press release courtesy of the Women's Dermatologic Society

Armani Sheer Lipstick Giveaway Contest

The generous Armani Beauty Team at Saks Fifth Avenue in Chevy Chase, Maryland has donated an Armani Sheer Lipstick ($25) for this week's giveaway contest. The shade is #5, Brique (not the shade shown in the photo here). It's a beautiful nude-rose blend.

I love the sheers. I'm partial to sheer color, and they feel great on my lips. They combine a hydrating base with transparent lip color, making them the perfect everyday colors for me. I have to agree with Armani Beauty: "the lightweight, soothing formula creates a moisturizing veil of color and enhances all lip tones."

The Sheer Lipsticks are available in 13 ultra-pretty shades to flatter all skin tones. You can see them all at the Armani Beauty Web site.

To enter the contest, e-mail bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com and tell me what your favorite Armani Beauty posting on Best Things in Beauty has been. I'll use a random number generator to select a winner, so your answer won't affect your chances. I'm just curious - as usual.

The deadline for entries will be Tuesday, November 24 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time. The contest is open to U.S. and Canadian residents.

I'll be posting this contest on Free!Grechen, a site you should check out for all kinds of fantastic giveaways.

Good Luck!

Photo courtesy of Armani Beauty

LIERAC Coherence Giveaway Contest Winner

Congratulations to Huguette E., who was notified by e-mail that she won the Cohérence Age-Defense Firming Serum ($64), an intensive lifting serum that lifts, firms, and diminishes the appearance of wrinkles. Formulated with ASC III Collagen Accelerating Vectors (6%) to stimulate the natural synthesis of Collagen III, or "the Collagen of Youth," and alpha hydroxy acid, lactic acid, citric acid, wheat protein, and hyaluronic acid, the serum contains anti-aging ingredients known to work. Huguette, I hope you like it!

We had some very convincing entries, although not as many as I had expected. That means I have to do a much better job of telling you how wonderful LIERAC Paris products are!

Our winner was selected by independent judges, all of whom work in the beauty industry. I'm glad they made our selection - I was convinced by every e-mail that we had a winner.

Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for our next giveaway. It will be posted tomorrow.

Photo courtesy of LIERAC Paris

Estee Lauder Limited-Edition Holiday Color Spectacular

Yesterday, I showed you the Lancome Holiday Beauty Box. Today, we turn to Estee Lauder's limited-edition Color Spectacular for the holidays, another annual favorite.

For $55 with any Estee Lauder fragrance purchase, you can buy this fabulous collection worth "over" $340. I like this set even more than this year's Lancome set. The rub is that you have to purchase an Estee Lauder fragrance to qualify. I wish it were simply any Estee Lauder product(s). I do wear Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia, but I don't really need any right now. Maybe I'll have to buy my mother some White Linen Light Breeze for Christmas!

Included this year?

• Deluxe Eyeshadow Compact with 15 coordinating shades (Sugar Cube, Ivory Box, Honey Drop, Lavender, Chocolate, Tea Biscuit, Copper Penny, Petal, Mulberry, Pale Moon, Cinnamon, Apricot, and Mocha Cup in Pure Color Eyeshadow, plus
• Sage Duo Estée Lauder Signature Eyeshadow
• Deluxe Face Compact (Estée Lauder Signature Silky Powder Blush in Rosewood and Nude Rose, and Bronze Goddess Soft Matte Bronzer)
• Four Pure Color Long Lasting Lipsticks (full-size, in Candy, Rose Tea, Fig, and Tiger Eye)
• Three Artist's Eye Pencils (great for smoky eyes, in SoftSmudge Black, SoftSmudge Brown, and Slate Writer)
• Projectionist High Definition Volume Mascara (10-day supply in Black)
• Lash Primer Plus (10-day supply)
• Gentle Eye Makeup Remover (full-size 3.4 oz.)
• Four Deluxe Makeup Brushes (Powder, Blush, Lip, and Eye)
• Look Book with tips on creating four fabulous looks
• Golden Stand-Up Mirror
• Cosmetic Traveler Case
• Companion Makeup Case (red at Macy's, Cream at Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, and Estee Lauder)
  

This set is an extraordinary value - really nice! I want one. It is available at EsteeLauder.com, Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Nordstrom, and probably most Estee Lauder counters. There is also a free gift with any $39.50 Estee Lauder purchase at Bloomingdale's, doubling the value of your purchase.

Update 11/19: I ordered mine last night by calling my favorite Estee Lauder rep and having mine charged so it will be ready for me at Bloomingdale's. We were talking about what a great deal this is. And to think I just bought the new powder and blush brushes! Anyhow, Connie said that the eye makeup remover in this set is actually larger than the regular one - very nice!

Photo courtesy of Bloomingdale's

Save 25% at LaLicious

From now until January 2, 2010, you can save 25% on gift collections at LaLicious. The fragrances included in this offer are Brown Sugar & Vanilla, Coconut Cream, Lily Mango, Passionfruit Lime, Island Guava, Tahitian Flower, and Peppermint. I'm partial to Tahitian Flower, a gardenia-based scent.

LaLicious is a bath and body product collection that was created to moisturize and smooth your skin to perfection! Their famous scrubs, butters, oils, and soaps are available in eight scrumptious scents including the best-selling Brown Sugar & Vanilla line. They use the most natural ingredients available, including soothing and conditioning oils, such as almond oil, coconut oil, and vitamin E oil, and all LaLicious products are free of paraben preservatives and sulfate detergents.

Celebrities and magazine editors just can't get enough of LaLicious. With this discount, perhaps it's time you try! Enter code HOLIDAY09 at checkout. All customers receive a two-ounce sugar scrub with every order, a nice little gift.

Photo courtesy of LaLicious

Lancome's Limited-Edition Holiday Beauty Box

Each holiday season, Lancome offers a Beauty Box, an incredible value collection of makeup and skin care products. This year the box is $52 with any $36 Lancome purchase. It's advertised as a $330 value.

For the last few years, I have purchased these limited-edition sets, and I have found them to be beautifully "edited." Last year's box, an oval, deep red, faux reptile, zippered box with a handle, serves me today as storage for makeup brushes. These boxes are so much nicer than see-through plastic from Target - or shoe boxes!

Included this year?

• Creme Radiance - clarifying cream-to-foam cleanser
• Renergie Microlift R.A.R.E. - lifting cream with SPF 15
• Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover - full-sized
• Cils Booster XL - super-enhancing mascara base
• Hypnose Custom Volume Mascara in Black - full-sized
• Color Palette - nine eye shadow shades and two best-selling Blush Subtil shades
• Color Design Sensational Effects Lip Colors - in All Done Up and Trendy Mauve
• Color Fever Lasting Radiance Sensual Lipcolor - in Prune Drama Girl
• Juicy Tubes Lip Glosses - in Magic Spell and Simmer

If the lipsticks and Juicy Tubes aren't full-sized, the are really close to it!

Just enter code BEAUTY09 at checkout at Lancome.com. The department stores have these boxes too. While Lancome.com and Bloomingdale's offer the box in black, I saw the box in white at Macy's. I like the black one best. The contents are the same.

Photo courtesy of Lancome

Korres Materia Herba Toning Cleansing Foam

The Materia Herba line is the first certified natural and organic line from Korres. So I had to try it! I purchased three products, and the first one I used was the Materia Herba Toning Cleansing Foam ($27).

I read at Beautorium that Materia Herba features highly effective, natural active ingredients formulated in collaboration with an advanced Swiss skin care lab. Ninety-five to 100% natural and organic, certified by Ecocert, Materia Herba products are clinically proven to boost the skin’s hydration up to 65%.

The Materia Herba line is free of parabens, propylene glycol, silicones, sulphates, ethanolamine, synthetic colors, and other things that purists hate. And no animal by-products or testing. Sounds good, right? It's a soap-free, gentle, and effective. Materia Herba Toning Cleansing Foam washes away makeup and impurities, while protecting against dehydration, free radical damage, and inflammation.

How does it do that? Naturally derived salicylic acid breaks up oil and bacteria and sloughs off dead skin cells, controlling blemishes and purging pores. Glyco-oligosaccharide, a biological balancing agent, gently cleanses and purifies the skin using natural sugars. Natural glycolipids (derived from soy, sunflower, and wheat) enhance the cleansing process by neutralizing the oxidation of oils and proteins, which can lead to inflammation and premature aging. Certified organic hamamelis floral water’s mild astringent and skin-soothing, anti-inflammatory benefits are included to reveal a fresh, glowing complexion. Certified organic olive leaf, a non-oily extract, provides antioxidant protection against both external and internal free radical damage. Centaurea floral water calms the eyes and soothes the skin.

This cleanser is marketed for all skin types. While it's nice on my dry, sensitive skin, the ingredients tell a story that makes it perfect for combo and oily skin as well. After using it, I feel clean and soft. That's enough for me! This has become my morning cleanser, stashed in my shower, where I use it to wash away the night's dreams. I love the pump container; it's fast and convenient.

I bought mine from Beautorium. It's also available at Sephora and Korres.com. Check for special offers!

Photo courtesy of Beautorium

Luna Twilight Mortal Glow Blushing Cream

You think you made a mistake. You ask your favorite Nordstrom beauty advisor about a cream blusher you had seen online, and he tells you he'll take you downstairs to the teenybopper department.

We got down there and found Luna Twilight, prominently displayed at the foot of the escalator. There it was on a large display: Luna Twilight Mortal Glow Blushing Cream ($22) in two shades, Adrenaline and Swoon. We tested, we swooned! Both shades were gorgeous, and the creamy texture was fabulous. I had to buy both of them because I couldn't choose between them.

Luna Twilight was inspired by the Twilight Saga. I understand these movies are all the rage with the teenage set. I must be seriously culturally deprived because I was only vaguely aware of this phenomenon. Capitalizing on the "love," Summit Entertainment introduced two makeup lines: Luna Twilight and Volturi Twilight.

The Luna Twilight Mortal Glow Blushing Cream is a blusher/highlighter hybrid, called a breakthrough blend of mousse and cream blush that glides on effortlessly with a brush or fingertips. Each blush has three distinct, hand-blended colors that create a mélange of color with a pattern unique to each individual blush. The creamy texture is divine, and the colors are shiny and sheer - better, I think, as highlighters than blushers. I applied one with a foundation brush this morning and finished it with some powder blusher. Really nice look!

Adrenaline is a blend of warm and cool pinks. Swoon, advertised as "the ultimate trio of nudes," is really mauve-toned.

Luna Twilight has some interesting products, including First Light Face Glow and Body Glow. I'll check them out on the next trip, now that I've recovered from the shock of shopping in the teen department.

Available at Nordstrom.

Update 11/17: Little did I know how timely this was! Check out this Associated Press account of the premiere of The Twilight Saga: New Moon.

Update 11/21: By today, Nordstrom had moved the Luna Twilight makeup upstairs to the beauty department.

Photo courtesy of Luna Twilight

Chanel Holiday 2009 Color - Collection Cage Dorée de Chanel

My first glance at Chanel's Holiday Collection, Cage Dorée de Chanel, which I had seen during what I call "drive-by" shopping, did not lure me to test. First glances are often misleading, so yesterday - with some weekend time on my hands - I did a bit of testing with Chris Coles at Nordstrom. I bought three fabulous pieces.

As a sidebar, I would have checked out the colors on Saturday, after the Beauty Trends Show at Nordstrom's Tysons Corner store, but I was afraid I would be trampled by the 500 attendees who were so anxious to buy beauty products you would have thought they were all headed to a desert isle with one last chance to get spruced up. To her credit, the lovely and lively stage mistress Julianne De'Chaump whipped the audience into a frenzy.

Les Tissages Lamés de Chanel ($60) is a beautiful highlighter in Chanel's signature tweed design - three delicately woven shades of shimmering golden color for cheeks, décolleté, or anyplace you want to give a golden glow. Gold, bronze, and copper tones cast a natural luminous glow on the skin. To its credit, Chanel skipped the glitter, so you can wear this highlighter during the day or for your evening festivities. I love highlighters, so this one jumped right into the little pile of purchases Chris was toting around. It provides a nice warm touch to my fair skin, and I think it will work for every skin tone.

The limited-edition Bird of Paradise LES 4 OMBRES Quadra Eye Shadow ($56) puts the focus on eyes with a tropical-bright quartet of aqua, yellow, green-gold, and copper shades, which can be toned down or played up, depending on your mood. In the case, these colors looked a little too bright for me. Once on the eyelids, though, they are gorgeous. The aqua is the brightest shade, and I will tone it down a bit by mixing it with one of the other colors. The model for the collection, wearing these shades, looks like she is ready for spring. Don't let that stop you from playing with them.

I thought the limited-edition "sleeper" of the collection might be the dual eye liner, La Ligne de Chanel ($45), shown above in Celadon Lamé. This dual eye liner is sold out on Chanel's Web site, so I'm glad I bought it. You have to try it to see the gorgeous, dark richness of the colors. The mistake-proof, powder eye liner duo can provide either the precision of a liquid eyeliner or the smudged look of a kohl pencil. The deep, dark black-green look, created by two different shades, is very flattering. These colors can be worn as liners or, with a light application, as shadows - much like Chanel's dramatic Collection Noirs Obscurs.

There are other items in this collection, including new Aqualumière Lipstick (28.50) and Lip Gloss ($27) shades. Aqualumière Lipstick is always with me. I live in it. I love the formula and beautiful transparent colors. The sheer colors in the holiday collection balance the exotic eye shades. The lipsticks on display are Galapagos, a lustrous coral; Tasmania, an exquisite pink; Grenada, a soft, subdued fuchsia; and the limited-edition Maldives, a warm, ultra-wearable peach. In the gloss department, the new shades of this water-light gloss are Colibri, a shimmering pearl; Hirondelle, a vibrant pink; and Canari, a bright, citrusy coral. The glosses wear comfortably while delivering a sheer wash of shiny color. I plan to go back when my bank account refreshes and try a few of these shades. All of them will take you safely into spring and summer, when pinks and corals promise to be among the hottest shades.

New limited-edition Les Vernis ($23) nail colors round out the collection in Trapèze, a radiant silver-beige; Mica Rose, a tender pink; and Orange Fizz, a vivid coral.

You can see the collection at Chanel's Web site, or at any department store with a Chanel Cosmetics counter, including Nordstrom, Saks, and Neiman Marcus. Spend a little time and "get to know" these new colors. You may like them as much as I do!

Photos courtesy of Chanel