88 Orange Body Butter

88 Orange Body Butter ($56) is new at b~glowing. It must be popular because it's on back order. Mine came earlier this week, even though I ordered it in December.

Want a trip to an orange grove to dispel the winter blues? This may be your ticket! Wearing 88 Orange Body Butter is like time travel to the untainted orange groves of Southern California or those of Florida in the "old days" before freezes and development decimated many of them.

This luscious body butter has top notes of bright citronella and sweet tangerine, heart notes of fresh-pressed organic orange blossoms and cool water lily, and base notes of bright neroli and clean lilac, the fragrant lilac from your grandmother's garden - not the recent hybrids bred for color rather than fragrance.

88 Orange products are organically grown in Orange County, California, and their headquarters is in Costa Mesa. The company, founded in 2007, makes T-shirts from organic yarn, offered in colors inspired by the beaches and groves of Orange County. Their T-shirts are laundered in their signature "blossom" scent - the fragrance in their body butter. "88" represents the ideal size of an orange picked from the tree to go to market.

I "stumbled" onto 88 Orange when I was browsing b~glowing. I love orange blossom fragrances, and as I read the fragrance notes, I was clicking on "Add to Cart." I'm glad I did! Opening the jar is like peeling an orange. The scent is juicy and delicious, and the moisturizer is rich with shea butter, cocoa butter, and sunflower seed oil. Slathering with 88 Orange before bed has already become a bedtime ritual - just like giving my furry friend his Pounce treats.

88 Orange Body Butter is a b~glowing exclusive. An Eau de Parfum, soy candle, and fabric softener are also available. I've been thinking...I need that fabric softener!

Photo courtesy of b~glowing

Dior's New Crème de Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm

I went back to Saks for this! I was so tempted when I first saw the Crème de Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm ($25). It's part of the new Dior Lace Collection for Spring 2010.

Although I don't usually like pot lip balms, and I don't usually like scented lip balms, this one was like a magnet. It drew me right back into the store.

Crème de Rose is described as a smoothing, plumping lip balm with an SPF 10. It promises to soothe, re-plump, hydrate, and protect your lips. This nourishing lip balm comes in one universal petal pink shade and features a heavenly rose scent - a divine fragrance that instantly transports you to an English garden.

Opening the pot is a sensory pleasure. The roses pop out! You smell roses on application, and then the scent fades. Perfect!

Crème de Rose balm leaves just a hint of enlivening pink on the lips, but major moisturizer, with shea butter and rose essential oils to hydrate your lips. It actually stays on me for a reasonable amount of time, which is fairly amazing given that my lips instantly absorb most lip balms.

Is there anything about it I can't gush about? It's pricey for a lip balm, so I fear many people won't try it. Also, a personal problem: it contains retinyl palmitate, which could make my lips peel continuously , given my sensitivity to Vitamin A products. The retinyl palmitate is pretty far down the ingredient list, so I'm hoping I won't have a reaction to it. The ingredient is there is keep the dead skin cells sloughed off the lips, making them moist and lush. Unfortunately, I'm terribly sensitive to it and try to avoid it whenever I can. It's a superstar skin care ingredient, so most of you should be happy it's included in the mix.

Dior provides secrets for use in the package insert. Dab a bit onto the center of your lips to add a touch of radiance. Apply the balm under lipstick or lip gloss to prepare your lips. Or apply a thick layer to your lips before going to bed to make your lips feel moisturized and comforted when you awaken.

Crème de Rose is available at Sephora, Saks, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, and Neiman Marcus.

Photo courtesy of Sephora

NARS Orgasm Illuminator

NARS Orgasm Illuminator ($29) is currently a Sephora exclusive. I love it! The color adds a beautiful sheen wherever you apply it (no glitter in this one).

It's described as a peachy pink with golden shimmer on the Sephora site. That's a pretty accurate description of the un-blended color. Once blended, though, it provides a gorgeous warm peach-toned glow that's slightly golden bronze - on my skin.

I think this illuminator will look a bit different on everyone. I also think it's going to delight you no matter what your skin tone.

Here's Sephora's description.

NARS Orgasm Illuminator lights your skin from within! Deceptively sheer and decidedly luminous, it magically transforms lackluster skin into a remember-me, luscious complexion. Flirt with foundation, go it alone, or go neck-and-neck with your décolleté. The effect is, well, orgasmic.

I don't know about "orgasmic," but this new product really excites me. I can use it as a warm blusher, a bronzer, and to add a warm glow when applied to the "high points" of my face. I can mix it with moisturizer and use it all over my face and neck. It's versatility has quickly earned it a place in my everyday makeup stash. That's quite a compliment! It may even be hoarding-worthy.

I'll go out on a limb and highly recommend Orgasm Illluminator. Make sure to look for it at Sephora!

Photo courtesy of Sephora

Dior Addict Lipcolor in Pink Embroidery for Spring 2010

Dior's Lace Color Collection for Spring 2010 is brimming with pretty new colors. My favorite lipstick is #663, Pink Embroidery ($26). It's the rightmost of the two lipsticks on the lower-left side of the photo here.

Dior Addict is a creamy lipstick with a new and improved formula that offers weightless, high-impact color. I love its smooth texture. It will make your lips look vibrant and feel nourished.

Pink Embroidery is a mauve-leaning pink - as pretty as any of the spring lipsticks I've seen so far. It was one of my four purchases from the Lace Color Collection, although I'm still lusting after the Crème de Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm. I'm certain I'll go back to Saks for the lip balm - maybe today. It has a petal pink shade and features a delicate rose scent. So much for restraint!

Another new lipstick is Pink Bustier. It's gorgeous too. You have to see them to choose!

The new Dior spring collection is available at Saks, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, and Neiman Marcus. It's available at Sephora too. This is a lovely collection. I'll be describing my new five-color eye shadow next!

I have to confess that Loyd Cassler, Armani makeup artist extraordinaire, knows my tastes so well that he selected my new Dior makeup for me before I even arrived at the store! The items were selling out or going fast, and he know I wouldn't want to miss some of them. Having a personal makeup shopper is luxurious! Every one of his selections was perfect!

Photo courtesy of Sephora

Bobbi Brown Pretty Powerful Video Contest

Bobbi Brown's Pretty Powerful campaign, featuring real women, or “Friends of Bobbi,” and their before and after photos, videos, and more can be found at the Bobbi Brown Web site. You know already that I love everything about Pretty Powerful!

Bobbi Brown just launched a video contest. She wants to hear how you went from pretty to powerful using Bobbi Brown cosmetics. Now through February 9, makeup lovers are invited to share their transformative stories and tips by submitting videos to Bobbi Brown.

From the submissions, 15 finalists will be chosen and sent a personalized selection of Bobbi Brown cosmetics and the new Color Strips collection to create their next Pretty Powerful video submission. Your video (1-3 minutes) should be no greater than 10MB and delivered in one of the following file types: mov (prefered), wmv, mpeg-1, mpeg-2, mpg, or avi.

In March, the gallery of Pretty Powerful videos will be open for public voting on Bobbi Brown's Web site. For every vote cast in the Pretty Powerful contest, Bobbi Brown will donate $1 to Dress for Success, an organization close to Bobbi's heart that provides underprivileged women with interview suits and career development advice.

Bobbi will hand-pick the three grand prize winners, who will be flown to New York for a master class and brunch with Bobbi. How much fun would that be?

What are you waiting for? Get cooking on your video!

Photo courtesy of Bobbi Brown

Sheen, Shimmer, Sparkles, and Glitter

Sparkly, shimmery, metallic, glittery - it's not just wordplay! A company's description of a makeup product should be accurate, but often isn't. There can be startling differences between marketing descriptions and reality. You can't even depend on beauty bloggers or those who post reviews on sites like Sephora or Makeupalley, although real-life descriptions are often better than promotion-speak. When in doubt, look for reviewers who have actually tried the product.

We all have different preferences. I like highlighters that add sheen and shimmer, but not obvious sparkles or glitter. I do appreciate finely milled sparkling products and metallic eye shadows, but I want the sparkles and metal to stay where I put them, not drift to other parts of my face or clothing - or even worse, into my eyes. I don't like glitter at all. I don't want to look like I dashed through a confetti toss.

We all have different preferences, but we should know what to expect - particularly when we are ordering online! How many times have you read about a pearly sheen on an online site and found that your new purchase was a glitter bomb? That happened to me with Super Orgasm, shown above, an incarnation of the iconic and universally loved NARS Orgasm blush. It had been widely touted as the next great thing, so I ordered it as soon as it became available. What arrived was a blusher that was so glitter-laden it was unusable. I gave it away. I will give Sephora credit; they would have taken it back, no questions asked. Other sites don't make it as easy for you. Some say that once you have tried - or even opened - a product, they will not accept a return.

What is the NARS description of Super Orgasm?

A sheer-pressed powder blush with golden speckles...shimmering peachy pink blush with an extra dose of golden sparkle.

I didn't get the code!

Had I relied on reviews posted by customers on the Sephora site, here are some of the descriptions I would have read.

• Luminous sheen
• Healthy, glowing look
• Perfect shimmer
• Natural looking
• Chunks of glitter

Who was right? The gal who said "chunks of glitter" and another who said "shimmer gets everywhere." Sometimes, it's best not to be an early adopter!

I'm not trying to pick on NARS here. This is a universal problem. Chanel's new Empreinte de Chanel - Radiant Glow Highlighting Powder, shown to the right, is described as "subtly shimmering shades of rosewood, beige, and bronze." On my skin, it adds major sparkle, and it's not flattering. The new Maybelline Eye Studio Color Plush Silk Eyeshadow Quads are described as being silky and luminous. You can read my impression of the sparkle fest here. High end and low - the descriptions aren't reliable.

We all have different likes and expectations. If companies would give us good descriptions, we could select products that make us happy - a win-win for cosmetics companies and consumers.

I try to give you accurate descriptions. Other bloggers do too. Always check out a new product in the store first - if you can. If not, make sure you read the code words carefully, and then order from a reputable retailer who will accept your return when you are disappointed or feel misled.

Am I being grumpy? Care to share your experience with sheen, shimmer, sparkles, and glitter?

Photos courtesy of Sephora and Chanel

Beauty 360 - Now Online

CVS Pharmacy recently introduced e-commerce capabilities for Beauty 360, its prestige beauty retail store, making the Beauty 360 shopping experience accessible online for customers nationwide. Beauty 360 retail locations, which launched in November 2008, are adjacent to select CVS locations and provide convenient access to a wide and varied assortment of prestige cosmetic, skin care, hair care, fragrance, and grooming brands. Go next door for your Maybelline and Eucerin; pop into Beauty 360 for your Phillip B!

Currently, Beauty 360 has eight locations around the country and will continue to grow with additional locations opening throughout 2010. With the new e-commerce site, customers nationwide can take advantage of one-stop-shopping for everyday necessities and prescriptions, as well as their favorite prestige beauty products from top beauty brands through a shared shopping basket across both cvs.com and beauty360.com. [This is the model adopted by drugstore.com and beauty.com.]

"CVS Pharmacy has always been a leader in beauty, and launching the Beauty 360 concept was a milestone for us in being able to provide our customers with greater access to the prestige beauty products they love," said Mike Bloom, Senior Vice President of Merchandising and Supply Chain for CVS. "With the introduction of e-commerce for Beauty 360, we are making shopping for these luxury beauty products more convenient for everyone - especially the nearly six million customers who visit cvs.com each month."

Beauty 360 shoppers will also reap the benefits of the CVS ExtraCare Rewards program, the largest retail loyalty program in the world, which provides 2% money back on all purchases, among other benefits. Beauty360.com offers prestige beauty favorites across the skin care, cosmetics, hair care, and men's grooming categories from brands that include Vincent Longo, Philip B, Canyon Ranch, Freeze 24.7, Cargo, Bioelements, Neil George, Jack Black, Anthony Logistics for Men, Laura Geller, Paula Dorf, and BORBA Cosmetics.

To see the brands available at Beauty 360, click on this link. There you go! No CVS in your home state? Now you CVS-deprived friends have options!

Photos courtesy of Beauty 360
Press release courtesy of CVS