Lancome Fall 2008: Maharani Jewels

Gorgeous goes global with Maharani Jewels. Lancôme’s latest color collection pays homage to India, where the beauty brand opened last year. Many of the makeup shades and creations seen floating down the catwalk recently were reminiscent of the country’s fascinating colors and intricate designs. From deeply colored spices, to the natural hues of the landscape, to vibrant pigments that color traditional Saris, to the gemstone-toned jewels that adorn the neck of a Maharani, or princess, each of these rich pieces highly influenced Lancôme’s fall palette.

La Base Pro

This amazing oil-free makeup base creates a smooth, radiant and long-lasting canvas for a more perfected makeup look. Exclusive Lancôme Elasto-Smooth™ technology refines skin’s texture and diffuses light to visibly reduce imperfections with a satin-soft finish. Makeup glides on seamlessly. Color stays more true and vibrant for a radiant, air-brushed look all day.
Suggested Retail Price: $42.00

Poudre Elephant Teint

This is the perfect product to achieve a gorgeous glow. In India, the elephant is one of the most revered symbols, denoting royalty, inner strength and nobility. Now this iconic symbol can be found embossed in the powder of this new limited-edition bronzer.
Suggested Retail Price: $36.50

Maharani Juicy Tubes

Inspired by the intricate motifs of Mehndi art, these Juicy Tubes are embellished with a golden design of scallop lines, dots, teardrops and paisley shapes.

Shades range from Mango Mystere to Guava Enchantment and Autumn Jasmine.
Suggested Retail Price: $18.00

Le Crayon Khôl Kajal

This ultra-soft khôl divinely glides across lids, lining them in exquisite deeply pigmented color. Natural jojoba oil and organic beeswax make application smooth and comfortable. For sultry eyes, evocative of a Bengal beauty, India Ink imbues an intense black for a captivating look. For softer, but equally sexy eyes, smoke out the rich brown hue of Amber Night or delicately apply the lustrous color of Smoky Henna.
Suggested Retail Price: $23.50

Maharani Color Design Eye Shadow Quads

The raw and natural tones found throughout India’s countryside are seen in the Lotus Splendor palette with its earthy brown, peach and copper eye shadows, while the Secrets of Benghal palette features soft pink, dusty mauve, eggplant and highlighting shadows. Paired with Le Crayon Khôl Kajal in India Ink, the combination of shadow and dark liner work in harmony to create a sultry, intense eye look.
Suggested Retail Price: $40.00

The Maharani Jewels collection is now available at lancome-usa.com, specialty stores, the five Lancôme boutiques and counters nationwide.

80s Ladies Week: Oh, Cargo...You're So Fine!

If you caught yesterday’s installment of 80s Ladies Week, you know that I’m pretty handy with the pom-poms. So it should come as no surprise that one of my childhood idols was singer/choreographer/fellow Philadelphian, Toni Basil.

For today’s 80s-inspired product review, I’m going to steal a line from Toni’s pop music classic…

Oh, Cargo you’re so fine,
You’re so fine you blow my mind.
Hey Cargo!
Hey Cargo!

On the 4th of July, I was invited to a late-evening barbecue not too far from my own apartment. I had to hoof it because there was no chance of finding parking anywhere in the vicinity of the art museum, which serves as backdrop for the city’s Independence Day festivities. The weather was pretty typical for July - hot and humid – with a light drizzle.


So before heading out the door, I finger painted with Cargo’s Melt-proof 3 in 1 Eye-Cheek-Lip Palette and swiped on some Better-than-waterproof Mascara. Eight city blocks later, I showed up at the party looking perfectly polished - and you know how shiny I can get. And when I returned home late that night, my makeup still looked freshly applied!!!

The Cargo Melt-proof Make-up Collection, which also includes a Melt-proof Bronzer, is limited-edition and costs $39 (retail value is $90). Pick this up immediately, you'll thank me later. You will be absolutely amazed at the staying power – it’ll blow your mind!

Cargo products are available at Sephora, Amazon.com, and cargocosmetics.com.

Isn't 80s Ladies Week totally rad? Be sure to check out Amber’s 80s inspired product review over at Beauty Blogging Junkie.

80s Ladies Week: You Need Lise Watier Havana Dry Oil Today...Not Tomorrow!

Back in the mid-eighties, I wanted to be an orphan. But not just any orphan…little orphan Annie. As a musically-inclined rugrat, I couldn’t imagine anything better than singing and dancing around all day, not going to school, and getting into shenanigans with my best girlfriends.

I would watch my VHS tape recording of Annie incessantly. I watched that movie like it was my J-O-B. And when the tape wasn’t in the VCR, I was playing the soundtrack on my Fisher Price record player. My mom probably cursed the day that she bought that record, because from then on, I was running around the house acting out every scene and practicing the songs like I was Broadway-bound. With a red cheerleading pom-pom perfectly perched on my head, I belted out “Tomorrow” like there was no tomorrow.

Okay, enough of my trip down memory lane. It’s 80s Ladies Week here at Spoiled Pretty and, today, my product review is inspired by my favorite childhood movie. You know how the orphans sang "You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile?" Well, while that may be true, this beauty junkie insists you’re never fully dressed without Lise Watier’s new Havana Dry Oil Body Glow.



Picture it…it’s Friday or Saturday night. You're getting ready to go out with your man or meet up with your friends. You’re wearing a pair of kitten heels that would make Carrie Bradshaw blush and you’ve got your freakum dress on. But you’re not ready until you dress your arms, legs, and décolletage in Havana Dry Oil. The luxurious texture of this dry oil melts on the skin, and its golden shimmering pearls reflect the light to leave the skin with a luminous tan.

If this stuff was available in the make-believe 1930s, Miss Hannigan would certainly slather some on before her mid-day tryst with Mr. Bundles, the laundry man.

Formulated with a light sunscreen and enriched with emollients and antioxidant Vitamin E, Havana Dry Oil penetrates quickly, leaving skin silky smooth, without any greasy or oily residue…so you don’t “shine like the top of the Chrystler Building.” And the baby oil scent smells heavenly!

Digging 80s Ladies Week? Be sure to check out Amber’s 80s inspired product review over at Beauty Blogging Junkie.

Kim Kardashian's Favorite Bronzer

Yesterday on her blog, Kim Kardashian answered some tanning questions. Here's an excerpt, for all of you Kim fans...

Mona asks:

Hey Kim! I'd really love your "sun-kissed" look, what is your favorite make-up bronzer to use on your face/body??

Kim answers:
I love MAC bronzers! I try to use a darker pressed powder like NC45, instead of bronzers with shimmer, because it tends to look to shiny sometimes.

For more of Kim Kardashian's beauty and makeup tips, click here!

Source: officialkimkardashian.com

The Dope on Urban Decay’s Summer 2008 Collection

Urban Decay’s Summer 2008 Collection is the chronic. With product names like "Big Fatty,"Baked," and "Blaze" - you know you wanna try it. It'll make you feel good, feel good...

Pops of color are in style this season…and Big Fatty Colored Mascara is the perfect way to embrace that trend. Available in four bold, but wearable shades, Big Fatty thickens and lengthens lashes. Electric Blue and Indigo flatter brown and blue eyes, Purple Haze compliment green-eyed gals, and burgundy adds drama to any eye color. I’m a total Electric Blue groupie, and when I’m feeling bold, I pair it with 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Deviant.

"A colored mascara is the perfect summer beauty uniform. I slick a little on when I'm in a rush or headed out to thebeach and instantly get a ‘just enough makeup to look pretty, but not so much that I'm trying too hard’ look. And it adds aseductive, enigmatic little edge to those minimal makeup days of summer," says Wende Zomnir, Executive Creative Director at Urban Decay.

Urban Decay created two new eyeshadow shades, Blaze and Rush, to compliment the summer line. Blaze (golden peach) and Rush (medium coppery bronze) are smooth, richly pigmented and apply like a dream. To keep from slipping off your lid in humid weather, prep the eye with Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion.

De-Slick Mattifying Powder is one of the Co-Founder’s favorite products…and mine too, because you know that I’m one shiny beauty blogger come summertime. This shine-thwarting pressed powder contains lightweight, oil-absorbing rice powder. Use it on bare skin or over your foundation. The light purple shaded powder applies invisibly and won’t cake.

Baked Bronzer in Guilded gives you a baked, toasty glow without the threat of skin damage. And it’s literally baked in an Italian oven on a tiny terra cotta disc for 24 hours, then hand-finished by a factory full of motherly Italian women. The result is an ultra-smooth, sheer-finish bronzer that can be used on the face and body and applied wet or dry!

The Big Buddha Brush is Urban Decay’s answer to the kabuki brush. Bronze arms and legs with one sweep, dust on loose powder, or highlight shoulders and décolleté. Big Buddha features soft synthetic white fibers, tipped with purple, giving the brush a unique ombre effect.

Santa Tanita, Urban Decay’s imaginary saint of sunless tanning, answers your prayers for sun-kissed skin. The Santa Tanita Tinted Sunless Tanning Mousse instantly bronzes face and body, while a gradual self tanner goes to work, building a lasting tan that darkens with time. The moisturizing formula was created for both the face and body, and it won’t rub off onto clothes.

Urban Decay is available at Sephora, Ulta, Amazon.com, and urbandecay.com.

Lise Watier Summer 2008: La Toscana

Yesterday, Mr. Spoiled Pretty and I celebrated our one-year wedding anniversary with dinner at Barclay Prime, a “luxury boutique steakhouse” in the Rittenhouse section of Philadelphia. My dress and heels were basic black, so I decided to wear color on my eyes. Lise Watier’s new summer collection, La Toscana, provided the perfect palette to make my peepers pop!




The shadows in the Eye Quartet in Mer (Sea Turquoise, Satin Terracotta, Soft and Matte Sand, and a Rose-Brown bathed with Golden Sheen) have been baked on a ceramic tile to pay homage to Tuscany. They can be used wet or dry; dry for a light, diaphanous effect, or wet for an intense, opaque finish.

I lined the inner rims of my eyes with the Glitter Pencil in Turquoise – a smooth, pigment-rich liner.

If you’re more “turf” than “surf”, try the Terre Quartet and Glitter Pencil in Vert.

And be sure to check out La Toscana’s other offerings:

Pink Marble Blush Powder
Toscana Gloss Sticks (ultra-hydrating with an olive oil base)
Havana Dry Oil Body Glow
Havana Precious Bronzing Pearls
Havana Sun Dust Bronzing Powder

MAC Solar Field

Glamour beams across the universe via solar bits: transforming free-formed clusters of rich pigment and pearl. Applies shine and sparkle to eyes, cheeks wherever you want highlights. Crush for full color and sparkle effect; for a light shimmer, sweep your brush over the top of the clusters. Wear with skin made provocatively golden through bronzing powder in solar riche and refined golden. Apply with 168 and 239 application brushes.


Solar Bits
Sunpower: Light metallic tan with gold pearl
Black Ore: Rich black with gold pearl
Bronzescape: Clean yellow brown with gold pearl
Scatterrays: Soft metallic peach with gold pearl
Suggested Retail Price: $19.50

Bronzing Powder
Refined Golden: Finely spun golden with soft pearl finish
Solar Riche: Mid-tone deep orange brown with pearl
Suggested Retail Price: $20.00

168 Large Angled Contour Brush
Suggested Retail Price: $32.00

239 Eye Shader Brush
Suggested Retail Price: $24.50

Solar Field is available now at maccosmetics.com.

Win Free Physicians Formula Organic Wear Bronzer Today!

Today, Physicians Formula is giving away 1,000 Organic Wear bronzers in order to help make our world a little greener with makeup that’s good for the earth and for us too!

The contest starts at noon - here is the link to the site. Remember, the site will NOT be live until the contest begins at noon.

Go get your bronze on. Good luck!

Hey There, Agent Orange...Try Some Cool Blush

One bronzer does not fit all. Case in point – Lindsay “Dirty Face” Lohan. Every time I open up my gossip mags, there she is in all her Tang tan glory. Part of me thinks that it’s hilarious. But the more sympathetic part really wants to introduce her to Three Custom Color Specialists' Cool Bronzer.

This unique Cool version (it is also available in Warm) is especially formulated for rosey-toned skin, creating a healthy look without the damaging effects of the sun.

Oil-absorbing ingredients minimize shine for a long-lasting, clean matte finish while providing sheer, breathable coverage.

So if you’ve got cool undertones like Lindsay, learn from her pumpkin-faced pitfalls and go get this product.

Sold at threecustom.com, beauty.com, and makeup.com.

Fresh Makeup Spring 2008: Island Reverie and Sugar Cherry

“I found my inspiration from the ethereal rising of the morning mist over a sun-splashed rainforest, lush with warm, ripening fruit and budding, bright blossoms. For me, this scene translated to a color story made up of tranquil eyes, sun-caressed skin, and bright, glossy lips. The result is a sheer, ephemeral look.”
–Alina Roytberg, Co-founder and Creative Director of Fresh.


Island Reverie Face Palette is an easy-to-use multi-purpose palette that captures the essence of a warm, sun-splashed day spent in the lush tropics.

Easy-to-use and multi-functional formulas containing nourishing ingredients and gorgeous textures not only enhance the look but also improve the complexion. All five powders are mineral based and provide a natural-looking finish. Palette includes three luminous eyeshadows in Tiare (sheer champagne), Plumeria (sheer shell pink), and Rum (rich coffee), Blush in Island Reverie (coral), and Bronzing Face Luster in Treasure Cove (universally radiant golden bronze with crushed pearls).

Sugar Lip Gloss in Sugar Cherry (limited edition) is a juicy, cool, cherry red that is gorgeous, glossy, and good for your lips.

Skin-smoothing humectants and moisturizers like sugar, shea butter, jojoba oil, grape seed oil, and black currant seed oil, are blended with the powerful antioxidant Vitamin E.

Available at Fresh and Sephora.

Guest Post: The Body Shop Metallic Eye & Cheek Palette

The following review is courtesy of guest blogger, Angela Showell. Take it away, Angela...

The Body Shop Metallic Eye & Cheek Palette #02 comes in a really pretty gold case - and from the front little window, I could see that the colors were right up my alley: golds, blue, and copper. I then decided to get a closer look by opening the case. It was extremely hard to open. I do have acrylic fingernails so they are a little long, but not even my stubby fingernailed husband could get it open on the first try! Eventually he got it, thus making this review possible!

The case has a mirror and long-handled, double sided applicator which was handy for the eyeshadow, but not so much for the bronzer. So, I broke outmy fluffy blush brush and got to work.

I applied the bronzer over my normal cream powder foundation (shout out to Neutrogena). It was a little too bronze for my winter pale-ness so I toned it down with a little more foundation blending. Next I went for my all over lid color. The palette came with 3 shades of gold (well, a light gold, a true gold, and a bronze) and one shimmery blue. I used the light gold as a base and then did the blue for my inner corner (it came out kind of green when mixed with the light gold) and blended in the copper for my outer crease. I used the applicator to do the blending instead of my normal brush, it worked out pretty well with a little help from my finger (the best blending tool anyway, your mom is right).

The eyeshadows stayed a nice color all day, with minimal creasing. Overall, I really liked this product. The colors are neutral enough that it could be your everyday standby.

Life Is Like A Box Of Chocolates

Love chocolate, but watching your waistline? Next time you get a craving, put down the M&M’s (my personal weakness) and pick up one of the following products. They’re sure to satisfy any chocoholic’s sweet tooth!

Bath & Body


Chocolate Milk Body Wash by Philip B is a playful and magical experience that revives the spirit of your inner child and lends a spiritual youth jolt! Nurturing and skin conditioning, the aromatic rich scent is a treat from your nose to your toes and makes you feel 100% delicious.


When times are rough, let nature’s original physical therapist, pure Cocoa Extract, reveal your softer self. Origins Cocoa Therapy Body-Buffing Scrub helps delete skin-dulling debris and excess impurities.


Prepare yourself for pampering with Spa Chocolate Gift Set by Not Soap, Radio - consisting of exfoliating sugared body polish, ultra-whipped cocoa butter body soufflé, and a purifying face mask all made with real cocoa, a dash of vanilla and a hint of nutmeg.


Fragrance


Aquolina’s Chocolovers Sweet Kiss Gift Set includes a 1.7 oz Eau de Toilette Spray and a 0.27 oz Creamy Lip Color in a signature gift box.


Dangerously alluring and passionately addictive, Comptoir Sud Pacifique’s Amour de Cacao offers a delicate and original alternative for vanilla lovers. With notes of unsweetened dark chocolate, vanilla, and bitter orange, this elegant confection lingers with a powdery exoticism.


Cosmetics


There's just nothing sexier than a juicy, plump, healthy, satin-smooth pucker. Keep your lips in kissable shape with Too Faced Beauty Balm, a seductive lip balm infused with lip loving essential oils. The Chocolate Bunny shade (a chocolate-scented nude) keeps lips soft and supple.


Sweet Beauty Lip Balms are formulated to moisturize, heal and protect, while pampering your lips with the delicious taste of chocolate. They are available in 5 degrees of chocolaty intensity.


Bourjois Bronzing Powder and Kabuki Brush give your skin a radiant, healthy glowing tan with a chocolate-orange scent.


Home


If you're not eating chocolate, what's the next best thing? A Cocoa Bar that looks and smells like the real thing...but can hold all sorts of things for you. Slide cards or photos in between the individual "pieces" to hold them up or use it as a soap dish or a paperweight. The possibilities are endless...and if all else fails, you can always take an intoxicating whiff. Chocoholics won't be able to resist.


Laura Mercier Chocolate Truffle Candle diffuses a warm chocolate fragrance throughout the home. It blends top notes of almond with creamy espresso and a hint of Frangelico; the chocolate scent is warmed with a blend of vanilla, sweet maple and honey topped off with rose.

Tis The Season To Be Stingy

I’m not really advocating avarice – but Stila makes it so difficult to be generous this upcoming holiday season. Their recently released Dazzle & Dream collection is so covetable, you won’t want to give it away!


The Gift of Glaze is the ultimate present for the gloss obsessed. The set includes six best-selling mini lip glaze shades - with two new flavors just for the holiday season. They are: two new limited-edition shade; nutmeg spice (a golden rosy peach with nutmeg flavor), and candy cane (a sheer golden red with a candy cane flavor), grapefruit, apricot, vanilla and brown sugar. This will sure sell fast so place your order now!


Tis the season to don a healthy bronze glow even though you may be surrounded by snow! The Gift of Glow Bronzing Set contains Stila essentials like sun bronzer SPF 15; baked eye shadow trio in gold; lip glaze in brown sugar; delux sample smudge pot in bronze; and a mini eye liner brush.


Whether giving a gift to your favorite Stila girl (or to the Stila girl in you), the Gift of Glamour/Best of Stila is most definitely the ULTIMATE! Featuring some of Stila's best-selling shades and iconic products, it includes: eye shadow in kitten and barefoot contessa; an illuminating tinted moisturizer; a tube of multi-effect mascara in black; and a new limited-edition lip glaze, fruit cake (a golden rose shade).


Take your look from the office to cocktail party in style with Guinevere's and Scarlett's deluxe palettes of dazzling shades. Each set includes three eye shadows, blush, and lip color. Beautifully decorated with two delicate Swarovski crystals, you’ll love to have them handy for touchups on the go.

First Class

Fern Mallis is the SVP of IMG Fashion and the brains behind New York fashion week. She launched Mercedes-Benz fashion weeks in Los Angeles and Miami, and oversees runway shows from Milan to Mumbai. I still hold a bit of a grudge against Ms. Mallis for her part in voting Jeffrey Sebelia the winner of Project Runway’s third season, but have to admit…the woman does have impeccable taste.

The November issue of Marie Claire gives us a glimpse into this world-traveler’s carry-on bag.

Lash Lust: Kevyn Aucoin The Mascara in Black
“The Japanese volumizing technology in the formula is genius.”

Unzipped: Sephora Makeup Bag
“I love all of the zippered compartments that fit my hundreds of beauty samples.”

Skin So Soft: Wexler MMPI Skin Regenerating Serum
“I use it before takeoff, and my skin feels smooth and dewy.”

Air Kiss: Flirt! Squeeze Me Super Shiny Lipgloss
“It’s moisturizing without being sticky, and its natural color doesn’t scream.”

Winter Glow: Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder
“Bobbi knows a good natural tan.”

Lip Locked: MAC Frost Lipstick in Gilty Kiss
“This light-catching lipstick is my staple for photo shoots.”

Golden Eye: Smashbox Eye Shadow Quad in Ambient
“These metallic shades best compliment my coloring.”

Fresh Faced: Dr. Jessica Wu Gentle Foaming Cleanser
“This cleans my face after all that stale plane air but doesn’t strip natural oils.”

I Sense A Pattern Here

Missoni, the Italian fashion house, recently threw their saw-tooth patterned hat in the cosmetic ring. The new Colori collection consists of a gold face highlighter compact and quadruple-hued lip gloss.




Stroke the shimmering bronze, champagne, and dusty rose colors on your cheeks and temples to zigzag your way to a radiant, sun-kissed complexion. The chocolate-berry flavored gloss creates the perfect pink by layering sheer red, apricot, fuchsia, and pearlescent white in the Missoni trademark pattern.

Available at Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Couture For The Cure

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dior will donate 20% of the sales from its limited edition Couture Palette - which features a bronzer and two lip glosses - to the American Cancer Society. The palette is available at Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue. So go ahead, make a puchase with purpose.

As a staff member and volunteer with the American Cancer Society, I am proud to report that the largest private, not-for-profit source of funding for cancer research is involved in the fight against breast cancer in many areas. Since 1972, the Society has awarded approximately $322.7 million to breast cancer research grants. Society-funded research has also led to the development of lifesaving breast cancer drugs such as Tamoxifen and Herceptin, as well as discovery of the breast cancer gene.

Here are some ways that you can get involved in the fight against breast cancer:

*Walk and raise money to help us continue to make strides against breast cancer – sign up for your local Making Strides Against Breast Cancer® walk. Since 1993, more than 3.5 million walkers have raised more than $230 million through Making Strides events to support the American Cancer Society’s efforts to eliminate breast cancer. For more information, visit www.cancer.org/stridesonline.

*Become an advocate for women who cannot afford to be screened or treated for breast cancer – join the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the sister advocacy organization of the American Cancer Society, to advocate for all women to have access to mammograms and follow-up care. Visit www.acscan.org/makingstrides today to send a message to your member of Congress asking them to support the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. After all, financial status should never determine whether someone survives cancer.

*Get a free email mammogram reminder, and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Sign up here. You can also call the American Cancer Society for a free breast cancer information packet at 1.800.ACS.2345.

*Learn more about breast cancer, early detection, treatment options and how you can take control of your breast health at www.cancer.org/breastcancer.

The Gold Standard in Bronzer

Happy 1st day of fall, y'all! I’m a fall baby, so I love this time of year. The crispness of the air…the red, orange, and gold of the foliage…and football!

But on the flip side, the days are getting shorter and your summer glow is getting dimmer by the day. Instead of investing in a tanning salon membership, do your skin a favor (news flash: tanning causes cancer and wrinkles) and pick up Prescriptives Custom Blend Bronzer. It's not yet on the website, but it's available in stores.

I have a wedding to attend, so I’m going to pass the mic to one of my favorite blogs, Makeup Loves Me. Click here for the review.

You're Blushing!

What is Bobbi Brown’s advice for looking younger instantly? “Use color to bring out your cheeks. Everyone should have a beautiful pink blush. As soon as you put it on, you won’t notice anything else. Playing up your features will draw attention away from lines.”

To apply blush, dust on the apples of cheeks. Then sweep on up towards hairline, then downwards to blend and soften color.

Some of my most beloved pink blushes include:

Bobbi Brown Blush in Nectar and Peony

Clinique Blushing Blush Powder Blush in Breathless Berry

Giorgio Armani Sheer Bronzer in #2

Laura Mercier Face Tint in Blushing

MAC Powder Blush in Pinch Me

Stila Convertible Color in Poppy