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Notes from the Editors of The Lipstick Page Forums: A Dedication to the Art of Beauty and Fashion.
Meet the Staff: The Sketchbook · Blog Home · Profile · MySpace · Contact Us · FAQ/TOS Articles This Month · Beauty Notes: Caron En Avion Review · Beauty Notes: Lorenzo Villoresi Garofano Review · Fantasy Web Finds of the Day: Lisa Levine Rain Shadow Necklace and Tola & Layla Tourmaline Ring · Just Notes: Birthdays are Depressing (I Need Retail Therapy) · Fashion Notes: What I Want · Just Notes: What I've been into, lately · Beauty Notes: Santaverde Aloe Creme Rich · Lookbook: Kind of Blue · Beauty Notes: Giò lotion by Giorgio Armani · Beauty Notes: Bumble and Bumble Super Rich Conditioner · Beauty Notes: Robert Piguet Fracas Review · Fantasy Web Find of the Day: J. Crew Lugano Leather Suitcase · Beauty Notes: Frédéric Malle Carnal Flower Review · Help Wanted: Write for The Lipstick Page! · Fantasy Web Find of the Day: Les Prairies de Paris Helsinki Dress and Carmen Ho Virma Flats · Beauty Notes: Caron Narcisse Noir Review · Closet Confidential: Tees and Knits · Beauty Notes: Check Out May's Vogue · Beauty Notes: Narciso Rodriguez Review · Beauty Notes: Kiehl's Creme with Silk Groom · Fantasy Web Find of the Day: Myla Colette Spot Bed Jacket · Beauty Notes: Frédéric Malle Parfum de Thérèse Review · Fantasy Web Find of the Day: Les Prairies de Paris Linen Jacket · Culture Notes: Independents · Beauty Notes: Parfums de Nicolaï Number One Review · Fantasy Web Find of the Day: In God We Trust Bubble Heart Necklace · Just Notes: I need a coupon code for... · Beauty Notes: Salux Beauty Skin Cloth · Just Notes: These Days · Beauty Notes: Frédéric Malle in Discourse · Beauty Notes: Robert Piguet Baghari Review · Beauty Notes: Le Labo Jasmin 17 Review · Fantasy Web Find of the Day: Surface to Air Navy Usine Bag · Fashion Notes: How to Wear Bright Colors · Fantasy Web Find of the Day: Trovata Samba Blouse · Beauty Notes: Caron Pois de Senteur (de Chez Moi) Review · Beauty Notes: Caron Classic Poudre Peau Fine · Beauty Notes: Chanel No. 19 Review · Sick · Fashion Notes: Shoegasm! · Beauty Notes: L'Artisan Parfumeur Voleur de Roses Review · Beauty Notes: What's Next... Florals · Closet Confidential: Skirts · Beauty Notes: Evolution 2.0 Archives · Beauty Blog (2003-2004) · Fashion Blog (archive) · New Releases Blog (archive) · Beauty Articles (archive) · April 2005 · May 2005 · June 2005 · July 2005 · August 2005 · September 2005 · October 2005 · November 2005 · December 2005 · January 2006 · February 2006 · March 2006 · April 2006 · May 2006 · June 2006 · July 2006 · August 2006 · September 2006 · October 2006 · November 2006 · December 2006 · January 2007 · February 2007 · March 2007 · April 2007 · May 2007 · June 2007 · July 2007 · August 2007 · September 2007 · October 2007 · November 2007 · December 2007 · January 2008 · February 2008 · March 2008 · April 2008 · May 2008 Comments · April 30, 2008 12:42 AM by Colleen Shirazi · April 30, 2008 6:45 PM by Dain · April 27, 2008 5:53 PM by Colleen Shirazi · April 28, 2008 3:43 AM by Dain · April 29, 2008 12:47 AM by ~Joy~ · April 29, 2008 7:15 AM by Dain · May 1, 2008 2:10 PM by kuri · May 1, 2008 4:16 PM by Dain · May 3, 2008 11:46 AM by kuri · April 27, 2008 1:17 AM by Dain · April 29, 2008 8:38 AM by Dain · April 27, 2008 12:28 AM by EZE · April 27, 2008 1:20 AM by Dain · April 30, 2008 12:52 AM by Colleen Shirazi · April 25, 2008 10:05 AM by Carol · April 25, 2008 10:08 AM by Dain · April 25, 2008 10:14 AM by Carol · April 26, 2008 3:47 PM by Colleen Shirazi · April 26, 2008 5:02 PM by Dain · April 26, 2008 8:45 PM by Colleen Shirazi · April 26, 2008 8:45 PM by Colleen Shirazi · April 25, 2008 11:03 AM by Dain · April 25, 2008 2:00 PM by Colleen Shirazi · April 25, 2008 10:24 PM by Dain · April 26, 2008 3:36 PM by Colleen Shirazi · April 24, 2008 4:16 PM by Dain · April 24, 2008 10:16 PM by EZE · April 24, 2008 8:19 PM by ~Joy~ · April 24, 2008 9:05 PM by Dain · April 19, 2008 10:00 PM by kuri · April 23, 2008 11:58 PM by Dain · April 26, 2008 3:44 PM by Colleen Shirazi · April 12, 2008 4:34 PM by Dain · April 12, 2008 10:03 PM by Colleen Shirazi · April 13, 2008 4:48 PM by Dain · April 13, 2008 5:41 PM by Colleen Shirazi · April 15, 2008 2:14 PM by Dain · April 17, 2008 11:03 PM by Colleen Shirazi · April 18, 2008 3:24 PM by Dain · April 13, 2008 5:54 PM by Colleen Shirazi · April 16, 2008 4:30 AM by Dain · April 10, 2008 11:19 PM by Colleen Shirazi · April 11, 2008 12:14 AM by Dain · April 10, 2008 11:20 PM by Colleen Shirazi · April 10, 2008 11:20 PM by Colleen Shirazi · April 6, 2008 4:25 PM by Colleen Shirazi · April 6, 2008 4:32 PM by Dain · April 6, 2008 9:05 PM by Dain · April 4, 2008 5:29 PM by A W · April 5, 2008 12:46 PM by Dain · April 6, 2008 1:59 AM by Colleen Shirazi · April 2, 2008 9:26 AM by Carol · April 2, 2008 10:22 AM by Dain · April 2, 2008 10:39 AM by Dain · April 3, 2008 1:44 AM by Colleen Shirazi · April 3, 2008 1:58 AM by Colleen Shirazi · April 3, 2008 1:18 PM by Dain
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The Lipstick Page Forums Beauty & Fashion Blog: April 2008
Beauty Notes: Caron En Avion Review Posted by Dain, Wednesday, April 30, 2008 5:36 PM (Eastern) "Are you threatening me with legal action, Mr. Fabian?" STOMP. Bette Davis is no pin-up, not by a long shot, but god, what drama. Definitely the woman for carnation's contradictory nature of fire and ice. En Avion seems to belong to a Proustian reminiscence—it is antique, dust-covered, and ornate. Perfumes are creatures of their time, and this Art Deco piece is no exception, though it was inspired by the modern and adventurous spirit of women aviators. Nowadays, it may come off as dated and over-powdered, but all the same it is my favorite (thus far) of the Daltroff creations, which is saying much. En Avion is a handsome woman who's never been the least bit pretty, much like Davis herself, but she's lived a full life. There's an extremity of strength and elegance, and you may find yourself alienated, unable to keep up with her potency, her drama, her intellect, her depth, her complexity, but she doesn't give a damn—it's really that confident a perfume. Caught up in nostalgia, En Avion is always more than it seems, a reluctant revelation of notes. You've really got to labor to pick apart the composition, and in my experience it's not always the same: an intensely powdered, darkly mossy, leathery floriental, a delicate bloom of orange blossom, shouldered violently aside by clove-studded carnations, the melancholy centerpiece, smoothly blended so it does not quite dominate, supported by powdery roses and honeyed violets, and seen through a fog of incense smoke (sandalwood, oppoponax). It's the absolute antithesis of bland and fresh, dressed to the nines and doused in scotch and firing off witticisms without pause, which is essentially my idea of The Grand Life. You'd have to have a taste for potent perfumes to enjoy it, but for those who desire a lighter interpretation, Jean Patou Normandie bears a close similitude. En Avion has a pronounced leathery umbrage, while Normandie seems to focus around the carnation, watered by salt tears, beside the grey and lonely sea. Labels: beauty notes, caron, perfume reviews
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Beauty Notes: Lorenzo Villoresi Garofano Review Posted by Dain, Tuesday, April 29, 2008 3:34 AM (Eastern) John Singer Sargent, Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose (1855-1857). When I began this series, I was flustered by the sheer breadth of floral perfumes, and even organizing the limited experience of my sampling, neither comprehensive nor definitive, seemed a most daunting task. First the divas: the rose and the white florals, type A flowers. By contrast, carnation, iris, violet, and lily of the valley tend to play supporting roles. This is not to imply that they are not, in themselves, quite complex—carnation is one of the most multi-faceted materials in perfumery. Within compositions, its inherent contradictions add a useful dissonance to what might otherwise be blandly pretty, while a soliflore can evoke everything from flower markets, peppercorns, to even tears. In particular I think the house of Caron offers spectacular interpretations of its changeable and contradictory moods: Bellodgia holds the middle ground with a fresh, flowery green aroma (reinforced by rose and delicate aldehydes), while Coup de Fouet is pure heat and spices, and En Avion takes on carnation's cool-salty-watery-powdery personality. Well, if you've ever wondered what carnations really smell like, Garofano is the closest thing to walking through campagne d'oeillets in Grasse before the Mediterranean sun banishes away the dew. While jasmine and rose are the height of glamour, carnations are cheap in the popular imagination; truly a pity, for it is wondrously malleable. This is fully evident in Garofano's subtle exaggerations—raw material with many dimensions, not unlike Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan's treatment of amber—slightly powdered, a soft, nougat-like sweetness, and just a trace of spice within the dominant network of fresh, silky petals. Like the more polished Bellogdia, Garofano explores carnation's floral personality, substantial but not heavy, exactly the smell of the flower market in Nice. Labels: beauty notes, lorenzo villoresi, perfume reviews Fantasy Web Finds of the Day: Lisa Levine Rain Shadow Necklace and Tola & Layla Tourmaline Ring Posted by Dain, Monday, April 28, 2008 2:39 AM (Eastern) I'm almost ashamed to admit how strong the ruling instinct is in me, because upon watching Silence of the Lambs, a deliberately anti-fashion movie, I felt compelled to replicate Clarisse Starling's taste in jewelry. She's not at all a frivolous woman, while I am, but I did notice that, like everyone else, she takes a little more care when she feels the need to impress. Specifically, when she goes to meet Hannibal Lecter for the first time, and when she graduates from the FBI academy, she dons the simple gold necklace shown at left (just a line of gold beads), something obviously sentimental. I dunno, I've got such florid taste, for the most part. It's nice to look at the exact opposite. I was not able to find an exact copy, but I also like the graduated rings of this necklace ($286), a little more expressive but still entirely understated. And since Jodie seems to wear a ring, too, I added this charming little pink tourmaline ring ($195), which proves that there's great elegance in simplicity. I've been wearing my own chain on its own. I like the look, so delicate and clean, and there's no pendant to get in the way of, *ahem*, perfumes. Watching the movie again now, she also wears simple pearl studs, but I've edited this once already, and you all know what pearl studs look like, so just fill in the blank, please. ![]() Labels: fantasy web find of the day, jewelry, lucifer vir honestus, tola and layla
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Just Notes: Birthdays are Depressing (I Need Retail Therapy) Posted by Dain, Sunday, April 27, 2008 2:57 AM (Eastern) READING The Republic hit a boring patch with the discussion on domestic society, so I wandered into Dune, evidently THE science fiction classic. I have read a lot of fantasy, but I'll admit science fiction leaves me cold, but I found this enjoyable. Dune can come off as slightly plastic, especially during the politically charged dialogue, but generally it gives off the air of having been tightly edited, more or less a good thing. Otherwise, it reads very fluidly, especially the feel of the world itself; quite real. WATCHINGGoing through a suspense/exploration of evil phase—LA Confidential, various Hitchcock, American History X, and Silence of the Lambs—favorites. I watched the documentary on Silence of the Lambs, and I like Anthony Hopkins' explanation of the fascination we have with horror: "[It] is also the more creative side of us, and if we deny... the dark side of our nature, we'll live a pretty bland life, a destructive life, because it'll come out in the end in some form or another." I agree with this statement; it has always bothered me how much pundits rage against violence in the media: human beings have always been and always will be pretty disgusting, and better fantasy than reality. Hopkins also says, "It's a movie, it's not brain surgery," which is possibly the most intelligent thing I've ever heard an actor say. I get the feeling that a lot of celebrities consider themselves a rarefied category of the human—ah, such bullshit. Great acting is certainly a special skill, but there are more admirable ones, in my opinion. LISTENING TO EATING ![]() WORKING ON Hm, I should publish the wedding articles soon. Got the images, which is the most difficult, grunty part, it's just a matter of fleshing it out. Allergies are coming soon, which will majorly impair my sniffer, but I think I'll do a top ten list soon. DESIRING (edited) I've refined my list somewhat. Pure fantasy? This Mikimoto necklace of conch pearls and diamond buds(?), the classic strand on shrooms: ![]() Already got: ![]() ![]() I should stop there, but does desire have an end? ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() I'm not sure, though... It'd be plain foolish to buy everything. Of course, perhaps I should just stop, I have bought enough at present. Ha. Labels: aridza bross, carine gilson, carmen ho, film, frederic malle, guerlain, jewelry, just notes, mikimoto, music, ormonde jayne, the library
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Fashion Notes: What I Want Posted by EZE, Saturday, April 26, 2008 11:23 PM (Eastern) I truly love this sandal. It reminds me of the lines found in 90s minimalism. I think this shoe could easily have come out of that time, which is fine by me. That's my favorite period of fashion.I love the lines. To use the obvious word, they are minimal in the best sense. Not a single line is wasted, and every one flatters the foot and the wearer. It could easily be worn with daytime shorts or a full-length, flowy gown. Dictionary.com lists the definition of the word elegant as "displaying effortless beauty and simplicity in movement or execution." This is the definition of an elegant shoe. It's also $540 at Barneys. Honestly, if I had the discretionary income, I would blow it on this shoe, that's how much I love it. That said, I would really be blowing it. Sandals simply don't last that long. To be fair, designer sandals may fare better if they really have superior construction and materials. But this shoe simply doesn't look sturdy, no matter who made it. It's essentially strips of leather on a leather-covered board. I guess it's no great loss. Anything wrapped around my ankles only makes my legs look bigger than they are, and that's not very minimal, is it? Still, I'm not much of a shoe gal, and it takes something special to get me this pumped about them. So keep in mind, my birthday is in late November, and I am not above bribes and favoritism. This beauteous picture was found at Barneys.com. Labels: fashion notes, shoes, ysl
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Just Notes: What I've been into, lately Posted by Colleen Shirazi, 8:34 PM (Eastern) ![]() Salux Beauty Skin Cloth. A marvel of modern engineering; I'm impressed with it, every shower. I use half the soap I normally would, without skimping on lather. Any keratosis pilaris-y bumps are neatly filed away; great for keeping legs ingrown-hair-less; ankles, toes and elbows are radiantly free of dead skin. Yet it's pleasant to use, rather like a spa in your morning shower. Its true might though is as a facial exfoliator. I pity the fool (okay I don't actually pity the fool, just having a Mr. T moment) who blows hundreds of dollars on a Clarisonic, while this under-five-bucks nylon gem sits on the shelf. I see skin on my face I haven't seen in years. Fewer flakes, clogged pores, pimples...it's all that, and the proverbial bag of chips. ![]() Andy Tauer's L'air du désert marocain. Dain sent me a sample, I have it in my cubicle. :) It's not something you could ever wear a lot of, in an office, yet it's ideal for hot weather, when you want to smell soapy. As a fragrance, I can admit it's a bit literal. It smells hot and dry, and like a spice market, okay...but it's done with such care. So it doesn't smell cheap-spicy, or as if it were trying too hard to be sexy. To me it's not sexy at all, it's rather...dry and clean, masculine. If I could fault it for anything, it's the mediocre staying power, the price...cheaper than the Montale oud eau de parfums, more expensive than the regular Montale line, but, all in all, a lousy deal, given how many times you'd have to reapply it during the day. As a sample though, it's my favorite among many, many samples. I tried the Serge Lutens Fleurs d'Oranger sample I'd bought (kicks self) as an office cubicle hot weather scent, and regretted it bitterly the first time I used it...pure eau de cleaning products, albeit really good cleaning products. mumbles... ![]() Along with Giò lotion from a bygone era, I've dug out my Dr. Hauschka kits and delved into the body one. These kits have a long life; you can dabble for months inside just one kit. So far I'm liking the Rose Body Oil, perhaps for the novelty of using a body oil, but it's genuinely likable, with its delicate rose scent and light feeling. images courtesy buy4asianlife.com, luckyscent.com Labels: andy tauer, bath and body, dr. hauschka, just notes, perfume, salux
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Beauty Notes: Santaverde Aloe Creme Rich Posted by Dain, 5:06 PM (Eastern) ![]() I was favorably impressed by the Santaverde Aloe Vera Sunscreen Emulsion SPF 18, so I was excited to try the regular moisturizers, a gel for oily skin and/or an extra moisture boost under the three creams (light, medium, and rich). It's got a very faint citrusy aroma and texture like Elmer's glue—not a heavy and emollient paste, but slightly sticky and fluid. It's a bit tricky to spread, though a little goes a long way, and it absorbs really well after a minute or two, no residue, rather than sitting atop the skin like most rich creams. A nice, rich moisturizer, with the pure aloe vera base from Santaverde's organic farm and a blend of nutritive and antioxidant avocado, evening primrose, grapeseed, and argan oils, as the name implies, but somewhat pricey ($53) for 1 oz. Excellent, but I'm going to see how I feel about the medium. Available at Saffron Rouge. Labels: beauty notes, santaverde Lookbook: Kind of Blue Posted by Dain, Friday, April 25, 2008 1:51 AM (Eastern) Blues can be tricky to navigate; they're not makeup-as-enhancement, but decoration-as-identity. All the same, it can hit the right note under the right conditions. First there is the axiom of dramatic makeup: a bold statement only works if you have an equivalent attitude. It should empower, not intimidate, you—even better if you are so comfortable you forget about it. If you find yourself worrying, you're missing the point. Of all the colors in the wheel, blue is the uttermost contrast to human skin tones, though some iterations are more accommodating than others. Paradoxically, this makes blue a safer choice than you might imagine. A perfect contrast works better than a near mismatch. You think blue is hard to wear? Try orange. Much, much worse, is it not? Even though orange is closely related to the color of flesh (peach/brown) than blue could ever hope to be. Just as colors opposite each other on the color wheel complement each other, you can use the natural contrast blue provides to your own advantage. The trick is to find just the right blue for your coloring—a deliberate clash. I'll break it down as far as I'm able... ![]()
Now, the techniques...
(3) MUDDLED BLUES Here, the blues are spread with a wider brush (literally), so they've taken on the subdued forms of steel blue, periwinkle, and maybe even touches of green—an entire palette of blues. You'll notice how the colors have been deliberately blended so that no one color seems to overpower her eye. (4) COLD BLUE WASH The model here is slightly tanned, so a powdery sky blue makes a wonderfully vivid wash. I particularly like how it is completely matte: the color seems so pure that way. Pure pigment is a simple but very dramatic statement, especially with some black liquid liner. (5) PLUS BOLD LIPS So far, these looks have acknowledged the dominance of the bold blue eye by pairing it with creamy lips in pink, peach, or mauve, colors that complement but don't compete. There is little to no blush. But our final look has gone for maximum impact: pale skin, made even paler, a single sapphire hue spread like velvet, over the lid, and... glossy cherry lips. Yikes. Only one thing keeps this look from disintegrating outright: her face is otherwise absolutely black and white. Labels: lookbook
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Beauty Notes: Giò lotion by Giorgio Armani Posted by Colleen Shirazi, Thursday, April 24, 2008 10:45 PM (Eastern) ![]() Stealing a small break here, as I've been cleaning house (we have guests arriving soon). One of the items I "rediscovered" while dusting was a small bottle of Giò-scented lotion. It's at least thirteen years old, likely more, as it dates back to when I lived in Washington State. It never smelled as good as the Giò perfume (while the shower gel certainly does), yet that doesn't exactly explain why I never used it up. It's still perfectly preserved; I tried some on...I need lotion, why buy if you own some? It smells terrific too. I'm not terribly fickle about perfumes...I tend to make a particular one my signature, for years, then switch to something else for more years...it's funny how this still smells so good on me. Giò was good to me. Thinking now of chasing the perfume down some time and buying it again. I went on one of those "artisan perfume binges" a while back, and regret nothing (have my nifty Montales to show for it, along with a bazillion samples), but I've never been one to turn my back on the ordinary department-store perfume. That would be silly. Labels: beauty notes, giorgio armani, perfume
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Beauty Notes: Bumble and Bumble Super Rich Conditioner Posted by EZE, 2:08 PM (Eastern) ![]() I noticed there haven't been any Bumble and Bumble reviews on this blog, and I thought that was a real shame. B&B is a treat for me to use. It is the one hair care line that I have consistently used and that has provided a real turnaround for my hair. I have a full head of very course, thick, wavy, dry hair. It has previously been a nightmare for me to deal with, and even now, the waves will only ever do what they want to do. For a long time, I've had a very short haircut similar to the way Winona Ryder wore her hair in the 90s. It suited me, and having almost no hair was the only way I could figure out how to deal with it. After having |