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· July 7, 2007 12:54 AM by
Colleen Shirazi
· July 7, 2007 8:11 AM by
cmm
· July 7, 2007 7:35 PM by
Dain
· July 7, 2007 10:11 PM by
Colleen Shirazi
· July 4, 2007 12:07 AM by
Colleen Shirazi
· July 4, 2007 12:45 AM by
Dain
· July 4, 2007 1:21 AM by
Colleen Shirazi
· July 4, 2007 8:34 AM by
cmm
· July 4, 2007 5:39 PM by
Dain
· July 5, 2007 1:55 AM by
Colleen Shirazi
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Beauty Notes: Updates on recent purchases
Posted by Dain, Wednesday, July 11, 2007 12:43 AM (Eastern)
Burt's Bees Repair Serum It has been almost two weeks that I have been using this. Now that my skin has become used to it, there is less to "repair", so the effects have understandably diminished somewhat. There wasn't much to repair in the first place, so it has given me the dewy, fine-textured skin of a child's. I'm not sure how well this will fare in the dead of the winter when nothing will hydrate my skin, but given how little you need, this bottle of mine will last a very long time. The smell is quite medicinal; they've used a camphorous, rather than medicinal lavender. The packaging could be better; it's glass and the oil (it is NOT a serum, strictly speaking) pours out a little too readily. I've noticed some irritation springing up in the past few days, and I think perhaps I am using too much and exfoliating too little, which may be something to keep in mind with this product: moderation is better. Except in scent, this beats Decléor Aromaessence Rose D'Orient hands down, and it is much, much cheaper.
Badger Evolving Body Balm This smells ever so heavenly. A soft floral lavender, with rose. If every skincare product on earth smelled like this, I still would not get sick of it. This multipurpose balm, I was hoping, would be the cute little tin that I could throw in my purse to use as lip balm and cuticle salve and the occasional heal-all for chapped skin. This is perfect except in one regard. It is really rather oily for lips, though that makes it quite nice for cuticles. Proportionally, it needs more beeswax, and some shea butter would be nice. Still, it is better than that hyped up petroleum jelly, Smith's Rosebud Salve. I do, however, adore the body oil: it is magnificent for cuticles.
NARS Sin The second most famous blush from NARS, but I've never been able to wear Orgasm successfully, because of its peachy warmth (I wear cool tones, for the most part). In fact, it was for that very reason, my inability to wear peach (or brown, for that matter) that Sin is with me now. Becca Beach Tint, lovely as it is, is simply not quite right. I need something more calm, cool, and collected, and Beach Tint is a bit of a ditz. Sin sits very quietly in the pan, a dusty rose shifting towards mauve, flecked with gold, like the festive cousin of the Malibu Multiple. Appearances can be deceptive, however; upon application, Sin transforms into a fresh, youthful flush, rather like... well, like an orgasm, really.
honey Carol's comment, and my theoretical forays in skincare composition, got me adventurous, so tonight I tried a mask/cleanser made of mashed banana, a teeny bit of milk, and honey. Alas, it was not to be. I have allergies to most fruits, especially very ripe ones (malic acid or whatever, I don't know what enzyme it is exactly). Though my skin was soft and pure to the touch (so if you're not allergic, this might be a great recipe), the banana left it red and inflamed. A shame. I'll try plain honey next time.
P.S. Because Giorgio Armani cosmetics require a trip into the city, I've been looking to see if I can find something similar to that raspberry red I should have gotten in Montreal. Nope, nothing like it. NARS Afghan Red is the closest, and it's not really close. It's more a bright mauve (mauves, for the most part, are dull, not bright) than that chic color I remember.
Labels: badger, beauty notes, burt's bees, nars
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Beauty & Fashion Notes: July 7, 2007
Posted by Dain, Saturday, July 07, 2007 12:11 AM (Eastern)
Yay! New stuff!
My balmworks.com order came today, and I tried everything but the soap within five minutes. I got a full size of the Burt's Bees Repair Serum, which I've been testing this past week or so with excellent results. I think of it as a mostly rosehip, jojoba, lavender, vitamin E, and evening primrose oil, with some calendula, green tea, neroli, and rose. I rather like the full size bottle; it's unique and pleasing in the hand and eye, though I worry that it might spill or break easily. The Evolving Balm itself is quite nice, with a soft lavender and chamomile scent (in all honesty, I don't smell rose, which is fine by me, I much prefer lavender). It is basically a solidified oil that melts easily, though it may not be so liquid in winter. The search for a multipurpose salve was inspired by trying out my friend's Smith's Minted Rose salve, but I wanted something more thoughtful than glorified petroleum. This is perfect, albeit a little oily. It's lovely as a rich face cream, not at all greasy or heavy. I got the travel size, which is about the same size as the Smith's, in the Lotka set, which gave me the opportunity to try some other Badger products, and what a lovely line it is. The Highland Mint lip balm is nice, on the slippery rather than waxy side, though if I had had my say I'd have tried the Chai Rose scent. The Evolving Body Oil is my new favorite. It's got the same delightful scent as the balm (stronger), and the same great ingredients, save for the beeswax. Mmm... it smells so good! Now all I want is Dr. Bronner's Lavender Magic Soap to match it.
I needed to replace my NARS Gothika (I had lost it), and needed to replace my blush. I had gotten a Revlon cream blush to fill the void, but it just wasn't cutting it. Nice, but every so slightly off, and I like to endorse my products wholeheartedly. I was thinking of NARS Sin, but I wanted a cream blush instead. I was going to check out Stila Convertible Color in Rose or Orchid, but they've discontinued them or something, because they weren't there! I looked at NARS Malibu, universally gorgeous blush, but I prefer more color. So I went to the crème de la crème of cream blushes, Becca. Wild Orchid is probably my favorite blush of all time, but then I saw that they had the Beach Tint in stock. Great stuff: blendable, pigmented (a small dab will do ya), twice as much product as the regular cream blushes, travel-worthy, universally flattering, I just wish it didn't smell like Bonne Bell.
I'm already looking ahead to fall...
It's a strange business, predicting cultural trends. It's easy this time, it's gonna be the 80s, because they are fresh again. Signs of this: the cover of this month's W above, the prevalence of the music at bars (where it no longer sounds tacky), models like Agyness Deyn (who is going to be, as far as I'm concerned, the next supermodel since Gisele), and the ubiquitous skinny jean. It'll take a year or so to get off the ground, and it won't be an exact replication (nor should it be), but the main thing is that the 80s will be popular.
And once a culture becomes popular, there rises a counterculture as a reaction against it. It's way too early to predict the appropriate counterculture with any certainty, but my intuition suggests the 30s. I cannot say why exactly, just a fleeting handful of references barely within my sartorial peripherals, but I suspect the fashion elite will prefer the dark, slightly seedy, and progressive attitude of the 30s. The mysterious quality of 30s style is ideally juxtaposed against the exuberance of the 80s.
I'll follow with specific picks.
Next on the list, skincare!
There's no point in doing this in order, as it's just a fantasy anyway. I want to avoid redundancy, because that is not only the work of dull minds, but also ones that want to cheat you, what Marx calls "creating" the need. For example, I wouldn't offer an anti-aging eye cream, because that's just the same as face cream but pound-for-pound more expensive. It's only when an eye cream addresses a specific need, like puffy eyes or dark circles, that it has any merit. Nor do I want products that are confined to roles; for example, I would offer a good vitamin C and AHA treatment, for its lightening and "anti-aging" properties, but it could also be dabbed on blemishes during the day or used as a nighttime chemical exfoliant. The trick is to create a smart formula.
Minimalist, effective, and aesthetic: those are my goals.
I need to consider what the skin needs, what ingredients are capable of, and how they work together. Skin types are not merely acne, oily, combination, normal, dry, sensitive, mature, though this is how cosmetic companies usually think of them. Dry, mature skin may suffer from acne, and oily skin may have sensitivities. No, we must find a better way to look at the skin. It helps to remember that skincare is layered, one product on top of another, and that certain "star" ingredients, like the aforementioned vitamin C, are capable of multitasking.
Labels: alchemist's apprentice, badger, beauty notes, burt's bees, fashion notes, models, retro
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July 7, 2007 12:54 AM, Colleen Shirazi said...
Yeah, Malibu is almost as much bronze as rose. I can wear lipsticks with brown or bronze in them, without them looking muddy...my coloring "eats" the bronze or brown. July 7, 2007 8:11 AM, cmm said...
Oh dear. The 80's. Not sure if I like that idea or not, having lived through them once. :) July 7, 2007 7:35 PM, Dain said...
Malibu is such an ideal blush that's not "color". It's not technically bronze, I suppose, because I suppose that's a rich warm brown metallic, but more in the sense that it resembles bronzer. I mean, it is perfect for that healthy, sunkissed look. July 7, 2007 10:11 PM, Colleen Shirazi said...
Carol: Dirty Dancing, eh? That was a wonderful movie. |
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Beauty Notes: July 3, 2007
Posted by Dain, Tuesday, July 03, 2007 3:48 PM (Eastern)
Balmworks.com has the best prices for Burt's Bees and Badger
So I placed an order for Burt's Bees Repair Serum and Badger Lotka Beauty Set. The Repair Serum was a no brainer. It's great stuff. Such simple ingredients, only eleven in all: Rosehip seed oil, jojoba oil, lavender oil, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), evening primrose oil, borage seed oil, wheat germ oil, hazelnut oil, neroli oil, rose oil, calendula extract, green tea extract, beta carotene, tocopherol, ascorbyl palmitate (vitamin C), retinyl palmitate (vitamin A). As you can see, there's no mystery to it: the most healing, restorative plant oils, with a handful of botanical extracts and vitamins. But the combination is so perfect together. Already it's been a week, and my skin is more radiant and even-toned, and my pores are shrinking. And I've gotten it for a great price. And I also got the Badger Lotka Set as it seemed like the best way to try out any number of things. It includes: Evolving Balm, Evolving Massage & Body Oil, Beauty Soap Bar, and Highland Mint Lip Balm.
How to put together an eyeshadow trio...
There are few things that each trio ought to accomplish. One, look attractive, not only the packaging but the colors together, as the consumer sees them in the store. This is a "love at sight" effect. Two, mix well together, in any combination, in a flattering way. This is a "eyeshadow for dummies" effect—like I have said, most women prefer to be told what to use. Three, at the same time, each shade ought to be unique and versatile, complex enough to stand on its own or mix easily with other shades. Four, quality, of course, silky and blendable, the right amount of pigment per shade, long lasting. Three and four combined is a "bang for your buck" effect.
1. Rose: (a) "petal", a champagne plus a touch of pink/platinum shimmer, quite sheer for just a halo effect, satiny not shimmery (b) "pewter", a taupe-pewter shimmer, with a slight violet undertone and multicolored flecks, it's less harsh than straight grey, and it's the perfect thing to soften... (c) "soot", a rich, matte black, a hard shade to get (one always gets blacks that go slightly grey or blue, but I want a true black). Originally, I had the idea to do a classic black and white, with the pewter-taupe to soften the edges in between, but I thought this shade would be much more wearable.
2. Lily: (a) "sand", a nude with minimal shimmer, the perfect calm, neutral accompaniment to blues (b) "sea", a medium blue shimmer with some green in it, and flecks of gold (not apparent here, these swatches are just approximate); I would like something soft and rich, so that it doesn't look cloying on the eye, like someone's MAC palette exploded (c) "midnight", a rich, deep navy with a little shimmer. Very cool, but blues made easy to wear.
What smells like summer?
For high summer, I like the idea of creamy orange blossoms with a honeyed note, layered over some blood orange soap. It's light and feminine, like a breezy white cotton dress. But as the days deepen, I also like to think of scents inspired by nature, like the lovely scent of rose geranium and green-floral mix of Diptyque L'Ombre dans Eau. What about you?
Labels: alchemist's apprentice, badger, beauty notes, burt's bees, chidoriya maiko, diptyque
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July 4, 2007 12:07 AM, Colleen Shirazi said...
Hmmm...I have some Diptyque samples on the way. L'Ombre dans L'Eau is one of my back-up requests so I might be getting that. July 4, 2007 12:45 AM, Dain said...
Oh, I haven't tried anything yet. Just thinking out loud. July 4, 2007 1:21 AM, Colleen Shirazi said...
Hehe...I'm looking forward to the samples. Do Son is on my first request list, if only because it was described as an attempt to capture one of the founders' memories of his childhood. I figure, it's got to be good...if you put your name on it, or the company name, or the name of your hometown...it's good. July 4, 2007 8:34 AM, cmm said...
I bought the Badger Evolving Balm on Monday. I like it. I've been using plain rosehip oil on my face for awhile now, but I haven't seen much effect. The balm has nice,simple ingredients in it. I'll try this for awhile, its already helped soften up the dermatitis the Cetaphil gave me. grrrrr. July 4, 2007 5:39 PM, Dain said...
I wonder if the classic Guerlain Apres L'Ondee is what you're looking for. It might be, but it's notoriously difficult to find. July 5, 2007 1:55 AM, Colleen Shirazi said...
Yeah...now I'm getting homesick. I haven't been back to Virginia since I left, 22 years ago. I don't know anyone there anymore, they all moved out. |
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Beauty Notes (6.25.07)
Posted by Dain, Monday, June 25, 2007 12:15 PM (Eastern)
I have found my new perfume obsession...
The best skincare endorsements are personal recommendations from models.
1. Bioderma Créaline H20 Cleansing Solution: A dizzying number of models swear by this as the most gentle, effective cleanser/makeup remover. It is not available in the US, but you can buy it at www.leguidesante.com, along with Bioderma's top-of-the-line sunscreen, Photoderm MAX Lait SPF 50+, which is said to beat even Anthelios in wearability. I don't use makeup remover, but I'm starting to think I should, because instead I just rub at my eyes with a towel, and that's a really bad habit. Other cleansers oft quoted: Cetaphil, Lancome Bi-Facil, and Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil. No brainers there, they're all gentle industry favorites, and with the exception of Cetaphil, famed makeup removers.
2. They adore Dr. Hauschka. The Cleansing Cream and Rose Day Cream are particularly favored, though neither really worked for me. The Cleansing Cream had some allergen to which I reacted badly, and the Rose Day Cream was much too occlusive. But the Facial Toner is fantastic; it's the only toner I'd use, and Daria Werbowy is a huge fan of the Quince Day Cream, which is much nicer than the Rose in my opinion.
3. There's less of a concensus when it comes to favorite moisturizers. But one seems to emerge, again and again, Embryolisse Lait-Cr*egrave;me Concentré 24-Hour Miracle Cream, which is a very simple, gentle, and effective moisturizer that models swear by to repair "damage" from the shows. I'm dying to try it; I'm still looking for an HG moisturizer, and this sounds like the Cetaphil among moisturizers. Too bad www.leguidesante.com doesn't carry it, because I could buy Crealine, Photoderm, and Embryolisse all together in fell swoop.
4. Plenty of water and rest, as well as a healthy diet, though the latter I remain dubious of; it seems more reflective of the standard model starvation technique. I don't really eat much in terms of vegetables (I love my steak frites with blue cheese, my barbecue ribs, and fried chicken, plus I avoid salads for the most part and am allergic to the vast majority of fruits), and I have pretty fine skin myself.
5. Miscellaneous? Face sprays (for airplanes, not that I've ever noticed that I get that dehydrated when I travel, only dirty), masks and regular exfoliation. Lisa Cant recommends a homemade mask of mashed bananas and whole milk, and that seems worth trying (if I wanted to make it really cosmetic, I'd add honey, oatmeal softened in that milk, wheat germ oil, neroli essential oil, and a tiny bit of white clay).
Speaking of skincare...
1. Bioderma Créaline H20 Solution, for eye makeup removal, and I think it is about time I invested in a makeup remover. I've always been too lazy, and I have sensitive eyes so I've not had much success with the ones I've tried.
2. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, a bona fide staple for half a dozen years
3. Burt's Bees Repair Serum, as a general soothing / regenerative / nourishing / balancing treatment and lightweight moisturizer
4. Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré, as an extra layer of hydration when my skin is dry (the other half of the year), I'm looking for some restorative and simple, and this is extactly that
5. Badger Evolving Balm, as lip balm and general all-purpose emollient
It is obscenely difficult to find Bioderma and Embryolisse in the United States. But that just makes it the more alluring, I suppose. "O, I picked these up at a French pharmacy."
The refinement continues...
If you were me, what blush would you wear with this? I was thinking NARS Sin or Stila Convertible Color in Orchid (or Rose?). In any case, a cool, berrified rose is the way to go, and both, I think would be a good investment because it would take me ages to finish.
Opalis, redux
Eyeshadow addiction has always been a bane for me...
Labels: badger, beauty notes, bioderma, burt's bees, chanel, crealine, dr. hauschka, embryolisse, giorgio armani, models, nars, opalis, parfumerie generale, skin
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