Estee Lauder's Face Primer Plus
Illuminating Base

This is a product that we found at our local CCO store at Grove City. CCO stands for Cosmetic Company Outlets and features products from Lauder companies. You can find a great assortment from MAC, Bobbi Brown, Clinque, Origins and Prescriptives. The Lauder primer is something we have never seen at our local counter. It appears to be an asian exclusive based on the packaging.

This primer did not brighten my skin like MUFE's UV Prime SPF 50. Instead it added a pearly cast to my skin. The effect was pretty but it was too opal-like for me. I think this might be better to use as a highlighter product.

Lasting power as a full face primer was fair to poor. My makeup did not adhere very well throughout the day.

This is priced at $14 at your local CCO store.

Functionalab at Bendel
by Jessica M

On my last visit to Henri Bendel in New York, I noticed a new display on the beauty floor: it’s a wall of shelves dedicated to products from Functionalab, a Montreal-based brand of “beauty-nutrition supplements.” Functionalab promotes the idea of inner health as the foundation of outer beauty, and it offers a wide range of formulas. You can shop “à la carte” by selecting individual supplements to target specific needs. Or, for a more complete analysis, you can consult with a Functionalab representative, take a ten-minute questionnaire, and receive a personalized program with a month’s worth of daily doses.

Functionalab’s vitamins and tonics are the most chic-looking health products you’ve ever seen: they’re all labeled with vibrantly colored symbols and lettering on pure white containers. The product codes imitate the Periodic Table of Elements (remember that, from high-school chemistry?) and some of the bottles are shaped like beakers and flasks from a futuristic science laboratory. And I noticed that one of the images in the display is a take-off of Robert Mapplethore’s iconic portrait of rocker-poet Patti Smith, but at least Functionalab is stealing from the best!

After looking through the shelves, I took home some brochures for further reading, and one basic product from the line: a bottle of Health Drops in the Antiox blend. Health Drops are concentrated liquids that you add to any beverage for a boost of vitamins, minerals, and natural extracts. One dropper-full of Antiox Health Drops contains as much antioxidant power as fifteen cups of green tea, which is wonderful if (like me) you’re more of a coffee-drinker but you still want to take in more of these super-nutrients. I’ve been adding my Health Drops to a glass of water with a lemon slice (where it gives a fresh, zingy flavor) or to my morning orange juice (where I can’t really taste it through the orange). Three other blends of Health Drops are available: Detox (with natural orange flavor), Focus (with peppermint), and Immune (berry-flavored).

I’m thinking of going back to Bendel for some Functionalab vitamins, such as the Pure Skin Beauty Dose (for balancing and revitalizing oily skin), but in the meantime, I’m feeling wellness-conscious – and cool – with the Health Drops bottle standing on my kitchen counter.

Functionalab Health Drops sells for $30. For more information, see http://www.functionalab.com. To contact Functionalab at Henri Bendel, call 212-247-1100 or 1-800-HBENDEL.

Product photo via Functionalab. Store photo by Jessica M.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Foundation
Review for Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Moisture Foundation

This is a very dense looking, high definition foundation that manages to feel and apply whispery light. The coverage skills are on par with the greats like La Mer, Kanebo, MUFE's High Definition foundation and Jill Stuart. I had no situations with caking, morphing or drying out. I did have some issues with it settling into my laugh lines. My laugh lines have been giving me grief lately. Foundation seems to be getting comfortable in their creases. Prescriptives Super Line Preventor Xtreme helps but situations rise every few hours. Hourly touch ups have become part of my daily ritual.

The coverage for Koh Gen Do is natural looking yet manages to mask every skin crisis. I used 3-5 tiny drops to get full coverage.

My color match was clearly #1, pictured on the far right of my arm.

All three shades are numbered 1-3. Number one being the most pale ivory shade to the very warm cocoa shade.

It blends in naturally and leaves a slight pearly sheen. It really is a gorgeous formula. This retails for $28 and is available online at their website. There appears to be three brick and mortar stores that carry this line. Nigel Beauty Emporium and Frends Beauty Supply Store in North Hollywood and Alcone Company in NYC.

For more information visit the website http://www.kohgendocosmetics.com/

The Aqua foundation and the white primer look very promising. I am currently testing the face powder and I am hooked.

Are Friends Electric?
Review for Sheer Gloss from Bobbi Brown

These are glosses that leave a tinge of color with a whiff of candy cotton.
Sailor in the tube looks like a rapberry jelly. In reality it leaves a "just bitten" smidge of pink. This is a very wet looking gloss but without a annoying tacky feeling. I think it feels very balm-like.
Marina Pink looks vampy in the tube but on the lips it is a crushed berry. This is cool toned and way flattering. Marina Pink truly surprised and delighted me.

These are limited edition and retail for $20.
Visit http://www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com/ for more deets.
FYI: Sailor is still available online.

The post was inspired by the Gary Newman cover by The Dead Weather.
It is so damn good.
http://www.thedeadweather.com/media.html

Lippie Announcement: Lancome Is Bringing The Pout-A-Porter Series Back

Lancome is bringing back the Pout- à-Porter Lipstick series! The previous four lipsticks in this collection were collaborations with celebrated designers Behnaz Sarafpour, Proenza Schouler, Peter Som and Thakoon.



For Spring 2010 Lancome will be collaborating with designer Chris Benz.
Lancome and Mr Benz will be doing a lipstick naming contest that was announced on Chris Benz’s Facebook fan page yesterday.

The new shade will be inspired by Chris’ Spring 2010 collection and will be worn by the models at his show in September. The contest winner will receive five of the lipsticks plus a $500 Lancôme gift certificate. All you have to do is post your suggestion on Chris’ Facebook fan page based on what you know about Chris and his fashion personality.

The deadline for submissions is Sunday, July 12th, at 5 p.m. EST.
Here’s the link to his fan page. While you’re there don’t forget to become a fan:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/CHRIS-BENZ/21549374999?ref=nf

Credits: Lancome, Blogdorf and Melanie Parker

Sweet Smell of Success from Bond

Review for the Andy Warhol Success is a Job in New York

I knew that I would adore this new offering from Bond 9. It contains all the notes I love.
Plus my friend Shawn called me and said that I would flip my lid for it.
He knows my nose too well.

From the initial spray I was hooked. The whiff of the heavenly Bond Chinatown Cardamon note to a toasty Lexington Avenue Nutmeg are all hallmarks of success for the brand.
No one does it better.

It was the mid notes that changed gears and marked the departure from Chinatown and Lexington Avenue. The notes read like a floral explosion but the effect is light and whispery. The rose note is quite pretty and candy like. The jasmine note was also tamed and well behaved. I could only detect a whisper of a trace.
I desperately wanted to recognize the pimento note but alas... I failed.
My nose is a novice.
The tuberose is so quiet and mingles so well with the nutmeg. This is where the perfume just "does it" for me. The opposite pairing is so well matched and genius.
Like the great duo Myrna Loy and William Powell.


The drydown is a concoction of a very rich & creamy vanilla with warm patchouli and benzoin.
Success launches in October. It will be available at all Bond locations and at Saks counters. The prices will be $145 for 50 ml bottle and $220 for a 100 ml.

Credit: Bond and Wikiepdia

Drugstore Deals and Steals

For July 5th through July 11th 2009

Target

Olay: 18-23.6 oz Olay Body Wash is priced at $4.99
Crest: Whitestrips Advanced Seal is priced at $34.99
Neutrogena: Pink Grapefruit Acne Wash( 6 oz cleanser or 4.2 scrub) is priced at $5.99
SPF 45 sunblock 3 oz Ultra Sheer lotion or 5 oz Fresh Cooling Mist is priced at $7.00each
CoverGirl: Simply Ageless foundation is priced at $12.99
L'Oreal: Preference or Feria hair color is priced at $7.99
Pantene: Pro-V 12.6 Nature Fusion and selected others are on sale for $3.33

Rite Aid

Nivea: There is a single check rebate available for lip care in the amount of $2.00
Sally Hansen: There is a single check rebate available for Xtreme Wear and Hard As Nails Nail Enamel in the amount of $1.00.
Pantene: 2 for $7 on shampoo, conditioner and stylers
Garnier Fructis: Shampoo, conditioner(25.4 oz) or treatments are priced at $4.99
Johnson's Baby Care: 2 for $6 on bath,lotion or shampoo(15 oz) and Detangler(13 oz)
Gilette: There is a single check rebate for $5.00 along with a manufacturers coupon(in newspapers) for $2.00 on the Venus razor. This would make the razor just 99 cents...so this is a great deal! I like both the Embrace and Spa Breeze version.
L'Oreal: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on lip, nail or eye cosmetics
Buy 1, get 1 FREE on Bare Naturale face cosmetics
Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on all lip cosmetics
Yes to Carrots: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on skin or hair care products
Maybelline: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on lip and mascara products
Maybelline nail color is priced at $1.99
Almay: 40% off Pure Blends, Smart Shade and Bright Eyes cosmetics
CoverGirl: Buy 1, get 1 50% off all cosmetics

Walgreens
Maybelline: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
Cetaphil: Cleanser, cream or lotion(16 oz) is priced at $7.99
CoverGirl: Buy $10 or more CoverGirl cosmetics, receive $3 in Register Rewards for your next purchase.

CVS

Pantene: Pro-V shampoo, conditioner(12.6-13.5 oz) or styler (6.5 oz-11.5 oz) is priced at $3.33 with CVS card
L'Oreal:Buy 1, get 1 FREE on all lip cosmetics
Buy L'Oreal foundation and get a FREE L'Oreal Blush, Powder or Concealer with CVS card
Buy 1, get 1 50% off on mascara, eye shadow or liner with CVS card
CoverGirl: Spend $15 and get $5 extra CVS bucks when you purchase any CoverGirl cosmetics with CVS card
Exact Eyelights, shadow, liner or mascara is priced at $7.00 with CVS card
Simply Ageless blush is priced at $10 with CVS card
Simply Ageless foundation is priced at $13 with CVS card
Revlon: With a purchase of a Super Lustrous lipstick priced at $6.29, you get a FREE Revlon Nail Enamel with CVS card

It is raining and I have not had a cup of coffee yet. I have no blog posts in the can.

So I am bringing back the poll.

Fragrance of the day: I am wearing Sacrebleu . It was part of my beauty bounty from the Twitter Beautyhabit sale.

Lippie of the day: It is MAC's A Rose Romance with a smidge of Astral Glossimer from Chanel.

Eyeshadow theme: Daytime Smoke accomplished with the MAC Palette Smoking Eyes and Feline pencil. My mascara is Dior Iconic. This is my new HG mascara.

Currently Testing: I am loving the new Bond. It is called Andy Warhol Success is a Job in New York. It is everything I love. The Chinatown Cardamon and the Lexington Avenue's Nutmeg. Plus there is a lush jasmine, a rooty iris and a quiet tuberose. I will do a full review on Monday.
*Serious Smitten Status*

Song of the Day: Ida Maria's OMG...trying to drown out the chorus of Michael Jackson songs on the computer terminals.

RIP Mr Jackson...but I need a break from Thriller.

Current Lemming: I want the Cobalt Blue Travel Brush set from Lancome along with the first season of True Blood. I just fell for the series. It is no Buffy...but it will fill in the void.

I also covet the unreleased MAC nail polish from the Black collection called Baby Goth Girl. It is black with pink and violet pearl.

Have a wonderful holiday and weekend!