Archive for February, 2008

Paris Fashion Week: Karl Lagerfeld »

THE MAGNIFICENT KARL!!!


Those who know me know of my love for Karl Lagerfeld. The fact that he manages Chanel, Fendi, AND his own line Karl, amazes me. Despite all of the different brands he’s responsible no two collections are ever the same. The ability to create collections that do not look the same is simply genius. he manages to remain true to each of the brands’ identity, which to me is the most important thing.

On Wednesday he showed his collection simply titled Karl by Karl Lagerfeld. I love his personal brand because it’s young and something that I can always see myself in. If money were no object, I’d definitely have pieces from his collection (no matter what season) in my closet!

You really get to see what a great tailor Karl really is. All of these pieces were menswear inspired (that seems to be HUGE this season) yet they each still have this feminine, girly look to them. I love it…again.

Double- and single-breasted pinstripe jackets were worn over pleated miniskirts and straight leg pants

The dresses were divine

White collars, like the Lagerfeld’s own, peeked out from the jackets’ lapels, this time with big bows replacing skinny ties.

I love the accessories: oxfords (flat and heeled), big bow ties, fishnet gloves, goth inspired cuffs

The makeup had the same color scheme. Sexy black smokey, cat’s eye look never seems to go away

Overall: A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

All photos courtesy of Style.com

Popularity: 1% [?]

Old Fashioned Washing- Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash »

Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash has what might be the most schizophrenic ingredient list I’ve seen in a while:

Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Rosa Canina Leaf Extract (rose hips), Silybum Marianum Seed Extract (milk thistle), Passiflora Incarnata Extract (passion flower), Chamomilla Recutita Leaf Extract (matricaria), Acetyl Hexapeptide 3, PEG 12 Glyceryl Distearate, Cocamide DEA, Glucosamine, Pentylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyethylene, Blue 1, Fragrance, Triethanolamine, Propylparaben, Methylparaben, Methylisothiazolinone

I’m definitely not one who is scared of old fashioned soap, and I’m well aware that the much-maligned SLS suffers from a bad rap mostly because of an urban legend, but it is still considered a skin irritant and many brands have developed more gentle products. The paraben issue is another controversy. Personally, while I’m not convinced it’s going to kill me, I still prefer paraben-free products whenever possible. So, it is surprising that such an iconic product from a company that markets itself as modern and revolutionary could have just as easily be made in the 80s.

Crunchy vs. chemical debate aside, this face wash, while far less foaming than you’d expect from the name and the level of SLS it contains. Still, it cleans well, dissolving every trace of makeup and city grime while surprisingly not drying me out too badly. In two weeks of testing, I had no problem with skin irritation or extra sensitivity and have no complaints about this product, other than that those tiny exfoliating beads are quite useless. Not that it’s a bad thing. I prefer to exfoliate using a warm damp washcloth rather than anything grainy.

Bottom line: it’s a face soap. It cleans. Is the $22 price tag justified? Probably not. I’m pretty sure you can find more innovative cleansers at your local drugstore.

Bliss products are available from the company’s web site, Beauty.com, Sephora and most department stores.
The travel size bottle I’ve been using for this review came as a gift with a recent order.

Image: Art.com

Popularity: 1% [?]

Costume National Fall 2008 »

This is tailoring to perfection. This reminds me of The Matrix, except just really really cute =) The coats had high, swooping collars, strong shoulders, and satin pants, wide leg satin pants, and the SERIOUS oencil skirt.

I seriously want that skirt!!!!

I love Costume National and this is the perfect ending of his trilogy ( it started with his Fall 2003 line and continued for Spring 2007)

Pics courtesy of style.com

Popularity: 1% [?]

GUEST Product Review: Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser »

Reviewer: Magda

Brand: Aveeno
Name: Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser
Size: 180 mL
Approx. Price: $14 CAD

Product notes from Aveeno on this cleanser include:
- Creates clear skin and prevents acne breakouts
- Contains moisture-rich soy extracts
- Contains acne-fighting ingredient Salicylic Acid
- Oil- and soap-free; won’t clog pores
- Helps improve tone & texture and clears up blemished skin without over drying.

To Purr About:
- cleaner is mild & gentle on the skin
- didn’t make my face feel dry
- I like the light scent, its not overbearing
- pump is very convenient & it comes with a plastic cover (great for travel)
- the product contains salicylic acid in it but is not irritating to the skin or the eye area.

Claws Out:
None really. I think the product is great, I am using it also in conjunction with the Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Moisturizer for about a month now & I’m experiencing fewer breakouts.

Rating (out of 5):

Thanks for the review, Magda!

If you have a product that you’ve tried and would like to write a review, send me an email! Details on how to submit a review can be found in the left-hand sidebar.

image: well.ca

Popularity: 1% [?]

Ultimate Guide To Choosing The Best Mascara »

One of the essential makeup accessories that women all across the globe use to make their eyes shine is mascara. This beauty enhancer is very effective in giving you a more improved appearance. In fact, even if you do not put on eyeshadow or eyeliner, a dash of mascara is sufficient in making you look all madeup and beautiful. In spite of its popularity, however, a lot of people still do not know how look for and choose the right mascara.

Globalization has made it more difficult for women to select the mascara that is perfect for them because of the increasing number of brands sprouting from all over the world. Aside from the brand, you will also be confronted with different types of this product. For instance, it is not surprising to see mascara that can make your eyelashes longer and curlier, or one that can make your eyes look like Beyonce. Here are some of the things you should consider while buying mascara.

Waterproof Is The Way To Go

Before the invention of waterproof mascara, women find it very challenging to prevent smudging or melting, especially during warm weather. If you are a busy woman, juggling two jobs at the same time and trying to raise a family, you cannot check your makeup for smudging every once in a while. Thus, to avoid looking like a raccoon, it is always best to opt for one that is waterproof.

Texture Is Key

Every woman knows that mascara with a thick texture is not only hard to apply, it also tends to smudge and clump the eyelashes together. Thus, if you are buying mascara, make sure that the texture of the brand that you are buying is fluid and consistent. It is really quite easy to determine if the product has the right texture, just pull the wand out and see if there are clumps sticking on the bristles. If there is even the slightest gob on the stick, then do not buy the product because it is of substandard quality.

Look For One That Is Easy To Remove

Although there are many eye makeup removers in the market today, there are some types of mascara that are quite difficult to wash out. In fact, many women lose a dozen or so eyelashes just by removing their mascara. Imagine if you have to experience this everyday; aside from being painful, there is also a big chance that your eyelashes will become thin due to the frequent pulling and shedding whenever you wash off any makeup residue. Thus, you need to look for a washable type of mascara; something that soap and water can easily remove.

Expensive Is Not Always The Best

There is a common misconception that the most expensive brand is always the best product to buy. Although many of the costly brands really make use of quality ingredients, some are just spiking the price of their products because they hold a popular brand. There are quite a number of cheap mascara brands that also have the right consistency and quality. Thus, your buying decision must be based on merits and not solely on the name of the company that made the product.

Aside from making sure that you buy the right mascara, you also need to know how to take care of your eyes. Your eyes and their surrounding areas are very delicate so you have to be careful on what products to use on them. To really make your eyes look beautiful, you have to ensure that they are well cared for and are free of imperfections like fine lines, puffiness and dark circles.

No amount of makeup and mascara can truly hide your eye-related skin problems. If you want to improve the look of your eyes, you need to use eye creams and gels for moisture and protection. One eye cream that can help you against the puffiness, dark circles and wrinkles on your eye area is Eyevive.

Popularity: 1% [?]

27 Vintage Dresses of February #26 »

You’ll stand out from the crowd in this sophisticated 1960’s Alfred Shaheen evening suit . It’s available from VFG member Blue Velvet Vintage.

This unique exotic print two piece outfit is an outstanding example of Alfred Shaheen’s 60s evening wear.

Constructed of a sumputous satin backed silk shantung with geometric shapes and a striped and floral border print in shades of metallic copper, silver, lavender and olive green against a shimmery burnished gold background.

Fitted jacket/top has cap sleeves, a mandarin collar, and fabric covered buttons with loop closures.

Long slender skirt has a sexy back slit for ease of movement. Partially lined in yellow silky fabric. Back metal zipper and button closure. Label reads “Alfred Shaheen, the Master Printer”.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Best Anti Aging Cream That Remove Dark Circles Under Eyes And Wrinkles »

Everyone lies about their age, from celebrities to the next person on the street. However, with wrinkles, it is harder to lie about your age. To remove, or at least keep the signs of aging at bay, people use anti-aging eye creams for that.

The first place to show the first signs of aging is the area around eyes. Why? Well, since the skin surrounding your eyes are thinnest there, it is also the most susceptible to the elements. Also, beneath the skin near your eyes are not equipped with fat or oil glands for protection from damage. We blink, rub and squint our eyes everyday. This hastens the aging process of the skin. As we age, the body does not produce enough collagen and elastin needed to maintain the skin’s elasticity. Thus, wrinkles form.

Due to the skin’s inability to maintain its elasticity, people use anti-aging cream which will help provide more collagen to the skin. Many in their 20s are already using these creams for better wrinkle prevention.

Never apply moisturizer meant for other parts of the body on the skin surrounding the eyes. As mentioned earlier, the skin surrounding the eyes are very delicate and it would not be able to absorb the regular moisturizer fully. Milia, white bumps under the skin may form as a result.

Only use anti-aging eye creams which are produced specifically for the eyes. Also, these eye creams will not irritate the eyes or the skin surrounding it. Anti-aging eye creams are your best bet for combating wrinkles and dark eye circles.

To determine the best eye wrinkle cream, choose one which not only eliminates wrinkles but also dark circles or reduce eye puffiness. The best anti-wrinkle eye creams work best by increasing cellular production and assisting blood flow to the eye area.

Alpha hydroxyl acid is used to exfoliate dead skin cells and expose healthier, new skin cells underneath. This vital constituent also works with other anti-oxidants to help the skin in increase collagen production and fortifying skin cells against damage.

These anti-aging eye treatments are available in almost any form on the market, be it gel or cream form. Usually, it is best for people with dry skin to use a cream-based treatment while those treating puffy eyes should use one in a gel form. Always read the directions carefully and apply the cream or gel following the directions and never apply more than recommended. If you are using dark under-eye circle creams, long-term use is the best. Anti-wrinkle eye creams work best by supplying moisture to the skin.

If you think you are too young to use anti-aging wrinkle creams, think again. The best way to combat these signs of aging is to prevent. If you already have wrinkles, it is never too late to use anti-aging cream to prevent more wrinkles from cropping up.

To get rid of dark circles under eyes and wrinkles, try Lifecell Anti-Wrinkle Cream. You can view the before and after photo here after using Lifecell, Anti Aging Cream. 30 days free trial is available.

By Gabriella Matsen

Popularity: 1% [?]

This Looks Promising… »

Clinique is one of my favorite companies for skin care. Admittedly, I’m not mad about their moisturizer, but I still think they make great skin care products. Now Clinique has an interesting product on the market called Even Better Skin Tone Corrector.

Even Better Skin Tone Corrector promises to even out skin tone by reducing “visible evidence of sun damage, dark patches, skin stresses, ages spots, and the darkening that follows visible scarring.” It can be used by women of all ethnic backgrounds and leaves skin even, bright, and clear. It can be used anywhere you have damage: the face, hands, neck, chest….wherever. A bottle of this stuff costs $39.50 and it takes about six weeks to see results.

I don’t have visible sun damage yet, but I do have uneven skin–thanks to my pale skin and propensity for pinkness. I know a lot of women who would love to undo some of the damage they’ve done by lying out in the sun or baking in a tanning bed. If this product is able to do all that it says it can do, I imagine it will be in demand! Who doesn’t want even toned skin? Sign me up!

Popularity: 1% [?]

Going Tubing… »

If you like your lashes on the natural side, not like you’re dressing for a night at a tranny club, then Tube Your Lashes is your best bet. This cool new mascara coats each lash with little mini tubes. I applied this while looking in one of those magnifying mirrors which leaves you plotting a trip to the surgeon’s for botox shots, and I could see the mascara kind of shrink-wrapped each lash which was interesting. The formula is non-drying and it seems gentle and non-irritating. Its very light in consistency and odor free.

I love this for a daytime look, when you want to slightly pump up the volume but not go all out for full face makeup. The lashes are coated with color but it’s a natural, fluttery look. When it’s time to remove the mascara, you don’t need a cotton ball full of eye makeup remover. Simply use a little warm water and a soft washcloth, gentle pressure and those tubes come sliding off. You aren’t left with mascara residue under each eye which is nice because who wants to look like they have bruised eyes?

For those of you who get emotional frequently, have no worries- this mascara is waterproof and will not smear or smudge when you cry. It won’t flake or irritate your delicate eyes.
TubeYourLash mascara was in the Celebrity Swag Bags at the Entertainment Weekly Magazine’s Oscar Party.

I’m wearing TubeYourLash right now I really dig it for my daytime, casual, totally kickback relaxed look. The website is super user friendly, check it out here.

Popularity: 1% [?]