and the winner is...

Alright...yes...I totally know that I am sooooo ridiculously late in revealing the winner of this fabulous tee and brand spankin new Lancome Juicy Tube 100% Natural Origin gloss in Rose Pretty!

But, family called today and...even though I really really really love and appreciate you guys with all of my heart...they come first.

Anyway...

Just who is the winner of this gorgeous limited edition T-shirt created by House of Diehl (pictured) in a slightly loose-fitting small and a Lancome lippie?

Congrats goes too....

Gaby!!!

Be on the lookout for an email from moi, so that I may obtain your mailing address.

Oh and if you didn't win, don't fret...I have another giveaway planned that WILL be going up tomorrow.  I promise sweeties!!!

msn's beauty bff with jenn falik

If you are a frequent purveyor of daytime TV, you are bound to have seen Jenn Falik delivering all of her beauty insider tidbits on shows like The Today Show, Rachel Ray, The View and even E! News.

She's totally in the know.

Well, now MSN Lifestyle had launched Beauty BFF a new original video series where MSN’s beauty expert (Falik) shares the secrets to achieving the latest hair, makeup and skincare trends and insider tips from the biggest names in beauty.

The videos are short in length, but long on info...so you're bound to pick up some faboo advice.

Check her out at lifestyle.msn.com/your-look/beauty-bff/.

don't forget....

Today is the last day to enter my faboo Lancome giveaway...where you can win the t-shirt and new Juicy Tube pictured!

Click here to find out more and to enter!!!

Stay tuned, because tomorrow I'm announcing another giveaway that you won't want to miss!

mac superglass in sugar overload

How can you not love a lippie that comes along with this description...

Just when you thought Dazzleglass was the best-of bright, along comes Superglass, with secret, snowflake-shaped helicone pearls sparkling in three different facets for triple the dazzle!

It definitely dazzles...trust me on that...and makes your lips look all shiny and glossy.

The sparkle might be a little much for some during the day, so if that's the case just dab a touch in the center of your lip for a major pow.

At night, use with abandon sweetie!

I always love a nudish gloss, so Sugar Overload has my name all over it.

If that's not your thing though, there's eight others to choose from...just not right now.  The collection won't be available till May 6th.

Find it then at your local MAC store, counter, or online at maccosmetics.com.

bobbi brown treatment lip shine spf 15

Probably the one area almost everyone forgets to protect from the sun is their lips.

Generally something you don't think about, or choose to not do because you want color.

Well Bobbi Brown's got your back...er...your pucker, ladies.

Introducing Bobbi’s Treatment Lip Shine SPF 15 ($22)!

It's a lightweight, soft shine lipstick that doubles as a rejuvenating treatment for your pout.

It contains natural Cocoa and Shea Butters, Jojoba, Apricot Kernel and Avocado oils...plus Peptides, along with Vitamin C and Paracress (fyi...I have no clue what that is actually), stimulate collagen production to reduce fine lines and wrinkles!

Then there's the SPF 15 to help prevent future sun damage.

Available in 12 new shades...

The only problem you're going to have is stopping at only one!

Mother's Day Gifts by Clarins; Deep Discounts by Gilt

French women are known for their flawless skin, and Clarins is a big part of that. Founded in Paris in 1954, this eco-friendly company was one of the first to utilize pure plant extracts and non-animal-based ingredients. Nowadays it’s stayed ahead of the game in innovation by formulating top-notch anti-wrinkle creams, cellulite firming lotions, gentle sunscreens and more. Clarins also makes gorgeous makeup, so don’t gloss over these lipcolor trios.

BACKSTORY
Perhaps you didn’t know, but Clarins has been taking care of your skin since 1954. This historic skincare company began with a philosophy of love and respect for women’s beauty, and women around the world have returned the favor by making Clarins one of the world’s top sellers of skincare products. And while the earth’s women love Clarins, Clarins loves the earth right back – the company was one of the first to make use of pure plant extracts, non-animal-based ingredients and eco-friendly production methods. Its simple, effective products and pioneering dedication to the environment are what set this company apart from the pack. That’s beauty from the inside out.

Grab Great Gifts for Mom!

Sale begins Thurs., 4/29/10 at 11 a.m. CDT

Buyer's Picks / Some Selected Sales Items

Register to join in. It's free.

Click HERE to shop the Gilt Groupe sales event!

source: Gilt Group; sale starts 4/29/10 @ 11 am CT

The Fragrance Foundation Announces FiFi Awards 2010 Finalists

Last Friday, The Fragrance Foundation revealed the top five finalists in each category of the 2010 FiFi Awards, considered the “Oscars” of the fragrance world. Superstar brands Calvin Klein, D & G, Diesel, Gucci, Marc Jacobs, Shiseido, and YSL are among the Luxe finalists, while Nouveau Niche brands Bond No 9, Brooks Brothers, Issey Miyake, Jo Malone, and Narciso Rodriguez made the cut in their category. Winners will be announced on June 10th.

Fragrance fans nationwide can weigh in by voting for their favorites. Voting opens on Wednesday, April 28th and continues through Wednesday, May 19th. You may vote for your favorites at:

FiFi Awards 2010 Online Ballot

2010 Top Five FiFi Finalists

Fragrance of the Year: Women’s Luxe

• bebe Eau de Parfum – Inter Parfums USA
• Crescent Row Collection – Benefit
• Flora by Gucci – P&G Prestige Products, Inc.
• Lola Marc Jacobs –Coty Prestige
• Very Hollywood Michael Kors Eau de Parfum—The Estee Lauder Companies
• YSL Parisienne – YSL Beaute/L’Oreal

Fragrance of the Year: Men’s Luxe (6 in this category due to a tie)

• ckfree Calvin Klein – Coty Prestige
• D&G Fragrance Anthology - P&G Prestige Products, Inc.
• Givenchy PLAY - Parfums Givenchy
• Only the Brave - Diesel Fragrances, L'Oréal
• Shiseido Zen for Men – Shiseido Cosmetics America
• Tom Ford Grey Vetiver - The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. 

Fragrance of the Year: Women’s Popular Appeal (6 in this category due to a tie)

• Avril Lavigne Black Star – P&G Prestige Products, Inc.
• Faith Hill Parfums – Coty
• Flirt! Flowerific Perfume Spray – The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
• Halle by Halle Berry – Coty
• Mariah Carey Ultra Pink – Elizabeth Arden
• Super Samba Woman – The Perfumer’s Workshop Int’l., Ltd.  

Fragrance of the Year: Men’s Popular Appeal (only 3 in this category)

• Playboy – Coty
• Seduction in Black, Antonio Banderas – Puig USA, Inc.
• Super Samba Man – The Perfumer’s Workshop Int’l, Ltd.

Fragrance of the Year: Women’s Nouveau Niche

• Bond No. 9 Astor Place - Bond No. 9 New York
• Eau Mega by Viktor & Rolf - L'Oréal USA
• essence narciso rodriguez eau de parfum - Beauté Prestige International
• Jo Malone Vanilla & Anise - The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
• L'Eau Ambrée by Prada - Puig USA, Inc.

Fragrance of the Year Men’s Nouveau Niche (only 4 in this category)

• Black Fleece by Brooks Brothers Eau De Toilette – Inter Parfums USA
• Bond No. 9 Brooklyn – Bond No. 9 New York
• Bond No. 9 Perfume – Bond No. 9 New York
• Collage by 3.1 Phillip Lim & Natalie Gracia-Cetto, Ende/Anfang by Damir Doma & Yann Vasnier, Solar Donkey Power by Henrik Vibskov & Louise Turner, Smell by Henry Holland & Stephen Nilsen, Nicoll 17 by Richard Nicoll & Rodrigo Flores Roux, Whiskey Caramélisé by Toga & Alexandra Kosinski - Six Scents Parfums Inc.

Fragrance of the Year: Women’s Private Label/Direct Sell (only 4 in this category)

• Bath & Body Works Signature Collection Twilight Woods EDT - Bath & Body Works
• In Bloom by Reese Witherspoon - Avon Products, Inc.
• Love Rocks - Victoria's Secret
• Naturelle - Yves Rocher North America Inc.

Fragrance of the Year: Men’s Private Label/Direct Sell (only 3 in this category)

• comme une Evidence - Yves Rocher North America Inc.
• Patrick Dempsey 2 - Avon Products, Inc.
• Vertical - Victoria's Secret 

Fragrance of the Year: Unique Boutique (6 in this category due to a tie)

• Baroque Pearl for Gump’s (women’s) - Through Smoke Creative
• Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire (women’s) - Guerlain
• Halston Man Eau de Toilette (men’s) - Elizabeth Arden
• L'Oeuvre Noire Back to Black Aphrodisiac (unisex) - by Kilian
• Tom Ford Private Blend White Suede (unisex/women’s) - The Estée Lauder Companies
• Tuberose Trilogy (unisex) - Histoires de Parfums

Fragrance Hall of Fame Nominees (honors a fragrance that has been on the market for 15 or more years)

• CK one – Calvin Klein Cosmetics/Coty Prestige
• Classique by Jean Paul Gaultier- Beaute Prestige International
• Cristalle EDT - Chanel
• Donna Karan Cashmere Mist EDT – Donna Karan Cosmetics/Estee Lauder Companies
• Fahrenheit – Christian Dior Parfums
• Gap Dream – Inter Parfums, Inc.
• Pour un Homme – Caron Paris
• Rapture – Victoria’s Secret Beauty
• Red Door – Elizabeth Arden

source: beautypress

5 minutes 5 questions with ellenore scott

Little known fact about moi...I love reality shows.

Well, allow me to rephrase that, I love competitive reality shows.

So imagine how excited I was to have the chance to interview someone from one of my fave shows So You Think You Can Dance!

Ellenore Scott was a former finalist on the show and is now working with Secret..that of the fab deodorant.

Not only is she super gorgeous (do you not just adore her fabulous short do?) she's also super sweet to take the time out of her busy day to answer a few questions.

So without further ado...


With summer fast approaching...along with the prerequisite sleeveless shirts...what's your secret for maintaining your gorgeous arms?

My secret for maintaining beautiful arms for the summer is making sure they get the proper attention they deserve. I moisturize daily, I workout at the gym or in dance class to keep my arms in shape and stay confident by using Secret Scent Expressions every day to make sure that not only do I feel good, I smell good too!


What are your top five beauty essentials?

My top beauty essential would have to be a great moisturizer that has SPF 35 or higher. Keeping your skin hydrated during the year is key to youthful looking skin, and with so many woman having skin damage it is so important to have protection with SPF. My second is a great lip balm. One that is tinted is great because you can get great soft lips and just a splash of color to light up your face. Third would have to be my Secret deodorant. Not only have I been using this for years and it has worked best for me, but my mother has been using it as well for years. Fourth would be lengthening mascara. My eyes are one of my favorite features and it’s great to show them off by using a great mascara. To spice up your mascara, try a different color! My new pick is purple. My last essential would have to be water. I know that sounds silly, but drinking water will keep your skin looking fresh and help your body with its daily functions. There's nothing better than looking healthy and being healthy!


Can you share a beauty tip you've learned in your travels?

One tip that I learned from the makeup artists that worked on the television show I was on is that to negate dark circles, use a concealer with orange in it. It may seem crazy to be putting orange on your eyes, but it worked fabulously! Also, I learned that if you want that luminous glow, use a highlighter on the bridge of your nose, on the high parts of your cheek bone and on the tops of your shoulders. This will give you a natural glow that will make people say, "You look so lovely today!"


Which celebrity has a style you adore?

I really love how Jessica Alba can somehow always be so cool and put together without being to "done up." Her laid back style is gorgeous, she knows how to layer and to walk the red carpet in style. She is a natural beauty, she always looks like she is wearing nothing on her face. Her favorite beauty product that we all can afford – her smile.


What's your must-have beauty splurge/indulgence?

My must have beauty splurge is in the category of skin products. I am always willing to splurge on face masks!




Thanks Ellenore!

GILT's Got More: Scented Escapes from Kai, Linnea's Light and Red Flower All on Sale

Experience the calming power of scent with aromatherapy products from this trio of top companies. Kai’s light, exotic floral notes have earned the fragrance devoted fans like Jennifer Aniston and Julia Roberts; try it as an oil, a creamy body butter or a sudsy wash. Unwind after a long day with a natural soy candle from Linnea’s Light, available in subtle hydrangea and lively gardenia. Or recreate the spa at home with Red Flower’s candle, soap and dish sets, made of pure flower extracts, honey and natural vegetable oils.  Great Mother's Day gift ideas, all on sale, all beautiful, all with the power of creating a pleasurable, multi-sensory experience never to be forgotten.

Selected items destined for the sale

Register to participate in the sales event. It's free!

Join in the fun of this sale - Wednesday, 4/28/10 starting at 11:00 a.m. CDT

Tribeca Film Festival: Vidal Sassoon ~ The Movie

One man changed the world with a pair of scissors, Vidal Sassoon.

Sassoon is dubbed a pioneer by many for not only coming up with so-called wash and wear looks, liberating many women from weekly salon trips to have their hair done, but also creating a multimillion dollar line of hair care products.

This first-time, deeply intimate look into the life of Vidal Sassoon, from his early days in an orphanage, to his time as a soldier, his beginnings on Bond Street, and ultimately, the revolution he caused, which continues to this day. Vidal Sassoon: The Movie was filmed over the course of three years and features unprecedented access to Vidal, candid interviews with former staff, family members, reporters and historians. Together they explore the life and legacy of the most influential hairdresser in the world, whose influence far outreaches the industry he changed forever.

Millions revere the legend, yet so few know the man.

The idea for the film started off as a personal tribute to him as he was approaching his 80th birthday, and then it grew into a major initiative to capture this man's life both in a film and a book. My intention was to leave a lasting memory of him that would inspire young people and re-inspire the older generation of hairdressers, as well as the millions of people in the world to whom the name Vidal Sassoon is either familiar or personal or evocative. Due to the fact that hairdressing's impact on society has not been very well documented or recorded, much less respected because of the lack of any serious written material, I am hoping that this is something that every hairdresser in the world will want to share with everyone they know.

 ~ Michael Gordon, Producer
Hairstylist, Creator - Bumble & Bumble Haircare

Craig Teper (Director), Elan Sassoon (Vidal Sassoon's son); John Frieda (Hairstylist Extraordinaire), Tabatha Coffey (Hairstylist) and Mary Rector-Gable (behindthechair)

On Friday, April 23rd, TV personality Tabatha Coffey (Shear Genius, Tabatha's Salon Takeover) and celebrity hairstylist John Frieda joined fans in celebrating the inspirational and world-famous Israeli hairdresser, Vidal Sassoon, at the private after-party for Tribeca Film Festival's premiere of "Vidal Sassoon: The Movie" at The Standard Hotel in New York City.

Guests showed up in true Sassoon-style, donning the hair master's signature bob haircut and others eagerly seeking personal styling tips from hair gurus Tabatha and John themselves. Tabatha, who began her career studying at the Vidal Sassoon Academy, was thrilled to celebrate the legend.

The film's production team mingled with Vidal Sassoon's family, friends and fans, sipping on their choice of Heineken, Avenue, Stoli and SmartWater, as they celebrated the man who revolutionized the art of hairdressing.

source: Reuters, Vidal Sassoon: The Movie, Getty Images

New! Strange Invisible Perfumes: Essence of IX and Peloponnesian

EARTH MONTH 2010: VIBRANTLY GREEN WITH STRANGE INVISIBLE PERFUMES

An exclusively natural, botanical perfume house, Strange Invisible Perfumes is sincerely committed to environmental consciousness, green business practices, and product purity.

• 100% certified organic grape alcohol is used as the base for all Strange Invisible Perfumes.
• Organic, wildcrafted, biodynamic and sustainable raw materials are sourced for all fragrances (local ingredients whenever available).
• Essences are usually wildcrafted or organic. Essences cultivated by small pioneering farmers who cannot afford organic certification are also embraced.
• All eau de parfum cartons are printed on FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) certified paper, manufactured using biofuel with pulp from sustainably managed forests.

Strange Invisible Perfumes’ latest launches include

• Essence of IX – A limited edition pure perfume .25 fl oz $320
     - Brambly. Floral. Stirring.
     - Inspired by Colgin Cellars in Napa Valley and the famed IX Estate
     - Notes of white sage, rose, black currant, California lavender, French oak and wild honey

• Peloponnesian - Strange Invisible Perfumes’ first eau de parfum designed expressly for men 1.7 fl oz $160
     - Crisp. Exhilirating. Exotic.
     - A refreshing fragrance built with the ancient perfumes of the Greek peninsula
     - Notes of hydro-distilled orange and lime, cypress, orange flower, mountain sage, honey, and botanical musk

This lucid composition is built with the ancient perfumes of the Greek peninsula. Salted Aegean winds glide through the branches of cypress, lime, and orange trees, lifting their epic aromas into the Peloponnesian mountains. A reception of mountain sage honey collects each gallant perfume as it rises from the vineyard-patterned earth of the Peloponnesos.

I've been in love with Strange Invisible Perfumes since first trying them several years ago.  This is an exquisite fragrance house committed to providing those who inhale its perfumes and fragrances with something akin top a spiritual experience. Yes, it's that wonderful!  These unique blends are carefully created with a foundation of true love for the art of fragrance making by perfumer and SIP Founder Alexandra Balahoutis. 

The Strange Invisible Perfumes collection is carried at their flagship perfumery in Venice and online at siperfumes.com.  You may also find a selection of their fragrances available at Beautyhabit.com.

elle.com

ELLE.com is running a 21-Day Eco-Chic Challenge. It's not a contest...so don't get all crazy here...it's just a compilation of tips (21 in all) that will get you living a more green lifestyle.

Or at least get you started.

One tip I love...and actually do on a daily...is to tote around a reusable water bottle.

You can even go a little chicer (is that even a word?) by buying a bottle like this one from Sigg.

It is $22...so that might leave you thinking it's a little splurgy...but if you figure in the money you'll save by not having to purchase bottled water everyday, it's worth it.

HAUTELOOK: LORAC Sales Event - Tuesday, 4/27/10 - Not to Be Missed!

The "Red Carpet Authority" lines of cosmetitcs by Carol Shaw - LORAC (her name backwards, ah ha) - will showcase a fab little diddy for all of us tomorrow on HauteLook with some products priced at $4!


During her twenty years as a makeup artist, Carol Shaw has had the opportunity to work with some of the most prestigious photographers: Annie Leibovitz and Steven Meisel, among others.Her work has appeared on the covers of Vogue, Vanity Fair, Glamour, Allure, Elle, Jane, and many other magazines. She's also worked with top models such as Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, and numerous others. Currently, she works with the most famous faces walking down the Red Carpet such as Nicole Kidman, Debra Messing, Rachel Bilson, and Jennifer Love Hewitt.

After doing makeup for many years, she found that many of her clients had the same complaints about makeup; too many of the products irritated the skin, felt and looked artificial and just didn't last. So, Shaw created LORAC. LORAC has enjoyed and still enjoys a huge following of celebrities, beauty editors, beauty bloggers and many more, for one reason - quality products that never disappoint. Simple.


This isn't the first HauteLook - LORAC sales event, and hopefully it won't be the last. Don't miss it tomorrow beginning at 8:00 am PT.

Click HERE on Tues., 4/27/10 for your access to the LORAC Sales Event

GILT: Prada Parfums Sale Event - Starts Wednesday, 4/28!

Prada makes perfect. It's all here mid-week at Gilt Groupe!
Look for creative ways to bring Italian couture into the everyday: scented sheets to sweeten drawers, closets and suitcases, linen water to mist while ironing, and even a set of moisturized tissues for true Prada fanatics who have the sniffles. The classic eau de parfum is here, too, in delicious Amber Tendre for women, as are colognes, soaps and shaving creams in Infusion D’Homme for men.

The Prada name is an icon of elegance and innovation in the world of fashion and beauty. This luxury powerhouse, which started in 1913 as a small leather-goods shop, has since expanded its megabrand status by designing a fragrance collection that blends the brand’s familiar, signature sexiness with a forward-looking attitude that plays with the boundaries of modern femininity.

Click HERE to access the Gilt Sales Event for Prada Parfums!