beauty celebrity 2011: February 2010

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Juliette Has a Gun Miss Charming

You'll remember that I reviewed Lady Vengeance recently. My friends got a huge laugh out of the naming of Juliette Has a Gun and Lady Vengeance! They loved the fragrance, though. You would be amazed at the compliments when I wore it! Even the woman behind the grill at the cafeteria at work got a whiff and loved it (and I didn't have too much on - I swear). I'll be expecting the same results when I wear Miss Charming ($80 or $110, depending on size), the second Juliette Has a Gun fragrance I purchased at Henri Bendel. I wore it all weekend, and I love it.

To recap my experience at Henri Bendel, when I walked into the fragrance department and mentioned my love of roses. Lady Vengeance was the first Eau de Parfum I was given to try. Miss Charming was the second. I loved them both and couldn't make up my mind. They have many similarities, but there were differences upon application that made the choice too hard! Since Bendel was having a sale - the discount was based on the amount spent - I didn't have to make that tough choice. I bought them both.

Miss Charming is the essence of Moroccan rose with wild strawberry, lychee, and musk. Like Lady Vengeance, it's the modern expression, developed by perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, of Romano Ricci's enchantment with Juliette, as she pines for her Romeo. This fragrance is intended to evoke the sweet, innocent, and joyful Juliette. It's perky, whimsical, and flirty!

The top and middle notes of Miss Charming are dominated by old rose and fruity wild strawberry and lychee notes. It doesn't take long for the scent to dry down to a powdery rose - a "comfortable" rose that's easy to smell and easy to wear. The musk adds a bit of elegance to the base notes.

I have to mention the packaging again! The red ribbon-tied white cylindrical box is heavy, well-designed, and classy, and the white spray bottle with black and red script is unique. I won't have any trouble finding it in my perfume collection.

Most sophisticated "noses" (the fragrance experts) prefer Lady Vengeance to Miss Charming - possibly because it's a little more complex. I love them both, and I can't wait to see if my colleagues at work can detect the difference!

You can purchase the Juliette Has a Gun fragrances at Henri Bendel, Beautyhabit, and LuckyScent. If you search online, you will also find other sources. If you are interested in finding a fragrance with your favorite notes, give Giuseppe Intili at Henri Bendel a call at (212) 904-7990. He will take good care of you! Tell him your likes and dislikes. You may have a new favorite winging your way in no time.

Photo courtesy of Beautyhabit

Scene Haircuts For Girls 2010

Scene hairstyle for scene girls

cool scene haircuts

hot scene haircuts

cute scene haircuts

scene haircuts for girls

Trendy Sexy Emo Girls Hairstyles For Short Hair

After presenting trendy emo hairstyles for boys it's time to present some fashionable and trendy emo hairstyles for girls. You'll notice that Emo Girls can look very Cheek&Sexy!

Emo Girl with Glasses

Cute Emo Girl with short Blond Hair

Perfect Straight Emo Hairstyle

Dark Emo Hairstyle

Very Cute Emo Girl with Bows

Mad Rad Scene Hairstyles 2010

Medium length hair for girls is as stylish.You can try out colors like pink and blue for entire head or for some streaks. Use conditioners and hair protecting serums. Take care of your hair while using the products.

Mad Rad Scene Hair

Fabulous Scene Hair Ideas For Scene Girls

Today we'll present some new hair ideas for all scene girls that want to change the look of their hair. Enjoy the photos!

Pink Scene Hair with Scary Mask
cool scene haircuts

Ordinary Scene Hair
cool scene haircuts

Another Great Scene Hair Idea for Trendy Scene Girls
cool scene haircuts

Cute Scene Hairstyles For Medium Hair

cute scene girl with blonde scene hairstyle
blonde scene girl

beautiful medium hair blonde girl
beautiful blonde girl

cute scene girl
beautiful blonde girl

Philippines Hot Actress: Angelica Panganiban

Angelica David Panganiban, better known as Angelica Panganiban is a Filipina actress and member of ABS-CBN’s elite circle of homegrown talents properly named Star Magic. She entered showbiz at the age of 6 and was a part of the kiddie show, Ang TV. Since then, she has been casted in several movies with notable stars like Vilma Santos in Lipa Massacre and Maricel Soriano in Separada. She has appeared in the Ginebra calendar, in the cover of Cosmopolitan Philippines in September 2006 and in the cover of FHM Philippines in March 2007. She is the Maxim Philippines’ first cover girl. She was nominated as Best Actress by FAMAS for Santa Santita in 2004. Angelica’s first boyfriend was said to be Carlo Aquino, an actor and a band member of Kollide. She was first teamed-up with Carlo in the then youth-oriented TV series, Gmik. She is currently in a relationship with actor-model, Derek Ramsay.

Korea Beautiful Actress : Ko So young

Ko So-young is a South Korean female actress and model. She graduated from Chung-Ang University with a major in Drama & Cinema. She was known as one of Korea’s “ideal women”. She is currently in a relationship with Jang Dong-gun. Debuted in the TV drama Love Tomorrow in 1993 and quickly established herself as a representative star of her generation. She made her film debut opposite Jung Woo-sung in The Fox with Nine Tails in 1994, which ranked as the first Korean film ever to use computer-generated images. However, it failed to make an impression on audiences or critics. Ko first achieved wide recognition through her role in Beat (again with Jung Woo-sung), a film that caught the imagination of many Korean high school students. Since then she has acted in a series of successful melodramas, portraying a young model in If the Sun Rises in the West, a Jeju Island tour guide in Love Wind, Love Song, and a Korean American adoptee in Love. In 2001, Ko teamed up with actor Lee Seong-jae in A Day, about a married couple who have trouble conceiving a child. Her acting in the film was much praised and garnered the Best Actress prize from the local Grand Bell Awards ceremony. Then, after two years off, Ko returned in 2003 opposite Han Suk-kyu in the spy thriller Double Agent; however, the film failed to live up to the expectations of most viewers and critics. At present, she is scheduled to appear in two films that will shoot in 2006: the horror film APT by director Ahn Byeong-ki, and a romantic comedy by debut director Jeon Young-gap.

Weekend Makeup Roundup - February 28

Let's take a look back at last week's beauty blog posts about makeup. Here are some I enjoyed. Hope you will too!

Kari celebrated her the two-year anniversary of Fabulous Over Forty - congratulations, Kari! Check out her review of Laura Mercier's Polished Face Palette.

Gaia reviewed Le Metier de Beaute Sheer Brilliance Lip Gloss in Bali at The Non-Blonde.

Amber gave us a first look at the latest Dolce & Gabbana Spring Intimate Sensuality Collection at Beauty Junkies Unite.

Kelly at Gouldylox presented the Peach Blush Super Swatchtacular where you can select the perfect peach blush.

Jennifer at Beauty in Real Life discovered Sonia Kashuk's Sheer Liquid Tint at Target, and I think she loves it.

Want to see Stars Makeup Haven's new eye shadows? KarlaSugar swatched them for you at The Next Best Thing to Going Shopping Yourself.

Check out Lianne's The Makeup Girl for a smokey eyes tutorial.

DivaDebbi gave the Simply Ageless Concealer swirl a whirl and found it quite satisfying.

Don't forget that we started our latest Best Things in Beauty giveaway contest yesterday (a day earlier than usual). You have a chance to win a RareMinerals Active Triple Treatment Eye Cream. Make sure to enter by Wednesday, March 3! Another reminder: don't forget Bobbi Brown's Pretty Powerful Tuesday Tweetstakes on March 2. I'll make sure to retweet the question so you can answer to enter.

Photo courtesy of purrandbarkvet

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Skin MD Natural Discount for BTiB Readers

For the next 30 days, the wonderful folks at Skin MD Natural are offering you a discount on their astoundingly effective Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion. The lotion comes with or without an SPF.

I have been using the Shielding Lotion since December when the company sent me the product to try and I first reviewed it. I love it! It's a different kind of moisturizer - so totally lightweight you might wonder how it could possibly work.

Skin MD Natural is a shielding lotion - just like a protective barrier or an invisible pair of gloves - that keeps irritants out and locks in your natural moisture. With the dual effects of shielding plus super-humectants and other good-for-your-skin ingredients, Skin MD Natural is more effective as a dry skin treatment than many conventional moisturizing lotions or creams, which sometimes signal to the skin that it has produced "enough" moisture.

Skin MD Natural can be used anywhere on your body, including your face. It's promptly absorbed, without the slightest hint of a greasy or oily residue or feel. Right after application to your hands, you can use your iPhone without leaving dewy fingerprints behind. Pretty cool!

Common household products, soaps, antibacterial agents (that hand sanitizer you are using), and environmental chemicals and conditions strip the natural oils and moisture from the skin, and as that happens, the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin, starts to lose its natural effectiveness as a barrier. Skin MD Natural bonds with the outer layer of the skin, restoring its natural protective functions. It helps damaged skin by reducing moisture loss and preventing moisture-robbing irritants from entering deeper layers.

Despite its shielding effect, Skin MD Natural does not prevent the skin from breathing. It actually helps keep pores from clogging with irritants that are often too complex to be eliminated naturally. That's one of the reasons it can be used on your face. Another is that it's non-comedogenic - it won't promote acne.

The ingredients make Skin MD Natural unique. If you are a regular Best Things in Beauty reader, you know I care about and study ingredients. I'm pretty impressed with this lineup.

The shielding properties come from Cyclopentasiloxane, known for its ability to lubricate and water-proof, used in combination with a proprietary blend of several different dimethicones that offer a very high degree of protection to the skin.

There are many other natural ingredients that contribute to the product's effectiveness. What follows is a summary. You can find more complete information about the ingredients at this link.

Aloe Vera improves the skin's ability to hydrate itself, aids in the removal of dead skin cells, and has an effective penetrating ability to transport healthy substances through the skin.
Methyl Gluceth has moisture-retentive qualities and imparts a smooth and silky feel to the skin.
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps your body protect cell membranes and other fat-soluble cells.
Arnica Montana is traditionally used externally to heal wounds and prevent bruising and swelling after traumatic skin injuries, including cosmetic surgery. It also has a pain-relieving effect, reduces inflammation, and clears fungal and bacterial infections.
Comfrey is a powerful antibacterial and antifungal agent. It helps reduce swelling and inflammation, relieves pain, shrinks blood vessels, stimulates blood clotting and cell growth, and expedites the healing process.
Yarrow has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties and is useful in curing cuts and wounds, burns, and ulcers as well as swollen and irritated skin.
Chamomile softens and soothes the skin.
1,2 Hexanediol and Caprylyl Glycol, a proprietary formulation, is one of the most effective humectants available. Humectants are like sponges, drawing moisture from the air into the skin. This formulation has been shown to be six times more effective than glycerin, the gold standard against which humectants are measured.

Physicians who specialize in skin care and treatments for very dry skin, eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis love Skin MD Natural and use it themselves. You can read their recommendations here. You can also read a patient's perspective at this link (warning, though, discomforting photos). Farewell to dry, red, itchy, blotchy, flaky, irritated skin!

Need more enticement? This green-friendly product is not tested on animals, uses no animal products, is hypoallergenic, and is free of fragrance, colorants, and parabens.

You can purchase Skin MD Natural directly from the company that makes it. A four-ounce bottle costs $18 and lasts one to two months with daily use. A little goes a very long way.

For the next 30 days (basically for the month of March), the company is offering Best Things in Beauty readers a 20% discount! Just to to the Skin MD Natural Web site to place your order and enter code BTiB in the field that asks for a coupon/gift certificate code. I will be taking advantage of this generous offer. I really love this moisturizer and recommend that you give it a try!

Photo courtesy of Skin MD Natural

Vichy Liftactiv Retinol HA Eyes Giveaway Contest Winner

So many entries, and only one prize! Congratulations to Bara M, the winner of the Vichy Liftactiv Retinol HA Eyes giveaway contest! Bara has been notified by e-mail. She was selected at random from the many entries received. Bara, please let us know how you like the eye cream in a Friday Forum!

Vichy's Liftactiv Retinol HA Eyes ($39.50), a new product, is an anti-wrinkle treatment with new generation retinol and hyaluronic acid to fight all three types of wrinkles: "permanent" or expression wrinkles, reversible wrinkles caused by dehydration, and wrinkles that are "programmed" (by genetics) to appear. I wrote about the new Vichy line in December.

The Liftactiv Retinol HA products are targeted at women who are showing the first signs of aging, with wrinkles starting to appear around the eyes, forehead, or mouth area, as well as skin irregularities. That would be anyone over 20! Vichy promises that its Liftactiv Retinol HA line produces immediate, visible results, with smoothing and soft-focus effects. You can purchase this new eye cream at the Vichy Web site or upscale CVS stores. Vichy products are also available at Amazon, Canada Medicine Shop, and other online sources.

Thank you all for entering - and for reading Best Things in Beauty! Our next giveaway contest for a RareMinerals eye cream started this morning. And we have some incredible contests lined up for the next two weeks. Come back, please!

Photo courtesy of Vichy

Bare Escentuals Giveaway Contest Plus Rethink What Matters

Ready for this week's Rethink What Matters game from Bare Escentuals? This week's fun theme is "Rethink Your Must Haves." The game is a chance for you to share your wildest thoughts and win a prize. To encourage you to enter the game, I have one RareMinerals Eye Cream to give away at Best Things in Beauty.

First, want to have a good laugh and feel a bit liberated? Head over to Bare Escentuals to participate in the fun! Take the short quiz. There are no right or wrong answers with Rethink What Matters. I took yesterday's quiz. I had to think hard about the question, "What must you do before you turn 80?"

Who knows? This may be your lucky week to be one of 500 women who will win a Bare Escentuals goodie. As Lady Luck says, "You can't win if you don't play!" At the end of March, one very lucky "rethinker" will be selected for the Grand Prize trip of a lifetime. There are details at Rethink What Matters.

Want to really dive in? Join or follow the conversation on Twitter. Search on the tag #rethinking to find out what others are rethinking. Make sure to check out the Archive at the Web sit e too. What would others take to a deserted island? Find out!

Now, for our own giveaway! I have one RareMinerals Active Triple Treatment Eye Cream, donated by Bare Escentuals, to give to a lucky Best Things in Beauty reader. This eye cream promises to visibly diminish fine lines and wrinkles, restore firmness, and reduce puffiness around your delicate eye area for smoother, firmer, brighter skin. Infused with Bare Escentuals' RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex, this groundbreaking eye cream uses mineral electrolytes and marine peptides to rejuvenate skin around the eyes instantly and over time. Want to try it?

To enter to win, just e-mail bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com and put "Rethinking" in the subject line. It's that easy! If you want a second entry, just follow BTiBeauty on Twitter and let me know that you took the Rethink What Matters quiz. If you use a different name on Twitter, make sure to tell me in your e-mail.

Just an FYI: Next week, I will download a list of Twitter followers, and we will have a contest just for you! If you are following by the download date and e-mail to enter, you will be eligible to win. That should be fun, and it fulfills a promise I made to you to reward your loyalty!

This contest deadline will be Wednesday, March 3, at midnight. I'll select the winner using a random number generator. I'll even send this product anywhere in the world, so you can enter no matter where you live!

I'll be posting this contest at Free!Grechen, my fun giveaway site partner. Good Luck!

Photos courtesy of Bare Escentuals

Friday, February 26, 2010

The Friday Forum - February 26

What a week! I got my heat pump unfrozen and fixed - finally. I had to liberate the baby mouse who found his way into the house - possibly because Charlie carried him in from the screened porch for inside entertainment. I would prefer that he surf the Web! Catching mice is not my preferred form of relaxation!

Because it's Friday, it's time for The Friday Forum. The forum is devoted to what you have to say about anything related to beauty. Let's chat! Are you using a fabulous product and want to sing its praises? Tell us about it! Did you find a beauty product disappointing? Tell us why! Do you have questions others might be able to answer? We can help! Want to talk about skin care? I'm game! Just use the comments. We have busy weekends and slow ones on the forum. Either way, I always enjoy hearing from you.

As usual, I will share beauty bits with you over the weekend. I'll put them in the comments, so check for free shipping offers and other treats from beauty companies. Don't forget that Saks and Neiman Marcus both have beauty events with lots of gifts with purchase this weekend.

The microphone is yours!

Photo courtesy of catmas.com

Ramy Beauty Therapy Sun Smooched! Bronzer

After I interviewed Ramy Gafni in January, I put Sun Smooched! ($32) on my must-have list. When Sun Smooched! was the daily special about 10 days ago, I ordered one in Light (I love a discount, so I waited).

It arrived quickly, and the verdict is...this is a fantastic bronzer. It's giving me a glow in the pale month of February. I'm very impressed with how natural it looks. An extra benefit? It's a great lotion for quick, subtle contouring.

During our interview, I had asked Ramy what advice he would give us to look glowing and natural, not like we are wearing bronzer or had a self-tanning tragedy. Here's is what he told me.

Color selection is key. Use the light shade on very fair skin. When in doubt, select medium, which is the most natural and universally flattering shade. It's a great product. The color is terrifying when you put it on the back of your hand. Once blended on the face, though, it's the most natural bronzer on the market. If you only want a light wash of color, you can mix it in your palm with moisturizer and put it on your face and neck. What's nice is that it washes off at end of day - no self-tanning effects. All of the shades are warm-toned. If you use the light shade and find it's too light, you can layer it. Two coats of light equals one coat of medium, and that's true for all of the shades. Just layer them to create a darker glow if you wish. Sun Smooched! is very user friendly - it's transparent. If you are fair, you can just use it as a blush if you don't want to apply it over your entire face.

Here's how Ramy describes Sun Smooched! on his Web site.

I wanted to create a bronzer that not only looks incredibly natural on the skin, but actually improves your skin while wearing it! The botanical active ingredients (green tea, green apple, sugar cane, citrus, walnut, hazelnut, and pecan extracts) in Sun Smooched! actually improve the texture of your complexion every time you apply it, smoothing away fine lines, eliminating blemishes, and evening out skin tone - all while imparting a beautiful, glowing sun-kissed color. Sun Smooched! can also be used to contour, enhance your bone structure, and eliminate puffiness for a younger, slimmer appearance. Just like after a summer at the beach, your teeth look whiter and your eyes look brighter when you've been Sun Smooched!

Now, I can say "Ditto!" to everything he said. This bronzer has already joined my all-time favorites list. I have used my Sun Smooched! mixed with foundation, to contour my cheekbones, and on the high spots of my face to make me look healthy and more alert than I feel. It blends very easily because of its liquid formula. No rubbing is required! I have used it with a foundation brush and my fingertips, and both methods of application produced fabulous results. This bronzer gets five stars!

Check it out at the Ramy Beauty Therapy Web site. If you follow @Ramybeauty on Twitter, you will be among the first to know about the daily specials.

Photo courtesy of Ramy Beauty Therapy

Cool Feminine Hairstyles Trends for Winter 2010

Cropped feminine hairstyle with warm blonde coloring is a cool combitantion with great result for classy women.Global fashion trends inspired by the new direction towards shorter hairstyles. This is the feminine hairstyle with some loose curls at both the top and the end.Photos of cool femininge hairstyles trends are just bellow:

Cool Feminine Hairstyles Trends for Winter 2010

New Cool Hairstyles for Thin Hair 2010

Here are some cool hairstyles to look sexy if you have thin hair. It doesn’t have to be this way and there are styles you can do that are easy and look great with thin hair.Even if you want to wear your hair long you can look gorgeous with thin hair. Braids are also great and there are many different kinds of braided hairstyles that you could try. Here are somecool hairstyles trends for thin hair: