Shiseido Luminizing Satin Face Color

I'm turning into a Shiseido collector! I now own multiples of several shades of Luminizing Satin Face Color ($30). That makes me a collector, right? All of them are delightful!

Characterized by its silky-smooth finish, Luminizing Satin Face Color imparts beautiful, subtly radiant color with just one swirl of the brush. It's available in both blush and highlighting shades, so you can use more than one to add depth, always with glowing results.

This wonderful pressed powder is available in six "regular"shades - four healthy, rosy blushes and two multipurpose highlighters - and three limited-edition shades that were released with Dick Page's Ocean Collection for Summer 2010.

The color lasts on my face all day. That's nice. No mid-day pale face here! There are the obvious shades for me, such as RD10 Petal (the one Renato Almeida, Shiseido's National Makeup Artist chose for me), and RS30Tea Rose, and not-so-obvious choices, like OR308 Starfish, and GD809 Shell. Then there are the gorgeous highlighters, PK107 Medusa, and BE20 Soft Beam Gold. I love them all! As with all of Shiseido's makeup products, this face powder/blusher contains ingredients that are good for your skin, something we don't always consider when selecting a blusher or highlighter.

Next time you go shopping, stop by a Shiseido counter and check these out. Don't pay any attention to how the colors look in the pan. Try them! You will be surprised. I was. You know how makeup artists recommend that women with fair skin use blushers a few shades darker then their skin as bronzers? Shiseido's GD809 Shell works perfectly for me! It's gorgeous. It gives me such a pretty complexion, and because it's sheer, it only takes a few swipes, and I look sun-kissed.

You can find Shiseido makeup and skin care at Macy's, Nordstrom, Bloomindale's, Sephora, and, of course, Shiseido's Web site.

A few of these were sent to me by the company. I purchased a bunch of them myself. That makes me an addict, right? Err, I mean collector. I prefer the term "collector."

Photo courtesy of Macy's

L'Oreal Buys Everyone says Letterman?

No, Letterman didn't really say that but they are getting close to taking over completely.  L'Oreal announced today a new acquisition.  One of the last competing large distributors sold out to the beauty giant.  Here is the press release from their website.

L'Oréal USA acquires C.B. Sullivan extending its coverage of American hair salons

L'Oréal USA, a subsidiary of L'Oréal, has acquired, through its SalonCentric division, 100% of the capital of C.B. Sullivan, a New Hampshire-based company.

C.B. Sullivan supplies hair salons in 6 states across the North East of the United States (Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts) with a network of representatives and outlets open only to professionals. The company’s net sales for the fiscal year 2009 were approximately $50 million.

With this acquisition, the SalonCentric division of L'Oréal USA is extending its distribution network, demonstrating the constant determination of the Professional Products Division to offer a better service to U.S. hair salons.

This acquisition is consolidated as of June 1, 2010.

Living Proof Hold Flexible Hairspray

Living Proof has a new hair spray, and it's definitely worth checking out! I saw Living Proof Hold Flexible Hairspray ($24) at Sephora last weekend. Having recently started using - and loving - Living Proof Straight Making No Frizz Styling Spray for Fine to Medium Hair, I was intrigued.

Hair spray and I have such a difficult relationship. I need hair spray, but hate hair sprays that are heavily scented or make my hair stiff as a board. That rules out a lot of respected products. So, at Sephora, the first thing I did was spray the tester on my arm to check for fragrance. This one has a fragrance, but it's fresh and citrusy. I can deal with that, especially since the fragrance fades over the day.

What doesn't fade is its holding power. It holds my style! Here's what Sephora and Living Proof say in describing it.

Hold Flexible Hairspray modernizes hairspray and allows you to maintain your style without fear of collapsing [editorial note: I assume they mean without fear of your hair style collapsing]. Featuring the revolutionary No Frizz technology, Hold is perfect for all hair types. It effectively blocks humidity, adds shine, and protects style. Hold's technology is buildable - the more you spray the firmer the hold - but without flaking and dullness.

Here, more or less, is what the can says.

Humidity is your hair style's #1 enemy - making some hair frizzy and other hair limp and flat (mine included). That's why Living Proof's scientists invented PolyfluoroEster, a new molecule featured in Hold Flexible Hairspray that prevents the damaging effects of humidity. Hold can be layered for a light or strong finish, leaving your hair soft and natural feeling.

The first time I used it, I think I held the can too close to my hair when I sprayed. As a result, I got a heavy dose. My hair is so fine, it's easy to overdo hair spray. The second time I used it, I was better with the distance and nozzle, and I succeeded in spraying just the right amount of product for an effective all-day hold. Nice!

Living Proof has developed legions of fans with its frizz-fighting products. I checked out the reviews on Sephora's Web site after I came home with my new hair spray, and they were overwhelmingly good. It appears that Living Proof has another hit on its hands!

You can purchase this hair spray at Sephora, where I got mine. Or you can buy it at Living Proof's Web site. Let me know what you think!

Photo courtesy of Sephora