New Look Dior Smoky Fall 2010 Makeup

Dior beauty fans will be lovin' their New Look Dior Smoky Fall 2010 collection. Showcasing current color trends, we continue to see lots of smoky purples, seductive and shimmery shades, bold red lips, and glamorous eyes.

The 5 Couleurs eyeshadow palette in Misty Mauve #844 contains a glittery white (but not too much glitter), frosty light pink, satin-matte deep gray mauve, taupe lilac with a touch of pink, and a shimmering black plum. This might work better for paler complexions as the shades are on the lighter side, with the exception of the black plum. I do adore the classy couture stitch embossing - it adds a sensual touch when you run your finger along the palette.

The Rouge Dior Sérum de Rouge is like a liquidized lipstick - there are 5 shades for this season. I love the silky moisture factor but this one tends to slide off more easily than a matte formula. It is quite pigmented and has a gorgeous glossy finish. I tried the semi-opaque 870 Ruby Serum (berry plum) and I love the way it glides so effortlessly on the lips. This also contains SPF 20 and has 10 times more active skincare ingredients than other lipstick (mango butter and botanical extracts).

 

There are 4 new shades for Dior Addict Lipcolor. I got to try the 873 Technicolor Red, which is a bright metallic red with a slight hint of magenta. This makes for a lovely and sophisticated shade for Fall. It's also very lightweight, like wearing almost nothing. The lightness and rich pigment also reminds me of the fabulous Rouge Dior lipsticks. This one, however, is several bucks cheaper than other luxury lipsticks so this is a better buy.

Available at Sephora, all luxury beauty counters and www.dior.com.

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.

Bobbi Brown Black Velvet Makeup & Hydrating Skincare

Bobbi Brown has gone to the dark side with their new Black Velvet Fall 2010 makeup collection. Edgy and slightly moody, these new goth-like colors give a classy, polished look without the I'm-going-to-the-nightclub vibe.

I really adore the new Sparkle Eye Shadow. The limited edition Black Velvet (sparkling deep plum) shade is an adult version of glittery fun. You can layer on a few layers and it won't be over the top. The weightless formula really brightens up your peepers with their pearl-and-glitter combo texture. The translucent base lets the glitter shine through and it won’t crease or slide off. This particular shadow reminded me of last year's holiday eye palette. A couple of the shades had this similar look. You can also brush on a thin layer on top of a matte dark shade for a special effect.

The original matte Eye Shadow has two new shades - Black Charcoal (black grey) and Black Chocolate (black plum).You can blend these with your favorite dark shadows for non-stop drama. The Black Chocolate is a great basic smokey eye color if you're in the market for another dark shade. These also make a superb powder eye liner. It stayed put and goes on easily.

The soft-matte Lip Color line also came out with two new shades. The Black Raspberry is a black burgundy while the limited edition Black Maple is more of a black red plum. I'm not used to wearing such deep shades so I toned down the Black Maple by adding a pale lip gloss on top. I'm always amazed at how vibrant the color is despite the comfy light feel. There's no heavy lipstick feel with this on your lips.

Got crocodile skin? The new Hydrating Skincare revives and preps the skin for a smoother makeup application. This line features an enriched mineral water blend (zinc, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium and potassium) as well as sodium hyaluronate and glycerin to pump moisture to those dehydrated dermal layers. The Hydrating Face Cream was a bit rich on me, so it might be better as a winter season cream. I preferred the lighter water-based Hydrating Gel Cream. 

The Hydrating Eye Cream is about the same consistency (maybe a bit richer) as the regular face cream, but I love how it plumps up the fine lines around the eye area. The moisture is supposed to last for up to 24 hours. It's also fortified with Aloe Vera, Witch Hazel, Jojoba Seed, Avocado Oil and Squalane. If you love toners, their refreshing Hydrating Face Tonic conditions and balances the skin with Cucumber, Chamomile, Licorice, Aloe Leaf, Lavender and Vitamin B5.

Both collections just went on sale yesterday, so they're now are available at bobbibrowncosmetics.com.

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.

Benu Tasting Menu

Like almost everyone else in town, I've been waiting to dine at Benu for a long time. The second I heard the restaurant was taking reservations, I ran to my phone as fast as I could and booked a table. The former French Laundry Chef de Cuisine, Corey Lee, didn't disappoint our expectations.

We were torn between the intensive tasting menu and the lighter a la carte, but in the end succumbed to the more decadent 14-course option. Rather than list out every single dish and tiny detail, here are some of the highlights.

We started with four small unique appetizers, but when the veal sweetbreads came on, we were really hooked. I never really liked sweetbreads, but man...this was fantastic stuff. So smooth and creamy on the inside, crispy on the outside. Why can't every restaurant make it this way? I know, I know, that was a silly question.

The risotto with sea urchin, corn, lovage and black truffle kicked our butts big time. I've never had such firm (extremely al dente) risotto before, yet it's not raw at all. It's just perfectly toothsome. I could eat bowls of this stuff but my skinniest jeans wouldn't fit me anymore.

The silky and sweet monkfish liver torchon with apple relish, turnip, sorrel and mustard blew our minds. I really enjoyed the contrasting accent from the mustard - that really perked up the taste buds. It was also accompanied with buttery house made brioche slices. At this point I got worried that I couldn't finish the next six courses. Obviously I didn't have enough faith in my eating prowess.

This soup looks rather plain but trust me, it almost made the S.O. weep with joy. This "shark fin" style soup was filled with dungeness crab, cabbage, Jinhua ham and.....drum roll......delightfully rich black truffle custard. Make that sinfully rich custard. The soup alone would have been already delicious but the bottom of the bowl contained a thick layer of the custard. It's literally umami to the 10th power.

Who doesn't like succulent pork belly? This juicy piece came with fermented pepper, cucumber and perilla. I devoured it of course, but I'm somewhat relieved that it came in a tinier portion.

The last savory course was thin slivers of beef saucisson with crisped maitake mushrooms, lettuce, scallions and asian pear. It actually wasn't as rich as I'd thought it'd be. I liked the presentation and was inspired to make a humbler version at home. Whew. Dessert awaited us.

We had a refreshing sweet rice sorbet (hints of roasted barley) with pine nut puree as a palate cleanser, then dived right into the lovely strawberries with vanilla soymilk, buckwheat sablé and jasmine pearl tea. This presentation is reminiscent of something I'd see at Coi. I'm so glad we didn't end up with something more rich, like a thick slab of chocolate ganache slathered in caramel. I wouldn't have been able to walk home.

The staff was naturally gracious and our main server was very funny and charming. The vibe was also on the casual side, but most folks were dressed appropriately - we only saw one guy in jeans and T-shirt. The artfully spare garden in front of the entrance is very Zen - an ideal place to meditate upon your sumptuous meal.

www.benusf.com

Image credit: Giovanni Nakpil

Guerlain Lingerie de Peau Foundation & Les Voilettes Powder

It might be officially Fall season in a few weeks, but the weather is still very warm in my neck of the woods. I don't want a heavy makeup feel these days, especially as I head out to my Labor Day parties. To answer my desire for lighter coverage, Guerlain just launched two new products: Lingerie de Peau Invisible Skin-Fusion Foundation and Les Voilettes Mineral Loose Powder.

Billed as a second-skin transparent veil, the Lingerie de Peau foundation is very light - it's less heavy than their medium coverage Parure Gold foundation. It also has SPF 20 built in, which is always convenient. The super silky, lighter-than-air texture just glides on the skin. It gives your face a polished, radiant but extremely natural finish. There's no photoshopped look if you use this product. The 03 Beige Naturel shade is absolutely perfect on me - it literally disappeared into my cheek and neckline. I only needed several drops to cover the entire face, so this bottle will last a while.

To complement the new foundation, the Les Voilettes mineral loose powder is another amazing product. The silver watertight container opens up to an inner chamber where you have to twist the inner black ring (to the left side) to release a small amount of powder. To close it up, simply turn it to the right direction. This will ensure that you won't waste or spill the product. This is also double the amount (0.7 oz.) of my Lancome bronzer mineral powder, but you might still want to use this as a "special occasion" finishing powder.

San Francisco beauty alert: If you want to learn about the brand's Fall 2010 launches, Guerlain's top makeup artist Marcus Monson is coming to SF on September 10 for a special master class. Check out Hello Beauty's post for all the fun details! Also, those who mention "Hello Beauty" will receive a free Guerlain Le2 Mascara after the class. There's only a few spots left so sign up soon.

Both items are available at select Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman department stores.

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.

Diptyque Eau Duelle Fragrance

Being a lover of all things Diptyque, I was excited to hear about the new Eau Duelle Eau de Toilette. This new unisex fragrance is a different interpretation of vanilla. If you're big on this seemingly pedestrian spice, you don't want to miss this new scent.

Developed by perfumer Fabrice Pellegrin, Eau Duelle chronicles its journey along the imaginary Spice Route. Two contrasting vanilla notes (Bourbon and Firnat) mark the dual aspects of the scent. Dark, animalistic notes meld with more fresh and delicate ones. Unusual woody and grassy elements (from the calamus reed) are also present in this intoxicating fragrance.

Other spicy notes include cardamom, pink peppercorn, saffron, fresh cypress, elemi, juniper, smoky black tea, amber, frankincense, vetiver and Asian cypriol. The EDT also contains natural vanilla extract, which is a fresh welcome to the strong synthetic derivative.

Eau Duelle will be available in September (1.7 oz. & 3.4 oz. spray and 0.16 oz. solid perfume).

www.diptyqueparis.com

Juice Beauty Organics To Clear Skin Kit

Are you prone to regular breakouts? We all have stressful days where we don't eat nor sleep well. Juice Beauty has an Organics To Clear Skin kit that might work for you. The 30-day skin care regimen contains four essential products to keep those annoying blemishes at bay. They guarantee results in just two weeks.

The non-drying Cleansing Gel has a nice light foam but it's not too thick and soapy to wash off. Made with organic cherry and lemon juices, this actually hydrated my face a bit. I also liked the Blemish Clearing Serum - it contains organic apple and lemon juices, raw cane sugar, white willow bark and coenzyme Q10. This serum does a good job of clearing the few tiny pimples I had near the forehead. Each time I sensed a new zit coming on, I'd put a couple layers on to spot treat.

The Oil Free Moisturizer is very light, almost too light for my needs. This would be quite perfect for oilier skin. Along with certified organic white grape and pomegranate juices, this formula contains aloe vera, vitamins and sea algae.

The kit also contains 2 trial-size containers of the popular Green Apple Peel (Sensitive). It should last a month if you use it weekly. You might see some redness, which is normal. I didn't feel any irritation and my cheeks turned quite pink, so it was definitely exfoliating off the dead skin. Also, don't forget to use sunscreen after using this peel as your skin might be sensitive to sun exposure.

If you go to their website, there's a TV offer that offers this kit for $39 ($85 value). It includes a free Blemish Clearing Powder and a soft eco-bamboo hair band.

Purchase at: www.juicebeauty.com

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.

Lancôme Beauty: Christina Hendricks at Emmys

Christina Hendricks, Supporting Actress nominee for “Mad Men,” was stunning as usual at last night's Emmy Awards. Wearing a lilac Zac Posen gown, her makeup was inspired by Mia Farrow’s iconic character from “The Great Gatsby.” Celebrity makeup artist Vanessa Scali dished about the Lancôme look for Christina. See below for all the expert tips!

Christina Hendricks at the 2010 Emmy Awards. (Getty Images)
Face: Vanessa prepped the skin with Lancôme La Base Pro. To perfect Christina’s already luminous skin, she used the new Teint Miracle Lit-From-Within Makeup. “It has an amazing transparent quality that leaves the skin looking flawless and luminous without being shiny,” said Vanessa. “I applied it with a brush and then blended with my fingers.” Blending with fingers heated up the foundation, which allowed a seamless finish. She followed with Effacernes Concealer under the eyes, which is her all-time favorite concealer.

Cheeks:For a fresh pop of color Vanessa used Lancôme Blush Subtil Shimmer in Pink Pool on the apples of her cheeks. Dabs of Giorgio Armani Beauty’s Fluid Sheer #2 highlighted Christina’s cheekbones.

Eyes: The eye shadow was mix of YSL’s Ombre Solo Eyeshadow in Cashmere Brown and Midnight Black. “I applied these all over her lid, under the bottom lashes and blended it out past her natural lash line to softly elongate the eye,” reported Vanessa. To define and elongate the lash line, Vanessa lined the eyes with Lancôme’s Le Crayon Khôl in Black. “I used a touch of liner under her bottom lashes but smudged it for a softer look,” she said. For added depth, she also used Artliner Precision Point Eyeliner in Noir at the very base of Christina’s lashes.

Mascara: Several generous coats of Lancôme Définicils Waterproof Mascara in Black were used on the top and bottom lashes.
 
Lips: Christina’s lips were a mix of Lancôme lip colors for an effect that Vanessa described as “red with a little dash of pink.” A sheer coat of Color Design Matte Lipstick in Corset was topped by La Laque Fever Lipshine in Cyber Coral.

Image credit: Getty Images

NARS Beauty at 2010 Emmy Awards

Working with celebrity makeup artist Melanie Inglessis, the NARS team designed Lea Michele's (Glee) makeup for the 2010 Emmy Awards. Showcasing products from their new Fall collection, the look was playful yet classic.

Lea Michele of Glee wearing NARS makeup.

“My inspiration was the era of the 60’s. I thought of Raquel Welch and Bridget Bardot: the winged eye, the nude lip. The dress is so classic, so we wanted to be adventurous with her eyes – giving a dash of color with the new Palladium Soft Touch Shadow Pencil – and kept the lip nude with Tashkent Pure Matte!” Inglessis explained.

Items used on Lea Michele:

·         PRO-PRIME Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base & Skin Smoothing Face Prep
·         Douceur Blush (NEW for Fall 2010)
·         Tzarine Duo Eyeshadow (Fall 2010)
·         Palladium Soft Touch Shadow Pencil (Fall 2010)
·         Tashkent Pure Matte Lipstick (Fall 2010)

NARS also collaborated with celebrity makeup artist Tina Turnbow to create a soft, natural look for Keri Russell.

Keri Russell wearing NARS 2010 Fall makeup.

“We wanted to give her look a classic feel to coincide with the vintage dress she’s wearing. Her warm skin tone and the coolness of the dress was the perfect combination for reflecting the same tones through her makeup: warm eyes, and a cool peachy matte lip. It’s flirty with a bit of sass.” Turnbow said.

Items used on Keri:

·         PRO-PRIME Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base and Skin Smoothing Face Prep
·         Tzarine Duo Eyeshadow
·         Nuits Blanches Eyeliner Stylo
·         Douceur Blush topped with Desire Blush for a pop of color
·         Tashkent Pure Matte Lipstick

The new Pure Matte Lipstick will be available on September 1st exclusively at Saks.com. 

Vouelle Fall 2010 Shoe Collection

Vouelle never ceases to amaze me with their sexy shoe collections. Their new Fall/Winter 2010-2011 line offers classy, elegant silhouettes with a very sexy twist. I'm swooning over this Leelo velvet and patent leather sandal. The opulent ostrich feather band is just killer - very Sex and the City. The heel is 4.7 inches - not sure if I can actually walk in these, but who cares?

Leelo velvet/patent sandal with ostrich feathers ($795).

The Xenia charcoal suede and metallic leather boot would make you feel like an Amazon, ready to conquer the entire universe. This one has a 4.3 inch heel and it looks pretty comfy with the platform sole.

Xenia suede and metallic leather boot ($895).

The Hayley red silk satin sandal is just perfect for all the holiday parties and formal events. Again, I'm not sure if you can dance in it, but your feet will look absolutely gorgeous with these on. 

Hayley silk satin sandal in red ($625).

For basic black, you can't go wrong with the Aeryn and Electra suede booties. They go well with so many ensembles - skinny jeans and a cashmere sweater, patterned tights and skirts, etc. 

Aeryn ($675) & Electra ($695) Bootines.

These new Fall styles are available in the U.S. at In Step boutique (inside Wynn Encore Las Vegas). Call (702) 770-5490‎ for more info.

Trinity gold chevron/black patent leather pump ($525).

In addition, you can always contact their main Paris showroom for more styles. Their website will soon launch an e-commerce shop. How exciting...

www.vouelle.com

Giorgio Armani Night Viper Fall 2010 Makeup

Sexy nocturnal shades are the main focus in Giorgio Armani's Night Viper Fall 2010 makeup collection. Deep blue tones, cool pinks and crimson berry can be seen throughout the entire line.

This season's Maestro Eye Shadow Quad features Inky Navy Blue, Dark Brown, Icy Brown and Silver. This might seem pricey but I've seen similar quads for a lot more. This is actually a decent buy.

For the ultimate smoky eye, the Eyes to Kill Eye Color Trio #7 is the new palette for Fall. The center is a pure satin mauve, while the middle ring is a sparkly ink black. The outer ring is a metallic aubergine purple. Purple is one of the key colors for Fall fashion, so if you don't have a purple eyeshadow palette yet, this is one to consider.

Three new shades are introduced for the Rouge d'Armani lipstick line. I tried the 602 Soft Pink and it's just too pretty. This is a misnomer, because it's not soft or light at all, but rather a pretty bright fuschia pink. The color also lasts for up to 8 hours, and it's not slippery. In fact, it doesn't have the heavy "I'm-wearing-lipstick" feeling at all. I also love the magnetic closure - you never have to click it shut.

Rouge d'Armani in 602 Soft Pink.

The new Blending Blush Duo is just lovely. The left dark raspberry side is actually not as bright as it looks, but you can definitely layer it to make your cheeks look darker. The right pale shimmering side is so light on my cheek that I can barely see it. But, if I mix the two shades together it's just perfect - you end up with a gorgeous flush of natural pink color.

For the skin care fiends: Armani also launched the new Crema Nera Extrema High Recovery Elixir. This potent serum offers a triple action formula. Featuring the Extrema antioxidant, it acts as a UV shield to prevent further sun damage. The Crystal Complex, Vitamin CG (stabilized Vitamin C) and Palmaria Palmata (red algae) extract work together to fight hyper-pigmentation. Lastly, the volcanic Obsidian Mineral Complex (OMC3) provides anti-aging properties by stimulating collagen renewal. I haven't used it for a full month but each time I use it the skin just drinks it up. The scent also reminds me of an Armani fragrance.

 

To purchase: giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.