NY Fashion Week Makeup by NARS

Here's a preview of the Spring/Summer 2011 beauty and fashion looks from NY Fashion Week. Not surprisingly NARS designed the makeup for both Marc Jacobs and Thakoon. Luminous, golden hues contrasted with bold 70s-inspired eyes.

70s-insprired makeup at Marc Jacobs S/S 2011 show.
François Nars himself was the lead artist for Marc Jacobs. Glossy green eyes and dark matte lips completed the look.

“The look is very reminiscent of Angelica Houston in the 70s - the bleached brows and the deep eyes,” said François Nars. “I wanted them to look like iconic models from the 70s with a modern approach. Marc had images of what he wanted the makeup to look like – mimicking the colors of the clothing but not matching exactly.”

How to re-create the look:

Face
Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer (Available Spring 2011; For now use Sheer Glow Foundation)
Orgasm Blush

Eyes
Night Porter Eyeshadow
Nouveau Monde Duo Eyeshadow (NEW for Spring 2011; Try olive side of Earth Angel Duo Eyeshadow)
Celebrate Soft Touch Shadow Pencil (New for Spring 2011; Try green side of Rated R Duo Eyeshadow)
Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara

Lips
Volga Pure Matte Lipstick (now on sale at Saks)
African Queen Lip Liner Pencil
Mambo Eyeliner Pencil

NARS makeup for Thakoon S/S 2011 show (NYFW).

As for Thakoon's show, NARS lead artist Diane Kendal wanted to evoke a natural golden luminosity to the models' faces.

“The clothes are light so I wanted the makeup to have a little more impact this time – as if the girls were beautiful, cool fairies,” said designer Thakoon. “I wanted the whole aura to feel like opening windows and letting in a breeze - fresh and romantic but tempered at the same time,” said lead artist Diane Kendal.

How to get the Thakoon look:

Face
Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer (Use a light application of Sheer Glow Foundation)
PRO-PRIME Pore Refining Primer (Available Spring 2011; Try PRO-PRIME Skin Smoothing Face Prep)
Laguna Bronzer
Zen Blush
Etrusque Single Eyeshadow highlighted on cheeks (NEW for Holiday 2010 - try Gold Member Cream Blush)

Eyes
Cordura Duo Eyeshadow
Etrusque Single Eyeshadow (NEW for Spring 2011; Try Goldfinger Eyeshadow)
Calanque Trio Eyeshadow (NEW for Spring 2011; Try Edie Eyeshadow)
Coconut Grove Eyeshadow
Hollywood Land Soft Touch Shadow Pencil (NEW for Spring 2011; Try Goddess Soft Touch Shadow Pencil)

Lips
Madere Pure Matte Lipstick (NEW for Spring 2011; Use Bangkok Pure Matte Lipstick)
Hopi Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil (NEW for Spring 2011; Use Striptease Lip Gloss)

Garden Creamery

Marin-based Garden Creamery makes a mean sorbet. Co-owners Natalie Parker and Erin Lang take lots of pride in their small-batch artisanal desserts and use only seasonal fruits, herbs and vegetables. The sorbets are also sweetened with organic raw agave nectar.

They're currently offering four unique flavors: Strawberry Rosemary Lemon Zest, Raspberry Red Pepper, Pure Coconut and 60% Dark Chocolate Honey. The minimal recipes are also suitable for vegan and raw diets.

The Pure Coconut is very lovely and bold-flavored. The big burst of tropical goodness is a refreshing soother on a warm day. It certainly rivals the Coconut Bliss ice cream.

I just LOVE the creamy 60% Dark Chocolate Honey. It reminded me of the sublime chocolate sorbet I had at Chez Panisse this past summer. You won't miss the dairy in this pint - I sure didn't. I'm sorta surprised that I didn't already finish the entire pint. This is an exciting new local food company and I do hope they'll make more flavors in the near future.

Garden Creamery sorbets can be found at Woodlands Market (Kentfield), Mill Valley Market, Mulberry's Market (Oakland), and Green Earth Natural Foods in San Francisco. Starting next week, they'll also be at several Andronico's in the Bay Area.

To find out where to buy: www.gardencreamery.com

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

Blush Lingerie

I adore La Perla lingerie but I also go into sticker shock over their prices. Blush Lingerie, however, delivers sexy European designs without breaking the bank. Thank goodness! We can look really hot in the bourdoir sans hijacking our shopping budget.

Luxurious and feminine, the Montreal-based intimates line sells in the $18-$68 range. The collection features delicate frilly lace and pretty colors. I tried one of the lingerie sets that's similar to the Sunwashed Clematis set (below) and they're pretty comfy and fit almost true to size. The bra had a bit of a push-up design so that's always helpful for the less endowed ladies out there.

Blush Sunwashed Clematis bra and panty set.

Field of Fancy lingerie set.

Available at Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters and Dollhouse Bettie (SF). For more designs check out www.blushlingerie.com.

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

Guerlain Master Class & Beauty Event at Neiman Marcus

Last Friday my beauty partner in crime Sonja and I had the special opportunity to attend a Guerlain master class with National Makeup Artist Marcus Monson at Neiman's. The intensive three hour event covered everything from skin care to Fall makeup. Needless to say we learned a lot about the venerable 182-year-old beauty brand.

Marcus first explained proper skin care techniques that featured their Orchidée Impériale line. We got to experiment with many products, such as the Orchidée Impériale Toner. Made with a high concentration of Imperial Orchid Extract, this non-alcoholic formula is the first toner with firming benefits. If you're on a budget, Marcus recommends starting with the Orchidee Imperiale Eye & Lip Cream if you've never tried this results-oriented line. I was also smitten with the Secrete de Pureté Gentle Polishing Exfoliator - we did a demo on my left hand and the micro sun damage lines disappeared.

Guerlain national makeup artist Marcus Monson.

If you've done too much partying in your wild young days and you need a major skin revamp sans plastic surgery, they have the Orchidée Impériale Cure Treatment. It's not cheap at $1,500 but if you're in the market for a non-invasive facelift, this is it. This 4-week regimen promises to renew 100% of the skin cells. Shaving 7-9 years off your real age, this treatment replaces your cleanser, serum, and moisturizer. It's recommended to use this every 1-2 years. Talk about beauty in a bottle!

We also had a crash course in makeup application and I tried a palette from the new 68 Champs-Elysées Fall 2010 colors. Marcus patiently guided me through the Écrin 6 Couleurs Rue de Passy eye shadow palette and I ended up with a super gorgeous, soft smokey eye. Not only is this a beautiful collectors' item for beauty addicts, this palette will really last you through all four seasons.

We also learned to apply the new Lingerie de Peau foundation (see my review) and Les Voilettes powder correctly. You don't need a lot of product and you can stipple on the foundation gently to cover up small blemishes. For the cheeks we used Terracotta 4 Seasons in 02 Brunettes to contour and the new Blush 4 Eclats in 07 Caresse De L'Aube on the apples of the cheeks. We completed the look with Rouge G Le Brilliant lipstick in Beatrix B60 and KissKiss Essence de Gloss in Myrrhe 440.

Neiman Marcus also just started their store-wide Beauty Event - when you spend $100 on makeup or fragrance you'll receive a large tote (leopard print or faux shearling) that'll be packed with lots of luxe goodies (Chanel, Laura Mercier, Prada, NARS).

Guerlain has a deluxe gift set ($130 value) with a $200 purchase. This amazing set includes the following:

Orchidee Imperiale Cream 0.24 oz.
Orchidee Imperiale Serum 0.1 oz.
Orchidee Imperiale Eye & Lip Cream 0.06 oz.
Deluxe mini Shalimar Eau de Parfum 0.17 oz.
A deluxe gold Guerlain clutch

Basically, if you spend $200 total you can snag both beauty sets. That's a pretty sweet deal if you're a total beautyholic. Both offers end on 9/19 or while supplies last.

To buy: www.neimanmarcus.com

Vosges Haut-Chocolat New Chocolate Bars

Vosges Haut-Chocolat has got it going on. They just created four new chocolate bars and man, I'm all over it. I love all four of them, but I think the Cherry Rooibos Bar has to be my favorite. African rooibos tea, dried Michigan cherries and 45% deep milk chocolate combine together to make one delicious bar. The rooibos tea is a special blend from Chicago's Argo Tea. I love how the soft cherries add a bit of texture to each bite. Love it.

For more citrus fun, the Blood Orange Caramel Bar will have you swooning as the caramel floods your mouth. This 70% dark chocolate bar gives off a bright blood orange flavor while Campari and hibiscus add bitter and tart elements to the entire bar. It takes me back to Italy as I savor each bite.

White chocolate lovers will adore the Amalfi Bar (lemon zest, pink peppercorns, 36% cocoa butter white chocolate). The pink peppercorns add a very subtle floral note and a slightly spicy crunch. I do like the citrus notes from the lemon - it adds a nice zing to the flavor.

If you like sea salt, the Black Salt Caramel Bar is made for you. Black Hawaiian sea salt, burnt sugar caramel and 70% dark chocolate swirl together for a delightful dessert experience. Black Hawaiian sea salt is actually a mix of volcanic charcoal and sea salt that have been naturally harvested in ocean pools (formed from past volcano eruptions). I'm a sucker for anything with sea salt so I imagine this bar won't last too long in our household.

I will be reviewing their fabulous new baking mixes in the next few weeks. I couldn't bake all four mixes in succession or else my jeans would never fit me anymore! Must exercise portion control....

To buy: www.vosgeschocolate.com

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

Juice Beauty Lip Color

Juice Beauty has a couple of new lip color products that smell delicious and feel nutritious. The sheer Reflecting Gloss contains organic agave to give off a sweet candy taste and it's packed with seven types of organic berry and seed oils (including pomegranate, blueberry, kiwi, raspberry). This is one of those lip products that you wanna lick and you won't have to worry about ingesting bad chemicals.

The Conditioning Lip Color in Pink is way too light for me as I can barely see it on my lips. I might mix it with another dark color and it's great for a 'nude' look for the weekend. I think this shade works better for pale complexions. I'll have to experiment with the darker Fig shade next time.

I also got to try the SPF 30 Mineral Light Moisturizer. It has a very creamy texture and gives a natural sheer coverage but it's quite oily for me. I definitely need to layer with a face powder or else I'd see shiny spots within an hour. This might be ideal for super dry skin.

Check out the new makeup at www.juicebeauty.com.

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

Linnea's Lights Fall Candles

Goodness...the new scents from Linnea's Lights are really getting me excited for Fall. I especially adore the Macintosh Apple scent. It really smells like you've just sliced a pound of apples! I can just inhale this all day long. It makes me want to eat the darn thing. I also want to make a few apple pies after smelling this luscious candle.

I also like the mouthwatering Fig Leaf (sweet figs, lemon, amber and sandalwood). The other scent, Pumpkin, is also on sale right now for a limited time (through 10/31). These super fragrant candles are one of the best I've tried as they last for a long time. They also contain lead-free cotton double wicks, soy wax and a mini matchbox tucked inside the lid. So thoughtful!

To find your nearest retail location, go to linneaslights.com. For SF Bay Area folks, you can buy them at Ellington & French in Berkeley (2942 Domingo Avenue, (510) 548-8188).

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

NARS Pure Matte Lipstick

Just in time for NY Fashion Week, NARS has a new matte lipstick that's sold exclusively at Saks. The Pure Matte Lipstick line consists of six deeply pigmented shades: Volga (Deep Aubergine), Bangkok (Soft Rose), Tonkin (Cinnamon Plum), Terre De Feu (Black Cherry), Tashkent (Nude Beige), and Vesuvio (Full Bodied Red).

Model Heather Marks wearing the Vesuvio shade.

Named after remote exotic locales around the world, these universally flattering lippies have a super light, non-caking feel. It almost doesn't feel like I'm wearing lipstick! They're also enriched with Acai Oil, Wild Mango Butter, and Vitamin E so it won't dry your lips. However, I'd recommend exfoliating your lips before application as every dry spot will show up if you don't.

This formula will last for many hours so your powerful pout will definitely stay put. I got to try the Volga (named after the Volga River) and Terre de Feu (named after Tierra del Fuego) colors. Volga looked like black chocolate in the tube but it transformed nicely into a very bold and dark aubergine. Even as it wears off it'll stain the lips - you'll continue to look like you still have color without touching up too much.

The short film "Pure Matte: Infinite Reflections" was also created by NARS to celebrate the lipstick's launch. Watch it here.

Just for the NYC beauties: Here are some NARS events for this Friday's Fashion's Night Out:

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE (611 5th Avenue) - NARS National Makeup Artist Francelle Daly will make her first personal appearance at Saks. From 8-9pm, Francelle and a team of NARS artists will be advising folks on how to achieve bold lips inspired by Fashion Week and red carpet celebrity looks.

PHILLIP LIM (115 Mercer Street) - Francelle will also use Pure Matte Lipstick to create the makeup look for musician Gretta Rochelle of the band My Gold Mask, who is performing at the 3.1 phillip lim store block party in SoHo. 100 attendees will receive NARS Pure Matte Lipstick in the gift bag.

VINCE (16 Prince Street) - Pure Matte Lipstick was used by NARS International Lead Artist James Boehmer to create the look in Vince’s Fall/Holliday 2010 campaign and video. 50 customers will receive Volga Pure Matte, the shade Boehmer used on the models within the campaign.

Pure Matte Lipstick in Volga.

The new lipstick is available for $25 each and is available exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue.

www.narscosmetics.com

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

Poketo Fall Accessories at Target

LA's very own Poketo art collaborative recently launched their new Fall 2010 accessories collection at Target. You can own a piece of affordable limited-edition art with this vast array of totes, wallets, messenger bags and laptop cases. All items are designed by an eclectic team of international artists.

Aren't these products cute? I love this Weekender Bag from Brooklyn artist Dan Funderburgh. It's so spacious that you can use it as a work/gym bag, or take it along for a picnic. There's also a matching umbrella and water bottle to go with this design.

How dreamy and feminine is this umbrella from DGPH? Also love the laptop cover by Betsy Walton, an artist based in Portland.

This new Poketo collection is available only at Target. It seems like they're mostly sold-out online but you can get some items at the actual stores. Call your nearest store for availability.

www.poketo.com

All art images by Ye Rin Mok.

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

Change of Plans at the Sundance Kabuki

I'm always grateful for the vibrant film scene in San Francisco. One of my favorite theaters, Sundance Kabuki, has a regular SFFS Screen program (with the SF Film Society) that showcases independent films that aren't released to the mass theater chains.

A scene from "Change of Plans," opening on SFFS Screen September 10. Courtesy of San Francisco Film Society.

This weekend they're premiering "Change of Plans (Le code a changé)," an entertaining and deftly crafted French choral comedy by acclaimed director Danièle Thompson. Thompson has turned out a few witty gems (Avenue Montaigne, Jet Lag, La Bûche) and I was happy to see her latest release. The stellar cast includes Emmanuelle Seigner (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly), Karin Viard, Dany Boon (Micmacs), Marina Hands, Marina Foïs and Patrick Bruel (A Secret). Her son Christopher Thompson also co-wrote the script and stars in the film.

Danièle Thompson's "Change of Plans." Courtesy of SF Film Society.

This is slightly darker than her previous films but Thompson manages to maintain a pretty light tone throughout the story as the characters deal with family, extramarital affairs, divorce, illness and the usual banalities of everyday life. It's an interesting and fun glimpse into the privileged lives of several Parisian friends. As a nod to Roman Polanski (Seigner is his wife), they even share his Bigos recipe within the credits. It was referenced in the film and you too can make this Polish stew.

These films only play for a week, so make your plans accordingly and get your tickets soon at sffs.org and sundancecinemas.com.