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August 21, 2008

Cor: the silvery soap

If the classic Neutrogena bar had a sophisticated Continental aunt, the Cor Silver Series soap bar would be it.  The silver-based, all-natural Cor is a one-stop healthy skin shop: it cleanses, evens skin tone, maintains moisture, and replenishes collagen. Silver has been recognized since the Roman era for its anti-bacterial and healing properties, the soap's other ingredients (marine collagen, silk protein, chitosan, sericin, etc.) help absorb sebum, hold onto moisture, and provide SPF 4 protection level. 
Cor founder Jennifer McKinley grew up in New Zealand where her skin suffered from excessive sun exposure. After trying the Cor soap formula, she was blown away by how well it seemed to be repairing her skin. She then decided to spread the creed of Cor across the globe.
A six-month bar is $125; a travel bar that lasts about 2-3 weeks is $14. Buy it at www.corsilver.com, Bliss Catalog and in boutiques nationwide. 

August 21, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tried and tested: Jan Marini Green Papaya Peel

Chances are you’ve had some sun exposure in the last few months...and post-summer breakouts from dried-out skin are not uncommon.

So what to do?

Begin a weekly at-home peel with a salon strength formula, like the two-part system from Jan Marini Skin Research. Called Clean Zyme and Skin Zyme, the two products use green papaya enzymes that break down and digest protein molecules without harming sensitive or irritated skin. Clean Zyme is the cleanser and prep for Skin Zyme, the mask. Use both, and give your skin a helping hand in rejuvenating itself after all those days frying yourself on the beach. It can also be used on your hands and cuticles.
P.S.: As with any peel, use your judgment—don’t apply to broken skin, and be careful if you use a retinol face cream. 

Call 1-800-347-2223 to find a supplier near you. www.janmarini.com

August 21, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hollywood's "barely there" make-up master Paul Starr found dead

Make-up artist Paul Starr, who was found dead at his L.A. home yesterday, had created some of our favorite "barely there" editorial looks, amping up Hollywood's glamour with measured, masterful brush strokes.
Take a look at this magazine spread of a "Girl Interrupted"-era Angelina Jolie, in which the au naturel makeup enhances Jolie's natural beauty, while allowing it to speak for itself.
Inspired by the faces of silent movie era actresses, Starr claimed to be able to entirely resculpt a woman's face, just with foundation. Even the biggest divas of all, Boy George and Marilyn Manson, trusted him to do their makeup.
His book, "Paul Starr on Beauty", featured 30 interviews with some of Starr's biggest clients, including Iman, Diane Lane, and Michelle Pfeiffer. (The book is temporaraily out of stock on Amazon, but can be ordered here here.)
Click here to see Starr's breathtaking work in Madonna's "Bedtime Stories" music video (and marvel at just how much Madonna borrows from Bjork's sound and aesthetic).

August 21, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (1)

August 19, 2008

Smell like a Caribbean breeze...

As part of its ongoing "fragrant destinations" series, online perfume hub osMoz.com has picked three scents which evoke the balmy spirit of the Carribbean .
Pretend you're in the Virgin Islands with that skinny dot.com millionaire you picked up in Vegas with Creed's Virgin Island Water, a unisex fragrance that pairs lime, island woods and a warmer coconut note.
Imagine rolling in the white sands of Saint Barth with him, just by spritzing Floral Solaire by Filles des Iles, based on the Tahitian tiare flower.
Then, imagine partying it up swinger style with your loverman in Kingston, and huff on JAMMIN, a woody scent that evokes Jamaica’s musical heritage.
With air fares still hovering in the realms of the ridiculous, perhaps smelling like your favorite tropical island is more realistic than actually going there...
osMoz.com is customized exclusively for the new iPhone 3G and features daily updates on new perfume releases plus an extensive encyclopedia of global fragrances, including detailed scent descriptions, market positioning, fragrance videos, and television ads. 

August 19, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ayurvedic scarves heal through your skin

Ayurvedic scarves from India make you look good on the outside...but they also help you feel good on the inside, according to fashion entrepreneur Lisa Bittan. She's just started importing hand-loomed, organic ayurvedic scarves from India that are dipped in ayurvedic broths, infusing them with special healing powers that can help boost your immunity, brighten your skin, or loosen your joints.
So how, exactly, can a scarf make you healthy?
Apparently, the ayurvedic remedies enter your cellular structure though your skin, via a process called "transdermal induction".
As many as 40 different herbs are infused in to each of Bittan's scarves.  The gray scarves are made with veteveria, apamarga (Chafftree) and myrobalan, and promote good digestion. The pink scarves, dyed with Indian madder and brazilwood, will condition your skin. The green scarves are immunity boosters with anti-stress and anti-aging properties, thanks to the clustered withercherry, holostemma and pomegranate formula. Gift the brown scarf to your elderly aunt—it'll work wonders on her arthritis and rheumatism.
Bittan started distributing her scarves in the Los Angeles and Santa Barbara areas about two months ago. "People seem to respond to their beauty and fragrance, and also because they have a wonderful story behind them," says Bittan. "They are also about as politically perfect as possible…organic, handmade, bio-degradable and fair-trade!"
Ya Living is coming out with a special holiday scarf which has extra gold thread woven into it and comes in a handwoven screwpine box.
Organic Ayurvedic Scarves are available at Turpan, Andrianna Shamaris,  Diani, and Salt on the West Coast.  Fred Segal will carry them in September. For more information, contact yaliving@yahoo.com.

August 19, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (1)

August 12, 2008

Prada uses film shorts to promote new fragrance

Young U.S. filmmaker Michael Merryman is one of nine auteurs who created short films to launch Prada's new men's fragrance, Infusion d’Homme.

His film shows two astronauts traversing a barren wasteland only to remove their bubble helmets, risking everything for the sake of a kiss.

Academy-award winning film editor Pietro Scalia (“JFK” and “Black Hawk Down”) will edit together the nine shorts into one film, which will be shown in selected Prada stores around the world.

You can view the films at the Prada website, under "Projects". Buy the fragrance here.

August 12, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

bliss blowout sale, next week!

You can save up to 70% on yummy spa and beauty products during the bliss blowout sale, which starts next week.
Kicking off Monday, August 18th and lasting through Sunday, August 24th, the sale takes place at all bliss spa stores (click here to see a nationwide list) and online at Blissworld.com.
I'm obsessed with the "bliss serious seaweed cellulite soap ", which stimulates anti-cellulite lymphatic action when rubbed over my dimply thighs.
My friends love the bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask, which was the best-selling mask of last year and is great for perking up dull, tired, overworked skin. Any takers?
www.blissworld.com

August 12, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 7, 2008

Johnny Wright: hair guru, therapist, BFF

Johnny Wright is your hair guru, therapist, and BFF rolled into one.
One of the star stylists at the Frederic Fekkai salon in L.A.'s Melrose Place, Wright is exceptionally intuitive, so don't be surprised if you find yourself engaged in a conversation that ventures way beyond the usual hairdresser/client banter.
Wise beyond his 31 years, Wright is candid about his own life ("I can't wear the same pair of socks twice," he sighed), and genuinely interested in yours. When I confessed my darkest woes, he prescribed the kind of no-nonsense, Mother Hen advice that usually costs $100 bucks an hour at the shrink's office. In fact, he's like Oprah with scissors (he's an aspiring talk show host himself, with a pilot under his belt.)
And then I looked in the mirror—while Johnny had been helping me figure out my life, he'd also worked some kind of voodoo on my hair, subtly shaping my bobbed style, trimming my bangs and flat-ironing me with Victoria Beckham-like precision. I looked great.
"Um...how did you do that?" I marveled.
"Honey, I've been doing this a long time," he shrugged.
Born and raised in Chicago, Johnny began crafting his styling skills at an early age. His grandmother was first to spot Johnny’s fascination with hair, when he was just three. “She knew I was going to be a hair stylist,” he says. "I was always there with a comb in my hand. It was a spiritual thing, and she recognized my passion."
A former creative director at L'Oreal, Wright was brought from Chicago to L.A. by Fekkai. Stationed at their Melrose Place salon since it opened, he's especially reknowned for his expert bang-shaping skills.
His celebrity clientele includes Anita Baker, Vivica A. Fox, and Vanessa Williams, and the A-List has been known to fly him all over the world just for a quick trim and flatiron—served with a generous helping of chicken soup for the soul, no doubt.
To book an appointment with Johnny Wright, call the salon at 323 655 7800. Www.fredericfekkai.com

August 7, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (2)

August 5, 2008

APOTHIA handsoaps evoke salty ozone and chili peppers

It's the simple touches—like fresh hand towels, vintage copies of The Face magazine, and most importantly, decadent hand soaps—that can turn a mundane trip to the bathroom into a lifestyle experience.
With this in mind, APOTHIA has launched a new collection of Hand & Body Washes, available in eight “experiential” scents.
The "Casa" wash smells like Casablanca lilies, fresh-cut grass and fresh air, while "Verde" carries the scent of bright cilantro, earthy tomato leaf, a zesty squeeze of lime, and a hint of chili peppers. The "Soul" wash is based on African ginger, taboti wood, rich mahogany, and grains of paradise, while "Wave" is comprised of white grapefruit, mandarin, yuzu, driftwood, seagrass, and salty ozone aromas.
Salty ozone? Earthy tomato? Grains of paradise?
I may never leave the bathroom...

APOTHIA Hand & Body Washes are $28 each, buy here.

August 5, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (1)

Meet your shampoo soulmate, at Kiehl's

Are you still searching for your perfect shampoo soulmate? Is your conditioner keeping you (and your locks) down?
If these woes are yours, then a trip to one of Kiehl’s “Natural Recipes for Healthy Hair” days may be in order.
Each Thursday, from August 14 through September 25, you will be able to book one-on-one appointments with Kiehl’s experts, who can help determine exactly which type of shampoo, conditioner or treatment is best suited to your hair needs.
Each consultation will include a recipe for the perfect hair style, featuring the styling aids in Kiehl’s Stylist Series, as well as the opportunity to experience the Stylist Series formulas in store. 
Participants will also be introduced to Kiehl’s latest products, Ultimate Thickening Shampoo and Strong-Hold Styling Gel.
At the end of the consultation, each participant will walk away with a recipe card with a description of their look, as well as product samples to test, and to help recreate the look at home.
“Natural Recipes For Healthy Hair” takes place every Thursday from Aug. 14 through Sept. 25 during store hours at Kiehl’s Since 1851 stores.  Please call the store to make your appointment. Click here for a store locator.

August 5, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 28, 2008

Kryolan makeup for HD lenses

Kryolan, the oldest independent professional make-up company in the world, has launched a High Definition Makeup line that can stand up to even the most unforgiving of hi-res lenses.
By 2009, all television broadcasters will have to switch to High Definition, and with HD camcorders already available on the consumer market, it's only a matter of time before you'll be recording all your special moments on an HD camera.
Which is bad news for those of us with less-than-flawless skin, as HD tends to pick up and magnify even the slightest wrinkle, pockmark, and shadow.
With this in mind, Kryolan has created its High Definition Makeup line tailored specifically for high-resolution cameras. "Our HD make-up ensures that every camera light and angle is a good one," says Claudia Longo of Kryolan.
Products include a Micro Foundation Matifying Liquid ($39.95), Micro Foundation Smoothing Liquid ($43.95), and Micro Foundation ($32.95), Micro Silk Powder ($27), available in 18 colors.
You might even want to use it prior to sexy web-cam conversations with your long-distance lover.
To purchase, call 1-800-KRYOLAN.

July 28, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 21, 2008

Body Bar: an urban oasis on L.A.'s Eastside

It's what Angelenos on the Eastside of town have been craving for so long—a full-service pampering palace that won't involve you getting on a freeway.
Situated behind a pea-green Art Deco facade on Sunset Blvd. on the borders of Silverlake and Echo Park, The Body Bar offers a tempting range of restorative facials, microdermabrasion, massages, waxes, tub treatments and peels, for the lone ranger, for expectant moms and for couples.
Upon arrival you'll be offered a glass of wine and ushered through to the chill room, where lights are dimmed and you can snack on organic treats before your treatment starts.
I tried out the Body Bar Signature Facial, with a lactic peel. I'm peel-phobic, so this was a breakthrough for me. But I felt very safe in the hands of Body Bar aesthetician René Rutledge. She started by cleansing my skin using a Clairisonic brush, which is kind of like an electric toothbrush for the face. Then she applied a light papaya and pineapple exfoliating enzyme mask, followed by the very light lactic acid peel. Derived from sour milk, it is much milder on the skin than chemical peels and tingled only a little—but brought a whole lotta gunk to the surface.
She followed with the usual extractions and then used orange peel essential oils under a collagen-infused mask, to help heal my skin. Then she dusted off with a little mineral face powder, so I didn't have to step out in the world looking all greasy and post-facial. She used Body Bar's signature line of products for much of the facial, and I have to tell ya—my skin is smoother than a baby's behind.
You might also want to try their Volcanic Soak Bath, using pure volcanic ash to replace minerals, and their Seaweed-Infused Toning Treatment for the body, perfect for dry, undernourished skin that lacks tone. And we hear that their massage therapist Rubin has magic hands...
Body Bar Urban Spa, 3037 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90026. Tel: 323 684 7546.
www.bodybarspa.com

July 21, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (1)

July 7, 2008

Mr Big becomes Mr Buzz

We hear that Chris "Mr Big" Noth has sheared the locks from his head, possibly to help him keep cool (it aint easy being hot shit, ya know?), or possibly for a new role, now that he's quit "Law & Order: Criminal Intent".
We were unable to find actual photos of Noth and his fresh new military-style crew cut, so instead The Stylephile offers you this realistic sans cheveaux rendering of Mr Big, as created by our highly able art department.
Noth looks pretty good, we think. Not too much like a rapist, and quite a bit like Bill Paxton's Chet character in "Weird Science".
Noth has just wrapped shooting the comedy "My One and Only" with Renee Zellweger.

July 7, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 3, 2008

Kate Moss's hairy moment

Clip-on hair is for Kardashians and Hiltons, right? People who love teeny dogs, cosmetic surgery and stripping in Vegas. Oh, and people like Kate Moss.
As you may have already heard, Kate lost her head—or part of it—while leaving the Berlin launch party for her new fragrance, Velvet Hour. A track of blond hair extensions tumbled from Kate's tousled bed-head and plopped on to the red carpet, shortly before being scooped up by an intrepid papparazzo. He then sold the  locks on eBay, with proceeds benefiting a drug awareness foundation in Germany. Go figure.
To avoid such embarrassment in the future, we'd urge Moss to go the whole hog and get some proper celebutard tresses: from Hollywood extensions guru Sheila Stotts, of course. She charges ladies like LC, Paris and Courtney Love anything from $1500 to $16,000 for a 'strand-by-strand', where half-inch pieces of are glued or bonded into place.
Or Kate could go right to the source, and clip in one of Jessica Simpson's HairDos (created with Ken Paves), or a headband fall from Paris Hilton's new Dreamcatchers brand of  hair extensions which promise that "Finally, you can have the exact same hair as Paris Hilton."
Yikes.

July 3, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 23, 2008

Angelina gets her tats out

Angelina maxes out on body art in her summer flick "Wanted", giving her most famous tats an airing ("Quod Me Nutrit, Me Destruit" never fails to remind me of the dangers of pizza), as well as throwing in a few temporary extras for good measure.
In addition to Jolie's existing Cambodian prayer, tiger and tribal tattoos, her character Fox sports two massive  "Toil" and "Tears" tattoos on the undersides of her arms, and various words on her forearms—all of which make for one sexy assassin/UN Goodwill Ambassador.
P.S. After you see this film, do resist the urge to visit your nearest ink shop and get a copy-cat job. Angelina can pull off ginormous "toil" and "tears" gang tats on her spindly limbs—you can't.
"Wanted" is in theatres June 27th.

June 23, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 5, 2008

Flat-iron secrets, this weekend

If you, like I, have yet to master the elusive art of flat-ironing, you could benefit from an interactive event at The Doves hair salon in Santa Monica this Sunday, June 8. The new-ish salon, founded by the heads of Wella USA Sonya and Christopher Dove, is hosting  "Style Secrets", an afternoon of beauty where I'm led to believe many hairstyling secrets will be spilled. Topics will include the latest techniques for flat ironing (including how to produce curls) and the art of wig-wearing. Plus you can ask for a hair consultation, and find out about the best styles for your face shape, hair texture, skin type and the season.
The event takes place Sunday June 8 from 4:00pm - 5.30pm at The Doves Studio 2000 Main St, Santa Monica CA 90405. Tickets cost $25, with proceeds benefiting the The Peacock Foundation. To attend, sign up through "HIVING:: Parties for a Purpose" at www.hiving.net.  Referral code: DOVES
www.thedovesstudio.com

June 5, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 28, 2008

Nail polish for doggie "pet-icures"

My dog would bite my nose off if I ever tried to paint his nails—but for other mutts, the canine beauty revolution has been too long coming. At least that's what the folks over at OPI seem to think. Not content with making nail color for humans, they launched OPI PAWlish nail polish for dogs, a quick drying, one-coat pooch polish available in six bold, bright shades: Poodle Pink, Bow Wow Green, Mutt's New Purple, Fire Hydrant Red, Yuppy Puppy Silver, and Doghouse Blues. Perfect for glamming up a pet-icure.
Whatever next—Pet Sephora?
$10 from trixieandpeanut.com

May 28, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (1)

May 27, 2008

How worthy is your shampoo?

I always thought it was because vegetarians ate a lot of nuts, but no—the key to soft, lustrous locks worthy of a macadamia-munching eco-warrior is actually Aubrey's J.A.Y. Desert Herb Revitalizing shampoo. Aubrey's creates a variety of no-nonsense, earth-friendly beauty products that have my earth-conscious buddies hooked. The line is filled with certified organic ingrediants, and Aubrey's products are completely devoid of parabens or petrochemical detergents. Even better, the shampoos are made from a mild, coconut oil base rather than the foamy petrochemicals most of us love to lather into our scalps each morning.
Buy here.

May 27, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 22, 2008

bliss out by the pool

Fancy sitting by the pool with a piña colada cocktail in your hand...and a piña colada mask on your feet? bliss in Los Angeles is opening up its swim-side spa tomorrow (May 23) meaning you can get everything from a rapid rub massage to a "pedi colada" pedicure while being pampered in bliss’ private cabana. The bliss cabana is open Friday-Sunday from 11am—6pm and is located at the W Los Angeles in the Backyard. 930 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90024. Hours are 9am-9pm, seven days a week. Call 323 930 0330 to book an appointment.

May 22, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 8, 2008

Jean Paul Gaultier's new eyeliner/concealer pen for guys

Jean Paul Gaultier has been making guys' make-up since 2003. And just in case you didn't get the memo, here's an update on his latest "guyliner". The Tout Beau Sharp Eyes Kohl Pen & Concealer is a dual action pen, with a concealer on one end to erase dark circles under the eyes, and a black kohl tip on the other end, perfect for that smudgy Kurt Cobain look. Not only will this pen add nighttime drama to your guy's look, it will also prevent him from ever borrowing your makeup bag again.
Other items in Gaultier's "Monsieur" line include an "undetectable" matte powder bronzer complete with pocket applicator for dandies on the go. He draws the line at lip gloss and mascara—for now.
Buy here.

May 8, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (1)

April 30, 2008

How Allure's editor-in-chief protects her summertime skin

Allure was the first major publication in America to devote itself solely to beauty, so it comes as no surprise that founding editor Linda Wells has the scoop on every skincare and sun tanning secret you could think of.
First and foremost, she doesn't trust the sun as far as she can throw it—she wears 85 SPF and adds anti-oxidant drops to her glass of Perrier before venturing out at midday. It may sound a little extreme, but she is BFFs with many of America's top dermatologists, and they all tell her the same thing: sun = danger.
I spoke to Wells today and she reminded me that melanoma is the fastest-growing cancer in America.
That's right—frolicking on the beach without adequate SPF protection and relaxing in a tanning booth could land you in the radiologist’s office quicker than a daytrip to Chernobyl, if you're not careful.
To highlight this sad reality, Allure magazine is hosting an exclusive art auction next week, with nude portraits of Marilyn Monroe, Scarlett Johansson, Gisele Bundchen and Kate Moss donated by some of the biggest photographers working today: Mert and Marcus, Annie Leibovitz, Michael Thompson, Steven Klein, Bert Stern, Reed Krakoff and Eve Arnold among them. The 2nd Annual ‘Most Alluring Bodies’ Exhibit takes place at Skylight in Manhattan, New York on May 7, and all proceeds from the silent auction will  benefit NYU’s Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group and kick-off Skin Cancer Awareness Month.
Ahead of the big event (which is invitation only), I snagged half an hour on the phone with Wells, and asked her opinion on tanning beds, SPF makeup, the best sunscreen and why so many of us think we're immune to the effects of the sun...
Read it and weep, sun worshippers...

So why do you take such a strong interest in skin cancer?

Well, I have the palest skin in the entire United States of America. So I have always been really aware of skin cancer and of my responsibility. The statistics are so terrible—it  is the fastest growing form of cancer in America, and the most common.

The statistics are out there...so why do we still like to bask in the sun like baby seals?

Many people feel their healthiest and most alive when they are out in the sun. But it’s also the situation when they are most at risk. And there's the aesthetics of the sun tan. I know I should bite my tongue, but I still think that suntans look good. But I don’t recommend them.

How does a woman’s awareness of sun damage change as she grows older?

Women in their teens and twenties are the ones most likely to marinade their bodies in baby oil while they sit outside during spring break or go in to tanning booths in the winter. They believe they are immune. When women reach their thirties, they realize they have to protect their skin because they don’t want to look older. The cancer connection comes much later.

Tanning beds, once and for all—are they or are they not safe?

I believe there are more tanning booths in the U.S. than there are Starbucks. The tanning companies say it’s safer to use a tanning bed than to go in the sun. It’s not safer. They bombard your body with UV light. You should not be in those things. It's like sitting in the doctor’s office smoking a cigarette. But don’t expect the tanning companies to tell you the dangers, however.

Having a deep Donatella Versace/George Hamilton permatan is tacky anyway, right?

In terms of fashion, I go to the shows in Europe and New York and very few top models have tans. A lot of them are from Eastern Europe and their skin has never been touched by the sun, and they have no visible pores at all. These women have no interest in getting a suntan.

What about SPF makeup...does it really protect us?

Here’s the problem with SPF makeup– you think you're fully covered, but you’re not. You don’t put it on all over your face; you don't put on enough to equal the coverage you would get from a sunscreen. Also, you don’t reapply it all day long. So it really creates a false sense of security. It’s great that makeup has SPF in it, but that’s not always enough. Luckily most self-respecting cosmetics companies have daytime moisturizers that have SPF 30. And when you go to the beach you should put on regular sunscreen of course.

How do you look after your skin?

I just got back from being on a boat in the Bahamas for four days and I took anti oxidant supplements, and I put anti oxidant drops in my water. I reapplied sun screen every hour. The anti oxidants tablets are called Heliocare and contain a fern extract. They really help protect your skin cells against damage from the sun. But I would never rely on those alone.

What about using chemical-free mineral sunscreens. Are they equally effective?

Mineral products are great but I don’t think there’s that much that’s terribly wrong with chemicals. If the natural product can do what the chemical can do, then terrific, but in all likelihood the natural product probably does contain at least some chemicals. Trust me, the disease is worse than the effort to prevent it.

What are the key things to know when you're buying sunscreen?

You want to pick a broad spectrum of sun protection. It’s not just the SPF. SPF protects against UVB rays. You also need to protect against UVA, which cause wrinkling and skin cancer. I love Neutrogena with Heliocare. They make one called "Dry Touch" that doesn’t make your face greasy at all. I was using SPF 85. I wouldn’t touch an SPF 8 or 15. Aveeno makes a really good one too.

What about self-tanning lotions?

I think self tanning is great. That’s a way of having your cake and eating it too. I do that sometimes, during the summer. If you get a self tan then you’re not going in the sun, but you have to be sure that the self tanner contains sunscreens. There’s new research that says that in the 24 hours after you have treated your skin with tanner, your skin is more vulnerable to sun damage, so people should be aware of that.

What’s the most interesting thing you've learned about sun tanning over the years?

I am always fascinated by the psychology of it, and why we persist in doing something that is unhealthy. It always comes down to that tension between vanity and health. If you can appeal to vanity and take care of health, then you’ve won the game, especially in terms of what we do as a magazine.

April 30, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (3)

April 29, 2008

Smell like a samurai

These days, we just spritz on our Chanel No. 5/English Lavender Water/Paris Hilton Can Can, and are done with it. 
But in 16th century Japan, aristocrats and samurai took their perfumes much more seriously. They developed koh-do, a refined olfactory art which involved creating various special blends of incense and then burning them with much solemnity and bowing of heads. 
Inspired by this ancient art, Jo Malone has created a new unisex duo of limited-edition perfumes. Her Kohdo Wood Collection includes two incense-based scents, one for day (Lotus Blossom & Water Lily) and one for night (Dark Amber & Ginger Lily). You can also blend the fragrances, just as the ancient samurai and courtesans once did...and you don't even need to learn Japanese.
The fragances, bath oil and candles are available at Jo Malone Shops, www.jomalone.com, specialty stores including Bergdorf Goodman, select Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue stores nationwide. 

April 29, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 21, 2008

The fragrance of film

Young (and not so young) auteurs are being invited to create a three minute short inspired by perfume. The comp is part of the first ever Fragrance & Film Festival, organized by Vogue and The Fragrance Foundation. The winner will receive $10,000. Member of the public will vote for their favorite films online, and then a winner will be picked from the top four rated shorts by a panel of judges, including director/producer Brett Ratner (“X-Men: The Last Stand” and the “Rush Hour” series), Doug Keeve, director of fashion documentaries “Seamless” and  “Unzipped”, music video director Chris Robinson and producer Lee Daniels (“Monster’s Ball,” “The Woodsman” and “Shadowboxer.”)
I love this exercise in synesthesia—what a thrill to try and translate in to film the heady aroma of jasmine, the dizzying whiff of damask rose, the pheromonal allure of musk...
The filmmakers are supposed to pick one of five fragrances as their inspiration, and those that were hoping for Chanel No. 5, Giorgio Beverly Hills or Opium are outta luck. Instead, they get to choose from Paris Hilton’s Can Can, Usher for Men, Usher for Women, Missoni Acqua and Gucci by Gucci.
And you better get a shimmy on - the deadline for submissions is April 25, 2008.
Click here for more information.

April 21, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 7, 2008

Euro-phile: Five reasons to love the English

This week, The Stylephile is in Europe!
In his 2005 book "The Angry Island", writer AA Gill labels his English countrymen "some of the most objectionable people you could wish to avoid," adding that "they have a unique national habit of bringing out the worst in each other. I can't think of any other nation that has to be separated from itself for its own good—every collection of five Englishmen needs a foreigner to stop it beoming a social heath hazard."
I, unlike Mr. Gill, believe there are countless, innumerable things to love about the English. 
At least five, which I have listed below for your convenience.
1. The Lou Doillon collection for Lee Cooper. Ok, so she's only half British (her mom is Jane Birkin), but this 25-year-old fashion natural works the quirky Brit chic look like a pro, beating Sienna at her own game, and giving Chloe Sevigny a run for her money in the global hipster stakes. Check out her new, oddly underhyped capsule collection for British denim house Lee Cooper, launched this Easter. That's her, modeling the collection in the photo. Sickening, right? She'll be designing for Lee for three years using The Artful Dodger as her primary inspiration, apparently.  
2. The House of Lords has a blog 
England's oldest, wealthiest and grumpiest politicos live in the House of Lords, occasionally turning up to vote on issues of national policy, and to take naps in the rather comfy plush red seating. And now they have a blog. They've called it "Lords of the Blog", in true imperial manner. Hear, hear!
3. The dry shampoo craze
According to legend fact, the English have always abhorred showering/brushing teeth/lotion etc., so it should come as no surprise to learn that dry shampoo is enjoying a revival in Britannia, with retailers reporting a startling 45% rise in sales of powdery hair cleaners. Bumble and Bumble makes a fine dry shampoo for greasy-headed types, which you can buy here.
4. Brits are adopting Americanisms like "oh my god that's soooo fierce", "awesome!" and "you suck", all of which sound very funny when said in a Cockney accent. 
5. Sofia's Diary: England's stylish answer to Lonelygirl15 
It's not just Americans who love to watch adolescent soap opera/monologues on the internet as if there weren't other, more productive things to do. Oh no. Sofia Taylor  is a well-behaved, rather boring teenager whose catchphrase is "You think your life sucks? Watch mine." (see #4 on this list.), and she's a rising star of British made-for-web TV. She's the kind of kid who refuses to burn CDs for her friends because it's against the law, and who won't hook up with a young cutie called Josh, which all makes for rather dull television. She does love wearing Issey Miyake though, and for that reason alone, we'll keep watching. 

April 7, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (1)

Euro-phile: Jourdan Dunn, Britain's hottest supermodel

Jourdan Dunn, supermodel du jour in the UK, bristled during an interview with London's The Observer Magazine when they reminded her where she was first discovered...Primark. Primark is a budget fashion retailer (think Hot Topic, Target or Old Navy), which allegedly pays its sweatshop workers in India around 25 cents an hour. Meaning: worse fashion sins have been committed, but a fake beard and fedora might come in handy when shopping there. "I wasn't shopping," she sulks. "I was mucking about in the sunglasses section." Clearly, there is an important distinction between "mucking around" in Primark, and actually parting with cash. (Try telling that to Paris next time she's photographed buying stillettos in Payless.)
Dunn was discovered by a scout from the Storm model agency on that fateful day in Primark. Since then she's been featured in U.S. Vogue many a time, fronted Gap ad campaigns and walked for 75 designers during the Spring/Summer '08 fashion shows. This year, she became the first black model since 1997 to walk the catwalk for Prada. She made headlines in February with her comments about racial inequality on the catwalk at London Fashion Week, pointing out "London's not a white city."

April 7, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (1)

April 3, 2008

We're giving away a bottle of Safi perfume oil!

When I was 21 I spent an unforgettable three months in Kenya. I went on safari and had a close encounter of the baboon kind, right outside my tent. I watched polo matches and drank gin tonics for breakfast. I went to John Hurt's house. On the night train from Nairobi to Mombasa, I killed cockroaches by turning my can of deodorant in to a blow torch. I was licked by a giraffe, I dyed my hair purple and I made love in a tree house. And I'll never forget the intoxicating smell of early evening on the outskirts of Nairobi, looking out across the Great Rift Valley and praying I'd never have to go home.
Which brings me to Safi, the new fragrance by NYAKIO. Nyakio Kamoche, a first generation American with Kenyan roots, developed NYAKIO based on family beauty secrets. She launched Safi, which evokes the spirit of Kenya, earlier this month with a star-studded bash at APOTHIA in LA's Fred Segal Melrose, attended by Bryce Dallas Howard, Keisha Whitaker, Kristin Cavallari, and Emily Deschanel, among others. The fragrance itself is a super-sensual blend of essential oils, with top notes of fresh lychee, juicy pineapple and black currant, soul notes of stargazer lily, fresh-cut freesia, and neroli, and base notes of muhuhu wood, fresh bamboo, and crisp papyrus.
Yum. You can buy Safi here.
We have one bottle of Safi perfume oil, worth c. $70, to give away. To win, leave a comment telling us about the most beautiful place you've ever traveled to, and don't forget to leave your email address! Deadline is 5PM on April 9.

April 3, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (28)

April 2, 2008

Magic noodles

When I started a raw food cleanse on Sunday, I was bracing myself for a week of dreary vegetable hell. But thanks to my marvelous live-in raw food chef  (who happens to be my boyfriend) I have discovered a whole new world of gluttony—the healthy kind. Who knew the sheer joy of mock mash (made from cauliflower) and mushroom gravy? The decadent delights of coconut pastes, almond-pumpkin pate and carob desserts? And the delights of Mother Nature's best kept slimming secret—Kelp noodles. They're only a little unusual tasting, are eminently satisfying, and contain just one carb (and virtually zero calories). As a big-bootied woman whose one dietary downfall has always been pasta/noodles/rigatoni/penne etc., my kelp noodle discovery was something of a Eureka moment. Believe me, I've tried every pasta alternative in the world and they all taste like soggy cardboard. But these stringy babies taste like the real thing... albeit a little al dente. Eat them uncooked for full-on crunch effect, or soaked in water (cold or warm) for the authentic mama mia feel. Buy them at your local health food store, or here. And then feast, unburdened by guilt.

April 2, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 25, 2008

Kiehl's goes all D&D

Kiehl's, the New York apothecary, has ventured into somewhat unlikely territory...online gaming. On March 21, the 157-year-old company introduced “Kiehl’s Open Road”, an "interactive community contest".
You probably won't have to battle any halflings, elves or orcs, but you will need to plot an adventurous course across a virtual America. The more friends and family you bring on board, the more points you will accumulate. Whoever tallies the most points will win the greatest reward: a full year’s supply of Kiehl’s products (and a cauldron full of runes).
The competition lasts until May 15 and you can register here. For each friend you refer, you receive a point, increasing your chance of winning. (It sounds a little like one of those email chain letters, but for a year's supply of moisturizer, I'd totally go there.) Plus, all participants will be entered into a weekly drawing in which 10 are chosen at random to receive a complimentary, full-sized Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser. Which'll make it easier to deal with the fact that you've turned into an online gaming geek.

March 25, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 20, 2008

APOTHIA AROMATICS: the smell of success

At L.A. Fashion Week you could literally smell the glamour in the air—thanks to the APOTHIA AROMATICS candles that were quietly burning away within the tents. Named "Interior Fragrance of the Year" by the Fragrance Foundation, the collection (which includes scents with alluring names like "Velvet Rope", "Juiced", "Scene" and "Bronze") is meant to evoke the essence of life in L.A. So throughout the five days of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios, an assortment of APOTHIA AROMATICS' 11 interior scents were placed in the main lobby, the VIP green rooms and the press check-in area, infusing a gentle and calming aroma into the adrenaline-filled air.
APOTHIA AROMATICS is the fragrance, candle and home diffuser collection released by APOTHIA, the high-end luxury beauty and lifestyle boutique at Fred Segal Melrose. You can buy at APOTHIA at Fred Segal Melrose, and at fine department stores and specialty boutiques in the U.S. and U.K.

March 20, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

Pepto Bismol facials and other beauty secrets

Neosporin and toothpaste to zap zits? Green tea bags for sensitive skin? Baking soda as an exfoliant? I could write a book about the non-traditional beauty-treatments recommended by Stylephile readers.
And guess what, most of them are cheap! Think Preparation H and diaper cream to get rid of puffy eye bags, baby shampoo as eye makeup remover, and who knew Pepto Bismol made great facials?
You sent in your wise words for the chance to win a BODY by Sonya Dakar kit, and in the end, I chose the following two entries. One quite rightly reminds us that Mother Nature generally holds all the best beauty secrets, and the second told us about a marvelous book, “Look Younger; Live Longer”, written by Gayelord Hauser, a 20th century natural doctor whose progressive thinking made him popular among Marlene Dietrich, Grace Kelly and Gloria Swanson. The FDA didn’t approve of his approach, and seized copies of “Look Younger, Live Longer” during the 1950s. Today, Hauser is viewed as the founder of the natural food movement.
Congratulations, winners!

Best advice: you can find the remedy in nature. My epidermis gave a whole new meaning to the phrase "bad skin." Through the first 16 years of my life, I had eczema over no less than 60% of my body. My parents and doctors tried every cream, medication, bathing regiment imaginable to sooth the constant itching, flaking and burning. I scratched to the point of drawing blood! We were all just hoping for minimal scarring in my adult life. On a trip back to Nigeria, my father sought the advice of my grandmother, as he'd grown up with similar skin problems. Unfortunately, I never memorized the names of the plants & herbs. Each night that summer, I took a warm bath, rubbed the affected areas raw with these fresh leaves and then coated my body with this paste made from water and the powder of the dried leaves of another plant. It was a painful process, but if you could see my skin now, it was more than worth it. Not so much as a dark spot remains! I was lucky and I've always taken care to moisturize and use sunscreen from that summer on.

My grandmother, a woman with wonderful skin, gave me a copy of beauty secrets by Gayelord Hauser - fantastic book full of great beauty tips. One I still use on a regular basis is to exfoliate the skin using olive oil and salt - regular table salt. Gives the skin a wonderful glow and it helps stabilize the PH. Try it.

March 20, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (6)

March 13, 2008

Anna Maria Perez de Tagle: longest name, cutest style

(I can't believe I am featuring a "Hannah Montana" star on The Stylephile, but here goes.)
Not only does Anna Maria Perez de Tagle have the longest name in Hollywood, she was also born in 1990. (Seriously. Do you know anyone who was literally, not metaphysically or spiritually, born in the nineties?)
Being born in 1990 means you get a special fashion pass that allows you to do whatever you want and still look adorable, as displayed by Anna Maria Perez de Tagle at L.A. Fashion Week. Here she is, in high-waisted mommy jeans, flouncy grape blouse and a rainbow growing out of her face. Love it.

March 13, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (2)

BODY by Sonya Dakar giveaway

As a porcelain-skinned young lady named Gwyneth Paltrow once said: "Sonya Dakar is the best facialist in the world. I don't really let anyone else do my facials except her."
Quite a recommendation, wouldn't you say? Especially from someone who has her pick of the world's facialists. And other dewy-skinned starlets seem to agree—Jessica Biel to Fergie and Megan Fox all swear by Dakar's approach.
In the beauty biz since 1971, Sonya Dakar runs a five-level skincare complex on the edge of Beverly Hills, offering high-end treatments like her green tea and diamond peels. Her product line, which offers around 150 creams and treatments, just launched its BODY by Sonya Dakar collection, a superior grade botanical-based skin care range infused with advanced anti-aging ingredients. “The same problems people have on their faces, they have on their bodies,” says Dakar. It features a Daily Wash, Triple Action Vita-foliant Omega Hydrator, Mineral Polish, Nourishing Body Oil and comes in two different scents:  Verbena Cypress and Cara Cara.
Sonya Dakar has been kind enough to offer a pair of her BODY by Sonya Dakar kits (worth c. $250 each!) to gift to two Stylephile readers.
To win, leave a comment telling us about the best skincare secret anyone ever told you. (Don't forget to leave your email address in the comment.) Deadline is Wednesday March 19 at 5PM.

March 13, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (77)

March 11, 2008

The elixir of youth

Linda Rodin, New York fashion stylist and editor, had become so disillusioned with traditional age defying creams (hear, hear!), she created her own personal elixir of youth. Now her RODIN olio lusso, a blend of eleven essential flower and botanical oils, is available for you to try too. We love that it is made from natural ingredients, including jasmine, apricot and rose hip seed. Plus it's good for boys to use as an aftershave.
Apply with a dropper morning and night for youthful, dewy results.

March 11, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (1)

Clip art

We love the return toward elaborate hair slides that look more like wrought iron sculptures than mere style accessories.
These pretty specimens by Bottega Veneta, in particular, caught my eye.
Deemed “must-haves” by creative director Tomas Maier, we love their serpentine, Art Deco accents and long menacing teeth.
Magnificent.
Available online here.

March 11, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (2)

February 27, 2008

Showerhead that looks like a solar system

Like the Hydra, the mythical Greek serpent of the sea, this space-age bathroom accessory possesses many heads. Five to be precise. Each of these five spinning ports (which rotate 120 times per minute) delivers pressurized streams of water, generating the kind of wake-up hydrotherapy that your puny one-headed shower can only dream of. This chrome-plated bathtime gadget looks a little like a solar system, with its outer ring that holds 32 spouts, creating a wide and soothing downpour designed to soothe the sorest muscles and joints. Even though it looks like a torture device from Mars. Buy here for under $100.

February 27, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (2)

February 26, 2008

The man behind Marion Cotillard's Oscar hair

Veteran hair stylist Robert Vetica knew immediately upon watching "La Vie En Rose" that there was something remarkable about Marion Cotillard. He walked out of the movie theatre and got on the phone to his agent immediately. "I have got to meet this woman!" he said. His agent called her publicist every week for months, even though she already had people she worked with in New York, and her own French team.
For Vetica, it was the first time he had pursued an actress like this. After all, it's not like he needs the work—he's been doing stars’ hair (Renee Zellweger, Hilary Swank, Kate Hudson, Naomi Watts) for years.
The meeting with Cotillard finally came about in the fall. "I walked in the door and I was like 'oh my god'," he recalls. "First of all, she looked like she was 21. Then she said to me, 'Oh, I'm not so young.' And I knew I had fallen in love with this girl."
I spoke with Robert shortly before he created Cotillard's beautiful Veronica Lake side-sweep for the Oscars. At first, he seemed mildly perturbed when I asked him what he was planning to do to her hair. "I don't know baby! I won't know until I get there," he said. Each hairstyle is the product of a unique alchemy, he says, sparked by the energy between he and the actress, the occasion, the dress, the makeup, and the products (He used Fekkai Coiff Shape and Set Mist ($28) and Fekkai Coiff Sheer Hold ($23) on Cotillard on Oscar night).
Marion, he says, is a joy to work with. "She doesn't even look in the mirror afterwards," he says. "She has complete trust and confidence, in herself and in me."
Vetica was based in Milan for several years and misses the freedom he had in Europe, where magazines and actresses are much more willing to experiment. He recently worked with Naomi Watts on a story for Italian Vogue, shot by Ellen von Unwerth. "She was a 1940s actress in this story...it was marvelous. But here, in the last few years, everyone has become sort of generic-looking," he sniffed. “You have to always remember that you are working with a celebrity that has a career, so you can't change their look too much."
So why are we more conservative in America, I asked?
“The problem today is this: there's so much scrutiny," he said. "I am speaking from a personal point of view. There is so much criticism by so many press, so many people who know nothing about fashion or art, making decisions about what looks good and what doesn’t. And anything different in their eyes is not acceptable. Which is why everyone wears the basic Hollywood hair. That parted-in-the-middle wave thing that every person has on every cover. Sometimes it is hard to even distinguish who the person is.”
Maybe Vetica should start a Hollywood hair revolution, I suggested? 
“Maybe,” he said. “Maybe.”

(Robert Vetica 's book  about celebrity hairstyling comes out in 2009...we'll keep you posted)

February 26, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (1)

How hazardous is your hairspray?

What do Kimora Lee Simmons' "Baby Phat Golden Goddess" perfume, Neutrogena's "Instant Nail Enhancer" 02 Pearl Sheen nail polish and Karl Lagerfeld’s "Lagerfeld Deodorant" stick all have in common?
They all score a big thumbs down when it comes to toxicity.
The Environmental Working Group’s website contains as section called Skin Deep, a fascinating guide to the chemicals, carcinogens and allergens contained in some of the most popular makeup, shampoos, perfumes, children’s skincare products and hairsprays in America. After examining the chemical components contained in each product, the EWG grades them on a scale of 0 - 10, 0 being least hazardous and 10 being most.
I was surprised to see that Neutrogena, a brand I often associate with purity, scored poorly in some categories. I was also disturbed to see a foundation I have bought, Revlon’s Age Defying Makeup, scored a terrifying 10 on the hazard scale. (Strangely enough, I do recall my skin feeling clogged and unhealthy when I used it.)
Mirenesse Stellar Beauty Limited Edition lipstick ranked worst in the lipstick category, containing ingredients linked to cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, allergies and more. Yikes!
The best ranking products were by organic and natural cosmetics companies like Larenim and Valana Minerals.
The EWG points out that due to gaping loopholes in federal law, companies can put virtually any ingredient into personal care products. The government does not require pre-market safety tests for any of them.
Which means that now more than ever, it's up to us to educate ourselves.

The EWG's Worst Offenders

Women's fragrance:
Most toxic: Baby Phat Golden Goddess by Kimora Lee Simmons and Kenneth Cole Reaction For Her
Least toxic: Bella Mira products

Nail Polish:
Most toxic: Neutrogena Instant Nail Enhancer 02 Pearl Sheen, Sally Hansen French Manicure Kit Sheerly Mauve
Least toxic: Revlon Liquid Quick Dry

Hair spray:
Most toxic: Michael diCesare Volume Factor Lock In Finishing Spray
Least toxic: got2b products

Deodorant:
Most toxic: BVLGARI Eau Parfumee au the vert deodorant stick and Karl Lagerfeld Lagerfeld Deodorant stick
Least toxic: Crystal Body Deodorant Spray Mist

Foundation:
Most toxic: Revlon Age Defying Makeup and Concealer, Mirenesse Stellar Beauty Limited Edition
Least toxic: Zosimos, Dermablend, Valana Minerals, Larenim

Lipstick:
Most toxic: Mirenesse Stellar Beauty Limited Edition, Revlon Super Lustrous Frost Lipstick
Least toxic: Canary Cosmetics, Miessence, Valana Minerals

February 26, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 15, 2008

Press-on eye-shadow for the Eighties-inclined

You can totally look like Sheena Easton in the "U Got the Look" video, or Boy George on a Tuesday, thanks to this ultra-lazy invention: press-on eye-shadow.
That's right: forget all that "blend blend blend" nonsense, and just pop one of these on your lids. Press, peel and voilà—you're ready for your own personal New Wave.
These Instant Eye Shadow Applicators are made by ColorOn Professional.
Go on, we dare you.

February 15, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

Never can say goodbye

"Sorry" isn't the hardest word—good bye is, especially when it comes to your favorite, most crucial lipstick or foundation. We've all had that moment, you know, when after 15 years of happy co-dependency, your go-to product suddenly vanishes from the shelves, with no time even for a farewell funeral service.
Realizing the emotional trauma this causes, the thoughtful folks at Lancôme have launched a new page on their site called Beauty Bye Bye, which tells you which of their products have been targeted for termination. This allows you the opportunity to panic bulk-buy, while affording you enough time to find a suitable replacement product. 
I learned, for example, that the Magic Matte soft perfecting mousse will soon be toast, as will the Star Bronzer and certain loose powder eyeshadows. Oh well. Never liked those anyway.

February 15, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 28, 2008

Big Apple beauty organizer

Need an eyelash perm at 1p.m. in the East Village? Fancy a quick photorejuvenation at 3.20p.m. on the Upper West Side? Lifebooker, a new handy website for beauty conscious Manhattanites, can help you book the right treatment, at the right time, in the right location. Whatever your pampering need, the site will scour the appointment books of some of the best spas in the city to find the exact treatment you're searching for. Book through Lifebooker and you'll also earn reward dollars toward your next treatment. Reserving a pre-natal Swedish massage at 8.30a.m. in Nolita has never been this easy.

January 28, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (3)

January 23, 2008

Perfume that you can't smell

Escentric Molecules is a British-based cutting-ege scent company that is revolutionizing the way we look at (and smell) perfume.
They only make two scents - Escentric 01 and Molecule 01 - both of which are far subtler than your average squirt of Sephora.
Using an approach never before seen, the fragrances are comprised of just one of the perfume industry's most popular base notes—the sweet, woody Iso E Super.
Molecule 01 is comprised of just Iso E Super, and here's the thing--not only does it smell different on each person who wears it (the soft woody fragrance is highly-sensitive to body chemistry), sometimes the wearer can't actually smell it on themselves. "A lot of our customers say they can't smell it on themselves, but that others can smell it on them," a sales assistant at boutique perfume outlet The Scent Bar told me. "It really opens on the wearer."
The Escentric fragrance has a citrus top note and pink pepper added to it, for a fresher, crisper aroma. Kate Moss was said to have ordered several bottles of Escentric scents.
The company was founded by Berlin-based perfumer Geza Schoen, and two London operations: ThisCompany, the "emotional branding experts" and MeCompany, whose graphic work has included Bjork's album sleeves and advertising campaigns for Lancôme. MeCompany created the graphics for Escentric 01, depicting binary code on the bottle.
Buy here.

January 23, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 22, 2008

Mischa accomplished

Mischa Barton has mastered Sundance style better than most this year, passing the cold weather test with flying colors. Where many have found themselves lost under their Park City Parkas, Barton has impressed us with her effortless style for all seasons, especially her clever choice of headwear. We love her flap-eared Nepalese-style woolly hat, bright print scarves, sun kissed locks and au naturel makeup. Bravo, Ms. Barton!
Barton is in Park City for the premiere of her movie "Assassination of a High School President", a dark comedy in which she plays a young seductress helping a high school newspaper reporter figure out who stole some SAT papers. She turns 23 on January 24.

January 22, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (7)

January 16, 2008

New Warhol fragrance by Bond No. 9

Andy Warhol once said his favorite smell was "the first smell of spring in New York". We wonder what he'd think of this, the second of Bond No. 9's Warhol-inspired fragrances.
Called "Andy Warhol Union Square", the bottle design is inspired by Warhol's "Flowers" silkscreens and by Union Square, which was the second location of his Factory. The limited edition portfolio of ten bottles is "spectacular" according to the makers. And the smell itself? It has a cool silver cloud musk and amber base, with lily of the valley top notes and a sweet blue freesia and white birchwood heart. I have a feeling this fragrance will last longer than 15 minutes. Available March 1.

January 16, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (4)

January 14, 2008

Once you go black, Pt. I

About two years ago, my hair turned black. The inkiest hue of raven's wing ebony you ever did see. It was thanks to the colorist at Vidal Sassoon. A friend was training as a stylist there, and I had volunteered to be a model for her end-of-term assessment. At that time, my hair was a medium brown color. As I sat in the chair, the colorist asked me: "How do you feel about going black?" She added that once you go black, it really is hard to go back. At the time, things were a little shaky in my life. I had just gone through a break-up. I was feeling drab, boring, unloveable. Black seemed risqué. Sexy. Mysterious. I banished thoughts of Cher, Tony Curtis and early-era Ashlee Simpson, focusing instead on Winona, Lara Croft, Lucy Liu. "Do it!" I said.
Amazing how decisions made in seconds can sometimes take years to rectify.
At first, I liked my striking black look, and the odd, assymetrical cut that came with it. I felt bold, bad-ass, adolescent. Then, in a rebellious moment, I chopped my long black locks into a Louise Brookes bob, by myself, with kitchen scissors. Rockin', I thought.
(As I mentioned before, isn't it amazing how decisions made in seconds can take years to rectify.)
Time marched on. I turned 30. Got over my broken heart. And then one day, about six months ago, I looked in the mirror and realized something. I look like Elvira.
A hairdresser near the Beverly Center estimated it would cost $700 to get my hair back to a medium brown, which seemed a little steep, thank you very much. So I went to see my good friend Tommy, owner of Sugar salon in Silverlake. Tommy is a biker who loves nothing more than painting foil highlights on Eastside babes. He told me that "Vogue" magazine had just called the salon, talking about doing a photo shoot. He wasn't sure how he felt about it. I assured him that "Vogue" calling was definitely something to feel good about.
Then he examined my inky hair. "Let's do an experiment," he said. He took a small clump of obsidian follicles and applied bleach. We both observed with interest as the two inches closest to my roots lifted to a nice shade of cinnamon. The rest remained black as a coal miner's visage.
There's this stuff that dissolves the darkness, he told me, promising he would go buy some. Then he sent me home, dark and dejected.
So I went online, looking for some answers. The news wasn't good.
People talked about putting "Tide" washing detergent in their hair to help dissolve the ink. Ingenious! Then I read on and learned that this only works if you have dyed it in the last week or so. Darn. Others recommended applying dish detergent to dull it out. (Can you imagine having hair that smells of Palmolive Oxy Plus?) Again, this only works if it has been freshly dyed.
One girl recommended sitting in a chlorinated pool for a long time. Or leaving lemon juice on your hair, and then blow drying. Both sounded like a fast-lane to frazzle, if you ask me.
I read about a a product called Colorfix at the website Nightmare Hair.com, which strips the black out so you can dye over it. "My roots are canary, my middle is bright freaking red and the ends are dark red," wrote one reader. Another described her hair as "apricot-colored". Hmmm.
There is no happy ending to this story, by the way. Not yet, at least. I am going back to the salon shortly and we'll see what happens.
(PS: I am listening to Black Sabbath as I write this. As they say, once you go Black...)

January 14, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (7)

January 10, 2008

Shu Uemura, 1928 - 2007

I was sad to read this obituary online...

LEGENDARY Japanese make-up extraordinaire Shu Uemura, who built an international cosmetics brand under his name, died of acute pneumonia in Tokyo on Dec 29. The news of his death was released on Tuesday. He was 79. He leaves a wife and a son. 
Born in Tokyo in 1928, Uemura graduated from a beauty school before heading to Hollywood to be a make-up artist in the 1950s. He was said to be the only man in his class at beauty school.  
His big break to fame came when he worked with actress Shirley MacLaine on the 1962 Hollywood film My Geisha, after the staff make-up artist fell ill. His expertise in transforming MacLaine into a Japanese seductress won the young Uemura Hollywood fame. He became a favourite among top actresses as well as the likes of singer Frank Sinatra and actor Edward G. Robinson. 
As Japan was rebuilt from the ashes of WWII into the world’s second largest economy, Uemura returned to tap into the growing consumer market. He opened a Hollywood-style make-up studio in Tokyo in 1965, and two years later introduced to Japan cleansing oil to wash away make-up. His “magic oil” quickly became popular among Hollywood actresses and the product remains popular even today.
Uemura believed that “beautiful skin is essential for beautiful make-up”. To him, beautiful skin was the canvas for make-up and the secret to beautiful skin started with gentle, thorough cleansing. That’s why his cleansing oils are central to the brand’s concept of beauty. 
In 1983, amid Japan’s economic boom and just as Tokyo was establishing itself as a fashion trendsetter, Uemura launched a cosmetics boutique in the capital. It drew crowds for its gallery-like interior. Other than Japan, he had branches overseas with stores in Paris, New York, London, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Milan, Singapore and Taipei.
Other than the brand’s signature cleansing oils and cosmetics, Uemura expanded his brand to include elegant handmade make-up brushes, perfumes, and fake eyelashes and eyelash curlers. Shu Uemura’s eyelash curlers were mentioned in The Devil Wears Prada starring Meryl Streep.
During a press conference in Tokyo in 2006, Uemura met the international press and gave a make-up demonstration using lipsticks from his newest range. 

Read the rest here.

January 10, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 7, 2008

Men and their faces

I hate the word "metrosexual". Aside from the fact it is passé, I dislike the way it quietly perpetuates the myth that guys who care about their appearance must be at least a little bit gay. As though only "girly men" would ever dream of taking care of their skin. Pah!
The male skincare business is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the beauty industry, and for a good reason. Guys, whether or not they read "GQ" and "Men's Health", are realizing that slapping on Trader Joe's All Purpose Hand Cream twice a year won't cut it anymore.
For the record, the dawning of a new era of skin consciousness among men is not a turn-off, not to me at least. There's a big difference between watching a dude spend hours in front of the mirror strategically applying pomade, and watching him simply invest in a good moisturizer. I think it's up there with taking your vitamins and working out.
But listen up boys, it's actually not a good idea to simply swipe your girlfriend's cream. Men and women have very different facial skin, with different needs. So unless your girlfriend happens to have a beard like you do, you should check out one of the many skincare lines designed specifically for guys, like Jack Black, ZIRH, Baxter of California and Menscience Androceuticals.
Then, start using an SPF moisturizer every day. Acquaint your male self with the term AHA.  Read blogs like Grooming Health and Men Essentials. And then marvel when, on your 54th birthday, you don't look all craggy and groupie-worn, like our friend Robert Plant.

January 7, 2008 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (1)

December 27, 2007

Foamy organic face wash

So hard to find a good face wash, don't you think? My mom uses Lancôme gel washes with little microdermabrasion balls in them. I don't like 'em, they feel scratchy on my skin. I have friends who swear by good old soap and water. But here in L.A., where the air is dry as bone, that kind of attitude can leave you with a nasty flaky face. The trick is finding something that will really cleanse without stripping away all the moisture from your skin. But I think I may have found a good face wash, one that works for me anyhow. For the last few weeks I have been using the Origins Organics face wash. Origins has been around since 1990, making naturally-based beauty products. In October, they launched their first line of USDA-certified organic products, including a lip balm, body lotion, massage oil, purifying tonic and - hallelujah! - face wash. The product smells herby-clean, foams nicely and and leaves my skin glowing and slightly tingly. And no dryness to report whatsoever...it's a miracle!
Find out more here.

December 27, 2007 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 24, 2007

Sally Hershberger gives us Supreme Head

Sally Hershberger, the woman known for giving Meg Ryan her famous nineties shag, is doing us all a big favor and launching a product line that we can actually afford. Her cheekily named Supreme Head line, which  launches in January exclusively at Walgreens, comes in much cheaper than a trim at her salon ($800, thank you very much). Supreme Head products will start at $5. 

December 24, 2007 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (1)

December 20, 2007

The man behind Johnny Depp's Anna Wintour bowl

Meet Peter Owen, hair and make-up artist extraordinaire and Hollywood's go-to wig guy. He has a special place in my heart because he is responsible for creating Johnny Depp's marvelous Anna Wintour-style helmet bob in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory".
"Do people really call it the Anna Wintour bob?" he asked me, talking today long-distance from Bristol, England. "That's great," he said, adding that Willy Wonka's look was all about androgyny anyhow. "I knew he had to have straight hair and that it had to be chocolate brown. I flung the wig on Johnny and cut it on him and I knew that was the look. Immediately. Then I plucked his eyebrows and gave him lipstick and false teeth and he ended up looking like a rather successful lesbian." Too true, too true.
Owen was also in charge of hair and makeup for the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy (here he is holding his Oscar for those movies). So naturally, every single character in the trilogy ("except for three children") was wearing a hairpiece of some sort. That's right--Cate Blanchett's elfin tresses, Frodo's shaggy perm and Viggo Mortensen's otherwise ordinary-looking mop--all very much detachable, crafted by the nimble fingers of Owen and his team. "Very few people realized that Viggo's hair is a wig in that movie because it looks so natural," says Owen, "but it isn't even close to what his natural hair color is."
Owen, who devised hair and makeup for this month's "Sweeney Todd" ("Tim Burton and I have worked so often together, he talks to me in shorthand") has a close working relationship with many stars, and will often be called to the set of whatever movie they happen to be working on. "It's much easier for actors to wear wigs for different parts, rather than having their real hair dyed or cut for each movie," he said. He works with everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Renee Zellweger to Nicole Kidman. "No-one has seen Nicole Kidman's own hair since she met me," said Owen. "Its all full-lace wigs."
Naturally you can never tell, as Owen is a master of his craft which, amazingly, he taught himself. "I started making wigs while I was studying at Bristol University," he said. What was he studying, I wondered. "French and German."  Owen is working with Kidman on her next movie "The Reader", shooting in Berlin in January.

December 20, 2007 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (1)

December 18, 2007

Frilly Lilly Bathcakes

I have to admit, I have issues with crazy-flavored bath stuffs.
Chocolate shower gel? Espresso toothpaste? Bubblegum bikini wax?
They sound so yummy in theory, but in practice, often have a chemical pungence that sends me running straight back to my Pears soap and Neutrogena shower oil.
That said, I have it on good authority that Frilly Lilly Bathcakes are the shiz.
The bath bombs, hand-shaped and decorated to look like French petits fours and bundt cakes, look so damn pretty you really do want to eat them. That would not be advised. But then it seems a shame to toss them into bath water where they will sizzle and melt into fragrant nothingness.
I suggest buying them and hanging them from your Christmas Tree
instead.
Pick some up here

December 18, 2007 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 14, 2007

Green beauty emporium opens

When make-up artist Reneta Helfman decided to rid her lifestyle of all chemicals, she set out on a mission to find luxury all-natural beauty products. On her quest, she discovered tons of great lines like Red Flower, Caldera, Stella McCartney and Erbaviva. The problem was in order to collect all these goodies, Helfman had to spend hours traveling around to different stores like Barneys, Sephora and Fred Segal.
One day, while sitting in her car, a light bulb went off. "I thought in this day and age when everything is going green, how could there not be a store for all of these products?" Six months later, Vert was born. A chic beauty boutique on Abbott Kinney in Venice is a breath of fresh air, offering a wide selection of luxury eco-friendly products. Helman says cutting chemicals out of her lifestyle has brought with it many benefits."I feel like a different person. My hair has grown long, my skin is better and my energy levels greatly increased," she said. Celebrities are already taking notice of the new shop and Thursday's opening night soiree drew flawless faces like Molly Sims and Ginnifer Goodwin.
(Story by Mia McNiece)
 
 

December 14, 2007 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 12, 2007

Stylephile readers and their hair disasters

Last week I invited you to share your "most interesting hair color ever" stories for the chance to win a gorgeous Tarina Tarantino beaded necklace, worth $100. More than 30 of you entered, including the poor girl who accidentally turned her hair Bozo the Clown Red, another who misguidedly gave herself highlights using Jolen mustache bleach, and one who failed her driving test because she was so distressed at her B52s burgundy fiasco. 

In the end we chose this entry by a ballroom dancer whose hair glowed violet every time she stepped under strip-lighting. (We also loved was the thought of her with a red "Annie" perm, tango-ing on the dance floor.)

"Despite the MANY colors I went through (not all of my own choosing....) when I was competing as a ballroom dancer, from platinum to black lacquer and everything in between - including an extremely unfortunate combination of bright, bright I Love Lucy red and a truly regrettable perm (think Andrea McArdle warbling "Tomorrow"......) - the absolute best color I ever had, was BLACK ORCHID!!! It was a cellophane color, supposedly transparent, but on me, it was BLACK. Until a strong light hit it.... then it just flashed this wonderful purple. Fabulous on the show floor. Not so great, though, at the 7-11 one night when those nasty vapor lights hit me at a bad angle, and a bunch of kids yelled out, "Hey Plumhead! Fruitstand is that way!"

December 12, 2007 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 10, 2007

Confidence in a bottle

Alexis Smart is a modern-day medicine woman, a flower healer who can supply you with confidence and organizational skills, in a bottle you can buy online.
Smart was once a succesful commercial actress, starring in ad campaigns for Pepsi, Doritos and IBM.
Then she decided to explore a different path. She studied to become a flower essences healer, using Dr. Bach flower remedies to overcome her own shyness, and even to help herself get organized. She prescribed "go get 'em" essences to "Project Runway’s" Jeffrey Sebelia, who went on to win the show.
I met her at a party over the summer (at the home of former U.S. air guitar champion Bjorn Turoque) and she told me all about her practice. A few weeks later, I visited her at her Echo Park bungalow for a consultation. We sipped honeyed tea and I told her some of my goals, and described my family history.
She figured out my flower personality type—I am overly empathetic apparently, and prioritize the emotional needs of others over my own. Which is great for being a writer, bad when it comes to deciding what I want for dessert. She prescribed me a little bottle of flower essence, my own special blend of cerato, honeysuckle and scleranthus, and I took three drops a few times a day for a month. I remember feeling more confident in my own decision-making powers almost immediately.
Smart is selling three of her special blends for $25 each over the holiday season. Spotlight was created by Smart to help her brave commercial auditions, and works for those experiencing shyness, nervousness or lack of confidence. My Personal Assistant helps if you are over-worked or are a new mother with frazzled nerves. Or great a motivator for those who suffer from procrastination.
Buy them here.

December 10, 2007 in BEAUTY | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 3, 2007

Even dogs have bad hair days

My terri-poo Romeo is without doubt the best-looking dog in the world. Anyone who owns a dog will understand this somewhat irrational sense of maternal pride. Being oblivious to all your stinky pooch's faults and idiosyncrasies is just part and parcel of being a doggie mom.
So imagine my horror when I snapped a photo of my little treasure, and saw this:
The cracked-out, drooling Gollum creature with Terminator eyes  looking back at me was not my dog. Where was my cute little fuzzball? Romeo had clearly been possessed by some kind of evil cross-eyed wolf demon. 'You're no dog of mine,' I shuddered, shooing Romeo from the room. It took a while for the shock to wear off. Then Romeo, with perfect timing as always, pushed open the door with his paw, and bounced up on to my lap, staring at me with his inquisitive brown eyes. His little pink tongue was flapping as if to say "look! I'm still cute!" I learned an important lesson that day. Just like humans, dogs have bad hair days too. We must not judge them.

December 3, 2007 in BEAUTY |