Just in time for spring, the June 2010 issue of Women’s Health Magazine will report the winners of their 4th annual Beauty Awards. Featuring both reader’s and editor’s picks by category (hair, face, body, and makeup), I had the privilege of joining the publication for the announcement of their winners and received an advanced copy of the magazine.

So who won? Here’s a sneak peek at some of my favorite editor’s picks:

• Best Budge-proof Eye Shadow – Tarte Lock & Roll Eyeshadow in Burnt Bronze
• Best Sheer Cheek Color – NARS Cadacques Multiple Tint
• Best Foundation – Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
• Best Self-Tanner – Clarins Self-Tanning Instant Gel
• Best Mascara – CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume
• Best Dry Shampoo – Umberto Beverly Hills Dry Clean Dry Shampoo
• Best OTC Treatment for Uneven Skin Pigmentation – Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector

I have to say this event was a lot of fun. Women’s Health Magazine featured all the winners by category and I greatly enjoyed reading about each product and having the opportunity to talk makeup with Women’s Health Beauty Director Molly Nover-Baker and Associate Beauty Editor Alexis Farah and answering the infamous question of ‘what do you think?’ Honestly, I was impressed for a number of reasons, mainly because I thought it was very original.

I was happy to see of the products I had tried, all of them were in my top five for that category (if not my favorite), and pleasantly surprised that I hadn’t tried the majority of the winners. There was great mix of mass and prestige brands across all categories and price points. They didn’t choose a lot of the ‘classic winners’, which while deserving, it’s always nice to learn about some unsung heroes who are just as worthy. In fact, I noticed a healthy assortment of new products that launched within the past year that have been on my radar won. Of course we all have our favorite products and brands we’d love to see make the charts, but it’s difficult to be so opinionated when there really are so many spectacular products on the market right now. So while I can’t judge what I haven’t tried based on the assortment of winners, I’m very intrigued and excited to try their recommendations. This is especially true for the Best Product for Curly Hair winner of whom Alexis raved about –however you’ll have to pick up the issue for that winner (I’ve spoiled enough of the surprise).

The complete list of winners is available in the June 2010 issue Women’s Health Magazine hitting newsstands on May 25th. For more information visit WomensHealthMag.com

“Uptown Debbie Harry” served as the inspiration for Phillip Lim at the designer’s 3.1 Phillip Lim Fall/Winter 2010 Collection. “This is a youthful, rebellious look that exudes a strong sense of confidence.  Energy radiates within the girls through their makeup with eyes that have a bit of a rock and roll feel,” said designer Phillip Lim.  Unlike the infamous Mrs. Harry, this Debbie is not exactly the leather-clad, hard-edged girl of a Blondie video.  She has a look that’s classic yet modern, polished but with a hints of rebellion.  She’s definitely got an edge but it’s more unexpected.

HAIR: Lead Stylist Odile Gilbert for PHYTO

Taking inspiration from this altered state of Debbie, famed hairstylist Odile Gilbert, created a look that was both refined yet Rock & Roll.  Long, voluminous waves had just enough fluff and feather to invoke the spirit of Ms. Harry.  Using all Phyto products Gilbert applied Intense Volume Mousse and created volume by blowdrying hair upside down.   She then used a curling iron to create soft waves and finished with Volume Actif Hair Spray for hold, and #7 Hydrating Cream to seal the ends.

MAKEUP: Lead Stylist Lisa Butler for NARS Cosmetics

“This look has many layers,” said NARS Cosmetic’s lead artist Lisa Butler. “The eyes are punchy and edgy while the skin was kept healthy and glowing. The lips are a soft, sheer pink for the elegant punk-rock princess style that Phillip was looking for.”  NARS Cosmetics accomplished their goal, keeping the models looking youthful and glowing with light lips but captured the edge in the eyes with a smokier look.

Here’s how to get the look:

FACE

• Riviera Multiple
• Douceur Blush (NEW for Fall 2010); try Lovejoy or Madly Blush for a similar effect
• Luxor Multiple

EYES

• Abyssinia Single Eyeshadow
• Nymphea Single Eyeshadow
• Coconut Grove Single Eyeshadow (NEW for Fall 2010); try Bali Single Eyeshadow for a similar effect
• London Eyeliner Pencil

LIPS

• Bangkok Pure Matte Lipstick (NEW for Fall 2010); try Sex Machine Velvet Matte Lip Pencil for a similar effect

NAILS: Lead Stylist Angi Wingle used CND Nail Polish

Angi Wingle completed the refined rocker look on nails with a French manicure using Creamy Cameo and Gold Chrome tips.

HAIR: Lead Hair Stylist Laurent Philippon for Bumble and Bumble

Inspired by Steven Meisel’s photography in the ‘90s, Laurent Philippon created simple straight lines for the hairstyle to balance the vibrant mix of colors and textures coming from Som’s collection, and the bold purple lip from MAC. Using all Bumble and Bumble products, Laurent saturated locks in ‘Prep’ prior to straightening, then flat ironed in sections, misting in ‘Does It All Styling Spray’ to create a bone straight look with a sleek middle part.

MAKEUP: Lead Makeup Artist, Tom Pecheux for M.A.C

“The look was uptown girl, meets Woodstock, a shimmery golden eye to contradict the deep, dark, purple lip.”  -Tom Pecheux

EYES:

• Studio Sculpt Concealer – applied over the eyelid
• Set Powder in Invisible – powdered over the eye area to set concealer
• Pigment in with Legal – swept over the concealed eyelid from lash to brow and in the inner eye corner
• Iridescent Powder in Silver Dusk – lightly appliet to the inner eye corner and under the brow Bone
• Studio Fix Lash – applied to top and bottom lash

FACE:

• Studio Sculpt SPF Foundation – applied all over the face
• Set Powder in Invisible – brushed over the skin to set the foundation for a matte finish
• Iridescent powder in Silver Dusk – lightly Brushed on cheekbones.

LIP:

• Lip Pencil in Currant – lined around the natural shape of the mouth, for the perfect lip definition
• Lipstick in Kittenish – applied all over lip with a M.A.C 242 Brush
• Mineralized Eye Shadow Duo in My Dark Magic – lightly applied over lipstick with fingertip

NAILS: Zoya Nail Polish in Charity

My trips two weeks, so I packed the essentials for my paradise vacation:

• Shiseido Suncare Refreshing Sun Protection Spray SPF 16 - 150ml/5 fl.oz. $28.00
• Sponge Ladi Avokanto – 50ml/1.7 fl.oz. $100
• Whish Flawless Ingrown Hair Serum – 35ml/1.1 fl.oz. $22.50
• Macadamia Natural Oil Rejuvenating Shampoo – 300ml/10 fl.oz. $18
• Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment – 4.2oz/$36, .35oz/$6
• Macadamia Natural Oil Nourishing Leave-In Cream – 300ml/10 fl.oz. $26
• Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Infused Comb – $12
• Vichy Apres Soleil Daily Milky Care – 150ml
• Tweezerman Hot For Dots Mini Slant Tweezer – $15
• Hard Candy Just Nail Polish in Pretty in Punk (pink), Frenzy (teal), and Splendid (yellow). 10.3ml/.35 fl.oz. $5
• Ken Paves Travel Nano Silver Tourmaline Ceramic 1 inch Plate Flat Iron – $59.95
• Estee Lauder Nutritious Vita-Mineral Liquid Foundation SPF 10 – 30ml/1. fl.oz LIQ. $33.50
• Avalon Organics Bath & Shower Gel in Peppermint – 350ml/12 fl.oz. $10.95
• Upper Canada Hand & Body Lotion – 360ml/12 fl.oz

More in depth review to come, but for now I need to catch a flight!

Affiliation: Sponge, Whish, Macadamia Natural Oil, Hard Candy, Ken Paves, and Upper Canada products we’re sent to me by a company representative for the purpose of this blog.  Estee Lauder was given to me by a company rep. for a previous blog I wrote for; Shiseido I received in a gift bag. I was under no obligation to write this review for any of these brands.

*My flash decided to censor my stuffed bra. Top by Nicole Romano, Blue Jean Denim Leggings by Mark. (worked great for stuffing my behind!), Shoes by Jeffrey Campbell

Oh Kim, why did we think Karaoke as a good idea?

Look at those eyes! Ignore my hair (I was rained on)

Halloween is a fun time of year when you can really go outside your comfort zone and play dress up without any concern about looking too ridiculous or over-dressed.  This year, I decided to be Kim Kardashian.  It was very entertaining creating this costume considering it was my first ‘stuff my bra/butt experience.’  It also gave me an opportunity to test a lot of products.

Here’s a quick excerpt of the my Kim Kardashian look (more detailed review to come):

HAIR:

Redken Go Clean Shampoo and Finish Up Conditioner – Love it! This is part of Redken’s men’s line but it works really well on my hair.  Great lather, my hair comes out shiny and well, clean.  But yes, you’ll smell like a dude.  When men ask me for a list of products I recommend for them, this is always on the list (unless they have color treated hair).

Ken Paves Professional Styling Iron – Part of Ken Paves’ Travel line, is this lightweight straightener, which is fast becoming my everyday straightener – it’s that good.  Originally I was apprehensive about this product since I didn’t think ‘one heat setting fits all’ is viable for flat irons; however it gets very hot (up to 410 degrees F), which is what is really necessary for my curly hair.  Warning, if you generally use your flat iron on a low heat setting, this may not be the product for you.  Unless of course the heat settings automatically adjusts based on hair need, but either way there is no dial to manually control it.  I will investigate this further and report back.

Living Proof Straight Making No Frizz Styling Treatment - a great protective cream for when you’re using a flat iron or blow-drying your hair.  Helps fight frizz and only requires a small dollop to service your entire scalp.  It’s no wonder this line has been winning so many prestigious beauty awards!

Cutler Specialist Fly-Away Control Stick - This is my go to product for fly aways. Shaped like a deodorant stick, I just roll them over problematic areas and I’m all set for the entire evening.

John Frieda Luxurious Volume All-Out Hold Hairspray – This product fell a little flat.  It has great hold, but didn’t maintain the volume I was hoping for.

LIPS:

L’Oreal Infallible Plumping Lip Gloss in Plumped Pink and Plumped Red – It tingles a bit, and I definitely felt a little plumping action taking place, but having pretty full lips already, it wasn’t anything drastic or obvious to any of my friends.

The colors are great, and I like the sponge wand as an applicator. Plumped Pink is a frosty pink (very Kardashian), however I mixed it with Plumped Red (which is very me) to give the soft red shade you see in the photos.

The gloss gave a great, smooth finish without being too heavy or sticky.  They claim it last 6 hours, which may only be realistic if you’re planning on not eating or drinking the entire time, since it does come off on contact.  For a strong payoff, I would reapply every 1-2 hours, or in my case, it was every 30 minutes.  I had no choice…I was Kim Kardashian!

EYES:

Heidi Klum for Victoria’s Secret Makeup Eye Shadow Palette in Hidden Palace –I’m obsessed with this palette!  The colors mix so well with each other — all that’s required is a great blending brush and you can instantly create a wide array of beautiful looks.  Minus the eye pencil and mascara, my entire eye look is thanks to this amazing palette. (BTW, the photo does not do them justice!).  I received compliments all night.

L’Oreal HIP Eyeliner in Black Chrome – It goes on as a pencil but looks like liquid eyeliner, which is great for people like me who do not have a steady hand.  This pencil has amazing stay on power (even against my eye-makeup remover).  Just make sure you keep it sharpened!  Due to its rich crème formula, I can only use it about twice before it dulls.

Dior Show Mascara in Black 090– This is one of the most celebrated mascaras out there and for good reason.  A favorite of mine for years, it came down to, do I get fake lashes or Dior Show?  Great thickening and lengthening power, this mascara really helped complete my look.

FACE:

Hard Candy So Baked Bronzer in Heat Wave – This product blended really well into my foundation without being cakey or appearing to sit on the surface of my makeup.  This bronzer layers well and is capable of achieving the look from sun-kissed to deep bronzed, depending on what depth of shade you’re looking. Make sure when using bronzer (this applies to all brands), you’re using a good bronzing brush and your skin is fully prepped (whether using a primer or moisturizer), otherwise you could be missing out on the product’s best potential.

OTHER:

Lavanila the Healthy Deodorant in Vanilla Grapefruit - I’ve used many natural deodorants in my lifetime, and this is by far is the best.  Mainly because the others were generally messy and did not work well.  This easy to use stick, not only absorbed quickly into my skin, but also kept me dry all night.  The only issue is, I am not fond of the grapefruit/vanilla smell, which fortunately faded shortly after application.  Next time I’m going for the Vanilla Lavender scent!

Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel – This is my staple body tanner (although it’s also safe for your face).  Shortly after my trip to the Dominican Republic, this product helped sustain my tan and give it a really rich and even bronzed tint.  The gel-like formula blends smoothly and evenly into my skin.

WHAT I’M WEARING -

Top by Nicole Romano

Blue Jean Denim Leggings by Mark. (worked great for stuffing my behind!)

Shoes by Jeffrey Campbell

Affiliation: The following beauty products were sent to me by a representative: L’Oreal, Ken Paves, Victoria’s Secret, Hard Candy, Lavanila, John Frieda.  I was under no obligation to review any of these products.

In anticipation of my birthday this week, it triggered the usual, ‘What do I wear? How should I wear my makeup?’ freak-out.  Fortunately, I received a complimentary makeup application at Paul Labrecque Salon and Spa in the gift bag from Nicole Williams‘, Girl on Top book launch.  No time like the present to use it!

Considering the reputation of the salon, and the many beauty awards they’ve received (everyone from Vogue, and InStyle, to Allure Magazine), I plopped myself down on the chair and placed my complete trust in them.  I gave no guidelines on the application or makeup look, just a description of my outfit to my big event so the stylist could make sure they matched.

Without any hesitation, my lovely stylist Salome, who has been with the company for over 8 years, gave me a gorgeous bronzed glow, using product by NARS Cosmetics and Cle de Peau.

But see for yourself:

My birthday look:

EYES:

NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Pandora, Kilimanjaro, and Isolde

Cle de Peau Intensifying Cream Eyeliner in #101

Cle de Peau Mascara in Volume in Black #101

FACE:

NARS Liquid Foundation in Sedona

NARS Face Powder in Mountain

NARS Concealer in Toffee

NARS Multiple Stick in Palm Beach

CHEEKS:

NARS Blush in Exhibit A

LIPS:

NARS Lipliner in Papau

NARS Lip Gloss in Turkish Delight and Stolen Kisses (NARS)
The staff was so great and warm, I had such a lovely experience and my makeup lasted all night, without any touch ups.

Thank you Salome and Paul Labrecque for making my day so special!

For more information onn Paul Labrecque Salon and Spa click HERE

The Hard Candy for Walmart launch party

Founded in 1995 by Dineh Mohajer, Hard Candy is one of those brands that takes me back.  That’s the year Clueless hit theatres and every female teen from that generation, become instantly obsessed with Alicia Silverstone.  Well at least I did, so when she appeared on the Letterman show talking about her ‘Sky’ nail polish from Hard Candy, it’s no wonder that color became an overnight cult favorite.  It was pastel blue and I loved it.

At the Hard Candy for Walmart launch party

So imagine my excitement when I received an invitation to attend Hard Candy’s launch party on August 18th at the Bryant Park Hotel.  Guests were given a makeup bag and access to a gondola stocked with the entire line, and told to basically go nuts. I went straight for the nail polish, but grabbed a few other categories to try (I had a makeup case, not a suitcase).  I’m happy to report the nail polish is still in the original packaging, and as good as ever.  And while I didn’t see ‘Sky’ in the assortment, I am loving ‘Pretty in Punk’ (hot pink) and ‘The End’ (black).  All of their nail polish is DBP, toluene, and formaldehyde free.

What can I say, I haven’t worn pastels in over a decade, I’ve moved on, and evidently so has Hard Candy- to bigger (markets) and better (wallet happier prices) things!

For more information visit Walmart or Hard Candy

On Saturday, September 12th, Gina Brooks, Artistic Director of Shu Uemura, was kind enough to extend an invitation to go backstage and preview the look for Vivienne Tam’s Spring 2010 runway collection.  Considering this was the last year fashion week would be held at Bryant Park (sniff, sniff), I was anxious to get to the tents.

The inspiration for the show was nature.  Gina Brooks did an exceptional job embodying the theme and creating a clean, natural face with soft pink cheeks and dramatic lashes that appeared like butterfly wings (using the Shu Uemura Farfallina False Eyelashes on both the top and bottom lash line).

“Butterflies were seen everywhere in Vivienne’s collection which was inspired by freedom, life and the 1960’s,” said Brooke. “It was only natural to have these beautiful, wing-like lashes flank the models’ eyes to resemble one of earth’s most gorgeous creatures.”

Get the Look:

Farfallina False Eyelashes – $29.00

Nobara Cream Cover Stick – $42.00

Primal Mix Blush – $24.00

Eyebrow Gel - $24.00

Rouge Unlimited 942 – $23.00

Shu Uemura Artistic Director Gina Brook

Hair by Kevin Mancuso for Kevin Mancuso Salons.  Following suit, Kevin completed the look with middle parts, producing loose waves on these models flowing locks, creating a modern twist on a classic hippie do.

After my interview, I had a little time to kill until the show started.  Fortunately, I ran into a friend who invited me to the W Hotels VIP Backstage Lounge, sponsored by Veuve Clicquot.  I had me a drink (or two) while mingling with some of fashion’s finest.

Showtime! I filed into the crowd excited for Vivienne Tam’s collection and especially thrilled to see the premiere of her latest collaboration with HP for their digital clutch.  A beauty bloggers dream! So compact and stylish, I want it!  But like Vivienne Tam’s collection, this stunning piece of machinery is not expected to launch until Spring 2010.

A stunning show it was, but see for yourself.  Click HERE for complete image coverage of Vivienne Tam’s Spring 2010 Collection.

For more on the Vivienne Tam/HP Digital Clutch click HERE