Lisa Hoffman's Variations are Very, Very Nice

 I've been a huge (not just big( fan of Lisa Hoffman Beauty products ever since I discovered them a couple of years ago. The products are excellent, and Lisa produces some of the finest, effective, travel-friendly products I have ever used.  One of those products is a fragrance collection called Variations $95.00/set Refills $60.00/4.

The idea is that your body chemistry changes during the various hours of the day, so just one scent might not be as nice all the time. Variations pairs four precious pulse-point oils (in tiny glass vials with roller ball tops) around a main scent theme. They are similar but different enough tocompliment a woman's varying, olfactory sensitivities throughout the hours day and night. The core scents are reasonably light, but they are "adjusted" so that the morning version is subtle and refreshing, getting richer and more full-bodied for daytime, more sensual for the evening, and more soothing and powdery and soft, at bed time. 

The original version of Variations came encased in a soft, luxe, genuine leather, magnetic closure pouch with individual, leather bands to hold the precious scents. There was also space in the interior of the pouch for a credit card, some money, or maybe, a few business cards. But there is a Limited Edition Set that features just two, 1.7 fl. oz. roller ball vials of the variations:  Day and Night.  These are simply housed in an eco-friendly snap pouch made of 70% recyclable plastic that is also fully recyclable.

I tried Japanese Agarwood (there is also a limited edition of Madagascar Orchid).  Japanese Agarwood was inspired by the lush, natural oils from the rain forest with subtle hints of Italian Bergamot, Spiced Ginger Accord, and Warm Amber.  At first sniff you can really smell the bergamot, but as the fragrance blends with your body chemistry, the other, spicier scents make themselves known.  While I wouldn't call it quite unisex, it is spicy and still "clean" smelling. The resinous (and rare), Japanese Agarwood,  has been used in incense and ancient rituals for centuries. It is referred to as the "wood of the Gods" and it is even mentioned in the Bible.  The oil base contains: Brazil nut seed oil, acai pulp oil, andiroba seed oil, and macadamia seed oil.  According to the press literature I received, Lisa Hoffman perfumer (Dr. Roman Kaiser -  a chemist, botanist and perfumer at Givaudan) captures the scent of Japanese Agarwood using  "ScentTrek" technology in a Kodo Ceremony, just as it is released in the smoke developed on heat in an incense censer. That's pretty impressive! And the fragrance is very, very, very, very nice!

TIP:  Don't just roll this fragrance onto your pulse points, apply it to the palms of your hands and run it through your hair for scent literally, from head to toe!
While the two-vial limited edition Variations set isn't quite as elegant (or with as many fragrance variations) as the original, instead of the $95.00 price tag, this grouping is just $43.00.  It will also appeal to vegetarians and vegans who love the scent, but not, leather. 

Check out all five of the Variations scents on the Lisa Hoffman Web Site


Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied with written permission. If you want to use my work, please obtain it legally. For more information, Email Me.  You can show your interest and support by subscribing to this blog. Several options are available on the right hand side of this blog. Also, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  on the Examiner.com.  

*I use provided samples for most of my reviews. Learn more in the "A Note About Compensation" section of the Advice Sisters What Works Beauty, Cosmetics and Fashion Review column

#DialHealthier You Week Three Alison's Progress Skin Care

I can hardly believe it is already week three of the Dial Healthier You program I'm fortunate to be part of.  I hope the great people at Dial are happy they chose me as one of their 100 people to exclusively take part in this unique program.   And I am honored to share the journey with you!

So far we've been asked to exercise (and yes, I have been beefing up the activity level) and also to eat better (and I'm doing my best to eat skin-healthy foods, as well)

This week, expert Amy Hendel is asking participants to focus in on skin care.  Now that's a subject I know something about, since I've been reviewing beauty products for 12+ years.  But she's the Dial expert, and if anyone knows about taking good care of skin, Dial, does!

Amy's first tip is my #1 focus as well -- Sunblock.  Yes, you have to wear it every single day if you want your skin to look young and stay that way, and if you want to avoid skin cancer.  According to Amy, using sunblock is the  #1 tool most dermatologists recommend for preventing skin cancers and premature aging.  So I guess I got that one 100% right!  I used to think that tanned skin was the mark of a sexy, healthy person, but now I know that you can get that look from self-tanner or bronzing powder.  Personally, I'm with Jane Austen -- I will keep my sunbonnet on  -- pale skin is the way to go!

But after wearing sunblock, Amy Hendel suggests that good skin care really boils down to two steps: Cleansing and Moisturizing.  I totally agree:

Amy says that your facial cleanser should match your skin type and age. And your body wash should gently cleanse without stripping your skin of important oils and moisture.   But what I always say is that good skincare is only good if you choose the right products, use them as directed, and use them regularly.  The most pricey creams and potions in the world won't really help you if they're not right for your skin or if you don't use them properly or regularly.  You really don't have to spend a fortune for good skin care.  Go ahead, if you can afford it, but you can also choose products you can find easily and affordably in mass market retail and drug stores. One I like is Dial® NutriSkin™ .  It lets you cleanse and moisturize in just one step right in the shower.  However, if you're going to use another moisturizer, the way to get the most out of it is to apply it directly after the shower while your skin is still damp. The moisturizer will seal in the water droplets for added hydration.

In addition to the smart skin care choices you make, Amy suggests the tried and true activities of drinking water and eating plenty of fruits and veggies.  I admit I don't do enough of either.  I know that drinking water will keep my skin more hydrated -- and it needs it -- so today I'm going to pledge to drink at least 8 cups of water.  I may not love it, but I'll do it! 

Will you join me and do it, too? ...and don"t forget that sunscreen (SPF 15 is the minimum--I like at least SPF 30).  I have reviewed so many great sun protection products on my What Works Beauty, Cosmetics & Fashion review column, I highly suggest you peruse the Advice Sisters What Works Archives and see which ones fit your budget and personality!

Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied with written permission. If you want to use my work, please obtain it legally. For more information, Email Me.  You can show your interest and support by subscribing to this blog. Several options are available on the right hand side of this blog. Also, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  on the Examiner.com.  

*I use provided samples for most of my reviews. Learn more in the "A Note About Compensation" section of the Advice Sisters What Works Beauty, Cosmetics and Fashion Review column

Goat Milk Stuff is Good Stuff for Your Skin and For Holiday Giving

Goats are so cute to look at,and they do provide the milk for delicious cheese. But goat milk is good for your skin, too.  Studies have shown that this ingredient has restorative and  healing properties. It contains naturally occurring enzymes that work to (gently) exfoliate skin, leaving it healthier and; smoother and of course, hydrated .Also, lactose exfoliates and helps speed cellular turnover. Goat Milk has a very close pH to our own skin so it's non irritating, too. 

All of this is great, but you can't really put goat milk directly on your face.  One company that has products good for your skin, using that milk however, is Goat Milk Stuff.  It's a family business that a mom and dad started to make soap for their eight kids, that wouldn't have harsh chemicals. Now it's a big business, and all of the children pitch in to earn money, learn about entrepreneurship, and help the family.

Let's get from this "feel good" story, to the way the products make your face (and body) feel good.

It is no secret that I love goat milk cheese, and I love goat milk soap, too. They're a simple, easy and affordable way to pamper your skin.  Goat Milk Stuff soaps,  marketed online at GoatMilkStuff.com, range in price from $5 to 6.50 for each 5 ounce bar.  Each full size bar of Goat Milk Stuff soap is wrapped in an environmentally-friendly, natural cotton bag.  Smaller soaps sizes are also available and come unwrapped. The products look appetizing (not to eat of course, but they look sort of yummy). Each goat milk soap bar contains about an ounce of raw goat milk,  and also includes ingredients like Saponified natural fats, coconut oil, olive oil, soybean oil; fragrance; and natural color. Every bar is hand cut and cured a minimum 6 weeks. No two bars are exactly alike (so you are always getting an "original") and the soaps come (unwrapped) in a regular bar size (5-6 oz for $6.00), half bar size (2-2 ox. for $3.00) , or travel size (.6 - .9 oz. $1.00). If counted correctly, there are 38 different scents, from berries to spices, wine to florals.  There are other soaps as well, including limited editions, essential oil soaps, and even some liquid goat milk soaps.
 
Goat Milk Stuff Gift packs that are available in organza bags that look festive. They make great host/hostess gifts, and they are also great to have stockpiled for those spur-of-the-moment gifts you need to give. You'll always be prepared with something affordable, lovely and thoughtful.. Gift packs that are available in organza bags for $10 each include:



• Bath Gift Pack with a large 5-ounce goat milk soap bar and two bath bombs in a matching scent


• Floral Gift Pack containing half bars of lilac, honeysuckle, and rose scented goat milk soaps


• Christmas Gift Pack of half bars of peppermint, cranberry spice and evergreen scented goat milk soaps


• Purity Gift Pack with half bars of purity, purity scrub and organic castile unscented goat milk soaps


• Garden Gift Pack containing half bars of rosemary mint, lavender, and cucumber melon scented goat milk soaps


• Cozy Gift Pack featuring popular half bars of oatmeal, milk & honey scrub, cider press, and pink sugary scented goat milk soaps


• Down Under Gift Pack of half bars of tea tree, nautical, and kool koala scented goat milk soaps


• Earthy Gift Pack has half bars of patchouli, sandalwood, and dragon blood scented goat milk soaps


• Fresh Gift Pack include half bars of ocean, clean cotton, and cool citrus basil scented goat milk soaps


• Customized Gift Pack of three half bars, packaged in an organza bag are priced at $12 and offer you the flexibility of choosing scents as well as the color of the bag.



Also available are Twin-Pack Gift Sets that have a 5-ounce bar of GMS goat milk soap and a GMS solid body lotion in the matching scent. Choose from more than ten popular scents each priced at $12.

Whether you buy one soap for your own use, or gift then in packaged, , goat milk soaps are divinely pampering. The ones from Goat Milk Stuff look unique, and colorful, plus the scents are divine.  The soaps are (relatively) hard milled, but as you lather them onto your skin, you can feel them reaching the dry spots and silkening them, as they also gently cleanse. 


If you are looking for inexpensive but quality, stocking stuffers that aren't soap,  Goat Milk Soap Lip Balms are just $3.00 each, and are available in black cherry, vanilla, honey, peppermint and unscented. each. Goat Milk Stuff Lip Balms condition lips, protecting them from wind and sun with hydrating balms that have good-for-your-skin benefits, such as anti-oxidant vitamin E, but no chemical preservatives, aluminum, sulfates, dyes and petrochemicals.  The balms are hand poured into the tubes. If your lips are always chapped, a Goat Milk Stuff Lip Balm will be the one you always pop into your pocket to keep chapping from getting out of hand.

For your body, $8.00 gets you a solid stick of lotion in nine different scents:  vanilla, peppermint, black raspberry, pink sugary, nautical, clean cotton, oatmeal milk & Honey,  lavender, honeysuckle,and  love spell . These solid sticks of pampering goodness swivel up like a gigantic lip balm.  With ingredients of soy bean oil, beewswas, sunflower all, cocoa butter, shea butter, vitamin E and fragrance, you probably can use them like a gigantic lip balm as well.  But these all natural sticks are best in dealing with itchy, dry patches (e.g. elbows, knees, hands). The solid lotion does not contain any chemical preservatives and is available in two sizes - a half ounce push up stick or a 4 oz tub. To use the tub, just rub your fingertips in a a circle over the surface to warm up the solid lotion. Then apply it to your skin with your fingertips. Because they're not diluted with water or alcohol, a little goes a long way with these lotions. And as an added bonus, since they're not liquid lotion, they won't leak in your purse, squirt in your jacket pocket, or be confiscated as you're preparing to board an airplane. And the scents are truly great -there is at least one for every taste. I tried "Pink Sugary" that smells a bit like caramelized sugar on a creme brulee--and I love the way it handled the dry skin near my cuticles, while scented my hands with this delicious fragrance.


Ready to get your "goat" on?  Get the Goat Milk Stuff Goods at  www.GoatMilkStuff.com

 

Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied with written permission. If you want to use my work, please obtain it legally. For more information, Email Me.  You can show your interest and support by subscribing to this blog. Several options are available on the right hand side of this blog. Also, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  on the Examiner.com.  

*I use provided samples for most of my reviews. Learn more in the "A Note About Compensation" section of the Advice Sisters What Works Beauty, Cosmetics and Fashion Review column

Conair's Holiday Hair Looks Help You "Partify" for Peanuts



Some "hair jewelry"would make this look, party perfect

 What can you do to dress up your look in an instant,with lots of flash but hardly any cash?  Hair accessories aka. "hair jewelry" can add pizazz to your fashions from previous seasons, and help you "partify" your look when you can't go home to change after work.

Last season, hair fasihon was all about the bling --  lots of crystals, rhinestones, beads and sparkle. This season is a bit more understated--a sparkle here, an accent, there. The glitz comes from a well edited use of fabric, tulle, metals of different colors and textures, beads, sequins, crystals, and rhinestones

Conair's holiday hair ornaments collection are under $7.00 per item, and for 2010, their holiday hair looks feature tulle, mesh, and metal with sparkly accents. 

"Urban Elegance"  for xample, is a collection themed with big, lacy, metal flowers with rhinestone centers and tiny, sparkly accents. These pieces look delicate--but most are large enough to stand alone as a statement,  in gold, silver or black metal. The "flowers" bloom on salon hair clips, bobbi pins, headbands, and barrettes. Each item in this collection is just $6.99. 

"Modern Glam" features black tulle, mesh and metal mixed media hair ornaments with tulle "flowers" sporting black sequin and beaded centers. They glimmer in candlelight, add a bit of jeweled allure to hair of any lengtn (I especially like the slim black, elastic headband that can we worn as a traditional hairband, or worn across the forehead, flapper style.  This works on everything from a super-short style, to super-long hair. It is black-tie dressing (for your head).  These pieces rival the expensive ones you'll see in pricey boutiques, but they won't cost you a fortune--they're just $5.99 per piece! 

Conair hair jewels are sold in drugstores and mass market retailers just about everywhere. The company also has a wide range of excellent hair tools and appliances.  For more information you can also visit the Conair Web Site


Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied with written permission. If you want to use my work, please obtain it legally. For more information, Email Me.  You can show your interest and support by subscribing to this blog. Several options are available on the right hand side of this blog. Also, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  on the Examiner.com.  

*I use provided samples for most of my reviews. Learn more in the "A Note About Compensation" section of the Advice Sisters What Works Beauty, Cosmetics and Fashion Review column

Creative Nail Designs Holiday Gifts For Every Budget

 Creative Nail Design has always been one of my favorite companies for trendy nail products and wonderful hand-cared products. They are often seen on fashion runways, but also on the hands of women (and sometimes men--check out my CND coverage of The Blonds Runway Show from Spring 2010). 

Creative Nail Design (affectionately called "CND") has some truly lovely, boxed, ready-for-the-holidays gifts that are one-size-fits all and there is something from for every budget and interest.  After you see the gift ideas in this post, your holiday shopping gift list may be all checked off as "done!"

A cold day doesn't mean you need to postpone your DIY pedicure.  The "Snuggle Set"  (Srp. $20.90) is boxed in black and gold, with a clear peek-a-boo window that showcases two of my all-time favorite products from CND:  Almond Hydrating Lotion 236 mL (8 fl oz); and SolarOil™ 7.3 mL (.25 fl oz).  Another, small "window" in the box at the top right shows the bonus gift:  a super-soft, toe less socks that let you do a chilly-winter pedicure without turning your toes, blue!   CND's Almond Hydrating Lotion smells like almond heaven--like marzipan (my all-time favorite candy). This large, pump top bottle of almond-y goodness for your skin is a whipped blend of jojoba oil and vitamin E.  Your skin will feel instantly silky and moisturized, and scented with almonds, but the lotion also helps neutralize free radicals associated with premature aging (and who doesn't want young-looking skin?) and It also helps to attract and retain moisture in your skin --essential especially during the dry heat of the Winter months ahead.  You also get a boxed bottle of Solar Oil,  a stellar, nail & cuticle conditioner that really helps soften dry skin and nails. It softens cuticles with Jojoba Oil, Sweet Almond Oil and Vitamin E, and it can even help remove press-on nails!  During Fashion Week, CND used so much solar oil on the models during Fashion Week that the girl's nails are in better condition afer the week is up. Imagine how much good Solar Oil can do for your nails! The socks are a nice touch, too

Another nicely packaged, ready to give gift set is three gifts in one -- the SCENTSATIONS™ Sparkling Champagne Gift Duo (Srp. $23.00).  The black box with clear, cello top (just add gift card and a bow) is decorated with holographic gold, metallic champagne "bubbles." Inside are 8.3 fl. oz. pump bottles of champagne-scented Hand & Body Wash, and Hand & Body Lotion.  Scentsations has wonderful, creamy, instantly hydrating lotions in a wide variety of scents, but this is the first time I've ever seen CND produce a light and slightly fruity "Chardonnay " scented product. The bottles are decorated with champagne bottles, cords, and of course, champagne flutes filled with "bubbly."  Inside the bottles, the Hand & Body Wash is shimmery gold, and the Hand & Body Lotion adds a slight golden glimmer to your skin. I can't think of anything more festive (or stylish) than champagne-themed and scented hand and body products for a bathroom.  Get these packaged products and keep them on hand when you need a "little something" for a holiday hostess gift, and be sure to stock your own bathroom or kitchen with these for festive fun (and pampered skin), all season long. BONUS!  The box also holds a silvery purse hook with a picture of a champagne flute to hold your bag on almost any flat surface while you're out and about.

If one SCENTSATIONS™ Hand & Body Lotion isn't enough, satisfy yourself (or someone special) with a beautifully boxed Scentsations GIFT TRIO *srp. $11.70). This tempting trio of  hydrating, softening and soothing hand and body lotions comes in 2 oz. flip-tiop bottles decorated with bright graphics, and in three scents: Cranberry (not overly tart--just sweet enough to remind me of a cranberry-scented, holiday candle); Sparkling Champagne (chardonnay grape-fruity scented with shimmer), and Black Cherry & Nutmeg (this one smells like a sexy cherry with a hint of naughty spice that even guys will love).

Creative Nail Design is known for a veritable rainbow of Nail Polish Colors and of course, their unique "Effects" top coats.  Nail polish lovers will adore CND's Silver & Gold Sparkling Holiday Effects Duo (srp. $22.00) . There is no such thing as too much bling, especially during the holidays, CND's awesome Effects top coat literally "dazzle-fy" any nail polish color lucky enough to be under it.  Read more about CND's Colors and Effects. This nicely boxed set in black, gold and silver with peek-a-boo window showcases a bottle of Silver Sparkling Effect 9.8 mL (.33 fl oz) and Gold Sparkling Effect 9.8 mL (.33 fl oz).  The silver leaves a sparkling, starry wash of silver shimmer on nails that reminds me of lamplight on newly-fallen snow. The gold has gold, parti-colored shimmer that catches the light like New Years Eve confetti!  Both add tons of gorgeous shine, too. These top coats add lots of glittery shimmer, but they don't have chunky glitter that feels rough and looks gaudy.  You'll be amazed at how versatile these Effects Top Coats are, and how easily you can change the character of your favorite nail polish colors with just a swipe of the brush!


Don't forget to buy a little something for yourself, too.  These are affordable and must-haves:  Cucumber Heel Therapy Minis ($4.00 each) offering soothing moisture and comfort to holiday-weary feet. You can pop tiny Solar Oil Minis ($2.50) into each stocking and look like a bit shot! There's also a Super Treatments Duo ($16.00) that is boxed, and features Super Matte, a mattifying top coat for this season's trendiest look, and a Super Shiney that makes even dull polish revive with a high shine.
These wonderful items (as boxed gifts) are limited edition, so visit your favorite salon or professional beauty supply store. For locations, visit the Creative Nail Design Web Site

 Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied with written permission. If you want to use my work, please obtain it legally. For more information, Email Me.  You can show your interest and support by subscribing to this blog. Several options are available on the right hand side of this blog. Also, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  on the Examiner.com.  

*I use provided samples for most of my reviews. Learn more in the "A Note About Compensation" section of the Advice Sisters What Works Beauty, Cosmetics and Fashion Review column

Fabulous Fraxel Laser Skin Resurfacing Treatment #4 Report

 It's Friday -- no better time to report on how my fourth Fraxel treatment is treating me!

You may recall if you have been following my Fraxel journey that in November 22, 2010, I had my fourth Fraxel laser skin resurfacing treatment.  As expected, by the end of the first day, my face was puffy, and my skin looked pretty bad.

But time changes everything.  I have been taking close up shots of myself since my Fraxel journey began, and while they are not glamorous or even flattering, they are completely un-retouched so that you can see the improvement as it happens.  I always wonder when I see those "before" and "after" photos for skin treatments and products, whether are are real or not.  Well, MINE, are definitely the real thing.

This is how my skin looked the day of my first Fraxel treatment, before the treatment began-lots of brown spots and blotchiness, and wrinkles you can really see

My face looked like this --red and puffy -- on November 22nd, a few days after the 4th Fraxel treatment

It looks like THIS, now!

All of the swelling is gone, and most of the redness. To be honest, I DO have a bit of foundation on, but actually, I put it on for the SPF 20 in it--my skin looks perfectly fine without any makeup at all. My skin is so smooth and bright, it actually looks better without any makeup at all!

But looks aren't everything. What you can't see might be even more important and impressive.  Recently, I went to an event for a skin care company's launch that featured a machine that measures the condition of your skin in graphic, close-up detail.  It shows you how much sun damage you have, and where the lines and wrinkles are--especially where you can't see on below the surface. I remember having my skin analyzed more ten years ago and being seriously startled by the amount of sun damage my skin has sustained. Until recently, I never wore sun block, or a hat, or even sunglasses. My family enjoyed our sailboat nearly every weekend, and I sat there, baking in the direct sunlight for hours, not to mention all the other times I was exposed to the sun's damaging rays.  Both my parents ended up with small skin cancers and I remember thinking that I didn't want that to happen to me. But by the time I was even aware of this issue, the damage to my skin had already been done.

The great news is that last week at this event, my skin had improved so dramatically for someone in my age group, I was in the 90th percentile!! That means only 10% of all people who have tried the imager have skin as good or better condition than mine. I remember how much sun damage showed up, and while I still have some, it is shockingly less. Even better, my lines and wrinkles are significantly diminished, too...and this is only after four Fraxel treatments.  I don't know if Fraxel is going to offer me additional treatments, but I really do wonder how much better my skin could get.  It appears that I have literally been able to turn back the hands of time in terms of the health of my skin.  That is amazing!

Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied with written permission. If you want to use my work, please obtain it legally. For more information, Email Me.  You can show your interest and support by subscribing to this blog. Several options are available on the right hand side of this blog. Also, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  on the Examiner.com.  

*I use provided samples for most of my reviews. Learn more in the "A Note About Compensation" section of the Advice Sisters What Works Beauty, Cosmetics and Fashion Review column

Dior's Diorama Eau de Toilette is Still Divine

vintage Diorama ad by Renee Gruau

My mother was a huge fan of the fragrance Diorama by Dior.   This homage to Monsieur Dior  by perfumer Edmond Routnitska was a spicy Chypre and of course, a classic fragrance beloved by generations of women since it's creation in 1949. I can still remember that fragrance lingering on my mother's evening gowns. The scent reminds me of special occasions, when women really dressed up in their finest, even if it was just to go out to dinner.

Diorama by Dior

Now, Diorama is being re-imagined by Perfumer, Francois Demachy, to create a more modern, slightly altered Diorama Eau De Parfum. While the original Diorama featured melon, peach, plum, jasmine, rose and tuberose plus a spicy base, this new Diorama opens with notes of chilled bergamot, with buddies of plum accord and Indian jasmine. And you can really smell that jasmine!  The heart blooms with Turkish rose essence that adds ladylike elegance.  In the original Diorama. the base notes were patchouli, oakmoss, vetiver, violet (methyl ionone g), labdanum, castoreum, civet. The new fragrance also has that spicy, sexy feeling --a nod to the original -- but made modern with notes of  cedar and cumin. The new scent feels like a classic french fragrance: elegant, complex, feminine, but with a little something more. When it warms on your skin, it becomes your own, while still keeping true to the notes that make it "sing."


The packaging is understated -- no need to yell and wave your arms about when you're from the house of DIOR.  The outer carton is, by today's standards, austere.  It is plain, except for a thin gold rim around the white, lightly striped carton with DIOR in gold and a grey oval with "Diorama" in gold in the middle.  There is nothing gaudy or gimmicky about it.  The bottle I remember was sort of squat, with a paper border of black and white hounds tooth.  The new bottle is a more graceful rectangle of clear glass, with rounded edges on top, and a sharp, square base. An indented oval in the middle holds the script word: "Diorama" and  a clean, sans serif "Dior" in soft. grey lettering. A collar that looks like the silver threads that once encircled the neck of the perfume bottle is now a solid silver ring, but it adds a touch of glitter to the otherwise austere bottle. A "hat" of clear plastic engraved with "CD" stands in to cover the spray diffuser where once, I'm guessing,. a crystal stopper might have been.


I am sensitive to florals, and I immediately smelled the jasmine and Turkish rose , two notes that to my nose, always smell a bit bitter, like paper whites.  But artfully mixed with the base notes, upon drydown, this Dior fragrance does what all good fragrances are designed to do -- the florals are tempered with the other notes into something unique,  something exotic, expensive, and elegant, and yet still recognizable. The results is feminine but just a little bit daring and not quite "tamed."   It is a refreshing change from all the fruity florals and uncomplicated scents on the market.  I don't mind remakes as long as they are wonderful...and this one, is!


The cost for Diorama is $89.00 for 100 ml Eau de Toilette. It is available exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue




\ht ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied with written permission. If you want to use my work, please obtain it legally. For more information, Email Me.  You can show your interest and support by subscribing to this blog. Several options are available on the right hand side of this blog. Also, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  on the Examiner.com.   *I use provided samples for most of my reviews. Learn more in the "A Note About Compensation" section of the Advice Sisters What Works Beauty, Cosmetics and Fashion Review column

#DialHealthierYou Week Two Alison's Progress What About Snacking?

 This week my Dial Healthier You expert, Amy Hendel, suggested power walking -- or at least some form of exercise, to help not just our overall health, but our skin health as well.  Alas, the weather has not cooperated.  It has been stormy, windy, rainy and cold.  I manged to get in some cardio by marching inside with weights, but I defy even Amy to power walk in 40MPH winds or blinding rain.  I hope to do some more vigorous walking this weekend, though.

Wonder what Amy will have in terms of healthy suggestions for week three?

Meanwhile, while perusing the Dial Healthier You site, I noticed a few new articles that you can read, to
One, called "On-the-Go Snacking," resonated especially with me, because I am always "on the go" and never seem to have time to sit down to a proper meal. By the time I get home and focus on lunch or dinner, I'm starving!


Amy suggests that a "snack" should be between 100-150 calories.  She says where ever possible you should try to include a bit of protein, healthy fat and whole grains in the snack, so that it is balanced and provides satiation without causing your blood sugar to spike dramatically and then crash. This takes a bit of preparation, but it doesn't take long to make a healthy trail mix by combining measured amounts of whole grain cereal, nuts and some dried fruit or fresh fruit in a snack-sized zip-lock bag. A piece of fresh fruit can be carried around. I like apples best because they don' "squish." Although I wouldn't carry a whole grain waffle with a teaspoon of peanut butter and a few banana slices on it with me, Amy suggests that as a good snack for at home. Frankly, I'm not sure I could stop at just one!  I didn't love her idea of a small pepper filled with low-fat cottage cheese or 3 ounces of water packed tuna (I know I wouldn't eat more than one of those), but a low-fat Greek yogurt (or plain, unsweetened yogurt) and some berries would be ok, and a half a whole grain English Muffin with melted low fat cheese and a bit of tomato sauce is what my mom used ot call an "English Muffin Pizza."  As a kid, I loved these.  I admit that I am so lazy, I often just open a bag of 100 calorie "somethings" or pop a 100 calorie bag of popcorn.  I know these are prepared foods, but at least you can carry them around and even though they may not be the healthiest choice, at least they're not as bad as a candy bar or muffin or worse.  And, it goes without saying that if you have one of these healthy snacks, you can't go back for seconds, or thirds......at least not all at once!!
Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied with written permission. If you want to use my work, please obtain it legally. For more information, Email Me.  You can show your interest and support by subscribing to this blog. Several options are available on the right hand side of this blog. Also, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  on the Examiner.com.  

*I use provided samples for most of my reviews. Learn more in the "A Note About Compensation" section of the Advice Sisters What Works Beauty, Cosmetics and Fashion Review column

Tackle Holiday Shopping for Under Ten Dollars

Uh oh!  You were saving up for those glamorous,  holiday gifts, and then you had a major money emergency (e.g. vet bills, car repairs...) and now you're wondering what to do to bring joy and cheer (and lots of pretty presents) to family and friends.


No worries!  Target has affordable brands --beauty brands too-- for everyone on your list.  I love Target for everyday shopping, but it's great for the budget-strapped during the holidays.  Gift like a princess, not a pauper, and get everyone feeling happy! When it comes to makeup and beauty gifts, you can look like a mogul, for a mere $9.99/

Here are three suggestions for nifty, not expensive, gifts (or tiny splurges for yourself):

Who doesn't love Jemma Kidd?   This gorgeous makeup artist has her own makeup school!  For the holidays, give your eye-shadow fans the Jemma Kidd JK Signature Shadows Makeup Kit srp/ $9.99.  A holly-berry-red cardboard display backing holds a clear, square compact with six party-worthy" trendy shades in matte and perle formulas. The six squares of covet-able color in this compact were hand-picked (by Jemma, I would wager) from her I-Design Eye Colour Line, plus there's a an exclusive, aubergine shimmer shadow to help you make a new type of "smoky" eye. The intense aubergine is shot through with hints of gold shimmer--nice for a powder liner, too.  The other shades include two highlighters:  Vogue (ivory) and Elle (perle with gold shimmer), a rich, chocolate milk (Vanity Fair) , a steely grey shimmer (Backstage), and a light, lovely, copper (Vintage). These shades work with every skin tone, and at this price you can get one for yourself, too.

A Pixi is a fairylike or elfin creature, especially one that is mischievous and playful. But you don't need fairy dust or magic, to make eye pretty!  Pixi makes some of the cutest and slimmest kits around, but for Fall, they created a literal "library" of nude-toned pressed powders for face and eyes. Inside a lime green cardboard compact with slipcover top, are 18 eyes shadows that you can use to shade, highlight, contour, mix, match and layer.  Together in the compact, the small squares look like an Italian mosaic, but "nude" doesn't mean the same in every intensity or formula. Choose from a nearly nude flesh or slightly deeper flesh tones in matte formula, to an intense brown or black matte liner/shadow. Get sparkling with shimmery copper, glorious gold, or maybe a more subdued shimmer in peach or champagne. And there's every type of nude in-between! You will find infinite varieties and ways to use them. Every eye shadow collector will covet this Pixi Nude Shade Wardrobe srp. $26.00

This one is for your collection, as well as for a gift:  if you can't have your own, personal makeup artist at the ready to make up your eyes, the next best thing might be a makeup collection by a celebrity makeup artist. A great one is the Napoleon Perdis NP Set Holiday Smoke Signals Eye Palette srp. $9.99  Yes, you can do a smoky eye, and with colors, too!  Inside a shiny, Winter White cardboard compact (with smoky eyes on the cover) and a sugar-plum purple interior with round mirror, are a dozen squares of shimmery shadow that provide antioxidant nourishment with Vitamins A, C and E.  Makeup artist Napoleon Perdis (who designed this kit, of course) suggests picking one of the 11 shadow colors ranging from perle, to purple, and every blackened shade in-between, and then wetting the black shimmer shadow and applying it, the smudging it, for extra glamour.  TIP:  For those who can't quite master the smoky eye, know that it's not going away as a trend, anytime soon.  You can "finesse" it by using one of the deeper shades in the palette and layering another on top or in the crease. Blend them well, and if you can't manage a straight line with a wet liner, simply dot the black or blackened purple on your lids with a flat, powder liner brush,  right against your lashes, top and bottom--blend some more for an instant smoky look without the additional layers of color.


There are plenty more gifts to be gotten from Target. Visit your favorite Target store or check out their goods at the Target Web Site


Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied with written permission. If you want to use my work, please obtain it legally. For more information, Email Me.  You can show your interest and support by subscribing to this blog. Several options are available on the right hand side of this blog. Also, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  on the Examiner.com.  

*I use provided samples for most of my reviews. Learn more in the "A Note About Compensation" section of the Advice Sisters What Works Beauty, Cosmetics and Fashion Review column

Dior.com is a new (Beauty) Destination for Dior Divas (and all of us)

Last night I attended a launch event for Dior.com, where you can not only see the newest and best products Dior has to offer, but you can also buy them with the click of a mouse!

The newly designed web site doesn't just feature fashion.  It is a destination for product information on the entire Dior Beauty line:  makeup, skincare and even all the beautiful Dior Fragrances and of course, you can buy them online, too.

The web site is flash-heavy, but also well organized by category, so you can quickly go to the area that interests you most.  You can even view videos and get beauty how-to tips right from Dior's pros.

If you want to learn more about the history of the brand. or peek into the future to see what's happening with new products and technology, there are links to these.  For those who like to interact, there are features including a Miss Dior Cherie Pop Up Book, and a clever Dior Rouge lipstick guide that shows you the  couture dresses that inspired the newest lipstick shades.

To make the purchasing experience a little more glamorous (it is Dior, after all), gift orders placed on Dior.com are wrapped in the intricate couture “plissé” tissue-folding style used in Dior boutiques and first instituted by Monsieur Dior.

Of course, there are people who will be running to shop online at Dior.com and for them, there are special rewards.  You don't need to be a VIP to become a "Dior Diva," and get special benefits from Dior:


• Shopping rewards redeemable for Dior best sellers, makeup bag must-haves, fragrance favorites, and more.

• Acess to the annual Dior Auction offering once in a lifetime opportunities brought to you by Dior and select partners (this is really a glamorous wish list)! Some of the items are:  a trip to Paris inspired by J'adore, a trip to New York to lunch with Dior's CEO, a spa trip to St. Maarten to visit the Dior Institute,,,and I saw one I really loved--a portrait of you done by Dior's own artiste! 100% of proceeds benefit the Look Good Feel Better organization.


• Product previews, available exclusively to Divas on dior.com


• Complimentary shipping for orders of $50 or more.

• Buzz-worthy updates on the world of Dior including makeup artist tips, new product launches, special offers.

Diva points -- earned when shopping in-store or online. $1=1 Diva Point. Points do not include sales tax or shipping charges and can be generated from any 12 month period. You redeem these by logging on to your Dior Diva account, printing the redemption form, and sending it along with your original receipts or your Dior.com shipping confirmation to the address indicated on the redemption form.


 Ready to check out Dior.com for yourself?  Click Here


Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied with written permission. If you want to use my work, please obtain it legally. For more information, Email Me.  You can show your interest and support by subscribing to this blog. Several options are available on the right hand side of this blog. Also, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  on the Examiner.com.  

*I use provided samples for most of my reviews. Learn more in the "A Note About Compensation" section of the Advice Sisters What Works Beauty, Cosmetics and Fashion Review column

Hissyfit Clockpots and Products Make your Makeup Work for YOU!

 Reggie Wells isn't just any makeup artist. He's Oprah's makeup artist. He's worked on the famous faces of just about everyone, done photo shoots with just about every magazine, and is now bringing his expertise to women everywhere, through Hissyfit University (seminars), and Hissyfit products.
Hissyfit products are differentiated not just as high end products, but products also high in SPF (love that!) with a wide range of color choices to suit a rainbow of skin tones. Apparently, Reggie Wells fell in love with the products so much he became the brand's international artistic director.

Not too long ago, I attended an event with the charming and energetic Mr, Wells. He told the assembled editors about the new, Hissyfit "Clockpot" products that he had developed (with Oprah in mind).  They're called "Clockpot" and they're face, eyes, and cheek palettes ($65.00/each), in gorgeous, shiny, large, round "rose gold" mirrored compacts) that correspond to "categories" of skin tones. The idea is that you use all the products in the palette, moving around the palette as if it was a "clock" face from 12:00 to 9:00. The end result is a foolproof, completely finished face in under 15 minutes (actually, the makeup artist I saw applying the Face Clockpot to a model and a young woman, did each face in under four minutes). "You can't make a mistake" said Mr.Wells. But just in case you need extra attention, there are Hissyfit seminars in the works (featuring Mr. Wells himself). I'll post more details on those, when they are available.

We got a chance not only to see the Clockpot compacts, but also to see how easy they are to use.  In fact, they looked super-easy and the models looked great. But models and young girls are going to look good because they have smooth, youthful skin. So I asked one of the makeup artists to apply the foundation Clockpot on my face. He did so, and everyone oohed and ahhed. My skin looked lovely. What I really liked the most was the lightweight feel of the products--nearly weightless, even though they are in a creamy formula. You get foundation, highlight and powders all suitable for your skin tone and all in one compact. If your skin is reasonably good, that Clockpot will make your skin look absolutely flawless in minutes--and anyone can do it! However, my skin needs a bit more TLC. When I really looked closely at my skin at home, in the mirror, I realized that while it certainly wasn't the fault of the Hissyfit makeup, to get a more flawless look I really needed to exfoliate my skin, moisturize and then use a primer for best results. By the way, there are six different shades for the Face Clockpot: 1 (fair skin), 1.5 (light skin), 2 (medium skin), 8 (tan skin), 11 (dark skin) and 15 (deep skin). There is a Cheek Clockpot, too in A (pink/light); B (coral/light-medium); C (gold/medium-tan) and D (purple undertones for dark to deep skin tones).

Anything new takes getting used to, and finding the right category.  Initially, there was some confusion as to which category we each belonged to ( I am a light and warm B in color, and a  1.5 in the foundation).Eventually we all figured it out (and there are color charts on the Hissyfit web site). The eye Clockpot I tried at home and that you can see in the photo is a "B" Clockpot for Eyes. There are four:  "A" (pink undertones for fair to light skin tones); "B" (coral undertones for light to medium skin tones), "C" (gold undertones for medium to tan skin tones) and "D" (purple undertones for dark to deep skin tones). Inside each eye Clockpot is a large center of eye primer, and four trios of pressed powder eye color. The 12:00 shadow is for work to play, 3:00 for casual and weekend, 6:00 for bold and night-time, and 9:00 for a way to change things up without going crazy.

Oddly, there isn't a lip Clockpot--maybe that is still being developed?? If you love the idea (and who wouldn't?) they should be available this month.  Get them on the Hissyfit Web Site http://www.hissyfit.com/

Meanwhile, you can try some of the other Hissyfit products including the Saving Face SPF 50 $55.00 and the Saving Face Buffing Powder The former is a highlighting semi-sheer multi-tasker in a tube, with colors that go from super light to a number of shades of deeper tones for women of color. It is billed as a tinted moisturizer with broad spectrum SPF (50) but it really blends into skin more like a lightweight, semi-sheer, creamy foundation. It goes on like silk and blends beautifully, leaving a dewy surface. The feel is a bit sticky, but I buffed that down to a more luminous matte foundation with the Buffing Powder $25.00 (it comes in 8 shades and has green tea, jojoba, and aloe) using one of the excellent Hissyfit brushes - Hissyfit Buffing Finger Feather (all the brushes are called "finger feathers, not "brushes"), The Buffing Finger Feather $28.00 is one of the nicest powder brushes I've ever used. The bristles are soft, nicely rounded, and apply the perfect amount of loose powder without clumping it all in one place. There are also blender, foundation. and highlighting finger feather brushes. All are superb and well worth the money.

There are some note-able products for body, too. Hissyfit Body Double I tried in Vanilla, Almond, Orange, Grapefruit is $39.00 for 4.2 fl. oz pump bottle. It's a body moisturizer with a nice UVA.UVB SPF 30 Protection. Handy Work in Orange Mint $22.00 1.8 fl. oz comes in a tube, and it's a moisturizing Hand Cream with SPF 30 as well. The active ingredients for both are: Avobenzone 2%; Ocybenzone 5%; Octinoxate 7.5%'; Octocrylene 3.0%'; and TItanium Dioxice 0.2 % I love the idea of adequate protection along with moisturization and both deliver beautifully on those things, but each had a strong, chemical smell that I just couldn't get past and that to my nose at least, wiped out the lovely scents completely.

Good products that offer skin nourishing and protecting benefits don't always come cheap. And while you don't always get what you pay for when it comes to cosmetics, you always pay for what you get. These products are on the pricey side, especially if you buy a number of them along with the appropriate brushes to apply them. But the brushes are a great investment in how you look, and the right products are as well. Hissyfit products aren't sold in stores, but they are available on the Hissyfit web site http://www.hissyfit.com/ and they're well worth your consideration.


Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved.The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied with written permission. If you want to use my work, please obtain it legally: Email Me. Subscribe to this blog -options on right hand column. Follow me on and I use provided samples for most of my reviews. Learn more in the "A Note About Compensation" section of the Advice Sisters What Works Beauty, Cosmetics and Fashion Review column

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