Jemma Kidd's Latest Lip Looks for Spring Will Make Your Day, Just Peachy

 I have the flu and I should be in bed, but who can rest, when JK Jemma Kidd's in the house?  Seriously!  I just got the Jk CIty Chic Lip Kit  $22.00 from Jemma Kidd?

The photo is terrible, I apologize for that, but the first thing you notice, right away, is that the matte, black outer carton has hot pink "Japanese" inspired graphics, delicate flowers that look like they were made with a spiro-tot or fine line quill pen.  Inside is another beautiful surprise:  a slim, black case that has the same, hot pink design. If the case was longer, I'd assume it was one of those pricey, chopstick cases I saw in Tokyo.  But when you press on the right spot, the case flips open to reveal a long, slim mirror on one side, and on the other, a Jemma Kidd Classic Couture Lipstick in "Minx"  and four lip glosses from the Air Kiss Shine Lip Gloss collections (including "Strip;" "Sassy:" and "Hotspot" plus an exclusive lip gloss called: "Hotspot."  There is also a double-sided lip brush, nestled into it's own little well near the lip colors.  Although the compact and packaging features hot pink as the main attraction, the color of the moment is, apparently, "honeysuckle"  (pink, but with a touch of orange or peach or apricot).  All of the colors in this collection are pink with a warm tint, but hardly the type of harsh orange or bright apricot I saw on runways. These colors are"just peachy" and  wearable, ladies! 

And the colors don't just look good, they cover well, add shine, feel good....Jemma Kidd knows what she's doing -- don't let the inexpensive price, fool you.  This chic lip kit made my day and I know it will make yours, too.

Best of all, it is now March, and that means this JK Jemma Kidd City Chic Lip Kit is now at Target! 




Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied without 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, leaving comments on my posts,  and by following me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  and NY Cosmetics 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

 I LOVE COMMENTS!  Please leave your comments on my posts. You can find the "comments"  (in green) at the bottom of each post next to: "Posted by Alison"  If Comments has a (0) next to it, I would especially appreciate yours being the first! Thanks in advance for interacting with me.

ReAB Yourself With Some Help from Brooke Siler

 "Pilates"s sounds like it could be a new type of breath mint, but those in the know at gyms around the world can tell you that Pilates is actually a physical fitness system developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates, in Germany. The Pilates method seeks to increase the strength, flexibility and control of the body. Mr. Pilates he believed that his method could use the mind to control the muscles. 

Let me say right up front that I have limited experience with Pilates. My initial introduction, in a structured Pilates class (which focused significantly on abs I didn't have enough of),  left me feeling pretty faint.  I didn't much like it. But Pilates is practiced by more than 11 million people around the world who love the results. 

 Which brings me to the point of this post: beautiful Brooke Siler. She is a celebrity Pilates guru, responsible for the toning and re-shaping of some of the world’s most famous bodies including: Zooey DesChanel, Madonna, Kirsten Dunst, Liv Tyler, and Rachel Weisz.  She's also the author of The New York Times bestseller – The Pilates Body (Broadway Books/2000). Over the years,  Silver has created other audio, video and weight/fitness products, too. 

I recently received a copy of her second book, released in 2006:  Your Ultimate Pilates Body Challenge (Broadway Books).  I also received a copy of her  first DVD: Pilates Weight Loss for Beginners. Siler is not just obviously fit (and that, after two babies), she is obsessed with fitness.  She owns a Pilates’ studio, re:AB in her native New York City where she impressed upon her clients that exercise is more than just physical exertion but an opportunity for mental and physical alignment,  “My interest is in showing people that Pilates will forever change the way you walk, run, sit, stand, look and feel. And the Pilates mat work can be done anywhere!” exclaims Siler.

Yes, that's true, but Pilates might not be for everyone, everywhere.  Brooke's book: Your Ultimate Pilates Body Challenge, starts out with exercises on a circuit of machines ("using Pilates techniques to maximize your gym workout",  She does have plenty of "at home" exercises that need minimal, or no, equipment as well. For example, she also includes a few mat routines created specifically to target abs, lower body, posture, and flexibility.

This is all good and well for the person who already in familiar with Pilates and knows how to do it properly. But even if you are a non-Pilates devotee, or a rank beginner,  there is a section I really think is worth the entire book.  Siler shows you things you can do using her trademark “Invisible Workout.”  In this section, you can find a host of ways to add Pilates-based movements into everyday activities to help maximize your fitness.  Silver shows you how you can get maximum benefits out of doing the things you'd do every day, anyway (e.g. —such standing at the photocopy machine at work, and watching TV, commuting on bus or subway, and even carrying your shoulder bag! When someone shows me how I can make life a little better with simple changes, I'm all for it!I also received a copy of  the DVD:  Pilates Weight Loss for Beginners. At a suggested retail price of just $14.99 it's an inexpensive way to get an expert's advise and training.  Determined to put less than lovely, first Pilates experience behind me, I gamely popped it into my DVD player, and checked it out. 

The workouts starts with Brooke doing exercises in a beautiful, tropical garden that appears to overlook the sea. It's lovely to look at.  There is some Pilates-inspired cardio, for about 18-minutes and it was a great warm-up, although I'd generally consider 20 minutes to half an hour as the minimum for a cardio routine. But then again, it's a Pilates cardio routine, not your run of the mill, local gym class.  I felt my shoulders cracking, and then, relaxing.  Most of it was really pleasant. 

But what came next was a workout that looks easy, until you try it.  I stopped, fearful that I'd pull something.  When I think of beginner, I usually think of someone who doesn't know anything about a subject and wants to learn it, but when it comes to something like Pilates, beginner means someone who already know a thing or two.  You'd do best with this if you already had some tough abs, and not a complete neophyte. If you were in Brooke's studio class, the chances of getting seriously hurt or pulling something would be minimized because she would be watching. But when you're home, watching a DVD, you don't have anyone to correct your position or tell you if you're doing something wrong. This is one of my issues with all fitness DVDS, and Brooke does a good job of explaining the moves, but some of them (e.g. a neck lift) done wrong, could bring you days or weeks, of woe.  Just to be sure it wasn't my opinion alone, I consulted my personal trainer, who knows quite a bit about the subject. She agreed the DVD was good, but confirmed my feeling that it is best for an experienced Pilates beginner. These issues aside, it's a good DVD that gives you a good introduction Pilates control, concentration, precision, center, breath, and fluidity.

....or why not go to a Pilates class first and get some of the basics down, before you work out at home, alone, with a DVD...you might fall in love, or at least in love with the way your body looks and feels.  You might also consider Brooke's newly re-launched AB Pilates® Teacher Training Program and re:AB C.E.N.T.E.R., an initiative to foster involvement in the Pilates® community and cultivate professional excellence through innovative workshops and clinics with the top experts and luminaries in the Pilates® world.  Visit Brooke's reAB web site to shop, find out about classes, and learn more.

Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied without 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, leaving comments on my posts,  and by following me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  and NY Cosmetics 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

L'Bri Skincare Provides Natural Skin Care, naturally!

For men and women who want "natural" products, the options are expanding, exponentially.  But it can be difficult to wade through the hype of skincare companies, and get to the real truth about the products. 

One company that makes affordable, aloe-vera-based skincare is L'BRI Pure n' Natural.

"Consumers should read the label before purchasing, " advise Linda and Brian Kaminski, co-founders of L'BRI Pure n Natural.  I couldn't agree more. And, their L'Bri web site is chock full of information. In fact, it's a bit difficult to navigate because it has an overwhelming amount of information to absob.  But you'll find what you you need to know, if you dig a bit.  And in terms of labeling, all the  key products have all their ingredients (aloe vera being in the #1 slot in every case), on one page and they are also clearly listed on the bottles and jars.  There is also a page that describes how to use the L'Bri products.  There are also a number of instructive videos.  All of this is clearly helpful.

But what makes L'Bri products distinctive?  One thing is their star ingredient, Aloe Vera. While Water" is the first ingredient in many skincare products,  the founders of L'Bri say aloe vera is better. Aloe vera is known to be a soothing and healing ingredient, and it is also in many skincare products, but Brian and Linda don't exactly say why aloe in the top spot is best (and they should). In addition to aloe vera, L'BRI Pure n Natural skin care products contain select natural vitamins, herbs, sea plants, and botanicals formulated to heal, nurture, and rejuvenate the skin. L'BRI's formulations rely on coneflower, Japanese green tea, passion flower, ginseng, and a variety of other botanicals.

One of the things I look for when I critique skincare is good packaging and delivery systems.  L'Bri doesn't use oxygen-free bottles, but they have large flip top caps that allow for one-handed opening and closure. One product, the Facial Masque, has a clean, "pump up/down" top that doesn't require opening the bottle and exposing it to more contaminants.  The company didn't put their money into fancy containers with great labels, but the clear, plastic bottles and plain, white jars with black tops are unisex enough for men to feel comfortable using them, and the scents are light, and fresh or marine, not floral.  That's nice, too. 

There are a number of L'Bri products that address specific skin types, but the key products are basic:  cleanser, exfoliating face and body scrub, rejuvenating facial peel, freshener, smooth n' firm Eye Repair Gel, and moisturizer.  To these core products, you might also add some anti-aging products (which I didn't try), or hair care, or even my favorite product from this line so far, a flip-top, travel-friendly tube of  Pure Aloe Vera Jelly $16.00 4 oz.  Aloe vera in this form sis clear and lightweight, but it is a powerhouse of positive things for your skin. It will soothe a burn from the stove or the sun or wind. It calms itchy skin, dulls insect stings, stops itches, and more.  It also makes a lightweight moisturizer for oily skin.

Is L'Bri any better than the competition?  In some ways, perhaps. I  liked the products well enough, and I liked the fact that the company is promoting skin care, not the next best thing to the fountain of youth, or trying to claim that I would look fifteen years younger in 15 minutes...and so forth.  L'Bri promises good, natural skin care, and I think they deliver it. The products are affordable (ranging from about $13.50 for a body wash, to $41.50 for anti-aging serum). There are also a number of sets that give you a good value (with add-on options I found confusing, but a good deal).  You can get all the details on the L'Bri web site.  There are two sets that include free shipping and handling for a a 3-4 month supply of more than eight products each. the basic Set 1 SCRUB set is $81.50 and the  Basic Set 2 PEEL is $97.50.  If you want to try these products but you are on a tight budget, you can get a sample set  of five products for free, just pay the $6.75 shipping and handling.  That's pretty nifty!  If you don't feel satisfied with the results you get within 30 days, the company will refund your money.  L'Bri apparently has Consultants and "hostesses" that show the products at parties in their own homes.  L'BRI ships within the USA ONLY.

Visit the L'Bri web site to learn more, and to order products.

Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied without written permission. If you want to use my work, please obtain it legally. You can show your interest and support by subscribing, leaving comments on my posts,  and by following me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  and NY Cosmetics 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

A First Look At Babor's Exceptional Makeup Collection: Babor Face Design

In 2010, I went to a product showcase, and was instantly smitten by a display featuring the Face Design Collection by Babor.  I am excited to share my first thoughts on this luxury line of skincare and cosmetics with you.

First off, let's get the name right. The line is BABOR (not to be confused with Babar, the little elephant, star of the books I adored as a child).  And while the company is already well known for luxury skincare, there are far fewer reviews on the Internet, but a fair amount of chatter and curiousity. On Babor's home page I see the following: "We believe in combining the best of nature with the most innovative research from the world of science. For this reason, all product collections within BABOR Cosmetics contain exclusive, plant-based active ingredients created in our own laboratories to nourish and rejuvenate your skin."

That sound good, of course. But this review is about Babor's new Face Design Collection. Another collection has a single round crystal.It's a makeup collection that hsa skincare properties, too. This modern approach to makeup was created in collaboration with the international star make-up artist Peter Schmidinger (who is now also Babor's International Makeup Director).  If you haven't heard of him, now that you have, you might not ever forget him! He's gorgeous, and he's styled the likes of Nicole Kidman for the premiere of “Moulin Rouge”, and  Heidi Klum, z Hurley, former President Bill Clinton, and ohammed Ali for their public Even Mohammed Ali, for various public appearances. If you use the Babor Face Design Collection, you can add yourself to the list!

The Face Design Collection offers elegantly packaged color cosmetics in luxurious formulas that provide protection, treatment, regeneration and color. This is all thanks to the lifting complex of active ingredients, developed especially for the line using natural ingredients. The products were initially created for women are already Babor devotees, but who wanted at-home products.  However, even if you aren't yet using Babor skin care products, the makeup is still something everyone can enjoy.  

The thing I'm a bit queasy about is Peter's special approach to makeup, that requires contouring of the face.  He believes that you can make any face look more balanced using three easy steps, focusing first on shape, then on color. In the Babor Face Design Concept the steps he uses  are:   Step 1 = brightener; Step 2 = Blush, Step 3 = Eyebrows.  The first thing you need to know is the shape of your face (oval, round, triangular or square).  But once you get that down,  I am stating my person opinion that I think contouring should be left to the pros. To look good, contouring must be done with an expert's eye to placement, and then be patiently blended. The average person can't really can't pull this off perfectly, and even an expert will find it challenging to do it on herself with any distance from the mirror or from the side. A professional drag queen on Ru Paul's Drag Race recently over-contoured with the wrong color and didn't blend properly, and she become the object of derision.  If an expert drag queen can't pull it off, can you?  But if you pay attention to how Peter explains and demonstrates his technique in the web tv video and you are a fearless fashionista, practice makes perfect!

The really good news is that even if you don't contour, the products are exceptional, with a lot of formula and color choices. For example, there are five diffrent foundations in powder, solid, and liquid form. I tried the Deluxe Foundation  ($42.00  1 1.7 fl. oz)  a creamy liquid with a lifting effect. It arrives in the chic-est square, brushed golden column with recessed pump top. The luxuriously creamy foundation slides on and blends beautifully, providing medium coverage. It is available in five shades fro light to deep. This foundation has something called coated ''Stay True'' pigments, that  merge with the skin and guarantee lasting color and long durability. Hyaluronan and wheat proteins provide moisture. And it's a skin treatment, too, thanks to a lifting complex consisting of sea fennel, lupines oil, vitamin E and the moisturizing amino acid complex L-PCA. The only thing it doesn't have is SPF protection. This has become my go-to for any time I need makeup that lasts and looks polished (more than a sheer or tinted moisturizer) but not one that creates that over-done look. You will look like a makeup artist blended this into your skin, but your skin will still have a personality!

Blush is one of those products that has to work with your skin, and you've got to get a compatible color. Babor has four Super Soft Duo Blushes ($35.00) in Mauve, Rose, Terra and Peach.  The shiny and matte square gold compacts look like something you'd find in an Oscar Swag Bag--really elegant. A clear, plastic "keeper" cover keeps the blush clean and dry (so much more useful than those little cello papers that fly off the minute you open the compact the first time, and are lost forever).  The keeper cover also provides a nesting palce for the included, kabuki style mini blush brush. Inside the mirrored compact is a large square of dual-color powder blush. The powder has a "filler effect" conatining different sized powder particles that fill up lines, giving the face an even complexion.  Two colors let you contour if you wish, and you'll get skin treatment thanks to the Babor lifting complex of sea fennel, lupines oil, vitamin E and the moisturizing amino acid complex L-PCA. I tried the "Peach" duo. The slightly shimmery lighter shade was subtle, the deeper shade looked alarmingly deep in the compact, but a light hand produced a deep peach that was pretty and believable. Together, the shades would work really well on deeper complexions, as well as for that coutouring technique.

 Eyes are the windows to the soul, and Babor is going to make sure you make the most of what you've got! Babor's Super Soft Eye Shadow ($22.00)  lives up to it's name, with a powder formula that's sinfully silky. The eye shadow contains plant oils, beeswax and wheat starch to smoothen the skin. and yes, there's that skin-loving lifting complex present in these shadows, too.  I tried two of  the 15 color:  02 "Soft Rose" and  09 "Truffle" If you're a smoky eye fan, you'll find that Truffle gives you a modern, chocolate take on the look, but you can also blend out this shadow into a gorgeous, milk chocolate brown lid color that looks trendy without going all the way to the dark side. It's a must-have color for Spring! You can blend these with your fingertips. They're sinfully lovely.  For deifnition you can add a Maxi Definition Eye Contour Pencil (in eight classic colors).

Lipstick is something that makes me feel super-special. I won't leave the house without at least a swipe of lip gloss. Babor Ulta Performance Lip Colour ($25.00), however, is what I'd call a red carpet must-have. This lipstick is obviously not just for special occasions, but it's the one I grab to put in my evening bag when I'm dressed up and feeling glamorous. Look at the case, and you might not need to know anything more! There are 17 luscious colors (the one in the photo is Nude Berry).  09 "Nude Rose" is a medium to deep rose that I think has to be the best, universally flattering rose I've ever seen! The silky, moist (but not shiny-gooey) lipstick has that lifting complex, of course. The  intensity of the color and the way it slides onto lips with extraordinary smoothness, impresses me.  And the color seems to stay on way past many others, leaving a hint of stain behind so you're never just "bare" until you touch up. It is a little luxury you can afford.  You can get yours (there are 17 different shades to choose  You shall not want!  *for those who like to line, the Maxi Definition Lip Liner ($15.00)  has a sponge tip on one end, lines without tugging, pulling or cracking, and comes in six classic colors. Carnauba and candelilla wax make the lip line soft and provide moisture.  Vitamin E protects against free radicals. It's a great lip liner!


There are more items I didn't review but I'm sure they are equally, elegant and exceptional.  So where do you get these wonderful products? Babor is sold in fine spas and salons, and you can also get the Face Design Collection on the Babor 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 without 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, leaving comments on my posts,  and by following me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  and NY Cosmetics 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

 I LOVE YOUR COMMENTS!  Please leave your comments on my posts. You can find the "comments" section (in green) at the bottom of each post next to: "Posted by Alison"  If Comments has a (0) next to it, I would especially appreciate yours being the first!  Feel free to ask me a questtion, too! Thanks in advance for interacting with me.

M-A-C Cosmetics Sheen Supreme Lipstick Makes Lips Look Bold

If there is one thing M-A-C Cosmetics knows how to do, it's make a great lipstick. Bold lips are back, and here to stay, and so M-A-C has updated formulas to make your lipstick dreams come true. The result is Sheen Supreme. As M-A-C puts it, they're: " a combination of the strong, sensually saturated colour of, say, Tilda Swinton’s I Am Love Milanese Lipstick, leavened with the light feel and clearvibrancy, the see-through sheen of a modern New York City Girl Gloss. Imagine no muddy undertones, gliding in pearl or creme finish, moisturizing with no sticky/ tacky feel. It’s a new medium, with M∙A∙C in the lead. This is retro/modern – and devastatingly chic."

Here's the rundown:


LIPSTICK


Supremely Confident -Pale nude


Bare Again Pinky -neutral beige


Can’t Get Enough -Beige neutral


Behave Yourself -Light blue pink


Gotta Dash! - Pale clean coral


Full Speed - Bright clean yellow pink


Insanely It - Watermelon pink


Ultra Darling - Mid-tone yellow pink *a universally flattering deep rose, almost red, but not quite, so you can wear it during the daytime and not feel overly dramatic. Very pretty!


New Temptation - Vivid blue red


Quite the Thing! - Deep blue plum


Impressive Neutral gilded plum * this rosed-plum is saved friom being too cool or Wintry by a bit of brown. I lovew the moist and glossy look that is easy to wear, no matter what your complexion. a

 Look at Her! - Metallic copper *metallics don't flatter everyone, but this is what I'd call an ideal "beach lipstick," gold and bronze shimmery metallic that looks more gold than copper.  Sexiest on redheads and strawberry blondes.


Can’t Resist - Golden purplish red *this color is more opaque than some in the collection, and because it looks very deep in the tube, I wondered how it would be on my lips, But to my surprise, it leaves a saturated, creamy, plum berried color that while deep, still manages to look elegant, not like it belongs in a goth fantasy. The shimmery finish looks very metallic in the tube, but it's mostly shimmery, not uber-metallic, on lips.


Good to be Bad - Deep burgundy


Suggested Retail Price $14.50 U.S./$17.50 CDN

My personal opinion: There's something magical about swiping on full, rich color. It makes you feel "dressed" and polished. These Sheen Supreme lipsticks marry the best of a lip gloss, with the long wear of a saturated color lipstick, in a light to medium-weight formula that feels hydrating and luxurious.  I love M-A-C's vanilla scent (which these have, quite significantly). THe slimline, shiny case with angled top makes these easy to apply more precisely. But be sure to exfoliate your lips and apply a bit of balm before you apply this lipstick as it tends to pick up imperfections. Sheen Supreme by M-A-C Cosmetics is available TODAY,  March 3rd,  at  at all  M·A·C locations, 1.800.588.0070 and http://www.maccosmetics.com/

Will you love the 14 new shades of Sheen Supreme? If you love M-A-C's signature, vanilla scent, in a long-lasting but moist and creamy, shiny lipstick with saturated color, this will be your new best pick for the season. 

Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied without 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, leaving comments on my posts,  and by following me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  and NY Cosmetics 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

I LOVE YOUR COMMENTS!  Please leave your comments on my posts. You can find the "comments" section (in green) at the bottom of each post next to: "Posted by Alison"  If Comments has a (0) next to it, I would especially appreciate yours being the first! Thanks in advance for interacting with me.

 

You Don't Need to Be at the French Court to Love Hair Jewelry From Elle

Hair decoration is nothing new. People have been enjoying it as a fashion statement, for centuries. While the ladies in the French Court fought to create the most elaborate hair styles with jewels, feathers and I believe, sometimes even live birds (can you imagine the mess?).  today's key to hair adornment is to choose a fabulous piece and not to overwhelm with too many at once.  If you're going to wear one special piece,  you have to choose wisely.  It doesn't matter if it costs ten dollars, or a hundred dollars or more, it has to make you feel special.

ELLE® has a beautiful Spring collection of delicate, silver, white and bejeweled beauties that are within the price range of just about every woman.  I like to call this Spring collection,  "Elle's Belles."  Why? Because the collection is chock full of options, from jeweled headbands, to fancy combs, or maybe just a witty hair pin to tuck into a bun or braid.  All are ladylike pieces, perfect for all the special occasions that come up in the warmer months. Of course, they are nice to wear "just because" you deserve something pretty...and affordable, too.  So put There's away all those heavy coats and clunky accessories, and deck yourself from head to toe in crisp, fun, ladylike accents that work with chiffon, lace, cotton, linen, and anything that flutters in the breeze  (now that's using your head)!. Here are some of my favorite pieces from the collection, just to give you a good idea of the delights that await you:

Delicate hairpins with flowers/6  #30456 
Accent an updo with one, two or more of these hairpins that will keep your "do" in place, and add a blooming array of jeweled "blossoms"

jeweled bobby pins 43288 $12.00/6 do more than hold back a few strands of hair, or growing-out bangs. They add a single note accent the even the shortest hair to make it sparkle. Tuck one into the side of your hair to add a tiny accent.




 

A Crystal Headband 43346 $20.00 adds a glamorous touch to any style. This seemingly simple hair band has gotten more comments than any other hair ornament I have ever worn. Everyone who sees it, mentions it. When I tell them it was by Elle and was just $20.00, no one believes me!  The hair band is light on your head, but it sparkles without being "too much."  Dress up a daytime outfit, add glam to evening. It's a perfect choice.




This gorgeous side comb 43076 SRP $20.00 adds a large, sparkling leaf to your style and keeps hair in place. It reminds me of something a first class passenger might have worn in her chignon, on an ocean liner in the Golden Age.....nostalgic, and yet totally chic.

This Spring Collection of Elle Hair jewelery also features in it's collection:  a soft, travel-friendly silver lame fabric headband to keep hair glam at the pool, beach, or party for just $6.50,  and elegant, white fabric "gardenia" in full bloom to clip on your hair, hat, handbag or jacket ($15.00), a set of rhinestone encrusted bobby pins with faceted, rhinestone ball dangles ($20.00/2), a single hairpin with a  small, crystal encrusted Star with a chain "tail" dangle with crystal stations ($10.00) and a large, clear plastic comb for securing a french twist or chignon, topped with loops of rhinestones and tiny butterfly in the center.

You can get the Spring Collection of Elle Hair Jewelry  in your local Ulta or Harmons store, or online at, hairboutique.com, drugstore.com and amazon.com.


and local stores and boutiques

Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied without 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, leaving comments on my posts,  and by following me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  and NY Cosmetics 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

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips are Peel, File, Go, Fun!

 I think I've just found something that might quality as one of the most fun beauty products you can get for under $10.00 :  Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips.
Seriously, it's rare that you find something clever, easy, fun, and still fabulous for the frugal-minded. What Sally Hansen has done, is put 16 strips of peel-and-stick nail polish --some solid color, and others with wild designs and even, glitter,  into a box, with a dual-ended emery board and wooden cuticle stick.  You start with clean, dry nails, push back the cuticle (gently), shape free edge of your nail with the hot pink side of the emery board, smooth (again, gently) with the grey side,, then make one last swipe of nail polish remover to make sure nails are completely clean (this will make the manicure last longer, too). Then open the package with the nail design or color you want, Remove the backing from one of the nail strips, apply it to your nail, stretching it slightly,  and smooth it down. File off the excess. If you've done it right, it should create a perfectly manicured nail, and each nail should take less than half a minute. In the past, if you wanted leopard spots, or intricate patterns, a manicurist could take up to an hour to create the same effect (and it wouldn't cost under under $10.00, either).

Being a spotted cat kind of woman, I tried "Kitty Kitty"  -- metallic rust and copper "spots" on a silver background (middle row beneath the hot pink nail in the photo above).  I'm not even sure that a nail artist could do this intricate leopard design well. I really wanted those spots!  But I'm not at all ambidextrous, and wondered how well I'd do applying sticky strips to my right hand, using my left.  I needn't have worried because while "sticky," you can still reposition the strip before you smooth it down. I didn't have any trouble except for one finger, where I picked the wrong sized strip.  Although you get 16 strips in two packages and they're sized from small to large, if you happen to have slim nail beds as I do, once you've used up the smallest sized, you may find the rest of the strips are too large. I guess you could trim them, butI just tried stretching them a bit to fit. That seemed to work, but as of this review, I can't tell if the fact that the sides are not completely smooth, will impact wearability.  I will report back if it does. It would be nice if Sally Hansen had a "slim" or "petite" set. 

Once I'd applied all ten strips to my nails, I regarded them for a moment. To my shock, I had a full set of perfect, glossy, spotted cat nails!  With prep time and application, it couldn't have taken much more than ten minutes.  It was pretty amazing.  You could even take these on a plane, and when you arrive have a perfect manicure when you arrive (and disturb no one doing it)! Sally Hansen says the no-dry nails wil last up to ten days, and you can always remove the strips as you would any nail polish (because they are real nail polish!)   -- with remover.

These nail strips are so easy and affordable, they're a no brainer for a girls night in, for a bridal party, for vacation....and on and on.  For those who care, these new Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips are also DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde Free, no dry-time nail looks for style that lasts up to ten days. This easy and affordable at-home nail technology puts bold color, high- shine, and intricate design at your fingertips—just peel, apply, file, and go.




You might not wear neon stripes in your hair, or a tongue stud, or get a tattoo (especially if you're over a certain age), but your nails are one place you can go a little wild, without changing your looks, permanently. Express yourself!   Here are the various collections (check them out in the photo at the top of this post):


Shiny Neons: Get notice-me nails with these no dry-time hues.  Available strips: Cry Baby, It Girl, Violet Night, Teal With It, Groove, Electric Shock, Squeezed!, Red-y for Trouble

High-Shine Metallics: Shimmer, shine, sparkle and standout without waiting for nails to dry. 

Available strips: Frock Star, Bling it On, Glitz Bitz, Raise a Glass, Blue Ice



High-Fashion Patterns: From racy leopard print to lady-like lace, prints and patterns are easy to achieve.  Available strips: Wild Child, Kitty Kitty, Fly With Me, Girl Flower, Misbehaved, Laced Up, Booty Camp and Collide-o-Scope, Cut it Out, Check it Out , Skinny Jeans.


**postscript:  it has been over a week since I applied my first, test strips, and my nails are still absolutely perfect, except for one strip that pulled away a little bit at the bottom near the cuticle. These wear longer than the average polish, that's for sure, and the leopard design on my nails has been getting tons of positive comments.  I am sure that these will last at least ten days. The only sticking point? I'm dying to try another pattern and these are still perfect!


COST: $9.99.   WHERE TO BUY: Sally Hansen products are available at chain drug stores, food stores and mass merchandisers nationally.


Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied without 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, leaving comments on my posts,  and by following me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  and NY Cosmetics 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

 I LOVE COMMENTS!  Please leave your comments on my posts. You can find the "comments"  (in green) at the bottom of each post next to: "Posted by Alison"  If Comments has a (0) next to it, I would especially appreciate yours being the first! Thanks in advance for interacting with me.

Lady Speed Stick Welcomes Spring with Enchanted Cherry Blossom



Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo (c) Alison Blackman

Sometimes it's just a little thing that can make a difference in how you look and feel.  I love the feeling of discovering something new and exciting. Something that works.  Something that only costs a few dollars, but makes me feel pampered. 

One such product is the new, Lady Speed Stick Fresh Infusions (Srp. $2.29-$2.99) in "Enchanted Cherry Blossom."  This new scent is the latest in a line that includes: Rainkissed Waterlily, Crisp Cucumber, Wild Freesia,  and Orchard Blossom. All five look cheerful in a purple swivel-up, solid stick with colorful labels, offering your under-arms long lasting wetness and odor protection.

This new,  Enchanted Cherry Blossom scent is the perfect fit for Spring, as it's the time when flowering cherry trees make the world looked iced in white and light pink flowers. I don't have a photo of the product, but I can tell you what it smells like:: tart and only slightly floral, like sour cherries in syrup. It's very light, so it won't really compete with a chosen perfume. Sweat and odor aren't good fashion looks any time of year, and there are precious few items you can buy that really can enhance your confidence and sociability for less than $3.00. Lady Speed Stick Fresh Infusions in new, Enchanted Cherry Blossom, is one of them!






Find Lady Speed Stick at all mass retail and grocery stores nationwide.






Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied without 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, leaving comments on my posts,  and by following me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  and NY Cosmetics 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

 I LOVE YOUR COMMENTS!  Please leave your comments on my posts. You can find the "comments" section (in green) at the bottom of each post next to: "Posted by Alison"  If Comments has a (0) next to it, I would especially appreciate yours being the first! Thanks in advance for interacting with me.
  ******************************************************************************************************************************

M-A-C Jeanius Gives You The Blues

M-A-C's awesome, Sheen Supreme Lipstick Collection is launching tomorrow, March 3, 2011. 
But another collection, a denim-centric one, is launching tomorrow as well, and I'm giving you a sneak peek!

Who doesn't love denim? It's an American staple. The new collection by M-A-C called JEANIUS is described by M-A-C as follows:  "Is there anything more enduring (besides love and heartbreak) than denim? Jeanius is a celebration of the journey – country cousin to haute couture – the whole world wanted to go on since America made it a national obsession. Since tooth-and-nail workwear jumped the pond in farmer’s overalls to gussy up in the glam of the great Paris couture houses...France may take the credit for creating it in 18th-century Nimes (de Nîmes = DeNim), but bright young American women took it higher! M∙A∙C keeps up with a Jeanius collection of moody blues and indigo ink, the quantum of modern cool, with four new limited-life denimized Eye Shadows, along with new limited-life shades of Lipstick, Lipglass, Blush and Biker Blue & Frayed to Order Nail Lacquer. Like the faux-metal “snap” on the Eye Shadow…completely riveting. "

My Take on the Collection:   I only got a few pieces of this collection, so I can only extrapolate from those pieces what the rest would be like, but to me it's all biker blues and lots of plum and pink. That makes it cool and easy to wear.  Here's the rundown on the collection *with my notes, on the pieces I tried, starred.

Eyeshadow ($19.50 U.S. / $23.50 CDN)

*these are over-sized eye shadows, much larger than the ordinary M-A-C eye shadow compact size, so there's more to love. Each piece has an overspray that makes the product look like your favorite pair of jeans. The overspray will be wiped away as you use the product, so pay attention to the description of the color underneath


Diva In Distress Mid-tone gray with silver pearl (Limited Edition) * this shadow is a semi-sheer, iced blue-tinged with a tiny bit of silvery shimmer. But while the lovely light blue-grey is trendy and flattering--I just wish the large chunks of silver pearl shimmery blended better on my lids.


Motorhead Mid-tone blue with copper pearl (Limited Edition) *this is a deep navy, but it's brighter than the more matte deeps of Winter, sparkled with a bit of copper perle. It makes a modern smoky eye, or a gtreat liner

 Stove Pipe Black Black with copper pearl (Limited Edition)


White Jeanius White with silver pearl (Limited Edition)



Lipglass ($14.50 U.S. / $17.50 CDN)


Docile Chrome pink peach with gold (Limited Edition) (Repromote from Fabulous Felines, ’10)


Indigo Pink Deep burgundy with blue pearl (Limited Edition)


Painted On Grayish beige with gold pearl (Limited Edition)



Lipstick ($14.50 U.S. / $17.50 CDN)


Acid Washed Grayish beige with gold pearl (Glaze) (Limited Edition)


Pretty Please Pale pink pearl (Lustre) (Permanent)


Riveting Rose Deep burgundy with blue pearl (Frost) (Limited Edition) *it's pretty if you like deep cool tones that are intense, purple-red. But the frost finish and deep color isn't something that everyone can wear equally well. On pale skin it looks dramatic but the frost and intensity also makes it :goth." On deeper, cool complexions, it makes more sense.


Nail Lacquer ($14.00 U.S. / $17.00 CDN)


Biker Blue Black base with purple and blue pearl (Frost) (Limited Edition)


Frayed-to-Order White matte with soft pink duochrome pearl (Matte) (Limited Edition)


Blush ($19.50 U.S. / $23.50 CDN)


Overdyed Bright magenta (Satin) (Limited Edition)


Pink Cult Mid-tone neutral pink (Matte) (Limited Edition)


Penultimate Brow Maker ($17.50 U.S. / $21.00 CDN)


Penultimate Eye Liner ($17.50 U.S. / $21.00 CDN)


Rapidblack True black (Permanent)

M-A-C Jeanius is available tomorrow, March 3, 2011 at all M·A·C locations, 1.800.588.0070 and www.maccosmetics.com/

International March 2011 at all M·A·C locations, 1.800.588.0070 and http://www.maccosmetics.com/

 
Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied without 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, leaving comments on my posts,  and by following me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  and NY Cosmetics 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

 I LOVE YOUR COMMENTS!  Please leave your comments on my posts. You can find the "comments" section (in green) at the bottom of each post next to: "Posted by Alison"  If Comments has a (0) next to it, I would especially appreciate yours being the first! Thanks in advance for interacting with me.

M-A-C Cremeblend Blush New For Spring 2011

M-A-C Says about it's new, Cremeblend blush:  For every contour control freak, for every persistent perfectionist comes this wondrous way to play with blush that gives you the most magnificent flexibility you’ve ever had…Starts creamy, stays creamy and proves once and for all that powder is NOT your only prerogative. You can get back to a new build for that retro “rouge” look – Old Hollywood Glamour made modern – or stop at subtle and natural; it’s all in your hands. In three aspects, two shades of each: One matched to skin, one for a brighter glow and one darker for cream contouring, it’s perfect for all skin colours, minus the silicone, particularly adept at  preventing ashiness on darker complexions. 


My Take on the Cremeblend Blush products:  M-A-C says: "make powdery a thing of the past. " Personally, I'm still a fan of powder blush because I find them less intense and easier to control, But these Creamblend  blushes are fun to experiment with. They're easy to layer, so you can add a sheer-ish wash of color, or go all the way to "warpaint." No need to look as extreme with these unique, creme blushes as with the poster model, but if you like a natural flush, you have to be very careful to apply just a tiny bit at a time, or risk looking like you have a bad rash. The benefits of a solid compact of cream (or creme) blush is that it adds a more luminous dimension than a powder blush, giving you a "maybe she's born with it" glow, if you choose the right color and apply it skilfully. These new M-A-C Cremeblend colors are clear and moistly matte, without any shimmer, so they blend more naturally into your skin. And, while creme blushes require sticking your hands into the pot, or at the very least, using a brush, you can see immediately just how much you need to get the effect you want.  Personally, I just don't like to have to wash my hands after applying a cream product from a compact, but that's simply my personal choice.

Here's the rundown on the collection:   Cremeblend Blush ($19.50 U.S. / $23.50 CDN) (Permanent)

Brit Wit- Dusty rosy mauve  *this might be the easiest of the cremeblend blushes to wear, especially for someone who is just learning about cream blush and how to apply it. The color is a peachy nude with a fair amount of warmth, so it's easy to apply a subtle amount of blush that looks realistic, or just keep layering until you have more color. If you love the nude, glowing looks for Spring and Summer, you'll need this blush to pull it off!

Ladyblush -Warm neutral coral

Posey -Warm peach *as a person with warm-toned skin, I found this blush to be a nearly perfect, rosed blush that was neither too peachy, nor too red.  It will work on neutral-toned skin as well, but I there are better choices for very cool complexions.







So Sweet, So Easy - Bright yellow pink


Something Special Light coral

Tea Petal -Mid-tone reddish brown  *an intense, almost deep apricot-brown with a hint of plum that gives a more dramatic blush.  But it's oddly flattering even on a fair complexion.  If you like the 70's "Charlies Angels" plum, you'll love this one!







These lovely, M-A-C Cremeblend blushes will be out and about on March 3rd, 2011 at all North American locations at all M·A·C locations, 1.800.588.0070 and http://www.maccosmetics.com/


International: March 2011 for international locations

Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied without 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, leaving comments on my posts,  and by following me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  and NY Cosmetics 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

I LOVE YOUR COMMENTS!  Please leave your comments on my posts. You can find the "comments" section (in green) at the bottom of each post next to: "Posted by Alison"  If Comments has a (0) next to it, I would especially appreciate yours being the first! Thanks in advance for interacting with me.