H&M debuts organic skincare line

By now, H&M has become a central stop on our fashion radar. Want to grab a date-night outfit? Check. Need a look for fashion week? Check. Want a piece of a designer collaboration? Check. Eco-friendly fashion? Some unique yet affordable accessories and shoes? Check and check. For all things fashion, you only need to make a stop at H&M – they have it all. But there’s one area that H&M had yet to enter, and that was the beauty market. Until now.

H&M recently announced the launch of its’ first-ever skincare line, which will be available in stores come the end of March. The range of essentials includes natural and Ecocert-certified organic shower gel, body scrub, lotion, hand cream and lip balm, accompanied by make-up and toilet bags made from organic cotton. (Ecocert is Europe’s biggest certification body for organic and natural cosmetics.)

“It felt like a natural step, since we’ve worked with organic cotton garments for a few seasons, now,” said Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&M’s chief of design. “There’s also a strong demand from our customers for organics, and I hope they will be as excited as I am about the new products.”

The shower gel contains the juice of organic apples, which, along with apricot seeds are also key ingredients in the body scrub. The body lotion contains organic apple juice and sunflower seed oils and the hand cream has organic apple juice and organic almond seed oils. The lip-balm is filled with jojoba and beeswax. All of the products are scented with natural perfumes derived from essential oils, including raspberry and melon or lavender and mint, and are sold in recyclable packaging.

Prices range from €3,90 - €6,90.

Photos: courtesy of H&M

Haute review: Pantene Pro-V Relaxed & Natural products for Women of Color

I’ve tried Pantene products in the past and despite the flowy hair I’ve seen on the commercials, I achieved no such success. But I was open to trying it again once a friend told me about Pantene Pro-V Relaxed & Natural products for Women of Color. I recently received the Pantene Pro-V Relaxed & Natural for Women of Color Intensive Moisturizing Shampoo (oil-enriched formula), Intensive Moisturizing Conditioner (oil-enriched formula) and Breakage Defense Deep Conditioning Mask to review. The line features Pantene’s signature pro-vitamins and essential oils, and is designed to strengthen weak hair against breakage and protect it against dryness. And the collection is available at your local drugstore and is quite affordable.

So I eagerly welcomed the chance to try Pantene’s new line of products for women of color to see if it could hold up to my finicky hair. The Moisturizing Shampoo left my hair feeling clean and fresh and super slick. However, because my hair is naturally dry, I desperately needed a conditioning treatment to follow. I decided on the deep conditioning mask which is designed to nourish and strengthen hair. I applied it to my hair and left it on for about ten minutes or so while doing other things around the house. After rinsing, my hair felt incredibly soft and light, and a lot stronger and healthier. I then styled as usual and my hair was bouncy and full of life just like on the commercials. Mission accomplished!

I think I now have Pantene model-worthy hair. Don’t you?

Find out more at Pantene online.

Bridal beauty pick: Chanel Glossimer Lévres Scintillantes

Typically a woman who strongly believes ‘less is more’ when it comes to my face, I do want to spice things up for my wedding. However, my day-to-day beauty and makeup regimen consists of little more than facial moisturizer, the occasional bit of bronzer, and my Chanel Glossimer lip gloss. Although I want to ‘do it big’ on my eyes and cheeks for the big day, I’ll keep my lips simple with the low-key Glossimer.

I have been using Glossimer for years, since I first saw it on Jada Pinkett Smith in a fashion and beauty spread in Essence Magazine. And I’ve been hooked ever since. My ’signature’ color is Twinkle, which is a pinkish, peachy color that is about the same tone as NARS’ ‘Orgasm’, but with flecks of gold shimmer that gives my lips a gorgeous sheen. I’ve also tried some similar Glossimer shades like Waterlily, as well as some limited-edition colors. I love that it goes on smooth, thanks to the wand applicator, and its sticky enough that it lasts for a while, but not as sticky as other glosses I’ve tried that make you feel as if you’re wearing three coats of Vasoline on your lips. The colors are more muted on than they appear in the packaging, which is fine because it highlights your skin tone without overdoing it. But there is that ever-present hint of sparkle and shine. And it’s water-resistant, so it doesn’t disappear after you take a sip of drink, or even a bite of food.

Wonder if it withstand our first kiss as husband and wife?

Buy Chanel Glossimer lip gloss, for $27, at Saks or Chanel.com.

Get ready to “Catch the Fever” with Beyoncé’s Heat fragrance

There’s no stopping Beyoncé. From music to acting, to fashion and accessories, there’s no end to extensions of the Beyoncé brand. And now she’s launching her first fragrance - Heat. In an exclusive interview with WWD, Beyoncé commented “I’ve been working on it for a while now. I was on tour for a year, and I have meet-and-greets with fans. I’ve never in my life gotten so many compliments. Coty has their own testing, but that was my testing! The fans loved it. They were like, ‘I love that, I’m getting that, why isn’t it out right now? I need it!”

The inspiration for the name and packaging came from the singer’s tours - fire from performances, red and gold are among her favorite colors; thus the antique-style bottle looks like it’s on fire. The top of the bottle is edged with a gold band and a cap with the letter ‘B’, and inscribed on the bottle are the words ‘Beyoncé’ and ‘Heat’. The fragrance has notes of red vanilla orchid, magnolia, neroli and blush peach; a heart of honeysuckle nectar, almond macaroon and crème de musk, with giant sequoia milkwood, tonka bean and amber.

Beyoncé’s Heat, licensed by Coty, will be available in three sizes — 1 oz. eau de parfum for $39; 1.7 oz. eau de parfum for $49, and 3.4 oz. eau de parfum for $59. Also for sale will be a 6.8-oz. Gold Sparkling Body Lotion for $24. The complete collection will be available this February in the U.S. at approximately 2,000 department and specialty stores, (including Macy’s where Bey will make a personal appearance to Herald Square on Feb. 3.), as well as in Canada and Latin America.

Are you ready to “Catch the Fever“?

Source: WWD

Brow Know-How: Tarte The Toolbox Eyebrow Kit

I confess! I over-tweezed my eyebrows and had no clue how to get them back into shape. I decided to be brave and let them grow out. I grew them out for about a month, and then I couldn’t look at them anymore without wincing. It was time for a trip to Sephora.

Amid rows and rows of cosmetics, I found what I needed: Tarte The Toolbox Brow Kit. Housed inside a mini toolbox are brow wax, powder, pencil, gel, tweezers, 3 brow stencils, brush, and a mini mirror. I was excited to go home and get to work on my eyebrows.

Starting with the stencils, I determined I had a full arch. Using the brush dipped into the wax and then powder, I filled in the stencil outline. Using the tweezers, I removed all the hair outside of the shape I just created. A quick swipe of brow gel and I was amazed at how great my brows looked. You really can’t go wrong with the stencils.

All ingredients are natural too with skin-healthy additions, like cocoa seed butter, shea butter, and vitamin E. The Tarte packaging is ‘green’ too!

Frugal beauty buffs will love that you can get salon quality brow shaping at home for a fraction of the price. Buy from Tarte or in store at Sephora.

Bridal fragrances: J’adore by Dior and The One by Dolce & Gabbana

In planning my wedding, I’ve planned my look down to the last detail. Wedding gown? Check. Floral bouquet? Check. Shoes and accessories? Check. Makeup and hair? Still to be determined. But then it dawned on me that I hadn’t yet chosen a fragrance for the most special day of my life. Since my wedding look consists of a mix of traditional, sensual, glamorous, haute couture and sophisticated, I decided on two perfect perfumes for that big day.

Dior J’adore eau de parfum is “radiant, sensual, sophisticated” and for the “confident, sensual woman who celebrates her femininity”, with notes of mandarin, champaca flowers, ivy, African orchid, rose, violet, Damascus plum, Amaranth wood, blackberry musk.

 

 

 

Dolce & Gabbana The One eau de parfum is equal parts “tempting, modern and glamorous” and its strong scent contrasts with a golden sweetness. The top notes include bergamot, mandarin, lychee, peach, Madonna lily, muguet, plum, jasmine, vetiver, vanilla, amber and musk.

Both J’adore by Dior and The One by Dolce & Gabbana evoke passion, romance and love, which lends the perfect final touch for my wedding look!

What are your favorite bridal fragrances?

Holiday Beauty Gift Guide 2009

It is that wonderful time of year where we are shopping for family and friends, looking for that perfect holiday gift. And what could be better than the gift of beauty?! No matter who you are shopping for, give them beauty gifts that will wow them. Here are some of my favorites for 2009.

Estee Lauder is a mainstay among classic beauty. Their products are time-honored and tailored to women of all ages. They always have a gorgeous holiday set, and this year the set really impresses. With any fragrance purchase, buy the Estee Lauder 2009 Color Spectacular for only $55. This may be one of the largest sets I’ve seen for this price. A $340 value, the set includes 15 shades of eye shadow, a deluxe face compact, 4 full-size lipsticks and much, much more! If you are unsure what fragrance to purchase, I recommend Pleasures eau de parfum spray. It is a light, sheer, fresh floral that is perfect for day and evening. Purchase Pleasures from Estee Lauder and receive free shipping when you add the Color Spectacular to your order.

Looking to wow that special someone with a gift of pure luxury? Look no further than the two new fragrances from Italian perfume house Profumi del Forte. By Night, Black and By Night, White are two luxurious scents that are even more intoxicating when layered.By Night, Black with notes of cypress, pine and incense is elegant and seductive, while By Night, White is a sensual mix of vanilla, orange blossom, jasmine absolute and white musk. Two unique and complimentary blends that make for one exciting holiday gift. I have been wearing these two scents for a few weeks now and I highly recommend them for any fragrance lovers on your holiday list. They are truly harmonious, luxurious and very worthy of compliments. Available at Takashimaya NY, 100ml $240.

The Twilight craze has taken the younger set by storm. DuWop has created lip venom in honor of the Twilight series. This dual-action lip plumper consists of a rich, (blood!) red stain layered with a cinnamon-flavored conditioning oil. It is strangely addictive and makes for the perfect stocking stuffer for your favorite Twilight addict. Buy DuWop Twilight Lip Venom.

 

 

 

For the person on your list who has gone ‘green’, give the gift of eco-friendly luxury with Soak, a premium wash for all fine delicates. Available in four clean scents, as well as unscented, Soak is a low-suds, no-rinse formula that leaves all your fine hand washables soft, fresh and most of all clean! Soak contains no harsh chemicals and is biodegradable, and in fact so pure you could even bathe in it! I’ve tried this wash, and it is so crisp, clean and delicate, leaves no soap residue, and is very quick and easy. My children’s hand-knit sweaters came out soft and fluffy and smelled wonderful. This would make a perfect holiday gift, either on its own, or as an accompaniment to a gorgeous knit sweater. Purchase Soak locally by locating a store in your area.

Holidays have us all busy, so we often look for beauty short-cuts. Here comes Trish McEvoy to the rescue with the Voyager Collection Beauty Emergency Set! A cute quilted purse-size case unzips to reveal a thin compact and 4 mini brushes which gives you all you need to touch-up on the go. The highlight of this set is Trish’s new Instant-Pick-Me-Up quad of four complimentary, all-over face colors that enhance all skin tones. In addition, eye shadow, definer and lip colors round out the compact. I have been using this set to create my basic look for a few weeks now. The colors are so neutral and fresh, this is a must-have for every woman. Perfect gift for the woman on-the-go, also makes a great stocking stuffer. Buy through Trish McEvoy.

I hope this holiday buying guide has given you some great gift ideas. It is a lot of fun shopping for beauty products, so I hope you enjoy picking out the gifts almost as much as you enjoy giving them. Happy Holidays!

Keep your lips healthy all winter with Neosporin Lip Health products

As the weather is getting colder, your lips are getting dryer! This is the time when we are all plagued with dry, cracking, chapped lips. I received samples of some new Neosporin Lip Health products and couldn’t wait to give them a try. What better time to pamper your lips than when winter is approaching?

I started using both the Neosporin Lip Health Overnight Renewal Therapy and Neosporin Lip Health Daily Hydration Therapy with SPF 20. Each night before bed, I slathered my lips with the Overnight Renewal Therapy. It goes on as a sheer white creamy layer of moisture. It is not sticky, contains no parabens, preservatives or artificial flavors, and is packed with vitamins, emollients, and a blend of antioxidant and lipids. A little goes a long way, and I found that since I’ve been using the lip therapy overnight I have not suffered from dry, cracked lips at all. This product is even clinically proven to restore healthy lips in 3 nights! 

 

To maintain my newfound healthy lips, I started using the Daily Hydration Therapy with SPF 20. With all the same benefits and healthy ingredients as the overnight formula, this glycerin-based lip moisturizer was light and left my lips with a nice shine. They were not at all sticky, and if I used it under my lip gloss and lipstick it worked wonderfully to prolong my lip color.

Portable, affordable, and from a trusted brand! Oh, and it works! You can’t go wrong with the new Neosporin Lip Health products. Grab a coupon at Neosporin’s website and then pick some up at any local drug store.

Celebrity Spa Party: Tru Renewal by Ramona

It was a nice warm evening on October 20th, and I was excited as I made my way into New York City’s Equinox Spa on Second Avenue. I had been invited to a Celebrity Spa Party featuring Ramona Singer’s Tru Renewal skin care line. After getting hooked on Tru Renewal’s Ultra Repair Cream, I was eager to see the rest of the skin care line. Not to mention, I was looking forward to meeting Ramona.

I was greeted at the Spa by the very friendly staff and then was introduced to Ramona. She was so delightful, a truly wonderful host with a great enthusiasm for her products. The skin care was available for people to sample, the room was packed with a great energy, and I was happy to see that the other housewives from The Real Housewives of New York were there to support Ramona’s event. Facials and massages featuring Tru Renewal products were available, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting breast cancer survivors. Ramona made my night, by treating me to a luxurious massage. I was so pleased to learn from the massage therapist that Equinox Spa would be carrying the Tru Renewal skin care line for sale, as well as incorporating it into their spa treatments.

After I was thoroughly relaxed from my massage, I took a look at the entire skin care line and was really impressed with all the products. If you are looking for natural skin care, look no further. Tru Renewal skin care is packed full of all-natural ingredients including liquid oxygen, vitamins, algae extracts, and purified water. One of the best features is that it is good for all skin types, especially sensitive skin.

The party was a hit with plenty of appetizers, drinks, goody bags featuring Tru Renewal ultra repair cream, and of course the wonderful facials and massages which allowed guests to sample the products first-hand. I walked away refreshed and even more excited about the skin care line. If you are in the New York City area, I’d recommend a trip to Equinox Spa at 1429 2nd Avenue (between 74th and 75th St) to give the products a try for yourself. They are also available online at RamonaSinger.com.

Carol’s Daughter teams up with Disney, launches Magical Beauty Collection

Carol’s Daughter teamed up with Disney to celebrate Princess Tiana, the first black princess in the Disney Princess franchise. The all-natural beauty brand launched a line of exclusive products today called the Magical Beauty Collection. I so wish they had hair products like this when I was little! Buy some for your own little princess (or yourself!). The entire selection is available as a gift set of these gentle and natural hair and bath treats. Or you can just pick up your favorite one. The collection includes:

“The Beauty Within” Shampoo
“Inner Shine” Conditioner
“Sharing Means Caring” Bubble Bath
“Dream Big” Hair Detangler

I’ll be snapping up a few bottles. What about you?

Currently available online only at CarolsDaughter.com - Quantities are limited! Get free shipping with any $50 purchase.

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