Celebrate Earth Day with Kiehl’s Since 1851

Zachary Quinto and Alanis Morissette limited edition label

Earth Day is on April 22nd, 2013, and to celebrate, Kiehl’s Since 1851 has partnered with superstars Zachary Quinto and Alanis Morissette to benefit Recycle Across America (RAA), a nonprofit dedicated to delivering society-wide solutions that eliminate public confusion, stimulate the environmental economy and expedite progress. Each celebrity designed a Limited Edition label for Kiehl’s 4.2 oz. Ultra Facial Cream, depicting their vision of social responsibility. The cream will be available in Kiehl’s stores starting April 20, just  in time for Earth Day. One hundred percent of the net proceeds of the cream will benefit RAA, which will use the funds raised to create 65,000 standardized recycling labels and then donate them to K-12 schools nationwide. Through this program, Kiehl’s will also be donating $50,000 to the organization.

Learn more about Alanis Morissette and Zachary Quinto for Earth Day by watcing the video below.

Kiehl’s also has an ongoing in-store recycling program called Recycle and Be Rewarded!.  This program is available only in Kiehl’s free-standing stores nationwide, and allows customers to return their empty Kiehl’s bottles, tubes and jars for recycling, in exchange for product.  Since 2009, Kiehl’s has recycled over 900,000 bottles! Learn more about the program here.

StriVectin EV- Get Even Dark Circle Corrector Review

FTC Disclosure: This product was provided for review.

Over the years, I have become borderline obsessed with trying to find the best concealer to hide the genetic dark circles that have tormented my face since childhood. I always thought it would be great if a product would emerge on the market that would help fade the dark casts under my eyes, and reduce the tell-tale signs of aging. Alas, such a product has emerged promising to “get even” with dark under eye circles, whether it’s caused by  hereditary factors, aging or thinning skin.

What is it? StriVectin-EV Get Even Dark Circle Corrector - A breakthrough, targeted eye treatment, clinically proven to be effective on all types of dark circles. 90% of women said they saw visibly lighter dark circle in only two weeks after using the product.

What it does: StriVectin-EV’s proprietary NIA-114™ molecule enhances the effectiveness of Vitamin C Actives to brighten the skin and reduce the appearance of discoloration under the eyes.

How to apply: Lightly dab (do not rub) around the eye area.

Cost: $59.00

What I like: The luxurious cream provides instant hydration, and blends into the delicate skin around the eyes smoothly. It doesn’t leave behind any residue or tacky feeling, and also acts as a nice primer, making it easier for concealer to blend into the skin without a cakey effect. For an extra special touch, the cream’s light diffusing micas illuminates the eye area with a subtle hint of shimmer, which makes it a great choice for special occasions or for days you choose to go without makeup.

Final Result: My dark circles didn’t completely vanish, but they are noticeably lighter. It also acts as a good de-puffer; as soon as I apply the cream in the morning, my eyes look instantly brighter and refreshed. I do not have any fine lines yet, but I am a huge believer in the concept of prevention, and will continue to use the StriVectin EV- Get Even Dark Circle Corrector daily.

StriVectin-EV™ Get Even Dark Circle Corrector brightens the skin around the eyes and corrects visible signs of aging.

Event Alert: April 20th – A Nashville Beauty Event

On April 20th, Cloutier Remix, a Los Angeles based premiere hair, makeup and styling agency, will be presenting The Nashville Beauty Event, an intimate day of beauty and education, and the first of its kind in Nashville, Tennessee. The event will feature celebrity makeup artist Terri Apanasewicz, who has worked with numerous celebrities including Hillary Scott, Faith Hill, Miranda Lambert, Giselle Bundchen and Cindy Crawford, to name a few.

Terri will be speaking at two sessions: A General Consumer Session ($95) and a Professional Make Up Artist Session ($195). The first session will focus on self-application, and the second professional session will provide an in-depth look at techniques to apply makeup on others. Each seminar comes with an incredible gift of products featuring Terri’s favorite products from her kit, worth $150-$250. Click here to register or to learn more.

MEET OSCAR DE LA RENTA AT BLOOMINGDALES ON APRIL 18TH

WHAT:  Celebrate the launch of Oscar de la Renta’s fragrance, Something Blue, and meet the designer with your purchase. A scent that makes a woman feel her most beautiful, Something Blue celebrates life’s most magical moments. A woman’s good luck charm for when she wants to feel her most vibrant. Feminine, romantic and full of life, Something Blue is a fragrance to cherish forever.

There will be an opportunity to purchase an exclusive Something Blue gift box, only available during the event.  The gift box contains a 1.7oz Eau de Parfum Spray, 7.0oz Fragrance Candle, 4ml Deluxe Mini, 1ml Purse Vial and a Charm Necklace designed by Mr. de la Renta for $150.

WHO: Oscar de la Renta’s gift of making once-in-a-lifetime dreams come true is captured in Something Blue. Join Mr. de la Renta in celebrating the launch and meet with iconic designer.

*Arrive early to see Joanna Coles, editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan Magazine, interview Mr. de la Renta live on Cosmo Sirius/XM Radio at 5:45pm.

WHEN: Thursday, April 18, 2013
5:45pm Live Radio Interview
6:00pm Meet Mr. de la Renta

WHERE: Bloomingdales

1000 Third Avenue at 59^th Street
New York, NY 10022
Fragrances on 1

NOTE: Something Blue is available at Bloomingdales stores nationwide as well as online at www.bloomingdales.com

Steal Disney Princesses’ Fashion

Let’s be honest, what little girl doesn’t wish that she were a princess at some point in time? Heck, I’m a big girl and I still harbor princess fantasies. So, I figured what better way to live out the princess dream, than to dress like one.

For a Hot Summer Night Out – Snow White (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)
This modern take on the princess’ royal clothing is sure to make keep you feeling cool, while looking hot.

1. Dark Blue Floral Tapestry Corset Bustier, $44
2. Mason by Michelle Mason bright-yellow maxi skirt, $216

For a Walk in the Park – Princess Jasmine (Aladdin)
Look effortless on a sunny morning with this casual-chic ensemble.
1. Seamless Fitness Fit Spaghetti Strap Bandeau, $9.80
2. Drawstring Harem Pants, $14.50

Be the Belle of the Ball – Belle (Beauty & the Beast)
Prom season is coming up. Stand out when you walk into the room with a bright yellow ballgown.

Custom Made sweetheart Lace Up Beaded Yellow Ball Gown, US $141.12 – 158.59

Sephora Gives Back – Values Inside Out Program

Beauty retailer Sephora wants to make a difference in a community near you. Through the launch of a new initiative, Values Inside Out, Sephora’s sale associates were given the opportunity to choose a local nonprofit to help by providing funds, volunteering and raising awareness.

According to Mary Herald, Sephora’s Executive Vice President of Human Resources and Education, said, “At Sephora, our vision for Values Inside Out is to inspire and engage our teams to play a part in making a difference in their communities, and to do so in a way that is completely aligned and integrated with our Values. We know that beauty is both inside and out and we know our teams will feel proud of what they accomplish for their communities and even more so where they work.”

The initiative kicked off on March 23rd at Sephora stores across the country. See which nonprofit is being supported by your local Sephora store here.

Event Alert: Discover the Must-Have colors of the Seasons at Sephora

WHO: This Spring, Sephora offers everyone a variety of ways to feel, learn about, wear and love color, encouraging you to ignite your COLOR VISION.

WHAT: Open your eyes to the many ways the hottest colors of the season – Infrared Rouge, Lucid Lilac and Majestic Cobalt – can be incorporated into any look with help from Sephora. Stop into your nearest Sephora location to enjoy complimentary makeovers in these shades from brands like NARS, Laura Mercier, Make Up For Ever, Hourglass, Dior, Smashbox, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Buxom, Givenchy, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, Urban Decay and Stila. Learn how to tune in – and stand out – with bold effects for eyes, lips, cheeks and nails this Spring.

WHEN: Every Friday – Sunday from March 29th – April 28th
12pm – 6pm

WHERE: All Sephora locations. For locations nearest you, please visit http://www.sephora.com.

WHY: There’s no better way to usher in the new season than with a new, bold look. Sephora COLOR VISION forecasts the must-have colors of the season so you can amplify your beauty look with multi-dimensional tones that bring color to a whole new wavelength.

Pure Ice Nail Polish Review and Contest Giveaway Details

FTC Disclosure: These products were provided by a pr firm for review.

This weekend my sister Jolevette and I decided that instead of paining Easter eggs, we should paint our nails with polishes from Pure Ice, a line of cutting-edge nail enamels free of formaldehyde, toluene and DBP. We love the trendy shade options available, and at $1.97 each, Pure Ice polishes are an affordable option for salon-quality polishes and gorgeous hues, without breaking the bank.

Now through April 19th, Pure Ice will be hosting a giveaway (details below), where fans will have the opportunity to submit their best spring-inspired manicure for a chance to win 20 bottles of the brand’s polishes. Inspired by this idea, we created our best spring nail look using After Hours, an electrifying pink shade, with a high-shine finish.

Pure Ice in After Hours. Nail design by Jolevette.

Interested in entering the contest? See below for details. xoxo

Spring Floral 3-D Nails

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you know that floras are in this Spring. My sister recently got her nails done, and her nail artist came up with the below design. I love the different colors, patterns and materials used to create the look. What do you think about it?

Perfectly Matched: Custom Blended Foundation

If you’ve been reading this blog long enough you know that I have spent countless hours of time and money trying to find a perfect foundation shade for my hard to match skin tone (See Makeup Felony: Mismatched Foundation and In search of “The One”). I finally decided that it was best to try one final route: have my foundation custom blended. I searched online and came across GIELLA cosmetics, a makeup company founded in 2001 that custom blends cosmetics for the face, eyes, cheeks, lips, and nails. Everything is blended for you on the spot, so you can take home your brand new cosmetics to use right away. The company doesn’t only custom blend makeup, but also matches discontinued colors. In love with a lipstick shade that is no longer available in stores? Bring it to your nearest GIELLA location and they will recreate it.

The Process

I made an appointment with a GIELLA makeup artist in New York City a few months ago. I told her about my frustration of not being able to find a perfect match, and she explained that one of the problems with most foundations out on the market is that most of them have yellow undertones. Most people have blue undertones. She added some blue coloring into my foundation mix, as well as quartz mineral to aid in reducing the size of my pores. Three color mixes were made and tested across my jaw line. After we both agreed that the perfect match was created, the makeup artist painted it on one side of my face, and the result was amazing! I finally had a foundation that matched, felt lightweight, and gave just the right amount of coverage.

Next, we moved on to concealer. In order to make the concealer, the color base had to be melted. Once it was liquefied, my unique color formula was added and mixed. It was tested on me to make sure it perfectly matched, and then the liquid was poured into a small GIELLA container to harden into a creamy consistency.

The Result

I was very happy with my results, but when I used the foundation the next day, it no longer looked great on my skin. The color pigments separated, and no matter how much I mixed the foundation on the back of my hand, I couldn’t get the foundation to blend into one solid color. I emailed the makeup artist, who sweetly invited me to return for a do-over at no cost. At the dimly lit makeup counter, the newly mixed foundation looked perfect; but, once again, when I got home, it didn’t match. I  didn’t bother to send another e-mail, so the search for the perfect foundation continues….