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subscribe to beauty blog via RSSSomme-thing For Everyone
April 25, 2011
Being the good investigative reporter that I am, I try as many beauty products as possible—for better and often for worse. A recent obsession with natural oils left me broken out like a teenager (during fashion week, no less!), and similar blunders have occurred with lipstick (bubblegum pinks do not flatter my skin tone). But there are certain things I keep coming back to because of pure performance. Somme Institute is one such line. Rooted in Molecular Dispersion Technology 5 (MDT5), a formulation of five highly engineered vitamins (A, B3, B5, C, and E) bound to proteins, the range is capable of reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, repairing sun damage, evening skin tone, treating acne, and improving skin texture—and it works on all accounts when used over time, better than anything else I’ve come across in all my years on the job (no joke). It is for this reason that I booked an appointment at the Oscar Blandi Salon last week, for Somme’s Vitamin Infusion Facial. The brand introduced its spa treatment last fall, but a winter that left me with some lingering pigmentation issues made the service’s promise to lighten dark spots a must-try now. In addition to clinical-grade formulations of standouts from its famed five-step regimen, which includes a nourishing cleanser, gentle exfoliant, vitamin C-infused serum, and a moisturizer fortified with vitamin A, the service boasts a truly stellar facial massage (I actually fell asleep during mine—it was that good) to defuse puffiness and redness, and a soothing pumpkin mask to stimulate collagen re-growth. When I walked out of the tiny treatment room, slightly dazed from those few moments of blissful unconsciousness, my skin was clear and glowing—so much so that for the first time in a good long while, I didn’t feel the need to reach for my concealer before going out in public. I gleaned a little piece of exciting news while I was in there, too: the delicious-smelling, self-warming pumpkin enzyme mask that finished off the facial will be getting the retail treatment this summer. Until then, click here to find a participating spa near you.
Somme Institute Vitamin Infusion Facial at the Oscar Blandi Salon, 545 Madison Ave. at 55th St., NYC, (212) 421-9800, www.oscarblandi.com.
tags: Oscar Blandi, Skincare, Somme Institute
Riccardo Tisci Makes His Fragrance Debut; Julia Roberts Lightens Up; And More…
April 25, 2011
Dahlia Noir, Riccardo Tisci’s first fragrance for the house of Givenchy, will debut in August and feature a print campaign starring his muse Mariacarla Boscono. Love the visuals. [The Fashion Spot]
Also launching a fragrance this year: Nicki Minaj. It will reportedly smell like a sexy and confident woman and have a “va-va-voom factor.” [Examiner via Allure]
In an exciting plot twist, Paris Hilton is not launching another fragrance. A skincare line, however, is in the works. [Female First]
Julia Roberts: also not launching a signature scent—as far as we know. Her latest beauty coup features golden highlights, which lightened up her dark chestnut locks at the Tribeca Film Festival this weekend. [Bella Sugar]
tags: Dahlia Noir, Fragrance, Givenchy, Hair, Julia Roberts, Nicki Minaj, Paris Hilton, Riccardo Tisci, Skincare
Ultraflesh Arrives With A Roar
April 25, 2011
We first caught wind of Ultraflesh, Studio BeautyMix founder Robin Coe-Hutshing’s new makeup line, back in October, when she and partner Nicole Ostoya quietly released a mascara. But this wasn’t just any mascara. Volumizing and super-long-wearing, the black glossy pigment came packaged in a dual-ended tube featuring a comb on one end as an alternative to the classic brush, and a panther head cap on the other. Intended as an attention-getter to create buzz, the product served its purpose. Now, with a growing fan base, Coe-Hutshing and Ostoya have just unleashed the next phase of Ultraflesh at Sephora. The collection includes a number of sleekly designed, swing-out compacts like Black Magic, which contains three different eyeliners as well as two mini pencils and a pro-liner brush; Bronze Metalika, with three different contouring options and two highlighting pencils; and the Shine Box Shimmer, which showcases three creamy illuminating palettes and two special effects pencils. A Lip Gloss equipped with a revolutionary, airless tube that delivers a single application of emollient gloss in one click—without ever allowing bacteria to reach the pigment—rounds things out. It’s available in eight high-shine shades. This is just the beginning, though. A face and body decorating kit (that comes with stencils!) and a host of Ninja Star compacts with detachable necklace charms are still to come. If you’ve ever wondered how best to implement the “keep them wanting more” business tactic, this is how it’s done.
tags: Makeup, Nicole Ostoya, Robin Coe-Hutshing, Ultraflesh
Old Hollywood Glamour Takes Tribeca
April 25, 2011
When we last checked in with model and Elvis spawn Riley Keough, she had just sheared off her glorious, tawny mane, dyed it brown, and was in a semi-awkward stage of re-growth post-pixie cut. Fast-forward four months, and Keough’s hair is longer—and platinum. Four weeks after turning up at a Tribeca Film Festival kickoff party in L.A. with a mop top of dark chestnut ringlets, the budding actress showcased a Veronica Lake-like bob at the Tribeca premiere of The Good Doctor this weekend, her ivory skin and quintessential red lip still intact. So, which is it: better off blonde or brunette?
tags: Hair, Riley Keough, The Good Doctor, Tribeca Film Festival 2011
Solano Brushes Up
April 25, 2011
When it comes to hot tools, Solano is basically hair-dryer royalty. One need only settle into a chair at any number of the city’s frequently name-checked salons to hear the sleek, turbo-charged dryers whirring en masse. With blow-dryer domination achieved, the brand is out to conquer another hair horizon: brushes. Each of the handhelds in its new Platinum Gel Grip collection uses a fusion of ceramic, ionic, and tourmaline technology to optimize your blow-outs, helping hair dry faster and smoother, while imparting extra shine. The sturdy but gentle bristles are designed specifically to tread lightly on colored and highlighted hair, too, which helps prevent breakage. Our favorite feature of Solano’s latest tool set has got to be the platinum gel handles, though, which offer a cushiony grip and an ergonomically friendly design that really helps to relieve the stress on wrists when overzealous drying commences. Getting carpal tunnel while fighting frizz can be avoided!
Lush Doles Out Guilt-Free Easter Treats
April 22, 2011
We don’t typically celebrate Easter, but we’re plenty aware that it’s this Sunday. It was the uptick in large bags of candy at our local pharmacy and the gaggle of college-aged girls we saw roaming the streets with bunny ears on last night that tipped us off. Should you wish to partake in the activities, but would rather abstain from the sugar consumption, we’ve got a little something to put in your wicker basket. Make that two somethings. Lush’s pink Fluffy Egg bath bomb is a limited-edition, springtime-only treat with a delectable sweet custard aroma. Its Hippy Chick bomb, meanwhile, is a good, nonedible alternative to Peeps that serves up an effervescent pink grapefruit scent when added to water. Together, they’ll make you a hit at any holiday function you attend this weekend, but particularly at parties where melt-in-your-mouth marshmallow treats have been overconsumed.
Glossing It Up Like Gwyneth: Paltrow Picks Pequi Oil
April 22, 2011
Whether she’s singing at the Grammys, guest-starring on Glee, promoting her new cookbook, or toying with the idea of launching her own food magazine, Gwyneth Paltrow is everywhere these days. And wherever she goes she usually turns up impeccably dressed—and tressed. Gwyneth’s impressive mane of blond hair was looking particularly spectacular in L.A. last night at a book signing of her tome My Father’s Daughter: Delicious, Easy Recipes Celebrating Family & Togetherness. The secret? Couture Colour’s new Pequi Oil, which celebrity stylist David Babaii slathered onto Paltrow’s freshly cleansed and conditioned strands before blow-drying, middle-parting, and adding loose waves with a two-inch curling iron. Originally created to complement the Couture Colour LUXEBLEND ammonia-free Crème Hair Colour line (INOA just got some strong competition), the paraben-free oil derived from the Amazonian pequi fruit works particularly well on color-treated locks. Possessing an acute ability to penetrate porous, dry strands, the elixir creates an ultra-shiny, frizz-free finish and also happens to have natural UV filters to help protect dye jobs from untimely fading—something Gwyneth simply cannot tolerate, what with her whirlwind genre-spanning schedule, and all.
tags: Couture Color, David Babaii, Gwyneth Paltrow, Hair, Pequi Oil
Botox Takes Another Blow; Karl Lagerfeld’s Banned Book Fragrance; And More…
April 22, 2011
News flash: Despite what we may have heard, Karl Lagerfeld is NOT involved in a new fragrance that smells like books. Apparently, he’s only working on scents that he is contractually obliged to say he is a part of. [Scented Salamander]
Kate Middleton is proving to be quite the down-to-earth bride-to-be. After doing her own makeup for that Mario Testino-lensed engagement picture, the future princess will reportedly give it another go for her actual wedding day. The better to balance out the six hair dressers that will be on duty, one presumes. [StyleList]
While Botox may do wonders for smoothing out your own smile lines, new research suggests that the face-freezing toxin may dull your ability to understand emotions in others. [USA Today]
It looks like Malin Akerman has jumped aboard the red train, dyeing her blond locks a shade of auburn. With Drew Barrymore and Mandy Moore doing the same this past week, it’s safe to say that the flame-haired trend is, er, on fire. [InStyle]
Pantene’s much discussed new plant-based plastic bottles will ship to stores in western Europe beginning this month. Happy Earth Day. [WWD]
tags: Botox, Fragrance, Hair, Karl Lagerfeld, Kate Middleton, Malin Ackerman, Pantene
A Fragrance For “The Fabric Of Our Lives”
April 22, 2011
Ah, the white cotton T-shirt. Perhaps the simplest item of clothing in your closet, it’s also, arguably, the most iconic—whether it’s old and threadbare or bright, crisp, and fresh out of a Hanes three-pack. Clean’s new Cotton T-Shirt eau de parfum is modeled after the scent of freshly laundered V-necks. The result is a light-as-air blend of bergamot, cotton flower, amber, and rosewood that has an appealingly sheer quality on the skin—much like the feel of your favorite tee.
tags: Clean, Cotton T Shirt, Fragrance
Guerlain Takes In The View From Machu Picchu
April 22, 2011
Guerlain had the Incas on the brain when designing its summer collection, which takes its cues from the South American civilization’s colorful woven textiles. Warm shades of Terracotta Gloss and three sun-centric versions of its velvety Ombre Fusion Cream Eyeshadows abound, but the thing that’s getting us particularly amped up is the Terre Indigo 4-Shade Eyeshadow palette. A tangle of dark blue, burnt orange, dark brown, chocolate, and gold pigments are interwoven into embossed arabesques that you’ll be reluctant to disturb with a finger or a brush, for fear of messing up the gorgeous craftsmanship. But they’re well worth dipping into. Each color is strong enough to be worn on its own (we’ve just swiped the medium brown shade over our lids for a little early-morning pick-me-up), although a swoop over the entire palette results in a gorgeous shimmering smoky effect that will work on a host of different skin tones. The fact that the compact is just so damn pretty to look at is an added bonus.
