Beauty And The Salamander

Pascal Dangin The Master Retoucher or The Extreme Art of the Photoshop

2009-11-18T13:54:35Z

The Deets on Ashley Green's 60s Look at the New Moon Premiere in L.A. {Celebrity Looks}

2009-11-18T00:47:45Z

Ashley Green went completely retro 60s for the premiere of New Moon yesterday in Los Angeles. I am amazed at how authentic her look is. Of course with Mad Men, it's given food for thought to many a viewers like,...

Meet the Beauty Beast: 100 000 ans de beauté {Beauty Reads}

2009-11-17T11:30:43Z

You have not yet been properly introduced to this beauty beast, but I just wanted to share with you how substantial and heavy this book about 100 000 years of beauty is. After perusing the press release, I decided to...

Steam Cream: The New Way to Hydrate from the UK + Beauty Collector Alert

2009-11-16T01:46:08Z

UK brand SteamCream does just what it seems to imply in its evocative name; this is not just poetry: they incorporate "pure, unrefined steam" in the process of making their all-purpose cream in order to get an exceptional, glistening texture...

Photoshopped Twiggy Sparks Political Controversy in Great Britain {Beauty & Society}

2009-08-08T20:12:42Z

Remember Twiggy? This is how she used to look in the 1960s:She was the 1960s for many.Here is another look where her signature silhouette is particularly twig-like:Now a controversy is raging in the UK because Twiggy just came back at...

Carol's Daughter to Launch Disney Princess Tiana Line

2009-08-07T13:30:51Z

Guerlain Cashmere Lip Gloss in Rose Pondichery 01 (2009) {Beauty Review}

2009-08-06T21:34:35Z

Plus-Size Models Wanted: Enter the Competition until August 7th 2009!

2009-07-31T20:09:49Z

Torrid is Calling Out to Curvaceous Beauties! You don't want to miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity! You could be the star of a LA fashion show or even be the next face of Torrid.com! Torrid,...

Nars Opens New e-Commerce Website {Beauty News}

2009-07-29T09:23:40Z

A look from the summer 2009 collectionNars has opened a new e-commerce website to enable beauty junkettes. The main categories are Color, NARSskin, Accessories, gifts, Cult Products, Current Collection and Looks. You can subscribe to their newsletter. Among their new...

Eat Yourself Beautiful Collagen Marshmallows {Eat for Beauty}

2009-07-24T11:51:21Z

You get a funny concept and a new nutraceutical product with the Collagen Marshmallows by Eat Yourself Beautiful, a British brand which is interested in developing a whole line of tasty beauty products sourced from different parts of the world....

AmaZene Bath & Body Line Based on Active Ingredients from the Amazonian Rainforest {New Beauty Products}

2009-07-23T00:22:41Z

For those on the lookout for new natural active ingredients and ethical beauty brands here is a new line of bath and body products by newcomer label AmaZene. They offer 6 different collections serving different targeted skin needs called Mango...

Nuxe Baume Prodigieux Levres Nutri-Protecting Lip Care Gloss Effect - SPF 15 in Charismatic Red {Beauty Review}

2009-07-20T12:01:33Z

The Big RaveNuxe, a brand most famous for its Huile Prodigieuse, a multi-purpose and multi-award winning dry oil that I confess to having only used in its sparkling gold version as a cheek tint, launched a series of four so-called...

Illamasqua to Debut at Sephora Times Square on July 31, 2009 {Beauty News}

2009-07-13T08:41:15Z

A little bit of British alternative culture is coming soon to the United States. Creative makeup brand Illamasqua whose motto is "discover your alter-egos" will debut in the United States at the new Sephora store at 5, Times Square on...

Beauty Quote of the Day, from Paul Newman:

2009-07-13T02:20:11Z

"To work hard, as I've worked to accomplish anything, and then have some yo-yo come up and say, "Take off those dark glasses and let's have a look at those blue eyes" is really discouraging."Picture: art.com...

Globalizing Ideal Beauty by Denise H. Sutton: Upcoming New Book {Beauty News} {Beauty Reads}

2009-07-10T15:08:51Z

A potentially interesting book is appearing on the horizon. Author Denise H. Sutton is preparing to release a new title called Globalizing Ideal Beauty. It focuses on the impact that beauty copy-writing has had on the dissemination of archetypes of...

Pascal Dangin The Master Retoucher or The Extreme Art of the Photoshop

2009-11-18T13:54:35Z

Alternatively this post could have also been titled Everyone in the Public Eye Gets Photoshopped. I think it's important to stress this phenomenon as a blogger so that no naive souls think they have to try to emulate or marry gods and goddesses.

I happened on a New Yorker article from last year about the emblematic work of Pascal Dangin whom you may not know by name but whose work is widely publicized in fashion magazines. His job is emblematic of today's obsession with digital perfection. Our criteria have been pushed so much that we almost cannot look at a normal photo without thinking that it could be a little more superhuman-perfect...

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The Deets on Ashley Green's 60s Look at the New Moon Premiere in L.A. {Celebrity Looks}

2009-11-18T00:47:45Z

Ashley Green went completely retro 60s for the premiere of New Moon yesterday in Los Angeles. I am amazed at how authentic her look is. Of course with Mad Men, it's given food for thought to many a viewers like, no doubt, expert makeup artist Vanessa Scali who did the look for Lancôme. While Mad Men to me looks a bit theatrical 60s, where you can feel the 21st century looking at the 1960s, this look here is fresh, natural, never over-the-top while capturing the youthful, simplified glamor of the period.

"The look was classic 60's," reports Vanessa. "Well-defined eyes with lots of lashes, a strong brow and clean skin with subtle pink/coral cheeks and lips."

To start, Vanessa evened out Ashley's "nearly flawless skin" with Lancôme's Effacernes concealer in Light Bisque underneath the eyes. "It gives clean, fresh, flawless coverage," she said. Bobbi Brown's Foundation Stick followed. Lancôme's Blush Subtil in Shimmer Pink Pool topped the apples of the cheeks...

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Meet the Beauty Beast: 100 000 ans de beauté {Beauty Reads}

2009-11-17T11:30:43Z

You have not yet been properly introduced to this beauty beast, but I just wanted to share with you how substantial and heavy this book about 100 000 years of beauty is. After perusing the press release, I decided to purchase it as it looked pretty much like a must-read to understand not just the meaning of looks, but of life.

When the beast landed at my door, I had no idea it was it because I thought this must be a bunch of bottles, or something of that order to be that heavy...

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Steam Cream: The New Way to Hydrate from the UK + Beauty Collector Alert

2009-11-16T01:46:08Z

UK brand SteamCream does just what it seems to imply in its evocative name; this is not just poetry: they incorporate "pure, unrefined steam" in the process of making their all-purpose cream in order to get an exceptional, glistening texture that is touted as being super diffusive and maximally ready to be absorbed by all your pores once it hits the skin. I am not sure what "unrefined steam" might mean concretely, but I know I want to try this cream.

Maybe you won't benefit from the misty climate of Albion, but you can get some wisdom from the country's traditional reliance on an enhanced level of humidity.

The cream contains a luscious list of ingredients: oatmeal infusion, almond oil, glycerine, lavender oil, orange flower water, cocoa butter, organic jojoba oil. Special care was devoted to the perfume for the cream which is a blend of essential oils...

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Photoshopped Twiggy Sparks Political Controversy in Great Britain {Beauty & Society}

2009-08-08T20:12:42Z

Remember Twiggy? This is how she used to look in the 1960s:

She was the 1960s for many.

Here is another look where her signature silhouette is particularly twig-like:

Now a controversy is raging in the UK because Twiggy just came back at age 59 to be the face of Olay and members of the Democratic Liberal party think there ought to be a law stating that photoshopped ads are so, so that naïve children and teenagers do not start thinking all this is realistic.

All fashion photographies are photoshopped to make mouths look bigger, eyes more cat-like, legs longer, skin poreless, bodies slimmer. It's a vice of the fashion industry who can never find a human being that is perfect enough to incarnate its brand. I once watched a program where a beautiful model was being "fixed" at every stage of the photo shoot to see if they were getting what they wanted...

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Carol's Daughter to Launch Disney Princess Tiana Line

2009-08-07T13:30:51Z

Carol's Daughter is thrilled to be able to contribute to what the brand considers a landmark moment with the release of the new Disney movie The Princess and the Frog featuring for the first time an animated character of African-American heritage in the lead role. To accompany this event, Carol's Daughter has created a limited-edition line of hair and bath & body products which they say is very effective and made with natural ingredients such as aloe leaf juice, cranberry extract, sunfloower seed oil, olive oil etc. Although everyone can use them, African-American hair was specifically kept in mind when devising the products...
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Guerlain Cashmere Lip Gloss in Rose Pondichery 01 (2009) {Beauty Review}

2009-08-06T21:34:35Z

Guerlain says that the Gloss Cashmere Lip Gloss is inspired by traditional lip powder used by Indian women from the subcontinent. It probably sounds more exotic and interesting than to say "No need to powder your lips anymore after applying lipstick to make the color stay on and look matte." This is exactly what it does as an obvious new-generation lip gloss with an almost alien texture it is so high-performance...
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Plus-Size Models Wanted: Enter the Competition until August 7th 2009!

2009-07-31T20:09:49Z

Torrid is Calling Out to Curvaceous Beauties!

You don't want to miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity! You could be the star of a LA fashion show or even be the next face of Torrid.com! Torrid, the plus-sized clothing store is having their House of Dreams Model Search, a nation-wide hunt for a diva to rep their brand!

Your time is running out! Applications must be postmarked by August 7^th to qualify! So if you are at least 16 years old and size 12-26 go to Torrid.com to print out your application and send it in!

Torrid HQ

Attn: Model Search 2009

18305 E. San Jose Ave.

Industry, CA 19748

For more information and to print an application go to Torrid.com today!

Via press release

Photo: The Glamazons

Nars Opens New e-Commerce Website {Beauty News}

2009-07-29T09:23:40Z

A look from the summer 2009 collection

Nars has opened a new e-commerce website to enable beauty junkettes. The main categories are Color, NARSskin, Accessories, gifts, Cult Products, Current Collection and Looks. You can subscribe to their newsletter.

Among their new products you can find their first color palette specially devised for wedding brides and a sunbathing coffret.

New shopping destination: www.narscosmetics.fr

Eat Yourself Beautiful Collagen Marshmallows {Eat for Beauty}

2009-07-24T11:51:21Z

You get a funny concept and a new nutraceutical product with the Collagen Marshmallows by Eat Yourself Beautiful, a British brand which is interested in developing a whole line of tasty beauty products sourced from different parts of the world. The Collagen Marshmallows are made in Japan and supposed to help you keep a wrinkle-free appearance by insuring you get your daily dose of collagen peptides.

It is a little surprising the brand went for real sugar and a decadent food rather than turned the marshmallows into a healthy treat, but maybe the sugar helps people keep a happy face?

AmaZene Bath & Body Line Based on Active Ingredients from the Amazonian Rainforest {New Beauty Products}

2009-07-23T00:22:41Z

For those on the lookout for new natural active ingredients and ethical beauty brands here is a new line of bath and body products by newcomer label AmaZene. They offer 6 different collections serving different targeted skin needs called Mango & Murumuru, Avocado & Andiroba, Cocoa & Copaiba, Coconut & Buriti, Papaya & Acerola and Passion Fruit & Guava...

]]> Continue reading "AmaZene Bath & Body Line Based on Active Ingredients from the Amazonian Rainforest {New Beauty Products} " >>

Nuxe Baume Prodigieux Levres Nutri-Protecting Lip Care Gloss Effect - SPF 15 in Charismatic Red {Beauty Review}

2009-07-20T12:01:33Z

The Big Rave

Nuxe, a brand most famous for its Huile Prodigieuse, a multi-purpose and multi-award winning dry oil that I confess to having only used in its sparkling gold version as a cheek tint, launched a series of four so-called "Nutri-Protecting Lip Care Gloss Effect" or Baume Prodigieux Lèvres in April 2009. Although you might initially think like I did that this is just makeup and zoom in as I did on their Charismatic Red/ Rouge Charismatique for its great coral red tint compared to that of a poppy by the brand, this product turns out to be much more than that. It has simply become my go-to gloss and lip balm all in one as it holds such visible treatment effects for the lips...
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Illamasqua to Debut at Sephora Times Square on July 31, 2009 {Beauty News}

2009-07-13T08:41:15Z

A little bit of British alternative culture is coming soon to the United States. Creative makeup brand Illamasqua whose motto is "discover your alter-egos" will debut in the United States at the new Sephora store at 5, Times Square on July 31, 2009. Some people must be squeeing right now. The brand has been receiving 50 emails a day from US customers clamoring for their products, a trend that forced them to open sooner than expected across the pond.

Much of the inspiration for the brand comes from alternative cultures and the nightlife concept as they specialize in makeup to be worn "after dark". Their colors are bold, daring, dramatic.

"Illamasqua is the product of a heady mix of influences. Its roots stem from the dark and illicit 1920s club scene and combines a rich heritage in the manufacture of make-up for film and theatre. It also takes inspiration from members of the 'alternative scenes' for whom self-expression is paramount. Alternative cultures have always dared to be dramatic. They have an emotional attachment to making up. It's an expression of their darker side, a release for their alter ego....

Illamasqua is for the bolder person hiding inside all of us. It is an act and an attitude. A symbol of tolerance. A celebration of idiosyncracies. A confident statement of self-ownership."...

A look from the 1920s Berlin collection

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Beauty Quote of the Day, from Paul Newman:

2009-07-13T02:20:11Z

"To work hard, as I've worked to accomplish anything, and then have some yo-yo come up and say, "Take off those dark glasses and let's have a look at those blue eyes" is really discouraging."

Picture: art.com

Globalizing Ideal Beauty by Denise H. Sutton: Upcoming New Book {Beauty News} {Beauty Reads}

2009-07-10T15:08:51Z

A potentially interesting book is appearing on the horizon. Author Denise H. Sutton is preparing to release a new title called Globalizing Ideal Beauty. It focuses on the impact that beauty copy-writing has had on the dissemination of archetypes of beauty and especially through the work done at the J. Walter Thompson Advertising Agency. The latter founded in 1864 claims to be the oldest advertising agency in the world. It was renamed JWT in 2005.

The argument ties also in with one on gender as the sub-title indicates that what will be considered in this research is the specific action of "female copy writers". This is not surprising considering the fact that Sutton has a PhD in Women's Studies.

Globalizing Ideal Beauty is the forgotten story of a group of women copywriters whose successful ad campaigns went international in the 1920s and spread an American notion of feminine appeal from Bangor to Bangkok. Sutton's approach has all the complexity of the real world and is grounded in a huge body of original archival research that has so far remained largely untapped...

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