The Buzz

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My 2009 Halloween Shopping List

Marilyn Miglin Fo-Ti-Tieng

The Body Shop Love Etc.

Fall Fragrances: Cornucopia of Dark Fruits

L'Occitane Labdanum de Séville, Mimosa de l'Estérel

Robert Piguet Futur

Kate Moss Vintage

Frapin L'Humaniste

Patriotic Bestseller Perfumes: Discuss

Faguenat, Faganat...Fug?

Sniffing Rich Orientals in Paris

L'Artisan Parfumeur Havana Vanille

Dolce & Gabbana Rose The One

Guerlain Idylle - Part 1

Guerlain Idylle - Part 2

Kat Von D Saint & Sinner

Calvin Klein CK Free for Men

Mariah Carey Forever

WienerBlut Klubwasser

Prada L'Eau Ambrée

Serge Lutens Fille en Aiguilles

Britney Spears Circus Fantasy

Yves Saint Laurent Parisienne

Idole d'Armani

Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Tiaré-Blossom, Cherry Blossom

Hermès Eau d'Orange Verte, Eau de Pamplemousse Rose, Eau de Gentiane Blanche

Parfums de Nicolaï Weekend à Deauville

Serge Lutens Fourreau Noir

Essential Faith

Penhaligon's Anthology: Eau de Verveine, Extract of Limes, Gardenia, Night Scented Stock

Mac Naked Honey & Africanimal

Chopard Cascade

Lancôme Hypnôse Senses

Juliette Has a Gun Midnight Oud

Narciso Rodriguez Essence

Queen Latifah Queen

Benefit Laugh With Me LeeLee, There's Something About Sofia, My Place Or Yours Gina

The Body Shop White Musk White Hot Summer

Rochas Eau Sensuelle

L'Artisan Parfumeur Côte d'Amour

Chloe Eau de Parfum

Guerlain Les Fleurs du Guildo: An Early 19th Century Precursor of Marine Scents

Lush Vanillary

Byredo Bal d'Afrique

Zadig & Voltaire Tome 1 La Pureté - Part 1

Zadig & Voltaire Tome 1 La Pureté - Part 2

Guerlain Muguet

Guerlain Muguet (en français)

Spring Notes: Lily of the Valley & Dior

Chanel Cristalle Eau Verte

Christian Dior Escale à Pondichéry

Frédéric Malle Géranium pour Monsieur

Gobin-Daudé Sous Le Buis

Roger et Gallet Bois d'Orange

Montale Patchouli Leaves

Stetson All American

Stephen Jones by Comme des Garçons

Givenchy Harvest 2008: Ange ou Démon Jasmin Sambac, Amarige Ylang Ylang, Very Irresistible Rose Damascena, Organza Fleur d'Oranger

Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit de l'Homme

Yves Saint Laurent l'Homme

The Sex Factor in Men's Fragrances

Nina Ricci Love by Nina

Hermès Kelly Calèche EDP

Annick Goutal Un Matin d'Orage

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire

Serge Lutens Nuit de Cellophane

Parfums MDCI Péché Cardinal

Hermès Vanille Galante - Part 1

Hermès Vanille Galante - Part 2


September 28, 2009

The Deets on Kherington Payne's Look at The Fame Premiere in L.A. {Beauty Notes} {Makeup} {Celebrity Beauty}


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We got the insider's scoop from Lancôme's team about actress Kherington Payne's makeup routine for the red-carpet premiere of the remake of one of the 80s defining film, Fame, in Los Angeles on September 23, 2009. Signed by makeup artist Vanessa Scali, The effect is described as "...the rising star's graphic, smokey eye, pretty golden skin and shimmery nude mouth."

There was a definite cat-eye impression with as much emphasis on line than on hair (lashes) to achieve the style. Payne attended the event in the evening but managed to present a sun-kissed glow under the flashlights. No details on the hairdo (and hair jewelry), which looked like a cross between a lacquered bouffant from the sixties and an antique Greek up-do, all with 21st century glam hair extensions. The Greek reference was echoed by her tunic-like dress.

"To start, Vanessa prepped the skin with Lancôme's Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate, which kept Kherington's skin fresh in the 100 degree heat. Lancôme's Effacernes in Light Bisque -Vanessa's favorite formula--was dabbed underneath the eyes. Bobbi Brown's Foundation Stick was applied on select areas with a small brush and blended with the fingers. Lancôme's Blush Subtil in Sheer Amourose delivered a glowy look and was accented with Giorgio Armani Beauty's Fluid Sheer #2 on the cheek and brow bones. A dusting of Lancôme's Photôgenic Sheer Loose Powder, just on the T-zone."...

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Continue reading "The Deets on Kherington Payne's Look at The Fame Premiere in L.A. {Beauty Notes} {Makeup} {Celebrity Beauty}" »

September 24, 2009

Chanel Les Noirs Obscurs Mini Movie {Beauty Images & Ads} -- Makeup Review




The black-soot look is great on model Malgosia Bela, but it is really hard to pull off outside of the spotlights (and Halloween revelry). To me, there is always a big distinction to be made between makeup that looks good in front of a camera in a studio with all the sources of light and angles that one can control, and a versatile street makeup that has to work effortlessly. Bela has big, clear, even transparent blue/green eyes and a pale complexion so it counterbalances the black pigments. The lip color here looks good because it is layered with some red plum in it. I was surprised to see how the lipsticks in Les Noirs Obscurs were going for some uncompromisingly dull-ish shades (Maniac, Hysteria, Obscure). It takes a whole different kind of attitude to wear those...

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Continue reading "Chanel Les Noirs Obscurs Mini Movie {Beauty Images & Ads} -- Makeup Review" »

September 14, 2009

Chris Benz Spring 2010 at Mercedez-Benz New York Fashion Week {Beauty & Fashion Notes - Backstage Beauty}

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Chris Benz Spring 2010


chris-benz-lancome.jpgFor the makeup Chris asked Daniel [Martin] to create a sun-kissed, fresh look. He wanted a healthy skin and prominent lip.

Daniel gave the models a natural glow by applying Généfique Activating Skin Concentrate to clean skin followed by Généfique Eye to open up and brighten the eye area. The complexion was perfectly even and polished. Shu Uemura Nobara Foundation was applied to even out the skin tone and Lancôme Ageless Mineral Transluscent powder was dusted over the entire face. Pop 'n Cheeks in Coral Flirt was used as a highlighter and lightly applied to the cheekbones near the temple for just a hint of color. To define the eyes, Daniel smudged Le Crayon Khôl in black coffee on the upper and lower lash lines. Several coats of Hypnôse Mascara in black were applied for thick, black lashes...

Continue reading "Chris Benz Spring 2010 at Mercedez-Benz New York Fashion Week {Beauty & Fashion Notes - Backstage Beauty}" »

Fred Farrugia's New Makeup Line, Design by Ora Ito {Beauty Notes} {New Beauty Products}

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fred-farrugia.jpgFred Farrugia is the ex-international artistic director for makeup for Lancôme and the inventor, amongst others, of the Juicy tubes. He just launched his own line of makeup at Sephora France, developing a nomadic concept of 104 stackable palettes of colors that can be easily carried in your bag and more originally, used without a mirror thanks to the (amazing) textures. One of the ideas behind the line is that this is a collection you can use even if you know more about finger-painting from your days in day-care and kindergarten than about makeup.

The textures may be called easy now but it took Farrugia five years to create the products in his apartment. (By the way, he is the brother of comic French TV personality Dominique Farrugia.) His collaborator on the project is designer Ora-Ito who conceived the stackables which are simple, functional elongated palettes that just need to be clipped on, unclipped, stacked at will. Ora-Ito is also the thinking head behind the new beautiful flacon for the latest perfume by Guerlain, Idylle (it looks better in reality than on a picture)....

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Continue reading "Fred Farrugia's New Makeup Line, Design by Ora Ito {Beauty Notes} {New Beauty Products}" »

September 19, 2008

Beauty Reads - Latest Posts

Beauty-Salamander-Logo.jpgHere are our latest posts on beauty, from most recent to older:

A review of Dior Ultra-Gloss Reflect Lip Gloss in Lurex Plum from Dandy Lady

A review of Patyka Organic Face Scrub - Gommage Visage Bio: How Organic Is It?

Check out Bill Cunnigham's reportage on shoes at Fashion Week in NYC: Bags Are So Out, Shoes Are So In

July 10, 2008

Yves Saint Laurent New African Colors Collection {Beauty Notes - Makeup}

Africa-Colors.jpgAfrica is hot this summer as Yves Saint Laurent launches a new limited-edition collection of makeup colors inspired by the dark and colorful continent.

Here are our picks for noteworthy products from the 2008 YSL Summer Look: Soleil d'Afrique, Palette Couleurs d'Afrique, Voile de Soleil, and the Everlong Mascara Waterproof. Read more about them on Beauty And The Salamander and go for the glow!...

April 1, 2008

Sally Hansen Natural Beauty: A New Mineral Makeup Line & More {Beauty Notes - News}

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Coty will launch a new line of makeup colors in May of 2008 under the Sally Hansen label called Natural Beauty.  It is a follow-up strategic move after the success of the 16-sku Lip Lab lipstick line.

The line was inspired by makeup artist Carmindy from the Discovery Channel popular fashion show, What Not To Wear. She collaborated on the project and will use them on her show.....

Continue reading "Sally Hansen Natural Beauty: A New Mineral Makeup Line & More {Beauty Notes - News}" »

February 24, 2008

Mac Fafi Collection: Lips & A Bit of Cheek, The Reviews Part 1 {Beauty Notes & Reviews}

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The new Fafi collection by Mac Cosmetics, which we made an announcement about earlier (see picture of collection), is loaded with popular culture references and as usual is chock-full of colors. The tints in fact are much more vivid than appear on the pictures and then again some of them, like the fluo pink color in the tube Totally It, look all reasonable once applied.

Cultural Notes: Origins of the Fafinettes

The universe of the collection is that of Fafi, a French artist and cartoonist who draws her initial inspiration from intersecting cultural traditions where characters present a mix of  traits usually found separately as characteristic of babies, little kids or gamins in the French tradition, and sexually mature adults. She herself simply likes to stress that she draws her inspiration from her friends and girls she observes on the street. It was her dream to have her drawings on makeup packaging and they look great on the Mac line. One would have just wished that there were more of them on the lipstick cases for example instead of the same character being repeated over and over.

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 Soonie's Rose by Margaret Keane

One can identify in her universe a trend deriving from the prevalent Kawaisa (cuteness) culture in Japan with its references to the Anime and Manga aesthetics but also closer to home for Fafi, the Poulbot sub-culture in France. Finally coming full circle one discovers the influence of the Big-Eye Movement born in the USA, an expression made popular by Wayne Hemingway in his book Just Above The Mantelpiece: Mass-Market Masterpieces. In it he attributes the birth of this inspiration to Margaret (and Walter as a pseudo) Keane in North Beach San Francisco California at the end of the 1950s. However, it must be stressed that Poulbot already drew gamins with oversized eyes. Keane's "large-eyed waif" paintings were beloved by actress Joan Crawford who collected them and had one made of her for decorating her home. Big eyes are typical of this cultural sensitivity, so much so that in Japan young women try to imitate the enormous eyes of Animes by wearing lenses that dilate the pupils and make the eyes seem more like tea saucers, an ideal of beauty that can be more easily achieved with a white pencil liner (see Fafi: Fascinating: Snake-eyes Matte White Eye Khol cf. press release)....

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Fafi street art

Continue reading "Mac Fafi Collection: Lips & A Bit of Cheek, The Reviews Part 1 {Beauty Notes & Reviews}" »

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