Beauty411

MAC Style Black Collection

MAC's Style Black Collection is dark, mysterious, a little Goth and definitely a new favorite of mine!  Style Black is a sophisticated collection for eyes, lips and nails that celebrates the smoldering drama of Black. 

As Terry Barber, MAC Senior Artist explains, "A lot of eye always means less skin and a fleshy mouth.  A strong lip looks contemporary on a nude eye.  It's all about what you erase on the face."  Indeed; when I was recently at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, many of the looks featured "erased eyebrows"!

I've had the opportunity to preview some of the MAC Style Black Collection and I love it.  This isn't a collection that only 18-20 somethings can wear; it can be adapted to any age range, as long as the look is kept in balance and isn't overdone.  

YSL Parisienne Eau de Parfum...Smoking hot!

YSL introduces Parisienne Eau de Parfum; a grand floral with a woody structure.  Parisienne was developed with the mystique, eroticism and personality of the Parisienne woman in mind. 

Kate Moss is the face of the fragrance and she is drop dead sexy.  The commercial depicts Kate Moss leaving the scene of a night of love.  She's taken with her a rose and memories of the night.  She's a 30's something woman that knows how to love; knows how to live.  When you check out the commercial, I think you'll agree--Kate Moss looks hotter than ever!

Beauty Bylines™ Interview: Meet Karen Robinovitz of PurpleLab!

Did you ever wonder what it would be like to create your own cosmetic line and build a brand?  This month, Beauty Bylines™  talks with uber-entrepreneur Purple Lab Creatrix Karen Robinovitz. Karen is a non-stop whirlwind of energy.  Read on for her story.

Beauty411:  Can you give us some insight into how Purple Lab and Huge Lips Skinny Hips was born? (I'll just toss my editorial objectivity out the window and tell you that you have the perfect lip gloss formula:  A lip-plumping lip gloss that doesn't burn, tastes and smells great, isn't sticky...love!)

 

KR:  Thank you! It wasn't planned and sometimes the best things happen without a road map to follow. I was with my husband, Todd, at a party and literally plowed my way through all of the carb-infested passed food! At fashion parties, I tend to be the only one who eats! After 20 minutes, I told him we had to go. I had ring around the waist - the red line that forms around your belly when you've eaten so much that your pants suddenly feel one size too small. He was disappointed, as we had just gotten there. I jokingly said "If my lip gloss would plump my lips and not my hips, I wouldn't be in this mess." And that was how the idea of Huge Lips Skinny Hips started.

He was the one who encouraged me to figure out how to manufacture it and get it out there. It took us two years to get where we are now - and literally every dime we ever had (and then some because I got to the point where I sold shoes along the way to pay for things!).

 

Sitting down the lab to formulate the product was one of the best experiences. As a former journalist who covered beauty, fashion, and style, I tried everything and I do mean everything. So there was no way I was going to make something unless it would replace what I already edited down to the best of the best in my makeup bag and medicine cabinet.

 

The gloss is formulated so that the plumper doesn't sting. It plumps with a Vitamin B derivative that naturally draws blood flow to the lips, not an irritant that hurts. The lemon peel oil and fruit extracts add a delicious flavor and cooling agent that tingles but lovingly.

 

And the meadowfoam is what keeps it all oh so moist. It binds all the moisture to the lip surface. I use the "No Panty Lines", which is clear, as a lip balm.

 

Leonor Greyl Huile de Palme

Leonor Greyl is a French luxury hair care company that produces high quality, natural products.  One of my favorite products is Leonor Greyl Huile de Palme.  It's a conditioning treatment that leaves hair soft, shiny and ultra-nourished.  Huile de Palme is also a de-tangling treatment. 

Leonor Greyl Huile de Palme is one of my go-to products because it restores moisture (it also protects hair from sun damage) to color-treated hair.  Not only that, it smells amazing!  I like to put the glass bottle in the microwave for 15 seconds to warm the oil and then apply about a dime-size amount to the middle and ends of my hair.  Brush through hair and leave on for 10-15 minutes before shampooing.  Voila--gorgeous, shiny hair!

Leonor Greyl Huile de Palme retails at $42 and is available in salons and online retailers including Folica.com, Beautyhabit.com and Beautyexclusive.com.

Get the look: Kherington Payne at the Fame Premiere!

Kherington Payne sparkled at the Los Angeles premiere of her new movie, Fame, on Thursday night.  Celebrity makeup artist Vanessa Scali worked her magic on Kherington, with a graphic, smokey eye, pretty golden skin and shimmery nude mouth.

To start, Vanessa prepped the skin with Lancôme's Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate.  This was followed by Lancôme's Effacernes in Light Bisque, Vanessa’s favorite formula, which 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.

For Kherington’s dramatic eyes, Vanessa layered Shu Uemura's Pressed Eye Shadow in ME Black #990 and ME Olive #471.

Lancôme's Le Crayon Khôl in Black Ebony defined and elongated the lash line, and was paired with Shu Uemura's Painting Liner in Black just at the lash line (on the top lid only) and on the inner rim of the eye. The finishing touch: a few generous coats of Lancôme's Ôscillation Mascara in Black. Finally, Lancôme's La Laque Fever Lipshine in Iridescent tied the entire look together.

I think it's a fantastic look that can be recreated at home.  I definitely plan to try it!

Photo credit:  Getty Images