Holiday Gits : The Luxe List

Here are a couple of luxe gifts on my list that make my heart go pitter patter! I justify nice sunglasses the way I can justify a nice watch- it's something I wear almost every day. In fact, I can go even further in saying sunglasses are an anti-aging item, since they help prevent squinting!

So no I couldn't walk a mile in these Valentinos, but how gorgeous are they?!? Diamonds for your feet Girleens!

For the serious make-up lover, this professional kit from Make Up For Ever is swoon worthy. It's actually at steal of a deal at $330-including 28 products with a retail vale of $600.

This collection of three hardcover books is like art for your coffee table- at only $75 it's the most affordable Chanel item ever;)

Until Louboutin starts making more wedges & flats that I can actually walk in, I'll settle for gazing adoringly at his creations $150. Other 'food' for thought in terms of great gifts? Gourmet cheese & wine of the month clubs- it's a gift that keeps giving all year long!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

Red Hot Lips

I have been so busy since I got back from NYC that I haven't even told you guys about Lucky FABB- which was amazing. I promise I'll give you all the deets soon! So many stylish women were there, but Aliza Licht, better known as @DKNY PR Girl made a big impact on me. PS(ha ha) @PSIMadeThis, also known as Erica Domesek is sitting on the right. Besides wearing a stunning one sleeved DKNY(of course!) frock, she sported the most striking red hair that I now daydream about being a redhead! Since I'm maybe not that brazen yet, I opted to go with her fabulous red lipstick. 

Others at the conference were just as smitten as moi with the hue. When asked on twitter, she responded that the color was Maybelline's Red Revival #645. Since she oozes luxury, I would have expected Dior or even Chanel, but nope- a great lipstick for right around $7. Score!

In honor of the fact that I'm seeing another fabulous redhead (whose signature lip color is also red) perform tonight, the haunting Florence Welch of Florence & The Machine- I thought I'd share this shade with my girls. FYI it's also moisturizing enough to leave a nice stain as it wears off, without it looking like a hot mess.

So a big 'mwah' to the ladies who helped me step out of my comfort zone & reach for red. This shade is perfect for lazy Sundays when I don't want to put a lot of make-up on. A classic red such as this & a fabulous pair of sunglasses & I'm pretty much good to go!

Peace. Love. Lipstick.

Polish Pic{k}s

So when I spotted Layla's Hologram Effect nail polish in Ulta I was intrigued. Though I usually favor dark color on my hands, I'm a glutton for special effects. Hologram is an avenue I haven't experienced before so I scooped it up- at a rather pricey $15.50 for a small bottle.  I normally draw the line at @$9 for my OPI & Essie polishes, unless I have to have a particular Chanel shade.   

As much as I wanted to fall in love with this polish, it just didn't cooperate. I buffed my nails (recommended) then used a ridge filler.  The first coat was very sheer and oddly matte.  The polish also had little globs in it that made it difficult to maneuver

 Usually the second coat hides all sins for me, but it was a bit streaky & then dried down to the same weird matte finish.  I topped with a clear top coat & thought I managed to salvage the manicure - not scrap it & have to start over with a different polish.  

 However upon inspection the next day, the polish looked so streaky that I ended up topping it with my trusty OPI for Sephora shimmery champagne color.  My only thought was that the chemical make-up of the polish was doing something odd with my topcoat, since it was already starting to turn matte again.  I then had chipping rather early on, too! I'm sad to report this polish was a total bust for moi in terms of performance! Has any one else tried it?

Peace. Love. Polish. M

What's In Her Make-Up Bag with Dr. Noelle Sherber

So next week at La Papillon, myself along with our Diva of Dermatology, Dr. Noelle Sherber & Plastic Surgeon Dr. Ariel Rad will be discussing Celebrity Skin Secrets. Because ladies, do not believe that they stay looking that fabulous only by drinking green tea & doing yoga! Celebrities have access to all of the latest cutting edge technologies & we're going to be talking about them on the 14th from 5:30-7:30. Since I will be talking about skincare, as well as make-up tips & tricks I of course dove into Dr. Sherber's travel make-up bag at our last Injectable Event to see what she had up her sleeve. Want a peek, too? Below are her thoughts on her go to products. Next week I'll let you peek inside my bag- it's so interesting to see her picks for her dry skin versus mine for my oily skin!

Tucked in a classic black Prada bag are the following:

Perfekt Skin Perfection Gel in Luminous: I don't wear foundation, and try to avoid powders since my skin is dry and I like the look of dewy skin. This product is like Photoshop in a tube, taking down excess shine in spots and minimizing pores where you need it without making skin look dull.

Bobbi Brown Sheer Color Cheek Tint in Sheer Lilac: This soft pink color gives a fresh flush and the texture is very dewy without being overly oily thanks to the petrolatum in the formula. The color is so sheer that it never looks painted on, and it can be swiped on lips in a pinch.

Idalmi St. Barth Lip Gel in Starlit: Idalmi was the makeup artist for my wedding in St. Barths, and she gave me this gloss from her make-up line to wear on the big day. It's the best non-sticky sheer shimmery pink, is enriched with antioxidant vitamins, and I have such a sentimental attachment to it now.

Lancôme Hypnôse Doll Lashes Mascara in Black: This gives lush lashes without making them spidery. It doesn't flake or smudge much, which is important for me since I neither want to give up eye cream when I wear mascara nor look like a panda.

Yves Saint Laurent L'Eyeliner Noir: This has been my absolute favorite liquid liner for years. It's a great true glossy black and it stays put, but it's easy to clean up mistakes with a damp Q-tip if need be.

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Golden Light: Bobbi Brown's bronzer
colors are the most skin tone correct that I've found. This is a very sheer silky wash of color that warms up the skin without lookingorange, and, like a natural tan, doesn't have any shimmer.

Chanel Ombre Essentielle in Beige Lamé: I saw great reviews of this limited edition shade on Twitter, and was lucky to snap one up before they were gone. It's a warm light brown that manages to take sparkle and make it look polished and not disco-y.

La Prarie Light Fantastic Cellular Concealing Brightening EyeTreatment in 02: During a long tiring day I like to freshen up under my eyes, and I love that this sheer light reflective concealer has La Prarie's cult status Cellular Radiance Eye Cream built in for added skin care benefits.

Giorgio Armani High Precision Retouch in 2: This is the most natural looking concealer that I've found for spot concealing on the face and blending seamlessly into bare skin if you aren't a foundation person. It's imperceptible on HD film, too, so it's perfect for TV or photos.

Bobbi Brown Corrector in Porcelain Bisque: I'm thin skinned under my eyes, and a dab of this helps to neutralize the blue hue. The creamy texture is moisturizing enough that it never gets cakey.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Romance: I like very balmy lip colors, and this line is mega moisturizing. I like how this pop of pink brightens the skin without being too bright itself. The classic Chanel lipstick case is so luxe for public touch-ups, too.

Perfume Oil from Memoire Liquide: My husband and I created custom scents for each other at Henri Bendel in Manhattan before our wedding. Our scents have one note in common, and it was so much fun to mix up a unique blend - I love the end result and mine is all I wear now.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Polish Pic{k}s

My polish kick continues... I had commented on Chanel's all the rage Peridot shade a while back & how the color did nothing for my skin tone. Chanel's Graphite however, caught my eye & was a home run.

Unless you're in bright sunlight, it's hard to get the true dimensional impact this shade has. At times it's gray, but often I get glimpses of gold & khaki. I rarely splurge on Chanel polishes{$25!}, but I had to have it! They set the trend for color. My nails are still pretty brittle from Shellac- so it's hard to get an accurate feel for it's durability. It chipped a bit after 4 days when using my standard base & top coat.

I always say if I find myself staring at a polish color- it's a win. The way it catches the light is mesmerizing- but the microglitter makes it a bugger to get off. What can I say? I'm a slave to beauty.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Mani Monday

I've been going through quite a bit of a green phase lately in all aspects of my style. Usually I'm quite the creature of habit- my wardrobe is pretty much all black. I also usually stick to wearing my beloved OPI Midnight In Moscow for my mani/pedi, because it makes me feel just a little bit naughty. Or dangerous. Or a little bit of both.
I credit Kyle Richards of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills for my green kick, because she wears emerald green so stunningly. So when Chanel launched their Fall 2011 collection, I was smitten with Peridot- it was almost hypnotizing the way the color seemed to move. When I tried it on however, with my skintone it looked less like jewels & more like jaundice!

Zoya's Edyta caught my eye though- the color being the best of both worlds. It is a hybrid of khaki & gunmetal with a swirl of gold throughout. I showed it with my flash on above, just so you get a feel for how it catches the light. I have been scooping up more Zoya polishes than ever before due to their color selection & how the lacquer applies. This is the first time I've used regular polish since I removed my Shellac(detailed write up of the experience is to come.) The polish has chipped just a bit earlier than usual with my OPI Ridge Filler & Seche Vite combo, but my nails might be a bit brittle. All in all , I think the color is quite hip- what do you think Beauties?

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Oscars Beauties

My pick for over all best dressed from last night's Oscars? Mila Kunis in Elie Saab. That dress made her look like a Goddess. Make-up artist Tracey Levy used Lancome products to create an ethereal with an edge look. Mila's pucker received a coat of Lancome Color Fever Gloss in Blazing Pink topped with La Lacque Fever Lipshine in Lucent Pink. Head over to Bella Sugar for a break down of the entire look!

What an improvement over the Golden Globes where poor Michelle looked like she was wearing a *ahem* tablecloth! In Chanel Haute Couture, she looks like an actress deserving of academy award nomination. Her platinum pixie haircut was complimented by incredibly soft and luminous make-up. Make-up Artist Jeanine Lobell used all Chanel products, completing the look with Chanel Rouge Coco Lip Colour in Rose Dentell. Michelle also held my favorite part of the night, along with Bestie Busy Phillips who was her date. A glimpse during the preshow showed them arriving holding hands, there's nothing I love more than a great friendship!

Natalie was a winner in many ways last night. Previous pregnancy gowns that she's worn have been rather blah if you ask me. They didn't conceal or flaunt her bump, rather she just looked pregnant. This violet Rodarte gown flowed over her curves beautifully. Her glow was due in part to her pregnancy & the rest Dior Beaute. On her pucker? Dior's Addict Lipstick in Infamous Pink, topped off Addict Ultra-Gloss in Apricot Cloche.

Jennifer Lawrence was captivating & definitely understands that less is more! Such the sexy screen siren in her Calvin Klein gown. Soft, touchable hair by stylist Mark Townsend & minimal accessories sealed the deal. So beauties, who were you picks for best & worst dressed? Thoughts on Cate Blanchett's gown? How did you feel the hosts did? I have to say I had expected more from Anne Hathaway, while James Franco did exactly what I thought he would!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Les Khakis de Chanel

For this Wednesday's Wishlish item I'm falling in love with Chanel's new autumn nail colors that Global Creative Director Peter Philips came up with. Dare I say he nailed it with these shades? (l)Khaki Brun (m)Khaki Vert (r)Khaki Rose- the polishes just came out, which means before you blink these sure to be cult colors will be gone!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Nordstrom Beauty Haul

In addition to picking up some sets at Nordstrom's sale which I'll show you tomorrow, I scooped up some singles. I was hitting pan on my MAC bronzer, so I went with this bronzer from Estee Lauder & I'm not going to lie- I was totally motivated by the free gift! Estee's current GWP at Nordstrom is awesome & I'll show all GWPs I got this week, too. This compact is actually much bigger than it looks in this picture, almost the size of a CD- so it should last me forever!

I went with Laura Mercier's single shadow in Sterling over Bobbi Brown's new Denim single shadow since the Bobbi one did not even show up on my hand. In the container, both shadows might look a little intimating shade of blue with sparkle...
But as you can see as applied to my lid, it's surprisingly very soft & gives a brightening effect. I actually wish this shadow had more payoff! I had considered returning it, then got complimented on it when wearing it the first day so it stays!

I also picked up another shade of my favorite undereye concealer from Clinique. This time I went for their lightest shade 01- I guess I truly am the fairest of them all since I'm so pale- ha ha! I stocked up on two Lancome Maquicomplet Correcteurs to score their free gift even though that & a Chanel shadow I advance purchased were already sold out on the first day of the sale by 3pm! What can I say the ladies at the Nordstrom sale, myself included, were doing our part to stimulate the economy!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Oscars Glamour

Yes it's that time of year! Any girl that loves glamour, loves the Oscars. It's the female equivalent of the SuperBowl. Who were my picks of the night? Amanda Seyfried was stunning in Armani. The potential in this young actress is huge. Such talent, I knew both her & Kristen Bell were special way back when in their Veronica Mars days. I loved the clean lines of this dress, though it still had a great Cinderella feel to it. Flawless skin & make-up (with that alabaster skin-you know she wears her SPF!) + sleek hair = perfection!

Elizabeth Banks rocked it out in an incredible form fitting grey frock that fit her like a glove. Her diamond headband, grey smokey eye & nude glossy lips were the perfect finishing touches on the stunning look. You gals know I heart that look make-up wise!

Sarah Jessica Parker wore one of the most unusual dresses I've ever seen & I was captivated by it. Some didn't like it, but I thought it was true art as only Chanel Couture could do. Her make-up was gorgeous up close with her bright blue eyes heavily rimmed in sparkly black liner. The obsessive girl in me would have liked to smooth her hair a bit(I wasn't the only one on Twitter!), but for the most part- right down to her chunky bracelets, she was fashion personified. So who were the best & worst dressed of the night in your opinion my beauties?

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Speaking of Oscars, stay tuned this week for news about the NYC event I attended that's pretty much the Oscars for beauty products. Let's just say I was in heaven & I'm going to share the love!