Global beauty leader L'Oréal, through its Corporate Foundation in Paris, has commissioned "100,000 Years of Beauty," a new book that aims to explore the age old question, "What is beauty?" Convinced that beauty has been an essential preoccupation since the origins of humanity, the L'Oréal Corporate Foundation hopes to use this book to share knowledge and encourage the emergence of new perspectives about beauty...<< MORE >>

How many of you have boyfriends or husbands who hesitate before kissing you because you’re wearing bright or dark lipstick? Start using CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain ($7.29, covergirl.com) and you can reassure him that it won’t rub off. This innovative product looks and feels like a sharpie, but delivers pigmented, non sticky color (that tastes yummy!). It’s really easy and fun to apply, and the color lasts for hours.  I apply in the morning before work and again after lunch. If I have plans at night, one more applications lasts ‘til bedtime.

Apply CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain and there’s no need to worry about your  lipcolor as you go about your day.

    

I think its about time I start reviewing some spring products.  I have a few coming in the mail, but I’ve had Zoya’s new Reverie collection ($7 each, zoya.com) for some time. I wanted to try all the colors before I reviewed.

First off, Zoya may be my favorite nail polish brand out there. Not only do they keep me in the loop on their latest products, but their polishes last days — much longer than any other brand I’ve used. Zoya’s spring 2010 Reverie line is made up of 6 funky metallic shades:

• Laney moonlit silver metallic
• Adina duochrome violet metallic
• Reece gilded rose metallic
• Happi pink blush metallic
• Gwin sunny melon metallic
• Lana rich red metallic

I like these shades because they stand out, but are still acceptable for an office environment — albeit relaxed — which is the one thing I always look for in cosmetics.  My top two — girly pink Happi & Purple/green Adina.

 

    

Inspired by a recent trip to India, Katy Perry inspired celebrity makeup artist Jake Bailey to create a “bettie page, Indian princess look” for this year's Grammy Awards. 

To perfect her skin, Jake used Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation and to set the look, he dusted Guerlain Les Violettes Matte Touch Powder all over the face.

Jake then highlighted the apples of her cheeks with CORALista blush from Benefit.

Keeping with the exotic feel, Jake used a mixture of shimmery plums and golds on her eyes.  “I was going for a more colorful version of the tradition smoky eye,” said Jake. Jake used COVERGIRL’s double-ended smoky eye stick, Smoky Shadow Blast in Purple Plume by first applying the angled end of the shadow stick, the deeper plum, over the entire lid and blending into a smoky halo. He then applied Smoky ShadowBlast in Bronze Fire, using the round, golden end to line along the lid and inner corners of her eyes to brighten the look.

To complete her smoky eye, Jake created an ultra-long lash look with several coats of COVERGIRL LashBlast Length in black. “The best thing about this mascara is that you can apply coat after coat to get maximum impact without losing separation and elegance,” said Jake.

To balance her dramatic eyes without overpowering them, Jake finished her look with a matte lip, using COVERGIRL Outlast Lipstain in Wild Berry Wink. “I love these Lipstains so much because you can line and shape the entire lip without sacrificing your own lip texture,” Jake finished.

    

Fifteen-year-old Ava Anderson has launched Ava Anderson Non-Toxic, the world's first line of skin care in which every ingredient in every product scores ZERO on the Cosmetics Database toxicity scale.

"A year ago, I first learned from a news report about the health risks of the chemicals I was putting on my face and body every day," Ava Anderson said. "I couldn't stop thinking about it and I was frustrated when I discovered that despite 'natural' and 'organic' claims, many products sold as healthy alternatives still contained questionable ingredients, especially when you realize how many chemicals can be hidden under the 'fragrance' ingredient listing." Anderson's quest to find an answer led to a meeting in New York with a cosmetics manufacturer who took up the challenge to create a truly non-toxic skin care and cosmetics line. One, as Anderson insisted, that would pass the Cosmetics Database tests with all ZEROS.

"Not only women, but men and children also risk their health by applying these toxic chemicals to their body day after day, year after year," Anderson said. "Developing an alternative became an obsession for me. With my parents' help I have been able to do something about this.  At the very least, I hope Ava Anderson Non-Toxic will make people more aware of hidden dangers and encourage them to make safer choices."

Ava's first six skin care products are built around a core cleansing and moisturizing routine that everyone can use.  Formulated with truly safe ingredients, they provide gentle cleansing, moisturizing, conditioning, nourishing and protection for every day healthy skin.

Ava Anderson Non-Toxic employs USA-based Island printers, manufacturers, advertising and marketing talent, graphic artists and web designers.  For more information, visit www.AvaAndersonNonToxic.com and www.CosmeticsDatabase.com.

    

L’Oréal Paris announced today the company will launch a new innovation in skin cleansing technology, Go 360˚ Clean facial cleansers, with the help of acclaimed actress Freida Pinto, best known for her starring role in “Slumdog Millionaire.” The advertisements featuring Ms. Pinto will unveil the new skin care products on network and cable television in early January.

“I’m thrilled to represent L’Oréal Paris’ newest innovation, Go 360° Clean. Finally there is a cleanser that really gives you that clean feel. I’m always on the go and traveling, which can dull my skin, so I need a cleanser that will restore my natural luminosity.”
.Throughout the campaign, Ms. Pinto effortlessly demonstrates with her effervescent beauty the unique “Pop-Out. Pour-On. Go Clean” design of Go 360° Clean, featuring the first ever Scrublet cleansing tool that goes beyond clean for an extraordinary, pore-by-pore daily cleansing experience.

“I’m thrilled to represent L’Oréal Paris’ newest innovation, Go 360° Clean. Finally there is a cleanser that really gives you that clean feel. I’m always on the go and traveling, which can dull my skin, so I need a cleanser that will restore my natural luminosity.” said Ms. Pinto. “I love Go 360 Clean’s Scrublet – it’s really cool, and makes cleansing fun as well. It’s gentle on your skin, it takes away all the dullness, and gives you that radiant skin that you’re looking for. It’s great, it’s perfect, I love it.”

The Go 360˚ Clean Scrublet cleansing tool is a super-soft, flexible cleansing disc that applies the collection’s cleansers with 500 extra-supple touch points that gently glide across the skin, activating the cleanser formulas on contact and, creating a hi-foaming lather for a deep clean. Pores look smaller and skin is cleaner, smoother and softer. The Go 360˚ Clean collection offers a complete range of four expertly formulated, high-foam cleansers that are perfectly calibrated to perform with the Scrublet. These four formulas meet the needs of all skin types to cleanse deep to remove dirt and oil.

L’Oréal Paris Go 360˚ Clean will be available in January 2010 at www.lorealparis.com and chain drug, food and mass- market retailers for a suggested retail price of $6.99 each.

    

Makeup no longer needs to last through the 8 hour workday  — its more like the 12 hour workday. I use a primer every time before I apply foundation — it helps makeup go on smooth and stay in place. I was very excited to come across Blinc fountain of youthful color™ eye shadow phase one ($25, blincinc.com). This product is a smooth eye shadow base, which keeps shadow in place for a long time and provides skin with anti-aging benefits.

Blinc eye shadow phase one smooths out crepiness around the eyes as soon as its applied and blended into skin. The Product keeps powder shadow in place and prevents fading and smudging, even in the pouring rain.

    

"The overall inspiration was old Hollywood with a modern twist. She wanted a chic and modern beauty look to match the look of her dress. I started by prepping the skin with a light moisturizer, then lightly applied COVERGIRL & Olay Simply Ageless Concealer under the eyes using my ring finger followed by COVERGIRL & Olay Simply Ageless Foundation all over the skin with a wet sponge. I then applied COVERGIRL & Olay Simply Ageless Blush in Plush Peach with my fingers to the apples of her cheeks for a healthy glow and defined cheekbones. To finish the face, I lightly dusted COVERGIRL microminerals Finishing Veil to set the look and create a soft shimmer look.

"On her eyes, I used COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers 4-kit in Sheer Nude, applying the taupe shade all over the lid and along the lash line to the crease. I then added a touch of the lightest cream shade to the inner corner of the eye for a subtle pop. To add a bit of definition, I applied a gray matte shadow to the crease. For added drama, I lined her eyes with COVERGIRL LineExact in black. To finish the eyes, I applied two coats of COVERGIRL LashBlast Volume followed by two coats of COVERGIRL LashBlast Length for dramatic, long lashes.

"On her lips I applied a shear coat of COVERGIRL Outlast Lipstain in Teasing Blush followed by COVERGIRL Wetslicks Amazemint Lip Gloss in No Care Bare to soften the lip color and add just a hint of shine."

    

"The overall look was simple and classic. Her dress was so amazing that I didn't want the makeup to compete so I selected warm-tones for a natural, soft look.

"First, I prepped the skin with moisturizer and then applied Dior Skinflash Primer to set the skin. Drew's skin is so gorgeous that she doesn't need a full face of foundation so I applied Dior Skin Nude Foundation on the cheeks to give her a dewy look and on select spots for natural illumination. Lastly, I applied COVERGIRL & Olay Simply Ageless Blush in Plush Peach with my fingers to add a healthy glow and defined cheekbones.

"The look for her eyes was a pearly, iridescent, shimmer with just a touch of color. I used COVERGIRL Smoky ShadowBlast in Bronze Fire. First, I applied the lighter shade to the inner corner of the eye, then the darker shade to the lid for a colorful smoky eye look. Use your finger to blend the cream formula for the most control. Drew wanted her lashes to stand out, so I curled them, then applied three coats of COVERGIRL LashBlast Length Mascara to the top lashes and one coat to the bottom lashes for definition.

"For Drew's classic red lip look, I applied Dior Addict Lipstick in Hollywood Rose #753."

    

Gabriela Hernandez, founder of Bésame Cosmetics Inc., answers some questions about her vintage-inspired makeup line, which launched in September 2004. Bésame Cosmetics is a culmination of Gabriela's passion for design and her desire to create an original cosmetic with details and formulas that make women feel glamorous and unique...<< MORE >>