ERROR:
subscribe to beauty counter blog via RSSNew Inspiration For Fighting Perspiration
May 2, 2012 5:14 pm
The “to wear or not to wear” antiperspirant debate has come under increasing scrutiny over the past few years as the active green beauty movement has revealed the presence of trace amounts of aluminum in most commonly used formulas of the sweat inhibitor. Deodorants, which promise to fight odor and typically lack a lot the chemicals that effectively prevent excessive wetness, present an entirely different conundrum: they come in a variety of natural formulas, most of which are overwhelming disappointments when it comes to efficacy. There are a few exceptions to this general rule, though: In Paris, we stock up on Sanoflore’s 24H Sans Concession Deodorant, a roll-on that is formulated without aluminum salts (and happens to smell amazing), and in the U.S., it’s all about Lavanila’s The Healthy Deodorant, which we’ve used a fair bit of space on this blog to rave about before. The multitasking stick uses a beta-glucan technology (which includes skin-saving polysaccharides, mostly) combined with antioxidants and essential oils to not only block odor but soothe and nourish the skin as well. It comes in five scents, which became six this month, with the addition of its latest vanilla-infused option, the limited-edition Vanilla Summer. As sworn Vanilla Grapefruit users, we were hesitant to branch out, but the sweet aroma of fresh mango, pineapple, creamy coconut milk, and island sugarcane all set in a base of warm Madagascar vanilla made quick converts out of us. Yes, we’re still talking about a deodorant here! If you’re looking for a more spritzable alternative, the intoxicating blend of essences is also available in fragrance form via an all-natural eau de parfum and a portable rollerball.
tags: Fragrance, Lavanila, The Healthy Deodorant
Beauty Throwdown: Battle Mirrored Chrome Nail Polish
April 30, 2012 5:15 pm
While metallic makeup is typically reserved for Fall, shimmering shades of pigment were all over the Spring runways (think: foil lids at Fendi and the silver banana-shaped strokes of eye shadow at 3.1 Phillip Lim)—which gave Deborah Lippmann the green light to kick plans for her Mirrored Chrome Flip nail lacquers into high gear. The three-piece line just launched with Private Dancer, a highly reflective violet, Sugar Daddy, a metallic champagne, and Swagga Like Us, a gold green that happens to bear a striking resemblance to Chanel’s Peridot. Chanel creative director of makeup Peter Philips’ limited-edition polish launched last summer and is debatably one of the color innovator’s most noteworthy creations, which is why Lippmann’s take on the unexpected hue struck an immediate chord. Is there enough room on the market for two exceptionally formulated bottles of iridescent bronze varnish? We find out below.
The Original: When Philips first showed us Peridot backstage in Paris last year, we were smitten. The intermingling green and gold swirls looked exquisite in the French house’s signature square glass, black-capped bottles and even more so on fingertips. Two coats provides a sparkling, opaque gold finish that diffuses into a shimmering olive tone, which gets picked up by the light with every hand gesture.
The Challenger: While Lippmann’s version is described as an “oxidized copper teal,” it applies more like a straight copper. The blue-green undercurrents are harder to make out with two coats of this polish, but they are there if you look closely. The plus here is that Lippmann’s formula applies slightly more smooth than Chanel’s Peridot, i.e., without any visible glitter flecks.
The Bottom Line: Both are incredibly lovely colors that offer their own unique finish: If you’re looking for a liquid copper that’s reflective but not sparkly, Lippmann’s Swagga Like Us can’t be beat. If you want a lighter, more multidimensional gold, go with Peridot—although best to act fast; Peridot was limited edition when it launched last July, and it’s unclear how much longer it’s going to be available for purchase.
tags: Chanel, Deborah Lippmann, Nails
From Brazil, With Love
April 27, 2012 1:30 pm
We have globalization to thank for introducing us to many of Brazil’s fantastic exports. The açai berry, “cheeky”-cut briefs, and some of the fashion world’s most beloved catwalkers all hail from the South American paradise, and this week, yet another one of the country’s homegrown heroes is making its debut stateside. Introducing Phebo, the luxury fragrance brand established in the 1930’s by Portuguese cousins Antonio and Mario Santiago. The brand, which was named after the Greek god of the sun, quickly expanded into personal care products and even fashion, amassing a loyal following of Brazilian designers—and editors—in the process. “It’s everywhere in Brazil,” our own São Paulo-born market director attests of the collection. Available in eight different scents—including the iconic Odor de Rosas, an ode to the beautiful red blooms, and Agua de Alfazema, otherwise known as lavender water—the line just launched at Macy’s for a limited engagement with a barrage of body lotions, vegetable-oil soaps, home scent diffusers, and eaux de toilettes, all of which boast Phebo’s signature, bright-colored packaging.
Available through August 2012 at www.macys.com.
Japonesque Wilds Out
April 26, 2012 2:43 pm
Once you experience the highest-quality version of something—anything, really—it’s hard to return to the average variety. Your first taste of top-notch Champagne makes flute-fulls of that sweet, $10 swill harder to swallow; the silkiest fine-gauge cashmere makes those bargain, pilling-prone V-necks feel rough to the touch; and the same holds true for makeup brushes: The best ones make going back to those coarse, plastic-y-tipped tools an impossibility. The difference is more than just tangible, too. Discount brushes don’t allow for even application, not to mention they often leave bristles in their wake (ew). But that’s never an issue with Japonesque, a brand that we have long trusted for super-plush brushes and a host of other beauty tools to boot (its Touch Up Razor Set for brows is unbeatable). Unsurprisingly, its new Safari Chic collection does not disappoint. We are suckers for a cool animal print, and the clean, graphic one emblazoned on the mini-brush set and kabuki here has a cool, Out of Africa feel that we can definitely get behind. Though admittedly makeup brushes aren’t something most would pack for an actual safari outing—bug spray and sunscreen are the only real beauty needs there—we are happy to have them handy for our other daily adventures.
tags: Japonesque, Makeup
François Nars, Sheer Genius
April 25, 2012 5:14 pm
The rise of the “unlipstick”—pout perfectors that give you just a wash of your favorite bold lip color—has been well-charted territory since super-bright, opaque mouths went mainstream and a multitude of brands started to release more unexpected, sheer alternatives. But leave it to François Nars to win the game of oneupsmanship. The makeup maestro just debuted his summer collection, which includes Vendanges, the latest addition to his lineup of Sheer Lipstick. Its name, which means “harvest” or “vintage” in French, is a testament to the wine grape hue of the lush, shine-enhancing formula, which at first glance looks like any number of chocolaty berry pigments, all of which typically apply with impressive opacity. But this one is translucent, acting more like a stain that can be worn with a single swipe to add instant vitality to a tired complexion, or built up to a medium finish. You know those days when you catch your reflection in the mirror only to realize that your lips look muted and nearly blend in with the rest of your face? A quick slick of this will immediately remedy that situation. Like we said, game changer.
tags: Makeup, NARS Cosmetics
When Skincare Met Makeup
April 24, 2012 5:24 pm
We’ve been hooked on Dr. Nicholas Perricone’s No Foundation Foundation since Eva Mendes recommended it to us last year. True story; the Cuban-American actress told us that she swears by the SPF 30 tinted moisturizer that gives you just the right amount of sheer coverage along with a nothing-to-sneeze-at amount of sun protection, and one look at her perfectly even tone was enough of an endorsement to earn the amber glass bottle a permanent spot in our morning product lineup. Now comes news that Dr. P is expanding his universal-pigment, complexion-enhancing offerings with—wait for it—a No Concealer Concealer. When we first received a sample of the vitamin C ester, hyaluronic acid, and neuropeptide-rich salve, which brightens skin, boosts collagen, and minimizes wrinkles in a single sweep, we put it all over our face—a few pigmentation marks here, some broken capillaries there. But the single-shade offering does not work as a spot treatment on everyone, as we quickly learned (editor’s note: the No Concealer Concealer is not quite as universal in color as its full-face predecessor if you have medium-to-dark skin). It does, however, work wonders on the sensitive, typically lighter-hued under-eye area, where it camouflages dark circles while imparting moisture and long-term antiaging benefits. As a bonus, the texture is super-silky, so it doesn’t crease and can double as a primer on lids as well. Fingers crossed the good doctor launches a few more shades so we can start using it on all of our imperfections post-haste.
tags: Dr. Nicholas Perricone, Eva Mendes, Makeup, No Concealer Concealer, Skincare
Anthelios Gives Good Face
April 24, 2012 11:18 am
Once upon a time, there was a world where broad-spectrum sunscreen wasn’t the norm and one of the lone lotions capable of blocking burn-inducing UVB rays and cancer-causing UVA rays from penetrating deep into the skin was only available in Europe. But since La Roche Posay’s cult-favorite Anthelios sunscreen received FDA approval in the States a few years back, it has become a mainstay in the discerning sun worshipper’s beach bag, while sparking a number of copycats. So how does the brand intend to improve upon perfection? By sticking with its award-winning formula and adding a host of new ways to slather it on. First up is the Ultra Light Sunscreen Spray, which packs an impressive amount of protection into a nongreasy, simple-to-wield spritz. Then there’s two new face-friendly options, which excitingly include the Tinted Mineral 50, a super-blendable nonchemical fluid with a very natural-looking, skin-enhancing tint, and the Daily Anti-Aging Primer 50, an antioxidant-packed cream that manages to blur fine lines while adding a hint of radiance (it’s perfect for pre-sunscreen prep or on its own for a sun-filled day out). Like the original, all three will likely prove indispensable in summer’s dog days, when we appreciate the feeling of having absolutely nothing on our skin but require a considerable barrier to avoid redness and blotchiness.
$32 to $40, available at CVS, Walgreens, and www.larochposay.us.
tags: Anthelios, La Roche-Posay, Skincare
Riviera Dreaming
April 23, 2012 4:05 pm
The Cannes Film Festival is still three weeks away, but Dior already has the Côte d’Azur on the brain. The French brand’s entire summer color collection is inspired by La Croisette, Cannes’ famous beach-front promenade that has been a mecca for movie stars since the event first started in the 1930’s. The range’s Eye Glosses and palettes follow suit in requisite yachtside-friendly shades of bronze, shimmering turquoise, and sunny corals, a color scheme that continues with two new shades of its Le Vernis nail polish. Bikini is a warm melon, and St. Tropez, a re-release of the celebratory varnish that launched in limited quantities last summer to fête the Dior store opening in the coastal town of the same name, is a covetable creamy aqua. There is a chance that we will be following up our Cannes cameo from last year with a repeat appearance next month (fingers crossed), and should that be the case, these will 100 percent be making the trip as well—just try and stop us, TSA.
tags: Dior Beauty, Nails
Frédéric Fekkai Is Ready For Summer
April 23, 2012 12:22 pm
With golden-streaked, wavy-haired blondes like Gisele and Blake Lively collectively blanketing magazines, television sets, and movie screens for the better part of the last decade, requests for “beach hair” have been monopolizing salon professionals’ time of late. But getting those perfect, sun-kissed, texturized strands takes more than just a few designated pumps of salt spray, which is why Frédéric Fekkai debuted his Summer Hair line last year. The range began with the Fekkai Beach Waves, a lightweight spritz that allows for expert tousling, along with the Smooth Sailing Anti-Frizz Cream, which leaves hair super-soft and manageable while deflecting humidity and imparting a noticeable luster. Now, in an effort to update and round out the collection, the New York-based mane man has adjusted his original formulas and released two brand-new offerings. The After Sun Daily Mask addresses your deep-conditioning needs following a day spent in the sand and surf, while the Cooling Shine Mist provides UV protection and an instant dose of refreshing sheen, courtesy of peppermint oil and marine botanicals. The Mist will make an excellent, easy-to-apply addition to your beach bag, which, if you’re anything like us, you’ve already started mentally packing to pass the time while spring’s cold rain transitions into summer.
tags: Frederic Fekkai, Hair
The Fab Faux
April 19, 2012 5:54 pm
Temperatures have been on a veritable roller-coaster ride these past few weeks, but two things remain clear: Miniskirts, shorts, and the occasional flowy dress are now permanently in the fold; and our sun-starved legs aren’t quite ready for that kind of exposure. While breaking out the self-tanner seems a little drastic at the moment, temporary body bronzers offer exactly what we’re looking for in the form of a sun-kissed look without the commitment. Here, we’ve assembled a list of our favorite new offerings to get you glowing, without the Caribbean vacation.
What: Sisley Phyto-Touch Gel Teinté Corps
Why: Nine years after introducing its cult gel bronzer for the face,
Sisley is launching a version for the body. Its supercharged formula, which dries down to a sheer sun-kissed finish, is loaded with naturally hydrating ingredients like shea butter and sunflower oil and scented with an intoxicating blend of magnolia, rose, and geranium essences.
$115, available May 2012 at www.sisley-cosmetics.com.
What: Too Faced Royal Oil Coconut Oil Body Bronzer
Why: On top of coating skin with a hint of bronze, this nourishing, amber-hued body oil also hydrates with coconut and mangosteen oils, the latter of which is a powerful antioxidant that double-times as protection from harmful UV rays.
$35, www.sephora.com.
Read the rest of this entry >
tags: Givenchy, Lorac, Sisley, Skincare, Too Faced, Victoria's Secret
