ERROR:
subscribe to beauty blog via RSSBeauty Throwdown: Battle BB Cream
February 9, 2012
After dominating the skincare markets in Asia and Europe for the past few years, BB creams finally landed stateside last summer, and they’ve been on a tear ever since. Brands like Clinique and Too Faced have rushed to introduce the multitasking wonder to their offerings, and many others will be jumping on the BB bandwagon in the months to come. Similar to a super-charged tinted moisturizer, the what-can’t-it-do? product marries the benefits of an emollient hydrator with the coverage of a sheer foundation, using an active formula that boasts skin-perfecting ingredients like hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and brighteners to break up pigmentation. Two newcomers—a luxe version by Dior and a more budget-friendly option from Garnier—have just joined the fray. Here, we toss both in the ring for our latest beauty throwdown.
The Prestige Contender: A new addition to Dior’s popular DiorSnow brightening skincare range, this potent BB is, like the rest of the line, infused with radiance-boosting Icelandic glacial water and hyperpigmentation-combating Lightenine, as well as meadowsweet extract to calm skin and hibiscus to counteract fine lines and wrinkles. Of all the BB creams we’ve encountered, this one seems to be the closest thing to skincare. It hasn’t helped fade my freckles/sun damage yet, but because it offers very high protection from UV rays—SPF 50—it will definitely prevent new spots from forming. It also provides a surprisingly good amount of coverage, but it can appear a bit chalky on dry skin, so definitely slather on a serum or lightweight moisturizer before you apply.
$50, www.dior.com.
The Drugstore Challenger: Garnier raises expectations by calling its BB the Miracle Skin Perfector and makes a good case for its grandiose name. You’ll notice its creamy texture immediately and the way it hydrates without looking cakey. It goes on sheer—much more sheer than Dior’s—and imparts a very luminous finish, which will earn you more than a few compliments about your “glow.” While it remains unclear if it is in fact a miracle in a tube, it does provide a pretty perfect dewy look.
$12.99, www.garnierusa.com.
The Bottom Line: It’s hard to pick a winner because it really depends on your priorities and how much money you have to burn. Garnier gets a gold star for its incredible price point alone. The fact that it leaves skin looking practically incandescent is another huge bonus. But Dior’s is the truer BB Cream as it packs a potent antiaging punch while providing sunblock-level protection. The price is a bit steep, but when you look at it as a pillar of your skincare and makeup regimen, it’s a much easier pill to swallow.
tags: BB Creams, Dior Beauty, Garnier, Makeup, Skincare
Julia Wins The Crown
February 9, 2012
Headbands were the big story of last month’s Golden Globe awards as both Charlize Theron and Michelle Williams sported bedazzled hairpieces to the event. But the accessories were met with mixed reviews, as Theron’s crystal-encrusted band and Williams’ black satin strap seemed to detract from the otherwise elegant quality of their Dior couture and Jason Wu gowns, respectively. But leave it to Julia Restoin-Roitfeld to give the hair band its just deserts. At last night’s amfAR New York gala to kick off Fall fashion week, the expectant mother sported a gilded, knotted coronet, which sat toward the back of her head rather than the front. The romantic style managed to spruce up her head-to-toe black look, without any of the kitsch a more forward-leaning band might have elicited. Don’t you agree?
tags: amfAR New York gala, Charlize Theron, Hair, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, Michelle Williams
“The Alchemy Of Beauty:” A Discussion With Coiffure’s Reigning Fine Artist, Bob Recine
February 8, 2012
Bob Recine is a beauty visionary if ever there was one. A well-established hairdresser who is equally comfortable crafting demure runway looks backstage at Jill Stuart and prepping Gwyneth Paltrow and Charlize Theron for the red carpet as he is constructing elaborate headpieces for Lady Gaga, Recine is a master of many mediums—all of which he frequently brings into his unique approach to coiffure. “I see it differently,” Recine says of the generally held views of hairdressing, which tend to have a small vocabulary as far as creative experimentation is concerned. A talented illustrator, sculptor, and occasional shutterbug, Recine refuses to be confined to scissors and combs—a fact that can readily be seen in his vast body of work that has, for the first time, been collected into a new book. Bob Recine: The Alchemy of Beauty (Freedman/Damiani; 2011) hits shelves next month and features a selection of Recine’s favorite editorial collaborations with photographer Mario Sorrenti as well as choice Polaroids, paintings, and construction projects that he has undertaken over the years. “I’ve never been typical in my field and I relish in that a little bit,” he says.
Tonight, New York’s The Hole gallery will premiere a three-day beauty pop-up exhibition dedicated to Recine’s new tome and curated by Jacqueline Miro, and we’ve got an exclusive sneak peak of some of the works that will be on display right here. Below, Recine—a self-proclaimed “modern builder”—reflects on his illustrious career, which hit a high note a few months ago when he had a chance to “[steal] the show” from Lady Gaga.
Where did your initial interest in beauty come from?
All I can tell you is that ever since I was a child, I was completely fascinated with beauty in all its forms. That was my attraction to becoming a hairdresser, to fashion—being fascinated by the creative act of adornment. You know, through history people have always adorned themselves, and I’ve always been into the sorcery and power of what that means. For a person who they say is a “beauty expert,” I see it differently in a way. I have to tell you that [beauty] comes in many forms and its importance is how it’s utilized in the moment. That’s my perception and infatuation with beauty.
Where do you derive most of your influence?
My biggest influences are really being able to combine cultures—not only cultures, but science. I’m really fascinated by building. When we talk about hair, we constrain ourselves. We say we use hair spray, we use gel, but I think you need to look outwards to make the inward advance. When people ask me what inspires me, I really can’t think of anything that doesn’t . A little girl and the way she wears her pigtails, a bum on the street and the way he wears his hat—it’s an anthropological equation.
Continue reading ›
tags: Bob Recine, Bob Recine: The Alchemy of Beauty, Hair, Lady Gaga, The Hole
Diamond Dolls
February 8, 2012
There are a few things about star-studded award galas that always remain constant. The (borrowed) rocks will be big, and celebrities’ pores will be small as they take their turn on the red carpet. The right jewelry and the right facial can be the difference between winding up on a best-dressed list and becoming fodder for the fashion police, so it shouldn’t be that surprising that H.Stern and Natura Bisse have teamed up for awards season. Their first stop: the Agua Spa at London’s Sanderson Hotel, where the renowned jewelry company and the Spanish beauty brand have devised a crystal-encrusted complexion-boosting treatment to help Britain’s best actors prep for the BAFTAs this weekend. The Natura Bisse Diamond Ice Facial is based around marine DNA from the aquatic crustacean Artemia salina, that, when infused with energy, has an active property that creates a next-level lifting effect. The experience also involves three targeted massages and the application of very, very cold quartz crystals to power the lifting mechanism (therein lies the ice bit). The best part? Once you pass the array of precious gems on display at the pampering haven, you enter a treatment room equipped with an air pod—a giant tent with 99.9995 percent flowing air. “The tent has been used for ages by athletes. Rafael Nadal has used it after intense matches to clear his system,” explains Elena Serra, communications director of Natura Bisse. “People often confuse air with an oxygen treatment or a hyperbaric chamber, but it’s not—it is just pure air, which after years of research we discovered accelerates the benefits of the facial by aiding the formulation of collagen and elastin. Air also helps to improve concentration, circulation, and respiration.” Apart from Rafa, Beyoncé, January Jones, and Rachel Bilson have all visited the “bubble,” as the destination is called, and other high-profile celebs will get their chance at the end of the month; the H.Stern/Natura Bisse bubble road show is Oscar-bound. A-listers, make your appointments now.
tags: BAFTAs 2012, H. Stern, Natura Bisse, Skincare
Getting Even With Sun Spots
February 8, 2012
Summer might be a distant memory at this point, but the effects of those sun-drenched days often appear around now in the form of freckles, age spots, and dark patches. Getting rid of stubborn pigmentation requires diligence, as the slightest slip-up in your SPF application (even in the light-deprived days of winter) can trigger new blotches and bring back old ones. Luckily, there’s no shortage of brightening products at your disposal these days. The latest advances even out the complexion with super-charged molecules, micro-size antioxidants, and Rx-level extracts. While some go to work in record-setting time, most deliver more dramatic results in a month or so. With that in mind, we’ve been faithfully patting on five of the most promising recently released elixirs and scrutinizing our complexion. Here’s our early analysis of how each measures up.
The Product: La Roche-Posay Mela-D Pigment Control, $49.95, www.laroche-posay.us
The Claim: This night serum aims to fade existing dark patches in two weeks with a combo of three complementary active ingredients in clinical-strength form: kojic acid to inhibit spot-producing melanin, glycolic acid to slough dead skin at the surface, and lipo-hydroxy acid to boost cell turnover.
The First Impression: While our sun spots haven’t changed much yet, it exfoliated our skin without any tingling or redness, making it feel immediately softer—and making us optimistic about its continued efficacy.
The Product: Chanel Le Blanc Whitening Moisturizing Cream, $130, www.chanel.com
The Claim: Designed specifically for Asian skin (and those of us who aspire to its milky perfection), this daily cream contains TXC, a star ingredient backed by nine years of research that reduces the skin inflammation that can cause pigmentation, along with rice protein extract to deliver eight-hour hydration.
The First Impression: The dewy salve glides right on and imparts a soft, candlelit glow. But its floral-y scent was a bit too intense for our liking, although we imagine some might appreciate its delicate aroma.
Continue reading ›
tags: Chanel, Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution, Kiehls, La Roche-Posay, Le Blanc Whitening Moisturizing Cream, Mela-D Pigment Control, Skincare, StriVectin
Vitamin D Does A Body Good
February 7, 2012
Vitamin D, and specifically how we’re not getting nearly enough of it (a recent study found three out of four people are deficient), has been a hot topic in the media for the past few years, as a true depletion of the nutrient can spell trouble for most everything in your body, including your bones, heart, immune system, and, of course, your skin. Dermatologist Dr. Dennis Gross noticed that as his patients were becoming more cautious about sun exposure, slathering on plenty of high-level SPF before they ever hit the street, they were simultaneously experiencing plummeting vitamin D levels, which makes sense: The majority of natural vitamin D is attained through sunlight. Bearing this predicament in mind, Dr. Gross set about creating a product that would replenish vitamin D levels trans-dermally. His new Active Vitamin D Serum-Oil is the first of its kind on the market in that it’s a topical product that offers sufficient amounts of active vitamin D. Used regularly, the dense oil can help address hyperpigmentation and fine lines while encouraging collagen production and giving your skin a serious boost of hydration and elasticity. Does it feel quite as good as soaking up warm, happiness-inducing rays of actual sun? Not quite. But we will contest that having a more radiant complexion does manage to lift our spirits.
tags: Active Vitamin D Serum-Oil, Dr. Dennis Gross, Skincare
That’s “Doctor” Aniston To You; Megan Fox Gets Made Up; And More…
February 7, 2012
If Jennifer Aniston wasn’t an actress, she’d be a dermatologist, she admits in the March issue of InStyle. “I’m fascinated by skin, products, and lasers. I go on the Internet and read all about it. I call it ‘laser porn,’ ” Aniston jokes. [Hollywood Life]
Staring at yourself in the mirror does more psychological harm than good, according to a new study in which people who gazed at their reflections for up to ten minutes at a time gradually became more and more anxious and depressed about their looks. If, like us, you are a slave to your magnifying mirror, this is not new information. [Daily Mail]
Megan Fox made a worldwide, negligee-clad splash in the preview for The Dictator that ran during the Super Bowl, but that’s got nothing on her new Giorgio Armani Beauty campaign, which is replete with berry lips, black nails, and subtly smoky eyes. [Metro]
Self-tanning tights that bronze your legs while you wear them? They’re heeere. [Daily Mail]
tags: Giorgio Armani Beauty, Jennifer Aniston, Makeup, Megan Fox, Skincare
Fringe Following
February 7, 2012
After both Jessica Biel and Reese Witherspoon debuted freshly trimmed forehead fringe last week, we started to wonder how far bangs’ latest second coming would go before reaching a saturation point in Hollywood circles. The answer to that question seems to be pretty far. Rachel McAdams and Liv Tyler are the latest starlets to make the cut, with McAdams premiering her new brow-grazing crop at the L.A. premiere of The Vow last night while Tyler turned up sporting a similar look at the Room to Grow fundraising gala in New York. We’ve always been more partial to long, face-framing layers, but it looks like fringe is in fashion again—for the time being at least. Thoughts on the trend’s resurgence?
tags: Hair, Liv Tyler, Rachel McAdams
The Leave-In You’ll Believe In
February 7, 2012
My haircare regimen has been the same since I was in high school, and it includes a six-step program that hasn’t failed me yet: First I shampoo and condition, then I comb through a styling cream and add a top coat of frizz serum before pulling my damp strands into a tight, low-lying bun that I repeatedly take out and re-secure—while scrunching—until my lengths are dry, slightly wavy, and very smooth. The process always remains the same, but the products tend to alternate. Key to the success of this system, I’ve found, is the styling cream. My hair is kind of thick and kind of curly, so it needs something nourishing that will leave it soft and languid rather than stiff and overly textured. I’ve had many past loves in this category—Fresh Sake Hair Cream, Morrocanoil Hydrating Styling Cream—but lately, my affections belong to Liz Earle. The Brit botanical brand entered the haircare category last year with a coconut-based cleansing shampoo and three corresponding conditioners, and just last month it launched its first treatment product, a shine-enhancing cream formulated with red algae to flatten the cuticle, cotton extract to impart a glossy finish, and sumac wax, a hair-taming agent popular with Japanese sumo wrestlers and traditional geishas. Here’s the twist: While the vanilla and sweet orange fruit-scented balm works wonders at adding glisten when used as directed as a conditioning treatment that gets rinsed out, it is also a fantastic leave-in styling tool when applied after hair is cleansed, conditioned, and towel-dried. Liz Earle has yet to debut a proper styling line, but I’m happy to multitask this super salve while I wait for that day to come.
tags: Botanical Shine Treatment, Hair, Liz Earle
LFW Backstage Beauty Alert: NARS Crosses The Pond
February 7, 2012
After spreading its backstage beauty wings last month, sponsoring its first-ever Couture show at Bouchra Jarrar in Paris, NARS Cosmetics made a convincing case for taking its face-painting show on the road. While François Nars’ beloved brand is a fixture at New York fashion week, frequently turning up at Marc Jacobs, Rodarte, 3.1 Phillip Lim, and Thakoon, it has yet to become a global fashion force to be reckoned with in cities across the pond. But that’s about to change. Style.com has just learned that Nars will be spear-heading makeup and nail duties at Christopher Kane’s Fall show in London, supplying makeup artist Lucia Pieroni and nail artist Sophy Robson with a veritable rainbow of pigments and polishes with which to create runway magic. Word on the street is that this is just the beginning of a an expansion that, if you ask us, is a long time coming. Stay tuned.
tags: Christopher Kane, Lucia Pieroni, Makeup, Nails, NARS Cosmetics, Sophy Robson
