La Mer SPF 30 UV Protecting Fluid (or My Skincare is Smarter Than Me.)

Girls, I'll be honest. I used to love La Mer because it's from the ocean. With the launch of their new gemstone-packed, particle physics-lovin' fluid in March I now also love La Mer because it's brilliant.

La Mer founder Dr. Max Huber firmly believed that there are energies within the light spectrum necessary for our well being. The Max Huber Research Labs have built on this principle to engineer a formula that harnesses the power of light in a daily hydrating sunscreen. The SPF 30 UV Protecting Fluid provides broad spectrum UVA/ UVB protection as well as an array of visible light-transformation benefits. (That is just exactly the lesson where I gave up on AP physics in high school. Can we get behind a reworking of the curriculum from the lens of skincare?)

The Protecting Fluid also uses gemstones to enhance the formula’s anti-oxidant activity. Semi-precious tourmaline and Brazilian malachite capture light energy and then transform it into beneficial green light to boost the Fluid’s powerful anti-oxidants.

The SPF 30 UV Protecting Fluid contains exclusive Hollow Photonic Spheres to help reroute light and scatter individual light waves. Light enters the spheres and is “bent” and redirected. The SPF 30 UV Protecting Fluid helps protect skin against damage with sunscreen while its Hollow Photonic Spheres create a flattering light effect that helps the skin appear more luminous and radiant. I've diligently secured myself a sample and will be reporting back to you, my lovely readers, on it's price-productivity ratio. At $65 per 1.4 oz, that's my job.

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Beauty. By Dooney and Bourke.

Next to my desk is a three tiered metal sheet holder. For a few months now a fairly harmless page, torn from the Nordstrom's Catalogue, has occupied the second shelf. Not urgent business, just a red bag and an inkling that this was possibly the One. Made for me. Perfect. The stuff of fairy tales.

Upon visiting the local Nordie's there were no samples of this specific model in the large size. There was one medium brown version. Yuck. Being a fairly curvy girl, I like my bags big. With well cut lines and leather that reminds me of my first horse's dressage saddle.

After my glorious Sunday at the Spa at Pinehurst (story forthcoming) I strolled with one of my besties through the shops inside the Carolina. That's where I spotted her. In red. In the large size. Full sentences are escaping me. I nearly knelt down to pray but instead shouted "Oh my god you have it! Nordstroms doesn't even have it." All told I spent about twenty minutes with Dooney and Bourke's Large Hobo bag in red. It is ridiculously large, covering the majority of my torso but the absurdity of carrying a piece of luggage as a day bag is as endearing to this laptop totting blogger as well, a straight man who can talk skincare. At $265 there is no way I can justify buying it, unless of course banks start accepting editorial product samples as currency. (Given the Times article about Annie Leibovitz borrowing $15 million against her life's work, I'm thinking beauty banking may not be too far off.) For those of you who do invest in this, the most beautiful bag ever, enjoy!

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Estee Lauder's New Vivid Garden Summer Color Collection

Estée Lauder introduces Vivid Garden - a fairytale-like limited edition color collection for summer 2009. Warm temperatures and sunny days call for a festive garden tea party. Set in a delightfully feminine garden of blooming flowers in shades of pinks and purples, delectable petit-fours and decadent layer cakes iced in fanciful butterfly and bloom designs are passed on shining silver trays as guests enjoy a selection of delightful elixir teas. An atmosphere of fresh airiness
abounds with guests dressed in softly flowing dresses with youthful expressions of color in
unordinary combinations. I'd like to live in this Vivid Garden. This collection is stunning and accented with adorable details like the dragonfly in the center of the compact's color pallet.

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Superskin Moisturiser by Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare

Liz Earle and her naturally active skincare products landed on American shores in late 2008 with relatively little fanfare, though clearly some celebs who'd been introduced to her brilliance across the pond did take note. While I delighted in the Tiffany-blue packaging at first, I soon lost the beauty butterflies when I cut myself quite badly on the moisturiser's weapons-grade plastic container and noticed an overly-earthy scent somewhat reminiscent of dark organic Wisconsin beer. Fast forward four months later to, well, today and I'm distraught by the finger tip's length remainder of product at the bottom my moisturizer. As an editor I test product all the time. Many are brilliant, some with lots of bells and whistles but there are very few (especially moisturizers) that I feel are just so simple and well suited to me that they are in fact part of me. Clearly my passion for beauty has gone too far but my point is, this earthy moisturiser is perfect. Most of its active ingredients could also be baked into a pie. It adjusts brilliantly to changes in moisture levels due to seasonal variations, and perhaps most importantly its calming nourishment never once caused a breakout. Enjoy!

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Love Despite Basketball at Bliss

Already sick of your BF's Final Four Fantasizing? Grab the girls and head for free Bliss during their 1st annual Arch Madness event. While you're there why not go for a full eye makeover? The ever adorable Johnny Lavoy details his favorite eye-saving tips. (The man hides model hangovers. He's worth listening to.)

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Angelina Jolie at The Oscars - Hair by David Babaii

David Babaii himself took the time to detail how he created Angelina's look at the Oscars last night. Full text of his interview below.

To achieve this romantic cascade of curls, I sprayed her entire head with David Babaii for WildAid Bohemian Beach Spray and scrunched it into the hair. This gives just the right texture and hold. Next, I dried her hair by dividing her tresses into 3 sections: top, sides and back leaving the nape area free. Taking small sections starting at the nape, use the David Babaii for WildAid Blow Dryer with the nozzle attachment and finish the drying process with a large round brush to smooth hair straight. At the crown area, I sprayed David Babaii for WildAid Volcanic Ash Root Amplifier to the root area and down the hair shaft. Then, I dried this section with a jumbo round brush to add lift and volume. Once dry, I sectioned the hair again using the same sectioning process as I did for blow drying. Using the David Babaii for WildAid Styling Iron, I once again sectioned the hair into 3 sections: top, sides and back leaving the nape area free. To curl, use the Styling Iron to create "ribbon curls" by taking small "V" shaped sections. To achieve, wrap the hair around and inside the styling iron close to the scalp area and pull the iron down (similar to curling ribbon). After curling the entire head, I smoothed some of the curls with a brush while leaving some intact. At the crown area, I back-brushed the hair at the scalp area only, sprayed some additional Volcanic Ash Root Amplifier and gently smoothed the surface not to remove too much of the back-brushing. Next, to create her half-up, half down look, I brushed the sides up and back and secured with pins. To complete the back, I ran my fingers up several curls to create volume and variations in texture. For a long but natural lasting hold, I used David Babaii for WildAid Mise en Plis Light Styling Spray.

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Kevin Mancuso Creates Natalie Portman's Look at the Oscars

Kevin Mancuso, Creative Director for Nexxus® Salon Hair Care, created the modern and romantic updo worn by presenter Natalie Portman. With a sweeping side part and soft curl, pinned into a beautiful knot at the nape of her neck, the look was deceptively easy to create. Kevin described how to get the look below in a few simple steps.

Get the Look:
Step 1: Apply a volumizing styler to the roots, like Nexxus Root Exxtend, to add body into the hair. Distribute a medium-hold mousse, such as Nexxus Mousse Plus, throughout hair to and maintain and support the structure of the style. More modern updos employ product instead of teasing to build body, for a softer, healthier look. Blow dry hair with a large round brush, concentrating on the ends to smooth the hair.

Step 2: After drying, use a medium sized curling iron throughout the hair to create uneven waves and set the shape around the face. Once curled, create side part and pull hair back and away from the face. Then, take various sized sections of the curled hair and twist and pin back to create the updo. Insert an elegant, decorative pin above the updo to draw attention to the intricate details of the style.

Step 3: Finish look with a light-weight hairspray, like Nexxus Comb Thru, to help secure the style throughout the evening.

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J'Adore L'Oreal EverPure: Go Ahead Say it En France

Sounds better in French, no? Still in English or French L'Oreal's EverPure, a completely sulfate-free color care system that frees your hair from harsh sulfates is, universally, to die for. This coming from a woman who only let organics touch her hair for three whole years. I've been testing EverPure Moisture Rich Shampoo and Conditioner for a month now and I honestly LOVE them EverPure has seen me through my most dramatic haircut in years, completely revitalized my scalp, and calmed my skin which is usually completely irritated from a Sulfate allergy. Also at a six to seven dollar price point this highly concentrated formula goes a long way in lean times. As if that'as not enough to stock your CVS tote with, because L'Oreal removed sulfates, surfactants and salts that can strip and dull your hair you may notice (as I did) a slightly richer color emerging, even in untreated hair. This may be due in part to EverPure's unique UVA and UVB filters which help protect hair from UV rays. Available February 2009 at www.lorealparis.com and chain drug, food and mass market retailers nationwide for suggested retail prices of $6.99 and $8.99 for individual products.

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