By, Sharon Curtis

I’m so excited to announce a new fragrance launch from Ed Hardy. Although this fragrance won’t hit shelves until December, it sounds so yummy I just had to share.

Famed Ed Hardy designer Christian Audigier’s new brainchild will be named Love & Luck. The Fragrance was inspired by a painting from tattoo artist Don Ed Hardy.

The Love & Luck fragrance is described as "soft and elegant". It features top notes of bergamont, blood orange and red sake accord; middle notes of heart of black current, pink peppercorn, nectarine, jasmine petals and forbidden plum; and base notes of sensual musk, cedarwood, sandalwood and patchouli.

This eau de parfum will be available in a 1.7-oz. for $55 and 3.4-oz. for $75.

Be on the look out at Nordstrom, Macy’s, Dillards and Ulta stores during the holidays.

By, Sharon Curtis 

M Lab was kind enough to send me this luxurious, six piece skincare set and boy was I excited!

A little history on M Lab: It was originally launched at London’s prestigious Harrods Department Store. M Lab’s primary labroratory (Milibar Laboratories) had been formulating skincare for dermatologists and plastic surgeons for over 25 years. The goal for the consumer-based line was "to create, without limitations, the most effective and luxurious, no expense-spared, anti-aging formulations".

The thing about this line that really blew my hair back, was the fact that the clinically active ingredients in the products range from 45% to 74%. Could this really be true I wondered??

Apparently, M Lab has a secret way or "matrix formulation" to blend these active ingredients together, to form the most powerful products that address skin firming, fine lines, wrinkle reduction, and improve skin clarity, texture and color.

My nifty black bag contained: anti-aging cleanser (50ml), anti-aging toner (50ml), anti-aging treatment cream (15ml), anti-aging treatment serum (5ml), anti-aging day treatment spf 15 (15ml), and anti-aging eye cream (3ml).

I think that this set is a perfect way to try the line without making a large commitment. I felt the sizes of the products were enough to last long enough to judge their effectiveness.

After using the products now for over three weeks, I can report that they really are something special. Many, many skincare brands have crossed my path over the years and what really struck me about this line, was the obvious quality of the products and how quickly I saw results.

The most standout products for me were the anti-aging treatment serum and the anti-aging eye cream.

The anti-aging treatment serum offers such a healthy dose of peptides, anti-oxidants and hydrators, I immediately saw my skin become healthier and glowing.

The anti-aging eye cream was very light and absorbed quickly, so I knew it was penetrating deeply. It’s very important to me that my eye cream absorb fast, especially during the day. My makeup wore beautifully over it and I noticed a smoother, more even texture underneath my eye.

If you would like to indulge in this amazing skincare, check out mlabonline.com

By, Sharon Curtis 

It’s time again for Nordstrom’s annual Anniversary Sale. This is by far their best sale and the beauty offers are awesome. I just got done making my wish list.

The sale starts on friday, but you can go online and pre-order anything you want. I love the idea of being able to buy something before it goes into the stores to insure I get it, because as you know it’s all about instant gratification!!

There are some lines that offer a gift with purchase and some just have great deals or value sets:

They have a Prada’s Infusion d’Iris (one of my favorite fragrance’s) set right now, where you get a free $50 body lotion with the purchase of there $95 EDP spray.

They also have a set from Fusion Beauty where you get a free mascara ($38) with the purchase of an XL lip plumper.

Of course, MAC always has a special exclusive collection to honor the sale. This years collection is called: Color Forms and offers beautiful, vibrant colors.

The list goes on an on…So check it out.

The sale officially starts this friday (July 18th), but go to www.nordstrom.com to check out the offerings or to pre-order.

Happy Shopping one and all…

 By, Sharon Curtis

Very exciting new..The ultra cool denim label Rock & Republic will be launching their line of beautiful cosmetic goodies this September.

The collection features an impressive 116 items and has an edgy rocker vibe to it.

Some of the "must have" items will be:

* Accentuating Bronzer/Highliter duo compact featuring 445 Swarovski crystals that will retail

 for $225.

* Caffine-infused Tinted Face Primer

* Imitate Mousse Blush

* Extremist Mascara (for lots of volume)

* Bound Gel Liner (promises to stay on all day)

The collection will be available at Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus in the U.S. and Harrods in the U.K in mid-September.

I can’t wait to get my hands on it…

 By: Sharon Curtis

NARS is one of my absolute favorite makeup lines. I own so many of their products, I could literally open my own store! I think most of the world own’s Orgasm blush for sure.

 It just came to my attention that NARS will be releasing their long-awaited, Fall 2008 Collection very soon. It includes the new Dolce Vita blush. The picture above represents all the beautiful goodies soon upon us. Horray!

Here’s the 411 on the new items:

Nail Polish- Rebel Yell

Lip Gloss- Female Trouble

Lipstick- Senorita & Beautiful Liar

Blush- Dolce Vita

Single Eye Shadow- Fez

Duo Eye Shadow- Cordura & Isolde

Nail Polish- Rebel Yell

Lip Gloss- Female Trouble

Lipstick- Senorita & Beautiful Liar

Blush- Dolce Vita

Single Eye Shadow- Fez

Duo Eye Shadow- Cordura & Isolde

With your $100 beauty or fragrance purchase, receive an awesome makeup bag plus the following deluxe samples:

Anastasia Brow Gel
Anthony Logistics for Men® Self-Tanner with Anti-Aging Complex
Clarins Sunscreen Soothing Cream SPF 20 (0.28 oz.)
Cover FX ‘Skin Prep FX’ Treatment & Priming Serum sample
Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel (0.1 oz.)
Freeze 24.7® IceCrystals™ Anti-Aging Prep & Polish sample
Hanae Mori ‘Butteryfly’ Eau de Parfum (0.04 oz.)
John Varvatos Eau de Parfum (0.05 oz.)
KORRES Natural Products Guava Body Butter (0.85 oz.)
Lancôme Hypnôse Custom Volume Mascara (0.07 oz.)
Laura Mercier Eye Colour in Sandstone (0.03 oz.)
Origins ‘A Perfect World™’ White Tea Skin Guardian (0.17 oz.)
PHYTO Phytodéfrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm (0.5 oz.)
TanTowel Self-Tan Towelette (1 application)

I have to say this mask is amazing! I’ve been using it for a few months now, and I’m addicted. I make my own blends with different products based on whatever my skin needs at the time. I highly recommend checking it out for yourself.

The aspirin mask is a BHA ( Beta Hydroxy Acid) mask , that’s easy to make, inexpensive and very effective. It can be made with salicylic acid or aspirin. BHA is great for deeply cleaning pores, helping to control acne and exfoliating the skin . BHAs can also be used with active acne to clear it up faster, and works to sanitize the skin.

Indications: all skin types, especially normal to oily and combination skin, acne-prone and clogged skin.

Basic recipe: 1/4 tsp. salicylic acid (from a pharmacy) or 3-5 plain aspirin, & distilled water. Mix a little water with the powder until it reaches a paste-like consistency. Apply on clean dry skin . Remove once mask becomes dry. Make sure to rinse off completely. If  skin becomes irritated follow with a hydrating mask or moisturizer WITHOUT any kind of acid or enzymes inside it.

Advanced recipe: You can make many versions of this mask. To turn it in to a more complex mask with more benefits, you can add yogurt, aloe vera , honey or a nourishing moisturizer. If you use one of the above mentioned preperations the application will be much better, skin is less irritated and dry compared to aspirin with water, the feeling left after this mask is absolutely unique so smooth and clean!

Please note: If you are using pure salicylic acid, make sure to use no more that 1/4 tsp, any more could burn your face.

Do not apply it near to eye zone, it will be extremely drying and irritating for the sensitive skin there.

Try not to overuse the mask:. For very oily skin and for severe blemishes, every 3 days would be more than enough in order not to stress the skin and obtain maximum efficiency. Other skin types should use it once a week or twice a month (dry to very dry, sensitive skin).

Giorgio Armani reveals the secret to the Mediterranean natural sun color without sun.

For the first time, an Armani unique combination of water-soluble tints and very fine Micro-fil mineral pigments in a fresh gel texture. The water-soluble tints blend naturally with skin’s surface for an immediate, soft coloration that lasts all-day. Micro-fil mineral pigments are associated with reflective particles for a radiant and natural result. Skin instantly glows with a tone on tone Mediterranean tan.

The lightweight and fresh formula leaves a natural bare bronze finish. The makeup result is natural and translucent with no texture effect nor coverage which allows endless blending without thickness. A complete range of natural tone on tone colors inspired by the warm light on the Italian coasts.

Available in 4 shades from a subtle summer glow to a deep Mediterranean tan.

www.giorgioarmanibeauty.com

Chanel’s fall 2008 makeup collection is slated for July and is the debut collection from Chanel’s new creative director of makeup, Peter Philips.

The theme of the fall collection is gold, gold and more gold. Phillips became inspired by Coco Chanel’s apartment which boasts lots of bronzes, warm gold’s and crystals.

The collection will include

Gold Fiction nail polish (anticipated to be bigger than Black Satin) with a hefty price tag of $30

Facettes D’Or (golden loose powder)

Golden Light Glossimer

Hydrabase Lipstick in copper, plum and coral

Eyeshadow Quad containing gold, coffee, ivory and dark green.

Stay tuned for info on the AMAZING Chanel holiday collection debuting in October 2008!