Thursday, May 26, 2011

2011 Fifi Award Winners!!!

A Night of Fashion and Fragrance
Each year The Fragrance Foundation honors creative achievements in the industry by sponsoring the FiFi Awards...also know as "the Oscars of fragrance."  This celebratory event has been held annually in New York City since 1973 and is truly considered to be the most prestigious event in the fragrance world!  This year was no exception, as thousands of celebrities, designers and members of the fashion and beauty community alike gathered at Lincoln Center on May 25th to honor this years winners. 


And The Award Goes To...
Did you favorite scent earn top accolades? Find out below as we recap the nights winners in each category!

(women's & men's)

Fragrance of the Year - Luxe  
Gucci Guilty
Chanel Bleu de Chanel







Fragrance of the Year - Specialty Luxe
Balenciaga Paris
Tom Ford Azure Lime




Fragrance of the Year - Broad Appeal
Halle Berry Pure Orchid
Herve Leger Homme





Fragrance of the Year - Specialty Brand
Victoria's Secret Bombshell
Banana Republic Republic of Men Essence



Consumer's Choice Award
Victoria's Secret Bombshell
Bath & Body Works Twilight Woods for Men



New Fragrance Celebrity of the Year
Outspoken by Fergie



Fragrance of the Year - Indie Brand
Six Scents Parfumes Series Three



Fragrance of the Year - Direct to Consumer
My Life by Mary J. Blige



Elizabeth Taylor Fragrance Celebrity of the Year
Halle Berry


Bath and Body Line of the Year
Chanel Coco Mademoiselle



Parfume Extraordinaire
Givaudan



Fragrance Superstar
Gucci Guilty


For more information about the 2011 Fifi Award winners, nominees, and The Fragrance Foundation visit them at http://fifiawards.wordpress.com/

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Summer Lovin'

Finally! After a long cold winter it seems Spring has finally arrived and it's long over due!  Since it's taken it's sweet time gracing us with it's presence,  I've decided to push full force in to the season of sunshine and welcome Summer a little early! If it won't come to us, we"ll just have to go to it by tricking our senses into feeling what truly is the most wonderful time of the year!  Here are some of my all time favorite warm weather beauty picks that will having you feeling the heat in no time!

 
Whip Your Hair Back and Forth
Between the frigid outdoor temps and the dry forced heat inside we endured this winter, if i attempted to whip anything it would likely catch aflame and start a forest fire....my hair was that dry!  Then i remembered I had a Bumble and Bumble Creme de Coco hair mask I had yet to try.  It's trio of tropical butters was like an instant island retreat for my dehydrated (albeit well highlighted..Thank you Allison and Gianna!) hair! Murumuru Seed Butter, Shea Butter, and Mango Seed Butter moisturize, soften, and add high shine and manageability, while Keratin lends additional conditioning, fights frizz and provides antioxidant protection!

Aruba, Jamaica, Oh I Wanna...Get a Manicure?
Although I've been loving the dark nails this winter has brought back (that Lincoln Park After Dark will get ya every time!)...the lack of sun was making me crave brightness! My choice for hot weather hues: Schiap by Nars, Blagger by Butter London, Turquoise & Caicos by Essie, Shoot out at the OK Coral by OPI, and Domestic Goddess by Sephora by OPI  If you're not feeling brave enough to bare these shades on your hands, give them a whirl on your toes and imagine them sinking in the sand!


Summer Scent-Sational
Have you ever noticed how certain scents can stir up a memory, or even remind you of a specific person or time in your life? It's just amazing what fragrances can do to the psyche! Here are a few of my all time favorite fragrances that rekindle memories of everyone's fave time of year!

Virgin Island Water by: Creed -  Can you say "Island in a bottle?"  That's exactly what this 2.5oz of liquid luxury is! With  the essence of copra (the white inner portion of the coconut), lime of the Antilles, white bergamot and mandarin orange from Sicily, as well as hibiscus, sugar cane and white rum (hello!)  One spritz will have you dreaming of beaches and yachts, and mojitos oh my!

Beach by: Bobbi Brown  If one scent could capture the atmosphere and attitude of an American summer, this modern classic is it!   With it's intoxicating blend of sand jasmine, sea spray, and mandarin, it will bring you back to childhood trips to the beach coated in Coppertone or last summer's fling at the shore.  Even on the coldest, cloudiest of days, a little mist of Beach will make you swear you just felt a shore breeze on your neck.  Warning: The parfum itself won't be enough! You'll soon be hooked on the body oil, scrub and lotion too in no time!

Escada's Limited Edition Summer Fragrances: Every year the European fashion powerhouse Esacada, introduces a new limited edition piece to it's renowned fragrance collection.  They may make their debut every January, but when you get a whiff, you'll be feeling more like July in the tropics! While every year the scent gets a new bright remix of sweet notes, they always evoke a mood that is nothing short of uplifting and energizing! I recommend trying out the Collector's Coffrett (includes the scents of 5 years past) if your new to the line so you can experience an array of these amazing fragrance cocktails.  You'll be hooked in no time and looking forward to each years new release! (My all time favey is still 2002's Sexy Graffiti!!!)


Beach Body Ready
Is it me or is everyone Facebook status the same? "Working on the beach/bikini bod!"  Good for them, but just keep in mind that can involve more then just hitting the gym.  Get your skin in tip top tropical shape too with a few beach worthy body treats!

Pink Grapefruit Body Scrub By 100% Pure - Prep your skin for your glowing tan with this delicious body scrub by my favorite all natural line! This 100% organic/vegan (and edible? not suggesting it) scrub will leave your skin silky smooth, healthy and absolutely radiant with its mixture of powerful antioxidants, vitamins and moisturizing oils.  Add that with the energizing zest of pink grapefruit its a juicy delight!

Tahiti Sweetie Body Lotion By True Blue Spa (Bath&Body Works) - Give that dry tired skin an instant vacation! This light yet nourishing lotion is packed with minoi oil, an ancient Polynesian beauty secret, which is made by soaking Tiare flower (Tahitian Gardenia) in pure coconut oil.  The result of this ages old process made modern, is a deeply moisturizing skin experience with exotic aroma you just can't help but indulge in.




Flirt With the Sun
Or at least look like it gave you a little smooch! This year NARS released what can only be considered a bronzaholic's dream! The tantalizing trio of Laguna bronzer, Orgasm blush, and Albatross highlighter, is your recipe for the ultimate sunkissed complexion!!! Want to take it to the next level? Match your pretty little face to the rest of you with the new Laguna Body Illuminator to be the perfect "Portrait of Paradise" just like the collection's namesake!


So don't let the gloom get you down! I just know my start to summer favorites will quickly be on your list of must haves! At the very least, while you wait for the sun you'll be the one shining after your do-it-yourself resort spa day!

<3 Amy



















Friday, March 18, 2011

Just Can't Get Enough?

If your a true beauty junkie like we are you'll want to visit our BRAND NEW facebook page! Even more tips, tricks, reveiws, fan feedback and then some!

Stop by and don't forget to "like" us!!!  See you there beauty lovers!


Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Glossy Goodness

I used to cringe (and  OK, OK, perhaps an eye roll or 2) whenever someone requested  "a lipstick with color, but not too much color, oh and shiny...but not too shiny...and it better stay on... and i don't want to layer."  My normal response to this was a smile on the outside and a "Ha! Good luck sister!" on the inside.  I'm now elated to be able to say "I have just the thing!"


I can not say enough about how obsessed I am with the newest edition to the Nars lip wonderfulness family! The new Velvet Gloss Lip Pencils are everything you could want in the perfect lip and more.  Its your lip liner, lipstick, and lip gloss all in one sleek easy to sharpen pencil available in 6 stunning shades. What really makes it so very versatile is that whether your a bare gloss girl or a lipstick lover it has something to offer.  Sheer color glossy chicks will love the plastic shine and springy tone of Frivolous (fabulous pale shimmery pink), Happy Days (pretty peachy tangerine), New Lover (gorgeous golden pinky coral ), and Hopi (perfect honey beige) While those who love a splash of color will adore the richness and vibrancy of Baroque (beautiful raspberry sorbet), and Club Mix ( sexy deep grape...pictured above).

The Velvet Gloss pencils really give you the perfect excuse to step out of your color comfort zone too.  I, myself, am a big fan of a sheer pink shiny nude lip so naturally i was drawn to Frivolous instantly! However, upon trying out the other shades (purely for professional research of course..ahem), I discovered that Baroque (the collection's #1 star) is the "perfect red" for those like me who have a fear of color and depth. It's plentiful in color and yet has high impact shine and sheerness all at the same time.  I also think the lighter shades will be just the ticket for the ladies who always want to try just a light gloss but feel cheated in the pigment department, as they give you the look of that desired pale pout ,yet with a punch.  In other words girls, our lip color prayers have been answered!!!



As if the idea of a 3 in 1 in a palette of stunning colors isn't enough....your getting so much more for your $24.  They are packed with Vitamin E and hyaluronic spheres to lend a moisturizing and smoothing experience plus amazing glide during application. I also recommend picking up the Nars duo sharpener as you'll need to to keep your pencil application ready at all times, and will do wonders for all pencils of all sizes to boot.  So Thank you again Francois Nars for yet another beauty innovation I don't know how us junkies every lived with out, nor ever could again! And to our readers...you're lips in all their glossy goodness, will be thanking me later!

<3 Amy