Pierce Mattie Public Relations New York & Los Angeles

Lest you think that this blog is only focusing on heavy subjects today such as ecological change and body image issues we though we would end today on a lighter note i.e beauty tips! Today is Friday and what does a girl need more than beauty tips before hitting the town right? Thus I bring you expert advice from Lulu Beauty spokesperson Shannon Lorraine.

As we saw on the catwalks recently bold lips are back! And what better siren to help us with that trend than Scarlett Johansson? Her look in Black Dahlia evokes not only the old 1930's Glamour that Lulu Beauty is known for but is a perfect example of where beauty is going in the future. Don't forget you can also get your favorite discontinued shade made to order from Three Custom Color, just send in that hard to find color and they will duplicate it.

* Blush is back. Don’t forget to give your cheeks a sexy flush with Lulu Beauty. Cream blush or lip color is an easy trick that works great when you are in a rush. Starlet Crème Rouge by Lulu Beauty is a perfect sheer crimson that is wearable on any skin tone.

* Luscious lips are a key ingredient to looking like a seductive starlet. True red lip color is hard to wear appropriately, but those who can master the look should use Marilyn Lipstick by Lulu Beauty. But red is not the only answer to recreating the look of a sexy 1940s vixen. For those who are a little more conservative, Myrna and Sophia are lighter shades that are just as seductive.

* Smoldering cat-eyes add the finishing touch to this look. Anyone can achieve this with the proper color. Lulu Beauty’s Glamour Girl Eyeshadow is a smoky shade the screams mystery.

Photo Cred: It's Elegance

David Dean, a former account executive for a breast implant manufacturer, witnessed his mother suffer at the hands of two unqualified plastic surgeons, including one who painfully misplaced an implant after her breast cancer reconstruction and another who severed a major facial nerve. After his mother’s tragic experience, David became inspired to create a web-based destination that would hold plastic surgeons to a higher standard, as well as act as an unbiased educational resource for women considering breast augmentation and reconstruction.

This is when he began www.Breastimplants411.com. Breastimplants411.com was designed to help consumers make informed decisions about plastic surgery as well as find and research only those plastic surgeons who have achieved the highest level of certification – Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Celebrities have long used their clout and visibility to promote products that they love just as marketers and publicists have leveraged star power to help promote their products. Suzanne Summers could be considered the ur-marketer of the stars from the Thigh Master to protein shakes. But her current project, a book about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy has more than a few people worried.

The book, though, has raised the hormone levels of at least seven medical doctors. The doctors — three of whom are quoted in the book — generally support the concept of bioidentical hormone therapies but say that too little research has been done to assure that they are safe.

Further, they are outraged that Ms. Somers endorses a treatment plan created by T. S. Wiley, a former actress with no formal medical training.

They continued, “The so-called ‘protocols’ endorsed and promulgated throughout the book may expose women to serious health dangers.”

This all raises plenty of medical questions certainly but more urgently it questions how we as consumers should trust and interact with celebrity spokespeople. While we can all agree that Ms Summers looks just as good as always do we attribute this to her "juice of youth" or to her new makeup artist? There are so many factors that go into our perception of celebrities from our thoughts on their most recent relationship to our idea how how one should conduct oneself in public that all ultimately influence whether or not we take their advice. And when this perception comes up against troubling medical evidence then it is worth questioning our motives indeed.

Beauty Bloggers are welcome, space is limited! Bloggers outside of of the NYC area can register for advanced media kit to be sent day after the event.

In honor of the launch, Pierce Mattie Public Relations is hosting a cocktail party in her honor. In a true celebration of beauty, grace and style, Jane Iredale's GLOBAL BEAUTY event will highlight style influences from Cleopatra to Beyonce in the event of the year! We invite you to share in this iconic celebration. To RSVP, please contact Lauren Branche or Ivy Cartagena at 212/243.1431

This week, I flew to New York to meet with editors at top national magazines such as Allure, Teen Vogue, Seventeen, and Town & Country. Not surprisingly, each editor’s look corresponded closely with the style of the magazine that she worked for. For example, the beauty editor at Teen Vogue looked like she was in fact in her teens and the beauty editor from Jane Magazine had an alternative look accomplished by an oversized dress paired with chunky boots and topped off with two long messy braids.

Although the personal style of each editor differed, they all had one thing in common: dark nails. During the past two months, dark nails have once again become the "it" nail polish. The front runner and my personal favorite is OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark, a dark purple shade that almost passes for black. There are two rules to follow with dark nails to look stylish instead of Goth. First, keep nails short. Second, fill in chips immediately. If you like the dark polish look, jump on the band wagon quick because a trend that has caught on so quickly is sure to fall out of style just as fast.

Think you've seen it all when it comes to cosmetic surgery? Look more closely. Eyelash transplant surgery is set to become the new must-have procedure for women - and the occasional man.

About 30 to 40 hair follicles taken from the back of the head to sew on eyelids for lash transplant. Using procedures pioneered by the hair-loss industry for balding men, US surgeons are using 'plug and sew' techniques to give women long, sweeping lashes once achieved only by glued-on extensions and thick lashings of mascara.

'Eyelash transplantation does for the eyes what breast augmentation does for the figure,' said Florida-based Dr Alan Bauman, a leading proponent of eyelash transplants.

Jane Iredale recently launched Global Beauty; mineral makeup colors that are geared towards ethnic skin tones. The above video, exclusively from Jane Iredale, gives step by step instructions on how to apply her products, and the benefits, for an African American woman.

Today I had the chance to get some input regarding the obstacles that African American women face when it comes to makeup and representation in the marketplace. You can read my post with Patrice from the blog Afrobella and Lianne from The Makeup Girl exclusively on Makeup Minute.

"Antonio was seen as more of an alpha male. The brand was more keen to have a personality which meant more to US audiences."

Strike Two for Edelman PR as Their Second Fake Wal-mart Blog is Revealed, via B.L. Ochman's What's Next blog

WallStrip, via Repliqa is a RocketBoom format web-show that profiles a different public company on the stock exchange every day .

Sofia Speaks The face (errrr cartoon illustration) of the Holy Mud Company rants about beauty, fashion, art, pop culture and...Politics!

Next Generation Insights (Young Adult Panel) The panel itself is informative, the technology (video tag) is cool too.

I cannot believe that it is almost Halloween. Fall seems to be flying by. My children announced to me today what characters they are going to be to go out trick or treating. My 2 year old wants to be Superman, my 4 year old is going to be Buzz Lightyear and my 7 year old is going to be a Power Ranger.

Power Ranger? Are they even still around? I thought that was ancient history, so I inquired further why he would want to be a Power Ranger this year. I was surprised at his answer. You see, the Blue Power Ranger has “built in” muscles in the costume. My son, fully aware that there are a few girls at school that have a crush on him, wants to have muscles.

Ever since the new initiative in schools to keep kids healthy and fit across the US, I’ve noticed my two older sons wanting to exercise more and eat, “Sports Candy.” For those of you who are not familiar with the fitness superhero on Nickelodeon keenly named “Sportacus,” Sports Candy is fruits and vegetables. The school no longer allows parents to send any type of junk food in with their child for snack, the lunch menu is a healthy one and all children are required to run 26 miles before the end of the school year.

With all of these new programs in place to get kids back on the right track of being healthy and fit and carrying that over into the teens years and through adulthood, one would begin to wonder why beauty and fashion magazines still continue to create flawless superficial images of fit bodies and beautiful faces in their pages. Why continue to create this image of beauty that is unattainable (and sometimes the reason behind many eating disorders)? Some companies are catching on and understanding the issue.

The new commercial being seen in Canada by Dove is a real eye opener. I surely hope that it will be seen here for all teen and pre-teens to see. I've been noticing more and more commercials by Dove with their Campaign for Real Beauty to show not just underweight beauty queens, but real normal average women. Have you noticed this, as well?

While I fully support the new school initiative in my school district to get kids healthy and fit, I hope that beauty and fashion magazines can put Photoshop to rest, showing us that a true healthy and fit person of beauty needs no airbrushing. I realize that this may never go away, but certainly it would be nice to tone it down a bit. In fact, in their October and November issue, Marie Claire has an article called Beauty Road Show. It's where they photograph women of all ages and races, cross-country, and ask them what they love about themself. The photo's are fabulous, representing real women everywhere.

What are your thoughts on body image and the media and the new healthy schools initiative?

Growing up an athlete, or what most might call a tomboy, I never had much time for beauty, my face cleansing regiment consisted of soap and water. As I have gotten older, I find myself experimenting with many different types of skincare products. As a result, I have discovered that my skin is very sensitive to most products on the market.

What really appeals to me about Skingenic is the infusion of the lychee extract, which the company has patented. Lychee fruit, which is indigenous to Southeast Asia, is rich in anti-oxidants, vitamin C and potassium, which are all essential for health.

Women search and search for that perfect mascara; one that will thicken, one that won’t clump, one that lengthens. Women will spend so much money in search of the Holy Grail, not realizing there are other alternatives.

The eyelash extensions of today are certainly not the same ultra thick, extremely obvious lashes of the past. Eyelash Extensions today are made to look just like your natural lashes. Extensions like the ones made by Xtreme Lashes, are applied one lash at a time to your own natural lashes, making it practically impossible for anyone to know that you weren’t born with the most gorgeous lashes in town.

In fact, there is no need to search for that perfect mascara when you use lash extensions. Lash extensions do all the work for you, making your lashes appear longer and fuller than anything you could ever achieve from a $10 bottle of disappointment.

Have you ever used eyelash extensions? What are your thoughts on them?

We all hear about the richest and most powerful people in the country, but one of them always seems to stand out. Not only is Oprah Winfrey one of the most powerful people in the entertainment industry, but she’s also one of the most generous. Always finding a way to share her wealth with others, she has just given away over $300,000 to her audience in what she calls her “favorite giveaway ever.”

Every year around Christmas, Oprah does a “favorite things” show in which she gives her lucky audience members hundreds of dollars worth of items that she’s fond of at the moment- goodies from last year’s show included Burberry coats and purses, iPods, UGG boots, Ralph Lauren sweaters, watches, and blackberries, as well as her favorite croissants, popcorn and cookie dough. In other shows, Oprah has given away cars, homes, vacations, eliminated debt, and paid medical bills for those who are less fortunate.

However, this most recent giveaway is unlike anything she’s done before. On Monday’s show, Oprah gave more than 300 audience members $1,000 debit cards sponsored by Bank of America for them to donate to a charitable cause of their choice. The surprised recipients have the choice of either giving the entire sum to one person (relatives not included) or splitting the money amongst several charitable causes.

On the show, Oprah said “You're going to open your hearts, you're going to be really creative, and you're going to spend it all at once on one stranger or spend a dollar on every person. Imagine the love and kindness you can spread with $1,000”. What a great message to spread, Oprah- using your wealth and influence to help others in need is one of the kindest things you can do.

I have been in the beauty industry for about 12 years and doing beauty pr for about 7 years. And in all of my years of experience with press releases especially those that that go out on the wire I have never ever seen one as damaging as the one that Russ Fons PR in Las Vegas ran today about their client; National Toxic Encephalopathy Foundation (NTEF) and their opinion on Clarins Cosmetics. You can view the horrific release here.

In this release the NTEF states in great detail on the extensive damage and misleading labels of the Clarins brand, so they claim.

What’s odd though is that John Sheppard the director of the foundation states that you are putting your health at risk if you use these products. I don’t know about you but I see a huge lawsuit taking place from Clarins. I am sure executives at Clairns are beyond miffed about this release. What’s even odder is that all of the ingredients used by Clarins are found in most other top selling brands. One would assume that NTEF is crucifying Clarins based on a personal agenda and not on logic.

However was John Sheppard not aware that Clarins recently acquired Kibio an organic skin care manufacture who has gone into negotiations on creating new products together? I posted about this on my other blog a few weeks back. You can view that post here.

Life Clever (tips fro design & life) by Chanpory Rith: 5 Writing Tips That Don't Suck (via) Copyblogger

A PR Guru's Musings: Q&A on innovations in public relations

John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing "Longs for a good publicity stunt"

BusinessWeek.com: Wal-Mart: A "Reputation Crises" The giant retailer has been trying hard to improve its image and reignite sales

Idea Grove: Introducing Spin Thicket: Media Orchard "Easier way to keep up with the news"

Eric Eggertson:
Mutually Inclusive PR and Strumpette: Backlash Against Crayon's Second Life Launch

Still warming up to Second Life? I am asked about it almost daily and wanted to get some basic info posted for those friends who read our blog consistently. Backstory is here. Follow the links.

New World Notes

From April 2003 to February 2006, I was a contract writer for Linden Lab, creators of Second Life, primarily hired by the company to cover SL as an embedded journalist in an emerging society-- its controversies, its personalities, its innovations and ambitions, along with larger themes of identity, social norms and organization, and cultural expression important to online worlds in general.

That contractual relationship has ended, but the story continues here. -Wagner James Au

Second Thoughts Do's and Dont's for Big Business.

"Every human being is interested in two kinds of worlds: the Primary, everyday world which he knows through his senses, and a Secondary world or worlds which he not only can create in his imagination, but which he cannot stop himself creating." W.H. Auden

Second Life Herald The Second Life Herald was founded on October 23, 2003, by philosophy professor Peter Ludlow. Its mission, as described the next day, was to observe, record and study "the legal, social, and economic implications" of life in the virtual world. Originally established as the Alphaville Herald and reporting for the most part on life on the Alphaville server of The Sims Online, the Herald soon branched out into coverage of other massively multiplayer online games and virtual worlds -- helped along by the murder of Herald publisher Urizenus (Ludlow's avatar) after Electronic Arts got wind of the stories the newspaper was printing about the scams and cyber-prostitution that were taking place within its game, and the company's indifference to reports of real-world violence.

From around the blogosphere, here is what everyone is talking about:

From those who live for Fashion:

Kristopher Dukes is talking about the Christian Louboutin Ankle Boot (that seem vaguely familiar from that of my youth).

The Bag Snob shows you a great little black dress for the Holiday's.

The Budget Fashionista exposes Isaac Mizrahi's Holiday 2006 line at Target.

From those who live for Beauty:

The Mineral Makeup Blog reviews Monave Mineral Cosmetics.

Hello Dollface discusses her review of Scott Barnes Beauty.

Beautiful Makeup Search lets you know that Covergirl Outlast, outlasts them all.

From those who live for all things perfume:

The Scented Salamander talks about Eau D'Italie Le Sirenuse Positano's Italian land and history's inspired scents.

Perfume Critic reviews Tom Ford's Black Orchid.

Indie Perfumes discusses the upcoming movie "Perfume, the Story of a Murderer."

Do you know of a great beauty, fashion, jewelry or perfume blog that deserves a little attention in the Weekend Pulse? Post me a comment so I can check them out!

"Because there are things women need to know about breast implants and augmentation." For more information, please visit www.Breastimplants411.com

Cast Your Vote
(1). Size: 32 A
(2). Size: 32 B
(3). Size: 34 B
(4). Size: 34 C
(5). Size: 36 C
(6). Size: 36 D

Any woman can tell you the color and scent of a Victoria’s Secret store. Branding a business by color has been around forever, branding a business by scent deliberately is a rather new practice.

We have become inundated with never ending commercials, advertisements, pop-ups and infomercials, smart, progressive businesses realize that the use of scent is another way to make their business or brand not only stand out, but be remembered and associated with a certain positive experience or product.

While color may be an easy branding tool and will surely distinguish you from your competitors, such as that yummy, chocolate brown trademarked as "UPS Brown", scent can be a little touchier. Scent can either turn someone away or reel them in. It's a scientific fact that women are attracted to an ever so slight smell of skunk. Too much, and they are repulsed. Repulsion can be a good thing if your an international airport and you need to clear a building fast. Scents of danger need no interpretation. The scent of coffee can calm people, the new car smell increases sales of vehicles, Victoria’s Secret puts you in the mood the minute you walk into their store with the scent of a woman (or a man in drag) that remind you of romance and desire. Pierce Mattie's Media Oasis has a branded scent, complete with a high tech scent delivery system. Scents that relax you and put you in the mood to shop can increase a businesses bottom line.

What’s the latest trend in skin care? Serums, lotions and sprays that contain water straight from thermal springs. Like most of us, Arlene Miller likes to put her best face forward. But last year a bout of stubborn, dry skin sent her straight to the doctor’s office. "I didn't know what to do. I felt like I was flaking," said Miller. Arlene tried everything to get her skin to return to it’s regular, baby soft state. "I tried different cosmetic products, but it was too much work involved," she said. With little to no results, finally, her dermatologist recommended a daily regimen of serums, sprays and creams made with something new – thermal water from heated springs.

• Beyond VC, By Ed Sim: Consumers want instant gratification, Google ran a user test where users wanted more search results. Surprisingly, traffic and revenue dropped by 20% and what Marissa discovered was that load times for less searches was .4 seconds and load times with more searches was .9 seconds. Despite the fact that users really wanted more results, in the end, according to Marissa and Greg, speed matters.

• Cool Hunting, a well known Trend site has had it's 4th site redesign: Here are a few new features we hope you’ll find useful:

* Added lots of date-based navigation, including an all thumbnail month view
* Improved the display of related stories
* Added a keyword navigator on the left side of the screen where you can view common, recent and random keywords
* Added individual author pages
* Brought back weekly Cool Hunting emails in addition to daily emails

• Media 2.0: Media+Marketing Business Trend Links. He has a nice collection of posts and a freaky "fleshtalker" Sitepal that I'm sure Scott over at Media Orchard would approve of. It blinks it's eyes! Creepy... but the links are a must read!

• Brand Autopsy, by John Moor. Bad Profits Dissected

MenEssentials President, James Whittall has some helpful advice for hairy men who want to be smooth all over and shave like a man: This may surprise you, but at least one-sixth of the search engine referrals we receive each month are for men — ordinary guys, like you and me — who want information on how to shave their privates.

Squirm all you like. There's an immense subculture of eroticists who claim a bald bag makes for better sex. Indeed, when I went online to research this subject, I counted no less than a dozen serious human sexuality web sites with entire sections devoted to the art of sensual shaving.

Unfortunately, few of these resources offers tips on how to safely and hygienically perform this most delicate of procedures. Never one to shrink (pun intended) from the outrageous, I hereby offer my thoughts on the subject.

A Disclaimer
Personally, I think genital shaving is ill advised. A botched job can lead to intense irritation or, worse, permanent falsetto. Don't say I didn't warn you.

And a Warning
If you have sensitive skin that ordinarily reacts to shave creams or gels, then do not ever shave your pubic area or testicles. This region is much more sensitive than your face. Your allergic reaction could be spectacular.

Hey, being a pregnant wife and mother I can use all the self esteem boosters I can get! Heck, leave a comment on one of my posts and I'll cry with excitement! The last thing this baby-maker expects is to be complimented on are my eyebrows, but that is just what happened to me yesterday. I always tweeze my eyebrows, so it is not like I am going from having a unibrow (eww) to something fabulous, I just take for granted that they are there on my face and haven’t thought much of them. Until yesterday when I used Jane Iredale’s Super-Shape Me Eyebrow Kit in Brunette.

I was sitting at a table talking to some friends, when another friend I had only just seen days earlier, approached me. She looked me in the eyes very seriously and said, “I have got to tell you, your eyebrows look amazing.” A little dumbfounded by this first time eyebrow compliment, I smiled and thanked her. The experience has made me a Jane Iredale evangelist! It feels sooo good to get complements, told you I was hard up! Back to my friend, she asked me what I had done different since she had seen me a few days prior. I matter of factly told her that I learned great eyebrow shaping tips from my friend Elke and that I also just started using jane’s eyebrow kit.

What is Beauty? Many great visionaries, writers, poets, philosophers, and artists have tried to express in words or in images the meaning of beauty. These thoughts are rich in the wisdom they express and they resonate with each of us differently.

Man makes holy what he believes, as he makes beautiful what he loves. -Ernest Renan

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, nor touched ... but are felt in the heart. -Helen Keller

A thing of beauty is a joy forever. -John Keats

Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart. -Khalil Gibran

Beauty is not real. Beauty only exists in perception. -Unknown

Working in the beauty industry, our attention can be so focused on making the external beautiful - skin creams, lotions, lipsticks, mascara, hair extensions, serums, masks, gels, and the list can go on and on. These are products that help us feel beautiful, improve our looks, accentuate the positive, and give us confidence.

Women frequently struggle with how to integrate their external and internal beauty, and with all of the mass market imaging and airbrushed celebrity role models, it hasn’t been easy. But the times they are a changin’ and one of the foremost trends today is beauty integration. What does this mean? It means that women are more comfortable than ever with themselves and their looks. It means that when they purchase beauty products, they want them to look, taste, sound, and smell good - and the products must feel great on both the outside and the inside. External beauty has become experiential, it has become customized, it has become inclusive, and it has become multi-dimensional.

Being that as a nation we are about to celebrate Thanksgiving, a truly national holiday, meant for everyone, also integrative and inclusive, I suggest that we be thankful for how the meaning of beauty is growing to include what makes us feel good on the inside. Internal and authentic beauty will always remain rooted in our hearts, in our spirits, and in our ability to share ourselves with others unselfishly. Happy Holidays!

• Personal Care Appliances - Global Strategic Business Report : This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Personal Care Appliances in Thousands of Units.

• Spinduggery, The Flack: Peter Himler posts about Jeff Jarvis' snarky comment insinuating PR professionals have dishonesty in their DNA. Jeff Jarvis, being the 'spin'-ster he is, should love the quote "you can’t polish a turd."

• KFC Logo Relaunch - From Space, Near Area 51: I know all of you are saying "I thought of that months ago." Ever since Google launched satellite imagery on its maps, I've wanted to pitch this idea to a client. While not the first, KFC is doing it on a grand scale; a nice publicity stunt. For those of you who know my New York address, you can see me on the roof of my apartment building with my dogs, frozen in time from space.

• Loyalty VS. Advocacy CRM Lowdown: Most companies think that their job is done when they manage to convert a regular customer into a loyal customer. They tend to forget the guy because now ‘he can take care of himself.' Wrong! Once you’ve converted a customer, your job becomes even more difficult.

• Link Karma From The Copyblogger: 21 Surefire tips for a successful blog launch, 10 things to consider when choosing a site meter, and the five W's of great content.

• Hotels offer lots of freebies during winter (just not in New York City), The Mercury News: Winter travelers can take advantage of a number of hotel deals. Properties are offering free nights, free gift cards, special rates and other perks.

• How To Stop Comment Spam Without Lifting a Finger, Tubetorial: If you're a wordpress user, you have to visit tubetorial. Quick, easy-to-understand flash video - enjoy.

• The European Newspaper Design & Concept Awards Europe‘s most innovative newspaper 2006: Look and learn. This year, Europe’s best designed newspapers come from Belgium, Norway, Finland, Portugal and Spain. 287 newspapers from 26 countries participated in the eighth European Newspaper Award.

Lynn Krominga is injected with Botox, the muscle paralyzer used as a wrinkle reducer, at the SkinKlinic in New York on April 23, 2002. Cosmetic surgery is altering not just how people look but how they feel by changing perceptions of middle age, a study showed Monday.

Cosmetic surgery is altering not just how people look but how they feel by changing perceptions of middle age, a study showed Monday.

Global research group AC Nielsen surveyed people in 42 countries and found 60 percent of Americans, the world's biggest consumers of cosmetic surgery and anti-aging skincare, believe their sixties are the new middle age.

On a global scale, three out of five consumers believed forties was the new thirties.

"Our forties are being celebrated as the decade where we can be comfortable and confident in both personal and financial terms. The majority of global consumers really believe life starts at forty," AC Nielsen Europe President and CEO Frank Martell said.

But that doesn't mean they want to look their age.

Healthier eating, longer lifespans and higher disposable incomes have helped to hold back the years. However, for many people the biggest boost is coming from the surgeon's scalpel, the survey found.

So many great blogs to cover, so little time! Here are some fabulous blogs I've been reading:

Those with fashion sense:

+ The Fashionable Housewife reminds you to get involved with the online fundraising auction for, “Every BODY is beautiful” run by the National Eating Disorders Association.

+ Catwalk Queen spills the beans that Agent Provocateur will be launching a maternity lingerie line. (YES!)

+ The Sartorialist shows us some Philly fashion in NYC. (Scott, Philly does have fashion, I assure you!)

Where Beauty tops all:

+ The Homespagoddess gives her view on the marketing for the new Vaseline Cocoa Butter for African American Skin.

+ Girlpaint reviews jane iredale’s Amazing Base Loose Powder. It’s nice to see someone else who is a total fan of jane’s products.

+ Brain Spam gives us her review on Bourjois’s Bons Baisers de Paris Lip Stain Pens.

I'm always looking for fantastic blogs to spotlight here! Do you have a favorite worth checking out? Let me know in the comments!

As I was washing my hair today I noticed that my ISO Shampoo had an expiration date on it. I thought that was unusual, as I haven't noticed any of my other shampoo's alerting me to when they would expire. I decided to look through some of my other products in my bathroom to see if any others would have expiration dates. I was surprised to find that half did and half didn't. All the products that did varied in expiration. For example, my Ojon Revitalizing Mist expires in 18 months; my Jane Iredale blush in 24 months and my Joico Silk Result in 12 months. Since I am one to horde beauty products until I have finished every last bit of them, I decided it’s best to note shelf life on your beauty products.

Microdermabrasion is a nonsurgical cosmetic procedure that has been increasing in popularity in recent years. While many over the counter brands are now offering their products for the purpose of Microdermabrasion, it is still best to have the treatment done by a skincare professional and/or using the products developed by one.

While simply exfoliating your skin is something you should be doing on a weekly basis, Microdermabrasion is a more effective treatment to treat fine lines, crow’s feet and acne scars. It’s use of a polishing your skin with crystals to resurface your skin is a safe alternative to chemical procedures and can be successfully done on all skin types. This resurfacing of the top layer of skin removes the dead skin cells and helps with the regenerating of new skin cells. With this top layer of dead skin cells removed, application of lotions and creams are more effective at moisturizing your skin. Most treatments can be done in 30-60 minutes and do require several follow up treatments. To maintain that healthy glow, maintenance treatments should also be done.

Dermalogica on Montana offers exfoliating treatments like Microdermabrasion. As with any skin treatment you are considering, you should first be seen by a skin care professional to ensure that this is the correct treatment for you. Dermalogica offers Face Mapping in which licensed Dermalogica skin therapists analyze your skin from forehead to collarbone, identifying potential problems, unique needs, and how to treat them professionally. Face Mapping only takes 10 minutes and is free.

Take an inside look into a Skin Treatment Pod at Dermalogica on Montana (the brands flagship store):

For a while there, the smoky eye done in grays, silvers and blacks was all the rage, but now there is a new smoky eye look emerging. According to Celebrity Makeup Artist, Elke von Freudenberg, coppers, shimmering browns and soft grays are the new way to do the smoky eye. I have to admit, that I like both, but find the colors for the new smoky eye will really bring out my hazel eye color.

Elke notes that the “new” smoky eye has a focus on the crease while playing up the brow. As compared to the “old” smoky eye look, where black was on the lid, this new look has softer colors on the lid and along the brow bone with the dark colors being the main focus of the crease.

Many of my beauty blog readers know that I am a fan of NYX Cosmetics. So I looked to their collection of eye shadows to find the ones that would best suit this new look. For the soft grays, some great choices from the Single Eye Shadow line are Alaska, Odyssey and Star. For coppers from the Single Eyeshadow line is Copper and from the Chrome Eye Shadow line Oro and Java. For the browns, Walnut from the Loose Pearl Collection and the Trio of Sahara, Suede and Chocolate.

Holiday Make Up Tips Sponsored By Jane Iredale Mineral Cosmetics

The key to any good makeup application is in the brush you use. For this smoky eye look you should use NYX’s Eyeshadow Brush #4, Eye Angle Brush and Contour Dome Brush.

You can listen to Elke’s podcast on Odeo.com for her tips on the technique of achieving the new smoky eye and while listening, be sure to check out the fabulous shades of color on NYXCosmetics.com.

With only 7 days left until Christmas, I hope you can squeeze in checking out these fine blogs in your frantic shopping downtime:

Fashion:

+ Flavour Comes First! (Extra Tasty) gives a great analysis on potential transparency in the fashion industry.

+ Phosphene Fashion spotlights designer Jayson Brunsdon.

+ She Knows Best offers some tips on how to wear socks that are not your typical black or white…without looking like a clown.

Beauty:

+ Blogdorf Goodman gives us her run through of her experience of a Nars makeover.

+ Beauty Jones reviews C.O. Bigelow’s Soothing Lip Buffer.

+ Fab Sugar gives you her top three choices for mild makeup removers (something I have been on the hunt for myself!)

I hope you all had a beautiful and fashionable Holiday; here’s to an even better New Year.

Fashion:

+ BGlam wonders if Marc Jacobs pairing socks with sandals is just an attention grabber or a true trend come Spring.

+ fashion inc. shows us one of the newest Spring outfit arrivals at Old Navy. (The outfit looks super comfortable and I love the handbag too!)

+ Girlawhirl gives some details about Nan Kemper’s “American Chic” exhibit at The Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY.

Beauty:

+ The Beauty Hatchery gives us some ideas for dressing up our lashes for your New Year’s Eve party.

+ Bit by the Beauty Bug discusses the hassles of returning cosmetics. Be sure to read the New York Times Article she mentions in a follow up post.

+ The Beauty Addict is being complimented on her undereye and it’s due to Relastin Eye Silk.

A few nights ago I was watching a show regarding “Pumping Parties.” I was really quite blown out of the water when hearing about these parties and how they continue to increase in popularity despite the inherent risks. A pumping party is when you are invited to a host’s home and everyone is injected with silicone in the parts of the body they want to see rapid results. They pay hundreds of dollars to the injectee, who has no medical training, versus the sometimes costly price of plastic surgery and Botox. Many see this as an easier and less costly way to obtain pseudo plastic surgery results.

Pumping parties have been around for a while (and are illegal), but as the demand for physical perfection continues to daunt us, the popularity of these parties increases. What many people attending these parties don’t understand is that silicone injected that is not medical grade or done by a board certified plastic surgeon, is just plain deadly. Silicone that is injected improperly travels through the bloodstream and causes blood to coagulate in the lungs, creating circulatory obstructions that can be immediately life-threatening if not identified and treated quickly according to the Radiological Society of North America. The imaging findings of pulmonary silicone embolism include dark, hazy patches in the lung tissue on x-rays or computed tomography (CT) scans.

If you are invited to a pumping party, please know the risks involved. While your results may be immediate and the price tag associated with it may be attractive, any cosmetic procedures should be done soley by a plastic surgeon. While you may be saving yourself some money in the short-term, isn’t your long term overall health priceless?

Lyn Ross - Atlanta, GA

My goal in 2007 is to bleach off every sunspot and freckle on my shoulders, zap every wrinkle around my eyes and alas - wear SPF every single day. I have one client that I trust to do this for me without a prescription and that is Institut' DERMed (they have been with Pierce Mattie for five years now).

Institut' DERMed is one of those brands that editors call and ask us to send them and when we respond "What story is this for?" - often they say "Ummmm it's for my own personal use Pierce." I usually grin and begin sharing with them about my own experiences in using the products. What do we know? We know that several editors give the brand to their mothers for their treatment of Rosacea. We know that several young editors who have adult acne use the Acne II and Acne III products. This is a brand that we give out back bar size and often ship to the editor's house and not their office. Sure the Chanel labels and Sephora distribution are not there for Dermed - it's a brand that is above all pretenses in beauty. It works and we love it. I think the editors will be happy to note that Lyn Ross will personally be coming to our Manhattan office and doing facials at our Media Oasis in January/February. We will be blogging, myspacing and podcasting the hell out of this in 07 so get ready!

Founded by licensed esthetician, spa owner, product formulator and female entrepreneur; Lyn Ross - Institut' DERMed is known in the industry for being hard core - like a drug. It’s found mostly in plastic surgeons offices and used by estheticians who work in medical spas. The estheticians that use the products are almost cultish and never ever use anything else. They attend all of the post graduate advanced classes and spend their free time talking mostly about how the products deliver major results for their clients.

If you want to flatten a wrinkle you use: A Retinol Serum
If you want to zap a zit: Gly-Sal Clear Skin Gel
If you want to alleviate a flare-up from Rosacea: Rosacea Micro Serum
If you want to say see ya to cellulite: Cellulite RX

If you are going to a party or out on the town this weekend, of course you want to shine. To show how to add that sizzle to your outfit like the stars do, Dawn Yanek, editor-at-large at Life & Style Weekly magazine shared these tip with us.

Glittery drops:

• 14K white gold diamond earrings (2.02 carats), Endless Diamond Collection, $2,544 at Macy's, Zales and several independent jewelers nationwide.
• Bakers, $14, Bakers stores nationwide
• Express, $22.50, Express stores nationwide. For help finding an Express store, click here.
• Aqua, $28, Bloomingdales stores nationwide, or try Bloomingdales.com

John gets a car for his 16th birthday, while Vanessa gets a nose job. Sound unrealistic? It’s not and it’s a growing trend among the youth of our country and abroad. Actually, the high holidays are when most of these procedures are done so be on the lookout for very refreshed and well rested teen with effervescent perkiness! Plastic surgery as birthday gifts and graduation presents; what used to be reserved for adults and cosmetic purposes, slowly creeped into the world of those under 18. It began with microdermabrasion and facial peels to help with severe acne, then breast augmentation in respect to reductions or leveling out unevenness, but now has turned into something teens do “just for fun.”

The problem with teens is in how casual they take plastic surgery and do not understand the risks, or are mature enough to handle change or even worse, severe complications. In regards to maturity, most teens want the perfect nose, perfect breasts or to lose the extra pounds simply because they see their Photoshopped idols in a magazine and want to be just like them. Teens see plastic surgery as a quick fix.

The most sought after plastic surgeries for teens are liposuction, breast augmentation and rhinoplasty. The issue young teenage girls don’t take into consideration when opting to have the liposuction or breast implants is the obstacles later in life should they settle down and have a family. Such issues are not being able to breast feed if you have implants and the weight gain when you are pregnant which post-pregnancy may result in dimpling of your skin from liposuction. Should you be a candidate for bariatric surgery in your late teens, getting pregnant means that all of the nutrition goes directly to the baby and little to the mother, which then requires close monitoring and possible health risks.

Education of the risks, both short and long term, as well as the emotional changes are things that need to be discussed at length with a teen wanting to go under the knife.

Weight Watchers is sexing up their appeal featuring Jenny McCarthy in advertisements. Some people might struggle with the Playboy centerfold being a weight loss spokesperson and not some midwestern housewife, but those who are fans of Jenny know she's the real deal.

Early on in my public relations career, I worked in the PR department at Weight Watchers International. I was thrilled when word had broke that Jenny had attended Weight Watchers meetings and lost all of her baby weight on the program. I prayed I'd get to work with Jenny, but unfortunately celebrity contracts take forever and by the time it closed I had moved on. I've heard many people bashing Jenny saying that "she was never fat" but photographs don't lie and I've personally seen the pictures of her when she was nearly 200 lbs. and yes she was certainly heavy to say the least. However, SHE WAS PREGNANT and should be heavy.

All and all, I say good for you Jenny. She lost weight naturally and not overnight. It took her 6 months to do it and is making and an old diet new again. Most young women look at Weight Watchers as an old fashioned "mom" diet, but it's truly not. Its a lifestyle change based on scientific research and works wonders if you do it correctly. No pills, no gimics, just eat healthy and exercise. Way to go Jenny for spreading a good message.

It's finally beginning to look like winter. Here are some great blog reads for those of you staying warm inside.

Fashion:

+Golden Globes Celebrity Fashion Video Look Book, on the Pierce Mattie Fashion Division blog. Quick visual reference of what the starts were wearing and an idea of what will be worn for the Oscars.

+ The Ghetto Fashionista reports that Isaac Mizrahi will be returning to his couture roots. Well we all know how I feel about Mr. Mizrahi, so I look forward to see what his new line will be.

+ She Finds tells you how you can “Pimp my shoes” with Steve Madden’s new DIY Collection.

+ Kingdom of Style caves in and purchases a knock-off Chloe dress; her post title? “Forgive me Fashion for I have sinned.” I love a sense of humor like that.

Beauty:

+ The Glamour Bee reveals that she has Type 2 Diabetes and has a very interesting post about a program called DivaBetics founded by Luther Vandross’s personal assistant. This is a great post and one that everyone should read!

+ Beautiful Makeup Search reviews Max Factor’s newest mascara, Volume Couture (of which I am a big fan myself).

+ Claire’s Beauty reviews Everyday Minerals.

Karen A. Newman is Editor in Chief of Global Cosmetic Industry magazine. Global Cosmetic Industry magazine is the business and marketing magazine read by cosmetic, fragrance and personal care product manufacturers and brand owners who look to the publication for the strategies behind the industry success stories. Karen also writes GCI's blog called Beauty Union.

Where do you see cosmetic packaging trends in color cosmetics going in 2007?
One interesting trend we see is in making it easier to apply makeup. Applicators are being refined to meet a very specific purpose for everything from foundation to eyeliner. The new lipstick packaging from Cargo is a hint of what’s to come in recyclable packaging.

What popular scents are being used in fragrances for 2007?
Among recent releases, a broad range of floral and citrus scents are represented, as are musk, sandalwood and patchouli.

Which brands do you seem to get the most press releases about?
We get a lot of press releases from professional beauty brands – and mostly hair care. We hear regularly from Pureology and Thermafuse as well as Graham Webb International, ISO and Joico, but we hear from a wonderfully broad selection of marketers in every category – and we never get tired of hearing about the new things companies are doing. There’s a lot of passion in the beauty industry.

What do you think was the best product launch of 2006?
There were a few that I especially liked. The Yves Saint Laurent Perfect Touch Radiant Brush Foundation offers a built in brush, which speaks to the packaging trend question. Freeze 24/7’s Ice Shield Facial Cleanser with SPF 15 is interesting because it is the first product to commercialize a new delivery system that helps ingredients such as sunscreens bond with the skin so they can be left behind after cleansing. John Frieda’s Luminous Color Glaze puts a salon treatment into at-home use at a mass price.

Any changes taking place for GCI in 2007, editorial content, advisory board, etc.?
We introduced a new editorial advisory board at the end of 2006. This is exciting for us as it is a great group of industry professionals who are going to help us create content that is smart and spot on for our readers. The group includes: Roger Caracappa, The Estee Lauder Companies; Beth Ann Catalano, twist.new.brand.venture; Peter Gallagher, Unilever; Liz Grubow, LPK; Tina Hedges, twist.new.brand.venture; Camille McDonald, Bath & Body Works; Debbie Murtha, Macy’s Merchandising Group; Art Rich, A. Rich Development; Marc Rosen, Marc Rosen Associates; and Laura Setzfand, The Hain Celectial Group Personal Care Division. We’re really excited to be working with this stellar group!

Do you see the faux botox craze stopping?
I don’t see it stopping as long as consumers can find products that give them the temporary smoothing they are looking for.

Here is your top 10 color predictions from Anne Telford from New York Fashion Week. Heidi Klum says, that in fashion "one day you're in, the next day you're out" but when it comes to colors- their popularity shifts with the cultural winds. Colors come into prominence from decade to decade driven by influence ranging from the state of economy to world politics and cultural phenomena- these factors examined by the color experts, and the prism through which they are viewed is the world of fashion.

New York fashion designers are flourishing in a season of new beginnings, using surprising neutrals with innovative splashes of corals, yellows and purples to create a spring in bloom. Tarragon is the freshly cut stem to the blossoming shades of sweet Strawberry Ice, warm Golden Apricot and violet-infused Hollyhock. Café Crème is the rich, creamy contrast to the serenity of calming Sky Blue or the deliciousness of refreshing Grapemist.

The yellow glow of gleaming Green Sheen and the blushing beauty of diaphanous Silver Peony reflect the infusion of life brought by spring. While cool Frost Gray was an important presence in fall of '06, the newest neutral for spring is found in glimmering Opal Gray, providing the background to spring's multifaceted, complex brights that can make even the most basic silhouette come alive.

PANTONE 12-1206 Silver Peony C:3 M:13 Y:15 K:0	PANTONE 13-0648 Green Sheen C:13 M:5 Y:72 K:0
PANTONE 15-0326 Tarragon C:37 M:7 Y:60 K:0	PANTONE 16-3929 Grapemist C:57 M:28 Y:1 K:0
PANTONE Opal Gray C:34 M:21 Y:28 K:0	PANTONE 16 -1220 Café Crème C:19 M:38 Y:45 K:5
PANTONE 14-1041 Golden Apricot C:8 M:26 Y:70 K:0	PANTONE 16 -1720 Strawberry Ice C:1 M:56 Y:29 K:0
PANTONE 19-2924 Hollyhock C:55 M:97 Y:14 K:3	PANTONE 14-4318 Sky Blue C:45 M:9 Y:8 K:0

For more informations register at www.pantone.com or visit the fashion trendsetter color trends section.

Last year we saw many brands launching anti-wrinkle campaigns and going after the baby boomer market. Why not? After all, they were considered the largest demographic out there. However, we are only a month into 2007 and the tides are starting to change. Brands are beginning to turn their interests to the children of baby boomers and finding that they have money to spend with the potential for long-term brand loyalty.

This younger generation learned well from their mothers, I should know, my mother is 55 and I carefully paid attention to all of the brands she purchased throughout the years. I watched at how well my mother took care of her skin and in turn, I followed suit becoming a loyal customer to many brands. This is just what the beauty industry is betting on resonating throughout the 17-35 year old demographic.

Are you getting as excited as I am about Mercedes Benz Fashion Week? I can't wait to see the new colors and styles, let alone new makeup looks! To hold you over, here is what the Fashion & Beauty blogosphere are buzzing about:

Fashion:

+ Tops to Bottoms gives you a style tip on how to wear a belt the right way.

+ Off the Rack, a People Magazine blog, is looking for your thoughts on this week’s cover story regarding Tyra Banks firing back at her critics about her 30lb weight gain. Truth be told—I think Tyra looks amazing on the cover.

+ Discotheque Confusion raves about Nylon Magazine and the spread with Sienna Miller.

Beauty:

+ FabSugar thinks the new Revlon Sugar Sugar lip gloss is a must have. Be sure to take TeamSugar’s poll on whether you love it or hate it.

+ Blogdorf Goodman posts a letter sent to a Koibox user from its CEO. A few people among the 50+ comments question if the letter is a fake however, if it is not, it has to be the rudest letter I have ever read. What do you think—real or fake?

+ All Lacquered Up talks about Creative Nail Design’s Spring 2007 collection and posts comments from Jan Nordstrom-Arnold, its co-founder and style director, on her thoughts for upcoming trends in nails.

Tarte Cosmetics, known for their fabulous Cheek Stains and double-ended lipgloss and BORBA, known for their all natural products and drinkable skin care, have come together for what is likely to become a trend among cosmetics companies this year. tarte Cosmetics has teamed up with BORBA to create their newest lip gloss set to launch in February called Inside Out. Inside Out is a vitamin-infused lipgloss that tarte calls a “double-duty” beauty product. It’s one that not only works on the outside of the body, but on the inside as well. The gloss works to soothe and hydrate your lips, while the nutraceutical blend delivers powerful skin care ingredients.

Scott Vincent Borba exclusively created the blend of vitamins for tarte’s Inside Out lipgloss. It is a combination of all natural ingredients from BORBA’s Clarifying, Age Defying and Replenishing lines. They include Acai & green tea extract which help strengthen capillary walls, reduce epidermal irritation and enhance skin’s clarity and radiance; Grape seed extract & Vitamin C which help accelerate production of natural elastin, protecting skin against free-radical damage & restore skin’s clarity, Vitamins A, E & K which act as antioxidants to give you that healthy glow, and Lychee extract promotes long-term skin hydration and chamomile extract soothes skin and helps to counteract redness. Inside Out comes in 3 colors; shimmery pale pink, hot pink and nude. Each gloss is 5.7oz. and is scented with pomegranate, the same scent as BORBA’s Clarifying Cotton Fibers.

They say that imitation is the best form of flattery. If this is the case, then Dove should surely be flattered as CoverGirl takes at stab at their rendition of using real women in their next advertising campaign to promote their new Queen Collection for women of color.

The Queen Collection inspired by CoverGirl’s spokesmodel of five years, Queen Latifah, was launched on January 29th at BB King Blues Club and Grill in NYC, the same day as the casting call for their ad campaign. The Queen Collection is CoverGirl’s newest line to be geared towards women of color, from Latina to African American. CoverGirl is joining the ranks of cosmetics companies promoting their products to this demographic such as Jane Iredale, whose Global Beauty line is also geared towards ethnic women.

CoverGirl will mimic Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty ads by using real women that may vary in ages from 18-48. The difference will be that these women will have an inspiring story about how they have achieved both inner and outer beauty, whether it was through a recent accomplishment, community service, overcoming an obstacle or standing up for something they were passionate about. The winner(s) will be announced in 2 weeks and will appear in the ad campaign slated for release in June.

Do you think CoverGirl’s use of real women of color will continue to bring a breath of fresh air to marketing campaigns or will it be seen as a Dove copycat?

As I’ve been gathering stories to write for both of our Beauty and Fashion blogs, I’ve been noticing something become more and more prominent in the news headlines: more companies are going green or collaborating with a green initiative. In 2006, we began to see this trend emerge, but it looked uncertain whether it would take off with the American public or not. Now as I try to write more diversified posts, it seems I can’t get away from writing about who is the next brand marketing green, therefore proving that this topic is not going away anytime soon.

Dave Morgan, at Media Post’s Online Spin, echoed my thoughts exactly today in an article he wrote, “Is Green The New Red, White And Blue?” He too wonders if green is just the “flavor of the month” or a defining element for US brands for years to come. Some of the recent brands I have been Blogging about have been Lancome and their collaboration with Carbonfund.org to reduce carbon foot printing, Diesel’s ad campaign that shows fashion in a post-Global Warming world and whose website encourages becoming involved in StopGlobalWarming.org and watching Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth,” as well as, H&M expanding upon their use of Organic Cotton in more of their clothing lines. I predict these will not be the only companies, or industries for that matter, that incorporate green into part of their branding.

Fashion:

+ Fashion Tribes interviews my very favorite designer, Isaac Mizrahi.

+ She She Me gives tips on the best types of shoes to wear with a pantsuit.

+ I like her Style introduces you fashion designer Lauren Moffatt. I admit her Fall 2006 collection was gorgeous!

Beauty:

+ Yummy 411 celebrates Black History Month with Black Opal.

+ The Dazzling Girl reviews The Body Shop Hi-Shine Lip Treatment.

+ Beaut.ie The Irish Beauty Blog discusses Dr. Hauschka products and why he tells you not to use night cream.

L'Oreal is looking to add ayurvedic beauty products to its current skin care line up through acquisition of an Indian ayurvedic brand. Although L'Oreal hasn't identified a brand that it wishes to acquire just yet, it has been aggressively pursuing the ayurvedic market in India to tap into consumer's growing desire to use exotic beauty products. It was also reported last November that L'Oreal expressed interest in acquiring Ayusoft, ayurvedic software that they approached the CDAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) for customization and further product development of.

As I mentioned yesterday another French company, L'Artisan Parfumeur, will be launching Jatamansi next month. Jatamansi is their first venture into the skin care market and is one that is based on the Himalayan plant used in Ayurveda, an alternative medicine practiced in India. Beauty and personal care products that are ayurvedic are organic and promote healing and health without the use of synthetics or chemicals.

Fashion:

+ I am Fashion gives her review of the fashion that graced the Grammy Awards.

+ In My Bag gives her insight on some of the handbags in Zac Posen’s Fall 2007 line up.

+ Styleology 101 gives you some ideas on what products will brighten up your Spring this year.

Beauty:

+ The Organic Beauty Expert reviews Mixed Chicks Shampoo.

+ Scentzilla interviews David H. Pybus, author of "The Chemistry of Fragrances."

+ The Makeup Bag discusses the MAC makeup trends seen on the runway during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

Congratulations to the many stylists, designers and publicists involved.

* Best Picture - The Departed
* Best Director - Martin Scorsese - The Departed
* Best Actor - Forest Whitaker - The Last King of Scotland
* Best Actress - Helen Mirren - The Queen
* Best Supporting Actor - Alan Arkin - Little Miss Sunshine
* Best Supporting Actress – Jennifer Hudson - Dream Girls
* Best Foreign Film - The Lives of Others

Fashion:

+ Chic Inspector inspects the color trend pop that was witnessed at many of the Fall 2007 fashion week shows.

+ Lady Licorice discusses and shows you the perfect layering pieces that you can wear now throughout Spring.

+ Cuffington discusses how that Audrey Hepburn dress that sold at auction for $807,000 has turned into more than “just a dress,” but a chance for 3000 children to receive the benefit of an education in India.

Beauty:

+ Legerdenez reviews Michael Kors Island.

+ Canadian Beauty reviews MD Skincare’s All in One Tinted Moisturizer.

+ Nail Tech Secrets reviews the Dashing Diva’s Extra Virgin Collection of nail polish.

Fashion:

+ Style Bubble lends her thoughts on the new Kate Moss for TopShop collection.

+ Debutante Clothing brings up the issue of Fashion Copyright, which goes along with what Jason Jobson and I have been discussing on The Fashion Rag.

+ Men’s Flair helps you find a pair of sunglasses for your face shape.

Beauty:

+ Beautynomics reviews Epoch’s Blemish Treatment.

+ Beauty Banter review’s Cleo Bath & Body products.

+ A Touch of Blusher discusses Spring/Summer’s newest trend: white eyeshadow.

Fashion:

+ Style Critic gives the lowdown on A.P.O.’s Personalized-Designer Jeans.

+ No good for me shows that eco-fashion can even be a pretty wood pulp dress.

+ Fashion & Style Tips gives advice from a fashion leader. Not only is this post so true, but it is quirky and quite possibly the best post I have read all week.

Beauty:

+ Canadian Beauty reviews Philosophy’s Sweet Coconut Body Butter.

+ The Makeup Girl gives you Tools 101, a short list of must-have tools to always keep in your makeup bag.

+ Beauty Pro: Check out my review on Kiss My Face’s Tighten Up Moisturizer.

Fashion:

+ The Fashion Rag: Check out an up and coming NYC Fashion Designer, Boaz David.

+ Second City Style gives us a Week in Review of Bad Celebrity Fashion.

+ Fashion I.Q. has compiled a list of the Top 50 Fashion Blogs.

Beauty:

+ Blog For Beauty reviews Max Factor’s Masterpiece Mascara.

+ Claire’s Beauty reviews various beauty products from Bourjois.

+ The Mineral Makeup Blog reviews Jane Iredale’s Liquid Minerals.

One look at Rihanna in her new music video for the single Umbrella and it’s clear that the girl next door has grown up, and Jay-Z has ushered in a new star. The video, which can be viewed on YouTube as part of a special promotion for Covergirl® Cosmetics, features Rihanna with a number of dramatic looks featuring the makeup.

In her first look, makeup artists used a bold, black shadow for a dark, smoky eye. It appears that there is a light silver shimmer on her lid, topped by a dark black shadow applied around the eye and blended upwards to the crease to produce the smoky affect. A black eyeliner and mascara are used to complete the look

Next up, Rihanna sports a more demure face. I challenge any straight or gay man for that matter, to gaze into her eyes here and not instantly fall for her. Once again, the makeup artists went for a smoky eye, using subtle shades of brown, green and what appears to be a deep burgundy around the outer corners of her eyes, producing a smoky cat eye that draws you in. On the lips is a neutral brown, with apricot cheeks.

The most dramatic look doesn’t feature much detail in the face, but it’s her silver-painted body that people will be focusing in on. Undeniably sexy, yet somehow innocent, Rihanna takes everything off, showing her vulnerable side. Looking like she just stepped off the set of Golden Eye, the songstress shows that she’s more than just a pretty face and voice to match; she has a rockin’ body too. One look and I’d be surprised if the producers of the new James Bond film don’t give her a call. Maybe acting could be her next foray.

Either way, I’d be happy to share an umbrella with her any day.

Once upon a time, there was a woman who had “a fright” because her hair and skin were not what she had wished for. If you’ve ever found yourself in this same predicament, and are ready for a fairytale makeover, get Cameron Diaz’s “Green Carpet” look with these natural/organic products from Kiss My Face.

1. Hold Up Styling Mousse is the must-have hair product for boosting volume and taming unruly flyaways. Just a pump or two is all you need to get perfectly coiffed locks. All this for just $8.00

2. 3wayColor is the natural way to give your eyes, cheeks and lips a splash of color. The mineral based stain comes in four shades – Amber, Dawn, Heather and Ruby – and won’t rub off, even if you have a hectic day running errands or rubbing elbows with Hollywood’s elite. Available for $9.00 each, you may even want to buy more than one.

3. Tinted Moisturizers, available in six shades to match virtually any skin tone, provides a natural, mineral-based foundation that will drench you skin with moisture while adding a hint of color. Retailing for $9.00, the flawless coverage will keep you camera ready.

4. Sugar Reef, part of Kiss My Face’s new Obsessively Organic Collection, is a luxurious organic sugar scrub that smoothes and polishes while the lush blend of vegetable butters and seaweed extract moisturizes and replenishes your skin. Afterwards, you may even want to wear a mini dress like the one Cameron sported at the premiere for Shrek the Third. And for only $16.00, you’ll have money left over for popcorn.

Please be sure to visit the NEW Pierce Mattie Public Relations blog on its new URL, just add the word "public relations" after Pierce Mattie and omit the word blogs: www.piercemattiepublicrelations.com

Other Pierce Mattie PR Division Blog Locations:
Beauty Pro A professional beauty and cosmetics industry blog.
The Fashion Rag Fashion, design and style blog co-written by Jason Jobson and Shannon Nelson.
The Jewelry PR Division Jewelry, precious metal and accessory industry blog.
The Fitness PR Division Our sports fitness, health and club industry blog.
The Industry Dirt Blog Media Industry Blog.

See you there!