NARS Event at Henri Bendel: April 14-20, 2009

Henri Bendel
712 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10019

April 14 – 20, 2009
11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

NARS' talented team of eight makeup artists will be on hand to introduce new looks for summer 2009. The team will offer mini-makeovers with the new Summer collection. Complimentary samples of NARS foundation will be available with each consultation.

Call for an appointment: NARS counter 212.904.7954.

90s Ladies Week: Saved By The Gel

It’s that time again. Time for me and my partner in crime, Amber, to bring you another week of beauty reviews inspired by pop culture of yesteryear. Remember how rad 80s Ladies Week was? Well, hold onto your butts…it’s time to slip on that flannel shirt, lace up your Doc Martens, and break out your Game Boy...it’s 90s Ladies Week, y’all.

First on the menu: a product inspired by my love for Peter Engel’s pièce de résistance – Saved By The Bell. In the early 90s, it was a rare Saturday morning that I was NOT catching up with my friends at Bayside High.

Like most Gen Xers, Saved By The Bell trivia hides in the recesses of my brain. Remember when Kelly’s face turned purple after using a zit cream given to her by Zack (and right before the homecoming dance, natch)? How much did the young feminist in you cringe every time Slater referred to Jessie as mama? 'Member how bad you felt for Lisa that she never had a real boyfriend and always had to settle for geeky ole Screech? I was like, "Peter Engel, help a sista out!" And don’t get me started on Jessie’s addiction to caffeine pills. Homegirl was this close to turning tricks for some Vivarin.

Don’t play coy and pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about. But here’s one factoid you probably didn’t know: Mark-Paul Gosselaar had to dye his hair blonde every two weeks while shooting the show. Say what?!?! Talk about blonde ambition.

My man Mark-Paul was in serious need of Ken Paves Boost Up Color Drops, which enhance existing hair color or boost fading color when added to conditioner or styling products. The Boost Up Color Drops can also change the hue of your color and even add the effect of highlights. They’re ideal for refreshing color in between visits to the salon - and the drops are formulated with soy proteins, conditioners and humectants which add strength, moisture and UV protection.

I add a few squirts of Boost Up Color Drops in Honey to leave-in conditioner and apply to my towel-dried hair. And after I blow-dry, I add a few drops to my shine serum to kick it up a notch. Honey adds warmth to my dark brown hair and leaves my prehistoric highlights looking much less brassy.

I imagine that if MPG would have gotten his hands on Boost Up Color Drops in the early 90s, he would have mixed a few drops with his favorite LA Looks product. Mark-Paul would have been, literally, saved by the gel.

Ken Paves Boost Up Color Drops are available in Black, Brown, Platinum, Honey, Beige and Red shades ($40) and are available at Henri Bendel, HSN, Ulta and Beauty.com.

Click here to check out Amber’s first 90s Ladies Week installment, and be sure to come back tomorrow for a second helping of nostalgia.

Bath & Body Works: Hiring For the Holidays, Plus Generous Discounts!

The U.S. economy is not fundamentally sound. Many people are unemployed or underemployed, and desperate to make ends meet - particularly with the holidays right around the corner.

If you're looking to pick up some seasonal work, Bath & Body Works is hiring. Click here to find out about employment opportunities and how you can enjoy a generous discount at Bath & Body Works, White Barn, Victoria's Secret, C.O. Bigelow and Henri Bendel.

All I Need Is A Miracle, All I Need Is You

My complexion is far from perfect. Like many of you, I struggle with acne, dark circles, hyperpigmentation and rednesss. But masking these imperfections with foundations and concealers can lead to a vicious cycle. Yes, heavy face makeup camouflage your problem areas, but they can exacerbate skin issues, rendering you more dependent on these products. Besides, I’m not the kind of gal who likes wearing base on the regular. Boo hoo. What to do?

ModelCo (the whiz kids behind Body Meringue and Shimmer Airbrush Illuminiser) just unveiled Miracle Veil Skin Perfecting Fluid, a light-weight skin corrector that minimizes imperfections, disguises redness, lightens pigmentation, evens out skin tone and protects skin with SPF 14.

When I first took a chance on Miracle Veil, I was absolutely perplexed. It’s green, so I was extremely hesitant to rub it all over my mug. I thought to myself, “How in the ham sandwich will smearing this mint colored mess all over my face make me look better?” But the beauty of most beauty products is that they wash off. So I gave it a try, figuring that I had nothing to lose - other than a few flaws.

Well, let me tell you…they don’t call it Miracle Veil for nuthin’. It brightened my skin tone, whisked away the shadows beneath my eyes and enhanced my skin’s luminosity. Wearing Miracle Veil is akin to traveling with your own lighting crew. So I can dare to go bare. The product also acts as a primer for optimized makeup application; it cancels out darkness and redness, so your foundation and concealer don't need to work as hard. But the benefits don’t end there. Miracle Veil doesn’t just hide imperfections, it heals the skin.

White Mulberry Root Extract balances skin pigmentation and protects against future discoloration. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory, soothing and calming the skin to combat redness with anti-bacterial properties. Hawthorn Extract prevents the visible appearance of wrinkles while treating pigmentation and uneven skin tone. And Phospholipids create a protective barrier while reducing water loss and protecting against environmental pollution.

So if you look in the mirror and it seems like you’ve stumbled into some bad lighting, don’t hope for a miracle. Just go out and buy one.

Miracle Veil is available at Henri Bendel, Sephora, Beauty Bridge and modelco.com.au.

Ken Paves Healthy Hair Boost Up Color Drops

As soon as I heard about Ken Paves Healthy Hair Boost Up Color Drops, I added it to my 'Needed This, Like, Yesterday' list.

Boost Up Color Drops can be used to extend salon hair colorings and keep color fresh – or to instantly brighten, darken or add warmth to your regular hair color. In addition to its color enhancing properties, the product also moisturizes, invigorates, and conditions and replenishes lost protein. The best part? One shampoo and it's back to the old you. "It's like cosmetics for your hair," Paves says.

Boost Up Color Drops are available in six shades: Beige, Black, Brown, Honey, Platinum and Red.

Get a .96 oz bottle for $39.95. Or purchase the Color Booster Explorer Kit from HSN (which includes a full-sized bottle of the Boost Up Color Drops plus shampoo, conditioner, shine serum and hair spray from Ken Paves' new Healthy Hair line) for the same price. This is a no-brainer.

Healthy Hair products are also sold at Henri Bendel. And sometime soon, you'll see this line popping up at Beauty.com, Macy's, Ulta, and fine salons near you!