90s Ladies Week: Clueless About Foundation? As If!

For the second installment of 90s Ladies Week, I draw inspiration from one of my most beloved movies. A modern adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma, starring one Alicia Silverstone. Maybe you’ve heard of it. Yes, I’m talking about Clueless - the movie that defined a generation and introduced my sixteen-year-old self to the genius of Azzedine Alaia, the ever adorable Paul Rudd, and a host of notable quotables that remain on the tip of my tongue thirteen years later. Does this convo ring any bells?

Tai: Do you think she's pretty?
Cher: No, she's a full-on Monet.
Tai: What's a Monet?
Cher: It's like the painting, see? From far away, it's OK, but up close, it's a big old mess.

Don’t be a Monet like Cher’s nemesis, Amber (not to be confused with my bestie, Amber – who’s a total Betty). My new favorite foundation, Make Up For Ever’s HD Invisible Cover Foundation ensures that you look flawless – in any light, from far away, up close and even in High Definition. The oil-free, medium-to-full-coverage formula creates a soft-focus effect that softens lines and blurrs imperfections. Available in 25 shades to match all skintones. My color is #173, coincidentally named Amber.

On Friday, while having dinner with Señor Spoiled Pretty, he couldn’t stop commenting on how perfectly luminous my skin looked. I’m paraphrasing, of course – but this was a big deal, as Graham hardly comments on my makeup. Thanks to my hubby’s ringing endorsement, HD Invisible Cover has become my foundation of choice. Hopefully, moving forward, his compliments won’t be so sporadic*.

Make Up Forever is available at Sephora.

Remember to surf on over to Beauty Blogging Junkie for Amber's 90s movie inspired beauty product review.

* "Sporadic means once in a while. Try using it in a sentence."

The Buzz in Home Fragrance: Nest Candles

Nest Beeswax & Whipped Cream Scented Candle is the bees knees.

Light the wick and take a whiff…beeswax accord, essence of whipped cream, steamed rice, honey and cognac unite to lace your space with a warm and exotic perfume that defies description. This surprising marriage of fragrances is a breath of fresh air and a welcome alternative to the generic 'holiday' home fragrances that seem to be popping up on every shelf this time of year.

At $32, the 8 ounce candle costs a pretty penny. But it smells divine and burns for 50+ hours, so you can consider it money well-spent. If the price seems a somewhat steep, drop hints to your honey. On the other hand, if you've got cash to burn - take my advice and pick up a colony of these candles!

Nest Candles are available at Neiman Marcus.

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.

Kenzo Friends & Family

Kenzo Parfums is celebrating 20 years in the biz by re-launching their website, kenzousa.com. Today, the newly re-designed website is unveiled to the public – and to mark the occasion, they’re hosting their first ever Friends and Family Anniversary Event! Now through November 24th, get 20% off your entire purchase at kenzousa.com.


And just in time for the Friends and Family promotion, Kenzo debuts a rich and spicy new fragrance for her - KenzoAmour Le Parfum. The perfect scent for cooler weather, KenzoAmour Le Parfum is a woody oriental evocative of a slow, sensuous journey through the exotic landscapes of Asia. The richness of benzoin balm and amber combines with the softness of frangipani blossom and vanilla to bring forth a new story in Kenzo’s Asian voyage. Inspired by the ethereal shrines of the East, designer Karim Rashid’s original bottle design has been dipped in a matte gold finish, reminiscent of the precious offerings made to the deities as thanks for the good fortune bestowed.

Actress and new Bond Girl Olga Kurylenko is the face of the fragrance, which launched this past weekend – coinciding with the national release of Quantum of Solace.

KenzoAmour Le Parfum is available in 1 oz and 1.7 oz ($52/$68 with the 20% discount, $65/$85 without).

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.

The Hunt Is On: Benefit B Spot Scavenger Hunt, November 13-15, 2008

Inspired by the new Benefit fragrance, b spot, on November 13-15 2008, Benefit will be kicking off a nationwide b spot scavenger hunt at the ultimate "B"-spot, Bloomingdale's. 1,000 magnifying glasses will be deliberately "hidden" in five Bloomingdale's locations nationwide, which will direct lucky customers back to the Benefit Cosmetics counter to unveil their winnings and find their b spot!

Prizes:

One lucky winner at each Bloomingdale’s location will receive a $200 shopping spree from Benefit Cosmetics plus a $200 gift card at Bloomingdale’s! 15 LUCKY winners at each Bloomingdale’s location will receive a full-sized bottle of Benefit’s sexy new scent, b spot.

Even if you don’t hit the b spot jackpot, every customer that returns a magnifying glass to the Benefit counter will receive a b spot gift. Hurry! The b spot clock is ticking!

Participating Locations:

Bloomingdale’s San Francisco
Bloomingdale’s Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Bloomingdale’s Beverly Center, Los Angeles
Bloomingdale’s Soho, New York City
Bloomingdale’s 59th St, New York City

Bey, You're Just Too Funky For Me...

It seems that Beyonce - or rather her alter ego, Sasha Fierce – has been channeling Thierry Mugler lately. For the last few weeks - in photo op after photo op - she's been seen wearing a vaguely familiar, futuristic-looking robotic glove. I couldn't quite place it...until I came across new promos for her upcoming album – one of which has her sporting the very famous Thierry Mugler Motorcycle Corset from 1992.

Both the glove and the corset were featured in George Michael's Too Funky video, which was directed by Thierry Mugler. I wonder if, in her mission to one-up Rihanna, Beyonce will resurrect any other crazy fashions from that video.

Not beauty related, I realize...but it gives me a reason to share Too Funky with all of you. Enjoy!