December 2007

Beauty News: Spa On A Budget Debut!

I’m so pleased to announce the launch of Spa On A Budget blog! The “Spa Girl” is someone very near and dear to my heart and she’s full of tips on enjoying a luxury spa experience on a tight budget. Spa Girl is a full-time physiotherapist and now full-time mother to a beautiful 8 week old girl! She not only knows how to ease those sore muscles but knows how important it is to make that dollar stretch. Plus, she knows how essential it is to find time to pamper yourself. Lets face it - mothers always put themselves last on the list of priorities when it comes to having a family. So, check out her site and be inspired to pamper yourself in creative ways and be prepared to learn some great tips on finding great spa deals!

Source: Beauty News: Spa On A Budget Debut!

The Gifts! For the Boyfriend

It is question so many people we know are asking:

Dear BS,

Let’s just address this now—shopping for a boyfriend is hard, I don’t care how long you have been together. And with the holidays upon us, I find myself walking aimlessly through malls looking like a little lost child. My man is into the whole ’sneaker’ culture, a la Undefeated and A-Life (which I know nothing about, being more of an Audrey Hepburn fan), but he also really wants a wallet … which leaves me scratching my head, as a sneaker is not a wallet. I’m thinking in the $100-$200 range…?

Thanks!
G.

Wallets! So confusing. Part of us is really looking forward to 01/02/08. Er, not that we’re total grinches. In short, we will say: If we had a fun boyfriend, we’d get him the Paul Smith above ($199). Er, we can see a guy really hating it, but we don’t. Hate it, that is.

If we didn’t, we’d get him this nice Smythson (about $280). Is it us, or is it difficult to get passionately involved in a man’s wallet? We mean in general, not in the contet of this question. A $200 wallet is a great present.

And later today: The most fabulous boyfriend-buying gift guide, ever, we swear.

Source: The Gifts! For the Boyfriend

Stila Natural Finish Oil-Free Makeup

Remember that episode of 90210 when Donna was co-hosting the radio show with David and she had a complete melt-down on the air? She caught a glimpse of her reflection on the back of a CD and started rambling, “Where does the makeup go? You put it on in the morning and it’s gone?!”

That is how I feel when I wear Stila Natural Finish Oil-Free Makeup. Sure, the foundation goes on smooth, the shade is a perfect match and the semi-matte finish is nice. But if the dog-gone stuff doesn’t stay on, what’s the point? This foundation only lasts a few hours max, and then I’m looking in the mirror, scratching my head, and thinking “was my whole getting-ready makeup routine this morning just a dream?”

If my foundation doesn’t look fabulous, I don’t feel fabulous. It’s a good thing I have my old stand-bys, Revlon Colorstay and Estee Lauder Double Wear, to fall back on!

Source: Stila Natural Finish Oil-Free Makeup

Holiday Gifting: Mum

This year, I knew I wanted to get my mom some type of skincare gift set. Beauty giftsets are most reasonably priced during the holidays… I’ve never seen more “Valued-at” beauty or skincare giftsets gracing the counters of department stores than this year. It’s the best way to try all the best a line has to offer at well below the retail price.

I started my hunt online, at Neiman Marcus. Unfortunately, unless you are willing to spend over $500… that’s not going to get you anywhere. Then I ran into the perfect set at the Nordstrom’s in Westside Pavillion, the Clarins ‘The Extra-Firming Intensives’ Gift Set. This set punches over $200 worth of Clarins firming products into a neat and luxurious leather jewelry box… all for $150! I spoke briefly to the SA who recommended this line as great preventative care for someone who is starting to see the signs of aging (sagging, wrinkles). She classified this set as mid-30’s to late 40’s. For aging skin that needs immediate repair (mid-40’s to late 50’s), she recommended the Clarins ‘The Super Restorative Intensives’ Gift Set priced at $190.

The Extra-Firming Set also comes in a smaller, more compact version for $85: Clarins ‘Extra-Firming Solutions’ Gift Set.

« 2007 Holiday Savings: Updated 12/13 | Home

Source: Holiday Gifting: Mum

I Dream of a Lifestyle Involving Many Cocktail Dresses V: Coloured Tights

One positive thing about spending the holidays back in Hong Kong is the temperature -it’s cool enough to wear a cute jacket but warm enough to wear skirts and dresses without freezing ones legs. In the past, tights used to mean that it was so cold I had to wear them with my school skirt. But this year, for the first time, I’m actually considering wearing black tights as part of a casual outfit. (OK, so everyone does this, but it’s new to me.) I’m imagining outfits with short cotton dresses or very long tees with black leggings -kind of Olsen-esque.

Another tights-related style I’m thinking about are coloured tights. Now I’ve never been an adventurous dresser, so I’m certainly not thinking of wearing colourful tights with crazy coloured shorts and tees, (80’s style.) I’m thinking more of the girly, simple way like the images (above and below). I think the key to this look is really to keep the outfit simple. Basically, keep everything else but the tights black or neutral-coloured.

To be honest, wearing colourful tights seem like a lot of effort to me. I mean, do you know how many colours and degrees of sheerness of tights there are out there? What is the difference between ‘50 den’ and ‘80 den’ tights? What does ‘den’ mean anyways? Just the thought of buying a pair of coloured tights is enough to keep me away. But the argument of you’re-only-young-once, and you can’t exactly wear coloured tights when you pass a certain age is making me consider having some fun with this trend.

Are you wearing coloured tights this season? If so, how are you wearing them?

Image credit: www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk, www.fcukmail.com, www.topshop.com

Source: I Dream of a Lifestyle Involving Many Cocktail Dresses V: Coloured Tights

The Dove Self-Esteem Fund

The Dove Self-Esteem Fund (DSEF) was established to raise the self-esteem of girls and young women to make them feel more beautiful and confident every day.  The Dove Self Esteem Fund is also part of the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty, a global effort designed to widen today’s stereotypical view of beauty. 

To make change possible, the Dove Self -Esteem Fund focuses its efforts to foster positive image-related self-esteem in two areas of activity: the funds help develop and distribute resources to enable and empower women and girls to embrace a broad definition of beauty, and provide resources to organizations that foster a broader definition of beauty. 

 

Dove however recognizes that they can’t alone make changes in a way beauty is defined, Dove in inviting you to get involved.  Dove created the Reality Diaries which is a 6 week program that revolves around the lives of four real girls who share their personal self-esteem stories online.  These diaries allow you to go behind the scenes on their real lives and understand the factors that impact their self-esteem. 

    

To read the diaries of Sydney, Chelsea, Jordyn, and Irene and also get to interact click here! 

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Source: The Dove Self-Esteem Fund

Topbutton.com 12 Days of Beauty Giveaways

From December 11-December 22 (2007) anyone and everyone is a winner this holiday because Topbutton.com is treating and pampering subscribers with exclusive beauty giveaways for the holidays!  Each day subscriber of Topbutton.com will have a chance to win one of many products supplied by Beauty.com.  Topbutton.com has been the consumer’s source for information on fashion and beauty trends and sales since 1999.

 

Subscribers click here and enter to win luxurious beauty gifts and stocking stuffers from Beauty.com, Ted Gibson, Phyto, Caudalie, Nars, Terax, Arcona, Too Faced, Supersmile, Urban Decay, Philosophy, and many more.  There is a grand prize each of the 12 days and daily exclusives promotions from Beauty.com.  These daily promotions includes deals such as: spend $60 on Beauty.com and receive $10 off or free Too Faced Lip Injection with any Too Faced Purchase on Beauty.com.  You don’t want to miss this! 

News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

Source: Topbutton.com 12 Days of Beauty Giveaways

Threadless Sale Is Almost Up! [The Daily Tee]

Grab those $10 tees while you still can! There are only 3 days left until the Threadless $10 sale is over. I grabbed 4 tees from the sale… all of which are going to be gifts. Did anyone grab anything good?

While we are in the money saving mood, if you haven’t checked out The Daily Tee Holiday Sale Guide it’s about time you did. New tees are the perfect gift - and these ones are easier on your plastic.

Source: Threadless Sale Is Almost Up! [The Daily Tee]

Muammar Kadhafi Looks Stoned, Dons Best Giant Green “Africa” Pin To Impress Sarkozy [Snap Judgment]

[December 12, Paris. Image via Bauer-Griffin]

He also doesn’t seem to have aged well since, like, last week.

Source: Muammar Kadhafi Looks Stoned, Dons Best Giant Green “Africa” Pin To Impress Sarkozy [Snap Judgment]