Top 10 Favorite Valentine's Day 2011 Lipcolors

February is next week and now is the time to get your reservation in order for Valentine's day 2011. Before you know it the scramble will be on to prep for an evening out! Whether it be with your girls at Karaoke or a rom com at the theatre, you want your lips to be the focal point of the 14th.
With that, we have gawked, gossiped, tested and sworn by the following lip colors , both lipsticks and lipglosses included to provide a guide to navigating your cupid's bow for the next most anticipated holiday after ringing in the New Year, Valentine's day!

Here are our faves:

10. Clinique Different Lipstick- Tenderheart
This pinky-nude rouge is a Clinique staple and a starter universal shade, the formula glides on for a MLBB look (my lips but better).
Where to wear: On your OK Cupid blind date at the Brooklyn Bowl. Less talk, more strikes.


9. NARS Lipstick- Love Devotion
Sheer guava stains aren't for the faint at heart but more for the expressive, creative soul whose heart thrives on discovery.
Where to wear: Where lipcolor imitates art! A night out at the museum- MOMA, MOCA, Guggenheim , Whitney, whatever your choice, your lips will surely compliment.

8. MAC Lipstick- Desire
Sheer berry lips are vampy not campy and pair well with a bronze shadow (MAC Sable) and muted dusty pink blush (MAC Harmony) for an easily put together look for a casual night on the town.
Where to wear: At a Wine Bar with friends!
7. Hard Candy Painted Lady Manic Lipshine- Cupid
Bright candy apple lips= fun , LOL adventure for Valentine's day evening burst out of the rut of a day of waiting for an evening of tears of joy.
Where to wear: UCB theatre, The Laugh Factory, The Comedy Store, seek out new comedy acts that are sure to get you so happy you will cry.


6. Rimmel Vinyl Lip in Snog
The name says it all! This nude shade has a slight hint of mint, not a bad feature to have if you are out to dinner, plus- no look application as this too is universally flattering.
Where to wear: To a dinner date! the color and formula are sure to make a pleasant conversation post dinner happen.
5. Chanel Rouge Allure- Lover
This stand out Ruby Red will create the statement lip that will sing in your praises- how about "Hey lover, this is more than a crush?"
Where to wear: Singing Karaoke or playing Rock Band with your friends.

4. MAC PRO Long wear Lip cream in Perpetual Flame
Lip color that doesn't budge, check. Poppy pink- cranberry color, check. Now all you need is some chocolate to mellow you out, double check!
Where to wear: Chocolate shop or at a cozy cafe, yes, its still winter but this pop of color is like a sundial countdown clock to Spring freedom.


3. Lancome Color Design lipstick in Lucky Kiss

A plum tone like this deserves a role in Drama. This creamy color is a smooth on the lips and the color is 80% business with the rest being fun.
Where to wear: Watching an Oscar nominated flick or any film for that matter. Get in on your fantasy Academy Award winners and wait to see your results at the awards show.





2. Mary Kay Creme Lipstick- Berry Kiss
Shimmery shouldn't be reserved just for Divas, it can be an everyday wear! This color packs a shimmer berry punch that puts glamour back into your evening routine.
Where to wear: Watching RuPaul's Drag Race with the girls, no wig snatching required.



1. Clarins Joli Rouge- Cupid Red

Bright blue based reds are in need for a musical evening, play coy and meet a stranger or just go with it..
Where to wear: To a concert, check local listings for your favorite nationally touring act or find a local band or group to listen too.

Happy Valentine's day! I hope these lippies and where to wear them will inspire your V-day week and beyond!

Top Performing Beauty Brands of 2009

WWD Beauty Biz ranked up the Beauty's Top 100 largest beauty movers and shakers of 2009, which is also a glimps into how brands are performing in 2010, seeing as the year is not over yet. Overall, sales in 2009 declined but generated $140.78 Billion in total. That's a whole lot of products (defined in categories of Fragrance, Makeup, Haircare, Deoderant, Suncare, Cellulite and Shaving ).

Mass market certainly dominates the beauty market share as luxury brands have been on a decline, but not as much of a decline to stop future sales- standout products, re-formulations and re-newed consumer focus has helped luxe brands stay a float in a time of limited spending and skincare has rapidly increased in sales while makeup has had slow gains.

So who are the top performing beauty brands that we love, covet and spend our hard earned money engaging Makeup Artists on new products, searching forums, blogs and YouTube for reviews, swatches and support?

#1 L'Oreal ( $24.36 Billion) - Brands:L'Oreal Paris, Lancome, YSL Beauty, Maybelline, Shu Uemura

In 2009, L'Oreal's sales declined for the first time in seven years, however the brand is number one in beauty with consumer products such as L'Oreal Paris, Maybelline and Garnier. With $10.8 billion in strong sales, key performing brands are Maybelline and Garnier. Maybelline has garnered quite the mascara collection in the past few years and Garnier's skincare.

Western Europe is L'Oreal's leading market while sales in North America have declined.

#2 Proctor & Gamble Co.( $18.6 Billion)- Brands: Covergirl, Pantene, Dolce & Gabbana, Olay, Old Spice

When I think "Blue Chip" Beauty, I think of P&G. Pantene for haircare, CG for makeup and Old Spice for men's grooming. Sales fell for P&G but Covergir; and Olay's simply ageless succeeded in generating $1 billion in sales. Pantene products were introduced to new packaging and new ingredients this year and Cover Girl has a heavy roster of diverse spokeswomen ( Ellen DeGeneres, Queen Latifah, Drew Berrymore) , consumer favorites- Lash Blast series and Cover Girl Queen Collection and Pat McGrath at the helm as Executive Design director for the brand.

#4 Estee Lauder ( $7.8 Billion)- Brands: Estee Lauder, MAC, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Bumble Bumble, Aveda

Skincare accounted for 40% of Estee Lauder brand's sales with 39% in makeup and 15% in fragrance, respectively. Estee also acquired the Smashbox studios which is key for photo shoots and LA fashion week. Clinique up'ed their anti aging game with Even Better, Tom Ford Beauty held strong and MAC teamed with Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper for a campaign. Estee Lauder currently has Tom Pecheux is the Creative Makeup Director for the brand.

#6 Shiseido ( $6.83 Billion)- Brands: Shisedo, NARS, Cle´ de Peau Beaute´

Shiseido's key markets are Japan, China and Europe. While sales in North America took a dive, the brand strategically snapped up Bare Essentual which positions Shiseido for expansion in the US. Unfortunately, sales information for NARS cosmetics was not available at the time of the WWD Beauty Biz report.

#10 Chanel ( $3.95 Billion)

Chanel's makeup revenues declined 10% due to the economies of the brands major markets- the US and Japan. The US is Chanel's largest beauty market with France and Japan following. Women's fragrance is number one worldwide with Chanel Beauty at number four and skincare is in ninth place. Key product launches this year include Rouge Coco Hydrating Creme Lipstick, Chanel Bleu Fragrance for men and Asia exclusives- Vitalumiere Eclat Compact powder foundation and Mascara Sublime WP.

#11 LVMH Moet Hennessey Louis Vuitton ( $3.82 Billion)- Christian Dior Parfumes, Givenchy, Guerlain.

Strong performers under LVMH were Givenchy's fragrances and Christian Dior's mascarsa. Cosmetics generated 28%, unchanges since last year while fragrances were strong with 53% of sales. Key products include Givenchy Play with Justin Timberlake as the brand's face and Diorshow mascara with Monica Bellucci as the spokes woman.

Photos: Google Images

Brand revenue and sales information was gathered from WWD Beauty Biz.

Loreal Friends and Family Sale ends Dec 20, 2009

Info:
Metropolitan Pavillion
125 West 18th Street, 5th Floor ( btwn 6th and 7th aves)
Wednesday, Dec 16th- Sunday, Dec 20th , 10am-8pm.

The Loreal Friends and Family sale officially started yesterday but there are plenty of goodies left at the Metropolitan Pavillion.
Here is what they had and the prices:
Kiehls: $5 lipglosses, $15 Argan Dry Oil, $5 essential oils,$10 Bodywashes & Hand cleansers $5 totebag
Lancome: $5 Juicy tubes, $8 Liglosses and Lipsticks , $10 Foundation,$25 Eye shadow palettes $20 Bronzers
Shu Uemura: $ 15 lipsticks, $10 lashes, $25 brush sets, $20 concealer, $20 bronzer
Giorgio Armani : $20 foundation
Vichy: $10 Skincare
YSL: $10 Gommage , $20 Eyeshadow palette, $10 lipgloss, $10 french manicure kit

Source: Madison Avenue Spy

Beauty Dept Lays-off at Saks Flagship in 2010

The New York Post reported today that 100 sales associates in the beauty department will be let go come January 2010. The reasoning behind the move? Many counters are supplied with company appointed beauty reps from companies such as Dior, Chanel, Lancome etc. who specifically cater to customer needs and are trained to know product lines thoroughly enough to recommend items and create regimens.
Will this company appointed make-up artists bring a less “salesy” approach to high-end department stores ? After all, the brand reputation is associated with the quality of their products, strategy in advertising and how well it moves off the shelf.
I have all of 2 examples of how this strategy may work for high-end department stores. Over the summer, I needed new skincare, after reading a magazine and doing my research with fellow bloggers, I journeyed over to Saks and visited a high-end luxury brand counter. With what was initially a stop for x ended up with product recommendations, a regimen, and the purchase of x and y. Upon payment entered the sales associate who informed me of a special promotion for Saks but when I had specific product questions- she forwarded me to the company brand rep. I found it frustrating, why couldn’t they answer my question about x but want my credit card? I understand the deal, they are in sales, but had I gone to another counter who didn’t have a brand rep- I would have high-tailed it to the door.
On another note, without the brand reps with their specialized product knowledge, I am pushed to buy products that clearly do not work for me. For example, the foundation or lipstick shade will not look drastically different once I walk outside. The ashiness will not go away or blend with my skin as the day wears on- no excuses, it just doesn’t work. Additionally, on another visit, same Saks on 5th Ave, different counter- at an event, where there were company reps , the product recommendations where spot-on and if they ran out of the product used on my face? I was given a chart or card with the recommended products and asked to call back or stop in to follow-up and inquire, plus that same rep rang me up and completed the process. Personally, that keeps me coming back for more.

I’ve never known the full extent to “counter culture”. My only idea was brand reps (National Artists) who came to events like the Nordstrom’s Trend Show and then the reps who worked at counters and then the sales associates. For me the structure began to blur with the counters and who I asked- etc. A counter vs. a flagship or boutique is clearly obvious. But moseying in to see a product that a friend or colleague recommended- I didn’t know who I was dealing with unless I knew them. My knowledge of sales associates were from the phone calls I received about the collections and launch dates.
Can this Saks renovation turn it around and increase the quality of being specialty niched focus? Will this lead to individualized attention which could turn into overall customer satisfaction and? I guess we have a whole new year to look at this in scope…

photo: googleimages

Chris Benz for Lancome: Pout-a-porter

Literally, just when I was going to declare the end of Limited Edition makeup madness (i'm seriously talking to you MAC, that's for another post). Lancome has done it..again. They have a new lipstick for their Pout-a-porter series for designer Chris Benz ( hey, didn't he use NARS last spring?).

So all the Lancome Lippie collectors that have Peter Som, Thakoon, Behnaz, Sarapfour and Proenza Schouler can catch this one too. But first, you have to name it.

On Chris Benz's Facebook Fan page you can win win win deadline is July 12th.

By the way, you think Som and Benz will do a Target Go International collection too?

Photo:Style.com

Noir lèvres for Fall

Would you wear black lipstick or lipgloss?

I didn't really give it much thought after seeing the Fall/Winter '08 fashion shows earlier this year but it didn't dawn on me that YSL's black lips would transend to dare I say..mainstream?

Well, last year we had the black nail polish craze and could this be this the year of le noire lèvres?


In Sept, Lancome will introduce Color Fever Gloss Piha Black, a sleek black lipgloss - a first for the company ( along with Color Piha Beach ) at Bon Marché in Paris.
The darkest MAC Lipglass was the now discontinued Deceit and Christian Dior got in on the action with a black Diorific gloss shade ( also discontinued for some years now).

Anxious to try something new and avoiding looking like Tia Dalma from Pirates of the Caribbean. I tried this look out with my MAC Smolder eyeliner... and looked just like her.

But Grace Jones pulled it off in the 80's? why can't I?

We'll see, only fall can tell.

Photos: Vogue Paris

Lancome Color Explorer

Lancome.com has this really cool feature that puts you in the driver's seat for Customization. Their new Color Explorer Section lets you choose your skin tone and colors that you love and matches your fave's with products in that color range.
You can save all of your Makeup and Skin tone color(s) and add to your library of shages and order all of your products on-line.
Technology at its finest and I'm having fun already!

Check it out at: http://www.lancome-usa.com/colorexplorer/

Lancome Mystery Game collection 2007

Daria looks so good in this pic. I love how this collection is not just the smokey eye norm, they added touches of this fall's fave metallics into the mix.
And expect the unexpected, at the Nordies exclusives sale I had the chance to chat with a lancome sales person and see the Mystery cubes up close and personal. I was disappointed that between the 2 that they have- non complements my skin tone. But I found 2 other products that made up for it. First the Khôhl Oriental Duo is amazing,2 liners in one! first is a nice gold color and then if you turn the pencil its a brown eyeliner..technology- bring it on! Second ( is a tie..hehe) The Baum Baiser is meant to treat lips before lipstick, gloss or pencil and leaves a shimmery hint of color. The Color Fever lipgloss in Engaging is a great shade a hint of nude. Fall is coming on strong and this is just the beginning.

P.S Kiss- Peter Som for Lancome

In Feb is was the surfer Proenza pink, now for fall- October 1st to be exact. Peter Som will release PS Kiss with Lancome! A dark burgandy shade for fall.
The wait list starts Sept 1st.

Thank you to welovebeauty.com

Hello Destiny!

Lancome Destiny cube was all over the Fall '07 runways thanks to Gucci Westman.
In august Lancome will release the cube nation-wide. What's inside? A charcoal eyeshadow and a pink highlighter. It's cute!
It will retail for $55. I hope its worth it. For that price you can get Dior's Flight palette that includes a smoky black eyeshadow, coral blush and a pink gloss. The colors are universal.
let's see about the Lancome cube.. I'm a skeptic