Chanel La Favorite #43 Rouge Allure Velvet reviewed

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in La Favorite #43- a nice slice of Spring

Chanel La Favorite #43 Rouge Allure Velvet Swatch in afternoon light

I've fallen off the Chanel beauty wagon for about a season or 2 and immediately got back on when I saw what the 2013 Printemps Preceiux de Chanel collection had in store. The first 2013 beauty collection by Chanel gives us an illuminating powder, poppy blushes and punchy lips! I picked up La Favorite #43 which is a Rouge Allure Velvet that has a powdery matte finish.
My initial thought was that this color was going to be a coral (one of my faves) but instead the color is like a melon, a mix of coral with a bit of pink. The application was smooth but I think that they color lacks depth and it comes off as milky when compared to the color in the tube. If you are trying to achieve a bright lip with dense color, you may need to apply 3-4 times and/or use a lip liner before applying the lippie.

Where to find: Chanel.com

Rouge Dior Nude Lip Blush Twill 618 reviewed

New Rouge Dior Nude Lip Blush in Twill 618

Rouge Dior Nude Lip Blush Twill 618 swatched

 In the past I have fallen into the lipstick-like lip balm trap. Where the lipstick color was supposed to seamlessly blend with your lip color and the texture was to feel gel-like or sheer. Nevertheless those lipstick/balms are in the garbage.

Now here comes Dior's Rouge Dior Nude Lip Blush lipsticks that deliver a similar promise, a lipstick-like lip balm feel that hydrates, plumps and smoothes your lips. Also, this new lipstick comes in 10 shades that complement the warm and cool blush tones in our individual skin tone. Yes!

I am completely satisfied with this lipstick, it delivers as promised! The formula allows for you to pick up the lippie, apply and head out the door sans mirror.

Rouge Dior Nude Lip Blush is now available at Sephora and Dior.com . I hope it sticks around for a while!

Odile Gilbert: Creative Style Icon

Odile Gilbert's work at Rodarte Fall 2012 on Jourdan Dunn

Rodarte/ Odile Gilbert's Game of Thrones inspired Spring 2013 RTW look on Karlie Kloss

Is it hard to believe that some of my favorite runway looks come from just one person? This question dawned on me just a few weeks ago when I found myself admiring the beauty looks of the Rodarte Spring 2013 Ready to Wear collection. The metal ear jewelry, the faux undercut hair, a sleek come over and a mood that invoked Game of Thrones. The looks were created by Odile Gilbert, the creative force behind some of the most creative and innovative hairstyles that grace the runway and that we struggle to re-create in the comfort of our own bathroom mirrors.

Gilbert at work at Christian Lacroix's Spring 2008 RTW show

One of my other favorite hair styles was Odile 's Funny Face /African influences in Christian Lacroix's Spring 2008 RTW show, the show I was ironically trying to crash when I was in Paris in the Fall of 2007. As of late, you can see Odile's amazing work for NYFW and Paris Fashion Week's finest.

Odile Gilbert Creation's Gold Hair Pin- 9cm

If you are looking to spice up your hair starting this year (much like myself) and have a few clams to spare for your hair and I mean clams. You should definitely consider Odile Gilbert Creation's Hair Pin. I bought one over the holidays at Colette and let me tell you, there is nothing like it. I got the 9 cm pin as its good for short to medium hair, plus my hair is on the fine side.
The pin so simple, so effective and amazing! I love Odile's signature side pony and it took 2 seconds to re-create the look.  So in the meantime, I can enjoy my new discovery until the upcoming NYFW and PFW to check out some of Odile's new hair innovations.


Backstage and Runway photos courtesy of Style.com

Winter 2013 Hair Survival: Winter Shea Hair mix

John Snow's puzzled as to why its not GOT cold in NYC yet.. So am I.

Winter is..here! Though it is mild (mid 40's to mid 50's Fahrenheit) for now, your hair can be in for a tail spin between the dry air and chill. Fret not! my hair has gone through a lot of changes since we have touched base. For one, I have been chemical free for the past 10 month. For the first time in my 20+ year hair journey I know what my curls and kinks look like and I love them. My hair is long enough to pull into a pony tail, something I rock 370 days out of the year anyway (welcome to the comfort zone!) but it really doesn't matter how I wear my hair, I have to make sure its moisturized to the max. So I started asking around, googling, youTubing and the like and found a super luxe mixture for my kinky-curly hair. Here is my winter 2013 shea mix.

Winter 2013: Shea hair mix

 Winter Shea hair mix

1/2 oz. 100% Shea Butter
1/2 oz.  Coconut oil
1 tblsp. Avocado oil
1 tblsp. Argan oil
1 tblsp. Jojoba oil

I mixed all these in a 2oz glass container and did a double boil to heat the glass container without getting water in the mixture. When heated, the mix looks clear with a slight hint of green from the avocado oil, once it solidifies - its ready for use as a leave- in conditioner.

I gathered these ingredients at Whole Foods and shops on Atlantic Avenue here in Brooklyn. I would say that these all cost me roughly $25 but will last for the rest of the year.

As for use, I apply a dime size of the winter shea mix before I airdry or blowdry my hair. It instantly moisturizes my hair for 3-4 days without re-application (a leave-in to believe in). I also extend the wear by wearing a satin scarf before putting on my beanie when facing the cold outdoors.

How are you protecting your Winter tresses?

Love you 2012..Welcome 2013!

You're all I need to get by..this winter

Hoping you and yours are having a great holiday season!

I've been traveling a bit and can't wait to settle down and get back in the groove of things. Groove being the operative word as I received a turntable for Chrimbus so now I can enjoy this Diana Ross album I picked up at Amoeba Records Hollywood last week.

All music aside, winter is here and its time to do an about face with the routine. Since I've been on an award tour (with Mohammad my man..just had to add that..haha) from East coast to West Coast and back, from T-shirt and shades 76 degrees Fahrenheit down to a snowy 29 degrees Fahrenheit. I found some pretty reliable moisturizers for my oily-sensitive skin and was introduced to a new lipgloss and hand salve while in LA too.

In the morning I spritz on Caudalie Beauty Elixir after my morning cleanser and then use a pea size of ReVive Moisturizng Renewal Cream. This cream is a dream.. and very pricey for my budget but I did get this during the Barneys Love Yourself Beauty event in my dopp bag.
For the evening after cleansing I use a pea size amount of La Mer's new Moisturizing Soft Cream. I bought the soft cream during the Barneys event and I have loved it ever since. I have a good friend whose skin looks just amazing and she's been using La Mer products for years. I have been using the green gel cleanser for 10 years but have just went down the rabbit hole with the soft cream.. I might not look back!
Both morning and night routines have worked well in the crazy temps my skin has been exposed to and the dry conditions of airplanes and buses.
As for my makeup routine.. I was ecstatic to see that Fashion Valley's Sephora had Dior's Creme de Rose! This stuff is no where to be found in NYC..I dare you to name one of the 10+ Sephora's in the city that has this in stock- none, nada, zip, zilch.
Since I'm in a berry mood, I picked up the new LA Miss Lippy by Butter London while in LA. I'll have to do a full review later, the color is what you see and what you get! The gloss goes of smooth and sheer so you can layer it for depth.
Finally, I checked out a new salve/balm for my perpetually dry hands and found one with a heavenly ( sweet not saccharine) by Barr Co. Its made in St. Louis Missouri and I have to find out if they are in a retailer here in NYC. I found it at American Rag Cie in LA and I think it was one of the best finds in the store!

So this is my 2012 winter skincare routine in a nutshell. I'll have some haircare stuff soon! It should be exciting as I just made some homemade shampoo.


Have a wonderful New Years! and see you in 2013!
xo L