Tag Archives: Best of Beauty
01. Jan, 2010

Best of Beauty: Best Hair Products and Launches of 2009

Best of Beauty: Best Hair Products and Launches of 2009

We’ve tried so many hair products during 2009 that our pets felt the need to get groomed just to keep up. Anti-frizz products, flyaway tamers, the first ever anti-acne hair care line …these were some of the highlights in 2009.

May your year be frizz-free and bright!

Most Popular and Effective Shampoo & Conditioner

Pantene Nature Fusion

Pantene’s Pro-V Nature Infusion with cassia seed extract wowed users by delivering on its promise to strenghten hair. Ron Robinson, founder of BeautyStat.com says that the results of studies impressed him because until now he has not seen evidence of a shampoo and conditioner that strengthened hair in such a short period of time nor appeared to weigh hair down (because of less silicone).

Best Leave-in Hair Treatment Oils

Moroccan Oil Hair Treatment

Moroccan Oil Hair Treatment ($13.99 at sleekhair.com) shines hair up and cuts drying time down. This effectively tames frizz and a little goes a long way.

Thermafuse Heatsmart Serum

Also tied in this category is the  Thermafuse Heatsmart Serum thatis a dry oil treatment, a stand-alone styling product, or a styling prep to make other styling products work better, it does everything but the dishes.

Made of three certified organic oils-argan, acai and flaxseed-the serum is instantly absorbed, continuously hydrates, eliminates frizz and delivers a smooth satin shine. It even makes our hair dry faster. Like the rest of the ThermaFuse line, the serum contains a concentrated amount of HeatSmart Complex that works with heat to actually enhance the health and beauty of hair. We also get great results when we apply it to dry hair as a finisher between shampoos.

Best Hair Masque

Seva Hair Treatment

The Séva Treat deep conditioner ($32 for 6 treatments at sevastyle.com) generously covered every last strand of my long hair, and jojoba oil and protein went right to work to give my thirsty hair a good drink.

Séva’s products are sulfate and paraben free (so they are completely color safe) and vegan. Not only does this company make beautiful products, they support great causes and the warehouse employs people with disabilities from the La Puente Adult School.

Best Creative Hair Product

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30. Dec, 2009

Best of Beauty: Best Nail Polishes of 2009

Best of Beauty: Best Nail Polishes of 2009

Everyone loves a good coat of paint – skip the car, and focus on your nails! Here are the best trends of 2009:

Minx Nails

Minx Nails

Minx is “fashion for your nails.” This professional only product made a statement in 2009 by bringing patterns and color together on an adhesive that is applied to nails by Minx certified technicians – making free-style art (and its mistake prone quality) a thing of the past. These nails were done by my favorite Minx-ist: Tracylee of Damone Roberts salon in New York.

Zoya Dare Collection

Zoya Dare Collection

Zoya Truth or Dare – this dramatic collection has two distinct sides.

The Truth collection boasts of shimmering browns, maples, purples and rose. While Dare spans the color spectrum and includes highly pigmented shades of purple, pink, lavender and green.

Chanel Jade Nail Polish

Chanel Jade Nail Polish

Essie Mint Candy Apple

Essie Mint Candy Apple

Rescue Beauty Lounge Recycle

Rescue Beauty Lounge Recycle

From mint to forest and army green in between- green nails were everywhere this year. Standout shades included Chanel Jade, Essie Mint Candy Apple, Rescue Beauty Lounge Recycle and Zoya Envy.

Rescue Beauty U Concrete Me

Barielle U Concrete Me

Rescue Beauty Lounge in Stormy

Rescue Beauty Lounge in Stormy

Seen allover the runways and on celebrities – grey nails – from cement to charcoal – made a smoky statement– standout shades included Rescue Beauty Lounge’s Stormy and Shades by Barielle U-Concrete-Me.

Matte nail colors made an appearance in most nail lines in 2009. From matte top coats (which take the shine out of any nail color) to full matte color collections most nail companies got in on the matte action. Standout collections included Zoya Matte Velvet, OPI’s Matte Collection, and Orly Matte Couture.

- Catia Carvalho Trooskin

29. Dec, 2009

Best of Beauty: Best Fragrances of 2009

Best of Beauty: Best Fragrances of 2009

Fragrance is as unique as a person’s DNA. It is hard to find a scent that pleases every nose, but we’ve found a few that pleased us in 2009 because of their uniqueness and creativity. Here are those that received top marks.

Marc Jacobs Lola

Marc Jacobs Lola

This is one of the blockbuster 2009 perfumes and we love it because it embodies a very spirited, playful yet sexy girl who loves to take risks. And the notes of peppercorn, pear, ruby red grapefruit create a sparkling cocktail that will aim to dazzle. There are warm notes in this fragrance too: those of vanilla and warm tonka beans.

Harajuko Snow Bunnies

Harajuku Snow Bunnies is a limited edition collection of the original Harajuko fragrances – only with new glammed up winter outfits. Love, Lil Angel, G, Music, Baby got all dressed up to play in the snow but kept their delicious and distinct scents.

Michael Kors Very Hollywood Perfume

Michael Kors Very Hollywood

With notes of shimmering mandarin, iced bergamot, wet jasmine, ylang-ylang, raspberry, gardenia, orris, creamy amber, soft white moss and vetiver, this fragrance is not surprisingly strong and sexy with touches of delicacy and sweetness. This light floral made us think of Marilyn Monroe before she became quite so . . . Marilyn. Michael Kors calls Very Hollywood “the most glamorous, indulgent scent we’ve ever done.”

D&G Le Bateleur Fragrance

D&G’s Le Bateleur has a blend of aromatics and vetiver. Neither feminine nor masculine this scent is seductive and embodies the spirit of D&G. $65.

DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom

DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom is a sophisticated and feminine fragrance. With notes of grapefruit, cassis and apricot with a hint of apple this fragrance is fresh and feminine all at once. $40.We never tire of its refreshing spritz!

Van Cleef and Arpels Feerie

Feerie is a new fragrance inspired by Van Cleef & Arpels’ Midsummer Night’s Dream fine jewelry collection. With notes of violet, black currant, mandarin, rose essence, Bulgarian rose, iris butter and jasmine the scent is sweet and floral. It is packaged beautifully in an intricate flacon with a fairy perched on the bottle top. $110 at www.neimanmarcus.com.

Harvey Prince Eau Flirt

Eau Flirt from Harvey Prince gets top marks for creativity this year. What makes Eau Flirt truly flirtatious? The notes, for one, which founder Kumar Ramani says are a “closely guarded secret” on the box. Inspired by a study done by Drs. Alan Hirsch and Jason Gruss of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, Eau Flirt’s proprietary blend of lavender, pumpkin and other secret scents have been clinically shown to provoke passion in men with a whiff.

- Catia Carvalho Trooskin

28. Dec, 2009

Best of Beauty: Best Body Products for 2009

Best of Beauty: Best Body Products for 2009

The votes are in and here are our picks for the best body products of 2009. Agree or disagree? Tell us why. Here’s what we love:

Best Body Cream

Kiehl's Imperial Body Balm

Kiehl’s Imperial Body Balm

Leave dry, flaky skin far away in the past with Kiehl’s Imperial Body Balm ($42 at kiehls.com) The mix of shea and cocoa butter seals in moisture like no other.

Best Hair Removal

Nair Hair Exfoliator

Nair Hair Exfoliator

Nair Exfoliator with Skin Renewal Microbeads ($9.99 at drugstores) uses lanolin and mineral oil while the microbeads of the title buff dead skin away. Oh, and yes, the cream removes hair as well.

Best Fragranced Cream

Laura Mercier Creme de Pistache Body Souffle

Laura Mercier’s Creme de Pistache Body Souffle is our hands down favorite scented body cream of the year. One whiff, you’re in the Greek isles. One slather on your skin, you’re a lifetime subscriber.

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04. Oct, 2009

GlamourSquad Best of Beauty Weekly Reads

GlamourSquad Best of Beauty Weekly Reads

Beauty Junkies Unite shares the fab new Fall colors from Essie’s “Cuddle With Color” nail polish collection.

Diva Debbi gives her unvarnished opinion on mascaras, and why she adores L’Oreal’s Telescopic.

Clumps of Mascara heads to the Artist Summit in Miami and dishes on her fave products.

The Beauty Alchemist tells you if CoverGirl’s Outlast Lip Stains are all that — and then some.