FOLLOW US ON...

CANDLELIGHTING

HOLIDAYS

JUDAISM 101

FEATURED JOBS
Post Your Resume

I love the sheer, natural colors of Guerlain’s KissKiss Gloss, particularly the subtle shade of Peachy Pink that promises to moisturize lips while staying put without that awful stickiness associated with other long-lasting lip gloss formulas.

Thanks to this updated kit by Anastasia, the go-to brow specialist for the red carpet elite, you too can have camera ready brows. The All-in-One Brow Kit comes with a Brow Powder Duo, tweezers, five stencils,a mini duo brush, clear brow gel, matte highlighter and soothing after-tweeze cream all stashed in a chic quilted bag.

Traveling can often leave skin dull and dehydrated. Thanks to Clarisonic’s new travel sized cleansing brush you can have the same glowing skin that you do at home.

Sephora makes keeping make-up tools clean thanks to this set of seven professional brushes that comes treated with a non-toxic, hypoallergenic compound that attacks and destroys bacteria.

Featuring seventeen richly pigmented shades in wearable neutrals, the Naked2 palette by Urban Decay has shades that will allow you to go from natural to smokey with the flick of a brush.

Lancome’s Rouge in Love High Potency Lipcolor delivers long wearing color without the sticky residue of other longwearing lipsticks.

Long the go-to foundation for fashion and beauty industry insiders, Armani has a new addition to its cosmetic line.  Armani’s new ‘Designer Lift’ Smooth Firming Foundation promises to offer the same signature natural finish with the addition of SPF 20 and an ultrafine micro-lifting matrix that softens and firms.

Inspired by the bounty of products brought by pro makeup artists to the set, this super-loaded makeup palette by Smashbox has everything you could possibly ever need whether you’re headed out for a night on the town or the star of your very own photo shoot. 

The hottest trend to hit the beauty industry, BB Cream is becoming a cult favorite all over the world. Slather on the cream in the morning for an instant infusion of SPF protection, antioxidants, plus enough coverage to banish imperfections. 

MAC’s new, versatile, lightweight all-in-one color for cheeks and lips featuring creamy, super-blendable colors is perfect for stashing in your beach bag for a little pop of color.

Sooth winter battered paws with Philosophy’s lively lemon verbena hand wash and hand lotion. The hand wash gently cleanses with glycerin while aloe soothes out the rough edges. The hand lotion with shea butter, macadamia nut oil, olive oil and vitamin E help moisturize and soften the skin leaving behind an invigorating citrus scent.

Treat yourself to the T3 Featherweight Luxe, the Cadillac of hair dryers. The T3 dries hair in half the time of conventional dryers thanks to Tourmaline gemstones that emit ionic, infrared heat to seal in moisture and reduce static electricity for frizz-free, healthy styling.

For those looking to experiment with a new look this season, Nordstrom’s Cosmetic Palette featuring 64 eyeshadows, 32 lip colors and 8 cheek colors provides amble room for experimentation.

MAC has struck gold again with its latest creation, Sheen Supreme lipstick. The product combines vivid lip color, a MAC signature, with the glossy shine of the line’s ever popular Lipglass. The result is a perfect hybrid that is lightweight, non-sticky, easy to apply and comfortable to wear.

Not everyone has the luxury of owning a Chanel handbag. However, now everyone can tote around the timeless classic with the introduction of Chanel No.5 Parfum Purse Spray. It’s housed in a sleek black lacquer refillable flacon that is every bit as elegant as the fragrance itself.

No need to go under the knife for a lush set of lips. Smashbox’s “Lip Beam’ Double-Ended Pout Perfector has come to the rescue. The double-ended highlighter and gloss stick, formulated with polymers to provide ultimate shine and vitamins C and E for moisturization, adds fullness and a sexy pout to your lips. Simply apply the side labeled ‘highlight’ to the Cupid’s bow and just under the lower lip, then apply the side labeled ‘pout’ to the center of the lips to add fullness. The product can be worn alone or paired with lip color for a show stopping pucker.

I have long loved NARS cosmetics. In fact I use the powder blush and lipstick on a daily basis. For Valentine’s Day I hope my honey takes the hint and treats me to this coveted Mini Multiple Set for eyes, lips and cheeks in shades that shimmer, highlight and sculpt. The creamy formula blends effortlessly, making these multitasking masters in three super wearable shades a must for any glamor girl on-the-go.

I have long been a fan of A-list stylist Frederic Fekkai’s haircare line. From the Glossing Conditioner infused with olive oil, to the Apple Cider Clarifying Shampoo which effortlessly rids hair of gunky product buildup, I have yet to encounter a product that wasn’t top notch. Fortunately, devotees need not venture to his New York, Beverly Hills or Palm Beach salon to scoop up the line. It’s now available locally at Nordstrom and other retailers.

Most recently spotted inbetween our wallet and blackberry, CleanWell Hand Sanitizers are among the top 5 items we trudge around town in our overly large handbags.

Why are we so in love? CleanWell is the only hand sanitizers proven to kill 99.99% of germs without using alcohol, Benzalkonium Chloride, Triclosan or other toxic chemicals. This travel-friendly spray (also available as a soap, wipes or foam) is made from renewable plants. With a first-of-its-kind natural chemistry, CleanWell introduces a unique formula of plant essential oils proven to meet FDA standards for eliminating microorganisms. Besides being safe, these remarkable germ fighters smell incredible unlocking an irresistibly fresh scent. Orange vanilla, ginger bergamot, lavender and our favorite, spearmint lime, not only keeps us clean but is managable for kids, which means keeping them smelling fresh is actually attainable.

Want to read more? Visit www.cleanwelltoday.com.

One of the greatest characteristics of any city is discovering a new spot. A new spot to sit and have coffee, a new spot for a Friday night dinner, or a new spot for buying your favorite products like makeup, of course!

In the backyard of Towson, No Worries Cosmetics is the international cosmetic and skin care line of Jill Turnbull, whose centralizes the line around her Australian roots. Opening the first Etches Salon in Brisbane, Australia back in 1985, Turnbull moved her Aussie lifestyle to Baltimore opening up her second store seventeen years ago. Colors of the Australian Earth is the true inspiration. Imagine Australia’s crystal blue waters and rich earthy hues of the countryside’s mountain ridges. Turnbull does quite often and unable to let go of these beautiful images created the line. Even the name, No Worries is 100% inspired, being a popular Aussie phrase.

Flourishing in the states, No Worries has earned several impressive gigs among professional models, the Washington Ballet dancers and Couture Moda, an online boutique featuring world-renowned designers, which is why most people do a double take when hearing that Turnbull’s products start at just $5.00.

I, on the other hand, do a double shop! Right now one of my preferred products is the Six Lip Travel Kit, a collection of six lip shades in one packaged for the woman on the go. Not to mention my inability of quick decision making, I get to the office and finish my morning bagel before deciding what my morning lip color will be, and then flip open my Lip Travel Kit after lunch for another six in-my-hand options for an amazing afternoon look.

Ah, life is so much better with options.

No Worries & Etches International, Inc.
29 W Allegheny Ave.
Towson, MD 21204
noworriescosmetics.com

My hair is long, really long and in an effort not to cut it shorter as the warmer weather approaches (especially since lengthy locks are taking a stance this season), L’Oréal Professionnel’s Lift Extreme Volumizing Mousse has become my new BFF. Often being spotted as clutching onto my can for dear life signals to anyone who walks in during my frivolous morning beauty routine to one, take cover as I spray and two, watch out if it’s running on empty. 

Going away last week and trying to decrease the amount of hassle that had to be performed in the airport, I carried my too-big-for-me, black duffle onto the plane as usual. Reading between the lines, what this really means was I had to resort to travel size products that don’t perform nearly as well as MY products, and my Lift Extreme took a back seat on my bathroom counter. Spending a week with dull and lifeless hair, I’ve decided in order to beat future airport security measures, I’ll have to build my hair regime at every house I travel, shipping a can of L’Oréal Professionnel’s Life Extreme Volumizing Mousse to each of my closest friends’ residences so it’s waiting for me upon arrival. Crazy…quite possibly but worth it? Completely.

L’Oréal Professionnel’s Extreme Volumizing Mousse, $18
Where to Find It

It’s almost as if we flew off to Hawaii, found the largest tree possible and chopped open our very own coconut. Only Desert Essence’s Organic Hand Washes does it for us at a much lesser cost. Four distinct smells (grapefruit, vanilla chai, lavender and of course, coconut), all apart of the new organic line to join Desert Essence, are known for their fresh “as if you are there” smells. These gentle hand soaps, made with jojoba oil and shea butter, effectively clean without drying out skin. Plus, they add a little something extra to mundane chores like doing the dishes! Available at Whole Foods, $8.99

The drastic tempts outside always turn my lips as chapped as a piece of old firewood. With spring around the corner, I need to pull a S.O.S asap!

After reading consumer reviews of Jo Malone’s Vitamin E Lip Conditioner that claimed to be, “a rich treatment that softens, smoothes and moisturizes fragile skin and guards lips against the damaging effects of the environment,” I couldn’t help myself.

And so…

Malone scored big points against my cherry lip balm. The thick coating substance was like restoration to my lips. Freshened with a hint of honey brings a tad of flavor to the super cute, curative tube. The enhanced Vitamin E and UVA/UVB protection carries Jo Malone Lip Conditioner as an all-time favorite throughout the spring and well into the summer.

Available at Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdales, $20

Devon Reisman resembled a Cinderella princess (minus the golden locks) on the day of her bat mitzvah celebration. The 13-year-old Jericho, NY resident shined in a strapless, full-skirted gown entrenched with sparkling gemstones throughout the midsection. Finding her desired dress style didn’t come from surfing the web or flipping through the latest magazines. “I saw a girl on TV wearing a turquoise dress that had my same coloring and thought that color would look good on me. When we started dress shopping, I set out to find something like it,” says Reisman.

Half up, half down flowing ringlets complemented her exposed shoulders nicely but took two days at the salon to tame her thick, natural curls! “On day one, my hair was straightened, taking almost two hours. Then on the second day, the day of my bat mitzvah, my hair stylist Tina DiPalo curled my hair.” Once the hair was a go, Reisman sat in the glam chair. “It was really fun getting my makeup done. I wanted very dramatic eyes with a light lip gloss and was very happy with the results.”

Read on for the products used to pull off Reisman’s mitzvah look.

“I have very thick, curly hair. Wearing it down makes it look much longer versus pulling it back into a bun or ponytail.”

“I love the way my hair turned out. I was very nervous it wouldn’t hold during my dance number, but it stayed perfectly.”

“To match my gown, Marguerite used contrasting blue eye shadows from her line that made my dress and green eyes pop.”

“My face was prepared with concealer and foundation, and then finished with a soft pink gloss on my lips.”

The Details
Service and Reception: The Inn At New Hyde Park – New Hyde Park, New York
Dress: Outrageous Kids – Plainview, New York
Hair and Makeup: The Salon at 230 West – Syosset, New York
Products: Marguerite Cosmetics and Alterna Professional Haircare

Check out photos from Devon’s bat mitzvah including her 5 tiered cake created by Cake Boss at http://www.mitzvahmarket.com/mitzvah-spotlight/family/the-reisman-bat-mitzvah-family-spotlight.

Winter is not my favorite time of the year for showing off my smooth, glowing skin (or lack there of). Rightfully so I can admit that I have a hard time sticking with a good hydrating lotion, adhering more to a one and done approach. When my editor gave me “Say Yes to Cucumbers,” specifically suited for sensitive skin like mine, I was hesitant to give it a try.

Sitting atop my chest of draws for days, I peered at my garden based friend every morning. After a week, I had enough! The name alone was too influential not to give it a try. “Say yes to cucumbers?” It’s like a subliminal message egging me on to say yes. I grabbed the cutesy cucumber scented tube and applied the hydrating lotion all over my face. Even an unenthusiastic lotion applier like me could be open to saying yes. I watched my skin that week like a hawk. Besides an apparent baby bottom’s smoothness, the redness in my cheeks subsided, and my eyelids (I placed it there too for the ultimate test) have soften to a normal appearance.

A week later, I am still saying yes, and not only am I happy, but my face is happy.

Have dry or oily skin? Then you must try, “Say Yes to Carrots” or “Say Yes to Tomatoes.”

Available at Target, Ulta and Walgreens, $14.99

After your mascara has out used its welcome and you’ve re-entered the search for another “absolutely perfect, I think I’ll call it THE ONE” stick, you must try DiorShow. Followed by a cult of mascara maniacs loyal to the big “D’s” volumizing lash capability, Show’s dramatic pops and lengthening tricks adjoined with height, height, height make your eyes alive. Buried in the bags of makeup artists all over the world, DiorShow delivers long, thick, must-have lashes. We give it an A.

DiorShow Mascara, $24, sephora.com

Finally – adorable handmade cosmetics for Chanukah! LUSH Cosmetics has created Better Than A Blintz, a festively pre-wrapped dreidel-shaped gift filled with four luxurious bath treats. Avobath Bath Bomb sends a blast of jolly green lemongrass and avocado. The Happy Pill Bath Bomb lingers a crisp grapefruit and mandarin scent. So White is a creamy (and you guessed it, white!) fruity apple scent, and Magic, or the good luck potion, encourages wealth and prosperity. Made from fresh organic fruits, blintz’s bath wonders are perfect for any one of Chanukah’s eight nights! Buy yours online at lush.com or visit their store locations in Annapolis Mall, Montgomery Mall and Towson Town Center.

Ready. Set. Blast. Brand new for January 2010, CoverGirl’s LashBlast has expanded to an entire collection of mascaras, shadows and shines. The next best thing since LashBlast’s Volumizing Mascara, LB’s Length Mascara builds extreme, notice-me lashes all day long with its new Elasta-Nylo formula.

Pile on the length; now give me some shine…

For the ultimate shine, ShineBlast Lipgloss (co-designed by celebrity makeup artist Pat McGrath), flaunts 4 times more noticeable gleam with the help of a unique applicator that hugs the curves of your lips. Shining bright with a sixteen shade color palate and glittery infusion, your smackers won’t complain once after taking notice to the nonstick factor.

And, finally the cure for anyone who has ever tried to perfect the smoky eye – the Smoky ShadowBlast. This two step shadowing tool opens the gates of simplification for a sexy, smoky allure. No brushes needed.

Enticed? Go to covergirl.com/blastpresale to hoard the LashBlast Length, ShineBlast Lipgloss and Smoky ShadowBlast before they hit stores. Plus, buy all three and save $5.

Men, fight your aging battles with Jack Black’s facial reinforcements. His newly launched skincare system includes two active formulas (a Protein Booster Skin Serumand Eye Rescue)that naturally boost the skin’s defense, leaving you looking healthy and young. Plus, it’s eco-friendly (always a plus)!

This powerful duo, made with the wrinkle-reducer Matrixyl®3000, cuts the appearance of lines by 45% in just two months. If that’s not enough, it’s packed full with healing botanicals, vitamins and certified organic ingredients, like SYN®-AKE to smooth expression lines and Dynalift to tighten. Equally fortifying, the Eye Rescue’s magical powers escape in oat kernel sugars and natural bamboo to lift, tone and restore the skin’s elasticity.

A synch to use, rub on the Protein Booster Skin Serum alone or mix with your daily moisturizer or shave gel. Follow with the Protein Booster Eye Rescue around the eyes to tighten skin and reduce wrinkles.

Want to give it a try? Stop into Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Sephora or Saks Fifth Avenue, or visit Jack online at http://www.getjackblack.com.

The latest addition to Jo Malone’s cult classic Vitamin E collection is their Vitamin E Body Balm.Instantly soothing and hydrating, this nourishing cream deeply conditions the skin with a high concentration of antioxidants, bringing maxium smoothness. But what we really love about it, this sweet scent is suited for both women and men offering dual pampering. Should we make a “whoever uses the last of it has to buy more” rule? Yes, I think we shall. Available at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Jo Malone Boutiques, $75

You know a product is valuable when your younger sister excitedly eyes it up and says, “Can I have this?”

which is how Benefit Cosmeticsmoved its way up into my makeup bag as a “Top 3 Must Try Eye Shadow.” When experimenting with blue and purple eye shadows during my teenage years, one of the many memorable makeup phases involved cream eye shadows. Having far more creases than any eyelid should be allowed and an empty wallet from an insistence on finding just one creaseless cream that did not crease, I gave up and moved onto powder shadows. Until recently, cream eye shadows appeared back into my life like an old flame, and this time I was the one that benefited.

Luckily for my younger sister, I had three creaseless cream eye shadow shades with me, giving me greater bartering control over the situation. I gave each a try, narrowing down the one I would part with, and then I realized why she wanted it so badly. I held in my hand a truth telling creaseless cream eye shadow that indeed did not crease. The texture was creamy and made with a hint of soft shimmer causing the eye to beautify immediately. I held more value in my hands than I realized. Adhering to my promise and being the responsible older sister, “flying down too…” (Benefit’s version of a pinkish plum) was now full ownership of my younger sister…

And then she saw the matching lipsticks.

Available at Sephora and Macy’s, $19