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DKNY Jeans’ HSN-Exclusive Collection Benefiting St. Jude’s

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Dkny-hope-scarves

Dkny-believe-tee

Donna Karan's philanthropic spirit should be an inspiration to us all. Her Urban Zen Foundation focuses on creating campaigns and connecting individuals who hope to enact change in three distinct areas: promoting a well-being focused health care paradigm, whereby Western and Eastern medicinal practices and holistic methods are fully integrated; preserving cultures around the world, helping indigenous people in Third World countries find sustainable business models through the use of their own crafts and promoting the creation of organizations that protect the spiritual an cultural nuances of these regions; and empowering children by providing them with the necessary educational and health resources. In the past, she's teamed up with TONIC and even auctioned off some of her own wardrobe pieces to raise funds for the organization.

Now, in the spirit of giving that typifies the holiday season (or that's supposed to distinguish it, at the very least), Donna Karan has teamed up with the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign and launched a line of DKNY Jeans tees, denim, and scarves available exclusively at HSN, with a significant percentage of the proceeds benefiting St. Jude's Research Hospital. The hospital is devoted to finding cures and revolutionary treatments for pediatric cancer. 

Pictured above are some of the pieces in the limited-edition DKNY Jeans collection: the NYC Heart T-shirt, which features an outline of the New York skyline inside a pink heart; the Hope scarves, which are made of 60% cotton and 40% acrylic and which have the word "Hope" knitted along one end; and the Believe T-shirt, a cotton jersey top with the words "Believe" printed in silvertone studs.

As you can see, the pieces don't have a look-at-me-now air about them, but they're cute enough for those days when you want a more casual look (or for trips to the gym, errand runs, and chill days at home). Plus, cotton jersey is one of those fabrics that feels sumptuous against the skin, so they're likely to feel way more cozy than your average tee. And hey, if you can add some basics into your wardrobe rotation and feel good about it, knowing you're helping children around the world, why not go for it?

DKNY Jeans NYC Heart T-Shirt, $29; DKNY Jeans Hope Scarf, $29; and DKNY Believe T-Shirt, $29. Available at HSN.com

December 28, 2009

Kate Hudson Rocks Alexandre Birman At The “Nine” Premiere

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I've always been fond of Kate Hudon's red carpet style. I remember gasping over the sparkling Atelier Versace dress she wore to the 2002 Golden Globe Awards: a long-sleeved gown with a plunging neckline that rivaled the one on the sheer green Versace dress J.Lo wore to the 2000 Grammy Awards. The next year, she impressed me again with the haute hippie strapless Valentino dress she wore to the Golden Globes. Granted, she's had her fair share of fashion misses, but that's because she loves fashion enough to take risks — and, well, that's the price of any gamble. Needless to say, I was curious to see what she'd be wearing to the NYC and LA premieres of Nine, the film adaptation of the Tony-winning musical of the same name, which stars Hudson alongside Daniel-Day Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, and Nicole Kidman.
And, at the NYC premiere, Goldie's little girl did not disappoint — showing off her stems in a long-sleeved, shimmering, beaded Chanel minidress, which she paired with a black-and-white diamond Chopard ring, Steven Russe earrings, and the black Alexandre Birman peeptoe pumps pictured above.

The exotic reptile heels feature a peep toe and a small platform with white snakeskin piping for a chic but understated look that manages to complement Hudson's ensemble without overdoing it — after all, when you're wearing such an intricate dress and one with such a dramatic twist (such as the long train), your shoes need to remain fairly simple or else you risk forcing a look that's entirely too busy and distracting. These classic Alexandre Birman shoes are extremely versatile — not to mention the perfect black heels for any LBD.

Lucky Kate got her hands on these early, as they're a part of Birman's pre-fall 2010 collection. Don't shoot the messenger, ladies — it's just one of those perks that comes with celebrity status. But not to worry — I'll keep you in the loop about these beauties, so you know when you, too, can get your hands on them and dress to the "nines."

December 27, 2009

Kiss And Tell — The Best Lip Balms To Get You Through Winter

Baby, it's cold outside — and every single part of your body is feeling it, including your lips. So give a new meaning to "lip service" with these ultra moisturizing lip balms, which take all the work out of hydrating and soothing that pain-stricken pout.

Here, my fave lip moisturizers:

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Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15, $22.50. Visit Sephora.com

Every detail about Fresh's Sugar Lip Treatment was considered discerningly — from the cap, which twists on securely so that it can't possibly come off inside your purse or coat pocket, to the smooth, soothing texture, the moisturizing ingredients, and the SPF protection. The main ingredient, of course, is sugar, a natural humectant that not only delivers moisture to lips but seals it in. Other vital ingredients include grape seed oil and meadowfoam seed oil, both of which have antioxidant properties, and blackcurrant oil, which is packed with fatty acids that naturally plump lips. Vitamins A, C, and E further nourish lips and protect them from free radicals. Plus, it has this yummy lemon-y scent that adds to the whole appeal. Yup, it's the complete package.

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Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine, $9. Visit KorresUSA.com

I swear by all of Korres' Lip Butters, which are available in a wide range of scents including Plum, Mango, Wild Rose, Guava, Pomegranate, Quince and Jasmine. The lip butters include hydrating shea butter and rice wax, which effectively seals moisture into the lips. I also favor the Guava and Wild Rose lip butters, but the Jasmine one has the most natural tint (a pale nude pink) and it smells like a sweet treat (my little one says it smells like cotton candy!).

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Nude Skincare Nude Lips, $14. Visit NudeSkinCare.com

It took me a while to get used to the texture of Nude Lips but, once I did, it was a done deal. When you first dip your finger into the organic lip balm, it will feel a bit grainy and coarse. But, once you put it on your lips, it will melt thanks to your body temperature, softening exquisitely. The lip balm includes cupuacu butter (one of the most moisturizing ingredients I've ever encountered), Tahitian vanilla extract, Tahitian monoi extract, coconut oil, shea butter, and vitamin E. How much do I like this lip balm? I once teared when I ran out of it — real talk.

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La Mer The Lip Balm, $45. Visit CremeDeLaMer.com

Does La Mer ever go wrong? I've yet to try a La Mer product I didn't like — and this one is no exception. Like all of La Mer's products, the Lip Balm includes the company's marine extract-based Miracle Broth, as well as other botanicals (like mint) and vitamins that smooth, condition and moisturize lips. What I like most about The Lip Balm aren't its immediate results but, rather, its long-term effects. It doesn't necessarily yield immediate gratification as well as, say, Korres' lip butters, but it does wonders in strengthening the lips' moisture barrier so that your pout will be less likely to get chapped, irritated or overly dry when exposed to extreme heat or cold.

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iQ Derma Lip Quench, $31. Visit Glow.com

I tried iQ Derma's Lip Quench about two years ago when I ran out of the lip balm I was hopelessly devoted to at the time (I believe it was the Rosebud Salve, but seeing how many products I try, it might have been any number of things!). I remember being blown away by how efficiently it moisturized my lips even when they looked positively ravaged, crispy, flaky, and just plain ol' raggedy. An anti-aging product and lip moisturizer in one, Lip Quench features a blend of botanical and chemical ingredients including: maxi-lip, a hydrating peptide complex; antioxidant-rich olive and sweet almond oils; and Bio-oil HSBL, which locks in moisture and, in doing so, makes skin appear fuller and smoother.

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EOS Organic Lip Balm Smooth Sphere, $3.29. Visit EvolutionOfSmooth.com

As soon as I tried EOS's Smooth Sphere lip balm, I was hooked. The lip balm is packaged in a biodegradable, egg-like, plastic case with a flat bottom (so that you can rest it on a tabletop without fear of it rolling around all over the place). The paraben-free, phtalate-free, 95% organic lip balm features shea butter, Vitamin E, and jojoba oil to moisturize and soften lips. As you run it across your lips, you get a nice cooling sensation that feels really soothing. Plus, the sphere shape allows you to apply the lip balm without having to utilize your fingers (which carry so many germs).

Rosebud-salve
Rosebud Perfume Co. Rosebud Salve, $6. Visit Sephora.com

A staple in most makeup artists' kits, this tin holds a gentle moisturizing salve that lightly hydrates lips and adds a bit of shine. I love the light consistency, which is very similar to that of petroleum jelly, and the fact that the scent is so light (no forceful fruity, floral or candy-like smells).

Nuxe_honey_lip_balm
NUXE Reve De Miel Lip Balm, $21. Visit Amazon.com

This potent lip balm features ingredients like honey, a natural antibacterial and antiseptic, shea butter, almond oil, and calendula and rose oils to calm skin, nourish and moisturize. And, while the "Reve de Miel" name would suggest a sweet honey flavor, the lip balm actually smells (and tastes) like a zesty slice of grapefruit.

Crabtree-evelyn-cocoa-butter-cardamom-lip-balm
Crabtree & Evelyn Cocoa Butter & Cardamom Lip Balm SPF 8, $9. Visit Crabtree-Evelyn.com

This squeeze tube balm smells like a fresh jar of Nutella (or maybe the creamy hazelnut and chocolate inside of a Ferrero Rocher candy). Ingredients include cocoa seed butter, olive oil, soybean oil and shea butter to moisturize lips, beeswax to smooth the skin's surface, zinc oxide to provide SPF protection, and reflective minerals like zinc and titanium dioxide to add shine. The Crabtree & Evelyn Cocoa Butter & Cardamom lip balm also boasts a sheer terracotta-esque hue.

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Motives 40FY Lip Treatment, $20. Visit MotivesCosmetics.com

This new lip treatment from Motives Cosmetics is, well, a treat. When you first dab your finger inside the jar, you'll think it feels a bit like Vaseline but, when you glide it onto the skin, you'll notice its consistency is much thinner and any Vaseline-like stickiness disappears when you apply it onto the skin. The 40FY Lip Treatment smooths any fine lines and wrinkles, and it makes lips appear fuller and plumper — without any tingling, burning or discomfort.

December 26, 2009

Feel Like A Natural Woman With Vapour Beauty

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Launched by Eric Sakas, the makeup guru who co-founded Kevyn Aucoin Beauty  and later worked as the Director of Color for Philosophy, Vapour Organic Beauty features a range of all-natural color cosmetics with ingredients that are at least 70 percent organic. All of the cosmetics are packaged in retractable, roll-on sticks that you can just glide on to your skin for a hint of color. The cosmetics have a light, creamy texture, and provide a sheer, barely-there color that accentuates and highlights any existing features.

From foundation sticks to concealers, highlighters, blushes, cream eye shadows, lipsticks, and lip glosses, Vapour Organic Beauty’s products provide the desired color while also nourishing the skin with antioxidant ingredients like green tea and Tulsi, as well as anti-inflammatory agents like frankincense and chrysanthemum, and hydrating ingredients like myrrh and lotus flower.

Here’s a look at some of the products available, along with color swatches and more details on each!

Siren Lip Stick

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This creamy lip stick features a distinctive petroleum-free hydrating base: a natural polymer made with flash-heated plant oils. Each Siren lip stick contains lemon balm to heal chapped and damaged lips, myrrh to hydrate them, the anti-microbial botanical Iceland moss, and the antioxidant green tea. The lip sticks are available in five hues — all variations of pink, red, mauve and earth tones.

All the colors are pretty sheer, so they’ll barely be noticeable on the lips —there will just be slightly more color being deposited on the lips than you’d get from a tinted lip balm. The hues include: Tempt, a nude pink;  Hint, a deep, coral-y pink; Desire, a cool purple-tinged pink; and Knock Out, a dark wine color with golden brown tones. Below, you’ll find some swatches showing you what the colors look like on my skin.

Siren Lip Stick Swatches (from top to bottom): Tempt, Hint, Desire, and Knockout

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Vapour Organic Beauty Siren Lipstick, $19 each. Visit VapourBeauty.com

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Elixir Lipgloss

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Like the Siren Lip Stick, the Elixir Sheer Lip Gloss does not use a petroleum base — instead, it relies on the aforementioned co-polymer created with natural castor and beeswax by flash-heating plants in a vacuum.  The Elixir glosses are, of course, stickier than the Siren lipsticks and they have way more shine, but they’re incredibly sheer so I’d advise layering them atop the Siren colors of your choice if you’re going for a more textured, richly pigmented look. The glosses are available in five hues: Hush, an understated nude pink hue; Enigma, a violet hue with pink tones; Twinkle, a cool pink; Sultry, a warm russet hue; and Hypnotic, a deep sangria color.

Personally, I wouldn’t recommend wearing these alone, since I found that they have a very odd, almost watery consistency that prevents them from evenly distributing color (you can actually get a sense of what I’m referring to from the pics below). On the lips, the colors tend to migrate to the corners of your mouth, which can be rather irksome.

That being said, I love how the cooling, soothing sensation they create on the lips, so I’m hoping that, with a little tinkering, they’ll perfect the formula so I can’t have any complaints about the way the color is distributed on the lips.

Swatches (from left to right): Enigma, Hypnotic, Sultry, and Hush

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Vapour Organic Beauty Elixir Lipgloss, $20 each. Visit VapourBeauty.com

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Aura Multi Use Blush

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My grandma would sometimes apply some lipstick along her cheekbones and blend it with her fingertips — she said the color gave her a much more natural glow than what she got from powder blushes. The Aura Multi Use Blush is based on that same principle — each of these color sticks is meant to be rolled onto cheeks (or eyes or lips) to give these features a bit of a glow.

The Aura Blush is available in three shades: Crush, a perky light pink; Spark, a warm peach-y shade; and Torch, a sheer deep pink. The colors look rather vibrant in their packaging but when you apply them onto the skin and blend, they’re way more subtle. Similarly, as you blend, you’ll notice the texture change slightly — from a creamy consistency to a silkier, softer texture. Below, you’ll see what the three shades look like on skin. All of them can be blended with your fingertips or with a professional brush, but I’d recommend going the old fashioned route and letting your fingers do the walking.

Aura Multi Use Blush Swatches (from top to bottom): Crush, Spark, and Torch

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Vapour Organic Beauty Aura Multi Use Blush, $28. Visit VapourBeauty.com

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Illusionist Perfecting Concealer

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These mineral concealers feature soothing ingredients like: frankincense, an anti-inflammatory; Tulsi, an anti-oxidant; and lotus flower, a hydrating botanical. Silica and lysine, meanwhile, add a velvety finish. Vapour Beauty’s concealers provide a fair amount of coverage, while also soothing the skin and reflecting light so as to create an optical illusion that further conceals any existing imperfections.

My one concern with these concealers is that they’re only available in three shades, which can be kind of tricky considering that so many women won’t fit within such a limited spectrum. And sure, you can blend them and try to create a color that better suits you — but, even then, the undertones may not work for you, plus there’s only one dark shade available.


Illusionist Perfecting Concealer Swatches (from top to bottom): 010 Light, 020 Medium, and 030 Dark

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Vapour Organic Beauty Illusionist Concealer, $20. Visit VapourBeauty.com

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Mesmerize Eye Color Treatment

Mesmerize-charm Mesmerize-storm Mesmerize-trance Mesmerize-flash

These mineral pigments deliver just a hint of color to lids and include gentle botanical ingredients like chrysanthemum, eyebright, and horsetail, which also help to reduce puffiness and to increase circulation so as to firm the eye area and minimize the appearance of fine lines.

In terms of a colors, the range focuses mostly on earth tones with varying pink or red undrtones (with the main exception being Storm, a charcoal-y gray color). They’re all rather sheer so, once again, the idea is to simply accentuate the eye are, liven it up a bit, and give you a well-rested, youthful, vibrant appearance that looks entirely natural (like a warm glow). Your best bet with these colors is to blend them with your fingertips but again, you should keep in mind that the effect will be minimal (and that that’s the goal). That being said, then, contouring the eye and pulling off more accomplished looks is rather tricky with these shadows (even if you’re using professional brushes), so I’d suggest only using these for very simple looks.

There are five shades available: Charm, a light peach pink; Flash, a taupe with pink tones; Smolder, a brown with russet tones; Storm, a charcoal-like gray; and Trance, a deep mahogany brown.

My main dislike with the Mesmerize Eye Color Treatment shadows is that, unlike some creamy shadows, which develop a more powdery consistency once on the lids, these stay creamy the entire time you wear them, which makes them more prone to smudging and streaking (plus, you don’t get that dewy finish). I’d suggest setting the shadows with a bit of powder but, even then, avoid touching your eyes when you rock these.

Mesmerize Eye Color Swatches (from top to bottom): Charm, Flash, Smolder, Storm and Trance


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Vapour Organic Beauty Mesmerize Eye Color, $16. Visit VapourBeauty.com

December 25, 2009

Pop In These DVDs And Enjoy The Holidays!

Merry Christmas, my lovely STA readers! I know many of you are laying low today, enjoying some time with your loved ones (and maybe even rejoicing over whatever trinkets were in your stocking). If you feel like getting a DVD to watch, consider these great options — and happy holidays!

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Public Enemies (Two-Disc Special Edition DVD), $21.49. Buy at Amazon.com

One of the year's greatest films (yes, I place it above Star Trek, Transformers 2, and all the other blockbuster sci-fi/action flicks), Public Enemies is an action-packed, thrilling ride and a semi-biopic (though it's not billed as such, many of the scenes were based on real-life footage). Johnny Depp delivers yet another brilliant performance as John Dillinger, the notorious bank robber who wrought havoc on the Chicago area in the years following the Great Depression. Directed by Michael Mann, the film includes some of Dillinger's most famous jobs (and even the jail breakouts he masterminded), but it goes beyond gun-slinging to capture the feel of that era.

Dillinger targeted the financial and governmental institutions that had brought on the most dire of financial conditions, with people across America losing their homes, their land, their jobs, and all their belongings as a result of the bank system's collapse. At a time when there was so much anger towards these institutions, then, Dillinger was seen as a hero of sorts — sure, he wasn't leading an uprising, but he was raising a giant middle finger to the system that had failed America's middle, working, and lower classes. During his bank-robbing sprees, he was aid to have told the customers inside the banks to put their money away, as he sought only the banks' money. The average person, then, didn't see him as any sort of villain — if anything, they cheered him on. Plus, Dillinger possessed a charisma and a charm that made him positively endearing. 

Michael Mann does a superb job, studying archival footage of John Dillinger (during press conferences after his capture and such), studying news articles from the era, and even shooting on location at the jail where Dillinger was held (even inside the cell where Dillinger had been locked up). Each of the film's players, particularly Christian Bale (who stars as the FBI agent who leads the Dillinger task force) and Marion Cotillard (who plays Dillinger's girlfriend Billie Frechette) seemed equally invested in accurately capturing the personality traits, the mannerisms, and the overall feel of their characters. And the showdown between the FBI agents and Dillinger's crew? Well, that alone is reason to watch.

Extract-dvd
Extract DVD, $17.99. Available at Amazon.com

Many critics have labeled this workplace comedy a return to the type of wry, clever humor that made director Mike Judge's Office Space a cult classic,  focusing on the banality of the workplace and the redundancy of our home/life routines — themes that prove relatable to almost any viewer. Jason Bateman plays Joel, a relatively affluent man who owns an extract company that fares well and is being courted by General Mills. It's a boring and uninspiring job, but hey, it pays the bills. His marriage is even more unremarkable since his wife seems to never be in the mood for any type of lovemaking Disgruntled and confused, he confides in his druggie, slacker, bartender best friend (played by Ben Affleck with surprising charm), who doles out some positively ludicrous advice.Things get even more complicated when a freak workplace accident threatens the company's financial buoyancy, and a sexy new temp (played by Mila Kunis) shows up at the extract plant and tempts Joel into considering an affair.

While it doesn't contain as many quotable moments as Office Space, Extract does hit some high notes, mainly thanks to Jason Bateman, who deftly captures the malaise of the average working stiff. 

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Weeds Season Four DVD, $29.99. Available at Amazon.com

At the end of Season 3, our favorite pot-dealing suburban mom was forced to leave her old nabe, after the goons she hired for "protection" from a biker gang set fire to not only the bikers' pad, but the entire neighborhood. At the start of Season 4, then, Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker) is uprooting her family (older son Silas, younger son Shane, and brother-in-law Andy) and finally decides to head for her father-in-law's home, which is situated right by the border between California and Mexico). Once there, Nancy starts to work on a plan, teaming up with Guillermo (the same man who was responsible for torching her old nabe) and asking for a piece of the action. She soon becomes their designated smuggler (but she's bringing in more than pot, folks!) — and, after she earns Guillermo's trust, he sets her up to operate a maternity store (which is, of course, a complete front).

As Nancy starts to learn more about Guillermo and who his associates are, she realizes she's now part of an elaborate criminal network that literally stretches all the way to the top tiers of government in Mexico. Impetuous and impulsive, she starts asking too many questions, makes some very questionable decisions, and manages to incur the wrath of both her criminal association and the authorities.

Though entertaining, Season 4's plot lines prove rather outlandish and far-fetched, and we end up longing for the good old days when Nancy was setting up grow houses with Connor. Also, Nancy's personality and demeanor change this season, as the writers try to transform her into more of a badass, fearless female — and instead, wind up making her a caricature of her earlier self and one whose intentions and motivations we have a much harder time understanding.

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