NARS Collection Spring 2010

Here are some photos of the Spring 2010 Collection from NARS. Please call us for any special order requests
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Huge Merger on the Horizon....

This is one of the biggest pieces of news to hit the beauty industry all year (see link below)...I feel like this can go in any direction. On one hand, one of my favorite things about Bare Escentuals is the fact that it hasn't gone "corporate," but on the other hand, I think that the only way to strengthen such a growing brand is to create a solid company structure, something that Shiseido has maintained successfully and proven. Without a doubt, it is a great growth opportunity for Bare Escentuals, especially since Shiseido pretty much owns the Asian market (well deserved, in my opinion.) I just hope that Bare Escentuals maintains its original business plan and doesn't fall into the trap of greed and over-growth because the fundamental reason for its amazing customer loyalty is its non-corporate image. The products themselves are great quality and original, yet this is one of those classic examples of buying into a story, and one that women relate to and trust. If Bare Escentuals loses that "personal touch," and sells its soul to generic ideas and less than stellar customer service, then all that will be left will be something as boring as supermarket brand butter. It will be a staple that most women will inevitably buy, but the experience will be bland, and the chances of her branching out to other products will be about as likely as going to Publix for butter and coming home with six packs of grade A truffle infused butter.

I am not quick to judge how this situation/merger will turn out because it could also be extremely successful for both companies and rewarding to the consumer. I also have a really good feeling about this because I personally have a lot of faith in Shiseido and its umbrella of brands. I love that Shiseido has been about to globalize and still maintain exclusivity and quality in its product lines. We are dealing with two very powerful creatures here that have the ability to take over the world...one lipstick at a time. I will be following this business deal and reporting on it regularly!

Link to WWD article-- http://www.wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/shiseido-makes-17b-bid-for-bare-escentuals-2411065?module=today#/article/beauty-industry-news/shiseido-makes-17b-bid-for-bare-escentuals-2411065?page=2

Achy Breaky...Lips??

A couple of weeks ago we received a shipment of these newly packaged lip balms from Rosebud Salve Co at Beauty Loft Tallahassee. I, like the rest of the beauty obsessed world, became attached to the original formula a number of years ago. Since then, new flavors have been released and new formulations have been created. However fun and exciting the new salves are when they are first released, it seems like I am always reaching for the original for my lips (and cuticles on a particularily dry day.) And as much as I love the original formula, which has been popular for over a century...the packaging is just not designed for a warm climate. If you live in Florida and you have ever left one of these in the car on a summer day, you know exactly what I am talking about! When we need to make orders for Beauty Loft in the summetime, we actually hygenically open each one before we put it on the shelves to ensure its freshness! So you can image my excitement when these tubes of the famous salve arrived! I immediately placed them on the front desk where you check out, next to our eternally burning NARS candle (there is just something about the Bosphurus scent that I can't get enough of.)
Immediately after placing them on my counter, customers recognized the pure genius of the new product. Slowly they began to disappear...and I started to get increasingly worried. With only three remaining, I knew I needed to act quickly. Even though I had been fighting the inner voice that told me that "one more gloss would be the straw on the horse's back," I couldn't sell out without snagging one for myself. I was able to justify the taken item, of course...I mean, it is winter, my lips are very dry and chapped and the packaging simply couldn't ruin my car seats.

Feeling very pleased with myself, I carried it around for at least a day. Yes...you heard right...ONE DAY! I seem to have left it in my boyfriends new car on its first outing...and haven't seen it since. He seemed to have noticed that not only does it moisturize without leaving a trace of girly color but it feels and smells great. My adventure with the new Rosebud Salve was short lived but very promising, i believe, because now he has very soft lips! And I think I might just need to snag another one...but don't tell....

NARS New Book

FINALLY there will be a new NARS book! This is so exciting! I'm sure most of us are already fans of the original one (but it seems like it has been around forever!) The book will be $80, but they are only publishing 1,500 of them. Here are some blurbs from WWD.com:

"Like Nars’ earlier book, “X-Ray,” the portraits are intended to transform their subjects into new personas — but the twist this time is that there are two inspirations for each shot, an iconic image, person or emotion and a classic Nars product. The book features portraits of 15 celebrities: Marc Jacobs, Isabella Rossellini, Amber Valletta, Dayle Haddon, Naomi Campbell, Amanda Lepore, Daphne Guinness, François Vincentelli, Natasha Poly, Lisa Marie Smith, Olivier Theyskens, Carla Gugino, Shalom Harlow, Tyson Ballou and Jennifer Jason Leigh. “Basically, I wanted people who reflected my taste, friends and people I admired for their look and talent,” said Nars. “I love the way Marc looks, but also what he is and does. I tried to pick people not just for looks, but for talent."

" Any copies that do not sell on 15x15project.com will be sold via narscosmetics.com. Every penny raised by the book, Desazars emphasized, will be donated to charity. Each celebrity chose a pet charity, and all proceeds from the sales of that person’s photos and images will be donated to his or her charity. At least $150,000 is expected to be raised. “We all have to give — there is a lot of need out in the world,” said Nars."

When the beach seems far, far away...

Fall is my favorite time of year for many reasons; the weather, that tiny chill in the air that makes you want to throw on a scarf and boots (but not quite cold enough for mittens and earmuffs), the festive atmosphere of Halloween, and the preparation of Thanksgiving, (and it's also my birthday season!) There is nothing more magical to me than the leaves changing colors, the smell of fireplaces, and hot apple cider. I could go on all day about how much I love fall, but there is one thing that fall can't offer, and that is a glowing tan. Beach days are a thing of the past by now, meaning that your tan is probably (if not completely) faded.



One of the beautiful things about fall is the darker clothing options; it's time to pack up the pastels and brights and trade them in for something a little bit more sophiscated and bold. But naturally, whenever you change your wardrobe in any way (much like a hair color) your makeup wardrobe must change with it. It's time to pull out your under-the-bed storage container and put your bright pink lipsticks, nude lip glosses, dark shimmery bronzers, and poppy colored blushes safely in it. For me, the hardest thing to part with is my bronzer. During the summer months (and in Florida we have a lot of them) it becomes my best friend. On days when I didn't sleep much, it fakes 8, it transforms my skin from dull and lifeless to "hello Cancun!" and it is the perfect accessory to absolutely any summer outfit. But when the weather turns colder and my skin loses its natural tan, bronzer looks nothing short of Anne Hathaway in Bride Wars (you know what I'm taking about.)

The most important lesson this fall in terms of changing your makeup wardrobe is this: don't fight it! When your skin looses its summer luster, don't overcompensate with bronzer and wear a turtleneck to cover up your super pale neck and chest. Choose a flattering blush for fall that is not candy colored, which only really looks good on tan or darker complexions. Instead choose something a little bit more wine or ruby hued that will work with your skin even if you get a few shades lighter. My favorite for fall is NARS blush in Dolce Vita because it adds natural looking color to the skin without sparkle or Playboy Bunny artificial-ness:

Another important thing to remember when you're choosing a fall palette is to steer clear from nudes and other light summery colors that will wash you out. This fall season, the right lip color is your best accessory because it will flatter your warmer clothing choices as well as your darker cheek colors. I love how the models at the Dolce and Gabbana Spring 2010 show (above) look sophiscated without seeming to harsh or dramatic. Their skin has a little bit of glow, but no fake orange-y tan, and their dark lip colors flatter their complextions perfectly. Go for one that will add warmth to your skin, such as a dark pink or a sheer berry. I would steer clear of bright, bold reds for now, they can be very hard to pull off during the day, and can wash out lighter skin tones if not chosen correctly. My top fall picks are (from left to right) NARS lip stain gloss in Sayonara (which looks very light in this picture for some reason, but is a deep berry in real life) and Urban Decay Lipstick in Wanted; a sheer berry, frost-bitten color that can be layered for a darker effect.

So how did it hold up?

Like I promised I would, I wanted to give a proper review of the new NARS mascara. I didn't think that it would be fair to review this after only wearing it for a few hours and not doing anything that would test it out. So after wearing this for a couple hours at The Beauty Loft, I went off to the gym to a Pure Muscle class (needless to say, this class, done right, should have you pretty sweaty...perfect for a true test.) I went into the bathrooms at the gym after the hour long class and a sopping wet forehead, and it hadn't run at all. Well I wasn't satisfied just yet. So I went into the hot coal suana. I love the sauna; somebody once told me that if you don't let your pores sweat, it's kind of like never going to the bathroom, and you can imagine how many toxins would be in your system if you never flushed them out! The only problem about the sauna is that any non-waterproof makeup that you might be wearing will be streaming down your face when you step out. I spent about 20-25 minutes letting myself relax and steam up. As soon as I got out, I ran to the ladies room to see the status on my new mascara. Thankfully, it wasn't running down my face at all, in fact, I only had a little bit of smudging and zero flaking. I showered and felt very satisfied. Make sure that you have a good makeup remover on hand when you use this mascara because just soap and water won't remove it completely...Overall I am very impressed with the wand and thickness that it delivers, and now I am confident that it will last all day (and night) no matter what you do (including working out.)

On a darker note...

So after much waiting and anticipation, the Fall 2009 NARS collection has finally arrived! I have received the new Makeup Cleansing Oil, which has a slight lemon scent and a soft, but not greasy texture. It is great for removing tricky eye makeup that likes to stick to your lids and lashes. I usually don't like oils around my eyes, but this one is gentle and doesn't pull at my delicate lashes. I also received a new single eyshadow; Mekong, a rich chocolate brown with golden sparkles. (see below)

Also new in stock are three duo eyeshadows; Brumes, a slightly shimmery navy and matte eggplant pair:
,
Indian Summer, an interesting pairing of a soft, eye-brightening gold and a matte deep yellow color:

and finally, Silk Road:

a set of soft, shimmering pinks. Silk Road is going to be a big winner this season because it really captures the softenss that a pink should have, especially on the eyes. I see way too many deep pinks and scarily enough, mauves (gasp!) on eyes, that do nothing but leave the wearer looking tired and sad. Silk Road has the most perfect, delicate ballet slippers pink with a touch of gold shimmer, and a darker pink with visible gold sparkles that is the perfect compliment to a soft green or muted brown. I also got in a new lipstick color;
Fast Ride, a gorgeous berry color that goes on sheer but builds into a flattering "just drank berry tea" look.

I was also excited to try the new NARS mascaras today. I have been a fan for a while of their original mascara in Black Orchid for its no-clump wand and no-run waterproof formula. However, I am always looking to find a new favorite! I was highly impressed with the new Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara because it is the first thickening mascara that I have ever used that actually made my lashes super full. I did one eye first and had to show somebody the unbelieveable difference between my newly full lash and my naturally thin one. It can incredible and I am so excited! I am testing it out tonight to see if it runs or flakes (it is raining here so it truly is the ultimate test...rain+humidity=racoon circles.) I will let you know how it goes and if if stand up to me thorough test! The other new mascara out by NARS is the Larger Than Life Lengthening Mascara. It has a rubber wand with little carefully placed rubberized bristles for seperating and obviously, lengthening! You can expect zero clumps with this one, and very long lashes. (I can't wait to use them together to reap both benefits for Twiggy-style lashes!) Another thing that I want to mention about these mascaras is their very cool packaging. A normal mascara tube has a very long wand and not a very long "mascara" area where the color sits. With these new mascaras however, the tube is slit in half, making the wand area half the size of a normal one, therefore making it a lot easier to reach and coat those itty-bitty lashes. You'll understand what I'm saying when you see it in person!
And lastly, I want to mention the new NARS nail polishes. This fall's colors seem to be dark, inky purples and mauves, which I love. It's a refreshing break from navy and black, which are fun but in my opinion, not very sophiscated. My favorite item from the has to be the new nail polish color NARS 2009 Fall Collection isTokaido Express.

It is a beautiful purple with flecks of gold. Imagine the darkest berry purple with a slight sheen and there you have it. At first glance you don't know that it's a purple at all, but upon closer examination you can see how beautiful it really is. I was honestly getting tired of all of the matte colors for nail this fall, but this renewed my faith in dark nail polish. I can wear this without feeling like I took a black sharpie to my nails! And the other nail polish color that I received today is M.Butterfly,

a deep berry rich in red and just dripping with sophiscation. Overall, I am impressed with the collection; I think that it has some serious potiental to sell well to both fashion-forward women and women who choose sophiscation as their first beauty priority. Enjoy the rich berries of fall while they still last!

Rainy Day Skin?

It's inevitable...those days when no matter what you do, your skin still looks terrible Unlike hair, you can't twist it up in a bun or cover it with a big floppy hat. Most of the time, makeup just makes the situation even worse, leaving you with skin that doesn't look any better, just covered up. There are of course tricks that you can do at home if you absolutely need to leave the house, such as splashing cold water on your face, rubbing it gently with sugar, and going for a quick run. There's also pinching your face as hard as you can, wearing a veil, and tactfully making your hair cover over the parts that you would prefer not to show. But sadly, none of these things actually make your skin look better in the long term. Whenever I'm having one of these "rainy day skin days" when my skin just wants to hide inside the house, I depend on the NARS Brightening Serum. One pump of this (or two if for a very bad day) mixed in with my moisturizer and I feel like jumping for joy. It illuminates with a pink hued pearlescence that instantly makes my skin look more awake and refreshed. The texture is not sticky and light enough to wear under makeup and concealer, helping me fake a quick jog or 8 hours of sleep. Love this product, I just wish they would come out with a travel size for on-the-go perking up.

Orange on the Fall 2009 Runway

Orange is normally a color that I associate with fall; pumpkins, gourds, candy corn, leaves. But the hue that I saw on the Fall 2009 runways is breathtaking. I sat here thinking how I can incorporate such a bright color into my fall beauty wardrobe and BAM! it came to me. Orange lipstick is far too unflattering for the majority of mortals, orange eyeshadow can be interesting if done right (which 99.9% of the time it's not,) and orange blush is too darn tricky to pull off. Then I remembered that NARS re-released their vintage best selling nail polishes this fall, and one of them is this gorgeous shade of orange that I keep seeing popping up. NARS nail polish in Cha Cha Cha is the perfect, most flattering way to snake in orange this fall. My inspiration is coming from the Michael Kors Ready To Wear Fall 2009 show, where he brilliantly threw in bolts of orange color in with crisp black suits and buttery leather jackets. I can't wait to wear my black trench coat, some spiky black heels and a pop of Cha Cha Cha this fall...it's seasonally festive in a jet-set runway sort of way.

Shock Me

On most days, I am a pretty neutral girl. I like a ballet slippers-esque colors on my nails, a sheer gold on my lids, and a little gray eyeliner. But some days I just want some color...to break out of the old and feel like a true makeup trendster. The NARS nail color in Schiap is the perfect way to feel pretty and bold again. It's the cosmopolitan of the nail polish world; schocking pink, delicious, and refreshing. Plus it seems that trend-setter Marc Jacobs has caught onto my favorite bright color too (see above.) And when I'm feeling back to my normal self, I can just wipe it off...no commitment necessary. If only everything were this simple and fantastic...

NARS Eyeshadow in Tropic

As soon as the new summer collection from NARS arrived at my store, I was taken with Tropic. The aqua blue shadow with embedded silver sparkle took my breath away. I love how the NARS shadows don't just have a sheen of glitter on top like many cheap shadows do. The NARS shadows have layers upon layers of color and huge chunks of glitter, so that once you wipe off the top part of your shadow, there is plenty left. NARS can be very surprising sometimes (both with color selection and color name) but never have I been so entranced by a single color as I am with Tropic. Every time I look at it I see the Mediterranean Sea. ...