The Weekly Round Up

One certainly couldn't miss the excitement and glamour of the Royal Wedding on Friday. This week's beauty and fashion bloggers give us several ways in which we can all feel beautiful and special. Wasn't Kate  The Duchess of Cambridge magnificent!!!???
Guerlain's Terra Inca Collection has us clamoring for summer. Best Things in Beauty focuses on the Ombré Fusion Creme Eyeshadow from the collection.

Martha and Me (and maybe You)!

Remarkably, I actually have two things in common with the original Domestic Goddess Martha Stewart.    It certainly isn't gardening, since I have aversion to dirt and worms.  And it definitely isn't baking as I have even managed to screw up Duncan Heinz brownies, (fyi: Extra Virgin Olive Oil does not count as vegetable oil).

What we do share is a relationship with the delightful Annie Fisher, her stylist for The Martha Stewart Show and a personal client of mine, who also shops with me at Richards occasionally for Martha. Martha and me also share an affinity for Dr. Gerald Imber's Youth Corridor.  Dr. Imber, is one of N.Y.'s most renowned Plastic Surgeons, with a long list of celebrity clients alledgedly.  I read his no nonsense paperback book The New Youth Corridor (The Guide to Timeless Beauty), from cover to cover about a year ago.  It is chock full of information about prevention and maintenance tips for healthy skin, with specific assessments for treatments for different ages. My favorite of his no-no's???...Don't Run.  Dr. Imber believes the continuous pounding leads to skin laxity and sunken faces.  Phew!!! A great excuse reason to avoid an aerobic activity I hate.  Thanks Doc!

For me, the star of the Youth Corridor regimen is the Skin Brightener with Botanicals and AHA (alpha hydroxy acid).  It is housed in an ocean blue glass vile, with a rubber tipped squeeze dropper.  If I had to guess, I would imagine it is to protect the potency and stabilization of the Skin Brightener and the dropper helps keep the "dosing" exact.  The consistency of this shimmering, opaque fluid is cool to the touch.  Just 3 drops gets my skin glowing and radiant each morning and the hydroquinone free formula works to lighten age spots and freckles.

When it fell to the bathroom floor the other morning, I actually contemplated salvaging it!  (Who knows??? Maybe glass shards would make an excellent exfoliator)!.  Fortunately, I came to my senses, but for $95 bucks, you would have thought about it too...admit it.

I contacted  the P.R. executive who represents Dr. Imber and nicely asked if they would replace it.  I also asked, since I LOVE this product so much, if they would consider doing a giveaway for my readers. Nice and nicer, they not only agreed to both requests, but they are offered to provide two Skin Brighteners for my giveaway!!!

How can you double your chances of winning?  Help me continue to grow my readership and email this blog to your BFF...then split it!  Every person who leaves a comment will have a chance to win.  I will pick the winners randomly on Monday May 2nd at 8 p.m.  Good luck to all and don't for get to check back to see if you won... and if you did, just remember to "handle with care".

xox,
DD

The Weekly Round Up

It's a busy weekend for many, but we hope you'll take a spin through the beauty-verse with us.

Sabrina is a lucky gal. She spent time with Edward Bess at Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills! Her husband even commented on her glamorous makeup when she got home. Go see what Edward selected for her at The Beauty Look Book.

Some Body

Essentially, I am on high alert for an anti-aging body lotion and if I ever do find it, I don't want to spend big bucks on it. And yes, I'm cranky..  Every mass market brand from Olay to LOreal has stepped up their game when it comes to anything north of the clavicle.   Is it really too much to ask for?  Somebody? I don't think so.

I'm no dope...I have used plenty of left over so-so facial products intended to "diminish fine lines, lighten age spots,repair and firm" on everything butt.  I don't quite understand why this is so elusive.  In the interim, while I seeth the one lotion I do keep coming back to and buy in two's is Nivea Essentially Enriched Daily Lotion for Very Dry, Rough Skin, which is certainly not.

As promised, with its infusion of Almond Oil and Sea Minerals it does provide "non-stop" 24 hour hydration.  I like how it feels going on...it's more gel like than oily and it leaves a gorgeous glow on my skin. I have always loved the smell of Nivea and it reminds me of my youth, since my Mom has always been a fan of all things Dove and Nivea, (and frankly, often wonders if they brought her the wrong bundle in the hospital).  It all seems to be a 5 star favorite on the numerous sites that I checked reviews.

Me?  I'll dangle that fifth star---.throw me a bone...a little olive leaf extract, hyaluronic acid, coffee berry, glycolic acid, licorice root,  Vitamin C.  Something. Somebody... my head is starting to look like my bodies trophy wife.

xox,
DD

The Magic of Margo...and Mousse

When I look under my sink at the dozens of hair products that reside there, they fall distinctly into two camps:  Volumizers that build overall body and add lift to the roots and  Straighteners that tame frizz and add shine.   Therein lies the crux of my problem; I like volume but don't want to look dated.  I want shine but feel ridiculous with pin straight flat hair.  When I have my hair blown out professionally, inevitably that's what I end up with...that is of course, until I had a blow out for an event with Margo Levitin, Senior Stylist at Warren Tricomi, Greenwich, who understands that every now and then a Girl wants Housewife Hair, God help us.  This was an experience, requiring 4 hands, 5 round brushes (the size of turkey legs), a can of mousse and Margo's firm instructions.  It is no wonder that so many assistants have graduated to full time, successful stylists under Margo's bootcamp tutelage.  She is simply the best.  As requested, Helmet Hair with a Texas T.  Thanks Margo for letting me have my way, your way.  It was a blast!!!

It's been a looooong time since anyone used mousse in my hair. Could I recreate any of Margo's magic at home?  I can't deny that I did like the volume it provides, but not the tacky dullness.  I took a really good look under that sink, and saw an unused can of TRESemme Climate Control Mousse,  that I had picked up at the TRESemme booth they sponsor during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.  TRESemme's philosophy is to provide women with "Professional, Affordable" hair care...makes sense to me.  Infused with keratin and olive oil, could the breakthrough product I have been dreaming about been living right under my nose???

SKII Facial Treatment Masks- Are You Ready for Your Close Up?

When I showed my Mother the picture of me in this mask, she literally gasped.   "You look like Hannibal Lecter! Why are you keeping that horrible photo of yourself"??? she asked in mock horror.  "To show my readers how I looked during my Princess prep for the event I am co-chairing .  "You cannot be serious, I forbid it". 

Huh??? I thought that was hilarious, so I showed it to my friend Naki for a second opinion...."Delete.  Delete. Delete".  Oh alright you two, you win. 

Could something that made me look so hideous redeem itself  by delivering radiant results?  SK II Facial Treatment Mask is, the same stuff, after all, that Cate Blanchette and other celebs use before all their Red Carpet events

It Takes a Village...

On Thursday night, I had the privilege of Co-Chairing The Making Dreams a Reality event to benefit the Ashikari Breast Center, with the esteemed Dr. Roy Ashikari.  They also, most kindly, made me their Honoree.  It was a spectacular night at the Tappan Hill Mansion in Tarrytown, N.Y. and because this is one of famed caterer Abigail Kirsch's establishments, the food was sublime...not a rubber chicken in sight.

Diva being Diva, I was naturally in uber high maintenance Princess mode. I will share my preparation antics in installments.  It was equal if not more  than my bridal prep...coincidentally, I was almost married at Tappan Hill.  It was before A.K. took it over and revamped it...Ma-Ma and I took one look at the silverware,  which looked like it shared dishwasher space with the local diner and turned on our heels. Now it is a truly elegant venue, perfect for any important celebration.

The timing couldn't have been better to receive an inquiry asking if I would be interested in trying Crest 3d White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips and Crest 3D White Advanced Vivid Enamel Toothpaste  "Yes please...and can you FedEx it to me"?

TheWeekly Round Up

Spring fever has us bursting with beauty this week! See what the best beauty bloggers have to share with you:

While in Paris, Amy from Cafe Makeup has been tempting us with beautiful makeup like these new Dior Aurora Powder bronzers. Stunning!

Rita to the Root Rescue

The nano-second I caught wind of the fact that celebrity hair colorist Rita Hazan, (of J.Lo honey streaked fame) had created a spray on root concealer, I went into manic mode.  I immediately Googled her and was surprised not to find  Root Concealer being sold on her own website...in fact there is no website.   It is however, being sold at Sephora.  I immediately called my two local locations...both thought I was loco---never heard of it.This is the type of product I want to see and sample before purchasing, so I  put it on the back burner,  even though I lovelovelove the concept of spraying away my gray.

The Weekly Round Up

This was a good week for beauty, from spring's daffodils (somewhere)... to our pursuit of the latest and greatest beauty products. Come along with us on a spring tour.