Luminous Lumene

How do I know when I really, really LOVE one of the many skin care products I sample???

Easy.... I buy it over and over again.

I received an email from my friends at Kaplow P.R., who represent Lumene, the Finnish skincare brand that has developed a cult-following in the US, since launching at CVS/pharmacy in 2004. Lumene now has more than five lines and 50 products overall, so it can be hard to choose a favorite!

They shared with me some of their team member’s all-time faves (in their own words), to share with my readers and of course I will share mine with you too:

La Peau: La creme de la creme

Timing is everything, it it not??? I like to test my skin care products, one at a time and minimally, for a full 3-4 weeks before assessing them.

Lately, I've noticed how bright, tight and glowing my friend Linda Levy's skin has been looking bright, tight and glowing...

"What have you been up to Missy"???
"Have you heard of  LA PEAU"?
 (I had not).
"I think it's amazing"! "It's getting spectacular press.  Raves from Beauty Editors and it's already developing a celeb-cult following.  I can't believe I'm telling you about something that's not already on your radar"!

Linda was so intrigued and impressed with her results that she met with LA PEAU's owner's, sisters Carla-Maria and Irma Khanjian,  when they were in N.Y. last week. She spoke with the sisters about my blog DivaDebbi and they kindly decided to send me their three step LA PEAU program:  Night Cream Gel ($90), Day Cream Gel ($85) and Eye Contour ($65) to try for myself...perfect timing. (click on the LA PEAU links to purchase).  Inconceivably,  I'm  out of new skin care products to review.
This is my equivalent of winning Lotto.

Your Invited! John Frieda's Winter Wonderland at Bryant Park

Skater's at Bryant Park (N.Y. Public Library in the background)

Recently, I was in N.Y. on a perfectly gorgeous, fall day. I found myself with an hour in between appointments, so I put on my thinking cap to figure out where I could enjoy an hour of reading and fresh air... 

I admit I haven't been back to Bryant Park, since Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week moved to it's new home at Lincoln Center.  I was happily surprised, to see that it now hosts a skating rink, Celsius Lounge and a bevy of  Holiday Shops with vendors selling jewelry, pottery, clothing, chocolate, spices.  I felt like a stumbled upon a country crafts fair, right in the heart of N.Y.C.  Enchanting!

Holiday Shops at Bryant Park



Celsius Lounge



When I received an invitation to attend a John Frieda event at the Celsius Lounge at Bryant Park,  I knew immediately I'd be happy to return.  Nicely, this is not just a Beauty Blogger event, but one that is open to the public! Conair pro's will be on hand to provide complimentary blow outs and hair styling with John Frieda Styling Tools.  The first 40 guests will also receive free passes for skate rentals:

In addition, the contents of a specially decorated Holiday tree of John Frieda Styling tools and brushes will be donated to the Safe Horizon charity foundation, to support victims of domestic violence.  Complimentary Popcorn and hot beverages will be served.

It seems Bryant Park is full of happy surprises these days!  I hope to see you there...

xox,
DD

The Truth About...

Botox.

As the Holiday season officially kicks off , the month ahead is a busy time socially for many.  It's gotten to the point where people make appointments for injectibles, with the same calculating eye they use to assess their roots and eyebrows before important events---just another element in their maintenance routine.

Lately, my clients in their early forties have confided that they are feeling ready to take the plunge...they are noticing deeper crows feet and furrows between the brows, their lids are looking a wee droopier and their foreheads more lined. They are also noticing that while no one is 'fessing up, some of their friends are looking decidedly "fresh".

One of them confided her kids asked her, "why are you always so mad Mommy"?. She's not a "mad Mommy", but the deep line between her brows does admittedly look like a permanent scowl....what to do???

The Eyes Have It

What is the most frequently asked beauty question I get from readers and friends???  The eyes have it... What eye cream can you recommend to improve dark circles and fine lines? I can always sense the hope and recognize the sting of disappointment when I tell them, "I got nuttin Honey".

My day was brightened today when I was told to keep my eyes peeled for a goodie package coming my way Lumixyl's Revitaleyes.  This may truly be the Holy Grail eye cream we have all been waiting for... Why do I think so??? Because I have already had spectacular, lasting results with Lumixyl's 4 part Brightening regimen to reduce sun spots and hyperpigmentation, (http://divadebbi.blogspot.com/2011/07/spot-remover-lumixyl-is-clearly-winner.html).

Holiday 2011: A Few of My Favorite Things

It's that time of year again, for giving, receiving and treating yourself.  Though it seems like yesterday, literally, that we were clinking glasses toasting the end of summer at a Labor Day party, come turkey day, we have officially turned the corner into the "Holiday Season". All I did was blink.

One of the things I love most about the season, are the gorgeous Holiday Gift Sets that are created quite successfully, to tempt us.  The best marry gorgeous neutrals in pretty packaging, that offer so much value it makes no sense to leave them behind.  They truly do make beautiful gifts and take the guilt out of my favorite holiday shopping maxim,"one for you and one for me".

Here is a round up of some of my favorites that I have spied and tried:

You Glow Girl

Regular readers know I am all about the glow.  In it's pursuit, there is regular exfoliation, occasional microdermabrasion, glycolic acid, Retin-A and Hyaluronic acid.  Though is sounds counter intuitive, it all leads to amped up cellular turnover and increased collagen.

I recently purchased Laura Mercier's Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 in Golden Radiance ($42). I had first received a generous sample at Neiman's. It took a little practice to get the hang of how to maximize its potential...a natural glow vs. a phosphorescent gleam...fortunately, practice does make perfect.

Evelyn H. Lauder 1936-2011

My heart was heavy yesterday, when I opened the N.Y. Times and read about Evelyn H. Lauder's passing. Evelyn H. Lauder, a refugee of Nazi-occupied Europe who married into the Estee Lauder cosmetics dynasty, died on Saturday at her home in Manhattan, at age 75.

I knew that she had been ill with cancer in the last few years, but did not know her recurrence was due to ovarian cancer, instead of breast cancer.  As a genetic breast cancer survivor (knock wood, spit spit), and fundraiser, I have long looked up to her as an inspiring example of a life well lived after diagnosis, both personally and professionally. She struck me as an unstoppable optimist.

"The cause was nongenetic ovarian cancer, said Alexandra Trower, a spokeswoman for the Estée Lauder Companies". In 2007 she received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, which developed independently of her breast cancer, Ms. Trower said.

This is the first time I have ever heard the use of the term "nongenetic" used to emphasize that she was not a BrCa 1 or 2 mutation carrier, which puts you at significantly higher risk than the general population, of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.  A common recommendation for BrCa 1 or 2 carriers, is removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes after childbearing (particularly if a breast cancer diagnosis is involved).

"Mrs. Lauder learned she had breast cancer in 1989 and soon became a strong voice on behalf of women’s health, though she was always reluctant to discuss her own condition. “My situation doesn’t really matter,” she told a reporter in 1995".

"She was a creator of the Pink Ribbon campaign, a worldwide symbol of breast health, and in 1993 she founded the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, which has raised more than $350 million".

"Another major accomplishment by Mrs. Lauder was the establishment of the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. This Center, completed in 1992, incorporated diagnostic and treatment services into one center together, something which had not been done previously and has now been emulated in multiple other centers worldwide".

It is my belief that there are other breast and ovarian genetic mutations out there, that remain for now, undiscovered.  Evelyn Lauder knew the key to preventing and curing breast and ovarian cancer lies in the hands of the brilliant doctors the Breast Cancer Research Foundation supports.

She is survived by her husband Leonard, two sons and five grandchildren, and with hope, future generations of women.

R.I.P. Mrs. Lauder and thank you.

xox,
DD

DivaDebbi's Makeup Diet

I finally did my bi-annual closet switch and purge last Sunday.  I dread doing it for weeks, finally dig my heels in and finally breath a sigh of relief when it's all over.  I can promise you one thing, from years of experience; you will not pine for, or even remember anything you choose to donate.  

As a reward for having a Sephora addiction being a V.I.B.,  I have been looking forward to receiving my 4 Day 20% off pass at Sephora for weeks. I know it seems inconceivable that I could need anything, but after I finished editing my clothing closets last week, I moved on to my makeup closet, and continued the purge. The toss tally???

• 4 foundations
• 2 tinted moisturizers
• 3 blushes
• 2 brushes
• 8 lipsticks
• 2 mascaras
• 3 eyeliner pencils
• 2 eyeliners
• 2 concealers
• 3 lip glosses
• 1 highlighter
• 1 primer
• 5 eyeshadows

OUCH!!!  Clothing at least can be donated.  For sanitary reasons, the only place for this heap, was a Hefty.  While I do receive some of this swag free for reviews, enough of it came out of my pocket to qualify me for V.I.B. status at Sephora. 

 What I would like to be going forward, is more thoughtful about my purchases, making good choices and sticking with them.  How do I intend to this?  I will start treating my makeup purchases the same way I do perfume...sampling them and test driving them, before committing to full size products. I will also read a lot more reviews on blogs, Makeup Alley,  TotalBeauty and Sephora before buying.

Did they wear well? Crease? Fade? Flake, Go orange? Get dry/oily? Smear? And remove easily?

I know I can do better. Will I still be entitled to my V.I.B. discount next November? Maybe not...but the "beauty hand print"  I leave on this world, will be a little lighter--there was an awful lot of wasted product and packaging in that Hefty.

Whose with me???

xox,
DD

We Have A Winner!!!

Congratulations to lucky number 6!  Blog and FaceBook commentors were tallied together and the winner of the Nuance Salma Hayek giveaway was selected randomly.
Thank you to my friends at Kaplow P.R. for providing this generous giveaway for one of my readers to enjoy!!!

I appreciate all of you who read my blog and share it with others. 

Happy weekend all!!!

xox,
DD

John Frieda's Touch-Up Flyaway Tamer

Lately, I've noticed a new beauty woe that I never had to deal with in the past, short, broken, flyaway strands in the front of my hair.  According to Harry Josh, John Frieda's International Creative Consultant, they are the result of, "over-styling, over-coloring and generally overdoing it".  Guilty as charged.

I have read expert tips to suggest controlling these little buggers in the past; using hair spray on a toothbrush or hand cream to keep them at bay...uh no.

My friend Laurie, a book club buddy (with  thick, shiny hair that has never had a bad hair day), mentioned John Frieda's Touch-Up Flyaway Tamer to me months ago as a "must have".  It is intelligently packaged in a convenient wand that easily fits in your makeup or handbag and "instantly" tames flyaway's.

I immediately set out to find it at retail...to no avail.  I don't want to mislead you either...my new best friend may be something you have to have sent from the likes of Drugstore.com, Ulta or CVS...hate that--but it's worth it.

Daphne Guiness. Icon. Goddess.

Add caption

I am going to cut my self some slack... Nothing I could write could possibly due justice, or properly describe the extraordinary assemblege of clothing that comprise the Daphne Guiness Exhibit at the Fashion Institute of Technology in N.Y. (through January 7th).  I still can't certain ensembles out of my mind.

Daphne Guiness was named to the International Best Dressed Hall of Fame in 1994. I don't know how she escaped my radar until my two visits to the Alexander McQueen exhibit this summer at the Met...that is a heady honor that is not bestowed lightly.

Daphne, now 43, is a Guiness, an heir to the Guiness Brewery by birth and the Granddaughter of Nancy Mitford famed British author, the eldest of the 6 notorious "Mitford Sisters".  At 19 she married Spyros Niarchos, (son of billionaire shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos) and bore 3 children.  They divorced in 1999. She is also stunningly beautiful.

New York New York and Sisterly Love

I love New York.  Never more than in the Spring and Fall, on clear days and crisp nights.  It literally reinvigorates my soul. 

On Wednesday night, my sister Loren and I had a sleepover.  We started our night at Bloomingdale's, at an event to benefit the Council of Fashion Designers of America. The N.Y. Times collaborated with the CFDA, to launch their 50 Photographs Collection. 5 top fashion designers, Diane Von Furstenberg, Parabal Garung, Vera Wang, Zac Posen and Michelle Smith, went through the Times archives dating back to the 1800's and each selected 10 of their favorite images. (I can't imagine how daunting it was to narrow it down to 10 pic picks).

Prabal Garung being interviewed

It was a fantastic display of memorable photographs, covering iconic shots of fashion, nature, dance and architecture.  Each designer provided commentary about what inspired them to make their selections, (though sadly, in the din of the crowd, we could hear not Bo peep). Diane Von Furstenberg's selections were my favorites and were the most synergistic, reflecting her love of modern dance and classic N.Y. architecture:

Maple Leaf Rag

Flat Iron Building NYC

All of the these memorable photographs can be purchased at www.nytstore.com/fiftyphotos.  A percentage of proceeds from the sale of this collection will benefit the CFDA.

After a delicious dinner at Serafina's (where we not suprisingly ordered twin dinner and drink orders)!, we strolled home past Hermes windows, until we didn't...We both stopped in our tracks to first observe these oddly futurist windows:

And then naturally, to peer inside them:

An Hermes coffee cup holder???  We knew there had to be more to this story.  Whimsy is not the word that pops into my mind when I think of the House of Hermes...A Google or two later, I found this entry on The Fabulous Report.  Not surprisingly, there was much thought and purpose to the display:

RECYCLE CHIC: Trust Hermes to turn recycling into a luxury pursuit. The French house is launching a collection of objects, ranging from woven leather necklaces to customized Kelly bags, made with leftover pieces of leather and damaged goods. Under the artistic direction of Pascale Mussard, a sixth-generation descendant of the company’s founder, a workshop dubbed “petit h” (or “little h”) brings together seven of the house’s craftsmen with artists to give the objects a second life. . Priced  $70 to $70,000.

Spectacular!

The next morning, after leisurely cups of fresh ground coffee, we made our way to Bergdorf's where we again came to a halt to admire this breathtaking window, featuring Tom Ford: 

Did you evah???

We hit the second floor, to the newly expanded Shoe Salon,  which should come equipped with oxygen masks...I was literally hyperventilating. The depth and breadth of what is available is simply staggering and it is all beautifully edited. 

I had to smile when I saw these adorable Charlotte Olympia kitten flats in leopard:

I was first introduced to them in black, worn by Katy Perry, from coverage on one of my fave websites, Red Carpet Fashion Awards  Apparently, other celebs love them too:

http://www.redcarpet-fashionawards.com/2011/11/02/celebrities-love-charlotte-olympia-%E2%80%98kitty%E2%80%99-flats/

Mission accomplished, Loren found a perfect pair of nude suede Jimmy Choo's. Banded in an elegant shimmering trim, it's the perfect accessory for the evening outfit she was looking to complete, yet subtle enough to wear beautifully by day.

She left me with two kisses, on the main floor, while I ogled the jewelry and planned the rest of my day...

Sisters! Tops, always...Fortunately, I also have an army of great Gal Pals, including one of my BFF's Barb,  who caught up with me later to see the Daphne Guiness exhibit at F.I.T. 

I'm still mesmerised and haven't quite figured out how I am going to find the words to describe it...tune in tomorrow.  I'll give it my best shot...

xox,
DD

Lucky Me and Lucky You: A Nuance Salma Hayek Giveaway

Last week, I participated in the finale of Richards fashion show at the Breast Cancer Alliance of Greenwich's annual luncheon.  The experts from Warren Tricomi graciously donated the time of some of their stylists and makeup artists  to do backstage beauty.

I was delighted to meet Monica,  who enjoys a flawless reputation for applying flawless makeup...

"What will you be wearing", she asked as I sat down for my tweak.

"A Black Label Giorgio Armani sleeveless ruched black silk tunic, matching pants and an embroidered fur trimmed J. Mendel shrug".

"Sounds fabulous!  I would love to add a pop of red to your lips and do a smokey cat eye. How does that sound"?

"Heavenly!  Too bad we don't have time for a lesson.  I've never mastered the technique".

I loved everything Monica did and tried to study exactly how she did my eyes so I could  recreate the look at home... Suffice to say, BIG FAIL.

Taking It All Off

The great thing about eye primers and long wearing shadows, eye pencils and liners, is that they do their job...Apply them in the morning and you are good to go until it's time to take it all off--- therein lies the challenge...

Portable Potions???

In a pinch, Sephora rarely disappoints, and the fact that my local Sephora is free standing, only increases my drop in rate.

Having recently fallen in love with Jimmy Choo's fragrance, I needed a tidier way to refresh my fragrance mid-day, without dragging a 3 oz. flacon around in my already overburdened handbag.

Does anyone make a sleek "empty" purse atomizer anymore???...