Favorite Spring Fragrances April 17th, 2011 By

I’m not sure about you, but I always choose a fragrance based on my mood and the weather.  I find that as the months warm up, I need a lighter perfume and tend to gravitate toward more floral fragrances.  Here is what I’m currently loving right now; and while they have all been around for a while, they’re classics in my book:

J’Adore by Christian Dior
This is a great everyday fragrance that is fresh and sophisticated.  Orchid, Damascus plum and amaranth wood are some of the more exotic notes, but I find that it smells a bit like mandarin and roses.

Lola by Marc Jacobs
Warmer and muskier than J’Adore, Lola by Marc Jacobs is a sexy fragrance with notes of pear, rose, fuchsia peony, vanilla and creamy musk.

Pure Poison by Christian Dior
This is my go-to date night perfume.  Jasmine, orange flower and white amber musk makes for an deep and oh-so-flirty fragrance.

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Trend Alert: Precious Metals Makeup for S/S ’10 April 8th, 2010 By

metallic make-up trend, ladylux

Precious Metals for S/S 2010

Artists of all kinds went mad over shimmer last fall while showing the Spring/Summer 2010 runway collections.  We love the varying luminous effects of this this heavy metal trend in makeup.  Here are some of our favorite products to help you achieve these gorgeous accent trends to enhance your already flawless face.

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Flawless Faces S/S 2010

Warm Face:
To add warmth to any face, a healthy glow of golden was blended across cheeks.  Accents of bronze tones invokes the presence of sunny springtime.

Laura Mercier Bronzing Duo

 

Trish McEvoy All Over Face Color Quad

 

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Piercing Eyes

Piercing Eyes:
For instant drama, silvery hues were used on and under eyelids, creating lustrous high-wattage and vibrant vibes that come with the thaw of winter’s chill.

Bobbi Brown Silver Moon Sparkle Eye Shadow

Dior Couleurs Extreme Eyeshadow in Argentic

Laura Mercier Foiled Eye Colour

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Colorful Eyes

Colorful Eyes:
Brightly hued colors of reds and yellows were artistically placed into the inner apex of the eyes.  Earth tones of greens and browns were swathed across the tops of lids to create a radiant glow of full-coverage.

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NARS Single Eyeshadow in Night Sun

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Medusa's Make-Up Electro Red Eye Shadow

YSL New Ombres Eyeshadow Duo

Bobbi Brown Beige Shimmer Brick Compact

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Metal Mouth

Metal Mouth:
Taking shine beyond the eyes, the trend heads south to the powerful pout.  Lip colors infused with shades of gold or silver will brighten your face and make your beautiful mouth smile.

Yves Saint Laurent Golden Shimmering Lip Gloss

Jane Iredale Puregloss in Gold Fling

- LadyLUX; Beauty.Trends.LUX.

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Beauty Talk: ‘Tis the Season of the Gift Set December 21st, 2009 By

Stila Lipglaze Collection $25

Stila Lipglaze Collection $25

Ah, the holidays, my favorite time of year.  I start saving up as soon as the leaves start to fall in anticipation of the awesome gift sets that come out right before.

When it comes to color cosmetics, I’m fickle.  I don’t stick with one look too long, so smaller sizes work best for me.  Let’s face it, we rarely finish a lipstick or gloss before it is time to dump it (2 years max, in case you were wondering).  So, why not enjoy a collection of tiny treats on the cheap?

Here are our faves:

Sephora Favorites Lashstash $39

Sephora Favorites Lashstash $39

Sephora LashStash:

The LashStash mascara sampler, $39, offers generous mini-sizes of 10 different best-selling mascaras, including Benefit’s A Little Bit BadGAL mascara and Cargo’s Lash Activator.

NARS I Want You:

The NARS I Want You gloss set features five mini versions of their long-lasting, sexiest glosses in 4 neutral shad

For just $25, you can score 8 of Stila’s famous glosses with built-in brushes.  The twist-up style is purse-friendly and ensures you’ll never have to stick germ-y fingers into your gloss while on the go.

Too Faced Queen For A Day $45

Too Faced Queen For A Day $45

Too Faced Queen For a Day:

If full-sized products are more your style, check out the Too Faced Queen For a Day set.  For $45, you get a cute makeup bag filled with a full-size shadow primer, soft pink lipstick, neutral eyeshadow quad and a warm bronzer along with a mini mascara and flatbuki brush.

Check out some more palettes.  You just might find your own favorite!

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beso Deals: Shop under $50 … doubles as gifts! December 11th, 2009 By

shop_under_$50

‘Tis the season for gift giving, but have you noticed all those great deals?  I know, I know — we are trained to not buy gifts for ourselves at this time of year; but why? I’m giving you permission to buy one, give one.  At fifty bucks or less, you too could be wearing a fabulous New York & Company sleevless knit v-neck dress for only $7.99!

Wrap it up!

1. LOFT
Ann Taylor Loft Women’s Black City Suiting Pencil Skirt
$59.50 $9.88 (83% off)

2. New York & Company
Women’s Grey Ny&c Red Label Sleeveless Knit V-neck Dress – New York and Company
$59.99 $7.99 (87% off)

3. Azuri
Azuri Pashmina & Scarves – Lucky Draw, Linen Wrap
$222.00 $29.00 (87% off) Free Shipping
Extra 20% off any order
Code: HOLIDAY09 Expires: 12/12/09

4. Urban Outfitters
Deena & Ozzy Snake Foldover Clutch
$38.00 $14.99 (61% off)

5. Boscov’s
Nine West Antioni Medium Hobo – Deep Purple
$79.00 $27.49 (65% off)

6. Victoria’s Secret
Colin Stuart Peep-Toe Mary Jane
$78.00 $39.99 (49% off)

7. Nordstrom
Juicy Couture ‘Wish’ Ring
$42.00

8. Urban Outfitters
Urban Outfitters Tassel Lariat Necklace
$28.00

9. Victoria’s Secret
POPbeauty 24K Goddess Clutch
$32.00 $19.99 (38% off)

10. Sephora by OPI
SEPHORA by OPI Nail Colour Gift Set ($27 Value) Nail Colour Gift Set
$18.00

11. Nordstrom
M.AC. ‘Baroque Boudoir’ Lipstick
$22.00

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Musings on Serendipity and Shopping December 10th, 2009 By

Sunny's Moccasins on the Beach

Sunny's Moccasins on the Beach

Hi!  Greetings from Sunny, the very lucky gypsy-trotting girl who won the Fan It to Bag It Sweepstakes!  This very minute, my amazing Frye tote occupies the seat across from me here at the coffee shop in Myrtle Beach.  And my laptop (which my roomy Frye now totes from place to place for me) is my quill and ink as I do a little Christmas shopping online.  And this year, I’m shopping with beso… and I’ll tell you why.

While on my road trips, I recently traveled to New York City and stopped by Serendipity’s 3 for a frozen hot chocolate and discovered my new favorite word… serendipity.  “The art of making happy discoveries, or finding the unexpectedly pleasant by chance or sagacity.”

Let me just tell you, my friends, chancing upon the beso Fan It to Bag It Sweepstakes was quite indeed serendipity for me.  I entered the sweepstakes, got a call somewhere between Virginia and New England from beso saying that I had won a gorgeous-bag-which-I-love… and, in the process, I discovered some of the warmest people I could meet and a jewel of a site for shopping!  I found philosophy, Target, Sephora, Old Navy, Victoria’s Secret, Levi’s and a bajillion others all on one site (with frequent online sales to boot!).

Here’s a little of my beso-style serendipity.  Moccasins for Thanksgiving on the beach.  I know, they are sort of relegated to fall wear and most of us are over that.  But nothing spells free spirit like fringe and natural comfort.  I did the whole Last of the Mohicans thing and wore them while hiking trails in Virginia.  But I rethought the flip-flops for long walks on the beach and that was a happy discovery…

Sunny and Her Moccasins in Myrtle Beach

Sunny and Her Moccasins in Myrtle Beach

By the way, friends, if you haven’t entered the new 12 Days of Gifting Sweepstakes, do it!  You could be one of the very lucky 12 to win!

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Top 5: Gifts for the Glamazon December 9th, 2009 By

Have a beauty addict for whom you need to find the perfect gift?

Check out our top picks:

Clarisonic

Clarisonic

Clarisonic

The Clarisonic cleansing sytem is a must-have for the skin-care fanatic.  The cleansing brush rotates to gently and effectively exfoliate and cleanse skin.  At just under $200, it’s a fabulous luxury gift. It’s especially valuable if she is already using expensive skin care products (anti-aging or acne-fighting) because the Clarisonic will help them penetrate the skin’s surface.  Check out the Clarisonic Mia, a smaller travel version, which is similarly effective and $50 less.

Too Faced Glamour To Go

Too Faced Glamour to Go

Too Faced Glamour to Go

The Too Faced Glamour to Go sets are perfect for the girl with the giant makeup bag.  Each tiny set includes 8 eyeshadows, 4 lip glosses and a blush all packaged in a cute compact with a mirror.  They’ll slip into even the teeniest of clutches.  A bargain at under $20, these sets also make a great stocking stuffer.

T3 Featherweight Hair Dryer

T3′s hair appliances are widely regarded as some of the best available.  If your glamazon is doing a daily blow-out, treat her to something special that will also keep her hair healthier.  The Bespoke Labs Featherweight Dryer uses targeted ceramic generated heat to minimize frizz and enhance shine, all without weighing down her arms.  Get it for just $108 (originally $200) from Overstock.com. T3 also makes some fab flat irons.

Kat Von D True Romance in True Love

Kat Von D True Romance in True Love

Kat Von D True Romance Palettes

Tattoo artist Kat Von D has produced a cosmetics line sold only at Sephora.  My favorite products are the True Romance eye shadow palettes.  As soon as a new one is released, I’ve got to buy it.  Each set includes 8 beautifully pigmented eyeshadows that compliment each other.  A great present for a glamazon who loves to play with eyeshadow looks, these pallettes are beautifully packaged, perfect for gift giving!  The True Romance palettes are just $34 at Sephora.

Sephora LashStash Mascara Sampler

Have a beauty addict who hasn’t found her holy-grail mascara yet?  Help her try the newest offerings on the cheap with Sephora’s LashStash set.  The deluxe sample size mascaras in this set will give her a few weeks to try each one out and see if she’s found the one that’s right for her. Ten department-store quality mascaras are included for only $39.

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beso Deals: Black Friday Sales November 27th, 2009 By

Today is the official start to the holiday shopping season, otherwise known as Black Friday.  Whether you race down to your local store or buy online, beso has the deals you’re after at all your favorites!

MARTIN + OSA – Beginning November 27, all cashmere and denim will be marked down to $59!

Shop DEALS

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Piperlime – Take 20% off all of Rachel Zoe’s picks”from sequined pumps and over-the-knee boots to leather handbags and cozy cardigans.

Shop DEALS

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Shopbop - Is offering cash back on all purchases (spend 300+, save $50; spend $500+, save $100; spend $700+, save $150; spend $1,000+, save $225) site-wide with code GIFT4U.

Shop DEALS

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Kiehl’s Since 1851 – Enjoy 20% off select purchases by entering the code FAMILY at checkout. (Expires Dec 1)

Shop DEALS

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Benefit Cosmetics – For one week only, Benefit is giving away free shipping on ANY order. Enter FREENOV9 at checkout. (Expires Nov 30)

Shop DEALS

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Levi’s – Save up to $75 + free shipping on All orders. 3 days only. Spend $100, get $20 off. Spend $175, get $50 off. Spend $225, get $75 off.

Shop DEALS

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Les Nouvelles – Get 40% off fabulous FALL ’09 pieces now thru Monday.

Shop DEALS

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Sephora – Get a free tote bag by Kat Von D with any $25 purchase when you enter TOTE09 at checkout.

Get FREE TOTE

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Amazon – Black Friday deals week. Find up to 80% off items from Electronics to Fashion.

Shop DEALS

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Nordstrom – Get up to 50% off further reductions.

Shop APPAREL | SHOES | HANDBAG & ACCESSORIES

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Bliss - Create your own Bliss gift set and take 30% off with coupon code SET30. (Expires Dec 1)

Shop DEALS

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Timberland - Take 30% off your entire purchase in stores and online with promo code GIFTS09. (Expires Nov 29)

Shop DEALS

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beso Deals: Ralph Lauren | Alloy | Sephora | Jami Rodriquez | Steve Madden October 9th, 2009 By

ralph-lauren

Ralph Lauren is offering 25% off select merchandise in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month -  gotta love that!  10% of proceeds will be donated to a charitable organization of your choice. Through 10/12. Online only.

Alloy

Get free shipping at Alloy on orders over $25. Enter AKPW25 at checkout. Offer ends 10/12.

SephoraGet a free Bare Escentuals Flawless Definition mascara with any merchandise order at Sephora. Enter BEFLAWLESS at checkout.

Jami-RodriquezNeed some jewelry? Visit Jami Rodriguez and get 45% off everything!  Use code DAILYCANDY45 at checkout.

Steve-Madden

Here’s two deals for the price of one coupon!  Subtract 15% off orders of $50 or more plus free shipping at Steve Madden! Use code SHOPIT15S at checkout. See site for details.

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Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash Still Fabulous? September 24th, 2009 By

Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash

Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash

Let me first start off by saying that every morning before I wake up and every night before I go to bed I wash my face with Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash. I’ve been a loyal Bliss user for at least 3 years.  I found this gem after a weekend stay at the W Hotel in San Francisco.  Some of their flagship hotels also offer their exclusive Bliss Spa where the toiletries de jour include travel sample sizes of the most popular Bliss products.  Needless to say, I was hooked.

What is so great about this face wash?  I really like the oil free, 2-in-1 cleanser and exfoliator beads.  It also has a light scent of rose hips and chamomile extract that takes over my senses “ think spa, but not too fragrance-y.  I’m sure those ingredients are included to help sooth my skin from the free radicals, but the scent gives me a calming feel whenever I foam up.

So why am I questioning a product I love so much?  The truth is, I think they changed up the bead size to lessen the exfoliation.  That’s right, I said it.  I want larger beads in my face wash.  My skin used to feel a bit more polished after each wash, or at least I was left with the feeling I was scrubbing off more makeup and dead cells to reveal a younger looking skin.  I have a sneaking suspicion that when the bottle design changed from an all white one, to a clear, more organic-looking bottle with pump, they changed up the winning combination I really enjoyed.  When I picked up the new bottle at Sephora, I almost had to do a double take at the newer model staring back at me.

Just so you know, I still plunk down $22 for the fabulous cleanser.  I just can’t escape the soothing botanicals it provides, and it still does its job as a great cleanser.  However, I just might have to pick up an extra exfoliating mask the next time I go shopping.

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