Wake Up And Smell Prada’s Infusion de Rose

I’m a sucker for pretty packaging.

A fantasy scene of wood nymphs at play among giant rose petals entwines the Prada Infusion de Rose Eau de Parfum box, sourced from a Prada Spring/Summer 2008 collection print.

The perfume inside is equally delightful: “imagine fresh rose petals mingling with tea, roses, and honey, crushed in the hand with mint leaves.” It’s an unexpected and modern take on the typical rose fragrance.

While I don’t love it as much as my beloved Prada Infusion d’Iris (my signature scent), it’s a refreshing and feminine fragrance that is perfect for Spring (and a vast improvement from 2009’s Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger - which I felt veered into little old lady territory).

Prada Infusion de Rose ($105, 3.4 oz) is available at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.

Jo Malone Vanilla & Anise Cologne

If you surveyed the perfumes on my vanity, you'd surely notice that the common thread amongst my favorites (the half empty bottles) is vanilla.

Most days, I smell like some variation of vanilla. But as I get older, I'm constantly searching for a more sophisticated take on the scent. I love vanilla, but I don't want to smell like cake frosting 24/7.

So I was thrilled to recently make the acquaintance of Vanilla & Anise, the latest fragrance from Jo Malone - a spicy, modern interpretation of my favorite flava.

The Composition

Top notes: Sicilian Bergamot, Tunisian Neroli, Wild Fennel Flower, Star Anise
Middle notes: Oleander. Tuberose, Frangipani, Purple Vanilla Orchid
Base notes: Madagascar Clove, White Amber, Vetiver Bourbon, Vanilla Bourbon Absolute, Tonka

The Vanilla & Anise collection consists of a 1 oz Cologne ($55), a 3.4 oz Cologne ($100). The fragrance is available at Jo Malone shops, jomalone.com, Bergdorf Goodman and select Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue stores.

Free Skincare Consultations with Dr. Dennis Gross - Free Facials Too!)

Free consultations with Dr. Dennis Gross, Manhattan dermatologist and creator of MD Skincare.

Date: January 21, 2009
Time: 4pm-7pm
Details: Complimentary consultations with Dr. Dennis Gross and a complimentary MD Skincare facials performed by MD Skincare estheticians (a $200 value)

Beauty Level, Bergdorf Goodman
754 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10019

Contact Info: 212.872.2795, appointments are required (there is NO qualifying purchase necessary to have the consultation or the facial)

Get Thakoon's Pout-à-Porter Lipstick Today!

Lancôme introduces the must-have lipstick shade of the season! Color Fever Shine in Pixel Pink is the fourth installation of the Pout-à-Porter series of limited-edition lipsticks created exclusively for the runway by renowned makeup artist Gucci Westman. Westman collaborated with Fashion Designer Thakoon to create a beautiful sheer raspberry shade, which was worn by all the models during Thakoon’s Fashion Week Spring 2008 fashion show.

This past Monday at Thakoon’s Fall 2008 show, the models were the first VIPs to receive the lipstick. Beginning today, Pixel Pink will be available in limited quantities on lancome-usa.com and on March 1st it will debut exclusively at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and Lancôme’s five U.S. boutiques with a retail price of $25.

The previous three Pout-à-Porter lipsticks were created for Behnaz Sarafpour (Fall 2006), Proenza Schouler (Spring 2007) and Peter Som (Fall 2007).

Photo credit: Sean Cunningham

Bling Blang

Got some extra room in your $18,000 Goyard/Lancome train case? Good news – La Prairie’s Skin Caviar Luxe Cream now comes in a refillable jar, be-dazzled with 2,400 handset Swarovski crystals. This dramatic firming treatment provides skin with vital nutrients, including a Caviar Firming Complex to hydrate, nourish and pamper skin. Only 610 pieces were produced worldwide – and one of those babies can be yours for the low, low price of $2,000.

Got some more disposable income – like $62,000 worth? Earlier this month, Guerlain introduced KissKiss Gold and Diamonds, a lipstick custom-designed in France, adorned with 18-carat yellow gold and paved with 199 diamonds, weighing in at 2.2 carats. Housed in a black lacquered wooden case, KissKiss Gold and Diamonds is refillable and accompanied by its own lip brush and protective black suede pouch. The gold encasing can be customized with a name or message engraving and the lipstick is available in 15 customizable shades hand selected by Guerlain’s Artistic Director, Olivier Echaudemaison.

If you're thinking that $62,000 is a bit steep, but $56,808 is more up your alley, The New York Post has a great idea for pinching some pennies - have the store ship it to you for a $12.75 fee, and save $5,192.50 in sales tax. What a steal!

The KissKiss Gold and Diamonds lipstick is available at Guerlain Boutiques at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus San Francisco, The Breakers West Palm Beach and Epcot through private appointment only.

If You’ve Got $18,000 Laying Around

Remember that MTV show Pimp My Ride? Well, imagine this…replace the car with a Caboodles Makeup Case and substitute Gucci Westman for Xzibit. What would the Lancôme Artistic Director come up with? Check out the Goyard tricked-out train case, right.

The hand-crafted white canvas and brown leather case - a collaboration between Westman and the luxe luggage maker - has removable compartments, a mirror, a white makeup bag in Goyard’s signature print, and is filled with 36 of Westman’s personal Lancôme product picks.

The one of a kind pieces will be available November 1 in Paris, Hong Kong, Dubai, Moscow, and New York, where they will be sold exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman, by special order.

Suggested retail price: $18,000

PS, I Love You

What will be on every woman’s lips this fall (the lucky ones, at least)? If beauty buzz is any indication, it’s bound to be Lancome Color Fever Lipstick in P.S. Kiss, the latest runway-inspired shade in the Pout-à-Porter series. Created by Lancome’s Artistic Director Gucci Westman and designer Peter Som for his Fall 2007 runway show, this gorgeous garnet lipstick will be the most sought after scarlet of the season.

“My fall collection was all about rich textures and deep saturated colors – P.S. Kiss is the perfect bold stroke to go with the clothes, but it is still elegant and easy,” says Som.

“Peter is such a gentleman and he’s so talented, so the process was really delightful,” says Westman. “I think the color we came up with is reflective of his clothes – modern and sophisticated, and very pretty.”

On October 1st, P.S. Kiss will be available in limited quantity exclusively at Nordstrom, Bergdorf Goodman, Lancome’s U.S. boutiques, and lancome-usa.com. The New York Times is reporting that the Bergdorf’s waiting list will open on September 1st, but those in the know have been calling 212.872.2740 for months – putting their names on the pre-waiting list, waiting list.

Thakoon is the next design house to create a Pout-à-Porter lipstick. Following in the footsteps of Proenza Schouler’s Proenza Pink, Behnaz Sarafpour’s Behnaz, and Peter Som’s P.S. Kiss, the shade will debut at the Thakoon spring 2008 runway show at New York Spring Fashion Week runway this September 7, and is due to hit counters early next year.

There’s not much room left on this beauty bandwagon, so if you find yourself sans Som – fret not. Three Custom Color Specialists will custom blend lipstick for you and ship it within a week.