New York Fashion Week: Bellissima, Massimo and Molton Brown!

On the second day of Fashion Week, representatives from Molton Brown set up shop in Total Beauty’s suite at the Bryant Park Hotel.

I got the skinny on some new and soon-to-be-released products…and hairstylist extraordinaire Massimo gave me a blowout that took my limp hair from flat to phat.

My hair miraculously held up through Hurricane Hanna, thanks to Molton Brown’s Volumising Brahmi Hair Straight & Curl and Smoothing Lila Leaf Hair-Gloss. I kid you not...it looked the same at 1am, when my head finally hit the pillow, as it did at 3pm when Massimo finished his masterpiece.

Get The Royal Treatment at Molton Brown

Molton Brown is celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s 82nd birthday on Monday, April 21st by holding champagne toasts every hour. For every $82 spent at any of the following Molton Brown emporias, each customer will receive a free gift in honor of her birthday.


While you're there, load up on products from the Davana collection. The scent is deliciously intoxicating - and I love the tagline, "Spoil yourself in style."

In addition, there will be raffles held at each emporium so every customer has the chance to win their own birthday gift from Molton Brown. God save the Queen!

Participating Molton Brown locations (click here for address & store hours):

Pennsylvania - King of Prussia Mall
(2nd level of the Plaza)
160 N. Gulph Road, Suite 2375
King of Prussia, PA 19406
610.337.3051

New York - Madison Avenue
515 Madison Avenue
(53rd Street, between Madison and Park)
New York, NY 10022
212.755.7194

New York - SoHo
128 Spring Street (between Greene and Wooster)
New York, NY 10012
212.965.1740

New York - Third Avenue
1098 Third Avenue (between 64th and 65th)
New York, NY 10021
212.744.6430

*Here’s an interesting tidbit I found on the official website of the British Monarchy: “Like The Queen, Prince Philip (her husband) is a great-great-grandchild of Queen Victoria.” Say what?!?!

Get Gifted At Saks

Ageless Beauty 101 is in session at Saks Fifth Avenue. From now until March 8, stop in to learn about your favorite beauty brands and take home deluxe gifts with purchase. Click here to browse the catalogue.

Here is a sampling of the deals and steals available at Saks*:

BLISS Deluxe samples of Vanilla and Bergamot Body Buff, Vanilla and Bergamot Bubbling Bath and Shower Gel and Foot Patrol Exfoliating Foot Cream, with your $75 purchase.

BOBBI BROWN Pink Truffle Collection includes full-size Pink Truffle Pot Rouge and mini Sandy Beige Shimmer Lip Gloss, with your $100 purchase.

CLE DE PEAU BEAUTE Cosmetic pouch includes deluxe samples of La Crème, Revitalizing Emulsion and Eye Contour Essence, with your $300 purchase.

CLINIQUE Deluxe samples of Colour Surge Butter Shine Lipstick, Quickliner for Lips, Long Last Lipstick, Take The Day Off Makeup Remover and a white lipstick case, with your $50 purchase.

DIOR Black saddle pouch includes mini samples of L’Or de Vie Crème and Lip & Eye Palette, wit your $125 purchase.

FEKKAI Deluxe sample of Glossing Cream, with your $75 purchase.

FRESH Gift box includes deluxe samples of Rose Face Mask, Soy Face Cleanse and Umbrian Clay Face Treatment, with your $125 purchase. Gift box plus a deluxe sample of Sugar Face Polish, with your $150 purchase.

FREEZE 24/7 Mini miracle kit includes deluxe samples of Anti-Wrinkle Cream, Anti-Aging Eye Serum, IceCream Double Scoop Intensive Anti-Aging Moisturizer and IceCrystals Anti-Aging Prep and Polis, with your $150.

GUERLAIN Discovery kit includes mini samples of Maxi Lash Mascara, Kiss Kiss Lip Gloss in No 570, Super Aqua Toner, Orchidee Imperiale Cream and Insolence Eau de Toilette, with your $175 purchase.

KIEHL’S SINCE 1851 Deluxe samples of Crème de Corps Soy Milk and Honey Scrub Crème de Corps Nurturing Body Wash and Abyssine+ Cream, with your $75.

LANCOME Signature train case includes Clor Design Lipcolor, Color Design Eye Shadow Quartet, Star Bronzer Poudre Soliel, Definicils Pro, Cils Booster XL, Blow Sensuelle and Absolute Premium bx, with your $75 purchase.

MOLTON BROWN Deluxe samples of Heavenly Gingerlily Body Cream or Shower Gel, with your $65 purchase.

PHYTO Deluxe sample of Phytodefrisant, with your purchase of any two products.

TRISH MCEVOY ink Rose Collection includes full-size Pink Rose Lip Color, travel sizes of Deep Nude Lip Liner, Sexy Lip Gloss, #9 Blackberry & Vanilla Musk fragrance, Beauty Booster Cream, Beauty Booster Serum and a blue logo cosmetic bag, with your $125 purchase.

*One per customer, while supplies last. Samples may vary. In-store only.

Shining Star For You To See...

For my birthday, my sister gave me a makeup bag chock-full of travel-sized Molton Brown goodies. Nothing of the bunch disappoints, but there are a few superstars.

Molton Brown's Shining Starbloom Haircondition & Detangle is a lightweight leave-in conditioner that brings vitality to lifeless hair, providing superior detangling. After washing and conditioning my hair, all I need is a few mists; it hydrates my dry stands, and my wide-toothed comb glides through like butta.

Shining star for you to see...what your hair can truly be!

Perfect Balance

I mentioned this product last month in my “Good Gourd” post, but it begs repeating – Molton Brown’s Skinbalance Toning Lotion is a wonderful product.

For years, I’ve been plagued with large pores and blackheads on my nose. But in just a few short weeks, Skinbalance Toning Lotion has totally transformed my skin. It naturally exfoliates and brightens the complexion. Unlike many toners, Skinbalance Toning Lotion contains no alcohol, so it doesn’t dry out the skin. In fact, pumpkin enzymes, pink grapefruit, lime and yeast extract combine to strengthen the skin and reduce moisture loss.

To use, simply apply to the face and neck after cleansing and before applying day or night moisture products. Skinbalance Toning Lotion gets rid of everything your cleanser missed…you’d be amazed at what you see on the cotton ball when you’re finished!

You Say It's Your Birthday...

...It's my birthday too, yeah!

In honor of my twenty-something birthday, I’m sending a collective shout-out to all of my readers born between September 23 and October 22. Here’s what Glamour.com had to say about us lovely Libra ladies:

Why you’re wonderful: You’re classic in beauty and style - and quietly balanced in life. You don’t chase; you attract.

Why you’re impossible: Though calm and collected on the outside, you’re sometimes selfish and can’t make up your mind to save your life.

Your month: You haven’t been this head-over-heels in love since your first really good kiss.

Your mission: If it’s a new fling, things could get messy. Coupled? It’s big decision time (think babies or a wedding).

Libras much more famous than us:
Barbara Walters – 9/25
Catherine Zeta-Jones – 9/25
Gwyneth Paltrow - 9/28
Mira Sorvino – 9/28
Naomi Watts – 9/28
Monica Bellucci – 9/30
Julie Andrews – 10/1
Donna Karan – 10/2
Kelly Ripa – 10/2
Gwen Stefani – 10/3
Parminder Nagra – 10/5
Kate Winslet – 10/5
Rachel McAdams – 10/7

For my birthday, my sister bought me the perfect gift for a beauty blogger – a cosmetic bag full of Molton Brown favorites! Thanks, Lauren. I can’t wait to try the products…I plan on getting started tonight. Stay tuned for reviews.

Does Your Do Make the Cut?

The right haircut can transform your face by complimenting your best features and camouflaging imperfections. It can even reveal assets you never knew you had. Read on to see if your do makes the cut.

Show the world you love your nose: Pin-straight hair will mirror the bridge of your nose. A center part, because it is on the same vertical line as your nose, will focus attention on it. To help smooth hair and tame flyaways, protect hair from the heat of flat irons, use a thermal protectant. On August 21, the first 250 people to sign up on Allure.com will win Fekkai Coiff Defense UV Protectant (retail value: $25).

Take attention away from your nose: The key is to get a softer cut. A feathery bang will do the trick. And a side part takes attention away from the center of your face. For a sleek blowout like SJP's, use a ionic hair dryer, which eliminates frizz, creates sleekness, and improves shine. On August 24, the first ten visitors to sign up on Allure.com will win a T3 Bespoke Labs Featherweight Hair Dryer.

Accentuate your cheekbones: Have your hair cut in layers that form a U-shape from the end of your eyebrows to right below your cheekbones, with side-swept bangs. If your hair is feeling overprocessed, use a treatment that provides intense moisturizate and deep conditioning. C.O. Bigelow's Protein-Enriched Conditioner penetrates easily to soften, detangle, and control frizz.


Bring out your eyes: The tension from a tight ponytail gives your eyes a slight lift, and pulling your hair back from your face puts attention on your eyes. Heavy shine serums can make hair look greasy. So use a lightweight product, such as Fekkai Glossing Cream, to add glossiness without heaviness.


Soften a strong jaw: The bob is really popular right now, and the blunt edges will downplay your jawline. A layered cut that's shorter in the back will make the lower half of your face look sleeker. Use a flat iron to achieve Rihanna's coif, but don't forget to start with some heat relief. John Frieda's Frizz Ease Hair Thermal Protection Serum adds moisture and protects strands.


Add fullness to a narrow face: A side part creates a diagonal line that will move the eye horizontally, creating the illusion of a wider face. To achieve Nicole's chic bob, use a round, metal brush while blow-drying your hair, which will also give you extra lift at the roots. Score a Goody So Smooth Ceramic Round Brush on August 21 when Allure.com gives away 500 of them (retail value: $7.99).

Streamline a round face: A side part with a cut that covers the temples will help contour your face. If your locks are on the limp side, try Bumble & Bumble Thickening Spray - a moderate hold setting spray that builds body and gives lift, control, and helps define curl.



Get a swan-like neck: Pull your hair off your neck into a chignon or partial updo. Volume at the crown creates a long vertical line that extends to your neck. For extra body, use a volumizer like Phyto Phytvolume Actif Spray. On August 20, the first 75 people to sign up on Allure.com will win the volumizer (retail value: $28).


Minimize a large forehead: A long, sideswept bang that starts at the outer corner of your eye and covers the top half of your face will do wonders. For shiny, bouncy hair like Catherine Zeta Jones, try Molton Brown Depth Charge Seednoir Prewash Hair-Therapy. This deep action pre-shampoo treatment oil blend consists of a unique blend of essential oils to revitalize and prevent dehydration and restore shine, suppleness and body to even the most dry and damaged hair. Log on to Allure.com on August 30 for your chance to win a bottle (retail value: $30).


Elongate a short forehead: Tell your stylist to cut a fringe that begins about an inch to an inch and a half above the hairline. Taking the bangs further back gives you the illusion of having a longer forehead. For hair with a high-gloss shine like Naomi, use a silicone product like BioSilk Silk Therapy. Biosilk is a leave-in replenishing and reconstructing treatment that is ideal for all hair types. It repairs split ends, protects from heat and UV rays, and imparts incredible shine.