Fabulous Over Forty – Where Beauty Is Ageless

Beauty companies are dazzling us with new makeup introductions, effective skin care, fabulous fragrances, and new shades for our nails – all kinds of temptations to spend money to be gorgeous! Check out the must-haves that made us swoon this week.

Gaia used the term “perfect” to describe Edward Bess Forever Yours Ultra Sleek Lipstick. If you want to see how “perfect” looks, head over to The Non-Blonde. Of the 13 shades available, she was able to limit herself to just four. Such willpower! It’s also noteworthy that she found a jasmine she likes!

Charlestongirl is already in the holiday spirit, thanks to Shiseido! The Makeup 2010 Holiday Collection Essential Elegance Palette, created by Dick Page, left her gushing at Best Things in Beauty.

The Budget Fashionista is always keeping us up to date with the latest in Fall Fashion.  This new line at Target is one you don’t want to miss. 

Sabrina at The Beauty Look Book is another Edward Bess fan. You’ll want to see her complete review, along with lots of photos, of his Compact Rouge.

Kelly has a new lip addiction. Tom Pecheux is shaking up Estée Lauder. He rocked Kelly with the new Pure Color Gloss. She modeled her lovely shade selections at Gouldylox Reviews.

At BeautyXposé, it was all about REN Replenishing Treatment Mists (and darling flats for fall). Find out why Pamela has been obsessed, spritzing with glee.

Let’s not forget our hands! Laurie at Product Girl  gave us a peek at Essie’s Fall 2010 collection, nail colors to complement the season’s fashion trends.

While we’re on the subject of hands, Marcia and Lisa featured an interview with Ellen Sirot, a world-famous hand model! If you visit Beauty Info Zone Blog, you’ll find a special discount on Ellen’s Hand Perfection products to keep your hands in tip-top shape.

To end our tour on an upbeat, jazzy note, head over to Makeup Artist Backstage and watch the short video on Washington’s style setters (“housewives” and party crashers aren’t DC’s only claim to fame). Victoria worked to beautify this year’s shoot.

You’ll want to drop in on our beauty blogger friends every day over the next few weeks. The beauty world is hopping!

There is nothing like taking a long soaking bath for relieving stress and hiding away from kids hollering “mom!”, not thinking about work or anything thing else that may be on your mind.   One of my indulgences is to light a few candles around the tub, turn on the light in the bathroom low enough to relax, but light enough to read, turn on some quiet music and pour a pouch of one of the Thymes Bath Salts into the water for a fragrant relaxing respite. 

Ahhhh.  

My mind goes to another world just writing about it.   I love sprinkling the classic Eucalyptus salts – it helps to clear my mind.    It’s one of those scents that I never tire of, and if you want the man in your life in on the secret – it’s not a scent that’s too feminine, so he may like to use it too.   Eucalyptus is known to relax the muscles (and my mind).    If you want a scent that’s a little more feminine, the Red Cherie bath salts may be ones that prefer.   Honestly, I don’t think there is a scent in the bunch that I don’t love.

Thymes also makes a variety of other products too.  Like body wash, lotions, home fragrances and more.   About six or seven years ago I had the opportunity to meet Leslie, the creator of Thymes, at a dinner with friends.   She told me all about how she came about creating the fragrances – from the basement of her own home.   I loved hearing the story of how this divorced, single mom and her friend grew herbs and scoured the farmer’s markets for ingredients to make soaps, salts and more to start the company with just her and her friend and $1500.  These two women tapped into a market that wasn’t there in the 1980′s and it’s been a cult classic ever since. 

Excuse me while I leave to run some bath water…

Sample, blend, brush, pat, spritz, swatch, critique, and photograph – our beauty blogging friends do it every week to bring you fab features! Here’s this week’s recommended reading.

Gaia shared her current – and eclectic – perfume lists at The Non-Blonde: Most Recently Worn, Top of Her Wishlist, and more. Find out what’s on her mind – and body.

Victoria Stiles has a fabulous Sigma Brush giveaway contest underway at Makeup Artist Backstage. In the world of makeup artistry, brushes are the center of the galaxy! Wouldn’t you like to enter to win two amazing sets of brushes? They come with Vicki’s stamp of approval!

Speaking of Victoria Stiles, she shared some great tips for melt-proofing your makeup with Anne at BeautyXposé. She also recommended products for budge-proof glamour. It’s a must-read as the weather heats up.

Kelly found the holy grail for lashes, and she spilled her secret at Gouldylox Reviews. Enough said – go read!

Charlestongirl is smitten with Perricone MD’s new Cold Plasma Eye. Find out why she loves it (and why you may need it too) at Best Things in Beauty.

Marcia from Beauty Info Zone wrote a guest post at Prime Beauty. Cindy calls Marcia the “foundation queen,” so you’ll want to know why Marcia loves AeroMinerale Makeup Mist.

All week, Product Girl has been giving us a look at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale beauty specials. If you haven’t been to the store to see and pre-order these amazing value sets, you need to check them out now before they sell out. Nordstrom’s limited editions are always hot tickets.

Bobbi Brown’s Sheer Color Cheek Tint is a beauty blogger favorite. Jennifer reminded us all why we love it. Head over to Beauty in Real Life to find out why you need at least one of these portable perk-me-up sticks.

We hope you can kick back and enjoy your weekend with us!

We had a short work week, but no dearth of interesting, tempting posts from our beauty blogging friends. Here are some of our favorites.

Gaia found another irresistible fragrance – this time Caron’s Acaciosa. You have to read The Non-Blonde to find out why this fabulous floral has a unique identity!

Shiseido’s Ocean Collection was a star attraction at Gouldylox Reviews. Kelly provided swatches and loved the gorgeous colors! Find out why you need Black Sand Eyeliner.

Charlestongirl got her hands on Giorgio Armani Beauty’s newest Summer 2010 colors. You can see swatches and her turquoise eye look at Best Things in Beauty.

Anne and Kristin from BeautyXposé visited with Rachel Roy last week at Macy’s. They shared Rachel’s darling looks for summer and a short interview with the designer.

KarlaSugar gave us a sneak peek at Chantecaille’s Protection Naturelle SPF 46 mineral powder. Love Chantecaille? Check out her post at The Next Best Thing to Going Shopping Yourself.

Vicki told us about Sigma Makeup Brushes at Makeup Artist Backstage. Find out how a pro evaluates her brushes and why she likes Sigma.

Annietown at Blogdorf Goodman gave us a look at Wanderlove’s The Eye Wand and The Lip Wand – drugstore-priced beauty at its best.

Laurie introduced us to Tarte’s new waterproof, smudgeproof, and budgeproof Summer 2010 collection at Product Girl – just in time!

Last, but not least, there were new giveaways posted this week! Cindy has a Stila “All about You” contest at Prime Beauty. Head over to enter.

We hope you enjoy a beauty-full weekend!

As we head into a holiday weekend in the U.S. and U.K., let’s relax with the best of beauty!

It was all about Armani Beauty in the DC area last weekend when Tim Quinn spent two days at Saks in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Armani fans have Armani Beauty makeovers, news flashes, and tips to savor! You can read about Kristin’s makeover, courtesy of Giannina Davis (herself an Armani beauty), at BeautyXposé.  Then head over to Best Things in Beauty  to see Lexi’s makeover by Loyd Cassler and Tim Quinn. Both enjoyed their Armani glamour sessions! You will too.

Gaia at The Non-Blonde  gave us a must-read look at Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Pencils in two very different green shades. She told us why they will become her summer staples. Will they become yours too?

Kelly is letting her hair grow; she wants long hair again. She treated us to a fascinating interview with Peter Lamas, accompanied by an end-of-May progress report, at Gouldylox Reviews.

Great post on summer’s bright lip trends at Prime Beauty! Find out what products Cindy used to brighten up her look.

What does KarlaSugar at The Next Best Thing to Going Shopping Yourself use to get luscious curly hair? Fekkai’s Luscious Curls Shampoo and Conditioner for a start!

Been tempted by Makeup Forever’s Beauty in a Box Aqua Essentials at Sephora? Find out what Lianne thought about the set at The Makeup Girl.

Carla at Product Girl tempted us all when she showed us the new Fresh Sugar Plum Tinted Lip Treatment. If you like the Fresh Sugar Rose Lip Treatment, you will love this new one!

Find out from Annieytown at Blogdorf Goodman why the lemming frenzy is in full force on the Makeupalley boards. Hint: MAC and a seahorse.

We hope you have a wonderful weekend. Check back! There’s always something happening at our favorite beauty blogs.

I’ve spoken before about becoming a Diva Dior VIP member, but had never taken advantage of the program myself.   Until now that is.   I saved up my receipts for the year (hint: put them in their own special place so you don’t shred them) and about 6 weeks ago turned them all in.   I qualified for the Runway Diva VIP and earned points for 2 full-sized products, a makeup brush in a Dior runway pouch

Shown above is what showed up at my door last week.   I guess when they say that you qualify for product, I’m thinking they are going to send out the small sample size product – even though it does say full-sized.   Surprisingly no!   You do get full size products!  I received a Dior Addict Lip Maximizer, a duo eyeshadow in The Nude Look, a retractable lip brush all in this oh-so chic metallic Dior pouch.   This is a seriously cool gift for being a member!   All these items totalled about $90 in product, not including the pouch!

I think I’ll be adding their new fragrance to my “wish list” for either Mother’s Day or my birthday.   Isn’t this bottle just beautiful with the Dior Cannage pattern cut into the glass?   Divine, just like the scent of the Escale à Pondichéry.   I had a small little tester sample and sprayed a bit on one morning.  When I got home from work that day my husband asked me what fragrance I used in the morning because he could smell the faint linger of it and really liked it.   

It’s a warm, spicy scent yet not too heavy like some can be – this has a bit of freshness to it too.   The top notes are cardamom essence and jasmine sambac, the middle notes are black tea extract and the base notes of sandalwood extract.  

It will be a great addition to my Dior Diva VIP points for this year!