Fabulous Over Forty – Where Beauty Is Ageless

Padded bras, padded socks, padded underwear – all things to make our lives a little smoother, softer and bootier.  And now we have makeup that’s even padded!   It seems to be the newest rage in makeup.  Who would have thought?  

A few months ago Bobbi Brown came out with this Denim and Rose Collection. Believe me when I say this set is much prettier in person than what it shows online.   I didn’t think I’d care for this much until I saw it in person.  Check out Best Things in Beauty’s post on this pretty set.  This set includes 4 eye shadows, 4 lip colors and a cheek color and a nice sized mirror.  All of this is enclosed in a padded denim zip up case.  Cute.

Several years ago Laura Mercier came out with her Library Palettes.   They were these little “books” of color and you could buy them individually or as a 3 book set house in a box just like buying a booked set of reading books.   Now she’s taken that Library Palette to updated looks with this gorgeous palette along with a mini mascara in a Kooba designed (padded of course) case.   This is a beautiful set exclusive to Nordstrom.  This padded set includes 3 lip colors, 3 eye shadows, 2 cheek colors, a glow veil bronzer a dual ended brush, a mini mascara all in a Kooba case (love Kooba bags!).  The mirror and slots for credit cards, license and cash are so brilliant!    It too is limited edition.   So classy.

And now NARS has jumped on the padded makeup bandwagon with two palettes of their own.  The one shown above is Beautiful Life Lip and Cheek palette.   It includes Top Row (left to right):  Sexual Healing Lipstick (sheer, shimmering pink blossom) Honolulu Honey Lipstick (satin, flesh-toned beige) Roman Holiday Lipstick (sheer, delicate pastel pink) Funny Face Lipstick (semi-matte fuchsia)   Bottom Row (left to right): Copacabana Multiple (glistening pearl)  Orgasm Multiple (peachy pink with shimmer) All in a black padded zip case. 

The other new palette by NARS is this Only You Eye and Cheek palette.  It includes Top Row (left to right):  Alhambra Duo Eyeshadow (left side: metallic rose mist)  Mekong Single Eyeshadow (espresso fused with gold) Eurydice Duo Eyeshadow (left side: electric aubergine) Pandora Duo Eyeshadow (right side: matte black) Bottom Row (left to right):    Hungry Heart Blush Duo (left side: iridescent gold ivory) Orgasm Blush (peachy pink with shimmer).   All encased in, you guessed it, a padded case.  

So what do you think about about this padded palette craze?  Is is good or a gimmick?

CONGRATULATIONS TO #17 LAURIE, A NUMBER CHOSEN RANDOMLY BY MY CO-WORKER.

Earlier this year I had declared the Lancome L’Absolu Rouge lipsticks as one of my Beauty Favorites of 2009.  The color range is exceptional, it contains SPF 12, and Pro-Xylane which leaves your lips moisturized, full and smooth.  They really are a luxury for your lips.    I love them so much I own several shades – Rich Cashmere, Tulipwood, Aubergine Velvet, Crushed Rose and Lacewood.   See, I told you I loved these!

Well, apparently I’m not the only one who is in love with these lipsticks!   Let’s see, Julia Roberts has said the shade Rich Cashmereis one of her favorites (she told this to Kerry Diamond of Lancome when they were shooting the new ads of Julia, which I can’t wait till they are out).   This shade was a hot shade at the Academy Awards this year too, worn by Kate Winslet, Demi Moore, and at theVictoria Beckham and L’Wren Scott fashion shows in February all the models wore this shade as well.    Rich Cashmere is that perfect shade that you can wear alone or get a completely different look with using a lip pencil in a different shade or topping it with a gloss in another shade as well.   It’s so versatile and I think that’s why it’s a favorite of so many.  

So here’s your opportunity to win one for yourself!   The lovely Lancome people have given Fab Over Forty a Rich Cashmere to give away to one lucky reader!  All you have to do for your chance to win is enter your name and what your favorite lip product is in the Comments.   Contest ends on Friday, March 26th at noon CST.

While in NYC going to the Dolce and Gabbana Beauty  counter at Saks was top on my list of beauty products to check out.   Having purchased a lipstick online that ended up being nothing like the color shown, I knew what to expect with the product quality and packaging, but taking a look at more of the line was a priority.

Shown above are the lip colors Soft (top) Classic Cream, and Drama (bottom) Shine.   I personally like the texture of the Classic Cream version better than the Shine version.  I also purchased the Luminous Cheek Color in the Delight shade.   It has become my go-to shade for blush when I want a powder blush.

Overall I really like the products (It’s exclusive to Saks) and the eye shadow shades are really quite gorgeous color combinations and the textures are velvety smooth.  Here’s one issue – the color names are so difficult to read that the sales associates even have trouble reading what color they are using.   The print is almost if it were gold on gold.

Speaking of gold – the packaging is shiny gold.   Everywhere gold.   Nice, classic, predictable.   Where’s the cheetah packaging?   C’mon Dolce & Gabbana – what is your iconic print – cheetah!   Please, I beg of you to add some fun to your collection and make some of the packaging in a cheetah print – even if it were to be a limited edition collection.   How fun would it be to pull a CHEETAH print compact out of your handbag! 

Give me a call when you’ve fullfilled my request. 

While in NYC a few weeks ago (I can’t believe it’s been that long ago already!) I made a Bergdorfs stop that I was looking forward to for a long time.   I didn’t get a chance to visit with Edward Bess, creator of the eponymous line the previous time but I was lucky enough to this time. 

Again I was amazed at his memory.   His space at Bergdorfs is no longer a glass etegere, but a full counter space and one that is well deserved!   Because he had moved I didn’t recognize his new digs and walked right on by.   Guess who said – “Kari”.   I thought – well, I’m in a city of millions of people – who would know me?   I turned around at the oh-so-slight chance that someone was calling out to me and sure enough it was Edward Bess himself and he remembered me again!   His charm and kindness still win me over  – along with his fabulous products!

He has added some new shades to his lipstick and lip gloss collection that are so beautiful I could use one of each!  These shades have a bit more plum/pink tone to them than the previous colors in his line, and the shade Tender Love was perfect to give my lips a polished look.  He topped that shade with the gloss in Nude Satin, and they both are such gorgeous shades they can be worn alone or together.  The Nude Satin shade is actually a bit deeper and a bit more plummy brown than the shade shown here.  There also is a new lip liner to the collection that is in Natural.   I was actually the first person to purchase a lipstick and gloss from the new collection!  The Edward Bess lipsticks and gloss are so unbelievably creamy that everyone should have at least one!   

The eyeshadow trio isn’t available until the holiday season and this gorgeous compact is called Island Escape.   It has three universally flattering shades and of course the shadows are as luxurious as you would come to expect with his products.   I can’t wait to see these in person, I know I will be drooling like I am just looking at the images. 

Also for holiday there is this great combination of products called Jet Set that’s comprised of the beautiful Island Escape shadow trio, a blush called Island Rose and the lip liner in Natural all in this black canvas travel bag for $125.   

If you get a chance to stop by at Bergdorfs be sure to check out his line and tell him “hi” from Kari!

This past Spring, while in New York I had a little free time so I made a dash for Sephora.  It’s right down the street from where I stay when in NYC – dangerous.  It’s a larger store than the ones we have here in Minneapolis, so more product to oooh and aaah over.

I’ve been hearing rave reviews about the Josie Maran products and I hit the jackpot with this Sephora.  One of the products I’ve been hearing so much about was the Argan Oil.  At $48, I wasn’t willing to spend that much on a product that I wasn’t really sure how or what I’d use it for.   But the lipsticks, well I can ALWAYS use another one!  

I’d heard great things about these lipsticks as well – her products are all organic too.  I tried on a few different shades that I debated on getting because when you put these lipsticks on, they seriously are super soft and moisturizing.   Amazingly so.  I settled on the color Mysterious. 

Um wait,  about 1/2 hour later and my lips were seriously dry.   What the heck was going on?   How could something so soft and wonderful turn my lips so dry?   I used this lipstick for about 3 days and had the same result every time.   So I set it in my makeup bag giving myself a break.   Well about 4 weeks later I thought – I love this shade, I must give it a try again.   Only now the lipstick was like it was deteriorating and had broken in the tube when I hadn’t touched it for several weeks!   It was getting all cracked and gross.   But not one to give up, I tried it again after “repairing” the lipstick in the tube, and I had the same exact results.   Super soft at first, and then very drying.

OK I surrender.   It’s not all what it’s cracked up to be.

A while back Lancôme had a series of lipsticks called Pout-à-Porter, shades that were made in collaboration with designers Behnaz Sarafpour, Proenza Schouler, Peter Som and Thakoon.    They were an instant hit and sold out immediately.   In fact, Proenza Pink sold on eBay for $122!    I was lucky enough to get the Thakoon shade Pixel Pink and Peter Som shade PS Kiss.  I get compliments whenever I wear the Pixel Pink, it’s a great shade of Pink for me but I’ve always worn it sparingly – once it’s gone, it’s gone. 

Well, Lancôme is bringing it back for Spring 2010!  They are collaborating this time with designer Chris Benz and his Spring line which will be worn by the models in his shows in September.  

Here’s where you come in – go to Chris Benz’s Facebook Fan Page  (click on his highlighted name) become a fan and enter what name you think they should call the shade based on what you know about Chris and his fashion personality.   Hurry – you have until July 12th at 5:00 PM EST.   

What do you win?   Five of the lipsticks and a $500 Lancôme gift certificate!   Good luck!