11.10.08 Bloggers Unite

I heard about an important cause from The Seeker and I feel that I should share with you as well. Check out other bloggers who are also part of this meaningful initiative here or find more information on http://unite.blogcatalog.com/.


Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use), unite.blogcatalog.com/

Have A Dream? Follow It! - The Mercedes-Benz Dutch Fashion Awards 2008

The Mercedes-Benz Dutch Fashion Award 2008 (November 7th) was most certainly an evening filled with glitz and glam. Many celebrities and the general public showed up, strutted their stuff, and showed us what they are all about.

Awards were handed out last night. The winner of the Dutch Fashion Icon Homme was none other than Carlo Wijnands, and the one honored as the winner of Dutch Fashion Icon Femme, was Aynouk Tan. Both winners were selected by the designers themselves as influenc-ers and inspirations in the Dutch fashion scene. But ultimately, the evening was about Monique Van Heist (pictured left, the moment she found out she'd won!), who stole the evening as the winner of the 2008 Incubator Award. With her reward of 25 000 euros (not dollars!) and a training package, she will be empowered to showcase her label to a wider audience. From where I was standing the moment they announced the winner, I heard cries and screams from some members of the audience behind me. I was instantly overcome by emotion, knowing how much of herself Van Heist must have dedicated to her work. Have a dream? Follow it! That about sums up what the evening was about.

Pictures from the event, which documents all the most amazing things I have seen, will come shortly. As I sit here writing this today, I realized that I am slightly hungover with euphoria from the evening and with Bols (who was a sponsor of the event, and might I say, who spoiled us rotten!).

Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use), photo from dutchfashionawards

Strictly Black Tie

Oh boy! I feel so honored to be part of such a special occasion, but the first thoughts I had when I found out that I have been invited to report on the Mercedes-Benz Dutch Fashion Awards were what hair, which lipstick, hose or no hose, and more importantly, which dress? The fact that the event is "strictly black tie" makes it even more intimidating. What is fashionably or unfashionably black tie these days? Is it always strictly a black, below the knees dress for women and don't they know that it is too cold nowadays to wear a strappy dress outdoors?

Will you help me choose?

Option 1
Black strapless, down to the floor flowy & laced-back number (may run the risk of it falling off unless I glue it down!)

Option 2
Black strappy, above the knees full skirt, cross-front and nipped at the waste (one that has stood the test of crazy nights of dancing)

Option 3
Black shimmery lace over lavender, down to the floor, low back (I won a dancing competition in this so I believe it brings me luck!)

or the last Option (4)
Black satin, down the the floor, spaghetti straps, tight(!) with slight flair at the bottom, laced back (wearing this means sucking everything in ....)

What is your favorite outfit for a formal occasions? Any tips on what to do with hair, accessories, etiquette etc, please please share your wisdom.

~~
The purpose of the Mercedes-Benz Dutch Fashion Awards is to "choose the Dutch fashion design label most likely to succeed in bringing its label onto the international market. The winner of the Mercedes-Benz Dutch Fashion Award will receive a financial reward of 25.000 euro which will enable the label to take further steps in the international fashion industry."
~~

More Details About The Event To Come Soon...

Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use), dutchfashionawards.com

Cravings - Sparkles & Shine

I don't think I have ever written about jewelry. I have no problem talking about an emerald-colored eyeshadow or a ruby shade of lipstick but jewelry is not normally 'my thing'.

Perhaps lately with the nights arriving earlier and colder, I am craving for something that sparkles and shines.

I pretty much just fell in love with Roberto Coin's designs as soon as I laid eyes on them. They are simple, elegant, yet done with detailed crafts- manship.

Model Christy Turlington looks gorgeous lit up with the jewels as well. The video below shows Christy being prepped for the photoshoot for the Roberto Coin campaign.

What does the cold weather and early dark nights make you crave for?


Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use), robertocoin.com, youtube.com

Retro Lush & Breakups

Lush and I had a fallout a while back but it was mainly my fault. I gave it too much attention and I was at the point of down right infat- uation and obsession. Not healthy at all!

If you have followed Lush's products over time, you know that they have stopped producing some of their gush-worthy items and others that were rumored to have existed but very few of us ever got to experience (you can see some of them here). The Retro Lush items were my drug but more specifically, the drug went by the name of Aqua Mirablis Underwater (the Retro version, pictured above).

My first dab into Lush was a refrigerated tub of their fresh Cupcake facial mask which instantly had my senses tingling with glee and skin bouncing with vitality. And then I met the aforementioned drug which we'll now just call AMU. AMU was a little bar of powdered solid body butter topped with marigold petals. It really was what soft smooth skin's made of. With sandalwood oil, rose absolute and gardenia extract, it was a scent made for dreary days.

I used to have a bathing ritual using AMU. First, I filled my bathtub with warm water. Then I rubbed AMU all over wet skin, as the ground almond shells exfoliated away all unflattering flakes. AMU had a spell over me and made the usually unglamorous job of exfoliation feel luxurious. Final step - I would sit in the warm water until the water started to cool. Heaven I tell you! The combination of exfoliation, heat, water and cocoa butter transformed my skin every time.

When I heard rumors that they were discontinuing production of AMU in that format, I became an addict that feared not having her substance. I began to hoard and bought all displayed bars of AMU at one time, and, even sent friends overseas to collect more for me. I was so frightened of what a disappointment the new Aqua Mirablis was going to be.

As you all know that Lush' products are natural based, they have only a certain amount of shelf-life. Well, my bars of AMU began to turn rancid (after about a year though). It got to the point that I actually had to unwillingly dispose of them. What a horror that was! After that point I never wanted to step into Lush again in fear of experiencing heart-break like that again.

It has been 3 years since then and I finally stepped into a Lush store the other day with BFOG by my side. As I stood inside the store, it all felt somehow familiar but different. I walked by the the hall of the soaps and when I reached the body butters where the new AMU now sits (it used to be in the bath melt section), I only 'eyed' the new AMU (pictured above).

BFOG and I walked out of the store with a bag of goodies and big grins on our faces. With my renewed happy and healthier attitude with Lush, I am happy to say that I will be sharing my thoughts on a few of their products with you shortly.

Any Lush fans out there? Want to share your thoughts on your Lush favs or boos? Please do!
Oh and Happy Halloween!

Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use), lush.com

Beauty Adventure - Madara ecoface

I love to tread in unfamiliar beauty territory. If there is ever the chance to discover something new and beauty-related, I'm there! It wouldn't matter if I had to oar my way across a river just to sample a rare youth serum or bargain with a man in a foreign language (with the common phrases section of the Lonely Planet guide open in my hand).

I was in Latvia and although strolling around in a shopping center is nothing overly adventurous, there were quite some unfamiliar beauty brands that lined the shelves. I felt my pupils dilate as I rubbed my hands together in greed when I entered the main floor of the shopping center which was covered almost entirely by the beauty department.

What I noticed was the sheer volume of 'natural' products on offer. One of the brands that stood out from the rest was a locally produced company called Madara. The company believes that the skin "has the inherent wisdom and ability to use the necessary active substances from each plant. High levels of active ingredients – such as extracts and oils – from plants harvested in the Baltic regionare included in all products.". I was completely drawn by their simple yet hygienic packaging, and the fact that none of their products contain synthetic preservatives, artificial fragrances or colors. According to their labels, some of the medicinal plants and herbs are even harvested following the lunar phases (I respect that!).

I eagerly tested all their products and narrowed my purchase down to the Madara ecoface Regenerating Cream, which is a night cream designed for all skin types. Bare with me as I copy information about the cream from their website and paste it below :

"Nourishes the skin and revives its radiance and beauty during sleep.
Natural plant and flower anti-oxidants prevent the aging process and the formation of wrinkles. Created with love using jojoba and avocado base oils, cocoa butter, extracts of barley sprouts, tomatoes, hop, algae, plantain, camomile, calendula and sea buckthorn oil, all harvested in the Baltic region, as well as gentle natural enzymes.

Tomato – contains carotenoids, including the red pigment lycopene - one of the most potent anti-oxidants. Carotenoids protect skin from free radicals, slowing down aging processes. Neutralizes UV ray damage of the previous day. Lycopene also has anti-cancer activity. Decreases allergic reactions.
Barley sprout – One of the richest sources of natural vitamins, minerals and amino acids, all of which exhibit powerful antioxidant properties. Destroys toxins harmful to skin and neutralizes free radicals. Has anti-inflammatory and anti-mutagenic properties. Stimulates the healing process, softens skin.
Hop – Delays aging processes thanks to a gentle estragenic activity. Softens and strengthens skin, prevents inflammations.
Sea Buckthorn – rich source of vitamins, especially vitamin E anti-oxidant. Palmitic acid is a natural component of skin, thus softening and enriching skin cells with the necessary substances, promoting skin’s regeneration. A natural UV filter.
Seaweed – Creates skin protective complex and improves skin elasticity. Improves cell metabolism and excess water elimination from body tissues, decreasing swelling.
Plantain – stimulates collagen synthesis. Renews damaged skin cells, creates a protective and moisturizing layer on skin. Aids in eliminating excess water from body tissue, decreasing swelling.
Chamomile – stimulates collagen synthesis. Has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, calming and cell regenerating properties.
Marigold – has antiseptic properties, treats various skin problems. Destroys free radicals.
Avocado oil – able to deeply penetrate the skin transporting the necessary anti-oxidants and other active substances. Has moisturizing, healing, anti-bacterial, anti-wrinkle properties. Stimulates collagen synthesis, thus delaying aging signs and visibly softening skin. Creates a velvety feel of the skin.

INCI / ingredients:
Aqua, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil¹, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil¹, Glycerin (Vegetable)², Saccharide Isomerate², Hordeum Vulgare (Barley Germ) Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn Berry) Extract, Lycopersicum Esculentum (Tomato) Extract, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Butter, Algae Extract, Humulus Lupulus (Hop) Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Plantago Major (Plantain Leaf) Extract, Calendula Officinalis (Calendula Flower) Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Camomile Flower) Extract, Glucose, Cetearyl Glucoside, Allantoin², Glucose Oxidase³, Lactoperoxidase³, Stearic Acid, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Aroma⁴, Limonene⁴, Linalool^4
1 Certified organic
² Natural moisturising agents
³ Natural enzymes
⁴ Ingredients of natural essential oils "

I mean, have you ever seen such a huge list of natural ingredients combined in such an interesting way? Reading this information was already a skincare lesson in itself. You see why I had to get this!

Did it deliver? Well, yes and no. It feels nourishing and proofs itself to be a great moisture-izer to the skin. The hygienic pump bottle delivers a dose of its peach-tint cream enough to cover the entire face and neck. However, I have yet to find out its anti-aging properties as I admittedly have yet to used the cream continuously for more than 3 nights in a row. Why? I blame my keen sense of smell. Every time I apply this cream expecting the usual 'herbal' scent of any common natural product, I get instead a whiff of tomato paste. Call me a spoiled sport if you will but I think I am going to have to let this cream do its magic only on my neck!

Any natural products you want to rave about or share your thoughts on? Please leave them in comments!

Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use), madara.lt

Haute Parfumerie - Feerie

It was dark outside. We walked by the perfumery. I glanced over at the shimmering display and my eyes fixated on this bottle.

Van Cleef & Arpels Haute Parfumerie Feerie
Top notes black currant buds, Italian mandarin and violet leaves.
Heart notes violet, Bulgarian rose and Egyptian jasmine.
Dry down notes Haitian vetiver and Florentine orris butter.

I instantly succumbed to its mystical and dreamy powers. As if I was staring into the crystal water where the Lady of the Lake lies.

I made sure BFOG heard my cries for this midnight bottle.

Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use), Van Cleef & Arpels

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!

If there is one thing we must do for our lips, it is to take care of them to ensure that they stay plump for as long as possible. What to do? Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!

The thing I love most about Silk Naturals' lip products is that they are petrochemicals-free. In our lifetime of wearing lipsticks and balms, we will consume an average of about 4-6 pounds of lip products. So if that is going to happen, we might as well be eating Silk Naturals' lippies since theirs are made of ingredients such as avocado oil and shea butter.

SN's line of lip products include the liquid lip gloss (applied with a doe-foot applicator), solid lip gloss (twist-up and organic), lip sticks (twist-up and organic) and Kiss Bliss demi gloss (pigment of a lipstick but with shine of a gloss). My collection currently contains 4 solid lip glosses and 1 limited edition (Color For a Cure) solid lip gloss. What I have noticed with these glosses is that the colors are extremely wearable no matter which one it is. The comfort level of wearing these pigmented lip colors is extreme and these babies condition my lips better than anything I have tried. As much as I would love to slather on the ultimate lip product that is La Mer's "The Lip Balm", being able to SPEND on things other than lip balm seems more justifiable. Now SN's lippies are packaged in a skinny tube (see 1st photo) with printed sticker labels (perhaps not the fanciest), but they retail for only 4.25 usd each. They are so good that I even wear them to bed at night.

Read on for color description of my current lineup of SN lippies (which is expecting to grow substansially in the near future):

Sweet Nothing - Similar to Skinny Dip below but slightly darker. No shimmer. I wear this on my top lip.

Skinny Dip - Natural, daytime mauve that seems to just enhance my pigmented lips ever so slightly. Satin finish. I wear this on my bottom lip.

Rhonda - Described as a shimmery lavender but does not apply 'old money' as I had imagined it might. This one surprised me. It looks great paired with purple-y eyes.

Birthday Suit - SN calls this the "Ultimate Nude Lippie". The color looks like it belongs on my olive/golden skin tone. I normally prefer a paler nude lipstick (my heart belongs to MAC's 3N lipstick) but I favor this for times when I want some color.

Monarch (LE) - Contains the luxuriousness of 23k gold edible leaf, apricot kernel wax, cranberry seed oil, passionfruit oil, camellia oil. Touted as the most luxurious lippie collection so far by SN. The color is a warm gold and very wearable by different skin tones for night time.

My male readers should not fret. Silk Naturals also make a clear balm to make sure your lips stay kissable as well.


Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use), silknaturals.com

Mark Your Calendar- Comme des Garcons @ H&M

In stores November 13th. Comme des Garcons has collaborated with H&M to make their fashion concepts accessible to those of us who normally cannot afford the pleasure of their pieces. Don't expect current trends as you fight your way into the H&M store come the 13th. Comme des Garcons has a unique flare all of their own. The mix of their signature pieces, different fabric and pocket placements, polka dots and intelligent tailoring will make this collection one of the most saught after @ H&M.

I am especially psyched about the polka dots pieces, their men's collection and am immensely curious about their perfume.













Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use), hm.com