FNB holiday gift guide 2012: Part One

December 10, 2012 by

The sharing and caring of the season is swell, but some of us get joy from coveting stuff. With that in mind, we present part one of our holiday gift guide, highlighting vanity-table delights as well as snacks and sips. Tomorrow: Books and DVDs.

Henri Bendel New York Minute silk scarf, $68. The pattern comes in three colors. Also cute is the NYM Iphone 5 phone cover, $38.

Brian Atwood gloves for Target + Neiman Marcus, $50.

Marc Jacobs/Dita Von Teese cotton T-shirt, $35. All proceeds from the sale of this shirt will be donated to NYU Skin Cancer Institute.

Nest body cream, $50, in Amazon Lily. Also comes in Midnight Fleur and Passiflora. The fragrance line was inspired by the botanical artworks of 18th Century artist Mary Delany.

Lady Gaga Fame soap, $15.

Kilian’s Good Girl Gone Bad perfume, 1.7 ounces, $245. Each bottle includes a white clutch embellished with a goldtone snake detail.

The latest from Chanel: 1.7 ounces, $98 and 3.4 ounces, $130. Available at department stores and online.

Givenchy Noir Couture Mascara is formulated to improve shine, suppleness and strength, $32.

Tom Ford Beauty Lip Color in Crimson Noir, $48.

Bobbi Brown Rich Caviar Eye Palette, $47.50.

Lalique pétillante ring in silver/black crystal cabochon, $925.

Gifts for him from Tiffany: Original design by Paloma Picasso. Cuff links in stainless steel and midnight titanium, $425.

Dom Pérignon by David Lynch limited edition champagne: Dom Pérignon Vintage 2003 and Dom Pérignon Rosé Vintage 2000. Starting at $175; prices vary depending on vendor.

Vosges Haut-Chocolat by Katrina Markoff is sure to please. Try the Caramel Marshmallows, four pieces, $13. The hot cocoa sold in Vosges boutiques (Chicago, NYC, LA and Vegas) boosts energy while shopping.

McConnell’s peppermint stick ice cream, $7 per pint. The company was founded in Santa Barbara, Calif., in 1949 by a World War II veteran who was inspired by the ice cream he tried while stationed in Europe.

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The Falsies Volum’ Express offers benefits without the bother

September 16, 2011 by

The Falsies: What's wrong with a little trickery?

You can always count on Hollywood for high-drama makeup. False eyelashes were reportedly invented by legendary director D.W. Griffith, the man Charlie Chaplin called “the teacher of us all.” During the making of 1916’s “Intolerance,” Griffith wanted actress Seena Owen’s lashes long enough to graze her cheeks.

Obviously, the idea caught on. If you happen to be going to a ’60s party à la Twiggy and you have tons of time on your hands as well as unlimited patience, falsies are great. But if you want stand-out lashes for everyday, Maybelline has a product that offers benefits without the bother. The Falsies Volum’ Express mascara gets you fat in a good way as it creates plump, thick, clean lashes.

Twiggy turns 62 on Sept. 19.

According to the company, the product’s patented spoon curler brush and flexible wand separates and lifts lashes while the “Kera-fiber” formula builds volume. I’ve been using it for several weeks now and it makes my lashes look thick and well defined. I had no problems with flaking or smudging and, at $8 a tube, it’s a fantastic value.

The Falsies Volum’ Express is contact-lens safe and ophthalmologist-tested. It’s available in washable and waterproof formulas. For best results, do not dry between coats.

Product Source: I received a review sample from Maybelline. I did not receive compensation for this post.

P.S. If you want to catch up with Fashion Week, you can watch highlights from Maybelline here.

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Bésame 1930s mascara offers pretty little portal to the past

January 9, 2011 by

I ask you: Who among us doesn’t need a great mascara? My current wand of choice is Bésame 1930s mascara. It’s easy to imagine this slender gold tube popping up in a glam powder room or rolling out in the library of a drafty country home. 

The conditioning formula gives your lashes a silky coat of rich color and does a fine job resisting flakes. It comes off quickly with a gentle cleanser or eye-makeup remover.

Besame 1930s mascara updates a classic.

Says Bésame’s website: “This special combination dates back to the 1930’s and has been re-introduced by Bésame. And being a classic, it contains only natural ingredients, has been allergy tested, is paraben-free and is safe for the most sensitive eyes. Bésame 1930s Mascara is one of the most natural mascaras on the market today, containing only seven ingredients.”

Those seven are: cera alba, aqua, hydrocarbons, oleum lini, oleum ricini, sicovit (pigment) and fragrance. The scent comes from natural antibacterial conditioning oils.

Bésame’s 1930s mascara, $18 at beauty-supply stores and online, is just one of many elegant products from this company, which launched in 2004. Founder Gabriela Hernandez immigrated to the United States from Buenos Aires at the age of 12. According to Bésame’s website, her motivation for creating the cosmetics was “her background in art and design, a love for feminine detail, and fond memories of her glamorous grandmother.”

More importantly perhaps, Hernandez  says she wants to reach young women and inspire them to follow their dreams.

My dream tonight is back to the library and leather chairs. It’s a perfect night for a fire and a friend. Mmmm.

Product Source: From my own collection; I did not receive products or compensation from Bésame.

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