NARS-issism

I've recently rediscovered the NARS makeup line. Like every other beauty-forward woman on the planet, I've bought the NARS powder blush in Orgasm. Maybe it was the name, or the promise contained within it, but I purchased it in the hopes that, upon applying it to my cheekbones, I would instantly be transformed into an alluringly seductive siren that no man could resist. But alas, I was not. It turned out that I am so fair-complected that the color really didn't do anything for me. And after several months of using mineral makeup, I'm getting tired of the powdery look it gives me. Worried that it makes me look older, I've switched to cream-based makeup to give me a youthful, dewy glow. And what better way to start than with flushed cheeks?

NARS's Cream Blush ($23.00) in Guele de Nuit is everything on me that Orgasm wasn't. It's similar to Orgasm in that it's a peachy/pinkish shade with a hint of shimmer. But when applied to the cheeks, it goes from cream to powder and looks subtle when blended. A perfect flush of color. So far it hasn't turned me into an alluringly seductive siren either, but the name (loosely translated it means mouth of the night, whatever that means!) sounds sort of suggestive too, doesn't it?


When I purchased the cream blush, I also tried the NARS skincare line for the first time. I love using bar cleansers on my skin. I know soap is a bad word among some beauty industy-types, but what can I say, I love the feel of a big bar of soap in my hands, making a lather with it and applying it to my face. I feel my face wouldn't be clean otherwise. But I also know many soaps can be extremely drying. But upon seeing that big, white slab of NARS Purifying Soap ($22.00) at the NARS counter, I was intrigued. It looked beautiful, clinical, and modernist, like a piece of art. It just begged me to buy it. So I did. Created for NARS by Shiseido, the Purifying Soap promises to remove all traces of makeup, as well as purify the skin and help eliminate blackheads and clogged pores. Since my skin gets clogged and blemishes easily, I thought it would be a great alternative to the medicated acne products that have been making my skin worse rather than better. The Purifying Soap contains jojoba and macadamia nut oils to help prevent drying, as well as aloe leaf extract to soothe the skin. My face looks refreshed and feels softer after I use it, not dried out as it does with many other soaps.

So with a clear complexion and a subtle flush of color, maybe youthful innocence rather than alluring seduction might make me irresistable to men everywhere. A girl can only hope.

Organic Matter

I've been a fan or Origins since Estee Lauder first introduced its nature-meets-science line of skincare products - discovering my first Origins counter in Bergdorf Goodman while working in NYC in 1990. I was intrigued by their simple yet inviting packaging and products incorporating natural ingredients. Years later, I worked part-time for an Origins shop, where I became a die-hard fan of products such as the Eye Doctor eye cream and the Constant Comforter moisturizer for sensitive skin. But when I saw Origins has introduced their Origins Organics line of skincare products, I had to give it a try, as the idea of organic skincare products sounds so healthy and beneficial.

Origins Organics is the first major skincare line to be USDA-Approved and certified organic by the National Organic Program. The vacuum packaging is sleek as well as hygienic. I purchased the three facial regimen products.

The Origins Organic Foaming Face Wash with 73% Organic Ingredients ($25) leaves my skin feeling clean and soft, but not dry and tight. It removes makeup well, and a little goes a long way (I can clean my entire face with just one pump). I love the clove fragrance - it smells just like Origins' Cream Bar but is less drying. The vacuum pump is easy to use. Overall, this is a really nice cleanser.

The Purifying Tonic with 95% Organic Ingredients ($25) contains organic willow bark, a.k.a. salicylic acid, to purify pores, while organic vinegar removes dead skin cells. Organic Lavender alcohol naturally preserves this product. I sweep some on with a cotton pad after cleansing and my face feels refreshed.

The Nourishing Face Lotion with 95% Organic Ingredients ($42.40) is a bit pricey for Origins, but well worth the money. It contains organic shea and cocoa butters to moisturize skin, but it's not heavy or greasy. One pump is all you need to moisturize your entire face while protecting it against free-radical damage. It also contains organic essential oils of clove, rose, lavender, patchouli, and red thyme, so it smells as heavenly as it feels. I can't stop touching my face after I use it.

The Origins Organics line also features an organic body bar and a lip balm.

Boston University To Host Beauty and Self-Esteem Seminar

Did you know that only 2 percent of women around the world choose the word "beautiful" to describe their looks?

Did you know that 75 percent of women strongly agree that they wish “the media did a better job of portraying women of diverse physical attractiveness—age, shape and size"?

Did you know that 72 percent of girls 15 to 17 withdraw from life-engaging activities due to feeling badly about their looks?

Did you know that more than 90 percent of girls want to change at least one aspect of their physical appearance, with body weight ranking the highest?

On Saturday, October 27, the Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership and Dove will host “Beauty and Self-Esteem in Society: Freeing Ourselves and the Next Generation,” a panel discussion to explore the significance of these disturbing statistics and how they relate to today’s definition of beauty. Boston University will host the event, which is free and open to the public.

DEFINING BEAUTY FOR OURSELVES AND OUR DAUGHTERS
**Event to Empower Women of Boston: Insights on Self-Esteem, Beauty and Stereotypes**

WHAT: “Beauty and Self-Esteem in Society: Freeing Ourselves and the Next Generation” – a panel discussion with prominent women to discuss the evolution of beauty in our global society. This free event is open to the public and will feature:
· Insights on stereotypical beauty trends and its impact on women and self-esteem
· Current statistics on women’s perceptions of themselves – and how to change the thinking
· What mothers can do for their daughters
· Small group seminars on financial literacy, negotiation, public speaking, to name a few
· Insights from attending women – their thoughts on beauty, media and self-esteem

WHEN: Saturday, October 27, 2007 (Doors open at 9 a.m.)
Panel Discussion: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Small Group Seminars: 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

WHERE: Boston University - Morse Auditorium
602 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts

PANELISTS:
* Naomi Wolf, author of “The Beauty Myth” and co-founder of The Woodhull Institute
* Dr. Nancy Etcoff, pscychiatrist, Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital and author of “Survival of the Prettiest: The Science of Beauty.”
* Monica Meehan McNamara, Psychotherapist and former research scholar at Wellesley and consultant at Harvard Law School ; Woodhull alumna
* Karla Jackson-Brewer, professor in Women’s Studies, Gender Studies and Africana Studies at Rutgers University; Woodhull fellow

MODERATOR:
Katie Orenstein, journalist and author, focusing on human rights and women in pop culture

Both Nancy and Naomi are available for one-on-one interviews and can discuss the following topics:
* The evolution of beauty in our society
* How pop-culture and media affect women’s self-esteem
* How Boston women can get involved with breaking stereotypes and creating a wider definition of beauty.

BACKGROUND:
The event is sponsored by The Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership, a non-profit organization dedicated to the empowerment of women and Dove, the global beauty brand.

Go Sox!!!

Think Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness

October is breast cancer awareness month. This past year, two scares in my family have made me aware of how crucial it is to get yearly mammograms, and to do monthly breast self examinations. A year ago this month, with my very first mammogram at the recommended age of 40, the x-ray revealed a lump in my breast. The subsequent biopsy showed that it was a benign lump, called a fibroadenoma, and was not cancerous. Two months later, however, my mother's yearly mammogram revealed a lump that turned out to be cancerous. Thankfully, they caught it in the very early stages, removed it, and with follow-up radiation treatments, she was declared cancer-free.

During October, many retailers and manufacturers donate money to breast cancer research, either through direct donations, or through the sale of special products from which part or all of the proceeds go towards breast cancer research. From Kitchen Aid mixers, to Papermate ball point pens, to lingerie and t-shirts, there are a variety of pink products to choose from. Many cosmetic companies offer special versions of their most popular products in October, in pink shades or special pink packaging, with proceeds going towards breast cancer research. Here is just a small sampling of the countless special cosmetic offerings for Breast Cancer Awareness month:



Philosophy offers a special version of their popular three-in-one shower gel. Shower for the Cure ($20.00) is a shower gel, bubble bath and shampoo in a special bottle adorned with the breast cancer pink ribbon logo. 100% of the Philosophy net proceeds from the Shower for the Cure is donated to the Women's Cancer Research Fund.



Estee Lauder's Pink Ribbon Collection 2007 features five products in special pink packaging. Estee Lauder offers a special Jeweled Pink Ribbon Compact and Brush Set. The compact is adorned with a pink rhinestone ribbon and contains Bronze Goddess Soft Matte Bronzer, with a retractable brush for flawless application. The Jeweled Pink Ribbon Pin is a simple way to show your support for Breast Cancer Awareness. For lips, Estee Lauder has developed three special shades of pink. Pure Color Crystal Gloss is available in Evelyn Pink, while Pure Color Crystal Lipstick comes in Elizabeth Pink, and High Gloss lip gloss is available in Pink Ribbon Pink. The purchase of any Estee Lauder Pink Ribbon Collection product will help Estee Lauder in North America donate $500,000 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. But the Pink Ribbon Collection 2007 is almost completely sold out online, so check your local department store (soon!) if you want to get these items.



If you're unable to obtain these special Estee Lauder pink lip colors, there is another way to spread pink kisses in October. Hershey's Kisses offers special chocolate kisses in pink foil for Breast Cancer Awareness. Hershey's Pledge is the chocolate manufacturer's way of donating $300,000 to breast cancer research. You can go online to donate to the cause.



Fight unruly brows while fighting breast cancer. Tweezerman, the tweezer of choice among makeup artists and beauty pundits, has created a special pink petite tweezer case in support of breast cancer awareness. A pink ribbon emblazons the leather case, which contains smaller sizes of the Tweezerman trademarked Slant (TM) and Point (TM) tweezers. It's available for $25 at drugstore.com.



And for information on breast cancer, visit the National Breast Cancer Foundation. For instructions on performing breast self examinations, visit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure website. Their Promise Shop sells a wide range of breast cancer awareness merchandise, including Keep the Promise Rings and pink Cure (TM) The Bear Beanie Babies, and you can order a free BSE (Breast Self Examination) shower card, for quick and easy referral when performing a breast self examination.

Please, I urge everyone to be diligent about doing monthly breast self examinations and getting yearly mammograms. Share this information with your mothers, daughters, sisters, and girlfriends. Early detection is the key to beating breast cancer.

Bag Hag

Dancing in clubs. Shopping at Barney's. Lunching in trendy eateries. We go everywhere together. Of course, I'm talking about my makeup bag. We're inseparable.

Makeup and travel bags from Stephanie Johnson will enable you to tote your most essential beauty items in style. I just purchased my first of what will likely be many. The Stephanie Johnson line features twenty-seven different shapes of bags, from small cosmetic cases, to travel bags, to satchels, to tote bags, in over eighteen different patterns of fabric to choose from. Many can double as stylish handbags. And the website's Vintage section offers visitors a second chance to obtain older, discontinued styles.

Most bags range in price from $20 for a small clamshell-shaped coin purse to $79 for a large trifold hanging travel bag. And the company's Steph & Co. line offers a more affordable alternative, featuring the same great shapes as the Stephanie Johnson line, done in fun graphic vinyl prints like the safari-inspired Kenya Brown (above) and the cherry-blossom-chic of Georgetown (below). And like all Stephanie Johnson bags, the Steph & Co. line also features Stephanie Johnson's signature stylish zipper pulls, like a piece of faux bamboo for the Kenya Brown bags. Steph & Co. prices range from $18-$36 dollars.



With twenty-seven shapes and eighteen different patterns, you're sure to find a bag that's most compatible with you. Of course, it can't tell you if that skirt makes your butt look big, or hold your hand while you sob into your Cranberry Cosmopolitan because that guy you met last night didn't call. But isn't that what our gay male best friends are for?

Three Steps to Fabulous Lips

Today is the first day of fall, which means cooler weather is on its way. Personally, fall is my favorite season, but with the colder weather, I find my lips get drier and more chapped. But this fall, I'm ready to do battle with three (relatively) new products at my disposal. By following this three-step lip care routine, your lips will be smooth, soft, and full.

Step One: Exfoliate

The Lip Scrub by Sara Happ ($20) is an exfoliator that smooths and softens lips. Sugar gently buffs away dead skin, while petrolatum softens lips. You apply a small amount to lips, gently rub in a circular motion, and then tissue off. If a little of the scrub remains behind, I splash my lips with a little water and then wipe them off. My lips feel soft and smooth after using it. The Lip Scrub comes in six delicious flavors: Cocoa, Cinnamon Sugar, Brown Sugar, Vanilla Bean, Almond Creme, and Peppermint. My faves are Cocoa, Brown Sugar, and Cinnamon Sugar.

Step Two: Hydrate



Black Currant Lip Balm by Talulah Natural Skincare ($13) is a completely all-natural lip balm with pure shea butter and African chamomile to moisturize and soothe lips. It penetrates instantly to soften lips without feeling greasy or slick like so many tube lip balms do. And its light, clean taste isn't artificial. It's the perfect canvas to apply lip color (see step three).

Step Three: Plump



Buxom Big and Healthy Lip Polishes by Bare Escentuals ($18) is a collection of lip-plumping glosses that add fullness, color, and shine to lips. It comes in six colors, all named after, um, strippers. Dolly is a sultry mauve luster, Bambi is a blushed pink luster, Candi is a juicy strawberry luster, and Amber is a soft peach luster. Bare Escentuals recently added two new shades for fall: Ginger is a cognac shimmer, and Brandi is a candied plum luster. Buxom lip polishes look deeper in the tube, but on the lips, they add shine and color without looking garish or unnatural. And the cheeky packaging (no pun intended) is irresistible.

I use this liptastic trio every morning to ensure that my pucker is ship-shape, or should I say lip-shape (sorry!). If I feel my lips need even more help now that the weather is getting cooler, I repeat steps one and two at night before bed. Why not tweak your beauty regimen for fall and take extra care of your lips.

Down with Hollywood Hair!

I've always been a fan of Dove products. Seeing that white beauty bar featuring one-quarter moisturizing cream takes me back to my childhood, when my mother used it. Dove's beauty bar is the only drugstore-brand bar cleanser that my skin can tolerate. But Dove has come a long way (baby) since I was a child (and I'm not telling you how long ago that was). Their line has expanded to include facial cleansers, moisturizers, deodorants, body care products, and haircare products. In addition to the beauty bar, I also use their facial moisturizers, deodorants, and liquid hand soap. But I had never tried their hair care products, so when Dove sent me samples of their new shampoo and conditioner to review, I was more than happy to try them.

Dove has reformulated their haircare line to cleanse your hair without stripping it of its much-needed natural oils. They recently introduced Dove Cool Moisture (TM) shampoo and conditioner with a touch of cucumber and green tea fragrance. They feature Dove's Weightless Moisturizers (R), which the company describes as "a unique combination of low-molecular weight ingredients" to help condition hair.

I'm just as impressed with Dove's haircare products as I am with their skincare and body products. The shampoo and conditioner are rich and creamy, and left my hair just as clean, soft, and healthy-looking as more expensive haircare products I've tried. And I love how effective yet affordable Dove products are. Dove Cool Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner each retails for about $4.00, and can be found in drugstores nationwide. I'm so finished with being talked into buying expensive shampoos and conditioners from my salon every time I get my hair done. I'm sticking with Dove.

As much as I love Dove's products, what I love most about them is the risk they take in departing from the usual beauty industry advertising standards. Dove's innovative Campaign for Real Beauty (you've all seen the commercials) celebrates women of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities, and ages, and encourages women to reject the unachievable standards of beauty that most of the beauty industry perpetuates and instead embrace their natural beauty.

Right now you can go to doveloveyourhair.com to check out their video exposing the "secrets" behind the seemingly effortless Hollywood Hair, as well as one Hollywood star's backlash against Hollywood Hair. "Heroes" star Ali Larter took up the gauntlet and challenged Hollywood Hair by going real on the Red Carpet, using nothing but Dove haircare products, and styling her own hair, for the Emmy Awards. And while you're there, enter Dove's Love Your Hair Ad Contest. Create your own Dove hair care ad and enter for a chance to win a trip to New York City and be featured in a Dove commercial. When it comes to haircare, if Ali Larter can keep it real, we all can.

In Memoriam

Dame Anita Roddick, the founder of The Body Shop and champion of social causes, died suddenly this past Monday of a brain hemmorage. She was 64 years old.

Roddick opened the first Body Shop in Brighton in 1976 as a small, independent beauty shop devoted to making and selling natural skincare products. No one then could have imagined that her small shop would one day turn into almost 2000 worldwide. Under Ms. Roddick's leadership, The Body Shop earned a reputation for promoting ethical commerce and social practices. They pioneered the practice of fair trade, in which ingredients were sourced from indiginous communities (often poor) worldwide, thus earning the communities a source of income without taking advantage of the people or their resources. They were among the first to campaign against animal testing and the use of animal products in their cosmetics. The Body Shop also promoted many social causes, like Greenpeace, and Children on the Edge (which helped Romanian orphans), as well as causes to increase awareness about domestic violence, AIDS, and Hepatitis C, which Roddick had revealed this past February she had been carrying since 1971 when she had a blood transfusion during the birth of her daughter, although she didn't learn she had the disease until 2004. Most notably, The Body Shop was among the earliest opponents of animal testing in the cosmetics industry, thereby raising awareness among consumers about the practice.

In 2003, Queen Elizabeth II made Roddick a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, which entitled her to be called Dame Anita. When she sold The Body Shop to French cosmetics giant L'Oreal last year, critics accused her of selling out. In her view, however, she did it to teach the major cosmetics manufacturer about fair trade and more ethical practices. And although L'Oreal owned The Body Shop, the Body Shop continued to be run independently of L'Oreal.

Ms. Roddick's legacy is not merely the many Body Shops worldwide that continue to bring the over 300 fair-trade-sourced products to consumers. It is also her committment to social causes, a committment that The Body Shop will hopefully carry on in her name.

Save the Cheerleader, Save the World

The Make-up Scoop from the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards

MTV’s 2007 Video Music Awards had an abundance of fresh, glowing complexions paired with natural eye shadow shades that brought out the beautiful tones of apricot and nude lips many celebs were sporting this year.

Celebrity make-up artist Matin, who created Hayden Panettiere's flawless face at this year’s VMAs, gave Hayden a soft, natural make-up look that showed off her radiant skin and fantastic smile. Hayden’s natural look can be achieved with just a few key make-up items! To get Hayden Panettiere’s fresh look, try the following Neutrogena products:

v Healthy Skin Glow Sheers in Fair to Light
v Mineral Sheers Blush in Illuminator
v Mineral Sheers for Eyes in Clay
v Full Volume Mascara in Rich Black
v Lip Sheers in Pink Splash
v MoistureShine Lip Soother in Shimmer
v Shine-Control Blotting Sheets


About Matin:
Matin has worked with the who’s who of the entertainment industry and has been featured in magazines such as Allure, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair and Vogue. His personal client list includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Connelly, Liv Tyler, Rachel Weisz, Sheryl Crow

Don't Waste Your Money

I don't know whether it's due to stress or to the synthetic ingredients in the skincare line that I was previously using, but lately my face has been erupting worse than Mount Vesuvius. I've always been prone to acne, but in the past few months my face has looked worse than it did when I was a teenager. So out of desperation, not wanting to do the Accutane thing (for a third time) and finding over-the-counter remedies barely effective, I shelled out $150 for the latest anti-acne "miracle": the Zeno Acne Clearing Device. This high-tech zit zapper uses a two-minute burst of heat, applied directly to the pimple, to kill bacteria. The manufacturer claims that Zeno can completely eliminate pimples, many within the first 24-48 hours, when this device is used. However, there are limitations as to what the Zeno can do, and unfortunately, you won't learn what those limitations are until you pay the big bucks for the device, open the shrink-wrapped box, and read the user's guide contained within.

I bought my Zeno with a face full of pimples and high hopes that this small device resembling a cigarette lighter would zap them away overnight. Sure, it sounds too good to be true, but the seal on the box proclaiming this product as being an Allure Magazine Editor's Choice for Breakthrough Product convinced me. After all, if Allure Magazine says it works, then why shouldn't I believe them? But when I read the user's guide, I learned that Zeno isn't effective on all kinds of pimples. In fact, it states that it's really only effective on pimples that are just starting - when you notice those small bumps on your face that may or may not turn into a pimple. It wasn't effective on my full-blown pimples, and even when I tried it on spots that I thought were going to become pimples, it didn't eradicate them. In short, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

I bought the original Zeno. It used to retail for about $200 and was sold in high-end salons and spas like Bliss Spa, until the manufacturer released the second generation Zeno Pro. Now the original Zeno is $150, and you can buy it at less-than-exclusive major drugstore chains such as Walgreens and Target. Now there is a third-generation Zeno MD. It's just like with iPods: when the first version can be improved upon, introduce another one and reduce the price of the one before it.

I don't know if the newer Zenos are more effective than the original one, but my experience with Zeno has convinced me never to spend a lot of money on something that makes claims that seem too good to be true. Zeno offers a 30-day money back guarantee if not completely satisfied. Needless to say I've already taken advantage of it. If anyone else has used Zeno, I'd love to hear what you have to say about it, positive or negative.

Naturally Beautiful

I've recently decided to do more to take better care of myself, both inside and out. I'm cutting out diet colas and drinking sparkling spring water in an attempt to detoxify my insides and eliminate unhealthy additives. On the outside, I've started using a completely all-natural skincare line called Talulah Natural Skincare. Talulah Natural Skincare products contain no synthetic ingredients, no petrochemicals, no parabens and phthalates, and no animal products. Their face and body care products are truly clean, unlike some companies that claim their products are natural but use "safe synthetics" or preservatives. Talulah's products are completely vegetarian, and many are vegan. And none are tested on animals. Nicole Maust, the founder of Talulah, started creating skincare products out of her home in Portland, Oregon in 2001. Today Talulah Natural Skincare has moved beyond being a successful cottage industry to encompass a staff of people dedicated to enhancing their customers' external health through their natural, holistic products.

My favorite product is the Vanilla Bean Cleanser ($20 for 4 oz.), a melange of organic sugar (a natural source of alpha hydroxy acid), jasmine rice, saponified olive oil soap, Madagascar vanilla beans, and a host of essential oils. It both lathers and gently exfoliates, perfect for complexions that are sensitive to manual and chemical exfoliating products. And it smells great, too.

I am also very fond of the Oma Face Serum #1 ($22 for 1 oz.) for oily and blemished complexions (Talulah makes an Oma Face Serum #2 for drier skin types). It's a blend of essential oils that regulate sebum production while healing inflammation and scarring. For those who believe that you shouldn't put oil on oily skin, this serum consists of a base of grapeseed oil, a light, easily absorbed oil that helps oxygenate the skin cells. It melts into the skin and, once absorbed, skin feels super soft but not greasy or over-moisturized. It's a perfect way for oily girls to moisturize without using lotions or heavy creams that could clog the pores.

After a busy day at work, I like to unwind in the evening by luxuriating in a warm bath. Talulah's Saffron Body Wash ($23 for 8 oz.) in Orange Rind and Geranium is a perfect way to soothe both the body and the mind. It lathers just as well if not better than many synthetic or mass-produced shower gels without stripping the skin. And the warm, soothing fragrance is sexy without being overpowering - the kind of fragrance you could wear while sidling up to that someone special to get his attention without wearing perfume.

In addition to helping people take better care of their faces and bodies, Talulah Natural Skincare is also dedicated to making a difference in the community. Each year Talulah donates 20 percent of their profits after taxes to womens' social services through their Charitable Giving Program. Talulah really is cosmetics with a conscience.

Talulah Natural Skincare is getting ready to unveil their improved website this fall, along with a host of new products. You can visit their current website at www.talulahskincare.com.

Win RoC Skincare and Tickets to a Boston Movie Premiere

Attention all Boston-area beauty and movie fanatics! If you live in or near Boston, or if you will be in the Boston area on July 12th, the good people at RoC Skincare want to send you and a friend to a movie premiere, and treat you to some of their fine products as well.


This year RoC is celebrating its 50th anniversary! To kick off the milestone birthday, and celebrate their French heritage, RoC® has also partnered with the Boston Film Festival to sponsor the premiere of “My Best Friend,” directed by famed director Patrice Leconte, in Boston. ROC is giving away TWO tickets (winner and her best friend) to the “Mon meilleur ami” premiere screening in Boston at on Thursday, July 12th at 7:30pm at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

RoC is celebrating their anniversary at the premiere of "Mon meilleur ami" (My Best Friend) at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. One lucky reader has the chance to win two tickets to the premiere! Along with the premiere tickets ROC would also like to provide this line of products to the winner. (Products include: RoC® RETINOL CORREXION® Deep Wrinkle Night Cream, Deep Wrinkle Serum and Eye Cream).



The first person to email me at bostonredlox [at] [the url for this website] by 11:59 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 will be chosen. Please include the word "ROC" in the subject heading and your mailing address in the body of your message, (no P.O. Boxes, please).

Bonne Chance!

About “My Best Friend”:

"Mon meilleur ami" is directed by famous French director Patrice Leconte and features a great cast. The highly entertaining comedy is about two business partners; Catherine and the unlikable Francois. Catherine cannot believe Francois has a best friend so she challenges him to set up an introduction between the three of them. Francoise scrambles to find someone willing to pose as his best friend and then comes an unexpected twist!

Urban Legend Number Two: The Knockout Perfume

We've all been there. You're innocently walking through the fragrance section of a department store when suddenly, out of nowhere, a sales associate accosts you and spritzes you with a perfume so strong it could knock you out. Now there is an internet email going around that warns people about a perfume that can literally do just that. Only it's not true.

I have received yet another alarmist email from my aunt. Regular readers may remember the email she sent me in April about lead in lipstick that turned out to be an urgan legend. Recently, she sent me this email about this alleged knockout perfume:

MAKE SURE YOUR DAUGHTERS, FRIENDS, RELATIVES, ETC. KNOW!
>
> Th is was written by a guy from KVLY-TV in Fargo; see bottom of msg.
> This is true. Scary!
>
> This is something that happened to us on the way back from vacation
> last week. At first I didn't think much of it until now. The reason we
> were
> a little suspicious is we had been riding in a jeep all day with 100
> degree temps and we stopped at a truck stop for something to drink.
>
> When I was leaving, a young girl followed me out and asked what kind
> of cologne I was wearing.
> Well, after 7 hours in the car sweating, I don't think you could tell
> if I was or was not wearing any cologne. We just got in the jeep and
> said
> no thanks.
>
> Then it was about 3 weeks ago, I was at a service station in Birmingham
> getting gas. It was about 9:30 pm. I was approached by 2 men and 2
> women in a car. The man that was driving asked me 'What kind of perfume
> do you
> wear?'
> I was a bit confused and I asked him 'Why?' He said, 'We are selling
> some name brand perfumes, at cheap prices.I said I had no money. He then
> reached out of the car and handed me paper that was laminated; it had
> many
> perfumes on it. I looked quickly at it and gave it back. I said, have no
> money.
> He said it is OK, we take check, cash, or credit cards. Then the people
> in the car began to laugh. I just got in my car and said no thanks.
>
> Then I received this e-mail yesterday and it sent chills up my spine.
>
> Please read this. It is no joke. Here is the e-mail I was sent:
>
> Dear Friends:
>
> I know not all of you are women that I am sending this to, but am
> hoping you will share this with your wives, daughters, mothers, sisters,
> etc. Our
> world seems to be getting crazier by the day. Pipe bombs in mail boxes
> and
> sickos in parking lots with perfume. Be careful. I was approached
> yesterday
> afternoon around 5:30 PM in the Wal-Mart parking lot by two men asking
> what kind of perfu me I was wearing. Then they asked if I'd like to
> sample
> some fabulous scent they were willing to sell me at very reasonable
> rate. I
> probably would have agreed had I not received an e-mail warning of a
> 'Wanna smell this neat perfume?'
> The men continued to stand between parked cars, I guess to wait for
> someone else to hit on. I stopped a lady going towards them, pointing at
> them
> and told her about how I was sent an e-mail at work about someone
> walking
> up to you at the malls or in parking lots and asking you to SNIFF
> PERFUME
> that they are selling at a cheap price or at least compare to which one
> you
> like best.
>
> THIS IS NOT PERFUME... IT IS ETHER!
>
> When you sniff it, you'll pass out. They'll take your wallet, your
> valuables
> and heaven knows what else. If it were not for this e-mail, I probably
> would have sniffed the 'perfume' but thanks to! the generosity of an
> e-mailing friend, I was spared whate ver might have happened to me. I
> wanted to
> do the same for you.
>
> PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO ALL YOUR WOMEN FRIENDS AND PLEASE BE ALERT
> AND BE AWARE. IF YOU ARE A MAN AND RECEIVE THIS, PASS IT ON TO YOUR
> WOMEN FRIENDS.
>
> Ladies, this happened to me yesterday and I didn't smell the perfume
> either,
> thanks to this email. This is true. Believe me, I know. I was over by
> Big
> Lots in the parking lot at lunch time when I was approached.
>
> So either day or night, it does not matter. There were 3 guys together
> when I was approached. I called the police when I got back to my desk.
> Like
> the email says above, LET EVERYONE KNOW ABOUT THIS - YOUR FRIENDS,
> FAMILY,
> CO-WORKERS, whomever. It helped me. The first thing that popped into my
> head
> was this e-mail warning.
>
MAKE SURE YOUR DAUGHTERS KNOW

Once again I have consulted my trusty mythbusting source. Sure enough, like the lead in lipstick story, this one is also an urban legend. And there are several variations on it. There's the Little Rock, Arkansas variant. The Australian variant. The Singapore Variant. The Canadian Variant. All of them involve the same ether-disguised-as-perfume-to-take-advantage-of-you ruse. Bottom line, if you get an email about this, do what I do. Hit the "Delete" button.

Mineral Magic

I stopped wearing foundation over a year ago. My complexion is so prone to congestion that I thought perhaps liquid foundation was contributing to the problem. So I cut it out of my makeup regimen. My skin cleared up somewhat, but I still battle blemishes on a regular basis. Because my skin still doesn't look as flawless as it could, I decided to try mineral makeup.

My package from Erth Mineral Makeup arrived last week and I've been dilligently using the products ever since. I've been using their Mineral Makeup Foundation, Mineral Concealer, Mineral Blush, Moth Veil, and two Mineral Eyeshadows. They're easy to apply and I can "do" my face in two minutes from start to finish.

By far my favorite product is the Mineral Concealer ($7.50). I've been using the shade called Wheat. In the pot it looks very yellow, but this is to neutralize any redness in the skin. When I apply it to the areas of my face that are red or broken out, it evens out my complexion and minimizes the appearance of breakouts. I apply it with a small flat brush as the first step in my mineral makeup routine. The concealer comes in four colors - three neutrals, and a green shade.

Next I apply the Mineral Foundation ($13) with a large fluffy brush. I use 1.0, which is the lightest shade. It looks natural with my skin tone and makes my complexion look smooth and even. The effect reminds me of that old Hollywood trick of filming aging actresses through gauze to minimize fine lines and wrinkles - not that I have a lot, mind you. But the mineral foundation definitely improves the appearance of my skin. And it has an SPF of 15 with titanium dioxide, so it protects against both burning and aging sun rays. The foundation comes in 7 shades.

After using the foundation, I top it off with the Moth Veil ($11). It's a colorless finishing mineral veil that helps minimize pores and further even out the complexion.

I add a bit of color to my face with the Mineral Blusher ($12.50) in Bloom. It's a bright pink color that, when applied, gives my cheeks a healthy rosy glow. The color is subtle and natural-looking, but it definitely makes a difference in brightening my complexion. There are four colors to choose from.

I also bought two Mineral Eyeshadows ($5.25) in Turquoise and Fern. Although they appear sparkly in the jar, they actually go on as a sheer wash of color for a natural, not overdone look. There are 16 colors to choose from, including brights, neutrals, and pastels for a variety of looks.

For $32.95 you can also try the 5-piece Mineral Makeup Kit. It contains three shades of the Mineral Foundation, a Moth Veil, and a mineral Warm Bronzer.

Erth Mineral Makeup retails for about half the price of other mineral makeup lines, and the quality is just as good. In addition to mineral makeup, they also make lip glosses and a line of natural skincare products, as well as several brushes for application of the mineral makeup. For quality and value, give Erth Minerals a try! And between June 8th through the 15th, any order over $35 will receive two free full-sized mineral eyeshadows. Erth Minerals's website is www.lushbrush.com.

Tea with Sugar

Spring always makes me rethink my skincare and makeup routines. The weather is warmer, and I like to switch to lightweight products. On a recent trip to Sephora, I decided to try products from Korres, the line of natural apothecary products from Greece. I have never tried Korres products before but I've always been curious about them. So I purchased a cleanser and moisturizer.

White Tea Facial Fluid Gel Cleanser, $19.50, is non-drying, unlike many gel cleansers. My face feels fresh and clean, but not tight. And it smells comfortingly like tea. Sugar Crystal Cream Multivitamain Skin Shield, $36, contains vitamins A, C, E, F, and B5. It's lightweight but moisturizing.

The Korres white tea cleanser and sugar moisturizer feel great and smell divine. Basic, natural skincare that feels good and is good for the skin. Isn't that what everyone wants in a skincare routine?

It's Hip to Be Square

My apologies for the Huey Lewis and the News reference.

Method, that eco-friendly line of house and home products, have introduced a line of personal care products. Called Bloq, this line of body wash, body lotion, shave cream, and soap come in square containers (hence the name - geddit?). The body wash, body lotion, and soap come in four fragrances: Beach Sage, Citron Leaf, Green Mint, and Water Flower, while the shave cream comes in the Green Mint and the Citron Leaf. I bought the body wash in Beach Sage and the shave cream in Citron Leaf. The body wash is very creamy and makes loads of rich lather, especially when you use it with one of those net lather poufs. The shave cream is unlike traditional shaving creams. It isn't a foaming lathering mess in an aerosol can, like most creams on the market. Instead, it's a non-lathering lotion that is very moisturizing and gives a smooth, close shave. And I adore the fragrances. Beach Sage is so comforting. It's reminiscent of those "oceany" perfumes, but with woodsy notes as well. Citron Leaf is both citrusy and green. As wonderful as the fragrances are, they are surprisingly unisex, so men as well as women would enjoy them. I look forward to trying more of the Bloq products. For under $6 each, they're a little bit of heaven in the bath.

Bloq by Method can be found at Target stores, or at the Method website.

Hello Pretty-Expensive

If you're like me, but afraid to admit it (also like me), you're old enough to remember Hello Kitty when she was just for little kids, and you were among her first generation of fans. But beyond elementary school, you would have been considered too old to like Hello Kitty. Back in the day, if I had brought a Hello Kitty notebook or pen with plastic Hello Kitty dangly charm to class when I was in junior high, I would have been teased worse than the kid in the Star Wars t-shirt and floods. Heck, even he would have made fun of me. But now that Hello Kitty has reached such iconic status, it's cool for women of all ages to love her. Take Kimora Lee Simmons, for example. The model, cosmetics mogul, and fashion designer for Baby Phat has her own line of gem-encrusted Hello Kitty jewelry. This pave diamond pendant (above, below left) is available at Nieman Marcus online, and retails for $4,250. Too rich for your blood? Mine too! That's why I have Avon's version (below, right) for the low, low price of only $9.95.



I know what you're thinking. Sure, the Avon version doesn't even come close to the Kimora Lee Simmons version, but with the money I've saved, I could put a down payment on a car or take a vacation to Europe. Remember, cute doesn't have to cost a lot.

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month

With spring here, and summer just around the corner, now is a good time to make sure you protect yourself against the harmful rays of the sun. The months of May, June and July have more hours of daylight than any other time of the year. Not coincidentally, the month of May is skin cancer awareness month. Check out this article from the American Cancer Society to learn how to detect and protect your skin from skin cancer, including the proper use of sunscreen.

Always remember, no matter what your skin tone or type, no matter what the weather or season, it is important to apply sunblock every day. Make sure that your sunblock contains either Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, or Avobenzone (also called Parsol 1789). These three ingredients have traditionally been considered the only ones that provide broad-spectrum sun protection, shielding the skin from both UVA rays (the ageing ones) as well as UVB rays (the burning ones). For the face, try a lightweight facial sunblock like the new Clinique City Block Sheer SPF 25, the latest in Clinique's City Block line of facial sunblocks. You can also protect your face with a daily moisturizer or tinted moisturizer with an SPF of 15 or higher. And in the warmer months, when short sleeves and pants mean more skin is exposed, apply sunblock to your arms, legs, back, and any other exposed area. Neutrogena has launched their new line of Sun Protection products containing Helioplex (TM), which can also protect the skin from both UVA and UVB rays. Try Ultra Sheer Dry Touch SPF 30 or SPF 45, sun protection for the body in a lightweight, sheer mist forumula for easy application.



And while you're protecting yourself from those harmful UVA and UVB rays, don't forget to protect your children. As a redheaded, pale complexioned person, I can still remember the horrible sunburns I used to get every summer as a child. Consequently, I was the nerd who wore a t-shirt over her bathing suit at the pool, but that was the best my parents could do at the time because there just wasn't that same level of awareness of sun protection that there is today. And experts say severe sunburns from childhood often are the cause of skin cancer later in life. Now, however, there are many excellent sun protection products for children. Crunchy-granola brand California Baby offers Water-Resistant, Hypoallergenic Suncreen SPF 30 that won't come off in the pool or at the beach. And it's free of chemical sunscreens.Remember to apply sunblock at least 30 minutes before leaving the house, and always reapply after swimming.



Of course, if you insist on looking like a bronze goddess instead of Casper the Ghost this summer, self-tanners are the way to go. There are many great formulas that look natural, not orange. Origins' Great Pretender Shimmery Self-Tanner for Body uses sugar-derived DHA to create a natural-looking tan. Use their Faux Glow Radiant Self-Tanner for the Face to ensure that your face matches the rest of your body.



In addition to preventing skin cancer, another benefit of using sunblock is that it prevents premature ageing of the skin. Skincare experts agree that there is really no such thing as an "anti-wrinkle cream," except for sunblock. So if you spend a lot of time outdoors and don't want to end up looking like one of the California Raisins, don't forget to "block up" before you leave the house. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of tretinoin.

Sheerly Beautiful

I've grown weary of new fragrances that try too hard to be modern and different. They'll mix an odd combination of notes, taking something traditional like florals and blending them with something "edgy", like black pepper, or tobacco, or hemp. The result is the same: a not-unpleasant but instantly forgettable fragrance that smells like every other new fragrance out there. I'm talking to you, Rock 'n Rose by Valentino, or anything by Calvin Klein. But I'm always willing to try out a new fragrance just the same, in case there's an exception to the rule that pleasantly surprises me.

When the original Stella fragrance by Stella McCartney debuted a few years ago, I spritzed myself with some at my local Sephora and decided I didn't care for it. It was too heavy on the amber. I prefer lighter fragrances to those exotic, "sensual" ones. As a result of this experience, I never bothered with the subsequent Stella McCartney fragrances. And what did I miss as a result of my perfume pickiness?

I think I must be the last woman in the world to try Sheer Stella by Stella McCartney. I recently bought some at Sephora.com when I saw it was a new offering. The Sheer Stella eau de toilette is a lighter, more "floral-y" (not a word, I know) version of the original Stella. Sheer Stella's notes are lemon, green apple, celestial rose, and lastly, the amber which features so much more prominently in the original Stella fragrance (which is why I didn't like it). But I am loving the Sheer Stella. It's a bit strong at first, but it fades to a lovely soft citrusy-floral fragrance that is delicate and romantic. Sometimes I detect the fruity notes, which remind me of a green tea perfume I bought years ago at Barney's, even though there are no green tea notes in Sheer Stella. Other times, I detect the rose, which reminds me of the rose notes in the long-discontinued Laura Ashley No. 1 perfume, which I still miss twenty years later. Coming from such a modern young designer, Sheer Stella is surprisingly traditional, but not stuffy. And in my book, traditional has a better chance of becoming a classic than edgy does.

Being a new convert to Sheer Stella, I also didn't realize that the perfume is a limited edition. Each year around springtime Stella McCartney perfumes releases the scent in a different bottle. This year's bottle is of clear pink glass with a delicate floral design in gold. The bottle is as exquisite as the perfume. And, oddly enough, Sheer Stella has become somewhat of a panacea for me. I sometimes suffer from insomnia, and I've found that if I spritz myself with Sheer Stella about a half an hour before bedtime, it dries down to such a calming and relaxing fragrance that I fall asleep sooner. And at $52 for 3.4 ounces, it's more cost-effective than Ambien, without those pesky sleep-driving or sleep-binge-eating side effects.

I still haven't tried any of the other Stella McCartney fragrances, but I'm sure as heck going to the next time I'm in Sephora.

It's Back!

"It's Back!" That's what the banners read inside Boots stores nationwide in Britain yesterday as the popular retailer received new stock of their wildly successful No. 7 Protect and Perfect Serum. The serum completely sold out all over Britain a couple of months ago after an independent research study on skincare products sponsored by a popular British television program concluded that the Boots serum was just as effective at preventing and repairing signs of aging as prescription creams. Boots stores yesterday were packed with shoppers no doubt going through withdrawal after being unable to obtain the serum for several weeks. So newsworthy was this event that, here in the U.S., CNN Headline News ran a story on it, with a correspondent "embedded" in a Boots store in London as swarms of shoppers swooped in to grab their bottles. To prevent people from buying the serum just to sell online, Boots limited purchases of the serum to one bottle per shopper, but that didn't stop some people from buying a bottle, leaving, and then returning later to buy another bottle.

In the U.S., the serum is called Restore and Renew. It can be found at Target or at Boots.com for $20.

Mechan-eyes Your Makeup

Image courtesy of maybelline.com

As much as I love makeup, and you know I do, one thing I've never really been able to get the hang of is eyeliner. In fact, I never line my eyes, unless it's for a special occasion, and then I feel that it doesn't look right. I don't do well with eyeliner pencils. I can't get them close enough to the lash line, so the line it leaves encircles my eyes too much, making my peepers look huge. Liquid liner leaves too harsh a line and is hard to control. Ditto those creme liners in a pot that you apply with a flat brush, and they smudge, contrary to their manufacturers' claims. So what's a girl to do? I think I've found the answer. Mechanical eyeliner pencils. They come in a plastic case, and you swivel up the liner as if it was the lead in a mechanical writing pencil. The tip of the liner is so small that it makes it easy to get a thin, natural-looking line right up in the lashline, or inside the rim of the eyelid. Tarte Cosmetics introduced their Emphas-eyes retractable liner (set of two for $28, in black only) on QVC last month specifically for lining the inside rim for a more natural look.



In addition to Tarte's liner, a number of less-expensive versions can be found. Avon's Glimmersticks eyeliner comes in six colors and costs just $6. Maybelline's Line Stylist is also available in six colors, including white, and retails for $7. Max Factor, which just revamped their entire line, offers MAXeye Liner, in eight shades that can be used on your brows as well as your eyes (because I've always wanted "Green and Bare It" eyebrows!). They also sell for $7.



A new twist (excuse the pun) on the mechanical pencil is the Estee Lauder Automatic Eye Pencil Duo for $23.50. It's a double-ended pencil featuring the retractable eyeliner at one end, and the blending sponge tip usually found on wooden eyeliner pencils at the other end. Also unlike the other mechanical eyeliners, this one is refillable. It comes with one extra eyeliner cartridge, and refill cartridges are available for $11 each, in seven colors. The genius of this is that you can choose to refill it with a different color if you want to try another shade but don't want to pay another $23.50 for the pencil.

In addition to making it easier to line your eyes, mechanical eyeliner pencils have an advantage over traditional pencils in that they're self-sharpening. Thus they eliminate the need to carry a pencil sharpener in your makeup bag, or deal with the messy shavings they leave behind. I think I've finally found the solution to my eyelining problems. Now I, too can have those smoldering all-around-the-eyes liner look, just like Paris Hilton or the Olsen Twins. Hello, Gorgeous!

Britain's Next Topshop Model

British supermodel Kate Moss can now add the title of fashion designer to her list of credentials. Last night the controversial covergirl unveiled her new line of fashions for British retail chain Topshop. She appeared at the Oxford Street shop in London, posing as a mannequin in the shop's window (above) as customers waited in line for the store to open. To prevent people from buying items just to sell on eBay, Topshop allowed customers to try on a maximum of eight garments, and limited the number of garments that they could purchase to just five during last night's preview. Moss's collection of fifty pieces includes skinny jeans, leather jackets, t-shirts, and minidresses. A summer collection is set to hit the stores in June.

Moss is the latest celebrity to create a fashion collection for a major retail chain. In March Madonna launched her collection for H&M.

Tea Zone

We've all heard the old adage about drinking eight glasses of water a day to help your skin look its best. But what about drinking tea to help your skin? That's the idea behind the Get Gorgeous Herb Tea for Clear Skin from The Republic of Tea. Get Gorgeous is a red tea made with the South African rooibos herb. Rooibos is an anti-oxidant, and the company claims that drinking three to four cups of the tea a day will help improve the appearance of your skin by fighting free radicals, which break down skin cells and lead to aging. This caffeine-free, herbal blend also includes chamomile, orange peel, hibiscus, red clover, chaste berry, and burdock root.

I've been battling a nasty cold and sore throat for the past few days, so I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone and try to improve my skin while I improve my health. I've been drinking several cups of Get Gorgeous tea every day and I've gone through an entire container of the stuff. Do I see visible results in the appearance of my skin? Frankly, no. Granted, it tastes good -- kind of fruity -- but I think it's better for clearing the mind, like any good cup of tea will do, than for clearing the skin. And at $10 for 36 bags of tea, it's a bit steep (no pun intended). I'll just stick with my Twinings Indian Spiced Chai Tea, $3.49 at Shaw's Supermarket, thanks. The Get Gorgeous Tea is one of nine teas in the Republic of Tea's Red Tea line. All are equally pro-active, with similarly witty names (puns intended), including Get It Going Herb Tea for Regularity, Get Some ZZZs Herb Tea for Rest, and Get Lost Herb Teas for Weight.

Collector's Corner: Vintage Schiaparelli Ads

Elsa Schiaparelli was an Italian fashion designer of the mid-Twentieth century. She opened her first fashion house in Paris in 1927. Schiaparelli was known for her offbeat, avant-garde fashions. She collaborated with Surrealist artists like Salvador Dali (most famously on a hat shaped like a high-heeled shoe), Jean Cocteau, and Alberto Giacometti. She also opened what could be considered the world's first boutique, where women could buy her designer clothing off-the-rack instead of being custom-fitted at a couture salon. I do feel the need to mention the fact that Schiaparelli has a connection to Boston, too. As a young wife and mother, in the years before she became a fashion designer, she briefly lived on Charles Street. In her autobiography, she complained about women not being able to walk in heels on the Boston sidewalks because of the cobblestones. Not much has changed in that respect. I once broke a heel on my most expensive pair of shoes (Anne Klein New York, $225 at Nordstrom's) after I just came out of a job interview. And, no, I didn't get the job. But I digress.



Like other fashion designers of her time, most notably Coco Chanel, Schiaparelli branched out into the world of fragrances. She introduced her first and most famous fragrance, called Shocking, in 1936. The bottle was in the shape of a female figure, modeled after Mae West -- a client of Schiaparelli's -- and it was designed by Salvador Dali. The name came from Schiaparelli's signature color, shocking pink. The Shocking line grew to include makeup such as lipstick and powder. Schiaparelli subsequently launched other fragrances, including Zut, Salut, Success Fou, Snuff (for men), and Sleeping.



In the Thirties and Forties, Schiaparelli teamed with a Hungarian artist named Marcel Vertes on a series of advertisements for her perfumes and cosmetics. Like Schiaparelli, Vertes was also an expatriate who made Paris his new home. The collaboration between Elsa Schiaparelli and Marcel Vertes was an inspired one. Vertes's whimsical, modern illustrations perfectly complemented Schiaparelli's avant-garde style and irreverant attitude. To me, these ads totally reflect the era in which they were produced. Later Schiaparelli perfume ads from the Fifties used illustrators other than Vertes, but they just don't capture the spirit and vitality of the designer and her fragrances in the same way that Vertes's ads did.



I started collecting Schiaparelli/Vertes ads two years ago because I wanted to get a few to mat and frame them. I found all of mine on eBay. They seem to be plentiful, and relatively inexpensive. Generally I've paid between $9 to $15 for them, except for one where I paid more because I got into a bidding war with another bidder. These Schiaparelli ads are a less expensive alternative to prints or lithographs for distinctive artwork for the home. One thing to look out for if you're planning to frame them is to make sure that the sizes of the ads are roughly the same. These ads were full-page ads taken from various magazines of the time. Because magazines come in all different sizes, the size of the ad depends on which magazine it was taken from. My favorite ad, for Sleeping (below), is smaller in size than my next two favorites, so I can't put them in uniform frames to hang together as a triptych.



The ads for Schiaparelli's perfumes are easier to acquire than the perfumes themselves. All were discontinued decades ago. Shocking and Zut were relaunched in the 1990s, only to be discontinued again. Newer bottles of Zut are sometimes available on fragrancenet.com. Shocking is available at perfumemart.com, but it is often sold out and on "waiting list only." Of course, you can still find original bottles of Shocking on eBay, but they command high prices. I have been outbid on every single bottle that I've bid on. I may have lost the auctions, but the irony isn't lost on me that, while I have many ads for Shocking, the perfume itself continues to elude me.

Urban Legend Number One: Lipstick May Be Hazardous To Your Health (NOT!)

Today I received an email from my aunt. The subject read "Fwd: Warning About Lipstick." It read as follows:

Recently a lipstick brand called "Red Earth" decreased their prices from $67 to $9.90. It contained lead. Lead is a chemical which causes cancer.

The lipstick brands that contain lead are:
CHRISTIAN DIOR
LANCOME
CLINIQUE
Y.S.L
ESTEE LAUDER
SHISEIDO
RED EARTH (Lip Gloss)
CHANEL (Lip Conditioner)
MARKET AMERICA-MOTNES LIPSTICK

The higher the lead content, the greater the chance of causing cancer.

After doing a test on lipsticks,it was found that the Y.S.L. lipstick contained the most amount of lead.

Watch out for those lipsticks which are supposed to stay longer. If your lipstick stays longer, it is because of the higher content of lead.

Here is the test you can do yourself:

1. Put some lipstick on your hand.
2. Use a Gold ring to scratch on the lipstick.
3. If the lipstick color changes to black, then you know the lipstick contains lead.

Please send this information to all your girlfriends, wives and female family members. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center Dioxin Carcinogens cause cancer, especially breast cancer.

So does this mean you should pitch all of your lipsticks in the trash can and become a lip gloss girl? Absolutely not! Reading this email, my first instinct was to take it with a grain of salt. Not only does it sound improbable that lipstick manufacturers would put a toxic substance in lipstick, I have learned from previous experience that the well-intentioned but alarmist emails that my aunt sends me, forwarded from several of her equally alarmist friends before her, always turn out to be urban legends. Suspecting this one to be the same, I consulted my trusted source for mythbusting: urbanlegends.about.com. Sure enough, the lead in lipstick story is a hoax. It has been in circulation since 2003. Here's what urbanlegend.about.com has to say about it:

Comments: False. This fear-mongering email is long on misinformation and short on verified facts. Laboratory tests have shown that some name-brand lipsticks sold in the U.S. do contain trace amounts of lead from the dyes used in their manufacture, but the lead content of these coloring agents is strictly controlled by the Food & Drug Administration to meet currently accepted safety standards and pose no serious health threat, according to a statement from the American Cancer Society.

Moreover, the message is both inaccurate and misleading when it implies that cancer is the main health hazard posed by lead exposure. Though it is indeed listed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a probable human carcinogen, lead has other, more direct health effects -- including brain damage, nerve disorders and reproductive problems -- that are far more worrisome.

Gold ring test will not detect lead in lipstick.

The handy home test for lead in lipstick touted in the email is bogus. Certain metals, including gold, may leave a dark streak when scratched on various surfaces, but this is an artifact of the metals themselves, not an indicator of a chemical reaction with lead or any other substance.

For accurate information on known and suspected health hazards associated with cosmetic products and ingredients, see the Cosmetics section of the FDA Website.

Update: A new version of this message circulating since September 2006 contains the additional claim that the material was authored by a Dr. Nahid Neman of the breast cancer unit of Mt. Sinai Hospital in Toronto. No such person exists.

March 2006 statement from Cancer Research U.K.:

The email appears to be one of the many hoax emails claiming that a variety of everyday products can cause cancer. We've had deodorant, shampoo, washing up liquid and now lipstick. None of these claims are true and just spread alarm unnecessarily.

December 2005 statement from the American Cancer Society:

Rumor:
In May 2003, an email began making the rounds claiming that many of the most popular lipsticks on the market contain lead and will cause cancer. The email then offers a way to test lipsticks to see if they have lead.

Fact:
A search of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Web site finds that lead content of coloring agents used in lipstick is regulated by that agency, and that the levels permitted are not a health problem.

So there you have it. Another beauty myth debunked. Lipstick does NOT cause cancer, so feel free to apply it with reckless abandon. Stay safe, stay beautiful.

Like Buttah

It looks like spring has finally come to New England. Having been trapped indoors last weekend by the virtual monsoon that descended upon the northeast, the waters have now receded and today was a beautiful day. So I ventured out to the 'burbs to take advantage of stores that I can't find in the city, like Wal-Mart and Target. At Wal-Mart I discovered a little gem of a product from J.R. Watkins: the Shea Butter Lemon Cream. J.R. Watkins began as a family-owned and operated apothecary in the tradition of Kiehl's and C.O. Bigelow. Founded in Minnesota in 1868, the company had several national and international branches of the store throughout the late-19th-to-mid-20th century. Today, the brand can be found in major drugstore and retail chains such as Wal-Mart, Target, Duane Reade, Ulta, and drugstore.com. J.R. Watkins's products are a budget-conscious alternative to Kiehl's or Bigelow's if you're searching for genuine, honest-to-goodness old-tymie apothecary products.

The J. R. Watkins Shea Butter Lemon Cream is 4.6 ounces of creamy goodness that looks like frosting and smells like birthday cake, the yellow kind with lemon filling. Its moisturizing properties are derived from a combination of shea and cocoa butters, plus a blend of five oils - macadamia nut, avocado, apricot kernel, jojoba and coconut. It's a great multi-purpose treatment - perfect for dry hands, feet, elbows, and cuticles. I bought it to use on my hands throughout the day after frequent hand-washings and when my hands get chapped after doing the dishes, to avoid wasting my precious Perlier Risarium Black Rice Hand Cream which, being more expensive, I only use once in the morning and at night before bed. J.R. Watkins Lemon Cream absorbs quickly and doesn't leave hands greasy, just soft and velvety. And it's incredibly cheap - $4.30 at Wal-Mart, although it retails for $7.99 on the J.R. Watkins website.

The J. R. Watkins Shea Butter cream comes in four other fragrances in addition to the Lemon Cream: Aloe and Green Tea, Lavender, Mango, and Vanilla.

The Avon Lady

Jillian Dempsey has a new calling - an Avon Calling. The Hollywood celebrity makeup artist and founder of Delux Cosmetics has launched her first makeup collection for Avon as their new Creative Color Director. The Jillian Dempsey Sheer Spring Collection consists of lipstick, lipgloss, and nail polish in matching colors, plus eyeshadow quads, face color compacts, and makeup brushes. The palette features "gentle whispers of color inspired by nature....subtle browns and bronzes with glistening corals and roses. Inspired by the season's soft color trend..."

And all this in addition to her busy schedule of being a Hollywood wife (she's Mrs. McDreamy), and new mom to twins. The Jillian Dempsey Sheer Spring Color Collection is very reasonably priced, with pieces costing between $4.50 and $11. It's available from avon.com.

A Whiter Shade of Pale

Rembrandt whitening toothpaste has recently undergone a makeover. Their new packaging is as white and bright as the smile their products promise to give you. The modern, minimalist design was attractive enough to convince me to spend seven dollars on a 2.6 ounce tube of toothpaste. Rembrandt offers several varieties of whitening toothpaste. I chose the Rembrandt Premium Toothpaste with Fluoride and Peroxide in Fresh Mint. I've been using it for two weeks, and I can already see a difference. My teeth look whiter, and I drink at least two cups of coffee every morning, plus countless glasses of Diet Coke a day.

From the front page of rembrandt.com

So will Rembrandt toothpaste do wonders for my love life, like the picture above suggests? Probably not. But I do see a difference in how white my teeth look, and really, isn't that what it's all about?