SheBreathes™ | Fashion + Culture

The Launch | Six Scents Series Three

Recently, I attended the Six Scents Series Three launch event, because you can't go wrong merging fashion and perfume, especially when both are married in an effort to celebrate creativity, and bring awareness to a charitable cause.

Each year the co-Founder of Six Scents, Joseph Quartana skillfully recruits six of the top artists and perfumers to collaborate on a limited-edition fragrance, where a percentage of proceeds will go towards a charity, and for this series War Child International will benefit.

Upon entering the venue I noticed a series of short films, created exclusively to coincide with the line of perfumes, along with a documentary trailer of the creative process streaming on the wall. My eyes were glued to the short with Julia Roitfeld draped in an all white lace hijab — the story was edited by teen fashion blogger Tavi Gevinson. This year Givaudan perfumers were paired with fashion designers Alexis Mabille, Mary Katrantzou, Juun. J, Rad Hourani, N. Hollywood, and Ohne Titel. Their task was to explore the nature of childhood memories and the influence of adolescence on identity. My favorite scent was entitled M by Ohne Titel and Yann Vasnier. It was a mix of cardamom, safraleine and leather materials — truly divine.

Fotos © SheBreathes | Video Courtesy of SIx Scents

Beauty | Backstage Beauty at Dolce & Gabbana + Giveaway

If you’re a beauty lover and lucky enough to attend a fashion week (New York, London, Milan or Paris) you’ll quickly learn that the backstage is your front stage! That was my experience this year by the end of the shows in New York. Although I wasn’t able to attend the shows in Milan, I felt that I had to make sure you all knew that the legendary makeup artist, Pat McGrath (pictured below), was the Creative Director for makeup for Dolce & Gabbana’s Spring 2010 collection.

According to Women’s Wear Daily, the theme for makeup and hair was “a passionate Latin woman” using words such as “Sicilian, sartorial and sensuality” for inspiration. The final makeup look resulted in a focus on the lips complemented with a soft eye.

Dolce & Gabbana actually collaborated with Pat McGrath earlier this year to create the makeup collection used backstage, with the complete range consisting of products for the face, eyes, lips and nails.

Fotos Style and various links within this post.

The complete Dolce & Gabbana collection is available for viewing here. And before I go, we have a giveaway!

Kitiya.

Giveaway:

1 $75 Giftcard from Beautyticket.com

Rules:

To be entered please tell us your favorite make-up artist AND visit Beautyticket.com and pick a product you'd like to have, leave a comment with the MUA and link to the product! Only one comment per person and be sure to include your first name and last initial. Irrelevant comments and those without a last initial will not be entered. Thanks and have fun! Open to US residents only.

Duration:

Begins today 10/12/09 and ends 10/18/09 at 11:59pm est. A winner will be randomly chosen and notified on 10/20/09.

This giveaway is sponsored by Beautyticket.com Your VIP Pass To Beautiful Deals™

Beauty | Fall Beauty Trends

As much as I'm sad to see summer go, I'm equally excited about the fall beauty trends. There were a few that caught my eye this past spring after reviewing various Fall 2009 Ready-to-Wear collections.

   

    

Expect to see the smokey eye refreshed and reinvented with the use of various hues of gray. It was the focus of the makeup look for Anna Sui's Ready-to-Wear Fall 2009 collection. To achieve this look I'm suggesting Yves Saint Laurent's Ombres 5 Lumieres #8 Midnight palette of eyeshadows and the Volume Effet Faux Cils #8 Sublime Grey mascara.

    

    

Jin Soon celebrity manicurist and owner of Jin Soon Hand and Foot Spas recently collaborated with MAC Cosmetics to create an edgy, fashion-forward collection of highly pigmented, bold nail colors. "Beyond Jealous" (the blackened blue/green shade) was used to complete the models runway looks for Doo.Ri. Jin Soon's favorites from the collection are "Beyond Jealous" and "Dry Martini" (both pictured above) and she believes green to be the "it" nail color for fall.

      

       

Fotos Style, and various links within this post.

Red lipstick isn't a trend, it's a beauty "must-have"!  Every girl should have her favorite "go-to" tube. That's the reason I chose to include it and share looks from Christian Lacroix's runway show. My favorites include Chanel's Rouge Allure lipstick in either "Lover" or "Fabulous" and for intense shine, I love Rouge Allure Laque lip lacquer in "Dragon".

So tell me which trend are you loving and why?

Beauty | Summer Hairstyles Part Two + Giveaway

I promised I would address curly hairstyle options in the Summer Hairstyles post a few weeks ago and so I’m back with part two! Now the question for most of us is whether or not our hair texture curls naturally or are we using rollers, curling irons and other tools to achieve a curly look. 

           

If you’re able to shampoo, condition and apply a curl enhancing styling product to achieve the curly looks presented in the photos, then you have a natural curl pattern that will most likely withstand the heat and humidity without the aid of heat styling.

         

But if your hair doesn’t curl naturally like mine (my texture is a combination of the first and fourth photos), then you rely on roller sets using various sizes of rollers, and most likely curling irons to achieve your desired curly look. The only "con" to this approach is that oftentimes when the heat and humidity set in, the curls fall, have a shorter lifespan, and you’re often forced to restyle daily to maintain the look.

             
Fotos Essence and Mizani  and various links within this post.

I personally fell in love with each of the looks above and that was the reason I choose to include them.  But I knew that with sharing the looks I would need to manage your expectations on how the looks could possibly be achieved. So when presenting these looks to your hairstylist or attempting to achieve them yourself, take the following into consideration:

-    Hair Texture: Will my hair texture allow me to achieve this look or will I need to alter my hair texture with the use of rollers or curling irons?

-    Lifestyle: Will this look allow me to continue with my regularly scheduled workouts? Will I need to schedule more visits to see my stylist?

-    Home Maintenance: Will I need to invest in special products to maintain the look?  Will I be able to sleep on this hairstyle and wake up knowing I won’t need to restyle it every morning? 

And last, but not least being realistic will ultimately ensure the best results! And to thank you for your continued support there’s a giveaway!

Giveaway: 

1 $75 Sephora Gift Card!

Rules:

Please leave a comment on this topic describing your hair texture. Please only one comment per person and be sure to include your first name and last initial. Irrelevant comments and those without a last initial will not be entered. Thanks and have fun! Open to US residents only.

Duration:

Begins today and ends on 8/22 @ 11:59pm. A winner will be randomly chosen, announced, and notified on 8/24.

Beauty | Summer Hairstyles + Giveaway

With the onset of summer comes the heat and humidity. I’ve recently received emails from readers outside of the NY area (we haven’t really had much heat or humidity here yet — believe it or not!) inquiring about suggestions on summer hairstyles.

My best advice is to wear a "pin-up/updo", curly (which I’ll address in part II), braided or twisted hairstyle. These styles will definitely hold up against the heat and humidity, and can usually be worn for 3-4 days at a time.

I loved the “twist” on the bun worn during Phillip Lim’s Spring 2009 Ready-To-Wear runway show. The hair was simply parted on the side and swept up into a high ponytail. The loose hair from the ponytail was shaped into a bun and secured with bobby pins and hair spray. 

 

Fotos Style  and various links within  this post.

Now I know that this particular bun hairstyle isn’t for everyone but I love how it encourages one to be creative and think outside the box — to have fun with their hair. And because it’s summer and we want you to continue protecting your hair from the sun, chlorinated or salt water, we’re giving away more summer haircare protection.

Giveaway:  

The Soleil Collection by Kerastase: Crème UV Defense Active, Bain Apres-Soleil, Masque UV Defense Active and Brume Nuit Apres Soleil valued at over $150. Open to US residents only.

Rules:

Please leave a comment on this topic letting us know what your favorite hairstyle is and why you'd like to try the Soleil Collection. Please only one comment per person and be sure to include your first name and last initial. Irrelevant comments and those without a last initial will not be entered. Thanks and have fun!

Duration:

Begins today {7/20} and ends on 7/25 @ 11:59 pm est. A winner will be randomly chosen and announced on 7/27.

Beauty | Summer Skincare Protection

A few weeks ago we discussed summer haircare protection, and I felt it only natural to address skincare protection in this post. Now, I must let you all know that I love the summer, sun, and the beaches just as much as everyone else, but sun protection is important all year round! Here are my top picks for protecting your skin:

Lavera's Anti-Aging Facial Sunscreen and Moisturizer SPF 20 is 100% mineral based, formulated with organic ingredients and is free of parabens. It protects against both UVA & UVB rays and because it's a moisturizer it can easily be worn under makeup.

For those of you with sensitive skin, I recommend Dermalogica's Super Sensitive FaceBlock SPF 30. It's mineral based, provides a broad-spectrum (UVA & UVB rays) of protection, and is ideal for easily irritated skin.

The Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 55 PA+++ by Shiseido is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation. It also provides a broad-spectrum of protection. It's full of antioxidants and claims to leave no residue or stickiness.

Please keep in mind that sunscreens are available in various weights, formulas, and may react differently on various skin types. I encourage you to be patient when searching for a sunscreen that works for your skin type and remember, everyone should wear sunscreen regardless of your complexion!

Beauty | Summer Haircare Protection

I can't begin to tell you all how happy I am now that summer is here, long-awaited and overdue! As we all know, with summer comes lots of time spent in the sun, swimming in pools and many trips to beaches and lakes. And, unfortunately this means stress on your hair!

Aveda recently released a Sun Care collection of products which includes the Protective Hair Veil, Hair and Body Cleanser and After-Sun Hair Masque. It's a 3-part regimen, filled with antioxidants and certified organic ingredients, formulated to provide protection from the sun, chlorine and salt water.

I started using the Soleil collection, by Kerastase, last summer after moving my running workouts from indoors to outdoors. The collection is perfect for reviving hair exposed to the sun, chlorinated or salt water — and includes a range of products specific to your hair type, which I absolutely love! My favorites from the collection are the Bain Apres-Soleil, Creme Richesse and the Micro-Voile Protecteur.

The Marine Summer Hair collection by Frederic Fekkai, focuses on UV protection and a blend of deep hydrating marine extracts called AquaNutrients. The limited edition set includes the Marine Clean Detox Shampoo, Beachcomber Leave-In Conditioner, Zero-Humidity Frizz Control and Beach Waves.

The collections I've presented above are all wonderful for the hair, but the beauty tip I'd like to leave with you is to make sure you're selecting products for your specific hair type and needs, only then will you find the products that work best for you! Now to celebrate summer, there's a giveaway!

Giveaway:

The Aveda Sun Care collection: Protective Hair Veil, Hair and Body Cleanser and After-Sun Hair Masque.  Open to US residents only.

Rules:

Please leave a comment on this topic letting us know what fun you have planned for the summer and why you'd like to try the Sun Care collection.  Please only one comment per person, and be sure to include your first name and last initial.  Irrelevant comments and those without a last initial will not be entered.  Thanks and have fun!

Duration:

Begins today {6/12} and ends on 6/17 @ 11:59pm est.  A winner will be randomly chosen and announced on 6/18.

Beauty | Green Your Makeup

Hello Everyone! I'm back with the final segment of the "green your beauty" routine series. So far we've discussed skincare and haircare options, and believe it or not, there are "greener" options when it comes to selecting your makeup.

 

CARGO Cosmetics recently released their PlantLove collection of makeup, which includes twenty moisturizing lipsticks formulated with both organic and natural ingredients. Not only am I loving the wide selection of colors, but also the fact that the lipstick case and lipstick box are eco-certified.

I prefer to use Tarte Cosmetics' Cheek Stain when I'm trying to achieve a "naturally flushed" look. It's a water based gel blush, available in nine shades, and is oil, alcohol, and paraben free. And as a bonus it contains a T5 Super Fruit Complex, which delivers anti-aging and restorative benefits to the skin.

My favorite drugstore brand of mascara is Voluminous Original Mascara by L'Oreal. I'm happy to report the launch of their Bare Naturale Mascara, which is paraben and fiber free. Though the formulations of the two mascaras are obviously different and result in different looks, I'm still excited about the choice of a "greener" option.

Now I know I've said this twice already, but please allow me to say it just one more time — "buying products that use less toxic chemicals" is one way to take action when it comes to protecting the earth. I sincerely hope that you'll consider the many options presented to you over the past couple of weeks, as well as other available options, and make Earth Day every day!

Beauty | Green Your Haircare Routine

Hello Everyone! I'm back with part II of "green" your beauty routine. Today's post will focus on "greener" options when it comes to selecting products for your hair type/needs.

 

For those of you who have issues with dry hair, I suggest you consider two products by Carol's Daughter.  The first product, rich in cocoa and Shea butter, is called Some of Marguerite's Magic. It's simply used by applying to wet hair to help seal in moisture after shampooing and conditioning. Tui Hair Oil can be used as a pre-shampoo treatment on dry scalps. Apply it directly to the scalp, massage in for 5-10 minutes, rinse and proceed with shampooing and conditioning. Both products are free of parabens, petroleum, mineral oil and artificial color.

 

If your hair concern is maintaining an investment you've made in haircolor, then you should definitely check out Phytocitrus Restructuring Shampoo and Phytocitrus Restructuring Mask by Phyto. The acidic grapefruit extract contained in both products works to keep the hair's cuticle smooth, prevent fading and enhance shine. It's recommended that both products be used together. They are formulated without parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes, petro-chemicals and phthalates.

   

I've always been pleased with products by Rene Furterer. There's a product in this line to address every haircare need. The Fioravanti Volumizing Shampoo is great for thin/fine hair. As it cleanses, detangles, and gives body/lift to the hair. If you're in search of a revitalizing scalp treatment, then you should definitely checkout the Complexe 5 Regenerating Extract. This treatment assists in the maintenance of a healthy scalp, and I would advise on using this with a complete regimen of Rene Furterer products — specific to your individual haircare needs. There are no parabens, synthetic fragrances, petro-chemicals, phthalates or triclosan in either product.

Now, that Earth Day has come and gone, I hope that you'll seriously consider making "Earth Day" — every day!  Remember, "buying products that use less toxic chemicals" is one way to take action when it comes to protecting the earth. And to help you with your efforts, there's a giveaway!

Giveaway:

The Phyto collection for dry hair: Phytojoba Intense Hydrating Shampoo, Phytojoba Intense Hydrating Mask, Phytodefrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm, and Phytolaque Hair Spray valued at over $115. Open to US residents only.

 

Fotos: Carol's Daughter, Phyto, Rene Furterer 

Rules:

Please leave a comment on this topic letting me know what you love about your hair! Please only one comment per person, and be sure to include your first name and last initial. Irrelevant comments and those without a last initial will not be entered. Thanks and have fun!

Duration:

Begins today {5/15} and ends on 5/20 @ 11:59 pm est. A winner will be randomly chosen and announced on 5/21.

Beauty | Green Your Skincare Routine

Hello Everyone! It’s Kitiya and this month I’ll be focusing on ways to “green” your beauty routine. With Earth Day a week away, April 22nd to be exact, I thought there was no better time than now to present you with product suggestions I’ve had the opportunity to try and now love!

Jurlique skincare is made from a combination of bio dynamic, organic and natural ingredients and I’m recommending Jurlique’s Maintain Balance Introductory Set for normal skin types. I love the set because it includes a complete regimen of products (Balancing Foaming Cleanser, Rosewater Balancing Mist, Daily Exfoliating Cream, Herbal Recovery Gel & Balancing Day Care Cream), which takes the guesswork out of the selection process.

For combination/oily skin types, your biggest concern is oil control and you should consider the Potent & Pure Oranic Face Care line by Kiss My Face. The products are formulated with organic and natural ingredients and I’m particularly fond of the Exfoliating Face Wash.  It works to refine the skin while removing dead skin cells. And just so you know, exfoliation is key for oily skin types. It helps to keep skin free of dirt and oil that might otherwise clog pores, possibly resulting in blemishes.

My recommendation for dry skin types would be Dr. Hauschka’s Daily Face Care Kit. The products (Cleansing Cream, Cleansing Milk, Facial Toner, Moisturizing Day Cream, Rose Day Cream & Quince Day Cream) contained in this kit are also made with a combination of bio dynamic, organic and natural ingredients. Because dry skin types aren’t acne-prone and don’t clog easily, emollient-rich products such as the Cleansing Cream and Rose Day Cream will protect against dehydration while sealing in moisture.

“Buying products that use less toxic chemicals” is one way to take action when it comes to protecting the earth. My hope is that you'll continue to make informed choices when it comes to the health of your skin and caring for the environment.  So in honor of Earth Day there is a giveaway!

Giveaway:

The complete Kiss My Face Potent & Pure Organic Facial Care line (13 products total) valued at over $200. Open to US residents only.

Foto: Jurlique, Kiss My Face, Dr. Hauschka.

Rules:

Please leave a comment in this topic, letting me know how you plan to "green" your beauty routine!

Duration:

Begins today, 4/17 and ends on 4/22 @ 11:59 pm est. A winner will be randomly chosen and announced on 4/23.

Guest Blogger | Kitiya of Mischo Beauty {Spring Beauty Trends}

Greetings! I'm Kitiya from Mischo Beauty and I'm so honored to have been asked to be a guest blogger on SheBreathes! Today’s post will focus on makeup trends for spring/summer 09. I hope you enjoy, and there is a giveaway at the end of my feature!

I was invited to attend New York's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week this past September, to preview the Spring 2009 collections. Beauty is my passion, so not only couldn't I wait to see the clothes, but most important I was looking forward to backstage access to witness the newest trends in hair, skin, nails, and makeup!

Smokey eyes were the focus of the makeup look for Diane von Furstenberg’s Spring 09 collection. While smokey eyes aren’t necessarily a "new" trend, the look can easily be updated for spring/summer by using various shades of grays, blues, and purples. To achieve the traditional look, try NARS Black Eye Set, $60.

Red lipstick is back! Or did it ever really leave? I was so happy to see red lips on the models at Michael Kors. I don’t know about you, but I'm ready to retire the nudes I’ve been wearing all winter for shades of reds, rich pinks, and berries. I currently love Chanel’s Rouge Hydrabase lipstick in Coco Red, $28.50

Full and natural looking brows are in, as evidenced at Bottega Veneta! Resist the urge to over-pluck, over-tweeze, over-wax, or over-thread them. During your brow service, simply request a clean-up and to keep your natural shape. If you must fill them in, never ever use a black eye brow pencil — even if you have black hair! The result is just too harsh for the face. Use a shade of brown!  Celebrity makeup artist, Sam Fine (my absolute favorite makeup artist) suggests using Maybelline's New York Expert Eyes Twin Brow & Eye Pencil, $3.49.

 

As the temperature begins to rise you’ll put away the hats and scarves, and begin to show off more of your skin. Why not accentuate your facial features with a highlight/glow? We saw it at the Anna Sui show. My suggestion is Benefit’s High Beam, $24 — remember a little goes a long way

 

Blush isn't a trend, it’s a must, so I had to mention it!  It awakens the face and really does add life to an overall look. I never leave home without it! Not only did we see it at Versace, but at just about every runway show. My favorite at the moment is YSL’s Blush Variation, $44.

 

Fotos Style, Sephora, and various links within  this post.

So there you have it, makeup trends directly from the runway. I hope you’re loving them as much as I am. Enjoy!

Thank you Kitiya! And in honour of you giving us a proper beauty lesson, there is a giveaway!

Giveaway: 1 $75 gift card from Sephora. Open to US + Canadian residents only.

Please leave a comment in this topic, letting Kitiya know your favourite beauty products, provide names, links, etc. Be creative, have fun, and good luck!

Duration: Begins today, 3/18 and ends on 3/22 @ 11:59 pm est. A winner will be randomly chosen and announced on 3/23.

The Art of Beauty: Linda Mason

I'm loving these compact cases from Linda Mason, she dubs them "mini masterpieces", the images are replicas of her paintings and are handmade. You can customise with your own colours, which is always a plus. I'll be visiting her store because I want one of my own and I may even inquire about a portrait painting, because I'm enthralled with her work.

Some of her beautiful paintings.

Fotos + Paintings Linda Mason {Click to enlarge}.

Enjoy your weekend.

Beijos.