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Fragrance: Very Hollywood Michael Kors Sparkling Eau de Toilette review

Michael Kors Very Hollywood Sparkling Eau de Toilette, just launched October 1^st. Have you tried it?

I've gone on record before with my opinion about Michael Kors: I basically think he can do no wrong. Clothes, tv, accessories, fragrance... Not a major gaffe anywhere, non?

The Very Hollywood  fragrance collection's newest family member is this Sparkling eau de toilette. Inside: "fresh sparkling citrus and fruity notes of mandarin, black currant and neroli". The original had notes of mandarin, gardenia, vetiver.

“My original Very Hollywood Michael Kors Eau de Parfum pays tribute to old Hollywood glamour. Inspired by iconic screen sirens, it’s indulgent, sexy and sophisticated. The new Eau de Toilette evokes the budding ingénue of young Hollywood as she takes her first steps onto the red carpet. It’s her moment to shine and sparkle in the spotlight.” – Michael Kors

Have you tried this version? I got a chance to do so, and thought it was another solid performance by Kors. The scent opens boldly, with a big splash of florally citrus. The scent is meant to be younger, fresher, and brighter than the original, hence the name, Sparkling (and the glitter on the bottle). Certainly, it is sparkling, but not too juvenille. It's definitely a commercial scent; it's not terribly clever and is fairly linear. That said, I quite like it. It's fun, flirty, and fresh. For me, this is a perfect cheer-me-up perfume!

At Sephora among other places

3.4oz: $72.00, 1.0oz: $40.00

Have you tried Very Hollywood Sparkling?

_{This product was furnished for consideration by the manufacturer or a representative thereof. Please read our review policy on our About tab for more information.}

 

Charitable Shopping

Charitable Shopping

Here's a list of all Charitable products* listed on BeautySchool.

*note: BeautyBlitz does not categorize products as "charitable" if the donation amount is not specified (for example "a portion of the proceeds"). Call us skeptics or scrooges, but while the donation is surely appreciated, if it can't be quantified it doesn't count here at BeautySchool.

While reading BeautyBlitz, you will find charitable products marked with the following callout for easy identification: Product: Charitable

BeautyBlitz thanks all of the following companies for these charitable offerings

(and also thanks customers who purchase them):

• The Body Shop - Bag for Life - '07
• CARGO - gift tags and cards - '07
• CARGO - glossy tags - '07
• MAC - Kids Helping Kids - '07
• MAC - Vivaglamourous - '07
• Philosophy - misc. products - '07

Super Cute! beneFit double-ended lipgloss

Jojoba oil is highly touted as a great moisturizer (in fact, it is chemically similar to skin sebum which is why your body deals with it so well). I really love to use products with this ingredient, because it just feels so nice and keeps my dryness-prone skin so soft! Jojoba oil is an ingredient in the really lovely double-ended lipgloss by beneFit, so of course this product piqued my interest.

I also love the idea of two lipglosses in one product, but when that happens it's usually in pot form. I prefer to use a wand to apply gloss - it's less messy and I don't have to pull out my lip brush. The colors in this limited edition product are didn't hear it from me, which is a pretty peaches and cream and my people, your people which is a gorgeous mother of pearl shimmer.

$16 USD @ benefit boutiques or counters or at benefit online.

I HEART CLARINS - Clarins Holiday sets ‘07

 

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I adore Clarins skincare, and consider it (and genetics, I'll admit) the reason people think I'm younger than I am. After I started using Clarins, I was hearing "you have perfect skin". I give credit where credit is due and point folks towards the closest Clarins counter.

 Made with natural botanical ingredients, this is such a wonderful smelling product line that it would almost be worth purchasing just for the way it feels and smells! But enough gushing... on to Clarins' holiday offerings.

Let me just start with the one I'm picking up first. It seems like as good a place to begin as any! While I do makeovers on customers all day, I'm constantly washing my hands and using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, so my hands feel dry and tight all of the time. I don't like it, and I don't think it's that nice up against the faces of my customers. Since I don't like to completely demolish other counters' testers, I spread the wealth and through the course of my time in the department have sampled hand creams and supposed "miracle treatments" from just about every line out there. The Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream is hands-down the best (pardon the bad pun!). So, when I heard that Clarins was offering two 3.5 (full size) Hand and Nail Treatments for only $40 in their Happy Hands and Nails package, I realized Christmas had come early. (Normal retail price for one of these is $29)

Next up is the Head to Toe Heaven Gift Set, which includes a .34 fl oz Water Comfort One-Step Cleanser, a .53 fl oz Moisture Quenching Hydra-Care Cream, a .53 fl oz Beauty Flash Balm, a 3.5 oz Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, and a 6.8 fl oz Moisture-Rich Body Lotion. With all of this bow to stern pampering for only $62, it's a great way to launch your own voyage into Clarins skincare, or to convince someone else to try it.

For anyone whose skin needs some revitalizing (especially for those who want to fade some irritating freckles, hyperpigmentatino or other discolorations), the Brightening Solutions Gift Set is a must-have. I use these products, and my melasma has faded considerably. I've also got that whole healthy radiance thing going on. In the kit: a 1.7 fl oz Bright Plus HP Protective Day Lotion SPF 20, a .53 fl oz Bright Plus HP Repairing Brightening Night Cream (the bomb!), and a .34 Bright Plus HP Firming Brightening Essence, all for $55 USD.

Here's what else you can expect from Clarins this holiday season:

• Extra-firming Solutions Gift Set - Any skin type can benefit from this set. You'll get Extra-Firming Day Cream for All Skin Types ( 1.7 fl oz ), Extra-Firming Night Cream for All Skin Types ( 0.53 fl oz ), and Extra-Firming Concentrate ( 0.34 fl oz ). $85
• Super Restorative Solutions - Bring new life to your skin with this set. This is what's inside: Super Restorative Serum ( 1.0 fl oz ), Super Restorative Day Cream ( 0.53 fl oz ), and Super Restorative Night Cream ( 0.53 fl oz ). $125 USD
• Happy Hands and Lips Gift Set - Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm ( 0.46 oz ) and Hand and Nail Treatment Cream ( 1.06 fl oz ). What else is there to add? $25 USD
• Color Quench Trio - Hydration, color, and shine in one product. And you get three of 'em! Colour Quench Lip Balms in 02 Caramel, 03 Rose Pink, and 04 Coral Pink. $29 USD
• Extra-Firming Exceptional Eyes Set - Peel back the years (and those last few hours of no sleep) with this set! Advanced Extra-Firming Eye Contour Serum (0.7 fl oz), Wonder Volume Mascara (0.23 fl oz, 01 Wonder Black), Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover Lotion (1.7 fl oz), and Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch (0.03 oz). $65.
• Super-Restorative Exceptional Eyes Set - Need a bit more help in the eye area? Try this set. Advanced Extra-Firming Eye Contour Serum ( 0.7 fl oz ), Wonder Volume Mascara ( 0.23 fl oz, 01 Wonder Black ), Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover Lotion ( 1.7 fl oz ), Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch (0.03 oz). $75 USD.

Holiday '07 | Laura Mercier

Holy Crap! Have you seen the Laura Mercier holiday offerings!? I don't even know where to start! It's phenomenal. The makeup is pretty and of course the great quality we expect from Laura Mercier, and the soaps and candles and lotions smell decadent (probably the best on the market). If you can't find a gift for someone here, you're simply not looking hard enough. More likely, you will no know how to narrow it down. If that's the case, you can always just shop for yourself and get your friends and family Laura Mercier eGift cards!

 

Let's wade through the selection... Let's talk Accessories, first:

• Double pocket cosmetics bag ($45 USD) - Very gorgeous faux-leather is shaped into a softly flowing rectangular bag in an almost edible chocolate brown. (Note: the faux leather is actually quite nice, not cheesey)

  

• Mini bush set ($75) - Once your makeup is stashed in that gorgeous bag, you'll want brushes to apply it. That's where the brush set comes in handy! Six mini brushes come stashed in the same chocolate faux-leather: a cheek brush, 3 eye brushes, a concealer brush and an eyebrow brush.

Color products are up next:

• The Eye Palette is so pretty the shadows almost look edible! For $40, the sleek mirrored compact gives you a two-sided brush (eye color brush on one end and flat liner on the other); a Black Ebony eye liner, and 4 shadows: Chambord Shimmer, Cashmere Matte, Heather (exclusive to this set - a matte) and Black Topaz (also an exclusive). Create the best purple-y smoky eyes ever!

• Um... as a packaging whore, I think I have to own these. The Petite Eye Palettes are SUPERCUTE and super slim, with a mirror inside the top of the case. LOVE!

• Daydream ($25) on the left- Soft purples glow and shine for daytime. You get Pewter Shimmer, Mauve Shimmer and Morning Dew Matte.
• Nightfall ($25) on the right takes you into the night... Mix Deep Night Matte, Topaz Shimmer, and Pearl Shimmer to get the perfect evening looks well past the holiday season!

• For a mere $50 you get the Face Palette and you can create a gazillion looks for months and months. Three exclusive eye colors (Black Forrest Shimmer, Gild Shimmer and Suede Matte) are paired with Golden Glow and Winter Bloom Cheek Colours. Finish the looks with Passion Fruit Shimmer, Fig Creme and Marquise Creme on the lips. Wrap them in a beautiful case with a mirrored top and your holidays are made!

• A compact faux chocolate leather case holds a few lip options, perfect for your best friend (or you!). In the Mini Lip Set you'll get Passion Fruit Shimmer, Cinnamon Creme,Pink Champagne Creme, Pixie Shimmer and a mini Potpourri lip pencil all for $40.

• My favorite out of all of the Laura Mercier holiday collection, the Lip Plumper set ($40) comes nestled in the 2007 holiday bag and includes Wildberry, Pink Shimmer, and Lip Plumpers, the latter two of which are exclusive to this collection. All three colors are hot and I'll be wearing the hell out of them! Plus, the bag is cute.

• Ms. Mercier has stuck 6 Stickglosses in one palette, and it's only $40! Stickglosses are semi-sheer and fairly long wearing. You can use your mini Chestnut pencil and lip brush to apply Patchouli, Maple, Baked Earth, Brown Sugar and Peony Stickglosses in any combination you wish!

So, you've got your cosmetics and they're organized. Let's make sure everything (and everyone) smells good!

• Pick up an Almond Coconut Milk Trio ($65) for a friend and then make her light the candle while you're visiting. Yum! This is a great set. You get "the scent of warm, rich powdered sugar, vanilla extract & hint of cinnamon" in three forms: Honey Bath and Dipper, Body Creme, and Candle.
• Get that special someone the Chocolate Truffle Duo ($50). Or better yet: buy it for yourself and let them reap the rewards! Get honey Bath and Dipper and Body Creme that give you "top notes of almond with creamy espresso and a hint of Frangelico. The chocolate scent is warmed with a blend of vanilla, sweet maple & honey topped off with rose and heliotrope for added sophistication."
• The Créme Brule Trio ($65) is perfect for that hard to buy for person. Who doesn't love Créme Brule!? You get the Honey Bath and Dipper, Body Creme, and Candle.
• Not sure what to get your significant other's mom? Dude, pick up the French Vanilla Trio ($65) and get the Honey Bath and Dipper, Body Creme and (you guessed it) Candle.
• For $36 you can't afford not to pick up the Luxury Soap Set. Keep it on hand for that person who gives you a gift you weren't expecting! The Chocolate Truffle, French Vanilla, Crème Brulee and Almond Coconut Milk soaps are perfectly lovely but not too personal, and smell scrumptious!

All images courtesy of LauraMercier.com.

Visit all of the 2007 Holiday Collections here!

I'll try to keep a running list of links to holiday '07 collections here.

NARS Siren Song

• 3 eyeshadow duos, 2 eyeshadow singles, 1 blush, 2 lipglosses, 4 lipgloss/lipstain duos, a lipstick, a nailpolish, and Perfecting Powder Sheets (retailing for between $15 and $31 USD)

Chanel Holiday 2007

• 4 CAMÉLIAS DE CHANEL (a 4-color lip palette), 7 new shades of Rouge Allure, 2 new Glossimers, 2 new ROUGE DOUBLE INTENSITÉ longwear lipsticks (!!!!), 2 eyeshadow quads (1 is limited edition), a new light pink blush, 2 nail polishes (1 is limited edition), a loose gold powder, and #8 Brush (a kabuki-style powder brush) (retailing for $19 to $65 USD)