Now I usually don’t talk a whole lot about fragrances because it’s not something you can visualize or swatch onto the computer screen.  And mentioning the different scents incorporated into a fragrance can only give you a small idea of what it actually smells like.  I mean, how many of you can recreate what vanilla, mint, and lavendar smell like TOGETHER just by reading the words?  Probably not many of you.  And if you can, that’s freaking awesome and you need to enroll in Xavier’s School for Higher Learning and become an X-Men.  So until they come up with a scratch-n-sniff program for computers, fragrances probably won’t be found often here on Big City Beauty.

However, I can tell you that if you’re the type of person who loves tropical scents, the smell of exotic flowers, and the essence of the ocean you will definitely enjoy any one of these four scents included in Michael Kors Island Travel Set.  These travel-friendly rollerballs make brining the islands to you a cinch.  With fragrances aptly named Fiji, Capri, Hawaii, and Bermuda you will be basking away on the island of your choice anywhere you please.  So next time you feel a little stressed out at work, or can’t figure out what that awful smell is on the subway, whip out your mini island-in-a-bottle and sail away…

Until next time beauties…  xoxo

During my recent trainings with Caudalie, I fell even more in love with the company and their philosophy.  In 1993, a young, beautiful couple was giving a tour of their vineyard to Professor Vercauteren, a professor of the Pharmacy Faculty of Bordeaux.  On this tour, the professor had asked the couple what they did with the unused grape seeds from their harvest and proceeded to explain to them how these seeds contained polyphenols, the most powerful antioxidant in the plant world.  With the professor’s anti-aging research, and Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas’ passion for skin care and their vineyard, Caudalie was born.

What most people don’t know about Caudalie is that they were the first company to discover and use stabilized polyphenols in cosmetics.  In addition to this groundbreaking patent, Caudalie also has patents on Resveratrol (which stimulates cellular renewal) and Viniferine (which promotes radiance and treats dark spots).  Another fascinating fact about the company is that they were at the forefront of eco-beauty before it became what it is today.  Their products are free of parabens, phenoxyethanol, mineral oil, artificial colorings or sodium laureth sulfate.  In addition, no ingredients of animal origin are used, products are not tested on animals and a maximum of natural active ingredients can be found in all of their products.

With their devotion to skin care research and the environment, Caudalie has not only grown to be my favorite eco-beauty line, but a part of my life now as well. 

So without further ado, I would love to present to you the THREE prizes I have to offer for Big City Beauty’s End of the Year Giveaway:

First Place

Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa in a Box

Second Place

Caudalie Fleur de Vigne Fresh Energizing Fragrance

Third Place

Caudalie Beauty from the Vine Sample Pack

For a chance to win one of these fabulous prizes, pay close attention to the following:

Big City Beauty is in search of a green charity to partner with.  So I am leaving it up to you guys to help me find the perfect match.  Submit your ideas by clicking here by December 25^th at 11:59pm EST and the top three charities I think will be just right for BCB will be considered for these three prizes.  After I do my own research on these submissions, the winners will be announced on January 1^st, 2010.  And like all contest held here, you must be either a Fan on Facebook or a Follower on Twitter to qualify.  So don’t forget to give me your Facebook or Twitter name with your entry.

The best of luck to you all!  And thank you again for being such wonderful and supportive readers.

Until next time my pretties…  xoxo

P.S. – To book a facial with yours truly in the new year and experience the magic of a Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa Treatment, call 212.265.3182 and request a facial with Lia!

Happy Monday my beautiful ladies!  So I’m sure many of you have seen the ultra sexy ads and commercials Yves Saint Laurent has been promoting featuring Kate Moss for their new fragrance Parisienne.  If you haven’t seen the commercial yet, check it out below.  It’s hot!

Parisienne is a feminine fragrance exuding sensuality with notes of Vinyl Accord, Cranberry, Blackberry, Otto Rose, Peony, Violet, Patchouli, Vanilla, and Musk.  To celebrate the launch of Parisienne, YSL has created www.ExperienceParisienne.com, to encourage women to find their “inner Parisienne” and share their experiences with other women.

“Parisienne is the essence of a woman who knows how to love and how to live. At the heart of YSL’s DNA is the empowerment of women, and true to this we believe that any woman, anywhere, can adopt the values of being a Parisienne.”

YSL has also launched the “Experience Parisienne” contest where one winner and a guest will get a trip to Paris for New Year’s Eve along with a fabulous YSL hand bag filled with must-have YSL fragrance and cosmetics products.  To enter, participants must submit one photo and corresponding post about how they experience the Parisienne spirit in their own lives. The more creative, unique and Parisienne, the better your chance to win!

The contest will be open for submissions until November 2nd, at which point a panel of judges from YSL and other members of the fashion and beauty elite will choose the top 10 finalists.  Finalists’ entries will be posted on www.ExperienceParisienne.com and open to voting from the November 16th to the 30th.  The entry with the most votes will be announced on the site December 1st.

So find a favorite photo of yourself, think about how you encompass the essence of a woman who is free to live and love, and click here to tell YSL all about it.  Good luck! 

Until next time my beautiful ladies…  xoxo

Anti-Aging Anti-Wrinkle Eye Line Filler is a skin smoothing formula with powerful peptides that fills lines immediately and works to rebuild wrinkled areas over time.  You apply your regular eye cream and allow it to fully absorb.  Then you gently pat this line filler directly on wrinkled areas around the eye such as crows feet (or even those notorious wrinkles between your eyebrows) and watch them slowly disappear before your eyes.  It’s the perfect pick me up throughout the day.

Anti-Aging Concealer SPF 20 comes in three natural-looking shades that banish under-eye darkness, discoloration and redness anywhere on the face, and offers long lasting coverage for a flawless look.  It also keeps future damage at bay with UVA and UVB sun protection factor 20 and includes potent antioxidants and collagen enhancing ingredients.  Now as a person who cannot leave the house without concealer and SPF, this one I am super excited about!  How often do you get a concealer that not only hides your flaws, but benefits your skin concerns as well?  This is something that La Prairie has always been known for with their makeup.

Being a retail trainer for La Prairie has definitely taught me a lot about skin care and I really have them as a company to thank for where I have gotten in this industry today.  So if anyone has any other questions or interest about La Prairie as a line, please let me know!  I’d love to hear from you.    And don’t forget to check out their 3 new fragrances (Life Threads- Silver, Gold, and Platinum) that are also launching this fall as well.

Until next time dolls…  xoxo