EARLY WARNING: May 8th is Just Around the Corner... Shop Our Mother's Day Gift Guide Now!

Ah, Mother’s Day…a time to celebrate the woman who gave you life, raised and nurtured you from birth and helped to shape you into the person you are today. It’s typically a low-stress holiday once it arrives, but every year, panic begins to set in before the holiday as I frantically try to figure out what to get for the most important woman in my life. If you’re anything like me, you wait until the last minute and end up harried and disappointed with your gift selection.

In an attempt to alleviate some of this pre-Mother’s Day stress, I've started early and put together a list of my top Mother’s Day gift ideas, so we can all relax this year and know that we’ve gotten Mom something she’ll truly love. I’ve categorized my selections by Makeup, Skin Care, Bath & Body, and Fragrance, so no matter what your Mom is in to, you’re sure to find just the perfect thing!

Makeup

If Mom’s a makeup maven, she’ll love one of these specially packaged sets!

Cosmetique Beauty Boutique Blockbuster – For the Mother who appreciates choices, this palette has every color imaginable for a glamorous, customized makeup look she’ll love!

Sistina Italian Riviera Collection - Mother-Daughter trip to the Mediterranean not in your spring budget?  Give Mom the glamour and sophistication of the Italian Riviera with our sleek, sunny new collection - perfect for summer!

Pur Minerals Heavenly Delights - Delight your mother with this heavenly collection of complexion-flattering, feature-enhancing shades - brush included!

Skin Care

Give your Mom the gift of beautiful skin with one of these elegant skin care collections.

Energie Vitale Spa Skin Care Collection – This is the ultimate gift for the skin-obsessed! It is a complete skin care system designed to cleanse, purify, and fight the signs of aging with a potent cocktail of active ingredients.

Murad Evening Renewal Regimen – This kit from Murad includes everything your Mom needs to cleanse, tone, hydrate, and firm her way to perfect skin. How could she not love this?!?!

Princess Livia Royal Treats Skin Care Collection - Give Mom's skin (and nails!) the royal treatment with this collection of our best-loved products featuring the wonder-ingredient, bee pollen!  Plus, as an added bonus, she'll get her very own Princess Livia Miracle Grow Nail Treatment. 

Bath and Body

Help Mom to relax and unwind with these aromatic gifts for bath and body.

Arabella Stuart Belle Fleur Bath and Body Set – This includes everything your Mom needs to cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize her skin. The bath gel and moisturizer are delicately scented with Bergamot, Gardenia, Sandalwood and Musk, so Mom will enjoy her gift all day long.

Sara St. James Country Classics Set – Give your Mom a little hint of the relaxing countryside with this classic set. It includes a foaming shower gel, an exfoliating puff, and a light, natural fragrance.

Zents "SUN" Solid Perfume Balm - Soothing and enlivening like the warmth of a mother's love, this solid perfume balm is a blend of aromatherapeutic essential oils in a shea butter and beeswax base.  This heavenly fragrance balm can be used at pulse points, to condition dry areas like cuticles, elbows and knees, and as a shine-enhancing, conditioning pomade for hair.

Fragrance

If your mother's a fragrance fashionista, delight her olfactory sense with the gift of perfume! 

A Woman’s Touch Perfume Collection – The perfect woman’s touch! Give your Mom a lift with this trio of delightful fragrances.

Couture Creations – Let your Mother be the head-turner she was meant to be with this three-piece collection of dramatic scents.

Missoni Eau de Parfum - This sun-drenched fragrance combines notes of Bergamot, Mandarin, Chocolate, Amber, Peony, Rose and Persimmon. The sublime blend captures the luxe sensuality of an Italian resort getaway...  Send Mom on vacation this May!

Those are my top picks for a Mother’s Day gift sure to bring a smile to any Mother’s face.  Do you have an idea for the perfect Mother’s Day gift?  Share it by leaving a comment.  Also, be sure to check our website http://www.cosmetique.com/ for even more great gift ideas for Mom!

Don't forget to also check Facebook, and Twitter for details on our super-exciting, super-secret April Fool's Day Deal (hint: you get something for FREE!) - the perfect motivation to get that gift shopping done early!  Make this your best Mother's Day ever...  With a little help from your friends at Cosmetique!

Beauty Editor's Pick of the Week: Zents Concreta Solid Perfume Balms

This week we've chosen to focus on an amazing product that is loved by socialites and celebrities alike.  Sold in some of the finest spas, these are truly unique balms that blur the boundaries between fragrance, skin care, and hair care.  Want to get in on the action?

Behold, perfumery's oldest tradition!  Zents Concreta Solid Perfume Balms are highly fragrant, solid perfume balms, hand-poured into unique solid stone cubes (which are ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS in-person!) They contain aromatherapeutic, floral extracts and essential oils in a conditioning shea butter & beeswax formula.

Unlike traditional perfumes, these can be used in a number of new and exciting ways!  Try them as a fragrance on your pulse points, for deep conditioning on dry areas (such as cuticles, feet & elbows), or as a pomade to add scent and brilliance to hair.  Imagine the possibilities!

Zents Concreta Solid Perfume Balms are available in the following, positively dreamy scents:

WATER - Zents Concreta Solid Perfume Balm in Water embodies all that is refreshing and restoring with notes of Linden Blossom, Coriander, Lemon and Mint. It's about reenergizing the mind and body. It's about giving into the urge to submerse yourself in...WATER.


 
 
 

 

 

 

SUN - Zents Concreta Solid Perfume Balm in Sun embodies all that is warming and gentle. Sun blends notes of Vanilla, Sweet Orange, Sandalwood and Pink Grapefruit in tribute to the kindness and warmth that radiates from a mother's beautiful heart, like the rays of the ... SUN.

 
 
 

 

 

 

PETAL - Zents Concreta Solid Perfume Balm in Petal is about complete innocence, loving yourself, and the rebirth of femininity. Petal blends notes of Lily of the Valley, Freesia, Lemon and Fresh Rain Accord to create a light floral scent that celebrates the very essence of being a woman, soft and gentle like a flower... PETAL.

 
 
 
 

 
 
FRESH - Zents Concreta Solid Perfume Balm in Fresh is about about feeling young, energized, beautiful, feminine and ... FRESH! Fresh has top notes of cucumber and green apple, with linden and heliotrope blended to create a euphoric fragrance that is soft and feminine.



 
 
 
 
 
Renew your body and mind with these multifunctional, deep-conditioning fragrance balms from Zents.  Deliver a one-two punch to the winter blahs: aromatherapeutic oils help to improve your outlook, while high quality conditioners help to improve the look and condition of your skin and hair!  What could be better than that?

Get Up and Get Glowing! 10 Great Radiance Boosters to try in 2011

Photo Courtesy of Gawker.com

Want to look younger, fresher and heathier in 2011?  One of the easiest ways to achieve that goal is to increase your radiance!  Whether it's your hair, skin or lips, light-reflection is key.  Dull, dry and flaky is SO 2010.  With so many radiance-boosting options from skin care to cosmetics, there is no reason you can't glow your way through the winter, and have heads a turnin' while you do it! 

So here they are, my top 10 picks for getting your glow on:

1.  Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser

What it is:  An exfoliating cleanser that increases brightness and clarity of the skin.

How it works:  A trio of gentle exfoliating acids, Salicylic, Lactic and Glycolic,  provide clarity, brightness and improve cell-turnover by dissolving dead skin cell buildup. Jojoba beads further polish and smooth skin. Sodium PCA and Jojoba Seed Oil boost hydration. Licorice Extract reduces irritation and inflammation.


2.  Energie Vitale Masque Hydratant Peau Radiante

What it is:  A skin brightening moisture mask to be used whenever skin needs a hydrating boost!

How it works:  Made with the finest essential oils, including Eucalyptus, Avocado and Lavender, this heavenly mask works to penetrate pores with soothing moisture.  Superior hydration means brighter-looking, dewier skin.

Bonus: Aromatherapeutic benefits abound.  It's relaxing fragrance brings the spa to you!


3.  Madeleine Mono Act 3 Fountain of Youth Rejuvenating Moisture Cream

What it is:  A multi-faceted moisturizing cream.

How it works:  Grape seed, macadamia nut and rice bran oils nourish skin, while shea butter hydrates and softens.  Licorice root extract works to enhance brightness, and skin-loving Vitamins A and E preserve and protect.  The result?  A more radiant-looking you!


4.  Garden Botanika Advanced Anti-Aging Eye Treatment

What it is:  A rich eye cream that has been touted as a natural alternative to injectables. 

How it works:  A patented peptide (these are ALL the rage, right now) and an amino acid called Arginine work to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  Red Wine Polyphenols and Green Tea Extract provide the ultimate antioxidant protection, while a combination of ceramides, Shea Butter, Jojoba Seed Oil and Hyaluronic Acid moisturize the delicate skin around the eye area. A host of botanical extracts naturally lighten AND brighten, so eyes have a fresher, younger appearance.

Bonus:  This wonder-cream contains no fragrance or artificial dyes!


5.  Jean-Michelle Lotion Peau Brillante - Skin Brightening Lotion

What it is:  A moisturizing lotion that works to give you more radiant-looking skin.

How it works:  Gentle exfoliants help to refine skin and create a more youthful-looking complexion while skin-nourishing ingredients hydrate and protect.


6.  Sistina Radiante Face Tint

What it is:  A lightly tinted cream that creates even-looking skin with a healthy glow!

How it works:  A touch of color adds warmth and radiance while a bevy of vitamins and antioxidants work to protect skin from the elements.


7.  Pur Minerals Hot Rocks

What it is:  A blend of micronized minerals in a multidimensional, universally-flattering shade.

How it works:  A luminous combination of pink and pearl pigments add warmth and radiance to the skin.  Brighten eyes, lips and cheeks with a quick swirl of your brush!   


8.  Sara St. James Easy Color Bronzing Powder

What it is:  A natural-looking, light-reflective bronzing powder.

How it works:  Warm bronze undertones add instant warmth and dimension to the skin while subtle shimmer creates the look of a healthy, radiant complexion.


9.  Diandra Luminous Lipcolor Collection

What it is:  Three creamy, delicious lip colors in a sleek, mirrored compact.  Brush included!

How it works:  Pure beeswax protects lips to help keep them smooth and beautiful, while gorgeous color and a soft pearlescence add depth and a healthy luminosity.


10.  Zents Sun - Concreta Solid Perfume Balm

What it is:  A highly fragrant, solid perfume balm hand-poured into a unique, solid stone cube.

How it works:  A stirring blend of Vanilla, Sandalwood, Pink Orange and Grapefruit, this sun-drenched scent helps to increase your radiance from the inside out.  What better way to improve your mood than with a warm, feel good fragrance?  Happy people are naturally more radiant! 

Bonus:  With shea butter and beeswax, this amazing product can also be used as a skin conditioner and hair pomade!

Be a ray of sunshine all winter long with these fantastic, glow-getters!  Find all of these radiance-boosting wonders and more at Cosmetique.com. 

Beauty Editor's Pick of the Week: Garden Botanika Love is Heart Gift Set

The Big Picture:

A $65.00 VALUE... for only $45.00! Garden Botanika Love is Heart Gift Set is a sure-to-please gift featuring the bestselling Heart fragrance all wrapped up in a ready-to-give holiday gift box. Gift set includes: 8 fl oz Body Wash, 8 fl oz Body Lotion, 3.38 fl oz Eau de Parfum, and a Rose-shaped Mesh Sponge.

The Details:

Garden Botanika Heart Body Wash - This gently cleansing wash surrounds your body in a lightly scented lather, rich with hydrating Panthenol, purifying Yucca, soothing Comfrey and calming Candula.

Garden Botanika Heart Body Lotion - This feather-light, softly scented Heart Body Lotion gives skin a refreshingly silky, supple feel. Features an exceptional hydrating blend of delicate Sunflower Oil and moisturizing Glycerin to lock in fragrance. Fortified with emollient plant oils to keep skin soft and supple. For a subtle, long-lasting scent, layer over Heart Body Wash. 

Garden Botanika Heart Eau de Parfum -  A light, sheer breeze of fragrance to refresh you throughout the day. Heart fragrance blends the sheer scent of florals with tones of cedar, citrus and a hint of musk.


Mesh Sponge - The finishing touch!  Get the full spa experience as you wash away your troubles with this beautiful, rose-shaped mesh sponge.

This is certainly the perfect gift for all the die-hard, "Heart" fans out there!  For everyone else, this is the perfect way to introduce them to a new, and much-loved scent.  Give someone you love the full "Heart" experience this season with this very special, value-priced gift set from Garden Botanika.

Staying Power: Great Tips for Looks That Last!

Photo Courtesy of celebrityblog247.com

Ever spend an incredibly long time on your hair and makeup only to discover at the end of the night that your look has fallen flat?  It's hard enough figuring out just the right hairstyle and makeup look to wear to a party without having to worry that your hair's drooping, your face looks like an oil-slick and your eyes look like those of a raccoon.  This is why I've put together these stay-put tips for makeup and hair that look just as beautiful on the way home as they did on the way out!

Use a foundation primer.

I know I've said it before and I'll say it again now: Primers are extremely useful because they create an important barrier between your skin and your makeup.  This allows your foundation to wear perfectly because it isn't disturbed by any activity on the skin's surface.  Foundation will apply more smoothly and last longer than you ever dreamed possible!  Try Pur Minerals Colour Correcting Primer in Peach for a flattering, skin-enhancing glow.

Use an eyeshadow primer.

Perhaps this seems repetitive, I mean, a primer's a primer, right?  Well, yes and no...  An eyeshadow primer is designed specifically to be used on the delicate eye area and will help to keep both cream and powder shadows from creasing.  It also ensures that your shadows don't lose impact over time.  I like Too Faced Shadow Insurance for long-lasting eye makeup looks.

Apply powder eyeshadow on top of liquid and pencil eyeliners.

This trick sets eyeliner so it's on for the long haul!  You'll be absolutely amazed at how effective this is.  You can match the shadow to the eyeliner for a seamless look or add a pop of color to spice things up a bit.    Either way, you need a small, angled brush to apply powder shadow flawlessly over your pencil or liquid liner.  Japonesque Angled Brow Definer Brush allows you to apply just the right amount of product and creates very little "fallout."

Make friends with powder.

You may have heard that powder absorbs light, robbing you of your dewy, glowing complexion.  The first part is true...  You do want to use powder sparingly, and heed its placement if you're going for dewy-looking skin.  Sequester powder and it's light-sapping properties to your t-zone for the most dimensional look.  For maximum staying power, however, I recommend a light but thorough dusting of powder over the entire face.  For a more natural, glowing finish, try Arabella Stuart Candlelight Finishing Powder.  Its subtle sheen will add dimension that other powders don't.  Although skin may look a bit flat initially, you'll find that over time your natural oils will begin to come through and return your skin to it's glow-y state.  The best part?  This application will stay perfect all night long.

Layer powder blush over cream versions.

Cream blushes can give beautiful color and depth to cheeks and are easy to blend.  By applying a thin veil of translucent powder over cream blush, followed by a powder blush, you've created a look that will really go the distance.  In addition, the layering of products creates a more dimensional effect.  Too Faced Brightening Blushes give great color without making skin look flat.

Give styling mousse a try.

I was hesitant to put mousse in my hair at first...  I avoid hair spray like the plague and am typically very skeptical of hair products in general.  Because I hate sticky, stiff-feeling hair, I use very little "holding" product in my hair.  One exception I make is mousse.  A good, soft-hold mousse gives weightless, touchable shape to your style without feeling "product-y."  Apply mousse to damp hair from roots to tips and style as usual.  You'll be pleased with your hairstyle's new found longevity.

Take it easy on the eye cream.

Mascara smudging on you?  One of the main culprits is eye cream.  Incorrect application of eye cream can cause a whole host of eye makeup snafus.  Be sure to apply eye cream at least 15 minutes before you begin your makeup routine.  Also, avoid getting it on lashes - this can keep mascara from going on properly and result in mid-evening smudging and flaking.  Still having problems?  Try an eye gel.  These can be just as hydrating, and they tend to absorb more quickly than heavier creams.  I love Princess Livia Soothing Eye Gel with Bee Pollen.  It soaks in instantly and creates a heavenly cooling sensation that always makes me feel more awake.

Fill in lips with lip liner.

Although you've likely heard this one before, it bears repeating.  Your lips will look better for a longer period of time if you fill them in entirely with a lip liner before applying lipstick or gloss.  Not only does lip liner help to keep lipstick and/or gloss in place, but it also ensures that should your lipstick come off over the course of your evening, you will NOT be left with that dreaded ring-around-the-mouth!  Try it.  It works.  I like Jean-Michelle Stylo Pour Levres Duo - Double-Ended.  It has two great neutral shades and stays right where you put it!

Layer your fragrances.

Finally found your favorite scent?  Feel like it has disappeared by the end of the evening?  Get fragrance that lasts by layering different versions of the same scent.  Invest in the coordinating body lotion or oil for your favorite fragrance and apply it immediately after bathing.  Once your lotion/oil has absorbed into the skin, spritz or dab the perfume/eau de toilette onto pulse points for maximum payoff.  These points include wrists, throat and backs of knees.

There you have it.  My best tips and tricks for longer-lasting beauty.  Armed with these easy, stay-put techniques, you have the power to make your exit just as glamorous as your entrance. 

Happy Holidays from your friends at Cosmetique!

Beauty Editor's Pick of the Week: Zents Bath Salts

We're spotlighting our fabulous bath and body products this month so I wanted to tell you about one of my absolute favorite brands!  Available in the finest boutiques, hotels and spas around the world (and, of course, at cosmetique.com!) Zents prides themselves on creating the finest fragrance and bath and body products.  Since our theme for July is rub-a-dub-dub, I want to talk about their marvelous bath salts which Cosmetique carries in 4 nature-inspired scents...

Water - Water embodies all that is refreshing and restoring. Water has notes of Linden Blossom, Coriander, Lemon and Mint to reenergize the mind and body. It's about giving into the urge to submerse yourself in...water.

Sun - Sun is inspired by all that is warming and gentle. Sun blends notes of Vanilla, Sweet Orange, Sandalwood and Pink Grapefruit in tribute to the kindness and warmth that radiates from a mother's beautiful heart, like the rays of the sun.

Petal - Petal is about complete innocence, loving yourself, and the rebirth of femininity. Petal blends notes of Lily of the Valley, Freesia, Lemon and Fresh Rain Accord to create a light floral scent that celebrates the very essence of being a woman, soft and gentle like a flower.

Fresh - Fresh is about about feeling young, energized, beautiful, feminine and ... FRESH!   It has top notes of Cucumber and Green Apple, with Linden and Heliotrope blended to create a euphoric fragrance that is soft and feminine.

What better to way to relax after a long day's work than with a nice, fragrant bath?  These bath salts are made using the finest ingredients, and truly provide a rejuvenating, spa-like experience in your home.  If you need a little pick-me-up, or a way to wind down after a stressful day, a lightly-scented soak could be just what the doctor ordered!

Top 10 Tips for the Perfect Exfoliation

Photo Courtesy of therealisticcook.com

Oh, to have perfect, smooth skin...must be nice, huh?  While we can't all have perfect skin over every inch of our bodies, there are a number of things we can do to improve the tone and texture of our body skin.  One of the most (if not THE most) important steps you can take towards achieving the skin of your dreams, is to exfoliate.  This process removes dead cells from the skin's surface, uncovering fresh, smooth skin.  Removing this layer of dead cells also allows for better penetration of your other skin care products.  Bottom line:  If you're not doing it, you should be....And to get you started, I've compiled a list of 10 fantastic tips sure to make exfoliating a breeze!  Here they are:


1. Apply exfoliating scrub to wet skin for best results, particularly if your skin is sensitive.




2. Use approximately 3 tablespoons of scrub for your body. My current favorite:
Garden Botanika Fresh Mint Whipped Body Buffer.

3. Always exfoliate from the top of your body down, starting with the shoulders. Be sure to use a separate, gentle exfoliator for your delicate facial skin. I like H20 Plus Sea Pure Gentle Refining Polish.

4. Pay extra attention to areas with thicker skin like elbows, knees, and heels which can be especially rough.



5. Massage your entire body with the scrub using circular motions for the most thorough exfoliation.



6. Always exfoliate thoroughly before shaving as dead skin can clog and dull your razor.



7. Don’t forget your feet! Sometimes these require a little extra effort, but it's so worth it!



8. Rinse thoroughly when finished. You’re not only rinsing off the scrub, you’re rinsing off all that dead skin with it!



9. When you get out of the shower, pat dry – do not rub.  You want your skin to still be a bit damp for this next step...



10. Apply a rich moisturizer to seal in all the moisture your skin just soaked up from the shower. Plus, moisturizers are most effective when applied to fresh, new skin. Try Zents Lotion in Water or any of their other great scents for soothing moisture and an amazingly fresh scent!

Fragrance Tips and Tricks

Finding your signature fragrance can be a daunting task. With so many brands and so many different fragrances, how’s a girl to know where to start? Then once you find that perfect scent, how do you apply it? Where should you store it? How long will it last?

I’ve put together a list of the 5 basic categories of fragrances into which the majority can be divided, as well as some basic do’s and don’ts for choosing, wearing and storing your fragrance.




Most scents can be divided into these 5 basic categories.

Floral: Think gardenia, roses, jasmine… These fragrances work well on all women of all ages and are appropriate for most occasions. They typically smell pretty and feminine and appeal to most people.
If you like florals try Fleuresse and Black Velvet.

Fruity: These work mainly for younger women (and those that are young at heart!) and are great in warm and cold weather. Fruity scents tend to be fun and playful.  If you like fruity scents try Serenade and Rhapsody.

Woody: These frequently include scents like cedar, sandalwood and patchouli. Woody fragrances have an air of sophistication that is well suited to the more mature woman, and often work better for evenings and special occasions.  If woody is your thing try Arabella and Diandra.

Greens: Typically, these fragrances are a bit sportier and tend to appeal to younger women.  If you're a green girl try Sara.

Oriental: For glamorous girls who want to turn heads, these warm sensual fragrances typically have notes of musk and vanilla combined with dramatic florals. Because these scents tend to make a statement, oriental fragrances are perfect for special occasions.  If you like orientals, you'll love Monte Carlo.

Here are the basic dos and don’ts for choosing, wearing and storing your fragrance.

Do find a fragrance that compliments you and your natural scent.

Don’t choose a fragrance because you like it on someone else.

Do try the scent directly on your skin to see how the fragrance smells on you.

Don’t make a decision based on what the fragrance smells like on the tester cards.

Do sample a number of perfumes before making a selection.

Don’t try more than 2 or 3 in one day.

Do wear the perfume around for a whole day before buying.

Don’t buy right away as the scent will change as you wear the fragrance around.

Do wear more perfume if you have dry skin.

Don’t spray perfumes on pearls or costume jewelry as the alcohol in the fragrance may remove the finish.

Don’t overdo it.

Do put fragrance on your pulse points for maximum payoff. This includes wrists, throat, backs of knees, and the insides of the elbows.

Do try different fragrances late in the day as your sense of smell is sharper at this time.

Don’t feel like you must stick with just one fragrance. You can change fragrances from summer to winter as well as from day to evening.

Do store your fragrance away from extreme temperatures and sunlight.

Do Have Fun! Fragrances are just another wonderful way for you to express yourself, your mood and your individuality!