Welcome Penelope Cruz! (& Last Paris Giveaway!)

Well, the cat's out of le sac. Actress Penelope Cruz has joined Lancôme and will be the ambassador of Trésor, our iconic fragrance. Penelope is beautiful, kind and a true artist. We are sincerely thrilled that she is now part of the brand.



We filmed the new Trésor ads in Paris this week with Mario Testino and they will debut sometime this fall. I can't wait to see them. The shoot was a very nice experience and we were blessed with beautiful weather for all the outdoor portions. Above are some signs from the set, and a pic of me and my colleague David, the head of public relations for Lancôme International (and one of the chicest men in Paris!), on a balcony overlooking the Place de la Concorde. David's giving his best Blue Steel there!



We have such amazing women representing the brand today: Penelope, Julia Roberts, Kate Winslet, Anne Hathaway, Daria Werbowy, Ines Sastre, Arlenis Sosa and Elettra Wiedemann. (Not to mention Sandy Linter and Michelle Phan!) It's really a thrill to be part of Lancôme in 2010.



Speaking of Elettra, I'm at Orly Airport outside of Paris and her Trésorin Love ad is everywhere. (I've been here more than SIX hours waiting for my Open Skies flight to Newark. I can understand flight delays. It's part of life. But I can't stand when the airline doesn't share ANY information!)



So our last giveaway of the week: The Golden Croisette bronzer from the international summer collection, which I bought at the Paris boutique, and a new Hypnôse Precious Cells mascara, which I bought at Orly's duty free. Both products are fab. The bronzer has three small blocks of blush, so you can customize the color. The mascara is conditioning and creates a very pretty full lash look. Leave a comment telling us which Lancôme spokesperson is your favorite and why and we'll pick one name at random. Please post by Monday night.



Good luck and have a lovely weekend.

Macarons! Paparazzi! Alber Elbaz! Karl's Coke! (And Another Exclusive Paris Giveaway!)

Some Paris observations:

1. Macarons are the cupcakes of Paris. But you knew this.
2. Karl Lagerfeld has his own Coca-Cola Light bottle! Look at Coco Rocha styled a la Lagerfeld. (I can't find this bottle anywhere in Paris. It's like a Chris Benz lipstick.)
3. I met one of my heroes today. Alber Elbaz, the designer for Lanvin. Very thrilling. If I had an unlimited fashion budget, I would wear Lanvin exclusively.
4. Our photo shoot was very interesting yesterday, as we had paparazzi to deal with! Stayed tuned for more on that subject...
5. No one walks around drinking coffee in Paris, even though a certain Seattle coffee chain is expanding here. If you're the kind of person who walks around compulsively clutching a Starbucks cup like one of the Olsen Twins, you'll find it's a hard habit to break. Everyone I know in Paris has one of those Nespresso pod machines at home, or drinks his or her coffee in a cafe.
6. It's hard to get iced coffee in this city! This is a big trend waiting to happen.

Thanks for the comments yesterday! AtelierGal, Blinky Daisy, I can't believe I didn't know about BB cream. Thank you for enlightening me. I asked the president of Lancome about it and she's going to send me some of our BB cream. She thinks I'll like it. Stay tuned. Fab Over 40, I didn't go into Osborne & Little! I wish I had known about it. I literally stood in front of there for three hours.

Today's giveaway? A bottle of the Nutrix Royal body oil and a Lancome deodorant. (Neither is available in the U.S.) These products will make your bathroom look chicer immediately. Did you even know Lancome makes deodorant? I didn't. Several New York fashion editors who discovered it on trips to Paris would always ask me to bring some back for them. I finally tried it to see what the fuss was about and you know what? It's good stuff!

Leave a comment letting us know why your bathroom or medicine cabinet needs a little injection of Lancome glamour! We'll pick one comment at random. Please post by Friday night.

By the way, we'll name all the Paris giveaway winners next week.

Bon chance!

Mother's Day Gifts by Clarins; Deep Discounts by Gilt

French women are known for their flawless skin, and Clarins is a big part of that. Founded in Paris in 1954, this eco-friendly company was one of the first to utilize pure plant extracts and non-animal-based ingredients. Nowadays it’s stayed ahead of the game in innovation by formulating top-notch anti-wrinkle creams, cellulite firming lotions, gentle sunscreens and more. Clarins also makes gorgeous makeup, so don’t gloss over these lipcolor trios.

BACKSTORY
Perhaps you didn’t know, but Clarins has been taking care of your skin since 1954. This historic skincare company began with a philosophy of love and respect for women’s beauty, and women around the world have returned the favor by making Clarins one of the world’s top sellers of skincare products. And while the earth’s women love Clarins, Clarins loves the earth right back – the company was one of the first to make use of pure plant extracts, non-animal-based ingredients and eco-friendly production methods. Its simple, effective products and pioneering dedication to the environment are what set this company apart from the pack. That’s beauty from the inside out.

Grab Great Gifts for Mom!

Sale begins Thurs., 4/29/10 at 11 a.m. CDT

Buyer's Picks / Some Selected Sales Items

Register to join in. It's free.

Click HERE to shop the Gilt Groupe sales event!

source: Gilt Group; sale starts 4/29/10 @ 11 am CT

The Fragrance Foundation Announces FiFi Awards 2010 Finalists

Last Friday, The Fragrance Foundation revealed the top five finalists in each category of the 2010 FiFi Awards, considered the “Oscars” of the fragrance world. Superstar brands Calvin Klein, D & G, Diesel, Gucci, Marc Jacobs, Shiseido, and YSL are among the Luxe finalists, while Nouveau Niche brands Bond No 9, Brooks Brothers, Issey Miyake, Jo Malone, and Narciso Rodriguez made the cut in their category. Winners will be announced on June 10th.

Fragrance fans nationwide can weigh in by voting for their favorites. Voting opens on Wednesday, April 28th and continues through Wednesday, May 19th. You may vote for your favorites at:

FiFi Awards 2010 Online Ballot

2010 Top Five FiFi Finalists

Fragrance of the Year: Women’s Luxe

• bebe Eau de Parfum – Inter Parfums USA
• Crescent Row Collection – Benefit
• Flora by Gucci – P&G Prestige Products, Inc.
• Lola Marc Jacobs –Coty Prestige
• Very Hollywood Michael Kors Eau de Parfum—The Estee Lauder Companies
• YSL Parisienne – YSL Beaute/L’Oreal

Fragrance of the Year: Men’s Luxe (6 in this category due to a tie)

• ckfree Calvin Klein – Coty Prestige
• D&G Fragrance Anthology - P&G Prestige Products, Inc.
• Givenchy PLAY - Parfums Givenchy
• Only the Brave - Diesel Fragrances, L'Oréal
• Shiseido Zen for Men – Shiseido Cosmetics America
• Tom Ford Grey Vetiver - The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. 

Fragrance of the Year: Women’s Popular Appeal (6 in this category due to a tie)

• Avril Lavigne Black Star – P&G Prestige Products, Inc.
• Faith Hill Parfums – Coty
• Flirt! Flowerific Perfume Spray – The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
• Halle by Halle Berry – Coty
• Mariah Carey Ultra Pink – Elizabeth Arden
• Super Samba Woman – The Perfumer’s Workshop Int’l., Ltd.  

Fragrance of the Year: Men’s Popular Appeal (only 3 in this category)

• Playboy – Coty
• Seduction in Black, Antonio Banderas – Puig USA, Inc.
• Super Samba Man – The Perfumer’s Workshop Int’l, Ltd.

Fragrance of the Year: Women’s Nouveau Niche

• Bond No. 9 Astor Place - Bond No. 9 New York
• Eau Mega by Viktor & Rolf - L'Oréal USA
• essence narciso rodriguez eau de parfum - Beauté Prestige International
• Jo Malone Vanilla & Anise - The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
• L'Eau Ambrée by Prada - Puig USA, Inc.

Fragrance of the Year Men’s Nouveau Niche (only 4 in this category)

• Black Fleece by Brooks Brothers Eau De Toilette – Inter Parfums USA
• Bond No. 9 Brooklyn – Bond No. 9 New York
• Bond No. 9 Perfume – Bond No. 9 New York
• Collage by 3.1 Phillip Lim & Natalie Gracia-Cetto, Ende/Anfang by Damir Doma & Yann Vasnier, Solar Donkey Power by Henrik Vibskov & Louise Turner, Smell by Henry Holland & Stephen Nilsen, Nicoll 17 by Richard Nicoll & Rodrigo Flores Roux, Whiskey Caramélisé by Toga & Alexandra Kosinski - Six Scents Parfums Inc.

Fragrance of the Year: Women’s Private Label/Direct Sell (only 4 in this category)

• Bath & Body Works Signature Collection Twilight Woods EDT - Bath & Body Works
• In Bloom by Reese Witherspoon - Avon Products, Inc.
• Love Rocks - Victoria's Secret
• Naturelle - Yves Rocher North America Inc.

Fragrance of the Year: Men’s Private Label/Direct Sell (only 3 in this category)

• comme une Evidence - Yves Rocher North America Inc.
• Patrick Dempsey 2 - Avon Products, Inc.
• Vertical - Victoria's Secret 

Fragrance of the Year: Unique Boutique (6 in this category due to a tie)

• Baroque Pearl for Gump’s (women’s) - Through Smoke Creative
• Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire (women’s) - Guerlain
• Halston Man Eau de Toilette (men’s) - Elizabeth Arden
• L'Oeuvre Noire Back to Black Aphrodisiac (unisex) - by Kilian
• Tom Ford Private Blend White Suede (unisex/women’s) - The Estée Lauder Companies
• Tuberose Trilogy (unisex) - Histoires de Parfums

Fragrance Hall of Fame Nominees (honors a fragrance that has been on the market for 15 or more years)

• CK one – Calvin Klein Cosmetics/Coty Prestige
• Classique by Jean Paul Gaultier- Beaute Prestige International
• Cristalle EDT - Chanel
• Donna Karan Cashmere Mist EDT – Donna Karan Cosmetics/Estee Lauder Companies
• Fahrenheit – Christian Dior Parfums
• Gap Dream – Inter Parfums, Inc.
• Pour un Homme – Caron Paris
• Rapture – Victoria’s Secret Beauty
• Red Door – Elizabeth Arden

source: beautypress

Paris When it Sizzles! (Giveaway #2!)

Bonjour, everyone! Great entries for the Tresor in Love giveaway. Thank you! There's still time to enter if you haven't yet. Nancy, sadly, not much time to sit in cafes and we have a shoot everyday. But the weather is beautiful and every cafe with outdoor seating is packed. Also, Atelier Gal, I saw your question. What is BB cream?



We shot this morning at Place de Furstemberg in St. Germain. Our brilliant set director recreated a mini-flower market filled with roses, peonies, lilies and more. It was quite beautiful. (See above.) Dozens of tourists stopped to stare and take pictures. Then I ran to the Lancome boutique on Faubourg St. Honore (above, with picture of Julia Roberts in the window) to see what's new and found lots of products we don't have back in the U.S. I tried to buy the new Hypnose Precious Cells mascara for a blog giveaway, but it's sold out already! Both black and brown are gone. (But they'll be restocking soon.) What else was there? The Yayoi Kusama Juicy Tubes, which I mentioned the other day. They are adorable. I bought one set for a certain Lancome ambassadress who loves the natural formula and another set for a blog giveaway. (Shown above with full-size JT for scale!)



To enter, post whether or not you own a Juicy Tube or Tubes already. If so, what shade? Any random Juicy Tube thought is fine too! Idea for a shade, constructive criticism, all welcome. We'll pick one comment. Please post by Thursday night.



I need to stop here because I have to run to part two of today's shoot. (Actually, part three. A small crew went to the Eiffel Tower to film after the flower scene.) Enjoy the pictures, enter the giveaway and have a beautiful day!

GILT's Got More: Scented Escapes from Kai, Linnea's Light and Red Flower All on Sale

Experience the calming power of scent with aromatherapy products from this trio of top companies. Kai’s light, exotic floral notes have earned the fragrance devoted fans like Jennifer Aniston and Julia Roberts; try it as an oil, a creamy body butter or a sudsy wash. Unwind after a long day with a natural soy candle from Linnea’s Light, available in subtle hydrangea and lively gardenia. Or recreate the spa at home with Red Flower’s candle, soap and dish sets, made of pure flower extracts, honey and natural vegetable oils.  Great Mother's Day gift ideas, all on sale, all beautiful, all with the power of creating a pleasurable, multi-sensory experience never to be forgotten.

Selected items destined for the sale

Register to participate in the sales event. It's free!

Join in the fun of this sale - Wednesday, 4/28/10 starting at 11:00 a.m. CDT

Tribeca Film Festival: Vidal Sassoon ~ The Movie

One man changed the world with a pair of scissors, Vidal Sassoon.

Sassoon is dubbed a pioneer by many for not only coming up with so-called wash and wear looks, liberating many women from weekly salon trips to have their hair done, but also creating a multimillion dollar line of hair care products.

This first-time, deeply intimate look into the life of Vidal Sassoon, from his early days in an orphanage, to his time as a soldier, his beginnings on Bond Street, and ultimately, the revolution he caused, which continues to this day. Vidal Sassoon: The Movie was filmed over the course of three years and features unprecedented access to Vidal, candid interviews with former staff, family members, reporters and historians. Together they explore the life and legacy of the most influential hairdresser in the world, whose influence far outreaches the industry he changed forever.

Millions revere the legend, yet so few know the man.

The idea for the film started off as a personal tribute to him as he was approaching his 80th birthday, and then it grew into a major initiative to capture this man's life both in a film and a book. My intention was to leave a lasting memory of him that would inspire young people and re-inspire the older generation of hairdressers, as well as the millions of people in the world to whom the name Vidal Sassoon is either familiar or personal or evocative. Due to the fact that hairdressing's impact on society has not been very well documented or recorded, much less respected because of the lack of any serious written material, I am hoping that this is something that every hairdresser in the world will want to share with everyone they know.

 ~ Michael Gordon, Producer
Hairstylist, Creator - Bumble & Bumble Haircare

Craig Teper (Director), Elan Sassoon (Vidal Sassoon's son); John Frieda (Hairstylist Extraordinaire), Tabatha Coffey (Hairstylist) and Mary Rector-Gable (behindthechair)

On Friday, April 23rd, TV personality Tabatha Coffey (Shear Genius, Tabatha's Salon Takeover) and celebrity hairstylist John Frieda joined fans in celebrating the inspirational and world-famous Israeli hairdresser, Vidal Sassoon, at the private after-party for Tribeca Film Festival's premiere of "Vidal Sassoon: The Movie" at The Standard Hotel in New York City.

Guests showed up in true Sassoon-style, donning the hair master's signature bob haircut and others eagerly seeking personal styling tips from hair gurus Tabatha and John themselves. Tabatha, who began her career studying at the Vidal Sassoon Academy, was thrilled to celebrate the legend.

The film's production team mingled with Vidal Sassoon's family, friends and fans, sipping on their choice of Heineken, Avenue, Stoli and SmartWater, as they celebrated the man who revolutionized the art of hairdressing.

source: Reuters, Vidal Sassoon: The Movie, Getty Images

New! Strange Invisible Perfumes: Essence of IX and Peloponnesian

EARTH MONTH 2010: VIBRANTLY GREEN WITH STRANGE INVISIBLE PERFUMES

An exclusively natural, botanical perfume house, Strange Invisible Perfumes is sincerely committed to environmental consciousness, green business practices, and product purity.

• 100% certified organic grape alcohol is used as the base for all Strange Invisible Perfumes.
• Organic, wildcrafted, biodynamic and sustainable raw materials are sourced for all fragrances (local ingredients whenever available).
• Essences are usually wildcrafted or organic. Essences cultivated by small pioneering farmers who cannot afford organic certification are also embraced.
• All eau de parfum cartons are printed on FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) certified paper, manufactured using biofuel with pulp from sustainably managed forests.

Strange Invisible Perfumes’ latest launches include

• Essence of IX – A limited edition pure perfume .25 fl oz $320
     - Brambly. Floral. Stirring.
     - Inspired by Colgin Cellars in Napa Valley and the famed IX Estate
     - Notes of white sage, rose, black currant, California lavender, French oak and wild honey

• Peloponnesian - Strange Invisible Perfumes’ first eau de parfum designed expressly for men 1.7 fl oz $160
     - Crisp. Exhilirating. Exotic.
     - A refreshing fragrance built with the ancient perfumes of the Greek peninsula
     - Notes of hydro-distilled orange and lime, cypress, orange flower, mountain sage, honey, and botanical musk

This lucid composition is built with the ancient perfumes of the Greek peninsula. Salted Aegean winds glide through the branches of cypress, lime, and orange trees, lifting their epic aromas into the Peloponnesian mountains. A reception of mountain sage honey collects each gallant perfume as it rises from the vineyard-patterned earth of the Peloponnesos.

I've been in love with Strange Invisible Perfumes since first trying them several years ago.  This is an exquisite fragrance house committed to providing those who inhale its perfumes and fragrances with something akin top a spiritual experience. Yes, it's that wonderful!  These unique blends are carefully created with a foundation of true love for the art of fragrance making by perfumer and SIP Founder Alexandra Balahoutis. 

The Strange Invisible Perfumes collection is carried at their flagship perfumery in Venice and online at siperfumes.com.  You may also find a selection of their fragrances available at Beautyhabit.com.

Fall in Love with Tresor in Love! (Giveaway Alert!!)

We had a photo shoot yesterday in the 8th arrondisement, in a building with windows overlooking the Arc de Triomphe. It was a gorgeous view, very beautiful, very Parisian, made all the better by the leafy green trees and bright blue sky. I snuck out to visit the Sephora nearby on the Champs-Elysee, the huge Parisian thoroughfare packed with tourists, chain shops, cafes and a giant Louis Vuitton store. The Sephora is ENORMOUS, even compared to the big Times Square Sephoras near my office.



There was so much fragrance, makeup, skincare and haircare that the average beauty junkie would just combust trying to take it all in. One of the new fragrances on display is Tresor in Love, our latest scent and a sibling to the legendary Tresor. T.I.L. takes the iconic fragrance and transforms it into a fruity floral. If you like that category of fragrance, you'll be interested in knowing it's Lancome's first fruity floral. (Previous Lancome scents have all fallen into the floral, oriental, chypre and/or citrus categories.)



The fragrance has been a big hit in Europe and will launch in the U.S. in early fall. We filmed the TV commercial and print campaign with Mario Testino and our spokesmodel Elettra a few months ago while she was on break from school. The print ad was shot in a studio in New York and the commercial was shot in a beautiful private home in the heart of Paris that used to belong to Karl Lagerfeld. There were dozens of extras, all good looking and all dressed in black, white and grey. Elettra looked like a young Audrey Hepburn in a white cocktail dress by a famous Italian designer and insanely high YSL heels. The poor thing had to stand for take after take in those shoes.



Let's give away a bottle of Tresor in Love. Just leave a comment saying what fragrance you're wearing today. Is it your signature scent? Do you rotate fragrances? Layer fragrances? Let us know. If you're wearing nothing, you can say that too! Please post by Wednesday night. We'll pick one post at random.



Good luck! We're on a soundstage outside of Paris right now and I need to stop typing. It's all quiet on the set and who knew how noisy a keyboard could be!! (Bye!)

HAUTELOOK: LORAC Sales Event - Tuesday, 4/27/10 - Not to Be Missed!

The "Red Carpet Authority" lines of cosmetitcs by Carol Shaw - LORAC (her name backwards, ah ha) - will showcase a fab little diddy for all of us tomorrow on HauteLook with some products priced at $4!


During her twenty years as a makeup artist, Carol Shaw has had the opportunity to work with some of the most prestigious photographers: Annie Leibovitz and Steven Meisel, among others.Her work has appeared on the covers of Vogue, Vanity Fair, Glamour, Allure, Elle, Jane, and many other magazines. She's also worked with top models such as Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, and numerous others. Currently, she works with the most famous faces walking down the Red Carpet such as Nicole Kidman, Debra Messing, Rachel Bilson, and Jennifer Love Hewitt.

After doing makeup for many years, she found that many of her clients had the same complaints about makeup; too many of the products irritated the skin, felt and looked artificial and just didn't last. So, Shaw created LORAC. LORAC has enjoyed and still enjoys a huge following of celebrities, beauty editors, beauty bloggers and many more, for one reason - quality products that never disappoint. Simple.


This isn't the first HauteLook - LORAC sales event, and hopefully it won't be the last. Don't miss it tomorrow beginning at 8:00 am PT.

Click HERE on Tues., 4/27/10 for your access to the LORAC Sales Event