Marc Jacobs Is Creating His Own Line Of Cosmetics With Sephora: are you interested?

Hollywood Life picks up a story from WWD that Marc Jacobs Is Creating His Own Line Of Cosmetics With Sephora.  He is following in the footsteps of fellow designer Tom Ford.   He had his first meeting only last week.  It's too soon to project a launch date.

Would you be interested in shopping Marc Jacobs' cosmetics line, when it's put on the market?

CoverFX NaturalFX Water-Based Foundation

Ever since I finished my bottle of MAC Satin Foundation and the MAC salesgirl tried to sell me on a peach-toned foundation (that was years ago), I've been on a quest for the perfect foundation: one that feels good on the skin, evens out my complexion, and matches my skin tone.

I went to Sephora to find a new foundation.  I was interested in MUFE’s HD Invisible Cover Foundation for its wide variety of shades and Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Foundation as I thought that a crème foundation would be good for my dry, maturing skin, but the salesgirl sold me on Cover FX Natural FX Water-Based Foundation.

Cover FX Natural FX Water-Based Foundation

Sephora’s website says that Cover FX Natural FX Water-Based Foundation provides “sheer to medium coverage” and “a natural-looking, satin finish.”   I had to spread it very thin to obtain sheer coverage, and it did not provide a satin finish.  Cover FX Natural FX Water-Based Foundation can double as a concealer: I wonder if the thickness has something to do with Cover FX founder Lee Graff’s background as a corrective MUA .    As I moisturize nightly, I have some sheen on my forehead, and the foundation’s finish did not match the finish of my forehead.

CoverFX Natural FX Water-Based Foundation is rated SPF 15, which suggests that you should apply it fairly thickly.  Its active sunscreen ingredients are octinoxate, octocrylene, and oxybenzone.

One good thing about Cover FX Natural FX Water-Based Foundation is the wide variety of shades for various skin tones:

• B Series: Golden brown to ebony undertones
• C Series: Primarily pink undertones
• E Series: Pink and yellow undertones 
• M Series: Yellow and olive undertones

The salesgirl selected E10 Warm Ivory for me, which seemed to be a good match for my skin tone.

To quote U2, I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.

CoverFX is available at Sephora stores and www.sephora.com.

The fine print: this article contains links for the Sephora affiliate program, through which I can earn nominal commissions.

Korres Wild Rose Mineral Illuminating Powder

Korres has its roots in the first homeopathic pharmacy in Athens, Greece.  It has since had broad distribution in the United States, particularly through Sephora retail stores and Sephora.com.

Korres Wild Rose Mineral Illuminating Powder contains burnished rose, ivory rose, and gold rose reflective minerals.  I use it as a highlighter on top of the cheekbones.  To apply:

• Shake a little powder onto the lid
• Fold the sponge that comes in the package in half, flocked side up
• Press the edge of the sponge into the powder
• Tap the sponge onto the top of the cheekbones
• Run a fluffy brush along the top of the cheekbones to diffuse the powder

According to the press materials,

... the rose used to be white until Aphrodite, hurrying to save the dying Adonis, injured herself on thorns and turned the white petals red with blood.  Since then, roses are thought to be Aphrodite's flowers, and they're symbolic of life, love, the heart and soul.

This is one myth that I didn't know.  I thought that myrtle was Aphrodite's flower.

The fine print:  The PR firm representing Korres provided me with a sample of Korres Wild Rose Mineral Illuminating Powder me.  It also provided me with a sample of Korres Colour Lip Butter in Mango, a tinted balm with shea butter and rice wax emollients.

The British Invasion

First, Illamasqua: now By Lauren Luke is coming to the U.S. through Sephora's soon-to-be-opened flagship store in Times Square and Sephora.com.

Watch Lauren as she talks about the launch of her cosmetics line at Sephora and Sephora.com:

Re: Is there a beauty junkie who doesn't like Sephora?

Yes, there are really beauty junkies who don't like Sephora, including makeup artist Matin Maulawizada, whom I interviewed for this blog.

Is there a beauty junkie who doesn't like Sephora?

The 22 Best Sephora Buys

Consider this the ultimate buying guide to your favorite beauty store

Sephora really is the beauty junkies' paradise. There are so many products to play with, you could spend days sampling and still not try everything. But, since most of us don't have days, or even hours, to spend in the store, we rounded up these TotalBeauty.com reader reviews and ratings for you. Now you'll know exactly which products at Sephora are worth your precious time and money. See products

No. 22: Beautyblender Sponge, $18.50

TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 9.1*

Why it's great: "This is such a wonderful tool. The broad base of the sponge is..."

No. 21: CARGO Bronzer, $25

TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 9.1*

Why it's great: "CARGO's bronzer is a great find and beauty bag staple. CARGO didn't leave us pale..."

No. 20: Nars Blush, $25

TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 4.6*

Why it's great: "I have the award winning shade, orgasm. I was a little apprehensive..."

Want to see what's #1? Click here!

Shop these products through Sephora.com!

Sephora AND Lucky - what could be better?

Lucky and Sephora are two go-to places for shopping enthusiasts. Now Lucky and Sephora have come together to sponsor a contest to win a $1,000.00 (one thousand dollars) Sephora gift card: in addition, by visiting Month of Beauty with Kat von D everyday, you can enter giveaways or get makeup tips from tattoo artist Kat von D.



Even if you don't win a prize, take advantage of free shipping from Sephora for purchases over fifty dollars through Month of Beauty with Kat von D.

Juicy Loves Sephora / I hate Juicy

Besides hippie "chic," a pet peeve is Juicy Couture. Juicy's bags in particular are hideous: why one would want to carry a bag that screams "Juicy" is beyond me. Now Juicy has created a collection of cosmetics bags for Sephora.

Crowns and emblems have become cliche design motifs. The emblem with the schnauzers is not cute, but "cutesy," and overly precious.

Ugh. Go away, Juicy, just go away!

Makeup tools

Makeup application = product + tools + technique.


Sephora Brand Chocolate Croc Prestige Brush Set ($300 Value)

This brush roll provides all the tools you need, and more. It contains a Powder Brush, Blush Brush, Foundation Brush, Concealer Brush, Feather Shimmer Brush, Contour Brush, Large Eyeshadow Brush, Small Eyeshadow Brush, Smudge Brush, Flat Eyeliner Brush, Brow Brush, and a Lip Brush. The feather shimmer brush would be fun for teasing others!

Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment

Ojon says that its Restorative Hair Treatment can be used leave-in conditioner, shine enhancer, and moisturizer. I like to use to get rid of flyaways and to groom my eyebrows (I then apply a dark eyeshadow like Sonia Kashuk's eyeshadow in Night or ModelCo ColourBox Eye Shadow Ibiza 13 on my brows).

You can feel good about using Ojon, because Ojon has created thousands of jobs for indigenous people who harvest palm nut oil from the Ojon tree, which grows only in Central America. As it's made of palm oil (one of nature's most saturated oils), it congeals. The fragrance reminds me of pipe tobacco, but I happen to like it.

You can find Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment 5 oz at Sephora.

Shop Etc. - Shop Talk - Fall Preview: Stila Fall in Love Eye Shadow Trios

Categories: Beauty, Cosmetics

Fall In Love Eye Shadow Trio in Forest Clove

I want the eye shadow trio in Forest Clove (pictured above), which features shades of shimmery gold, olive, deep brown olive. Available from Sephora.com.

I'm obsessed with olive green eyeshadow (see my profile). Other good eyeshadow trios featuring olive shades are MAXeye Shadow in Baja Bronze from Max Factor (the colors - a yellow matte, a tan "British khaki" matte, and a shimmery olive do not display accurately at all) and Vital Radiance Soft Dimension Powder Shadow in Fresh Meadows.

As a single, I like jouer Eye Compact Eye Shadow, Peridot, described as a "shimmering olive".

NOTE: Sephora.com is discontinuing Jouer, along with Beauty Buffet, Diane von Furstenburg Beauty, Girlactik, Passport, Pinkie Swear, and She She. Shop now to stock up.

While olive green is complemented by golden or yellow shades, I've also used Joe Blasco Eye Shadow in Green Genie, available from makeupmania.com.

Jilbean: The Great Eyeliner Hunt

Categories: Beauty, Cosmetics

SpillToJill has announced Jilbean: The Great Eyeliner Hunt. Here are favorites of The Style Page:

I prefer using eyeshadow with an eyeliner brush to using pencils. Pencils are too much a hassle to keep sharp. I like charcoal brown, almost black eyeshadow for a smoky eye. I've already stated my fondness for Sonia Kashuk's eyeshadow in Night, available at Target stores. My new favorite is ModelCo ColourBox Eye Shadow Ibiza 13 (pictured), available from Sephora.com.

As far as a pencil is concerned, I like Jordana Kohl Kajal Eyeliner in Bittersweet. At less than $2, this is a best buy. Find Jordana at Walgreen's or prowl dollar stores.

Update to Beauty pages

Categories: Beauty



I've recently completed an update of the Beauty pages on The Style Page website. I've added links for 30 cosmetics brands, including prestige brands such as Giorgio Armani Beauty and Chantecaille and various niche brands, to our already exhaustive list on the Cosmetics page.

Here's a nice letter I received via Email concerning the web site:

thanks to your website I was finally able to find a website for rumiko the makeup artist and RMK the company

I totally appreciate your online resources on 'the style page'
I look forward to checking out the rest of your website and links.

Here's a quote from "Candeecake", in response to the question "any fashion/beauty magazines you read online regularly? do share!" posed on CozyCot, a beauty discussion forum based in Asia (scroll down to Candeecake, 07/07/2005)

I've this bookmark but haven't browse all the sites listed inside yet. http://www.thestylepage.com/

I've added brands including Roger&Gallet and Claus Porto (both famous for their soaps), cult fragrance brand IUNX, Barcelona Bath and Body, and Skin Milk to the Fragrance page.

I've extended the use of linkrolls to the Beauty pages, and already the linkrolls are driving traffic to this blog. Remember, you can use tags to create your own RSS feeds for blog articles relevant to your particular interests, for example Beauty Cosmetics.

Please support our website by shopping Amazon.com, Bag Borrow or Steal, Beauty.com, drugstore.com, and Sephora.com.

New services on The Style Page blog UPDATED

We've added buttons to enable readers to add content from our blog to news readers offered by Bloglines and My Yahoo! For those people who would like to receive updates by Email, we've added a form so that they may subscribe via Bloglet.

Check out what others say about us by clicking on the link Blogs that link here on the left sidebar.

Also, please patronize our partners - Amazon.com, Bag Borrow or Steal, Beauty.com, drugstore.com, Sephora.com, and Google Adsense - just scroll down the left sidebar to Sponsors. They help pay the bills for maintaining our website!

Google AdSense now offers vendors the opportunity to advertise directly on this blog.

UPDATE December 21, 2005:



The Style Page blog has joined BlogExplosion. Other bloggers who are also members of BlogExplosion can "rent" space on The Style Page blog to promote their own blog.

We also have inserted a stats counter for this blog - scroll down the left sidebar to view. Right now I see that we have a visitor from Ireland - welcome!

Lastly, welcome to our new subscribers through Bloglines and Bloglet!

The Eyes Have It - updated

Categories: Beauty, Cosmetics

If I didn't get my hair colored, my hair would be completely white. I even have my hairdresser dye my brows to cover white hairs, but white hairs keep appearing. That's when LORAC Brow Wax in Brunette comes in to cover the white hair and groom the brows into place at the same time. For those with lighter hair, LORAC Brow Wax also comes in Blonde and Auburn.

To apply the LORAC Brow Wax, I use Sephora Short Handle Synthetic Beveled Eyebrow Brush



I am addicted to eye makeup. I scrutinize eyeshadows in the way that other people scrutinize paint chips. My latest acquisitions are
Lola Cosmetics Eye Shadow in Bones and Firehouse, a reddish brown that I use for the crease and the outer third of my eyelid.

I also purchased Clinique Brush-in Creme Eyeliner in Black Honey (part of Clinique's holiday collection based on its popular Black Honey lipstick) and like that product, but I was taken aback by the small amount of product there is. Don't bother with the itty-bitty brush furnished with the eyeliner - use a full-size slant-edge eyeliner instead.

Scenes from a mall

Categories: Fashion, Beauty, Cosmetics

I visited the newly opened expansion wing of Tysons Corner Center near DC yesterday. I visited Ruehl (Abercombie and Fitch's effort to reach out to the twentysomethings who wore A&F during their teens) and passed by Hollister, and was surprised to see how dark they were inside. Is atmosphere all that they are selling? I understand P.T. Barnum's adage "Sell the sizzle, not the steak," but what about the clothes? I cannot figure the marketing strategy here. In addition, one had to climb steps and pass through a narrow doorway to enter Ruehl, making it off-limit to strollers and wheelchairs.

Even the relocated Victoria's Secret was dark, and a clear departure from the romanticized, even sweet image that company has long cultivated. Mannequins were provocatively posed, and reminded me of the photographs by the late Helmut Newton. The news report on Smooth Jazz 105.9 FM mentioned that a number of shoppers have complained about the mannequins.

This Victoria's Secret also contained a beauty department stocking not only its own eponymous cosmetics brand and aura science (a venture between Shiseido and Limited Brands, Victoria Secret's parent), but also brands such as pout and infomercial queen Victoria Jackson's Lola. The beauty department is clearly patterned after the open display format that Sephora pioneered.

Other stores that opened included Z Gallerie, Arhaus, and west elm. I don't see that much difference between Z Gallerie and Arhaus. The west elm store was clean and open in its layout, just what you'd expect after browsing its catalog.

Canadian Beauty

It's been nearly 15 years since Toronto-based MAC revolutionized the cosmetics industry with its neutral foundations, ultra-matte lipsticks, and its wide variety of shades for lips, cheeks, and eyes. Largely through buzz generated by beauty editors (and not through advertising), its products became in demand. The Estee Lauder Companies bought out MAC, and MAC has since become widely available in department stores and MAC mall stores throughout the U.S.

CARGO is another Canadian cosmetics company that found success in the U.S., largely through its distribution by Sephora.com. The Style Page especially likes CARGO'S selection of eyeshadows (its litmus test for a cosmetics line).

The Style Page recently came back from a trip to Canada, and would like to report on Canadian products that are not widely available in the U.S., at least not yet.

Two major Canadian pharmacy chains offer their exclusive lines of cosmetics: Shoppers Drug Mart (called Pharmaprix in Quebec) offers its own Quo cosmetics line, while Pharmacie Jean Coutu offers the Personnelle and Garraud Paris cosmetics lines. Pharmacie Jean Coutu has penetrated the U.S. market through its acquisition of over 1500 Eckerd drugstores from JC Penney, but there's no word of its exporting Personnelle and Garraud Paris to its Eckerd stores, which will retain the Eckerd banner (CVS purchased over 1200 Eckerd stores from JC Penney).

Marcelle is a mass market comsetics brand, available at both Pharmacie Jean Coutu and Shoppers Drug Mart. The Style Page picked up Marcelle's Soothing Eye Make-Up Remover Gel, which, despite the name, stung on contact. If the sting could be removed from this product, this would be a great product and much more convenient for travel than liquid eye makeup remover (The Style Page had the misfortune of having liquid eye makeup remover leak and stain her packed clothes). Groupe Marcelle purchased the Annabelle cosmetics line, which is also available through pharmacies.

Lise Watier is a Montreal-based makeup artist whose eponymous line is available both in department stores and drugstores. The Style Page picked up an eyeshadow single in Halo Mat, a light yellow, which brightens the eyes. In the U.S., her Neiges (Snow) fragrances may be purchased through Sephora.com.

Nacara is a cosmetics line from Montreal geared towards "women of color." It features highly-pigmented lipsticks and cream-to-powder makeup. The Style Page found Nacara at Pharmacie Jean Coutu

Dans un Jardin is a chain of perfumeries in Quebec and Ontario. The stores offers bath and body products and home fragrances under Dans un Jardin's own label, its own e&n (essence & nature) color cosmetics line, Decleor skin scare, and a wide variety of Lampe Berger fragrance-diffusing oil-burning lamps and parfums de maison (home fragrance) oils.

Fruits & Passion is another chain of perfumeries, with boutiques across Canada and in several foreign countries (but not, alas, the U.S.). In the U.S., Nordstrom sells some of its Cucina (kitchen) line of products in the beauty department. Fruits & Passion boutiques carry bath and body products, home fragrances, environmentally safe cleaning and laundry products, and even food products. The Style Page picked up maple jelly (how quintessentially Canadian!) with orange peel from Fruits & Passion's L'Art de la table collection.

The Style Page especially welcomes comments from its Canadian readers on Canadian beauty products.

The Style Page updates its Beauty Pages

Categories: Beauty

Check out nearly 30 new links for Cosmetics and 15 new links for Fragrances and shop our partners: Amazon.com, Beauty.com, drugstore.com, and Sephora.com.

What's New in Beauty: June 10, 2005 - Mary Kay, Estee Lauder, reflect.com, Sephora, Maybelline

Categories: Beauty, Cosmetics

Mary Kay vetoes ads on Desparate Housewives - A Christian group successfully lobbies Mary Kay to pull ads for ABC's Desparate Housewives. May we expect TV ads featuring Nicolette Sheridan (NuGlow), Eva Longoria (signed with L'Oreal), and Teri Hatcher (who has a deal of her own) to pepper Desparate Housewives? Talk about cross-promotion!

Gwyneth Paltrow signs with Estee Lauder - The favorite of celebrity magazines, who named her daughter Apple, has signed a contract to appear in ads for Estee Lauder cosmetics and fragrances. As with the signing of Tom Ford, this appears to be another effort on the part of Estee Lauder Companies to boost sales of its flagship brand as consumer buying trends change.

P&G to close reflect.com - The master marketers (and innovators) at Proctor & Gamble haven't always been successful when it comes to cosmetics. P&G had a big rollout of Olay color cosmetics in supermarkets, drugstores, and other mass merchandisers, only to discontinue the line a couple of years later. Now comes news that P&G will close reflect.com, the customized cosmetics web site. Last day for order is Monday, June 13, so hurry!

reflect developed a color palette called the California Beauty Kit for Chico's, the women's clothing and accessories chain. This warm color palette features matte eyeshadows for day and shimmer eyeshadows for evening, along with a blusher, bronzer, and two lip colors. The price was cut from $55 to $29. While not available through Chico's web site, you might yet be able to find it in stores.

Sephora announces the winners of its 2005 Best of Sephora vote. 87,000 fans voted. Winners includes Nars blush in Orgasm, DuWop Lip Venom, Stila Lip Glaze, and more. Go to Sephora.com to shop the winners.

Maybelline goes upscale with signing of Kevyn Aucoin protege - I still have a problem calling Maybelline "Maybelline New York," as its corporate parent L'Oreal would have us call it. No doubt it has to do with the fact that I remember Maybelline as a child putzing around Kresge's dime store (and the reference to Kresge's alone betrays my age!), but the name "Maybelline" also conjures up Chuck Berry's song of the same name and Mother Maybelline Carter of country music's pioneering Carter Family - not exactly the image of urban sophistication that L'Oreal would like to convey. Still Volum'Express is my favorite mascara and I like its Dream Mousse Matte Foundation.

In another effort to go upscale, Maybelline has signed Troy Surratt, protege of the late, great makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin, as its star makeup artist and has already rolled out a new ad campaign featuring him. Previously, Surratt succeeded his mentor as beauty advisor at Beauty.com.