Courtesy of the Body Shop
Alex Jordan samples the new range of
fall makeup colors and shows you how to put your best face forward
Gold Rush
Everybody loves The Body Shop: the soothing green interior, the customer-friendly samples,
the politically correct recycling and anti-animal testing policies. Now comes another
reason - a new nail polish line for the ' Fall-Winter season. The new colors incorporate
natural fruit essences, resulting in healthy, beautiful nails. Stylish packaging and
reasonable prices (JY1000) one would expect, but the additional ease of application and
trueness of color are a pleasant surprise. Update your fall look with a blast of Is It
Red? a wine red so deep it hints of black (think Chanel's Vamp), or Must Have Mauve
metallic mauve shot through with silver pearl. For something more subdued, try the cotton
candy hue of Flirty Pink or soft beige of Almost Bare. Several more shades complete the
line, in addition to an acetone-free polish remover (JY600).
Hot on the heels of the ocean-inspired Atlantis cosmetics line and just in time for the
upcoming holiday party season, comes the Gold Blush line, with "shine and
shimmer" as its theme. To create a radiant end-of-the-century party look, try
shimmering gels over or under makeup for golden highlights on your face (or body), gold
liquid eyeliners, or bronze-enhanced lip and nail colors. But get there soon, for if the
success of Atlantis is anything to go by, Gold Blush will be out the door before you can
say "Happy New Year!"
Material Girl
You've seen the commercial with the beaded head gear and the slightly affected accent.
Will Max Factor's new Madonna line be just the missing spice to put your social life back
in the land of the living? Madonna teams up with Sarah Monzani, her personal make-up
artist on Evita, and Max Factor to create Madonna, a new color line designed with the
ultimate material girl in mind. The lipsticks come in sleek little gold cases with a slim
design for easy application of the six new colors: Emotional Black, Deep Kiss Burgundy,
Hot Love Red, Coquettish Brown, Dramatic Rose and First Kiss Rose. With such promising
names, I half-expected to have a kisser so sultry that Calvin Klein-clad models would drop
in the foamy surf and roll around in the wet sand for just one of my kisses. The lipstick
colors went on true and had great lasting power. Alas, although no one even remotely
resembling a Calvin Klein model was on the Yamanote that night, I felt certain I had made
a definite impression on the drunken salaryman leering at me from across the aisle.
Completing the line are two new duo eye shadow sets (JY3800) and nail polish (JY900). Max
Factor is available at Takashimaya department stores.
Creme de la creams
All the hype in magazines and ads about skin care products would have you believe that the
elixir of everlasting youth can be yours in one little tube or jar, all for the low, low
price of $49.99. Most consumers today are too savvy to believe it, having become numb to
the endless parade of "new," "improved," and "in just seven
days..." So when yet another new product hits the already saturated market, we
approach it with a healthy amount of skepticism. Such was the case when I received
Clarins' new Eclat du Jour Energizing Morning Cream and accompanying press kit. It claimed
my skin would be visibly smoother from the very first application, boosting my
"youthful vitality" and making my skin more radiant. Applying the cream I stared
into my mirror, looking for a more youthful self. Would it emerge? While it didn't take
years off, this moisturizer does do exactly what it says. Within a few short days of daily
morning use, my skin was healthier with - dare I say it? - a visible radiance that was
quite pleasing. The strain and stress of Tokyo city life was less obvious and the
lightweight texture left my skin feeling fresh all day. Eclat du Jour is available from
mid-September at Clarins counters throughout Japan.
Eye C
Too many late nights and too little sleep starting to show up on your face? Well good news
is here. New from Lanc™me comes its Vitabolic Eye-Dark Circle Treatment, a fabulous
sheer treatment which, applied in the morning as part of your regular beauty routine, will
visibly (and in my case, dramatically) reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffy
eyes. The vitamin C, ginseng and gingko blend is lightweight enough to be worn alone or
under your regular eye cream for added benefits. Vitamin C has been shown to be an
effective antioxidant, supporting the skin in its daily fight against environmental
threats like pollution and sun damage. Available now at Lancome counters nationwide.
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Material Girl
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