Best of 2009: Beauty

Each year, I test a near-unimaginable volume of beauty products, new releases, niche brands and cult favorites. But the truth remains that very few products actually make it into my daily rotation. My taste is discerning - not only must a product be effective (duh!) but it should also be an experience to use. Here are my picks for the very BEST products of 2009.

Frederic Fekkai Sensuelle Shampoo & Conditioner - Scented with orange blossom and jasmine, this shampoo and conditioner leave hair incredibly soft and smelling delicious for hours.

Lipstick Queen Chinatown Glossy Pencils - These chunky lip pencils make me want to paint by numbers. They deliver the perfect dose of glossy color and look oh-so-cool when you pull them out of your purse.

Maybelline Superstay Concealer - It's rare that I endorse an inexpensive foundation or concealer, but this one gets the job done. If you can find a match (there are only five available shades), it covers a myriad of skin sins and lasts all day.

essie Mink Muffs - This taupe-y gray nail lacquer has a hint of purple to it; it's at once edgy and chic.

And last but not least, AmorePacific's Treatment Enzyme Peel is the most gentle exfoliator imaginable. Try it on your face or body; the bottle will last you a lifetime (okay, or at least a year with regular use.)

What were the BEST products you tried in 2009? Leave a comment and share!

FTC Disclosure: Samples received for review.

Cyber Monday 2009: Amazon.com & Endless

Tomorrow is Cyber Monday, which encourages us all to snag amazing DEALZ without leaving the comfort of our desk or couch.  Amazon and Endless (sister companies, in case you didn't know) have a few amazing promotions running, so I thought I'd share.

First up, enjoy 60% off outerwear for Men, Women, and Kids at Amazon. I'm personally tempted to snag this spiffy Miss Sixty coat, it was $125 (already a steal) but tomorrow, it will be just $53. It's been pretty warm in New York but will surely get chillier in December, so the timing of this sale could not be more ideal.

Meanwhile, over at Endless, you can snag $30 off almost any purchase of $100 or more. I recently snagged the Paige Tall Riding Boot from Frye for full price; obvs, I should have waited until tomorrow to spring.

Do you plan to snag any deals on Cyber Monday or are you still pooped from Black Friday?

 

Curiouser & Curiouser...Bergdorf Goodman Holiday 2009 Windows

We may have to wait until March to see Tim Burton's take on Alice in Wonderland (still above) but New Yorkers will have a holiday treat to tide them over, starting on November 20 thanks to Bergdorf Goodman.

Inspired by the imaginative works of Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass, Bergdorf’s Senior Director of Visual Presentation David Hoey and his team of artists are working at a fever pitch behind the scenes (the windows are shrouded and still in process) to create a “Curiouser and Curiouser” take on scenes and characters portrayed in Carroll’s works.

Here's what you can expect to see:

 

• An all-mirror window will include a floor-to-ceiling Venetian mirror featuring a girl trying to enter a large fireplace as portrayed in Through the Looking Glass.
• A window featuring a library made out of paper will inhabit paper animals such as a cat, flamingo, turtle and a lizard, all taken from Carroll’s fantasies.
• An interpretation of a game room with a regal theme will house a birds-eye-view of a chess game and will feature a King and Queen playing with over-sized chess pieces. The window will be filled with playing cards, a vintage roulette wheel and several games such as mahjong and backgammon.
• A Victorian themed window will depict a tree house surrounded by a forest of roses and a girl sitting on a tree branch playing with a Cheshire cat.
• The all-wood, ‘Drink Me’ window, inspired by Alice in Wonderland, will be the most fanatically detail-focused window, filled with an excess of staircases ranging from full-scale to tiny. The window will contain hundreds of staircases all connecting into little doorways and rooms and will feature a full-size mannequin standing with a miniature girl who holds the key to one of the doorways.

 

Bergdorf Goodman is located at 5th Avenue and 58th Street. Visit the holiday windows from November 20 through January 6, 2010.

Emmy's 2009: Best Dressed

The highlight of any award show is undoubtedly the red carpet arrivals and the Emmy's are no different.  Here are a few of my favorites this year...

Padma Lakshmi has an unfair advantage (being Padma Lakshmi and all) but regardless, she looks spectacular in a couture gown by Badgley Mischka and jewelry from her own collection.

This is not the finest photo of Mila Kunis arriving at the Emmy's, but it doesn't erase the fact that her deep red tulle dress by Monique Lhuillier is a stunner!

Perrey Reeves of Entourage was a vision in a sleek and shimmery Naeem Khan gown.

Which looks were your Emmy faves? Tell me what you think in the comments!

Exclusive Get the Look & Giveaway: Katy Perry at the Met Ball

My girl crush Katy Perry left whimsy behind for this week's Met Gala appearance.  Her architectural gown jived nicely with the chic and glamorous hairstyle created by Pasquale Ferrante of New York's ION Studio. Read on for a bit of exclusive scoop on Katy's Met Gala look:

e4s: What was your inspiration for the look?

PF: Cleopatra. She’s a beautiful, strong, and independent woman just like Katy.

e4s: How involved was Katy in the direction for the hair?

PF: Katy was very involved in the direction of the hair. She is fantastic to work with because she knows what she wants, but is also open to developing her vision with both myself and her makeup artist. I think her look really came together, evoking Cleopatra – the dress really chose her. She looked beautiful.

e4s: Any key products or techniques to get the look?

PF: I used a variety of Davines products. After washing her hair, I sprayed in Dede Leave-in Conditioner and added Defining Volume Mousse for extra volume. After blow drying her hair straight, I used a 1 ½ inch curling iron to add volume and depth to her ends. To finish, I secured the style by spraying Defining Invisible Hairspray.  

To win a set of the Davines products that Pasquale Ferrante used to create Katy Perry's gorgeous look, leave a comment below telling me one of your hair woes. One lucky winner will be chosen at random next Wednesday night!

UPDATE: THE WINNER IS MARIA OF I FEEL PRETTY.  CONGRATS!