The Age of the $30 Lip Gloss.. really?! How much are you willing to pay?

Hello!

I visited Sephora a few weeks ago and during my perusal around the store, I tested some of the lip products, glosses, from different brands. Then, I started checking prices , I was horrified....$30:00, $34:00 ..... Ladies, what happened to the cost of Lip Gloss !?
Lip Gloss lasts all of 30 minutes if you take a sip of water and zero minutes if you kiss someone on the lips. $30:00 ?!

Sephora Lip Gloss Product Range

The brands which fall into this category are some of my favorites YSL, Marc Jacobs, Laura Mercier my eternal favorite, rings in at gasppppp!! $38.00 dollars!  Bobbi Brown, Jeanne Lobell of Stila,  Laura Mercier  started the fresh face, nude lip gloss look years ago and the cost of lip gloss has grown steadily ever since. My personal favorite is Hourglass because it stays for a while and actually moisturizes your lips without peeling. But even Hourglass rings in at $28.00! Bobbi Brown has actually kept her prices in control in the mid twenties and Stila, which is another favorite is still in the lower teens to twenties price range. Bare Minerals has a gloss for $18.00.
I am think Lip Smackers may have to make a comeback in my makeup bag very soon!

What are you using? How much are you willing to pay for ......Lip Gloss.
I would love your thoughts!!

Thanks Fashionmom!

Image courtesy of IStock Images. 

Macaron VS Macaron - Laduree and Macaron Cafe NYC

Laduree 

Macaron Cafe, NYC

Happy Holidays everyone!


I put my favorite brand of Macarons from Laduree to a taste test this weekend, after a dear friend who lives in New York City suggested I try the Macarons from Macaron Cafe NYC . He liked Laduree but felt that they lose a bit of freshness after the long daily flight from Paris.
I have long been a Laduree fan but they only deliver within New York City in order to preserve the freshness of the Macarons.  I have had to settle for a bite or two once or twice a year during visits to New York.

Macaron Cafe... had an advantage over Laduree,  because they ship anywhere within the United States.
I ordered a box online with mixed flavors, with a few of my Laduree favorites, Rose, Violette and Lavender along with the standards Vanilla and Pistachio for husband and daughter.
The macarons arrived as stated this past Wednesday the day before Thanksgiving. The instructions were to keep them refrigerated and everyone knows that Macarons are best eaten at room temperature.

 Macaron Cafe- NYC 

Taste Test - On Thanksgiving day just before lunch everyone choose their two favorite flavors from the box and we set them out for the the room temperature moment of truth.

MC macarons are larger in size that LD, but the colors are beautiful, rich and vibrant. The fillings were creamy and delicious. Since I did not have LD to compare on the spot, I had to recall my memories of LD over the years.
It took about two days of ruminating but the main differences are :

LD's outer shell is thinner, delicate and soft.
LD's inner filling packs a deadly and potent punch especially with flavors like Rose and Lavender, you can really taste all Rose or all Lavender.
MC's outer shell gives you more Macaron for your money and it is delicious. My husband liked MCs macarons better. The outer shell has some heft to it.
MC's fillings are delicious and they have more flavor varities that LD which is always nice.

I guess we have the best of both if you like a delicate outer shell, LD is the one for you,  for something more substantial, MC is for you.
 Either way we are winners!
 And if you live in NYC you have the best of both worlds, now if we can just get Pierre Herme to starting selling and deliver in the US......Heaven!


Thanksgiving Cocktail to match the Macarons, something very refreshing  -  Limonello ( 1 oz), Gilbey's London Dry Gin ( 1 oz), Loads of Ice, Club Soda and a touch of Bitter Lemon. Serve!

Fashionmom!

Happy Thanksgiving from FM!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone from the Fashionmom team! Best Wishes!!

Mascara of The Week - Dolce and Gabanna ..What is your favorite?

I have written countless posts over the years about mascaras and my love for mascaras. I currently have about 20 mascaras in my makeup box in rotation. I have decided that I was going to play with one each week for the next couple of weeks. Some days, my old standbys are not so great when applied and I decide to try something else for a few days.

 If a new mascara hits the stores, I will head out to at least give it a test at Sephora. Many of my friends often tell me that my favorite pastime is shopping ( It makes me sound hollow and shallow). I am a very curious, smart and creative person with a talent for retaining anything to do with retail and fashion after hearing about it only once. I spent years working in an industry, called retail.  I take my career seriously, I do tons of homework, I read constantly to stay current and I want to know about new products and new things. I am going to embrace my "shopping" label with gusto and it does not mean that I shop every time I go to the store!!

So here goes....

This week it's The Boys from Milan Stephano and Domenico  http://www.dolcegabbana.com/
and my test is
Volumized Lashes - My Test

The finished look is clean, not super volumized, classy and defined, no clumping. If you have tried it , send your thoughts and
 it is time to try their new one New! - Passion Eyes Duo from D&G.



What is your favorite mascara?  How many do you have in rotation?

Best Wishes!

Friday Favorite- Burt's Bees Natural Body Wash For Men....and the entire family.

This Body Wash is for men but it is one of the best washes on the market for the entire family. I love and covet it because the light citrus scent is heavenly, not too feminine, not too masculine, it's perfect.  And thanks to Coconut, Sunflower, Cypress,Citrus and Fir Oils, it is super gentle yet invigorating, extremely moisturizing, and generates amazing suds during and after your shower.
Then the big pluses:

Sulfate Free
Paraben Free
Phthalate Free
Which somehow makes me feel I am contributing something important to the world by using this product. :)

Fashiomom