Are you plagued by stretch marks? Or just recently had a baby, and wondering how you can rid yourself of those post baby stretch marks? Well look no further! Your answer is here! Ok, I don’t want to come across like I am really trying to sell you this product. But to just get down to the basic’s this new and innovative line by Bio-Oil® is great in helping to reduce the appearance of your stretch marks. As we all know there is no ‘miracle cure’ with over the counter products, unless of course you go and have skin laser treatments done. But there are ways to help ‘rehydrate’ your skin, and put the moisture back, whilst lightening up those scars to heal.

Bio-Oil® has an advanced formulation containing the breakthrough ingredient PurCellin Oil™, which makes it highly effective for numerous and other skin concerns. Including aging skin and dehydrated skin. Bio-Oil® is highly effective in helping to improve your existing stretch marks. How is this done? Well Bio-Oil® helps to increase the elasticity of the skin, thereby reducing the possibility of new stretch marks forming.

Bio-Oil® should be massaged in a circular motion into the stretch marks and surrounding skin, twice daily, for a minimum of 3 months. And then you should start to see some real results in the tone and appearance of your skin and strech marks. Again, Bio-Oil® offers the best when it comes to a great over the counter product line.

To learn more of this fabulous product or where to purchase it in your part of the world visit
www.bio-oil.com.

Article by © Jacqueline H. – Senior Writer, Editor 2009

Miami – Mercedes Benz Fashion Week has kick started. And it sizzles with bikini fashion galore, direct off the runway.

Luli Fama swimwear 2009 collection by designer Lourdes Hanimian during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim show in Miami July 20 2008.

The designs for next season are fun and full of bold prints and exotic cuts and patterns. This one piece bikini ensemble exudes sexy and fun chic. As well as having the hip hugging buckle accent and gold circle chain necklace. Now I actually love this piece. It combines both the bikini and swimsuit. Now that is clever design, accenting the best of both worlds -”the bikini-suit”.

Lourdes Hanimian keeps colors bold, red, and very direct

Red’s keep the bikini very attractive and direct. The bikini is also accented with gold hoops and ties. I love this piece, and the bright color is perfect for the season.

Maritima swimwear 2009 collection

Proof that tie die never goes out of fashion. Brazilian designer Benny Rosset gives us quite the eye full of color. Reverting back to the bashful sixties popularity of this sinful, yet delightful design. Tie die goes haute couture for sure. Only in Rio!

Maritima swimwear 2009 – Hot out of Brazil

Pistol Panties swimwear

Pistol Panties isn’t shy in this itsy, bitsy, poker dot bikini. Superb design, fun and delightful!

Pistol Panties swimwear

Pistol Panties keeps their designs geometric and clean. This fun and delightful bikini is super sexy, and has the perfect fit for many body types with a secure bikini top that isn’t going anywhere!

Source: AP Associated Press, Reuters, Yahoo!

Couture in the City is proud to present with Sephora our Red, White and Beauty review and giveaway! Yes today is Independence Day and to celebrate this fantastic national holiday, were giving away a few of these great products from Sephora. So dazzle this Independence Day with Sephora.

To kick start this patriotic giveaway our first item for grabs is the new Sephora Brand Atomic Volume Mascara !

Declare freedom from smudging with this mega-volume, conditioning mascara. And our second giveaway item for this fabulous contest is the;

*Editor’s Pick: Sephora Brand Flashy Waterproof Liner

Forget the fireworks –light up your eyes with one of these shimmering, metallic liners. Each vivid shade glides on easily, so there’s less tugging on the delicate skin of the eye. Line your eyes with bold, shimmering metallic color that lasts through rain or shine.

* Editor’s Pick: “If you are looking for a little flash this summer and a eyeliner that is easy to apply I would definitely add this one to your makeup bag.”

And our third giveaway item are these fabulous Sephora Brand Nail Patches available in red!

Sephora Brand Nail Patches available in red for our giveaway item!

I loved this product. And what a great invention! No more hassle with those messy jars of nail varnish. It’s easy to do. I tried the 04 perfect pearl nail color. Just stick on the patches and go—it’s that easy. Select the appropriate size for your nail, pull off the clear protective strip, and place the rounded side at the nail base. Smooth onto the nail surface, and remove the surplus by folding the nail sticker under the nail. The excess easily tears away. Remove the nail patch with traditional nail polish remover. And the result; perfect nails.

And keep your lips dazzling! And be ready in red with these fabulous glosses and long lasting lipsticks from Sephora!

I tried the Sephora Plumping lip gloss. And I just loved it!

*Editor’s Pick: Get ready in red with Sephora’s Plumping Lip Gloss!

The gloss gave me maximum volume. And had a sweet taste. The glossy finish gave me a natural look with an accent of red and shimmer. The natural pepper and mint extracts stimulates microcirculation, resulting in rosy, full lips!

*Editor’s Pick: “If you want lips like Jessica Alba or Angelina Jolie … Sephora’s plumping lip gloss will give you just that look! Applying it I noticed that it does tingle your lips, but it has a nice cooling affect. My lips were full and beautiful.”

And for maximum exposure this holiday try this glamourous lipstick for size!

Lip Attitude – Glamour

I loved this lipstick! I tried the color in Red Flirt #12 and # 13 Chic Ruby. I thought it went on smooth, and gave me lasting color throughout the evening. My perfect pick for a night out on the town!

So to win the fabulous items mentioned subscribe to Couture in the City! If you already do you are already entered into the pool of picks! The giveaway will run until July 10th. Enjoy your Fourth of July!

Go to www.sephora.com to see more of what beauty has to offer!

Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Lotus, 1.7 ounces, $27.00

Looking for a surprising and fresh scent for this summer? Then look no further…Elizabeth Arden recently introduced their new fragrance, Green Tea Lotus, a light and airy scent that is perfect for warm weather. If you are like me and hate overpowering fragrances, then this is definitely one to try.

The inspiration behind this fragrance comes from flower gardens in India, Japan and China. One whiff of this perfume and visions of silk kimono’s, delicate tea and lush gardens come to mind. Feminine without being girly, this sophisticated fragrance is the perfect perfume to try if you are bored with your current eau de toilette, but aren’t ready to commit to something too heady.

Still not sure? Check out these fresh top, middle and base notes to tantalize your olfactory senses:

• Top Notes Caraway, Fruity Rhubarb, Lemon, Orange Zest and Bergamot
• Middle Notes Cool Minty Peppermint, Green Tea, Sweet Jasmine, Spicy Carnation, Fresh Fennel and Crisp Celery Spice
• Base Notes Oakmoss, Musk and Amber

In my opinion, the green tea and citrus scents take center stage in this fragrance, creating a super fresh aroma that perks me right up.

So, if you are looking for something new to shake up your fragrance routine, stop by your local Elizabeth Arden counter and ask for a spritz…you won’t be disappointed!

Kat Von D gets made up for Sephora

I was really excited when I heard that Kat Von D had created a cosmetics line. And if it couldn’t get any better it was with Sephora. Unable to contain my excitement I had to try it!
But let’s rewind here and get a little info on the product line itself. Kat Von D brings her tattoo art to a fantastic signature make-up line.

“People have always asked me what I would be doing if I wasn’t a tattoo-er,” says Kat Von D, reality TV star and owner of LA’s High Voltage Tattoo. “The only other thing I could imagine is doing makeup!”

Kat’s rose tattoo stencils cover each product. And her exclusive color collection is the perfect reflection of her artistic style and passion to create – the perfect make-up.

So in the hot seat for reviews we tried here at Couture her True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Ludwig and Beethoven.

True Romance Eyeshadow goes Ludwig

I personaly tried this product and really loved it. Being an airbrush artist myself (yes I know you thought I was just all about fashion). I could really appreciate the pigment in the color pallette. From shiney to matte the colors went on smooth and strong.

Kat dons the Ludwig eyeshadow collection

And the brushes alongside the kit, actually are great to brush on the colors. And I even used “leather” to contour and shape my brows. The packaging itself is superb, donning the signature “Kat Von D” logo and her rose stencilled design. I can’t rave enough. I give this product an overall five star rating.

True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Beethoven

And our Editor’s opinion on the Beethoven eyeshadow collection;

“Beethoven has such a beautiful array of colors that offer that sexy vamp look to rock gothic. Each palette comes in eight colors from shimmery to matte. I love the name of the colors –lucifer, speed blue, raxor gray, tequila, sinner, rad purple, leather and galeano. I have my eye on the Kat Eye Brush set and Painted Love lipstick next!”

Angelique – Editor of Couture vamps it up in Beethoven eyeshadows lucifer, speed blue and galeano

Kat we love you for your innovation and creative style. Thank you for making us girls look so chic! Kat you rock!

Source: Kat Von D for Sephora

Treat your Dad with luxury this Father’s Day. We are proud to anounce Sothys of Paris skin care line, as one of the most luxurious gifts ever. Yes, Father’s love to be pampered too!

Even though you may not think it to be true, men actually have more sensitive skin problems than women do. The Sothys Homme System is specifically designed with the needs of male skin in mind. Routine care like shaving can wreck havoc on a man’s face. Sothys Homme is meant to be a skin care routine to help treat those problems. Almost every Sothys Homme product contains an amino – which is derived from the distillation of malt from Scottish Whiskey. This creates Phytomalt – a rich amino acid that is known for its soothing, and calming effects.

‘Sothys of Paris – Men’s skin care line’

We loved this product so much we gave a few of our gentleman friend’s here at Couture a skin care line to try. We sampled Sothys HOMME Exfoliating Scrub and Detoxifying Active Cleasner.

” Who need’s a spa when you have Sothys of Paris! After shaving I used the detoxifying active cleanser which was light and went on smooth. Afterwards I used the scrub, which had a great violet color, scent, and small micro beads. And it really left my skin smooth and soft! You can really tell the luxury in this product. From the packaging to the product itself. I loved it!”
Steven – Los Angeles, CA

And our editor, couldn’t rave more!

“I think Sothys of Paris is a wonderful product. It makes the perfect Father’s Day gift. I had my boyfriend try the product. And he really enjoyed the scent of the cleanser and the scrub. Both products left his skin very clean. And gave him a healthy glow. He loved the packaging! And is actually considering purchasing the scrub as a gift for his father. ”
Angelique – Editor of Couture in the City

Give your Pere (Father) something he can relax and look great with! Give him Sothys of Paris. And remember Father’s Day is on June 15th! Au Revoir!

Source: Sothys of Paris, KMR New York

Melange Apothecary - This chic boutique nestled in the hills of Sherman Oaks, Califorina. Has big boutique potential. Offering an array of decandent fragrances – the Melange fragrance bar boasts eighty fragrances and essential oils.

Melange ( in french) means to blend or mix. Which is exactly what this hip little boutique offers! From home candles, body washes, one of a kind fragrances, Melange Apothecary offers a place where customers can sit, relax, and try the Melange blends or create their own.

Melange Apothecary Boutique, nestled in the hills of Southern California

Thank you to Melange I had the pleasure of trying some these fab products. Now Melange has a very interesting product line called ‘Concrete Parfum’. What is Concrete parfum?

Concrete Parfum collection

Melange Concrete Parfum are small containers of fragrance in a solid form. They are prepared in small containers, using pure beeswax, jojoba oil and a wonderful fragrance. These small little fragrances go a long way, just add a little dab to wrists and neck line and you will have the apothecary experience. They are also very convienient to slip into your bag or are a great travel size. And at $10 per container, it is very affordable too.

Concrete Parfum Blending Kit

I tried, Miel (Honey). Cielo-french for heaven. Which boasts a floral blend of Gardenia flower, Hyacinth, Lily and Freesia combined with sweet White Musk. Sunflower – “a warm floral blend of summer-blooming Freesia, Peony & Muget with bright citrus accords.” Pamplemousse, and my favorite Plum Blossom. The fragrances can be worn alone or blended. Try their Concrete Parfum blending kit for $40 for fun. The set includes, Grenade (sweet pomegranate); Feuille de Fromboise (red raspberry leaf), Tuberose (rich floral blend), and Green Tea (tea leaves with citrus and fruit accords).

Melange and Couture is giving 15% off to all our readers for the Concrete line, the offer ends on June 19th and the code for our readers is CITY08. Have fun!

Source: Melange Apothecary, Charmed PR

Today’s women always feel rushed and stressed. Were working girls, mothers, wives, family women. And career women. When can we just melt away all that stress…

Well here at Couture we may have the answer for you, Johnson & Johnson Melt Away Stress.

I can admit to feeling this way many times myself. And just trying to relax can be tough. But, I am a perfectionist when it comes to aromatherapy. But I must admit I was very excited to review this new product.

Ladies, I highly recommend taking some time out for yourself and doing this at home ritual and spa treatment using the Melt Away Stress collection. This ‘lavender and chamomile’ infused product is highly effective. I recommend using the Melt Away Stress 24-hour moisturizing wash, moisturizing lotion, and oil.

Johnson & Johnson Melt Away Stress Collection

Start with the moisturizing wash, I actually used the wash as a bubble bath to get the full experience. I used the moisturising oil whilst my skin was wet. This is actually a great aromatherapy tool. The reason being that the essential oils will be absorbed directly into the blood stream, thus taking full effect with the treatment. I felt relieved of all my stress! Taken care of, nurtured and very relaxed. I was quite surprised with how well the line worked.

To finish your session, use the moisturising lotion to top off the whole experience. Believe me you will be stress free, refreshed, and sleeping like a baby again.

Source: Johnson’s Melt Away Stress

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At Couture we get to review some of the best products out there. Summers here, and its time to show off your healthy newly preped pedicures and manicures! And Nailtiques is here to help.

Now once again -from me to you- I get to try this wonderful product. Was I skeptical? Not at all! I knew I would be taken care of with this ‘innovator in the worldwide nail care industry’. Are the products natural I hear you ask? Of course they are! And salon tested to boot. And do they really treat the problems I have with my nails? Well if your going to keep asking, heres the lowdown from Nailtiques themselves;

” Nailtiques has been providing therapeutic nail treatments that surpass all others. Nailtiques nail care system treats multiple nail problems with six specially formulated protein strengths. They not only supply nourishment to strengthen nails, they also eliminate peeling.”

Wow, that’s great. Now lets get to the product!

Nailtiques Avocado Foot Crème

I had the luxury of trying the Avocado Foot Crème. Now I must say this thick, creamy lotion is pure bliss!

After bathing your feet in your foot spa, whilst listening to your classical music. Finish your D.I.Y (Do it yourself) at home spa with this lucious cream. The welcoming aromatic scent and soft texture is very inviting. Apply an ample amount to your feet and massage into the skin. I found that my feet were soft for days. Now, I found the best results are when I use this lotion daily. My feet are hydrated, and softer then ever.

Nailtiques Oil Therapy

Nailtiques Pink & Green Sponge File

Now to keep those healthly manicures you need a good foundation. I tried a combination nail treatment using both the oil therapy and sponge files. The oil is superb, goes on clean and smooth. Using the pink side of the sponge file, smooth down any nail ridges. And keep adding the oil, and contiue the process until the surface of your nails are smooth. I got superb results, and this treatment works great for me.

Now you have the perfect tools for keeping your nails and feet in perfect condition for the summer!

Source: Nailtiques, Janine Gordon Associates

Here we are ladies, our prayers have been answered! Finally, we have reached a natural alternative to those Botox injections. Yes, Frownies is here.

Frownies is Hollywoods best kept secret. But that is no longer the case. This fab age defying, anti wrinkle system has been featured in O Magazine, and Good Housing Keeping alike.

Now before we get into the exciting part i.e. testing the product. There is an amazing history behind Frownies and how it began.

Frownies were created in 1889 after Margaret Kroesen discovered that her daughter Alice, a concert pianist, had developed unsightly wrinkles and frown lines. With a desire to maintain her youthful beauty and stage presence, Mrs. Kroesen created Wrinkle Eradicators (as they were first called) by employing the basic principle of fitness to the muscles of the face. Several years later, Mrs. Kroesen’s entered the business world; she joined B & P Company (Beauty and Personality) as Managing Director. By offering only her Wrinkle Eradicators and skin treatments, which has become a great success up until today.

Frownies – Face Lift in a bag

Now I have had the honor of trying this fabulous product. And I can’t rave about it enough. After using the whole kit, Face Lift in a bag. My skin was radiant, bright, supple and plump. And beautiful, like I stepped out of a plastic surgeons office after having a few light botox and dermabrasion surgical procedures. Yes, I can hear it in your voice, you are excited!

But to get the full results you have to use the whole kit.

Frownies – Ph Balancing Wash -Contains the freshness of lavender essential oil and the cleaning power of soapwort and soap yucca to detoxify, balance, and clean the skin’s surface.

Start with the ph Balancing Complexion Wash. Apply small drop (less than dime size) in the palm of your hand, and work into lather with slightly cool to warm water. Apply to the entire face and neck area as well as under eyes, rinse well.

*Note from Frownies: Never use hot water on the face it is very drying.

Frownies РImmune Perf̩ct Wrinkle Cream

Secondly, apply Frownies Immune Perféct Wrinkle Cream I just loved the texture of this lotion and the way it gently absorbs into the skin. Instantly I noticed my skin is hydrated bright and plump. This rich formula has powerful cellular interactive antioxidants with active Vitamin E and 17 amino acids! Use all over the the entire face, under the eyes and the neck area.

*Note from Frownies: Do not put the gel cream in the palm of you hand and rub. This activates the delivery system and the penetration begins in your hands.

Frownies – Facial Pads

Frownies – Facial Pads – How to apply to the face

Thirdly, wet Frownies Facial Patches using Hydrator Spray or distilled water and apply over the lines. Leave in place at least three hours or, for best results, overnight.

*Note: Remember to use plenty of water upon removing the pads. And don’t feel daunted by using the facial pads either. They do feel a little tight on the skin, so try to relax when wearing them for a few hours. But they are quite comfortable when you are use to wearing them. (Just think of the results!)

After removing the facial pads, the areas where the patches were are a little sensitive. And maybe a little red, so be gentle. But after a few minutues the results are amazing. Any minor wrinkles I had were completely gone. Plus the skin in those areas were firmer.

Rose Hydrator Spray

Now this is my favorite part, use the Hydrating Rose Spray as a daily toner, or after cleansing. It is a wonderfully refreshing pick up after exercising, or anytime of the day.

Now I truly loved this product. And I use it daily, especially the facial wash, hydrating spray and Immune Perféct lotion. I will now use the pads once a week, or every other week just for the tone and lift they give. But, what I truly love about the product is that it is made of natural ingredients.

I used Face Lift in a bag prior to a photo shoot, which gave me great results.

Jacqueline H. at photo shoot, having used Face Lift in a bag prior to shoot

You can visit the Frownies official website to learn more about this wonderful product. Also, Couture In the City will be giving away a Face lift in in a bag to one of our lucky readers. Check in to view the giveaway post for more details.

Source: Frownies.com, KMR Communicatuions, NY