D

Cushion Your Tootsies With Insolia High Heel Inserts

If you knew a world-renowned podiatrist and an MIT rocket scientist had designed high heel inserts would you try them? And what if said design had received the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association? Would that make you want to try them even more? I don’t know about you but I think they sound like something we heel addicts shouldn’t live without. The inserts, called Insolia, are the “only high heel insoles that are proven to shift weight.” And what does that do? Well, in simple terms, it allows us to wear our gorgeous shoes longer and more comfortably. (more…)

Friday Giveaway: ANSR Anti-Aging & Acne Therapy Beam

I blogged about this bad boy a while back, so if you want to see why I’m giving one away to you, read it here. Now, fill out the form and good luck!

“Pamper Yourself Night” at Mockingbird Station Tonight

As part of the Station’s Cause for Celebration line-up (”community-oriented events every Wednesday evening during the holidays”), Pamper Yourself Night will feature mini-facials, massages, and hand massages, free with a donation to Genesis Women’s Shelter. The masseurs will be lined up near PURE Dental. (If you choose to pay for a teeth whitening special during the evening, PURE will also donate a portion of the proceeds to Genesis.) Billy Jealousy reps will also be at PURE for the mini-facials. The hand massagers will be located at Michael Raymond Salon, where you can also get make-up touch-ups, some hot chocolate or tea, and a free Aveda shampoo sample with a $5 donation. It’s a night full of minis, but your donation can be mini, too.

What is the best drugstore powder?

My sister is looking for a new foundation–in powder form–and she wants to stick to the drugstore scene. I must admit, I haven’t used a drugstore foundation in a while. (I’m currently using a mix of MAC and Makeup For Ever.) ShopTalkers, I need your help! What are your favorite foundation products at your local Walgreen’s, grocery store, etc.?

Gotta Get GogoGear!

As you may know, D Magazine recently moved our offices from the Highland Park area to downtown. And many of us are now parking in garages a few blocks away from the office forcing us to re-think our entire morning routine. I, for instance, had to find a way to get my three inch heels, exercise clothes, work documents and various beauty products to and from my car. (Yes, I’ve become one of those people who walks in flats and changes into my sassy shoes once I get to the office. Hey, desperate times call for desperate measures.) For a few days I tried an old stand-by, the backpack. But that just didn’t work. Not only did I feel like a sixth grader but it was too casual  and often heavy causing me to awkwardly lean forward as I walked. Are you picturing this? Right. Not pretty. Fortunately, I happened to stumble upon a bag that stole my heart from the moment I saw it. (more…)

Friday Giveaway: Smashbox Photo Finish

This is my absolute, absolute favorite foundation primer. It’s got this slick silicone-y texture that leaves your face feeling as silky as the models look in Sephora ads. Apply it to your whole face to soften the look of pores and fine lines, and as Smashbox says, to “create a perfect canvas for foundation.” Once you add your foundation, you’ll see a smoother finish and longer-lasting results from your makeup. It’s oil-free, $36, and a winner of beauty awards from Sephora, InStyle, and Marie Claire. (Just in case you don’t believe me.)

*Don’t forget: if there’s something you want to see in your Friday Giveaways, send me suggestions. You can send me an email at raya.ramsey@dmagazine.com or make a comment here

*Update: Forgot to list a link to the form. Fill out the form to enter the contest.

*Congratulations to our three winners!

The Dallas Flea Market Opens Doors Dec. 5

Our very own upscale flea market opens at South Side on Lamar December 5. Made up of rows of Texas-based artists, this flea market will feature all kinds of goodies, like art, home goods, accessories, clothing, furniture, and edible treats. According to the market’s curator, Brittany Edwards, the concept for this flea market was inspired by legendary flea markets in California and New York and will contain a highly edited mix of Dallas’ best jewelry makers, bakers, designers, etc. She’s hoping, she says, to give the public access to some of Dallas’ hidden treasures. So mark your calendars for December 5 and get ready to do some local shopping! Five dollars gets you in the door, and most major credit cards will be accepted. The Dallas Flea. 1409 South Lamar St. www.thedallasflea.com

Fall/Winter Must-Have: Commando Tights

Some of you may be familiar with the barely there, panty line-free underwear line, Commando. It’s one of my personal faves. This fall they introduced a line of hosiery, and I was sent a pair of tights to try out. I have worn them a couple of times now and I have to say, they are amazing. Not only do you not get that line that’s sometimes visible through lightweight fabrics, but the elastic-free construction and “dig-free” waistband makes them quite comfortable. I wore them all day and didn’t feel like ripping them off the second I got home. The matte opaque tights come in solid black and solid brown, and retail for around $32-$34. Find them locally at Neiman Marcus.

Hand Cream Award: Golden Gloves

I have a new hand cream crush. Now, I call it a “crush” because my infatuation with a hand cream is almost always temporary. I rarely find one to which I feel I can make a long-term commitment. And I think we’re all looking for the same thing in a hand cream, right? Super hydrating. Not greasy. Clean scent. So here’s a winner: Golden Gloves by Billy Jealousy, a men’s beauty line. Or, because men hate thinking they’re involved with any sort of beauty product, we’ll say “grooming line.” The scent is subtle, the formula moisturizing, and there’s no greasy aftermath. Places to purchase are plentiful, including but not limited to Barneys, Face Salon, ZaSpa, and Nordstrom at NorthPark. For more, go here.

Faceoff of the Vibrating Mascaras + Friday Giveaway

This is a long overdue discussion here on ShopTalk: vibrating mascaras. There’s Lancôme’s Oscillation (right), Estée Lauder’s TurboLash (left), Prescriptives MotorEyes, Maybelline’s Pulse Perfection (center), and even a rotating contraption called Spin Lash. Are they gimmicks? Catchy tools employed by marketing departments at cosmetic headquarters everywhere? Follow the jump to get my humble opinion. (And find out what we’re giving away.)

*Update: Congratulations to our six winners!

(more…)

Friday Giveaway: His and Her Burberry 2009 Special Editions Perfumes

For her, eau de parfum, for him, eau de toilette, but they’re both housed in beautiful Burberry limited edition bottles with glossy fabrics in metallic with a hint of pink and charcoal. (So they’ll look good next to each other on the dresser.) The scents are a “glamorous and festive variation of the classic London line.” Both contain similar notes to the original scents. For women, you’ll find notes of pink pepper, two different roses, cyclamen, and lily of the valley, with a woody, musky feel. For men, you’ll notice lemon, green pineapple, blackcurrant buds, plum, lavender, and woody notes. His-and-her fashion statements are usually pretty lame—think matching tracksuits—unless it’s his and her houses (like Diane von Furstenberg, which is brilliant), but with scents, it’s sexy, right? These two hit shelves this month and cost $84 for her and $70 for him. Fill out the form and good luck.

*Update: Congrats Matt!

Trick or Treat Happy Hour and Spa Goodies The Ritz-Carlton Spa

For the first 75 people who reserve a spot, the spa at the Ritz will offer a free happy hour Halloween event, which will include complimentary mini-margaritas, guacamole, gelato, chair massages, make-up consultations, trick-or-treat bags with spa and salon samples, and a 25 percent discount on retail purchases and treatments booked during the evening. We’ve been to these Ritz spa events before, and we’ve told you we love them. They’re worth your while for an hour or two during the week. Thursday, Oct. 29 at 7 pm. Ritz-Carlton Spa.

Friday Giveaway: NaluWaver

This is the greatest hair tool I’ve ever used in my life. Ever. I love it so much that I got in touch with the media relations person the day after I first used to see if I could get one to give away to one of you. The good news is she said yes. So I present this to you, ShopTalkers: The Nalu Waver, which as you can probably guess is for making waves. (The good kind—in your hair.) Nalu, is Hawaiian for wave, by the way, which is guess means the name is a bit redundant: wave waver. I digress. This iron looks like a double-barreled curling iron, but without a clamp. It heats up instantly and lets you choose the temperature, but it makes it easy for you by giving you hair texture options: thin, normal, thick, and coarse. To use, basically, you put a glove on the hand handling the hair (rather than the one holding the tool) and you wrap figure-eights with your hair around the barrels. Sounds complicated, but practice for five minutes, and it’s a piece of cake. I must also tell you this: I am hair-challenged. Big time. Like, I can barely use a flat iron correctly. Seriously. But I spent 20 minutes with this bad boy, and I had an amazing head full of serious waves that lasted through the morning, through the day, through the evening, through drinks at the bar, and remnants were left over the following morning. So, trust me, you want one. Fill out the form here to enter, and good luck! NaluWaver, $179.99 by R Session Tools. We’re giving away one. Picture by Sean Cunningham, borrowed from Harper’s Bazzar. NaluWaver pictured after the jump.

Update: Congratulations Amanda!

(more…)

Friday Giveaway: Halloween Treats by Philosophy and MAC

Get in the spirit. The ghostly kind. The best holiday of the year is here, and we’re honoring it with a festive giveaway of spooky-inspired beauty supplies. We’ll start you off at bath time with Philosophy’s Haunted House set. You’ll get three 3-in-1 multitasking shampoo/shower gel/bubble bath bottles in three scents: black licorice, caramel apple, and pumpkin spice muffin. (So, shampoo, shower gel, and bubble bath in one, but you’ll get the product in three difference flavors. Make sense?) They’re rich and foamy, and the fun scents are a vacation from the usual. Don’t forget not to eat it. Then get prepared for your chilling night out with Cinderfella eye shadow (get it wet for a to-die-for smoky eye), Greasepaint stick in black (with a hint of gorgeous purple glitter), Glimmerglass in Blackfire (a sheer black gloss with violet glitter—as beautiful on as in the tube), a creamy black Glimmerglass gloss in Blackware, and Midnight Media (an almost matte Mattene Lipstick in jet black), all part of MAC’s limited edition Style Black collection. So, three bath products and five MAC products. All treats here, no tricks. Fill out the form to enter. Good luck. To purchase your own, go here for Philosophy and here for MAC.

*Update: Congratulations Kileen!

Polish Pick: Barefoot in Barcelona

If nude colors are your thing, this new one from OPI’s Collección de España is a must. It’s similar to CND’s Cocoa, but not quite as warm. This creamy pink-beige-with-a-hint-of-gray color is dark enough to wear on toes, but muted enough that you can wear it every day with any outfit. I rarely finish a bottle of polish, but this might be one I’ll have to buy in bulk to keep my stock from running short. To purchase a bottle go to your local nail salon, Ulta store, or online at drugstore.com. Follow the jump to see this color on fingernails. (more…)

Scent Selection: Flora by Gucci

This new(ish) scent from Gucci is delightful and feminine. Notes include rose, osmanthus flowers, peony, sandalwood, and patchouli, which Gucci describes as being “sensual and sophisticated” and “sexy” and “youthful.” I immediately think of “lovely,” which I suppose is what Sarah Jessica Parker wants you to think when you smell her perfume, but I think it with this one, too. The simple octagonal bottle with black ribbon tie is as clean as the scent, both inspired by Gucci’s classic Flora print, originally designed as a scarf for Princess Grace of Monaco in 1966. You can find the print on the inside of the perfume box. $52 for the 1 oz. bottle at most department stores.

Shop for the Cure: En Pointe Skin Solutions

Founder Dr. Christine Rodgers (surgeon to be exact) is actually a breast cancer survivor herself. Her experience, in fact, is what led her to create En Pointe Skin Solutions. Her products aim to combat the damaging effects of cancer, chemo, and stress on the skin. But this line isn’t for cancer patients and survivors only. The line targets everyday damage, too, with a collection of gentle and clarifying cleansers and toners, eye cream, microderm scrub, serums, and a moisturizer. All products are free of parabens, phthalates, phyto-estrogens, soys, and sulfates. This month 10 percent of every purchase will be donated to Cancer and Careers, a nonprofit which supports working women with cancer. I have had the opportunity to test out the Balancé Clarifying Cleanser and Pirouette Bamboo Microderm. Both feel good, smell fresh, and leave my skin feeling fresh, clean, and a little livelier. To check out the line go to www.empoweryourskin.com. You can sample a trio of products for FREE by signing up on the website here.

Friday Giveaway: Renée Rouleau Mint Buffing Beads

In honor of the grand opening of the Dallas Center for Performing Arts, Renée has given us a bunch of her Mint Buffing Beads to give away to you. You know how we feel about Renée Rouleau’s products by now, but I can tell you that this exfoliator, specifically, is great. The formula has a fine, grainy feel, but the beads are spherical to prevent tiny nicks in the skin’s surface. It also includes Vitamin K for capillary repair, and peppermint oil to reinvigorate the skin. I love using it twice a week after removing makeup and washing my face and following with my regular serum/moisturizer routine. Through Oct. 18, Renee is offering a special facial to commemorate the Grand Opening, too. (For details, see after the jump.) You know the drill: the fill out the form, good luck, all that jazz. There will be 14 winners.

*Update: Congratulations to our 14 winners!

(more…)

Polish Pick: Orbis Non Sufficit

This polish is new from Rescue Beauty Lounge and part of the blogger polish collection, which I mentioned before. Now that I’ve gotten my hands on this bottle, or rather this bottle on my hands, I can tell you it’s a beauty. I’ve been on a mad hunt for a gem of a green, and I haven’t been able to find one fall-ish enough. The No More War, though I loved it, was a bit too baby-poop-ish. The Here Today Aragon Tomorrow, part of the new España collection from OPI, was slightly too black. This green, as Goldilocks would say, is just right. Get your Orbis Non Sufficit from Rescue Beauty here. $18. Follow to jump to see the color on fingernail. (more…)

Estée Lauder’s New 5-Tone Shimmer Powder

I’ve got a thing for these highlighting palettes because they’re such multitaskers. I rarely wear the same product on a consistent basis, because I’m always trying new things and wanting to wear new colors, but I’ve been using Estée’s 5-Tone Shimmer Powder in “Pink Shimmer” for almost three weeks almost every day. That’s a big deal for me. On cheeks it gives you a radiant flush in a sweet pink color. You can apply tons of it, and this silky pearl formula won’t make you look like a glitter ball. On eyes it’s a beautiful brow highlighter. Estée even suggests wearing it as a highlighter for shoulders and décolletage. Get this $36 treasure at any Estée Lauder counter. (And by the way, this image doesn’t do it justice. It’s much prettier in person.)

Shop for the Cure: Sanítas Skincare PeptiDerm Eye Treatment

Sanítas is a line created in Boulder, made by pharmacists. PeptiDerm Eye Treatment is formulated to target the signs of aging around the eyes. Key ingredients in the treatment include Acetyl Glutamyl, which relaxes the muscles around the eyes, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 and Oligopeptide to stimulate collagen and elastin growth, and Red Algae, which serves an anti-inflammatory to decrease eye puffiness. I haven’t tried this line yet myself, but I can’t think of a better time to try an eye cream than right now, during the month of October. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the line is donating a portion of all the proceeds from this particular product to Sense of Security, a Colorado charity, which helps breast cancer patients who are in financial need. I think the real anti-aging will come from knowing you’re helping someone else, but it surely can’t hurt to undo your crows’ feet while you’re at it. Grab one at Bella Vita Rejuvenation Center or Luxury on Lovers.

To do more shopping for the cure, check out our gift guide.

The Soy of Life Skincare Line Nurtures Naturally

We drink soy milk and burn soy candles so why not use it on our skin? Sound weird? Maybe. But doesn’t anything new sound weird at first? Microwaves? The internet? Rotating mascara? It never hurts to give something innovative a try. The folks at The Soy of Life, a skin care company that offers products chock full of vitamin E-rich soy, some of the world’s finest botanicals, and therapeutic grade essential oils, truly believe in the regenerating and rejuvenating properties of these natural ingredients. I like their Grace Your Face cleanser and toner ($25 for a 4 oz. bottle). Not only do I save money buying just one product instead of two but it removes make-up, dirt and oil while improving skin’s health and appearance. And since it is concentrated it will last a long time; you’ll only need 2-3 drops per use. So get into The Soy of Life groove and, as they say, nurture with nature.

Spider Silk – The Newest Luxury

And you thought you worked hard.  How about collecting one million wild spiders from telephone poles?  For 4 years?  To produce a piece of cloth 11 ft x 4 ft?  Just the latest in the “hard to get” category, and it is on display at the American Museum of Natural History.  It is supposed to be stronger than Kevlar, but don’t expect to see it yet in military haz-mat suits – unless we only need one per year. Maybe that’s the answer to get us out of the war.   “Sorry, no equipment, those damn spiders just aren’t working hard enough.”  Thanks for the link, Danny Piassick.)

NYLO Hosts Makeup & Martinis Thursday Night

Interested in grabbing a drink after work? Already have a girls’ happy hour planned? Why not shake (or stir) it up and take it over to Plano’s NYLO hotel for Dior-tinis and Christian Dior cosmetics? The hotel is hosting the Dior makeup artist team for a night of makeup tips and sips. You can shop the cosmetic collection and even get some one-on-one time with an artist. To book an appointment with an artist, RSVP to Lindsey Murphy at 972-963-9091. Otherwise, we’ll see you there. Thursday, Oct. 1 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

Drive-Through Renée Rouleau Gift Bag Service Today!, Ctd.

And looks who’s handing out said gift bags! I heart Renee Rouleau indeed.