Growney was inspired to start her own line of fragrances after feeling that no perfumer had been able to capture the true scent of Hawaii . Saffron James was born to bring a little bit of the islands to the world. All of the scents are based on the exotic flowers from her home state .

Saffron James is perfect for summer weather and Growney says herself, “It’s time to put away the big bottles of sophisticated florals and complicated musks for more refreshing scents.” There are four fragrances; out of those, I’ve tried Nani. Pikake is the main note in Nani. It’s awash in jasmine( which is called pikake here, ) as well as mimosa and plumeria. Definitely tropical and floral, yet light, Nani strikes me as a summer’s night scent. Think sundresses, sandals , the beach and the moon.

The full list of Saffron James perfumes with prices for each :

-Le’a ($85) – Pink and White Plumeria, Pineapple Leaf, Passionflower and Hibiscus

-Nani ($110) – Pikake, Pink Plumeria, Mimosa, Lily and Ylang Ylang

-Punono ($85) – Ylang Ylang, Pikake, Carnation, Vanilla and Tunisian Opium

-Ume ($85) – Ginger Absolute, Waterlily, Gardenia, Yuzu and Mousse de Chene

The line is available at www.saffronjames.com and www.beautyhabit.com

- By Diane Artzberger, The Beauty Alchemist

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If you see past the dancers in latex and lace, Lady Gaga bats her borderline cartoonish eyes at the world in the scene with her in the bathtub. Although her look in the video was mainly computer generated, Gaga is not the first pop star to debut “Gaga Eyes.” The circle lenses are hugely popular with Korean pop stars and now, more Americans are eyeing the trend.

Gaga, always one for controversy, has started a trend that is illegal in the U.S. The circle lenses needed to create the doe eyed “Gaga Eyes” are deemed unsafe and harmful to your eyes if obtained without a prescription. According to CBS News, the circle lenses are not FDA approved, and so far no U.S. manufacturer is making them. Most lenses are manufactured in Asia, purchased online and are widely advertised on Facebook. The article states, “Doctors worry the lack of quality control, as with any lens, could result in more eye infections, damage to the cornea, even loss of vision.”

Fortunately, this trend has also sparked healthier alternatives to the circle lenses including makeup tips to achieve Lady Gaga’s look in her music video.

Makeup artist and Lancôme spokesperson, Michelle Phan, suggests to first applying multiple layers of false eyelashes to begin your Gaga eye transformation. Four pairs of false lashes on each eye will help you achieve the optimal look-follow directions accordingly.

Next, apply black liquid eye liner. Phan uses Lancôme Art Liner in her tutorial to line the empty spaces around the lashes where the false lashes are sparse. She also uses the liquid liner to line above the lashes for more definition.

To further enhance your “Bad Romance” look, apply purple eye shadow, Phan uses Urban Decay’s “Last Call.” Apply the eye shadow along the crease of the eyes using a windshield wiper motion to create the illusion of larger eyes. Next, to make your eyes pop you will need to apply white shimmery eye shadow to the center of your lids-also apply to your brow bone to highlight. You will also want to brighten the inner corners of your eyes using the white shimmer eye shadow to make them appear larger.

Next, use white eyeliner; Phan uses the Sephora brand. First line your waterline with the white eye liner to help exaggerate the look. Then, using white cream base eyeliner, extend your waterline down onto your bottom lid. Keep in mind you’ll want to draw the line thicker at the outer corner and thinner at the inner corners. The false eye lashes you applied earlier can act as a guideline for applying the white eye liner.

Next, apply the purple eye shadow used on the crease of your lid underneath the white eyeliner; this will create shadows to create a realistic, 3-dimensional look. Lastly, apply smaller false lashes underneath the purple eye shadow (not your bottom lid).

In the end, Phan ultimately uses the circle lenses to enhance the Lady Gaga look even more.

To achieve the complete Bad Romance look, watch Phan’s video.

- Allison McKenna

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Frizz and Fine Hair (click on the image above to enlarge)

Chalk it up to overcompensation: The products that truly combat frizz work a little too well on fine hair – leaving it limp and greasy. But now there are new light-weight frizz fighters specifically geared to women with fine hair. “They contain de-frizzing ingredients such as silicones, argan oil or polyfluoroester, which help protect, condition and seal the cuticle; they just use less of them” says cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson of BeautyStat.com.

Oscar Blandi Pronto Gloss Instant Glossing Cream and Samy Ultra-Lightweight Conditioning Serum contains weightless silicones that are absorbed easily to prevent fuzziness and flyaways while adding volume and shine.

Living Proof Flexible Hold Hairspray is the lightest of the bunch and held our curls intact without any sign of frizz or greasiness. And the argan oil in Moroccanoil Light Oil Treatment eliminates frizz but is easy to overdue; just a pea-sized dab is all you need.

Frizz and Fine Hair (click on the image above to enlarge)

Chalk it up to overcompensation: The products that truly combat frizz work a little too well on fine hair – leaving it limp and greasy. But now there are new light-weight frizz fighters specifically geared to women with fine hair. “They contain de-frizzing ingredients such as silicones, argan oil or polyfluoroester, which help protect, condition and seal the cuticle; they just use less of them” says cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson of BeautyStat.com.

Oscar Blandi Pronto Gloss Instant Glossing Cream and Samy Ultra-Lightweight Conditioning Serum contains weightless silicones that are absorbed easily to prevent fuzziness and flyaways while adding volume and shine.

Living Proof Flexible Hold Hairspray is the lightest of the bunch and held our curls intact without any sign of frizz or greasiness. And the argan oil in Moroccanoil Light Oil Treatment eliminates frizz but is easy to overdue; just a pea-sized dab is all you need.

CONTEST:
One lucky fan will win all 4 of these products mentioned above (a $125 value).

All you have to do is EMAIL this post to your friends and ask them to share it with their friends (bonus points if you ask them to give BeautyStat a LIKE on Facebook). Simply click the “Email” icon both at the beginning and end of this article to share with your friends.

Then leave a COMMENT on this post below letting us know that you shared this with your friends (we’re on the honor system here). You’ll be immediately entered to win. Contest ends tomorrow Wednesday at 12 midnight EST. Winner announced on Thursday afternoon.

What are you waiting for??? Share BeautyStat now for your chance to win!

WINNERS:

And the Winners are (chosen by Random Number Generator):

The winner of the Anti-Frizz products is Tamara. Please email us Info@beautystat.com so that we can get your mailing address.

And the winner of a $25 gift card is Chastity. Email us at Info@beautystat.com to collect your card.

Thanks to all who participated, stay tuned for MORE exciting beauty giveaways on BeautyStat.

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PACKING AND PRODUCTS

Be A Team Player – Traveling with family and/or friends? Share the load! Mom can bring the curling iron; sis will pack a hair dryer iron; and you? You’ll have room for an extra pair of shoes! Better yet, call your hotel before you leave to see if they’ll supply a hair dryer for you. Most will, which means your sister can fit those sexy espadrilles you’ve been dying to borrow.

It’s Not The Size; It’s How You Use It – Girl, you’re about to wear that yellow polka dot bikini for a week straight. It’s time for portion control–of 14” shampoo bottles, that is! If you okay with stressing your tresses, then slather on those hotel shampoo/conditioner combos. If not, get your itsby bitsy, teeny weeny behind to the nearest beauty supply or drug store. Travel size bottles are your new best friend. Just make sure they’re 100 mLs or less if you want to put them in your carry on.

Pro Traveler Tip #1: Buy the empty containers, and fill them with products you already own. You just bought yourself another Sex On The Beach!

Pro Traveler Tip #2: For travel-sized mousse, grab Prive Concept Vert Volumizing Froth. This non-aerosol solution is carry on-ready and entirely eco-conscious. It might even make you feel less guilty about flying in a plane, should you happen to run into Al Gore. Oh, wait… Available for purchase at beauty stores nationwide.

READY, JET SET, GO

The air is stale; you’re one row in front of a screaming infant; and no matter how much water you drink, you feel dehydrated. Don’t even get you started on how greasy/stringy/downright dirty your hair feels by the end of the trip! How do those celebrities look so travel chic every time they deplane anyway? Look closer, lovely.

They’re Wearing Hats – Conductor caps, fedoras, floppy felt trilbies – not only will these babies protect you once you hit the sun; but they’re excellent accessories and the perfect camouflage for hair you’d rather hide. Glitzy headbands work the trick, too. Hah, Emmy Rossum, we’re on to you!

ALOHA – YOU’RE HAAAAAIR!

At last, you’re poolside, and all the last minute to-dos are far behind you. Those Mai Tais are oh-so-good, but now you’ve got a new problem… holy humidity, it is HOT! You’d love to look your best. But at this point, you’d settle for decent. Turns out, you don’t have to!

Sun Care For Your Hair – You brought SPF 1,000 and apply it every 15 minutes. But have you thought about your crowning glory? Sure, your strands may not show sunspots, but that doesn’t mean they’re UV-resistant! Aveda’s Sun Care Protective Hair Veil filters out harmful rays, and lasts up to 16 hours. Don’t worry–it’s light-weight and water resistant, so you can maintain your mane all day. Cutler/Redken Stylist Franco Della Grazia also recco’s the Cutler Protectant Treatment Spray. I do, too!

The Sultry Sweat Band – Ever wonder how those Hamptons heiresses stay looking so polished? Here’s their secret. Prep by grabbing your fave summer scarf and… a sweat band, like the kind Goodie makes. Slide on the latter to secure your hair away from the face, and lay the scarf on top. Once you knot at the nape of your neck, you’re good to go.

Forbidden: Skinny Dipping – Planning on getting wet? Wet your hair in the shower, and apply deep conditioner before getting in. Allow it to dry a little before you submerge – that way, your mane won’t absorb the salt water and/or chlorine.

TIME FOR DIN DIN

Back to borrowing from the Hamptons… Those ladies may look uber fem, but when they’re in the shower, it’s their high-rolling hubbies’ shampoo that they swipe! Redken’s Mint Clean Shampoo, says Della Grazia, is perfect for oil elimination. You won’t care that it’s from the men’s line when you feel that peppermint on your scalp! And once your hair is dry, put in a few trusty Velcro rollers and spray away. Let them sit while you do your make-up, and bouncy your beautiful hair to dinner.

- Caitlin Garthoffner

Stephanie’s workout is a squat-heavy butt-kicker that is sure to have you feeling sore in the morning. The first part is a 30 minute full-body workout that combines cardio and strength training. It works with or without weights, but you can guarantee that it will be challenging either way. Stephanie is first to admit her workout is a tough one. “I’m dripping with sweat!” she tells the viewer. But her motivational tone is uplifting, even if you may want to scream at the television every time she says “Okay, now we have to do that all on the other side.”

If you’re looking for more work after the first 30 minutes, Stephanie divides the remaining hour into 10 minute section devoted to working the arms, core, and butt. You can do all or none at all, but no matter what, you will manage to find the process easier after the first try. I’ve been using her DVD consistently for a few weeks, and despite wanting to jump off a cliff after the first round, I’ve enjoyed the ass-kicking on a regular basis.

For more information, visit www.stephanievitorino.com.

- Megan Sarah Johnson

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The city has hit its ceiling of triple digit temperatures, and so I think it is safe to consider warm-weather appropriate cosmetic attire. As we shed our jackets, so too do we shed the dark, matte looks favored during fall and winter. Considering the fact that summer has always been the time of the bronze, let us discuss how we can all channel our very own inner gilded goddesses, by way of product and technique.

Summer Makeup Bronzed Look

The first, and probably the most obvious choice for a bronzing application would be the complexion, by way of bronzing liquids, powders, and creams. Since there is a fine line between sun-kissed and oompa loompa, here are some tips and tricks to getting your bronze(r) on.

• When selecting a bronzing powder, go for a shade that is one to two tones darker than your own natural skintone, as a too-dark shade will look too obvious.

• When applying bronzer, go for the spots where sunlight would naturally hit. In other words, the high planes of your face. This includes, but is not limited to, the center of your forehead, the bridge of your nose, the apples of your cheeks, and your chin.

• Gel, cream, and powder alike, avoid formulas with large glitter particles, as they can quickly lend to the disco-ball effect.

• For a soft, naturally bronzed effect, reach for a tube of tinted moisturizer that is half to one shade darker than your own skintone. Mix in a drop of illuminating lotion to add a subtle, dewy glow that is very summer appropriate.

• In a pinch, a matte bronzer makes an amazing face contouring powder. Smashbox’s HALO Bronzing Powder and The St Tropez Bronzing Powder are two of my favorites.

• To tone down too much bronzer, buff away with a densely packed bronzer brush like the NARS Botan Brush.

Eyes

Fiery Eyes: Makeup Look of the Day

Another canvas worthy of a golden touch, that skin that protects our peepers is the perfect spot for some warm and toasty shades that vary in both texture and finish. For a gilded eye, the most obvious choices are warm-toned eyeshadow powders and creams. Here are a few things to keep in mind when going warm on the eyes.

• While shimmer is the obvious choice for summer, matte shades can still pack a punch in warm weather. A pop of matte yellow, orange, or even bright pink can liven up a look exponentially. Try a bright, matte shade in the middle of your lid for a subtle color pop.

• When working with especially creamy products, make sure you prime accordingly. For an eye look that won’t budge, look to the waterproof formulations of Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream, and Urban Decay Primer Potion.

• A light kiss of sheer, golden shadow can be very easy, and very flattering, regardless of your skintone. Go for a duochrome like Smashbox’s Eye Shadow in Oyster for a flattering, eye-opening kiss of golden color.

• While copper and bronze shades are a perfect fit for a summer eye look, avoid applying those shades (especially those with a lot of red or orange in them) underneath the eyes. Overly warm shades tend to exacerbate dark circles, and can make you look half- dead, or tired, or a little bit of both.

• Bronze shades play very well with teals, blues, and greens. Mix accordingly.

Lips

The term golden kiss is very much applicable here, as our pouts are prime real estate for a golden glow. When looking to achieve a golden lip, there is a fine line between tacky and elegant.

• Opt for lighter than air gloss formulations. The glossier, the better. My current favorite happens to be the Hourglass Extreme Sheen Gloss in Fortune, a peachy pink with an abundance of golden sheen.

Here is a unified look that I would describe as classic summer, featuring fiery eyes, soft bronzed skin, and an orange/apricot lip.

Summer Simple Face of the Day: Look 1

Summer Simple Face of the Day: Look 2

Revealing your inner bronze goddess is easy, when armed with both the tools and technique. With summer well under way, there is no better time than the present to confess your gilt, and go for that golden glow.

- Adina Zilberman

Adina Zilberman is a beauty blogger, freelance artist, and color lover at-large. On her blog, Krasey Beauty, she brings the best of the beauty world to her readers daily.

Carrie Underwood in her music video, “Just A Dream”

Her wedding, held on July 10th at Georgia’s Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Plantation resort, to her beau, the Canadian hockey player Mike Fisher, was a study in French elegance with her Chantilly lace and silk organza Monique Lhuillier gown. Her “huge” wedding (as she tells People Magazine) was a typical spare-no-expense event, but has been heralded by several wedding attendees as being “non stuffy.”

As far as her makeup, aren’t you dying to know the deets as to how she managed to look radiant, sweat-proof and celeb worthy?

Melissa Schleicher, Underwood’s professional makeup artist, used the TEMPTU airbrush makeup system to get a flawlessly airbrushed look. Now, we have used this sleek, portable and precise system ourselves, and we love the disposable TEMPTU pod that offers a clear window through which you can see your foundation tint. All you need is the sprayer system (which is ergonomically designed, and looks as svelte as an Eames chair or an Apple product) and the pod that contains the foundation that best matches your skin tone.

She also used colors from the Too Faced Eye Kit, especially the champagne and shimmery tones that make the eyes “pop.” To make her face essentially bride-worthy and as captivating as Elizabeth Taylor’s face during her first 1950 wedding to Conrad “Nicky” Hilton, she used MAC’s blush in the aptly named Pink Swoon. This blush, with its bubblegum pink tint boasts a “sugar and spice” feel and has an almost virgin quality about it — with a twist of the mischievous.

We have no details on the lip color – yet – but will fill in the blanks as soon as we get that information.

Tell us, what do you think about Underwood’s wedding and makeup?

- Charu Suri

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Simply said, they fill, smooth, and hold. They work like paint primers filling dings, evening out color and prepping for paint. The result: smoother walls, better adhesion and a lot less paint consumption. Or maybe you’ll relate to Spanks as an analogy. Think of primers as your favorite pair, hiding smoothing and holding.

MAC Prep and Prime

Primers have become an essential step in woman’s makeup routines. So much so there are primers for the face, lips, eyes, even pre-self-tanning. Traditionally mainly silicone based, today there are silicone-free versions as well. The newest ones make secondary claims for acne, moisturization, brightening and anti-aging. Also available are tinted primers for evening out skin tone. So while on the expensive side, these multi-taskers are worth the price.

MAC Skin Base

So, what are they? Containing waxes, polymers and silicones they form a bond with makeup allowing it to last longer on the skin; curtailing eye shadow creasing, lipstick feathering and makeup meltdown. Here’s the deal: you can apply primer to clean skin or after your moisturizer. You can wear it alone for a more perfect natural skin-look or under makeup. Once set, you can apply any foundation or tinted moisturizer. A good primer will improve the application process by allowing you to use less product. Makeup will slip on more easily and blend more flawlessly. Fine lines, wrinkles and sunken scars will be blurred and minimized. This is a product that really works.

Think of it this way, isn’t it worth the extra step to start your makeup application with better skin so to speak?

Before this post I wasn’t a true believer. But now… I’m in. I’m priming every day. Over the past week and during this heat wave, I’ve had a chance to test drive a multitude of primers. Overall, my makeup looks smoother, stays on longer – the end result…a flawless makeup application and better-looking skin.

Here are a few worth a try:

For a flawless makeup look and a smooth and long lasting makeup application

* Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer: A traditional silicone based primer, this product provided super smooth makeup application and really helped my makeup application look and stay looking fresh. This is my favorite Silicone based primer. $36.00

* MAC Prep and Prime Skin Base Visage: This product is great under makeup but what really impressed me is the way my skin looks and feels when using it without makeup. My skin felt so smooth to the touch and it looked more youthful and vibrant. Prep and Prime gives me the confidence to go without makeup. So for the days you want a bare faced, natural look Prep and Prime will enhance your skin and give it a fresh radiance. $25.00

* Tarte Clean Slate: Also a traditional silicone based primer but a bit heavier than Smashbox. It creates an amazing smooth skin finish and really held on to my makeup application and controlled creasing in fine lines and wrinkles. $30.00

For a lightweight feel, moisturization and anti-aging benefits (silicone-free)

* Tarte Re-Create Silcone-Free Primer: Provides a nice moisturized feel on the skin. If you don’t like a silicone feel this is a good choice. This formula also contains what Tarte calls Wrinkle-Rewind technology and has been clinically proven to provide a 67% decrease in wrinkles, 47% increase in firmness and 53% increase in skin’s moisture content in 15 minutes after application according to the company. $32.00

* Korres AntiAgeing Face Primer: This product is a good moisturizing undercoat for makeup. It contains Quercetin & Oak; antioxidants that Korres claims to improve skin cell functioning. So while prepping skin for makeup application, your skin benefits from moisturization and treatment against fine lines and wrinkles. And it smells amazing…I can’t get enough. $33.00

For Oil Control and Spot Application

* M-A-C Prep and Prime Skin Refined Zone: This formula is oil-free and works wonders on pores. It’s perfect for the t-zone area. It applies wet and dries to a smooth, matte finish. Refined Zone is great for oily skin. $19.50

* L’Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base: This formula work well for spot application to smooth out pores and areas of facial imperfections. It works wonders under concealer helping it last longer without settling into fine lines. It really creates a flawless look under makeup. $12.99

- Andrea Phillips

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