Behind every product that smooths your frizz or brightens your skin, there’s a scientist with a lab coat and a dream.  Cosmetic chemists share their favorite products and biggest beauty innovations.

Q&A with Ron Robinson, Founder of  BeautyStat.com

Product He Admires:  The Px Renova (Tretinoin cream) 0.05% was approved by the FDA in 1995 and was proven to reduce fine facial wrinkles, fade brown spots and smooth surface roughness.  More over the counter retinoid products  came on the market (using Retinol) from brands like Neutrogena, Avon and Estee Lauder.

The Next Big Thing:  I think at-home frizz-smoothing treatments will continue to evolve – they’re going to be safer and work better.  If you have really tight, curly hair, soon there will be products that can actually straighten it at-home – and don’t contain toxic formaldehyde.

This article was featured in the August 2011 issue of Allure Magazine.

A few of their latest lip colors and lacquers crossed our desk recently, and one of our favorites is the lacquer in Enchanted Garnet, a berry shade:

Nail lacquer in Enchanted Garnet

The other nail lacquer new to Estee Lauder is called Limited Edition called Wild Storm, which is a frosty gray.

There are a total of 16 different lipsticks that stand out, and they range from light to dark: they’re fade resistant, moisturizing, and distinctly visible. Choose from four different shades from satin, luminous, sheer, and brilliant. In terms of color, these colors are really …Pure Color.

Nat is wearing Pink Parfait in the video below. The lipsticks are $24 each and the nail lacquers are $19.

What is great about the Estee Lauder lipsticks is that they truly are long-wearing. There’s no worry about “will it come off during lunch,” or “will it look good after a long, grueling day.” It definitely holds its own, depending on the finish you get. The nail lacquers also stay on a very long time (ours lasted for over a week, and that’s true staying power). The finish is also very high-end: glossy and lustrous. For $19, this is an excellent investment nail lacquer.

We are huge fans of this line for this season. Tell us, are you an Estee Lauder fan? Do you normally wear their lipsticks and color cosmetics?

- Charu Suri & Natasha Neagle

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I’ve tried a lot of products over the years, and found that the more I searched, the less I found. Like a true light at the end of the tunnel, I knew that once I found a product that absolutely did what it said, and performed the way it was supposed to, I wouldn’t really need to find anything else.

In just two weeks, the new Estee Lauder Even Skintone Illuminator (the first fast acting serum that addresses these issues for all ethnicities and skin tones) showed it reduced uneven skintone. The new serum also instantly illuminates the skin to make it immediately radiate, using the Triple-Optic technology. There’s also a CorrectTone Technology that combines proven anti-aging and anti-spot ingredients.

The packaging says that even the very first application will make you see significant results. Seeing is believing, and I loved the no slip, instant results, true to life performance of the Idealist Skintone Illuminator.

The scent is actually very subtle – the signature Idealist scent which is a blend of luminous floral and sparkling citrus notes. A 30ml bottle will retail for $58, and a 50 ml bottle retails for $85. These will be in stores nationwide in June 2011.

Estee Lauder is known for capitalizing and enhancing its past successes (think Bronze Goddess). The Idealist line includes our favorite, the Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher, as well as the Refinishing Eye Serum.  Both have very silky textures, and the new Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator performs the same way.

I’ve been using my serum for a day now, and love the feel of it. It’s also non greasy since it contains zero oil. If it can do for my skin even a fraction of what it promises on the box, I would have found my Holy Grail, all for an extremely worthy price.

To read about spring’s Wild Violet collection, click here.

Tell us if this is a product that’s been on your wish list for a while. Would you indulge?

- Charu Suri

For giveaways and contests, sign up for our newsletter HERE.

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The original Bronze Goddess scent , which  itself was the new version of the Tom Ford for Estee Lauder fragrance Azuree Soleil (and basically unchanged), was the go- to summer beachy  scent. It was a departure for Lauder and not like any of their previous offerings. It instantly transported you to the ocean with it’s fragrant wave of suntan lotion, salt air, coconut and tiare.

Now in addition to the original fragrance which returns again this season, we have the Soleil version. Bronze Goddess Soleil is a floral, much more so than the original while still maintaining that tropical quality.  It’s dewy and slightly sweet thanks to notes of neroli and pink lily nectar  but a hint of the suntan lotion accord of the original seems to be still in there in the tiniest amount.  Citrus in the form of bergamot, tangerine and lemon tree petitgrain notes,  provides a little zest . Soft musks and light (blonde) woods round things out and by the drydown you still have that day at the beach kind of scent.

It fairly yells SUMMER and wears lightly and fresh and will surely complement the hot days to come. Estee Lauder calls it a “Solar Citrus Floral”, meant to evoke the sun as opposed to the sand of the original scent.

Both Bronze Goddess and Bronze Goddess Soleil are LE for the season and retail for $ 55.00.

Are you a Bronze Goddess fan? Why or why not?

- Diane Artzberger, The Beauty Alchemist

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Happy New Year! We here at BeautyStat have pulled out all the stops to bring you the hottest beauty product giveaways and free samples. So without further adieu, below are the first set of winners for 2011 (winners chosen by random number generator).

And the winner of the Reviewed, Approved, Giveaway: Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Lift Age-Correcting Eye Cream is: Dhini. Dhini, please email us at Info@beautystat.com so that we can ship your products to you.

And the winner of the Last Minute Organic Gift Guide & Amala, 5 in 1 First Aid Beauty Giveaways is Eve. Eve, please email us at Info@beautystat.com so that we can ship your products to you.

And the winner of the Last Minute Holiday Hair Gift Guide is Adrian R. Adrian, please email us at Info@beautystat.com so that we can ship your products to you.

And the winner of the SWAK: Last Minute Makeup Gift Guide & Giveaway is Kimberly P. Kimberly, please email us at Info@beautystat.com so that we can ship your products to you.

Winners, please reply back to us by end of day, Friday January 7th to claim your winnings.

If you did not win, don’t worry. See more exciting giveaways below:

Giveaway: Bath & Body Works Limited Edition PocketBacs, CLEAN Anti Bacterial Moisturizing Hand Cream

REVIEW: PaloVia At Home Skin Renewing Laser (Giveaway)

Bonus points by giving this post a LIKE and sharing it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter.

Lipsticks we Love: NARS Pure Matte Lipstick; MAC Digi-Dazzle; Clarins’ Rouge Prodige

Nars Pure Matte Lipsticks

NARS’ Pure Matte Lipstick collection of six luscious shades enriched with mango butter, vitamin E and acai oil to give rich moisture feel in a soft matte base. We love the colors and their brilliant staying power. $25 each at Sephora.  MAC has gone above and beyond the pale in 2010, surprising us with blockbuster collections from Venomous Villains, A Tartan Tale to our favorite To The Beach summer collection. We love their Digi-Dazzle lipsticks because  they up the ante for lipstick lovers. Check out our tutorial here and see the shades.  $14.50 at MACCosmetics.com. Clarins has always been a bit of a sleeper to us in the makeup department, but honestly their Rouge Prodige lipsticks are a standout because of their quality, pigment vibrancy and their long-lasting shades. Check out our review of their Holiday Barocco collection and lipsticks here. $24 at Clarins.com.

Nail Lacquers We Couldn’t Put Down: Chanel’s Paradoxal, MAC’s Bad Fairy (from Venomous Villains)

Our “hands-down” favorite nail shades this year were Chanel’s Paradoxal, a soft silvery violet that quickly became a statement maker and was copied everywhere this fall, and MAC’s Bad Fairy (part of the Venomous Villains Collection, which we reviewed here). This is a deep, rich rose duo-chrome polish that will tint a bright coppery orange depending on which way the light hits it. Two gleaming favorites!

Blushes We Love: Benefit Sugarbomb; Stila Cosmetics’ Convertible

Stila ConvertibleBenefit Sugarbomb

Our beautiful blush craftsmen at Benefit Cosmetics have been a long time favorite of ours. One of our loves is Sugarbomb, an all-over face powder that can be used as a blush/bronzer. These four unique shades of rose, shimmering pink, soft plum, and peach blend together perfectly for a delicious “sugar rush flush.” We think it’s  THE BOMB at $28. Stila Cosmetics’ ingenious lipstick and blush-in-one proves irresistible. Non-greasy, this creamy, sheer tint adds an inherent glow to the cheeks while lips bloom with fresh, radiant color. $25 at Sephora.

The Eyes Have It: Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream; Estee Lauder Pure Color; Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Color Palettes

Estee Lauder Pure Color

Make Up For Ever’s Aqua Creams was, in our expert opinion, THE blockbuster waterproof launch of 2010. The Aqua Cream pots are extremely easy to apply, going on with a velvety finish. This delivers strong pigments and is BUDGE PROOF (yes, even in aquatic conditions). $20 each at Sephora. We also loved Estee Lauder’s Pure Color Eye Shadows: these powdered shadows are finely milled so they glide on and blend easily. Another eye launch we lauded in 2010 is Shiseido’s Luminizing Satin Eye Color Trio. This is a newbie for the brand, and combines everything from soft shades to vibrant brights. A must from Dick Page’s creative ouevre. $33.

Foundation Faves: NARS’ Sheer Glow; Stila Cosmetics’ Illuminating Liquid and Powder Foundations

Enter: countless eye creams, all promising to be “saviors,” perform miracles etc. etc. We know how the cosmetics industry works: every cream promises to give you that youthful look, reverse aging and baby-soft skin. Naturally, they’re priced accordingly.

When I picked up the heavy jar of Estee Lauder’s Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lift Age-Correcting Eye Cream, I marveled at the packaging. I LOVE the iconic Estee Lauder calligraphy, its failsafe black and gold lettering and elegant cursive. Re-Nutriv Lift is their latest under eye cream launch, and the texture is thick not gooey, and it melts into the skin without leaving any residue.

The ingredients are precious: Black Tourmaline is a charged mineral known for its energetic properties; South Sea Pearls are finely milled to give your complexion a youthful luster; Colloidal Gold is a delicately balanced solution of pure gold atoms.

WOW. With such a consortium of ingredient worker bees (not to mention the price tag — $100), you’d better see some Hillary Rhoda-esque results darn quickly. Well, I have to say, that this precious eye cream did not disappoint.

I’ve been using it religiously for 14 straight days now, and the hydration under my eye area has noticeably improved (i.e. no more dark, raccoon like circles). The puffiness has minimized, and the LUSTER and BRIGHTNESS have increased almost twofold. Thumbs up!

The eye cream aims to lift and increase the skin’s natural collagen production, and it also battles wrinkles and crow’s feet. In short, do I think this jar is worth the $100 price tag? Judging from the results, the quantity (this 0.5 oz jar will last you a lifetime), and the ingredients, I say yes.

But we’re leaving you to be the judge.

One lucky winner will receive a brand new jar of Estee Lauder’s Re-Nutriv Lift Age- Correcting Eye Cream, valued at $100, to start the year 2011 off right. Simply share this post with your friends and give it a like on Facebook and leave a comment below.

Good luck, my beauties!

- Charu Suri

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Estee Lauder.com is offering the Estee Lauder and Coach Collection for $35 with any Estee Lauder fragrance purchase. The collection is worth over $200 and features Golden Eye & Face Compact (New Pure Color Eye Shadows plus Estée Lauder Signature Blush ), 2 Pure Color Long Lasting Lipsticks, Pure Color Gloss , Artist’s Eye Pencils (Soft Smudge Black), 2 Deluxe Retractable Makeup Brushes (Powder and Eye shadow), and the Coach make-up bag.

There are four exclusive sets that range from Silver, Gold, Golden Silk (a pale champagne beige), and Red, but may vary depending on the store or location. The set is also available at most major department stores such as Macy’s, Dillard’s, and Bloomingdale’s.

Grab one now before they disappear from the shelves, with a value like this, they won’t be around very long.

Tell us, which one would you take home?

- Elaine Hamilton

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The uses of the palette are versatile: put one in your stylish bag; gift one as a stocking stuffer; pack several in beautifully printed wrapping paper and leave them in glistening piles under a tree. Convenient yet stylish and the perfect size for that new hand bag Santa may leave under your tree. Remember that these are limited edition, so take advantage while you can!

Shiseido is introducing its first makeup palette for the face just in time for the holiday season. Created by Artistic Director Dick Page, this simple yet elegant palette includes seven shades for lips, eyes and cheeks. The Limited Edition palette, Essential Elegance, provides the right shades to take you from casual wear to stunning evening wear. According to Page, “Perfect Beauty is now created with one makeup palette.” Available November 2010 ( www.sca.shiseido.com) $50.

You can now travel in style with Dior’s red patent deluxe travel palette. This palette includes a mini Diorshow Extase Mascara, a mini pink Ultra-Gloss, a medium pressed powder, a blush and six eyeshadows.Available October 2010 (Saks, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Sephora) $75.

Dior also has created a chic travel lip palette which is a perfect accessory for those holiday parties. This palette features burgundy and berry shades and a light pink gloss. These colors make it easy to go from day to night. Available October 2010 (www.nordstrom.com) $44.

I am personally completely in love with the Dior Minaudiere. Details include a vintage kiss clasp, a gold plaque engraved with the Dior logo, and a black patent leather finish embossed in the iconic Dior houndstooth pattern. Christian Dior says, “Black is the most elegant and surprising color, mixed with gold, it brings life to the most outrageous creations.” This palette is available in two color harmonies; grey or pink tones. This is one palette I hope to see in my own stocking this year. Available October 2010 (Grey Golds, www.saks.com Pink Golds at all Dior counters) $80.

In celebration of their 15 years of bringing us modern yet classic beauty, NARS has created three Holiday palettes for 2010 including Day and Night, Wild at Heart and Everlasting Love. From bold and sultry to elegant and sophisticated, these palettes embody the beauty NARS has given us over the years.

Day and Night Palette (www.narscosmetics.com) $50.

Everlasting Love Palette (www.narscosmetics.com) $75

Wild at Heart Palette (www.narscosmetics.com) $75.

Fantasy and luxury were the inspiration for Estee Lauder’s holiday collection created by Tom Pecheux, Creative Makeup Director. The limited edition, Pure Color Extravagant includes golds and deep reds for an “extravagant indulgence” preparing us all for the festivities of the holiday season. What I really love about this collection is the beautiful gold packaging which is unique yet stylish and oh so fitting for the holidays. Available October 2010 (www.esteelauder.com). Palette is $42.

Inspired by Manhattan’s legendary Stork Club, a favorite spot of iconic beauties like Grace Kelly and Lena Horne, Bobbi Brown has introduced a Holiday Collection of Classic yet Modern eye and lip palettes. This ultimate Holiday Collection fit for the Classic Beauty in your life, provides shades that will create lovely soft colors to dramatic yet glamarous colors preparing your special lady for her own silver screen.

Day to Night-Warm. Available October 2010 (www.bobbibrown.com) $45

Day to Night-Cool. Available October 2010 (www.bobbibrown.com) $45

Pink and Gold Lip Palette. Available October 2010 (www.bobbibrown.com) $45

Modern Classic Lip and Eye Palette. Available October 2010 (www.bobbibrown.com)

Sparkle Glamour Quad. Available October 2010 (www.bobbibrown.com)

Clinique’s Strawberry Fudge Collection for 2010 was inspired by the Clinique favorite, Colour Surge Eye Shadow Duos. This Holiday treat for the eyes and cheeks comes in a beautifully designed compact. Available November 2010 (www.clinique.com) $36

For those eco-conscious loves of your life, Origins has the perfect stocking stuffer. Good to Glow includes everything needed for gorgeous eyes and lips. Packaged in an eco-friendly cosmetics case, Good to Glow includes eye cream, mascara and lip color (www.origins.com) $29.50.

Whether you’ve been naughty or nice in 2010, Santa will be able to find a little shimmer and luxury for your stocking this year, but only for a limited time.

AND THE WINNER IS (chosen by random number generator):

Savannah

Savannah – please email us at Info@beautystat.com and give us your mailing address details so that we can ship the Dior palette to you.

In honor of all our amazing BeautyStat.com fans and readers, we are giving away ONE DIOR MINAUDIERE (yes, you can all gasp now) to one lucky winner. Just enter a comment below to let us know why you should win one. Winners will be picked within a week.

- Amelia Keith, author and editor of PrettyintheQueenCity.com

We love Estee Lauder’s new Pure Color Eye Shadow because of their four dynamic finishes. Yes, 48 richly-pigmented shades are impressive too, but we know you must have some other stash of high-performance color somewhere in your makeup bag, no?

Estée Lauder’s Creative Makeup Director, Tom Pecheux, has made some long -lasting, intense pigments for all day color. From Hot Cinnamon (a soft shimmering brown) to Glacial Blue (a soft, baby blue), to Rivera Rose, we love the names and the hues. These rich powders use Estee Lauder’s exclusive True Vision™ Technology with very concentrated color so a small amount is all that is required for an alluring and enticing look.

These are fade-resistant formulas because they use a crystalline laminate polymer that prevents the pigments from fading. Unlike the company’s older eye shadows, these come in four different finishes, allowing a shade for all skin tones and eye looks.

MATTE: Jet-milled coated pigments provide a contemporary, suede-like finish;

SATIN: A low lustre texture combined with a refined luminosity creates a soft, sophisticated sheen;

LUMINOUS: Prismatic light-reflecting pearls provide a chic, lustrous sparkle;

METALLIC: Flattened and round pearls are paired to create intense, vivacious drama;

The technologically-advanced reflective pearls provide an exclusive ultra brilliance, because after all, the season of holiday parties is upon us. If you want to build coverage from the slightest whisper to a dramatic flush, you can wear these alone or layer shades.

A perfect blend of spherical and smooth powders delivers a flawless, smooth application, and the color-true formula promises not to fade, flake or crease. The NEW Pure Color Eye Shadow collection is available at all Estée Lauder counters nationwide and at www.esteelauder.com.

Try them in a five color Eye Shadow Palette ($42) or individually ($20).It’s your time to shine!

-By Elaine Hamilton

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