Sneak Peek: Jo Malone Wild Bluebell Cologne

Jo Malone's Wild Bluebell Cologne is set to launch in September. The feminine scent was celebrated at an exclusive media dinner at Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s in May. Ever since I read about Wild Bluebell, I've wanted to get my hands on it. This week I got my wish. I was privileged to receive a sample.

The advertising campaign is a departure - and a welcome one, I think - from previous Jo Malone campaigns that offered a minimalist's focus on the product, perhaps with some of the ingredients pictured for inspiration. The new Global Creative Director, James Gager, envisioned a model, the whimsical and bewigged "Wild Bluebell," in a fairy tale setting, complete with white rabbits. I'm not sure whether the central character, the model, or the white bunnies were more entertaining to me. It may have been the adorable (and apparently faux) bunnies. The campaign was shot by British photographer Tim Walker and depicts English eccentricity along with the real thing, the bluebells.

The cologne itself is the best Jo Malone introduction in a long time - in my humble (and unsophisticated) opinion. I'm not a fragrance taste maker, and my nose may have a deficit. Although Wild Bluebell supposedly opens with clove among its notes, I do not smell clove. Normally, I dislike clove in a fragrance. It's spicy and belongs on a ham! No matter, there are enough sources that say there's clove in Wild Bluebell, so I'll go with the concept and tell you. The clove apparently tempers the sweet florals with which it's blended.

No natural extract of wild bluebells exists. I don't think they have much of a scent. So the perfumer, Christine Nagel, imagined the scent and created its equivalent (in a lab, I assume). A green forest floor, complete with spring's majesty, the wild bluebell in the bottle is sweet, but not too sweet (like Sakura Cherry Blossom is). The cologne opens with the fresh floral "bluebell" and clove; builds quickly to a heart of lily of the valley, eglantine (rose), and jasmine; and finishes with a soft base that combines white amber and musk. Spicy? Not to my nose. Beautiful? Absolutely! There's something green in the mix, but I'm not sure what.

This lovely cologne will be mine - just as soon as Neiman Marcus receives the product. Until then, I will have to ration my sample (unless I receive the second one an industry friend offered me - I need to pester him). I love Wild Bluebell. Even though it's scheduled for an early September arrival, beauty products have a way of arriving a little early. Wild Bluebell will be a perfect cologne to wear right away. Not only that, there will be a body and hand wash, body cream, and candle to delight us. You'll find it at Jo Malone online and at Jo Malone counters.

The native English bluebell is a threatened species. To help England stay carpeted with this flower, Jo Malone London made a donation to the Woodland Trust. I like that - another reason to purchase!

Photos courtesy of The Moodie Report

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Chantecaille World Ocean Day Promotion

Chantecaille is celebrating World Ocean Day (June 8) with a promotion from June 5 to June 12. Please help them save blue whales, creatures that symbolize the health of the high seas, which are responsible for producing close to 80% of our planet's oxygen and are now threatened by industrial fishing, acid toxicity, plastic garbage, sonar pollution, and other human interference.

Online only, from June 5-12, Chantecaille is offering a free Amaretto Lip Gloss with the purchase of any La Baleine compact. Use code WHALES at checkout. A portion of the proceeds will go to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

One gift per transaction, while supplies last. I have both of the compacts shown above, and I'm mulling an order. Call me crazy, but I have been an environmentalist for a long time. If I hadn't had a job, I might have been one of these brave souls putting themselves in harm's way to save the whales.

Photo courtesy of Chantecaille

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Bobbi Brown for Dress for Success

“The more you give in life, the more you get back”- Bobbi Brown

Since 2001, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics has supported Dress for Success, an incredible non-profit organization that helps disadvantaged women re-enter the workforce and achieve economic independence. Bobbi knows that a woman's appearance and her feelings of self-worth are inextricably linked.

I have donated business suits and winter coats to Dress for Success many times over the years. I think it's a fabulous organization. That's one reason I'm pumped over this makeup set.

“Dress for Success is an amazing organization because it gives women the tools and knowledge they need to look like and eventually become the person they hope to be,” said Bobbi.

For over 10 years, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics has donated over $1 million in makeup and monetary funds to this effective organization. Bobbi has personally gone above and beyond by hiring women who have completed the Dress for Success program in an effort to empower them and give them a second chance at making a life for themselves. She also participates in makeup lessons with the women, teaching them how to create work-appropriate makeup looks, and has one of her Beauty Team members working with the affiliates on a monthly basis to teach women how to apply makeup for interviews.

This spring, Bobbi is taking her partnership a step further and has created a Dress for Success Makeup Collection. All proceeds from every sale will go directly to the organization. That's generous!

The collection is designed to make it quick and easy for any woman to look her best. It includes the following pretties.

• A new limited-edition Eye Palette featuring Bone Eye Shadow, Beige Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow; Taupe Eye Shadow, Espresso Eye Shadow, and Navy Eye Shadow
• Brownie Lip Color
• Petal Lip Gloss
• Extreme Party Mascara
• Crystal Lip Gloss

I have all of these items, but to support Bobbi Brown and Dress for Success, I will buy this set. Maybe I'll do a giveaway contest, so that one of you can enjoy the pleasures of using Bobbi Brown's makeup. Or maybe I'll get greedy and keep it for myself. You really need to consider buying one!

The collection will be available for $60 exclusively at Macy’s counters in March 2011. That means I need to call Macy's, and if it's in stock, go over this weekend. I can do that!

Photo courtesy of Bobbi Brown

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Giorgio Armani Acqua for Life Campaign

You probably know I don't put up press releases very often, but I make exceptions for great causes - or companies/people I love. Yesterday, my friends at Giorgio Armani Beauty made me aware of Armani's Aqua for Life campaign. I think you should know about it.

As a leader in the fragrance industry, Giorgio Armani Fragrances is proud to announce, for the second year, its partnership with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. The company will serve as the National Sponsor of the 2011 UNICEF Tap Project, a nationwide initiative that provides the world’s children access to safe, clean water through its Acqua for Life campaign. Acqua for Life was developed to raise awareness around the world with the goal of improving access to safe water and sanitation facilities in schools and communities. Nearly 900 million people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water, and nearly half of those people are children.

The award-winning UNICEF Tap Project, with the support of Giorgio Armani Fragrances, has become a dynamic movement that affords everyone the opportunity to help provide the world’s children with safe, clean water. With just one dollar, UNICEF can provide clean drinking water to a child for 40 days! Through numerous fundraising and volunteer activities, the UNICEF Tap Project celebrates the clean water most of us enjoy on a daily basis by encouraging celebrity, restaurant, volunteer, corporate, and government supporters to give this vital resource to children in developing countries. The concept is basic and compelling: “When You Take Water, Give Water.”

From March 1-31, 2011, Giorgio Armani Fragrances will build awareness for the cause by donating one dollar to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to support the UNICEF Tap Project for each purchase of the Acqua di Giò for Men and Acqua di Gioia for Women cologne or gift set through authorized distributors in the U.S. In addition, Giorgio Armani Fragrances will donate one dollar for every person who “likes” the “Acqua for Life” page on Facebook, up to $250,000 during the month of March. How hard is that? Go "like" Acqua for Life!

In an effort to connect with the younger generation and create buzz, Giorgio Armani Fragrances is creating a social media campaign that will consist of a Web site dedicated to Acqua for Life (www.acquaforlife.org), an Acqua for Life Facebook page, a mobile Web site, and an iPhone application. Giorgio Armani Fragrances will also implement the Acqua for Life College Tour, traveling to colleges and spring break locations (do I foresee a boondoggle in Barbados? just kidding) with the primary objective of sampling Acqua fragrances and creating awareness of Giorgio Armani’s support of the UNICEF Tap Project.

The Limited Edition Acqua di Giò for Men and Acqua di Gioia for Women Acqua for Life promotional sets will be available during the month of March online at Giorgio Armani Beauty's Web site and at select fine department stores, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale's, and Macy’s.

While I am totally stocked up on Acqua di Gioia (you won't believe how much of this lovely fragrance I purchased!), I am going to Facebook now to like the campaign. Will you? Please? It's sad to think that children throughout the world live without clean water (and food). We can help fix that so easily, with tiny investments that don't approach what it would take to give them a good education.

Thanks for reading! Let me know in the comments if you went to Facebook to like. There may be a surprise drawing for those who do. You never know what I might give away. :)

P.S. I had a little trouble figuring this out, so...

Go to www.AcquaforLife.org/home
Click Continue
Click Connect
Click Like at top

Photo courtesy of Giorgio Armani Beauty

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Chantecaille Sea Turtle Palette for Spring 2011

I must be one if the happiest gals on earth! My Chantecaille Sea Turtle Palette ($79) arrived! For some reason, my UPS guy showed up about seven hours earlier than usual. Do you think he knew how much I wanted this palette? Do you think he sensed that it would make my day when he delivered it while the sun was still out? I love that guy!

I tore into the shipping box, and inside I found a pretty gold box with the sea turtle theme. Then I tore into that box to find an elegant gunmetal grey case holding four gorgeous colors - two eye shades to reflect the golden warmth of new spring neutrals, a deep sea green eye-defining shade, and a peachy-pink cheek color that will be universally flattering. My photo of the palette was taken indoors in direct light, but not sunlight. The base color is not as pink as it appears in my photo below. Use Chantecaille's photo above as your guide for the shades.

I grabbed the sponge-tipped applicators quicker than you can say "love," and started to swatch. At that point, there may have been a swoon. Not sure whether it was a real swoon or the pills I had taken about 20 minutes earlier (such is the life of a recovering surgery patient). Either way, this palette is swoon-worthy.

My first swatch photo at left was taken outside in direct sun. I applied each shade with a sponge-tipped applicator - even the blush shade. I wanted to pick up enough product to show you adequate swatches. I'm not totally thrilled with these photos, so I'll try in different lighting to get better ones. I just couldn't wait to show you my "make-my-day" moments. I wanted to share the joy!

My second photo at right was snapped when the sun dipped behind a cloud. While the light was bright, there wasn't any sun glinting off my arm. I think the colors are truer in the first photo - with sun. The cheek color shows above as a peachy-pink, which it is.

I swatched clockwise, starting at the upper-left corner with the base color, moving to the brown eye color, then to the incredibly complex "eye definer," and finishing with the cheek color. All apply beautifully, including the base color, a golden beige. The eye-defining charcoal green shade is drop-dead gorgeous.

These colors were composed with the finest pearl and pigment particles to create a natural, satin, sheer veil on the skin with a glowing effect. Sadly, the turtles (and the gold "overspray") will disappear with use, so I will be purchasing a second palette for my makeup museum, which is filled with all of Chantecaille's treasures.

Chantecaille is donating 5% of the proceeds from the sale the Sea Turtle Palettes to WIDECAST to help ensure the survival of sea turtles. Sea turtles are in danger. They define all that is ancient and magical about our planet, yet they are endangered and struggling for survival. Their numbers have been severely reduced from historical levels. Persistent exploitation, especially of adult females on nesting beaches, and the widespread collection of eggs are largely responsible for the depleted status of the Caribbean species. In addition to intentional harvesting, the turtles are accidentally captured in active or abandoned fishing gear, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of turtles every year. That makes my heart break. On top of that, coral reef and sea grass degradation, oil spills, chemical waste, plastic and other marine debris, high-density coastal development, and an increase in ocean tourism have damaged or eliminated nesting beaches and feeding areas.

Sea turtles once shared the earth with the dinosaurs, and they have been quiet evolutionary participants for eons. Among the most migratory of all creatures, they touch the hearts and economies of over 100 nations. Chantecaille is honoring the impressive beauty and stature of these gentle giants with this Sea Turtle Palette.

The company is partnering with Dr. Karen Eckert of WIDECAST, who is focused on saving sea turtles in the waters of the Caribbean. They have a vision to realize a future in which sea turtles and humans can co-exist, with the turtles surviving and thriving. Please check out WIDECAST and join me in applauding Chantecaille for its continued commitment to support marine wildlife, while introducing lust-worthy makeup.

You can purchase the Sea Turtle Palette at Chantecaille's Web site. It will arrive at Chantecaille counters soon. I'll wait for the palettes to arrive at Neiman Marcus so that I can support my favorite SA and Chantecaille rep when I buy my second one.

Update: Here's another swatch photo, at left. I took it right before the clouds started to get thicker. You decide whether it's better than the sunny photo above.

Photo at top and sea turtle photo courtesy of Chantecaille

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