Nadine Jolie and My New Years Resolution

In one of my favorite classes at FIDM this quarter, I have had the pleasure to meet Nadine Jolie, 'grandmother of beauty blogging,' ex Lucky and Ladies Home Journal beauty editor, now turned author of two best selling books: Beauty Confidential: The No Preaching, No Lies, Advice-You'll-Actually-Use-Guide to Looking Your Best and Confessions of a Beauty Addict She was so personable, and offered such helpful advice from surviving our student days to blogging to insides of the industry. I felt motivated and synonym for inspired to really take my blog to the next step.


Nadine Jolie gave me the idea for my one and only New Year's resolution: I will blog about beauty news, useful tips, personal experiences, and all things beauty as often as I can. To be specific, 7 days a week, 5 minimum. I also have a new domain you can reach my blog on http://beautyforthought.com/.
I can't tell you how excited I am to take my blog to the next level at its new home. This move to my own domain has been highly anticipated - I kid you not it is last thing I think about before going to sleep and the first thing I think about when waking up these past couple weeks. I'm amped to get started and motivated to put forth my efforts into maintaining a great blog filled with fun and useful tips for all fellow beauty junkies.


I’m always on the look out for ways to improve my blog, so I encourage you to give me feedback. If there is anything you would like to see on my blog, I’m completely open to suggestions. Have a question about something? Ask me. If I don’t know, then I’ll find a way to get in touch with someone who does. You can also catch me on Twitter, follow me - http://twitter.com/Beauty4thought. After the new year I will be blogging much more frequently and if anybody wants to keep me in check be my guest.=)
Happy New Year everyone! Have fun and stay safe!



“May each day of the New Year bring happiness, good cheer and sweet surprises to you and all your dear ones. Happy New Year!”

Meeting Elizabeth Grant at FIDM

At a meeting for FIDM's prestige beauty circle, I've had the pleasure of listening to Elizabeth Grant tell her remarkable story. Elizabeth spoke to us about her inpsiration behind her brand and her passion for success. Elizabeth was a make up artist and has notably done makeup for Vivian Leigh and many others. During the final days of World War II, Elizabeth's face was damaged by a rocket that left her scarred for what she thought to be forever.

On a random visit to the doctors office, she came accross an open medical journal. On the page she read about an ingredient called torricelumn. This ingredient was still in its experimental stages.The doctor walked in an saw that she was writing down what she saw. He quickly took the book from her and told her she had no business reading medical journals. Luckily, that book was open to that page at the exact time of her appointment, with just enough time for her to jot down the ingredient information. Soon after with hopes of healing her facial scars, Elizabeth had a chemist formulate a solution with the torricelumn. The rest is history, and the start of Elizabeth Grant Cosmetics.


You can hear Elizabeth's passion in her voice. Elizabeth pressed on with her line because she knew she had something great. Elizabeth was the first person to formulate skincare products as a serum. Just after creating the torricelumn serum, Elizabeth marched up to Selfridges one of the largest department stores in Britain determined to get them to sell her product. Soon after, she had two front and center window merchandising displays reserved especially for her. Mind you she did this on a whim and without a business card!

We received cute little gold makeup bags filled with Elizabeth Grant skin care products including the famous torricelumn serum. I very much appreciated Elizabeth Grant coming to speak to us, she was incredibly inspiring and her story was enlightening. Hearing strong beauty figures tell their stories is a reminder that success is within an arms reach. Elizabeth left us with a piece of advice to all women in the beauty industry, "Never take a simple no for an answer."

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas everyone!

I just wanted to share with you the great gifts I got for Christmas that I am just dying to try!

My lovely family got me the Sephora Collector's Edition palette, and seriously it's HUGE. I'll definitely be using this for my night's out.

I also got a customized MAC Color Palette, it's a shadow quad. I can't wait to see how they look on me!


Sephora's facebook fan page is buzzing with what everyone on Facebook has gotten for Christmas from Sephora. If you've gotten something super cool from Sephora, post on the Sephora Facebook fan page!

Happy Holidays everyone, stay safe!

RAW Natural Beauty - Lipstick Lover

If you haven't tried RAW Natural Beauty yet, you need to hop on it because it's the next best thing since sliced bread. People are increasingly becoming more informed about the things we put on our body and how it affects us, and I can honestly say I've started to really question the safety of the cosmetics and personal care products I use everyday. I just had a presentation today on the dangerous effects of Benzoyl Peroxide, (another story for another day) and it just goes to show you have to pay more attention to the products you come into contact with. RAW Natural Beauty has launched a sassy video of a woman getting all dolled up for her date, and suddenly starts to eat her lipstick. It's so disturbingly interesting you can't look away.

LUSH Cosmetic Warrior Facial Mask

A few weeks ago my good friend Keshiia and I visited the LUSH store at the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica for a lovely shopping date. I jetted over to the facial masks that were comfortably sitting in bowls beneath ice. They looked more like dressings in a salad bar than face masks that claim to help your skin. A LUSH employee approached me and talked with me about my skin and what I was looking for. I have oily acne prone skin, so she recommended the Cupcake Face Mask or The Cosmetic Warrior for me. I decided to go with the Cosmetic Warrior. Why you ask? Well the Cupcake Face mask really seemed to sweet for me, even though I knew I wasn’t going to eat it, I don’t want to put something so sweet smelling on my face when it’s claiming to help my face, but hey that’s just me. I’ve never really been one to have a sweet tooth, I prefer salty foods and I usually crave that more.

The Cosmetic Warrior is a face mask that combats spots, cleanse dirt and calm and soothe all troubled skins. The ingredients are fresh garlic which is an antiseptic, tee tea essential oil which is an anti bacterial, kaolin which is the bulk of the mask that draws out impurities, honey is a humectants which helps aids in keeping moisture in skin, free range eggs helps tighten pores, and fresh grapes that help reinforce cleansing.

I apply this mask on at night for ten minutes, and it’s so fun to put on. I feel like a little kid again spreading homemade skin and hair care recipes because my parents didn’t want to buy me anything expensive. Since I’ve experimented with foods for my beauty regimen as a child, I had no problem applying this mask from fear of looking or smelling gross when using it. I’ve used my mask for 6 applications, though they say it lasts for 5. I’ve kept it in the fridge as instructed since it contains fresh ingredients, it must be kept refrigerated, and unlike most skin care products it has an expiration date. I have noticed that since I’ve used this mask my face has not broken out, and is much softer and less inflamed. I’m excited for my next purchase because I will be re-buying!

I first discovered LUSH when I was 15, I was shopping around and stumbled upon its San Francisco location on Powell Street (the first LUSH location ever in North America) and feel in love with the products because they were so fun to learn about and play with. I remember poking fun at their shower jellies and watching them jiggle while thinking to myself, ‘who would use these to shower with?! It’s like Jell-O!’ Their products are so creative and fun, every time you walk into one of their stores it’s like watching into the Exploratorium, you’re expecting to me amused. If you haven’t experienced LUSH, you need to get yourself into your nearest store, and I promise your curiosity will get the best of you.

Go to School and get Rewarded! Stila Lip Glaze

We all know there are just some days we do not want to get out of bed for anyone or anything especially work or school. There usually isn’t an additional incentive to showing up beyond getting paid or getting schooled, but fortunately for one of my classes last quarter we held a raffle for people who had perfect attendance. We all were really eager to see who would win the luck of the draw because we knew the prize was full of amazing products. Can you guess who won? =)

I was really excited when I got a little gift bag of filled with products just begging for me to try, but there was one item that I’ve grown really attached to these past few weeks – Stila’s Lip Glaze in Strawberry. It has become a staple in my makeup bag this season and I think I’ll use it to the last drop!

I love this lip gloss, it’s a translucent red that has medium thick thin consistency to it. It smells amazing, I usually don’t like lip glosses with a strong fragrance but this one is definitely okay in my book. This color may look intimidating in the tube, but the coverage is sheer and it gives your lips an effortless pop of color without looking overdone. I like wearing it for a day time look since it’s not too offensive at 8:00am when I leave my apartment.


You can find Stila at many retailers; 22$ at Sephora.com

Fall Trend: Plum Lips Maybelline Color Sensational

This year, plum isn't just a color for your favorite cozy sweater. Its the new trend in lip color and can be found in just about every beauty magazine. I absolutely love the look - its bold, daring, and unconventional. It gives an instant 'punch of attitude' once applied which can definitely attract double looks!


Maybelline New York has a huge marketing campaign going on right now for their new Color Sensational Lipsticks shown in tv commercials with that unmistakable tune "At Last" that you recognize while looking in your fridge 50ft away from your tv screen, and print ads that flood beauty and lifestyle magazines. Well Maybelline's major efforts certainly paid off, they were the first brand I thought of when shopping for a new lipstick. I bought their Color Sensational Lip color in 435 Plum Perfect a few weeks ago, and it was well worth it as it is my new current obsession. It glides on smoothly and the color lasts without fading. I'm really impressed with that packaging, its so sophistocated you would never know that paid under $10.00 for it!


When I apply this lipstick I use a lip pencil in a color similar to the natural color of my lips to prevent color bleeding, and I apply the with a lip brush. I then blot with a paper towel and reapply the lip color once more to allow the color to stain. This minimizes color transfer to things your lip comes in contact with, and keeps your color lasting longer.


Check out this website to read about Plum as the new lip color trend.
http://fashionista101.com/home/2009/10/19/fall-2009-beauty-plum-lips/

Holiday Magic Philosophy

The holiday season is just around the corner, and before you know it December will hit and we'll be shopping for our new Christmas trees. We can't forget about all the pretty wrapping paper and bows to cover the gifts for our friends and family with. Personally I go crazy for bows of all sizes, especially the gold ones! This holiday season, many retailers are gearing up the heavy promotion of this year’s best beauty value kits. As winter time approaches, we will be seeing more and more of beauty brands promos in fashion & lifestyle magazines, your email inboxes, and throughout retailers.

I received my issue of Allure in the mail about a week ago, and one particular brand’s advertisement caught my eye because of its pretty showcased arrangement of products. Philosophy is releasing a variety of gift sets that are simply so cute and comforting, I am sold and ready to snatch up a few for gifts for my friends and family. (Maybe even one for myself!) Philosophy introduced three brand new holiday gift sets; The Bake Shoppe Set, Classic Cookbook, and the Winter Escape set.

The Bake Shoppe Set is a bath and body set inspired by baked goods, which is perfect for your friend with a sweet tooth, and a mutual love for shower gels and glossy lips. The Classic Cookbook is six mini versions 3 in of 1 multi-purpose cleansers, this is for someone who enjoys variety and doesn’t to be boring when it comes to scents. The Winter Escape Set is a trio of products inspired by warm hot cocoa by the cozy fireplace. It includes a 3 in 1 multi-purpose cleanser in Peppermint Hot Cocoa, Marshmallow Lip Shine and Body Soufflé.

The Winter Escape Set is my favorite; I’ve already decided that is the one I will buy for myself. I have already justified the purchase because the idea really captures the scents of winter it emotionally appeals to me since I am such a sucker for the holiday season. It is the best time of the year can you blame me?

Philosophy has many other gift sets available and they are great easy gifts for everyone, minus your man. The best place to pick up these gift sets are at a Sephora store, or online at Sephora.com as some gift sets are exclusive to Sephora. Grab them before they’re gone!


Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour.
- John Boswell

Glitz and Glam Tigi's S-factor

It was exactly 11 weeks from the last time I have gotten my hair cut. Since I’ve recently moved to Los Angeles, I didn’t want to have to find a new stylist and experiment to find the right one, so I decided to wait until I went back home. I made an appointment with my regular stylist, Amber Paschall from Wild Orchids, as she never disappoints me. I just went in for a trim, and longer layers framing my face. What really caught my eye were the new styling products she used in my hair. She applied TIGI’s S Factor Smoothing Lusterizer to defrizz and tame my hair. After she applied it, I noticed she had tiny specks of sparkles in her hand which just happened to be the mica added into the product. It makes your hair shiny especially if you have darker hair, so my jet black hair was looking oh so pretty.

The word "mica" is thought to be derived from the Latin word micare, meaning "to glitter", in reference to the brilliant appearance of this mineral (especially when in small scales). – Wikipedia

As a beauty major, I embrace anything shiny, sparkly or glittery and mica is used commonly in cosmetics and personal care products. There are different grades of mica, and sometimes it can be in matte form, but I prefer the shine and glitter. In one of my courses at FIDM I’ve had the opportunity to test and examine several different types of mica in powder form. The color can range from pure white to a light grey, each having a different feel and some are smoother than others.

Needless to say I was excited about the smoothing lusterizer, and I happily purchased it from the salon. (Support Anti-Diversion!) I especially like to use it when I straighten my hair, since it makes my hair less frizzy my hair is easier to manage, plus it makes my locks extra shiny. I always delay washing my hands after I apply it because I love seeing the pretty little glitter specks in the palms of my hands. Too bad I’m a sucker for all things shiny.


If you would like to try TIGI S-Factor’s Smoothing Lusterizer, please look for it at your local salon.

The Original Makeup Saver

We all know what it's like when midday are faces aren't looking as fresh as this morning. Well now tat problem can be solved. Skindinavia has a Makeup Finishing Spray that does wonders for your makeup. Just spray this mist 2-4 times on your face to set your makeup, and you're good for the day. This mist prevents creasing and fading of your makeup, meaning less time spent reapplying. You can find more information on Skindinavia at http://skindinavia.com

Save the Lip Drama, Create Long Lasting Color

Ever wish your lip gloss would last longer? Between running out the door and juggling with time throughout our busy days, sometimes lip glosses simply just don't have the staying power we'd like them to have. When reapplying is out of the question, a helpful hint to try is layering a sheer to full coverage lipstick that is similiar in hue or matches your lip gloss. Applying the lipstick first, and finishing with a layer of lipgloss will not help your color last longer, but also give you lips dimension giving the illusion of a fuller lip. Don't want too much attention drawn to your lips? Just dab a tiny bit of gloss in the center of your lip for a more subtle look.

My favorite lip color pair is Sephora's Color Attitude - Chic Lipstick in Rich Rose 19 ( $12 exclusively at Sephora), and Revlon's Super Lustrous LipGloss in 110 Life's A peach ($6 at Target, available at mass retailers prices vary)

The lip gloss is really the star of the show, the color is a perfect blend of pink, peach, and gold. The Lipstick creates a base for the lipgloss and helps the color last throughout the day increasing the glosses staying power.

Look Dazzing in Eye Shadows That Don't Break the Bank; Coastal Scents

During these hard economic times, people have definitely cut back in spending on their favorite luxuries. Gone are the days of mindless spending, and for now it's all about value for your dollar. The good news is women will continue use cosmetics in a down turned market, but it's more of the every day essentials and less of the splurging. But not to worry, you can still look fabulous while spending less of those pretty pennies with Coastal Scents Eye Shadow Palettes.

These palettes come fully loaded with 88 different eye shadows to create a variety of different looks from day to night. The shadows can be applied wet or dry and are highly pigmented, which compensates for their size. This palette is perfect for beauty junkies who love to play with their looks. Even if you only use this palette occassionally, it pays for itself. Pretige brand individual eyes shadows are usually $20.00 and up while this entire palette is available for less than that. Deal or steal?

Tips:
-Use an eye shadow primer such as Urban Decay's Primer Potion ($17 at Sephora) or Too Faced Shadow Insurance (17$ at Sephora) to keep the shadow from creasing and to prevent the color from fading.
-Apply shadows wet to make shades more vibrant and dramatic by wetting eye shadow brushes with a mixing medium like MAC's Fix + Spray ($18 at Maccosmetics.com), Visine eye drops, or just plain water.

You can get your palette from Coastal Scents' website at http://www.coastalscents.com

Hop on the Lip Stain Train

Lip stains have become increasingly popular over the past few years, as women find them as a quick and easy mess free way to give your lips a pinch of color that doesn't have to be reapplied throughout the day. Perfect for women on the go, a good lip stain will last through several cups of coffee, your lunch at the office, and the after dinner kisses.

Here are some of my favorites:

Vincent Longo Double Duty Lip & Cheek Gel Stain in Cupids Breath ($22.50 at Vincentlongo.com)

This stain delivers. It gives lips a unique red-orange tint and It lasts all day without having to reapply. The flexible formula allows room for lip balm underneath without budging so your lips stay hydrated. This can also be used as a cheek stain, it gives you perfectly natural flushed cheeks.


Stila Lip and Cheek Stain in Pomegranate Crush ($24 at Sephora)

This stain has a good wearability but does need some touch ups during the day. It is a deep magenta color that can be layered for a night out or just a tint of color when you're on the go. This stain can also double as a cheek stain.

Cover Girl Outlast Lip Stain in EverBloom Kiss ( $7.89 at Target; available at mass retailers prices vary)

This stain is the lightest in formula because it's dispensed through a felt tip as opposed to the typical gel stain, but it ca be layered for more color coverage. This lip stain is offered at mass market retailers and is an affordable alternative to prestige priced stains.

Support Anti-Diversion of Your Favorite Salon Products

When you walk into your local drug store and find your favorite salon professional haircare on sale '2 for 1 deal', you're probably thinking, "Awesome! This will save me a trip to the salon, and it's a steal!" Well you might want to think again before you purchase because the product could be counterfeit, diluted formulas, or old, expired formulas that may not be safe to use and might actually harm your skin from an irritation or even infection.

Diversion is when products are sold in "unauthorized" places. Often times salon products will label their bottles mentioning the product is only guaranteed when purchased exclusively from a salon professional. It is not uncommon to find professional salon product local grocery store, drugstore, online or at a discounter. Salon professional products you find outside of a salon are considered to be "diverted." Contrary to believe, it is not illegal for retailers like your local drugstores to carry these products because one they are purchased from the people who are involved in the diversio , the take ownership and profits of these products.

This should make a person wonder, who is contributing to this gray market? A divertor will approach a salon or distributor and offer to pay 10-30% over cost, and in turn the provider of the products will make an under the table profit. After the people committing the diversion receives the orders, they remove batch codes so the consumer or anyone else trying to track the products will not find the source of the diversion. This puts the consumer at risk in the case that a batch needed to be recalled by the company, the consumer would never know if the product they purchased was included. In some cases, the products are purposely tampered with or diluted. The products are then shipped to mass retailers nationwide, and sold at your local supermarkets and drug stores.

The bottom line is if you want to ensure your professional salon products are authentic, you should only purchase them from your salon professional. If you are willing to take good care of your hair and skin, you won't want to purchase a product that could be counterfeit, tampered with, or outdated. Spread the word to your friends and family about diversion, and next time you visit your local supermarket or drugstore, pass up the 'professional hair and skin care section.'


For more information go to:

http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/smartspending/archive/2008/04/30/beware-when-stores-sell-salon-only-hair-care-products.aspx

http://www.redkensalon.com/anti-diversion-policy

The Secret to Perfect Curly Hair - Biolage Collection

Modern curls are loose and touchable, they are noticably smooth, hydrated and never frizzy. And the best place to start to get luscious weightless curls is with your shampoo and conditioner. My choice?






Biolage by Matrix Ultra Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner

Biolage is the only shampoo that actually reduces unwanted volume and eliminates frizz from humidity. This is a huge life saver if you suffer from super frizzy hair. Having dry curly hair is a common problem because the the hair's natural oils take longer to travel down the hair shaft. This is why curly hair often times looks better and is more manageable a day or two after shampooing. Biolage's aloe vera algae formula keeps hair hydrated and makes hair easier to style so it looks great the same day you wash it.

All genuine Matrix products are sold exclusively in salons and are only guaranteed if purchased from a salon. But you might come across a few bottles in your local supermarket, drugstore, online or at a discounter. Salon professional products you find outside of a salon are considered to be ''diverted."

Stay tuned for the next post that supports Anti -Diversion.

Amarte Triggers Childhood Memories

Fact: scent is the strongest sense tied to memory. I couldn't agree more with this statement after my first use of Amarte's Aqua Veil Pure Hydration Serum. The serum features natural herbs and intensive moisturizing ingredients to soften the skin. Unlike traditional serums, it's a light humectant which means it draws in moisture from the atmosphere and retains it within your skin. When applied it leaves so sticky or oily residue; just smooth silky skin.
When I was a child, my mom would frequently eat at a Korean restaurant in Oakland's Jack London Square. As an after dinner treat, they would give Haitai's Korean melon chewing gum. It sweetest scent of melon and tasted as good as it smelled. It was my favorite gum as a child so when my mom would get the chance she would always take a little extra for me. Unfortunately it is very hard to find in stores or anywhere else for that matter, but it can be found online.

What's neat about this product is that when it's applied it gives your face a nice cooling sensation that isn't too intense. It's the affect of the 'magic water' aqua veil that is formed after applying which is an interesting concept. I evaluated the box and found something even more interesting - this product is made in Korea. Now how's that for coincidence?

Revlon's Memorable Vintage Advertisements

The Parker sisters were beautiful, no doubt about it.

These Revlon ads from the 1950's and they are absolutely gorgeous as well as inspiring. Small waists, red lips, beauty marks, hosiery, roller curled hair and defined brows --the entire overall look seems like its locked in a time capsule that the present day keeping peeking into and taking ideas from.

My favorite products inspired by the 1950's

Sephora brand lip attitude - Chic Ruby 13, the perfect classic red
Lancome retractable lip brush
L'Oreal Carbon Black Telescopic Precision Liquid Eyeliner in Carbon Black
Sally Hansen Hard as Nails in cardinal
My All time favorite shade of nail polish -Rimmel Lasting Finish Lycra Wear in 391 Celebrity Bash.



“I'm yet another resource-consuming kid in an overpopulated planet, raised to an alarming extent by Hollywood and Madison Avenue, poised with my cynical and alienated peers to take over the world when you're old and weak.” - Bill Watterson

The Drugstore Quest To Finding a Night Cream Alternative

As I was strolling down the health and beauty aisle at Target last Sunday, I quickly remembered that I was out of my night cream so I went to look for a refill of my Aveeno Ultra-Calming Night Cream. My skin is very sensitive to redness and irritation, and this cream delivers. As long as I use this cream at night, by morning my skin is perfectly even in tone with no sign of redness.

When I went to repurchase my night cream, I learned that the night cream was no where in sight. I literally was in disbelief as I thought to myself, 'huh, that's funny. It doesn't seem like a product of high demand'. After looking more into the shelves I found that it wasn't that they were out of stock, they just plain didn't sell it at that Target location. It was that moment I decided to put my creative thinking to work.
There was no way I was going home without a night cream, so I went and searched for alternatives. Soon enough, I realized there really wasn't any other product marketed to help calm sensitive skin or reduce redness. Upon my search I was unsurprisingly bombarded by lotions, creams, and gels claiming to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and promising to look years younger within weeks.

I began comparing ingredients with night creams, and using what I have learned in my Principles in Beauty Technology course. The Aveeno Ultra Calming Daily Moisturizer was in stock, and I evaluated the marketing claims and found that the active ingredient was feverfew, and chamomile. I was aware that chamomile was recognized for it's ability to soothe irritation and commonly used in personal care products, but I was unfamiliar with fervew and its naturally calming properties.

After quite some time of side by side comparison of ingredients in almost all night creams offered by Olay, Neutrogena, Ponds, L'Oreal, Biore, Boots, and may others, my eyes locked on the back of a box of a night cream containing the ingredient Chrysanthemium Parthenium like a sniper closing in on a kill. Chrysanthemium Parthenium is the INCI name for feverfew and it an ingredient listed in Neutrogena's Ageless Essentials Continuous Hydration Night Cream.

Neutrogena marketed the cream as an ultra hyrdrating cream that fights skin's first sign of aging to extend the skin's ability to hold onto moisture. Time released moisturizers and gylercin were the main attributes that highlighted the product description. It did not market the product to be used for sensitive skin but did include that the product is non-comedogenic, non greasy, and dermatologist tested. When the label on a product says dermatologist-tested I disregard the statement since it doesn't carry any significant meaning behind it.

Needless to say I was sold on the cream, and decided to take it home and try it out. I have been using the cream for about 7 days, and I am pleased to say that the cream greatly reduces the redness in my face by morning and keeps my skin soft. It is much lighter than the Aveeno night cream, it has an almost whipped consistency but it does not effect it's moisturizing properties.

It was an accomplishment to apply the tools I learned in class into my practical everyday decision making proccess, it really helped me make the best decision. Although I am satisfied with Neutrogena's night cream, when I run out of product and Aveeno is available, I will definitely grab for the Aveeno. It was my first choice to begin with and I was very much satifsied with it, and until my skin's needs change - Aveeno will continue to be my first choice.

Amor Amor by Cacharel - Too unconventional?

I call this my mojo. I like to think that it's my confidence in a bottle, and if I were a perfume this is what I would smell like. A perfect mixture vanilla, mandarin, jasmine, and blackcurrant. With just one spray I instantly feel pulled together. It's the last addition to my look, accompanying my outfit and makeup, it's the last, if not most important piece of the puzzle.

Unfortunately, this perfume for discontinued in 2007. I have been wearing this fragrance since 2005, and was crushed when I heard the news. Luckily, while visiting a Ross store the other week I rediscovered 3 bottles among many other popular perfumes that have either been overstocked by department stores, or simply ignored by consumers leading to its fall from the market.

My question is why didn't it sell? The reason could

be that it did not efficently grab and keep the

attention of their target market.Amor Amor was advertised in teen magazines such as Teen Vogue, Seventeen, and Cosmogirl especially around Valentine's day. The Cacharel brand is not as widely recognized compared to brands like Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana or Marc Jacobs, and the brand recognition for Cacharel was just not there. They had an argueably unclear brand image, that just couldn't peak a young women's interest. I am not surprised after looking at the ad they ran. Take a look at the to the right, what do you think when you look at the ad? There also may have been issues with iventory control, but nonetheless, Amor Amor is no more and is in the liquidation process.

A comparable perfume that I've tried is Jewel by Mark. It's a product offered from Mark brand by Avon, and you can order it from an Avon representative or online. It smells a bit more vanilla-y than Amor Amor, and doesn't have a long wearability but it comes with a body butter to layer with so it redeems itself.

Some perfumes say for generations, and others fall of the wagon.