Paris, Champs-Elysées - Guerlain Boutique

Paris and shopping are the two things that simply go together! And when you think shopping in Paris, you think Champs-Elysées. According to wikipedia, the name refers to the “Elysian Fields”, the place of the blessed in Greek mythology. When you find yourself in this world famous avenue you can consider yourself truly blessed with shopping opportunities! This most prestigious and broadest Paris avenue offers quite a few must-at-least-drop-by shopping spots. For a great choice of beauty products such as perfumes, makeup and skin care, you can choose from Sephora, Marriannaud, Guerlain and other boutiques!


Most of these stores have a modern design and feel to them. However in one particular place you will feel magically transported a hundred years back and will have a really memorable shopping experience. 68 Champs-Elysées is the address of a 3-floor Guerlain boutique. It is elegant, luxurious and unforgetable. The boutique first opened its doors in 1914 and was built for Guerlain by architect Méwès known for for building the Ritz Hotel on the Place Vendôme.


When you walk into the boutique, you find yourself on the ground floor with a couple displays of Guerlain perfumes and skin care. Friendly staff recommended taking a look upstairs. Right across from the entrance is a staircase leading to the mezzanine floor.
This floor as I read online was initially made up of small partitioned rooms and left vacant for several years and then it was restructured into a single space. Now this area is divided into 2 spacious rooms. One of them is devoted to "haute" perfumery and is located on the side of Champs-Elysées.


The centerpiece of this room is a gorgeous crystal chandelier over a lighted round perfume display. On the other side with windows looking into a courtyard I found a beauty area with makeup and skin care displays, several chairs and three large mirrors that seemed to be suspended over you in mid-air.

The sales girl gave me a small tour and told shortly how the successful history of Guerlain House began. She told me about the Eau de Cologne Impérial created by Pierre-François Pascal Guerlain in honor of Empress Eugenie which lead him to become Her Majesty’s Official Perfumer.

I tested several recent Guerlain’s perfumes including the Aqua Allegoria Fig-Iris and Cruel Gardenia. First the perfume is sprayed on a fan which is then lightly waved at you so that you can experience various notes and get a feel for the fragrance.


I like very light refreshing notes so my favorite out of the Guerlain’s perfumes I tested appeared to be Herba Fresca from Aqua Allegoria collection.

Further on, I was quite nosy to try out Guerlain’s classics Shalimar, Jicky and inquire into the story of their creation.



Then I took a look at the other room to try out Guerlain’s newest mascara - Le 2 de Guerlain Mascara.

And, finally, I made my purchase - no, not a perfume. I bought my favorite eye cream ever – Happylogy Eye (Glowing Eye Care/Action on first wrinkles, dark circles, puffiness). The best cream I have ever used, I stay true to it for already 3 years.



I requested it to be packed as it was a gift. Well, it was a gift - a gift for myself on the wonderful occasion of enjoying Paris and the beauty of shopping at La Maison Guerlain.



As I was about to leave the boutique the sales girl offered to spray Herba Fresca over me. The offer I was more than happy to accept!

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Top 5 Beauty: Five Women Celebrities Who Look Gorgeous for Their Age

A couple months ago I came accross this top 5 list of women who look great for their age. I personally agree with the list and found it quite inspirational.

1. Demi Moore (45)

2. Helen Mirren (63)

3. Halle Berry (42)

4. Michelle Pfeiffer (50)

5. Sophia Loren (74)

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Celebrity Beauty: Golden Globes - Looks I liked and The Ones I didn't

After browsing some sites and beauty blogs posting about best looks at Golden Globes, I decided to write about my favorite ones.

I am usually amused by the lists of best dressed/looks and worst dressed/looks put together by, gor example Yahoo and E! etc. Many times I really can’t understand, why on earth this dress is on the best list and that one is on the worst.

For example, I don’t understand why Angelina Jolie in her silver and very neutral Versace ended up in the best list, while Salma Hayek, in my opinion looking glamorous, classical and sexy, got on the worst list and her Dior dress was said to be “snooze-worthy” (yahoo). I personally, want to snooze looking at Angelina’s outfit…

Anyway, here are the looks I liked


1. Jennifer Lopez
I love JLo’s style and this time she was as glamorous, beautiful and hot in her gold Marchesa gown as always.


2. Eva Longoria
I think Eva looked perfect, gorgeous and simply amazing in her red Reem Acra dress.


3. Melissa George
I thought her dress stood out and found her look classical but at the same time captivating and original.


4. Kate Beckinsale
Loved this white dress. It is classical, fits Kate so perfectly and she looks to me like a tender white lily.

The looks I didn’t like:

1.Drew Barrymore
Too much fluffy stuff going on about her look… Hair, dress… everything’s a mess (sorry, Drew)


2.Demi Moore
Wrong color dress for the tanned color of her skin. She just doesn’t look good. Don’t like the abundance of diamonds on the hands. The whole look is just not right.


3. Angelina Jolie
First impression: Zzzzzzz……..
Second impression: sigh… such bony hands… I wish she started eating a bit more…

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Celebrity Beauty: Best and Worst Dressed at SAG Awards

It was kind of hard for me to get very excited about any celebrity look at SAG Awards last Sunday. But I did have a couple favorite ones. Here they are:


I am not a fan of much ruching but this dress by Dolce & Gabbana looks beautiful Roasario Dawson. This is my favorite dress from SAG awards.


I really like this coral gown on Laura Linney. The whole look with loosely tousled hair and the floor long, one-shouldered Michael Kors gown looks perfect.


I like this Greek style beautiful white Azzaro gown with crystal-embellished neckline and belt. Anne Hathaway looks gorgeous!

Below are the dress choices that are obviously a mistake!

I like Tari Hatcher! But in this dress by Monique Lhuillier she looks like a doll in wrapping paper.

What was Eva Longoria thinking when she chose this dress for the awards. To me it looks like a bad (rented in a local store) choice for a prom.


Does this dress look familiar? Take a look at Angelina's outfit at Golden Globes - it looks quite similar. As E-Online mentioned, perhaps Angelina's dress choices (all by Max Azria) are silent protest against attending awards shows. Why does she show up then?

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Beauty Fact: Red Enhances Men's Attraction To Women

Now we have one more reason to wear red lipstick. And this time it’s scientifically supported!

A study by two University of Rochester psychologists looked at a relationship between color and behavior. It was revealed that the color red makes men feel more attracted to women.

In the course of the study researchers analyzed men’s responses to photographs of women under a variety of color presentations. In one experiment, for example, men looked at women’s photos framed in red or white and answered various questions regarding woman’s appearance and attractiveness. In the final study, woman’s shirt in the picture was digitally colored red or blue. In this experiment, men were also asked about their intentions regarding dating. In all of the experiments, the women shown framed by or wearing red were rated significantly more attractive and sexually desirable by men than the exact same women shown with other colors. Amazing but men are completely unaware of the role the color plays in their attraction. Andrew Elliot, professor of psychology says, "It's fascinating to find that something as ubiquitous as color can be having an effect on our behavior without our awareness."

By the way, the “red effect” extends only to males and only to perceptions of attractiveness.

One more interesting fact. The authors of this study note that men's response to red may stem from deep biological roots. According to research male primates are noticed to be particularly attracted to females displaying red. Female baboons and chimpanzees, for example, redden when close to ovulation, sending a clear sexual message designed to attract males. This could mean that human males’ attraction to red has subconscious animal instincts to it.
Hmmm… so now what do you think about society’s infatuation with red? Red hearts at St.Valentine’s, red lipstick, Red Lights Districts and red lingerie? I bet, red will always be in fashion ;-)

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Beauty Tip: Brighten Up Dull Locks

I think yellow hue or brassiness is the beauty headache of almost every dyed blonde. Recently I came across this interesting beauty tip in Marie Clare which promises to help fix this problem. It sounds a bit extreme though… Would you do the following to your hair to make it brighter blonde??

Mix 1 cup baby shampoo with 2 tablespoons of baking soda, comb through hair, cover with a shower cap, sit in the sun for 10 minutes, then rinse.

What do you think?

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TGIF: Relax, Take it Easy

I am listening to Mika a lot these days.. So, common let's relax and take it easy... Going to a hens party today! wow!

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Orient Man's Automatic Watch

Congratulations to ...

SUSAN FRANCIS

Entry # BQD7YVS1Y62H

Susan was the 13th person to enter the contest. You know what they say about lucky #13.

Our winner has been notified by email of her winning entry. Susan, please send along your shipping address via the link provided in the notice we sent, and Orient will ship you your stunning brand new watch!

To learn more about Orient's Automatic Watches, please visit them online. So many styles and designs to choose from, you're bound to find one (or several) to drool over.

Another giveaway is coming up in just a few so stay tuned.

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HauteLook: Swoon-Worthy Sale on Rapturous D.L. & Co. Modern Alchemist Candles

D.L. & Company was born of the desire to bring the textures and fragrances of antique opulence, beauty, and alchemical transformation to the world of luxury products. Having long worked in the beauty industry, Mr. Douglas Little was astounded by the soulless, vapid, and pedestrian merchandise which was created and marketed to clients who both wanted and deserved more.

Leaving the professional world to immerse himself in the histories and traditions of the mysterious world of perfume, Mr. Little studied natural perfumery first with Aftelier, and later at the Grasse Institute of Perfumery. With technical studies behind him, Mr. Little sought to transform the mundane into the magnificent using his eccentric style and unique take on poisonous plants, atmospheric recreations, and the use of the rarest and most seductive natural essences.

Now known as one of the industry's most extraordinarily innovative and unusual brands, Mr. Douglas Little continues to inspire with his dark imagery, seductive fragrances, and seemingly endless inspirations drawn from art history, the ancient world, modern trends in fashion and art, and in particular his defining ethos; that true luxury affects all the senses, and that with true luxury, the individual is transported and transformed by it-- that is why he calls what he does "Modern Alchemy."

MODERN ALCHEMY

Alchemy is the ancient art of transformation. It is the endless pursuit of the alchemist to render the common uncommon. Modern Alchemy continues this tradition by offering a collection of exquisitely perfumed candles that change your environment from the ordinary to the sublime. Each perfume is blended from rare and exotic absolutes, concretes and essential oils imported from around the world.

Every candle is made from our proprietary blend of soy, maple and palm waxes, hand-poured into an elegant etched glass vessel.

ALCHEMY WAS THE MEDIEVAL PURSUIT TO TRANSFORM UN-PRECIOUS METALS INTO GOLD THROUGH A COMBINATION OF MAGIC AND SCIENCE. UTILIZING THE RAREST OF EXTRACTS, ESSENCES AND ABSOLUTES. WE ARE ABLE TO CREATE FRAGRANCES THAT CONJURE TIME AND PLACE, TRANSFORMING ENVIRONMENTS FROM THE MUNDANE TO THE SUBLIME.

D.L. & Co.'s sensuous candle creations, objects and curioisities, and packaging are to be appreciated for the art that they are! These are among some of the most sought after and cherished candles and fragrances in the world. Your opportunity to enjoy them at a bit less price comes on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 only via HauteLook.

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Angelina Jolie’s Long Lost Teenage Modeling Photos

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Seven Things Not To Do on Valentine’s Day

Ahhh, Feburary 14. The day of love. The day that Cupid works for all year. The day Hallmark cashes in on our emotions.

For some people, February 14 is just another day. And this year, just another Sunday. Whether you’re indifferent, upset, or excited, there are some things you just shouldn’t do on this lovers’ holiday:

1. Go on a first date.

I would like to shake my fist at whoever suggests this as a way to spend Valentine’s Day. First dates are hard enough as it is without the added pressure of taking place on a holiday like this. Chances are you’ll either spend the evening with false expectations, hoping he’s “The One,” or you’ll spend the night miserable and wishing you were home in your pajamas. Valentine’s Day is NOT the day to take a dating risk. Reschedule for the next day and question his sanity if going out on Valentine’s Day was his idea.

2. Complain.

There is nothing worse than hearing someone spend all day complaining about their lack of prospects, heartache, or ticking biological clock. Save yourself some dignity, throw out a few snarky jokes about being single if you must, and then save it for your journal. Negativity begets negativity and you will feel the effects of being a downer all day. And so will everyone around you.

3. Call your ex.

ABORT! I repeat, ABORT! If you are considering this as you look tearfully out your bedroom window with The Holiday soundtrack playing in the background, ABORT! On a day like this it’s natural to have your thoughts drift to the last person you were with, but you broke up for a reason and even Cupid can’t create a day big enough to change that. Avoid the Valentine’s Day emotional hangover and don’t attempt a reconnect.

4. Reenact MTV Spring Break.

The last thing you need to do is drink your way out of this holiday. While it is perfectly acceptable (and fun!) to dress up and go out with your girlfriends on V-Day, don’t channel your inner “Senior year spring break.” Remember, this is just another day on the calendar and you taking four tequila shots is not going to fix anything about your love life.

5. Take yourself for granted.

This is a big one. Do whatever it takes to get perspective on life amidst the flower, candy, and romance-induced mayhem. Your worth and value as a human being and sister, daughter, friend is in no way influenced by your relationship status. Keep your chin up and focus on what you have accomplished this year or what you hope to accomplish in the future. You are loved and valued for more than your ability to snag a significant other.

6. Be alone.

The chances of the above “not to-dos” occurring is exponentially higher if you’re alone on Valentine’s Day. Gather with friends over dinner. Get some pals and go see a flick. Open a bottle of champagne with your best friend. Do whatever it takes to surround yourself with love. This is one of the best ways to ensure you spend the night having fun and focusing on the wonderful, non-romantic loves in your life.

7. Overlook the good in your life.

This one goes along with the “taking yourself for granted” no-no. Although it’s easy to be swept up by romantic comedies, candlelight dinners, past lovers, roses, chocolates, teddy bears, and diamonds, there is much in life that is equally–if not more–important. Try making a list of blessings in your life. From “roof over my head” to “amazing nail polish collection,” pen all of the things in your life that make it excellent. We need reminders of this every day and not just Valentine’s Day.

At the end of the day, what really matters is a healthy perspective on February 14 and all that comes along with it. In no way do I mean to imply that this should be a day of doom and gloom to those of us who are not currently in a relationship, but I offer this list as an opportunity to maintain perspective amidst a wildly commercial day focused on romantic love. Cheers to a day full of love–in whatever way it reveals itself to you!

At DivineCaroline.com, women come together to learn from experts in the fields, of health, sustainability, and culture; to reflect on shared experiences; and to express themselves by writing and publishing stories about anything that matters to them. Here, real women publish like real pros. Together, with our staff writers, they’re discussing all facets of women’s lives from relationships and careers, to travel and healthy living. So come discover, read, learn, laugh and connect at DivineCaroline.com.

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Sleeping Beauty condition means teenager sleeps for two weeks

Louisa Ball, 15, has earned the nickname 'Sleeping Beauty' thanks to a rare condition that causes her to sleep for up to two weeks at a time.

Louisa Ball suffers from a rare condition called Slepping Beauty Disease, which causes her to sleep for up to 12 days at a time Photo: WORLDWIDE FEATURES

Miss Ball, from Worthing, has slept through school exams, dance competitions and entire family holidays thanks to her unusual condition.

Her prolonged sleeps, which began in 2008 as she recovered from flu, were initially thought to be hormonal until she was diagnosed with Kleine-Levin Syndrome last year.

People who develop the condition, also known as Sleeping Beauty Disease, are prone to falling into extended periods of deep sleep that can stretch to weeks.

Miss Ball's mother Lottie, 45, told a national newspaper: "She was exhausted and didn’t seem to be getting any better. She started to fall asleep at school and was rambling about things that didn’t make sense – just like she was talking in her sleep.

"It really scared us, we didn’t know what to do. It just didn’t seem like Louisa was the daughter we used to know – she was like a different person."

Doctors at Worthing General Hospital were baffled by her symptoms, and suggested the problem could be to do with hormones.

Miss Ball's sleeping episodes began to stretch to ten days at a time, during which time her parents would wake her once a day to feed her and take her to the bathroom, before she succumbed to sleep again.

They said that when woken up she would ramble as though she were sleep talking, and when she fully awoke after several days she would not remember anything that had happened.

Her unusual syndrome was later diagnosed after she was referred to St George's Hospital in Tooting in March 2009.

Kleine-Levin Syndrome, a type of periodic hypersomnia from which sufferers make a full recovery between periods of sleep, is more common in males and usually vanishes in adulthood.

It has no known cause but is believed to be linked to a malfunction in the section of the brain that controls sleep and appetite.

Her father Richard, 44, a surveyor, said: "‘We had no idea that there was such a thing, but it was a relief once Louisa was diagnosed.

"We know when Louisa is starting to go into sleep mode as she becomes irritable, so we do have some warning.

"We went on a week’s caravanning holiday last year and she slept for the entire holiday – she missed the whole thing."

Kleine-Levin Syndrome has no universally accepted treatment, but some patients are given stimulant drugs to try to regulate their periods of sleep.

Miss Ball was given medication but it did not keep her awake, and her condition progressed to the point where she could remain asleep for periods of up to 12 days.

Miss Ball, who used to enjoy going to school and dancing classes, has missed exams and dance contests because of her condition and has fallen behind in her coursework.

But her parents hope a new medication aimed at shortening her sleep pattern will keep her awake long enough to take her GCSE exams.

She hopes to complete a BTEC in sport and dance after leaving school, but will first need to pass at least five GCSEs.

Mr Ball was quoted as saying: "It does look promising. She hasn’t fallen asleep properly for about seven weeks now so we are hoping it will reduce the severity of the attacks and allow her to get on with her life."

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