Beauty: The Daily W: Wmagazine.com

KATE MOSS IN ST. TROPEZ

The unstoppable Kate inks another beauty contract.

It's been exactly 20 years since Kate Moss stripped down for the Calvin Klein Obsession fragrance campaign. Now Kate bares all again as the face—or body, rather—of St. Tropez with a bronze faux glow that is a far cry from her pale, grunge era pallor of 1993. Already the poster girl for beauty brands Rimmel since 2001 and, as of this February, Kerastase, Moss was revealed in the tanning brand's campaign images late last week.

Kate Moss for St. Tropez

“Not only is [Moss] beautiful, but she has this amazing attitude,” says Michelle Feeney, CEO of PZ Cussons Beauty which owns the brand. “St. Tropez is about confidence. Kate has huge global appeal and we’re absolutely thrilled that she has chosen to work with us on our new campaign.”

Moss appears sans tan lines, and better yet, sans clothing, save for a luminous tan which cam courtesy of St. Tropez’s tanning expert Nichola Joss. Joss said she used the brand’s Self Tanning Mousse, Applicator Mitt, and Powder Bronzer to “enhance the natural shape of Kate’s body.” No word yet on a potion to get the shape in the first place.

Click to see the best of Kate Moss in W.

By Katie Becker

May 13, 2013

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Skincare Magic To Go

A visit to Dangene at New York’s Core Club is not for the parsimonious: a facial costs $750. But during said facial, pores are cleaned, dark spots are zapped away (via the hyfercator machine), eyebrows are tweezed, and everything gets micro-dermabraded. “These aren’t feel-good visits,” the statuesque single-named aesthetician has been known to say. “But once I’m done with your skin, you won’t need to wear foundation.”

The Dangene Skinovator line

Her latest step toward achieving that lofty goal is Dangene Skinovator, her new skin care line. The three-piece collection includes a foaming cream cleanser and a cactus peptin-based gel moisturizer that imparts a silky finish. The star, however, is the “10-in-1” antioxidant-based, anti-glycation serum. “This is the magic,” says Dangene, holding a bottle of the clear amber spray. “It hydrates, exfoliates, brightens, calms. I swear, I can feel its energy in my hands.”

Take-home bottles of the products are now included in her facials, but non-Dangenites can buy them too, by calling 212-249-8172.

By Jane Larkworthy

May 2, 2013

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Paul Labrecque Hits Chelsea Piers

It’s not too hard to find a hair salon in New York City, given that there’s practically one on every corner. But such ubiquity apparently isn’t just for the Super Cuts and Jean Louis Davids of the world. In Manhattan, Frederic Fekkai has three salons, as does Valery Joseph. Serge Normant (at John Frieda) has two and so does Sally Hershberger. But Paul Labrecque has taken the lead with four, having just opened his latest at Chelsea Piers. It’s like the hairstylist version of SNL’s Five Timers Club.

Paul Labrecque Salon at Chelsea Piers

Labrecque’s new space is light and airy—and naturally lit from the adjacent Hudson River. It offers hair and nail services, and there’s even a gift shop that sells goodies from Lafco and Nest along with his own eponymous product line. (Personally, I can’t live without his Straight conditioner). A seven-room spa located at the other end of the locker rooms addresses skincare needs. We can’t decide which exclusive Chelsea-only perk we’re more excited about: His Blowdry Club, which offers packs of blow-outs at incentive-based prices, or the high-perched pedicure seats, which offer their own kind of bonus—peek-a-boo views of the Sports Center’s athlete-favored running track. (212.988.7816, paullabrecque.com)

By Jane Larkworthy

April 30, 2013

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Best Facial Perk Ever

Alexis Bittar Lucite bracelet; (from top) Gilan 18k white gold and diamond ring, David Yurman sterling silver and diamond rings; Gucci Plexiglas bag. Click here to see more accessories.

I’ve always judged my facials on a few key factors: Is the extraction painless? Do I look beaten up afterward? Is a long face massage part of the ritual? Now, Dangene Institute of Skinovation has added a new must: they buff your bling. Tucked atop New York’s Core Club, the microdermabrasion machine doesn’t get turned off when it’s done exfoliating your face, arms and legs—it moves on to your gems. I was a bit taken aback when I was first asked if I’d like my rings polished, but, man! My engagement ring hasn’t shone like this since before I was married.

Photographed by Benjamin Lennox. Styled by Patrick Mackie.

By Jane Larkworthy

April 8, 2013

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DD Creams: They’re Here!

First there was BB cream. Then came CC. Now, there’s, well, do we even need to spell it out? At the end of May, Julep launches DD Crème and DD Concealer—the first DDs we’ve heard about in the US.

Julep's DD Crème

While BB typically stand for “beauty balm” or “blemish balm” and CC is usually short for “color correction,” Julep is billing DD Crème as a “dynamic do-all”: SPF 25, primer, moisturizer, anti-aging agent, and coverage in four shades. DD Concealer, meanwhile, will “disguise & diminish” with light-diffusing brighteners and antioxidants in three tones.

Is there anything about the formulas that make them dramatically different from a BB or CC? Not really. They’re all basically tinted moisturizers, but with treatment ingredients, high SPF, and more coverage.

So while we wait to hear whisperings of a zit-zapping ZZ cream, you can pre-order the DD Crème and Concealer now. Bonus points to whoever comes up with the best suggestion for what XX cream will do.

By Katie Becker

March 14, 2013

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March MadMen-ness!

Estée's Lauder MadMen Collection

Estée Lauder has just launched this three-piece MadMen Collection of lipstick, nail polish and blush, all in very early Sixties dusty rose. (More Jackie Kennedy than Penelope Tree, in other words.) Packaged in a navy, turquoise and yellow Pucci-esque print, all three products beg to be displayed on the vanity or pulled from the purse. $24-$50, exclusively at Lord & Taylor.

By Jane Larkworthy

March 7, 2013

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The Most Exclusive—and Elusive—Eye Cream Ever

The hot topic at the Academy of Dermatology meeting in Miami last weekend was neither a crazy new injectable nor a super high tech laser but, believe it or not, an eye cream. Living Proof—the brand that makes hair care with a MIT-developed molecule and has Jennifer Aniston as spokesperson and co-owner—introduced an exclusive new technology for undereye bags called Strateris Under-eye Transformation System. The product creates an invisible film that essentially shink wraps loose skin so effectively it looks almost like the bags have been surgically snipped away. Here’s the catch: The product has not yet been released to the public. And the tightlipped company couldn’t promise that it ever will be. But given the raves it has elicited from the high-profile patients of DC-based derm Tina Alster who was involved in its clinical trials and says “my TV anchors and politicians loved it the most,” we’ll have to keep our fingers crossed that it eventually comes to market. Let’s just hope the turnaround is as tight as the results.

Photo: Fairchild Archive

By Katie Becker

March 7, 2013

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MAC DADDY

MAC's Paris flagship

With two floors of counters, consultation chairs, a lash bar, a classroom, and even private VIP areas all housed within a birdcage-like space, MAC’s new Paris flagship is indeed a temple to beauty.

“We wanted it to be so dramatic that even if you don’t know anything about MAC, you’ll still want to walk in to check out what’s going on,” says senior vice president James Gager of the new space that opens on March 5th. “After all, the theatrical element is one of the keys of our DNA. And if you’re going to open on the Champs-Élysées it’s got to be mind blowing.”

Interior views in the Parisian MAC store

The store’s interior dome is made of reflective black glass and causes light to bounce around further enhancing the vibrancy of the space. Interactive panels allow customer to explore products; and a multi-lingual staff of makeup artists will also be on hand. Indeed, according to Gager, MAC targeted the Champs-Élysées with its high concentration of global consumers. “We’ve had our eye on Paris for a while, but we waited so we had the right space to work with where [our] customer shops.” London will probably be next, or perhaps a city in Asia such as Tokyo.

Gager is not only thinking globally. French women, he concedes, are a particular audience. “I do believe French women have a distinctive point of view about makeup,” he says. “They’re not really aggressive in their choice of color and they’re not afraid of the aging process. Women in general in Europe are not afraid to age.”

By Katie Becker

March 1, 2013

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OSCARS BEAUTY TREND: NO-FRILLS

The most flattering red carpet looks last night didn’t steal the spotlight from the women who were wearing them.

From left: Jennifer Lawrence; Naomi Watts

Swept Back Hair
Easy, off-the-face up-dos showed off the gorgeous faces of Naomi Watts, Jennifer Lawrence, and Samantha Barks.

From left: Anne Hathaway, Kerry Washington, and Amy Adams

Pale Pink Lips
The light touch of color on the lips of Anne Hathaway, Kerry Washington, and Amy Adams added fullness to their pouts without drawing attention away from their natural assets.

Amanda Seyfried

Spring Smokey Eyes
Amanda Seyfried’s lavender smoky shadow brought out her beautiful baby blues without looking like she had just rolled out of a late night-party.

Charlize Theron

Shorn Locks
There’s a reason Charlize Theron stole the night. Her close-cut crop revealed her perfect shoulders, cheekbones, skin tone, nose… OK, her perfect everything.

Photos: Fairchild Archive

By Katie Becker

February 25, 2013

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Facing the Paparazzi

The one time I “walked the red carpet” was at a launch party for Lady Gaga’s Fame perfume (if you believe that’s me in the photo below, may I sell you a bridge?), and since no one knew who I was, you could hear crickets chirping rather than cameras clicking. To keep the fantasy alive, however, here are the products I’d apply for the Globes or the Oscars if I were ever invited.

Jane Larkworthy's red carpet picks.

Kinara Weightless Infusion Antioxidant Primer: I use this after I cleanse each morning. It’s packed with hydrating niacinamide and antioxidant peptides, makes skin feel post-facial supple, and adds a nice glow. ($80, kinaraspa.com)

Dior Capture Totale Multi-Perfection Makeup Base SPF 25: This primes skin for foundation, and it also gives off “I’ve slept well for weeks” rosiness. ($50, dior.com)

Lorac Touch-Up to Go: Los Angeles–based makeup artist Carol Shaw’s latest creation is genius—its brush-on formula is a concealer and foundation in one. You can dab the brush over flaws a few times until they’re covered, then use it in long strokes on the rest of your face; it blends easily and leaves a dewy finish. ($28, sephora.com)

Laura Mercier Crème Eye Liner and Angled Eye Liner Brush: The liner comes in six shades, but I love the understated chicness of Espresso. And the brush’s angle bends at just the right spot to make creating a heavy femme fatale line supereasy. ($22 and $20, lauramercier.com)

CoverGirl Clump Crusher by Lash Blast: You can coat and coat and coat without ever risking clumps. ($7, covergirl.com)

Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Colour in Précieuse: Even if I’m in front of the klieg lights, I always keep my lips subtle. This nude shade has a hint of peach, lending a bright warmth. ($34, chanel.com)

Clark’s Botanicals Ultra Rich Lip Tint in 24k Kiss: For a bit of a glistening effect, I apply this shimmery balm over lipstick. ($19, clarksbotanicals.com)

John Frieda Luxurious Volume All-Day Hold Hairspray: This spray miraculously creates space between each hair to provide more volume, so a teased ponytail will keep both its height and its thickness. ($7, at drugstores)

Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish: Lena Dunham recently asked Lippmann to name shades for her characters in HBO’s Girls. Personally, I can’t get enough of Hannah, this muted teal color. ($45 for set of four, deborahlippmann.com)

Jennifer Behr encrusted chiffon head wrap in Pacific: This pale blue goes perfectly with Lippmann’s polish and is a nice change from the standard white and silver- and gold-toned bejeweled hair bands. ($595, jenniferbehr.com)

By Jane Larkworthy

February 22, 2013