Isabelle Armstrong – Spring 2016 Bridal Collection

If you’re getting married over Valentine’s Day and you’re not afraid of the bold romantic statement.  There’s no better way to make an entrance on your big day than in the color of love. Isabelle Armstrong’s dramatic ruby ball gown is perfect for any Valentine’s Day!

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About Isabelle Armstrong

Isabelle Armstrong is a luxury bridal collection headquartered in New York City, creating beautifully crafted gowns that epitomize elegance, glamour, and allure. The exclusive design house is comprised of a select team, which combine their talent and experience to create beautiful, sophisticated pieces. Each gown is made with a precise attention to detail—from perfect pleats, delicate drapery, to the highest quality of fabrics and materials—which place the Isabelle Armstrong Collection on the highest tier of wedding gown designers. Less than 2 years old, Isabelle Armstrong is making waves on the bridal scene with features in Martha Stewart Weddings, Destination Wedding, LA Times, ClassicBride, Sophisticated Living Weddings, AOL style and Brides. For more information please visit www.isabellearmstrongny.com

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Luxury bridal design house Isabelle Armstrong showcases their 2016 collection. Classically elegant and naturally beautiful, Isabelle Armstrong kept timeless design in mind while using beautifully draped silks, hand beaded fabrics, delicate laces and textured fabrics this season. Looking for WOW? Check out their gorgeous red showstopper perfect for Valentine ’s Day and every day in between!

Trends from left to right:

Pantone Colors:From pale pinks to beautiful blues, Isabelle Armstrong delivers the most important colors of the season

Bye Bye Blush: It is all about new colors, Blush is old news, but Icy Blue and Peach are reigning supreme.

The Cold Shoulder: This spring’s most important body part is the shoulder, and they are being dressed to the nines this season.

All in the Details: Brides are going gaga over special details, beading, sequins, laser cut leather and embellishments.

Sebamed Liquid Face and Body Wash – Drugstore Beauty Steal

Meet Sebamed Liquid Face & Body Wash. Perhaps the greatest multi-tasker of all time, it’s a dermatologist developed wash that’s pH balanced at 5.5, the exact pH of healthy skin (body, face and scalp).

It’s already the #1 selling wash for sensitive skin in 85+ countries, including its native Germany, and is now available stateside at CVS, RiteAid and Walmart.

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Christina Milian Sequin Gown – People’s Choice Awards 2016

[youtube height=”720″ width=”1280″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrFgX4Ho-wQ&list=PLCBQknFuC48CCunhsdbQtEL3NaxKVhwg2&index=22[/youtube]

Christina Milian wore a sequin, fish-tail gown and coordinating shoes to The People’s Choice Awards 2016.

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Anya Liesnik – Instagram Photo

Her total look was from the following designers:

Gown – Anya Liesnik

Shoes – Tom Ford

Clutch – Lillian Shalom

Stylist – Icon Billingsley

 

Winter Skin Beauty Products 2016

Below are great winter skin beauty products 

C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve No. 012

A favorite since the early days of C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries, this product offers soothing rose extract to help ease irritation and condition the lips. The Rose Salve can also be used on your face, elbows, knees and cuticle to help condition chapped and dry skin.

Price: $5.50

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Mally Beauty H3 Lipglosses

Obtain triple the hydration and gorgois, luscious lips with this pout-perfecting gloss. Get enviable, fierce coverage with this ultra-moisturizing high-shine gloss that is formulated with antioxidants and plenty of moisture, this gloss will leave your lips full and sparkling.

Available in six shades: Shimmering Nude, Sweet Peach, Tea Rose, Perfect Nude and Orchid Berry at ULTA.com

Price: $20.00

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NUDE Skincare ProGenius Omega Treatment Rescue Oil

NUDE Skincare ProGenius Omega Treatment Rescue Oil refines and helps skin recover with natural antimicrobial and healing, protective ingredients. Bakuchiol (ba-koo-heel) from India serves as a natural alternative to retinol, helping smooth and refine skin without irritation. A trio of potent antioxidants, coleus root, rosemary and thyme extracts, are natural purifiers that clarify skin and defend against daily pollution and stress. Virgin, cold pressed, organic rose hip oil—grown in the pure soil and air of the Chilean Andes—smoothes and nourishes skin with vitamin C and omegas 3 & 6. A rich botanical complex of papaya, hibiscus, and wild carrot root extracts with vitamins A, C, E and omegas locks in essential moisture. This fast-absorbing, featherweight treatment oil is a true lifesaver for everything your skin faces each day.

Price: $68

Available: Sephora.com

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PÜR™ Eyedentity Luxe Firming Eye Cream

this eye cream helps to firm and tighten the delicate skin around your eyes, while minimizing the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Formulated with intensive hydrators and nourishing antioxidants, the cream utilizes the renewing power of lactic acid to fight age markers. A key peptide helps to prevent future damage and soothing Shea Butter conditions skin for a soft, smooth complexion.

Price: $49

Available: purminerals.com

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PÜR™ Lip Lure Hydrating Lip Lacquer

Give your lips a burst of hydrating color with this alluring lip lacquer. This unique formula features a blend of Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Avocado Oil, and Jojoba Seed Oil, which forms a protective barrier on lips to naturally prevent water loss. This rich, creamy, full-coverage lip color offers a natural shine leaving no residue behind.

Available shades: Belle, Graceful, Fancy, Fiery, Mystic

Price: $22.00

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Mission Grove by Soap & Paper Factory. Made in small batches in the USA, the items are made from the finest oils and extracts like meadowfoam, borage seed, and jojoba and contain aromatherapy oils. Each product is free of sulfates, parabens, petrochemicals, phthalates and comes stylishly wrapped in paper featuring one of Soap & Paper Factory’s unique designs, along with a chic closure made from natural bamboo.

The new collection features four core fragrances designed to refresh and restore the senses:

  • Sakura: This relaxing and restorative fragrance balances apple and citrus with sweet heliotrope for a perfectly calming combination.

  • Madagascar Vanilla: Deep, sultry notes of bourbon add an intoxicating richness to this soothing vanilla scent.

  • Fig & Honey: Refresh the body and clear the mind with this heady fragrance that combines earthy figs with sweet honey.

  • Cardamom & Coffee: Spicy and stimulating, this complex fragrance combines cardamom and coffee with geranium and sandalwood to detoxify the spirit.

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Tammy Fenders Epi-Peel.

This five-minute exfoliator, mask and peel in one instantly revitalizes the skin. For a smooth complexion, simply coat and dry your skin with the clay mask and peel it off five minutes later. Enriched with Hibiscus and Grape Seed Oils, this peel relieves irritation, promotes circulation and removes toxins from the skin. This unique holistic formula also stimulates the flow of chi, the body’s energy, to enliven the spirit and stimulate clarity, bringing vibrant and healthy skin from the inside out.

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Price: $80

Available: TammyFender.com

Ann Taylor Pantone’s 2016 Rose Quartz and Serenity

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It’s officially 2016!  Get a head start on incorporating Pantone’s hottest colors of the year – rose quartz and serenity – with the help of Ann Taylor. Add a touch of the refined rose tone and cooler tranquil blue in everything from pleated skirts and polished heels to sleek clutches and effortless winter wear.

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Luster Premium White: Smile Whitening Kit and Stain Eraser Toothpaste Review

It’s a new year which means we have health and beauty goals.  I am always an advocate for exercise and fitness but we can’t forget about the state of our dental hygiene.  Luckily, Luster Premium White has some great products that will remove surface stains, enamel safe, and peroxide whitening.

I had the opportunity to review both the Smile Illuminator Instant Whitening Kit and Power White Deep Stain Eraser Fluoride Toothpaste.  The products made my teeth look amazing!  I truly noticed a difference (in my teeth) after three days of application.

Luster Premium White Smile Illuminator Kit
White Smile Limmunator Kit

The fluoride toothpaste directions state, “brush teeth thoroughly at least twice a day.”  I would suggest taking this to the next level by flossing the teeth/gums prior to brushing.  Also, I prefer the use of a spinning toothbrush for additional polish and stain removal.  In regards to the instant whitening kit, please remember that each product in the box has specific steps to achieve results.

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Power White Fluoride Toothpaste

The last tip is to combine both of the products for an even brighter appearance.  The best way to boost your confidence is with a great smile!

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Holiday Smile

Target Style – Red Cable Sweater and Faux Leather Leggings

There are so many reasons why I adore this holiday outfit.  Number one, I had no idea what to wear while visiting my family for the holiday season.  Number two, I was striving to look stylish and comfortable.  Number three, I’m a mom of two boys (and stepson) and my holiday budget consisted of several additional gifts.

Kim West Target Style

I was pressed for time and needed to finish packing!  On a last-minute shopping trip (for wrapping paper) I spotted this gorgeous red cable pull-over sweater in Target.  It was on sale and paired nicely with my faux leather leggings.  I also wore my Guess booties for a chic, edgey look.

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Both pieces can be worn with a variety of different items; such as a classic button-down shirt, denim jacket, or fur vest.  The possibilities are endless!  I love it when a great fashion moment happens on a budget.

Women's Ripe Red Cable Pullover Sweater - Merona

Dr. Brandt 3-D Filler Mask at Sephora

[youtube height=”720″ width=”1280″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DYfVRoBfKw[/youtube]

brandt® skincare is excited to announce its collaboration with Kristofer Buckle, a celebrity makeup artist beloved by Hollywood’s A-list. To kick off­ this exciting initiative, Buckle – one of the most sought after contour experts in the business – will star in a how-to video that highlights the newest trend in beauty: contouring without makeup. A game-changing technique made possible by dr. brandt skincare’s latest innovation, needles no more™ 3-D Filler Mask, it allows you to reshape, revolumize and fill facial contours, for a more youthful look.

THE INSPIRATION: Dr. Brandt believed that the convexities and concavities of the face – and the way light reflects off them – play a major role in revealing our true age. By changing the way light bounces off the face, needles no more™ 3-D Filler Mask makes it look naturally younger and more attractive. The formula melts into skin to enhance cheekbones and create dewy highlights. It’s what the art of contouring is all about, yet works without layers of product.

THE TECHNOLOGY: A unique, skin-plumping formula inspired by the latest injectable fillers, needles no more™ 3-D Filler Mask restores lost volume and fills in wrinkles and folds for a softer, lifted, more youthful look. Packed with Adipofill’in a revolutionary plumping complex, combined with hyaluronic acid (the key ingredient in dermal fillers, which absorbs its own weight in water to pull moisture into the skin), and rejuvenating peptides, the self-sculpting blend counteracts the classic downward droop that comes with age. Use it daily for a noticeably smoother, softer, more refreshed look — or anytime you want to lend your face youthful dimension and a healthy glow.

JUST IN TIME FOR THE NEW YEAR: Filled with invaluable contouring and anti-aging tips that anyone can use, the new Kristofer Buckle/dr. brandt skincare video will premiere on youtube and at drbrandtskincare.com. Now available at drbrandtskincare. com, needles no more™ 3-D Filler Mask will launch at Sephora in January 2016.

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Enoch Pratt Free Library: Food for Fines 2016

The Enoch Pratt Free Library is partnering with the Maryland Food Bank in the month of January for Food For Fines.

From January 4 to January 31, donate a canned food item at any Pratt Library location and receive a $1 off any library fine.

There is no limit on the amount of cans that can be donated. For example, 5 cans = $5 off of your library card fines. Canned goods must be unopened and unexpired to qualify. To participate, just drop the cans off at the Circulation Desk of your local Pratt Library branch.

“We are encouraging our library patrons to help fight hunger in the Baltimore area. This campaign helps our neighbors and helps you reduce your library fines,” said Carla D. Hayden, Chief Executive Officer of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. “The holidays are over but the need is still there. Baltimoreans and Marylanders stand by each other and this campaign is a way to continue the holiday spirit into the new year.”

In January 2015, the library collected more than 10,700 pounds of food for the Maryland Food Bank feeding more than 7,000 meals.

“The Food for Fines campaign is an inspiring example of how communities can come together to prioritize hunger,” said Deborah Flateman, President & CEO of the Maryland Food Bank. “It’s a win-win for everyone, and it’s a helpful reminder that hunger is a year-round struggle, one that doesn’t end once the holidays are over.”

Enoch Pratt Free Library

The Enoch Pratt Free Library, the nation’s first free library system, opened its doors in 1886, the result of the generosity and imagination of businessman and philanthropist Enoch Pratt. Mr. Pratt envisioned a public library where “races, ages, and socio-economic classes mingled and people could educate themselves – without cost,” and his passionate belief continues to guide the organization. Today’s Pratt Library – Baltimore’s public library and the Maryland State Library Resource Center – consists of the Central Library, an anchor library, 22 branches, two bookmobiles, Pratt Centers for Technology Training, and the Regional Information Center. The Library’s mission is to provide equal access to information and services that support, empower, and enrich all who pursue knowledge, education, cultural enrichment, and lifelong learning.

Maryland Food Bank
About the Maryland Food Bank: The Maryland Food Bank is a nonprofit hunger-relief organization, leading the movement to end hunger throughout Maryland. For more than 35 years, the Maryland Food Bank has partnered with communities across the state to distribute food to individuals and families in need. Through carefully-crafted programs, the food bank aims to meet the immediate needs of Marylanders while simultaneously working to find long term ways to reduce hunger statewide. Currently distributing more than 120,000 meals per day — nearly 44 million meals annually — the Maryland Food Bank will continue to expand its efforts until hunger ends. To learn more about the Maryland Food Bank, visit mdfoodbank.org.

For more information about the Pratt’s Food for Fines campaign, visit our website at www.prattlibrary.org. Also look for the Pratt on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube.

Remember at the Enoch Pratt Free Library:  “Your journey starts here.”

 

 

 

prattlibrary.org  400 Cathedral Street  Baltimore, MD 21201-4484  p 410-545-3115  f 410-396-8134

RIMMEL LONDON LAUNCHES THE LONDON LOOK INTERNATIONAL CONTEST WITH RITA ORA

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From 21st December 2015, Rimmel London is inviting make-up addicts everywhere to reveal their vibrant personalities and make-up skills by creating their own London Look via video or picture. Entrants could win a once-in-a-lifetime experience – the opportunity to jet to London to meet Rita Ora and work with her team of Rimmel London experts in the YouTube Space, a state-of-the-art video production studio. Winners will use the latest YouTube technology to film the ultimate beauty tutorial. And if they impress Rimmel, they could become a global Rimmel ambassador, continually creating new online content for the brand. Celebrity status beckons!

Entering is simple: create your best London-inspired make-up look and upload your video or picture on RimmelLondon.com, or follow Rimmel and tag your entry #LONDONLOOK on Instagram and Twitter. Experience in creating videos, pictures or vlogs isn’t necessary, the judges are looking for original ideas, style and attitude.

Rimmel’s Top Tips For Creating The Perfect Entry

Mix It Up: Look at what’s been done before, try to be different and stand out from the crowd.
Have An Idea: Phone box red lip? London eyes? Create a fun theme and title to help viewers understand your #LondonLook.

Set The Stage: Find the perfect backdrop with everything you need at hand.
Lighting: Make sure your face is well lit so it’s easy to see the details of your make-up creation.
Product: Let viewers know which Rimmel London products you are using so they try the look themselves.

Attitude: Be as descriptive as you can and show-off your fun side.
Edit: Cut out any mistakes or boring bits to make your video entry flow more smoothly.

The London Look International Contest With Rita Ora is open from 21st December 2015 until 22nd January 2015. For entry details and contest rules, log onto RimmelLondon.com.