Beauty News: Anti-Ageing Perfume

Phtoto harveyprince.com

If you care about the way you look and strive to look young - be careful how you smell! Rose is a no-no, grapefruit and apples are the right choice! Cosmeticsdesign-Europe.com reports that fragrance designer Harvey Prince has launched a new scent in the European market that makes other people perceive you as being much younger than you really are.

This new anti-ageing sensation is based on several studies. A study made in 200 showed that that women in their 40s and plus have more than twice increased levels of "2-Nonenal – which is associated with a 'grassy, greasy' odour – as well as higher levels of Omega 7 and lipid peroxides".

Apple photo by Daren Hasten at Flickr.com

Another study conducted by the Smell and Taste Research Foundation in 2005 revealed that "grapefruit-based scent is associated with a younger age group". And finally a study conducted by Rutgers team for Harvey Prince, involving fifteen men in five age groups (starting from 20 to 60 plus) found that "the rose was most associated with older age groups and apple fragrance was most associated with younger age groups"

Harvey Prince says it used the research findings to create a scent that best masks odours associated with older age groups. But of course, the exact formula of the new fragrance is a HUGE and closely guarded secret. All we know is that the perfume combines pink grapefruit, pomegranate, jasmine, mango and soft must... Here you have it - now you can smell younger! The anti-ageing perfume is called "Ageless Fantasy". And the name is true - it is just a fleeting fantasy... remember to keep refreshing it!

I love this video clip from Ellen Degeneres show - beauty recommendations are definitely based on those 2005 studies.... They didn't know then that the rose scent is actually associated with an older age.

Read more about anti-ageing skin care and products or anti-ageing makeup techniques.

Feel like shopping? You can buy Ageless Fantasyonline.

Beauty Buzz: New Makeup Autumn 2008

Yves Saint Laurent

The YSL look for Autumn/Winter 2008 was inspired by "one of Yves Saint Laurents famous designs - the tuxedo". Well, I was not very inspired by the collection.

Here is YSL new collection

Palette Collection for Face- POUDRE COLLECTOR POUR LES YEUX (limited edition)
Collector Powder For The Complexion - POUDRE COLLECTOR POUR LE TEINT (limited edition)
DESSIN DES LÈVRES - Lip Liner (8 new colors)
ROUGE PUR SHINE SPF15 - Sheer Lipstick (14 colors)
EVERLONG WATERPROOF MASCARA - Lengthening Waterproof Mascara (4 colors)
DESSIN DU REGARD HAUTE TENUE- Long-Lasting Eye Pencil (6 colors)

Don't miss this new product from YSL:


Pictured above is SOIN PINCEAU ÉCLAT INSTANTANÉ - Top Secrets Flash Radiance Skincare Brush
"A skin revitalizing complexion enhancer and makeup primer" at Sephora.com

Dior


Dior didn't even announce their Autumn look on their website yet. Nor did they put up any information about the new makeup collection. Well, I think I have searched everywhere at dior.com - wondering if I am blind. I finally found Dior's look for Autumn 2008 on Sephora site. It appeared to be the Dandy look! So there are 2 very different Dandy looks this season: one from Givenchy and one from Dior.

Dior's Autumn Cllection includes:
Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow - Iridescent Leather (limited edition eyeshadow pallette)Photo below

Impression Cuir Leather Couture For The Eyes (limited edition pallette of three pearly, chocolate eyeshadows)

2-Colour Eyeshadow (all the 8 duo eyeshadow pallettes new)

Diorskin Shimmer Star (1 new pallette - Copper Diamond)

Rouge Dior Replenishing Lipcolor (4 new colors)
Crème de Gloss (2 new colors)
Dior Addict Ultra Gloss Reflect (2 new colors)

Feel like shopping? You can buy new Dior Makeup collection online

See other posts for:
- Chanel New Makeup Autumn 2008
- Lancome Autumn 2008 Collection
- Guerlain Makeup Collection Autumn 2008
- Givenchy Makeup Autumn 2008
- Shiseido Makeup for Autumn 2008
- Clinique Look and Collection for Autumn 2008

Feel like shopping? You can buy new Dior Makeup collection online right now.

Beauty Buzz: New Makeup Autumn 2008 Part 4

Shiseido
Shiseido's look for Autumn/Holliday season is Intriguing Elegance.



The new products include:

2 new pallettes of Silky Eye Shadow Quad in Rose Tones and Wood Tones

5 new colors of Automatic Lip Crayon

Accentuating Color Stick

2 new colors of Lip Gloss



Photos from: Shiseido.com

See other posts for:
- Chanel New Makeup Autumn 2008
- Lancome Autumn 2008 Collection
- Guerlain Makeup Collection Autumn 2008
- Givenchy Makeup Autumn 2008
- YSL Collection Autumn 2008
-Dior Makeup for Autumn 2008
- Clinique Look and Collection for Autumn 2008

Feel like shopping? You can buy new Dior Makeup collection online right now.

Beauty Buzz: New Makeup Autumn 2008 Part 3

Estee Lauder

Makes us crave for chocolate with their Autumn Collection in chocolate colours! Yum!

The collection inlcudes: Estee Lauder Signature Eyeshadow quads- 4-colour eyeshadow palettes (come in 2 tones chocolate/caramel browns and berry tone), Creme Caramel Shimmer Powder, Swirl lip gloss (cramel and berry tones), Longlasting Lipstick (in Berry Swirl and Varamel Swirl)

I definately have to get something from this collection... Mostly I am drawn to the Creme Caramel shimmer powder and the eyeshaddow quads in chocolate (but I do have many chocolate/gold eyeshadows already :-(

Photos from: EsteeLauder.com, EsteeLauder.de

Clinique
Clinique's look for Autumn 2008 is Modern Matte.


To get the look you will need the new products:
Defining Liner for Lips
(3 shades: Pomegranate, Cider, Sugared Fig)
Blushwear Cream Stick
(3 shades:Limited Very Blush, Shy Blush, Rosy Blush)
High Impact Lip Colour SPF 15
(3 shades: Plum Nude, Rosette, Go Fig)
Colour Surge Eye Shadow Stay Matte
(9 shades: see below)




Photos from: Clinique.com

See other posts for:
- Chanel New Makeup Autumn 2008
- Lancome Autumn 2008 Collection
- Guerlain Makeup Collection Autumn 2008
- Givenchy Makeup Autumn 2008
- Shiseido Makeup for Autumn 2008
- YSL Collection Autumn 2008
-Dior Makeup for Autumn 2008

Feel like shopping? You can buy new Dior Makeup collection online right now.

Beauty Buzz: New Makeup Autumn 2008 Part 2

In this post: Guerlain and Givenchy

Guerlain
Guerlain’s look for Autumn 2008 is Femme Fatale.


Enjoy limited edition of their Jeu de Dames (A GAME OF SEDUCTION) collection including KISS KISS JEU DE DAMES lip palette and 2 Ombre Éclat - Eyeshadow palettes.





Don’t miss Guerlain's Blush 4 Eclats – a compact available in six various combinations of shades, ideal product for sculpting the face.



Plus there are new Kiss Kiss Lipstick colours!!!


Guerlain also just recently launched a new foundation duo: "PARURE AQUA, a fresh, fluid, feel-good texture that cares for the skin, or PARURE EXTREME, ultra-resistant, for a perfect complexion all day long."


Photos from: www.neimanmarcus.com,shop.nordstrom.com,www1.bloomingdales.com

Givenchy

My first association with Givenchy Autumn-Winter 2008 look was - a rockstar... but according to the creator Nicolas Degennes it is a Dandy - "a tomboy wearing rough diamonds". Well, a very sexy tomboy with rock star smoky eyes!


Achieve the look with the new Prisme Again! Shimmer' Eyes Limited Edition


Prisme Libre! Rouge Interdit Lipstick, Pop Gloss Crystal, Captiv' Eyes volume mascara - everything Limited edition

Photos from: Givency.com

Also check out Givenchy's brand new mascara Phenomen'Eye, High-Precision Panoramic Mascara, with an applicator in the form of a "spherical brush". Looks very interesting!!

See the previous post for Chanel New Makeup Autumn 2008 and Lancome Autumn 2008 Collection

See other posts for:
- Chanel New Makeup Autumn 2008
- Lancome Autumn 2008 Collection
- Guerlain Makeup Collection Autumn 2008
- Givenchy Makeup Autumn 2008
- Shiseido Makeup for Autumn 2008
- Clinique Look and Collection for Autumn 2008

Feel like shopping? You can buy new Dior Makeup collection online right now.

You can also buy Guerlain makeup online .

Beauty Buzz: New Makeup Autumn 2008 Part 1

In this post: Chanel and Lancome
Chanel

Autumn 2008 Chanel style is very gold and... very Chanel.

Image: Chanel.com

The man behind the idea -Peter Phillips, Chanel's Creative Director for Makeup, was inspired by Mademoiselle Chanel's appartment "a unique place with golden covered walls and warm tones"

I love this new makeup collection!

Lancome
Lancome takes inspiration for Autumn 2008 look in India.

Image: Lancome-usa.com

Some other launches from Lancome include limited edition palette called Lotus Splendor which contains two shades of eye shadow and two shades of lipstick

Image: Lancome.de

Also, check out this nail polish!

Image: Lancome.fr

I’ve never seen anything like this before. It is Lancome’s innovation – the texture and applicator are patented. This nail polish comes in a glass jar and is in the form of a cream! I could find it only on the French and German
Lancome site.

See other posts for:
- Chanel New Makeup Autumn 2008
- Lancome Autumn 2008 Collection
- Guerlain Makeup Collection Autumn 2008
- Givenchy Makeup Autumn 2008
- Shiseido Makeup for Autumn 2008
- Clinique Look and Collection for Autumn 2008
- YSL Collection Autumn 2008
-Dior Makeup for Autumn 2008

Feel like shopping? You can buy new Dior Makeup collection online right now.

Beauty Buzz: New Skin Care Products this Autumn

This autumn several new anti-aging products will become available for purchase in stores. Some of them mentioned below.


Estee Lauder comes out with a new anti-aging serum – Perfectionist [CP +], Wrinkle Lifting Serum, Corrector for Lines/Wrinkles/Age Spots.

It contains peptides that, as Estee Lauder promises, provide effective action against wrinkles, lift and restructure. They promise that in just 2 hours you will notice the difference.

Here is how it works as explained at www.esteelauder.co.uk: First, it uses polymers, which work on the surface of the skin to help reduce the amplitude of the movement (folding and unfolding) of the skin's surface. This technology helps "immobilize" the skin's appearance.

Secondly, advanced Wrinkle Lift Restructuring Peptides™ technology allows for the natural redensification of skin's appearance, which helps visibly "plump" the wrinkle out of the skin.


Helena Rubinstein launches a whole new line of anti-aging products: Prodigy Re-Plasty

This line was developed in cooperation with a Swiss beauty clinic - Laclinic-Montreux and inspired by special Mesolift Treatment performed in this clinic. Laboratories of Helena Rubinstein developed a technology to provide the ingredients used in the mesotherapy cocktail from Laclinic-Montreux in its new line of products. These ingredients include Vitamins, Hyluronic acid, amino acids etc. The promised results are lifting, better defined contours, fresher looking skin and enhanced radiance. I couldn’t find any information on HR website about the new line, however there are several news articles as well as announcements in Swiss beauty resources.


Dior expands their Capture Totale anti-aging line with Capture Totale Haute Nutrition Huile Soin Relipidante Multi-Perfection

This concentrated skin treatment comes in the form of oil and is meant for mature dry and very dry skin. In addition to Cenuline –“longevity protein” and Alpha-Langoza it is said to contain triolein complex which helps to repair dry skin. Again couldn’t find information on dior’s official site but the product is already available in Switzerland.

Beauty Talk: Eye Puffiness

I was prone to under eye circles since I can remember. However, you can fix this problem with the help of a mask, a good eye cream and of course a good concealer.

A month ago I faced a much harder problem – eye puffiness… mostly under eye puffiness… If I had a choice between the circles or puffiness I would go with the former. But I did not have that choice – so now I have to deal with both! Puffiness gives me a tired look and on some days I look as if I have not had a chance to sleep for months! So I had to do something about it. I started to look into the reasons why I could have developed this puffiness problem. I tried to research what I could do about it!?

Possible Reasons for Eye Puffiness

Puffiness can mean either fluid retention or inflammation/irritation.
So eye puffiness can happen due to a variety of reasons.

Among the reasons mentioned are:
1.Allergies
2.Heredity
3.Dermatitis
4.Stress
5.Not enough or too much sleep
6.Too Much Salt
7.Not enough water intake during the day or consuming too much water before bed
8.Alcohol/tobacco
9.Hormonal changes
10.Periorbital cellulitis - inflammation and infection of the eyelid and portions of skin around the eye
11.Mononucleosis – “supra-orbital oedema”
12.Crying
13.Moisturizer – too heavy/oily

And the most unpleasant of all the reasons mentioned is “Normal aging”. You can do your best and try to treat allergies or dermatitis, you can change your lifestyle and try to get more sleep, not get stressed too much and stop smoking/drinking… but you can do almost nothing to fight NORMAL aging. The only solution is a cosmetic surgery, I guess.

But normal ageing aside, I looked closely at the list of reasons. Some that fit my situation are stress, lack of sleep, and definitely too much fluid before going to bed: having a couple cups of tea is my evening ritual of winding down. Possible reasons also include an allergy or a heavy moisturizer. However I have not really changed anything in my diet and the moisturizer has not been recently changed either.

In some articles on eye puffiness, authors often claims that puffy eyes are usually only a temporary cosmetic worry. However, you cannot just ignore this problem and hope one day it will disappear. Skin around the eyes is very thin and puffiness stretches it, so in a couple of months eye puffiness can result in saggy skin and lines…

I decided I first would try to increase the amount of sleep (at least 8, better 9 hours) and try to bring down the amount of fluid I drink late in the evening. Since the swelling is most obvious in the morning, I will also test some masks and tips on how to relieve puffiness. One of the first recommendations to test is sleeping with your head elivated, as due to the laws of physics fluid should flow down and there should be less fluid retention under the eyes. Posts on this are coming soon!

Read what treatments I tested to relieve eye puffiness and what I found to be most effective!

Beauty Brand: Guerlain

Guerlain is one of the oldest perfume houses in the world. It was founded by Pierre-Francois Pascal Guerlain in 1828 and and since then more than 300 perfumes were created by this famous house.

Pierre-Francois started from opening a perfume store on 42, rue de Rivoli in Paris. Beginning of Guerlain’s long history of success was marked by Pierre-Francois aquiring the title of Her Majesty’s Official Perfumer (France). This breakthrough followed creation of the famous Eau de Cologne Impériale which was created in the honor of Empress Eugenie and, obviously, impressed her very much.

For years the Guerlain family owned Guerlain Perfume House and most of Guerlain's perfumes were created by the Guerlain family members. However in 1994 Guerlain was acquired by LVMH group.In 2002 Jean-Paul Guerlain retired as a master perfumer but there was no heir from inside the family to take over. Various perfumers have worked for the house since then. In May 2008 Thierry Wasser was named the in-house perfumer.

Famous perfumes by Guerlain include (abridged description from wikipedia):
Jicky (1889): The legend says it was named after a girl who broke Aimé Guerlain's heart when he was a student in England. It is also widely admitted to be the first "modern" perfume as “Jicky was among the first perfumes to incorporate synthetic odorants (vanillin and coumarin) in its composition”,
Mitsouko (1919): Named by Jacques Guerlain after the heroine of the novel "La Bataille" by Claude Farrère. Mitsouko is said to herald the ending of World War I.
Shalimar (1925): Still considered a flagship perfume by Guerlain. Shalimar was named after the garden in Lahore, built by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, Shalimar is one of the first perfumes to successfully incorporate large amounts of vanillin in its composition.
Après L'Ondée (1906): The name translates as "After the Heavy (Summer) Shower", Après L'Ondée’s composition includes iris, violet, rose, hawthorne and hesperedic notes.
L'Heure Bleue (1912): Meaning "The Blue Hour", L'Heure Bleue although similar to Après L'Ondée in its pastry and almonds core, L'Heure Bleue is much less bright and more melancholic.

Guerlain is known not only for its exquisite perfumes but for a luxury range of skin care products and makeup as well. Guerlain values tradition and quality above all. That is why ingredients used to create skin care products as well as perfumes are carefully selected to be among the best in the world. Guerlain’s skin care lines combine the benefits of natural herbal extracts (like desert rose, lily) as well as ingredients developed with the help of scientific and high-tech (such as pro-endorphins complex or nutridiol etc.).

Guerlains skin care products comprise following lines:

Super Aqua: a range of moisturizing products based on desert rose extract
Happylogy: a skincare range based on “pro-endorphins complex” and intended to prevent and treat first signs of aging in mid 20s – mid 30s
Success Future: promises firming and anti-wrinkle effect
Substantific: aimed at helping skin to retain better density and nutrition and fight against changes caused by hormonal fluctuations, for very mature skin
Orchide Imperiale: contains orchide imperiale molecular extract. Orchid is believed to be an exceptional anti-aging and anti-oxidant ingredient.
In addition to the above listed lines Guerlain offers complementary products intended for a specific problem or a specific effect. One of the examples is a unique skin care product called Midnight Star Treatment. It comes in small capsules that promise to revitalize your skin and make it glow in a matter of seconds.

Makeup range from Guerlain includes a big selection of products from foundations to nail polish. Some well known, beloved by women and very popular products include:
Meteorites Powder: Loose powder that comes in the form of small beautiful pearls of various colours (pink, white, mauve, green). As Guerlain explains: “Each colour has a specific use. The pink gives a healthy complexion, the green plays down redness, the mauve attracts light, the white brightens the complexion, the gold and mother-of-pear bring radiance and highlights.”
Terracota line: This line includes various bronzing products for the face and body as well as eye shadows and lipsticks to go with the colour. Guerlain offers in this range everything you can imagine to look beautifully suntanned and glamorously bronze at any season.
Kiss Kiss lipstick: Luxury lipstick with a wide selection of shades. Does not dry out your lips.

Sources:
Guerlain's official website
Guerlain Wikipedia article about Guerlain

Read more:
Beauty Shopping: Guerlain Boutique in Paris

Feel like shopping? You can buy Guerlain products online

Beauty Talk: Thermal water sprays

Photo by Hypergurl
During summer a spray with thermal water is a must-have. On hot summer days, it saves our skin from dehydration in the office or at the beach. I also use it year round to soothe my skin if it feels sensitized or irritated. And finally, some use thermal sprays to set in makeup, which I don’t really do.

When my husband saw me buying another thermal water spray (my favourite is Vichy), he couldn’t hide his bewilderment – “It’s just WATER!” – he said, “Just water in a spray!” He expressed his amazement at the talent of the marketing people who managed to sell “just water” to appearance-concerned women. I had to explain that it was not “just water”. Thermal water contains minerals and elements which are useful for our skin; it moisturizes and soothes the skin. At this point I exhausted my knowledge on the point under discussion. However, just recently I came across 2 articles on this topic: one from Mini, women’s magazine by Burda (Russia, August 2008) and the other at www.ellecanada.com. I found some interesting facts that I want to share.

First of all, “Thermal” means that the water was located deep underground and its temperature reached 20-63 degrees Celsius. Higher temperature means higher concentration of minerals.

Photo by Mikecpeck
According to Mini, thermal waters are classified based on concentration of salts:
1. hypertonic – high in salts
2. hypotonic – low in salts
3. isotonic – close in composition to blood serum

Thermal waters from Vichy, Avene and La Rosche-Posay are hypertonic.
Thermal Water from Vichy contains 17 minerals and 13 microelements. It is very effective at soothing irritated skin.Vichy water also relieves swelling and strengthens skin’s immune system. Elle Canada quotes Caroline Debbasch, scientific communications director at Vichy Laboratoires International: “Clinical studies show that this mineral-rich water fortifies the skin, restores pH balance and protects against external aggressors like pollution”.
Avene thermal water is rich in silica and can be used on sensitive skin to sooth irritation.
La Rosche-Posay Water is high in selenium and provides natural anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory action.

Water Cauterets doesn’t come in a spray. It is an important ingredient of Galenic’s Cauterets line of skin care. This water contains sulfur and together with Uriage Thermal Water belongs to the isotonic group. Sulfur in Cauteres produces a sebo-regulating and mattifying effect on the skin. According to Mini, Uriage water contains “inert gas nitrogen”. It is highly moisturizing and delivers moisture to the upper layers of epidermis. According to Uriage website, “As well tolerated as a physiological serum, it alters neither the size nor the volume of the cells. URIAGE THERMAL WATER is suitable for all skin types, even the most sensitive and reactive.”

I did not find any examples of hypotonic water sprays. Mostly hypotonic waters mentioned in descriptions of SPA facilities offering treatments with water from hypotonic thermal springs.

How to apply thermal water? What kind of rules can there be about applying water?! – you’ll say. Surprisingly enough there are some recommendations. As Mini writes, if you are using a hypertonic water, spray it on the skin and after 30 seconds wipe your skin dry. Otherwise it can cause “loss of hydrofixators of epidermis” and loss of moisture as water will be naturally drawn from the skin to the salt, as the author explains.

There are also other kinds of water sprays that are mostly referred to as mists. But that’s already a different story.

Beauty Fact: Lipstick Theory

Did you know that lipstick sales are linked to the state of the economy? But not in the way you might think!!

This is called Lipstick Theory. The first to suggest the relation between beauty products sales and the state of the economy was the former head of Estee Lauder – Leonard Lauder. If you expect lipstick sales go down during the hard times, you are wrong. On the contrary, they go up! And “the thinking behind the theory is that consumers turn to inexpensive luxury goods such as lipstick to console themselves” when the higher priced pleasures are out of their reach (www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com).

Another surprising statistical fact has been recently revealed by Kline, a consulting & market research company. "Our data shows that for every 1% increase in the unemployment rate, women buy $25 million more lipstick during the year." (see this article)
Kline analyzed 50 years of lipstick sales and confirmed that the Lipstick Theory is real.

Beauty Digest: Beauty Reading in July

Here is a short overview of articles from various fashion and beauty magazines I have been reading this July.

Editors of the of Marie Claire UK are concerned that, while the summer is at its peak, we have not yet made the right decision about the sun block and might be cooking ourselves to a crisp at the up-coming vacation. So Marie Claire features an easy-to-understand guide to skin type (according to Fitzpatrick system) and the perfect SPF. I am definitely a skin type III: “usually able to get light tan in time but, without care, you’re still prone to burning.”… It appears I can use “any type of sunscreen, as your skin won’t be that sensitive”. And, in fact, as it is recommended in the article I do usually use spf 15 on the body and 30 on the face… However, last two years I have been developing sun allergy on vacations by the sea, so I use 30 SPF on the face and body and lie in the shade.

Elle Magazine US has a spotlight on Hyaluronic acid, interviews makeup artist Mark Carrasquillo on makeup tricks and best products, and reveals favorite beauty products of superstars such as Leona Lewis, Lil’ Mama, Estelle, etc. A skin remedy from Leona Lewis caught my attention. She uses Huggies baby wipes to remove her makeup after a hard day at a shoot or a concert. Interesting idea! For those who feel enslaved by their hair salon, Elle runs a long and detailed article on how to break free. I am hardly enslaved but would never experiment at home alone, so I kind of skipped this piece. I did read the article Terms of Endowment revealing that if you decide to have a breast augmentation, it most probably won’t be your first and last one… That is what statistics show. Various unpredictable side effects of the operation resulting from scar tissue formation to changes in body fat level and leakages will land you at the doctor’s once again sooner or later.

Further on the topic of plastic surgery, German Jolie magazine featured an article on plastic surgeries/corrections gone bad. And you can see how bad in the photos. When deciding on a plastic surgeon, they recommend to be critical, “trust your gut feeling”, be very careful with OPs (that are much cheaper) in foreign countries and make sure you are in the hands of a professional.

Russian Vogue with the beautiful Natasha Poly on the cover reminds that aqua colors are in this summer, gives not a very timely explanation on how to do makeup in style of noir “for a gothic party”, Carnival and Halloween . It also runs a very useful article on moles and their potential carcinogenic danger. The advise is to remember about the ABCD rule. Be worried if: A (asymmetry) – your moll is asymmetric in form or color, B (border)- borders are not smooth, C (color)- is uneven, D (diameter) – is more than 6 mm.


In Style US gives great advice on how to do a Minimalist Makeup, writes about ways and products that can help you to get a brighter smile and features A Lazy Girl’s Guide to Your Best Abs. In the latter you will find several “no-sweat” excercises that you can do while indulging into things you love. I personally think this will work only for those who are good at multi-tasking. As for me, I cannot enjoy a novel while lying on the floor with feet flat, exhaling as I “pull in at my navel and the abs just below it” and at the same time curling my bottom slightly up. BTW, don't miss a fun interview with Cameron Diaz!

Beauty Shopping: 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!


Read more about

Guerlain beauty products: make-up, skin care, perfumes. Shop online!

Guerlain's official website

La Maison Guerlain