Hailing from LA, Hourglass Cosmetics is one of the newest makeup lines to hit luxury cosmetic counters. In an already saturated market, it’s difficult to stand out without being really good and luckily, Hourglass Cosmetics is just that. It already has a celeb following including A-Listers such as Nicole Kidman and Angelina Jolie, who apparently buys this by the cartful. What stood out to me about this line was the extremely high quality of its products and the beautiful wearability of its colors. In addition, Hourglass packs in skincare goodies into all its products, creating a truly smart makeup that combines substance with style.

ABOUT THE BRAND: Hourglass Cosmetics is created by Carisa Janes, a beauty veteran who in her past worked with lines such as Urban Decay, Body & Soul and Sugar Cosmetics. She created Hourglass to be an uber-luxurious line from ingredients to performance to packaging. This line launched in May 2008 at Barney’s New York and Sephora stores nationwide. (more…)

When was the last time that you felt like you could buy a really good beauty product at your favorite…grocery store? That’s right - one of the top organic beauty brands, Weleda, is sold at my favorite haunt, Whole Foods. I recently had the chance to sample a few items across their line and I have to say that I’ve been really impressed!

ABOUT THE BRAND: Weleda makes products that suit whatever need you may have - from hair care to deodorants. What’s great is that they really take the environment and your health into consideration. Their products are free of all synthetic preservatives, fragrances, colors and mineral oils. Instead, they are filled with natural goodies such as vitamins, natural root and flower extracts and even things that are edible - like coffee and oats. (more…)

I first heard of Organic Apotkeke months ago at the Henri Bendel Beauty Breakfast where I also had the chance to speak with Dr. Nitasha Buldeo, founder of the line. Hailing from the UK, this cosmeceutical brand made its stateside debut this year and is one of the most rigorously certified organic line of skincare and body products on the market. Now, as we’re learning more about how much chemicals our body actually absorbs from products (5lb per year according to this study), I’ve been paying a lot more attention to organic and green products.

Organic Apoteke’s line of products are all certified organic and free of a wide range of chemicals. Taking it a step even further, the entire line of products is approved by the Vegetarian Society (you won’t find any horse hooves in your facial moisturizer), all the product packaging is fully recyclable, and many of the raw materials are purchased through Fair Trade.

With that said, I also found this line of products to be very effective, which is, at the end of the day, the most important thing I look for before purchasing a product. Now ladies, there’s no reason to be paying for chemical products when you can get just as great results au natural. (more…)

Last month I went to a special press event to introduce us to the launch of M LAB in the US. At the time, the line was still an exclusive to Harrod’s so their website showed prices in sterling. I remember checking out the site before heading the the event and saw that a 6oz tub of the cream cost 600 pounds, or with the exchange rate $1,200! Wowza!!

Well the good news that the 6oz cream costs $650 here in the US (now that’s an exchange rate I can stand behind!) and even though that is still a hefty price tag, it reflects the utmost luxury that is this product (and 6oz is actually very large). But let’s backtrack a little and examine what is actually in these bottles that gives it its going rate. (more…)

Alterna: The Science of Skincare for Hair is a complete set of haircare products crafted as some of the best you can purchase on the market. When I first received my bag of Alterna products from a Coutorture giveaway, I really had no idea how much this line would transform my hair. Around the same time, I got my hair colored for the first time - a harsh process that many would testify can lead to dry, brittle and dull hair. I, however, experienced no such thing while using Alterna’s daily maintenance products (which not even specifically designed for color treated hair) and can say that today my hair is softer, more moisturized and brighter than I think it ever has been.

ABOUT THE BRAND: Alterna claims, first and foremost, to be a technologically-based haircare company, grounded in science to deliver the most luxurious and advanced products to treat different types of hair. The basis of their technology is called Enzymetherapy, which they put in every one of their products. This is their trademarked method that delivers enzymes to help transform their ingredients into a structure that can easily be absorbed and used by the hair. Hence, ingredients they use such as caviar, champagne grape seed oils, arnica flowers cacao extract, and white truffle oils can easily be targeted to the right part of the hair and scalp, in order to be most effective. (more…)

Although a newcomer to the scene, Josie Maran Cosmetics has already worked its way into being one of my favorite makeup brands. This organic, eco-friendly line of makeup products will officially launch this week at the Josie Maran Cosmetics website and will hit Barney’s counters in New York & San Francisco in the first week of October. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a few of her key pieces and let me say- the results have been fantastic!

ABOUT THE BRAND: Josie Maran is a wildly popular supermodel whom you may recognize as the international spokes person for Maybelline for the last decade. As a seasoned industry veteran, Maran developed a passion for makeup- working with top artists to learn everything about it- from application tricks to the best ingredients to use. In 2006, Maran began to develop her own makeup line: she set out to create a set of luxurious yet sensible and healthy products that are completely natural and contain no toxins to the environment. In Maran’s own words: “My tastes are very specific. I crave quality, whether it’s the best fabric, the best food, or the best makeup. I try to surround myself with the best of everything.”

Maran’s line of products come packaged very simply and beautifully in a rosy metallic casings- which are also completely biodegradable! These are definitely products that you can be proud of pulling out of your purse for touch ups. (more…)

Lately, I’ve been trying to expand my horizons when it comes to makeup so I’ve been trying some new brands that I’ve never picked up before. One up and coming brand, Piaffe, has completely won me over and has worked itself into my daily makeup routine.

ABOUT THE BRAND: Piaffe is beauty inspired by perfection. Marie Regan, the founder of Piaffe, was inspired by the art of equine dressage and brought over its essence of precision, grace and sophistication to creating a range of makeup products for the elegant woman. Piaffe’s range of products are all mineral and vitamin based, making it ideal even for sensitive skin. A lot of products contain Vitamins A, C and E for anti-oxidant and anti-aging protection. And best of all, the mineral based makeup looks totally natural and naturally radiant. The cornerstone ingredient that Regan puts in all of Piaffe products is the horse chestnut flower extract, which is a natural ingredient that improves micro-circulation in the skin and boosts the skin’s natural vitality. (more…)

Editor’s Note: I’m excited to introduce a new series called TDO Beauty Spotlight! With this series, we intend to introduce up-and-coming brands and their line of products in detail to you. We hope to expand your knowledge about various beauty brands and assist you in discovering new products that may work for you!

Posh and Becks aren’t my only British loves as of late. A few weeks ago, I discovered an amazing British skincare lined called Elemis that I have not been able to stop obsessing over.

ABOUT THE BRAND: Elemis is the leading luxury British spa with a line of products that is making its way over to this side of the Atlantic. Developed with the latest technology and using the highest quality natural active ingredients, Elemis invests heavily in research and development. A line of scientists and doctors formulate, monitor and test each product from its conception through its clinical trials. Each product must achieve a “statistically significant” effect on the skin before it’s released to market, thus making their products some of the most powerful skincare treatments available.

I don’t know where to start talking about this line of products because I’ve absolutely loved every single product I’ve tried. In order to prepare for this feature, I exclusively used Elemis products for two weeks straight — and the change in my skin has been incredible. Even after a couple of days, my skin cleared up and started glowing; now, at the 2 week mark, I’m confident enough to skip foundation! For me, this line has been absolutely revolutionary. (more…)