BrandHabit

Promises, Promises -- Relastin Ultra Emollient Cream

by makeupchica

My search for Spanx in a jar is unending. I’m talking the ultimate firming cream, gel, lotion, whatever.  I just want that Wonderbra for my neck and jaw that sucks it all in and keeps it that way. I’m more  than mildly obsessed with keeping that area firm as a video hoochie’s booty well trained dancer’s derriere.  Fortunately  for me, I get to test products here at BrandHabit.  So I was giddy with joy when I received a jar of Relastin to check out.  Yes, my serotonin levels rise when I get to try a new moisturizer with promises of renewed elasticity. Relastin makes promises, but do they deliver?

So this is what the makers of Relastin Ultra Emollient claim:

• Visibly improves skin elasticity and firmness
• Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Helps the body "kick start" elastin production
• Encourages collagen production
• Softens skin texture and tone
• Hydrates and nourishes skin
• Can be used under the eyes, too

 After using Relastin I did find my skin performed well in the “snap test”. (Pinch some skin and see how quickly it snacks back.) It is truly emollient – I used it at night and my skin felt moist in the morning.  And that probably was the one drawback for me, I prefer a lighter consistency.  I love double duty products and you can use this cream in the eye area. YAY! (My obsession in my 40’s was eye cream). Relastin can be used day and night which is great, but I had to layer a sunscreen over the cream which again proved a bit heavy for me for day wear.

 On a side note, Allure named Relastin Eye Silk best anti-wrinkle eye cream in 2007, so I’m craving that uber eye cream right now.  Not to mention that they have now made a neck cream with the same anti-aging properties as the face formula. So considering that I am in utter dread of the turkey neck, it’s on the shopping list.

Note – for all you out there spending your last dime on the latest and greatest product to reverse aging, and you are not religiously using a sunscreen, you are wasting your money.  All that daytime exposure to the sun negates your investment. If there’s daylight, there sun.  Don’t begin to argue with me.

Priced at $99 for 1.7 oz., it’s a wonderful bargain for a product chock full of anti-aging ingredients. 

Bottom line on Relastin, it keeps it's promise. I give it 4 Christian Louboutin stilettos out of 5.

Carla's Oscar Review

Generally speaking, I like to sit back, relax and enjoy the Oscars rather than review the fashion but I thought I would spit out my brief opinion of fashion on the red carpet this year.

 

Before I start , I want to say how much I loved the way the producers had past Oscar winners address the nominees for this year's Best Actress and Actor.  I found it touching, personal and emotional.  Loved it.

 

I also want to say how BUGGED I was that Mr and Mrs high-and-mighty Brangelina would not stop to talk to ONE reporter.  What was up with THAT?  Bug! 

 

Okay: quick review.  My opinions are based on what I saw on TV, not based on photos. 

My favorite outfit, hands down this year goes to Amy Adams who was wearing a deep red Carolina Herrara dress with a FABULOUS

Fred Leighton

necklace.  Amy is a simple girl with fair skin and I LOVE it that she went out on a limb here with color.  (not sure I love the black piping now that I see this in photos but she is stilll my favorite)

 

Penelope Cruz:  60 year old Vintage Balmain.  Couldn't she wait to get married?  This is a pretty dress and Penelope gets extra points for her emotional acceptance speech, but I found the color on her to be drab and I was looking for a veil and flowers. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miley Cirus:  Zuhair Murad dress.  Okay what is this?  Disney Princess?  This is over the top.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jessica Beil:  Prada Dress.  Uh... This looks like there was a competition for who could make a dress in 5 minutes with a piece of fabric and a stapler. Terrible.  This actually looks better in photos than it did on TV.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angelina:  Elie Saab gown, emerald Lorraine Schwartz earrings, and cocktail ring.  LOVE the Jewels. Hate the dress. I am so tired of Angelina looking like Elvira or the Mom from the Munsters. She does this look quite often and I am just plain tired of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vanessa Hudgens:  wearing a modified Marchesa mermaid gown.  TOO dark, not fresh enough for her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winslet: Wearing Yves St. Laurent gown and Chopard jewels.  You know, I'm not sure I love the gown.  There was a moment that I could see her nipples and it felt a bit off to me, but I was blindsided by her beauty.  She is stunning, flawless..A true star!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marisa Tomei: Versache.. cool dress but don’t love the color on her.. would have been fabulous in Green!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sarah Jessica Parker;  Dress by Dior Sarah needs to get away from the cream puff look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anne Hathaway- Armani Prive Spring 09.  Gorgeous Dress, but she needs a tan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beyonce:  House of Dereon.  The print is too big for Beyonce's voluptuous body.. don't you think?

 

 

Jennifer Aniston:  column gown by Valentino.  Jennifer always does this look but I have to say, she does look darling. I love her hair. I'd like to see her go out on a limb one of these days...

There you have it..

Save the Date Bay Area: Presh Jewelry Sample Sale, March 13th

by Carla Morton

Oh dear.  My lust buttons are being pushed.  Some things just DO it for me. Aside from kisses on the neck,  nice biceps and an intelligent wit, I have to admit that Presh Jewelry sends me into the LUST zone with unabashed abandon.

      

Lucky for us and all of you, BrandHabit is sponsoring a Presh Jewlery Sample Sale on Friday March 13th in San Anselmo, Ca.

Prices will be amazing. Lots of stock. We'll have a party of some sort too.

Mark your calendars for an evening of fun and lustful, feverish Presh Jewelry shopping.

The Event will be held at:

Presh Designer Collective

560 San Anselmo Ave

San Anselmo, Ca 94960 

(415)251-9088

Oh, and check out the photos of the models... er.. I mean Presh Jewelry in Sports Illustrated this month.

Want to make sure you are on the invite list?  Become our friend on Facebook!  We are under "BrandHabit" To preview Presh Jewelry go to:  www.presh.net

Go for the gold!

Giveaway Grab Bag is the new place on BrandHabit where you can find out about  giveaways that are worth entering! 

Courtesy of Legendary Gold, you can enter to win one of four glamorous gold cuffs designed by Debra Messing and Robert Lee Morris - proceeds going towards Youth Aids.  For you gold loving girls, pick your fave story about gold jewelry and send it to them at this link: www.instyle.com/legendarygold  You could also be featured in an ad in InStyle magazine!

Don't forget to enter by Tuesday, February 24th!

 

(Pillow) Fight for Love!

by The Devil Wears Marc Jacobs

Only a few more hours til the big day, I am bursting with excitement to see how my Valentines' will unfold! I have already received TWO beautiful bouquets of candy colored roses at work, making my desk look more like a nursery than that of someone who does "serious stuff" at work!

Tomorrow will probably be a fairly quiet, normal Saturday: starting off with a run, lazy breakfast, magazine reading, maybe catch a matinee (Confessions or The Reader), then the obligatory romantic V-Day dinner, somewhere swank hopefully. But this year we will do something different...pillow fighting in Justin Herman Plaza before we head off to chow!  Yes, you heard right, there will be a huge pillow fight among 1000's of peeps looking for some laughs. At first I thought, "who the hell wants to go to a pillow fight on Valentine's Day?" But watching the video of last year's fight made me a believer (you MUST watch, it will make you giddy, and want to pelt your bff over the head with a down pillow!).

If you haven't made any plans official for tomorrow, and aren't busy at PM exactly, the Plaza awaits you! Frustrated, in love, single, happy, spectator, participator, all are welcome.

The Rules as follows:

1. Tell everyone you know about PILLOW FIGHT!

2. Tell everyone you know about PILLOW FIGHT!

3. Wait for the Ferry Building Clock to strike PM.

4. Don't hit anyone without a pillow (unless they want it)

5. Don't hit anyone with a camera

6. HAVE FUN!!!!!

  

This makes me sooo happy to be in San Francisco, lovely, organized chaos!                                                           

Movie Review: "Confessions of a Shopaholic"

by Carla Morton

"How was it?"  My friends asked who knew I was going to the screening of  “Confessions of a Shopaholic” (Thanks to the people at www.Shopittome.com)

Well???  What can I say? I usually enjoy these light fun, easy no-brainer movies.  Some of my favorites include  “The Devil Wears Prada”, “13 going on 30” and “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen”.  Despite poor reviews, I also enjoyed “He’s Just Not that In to You,”  which came out in theaters last week.  But this one felt well… Vapid.

Isla Fisher was cute as Shopaholic, Rebecca Bloomwood.   Like the character Carrie Bradshaw from “Sex and the City” her outfits were entertaining but over the top.  Unlike Carrie however, who is self reflective and endearing I found nothing interesting about her character.  Absolutely nothing.  I mean, as I think about it, all of the movies I mention above include fun, stylishly dressed girls who are going through some sort of personal transformation and growth.  So while the movies are light and fun, they all pulled me in to the story with deeper meaning.

 While Rebecca appears to be going through some personal growth, I never quite believed it.  Even while she is developing a relationship with a handsome and intelligent British man (played by the darling Hugh Dancy), I didn’t feel an ounce of chemistry between them.  Even in the last scene, when he proves his love for her, she is still distracted (during a KISS nonetheless!) by a shiny pair of shoes in a department store window.  Gross.

Thank God I am not a Shopaholic, In fact, some might be surprised to hear that I actually don’t like to shop.  (Continued below...)

What goes through my mind when I shop is quite the opposite of what Miss Bloomwood is thinking:

I think:

• Do I really need this? (Hot Pink Boa)

• How often will I wear it? (Besides New Years Eve)

• How soon will it go out of style? (Jackets with Short Puffy Sleeves)

• Is it flattering to my figure? (Do I look like a Cow?)

• Is it appropriate for my age? (Mid-drift bearing halter top)

• Does it make me look like I am trying to look too young? (i.e., “Housewives of Orange County or “Cougar”)

• Do I have something else in my closet just like it? (black skirts and pants)

• Can I afford it? ( Am I making a paycheck?)

Certainly, I like nice things and a new article of clothing can be exciting, but shopping has never defined who I am, relieved any kind of emotional vacancy, made me late for a meeting, or put me into credit card debt.

Phew.

I’d wait for this movie to come out in video and watch it on a night when you are quietly working on another project at the same time.

 

Stimulus Package!

by The Devil Wears Marc Jacobs

What a week it has been: rumors flying rampant on Chris Brown and Rhianna's abusive relationship, the President's Stimulus bill was passed, Octo-mom's crazy interview with Ann Curry aired, and its only Wednesday.  On top of all that, a very special holiday is near. Valentine's Day, can and should be celebrated by all, whether its with your loving special someone, with girlfriends at a wine bar, or snuggling up by yourself, cashmere blanket and white chocolate truffles in tow.

Personally I have been blessed to spend it all three ways: with my best friends, spending quality "me time", and with my beau! This year hits our fourth Valentine's Day mark together.  I remember our first, in college, we decided this day was special enough to take a personal day off from school--we snuggled in my tiny twin sized bed, and watched "The Notebook"!  This year I want to do something special for him, and found the perfect place to find goodies for both of us, at BestowBoutique.com!

Set a romantic mood after dinner, with sequin pillows  , fur throws  , and a fabulously SEXY silk bra and bikini set  . Light some scented candles, polish off some champie, and turn on the Marvin Gaye.

Next morning: still haven't had your love fill? Let's get cooking in the kitchen, mon chéri . Not your idea of romance? This isn't your ordinary breakfast. Get a little cheeky and turn up the heat, but make sure to put on your dirty apron!  And seduce your love with your innate ability to cook, the fastest way to a someone's heart is through their stomach!

Save some room for coffee, you have a long weekend ahead of you. Serve it up cafe style in these charming cups, and let them know they are your  "hero" (or darling)!  

That sure was one heckuva stimulus package! HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY dears!

My New "Happy" Tool

by Carla Morton

No, it’s not what you were thinking.  It’s not THAT kind of happy tool.

But it comes close.  I mean, what kind of tool makes a girl happier than a tool that gives her a “good hair day”?

At the last Shecky’s event, I went out promising myself that I wouldn’t buy A THING.
But alas, there were some hairstylists at the event coyly wrapping women’s hair around this TOOL with a result of, Voila!  Perfect corkscrew curls. I resisted as long as I could before I agreed to sit in the chair for a demo.

I have thick wavy hair and sometimes, if I can get the perfect blend of hair products,  along with perfect not too humid weather, and a very particular way I twirl, clip and let my hair dry, I can get that cool bo-ho, rocker chic hair with semi rasta-ish curls that aren’t too frizzy.  But if one thing goes wrong in the recipe I can easily look like an over worked mom who hasn’t brushed her hair in days and stuck her finger in a light socket. 

So, you can imagine how I couldn’t resist when I discovered how this new tool would give my hair a polished, corkscrew rocker chic look with out the need to hope for perfect conditions.

Throw out your curling irons and check this tool out: It's on sale for $79 (from $150) here!

http://www.californiahairproducts.com/ginalli-milano-19mm-cylinder-curling-ir19.html

Gossip Girl's Blake Lively wears Bryna Nicole!

bryna nicole handbags

The Bryna Nicole Loyola Satchel "AS SEEN ON GOSSIP GIRL" has landed on Serena Vanderwoodsen and Blake Lively on the streets of New York in numerous colors, and is now coined the "Blake" Bag. Get it while you can in her latest favorite Chocolate Crocodile combination. On February 2nd's Episode, Serena chose to pair it with a stunny slate coat, a great combo back to the chocolate contrast.

Find Bryna Nicole at:

www.brynanicole.com

[email protected]
xoxo,
Gossip Girl

Fashion in a Down Economy

by Carla Morton

I haven't posted a blog in, a loooonnngggg time.  I have to admit, I've been quite stunned with what has happened to our economy and I have been immobilized on what I can possibly write about with regard to shopping and fashion at this time.

Furthermore, since the holidays I have been distraught to hear about the countless boutiques that are closing their doors.  Some of them include local San Francisco favorites: Oceana Rain, Chrissy Bee, Dylan and Los Angeles institution, Tracey Ross. 

My heart breaks for all of these entrepreneurs' faded dreams; for those who tirelessly put their hearts and souls in to their business. And yet somehow I know here will be new exciting beginnings for these individuals.  

I've been thinking about how BrandHabit can help the designers and retailers during these difficult times. 

One of our immediate solutions is that we have opened up our blog to our featured designers and retailers so they can post about hot new products, highlight sales, or offer special promotions for you readers. 

We want to be a resource for the entire fashion community at this time and we welcome your ideas.

Please don't hesitate to let me know your thoughts and what you are looking for!  Email me at [email protected]