Save the Date -- Step Up and Be Inspired!

Date:	June 10, 2011
Time:	11:00am - 2:00pm
Venue:	Beverly Hilton Hotel 9876 Wilshire Blvd. Beverly Hills, CA

Join me for a luncheon benefiting Step Up's charitable programs! Friday, June 10 the Beverly Hilton 9876 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills 11:00 a.m. style lounge networking reception luxury handbag silent auction 12:30 p.m. awards luncheon  HONORING: Christina Hendricks Emmy-nominated actress, Mad Men Catherine Hardwicke critically-acclaimed writer/director Corporate Honoree accepted by Founder Jane Wurwand Host Committee Aisha Tyler, Ali Brown, Aimee Garcia, Andrea Bowen, Ashley Jones, Carri McClure, Elisabeth Rohm, Emily Herakovich, Garcelle Beauvais, Gena Schaublin, Jamil Walker Smith, Jennifer Norman, Kelly Rutherford, Lacey Chabert, Lesley Ann Warren, Lindy L. Huang, Lisa Gild, Liz Dennery Sanders, Melissa George, Ming-Na, Nancy Utley, Rachel Williams, Sarah Jane Morris, Shari Wenker, Stacy Arnell, Vanessa Minnillo Style Lounges Silver Sponsor Davis Wright Tremaine LLP Bronze Sponsors Bingham McCutchen LLP CBS City National Bank Felice Keller Productions MILLENNIUM CORPORATE SOLUTIONS OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network Supporters Accenture Rogers & Cowan SheBrand, Inc. U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management Media Partners    Reserve your Ticket Today! Tickets are $150 for members & $225 for non-members Purchase a ticket for a Step Up teen to attend for $100

Tell them Jennifer Norman (jnolicious) invited you! Learn more: visit our Inspiration Awards website Event contact: for questions and sponsorship information, please contact jamie@suwn.org.

	Beverly Hilton Hotel 9876 Wilshire Blvd. Beverly Hills, CA

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Step Up Women's Network - Event Details - 8th Annual Inspiration Awards - Jun 10, 2011

The Allure Magazine Swag Bag

Call it beauty’s ultimate swag bag. Since 1996, Allure’s Best of Beauty Awards has sent several hundred attendees — including cosmetics and fashion executives, models, top photographers, hairstylists and makeup artists — home with a hard-sided suitcase stuffed with products. The 450 attendees in October came away with a snappy metallic plum and silver suitcase with $2,300 in loot — everything from a 3.4-oz. Calvin Klein Euphoria eau de parfum to a Cover Girl Smoky ShadowBlast in plum.

Still, determining which of beauty’s heavy hitters will walk out with a prize — even though there are 232 awards on average given at each event — is no easy feat, said Allure editor in chief Linda Wells during an interview. 

“We started out doing the Best of Beauty Awards and feeling maybe that this could be a dangerous operation because — what — we’re going to decide one mascara is the best mascara? Where does that leave everybody else? It was a real challenge when we started out, but we realized that we were really careful about how we report on it. We really try everything, and we argue about it and we put it through tests. We have a panel of experts — doctors, cosmetic chemists, makeup artists, hairstylists — who don’t have a financial interest in any company, which is harder and harder to find these days. They help us analyze claims and make sure that the products are living up to [them].

“So we really combine all those things together and then sometimes we just treat them the way that any kind of consumer would,” said Wells. “We use them, and we see how we look in the morning and how we look at the end of the day and after an exercise class or after cocktails. We try products every single day of the year. We’re not just doing it for the October issue and then not looking at it again.” And neither are the winners: Over the last year, 80 of them have used the Allure Best of Beauty seal on their packaging, and, according to an Allure study, the seal helps sell 85 million items a year.

Even those who aren’t selected for an award clamor to include their products in the event’s suitcase, said Allure spokeswoman Liz Bliss. “We accept requests to donate from all brands, [whether they are] mass, prestige or indie — it’s not just exclusive to advertisers or nominated companies,” she said. “The bag is highly coveted — to be in and receive. It is a great opportunity for all brands to get their products into the hands of the most influential people in the beauty industry.”

This year’s edition is scheduled for Sept. 14 at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Start pumping iron now so you won’t throw out your back picking up the swag.


Source: by JULIE NAUGHTON

Posted FRIDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2011

From WWD ISSUE 02/25/2011 WWD MILESTONES ISSUE 02/25/2011 

SWAG ALERT: TEXTURED HAIR RULES « Beauty Undercover

SWAG ALERT: TEXTURED HAIR RULES « Beauty Undercover

Breakfast with Deepak Chopra

Thanks to the Step Up Women's Network, I had an extraordinary opportunity to have breakfast with Deepak Chopra. OK, so I was late. And by the time I arrived, all the muffins were eaten by other eager Chopra-philes and the line for coffee was a city block long. Strangely, that didn't stop me from waiting. Call it pavlovian. If I smell coffee, I'll wait in line for it. 

Anyway, Dr. Chopra's morning discussion was nothing short of awe-inspiring. I won't even try to summarize the profoundness of Dr. Chopra's wisdom-based and humor-injected enlightenments. I think that would probably amount to a karmic sin. Instead, I sneakishly captured most of his discussion and have posted it for you here. It's just too good not to share. Even if you can catch just a few minutes of the 40 total in this video, it will be worth it. Enjoy!

From the Zipper Hall at the Drucker School, Los Angeles

Hottest Fashion Color Trends 2011-2012

Looking for inspiration? Here's a stockpile of references on expert forecasts for Autumn/Winter 2011-2012 fashion trends.

BODYWEAR ACTIVE SPORTS F/W 2011-12 NILIT

Innovative, Primal, Synergy Trends Mpdclick 2011 / 2012

The Must-Have Color Trends For Fall 2011

Autumn Winter 2011-2012 Trend Forecast

SpinExpo Autumn/Winter 2011-2012 Trends PDF

Interfiliere Trends Winter 2011-12

Handbag Trends F/W 20110 – 12, Fashion Snoops

Women’s Men’s Trends F/W 20110 – 12, Fashion Snoops

Women’s Sport Trend F/W 2010-11 Mdpclick.com

Home Report F/W 2011 – 12 Trend Bible

Kid’s Lifestyle F/W 2011 – 12 Trend Bible

Trends 2011/12

Heimtextil Trends 2011/12

Le Cuir A Paris Trends for Autumn/Winter 2011/2012

Trends for Fall/Winter 2011/2012 – SETU Fair Trade

Central Fabrics 2011-2012 fall winter fashion trends PDF

inFASH Fashion Forward Trend Autumn/Winter 2011/12

Trends Forecast Fall-Winter 2011-12 by Cotton Incorporated

MEN’S COLOR FALL/ WINTER 2011-12 DESIGN OPTIONS

WOMEN’S COLOR REPORT F/W 2011-12 DESIGN OPTION

KID’S COLOR FALL/WINTER 2011-12 DESIGN OPTIONS

WOMEN’S MEN’S TRENDS F/W 2011-12 FASHION SNOOPS

images: SIPPO

LA FRESHEST STUFF ON TV

One of my favorite brands, La Fresh, has just launched a new TV campaign with a special offer on Eco-Beauty Waterproof Makeup Remover Wipes and Oil-Free Face Cleanser Wipes. When you order, you get a FREE full size pouch of the luscious Instant Body Soother and single packets of every product in the Eco-Beauty line: Healthy Hand Sanitizer, Acetone-Free Nail Polish Remover, Instant Body Soother, Waterproof Makeup Remover and Oil-Free Face Cleanser in Naturally Scented as well as Fragrance Free.

I provide a demo of how well the Waterproof Makeup Remover works. I kid you not, the product works just as well, if not better, than other products that contain mineral oil and parabens. The La Fresh Eco-Beauty Waterproof Makeover Remover contains 6 natural extracts including Lavender essential oil, yet it doesn't leave your skin running with oil like some eye makeup removers do. I promise, it will be love at first wipe! Check it out at golafresh.com.

Hello Kitty Hits Sephora

She's iconic. She's adored. She's known around the world. Now, Hello Kitty is bringing her playful spirit to a new beauty line presented exclusively at Sephora. This sophisticated collection mixes the essence of Hello Kitty with a touch of style and fun. With charming designs and luxurious formulas infused with ingredients she loves, Hello Kitty Beauty is the ultimate must-have. Hello Kitty. Hello Pretty.

Nutritious + Beauticious + Delicious = BORBA

I am so excited to announce that BORBA skin care, supplements, water and crystalline will soon be available at Walgreens! Working closely with Scott-Vincent Borba (my amazingly talented colleague and ravishing friend), we've created absolutely ground-breaking products for health & beauty from the inside-out.

All BORBA products are loaded with powerful antioxidants from exotic superfruits, and they also contain a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals. I have been hooked on BORBA Gummi Bears for years, and now I get to snack on all sorts of new delicious skin care supplements like the Mighty Energy Gummi Mice (3 flavors of caffeinated yummi gummis), the Slimming Chocolate Chews (helps control appetite with satisfying chocolate chewiness) and the Smart & Sexy Omega-3 Bursts (I get my fish oil fatty acids with an 'I can't believe my tastebuds' starbursty citrus taste).

The topical skin care is a Walgreens exclusive, which means you won't be able to find these items anywhere else except select Walgreens & Duane Reade stores, Walgreens.com and BORBA.com. The focus is on Age Defying benefits, because I've never met a woman who doesn't want to look as young as she feels.

And since so many of us need a little extra TLC during 'the time of the month before that time of the month,' we developed a healthy inside-out regimen to address the stress of PMS (ever dreamed of saying good bye to cramping, bloating, swelling and skin care eruptions? Oh my!). The regimen consists of a 7 day topical skin care kit plus a delicious orange flavored drink mix loaded with healthy vitamins, minerals and botanicals.

Run, do not walk, to your local keyboard right now to pre-order BORBA products on Walgreens.com or BORBA.com. You're skin will thank you!

For the Love of Long Lashes

All my life, I’ve had itty-bitty little eye lashes. Growing up, I probably tried every kind of mascara out there from Lancome to Maybelline in an attempt to enhance them. After a lot of trial and a whole lot of error, I discovered that taking off my mascara would often cause my lashes to fall out! Instead of putting up with it, I just decided to never use mascara. At the beginning of the year, I decided to give Latisse a try (new year, new you, right?). Here’s my ‘before’ shot so you can see just how puny my lashes were.

I updated my Facebook status to read, “Just started using Latisse. Can’t wait to start throwing my lashes over my shoulder.” To my amazement and delight, it only took about two weeks to start seeing results, and it only took about a month for friends, family and co-workers to start fawning over my long lashes. The big joke was that I could give butterfly kisses from across the room. :) Another great bonus I discovered was that my lash roots became much ‘stronger,’ so my lashes don’t fall out very often. Hello mascara, my long lost friend! Today I’m wearing Stila Glamoureyes mascara with the big teddy bear brush. And taking off mascara is no problem at all since I discovered La Fresh eyes & lips makeup remover wipes this year. They’re so gentle, they work quickly and easily to remove even tough mascara without a lot of lash fall out.

Here’s a snap of my lashes today. Can you see the diff?

Live. Life. La Fresh.

People on-the-go know what a godsend wet wipes are. Now, La Fresh Group takes the convenience of wet wipes to the incredibly luscious, good-for-skin and good-for-earth stratosphere.

New La Fresh Eco-Beauty Wipes are made of 100% biodegradable wipes material. Formulas are free of bad stuff (parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals, GMOs, glycols, triclosan, phthalates, PEGs, acetone, dyes, artificial fragrances & animal byproducts) and loaded with good stuff (botanical extracts, essential oils, vitamins). If that wasn't enough, these wipes help cut down how much hot water you use in the bathroom, which is good for the environment and your wallet (hello lower water & heating bills).

It used to be that natural beauty care = doesn't work well. Not so with La Fresh Eco-Beauty. These products stand up to the best beauty-care out there.

Here's the lineup:

• The revolutionary Waterproof Makeup Remover - slips off the toughest makeup with lavender essential oil, won't leave behind a heavy, greasy residue
• The life-changing Acetone-Free Nail Polish Remover - whisks off polish in a flash with an unbelievably fresh, juicy Tuscan orange scent, not a harsh chemical smell
• The delectable Instant Body Soother - infused with peppermint essential oil and a blend of 5 silky, natural oils to soothe away stress and tension from temples, neck, arms or legs in seconds
• The delightful Oil-Free Face Cleanser in natural Yuzu or Fragrance-Free versions - effectively cleanse and hydrate to remove dirt, oil and face makeup without clogging, stripping or irritating skin
• The quintessential Healthy Hand Sanitizer - wipes away 99.9% of germs without alcohol or triclosan, even moisturizes hands and helps strengthen nails

Items are available in convenient flowpacks or portable packet singles to give you the freshest experience with every use. Try Eco-Beauty for yourself - the line makes its debut in October at lafreshgroup.com.

Color Me Yummy

Crayon Food Bars

'Crayon' is a series of food bars by luxirare that are made from various other foods crushed together and formed into cylinders to look just like crayons. The set of bars are each a unique shade that is made from other foods of the same shade. The various foods where selected and crushed into a powder and bound with marshmallow. While each crayon is edible, some are more nutritious than others based on their ingredients. The crayons even draw on paper and come in a box of 8 with a full ingredient list for each shade.

Love and Toast Eclectique

Love & Toast is a naturals line which had its premiere at Urban Outfitters. Margot Elena Wells, the creator, designer and formulator, was conceptually envisioning a loose creative vibe with Love & Toast, what she refers to as “Brit Pop Folk Art.” Drawing influences from Japanese design, Love & Toast also has a Swedish feel about it with its bright colors and simple iconography and many will also notice a nod to the ‘80’s.

Margot Elena took it a step further with Love & Toast by deliberately choosing environmentally friendly packaging to convey her commitment to the natural ingredient deck she worked so many years to perfect. Almost all of the Love & Toast packaging is recyclable, and the paperboard is made from annually renewable and sustainable resources. Margot Elena chose to use vegetable ink because it has proven to be most kind to our eco system as it is derived from a wide variety of sustainable crops.

Margot Elena is also creator of Lollia and Tokyo Milk.

What's Your Fortune, Baby?

"It's astonishingly simple. Mysterio Predicts your baby's future on a t-shirt. There are 12 possible futures, each shirt sewn into a muslin bag, sealed until the parent pulls the red string, revealing their child's exciting future!

The battered wood display crates were printed (and treated) roughly to give the impression that they just got thrown off a boat from exotic, foreign lands."

Designed and Illustrated in-house by Wry Baby.

Absolut Brooklyn

A collaboration with Spike Lee, it has one of the most unique Absolut packaging changes…can you believe they Spike Lee’d the seal?!?! Adding glasses and baseball cap on Lars Olsson Smith! Additionally they have a line from Lemon Andersen’s spoken word poem “Somewhere in the world Brooklyn in da house and you know we won’t stop spreading love cause that’s our way.” on the bottle alongside the silk screened image of an illustrated Brooklyn Stoop, which is #165 as a nod to Spike Lee’s brownstone roots. As for the flavor ~ it is a Red Apple and Ginger flavor ~ “its flavor evokes the spice and vibrancy Brooklyn brings to the big apple”… it’s quite delicious, though a bit jolly rancherish.

Get a Whiff of This...

An article in Slate from took a closer look at human sweat and the Body Odor Wheel to make better sense of it. The article is based on findings by researchers at Firmenich.

"In January, a Swiss fragrance firm concluded after years of study that female perspiration smells like grapefruit, passion fruit, and onion, while male sweat smells more cheesy, rancid, and animalic. Several years earlier, the same firm had analyzed male sweat and detected these flavor notes: chicken broth, butter, vinegar, onion, and grapefruit. The presence of grapefruit and onion--the scent of a woman--in male sweat gives the lie to the notion that men's B.O. is from Mars while women's is from Venus. For this reason, the B.O. wheel expresses gender differences on a gradient."

Vivienne Westwood Bubblegum Scented Shoes

Brazilian shoe brand Melissa makes plastic shoes that smell like bubblegum. From their FAQ: A few years ago, to add to the melissa experience, the decision was made to infuse all melissa shoes with a sweet bubblegum smell. The smell will not last forever – but it does remain for quite a few months and is one of the most talked about features of melissa. Our customers love it! Shown above, two shoes from the Vivienne Westwood collection. On the left, the Lady Dragon shoe, about $150 at Zappos or Saks. On the right, a version for children.

Topshop Colour Pop

The core range comprises 97 SKUs, priced between $8 and $20, available from May in selected Topshop stores and online at www.topshop.com.

Inspiration by hot spots in London, New York, Tokyo, Rio and LA, the matte-finish pale grey packaging is described as "bespoke rough and ready". Cute hand-drawn spots, stripes and smudges were scribbled using the range's kohl pencils. The items are also housed in a matte black box with an illustration of the product inside.

Each season, new trend-led colours will be injected into the core range to offer more scope for creativity, while limited-edition capsule ranges will appear throughout the year, starting with spring/summer 2010 (also available beginning May), an ethereal collection of festival-inspired make-up, and face and lash adornments. Standout products include feathered lashes, gold transfers, metallic crayons and pots of shimmering glitter dust. Each season these capsule collections will be accompanied by a fashion story, which will encourage make-up experimentation.