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In today’s changing world, it has been said that lipstick is the one beauty tool a woman can count on.  I believe this to be true.

That very tool that women count on varies greatly from woman to woman, season to season and year to year.  I must also add that lip-gloss has now become equally important.  Its texture and finish are as vital as the color itself. The search for that perfect lip color is an ongoing quest that can feel like an impossible dream.

What I know for sure is that women often spend as much time contemplating this relatively low cost – high return purchase as they do when buying a pair of Christian Louboutin heels or a Vera Wang wedding dress.

For nearly twenty years nudes have dominated lipstick color.  They have done so well that for many they have become the only colors that exist. Thank you Bobbi Brown for ensuring that nudes continue to endure in tones so similar one can barely see the difference between pale pinks, beige pinks and brown pinks until of course, you try them on. The challenge then begins as means to zero in on perfection.

And what about red?  Lately we just can’t get enough of it! In this age of visibly powerful women, the red lip is a clear statement of the extreme power of femininity. There are a myriad of options for adapting this into a personal statement.  We not only wish to have red, but it must possess the perfect undertones.

Every cosmetic company will produce a red lipstick, though some do it better than others. Thank you Laura Mercier, for putting red back on the map, Nars for Shanghai Express brick red, MAC for classically matte Russian Red (if your lips can bear it) and of course, Chanel, the line most know for its heritage of classic, luxurious reds.

Possibly the most exciting development for lips is color.  Yes, real live color has made its resurgence- in succulent tones of watermelon, tangerine, cherry, blackberry and more. However, it’s difficult to find the correct interpretations of this seemingly “new” creation so we  have returned to the companies who were  first to finesse the colorful lip such as Dior, YSL and Givenchy. While new companies arise, few really understand the lipstick seeker’s frenzy that’s enough to drive the beauty technician from the cosmetic counter back to the an office job.

Lip color now consists of many hues from neutrals to bright, bright to dark, dark to reds, and let’s not forgets those gorgeous pastels. The difference is whatever shade you choose is a representation of your being.

Remember, this is an era during which lips indeed have taken on a life of their own, becoming the focal point of beauty in this new age. My advice when choosing a lip color is: don’t be shy, but allow your whole self to be there as you decide. After all, this lip color represents all of who you are and whether you choose nude or the deepest red, wear it with conviction, knowing that it may appear to some to be all about the beauty of the lip color. We know that it’s really about the true expression of your authentic beauty shining through.

Quinntin Phelps is the former Global Director of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. A celebrated artist whose work has been featured in the hottest magazines for beauty.

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Believe it or not, you can lose your lust in other areas of your life…like your hair.  Do you look into the mirror and hate your hair…the color, the style…the EVERYTHING? Before you pick up the phone and dial “911 Help My Hair” or even worse…pick up product that can ruin your hair…check out Kelly Van Gogh.

Kelly has been at the forefront of hair color trends for over a decade and is internationally known for her sophisticated hair color techniques that developed a cult following of VIP clients.  She has just launched an amazing new product that will bring back the lost lust to your dull hair!  It’s called Wonderlust.

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Wonderlust by Kelly Van Gogh

Wonderlust Hair Tonic is a patent pending spray filled with mica shine particles that are suspended  in a rich cocktail specifically designed to add protein, restructure and illuminate hair color. Key ingredients include:  caviar proteins, amino acids and strengthening keratins. They all work together to lower ph levels, correct porosity, condition and strengthen your hair.  There are 3 ways to use Wonderlust…before color – to prep the hair and control porosity, during color – to stop the highlighting action of the Heads Up! Highlighting Kit when you like the color, and after color – as a detangler, UV protector, thermal protector for heat styling and a brilliant hair color illuminator.

Celebrity Hair Colorist Kelly Van Gogh

This wonderful spray smells like a lovely blend of jasmine and roses and retails for $30.  It will be available at Space NK beginning February 2010 and at Kelly Van Gogh.

te-see:)

image credit: kellyvangogh