Bond No. 9, perfumer to the City of New York, has a new addition to its Bodies by Bond collection, a line of skin care that combines skin-scenting with skin pampering. 24/7 New York Liquid Silk is a collection of 8 unspeakably lush body lotions that soothe the skin while providing the lush scents of the Bond No. 9 fragrances.

The 24/7 New York Liquid Silk Collection retails at $90 and is available in the following fragrances :

• Bryant Park
• Chinatown
• Astor Place
• Chelsea Flowers
• Eau de New York
• Nuits de Noho
• The Scent of Peace
• West Side
• Andy Warhol Success Is A Job In New York

The Bond No. 9  Bodies by Bond Collection also includes Body Silk, a luxuriously scented body cream. I love to give and receive body lotions and creams as gifts. Not only do I like the lighter option of wearing a fragrance, but body lotions and creams are such indulgent products.

Bond No. 9 is sold exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue nationwide, at saks.com, at Bond No. 9’s four New York stores and at www.bondno9.com.

Every year I can't wait for the Estee Lauder Holiday Compact Collection to come out; I am never disappointed in the intricate designs. From a very, very young age, I have always been fascinated by compacts.  Perfume or powder compacts, it doesn't matter.  I love that each compact is a tiny work of art that you stowe away in your purse or display on your dresser.

Unique to the heritage of Estée Lauder are its beautiful compacts and every year since the first pressed powder compact was created in 1963, the company has produced a new edition of collectible compacts. The compacts are inspired by fashion, art, history, nature and even the fragrances themselves. I was thrilled when I was able to view some of Mrs. Lauder's personal collection of compacts (above) in New York last year.  

The Estee Lauder Holiday Compact Collection 2009 features exceptional new designs that include a glimpse into exotic destinations; holiday packages in festive reds and golds; tradition-inspired holiday figures and exquisite designs in a colorful array of luxurious jewel tones. Some of my favorites include:

Golden Lattice Compact:  This festive red and gold compact is filled with Lucidity Translucent Pressed Powder and makes powdering your nose so chic!  Available at Estee Lauder counters nationwide, $49.

Jeweled Tiara Compact: Adorned with crystals in a swirl motif, this pretty compact is filled with Re-Nutriv Intensive Comfort Pressed Powder and is available at Saks Fifth Avenue.  $175

Beautiful Holiday Stocking by Jay Strongwater: Sitting atop a crystal-studded treasure box, a red-enameled stocking is stuffed with a teddy bear, a candy cane, bow and present. Amazing!  Available at Neiman Marcus, $300.

The Estee Lauder Holiday Compact Collection items are limited-editions and subject to availability. 

Beauty411 is introducing a new feature--the Beauty411 Weekend Digest™.  It's a new weekend column that will highlight beauty or fashion news, sales or events, or posts from other bloggers that I'd like to share.  I hope you'll enjoy this feature and make sure to leave a comment!

Here's what made my radar this week:

• Have you heard of BeautyStat? It's a beauty website that has a Facebook application that offers custom recommendations based on a profile you create.  This week, I was a guest blogger on BeautyStat and shared my interview with Jean Godfrey-June of Lucky Magazine. 

• Tarte is having a Friends and Family Event that ends today!  If you use code FFDEC on your online order at www.tartecosmetics.com, you can save 40%!  That's one of the best Friends & Family sales I've seen. Tarte has some great gift sets to pick up at 40% off.  

• Chanel is now on Facebook! When you become a Chanel fan on Facebook, you'll have access to news, exclusive content and insider advantages. You can find Chanel on Facebook here.

• If you live in LA, don't miss the Smashbox Warehouse Sale happening Dec 18-20 at the LA Convention Center.  As a special holiday treat The Warehouse Sale will feature more than 5000 items of Smashbox products starting at just $5! Beauty advisors will be on hand to answer any product questions.   For further information, or to register for an invitation, please visit www.smashbox.thewarehousesale.com.

• SpaWeek Daily surveyed their friends on Facebook and Twitter to ask about their favorite in-home facial.  See the results, including mine, here!

• Teri at Beautiful Makeup Search is giving away a fantastic Clarisonic Plus Sonic Skin Cleansing System.  You have to hurry to enter, though!  The giveaway ends tonight at 11:59 EST.  For all of the deets and to enter, check out Beautiful Makeup Search here.

That's it for this week!  I hope you enjoyed the premiere edition of the Beauty411 Weekend Digest™!

Let me tell you about new Lancome Oscillation Powerfoundation.  It's the next generation in mineral makeup...a foundation that vibrates!  Start with minerals that are good for your skin.  Add SPF 21--one of the highest in mineral makeup foundations, a long-wearing formula and an ingenious applicator.  To me, that's the total package!

With Oscillation Powerfoundation, Lancome is adding to it's collection of products that use vibrating technology; Oscillation Mascara and Oscillation Powerbooster lash primer. 

Lancome provided me with a sample of Oscillation Powerfoundation to try in Beige 40.  It comes in an egg-shaped container with a "stem" on the top.  To apply, you shake the powder a few times, then unscrew the top and lift out the applicator.  You'll see the mineral makeup on the bottom of the cushioned applicator.  Press the button on the side of the applicator and let the power-buffing begin.

There are several reasons that I really like Lancome Oscillation Powerfoundation.  First, I like the way it looks on my skin.  It's not chalky and the power-buffing gives a very natural, matte finish.  Second, it feels good on; it doesn't feel like you're wearing mineral makeup and the formula isn't irritating.  I didn't have any itching or breakouts with this formula.  Lastly, I liked the no-mess factor. 

Lancome Oscillation Powerfoundation retails at $48 and is available at Lancome counters and at www.lancome-usa.com.  Have you tried Oscillation Powerfoundation?  Let me know in the comments!

CHANEL Celebrity Makeup Artist Kara Yoshimoto Bua created a classic Hollywood look for Rachel Weisz for the premiere of The Lovely Bones on Monday, December 7, 2009.  Kara went for a red lip using  Rouge Allure Laque, which is a perfect choice for the Red Carpet, because the formula is densely pigmented and photographs well.  Kara also utilized the Murano Quadra Eye Shadow from the Fall Venice Makeup Collection.

How's your holiday shopping coming?  Need some inspiration?  Then pull up close to your monitor and check out the Beauty411 Holiday Gift Guide 2009.  A little eye candy and lot of good suggestions to get you one step closer to finishing your holiday gift shopping.

Who are you shopping for?

For the makeup artist:  I love the idea of giving makeup brushes and I've personally gifted the MAC brush sets on many occasions. This year, three brush sets are available as part of the Magic, Mirth & Mischief Holiday Collection.  Choose from the Do-the-Trick Buff and Line Brushes, Wave Of A Wand Sweep and Define Brushes and Morning, Noon & Knight Everything Eye Brushes.  Each set comes in it's own bag, retails at $49.50 and is available at www.maccosmetics.com.

For the hostess:  A wonderful way to show your appreciation is with the Crabtree & Evelyn Pomegranate Citron & Mistletoe Hand Care Caddy which is blended with season-inspired notes of pomegranate, citron and English mistletoe.  Botanical extracts of mistletoe and pomegranate soothe and condition the skin.  As an added benefit, the products are free of parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, mineral oil and propylene glycol.  Available at Crabtree and Evelyn retailers, $28.

For the jetsetter:  This limited-edition La Mer Signature Collection features travel sizes of La Mer essentials: Creme de la Mer (1 oz), The Lifting Face Serum (15 ml) and The Eye Concentrate (5 ml). If she's into luxury skincare, this is the set for her! Presented in La Mer's signature gift box, this set is to die for. $240.

For the seductress:  Nothing is sexier than a smoky eye and I haven't found an eyeshadow set yet that is better than the Chanel Smoky Eye Essential gift set.  This set includes LES 4 OMBRES Quadra Eye Shadow in Smoky Eyes, (my favorite Quad of all time!), LE CRAYON KHÔL Intense Eye Pencil in Noir, EXCEPTIONNEL DE CHANEL Intense Volume and Curl Mascara in Noir, LE PINCEAU OMBRE #2 Eyeshadow Brush, a mini DÉMAQUILLANT YEUX INTENSE Gentle Biphase Eye Makeup Remover and a pencil sharpener, in an elegant makeup bag with the iconic CHANEL monogram.  $140.

For the skincare fanatic:  Do you know someone that is into skincare? Dermatologists Dr. Katie Rodan’s and Dr. Kathy Fields’ latest book, “Write Your Skin a Prescription for Change,” tells how to achieve healthy, beautiful skin. This book is an informative, empowering, go-to guide to help women of any age.  Available at Amazon.com,  $24.95

For the diva:  Indulge her penchant and flair for the flashy with Guerlain Sublime Radiant Powder.  A gorgeous black-tasseled atomizer sits atop the bottle, an impressive addition to her vanity or dresser.  Sublime Radiant Powder will illuminate her skin, hair, decollete--anywhere she wants add a sheer sparkling effect.  Available at Nordstrom.com, $85.

For the frazzled:  Who isn't frazzled and stressed around the holidays? Space NK founder Nicky Kinnaird can relate. Life NK is a new signature collection of everyday essentials inspired by her hectic lifestyle and love of ambient fragrance.  Each product and fragrance has been thoughtfully created to suit the body’s moods and needs at different times of the day.  For the person that needs to chill out, the Gingered Woods Candle is perfect.  Available at Space NK, $30.

 

Prescriptives has announced a new Custom Blend Replenishment Program for fans of it's Custom Blend makeup line of foundations and powders.  This is great news!

While the brand will exit counters at the end of January, you'll still be able to order your Custom Blend foundation and powder online (while supplies last!) via the Prescriptives Custom Blend Replenishment program.

To take advantage, visit your local Prescriptives Custom Blend counter in the U.S. now and ask for your new Custom Blend recipe form. Then register your recipe online at https://www.prescriptives.com/customblend and you'll be notified by email when it is available to purchase in January 2010.  It's that simple!

If the makeup lover on your gift list likes trying artist-developed lines that really perform, consider these suggestions from the Julie Hewett Los Angeles cosmetics collection.  I've tried the Julie Hewett line and it's a high quality, high performance, indie-makeup line.

The noelle palette ($42) in a special edition for holiday 2009 includes three exquisite shadows to create a sultry smokey eye paired with a cheekie for a stunning winter flush. stand out at any holiday party... who needs mistletoe!?  Shades include:

• mica - enchanting silver tinsel 
• pola - delicate snow white shimmer 
• java - deep shimmering brown 
• rosie - a sheer, vibrant  raspberry

lip lush set ($49) consists of three of Julie Hewett's best-selling lip lushes in a gift box at a great price! Formulated with essence of ginger, this lip gloss feels great on the lips--not sticky at all.

Shades include:

• harlow - sparks of red and gold (have it-love it!)
• mimi -  perfect sheer pink
• tish - nude 24k gold shimmer

The 6 shade noir collection is a beautiful collection of lipsticks containing the 6 original noir shades: belle, coco, femme, nude, rouge and sin. Highly pigmented color in a glamourous tube, this set is perfect for the drama queen on your list.  $100

You can find these and other giftables from the Julie Hewett Los Angeles collection at www.juliehewett.net.

In many parts of the country, winter has finally reared it's ugly head. No matter the season, you can experience spring anywhere with the new Avon fragrance, In Bloom by Reese Witherspoon. This sweet southern scent, created by Reese exclusively for Avon, combines delicate femininity with seductive allure. 

I've had the opportunity to try In Bloom by Reese Witherspoon and I really like it.  It's a floral, oriental--one of my favorite compositions. I liked the way the fragrance developed from the initial peach and floral blend to the warm wood and amber.  I also thought the packaging was very well done; the bottle is a golden hue, topped with a flower in full bloom and looks much more expensive than $34.

• Top Notes of Georgia Peach Tea Leaves, Crisp Greens

• Mid Notes of Star Gardenia, Magical Magnolia, Night Blossoming Jasmine

• Base Notes of Cashmere Woods, Hypnotic Florals, Amber Wood Crystals

In Bloom by Reese Witherspoon Eau de Parfum retails at $34 for a 1.7 oz. bottle and is available through an Avon representative. To find the representative closest to you, please visit www.avon.com .  In addition to the EDP, The In Bloom by Reese Witherspoon Fragrance Collection includes body products and a limited-edition parfum.

Just in time for the holidays, China Glaze is re-releasing the ever-so popular Wizard of Ohh Ahz nail polish collection!  The original version of the Wizard of Ohh Ahz collection was released in 2001. This year's updated Wizard of Ohh Ahz Glitters sparkle and shine for the holidays.

Colors in the 6 piece Wizard of Ohh Ahz collection include:

• Ruby Pumps: An all time red glitter favorite
• Cowardly Lyin’: Gold frost with specks of gold micro glitter
• The Ten Man: Silver frost with specks of micro silver glitter
• Dorothy Who?: Blue polish with massive amounts of silver and blue glitter
• C-C-Courage: Purple Frost with specks of purple micro glitter
• Good Witch: Pink Frost with specks of pink micro glitter

I was sent the Wizard of Ohh Ahz nail collection to preview and my favorite shade is Dorothy Who?  It's the most gorgeous shade of blue/glitter.  Second favorite would be Ruby Pumps.  For the holidays, you just can't go wrong with this perfect shade of red sparkle.  As you'd expect from China Glaze, the polishes are long-wearing with great color saturation.

Although I'm not a huge green nail polish fan, I do feel an emerald green shade was missing from this collection.  Emerald Sparkle, from the Loves You Snow Much Collection would have been a great inclusion into this one.

The China Glaze Wizard of Ohh Ahz nail collection is available through salons and professional beauty supply stores nationwide, including ULTA Beauty.