The Organic Skin Co. Lip Service Collection

Tis' the season for bold, festive lips!  The holidays are finally around the corner (yippee!), and I can't wait to start dressing the part.   The holidays are a fun time to experiment with colorful new lippies, and The Organic Skin Co. have a bunch worth checking out.

Infused with organic calendula and rosemary superficial extracts, Ruby Red and Blossom come from the brand's Lip Service Collection, and are perfect holiday shades.  

  

 Ruby Red is a rich, brick red that isn't too loud.  It's bold and looks great paired with a smoky or nude eye.  The texture is creamy and smooth, and the coverage is buildable.  It's on the matte side, but has a slight sheen and isn't drying at all.  The brand actually advertises that prolonged use is supposed to leave you with healthier, more supple lips.

 

 Blossom is a deep, bold pink and I like this one a lot.  It's almost like a muted hot pink, with a hint of red that gives it a darker look.  It's bright, but not exactly vibrant.  It's great for those who like to make a statement without being too flashy.  Both lippies are super hydrating, free of parabens, nanos, bismuth oxychloride, gluten, talc, and have great wear time.  

The Organic Skin Company is Vegan certified, as well as cruelty free.  Their products are also great gift ideas for the beauty lover on your list!  

You can shop their whole line here.

New Launch: CAILYN Cosmetics The Bulgarian Rose Make Up Primers

 CAILYN Cosmetics has recently launched two brand new make up primers; The Bulgarian Rose Water Make Up Primer and The Bulgarian Rose Oil Make Up Primer.

 

The Bulgarian Rose Water Make Up Primer is advertised as a "water- like serum with instant brightening effects, featuring Bulgarian Rose Oil and precious natural ingredients that add natural luminosity to the skin, and create a makeup ready complexion".

The rose oil is supposed to act as an emollient that moisturizes the skin.  It also contains vitamins A,C, & E to help reduce fine lines, as well as four unique fruit oils that are supposed to leave your skin feeling smooth instead of greasy.  The micro pearls are there to add a subtle glow.  

I enjoyed using both of these primers.  I applied the Rose Water primer in the morning time, before my foundation.  The mirco pearls offered a subtle, but dewy glow.  I saw it when wore it alone without foundation.  Once I applied my (full coverage) foundation, it was no longer noticeable.  I also liked the consistency, which was unlike other oils I own.  It felt lightweight on my skin, but on the thicker side during application.  I applied one drop below each eye, and it trickled slowly down my cheek, as opposed to others that are lose and runny.  Overall, it still absorbed quickly and smelled beautiful.  Sweet and fruity.   It performed well in terms of creating a smooth canvas and not breaking me out.  This is definitely one of my current favorites.

 

The Bulgarian Rose Oil Make Up Primer is advertised as a "dual functional oil based primer and serum".  It is a combination of natural ingredients including Bulgarian Rose and Sunflower Seed Oil to nourish and hydrate skin.  It is considered a makeup primer, but also a great over night treatment to replenish skin.     

I've been using this one for occasional nightly treatments.  I have combination skin so I have to trade off and use each one sparingly so I don't break out.  But so far, so good.  This one has a greenish tint to it, and more of a plant-like scent.  Its consistency is looser, and runnier then the water based primer, but seems to absorb just as quickly.  There are no micro pearls in this one.  It is supposed to enhance your skin's natural radiance.  This one is supposed to be good for anti-aging, and can also be used when applying makeup.          

 

If you're looking for a primer with hydration benefits, I'd definitely recommend giving either of these a shot.  The Rose Water primer is great if you have combination skin like me, and want to incorporate some hydration into your make up routine.  The Rose Oil works if you're on the dry side and want the option to use it day and/or night.   

 

 Both primers retail for $35.00 and you can shop them at Cailyncosmetics.com

 

  

The Foreign Policy Association Holds Centennial Gala

 

The Foreign Policy Association celebrated 100 years with a Centennial Gala chaired by Sana H. Sabbagh, Dame Jillian Sackler, and Daisy Soros last month, in the Temple of Dendur in the Sackler Wing at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

The evenings Co-Chairmen were Judith L. Biggs, David L. Coulter, Brendan Dougher, Nina Henderson, Intesa Sanpaolo, Elbrun Kimmelman, Robert C. Miller, Lois B. Pope, Irene Pritzer, Hugh R. Roome III, and Michael Sabia.  

 

Dame Jillian Sackler, the FPA’s chairman (the first woman to hold the position) noted, “For 100 years, the FPA has been a leader in the United States’ foreign affairs community and played an essential role in developing awareness, understanding, and informed opinion on the issues of our time…As we look to the next century the non-partisan FPA is in a unique position to bring together disparate points of view from around the world.”

  

 

 

Daisy Soros introduced  the evening’s key note speaker, her friend of many years, The Honorable William J. vanden Heuvel.  He told of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s trip to New York on October 21, 1944, when he addressed two thousand members of the FPA at the Waldorf Astoria: “Enduring Peace in the world does not have a chance unless the Nation, our Nation, our America, is willing to cooperate in winning and maintaining it …Peace, like war, can succeed only where there is a will to enforce it.” vanden Heuvel explained that this was one of the most significant speeches of his presidency.  Then, he added his own sentiments, “I believe that the greatest threat to American Democracy is endless war.  I believe that America should use its great power to stop war and preserve the peace…There is so little talk of peace in our society today.  Even at the United Nations, where the prevention of war is a primary mission, there is a sense of fatalism as valiant efforts are reduced to failure….” After his speech Mrs. Soros presented him with the FPA’s Centennial Medal.

 

 

About FPA

The Foreign Policy Association works with a broad cross-section of the U.S. public and U.S. leaders to expand awareness, understanding, and informed opinion on global issues and U.S. foreign policy challenges.  Since 1918, FPA has provided programs engaging local community members, educators, students, business professionals, and key public officials.  These programs build knowledge of current international developments, offer tools for continued learning, and facilitate connections between program participants and peers abroad.  With balanced, authoritative, nonpartisan programs, FPA encourages effective citizen participation in the U.S. foreign policy process.

 

Says president Noel Lateef, “The Foreign Policy Association’s mission today—as it has been throughout its 100-year history—is to contribute to a more vibrant democracy through citizen participation in the foreign policy process. A private, nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization, FPA serves as a catalyst for developing awareness, understanding of and informed opinion on U.S. foreign policy and global issues. It is the nation’s oldest organization devoted to citizen education in international affairs.”

 

 

 

Photos by Steven Martinez, Rosemarie Wallace, and James R. Brantley

New York Landmarks Conservancy Hosts its 25th Living Landmarks Gala

Last week, The New York Landmarks Conservancy hosted its 25th Living Landmarks Gala at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. 

 

The New York Landmarks Conservancy honors distinguished New Yorkers as “Living Landmarks” for their contributions to the City.  The Conservancy is dedicated to preserving and protecting the iconic buildings and diverse neighborhoods that define this extraordinary City.

 

 

This year’s honorees included Christie’s Americas chairman emeritus Stephen S. Lash, garden designer Lynden B. Miller, philanthropists Liz and Jeffrey Peek, actress/dancer/singer Chita Rivera, Dr. Thomas Sculco, Publicolor founder Ruth Lande Shuman, Columbia University president Michael I. Sovern, and former MTA Chair Peter Stangl. 

 

Landmark’s president Peg Breen opened the program and introduced the evening’s master of ceremonies, David Patrick Columbia.  The evening's music was provided by fellow Living Landmark Peter Duchin and his Orchestra.  Arie L. Kopelman and Leonard Lauder, both Living Landmarks, served as Honorary Co-Chairs for the evening.   

 

 

 

 

 

 Photos by James Salzano