REVIEWS

Leoluca Handbags

The owners and designers of the San Diego-based brand- Leoluca Handbags, Emma and Lauren, reached out to me in regards to their line, which just debuted this Fall/Winter 2011 season. The name Leoluca is derived from the Italian saint- Leoluca and the Italian mobster- Leoluca Bagarella (good and evil). This concept helps bring inspiration to the line, juxtaposing edgy with contemporary and femininity. The line is handmade here in the USA and handcrafted using the highest quality materials. They sent me the “Winter,” a white leather envelope clutch with pink interior, handy interior pocket and back exterior pocket, ostrich embossing and a detachable gold chain. I LOVE this chic clutch and its versatility! I don’t really use it as a shoulder bag, mainly as the clutch. It fits easily under my arm and is just my all-around “best-friend”! You have got to check out this line here, if you want that perfect clutch for day or evening!

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Moda Revise Handbags

The lovely NYC-based handbag brand Moda Revise asked me to review two bags from their Spring/Summer 2012 line, the teal ‘Georgiana’ tote and grey cross-body satchel. Each bag is beautifully handcrafted in lambskin and boasts whimsical silk screened floral manga artwork done by the designer- Stella Chang, herself. The bags are also embellished with high-quality antique-gold finish hardware and the black leather bow adds a girly touch. The grey satchel comes with a detachable strap to wear on the shoulder or cross-body. It has numerous handy pockets on the inside, like a pocket for your cell and a strap where you can store a pen for easy reach. The teal tote is roomy with less pockets and still offers a strap for your pen. The opening for the tote has a magnetic closure, whereas, the satchel can be zipped shut. The bags retail between $340-400. Also check out Moda Revise on Facebook!

**The above slideshow is courtesy of Moda Revise**

As a thank-you for the review, Stella also gifted me several samples from their Chocolate Handbag line, where she is also head designer. For this better line, they only use faux leather, are affordable and are geared toward the chic, on-the-go consumer. Their bags retail from $40-125.

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Rainforest Radiance Hair Butter from The Body Shop

I really want to thank the folks at Bratskeir and The Body Shop for sending the Rainforest Radiance Hair Butter. This conditioner is amazing and smells so good! It’s smells like being in the clean rainforest mixed with some heavenly floral scents. Every time I use it, I feel the stress of the day melt away and I find that my hair is always so soft and smooth after leaving it in for five minutes and rinsing it off. It also helps to protect my hair’s shine and radiance. The best thing is that it’s eco-friendly and doesn’t contain any harmful ingredients like silicones, parabens or colorants.

Rainforest Radiance Hair Butter retails for $14.00. To buy it, go here.

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Nila Anthony Handbags

I had connected with Nila Anthony Handbags during MAGIC and was delighted when they allowed me to pick out a purse for my review. The entire Nila Anthony line is vegan and offers styles that are trendy and edgy. One fact about the line is that the designer- Nila Prawiradjaja grew up in Bandung, Indonesia, which was built on top of a volcano. That was a reason why she always wanted to have nature and her respect of the environment influenced in her designs. The line has been featured in Vogue, InStyle and Lucky just to name a few. I really admire their price points, which are very reasonable and can complement any budget. Nila Anthony and the sister brand- Jesslyn Blake are available through A.N.D.M Showroom . You can also check them out on FACEBOOK!

I chose a black bag with adjustable strap and a brass antique-inspired key as a closure for the flap. The leather had sort of a pebbly texture and is soft and durable. The inside lining has a brown and white floral print (reminiscent of Nila’s nature influence). There are numerous handy pockets that are open and also pockets with zipper closures. All the details, even the logo, are brass. The strap is adjustable, like I mentioned and is made to be worn on the shoulder or cross-body. It’s just the perfect little bag that’s not bulky and is easy to carry around.

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Cheeky Green Eco-Friendly Cargo Tote

I was first introduced to Cheeky Green Totes during FOCUS and really loved the different styles of the recycled totes. Cheeky Green founder- Stefanie DiBenedetto designed the trendy bags to be soft, machine- washable, foldable and multi-functional (for grocery shopping, for use in place of retail shopping bags, taking on the plane, or just carrying as a purse). The bags are also strong enough to hold 25 pounds. The company was kind enough to send me a cargo tote (in brown) to review. The tote came with a handy detachable coin purse that I can take with me to the store or gym, without the hassle of lugging a massive purse. I love that the bag is lightweight, stylish and foldable and made of 100% recyclable Tyvek™. Again, the bags come in a variety of styles and colors. For more information on the company and their mission to fight disposable culture, go to their website.

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Activist Eyewear

My dear readers, I’d like to introduce an eyewear brand that’s pretty popular on the East Coast (because they’re designed in Brooklyn and crafted in Japan) and need more attention here on the West Coast. I was excited when the company’s co-founder Anthony Codispoti reached out to me and lent me a pair of their signature aviators to try out and learn more about the brand, called Activist Eyewear. Anthony’s business partner Mark Craig had been designing eyewear for ten years. During that period, as he had worked with high-end markets, as well as high-performance markets; he realized that nothing was being done to bridge these two worlds of style and performance. So, he and Anthony decided to start-up an eyewear company to provide eyewear that looks as good as it performs. Anthony explains their ideal consumer, known as the ‘dapper outdoorsman,’ “He works hard, plays hard and explores the world in all his pursuits. He needs gear to keep up with him and refuses to compromise on style in the process.” Now ladies, I know what you’re thinking…’What about female consumers?’ Activist Eyewear may gear mostly to men, but the glasses are unisex. I happen to like the aviators and wayfarers, which are also the brand’s best-sellers. So, the glasses come with a nifty protective case made from American-made waxed canvas. [The company that makes the canvas has been making the canvas that has been used in ship sails for two-hundred years.] They also come with a lovely micro-fiber cloth with their AE logo in a repeating pattern. If you purchase the wayfarers, you’ll receive two lanyards (otherwise, you must purchase them separately for $10). When looked at closely, the weave on the lanyards is custom-made with their signature Morse Code pattern. The glasses are fragile, but rather unique and offer little hidden tidbits, such as: the fingerprint texture on the nosepads. The print is actually Mark’s thumbprint. Along with providing extra grip, it’s also the artist’s signature. Unlike the usual curved ear rest on other glasses, AE uses ‘Split-Fit’ technology, which makes eases tension and pressure near the ears and temples. When I was wearing them, I could feel the difference in comfort and secure fit. So friends, definitely check out Activist Eyewear and snatch up your pair fast, because they only make each 718 of each colorway worldwide.

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FASHIONARY x I.T Sketchbooks

I’d really like to thank Fashionary’s Chief Editor and Designer- Penter Yip for giving me the wonderful opportunity to review and write about this amazing tool for designers. It is a huge thrill for me to introduce to you, dear readers~ Fashionary… The Fashionary and I.T special edition collection comes in four neon colors: pink, blue, green and orange and offers 164 pages of fashion deliciousness that caters specifically for fashion designers. The first 34 pages offer helpful tools, such as: button measuring diagrams, fabric dictionary, laundry labels, calendar, pattern and flat drawings (which is useful if you need to look-up the name of a sleeve or skirt), and a huge list of fashion brands, blogs, photographers, etc. Then the last 130 pages are pages that have 400 barely-there templates for some quick sketching for that designer-on-the-go. I also love that it has a contrasting elastic bookmark to not only hold your place, but keep any loose papers from falling out of the book. It’s the cutest little sketchbook ever! It’s so light, small and portable, which makes it easy to tote around in a smaller purse. LOVVVEEEE ITTT!!! Every designer should invest in this “Fashion Bible.” Check Fashionary out here!

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‘Tailored Cheek Tint’ & ‘Illuminating Face Base’ by The Body Shop

I was delighted when the folks at The Body Shop sent over the ‘Illuminating Face Base’ and ‘Tailored Cheek Tint’ for me to review. The products are part of their eco-friendly line, “Brush with Fashion. The ‘Illuminating Face Base comes in a .50 US fl oz tube with a built-in brush. You have to twist the tube in order for the apricot-colored liquid to push its way into the brush. Then you just brush your face, dapping it with your fingers or sponge to blend in. You can use it alone, in place of your make-up. Please note, for those of you with problem skin (like myself), this is NOT a concealer. It does do a great job in brightening your face and helping to cover up problem spots. The ‘Tailored Cheek Tint’ comes in a .33 US fl oz tube, also with a built-in brush. This will most likely take the place of my blush. When you squeeze the tube, the liquid (though clear-colored)comes through the middle of the brush, turning it pink. You can either brush it on your cheeks and then dab, or like I did, just dab it on my cheeks. Though if you do that, you may experience a brief staining of your finger…but don’t worry, with just a few washes with a little soap and water, it’ll be gone. To read more about the “Brush with Fashion” line, go here.

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“Blondes Make Better T-Shirts” Tee

I’m sure ya’ll have heard of the infamous “blonde” jokes….Well, now you have the chance to wear a label that I’m sure will bring some humorous conversations to the table. The eco-friendly line was created by Norwegian designer- Lise Ellingsen, herself, a blonde. I met the rep for the line, the lovely Miss Neely and she went over the different cuts, fits and designs of the tees. I learned that the line only uses 100% sustainable and sweatshop-free fabrics, produced right here in sunny California. One of their most popular fabrics is Promodal, made from 40% beech tree and 60% eucalyptus tree. They have also used fabrics comprised of 50% recycled plastic bottles that are mixed with organic cottons. She also was pointing out the comical names for the tees, for example: the “Oops” tee, featuring one style with a burnt iron mark, a lipstick stain, etc. There’s one tee with a pocket at the bust and an ‘ink stain’ at the bottom of the pocket. This tee is aptly named: the “Ink Spill” tee. There are also “Blonde Moment” tees, like the one Neely graciously gifted me to review. Mine is called the “Bike” tee. There’s a snapshot of a blonde chick um…locking her bike to a post…or uh…lack thereof… My tee is an x-tra small and fits like a small/medium. The material is super-soft and comfy, like a baby’s blanket. For more t-shirt options, photos, “blonde tips”, etc., check out Blondes Make Better T-Shirts! This is the epitome of SoCal chic!

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ME! Bath “Lavender Lullaby” Bath Ice Cream

My first encounter with the ME! Bath brand was when I was retouching their photos for work. They paired their products with things that relate to that scent (for example: the chocolate body wash has thick chocolate syrup running down the side of the bottle). This immediately caught my attention and I contacted the brand; who were kind enough to send me the Lavender Lullaby Bath Ice Cream. When I received the package, I could even smell the calming lavender aroma through the cardboard box! The packaging is simple, yet I noticed each scent had it’s own saying on the back of the packaging. The Lavender Lullaby’s box states: Sleep comes to some quickly. For the rest of us, there is nothing more relaxing than the dreamy soft smell of lavender. As you soak away layer after layer of stress, feel the comforting sensation of your eyes drifting as you enter wonderland…

I didn’t want to use the bath soak right away, because (and I can’t stress this enough) it smells SO GOOD! Every time I took a big whiff, I felt so calm. When I finally did use it in the bathtub, it fizzed, turning the water purple. It took several minutes for the bath bomb to dissolve and after my bath, my skin was smooth (from the Jojoba oil) and smelled of the lavender. I have so much faith and love of this product, that I am determined to try EVERYTHING! I want to personally thank the founders- Benjamin and Lisa Nissanoff for making such an amazing product!

Definitely check out their website! And follow ME! Bath on Facebook and Twitter!

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S’WELL Drinking Bottle

For all you environmental aficionados out there who love a good reusable drinking bottle for hot and cold drinks… the S’WELL bottle is for you! S’WELL was founded in September 2010 by Sarah Kauss, who was hiking in the desert on day and thought of a better concept for the water bottle. The stainless steel bottle comes is a variety of colors and uses an advanced insulation that keeps drinks hot or cold much longer than the other brands. It is non-leaching, toxin-free, unbreakable and holds seventeen ounces of drinking bliss. The shape of the bottle was ergonomically designed to fit into your hand, bag or cup holder. The bottle opening is easy to clean and is large enough to add ice cubes. It was designed for the fashion-forward consumer and addresses two important issues: the environment and the global water crisis. For every bottle sold, S’WELL will donate 10% of the proceeds to WaterAid, which is a nonprofit organization that has been working to deliver water solutions to the world’s poorest communities for the past thirty years. For every bottle sold, it provides a year’s supply of water for someone, while for every five bottles provides a lifetime’s supply. For $40 a bottle, it’s sure to be a great gift for a loved one this upcoming holiday season or a gift for yourself and rest-assured, you’ll also be helping out the environment, while staying your fashionable selves!

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“Thompson” High Heel Open-Toe Bootie in Black by Report Signature

I would personally like to thank Art Abenoza of Report Shoes and Steve Corcoran of Isis PR Agency, who reps DNA Footwear for gifting me the “Thompson” high heel open-toe bootie in black. DNA Footwear offers all the latest brands of shoes, including Report and Matiko. I recently tested out the leather and suede booties with 4 3/4 heels at my employer’s holiday company party, paired with one of my designs. They fit perfectly and I felt no slippage, however, I must be blunt, there was no traction on the front soles, which caused me to be more cautious while walking (and that I still have a hard time walking in heels to begin with). But other than that, I found no flaw. I felt regal and poised while wearing them. The curvature of the platform allowed for less pressure of my front sole, thus allowing for reasonable comfort while standing or walking for a prolonged period of time. Check out the shoe on DNA Footwear here.

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Ruffle Dress and Cuff by Lisa Michelle Collection

I was recently gifted a vintage-inspired cuff with stones and zippered ruffle trim and a sleeveless tiered ruffle dress by the Lisa Michelle Collection. The dress fit beautifully and is made/and lined of silk charmeuse. The inner lining hugs the body at the right places, allowing the silhouette to look classic without looking loose. I chose to wear my dress with Michael Antonio wedge booties, which gave it a more playful look.

Lisa Michelle is now offering a discount for all my readers!! Use code, FashionsnobLA to get 20% off your order on her online store.

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Alex and Ani’s “Lifetime of Luck” Bracelets on ZeeBerry.com

I was recently gifted the “Lifetime of Luck” bracelets by Alex and Ani from the popular site, ZeeBerry.com. The eco-friendly bangles came in a set of seven. Each bangle (made of Russian Gold over recycled metals in my case) adjusts to fit any wrist-size. Five of the bangles are simple, while the other two bangles have either a ‘Good Luck’ or ‘Tree of Life’ charm as well as a charm that bears the Alex and Ani namesake and the ‘recycle’ symbol. The bangles add flair to about any outfit, whether you choose to dress up or down.

ZeeBerry.com is offering LAfashionsnob readers a coupon for $10 off any order over $50 (expires end of November)…. just enter the code: LAfashionsnob at checkout. (I would suggest one of the inspiring and uplifting Alex and Ani pieces, which can be found here.

For more info about the Alex and Ani brand in general, click here.

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Chiqui Beaute Facial Masks

I first read about the beauty brand, Chiqui Beaute through the Vital Juice Los Angeles newsletter and I wanted more information. So, the lovely Chavonne sent over samples of their best-selling facial masks. Below, you will find the three masks with a description of ingredients and how it works for the skin, and then my review of the product.

“Spa Glacial Mud Purifying Mask” -  Rich in minerals, Vitamins and Anti-aging essentials… How does it work for your skin? a.) Absorbs all impurities for great skin exfoliation. b.) Deep pore cleansing and oil secretion reduction. c.) Helps balance skin pH and improves the texture, elasticity and hydration in the skin. d.) Recharges the circulation of the skin and detoxifies the skin.

I have sensitive skin. So I was somewhat hesitant to put the mask on…. but after applying the creamy charcoal grey substance (that is paraben-free) to my face…I noticed that it cooled and soothed the skin, rather then burning it. I adhered to the directions- leaving it on for about 15-20 minutes, before taking it off with a hot towel. My skin felt refreshed and rejuvenated after.

“Citrus Happy- Hydrating Facial Mask” – Essential Ingredients: moist-24, extracted from the roots of Australian Imperata Cylindrica herb. Orange Oil and Hyaluronic Acid. Cucumber Extract, Tea Extract, Wheat Germ Oil, Lierre Extract and Scutellaria Root Extract. How does it work for your skin? a.) Promotes the skin elasticity and texture. b.) Provides 24-hour long lasting moisture and natural radiance look to the skin. c.) Restores balance to dry or oily skin. d.) Promotes the production of collagen. e.) Reduces puffiness and improves dry wrinkles skin. f.) Aids the release of toxins by increasing perspiration. g.) The citrusy fragrance in this mask refreshes the skin as well as relaxing the physical and emotional tension.

This mask is made from thin paper and due to it being super moist from the soapy-feel and oils, it was a little hard to unravel at first. Once the mask is on the face, make sure that it’s pressed securely against the face, especially the area around the eyes and mouth. It managed to stay on when I was gallivanting around the house, but did experience minor slippage around the mouth. After 20 minutes, I took off the mask and rinsed my face with warm water and patted dry. After, my skin felt refreshed and smooth.

“Youth Restore Lightening Mud Mask”- Plant-derived Alpha-Arbutin with anti-inflammatory Cucumber Extract and Rose Extract. How does it work for your skin? a.) Promotes skin lightening by blocking epidermal melanin biosynthesis. b.) Minimizes skin depigmentation to an even skin tone in a more effective and safer approach than any other lightening agents. c.) Helps repair skin damages from free radicals. d.) Smooths out fine lines and restores collagen. e.) Provides calm and soothing sensation.

This mask takes on a creamy white hue and is a lighter substance. It doesn’t burn when I applied it to my face and I immediately felt a cooling sensation along with a sense of calm. After 20 minutes, I took it off with warm water. My skin had a youthful glow and of course was smooth to the touch.

Chiqui Beaute is available online. Check them out on Twitter and Facebook.

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Zana Cosmetics

I was gifted make-up from the eco-friendly line, Zana Cosmetics to try out and review. Kristin Gentner-the sales director sat down with me and helped determine the best products for my skin type- which is fair and prone to oil and acne. Keep in mind, that every ingredient used in Zana are talc, paraban and cruelty-free and is made right here in sunny Los Angeles.

~Moisturizing Lotion- This moisturizer is made with natural oils and rose extract. When applied to the skin before the make-up (and used twice daily) it makes the skin smooth and has a light scent of roses.

~”Picture Perfect” Face Primer- Used after the moisturizer, is used for prepping the face for make-up application. Ingredients include: avocado and safflower as natural moisturizers and rosemary and hibiscus as natural soothers.

~”Fresh-Face” foundation (in light beige for my skin tone)- I applied this foundation with one of the Zana brand brushes to my face, which has a few problem areas. After the application, I saw that it covered the problem areas perfectly. The foundation felt light…not caked on.

~”Unilucent” Pressed Powder- This is used after applying the foundation. This light powder kept my face shine-free and natural all day long.

~”Liquid Silk” oil-free liquid foundation- Like the  “Power Matte” foundation, is easier when applied with a sponge. Unlike most liquid foundations, this one doesn’t run. I had to squeeze some on the back of my hand and it was heavy enough to where it didn’t run all over my hand. After rubbing off the excess liquid with a napkin, I noticed that it made my skin smooth and not oily nor sticky. It truly is liquid silk!

~”Power Matte” cream-to-powder foundation- I applied this foundation with a brush at first, then reapplied with a sponge and found that the sponge was more effective in full coverage (with some of my problem areas). After patting my face, I found that the foundation was also light and not have a caked-on feel.

~”Kiss My Lips” satin lip color (in Power Rose)- When worn, the light pink/rose hue is subtle with a hint of a glittery tone.

~”Lip Magic” lip balm (in Rose)- I love this lip balm! My lips get chapped very easily, but after one application, my lips are fine for the rest of the day, thanks to the rose extract and organic oils that make up the product. When I apply the balm, I notice (that I don’t from other brands) that the ergonomically designed tip hugs the curves of the lips, making for a smooth application.The rosey scent and taste ain’t bad either!

~”Shadow Fix” eye lid primer- Put this on before the eye shadow and it will make the color stand out even more.

~”Deliciously Cheeky” blush (in Salsa)- This blush is recommended to be mixed with the “Unilucent” powder so that it blends evenly for a more natural look. Or just apply it alone to accent your cheeks.

~”Seductive Eyes” high color shadows (in Zumba)- This dark rosey hue has a hint of shine and looks great on fair-skinned eye lids.

~”Diva Glaze” high shine tints (in Tropical Sunset)- This creamy gloss is a great alternative to your “average” gloss. It’s enriched in Vitamin E and doesn’t leave any sticky residue.

~”Sexy Lash” volume mascara (in blackest lash)- Just your average mascara for making your lashes gorgeous!

~”Exotic Lips” lip plumper- For those of you who love fuller lips, then you’ll like the “Exotic Lips” lip plumper. After a minute or so of the application, you’ll feel a tingling sensation-which means it’s working. I noticed a small difference in my lip size after about ten minutes. But you have to continue using it for thirty days to fully notice a difference.

~”Glitter Queen” eyeliner (in black)- This is a fun eyeliner! The black hue is rich and the glitter is a fun accent which helps one of my best features pop. However, after application, since it’s a liquid eyeliner, it’s best to keep the eyes closed for a few seconds and let it dry.

~”Flirt” eye liner (peach, pink, red and black)- These markers also have ergonomically designed tips that help create smooth, fine lines in rich hues that help make the edge of your eye lids pop.

~”Perfect Brow”-Use this when you want to even out your brows or customize your brow shape.

~”Clean Sweep” make-up remover- This make-up remover is oil-free and is more of a gel, which is great, in that it doesn’t make a mess like a watery remover would. My skin is also uber-sensitive to some removers-but that isn’t the case with this product.

For more information, please go here!

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Paqit Towelettes

Wow! As soon as I opened the small package containing the moist towelette, a sweet smell of bergamot wafted through the air. I realized that this is anything but a moist towelette. The Bergamot towelette covers the body and hands, while the Japanese Yuzu refreshes the face and neck. Both scents were citrusy. The Bergamot had a more rich, sweet orange scent, while the Yuzu had a soft citrus mixed with a little grapefruit. Once my skin dried, it felt smooth, clean and refreshed. These towelettes are perfect for someone who is always on-the-go. This product is extremely environmentally friendly, using sustainable, biodegradable and recycled materials and using natural ingredients like: aloe vera, seaweed extract, ginkgo biloba, fruit extracts, vitamin E and pure essential oils. Paqit is available in three sets: a package of eight towelettes, a package of eight towelettes that includes a Paqitbook and a small zippered carrying case and lastly, a package of twenty-four. Prices range from $10-27.

For purchasing and more information, go here!

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Midnightmare Apparel

“The designs are original hand-drawn illustrations.  The images are silhouettes of women who are disguised as animals…with a hidden agenda. Using the Femme Fatale approach, the images represent the women who know the power of their appeal and use it to get what they want.” -MidnightMare Apparel

Femme Peacock Tank Tunic with a picture of a femme peacock screenprinted in white on the front. The tunic is 100% Organic Cotton and organically dyed and hugs the body. I found it comfortable to wear and it looked great with skinny jeans and flats.

Femme Mare 3/4 Sleeve Tunic with a picture of a femme mare with bow and arrow screenprinted in white on the front. Again, extremely comfortable and I wore it with my signature skinnies and flats.