No matter how cool we think our design concepts are, those Germans always manage to outshine us–with something so simple. Hamburg-based designer Alexa Lixfeld just designed a range of perfume bottles with striking, concrete tops. Called the Fragrances, this collection encompasses three different scents each with a different top and a mood. Think how cool one will look lined up next to all your other girly perfume bottles…

New York-based artist KAWS has teamed up with Kiehls and the non-profit profit art initiative RxArt to bring you a collection of skin moisturizers—all with a colorful and revamped label with a distinctive KAWS design. 100% of the proceeds from the beauty goodies will benefit RxArt and go towards curating art installations in hospitals throughout the nation.

The French know their beauty, and for a quarter of a decade, Melvita has been a leading organic brand in that very choosy country. But now, all that splendor has finally landed in America. The brand was founded by Bernard Chevilliat, a beekeeper and biologist who lives in Ardèche and since has grown into a desirable, full-force line full of honey, face care, body care and hair care, plant oils, hygiene products, and eau de toilettes as well as floral waters (like the orange blossom, above). In celebration of the the full-service e-commerce launch, Melvita will offer free shipping on orders of $25 or more for the first two weeks (Nov. 4 – 17). Chic Report hears Marion Cotillard is a huge fan of the company–and we could all learn a thing or two from her in the beauty department, non?

“People always ask me if it’s true that roots are back in style, and I always answer the same way: ‘Roots will never be in,’” explained renowned colorist Rita Hazan. As a natural blonde who craves to be blonde-blonde, I sat down with the famed Hazan for a much-anticipated color treatment at her eponymous salon located at 720 Fifth Avenue. I was feeling a bit mousy and in need of a major color boost, and so I felt completely at ease at the hands of Hazan, who announced, “Let’s make you super blonde!” The celebrated colorists knows a thing or two about what it means to be super blonde; she’s highlighted the best of them! From Michelle Williams to Renee Zellweger to Jamie Pressly, Rita Hazan has colored a bevy of famous tresses. Many of her celeb clients have been known to hop a plane for the sole purpose of a little hair care courtesy of Hazan. If you’re in the mood for more than a cut and color, don’t despair! Rita and her team offer the absolute works; the salon boasts a myriad of ultra-relaxing and glamorous services, so you can top off your blow out with a mani/pedi, eyebrow groom, facial, makeup application and spray tan.

Stunningly down to earth, the colorist wunderkind dished about the effects of a fresh new set of highlights. “You just feel so clean afterwards. It really does make everything seem a little better,”  gushed Hazan. While it may seem trite to those who have never sat in a Hazan chair, injecting a little color into your locks undoubtedly puts a spring in your step and breathes new life in your day. After a cut and blow dry from stylist Luden Henriquez, I was instructed to take a ceremonious look in the mirror, and I was thrilled with my newly golden mane and ready to paint the town a lustrous shade of blonde!

This is no fool’s gold. Beauty Junkie is jonesing for a some Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse, a multi-purpose dry oil that creates radiating, super-soft skin and hair for all ages and types, ranging from naturally dry to oily. Thankfully, we don’t have to go mining for this type of gold; Just hop on over to Space NK, a beauty oasis that weeds through trillions of products. Nicky Kinnard, who founded Space NK, knows that we are accosted with beauty remedies daily, and the onslaught can send into an tizzy. “We have the crème de la crème of beauty products,” she explains. The British beauty apothecary found its most recent home in Bloomingdale’s spanking-new beauty floor in its 59th street locale in New York. Says Kinnard, “The layout is ideal for in-store demonstrations and events,” and invites guests to “come learn, play and enjoy.” How delightfully convenient. Don’t mind if we do!

©Patrick McMullan

Bloomingdale’s 58th Street flagship was bustling and glowing yesterday as it unveiled its revamped main floor beauty department during The Biggest Makeover in NY launch event. Guests shuffled in at 8:30a.m. to get a glimpse of the new digs, scan through the oodles of beauty goodies and indulge in adorable mini omelets and French toast.  Beauty with syrup on top? Delish! A violinist perched atop the store’s stairs filled the room with soothing music, and ribbon dancers waving golden reams of fabric welcomed the crowd. Chairmanof Bloomingdales Michael Gould was as giddy as a schoolboy. He took to the podium and explained, “Now I know what my twelve year-old feels like before the first day of school. I had butterflies in my stomach!” All the beauty big wigs emerged to fête the floor’s opening. John Demsey roamed the store’s sparkling black and white motif, while Bobbi Brown and Leonard Lauder talked shop by Brown’s expansive vendor shop. Editor-in-chief of Seventeen Ann Shoket soaked in the spanking new slice of beauty heaven. “The space is so fresh and modern with such fine attention to detail. Each brand has its own space, which is so important,” Shoket noted. Indeed, every element that went into planning the 25,400-sqare-foot cosmetics department since 2004 truly paid off. Fun fact: Did you know that Bloomingdales has fourteen electricians on staff? You can truly count on the department store to always light your way!

Those of who’re missing the Blumarine scents in your life (older ones are out of production) will be delighted with a new Bellissima! The brand new perfume was launched at Gramercy Park Hotel in New York last night and the guest got their opportunity to touch a bottle created by Thierry de Baschmakoff. As for the smell? It’s a great floral fusion that highlights  peony, passionflower, and vanilla blossom notes.

© Getty Images

With an oxygen-blast facial, of course. Chic hears that he’s on the schedule for 3:00 p.m. for a personal at-home experience with none other than Madonna’s facialist. No wonder he’s always so glowing!

We have a major sweet tooth here at Beauty Junkie, and it is no surprise that we are currently coveting Chocoholicks, Jane Iredale’s assortment of lip glosses in four decadent truffle flavors: chocolate, chocolate orange, strawberry cream and caramel. Delish! Iredale’s makeup line was just one of the many delights featured at the Spa Week event at the Midtown Loft and Terrace in New York on Thursday. A celebration of the spa industry, the event included an array of booths inviting guests to calm down and relax a bit. Spa Week will bring $50 spa treatments to consumers at over 750 spas across the country. Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas offered chair and hand massages for the weary, while Homme Spa doled out foot massages. Pevonia Bontanica featured their breakthrough vitamins and brought their skin analysis machine to the event, which tallies up just how much sun damage you’ve done to your skin over the years. Beauty Junkie side note: a little alarming but quite helpful! Guests had their eyebrows shaped by Spa Chicks on the Go (the first mobile spa company!), and others roamed the extensive fondue buffet, provided by Xttras. As if all this pampering wasn’t enough, guests feasted on chocolate dipped strawberries, marshmallows, and Oreos–and washed it all down with a glass (or two!) of Rioja vin. In the spirit of Spa Week, we declare: go forth and indulge!

For information about future events, go to www.spaweek.com.

Attention, chicettes! Fall may be officially here but that doesn’t mean you should let all those summer workouts go to waste. And while we do support eating healthy and continuing to hit the gym, Chic’s always on the look out for other ways to maintain that svelte silhouette. Enter Dr. Nick Ungaro and his amazing Body Lite Treatment. Using a Zerona Laser, it targets problem areas (muffin-top be gone!) creating small holes in fat cells so they release into the lymphatic system and then can be flushed out naturally. What’s that mean for you? On average, patients tend to drop one or two dress sizes–about 3 1/2 inches–in two weeks after six treatments. But that doesn’t mean you can load up on croissants. “I wish it was just point and shoot,” he said. “The laser gets the fat out of the cell and then there’s a learning curve.” Ungaro pairs the treatment with blood nutrition assessments and supplements too. He also urges everyone to have reasonable expectations in addition to working out and eating right to maintain the results. “It’s a kick start back to a healthy lifestyle,” he explained. And did we mention it’s FDA approved, pain free, non-invasive and only takes about 45 minutes? “There’s no down time, no scaring or incisions. A person can get up and go to the gym,” he added. Not convinced? Check out the full video at his website and the microscopic diagram after the jump.

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