Loving this: Votre Vu Bebe Duette 2-in-1 a Tarte D’Amande Luxe Hand cream in one side which smells sweet and delicious, and a Luxe Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm with a hint of red color on the other side. Secret: I use the hand cream on my body too especially when I’m traveling. It’s very thick in texture and moisturizing and I’m sucker to the smell.

Votre Vu’s Bebe Duette is a perfect combination of intensely moisturizing lip balm and decadently nourishing hand cream. With its innovative packaging, 1 part hand crème/1 part lip balm (with a handy mirror for application perfection). Luxe Lips lip balm created with coconut, sunflower and premiere pressed castor oils, shea butter and beeswax.

Available in either clear or raspberry tinted balm, the raspberry balm adds a subtle hint of color to lips, offering a juicy passion fruit flavor to your pout. The vitamin E infused anti-aging formula is worth its weight in gold! UV filters add extra protection to your luxe lips.  The Tarte D’Amande Hand Crème nourishes hands using a unique combination of sunflower, jojoba and grape seed oils, combined with aloe and wheat proteins, with added natural sun filters.

BTW. Did you know that…

Harold Zimmerman, founder and CEO of Votre Vu, is the winner of the Fashion Group International’s prestigious 2011 Rising Star Award in the Category of Beauty/Fragrance Entrepreneur. Other nominees included Christopher Chong of Amouage, Francis Kurkdjian of Maison Francis Kurkdjian, and Ellen Sirot of Hand Perfection.

The 14th Annual Rising Star Awards, which recognize emerging talent in the Fashion and Design related industries, was held on Thursday, January 27, 2011 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. Bobbi Brown Worldwide president Maureen Case presented Zimmerman with the award, of which he says,

“Winning this award from Fashion Group International is truly an honor; I’m proud to be recognized for what we’ve accomplished so far at Votre Vu. However, my plea would be for everyone to stay tuned to the Votre Vu channel because baby, you ain’t seen nothing yet!”

Founded in 2007, Votre Vu is a luxury skin care company offering the finest French-made, natural products. Vu’s premium formulas—created by a French, family-owned laboratory that boasts more than 80 years of research and development expertise—are botanically based with the best, freshest, and most potent ingredients used in skin care.

Votre Vu products are available at www.votrevu.com

GIVEAWAY!! Hello my loves & beauty lovers I have a giveaway for you. I’m looking for 5 lucky winners to WIN the NEW Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm SPF 20!! I tried it and it’s silky smooth.. All you need to do to enter for a chance to win is to leave a comment telling me why I should pick you. 5 winners. GO! Good Luck:) Please note: USA entries only.

New beauty products: Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm SPF 20. According to Neutrogena this new sheer, tinted lip balm is clinically proven to perfect your pout by restoring lip’s rosiness and improving texture – leaving them fuller and more defined in just 7 days!

Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm SPF 20

Neutrogena and celebrity makeup artist Amy Oresman lip tip:

Lip Tip #1

For a makeup look that is “Retro Hollywood” beauty, it’s all about the lips. Neutrogena MoistureShine Gloss in Berry Fit is the perfect lip color to make this look contemporary.

This color is a beautiful combo of deep raspberry and luscious watermelon that gives a vibrant splash to the lip. For a fresh pop of color everyday, I recommend Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm SPF 20. I love the velvet texture of this lip balm on its own, under or on top of lip color.

Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm SPF 20 is:

· Infused with ion2complex , the anti-aging technology originally launched in NEUTROGENA CLINICAL, the lip balm’s formula works with the product’s existing moisturizers to instantly give lips a fuller, more defined look

· Added SPF protection guards the lip’s delicate skin from the spring sun!

· Suggested Retail Price: $8.99

· Shades: Sheer Shimmer, Healthy Blush, Sunny Berry, Petal Glow, Soft Caramel, Fresh Plum

Talking Makeup has just found out that Morena Baccarin from ABC’s series V was prepped for Comic Con using Votre Vu Duette Luxe Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm & Tarte d’Amande Luxe Hand Creme, Votre Vu Amour d’Ore Les Vitamines Pour Vous, and Talika Instant Beauty!

Votre Vu Duette Luxe Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm & Tarte d’Amande Luxe Hand Creme

Votre Vu Amour d’Ore Les Vitamines Pour Vous

Talika Instant Beauty

Watch Marta Walsh talking about her picks for summer skincare.

Products mentioned in Marta’s vlog:

Eucerin Everyday Protection Body Lotion SPF 15 Fragrance Free

NIVEA A Kiss Of Protection Lip Care

NIVEA good-bye cellulite serum & NIVEA good-bye cellulite serum gel cream

NIVEA Sun Kissed Firming Moisturizer with Ginkgo Extract and soft gradual tanner

NIVEA Touch Of Waterlily Hydrating Shower Gel

Summer Beauty: Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Powerful Sun Protection SPF 30 Towelettes ($16)– The SPF 30 Daily Sunscreen Towelettes is an advanced performance towelette that offers maximum protection from the sun with a powerful combination of four broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen agents – two forms of Vitamin C, Green Tea and a detoxifying Chelator.

Twist & Pout Lip Balm ($18) – These SPF 20 glosses come in a one-of-a-kind patented shape and vibrant packaging. The shear creamy texture comes in a vanilla cream flavor.

Both products are available at  www.amazon.com

With New York Fashion Week Fall Winter 2010 coming to an end, we find ourselves clamoring for the hot looks off the runway. With the help of the Sephora PRO Beauty Team, you can sport designer style in the comfort of your home.

Charlotte Ronson Fall 2010: Get The Look

For Fall 2010, Charlotte Ronson wanted the makeup to be a natural face with a heavy eye.

To create this face, the Sephora PRO Beauty Team led by Gilbert Soliz used the following products:

For the eyes:
· Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes in Pearly Brown 2L ($17) was used to create a soft, winged eye with added definition
· DiorShow Mascara ($24) was used to give volume to lashes and finish off the eye.

For the lips:
· Sephora FACE Very Sexy Nourishing Lip Balm SPF 15 ($7) was used to give lips a natural, soft look.

Valentine’s Day Kiss: Make that kiss memorable.

Simple, heartfelt gestures are the best way to offer the gift of love. In fact, the most desired gift this Valentine’s Day is a kiss. Luckily, NIVEA Lip Care offers a wide variety of products to protect that pucker so you’re irresistibly kissable. Enriched with natural Beeswax and Shea butter, NIVEA A Kiss of Flavor (Cherry, Passion Fruit, Pearly Shimmer) and A Kiss of Moisture will hydrate and offer long-lasting protection for soft, yummy kissable lips. SRP: $2.99.

Enriched with natural Shea Butter and Vitamin E, NIVEA’s Glossy Lip Care range, NIVEA A Kiss of Shine, (Natural, Pink, Red) of squeezable tubs leaves smooth lips with a sheer, glossy shine and a hint of color. SRP: $3.29.

NIVEA’s XOXO Chain lets you share virtual hugs and kisses. The online program runs through Valentine’s Day and you are invited to share, and show the love at NIVEAusa.com/xoxochain by uploading your own photos and videos to the site. $1 from each XO will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.

Visit www.niveausa.com for additional product details.

Talking Makeup is excited to share with you Lancôme’s latest lip launch: L’Absolu Crème de Brillance Visibly Replenishing and Reshaping Lip Cream.

A luxurious cross between a gloss and a balm, Crème de Brillance glides on beautifully, all while delivering intense hydration that helps lips stay comfortable for up to 10 hours. The secret lies in its superior ingredients that are typically reserved for skincare:

· Shine-boosting oils and light-diffusing pearls give the formula its rich color pay-off
· Pro-Xylane boosts hydration within the skin
· Glycerin and hyaluronic acid hydrate lips by pulling water from the environment and help it stay put

Available in eight colors—including Rose Mythique, worn by the gorgeous Kate Winslet, (see 1st image), over L’Absolu Rouge lipstick in the same shade—Crème de Brillance will retail for $29.

Please click on lancome-usa.com for more information and to see the complete range!

I’m excited to share with you my interview with Amy Bailey who has begun to make her mark within Hollywood’s demanding movie stars. Amy can be seen in the star-studded movie, “Nine” along side Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, and Kate Hudson. Up next for the actress, she will be playing the Hatteress in Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland.”

Amy Bailey

In this interview Amy Bailey tells Marta Walsh about how it all began for her in Hollywood. Her role in the film “Nine” and what was it like working with its director Rob Marshall. How one day she took Penelope Cruz and her sister to see the Royal Ballet perform. Her latest acting role in  ”Alice in Wonderland”, also staring in this film Johnny Depp. Future plans, and of course, style and beauty secrets!

Marta Walsh: Where did you grow up and where is home for you?
Amy Baliey: I grew up in a coastal town called Corpus Christi, in South Texas. I loved going to the beach right after school. Now I divide my time between London and L.A.

MW: How did you decide on a career in showbiz, and what were some of your first breaks?
AB: I was a professional ballerina by 17yrs old, so I guess being onstage always felt pretty natural. My parents couldn’t believe that as a teenager I would skip out parties because I had ballet class the next morning. It kept me out of trouble, for the most part

Three years ago I decided to transition to musical theatre and was fortunate to land my very first audition. It was understudying “Ulla” in “The Producers” – a big West End show in London. The casting team took a chance on me that I could do the lead as a singer and I was thrilled to rise to the challenge. Right after that show I got the lead role in “Oklahoma“, so I feel grateful that people believed I could make the transition.

MW: How did you land the role of Guido’s Showgirl in film “Nine”? What was it like working with director Rob Marshall and the rest of the cast?
AB: “Nine” auditioned thousands of girls from London, LA, NYC, and Rome. We had over 400 people in my audition and it was a grueling 2 days of elimination rounds. It was nerve-racking – everyone wanted to be in this movie and we all knew there were only a handful of spots available.

When I got the call from my agent I was in a library but I still squawked outloud. We filmed for 5 months in London. Rob Marshall is incredible. Very zen but totally in control of his vision. I think Catherine Zeta-Jones was quoted as saying she would read the phonebook for Rob and I am inclined to agree!

We had loads of rehearsals and I got to work very closely with our stars. Funnily enough, they were more nervous than we were as they all had to sing and dance. Daniel told me he was “terrified” of the dancing! You never imagine someone like Daniel Day-Lewis being scared of anything, but they were all working so hard to master things that I’ve been doing since I was 5. It’s all about perspective, I guess.

I loved seeing the “real” Nicole, Penelope, Kate, Daniel etc. These actors are so famous that they can’t do the things all of us take for granted. I took Penelope and her sister to see the Royal Ballet perform, and in public she was gracious, but she had to be much more guarded because everyone was gawking at her. It was interesting seeing both sides of fame.

MW: What have you learned from your acting role in “Alice in Wonderland”? Did you get to meet Johnny Depp (you know, it’s a dream of mine)?
AB: Acting in “Alice” was a new experience for sure! We were basically acting to nothing as the sets are all CGI. It’s a very good experience though – you really have to use your imagination, but then be consistant for the many takes. At times it was chaos. We would role and then Tim would have to yell “Cut!” for the 10th time because someone had run through the imaginary unicorn. Johnny had already filmed most of his scenes so he wasn’t around much, but I saw some of his takes and he is brilliant! Perfectly cast.

MW: What would be your next dream acting role?
AB: Gosh, it is hard to choose. I adore the fantasy genre, like “Alice” or “Avatar“. It would be a dream to work with Peter Jackson or Darren Aronofsky. But I also love comedy and indie films. Charlie Kaufman writes very cool scripts.

MW: Which actor/actress inspires you the most?
AB: Actors that morph into their characters inspire me the most. I can never predict Cate Blanchett. Her performance as Bob Dylan in “I’m Not There” is sublime. Marion Cotillard, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Daniel (of course!), Sam Rockwell, and Catherine Keener consistantly give true performances.

MW: What is next for Amy Bailey?
AB: Right now I am in love with The Goundlings! I’m doing long-form comedy improv there which is something every actor should try. It basically kills your ego, but that’s a good thing And it makes every audition you have a breeze ’cause you’ve pretty much already died a thousand deaths when doing improv. You learn to be comfortable in the so-called “grey area”, where you have no idea what is going to come out of your mouth next. Quite liberating. I adore Christopher Guest and his team who put together “Best in Show” and “Waiting for Guffman“. How fun to improv an entire film.

Amy Bailey on Style & Beauty Secrets:

I keep my hair beautiful thanks to…
Krill oil capsules and eating sardines. You may say yuck, but you can’t beat Omega-3 in your diet for great hair.

My favorite skincare products are…
I do a mix of things. Right now I am loving Ziva toner followed by SK-II Vitamin C serum, then moisturizing with Weleda Wild Rose day cream.

I get my eyelashes looking long, full, and sexy using…
A heated eyelash curler and Lancome mascara.

The best lip-gloss I ever owned…
Was a homemade organic lip balm. Given to me as a gift. I’m almost out and very scrimpy about using the last little bit of it.

My signature fragrance is…
The Body Shop’s Pure Rosehip Oil. I like fragrances that smell like real flowers. I can’t stand strong stinky perfume.

The one beauty product you will always find in my purse is…
Lip balm. I have a habit of chewing my lips so keeping lip balm on them helps me stop.

Beauty is all about…
It’s all about love baby! And it’s not corny to say so…we all know those people who are so beautiful because they are brimming with love and joy. Physical beauty is all relative anyway, but most of us can agree on what makes a beautiful personality.

I describe my personal style as…and my favorite fashion designers are…
Well I would call my personal style “vintage” or “eclectic”, but I have to admit many of my friends say I dress like a Grandma. I don’t know what it is – polyesther prints just move me. Seriously though, I love good tailoring and vintage cuts from the 40′s and 50′s are so flattering. Alexander McQueen and Zac Posen are 2 of my favorites.

The sound, restaurant, and movie I love the most…
I love the sound Gospel choirs, and of a big, booming, live symphony orchestra. One of my favorite restaurants is “Rules” in London. It is the city’s oldest restaurant and it is very posh darling. I love the movie “Goonies”. I never get tired of seeing it.

One or two things some people may not know about Amy Bailey…
I have a bright red birthmark on the palm of my hand, and I haven’t met anyone else who has one there. I can also play “Oh Susanna” on the harmonica with my nose. No really, my dad does it too.

Talking Makeup would like to thank fabulous Amy Bailey for a brilliant interview. To learn more about Amy visit the Amy Bailey official website!