Carolina Herrera presents 212MEN ICE, a new limited edition that reveals the more sensual and provocative side of the 212 universe.

212 MEN ICE is a masculine fragrance with a distinctive personality. Created with fresh spicy top notes of black pepper and liquorice, flowery middle notes of violet and wood, with seductive notes of sandalwood, musk and noble wood as the perfume base. A series of ingredients to evoke the 212 man: contemporary, enigmatic, elegant and urban.

Ice, the source of inspiration for the creation of 212MEN ICE, is the natural container of thousands of frozen memories that capture the energy of life. 212MEN ICE draws us to the memory of water through a history of encounters and disencounters in the streets and most select bars of Manhattan: a story of seduction and the search for intense desires that will be preserved in a drop of frozen water.

Packaging: The design of the bottle has the same structure as the regular product, while highlighting the contrasts and parallels between the women and men’s fragrances from colours and design.

212 MEN ICE Eau de Toilette $59.00 (3.4 fl oz)

Available at: Sephora, Sephora.com and Macy’s, Macys.com.

Dolce&Gabbana just announced the launch of their new fragrance for men Dolce&Gabbana The One Gentleman in WWD.

Dolce&Gabbana is extending their fragrance portfolio by introducing a new scent, The One Gentleman, to be released fall 2010. Following their 20th Menswear Anniversary, Stefano and Domenico wanted to pay tribute to what makes a real 2010 gentleman: simplicity and elegance. “ We asked the noses to re-create the feeling of elegance, an emotion that didn’t exist in our male fragrance collection” are Stefano Gabbana’s words. No fuss, no complicated approach, being a gentleman today is about behaviour as much as lifestyle. Read full article in www.swide.com

Marc Jacobs Bang is a new fragrance for men by fashion designer Marc Jacobs. But have you seen the ad?

Introducing Diesel Only The Brave Iron Man Limited Edition an exclusive version of Diesel’s men’s fragrance inspired by the upcoming film. With the premiere of one of summer’s most anticipated blockbusters – Iron Man 2 – only a few days away, celebrate superhero bravery with Diesel’s new limited edition fragrance.

Taking inspiration from the season’s most daring, fearless, courageous action hero, Diesel introduces Only The Brave Iron Man Limited-Edition, celebrating bravery on the big screen. In honor of Iron Man’s epic feats, Diesel is reimagining its signature Only The Brave fist design in bold red and gold colors for a limited time, evoking the power and strength of the upcoming film’s leading man. The fragrance is housed in a one-of-a-kind box featuring strips from the original Iron Man comic.

Inspired by visionary artists, icons and rebels, Only The Brave is for men who take a stand and control their own destiny, seizing opportunities and making a difference. The scent represents the qualities of the brave, symbolized by a fist that tells several stories: facing forward, the fist evokes power and energy; upright, it stands for self-affirmation; raised, it signifies victory, success and engagement.

WHAT IT COSTS: Eau de Toilette 2.5oz, $67.50

WHERE TO FIND IT: The recently opened Fifth Avenue Diesel Flagship in New York, Diesel boutiques, Diesel-fragrances.com, Macy’s, Dillard’s and other major department stores. Visit isbrave.com for more information.

AXE TWIST Fresh Fragrance That Changes & GIVEAWAY: I’m loving the NEW AXE Twist Deodorant Bodyspary. Girls, if you don’t want your boyfriend or husband to smell like an ‘old man’ then you must check this. The smell starts citrusy and fresh but it’s a rounded and warm citrus type of scent, not ‘poky’.

My husband loves AXE Twist because he is into modern and sophisticated scents not old fashion cologne scents. He actually loves the mixture of fresh citrus with the warm and cedar and sandalwood notes. I like spraying it on myself too it’s SO GOOD (can I say it smells ‘sexy’)! Another great thing about AXE Twist Deodorant Bodyspray is the way the fragrance develops through the day or from the first second you apply. The difference between the 3 base notes is very distinct. It’s like 3 perfumes in one. Needless to say, I can’t get enough. And it’s available at drugstores. Revolutionary. Well done AXE. Marta approves.

AXE “Twist Pack” GIVEAWAY: Talking Makeup is excited to let you have the NEW AXE Twist fragrance collection! YAY. We’re giving away the “Twist Pack” (image above) which includes (image below): AXE Twist Deodorant Bodyspray, Deodorant Stick, and Antiperspirant Stick to 15 lucky readers!

How to enter to WIN: Simply leave a comment under this post and tell Talking Makeup why should we pick you! GOOD LUCK! xo Marta

More about the NEW AXE Twist Deodorant Bodyspary: It’s a fresh fragrance that changes over time to keep girls interested. Developed by world-renowned fragrance expert Ann Gottlieb (the nose behind fragrances included OBSESSION, ETERNITY, DAISY for Marc Jacobs, COVET for Sarah Jessica Parker and many more) and perfumers at Firmenich (the largest privately-owned company in the fragrance industry) AXE also engaged 20 college age consumers to help develop a the AXE Twist product line. Notably, the consumer group included a mix of guys and girls, truly making the product guy-tested and girl approved. Twist starts with fresh hints of citrus and lime to make a good first impression, and then adds more depth with earthy notes of cedar and sandalwood to keep guys smelling good and to keep girls interested.

What do they mean with “Fragrance that Changes” you might ask: Well, all fragrances have three notes: Top Note (which lasts up to an hour); Middle Note (lasts longer than the top note, is often a little milder) and a Bottom Note or Base Note (longest lasting part of a fragrance) Generally speaking, differences between the three notes are minimized. However, in AXE Twist, the co-creation team and perfumers worked to magnify the differences, which is why AXE Twist says on the can that it’s the “Fragrance that Changes.”

Availability:

• AXE Twist is available in a Deodorant Bodyspray, Deodorant Stick, Antiperspirant Stick and Shower Gel all have a suggested retail price of $4.99.

• AXE 12 fl. oz. Shower Gels and have a suggested retail price of $3.99.

AXE products are available at most food, drug, club and mass outlets.

Post above is a sponsored post.

Two new fragrances join Prada’s Ephemeral Infusion Collection, the women’s fragrance, Infusion de Tubéreuse, and the men’s fragrance Infusion de Vétiver.

A surprising mix of Tuberose from India, Petitgrain Bigarade, Blood Orange from Italy and Dynamone combine to create Infusion de Tubéreuse (image above), a delicate impression of this traditional scent.

Prada Infusion de Vétiver (image above) is also full of unexpected combinations: the tender touch of Vetiver is brought alive with notes of Tarragon, Madagascan Pepper and Purple Ginger.

As with every scent in the Ephemeral Infusion Collection, the packaging of Infusion de Tubéreuse and Infusion de Vétiver references prints from the Prada fashion archives. The power inherent within apparent contradictions inspires this unique perfume collection.

Prada Infusion de Tubereuse

Collection

Infusion de Tubereuse 6.7 fl oz $135

Infusion de Tubereuse 3.4 fl oz $100

Infusion de Tubereuse 1.7 fl oz $74

Infusion de Tubereuse Bath & Shower Gel $58

Infusion de Tubereuse Body Lotion $52

Prada Infusion de Vetiver

Collection

Infusion de Vetiver 6.7 fl oz $100

Infusion de Vetiver 3.4 fl oz $74

Infusion de Vetiver 1.7 fl oz $54

Infusion de Vetiver Bath & Shower Gel $58

Where to Buy: Neiman Marcus, NeimanMarcus.com

New men’s fragrance: Gucci by Gucci SPORT pour Homme is the latest addition to Gucci’s growing fragrance portfolio for men. Conceived by Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini, this scent takes its inspiration from the original Gucci by Gucci pour Homme (launched in 2008) yet offers a totally new and powerful olfactory experience for men.

The scent has a nonchalance and an ease that captures the healthy, active aspects of the Gucci man’s lifestyle. Its sporty character is underscored by the fragrance’s light body and its citrus tones. The mood of this fragrance – cool, fresh, yet strong — evokes a certain playfulness and leisurely state of mind. It is as relevant in “free time” moments as it is for casual every day use.

The packaging, for example, is characterized by the bold red and green web striping that has been a Gucci design signature since the 1950s. Originally inspired by a girth strap used to secure a saddle onto a horse, the web has been used on a variety of iconic Gucci products from loafers and handbags to tennis shoes and sportswear. Now, the original red and green stripes are being applied to a fragrance, which give it a bold graphic quality and an immediate visual association with the House. Not only do these fresh stripes evoke an unstudied, sportif cool against the pure white box packaging, but they also offer a chic reference to Gucci’s nearly ninety- year history.

Also prevalent in Gucci’s rich history is the horsebit, another iconic symbol inspired by the equestrian world. The distinctive horsebit has been used on the design of the fragrance’s silver metal cap, which gives it a masculine touch and another link to Gucci’s past.

The bottle’s shape, sleek and modern in weighty clear glass, is also distinguished with the scripted signature of Guccio Gucci, who founded the House of Gucci in 1921. All major design components of the bottle and packaging are consistent with Gucci by Gucci Pour Homme, however the lighter colors in which they are delineated – bright white, matte silver metal, clear glass — underscore the at-ease nature of the fragrance itself.

The scent’s resolute freshness is created by a blend of citrus and aromatic notes. Specifically, the juicy tartness of grapefruit is played off the aromatic, camphor quality of cardamom. Sun-drenched Corsican Fig nectar adds an interesting contrast of green fruitiness to the mix. Depth is achieved with the addition of rich and woody Patchouli, a signature Gucci ingredient.

Apart from its distinctive construction, Gucci by Gucci SPORT pour Homme stands out with its unusually long-lasting effect. Unlike most sport fragrances, which are characterized by a quick burst and fade of scent, Gucci by Gucci SPORT pour Homme features a special technology that allows the scent to linger on the body for an extended period of time.

The launch of the new fragrance is supported by a global print advertising campaign featuring actor James Franco, who has debuted as the face of Gucci by Gucci pour Homme in 2008. The campaign was photographed by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin in Cannes, France guided by Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini. The resulting images show the other side of the Gucci man evoking a cool masculinity and a sense of freedom.

THE RANGE

Eau de Toilette Spray 50ml $57.00
Eau de Toilette Spray 90ml $73.00
After Shave Lotion 90ml $57.00
After Shave Balm 75ml $40.00
All Over Shampoo 150ml $33.00
Deodorant Stick 75g $27.00

Gucci by Gucci SPORT pour Homme is available in Spring 2010 at major department stores nationwide.

Christopher Bailey launches new fragrance collection: Burberry SPORT and Talking Makeup is excited to share with you some of behind the scenes photos of the Burberry SPORT ad campaign.

Burberry represents a tradition of prestige and performance heritage. On the heels of the Winter Olympic games in Vancouver, the timing couldn’t be more appropriate to launch the newest fragrance collection by Burberry, Burberry SPORT for Men and Women – hitting stores in mid-March 2010.

Burberry SPORT, the newest scent designed in alignment with Burberry’s Sport Fashion line, combines sporting attitude with an energetic spirit. Inspired by the British outdoors and the brand’s iconic performance trench coat history, Burberry’s Creative Director Christopher Bailey designed the two new scents as a natural extension of Burberry’s technical, functional, and fashion DNA.

Christopher Bailey’s inspiration for SPORT is realized in an energizing fragrance that combines confident notes of red ginger, sea salt, and cedar wood at its heart and base. The packaging reflects Burberry SPORT’s iconic color scheme of winter white (for women) and black (for men). The packaging – rubberized case on the glass bottle, and red rubberized Burberry Sport wristband, embossed with the Burberry logo which encircle the exterior packaging for both the women’s and men’s scent – capture the all-weather, outdoor essence of the Burberry SPORT brand.

Burberry SPORT Collection:

Women’s EDT 1.0 fl. oz. – $48
Women’s EDT 1.7 fl. oz. – $58
Women’s EDT 2.5 fl. oz. – $78
Men’s EDT 1.0 fl. oz. – $47
Men’s EDT 1.7 fl. oz. – $57
Men’s EDT 2.5 fl. oz. – $72

Availability: Fine Department Stores Nationwide

As a leader in the fragrance industry, Giorgio Armani’s Acqua di Giò pour Homme is proud to announce its role as a National Supporter in the 2010 UNICEF TAP Project in an effort to raise awareness around the world to improve access to safe water and sanitation facilities in schools and communities. Nearly 900 million people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water and specifically 4,100 children die daily due to lack of clean water.

WATCH video explaining the cause!

During the month of March 2010 – with a focus on World Water Week (March 21st – March 27th) – Acqua di Giò pour Homme will support the cause by donating $1 to the UNICEF TAP Project with each purchase of the Acqua di Giò pour Homme fragrance sold in the US during the month! In addition, you can visit a Giorgio Armani fragrance counter in March will receive a reusable Acqua di Giò pour Homme bpa-free water bottle as a token of appreciation.

The brand will be kicking-off the initiative online with the launch of the Acqua di Giò Facebook page . For each person who signs up as a friend of the page during the month of March, Acqua di Giò pour Homme will donate $1 up to $50,000!

Limited Edition Acqua di Giò pour Homme bottle that celebrates this partnership

Men Wear Makeup Too! Celebrity Makeup Artist AJ Crimson works with Sean Diddy Combs for the February 2010 issue of Vogue Magazine.

“Yes, fella’s get camera ready before a photoshoot too-especially if your name is Sean Combs!”-AJ Crimson

For more information on AJ Crimson, visit www.ajcrimson.com  also visit AJ’s Blog!

About AJ Crimson
AJ Crimson is an established Celebrity Makeup Artist who is most known for his innovative and creative beauty solutions. He has worked on numerous key campaigns with many artists and celebrities including Fergie, Hillary Duff, Adrienne Bailon, Amerie, Estelle, Mya, Christina Milian, Letoya Luckett, Missy Elliott and Keyshia Cole just to name a few.

Editorially, Crimson is an oft-quoted beauty and cosmetics media expert. His analysis and work is regularly featured in fashion and lifestyle magazines worldwide such as Glamour, Ocean Drive, InStyle, Real Simple, Life & Style Weekly, The Village Voice, LA Confidential, Essence, Zink, Vibe and leading Japanese magazines, Blenda and Luire and many others. He is currently the youngest founder and designer of a luxury cosmetics line under age 30 with the recent launch of the widely popular Kissable Couture, a line he founded in association with co-creator and business partner Keisha Whitaker.