Just a quick not about a great movie about couture and fashion that has just come on out on DVD.  The Documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor follows around Valentino for over a year and shows the incredible world this fashion titan lives in.  A small look at the Valentino brand industry and  his 50 years in fashion retrospective make some great drama.  Valentino is one of the kings of the fashion world (and knows it) and his interviews are fabulous as are scenes with him working in his office and then jettting off around the world with his many dogs.  Classic moments between Valentino and his partner Giancarlo Giammetti, Karl Lagerfeld and others make this a great film for die hard fashion lovers.  I saw this movie in the theater but I recommend it as a great rental.

I recently started a list called Beauty: meh listing the cosmetic products I have tried that have been failures or disappointments.  Some of them, like MAC Lipglass I know are favorites for other people, but just don't do it for me (they make my lips too sticky).  But others, like Kevyn Aucoin's famed Curling Mascara just never did anything for me, in fact I have several mascaras on my list that I have tried and felt meh about.  My favorite mascara has turned out to be Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara.  Or Lipfusion, lipgloss plumper which I think I don't think works, but maybe sometimes I try to myself the $36 was worth it? Also, my list contains some of my endless search for hair products that will do something for my thick hair.  But anyway, do you have any beauty product disappointments you want to share?  Recommendations for thick hair styling products would also be welcome (lol)!

I have been looking for a good eyelash curler for a long time.  I have tried other eyelash curlers but they curl for a moment and then my eyelashes droop, pretty much while I am watching.  

I have been running a poll on which eyelash curler I should get the Preo Japanese Eyelash Curler or the Japonesque Heated Eyelash Curler both from my favorite beauty supply source Alcone Company http://www.alconeco.com/.  The poll results went dramatically towards the Preo, by over 20 votes, so went to Alcone prepared to shop and also asked their expert opinion. Alcone caters mostly to make-up artists and carries things that you don't find in most places. They are also very friendly and were happy to answer all of my questions.  

About the eyelash curler, I told them that I wanted the Preo but asked the Japonesque, I told her my eyelashed could be stubborn to curl. What she told me is that throw a little heat from a blow dryer onto the Preo and I would be getting even better.  Score! Because it was cheaper than the Japonesque.  The Preo is a small eyelash curler which doesn't cover the who eye in one pop instead I have to go a little by little going around the eye, but it's worth it because as they promised at the store it really does throw my eyelashes up.  I love it and have not tried using it with heat yet.

At Alcone I also asked about getting some new powder.  I was out of my MAC and she recommended some Ben Nye in either translucent or for me in Bananna.  for $7 I have enough a huge bottle of powder which I love more than I liked my MAC.  It makes my skin glow, and I saved a tremendous amount of money even if I had bought a drugstore brand.

I also asked about the lip sealer, which she didn't recommend saying it was really only for photo shoots since it was alcohol based.  An honest sales person (love!).

I love this store and they were super helpful and I highly recommend my new eyelash curler.  And they ship all around the country.

Votes are in . . . and by five Aniston wins. 

Many commented that they didn't like the fact that Jolie was in black, again.   She seems to always wear black at these events.  The word predictable came up more than once in the poll comments. lamerchick liked Angie in the black dress because, "I prefer black (as most of you know) and I tend to like this. I could actually see myself wearing it. I'll save my opinions on these two ladies for myself though."  My guess as to why all the black, besides the facts that she likes it, she had twins less than a year ago, and black is very slimming and forgiving. But everyone in the poll (even some who picked Aniston) and on the news agreed she looked gorgeous.  And the BBC News quipped that besides her green earrings she "turned up with the ultimate accessory - boyfriend Brad Pitt."  They were a lot of jokes in the media about Jenifer Aniston's accessory/boyfriend on again-off again John Mayer.  Sigh, for Aniston.

Everyone agreed that at 40 Aniston looked amazing (nobody really drew attention to Jolie as "33 year old, mother of 6").  First, I thought it a bit awful that they kept pointing out Aninston's age, more than any other actress.  But then again, I thought she even though she looked good, she looked like she was trying a little hard to look young, like she and Miley Cyrus both forgot how old they were and had some kind of Freaky Friday.  Perhaps that drew some attention to how old she really was.  Not that I would ever want to see her in Miley's gown.  

However you voted, or didn't, or felt or didn't it was a mesmerizing moment on television.  When she walked on to stage to present she seemed awkward, almost happy not to be introduced as the star of the movie "He's Just Not That Into You."  And Jolie and Pitt gave HUGE smiles and laughs at Jack Blacks jokes and her straight man routine when the camera cut to them.  capri commented "I was watching last night. I lost it when I saw Jen come out w/Jack knowing that Brad and Angelina were sitting up front. MEOW. I told my Hubby if I had been Jen I would have worn something a little more risque to get a jolt out of Brad. Jen seemed to lose concentration a couple of times. Brad and Angelina seemed happy and laughing. I thought I was going to see daggers flying out of the gals eyes. It helped that John was there for Jen." That was awkward and maybe that's why a couple voters expressed their support of her in the poll with their decision.  kimmykimmy expressed this opinion "Better dress. Plus... I think Jen has more class."

Several people expressed that they could care less for the Jolie & Aniston whatever you want to call it, mikhail gave Aniston a vote, joking "I secretly hate Angelina Jolie. Don't tell anyone."  But they have been the talk of the media (including the tabloids, television and the internet) where people jokingly refer to themselves as either Team Aniston or Team Jolie.  Many people seem to have some feelings.

In the past there have been incredible fashion blights in the Oscars, including this one (Tilda Swinton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Beyonce, to name a few) and I don't think either of these women made big mistakes.  My own vote would be Angelina, she looked glamorous, simple, and even in black accesorized with green Lorraine Schwartz earrings and ring I thought she stood out, and had grace, like the UN Goodwill Ambassador she is . . she didn't act at all "uncool."  Also, I didn't care for Aniston's silver Valentino, I wished it had been less cosmic.

Angelina Jolie wore a gown by Elie Saab. For her make-up Mary Burton used: Lancome Le Crayon Khôl in Black Ebony, Ôscillation Mascara, Shu Uemura Blush in M Pink 31, and on her lips Lancome Juicy Tubes in Spring Fling.  On her hair David Babaii used: WildAid Bohemian Beach Spray and WildAid Mise en Plis Light Styling Spray

Jenifer Aniston wore  Valentino Coture.  For her make-up the artist used: CHANEL Hydramax + Active Moisture Boost Cream, CHANEL Lift Lumiere Firming and Smoothing Fluid Makeup in Beige, Under Jennifer’s eyes CHANEL Lift Lumiere Smooth and Rejuvinating Eye Contour in Beige Lumiere, instead of a traditional blush, a bit of CHANEL Hydrabase Lipstick in Coco Red on the apples of Jennifer’s cheeks,  CHANEL Sheer Brilliance in Sunkissed around the tops of her cheekbones, closer to the eye, for a bit of shimmer, eyes were a combination of LORAC eye shadows in Jade, Black, and Serenity, and a Tina Earnshaw shadow in Aubergine, CHANEL Inimitable Mascara in Noir-Black, CHANEL Aqualumiere Lipshine in Panarea, available in April, she dusted Soleil Tan de CHANEL Bronzer on Jennifer’s skin, an exclusive creation product from CHANEL also launching in April.

See http://www.temptalia.com for more Oscar 2009 make-up break downs on Jolie, Aniston and more.

For photos of the moment on state: http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news?id=47263

Miley Cyrus:http://cdn.buzznet.com/media-cdn/jj1/headlines/2009/02/miley-cyrus-2009-oscars.jpg

Jolie in Black at the BAFTA's: http://www.catwalkqueen.tv/bafta2009_angelinajolie_armaniprive.jpg

*All of the comments and names from the polls were used with thier permission, and my sincere thanks.