A long time personal friend of Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, Monica is the symbol of the Italian beauty of our time, personifying passion, voluptuous sensuality and breathtaking beauty in films such as "The Matrix - Reloaded", "The Passion of the Christ" and "Don't Look Back", as well as French language films such as "L'Appartement", for which she was nominated to the César Awards.

As admirers of Monica's beauty and carefree sensuality, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana found it only fitting to celebrate her remarkable magnetism with her very own limited edition Dolce & Gabbana Make Up collection.

The Monica Lipstick Collection, launching in stores in May 12. With her famed fulsome lips, impeccable complexion and daring, expressive eyes she exudes the irony, mystery and charm that comprises the very essence of the Dolce & Gabbana woman.

"We love Monica and have worked with her many times over the past 20 years. Her beauty is timeless," says Domenico Dolce. "She expresses perfectly the Dolce & Gabbana woman," adds Stefano Gabbana, "She is ravishing - a true Italian icon."

"I'm delighted to be collaborating with Domenico and Stefano on Dolce & Gabbana The Make Up," says Monica. "I have always adored the aesthetic of Dolce & Gabbana and it's so exciting to be involved with their creative process."

Taking Flight - Autumn/Winter 2011-2012 press release download Now that we have recovered from the worst and are experiencing a new fluidity of movement, the economy and therefore culture will take us to a higher plane for a new and even better perspective. In a positive and optimistic mood, fashion and design will take flight and give us wings on the road to new colours, more texture and exalting creativity.

The world of birds is therefore our source of inspiration, with their interesting behaviour patterns previewing the society of man. Living in flocks they inspire us to congregate and share, building nests and inviting us to rekindle the love and care we want to give our family and friends; transgressing borders they install in us a new sense of freedom from convention and control; gathering food they initiate the idea of local produce and seasonal harvest.

In the cosmetics world, we will express that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, with a keen interest on the eye area and the amazing new hairstyles that birds can arouse, drawing upon a plethora of plumage and feathery volume. Beauty will expand the idea of role playing, setting the stage for fantasy, escapism and discreet eroticism. Seduction will be the name of the game for women looking to attract their mate, and males intent in parading to entice.

Photo credit : Thomas Straub

LONDON, Feb. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Debenhams has discovered that British women carry a staggering 256 pounds Sterling worth of make-up in their handbags every day, as reported in a new study. Research found that 13 essential products make up the average cosmetics bag, with each item costing on average 20 pounds.

Despite the fact that their beauty products are often worth more than their mobile phone and camera, 72 per cent of women did not include their make-up kits on their personal belongings insurance and 64 per cent would not think to claim for the items if their handbag was stolen. Mascara was the 'must have' make-up with 95 per cent of women saying they wouldn't go anywhere without it.

A favourite bottle of perfume and foundation were also handbag staples, carried by 79 per cent and 76 per cent of women and costing on average 50 pounds and 25 pounds respectively. Ruth Attridge, spokesperson for Debenhams, said, "The lipstick index has shown that treating yourself to designer make-up will boost your mood and transform your look, without busting your purse strings. "However, when your make-up bag becomes the most valuable item in your handbag, it's time to ensure your insurance is up to date."

The study further revealed that while women aged 18 years old to 25 years old carried the most make-up, it was professional women aged 35 years old to 44 years old whose make-up bags were worth the most. Women in London, Glasgow and Leeds carried the most make-up, with ladies in Leicester, Brighton and Edinburgh opting for a more natural look.

The most make-up was carried on a Monday, with one respondent stating, "I take pretty much all my make-up with me on a Monday morning. I do my make-up when I get to work so I can have longer in bed after the weekend." In addition, cosmetic bags swell across the nation on Fridays as women apply an entirely new face of make-up at 5pm, ready for a night out. Attridge concludes, "British women are renowned for their love of beauty products as shown by the weight and worth of their well-stocked make-up bags. "These cosmetics could contribute to an expensive and time-consuming loss should a handbag be lost or stolen. Without personal belongings insurance, the true cost of beauty could be an ugly surprise."

Beverly Hills, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that seven films remain in competition in the Makeup category for the 83rd Academy Awards®.

The films are listed below in alphabetical order:

Alice in Wonderland

Barney’s Version

The Fighter

Jonah Hex

True Grit

The Way Back

The Wolfman

On Saturday, January 22, all members of the Academy’s Makeup Branch will be invited to view 10-minute excerpts from each of the seven shortlisted films. Following the screenings, members will vote to nominate three films for final Oscar consideration.

The 83rd Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Tuesday, January 25, 2011, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater. Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2010 will be presented on Sunday, February 27, 2011, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

Two glamorous beauty professionals with more than 70 years of combined beauty expertise have united for one vision: make-up that is more than just color. World renowned make-up artist Peter Schmidinger has developed an exclusive new collection for BABOR Cosmetics called The BABOR FACE DESIGN COLLECTION.

As one of the leading skin care brands worldwide, BABOR sought to create a collection that would not only make the skin of every woman look beautiful, but more importantly - care for it with ingredients found in some of BABOR’s most effective products. This new range offers protection, treatment, regeneration and color all in one thanks to the active “lifting” ingredient complex specially developed for the line. Samphire extracts help regenerate, Vitamin E effectively protects from free radicals, and Lupine Oil regenerates and protects the skin barrier. The amino acid complex L-PCA also gives additional moisture.