Micro-cosmetic procedures to do yourself

Micro-cosmetic procedures you do yourself have never looked so good. The fabulous French fashion and skincare house Chanel is behind Precision Micro Solutions. Chanel offers three products as cosmetic alternatives to dermatology procedures.

They sound very Nip/Tuck so you'll feel very professional using all the flash gear Chanel provides. The Micro Solutions Refining Peel Program is a peeling treatment with pure glycolic acid to revive skin texture and smooth fine lines. It comes in 21 single-delivery tubes.

The Micro Solutions Wrinkle-Neutralising Treatment combines a roller massage instrument that is used on expression lines before applying the treatment gel to the area. And the Micro Solutions Wrinkle-Filler Program fills deep wrinkles without injections. Instead, you apply some redensifying wrinkle treatment then use one of the single-use spatulas to apply the instant wrinkle filler.

So you need never look like one of Chanel's croc bags. Each of these amazingly packaged cosmetic wonders costs $296 and is available from next week at selected department stores and pharmacies.

Make a date with Liz

Former Sex And The City writer Liz Tuccillo will be the glam guest at the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation's gala ball on October 1 at SkyCity, which kicks off Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

In her new life, Tuccillo has just co-written a humorous guide to men and dating titled He's Just Not That Into You ($14.99, available October 7).

It's a spinoff from the TV series when Sex And The City's Miranda finally realises that "I'll call you" really means "He's just not that into you".

The book offers such pearls of wisdom as, "Men are not complicated, although we'd like you to think we are".

Ball hosts Frankie Stevens and Jayne Kiely will interrogate Tuccillo for tips on the dating game.

The charity auction will include what's being called the ultimate New York glamour package.

It includes a return trip for two to New York and a day of pampering, plus lunch with Tuccillo.

Tickets are $180 each and available from the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation website (see link below).

Sure to be a smash

More happenings on Ponsonby Rd. Sass is a new shop dedicated to skincare and makeup, stocking American brands smashbox and philosophy. Dean and Davis Factor, the great-grandsons of makeup king Max Factor, are behind the famous photo studio Smashbox and makeup brand smashbox. Photographic legends such as Herb Ritts and Annie Leibovitz are types who frequent the studio, and Drew Barrymore, Sharon Stone and Charlize Theron are smashbox users.

That's makeup - now for the skincare. Philosophy is a brand that marries science and nature. It comes in hip packaging and has inspirational names such as hope & a prayer.

Sass is at 342 Ponsonby Rd, ph (09) 376 0055.

Another for the road

Scotties is getting in on the Ponsonby Rd act and opening a third store this month to complement its Blake St and Lorne St stores.

It will be next door to Bambina at 270 Ponsonby Rd and carry a mix of imports and the Beth Ellery label, plus New French T-shirts and London label Orla Kiely, miller et barteaux perfume and jeans.

Lorne St will remain the flagship, stocking the bulk of the imports and Blake St will carry all labels and the fabulous recycle section.

Here's the lowdown

The Dolce & Gabbana advert featuring jeans that give new meaning to low-slung has caused a stir in the United States. The men's autumn fashion line is being promoted with jeans that plunge so low they have been dubbed "pubic pants".

The daring ad has prompted mixed opinion in the fashion industry and comparisons have been made with the 1980s Calvin Klein ads featuring Brooke Shields and Kate Moss.

Veteran advertiser Jerry Della Femina said: "Some people are going to find it disgusting, but they're probably not the Dolce crowd.

This is a campaign that only people who are sort of edgy and want to buy their clothing will see and appreciate."

It's that time again

It must be the fundraiser season. Sabine, Triumph Lingerie, Saga, Polish, Canterbury Clothing, Angela Lewis, Robin Jones Clothing and Pumpkin Patch are taking part in a fashion show for Plunket centres in Kohimarama, Mission Bay and Orakei. The event will be at the Baradene School auditorium on September 24. Tickets $30. Ph (09) 521 0638.