birthday bonanza

I don't know if you've noticed this but there seem to be an awful lot of springtime birthdays.  Everyone is having a birthday lately and it forces me to stretch my imagination for inventive 'must have' birthday gifts.  The perfect gift is something that the receiver would secretly covet yet not dare buy for herself.  It should be luxurious, pampering, whimsical, and inspiring.  Here are a few gems that fit the bill:

Bliss Softening Socks and Foot Patrol Set is like a spa treatment at home.  First of all, the Foot Patrol foot cream is my all time favorite foot cream.  It is cooling, soothing, super hydrating, and gently exfoliating to give you the silkiest feet imaginable.  And the smoothing socks contain a hydrating nourishing gel on the inside so if you apply the Foot Patrol before putting on the Softening Socks it amps up the treatment factor for the ultimate in tender soft feet.

Sephora Favorites Bottled Dreams Fragrance Sampler For Her is a great solution if you are dithering about what to get.  Fragrances are always fun, but it can be difficult to know which one would suit the recipient, however this sampler solves the problem.  It contains six adorable mini bottles of fragrance (and in my book this is Sephora's best selection of samples yet) for your loved one to try.  Then there is a coupon for her to redeem for a FREE full sized bottle of her favorite fragrance in the kit.  It's a no brainer!

Fornasetti Candles are the ultimate in luxury, sophistication, and aesthetics.  The ornamental containers are to die for and would add an artful note to any room in the house.  The scents are harmonious and one of a kind.  Yes, they are outrageously expensive but that's what makes them a cherished gift.  Think of it as buying a little work of art for the person who truly embodies a flair for style.

Cowshed products are playful and unique.  They are a British brand of bath, body, skincare, and home goodies that are plant-based, and pretty much only available on line.  The prices are in pounds but believe me your credit card will work, and the shipping is fast and easy.  The names of the bath and candle lines are mischievously called things like 'grumpy cow', lazy cow',  'horny cow'.  There is even a sampler of their best sellers.  You can be sure no one else will be giving your friend something like this!

lighten up - moisturizers for warm weather

It's time to lighten up.  Finally!  Spring and Summer can never come soon enough in my book but when they inevitably get here you'll want to change your skincare regimen from the weighty winter products to something that is less likely to make you sweat.

This is also the time of year when people get more conscientious about using products with sunscreen, and while that is not a bad thing per se, it can be misleading. First of all, forget your makeup has any sunscreen in it, it won't make a bit of difference.  And while it is noble of you to want to use a moisturizer with sunscreen in it, just keep in mind that the spf will only be protecting you for the first couple hours after application.  Do not make the mistake of thinking you can moisturize in the morning and be covered for the whole day.  I am tempted to say don't even bother with a spf moisturizer and just be diligent with a separate sunscreen, however I am willing to concede that a little spf is better than none at all.

That said I will make some recommendations for super summer moisturizers including those with spf in them - just because I know you want it.  These guys provide wonderful hydration and vitamins without clogging your pores or sliding off your face:

Bliss Fabulous Face Lotion With SPF 15 is a cult favorite.  In fact it is so cult-like a lot of people don't even know about it, but those who do are very happy indeed.  It is creamy without being heavy because its main hydrating ingredient is glycerin while oils are low on the ingredient list.  It is packed with vitamins (including the very hydrating B5), anti-oxidants, and anti-aging omegas, so you can rest assured you are doing something good for your skin.

Peter Thomas Roth Clini-Matte All Day Oil-Control SPF 20 is a moisturizer, mattifier and sunscreen all in one. Absolutely perfect to control oil in humid climates or for naturally oily skin! Furthermore, PTR is a superb clinical brand that is going to give you plenty of skincare benefits.  Men particularly love this stuff because of the no-frills, packaging, scent, and texture.  I've even had bald clients use it on the top of their head.

Amore Pacific Moisture Bound Refreshing Hydra-Gel Oil Free is the one to get if you are concerned with early signs of aging.  Notice no spf, because if you are truly concerned with anti-aging you will apply a separate sunscreen every two hours throughout the day.  Amore Pacific is a luxury brand from Korea and their products are all made with bamboo sap which is extra nourishing and anti-defying.  This gel moisturizer hydrates with hyaluronic acid - a great, non-greasy, way to go.

Skinceuticals Face Cream makes the ideal Summer weight moisturizer for those with dry mature skin.  Skinceuticals is a much beloved spa brand that excels in all areas of skincare,  but particularly anti-aging.  This cream does wonders for the skin and better than its humble name 'Face Cream' it should be called 'Fantastically Firming Smoothing Tightening Glowing Face Cream'.

fragrances for Spring

As far as I am concerned, the only good things about post-holiday Winter are the award shows and the Spring launches.  Deep into February here, I am craving all things Spring.  I already bought a spring eye shadow palette and now the Spring-like fragrances are calling to me.  Some just launched and others launched a little while back, but whatever the case I am ready for them STAT.  They are all so enticing I am having trouble narrowing it down to just one, so here are a few of my faves:


Escada Cherry in the Air is a sweet treat indeed.  The quintessential fruity floral, it has notes of Black Cherry, Raspberry, Mandarin, Marshmallow, Gardenia, Coconut, Sandalwood, and oakwood. Something about it is both comforting and achingly familiar - a scent you want to bask in.

Kenzo Amour I love You is a fresh fruity floral with the emphasis on floral.  The bottle is exquisite and contains a formula of pink grapefruit, redcurrant, cherry blossom, rose, lilac, white musks, and cedarwood.  This ethereal fragrance will make you feel like you are falling in love.

Pleats Please by Issey Miyake is quite different from his usual fragrances - perhaps a bit more  exuberant and whimsical.  Notes of Nashi pear, peony, sweet pea, cinnamon, cedar, patchouli, and vanilla unfurl and captivate .  Inspired by Miyake's signature fashion collection, it is called "the perfume that moves you".

Balenciaga Florabotanica is a sexy edgy floral.  Including notes of Turkish Rose, hemp, carnation, mint, caladium leaves, amber, and vetiver root, it has more of a green garden scent than most floral perfumes.  Look out, it is fast becoming a cult favorite.

Valentines gift ideas for your guy

Based on the numerous boyfriends and husbands I've had over the years, I find that most guys love being gifted with grooming products they normally wouldn't buy for themselves.  Grooming products are personal, almost intimate, and show that you care - just the thing for Valentines Day.  It's sharing a bit of yourself and your beauty world with him, and makes him feel special.  That said, I would base your selection of products on your guy's needs and preferences:  is he low-maintenance or high maintenance?  A fragrance lover, or fragrance-free?  Does he have sensitive skin or any other skincare concerns that he doesn't know how to address?

Hopefully one of these ideas will resonate with your guy's personality:

Molton Brown Black Pepper Body Wash is the difinitive men's grooming gift. In general Molton Brown products make the perfect gift because they are a luxury brand from England, something beyond the ordinary.  The Black Pepper scent is particularly sensual and masculine - a blend of spicy, woodsy, and a tad bit of citrus.  If you think your guy would want a corresponding body lotion, there is a fantastic gift set of shower gel/lotion.  Definitely a treat!

Not all men like a liquid body wash so for those who prefer a bar soap Bliss Mammoth Minty Scrub Soap is the way to go.  It is the ultimate refreshing and invigorating morning pick-me-up.  Great for the no-frills frugal guy because it gives a superior clean and will last him forever.  None of that fru-fru fragrance here.  To complement the minty soap why not bake your lover a batch of gooey mint brownies - he will be over the moon.

You would not believe how many men are looking for a great hand cream, and L'Occitane has the ideal solution.  Their (virtually unscented) Shea Butter Hand Cream provides superior hydration without being sticky or greasy, and it absorbs easily into the skin.  Men who work with their hands - from construction to message - love it, and men with aggravating skin conditions appreciate it as well.  Also the large, spare, non-nonsense packaging couldn't be more man-appropriate.

If you are looking to buy your guy a fragrance, Atelier Cologne Vetiver Fatale Cologne Absolute is a unique scent that has wide appeal.  It's not too heavy, not too perfumey, but is naturally masculine, including notes of Haitian Vetiver, dark oud, Texas cedarwood, and citrus.  Atelier Cologne is a couture perfume house that makes what I consider essentially unisex fragrances.  I highly recommend that you check some of their other scents for yourself or share the Vetever Fatale with your guy.

For the ultimate in nostalgia get your man the Classic Shaving Black Stoneware Complete Shaving Kit.  The black stoneware mug with premium shave soap, old-fashioned safety razor (and extra blades), and badger bristle brush are totally retro cool.  This is a special gift for a special guy, and I think he would be delighted to receive it.

If none of these presents strike a chord for you, see my post grooming gifts for your guy to get more gift ideas for men.

spending your holiday gift money

It is very unlike me not to cash in a gift certificate or gift check right away but this particular post-holiday season I have been procrastinating.  I have been exercising something I rarely exercise - caution. After all what do I really need?  Or more accurately, what do I really want?  Well!  After much deliberation I have come up with a short-list of goodies for me, and any beauty maven still holding on to holiday money, to buy.  Keep in mind we must buy something special - something we wouldn't normally spend the money on.  Gift money is all about indulgence!

I've always wanted to buy something from MOR Cosmetics.  Years ago I smelled some MOR candles that I came across in a local boutique and was enchanted.  I have been looking for more MOR (pun intended) ever since but have only ever found it online.  But so what!  I am giving you the link so that you, and I, can peruse and purchase whatever we want from their delicious website.  They have everything from body butter, to eau de toilette, to soap. And you'll see, the packaging is exquisite, the fragrances decadent, and the quality pure luxury.

Just out is Dior's Spring makeup collection and the 5 Couleur eyeshadow paletts are irresistible.  Their colors are as delicate as petals and are embossed with a faint houndstooth design.  So clever! Personally I am not going to wait for Spring to use these beauties:  The Cherie Bow Collection Rose Ballerine for day and Rose Charmeuse for night

I already have a Clairsonic - have been using it for years - but YOU must put it on your shopping list. Unless you have an extreme skin condition, it is one of the single best things you can do for your skin and absolutely worth the investment.  It will give you immediate glow and your skin will never feel cleaner - the secret is in the sonic technology.  And I'm sorry but it really is better than all those copycats out there.  My  professional recommendation to you is only use it once a day maximum.  Every other day is preferable and only once maybe twice a week for sensitive skin.  Also for sensitive skin be sure to buy a separate "delicate" brush head - it comes with a "sensitive" brush head but with Clairsonic "sensitive" is really normal, and "delicate" is really sensitive.  Use their "normal" brush head on your body - the machine is waterproof and can go in the shower!

Alterna is one of my favorite brands of haircare, everything they make is gentle, sulfate and gluten free, and very very effective.  While I have already used many of their products, I always wanted to try the Caviar Collection.  They are a little pricier than regular Alterna products but Caviar Anti-Aging Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner actually contain Caviar Extract, Vitamin C, and UVA/UVB protection.  It is a luscious combination that is good not just for "mature" hair but for any dry, brittle, or color-treated hair.

HAPPY SHOPPING!

complexion makeup for luminous skin

This is the time of year that I get multitudes of clients coming to me complaining about pasty, dull, tired, skin.  They want bronzers, they want blushes, they want powders.  Which is going about it all the wrong way, because first and foremost you need to be sufficiently hydrating and exfoliating your skin.  And some vitamin C products wouldn't be remiss either (they give good glow).  But let's face it, Winter is a bitch on the skin.  So say you are doing all that and you still want more vibrant skin - then you can turn to the appropriate makeup solutions.  And I've got some good ones for you too, whether your skin is dry, mature, or just has the doldrums.

If you are going to use a foundation, try layering it on top of Laura Mercier Foundation Primer - Radiance.  This will give a great baseline for whatever makeup you use - it'll make your skin look moist and healthy.  I have to say when this primer came out last year it was an instant hit - beauty editors and makeup artists alike could not stop talking about it. So consider adding it to your make up routine - it will also help your foundation last longer.

If you want a good medium coverage foundation that doesn't look cakey or dry I highly recommend Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Moisture Foundation.  This stuff is gorgeous and smooth with light-reflecting particles.  And yes it is mildly hydrating but this does not let you off the hook from using a moisturizer as a base - you must still do that.  What you will get is considerable coverage that doesn't look like you are wearing makeup - it just makes your skin look supple and alive.  Definitely a cult favorite.

If you like a sheer, natural-looking coverage, go for Stila Stay All Day 10-in-0ne Illuminating Beauty Balm.  This one step wonder will even out skintone, increase collagen, and literally light up your skin.  It is the answer for people who prefer a low-maintenance make up routine because it covers all the bases.  You will never experience a dull moment with this souped-up tinted moisturizer.  Plus it has spf 30!

If you have mature skin your best bet may be Lancome Renergie Eclat Multi-Lift Mulit-Action Tinted Skincare.  It's more sheer than a regular foundation, and more beneficial than a tinted-moisturizer.  It has wonderful anti-aging ingredients in it as well as provides positively luminous color.  The reason I like it for mature skin is because of its emollience. Unless it is very dry, younger skin may not appreciate the oilier quality.  Note I say "oilier" NOT "greasier"  because this stuff absorbs well into the skin.  If you have the right skin type, oil is a good thing, and you will fall in love.

  Once you start using these super-star products you will notice that fine lines and imperfections melt away.  There will be no sparkle, or glimmer, or shimmer.  Instead people will be asking you if you've been on vacation because you will have a radiance that looks like you've been in Hawaii sipping green smoothies all day long.  Aloha!

*** since I wrote this there has emerged a new 'must have' luminous face product.  Smashbox Camera Ready CC Cream gives the dewiest of dewy finishes, all the while providing color, hydrating, priming, dark spot correcting, and protecting you from the sun.  You gotta try it!

super body scrubs

Body scrubs are an essential part of any shower-time ritual (and I should know, I've got about three tubs of scrub going in my shower).  Not only does scrubbing yourself down feel like an indulgent spa ritual but it will keep the skin on your body younger longer.  Just like on your face, exfoliating your body encourages cell turnover rate - an important factor in anti-aging.  Smooth, silky skin is another benefit, as well as a releasing of toxins and debris.  I recommend scrubbing before any shaving routine for a smoother shave that will help prevent ingrown hairs.

There are all kinds of body scrubs out there, some with additional targeted results such as hydrating, slimming, or invigorating - so I've picked a range of scrubs that I want to talk about, each totally fantabulous in their own right.

Sugar scrubs are extremely popular because they are gentle and hydrating and usually smell scrumptious.  My all time favorite sugar scrub is the natural Carol's Daughter Brown Sugar Scrub.  In an almond oil base, this scrub is hydrating as well as exfoliating.  Once the sugar crystals scrub away your dead skin, they dissolve deliciously into your body and the oil lingers to retain moisture all day long.  But best of all is the heavenly scent of brown sugar and chocolate!

On the other end of the spectrum is the clinical Derma Doctor's KP Duty Body Scrub.  Although it is specifically formulated to get rid of those little red "chicken skin" bumps (keratosis pilaris = KP), it serves as a wonderful body scrub for almost any skin type.  The secret to its success is that it combines glycolic acid with gentle synthetic scrubbing beads.  KP Duty does double duty!  And the beads don't dissolve on contact, but stick around to do the job they were meant to do, and the nice big tub will last you forever.

Another type of scrub is the salt scrub.  This type is often used at spas because it is a natural form of exfoliation that does thorough work while the mineral content is nourishing for your skin.  For the smoothest of smooth, I recommend Sinfulicious Mineral Body Scrub.  You can customize your scent (I like the ginger, pink grapefruit, ylang ylang combo) for an uplifting shower experience, but whatever fragrance you choose, the scrub itself will leave your skin velvety beyond velvety.

Slimming scrubs are usually used in conjunction with a body slimming serum or cream, but used alone they also serve as excellent detoxification.  Caudalie Crushed Cabernet Scrub drains excess fluid and can potentially minimize the look of cellulite.  Made with crushed grapeseeds and grapeseed oil, it is packed with antioxidants and is gentle on the skin - no tugging or tearing here.  I particularly love it because it is a French product and the French rule when it comes to spa treatments for the body.