Tag: Spring

Top Five for May

I’m loving all this silky, healing goodness for the start of the spring. While I am whipping my body into shape for some swimwear, I am also working on my skin and hair, wanting it hydrated and still natural looking. So for you today: a little top five round up of what is rocking my world lately.

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin E Skin Therapy Oil is from one of those iconic drugstore brands but totally revamped to make me fall in love all over again. This oil helps improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks or just regular ole dry skin. My uneven and ultra-dry legs have been loving this stuff right out of the shower. The Rapidermal® Absorption Systeme® means just a short wait before you can throw on clothes. Also know this can be used on the face or as a bath oil. Made in USA.

Flower Face the World Tinted Moisturizer is part of Drew Barrymore’s new makeup line exclusively at Wal-Mart. I was tripping over myself to try out the collection, particularly when I heard how it performs luxe at drugstore prices. The tinted moisturizer, available in 11 shades, is a light-coverage, luminous cream. It hides perfections and smooths with out cakey heaviness. Even my dry skin gets plenty of moisture. I can honestly say I have been reaching exclusively for this as my BB Cream/Foundation/Tinted Moisturizer since it landed in my hot little hands.

Tracie Martyn Amla Purifying Cleanser, another gem from Net-a-Porter’s new beauty section, is a ultra-high quality foaming cleanser. The A-list isn’t shy about signing the praises of this cleanser. It gently exfoliates and prevents breakouts while aromatherapy works to relax and recharge. Its namesake ayurvedic anti-aging Amla Extract is rich in Vitamin C while Hawaiian Green Papaya enzymes exfoliate.

POE Pumpkin Perfecter Enzyme Mask might smell very fall but those active pumpkin enzymes are perfect to embrace all year round. The anti-oxidant rich pure pumpkin promotes cellular turnover. The gentle formula would work for more sensitive skin types and can be used up to three times a week.

L’Oreal Advanced Haircare Total Repair 5 Damage Erasing Balm promises to repairs a year of damage in one use – sign me UP! Even though I don’t chemically treat my hair, I have seen some more damage around the ends over the past year. The luxurious balm works to instantly improve the appearance of split ends, rough ends, weakness and dullness. After one use my hair was silkier and shiner. One of the biggest bonuses? My hair wasn’t weighted down. It was still bouncy and full.

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Five Favorite Scents for Spring

Just a little round up on how I am shaking up my fragrance routine this time of year. Here are some of my current new favorites:

Hampton Sun Privet Bloom will take you right to the Hamptons. Lily of the valley, white hyacinth, sea spray, dune grass, blue plum and privet bloom feel fresh, clean and beachy.

Molton Brown Mahina just feels warm. The bottom note is vanilla but this is no sweet, generic scent. Tiare flower, cedar wood, citrus orange blossom and ylang-ylang round out with spiciness.

NEST Amazon Lily feels rich and fresh with Amazon Lilies, tangerine, lime, driftwood, and white musk. And the 18th Century botanical artwork on the bottle is stunning art for your vanity.

Yves Saint Laurent Manifesto embodies femininity but still holding onto some of that wood and spice I am wild about. Jasmine and green notes give it a lightness that makes it perfect for warmer months.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Amyris has both a hard and soft side. The spice gives me a pep in my step while lemon leaf and orange leaf feel feminine. Vetiver and oud give me that warmth I am always drawn to.

Inspired by Pastel Makeup for Spring

Spring has me craving pastels. I love the look of a light feminine face as we welcome the warmer weather. It is also a great time to experiment with lighter versions of bold shades like mint green eyeshadow – surprisingly beautiful! Here are my picks for some of the Easter egg inspired shades:

Laura Mercier Crème Cheek Color in Oleander is the softest sweetest pink and this cream formula applies like a breeze.

Guerlain ‘Maxi Shine – Gloss d’Enfer’ Lip Gloss has insane shine, giving this pretty pink an even bigger impact.

For those who want to try out a higher impact, pastel eye, try Dior ‘5 Couleurs – Haute Couture’ Eyeshadow Palette. And this formula makes these powders creamy and beautifully blendable.

Deborah Lippmann Rockin’ Robbin Glitter Nail Polish features the glitter Lippmann is so good at but this time with Staccato effect, using black glitter against a pastel backdrop for a unique look!

Lancôme ‘Aquatic Essence’ Eye Palette has copper and brown mixed in with blue pastels to make the shades so wearable!

I like to prep my skin using Simple Skincare Hydrating Light Moisturizer. I haven’t found any other moisturizers that manage to balance nourishing properties while being ultra-lightweight. And bonus that the formula is chock full of vitamins to help improve the appearance of my skin over the long term.

This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Influencer in the Simple® Skincare Program. Visit www.facebook.com/SimpleSkincare to share your story on sensitive skin.

Illume Eternal Nomad Bath & Body Collection

This spring, Illume and Sephora are expanding their Eternal Nomad collection – I hadn’t come across Illume goodies at Sephora so I was anxious to try out the product lineup. Not only does the name “Eternal Nomad” speak to my heart – I have a traveller’s soul – but the fresh, tropical scents are perfect for this time of year.

First, a little about Illume: the company is infused with the culture of travelers and seekers, reflecting on culture and color. I’ve known Illume mostly for their home fragrance. Made in the USA, Illume candles are made with either food-grade paraffin or an all-natural blend of coconut wax, beeswax and essential oils. I’m hooked on Gardenia, Tahitian and Amber Dunes (although I can’t say there isn’t a fragrance of theirs I don’t like).

The Eternal Nomad collection comes in three signature fragrances:

Cactus Verde: A bright blend of cassis, pink sea salt, aloe vera and wild geranium with a hint of avocado.
Thai Lily: A sensory ritual of Bali mango, blood orange and white nectarine – with Brazilian teak, Asiatic lily and a hint of musk.
Coconut Mango: A tropical fusion of mango and coconut milk, infused with orange and eucalyptus oils.

The Coconut Mango collection has been warming me up for spring. I’ve been layering the products for a gentle, but long-lasting fragrance. The whole product lineup includes:

Intensive Moisture Body Wash: this jumbo-sized body wash has a special formula that leaves skin hydrated. The water-soluble oils allow for lather but also strengthens skin’s natural protection barrier.
Cocoa-Illipe Body Butter: this rich and thick butter is a champ against my dry skin, absorbing quickly but also adding a wallop of moisture.
Lathering Body Scrub: Not much I love more than a foaming scrub – the tiny beads work to leave skin ultra ultra soft.
Gold Lustre Shimmer Mist: This light-weight mist is going to be perfect once I get a little color going, having just a touch of glimmer and luxury.
Sunlit Bronzing Lotion: Speaking of color, I am loving this bronzer for arms, legs and decolletage – it adds a luminous glow with moisture, adding just a touch of micro-fine gold mica pigments for sun-kissed look.
A Nomad Journey Gift Set with 2-ounce tubes of Intensive Moisture Body Wash and Cocoa-Illipe Body Butter are stocked away for my upcoming beach vacation – could there be a more perfect scent for time by the sea?

The capsule collection is available online and launched in 63 stores (including Times Square, Union Square, Soho, Short Hills, Santa Monica, Topanga and South Beach) yesterday. I love everything I tried, but please please don’t miss out of the Sunlit Bronzing Lotion – it is too good!

Five Favorite Scrubs for Spring

I can rattle all sorts of reasons for scrubbing it up this time of year: self-tanning, time of renewal, glow-y skin, silky legs, and on and on. Yesterday was the first day of spring after all. Down with strep throat this week, I’ve being playing spa at home while I recover. All in the name of research, right? Before you run out and stock up your shower for a new exfoliator or body polish, I wanted to share my five favorite scrubs I am reaching for right now.

Elemis Spa Home Tranquil Body Polish takes me back to an amazing spa (now long gone – RIP) I used to visit that featured Elemis products. The line is elegant and exotic all at the same time. This polish has fine granuals made of natural rice that actually have a pretty active exfoliating effect. There is no greasy residue but the formula does contain Cupuacu butter to smooth and condition. Essential oils of patchouli, mandarin and ginger add to the spa-like effect – absolutely love this fragrance. This scrub is great for prepping legs for a self-tan. Available at here.

AHAVA Smoothing Body Exfoliator also has a to die for fragrance but the formula is slightly different with a gommage texture. I actually like how this prevents the scrub from sliding around while you work it into the skin. The Dead Sea plant extracts and granules, actually quite large, but very gentle, clear skin and improve circulation. I particularly like this for those stubborn bumps on the back of my arms. Available at AHAVAUS.com and Nordstrom.com.

Avalon Organics Lavender Luminosity Exfoliating Enzyme Scrub is what I’m turning to for my mug these days. This enzyme scrub is super gentle but still sloughs away flakey and dull skin. Both fruit enzymes and walnut shells work as exfoliants while botanical extracts calms skin. The formula is made with at least 70% organic ingredients. Available at natural food stores, Whole Foods Market and www.avalonorganics.com.

Alba Botanica Natural Hawaiian Exfoliating Body Wash will send you straight to the South Pacific. We are having a little seasonal cool down this week, so I am counting on this body wash to keep me in the spring mood. As an exfoliating body wash, this is slightly more gentle while still using Pacific seas salts to detoxify and exfoliate. The citrus scent is great for a little boost in the AM. My skin is super soft post-sudsing up thanks to Jojoba, Macadamia, Avocado and Sweet Almond Oils. Available at natural food stores, Whole Foods Market and www.albabotanica.com.

bliss fatgirlscrub provides a little slim down – who wouldn’t want that? While the Himalayan pink salt exfoliates, the peppermint-scented formula tightens skin. The action promotes circulation, reducing fluids that cause lumps and bumps under the skin. And the removal of dead skin preps skin for any other slimming products that you use post-shower. Available here.

Spring Beauty Picks in Prairie Hive Magazine

I was thrilled to be featured in a favorite local publication this week. Prairie Hive was founded by a group of creative women, sharing inspiration on design, lifestyle, travel and entertaining. These designers, photographers, writers elequently and beautifully show us a little peek into talented and fashionable locals. And it was an honor to share my favorite beauty products for Spring including:

Maybelline Color Whisper – These gel-based lipsticks are super nourishing and provide just a wash of color making them so easy to wear.
Marni Eau de Parfum – This new fragrance is the first by the fashion house and has the freshness for spring but with a little darker twist making it unique (and I can’t get over the adorable packaging!).
bareMinerals READY Foundation – This mineral compact foundation has the radiant finish of liquids but portability of powder making it perfect for spring skin that isn’t as dry and more prone to breakouts.
Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 in Lemon and Chamomile – One to steal from the guys, this lip balm has the best scent, offers SPF for the warming days and heals those dry winter lips in no time.
Urban Decay Naked Skin Beauty Balm Broad Spectrum SPF 20 – This new BB Cream is ultra-lightweight and sheer, perfect for by the pool or for a radiant base under your regular makeup for a dewy, fresh look.
Kate Somerville D-Scar Diminishing Serum – Anticipating baring more skin in our spring and summer wardrobes, I’ve been working to improve the appearance of scars with this new serum from one of my favorite skin care lines – I’ve had crazy dramatic results using this goodie.
Mario Badescu Oil-Free Moisturizer SPF 30 – I am an SPF fanatic and this affordable version packs in great coverage, is very lightweight and works beautifully under makeup.

Make sure to check out the full Spring issue here.