Archive for April, 2009

A few months ago, I reviewed the Radiance Kit from Burt’s Bees, which was a convenient, travel-sized assortment from the Radiance Collection. I love Burt’s Bees for its affordable price points and commitment to natural ingredients, and the Radiance Collection had a glowing, smoothing effect on my skin. Here’s one of the full size products that you should definitely check out!

It’s the Radiance Exfoliating Body Bar, my favorite addition to my shower as of late. It’s 100% natural and actually gentle as it exfoliates, so it doesn’t feel like gritty sandpaper on your skin. Simply rub on your wet skin as you’re showering, and the body bar does all the work as it smooths your skin. Plus, it’s only $4 – so indulge away!

Ahh Sundays…usually my day for lounging around, catching a good flick and spending a really long time washing my hair. I have about every shampoo and product known to mankind stocked up in my beauty closet, so I always make my roommates and friends get their goods from me. But when their boyfriends come over, I can’t ever get them to help me test out product because floral scented, sulfate-free, extra glossy shampoo for curly hair just isn’t going to cut it for them. Well now here’s some good news – both for the girl whose tired of her man using up her Bumble and bumble gel and for the guy who really isn’t interested in his girlfriend’s caviar conditioner. AXE (of the body spray) how has hair product that specifically cater to guys and what they want- fast, efficient haircare that helps them shower, style and get on with their day. You can check out the line at Axe Hair Crisis Relief and get the products at Walgreens.

Or…you can go to their Facebook page, tell them what kind of shampoo (or help) your man needs and Axe will send you some free stuff.  Then, simply give them feedback on how it worked out and they’ll send you a $25 gift certificate to AMC Theaters. It’s win win! That is, unless you force him to go see Ghosts of Girlfriends Past with you.

Make sure to tell  the Facebook AXE people that you found out via TDO (and link to this post) in order to guarantee your product and gift (while supplies last)!

With all the recent traveling I’ve been doing, I’ve become an expert on packing my makeup bag. My newest carry-on staple is Bobbi Brown’s ‘Foundation Stick’ Compact, which is not only plane friendly, but clutch friendly- even pocket friendly! For the first time ever, Bobbi Brown’s stick foundation comes in a flat, compact case making it the easiest foundation to tote around. The coverage is natural and smooth and best for those who don’t need a full face of makeup. I also use it as my concealer and I love it because it forces me not to smear my face full of foundation, allowing me to look fresh and natural instead of too made up.

I love the packaging of this product on it’s own but it’s also available as part of Bobbi’s customizable pan palettes. The palettes allow you to custom combine all your favorite products into one place. Check out your options on Nordstrom.com.

I’ve been obsessing over this Slouchy Dress with Stitches by FIN since this past fall. I got a sneak peek at the spring collection months and months ago, and bookmarked it to write about when the weather was warmer. Well, I think it’s finally time.

First, this dress is totally eco.  FIN has carbon-neutal production and uses organic cotton, which is not only sustainable but also soft.  I love the light and breezy nature of this dress; the skirt is begging to be twirled.  The ties at the neckline give it some sweetness, too.  I love that you could throw on heels and wear this to work, yet also wear it with flat thong sandals and go to the park for a picnic. I want it!

This dress is available at various online retailers including sundaybrunchdress.com, junoandjove.com and equita.com.

You certainly can’t tell by the name, but Jo Malone’s newest scent Lotus Blossom & Water Lily, has a decidedly masculine edge making it surprisingly sexy on a woman. I splashed some on this morning before running out and felt a slight thrill when a cute guy got in the elevator and noticeably noticed the scent. It’s an unexpected fragrance for a woman but gives her that ironic sex appeal that only androgynous qualities bring out.

Lotus Blossom & Water Lily is part of the Kohdo Wood Collection which pays homage to an ancient Japanese inense ritual. The fragrance doesn’t feel smoky but does have a deep woody quality that’s extremely apparent at first sniff. The fragrance is most complex and most masculine the first hour it’s applied.   The dark notes evaporate as the fragrance wears on.  I applied it at 8:30 this morning.  Around noon, it smelled much more aquatic and cool- almost like a completely different scent. What begins as a more masculine fragrance wears down into something light and feminine. Though the fragrance contains honeysuckle, water lily, jasmine and freesia, the floral notes were not apparent until hours into wear.  I was particularly surprised since I often find honeysuckle cloying but in this formulation it simply balances out the sandalwood and incense.    Lotus Blossom & Water Lily isn’t like anything else in my fragrance collection and I’m definately loving it.

Who: Emmanuel Verstraeten, Executive Chef Jeremy Bearman,

What: Rouge Tomate New York

When: M-Sat: 12-2:30, 530-10:30.

Where: 10 E 60th St (between 5th Ave & Madison)

Why:  For those who are health conscious, a special night out should still be enjoyable and not a nightmare. For New Yorkers, most self identified healthy restaurants are limited to midtown lunch spots where coperates crowd behind a counter and BlackBerry while waiting to pick up their grilled, unsalted, whole wheat burgers. That is, until Rouge Tomate landed in a glamorous, 15,000 sq ft space next to Reem Accra last fall and accomplished what health nuts have long considered an impossible feat: marrying flavor and nutrition with a low calorie, fine dining experience that doesn’t limit you to only one bite of your dessert. (more…)

I’ve been keeping my eye on the diffusion lines at Urban Outfitters – from Steven Alan to Paul & Joe. Naturally, the HAWKS by Geren Ford line is also one that I’ve been following, since I quite like Geren Ford’s designs but typically, her pieces are out of my price range.

The Ruffle Neck Top is perfect for summer and definitely worth the investment at $88. It’s a bit pricey for a tank, but think about all the ways you could wear it! Go easy and breezy with a pair of crisp white shorts for a relaxed, swingy look. Tuck it into a pencil skirt, throw a cardigan over and you’ll be ready for work. Going to a wedding? Simply glam it up with a glitzy skirt and a pair of strappy heels. And let’s not forget about all the ways it could possibly pair with denim… I think the ruffles around the collar give it a pretty, romantic touch to balance out the racerback, which is a bit more sporty. The best part? It’s way cheaper than the original Geren Ford Gather Ruffle Neck Top, which costs $258.

Order this top at UrbanOutfitters.com.

Long awaited by luxury shoppers searching for a deal, theOutnet – the new sales site from Net-a-Porter, went live this morning. Of course, I checked it out the second I received the email. One of the major problems I had with the sales section of Net-a-Porter was that I kept spotting pieces that were 4 or 5 seasons old marked down about 30% when they had gone on clearance at Barneys months prior. Plus the stock was rarely replenished so I never found any good deals. (more…)

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Now that it’s almost spring, my thoughts are turning to more delicate makeup shades.  If you’re also looking to add some sheer colors to your spring wardrobe, I suggest you check out Laura Mercier’s Satinée Créme Eye Colours. 

The cream shadows are the perfect way to transition into the warmer weather because they’re sheer, light shades, but you can either layer them to build more color, or add powder shadow over them to make the shades more intense.  The shades are water-resistant and long-wearing, and they don’t crease very much at all (which can often be a problem with powder shadows).  Each of the six shades has a very slight shimmer to them, but they’re still totally day appropriate.  I’ve been trying out the Peach Organza, Pink Chiffon, and Cocoa Velour shades and they blend together very well.  I especially like the combo of using the Peach Organza as a highlighter and then the Cocoa Velour as a base shade on my lids.  It looks fresh and (dare I say it…) summery, but with a dark liner, the look can also be a good nighttime look.  I’ve also just discovered that there are Metallic Creme colors too, so I think we all know what my next paycheck will be going towards…

Available at Nordstrom.com for $22.