Archive for January, 2011

If you’re looking for a delicious treat to give someone this Valentine’s Day (or to use to drown your own romantic sorrows with), head over to Williams-Sonoma and pick up their Checkerboard Marshmallows.  They’re made by hand using a recipe that was developed in 1889 (you might’ve also heard them called “Modjeskas” in honor of a Polish actress).  The handmade marshmallows are each dipped in caramel and in the box, you’ll get two versions – one dipped in the traditional caramel recipe and the other dipped in a Guittard dark chocolate-infused caramel.  As someone who already loves marshmallows, this just takes that food to a whole new level of deliciousness.  It’s such a decadent combination – the soft texture of the marshmallow brings out the sweetness of the caramel it’s covered with, but it’s not so sweet that it’ll make your teeth ache.  (I find that it’s literally the perfect sweetness for me because I can eat one – or maybe two! – and be completely satisfied, so it’s not like some candy where you start eating it and before you know it, the whole box is gone).  And I love that they’re still made the old-fashioned way – each one is hand poured, hand dipped, and hand wrapped, so you know they’re made with love.

Each box has 20 marshmallows – 10 of each flavor – so while it’s a little bit of a splurge at $26.50, it’s totally worth it.  (They also give you a good excuse to go shopping at Williams-Sonoma, since they’re exclusively sold there).  They’re a treat that’s completely worth the calories!

It’s been a long time since I’ve been impressed by a new foundation, but it was love at first try with L’Oreal’s new Magic Smooth Souffle. The souffle is ideal for those who need a bit fuller coverage without the weight that you usually get from cream foundations.  I also find that traditional liquid foundations take a bit of work to even  out that initial “dark spot” but the  airy texture of the this L’Oreal souffle foundation  makes it very easy to blend.  My  skin looks even and smooth, even if I’m having a blotchy skin day.   My favorite part of the foundation is the silky  finish- I can’t stop touching my face after applying- and loving that flawless, porcelain look. It’s the best part of a primer and a foundation in one!

Word on the street, however, is that this product is not the best for those with more mature skin as the product can accentuate  dry, flaky skin.  To prevent that, I always make sure that I am well hydrated before using the product and have never had a problem.  Also the finish is matte, not radiant (which I prefer)- but creates the perfect base for applying your favorite blush, bronzer, and highlighter. For those who are looking for a new foundation or is curious about a souffle,  L’Oreal’s Magic Smooth is a  must-try at it’s $16 price point.

If you’re already racking your brain about what to do for Valentine’s Day and all you’ve come up with is “Dinner out or dinner in?,” consider taking pause from all the hustle and bustle at a quiet oasis such as Spa Luce. A seasonal offering on the spa menu, the delightful aromatherapeutic Spa Luce Valentine’s Day Couples Massage, $370, gets my vote for best investment in relaxation. It features massages performed side by side in the couples room, a mineral-salt soak in a hydrotherapy tub built for two, and a complimentary bottle of champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries.

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I have been craving — yes, craving! — that Anthropologie-esque smell (attributed to Capri Blue Jar Candles) in my apartment. But I was so busy last week, I didn’t get myself over to the store to buy one (and I wasn’t completely sure which candle to get, so I didn’t want to order them online just yet). Luckily, I received samples of luxury candles just in time from lifestyle & home décor expert Baroness Monica von Neumann (wife of the late Austrian Baron John von Neumann), and I really like them!

My favorite in the collection of four soy-based candles (Atlas, Savon, Fete and Modena) is Fete, which combines navel orange, Seychelles Cinnamon, Zanzibar Clove, Norwegian Pine, Indonesian Patchouli and exotic Amberwood to create just the type of sweet yet spicy, tangy scent I wanted. (more…)

Dry skin might be a winter thing, but my skin feels parched no matter what season it is. If it weren’t for Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream — one of three Ultra Facial products in their new Ultra Facial Cream Starter Kit — it would hurt me to smile for most of the day! The cream, which is the standout product in the kit as far as I’m concerned, contains fancy-sounding ingredients like Antarcticine, “a Glycoprotein extracted from microorganisms sourced from sea glaciers and notable for an ability to protect skin from cold temperatures,” and Imperata Cylindrica, “a plant indigenous to the Australian desert which possesses superb water retention properties in dry conditions.” Translation: This little jar has made me one grinning, instantly hydrated girl this month.

Each kit comes with a gentle Ultra Facial Cleanser and a non-alcoholic Ultra Facial Toner along with the cream. (There’s also an Ultra Facial Moisturizer Starter Kit, $29.50, for those who prefer a lotion.) All the Ultra Facial products are available separately, and depending on the product, make use of ingredients such as olive-derived botanical Squalane, apricot kernel oil, avocado oil and vitamin E to keep skin balanced, hydrated and silky. If dry skin bothers you, getting a starter kit is a great way to try out the regimen; but if you already know what you need, I say spring for the full-sized bottles of individual product. You can order them at kiehls.com or pick one up at your local Kiehl’s store. Happy hydrating!

Chanel’s new Spring 2011 makeup collection pays homage to the light-reflecting properties of pearls and the way they enhance a woman’s natural beauty.  (Side note – should I be sad that I don’t own a strand of pearls at this stage of my life?  I kind of feel like I should have them, so hint, hint, everyone).  The spring collection is called Les Perles de Chanel and is based around pearlized shades of black and white that are accented with pinks and corals.  It’s very pretty and very Chanel. (more…)

I’ve been a fan of Levi’s for the past few years and always mention their name when friends ask for denim recommendations. They’re an iconic brand with strong and affordable denim options for women. One of their newest lines is the Curve ID, which offers three different fits to meet the needs for three different general body types: Slight Curve, Demi Curve and Bold Curve. (more…)

Nick Brown is the founder of Soludos, a chic brand of espadrilles. As the son of a diplomat and a famous English model, Nick grew up seeing the world – from winter holidays in Switzerland to summers in Sotogrande, Spain.  It was in Spain where he first discovered espadrilles as the European summer staple, and after moving to the States later in his life, he found himself bringing them back as gifts for friends. He decided to launch Soludos to make them accessible and affordable for Americans. With his line, Nick aimed to capture “the spontaneity, freedom of travel with friends – that perfect summer day/ trip among friends where day seamlessly turns to night, while always telling stories and making memories.” To find out what Nick is obsessing over this month, just click for more! (more…)

So, after all those holiday cookies and hangovers, CLEANSE and DETOX appear to be the buzz words of the month. (And judging by the fact that two local Borders stores were sold out of Dr. Alex Junger’s “Clean” book, I think all of L.A. has jumped on the bandwagon.) Prompted by my curious husband (who despite feeling sluggish after the new year was suspicious of the detox trend), I enlisted us in a cleansing experiment: 5 days of raw-food-eating and 2 days of Lori C. Kenyon and Marra O. St. Clair’s Ritual Cleanse — an Irvine, Calif.-based juice cleansing program designed to “reset” the body.

Now, I know, some people do “Beyonce’s maple syrup diet” for well over a week, and many follow Dr. Junger’s advice (endorsed by Gwyneth Paltrow) for at least three weeks, but honestly, feeling faint, weak, mucus-y and stuck with a headache is not my idea of a good time … no matter how skinny, light or euphoric I’m supposed to feel. One week of abstaining from all the things I love about food — caffeine, all meat, refined sugar, dairy, alcohol, soy, wheat, gluten — was about all I could stomach. That’s why I chose this route. With raw food, we got to eat a bunch of vegetables and feel full; and with Ritual Cleanse, we didn’t have to prepare meals (vegetables are time-consuming!) and worry whether we did so correctly.
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