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I normally (and sadly) avoid hair powders because the fragrances within them irritate my scalp, but if you’re traveling, or you’re trying to stretch the life of a great blowout or hair extensions, it’s hard to resist the lure of a good tinted hair powder. So when I received a sample kit from a new local company called Finley to try out, I went for it.

I was pleasantly surprised that the finely milled, silica- and tapioca-starch-based formula — while fragranced — didn’t irritate my skin at all. (Note: This doesn’t mean it’s free of common irritants. In addition to fragrance, it contains aluminum starch octenylsuccinate and several colorants such as carmine, so beware if you have sensitive skin or allergies.) On the other hand, the company credits itself with using minimalist packaging instead of aerosol cans.

Available in four shades — black, dark brown, golden blonde and white — Finley Hair Powder, $18, comes in a deceptively small bottle. You really only need a few modest shakes here and there to soak up grease and fluff roots, so the price tag isn’t so much of a shocker. The bottle lasts longer than it looks like it will. And it sure beats plain old cornstarch (my kitchen-ready standby). Give it a shot if hair powder is your thing.

If I had a bathtub, I would bomb it this spring … with luscious bath bombs from Lush and Hugo Naturals. Lush recently sent a box of their new Easter-themed bath bombs as stylish, fun and healthy alternatives to candy baskets this weekend. (Pictured above: Donkey Oaty, Happy Easter Gift, Candy Fluff, Hippy Chick). The idea: Buy several sugar-scented bath bombs and place them in a gift basket just like you would marshmallow chicks and chocolate eggs! I initially balked at the idea of using my shower as a tub but I got inspired by my Lush-loving friend, who can’t get enough of the surprises inside their fresh, organic and handmade products. This got me thinking, why not celebrate spring with bath-goodies baskets for all your spa-day deserving friends? Kind of fun, eh? (more…)

Last night, I stopped by Kiehl’s unveiling of its environmental partnership with Golden Globe winners Michael C. Hall (“Dexter”) and Chloë Sevigny (“Big Love”) in support of the Waterkeeper Alliance, an organization dedicated to preserving and protecting water from polluters. As I’m someone who loves to hang out in the ocean and observe marine life off the coast of California, this is an issue that hits close to home, especially with the abundance of waste, plastic bags, oil pollution and nuclear disaster coverage that have unfortunately become part of our lives. But it’s not just the ocean that needs our attention, it’s the rivers, lakes, streams, even groundwater, that affect us and our health on a daily basis.

To show its support, Kiehl’s USA President Chris Salgardo presented the Waterkeeper Alliance with a giant check for $100,000 at Kiehl’s beautiful Santa Monica store while Sevigny, Hall and Santa Monica Baykeeper/Executive Liz Crosson look on smiling. Chloë’s brother, Paul Sevigny, DJ’d the event while guests sipped on cocktails and checked out stacks of Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque, featuring limited-edition label art designed by Sevigny and Hall (see Sevigny’s, left). One-hundred percent of the collection’s proceeds go to the Waterkeeper Alliance.

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OK, it’s been a while since I was into a reality show (I know, I’m a TV snob). But after reviewing the preview episode of The Sundance Channel‘s “All on the Line,” which premieres tonight at 10 p.m., I’m really looking forward to getting hooked. It’s like the network has tapped into my psyche and the psyches of fashion lovers everywhere!

But before I go on, I must give full disclosure: One of my best friends is an executive behind the show — which means I hope she and the show’s creators really did tap into my psyche and the psyches of all of their fashion-loving friends. It also means I’m scrutinizing it way more.

What strikes me about “All on the Line” is that, despite the sped-up timing, staged scenarios and showcased quips that have become a reality TV norm, it is still in that shiny, new, documentary-style stage of exploring a fascinating subject with a fresh perspective. What happens after you taste success as a designer, then lose your mojo? I love that instead of being all about the manufactured drama (which is of course unavoidable, especially in fashion), it also focuses on the actual work that goes into reinventing a fashion brand from concept to showroom floor. We also get to sit in on major moments of pride and disappointment as each designer stresses about the details, struggles to look at the big picture and learns to accept the importance of taking risks — lessons that are important no matter what business you’re in.

Featuring Joe Zee, the charming yet brutally honest creative director at ELLE, this episode takes on Kara Janx, the season-two Project Runway contestant who was behind an impressive kimono wrap dress, and the challenges she’s had since with developing her business. More episodes explore the challenges of even more emerging designers — and give us more chances to see some fascinating behind-the-scenes footage.

Check out a sneak peek online.

After a week of pre-Oscar parties like Vanity Fair’s and the Sheer Cover-sponsored Dare2Care benefit, tons of celebrities and a few of us lucky beauty bloggers braved the ice-cold, blustery winds on the beach in Santa Monica today to stargaze at the annual Independent Spirit Awards. There, Black Swan took home top awards and celebrity spottings included ISA and Oscar nominee Mark Ruffalo (had to take a photo), Nicole Kidman (in a stunning L’Wren Scott red lace pencil dress), a very pregnant and glowing Natalie Portman (in a short yellow Givenchy number), Zoe Saldana (in awesome, vermilion Brian Atwood pumps), and Uma Thurman and newcomer Jennifer Lawrence (both most elegant in all-white Dolce & Gabbana).

Backstage doing touchups for the presenters was sponsor Aveeno‘s official spokesperson and branding consultant Patrick Melville, whose clients includes Demi Moore, Heidi Klum, Tom Cruise and Harry Connick, Jr., to name a few. An absolute sweetheart with an intriguing New York-London accent, Patrick was very calm, cool and collected despite having to touch up so many aggressively wind-blown hairstyles. So calm in fact, he just decided to “go with it” and not “fight nature.” (Beachy waves and messy updos galore!)

Aveeno had quite possibly the most serene lounge set-up in the area, complete with Aveeno Active Naturals product displays (new Nourish + Moisturize Conditioner, Positively Nourishing Calming Body Wash, Daily Moisturizing Lotion and Skin Brightening Daily Scrub). Celebrities like Diego Luna enjoyed drinks and snacks in the chic, Art Deco-inspired, glitter-adorned ELLE Green Room. Other sponsors, some of whom had awards in their name, included Jameson (the official house spirit of the evening along with G. H. Mumm Champagne), Piaget, Acura, Stella Artois, LG Cinema 3D, HTC, smartwater and Netflix. All in all, despite the cold, it was a great, laid-back ceremony filled with tons of humor (thanks in part to host Joel McHale) and stars who seemed like they were in the best of moods — the perfect ramp up to tomorrow’s much-hyped Oscars!

I don’t really have rosacea, but I do get occasional red, patchy areas when my skin gets dry in the winter. And there hasn’t been much I can do about them short of covering them with concealer. I recently heard really good things about Ole Henriksen Black Currant Complexion Oil, $32, and since I’m a fan of essential oils as moisturizers, I thought I’d mix it into my routine and see if it helped even out my overall complexion. Surprisingly, the extra step works!

Simply rubbing three drops (no more!) between my hands and patting on my face before applying moisturizer or foundation has helped even out my skin tone and bolster my usual moisturizer for winter. I dare say I could even go without foundation if I was feeling up to it. Infused with apricot kernel oil, black currant oil, cypress, geranium and lemon, this little potion is engineered to do a variety of things including moisturize (with vitamin E), protect your skin from environmental damage, soothe, sanitize, tone and energize by boosting your skin’s metabolic activity. The only caveat I’d throw out there is the scent; a cross between rose geranium and tea tree oil that I don’t mind, it could be a downside for those who don’t like strong, floral or herbal scents.

I’ve been using Parisian hair care brand Leonor Greyl (a rumored celeb favorite that’s gone on tour with both Madonna and Gwen Stefani) off and on for about a year now, and I must say their beautifying oils are not only some of the most glamorous “natural” products I’ve encountered, but the Huile de Palme (for hair) and Huile de Magnolia (for face and body) are quite the little miracle workers when it comes to moisturizing dry skin and hair.

Free of the chemicals and additives found in most hair products (sulfates, parabens, silicones, etc.), Huile de Palme (literally “palm oil”) is an environmentally friendly blend of botanical and vegetal oils that protects hair health from the elements, such as sun, surf and chlorine. It’s a pre-shampoo treatment, so you can apply it to dry hair and leave it on anywhere from a few minutes to overnight, depending on your hair texture and/or conditioning needs. (more…)

I am a sucker for all pretty, exotic things stuck in jars near checkout lines, which is why I sampled an artfully packaged tube of TokyoMilk Honey & The Moon No. 10 Bon Bon Shea Butter Rich Lotion recently while waiting in line at Anthropologie (again). I almost forgot what I was buying, it smelled and felt so good.

TokyoMilk — a line by the extremely detail-oriented designer and brand genius Margot Elena (Lollia, Bloom, Archive, Love & Toast) — has been around for a little while, but I’ve only recently been taking an interest in unique, boutique-y scents (sorry, Chanel). For several hours after applying this, I happily sniffed my hands, which stayed soft and layered with a subtle blend of honey, sugared violet, jasmine, caramel, vanilla and sandalwood. Other scents include: Le Petit (bergamot, violet, jasmine, vanilla musk, sandalwood), Gin and Rosewater (yuzu zest, verbena, mandarin blossom, magnolia, amber musk), French Kiss (mandarin, tuberose, gardenia, vetiver), Dead Sexy (Japanese green tea, mimosa bark, dandelion), Let Them Eat Cake (sugar cane, vanilla orchid, coconut milk, white musk) … the list goes on. Seriously, even though one tube is pretty hefty $18, this is going to be a go-to hand cream on my desk pretty soon — as soon as I figure out which scent I like best!

TokyoMilk makes a number of other delectable beauty products, such as candles, perfume, bubble bath and stationery — all of which are great for gifts. I definitely recommend checking out one of the latest additions to the line, the Dark Lip Elixir, which has really piqued my interest with its off-beat flavors such as Absinthe, Clove Cigarette and Cherry Bourbon.

Another holiday, another panic attack: What on earth is there left to get for the man in your life? Well, a good home-cooked meal should work, but if that’s not your idea of a special gift, I suggest you say “I love you” with:

… a Hot Shave
I recently got the chance to check out Alexander’s for Hair, a mid-range, family-owned, all-in-one spa and salon in west L.A., and I thought, “What a great place to take my [insert any family member here]!” Formerly the male-targeted Reeder’s Barber Shop, complete with beers and flatscreen TVs, Alexander’s for Hair has undergone a recent makeover to suit its growing clientele base, offering more services for both men and women as well as eco-friendly hair products by Eufora and high-quality GRAM skincare by Dr. Bernard Gramlich (you should see his skin!). Helmed by new owner Krissy Smith and her mom Jeanne Phares, the salon has both a small-town feel and a cosmopolitan flair — perfect for those who want luxurious treatment but find super-high-end salons and spas either intimidating or just not worth the extra dough. Best of all, while you’re loved one is getting his Signature MVP Hot Shave, you can indulge in a Eufora Deep Conditioning and Scalp Treatment (free this month with any color service), a fantastic facial, a mani-pedi or a delightful (and affordable) deep-tissue massage (ask for Barbara!). Ah, the perks of co-ed bliss.

Alexander’s for Hair is located at 11515 W. Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles. Call (310) 473-0462 to make an appointment. Readers, mention the code AFHGO through February and you’ll get 30 percent off your service!

… Custom Kicks
If the love (or like) of your life is a label-savvy jet setter who frequently blends street style and upscale threads (or just likes any of the aforementioned), he’ll appreciate the new G3 collection by Ryz, the brainchild of former president of Adidas America and Adidas Japan Rob Langstaff. (more…)

I don’t think I’m going out on a limb by saying everyone probably likes flowers, chocolate and/or fragrance as a Valentine’s Day gift. But do they LOVE it? Well, “mind-blowing” might not be the first thing I’d think … more like “predictable, but sweet. I’ll take it.” Leave it to Strange Invisible Perfumes to prove me wrong. Their creative take on the ol’ tried and true is simply eye-popping. (Oh men of our lives, are you reading this?!?)

A team effort with floral designer Holly Flora and San Francisco-based chocolate artisan Cocoa Absolute, SIP’s “ultimate Valentine’s Day delivery” offers four options of drop-dead gorgeous, creative bouquets paired with limited-edition organic, botanical perfumes and a delectable box of hand-crafted chocolates. (Just outside of L.A.? Call and see if they’ll make the trip.)

While pricey ($205–$542), the results are absolutely swoon-worthy. In addition, the flowers can be customized by request (if what you want is available), and since the chocolates are optional, you can always adjust according to your budget.

P.S. If you’re in the neighborhood, drop by SIP’s Venice, Calif., boutique tomorrow (Feb. 5) for a trunk show. There will be champagne, cupcakes, jewelry and plenty of limited edition fragrances to sample before you take the plunge!

Strange Invisible Perfumes is located at 1138 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice, Calif. To order a V-Day delivery, call them at 310-314-1505 by February 11, 2011.