Regret, Revenge, And Other Things That Begin With the Letter R
Valentine’s Day is almost upon us, and although Red would seem to be an appropriate color for the occasion, we’d prefer that it wasn’t a part of our skin.
There’s usually nothing fun about being caught red-handed. Aside from looking bad, redness means inflammation. It’s not a good sign. The tight, chapped, raw feeling that accompanies red hands can render the process of hand-washing unbearable.
And if you struggle with brown spots, thinning skin, wrinkles or loss of elasticity on your hands, there’s a remedy for that too.
It’s all in one package, literally. Dermatologists Katie Rodan and Kathy Fields come to the rescue, and in their routine response to public demand they’ve created yet another outstanding anti-aging solution for savvy women of all ages.
If you regret the abuse and neglect that tip your hand to your real age, or if you simply want to prevent damage that you’ll undoubtedly lament later, I recommend Rodan + Fields. Their Anti-Age Hand Treatment bundles the top in technologies for this oft-overlooked area.
I can only describe their two-part regime as a genigma. It’s a word I made up. Part genius, part enigma.
Genius because the science behind it is simply brilliant, and enigma because I can’t understand how it works so fast.
I could seriously go on for hours regurgitating statistics and spitting up science about how and why the products work. But this is neither a term paper, nor a glorified press release.
We all want results and we want them immediately, if not sooner. The two products double team to really deliver, and fast. I recommend using them together.
To Have and To Hold
For beautiful, youthful hands, I cannot get enough of the Brightening Hand Treatment. It penetrates quickly, hydrating and restoring with all the goodies that your skin will love. It makes a tangible difference right away that, like any good woman, only improves with time.
With a pleasingly mild but luscious scent, it leaves you velvety–an unparalleled silkiness and almost matte, powdered finish–due to a key ingredient: corn starch.
I’ve tried a ton of hand creams, and quite frankly, I’ve really never felt anything quite like this. It firms the delicate skin on the hands and transcends mere moisturization.
Rich with emollient butters and the best oils, it also contains urea and hyaluronic acid to bind water to the skin providing sustained results.
To Protect and Defend
The Shield Hand Balm with SPF 30 ensures smart sun protection in a convenient, portable stick form. It’s like a giant Chapstick for your hands. How great is that? You can throw it in your purse or travel bag and reapply any time to only the backsides, without worrying about sticky fingers. It frees your hands up for other, more important things.
The sunscreen stick is anhydrous, meaning, it contains no water, which is critical in its stability and delivery of 4% ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid is vitamin C, a potent skin firmer that also powerfully lightens pigment, if you struggle with brown spots.
In addition, you’ll find the best in peptides courtesy of world-renowned peptide expert Timothy Falla, PhD, Vice President of Research and Development at Rodan + Fields.
You may have heard the buzz about peptides. They are short-chain amino acids that signal natural responses in the skin to decrease inflammation and build collagen, among other admirable epidermal things. Considered anti-aging powerhouses, peptides can be found in many Rodan + Fields products, and they use them generously.
Getting the Red Out
Both the hand treatment and the SPF contain optical brighteners to instantly reduce redness and minimize the appearance of veins, making immediate gratification, in this case, a good thing.
The new Rodan + Fields Anti-Age Hand Treatment Regime is a rarity, applying elegant yet serious skincare science, once reserved for face, to other extremely important extremities.
To Honor and Obey
Back to Square One: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It could take 20 years for you to acquire those unsightly brown spots, but they might hang around ’til death do you part. So, don’t forget your gloves. That way, if you choose to leave a mark, at least it will be discreet.
There will always be a soft spot in every girl’s heart for flowers and candy, but flowers die and chocolates don’t last long. While nothing is eternal, for a distinctive and lingering gift for Valentine’s Day or any day, I highly recommend Diptyque (pronounced dip-TEEK).
Famous for their unmistakable luxury candles, Diptyque also has a new line of unisex body products that are bomb–perfect for mom or dad, your girl, your guy, your child, grandparents or a cherished friend. Diptyque has something for everyone, even elegant corporate gifts for the discerning employer.
If you’re into aromatherapy and the powerful transformative possibilities of scent, you simply must spoil your Valentine with something from Diptyque. Trust me, they will love it.
Pure, Paraffin, Pleasure…
The diminutive Diptyque candle smells like nothing you’ve ever experienced, and believe me, you can really smell it. The standard votive boasts a tireless 60 hours of burn time and will undoubtedly outshine its cheaper competitors. It’s a smart choice.
With a Diptyque candle, you get what you pay for. Created using powerful concentrations of only the finest essential oils steeped in pure paraffin, they’re sure to set the mood for a romantic evening. Plus, a Diptyque candle will actually stick around long after Valentine’s Day has ended. Even unlit you can still smell the candle in the room.
You can choose from an endless exquisite bouquet of more than 50, yes fifty scents–that’s an amazing variety–in five categories of flowers, herbs, fruity, woods and spicy, so there’s something for everyone, no matter your preference. It’s a complete collection.
One of my favorite memories is the night I dined at the opening of a Francis Ford Coppola restaurant in California, where a flurry of Baies Diptyque candles and their intoxicating aroma seduced me.
Every celebrity is said to have their favorite Diptyque scent, and Coppola’s is Baies. It soon became mine too, and of the many scents to choose from, I still prefer Baies to this day.
Baies, pronounced, simply, ‘Bay,’ is a French term of endearment, meaning sweetie, or some such.
It’s composed of Bulgarian rose with notes of blackcurrant leaves–an irresistible melange of fruit and floral.
Reminiscent of a walk through blooming gardens in Europe, it smells absolutely delicious, and every time I encounter it, after all these years, I’m immediately drawn back to the first time I experienced it–that beautiful balmy night at the restaurant. It’s a powerful testament to the virtues of aromatherapy and memory recall.
The Art of Body Care
Once mistaken as primarily high-end home fragrance, Diptyque recently launched an ambrosial offering of luxury body care products for men and women, known as The Art of Body Care, to complement their lesser-known collection of eaux de toilette which has in fact existed since 1968.
Pick a simple spray or dip into the many tempting products from the line. The Art of Body Care is based on the history of beauty from around the world and includes so many gorgeous things–such as a hand balm from Spain, below, using organic ingredients from that region.
You can put a capful in the tub, or apply it directly on the skin. It’s a very luxurious olive oil and soaks right in so it won’t get on your clothes.
Common Scents That Aren’t So Common
Unlike ordinary synthetic fragrances, the Diptyque scents are inspired by essences commonly found in nature, and all the body products are unisex, so if you buy them for your sweetheart, there’s always the chance you can share.
A beautiful body cream from Istanbul, not Constantinople–lush with myrrh and roses–is a personal favorite of my friend Gregory Costanza, former regional sales manager of the intimate but elegant San Francisco Diptyque boutique.
It may surprise you that a man might enjoy wearing a floral such as rose, but that convention is worn-out. In Europe people are much more liberal with what constitutes a ‘feminine’ fragrance and gender specificity has been replaced by good taste.
The notes of myrrh and roses found in the body cream can be tied over to home fragrance too, making a great candle combination if you care to experiment. Remember, you can customize the Diptyque scents for your home and yourself by choosing any of the fragrance families and combining until you discover what suits you. This is the modern approach to aromatherapy.
A lot of couples come in to share fragrance, which is a great idea if you live near a boutique. The Diptyque staff is very hands-on with their clients. They really aim to please.
Because fragrance is highly personal, you can go to a boutique with your Valentine and identify the scents that you’re attracted to, and then you can coordinate them, together.
But there are only 14 Diptyque boutiques in the world, so if you can’t make it to Paris, London, Doha, Qatar or Dubai, you can call one of the three shops in the United States and let their accommodating, knowledgeable staff guide you on your purchase and educate you on how to burn a candle properly. Believe it or not, there’s an art to that too.
For ultimate convenience, most Diptyque products can come elegantly pre-wrapped, or you can opt to do it yourself.
Fragrance may be simple and straightforward for some people, or infinitely complex and indulgent. Whatever your approach, Diptyque definitely delivers.
Although spotting a lady can be rare nowadays, finding a good mate can be even harder.
Some things never change, and the animal world is no exception. “Animals practice the same sexual rituals we do,” said San Francisco zookeeper Jane Tollini. “We even have homosexual wallabies and lesbian penguins.”
Valentine’s Day, the universal day of love, is two weeks away. As a unique gift for animal-lovers, many zoos are celebrating the sentiment with a voyeuristic glimpse into the mating rituals of our feral friends.
You get to watch a real-live sexual encounter, and Tollini will describe the copulation methods of both predators and prey, at a brunch or dinner event–your choice.
Penguins, she said, like to take their time, engaging in a month of foreplay; lions have sex up to 50 times a day and, while koala bears may seem soft and cuddly, they actually can do some serious damage in a quickie that lasts only 40 seconds.
“Koalas are nasty little creatures that don’t like each other very much,” Tollini said. “It’s a rolling, tumbling thing for them and you have to almost kick them apart or they will kill each other.”
Not surprisingly, rhinoceros foreplay, she said, is the most violent. It can leave the female with deep gashes before the animals lock together for an hour or more.
What a fun and creative way to spend the day with your love, watching and learning about basic animal behavior. It sure breaks up the monotony of ordinary mundane activities; although, I’m sure no one would turn down a thoughtful floral presentation or a box of chocolates.
“I’m Just Visiting The Zoo”
by Dramarama
And I haven’t got a dime
And I haven’t got the time
All the same I’m glad I came
I’m just visiting the zoo
Cuz it makes me think of you
Here’s hoping you can do the same…
My newsletter bundles the best of the best in beauty products, unforgettable gifts, health and nutrition info, culture, fashion & decor from around the world. So if you don’t have time to surf blogs all day, you can still stay up-to-date on the latest.
Want beauty? It’s free, and worth it. Just enter your email below, and Igotchu.
Valentine’s Day is but a heartbeat away, and wedding season is perpetual. Glowing skin is every girl’s dream, and though many skin care products make bold promises, few do what they say, and say what they do.
Soothe Sensitive Skin Treatment moisturizer is a gem. It does what it says it’s going to do–instantly–and the results are glorious. Simply put, it just feels good.
So many people have sensitive skin or rosacea and don’t even know it. For anyone suffering from skin discomfort, Soothe calms the raw chapped feeling and takes away the red, halting stinging and burning, fast.
With all the aggressive products out there–with the multitude of sins we inflict on our skin that make us sensitive, irritated, dry or overworked–this product is heaven-sent. It makes a thoughtful gift for any bride-to-be.
It immediately calms, and by rebuilding the skin’s natural moisture barrier, also known as the acid mantle, skin is protected from future flare-ups. Used consistently, results only get better with time.
This comforting cream is part of the four-product Soothe regime developed by Stanford-trained dermatologist duo Rodan + Fields, but you can always buy just the treatment cream, $80, separately.
Dewy and moist, yet matte, Soothe penetrates fast sans stickiness.
“For sensitive skin, what stays out of a product is as important as what goes in,” Dr. Kathy Fields stated. “The Soothe regime is free of fragrance, alcohol, added colors, parabens and surfactants.”
Rosacea is an extremely common condition in which the blood vessels of the skin dilate and constrict very easily in response to a variety of stimuli including spicy food, alcohol, embarrassment, heat, sunlight and menopause, according to Dr. Katie Rodan.
“It’s characterized,” she explained, “by intense and frequent flushing causing blotchy redness on the cheeks, chin and nose.”
For people with this chronic condition, the first priority is getting their skin under control. Although there are no over-the-counter medicines approved for treating rosacea, Soothe is the perfect regime for rosacea-prone skin.
But if you just need a good, neutral non-irritating moisturizer that will heal your skin and won’t conflict with your treatment products, the Soothe moisturizer is the ideal accompaniment to almost any skin care regime and is one of those products that I try to keep in my medicine cabinet year-round.
The Gentle Cream Wash, below, doubles as a great calming shave lotion to help reduce razor burn for the man in your life, if you can bear to share.
The four-product Soothe regime, $160, includes the Gentle Cream Wash, infused with nurturing ceramides, Aloe and vitamin E; the Sensitive Skin Treatment moisturizer; the Moisture Replenishing Cream, spiked with omegas and chamomile; and the Mineral UVA/UVB SPF 30 Sunscreen, a zinc-based formula providing broad-spectrum protection and packed with anti-oxidants to defend against environmental damage.
If your skin is in need of a little TLC, the Soothe regime will straighten matters out ASAP.
These products earn high marks in the feel-good factor. Say ‘I dew’ to radiant skin. Mazel Tov, and keep reading for exclusive interviews with top makeup artists next month who will share their beauty secrets for the blushing bride, or any smart woman who wants to look her best.
Perfume pioneer Kilian Hennessy’s fragrances launched exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue almost one year ago. The impressive line includes tantalizing mixtures steeped in utter luxury, and a Kilian fragrance would no doubt be an unforgettable gift for your Valentine.
Amazing, heirloom-quality packaging ensconces elixirs with names as complicated and beautiful as the scents themselves…Love and Tears, Straight to Heaven, Cruel Intentions, Back to Black…the names read like an endless poem from a man with a broken heart, but in fact, Kilian, pictured above, is heir of the Hennessy cognac, and was trained by the greatest noses in perfumery. He worked for perfume houses such as Christian Dior, Paco Rabanne, Alexander McQueen and Giorgio Armani before launching the provocative line that bears his name.
Beyond Love, Prohibited, above, is my favorite Kilian scent. Ripe with unmistakable tuberose, the eau de parfum, $225 for 1.7 oz., is offered in his signature ceremonial black bottles and encased entirely in elegant ebony. Rich, evocative, lingering…It’s a fragrance you won’t forget.
Rose Oud, $395 for 1.7 oz., is another of my favorites. A heady mixture of Turkish rose with oud combine to make a luscious memory in fragrant form.
The refill kits, $125-$175, render the packaging reusable. It’s all part of Kilian’s ‘eco-luxe’ philosophy–a smart way to have beautiful things that are also environmentally friendly and socially conscious.
A lovely Kilian candle, $85, is always a tasteful choice if you are unsure about your girl’s preferences and are experiencing fragrance anxiety.
Kilian’s fragrances are available exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue San Francisco and saksfifthavenue.com.
Valentine’s Day is a month away, and in keeping with the holiday BSSTW is taking a look at unique gift ideas you can personalize for your loved ones.
Today we’re checking out one of the most warm and caring gift ideas: Pets!
There is nothing so heartfelt, or more loving, than an animal companion. The temptation to buy a puppy, a kitten, or a goldfish, can sometimes be overwhelming, because animals bring magic and warmth to any environment. Just be sure the recipient will welcome such a present. Animals are living creatures and they deserve to be cared for with respect. Please remember that no matter what pet you choose, it will require daily attention.
Here is a breakdown of two most popular pets to give and receive: the dog, and the cat.
Dogs offer so much love and loyalty and joy, but they also require training and lots of upkeep and a large financial commitment. There are a multitude of resources on the internet to help you make wise decisions so that your pet will live a long and happy life with you, coexisting, harmoniously.
The American Staffordshire terrier, also known as the pit bull terrier, is one of my favorite breeds. Pit bull puppies are the cutest thing you will ever see, and when they grow up, they look like this:
They’re fierce, and I absolutely adore them. But there are many factors to consider. Jason Mann’s great site, PitbullLovers.com, dedicated to pit bull information, will educate you on how to socialize and care for these majestic yet misunderstood animals. Jason warns against falling victim to what he calls “The Curse of Cute”–the spontaneous purchase of an animal that you just cannot handle.
“In order for things to change,” Jason says, “we must change the way we look at our own actions and how they affect the world around us. Until we do that, things will simply stay the way they are right now.”
Also one of my favorites, the Chow originated in Northern China more than 2,000 years ago. Loved by Martha Stewart, she at one point had four of them, I think, each in a different color: red, black, blue and cinnamon.
Half teddy bear, half lion, Chows were bred to be hunting dogs and protectors for Chinese royalty, and despite their cuddly appearance, they can be very aggressive and a danger to own if they are not socialized, trained, and controlled. They have an unreliable personality, which can mean trouble.
I love their highly-recognizable blue-black tongue. They are born with a pink tongue, which darkens over time.
Have you ever seen anything cuter than a Chow puppy?
These adorable little creatures grow to be around 70 pounds of pure muscle, and can live to be 14 years. That’s quite an investment, and something to think about.
In addition, they are incredibly high maintenance. Their dense coats need professional grooming, and on top of that, daily at-home brushing. If you do not have time or money for that kind of upkeep, a Chow is not the right dog for you.
If you are looking for a soft, obedient little lap dog, do not get a Pekingese.
These stunning beauties demand affection and reign supreme as the ultimate pampered pet, but as far as obedience, they are quite independent. Do not expect them to come running when you call their name.
You must have a good ego to own one of these magnificent miniatures, because although they are quite loving, their attitude is: “Don’t call us; we’ll call you.”
The Pekingese may look like a plaything, but no living creature is a toy. If you must have a Pekingese, be prepared to brush, brush, brush…because if you go even a week without some kind of grooming, their thick double coat will become matted, tangled and itchy, and the animal will suffer.
Fast becoming a popular breed in America, Japan, and all over the world for that matter, the Schnauzer comes in three sizes: mini, standard, and giant, and although they all look the same except for their stature, their personalities do in fact differ.
After much breed research, I invested in a mini. My eight-year-old boy is one of the great loves of my life.
Cesar Millan a.k.a. The Dog Whisperer, recently got a mini. Here he is, pictured below with his pup named Angel.
To me, the schnauzer is nearly the perfect dog. They are playful, loving, enthusiastic, protective, and adapt well in almost any environment. With few health problems, they make a good family dog because they are gentle with children. In addition, they are very intelligent and easy to train, and do not shed.
Here are some more beautiful breeds to entice you. Like human beings, they all have their own unique features. I encourage you to research your breed before you buy.
If you are not up for such a long-term investment of time, you could always opt instead for a cat.
Cats usually, but not always, require less in the department of grooming. But even if you have an outdoor cat, which can be a risk for the cat, you will need to keep a clean litter box available for your cat at all times and you still must consider veterinary expenses and other factors for a good union. Make sure you research your breed before you fall in love with one of the exotic cats below.
Dogs and cats are a mere glimpse into the wonderful world of domesticated animals that would make a loving gift for your Valentine. Please, love them responsibly. XoX.
Do you agree that Beauty Shall Save the World? Join our email list for updates featuring content of uncompromising quality on style, culture, beauty and lifestyle.
