Summer Perfume Picks

Floral: Editions de Parfums Fredéric Malle Lys Méditerranée.  One of my favorite scents.  Ideal for summer and for those who love France (don't forget that France extends beyond Paris!).

"Heavy": Paco Rabanne Lady Million.  I would say that is heavy for summer.  I think it is a sexy skin scent that starts out a bit fruity (mostly raspberry/bitter orange/grapefruit on me) and then settles into something more interesting. Nothing revolutionary, but it smells great. Dominique Ropion, one of the creators, is famously know for the best tuberose fragrance in the history of perfumery, Carnal Flower. Yes, that is my opinion, but many people will agree with me!

Sweet: Hermès Un Jardin sur le Toit.  Amazing! I am usually not impressed with the scents Hermes puts out, but this is fantastic. I got a sample with my Lady Million purchase, and my friend and I were bowled over by how great it smelled. Starts out very "bug spray" but turns into the ideal fruity scent for adults.

Masculine: Lanvin Vetyver.  I got a sample of this recently, and I think it smells gorgeous.  It is a soft, mossy vetiver that is perfectly light for summer. 

As you can see, two scents are old, and the other two have been released within the past year or so.  A good fragrance knows no age!

photo credits:  barneys.com, sephora.com, basenotes.com, and amazon.com

Euro Fashion: the Good and the Ugly

The Good:

jersey maxi skirts/dresses (asos, Mango)

fedoras (promod, Morgan de Toi)

aviator sunnies (also lessens the chance of getting a harsh line of demarcations when one burns their nose lying on the beach, ahem) (Gucci)

horizontal stripes! A striped bodycon skirt was hot in London, while I saw tons of striped tops in France. (Bershka, Zara)

color combination: white and beige (Kookai)

The Ugly:

fancy sweat pants, as I like to call them (naf naf)

all photo credits belong to the respective websites listed above

¡hasta luego!

Off on my early summer/late spring vacation!

Apologies if the spammers leave comments...

Day Two of Preparing to Travel

The day before is always the most hectic!

-Bikini wax (let's pray for hot sun when I get to the beach!)
-Underarm wax
-Manicure
-Pedicure (self-administered)
-Transferred some liquids to small containers for my carry-on
-Colored and straightened my hair (all by myself! I found out that 10 volume doesn't lift my natural color, but the deposit on the rest of my hair was dark enough to blend with the roots fairly well)
-Finished packing (I had 2 lists to refer to)

I was very glad to get my eyebrows out of the way yesterday - one less thing I had to worry about.  Which reminds me, I forgot to epilate my legs... I wonder if I should save that for the morning, because I am tired...

Day One of Preparing for Travel

I am spacing out all of the stuff I need to do to look good before I leave on Saturday.  So today I:

-started to pack
-got my eyebrows threaded
-got all last-minute supplied to color my hair tomorrow
-deposited a cheque
-returned some wedges  I wasn't into

Summer Travels: The Carry-on

This LifeHacker article on "Five Multi-Use Items to Reduce Baggage While Traveling" made me think about what I need to pack for my two week trip that I will be taking on Saturday.  While the article doesn't help me much (for example, I carry a bar of olive oil based soap as a better "clean all" instead of a shampoo with sulfates), I did think about what is essential to my carry-on:

Hygiene items - samples of shampoo, conditioner, exfoliators, cleansers,and body lotion, as well as floss, toothbrush, small deodorant, and toothpaste
Underwear and one outfit - If my checked luggage gets lost, I would at least have this.
Reading Material and MP3 player with extra earbuds
All important documents - passport, maps, hotel reservations, etc.Chargers - you need to charge your electronics whenever you get a chance
Anything that I don't want to be lost forever
A snack

And about the carry-on itself, after years of traveling via plane, train, and bus, I found out that it is the best option to get bag that is as LIGHTWEIGHT as possible.  (This is the same for handbags for everyday use, which is why I made the switch to the Longchamp "Le Pliage" )  As you can see below, masculine luggage usually appeals to me - I currently use a black  nylon/faux leather bag from the men's section from H&M.  If you are going to be traveling for a long period of time, it would be best to carry a bag that is made out of durable nylon or something similar.  While leather usually looks great on your shoulder/arm, it hurts after a while.

Longchamp Le Pliage Large Folding Tote, $145: while I carry the medium hand-held one as a purse, it is best to use a bag that can go on your shoulder to have your hands free while checking in to airports, hotels, etc.

Ben Sherman Nylon Hold-All, $109:

Prada Roll Away Duffel Bag, $1,028: Prada is famous for their nylon bags, and this piece also comes with the choice to wheel it along!

 

Matt & Nat Check Holdall, $341.60:

Eastpak Authentic Holdall,  $66.47:

Tumi Alpha McGuire Duffel, $345: with tons of pockets - the best way to travel!

Topman Moroccan Holdall Bag, £66: if you must go for leather, this is a great "I've been around the world" bag.

 

Vivienne Westwood Leather Holdall,  $775.86: gorgeous in green (not pictured)

other stores to check for affordable options are Target, TJ Maxx, Loehmann's, H&M, Mango, and Zara.

photo credits: magnums.net, bluefly.com, asos.com, barneys.com, and topman.com

Ayurvedic Health Tip

 I read somewhere a while ago that if you are struggling with cravings, you should make sure to eat each of the fundamental tastes everyday, and that will curb the after dinner sugar craving, or what have you.  

Here is a list of the 6 tastes from ayurbalance.com

Sweet (madhura): Milk, butter, sweet cream, wheat, ghee (clarified butter), rice, honey, raw sugar, ripe fruits of many kinds

Sour (amla): Limes and lemons, citrus fruits, many kinds of immature fruits, yogurt, mango powder, pomegranate seeds, tamarind

Salty (lavana): Salt (ayurveda recommends rock salt), salty pretzels or pickles

Bitter (katu): Bitter gourd, greens of many kinds, turmeric, fenugreek

Pungent (tikta): Chili peppers, ginger, black pepper, clove, mustard, radish, white daikon

Astringent (kashaya): Beans, lentils (dhals), turmeric, cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower and cabbage, cilantro

 Some more suggestions:

Sweet- butter whole wheat toast if you need to eat before bed
Sour - add lime juice to flavor tea
Salty - if you are in a rush, add some canned chicken or fish to a salad
Bitter - add arugula to a pizza, drink dandelion tea
Pungent - add some hot sauce to some tacos
Astringent - incorporate kimchi as a side dish in your meals

From my understanding, refined sugar and foods are generally frowned upon in ayurveda.

Let's see if I can make a yummy menu for the day, eating each taste before dinner:

Breakfast:
Whole wheat sandwich with turkey, salami, and cheese (salty, sweet)
Tea with lime juice (sour)

Mid-morning snack:
Green juice (sweet)
Pita chips and hummus (salty, astringent)

Lunch:
Salad with radaccio or arugula, tomatoes, walnuts, olive oil, lemon juice, black pepper, and garlic powder (bitter, sour, pungent)
Salmon and rice (sweet, and the seasonings on the salmon will be "pungent")
cookies (sweet)

Dinner:
Well I covered all tastes, so this is open!
(and can be followed with a small dessert)

After-dinner snack:
Ginger tea (pungent)
Greek Yogurt (sour)

Some processed food, but not bad, right? Though it is missing some fruit...

You can find a more comprehensive description and effects of the tastes here at privateyogatherapy.com

Summer Prep - Beauty

Apologies to those below the equator, going through winter now!

I am all about enhancing what you got, one way is to make you skin shimmer day or night.  I am very interested in the Nars Laguna Body Illuminator, which is limited edition.  I have no idea if it looks different  on the skin than the famous Body Glow.

St. Tropez also recently introduced Skin Illuminators in gold, violet, and rose.

To prevent your hair from fading and drying out, remember to wear a hat or at least something with UVA/UVB protection.  I bought L'Oreal's EverPure UV Protect Spray but have yet to test it out.

For moisture, I love Palmer's Coconut Oil Hair Milk  as a leave-in.  I have used the olive oil one too, but I prefer the coconut oil, though it is heavily fragranced.

Rene Furterer's Karite Nutritive Concentrate is also pretty amazing - softens hair immediately.

Also, don't forget to rinse your skin after you sweat a lot or after going in the salty ocean or chlorinated pool.  Moisturizing is also very important.  Remember to use sunscreen daily - the sun is more intense and skin cancer can develop from repeated sun exposure. If you happen to get burnt or overly tanned, soothe your skin with Alba Botanica's Kona Coffee After-Sun Lotion. 

Having smooth skin will save you the trouble of piling on the foundation which may not match your skin tone as it adjusts to the seasons.  Gently exfoliate your face at night.  I like Dr. Eckstein's Facial Scrub and Alba Botanica's Papaya Enzyme Facial Mask.

I say at night because you don't want to expose your freshly exfoliated face to the sun's powerful rays.  Do not do any intensive chemical peels! You will be asking for skin damage, so what's the point of paying all that money for the peel? Most aestheticians will refuse to do peels during summer anyway.

photo credits: narscosmetics.com, sttropez.com, lorealusa.com, amazon.com, beauty.com, albabotanica.com, and beautyhabit.com

Nutrition and Doctors' Advice

Remember to talk to your doctor/nutritionist about any conflicting health advice you get on the internet! (there is some in this post)

Style.com's Beauty Counter Blog posted an interesting interview with nutritionist Sally Kravich I wanted to share.  Here are a few parts that I think I will incorporate in my life:

How about supplements, that other buzzword? What are the most important supplements all women should factor into their diet?

There are several basics that I think are really important. One is a probiotic because those put good bacteria back into the body, and that helps you to digest and break down and absorb nutrients in the small intestine. I think fish oil is highly important, too, because it’s a protector against all the radio currents we are bombarded with, and it’s great for brain development. It also helps to curb against other fat cravings. B complex—also important; in general, having a good B50 or B100 will help feed our nervous system and helps with stress, and along with fish oil it helps keep your hormones balanced. Vitamin D is also essential. We’ve become kind of mole people and we’re not getting the natural light that we need, and getting the D is important for the synthesis of calcium and our structural health. And the fifth would be calcium. Take it at night at bedtime in liquid or powdered capsule form; it’s the best sleeping pill in the world and it also helps with weight because it relaxes and helps you get into a deep sleep, which means your body will be repairing.

I am obsessed with supplements, but damn, I don't take anything for calcium! And I already know I don't get enough every day.  Also, I have trouble sleeping so this will be a bonus... Or maybe I should eat some yogurt before going to bed (see Dr. Bruce Yaffe below)

What is the biggest dietary mistake you see women making?

The biggest one is going fat-free. If we avoid healthy fats, we actually start to mess with our hormones and brains. Although most younger women are always concerned with their weight and size, I get a lot of people wanting to get pregnant so there are a lot of things around fertility issues. And the more someone has been fat-free and onto diet sodas, the more it messes with hormones, and it creates a problem where their thyroid eventually doesn’t work the way it should. So I would say the most common mistake I still see women do is reading labels for calories and fat content, rather than ingredients.

Reading labels is important, but I think it is common to overlook things such as sodium and how processed the food product is.   I've been guilty of paying most attention to fat content, but I need to remember that my body is complex machine that should function well and I need to worry about things other than losing weight. 

After reading this article I remembered how much I loved the "Doctors' Advice" feature on SunHee Grinnell's beauty blog for Vanity Fair and I don't think that  I shared that on here.  I will quote some of my favorite contributors below:

So, did you know...

Dr. Howard Murad:

… that women may experience the effects of hormonal aging on their skin starting at age 20? Adding one or more eggs to your meals for the week will help combat hormonal aging through diet by preserving strong estrogen levels naturally

…that eating a handful of walnuts will give you your daily cell-hydrating omega-3 fatty acids, while a handful of Goji berries provide a dose of free-radical fighting antioxidants, trace minerals and B vitamins? By packing nutritious snacks, your skin will be looking better than ever!

… that in skin with acne, an overproduction of cells leads to a layer of “dead” cells that combines with the skin’s own natural oil, resulting in acne? Eating foods like apricots and mangos that contain high amounts of vitamin A is a great way to prevent this overproduction of cells.

Dr. Bruce Yaffe :

... that drinking a moderate amount of alcohol may help bones? One alcoholic drink daily, maintaining a weight greater than 120 pounds, eating tomatoes (for the lycopene), and consuming flaxseed oil also help to keep bones healthy. One shouldn't drink alcohol just to help your bones, but a drinker of, let’s say, one drink may have stronger bones than a non-drinker, if all else is the same. 

… that bone health is protected by calcium, vitamin D, and weight-bearing exercise? Recently, calcium supplements have been associated with increased heart disease, thought to be due to high blood levels of calcium when the nutrient is taken in large chunks as supplements. Instead, eat three to four servings of calcium-packed foods, such as milk, low-fat cheese, tofu, yogurt, and calcium-fortified orange juice. The calcium is absorbed more gradually when taken in food, without risk of calcifying the blood vessels. It’s also been shown that colorful fruits and vegetables with lots of antioxidants are helpful to bone health.

… that beef, lamb, and pork are not associated with heart disease or diabetes! Eating processed meats such as bacon, hot dogs, or luncheon meats once daily was associated with a 42 percent increased risk of heart disease and a 19 percent increase in diabetes. It seems that the salt and the preservatives, not the fat, are responsible for the damage, based on a huge study of 1.2 million people.

… that herbs and spices have the highest antioxidant content of any foods? Think of antioxidants as preventing rust in the body. A half teaspoon of cloves has more antioxidants than a half cup of blueberries! So reach for spices and herbs to help prevent aging. Here are some other good examples: turmeric in curry, cinnamon, ginger, pepper, oregano, and peppermint.

 Dr. Jordan Metzel:

... that female athletes are four times more likely to tear their ACLs than male athletes are, even when playing the same sport? This is because the female pelvis is wider than the male pelvis, which creates a more “knock kneed” angle between the hips, knees, and feet upon impact. To prevent ACL tears, female athletes can practice plyometric jumping exercises to strengthen the gluteal muscles and prevent ACL injury

… that routine exercise is linked to a lessened frequency of depression and physical illness?

 Dr. Johnny Bowden:

… that long, slow aerobic exercise is not the most effective way to lose fat? You’re much better off doing high-intensity burst training, such as circuit training or intervals. You burn more calories (and more fat!) in less time!

 Dr. Patricia Wexler:

… that if you are the only 35-year-old you know who still breaks out every month, you may be suffering from a hormone imbalance, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, or using any number of medications that may cause acne? It’s time to check with your physician to see if a simple change of medication is all you need.

Dr. Bradford Katchen:

… that S.P.F. numbers refer only to UVB and not UVA rays, so higher is not necessarily better? Protect from the UVA—the ones responsible for skin cancer, aging, and sun-associated allergies—with ingredients like mexoryl, cell-ox shield, helioplex, tinosorb, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide.

Sale Alert - Asos Mid-Season Sale

With free shipping and returns, you cannot beat Asos's mid-season sale.  I bought the skirt below a few weeks ago.  I ordered on a Monday, and got it on Thursday or Friday!   They have a lot of great maxi skirt options I had to restrain myself from.  Remember what you like or want to hide about your body when choosing the skirt of your choice.  Even though some of the models are super skinny, you can can still see some extra curves due to shapely legs or hips in a tight, unstructured skirt.  They usually try to hide these body bumps with arm and hand placement. 

photo credit: asos.com

Review - Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 20

I have to give this product two thumbs up.  It didn't solve all of my discoloration problems, but I am happy with the results.

I used the Even Better moisturizer in the mornings, and did notice an old acne scar fading after 4 weeks.  The 6th week passed on May 14th (almost 2 weeks ago) and I definitely see a difference.  Last year I ran out of some of my tried-and-true skincare products so I had a few very nasty pimples that left lasting marks (imagine this: one didn't go away for a few weeks even after getting a professional facial so I finally squeezed it, and 4 adjacent pores emptied out and it took quite a few minutes to get all of the gunk out) and they are almost gone now.  I also noticed a difference on my overall skintone.  My cheeks are naturally lighter than the rest of my face, which is common with women of color, and today I did notice that there was visibly less of a difference.  This never really bothered me beforehand, so this is a pleasant surprise! 

I will say that I noticed that I  developed a few tiny blemishes here and there, rather than one or two pre-menstruation.  No big deal though - they disappeared quickly.

When I mentioned before that it didn't affect all of my discoloration, I was referring to the area around my mouth.   Immediately next to the side of my mouth it is very light, and then in the smile crease area, it is dark.  So unfortunately, this highlights the hair that grows on my upper lip D=  Realistically, I will probably have to get professional peels and things of that nature to solve that situation because of the skin gathering in that region that causes the shadow...

So I am now wondering when I run out, will I have to repurchase? I am assuming that the blotchiness  won't return, and my night cream (Dr. Eckstein Krauter Supreme)already helps fade acne scars, though it works more slowly compared to Clinique's Even Better day moisturizer.  I apply the cream sparingly, so I barely put a dent in the jar - it damn near looks unused, so I will probably be using this at least through September.  I will continue to use it every morning, but I will be vacationing in a month, so after my skin gets some sun,  I will see if any unevenness comes back.

photo credit: clinique.com

Spring Cleaning - Makeup

I used to be OBSESSSSSSED with makeup - eyeshadows and lipglosses galore.  Earlier this year I started my bedroom on a massive cleanup effort and realized I just liked to buy makeup.  I dumped all but 2 lipglosses, a bunch of palettes I never touched, and a ton of lipsticks I never wore.  I never wear makeup daily, just when I would go out.  Even then, I couldn't recreate the gorgeous and creative looks I had in mind while buying all that makeup! So now I just pared down to the basics and kept some other stuff for fun or if I ever feel like getting into a crazy mood (who am I kidding? lol).

So for a regular night out, here are The Basics:

Uneven skintone:  My skin tone is blotchy and I have dark circles, occasional blemishes, and a few acne scars, but I really don't feel like painting my skin with concealer, foundation, powder, etc., etc.  I've accepted that my face is imperfect, so now I just use a tinted moisturizer.  I've mentioned this before, but I love Youngblood Cosmetic's Mineral Radiance Moisture Tint.

Black eyeliner: This will always be a must for me.  When I first started wearing makeup, it was when I was 12 and it was just liquid eyeliner on my inner rim.  Not exactly a good look, but I learned from my mistakes! I have a few in my arsenal that I use depending on what's sharp or what sort of look I am going for.  I like Urban Decay's 24/7 Eye Pencils, Korres Soft eyeliner, and Guerlain Terracotta Loose Powder Kohl liner.

Black mascara: Like I said on a previous post, right now I am using LashBlast, but will be going back to Korres sometime soon, unless I decide to try another brand.

Lips: When the Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tars hit the Youtube gurus I was instantly smitten. I bought Tarred (black), NSFW (red), Pageant (bright pink), and Safety Orange.  This was back when they only had a few colors! I never really used them but recently found a combination that looks great on me: I mixed NSFW and Pageant (more red than pink) and added a drop of Tarred.  It created a gorgeous purple.  On a side note, I made the tragic mistake of buying a new blackberry without a flash (I thought a flash was standard, guess not) so I can't really snap any good pictures.

I mix the colors on a paper towel with a lip brush, paint on, blot a few times, apply again and blot again.  They will not stick if you just smear it on and go.



Eyebrows: My eyebrows disappear in photos if I don't fill them in, plus I think that it brings more character to my face when I'm trying to look good, lol.  I use the tools from the NYX eyebrow palette (small, stiff angled brush and a spooly) by touching the brush to black, grey, and dark brown eyeshadows. I actually started using the shadows instead of the eyebrow palette because, like the rest of NYX's products, the packaging broke.  The site says they are using new/different packaging but I would take that with a grain of salt.

photos lifted from: ybskin.com, urbandecay.com, korresusa.com, sephora.com, occmakeup.com, and nyxcosmetics.com

What to Wear with Cropped Pants (Under $200)

Above-the-ankle pants will be pretty hot until about next year, and we can probably expect to see them most with ballet flats and a fitted tee - a very classic look that is very commonly associated with Audrey Hepburn.  But I would like to see a different look that is a little more unexpected.  Suede lace-up shoes will toughen up the look, while the drapey-ness of a jersey top will make the look more feminine, relaxed, and sexy.

Shoes:

Clark's Desert Boot (men's sizes, $100):

Rachel Rachel Roy Lenice ($120):

DV Dolce Vita Pascal ($88):

J.Crew MacAlister ($198):

Tops:

Rachel Rachel Roy  Maggie ($49):

Rachel Rachel Roy Twisted Shoulder Top ($43.99):

TopShop Orange Seventies Stripe Tee ($32):

TopShop Grey Marl Baseball Tee ($50):

Reiss Holly ($115):

Reiss Bluebell (also pictured above, $135):

Mossimo Drapey Tee ($14.99):

photos lifted from: reiss.co.uk, zappos.com, rachelroy.com, shopdolcevita.com, jcrew.com, topshop.com, and target.com