Best Beauty Always

Dawn Hand Renewal with Olay Beauty

Entertaining is a major part of the holiday season, and we all know that entertaining means dirty dishes. Even with a dishwasher (or kitchen helpers, you lucky girl!) we're going to get our hands into a lot of soapy water in the next few weeks and it is going to take its toll. And who wants to greet or serve guests with the dreaded dishpan hands?

Now, Procter & Gamble has launched Dawn Hand Renewal with Olay Beauty, which the company says will transform the look and feel of your hands in just five uses, aided by enzymes and a unique surfactant technology. It works by sealing moisture in your hands while you do dishes. I have not tried this product but I like the idea of a detergent that protects my hands while I use it.

I'll put it on the list for the next time I need dish detergent. In the meantime, I try to rinse and dry my hands thoroughly after dishwashing, and apply hand lotion throughout the day.

Beauty Budget: Spend or Save?

I came across some information recently that I wanted to share with you. These days, we all seem to be watching our pennies a little more closely. So, in the interest of our skin, where should we spend on beauty and where can we save? Dermatologists Susan H. Weinkle, M.D. and Heidi A. Waldorf, M.D. have put together a list of their expert tips on getting the most out of your beauty budget. According to the doctors, the keys are to invest wisely and to arm yourself with knowledge about where you can compromise and where you can’t. They tell us that the three essential items to keep  skin in top shape now-- in order to avoid expensive corrective procedures later--are sunscreen, an antioxidant moisturizer, and a product containing retinoic acid. Here is more advice from doctors Weinkle and Waldorf:

Products – where to invest and where you can save money

Worth the Price:

• Prescription retinoids (tretinoin, tazarotene, adapalene) – nothing else has been shown to do as much for photoaged skin; and one tube should last several months
• Certain cosmeceuticals (idebenone, coffeeberry) – your dermatologist knows what works and what you’re more likely to tolerate

Option to Thrift

• Cleansers – if you need to save, a gentle over-the-counter non-drying lotion cleanser will do the job.
• Sunscreen – drug store options with appropriate ingredients abound, and you need to use a lot of it.
• Eye cream – if you’re trying to save, you can use your face cream for your eye area too.

  Augmenting in-office treatments at home

• Get more bang for your buck – use a home microdermabrasion system between professional treatments

• Non-invasive treatments work best when accompanied by an effective at home regimen of sun protection and some combination of retinoids, anti-oxidants and/or peptides.
• Don’t work against your treatment:  avoid cigarettes, tanning, and picking.
• Ask your dermatologist for a prescription to slow hair growth while you’re undergoing laser hair removal

Reasonable investments for long-term beauty

• The current long-lasting fillers are cost-effective.  A recent study of hyaluronic acid showed that once you achieve your optimal correction, keeping it up requires only half the original volume used once or twice a year.  For patients who can’t pay for full correction the first visit, there’s the option to gradually achieve correction over several months – each treatment builds on the last because the prior filler isn’t gone and new collagen has been formed.
• Tightening procedures utilizing lasers and radiofrequency cost far less than surgery, can put off the expense of a surgical lift for several years and don’t require a lot of time off from work.
• Botulinum toxins continue to be a safe and effective way to look fresher without downtime and for about the cost of hair and nail maintenance.

Doctors Weinkle and Waldorf belong to an organization called Women's Dermatologic Society. If you're looking for a dermatologist, check out the Society's Web site.

Summersent's Story Still Intrigues

I met Marjorie Kitzrow, founder of Marjorie Midgarden Fragrances and creator of Summersent perfume, in 2006 when she was caught up in the excitement of launching her fragrance. I was so intrigued by her story that I wrote it up for the magazine I worked for at the time and will tell you about here, in a nutshell: Marjorie, who had a career in brand marketing, learned about a flower with an amazing fragrance, sought it out, smelled it for herself, and decided it had to be captured (or, perhaps, released) in a perfume. With no previous experience in the fragrance industry, she sought out great advice and resources and got her perfume made and to market.

Today Summersent can be found in a number of department stores including select Von Maur locations, Liberty of London and Takashimaya New York. You can read an in-depth review of the fragrance, here. My own initial reaction to Summersent was that it seemed somehow familiar, like a sweet memory from the past that I couldn't quite put my finger on. According to Marjorie, that's a common response.

I hadn't seen Marjorie for about a year, but we met for lunch in Chicago last Friday and she was excited and full of plans for the Summersent brand. In just a few short years, her second career has taken her places and presented opportunities and challenges that I'm guessing she never dreamed she would experience, and she seems to have taken it - is still taking it - all in stride. I'll be watching to see where it takes her next, and I wish her a fabulous journey.

Fragrance Trends for 2010 Part 2

Did you notice how the second trend in the last post on fragrance seemed to fit with the fashion trends I posted about on Monday? A little fantasy is a good thing in the best of times, so in tough times, go ahead and indulge. The experts may be on to something here but I guess we'll know soon enough, as 2010 is fast approaching. Here are the last two fragrance trends from beautypress.com.

Be your own nose: Once reserved for only those-in-the know,  personalized, custom fragrance is gaining popularity, thanks to newer, more accessible ways to get it. The $10,000 bespoke blend still exists, but customized perfume is happily now at a realistic price point, about the same that you’d pay for a bottle of fine fragrance from a niche perfumer. Look for custom fragrance bars at department and chain stores, where you can sample single notes. Another custom trend: Perfume parties that let you create your own formula with three or four harmonizing blends. A consultant guides you through the notes and accords, and you walk away with a true signature scent.  “Women want something that reflects their individuality. Everyone is focusing on what’s the wisest way to spend their money now, and this is an affordable luxury that you can honestly call your own,” says Phillips, who also works with The Perfume Studio, a company that organizes custom fragrance parties and seminars. Designing your own fragrance is well worth the investment—you spend time getting to know what you like, experiment with different aromas, and leave with a memorable transporting experience.     

Tell a tale:  Perfume companies are realizing that it takes more than a whiff of the scent to get people interested. “Right now, story telling is especially relevant. People want to know how a fragrance is made and the work that has gone into it, as well as tap into its emotional connection. Fragrance sends a very personal and emotional message,” says Greene. And with more than 1000 perfume launches last year, a story is the advantage a new fragrance needs to stand out. “There’s a real quest for authenticity at the moment. When you know why the perfumer chose the notes and his inspiration, the whole experience draws you in and becomes more genuine,” says Celene Aguilar, director of US sales and marketing for L’Artisan Parfumeur. How to get the story told? Salespeople, of course, but companies are also experimenting with innovative new outlets, like social media, blogs, dvds and short films, that ultimately, leave a lasting, and fragrant impression.

There you have it - a peek into the near future of fragrance from some experts who are involved in it every day. Now you're in the know for your next visit to the fragrance counter.    

Fragrance Trends for 2010

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of fragrance. In covering the business of fragrance and beauty for many years, I developed an enormous respect for the history, the expertise, the creativity and the effort that goes into the crafting of every new perfume and eau de toilette that enters the market. Trends come and go in fragrance as in just about everything else in life, and the folks at beautypress.com talked to a number of experts in the fragrance world to find out what's ahead in scent. Here are trends one and two. Look for trends three and four in my next post.

There’s no beauty product that’s more powerful than perfume. One spritz, and the experience becomes highly personal: Suddenly, you’re overcome by memories of your grandmother’s rose garden, find the confidence to take a chance on love, or shake out a grumpy mood for a bright and cheerful one. Despite the economy, fragrance will always be an attainable luxury that suggests escape, says Kate Greene, vice president of marketing, at Givaudan Fine Fragrance.  Where will it take you next? Here’s a sneak peek at four fragrance trends, coming soon to a beauty counter near you.   

Look to the past: With economic stress, expect to see a return to nostalgia.  “We look to history to provide a glimpse into the future. We watch how the pendulum is swinging as a forecast.  For example, during difficult times, consumers seek what is nostalgia and comfort; and most often gravitate towards classic florals. During the Great Depression, it was the big bold floral statement of Joy by Jean Patou that was popular, while Chloe was a top seller during the turmoil of the 70’s—both comforting, classic florals. There’s a sense that the demand turns to what’s familiar and safe,” says Greene. Recently, big floral perfumes have been bestsellers, in response to the current economic recession.  In the next couple of months, be on the lookout for new perfumes dominated by floral notes that your mom and grandma loved, like rose and violet. “Those scents remind you of a simpler time, and that memory can be a great comfort when you’re stressed,” says Sue Phillips, owner and founder of Scenterprises Limited, a global fragrance consulting firm.    

Spot a brighter future:  For 2010 launches, think bold, exciting and fantasy. “The perfumes coming down the pipeline are going to be vibrant, saturated, a collection of technicolor ingredients. As we move out of sobering times, the consumer will crave escape and color, and will be much more experimental.  We’re all ready for some fun,” says Greene. Sophisticated, rich scents are also having a moment, edging out light citrus and watery florals, as the heart and soul of new perfumes. Look for warm, woody notes, like sandalwood, amber and resin that have heft and character. “These notes are natural, down to earth and last longer,” says Mary Ellen Lapsansky, vice president of The Fragrance Foundation. “Traditionally, strong woods have been associated with the men’s fragrances, but the lines between men and women’s fragrances have been blurring for some time now."

What are you craving right now in terms of fragrance? How has the economy affected your fragrance mood? Check back soon to learn trends three and four.

Style Trend for Spring: Enchanted

Edelkoort, Inc.'s Trend Union report for spring says that when the winter snow and ice thaw, a fantasy world will await:

"Tired of watching reality news that undermines our happiness, we will take a well-deserved break from fear and compensate with creativity. Our beauty will take flight into a wonderful world of enchanted styles for hair and make-up, inspired by fairytales born from our imagination.

"We will express our joy through a feast of colors, from the sweetest pales and pastels to dynamic brights. We will take some rest with soothing grays and invoke a dream world with the darkest hues of the night…and following up on the past seasons trends, we will call upon metallic shades to express our seduction."

Just thought you'd like to know. I think it sounds lovely.

Photo by Romain Lienhardt.

What's That Crackling I Hear?

The dry leaves crackling underfoot as I walk are at odds with the delight I feel being outside in the warm autumn sunshine. "Dry! Dry! Dry!" is their cry and I am feeling it already. I heard the furnace click on in the wee hours of the morning and my mouth turned to cotton anticipating the coming cold, dry air of winter where I live. (Isn't it great, they say, to live in a place where you can enjoy the changing seasons? A little less so, say I, with every winter I spend watching the thermometer dip and the snow pile up.) On top of the drying issues that seem to come with just being in this age group, it is all too much for skin and hair.

This is definitely not the time to relax the moisturizing routine. Slather it on! I find myself switching to heavier hand and body lotions, and being even more diligent with my nighttime moisturizer. I love to cook, and my hands are always wet, then cracked and sore. Time to pull out the dish washing gloves and maybe even the moisturizing gloves to wear to bed! Moisturizing can be very glamorous. You can read here about winter skin.

Well, we winterize our cars and our homes, I guess it makes sense to winterize our beauty routines, too. What changes do you make to your beauty routine in the colder, drier months? Have a moisturizing product you just can't live without in winter? Please, tell us! And we can all leave the crackling and dryness to the autumn leaves.

KaplanMD Lip 20

Happy Saturday! For the past couple of weeks I've been trying a lip product I received at a recent trade show. Lip 20 Moisture Therapy +SPF from Kaplan MD is part of a line of skin care products designed to treat signs of aging caused by what Beverly Hills dermatologist Stuart H. Kaplan calls natural hormonal progression, and estrogen loss. You can read about it here.

The lip product comes in a great looking lipstick tube that is easy to use. You turn the bottom of the tube as you would a regular lipstick, and up pops a little door in the top of the tube, revealing the lip treatment stick. No more worries about smashing the lid down on the lipstick I forgot to turn down! I've seen a lot of lipstick packaging over the years, and I really like this one.

As for the product, I like the way it goes on and that it makes my lips look and feel moisturized. Any plumping going on is subtle and that's fine with me. It is marketed as a complete anti-aging treatment for lips created to moisturize, contour, plump and protect with SPF 20. It comes in a clear shade, which is all treatment product, and in four sheer colors that have the treatment ingredients in a Treatment Core. Those treatment ingredients are seabuckthorn berry extract for moisture, hyaluronic filling spheres to help smooth out fine lines, a complex including soy, grapeseed and black cohosh for anti-aging benefits, C10-30 esters for skin conditioning and repair, and peptides and marine collagen to redefine the lip line and contour. It is made without parabens, castor oil and petroleum jelly. It sells online for $30.

I find that the clear product makes a nice base for my regular lip products and I wear it on its own, too. I'm going to keep using it to see what it does for my lips in the harsh winter that I know is on its way!

Aveeno Nourish+ Hair Care Collection

According to Johnson & Johnson, makers of Aveeno brand products, "consumers agree that when their hair looks healthy and vibrant, they have a better outlook on life." The company found that 70 percent of women say they regularly process their hair and 50 percent believe they have damaged hair. In response, Johnson & Johnson introduced the Aveeno Nourish+ Hair Care Collection, incorporating its Active Naturals Nourishing Wheat Complex technology to "bring damaged hair back to life in just three washes."

I haven't tried the line but it is widely available at food, drug and mass merchandisers and the price is in line with what I normally pay for effective shampoo and conditioner products - from $6.49 to $7.49 each. It comes in several formulations including Nourish+ Volumize shampoo and conditioner, Nourish+ Soothe shampoo and Nourish+ Condition leave-in treatment. The latest additions to the line are Nourish+ Moisturize shampoo and conditioner for dry, damaged hair, and Nourish+ Reviatalize shampoo and conditioner to protect hair's moisture balance. They are designed to be gentle enough for color-treated hair and are formulated with 90% naturally derived ingredients.

Chloé Maggie Travel Set

With that candy holiday behind us, the mailbox full of catalogs and the Sunday paper full of ads, whose thoughts aren't already turning to the upcoming holidays? Hmmmm? If you're looking for a little bit of luxury to add some glamour to your wish list, consider the travel set of Chloé fragrance products brought together in the luxurious Maggie travel clutch.

The Chloé Maggie Travel Set includes a 1.7 oz eau de parfum, and 3.4 oz bottles of perfumed body lotion and shower gel, wrapped up in a soft grey lambskin case edged with lizard trim and with a jewel clasp, a fabulous gift for fans of Chloé.

Available at Saks Fifth Avenue and Chloé boutiques, the travel set will retail for $1,000.