One of My Favorite Gifts Ever

I am so excited that we are finally offering Jo Malone online! No one makes fragrance like Jo Malone, and the iconic ivory and black boxes make such a statement! Here are some of my favorites:

1. The Cologne Intense Collection, it doesn't get better than this sweet set of Jo's top fragrances. Velvet Rose & Oud is one of my favorites and the new Saffron is a beautiful blend of creamy warmth and a light spiciness. Great for daughters, moms or best friends!
   
   
2. Our whole family loves the diffusers. We have them in every bathroom. You can pair them with a body and hand wash for an elegant hostess gift. The family favorite is Lime, Basil & Mandarin. I also love the richness of Pomegranate Noir, and my best friend loves English Pear & Freesia.
   
   
   
   
3. The Wood Sage & Sea Salt Home Candle is the perfect holiday gift for yourself. Burn in the kitchen for a festive night, every night. Also love in Peony & Blush Suede.
   
   
   
   
4. Other favorite is the Peony & Blush Suede Collection. Cologne, body and hand wash, and a rich body crème. I would love this luxurious gift!
   
   

(Note: Jo Malone is available at select Bluemercury locations)

My Top 15 Holiday Picks

Holiday shopping can be simple. Here are some of my top picks for...
Trish McEvoy Timeless Beauty Planner ($235)

Tocca Eau de Parfum Viaggio Holiday Set 2014 ($45)

RéVive Limited Edition Artbox 12 ($595)

La Mer The Discovery Set ($350)
NARS Tech Fashion Lipgloss Set ($39)

Lafco Opal Amaryllis Candle ($60)

Bobbi Brown Limited Edition Mini Lip & Eye Palette ($30)

Laura Mercier Mini Caviar Stick Eye Colour Collection ($55)
Darphin Divine Anti-Aging Set ($295)

Kiehl's Since 1851 Rockwell Hydration Essentials Kit ($29)

Oribe Cult Classic Collection Holiday Bag ($41)

Diptyque Mini Holiday Candle Set ($98)

Acqua di Parma Colonia Leather ($210)

Molton Brown The Bathing Treasures Collection ($50)

Natura Bissé Diamond Holiday Set 2014 ($370)

Saturday Morning Football Face

I woke up to 40 degree weather and was trying to decide what to do for my skin before I went to my 7 year old son's flag football game. There is nothing cuter than 6 seven year olds throwing footballs and trying to score touchdowns. And there is almost nothing worse for your skin than a wide open field with wind whipping across your face.

So I decided to layer M-61 Hydraboost Serum ($78) – full of water-binding vitamin B5 and moisturizing hyaluronic acid – under RéVive’s incredibly rich Intensité Créme Lustre Day SPF 30 ($385). It comes in a jar so it is really hydrating and thick.

My skin was hydrated, plumped and protected all morning, leaving me free to watch my little football star!

The Lipstick Black Hole!

Those of you that know me know that I always travel with a Bluemercury tote. As I am headed to Boston tomorrow morning and my bag was feeling quite heavy I decided to go through and clean it out.

These are some of my favorite colors - if they weren't, why would they be traveling with me! 6 lipsticks, 6 lip glosses and 5 lip pencils, I think that works out to 200 different looks! Who needs to travel with any other accessory?

Lipsticks
Trish McEvoy Lip Color ($28) in Barely Nude & Pink Nude
NARS Sheer Lipstick ($26) in Fast Ride
NARS Satin Lipstick ($25) in Bilbao
NARS Audacious Lipstick ($32) in Brigitte
Bobbi Brown Creamy Matte Lip Color ($25) in Tawny Pink

Lip Glosses
Laura Mercier Lip Glace ($25) in Blush
Laura Mercier Lip Plumper ($30) in Rose Flush
NARS Lip Gloss ($26) in Super Orgasm and Sweet Revenge
Chanel Rouge Allure Impertinence Extrait de Gloss*
Trish McEvoy Irresistible Lip Gloss ($27) in Irresistible Pink

Lip Pencils
Laura Mercier Defining Lip Pencil ($23) in Redwood, Chestnut (2 of these) & Hazelnut Tea
Trish McEvoy Long-Wear Lip Liner ($28) in Barely Rose*

* available in select stores, find your nearest bluemercury here

Instant Sleep

We were on our way out to a cocktail party the other night and my husband looked at me and said - you look tired. Of course I do - I have 3 kids, a growing and fun company, a frog, a guinea pig and of course, a husband!

I ran up to my bathroom and grabbed Trish's Instant Eye Lift ($38). This little package has a miracle pinky-glowy cream that you just dab under your eyes with your fingers after all of your makeup is on. It draws natural light to your under-eye area.

The result is instant sleep! Thank you Trish!

The New Trish Fall Lip

Trish and her team just sent me all of the new creamy, smooth Beauty Booster Lip and Cheek Color pencils ($30) – they are so easy to use and to pop in your purse.

My favorite is Perfect Plum, an all day neutral. But I also really love Perfect Rose and Perfect Pink. The red doesn’t work on me – but I know many bluemercury clients will love it.

Also – her new lip pencils are so universal they go with all of these and the thousand lipsticks I already own. It’s all about lips!

On My Desk Right Now

Just a quick peek into what I am eyeing on my desk right now.
NEW La Mer The Illuminating Eye Gel (coming soon) - I only have my lab sample, but I LOVE IT! Brightening, hydrating and heavenly — a great holiday gift (for yourself)!
NEW Laura Mercier Into the Wild Lookbook Collection - 3 palettes to die for, but my favorite are the warm hues of the eyeshadows and eyeliner in the Safari Chic Book!
CLIENT FAVORITE Oribe Gold Lust Shampoo - Clients are loving it, as am I. Great for hydration and shine.
BEST SELLER Clinique Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush - We keep selling out. Portable, easy and great with any cleanser.
NEW Fresh Sugar Lip Serum Advanced Therapy - Line filling and plumping, at my age (44) I need this.
NEW NEST Fragrances Maison de Nest - Does holiday gifting get any better — why can’t we all give our best friends a Parisian townhouse for the holidays?

I Love This Business

I arrived home from a long week of traveling to these glorious boxes of La Mer and Jo Malone. The La Mer and Jo Malone fairies included all of my old favorites plus some new goodies!

Jo Malone's new Wood Sage and Sea Salt Cologne is to die for and is flying off our shelves! Our whole family adores the Jo Malone Lime Basil and Mandarin Body Wash, this is going straight into our shower!

I just tried La Mer's new 8 Minute mask — The Intensive Revitalizing Mask — perfect for after flying and before bed. And my semi-oldie but goodie favorites — The Treatment Lotion which adds hydration if you put it on under ANY moisturizer and The Lifting Contour Serum which all of us beauty junkies at Bluemercury swear by.

I love this business... packages just wait at your doorstep. Thank you, Jo Malone and La Mer!

(Note: Jo Malone is available at select Bluemercury locations).

Happy Birthday Bluemercury: 15 Year Classics

I can't believe Bluemercury's first store was opened 15 years ago! A huge thank you to the brands we have carried for the full 15 years:

1. Acqua di Parma - my all time favorite Colonia Assoluta fragrance was created in the 1930's. A light citrus - you feel like you are permanently in Italy.

2. Bliss - Marcia Kilgore created Bliss years ago and we LOVED working with her. The Lemon & Sage Body Butter has been a permanent all time favorite for many years!

3. Darphin - who can beat their Intral line of sensitive skin products - the Intral Toner is a favorite travel item of mine to soothe redness.

4. Dermalogica - I have used Dermalogica since I was a teenager. Their Skin Renewal Booster was my first introduction to AHAs!

5. Molton Brown - need I say more about the original Orange & Bergamot Hand Wash? In every bathroom at our home.

6. Kiehl's - Creme de Corps has been an all time client favorite. Some of our Bluemercury Experts swear it takes away those funny little annoying bumps.

7. Bumble and bumble - while Seaweed Shampoo used to be the best seller, the Surf Spray has been a star for many years.

8. SkinCeuticals - the Vitamin C and E serums and sunscreens have been available in Bluemercury for a full 15 years now!

9. NARS - in 1999 we couldn't keep Dolce Vita Sheer Lipstick in stock. NARS as a company was 5 years old when we started our partnership!

10. Mario Badescu - Drying Lotion: my husband and I walk around with pink dots on our face - anything for an overnight blemish treatment!

Thank you to our brand partners, and thank you to our clients, and thank you to our beauty experts, and to all beauty junkies!

Back to School Skin Routine: Fix the Summer Spots

I admit — I spent too much time in the sun this summer. On the beach, playing tennis, bike riding — who can resist? Because I am fair, I end up with new freckles and sun spots that I lament every September. I immediately amp up my vitamin C, glycolic acid, and hydration to start to fix it.

At night, I use M-61 JetGlow Serum, a powerful dose of glycolic acid and peptides to smooth and firm.

I then follow with La Mer's Lifting and Firming Mask that I leave on all night.

Then, in the morning, I use M-61 Vitablast C — the gallic acid helps brighten the skin and seems to lighten my freckles.

I then top off with Laura Mercier's Radiance Primer for instant glow.

My kids are back to a routine. It's time to get my skin back to one, too!

11 Things I Love For Summer

1. Bumble and Bumble Color Minded Styling Balm. The only styling product that helps me straighten my hair post beach. Apply to wet hair and dry. $28 SHOP NOW >

2. James Perse tank tops — the cotton is beyond soft and perfect post-beach.

3. The Superfood Smoothies cookbook by Julie Morris.

4. My new necklace from Marmol Radziner — by the LA design/build architecture firm Marmol Radziner — jewelry made out of industrial remnants.

5. New shades of the Caviar Stick by Laura Mercier in Moonlight & Copper. Perfect shimmery summer colors that stay on and don't smudge, even on the most humid evenings. $26 SHOP NOW >

6. GuS sparkling drinks (non-alcoholic, of course). My daughters and I tried them at Dean & DeLuca on Madison Avenue and fell in love with the Star Ruby Grapefruit and Dry Valencia Orange.

7. Acqua di Parma Colonia — My longtime summer standby. This light, uplifting citrus bergamot, sweet orange and rose takes you straight to the shores of Capri. $96 SHOP NOW >

8. NARS Multiple in South Beach mixed with NARS Multiple in Orgasm — the perfect sunkissed look for evening. $39 SHOP NOW >

9. M-61 New Hydraboost Cream — I like to slather this on after too much sun — soothing and hydrating with healing papaya! $84 SHOP NOW >

10. Making super smoothies with Navitas Naturals goldenberries and acai berries — also in some of the new M-61 products coming out. (JetGlow Serum and Cream and new products this fall!)

11. My new grilling cookbook — The Japanese Grill, by Tadashi Ono & Harris Salat. My kids and husband LOVE japanese food and this brings new life to old grilling standbys.