7 Things I Love Right Now

1. Bobbi Brown Mini Mask Trio. Who doesn’t love a mask for every time of day! Whether you’re feeling dry, dull, or grimy, there is a mask in this kit to address your concerns.

2. Barney's private label ankle boots. Comfy and well priced, I buy a new pair every year.

3. Oil. Perfect for parched skin, I love Hourglass No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil ($42). La Mer The Renewal Oil ($240). Kiehl's Daily Reviving Concentrate ($46).

4. WBJ and NYBJ afternoon updates. Perfect snack-sized headlines to keep up on the local business news of the day!

5. Near & Far: Recipes Inspired by Home and Travel. The latest genius cookbook of favorite food blogger Heidi Swanson, 101cookbooks.com. Her sauces, dressings and combinations are to die for. Definitely gifting this to foodie vegan friends this holiday season.

6. Mighty Leaf Chamomile Citrus Tea. They serve it on Virgin Airways, which I take when I fly back and forth to California (we are opening a number of stores there!). It is delicious and keeps me hydrated and warm!

7. Brow pencils. My eyebrow hair is going gray. I had thick thick brows when I was a kid and never even contemplated a brow pencil until I was in my thirties. Eyebrow pencils are so easy - swipe and done. My favorite: Trish McEvoy Precision Brow Shaper ($28.50) in Natural.

I Love Molton Brown

We have carried Molton Brown in our Bluemercury shops for over 16 years. There is a reason – they are geniuses when it comes to fragrance.

My newest favorite is their handsome and warm Tobacco Absolute Body Wash ($30). Just the name begs for a warm library, leather couches and a good book! Masculine and spicy but warm enough to be unisex, this is definitely going straight from my desk into my shower. I'm sure I will have to fight over it with my husband.



I also love the sweet new elderflower/champagne holiday scent of the Limited Edition Vintage 2015 with Elderflower Bath & Shower Gel ($33). I think I love the little deep grey knot and the shimmery visual the most. It screams holiday and, with the matching Body Lotion ($44), is the perfect festive gift for a friend or colleague.

I do love Molton Brown...

Holiday Favorites... One for you, One for me!

I must confess – holiday makeup sets are always so great, I tend to buy them for my friends AND for myself. You get everything you need for party season in super compact elegant kits. My favorites so far:

1. The Steven Klein edition of the NARS Dead of Summer Dual-Intensity Eye Shadow Palette ($49). This shadow formula is smooth and silky. I make it a point to pick up every single palette NARS offers in this formula. Pop a primer on your lid, like Trish McEvoy Eye Base Essentials ($27) in Bare, and swipe the Silver Lavender all over your lid. Line with the magnificent eye liner pencil in black (Via Veneto) that comes in this kit and you are good to go! To smoke it up even more you can line your eyes in the deep Black shadow and use the coppery Plum color in the crease.

2. Laura Mercier Master Class Colour Essentials Eye & Cheek Collection ($125) with matching brush set. All you need for a fabulous makeup kit and options. Includes my favorite neutral eyeshadow combo – Buttercream with Allegro with Quartz. You then line your eyes with Black Ebony Cake Eyeliner and highlight your cheeks with a combination of Winter Bloom and Rich Raspberry. Perfect travel set.

3. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit ($80). This gorgeous cheek palette speaks for itself!

4. Nudestix Magnetic Eye Color ($24) eyeshadow sticks – just swipe and you are good to go! Use Angel all over your lid, highlight with Immortal, and you are done! Perfect for your office desk to pop up your eyes for night time. 

Stock up for the coming year – I am!!!

New and Notable: Fragrance to Die For, For Him

I must admit, if there were the equivalent of a foodie of fragrance, I would be it. I only like perfection when it comes to fragrance. So it's no surprise that one of my favorite brands, Acqua di Parma, brought out a new fragrance for men that is out of this world: the new Colonia Club ($100).

Elegant, masculine, fresh, clean with a hint of romantic spice – all I can think about is a cozy library, a leather couch, and tons of beautifully bound books. The combination of vetiver, mandarin, mint, neroli, musk and lavender is out of this world.

Not only am I trying to get my husband Barry to wear it, I have sent it to some of my favorite beauty industry company presidents. This one is the best men’s fragrances I’ve seen in a while.

Dear Mom: Please Bring Us More Bumble and bumble

My oldest daughter has this incredibly thick long hair, plays sports, and washes her hair every day. She left me a note on my desk before school one morning asking specifically for Bumble and bumble. I knew I would have to buy the super jumbo litre size (my daughters go through shampoo like it’s water). I ran to my local bluemercury store and grabbed the Creme de Coco Shampoo ($57) and Conditioner ($59).

The basic Seaweed would have been too light (but perfect if your kids have normal hair) and the Thickening was not necessary for my household. She is in love and gave me a huge hug after she used it the first time – it smells heavenly and her hair is silky smooth! Thank you Bumble!

Pure Love

I love the beauty business. The amazing La Mer team sent me a sneak peek of their brand new face oil: The Renewal Oil ($240). I have a million face oils in my cabinet, but this one is surely the winner. Most oils give deep hydration. Somehow this one also gives your skin an amazing glow. (They say it is The Miracle Broth and the lime tea concentrate).

One night I used it alone after washing my face — no other treatment — and my skin was hydrated, plump and glowing in the morning. I think this would be amazing over a quick peel or mask and/or a vitamin C serum. Or just alone and pure...

7 Things I Am Loving Right Now

1. Bobbi Brown Greige Eye Palette ($70). Beyond perfect for fall daytime eyeshadow and I love the navy color of the outside!

2. Alice Hoffman's mesmerizing new book The Marriage of Opposites, about Camille Pissarro's childhood in St. Thomas and the influence on his artistic perspective of the bright sun, reflections on the water, and the people.

3. Oribe Run-Through Detangling Primer ($36). The adult version of No More Tangles. Anyone remember?

4. Trish McEvoy Power of Makeup Planner Collection Effortlessly Natural ($168) and Trish McEvoy Power of Brushes Collection Effortlessly Natural ($158). As all of you know I am a Trish addict. The planners travel everywhere and her brushes last a million years.

5. The skinny scarf. It's everywhere. I just picked up one for fall. So easy.

6. RéVive's new Intensité Line Erasing Eye Serum ($350). Anything that has the words "RéVive" and "eye" in it works. This one uses powerful RES Technology and Line Relaxing Complex to soften lines and crow’s feet and tighten skin around the eye area – like an instant good night’s sleep!

7. Diptyque Baies Room Spray ($65) and also their Feulle Lavande. I just noticed we are getting low at home and with fall coming I need to restock. I love the matching candles too, but we don't light them because of the kids!

Bluemercury Loves Kiehl’s Since 1851

We are coming up on our 16th anniversary. I can’t believe how far we’ve come as a company, and I’m so grateful for those who have shared our journey from the beginning.

Kiehl’s Since 1851 has been with us for all 16 years, but their story started long before ours — over 160 years ago! — as an apothecary in New York. They use the most advanced technologies to create natural formulas that have uniquely effective results.

Here are 6 products our clients can’t get enough of:

1. Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado Gently moisturizes the eye area with powerful natural ingredients like avocado oil and shea butter. I love to use it for reducing under-eye puffiness after a long flight! $28.50

2. Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate Uses highly effective vitamin C (one of my favorites) to minimize signs of aging and protect against free radicals. Makes my skin so much smoother and brighter. $60

3. Ultra Facial Cream This light-textured cream has Antarticine and Desert Plant Extract that help skin store and retain moisture. My skin feels smooth, soft and healthy all day, even in the winter! $26.50

4. Midnight Recovery Concentrate Distilled botanicals and essential oils in this paraben-free treatment repair and regenerate skin overnight – which is when skin works to heal itself! I love products that work while I sleep. $46

5. Ultimate Brushless Shave Cream – White Eagle Ideal for any skin type, this shave cream uses camphor and menthol to deliver a nice cooling effect. My husband loves the fresh scent and how smooth it makes his skin. $16

5. Creme de Corps This rich body cream has a silky texture that leaves my skin hydrated all day. It’s been a long-time staple in my house because it’s not heavily fragranced – works for the whole family! $29.50

Farmer's Market SPF

Last week I was completely jet lagged from our trip to Italy (more on this later) and was up at 5 am trying to figure out what to do. I decided I would run and grab coffee on my bike and then be first in line at the farmer's market in Margate, NJ for fresh blueberries, just-picked zucchini blossoms, and luscious Garden State green beans. 

I grabbed Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Cream SPF 30 ($62), slathered it on and was out the door – nothing else. My skin was hydrated, radiant and, most importantly, protected. It has jasmonic acid and is packed with sodium hyaluronate. The perfect 5am farmers market SPF. Thank you Kiehl’s!

Sunday BBQ Face

Last Sunday was packed with outdoor activities including attending a soccer game for each daughter and a two hour tennis match (my own). I had ten minutes after my tennis match - which took place in 90 degree weather - to shower change and get to a BBQ at my best friend's house.

My skin felt great from the workout and the Washington, D.C. humidity, so I didn't really want to cover it up. I felt like changing up my routine, so I went through my drawers looking for products that were light and illuminating. Here is what I used:


1. All Over Face Base. Natura Bissè The Cure Sheer Oil-Free Fluid SPF 20 ($180). Sheer, light and illuminating, this made my skin glow instantly and felt feathery light.


2. Under-eye Luminosity. Trish McEvoy Instant Eye Lift ($38). Normally I use to cover dark circles but no need to that day. Draws light under the eye.


3. Sunkissed cheeks. NARS Illuminator ($30)in Orgasm – a hint of creamy sheer color for the cheeks.


4. Barbie pink lips. I couldn't resist the true girly pink lip. Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster Lip and Cheek Color ($30) in Perfect Rose (I own 3!) with NARS Lip Gloss in Angelika ($26) over. Hard to do any other time of year.

I must say - I loved the way my skin felt. This will definitely be my summertime casual BBQ face!

Summer Sun Necessities – Classics and New SPFs

My friends are always stopping me and asking me what my favorite SPFs are. We all know we have to use them – but not everyone loves applying! Here are my favorites:

The Classics

1. Face sunscreen for me. SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 ($34). This is my go-to on the weekends. Outstanding coverage plus the slight tint evens out my skin tone. I put it on pre-morning walk for coffee, pre-soccer games, pre-tennis match.

2. Face sunscreen for kids. The only one my kids will use is the SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50 ($64). They turn their nose up at everything else! Easy for them to apply and they like it for face and arms.

3. Face sunscreen for husband. He picks up a case of Hampton Sun SPF 55 Continuous Mist Sunscreen ($32) every summer. He covers his arms, legs, and back in it. Golf and Beach!

New & Notable

Face sunscreen with anti-aging. La Roche Posay Anthelios AOX Daily Antioxidant Serum ($42.50) with sunscreen – dreamy texture, hydrating and great under makeup. And SPF 50 protection!

Evens my skintone while protecting. La Mer The Reparative Skintint Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($95) – La Mer Miracle Broth with SPF? Does it get better than this?

Body sunscreen with fragrance. Morrocanoil SPF 50 Sun Lotion (coming soon to bluemercury.com!) – my new go-to for body. Smells heavenly, super hydrating and SPF 50!

Great for oily skin! SkinCeuticals Physical Matte UV Defense SPF 50 ($34) – if you are oily or have any breakouts – this one is made for you!!!! A beautiful matte sunblock.

I Love La Mer

La Mer sent these to me for Mother’s Day. What could be better? Perfect for summer travel and the bag is to die for! I have to hide the lip balm or my husband will steal it!

New + Notable: Top 10 Items Flying Off Our Shelves

These items are flying off our shelves in store right now. And it is no wonder why - our genius clients and our expert staff can pick out a great product a mile away!

1. Bumble and bumble Surf Infusion ($29)
2. Oribe Bright Blonde Shampoo for Beautiful Color ($44)
3. Laura Mercier Extra Lash Sculpting Mascara in Black Onyx ($25)
4. Trish McEvoy Brush 76 Perfect Foundation ($50)
5. Laura Mercier Silk Creme Moisturizing Photo Edition Foundation in Rose Ivory ($48)
6. M-61 SuperSoothe E Lip Balm in Pomegranate ($9)
7. Fresh Sugar Nude Lip Treatment ($22.50)
8. NARS Tahiti Bronzing Powder ($59)
9. St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse ($44)
10. Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined Long-Wear Brow Pencil in Mahogany, Rich Brown, and Blonde ($42)

New + Notable: Chic = NARS + Christopher Kane

What do you get when you cross the genius of NARS with the creativity of Christopher Kane? One of the best makeup collections ever.

 

These are my favorites out of the collection and I have to have one of everything - from the stunning color pop lip glosses (my favorite is Glow Pink - $26) to the fluorescent pink blush (Starscape - $30) to the Cheek Illuminator in Hot Sand ($30).

Genius!