Travel Treasures: What I FORGOT to Bring to Aspen

This seems to be a trend for me lately - forgetting to bring beauty products that match the climate and weather. We went skiing in Aspen, Colorado for spring break. Although I stocked up on lip balms, face oils, and sunscreen, I definitely missed some things.

1. A great face mask.
   The only solution to soothe dehydrated, dry and irritated skin. I wish I had brought the Fresh Crème Ancienne Ultimate Nourishing Honey Mask, Darphin's Youthful Radiance Camellia Mask ($70) or La Mer's The Lifting and Firming Mask ($230). I would have used this after skiing and a shower before going out for dinner.
   
   
2. An emergency treatment balm.
   Tammy Fender's Intensive Repair Balm ($130) is to die for, as is Darphin's Intral Redness Relief Recovery Balm ($72). I would have slathered these all over my face pre-bedtime.
   
   
3. A luxury skin revitalizer.
   Now I just need to fix my skin, and sometimes you just need to go all out. I now need ReVive's "Peau Magnifique" Youth Recruit Set ($1,500), La Mer The Concentrate ($325), or Fresh's Creme Ancienne for a full skin fix. A splurge admittedly, but the damage is done.

Travel Treasures: Spring Break Ski Trip

Stopped by Bluemercury Bethesda to stock up for our Aspen ski trip. I bought multiples of many things!

1. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Advanced Therapy ($25) Perfect for chapped and cracking little lips. I bought one for each ski jacket pocket for my kids. If you are on the slopes and desperate, it works as a face balm, too! It has plum seed oil and cupucau butter with a heavenly soft orange scent.
2. Darphin Chamomile Aromatic Care ($70) The only thing that works for me post skiing. My skin is always raw and burning and wind chapped. A couple drops before bed and my skin is fixed by morning.
3. Sunscreen galore. Barry and the kids love the SkinCeuticals Ultimate UV Defense SPF 30 ($40) – creamy and absorbs easily. I love layering (no protection benefit from this, it is just what I do). For skiing I layer La Mer The Reparative Face Sun Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($125) and then the SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 ($34) which has a hint of tint so my skin looks nice and even.

Buying in multiples is a testament to how much I love these products. I LOVE family ski trips, too!

Go West: 4 Things I Wish I Brought To LA

As many of you know, we are expanding in the state I love and grew up in — California. I am in the midst of a whirlwind trip. One day in Phoenix. One day in LA. One day in San Francisco. And the beautiful United red eye home from San Francisco to Dulles.

While I have perfected my carry-on packing — Veronica Beard hoodie blazer, Theory silk sleeveless top, Splendid tank, Helmut Lang legging jeans, 1 pair flats, 1 pair heels, 1 Joseph tank flare dress, 1 Prada sable crepe dress — I seem to have forgotten about the California weather.

The things I forgot:
1. Sunscreen that goes under makeup. I was dreaming of my La Mer The Broad Spectrum SPF 50 UV Protecting ($70), my RéVive Perfectif Even Skin Tone SPF 30 ($275) or my Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 30 ($66).
2. A fragrance. Something about the LA weather makes me want to wear fragrance — my go-to, of course, is Acqua di Parma Colonia ($156).
3. Dry shampoo. All these flights are making my hair greasy and oily. Bumble and bumble Prêt-à-Powder ($27) or Oribe Dry Texturizing ($22), where are you?
4. A cream bronzer. LA is so much drier than Washington, DC. My powder bronzer disappeared in an instant. I am pining for my NARS The Multiple ($39) in Laguna that I put away last September.

P.S. – I had fun at the Urth Caffé on Melrose and did a little shopping at Isabel Marant.

The Brits Are It

I took this photo at the Phoenix airport. This chic girl is wearing the UK flag legging pants, has her yoga mat on her back pack and has cool black ankle boots. This reminds me of two of my favorite British brands - Jo Malone and REN.


Jo Malone's new Rock the Ages fragrances for spring are to die for. I am especially in love with the Tudor Rose & Amber Cologne ($65) - it's a spicy rose like no other rose, and the Tudors are the ultimate Brits! I love the caps with the ribbons too, mixed textures are so in!


And I love REN's Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask ($55) - an all time customer favorite it smells delicious, has papaya, lemon and grape in it, gently exfoliates and leaves your skin hydrated.

Other Brits I love - Jane Austen, David and Victoria Beckham and family, Kate Moss, the Tate, the Stern-Pissarro Gallery and Damien Hirst. And of course the #1 British family of all time.

Perfect Under Eye Concealer

When I was on HSN last week we figured out the PERFECT recipe for bright eyes under the extremely bright TV lights.

Step 1: Moisturize under eye with M-61 Hydraboost Eye ($78) for instant tightening, brightening and fine line reduction.

Step 2: Highlight under eye with Trish McEvoy Instant Eye Lift ($38). Comes with a wand and is so easy to apply.

Step 3: Paint on concealer with La Mer’s new The Radiant Concealer Broad Spectrum SPF 25 ($70), amazing coverage and it has SPF 25 too!