New & Notable Fragrance: Leather and Blossoms

It doesn’t get much better than this. Two gorgeous launches for Spring.  Acqua di Parma Colonia Leather – the perfect father’s day gift or at least quick-pick-me-up for your favorite man. A blend of Acqua di Parma’s classic fragrance spiked with rich luscious leather – I have never seen anything like it! And who can resist Jo Malone’s new creation – Silk Blossom – fruity with a hint of apricot, floral heliotrope and a smidgen of green moss – the perfect spring evening, bare arms fragrance. Both are genius!

Seattle, Bluemercury, Starbucks and pastels!

Last week we celebrated the grand opening of Bluemercury Seattle, a city that has been on our short list for years. 


Barry and I have visited Seattle a lot in the past few years — partly to scope out locations for the shop (we found the perfect one at University Village), but also because Seattle has a great energy about it. The energy there brings me back to my roots as a scrappy, passionate entrepreneur when I had ONE IDEA, which somehow grew into ONE STORE (on M Street in Georgetown), much like the first Starbucks at Pike Place Market.

The reason I'm drawn to Starbucks is simple: they started as a local neighborhood store where they know your name, your drink (mine’s a double tall skim no-whip mocha!), and understand you as a customer. They continue to be the neighborhood go-to for specialty coffee, with a personal level of service and a consistently exceptional product, even as they have grown from Pike Place Market to ubiquitously global.

In Seattle we also met some amazing people, Beauty Junkies all. The women of Seattle are embracing spring's fashion trends. Pastels everywhere! On their nails, lavenders on their eyes, very chic all around. Some of my favorites this spring: Laura Mercier’s Limited Edition Baked Eye Colour Quad in Rendezvous in Monte Carlo, Bobbi Brown’s gorgeous Lip Colors in Shimmer Finish and Bobbi's new Limited Edition Nail Polish in Golden Beige from the Raw Sugar Collection.

Thank you, Seattle, for your warm welcome and your ongoing inspiration! You walked through our doors and immediately proclaimed Bluemercury home. We are so excited to be in your neighborhood.

Spring Necessities

We went straight from cold winter to hot spring in Washington DC. My routine shifted right away.  Here are my absolute spring necessities.

1. A great cleanser and peel.
My skin tends to get much more grimy in the spring/summer. I love M-61 Perfect Cleanse ($26), a gel based paraben-free, sulfate-free Vitamin E cleanser followed by M-61 Power Glow Peel ($28) for deep exfoliation and cleansing.


2. A Vitamin C Serum.
Vitamin C adds additional antioxidant protection from the sun and reduces sunspots. I use M-61 Vitablast C ($92) in the morning before my tinted moisturizer/BB cream.


3. A great tinted moisturizer/BB cream or CC cream for coverage and protection.
I am in love with NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($42) in shade Alaska for my work days and/or Trish McEvoy Beauty Balm Instant Solutions SPF 35 ($85) in Shade 1. On the weekend I use SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 ($64). It has a slight tint so my skintone is evened out, but it is one step and out the door. Great for soccer game sidelines.

4. An unbelievable bronzer.
I switch back and forth between cream and powder. I love the Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder ($38) in Medium, I love NARS The Multiple ($39) in South Beach. I also love my peachy blush: Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colour in Lotus Pink.

5. A gorgeous pink or peach lipgloss.
My favorites: NARS Serious Shine Lip Gloss ($25) in Sweet Revenge, Laura Mercier Lip Glacé ($25) in Tulip, Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster® SPF 15 Lip Gloss ($25) in Sexy Nude, and Laura Mercier’s new Gel Lip Colour ($22) in Flushed.

Spring at last,
spring at last...

Packing List: Spring Break Hydration

Skiing always destroys my skin, so I made sure I had an arsenal of products to deal with any high altitude dry skin emergency during our Colorado skiing trip. The whole key was layering!

For Hydration and Protection 
Morning: I would get up and put on M-61 Hydraboost serum, then Darphin’s Organic Aromatic Renewing Balm. After my skin soaked these up, about ten minutes later, I would then apply SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50. Perfect hydration all day.


Going Out Aprés Ski: When I came home from the slopes, I would layer Caudalie’s new Overnight Detox Oil (coming in May) under M-61 Hydraboost Moisturizer. Next I applied the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 in Alaska, and then used Laura Mercier’s new Bronzing Stick (keep an eye out for this one in June!).

For Hydration Repair
Before Bed: I would come back from the slopes, my skin would be wind burned, dry, irritated and red. I layered Caudalie’s new Overnight Detox Oil, Darphin Organic Aromatic Renewing Balm and then La Mer Crème de la Mer. Triple healing.

All Day Lip Repair: Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Advanced Therapy. I brought 5 with me, one for each family member! This is our all-time favorite!

Handcrafted from Paris

Who doesn’t love the way the Parisians do things?  The attention to detail on everything – from a Ladurée gift box of macaroons to Karl Lagerfeld’s most recent Chanel show in which they set up a supermarket of only Chanel logoed items.

Equally as loved and as handcrafted are Darphin’s new Stimulskin serum and creams. My favorite is the Multi-Corrective Divine Cream for dry skin — an all-in-one wrinkle reducing, skin tone evening, hydrating night cream, perfect over your favorite serum.


The French sure know beauty. . .

Serum for Legs?

I am in NYC and was ready to go out the door. As it is supposed to be 60 today I am bare legged at last. My husband took one look at my legs and said, "you can't go out like that!" My legs are dry and scaly from a tough winter. I hate putting lotion on my legs after I am dressed. I am always worried the oils will stain.

So I opened up my beauty bag and grabbed my oil-free m-61 Hydraboost serum and rubbed it all over my legs. They looked hydrated and not greasy and the scales were gone! I have always loved serums and I love them more now!

On My Desk Right Now: New Spring Colors and Chanel Skincare

1. New NARS Matte Multiples – loving this matte formula for spring. My favorite colors are Anguilla (a coral pink) and Altai (a soft bronze) and Exumas (a tangerine coral).

2. New Laura Mercier Lip Glaces – a whole new rainbow of colors. My spring favorites are Azalea (soft cotton candy pink); Pink Pop (a bright tulip pink) and Daiquiri (a coral pink).

3. New Chanel lip balm – does the package get any more luxe than this?!

4. Chanel’s new treatment set – my favorite is Le Weekend – which has glycolic and rosewater mixed together. I adore the name!