Darphin At-Home Facial

It was late, my husband was out of town, the kids were in bed, and it was pouring. Perfect time for an at-home facial. I pulled out Darphin's Water Lily Foam Gel, brand new Age-Defying Dermabrasion, Camellia Mask, and the Stimulstkin Plus Lift Renewal Series.


Step 1: Cleanse. I used the Darphin Cleansing Foam Gel with Water Lily. A new staple in my cosmetics cabinet.






Step 2: Exfoliate with the Darphin Age-Defying Dermabrasion. I love the friction and the floral scent took me away to the warm sun and new flowers of spring.






Step 3: Darphin Youthful Radiance Camellia Mask. This thick, white, cream mask also has a heavenly floral scent. I left it on for about 5 minutes while I packed my daughters lunch. The directions say tissue off. As I am not one to follow rules, I washed it off.




Step 4: Treat. My skin, now plumped and hydrated, was ready for a serious treatment. I pulled out the Darphin Stimulskin Plus Lift Renewal Series. I had been hoarding this luxurious product for a special occasion. (Yes, a perfectly quiet house and me alone with my beauty products was a special occasion.) Packed with firming algae, hydrating hyaluronic acid, lifting caffeine, and soothing ginseng this is a set of 6 vials you are supposed to use over 30 days as a skin rejuvenator. I liked the hydration and tightening sensation from the serum after just one use. Then I went off to curl up with a good book. The perfect evening!

For The Boys

I never write about men’s stuff as I am so wrapped up in the stuff I use and love. Imagine my surprise when I popped into my shower and it was full of new stuff from bluemercury. Apparently, my husband had made a special trip to stock up on the items he loves. Here is what I learned about my husband:

1. He likes BIG quantities. Jumbo size Bumble and Bumble seaweed shampoo (33.6 ounces!), Kiehl’s Grapefruit Shower Gel (16 ounces) and Kiehl’s Coriander Shower Gel (16 ounces).














2. He likes niche. Molton Brown new Cool Buchu shower gel, Molton Brown Eucalyptus shower gel, Philip B. Peppermint and Avocado Shampoo, Kiehl’s Pour Homme shower gel.


3. He is loyal. Kiehl’s White Eagle Shaving cream in a tube. His go to shaving cream for 10 years.

Now, if I could only get him to use our skincare products!!

Bright Lights, Big City

Emmy Rossum and Marla Malcolm Beck
Went to W hotel, Washington D.C. grand opening. This historic site used to be the Hotel Washington and is famous for the scene in No Way Out when Gene Hackman had lunch overlooking the Washington monument. What a blowout party! Women dressed as glamorous George Washington-esque dancers with powdered wigs. Glorious seared tuna by Jean Georges. And Emmy Rossum (think Phantom of the Opera). She made the trip down from New York to check out the hotel and is so sweet.

P.S. A few days before, my skin was a mess. All it took was the Bliss Triple Oxygen Mask and a little Skinceuticals CE Ferulic, and it was fixed. Now, I am no Emmy Rossum, but my skin doesn't look like the mess it was a couple of days ago!

Creativity Rules - More Spring 2010 Fashion Week

Hard to keep up with all of the events! Ran from event to event all week and made it back to Washington, DC in time for back to school night for my first grader.
Here are some more highlights:
1. Francois back in a big way. NARS faces at Thakoon, Philip Lim, and Marc Jacobs.
(left to right: models at Thakoon, Philip Lim and Marc Jacobs.)











2. Bobbi Brown's creative side came out at TIBI – Magenta eye shadow, green liner – what a fun side of Bobbi to see!
(top to bottom: Marla Malcolm Beck with Bobbi, a TIBI model and TIBI owner Amy Smilovic)
Marla Malcolm Beck and Bobbi Brown










Marla Malcolm Beck and a Tibi model








Marla Malcolm Beck and Tibi's Amy Smilovic
















3. Went to book party for new thriller out by Harvard Business School friend Norb Vonnegut.(yes, there is a relation to the other Vonnegut). Top Producer is Wall Street meets the Da Vinci Code.

Fashion Week Craze

Back stage with Bobbi at J. Mendel, ran to Thakoon show (NARS did makeup) and then ran back to see J. Mendel presentation.
Spent some time with Bobbi. I asked if she had any life lessons for her clients (like me). She said, "It goes fast. Be present." So appropriate. I love Bobbi.
Just about every major fashion editor you could imagine at both shows. Some of my favorites - Nina Garcia, Kate Betts, Amy Astley.
Will report on Spring trends later. We haven't even hit the cold weather of fall yet!

Bobbi & Marla Malcolm Beck backstage at J. Mendel













Fashion editors waiting for Thakoon show to start












Model from J. Mendel Spring collection - hair, makeup, dress & jewelry to die for.

Jeans, Intermix, and Why I Love Boutiques

When I was in Chicago visiting our Lincoln Park store last Friday, I spent a little bit of time and walked the neighborhood. I popped into Intermix and was reminded about why I love boutiques so much.
I asked a simple question, "what’s the whole legging thing this season?" A great staffer proceeded to show me 7 different leggings at a huge range of price points.While I was looking for black, I ended up with a pair of J Brand’s new lightweight legging jeans. I adore them and I never would have found this pair on my own. Thank you, Intermix! It is only at a boutique where you get great advice, the best fashion, and great service.

This is why bluemercury was created 10 years ago too! I wanted to create the neighborhood store where you could get friendly, expert, honest advice. Case in point, when I stopped by bluemercury and mentioned that I was looking for the perfect fall every day brown eyeshadow. In two seconds the team picked out Bobbi Brown Copper Sand Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow for me. They also grabbed the T. Leclerc Lip Pencil in Tendre – a completely wearable mauve-brown nude which goes with almost all of my lipsticks and glosses.

Want to see talent in action? Check out a video of our fabulous Lincoln Park team doing makeovers at a makeover party at bluemercury. Also mark your calendar and book complimentary appointments for upcoming fall makeover parties featuring experts from Bobbi Brown, Trish McEvoy, Laura Mercier and NARS all showcasing what's new this season.

P.S. A shout out to Jessica Teas of Beauty Woo Me for completely “getting” why bluemercury is special.

Too Old to Club?

Grammy award winner Mya with Marla Malcolm BeckOur friends who own Dusk (a club at Caesar’s in Atlantic City) in partnership with the late DJ AM convinced us to stop by last Friday evening. Mya, a Grammy award winner, was showing up to sing a few songs and launch her new album Beauty and the Streets. Me, clubbing? I’m usually in bed by the time Mya was supposed to go on stage, so after putting the kids to bed, wandering around the house looking for something to do at 10 p.m. on a Friday night before it was time to leave, and trying to figure out what to wear, we showed up. Spectacular club, spectacular performance and Mya is so nice. While I was one of the few over 30 in the club and the only one in a pantsuit as opposed to a super-mini-mini-mini dress (seemingly today's club uniform) – I had a blast. Clubbing (is that what people even call it?) has come a long way since the late 80s/early 90s techno days. The whole DJ-as-star thing is fascinating. In fact, DJ Morse Code, who was there that night, got the crowd riled up with his amazing artistic skill. As I am still recovering from being out past my bed time, this will probably be my first and last club experience. Lack of sleep is bad for the skin, but if I were younger. . .