Last Minute Gift Ideas…. Bath and Body Lovers

We’ve all got that aunt, sister, friend, grandmother, who really appreciates luxurious bath and body goodies.

If you’re interested in venturing out beyond the predictable department store brands, you’ll love Juara, an
Indonesian-inspired skincare line.

What’s so great about the line? All of their products include effective sloughing and smoothing ingredients, with soft, subtle scents. If I could suggest three gifts from the line they would be the Candlenut Body Cream (Indonesian candlenut oil delivers intense hydration), their Coffee Scrub (smoothes and brightens the skin) or The Juara Travel Kit (ok for airline travel). Trust, any of your beauty loving friends/relatives will be grateful.

Visit dermstore.com or juaraskincare.com for a speedy Xmas delivery.

Thou Shall Not Covet

Even though I know it’s time to buy a home, pay for a wedding, hell, even focus on retirement––I have a pathetic weakness for shopping, even now, during Christmas, with four––tough––loved ones to buy for. So although my head should be elsewhere, looking into foreclosures, picking a wedding location that’s affordable, finding the doggone perfect cashmere sweater for my fiance––all I can think about is the plethora of sample sales that continue to swirl around me this December. God, there was Tracy Reese and
Catherine Malandrino the first two weeks of this month. This week there’s Diane von Furstenberg, Vera Wang Bridal and last but oh so not least MULBERRY. I’ve been secretly coveting a Mulberry bag since fall.

The sale starts today and despite my work deadlines, hell, my life deadlines, I just want to go to that sale. Now the bags retail for well over a thousand, so even if it’s half price, I have no business dropping that cash on a handbag. My mom has always said, “If you can’t afford to keep $500 in your wallet
regularly, then you have no business spending $500 on a pocketbook.” It ain’t nothing but the truth, yet still I sit here thinking about the slick, beautifully hand-crafted Mulberry Mabel bag. What I really need for Xmas, even more than a gorgeous bag is some self-control. Can I get a witness?

Here's A Secret

For those of you who are into the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, which just aired this Tuesday, I must confess that I was there for the taping in early November, and learned a few things back staged as the girls got furiously beautified to bare all for millions of viewers.

The truth is that most of them are just as gorgeous, up close and personal, even in rollers, even without all the makeup, as they are in the catalogs and on the runway, however, it made me feel just a little bit better to know that those bodies of theirs are bronzed and evened out to perfection, so that not one mole, stretch mark, scar, discoloration––whatever kind of imperfection––shows. Every girl, no matter what complexion, is exfoliated, smoothed, bronzed, concealed and then shimmered up––some girls got silver shimmer, some gold. I think all of the black girls got gold––Selita, Oluchi, Jessica, Noemie.

We couldn't go behind the bronzing booth to see the gallons of shimmer powder, because the girls were naked of course, but we saw the luminous results when they left the booth. I also talked to Selita Ebanks' trainer, who had worked her out earlier that morning to ensure her tonality was beyond grand. Oh and one more secret, Jessica White says she really wears the bras. She wants fellow full- busted ladies to know that some of the Victoria's Secret bras truly give ample support.

To wrap it up, the girls are painted to perfection, they bring their trainers for the ride, and even those with real boobs wear the Vicky's Secret bras!

Attention Beauty Product Junkies….

A few days ago I found a perfect jewel in Brooklyn, a holistic pharmacy/beauty haven by the name of “Chopin,” like the composer.

The proprietor of this shop, Lilian Wiekowski, a pharmacist herself, is a huge
proponent of holistic remedies that heal, inspire and beautify.

Loved the variety of items in the shop––from niche beauty brands from all over the world, to organic vitamins, supplements and tinctures, to everyday drug store stuff.

Don’t worry, if you don’t live in Brooklyn you still have access to her fantastic goodies, visit chopinchemists.com––––great gift ideas for the holidays.

Big Apple Nights

Saw American Gangster over the Thanksgiving holidays––loved Ruby Dee, Denzel, even Common, who didn’t say much, but looked especially suave on screen. I saw him perform a few weeks ago at a party for Donna Karen’s latest scent, DKNY Delicious Night.

The party was at the art studio of Donna’s beloved and deceased husband, Stephen Weiss. The spot was hot with a well-dressed downtown crowd, including a few rising stars––Ali Larter, Marisa Tomei, Rashida Jones, Zoe Kravitz, Rumer Willis, Christina Ricci. Common was exceptionally lyrical, the drinks were flowing, the crowd was jumping––even Donna herself seemed smitten with the performer when he brought her on stage. By the way, the scent is actually quite delicious. It’s spicy and fruity with unusual notes of blackberry martini accord and frozen pomelo. Check it out. For now it’s sold exclusively at Bloomingdales.

Sexy Sunday

Victoria’s Secret model Seleta Ebanks is as sweet as she is gorgeous. I had the pleasure of sitting down with her this Sunday at the fitting for the next Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (which will air on CBS, 10pm EST, on December 4th). Seleta is one of the six contracted Vicky Secrets “Angels”–-the only black girl, so I was happy to chat with her and get her perspective on the show.

Before we sat down, I waited and watched as she tried on her various lingerie get-ups. You’ve got to have confidence out of the WAZOO to be a lingerie model. This was a fitting, so throughout, Seleta was clad in some variation of a thong and bra--- and surrounded by unforgiving neon lights, at least 20 minions running around, photographers, reporters and a team of Victoria’s Secret corporate muckity mucks. Being half naked wasn’t an issue for her, or the other models. They all smiled and strutted around like it was their birthdays.

During our interview, Seleta confessed, “being sexy on demand isn’t easy.” I’m not sure I believe her, however she did add that modeling for Victoria’s Secret forced her to discover her inner vixen. Fair enough. Check out the show in December––Seal,Kanye West and The Spice Girls are performing. I can’t show you any of the designs from the fitting––Top Secret––but trust, it will be quite a show, with over 30 elaborate costumes. It was a pleasant afternoon, even if it was work on a Sunday. I had a nice interview and despite the gorgeous models with their perfect bodies, I managed to leave the shoot with my self-esteem and self-confidence, in check.

Cavalli is Coming….to H&M!

H&M is the best––getting top designers to pop in and design a collection, for an eighth of the price. What more could any clothes horse ask for? Next week, November 8th to be exact, Roberto Cavalli’s collection for H&M will hit their stores. I’ll be in line, probably before 8am, to get whatever animal print thingy they’ve got that looks good on me. In New York, you have to do this, otherwise you’ll miss all the good stuff.

The last time I waited in line, for Victor & Rolf at H&M, I scored a killer black, trench. I got the last one in my size––I was fortunate, because a few hundred people were in line ahead of me when I arrived at the crack of dawn. You guys who don’t live in New York are so lucky. You can breeze in at lunch on November 8th, maybe even two days later, and get what you like from Mr. Cavalli. Not so here. The stuff could be gone by end of day. These Big Apple fashionistas will not let a good deal pass them by. I'll let you know how it goes!

Let Me Tell You About Tela….

In every swanky New York hair salon there is at least one stylist that can beautifully turn out black hair. At Tela, a new boutique salon in the meat-packing district, that stylist is Dion Moore (that's him running his magical fingers through my hair).

My day at Tela started with an organic conditioning treatment––with papaya, sea kelp and soy––followed by a color-enhancing glaze (even though I have no color in my hair––one can still boost your natural color!). This was followed by a masterful blowout and curling session. I forgot to take the after shot––I was so pleased with the results that I skipped out of the salon without doing my proper blog thing. Anyway, trust, it was more than good.

Did I mention the fact that the salon is attached and affiliated with a chic bistro by the name of Atrium?

Due to this marriage, I was given a tea menu at the start of my salon visit, followed by a pot of tea, naturally. Then I had a tasty lunch, on fine china I might add, while my hair soaked in the nutrients.

Nothing beats a great day at the salon.

Tela is located on 31 Little West 12th Street. The number is 212-463-8213. Tell them I sent you and let me know how it goes.

Clamoring for CoverGirl

It’s always a good idea to point out really good beauty stuff that doesn’t break the bank. In the last week three different women (two friends and a neighbor) have shouted out their favorite CoverGirl products to me, so I thought I’d let you know that some truly discriminating sisters are huge fans of this drugstore dreams. Friend number one, let’s call her V, says the CoverGirl Queen Collection Compact Foundation gives her the perfect amount of coverage without looking like she has on a face full of makeup.
Friend #2, lets call her J, says the CoverGirl Lip Gloss, in Million Dollar Mocha is one of the few dark glosses that stays brown without, eventually, turning her lips red. And, finally, neighbor T says the Moisturizing Lip Colors are as rich in color and hydrating as her pricier department store
lipsticks. There, check them out. My friends aren’t easily impressed with anything.

A few weeks ago I was recently moved by the makeup. I was in Atlanta for CoverGirl, along with Roxanna Floyd, Queen Latifah’s makeup artist and collaborator on the CoverGirl Queen Collection. We were there to educate women about their makeup. I talked and Roxanna applied colors from the Queen Collection to hundreds of women. I was actually surprised at how the makeup disappeared into face after face after face. No matter what the skin tone or skin type of the woman. This display actually made me ask Roxanna for a foundation shade recommendation. The compact foundation is still in my bag now.

Let me know, what's your favorite CoverGirl product?

Send Some Love To Africa

I know it’s a bit early to start thinking about holiday gifts, but I want to put this gorgeous Simmons Jewelry Co. malachite, brass and diamond bracelet out there now as a holiday gift idea, for your trend-setting best friend, brother or sister. I spotted this bracelet initially in September during fashion week. A number of editors were sporting these after the Kimora Lee Simmons fashion show. She gave them out to her guests at her annual posh, after-the-BabyPhat-fashion show, dinner.

Anyway, what I like most about the bracelet is the fact that proceeds from each sale, $20 to be exact, support educational initiatives that empower people in African nations where diamonds are a natural resource. Russell
Simmons was conscious enough to start the Diamond Empowerment Fund, (D.E.A), , to counter the whole blood diamond thing and give back to communities that have been exploited by the diamond trade. The bracelet retails for $125. The diamond is rough by the way, in its natural form, which is kinda cool. Visit simmonsjewelryco.com for more information.
And now you can go ahead and bling, with a conscious.