CULT RODIN

5/20/13, The Face, The Lip

Rodin Olio Lusso Madeleine Fawcett, a friend that I have adored since meeting in college, is one half of the chic and mega successful New York City based beauty pr firm Project MM. She reps uber-cool and natural brands like RAHUA and RGB and I rely of her to keep me in the know when it comes to up and coming beauty news. Hello beauty lunch dates.

In my recent effort to make the transition to all natural skincare products, I decided to pay homage to one of Mad’s first clients and my personal fav, RODIN Olio Lusso, known best for their luxurious and highly addictive Face Oil. Packed with eleven essential oils, it is like this super hydrating moisturizing facial. As if the luxury packaging wasn’t enough, the hints of jasmine, orange flower oil and shea butter had me at hello. What I love about this oil, it that its multi-functional. You can use it as a daily moisturizer, applying a few drops to damp skin or on top of your toner/ serum. Personally, I use it in a more “customized” manor. In the winter months, when I know that I need some additional hydration, I will use it as a classic facial moisturizer. Most often though, I will add a few drops into my foundation or lotion for that dewy finish – and rich smell. I will even rub a drop onto my cheekbones on top of my moisturizer for a little extra glow. Makeup artists like Gucci Westman and Pam McGrath swear by this oil too for its various uses.

rodin olio lusso Rodin’s line includes products for the body, hands, hair, lips and even candles all packed with that signature luxurious jasmine scent. I keep the lip balm in my beauty bag and next to my bed. It smooths, hydrates and quenches lips and I even apply before my lipgloss. The hand creme sits on my nightstand as well and is the last step before the lights go out at night. #addiction

Oh, did I mention Gwyneth is a fan?

Stun-o-rama photos from Rodin Olio Lusso website and Beth Garrabrant, Nylon’s bookings editor and west village style-setter.

THE WEDDING PERFUME

5/17/13, The Fragrance

Jessica King + Perfume + LanvinI have always been intrigued by the connection between scent and memory, which is why I believe there is something really cute about finding “your scent.” Of course its an evolution and who is to say that we cant have different scents for different occasions, and different periods in life. For me, Chanel Allure will always bring me back to boarding school and L’Artisan Parfumeur La Chasse aux Papillions will always remind me of the carefree summer when I lived abroad in Spain.

A few years ago, I accompanied one of my oldest, closest and most beautiful friends Jess King, on a shopping venture to help her choose a perfume to wear to her wedding. Finding ourselves at the fragrance section of Jeffrey’s, I said to Jess, “You should buy something special, that you dont already own, but wait to start wearing it until the weekend of the wedding…this way, for the rest of your life, whenever you smell that perfume, it will always take you back to the weekend that you married the love of your life.” She choose Lanvin Rumeur and today is her fifth wedding anniversary and the scent still brings her back.

Congrats Jess and Jamie! Big kiss!

Photos of Jess and Miss Sophie Bird by Jane Houle.

THE SECRET TO PERFUME

5/15/13, The Fragrance

The sense of smell triggers more emotional memories than any of the other five senses, which is why it is extremely important to always make the right scent impression. I love a wonderful perfume, and I die for Barneys’ selection. They carry my FAV cult scents like Byredo Gypsy Water, Byredo Bal d’Afrique, Kai and Yosh Sottile. Wait, so how do you choose a perfume that you’ll love for longer than a wax and whose fragrance will linger all day?

Lucky for me my first job was at Chanel, Beaute and Fragrance, where I was surrounded by some of the world’s most renowned beauty professionals. They shared their simple secret: Find a fragrance you love. Always take a bath or shower before applying because your skin absorbs more when it’s wet. Most importantly—and this is KEY—wear the same lotion as your scent! Last, but not least, spritz your pulse points.

In researching this story, I went to my good friend Mimi Hoesley who worked for a year at Bond No. 9 in marketing and three years at Batallure Beauty. Batallure specializes in custom development of beauty brands. These are some tips that she offered me.

How to apply fragrance:

- Fragrance can stain clothes, so it’s best to apply to skin directly. Apply fragrance to warm, clean skin, preferably just after a shower. I usually spray across the nape of the neck, on the inside of the forearms, and on the wrists, but you can spray anywhere.

- It’s always best to use unscented body wash and body lotion.

- After spraying, don’t rub your arms together. Let the fragrance dry naturally.

- Higher concentration fragrances (aka EDP’s) will last longer so you won’t need to reapply as often.

How to buy fragrance:

- When you’re testing a new fragrance in store, don’t smell fragrance out of the bottle. It’s always best to spray it directly on your skin, since that will give you the truest rendition of the fragrance.

- The fragrance will develop and change as you wear it. Smell it a few seconds after you first spray and then throughout the day. Don’t buy it after only smelling it for a few minutes.

- If you can’t spray on your skin, then spray on a blotter. Ask for a sample if you think you like it and wear it for a few days.

- Always wait a few seconds to smell after spraying (whether you spray on skin or a blotter), so you don’t just smell the alcohol on the top.

- If you’re smelling a lot of fragrances, smell coffee beans in between. But don’t try to smell too many at one time—your nose will fatigue.

Now try this, and tell me that you don’t receive compliments. I always do.

Photos by my lovely friend and Nylon’s bookings editor Beth Garrabrant. See more of her work at www.bethgarrabrant.com.