Michelle O-So Lovely!

Last night right after the Democratic National Committe (DNC) I commented on Michelle's lovely apparel to my husband who jokingly asked "who was she wearing honey?" Well, I didn't know right off hand at that moment, but you better believe I found out. It was a design by Thakoon.

Every time she's on a cover of a magazine or on tv, her beautiful sense of style always stops me in my tracks, and I do a double take. Could former First Lady Jackie O be channeling her fashion spirit to our Michelle O?

Well both ladies do have their own separate styles but just like Jackie O, Michelle O is tasteful and has the attention of millions of American women, who like me, can't wait to see what's next. For me it all started after her appearance in The View this summer wearing a dress from White House and Black Market. The dress was sold out and out of stock the following day. I know this Labor Day Weekend her outfit from Thursday's DNC event (and even Barack's nice silk red tie) will be up for discussion...oh yeah and the politics as well (LOL).

I hope you all enjoy this last Summer Weekend, and have a Happy Labor Day Weekend!

My Picks for Best Heat Protection for Hair

Blowdryer, curling iron, hot rollers and flat iron, whichever hot tool is the one you use the most, you should always have a heat protectant to protect your lovely locks. When choosing a heat protectant, look for ones that are lightweight, heat-activated, and packed with healthy ingredients. Many can be in serum, spray, lotion and gel. Below are my top fave heat protectant products that provided me with a smooth, radiant finish, accompanied by a nice scent.

Redken Smooth Down very handy while I vacationed under the South of Spain's sun this summer. I'll let Redken describe it since I can't phrase it any better, "Part of the Redken Smooth Down Collection (that promises hair up to 4X smoother!) this spray smoother will tame coarse, unruly strands in seconds. Infused with Redken's exclusive Interbond Conditioning System, it delivers a unique Ionic Smoothing Complex of Macadamia Oil, Candelilla Wax and Cationic Refiners that replenish oils, provide intense smoothing and create a long-lasting, humidity-resistant hairstyle."
Sold at most stores and hair salons - Retail value (depending on size) $14.95

BioSilk Silk Therapy is created from concentrated pure silk and fortified with botanical extracts and Vitamins E and B to help smooth and reconstruct the hair while strengthening it from the inside out, and add a high gloss shine. Sold at most stores and hair salons - Retail value (depending on size) $18.95.

CHI Silk Infusion Silk this alcohol free treatment promises silky softness, super manageability and unbeatable shine. Sold at most stores and hair salons - Retail value (depending on size) $26.95

Remember when using the serum, a little goes a long way to achieve that radiance like Mariah Carey's hair (which shines as brightly as that ring).

If anyone has tried or decides to try any of my picks, I'd love to hear your feedback. So please post.

Bespoken - The Flat Iron

Did you know the first Flat Iron was made in 1906?

Let's fast forward to the present and we now have a cornucoppia of flat irons to choose from. One of the best brands that I like is by Bespoken. I recently purchased the Bespoken's T3 Tourmaline Flat Iron.

This morning, it took me only 20 minutes to flat iron my crazy thick and curly hair with Bespoken, and I only had to go over twice in some areas as oppose to 4 or 5 times with other brands. The ceramic plates took seconds to heat up, max temp. is 410F(now that's hot). This iron also helps to eliminates static and frizz and emits the most negative ions and far infrared heat of any ceramic flat iron. My hubby loves that there's no burnt wire or hot plate smell.

Go to Sephora and tell them that you'd like to test out this flat iron. I think you'll find it efficient, safe and satisfactory.

Never forget to apply a heat protector before and after you flat iron. See my recommendations in my next blog.

T3 Tourmaline Medium Duality Flat Iron $160 at Sephora.

Huggable Hangers by Joy Mangano

This weekend while shopping at The Container Store I stumbled across these gorgeous velvety hangers designed by Joy Mangano. Impressed with the simple design, I bought a set to try out. Soon after I went back to buy more sets. These hangers are AWESOME! They are slim and strong. You're clothes will not slip off the hangers like they do with other hangers. Nothing more upsetting than finding a costly dress laying at the bottom of your closet.

I also tested it with my silk tops and strappy shirts, it stayed put. Because the hangers are slim it created more room in my closet. I was tempted to photograph my closet for this blog...I should have done a before and after photo. LOL

I can see why it's called huggable hangers, once you see the end results of a uniformed and organized closet, you want to hug somebody!

I mentioned these hangers to my friend, April, over lunch today, and she said that these hangers were featured in a closet makeover show on HGTV.

Side note: If you still have wire hangers in your closet, don't pitch it out. Instead collect them and donate it to your local dry cleaners for reuse.

Huggable Hangers by Joy Mangano retail value $9.99
Bed, Bath and Beyond
Linens and Things
The Container Store
Home Shopping Network

MANGO

A little over a year ago Spanish actress Penelope Cruz and her twin sister Monica launched their own clothing line MANGO.

While I was in Barcelona this month I had a chance to check out the new Fall line-up. It's obvious these ladies have immensely good taste and they know it. Their entire line is chic and comfortable, and most importantly affordable. As soon as I returned home I went online in hunt for a MANGO store near me, thank God I found one in SOHO. However, if there isn't one near you, their website has the entire collection viewable with close-ups, prices, and you can order online. If there is a MANGO store near you RUN and take advantage of their summer clearance sale!

Muchas Gracias to the fashion forward girls, Penelope and Monica. Makes me wish I had a sister (lol).

Color of Hope - Because I'm Worth It

For the past decade L'Oreal Paris has been launching fundraiser initiatives for the cure of ovarian cancer. Currently there is no screening to detect ovarian cancer, so L'Oreal wants to help women understand the disease and educate about the signs and symptoms.

Part of this year's initiative includes the latest collection Color of Hope cosmetic bag which include 2 sets of quad eyeshadows, 2 lipsticks, and a lipgloss valued at $50. The shades have a nice subtle hue, perfect for year round use. For each purchase they donate 20% towards research on ovarian cancer. So far they've raised over $14 million for research and awareness.

Check out L'Oreal website for more information, and don't forget to watch videos interviews with celeb spokespersons like Kerry Washington and Eva Longoria Parker.

Color of Hope cosmetic bag $25 to order call (888) 270- 7743

Hola Beauty Swirls!

I have returned from my Euro trip and yes I'm happy to be back home.

Here's a tip you'll thank me for in the future. Before you go pack your luggage for any destination, go online to the TSA website and read the latest items you are allowed to carry with you. It is always smart to check up with the airport security rules before walking through the SECURITY Checkpoint!

Learn from my past mistakes, two years ago at the airport security, my carry-on bag was rummaged through with brutal force. The security people tossed out my makeup remover, shampoos, body and face lotions...Oh the nightmare wouldn't stop! Half my toiletries into the garbage! It broke my heart, and some of those items were brand new. That incident taught me to always read up the latest airport security rules.

Rule of thumb I follow, any sharp objects (tweezers/nail clippers) or liquids do not put in your carry-on bag, put it inside a ziploc bag inside your big suitcase.

Well time for me to unpack and get my body adjusted to this time zone again :)

Candle Collection for the Autumn

Bath and Body Works have done me proud for this Fall 2008 season. With great new and not so new products lined up, I expect I'll be visiting this store several times over the next few weeks.

Bath and Body Works Fall 2008 catalog is now in circulation and while browsing through it I was excited to see these newly design Autumn candles by Slatkin and Co. which fragrances your house in a sweet gourd scent - Pumpkin, and their new scent Leaves which is described as "crisp, freshly harvested fruits, and rich cider spices." I can almost smell it. These candles will arrive in stores on September 3.

I have a love affair with the Autumn season, I was even married during this time (sigh). So expect a lot of Autumn items to be posted in this blog once the season is in full swing.

Slatkin and Co. candles starting at $12.50 available at Bath & Body Works

Showering with Style

Satin, Lace, Sequin, Organza, and Animal Print - a fashion dress? NO, it's a shower cap! A fashionable shower cap.

That's right, these are your many choices through sites like: SoPretty, EK, 1221 , Lavish and Lime
Mimi a la Mode and Sephora.

Don't let the fancy hats fool you, they will protect your pretty locks from getting wet. It is waterproof and contain the swimmer's elastic oppose to the average cheapy plastic ones that only last for one or two uses. A simple idea made pretty and useful. What will they think of next?

Special thanks to Noemi for emailing me about these fancy shower caps.

SoPretty Shower Caps $22.95 at SoPretty
Benefit Bathina Shower Cap $16 at Sephora and select Macy's

Other Shower Caps to check out:
1221
Lavish and Lime
Mimi a la Mode

Desiron SOHO Overstock Sale this weekend!

This is for those of you in the NY/NJ/PA/CT area who have recently moved into a new home or just looking to update. Desiron located in the SOHO area is having a clearance sale up to 70%. Items include tables, chairs, and other home furnishings. Mention NYMAG.COM and score an extra 10% discount. Sale begins tomorrow, Thursday 8/7 through Sunday 8/10.

This is a Beauty Swirl Exclusive! Thanks to New York Magazine!

Desiron, 151 Wooster St., nr. Prince St. (212-353-2600); 11–7.

Sunscreen Veil

By now you all know the importance of applying SPF to your face before applying your moisturizers and makeup, right? Of course you do. Year round too, not just in the summertime.

Here's something you're going to love, good news first - L'Occitane, a cosmetic company from France, has come out with a beauty of a product Buriti SPF 30 Sunscreen Veil. This lightweight for face only cream is "formulated with organic vegetable oil from the palm-tree Buriti, which incredibly concentrated in the antioxidant beta-carotene. The chemical-free mineral sunscreen ensures a protection with a broad UVA/UVB spectrum. Dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested. Non comedogenic." It's small enough to toss into your handbag and reapply throughout the day.

Now for the bad news, this item is so HOT it is OUT OF STOCK! Yeap! It became out of stock within a month after its release (earlier this summer). Since then, I've be on a waiting list that is as long as Santa's naughty list (not that I would know anything about being naughty).

So lately I've been using what i have left very sparingly, and hoping the nice sales ladies at L'Occitane will call me soon with some good news. Trust me you'll want to try this once it's restocked.

Buriti SPF 30 Sunscreen Veil retail value $22.00 keep checking L'Occitane for restock or sign up to be notified.

The Quick Thinking Wipes

Okay I'll admit it, I got a thing for accents, in particular that U.K. accent (gush). But thanks to Rachel, another Beauty Swirl-y kinda girl, I got another thing for the U.K. She called me one evening and told me all about Boots! No, not the ones for your feet, the ones for your face.

Boots No. 7 is a fantastic skincare line from across the pond. For the past two weeks I've been using their brilliant 4 in 1 Quick Thinking Wipes, that leaves my face and neck feeling as smooth and soft as my baby nephew's cheek.

What it contains - all good stuff:

"...vitamin pro-B5 plus extracts of witch hazel and fennel which help cleanse pores, moisturize and leave your skin feeling smooth, clean and fresh."

Removes makeup easily, even that tough waterproof mascara (drives me nuts waking up to raccoon eyes), and it cleanses my skin very well. These wipes are fragrances-free and hypoallergenic.

So be good to your skin and try these inexpensive wipes. I'm going away on vacation soon and I'm packing these babies with me.

Also, check out Boots No.7 website for a free skin analysis. From UK with love.

Cheers!

Retail value $6.99 available at CVS and Target.

Comptoir Sud Pacifique - An Island in a Bottle

Want to feel like you're on vacation while at work, spray on an island tropical scent by Comptoir Sud Pacifique and get ready to be transported to Aruba. All fragrances by Comptoir Sud Pacifique are a delight to the senses. They've done wonderful things pairing up scents with vanilla like Vanille Coco, or this year's new scent Vanille Pineapple. Another great addition is Caramel Sunsent, a blend of island flowers & vanilla notes. Light enough for work, but sexy enough to turn heads at the beach. Oh la la!

$55 Available at Sephora

Diorshow by Dior

If you love dramatic lashes, then you must try Diorshow, rated one of the best mascara's sold at Sephora, which (rightfully) claims to give that "just off the catwalk" look, and it really does. It elongates your lashes with just one coat and won't cake if you apply a few more coats.

I typically use this for parties, or whenever I'm wearing a light colored eyeshadow and want my peepers to compliment in a dramatic way, Diorshow will sure pop them out.

Diorshow retail value $24.00 at Sephora

Almond Glow

My oh-so-chic buddy and former Londoner, Ms. Juanita, turned me on to this good find -it's the Almond Glow Almond Skin Lotion by Home Health.

One evening while us girls were getting ready for her birthday gala (to Asia de Cuba), I noticed Juanita applying this lotion to her legs and noticed how dewy it made her skin appear, not to mention how nice it accentuated her fit gams. (wink!) Curious, I asked her if I could try some and she gladly shared. I was a bit concerned when I read all the oils used in the ingredients, but I shortly realized each oil has an important little job, (*Peanut Oil - an excellent emollient and lubricant, *Olive Oil - to nourish the skin, *Lanolin Oil - to moisturize and soften, *Vitamin E - to maintain skin's vitality for a healthy complexion all over). The skin immediately absorbs these natural ingredients giving your body that nice natural "glow". I was pleasantly surprise that it wasn't slimy or overly glossy, just perfect. A little goes a long way. Massage it over your body after a day at the beach, it highlights your tan and you'll feel like a sun goddess.

Other scents include Lavender, Coconut, Rose, and Jasmine.

Home Health Almond Glow - Almond Skin Lotion $5.69 at Amazon.com, also sold in most Health stores.

Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus

Ever since I was a little girl I remember my mother was always armed with her Avon brochures. She was a sales representative for Avon for over 30 years and she loved every minute of it. I remember in the hot summer months she wouldn't allow me or my brothers out the door without swabbing us with Skin So Soft (SSS) Bath Oil. She'd say "It'll keep the bugs from eating you."

Seems like someone clued in Avon about their wonder SSS Bath Oil doubling as bug guard which eventually (and years later) inspired one of their bestselling lines - Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus. These products not only repel mosquitoes, but also deer ticks, and gnats. The Bug Guard Expedition repels mosquitoes that may transmit West Nile. The best part all the Bug Guard contains SPF 30.

Each summer I buy a couple of these bottles because we go through it a lot in my house. At the beach, and specially when we have our BBQs with family and friends, I leave out 1 or 2 bottles for everyone to use. Most guests are surprised by the pleasant scent, and most sprays provide protection between 6-8 hours.

My mom now is retired and no longer does her "Avon calling", however she still calls me to remind me not to forget to put on the "bath oil." Mother knows best!

Available in spray or in lotion visit Avon or ask (and support) your local Avon representative for more details. On Sale Now!

Burt's Bees Deep Pore Scrub

I'm always on the hunt for a good exfoliate especially for my dry skin. I've been using Burt Bee's Peach & Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub. Burt's Bees is a great company that is always looking towards keeping their products as natural as possible. What other company would think of combining ingredients like grapeseed oil and seaweed extract together.

The Peach stone removes the dead skin cells and the Willowbark, a natural source of salicylic acid, removes oil and cleans pores.

After rinsing off this Scrub, I almost forgot to apply my moisturizer because my skin felt smoother. No redness or irritations. I liked the peach scent too. Make sure while applying to massage around the face (avoiding the eyes) for at least 45 seconds, you do want those pores unclogged.

Retail value $8.00 at Burt's Bees

Frozen Hot Chocolate

This frozen concoction made famous by New York City's Serendipity 3 restaurant is a God send. It's one of those drinks where you sip and think you've died and gone to chocolate heaven.

Throughout this month of August, Williams Sonoma will be doing tastings of this drink and other frozen drinks. I enjoy it because you get to see the tools they use (the strong and sturdy Breville blender), add ice, milk, and of course the Frozen Hot Chocolate mix - and Voila! Sip and enjoy.

Serendipity3 Frozen Hot Chocolate mix $16.00 available at William Sonoma

Nordstrom's Chic Reusable Tote

Check out this cute reusable tote bag.

Nordstrom is now carrying their own label shoppers tote bag, so naturally I bought one. I love this shimmery metallic tote, and it can be folded back into a tiny zip-up pouch. I'd probably sport this at street fairs, the mall or take on vacations.

The art on the bag is Seattle, the birth place of Nordstrom stores.

Nordstrom Reusable Tote $21.95

Available at http://www.nordstrom.com/

Fashion Rocks!

The end of July is here, and if you're a fashionista you know what that means - FALL FASHION! By the late summer the September magazines start popping up at the newsstands debuting and showcasing what's hot for the Fall season. Vogue, Marie Claire, Elle, W, are among the heavy hitters. Among the orgy of magazines I collect during this time, I make sure to include a copy of LUCKY. It's A MUST especially with the very hot supplement mag they have out this year FASHION ROCKS, with with Mr. Crazy-Sexy-Cool Justin Timberlake on the cover. Inside, besides the fashion, there are also great interviews with Timberlake, Joan Jett, and of course a fashionably sexy and royalty worthy photo shoot spread with singing divas like Mariah Carey and Beyonce, and a diva in the making Rihanna. Oh how I wish I could hire Steven Meisel, Anne Lebowitz and David Eustace to photograph me.

Lucky $3.99 - On sale now at newsstands.