Paper City Article

The It-Factor

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:09:52 GMT

Anyone who knows what it feels like to keep a spare LBD and a pair of Louboutins at the office or how dizzying it is to jet from a high-powered meeting to a black-tie gala — all in a day’s work — must make room in her handbag for this beauty find. The It Kit by vbeauté is an egg-shaped, gunmetal-gray clutch that brings to mind a mini version of the famous pod that incubated a certain megastar at the 2011 Grammys. But instead of opening the sleek container to find a pint-sized Gaga, The It Kit hatches five vbeauté products, from the foamy Evidence Eraser cleanser to the Undercover Agent anti-wrinkle serum — all in regal, plum-colored tubes and travel-friendly sizes. Vbeauté’s founder, New York–based Julie Macklowe, found inspiration for the line in her own jet-setting lifestyle: managing multi-million-dollar hedge funds, being a mother and sitting on committees for the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Fashion Week at Lincoln Center. So, when she set out to produce her first line of beauty products, she sought only the best visage-care recipes. The result? The It Kit, plus a whole range of luxurious elixirs, including an exfoliant, eye and face crèmes and a skin-brightening agent all made from a botanical stem-cell base from the Alpine Rose plant found in Switzerland. They’re just the things to bring with you on your own winter jet jaunt, whether you’re taking the G650 to Aspen or the Alps. Meet Ms. Macklowe at Tootsies Friday, February 3, 4 to 7 pm. The It Kit $165, at Tootsies.

Image: Gunmetal glam: The It Kit by vbeauté
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Berry Good

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:40:49 GMT

For polished and pristine skin, we%26rsquo;ve found just the thing. Slick on the Triple Berry Smoothing Peel from Dallas-based skincare expert to the socials (and stars) Ren%26eacute;e Rouleau. The fruity-smelling, preserves-like potion is chock-full of antioxidant-rich berries and five skin-smoothing AHA and BHA acids that are designed to help improve your skin%26rsquo;s texture and tone down the look of large pores. The peel is professional-strength %26mdash; it%26rsquo;s like a real Rouleau facial, but in a jar. We think it%26rsquo;s ultimate cure-all for the complexion-obsessed. $85, at the Ren%26eacute;e Rouleau skin spa; reneerouleau.com.

The It-Factor

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:39:38 GMT

Anyone who knows what it feels like to keep a spare LBD and a spare pair of Louboutins at the office or how dizzying it is to jet from a high-powered meeting to a black-tie gala %26mdash; all in a day%26rsquo;s work %26mdash; must make room in her handbag for this beauty find. The It Kit by vbeaut%26eacute; is an egg-shaped, gunmetal-gray clutch that brings to mind a mini version of the famous pod that incubated a certain megastar at the 2011 Grammys. But instead of opening to reveal a pint-sized Gaga, this sleek container hatches five vbeaut%26eacute; products, from the foamy Evidence Eraser cleanser to the Undercover Agent anti-wrinkle serum %26mdash; all in regal, plum-colored tubes and travel-friendly sizes. We first came across vbeaut%26eacute; when its founder, New York%26ndash;based Julie Macklowe, dropped into town to debut her collection at Forty Five Ten last month. An It-girl herself, Macklowe found inspiration in her own jet-setting lifestyle: managing multi-million-dollar hedge funds, being a mother and sitting on committees for the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Fashion Week at Lincoln Center. So, when she set out to produce her first line of beauty products, she sought only the best visage-care recipes. The result? The It Kit, and a whole range of luxurious elixirs, including an exfoliant, eye and face cr%26egrave;mes and a skin-brightening agent, all made from a botanical stem-cell base from the Alpine Rose plant found in Switzerland. They%26rsquo;re just the things to bring with you on your own winter jet jaunt, whether you%26rsquo;re taking the G650 to Aspen or the Alps. The It Kit by vbeaut%26eacute; $165, at Forty Five Ten.

Image: The It Kit by vbeaut%26eacute;

He Had Us at Tom

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 06:32:55 GMT

When the news filtered out in the trade and on blogs a year ago that Tom Ford was launching his first cosmetics collection, I immediately stopped buying lipsticks, mascara and foundation. Why bother? What could ever be as genius as what Tom would devise? And he does not disappoint. Launching this month exclusively at Neiman Marcus Galleria is a complete color wardrobe and range of skin treatments %26mdash; %26ldquo;powerful tools of transformation,%26rdquo; says The Man. And how. Opulent Eye Color Quads in shimmery, matte, satin and sparkle; Noir Absolute in a black gel formula that sweeps over the entire lid for smolder; Eye Defining Pencil for an intensely dramatic kohl effect; Brow Sculptor with a calligraphy tip; Extreme Mascara with darkest carbon and lash-filling powders; 18 Tom-designed lip colors, Lip Lacquer with precious pulverized pearls and Nail Lacquer, as well as Flawless Complexion products and the Radiant Skin Collection. Can you stand it! Tom Ford Beauty, available November 1 exclusively at Neiman Marcus Galleria.

Beauty Beat

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:38:46 GMT

%26bull; Before it Begins: Start with a trip to Saks Fifth Avenue%26rsquo;s private, celebrity-grade Fifth Avenue Club inside its Galleria Dallas store. Ask for longtime personal shopper Tim Kelly to pinpoint the perfect party frock %26mdash; then, slip into the club%26rsquo;s new super-spacious spa room for a gratis, one-hour facial with products from Swiss cellular-based skincare line Cellcosmet. Leave completely refreshed (gown in tow) via the secluded elevator just outside the club: It whisks you right to valet. FYI, the lights are a bit bright in the spa room, so bring your darkest paparazzi shades. Dial 972.716.5311 to schedule your appointment.

%26bull; The Night Of: %26ldquo;A party is the perfect occasion,%26rdquo; says Rochelle Rae, %26ldquo;to try a new color that might be a bit too daring for every day.%26rdquo; Rae, the Austin-based makeup artist and founder of Rae Cosmetics, is talking eyeshadows. What does she recommend? A metallic shadow in purple, green or blue with a minimal face and lip. We%26rsquo;ve discovered that the frosty blue-and-white shadows in Rae%26rsquo;s Icicle Eyes trio do the trick. Get yours at raecosmetics.com.

%26bull; Post-Party Treat: Finish your holiday whirl with a float %26mdash; and we%26rsquo;re not talking the root-beer kind. Adrift Float Spa on Preston Road offers private (or in pairs) hour-long floating sessions in high-density salt water that has been warmed to a delightful 93.5 degrees. While you%26rsquo;re buoyant, Dead Sea-style, ask for the optional underwater color therapy lights and the zen-ifying music. For all the deets, ring 214.363.5628 or key in adriftfloatspa.com.

A Cult Favorite

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:22:38 GMT

What’s enriched with 11 aromatic essential oils, gives your skin that dewy luminous glow and has the fashion set buying it in droves? None other than the beauty cult favorite Rodin Olio Lusso, created by fashion stylist Linda Rodin. This winter, let your parched pores drink in just a few drops, and you’ll be an oil-moisturizing convert, too. $140 a bottle, at Kuhl-Linscomb.

Eau de Diane

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 01:40:38 GMT

For decades, women of effortless style have dressed themselves in Diane von Furstenberg %26mdash; from the tips of their DvF wood wedges to the collars of their slinky wrap dresses. But clothing, handbags, shoes, accessories, even home decor proved not enough for Von Furstenberg and the fashion mogul%26rsquo;s ever-growing world of flirty, feminine wares. So began her foray into fragrance, with the recent launch of her eponymous scent, Diane. You must pick a prime place on your vanity for the glimmering gold bottle: One spritz, and you%26rsquo;ll pick up on tropical notes of the Frangipani flower %26mdash; a rose-pink plumeria known for its soft aroma %26mdash; paired with sweet violet, musk and minty patchouli. Leave it to DvF to fashion the chicest accessory for your most transporting sense. From $65, at the Diane von Furstenberg boutique, Sephora.

Kiehl's and Koons

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:38:56 GMT

Isn%26rsquo;t it marvelous when something basic and wonderful gets a bit of a zip. Kiehl%26rsquo;s Cr%26egrave;me de Corps (which we can%26rsquo;t live without) puts on its holiday best with a perfectly adorable Jeff Koons iconic Balloon Flower Sculpture bottle top from Koons%26rsquo; Celebration series. Proceeds from each sale go to the Koons Family Institute on International Law and Policy, an initiative of the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. Limited-edition Jeff Koons Bottle Art $50, at Kiehl%26rsquo;s Since 1851.

Positively Pretty

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:19:56 GMT

%26bull; The Facial to Go For: There are few things in this world we love more than a good facial. So when we heard of a new all-natural, facial at The Spa at Equinox using potions from skin expert Tata Harper, we gave it a whirl. Harper%26rsquo;s 60-minute signature facial uses the incredible-smelling products from her line (also for sale at the spa) and includes an exfoliating cleanser, handmade steam sachets filled with herbs, a clay mask and more. Tata Harper Signature Facial, $175 at The Spa at Equinox, 214.443.9009; equinox.com.

%26bull; The Lithe Life: The newest resident of 3303 Lee Parkway %26mdash;%26nbsp;our very own office building %26mdash; is Classic Pilates, a boutique studio offering private Pilates sessions, group mat classes and, for your inner ballerina, group barre classes. Why we%26rsquo;re frequent customers? Experienced instruction from co-owners Rachael Lieck Bryce and Joann Cuccurullo; top-notch equipment; airy, floor-to-ceiling windows; and chilled lavender-scented towels for post-workout bliss. Click to classicpilatesstudio.com.

%26bull; Change of a Tress: Fr%26eacute;d%26eacute;ric Fekkai, the go-to beauty spot for Highland Park royalty (slip in the morning before a ball, and you%26rsquo;ll see the crowd that resides in those Beverly Drive manses), has relocated to 30-B Highland Park Village between Diane von Furstenberg and Village Theatre. Dial 214.219.3600 to schedule your appointment.

%26bull; Seven Days of Spa: If you missed out on the all the discounted beauty action this past July with Texas Spa and Salon Month, you have another chance: Spa Week. Starting Monday, October 10, and running through Sunday, October 16, an array of spas and fitness centers will offer exclusive treatments for $50. On the list: Aqua Medical Spa, Hiatus Spa + Retreat, Stoneleigh Hotel %26amp; Spa and the ZaSpa at Hotel ZaZa, to name just a few. Get thee to spaweek.com starting Monday, September 12, to view the complete list of spas and services and to pre-book your appointments.

Tre Spa

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 05:04:54 GMT

Keys to the Door: Owner Trey Gillen, managing director Phillip Broomhead.
Stocked Goods: It appears we have quite a talent in our midst. Before hairstylist Trey Gillen set off to open Tre Spa, this Juilliard School grad had his sights set on Broadway. He lived his dream as a successful Broadway chorus boy in seven shows, but it was only a matter of time before some beautiful tresses turned his head and he was headlining at Garren Salon in New York, working under the namesake himself. Soon after came magazine credits (WWD, Vogue, Glamour, GQ %26mdash; the works), then behind-the-scenes bookings, styling the do%26rsquo;s at NY%26rsquo;s fashion week on the design teams of L%26rsquo;Or%26eacute;al and Shu Uemura (which he still does each season). Now Gillen is taking life at a (slightly) slower pace here in Texas. Styling his salon as glamorously as Gillen and his colleagues fashion an updo, he%26rsquo;s enlisted designer Lynn Gray to revamp the interiors of this circa-1930 bungalow into a sleek, comfortable retreat where Houston artist Christina Karll%26rsquo;s work hangs with bright, happy wallpapers by Orla Kiely. With a lock on the Stockholm line Sachajuan (an ocean silk technology line perfect for fine, limp hair), he also carries product by K%26eacute;rastase and L%26rsquo;Or%26eacute;al%26rsquo;s professionnel line, including the treatment beauty editors are calling %26ldquo;Juvederm for your scalp%26rdquo;: Fiberceutic. Sink into one of their Italian-designed shampoo chairs for a wash, rinse and relaxing shiatsu massage before you go from blonde to brunette or, more likely here in Houston, vice-versa. 2516 Sunset Blvd., 713.523.7800; trespasalon.com.

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Image: Tre Spa.

The Do Bar

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 04:22:28 GMT

Keys to the Door: Owner Cara Crafton, makeup artist Sarah Tucker.
Putting on the Pretty: Remember when your mother and grandmother used to go to the beauty parlor a couple of times a week to style their hairdos? (And we even called
them that, too.) Channeling that fun, retro idea %26mdash; only with a mod, updated slant %26mdash; Cara Crafton, owner of Craft Salon, has debuted The Do Bar in West Ave. Starting at just $35, you can make an appointment online or by phone, then swing in for a shampoo, blow-dry and style. Choose from a menu of signature dos ranging from the classic (a slightly bouncy, supermodel look) to a beach do (with soft, carefree waves) %26mdash; five choices in all, or you can create your own blow-dry version. An up-do apropos for a formal affair is $55, with add-ons such as deep-conditioning treatments, braids and shoulder/neck massages available. You can even book makeup artist Sarah Tucker ($50 to $150) to finish off your look. We love the idea of The Do Bar%26rsquo;s monthly membership packages for the frequent party-goer. And while you%26rsquo;re catching up on your fashion-mag reading via iPads poised at every station, your man can lie back in the shampoo bowl for a quick wash and 10-minute neck-and-shoulder massage, starting at $15. Open seven days a week. 2800 Kirby Dr. in West Ave, 713.521.4425; thedobar.com.

Image: Photo by Jill Hunter.

Getting Gorgeous:

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 03:23:44 GMT

%26bull; Spa-ing for Charity: If ever there were a reason to postpone your Aspen jaunt until August, it%26rsquo;s this: The first-ever Texas Spa %26amp; Salon Month, a whole 31 days of discounted pedis, manis, facials, scrubs and more. Beginning July 1, the spa-obsessed can rejuvenate and replenish for 15 to 25 percent less than usual at certain spas, salons and fitness centers with the purchase of a $30 Beauty Pass. What%26rsquo;s more, a portion of the proceeds from every Beauty Pass benefits the Dallas chapter of the Young Texans Against Cancer. %26ldquo;I lost my mother-in-law to cancer,%26rdquo; says Texas Spa %26amp; Salon Month founder Marianne McEvoy Lynn. %26ldquo;Everyone has been touched by cancer in some way.%26rdquo; So far, more than 40 beauty institutions in Dallas have signed up %26mdash; including Bliss Dallas, Park Cities Dermatology, Salon Pompeo, Adrift Float Spa and The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas Spa %26mdash; with a handful in Houston and San Antonio, too. For all the skinny on Texas Spa %26amp; Salon Month and to buy your Beauty Pass, click texasspaandsalonmonth.com.

%26bull; Move Over, Green Lantern: What to add to your makeup bag now? Smoky and shimmery shadows and liners in emerald, olive, jade and teal. The glam, green-lidded look was spotted at Fall 2011 runway shows at Pucci and Lim %26mdash; and we loved it. Try the trend with Make Up For Ever%26rsquo;s Aqua Eyes pencil in pine green, Diamond Shadow in dark teal or, for the brightest pop of kelly green with a golden-y sheen, layer on Aqua Cream #22. Click to makeupforever.com for tips, tricks and where to buy.

%26bull; Go Roe: You%26rsquo;ll need to know just three little words when booking your next appointment at Cer%26oacute;n Salon in Neiman Marcus Downtown: Thee Viron Roe. Roe, a hair and makeup artist with quite the roster of A-list clientele (Eva Longoria, Brooke Shields, Tilda Swinton), has teamed with master stylist Cer%26oacute;n to offer cuts, color, blow outs and makeup application. Dial 214.573.2626 to schedule your debut session.

Image: The Spa at Equinox, just one of the beauty spots participating in Texas Spa %26amp; Salon Month. Photo by Stephen Karlisch.

Ken's Kosmetics

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 04:52:31 GMT

Beauty brand Le M%26eacute;tier de Beaut%26eacute; has collaborated with Neiman Marcus%26rsquo; fun and fashionable fashion director, Ken Downing, on a line of lip and nail shades called Ken%26rsquo;s Korals. Krafted (couldn%26rsquo;t resist) in his favorite shades of coral are Kontagious Koral, to lacquer your toes, and Kissable Koral, for luscious lips. Lipstick $32, nail polish $18, at Neiman Marcus.

Energy-Efficient Facials

Thu, 26 May 2011 04:24:38 GMT

Leave the periodic table for middle-school chemistry class. The type of science we%26rsquo;re studying involves electrical skincare, by way of specialist Melanie Simon, whose coveted facials take her and her NASA-scientist-designed machines around the world at the request of her well-groomed clientele. Simon%26rsquo;s electrically charged visage treatments, called Circ-Cell, emit nano and pico currents similar to what the brain produces during delta sleep. In other words, during one 75-minute treatment, your skin is awash with the benefits of beauty rest often sacrificed when flouncing through myriad galas and late nights at the Mansion Bar. With Circ-Cell, there%26rsquo;s nary a steam room or salt scrub in sight. Instead, a set of charged metal rods painlessly zaps bacteria, effectively detoxing and reviving skin cells. You leave looking as refreshed as if you%26rsquo;ve spent days snoozing in your Frette sheets. For those who can%26rsquo;t fly Simon to private residences for monthly treatments %26mdash; some of her high-profile clients do %26mdash;%26nbsp;the aesthetician, along with part-time Dallasite Maya Crothers and Skinceuticals alum Chris Hausman, have just debuted R.E.M. Masque-Serum ($280) at Aqua Medical Spa. The two-part topical product works like this: You mix a powder into an oil, spurring a reaction that offers the same frequencies as Simon%26rsquo;s must-have electrical facials. It%26rsquo;s the Fountain of Youth meets the Energizer Bunny, all in a mad-scientist sort of way. Click to circcell.com for the electrifying details. Aqua Medical Spa, 6405 Hillcrest Ave. and 2222 McKinney Ave., 214.443.0100; aquarx.com.

Image: Chemistry 101: R.E.M. Masque-Serum by Circ-Cell Skin Care.

Meet Makeup Ruler Napoleon Perdis

Thu, 26 May 2011 01:31:27 GMT

When an opportunity arose to meet makeup artist Napoleon Perdis, I thought, %26lsquo;How can I possibly say no to anyone with such a fabulous moniker?%26rsquo; This celebrity fave and native Aussie has been making girls look as glamorous as his mum since he was barely a teen. While some have made his acquaintance via his cosmetics at Ulta and Dillard%26rsquo;s, it was his NP Set collection for Target that drew me in with its easy-to-wear Eye Palettes (a steal at $29) and Memory Foundation/tinted moisturizer ($28). Elsewhere I met his upper-line Auto Pilot Pore Minimizer and Mattifer ($45). Fortified with vitamins E and A, this cream has a meringue-like texture but doesn%26rsquo;t actually add color to your skin; its tint is the giveaway that you%26rsquo;ve rubbed the formula in. Like many makeup artists, Perdis is pro-primer. He recommends mixing his new Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer ($39) with bronzer for a no-makeup look. And every girl who loves her lipstick or gloss should snap up his Luminous Lip Veils ($20). I%26rsquo;m partial to tube or pot glosses, and Perdis%26rsquo; isn%26rsquo;t a thin, drippy solution that falls off the wand. Spread his In The Flesh gloss across your pout, and it hydrates with aloe vera and stays put for hours. (And about his name %26hellip; He inherited it not from the French ruler %26mdash;%26nbsp;whom he doesn%26rsquo;t resemble in the least, and who he pointed out was actually from Corsica %26mdash; but from his Greek forbears.) NP Set at Target; other products at Dillard%26rsquo;s, Ulta. Information napoleonperdis.com.

Made in the Jade

Thu, 26 May 2011 01:13:26 GMT

Herm%26egrave;s master perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena has more than 30 years experience re-creating the aromas and emotions of exotic destinations such as India, the Mediterranean and the Nile River. But he only had to climb to the top of Herm%26egrave;s%26rsquo; Parisian headquarters at 24 Rue Faubourg Saint-Honor%26eacute; to capture notes for his latest release, bottled under Un Jardin sur le Toit or %26ldquo;A Garden on the Roof.%26rdquo; This fourth perfume %26mdash;%26nbsp;from a collection of garden-inspired fragrances channeling rainwater, river water and seawater %26mdash; is centered around Herm%26egrave;s%26rsquo; secret, lush rooftop plot bursting with apples, pears, roses, green grass and basil. %26ldquo;I wanted to capture the happiness of the garden above my office,%26rdquo; says Ellena. %26ldquo;No one expected this kind of approach, a place so close.%26rdquo; For visual encapsulation, illustrator Philippe Dumas (Emile Herm%26egrave;s%26rsquo; grandson) sketched the clandestine spot, giving the world a glimpse of Ellena%26rsquo;s inspiration. From $90, at the Herm%26egrave;s boutique.

Made in the Jade

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 04:49:29 GMT

Good Hair Day

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 04:38:55 GMT

Houston has to be one of the few cities in the world where the local TV news stations actually air a hair forecast. If it%26rsquo;s humid, you know your curly locks are apt to frizz, right? What to do, what to do? How about booking a blow dry at the brand-new Blow Dry Bar in River Oaks, where the motto is %26ldquo;Here every day%26rsquo;s a good hair day%26rdquo;? Simply book online or give them a buzz to make an appointment (even that very day), then stroll in for a shampoo and blow dry for $35, completed in 30 to 45 minutes flat. Bright, bubbly 31-year-old owner Rebecca Tallerine knows some of us have loyalties to those who color/cut our tresses, so she doesn%26rsquo;t do any of that. Instead, she wants to be our go-to spot for those days when we just need a little hair pick-me-up. Walk into this neighborhood joint, saddle up to the mirrored bar for a cool drink and peruse the menu/photo look book to choose styles such as %26ldquo;Smooth%26rdquo; for the long and straight look; %26ldquo;Shaken%26rdquo; for that wavy, tousled, brushed-out curl; %26ldquo;On the Rocks%26rdquo; for a tame version of Texas big hair; or %26ldquo;Neat%26rdquo; for a classic, smooth and sleek look with body and bounce. Tallerine%26rsquo;s team is careful about using good product, too %26mdash; in this case, Kevin Murphy, a sulfate- and paraben-free line. And should you want a little more TLC for those lovely locks, book a hair masque or treatment add-on, starting at $20. 3264 Westheimer, 713.522.2068; blowdrybarhouston.com.

Image: Rebecca Tallerine.

Blushing Brides

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 06:18:04 GMT

Countdown to first blush. If you share Coco Chanel%26rsquo;s penchant for pearls, look to Chanel Beaut%26eacute;%26rsquo;s new Les Perles de Chanel collection this spring. Create a flattering, subtle effect with Black Pearl nail lacquer (with reflections of deep ocean blues and greens), the rich cream textured shadow in five hues or a sparkling gloss. At Chanel counters %26hellip; Visible pores? Not on your wedding day! One swipe of Shiseido Makeup Pore Smoothing Corrector will make them go away. This marvelous gel formulation brightens a dull complexion and evens your skin%26rsquo;s texture, while its oil-absorbing powder creates a long-lasting matte finish. $30 at Macy%26rsquo;s, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue %26hellip; We%26rsquo;re waiting with bated breath for La Mer%26rsquo;s newest treatment for illuminating and balancing the skin. Imbued with patented Deconstructed Waters, The Radiant Serum targets dullness and discoloration while plumping and tightening those pores. $250, at Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue in March %26hellip; For every woman who struggles to apply mascara to her itsy-bitsy lower lash line, Clinique introduces Bottom Lash Mascara this month. One of its secrets: a scaled-down, tiny brush. $10, at Clinique counters.

Eau de Choo

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 01:30:03 GMT

Before you slide your toes into Jimmy Choo stilettos, splash on the brand%26rsquo;s first-ever fragrance that%26rsquo;s every bit eau de Choo. This month, Choo launches Jimmy Choo, a sensual blend of tiger orchids, toffee and hints of Indonesian patchouli with an alluring, powder-like finish. Tamara Mellon, Jimmy Choo%26rsquo;s founder and chief creative officer (as well as the face of the fragrance), bottles her creation in an amber vessel that evokes the look of Murano glass as well as certain jewel-encrusted heels. From $36 for perfumed shower gel to $95 for eau de parfum, exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Rome Salon and Day Spa

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 05:44:32 GMT

Keys to the Door: Owner Paul Winkler; executive spa director Zahira Coll-Buell; spa lead Yazira Helsley.%26nbsp;

Services Rendered: Zahira Coll-Buell, the impassioned director of the newest spa in Houston, wants to take you back in time %26#8212; way, way back. %26#8220;Rome,%26#8221; you see, is more than just its moniker. The powers that be collaborated with SParc Design to conjure 12-foot columns, Venetian-plaster detailing and gleaming marble as the classical backdrop for these hair, face and body spa treatments, many of which derive from ancient Roman beauty rituals. The nearly 10,000-square-foot space at %26nbsp;SWest Ave boasts six individual treatment rooms, a couple%26#8217;s retreat, hair salon, hydrotherapy room and infrared sauna that heats you from within, readying your pores for the body treatments to follow. When in Rome, you can peruse the spa menu and book an indulgent, detoxifying bath ritual ($45) or Esperienza del Mare, a pore-refining Kerstin Florian caviar facial ($195), or take a meeting with the spa concierge, who will help you create a customized experience. 2800 Kirby Dr. in West Ave, 713.526.7663; romedayspa.com. %26nbsp;%26nbsp;

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Image: Rome Salon and Day Spa

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Pucker Up Pretty

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 01:56:50 GMT

Pretty your little pout with Tonya Riner%26#8217;s latest lip-color endeavor. The Houston-based makeup artist is one of the names behind a new line called Beauty For Real. Her team has devised the Perfect Lip Pencil ($14) in, naturally, your true lip tone. Her Illuminating Lip Glosses ($22) are fortified with antioxidants such as green tea and grape seed extracts that regenerate the skin, while marine collagen plumps your pucker. Have we mentioned that an LED light and mirror are attached? Genius %26#8212; they make touch-ups anywhere a breeze. At Marni Rocks, through beautyforreal.com.

Tom Ford’s Private Blend

Wed, 26 May 2010 11:47:51 GMT

Launching this month, designer Tom Ford%26#8217;s Private Blend Lip Color Collection has 12 essential shades for every woman%26#8217;s beauty bag. From Bare Nude to Fiery Red or the vampy, deep-plum Black Orchid, the ultra-creamy hues have specially treated pigments and rare ingredients such as soja seed extract, Brazilian murumuru butter and chamomile flower oil. But more important than that %26#8230; it%26#8217;s Tom! $45 each, at Neiman Marcus.

The Eyes Have It

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:56:35 GMT

Lash Studio (3699 McKinney Ave., Suite 400, 214.520.0511; lashstudiotx.com)
%26#8226; Why We%26#8217;re Blushing: Lash Studio%26#8217;s decor oozes extravagance: Walls are painted in a spectrum of pinks and magentas, a chandelier hangs in each of the five private rooms, and shelves throughout are topped with leopard-print cocktail glasses. The VIP perks? The whole place can be reserved for parties, and LS%26#8217;s technicians even make house calls.
%26#8226; What We%26#8217;re Trying: We%26#8217;re ditching our daily mascara for a set of new NovaLash eyelash extensions. Lashes are applied one at a time, so we come out looking like Anne Hathaway and not Tammy Faye. (And after our lids are aflutter, we%26#8217;re going to convince everyone that we just spent a week in St. Barts and not a few minutes getting the Bronze Biologic airbrush tan.)

Uptown MakeUp (3699 McKinney Ave., Suite 102, 214.521.3501; shopuptownmakeup.com)
%26#8226; We%26#8217;re Puckering Up: In the name of replenishing your shadows, blushes and glosses, make tracks to owner Laura Bush%26#8217;s second endeavor, Uptown MakeUp. (And, no, it%26#8217;s not that Laura Bush %26#8212; this one%26#8217;s an expert on beauty, not on being First Lady.) Instead of shelves stocked with designer duds %26#224; la Bush%26#8217;s across-the-street boutique L.Bartlett, Uptown MakeUp%26#8217;s sleek shop is filled with a trendy stash of cosmetics, plus skincare, hair and bath goodies.

%26#8226; Vamp Up Your Vanity: Get your hands on vivid shadows from the Italian line Nouba, waterproof eyeliner from Bell%26#225;pierre and the Lash DNA mascara by Smashbox. To brighten your eyes the morning after a late night at The Joule, go for Sharla%26#8217;s Dark Circle Relief.

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Image:%26nbsp; Smashbox Lash DNA mascara, at Uptown MakeUp

Calling All Cult Followers

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:53:42 GMT

These new potions are primed to rejuvenate your skin. Queue up at beauty counters this month when La Mer %26#8212; a cult favorite slathered on by celebrities and those in the know %26#8212; introduces the Regenerating Serum ($250, at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue). This anti-aging powerhouse is infused with La Mer%26#8217;s proprietary Miracle Broth, as well as the company%26#8217;s new Regenerating Ferment, a derivative of marine plant stem cells. Dr. Max Huber created La Mer more than a decade %26#8212; and 6,000 lab experiments %26#8212; ago to heal scars he suffered after a lab accident. Ever since, ardent followers have trusted his creams to stave off the signs of rapid aging. Meanwhile, fans of Chanel%26#8217;s anti-aging Sublimage line will want to indulge in the new Sublimage Essential Regenerating Fluid ($295, at Chanel stores and counters). This weightless, silken lotion disappears into one%26#8217;s skin to create a matte finish, pinpointing wrinkles, evening out the complexion and producing a radiant glow. What girl doesn%26#8217;t crave that?

Retail and Relaxation? Yes, Please

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:18:25 GMT

After an arduous afternoon of shopping, ladies and gents are having some Halcyon Days %26#8212; in the form of the new spa at Neiman Marcus at NorthPark Center. This therapeutic haven has already rescued spa-goers in Philadelphia, Greenwich and Birmingham with its non-surgical procedures (no need to %26#8220;go away%26#8221; for %26#8220;vacation%26#8221;) such as the%26nbsp; Beyond Botox Facial and beauty treatments like the Body Bronzer. But it%26#8217;s not all plumping and tanning: Halcyon Days can tame your unruly mane and polish your nicked-up nails. Kick off those Manolos and get lathered, scrubbed and polished, then head upstairs for more Manolos. At Neiman Marcus, NorthPark Center; 214.346.0731; halcyondayssalonsandspas.com.

A New Hair Apparent

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:09:42 GMT

Houston%26#8217;s hottest hairstylist, Ceron, has hit the Dallas social circuit with his new eponymous salon at Neiman Marcus Downtown. Ceron salon, in partnership with Dallasite Gina Betts, is a 3,400-square-foot beauty mecca with seven stylists offering all the glam-ups: color, glossing, makeup, eyelash extensions, waxing, mani-pedi, massage and facials using Darphin products. This sultry, witty scissorhands will leave broken hearts and tresses in Houston as he speeds to Dallas one week a month to cut, color and coif. Appointments 214.573.2626. Neiman Marcus Downtown, 1618 Main St., Sixth Floor.

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Image: Ceron in his new Dallas salon; photo by%26nbsp; Jason Wynn

The Hair Apparent of Dallas

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:08:59 GMT

Houston star hairstylist Ceron has hit the Dallas social circuit, air-kissing new and old friends alike. His new eponymous salon, Ceron salon at Neiman Marcus Downtown Dallas (in partnership with Dallasite Gina Betts), is a 3,400-square-foot beauty mecca with seven stylists offering all the glam-ups: color, glossing, makeup, eyelash extensions, waxing, mani-pedi, massage and facials using Darphin products. This hardworking scissorhands won%26#8217;t be abandoning our tresses in Houston. He%26#8217;ll speed to Dallas from his salons in Houston%26#8217;s Uptown Park and the Omni Hotel Houston, to cut, color and coif one week a month. When in Dallas, ring him at 214.573.2626 for an appointment. Neiman Marcus Downtown, 1618 Main Street, Sixth Floor.

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Image: Ceron in his new Dallas salon; photo by Jason Wynn

Pretty is as Pretty Does

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:02:57 GMT

Its one of my very favorite sayings, %26#8220;Pretty is as pretty does.%26#8221; Since I was a tween I%26#8217;ve been curiously aware of the importance of taking care of your skin. I saw my grandmother, with barely a wrinkle on her face, diligently use Noxzema cream every day and night of her 95 years. My fair-skinned mother, brought me to the Lanc%26#244;me counter when I was in the eighth grade and stressed I should dutifully apply eye cream every night before bed along with a good moisturizer. (As the years went on I added a daytime application too, followed by what my dermatologist stresses most: sunscreen. The higher the SPF, the better.)

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Always on the hunt for anti-aging products%26#8211;eye cream, power packed serum and moisturizer%26#8211;I can add to my Retin A nightly regime, recently I%26#8217;ve been test driving a few products at every end of the price spectrum in the hopes that I can keep those wrinkles at bay, close in those crow feet and erase those reckless years of sun damage. I%26#8217;m putting my hope in a jar, or several.

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Installation 1:

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Kiehl%26#8217;s Aca%26#237; Damage-Repairing Skincare Certified organic, this 100 percent natural skincare line includes a foaming cleanser ($24.50), toning mist ($26), repairing serum ($48) and damage correcting moisturizer ($44). I used each twice a day in conjunction with my Clarisonic sonic cleansing system (I%26#8217;m a slave to it and believe it flushes out my pores more effectively than simply a washcloth can). Washing every morning and night with this detoxifying cleanser, it appears half of any product%26#8217;s effectiveness lies in actually keeping it on the skin. For two minutes (longer than its sounds) I massaged two pumps of this tingly, light foam into my pores and found it balanced my combination skin nicely. (There is a small amount of alcohol in it that accounts I suppose for a tingling sensation.) One of the cleanser%26#8217;s claims is that it possesses rosemary oil, which has an antimicrobial affect that helps clean toxins and bacteria from your pores%26#8212;I like that.

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Dutifully I followed with the tonic, which unfortunately comes in a spray pump. The idea is you spray the cotton pad with the toner and wipe it across your face. But this method never fails to leave me with cotton pieces all over my face, better to discard the spray top and pour the contents from the bottle to saturate the pad. Though either method will leave you feeling that your skin is balanced and ready to receive a layer of serum.%26nbsp; LOVE the Kiehl%26#8217;s Acai serum. Light and non-greasy, it easily disappeared into my pores. Made with 10 percent extract of the antioxidant rich acai berry, it%26#8217;s purported to restore skin%26#8217;s tone, texture, and tightness all of which are compromised by the environment, sun exposure and stress of every sort. I feel like it%26#8217;s brought an evenness to my skin.

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Followed with the correcting moisturizer, which hydrates with shea butter and aloe vera juice to repair, this non-greasy formula doesn%26#8217;t feel heavy and pore clogging, I think it is a formulation that%26#8217;s appropriate to use day or night, though I%26#8217;m prone to skip daytime applications in favor of tinted moisturizing SPF. (Which by the way Kiehl%26#8217;s makes a great tinted sunscreen with coverage like a light foundation without the heaviness.) All in all after about a week I began to see signs of an overall evenness and a more luminous, brighter appearance. And after a month my skin discolorations (brown spots, hyper pigmentation) began to fade slightly too. I felt like my skin (which tends to be oiling on the t-zone, normal in most months everywhere else, was balanced and plumped, hydrated and smooth. Products available at Kiehl%26#8217;s.

Fake not Bake

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:23:07 GMT

%26nbsp;The Best Places to Fake a Great Tan %26nbsp;

Although I maintain a faux-glow year round (care of Darque Tan%26#8217;s Mystic Spray Tan booths) when a special occasion arises here are a few of the places I book an appointment at for a nearly flawless airbrushed tan. %26nbsp;

Trellis Spa. For anyone who has complained about the smell of self-tanning products, check out the new, scentless St. Tropez airbrush tan option at the Houstonian%26#8217;s spa. Completely odorless, this natural looking bronzing mist (created from sugar cane), applied by their trained tanners, also ensures a streak-less, even tan in less than 30 minutes ($65). Sprayed exactly how and where you want it, although the hue will last at least 5 to 7 days, Trellis also carries the famed St. Tropez product line to maintain your glow even longer. 111 North Post Oak Lane, 713-685-6790. Trellis Spa. %26nbsp;

Throwing Copper. At this Montrose area salon you don%26#8217;t tan but %26#8220;hue%26#8221;. Named for the ancient wisdom that dictates %26#8220;throwing copper%26#8221; stimulates the flow of positive energy, this airbrush tanning style allows the aesthetician to custom blend a hue that matches your coloring. Made with aloe-vera, glycerin, and anti-aging antioxidants like white tea and grape seed extract, you can tint your skin shades such as honey (light), copper (medium), chestnut (dark), or mud (richly dark) or somewhere in between. Each session is $55, packages start at $120. Blue Mambo Salon, 8 Chelsea Place, 713-859-1085. Throwing Copper. %26nbsp;

Eclipse Sunless Tanning. Get red carpet ready at this Montrose tan specialist. No time to exfoliate? They%26#8217;ll spray your skin with an exfoliating spray to buff it and bring it to the proper pH level ($5). Next, a light to medium tan application, followed by a second, darker coat added until you%26#8217;re as bronzed as you want to be. Along the way they can sculpt those abs you didn%26#8217;t know you had and brush over any skin imperfections. Finish, with a moisturizing mist to seal your tan and make it last even longer. A single tan is $45, packages start at $115. 415 Westheimer Road, Suite 103, 713-520-6611. Eclipse Sunless Tanning.

Tick Tock

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:26:04 GMT

It sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but it%26#8217;s true: The scientists at the skincare labs of Chanel have managed to isolate, by way of a process called polyfractioning, the most potent ingredient of the Manila elemi tree. This towering plant, which is found on the remote Pacific island of Luzon, can reportedly heal itself, and its resin has long been renowned in Chinese medicine for its power to heal skin. Chanel has isolated the active molecules and swirled them into sculpting and firming serums, day and night creams alike. This is no hocus pocus; we%26#8217;ve test-driven dozens of Chanel skincare products over the years, and when their experts say our skin will appear more toned, stronger and lifted, we know they have the R+D to prove it. Slather on the Ultra Correction Lift line for Pr%26#233;cision Chanel for $150 to $165, at Chanel, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue.

Supple Skin Boutique

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:04:49 GMT

2368-A Rice Blvd. in Rice Village
832.528.4732
suppleskinboutique.com
Keys to the Door: The Mazula family; Nelia Mazula, founder of the skin tea blends; Marcos Mazula, local operations and quality.

Stocked Goods: Oil-and-gas girl Nelia Mazulaan is obsessed with skincare %26#8212; more specifically, the herbal concoctions you can ingest to bring a healthy glow to your skin while promoting whole health. With a global point of view, this chemical engineer found inspiration in ancient remedies from Japan, India, China, South America and her native Mozambique, then headed to the lab. There, she tinkered with antioxidants such as acai, goji and acerola berries, herbs (chamomile and feverfew, dandelion and saw palmetto) and teas (sencha green and peony white) and discovered how a cocktail of plants can affect the feel and appearance of pores. The result is Supple Skin Boutique, where she and her brother Marcos %26#8212; an agricultural engineer who works on-site with a massage therapist and two visiting specialists %26#8212; share a holistic view towards great skin. The Mazulas acknowledge that many of our skincare woes relate to our hormones, so their focus is on achieving balance in the body first, which can lead to supple skin everywhere. Choose from 35 herbal combos of teas, tisanes and powders (to be dissolved in water and downed shot-style) %26#8212; their goal is to have 100 varieties by the end of the summer, and ultimately to have the largest selection of consumable skin tea combinations in the world. New products will soon target weight loss and energy as well. You%26#8217;re sure to find a way to restore moisture, detox your skin, calm rosacea or cure mild acne.

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IMAGE: Marcos Mazula and Nelia Mazula. Photo by Jenny Antill.

This Just In …

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:16:35 GMT

Latin-accented, YSL-wearing coiffeurist Ceron has hit the Dallas social circuit, air-kissing new and old friends alike. His newest salon, Ceron at Neiman Marcus Downtown in Dallas, is now open! His partner is Dallasite Gina Betts. The hardworking scissorhands will be speeding in from his salons in Houston%26#8217;s Uptown Park and the Omni Hotel Houston to cut, color and coif one week a month %26#8212; and certainly on the day of a gala. Ring him at 214.573.2626.

This Just In …

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:09:10 GMT

Latin-accented, YSL-wearing coiffeurist Ceron has hit the Dallas social circuit, air-kissing new and old friends alike. His newest salon, Ceron at Neiman Marcus Downtown in Dallas, is now open! His partner is Dallasite Gina Betts. The hardworking scissorhands will be speeding in from his salons in Houston%26#8217;s Uptown Park and the Omni Hotel Houston to cut, color and coif one week a month %26#8212; and certainly on the day of a gala. When in Dallas, ring him at 214.573.2626.

Sonic Boon

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 02:09:29 GMT

I%26#8217;m positively hooked on the Sonicare toothbrush that polishes pearly whites immaculately clean. So, how did I ever lived without the Clarisonic sonic skin-cleansing system? Its soft brush removes six times more makeup than a washcloth without stripping your skin, ensuring those costly serums and moisturizers sink deep into your pristine pores. The new Mia is a travel size with a smaller price tag, too. $149, at clarisonic.com.

Funky Couture

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:06:17 GMT

2446 Times Blvd.
713.874.1865
unclefunkysdaughter.com
Keys to the Door: Owners Tonya and Ray Reed.

Stocked Goods: Tonya and Ray Reed, fresh from corporate gigs in the energy field, longed for a creative career path that would give them autonomy, as well as a company ethos that rang true to their own ethical core. In 2003, the duo founded the very successful Uncle Funky%26#8217;s Daughter in Rice Village %26#8212; a boutique with a cool, urban vibe and an attached salon specializing in natural treatments for curly-haired women and men, including their own line of natural, organic hair-care products with clever branding such as Curly Magic (their top seller), a vegan, aloe-based curl definer. Now, just two doors away, the Reeds have carved out a sweet new niche and named it Funky Couture. They liken the concept to a girly general store with a mod twist; it%26#8217;s for those intrigued by what lies beneath. You%26#8217;ll find intimates from Simone Perele, Elomi, Goddess, Spanx and Mimi Holliday, with bra sizes ranging from 30A to 56K in addition to organic beauty brands such as Naturopathica, Farmaesthetics and K. Hall Designs.%26nbsp;

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Image credit: Jenny Antill