In last week's video, A Midsummer Night's Makeup Tutorial, you saw me use a new way to apply foundation, with the Beautyblender. I've seen many YouTubers use the beauty blender and rave about it so I decided to try it myself and give you my thoughts. The Beautyblender sells for just under $20 and can be found at Sephora, Amazon, and many other beauty stores.

The beauty blender is a revolutionary makeup sponge applicator that has no sharp edges (like a traditional triangle sponge). When used properly, I find it blends your foundation flawlessly and seamlessly into your skin, so much better than a foundation brush or your fingers can. I've had my makeup airbrushed by makeup artists in the past for various events and the beauty blender is the closest thing to achieving that same professional finish. So, as you can tell, I love it!


How to apply

It's very important that you use the proper application when using the Beautyblender. Many people don't know this but the beauty blender should be damp before you apply your makeup. This allows the product to sit on the edge of the blender and not get soaked (and subsequently wasted) by being absorbed into the sponge.

Place the foundation or bb cream on the back of your hand and dab the damp Beautyblender in the product. Then bounce the product lightly on your skin and you'll be amazed at how it blends in.

You can clean your Beautyblender with soap and water (no need to buy the formal cleanser unless you want to) after every application or at the minimum, once a week.

There are many Beautyblender-esque products on the market and I have heard mixed reviews on them. I can fully recommend the original. (And P.S. I have no affiliation with Beautyblender... just sharing my honest opinion).

For a full review and to see the application process, check out this week's video. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

If you've tried the Beautyblender or a similar products let us know your feedback in the comment section below.


For more on the Beautyblender, check out the informative page on their website here.

Napa Valley Trip
This weekend my sister and I hopped on a plane to northern California to visit our Aunts, Uncles and cousins who live up there. We spent two days with them and on Saturday had a lovely afternoon in Napa Valley. It was my first time ever away from my girls so two days, though short, was perfect because I already missed them after the first hour away!

Here I am at the airport. I was channeling the mysterious traveling woman I wrote about in Lessons from Madame Chic. Can you tell?



Saturday's trip to Napa Valley was so much fun. We sought out the arts by visiting the Hess Winery's fine art gallery. Here I am standing in front of a larger than life piece by artist Frank Stella called Silverstone II...



Here were two other pieces from the fine art collection. The untitled piece on the left is by Danish artist Per Kirkeby, and the upside down portrait on the right is by Georg Baselitz aptly titled, Self Portrait Disaster.


After our art gallery experience we visited the charming, old-fashioned grocery store Oakville Grocery Co., where we bought some artisan treats and ended the afternoon with a picnic at the Rutherford Hill winery in Napa. What an adventure! It was great catching up with family again, but now, of course, I'm very happy to be back with my own.

Here's a picture of the stocked shelves at the Oakville Grocery Co.


News
Simon & Schuster editorial assistant, Kaitlin Olson, has written a very touching piece on Madame Chic books 1 and 2 on her blog, Adventures in Crazytown.

At Home With Madame Chic is coming out one month early! The new publication date is October 7, 2014. Not long to wait now...

Madame Chic Inspiring Thought
Take advantage of these last days of summer by enjoying a picnic in a beautiful spot. Block out a few hours, put the cell phones away and languish outside with some delicious food. Purchase everything at a nice deli or grocery store if you don't feel like preparing food in your hot kitchen. Sometimes all you need is a baguette, a high-quality cheese, olives, meats and a nice refreshing lemonade or a glass of wine. As my aunt Deb says, "Everything tastes better outside." I couldn't agree more!

This week I would love to know... what are your thoughts on the Beautyblender?

Have you ever visited Napa Valley? What did you do while there? What were your favorite wineries?

See you next time!


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This week's video was shot on my iPhone. Who knows what happened, but the viewing window is very narrow. Nevermind, you still get to see what's on my vanity and I also have written it out for you on the side panels (handy, that). I have a terrible cold this week, which is why my narration sounds so nasally and subdued. But enough about the backstory... let's get into the discussion!

I tend to only keep the products I use in heavy rotation and/or the most beautiful products I have on display on my vanity. The rest goes in the drawers in the vanity or the cabinet underneath. So you will see makeup/ haircare and beauty products in this video, but those aren't the only ones I use, they just happen to be what I am currently using the most. We don't have a lot of storage in our bathroom. In fact, this vanity is all we have (no shelves, no medicine cabinet, etc.) so I have to make it work.

Please Note** This is probably the most I've ever had on top of my vanity. Half of the products shown in this video are normally stored away in my drawers but I kept them out to show you what I'm loving lately. So this is a bit of a dual-purpose blog post.



Everything in this video has been purchased by me (except for the perfume, which was a gift from Mr. Connoisseur). I am including links where necessary.

Here's what's on my vanity:

Orchids! (of course)

Various orchid pots to store makeup brushes/ tooth paste

Mason Pearson Hairbrush (Investment piece but nothing compares. I mean nothing. Let me know if you want me to do a video on mine.)

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer spf 20

Aquaphor (I have had some eczema on my hands this winter... total bummer. This helps.)

Sephora eyebrow powder in blonde

MAC Prep & Prime natural radiance base (I'm loving this primer!)

Jurlique Redness Rescue Calendula Cream (You know I love calendula. This cream is wonderful.)

YSL Top Secrets BB cream (I've tested a few BB creams... this one is my favorite by far.)

Epicuren Volcanic clay face mask

Éminence Coconut Age Corrective Moisturizer (The most magnificent moisturizer ever. Is that being too dramatic?)

Éminence Clear Skin Probiotic Masque

CHANEL Perfection Lumière Foundation

NARS Dolce Vita lipstick

MAC Dazzleglass in Bare Necessity

Hourglass lipstick in Vintage

Theodent Fluoride-free toothpaste (I get this at Whole Foods.)

Balenciaga Florabotanica (A present from Mr. Connoisseur. Gorgeous scent. Perfect for spring and, dare I say it, is rivaling my beloved Stella.)

Éminence Calendula Oil (and my love affair with calendula continues...)

Living Proof Prime Style Extender(for hair)

Simple cleansing facial wipes

Ecover lavender hand soap (I love this soap!)

Voilà! If there's anything you like the look of and want to know more about, leave a comment below and I'll try to do another more in-depth beauty video discussing it.

Check out this week's video for a closer look. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or check out my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur .

Book Club
If you'd like to join our book club in February, make sure you read The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer.

News


Last Friday I reunited with photographer extraordinaire, Kevin McIntyre, to shoot the new author photo for my next book jacket. The fabulous Rita Montanez did my makeup for the day. She airbrushed my foundation... it was pretty amazing.

I can't wait to show you the finalized pictures. Thank you Kevin and Rita!


This week I would love to know... what's on your vanity? What are your most used beauty products? Tweet, Instagram, or facebook me pictures of your vanity and/or most used beauty products using the hashtag #DailyConnoisseur

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Last week I attended the world premiere for the new Disney film, OZ The Great & Powerful, at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. Palak Patel (the husband of one of my very best friends) produced this film that was directed by Sam Raimi.

The whole event was fabulous from the red carpet that was made to look like a yellow brick road, to the enormous hot air balloon outside of the theatre. I also got to see all of the stars up close: James Franco, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz and Mila Kunis.

The movie was enchanting, action-packed, funny and visually stunning. The 3D effects were particularly incredible.

I wore an emerald Nanette Lepore dress (which you can see in the video) and had my hair done up in a modern French twist. Jennifer from the Dry Bar Santa Monica did the updo. Here are some close up pictures from the salon:



For more, watch this week's video and see my red carpet outfit: dress, hair, makeup and accessories. Part two of the video discusses the film, the after party and what the stars were wearing. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

To learn more about OZ The Great & Powerful click here.

And thank you to Palak and Juliana for inviting me to this wonderful premiere!


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Going into the weekend I have several things to share with you... so here we go!

Neuma Blow Dry Lotion

Always on the lookout to achieve the perfect at home blow dry for my hair, I recently tried out Neuma Blow Dry Lotion, which is a sustainable heat protectant and styling cream. It adds hold and manageability to your hair, reduces frizz and makes great use of plant extracts and essential oils.

Neuma sent me this blow dry lotion to try out and I've used it several times over the last few months. I really like the smoothness this high quality cream gives my hair. It really does make a great companion to accomplishing a professional-looking at home blow out. I'm happy to add this to my list of favorite blow dry creams and serums which also include: Fekkai Ironless Straightening Balm, Kérastase Nectar Thermique, and CHI Silk Infusion.

What makes Neuma Blow Dry Lotion so different from my other blow out creams is that Neuma use only renewable, beneficial plant-based ingredients.

It contains (info from their website): ZERO synthetic fragrance, sulfates, sodium chloride, parabens, 1,4-dioxane, phthalates, glutens, neurotoxins, aluminum compounds, glycols, formaldehyde donors, ureas, carcinogens, environmental pollutants

More earth-friendly aspects of the Blow Out Cream include:
• Renewable, beneficial, plant-based, colour safe ingredients
• Certified Organic Extracts
• 85% post consumer recycled bottles
• 100% certified wind power
• 100% recycled fiber containers
• Vegan
• PETA approved
• No animal testing

Here are some of the blow dry lotion's key ingredients:

• Neuma’s Signature Phyto UV Shield™: A proprietary blend of certified organic plant extracts that enhance hue, reflectivity and vibrancy of color
• Sunflower Seed Oil: Provides UV protection while adding shine, as well as shields hair from heat damage
• Sage Extract: Soothes scalp and conditions hair
• Rose Hips Fruit Extract: Aids in making hair softer and more manageable
• Apricot Kern Oil: Conditions and helps to smooth the hair cuticle, controlling flyaways and frizz, while adding shine

As I start to become more conscious about the types of beauty products I use I am more drawn toward natural brands like this one... If you give it a try I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Neuma Blow Dry Lotion sells for $24 and is available at select salons and beauty stores nationwide. For more information, please check out www.neumabeauty.com

Pinca Pendants


I hear from so many readers of the Daily Connoisseur who are artists and entrepreneurs. I applaud this greatly and especially love to hear about women entrepreneurs. Recently Daily Connoisseur reader Marie Thérèse of Pinca Pendants sent me one of her hand crafted necklaces. I thought it was so lovely I just had to share.

For more information on Pinca Pendants, check out their facebook page and Etsy store.

Red Cross Relief

Hurricane Sandy left so much devastation in its wake. My heart goes out to all of the families affected. A very easy way to donate to the emergency disaster relief is to text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10. This may not seem like a lot but if we all chip in, our contribution can really make a difference. The deduction is taken from your cell phone bill. For more information, or to donate another amount, visit www.redcross.org


Book News

I have two more exciting Lessons from Madame Chic giveaways to share with you. The first is with CobbleStay (a wonderful service that helps you reserve luxury apartments in Paris). Read my interview with CobbleStay to see everything from my thoughts on raising daughters to my favorite Paris pastry.

The next giveaway to share is on The Glamorous Housewife blog. Thank you to Bethany for your lovely review of the book.

I hope you all have a great weekend... see you on Tuesday for the book launch!

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Thank you for all of your messages this past week. I am still on bed rest but feeling a lot better. I have been spoiled by my friends and family who have looked after me really well.

Today, I have a very exciting tea review for you. The No 1 Ladies’ Teas by The Republic of Tea. So without further ado…

No. 1 Ladies’ Teas

I love tea. I also love The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith (I’m currently reading his latest, The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection). So when I saw that the Republic of Tea had released a special collection of teas based on McCall Smith’s bestselling novels it was all too thrilling for me.

I contacted The Republic of Tea requesting samples and they kindly sent them to me last week. The following are the descriptions of the teas along with my notes.


97 Per Cent Citrus Ginger Bush Tea
This tea is clearly dedicated to Grace Makutsi, Mma Ramotswe's assistant detective at The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, who so triumphantly scored 97% on her Botswana secretarial exam. Made with 97% green rooibos and 3% red rooibos, this tea is bright, aggressive and a tad bit bitter, much like Mma Makutsi herself. One to stimulate the mind. The citrus and ginger notes are strong and I also detected notes of lemongrass. It is a lovely bright, invigorating tea.


Speedy Motors Breakfast Black Tea
This tea is described as dependable, much like Mma Ramotswe's husband, Mr. J.L.B Matekoni, who also happens to be the proprietor of Speedy Motors mechanic shop. Reminiscent of Earl Grey minus the citrus note, it’s a nice, mild, yet full bodied black tea for morning. I found it best served with milk.


Precious’ Cup of Comfort Vanilla Red Bush Tea
This was my favorite of the three as I suspected it would be. This rooibos tea is, as the title describes, a cup of comfort… just as warm and enveloping as I imagine Precious Ramotswe to be. Precious’ Cup of Comfort is creamy with rich vanilla notes. It is the sort of tea you could have copious amounts of, without feeling guilty. Really delightful.

It is important to note that these teas come as tea bags in a canister, not as loose leaf tea. The teas sell for $11.50 each. To learn more, visit The Republic of Tea at www.republicoftea.com or to see the collection directly, click here.

All images provided by The Republic of Tea www.republicoftea.com

Until next time!

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Before this week's post begins, I have a special announcement. This Thursday, March 22nd, I will be live with the fabulous Charlotte Howard from The Hair Artist Association on Blog Talk Radio! The show begins at 8am Pacific Standard time (11am Eastern). We will be discussing The Daily Connoisseur, Lessons from Madame Chic and my writing process.

If you would like to call in and ask me a question simply call (805) 292-0346 during the half hour show. To listen to the radio show or submit your question for me online, visit http://blogtalkradio.com/hairartistassociation

I look forward to speaking with you live!

This week's video is called Receive Compliments Graciously. In it, I discuss one of my top tips for cultivating an air of mystery... If you are unable to see the video below, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur




And now for this week's post...

Two great beauty finds have come across my desk recently and I wanted to share them with you.

Manna Cosmetics Sheer Glo



When I did my last makeup post and video a lot of you with mature or dry skin stated the wish for makeup that is not too matte and provides a glow of sorts to the skin. I took note and when Manna Cosmetics offered to send me samples of their Sheer Glo Luminizer I thought I’d give it a try. Manna Cosmetics describes Sheer Glo as an incandescent liquid that lights up the skin with all over radiance. All you need is a tiny amount, either mixed with your foundation or worn alone on the skin, and you have an instant dewy glow. I like this because it isn’t too over the top and sparkly. Its luminescence is very subtle. It can be used on your face and your body and would be particularly nice on the neck and décolleté for spring. So for all ladies with mature or very dry skin, or who are simply in need of luminizing this is an excellent radiance booster!

Sheer Glo sells for $24

To learn more visit www.mannacosmetics.com

Lashfully Lash Appeal Kit



A few years back (before I had my baby) I got eyelash extensions. I loved the look of eyelash extensions (I got the really natural looking ones) but didn’t like all of the maintenance and expense that went along with them. To get them applied took nearly 3 hours the first time around (!) and regular salon visits, every two weeks were mandatory so as to not look unkempt.

If my schedule ever permits in the future, I might consider getting them again (I’m talking waaay down the line, I don’t see having the time to keep them up anytime soon). But until then, for special events, or for days when I want to feel extra glamorous, there are always false lashes.

Lashfully is a company based in San Francisco, California that has eyelash extension salons in San Francisco, Walnut Creek and West Hollywood. They launched a new at home kit called the Lash Appeal Kit for those of us who aren’t able to get extensions. The company sent me the Lash Appeal Kit to try out.

Now I have to tell you that I am terrible at applying false lashes. I’ve tried so many times (usually the strips found at the drug store) and end up looking... not so amazing. I just seem to be so clumsy with the delicate little things so I was interested to see how a complete novice like myself would fare with this kit.



The kit includes: a full set of individual eyelash clusters in 10 mm and a full set in 12 mm (for real drama). It also includes a flathead tweezer and temporary eyelash adhesive along with comprehensive instructions.

The first time I applied the lashes, I'm not going to lie, it was a bit of a disaster. They managed to look good in the end but I made a few mistakes along the way- namely using too much glue. You only need the tiniest amount of glue on the end of the eyelash cluster. It’s also important to allow the glue to set for 10 – 15 seconds before applying the eyelash to allow it to get tacky. For eyelash novices like me the key here is to practice. With every application, you get better at it (and thankfully each kit provides enough lashes for several applications). Once you get the hang of it, the lashes go on smoothly, right on top of your natural lashes.

Below is a picture of me wearing the lashes. What I like about them is they look natural. They just enhance the eyes but don't scream that they are fake...



Lashfully says if the lashes are properly applied, they can last up to 5 days! I only ever got mine to last one day because when I removed my eye makeup at the end of the day, the lashes would inevitably fall off. So perhaps if you go for the no makeup look and do not wear eye makeup (after all, you might not need it with your enhanced eyelashes) the lashes will last longer.

If you do want them to last more than one day, Lashfully suggest you apply the lashes on clean eyelids that do not have moisturizer on them. Also, they suggest you do not wet the eyelashes for the first 24 hours after application.

The second time I wore the lashes I took a long walk, I kid you not, in a wind storm (hence my messy hair in the above picture!) I was certain that when I got back home half of my lashes would be gone but they all remained intact.

If you only plan on wearing them for one day- or to an evening event, I would recommend applying your eye makeup first, then putting on the lashes. This way you will not disrupt the lashes when carefully applying your eyeshadow and eyeliner.

This is the highest quality set of false eyelashes I’ve ever tried and if you have a knack for applying false lashes (or the patience to learn), and like the look, I highly recommend this kit! The Lashfully Lash Appeal Kit sells for $48. To learn more visit www.lashfully.com

Thank you to Lashfully and Manna Cosmetics for allowing me to try your products and share my finds!

See you on the radio this Thursday! And get ready for a very special giveaway later this week...

Until then I would love to know... What are your thoughts on luminizers and lashes? And do you receive compliments graciously?


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I wanted to take this opportunity to say Thank You to all of you for your comments and emails regarding Monday's post On Rejection. So many of you shared your own stories and struggles. It has truly inspired me. I'm really grateful we have this community together where we can support each other in achieving our goals- so thank you again!

Also, for those of you who haven't already seen this week's video, The Neutral Manicure, check it out below. If you are unable to see the embedded video below, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur



And to make sure you never miss a video (if I don't post it on the blog) be sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel.

Blog and Book News

Lessons from Madame Chic and The Daily Connoisseur have once again been mentioned on several websites the past few weeks:

Cindy La Ferle references Lessons from Madame Chic in her article titled Useful and Beautiful.

Elizabeth Lukes has written about Lessons from Madame Chic on her new blog, The Strength of Words, in an article called, The French, Demystified.

And lastly, writer Annie Brewer has written a marvelous review of Lessons from Madame Chic on the Yahoo! Contributor Network.

Until next time, I would love to know... what is your favorite neutral nail polish?


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Bare Minerals was my first foray into makeup and who knew all these years later I would still be using (and loving) it. It’s not the only makeup I use but I do my Bare Minerals beauty routine at least 3 times a week. It’s just the go-to for my le no makeup look look.

There are so many ways to use Bare Minerals and apply the product. This week’s video tutorial shows you my routine. Thank you to YanaNYC and so many others that requested this video! If you are unable to see the above embedded video, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

Here are the products I use in the video:




Bare Minerals Matte Foundation in Medium Beige
I like the ‘matte’ versions of the foundation better as I need all the help I can get in the shine control department. It also contains spf 15. The trick is to only use a little bit (actually this goes for all Bare Minerals products). A little goes a long way. Just swirl, tap and buff (technique is shown in the video). There are so many shades to choose from… you will have no trouble finding one that matches your unique skin tone. I would suggest going to a Bare Minerals or Sephora store and having a professional match you with your perfect shade.

Warmth
This is used like bronzer to highlight the bone structure of the face and give you a natural tanned look- like you’ve just gotten back from vacation. The key is to apply only to the points on your face that would get the most sun (this technique is highlighted in the video).

Mineral Veil
This is the finishing powder that sets your makeup and even more importantly blends out any harsh lines you have created with the Warmth.

Bare Minerals Blush
I really like their blushes. I’ve tried Laughter, Joyous Jennifer and Beauty and have liked them all. In this video I use the shade Beauty.

Clear Radiance
This is such a great product! It goes on over your applied makeup and softens and luminizes your look. It gives your skin the appearance of being viewed through a soft focus lens… very flattering. The radiance collection comes in different colors but I find Clear Radiance the easiest to work with.

Brushes
The brushes I use in the video are all by Bare Minerals but are over five years old. I take care of my brushes by washing them once a week and they last a really long time. As you can see in this video I only use three different brushes: the flawless face brush (powder brush), the angled face brush and the concealer brush. But really you could get away with only using two brushes (the concealer brush isn’t necessary if you have a concealer and brush you already use). It is important to use the actual Bare Minerals brushes as they are designed for the product. When you swirl, tap and buff the mineral product is more evenly distributed in the skin. It is also important to note that the kabuki brush is a great brush too although I didn’t use it in the video. The kabuki brush is great for applying the Mineral Veil.

I would love to know… what is your experience with mineral makeup?

For more information on Bare Minerals click here, visit Sephora or visit www.bareescentuals.com

Image: clockwise from the top: Mineral Veil, Blush, Warmth, Matte Foundation and Clear Radiance.

And one final note... the music in the video is composed by me. I call the piece Arabella's Symphony.


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Before this week's post begins, be sure to check out my video where I show you My Favorite Mascara, Chanel Inimitable Intense. If you are unable to see the embedded video, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

And now for this week's post on Etiquette:

The Etiquette of The High Quality No

The other day I was in the grocery store with my daughter. It was close to dinnertime and I had a few things in my basket. I was placing the items on the conveyor belt to pay when a lady in yoga pants came up from behind me and asked if she could go in front of me because she only had one item to pay for. I looked at her, then I looked at my daughter, then I looked at my very pregnant belly and was absolutely appalled that she would even ask such a question.

Yes, the etiquette stickler in me was horrified that she would ask to go in front of a pregnant lady. In my head I had a lot of responses I wanted to say to her that were not very ladylike. Clearly this woman thought her time was more valuable than mine. But I remembered my stance on always taking the high road and decided to avoid any confrontation.

I think I was at such a loss for words, I just said, “OK”, and let her walk in front of me. She then proceeded to pay for her item but because she didn’t have her club card, took several minutes filling out a form for one. By this time my blood was boiling and I chided myself for not giving her a ‘high quality no’.

I first learned about the high quality no from the philosopher Eckhart Tolle. He says there is absolutely nothing wrong with saying no. That no is a perfectly acceptable response to any question. The key is to say the no without anger, judgment, apologies or negative energy.

A high quality no requires no further explanation and if I were to go back in time to deal with that lady again I would simply have said, “No”, and went on with paying for my groceries. I didn’t need to tell her that I was tired, it was almost dinner time, my daughter was hungry, we had to walk home and I was pregnant to boot! I simply needed to say “No” because it was my prerogative to do so.

So as we navigate this tricky world of etiquette and high quality living, let us embrace the high quality no and not commit to doing anything that we don’t feel comfortable with.

Blog and Book News

This past weekend I was featured on Rayna St. Pierre's wonderful blog, Bright Copper Kettles in an author interview. The interview discusses everything from interiors to morning rituals to culture! To see the interview click here.

Until next time I would love to know… how are you at saying “no”?

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A daily connoisseur seeks the best in every category of life and yes, that includes deodorant! After using drug store deodorants for much of my teens and early twenties I always felt disappointed and unsatisfied. I never liked the chemical composition, the artificial fragrance and the white flaky mess that was usually left behind after an application. Also drug store deodorants don’t tend to react well to my body chemistry and I would end up emitting a strange, metallic scent when I wore them.

Yet when I tried all natural deodorants from the natural grocery stores I never felt they were very efficient. For a few years I have used the Superbly Efficient Anti-Perspirant and Deodorant Cream from Kiehl’s. This is a really nice product that goes on like a cream to the underarm area. But I am happy to say that I’ve found a deodorant that I like even more: Benedetta The Best Deodorant.



Yes, the name has a lot to live up to. After all if you claim to be the best then you better deliver! Benedetta is an all natural skincare line that takes a holistic approach to beauty- the ingredients in their products are all organic and biodynamic. I discovered them at their new boutique in the Santa Monica Place Market by my home (which, by the way, I love).

So after spotting their star product, The Best Deodorant, I had to buy it and try it out. The deodorant goes on as a spray. You only need one or two sprays under each arm. The scent is lavender. The deodorant does not contain aluminum, propylene glycol or parabens so it keeps you odor free safely.

I am completely hooked. I love it and wanted to share it with you. The only downside is it is a bit pricey. The large deodorant is $20 for 2.6 fluid ounces. But because it is a concentrated formula a little really does go a long way. I bought mine well over a month ago, have used it every day since, and still have a lot left.

To learn more about my new favorite deodorant watch the above video. If you are unable to see the embedded video, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

To learn more about Benedetta click here.

To see their Best Deodorant click here.

In other beauty news, I was reading Maria Menounos’ book The EveryGirl’s Guide to Life and was interested by her suggestions for face towels. A while back when I posted about my skincare routine I mentioned that I always use a separate face towel when drying off my face. I usually change this towel twice a week. But Menounos suggests that you change your face towel every time you wash your face! I suppose it makes sense (to keep bacteria at bay) and I have tried it out this week although now I have much more laundry and my skincare neurosis has been taken to the next level!

Book News
Writer Cindy La Ferle writes about Lessons from Madame Chic in her article this week called Facebook Party Pooper. In the article she brings up some great points on privacy, social media and an air of mystery. To see the article click here or visit www.laferle.com. Thank you Cindy!

So, this week I would love to know two things… what is your favorite deodorant? And what are your thoughts on face towels?



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This week I have a review of a fun new product- Lip Savvy's innovative pout perfecting lip glosses. The people from Lip Savvy sent me their gloss in the shade My First Kiss (a very pretty soft pink) to review.

Lip Savvy glosses are over achieving glosses- they are anti-aging, anti-oxidant boosting lip plumping and moisturizing glosses all in one wildly packaged gloss. I was interested to try the gloss because I wondered how it would be possible to do all of those things and still achieve a pretty and likeable gloss. I say likeable because I have tried so many lip glosses that have been almost perfect, but not quite. Either they have a sticky consistency, or they taste bad, or (if they are lip plumpers) they sting the lips.

I am very pleased to report that Lip Savvy glosses have none of those unpleasant attributes, feel highly nourishing on the lips (and I have a problem with dry lips) and are long lasting. They also give the lips a slight plump without any uncomfortable side effects. What a treat to discover! Below are the different colors they offer:



And a look at the fun packaging:



For a more comprehensive review, please see my video above. If you are unable to see the video, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

The lip glosses sell for $18 and are available on their website www.belipsavvy.com

And lastly, thank you to everyone for your comments of love and support about the new baby. We are so thrilled and I am so grateful to be a part of this wonderful online community with you. Thank you.

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This Thursday I will be announcing the perfume I have chosen as my new signature scent. Before that, however, I wanted to introduce you to the botanical niche perfume company Strange Invisible Perfumes, who I had the pleasure of visiting in their flagship Venice Beach boutique. While there I got to sample several of their all natural, organic botanical fragrances. Keith, the sales associate was extremely knowledgeable and gave me a run down of some of their most prized fragrances.



Strange Invisible Perfumes have no synthetics in them. I am not very familiar with botanical perfumes and it takes a while to get used to these very organic smells but you quickly fall in love with them. Some of the perfumes smell more mainstream like Prima Ballerina and Tahitian Honey. (My favorites of the bunch were Tahitian Honey, L’invisible and Magazine Street) and some are highly unusual like Black Rosette and Essence of IX.

The perfumes are the creation of perfumer Alexandra Balahoutis- truly a master artisan. The Venice boutique is the only one in the world although their fragrances are sold online on their website www.siperfumes.com as well as in certain high end department stores. As a side note, because these perfumes are so unusual I would highly recommend sampling them in person before purchasing online...

If you are a perfume connoisseur into synthetic free organic niche fragrances- this is the place for you!

The bottles are very minimalistic and the fluid of the perfumes are a golden amber color and would look lovely on any vanity. (Apologies I don't have better pictures of the bottles themselves... my camera went amiss that day. Visit their website for vivid pictures and more in depth descriptions)

Here is a very bare bones rundown of the different scents.

Moon Garden- Tuberose and jasmine

Fair Verona- a classic fragrance: citrus, cardamom, Egyptian jasmine and bergamot

Magazine Street- patchouli, magnolia, vanilla, vetiver

L’Invisible- oak moss, ylang ylang, hibiscus, vanilla, red rose

Tribute (limited edition)- a tribute to Coco Chanel: ylang ylang, amber, rose patchouli

Prima Ballerina- Egyptian and Turkish roses, Greek sage, lime botanical musk

Aquarian Roses- wild roses, marjoram, sandalwood

Essense of IX- the scent of a winery- rose, black currant, California lavender

Tahitian Honey (limited edition and my favorite)- temple mandarin and wild honey

Black Rosette- African roses, black tea, spearamint- meant to capture the essence of leather (this one is very unusual- not my cup of tea but could be heavenly for the right person).

Depending on whether you get a EDP or a Pure Perfume vial, or limited edition fragrance, price ranges from $135 to $350

For more information visit their website www.siperfumes.com

And stay tuned for this Thursday's post where I announce the perfume I have (finally) chosen as the search for my signature scent ends!


The image of the Venice boutique featured above is courtesy of futurenatural.com

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Thanks to the Duchess of Cambridge and her ladylike influence over fashion, pantyhose is now in vogue again! I recently bought two pairs of Spanx Super Shaper Sheers because I wanted to try out the pantyhose as shapewear trend and see if there was anything to it.

I really like the idea of shapewear built into a pantyhose. There is less you need to wear as the shapewear also acts as your underwear (for lack of a better term)...

I also like the feeling of wearing shapewear. I've worn Spanx for years- I like how they flatter the figure and keep things looking smooth...

I also like that the Spanx pantyhose come in 10 different colors, which makes it easy to match your skintone.

The downside is these tights are very delicate and can snag easily so be very careful when handling them.

Spanx Super Shaper Sheers sell for $26. I got mine at Nordstrom.

To see a more comprehensive review watch my video On Shapewear Pantyhose above...

If you are unable to see the above embedded video, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur.

I would love to know... what are your thoughts on pantyhose? Do you wear them? Or not?

This week I have an exciting skincare review for you. Sibu Beauty sent me three items from their all natural skincare line to review on The Daily Connoisseur. I received the items a few months ago and have since had a chance to fully experience their benefits.

Sibu Beauty skincare is all natural and uses the ancient Sea Buckthorn Berry as its star ingredient. I’d never heard of this berry before but then I googled it and read several articles on its miraculous healing and anti-aging properties. Naturally, I became intrigued.

After using the Sea Buckthorn Balancing Facial Cleanser, Hydrating Serum and Replenishing Night Cream (pictured above) the first evening, I awoke the next day to find my skin was almost a completely different texture. It felt smooth, tight and hydrated. This is the first time I’ve ever used skincare products and seen such drastic results after only one day- I was even more intrigued! I then used the cleanser, serum and night cream trio every night for the next month and a half all the way through my England trip and was so pleased with the results I’m going to call this a Holy Grail beauty find! I love that it is all natural, smells divine and performs really well with my skin.

Unfortunately Sibu is only shipping to the United States and Canada at the moment. For customers in the UK they are available at Victoria Health. For all others that are unable to get the products, I would recommend contacting Sibu Beauty directly and requesting they ship to your country or to stockists in your area. Perhaps if the demand is there they will supply!

The Sea Buckthorn Balancing Facial Cleanser sells for $17.95

The Sea Buckthorn Hydrating Serum sells for $39.95

The Sea Buckthorn Replenishing Night Cream sells for $34.95

They sell all three in their Luxe Kit for $89.95

For more information and an even more comprehensive review, please watch my video below. If you are unable to see the embedded video, please click here, look in the sidebar of this blog or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur





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This special Thursday post brings a fun announcement. An article I wrote for AnyTrip.com On the Romance of Paris is featured this week on their blog. AnyTrip is a travel booking website that allows you to book a cheap hotel in Paris with no booking fees. To read the article I wrote as part of their Romance Week, click here.

Also AnyTrip is giving away a trip for two to Paris (can you imagine?) to enter their contest, click here. Bonne chance!

And finally, this week's video shows you some of my favorite luxurious bath and shower products- all of which I purchased from either the drug store, the beauty supply store or specialty bath stores. If you are unable to see the above embedded video, you can click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

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This week’s video (which I shot before I left for England) is a review of the Brazilian Peel Clear Acne Control System being launched at Sephora. (I will spare you the suspense and tell you flat out that I adore this highly effective product). To see the video, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

And now for this week’s post:

I have a confession to make- my skin has suffered from breakouts my entire teenage and adult life. This now probably explains to you my near obsession with skin care. When I was a teenager I just figured it was normal to have my skin break out- I didn’t have a bad case of acne but the odd blemish every few days or so that would irk me to no end. I used a few things to remedy the problem- mainly products from the drugstore- but nothing I tried actually worked. So as a teenager I decided to wait patiently until I ‘grew up’, turned 20 and would no longer have to deal with those pesky breakouts.

Ah, if only. I had never actually considered that the breakouts might continue into my adult years. Looong into my adult years- which, of course, they did. Sadly, they did not magically go away when I turned the big 2-0 and even still hadn’t gone away when I turned the big 3-0! (In my upcoming book I have a humorous anecdote about what happened in Paris when my skin misbehaved.)

Now again, I never had a severe problem- but even one small blemish can wreak havoc on one’s self confidence so I have made it my skin care mission to banish them once and for all. And it has taken over a decade for me to figure out how to do it but after tweaking my skincare routine ever so slightly- by Jove I think I’ve got it!

Here are the top things that have contributed to my clear skin:

Cleansing: I no longer cleanse my skin in the morning. When I get up I just pat it with warm water and put a moisturizer and then sunscreen on. I made this change because I recently read an article saying that if you cleanse your skin too much it does not get to produce its natural oils and then goes into overdrive producing too much oil- hence the breakouts. Reading that was a majorly illuminating moment for me. It makes perfect sense! And just by doing this one thing- not cleansing in the A.M. I have already seen a major change in the amount of blemishes that come my way.

Clarisonic: I use the Clarisonic every (or every other) evening in conjunction with my cleanser to help remove makeup. I think a main part of my problem- other than hormones was insufficient cleansing of the skin. If you would like to see my Clarisonic video, click here.

Diet: My eating habits are the best they’ve ever been and I can thank pregnancy for that! When I was expecting my baby I added more fruits, vegetables and water into my diet and have continued the good habits- I feel great and the nourishment has had an impact on my skin.

Brazilian Peel Clear Acne Control Kit: One of the great things about doing this blog is I am introduced and allowed to try products I might otherwise never have known about. The people from Brazilian Peel- who have just launched their revolutionary acne control kit at Sephora sent me their Clear Acne Control Kit to try out. I jumped at the opportunity because even with the above three changes to my lifestyle, I would still get breakouts- especially in the chin area. So I tried the one month supply and can honestly declare to you that this is the best acne control system I’ve ever tried (and I have tried so many). The peel successfully thwarted two potential blemishes on my chin area by literally fighting them away. It is not harsh, doesn’t dry out my skin and the peel (in conjunction with the booster pads) actually feels like it nourishes my skin- thanks to the açai berry extract.

The kit sells for $60- which is pricey, I know- but depending on what kind of blemish problem you suffer from it could benefit you. If you have severe acne you could use this kit every month and it could seriously help you. If you are like me and get an occasional breakout every now and then you do not need to purchase the product every month but rather only use it when you feel your skin is getting out of control- which is exactly what I intend to do. If you are interested in seeing the product and learning more, my above video should be really informative. To learn more about the product you can visit Sephora, Brazilian Peel or Advanced Home Actives.

There you have it… I would love to know… do you suffer from breakouts? And if so how do you control them?


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Hello dear readers...

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer- and that you are having a chance to rest, relax and rejuvenate.

I will be spending the next month in jolly old England (which wasn't so jolly last week with all those riots but hopefully things are on the mend!)

While I'm there I will continue to blog but might not be as punctual with my posts and videos so thank you in advance for your understanding. I'm really looking forward to going to England again, seeing family and hopefully do a bit of traveling while there. I will, of course, keep you updated on all my adventures and observations.

Speaking of England, this week's video is called The Neutral Dress. Inspired by the Duchess of Cambridge and her love of neutral, subtle glamor, I show you my favorite neutral dress and the many ways in which I wear it. To see the video click here, look in the sidebar of this blog or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

And now for this week's post on a Trio of Discoveries:

Film:

Midnight in Paris by Woody Allen
Woody Allen’s latest film Midnight in Paris is not really a discovery as most of you have probably seen this already! But oh what a wonderful film it is so for those of you that haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it- especially if you are a Francophile like me. This is the first film I’ve seen in the cinema since having my baby. My husband stayed home with the baby and I met a girlfriend at our local theater. I got a hot tea and some nachos (don’t ask- I wanted to be naughty at my first cinematic experience in a year) and we settled in for the ride.

I knew I had made a good choice in movies right from the opening scene which is a musical and visual love letter to Paris. Seeing so many of my favorite old haunts brought back a painful and delicious nostalgia. The opening sequence is set to a highly moving saxophone piece (see second discovery below) and then the movie begins.

I do not want to give too much (or anything really) away but can tell you a brief and vague synopsis. Gill Pender (played by Owen Wilson) and his fiancé Inez (played by Rachel McAdams) are in Paris for a short holiday before going back to the states to get married. Gil is a writer who is fascinated by nostalgia and the time period of 1920s Paris- the age of Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Picasso and Gertrude Stein (amongst others). Not quite satisfied in his current relationship, Gil goes on midnight walks in the city of Paris when a mysterious event keeps occurring…

Do go see Midnight in Paris to find out what happens!

Music:

Sydney Bechet Petite Fleur Album

As mentioned above the opening sequence in Midnight in Paris is one of the best I’ve ever seen in a film and part of it was due to the melodious and moving saxophone song it is set to. After seeing the film I searched high and low for the artist (Literally. It took me forever to find this guy) as there is no Midnight in Paris soundtrack available. But eventually I cracked the case (and thank you to all of my twitter friends who helped me along the way!) The opening song in Midnight in Paris is Si Tu Vois Ma Mère by Sydney Bechet.

I immediately looked up the song on iTunes and came across Mr. Bechet’s incredible album Petite Fleur. Sidney Bechet was not only a highly talented African American saxophonist who often collaborated with Louis Armstrong- but was also one of the first prominent jazz soloists of his time. His album Petite Fleur (which includes the great song Si Tu Vois Ma Mère) is like melodic sunshine. If you love Art Deco music with a French twist you must listen to this album. It is only $5.99 on iTunes. I listen to it while making breakfast in the morning and it starts off my day very pleasantly indeed. As a side note- this would also be excellent to play at your next dinner or cocktail party.


Television:

Tommy & Tuppence

Speaking of Art Deco… Have you all seen the Tommy & Tuppence series from the 1980s starring Francesca Annis and James Warwick? You all know that I have a borderline obsession with everything to do with Art Deco England (have you seen or read Mapp & Lucia yet?). I never quite got into the Tommy & Tuppence books by Agatha Christie as I was more of a Poirot person myself but this series is so delicious I will have to give the books a try again.

Tommy and Tuppence are a high class crime fighting duo that have an eccentric approach when it comes to solving crimes. Start with The Secret Adversary movie to see where it all began and then watch season one and two of Tommy & Tuppence Partners in Crime.

Watch it for the beautiful Art Deco costumes and styling (although I will grumble that they put far too much makeup on the beautiful Francesca Annis in the series- If you watch it you’ll see what I mean- a le no makeup look was definitely in order there!) Watch it for the dashing James Warwick who is the quintessential English gentleman (and whom I have a hopeless crush on- don't tell my husband). And of course watch it for the intriguing casework that only Agatha Christie could cook up. The Tommy & Tuppence movies and TV series are available on Netflix.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my trio of discoveries this week.

Gatsby is pictured above :)

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This week's special post is on Skindinävia Makeup Finishing Sprays. At the end of this post I have embedded the video where I show you the sprays I describe below and how I use them. If you are unable to see the embedded video, look in the sidebar of this blog or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur



Skindinävia recently contacted me to review their makeup finishing sprays on The Daily Connoisseur. Their offer could not have come at a better time as I have been searching for just this very product but didn’t know if there was anything out there on the market like it. You see, every day I apply some variation of le no makeup look. It can be anything from a two minute application of under eye concealer, mascara and lip balm to a ten minute version that includes everything from foundation to blush to eyeshadow and eyeliner.

I usually apply my makeup early in the morning and then am out most of the day playing with the baby, running errands, exercising and working. By the time my day is done I usually go from wearing le no makeup look to wearing- no really I have no makeup on because it all melted off look.

So I was very interested to try Skindinävia's makeup finishing sprays which have gotten terrific reviews online from happy customers. They sent me two of their products- their Makeup Finishing Spray- which they call their ‘original makeup saver’ and the Moisture Lock Makeup Finish- which is made for dry skin types and adds a luminosity and glow to the complexion.

Both products work great and really perform well. The sprays are very light and go on like a fine mist to the skin. They are fragrance free and not heavy or sticky. In fact you don’t notice them on your skin at all once applied. They are hypoallergenic, oil free and paraben free. They have also been eye tested, dermatologist tested and are not tested on animals.

The correct way to apply them is as follows: apply your makeup as you normally would- and put on everything except for mascara. Then, holding the spray eight inches from your face spray two to four times (they recommend spraying in an X motion and a T motion). Once the spray is on, you can apply your mascara.

If you wear mineral makeup a handy trick that I've found works is to spray your skin twice before applying makeup and once or twice afterwards. This helped my mineral makeup (which is generally quite fickle and doesn't have much staying power) stay fresh much longer.

I have tested both sprays out for several days in a row and each time I’ve used them at the end of the day my makeup still looks fresh as though I’ve just applied it- even my blush, which is usually invisible by 5pm, is still going strong.

Here are two pictures to demonstrate:

This first picture was taken at 7 in the morning with a freshly applied le no makeup look:

And this second picture was taken 10 hours later at 5pm with absolutely no touch ups done to my makeup whatsoever throughout the day. Because I wear a no makeup look it is hard to see if the makeup is still on (since I do not want to appear as if I am wearing makeup in the first place) but I still felt as though I had freshly applied makeup 10 hours later. And oddly enough I am less shiny in this picture than in the first, which is a testament to the spray because normally by 5pm I am a shiny disaster without a powder touch up:


As for the The Moisture Lock Makeup Finish, it is very similar to the Makeup Finishing Spray but it gives your skin a dewy, luminous finish to it- ideal for people with dry skin or if you are going for a casual, fresh face Summertime look.

I am very interested to try the No More Shine Makeup Finish as I have noticed that I’ve been a bit shiny in recent family photographs…. They also have a 10 Years Younger Setting Spray for mature skin that diminishes the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles as well as a Bridal Finishing Spray that controls shine and is tear resistant (I wish I’d known about that for my wedding!)

The pricing for the products are as follows: 2oz for $19, 4oz for $29 and 8oz for $39.

Click on the link below or in the sidebar of the blog to visit their website and see their current promotion which gives you 20% off orders over $40 and free shipping.



I hope you like them as much as I do!

I would love to know... do you have trouble keeping your makeup on throughout the day?




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