a healthy start to the new year...

Everyone wants a healthy start to the New Year so I decided to recommend some books with great advice on diet and lifestyle. The most important step to follow for flawless skin (aside from drinking enough water) is eating a healthy diet!

My friend Daisy gave me an adorable book called Wonderfoods by Natalie Savona. The book is broken into nine chapters ranging from energy to heart. In each chapter foods and recipes are listed that are recommended for that area of the body. In the skin portion, Natalie recommends almonds, strawberries, avocado, carrot, mango and sweet potato. Flawless Beauty has recommended some of these foods as topical treatments for the skin but I want to put emphasis on the fact that consuming these foods in your diet will give you the most direct results.


Another fabulous book on food and lifestyle change is The New Detox Diet by Elson M. Hass. This book is full of different types of meal plans and just good lifestyle advice in general. Earlier this year I did a seven day detox from this book and was very pleased with the recipes and advice given. I was trying to kick my love for sugar which is very bad for the skin!

late night Sunday inspiration...

So I came across these images in this months issue of Cookie Magazine and had to share. The couple who designed this eco-friendly home are jewelry designers who decided to raise their kids in Bali while working on their Indonesian inspired jewelry collection, John Hardy.


I love the fabrics in the shower area, so airy and colorful. I had to post the living space as well as the bathing space simply because its so exotic and amazing. To me this home is kind of like a fantasy home and amazing spa all in one! How wonderful to actually live in an open space like this and in Bali!

for your eco-conscious shopping efforts...

Image from pangeaorganics.com.

I have a great last minute offer for all Flawless Beauty readers. The people at Pangea Organics ( The makers of the new "it" mask from the gift guide) are offering all friends of Pangea an opportunity to purchase Pangea Organics products at WHOLESALE Pricing -that's 50% OFF. Yes, 50% OFF. They do ask, however, that each order meets a MINIMUM of $200 (wholesale), plus shipping & handling. That is a lot of product, lol, but makes for great gifts and maybe a few people could go in on one order. Hurry! Offer expires December 20, 2007. So get your holiday orders today! This offer is limited to the first 500 Friends.

To take advantage of this special offer, you must email info@pangeaorganics.com with FRIENDS in the subject line. They will then email you the Wholesale Order Form with instructions on how to place your order. This offer is not available online at pangeaorganics.com or in stores. This offer is available via email only. The website is a great way to familiarize yourself with the product though (and know what to order).

And here is a message from Pangea, "With this very special offer, we encourage you to continue to be part of the solution by choosing to be a responsible consumer this holiday season. It is because of people like you that companies with the environmental and social ethics of Pangea Organics have found success in a very competitive market. With your help and in combination with the work you do in your own lives everyday, together, we will change the world. Happy Holidays!"

On that note, I am off to California again for the holidays but will try to do my best to keep up on posts...

winter is here...

Winter is officially here tomorrow I believe and it has been in the 30's in New York. Time to stock up on winter products! I walk to work in the morning and find that by the time I get to the office the skin on my face feels cold and dry. I decided I had to get some heavier face lotion so at Whole Foods I picked up Weleda Everon face balm. I have to say, I am completely satisfied with my purchase. The lotion goes on thick but does not leave my face feeling coated or greasy. My skin also feels moisturized all day, even when I was running around the city outside doing errands. This product is also perfect for use during winter sports. I noticed they have a lip balm as well that I have not tried yet...

treat your feet...

Treat your feet after a warm bath or shower to this amazing Cardamom-Mint foot butter by Collective Wellbeing. It's one of my personal favorites and as the website says, this lotion melts into your skin, leaving even the driest pair of feet petal soft. The smell is soothing and exotic and the lotion is great for your hands as well.
All images from Collective Wellbeing.com.

And in other flawless news, Flawless Beauty has been recognized by Blogger on their blogs of note. So exciting! I want to thank all the Flawless Beauty readers and give an extra big thanks to Blogger!

still looking for holiday gifts?

The holidays are close to being over but if your like me, your probably still looking for last minute stocking stuffers or gift ideas. I've pulled together a few products below that are favorites of mine or that I bought for gifts this year. All products can be ordered online and most can be found at your local health food or beauty supply store.

(1) Multi-use palatte from Josie Marans organic makeup line, no parabans or fragrances and comes in a biodegradable compact!
(2) Jurlique rose hand creme, also available at Saffron Rouge in citrus and lavender scents.
(3) CO Bigelow lip gloss. A staple for my purse, desk, bedside table...this gloss comes in many amazing scents and has .1% Peppermint oil which gives an amazing scent and never leaves my lips dry or chapped (also you can get these 2 for 10$ at Bath and Body works).
(4)Pangea Organics Japanese Matcha Tea with Acai & Goji Berry mask. Now this I have not tried but is supposed to be one of the new "it" masks. One of my lucky friends is getting this for Christmas...and I need to pick one up for myself as well!
(5) Ren Morrocan Rose massage oil. Whats a sweeter gift than massage oil? And it doubles as a body oil or bath oil. Ren makes amazing products! Available at Whole Foods as well as online.
(6) Alba Kukui Nut organic body oil. I use this regularly, the scent is sweet and exotic and my skin never feels greasy afterwards. Also great for a massage or bath oil.

I've also pulled together some great gifts sets, aside from my favorite that I posted before, I also think these are wonderful options.


(7) For the new babies and expectant mothers, Jurliques Baby's Bathtime Kit, it's on sale at Saffron Rouge!
(8) Dr.Hauschkas Aromatherapy Bath Kit. A wonderful way to explore different oils for stress-free bathing.
(9) An adorable gift set from Zia that comes with a soy candle, body butter and Madagascar Vanilla Red tea to complete your pampering experience. This set is on sale, I guess there are some benefits to last minute shopping!
(10) Juice Beauty Organics to go travel kit! A great way to try out this much talked about skincare line, there seems to be just about a little bit of everything in this box! And the kits on sale for $29 when you order from the Juice Beauty website.
(11) Lastly for the friend who likes the finer things or should I say more expensive things in the product world there is the Care by Stella McCartney Discovery Set. The set has great shelf appeal and will only set you back $38.

I hope these suggestions helped solve some shopping dilemmas or if anything provided you with some new product for yourself! What I love about the holidays is that there are a lot more gift sets and trial sizes offered by companies. This gives opportunities to be adventurous and try new product samples without having to spend too much money.

sweet beauty...

Looking for tips for beautiful skin? Try a sweet, fragrant honey mask. It's a wonderful way to moisturize and hydrate the skin. Honey is a natural humectant, which means it attracts and retains moisture. This mask always leaves my skin feeling soft, moisturized and creates a nice glow. Honey can also be added to the avocado mask for extra benefits or to create a smooth consistency.

Spread raw or organic honey over a clean face (be sure to always avoid eye area). Let honey sit for 20-30 minutes. To promote pore cleansing, tap you fingers over your skin in the areas your pores seem to be congested. Doing this creates tiny suctions that help clear clogged pores. Rinse and wipe face off well with warm water.

skincare for him...

Just in time for gift giving season, the vedaPure line offers a little something for the males in your life, the vedaDude gift set! The set includes four items which you can read more about below...you can also purchase these great products separately as well.

Clean :: A Green Clay, and Vitamin C based cleanser that create a synergetic blend to protect the skin against free radicals. The Vitamin C Esters absorb readily into the skin without stinging and the Green Clay make this cleanser rich and effective in protecting the dermis from environmental toxins, aging and sun damage. Great for all skin types.

Glide :: A shaving gel made with Organic Aloe Leaf Juice, Bilberry Extract and Organic Orange Fruit Extract that makes this a refreshing and clear way to shave. The non-sticky gel glides on easily and stays clear and smooth for a protected shave, but washes off fresh and clean.

Splash :: An aftershave made from Organic Orange Fruit, Lemon and Cranberry Extracts that refresh and purify the skin after shaving, while the Organic Lavender Distillate calms and softens the freshly shaved skin.

Chill :: A wonderfully relaxing aftershave balm with Organic Coconut and Jojoba that moisturizes but leaves the skin feeling pure, refreshed and hydrated.

Available now at vedaPure.com.

a little Sunday inspiration...

While in San Francisco, I was able to visit with my lovely and talented friend and sometimes travel buddy Nicole. She had me over to her amazing house in Bernal Heights. Her place is fabulous, filled but NOT cluttered (very important!) with great flea market finds, photographs and fun objects. Then I discovered the bathroom and was even more impressed because she did not forget about this bathing space at all! See below...


She even painted an accent wall...and I love the eclectic mix of furnishings. Not your typical bathroom at all...


There was pretty mix of shell/beach inspiration...



Great coral printed window treatments...


The right amount of modern chrome hardware, oh and I think that might be a candle from a flawless beauty favorite le labo, Nicole and I also both love Ambrette 9!


and of course because this is Nicole's house, a touch of humor!

flawless basics...the importance of sleep

Image courtesy of Toast.com.

Much of the body’s healing work takes place while you sleep. Without the need to attend to all of the functions of daily life, your immune system and organs that detox the body (kidneys) can focus attention on cleansing and restoration. This is the time when your body does major housecleaning, taking care of wastes that have accumulated during the day and repairing cellular damage. This is also why it is important to try to refrain from putting anything on your skin at night, your body is working hard to expel waste from your skin. When you wake in the morning use a cleanser to eliminate the toxins expelled during the night.
You may notice when you are stressed and tired your skin is more prone to rashes, blemishes and lacks vitality. If you are going through particularly stressful times try to nap on the weekends as well. So how much sleep do you need? Most likely 7-10 hours a night, you have to figure out what your body needs and be willing to make sure it receives. Here are some tips for getting a good nights sleep and figuring out how much you need...

:: cultivate the habit of going to bed early, your body is naturally set to fall asleep when it gets dark out so in other words, the earlier the better :: avoid eating for at least 2 hours before sleeping, if you need a snack eat fruit because it is easily digested :: avoid caffeine in all forms, alcohol, cigarettes and drugs :: use cotton bedding/sleepwear to let your body breath and crack a window for fresh air if you can :: do NOT fall asleep to the television, you have to make sure you create an environment that is peaceful and quiet :: take baths and drink herbal teas, both are natural sleep remedies that help the body relax and unwind :: also try meditation, peaceful conversation, or reading ::

If you listen to your body and get on a schedule you naturally will find yourself falling asleep and awaking at the same time. This isn't always realistic in our busy lives but trying some of the above tips can hopefully provide the body with and extra restful night...

designer/"product junkie" turned soap maker...

I came across the website for The Bubble Roome and fell for the packaging! Simply beautifully designed. I then discovered that the products are made with "goodness" and knew I had to post them on flawless beauty! I have not yet had the chance to try these but am going to do so the next time I'm shopping the boutiques in Brooklyn (where the company is based out of).

What I really like about The Bubble Roome is that a lot of thought was put into the packaging and shelf appeal. If you have been following the inspiration posts, you know why shelf appeal is so important to me! The Bubble Roome founder David E. Johnston has a design background and is a self-proclaimed "product junkie". These products also make perfect gifts, being as cute as they are...

ALL IMAGES FROM THEBUBBLEROOME.COM.

beauty on the go...

With all the holiday travel that is going on, I thought now would be a good time to post about my favorite express skincare masks by the Greek company Apivita. I love the product line and they seem to have skin and haircare masks for just about every need. Apivita express products are available in single dose, travel-friendly packaging which allows you to mix and match different creams and masks to create your own personal skin "diet". These are small enough to throw in your purse and perfect to add onto any gift! A few of my tried and true favorites are the firming face mask with grape, the age management face mask with green tea and the eye zone mask with ginkgo biloba. I am very interested in trying the instant lifting mask with red wine...Click here to order online, also available at CO Bigelows in NYC.


All images from Apivita.com.

a little Sunday inspiration...

I found these images from Designer Donna Karen's East Hamptons home in New York. She mentions in the article that she bought the house next door to hers to turn into her solo getaway! Nice. This bathing space is so stunning and is surrounded with tranquility. Theres even a koi pond on the other side of the window! I think she did an amazing job of bringing the outdoors inside, as I mentioned in an earlier post. The structure of the bathroom is made with Jerusalem limestone and mirrors were placed to reflect the sky and water.