The Friday Forum - Happy Valentine's Day

It seems there was someone who was happy about the 15 inches of snow we picked up Wednesday and Thursday. I can't even say snow removal companies were happy. They worked 48 hours (or more) straight, and that has to make you miserable.

Yesterday, I phased my shoveling in small increments - no more than 30 minutes at a time. By yesterday afternoon, I had a path leading from my door to the driveway and enough space all the way around my car to get out of here in case of emergency. Then it snowed about two plus inches more last night - not fluffy snow, snow mixed with sleet that left a "nice" ice crust over all the snow in the back yard. That made for slow going when I trudged out to feed the birds and squirrels. This morning I fell on a slope. Fortunately, I had a soft landing pad: a foot of snow.

I just came in from what I hope was my last clean-up. The sun is out, and some of the hard-packed snow is melting. I'll be ready to go to my medical appointment this afternoon. Given the state of my back right now, I'm looking forward to that appointment.

I have been working from home in between shoveling. My days have been all action, no rest.  Unfortunately, there is more snow in the forecast, starting tomorrow. I can think of many things that might have caused Mother Nature to punish us. I'm doing my best to help her creatures and convince her to stop with the white stuff.

Late in the afternoon, I learned that Mom's show plow guy was stuck - way off her driveway, and I had to find a substitute. Oh, sure. Fortunately, I remembered an independent jack-of-all trades who knew what her driveway looks like (hilly, with turns), and he and his crew are over there now shoveling it. Real manual labor! Thank God there are people in this world willing to do hard work at a moment's notice. A snow removal company - one out of the four I had called - just called to say they could go dig out my Mom, but the other guys were already out there. One out of four! I think I will hire the guy with the plows for the rest of this year - or more - longer if we can afford his "commercial-level" services.

I had hoped to write yesterday, but by day's end, I had no energy. I think I hit the bed at 7:30. Now, the sun is out, but I can't find my camera! It has been out of action for so many days, I don't know where I left it after charging it. I hope to find it with a concerted effort before lunch. I want to take swatch photos.

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you have a wonderful day - either with the ones you love or doing things you love.

I'm off to look for my camera before the next meeting starts. I'm pleased to report that the sun is shining, melting snow and ice!

Photos courtesy of aol.com and crazy-frankenstein

Jo Malone London Rain Collection

Jo Malone London's newest limited-edition scent collection is here - at counters. The collection is inspired by the London rainy weather and is aptly named “London Rain.” The early morning dew is captured in the sparkle of Rain & Angelica, with notes of angelica, lime, and vetiver. Gentle morning showers are wistfully evoked in Wisteria & Violet with notes of water lily, wisteria, and patchouli. The scent of White Jasmine & Mint was inspired by an afternoon cloudburst and includes notes of lily, orange flower, rose, and wild mint. As the afternoon gives way to the late evening, we are introduced to Black Cedarwood & Juniper, with aromas of cumin, juniper, chili leaves, cedar, and moss.

I plan to check out all four colognes in the collection this weekend. I know I can rule out Wisteria & Violet, even though the name is luscious. It contains patchouli. Which one will I select? Stay tuned.

There are no body or home products available - just in case you were thinking of them. With the Neiman Marcus Beauty Event starting on February 19, it might be a good time to check out this collection. Need help? Give Sydelle a call at the Jo counter at (202) 966-9700.

Update 2:15: I got to try all four today. Not surprisingly, my favorite top notes were in Wisteria & Violet. Knowing the patch was in it, I didn't get too excited. I knew the lovely floral would give way to a patch dry-down on my skin. Rain & Angelica is very nice. So - to my amazement - is Black Cedarwood & Juniper. It is heavier than the others and very sexy. I still haven't decided which one to buy. All scents are the large size: 3.4 ounces.

Photo courtesy of Jo Malone London

Aroma M Camellia Body/Bath Oil by Maria McElroy

I've used more oil on my face and body this winter than at any other time in my life. My skin has been skin-slurping dry, and it has appreciated the oils that bolstered my other moisturizers.

One of the oils I have used - and used up - is Maria McElroy's Camellia Body/Bath Oil ($60). Maria graciously sent me a large sample, and my arms and legs enjoyed every drop of it. I first told you about Maria McElroy, founder of aroma M, when I tried her Camellia Hair and Face Oils. If you missed that feature, I'll summarize it here (see the link for more background information).

American born artist Maria McElroy synthesized her love of blending colors and textures with her passion for scent to create aroma M perfumes in 1995. Maria's seven-year journey, rich in Japanese history, romance, and mystery, became the genesis for aroma M Beauty and the inspiration for her beauty products.

Maria's appreciation for Japanese culture and aesthetics and her extraordinary experiences in the secretive world of the Kyoto Gion Geishas have been the foundation for aroma M’s Beauty products. Steeped in the ways of ancient Eastern traditions, and adhering to the Eastern mandate that beauty is a daily routine, Maria uses unexpected, precious ingredients in her beauty line.

In her beauty products, she uses organic cold pressed oils and organic essential oils - all carefully selected for the ultimate refined beauty experience. Although she is well known for her fragrances, her beauty line is relatively new. Her initial two offerings were the Camellia Hair Oil and Camellia Face Oil. Then she added the Body/Bath Oil. I have to admit, all of it went straight to my skin; I didn't want to use a drop of it diluted with my bath water. I have less luxurious oils for that.

The fragrant, healing fragrant Body/Bath Oil treatment combines beneficial emollient organic oils (Camellia Seed Oil, Grape Seed Oil, and Golden Jojoba,). It is charged with the synergy of essential oils derived from flowers and other botanicals (Jasmine, Geranium, Frankincense, and Neroli) with the addition of heady Moroccan Rose Oil. Each time I read the ingredients, I swoon.

This elixir effortlessly melts into all skin types without leaving any residue and adds the experience of uplifting, fully natural fragrance to soothe the mind and banish anxiety and moisturize the skin, leaving it soft, supple, and beautifully scented. Even if it didn't moisturize, the aroma of this wonderful oil would have left me in a zen-like state. Application before bed comforts and relaxes me while the oil does its work to prevent scaly skin. Before I started using Maria's Camellia Body/Bath Oil on my legs, I could have traced an urban road map.

If you choose to create a moisturizing bath, add a tablespoon of this luscious oil to a cup of milk (which I never have on hand because I'm lactose intolerant) and soak in its near-magical powers. This is the ideal liquid moisturizer for hydrating skin to create a luminous complexion. Maria McElroy of Aroma M Beauty has combined her experience in the beauty rituals of the Japanese Gion Geisha and Western aromatherapy traditions to create a product for a beneficial and beautiful beauty ritual that combines the best of both traditions.

Camellia oil has been a Japanese beauty secret for centuries, and it is considered to be so beneficial and valuable that it has become a symbol of wealth, virtue. and happiness (I can only testify to happiness). It is made from cold-pressed Japanese camellia (Tsubaki) buds, which are a member of the tea family. It is very lightweight and absorbs well. Camellia oil is lighter than oils like shea butter and jojoba, is hypoallergenic, and will not clog pores. It is a superb daily moisturizer and emollient, protecting the skin from chafing and drying out. It replenishes vital nutrients as it offers a variety of healing, nourishing, and stimulating properties to purify and protect the skin. Camellia oil restores the skin's pH balance and shields the skin from penetration by environmental pollutants. It acts as a natural sun block by forming a barrier against harmful UV rays. It's so complete a treatment that only a dancing bottle could add another feature.

We have yet another snow storm forming on the coast - one that is likely to move in Wednesday night and continue through Thursday. I doubt I can order more and have it delivered by Wednesday. I should have thought about that last week - but I didn't know then how big the snow event might be. I'll order my full bottle this week, though, and luxuriate in this oil as camellia blooming season starts (she says with hope).

There is a store locator here, and it includes online retailers like Luckyscent. If you love flowers, botanical skin treatments, or skin oils, you will love Maria's Camellia Body/Bath Oil. Let us know how you choose to use it. Bath or body - or both?

Photo at top courtesy of aroma M; camellia photo courtesy of Monrovia.com

Sunday This and That

Since I started Best Things in Beauty, I have not suffered a winter like this one. There are very few days when the sun shines, allowing me to take photos. Look at the forecast for this week. See Tuesday? When they say partly cloudy, they really mean you may see the sun briefly if you get lucky. I've seen another photo from the same source that shows a mostly cloudy day. I will be at work and won't have the luxury of running outdoors at the exact time the sun graces us with an appearance - if it does. After that? Next chance will be Saturday. Now I understand why people get depressed in the winter.

I have new makeup and no photos. I hate the thought that they will go unshared because summer collections will be making their way to the counters by the time I can get outside to take photos. The only thing I can tell you is that I love my new Chantecaille goodies; the Clarins neutral eye shadows for winter are very nice; and the new Tom Ford Lipsticks are worth a look-see. I do have photos of a gorgeous new Rouge Bunny Rouge eye palette, but I have not been given the go-ahead to show them to you yet. I'll write this week and beg.

This week, I'll try a new approach and devote the week to beauty treasures that don't really need swatch photos to describe. I think I'll have time to write on most of the days.

What have I been doing?

• Caring for Mom's string of bad luck. (FIOS went missing again this week.)
• Bought a new Audi.
• Shoveling snow (small amounts at a time, thankfully)
• Chipping through ice.
• Keeping my outdoor animals well fed so they can withstand the horrible cold.
• Buying snow boots.
• Suffering over human treatment of animals - and people's treatment of other people.

I am boycotting the Olympics. I will not watch on television. The moment I found out the Russians had hired "exterminators" to rid the Sochi area of stray dogs by poisoning them, I wrote off the Olympics. While rights groups have gone into the country to round up and protect the dogs, the damage that was done to Russia's reputation will remain in my mind forever.

Today, I learned that a healthy young giraffe was shot to death by the Copenhagen Zoo, despite a worldwide protest and offers from other zoos to take him. Why? To prevent inbreeding. The easiest way to prevent inbreeding would have been to allow another zoo to take Marius. Now he will be lion food. What must that poor animal have thought as his keepers turned on him? I cannot post the photo; it's too graphic. I find this act so reprehensible, I must now add Denmark to my "bad countries" list - the one that contains countries that hunt whales; condone killing sharks for their tails, throwing the sharks back in the ocean to die; and the ones that jail human rights activists. It's an ugly world out there. Sometimes its hard to find beauty when you cry through the news. Even Colonel Meow died.

I have been spending a lot of time - too much, probably - on Facebook, and I can recommend some sites for finding feel-good stories. Here's only a sampling of the sites that make me happy.

• The couple writing Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary deserves sainthood. If you like dogs, browse the site and you will be hooked.
• Sir Stuffington is a cat who lives with rescued cats and dogs with two women who are also saints. Their photos and stories are heartwarming.
• I love Bengal Cat World. I see Charlie's distant relatives there.
• Recycled Doggies shows us that there are people with big hearts.

Even though it may seem so, I haven't given up on Best Things in Beauty. I may have to shift the emphasis for a bit. Maybe I'll try to improve my skills in writing about fragrance while I wait for spring, hoping those groundhogs were all incorrect.

I can continue to laugh about the Dr. Perricone paid content (infomercials) that air on DC's NBC station on Saturday evenings. If the brand is so great, why do they need to stoop to the level of Dr. Oz and kitchen gizmos. Have you seen one of these half-hour celebrations on Perricone's "brilliance"? 

I miss you!

Photo courtesy of NBC Washington

Suave Professionals Natural Infusion Seaweed and Lotus Blossom All Day Body Shampoo and Conditioner

How I love it when my hair has body! It looks good. It feels good to the touch. I like my reflection in the mirror. Suave sent me their new Suave Professionals Natural Infusion Seaweed and Lotus Blossom All Day Body Shampoo and Conditioner (each about $4-$6, depending on retailer) to try. I am in love.

I was astonished when I used this duo for the first time. Both the shampoo and conditioner have a pleasant, natural scent, which disappears after the shower. They both have substantially thick textures. After using both, my hair had body - body that lasted not only through the day, but into the next. Need to go a day without shampooing in the morning? Suave may provide the solution.

Enriched with special exotic natural ingredients, such as seaweed and lotus blossom, and free from parabens and dyes, Suave's Seaweed All Day Body Shampoo and Conditioner products gently cleanse while adding body from root to tip leaving uniformly voluminous hair. There seem to be no traces of product left behind, so I really can't figure out how they did it. These new products leave my hair with body and without any weight or coated feeling. My hair bounces with life.

Despite their luxurious effects, these are mass market products. You can find them at drugstores. I am looking now at a price on drugstore.com of $3.99 for the conditioner. Four dollars? Why would I ever buy a $35 shampoo or conditioner again? I've spent way more than that - behavior that I've now sworn off.

Shampoo and conditioner aren't magical. There are some awesome luxury products. I enjoy using them. I've learned through experience that Suave offers me the same luxury at a fraction of the price I've paid in the past. I have become a Suave junkie. I've been using Suave hairsprays for years. Now I'm a convert to the company's extensive hair care line, including its wonderful shampoos and conditioners. Give this new set a try and please let me know what you think.

Photo courtesy of Suave

Giorgio Armani Beauty Rouge d'Armani Sheers from the Effetto Nudo Collection for Spring 2014

Giorgio Armani Beauty's three new Rouge d'Armani Sheers (#314, #514, #614, $34 each) turn nude into light. They were reinvented for a very sheer, glossy mouth to illuminated the lips with pearly pink, coral, and plum shades. Agonizing over a choice on Armani's Web site, I first selected the coral and plum shades. The pink one looked extremely light - maybe too light. However, I caved before I completed my order, so I bought all three.

I was finally able to get photos of them last week. Taken in full, mid-day sunshine, they show how tubes can be deceiving if you don't read descriptions. These are sheer shades, as their name suggests. In this season's case, they are very sheer.

The coral shade, #314, is shown at the top of my arm. The barely pink shade in the middle is #514. My favorite, the plum, is #614. All three offer a radiant finish to your lips with very sheer color. Fortunately, it's not goulish - not even the light pink. Think of them as tinted lip balms.

I did apply the sheer shades to my arm heavily, going over and over my swatches to get as much color/pigment as possible for these photos. On the lips, they leave a sheer tint, with #614 leaving the most color. The peachy #314 comes in second in pigmentation.

I like them. They are hydrating, shiny, and perfect for mirror-free application on the go. However, I do understand that others will find them to be almost invisible on the lips. Your own lip pigmentation and feelings about uber-sheer lip colors may be your deciding factors.

You should be able to find the new Rouge d'Armani Sheers at Armani Beauty counters. I ordered my pieces from the collection on the Armani Beauty Web site.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Giorgio Armani Beauty Fluid Sheer Enhancing Fluid #13 from the Spring 2014 Effetto Nudo Collection

I love Giorgio Armani's Fluid Sheers - I have from the first introductions years ago. I always have to have every single color - even the ones that don't look like naturals for me. They are magical! As you might imagine, then, the newest innovation, Fluid Sheer Enhancing Fluid (#13, $62), enticed me.

Fluid Sheer Radiant Pigment, enriched with kaleidoscopic pearls, is used to enhance the complexion on the cheekbones or to blend with foundation for a warmed and radiant complexion or as an eye shadow primer - even an eye shadow, blusher, and bronzer, depending on the shade. It's an amazing multitasker. The #13 color effect travels from pink to gold depending on the angle of the light, for a sculpting, luminous effect. The new shade is translucent and universal, bringing to the complexion a soft, delicate radiance and a healthy glow.

The first thing I noticed when it arrived from Armani Beauty (I purchased it on the Web site), was that it was a pearly white - rather than a very light golden beige, as shown in the press photo above. That didn't matter to me. As I said, I purchase every Fluid Sheer shade.

On my skin, #13 applies as an almost white shade - like milk - but when blended, it takes on the tones of my skin, which I find totally amazing. I could see a teeny tiny bit of pink-peach and a bit of gold in #13 once I blended it. Still, it retained its pearly finish, yielding a grand, radiant color on my skin.

My swatch photos were terrible. You know me: I'm always trying to capture subtleties with my camera. I took my photos in full, mid-day sunshine, and many were washed out. I applied a droplet straight from the pump dispenser at the top of my arm and another on my finger, which I then used to blend the color into my skin in a larger swatch below. I snapped one photo that I was willing to publish.

Isn't it miraculous how a white droplet can blend to a pearly gold? I think Mr. Armani is the only designer who can expertly make transparent fabrics and makeup that move and morph with the light.

I rejected the rest of my swatch photos, and I won't be able to pull of a re-do. The sky looks like snow, which is predicted for the overnight and morning hours. I have had it with clouds and snow, and it's only the first of February. Today, I had hoped to get the spring Chantecaille photos taken. It's not going to happen. At least I have swatch photos of the new Rouge d'Armani Sheers that I'll be able to show you tomorrow. I hope you won't be bored by the time I can get swatch photos of all my new treasures.

Last weekend, the collection was not available at my local Neiman Marcus. By now, I'd be surprised it you can't find it at all Armani Beauty counters. If you are hunkered down at home, you can always purchase from the collection at the Armani Beauty Web site - like I did.

Photo at top courtesy of Giorgio Armani Beauty: other photos by Best Things in Beauty