WE LUST THIS: CALIFORNIA BABY PRODUCTS

Jessica Iclisoy, the beauty behind California Baby Products, has launched two new products we absolutely adore.


www- Every fashionista worth her luxury bag has a few beauty secrets or two to keep her skin as beautiful as her wardrobe. I'm more than willing to share (one of) mine with you: California Baby. Never you mind the word "baby." While these products were formulated for tiny tots, innovative adults, like myself have them to be plenty helpful in keeping my skin clean, moisturized and above all, baby soft. The product line is pretty extensive, but the two which speak to me are her latest: Wash up Moisturizing Handwash and Baby Aloe Vera Cream. Here's the what, where, and why this is so damn good below.


What: Wash Up Moisturizing Handwash
Where: Available at www.californiababy.com for $19.99
Why: Cleanliness is key, and this product allows you to achieve it in the most gentle and eco friendly way. Iclisoy uses a combination of coconut oil, witch hazel and gardenia flowers as well as natural disinfectants to create a dynamic, sweet smelling and super gentle soap. I use it for my hands, and for my body as well. It's that good.



What: Aloe Vera Cream
Where: Available at www.californiababy.com for $12.99
Why: Honestly, moisturizing is believing. I went through this jar in one week flat. I generally overdose on creams like a bagista at the Chanel store, but the fact that this product is so versatile made it doubly so. It can be used for shaving, after a facial to calm down your skin, or to help with burns. I stock this in my cabinet like a first aid kit! Once you try it, you'll totally get why!

THIS SHOULDN'T BE TRUE, BUT IT IS: APPLE BOTTOMS LAUNCHES A FRAGRANCE

www - yep. you read right. APPLE BOTTOMS IS LAUNCHING A FRAGRANCE. now if you are anything like me, that statement confounds and astounds you. your spirit cannot rest because something must be wrong with the verbiage. is it the full caps? is it the term apple bottoms? is it the reality that there is actually a product on the market called apple bottoms? or is it the news that the entity titled apple bottoms was actually able to secure funding to launch anything, let alone a fragrance? my dear blaynista, it is all - and i mean ALL - of the above. why? can you explain? but i digress....the news of the day is: nelly, via his successful clothing line, apple bottom is debuting a fragrance which will be in stores this fall. here's what stylecaster had to say about it: "With fragrance notes thought to represent the confident, sexy, and trendy Apple Bottoms woman – the same woman his clothing line is designed to flatter – the fragrance has top notes of fresh citrus, tropical fruit, and pink peony, sensual and feminine middle notes of apple blossom, rose, and coconut flakes, and creamy base notes of sandalwood, cedarwood, golden amber, and velvet musks." so my question is this: are any of these top and bottom notes strong enough to mask the musk of....apple bottom launching a fragrance?

BEAUTY BEAT: MAC STYLE WARRIOR COLLECTION

www - i love mac and it's slickly packaged and marketed collections. what i can't figure out is....is there ever a real difference between these products besides a totally cool, conceptual package? please help this budding beautynista get it. in the meantime, the products are available right now at www.maccosmetics.com. zandile blay

BEAUTY FIX: SIMPLE CLEANSING FACIAL WIPES

what: simple cleansing facial wipes
where: duane reade stores nation wide or log on to www.duanereade.com
why: if you are like me, monday morning will find you in your flat uptown, but tuesday morning will see you at em....a friend's....house downtown. despite an unexpected change in location, a busy fashionista must still keep her grooming together. enter: simple cleansing facial wipes. these portable wipes cleanse, hydrate, and refresh your skin. its alcohol and oil free, so it won't dry out your skin or clog your pores. best part it's only $5.99.


pic: thanks to fashionweekdaily.com

CHANEL STRIKES (BEAUTY) GOLD

the new gold collection from chanel. according to peter philips, the label' creative director for makeup, it was inspired by coco chanel's apartment in paris.

model natalia vladinova in the ads for the new line which will debut later on in the year. (wwd.com)

paris - i for one love it! chanel's rich and innovative history with beauty and make up products continues with its new fall collection of beauty products. the line was developed by peter philips, chanel's new creative director of makeup. it will debut in july and price points are pretty decent. here's the break down according to womens wear daily: "The collection includes Gold Fiction, a softly shimmering nail polish, $30; Facettes D’Or, a finely milled gold loose powder that reads on the skin as a subtle glow, $56; Gold Light Glossimer lip gloss, $26; Rouge Hydrabase lipstick shades in copper, plum and coral, each $27, and a quad eye shadow palette with gold, coffee, ivory and dark green eye colors, $56."

SOMETHING FABULOUS FOR FEBRUARY

behold m.j's new fragrance ring. this is just too posh!

world wide - so you know our obsession with coty prestige and our love for ms. alana stahl. well, she's passed another lovely scoop our way, and i want to share it with you. marc jacobs' amazing new fragrance, daisy (the bottle alone seduced me!) is now available in a portable form. the bottle makes me melt!

i'm not talking tiny sample bottles though. instead, they are offering stylish options like a perfume ring ($30 usd) or a portable purse spray ($40 usd) that comes with a refill. starting this february, they are available at bloomingdales in america on online, worldwide.

BEAUTY FIX: DR. WOODS SOAPS

dear readers: please get into this. you have never had a bath - never - until you have lathered yourself in the tingly, peppermint goodness that is dr. woods castille soap. i first came across this while shopping at c.o. bigelows in new york city and picked it up out of curiosity. that - and coming to america - are the best decisions i've ever made. see details on why below.

what: dr. woods peppermint castille soap. (it also comes in lavendar, almond, tea trea and black soap)
where: www.drwoods.com, whole foods, c.o. bigelows
why: fresh, clean, minty skin that is soft to touch and wonderful to smell.
co$t: $5 to $40 depending on the size

BEAUTY FIX: BIGELOWS LIP BALM

of course, my legendary fashion fix column had to get a spinoff! so welcome to beauty fix: same concept, different products. and the first beauty fix goes to....bigelows "my favorite lip balm" lip balm....

t-t-t-tasty-tasty! you'll love this! trust me! (bigelowschemists.com)

what: my favorite lip balm (that's the actual name) by bigelows
where: www.bigelowchemists.com or Bath and Body Works Stores Nationwide
why: because you want- scratch that - need kissable and soft lips that shine,and pop and will taste really good. (i mean that in a purely non-raunchy way ofcourse!) but seriously, i can't say enough about this lip gloss. i own it in spearmint. it gives amazing shine and conditions your lips beautifully.
co$t: $5.50 to $9 (varies based on where you buy)