Fall Trend: Feathers!

Chanel Fall 2007 Couture
Nina Ricci Fall 2007 Ready-To-Wear

This fall will be a flight of fashion, and so it is only appropriate to throw a little feather in the mix. This was a huge trend at the Chanel and Nina Ricci shows, both of which are high-octane houses known to start hot new looks. Just an accent lends a couture vibe to a look. To avoid looking like the most stylish Big Bird on the street, keep this look to accessories. A hair elastic or headband would look fabulous with a hint of plumage. But you better hurry before this trend migrates out of the fashion climate!

pictures courtesy of http://www.style.com/

I put a spell on you

Clean & Clear Advantage Invisible Acne PatchIt is hard to escape the media madness, but in honor of the final installment of the Harry Potter series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows," I have decided to reveal my own little magic spell. Whenever I see the beginning of an unsightly red bump, I whip out my own little magic wand, the Clean & Clear Advantage Invisible Acne Patch. I have tried countless spot treatments, and this one is a revolutionary stand-out. It dries to a clear patch on the skin, even temporarily flattening the pimple. This allows for a seamless application of concealer. You can hide that little bump while killing it with a powerful dose of a little magic potion I like to call salicylic acid.

Sure Harry has his wand, but if I can say abracadabra to pimples, that's fine with me!

picture courtesy of http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/graphics/filmslide/harry5/h4.jpg

Summer Skin Savers

Summer is all about having beautiful, clear skin. It can be especially hard when the weather aggravates your skin, making it that much more important to follow a rigorous skin care system. Here are some of my favorite inexpensive skin care finds. Now I am not a dermatologist, but if you feel so inclined to try some of these products that work for me, then I hope they work for you as well!

Boots No7 4 in 1 Quick Thinking Wipes

The best makeup remover wipes. Ever. Period. These make it super easy to take off even the toughest makeup at night, leaving your face clean and ready to soak up every bit of your skincare to its full potential. I actually look forward to using these because of how refreshed your skin feels, almost as if every pore is saying "aaahhhh".

Neutrogena® Oil-Free Acne Wash

This is an everyday, all year long must have for me. It is a gentle yet powerful cleanser that makes my skin look and feel really clean (yes, I know I sound like one of those sickeningly sweet Neutrogena spokeswomen but bear with me here). It really gets rid of that grime and residue that sits on your skin by the end of the day. If you have tried many cleansers and they are either too harsh for your skin or are too expensive, this might work for you as well. Bonus: there is also something strangely pleasing about the smell of this, don't ask me why!

CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion

Oh, I am ever so grateful to my dermatologist for turning me on to this lovely product. I have tried and been unsatisfied with many moisturizers and for many different reasons. "My skin feels so greasy!" or "This burns the minute I put it on!" are common shouts heard from the bathroom. This moisturizer passes by with flying colors because it not only moisturizes my Sahara desert skin but also makes it feel just like...skin. I know, it's amazing! It just works, no fluff.

Hawaiian Tropic Oil Free Faces Sunblock, SPF 30

What would summer be without sunscreen? When your skin already feels oily from the humidity and the sun who wants to slather on a filmy stick? This goes on so smooth it almost feels like a primer, giving your skin a fantastic matte finish. The best part is that this has a long-lasting silky finish, with light-reflecting particles to make your skin glow that much more in the sun.

Colette

And so as Paris left jail, so did I leave Paris.

All good things come to an end, and that means a really wonderful vacation in the City of Lights! I have never seen such beautiful architecture and art, every corner had another surprise. If any of you have the opportunity in your life to go to Europe, definitely take the time to just look around, soak it up, and enjoy the gorgeous city.

Now on to the good part. The shopping in Paris was a dream! It was so hard to choose from one unique shop to another. Not only were the boutiques amazing, but even the pharmacies stocked hard-to-find luxe beauty goods. It was hard to choose what I would blog about first, but I have chosen a worthy contender.

Colette is the Kitson of Paris. This means that it is the mecca of insider trends. Every inch of the three-level building is bursting with the next big thing in Parisian style. There are books, CDs, skincare, makeup, fragrance, toys, accessories, and high-end fashion, just to name a few. There is even a restaurant in the basement, heating up the building and making it the perfect escape on a chilly day (but unfortunately not so great in the sweltering heat).

It was so hard to choose from all of the quirky finds at the super boutique, the dollar being so weak right now, that I narrowed it down to three. I bought this cute pair of skinny black jeans, a Colette mix CD, and a cute handmade teddy bear key chain.

If you ever have the opportunity to go the Paris, put Colette on your list. It's a madhouse of quirk, creativity, and people, but it is so worth it.

picture courtesy of http://uri.cat/portfolio/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/colette-Window_low-5.jpg