Get Your Glow On! NEW Summer Shimmers & Sultry Fragrances

Sultry Summer Treats: VS Brightening Gel Cream, PF Sexy Booster Bronzer, Givenchy Very Irresistible & Playboy's Play it Rock

Summer is all but here and it's time for bare shoulders and lighter fragrances. Nothing looks more beautiful than a bronze shimmer on naked skin and thanks to a few new formulas, you can fake it till you make it!
I especially like products that offer both color and fragrance so first up in this category is Physician's Formula NEW Sexy Booster, Sexy Glow Bronzer:

PE's NEW Sexy Booster, Sexy Glow Bronzer is infused with a warm vanilla scent

Warm Vanilla Scent
The little corset design is especially sweet as is the yummy vanilla fragrance. It is very subtle, not heavy and can be used on your face, jawline, decolletage and collarbones for a super sculpted look. It has become my favorite powder bronzer of the season.

Hard Candy's Glow All the Way Bronzer
I really like this all in one bronzer, highlighter as it is made with 24K gold for a subtle sheen and glitter. The perfect way to be shiny day or night! Rub a bit of this along the side length of your leg for a beautiful, toned, sculpted look. Comes in various shades for a light bit of color to a deeper, rich tan color.

Playboy's Play it Rock 
A super sexy-summer fragrance, perfect for a day at a beach resort. The Playboy Play it Rock scent for women is very similar to Lancome's Hypnose with a spicy undertone but in my opinion, more complex.  It's by Coty and can be found in many drugstores.

Givenchy's Very Irresistible Spray Eau de Toilette
This is one of my favorite fragrances from the fashion house of Givenchy. It's light with warm musk undertones that play with your own natural scent. Eau de Toilette comes in a pink hombre bottle with a clear crystal top.    

To Market with Basil's Cosa Basket & Vejibag

Basil NL Rear Cosa Basket and Vejibag shopping the Farmer's Market

Summer is the perfect time to take advantage of all of the in season, local produce on display at the Farmer's Market.  Even if you live in New York City, there is a program that allows local New York State growers to set up an open air market in the city limits. At our estate in rural New Jersey, farm stands and one of the largest Farmer's Markets on the east coast are all within cycling distance.  We also have a local Wegmans which carries a lot of fresh and organic produce.

To Market, To Market...
I really enjoy riding my bicycle and going to the farm market is just another excuse to take in the fresh air. That's why I have a Blackburn Rear Rack on my Nishiki Sport Touring Bicycle. It accommodates panniers, carry-alls, handbags and this super sized Basil Rear Cosa Basket. It slides on via a clamp system and locks on tight. The handles fold down and lock to keep the contents from flying out during the ride. Some people like front baskets but there is a lot less wind resistance having one like this on the back. The fact that it is mesh means that any tail lights you have will still be visible but I like to add a blinkie to the back of this basket for extra safety.

The Basil Cosa handles close down to keep your goodies from flying out.

Vejibag
The amazing editor of GaveThat.com treated me to a new bag of tricks this season.  There are a lot of vegetable storage bags for your refrigerator but the Vejibag is unique in that it is made of organic cotton.  Much better than plastic, it provides just the right amount of humidity for your vegetables to be totally slime-free until you eat them. I find the Vejibag is also a good idea for storing delicate fruits and vegetables, (berries, pears, carrots, etc.) en route from the market to your kitchen. 

My fruits and vegetables are all fresh and unbruised in the Vejibag

Summer Heat
This is especially so in the summer heat when your grapes can turn to raisins and your plums into prunes in the hot sun! The Vejibag is very simple to use.  Just wet it with cool water, wring it out and place your veggies inside for the trip home. A super way to keep them from bruising from the ride too. Given the right humidity, your vegetables will keep in the Vejibag for more than week with out going slimy.  This makes a lovely hostess gift for your next summer BBQ but be sure to buy a few for yourself before heading out to the Farmer's Market.

So chill!  Summer means the BEST fresh fruit and vegetable smoothies. VitaMix 5200 Power Blender

 

Naturalizer Penny Leather Handbag ORANGE is the New Black

Summer 2013, NYC: I'm so ready to celebrate summer! Now you may be more familiar with Naturalizer shoes for their unparalleled comfort but their leather handbags are of equal beauty and quality.

This season, add a pop of color with this luxurious color way trending in orange.  All of the top designers from Hermes to MK (Michael Kors) are making similar bags in this rich color as a bold fashion statement. Personally for me black is blah for summer and fall so this was a refreshing change from the darker tones of winter. 

Naturalizer's Penny Handbag in Orange Leather & Italian Silk Scarf

From the Office to the Hamptons
What I like about this handbag is it's fine crafting and versatility. It's roomy enough to fit a file folder for the boardroom but pop on a little silk scarf and it's ready for vacation travel. In fact the leather itself is very close to being fine luggage quality. Like well made luggage, it has metal feet and metal reinforcements on the straps. There is an outside pouch for your cell and a slit/lined pouch in the back.

Above: Interior of the Penny.  Below Camelia Flower Makeup Bag by Chanel.

The Penny Handbag is richly appointed inside and out with a beautiful textile lined interior. The inside pouch is ample but the center zippered pouch is genius. It acts as a natural divider, keeping your purse contents in their place. There's a pouch for your sunglasses and what-nots but I like to pop my car keys in there for quick access. I like the magnetic center clasp that keeps everything together as this is the perfect bag to mix business and pleasure. Here are some other features of the Penny:
The Penny Handbag Has:

• Top zip closure
• Front and back pockets
• Interior features open and zipper compartments
• Textile lining
• Shoulder straps with an 8 inch drop
• 13 1/2 inches long X 10 inches high X 6 inches wide

 
 

Naturalizer Penny Handbag on a rainy day, this bag can hold its own in bad weather.

I paired this handbag with Earthies Solerno Too Wedges in Spice available at Nordstrom

C/O Naturalizer whose marvelous shoes I have purchased for many years and Earthies, a new level in comfort.

Editor's Choice: Spray and Go Vaseline with Cocoa Butter Review

That's right, plain old Vaseline Petroleum Jelly but with a tropical twist.

I've always been somewhat ambivalent about body lotions. I mean every beauty editor out there (myself included), tells us to moisturize after our bath or shower.  Sounds simple enough but for years, I've not seen much benefit from doing that until now.

Sometimes we over-look the simple, (read inexpensive), options available even if they have been documented to work. I was watching a daytime talk show snip on YouTube. Dr. Oz was interviewing super models like Beverly Johnson who said she has used Petroleum Jelly since she was a child. When they tested her and the other model's skin, they found it was at least 10 years younger than their stated age!

They all spoke of using raw oils both inside and out but the Petroleum Jelly idea stuck with me. I decided to try the new Vaseline with pure cocoa butter and add it to my daily moisturizing routine. I later added up to about 50% pure, Nature's Approved organic extra virgin coconut butter to my jar of cocoa butter infused Vaseline.  Likewise you can enrich nearly any of your favorite products with pure, organic oils.
As Dr. Oz said, most of these raw oils, (used externally and internally), also have antioxidant properties which might explain their ability to help keep you young.

Organic Sweet Almond and Argan Oils via Natural Sourcing

The only change in my after-shower moisturizing routine is to apply my Vaseline-Cocoa Butter- Coconut Oil mixture over my favorite moisturizer. Vaseline in and of itself, seals in moisture, holding it in for many hours so it's like the icing on the cake over a good cream. Over the past few months, I've noticed my skin having a deep, rich glow and suppleness I haven't seen since I was 5! You don't have to do this every day either. If your feet and heels are dryer than the rest of your skin, apply moisturizer, some petroleum jelly and then cover with some wool socks over-night. You will wake up to softer, more dewy skin. Add a few drops of Organic Argan Oil and you have a deep conditioner for your hair. You can do some serious beauty multi-tasking here.

New Spray and Go Moisturizers from Vaseline

I really think they are onto something here, especially with their Cocoa Radiant formula.  Just think of all the hard to reach places you can spray for an all over moisturizing treatment. It actually absorbs very quickly so you can go ahead and get dressed.  The spray smells faintly of a sugar cookie. It's not greasy and offers multi-layer penetration. If you have time for an extra rich treat, top this off with the Vaseline Petroleum with Cocoa Butter. Yum! I also purchased the Vaseline Total Moisture Cocoa Radiant Lotion in the traditional pump bottle. Same basic formula as the Spray & Go which I think absorbs faster than the pumped cream.
 
The Cocoa Connection
Cocoa butter naturally contains antioxidants and theobromines which are close relatives to caffeine. This means products with real cocoa butter, (Theobroma cocao) will give your skin a bit of a lift and tightness. If you love chocolate, as I do, this is the moisturizer for you! I use these concoctions on my body, face and hair just like Beverly Johnson.  Obviously it's still working for her!

Cocoa is rich in antioxidants.  Here are cocoa supplements, a pod and beans in their natural state

Petroleum jelly is pretty inert and does not clog the pores despite it's oily rap. Marilyn Monroe was said to have gooped this stuff on before applying her makeup. I don't know about that but it is one of the best makeup REMOVERS I know of. Even when you add natural oils to the mix, PJ is still a lot less expensive yet more effective than many other moisturizing products.

Dr. Marie J. Miczak - Health & Fitness Author - Editor

The Secret of Staying Young
If you want skin like mine when you get to be, "ahem", 30 something, get started now.  If you'd like more tips on beauty, nutrition and fitness, check out my book, The Secret of Staying Young, Lotus Press on Amazon

A Chic Fashion Carry All for Your Bicycle?

GLC (Give Love Cycle) Small Guilden Carry All in Bone is ready for your next bicycle ride!

BIKE MONTH 2013 NYC: If you are ready to foray into warmer weather and are looking for a fashionable handbag/carry all for the summer, I've got a secret.  This Guilden Carry All by Give Love Cycle not only looks fantastic on your arm but is fully able to hitch a ride downtown on your bicycle. This is THE way to celebrate May as National Bicycle Month while treating yourself to a handbag that looks fantastic both on and off the bike.

Guilden Small Carry All makes an elegant fashion statement both on and off your bicycle

Made of washable poly urethane, this bag is fully appointed with outside and inside zippered pouches, key clip and open pouches for your cell and other electronics.  Large enough to hold your bicycle helmet and a lot more, it comes with feet and it's own draw-stringed dustcover.

The Guilden is roomy enough to fit this X-L Nutcase Bicycle Helmet

This bag definitely has a Louis Vuitton vibe going on but is rugged enough for a ride on your rear rack. It actually was designed by a pair of college roommates and bike share mavericks, Mariana R. Chambers and Debra Zusin to fit the CitiBike racks and baskets but as you can see below, it quickly straps onto nearly any rear rack. Isn't this #Lucky?

I really like to see designers put together an item that they actually use.  Mariana knows the NYC Bike Path all too well and wanted a carry all that not only looks chic but functions as a complete transport system. Now that the NYC Bike Share Program is finally getting underway this month, this is the perfect bag to celebrate with. So if you are looking for an elegant carry all that can go from the bike path to the boardroom, this is it.

GLC's Guilden Carry All in Bone with this Sweet Summer Outfit!

Summer Bicycle Commute Outfit:

Bicycle Helmet: Fire Engine Red Matte Crossover by Nutcase Helmets
Hat: NEW Paper Straw Tinsley Fedora by Pistil Designs
Dress: Craghoppers NosiLife Gabriela with Solar & Insect Shield in Litchen Green
Scarf: NEW Okeefe in Red by Pistil Designs  
Handbag: GLC's Guilden Carry All in Bone 
Shoes: NEW Naya Maeve Leather Sandals in Oxford Brown available at Nordstroms 

Don't forget your helmet!  Bike to Work Week is May 13th - 17th. Bike to Work Day is May 17th.