Elegance, sophistication and glamour … three words that come to mind when I think of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Olivier Creed was thinking along the same lines when he created a new fragrance called Love in Black. Inspired by the former first lady, Creed carefully chose ingredients based upon places Jackie loved to travel and the end result is a fantastic scent in a unique bottle made from black sand.

The top note is violet from Italy, night-blooming wildflowers of the Greek isles and Virginia cedar. The heart note is a very smooth Tonkin musk, iris from Florence and clove. Finally, the base is blackcurrant from Bourgogne, France, and also includes Bulgarian rose- a scent that I picked up on right away.

The result is intense, but indisputably elegant. In testing it I did a Carmen Kressley-style “spray, delay and walk away” (spray it, wait a second and walk through it) and had the perfect amount on. Two people in my office (separately) told me how great I smelled- I thought that said a lot for Love in Black.

Love in Black is available online at Neiman Marcus. It is $130 for a 1.0 oz. and $230 for 2.5 oz.

Previous Post: Accessorize with a scarf

Labels: 2008 Cosmetic Executive Women, creed, fall fashion, FitFlops, gifts for women, love in black, perfume

Fall is right around the corner and one accessory that will guide you comfortably from a warm day to a cool night is a scarf.

Not just for winter anymore, scarves made from linen and cotton are being worn with t-shirts, dresses and tank tops. Worn loosely, these lighter scarves are meant to be casual and are an easy accessory to toss in your purse to keep you warm and add a touch of color to any outfit.

Lindsay Lohan, Lauren Conrad, Nikki Hilton, Jessica Alba and Amanda Bynes are fans of Italian linen scarves by Love Quotes, $85. Sold online and at Lisa Kline, 10% of the proceeds of Love Quotes scarves are donated to international children’s charities. These are available in a wide variety of colors including beach, blue pearl, parfait, raspberry mousse and surf. An inspirational quote is included with each scarf.

If $85 is a little too pricey, Amici has some beautiful options (shown below) including a deep purple cotton print, $12, a sand brown cotton print scarf and a deep blue bobble trim scarf, $18.

ElleGirl has a great slide show on how to tie the scarf several different ways, including the slip knot, the reverse wrap-around, the cowboy collar and the bow tie.




Previous Post: Exercising with an iPod

Labels: celebrity haircuts, fall fashion, famous haircuts, FitFlops, indulge, lisa kline, love quotes, scarf, spa

From a waistband to an armband, people are clipping iPods all over the place and now they have secured it to a new spot - the back of the neck. And, while at first I felt a little bit like a child with a sign stuck on my back, I got over it and was really impressed with this new device when I sampled it on a recent jog through Boston.

It looks almost like a plastic headband that slides firmly on the back of the neck, holding the iPod and its cords so people can listen to music without all the wires. Called the 'nekFIT,' it is a new product that is targeted toward athletes and others engaged in activities in which they want to use their iPod, but in a place that's out of the way. The nekFIT has buttons that go over the click wheel of the iPod so it is fairly easy to change your songs. A playlist is probably your best bet though.


The product is available immediately for $33.95 direct from the company at http://www.nekfit.com/ or through Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/.

Labels: celebrity haircuts, Donate Hair, famous haircuts, FitFlops, indulge, Indulgence, ipod, jennifer aniston hair, Make-up application tips, nekFIT

Trends for shoes this fall are bold, sparkling and sometimes a little wild as animal prints, primary colors and crystals were favorites among designers for the season. Here are some of the hottest looks in footwear to get your fall fashion in full force.


Wild wedges
As usual, snake skin seems to be the biggest animal print this year. It was seen slithering down the runways in the form of a wedge (below) at Gucci Fall/Winter 2008/2009 women's collection - along with matching bags. Giraffe and leopard are great on pumps, stilettos and wedges as well, but as always, everything in moderation. Just a tiny patch of print goes a very long way and is best worn on one article of clothing at a time.














Tall cuffed boots
Whether you like them flat or with heels these boots look great over tights of a similar tone or skinny jeans. Suede versions in grey and purple are big this fall and Chinese Laundry has a great pair (below) called ‘Tahoe’ for $99. Those also come in black and a deep brown. This may sound VERY 1980s, but I have a currently looking for stirrup jeans to wear under my cuffed boots so my jeans don’t get all bunched. Any suggestions?

















Silky satin
Forget the dyables you have worn as a bridesmaid in every wedding since 1990 … satin shoes no longer have to match your dress. For a look that really pops, pair in a bold color of satin heels (such as red, yellow or blue) with a simple dress or jeans.
















Bohemian biker
You don’t have to ride a Harley to get some edge into your wardrobe. These motorcycle boots from Gucci Fall/Winter 2008/2009 women's collection had minimal metal, clean lines and fringe that gave it a hint of hippie. They were paired with tights, flowing tops and colorful scarves which gave them a softer look.
























Bright and bold
Colors are big this fall and can come in many shapes and sizes. Jewel tones along with many primary colors will be seen in solids, not patterns, on shoes. Sky blue apparently means the sky is the limit on what you wear them with if you are as brave as Katie Holmes …





















Happy shoe shopping!


Previous post: Donate hair to Locks of Love

Labels: 2008 Cosmetic Executive Women, celebrity haircuts, eyelash extensions, fall fashion, fall shoes, famous haircuts, FitFlops, indulge, Indulgence, polished, shoes

By guest contributor Chris O’Brien

Looking for a bit of Madison Avenue in a bottle? The Bond No. 9 New York Beaches collection of men's cologne uses the Big Apple’s beach getaways as basis for their perfume’s identity. With fragrances ranging in names from Fire Island, to Hamptons, the company conjures romantic images of N.Y.’s posh beachfront.

Labels: Big Apple cologne, Bond No. 9, Father's day gifts, FitFlops, Gifts for men, indulge, men's cologne, polished, Treatments

Your neck is cramped, your skin feels grimy, you look a little faded … and now you find out your flight is delayed. That may have been a big hassle years ago, but now you can utilize this quality time normally spent in a hard plastic airport chair relaxing and rejuvenating in a comfy spa chair. Airport spas are now a place to unwind and beautify thanks to an array of relaxation locations that have popped up in terminals around the world.

Services for luxury travelers
Take XpresSpa for example. As one of the biggest airport spas it serves 20,000 travelers a month at 34 locations including Logan, D/FW, JFK, Houston Bush Intercontinental, San Francisco and more. Services comprise of massages, waxing, facials and manicure/pedicure. The menu is standard with the exception of add-ons to facials including an olive oil and leaf mask, an exfoliating papaya mask and a ginseng and spirulina mask.

Fast massage at the airport
If you’re interested in a fast massage at the airport between connecting flights, the Massage Bar, with locations in Seattle, Dulles, Nashville, Sacramento and more, offers a 15-minute or 30-minute massage with no appointment required. Or - because your feet are exhausted- you can kick back, lay on a heated neck and shoulder wrap and get a foot massage. One of the best features of the Massage Bar is that many of their services do not require you to undress. This is a draw to those who need a quick massage but couldn't be hassled with changing.

Airport spa in Vancouver
The Absolute Spa at Vancouver Int’l takes airport grooming to an entirely new level with steam showers, self tanning and a private resting suite equipped with aromatherapy and music. They also offer an assortment of unique services including the Bon Voyage Moor Mud Manicure, the Circulator Anti-Swelling Leg Massage, and an oxygen spa that gives an ‘Oxygen boost with fresh citrus or aroma oil.’ If you want to look good right off the plane Absolute offers haircuts and make-up touch-ups.

Here are some airport spas to help you relax and revitalize on the go:

Baltimore-Washington International Airport
Destination Relaxation

Boston Logan
Jetsetter Mini Spa
Classique Hair & Nail Salon

Calgary International Airport
Destination Relaxation

Chicago O’Hare
The BackRub Hub

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Int’l Airport
10 Minute Manicure

Dallas/Ft. Worth Int’l Airport
XpresSpa

Denver Int’l Airport
A Massage Inc.

Indianpolis Int’l Airport
Passport Travel Spa

Newark Liberty Int’l
Massage Bar

N.Y. JFK
Oasis Day Spa
XpresSpa

N.Y. Laguardia
XpresSpa

Sacramento Int’l Airport
Massage Bar

San Francisco Int’l Airport
XpresSpa

Seattle-Tacoma
Massage Bar

Toronto Pearson
10 Minute Manicure

Vancouver International Airport
Absolute Spa

Washington Dulles International Airport
Massage Bar

Do you know of any places where you can get a good haircut or a fast massage at the airport? Let me know!

Previous Post: Celebrity hairdresser Allen Edwards

Labels: Absolute spa, airport spa, BWI, celebrity haircuts, eyelash extensions, famous haircuts, FitFlops, grooming, indulge, Indulgence, JFK, Logan, nails, polished, Skin, toronto, vancouver, xpress spa

Is the work of six hands better than two? That depends … are you a bottle-capper at Schlotz brewery (ala Laverne & Shirley) or are you responsible for walking 12 Bichon Frise through Central Park? Then yes. But what about six hands all working together to give you a massage at the same time … indulgent or strange?

The Thai Privilege Spa, decorated impeccably with flowing silk, candles and bamboo in Soho, offers this Siam Nirvana massage. UrbanDaddy describes the zen-like six-handed treatment as an encounter that starts with greetings and tea … “And then the symphony begins. The three expertly trained therapists work in chorus to create a sensation your body has never known (a rare feat).”

The Siam Nirvana is said to be so incredibly breathtaking it could make you feel as if you never want a two-handed massage again. If there ever was a time when a regular massage just wasn’t good enough ... this could be it.

The 75-minute massage is $590 and must be booked 48 hours in advance.

Definitely for the privileged.

Previous Post: Review of lip plumpers

Labels: eyelash extensions, FitFlops, indulge, Indulgence, Massage, polished, Six-handed massage, Skin, spa, Thai Privledge, Treatments, UrbanDaddy

By guest contributor Dee Murray

Plumping is pain. That’s all there is to it.

It’s a pleasant pain really. One, when not achieved by an advertised ‘plumping’ product is jerkingly disappointing.

But please. You need not pout – unless it’s plumper induced. Now, you can buy the best without the fear of pucker disappointment. Below, we’ve ranked 5 lip plumpers … and all we have to say is … May the best burn win …

Perricone MD
Lip Plumper
Price: $35
Available at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Sephora and online at http://www.perriconemd.com/

What they say:
Perricone MD claims to be scientific serum for age correct, anti-aging. It’s selling points tout making lips appear fuller, minimizing the appearance of fine lines around the mouth and restoring a more youthful look.

What I say:
It looks pretty impressive. That’s for sure. Perricone MD arrives in a pharmaceutical looking box, containing a very chic copper-ish tube. And it even wows with technical speak like contains ‘alpha lipoic acid’ and ‘DMAE.’

But disappointingly, nothing. Not even a tingle. Not even a flicker. Absolutely nothing. Used throughout the day for two solid days, constant checks and kissy faces in the mirror garnered no pucker-perfect profile.

Bottom line: Big price tag, even bigger disappointment. (Come to find out, Dr. Perricone’s a guy. …)

Wet n Wild
Mega Plump
Price: $3.99
To find a retailer near you, check out http://wnwbeauty.com/wheretobuy/index.php

What they say:
This brilliantly sheer lip gloss contains Maxi-Lip™ for full, kissable lips, while Vitamins A, E & aloe vera delivers moisture with just a hint of sheer, shiny color. The more you use it the longer the plump lasts - feel the tingle working!

What I say:
Wet n Wild is awesome. It is the most fun, most colorful and most affordable brand of makeup on the market. I love it. This lip plumper is no exception. The colors are electric, the gloss is shiny, sassy and long-lasting and the tingle is tantalizing!

Upon first application of the gloss, I timed the slight burn/tingle at about 10 minutes before it fizzled to nothingness. But upon second application, it lasted about 25 minutes and I noticed a slight plumpness for about an hour. I wouldn’t call this plumping ‘Mega’ as the name entails, but it was noticeable.

Bottom line: Smart value. Great color choices, nice plumping effects. But ‘mega’ is probably not the most accurate of descriptions.


Sephora
Plumping Lip Gloss
Price: $10
Purchase at Sephora retail stores across country and online at sephora.com

What they say:
Maximum volume paired with a sweet, glossy finish makes Plumping Gloss the perfect choice for pout perfection. Natural pepper and mint extracts stimulates microcirculation, resulting in rosy, full lips, and vitamin E nourishes the lips for irresistibly kissable lips.

What I say:
Sephora’s moderately priced plumper is available in a handful of shades – not the wide-range of colors one would expect from a national brand. The clear plumper, which pairs well under or over your favorite lip gloss generates a sensation, never really reaching maximum heat, but is respectably warm. Visibly, the Sephora gloss didn’t produce results I could see, just results I could feel as I felt a lip shape change. … I couldn’t see it though. That’s kind of confusing, right?

When paired against DuWop’s Lip Venom, I’d choose Lip Venom hands down. But it carries a heftier price tag (about $21). So, for the name-brand conscious, Sephora Lip Plumper is a strong, notable and status-worthy choice.

Bottom line: Great name brand. Moderate price, but not best lip plumping brand in family of products offered by company.

Skin by Monica Olsen
Plump for Sexy Lips
Price Tag: $18.95
Purchase at www.skinbymonica.com

What they say:
Starting out at a brand creating products safe for baby’s skin, Skin by Monica Olsen (Monica’s a former fashion model) , now dives into beauty products for men and women focused on an entire regime of skin-care and health products.

What I say:
Plump for Sexy Lips is fantastic. It brings back memories of lip plumpers in their purest, hottest, most affective form. While a little more pricey than most plumpers, the $18.95 price tag is well worth the visual and mental affects.

Instead of utilizing an annoying tingle, Plump of Sexy Lips brings a cinnamon, spearmint mix into the process and proves there really is a such thing as something hurting ‘so good.’ And its visual effects are noticeable, but not overpowering. It generously plumps, generously tingles and the effects last a few hours. Mentally, it feels like a plumper – the burn, the way it rests on the lips – everything is perfect.

Its only downfall is it’s only available in clear – which is a blessing if you don’t like color, but a curse if you carry a very small purse and can’t jam in any more lip gloss. My only suggestion, if heading to skinbymonica.com to purchase this product is to NOT click on the ‘About Monica’ tab … for some reason, it talks about bowel cleansing … and that’s just … not what the average person wants to read about … especially when buying lip gloss.

Bottom line: Up-and-coming brand, slightly pricey, excellent effects. Only available in clear.

Beauty Benefits
By Wet n Wild
Dual Effects
Price Tag: $5.99
Available at discount retailers nationwide.

What they say:
Unique, dual-ended pencil perfectly plumps, conditions, and defines lips. Enriched with botanical extracts to hydrate and protect lips, while accentuating their shape with natural looking color.

What I say:
This combo is one a little more non-traditional, this pencil is a plumper on one end and a lip liner pencil on the other. The stick-formed plumper rolls on smooth enough, but gives a slight oily feel the glosses don’t contain. This is a little bit of a turn off as I expect a feel not so petroleum-jelly-ish but the plumping ‘burn’ is honorable and it had nice effect (although didn’t last as long as its sister product, Mega Plump). The liner is great – pretty typical of a Wet N Wild liner. It was smooth, lasting and is available in a great variety of colors.

Bottom line: Priced right. Liner/plumper combo is nice spin but plumper is a little clumpy.

Previous post: Eco-fashion

Labels: eyelash extensions, FitFlops, indulge, Indulgence, lip plumper reviews, nails, nordstrom, sephora, Skin

When it comes to clothing would you be seen in green? From haute couture to girl next door, green is hotter than ever and we are not talking about the color. Eco-fashion is popping up everywhere with recycled goods finding their way into handbags, dresses and even jewelry.

The Chica Rosa bag (right) by Elsewares is a clutch made of 200 recycled aluminum tabs, $36.
This dress has tons of memory

Labels: eco chic, eyelash extensions, FitFlops, hello kitty, indulge, nails, project runway, recycled fashion, spa

From drugstores to department stores there are so many beauty products out there it can make you dizzy. The 2008 Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) Beauty Awards, which honor the best of today's products, is an uncomplicated way to narrow down some of the bulk. The winners are voted on by CEW’s 4,000+ members, which are all women in the cosmetics industry. As a side note, hats off to Olay, who had 3 winners this year.

Some of the personal favorites of Indulge are highlighted and the full list of winners is below. As an added bonus, CVS.com is offering some of these products at 20% off through Friday, July 4.

Favorites of Indulge:

Covergirl LashBlast Mascara:
LashBlast is a very close second in my book to Supernova Mascara by Fresh, and if you've used Supernova you know that is quite an honor. LashBlast hardly clumps, gives great depth to eyelashes and its orange container is easy to grip and simple to find in a massive make-up bag.

Olay Thermal Pedicure
This product actually heats up on the foot, and has a slightly grainy texture to polish feet. My feet felt really soft and looked even and moisturized when I was done testing this product.

Bare Escentuals RareMinerals Blemish Treatment
This concealer covers pretty well and clears blemishes at the same time. It comes with a special application brush too.

Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Silver Factory
Stay tuned for Indulge’s review of Bond No. 9 scents

Full list of winners:

Bath and Body

Body Treatment
Mass: Olay Thermal Pedicure
Prestige: Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins The Way of the Bath Matcha Tea Body Scrub

Scented Bath and Body
Mass: Johnsons Softoil Melt Away Stress Massaging Moisturizer
Prestige: Tom Ford Beauty Black Orchid Finishing Oil Spray

Facial Skincare

Acne Treatment
Bare Escentuals RareMinerals Blemish Therapy

Anti-Aging
Mass: Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream
Prestige: Shiseido Bio-Performance Intensive Skin Corrective Program

Cleanser and Scrub
Mass: Dove SkinVitalizer (right)
Prestige: philosophy the microdelivery micro-massage exfoliating wash

Eye Treatment
Mass: Olay Regenerist Eye Derma-Pod Anti-Aging Triple Response System
Prestige: Estee Lauder Future Perfect Anti-Wrinkle Radiance Eye Creme

Moisturizer
Mass: L’Oreal Paris Revitalift UV Daily Moisturizing Cream with Mexoryl SX
Prestige: Estee Lauder Hydra Bright Skin-Tone Perfecting Moisturizer

Hair Care and Coloring Product

Mass: Garnier Fructis Style Sleek and Shine Anti-Humidity Hairspray
Prestige: Frederic Fekkai Coiff Controle Ironless Straightening Balm

Makeup

Eye Product
Mass: CoverGirl LashBlast Mascara
Prestige: Dior Show Blackout Mascara

Face Product
Mass: Almay Smart Shade Blush and Bronzer
Prestige: Estee Lauder Resilience Lift Extreme Ultra Firming Makeup SPF 15

Lip Product
Mass: L’Oreal Paris Infallible Never Fail Lipcolour
Prestige: YSL Beaute Lip Twins

Men’s Skincare

Grooming
Clinique Skin Supplies for Men M Cover

Scent

Men’s Scent
Bond No. 9 New York Andy Warhol Silver Factory

Women’s Scent
Daisy Marc Jacobs

Sun

Mass: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 70
Prestige: Estee Lauder Multi-Protection Sun Towelettes for Body SPF 15



Previous post: Make-up application made easy

Labels: 2008 Cosmetic Executive Women, celebrity haircuts, CEW awards, eyelash extensions, FitFlops, indulge, Indulgence, LashBlast Mascara, Sally Hershberger, salon, SkinVitalizer, spa

Flip-flop-flip-flop-flip-flop … sounds like something you would hear at the beach, but not exactly a sound you hear when someone is exercising. That could change though as a new generation of flip-flops are here and they could get you shaped and toned with every step you take. FitFlops, a “flip-flop with the gym built in,” are shoes made with a multi-density mid-sole designed to challenge your muscles to give you greater exercise while you walk. Made for men or women, if you’re too busy for the gym, or just hate working out, this could be a solution for you.

FitFlops, released in May 2007, were created by a group that included Bliss spa-entrepreneur Marcia Kilgore, Senior Lecturing Biomechanist Dr. David Cook and several footwear engineer­ing technologists. The shoe had a waiting list of over 10,000 names making it the quickest selling new health and wellness shoe yet.

While FitFlops were designed to tone and shape your muscles, the company says they have also been reported to lessen chronic back pain, result in inch loss, speed healing of injured joints and relieve pain from plantar fasciitis, heel spurs and arthritis.

They have plenty of testimonials on their site, but soon I will tell you what I really think of them. See my photo below of me in my FitFlops ... I am to spend the next few months testing them out and you can look for my review to find out the following:

-How I think they feel
-How I think they look
-Have I noticed physical changes as far as toning and trimming of muscles (yes, I will take photos)
-How I think they feel to walk in for a long time
-How I think they feel to stand in for a long time

Have you tried these? Let me know what you think. Or, if you want to experiment with them as I am doing, send me email! We can track your progress too on Indulge.

FitFlops come in tons of trendy colors and styles (note the very cool sequins and fringe) and retail for $49.99. They even have a limited edition Auerlia style, which I think looks exactly like the gladiator sandals that are so hot this summer. For details on where they can be purchased, visit The FitFlops website.







Jacqui in her FitFlops.

And stay tuned for my review! I will keep you posted throughout the summer.


Previous post: Jennifer Garner promotes sun protection

Labels: exercise, Father's day gifts, FitFlops, fitness, grooming, indulge, Indulgence, Relax, Skin, spa, Treatments