season five

Tatcha Aburatorigami Papers: Beauty Treasure with Geisha Roots

Dear Readers,  Please check out my latest article about Tatcha Aburatorigami Papers on Pursuitist.com. Pursuitist is a luxury blog where you can find and share the good things in life. You can find a full list of my articles here.  Enjoy!

chanel goes gray, pink and violet for fall makeup 2010

Chanel's fall 2o1o collection is the most beautiful in memory with gorgeous gray - violet hues for eyelids and nails, pink for cheeks and a subtle blush for the lips. I especially love the "pink explosion"  cheek color which looks shockingly pink in the compact but sheer on the cheeks. Chanel's Paradoxal Purple nail color is a subtle and beautiful update to last season's dark nails. I love this collection. At Chanel.com

29: good cosmetics start in the vineyard

When it comes to growing wine there are many farming philosophies and styles. My partners and I at Olson Ogden Wines believe good wines start in the vineyard. It is all about the grape. What a delight to discover that my interests in wine and fashion/beauty have something in common by way of a cosmetics line called 29. Named for the road to Napa Valley, 29 is a unique organic skincare and cosmetic line that utilizes the benefits of grape seeds. Recently, while working on a project with Neiman Marcus I met 29 founder Lydia Mondavi (her husband is the grandson of Robert Mondavi). She asked if she could touch up my makeup.  I obliged even though I hate make-up counter makeovers. My experience is that you leave looking very made up - totally not my style. She recognized I prefer something more natural and suggested a matte lip pencil called grape seeds. This is an amazing product - slightly deeper than natural lip color, moisturising and it lasts all day.  It is unlike any lip pencil or lipstick. Beautiful. If I were to pick one cosmetic update for spring this is it. Find it online at Neiman Marcus.

tatcha: beauty treasure with geisha roots

I define luxury as something I can live without, but don’t want to. It can range from a Rick Owens jacket (which, I admit, felt like a carnal need at point of purchase) to a cup of cream tea. One thing is certain, whatever its form, I need the pleasure of a little luxury to get me through the everyday. This is one of the  reasons I love Tatcha Aburatorigami papers. I’ve always had a thing for blotting papers -- for my oily skin, but also on photo and film shoots with executives who don’t respond well to a powder puff. Tatcha Aburatorigami papers are quite different. They are utilitarian, in that they get rid of shine, and decadent at the same time. Dating back to Imperial Japan, authentic Aburatorigami paper was created by gold leaf artisans who used it to protect the precious metal they hammered into whisper-thin leafing to enrobe the majestic pavilions. In the 1800’s it was discovered and became the beauty secret of Geisha for its skin benefits. To call it a blotting paper is a disservice. Most blotting papers are made with a mixture of pulp and linen. This material can be drying, and while it removes the slick, it doesn’t do much for the overall appearance of the skin. Tatcha Aburatorigami papers are made of the highest grade of 100% Abaca leaf and  leave skin soft and velvety smooth. I also love the extra large size (4x that of blotting papers) and decadent packaging. In the last few weeks of using them, I’ve skipped powder entirely and my skin looks better for it.  Tatcha Aburatorigami papers (three pack: $30 for 90 sheets or one pack: $12 for 30 sheets) are available at SPACE NK boutiques and Tatcha.com

* New guidelines require I report I was sent samples to try, although  I was already a fan and was going to write about this product anyway. So there. Guilt free.

the future of skincare is ... branding?

Central Saint Martins' art student Ryan McSorley created a this "Skin by Chanel" collection for his final project in a product design class. It features the usual: a cleanser, toner and moisturizer and a headband that imprints Chanel's double C's on your forehead. A pretty clever commentary on fashion & branding: What's next? Read more about it at Notcot (via Refinery29)