POCKET LINT.

ONLINE (AND BEYOND): THE BEST FREE COSMETICS GAME I'VE FALLEN FOR HOOK, LINE AND SINKER

I am a sucker.  It's true.  And I'm not afraid to admit it.

Last year, when Subway started up their Scrabble marketing ploy, I began eating regular six-inch turkey subs. When McDonald's periodically reintroduces Monopoly, I suddenly start craving french fries with BBQ sauce.

So, when I found out about Philosophy's new birthday game, where you fill in your email address daily to potentially win prizes like free cosmetics, I went STRAIGHT to the website.  And I'll probably do it everyday until the promotion ends.

You can judge me.  Or you can join me.  Your choice, but we both know which is more fun.

xo - N.

NYC (AND BEYOND): THE BEST SQUISHY BATH MAT

 

I want this bath mat BAD.

Blame it on a love of all things spongy and an even deeper love of all things memory foam (bring on the Tempurpedic!).  Or blame my recent sleep deprivation for making me extra susceptible to suggestions like "BUY NOW."

Either way, I think this seems like the coolest Micro Dry bath mat ever.  And bath mats can be pretty cool, don't you agree?  I can just imagine my instantly dry feet sinking into its cozy depths.  Think of all that happiness for like $20.

On second thought, maybe this is a really lame blog topic.  If so, blame it on the fact that I recently threw out my old bath mat after my cat Mina unceremoniously puked on it and have bath mats on the brain.  Or just blame it on little old me.

xo - N.

LA (AND BEYOND): THE BEST FLU FIGHTER

I know a lot of people question the validity of gimmicky beauty products:

Plumping lipgloss?  Please.  Thickening mascara?  Yeah, riiight.  Cellulite Sugar Scrub?  What?  Do I look like Nell Carter?  Gimme a break!

Oh, Nell.  Remember that episode where Kimberly is bulimic (but only for like forty-five minutes) and she gets up in the middle of night to binge and Nell finds her eating a whole cake?  I love that episode. Maybe I liked the idea of a problem being solved so quickly.  Or maybe I just thought it sounded fun to eat a whole cake.  Yeah.  Probably the second one.

Anyway ... you know what I say to the cynics who doubt the beauty serums and creams?  I say, who cares? Sometimes an anti-aging cream is at least a nice smelling moisturizer.  Sometimes a "plumping" lipgloss is just a good product, even if it doesn't make you look like Nikki Cox post-injections.  Especially if it doesn't.

[Yeah, poor Nikki got an overdose.]

All that said, I have NO idea if the above LaROCCA lip shield actually fights germs, as it claims.  BUT I do know that it has a really good consistency and an SPF, which is pretty rare in an lip product.  And it's an affordable luxury and you know I'm always recommending little splurges like that because it just makes you feel like you got something special without having to make a major commitment.  Plus, I'm not sure if it keeps me from getting sick, but I sure like the idea that it does.

See, sometimes I think an idea is better than certain actualities anyway (just ask Nikki Cox).

And sometimes that's good enough for me.

xo - N.

TEXAS (AND BEYOND): THE BEST EXCUSE FOR USING NEWLYWED GAME LINGO LIKE "WHOOPIE"

Actually, I take the title of this post back: there's actually no excuse for the word "whoopie."  BUT I am really enjoying the above FarmHouse Fresh "Whoopie" Cream.  Get your mind out of the gutter!

No, but seriously, I can't really explain the name.  BUT you know I was excited when this pretty little glass jar of shea butter lotion arrived at my house because I love all things shea butter and super dense lotions.

Yes, Andre: lotion.  I know.  You're doing a Silence of the Lambs impression as we speak.  Charming.

Anyway, the cream is a brand new product from the Texas based company and it seems to be quite hydrating, just like I like them.

Like Lalicious' Sugar Kiss lotion and Jaqua's Butter Cream body butter (which I LOVE), this smells like a variation on cake batter.  I realize that's not everybody's thing all the time (I mean, what is?), but it can be quite nice, when you're in the mood.  And I do admit that I'm shamelessly charmed by the old fashioned glass jar.  So Anne of Green Gables to me.  Should we go get drunk on cordial?  Is that a thing even?

Anyway, this lotion really doesn't make you want to "make whoopie," but it does make you want to bake a cake.

xo - N.

NYC/LA: THE BEST DISCOUNTED BEAUTY TREATMENTS

So, my sister refers to Life Booker as "the best website ever created."  If you're a beauty-a-phile who lives in either LA or NYC, you'll probably agree.  Basically, the website offers revolving discounts at local salons and clinics (for everything from waxing to massages to Botox).

I know what you're thinking: "Discount waxing sounds sketch."  I hear you.  But these deals are at all manner of local salons.  You might even find discounts at your regular spots.

Now, that's beautiful.

xo  - N.

UTAH TO SIEM REAP (AND BEYOND): THE BEST SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION (THIS MONTH)

The way I see it, there's an upside to these occasional "Shameless Self-Promotion" posts and it's not just that I get to talk about myself.  More.  Not just that I get to talk about myself MORE.

No, but seriously, this way you get several stories in one: You can read about spas for any budget in my Daily Candy Travel (like Utah's Amangiri pictured above).  You can hear about brushes with fame on the Upper West Side in the 80's in my Huffington Post story or learn about the custom wedding dress experience in my first person feature in Town & Country Weddings.  You can even consider honeymoon destinations via my stories in Martha Stewart Honeymoons and Martha Stewart Weddings.

Or you can ignore this post altogether and hold out for tomorrow, when things on the LINT go back to normal (a.k.a. I obsess about food and jeans).

Choose your own adventure.

xo - N. 

 

FRANCE (AND BEYOND): THE BEST CHAPSTICK (WELL, OKAY, LIP CONDITIONER)

When you're down and troubled and you need a helping hand.  And nothing, oh nothing is going right.  Close your eyes and think of me and soon . . . well, soon nothing really.  I'm not going to like appear out of thin air every time you're grouchy.  Gawd.

BUT when I am down and troubled, I like to treat myself.  Maybe retail therapy is sort of twisted, but I'm here to tell you that it works.  Plus, it has no calories.  In fact, I always imagine that you must lose weight shopping.  After all, that's like a couple hours when you're not eating.  Just saying.

Anyway, since the impulse to shop is always inexplicably strongest when one is most broke ("Oh, am I overdrawn on my account?  I guess I'll go shopping!"), one must carefully choose said purchase.  Buyers remorse is no good.

Often, I'll go for a Mistral lotion or soap (which I know you're all sick of hearing about from me).  But it is true that cosmetics are easy purchases that you can use for a long while and don't generally cost as much as say, a new pair of shoes.

Recently, I had the distinct pleasure of heading over to the Beverly Hills Hotel to sample and test out some of La Prairie's newest products, including a new line of makeup.  First of all, though the serums and creams can be pricey, the lip colors are not insanely expensive at all and they also serve as lip conditioners (anti-aging and all that).

But I am MOST obsessed with their Cellular Luxe Lip Treatment with SPF 15.  First of all, it has an SPF which just makes me feel virtuous.  Secondly, it has this insanely smooth texture that I just love.  It glides on, it smells nice and it's "conditioning."  Now, I know normally $50 might seem like a lot for a glorified Chapstick.  But, first of all, this is justifiably glorified.  And, second of all, you'll use it constantly and it will make you feel all fancy and well-groomed over and over again.  No matter how broke you may be.

I even love the weight of packaging: It's heavy and feels substantial in a certain way.   Substantial like this post about lip treatment.  Gawd.

Happy weekend, folks!

xo - N.

PALM SPRINGS/VA/MT/VT: THE BEST ARTISANAL RESORT PRODUCTS AND THE BEST WAY TO SAY ADIEU TO A YEAR WELL DONE

I know.  I know.  I keep apologizing and then being bad again, but I'm off on yet another jaunt and will not be LINTing Christmas week.  Actually, that's sort of not true.  I'll be LINTing in the sense that I'll be scouting new finds to share (though I still owe some Pittsburgh and NYC stuff), but I won't be posting regularly until January 2, 2010.

Anyway, I thought I'd leave you with a link to my latest little story in Travel & Leisure (see above) about resorts that farm or crush and create their own beauty and food products.  Short and sweet, just like me and my attention span.  And my patience.  And my fuse.  And my family.  And the time it takes me to devour french fries.  And the time it takes me to read a trashy detective novel.  And the time that will pass between now and my next post in 2010.

So, happy holidays of all kinds, folks.  Good tidings to all and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!  (I know I already have my sequined number picked out).  Well, I mean one only has so many sequin dresses from which to choose, right?

Love ya.  Mean it.

xo - N.

LA (BEVERLY HILLS): THE BEST EYE CREAM

Maybe I'm getting old (has anyone seen my cane?  Maybe House stole it . . . Seriously, where is Wilson when you need him?), but eye cream has become the product I most hate to live without (next to Kate Somerville's anti-bac lotion, which will actually change your life and stop blemishes from ever coming to fruition like some kind of miracle cream).  Of course, that's partially the case because finding the right eye cream has been an arduous process, to say the least.

If you're anything like me, one cream or gel is too gloppy and heavy (and actually creates puffiness), while the next is too drying or thin and makeup doesn't go on smoothly.  The eyes are clearly a sensitive part of the face too, so people tend to react allergically too.

This is all by way of validating my obsession with Kinara's eye cream, which ain't cheap, but is amazing.  The Beverly Hills spa/clinic--which is beloved by all manner of red carpet regulars including Halle Berry (and who doesn't want to look like her, whether she hit someone with her car or not?  Oops.)--makes a whole product line, but it's the eye cream that's become my must-have product.  And, as a frequent beauty writer, you better believe that I sample A LOT of products.  It's just perfect: application is smooth, it's not too heavy, it's not too light, it moisturizes and it fights dark circles.

And you know when I appreciate it most?  When I run out and have to use another brand.  Then I realize how key that eye cream really can be.

And that is all one person should EVER say about an eye cream.  Now, seriously, where is my cane?

xo - N.

LA (AND BEYOND): THE BEST 'WINTER PINE' SOAP

Like any normal human being, I LOVE the scent of pine during the holidays (not to be confused with Pine Sol, which I could also love under different circumstances: A.K.A. when someone--ahem, ANDRE--cleans the house with it). 

Seriously, Drewser.  Don't be afraid to clean and surprise me.

No (I mean, yes), but I was actually smelling (and admiring) a friend's Christmas tree at book club yesterday.  Since I don't get to have one of my own (and I can't say "Hanukah Bush" with a straight face), I thought I'd share one other way to experience holiday fragrances:

As part of my bday present, my sister C. gave me two of Mistral's new Holiday Soaps (Winter Pine and Winter Berry).  Now, you know I'm always a HUGE fan of said products, BUT I think I can objectively say that these new scents are especially amazing.  I mean, I have the pine version in rotation right now and every time I smell it, I have a moment of, "What IS that amazing smell?"

It smells like pure happiness.

So, just a little holiday cheer for your bad selves, should you choose to indulge.

And, Andre, after I've uncovered the gems within the LINT, don't be afraid to clean it all up.

xo - N.