Desert Island Beauty: The Five Must-Haves

Over at Bonbons in the Bath, the current discussion is the 5 beauty items that you couldn't live without while stuck on a desert island. Tough one! After giving it some thought, here are my five in no particular order:

  1. Buffy by Lush. Simply the best exfoliating product ever.
  2. Woosh! by Benefit. Keeps my skin from being an oil slick.
  3. Restorative Hair Treatment by Ojon. Helps keep my hair under control.
  4. Diorshow Waterproof Mascara by Dior. My holy grail mascara.
  5. Honey Trap by Lush. I'm addicted to lip balm, and this is my go-to right now.
I'm still searching for my ultimate moisturizer, which is why there isn't one on this list.

Review: Frizz Control and Shine Products

Just some mini-reviews for you on one of the hair products that I can't live without: frizz control and shine.

TIGI Catwalk Camera Ready Shine Spray: This is a great product to use if you have fine hair and don't need a lot of shine and frizz control. I used it as a quick touch up and was very happy with the results. Spray lightly - one or two sprays will do just fine, and run your fingers through your hair. Gives medium frizz control and a decent quick shine.

Paul Mitchell Gloss Drops: I use this product every day after styling my hair. It is an excellent finisher - adds just enough shine and keeps my (very) frizzy hair under control. One pump into your palm is all you need - emulsify it and run it through your hair. You probably won't need a touch up for several hours, if at all.

TIGI Bed Head Shine Junkie: I've been using this one since it came in a pot. Now it's in a nice dispenser can that reminds me of Cheez Whiz. It has a nice shimmer in it and definitely adds a nice shine. I didn't find it to be an excellent frizz control, however. But it pays off when it comes to shine.

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Extra Strength Formula Hair Serum: A true classic, one of the first anti-frizz products that I ever tried. My thick, curly hair requires some sort of frizz taming, and a quarter sized amount worked into my hair right after the shower does a very good job of keeping the obvious frizz under control. I've heard that it takes a few applications for this to work well, although I'm not sure that it was the same for me. Either way, someone with frizz issues might want to give this one a try.

NYC: Having a Drink at Saks Fifth Avenue

My cosmo and my new Betsey Johnson crazy tote on the bar at Saks Fifth Avenue's SnAKS bar. I got a lot of compliments on that bag this trip!

NYC: Bond No. 9

I know that I am way behind on the whole Bond experience, but I have only fairly recently discovered how unique and amazing their fragrances are. And while I really do love Silver Factory, and have blogged about it before, I was thrilled to actually have the time to explore the Bond Counter at Saks on 5th. What I ended up leaving with (because I knew I was going to purchase something) was much different than I would have guessed. After trying several that I loved, it was Bleeker that I kept going back to. And the one that ended up in my bag before I headed up to the shoe department with it's own zip code.
Bond calls this blend "Art, Fashion, Seduction, and Dessert all in liquid form." The notes consist of violet leaf, cassis, jasmine, cinnamon, oakmoss, patchouli, vanilla, and caramel. Now, I usually run screaming away when I hear patchouli in anything, but I seem to have a fondness for those fragrances that incorporate the deepness of it without making the entire blend smell like dirt. Or dirty hippies. Or just gross. So the patchouli deepens it, and the vanilla and caramel don't stand out as overly sweet or gourmand. It's a really interesting balance, and one that works well on my skin.

Two days later, I took one of my friends who had never been to NYC down to the village. We had lunch at the Peanut Butter and Co, and wanted to go have a famous cupcake at Magnolia. And imagine my delight at discovering the Bond boutique right next door! Right on Bleeker, no less! Store manager Evelyn Diaz did a fabulous job at taking care of us, giving us samples to take home for the men in our lives, and helping me pick out just the right candle for my kitchen. I decided on So New York scent for my candle, which is described as "Catching a whiff of New York's Consuming Passion Above-All-Else For Chocolate Desserts and Frothy Lattes." Fantastic. The notes are listed as Mirabelle, "expresso" accord, and cocoa powder.

Heading to the counter to check out, I see small refillable travel bottles. Perfect! I picked out Nuits de Noho, described as "A New Kind of Nighttime Femininity: Irreverent and Unapologetic." Notes listed are jasmin, creamy vanilla and sheer patchouli. Yes, another patchouli blend! It's strange, I tell you.

We had so much fun and I'm sure I will be back every trip to pick up another little something for my collection.

NARS Cosmetics Spring 2010

Total Beauty

About Me

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Meredith Edwards-Cornwall is the founder of online lifestyle websites RetrodivasBeauty.com and RetrodivasCloset.com. She is also known as @retrodiva on Twitter. She specializes in drinking large amounts of espresso, shopping, and enjoying social media. In all of her free time she writes for StyleBakeryMom.com twice a week, and does various other freelance gigs involving writing, designing, and generally being awesome. While she believes that success is indeed a job in New York, she currently resides in Virginia Beach, Virginia with her husband, two children, and two cats and has hung on to her day job.

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