I love receiving gifts but I don’t love wrapping them so when I came across this French Wrap Guide from l’Occitane I just had to share. I can always use a few more tips on how to wrap a gift. I hope that it helps you wrap your gifts in a glamorous way. Muah!
http://lipstickandluxury.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/French-Wrap-Guide.pdf
It’s mid-February, and spring is a month and ten days away. Roughly. Citrus-scented or citrus-based beauty products are one of the fastest and most efficient ways to feel a bit sunshiney, giving standard showers a bit of a spa feel- and offering a little reminder that even though there’s still (still!) snow on the ground in many places in the US, crocuses are closer than you think. Here are seven citrus options for facial skincare or bath and body:
1.) Philosophy Orange in Bloom Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath: Philosophy’s line of multi-tasking hair and body cleansers often come in limited-edition or seasonal variations, and the generous 16 oz. Orange in Bloom variety should last until flip-flop weather rolls around.
2.) Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment SPF15: Blushy lip hues are flattering to all skin tones, and this citrus-flavored formulation also has a hint of rose- a natural foil for orange and lemon scents.
3.) Jurlique Citrus Purifying Mist: Spray toners are a great way to freshen up, set makeup touch-ups or of course, bridge the cleansing and moisturizing steps of your skincare routine. In addition to essential oils of lemon and tangerine, Jurlique Citrus Purifying Mist has witch hazel and marshmallow to balance and hydrate skin.
4.) Eminence Citrus Lip Balm: This spa favorite can pair up with any color of lipstick or stain and locks in moisture with shea butter. Citrus oil, lemon balm, lemongrass oil, papaya and pineapple are among a list of pure but comprehensive exfoliating and moisturizing ingredients.
5.) L’Occitane Citrus Verbena Sorbet Body Cream: Clad in L’Occitane’s French-farmhouse style packaging, Citrus Verbena Sorbet Body Cream is fluffy, luxe and fresh. Lemon extract, grapefruit and verbena are the plentiful citrusy elements here- apply after bathing for full skin-softening benefits.
6.) Cake Citrus Squeeze Sinfully Smoothing Brown Sugar Scrub: One of the legacies of winter is dry, flaky skin. Even if you religiously moisturize each time you wash your hands or take a shower, skin can still lose surface moisture at a frustrating rates. Cake Citrus Squeeze Sinfully Smoothing Brown Sugar Scrub comes in a super-sized 21 oz. jar and has hints of vanilla and a sweet turbinado brown sugar base- which smell heavenly and gently slough off excess skin cells.
7.) Simpatico Solid Perfume #45, Coral: A retro-style tin not unlike the classic Smith’s Rosebud Salve, Simpatico Solid Perfume #45 at Anthropologie is comprised of rich beeswax, jojoba and reparative Vitamin E. Vetiver, citrus and ruby pomegranate notes are tempered by balancing musk.
Which citrus products do you reach for when you want to feel springy?
As temperatures plummet, oftentimes so does the condition of your skin. Before you even step out into the frigid, windy air, the effects of winter on your face can frequently be seen and felt. But there are a few simple measures you can take to prevent the worst ravages of Jack Frostian climates on your delicate visage.
1: Cleanse gently. Consider switching to a cleanser that dissolves makeup and oil with a creamy or even oil base rather than a sudsy wash. Shu Uemura’s oil cleansers are legendary among makeup artists for their amazing clean finish despite a rich texture. Applied to dry skin, they gently foam with the addition of water and leave your face incredibly fresh. Oil cleansers can even, counter-intuitively, balance oily skin by breaking down sebum effectively.
2. Exfoliate. It may seem like scheduled scrubbing is less necessary when skin is drying out or dehydrating due to the cold, but in actuality, moisture can’t get deep into skin without regular removal of icky dead skin and stagnant oils. Even oily skin can become dehydrated and feel dry- which seems totally unfair when you’re still getting blackheads. A manual scrub is great to remove dead skin flakes (like Korres’ Pomegranate Scrub), but an enzyme based face wash or treatment can use gentle ingredients to exfoliate, too. (Philosphy’s Microdelivery Mini Peel Pads are a mild chemical exfoliant.)
3. Moisturize harder! Light moisturizers can suddenly disappear into thirsty winter skin, and even if you’re worried about clogging pores, you might need a stronger option in dry winter weather. Dry oils, like rosehip seed, can nourish and protect your skin and lock in much-needed moisture. A few drops of a product like Aubrey Organics Rose Hip Seed Oil on dehydrated areas can soothe and protect skin against windburn and other cold-weather pitfalls.
4. Don’t forget about your hands. Before my face ever starts showing symptoms of winter strain, I see signs of stress on my frequently washed hands. While skin is still a little damp, liberally apply a thick cream to the tops of hands every time you wash. L’Occitane’s Honey Orange Shea Butter is nice (with a pretty tin), but even the decidedly less sexy Aquaphor will keep hands from chapping and drying out.
Last but not least, don’t cast aside your SPF- sun can even reflect off snow and damage skin. But with a few preventative steps, you can keep skin (and makeup!) looking smooth and glowy in the coldest, most blustery winter days.