2008 was a pretty good year for those of us here at my house. In January, we went to NYC and I had a ball visiting Henri Bendel and L’Artisan Parfumeur and a Fresh boutique. In the summer we went to Phoenix and I visited Neiman Marcus. In August we went to British Columbia and I was super impressed with the beauty products I found. We don’t have any trips scheduled for 2009 yet, but I’m sure we’ll go somewhere.

2008 was also the year of trying new brands I wasn’t familiar with. I’m in love with Sothys Skincare, especially the Oxyliance Fluid. The Insta-Fill for Eyes from Skinn Dimitri James is a new holy grail product for me – with it my concealer NEVER looks cakey or settles into the creases under my eyes. The Body Deli makes my new most favorite body scrub, and their Creme de la Rose moisturizer is worth every penny.

I got too many perfumes this year to really be able to choose a favorite, but I do think Fresh’s Cannabis Rose is my favorite of new perfumes introduced this year. The Pacifica line of perfumes are my favorite cheap thrills from 2008.

I didn’t buy as much makeup this year as I have in the past, but I did get a few things that have become new favorites. I’m especially fond of Sally Hansen Comfort Shine Lip Glazes and Natural Butter Lip Shimmers, Nars Luster blush, and this Chanel foundation.

I’m REALLY tickled with all the Eco-Tools brushes I’ve tried. I love how they look and I really love how they work. Score!

LUSH Cosmetics, L’Occitane, and Sephora brand made my favorite body care products in 2008.

Ooh, my husband loves me… Ever since I saw that Fresh re-introduced Patchouli Pure, I’ve wanted it. I put it on my Christmas List, and Santa Husband presented it to me. Yay! I really love a good patchouli fragrance – I just love the earthiness of patchouli, although I’m not a fan of straight-up patchouli essential oil all by itself. Mix it with other fragrances and I’m in heaven – one of my favorite simple blends is vanilla, lavender essential oil, and patchouli essential oil.

I only vaguely remember Patchouli Pure from when it was sold the first time, but I remember thinking I liked it. The list of notes definitely piqued my interest this time around, though. The top notes are ginger, bergamot, and orange, middle notes include patchouli, cinnamon, and pimento berry, and the base notes are vanilla, amber, and tonka musk. It starts out as a dazzling citrusy fragrance, with the cinnamon and pimento adding some spice to give it a little bite. The patchouli comes a moment or two later, as you notice the warmth of the base notes. It isn’t listed, but I’d swear it has cedarwood in it. It settles down to be an earthy woodsy fragrance that lasted practically all day on me.

For comparison, I had to try Tom Ford White Patchouli, and I’m glad I did. They share definite similarities, with the bergamot and amber, but where Patchouli Pure got woodsy and earthy, the White Patchouli got powdery and floral as time passed. I find I prefer the woodier effect of Patchouli Pure, although I could see myself liking White Patchouli too if I was in the right mood. It’s more feminine.

Anyway, I wish Fresh made smaller sizes of all their fragrances – I want a travel size to carry with me!

It’s snowing here in Portland today (again… still…) and while I have been really unhappy about the two feet of snow on the ground outside, it is kind of pretty on Christmas Day.

Merry Christmas everyone!

I got the Christmas present I wanted (more on that later) so here’s hoping all your holiday wishes come true too!

It’s definitely BRRRRR time here in Portland OR, with temperatures staying below freezing for the last four days. The last two days have been very dry as well, so that means dry hair and skin, and chapped lips. Oregon winters rarely see below freezing temperatures like this, so it’s a bit unusual.

Unfortunately for me, my face is also experiencing a hormonal disruption as well, so basically I have dry skin with pimples going on. Yay! I’ve been using a heavier face cream for day because I’m spending upwards of an hour at a time standing in the cold waiting for a bus and my skin gets very dry and chapped feeling. The Body Deli Creme de la Rose is the perfect cream for this, since it mixes rich moisturizers with aloe, squalane, and other soothing plant extracts. I’ve also been using L’Occitane Ultra Comforting Serum because it also moisturizes, but more importantly, I’ve found that it helps pimples heal faster because it calms inflammation.

My lips really suffer in (literally) freezing weather. If I let it sneak up on me, they end up badly chapped – it’s painful. Ordinarily, I prefer lip balms with only plant oils and waxes (or beeswax) over petrolatum or mineral-oil based products. Badger Balm and Honeybee Gardens are my two current favorite brands, especially the Badger Cocoa Butter balms. I don’t like the way the petroleum-based products feel, and I prefer to avoid them in general. But… When my lips get hit with this double whammy of cold and dryness, only one thing will do: Minted Rose Lip Balm. I don’t even know what-all is in this stuff since it’s not labeled properly (or legally, since the FDA requires that ALL ingredients be disclosed on cosmetic labels). But this “blend of essential oils and cotton seed oil in a special petrolatum base” (that’s the ingredient list) is the only stuff that works against the cold. Petrolatum coats the skin, which seals in moisture and helps provide protection from cold and wind. Whatever essential oils they are using have a healing effect on already chapped lips too. Forget Chapstick or Carmex or whatever. Get a tin of Minted Rose to have around for cold, dry weather and do your lips a favor.

It doesn’t look like it’s going to warm up anytime soon, either. Brrrr.

Okay, who remembers buying perfume at the drugstore as a teenager? The fragrances probably weren’t so great, right? C-Thru is a new fragrance brand being launched by Aramis, a subsidiary of Estee Lauder, and the three scents that are being introduced are actually really nice. Definitely not your average teenage stuff, but the prices are still reasonable.

The three scents are called Ruby, Blue Opal, and Purple Diamond, and are available this month at Walmart in a gift set, retailing for $19.99. Ruby has notes of peach, rose and vanilla. Blue Opal has watermelon and lilac, while Purple Diamond’s notes are blackcurrant and jasmine. I find Ruby the best of the three, with a very pleasant light floral scent that’s feminine and girly, but not too sweet. Blue Opal would appeal to the “sporty” girl, since it’s a fresh, watery scent that goes easy on the florals. Purple Diamond is definitely the most “mature” of the trio, being more of an floral-oriental that’s easy on the fruits.

The gift set would be a nice way to introduce a younger family member or friend to perfume. The target age is 15-25, but I could see someone older (such as myself, at the ripe old age of 29) enjoying them too. They aren’t terribly long-lasting on skin but are inexpensive enough for more frequent refreshes. All told, I enjoy these light, pleasant fragrances and can easily recommend this as a good gift choice for the younger woman in your life. In January, the fragrances will be carried more widely, in Kohls and Target, for example.

I haven’t posted since last week – I work in retail and the Thanksgiving Weekend blitz was exhausting. And thus begins my least favorite time of the year. I have a reputation amongst my family and friends for being something of a Grinch – I’m sorry, I guess it’s just the effect of 40+ hours a week of Christmas Music on my poor addled brain. The CD at work loops about three times in an eight-hour shift, and you try to survive with that many repetitions of “Jingle Bells” and I promise you’ll be Grinchy too…

I soothe my inner (and outer) beast with a “spa night” at least once a week. Here’s Claire’s easy guide to a more tranquil holiday season.

First, carve out about an hour just for you. Lock yourself in the bathroom if you have to. Next, pile up your hair and pull it out of your face. I use a Tassi for this. (These make great gifts, by the way.)

Using your favorite cleanser, thoroughly wash your face and remove your eye makeup. Start drawing a warm bath – toss in some relaxing bath salts/bubble bath/bath bomb/whatever. I’m partial to Lush Bath Bombs, myself. While your bath is filling, apply a soothing face mask.

Why soothing? You want a mask you can leave on for a good 10 minutes, and something that you don’t have to hop out of the tub to rinse off. All of us can use a mild mask, especially with dry indoor heating and harsh cold weather. I’m particularly fond of L’Occitane Immortelle Cream Mask (for super luxury) or the Ultra Comforting Mask for a more budget-friendly option. If you shop LUSH in-store, there are some Bio-Fresh masks that are nice too. I haven’t tried it, but the Peaches & Cream mask from The Body Deli sounds awesome too.

Before you apply your mask, prep your eye treatment. I like to use Sothys Active Contour Destressing Mask, or Skinn EnergEyes Revitalizing Eye Mask, or EyeSlices. I like the Sothys product best for this use because it doesn’t to be need rinsed off. Cool tea bags work too, for the super budget-friendly option. Put your eye treatment of choice on the edge of the tub, or just somewhere you can grab it easily while you’re in the tub.

Right after you apply your mask and before you hop into the tub, get a washcloth good and wet with really hot water – don’t burn your fingers though! Fold it up and place it on the edge of your tub. When you’re ready to wipe off your mask in 10 or 15 minutes, it’ll still be warm. This way you don’t have to rinse your face with your bath water.

Now, hop in your bath, lean back, and relax. Ahhhhh.

After 10 minutes or so (don’t bother watching a clock, just when you feel a sufficient time has passed) wipe off your mask and apply your eye treatment. Lean back again, soak some more. Follow the instructions for your eye treatment of choice so you don’t leave it on too long – hence my love of the Sothys, it can just be massaged in after a while.

When I’m feeling thoroughly relaxed with the soaking part (usually 30 minutes or less takes care of me), I like to take a quick rinse under the shower. I point the showerhead straight down and just rinse my body, so my hair doesn’t get wet. Dry off gently.

At this point, take care of the rest of your nightly face care routine (and teeth-brushing etc).

The last step before heading to bed is to moisturize. Yes, it’s best to do this as a super-extended bedtime routine for maximum tranquility. Ideally, you want a nice yummy cream or oil for your body and something for your feet – this can be the same product. I’m partial to body oils and massage bars after a long bath. Lush makes nice massage bars (try Nutts). Be generous and massage it in, from your neck down to your toes. Voila! You’re done.

At this point, you should feel a little less beastly and a little more kindly disposed towards humanity. At least, it works for me.