Turn Down Service: Total Beauty Style

Beauty's SPOT returns to the weekly web tour with a hot salt scrub body treatment at Bliss San Francisco. You must try - DIY instructions included.
Viva Woman shares with you three ways to counter UV damage on your skin.
Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog finds jeans for real women who eat!

Beauty411 introduces you to the stunning Chanel Holiday 2008 Makeup Collection

.
Fabulous Over Forty discusses the importance of winterizing your skin .
Smashbox Cosmetics backstage at Caroline D'Amore Spring 2009 Fashion Show-Talking Makeup!
The Makeup Divas reviews Smashbox's Limited Edition Ultimate Beauty Palette.
Boutique Flair offers Sephora-inspired Bootiful Tricks For A Haute Halloween!
Frappelattes gives her review of NARS Lip Gloss in Female Trouble, a beautiful dusty pink lip gloss for the season!
CaliforniaCosmetics gives you a close up view to MAC Passions Of Red.
Beauty Anonymous reviews Shiseido's Majolica Majorca Trick On Eyeshadow Palette .
Glossypink brings you some old Hollywood glamour with one of the most beautiful actresses of the time!
Alison of the Advice Sisters is blogging about Spa Magazine's 11th Annual Media Event Massages, Makeup and more!
Head on over to Beauty in Real Life and find out more about Avon's Beauty Breakthrough Tour. While you're there, enter the giveaway with Avon (valued at $100!).
Beauty Junkies Unite asks you-- What is pink, pretty, and has your name all over it? Hint: It's NEW!

AHS shares how she uses Evian Moisture Mist & it's not how you are expecting!

This Gloss is IT! Beauty Blvd. shows off her new favorite lip gloss! Bet you can't guess the brand!

Yellow is THE Color! I Heart Heels brings you the latest yellow hues seen on your favorite celebs! Check out who’s wearing it!

Hot Beauty Health says to stay beautiful with This Works Travel Kit while flying this holiday season.

Holiday Airfares on Sale

If you’ve been holding off on booking your tickets for a December getaway—or your trip home for Thanksgiving or Christmas, book now. Most major airlines cut fares by up to 25 percent. Our dream trip? Miami for Art Basel with a side trip to the newly opened Canyon Ranch.

On Our Radar: Jet Set Guys

Since Halloween is about debauchery and fun, we thought we'd find those things our Jet Set Guy counterparts might be doing this Halloween. Here's a couple of options we came up with:

Las Vegas- The girls of the Spearmint Rhino Gentlemen's Club host a Halloween party at the Playboy Club at the Palms. While they're supposedly "dressing up" in costume, would that imply they're actually wearing clothes? If you catch up with us off line sometime, ask about our night at Spearmint Rhino. Really, everyone's got to go at least once...

For more Vegas ideas, check out the LA Times story, 10 Reasons to Ditch L.A. and go to Vegas for Halloween.

Though if you decide to stay put in LA- The Kandy Halloween Party at the Playboy Mansion costs a mere $1000 and includes body painted Kandy girls, 100 actors playing ghouls and goblins, playboy playmates, and (of course) a buffet.

New Spa Products

Well, at least they're new to us. One of our favorite things about traveling is perusing the hotel and/or spa's gift shop. We love these the Get Fresh line that we discovered on our recent trip to the Stowe Mountain Lodge.

Get Fresh has a travel themed Memories Of collection. While we can't figure out why NYC's scent is lemongrass, especially as we can't get Pad Thai in our new Manhattan neighborhood, we do love the fresh scents and adorable packaging. Also available are: Paris (white fleurs); Positano (orange blossom) and Kyoto (black currant plum). The products are available online and possibly at a spa near you.



While shopping for our new home at NYC's ABC Carpet & Home, we came across Scent of Scandal Candles. These tongue-in-cheek soy candles make the perfect hostess gift. A few of our faves are: Rehab (freshly cleaned clothes); D Cups (voluptuous melons) and, um, Santa's Pole (candy cane). Available online at Candle Delirium.

Vegas: The Best Time Part 2

Here's the rest of Samara's and Erin's guide to Vegas. Go girls!

5) Sometimes, Less is More.
Vegas’ cavernous clubs can be a little overwhelming at times. Crowded dance floors, long bar lines and pounding music go with the territory at places like Tao and Lavo. It can be exactly what you need -- or a scene you need to be rescued from.

Don’t forget that Vegas lounges are just as amazing as the clubs -- but are smaller and more manageable. You’ll get your dancing fix, but with less drink spillage and fewer run-ins with errant stilettos.

Our personal recommendation: Ghost Bar at The Palms , or Blush Lounge at the Wynn.


6) Get Lucky at Mr. Lucky’s!
There’s no shortage of amazing food in Vegas, but the best spot for late night nosh is Mr. Lucky’s. Located on the casino level at the Hard Rock, Mr. Lucky’s has an extensive menu, quick service, and good food at a reasonable price. Chili cheese fries and milkshakes saved us on many post-partying occasions.

An added bonus: according to the waitstaff, “everyone” goes there...which means you could be grabbing a snack with your favorite celeb in the next booth.


7) Don’t forget the essentials.
If you’re going to Vegas, you’ve got to play like a champ. Be sure to pack: sunscreen (face, lip, and body -- that sun is hot!), Aleve, Pepto tablets, Visine, B-12 vitamins, 1 pair of your highest, hottest heels (Vegas is not the place to try out those new Tory Burch flats!), Band-Aids, and at least 1 dress so daring you would never wear it at home. Don’t forget your camera -- because what happens in Vegas belongs on Kodak Gallery to make all your other friends jealou

Vegas: How to Have the Best Time!

We followed Samara's adventures in Vegas on Twitter; but that was just a tease. We asked her to guest post this week on how to have an awesome girls' trip to Vegas. She and her friend Erin gave it up and we LOVE their suggestions and are sure you will too! Better yet, shoot us your faves...

Stay tuned tomorrow for Part 2.

That's Samara and Erin at Blush above looking every part the Vegas vixens.

How to Win Big in Vegas (and we're not talking about gambling!)

Vegas is the ultimate girls’ getaway -- fabulous weather, pools that rival a getaway on a Caribbean beach, elegant spas, and a party scene like no other. We have had such legendary adventures in Vegas, we’ve made a pact to hit Sin City every year. Here are our lucky 7 tips for making the most of your trip!

1) Choose vacation dates carefully.
If you plan on hitting the pools, keep in mind that they close from approximately November - March. The days of the week you choose for your vacation also will influence your nights out in Vegas: many of the hottest clubs are only open Thursday-Sunday.

Monday seems to be the biggest “industry night”, when many of the people who live and work in Vegas head out to the few clubs that are open. (We found this out the hard way last year!) While you may get a more authentic taste of local flavor, you’ll also spend more time and energy trying to get into Jet or Rum Jungle.

Our personal reco: September in Vegas is fabulous. It’s not too hot, but there’s still a strong summer party vibe. And if experiencing Vegas nightlife is at the top of your “to-do” list, plan your trip to include Thursday - Sunday nights.

2) Take advantage of your hotel spa.
Las Vegas offers an unparalleled range of unique spa services you won’t find anywhere else. But even if hot stone massages aren’t your thing, there’s still a reason to keep Vegas spas in mind.

Hotel check-out times seem to get earlier and earlier. So what to do if you need to be out of your hotel room by 11:00 a.m., but your plane doesn't take off until 6 p.m.? Spend $20 (hotels may vary) for a day pass for the spa at your hotel. You can spend the day at the pool, then take a shower and get ready for your flight. There's nothing worse than getting on a plane full of sand and chlorine. We headed to RockSpa at The Hard Rock Hotel after a day at the Rehab pool party. It was the best $20 spent on the entire trip!

3) Don't pay covers!
The male-female ratio in Vegas is obscenely unequal. Clubs want to attract women so that all the packs of men running around the city will come, too.

Translation: Don’t pay cover to get into a club.

There are people whose jobs are centered around making sure you have a good time in Vegas, and that doesn’t include shelling out $30 to get past a velvet rope. Club promoters are paid to pack the clubs -- especially with women. There are services that will text you where the hottest parties are that night, and even get you on the guest list.

Even if you’re not Paris Hilton, you can still find a way to get in for free...which brings us to Tip #4....

4) See...And Be Seen…
Even if you have the most delicious hotel room on earth, aside from disco naps or crashing at night, you shouldn’t be there. Toss on a dress and a smile, and walk through your hotel’s casino -- and see where it gets you. The odds that you’ll score VIP passes to a club are better than the odds of winning with $20 on red. Room service rocks, but take in your meals at restaurants or poolside. You can’t take advantage of Vegas spoils if no one sees you.

Case in point: We were having breakfast one morning at the pool on our last Vegas trip, and were approached by a club promoter, offering free VIP access to a party at Body English that night. The magic of Vegas – you never know what will happen if you put yourself out there.

Clinique Bonus!

Ladies, we don't get keyed up about many bonus gifts- usually we have to spend big bucks to get a couple of things in tiny sizes that don't work for us; but this Clinique giveaway is special. Here's the scoop: you only have to spend $21.50 to get this cute wristlet filled with 6 very usable, very fun fall products. You can choose from Professional Polish or Evening Drama (the Weekend Casual is already sold out!). We're going for the Evening Drama since neither of us subscribes to the office grind; but see what works for you.
Hurry, looks like the word's already out!

Update: This was a popular giveaway. The only set available now is Professional Polish. Here's what's included:

High Impact Mascara in Black .14oz/4g
Long Last Lipstick in Honey Nut 4g
Blushing Blush Powder Blush in Sunset Glow with brush .06oz/1.8g
Colour Surge Eye Shadow Duo in Butter Pecan .07oz/2g
All About Eyes 5ml
Eye Lash Curler
White and silver floral wristlet

Details at Clinique.com. Free shipping for purchases of $50. No code to use, just add the gift to your cart. Happy shopping!

Jet Set Girls on Glamour.com's Daily Beauty Blog

Thank you, Fab Women at Glamour.com's Daily Beauty Blog for asking us to dish about our travels together.

We love The Girls in the Beauty Dept. for all their insight (especially Beth for working with us this week). Thanks for inviting us over, we'll return the favor soon!

Check us out at Glamour!

Richie Rich Celebutante

We're so super-proud of our friend (and ideal travel companion) Stephanie, who created the new Richie Rich Celebutante CD. It's a compilation of Richie's favorite dance and party songs including Lily Allen's Take What You Take; Mya's Whatever Bitch and Scissor Sisters Filthy Gorgeous plus Richie's own Celebutante--a tune that will stick in your head for days (in a good way). We're always a sucker for a good compilation and this one is no exception. Put this on at midnight, when you're party's really starting to take off: It's an insta-DJ that will make your fete Legend-ary! Celebutante is available at Target.comand Amazon.com. Go buy it today!


One of the many benefits of being friends with Stephanie is that she invited us to the launch party for the CD last Thursday night at NYC's Citrine, a club that only officially opened a day later (and Samantha Ronson is DJing tonight!). The party was a blast. The DJ, Lina Bradford, nailed it. Richie performed Celebutante. And a dancing pig stole the show. That's Richie and friends, Andre J and a pal from Tokyo.



And our group of friends, Felissa, Susan, Elizabeth and JSG's Annie who are just a little less colorful.

Lilyette In-Motion Sports Bra

Boy do we need to work out! We have three big trips on our horizon: to Austin to visit college girlfriends, on a cruise (bikini time, oh yes), and the S.O.'s high school reunion in Chicago. We don't have many hangups but three trips in as many weeks with people we'd like to see us at our best makes us want to strap on the sneeks. Truth is we could use some fresh support too. Enter Lilyette with their In-Motion Sports Bras which come in three styles: Gentle motion for yoga and the like, Power motion for stationary bike-type exercise, and Active motion for running and strenuous exercise. We're partial to the Gentle motion bra pictured above, the underwire and separated cups would give us the best silhouette under our tanks. (We realize this might not be the most practical approach; but the rubber tire boob look is so ugly!)

Last week the very accomplished and beautiful ladies of the U.S. Gymnastic team appeared at the Women in Sports Gifting Suite at the Waldorf Astoria. That's Nastia Luikin above and Sean Johnson below.

If you're interested in winning your own Lilyette In-Motion Sports Bra, send us your email to jetsetgirls@gmail.com, your address, your cup size (up to 40DDD) and which In-Motion bra you prefer. Please put Lilyette in the subject line.

Lilyette In-Motion sports bras are available at Macy's and JCPenney.

Editor's note: Please send your entries by Friday, October 31st, 2008 and include your mailing address. Thanks!

B. Kamins Lash Fortifier Winners!

Congratulations to Elyse from Fox River Grove, Il., Sonya from Atlanta, and Venus from Waipahu, Hi. for winning the Lash Fortifier from B. Kamins! Thank you for all your enthusiastic entries and many thanks for reading. Look for our Lilyette In-Motion sports bra giveaway this week!

Packing Tips

One of the questions we are asked most frequently is how to pack for a weekend trip. JSG's Annie left for Newport, RI yesterday, and while it's not technically a weekend, she still needed outfits for three days and two nights. She wanted to pack light, because she still hasn't figured out which new wheelie luggage to buy. Here's what made the cut:


My first step was to check the weather. It's expected to be warmer than I thought--lows in the 40s and highs near 60. I'm notoriously bad about packing for the weather, so I packed two of my favorite cashmere Vince Sweaters that are easy to layer. I'm bringing two pairs of jeans, a dressy trouser-style pair and my Earnest Sewn black pair. They're so soft and comfy, even when sitting for hours in an airport. The striped top is from the Alice Temperley collection for Target. Like most of you, I mix high and low end pieces together.


For nighttime, I needed one dressy outfit and one more casual one. To keep my bag light, I'll wear the jeans for night time, too. The trouser jeans are elegant and slimming (even though they don't look like it in the photo!). I'm pairing them with my disco DKNY batwing top and trusty Rebecca Norman bangles. I wish I had more tops as versatile as this one: I bought it for $50 at the DKNY outlet near Palm Springs four years back. It never seems to go out of style and I love that it has longer sleeves.

My other outfit is a day to night look. I picked my H&M tank because my color scheme needed some livening up. The little metallic appliqué bird makes the top going-out ready. I may take the sweater off in the evening, depending on the restaurant we go to and the temperature.

I brought my bigger Melie Bianco cocktail bag because it can fit my Blackberry, lipstick and camera--essential when traveling so I have shots for the blog or my Facebook page.

For shoes I brought black zip up booties that are easy to get in and out of at airport security and gray patent leather pumps that are super comfy to walk in. Rounding out my bag are: yoga clothes, a nightie and of course my makeup and toiletries. For my jacket, I'm bringing my Burberry trench, which I'm hoping will be warm enough with those sweaters!

Vote for Kristen!

Kristen Nelson Thibeault, our fearless leader at TotalBeauty.com (she's a vice president there) and dear friend, shared her story about her recent diagnosis of breast cancer and subsequent double mastectomy for the Share a Survival Story, Inspire the World. Vote for her entry, please, so she can win some much needed TLC.

For a longer version of Kristen's truly inspirational courage, read her profile on A Girl's Gotta Spa. You won't get through it dry eyed.

On Our Radar: Newport, Rhode Island

This weekend we're headed to Newport, Rhode Island. We have fond memories of the town--the summer after we graduated college we went for a few debaucherous weekends, where we danced and smooched the night away. It has been a few years since then, so we're excited to hop a flight at JFK to nearby Providence and check it out.


We'll be staying at Hotel Viking. The hotel was originally built in the 1920s by the good people of Newport so their friends had a place to stay. (What? They didn't have enough room in those mansions up on Cliff Walk. JSG plans to investigate this tidbit of info). The hotel recently underwent $6.2 million of renovations. More importantly--as far as we're concerned--it's home to SpaTerre, which features Balinese and Thai-inspired treatments.



Other pluses: One Belleveue, the hotel's restaurant features local seafood like lobster (which we hear is at bargain prices these days), oysters and cod, plus 25 wines served by the glass and the hotel is within walking distance from downtown.

Our friend Amber over at BeautyBloggingJunkie who was there a few weeks ago recommends the Black Pearl for its outdoor lunch with fab Champagne and Thai crab cakes. Now if only we knew where to shop...

Grey Goose Pear Vodka

We discovered Grey Goose Pear Vodka on our trip to Stowe a few weeks ago and haven’t been able to get enough of it since. It all started when the bartender at the Hourglass Bar at the Stowe Mountain Lodge told us he had created a concoction of Grey Goose Pear mixed with cranberry juice and a splash of local apple cider with an apple slice as a garnish. It sounded like the perfect way to carry on our buzz post-lunch, so we went with it. It was sweet, delicious and essentially fall in a mouthful.

The pear flavor is realistic without being sugary. (Pear must be an easy flavor to fake—remember pear Jelly Belly’s? You would swear you’re eating the fruit instead of bad for you candy.)
Since Vermont, we’ve sampled it mixed in a Champagne Cocktail at NYC’s Royalton and in a Pear Martini (with vanilla vodka mixed in) at the Empire Hotel. (We enjoy a good hotel bar any day—even in our hometown.)
We’ve also heard it’s good mixed with our other favorite liquor, St. Germain Elderflower and we think a cranberry and seltzer blend would be an obvious choice.
Cheers!

Fringe Is (Still) In

When we were in Charleston last month, Heidi picked up some peep toe cut-out booties like these; but even after some serious peer pressure; we couldn't commit to a pair for ourselves.

Yesterday we found some heels of our own that are a stretch for us. Sure we could have spent $600 on a Paul and Joe version; but this pair is so trendy we don't see it lasting more than a season or two. This is the Steven Bijoux on sale now for $99. When we tried it on the man and woman standing next to us, gave us the "Ooh, those are hot!" comment, so we knew we had to get them. Not to be cliche about fringe in Texas; but aren't these going to be perfect for our trip to Austin in a couple of weeks?

Just to reinforce fringe is in through spring 2009, here's the Hermes collection with enough western influence to make Ralph Lauren smile (picture courtesy of Style.com). That's Stephanie Seymour looking gorgeous in a fringed skirt.

NARS Holiday Collection 2008

The NARS Holiday Collection 2008 is available now. We've already seen, worn, and shared with our girlfriends the Super Orgasm (boy that sounds strange!) blush. NARS perennial best seller is their Orgasm blush -and a Best of Sephora winner for the past 5 years- because it looks great on everyone. Funny thing, we always thought it looked too peachy for our complexion; but how could a million people be wrong? This season NARS introduced the Super Orgasm which steps it up with more intense color and larger gold flecks. Okay, they've hooked us--we're suckers for gold sparkles. It's hot, our date noticed ("Baby, you're sparkling tonight!). So yes, we'll be wearing it to our holiday parties...Available at NARS and Sephora for $25. Why wait for a Super Orgasm when it's ready for you?

B. Kamins Lash Fortifier Review and Giveaway

JSG will do just about anything to get long lush lashes--we wear fake eyelashes more regularly than drag queens and have even had eyelash extensions (love 'em, but the upkeep is a ridonk-u-lous--and we color our hair once a month!). So when asked if we would like to test out the new B. Kamins Eyelash Foritifier we said yes faster than tickets sell out to a MGMT show.


According to the B. Kamins website, the product is: enriched with peptide growth substances, natural plant extracts and multi-vitamins, which help to boost micro-circulation at the hair follicles, as well as condition and protect delicate lashes and is free of prostaglandins, a controversial ingredient that was in earlier versions of lash grow products. And according to the press release, you see an average of 58% growth in lashes in 4-8 weeks. Sign us up!

The product is designed to be used nightly, everyday for four weeks. It's a gel that you apply to your lash line. We gently rubbed it in figuring that would help get it where it need to go (i.e. the roots of our eyelashes). It doesn't sting your eyes or have any other adverse affects that we're aware of. At first it was hard to remember to use it nightly, but we got the hang of it after a week.

And..

By week 3, our lashes actually were noticeably longer! By week 4 the results were even better. Now, we're not sure if they're exactly 58 percent longer, but they're long enough that our SO noticed and that they hit the lens of our sunglasses when we blink. Now, it doesn't give the same effect as fake lashes, while our lashes are longer, they're not denser. But for an everyday look with no hassle, it fits the bill, especially when we top our new, longer lashes with Estée Lauder Turbo Lash Mascara.

As for maintenance after the first four weeks, according to Ben Kaminsky, the chemist behind the product and family owner of B. Kamins, once you see the desired results, you can stop using the product and “wean” yourself off of it for about a month or so… then after that you can use the product for 3 days on and 3 days off for maintenance of the results every few weeks.

If short lashes are something you struggle with, this is definitely the product for you. B. Kamins Eyelash Fortifier works, justifying its $90 price tag. Our tube seems to be going strong after a month and you need less for upkeep.

B. Kamins Lash Fortifier is available at Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salons (those in D.C. will definitely want to check out the new branch at the Willard, which opens next week, Bliss, Coldwater Creek The Spas, Cos Bar or Zitomers Pharmacy.

Still with us? Three lucky JSG reader will win a free Lash Fortifier! Simply email us at jetsetgirls@gmail.com by midnight PST this Sunday, October 26 with the subject line: Lash Fortifier.

Available on line at bkamins.com, skinstore.com, and beauty.com.

MAC Ungaro See Thru Lip Color

The first item we picked up from MAC's supper-pretty, super-wearable collection was the See Thru Lip Color in Not So Shy. It looks dark in the bottle, but goes on sheer and gives lips that perfect "I just ate a handful of raspberries" look that you frequently hear makeup artists waxing poetic about.

Only problem: while we LOVE the color, it lasted about 10 minutes before disappearing. We tried using it with a lip liner, which made our lips uncomfortably dry. Next we tried it over nude lipstick, but this made our lips too creamy and the stain had nothing to grab onto. Time to call in the big guns!

We checked in with MAC Senior Artist Keri Blair for her professional advice:

"To increase wearability...ensure your lips are hydrated but dry to the touch by tissuing off any lip balm or gloss on lips before applying the See Thru Color. Apply a few thin coats of the See Thru Color blotting in between coats with a tissue. For a final touch you could dust the lips with a light powder and a soft brush, then blot powder to maintain wearability!"

We gave this a shot--and it worked, reasonably well. It's not going to be the product to choose if you need it to last all day or through a meal. But at least now it lasts between our visits to the powder room.

It's currently sold out on MAC's website, so sounds like MAC's Not So Shy already has its fan base!

Anniversary Giveaway Winner

Thank you for your entries. The winner of the Bruno Jamais Restaurant gift certificate and the Sothys skin care set is Sherry B. from Pittsburgh, Pa. Congratulations!

Happy travels!

In Search of the Perfect Luggage

Ever since the unfortunate incident last August when our luggage was stolen off the street, we've been in need of a new wheelie bag. We weren't too crazy about the particular bag (a promotional piece from Royal Caribbean) and had been on the hunt for a new piece of wheeled luggage for a few months prior. (Our new Marc Jacobs bikini is another story.) In the meantime, we've been making do with a Coach leather trimmed duffel--a gorgeous bag--but our shoulders are starting to feel the pain. (We're sure we don't need to tell you about the benefits of a wheeled bag that's small enough to carry on.) And with three trips in the next month, it's time for JSG to take the plunge. Care to help us chose?

We're still eying this piece from Halsea's Boat Canyon Collection, that we were thinking about last June.

We also adore Halsea's Little Harbor Collection, which is more versatile for those cosmopolitan trips.


Then there's always the gold standard, Tumi. As luck would have it, our SO's brother works there and gets a substantial discount, making the Ducati bag within our reach. How can you not love a luggage line named after the motorcycle favored by Brad Pitt?


Of course, we are girlie girls and this pink bag from Titan is calling our name. Even better 10% of the sale goes to fight breast cancer.


And if money were no object, the J.Crew Globe-Trotter Centenary Collection this bag would be it. It retails for a cool $1,800, so the search continues. Care to weigh in?

Breast Cancer Illuminations

It's October 20 and Total Beauty, Total Cure is still going strong--today's giveaway is a $250 Benefit Cosmetics gift card and Clairisonic Yours and Mine set over at Spoiled Pretty. Be sure to enter!

One of our favorite parts of the month is the Estee Lauder Global Landmarks Illuminations where landmarks around the world are bathed in pink lights. The program launched in 2000 with 26 landmarks in 22 countries. Last year more than 200 landmarks in 60 countries were illuminated.

Leave it to Elizabeth Hurley to steal the scene at last week's lighting of the Tower of London. Her form-fitting, some might say, too-tight, Giambattista Valli dress, made it nearly impossible to notice anything else. We'll give the girl credit--she knows how to get attention and can even upstage a nearly 1,000 year old building!

Here are a few of our favorites landmark's from last year's event. The Arena, Verona, Italy:




China Millenia Monument, Beijing:

Belvedere Castle, Vienna Austria:

To find an illumination in your country, checkout Clinique for a calendar.

Gossip Girl Jewelry

Miss the Rachel Leigh sample sale on Gilt.com on Friday? We did--and we were pretty bummed about it. Her flirtie, girlie pieces add the right punch of color to many a JSG outfit. This fall, we've been wearing our custom made ribbon wrapped bangles in gold, brown, red and black that were a gift from Clairol back in our beauty editor days (Get it? Each bangle represents a hair color.) Her Audrey enamel bracelet was featured on Gossip Girl--of course Audrey Hepburn-fanatic Blair wore it.

Alas, we were on our way to a lunch date on Friday and not near a computer at the noon-time start time. When we got home post-lunch, we looked over the offerings and were depressed that nearly every piece of her funky, wearable jewelry was sold out. Fortunately, JSG is not that easily deterred when we want something.

Instead of lamenting about what could have been: Rooster charm necklace,



jet and crystal square pendant

and chain bangle

We googled Ms. Leigh and were happy to find she's having a sample sale on her very own site. And some of the prices are even better! Compare $35 for the chain resin bracelet (above) on Rachelleigh.com to the $65 it sold for on Gilt.com. You could almost buy two for the price of one. Which is exactly what we did. See, everything really does happen for a reason.

Now get yourself on over to the Rachel Leigh site and find out what goodies await! And remember, it always pays to shop around!

Looking for a black lace bangle? We found the prefect one--and it only costs $20!

Booty Pop Padded Panties

We're not entirely convinced there's value to adding padding to our rears, but apparently that's exactly what a lot of you out there are doing. WWD reported last week that L.A.'s uber-boutique Kitson has been selling 25 to 30 pairs of Booty Pop panties a week where it was called "the sleeper hit of the summer." The idea is that the padding in these panties will make your booty pop to fill out a pair of jeans. Co-Creator Susan Bloomstone came up with the idea for them after reading about young girls getting butt implants. If you try them out, let us know how they work!

All About the Pretty on Washingtonian.com

Julia Coney is beautiful and brilliant and this week she was featured on Washingtonian.com. She spends her professional life in a law office and her free time (at least a good part of it) helping the rest of us look better on her blog All About the Pretty. Many thanks to her for naming the Jet Set Girls as one of her fave local blogs. Julia, you're the best!

Calvin Klein's Secret Obsession

We aren't big perfume girls and we definitely don't wear perfume every day making last night a very pleasant surprise. We had a date with the SO to see Love Muffin and not much time to get ready. We threw on some dark liner, an extra coat of mascara, and grabbed Calvin Klein's Secret Obsession which has been sitting on the counter for a couple of weeks. We'd smelled the bottle; but weren't convinced we wanted to wear it. Well, you've heard over and over that perfumes change with your body and this is one of those. It really needs to be worn to be appreciated. It's not as musky as the original Obsession (literally designed in the 80's to mimic some lurv making smell); and it's lighter than the original too. There is still a slight muskiness enough to make the SO say how sexy we smelled. Try it out yourself, and not just on one of those skinny strips of paper. This perfume begs to be worn. If your chemistry is similar to ours, you won't be disappointed!

We're so impressed, we'd like to give away one full size bottle. Send us your email address with Secret Obsession in the subject line by Tuesday, October 21st, 2008 to jetsetgirls@gmail.com.

Available at Macy's.

Editor's note: The winner of our giveaway is Becky S. from Springfield, Va.! Thanks for your entries!

On Our Radar: Canyon Ranch Miami Beach

We wouldn't be writing a blog on women's travel if it weren't a true passion of ours. The opening of the new Canyon Ranch Miami Beach is just what keeps us going and a spot we can't wait to visit. The all-suite hotel is opening on the site of the former Carillon Hotel, on Collins Avenue about 10 minutes north of South Beach. Yes, we normally like to stay at one of the trendy places along the few blocks that encompass the Shore Club, Setai, the Sagamore, etc. so that we can walk between nightspots; but this hotel would be worth cabbing it.

The Canyon Ranch Miami Beach sits oceanfront with multiple pools, wellness centers and healthy restaurants. Each one or two bedroom suite offers a big balcony, a sitting area and even a kitchenette. There are physicians on staff (presumably to evaluate your health and design a program for your stay, not prescribe meds for a bad hangover), as well as nutritionists, life coaches, and fitness instructors. They have classes ranging from yoga and cardio to meditation.

The Canyon Ranch Miami Beach opens next month (November 2008) and rates start at only $300 per night. If you split that with a couple of girlfriends, it's totally reasonable! We just hope they'll be patient with us staying out all night dancing and sleeping late. Maybe the Canyon Ranch would be a good influence on us after all.

Photo courtesy of the NY Times.

Total Beauty Total Cure Giveaway Winners

The winners of the Frankie and Johnny Think Peek sleepwear set from Sleepyheads (pictured above) are: Grand Prize Hayley G. from Providence, R.I. and Runner Up Chrysa Duran from Cambridge, MN. Many thanks for your generous support!

A Peek Inside Daily Obsession's Carry On

One of our favorite bloggers, Connie one-half of The Daily Obsession (we heart Carolyn, too), is headed to NYC from L.A. in a week and graciously allowed us to peek inside her carry on bag:

The most important thing is to find a great bag that will fit all my
in-flight needs! I adore Pallie's James Tote in the shiny chocolate patent
lizard leather, which is both functional and glam. Mine is chocolate brown.

I'm also never without a thin silk-cashmere wrap. It works as a blanket
during the flight, but doubles as a scarf at my destination. J. Crew has
some luxurious, but affordable versions.




I keep a slim travel wallet with me. It houses my ID, some cash, tickets
and all other travel documents in it. It saves me the hassle of rummaging
through my bag and wallet for everything I need at the airport. I'm dying
to upgrade to a Smythson of Bond Street version!
I can't travel without magazines and a good book (and I read quickly), so I
stock up on a couple fun reads at a bookstore before I leave. I usually
pick a couple of my faves like Lucky and Domino - both are super great plane reads since they're not 300 pages and heavy to tote. As for plane
books...I'm always up for a Sophie Kinsella read!

The electronics are also important! I take an iPod with me, which helps me
zone out in-flight. I prefer music that is super low-key like
James Blunt (photo courtesy of People.com), Sara Bareilles or Rachael Yamagata.


Finally beauty products...I put this all into a tiny flat makeup bag: A
small bottle of moisturizer to keep my skin hydrated in-flight. (Right now,
I'm obsessed with Jo Malone's Orange Blossom lotion, so I decant it into one
of those travel bottles you can pick up at Target or any other drugstore.)
A tiny bottle of Kai perfume is the perfect touch up for after I de-plane.
Who wants to smell like airplane? Also a quick coat of lip gloss/ lipstick
helps me look refreshed and awake after a long flight.


Lastly, can anyone travel without hand sanitizer? Sorry, but all I can
imagine are germs when I think about how many people have sat in my seat,
etc. A tiny bottle of Purell is a total must.

Keira Knightley's Hair Stylist Dishes with JSG

A few weeks back, we had the chance to meet the totally adorable and ever-so-British Ben Skervin. He’s the genius behind Keira Knightley’s totally covetable hair on the November cover of Glamour. After a glass of champagne, Ben was willing so share his tips on fall to winter styles and dish a little about Keira’s hair. (Sadly we ran out of bubbly before we could get him to open up on her love life.)

According to Ben:
• Fall is a great time to make a change. Get a great haircut and ditch the dry ends.
• For winter, try a rich, dark color. Go three shades darker for a rich look. (JSG note: We’re totally inspired by Keira’s chestnut locks on the Glamour cover.)
• Cold winter air can be damaging. It makes hair brittle and can be hard to style. Use a conditioner. Ben likes Head & Shoulders Smooth & Silky, which is safe for the aforementioned colored hair.
• Wavy hair is a terrific look for this autumn and winter. I love steamrollers, which are gentler than an iron.



As for the dish on Keira—Ben says her hair was in fabulous shape in August thanks to the wigs she wore on The Duchess, Edge of Reason and Atonement. Her real hair was spared daily styling and is in better shape than ever. But you don’t have to tell us the benefits of not washing your hair.

And since, we’re mentioning Glamour, seems like a good time for JSG to brag a little: We’re psyched to be on the Sites We Love Blog roll on the Glamour Girls in the Beauty Department blog. Thanks, ladies! We heart you, too!

For more on Ben, read Beauty in Real Life's 5 Minutes, 5 Questions.

On the Road Again

We're on the road again, this time to Austin, Tx. --live music capital of the world, home to all things organic, and the fabulous Lake Austin Spa. That's the Driskill Hotel where we'll be staying above.

We totally appreciated your suggestions for our trip to Charleston and would love to get some input about Austin. Do you have a fave music venue, restaurant, or boutique? Let us know and like always, we'll give you the low down when we return.

Happy travels!

Fall Travel Deals

Fortunately the stock market seems to have calmed down a bit this week (or not), not that anyone out there will be booking a two week trip to Bali anytime soon. While we don’t usually feature travel bargains (there are just too many to keep up with), we can’t help but notice that plenty of hotels are offering enticements to get you to hit the road these days, including many of our favorites. A few we think that are too good to pass up:

Now through December 20, Playa del Carmen’s chic Hotel Basico (below) and Hotel Deseo are offering a third night free and 50 percent off food and drinks. Both are on the Mexican Riviera, about an hour's drive from Cancun.

Book with an American Express card now through March 31, 2009 to get your third night free at any W Hotel. Use code TNR or TNH.

We can’t seem to log onto Facebook right now without seeing an ad for Iceland. You really can get good deals with the Krona tanking. (We would feel bad for their country if our own weren't overrun by Europeans.) Why would you want to go? JSG’s Annie has been and loved the nightlife, regional cuisine and shopping, but wasn’t a fan of the Blue Lagoon—it wasn’t hot enough for her tastes (admittedly she is a cold water wimp).


Our fave hotel group, the Kimpton, is offering a 20% discount on room rates if you arrive via Amtrak, valid on Friday and Saturday nights through March 31st in Boston, D.C., and NYC. JSG's Hope sees a trip to the Muse in her future!

Visit the Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya, Mexico and get one night free with a two night stay, now until December 15th, 2008.

Lastly, there's still time to take advantage of the JSG exclusive discount to Escape to Shape Columbia.

DDF Protect and Correct

We have used DDF Protect and Correct Moisturizer with SPF 15 for two weeks as our daytime lotion. It is designed to moisturize, protect your skin from the sun and correct hyper pigmentation problems. It was an effective moisturizer, not too heavy; it contains SPF 15 to protect from UVA and UVB rays which is sufficient for us in the fall, but wouldn't have been high enough in the summer; and regarding the lightening effects, there was not a significant difference with our sun damage (mostly freckles). Other notable characteristics of the lotion are its smell, it definitely has a sunscreen smell to it which lingers for a while after application. We expect that from our products that have over an SPF 30 because we figure the manufacturers are using something strong to protect your skin; but we have plenty of products from powders to tinted moisturizer to lipstick with SPF 15 that don't have an odor. Also, the product goes on with a shine which looks slightly greasy. This doesn't affect us, because we layer on other products that nullify the shine; but expect the effect if you're one that wears less makeup. Will we continue to use it? Yes, it is a quality product and curiosity as to the lightening and correcting claims makes us want to use it longer in hopes that it we'll see improvement. The cost is $58 for 1.7 oz. The price is high; but you can carry it on the airplane!

Sexy Winter Coats

On our recent trip to Vermont we encountered our first chilly weather of the season, a sharp realization that winter is around the corner. And we can’t remember how many years it has been since we bought a new coat.

In fact, just the other day, we were bemoaning the fact that we let a gorgeous Rebecca Taylor funnel neck coat on sale slip through our fingers at the end of last winter. At the time we were being financially responsible (hey-it happens every once in a while!). While our Amex bill breathed a sigh of relief, winter’s almost here and we're still dreaming of a new coat.

Enter Lia Lintern. Her designs are simply stunning—enough to make us ask, Rebecca who?
Each has goregeous details like embroidery, bell sleeves, cording and belts.
The coats are made of cashmere and cashmere-wool blends and are silk-lined. There’s more: Each is tailored to fit your body and takes into account your arm length and bust, waist and hip measurements.

The price tag isn’t cheap—the coats start at $565—but for what you get in style and quality, that is a serious bargain (these coats could easily go for twice that). Plus, you’ll save on tailoring costs. Trust us, we know coats!

We also love the story behind the line. Designer Julia Lintern is a former structural aerospace engineer who worked for Delta and Jet Blue fixing damaged airplanes. Something tells us these coats are as functional as they are stylish! We can't wait for the first snowfall!

On Our Radar: Escape to Shape Columbia + DISCOUNT

Imagine waking up in an 18th century colonial Colombian mansion and looking out from your balcony on the narrow cobblestone streets of Cartagena. You amble on up to the rooftop terrace for a morning yoga class to welcome the sun. After class, you make your way back downstairs to the dining room for a breakfast of fresh fruits, yogurt, granola, fresh juice, including Colombian-style coconut lemonade and Colombian coffee.

Next, it's up to you to decide, do you want to join the group on a power walk on the nearby Caribbean beaches? Or spend the day exploring the plazas, cathedrals, boutiques and cafes of Cartagena? (This is, after all, the hometown of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and the inspiration for the magical realism of 100 Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera.) Or you can always just relax by the pool. Other excursions include a trip to the Rosario Islands and the Totumo Mud Volcano, where you can experience a true mud bath.



When evening falls, you can join in a sunset body sculpting class before enjoying a healthy dinner of pumpkin soup, grilled shrimp with a light coconut sauce, arroz con coco and fresh green salad. Interested in learning how to prepare some of the local specialties which includes 6 types of mangoes and 5 types of bananas? Cooking lessons are available for those with a culinary bent. After dinner join in a salsa dancing class.

What is the paradise? Escape to Shape Cartagena, which takes place from Oct. 24- November 30. Each session goes for six nights.

By now, you must be wondering how much this all costs--believe us, we know times are tough. Included in the escape are 6 nights at the private mansion, all meals and snacks, yoga classes, other fitness classes, Spanish, salsa and cooking lessons, one massage and airport transfers. (You're responsible for your own airfare.) So what's the damage? JSG is happy to offer our readers a 20 percent discount on the $3,000 price tag for the week, making the grand total $2,400. Just mention us when you book.

For information on past Escape to Shapes, click here.

Happy Anniversary!

Today marks our first anniversary as Jet Set Girls and we can't believe how fast it's gone by! We are so humble and appreciative that you spend your time here with us. We've been super lucky to meet wonderful people, both through our affiliation with Total Beauty (you beauty bloggers rock!) and through our travels; we've visited amazing resorts and spas; we've tried out exciting new products and shared all this with you. Thank you thank you! We'd like to celebrate by taking you to dinner. Here's how it'll work: we're giving away a $50 gift certificate for dinner at the fabulous Bruno Jamais Restaurant Club in NYC's upper east side, a swank contemporary French spot that's open til 3:00 a.m., offers live jazz on Mondays and won the "Best Interior Design" award from Hospitality Design Magazine. And, to make sure you're looking your best when you get there, a set of products from the Parisian skin care line Sothys, including a hydrating cream, a hydrating serum and a hydrating mask. To enter, email your name and address by next Wednesday, October 15 to jetsetgirls@gmail.com. Please keep reading, we're looking forward to 2009!
XOXO,
Hope and Anne

Travel Guide: Istanbul

Istanbul first hit our radar after watching Matt Lauer flirt with a belly dancer on this past May's "Where in the World is Matt Lauer." So after our good friend, Nicole Darmanin went on a business trip for Mario Badescu (lucky dog!) we hit her up for all the deets. (Want to know what was in her carry on?)
What surprised you most about Istanbul?

I’d heard that Istanbul was a progressive and modern city but I think I was still envisioning something more old world. The city is very modern, but what shocked me the most was the general affinity for American culture. When I mentioned this to my host he smiled and said, “Yes, some people call Istanbul the 51^st State.” I was also surprised by brands that are represented in the city, I wouldn’t blink an eye at a Mc Donald’s but Starbucks, Pizza Hut and (are you ready?) Aldo Shoes?!? I couldn’t believe it!

How was the nightlife? How does it compare with say Vegas, New York or Miami?

The only city of the three that I would compare it to would be New York-if you are running with a Euro crowd. We went to a night club called Cahide which was packed on a Tuesday night and a lot of fun.

How was the shopping? Is it more local artisan type stuff or is it high end boutiques (Louis Vuitton, Prada, etc.)?

If I learned one thing while I was in Turkey is that these people are serious about their shopping. I saw at least 2 different high end shopping strips comparable to NYC’s 5^th Ave, with high end stores including Louis Vuitton and Burberry. Mall shopping is very popular there, I was able to visit Istinye Park and Canyon (which houses a Harvey Nichols store).

For traditional artisan shopping go to Spice Market (I had a cultural revelation when I figured out where the NYC restaurant got its name) and the Grand Bazaar. In these places you find things like metal spice grinders, lamps, hookah pipes and beautiful Turkish Tea cups in transparent Jolly Rancher candy colors.

Were the guys cute? Friendly?

The guys were very good looking especially if you are into the dark and handsome variety. They were really friendly, even though there was a bit of a language barrier in some cases.
You said your bathroom at the hotel was crazy. What was so cool about it?

I stayed at The Ritz Carlton where the bathrooms were outfitted with marble floors, a shower and a separate (big) bathtub. Being the product junkie that I am, I was so excited to see little pouches of amazingly scented colored bath salts and a giant container of bubble bath. After a long day of walking around the city (which I swear is 90% cobblestone) that bath is going to look good to even the most die hard shower girl! Oh and my room had a view of one of the professional futbol stadiums, I had a birds eye view of the games.
You mention cobblestone. Did you wear heels?

It’s funny that you ask about heels on cobblestone. One of the days I was there I was supposed to do a presentation so I was wearing heels. When Dr. Diler picked us up from the hotel he said that there was a change of plans and that we were going to see one of the Palaces. Well, I guess back in the day you needed a really long walk way leading up to your palace in case if someone tries to attack you. I swear it was like a quarter mile walk up to this palace on a path paved with broken pieces of slate and pebbles. By the end of the hour and a half long tour my ankles were trembling but I was trying to act cool because we were with our client.

Would you recommend Istanbul for a girls' trip? Why or why not?Absolutely! Istanbul really has everything, history, amazing night life, food, shopping and great people. Do keep in mind though, that although modern, this is a different part of the world and there are still cultural differences. Expect to go through bomb detectors when entering your hotel, shopping malls etc.. No matter where I go I try to do a little research about the culture before heading over to avoid inadvertently saying anything disrespectful. We were lucky enough to have a wonderful host while I was in Turkey, Dr. Ali Kerim Diler who is a premier Dr. of Aesthetics and man about town in Istanbul.

In need of Botox, Restelyne, Mario Badescu Skin Care? This is your man.

ALI KERIM DILER M.D.

NISPETIYE CAD. ERDOLEN IS MERKEZI 38/14

34330 1.LEVENT-ISTANBUL/ TURKEY

Pink Ribbon Luggage Tags

Here's an easy way to "spread your message of breast cancer awareness" and find your bag on your travels. These luggage tags are pink leather with a pink ribbon embossed on one side. Available on the Breast Cancer Site for $6.95.

The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Amelia Island

We were fortunate to spend last weekend at the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. It's located just 20 minutes from the Jacksonville Airport in northeastern Florida, and lucky for us not far from our cousin's wedding activities. The property is gorgeous, it sits on a stretch of beach full of shells and shark's teeth bordered by dunes. Like other Ritz-Carlton properties we've visited, the attention to service and quality was obvious from check-in, from the totally comfy beds and linens, to the beach chairs, the great food, and of course the spa.

The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Amelia Island was redesigned in 2006 and aims to reflect the Southern and coastal influences surrounding it. At 27,000+ square feet, it's huge, with separate relaxation rooms and wet areas for men and women, including saunas, steam rooms, and hot tubs. There's a spa pool in addition to the resort pool with underwater music and a waterfall. It has two spa suites (pictured below), each with its own lounge and three treatment rooms that would be perfect if you had a large group on a girls' getaway or a wedding party.

We experienced the "Salt" at the Spa Package which lasted two and half glorious hours. Special thanks to Stacy Myers, the Spa Treatment Supervisor for a fabulous morning. It started with a Margarita Salt Scrub and wrap which was perfect in September after a summer's worth of sun and dry skin. Our hands and feet were wrapped in towels dipped in paraffin (nice sterile touch there). While we were soaking, Stacy gave us a scalp massage and washed our hair. Then we had a Vichy massage, which was new to us. We hadn't tried it before thinking we'd feel too exposed while a technician ran water jets across our body; but Stacey artfully covered us with washcloths. Then on to a stand up shower with tens of jets shooting in every direction possible. That was followed up with a honey butter massage. Leaving the room our skin felt so alive, fresh and healthy; we impulsively reached out to Stacy and gave her a hug (truly a first again!). Lastly, we had a Margarita Salt Pedicure with a margarita. The perfect finish that left us ready for the wedding festivities.

If you're looking for a treatment that's unique, the spa also offers the Heaven in a Hammock, a nod to Southern culture. The hammock distributes your weight, elongates your spine, and rocks and sways while the technician works around and below you. Wearing non-binding yoga attire makes this massage and treatment ideal for the modest spa goer.

This would be a great girls' trip: its location so close to the airport makes it easy for a long weekend, the variety of restaurants (a poolside grill, a cafe, a bakery, and a AAA Five Diamond restaurant) mean you don't have to leave the property, a spa that was made for pampering, and the beach and pool which are perfect for catching up with your friends. We'd love to go back for one of the spa's seasonal treatments.

Stila Paint Your Pout Red

What better way to get your perfect red lip than with Stila's new Paint Your Pout Red talking palette? The set comes with a lip brush, lip conditioner, and three shades of red, from a true berry, to a cherry red, to a deeper red. Push the button and a Stila artist chimes in to give you a minute long tutorial on creating a great red lip look. We were sceptical as to why you would need to hear directions, especially more than once; but we've played back the recording at least four times now over the past few days (first for amusement and later to follow the directions).

We thought the cool red shade (bottom right on the palette) was the most flattering. It's also possible to combine the colors.
Finish the look by lining your upper lid with Stila's liquid eye liner. The liner's felt tip applicator is easy to use and its small size makes it easy to handle. We didn't need to spend as much time trying to even out the thickness or intensity of the color on our lids.

The Paint Your Pout Red palette is available exclusively at Sephora for $45. The Liner in black ($16) is available there as well.

Red Lipstick: How to Wear It

Usually when we need to get dressed in a hurry for a night out, we reach for the black eyeliner. Add enough smudgy liner, pair with a lowcut top and no one will notice how flat your hair looks or that your nail polish is chipped.

While this look has never failed us, sometimes it's nice to mix it up. All the fashion rags are saying vintage glamour is one of the looks that's in this season, so we thought we would give it a shot, one night during fashion week. That's Annie (right) wearing Bloodroses lipstick from Kevyn AuCoin (below) with Carolyn from The Daily Obsession, backstage at the Ports 1961 show. While we loved that it created instant drama to our otherwise simple look, it was a pain to touch up the color throughout the night.

We checked in with one of our favorite makeup artists, Emily Warren for tips on how to wear red lipstick. Emily worked on many of the shows during NYC fashion week, including Marc Jacobs. You can read about her experiences on Total Beauty.

Does red lipstick work for everyone?
Yes! People are just afraid to try it. But there are different intensities and formulas that allow all of us to give it a shot.

Do you have a few favorite shades of red?
I love Nars chubby lip pencils (Nars Velvet Matte Lip pencils) in Dragon Girl and Cruella.

How do you apply red lipstick so it stays on?
Go with a pencil formula or a really sticky gloss if you want staying power. If you are going matte, you have to exfoliate your lips before applying or your lips will appear very flaky.

Is it true you want to keep your eye makeup simple?
Hmmm..Depends on where you are going. I would say yes, though when I'm working on clients, I typically go for a cream/liquid black or brown sharp line along the upper eyelids and that's that. But if you have darker skin, you can get away with a more dramatic eye with red lips.

What color blush do you chose and where do you apply it? Without it, I look too severe.
Yeah it can be a little 90s China dollish with no blush. It depends on your color, but a sheer pink or pink with a light sheen (like gold flecks) is great.

We're headed to Emily's wedding this Saturday and will try out her tips then. But more importantly: CONGRATS, EMILY AND JASON!!!!

Carry On: Samsonite Black Label

The Vintage Spinner from the Samsonite Black Label collection may be what we need to cap off this season's purple fetish. The polyester herringbone fabric is durable and dark enough to ward off travel scars and the black leather trim is chic. The satin striped interior comes with a laundry bag and two shoe bags.

Happy travels!

On Our Radar: Inn and Spa at Loretto

Santa Fe has been top on our list for US cities to visit for a while now--something about the natural beauty, proliferation of top spas, southwestern cuisine and its purported magical, spiritual quality have always piqued our interest. We thought we were close to going this fall, but as it does sometimes, life got in the way.

The Inn and Spa at Loretto has now given us one more reason to try to make that trip happen. In addition to having a top-notch restaurant that features locally grown ingredients, spa treatments like a desert sage massage that use indigenous products, and rooms that are plush and feature Native American style without ever being kistchy, they are featuring a Pink PJ Getaway to promote breast cancer awareness for the month of October.

Included in the package are these adorable silky pink PJ's designed by Juli Lee of Julianna Rae. If Juli's design looks familiar, it's probably because you've seen them before on Desperate Housewives or in In Style. A portion of the proceeds from the $359 one-night package will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Interested in Pink PJ's to benefit breast cancer awareness? Check back on October 14 when JSG will be giving away Sleepyheads.com Think Pink sleepwear collection in conjunction with Total Beauty Total Cure.

Nights in Rodanthe

We grew up vacationing in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, first with our own parents then with our BFF Shannon's family. We remember the beautiful remote beaches, the wild horses in our back yard, the sand fleas, and more than a few unfortunate sunburns. For the past two years, we've taken our own motley crew down for fun in the sun. Yes, the years have changed the area mostly by adding many more houses, restaurants, roads, and novelty stores; but the beach still has its same spirit.

Nights in Rodanthe may star Diane Lane and Richard Gere in their first movie since Unfaithful, but we think the true star is the Outer Banks. The movie looks over the top: watching the clip is as emotional and sappy as anything we've seen and we're a little jealous of Diane for getting to hook up with hot guys all the time (of course she's amazing too!).

If you're looking for a great spot for a girls' getaway, try the Outer Banks. This time of year, the weather is beautiful, there are great deals on rentals, and it's much more peaceful than the summer. If you go try the coconut chicken at Tortugas Lie and hit the shops in Manteo or Duck. Our girlfriend, Candi, has been pushing us to make the drive together for a long weekend. You're on notice, Candi, we're ready!

Budget Facial

While we love the $50 offerings of Spa Week (This year’s is Oct 13 to 19. Have you booked your appointment yet?), here’s a $55 treat that’s available 365 days a year or at least when Bergdorf’s is open. (Who knew you could use “budget” and “Bergdorf” in the same sentence? But much like “Chanel” and “free”, we’re not asking any questions.)



Hidden away in the basement level beauty floor is the Elemis Spa Pod, a darling little oasis, safe below the 5th Avenue fray. The treatment starts with a Elemis Facial Mapping Analysis (aka a Visia Skin Analysis), it maps out various elements of your skin through a special camera/computer combo. We were pleased to be told we have close to zero wrinkles (thank you, Botox!) and small pores. We were slightly concerned to hear that we had a fair amount of bacteria on our skin that can lead to acne (We had just come from a yoga class and were a touch sweaty. We’ll never forget our MD Skincare EZ4U wipes again.) and more alarmed to hear we have some sun damage despite our slavish diligence to daily SPF (We can only blame those ill-advised trips to the tanning salon back in our teens.) The fact that these observations came from a machine versus a person somehow took the sting out of the bad news and certainly made it easier to believe.

After our face analysis we followed our lovely aesthetician, Irene, into the Spa Pod. The room was small—about the size of a large closet, which we’re guessing it once was. Irene had us change into a robe and sat us on a large massaging chair. Once the chair started working its magic, it felt so good we were almost embarrassed we weren’t in the room alone. (More about this later.)

Based off of our facial analysis, Irene decided a Skin Radiance facial would be best for us. After a cleansing, she applied a Papaya Enzyme Peel, which smelled simply delicious. That was followed by the Fruit Active Rejuvenating Mask with strawberry and kiwi extracts. It brightens skin and is safe--even recommended, in fact--to use before a night on the town.

Usually we ask many questions during our facial so we can share the deets with you, our readers. But that damn chair just made us so relaxed we couldn’t focus on anything else. If we had lots of money and time, we would invest in these chairs and put them in places like airports or a headhunter’s office for out of work i-bankers and charge $1 a minute. (You're welcome to act on our money-making tip. Just let us sit in a chair for free every once in a while.)

So, as for more particulars on the facial, we’re a little fuzzy. What we do know is that we left with skin that was glowing (we're pretty sure that had more to do with the Elemis products than the chair, but we can’t be 100% positive). Like all the facials at the Elemis Spa Pod, it is safe to put foundation and powder back on (eye makeup isn’t removed to start with). But our skin was SO radiant afterwards, we’re not sure we had anything to cover up.

To book your appointment call 212.872.2821. Elemis Products are available at Bergdorf Goodman or online at Time to Spa.

Pink Ribbon Collection from Bobbi Brown

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we'll be sharing products and services that support the search for a cure for breast cancer. As members of the Total Beauty Blog Community, we're happy to share in this month long campaign to raise awareness and funds for the cause. Read more about Total Beauty Total Cure here and how you can win free goods each day this month.

Bobbi Brown is donating part of the proceeds from the sale of the Pink Ribbon Collection to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. It includes the Tulle Lip Color and the Pink Quartz Glitter Lip Gloss, which complement each other; but look flattering worn separately. They are packaged together in a pink box, making this set a natural for gift giving. Shipping is free from Bobbi Brown, if your order includes the Pink Ribbon Collection. Use the code PINK08 until 10/31/2008.

A Peek Inside Manuela Testolini's Carry On

We fell in love with the Altru candle line even before we knew the whole story behind them. The gorgeous packaging, copper containers and eco-friendly soy base are all perks, but a candle is only as good as its scent. Altru's scents are so delicious we would like to bathe in them (and carry around an atomizer for those times when we get a stinky seatmate on a plane or cab driver with questionable hygiene). Our fave is Integrity, a blend of Persian lilac and bamboo.

The line was founded by Manuela Testolini.



A portion of the proceeds support the “In a Perfect World” foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to inspire and empower children to become compassionate, socially conscious, and responsible leaders, which makes us like the candles even more. When we heard that each candle’s fragrance and packaging is inspired by the cultures and people Manuela have met around the world during her travels, we knew we had to find out what is in her carry on bag. Manuela has recently traveled to: Costa Rica, Mexico, Japan and around the States and Canada. Here's what she had with her:

I rotate with big purses --currently the YSL Downtown tote in navy and this vintage looking Miu Miu bag with lots of room and lots of pockets that I've had for a few years--but always have my Tumi laptop case with wheels for my Mac AirBook.



My must-have beauty products when I travel are a travel size Aveda Hand Relief Cream,


MAC improper copper cream blush,



and Chopra Center Rupa Aroma Blends which are great to spray on pillows or seats. Each has a different effect invigorating, relaxing, etc.
For a snack I eat a raw trail mix that I make at home or a Luna Bar (Nuts Over Chocolate)

Movie you've watched on a plane recently: Sex & the City!



Music that's on your iPod:

* lots of r&b/soul music - eric benet’s love & life, donny hathaway greatest hits,
* chill/meditative music – altru meditate cd, altru incandescence cd.
* world music – egyptian/north african, south american


At the moment, I'm wearing either my Chloe wedge boots or my Jimmy Choo purple flats.

And I ALWAYS take EmergenC energy/vitamin packs!

Carry On Burton Luggage

We're always on the look out for a great carry-on bag and we found this Burton Wheelie Flight Deck bag at Athleta . We love that it's soft sided, making it lightweight for hoisting in the overhead bin, it's airline compliant, and it's easy to spot in the Antique Ivory Zebra print. We have at least 3 trips on our horizon in the next month and this would be perfect. What's holding us back is the concern the safari look is over and we'll look like Tarzan's Jane tromping through the airport.