FAVORITES: Candles for the Holidays

Nothing makes it feel more like winter than cozying up to the fireplace, eggnog in hand, singing Christmas Carols. Well, I don't have a fireplace, and I'm not really into eggnog, but what I do love is a candle that can embody all of this holiday spirit!

Here are my favorite candles for the holidays (they make GREAT gifts too!):

Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Candle ($65.00) - a spicy blend of pomegranate, raspberry, frankincense and patchouli that smells like Christmas morning.

Fresh Cranberry Petite Candle Trio ($45.00) - Three mini candles in the cranberry family: chardonnay, pinot noir and bourbon. Burned together, the sweet aroma is reminiscent of a Holiday dinner.

Nest Holiday Candle ($32.00) - a spicy nod to the Holidays with notes of pomegranate, mandarin orange, pine, cloves and cinnamon. Like walking through the woods on a brisk winter day.

"Frosty's Party" Candle by Lolita ($21.95) - Snowmen painted on the tumbler give this candle the ultimate holiday feel. The scent is a sweet mix of Vanilla, Peach, Coconut, Orange, and Apricot, layered with White Chocolate, Strawberry, Rum and Almond. Bring on the Christmas Carols!

Aroma Naturals Wish Peppermint + Vanilla ($16.50) - Notes of peppermint and vanilla give this a warm yet refreshing classic Holiday smell. Think candy canes and mistletoe...

FAVORITES: Home Scents For Spring/ Summer

There are very few things that make your home as warm and inviting as a scented candle or a fragrant diffuser. While fall and winter are about vanillas and musks, spring and summer pay homage to light, airy smells like citrus and coconut.

Here are a few of my favorite home scents for spring/ summer:

Space NK Citrus Mint - a summery mixture of fresh mint, sparkling citrus notes of bergamot, lemon blossom and petit grain. I light it every day on my writing desk. It sparks my creativity. $48.00 for 7.5 oz

 Alora Ambiance in Fico Diffuser - An earthly melange of green garden notes with fig as its richly sophisticated centerpiece. This fragrance perfectly compliments the season of freshly blooming gardens and livens up the home. $80.00 for 16 oz

Pacifica Hawaiian Ruby Guava - Inspired by a surfing trip to Hawaii, this sexy and sweet tropical blend combines sweet, berry-like notes of Guava with a bright, citrusy top note of Pomelo and a warm and subtle Coconut base. $22.00 for 10.5 oz

Thymes Azur - Reminiscent of the Ocean, soothing white tea, water lily and sea grasses that offer a unisex scent. The faint scent lingers long after the candle has burned. $26.00 for 9 oz

Infusion Organique Sands of Morocco - A bit more earthy then the rest of the scents, this candle combines spices of North Africa with fresh vanilla, aromatic sandalwood and warm oak moss to a blend of lemongrass oil and ylang-ylang. $38.00 for 6.5 oz

Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin - Fresh limes and zesty mandarins are undercut by peppery basil and aromatic white thyme. A perfect choice for both men and women with it's inviting mixture of sweet and spicy. $65.00 for 200 g

Korres Quince - Made without parabens, sulfates or petro-chemicals,  this sweet scent is reminiscent of a day on a deserted beach. This candle, too, sits on my writing desk, a perfect compliment to the fresh scent of Space NK's citrus mint. $40.00 for 6.7 oz

 "Traced back to the ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilizations, candles were the main source of light and used to aid travelers at night. Centuries after the invention of electricity, candles remain popular due to their ability to diffuse pleasant or seductive scents, while also being part of the worship rituals in many religions." -- On the Korres candle tumbler

Aveda Celebrates Earth Month

April 22, 2010 is Earth Day but as eco-consciousness rises the movement has spread from just one day to an entire month of green. Aveda has long been known for their ongoing commitment to the environment. In 1999 they launched Aveda’s Earth Month Campaign raising over $14.2 million to benefit environmental organizations. The Aveda Earth Month Campaign, calls for “strategic local and global action to protect local waterways, empower communities and help make clean water accessible to everyone—everywhere.”

One in seven people on this planet are without clean drinking water. ONE. IN. SEVEN. In an effort to raise $3.5 million this Earth Month, Aveda is spearheading the Walk for Water campaign and selling the LIGHT THE WAY™ Earth Month candle ($12). 100% of proceeds from these fabulous lavender candles goes to the Global Greengrants Fund.

I was thrilled when Aveda contacted me about this candle and the campaign...I love all things lavender and this candle is no exception. Long known as a stress reliever, this therapeutic blend of organic French lavender, lavendin and clary sage has been approved by Dr. Pierre Franchomme (he wrote the book on modern aromatherapy). The soy wax candle contains zero petro-chemicals and the glass holders are made of 100% reclaimed wine bottles. I love the ingenious eco-packaging: the cartons are made of leftover Aveda boxes that have been repurposed (my box housed an Aveda bath bar in a former life).

The limited edition candle is available in Aveda spas and online here. For more information on the Aveda Walk for Water campaign visit www.avedawalkforwater.com and find out about events taking place in your area during the week of April 22nd (with one mouse click I found a few here in L.A. to look into). Think global, act local. xo alex.

GIVEAWAY: Aquiesse For Yigal Fashion Week Candle

--- Exclusive to Beauty Banter ---

WIN the EXACT candle given to the VIP front row at NYC's Yigal Azrouel fashion week show.



I'm burning my Aquiesse candle as I type and I've gotta say, it's simply delicious. Presentation is gorgeous with the thick glass tumbler and white soy wax. This candle will add class and a sexy scent to even the most nondescript room.

"AQUIESSE has created exceptional custom candles set in sleek, black glass adorned with the AQUIESSE and Yigal Azrouel logos to be presented in the gift bags for front row and VIP attendees at the designer’s show. Offering scents of mountain air, fresh cut wood and light musk, AQUIESSE’s Timber candle from their Portfolio collection is the perfect complement to Yigal’s fresh, modern designs. "

To enter giveaway, enter your info below. Contest ends Sunday at 6 pm est.

REMEMBER, you MUST be signed up for the Beauty Banter newsletter (left side of site, enter your email in "subscribe" and follow instructions) to WIN. WE DO DOUBLE CHECK ALL ENTRIES!

Good luck!

PERFECT SCENTS

Even when I really love a beauty product, I am always on the lookout for something new. There are few products I am so loyal to that I'd pass at the thought of trying another (just looking at Sarah's post on French pharmacies got me thinking of the possibilities). But there are always exceptions. Five years ago I found the perfect perfume and I haven't looked at another since.



I was wandering through Market, a Brentwood boutique, when I came across a collection of lovely bottles wrapped in organza pouches. It was called The Perfumers Palette, a collection of base, medium and top note fragrances by Creative Scentualizations (now called the eponymous Sarah Horowitz Parfums). It was a bit like being a kid in a candy store considering the combinations, and all the fragrances were gorgeous. The grapefruit smelled tart and refreshing, the jasmine like the vines that bloom in my garden at night and the musk, soft and clean. I brought home a single bottle of the Clean Musk perfume and I’ve worn it every day since. I sometimes buy up several bottles at a time, loving the way the fragrance lingers but never overwhelms (nothing like choking on perfume in a crowded elevator or subway). And all Perfumers Palette fragrances can be ordered as 100% oil roll-ons in addition to the spray (the oil is especially great in summer or when traveling). Never in my life have I so often been complimented on how I smelled or asked what I'm wearing by friends, family, and strangers at the post office. I really should start carrying their business cards.



Before the Perfumers Palette, Horowitz created the Perfect Perfumes collection, including the fabulous Perfect Veil (which is also available as a candle, lotion and bath gel) and a dozen other 'perfect' blends. In 2006, Horowitz unveiled a line for Barneys called What Comes From Within, also available at Apothia Fred Segal and online at Beautyhabit.com. If you'd rather something other than ready to wear, Sarah Horowitz Parfums offers one of a kind creations. The Online Fragrance Journey has you complete a questionnaire and then three custom samples are sent for you to try based on info gathered (you’ll then get 15% off when you make your first order). Phone consultations are a more in-depth conversation with a perfumer, followed by a customized trio of samples. For the ultimate experience, try the Fragrance Journey, meeting with Senior Perfumer Marlene Stang or Chief Perfumer (and founder) Sarah Horowitz-Thran for over an hour of scent soul searching that results in a blend tailored exactly for you.

Whether it’s inexpensive or costs a fortune, there is something magical in finding a fragrance that you love. But it’s always best to test a perfume and see how it reacts with your skin first. It’s amazing how different one scent can smell on two different people. Conveniently, samples of most Sarah Horowitz Parfums are available online for a few dollars each. You can also find her lines sold in stores worldwide. Check here for locations near you. And if you’re on Facebook, join the SHP page for news, info and specials. xo a.

Drugstore Find: The Fragrance Collection by Glade

I LOVE discovering a good drugstore deal. A simple thing like the perfect gloss or a beautiful smelling candle - at a nominal fee - is enough to make me skip around the block singing "Zippity do da, zippity day.... my oh my what a wonderful day!" - My friend Kaycee is making fun of me for this imagery...


My latest find is nothing short of brilliant: The Fragrance Collection by Glade. Before you reread, yes, I'm speaking of that Glade - household dooty spray, Glade, but I promise you, this ain't your usual synthetic Glade stench.

What it is: "A new, irresistible and chic home-fragrance offering of reed diffusers, soy candles, and multi-wick soy based candles."

Scents:

• currants & açai - tart red currants, tangy açai berries and red fruit accents
• sheer white cotton - floral, fruity and woody notes, including freesia and lime
• lotus bamboo - lotus notes with a touch of citrus on a bamboo
• base mcintosh apple (92.4 % natural) - the crisp scent of fresh picked apples, sweet and juicy yet
• slightly tart (93% natural) - earthly awakening nature-inspired fragrances for a mossy, mellow and soothing scent
• orange vanilla (94.2 % natural) - a favorite treat of fresh oranges blended in a rich, creamy vanilla

The Look: Sleek design, glass tumblers, diffuser has wooden top.

Beauty Banter Favorites:

• The apple soy candle smells like a crisp, Washington State red apple. It's literally mouth-water inducing. No matter where I light it in my apartment, the smell emanates throughout the entire space blasting me into some far away orchird. To. Die. $9.99
  

• The slightly tart diffuser is genius. It's little, pretty and unobtrusive. I have it on my bookshelf next to my front door and the moment I walk into my apartment, I am met by this beautiful, rich creamy floral aroma (it reminds me of The Body Shop's White Musk fragrance). AND it doesn't have that synthetic after-smell. It's actually quite decadent. $9.49
  

**Be cautious of the sheer white cotton scent - it literally smells like clean laundry. Not my thing... unless, of course, I've just finished a load (of laundry!).**

Where to buy: Your local drugstore or by clicking here.

I find that I've been spending an abundance of time indoors (partially due to the brutal weather, partially due to the depressing recession), so it's nice to have a living space that smells delish. These days, life is all about the simple things.

Candles Worth Giving... And Receiving!

Candles are a great go-to gift. Going to a friend's holiday party? Bring a candle! Housewarming - again, a candle. Turkey dinner with the in-laws? That's right - candle!

A candle elicits warmth, generosity, happiness, friendship, romance, sophistication and, if you're lucky, a delicious fragrance.

Anthony Carro of Delirium & Co. Candles recently launched his very own collection - and I promise you, his namesake candles offer all of the above. They smell incredible (not too perfumey), look stunning (how can you go wrong with a sleek glass tumbler?), and are affordable! The candles are inspired by important periods in history - “The Silver Period” (housed in a silver tumbler) and "The Blue Period" (in navy glass tumblers). The Silver collection is more whimsical and sensual with scents like China Tea, Delicate Bouquet, Pear & Violet, and Sensual Camelia. The Blue collection is more rich and strong with scents like Royal Amber, Samurai Woods, Suede & Smoke, and Sweet Tobacco (does this remind you of Tocca's Agadir? Me too!).

With the holidays rapidly approaching, I've been stocking up on my candles - as gifts, of course. Although a few of them might make it into my personal collection.

All of the candles are soy based and burn for over 55 hours!!! Your house will thank-you!

PRICE TAG: $38.00

Fave Candles For Fall

Here at Beauty Banter we know how important it is to have a beautiful smelling home (almost as important as soft, exfoliated skin!). Naturally, like choosing a shade of red lipstick, there are SO MANY amazingly scented home fragrances to rummage through.

So, in the spirit of the Holiday Season (and cause we know what an easy and great gift a candle is to give and receive), we've narrowed down the selection to our top 5 fave candles for Fall, each with a distinct smell and memory to draw on.

In alphabetical order:

Diptyque Opopanax - A rustic-scented candle reminiscent of a log cabin. Notes of cedar give it a musky quality and a dash of vanilla offers warmth. Opopanax is actually an aromatic resin extracted from a plant in Egypt. Nostalgia brings me to a walk through the woods, my boots sloshing in the freshly fallen snow (if it ever actually snowed in L.A.). Now, if only I could pronounce the name!
Sweet rustic afterscent.
$60.00 for 6.5 oz

Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir - A rich and spicy aroma with a hint of sweetness. Blend of pomegranate, raspberry (the sweetness), frankincense (the spiciness) and patchouli. Nostalgia brings me to my mother's house on thanksgiving dinner... a fire blazing in the fire place, mom in the kitchen catering to the turkey, and the yummy scent of pomegranate lingering in the air. That's what this candle embodies... happy memories.
Spicy afterscent.
$65.00 for 200 g
Nest Wild Oats and Bourbon - The warmth of bourbon combined with notes of mandarin ginger (spicy) and wild oats (rustic). This is the ideal blend of rich and earthy tones. Nostalgia brings me to a windy Fall day, all smells-of-life colliding in the epicenter of my nose. I make my way through the leaf-blown street and enter the foyer of a warm house with yet another fire blazing in the fireplace. Rustic decadence; the embodiment of Fall.
Rustic afterscent.
$32.00 for 8.1 oz


Tocca Agadir - A ripened scent of the "tobacco blend burned in the“narghila” pipes." Inspired by the countryside in Morocco (and I am half Moroccan), this aroma offers a sweet yet rich interpretation of the simple life. Nostalgia brings me to changing seasons, the leaves turning that incredible shade of orange and red, standing on a mountain top, breathing in the brisk air, warmed by the last rays of sunshine.
Sweet afterscent.
$35.00 for 10.6 oz

Trees Gift - A robust scented candle with 12 fragrant oils. Notes of basil, chamomile and lemongrass create a juxtaposition of aromas. At one whiff, sweet, yet another, spicy. Gift was formulated with purpose - to cleanse and purify emotions and release thoughts and attitudes to achieve happiness. Nostalgia brings me to a house on a cliff - waves breaking just below. It's an overcast day and the fog hinders sight yet the nose overcompensates with a blast of fresh and lively scents. Is it the ocean air, the sand on the dunes or the garden beside the house? It's a little bit of everything. Be warned: highly fragrant!
Spicy afterscent.
$65.00 for 6oz

WEEKLY MUST-HAVE!

Stepping away from the craze of Fall Collections for a moment (let us not forget that it is still only August - and that means sweltering heat, sun, and poolside lounging...), this weeks must-have is a staple in ANY house...

Tocca's Montauk Candle is like a true holiday... an escape to the sun, surf, sea and sand of Long Island. It's a unique and intoxicating smell - a light floral fragrance mixed with sea grass. It's like a slice of beachy heaven, an ode to relaxing summer days and whimsical evenings...

I adore this candle - I actually have it burning as I type. It's perfect for the last days of Summer...

Like all Tocca candles, this one burns for 20 hours and comes with its own Tocca mathcbook. The candles comes in 24 other fragrances (click HERE for the list).

PRICE TAG: $16.00 (2.85 oz)

Body and Soul - Happy Body Care...

This is why we blog, people!!!

Okay, fine. I blog for many reasons: Trends before they are trendy, PR mailings, free samples of fabulous products, and, of course, spreading the word when we find a true gem of a product!

I'm a huge body care fan. I love it all: exfoliators, moisturizers, body butters, balms, washes, foot creams - you name it, I own it! And 9 out of 10 times, I actually use it! That's not to say that I haven't come across my share of "blah" body products - or gimmicky ones that cost a small fortune and nest under my sink because I can't bare to throw said product (and the small fortune) away.


A couple of weeks ago, I received a package - a very special package. How special, you ask? Well, let's just say that I could actually feel the love that went in to preparing this package and it's contents. Every product seemed so perfect, like it was formulated and packaged just for me! From the moment that I opened the box, my apartment instantly smelled like the fruit section at the grocery store - fresh, clean, even edible.

I instantly found myself dreaming of a warm bath and a smooth exfoliation. I became enraptured by the homemade look and feel of the products - tubs of pure, whipped shea butter, sugarcane scrubs, aloe vera surprises, homemade soaps!
I was in heaven, literally!

Allow me to introduce you to your new favorite line of body products: Pure Necessities, all-natural, botanical body-care with that homemade quality that the big, corporate companies can only dream of!

A word (or several...) from the company:
"We love to feed our skin and spirit with luxurious crèmes, butters and lotions. Our recipes are simple and are designed to maximize nature’s ability to do wonders. Our products are made to deliver immediate results. Our scrubs are filled with all natural oils and butters that leave your body and face feeling renewed, moisturized and refreshed."

I could go on for pages about the beauty of these products - but the best way to understand the magic is to try it out for yourself. All of the products are delicious and affordable. You can choose your own scent from a lengthy list that include, Coconut-Lemongrass, Kumquat-Freesia, Lychee-Apricot and Yuzu-Grapefruit, or you can opt for unscented.

I am seriously obsessed with this line and have already recommended it to many of my fellow beauty whores - and now, my friends, I recommend it to you as well!

Here's what I sampled:

Yuzu-Grapefruit Sugarcane and Shea Body Frosting Scrub (8oz. for $16.00) - a relatively gentle scrub that both exfoliates and moisturizes, leaving skin clean and glowing! You can actually feel the oils at work on your body - it's a divine experience!




Sweet-Orange-Vanilla Shea Butter Sorbet (5oz. for $8.00) - an all-purpose shea butter moisturizer that is soft and supple, leaving your skin silky smooth! Unlike your common shea butter balms, this sorbet actually soaks into your skin.

Kumquat-Freesia Aloe Vera Shea Butter Body Whipped Creme (8oz. for $18.00) - possibly one of the best moisturizers I have EVER put on my skin - a mixture of aloe vera and shea butter, both in pockets throughout the tub, leaving skin soft and moisturized. A great alternative to an after-sun moisturizer!


Happy shopping!

P.S. The candles are to die! I kid you not, these are some of the best soy candles that I have ever used... I have 2 burning as I type! These are a definite stock-up item - perfect for gifts or personal splurges! And at $16.00 for a 9oz. gorgeous tumbler (complete with dried flowers in the wax), I'm going to buy in bulk! They come in 6 blissful scents - fig, flower, home, love, spa and winter.

HAPPY EARTH DAY

Organic products are just so much more environmentally friendly. Like driving a hybrid (I do!) and conserving energy (turn off those lights, computers and plug-in vibrators!), companies that pay considerable attention to the environment while still making beauty products that consumer's can enjoy, are companies worth celebrating!

So, today, on Earth Day, lets take a moment to reflect on some of our favorite eco-friendly products!


Desert Essence Blemish Touch Stick with Eco-Harvest Tea Tree Oil: A blemish touch stick for those retchid lil pimples... All natural tea tree oil, rosemary, lavender and thyme help to make this product a must-have zit zapper! Can be applied to blemish up to 6 times a day. With it's roll on applicator, it makes it easy to use on the go. I LOVE this product... I take it with me everywhere!


Soy candle - White Flower Lei: Handmade soy candles with fragrances meant to destress and aid in meditation. The candles are vegan, kosher and organic! The wax can also be used as a perfume is applied directly to pulse points! This candle is so yummy!


bareMinerals 2-piece Powder Foundation & Brush w/SPF 15: A cult favorite, Bare Minerals loose powder foundation does not contain additives, binders, preservatives, or fragrances. It is literally made of crushed minerals. And it helps to control shine and fight acne, all the while giving your skin a flawless glow. My sister is OBSESSED with this product as I'm sure many of you are too!


The Body Shop's Satsuma Shimmer Lip Balm: This lip gloss combines shimmer with a burst of color to create the perfect pout. It uses organic beeswax, more specifically, Community Trade beeswax from Zambia. What does this mean to YOU? Well, as the Body Shop puts it, "Community Trade Information Beeswax is a Community Trade ingredient from the remote tropical forests of North West Zambia, where the extra income helps more than 3,000 beekeepers preserve their traditional way of life." In other words, sustainable beauty! Giving back... we heart the body shop!


Smooth Synergy Organic Tan: Okay, so I've never ACTUALLY had this done as I am in LA and the spa is in NY, but I received an email about this incredible service... just in time for earth day! If you're in the nyc area, give them a call and tell me what you think!
What they say: "Smooth Synergy’s Organic Sunless Spray Tan offers a unique combination of mineral salt bronzers and the approved cosmetic tanning agent DHA20 to produce a natural looking tan. The UV-less tanning product contains no alcohol, oils, perfumes or potentially harmful chemicals or preservatives. This vegetable-derived product can even be sprayed over makeup. The Smooth Synergy UV-Less Tan lasts 5-7 days depending on your skin type and preparation."

Wow. Organics R Us! Tell beauty banter what organic products you just DIE over!!! Leave a comment or email us at beautybanter@gmail.com

Happy Earth Day!!!

Come on baby light my FIRE....

Who doesn't love a nice smelling candle? Archipelago Home Lemmongrass Soy Candle is above and beyond a great smelling lump of wax. It's actually soy wax... so it burns evenly too!!! AND, the delicious sugar and lemon aroma will remind you of your teen years selling 25 cent lemonaide at your corner lemonaide stand!!! I've had my candle for almost six months (the company estimates it at 90 hours of pure burning bliss) and I light it every night before bed (when writing in my diary... so cliche, I know). I swear it keeps the nightmares away...

BUY IT TODAY BY CLICKING HERE!