Parisian Pharmacie

I've mentioned before that I follow Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop newsletter. I've picked up some great tips through her monthly editions. Her newsletter has become particularly popular for its' healthy cooking recipes, interesting book recommendations and solid perspective on a balanced lifestyle. One of the first articles Gwyneth ever featured in Goop has stuck with me for years, it was the French Pharmacy edition of her 'Get' column and it completely intrigued me. Maybe because I'm mildly obsessed with beauty products, or because everything from Paris just seems more glamorous. Whatever the reason, I filed the article and promised to return to it one day.

Fast forward a few years. As I was in the process of booking our wedding anniversary trip to France back in the spring, I stumbled upon this British Vogue article featuring the top ten Parisian pharmacie products. And just like the Goop feature, Vogue swore by the same beauty items. I immediately took notes - after all, Vogue is the bible! I packed the recommended list and took it with me to Paris. 

This is the skinny on French pharmacies. The French are known for their highly-effective skin care formulas, with most of their products based with hydrating thermal spring water. Pair that with reasonable pricing and over-the-counter accessibility (something that most Americans would need a prescription for) and you've got yourself some incredibly coveted lines of beauty products. Celebrities and models from all over the world are known for frequenting the pharmacies every time they touch down in Paris. I'm no model, but I had to be one of those girls!

Having done my research before my trip, I knew which products I was looking for before I even set foot in a Parisian pharmacy...and let me tell you, there is a pharmacy on every corner! They're gorgeous too - along with everything else in Paris. The stores are pristine, the products gleaming on every shelf and the pharmacists, with their perfectly polished skin and long white coats, are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. Not your typical Walgreens, that's for sure.

My new beauty regime

In the broken french I knew, I quizzed the pharmacists on the products I had traveled 'such a long way' for. I was particularly interested in the Avène line and the Embryolisse line. Having incredibly sensitive skin (I blame my Nordic ancestors), Avène is known to calm inflammation and redness, hydrate and sooth. This incredibly affective line originally was developed to treat dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema and burns. Avène's products are now centered around the brand's own thermal spring, where the water is tested daily to maintain the highest of standards.  Having been diagnosed with rosacea on my face and arms several years ago, I was really interested in adding this line to my beauty regime.

Embryolisse, hydrating the skin of elegant Parisian women for over 60 years, is one of the most coveted lines in Europe by makeup artists. With the ability to super moisturize while simultaneously cleansing the skin of impurities, this super-cream preps the skin perfectly for makeup application. I had to have this stuff.

I ended up purchasing the Avène Clean-Ac cream and the Embryolisse anti-aging cream. The Embryolisse cream had to be ordered in advance because of such high-demand, however, I was able to pick up next day. I use the Avène cream in the morning after my shower and apply the Embryolisse anti-aging cream in the evening after washing my face with the Clarisonic brush, as the cream is most affective in the evening when skin is clean and resting.

Embryolisse has become such a hit that it's now sold in the States, but with quite the price tag. I was able to purchase my cream for 40 euros in Paris (the equivalent to $55), while in the States it is selling for over $90. Avène is a bit trickier to find in the States and is only supplied by certain medspas or obtainable through a Physician. 

If you're planning a trip to France in the near future, I highly suggest you take a look at the top recommended pharmacie product lines. On my next venture, I think I'll pick up the Nuxe Huile Prodigeuse body-oil. I'm a big fan of oils and this particular product is all-natural and promises to bring your skin a healthy, glossy glow. 

Enjoy! xx

Fall 2013 NYFW

As you all have probably noticed, I've taken some serious time off from this spot. And up until just recently, I wasn't exactly sure why I needed the break. I have my health, my family and great friends...and I've been busy with the usual distractions of work, home updates and summer travel. But something has been off...

I read an interview this week with interior designer Jessica Comingore that highlight's her career journey that I truly identified with. She poured through blogs, fashion and interior magazines on her off-hours and created a creative space such as this little place that I have, in order to live out her passions. Those passions eventually became her day job.

Her pathway struck me. I'm trying so hard to color within the lines, stay true to the course my parents, family and I had so perfectly fine-tuned from high school, through college and into the management position I currently hold today. But it may not hold for long, because my passions seem to be swaying the steady course I've been on for some time now. I have a feeling that with the change in season, may come a change in direction for me.

With a few months off and one incredibly odd summer behind me, my mood has started to lift and I'm starting to feel the creative bug again. Not to mention that over the past two weeks, both my Instagram feed and my Pinterest feed have been buzzing with the excitement that is Fashion Week! When I smell autumn in the air, I get those bubbly butterflies in my stomach like I used to get back on my first day of school. Those bubbly butterflies were the anticipation of something great, something new. Now that I'm an adult, the excitement of Fashion Week in September brings back those bubbly butterflies for me. Trends are changing along with the season, fall is upon us and on the horizon is opportunity and the chance for something new. This feeling reminds me of F. Scott Fitzgerald's quote in The Great Gatsby "Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall".

As I posted back in June, I'm still fine-tuning my particular 'style' but after browsing through my favorite bloggers' instagram feeds and reading countless articles covering the NYFW shows, I have to say I'm entirely smitten, as always, with Victoria Beckham's and Carolina Herrera's new lines. I suppose that confirms my obsession with structured shift dresses and classic, clean lines in my wardrobe. But Elie Saab, with his elegant, insanely feminine gowns dripping in detail, will forever hold the crown as my most coveted designer. I suppose the girly-girl in me is showing face more and more as I get older.

Come award season, let me be on record for anticipating these below designs showing up on the red carpet!

Couldn't you see Sandra Bullock or Demi Moore in this stunner?

This gown would look striking on Scarlett Jo!

This has Julianne Moore written all over it!

And if I could wear anything Elie Saab - it would be this gown from his latest line:

Fashion Week to me is so interesting. It's certainly on the bucket list, I would love to spend a weekend attending a few shows one day, reporting on what I saw first hand, rather than what I'm seeing in other bloggers' feeds and online! But until then, I leave you with the history of Fashion Week and how it all came to fruition back in 1943!

Coveting

Have you ever had one of those moments where you find a really unique piece of clothing, jewelry or furniture, pour over it for thirty minutes, walk away from it, come back to it, snap a photo of it and then leave not entirely sure if the purchase is something you want to invest in, truly need or even have space for? Well...I had that moment on Sunday. I found this gorgeous side-board table while antique shopping and instantly fell in love with it's unique design and weathered wood. Jon and I measured it and decided we'd keep it in the back of our minds for an empty space we have in our kitchen. I keep scrolling back to the image I took of it on my iPhone and I'll tell you what...I'm THIS CLOSE to getting into my car tomorrow afternoon and grabbing it! What do you all think?

What I'm Loving....

Here are a few of my favorite things I'm loving this month:

Now that we're married, Jonathan and I are beginning the process of working with a financial consultant to help us consolidate our assets and financially strategize for our future together. No matter your age, or weither you're in a relationship or financially independent, preparing for your financial future is something you should prioritize.

 

A new home furnishing site I stumbled upon: www.dwellstudio.com

Loving the Batavia Citrine Duvet!!

This gorgeous House of Harlow clutch featured in this month's Goop newsletter will be perfect for a girl's night out or on your arm at any upcoming holiday party!

Cheaper version here or here.

OROFLUIDO Hair Elixir

Received this gorgeous sample in my October Birchbox subscription and it instantly gave softness and shine to my hair!

Cozy, chunky scarves

 Pretty leather gloves for Fall!

I bought a pair while we honeymooned in Florence and I pretty much can't get enough of them!!!

The Nikon D3100 camera in Candy Apple Red that I bought as a wedding day gift for Jonathan. We're having too much fun experimenting and perfecting our photography with it!

Short shorts!

Memorial Day weekend is almost upon us. I can feel summer creepin' in, especially since it's been 80 degrees here in Washington DC since March! As I begin to pack my travel bag (I know...again!) for another weekend getaway with the girls, I can't help but notice that my new current obsession this season is SHORTS! Lots of em'!

I'm currently coveting these styles below....I think they all would fit in perfectly during our little beach trip to the shore! (Okay, maybe not the leather pair...but I'm sure I'd find a spot to sport those suckers!)

Cheers to summer, girls!

(Lace shorts)

(Studded jean shorts)

(Leather shorts)

(Tie-dye jean shorts)

Viva Las Vegas!

 

My girlfriends and I are heading to Las Vegas in a few weeks to celebrate a friend's upcoming nuptials! I'm currently coveting these few last pieces to complete my pool-side party look!

Covet.

In the words of Rachel Zoe...I Die.

Source: Elie Saab - Fall 2011