Au Naturel

My new favorite thing, Josie Maran’s Magic Marker Lip and Cheekstain in Quickstep imparts just the right amount of color. The texture – so light you don’t even know it’s there – makes lips eminently kissable, especially for anti-makeup-type boyfriends. Iris butter, suede cord, atlas cedarwood and hawthorn blossoms meld to create Keiko Mecheri’s Cuir Cordoba. This original perfume, both androgynous and comforting, creates the perfect scrim for those craving subtlety.

For those that like their beauty footprint light, Miller Harris’ Terre de Bois Shower Wash provides the subtlest hint of woodland fragrance after leaving you squeaky clean. The sophisticated packaging only adds to the allure.

Gifts

Iskander’s Parfum d’Empire, exotic enough to be surprising yet soft enough to please most noses, makes an attractive and thoughtful present. The scent is unusual enough to be dedicated to Alexander the Great.

One of those mysteriously adaptable colors that flatter all, Jane Iredale’s Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain is one in a million. The better-than-natural color is just enough, with a tinted moisturizer and a great mascara, to make you feel ready to face the world without overdoing it.

Almost too beautiful to break open the packet, Ortigia Sicilia’s Bath Salts use local ingredients like, Melograno (pomegranate) and Mandorla (almond) to exotic effect. Once opened, the experience of a hot bath plus Sicilian Lime will transport even the most literal minded on a virtual vacation.

Toothpaste may not present itself as the most obvious gift, but an interesting and cool version can spice up a dull washbasin like nobody’s business. VMV Hypoallergenics’ Essence Skin-Saving Simple-Gentle Toothpaste has the added bonus of serving those prone to acne and rashes around the mouth, perfect for men and women alike.

Glamour

Beautiful hair begins with healthy hair, and sometimes a little TLC goes a long way. EVO’s Mane Prescription Protein Treatment makes you love your hair, no matter its ills.

Rumored to be Audrey Hepburn’s perfume of choice, Krigler’s English Promenade 19 smells instantly of glamour and beauty. One whiff of this delicious combination of orange blossom, neroli, ylang-ylang, grapefruit and musk conspires to make you feel like a million bucks.

Who doesn’t dream of a miracle mask that will transform tired, dried out skin into plumped-up rejuvenated skin in 15 minutes? Le Mieux’s Moisture Infusion Mask, with cutting edge ingredients, like magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, hyaluronic acid and palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 will exceed your expectations.

The animal print packaging let me know I was in for some serious fabulosity, and Lip Savvy’s gloss and sparkle did not let me down. The VooDoo Baby, a glorious color caught between grape and raspberry, made my pucker ready for a night on the town.

POP’s lip stain provides an understated elegance with just the right amount of color for those who prefer their lip sans gloppyness. The Petal Pout, a soft and juicy shade of pink, perfectly compliments a modern, smoky eye.

Metrosexuals

The difference between a good day cream and a good night cream for me often comes down to whether or not an SPF is involved. Absolution’s La Crème du Soir made a believer out of me from the first evening, as I woke up with skin that looked refreshed and plump.

Anthony Logistics for Men, with sophisticated yet neutral packaging transforms the shaving experience with their terrific Shave Gel. The combination of aloe beads, slippery elm and glycerin commands loyalty after only one use.

Dr. Singha’s Mustard Bath, butch enough for the manliest man, uses an Indian, Ayuvedic formula to relax muscle stress and joint soreness. Men deserve pampering as much as the next girl, and the simple packaging promises not to embarrass.

Organic Male’s Soothing Herbal Shaving Emulsion lathers well for smooth shaving and, as a bonus, uses coltsfoot and comfrey to calm skin.

Combining all of your personal grooming needs into one convenient package, Remington’s Precision Power Haircut & Beard Trimmer eliminates expensive trips to the barber shop. With 15 length settings, self-sharpening blades and a quick wash system, this is the Rolls-Royce of manscaping gadgets.

Great for both sexes, Rusk’s Deep Shine Oil Advanced Marine Therapy Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner will please men with its simplicity and women with its wow factor. Made with incredibly moisturizing argan oil, these products clean and polish hair by removing build up and boosting bounce.

Perfect

Affording the spa experience without the spa is a dream come true with Lather’s Bamboo Lemongrass Foaming Body Scrub. The rough texture sloughs off dead skin leaving behind the soft skin of a newborn.

Novo Solutions’ wonderful Brilliant Face Exfoliant transforms skin without an overly harsh texture. Gentle and effective, this scrub combats everything from debris to aged cells and is culled from purified human umbilical serum!

Between the frequency of shaving, the pain of waxing and the expense of laser hair removal, sometimes it feels like there is no good option to smooth legs. Remington’s Smooth and Silky Body Curve Epilator offer a better way to hairless limbs and a completely affordable price.

The scalp, a sadly neglected body part, endures wear and tear from blow dryers, goop and even too much sun. Shea Moisture remedies this with their amazing Organic Africa Black Soap Purification Mask. The results extend all the way to the ends of your hair.

Posture

Just like your mother always told you, standing up straight makes you look more confident, attractive and, of course, tall. Some of us have trouble remembering this and the EBA Posture Shirt serves as a comfortable and gentle reminder. It’s shaped like a form-fitting T-shirt but with the added feature of being a “neuro-muscular” garment. The back has four-way stretch materials crisscrossed through the shoulder area to force the body into an overall balance that is truly transformative.

After a few days, I felt my body relax into a new, more comfortable stance putting less strain on my usually sore neck – genius!