Giles S/S 13

Last week was London Fashion Week, and rising designer Giles Deacon presented an unbelievably chic, interesting, and edgy collection for his label Giles. Not since Alexander McQueen, have I been more inspired by any British designer - the shattered glass, insane headpieces, and animal motifs were all so beautiful, haunting, and moving.

 

 

Collection available for retail this winter.

The Scent: ACQUA DI PARMA Gelsomino Nobile

Acqua di Parma is known as a niche Italian line of handmade fragrances who have a cult following. They are known for their light scents, and deep Italian roots - in fact most of the scents contain botanical oils native to Italy. Acqua di Parma is one of those companies that is small enough that not everyone knows who they are yet large enough to be sold at major department stores such as Neiman Marcus. Their brand image has been in a rut in modern times, struggling to find a voice, a niche - but their timeless bottles, effortless scents, and quality hand manufacturing earn them a place on my fetch list.

The perfect summer fragrance is their Gelsomino Nobile scent. It's a wonderful scent, translated to be "Nobel Jasmine". Jasmine is a very fragrant, fresh, white flower, known amongst fragrance enthusiasts as the king of flowers. Gelsomino Nobile is made for women, but I find that despite the floral, there is subtle musk and spices which make it suitable for men as well. The fragrance is part of the Nobile series which aims to explore and focus on a single flower for each product.

Sometimes Jasmine can get a bit too overwhelming and heady, but this light scent is perfect - sweet, floral, giving just the right amount to green quality. Now that we're going into fall, this fragrance is perfect as it illicits the feeling of white flowers in a gentle breeze in Southern Italy (where the Jasmine flowers are cultivated).

Definite recommend.

Available at Neiman Marcus ($174, 3.4oz)

Miracle Product: The Antioxidant Serum

Usually my posts feature the most awesome things that I've 'fetched' for you. This post is about my serum addiction. Serums are really concentrated treatments for skin, they're costly but a good serum is easily a magical product that can transform your skin. This post, I'm going to talk about the Skinceuticals CE Ferulic serum (Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Ferulic Acid) - a super antioxidant serum. Antioxidants are the latest craze from health nuts prescribing high-antioxidant diets to nearly every beauty product advertising its antioxidant benefits. But few products match Skinceuticals CE Ferulic serum in antioxidant concentration.

This serum uses active forms of Vitamin C and Vitamin E which promote skin brightening and suppleness. Vitamin C serums are a must have for skin to prevent hyperpigmentation, sun damage, and collagen loss. This product acts as a preventative treatment to combat free radical damage and provide UV shields.

The Ferulic Acid gives this serum kind of a 'sticky' texture which isn't too bad but I know some people don't like the feel. Nonetheless, after a month of use, my skin just glows from within. I highly recommend this to everyone who wants to just prevent their skin from the signs of aging. I put this one after cleansing but before moisturizer/sunscreen so it really penetrates into my skin. So far my skin just feels like I'm indulging it!


Alternate Universe - Natural Version

A clean antioxidant serum I recommend for those of you into products without harsh chemicals is YULI's Liquid Courage Antioxidant Serum. They use an antioxidant seed complex, which is derived from organic botanical seeds which are believed to be the most concentrated in nutrients. They also use something interesting called Biofermented Black Garlic, which is a type of garlic they cultivate in a special process called biofermenting which intensifies the garlics natural antioxidant properties! There is also a chirally correct form of Vitamin C + Vitamin E which means it is really stable and will not deteriorate in effectiveness over time.

I would also recommend this to people who might not like the Skinceuticals CE Ferulic Acid's sticky texture as this is a very light serum that melts into your skin. I've been using this under my sunscreen after cleansing for a week and I can see my skin just GLOW and look really healthy. I think it really does prevent a lot of the UV damage that LA people are so frequently exposed to. I also applied some under my eye where I frequently get dark circles, and it really tightened the area and faded the darkness. Despite being a very natural product, this serum really utilizes a lot of advanced techniques to deliver very effective results. I think for the Skinceuticals CE Ferulic serum lover who wants to try a natural version, you won't be disappointed in this product either.

These two products have somewhat become miracle products that always give my skin an extra kick when I need it. Skinceuticals is my current daily driver, but YULI is what I use when I really need that healthy, organic dose.

Skinceuticals CE Ferulic ($146, 1 oz, online)
YULI Liquid Courage ($125, 1oz, online)

Woodley & Bunny

Woodley & Bunny is a East Coast transplant in LA with roots in Brooklyn, NY. Woodley & Bunny calls itself a source of "culture and curation in beauty". And indeed that is what one can expect here: far flung brands, esoteric bottles, and eclectic concoctions. Even the most avid beauty buyer is sure to find something new and random here.

The store space is light and open. The products are arranged on the walls in the streamlined cutouts. Products range from Brad Skincare (see this post) to MCMC Fragrances to Kjaer Weis & Ellis Faas makeup. In fact I'd say most modern lines can be found in this store. If you're looking for easy to find regulars from the beauty pages, try Sephora or Neiman Marcus, if you're looking for the hard-to-find niche product with the random ingredient - this is the place to search first. Essentially every brand I have thought about writing on this blog is sold at this place, that's how tight the curation is here.

8318½ W. 3rd St., Los Angeles; 323-951-9906.

Brad Skincare

As a LA native, I get envious sometimes of how New Yorkers have more access to global brands and the latest niche products, so it was a surprise to me that one of the newest niche luxury skincare lines originated right in my city! Brad Skincare is a line of minimalist packaged, unisex skincare products created by Brad Hunter. His line was initially carried in his spa in LA but has since diversified to some of the coolest retailers: Woodley & Bunny, Beauty Cube, and Beauty Bar. Fans of this niche line include editors at Allure, and the fashion muse Michelle Harper.

The products are formulated using a process called biofermentation and are biophotonic meaning the dark glass bottles facilitate some type of UV activation with the fluids for increased potency. The spa in LA boasts minimalist white walls and furnishings that compliment the bold black glass bottles. The star products are the Ultra Elastin and Ultra Peel. Ultra Elastin is a weighty anti-aging cream that heals skin and rejuvenates the appearance of fine lines. While the Ultra Peel is the ultimate home-chemical peel to give skin a fresh start.

The product I really want to try is the Multi-Peptide Youth Regenerating Serum, which is described on their website as a 'youth powerhouse'. I am really curious about peptide technology so this is on my to buy list.

Products available at Brad Skincare

Uxua Casa Hotel

There are so many things going for Brazil now - in 4 years it will be the epicenter of the global sports arena as the top athletes from all over the world gather to compete in the Rio Summer Olympics '16, it is also currently a hub of economic development, noted by many top economists as possessing the largest potential for wealth behind China. Brazil right now is a mix between undiscovered treasure- the quiet beach towns, and urban metropolis that resembles that skyline of Shanghai.

A while back, we went to Brazil for vacation and stayed in Bahia - known for its rich natural landscape, gorgeous beaches, and abundant historical architecture. We stayed at Uxua Casa, a boutique hotel that has garnered much acclaim from worldly travelers, including features in Conde Nast traveler, ELLE Decor, Time magazine, Travel & Leisure, etc.

Uxua Casa is located in the village town of Trancoso, known for their white, sandy beaches and tropical forests. The property is the vision of Wilbert Das, the former creative director of DIESEL. Uxua Casa is a series of bungalows that were converted from restored fisherman houses. These casas retain their traditional flare by using local building methods and reclaimed materials from the local forest. All casas offer a seemless blend between indoor and outdoor, taking full advantage of the year-long tropical climate. The surrounding is idyllic: a quiet fishing town, overlooking the beach- you truly feel as though you've stumbled off the beaten path yet surrounded in a gorgeous boutique hotel. A must visit!