Mile High Beauty

Among my many guilty pleasures is flipping through tabloids to rip off casual celebrity style. (What to wear to yoga? See Gwyneth Paltrow’s Stella McCartney for Adidas blousy top and leggings ensemble. How about a low-key Friday night at the movies? Try Vanessa Hudgens's cardi-wrap and skinny cuffed jeans combo.) My preoccupation with looking photo-ready (or at the very least, downtown cool and naturally glamorous) extends to beauty as well. So on a recent long-haul flight, I decided to put in a little celebrity-inspired effort with some carefully packed products that would ensure a glowing arrival. The night before take-off, I bought six, stackable clear pill cases, and filled them with a dollop of super-rich moisturizer, eye cream, lip balm, liquid foundation, liquid blush, and concealer, respectively. The tiny tubs breezed right through security and remained safe in my carry-on until I pulled them out to freshen up before landing. In fact, I ended up loving the convenient, customized stash of my favorites so much, they've since made a daily appearance in my handbag for on-the-run primping.

Aerin Lauder Launches Her Newest Fragrance

Check out my VanityFair.com interview with the fabulous Aerin Lauder, who shared with me some of her amazing family history (she's the granddaughter of Estée) and talked about the latest Private Collection fragrance (which is divine!). Enjoy!

Name Lancôme's Next Lipstick!

Beauty know-it-alls will recall Lancôme's Pout-à-Porter lipstick series, and the subsequent frenzy that ensued once the shades—designed respectively by Behnaz Sarafpour, Thakoon, Proenza Schouler, and Peter Som—hit counters. Let's just say that a few addicts even went so far as to purchase the sold-out, limited edition hues for upwards of $100 on ebay, instantly catapulting them to status-symbol territory. This fall, the company plucks Chris Benz for its next Pout-à-Porter collaboration, offering a new twist. Now, you can have a chance to name the new shade, which makes its debut on models at Benz’s spring runway show in September. The genius behind the most clever moniker will receive all five of the coveted Pout-à-Porter lipsticks, plus a $500 Lancôme gift certificate. To enter, post your suggestion on Benz’s Facebook Fan page by Sunday, July 12th at 5 p.m EST.

Beauty GuRoo on Glamour.com!

The lovely ladies at Glamour.com were kind enough to include me alongside several other beauty bloggers in their latest skincare story. Check it out here! xxR

The French Laundry

While driving through the medieval villages dotting Provence last month, I was intoxicated not by the crisp, local rosés, but rather the dreamy scent of lavender wafting through the country air. The powerfully soporific plant—in full bloom for only weeks throughout the region—is used year-round by the French in everything from cuisine to decor to body and home products, bien sur. No wonder life is slow down there. I couldn't resist stocking up on dozens of rustic sachets to toss inside my linen closets, drawers, and suitcases, but even if you're not heading abroad, you can still get a taste of la vie en lavende. San Francisco-based fragrance company elizabethW—available at Takashimaya New York and Liberty in London—has been creating exquisitely high-end lavender products (candles, pillows, and shoe inserts among them) for nearly 14 years. Invest in the linen Hanger Sachets to stow in your closet, and take the incredibly useful Clean-Dirty Lingerie Bag on your next weekend getaway. Trés, trés chic.

Win A Year's Worth of Shu Uemura Hair Products!

Since launching the Art of Hair collection, Shu Uemura has quickly garnered a cult following to rival that of its star Lash Curler. Now the company is offering one lucky costumer a year's worth of these gorgeous, minimal-chic products (a retail value of nearly $1,700). Click here to register for your chance to win before 11:59:59 PM ET tomorrow, June 30th, 2009. The grand prize will be awarded randomly on July 6th. Good luck!

Off to France!

Dear readers,
I'm off to France tomorrow for a much-need vacation, so I won't be posting until late June. In the meantime, please check out some of my articles on InStyle.com (all scheduled to go live next week), and stay tuned for some exciting (and hopefully inspired) entries here upon my return.
Bisous,
Roo