Foreign Exchange

My bathroom seems to be heavily populated by imported items of late—many of them from Australia. Considering that the natives there know a thing or two about beauty (see Naomi Watts, Gemma Ward, and Cate Blanchett), I've decided to devote this post to my favorite acquisitions from the land down under.

1. Bloom Cosmetics' silky eye shadows (above left) glide effortlessly onto lids without creasing, thanks to natural ingredients that include essential oils and botanicals. New, spring shades—Antique Gold, Platinum, and Pistachio—intensify brown, blue, and hazel eyes, respectively. Plus, I adore the quirky, playful packaging (think the Aussie version Benefit).

2. I've had the pleasure of interviewing Poppy King, creator of Lipstick Queen, on several occasions over the years, and her innovative lip products are as witty and vibrant as she. Oxymoron gloss, for example, offers those with clumsier fingers a foolproof way to get rich, matte lips—and a tiny dab on cheeks gives them a beautiful, creamy flush.

3. Speaking of having a sense of humor, makeup artist Napoleon Perdis always seems to have fun with his eponymous collection. My recent addiction is his Peep Show Madame Beyond mascara, which lengthens and volumizes fringe to give them sweeping, velvet curtain-like effects.

4. Remember those 90s infomercials for Nad's wax? The company, which literally began out of founder Sue Ismiel's kitchen, has certainly evolved over the years. My pick? The Large Body Wax Strips. They're neat, double-sided, ready-to-use, and quickly smooth legs—with results lasting up to four weeks.

5. Need a break from the "Ballet Slippers" and "Mademoiselles "of the nail polish world? Try Miss Frou Frou, an indie range that offers punchy, on-trend hues like tropicana orange and pea green—perfect for a summer pedicure.

Neighborhood Pilates

"To be honest, I opened the space because of its location," says Jan Phillips, a Brooklyn mother and owner of Henry Street Pilates in Cobble Hill. "It's right near my house!" The former ballerina, who logged in 700 hours of training with Romana Kryzanowska (Joseph Pilates' successor) before receiving her certification, transformed a vacated laundromat into a veritable Pilates paradise, complete with seven Towers, last summer in record time (just six weeks), and since September, has drawn a steady stream of in-the-know neighborhood clients. "I've had to hire two new instructors already, we've been so busy," she says. Her focus on classical Pilates, as its creator intended, involves a series of short exercises on an elevated mat connected to springs, bars, and handles that "allow you to move the body in any number of directions...up and down, in and out, back to front, side to side," says Phillips. "Think of a trapeze act without the Spandex and altitude." And, thanks to small, intimate classes, plus several sessions throughout the day, patrons receive plenty of individual attention for a fraction of the cost of private lessons. Advanced reservations are required, and can be purchased at www.henrystreetpilates.com.

Henry Street Pilates, 385 Henry Street (at Verandah Place), Brooklyn, NY.

Sick...and working

Dear Readers,

Apologies for the lack of posts lately! I've been nursing a cold, and a baby, along with working on an upcoming Women's Health story. Please check back in next week for more beauty news here, but in the meantime, you can follow me on Twitter. Thanks! xxx

Cult Fragrance Watch

When both L'Oréal and Parisian concept store Colette acquire a new fragrance, the entire beauty world sits up and takes notice. This month, Martin Margiela, the elusive Belgian designer whose fashion chops include stints with Jean Paul Gaultier and Hermès, reveals his first scent—with some very strong backing. In keeping with Margiela's discreet, blank canvas ethos, the unisex juice—called, simply, "Untitled" (with not a hint of irony)—is a crisp, clean, green, infused with notes of exotic ferns and incense. Co-created by perfumer Daniela Andrier (la nez behind such olfactory blockbusters as Gucci by Gucci and Opium), it took two years to perfect, and according to the company, "can be worn by anyone, anywhere." Though we have a suspicious feeling this haute eau will be appearing on fashion insiders exclusivement, for the time being.

New Year, New Face

After a three year relationship, Angelina Jolie and St. John have parted ways. The luxury knitwear company, which first tapped the edgy actress to toughen up their soccer mom image, is apparently ready to evolve, according to CEO Glenn McMahon, who told WWD that Jolie "overshadowed the brand." Um, you think? In an effort to shift our attention back to their product, St. John has hired model Karen Elson (quirky wife of White Stripes lead man) as the new face instead. Not sure the Titian-haired lovely will be any less distracting, but you can decide for yourself when ads roll out in February glossies like Vanity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar, and Vogue.

With Liberty for All

London's iconic Liberty & Co. department store first made its signature, floral-printed fabric a must-have of the English rose, garden-party set decades ago, and the sophisticated, feminine pattern has since decorated everything from Nike kicks to Bonpoint baby clothes. This spring, makeup giant M.A.C celebrates the preppy designs popularized by the famous Tudor mansion/posh shop with a new "Give Me Liberty" color range. The homage—which will include limited edition nail polish, lip gloss, shadows, and even a scarf in cheery, girly hues—features playful packaging with a kitschy, Alice-in-Wonderland vibe. Queue up for your own collectibles when the line hits counters in April.

Marriage and Weight Gain

Thinking of tying the knot this year, or even just shacking up? Better watch your waistline. New research from the University of Queensland in Australia, published this month in The American Journal of Preventive Medicine, has found that women living with a partner put on more pounds than those who live solo—even when childless. According to the study, which followed over 6,000 Aussie women aged 18 to 23 over the course of a decade, the 10-year weight gain for a women with a baby and a mate was 20 lbs, 15 for those married without kids, and only 11 for those living alone without children. The factors that trigger the weight gain were attributed to altered behavior as opposed to metabolic changes, including a more active social life such as frequent dinners out. Click here to learn more.