Flexible Benefits

While yoga is a centuries-old practice, your equipment needn't look ancient. Here, a few of my must-have accessories to make finding the path to inner peace a little bit prettier:

Gaiam Damask Yoga Mat in Purple (at right) has just the right thickness and traction, whether you're in tara asana or down dog.

Figure-flattering Lululemon Groove Pants show off a toned lower half and have enough stretch for warrior poses.

Havaianas' limited-edition peacock flip flops look chic for a post-class lunch (plus, I love the Indian-vibe).

A pendant from Satya will inspire and protect.

Like Febreeze for your mat, kulae organic yoga mat cleaner cleanses and refreshes.

Sleek and streamlined, the Wai Lana Orchid Tote bag won't slow you down on the subway.

A Midsummer's Night Dream

Some Facebook friends of mine have been so smitten by Space NK's Midnight Jasmine candle, they've been posting effusive status updates about it. And, since I'm moving house this weekend (ugh!), there seems no better time to restock my home fragrance wardrobe with a fresh new summery scent. I'm planning on picking up a few jars of this musky floral to try today. What are your favorite scented candles?

Liberty For All

Now that the British high street chain Topshop has landed in SoHo, the only retail destination worth hopping the pond for is Liberty. Especially next month, when the world-famous, Tudor-style department store reveals its latest collaboration with leg-toning footwear company Fitflop (at right). Decorated in Liberty's iconic Caeser print, the summer-preppy style—ideal for covertly whittling your gams and bum while holidaying in the Cotswolds—won't be available Stateside for a while, so call 44 0207 733 1234 x 2301 to get on a wait-list for your pair now.

La Dolce Vita

“Makeup is crucial in completing a woman’s look,” says Domenico Dolce, one half of the sensational designing duo, Dolce & Gabbana. “It’s considered a female rite,” Stefano Gabbana, his partner of over two decades, chimes in. And, so, the Milan-based fashionistos created Dolce & Gabbana The Make Up, an extensive collection that includes all the trappings of a smoldering Italian screen siren: Vespa-red lip gloss, inky black eyeliner, smoky shadow quads, and 24-karat bronzing powder. “We wanted to give women the elements that make applying makeup magical, almost theatric,” Gabbana says. “It’s that moment she’s in front of the mirror getting made up, leaving us spellbound watching.”
A true labor of love, the line took years to formulate. “As with everything we do, we sought perfection,” Dolce says. “There was an extreme attention to detail, from quality to packaging.” Sizzling, femme fatale touches—think sleek, gilded compacts and lipstick bullets that click shut—conjure images of Sophia Loren-like goddesses sauntering across the room in sky-high stilettos. Little wonder, then, that the pair selected modern-day bombshell Scarlett Johansson to be the face of the collection. “The quintessential Dolce & Gabbana girl is strong and beautiful,” says makeup artist Pat McGrath, who collaborated with the designers on The Make Up. Taking her cue from this elusive but powerful muse, as well as the vibrant colors of the Mediterranean coast, McGrath whipped up rich, sultry shades like Stomboli (“It’s named after the island, where volcanic minerals give the soil a sparkling depth,” she says), and Dahlia, a heavily pigmented crimson. “The Dolce look is simple yet super sexy,” McGrath says. “It’s natural glamour with a little something… a black wing liner or red mouth.” Va-va-voom curves not included.

Quick Change Artist

In the spirit of change, Michelle O. gave beauty editors a thrill when she appeared at last week's White House Summer Music series showing off a fringed crop (at left). But, despite the subsequent media hype, it turns out the First Lady didn't actually go short. According to her mane man Johnny Wright, Obama simply tucked all of her hair underneath a ponytail, creating the illusion of a bob so convincing, it prompted her deputy press secretary, Semonti Mustaphi, to go on the record to clarify the transformation. To recreate the look, pull strands back into a loose, low pony. Curl ends under, and use bobbi pins to secure them along the nape.

Balm Squad

Lip balm manufacturers are taking their best-selling formulas to the next level with benefits borrowed from their makeup counterparts. Fresh recently improved its deeply hydrating and culty Sugar Lip Treatment (at right) by adding a soft, universally-flattering watermelon tint. Meanwhile, ChapStick has dressed up its classic lip moisturizer with subtle sparkles that have a plumping effect.

It's a Guy Thing

Struggling to get your boyfriend to apply sunblock this summer? Funny man Will Ferrell just might be able to help. The Old School star recently launched a sunscreen line (SPF 30) that's been flying off shelves (10,000 bottles were sold in just the past two months). Pack a bottle of Sexy Hot Tan, Sun Stroke, or Forbidden Fruit (at right)—each complete with an image of one of Farrell's favorite near-streaking poses—in your significant other's overnight bag to remind him that protection is cool. Proceeds of the $12 tubes benefit Cancer for College, an organization created by one of the SNL alum's frat brothers to help cancer survivors finance higher education. A sense of humor and a good conscience? Love!

Waste Not, Want Not

Regardless of how many jars, tubes, and bottles of expensive creams and serums I receive free of charge in the mail in week (yes, I know, tremendously unfair job perk), I still can't bear to get rid of them—even when they blatantly don't work. My solution? Apply their anti-aging benefits elsewhere—literally. Take a peek inside your medicine cabinet tonight. Surely there's a hydrating mask or wrinkle-reducing lotion you once guiltily purchased that's now taking up precious real estate collecting dust. Bring it over to your nightstand (I'm currently using Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream), then slather the decadent formula onto heels, elbows, hands, and decolletage for a glamorous treatment that won't cost you an extra cent.

Glow and Behold

My seemingly ageless friends at Aida Bicaj shared with me this get glowing trick: Mix two drops of Biologique Recherche Serum Yall~O2 (at right) with a squirt of medium-coverage liquid foundation, and blend over cheeks. The thin texture of the serum dilutes the foundation, resulting in clear, even skin that looks refined and luminous—not glittery—in the summer sun.

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 cuffed skinny 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 sûr. 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.