Beach Beauty

I haven't been to the ocean once this summer (which my dermatologist is no doubt cheering about). But in the spirit of the season, these two beach scents will take me there, if only in spirit:

*Bobbi Brown Beach ($55). This dreamy fragrance is the perfect mix of sea spray and suntan lotion (the good kind--trust me).

*Carol's Daughter Ocean ($27). A fabulous blend of floral scents like hyacinth and lavender along with a splash of cucumber, this perfume brings me back to the shore.

Enjoy!

When In Doubt, Toss It Out ... Or Not?

Space is at a premium in my small NYC apartment, so I recently cleaned out my linen closet in an attempt to make more room. That meant I was forced to face all the beauty products I'd been holding onto. I was embarrassed to realized that some products were nearly five years old--like the Bobbi Brown blemish cover stick in a shade that matched my skin for one nanosecond during a very tan summer, and the Sebastian Dry Clean Only hair spray that never really did make my dirty hair look just-washed. It pained me, but anything that I hadn't used in six months went into the trash (with the exception of my Coco Chanel perfume, which I almost never wear, but can't bear to part with). Now, of course, I'm wondering if I'll regret discarding anything?

Don't You Smell Green

I love cosmetic products ... but admittedly, I feel pretty guilty about all the packaging that goes with my beauty booty. I just learned about one way to fill up fewer landfills, though: Saks Fifth Avenue stores and Bond No. 9 boutiques will accept and recycle any glass fragrance bottle, provided it's empty. Going green has never been easier!