AERIN’s Outlook For Dry Hands: Rosey

12 / 6 / 1612 / 7 / 16

It is currently so cold in Calgary that throats are as dry as the Sahara, despite the irony of a desert descriptor. You need to ground yourself before you kiss anyone — the electrical hazard is that bad. Not to mention how awful your hands feel after wash them. Tight. Uncomfortable. DRY.

That’s why it’s the perfect time to treat yourself to AERIN’s Rose Night Table Cream and Overnight Mask. The rose scent has a winter weight to it, without being cloying. There’s an unidentifiable spice to it that adds to the sophisticated bedtime slather. I admit, I may be a teeny bit biased about AERIN products, since I love Ms. Lauder’s story as a lifestyle tycoon. I tend to be thrilled by all her products, even when I’m occasionally confused by the reason for them, as I was for this cream for both hair and body. Sometimes I just need to study up on the press release, but it never comes with the package anymore. Which is why, despite my best googling efforts to assist, I’m unsure what the Mask aspect is for this cream. Face? Hands? It doesn’t matter. The mystery just makes it better.

However, I’m off on a rant that supersedes the character max of all our attention spans. Treat yourself to some Rose Cream. Especially if you’re doing the gold or brass accent in your interior design, since your au so courant tastes will be a match with the lid. No hiding this pretty jar of night table cream.

Estee Lauder Fall Preview

9 / 25 / 16

When Estee Lauder invited me to preview their fall collection, I had to go. Not just because they were holding it at Hotel Le Germain, which includes the most amazing chocolate chip cookies as part of their catering, but because Estee Lauder products are some of my absolute faves. They never affect my oh-so-sensitve skin adversely, and always make me feel beautiful. Here are my top picks for most intriguing products.This luxurious Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lift collection promises to be worth the splurge. The Estee Lauder experts doled out dollops to try on the backs of our hands, but I couldn’t resist smoothing it into my laugh lines.Estee Lauder has developed an intensive two-week program just in time for dry Calgary winters. Advanced Night Repair micro ampoules promote mega impact. Used nightly, they will rapidly renew the look of over-stressed skin, helping to strengthen its resistance against future assaults. Sign me up.I didn’t expect to see tea on display on the third floor of Le Germain. But the Moringa seed is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Estee Lauder uses the extract in several products to help open aging pathways, clearing the way for collagen production.Estee’s latest perfume release in their Modern Muse line was also on hand for sampling. The official description of Le Rouge Gloss goes a little something like this: succulent fruits, flowers, a hint of spice and a sensual, fearless edge of supple leather with dark woods. Because if you’re going to edge something with leather, throw caution to the wind.Estee’s Double Wear line is an innovative approach to foundation – especially if you’re on the run. The slim jar-slash-stick combines liquid makeup and applicator in one.My final pick of the preview comes from the other Lauder — Aerin. Granddaughter of Estee, she’s a creative powerhouse in her own right, putting her personal touch on a makeup line, handbags, even furniture. Otherwise known as a Global Lifestyle Brand. Her latest perfume is Tangier Vanille, a heady scent inspired by Aerin’s own travels through Morocco, from the palaces and gardens to the legendary bazaars we’ve all heard about. Perfect level of exotic to get you through any Monday to Friday mundane-ness.

Thanks for the preview, Team Estee! And the cookies. All of them.

AERIN Fragrance Collection

12 / 9 / 1312 / 9 / 13

With the unexpected pairing of rose and cognac, AERIN Evening Rose is not an innocent daytime dalliance for a fresh, girlish mood. It conveys a feminine knowing. Seduction. Capital W for scent of a Woman. My scent for December.Not content to rest on the Lauder family laurels, Aerin Lauder launched her own luxury lifestyle brand in 2012. Now she pushes her petal to the metal, taking her collection up a fragrant notch. AERIN introduced five perfumes in November, packaged in a bottle adorned with a gem-like stone. I’ve been wearing Evening Rose, a blend of voluptuous Rose Centifolia and Bulgarian Rose Absolute, with hints of blackberry and cognac. Deliciously decadent.

The AERIN Fragrance Collection can be found at Holt Renfrew in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.

NYC State of Color

9 / 25 / 138 / 7 / 15

Mmm, new fall colors from AERIN.

“Inspired by an afternoon in the city, with a brisk walk through Central Park or a visit to the museum, this collection speaks to my Fall staples – a great peacoat, a pair of sunglasses and the perfect touch of color on my lips and cheeks,” says AERIN Founder and Creative Director, Aerin Lauder.

I’ll be kicking my leaves around Calgary instead, but the colors in this collection work in the Rocky foothills just as well as they do in NYC. I’m going to forgive Aerin for her treacly quote because I love her makeup so much. And I wouldn’t turn down a great peacoat if one came my way.

AERIN’s fall palette has a trio of eyeshadows: Smoked Navy and Midnight Shine, with the soft neutral Barely There to start your canvas. Also included is Soft Beige blush — you won’t need too much with the dramatic blue tones. I’ve been wearing AERIN makeup for a while now and the eyeshadows apply with true, even color. They never seem to crease, even hours later. Once the sun starts setting earlier, I love me some smoky eyes. Take your smoldering gaze even further with Kajal Eyeliner in Skyline. The inky black hue defines the inner lids in one easy fluid stroke, or can be softly smudged on the outer lids for a more intense look.Reach for the sky with Evening Light, Bohemian and City Rose. I’ve been wearing Bohemian non-stop as a neutral. It has the perfect slidey-ness in a gloss, giving that full pout without goop, somehow tasting good with no flavor at all while soothing chapped lips.Or go full drama with full-on lipstick: the NYC-inspired Madison and Mercer. We can all use a little New York in our lives.Even if our lives seem to revolve around four-legged ones. Once Simon goes out to pasture for the winter, I’ll have time to channel my inner makeup artist — ie, no sunglasses in a story about smoky eyes.Shot on location at the Calgary Polo Club.

Think Spring

3 / 3 / 133 / 4 / 13

The snowstorm in Calgary today is all my fault.Yesterday I packed away my winter clothes. I figured the first weekend in March was a good time to clear space in my non walk-in for flimsy spring things. Seems reasonable, right? Wrong! This is Calgary, where it snows almost every month of the year. Even in July, after weeks of tornado-inducing heat, there’ll still be that one day when snow comes down in a big way. Like today. The snow’s been flying sideways since morning. We’ll probably get close to a foot. So… sorry about that, everybody.However, Aerin Lauder’s new collection will inspire you to think spring. Or at least help you look good while you dig out.“Garden in Bloom” is one of Aerin’s spring style palettes, a neutral collection of soft, nearly nude shades for a healthy, fresh glow. The purse packable includes three eyeshadows in Iris, Lily and Dahlia, with Nectar blush.Even more appropriate, considering our current lack of sunshine: Floral Illuminating Powder. Six soft pastels swirl into one shade that brightens the complexion with subtle radiance. Because I think we’re all looking a little pale in Cowtown right about now.Please note, NO MAKEUP WAS HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS PHOTO SHOOT (with apologies to the American Humane Association). Even after exposure to the Blizzard of 2013, it all applies flawlessly and still retains Aerin’s signature rose scent.