We All Scream for L’Occitane Sorbet Body Gel

Who doesn’t love L’Occitane? We’ve got two limited edition Sorbet Verbena Body Ice Gel bottles to give away. With delicious extracts of lemon, mint, and verbena, these gels aren’t shower gels, but body gels for moisturizing and cooling. From L’Occitane:

In Provence, when summer comes and the temperatures rise, verbena leaves are used to make refreshing and tangy sorbets. Inspired by these traditional recipes, the Sorbet Verbena Body Ice Gel is enriched with cooling agents of natural origin. The gel features an organic verbena extract from Corsica, which has been combined with lemon and mint essential oil for a stimulating fragrance and an intense feeling of freshness.

We’ve still got hot weather in front of us. This could help you survive it. Enter here to win.

Renée Rouleau’s Anniversary Product Sale is Back: 15% Off Everything

You can find your skin type and start with The Basics collection.

Every year esthetician Renée Rouleau offers her online shoppers a 15 percent discount on all Renée Rouleau goods purchased at www.reneerouleau.com. It’s a helpful little deal for products that are truly effective, but can add up at the register. You’ve got until August 26 to stock up on discounted skincare products. Just enter HP2012 in the promotion code box at checkout.

Meet Aesthetician Kate Somerville This Week. Your Face Will Thank You.

My can't-live-withouts: Quench Hydrating Face Serum, Deep Tissue Repair Cream with Peptide K8, and ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment.

I have picked my can’t-live-without skincare products from brands all over the board. I’ve got my earth-friendly Hugo Naturals soap stock, luxurious Chanel Hydra Beauty Gel Creme, beloved Revision Skincare Intellishade tinted moisturizer, etc. But if you asked me my two favorite skincare lines ever, it would come down to Renee Rouleau (whose purse we spilled yesterday) and Kate Somerville. These are lines that I love from wash to moisturizer and everything in between. My love affair with the Kate Somerville line began when I had the opportunity to sit down with Kate and talk product. Her understanding of skin from the inside out and passion for results is what drives this collection of lotions and magic potions. (Read up on her philosophy here.) The deal was sealed when I played with several products from the line. Each one had a glorious texture and an immediate effect on my face. You have an opportunity to meet Kate, too, in a Master Class at the Kate Somerville counter at Neiman Marcus Willowbend on Friday, and I highly recommend it if you’re in the market to see difference in your skin. Friday, April 27 at 11 am or 2 pm. Reservations can be made by calling Gina at 972-629-1700 ext. 1333.

If you can’t make this work, consider picking up the Glow Kit. You’ll be as head over heels as I am. I know it.

Esquire Likes This Texas-Based Beauty Brand

Every product in the collection is just $12. (photography courtesy of verbproducts.com)

It’s called Verb, a cheap line of unisex haircare products made with style in Austin. Get the details here.

Eyes Burn After Removing Your Makeup? Not with This Stuff.

I hate using facial cleansers to scrub off stubborn eye makeup remover. I feel like I’m scrubbing off layers of my young eyelids with all the salicylic acid in my cleansers. I don’t always love eye makeup remover, either. It either does the job and is full of grease, does the job and burns like hot lava, or stays gentle on my skin but leaves mascara crunchies behind. Behold the power of Renee Rouleau’s new(ish) Soothing Eye Makeup Remover. It is both mighty and gentle with its pH balance of 7.2 (apparently similar to tears). It’s also oil free, fragrance free, and all that healthy jazz. Only $19.50 at Renee Rouleau spas and online.

Christmas Come Early From Salon Lucien: Oribe Anti-Humidity Spray and New Kerastase for Long Hair

Yes, that is it a Disney princess notebook in the background. No, I don't have children.

“Merry Christmas,” our gorgeous (like, really gorgeous) receptionist said as she dropped this bag off on my desk. (See photo.) Inside, I discovered a chic, familiar box from Oribe with an unfamiliar product, Anti-Humidity Spray, and an assortment of gleaming pink Kerastase bottles from the new Cristalliste line created for long hair (me), oily roots (me), and dry ends (me, me, me!). A letter included from Salon Lucien owner Mary Crosland told me she’s fallen head-over-heels in love with Oribe’s Imperméable Anti-Humidity Spray after testing it in the Bahamas. (Jealous.) For cowlicks, kinks, and unruly waves, she says, this potion is magic. I can’t wait to try it. (April showers will surely bring on the frizz.) Then there’s the long hair care system made up of shampoos for fine and thick locks, a rinse-out conditioner, and Lumiere Liquide hair serum. I haven’t been this excited to try a shampoo in a while. Thank you, Mary, for sharing your new favs. Readers, stay tuned to find out if these gems make my obsessions list, too.

If my boyfriend–who is responsible for polishing off my prized Serge Normant shampoo–attempts to use this stuff, I will cut his arms off. (Sorry, honey.)

Guy Stuff: Three Products to Save Your Style

from left: collar stays, spray starch, and garment brush (photography by Billy Surface)

Man candy on StyleSheet

Stylish men are stealing the spotlight over on our fashion blog StyleSheet, so now seems like a good time to tell you about three of our favorite products for preserving guys’ slick style. Along with Kirby Allison’s super hanger for saving suits, D writer Joseph Guinto recommends you pick up the following:

Mother-of-pearl collar stays: Those plastic stays that come with shirts are useless. These have enough heft to hold the collar in place. Plus, you know what kind of man wears mother-of-pearl in a place where it can’t even be seen? A baller. $55

Oxford & Wells spray starch: This spray starch promises not to flake, has no harsh artificial chemicals, and comes in a travel size that’s TSA compliant. So when you travel, you’ll be able to make your shirts stiffer than the drinks at the hotel bar. Three 12-ounce bottles, $15

Kent cashmere garment brush: You spent hundreds of dollars or more on a fine cashmere sweater, so why use a cheap, disposable lint roller? The bristles on this brush are as gentle as baby’s breath, which means they won’t harm your V-neck. $80

Everything Should Be Ladylike for Fall. Even Your Bag of Chips.

photography courtesy of gama-go.com

I know, I know. It’s not a local product, but I can’t help myself; these are hilarious. I love these $8 bow-shaped chip clips, don’t you? Plus, with the ladylike trend already seen all over the girls about town, why not dress up your Doritos, too? I mean, be consistent.

ShopTalk Tuesday Holiday Giveaway: Nalu Waver

Remember this guy?

On October 23, 2009 I raved about the mystic powers of the Nalu Waver hair tool by R Session Tools. It’s been more than a year now, and my obsession with this piece of hair-waving apparatus still stands strong. It’s because of this (and numerous readers requests) that I am giving away another one. That’s right. Giving away another one. I want you to have it in time for your holiday festivities, so here’s the deal: enter to win by filling out this form NOW, and I’ll send this bad boy out in the mail to our winner TOMORROW. Go, go, go!

(Jump to see what this thing can do to your head.)

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Elephant Poo Paper at Green Living

Poo turned paper.

If you already knew that paper-from-poop existed, pardon this news announcement. For those of you who, like me, are just finding out and excited to stock up on PooPooPaper to give as gifts, go find it at Green Living like I did. If you’ve never been to the Lakewood eco lifestyle shop, you need to go anyway, regardless of poop, paper, or the combination of both. The new description in our Green Living store listing will tell you why.

Look What I Found: $7 Mixture Candles at Talulah Belle

Mixture shot-glass candles, just $7 a piece.

If you’re a candle junkie, you’ll love these little babies at Talulah Belle. They’re only 7 bucks, but they pack a lot of scent in their mini jars. Find a handful of scents that burn from 6 to 8 hours like Relaxation, Fresh Linen, Indonesian Teak, Pineapple Cilantro, and plenty more. Use them as drip-proof votives, for hiding in vases, combining for a unique sensory experience, or giving as gifts.

Never been to Talulah Belle? Check out our updated listing and find out if it’s your cup of tea.

Rainy Day Desk Fun with BuckyBalls

Bucky Balls at Talulah Belle

A BuckyBall is the perfect accessory to gray-day office laziness. Bend them, shape them, squish them, and find them at Talulah Belle.

Island Time Candles are Awesome

My lovely box filled with a Vanilla Hazelnut candle, Notes of Jasmine candle, Bamboo oil, Simply Sandalwood oil, and lamp ring.

Remember when I blogged about getting a smelly-good package, full of Dallas-based candles and oils, in the mail? I told you to stay tuned for my opinion on the little guys, and the results are in. Let’s skip the drumroll and get to the conclusion: These are excellent products. I stuck the Island Time Vanilla Hazelnut candle in a vase on my dresser the day I got it. My entire bedroom was lightly scented within a few hours—and that was before I even lit the sucker. The candles are powerful, but not overwhelming, and they burn slowly and evenly. The oils made for the lamp ring are equally awesome. Unfortunately, there is only one incandescent light bulb left in my apartment to place the ring on, but when I found it and hung the oil-filled ring, the whole place was quickly perfumed with delicate sandalwood. (I used the Simply Sandalwood oil.) These will make beautiful holiday gifts this year for everyone you know because they’re locally made, totally inexpensive at $13 per oil and $15 per candle, and a great new line to introduce to entertainers and candle lovers. Get shopping.

Lisa Carrier Jeweled Skull Candles for Halloween Entertaining

Luxe Crystal Skull black candle, $150; Crystle Skull white candle, $90; Cameo Votive Gift Set, $58

These candles aren’t for setting on orange plastic tableclothes next to green jello, but they are perfect for the upcoming BEST HOLIDAY OF THE YEAR. (That includes you, Christmas.) Add them as a centerpiece to an elegant All Hallow’s Eve affair, gift them to a hostess at her Halloween party, or deck your house with them to add a little edge to your interior design. As for the cameos, I’m just obsessed with them. They’re slightly creepy in a historic way, right? Snatch them up at Neiman Marcus.

Sooooo… Some Candles Just Got Here

I just had a potent package delivered to my office. Normally, I wait to experience new products myself before blogging–in case they suck–but this box just smells so darn good, I can’t help myself. (It smells so good, in fact, a handful of people hovered around the reception area, waiting for me to open it.) On my desk (see left) I have Island Time Fragrances candles in Vanilla Hazelnut (delish!) and Notes of Jasmine, fragrance oils in Bamboo and and Simply Sandalwood, and a lamp ring. Oh, how I love lamp rings. Just drop oil in the ring, and place it over a bulb to scent an entire room. Candles are $15 a piece and oils are $13. Cheap! Plus, they’re made here in Dallas. I’m taking these home to see how they burn. Stay tuned.