I've raved about the Tata Harper Refreshing Cleanser many times before -- I use it religiously. And now I'm adding another Tata Harper product into my routine: the Boosted Contouring Serum. It makes my skin feel instantly lifted, and it contains free-radical-fighting algae and goldenrod flower extracts. Plus, it's natural and made with ingredients sourced from Harper's beautiful farm in Vermont (a closer-to-home destination I'd like to visit).
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Sebastian Professional x Mara Hoffman Limited Edition Gift Set, $25
Of course I love new beauty products, but there's something about a fashion and beauty collab that really gets me excited -- and this one is just so pretty. Sebastian has teamed up with Mara Hoffman (her swimsuits are ah-mazing) for this gift set that includes Volupt Shampoo and Conditioner and a custom-designed scarf. I'm imagining it tied over my hair while riding in a convertible in Key West. A girl can dream, right?
Stress can be horrible for your overall health (think ulcers, even cancer), and it's equally terrible for your skin. Kiehl's has spent the last few years researching the link between stress and skin, and they found that redness, breakouts, and chronic inflammation can all be attributed to stress. Fortunately, they also came up with a solution: Skin Rescuer is a moisturizer that contains Rosa Gallica extract, a botanical that prevents your skin from reacting to stress. The result is calmer, more even skin -- the kind of complexion you'd have if you slept 10 hours a night and lived in a beachside villa.
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Aerin Beach Cream for Hair and Body, $45
When I fantasize about a tropical vacation, I imagine that my hair is perfectly textured and my skin is tawny and subtly shimmery. The reality is far less glamorous: My hair is usually a curly mess and I'm covered in pasty zinc oxide. This Beach Cream, however, is my dream in a bottle. It's a glimmery, bronzy cream that you can use on your hair (texture! shine!) and body (tan! delicious floral scent!). It's already tucked away in my suitcase, ready to go.
If I owned a home in the French countryside, this is the candle I'd keep on the reclaimed-wood table in my garden. The fragrance -- a blend of mimosa, jasmine, narcissus, and sandalwood -- would mingle with the scent of the surrounding flowers, and the sculptural glass would glow in the evenings, illuminating my al fresco dinner parties. Le sigh.
Aaaaand, OK, since those Euro garden parties aren't exactly a reality in my New York City existence, this candle will also make the perfect Mother's Day gift -- like a bouquet of flowers that'll last so much longer.
I've come down with a serious case of wanderlust. I'm dreaming of far-flung destinations, like African safari camps and Indian ashrams.
Sadly, it's not looking like these trips are in the cards for 2013. Fortunately, many of the best beauty products launching this month are either inspired by travel or contain ingredients from vacation-worthy locations. So when I chose this batch of must-buy products, that's exactly what I was looking for -- the more exotic, the better.
Whether you're looking for a product to pack for your next trip or one that'll make you feel like you're worlds away on your next staycation, these will do the trick. And they also make great gifts -- in case you have friends (or a mom -- hint, hint, Mother's Day is coming up) in the same predicament.
